THE WHITTAKERS: A West Virginia Inbred Family Tree Explained- Mortal Faces

Back with another family tree! This time I managed to piece together The Whittakers family tree to see where they came from and who the rest of their family members were. The Whittakers came to light in Mark Laita's videos he posted on his channel Soft White Underbelly interviewing the family from rural West Virginia. What is striking is the state of their living conditions and the clear disabilities members of the family have. As their parents were first cousins and also second cousins, the poor physical and mental conditions helped to surface the rumors we see of the Appalachian mountains deep in rural United States. These rumors are of inbreeding and poverty, the two factors we saw in the Whittakers. Despite this, Mark's videos show that the Whittakers are just another family happy to be with each other and despite their challenges, care and support one another.

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[michaelhowell]

That fella that could only bark to communicate but understood English was so damn heartbreaking. He might not be able to read or speak but his soul is pure gold.

[diannaclark]

I am from West Virginia. I grew up extremely poor also. Thankfully not quite as poor as the Whittakers. But up a holler nontheless. I am so amazed by the comments I looked at. You all express kindness and sadness instead of laughing or criticising them. Thank you.😊❤

[Ashas.Garden]

I figured there would be A LOT more overlaps given the profoundly unusual physical attributes these siblings display.

[kevinmorriss]

My mother was born in WV. Over a decade or so, I went back and did some genealogy research. I have quite a few Whittakers in my lineage. I tracked down a bunch of graves stones and even a Whittaker homestead in Giles County (in Va but on the border of WV).

After my daughter referenced the youtube videos, I mentioned to her that we may be related. She showed me this tree. After a quick consultation of my family tree, turns out my 5th great-grandfather is James Whittaker jr.

It's a small world.

[EAHorror]

It hurt my heart to hear that Lorraine was assaulted. She always has a smile on her face, bless her heart.

[danielleplackett]

I appreciate how respectful you are and how you provided eulogies for the late members of the Whittaker family.

[BandlerChing]

Can we take a moment to appreciate that someone named their baby Zobedia Obedience Biddie.

[butter]

The two granddads being twins makes the genetic overlap between their parents more similar to half siblings, not even to mention the second cousin thing.
This is far more drastic than regular first cousin relation.

[Lostinmyhead]

I think that there is way more inbreeding in this family than is being told. I also don’t believe a lot of the relationships were consensual as you can tell from Lorrenes situation. This is just very sad and unfortunate.

[emily]

Worth mentioning that if the twins were identical (John & Henry), their children who married (John & Gracie) would be genetically half siblings rather than 1st cousins and that explains the severe defects some of the children have. I think this is likely

[vexiox]

As someone born in rural Arkansas, the number one question you have to ask your parents when you get to dating age is, "how do we know them"

[ricardobjj]

I've never been so confused in my life

[namidakoh]

It’s not uncommon to marry first and second cousins in the early 20th century and even earlier times than that. Crazy to see how just 2 generations of 1st cousins then 2nd cousins marrying can really create tons of genetic issues for the third generation. Thank you for doing this fascinating research. I wish this family all the best!

[catenystrom]

You can tell so much about people by how they treat animals...their dogs look well cared for and loved, very comfortable with the family.

[greenghoul]

I understand why Lorraine is the least vocal out of them now, this family have suffered so much, I have so much respect for Betty spending her life caring for her siblings and nephew and being a voice for them when they struggle to communicate, it's fascinating and tragic how normal incest and abuse was in rural West Virginia families like the Whittakers

[Rosierx]

Here’s how i had to break it down to
Make my brain stop hurting.

My mom Elizabeth, married my dad, Thomas Whittaker, and had a few kids..(Me and all of my siblings… we are obviously whittakers, because our dad is)

My moms sister (my aunt, Mary) married a man.
My aunt, Mary, had two daughters (my cousins).
Two of my brothers married my two cousins. (My aunt Mary’s daughters).
**first set of incest**
(One of these brothers that married our cousins, was a twin.)


Remember, one of my twin brothers, married our cousin…… now, HIS twin, (my other brother) ended up getting married to a random woman.

Each of these couples had some kids.
One of the twins children (my niece), married one of the other twins children (my nephew).

So, one of my nephews from my twin brother, married and had kids with one of my nieces from my other twin brother. (Remember, one of my twin brothers is ALREADY married to our cousin)

**second set of incest, which is like double incest since they’re twins**

So, The kids that my niece & nephew (both twins children) ended up having, are THE Whittakers that we know & see on YouTube.

God, my head hurts.
I hope this helps someone. I know i have a weird way of understanding things… maybe if you just put yourself into the equation like i did it’ll help. Lol 😩

[katrinajohnson]

I hope that you gave the Whittaker family a framed copy of their family tree. It would be good for them to have. This was very interesting. Thanks

[Allie-oop]

Mark has been very good to them and they trust him, their trip to Walmart was the sweetest video.

[Nemo]

Their mom was pregnant for most of the years between 1937-1960. I wonder if some of the family's conditions is from malnutrition, environmental factors and access to prenatal care. I mean even "good" prenatal care in this time frame was nothing compared to prenatal care today. And being in a more rural area didn't not make access any easier. I wish them well, and love that the town they live in protects them and cares for them so well. We always say, it takes a village, and these people have their village

[indo]

The fact someone put this together is amazing thank you let’s get this beautiful family the help they need