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John "Juan" White
Born 1740? King & Queen Co. VA
Died Jan 8, 1807 St. Martin Parish LA

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Father
Mother

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Sarah "Sally" Gambill m. 1764? ?Culpeper Co. VA b. 1745? Hanover Co. VA d. Feb 20, 1828 Lafayette Parish LA	William b. Dec 17, 1765 Cheraws Dist. SC d. Oct 8, 1821 St. Martin Parish LA	Nancy Anne b. 1768? Cheraws Dist. SC d. 1830 Hackberry, LA	Lucy b. 1776? Burke Co. NC d. 1827 ?St. Martin Parish LA
	John Jesse b. Sep 15, 1778 Burke Co. NC d. Apr 3, 1813 St. Martin Parish LA	Mary b. Sep 9, 1780 Washington Co. NC d. Jul 25, 1821 LA	Elizabeth b. by May 1782 Natchez District d. 1810? Attakapas Parish LA
	Sarah b. 1784? Natchez District d. Apr 10, 1828 St. Landry Parish LA	Moses b. aft. Feb 1785 St. Martin Parish LA d. 1844? ?LA	James Taylor b. Jul 28, 1789 St. Martin Parish LA d. Mar 5, 1852 Chambers Co. TX
	Susanna b. Nov 2, 1791 St. Martin Parish LA d. 1825? Iberia Parish LA
The immigrant history of the White, Holloway and Loving familes is a mystery. They may have known each other in Virginia. The forenames of all three families indicate their early immigrant ancestors came over to Virginia, which included what became the Carolinas, and not the Northern Colonies. A Study of Forenames compares the forenames of Roanoke Island and Puritan New England. Roanoke Island, near the present North Carolina and Virginia borders, was a settlement founded by a John White, that supposedly vanished by the time White returned. The ancestry of John White is not known but ship list arrivals to the Island contain persons named White and Taylor. Recently (in 2015), evidence has been unearthed that indicates that Roanoke Island settlers may have survived and moved inland.
Father James was most likely named for James Taylor (1635-1698), a wealthy and powerful leader of King & Queen County, who owned land next to his grandfather, Thomas White. On Oct 20, 1689 Taylor was involved in a land patent of 209 acres in St. Stephen's Parish, "on the North side of Mattapony River, beginning below James Taylor's plantation, ... to Thomas White's."
Dedication of Memorial Tablet to James Taylor, June 6, 1933 at the King and Queen County courthouse.
King and Queen County Virginia was formed in 1691 from New Kent County. Map of Virginia about 1676 shows the location of New Kent County between the York and James Rivers.
There are court records that survived from King & Queen County Virginia that show that the Poe and White families lived in the part that became Caroline County in 1758. In 1732 and 1733, a John Pickett was involved in trespass suits with James and Benjamin Poe, probably Elizabeth's sister and the son of Samuel Poe. Caroline County Virginia was formed in 1727 (see present day map for location), from northern and western parts of King and Queen, King William and Essex counties, about the same time James and Elizabeth Poe were married.
Caroline County Virginia was formed in 1728 from northern and western parts of King and Queen, King William and Essex counties. See map of Eastern Virginia in early 1700s. See present day map for location of Caroline County, and present day map for location of Essex County.
Culpeper County Virginia was formed in 1748 (see present day map for location), and was bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. The Rappahannock River forms one of its eastern boundaries.
The land granted in SC is in what was once Craven County, one of the three original parts of the English colony of "Carolana". By 1760, the White family was attending the Cashaway Baptist Church near the Pee Dee River just east of present-day Darlington SC.
1725 English Map of South Carolina Province showing location of Craven County and the Pee Dee (Peede) River flowing into the Winyah Bay (spelled "Weenya Bay" above map's identification).
Historical Marker of the Cashaway Baptist Church built in 1758, and located at the eastern end of the bridge over a bend of the Great Pee Dee River. The marker is on Cashua Ferry Road (State Highway 34) east of Darlington SC. View south of the river from the bridge in Sep 2015.
John's father James and brothers William and Reuben, along with brother-in-laws John Holloway, and William Loving were members of a SC militia defeated at Marr's Bluff SC, at the hands of Regulators, on July 25, 1768. William White was wounded, losing use of his right arm so that he could not continue his trade as a cooper (barrel maker). Excerpt from the book The South Carolina Regulators by Richard Maxell Brown gives a background and summary of the incident.
