Benjamin Meador White

Benjamin married Alabama Williams on 12 Jan 1898 in Sabine County, Texas. Alabama (daughter of Lewis Sullivan "L. S." Williams and Frances Williams) was born after 1877; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lola White was born about 1899.
2. Lewis Edward White was born on 1 Apr 1904 in Texas; died on 18 Jun 1929 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Joe B. White was born on 24 Mar 1907 in Texas; died on 28 Aug 1974 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
4. Ray Ves White was born on 21 Aug 1909 in Texas; died on 11 Jun 1939 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
5. Rex Carl White was born about 1910 in Texas; died about 1960 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
6. Addie Byrl White was born on 2 Feb 1912 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas; died on 13 Dec 2003 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
7. Fred Ben White was born about 1914 in Texas; died about 1955 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

Enrolled in the District 6 School in Sabine County in 1854.

Blanche Finley Toole wroted Melinda Strong, in September 2000, that Edward "ran away and joined to Civil War at age 14. He was a Bugle Boy." Mackie and Kay McCary's transcription of the Meador Cemetery shows that his gravesite was marked with "Co. G. Col. Bradford's Inf Brig. - CSA"



(Research):

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County
Enumerated 24 Jun 1880
Page 12D SD 1 ED 85
117-118
White, Edward J W M 33 Farmer La Ga Miss
White, Mary W F 27 Wf Keeping House Tx Va Ky
White, Edna E W F i Dtr Tx
White, Fannie R W F 6 Dtr Tx
White, Ben M W M 3 Son Tx
White, Pattie M W F 1/12 May Dtr Tx

Edward married Mary Benena Meador in 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. Mary (daughter of Richard Meador and Mary Ann Tucker) was born about 1853 in Texas; died in 1894. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the Sabine County 1854 Scholastic Census, H.S. White was shown as of household with five (5) children between the ages of 6 and 16 enrolled at School District No. 6. They were: Edward, Vardamenn, Mary, Hanibal, and Arrilla. Who was Arrilla, and who was her mother? Could this have been Hanzel, his daughter by Eliza Jones?

Henry S and Mary E White (third wife) were among the 11 founding members of the First Baptist Church of Hemphill, all of whom gathered on the banks of the Housen Bayou, drawing up 12 articles of Faith and 24 articles of Decorum. Henry served as the clerk to the church, recording all church proceedings for a period of some 12 years (from 1858 to 1870), as a delegate to church conferences, and as the moderator of church proceedings. In November, 1868, he was ordained as a Deacon of the Church. The MINUTES 1858-1890 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HEMPHILL, TEXAS were transcribed and indexed by Di Ann Vick in 1982, and are available for purchase from both Ingmire Publications, 10166 Clairmont Dr St. Louis MO 63136 and Ericson Books 1614 Redbud St Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.

In 1876, H S and Mary E White left the First Baptist Church and were among the founding members of the Antioch Baptist Church in the Gravel Hill Community of Sabine County. According to a plaque on the front of the Antioch Church, J. S. Lambert and J J Roundtree were the organizers. Other founding members included: George Conn, John Anderson, T.D. Burkhalter, John De Weese, L.W. Hoard, Hosie Baldree, Ann Mason, Sophie H. Wallace, Mrs. C.A. Hoard, C. Baldree

Per the book "Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records" by White and Toole, "Henry S. White Sr. was Judge of Sabine County from 1869-1875, serving with Solomon Arthur. (They were called Chief Magistrates until the new State Constitution went into effect at the end of their term). Henry S. White was also a member of the Littleton Fowler Masonic Lodge. As the White Plantation lay just west of Hemphill, he was one of the last of the "Paderos" for the return of run-a-way slaves."

I have been unable to locate a CSA service record for Henry. It is probable that he was considered too old for service, he was almost 50 at the outbreak of the war.

His tombstone indicates he was a Mason.

Note in the 1920 Sabine County, Texas federal census, there was a 50 year old mulatto farmer named Jesse White (#594-616). He noted that his father was born in Mississippi and his mother in Georgia. What is his relationship, if any, to the other White's in Sabine County, Texas?

