White Family of Bristol

Many of that families that settle on the Surry/IOW boarder appear to be involved with the merchant/mariner trade and quite a few of them come from Bristol. In the early 1600s the port in Bristol was second only to London and conducted a significant amount of trade to the New World.

Merchants would have been involved with both the importation and exportation of goods out of Virginia. The Merchant system in Bristol at that time was based on the apprentice philosophy and many families were interconnected with each other through marriage and apprentice sponsorships. It would not be uncommon for the business to involve members of families—- fathers, sons, uncles —- both on the merchant and transportation sides of the business. Often young apprentices would accompany goods shipments on their journeys similar to today’s international business travelers, although with much longer journeys and much higher risks.

The Society of Merchant Adventurers in Bristol was in part a combination of todays’s Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. They instituted trade rules, standards, promoted trade and were highly integrated with the Bristol Government. Membership consisted of local merchants, ship owners, and ship masters.

The White family that eventually settles in IOW appear to be from this merchant trade. George White was a member of the Society ^[1](page 140) and appears to have owned several ships in the trade. His brother John White (d. 1634) also a Society member^[2](page 107), appears to have been from a family that has deep roots in the merchant trade, and his son John White (d. abt. 1658) possibility the “Merchant” of Jamestowne who eventually becomes a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses (1641) and owns a warehouse and home in the City of Jamestown in the mid 1600s.

This assumption is based in part on the Surry Tax Tithable for the Whites. Many in this area have joint tax liabilities for the properties they farm. This needs to be researched. It is possible the land owners received head-rights for settled lands and then assigned or contracted with others for the crop cultivation (generally tobacco) for export from Virginia. It appears there are several “factors” that then buy the crops (at a factor price) and arrange transportation and shipment out of Virginia. The Merchant John White may have been one of these based on the Letter to Captain Robert Shepherd in Chippoaks in 1646 talking about receipt of two hogsheads of tobacco posted from London with the letter recorded in Surry.

John White’s son, John White (d. 1679) also is involved in the trade and appears to run the business in Bristol eventually settling in Virginia after his father dies. John White, “Haberbatior of Small Wares”, is noted as a son of “John White, merchant” and is admitted as a "freeman" (ability to trade) in Bristol in 1665^[3], (page 33). He shows up on the Surry Tax Roles after his fathers death from 1674-1679 until he dies. While his Will only mentions sisters Lucy Corker and Mary White, it’s clear from the wording of the Will that a previous Will had been made and was superseded. It’s not known why, however there is a Thomas White who dies in 1694 (possibility father to the Thomas that marries Ann Moore) and our John White who dies in 1719 that could possibly be his sons and were either purposely left out of the Will or had previously received there inheritance and were not included.

Another Bristol Merchant - Thomas White Will Proved 24 Mar 1601 ^[4]

His Mother Joan Whyte Widow Will 22 Sept 1592 ^[5]The name of this testatrix suggests a reference to the will of Thomas White, of the city of Bristoll, merchant, proved inP.C.C, March 24th, 1601, Montaijuc, S, containing the words,—to son Thomas "my Ringe which I allwaies weare that S'" ffraunces Drake gave " : to daughter-in-law Alice Grice "my diamond Ring which was her mothers, and the double hoope ringe that her Mother allwaies wore which sir ffrauncs* Drake gave."

Joan Whyte may also be related to John Whyte, Merchant, Will 26 Nov. 1569 Great Orphan Wills Bristol ^[6]

Research by Walter FitzGilbert de Hamilton (https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/page/20/) suggests the following White lineage in Bristol:

John White, of Hulcote co. Bedfordshire, m. Agnes … His Will of 1501 made charitable requests to 9 churches; his sons were bequested tenements in Hulcote and Cranfield. He was evidently of considerable wealth.

Thomas White, of Cranfield.