August 15, 1770 petition by brother William White seeking government relief for him and his family. That year, brother Reuben apparently bought William's land in St. David's parish, Craven Co, SC so that William could pay off his debts. William is in jail for debt in Cheraws SC in 1774. He later turns his life completely around in NC by the end of the century (see below).
Modern Map of South Carolina Counties showing the 18th Century Parishes. Welch Neck and Cashaway Neck were in St. David Parish. Prince George Parish was to the South and included the Pee Dee River basin from Lynches Creek down to Winyah Bay. Map taken from DMK Heritage (website).
Older brothers William and James each married daughters of Thomas Davenport (1711-1809), a brother of the mother of John's wife Sarah Gambill. William married Sophia Davenport about 1752, and James married Jerusha Davenport (1744?-1785?) by 1765.
About 1764, John married Sarah Gambill, whose mother was Mary Davenport (1706-1776). On May 27, 1800 their son John Jesse was baptised at the age of 22 at the St. Martin of Tours Church in St. Martinville LA. The church record, which is in Spanish, states his paternal grandparents as "James Teleur White and Elisabeth Poe, ... natives of Virginia". John Jesse married Jane Dunman the same day.
From 1772 until 1881, the following land transactions involving the White family occurred in the Pee Dee River area of Craven County in chronological order: Sep 17, 1772 - James Taylor White, 300 acres Craven on south side of Swift Creek, adjacent to lands of William Standard, George Kings, and land laid out for William White; District Surveyor: John Henderson. Plat Book v. 21:426. Oct 10, 1772 - James White, 200 acres Craven County Polk swamp, adjacent to John Baxter and John Hollowy [sic] and vacant land; District Surveyor: Thos. Powe. Plat Book v. 21:424. Dec 10, 1772 Reuben White, 600 acres Craven in fork of Little Pee Dee and Drownding Creek on Bell Swamp: District Surveyor: John McCall. Plat Book v. 21:431. Jun 14, 1773 - Reuben White, 500 acres Craven on North side of Little Pedee adjacent to Hugh Thompson. District Surveyor: Thos. Powe. Plat Book v. 21:431. Oct 9, 1881 - Reuben White, 300 acres Craven on the Beaver dam, waters of Jeffereys Creek adjacent to John Ward, Connels land, Reuben White and vacant land. District Surveyor: Thos. Powe. Plat Book v. 21:433. [Note that a possible relative of James Taylor White's wife is listed as the surveyor on several of these records.]
There is a record of brother Reuben White being in Globe NC in 1772. Reuben entered Captain McDowell's SC Militia in 1776 and was killed at Pleasant Gardens NC in October of that year. He left his land in SC to sister-in-law Sophia, wife of his brother William, in a deed of gift dated Dec 13, 1773 that was filed in SC in 1777.
While in South Carolina, the White family was not sympathetic to the American Revolution and left a trail of litigation in the state. The family moved to what is now Burke Co NC, then split with some members moving west and then down to the Natchez Territory (now Mississippi) and the rest remaining in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. The split appears to have occurred when brother Reuben was killed by indians in Oct 1776 at Pleasant Gardens NC. Father James Taylor White and his son William White opted for the patriot side and stayed in Burke Co. During the American Revolution, Mississippi and Louisiana districts were havens for Loyalists.
North Carolina Counties at beginning of 1775 and at beginning of 1780 showing creation of Burke Co.
A John White signed the 1777 petition of men living on the north Holston River complaining about the division of Fincastle Co. VA. They felt the county line was not equitable and the court house was too far away. Also signing were members of the Renfroe, Bledsoe, Drake, Mansker, Freeland, Terrell and Robertson families, as well as a Solomon White and "John Holladay". These names all match those that eventually moved to the Cumberland settlement in 1780, where the families of this John White and John Holloway lived for almost 2 years.
On Feb 10, 1778 John White entered 200 Acres along Middle Creek near Johns River in Burke Co. NC next to land of a Thomas White. Thomas White, Sr. was John's uncle.
