Person:John White (305)

Information from History of Hart County.

Captain John Martin White of the Spottsylvania, Virginia Militia served in the Continental Line during the War of the Rebellion.

"Five miles southwest of the City of Hartwell, Georgia., and a short ways west of the Bankhead Highway, on the headwaters of North Beaver Dam Creek, stands the old home of John Martin White, who was a brave and gallant soldier in the War of the Rebellion.

This old home was built well over one hundred years ago on lands, a large tract of which was granted to John Martin White in consideration of his services, located in Elbert (formerly Wilkes), now Hart County, and in the 9th Militia District as originally laid off in the organization of Elbert County, which district was also known as Capt. Blackwell's District.

It is constructed of large hewed logs (this was before the day of sawmills), oblong in form with rock chimney with spacious fireplace, and is in every way a substantial building, and is today in almost a perfect state of preservation. This old house has sheltered from wind, storm and bitter cold several generations of the White family, and here it will be proper to state that the old home and the real estate upon which it stands enjoys the very rare distinction of the title never having passed from the White family.

The house was first occupied by John Martin White and his wife, who, before her marriage, was Miss Milley Ballenger. They reared a large and interesting family, among whom was a son named Eppie, and he and his wife, who was Miss Catherine Herndon before her marriage, like his illustrious father and mother, also raised a large family, among whom was a son, Thomas (Herndon) White, who became the owner of the place. The old home today belongs to the children of Thomas H. White, they being the fourth generation.

Not far from and just south of the old home is the family burying ground in which John Martin White, his son, Eppie, and his grandson, Thomas H. White, veterans of three wars, Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the War Between the States, respectively, and their wives and other relatives peacefully sleep, while the slaves sleep in graves not far from those of their masters.

John Martin White, while a patriot, was also a minister of the Gospel of the Baptist denomination, and his name appears as one of the ministers constituting the presbytery that officiated in the organization of Holly Springs Church February 6, 1796, Rev. John Cleveland and Rev. Thomas Maxwell being the other ministers of the presbytery.

His Bible, purchased in the year 1803, now well worn and yellow with age, holds the annals of the White family and other families of the White connection. Besides the record of the White family it also contains the record of the following relatives of the White family, viz: Ballenger, Cleveland, Coffee, Garland, Head, Harper, Herndon, Jones, Kidd, Mann, Morris, Rice, Roebuck, and Thornton.

This old Bible is at present in the care and vigilant keeping of A.C. White, a great-grandson of John Martin White, and is a most precious and priceless heirloom and will become more so as it passes on down through the coming generations of the White family." Excerpt from "History of Hart County," by John William Baker.

In 1933, five miles south of Hartwell, Georgia on the Bankhead Highway, the old home of John Martin White still stood on the headwaters of North Beaverdam Creek. It was built well over a hundred and fifty years ago on lage tracts of land granted to John Martin White for his Revolutionary War service. The land was in Wilkes County, then Elbert County and now Hart County. It was in the area known as Captain Blackwell's District, also known as the 9th Militia District. It was constructed of large hewed logs, oblong in form with a rock chimney and fireplace and was still in good condition. The old house has sheltered several generations of the White family. It was first occupied by John Martin White and his wife Milley. Nearby is the family burying ground. Here lies his family and others of succeeding generations. John Martin White served in the Revolutionary War as a captain in the Spotsylvania County, Virginia Militia. His service was in the Continental Line. He was also a Baptist minister. He and his wife were charter members of Van's Creek Baptist Church in Ruckersville, Georgia.

Georgia, Elbert County, "Record Book 1830-1835", pages 216-219.

