John White b. 1609 Isle of Wight

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''Hypothesis: John White b. Abt 1609, son of John White d. 1639 Bristol Merchant ''

It is also possible that this is the same John White that marries Eady Llewellen daughter of Thomas Llewellen in Isle of Wight and is known as “John White from Lower Norfolk County, yeoman”.

Finally, it is possible that this John White is the father of John White d. 1719 Isle of Wight who has documented descendants to the Quaker lines that populated Isle of Wight and Nansmound Counties in the late 1600s, particularly around Pagan Creek and Chuckatuck.

The following is an analysis of this hypothesis.

Possible Transport

John White Bristol Merchant d. 1639 mentions three children in his 1639 Will sons John and Thomas, and a daughter Anne.

A John White age 21 sails on the America 23rd Jun 1635^[1] sponsored by John Moone. John Moone is the father of Sarah (Moone) Pitt wife of John Pitt. John Moone sponsors many arrivals in 1635.^[2]

Two months later a Thomas White age 16 and a Ann Whits age 19 sails on the George 21 Aug 1635.

Also on this voyage is a William Scott age 24.^[3] It’s possible this is William Scott, the mariner ^[4] who is believed to be the father of William Scott, and grandfather of John Scott. John Scott and son William Scott we’re both Quakers and mentioned in the records of the Chuckatuck Society of Friends. ^[5]

It is also possible that the John White born in Bristol in 1609 is the son of John White Bristol Merchant d. 1639 and could have migrated to Virginia under a sponsorship of Daniel Llewellen ^[6] brother of Thomas Llewellen and Uncle to Eady Llewellen. (This needs to be reviewed as sponser county location and date are not legible).

1.1.2.1.1. Robert West. 1.1.2.1.2. Mary West, m. William Green, br. of Mary (Greene) Davis. Mary is named as “Mary Green” in her father’s Will, probated Feb. 9, 1708/9 in IOW; son of Thomas Green and Mary Moone; half-sister Sarah Moone, wife of Colonel John Pitt, see hereinafter.

Merchant Adventurers - Bristol Early 1600s

John White Bristol Merchant d. 1639. was a Bristol Merchant and a member of The Society of Merchant Adventurers ^[7]. In 1665 his son John White, “Haberbatior of Small Wares”, noted as a son of “John White, merchant” and was admitted as a "freeman" (ability to trade) in Bristol.^[8]

John White Bristol Merchant d. 1639 is likely a brother to George White Merchant d. 1634 who is also a member of the Society ^[9] serving as the Treasurer (1609) and a Warden (1610) and appears to have owned several ships in the trade business with Humphrey Hooke and Humphrey Browne ^[10]. George leaves a Will in 1615 and appears to have been very successful leaving substantial charitable contributions to the City of Bristol.

Another Merchant Adventurer and possibility father to the above is Thomas White Bristol Merchant d. 1601 who leaves a Will in 1601 identifying sons Thomas, John, and James. He was also very prosperous leaving a significant charity. His Will also identifies a “book of travels” and leaves a ring given to him by Sir Frances Drake, the early explorer.

Members of the Bristol Merchant Adventurers were generally merchant wholesalers who facilitated the import/export of goods from the port of Bristol. The Adventurers had stringent requirements for membership and worked within an apprentice system. As this was a system based on long-term relations and trust and they tended to favor membership to family members widely connected to each other. Adventurer families settling in Virginia (along the border of today’s Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties) included the families of Francis England , Christopher Lewis, Robert Flack, Robert Pitt, and John Moore. Significant Adventurers are identified in the attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations”.

Land Related to John White b. 1609

A search of the Library of Virginia Land Patents and Grants for Isle of Wight yields the following related party transactions in this area for an a John White appearing on several other grants as a reference location or for other property grants as "from John White property" or "land assigned by John White" although a search for an original John White grant is not found. One must presume a John White owned property near the other grants and the original land records for John White appear to have been lost or destroyed:

1649: FRANCIS ENGLAND, 946 acres, 26 July 1652. 746 lying on a swamp running to Blackwater along Capt. Pierce’s marked trees, 200 acres lying at Blackwater upon the Eastermost branch pointing to Upper Chipoaks in James City bounded upon land of Francis England to land of Peter Hull. 746 by former pat. 20 June 1642 and 200 by assignment of a pat. from John White dated 4 July 1649.^[11]

1664: FRANCIS ENGLAND, 2366 acres 29 Sept., 1664. 946 by a former patent and 120 acres by another pat. both dated 13 Jan., 1661. 400 acres of the residue beg. at his own land and running south adj. to 200 he purchased of John White, both of these beginning at the mount of Hills Branch. 700 acres beg. at his 120 acres pat. running Ne. to Robert Eleys, to the head of Taberer’s branch and down the same to Chris. Lewis. For trans. 26 pers. including himself, Joyce, his wife and George Cripps.^[12]

The location of these likely John White b. 1609 properties are identified in the attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations” as red circles.