On the "fourth Monday of Oct" 1778 [Oct 25], brother William White and brother-in-law John Holloway were summoned to appear on the "fourth day of Jany. next" at the Burke Co. courthouse, relating to a case, John White plaintiff vs. "William Millar" defendant [Burke Co. NC Court summons].
A John White was on a list of flotilla captains recorded by Col. John Donelson as being with his flotilla expedition to the Cumberland Settlement in Washington Co. NC (now middle TN) which lasted several months into the spring of 1780 and endured a brutal winter, Indian attacks, hunger and smallpox. On Apr 12, the Whites were among at least 16 families, about 80 persons, to leave the expedition and settle 9 miles up from the Cumberland River along the Red River, settling at Fort Union, which became known as Renfroe's Station. The Donelson flotilla reached its final destination (Nashborough) 12 days later.
Photo of a Map showing the Route of the Donelson Expedition on display at the Tennessee State Museum. On Dec 22, 1779, the expedition left Fort Patrick Henry on Long Island of the Holston River. John and James White and their families likely joined the Flotilla after it passed Knoxville in Mar 1780, and left it at the Red River near Clarksville on Apr 12 [Donelson's Journal, pp. 98-105].
Several months into the flotilla expedition, leader John Donelson described the hardship and the expected loss of some of the boats along the way in his Journal entries for March 1780 [Donelson's Journal, 1779-1780].
Between 1780 and 1781 sister Elizabeth and her husband John Holloway and family, decided to go to Natchez, then in French-Spanish territory, "in order to escape the Revolution". It is known that John White and brother James, known as "Tiago", arrived in Natchez with their families and one slave each in May 1782. James White would soon die. By 1785, of James Taylor White's six known children, two would be dead, two would be living in Spanish territory, and two would remain in the North Carolina mountains.
Reuben White, son of brother James White, and his mother, Mrs. [James] White, said John, during the "latter part of 1781", was living in Washington Co. NC (now TN). This Natchez Deposition, pertained to a document entered in Burke Co. NC between Catherine White Dewitt and husband William Dewitt. The Natchez deposition was made on Jan 31, 1785 and noted that John's brother James was deceased [Natchez Court Records, Book E, pp. 36,38].
In May 1782, John and his family arrived at Natchez in a party of 8 individuals under the entry "Juan White, wife and children". A total of 13 families were recorded by Spanish authorities on Jul 6, as arriving, including families of brother James White, and of William Dewitt and his second wife Catherine White, the daughter of brother William White.
On May 17, 1782, having just arrived in Natchez, John sold a slave, Jane, aged 18, a native of Virginia, to widow Anne McIntosh for $440 paid in cattle and horses. Witnesses were "David Smith and Richard Gooding", both of whom came with the Whites to Natchez. By Jun 2, 1785, three years later, John's deed to a Richard Harris was deposited in archive as "John White has absconded" [Natchez Court Records, Book A, pp. 99, 251].
On Feb 5, 1785, a deposition was made by John Still Lee, the husband of John White's sister Elizabeth Stillee, certifying that William Dewitt "had asked John White and his [Stillee's] wife to go to New Orleans to testify that a deed of gift was just." John White asked the Natchez District Commandant Grand-Pré for a passport, but was required to pay his debts first. Still Lee said John White asked him to be security and "he would repay since DeWitt would pay White upwards of 100 Dollars for his trouble" [Wells, p. 52].
On Feb 11, 1785 John White sold 200 arpents (about 160 acres) on the "east side of St. Catherine's Creek" in the Natchez District, and had moved his family to Louisiana by Jun 2 when a court record involving the sale mentioned "the said John White has absconded" [McBee, Natchez Court Records, p. 164].
John and Sally settled their family in what became St. Martin Parish LA. In 1785, the settlement was known as Attakapas, or Poste du Attakapas, the name of its Indian trading post. That year there was an enumeration of 1,070 residents, mostly French Acadians. The Spanish still controlled the region as a "military-administrative center".
About 1785, son Moses was born in St. Martin's Parish LA and probably named for Moses Renfroe, a Baptist preacher and recognized leader of Renfroe's camp, where the White and Renfroe families settled in Western North Carolina (now TN) in the spring of 1780.
Daughter Nancy Ann married David Harmon on May 21, 1787 in Louisiana Territory. She married at least two more times, first to Joseph Carr in 1794, then to George Burrell by 1810.
