Obediah White

This essay is about the family of Obediah White, whose daughter Celia (Sally) married John Bowles. While some of it is supported by documentation, much relies on the research of others for which I claim neither credit nor responsibility. Where I have given information provided by others on Rootsweb, it is noted. Unfortunately, as Ancestry has made Rootsweb unavailable in many ways, the links I once had no longer work.

Obediah (sometimes spelled Obadiah) White is said to be a son of Henry and Celia White[1] of Virginia, born in 1763 in Orange County VA. He first married Rhoda Arthur on 24 Apr 1785[2] in Bedford County VA. Rhoda was a daughter of Barnabas and Elizabeth Arthur of Virginia.[3,4,5] Following Rhoda's death, Obadiah White married Lucinda Akers[5] on 26 Apr 1806[2] in Franklin County VA and she moved with him to Barren County KY.

Obediah and Rhoda White had ten children: William, Stephen, Nancy, Susanah, Henry, Sally, Obadiah, Austin, Middleton, and Elizabeth; all named in his will.[6] All but William and Nancy were still home in Franklin County VA in 1810 during the census taking.[7]

According to Michael Leisure on Rootsweb, William White was born in 1786, married Elizabeth Pratt on 4 Aug 1806 in Franklin County Va, and died 19 Apr 1857 in Madison County GA. However, Obediah White's will in 1827 indicates that William was deceased.[6]

Mr. Leisure indicates that Stephen White was born 24 May 1787, married Lucy White on 2 Dec 1812, and died on 19 Apr 1857. Since that is the same date given for William's death, perhaps one has been confused for the other.

Nancy White was born about 1788. She married William Akers on 24 Dec 1807 according to Mr. Leisure.

Susanah White was born about 1792. She married Thomas Akers on 31 Dec 1812 according to Mr. Leisure. According to Obediah White's will, she was deceased before 28 Feb 1827.[6]

Henry P. White is mentioned in Obediah White's will, but not much else has been discovered about him. I speculate that he was born about 1795 because he was one of the boys age 10-16 in 1810 which would put his birth year between 1795 and 1800. I pick 1795 because that will put him between Susanah (1792) and Sally (1797).

Sally White would be the girl born between 1795-1800 according to the 1810 census. She married John Bowls who is listed in the 1820 Barren County census with three boys and a girl under 10, and a wife between 16-25, making her born between 1795-1804. With 4 children already, it seems that she should be at least 22 or 23 years old by 1820, rendering her birth year between 1797-1798.

Obadiah White Jr. should be one of the two boys born between 1795-1800. Since he is identified as still being under the guardianship of his father in 1817[4], he is most likely the younger of the two, so I put his birth year at about 1799.

According to Leslie Ferguson on Rootsweb, Austin White was born 26 Jan 1801 in Virginia. He married Mary Ann Philpott in Overton County TN. Austin died on 4 Jan 1857 in Illinois. He and Mary Ann had at least one child, Frances Jane White, born 15 Sep 1827 in Tennessee.

Mr. Leisure indicates that Middleton White was born about 1804; and that he married Mary Bybee on 12 Jan 1825.

Middleton White is located in Edgar County IL in the 1830 census (page 37). That census shows his household with a male under 5, a male 20-30, two females under 5, and a female 20-30.

Illinois public land purchase records indicate that Middleton W. White purchased federal land in 1832 in section 32, township 14N, range 11W, meridian 2 (Edgar County). He purchased 40 acres at $1.25 an acre.

The 1840 census for Edgar County (page 59) shows his family with one male under 5, one male 5-10, one male 10-15, one male 30-40, one female under 5, two females 5-10, one female 10-15, and one female 30-40.

Middleton White was deceased by 1849, for his wife was remarried to John S. McConkey on 5 Dec 1849.[9]

Elizabeth White was born 22 Jun 1805 according to Mr. Leisure. She married John Nunnally in Barren County KY on 22 Feb 1826. John and Elizabeth Nunnally and their family have been located in the Barren County censuses for the years 1850, 1860, and 1880.[8] Elizabeth died 24 May 1892.

Obediah White Sr. brought his family to Barren County KY as early as 1813. On 8 Nov 1813 he bought 160 acres from George Dooley according to the deed in deed book D, page 105. On the 1814 Barren County tax rolls, Obediah White has 160 acres of 2nd rate land on the Little Barren River. He also has 3 horses. This is the first time he appears on Barren County tax rolls.

Obediah White Sr. died shortly after he made his will in 1827. It was filed with the October County Court with the notation that he was deceased.

Lucinda Akers White was living with Dr. Samuel Gravin and his wife Elizabeth at the time of the 1850 Barren County census. She was listed as 80 years old, making her birth year about 1770.