John White b. 1609 Merchant/haberdasher from Bristol

It's possible that John White was also a merchant/trader in the region (IOW/Nansemond/Lower Norfolk) facilitating the importation/export of goods to Bristol. It would have been typical for a young apprentice to serve seven years with a Merchant prior to being released to practice a trade of his own. Apprentices were typically young boys (15 years old) when they entered service. If so he would have likely been a frequent traveler up and down the James and its tributaries of Pagan Creek, Chuckatuck Creek, and Nansemond Rivers facilitating or factoring trade between the Colony and Bristol. Once established, he would have been in a position to sponsor others, receiving property and land in return. The grant above suggests a patent in 1642. He would have been about 33 years old and possibility starting a family. It’s unclear if he farmed this land, but it is likely he may have had a homestead on this location given the apparent association with others around him.

Interestingly, the Quaker Henry White is shown in close proximity to John White b. 1609 (identified in the attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations” as a blue circle). Henry White is generally accepted as the progenitor of the Quaker line that migrates into Pasquotank, NC. Another significant Quaker migration has been documented from the John White d.1719 that moves into Perquimans, NC. Y-DNA analysis from the I-FT410059 Project ^[13] indicates that while these two lines are from the same haplogroup, they do not share a common ancestor for at least 1000 years [this analysis needs to be caveated by the fact that only one claimed Henry White ancestor has been identified]. Therefore, if John White b.1609 and John White d. 1719 are related, this would necessarily indicate that Henry White and John White b.1609 are not closely related.

The Pitts and Whites appear to have some association with Bristol mariners.

Robert Pitt of Bristol and Isle of Wight, like several of his family was at first a mariner and captain of a privateer of Bristol named the "Thunder" in the war of 1628 against France in aid of the Hugenots. (Bristol Privateers, Powell, p. 84). Robert Pitt brother William Pitt is part owner in "The John Baptist" with Humphrey Browne and the "Supply" with Humphrey Hooke ^[14] and both have related transactions with George White Bristol Merchant.

Another recorded transaction identifies "Wm. Lustfi of Bristol, mariner stands bound to John Brewer of Isle of W. for 58 £ 16 s. 20 Mar. 1663. Valentine Lucas, Sarah Marshall, Thomas Wright. Wmr Hammonds of Bristol, mariner stands bound to Mr. John Brewer for 357 £ 28 s. 28 ApL 1663. Thos. Pitt, Hen. Pitt, Jno. White."^[15]. Captain Henry Pitt and son Captain Thomas Pitt and John White b.1609 witness the transaction for John Brewer.

Henry Pitt son of Captain Thomas Pitt will be a witness to John White d.1719 asset valuation (possible son of John White b,1609) and appear in the Quaker Monthly Minutes at Chuckatuck ^[16].

The Moores and Whites also appear to have an association.

There were several members of the Moore family engaged as Merchant Adventurers in Bristol, including: John Moore ^[17] a woolen Draper who has a close relationship and William Browne of Bristol, also a merchant; Edward Moore a merchant and his son Thomas Moore Sr. a factor ^[18] and Thomas Moore Jr. who "died in parts beyond the seas"^[19]

Walter FitzGilbert de Hamilton ^[20]concludes that Thomas Moore, Jr. was the father of George Moore.

Boddie in Historical Southern Families Vol. 1 (page 21) identifies Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 married to Ann (Moore) White daughter of George Moore which is validated by George Moore's Will. In 1669 George Moore was shown with 1400 acres in IOW along what is now the Surrey/IOW border. His neighbors include Robert Flack, Christopher Lewis, and Francis England, all Bristol Merchants (identified as #5 on attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations”).

Given the geographic proximity of John White b. 1609's property to George Moore and the Bristol and Somerset ties of the Moore and White families it could be possible that Thomas White might be the son or brother of John White b. 1609 - the Merchant/haberdasher from Bristol.

Additionally, the FamilytreeDNA Group Project I-FT410059 ^[21](includes 21 Y-DNA samples) indicates a surnamed participant named "Moore" (KIT 84276) who has "White" DNA matching a common ancestor to the earliest known White ancestors in Virginia. This would be consistent with a child born to a "White" raised/adopted by a family surnamed "Moore" (perhaps a younger child).

John White b. 1609 and Eady Llewellen

Very little documentation has been found regarding the John White that is married to Eady Llewellen. In Court proceedings filed In Isle of Wight he identifies himself from the “Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, yeoman”. The proceedings indicate he and Eady are involved in a legal dispute and/or resolution of property related to her estate (transcript attached).

