Wham, William - (added 21 Feb, 2008)

William Wham

William Wham (Benjamin) was born about 1771 in County Derry, Ireland to Benjamin and Margaret Wham. He died on 12 July 1833 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He married Isabella McNinch About 1797 in Chester County, South Carolina. She was born about 1773 (an other source has her born in 1769) in Ireland and she died in 1854 in Marion County, Illinois. Isabella’s parents are probably James McNinch born 23 Dec 1739 near Glasgow, Scotland and a Mrs. James McNinch born in Ireland about 1741. They were married in Ireland in 1758. Their son, James McNinch, witnessed Benjamin Wham’s last will and testament. Isabella is buried in Wham Hill Cemetery under the affectionate name on her tombstone of “Granny Wham”. It is said, that she spoke with such a thick Irish brogue that it was difficult to understand her. When the Wham family moved from Tennessee to Illinois in 1835, Granny Wham rode in her personal carriage while most walked. William was a wheelwright who made wagon wheels and wagons. Chances are, he built the carriage for his wife. The following children were born to this marriage:

John McNinch Wham was born in 1798 in Chester County, South Carolina. He drowned on 19 Feb 1826 in a flooding Cane Creek in Lincoln County, Tennessee while going for medicine for a sick child. Information on his family is limited. A family history has them going to Alabama to Arkansas and then to Oregon and California. I have found no positive proof of this.

Jane Wham was born on 4 Apr 1800 in Chester County, South Carolina. She died 21 Feb 1892 in Marion County, Illinois. She married Thomas Morton in Lincoln County, Tennessee about 1825. He was born 7 Aug 1799 and died 22 Nov 1862. They are both buried in the Old Covenanter Cemetery in Marion County, Illinois. They had nine children.

Joseph W. Wham was born 30 Aug 1804 in Chester County, South Carolina and died 11 Sept 1858. He is buried in Wham Hill Cemetery, Marion County, Illinois. Joseph had four wives and thirteen children. He is our direct lineage and will be covered in depth later.

Isabella “ Ibby” Jane Wham was born 1807 in Chester County, South Carolina and died about 1881 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She married Thomas Benjamin Wyatt on 21 Nov 1827 in Lincoln County. He was born 12 Apr 1801 in Chester County and died 22 Aug 1869 in Lincoln County. They are both buried in Wyatt Cemetery in Fayetteville, Tennessee. They had eight children.

Elizabeth Wham was born 28 Jul 1811 in Chester County, South Carolina and died 2 Jan 1900 in Marion County, Illinois. She is buried in Kamp Cemetery in Marion County. She first married John Young in about 1838 and then George Washington Snodgrass. She had three children from the first marriage and at least four from the second.

Anna Wham Married James Peyton.

Margaret Ann Wham was born in 1813 in Chester County, South Carolina. She died in 1830.

Benjamin Alexander Wham was born in 1815 in Chester County, South Carolina. Family history has him a doctor or at least having studied medicine and he went to settle the estate of his Father’s half-brother, Thomas Woodside, in Louisiana (actually in Mississippi). He went West from there and got lost in the desert and was never heard from again. A second story has him working on a surveying crew out west and being killed by Indians. Its possible both stories are partially true.

William Wham was born 21 Jan 1817 in Chester County, South Carolina and died 28 Dec 1893 in Marion County, Illinois. He married Louisa Ann Rainey on 4 Jan 1837 in Marion County. She was born 27 Feb 1818 in Christian County, Kentucky and died 1 Jun 1883 in Marion County. They had eight children.