Generation 1

JOHN WHITE (d. 1673) of Salem, Wenham anad Lancaster

Parents:

John died between 10 Mar 1673, when he wrote his will [Ref] and 28 May 1673 [Ref][Ref], when it was proved in Lancaster. John White married Joanna Unknown. Joanna died on 18 (3) 1654 in Lancaster. [Ref]

John was admitted as an inhabitant of Salem in 1639. [Ref] He had an estate in Wenham. [Ref] He was an early inhabitant of Lancaster, signing the town covenant on 1 May 1653. [Ref] On 30 (9) 1653 lots were laid out in Lancaster. Some of the original inhabitants of received 20-acre lots upon the neck lying between the North River and the Penacuck River. John received the sixth of these lots, his property lying between Jame Atherton's and William Lewis's. [Ref] After the original division of land in Lancaster, further divisions were contingent on estate size. In 1654 estates were valued and John's - at about £380 - was the largest of the 30 eligible inhabitants. [Ref] He was given about 15 acres of meadow in 1654. [Ref] At a town meeting on 1 (9) 1654 it was agreed to limit the town to 35 families and 25 men were listed as townsman, one of whom was John. [Ref] He received the 33rd lot in the second division of meadow on 5 Feb 1659. [Ref]

Children of John White and Joanna Unknown:

1. Thomas White, the oldest son, remained in Wenham. [Ref]
2. Joanna White [Ref]
3. Sarah White [Ref]
4. Josiah White died on 11 Nov 1714. He married Mary Lewis.
5. Elizabeth White married Henry Kerley. [Ref] Elizabeth and two of her six chidren were killed in the Indian attack on Lancaster on 10 Feb 1675/6; her other four children died in captivity. [Ref]
6. Mary White married Rev. Joseph Rowlandson. [Ref] He died on 24 Nov 1678. [Ref] Joseph was the sole graduate of Harvard in 1652. [Ref] He began to preach at Lancaster in 1654. [Ref] He was ordained in 1660. [Ref] He went to Wethersfield as a colleague of Rev. Gershom Bulkeley. [Ref] Mary and her three children were carried away captive in the Indian attack on Lancaster on 10 Feb 1675/6. She and two of her children were ransomed, but her daughter Sarah died. [Ref] She wrote an account of the attack and her captivity and, as a result, few colonial New England women are as well known as Mary Rowlandson.
7. Hannah White married John Divoll on 23 (10) 1663 in Lancaster. [Ref] In his will, her father says that Hannah acted as a nurse to him in his old age. He left his Lancaster estate to her and Josiah. [Ref] Hannah's husband and one of her four children were killed in the Indian attack on Lancaster on 10 Feb 1675/6. Hannah and her other three children were taken into captivity. She and her youngest child William were ransomed. The other two children probably died in captivity. [Ref]

Hannah White married John Devall on 23 (10) 1663 in Lancaster. [Ref]

Generation 2

JOSIAH WHITE (d. 1714) of Lancaster

Parents: John White and Joanna Unknown

Josiah White died on 11 Nov 1714. [Ref] He married Mary Lewis.

His father left his Lancaster estate to Josiah and his sister Hannah. [Ref]

On 7 Oct 1679 Josiah was one of nine people who petitioned the Court to allow the resettlement of Lancaster. [Ref] On 7 Apr 1683 he was on a jury of inquest investigating the untimely death of John, son of John Whitcomb. [Ref] On 28 May 1684 the town chose Josiah White as tax collector. [Ref] He was a selectman in 1690. [Ref]

Children of Josiah White and Mary Lewis:

1. Dea. Josiah White
2. Sarah White was born on 21 Oct 1680 in Lancaster. [Ref]
3. Joseph White was born on 16 Sep 1682 in Lancaster. [Ref]
4. Capt. John White was born on 29 Sep 1684 in Lancaster. [Ref] He died by Jan 1755/6, when inventory was taken on his estate. [Ref] He was a well-to-do blacksmith; his inventory amounted to £1,220. [Ref]
5. Thankful White was born on 27 Mar 1689. She married Jonathan Houghton.
6. Jonathan White was killed by Indians on 16 Jul 1707. [Ref]

Generation 3

THANKFUL WHITE (b. 1689)

Parents: Josiah White and Mary Lewis

Thankful White was born on 27 Mar 1689. [Ref] She married Jonathan Houghton. [Ref]