The Mystery of Watay Mariah Willey

About the Researcher

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Willey is a practicing ordained minister and has a life-long passion for Willey family history and genealogical studies. He resides in Missouri and can be reached via email at jeffrey.willey@gmail.com.

The Mystery of Watay Maria Willey
Submitted: 23 OCT 2022

NOTE: Identification numbers are in reference to the person’s FamilySearch ID (FSID) number.

Introduction

When I was a little boy, I asked my father “What are we?” He said, “Oh, we’re English. German. And a little bit Scotch and Indian (Native American).” That simple question and relatively simple answer launched me into what now has become a fifty-year pursuit of my heritage. A cousin gave my mother a very simple family tree that went back six generations ending with Elijah Willey (FSID: LC8K-ND2) and his mysterious wife, Watay Mariah Willey (FSID: GNVW-T1T). From this very incomplete little chart began a life-long pursuit of my ancestors and to find answers to the mysteries of my heritage. One such mystery is the person of Watay Mariah Willey.

Watay Mariah Willey

It certainly is an exotic name. “Watay” is certainly not English. As a child, I thought it might be Native American. But what nation? “Mariah” is the French or Spanish variation of the English “Mary.” But “Watay” is neither French nor Spanish. This is quite a conundrum. Also, there is no indication of her maiden name. We have her married surname only.

Other researchers have tried to link her to documents and records that contain a similar name. Mary Waity (FSID: G8SW-W8Q), for example, is suggested as a possible match, but there is a significant problem with this. “Waity” is actually a surname of a family. “Watay” is a first name or forename, not a surname. Also, we know by the 1850 Ohio Census (see below) she went by the name “Wittey,” not “Mary.”

So let us begin with what we do know about her and then examine the possibilities.

Osborn Cemetery Headstone

To date, the only documentation of her full name is on her headstone in the Osborne Cemetery (39O19’21.22”N by 84O00’13.76”) outside Blanchester, Ohio. This author has yet to find any other document with her complete name.

1850 Ohio Census

The 1850 Ohio Census has her name as “Wittey” and her place of birth to be “Vermont.”

Phonetic Spelling of the 19th Century

We must consider the use of phonetic spelling in the 1800s. “Watay” could be pronounced several different ways. It could be “Whaa-tay” or “Way-tee.” If spoken quickly and slightly slurred, as most people speak, it could be transcribed as “Whit-tee” or “Weight-tee.” Thus, the census taker in 1850 was well within their rights to transcribe “Wittey” from what they heard in a quick conversation. However, we can conclude from this that Watay went by her first name (forename) and we can reject attempts to use “Mary” as her forename.

Birthday Calculation

We calculate Watay’s birthday by calculating the data given to us on her headstone. She died 2 OCT 1855. She lived 82 years, 1 month, and 1 day. From this we calculate her birthday to be 1 SEP 1773.

Possible Marriage Information

The information regarding the marriage of Elijah Willey and Watay Mariah Surname is noted as being 3 June 1795 in Barnet, Caledonia, Vermont, United States. There is no documentation submitted to support this date. This author remembers seeing a marriage record that included an Elijah and a “Polly.” The argument would be that the name “Polly” was a common way to refer to a Native American woman in Colonial English documents. Unfortunately, this author cannot locate the document in order to provide further investigation. Therefore, it would be wise to be suspicious of this date until documentation is located.

Vermont in 1773

In 1773, Vermont was not Vermont as we know it today. It was a divided territory. The British Colony of New York claimed the land of the Green and White Mountain ranges. The Colony of New Hampshire also claimed the land and was giving land grants along the Connecticut River and in both the Green and White Mountain regions. These are known as the “New Hampshire Land Grants.” Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys were New Hampshire settlers in the Green Mountains who literally fought against New York’s attempts to displace them. In 1773, there were not very many settlements in the area now called Vermont. The Abenaki still lived in the area and were resistant to white intruders on their land. There were a few settlements along the Connecticut River in the southern part of the territory but these were pushed back when war broke out during the French and Indian War and during the American Revolution. A few settlements were established in the southeastern part of the territory, along the border of New Hampshire. But they, too, would be pushed back by the Abenaki and their allies during times of war.

