Elder John White of Hartford

Birth: About 1597, son of Robert and Bridget (Allgar) White of Messing, Essex [NEHGR 55:22-31].

Biographical Summary #1:

John White is referred to as "Elder John White," having been one of the first Puritan settlers of Cambridge, MA, USA and Hartford, CT, USA.

He arrived in the port of Boston on the ship Lyon, from London, England, on June 22, 1632.

On April 9, 1671, John and his wife Mary were received into the Hartford Second Church, Hartford, CT, USA, after having been dismissed from the church in Hadley, MA, USA.

SOURCE: Unknown

Biographical Summary #2:

Came from England, in the ship Lyon, which sailed from London, June 22, 1632, and arrived in New England, Sept. 16, following. He settled in Cambridge, was adm. freeman, March 4, 1633, and rem. prob. in June, 1636 to Hartford, of which town he was an original proprietor. He was one of the first settlers of Hadley, and Representative, 1664 and 1669. About 1670, he returned to Hartford, where he was an Elder in the South Church, and d. between Dec. 17, 1683 and Jan. 23, 1684.

SOURCE: Unknown

Biographical Summary #3:

Shalford, Essex, England is a parish that derived it’s name from an ancient ford over the river Blackwater, by which it is bounded on the east. The town is about three miles long and two miles wide. The soil is some parts is a loam mixed with sand, and in other parts a heavy wet loam on a substratum of brown clay. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king’s books at seven pounds. The Church (St. Andrews) is an ancient edifice, with a square embattled tower. It was from this town that John White and his wife Mary (Leavitt) White and their children Mary and Nathaniel came to American in 1632. They sailed on the ship “Lyon” or “Lion” from London on June 22, 1632 and arrived in New England the following September 16th.

They first settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he was admitted freeman March 4, 1633. On about June 1636 they decided to move to Hartford, Connecticut of which town he was an original propietor. It was while in Hartford that he became one of the Puritan members that disagreed with his Church (Congregtional) on their policies of baptism. He was one of the signers of a request for a hearing on the matter and after which, since their efforts failed to change the view point of the majority of the Church, he among others withdrew from the Church.

These “withdrawers” decided to buy a portion of Massachusetts wilderness where they might practice and believe in peace. The old Indian Chiefs Chickwallopp, Umppanchala, and Quonquont were ready to sell their ancient heritage and the “withdrawers” were eager to buy. The bargain was concluded – each Chief putting his “x” on the deed – and the withdrawers (who call themselves “strict Congregationalists”) were ready to move themselves and their families out of Connecticut and onto their newly purchased land in Massachuessetts. They appointed John White, Wm. Westwood, Richard Goodman, Nathaniel Dickinson, and a Wm. Lewis to “go up to the aforesaid plantation and layout 59 homelots. Most of them had not seen the land that was to become their new home.

These men were men of wealth and learning and had held responsible positions which they released for their conscience’s sake. Among the leaders was John Webster, a former governor of Connecticut, and one of the commissioners of the United Colonies.

The “withdrawers” who had met again and decided to call themselves the “Engagers”, began their journey northward into the wilderness with great difficulty. The “Great Falls” prevented travel by water and the Nolyoke Mountain stood squarely across the most direct route by land. Undaunted, however, they packed their household goods in Ox carts, made nests for their children in the feather mattresses in the Ox carts, each wife was mounted behind her husband on a pillion, and thus they plodded to Windsor, through Waranoke (now Westfield), toward Northhampton, a new town which was to be their western neighbor.

Once at their destination, they decide to do everything decently and in order and thus methodically went about the business of laying out the town of Hadley. The town was laid out on both sides of the river; and among these of our direct ancestry who lived on the west side of the river were John White’s sons John Jr. & Daniel. John White Sr. and the remainder of the family lived on the eastern side of the river.

The first winter, the heads of the families and their sons were obliged to hunt on the mountains and fish in the rivers through the ice for their food. They also traded with the friendly Indian Chief Quonquont and his tribe who lived to the north along the river.

General Burgoyne passed through this town of Hadley, which was the only occasion during the war that the British were in that particular area. Later, in pursuit of Daniel Shays and his adherents of rebellion, a General Lincoln with three thousand troops made camp in Hadley on January 13, 1787, a Sunday. The townsmen built a pulpit of snow in the out of doors and there the soldiers kept the Sabbath after the good old fashion.

