Thomas White (1599 - bef. 1679)

Born 1599 in England

Husband of Unknown (Unknown) White — married 1636 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died before 26 Aug 1679 before age 80 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts

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Thomas White migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 7, p. 339) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Thomas White is a featured name in Anderson's Great Migration series.^[1]

Disputed Origins

Anderson lists Thomas White's origin unknown. The notes in the bio all say his origins are unknown. The lengthy, unproven, unsourced pedigree (starting with parents Thomas White & Francesca Martin) has been disconnected.

Elizabeth French Bartlett made an extensive search for the origin of Thomas White among the White families at Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire, and Fiddleford, Dorset. Each of the sons named Thomas were "demonstrably eliminated as the New England immigrant."^[2]

Disputed Wives

Genealogy of Edward Small (2: 904) calls Thomas the "brother-in-law" in regards to the guardianship of Thomas Pratt's children; this is in error.^[2] Anderson and the bio notes all say that Thomas wife is unknown. Who are these alledged wives? Where are their sources?

Biography

Birth

Thomas was born about 1599. In a deposition given in 1659, the clerk reported that he was about 60 years old [SPR 1:333].^[1] Smith and Sanborn point out that this age is "not precisely stated," as the clerk recorded round numbers for both deponents.^[2]

Alternate birth 1598-02-20 cornwall england^{[citation needed]}

Death

Between 5 July 1679, the date of his will, and 26 August 1679, the date an inventory was taken.^[1]

Marriage

It is estimated that his first child was born about 1635. His wife was not named is his will, so she died between about 1649 (est. birth of last child) and 1679 (Thomas' will).^[1]

Children

Children:^[1]

1. Joseph White b. say 1635; m. at Weymouth Lydia Rogers
2. Hannah White b say 1639; m. at Braintree John Baxter.
3. Samuel White b. about 1642; m. Mary Dyer
4. Thomas White b. say 1645 m. Mary ?
5. Ebenezer White b. about 1649; m. Hannah Phillips

Note Thomas1 White born in England about 1599 came to Weymouth about 1635, was made a freeman of the Mass. Bay Colony Mar.3,1635/6, and served as deputy from Weymouth 1636,1637,1657, and 1670. He died at Weymouth Aug.1679. His will, dated July 5, and proved Aug.28,1679 mentions his sons Joseph, Samuel, Thomas, daughter Hannah Baxter, and grand children Lydia, Mary, & Ebenezer White, and Hannah Baxter.

There is an account of this White family in the Register Vol.53 p.392 which was written in 1804 by Asa White of Weymouth that is quite valuable in showing some of the early generations. In it Thomas White is called a carpenter. The account there and the one given show many corrections of the account of the White family published in the History of Weymouth, Vol.4. His wife's name is unknown.

Note

Note: Admitted a Freeman of Massachusetts Colony 3 Mar 1635/6 having been a previous resident of Weymouth and a member of the church there. Neither the place of his nativity nor the date of his crossing from England is known. He calls himself "about 60" in a 1659 deposition.

He commanded a military company and was Representative in the General Court on more than one occasion. He also served as a Selectman in Weymouth for many years.

Will

Capt. Thomas White Will written 5 Jul and proved 28 Aug 1679 Last will and testament of Thomas White Senr who being weak of body but of sound and perfect memory, and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do commit this soul to Almighty God, and his body to decent burial as his executor hereinafter named shall order and appoint. And for the estate now left at his disposal he doth hereby will and bequeath as followeth hereby revoking any will either by word or writing heretofore by him made, and this only to be taken as his last will and testament. Imprimus: I do first order and appoint that my funeral expenses be paid and allowed out of my estate. First: I give unto my son Joseph White all my wearing apparel; Second: I give to my son Sarmuel’s wife my great Bible; Third: I give to my granddaughter Lydia White my brass kettle to be delivered to her by my executor at my decease; Fourth: I give to my granddaughter Hannah Baxter my brass pot; Fifth: I give to my grand child, Mary White my pewter platter. I give to all my grand children five shillings in money each of them and all of them as they shall come of age, to be paid by my executor. Also I give and bequeath to my son Ebenezer White five pounds in money towards the education of my grandchild, provided my son Ebenezer brings him up to learning fit for the ministry, to be truly paid by my executor. (Go to 1. Ebenezer White II to see if this was a good investment.) I give to our reverend pastor Mr. Samuel Torrey twenty shillings in money to be paid by my executor. I give and bequeath that twenty acres remaining of the apple division of Weymouth town commons to be equally divided betwixt my Sons Samuel and Ebenezer to he apprised as money. And my will is all my money and moveables of what quantity and quality soever, shall be apprised as money and my five children, Joseph, Samuel, Thomas, Ebenezer and my daughter, Hannah shall have equal alike portions; and in case Elder Edward Bates shall be living when I decease, I give him ten shillings in money. And I also appoint my son Samuel White to be sole executor of this my last will and testament and to see that this my last will and testament is truly performed; and do request my friend Thomas Dane to be overseer that this my will be in all respects performed. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of this month July 1679 (signed) Thomas White, and seal. In the presence of Thomas Dun and William Chard.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Anderson, Robert Charles, "Thomas White" Featured name. Great Migration 1634-1635, (Vol VII, T-Y, Paged 339-42). (Online database accessed 15 January 2016. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Smith, Dean Crawford and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton, 1878-1908. (Part 1, Pages 493-506) Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996, Archive.org accessed 15 January 2016 (may be borrowed from Archive.org).

• Source: S005184 Title: Genealogies of the Early Families of Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts Author: George Walter Chamberlain, M.S. Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore: Reprint, 1984
• Source: S005186 Title: Genealogies of the Families Of Braintree, Norfolk, Mass., 1640-1850 Author: Waldo Chamberlain Sprague, AB Publication: Including the modern town of Randolph & Holbrook and the city of Quincy, after the separation from Braintree in 1792-3.
• NEHGS Register source page: Vol.54, pg.cxxx
• NEHGS Register source page: Vol.53, pg.393

• The Vinton Memorial http://books.google.com/books?id=IV8hPxRANm8C&dq=%22samuel+white%22+weymouth&jtp=365
• A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England http://books.google.com/books?id=TUGHVUEbRBoC&dq=peregrine+white+freeman&jtp=312
• The New-England Historical and Genealogical Register http://books.google.com/books?id=2wjybwOT4HAC&dq=%22Ebenezer+White%22&jtp=392
• Historical Sketch of the Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts from 1622 to 1884 http://books.google.com/books?id=mK53pupzRGsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Historical+Sketch+of+the+Town+of+Weymouth%22
• Register of the Society of Colonial Wars in the District of Columbia, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=s08ZDpggmHsC&dq=%22Anna+Pratt%22&jtp=185