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Louisiana, Sabine Parish
13 Sept 1850
305-307
Henry White 37 M Farmer 900 Ga
Anne White 26 F Miss
H J 13 M Miss
Mary White 11 F Miss
Will White 8 M Miss
A. V. White 6 La
Edward White 3 M La
Jno. White 3/12 M La

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. No 1
Page 15C and 16D SD 1 ED 85 Stemped 231\\
Enumerated 26 and 28 Jun 1880
155-156
White, Henry S. W M 68 Farmer Ga Va Ga
White, Mary E W F 59 Wf Keeping House Miss Tn NC
Wallace, Sophia W F 30 StpDtr Farm laborer Miss --- ---
White, Eunice W F 28 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---
White, Ann E W F 25 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---
White, Ruth T W F 19 Dtr Farm Laborer Tx --- ---

Henry married Ann Vardeman before 1842 in Mississippi. Ann (daughter of Amaziah Vardeman and Una (Eunice) Carter) was born about 1824 in Mississippi; died after 1852. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, he was a physician.

Richard married Mary Ann Tucker before 1837. Mary was born on 10 Jun 1818 in Kentucky; died on 2 Jun 1864 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Barbara Yancey Dore shows her as a daughter of James Tucker and Mary Richie.

Notes:

There is an Ed White in Pike County, Mississippi in 1820. This may or may not be the same Edward White that is located in Amite County, Mississippi 10 years later. The family composition is 3 males under the age of 10, 1 male between 10-16, two males between 26 and 45, two females under the age of 10, and one female age 26 to 45.

On the 1830 Amite County, Mississippi census, Edward White and wife had 3 boys & 3 girls, 0-9, 1 boy and 1 girl 10-19. He was between the ages of 40 to 60 and his wife was between 20 and 40.

He was still in Amite County in 1840, on page 52. The microfilm at the San Antonio Public Library was faded and difficult to read. It appeared to show the following, however< Edward White Males 1-0-2-0-0-0-0-1 Females0-2-0-2-0-0-1-0 He appears to have held at least two female slaves, one under the age of five, and the other between five and ten. The number of male slaves is difficult to read. It is probably just one.

Edward White, his wife Elizabeth, and several of his children can be found in Amite County, Mississippi on the 1850 census as well. Sometime after this enumeration, they moved to Sabine County, Texas.

In White and Toole's book, Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records it was noted hat "Later that year (ca. 1843-sic), the Edward White family...and many of their friends and relatives came to Sabine County. Some forty or fifty covered wagons, some of them drawn by oxen, travelled together." From "Sabine County Historical Sketches And Genealogical Records."

Edward White is shown on various internet trees, most unsourced, as either the son of William White and Mary Matilda Mason of Mecklenberg, Virginia or as the son of Edward White and Pembrook Singleton of Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. In neither case has documentary evidence been shown. Mildred Bell Landers emailed that she had "heard from a ggg grandson of Edward White (through his daughter who married Cannon Travis), and he asked if I had ever heard that Edward was an Indian named Whitecloud or Whitefeather, like his father, William. I had never heard this, and in Sabine County the past is closer than elsewhere. Nor had I heard that Edward White's father was William. One of my other gg grandfathers was part Indian, and this seems to be known in Sabine County, at least by descendants. Ever heard of any of this? There was a picture of an Edward White, Civil War veteran, in an issue of the Sabine County Reporter (maybe a son or grandson) and he did not appear to be part Indian. In my mother's family, some of them had characteristics that could be considered Indian."

Jack Hutchins White emailed, in August 2013, that his White ancestor was "Cajabeth White, who was living in Bute Co, NC with his brother, William, as early as 1766. He had two sons, John and Robert. John White inherited land from a man named John Seagrove, whose will names John White as his nephew. It seems likely that Cajabeth's wife, Frances, was a Seagrove, but this is not proven. The 1771 tax list for Bute Co shows that Young McLemore....had an overseer named John Seagrove, who appears on a number of documents with members of the McLemore family before they migrated out of Bute (later Warren) Co. I have been trying for a couple of years to piece together precisely how the Seagrove, McLemore and White families may have interacted with one another, but the Seagrove family history is as complicated as that of the Whites.