After the rebellion was quelled, it was decided to build a new meeting house. Among those appointed on the general committee where John’s sons Nathaniel and Daniel White. One thing that had been determined about the new meeting house was that it should have no room under it for the geese, sheep or mischievous boys. Nearly every family in Hadley had a flock of geese which on sunny days crowded under the meeting house, making such a commotion that it was difficult to hear the preaching within.

John White Sr. was a deputy of Hadley in 1664 and 1669, and a representative in the general assembly. In 1671 he returned to Hartford, Connecticut where he was an Elder in the South Church. A clipping in the following page indicates the depth of the Pastor’s feeling toward John White; a feeling evidently reciprocated by John White, as I note that he remembered the pastor in his will.

John White made his will December 17, 1683, and since it was probated the following January 23rd, it is evident that his death occurred within that five week period. No death date has been found (as yet) on his wife Mary, thought it is known that she was still living in 1666.

SOURCE: Email from Peggy Kovacic, Orange Park, Fl

Biographical Summary #4:

He sailed from London accompanied by his wife and at least two children about June 22, 1632 and arrived at Boston, Massachusetts September 16, 1632. He located at Cambridge, Massachusetts and engaged in farming.

He was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts in 1633 and was elected a Selectman of Cambridge in the first town election. In 1636 the main body of the religious group that had settled at Cambridge, moved to and settled Hartford, Connecticut. John White was chosen one of the Selectmen of Hartford in 1642 and again in 1646, 1651, and 1656.

In 1659 as a result of religious differences with the church at Hartford, John White and others moved to and founded Hadley, Massachusetts. He returned to Hartford in 1671 and was ordained Ruling Elder of the church in 1677.

John White was married in England, a few years before he came to Massachusetts. His wife’s name was Mary but nothing else is known of her except that she was living in 1666. She dies before her husband, probably after his return to Hartford. He died in January 1684 and his will is on file at Hartford.

SOURCE: Unknown

Sources

1. Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33 results for John White
2. CROW-LEWIS-GOODWIN From the files of Stephen M. Lawson - White ancestry

   ---

   
   

This White family were descendants of Lord John White, Lord Mayor of London

• Immigration: 1632 - On the ship, "Lyon" to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Immigration: Sep 16 1632 - Arrived in Boston,MA on the ship "Lion"
• Residence: Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States - Apr 18 1659
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 30 2016, 1:03:28 UTC

    ---

    
    

John White[1] Title

Elder, appointed in 1671 at the 2nd Church, at Hartford, Connecticut[1] Immigration to New England

Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts in the Year 1632[1] Sailed from England on the ship Lyon, on 22 June 1632[2] and arrived at Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday, 16 Sept. after eight weeks at sea (and twelve weeks on board).[2] Oath of Allegiance

22 June 1632 Freeman

4 March 1632/3 Residence

1597 - 1622, Shalford, Essex, England 1622 - 1632, Messing, Essex, England 1632 - 1635, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1635 - 1659, Hartford, Connecticut 1659 - 1671, Hadley, Massachusetts 1671 - 1684, Hartford, Connecticut Birth

John White, son of Robert White, yeoman of Messing, Essex, England, was probably born at Shalford, Essex, where his father lived from the time of his marriage to Bridget Allgar, June 24, 1585 until his death in 1617.[3] John's baptism record has not been found. His birth is estimated by Anderson to be about 1597.[1] Death

Death: 23 JAN 1683/4 Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut[1] Marriage and Children

John White married Mary Levit 26 Dec 1622, at Messing, Essex, England, [3] as recorded in the parish register. John White and Mary Levit had eight children:[1] John White baptized 28 Dec 1623, Messing, Essex, England. No further record. Mary White baptized 16 Jul 1626 at Messing, Essex, England, died 16 Dec 1650; married Jonathan Gilbert. Phillip White baptized 21 Dec 1628; Philip is identified as a daughter in her baptism record, Messing, Essex, England. No further record.[3] Nathaniel White born about 1630, died 27 Aug 1711. He married first Elizabeth Unknown. He married second the widow Martha (Coit) Mould. John (again) White born about 1636, died 15 Apr 1665; married SARAH BUNCE, before 1659 probably at Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Daniel White born about 1638, died 27 Jul 1713, married Sarah Crow Sarah White born about 1641, died 10 Aug 1702. She married first Stephen Taylor of Hatfield who was buried on 8 Sep 1655 in Hatfield. She married second Barnabas Hinsdale of Hatfield on 15 Oct 1666. He was slain by the Indians on 18 Sep 1675. She married third Walter Hickson of Hatfield. Jacob White born at Hartford 8 Oct 1645, died before 12 Dec 1701. He married Elizabeth Bunce. John's Parents and His Siblings