John M. White Will 1833. In the name God amen. I John M. White of the state of Georgia and county of Elbert being much affected in body though sound in mind and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament after recommending my Soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently buried. I give demise and dispose of all my Estate and property of every kind where with it hath pleased God to bless me with in the following manner and form. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Sally Morris one negro girl Katy valued at Two hundred and fifty dollars and other property to the amount of Five hundred and four dollars making in all the sum of Seven hundred and fifty four dollars which she has received to be considered as a part of her portion of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary M. Jones one negro woman Dicy valued at four hundred and fifty dollars and other property to the amount of Six hundred and fifty dollars making in all the sum of eleven hundred dollars which she has received and to be considered as a part of her portion of my estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Nancy Mann one negro boy Dick valued at Two hundred dollars and other property amounting to two hundred and eighty two dollars making in all the sum of Four hundred and eighty two dollars which she has received and to be considered as a part of her portion of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved son Eppy White one negro man Derry valued at Four hundred dollars and one tract of land valued at Three hundred and seventy five dollars and other property to the amount of Two hundred and eighty five dollars making in all the sum of one thousand and sixty dollars which he has received to be considered as a part of his portion of my estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Asa Mann one negro girl Fanny valued at Two hundred and fifty dollars and other property to the amount of Four hundred and thirty three dollars making in all the sum of Six hundred and eighty three dollars which he has received and to be considered as his full and final share of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved son John M. White one negro man Jim valued at Six hundred dollars, also one tract of land valued at Three hundred and seventy five dollars and other property to the amount of Four hundred and twenty seven dollars making in all the sum of Fourteen hundred and two dollars which he has received and to be considered a part of his portion of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved grand children, Sarah White, James F. White, John M. White, Elizabeth E. White, Sabrina L. A. White, Andrew J. White and Reuben H. White the legal heirs of my beloved son Reuben White one share of my estate including the sum of Thirteen hundred and two dollars which they have received which share to be equally divided between them to receive it at the final devision of estate. Item. I do give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Lucy K. Thornton one negro girl Hannnah valued at Two hundred and fifty dollars, also one tract of land in Elbert County lying on Big Coldwater Creek valued at Four hundred dollars and other property to the amount of Six hundred and sixty seven dollars making in all the sum of Thirteen hundred and seventeen dollars which he has received and to be considered as a part of his portion of my Estate. Item. Also I do give and bequeath unto my beloved grand children the legal heirs of Thomas Thornton deceased (to whit), Elzabad Thornton, Elizabeth Warren, Memorable Thornton, John Thornton, Eppy Thornton, Sarah Evingson and Mark Thornton the following negroes (to whit) Suky, Willis, Derry, Mary, Jack, Ben and Mike and Harriet now in the possession of Lucy K. Thornton it is my will that the said negroes be under the care and in the full power of my Executors and it is my will that the said negroes remain in the possession of Lucy K. Thornton and profits arising therefrom be for the mutual support of Lucy K. Thornton and the said grand children and as the said children shall come of age or marry they may receive any part of said property or profits arising therefrom that shall be thought best by my Executor and after the death of my daughter Lucy K. Thornton the above named property shall be equally divided amongst the above named grand children. Item. I do give and bequeath to my beloved grand children Polly White, Reuben White, Jeremiah White, Asa White, Eliza White and Martha E. White the surviving children of my daughter Patsy White one share of my Estate including the sum of seven hundred and forty dollars which my daughter Patsy received of my Estate in her life time. Which said share to be equally divided between the above named grand children to receive it at the final division of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath to my beloved grand children Milly Johnson, Eppy Roebuck, Sarah C. Goss and William Roebuck the surviving children of my daughter Frances Roebuck one share of my Estate including the sum of eight hundred and fifteen dollars which my daughter Frances received of my Estate in her life time. Which said share to be equally divided between the above named grand children to receive it at the final division of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath to my beloved grand children Francis Rice, Milly Rice, Richard Rice, Asa Rice and Charles Rice the legal heirs of Richard Rice by my daughter Eliza Rice one share of my Estate including the sum of five hundred and seventy dollars which sum my daughter Eliza received of my Estate in her life time. Which said share to be equally divided between the above named grand children to receive it at the final division of my Estate. Item. I do give and bequeath to my beloved wife Milly White during her lifetime my houses and lands where I now live with all the appurtainances thereto also one lot of land in the county of Lee and all my negroes not disposed of at my death with all other property both real and personal. My will and desire is that my Executors at their discretion sell at public auction such property as they may think proper for the benefit of my heirs and payment of my just debt that the amount of said sale or sales be divided between my heirs that they which have not received as much as others be made equal in amount to the amount of sale as far as it will go and I do give full liberty to my Executor during my wife's life time to sell, buy or barter anything they think will be for the peace of my wife or advantage of my Estate. Further my will and desire is that after the death of my wife all my Estate both real and personal be sold at public auction and after making all my lawful heirs equal in amount (Asa Mann excepted as before mentioned who has received his share) with the one who has received the most of my Estate then the remainder to be equally divided among all my heirs and I hereby make and ordain my beloved Milly White my Executrix and my beloved son Eppy White my Executor to this my last will and testament in witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty first day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty two. Test William Bowers John M. White (seal) Edy Bowers

Georgia Court of ordinary March Term 1833. Elbert County Personally appeared in open Court William Bowers & Edy Bowers who after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that they saw John M. White (now deceased) assign the above will freely & of his own pleasure without compultion & seal & deliver the same on the day of the date thereof that they believe him to have been of sound mind & disposing memory at the time asigned the same that they assigned the same as witnesses in the presents of of the said John M. White & in the presents of each other sworn to in open Court this 4th March 1833. William Bowers Attest Wm B. Nelms, c,c,o. Edy Bowers

Georgia Court of ordinary March Term 1833. Elbert County ordered to be Recorded and that Testamentry Issue to the qualified Executor. Attest Wm B. Nelms, c,c,o.

Recorded the 6th day of March 1833. Wm B. Nelms c,c,o.

1.   White Family Bible Record.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} White Family Bible Record, 1695-1896, copy deposited in the NSDAR Library.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Baker, John William. History of Hart County, 1933, pages 244-246.