He is apparently involved in a legal dispute regarding property belonging to Eady Llewellen, daughter of Thomas Llewellen (deceased) and Mary(deceased?), and is involved in a settlement regarding these items that are due his deceased wife Eady Llewellen from Paul Luke who remarries Mary after her father’s death. John White gives his “beloved friend” Anthony Binford of Chuckatuck his power of attorney to transact his business to settle his affairs. The proceeding says that Thomas Llewellen has “dies without issue” implying Eady Llewellen had died prior to 1664.

Witness to the court document isThomas Browne possibly related to the Bristol Merchant family and possibility a trader. Another witness is John Hill who may also be from the Bristol Merchant family. A John Hill and Thomas Browne appear to have been staunch Puritans and were likely members of the 1649 Elizabeth River Church vestry^[22]. There was also a sheriff John Hill in IOW who was generally known for his persecution of the Quakers^[23]. Its unclear if John Hill is witnessing this transaction in an official capacity or as a friend. If so, it would be unlikely that John White b. 1609 was an open Quaker. Although during the early period of Quakerism there were likely many people who had changing beliefs.

His “Beloved Friend” appears to be Anthony Binford (Bonford) godson of Anthony Jones, Burgess of Isle of Wight in 1639 and 1641-42. Jones had considerable land on Pagan Point and also at the southernmost point of Cross Creek (identified as #4 on attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations”) . Binford, while not a Quaker, is reported to have associated with many Quakers and lives in Chuckatuck. One can assume he would be in the proximity of his Godparent and he must have known John White for some period of time as he is a “beloved friend”. The description of "beloved friend" is interesting given that during the evolution of Quakerism a "Friend" was a fellow Quaker.

In July 1665 Paul Luke received 750 acres upon the head of the branch of Pagan Cr. Formerly belonging to WM. CRANNAGE and after his death to THOMAS LUELLIN, both dying without issue, land was granted to PAUL LUKE who married the relict of said Luellin. (Boddie, p681). (identified as #3 on attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations”)

What is interesting is that the location of George Moore’s land (identified as #5 on attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations”), of John White’s Land - by reference to the Francis England assignment and patent in 1665 (identified in the attached plot map “John White b.1609 Locations” as red circles), the location of Thomas Llewellen’s estate (shown on the map as Paul Luke in 1665 and identified as #3), and the location of “Trusted Friend” Anthony Binford at Cross Creek (identified as #4) are within four miles of John White’s land. By association and proximity, this makes it highly possible that the John White that owned the land assigned to Francis England could be the same John White married to Eady Llewellen. Lastly, these transactions occur in 1664/1665.

John White was married to Eady Llewellen and assignes power of attorney to wrap up her legal affairs/property. Francis England patents land formerly owned by John White in 1665 (presumably after a sale from John White). This would imply he is leaving the area.

Finally, as previously mentioned, in 1665 John White, “Haberbatior of Small Wares”, noted as a son of “John White, merchant d.1639” and was admitted as a "freeman" (ability to merchant trade) in Bristol in 1665^[24]. This might might imply John has moved to Bristol.

John White d. 1719 association to John White b. 1609

So the question becomes could John White b.1609 have left behind children (from a prior marriage) John White, d. 1719 and/or a brother Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 when he returned to Bristol?

We know there is a John White, d. 1719 in Isle of Wight who has been documented as the father of many of the Quaker lines. Again, very little in the way of documentation can be found for him but it is possible to make some association by conjecture.

If he is related to John White b. 1609, the father was obviously married previously and he is the son of that relationship. If John White, d. 1719 were born around 1650, he would have been 15 at the time of his father’s departure for England. He would have been established in Virginia and would have likely stayed behind – particularly if he had family/or near family to stay with (like the Moores).

It's possible that Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 was a brother to John White d. 1609 (the Thomas that immigrated with sister Anne and brother John in 1635) or maybe that Thomas had a son Thomas) that married Ann (Moore) White . The estate of Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 and Ann (Moore) White was appraised in July 1742. If his younger brother Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 was born in say 1652 he would have lived to be 90— unlikely in 1700. It's also possible he predeceased Ann (Moore) White by many years and the estate was not valued until she died. In any event further research on Thomas White/Ann Moore is needed, particularly Y-DNA descendants. At this point, we have no identified Y-DNA descendants from Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 that could prove this theory.

If John White, d. 1719 had a living brother Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 at the time of his death, it’s curious that he would not be a witness on his 1719 Will. Although Thomas White d. Bef. 1742 appears to have settled on the Surry/IOW boarder and John White, d. 1719 has ties to the Quakers in Chuckatuck and Nansmound.

John White b.1609 also appears to have ties to Quakers and the areas Quakers populated at the time identifying his beloved friend Anthony Binford of Chuckatuck and marrying Eady Llewellen whose father’s property was at the headwater of Pagan Creek.