The thing that interests me about your website is that Cajabeth White was frequently referred to in court documents as Cade, and I see in your website that two sons of Edward White (b. 1781 in Mecklenburg Co, VA) each had sons they named Cade.

I believe it is likely that the Edward White in your website is the son of William White Sr. of Mecklenburg Co, VA. The personal property tax lists for that county show a son of William named Edward who is first listed as a taxable adult in the household of his father in 1797 and as head of his own household in 1800. He is gone from the county by 1801.




I am researching the possibility that William White Sr. was the brother of Cajabeth "Cade" White named in the 1766 tax rolls for Bute Co. The fact that the name Cade appears twice among the grandchildren of Edward White seems to support this theory.

I am still a bit fuzzy on when this White line intermarries with the Strong and McLemore families. I am hoping one of your family researchers would be willing to collaborate with me on the foregoing topics. I have copied Lisa Lisson, a White family descendant, who is assisting in this research."

(Research):
Census Listings:

CENSUS YR: 1850
STATE or TERRITORY: MS
COUNTY: Amite REEL NO: M432-368
PAGE NO: 93A
REFERENCE: Enumerated 12 Dec 1850 by Henry Flowe
23 615 615 White Edward 69 M Farmer 750 Va
24 615 615 White Elizabeth 55 F Geo 25
615 615 White Jane E. 25 F Amite Co Miss (Widow of J.H. Wente---I believe she is actually listed as Went on the microfilm)
26 615 615 White S. P. 17 F Amite Co Miss
27 615 615 White Wm. T. 12 M Amite Co Miss
28 615 615 Went Elizabeth 7 F Amite Co Miss
29 615 615 Went John E. 6 M Amite Co Miss
30 615 615 Went Jane E. 4 F Amite Co Miss
31 615 615 Went James T. 1 M Amite Co Miss

On the 1860 Sabine County, Texas census, Edward and Elizabeth (age 79 and 66) were living with 11 year old L.E. White, a female born in Texas. Edward's real property was valued at $500 and he had personal property valued at $7,943. I speculate that L.E. White might actually be M.E. White, Mary Elizabeth Sophronia White, the oldest daughter of James and Drucilla White. James died prior to 1860, and his wife remarried John C. Partin. James and Drucilla's two younger daughters are listed with Drucilla and her new husband, but their oldest daughter, born circa 1848/1849, has disappeared. It could be that this oldest daughter died. Or it could be that the oldest daughter went to live with and/or care for her elderly grandparents. Additionally, the 11 year old L.E. White does not seem to fit into any other of the White families shown on the 1850 census, nor can she be found after 1860.

Edward married Elizabeth Strickland after 1809 in Elbert County, Georgia. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson) was born about 1795 in Elbert County, Georgia; died on 25 Dec 1864 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Travis Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amite, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Nov 1836: Received by experience, Elizabeth White Oct 1837: Elizabeth White, Pernecia Travis baptized Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

Elizabeth Strickland White and 10 others founded the regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ on the banks of the Housen Bayou on May 29, 1858. This later became known as the First Baptist Church of Hemphill. Elizabeth joined by letter from the Jerusalem Church in Amite County, Mississippi. The other founding members were Richard and Ruth Travis, Henry S and Mary Etta White, Simon and Mary Ann Beckcom, John and Sophronia Everett, and Cannon and Sophronia Travis.

Elizabeth's husband, Edward, did not become a member of this church, founded by his wife and several of his children, until over six years had passed. He then joined on a profession of faith and Baptism in June 1864. According to the minutes of June 25, 1864, "Confarence was adjorned for the Church to meete at Father E Whites at 4 oclock for the purpos of hearing what the Lord had don for his precious sole, after hearing of his Experiance it was moved that Father E White be Received in Christian fellowship."