Marriage 24 JUN 1585 Shalford, ESS, England Husband: Robert White Wife: Bridget Allgar Child: Sarah White Child: Nathaniel White Child: Mary White Child: Elizabeth White Child: Bridgett White Child: John White Child: Anna (Rosanna) White John, his wife Mary, and children Nathaniel and Mary immigrated to America on the ship "Lyon", leaving England 22 Jun 1632. Three of John White's sisters came to New England with their husbands - Mary, wife of John Loomis; Elizabeth, wife of William Goodwin; and Anne, wife of John. John and his family arrived in New England, September 16, 1632. They settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John was admitted freeman on March 4, 1633. They lived on 30 acres of land on "Cow Yard Row". The library building of Harvard University now stands on this property. He was appointed surveyor of highways, Cambridge on 3 Nov 1634 and one of the first selectmen 3 Feb 1634/1635. With Thomas Hooker in June, 1636, they joined a group of men, women and children that left Cambridge and traveled through wilderness 110 miles to Hartford, Connecticut, with no guide but a compass. Some of the women were carried on litters. They drove 160 head of cattle and carried on their backs their packs, arms and utensils. The journey took nearly a fortnight. John White appears as one of the original proprietors. His lands were a 2 acre homelot, 40 acres of meadow, 32 acres of uplands, 10 acres of swamp, and 150 acres of upland on Hockanum (east of the Great River). In 1642 he was chosen one of the selectmen [or orderers], and again in 1646, 1651, 1656. After Rev Hooker's death in 1647 there were dissentions in the church at Harford between Rev Stone and Elder Goodwin. They were unable to settle their differences and eventually on Apr 18, 1659, 60 persons from Hartford and Wethersfield signed an agreement to remove to Hadley. John White was 5th on that list so was probably one of the leaders of the movement. He was among those selected to go and lay out homelots. He served as selectman in 1662, 1663 and 1665. In 1664 and 1669 he served as Deputy or Representative to the General Court or Legislature of Massachusetts at Boston. John became a selectman in Hartford and Hadley as well as Deputy for Hadley to the Massachusetts Bay General Court, 3 Aug 1664, and 19 May, 1669. He returned to Hartford by 1671 after he was dismissed from the Hadley church. He joined the Second Church at Hartford, where he became elder of the church. In 1676 and '77 he and his eldest son Nathaniel {of Middletown} were members of a council called to try to heal the church difficulties. John is listed on the obelisk erected in 1837 in the Center Church Burial Ground in Hartford as an original founder of the town. In his will, dated 17 December 1683 and proved 6 March 1683/4, "Mr. John White of Hartford" bequeathed to son Nathaniel £30, movables, and part of "my ox pasture"; to son Daniel White £20; to son Jacob White part of "my ox pasture" and moveables; "I empower my executor to give to my daughter Hixton according to his discretion as he shall see her need calls for"; "and whereas formerly I intended to give one parcel of meadow land in great Ponset to Stephen Taylor, yet now being forced to pay a great sum of money for the redemption of his house & home lot, I now see cause to dispose of that land for payment of that debt, and shall leave it to my executor with the advice of the overseers to give either to him or the rest of my daughter Hixton's children as he shall see cause"; to "my grandchild Stephen Taylor" various moveables; to "Sarah White the daughter of my son Nathanaell" £5; to "the Reverend Mr. John Whiting my honored pastor" £5; residue to be divided "among my grandchildren (viz) Jonathan Gilbert son of my daughter Mary, my son Nathaniell's children, my son John's children, my son Daniell's children & my daughter Sarah['s] children, their sons to have as much more as their daughters"; "my wearing apparel be divided amongst my sons"; "my son Nathaniell White" to be sole executor and "my beloved friends Ensign Nathaniell Stanly and Stephen Hosmer" to be overseers The inventory of the estate of Elder John White deceased 23 January 1683[/4]" totalled £190 9s., of which £48 was real estate: "his lots in the west division," £12; "his oxpasture lying on the east side of the highway leading to Wathersfeld," £18; and "his oxpasture lying on the west side of the highway leading to Wathersfeld" Came in ship "Lyon" in 1632. Harvard University Library was built on his house lot. Left England 22 Jun 1632, arrived here 16 Apr 1632. Settled in Cambridge, made freeman 4 Mar 1633. Removed to Hartford in June of 1636, then to Hadley. Owned 8 acres of land in Hadley in 1663. Representative in Hadely in 1664 and 1669. Returned to Hartford in 1670. Judd's History of Hadley. "Memorials of Elder John White" by Allyn Kellogg, Hartford, CT 1860

