IN HONOUR OF OUR ANCESTORS

GEORGE THOMAS WHITLEY
2nd Great Grandfather of Dwight Doggett and
Eddie Whitley and 3rd Great Uncle to David Cockes

George Thomas Whitley was born on August 27, 1832, the oldest son of Nancy Stephens

and Jesse Whitley at their home, Cedar Acres. Jesse and Nancy had a second son, Elisha,

in 1836. When George Thomas was 12 his mother Nancy passed away. Jesse remarried

and in October of 1845 his brother Leonard Hume Whitley was born. Jesse would father

a total of four sons and six daughters through three marriages. Their sister Mary Ellen

Whitley was born November 22, 1849. Mary Ellen would marry Josiah Benjamin Jones

and become David Cockes' 2nd Great Grandparents.

George Thomas married Mary Frances Gwaltney on January 22, 1856 in Surry, Virginia.

They would have seven children in 18 years. Robert Freeman Whitley, the oldest son, was

born in February 27, 1861 and would be Ed Whitley's Great Grandfather. Ten years

later February 8, 1871 Mary Frances would give birth to Mary Caroline "Carrie"

Whitley, who would be Dwight Doggett's Great Grandmother.

George Thomas traveled 8.5 miles from his home at Cedar Acres to Windsor to enlist as a

Private in the 16th Regiment, Virginia Infantry Co. "D" (The Virginia Rifles Greys)

Colton's Regiment on April 22, 1861. This unit first saw action on April 15, 1862 and

again on June 15, 1862. From these scrimmages they moved on to heavier battles-

Malvern Hill, 2nd Manassas Gainesville, Virginia, Fredrick, Maryland, Sharpsburg,

Maryland, Rapidan, Chancellorsville, Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Chester Gap,

and Suffolk.

On September 10, 1863 Private George Thomas Whitley mustered out of the 16th

Regiment and transferred into the 19th Battalion (Atkinson's Battalion ), Virginia Heavy,

Artillery Co. "A" where he.reconnected with his brothers, Private Elisha Whitley and

Private Leonard Hume Whitley. The 19th Battalion's primary duty was to protect the

Capitol City. The three brothers served together through the rest of the War.

They were listed on the ROLL OF MEMBERS CO.'A' 19th Battalion, Virginia, Artillery,

Crutchfield's Brigade, Ewell's Corps, Curtis Lee's Division, Army of Northern Virginia,

on April 9, 1865. The three brothers walked home, 143 miles after the war was over and

followed The General's last order.

George Thomas went back to farming Cedar Acres where he and his family lived until his

death on February 6, 1902. He and his family are now buried at Central Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.