This experience must have caused him to evangelize, because on July 23d, 1865, "after preching, the privelege of the Church was Extended when too Servint Girls came forward, Amy belongin to Edward White & Charitee also belonging to Edward White. after hearing ther Experience was Received the church and then adjorned to the water" By September, 1865, Father E. White was Moderator of the Conference, though it appears he gave up this reponsibility quickly. He was replaced by Pastor John L Mills in October of 1865. His faith apparently never wavered as it was noted that he "Dyed Jan 13th 1871 in the Faith."

Notes:

Married:
Bears and Panthers and Sabine County Women

This story from the 1800s, as told by the master storyteller, J.Frank Dobie, gives another reason not to mess with Sabine County women:

"One winter day the White family on Bear Creek in Sabine County killed a hog, cut it up, put the meat in a wooden tub, and set it in a corner of the cabin, to be salted down and smoked on the morrow.

Then the man went off with his dogs to join the neighbor on a hunt.

That night while Mrs. White was chunking up the fire in the fireplace, the children covered up in bed and a quilt wrapped around herself to shut out the cold norther blowing through the chinks in the log walls, she heard a panther scream.

She knew it had smelled the fresh meat. It prowled under the puncheon floor and then leaped up on the roof, every once in a while letting out a scream. Then it went to clawing on the logs and finally got a paw through a crack near the tub of meat and took out a piece.

At this, Mrs. White threw her quilt over the tub, seized an axe standing just inside the door, and waited.

In a little while the panther put its paw back through the crack for another piece of meat. She had the axe raised and now she came down with it, cutting the paw clean off.
That panther did not bother around the cabin any more that night."

----- J. Frank Dobie, "Tales of Old-Time Texas"

Posted by Ronad Barlow on his Facebook group, Farm Road 1 - From one end to the other. It is not known which Mrs. White this story relates to.

Notes:

In a letter to Melinda Strong dated 31 March 2000, J.H. Vardaman, the Vardaman Family Historian, wrote "according to my records, there is no doubt that Amaziah Vardeman who married Unity Carter was a son of William and Ann (maiden name unknown but possibly Ayers) Vardeman. You asked if I had proof and the answer to that question is no. However, all information that I have states that they were father and son and there is no evidence whatsoever that would lead us to any other conclusion." It appears that Amaziah, and his brother Jeremiah, lived near each other in Pike County, Mississippi at the time of the 1820 census.

The Pike County, MS 1820 census, page 6, shows an "Am. Vardemon." (Ronald Vern Jackson's Index to this census incorrectly lists him as Am Vardemore). His household compositon is as follows: 1 male 16-26 and 1 male 26 to 45 1 female under 10, 1 female 26 to 45

IF this is the home of Amaziah and Una Vardeman, the 16 to 26 year old male could not be a son of theirs, as they were only married 5 years previously. Perhaps a brother or nephew? The female under 10 could be a daughter, name unknown, who was born before Polly. It might even be Polly, although her birthdate is supposed to have been in September, 1820.

Several lines down, Jeremiah Vardeman is also listed on the 1820 Pike County census. The composition of his household is: 1 male age 16-26, 1 male age 26 to 45 4 females under age 10, 1 female age 26 to 45

Leatha Betts (777 West 1000 South Woods Cross, UT 84087 (jlabetts@burgoyne.com)) emailed me that on the BLM land patents page "she found Amaziah Vardeman buying land 10 June 1826, at the Washington land office, 80 acres on Lawrence Co. Miss. Block 29 township 5N Range 10 E. Uney Massey is listed as purchasing land 10 Nov 1840, Block 20, Township 5N Range 10E.."

Jeremiah is again listed in the 1830 Mississippi Index, but neither Amaziah or Una could be found. The only Vardeman's listed in the 1830 Census Index (Irene & Norman Gillis) were as follows: Vardaman, Jno. Adams 00110-23110 Vardeman, Elijah Copiah 10100-10100 Vardiman, JeremiahMadison21010-13100 Vardiman, Sarah Franklin13100-01210

Leatha Betts informs me that the 1830 Pike County, Census was destroyed. This would explain why they are not listed in the index.