John White, merchant, of the City of Bristol. His Will was proved May 1, 1570, by his nephew, Thomas Williams. (PCC Wells, 12). His second wife, Edith, sister of Edward Cullimore, was the mother of his children. John White’s cousin (as per Will) was Giles White, apprenticed to John Smythe, in Bristol; other of his apprentices being John Bland, son of John Bland, Merchant Tailor of London (Apprentice Book, fol. 458), and Thomas Horner, son of John Horner of Somerset (ibid., fol. 481). Therein lies the seedlings of future associations. John Bland was the ancestor of Joyce Bland, the wife of John Cogan who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; John Horner’s family ontermarried with that of Symes, under which the Fulghams were tenants. John White was of considerable wealth. John Whyte, Merchant, Will 26 Nov. 1569 Great Orphan Wills Bristol ^[7]

• Another Bristol Merchant - Thomas White Will Proved 24 Mar 1601 ^[8]

• His Mother Joan Whyte Widow Will 22 Sept 1592 ^[9]The name of this testatrix suggests a reference to the will of Thomas White, of the city of Bristoll, merchant, proved inP.C.C, March 24th, 1601, Montaijuc, S, containing the words,—to son Thomas "my Ringe which I allwaies weare that S'" ffraunces Drake gave " : to daughter-in-law Alice Grice "my diamond Ring which was her mothers, and the double hoope ringe that her Mother allwaies wore which sir ffrauncs* Drake gave."

• Joan Whyte may also be related to John Whyte, Merchant, Will 26 Nov. 1569 Great Orphan Wills Bristol ^[10]

Thomas White D.D., Fellow of Magdalen Hall Oxford; of Temple Parish, Bristol, m. 1. Fortune Knight, in 1576, 2. Elizabeth Bouge, in 1580. He d. in 1622, childless. He held a number of benefices, among which being the rectorship of St. Dunstan-in-the-West, London, for almost fifty years; wherein he is buried. He funded the building of The Temple Hospital in 1613 (Dr White’s Almshouse), located in Temple Street. He was a celebrated preacher, social reformer, and benefactor of immense proportion. He requested his trustees to provide an annual dinner on the anniversary of his birth – the “Pease and Pork dinner”, which continues to this day.

George White, merchant, died unmarried in 1634, also left many legacies. In 1631, he gifted one of the four brass pillars (the “Bristol nails”) that still stand outside the old Exchange building in Corn Street, and which were used by merchants, instead of tables, for making payments, writing letters etc.; the expression, “to pay on the nail.” He also left money to provide loans to clothiers, materials to keep the “poor at work” and for the relief of prisoners in Newgate.

• George White was a merchant adventurer, and owned ships with Humphrey Hooke, whose dau. m. Apr. 30, 1635, Mr. Giles Elbridge, of Bristol, merchant. In 1630, John Winthrop founded a settlement at Charlestown, and about the same time Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge, two Bristol merchants, founded a colony further north in Maine. “The other to the merchants of Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth for the colonization of that part of Virginia lying between 380 and 450 N. The chief organizers … among other men whose names figure on the list of pioneer colonists in Virginia are those of Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge”. (R. Hargreaves-Mawdsley, A Record of the First Settlers in the Colonies of North America, 1654-1685). The queen and John Hill v. John Aldworth, John Fones, George Lane and George White; and [blank] v. Philip Cowper, Richard Barker and Christopher Whitson. Customs due on merchandise imported by the defendants. Bristol. 41 Eliz. (Bristol Arch, E 133/9/1413).

• George White was a merchant/adventurer and member of the Merchant Ventures of Bristol^[11]. The Society, in part, promoted and financed trade with the Virginia Colony in the early 1600s.

• George White was the Society Treasurer in 1609 and a Warden in 1610 ^[12]. The Society included the Bristol families of many prominent Surry and IoW families including Hooke, Pitt, Browne, among others.

• George White dies October 23, 1634 leaving Will Geroge White Will Bristol 1634

John White, Will probated April 2, 1639^[13]. Humphrey Browne, apprenticed to (1) in 1601, John White, a Bristol merchant, whose daughter Elizabeth he married in 1611; (2) George White, merchant, aforementioned. Humphrey Browne, d. 1630, was Sheriff of Bristol, and Master of the Merchant Venturers. John White Will mentions sons John, Thomas, daughter Anne.