On Jan 31, 1791, son William married Aimee Comstock (1775-1853) in St. Martin Parish. When their daughter Marie, born Aug 14, 1791, was baptised Nov 13, 1810, William and Aimee were living "on the Bayou Vermillion", according to the baptism record. Also, "Guillaume Whit" was a native of North Carolina, and the maternal grandparents Guillaume Comstock and Rachel Allredge were from Rhode Island. The family settled on the lower Vermillion River below Abbeville near other brothers of William, and had 11 children by 1819. They later moved to San Jacinto TX.
In the mid-1790's, sons of brother James, Reuben White (1765?-1835) and James T. White, along with John Holloway and James Holloway, sons of sister Elizabeth White Holloway, moved into northeastern Rapides Parish LA, which became known as Holloway Prairie, where they obtained Spanish land grants and engaged in the cattle business. Many of the Anglo families of the Deville area came there from Natchez. Mississippi was not admitted to the Union of States until 1817.
About 1795, daughter Mary married Alexander Greer, born in PA in 1777. On Nov 13, 1810 "Marie" was baptised at St. Martin's Church. They had at least two children, Nancy Ann and Joseph born in LA, before he died in LA.
By 1795, daughter Lucy married Whittington Wallace (1758-1806), in LA. They had five children.
Daughter Lucy Wallace married Joshua Hartley by 1807, and had two more children, Joanna and Joseph Hartley, and was the head of a household in Attakapas Parish LA in 1810. Joshua Hartley witnessed the Will of Lucy's father on Aug 15, 1806 and made deposition regarding it on Aug 9, 1808.
Son James Taylor White, known as Taylor, married Sarah Cade Jan 26, 1813 in St. Martin Parish LA. About 1828 they moved their cattle to Turtle Bayou, near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, and became known as the Cattle King of Southeast Texas, owning over 4,600 acreas of land and 1,775 head of cattle by 1840. He died of cholera in 1852.
Copy of Marriage record, Jan 26, 1813, of James Taylor White and Sally Cade from St. Martin Church in St. Martinville LA. Photo of grave marker of James Taylor White at White Cemetery in Monroe City, Chambers Co. TX.
Daughter Susanna married John Lee in the part of St. Martin Parish that is now Iberia Parish LA. She was baptised at the age of 19 at the St. Martin's Church on Nov 13, 1810.
On May 27, 1800 son John Jesse was baptised at the age of 22 at the St. Martin of Tours Church in St. Martinville LA. The church record, which is in Spanish, states his maternal grandparents as "Juan Gambel and Sara Da?pot, ... natives of Virginia". John Jesse married Jane Dunman, born about 1778, the same day. Their daughter "Jean, born 23 May 1802" was baptised on Nov 13, 1810 at the St. Martin's Church. The record states that they were living on the Bayou Vermillion in LA.
On May 5, 1801, daughter Sarah married James Dunman, born about 1775 in Pensacola West FLorida Terr. Seven of their children went to TX with Sarah's brother Taylor White in the 1820's.
Attakapas Parish was created in 1805 from Orleans Territory. It extended to the Gulf of Mexico. It eventually became St. Martin Parish in 1807. (see present day map for location). John White died in the the part that became Vermilion Parish (see Map showing the area parishes that were created in the 1800s
Last Will and Testament of John White, Atacapas Co., LA, written Aug 15, 1806, deposed Aug 9, 1808. In the last item he willed "his brand to Jas." [St. Martins LA wills].
Attakapas Parish was created in 1805 from Orleans Territory. It extended to the Gulf of Mexico. It eventually became St. Martin Parish in 1807.
Daughter Elizabeth married Humphrey Jackson (1784-1833) on Oct 13, 1809. She died before 1810 without bearing children. In the 1810 Census for Attakappas Parish there is a Humphrey Jackson household of one free white person of age 26-45 and 5 slaves. In 1824, Humphrey and Amy Comstock White, the widow of Elizabeth's brother William moved to Texas where many White relatives soon raised cattle.