What can we conclude from this? We can reasonably conclude that Watay has just as much chance of being an Abenaki maiden as she does being an American colonist. But there is another option. The clue resides in the origin of the name “Watay.”

Origin of the Name “Watay”

Watay is not Abenaki. It is not English. It is not French.

It is Scottish.

“Watay” is a nickname derived from the name “Walter.”1 “On the western coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands, the Watay family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the names Wattie and Watty, both of which are pet forms of the personal name Walter.”

Imagine a Scottish accent pronouncing “Watay” and you easily hear “Wittey.”

If this is true, it validates my father’s comment that “We’re a little bit Scotch.” With this realization, a lengthy list of questions arises:

▪ Is Watay a first-generation immigrant to the colonies or the daughter (or even granddaughter) of a person of Scottish heritage?

▪ Is she named after her father? A close relative? A close friend of the family?

▪ Was the person’s forename “Walter” or was she lovingly named after the clan “McWalter” or “McWattie?”

▪ What were the circumstances at that time of the Scots in the Vermont region?

▪ Does the fact that vast amounts of land in Vermont have Scottish names give us any clue as to her origin?

The Origin of the Name “Mariah”

“The different meanings of the name Mariah are: Hebrew meaning: Uncertain, maybe bitter, God is my Teacher. English meaning: Respelling of Maria. The meaning of the name “Mariah” is different in several languages, countries and cultures and has more than one possibly same or different meanings available.”2

Included in the different languages, countries, and cultures is the possibility that Mariah is French.“ “Mariah is French Girl name and meaning of this name is ‘God is My Teacher.’"3 The importance of a French connection is discussed below in the Abenaki Connection.

The Timeline

A few events in England and Scotland occurred that greatly impacted the immigration of Scottish people into the pre-Vermont territory. The great battle of Culloden (14 APR 1746) saw the English king crush the Scottish Jacobite uprising. Scots were forbidden to wear their clan tartans and to openly identify with their clans. Many prisoners from the battle were shipped to the American colonies as punishment. During this time, many Scots voluntarily immigrated to American to escape the heavy hand of the British.

Scottish Clansman

Is it possible that Watay’s father or grandfather was a Scottish clansman who named his daughter or granddaughter “Watay” in honor of his outlawed clan name “McWattie” or “McWalter?” Is is possible that Watay’s mother was Scottish and named her daughter after the Clan?

Abenaki Connection

Is it possible that a Scotsman fled to the British colonies and found himself in Canada (Quebec), just north of the Vermont region? The Scots would find much in common with the native Abenaki. The Abenaki had been close allies with the French. So had the Scots. Many Abenaki had been converted to Catholicism by French missionaries. The Scottish Highlands were a stronghold for Catholicism. The Abenaki had sided with the losing French in the French and Indian War and would easily identify with Scottish warriors who fought against the British and lost. The Abenaki spoke French. Many Scots did the same. If immigrating to Quebec or the Vermont region, the chances of a Scotsman interacting with, or even possibly marrying, an Abenaki maiden is high. It is also possible that an Abenaki man took a Scottish woman for a bride. White captives were often assimilated into the tribe and chose to remain with their native captors.

Origins of Watay Mariah

“Watay” is Scottish. “Mariah” is within the possibility of being French. Add to this combo the 1773 Abenaki territory known as Vermont and the significant Scottish migration to the British colonies. The picture becomes very interesting. So where does a researcher begin to narrow down the possibilities?

Further Research Topics

1) 1700s English migration into the New Hampshire Land Grants (Vermont)

2) 1700s Scottish migration into the New Hampshire Land Grants (Vermont)

3) 1700s Scottish migration into Quebec

4) Scottish prisoners sent to the Colonies from the Battle of Culloden

5) Scottish soldiers remaining in Vermont after the French and Indian War

6) Abenaki Mission Church Marriage Records (will be in French)

7) The creation of a timeline of Scottish, English, and Abenaki events

SOURCES

1 “Watay History, Family Crest & Coat of Arms.” https://www.houseofnames.com/watay-family-crest

2 “Mariah.” https://www.thenamemeaning.com/mariah/

3 “Mariah Name Meaning, About French Girl Name Mariah.” https://namesfolder.com/french-girl-name/mariah

END OF DOCUMENT