John White, merchant. On July 4, 1649, he patented land in IOW Co., “on a swamp running on to black water”, “on the easternmost branch pointing to Chipoaks”, later assigned to Francis England, July 26, 1652, p. 110. Previous notes have shown that Francis England stood security for a sister of Hodges Counsell, guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harros, d. 1688. John White Blackwater Third Swamp

John White, Haberbatior of Small Wares, noted as a son of “John White, merchant” when admitted as a freeman of Bristol in 1665.^[14], page 33

Thomas White, who m. Ann Moore, cousin of the wife of Francis England. Thomas White of Surry

• The will of Aldworth Elbridge (b. circa 1580), “of the city of Bristol, merchant”, Sept. 1, 1653: “Imprimis, to my cousin Thomas Moore (his executor), twenty punds of lawful English money”; meaning his br.-in-law, wife of his sister, Elizabeth, as specified in the Will. He identifies himself as son of “Giles Elbridge merchant deceased”. Thomas Moore (the executor) died in the lifetime of the testator. His son, Thomas, b. circa 1610, who “died in parts beyond the seas”, took over admin. of this estate in 1680.

• Thomas Moore Sr. and Aldworth Elbridge borrowed £50 from the bequest of John Whitson to Bristol Corporation in 1632 to loan to younger merchants (B.R.O, “Loan Money, 1648). Thomas Moore Jr. was possibly the father of Thomas Moore and: (1) George Moore (stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54), and who m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, Somerset. Administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore. (Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, transported Charles Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1650).

• He was athe br. of Katherine Moore, who m. (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Francis England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hudson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667.

• George Moore had issue: (1) Eleanor Moore, who m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on Aug. 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. (2) Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White, brothers of (I stand corrected) of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

John White, d. 1572. m. Ann Yonge. His sons all died before 1590, all leaving a son named John. it is important to note that although the following Whites were of Bedfordshire and London, they all had keen interests in Bristol, as Chancery proceedings, concering legacies to them by their kinsman, Doctor White, examplify.

Thomas White, m. Agnes …

Lawrence White, gent, d. 1600, m. 1. Jane, dau. of Anthony Rowan of Wellingborough; 2. Katherine Manley. White v George. Plaintiffs: Lawrence White of Caldecote, Buckinghamshire, gent. Defendant: John, George and John White. Subject of decree: Annuities out of lands of John White, grandfather of plaintiff, in Caldecotte and Newport, Buckinghamshire. Date of decree: 26 February 33 Eliz. 1591 Feb 26. C 78/74/2.

Thomas White, d. 1661, m. Elizabeth Fisher.

Thomas White, b. 1608, educated at Magdalen Hall, lord of the manor of Caldecot; m. Mary Rotheram. His epitaph records he was “a faithful friend”, “benefactor of the poor”; “a prudent peacemaker”; and “he didd much in a little time”. Caldecot was sold to John White in 1541 (Feet of F. Bucks. Mich. 33 Hen. VIII; Memo. R. (Exch. L.T.R.), East. 34 Hen. VIII, m. 7; Chan.) He died in possession in 1572, leaving a son and heir Thomas. (Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), clxiii, 2.) Laurence, son and heir of Thomas (Abstract of Title lent by Mr. F. W. Bull; Visit. of Bucks. (Harl. Soc.), 127; cf. Feet of F. Bucks. East. 28 Eliz.) was succeeded on his death in 1600 by his son Thomas. (Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), cclxvi, 109).

Thomas White, bapt Newton Pagnel, July 8, 1635; m Elizabeth, dau. of Sir William Bolton, lord Mayor of London. His Will was pr. June 20, 1679. Elizabeth White was the author of “The experiences of God’s gracious dealing with Mrs. Elizabeth White”, written in her own hand. It became standard reading in America – it was, essentially, a convertion-to-Puritanism narrative. She died in child-bed, Dec. 5, 1669.

Henry White, to him – Henry, Thomas, William, and John.

John White, Stationer, of London, to him – Thomas and John.

William White, “Citizen and Haberdasher of London”, of St Martin, Ludgate. His Will was dated Nov. 24, 1676. He m. 1. (at St Benet Gracechurch) Katherine Best (of St Sepulchre), 2. (Feb 13, 1654, at St Stephen’s Walbrook), Ann Juxon, widow of Arthur Juxon, salter, cousin of William Juxon, archb. of Canterbury. His Will bequested “to Thomas my son the debt now due to me from my brother John White now in Virginia beyond seas”. Thomas went to Virginia, and died there. His br., William, administered his estate, probated August 9, 1685 He was described as “dying beyond seas, bachelor”. William White, “Citizen and Haberdasher of London” sent goods to his brother John White in Nansemond Co. in October 1651.