Son William White was listed in the 1810 Attakapas (St. Martins) LA Census, on line 19 of page 65, submitted on Nov 17, 1810. "Wm White" was head of a household of 9 members: 1 male aged 26 and under 45 (William born after Nov 17, 1765), 1 male under age 10, (Henry b. 1800+), 3 males aged 10 and under age 16, (Reuben, Jesse, George all b. 1795+), 2 females under age 10, (Rachel b. 1803 who married Mark Lee & ?), 1 female aged 10 and under 16 (?Marie b. 1794?), 1 female aged 26 and under 45 (wife Amy Comstock), and no slaves. The next household listed was "Widow White" consisting of 4 members: 1 female aged 45 and upwards (John's widow Sarah b. 1745?), 1 female aged 10 and under 16, 1 male under age 10, (? b. 1800+), 1 male aged 45 and upwards (? b. by 1755), and no slaves. William White Jr. was born later in 1815. He fought in the Texas War for Independence at the battle of San Jacinto.
Son John Jesse who was married in 1800 to Jane Dunman, is listed near his brother William and sister Lucy, and mother in the 1810 Attakapas Parish LA Census, on line 21 of page 65, submitted on Nov 17, 1810. "Jesse White" is head of a household of 4 members: 2 males under age 10, (b. after 1800), 1 male aged 26 and under 45 (Jesse, born before Nov 17, 1784), and 1 slave. His wife Jane may have died soon after the children were born.
Daughter Lucy is listed near her brothers William and Jesse, sister Nancy and mother in the 1810 Attakapas Parish LA Census, on line 15 of page 65, submitted on Nov 17, 1810. "Lucy Hartly" is head of a household of 8 members: 3 males under age 10, (David & John Wallace, Joseph Hartley), 2 males aged 10 and under age 16, (Timothy & William Wallace b. before 1800), 1 female under age 10, (Joanna Hartley), 1 female aged 10 and under 16 (Sarah Wallace b. before 1800), 1 female aged 26 and under 45 (Lucy, born before Nov 17, 1784), and no slaves. Daughter Nancy is listed in household of "George Burrell" on line 18, consisting of 6 members: 1 male aged over 45 (George), 1 female aged 26 and under 45 (Nancy, born 1768?), and 4 children.
Historical Marker of son James Taylor White's ranch. The Crossed W cattle brand said to be the oldest brand in continuous use in the state. Photo of James Taylor White [Texas State Hist. Assoc., website].
Photo of grave marker of James Taylor White at White Cemetery in Monroe City, Chambers Co. TX.
SOURCES: Cashaway Baptist Church Record Book, 1756-1778, Cashaway Neck, Craven Co. SC. Christenson, Elroy, website, John Hollaway Family. Clark, Walter, State Records of North Carolina Vol XVII 1781-1785, Broadfoot Publishing, Wilmington NC, 1994, pp. 287-8, 294. Donelson's Journal, 1779-1780, Transcription from the Tennessee Virtual Archive website, pp. 98-107. Genealogical Register, vol. VIII, No. 3, Sep 1961. John Stillee Bible, recording birth of Eliz. Houton, Erica, "John White, Sarah White", Geni, website, trans. from Spanish, St. Martin of Tours Church, St, Martinville LA, record no. 263, image uploaded Jan 19, 2019. McBee, Mary Wilson, Natchez Court Records 1767-1805, Abstract of Early Records, Greenwood MS, 1953, pp. 162-164. Northern Neck Grants, Virginia State Archives, Book G. Poe, Allan, "The Records, From Virginia to Old Burke Co. N.C.", publ. in Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, by M.L.Vineyard & E.M.Wiseman, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 254-256. Pre-Revolutionary Plat Books, SC Archives Dept., vol. 21, pp 424-433. "Roster of the North Carolina Troops in the Continental Army", vol 16, 1791, pp. 1187-1188, in Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, website. Tuller, Roberta, "1777 Petition of Holston Men", in An American Family History, website, Amazon Services, 2020. U. S. Census, Attakapas (Now St. Martin) Parish LA, 1810, S-K Publ., 2003, pp. 57, 65. Virginia Land Patents, Book 8, p. 16. Wells, Carol, Natchez Postscripts 1781-1798, Heritage Books, Bowie MD, 1992, pp. 52. White, Gifford, "James White and John White", Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, by M.L.Vineyard & E.M.Wiseman, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 86-96, 107-112. White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, April 1982. Whitley, Edythe Rucker, comp., Pioneers of Davidson Co., Tennessee, Clearfield Publ., 2009.