Passenger on the "Lyon" from 22 Jun 1632 to 16 Sep 1632. He was an original settler of Cambridge; and his house lot is now the site of Harvard library. He traveled with Hooker to settle Hartford, in 1636. His house lot there was on Governer Street, in "the shadow of the Charter Oak". One of the original party of settlers to Hadley in 1659. He returned to Hartford about 1670. He helped to found the Congregational Church in Hadley, and was a Representative to the Massachusetts Colonial Legislature in 1664 and 1669. He served as the Ruling Elder of the Hartford Church after his return there. [From The Founders of Hartford]

Elder John White came in the ship “Lion” which sailed from London, June 22, 1632; arrived at Boston, Sept. 16. Settled in Cambridge; freeman, March 4, 1633 ; townsman there, Feb., 1635. He sold the greater part of his land in Cambridge before June, 1636, and prob. removed to Hartford with Hooker's company. He was one of the original proprietors of Hartford, and his home-lot in 1639 was on the east aide of the highway now Governor St., and was about ten rods south of the Little River. He was chosen townsman, 1642, 1646, 1651, and 1656; he was also frequently a juror. His name is fifth on the list of signers of the agreement to remove to Hadley, and he was one of the first townsmen chosen there, 1660, and again 1662, 1663, slid 1665 ; he and his wife returned to H., were received to 2d Ch., Hartford, from Hadley, April 9,1671 ; ordained Ruling Elder, March, 1677. He d. Jan. 1683-4. His wife's name was Mary, and she d. before him.-Ch.: i. Mary, m. Jan. 29, 1646, Jonathan Gilbert, of Hartford; d. in 1650. ii. Nathaniel, b. about 1629 ; one of the original proprietors of Middletown ; deputy from 1661 to 1710, and held other public offices; m. (l) Elizabeth-; d. Aug. 27, 1711, a'. all. 82; his 2d wife was Martha, widow of Hugh Mould, and dau. of John Coit, of New London. iii. John, of Hartford and Hatfield; m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas Bunce, of Hartford ; d. in Hatfield, Sept. 15, 1665. iv. Lieut. Daniel, b. 1634; settled in Hatfield; m. Nov. 1, 1661, Sarah, dau. of John Crow, of Hartford and Hadley; d. July 27, 1713. v. Sarah, m. (l) Stephen Taylor, of Hatfield, who was buried Sept. 8, 1665 ; (2) Oct. 15, 1666, Bar. nabas Hinsdale, of Hatfield and Deerfield ; killed at Bloody Brook, Sept. 18, 1675 ; (3) Feb., 1679, Walter Hickson, of Hatfield. She d. Aug. 10, 1702. vi. Ensign Jacob, b. in Hartford, Oct. 8,1645; settled in Hartford; freeman, 1668; surveyor of highways, 1670; townsman, 1682, 1687, 1691, 1696; m. before 1683, Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Bunce, of Hartford; died in 1701. “This holy man, having faithfully served the Lord in his place, and that also with good success through grace (He was a good man and God was with him), fell asleep in Christ, and went to receive his reward, Jan., 1683-4.”1 1 Old Ch. record, quoted in the Rev. Dr. Parker's Historical Discourse, 1870, p. 34.[4]

Biography

From Memorials of Elder John White, One of the First Settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, and of His Descendants, by Allyn S. Kellogg (Hartford, 1860).