Thomas White, died in Virginia, 1685.

William White.

John White, merchant, in Nansemond, Virginia.

(https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/white-and-moore/) suggests

John White, Governor and Artist of Roanoke, native of Bristol

https://dna-explained.com/2018/06/28/the-lost-colony-of-roanoke-did-they-survive-national-geographic-archaeology-historical-records-and-dna/

https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/page/20/

As I have pointed out, the level of inbreeding between such families of this time was extraordinary by modern standards, which makes DNA “results” very questionable as to the closeness of proposed relationships.

What is required is an open mind, not the simple repetition of beliefs so as to convince they are facts.

i. 1. John White, of Hulcote co. Bedfordshire, m. Agnes … His Will of 1501 made charitable requests to 9 churches; his sons were bequested tenements in Hulcote and Cranfield. He was evidently of considerable wealth. 1.1. Thomas White, of Cranfield. 1.1.1. John White, merchant, of the City of Bristol. His Will was proved May 1, 1570, by his nephew, Thomas Williams. (PCC Wells, 12). His second wife, Edith, sister of Edward Cullimore, was the mother of his children. John White’s cousin (as per Will) was Giles White, apprenticed to John Smythe, in Bristol; other of his apprentices being John Bland, son of John Bland, Merchant Tailor of London (Apprentice Book, fol. 458), and Thomas Horner, son of John Horner of Somerset (ibid., fol. 481). Therein lies the seedlings of future associations. John Bland was the ancestor of Joyce Bland, the wife of John Cogan who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; John Horner’s family ontermarried with that of Symes, under which the Fulghams were tenants. John White was of considerable wealth. 1.1.1.1. John White, Will probated April 2, 1639. Humphrey Browne, apprenticed to (1) in 1601, John White, a Bristol merchant, whose dau., Elizabet, he m. in 1611; (2) George White, merchant, aforementioned. Humphrey Browne, d. 1630, was Sheriff of Bristol, and Master of the Merchant Venturers. 1.1.1.3.1.1. John White, noted as a son of “John White, merchant” when admitted as a freeman of Bristol in 1665. 1.1.1.3.1.1.1. (I reasonably assume) Thomas White, who m. Ann Moore, cousin of the wife of Francis England. 1.1.1.3.1.1.1.1. John White 1.1.1.3.1.1.1.2. Thomas White. 1.1.1.3.1.1.1.2.1. Ann White, m. Josiah Holliman, son of William Holliman and Mary Chambers. 1.1.1.3.1.1.1.3. Avis White, m. John Harris (son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688). The will of Robert Harris: I Give unto my sons Robert, John, Michael, Charles, Joseph, James and Mathew* (see as follows) all my Smiths tools to be equally divided amongst them. Executor: son Michael Harris. Witnesses: John Dunkley & Josiah Holliman. R. April 28, 1740. 1.1.1.3.1.1.1.4. Ann White.

ii. The will of Aldworth Elbridge (b. circa 1580), “of the city of Bristol, merchant”, Sept. 1, 1653: “Imprimis, to my cousin Thomas Moore (his executor), twenty punds of lawful English money”; meaning his br.-in-law, wife of his sister, Elizabeth, as specified in the Will. He identifies himself as son of “Giles Elbridge merchant deceased”. Thomas Moore (the executor) died in the lifetime of the testator. His son, Thomas, b. circa 1610, who “died in parts beyond the seas”, took over admin. of this estate in 1680.

iii. Thomas Moore Sr. and Aldworth Elbridge borrowed £50 from the bequest of John Whitson to Bristol Corporation in 1632 to loan to younger merchants (B.R.O, “Loan Money, 1648). Thomas Moore Jr. was possibly the father of Thomas Moore and: (1) George Moore (stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54), and who m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, Somerset. Administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore. (Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, transported Charles Barcroft, IOW, 1650).

