David White (1730-1797) and Elizabeth Gould Tucker (1754-1793)
David White (45) married Elizabeth Gould Tucker (21) on 9 May 1775 at New Jersey, North America.
From his burial memorial, David White was a Scotsman born 1730. He may have been baptised 11 October 1730 at Sorn, Ayrshire to Georg White and Lanet Langwill. Another son Georg White was also baptised at Sorn on 8 June 1840 to Georg White and Janet Langwell. No further details about Georg and Janet have yet been found. A search of White/Langwill burials at the Sorn Churchyard Cemetery found Jean Longwell Thomson 10 Apr 1859 and Thomas White 6 Nov 1874 but no connection has yet been found.
From her burial memorial, Elizabeth Gould Tucker was born 24 December 1754 at New Jersey, North America.
Elizabeth Gould Tucker had inherited from her father's estate, a house and garden in Trenton, New Jersey and £2000 Sterling and at the time of her marriage to David White, the inherited property and money passed to her husband's control. Unfortunately Elizabeth's father's name has not been recorded in the documents so far found.
David and Elizabeth married in May 1775 and they were living in the County of Somerset in New Jersey when Britain's thirteen colonies in North America made their Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.
Their first son, James Clayton White was born in 1776, probably in New Jersey because David would later give testimony that on 8 December 1776 he went to Trenton and joined the British Army. David would have been caught up in the Battle of Trenton which occurred on Christmas night 1776 when General George Washington led his men against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton.
David was taken prisoner into Morris Town by the American Army and held for six days when he was released on parole. He made his way to New York and departed in January 1777 for Jamaica to a plantation he had purchased in March 1776 from Cornelius Lowe leaving the title deeds and mortgage documents with Mr Skelton in New York. The original mortgage was to Delpratt.
For the next five years (Feb 1777-Feb 1783) David and Elizabeth lived at White Hall, Trelawny, Negril, Jamaica and their family increased with the arrival of George White (1778), John Gould White (18 Jul 1779), David White (1780) and their first daughter Mary White on 4 July 1781.
In February 1783, David and Elizabeth were on passage to England from Jamaica when their ship was intercepted by two Danish frigates and some of their belongings (containing papers and letters) were thrown into the sea. David presented his case to the Royal Commission on the Losses and Services of American Loyalists on 7 October 1783 and gave his address as Stoke Bishop, Westbury parish, near the city of Bristol.
It would seem Elizabeth and David stayed at Stoke Bishop till May 1784 and during that time their baby son, David White, died. On 26 May 1784, their two youngest children John Gould White, aged 4 and Mary White, aged 2, were baptised at St Augustine the less, Bristol, Gloucester, England.
Elizabeth was back at White Hall when their second daughter, Frances White, was born in 1784, followed two years later by Elizabeth Gould White in 1786.
In October 1787 Elizabeth received a bequest from the will of her aunt, Elizabeth Tucker nee Gould (1729-1787) of Trenton. Also named in this will as a niece was Sarah Phillips Margatroyd. Were Elizabeth Gould White nee Tucker and Sarah Phillips Margatroyd sisters?
By October 1788, Elizabeth and David were back in Trenton when their fourth daughter (and eighth child) Sarah White was baptised at St Michaels Church, Trenton, New Jersey.
Historical events were evolving in newly-constituted United States and by this time, New Jersey had become the third state to ratify the Constitution. It is probable that David and Elizabeth were making plans to leave Jamaica permanently and settle back in England.
In January 1789, Elizabeth and David received a small bequest from the will of Elizabeth's uncle, Samuel Tucker (1721-1789).
Their youngest daughter, Catherine Longville White was born at White Hall, Trelawny, Negril, Jamaica in 1790 and their youngest son, William White, was born in 1791 probably back in England because Catherine and William were baptised at St Augustine the Less, Bristol on 29 January 1792 as can be seen in the entry below (note the clergyman's spelling of Longville as Longueville). On David White's will [Prob11/1299 signed 18.10.1797] is written Catherina Longville White. It is possible the middle name was Longwill after David White's mother's maiden name.
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Baptismal record for Catherine Longville White and William White, 29 January 1792. St Augustine the Less, Church of England, Bristol. Note the clergyman's spelling of Longville as Longueville. Source: Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. Via Ancestry. |
However it would not be a long settled family residency in Bristol for Elizabeth who died 4 June 1793, aged 38 years, 5 months and 11 days. She was survived by her husband David (63) and nine children James (17), George (15), John (14), Mary (12), Frances (9), Elizabeth (7), Sarah (5), Catherine (2) and baby William.