John White came from London aboard the Lyon in 1632. He settled, first, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then removed to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636 in the company of Reverend Thomas Hooker. In 1659, as a result of squabbling in the church at Hartford following Hooker's death, John White was one of the group that separated to form a new community up river, at Hadley, Massachusetts. He returned to Hartford about 1670, where he died about 1684, having named in his will (1683) four sons and two daughters. The fecundity of the family was such that, by 1860, when this genealogical history was published, there were "heads of households" in the tenth generation. Mr. Kellogg, compiler of John White's genealogy, was a painstaking researcher. He described his labors in these terms: "The facts contained in this volume have been drawn from the records of the Colonies of Connecticut and Massachusetts, from the records of Probate Courts and the Registries of Deeds, from town and church records, from inscriptions on tombstones, from family records and oral statements, and from the replies to more than six hundred letters of inquiry. Besides the labors of those who have aided his researches, the compiler has visited about forty towns, and has personally examined more than sixty sets of public records." [Although we do not find formal footnotes, Mr Kellogg embeds in the text entire wills, parish baptism records, etc. and gives the place those records are kept, so we may easily quote his citations. Dellinger-332] "John White, gentleman, registered June 22, 1632, " to be transported to New England to the plantation there per cert, from Capt. Mason." The same day registered "John Tallcott, John Watson, and William Goodwynn," to each of whom many Hollisters trace their ancestry. John White arrived at Boston from London in the "Lyon" Sept. 16, 1632. He was admitted freeman March 4, 1633; settled in Cambridge; went to Hartford, 1636; to Hadley, 1659; was a representative for Hadley in 1664 and 1669; returned to Hartford before 1675; was an elder. He died Dec., 1683, or Jan., 1684, leaving by his wife Mary, a son Nathaniel White of Middletown. Nathaniel was at Hartford, 1662; a representative every year from 1665 to 1677; was called ensign, lieutenant, and captain. He married first, Elizabeth, who died in 1690, leaving him three daughters and five sons; he married second, Martha, daughter of John Coyte and widow of Hugh Mould; she died in 1730. His youngest son by his wife Elizabeth was Joseph White of Middletown, born Feb. 20, 1667. Joseph married, April 3, 1693, Mary, daughter of Hugh Mould, and had three sons and four daughters, of whom one, Mary, born Oct. 2, 1698, married Joseph Hollister, as stated above." Hollister Family of America, pages 70-71 - compiled by Lafayerre Wallace Case, MD 1886. Sources

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, pages 1976-1979 ↑ 2.0 2.1 Memorials of Elder John White, page 13 ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Children of Robert White of Messing, Co. Essex, England, Who Settled in Hartford and Windsor, NEHGR Vol 55 (1901), pages 22-31 ↑ Entered by Jackie Overland. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). Pages 1976-1979 The Children of Robert White of Messing, Co. Essex, England, Who Settled in Hartford and Windsor, (anon) NEHGR Vol 55 (1901), pages 22 - 31 Repository: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) James Junius Goodwin and Frank Farnsworth Starr, The Goodwins of Hartford, Connecticut, descendants of William and Ozias Goodwin (1891); digital images, Hathi Trust, page 44 Kellog, Allyn Stanley. Memorials of Elder John White (Case, Lockwood and Company, 1860) Findagrave.com Andrew Curtis White, Memorials of Roderick White and His Wife, Lucy Blakeslee of Paris Hill, N.Y (1892) Pages 5-6 Lafayerre Wallace, compiler, (Case, Maryland, 1886), Hollister Family of America, pg 70-71 Barbour, Lucius Barnes, 1982, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, Maryland and Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc., Glastonbury, Connecticut pp.672 Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford

Children of John White:

Mary White married Jonathan Gilbert. [Ref] Capt Nathaniel White was born about 1629. He died on 27 Aug 1711 in Middletown. He married first Elizabeth Unknown. He married second Mrs. Martha Mould. Sgt. John White was born about 1630. He was buried on 15 Sep in Hatfield, age about 35. He married Sarah Bunce. Ens. Jacob White of Hartford died before 12 Dec 1701. He married Elizabeth Bunce. [Ref] Lieut. Daniel White of Hartford died on 27 Jul 1713 in Hatfield. [Ref] He married Sarah Crow [Ref] on 1 Nov 1661, when she was 14 years old. [Ref] Sarah, the daughter of John Crow, was born in Hartford on 1 Mar 1647. [Ref] She dies on 26 Jun 1719 in Hatfield. [Ref] Sarah White died on 10 Aug 1702 in Hatfield. [Ref] She married first Stephen Taylor of Hatfield. [Ref] He was buried on 8 Sep 1655 in Hatfifeld. [Ref] She married second Barnabas Hinsdale of Hatfield on 15 Oct 1666. He was one of Capt. Lathrop's company at Bloody Brook and he was slain by the Indians on 18 Sep 1675. [Ref] Barnabas was the son of Robert Hinsdale. [Ref, p. 574] She married third Walter Hickson of Hatfield. [Ref] some descendants of Sarah White

https://www.foundersofhartford.org/the-founders/elder-john-white/

GEDCOM Note

2 AGE About 86-87