For the past year or so we have attempted to correct the GEDCOM's and listings that incorrectly list Richard Waite of Middlesex, Virginia and his wife, Sarah Blake as being the parents of John Waits of Hampshire County. When I first began this genealogy journey the information that was posted on the Web pretty much all stated that Richard Waite who was born in 1705 in Middlesex County, Virginia was the father of a John Waits who served in the Revolutionary War and settled in Hampshire County, Virginia. This John Waits married a Ann Delius/Deloss and was the father to several children, (Christina, John, Reuben, Richard, Ann, Charles, James, Agnes are the names most often cited) before moving to Fayette County, PA.

It seems that this belief originated from articles published in the Colonial Genealogies, VOL 3, No. 1 by the Rev. Emmet Moore Waits, Jr. who makes the assumption that John Waits is Richard's son based on documents showing a William Waite and a Samuel Ingram in Hampshire County, VA during the same timeframe that John Waits is there.

While we feel that this John Waits may indeed be some relationship to Richard and Sarah, he is definately not their son.
1) John Waite of Madison County, VA died in 1801. His will notes his children's names--one of which was Ann Blake Waite. Although her middle name of Blake is certainly not proof in itself but taken in context with the rest of the evidence, it adds to the weight.
John's wife's maiden name was Kezia Smith and our research has shown her to also be from Middlesex County, VA. She was the daughter of Joseph Smith and Elizabeth Ball.
Richard and Sarah's children per the Christ Church Register of Middlesex County, VA are:
1) John Waite, born 4-14-1730
2) James Waite, born 8--23-1732
3) Elizaeth Waite, born 8-15-1740
4) George Waite, born 2-8-1742
5) Sarah (Sally) Waite, born ?
6) Judith Waite, born unknown, died 9-24-1740

Richard Waite, having moved to Orange County, bought land in 1755 from Seth Thurston and his wife Mary, of Culpeper County, VA. James Wayt, Thomas Maxwell, and James Finney witness this indenture. Thomas Maxwell was married to Sarah Blake's neice and appears a few times in conjunction with Richard--they must have been friends in addition to the relationship by marriage.

In 1793 there was an indenture between John Wait and Keziah, his wife of Madison County, James Wayt of Orange County, George Wayt and his wife, Elizabeth, his wife of Albemarle County, Elizabeth Lobb and Leeroy Canaday and Salley, his wife of Madison County whereby they are selling land in Brumfield Parish to Churchill Gibbs. We've compared the description of the land in this indenture to the land that Richard purchased in 1755 and it appears to be the same land--Culpeper was in Brumfield Parish.

These are all the children of Richard and Sarah Waite and the indenture very clearly states that John and his wife Keziah live in Madison County, VA.
The inference is that the father, Richard, has died and the siblings are selling the land inherited at his death.

Note that in 1790 John Waits (married to Ann Deloss) is listed in the census for Fayette County, German Township, PA---
Also in 1783, Culpeper County Deed Book M, a Robert Leavell sells land to Leroy Canaday--Leroy was John Waite's brother-in-law--this deed was signed in presence of JOHN Wayt and RICHARD Wayt. It is highly unlikely that John of Hampshire would be traveling from Pennsylvania to witness a deed in Culpeper County, VA.
Again in 1763 per the Culpeper Minute Book #2, John Waite is going to court for being in debt and as is his friend and relative by marriage, Thomas Maxwell.
John Wait is listed in 1794 in the Madison County Deed Book 1 for an indenture between Stephen Haynes and Mary, his wife along with Philip Graves and John Ballard.
There are numerous other sightings of John around the Madison County area during this time frame.

We have not been able to pin down just how, if at all, this John Waits of Hampshire ties into the Middlesex County clan. Due to the very reason that the Reverend made the wrong assumption--the names of Samuel Ingram and William Waite--is the reason that we think that they're probably is a connection--just not the one that has been so widely published.

We feel sure that descendants of John Waits and Ann Deloss are just as dedicated to knowing the truth as we are. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to believe that what has been so widely published is in error. Of course, it puts many people back to square one with their research--but that is, to me at least, part of the fun of this genealogy research. Always there are questions and items that don't quite jibe.

I will be more that happy to correspond with anyone who has questions or comments about our research.

Thanks,

Ginger Jamerson