iv. He was the br. of Katherine Moore, who m. (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, in 1642. (2) Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White, brothers of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

(1.2. John White. Inventory of the goods of John White of Bristol, in possession of Roger Jones, executor. Also inventory of John White’s goods in possession of Gyles White, executor, April 4, 1559. (Bristol Arcives, AC/36074/61).

v.

https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/white-and-moore/

My view of the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, is partly concerned with his likely knowing Hodges Counsell, of Wedmore, the guardian of his son, and the likely connection of his family to that of Branch, and, thus, Francis England, as given previously. However, as also previously given, some researchers point to the shared associations of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Thomas Harris, d. 1688, to suggest a father and son relationship. Whatever the case, they were closely associated with a number of Bristol merchants, whose families were often closely intermarried, or of peripheral kinship. Two such being those of White and Moore, and it is not fanciful to suggest that their descendants settled in Virginia.

White v White. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth White widow (of George White, Will probated October 23, 1634; Treasurer of the Merchant Venturers, 1610, and who bequested the founding of his charity – M.S). Defendants: George White (son – M.S) and others. Subject: property in St Thomas and St Mary le Port, Bristol, Gloucestershire. 1641. George White of Bristol, merchant. Lease of a tenement in Redcliffe street, to Thomas Cecell,* of Bristol. 1628. (Bristol Archives, 9835/2/e). George White jr. was a probable br. of John White (merchant), given here: White v White. Plaintiffs: John White. Defendants: George White. Subject: property in Bristol, Gloucestershire. 1660. (N.A, C 6/162/173).

John White was the father of “John White, haberdasher”,* who was admitted to the “Liberties of this Cittie” (Bristol) on March 31, 1665. (Patrick McGrath, ed.. Merchants and Merchandise in Seventeenth-century Bristol, vol. 19, p. 34, 1955). George White’s apprentice, freed of him in 1610, was Humphrey Browne, of St Walburge, Bristol; his Will dated Jan. 27 1630. He m. Elizabeth White, his Master’s daughter; his br. and heir being Francis Browne, aged 50. The family were armigerous, and owned property throughout Gloucestershire, and the manors of Greucastle and Laugaine, in Carmarthenshire.

George White Sr. was a merchant adventurer, and owned ships with Humphrey Hooke, whose dau. m. Apr. 30, 1635, Mr. Giles Elbridge, of Bristol, merchant. In 1630, John Winthrop founded a settlement at Charlestown, and about the same time Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge, two Bristol merchants, founded a colony further north in Maine. “The other to the merchants of Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth for the colonization of that part of Virginia lying between 380 and 450 N. The chief organizers … among other men whose names figure on the list of pioneer colonists in Virginia are those of Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge”. (R. Hargreaves-Mawdsley, A Record of the First Settlers in the Colonies of North America, 1654-1685). George White (Sr. and Jr.) were probably related to William White: Feoffment and co-part. 1. *Thomas Cicell, late sheriff, William White, sen. tanner, and George Davis, feltmaker, surviving feoffees. 2. Hierom Ham, gent. and Henry Pirry, yeo. Church lands (not specified). 1620. (Bristol Archive, P/St.MR/D/1/4/a-b).

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs19.pdf
2. ↑ https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs19.pdf
3. ↑ https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs19.pdf
4. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/925094:5111?tid=&pid=&queryId=dfdaefcffc1bb7cddde1056557860ea0&_phsrc=QcO1426&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/notesorabstract00wadl/page/264/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=white
6. ↑ https://archive.org/details/notesorabstract00wadl/page/202/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=white
7. ↑ https://archive.org/details/notesorabstract00wadl/page/202/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=white
8. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/925094:5111?tid=&pid=&queryId=dfdaefcffc1bb7cddde1056557860ea0&_phsrc=QcO1426&_phstart=successSource
9. ↑ https://archive.org/details/notesorabstract00wadl/page/264/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=white
10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/notesorabstract00wadl/page/202/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=white
11. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Merchant_Venturers
12. ↑ https://archive.org/details/historyofsociety00latiuoft/page/340/mode/2up?q=white
13. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5111/images/40611_310924-00015?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=QcO1220&_phstart=successSource&pId=875470
14. ↑ https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs19.pdf