BENJAMIN WHAM

Benjamin Wham is the progenitor of the Wham family in America and was born in County Derry, Ireland in 1750 ( a second source has it as early as 1744 ). He married Margaret ( last name unknown ) about 1770. They had two sons in Ireland. William was born about 1771 and Joseph was born about 1773 ( his tombstone reflects a birth date of 1768 ). Benjamin and William settled in Rocky Creek area, Chester County, South Carolina in 1797 according to a family bible. A recent discovery of a deed belonging to Benjamin Wham brings the location of his property in question, Rocky Creek versus Sandy River. Benjamin Wham’s deed indicates the following:

Benjamin Wham Deed, F:195, No. 104A, 1798 Apr 4, Chester County, S.C. John Wier of Chester sold to Benjamin Wham of Chester 104 acres on Sandy River.
The State of South Carolina
Know all men by these presents that I John Wier of Chester County Pinckney District and State aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred & fifty silver dollars to me paid by Benjamin Wham of Chester County Pinckney District & State aforesaid have granted bargain sold & released and by these presents do grant bargain sell and release unto the said Benjamin Wham all the plantation or tract of Land containing one hundred & four acres situate in the District of Camden on the waters of Sandy River bounded by lines running S.E. by Major Grishams, James Trussels, Thomas B. Franklin's & Vacant lands N.E. by Jas. Trussel’s Land E. by David Morrow's land N. by vacant land S.W. by vacant & William Nun's land & N.W. by David Fruits land & hath such shape form & marks as the original plat represents together with all & singular the rights members hereditaments & appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident or appurtenancing to have & to hold all & singular the premises before mentioned unto the said Benjamin Wham his heirs & assigns forever. The aforesaid plantation was original granted to Samuel Lowrie the first day of December Anno Domini 1788 by the State of South Carolina said Samuel Lowrie did make over said plantation by a deed bearing dates the twenty-first day of March Anno Domini 1795 to John Trussel and the said John Trussel did make over the said plantation by a deed bearing date the first day of December 1795 to the aforesaid John Wier. And I, the said John Wier, do hereby bind myself, my heirs executors & administrators to warrant & forever defend all & singular the aforesaid premises unto the aforesaid Benjamin Wham his heirs and assigns against myself & my heirs & against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Given under my hand & seal this fourth day of April Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & ninety eight & of the Independence of the United States of America the twenty second.
Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of us>John Weir WilliamRainey, JamesWoodbum, Andr Crawford<Rec’ed of Benjamin Wham the sum of one hundred & fifty silver dollars it being the full consideration money within mentioned. Received this 4th day of April 1798 by me.
Witness: William Rainey, Jas Woodbum, Andr Crawford> John Weir
The State of South Carolina
I, Joseph Brown, one of the Judges of Chester County Court do hereby certify unto all to whom it may concern that Molley Weir wife of the within named John Weir did this day appear before me and upon
being privately & separately examined by me. Did declare that she does freely voluntarily & without any compulsion dread or fear of any persons whomsoever renounce release & forever relinquish unto the
within named Benjamin Wham his heirs & assigns all her interest & estate & also all her right & claim of dower of in or to all & singular the premises within mentioned & released. Given under my hand & seal this 16th day of April Anno Domini 1798.
Mary Weir,
Jo. Brown J.C. September,1798, Chester Intermediate Court. This Deed was acknowledged in open Court by John Weir and ordered to be recorded
Teste Sami Lacey Clk. Recorded 10th May 1798.
Family history reflects there was a relationship between the Wham and the Woodside families. It is possible that Benjamin married the widow Woodside after the death of Margaret in Ireland. The family history refers to Thomas and James Woodside as half brothers to William and Joseph Wham. James Woodside and his wife Agnes Gault came to the United States in 1798 according to the “History of Fairview Presbyterian Church” or more likely on the ship with Benjamin and William in 1797.
According to family history, Benjamin Alexander Wham (a son of William born in 1815) went to Louisiana to settle the estate of his Father’s half-brother Thomas Woodside. Land records indicate there was a Thomas Woodside in Wilkinson County, Mississippi in 1840 near the Louisiana border.
Joseph followed with his family and others on 11 Nov 1806 from Belfast, Ireland on the ship “Parmaro”. They were shipwrecked and spent enough time to raise a crop of potatoes on the Island of Cuba or Barbados before they could arrange transportation to Charleston, South Carolina where they arrived in 1807. Joseph wrote a poem about his departure from Ireland:
1806 we left our abode. On 11thof November
we taken to the road. Biden a due to
relations and friends, we steered our course
for America land. Where Washington planted
the liberty tree that our noble descendants
might all be free. We came to Belfast, it was
late in night. We stayed at Old Cilton till
morning lite. We got on the ship of Parmaro
to leave the County Down, along with Captain Seebary for Carolina Bounds.
We sold all worth, all land. The Irish love
saying to old Ireland, I never see thee ever
more.
There has been little information on the widow Woodside, so it was assumed she died in Ireland, on the voyage to America or before 1812 in South Carolina. The “British Aliens in the United States during the War of 1812” by Kenneth Scott reflects the following: Wham, Benjamin, age 68, 14 years in U.S.,1 in family, Chester District, farmer (31 Aug-8 Sept 1812). This was the assumption until just recently when Nancy Ellen Chapman Crayton, grand daughter of Nancy Louise Wham, found in the 1810 Chester County Census that an older woman was in Benjamin’s household which could have been the widow Woodside and she probably died prior to 1812.
Benjamin Wham’s will was formalized on 8 April 1820. His two sons were the only beneficiaries. The will of Benjamin Wham follows:
In the name of God Amen.
I Benjamin Wham of the District of Chester and State of South Carolina being sickly and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, praised be God for the same, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
First, I will and desire that I may be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. As to what worldly property I own whether real or personal, I will that it be equally divided between my two sons viz William and Joseph either to be praised or sold in order for such a division to be made according as my executors shall deem most convenient. But to be more explicit, I will that my son Joseph have one half and my son William the other half. I also nominate, constitute and appoint my son Joseph and John Hunter executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all and every will heretofore made by and do declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighth day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
Benjamin Wham (seal)
Signed, Sealed and
Delivered in presence
of us:
John Terry
Stewart Burns
James McNinch
According to Wilma Wham, the burial place of Benjamin Wham and other family members is Paul’s Graveyard which is still in existence, minus the iron fence and the iron gate and all but two tomb rocks. The land is now owned by Mr. George Moore.
Joseph and William Wham inherited their Father’s lands per his Will. According to Wilma Wham, they sold this land and moved to higher ground. Land in that area at that time was swampy and was noted for its cane breaks and its tendency to inflict the inhabitants with chills and fever from which many died.
The obituary notice of Ellen E. Gault Wham, wife of Joseph Wham, states that she was born in Ireland, and that she had lived in Chester County, South Carolina before moving to Laurens or Greenville Counties, South Carolina. The two brothers, Joseph and William Wham, after the death of their Father left Chester County and moved to the Fairview section of Greenville County near Fountain Inn, South Carolina. (William must not have stayed there very long before leaving for Tennessee or he left prior to Benjamin’s death.)
William Wham, his family and others moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee around 1819-20 to form the Northern Branch of the Wham Family which is our direct lineage. Joseph Wham remained in South Carolina to form the Southern Branch.