At the time of the 1840 Mississippi census, Una appears to be remarried to a Mr. Massey. It appears that Amaziah MAY have died sometime after 1826, when he bought land in Lawrence County, but before 1840, when Una was remarried. There is, however, an A. Vardeman in Adams County, Mississippi in 1840, on page 31. This microfilm should be examined as well. It may be a different person entirely. However, it is possible that Amaziah and Una divorced, and that he moved to Adams County without her.

Kathy Casagranda's "Sabine Parish The 1850 Census With Added Family Information" has Amaziah Vardeman's date of death as circa 3 April 1849. She informed me that this was based on a succession petition filed in Sabine Parish on this date. Leatha Betts emailed me this transcription of the petition. It is from a typewritten copy that was originally given to Lily Carter Thurman by Marie Greer in May 1966.

Succession of A. Vardeman, Eunice Carter, pet. for administration, filed 3 Apr 1849. to the Honorable James Taylor, Judge of 16th Judicial Dist. of the State of La. and Parish of Sabine: Petition of Eunice Carter, of parish aforesaid, respecti. represents that as widow of her deceased husband, Amaziah Vardeman and tutrix of her children, she prays to be appointed adm. of such property of her deceased husaband as beforesaid-etc. C. Chaplin, atty. for petitioner. Appraiser: James Campbell and Wm. I. Herring (?) Oath by Eunice Carter signed by Uney Masse, as adminstratrix. Bond Eunice Carter as principle and Redmund Carter and W. L. White as security on the 14th Apr 1849, witnessed by James Campbell and Amon T. Morris. Property sold at house of Viney or Uney Vardeman, witt. by R.W. Campbell and John Davis on Oct 7 1849, Auctioneer Nathan H. Bray. Receipt: in Succession of Amazirah Vardeman, Uney massey, Adm. to Ann I. White Receipt: Succession of Amazrah Vardeman, Uney Massey to Henry S. White

Could it be that it simply took more that 10 years to probate the Estate of Amaziah? Note he is listed as "deceased of the State of Mississipppi" and not as a resident of Louisiana. Kathy noted that "sometime folks died and their estate or property wasn't dealt with until the widow remarried or was going to remarry or the children became of age and wanted a partition of the property that belonged in part to them."

It appears that Eunice Carter Vardeman and Una Massa are the same person. When did she remarry, however, and when did Amaziah die?

Amaziah married Una (Eunice) Carter on 12 Dec 1815 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Una (daughter of William Carter and Mary (Molly\Polly) Cotton Strickland) was born on 24 Sep 1793 in Louisiana; died on 6 Jun 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

IGI Records show that Una Carter married Amaziah Vardeman in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana on 12 December 1815. The couple moved north to Mississippi sometime after their marriage, as all three of their daughters were born here.

A woman named "Uny Massy" can be found in Pike County, Mississippi in 1840 (Microfilm #704). Ronald Vern Jackson's index to this census references page 152. It appears that the reference should have been to pg 297, which is what is actually stamped at the top of the microfilm as a guide. The census listing indicates this was a household made up entirely of females. There was one female between the ages of 10-15, two between ages 15 and 20, one between 20 and 30, and one between 40 and 50. Living with them as well was a female slave, who was somewhere between 26 and 56 years of age. It appears that Una might have actually had four daughters, and not just the three currently listed. Una's oldest known daughter, Polly, became 20 years old in 1840. Her youngest known daughter, Jemimah, reached age 15 the same year. This means that either of them might have been classified into two age categories. Therefore gauging the age of a fourth daughter is especially difficult. She could have been born prior to Polly, or after Jemimah. She might even have been a daughter by Una's second husband.

At the time of the 1850 Sabine Parish Louisiana, Una was living alone in dwelling #304, between her daughters Jemimah Amazia Vardeman White and Ann Vardeman White. She is listed in the transcription of the Sabine Parish census prepared by Kathy Casagranda as Unas Massa age 57, M (sic), born in Louisiana.

On the 1860 Sabine County Census, she is living with her daughter Jimimah, and son in law John Reagan White (Household 118). This is next door to Henry Strickland White and his wife Mary Etta Vardeman. On that transcription, she is shown as Una Massa, age 66, F, born North Carolina.