Waite Family Reunion celebrates family, U.S.
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The 144th Waite Family Reunion was held on Sunday, Aug. 2 combined with the Chautauqua County History Expo Celebrating America's 250th in Mayville. Those in attendance were Helen Burlett (President), daughter Amanda Burlett Cooley, Loretta and Gene Smith, daughter Sarah Johnson, Bonnie Kemp and Sheila Wassink (Secretary and Treasurer).
-- Helen Burlett researched and provided the following: The day of Chautauqua County History Fair, August 2, 2026 celebration of 250th America in Mayville. A fabulous day of food, exhibit’s genealogical societies, historical lineage, artifacts and town historians and other crafts and music.
-- A brief history of Waite lineage in the Revolutionary War: The Rev. William Waite, Baptist Minister from Cambridge, NY, was a goldsmith by trade. He served in militia as a private, fought in 1777 Battle of Bennington near his family farm, passed at age 96 and buried in an adjacent cemetery in Cambridge, NY, our Waite lines founding father.
-- Down Helen Waite Burlett line: Christopher McManus resident of New Jersey then to Hanover, NY in 1811. He served at Valley Forge, Pa., under Gen. George Washington and General Lafayette and passed at 91 years and buried in Pioneer Cemetery in Forestville. Benjamin Robinson born 1704 in Massachusetts down Waite line. Served at Bunker Hill, Battle of Concord and Lexington.
John Pickard, soldier down Carpenter line. Served N.Y. Militia and was held prisoner by Native American Indians, returned home to Ellery Center, buried in Red Bird Cemetery Sinclairville, NY Levi Sherman, down Carpenter line. Rhode Island, interred in Old Clinton burying ground, Clinton, NY.
The Waite family member coming the farthest was Amanda Burlett Cooley of Miami.
Next year's 145th Waite Family Reunion will be on Saturday, Aug 7, 2027.