William Whiteaker was born in about 1795. (The specific birthplace is unknown at this time.) His father's name was probably William.

He had settled in White county, Tennessee by at least 1815 if not a few years earlier.

He first married Dorcas Bartlett in about 1821 probably in White county,Tennessee. Dorcas was the daughter of Joshua and Winnie Bartlett. William and Dorcas had at least one son (Henry). Dorcas is thought to have passed away in June 1823. Then William married a second time, this time marrying Rhoda Kinnard. They were married in about 1825 probably in White county, Tennessee.

William and Rhoda were the parents of eleven children. They were Nathan, Sarah, Mark, Betty, Ann, Lucinda, William, Robert, George, John, and Polly.

William and Rhoda lived in Dry Valley, Tennessee for many years until they moved to Jackson county Tennessee sometime just before 1850. Dry Valley was probably originally in White county, Tennessee before Putnam couty was formed in 1842/1854. After moving to Jackson county, Tennessee they may have lived in the Free State community on a bend of the Cumberland River.

(It is thought that the Gainesboro vicinity was a popular destination for long hunters as early as the 1770s, as natural salt licks drew rich game to the area. Gainesboro was founded in the early 1800s. It has been the seat of Jackson County since 1820.)

In the Book: Putnam County, Tennessee, 1850-1970 (Mary Jean DeLozier, 1979) Mary Delozier says about the area where the Whiteaker's lived:

"With good reason early transients on the plateau called it the Wilderness."

"In 1854 those traveling the Walton Road passed a few farms, those of the Whiteakers, Bradys, and Clarks,where shoots were visable in cornfields and orchards were in bloom."

"Putnam's other river, Falling Water, rises on the escarpment of the plateau and tumbles west into the Caney Fork. Fed by many creeks, Falling Water cuts a deep valley, known as "Welch Hollow," in eastern Putnam county. To the south relatively productive coves and hollows, such as Hunter Cove, Dry Valley, and Broad Valley early attracted a number of settlers, the Bohannons, Clarks, and Whiteakers, as well as the Hunters.

On 11 October 1841 William Whiteaker signed a petition to create Putnam County, Tennessee from parts of neighboring counties.

William Whiteaker passed away near Gainesboro, Jackson county, Tennessee on 18 June 1881 as recorded in the Jackson county, Tennessee Death Records Book.

His burial site at this time is unknown although some think that he may be buried in the Rocky Point Church Cemetery in Putnam county, Tennessee.