In 1857, John Bowles was listed on Barren County tax rolls as the administrator of her estate for the first time, indicating that she died near that time.

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Notes

[1](back to text)
Posted on the White Forum on GenForum by Thomas H. White, date: October 11, 1998
"Henry (Harry) White, b. April 24, 1724 in England, d. June 17, 1802 in Bedford County, Virginia; m. Celia Page/Bryant, b. September 18, 1731 in England, d. March 31, 1799. It is not known if she died in Buckingham or Bedford Coundty. Henry White arrived in Virginia at about 18 years of age and Celia Bryant (there is some confusion whether Celia was a Page or a Bryant or if she was Celia Page Bryant) age about ten years of age on the same ship around 1741-1742. They married and settled in Buckingham County, Virginia. They had 11 children."

[2](back to text)
This information is collected from a WorldConnect page contributed by Michael Leisure. Hopefully, Ancestry will make it available sometime in the future.

[3](back to text)
Barnabas Arthur will on 2 Mar 1815 in Bedford Co., Virginia
"In the name of God Amen. I, Barnabas Arthur, of the county of Bedford being weak in body but of sound and disposing memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of life and being desirous of disposing of such property as God hath helped me with do make ordain and constitute this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all others.
Imprimus: It is my will that all my debts be paid off as soon as possible after my decease. Item: I give and bequeath unto my wife Nancy one third part of my whole estate for and during the term of my (probably should be "her") natural life, of which then it is my will that the tract of land I now live do constitute a part.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandsons JAMES MAXEY and BARNABAS MAXEY the sum of five pounds each to be their full share of my estate.
Item: In consequence of long and faithful service of my negro man George and my negro Betty, it is my desire that they be emancipated, whenever the laws of this state will allow it and they have the tract of land I purchased of Benjamin Williamson for and during the term of their natural lives; to live upon and maintain their idiot daughter Amy and until they can be so emancipated it is my will that they shall live upon said land and maintain their said daughter and have all the profits of their labor, under the direction of my son LEWIS and moreover that they be furnished with one year provision out of my estate whenever they leave it in consequence of this article and the said negroes are not to be considered or appraised as part of my estate. Item: The residue of my estate both real and personal, after executing the above bequests together with the part left my wife, after her decease and that left to my negroes George and Betty, after their decease, I give and bequeath in equal shares unto my children JOHN ARTHUR, WILLIAM ARTHUR, LEWIS ARTHUR, BARNABAS ARTHUR, CALEB ARTHUR, ELIZABETH BOWLES, FANNY PRATT, LUCY GREER, and the children of RHODY WHITE, deceased, my Staunton tract of land being first sold for the purpose of said division, deducting from each share what they have already received agreeable to the accounts which I have this day drawn off and signed with my hand.
Item: I request my friends John Arthur and Samuel Clayton ______ to act as my Executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whence I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 2nd day of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen.
Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of J. Leftwich, James Floyd, and John Clayton.
Barnabas (X) Arthur

[4](back to Obediah White Sr.) | (back to Obediah White Jr.)
Barren County KY Deed Book E, Page 183
To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that we Obediah White (Guardian for Obediah, Austin, Elizabeth, & Middleton White) and John Bowles who married Selia White all of Barren County & State of Kentucky have and by these presents doth appoint William Akers of the aforesaid County and State my true and Lawful Attorney in fact for us and in our name to receive whatever Sum or Sums of money or property which may be awarded or allowed us from John Arthur Executor of the Estate of his father both of Virginia Bedford & Franklin County and we do hereby authorise our said Attorney to take all legal and proper Steps to effectuate a recovery and to Sign all necessary receipts and acquitances therefor and in all other things in relation thereto to act as tho we were personally present hereby ratifying and confirming every act and Deed of our Said Attorney as fully and completely as if we were to transact the Same in our own proper name and person. In Testimony of which we have hereunto Subscribed our names and affixed our Seals this 24th day of January 1817.
Obediah White
John Bowles

[5](back to text)
Barren County KY Deed Book J, page 43
To all whom these presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that Obadiah White, guardian of Obadiah White Junior, Austin White, Elizabeth White & Middleton White of the county of Barren & state of Kentucky, also John Bowls who married Sealia White, daughter of the above named Obadiah White Senior of the county of Barren & state aforesaid, have and by these presents doth appoint Matthew Amyx of the county of Cumberland & state aforesaid as our true lawful attorney in fact for us and in our names to receive the balance of money which may be awarded or allowed us from John Arthur, Executor of the estate of Barnabas Arthur of Virginia, Franklin County or from John Hayden Lewis Winfield & Nicholas Robertson, commissioners of said estate, and we do hereby authorise our said attorney to sign all necessary receipts and acquittances there for and in all other things in relation thereunto to act as though we were present, hereby ratifying and confirming every act and deed of our attorney as fully and completely as if we were to transact the same in our own proper names and persons. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals this 3rd of October 1823.
Obadiah White
John Bowles