David and the children stayed on at their house in College-green, Bristol after Elizabeth's death, though his eldest son, James Clayton White would take over the reigns of the Trelawny plantation in Jamaica.
On 27 November 1797, aged 67, David White died at his house in College-green, Bristol. He was survived by his nine children: James Clayton White (21), George White (19), John Gould White (18), Mary White (16), Frances White (13), Elizabeth Gould White (11), Sarah White (9), Catherine Longville White (6) and William White (4).
A monument for David and Elizabeth was placed on the east wall of east cloister in Bristol Cathedral.
Bristol Cathedral. East wall of east cloister. A female standing over an urn, resembling the Alleyne monument. David is buried with his wife Elizabeth.
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Gould White, a Native of New Jersey, North America, who departed this life June 4 1793, aged 38 years, 5 months, 11 days."
"Also Sacred to the memory of David White, Esq Husband of the said Elizabeth, a Native of Ayrshire in Scotland, many years resident in the Island of Jamaica but late of this City. Who departed this life on the 27th day of November Anno Domini 1797 in the 67th year of his Age leaving behind him to lament his loss Nine Children.
DETAILS ABOUT CHILDREN OF DAVID AND ELIZABETH
James Clayton White (1776-1834) and Rosanna Richards lived at Jamaica.
George White (b. 1778). No further details known.
John Gould White (1779-1851). No further details known.
Mary White (1781-1819) married Edward Collins Wright on 26 December 1808 in Pitsford, Northamptonshire, England. Their second eldest son, William Gaven Wright (1813-1868) emigrated to Australia in December 1852 and was land officer at Rutherglen, Victoria where he died 23 June 1969 aged 55.
Frances White (1784-1827) married William Marlton in 1805 in Jamaica, when William was a Major in the 60th Foot. By 1814 he was Lieut Colonel, HM 1st Batt 60th Foot.
Elizabeth Gould White (1786-1808) died at Brighthelmstone, England on 23 September 1808, aged 22.
Sarah White (1788-1832) married William Gaven on 21 July 1806 at St Margaret, Leicester, England. Sarah died at Bodegroes, the home of her sister Catherine Griffiths and was buried in the Llannor Church cemetery.
Near this Tablet repose the remains of
SARAH the wife of William Gaven Esqr of Park Square London
it pleased God to release her from her sufferings
After an illness of many months.
She died at Bodegroes on the 11th day of December 1832
in the 44th year of her age.
This monument is erected by her Afflicted Husband
In grateful remembrance of her many virtues and amiable qualities.
Catherine Longville White (1790-1837) married William Glynne Griffith on 1 November 1810. Catherine and William lived at Bodegroes, Llannor, Caernarvon, North Wales. Their longest living son was James Glynne Griffith (1820-1887) who emigrated to Moreton Bay in 1854.
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| Plas Bodegroes, Gwennyd, North Wales. Georgian, Grade II Listed Building. |
Catherine Longville Griffiths nee White died 3 April 1937, aged 47, survived by her husband William and six children. A Memorial to Catherine and her daughter Catherine was placed in Llannor Church.
Underneath
Are interred the remains of
CATHERINE ANN
eldest daughter of William Glynne Griffith Esq re
of Bodegroes
and Catherine Longueville, his wife;
She died on the 30th May 1835 aged 23 years.
Her amiable disposition and moral excellence
will ever be a source of soothing remembrance
to her afflicted fond parents,
and affectionate relatives and friends,
whose pious hope is that she now dwells
in heavenly joy, and moves in eternal glory.
William White (b. 1792). No further details known.
REFERENCE:
Memorial of David White. Read 7th October 1783. The Royal Commission on the Losses and Services of American Loyalists 1783 to 1785, being the notes of Mr Daniel Parker Coke, M.P. one of the commissioners during that period. Edited by Hugh Edward Egerton, Beit Professor of Colonial History in the University of Oxford. Oxford: The Rorburghe Club, 1915. page 6.
Memorials at Llannor Church. From: Gleanings from God's Acre: Within the Hundred of Lleyn and Commot of Eiffionydd. Via Ancestry.
