Cyril White (1765 - 1843)

Born 1765 in Fort Creek District, Granville, North Carolina

Husband of Susannah (Lankford) White — married 20 Nov 1785 (to about 1838) in Granville, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 3 Apr 1843 at about age 78 in Marshall County, Tennessee

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Biography

Cyril (Serrul) White was born 1765 in the Fort Creek District of Granville, North Carolina. Description of Ford or Fort Creek District: In 1770 this district was bounded by Fort Creek from the mouth to Mrs. Bradfords, by the Path from thence to the head of the Long Branch, by the Long Branch to Johnston County line, by that line to Bute County line, by Bute line to Tarr River and by the River up to the mouth of Fort Creek.

On November 20, 1785, he married Susannah Lankford in Granville County. On the 1788 Tax Payer list for Granville County, Cyril (Searl) White was living next to Coleman Read White. Although this highly suggests a familial connection, no Cyril or any version of this name is mentioned in the will of George White, father of Coleman, John, and William. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/White-67776

On the 1790 Census, Cyril (Searl) White was enumerated in Granville County, Next Cyril (Serrul) White appears in the 1800 Johnston County, North Carolina Census with five males and five females.

By 1830 the family was residing in Bedford County, Tennessee, an area that became Marshall County in 1836. Susannah died in Marshall County, Tennessee before August 1838. Serrul married Nancy Ann Haynes Noblin Mount, widow of Harris Mount. Ten children are noted in the 1843 will of Serrul; Ann; Sion, believed to be Wiley Sion; Mahalah "Aley" married Thomas Bloodworth; Nancy never married ; James G.; Aden is noted below; Agnekas "Aggy" married John T. Spears; Elizabeth never married, and Sally married James Holder.

Sources

Surrel White's oral will was given March 9, 1843 at his home to Harris N. Mount and Aden White, relationship not given. Testators: Harris N, Mount and Aden White . "On March 9, 1843, at his home, in his last illness, Surrel White urgently requested us, and Aden White to make out his will, which follows: He wanted to be buried as near his first wife's grave as possible, and their graves walled in with rock. He particularly asked that Clark Hopper see that it was done. Payment for it to be arranged and the law to settle his possessions. Made out by us and signed the 31st day of March 1843"

Surrel White Will and Codicil - Dated 3 April 1843 https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LW6Y-49C

NAME: S White PROBATE PLACE: Marshall, Tennessee, USA INFERRED DEATH YEAR: 1843 INFERRED DEATH PLACE: Tennessee, USA INDIVIDUALS LISTED: 1

NAME: Surrel White PROBATE PLACE: Marshall, Tennessee, USA INFERRED DEATH PLACE: Tennessee, USA INDIVIDUALS LISTED: 1

Mid Tennessee land grant 17586 to Surrel White recorded February 19, 1841. At the death of Surrel White this 166 Acres with a tract to the south acquired from George Glasscock, went to his heirs.

All North Carolina and Tennessee U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931 results for Serrul White

View Record Surrel White dd mm year Marshall, Tennessee Grant or Warrant Number

View Record Surrell White dd mm year Marshall, Tennessee Grant or Warrant Number https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2882/?name=Serrul_White

NAME: Searl White HOME IN 1790 (CITY, COUNTY, STATE): Granville, North Carolina

LIST OF TAXPAYERS IN FORT CREEK DISTRICT. GRANVILLE COUNTY 1788 PERSONS’ NAMES. Land Searl White 100 Wm. White 194 Brother of Coleman John White Brother of Coleman Coleman White 100 Son of George White Exhibited to Granville Court August, 1788, by John Pope https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr26-0054

Serrel White North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 Name: Serrel White Sex: Male Spouse's Name: Susannah Lankford Spouse's Sex: Female Marriage Date: 20 Nov 1785 Marriage Place: Granville, North Carolina, United States https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9Y-X82T

A Myth

A more fanciful version by some cut and paste genealogists is that Serrul White was a Cherokee Indian known as "Eagle" in the early 1800 migration rolls. Serrul is said to be Eagle in the Cherokee language..Reality Check: (This week’s word from Cherokee Nation is “uwohali,” which means “eagle.” ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-z_QdgVf5o

Cyril (also Cyrillus or Cyryl) is a masculine given name. It is derived from the Greek name Κύριλλος (Kýrillos), meaning 'lordly, masterful', which in turn derives from Greek κυριος (kýrios) 'lord'. Cyril (Serrul) White was not an Indian Chief.

Throughout history, Granville County was occupied by both Saponi and Tuscarora peoples at various times. However, the last time the government officially identified the Native Americans of Granville County by a tribe, they identified the people as “Saponi”. This is not to imply that the only Saponi people left in North Carolina lived only in Granville Co nor do I mean to imply that all the Native peoples in Granville Co were Saponi. But rather, the last known documentation that identified and acknowledged a relationship with the Saponi people, was in Granville County in the mid 1700s. https://nativeamericanroots.wordpress.com/2015/05/15/colonial-records-of-saponi-indians-in-granville-county/

There is nothing in any record to suggest this man was Cherokee or any other kind of Native American. The areas where he lived were not in or near the Cherokee Nation and the family appears in no Cherokee records.

• http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncgranville/other/gran-landmarks.pdf http://www.onegreatfamily.com/fh/Serrul-White/609010082

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=cuzncarri&id=I08207. http://www.familytreeproject.org/getperson.php?personID=I3838&tree=new

• https://www.tnyesterday.com/families/white/awhite.pdf - Not part of this well researched White family

Unusual items

In researching this man recently, I was able to spot a couple of unusual items. 1) George White, not his father, bought 1100 acres of land in the county in 1784. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99C5-ZSM2, http://srvg.org/Members-Only/Library/Publications/The-Banks-family-of-Elbert-County--Georgia.pdf 34 of 244). In 1785, George White had 1100 acres. In 1785, George White has 1100 Acres, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll33/id/1422. In 1788, George has 900 acres only, not 1100. Coley. Or Coleman, has 100, and Searl White, has 100. Yet in 1792 (https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr26-0054), in the will, (https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/image-details?page=1&place=393046&endDate=1792&startDate=1792&lifeEvent=127179&rmsId=M9ZZ-PKC&imageIndex=200&singleView=true, 201 of 224, George gives 1100 acres for his named children. It would seem that Searl was somehow related to the George White, but not a son, somehow.