[6](back to list of children) | (back to Susanah White)
The Will of Obadiah White, 28 Feb 1827, Barren Co KY Will Book 2, page 408.
In the name of God Amen. I Obadiah White Seignor [Senior] of Barren County, State of Kentucky being in sound mind and memory and common health and calling to mind the mortality of the body, that all men are born to die, I do and ordain this my last Will and Testament. (Viz)
First I give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave both Soul and [?]
Second I will and bequeath to my well beloved Wife Lucy White my whole Estate during her lifetime or Widowhood.
Thirdly if my wife Lucy White sees proper to sell any part or the whole of my Estate it shall be sold by my Executors at twelve months credit, all the money arising from such sale my wife Lucy is to have one third except the household and kitchen furniture of which part she is to have one half during her lifetime or widowhood, the other part or parts shall be divided into ten equal parts except twenty five dollars which I give and bequeath to my son Austin White, Extra on account of the inability of his body. Also fifty dollars Extra to Nancy Akers, on account of her horse which died in my custody, the ballance paid to the following named persons (Viz) one part to Stephen White, one to Henry P. White, one to Obadiah White Jr., one to Austin White, one to Middleton White, one to Nancy Akers, wife of William Akers, one to Sally Bowles wife of John Bowles, one to Elizabeth White, wife of John Nunly, to them and their Heirs forever, one part to be equally divided amongst the children of my son William White decd, and one part to be equally divided among the children of my daughter Susannah Akers, decd.
Fourthly I will and desire that all the property, Willed and Bequeathed to my Wife Lucy White, during her life time, that she has at her decrease be sold by my executors at public sale on a credit of one year, and the money arising therefrom be equally divided in the same manner and paid to the same persons as is directed above to be done, except my son Middleton which has already received a bed and furniture at twenty five dollars which sum is to be considered a part of his equal portion.
Fifthly I appoint Barnett Huffman and Robert Leeper to my said Executors of this my last Will and Testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twenty eighth February in the year of our Lord 1827.
Obadiah White

[7](back to text)
1810 Franklin County VA Census for Obediah White
males - 2 under 10: Middleton and Austin; 2 at 10-16: Obadiah Jr. and Henry; 1 at 16-26: Stephen; and 1 at 45+: Obediah Sr.
females - 1 under 10: Elizabeth; 1 at 10-16: Sally; 1 at 16-26: Susanah; 1 at 26-45: Lucy Akers White.

[8](back to text)
1850 Barren County KY Census on 5 Sep 1850
John B. Nunnally age 46, farmer. Elizabeth age 45. Children: Amanda A. age 22, Dabney L. age 20, farmer, Milton T. age 19, farmer, Jefferson S. age 16, Eliza J. age 14, Nelson W. age 12, Lucinda A. age 9, Silas B. age 7.

1860 Barren County KY Census, District 1
Nunnally, John B. age 55, farmer. wife: Eliza age 55. children: Milton age 29 farm. Jefferson age 26, farming. Nelson W. age 22 farming, Lucinda age 19, Silas age 18, William age 2.

1880 Barren County KY Census, Sartain District 2
Nunnally, John B. age 76, farmer. wife: Elizabeth age 75 keeping house. Note: daughter, Amanda Parsley age 49, and granddaughter Nannie B. Parsley age 14, living same dwelling.

[9](back to text)
The 1850 Edgar County census (19th district, page 210) lists two families living together:
1264/1297
John S. McConkey, 54 M, farmer, born Washington County VA
Mary McConkey, 43 F, born Barren County KY
Elkana McConkey, 23 M, miner, born Washington County VA
Harvey McConkey, 21 M, miner, born Edgar County IL
Sydney E. McConkey, 19 M, miner, born Edgar County IL
Rosannah McConkey, 17 M, born Edgar County IL
Leonidas McConkey, 14 M, born Edgar County IL
Stephen White, 24 M, miner, born KY
1264/1298
Lisbon Odenbaugh, 24/26? M, born in PA
Lucinda S. Odenbaugh, 21 F, born in IN
Mary C. Odenbaugh, 1 F, born in Edgar County IL
Middleton L. White, 16 M, laborer, born in Edgar County IL
George W. White, 11 M, born in Edgar County IL
Sarah E. White, 15 F, born in Edgar County IL

Edgar County IL marriage records show that Lisbon Odenbaugh married Lucinda S. White on 1 May 1847, and that Mary White married John S. McConkey on 5 Dec 1849.