John White, d. 1719 to appears to have several associations with Pagan Creek and Chuckatuck, including:

-William Scott b. 1683 is likely the son of John Scott b. 1660 of Chuckatuck^[25]

-John White, d. 1719 will identify son-in-law William Scott b. 1683 as married to daughter Elizabeth Scott in his Will. William Scott b. 1683 was previously married to Christian Jordan b.1689 who dies in childbirth in 1708

-Documents from the Quaker Monthly Meetings - Chuckatuck, document the marriage intention of Thomas White to Rachael Jordan, 13 Sep 1719, and include as witnesses, William Scott, Elizabeth Scott, Cornelius Radcliffe, and Sarah White.

-Documents from Piney Woods, NC Quaker Meetings identify the marriage of John White d.1730 and Sara Clare on 7 Aug 1717. Witnesses include John White, d. 1719 , William Scott, Cornelius Radcliffe, and Sarah White.

-Documents from the Quaker Monthly Meetings - Chuckatuck, document the marriage intention of Cornelius Radcliffe to Elizabeth Jordan, 23 Nov 1731 and include as witnesses, William Scott, and Rachael White, and William Outland.

-Will witnessed by John Pitt (possibly merchant family) and William West (son of William West Bacon’s Rebellion).

Finally, two items stand out as prized possessions from John White, d. 1719 will:

-he leaves silver spoons with a mark IM

–he leaves a bolt of fancy fabric to each of the boys for a suit - a remnant from his father’s life as a “Haberbatior of Small Wares”/haberdasher?

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/america.htm
2. ↑ John White Early Immigrant by Sponsor and Arrival Date
3. ↑ https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/george.htm
4. ↑ https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/2024/05/16/harris-and-white-chuckatuck-quakers/
5. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1101754718:2189?tid=46695946&pid=162338057319&queryId=57b1de48-247e-49df-8412-6c6ce43481c2&_phsrc=YFe59&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=tFRQBFYYBmoC&pg=PA226&lpg=PA226&dq=Midlemane+George+isle+of+wight&source=bl&ots=P0R06Yqmeg&sig=ACfU3U2vKpQ1tRFnBH4R9zTFKDZIve-utQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZkPiO2vyFAxVjjokEHeqkDdsQ6AF6BAg6EAM#v=onepage&q=Midlemane%20George%20isle%20of%20wight&f=false
7. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 107) McGrath, 1955
8. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 33) McGrath, 1955
9. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 140) McGrath, 1955
10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 53) McGrath, 1955
11. ↑ https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990008403190205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA&lang=en&search_scope=MyInstitution_noAER&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=LibraryCatalog&query=any,contains,Francis%20England&offset=0
12. ↑ https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma990007514330205756&context=L&vid=01LVA_INST:01LVA&lang=en&search_scope=MyInstitution_noAER&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=LibraryCatalog&query=any,contains,Francis%20England&offset=0
13. ↑ https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/i-ft410059/activity-feed
14. ↑ .https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19/page/210/mode/2up?q=pitt
15. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/25644/images/dvm_LocHist010570-00295-0?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=YFe1&pId=578&backlabel=Return&queryId=9d71288d03320e18091f77dc9ae186ac&rcstate=dvm_LocHist010570-00281-0%3A450%2C2573%2C693%2C2631%3B950%2C3052%2C1105%2C3124%3B1477%2C3242%2C1672%2C3315%3B1170%2C426%2C1367%2C483%3B1497%2C519%2C1697%2C578%3B304%2C628%2C504%2C686%3B808%2C819%2C1009%2C877%3B677%2C919%2C878%2C976%3B264%2C1019%2C428%2C1077%3B194%2C1309%2C358%2C1367%3B197%2C1602%2C361%2C1659%3B862%2C1595%2C1054%2C1668%3B1207%2C1884%2C1406%2C1941%3B1216%2C2371%2C1411%2C2430%3B284%2C2576%2C450%2C2633
16. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1101754304:2189?ranMID=50138&ranEAID=4026539&ranSiteID=Xib7NfnK11s-Otlnaa9BETK1UVrdjSTzqA&o_xid=0004026539&o_lid=0004026539&o_sch=Affiliate%20External
17. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 69) McGrath, 1955
18. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 253) McGrath, 1955
19. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 57) McGrath, 1955
20. ↑ https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/white-and-moore/
21. ↑ https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/i-ft410059/activity-feed
22. ↑ Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight, p. 59
23. ↑ Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight, p. 113
24. ↑ https://archive.org/details/bristol-record-society-19 Merchants and Merchandise In Seventeenth Century Bristol, (Page 33) McGrath, 1955
25. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1101754718:2189?tid=46695946&pid=162338057319&queryId=57b1de48-247e-49df-8412-6c6ce43481c2&_phsrc=YFe59&_phstart=successSource