Gen. James White b. 1747 Rowan County, North Carolina d. 14 Aug 1821 Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee: Davidson Genealogies

1747 - 1821 (74 years)

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Name	James White
Prefix	Gen.
Born	1747	Rowan County, North Carolina
Gender	Male
Died	14 Aug 1821	Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
Buried	Aft 14 Aug 1821	First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
Person ID	I2217	DNA Family 1 Genealogies
Last Modified	4 May 2006

Father	Moses White, d. Bef 14 Jun 1783, Rowan County, North Carolina
Mother	Mary McConnell, d. Unknown
Family ID	F1186	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Mary Lawson, b. 1744, d. 10 May 1819, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 75 years)

Married 14 Apr 1770 Rowan County, North Carolina

Children

	1. Margaret White, b. 8 Apr 1771, Rowan County, North Carolina , d. 17 Aug 1827, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 56 years)
	2. Sen. Hugh Lawson White, b. 30 Oct 1773, Rowan County, North Carolina , d. 10 Apr 1840, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 66 years)
	3. Moses White, b. 22 Apr 1775, Rowan County, North Carolina , d. 30 May 1830, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 55 years)
	4. Andrew White, b. 9 May 1779, Washington County, Tennessee , d. 6 Oct 1806, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 27 years)
	5. Mary McConnel White, b. 11 Nov 1782, Rowan County, North Carolina , d. 1861, Davidson County, Tennessee (Age 78 years)
	6. Cynthia Berry White, b. 7 Apr 1786, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee , d. 11 Aug 1855, "Aldie", Loudon County, Virginia (Age 69 years)
	7. Melinda White, b. 15 Feb 1789, Knox County, Tennessee , d. 2 Mar 1838, Knox County, Tennessee (Age 49 years)

Last Modified 4 May 2006

Family ID F1187 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Born - 1747 - Rowan County, North Carolina
	Married - 14 Apr 1770 - Rowan County, North Carolina
	Buried - Aft 14 Aug 1821 - First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

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Notes

Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769 - 1923: Volume 2

page 249

Gen. James White was the father of the famous Hugh Lawson White and the founder of Knoxville. He was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, in 1747 and, on April 14, 1770, married Mary Lawson, the daughter of Hugh Lawson of North Carolina. Gen. White served his country in the Revolutionary War and was a captain in the North Carolina militia 1779-1881. After the War he located land in and near what was afterwards Knoxville and then moved his family to Fort Chiswell, Virginia. In 1785 he moved his family to Tennessee and settled in Knox County above the confluence of the Holston and French Broad rivers. From this place he moved in 1786 to Knoxville. He was a member of the legislature of the State of Franklin and of the House of Representatives of the Southwest Territory. In 1788, after the collapse of the State of Franklin, he became the representative of Hawkins County in the legislature of North Carolina. He was also a member of the convention of North Carolina which ratified the constitution of the United States. He was a warm personal friend of John Sevier and of William Blount, the latter of whom appointed him a justice of the peace and a major. At Knoxville he erected a fort, called White's Fort, which was a strong protection against the depredations of the Indians. The name White's Fort was changed to Knoxville, in 1792, when Gov. William Blount made it the capitol of the Southwest Territory. Gov. Blount also appointed White lieutenant-colonel commandant. For a long time he was chairman of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions. Gen. White donated the land upon which was located Blount College, now the University of Tennessee, the First Presbyterian Church and its cemetery. Gen. White was a delegate from Knox County to the Constitutional Convention of 1796 and was a state senator in the first legislature in 1796 and was speaker of the senate in 1797. He resigned this position when William Blount was expelled from the U. S. Senate that the latter might be elected to it and show to the world that he possessed the confidence of his people. In 1798, he was appointed one of the representatives of Tennessee to make settlement of the boundary line between the Cherokees and the settlers. Gen. [p.249] White was re-elected to the State Senate 1801-1803 and was again made speaker. He took part in the Creek War as brigadier-general. He died August 14, 1821, and is buried in the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.

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JAMES WHITE BIBLE

(The above record was the property of Sarah Runyan McCown and is now the property of Mrs. Sallie Houk, Sevierville, Tenn.).
Sent by Miss Kate White, Honorary State Historian.

James White, founder and owner of Knoxville.

Bible now in the Cal McClung collection in the Lawson McGhee Public Library, the gift to the library by William W. French, a direct descendant of James White.

MARRIAGES

James White and Mary Lawson were married April 14, 1770.
Cynthia Berry White was married to Thomas A. Smith Sept. 17, 1807.

BIRTHS

Margaret White, born April 8, 1771.
Hugh Lawson White, born Oct. 30, 1773.
Moses White, born April 22, 1775.
Andrew White, born May 9, 1779.
Mary McConnell White, born Nov. 11, 1782.
Cynthia Berry White, born April 7, 1786.
Millenda White, born Feb. 15, 1789.
Lucie Ann Smith, born Nov. 11, 1812.

DEATHS

James White Smith, born Sept 5, 1851.
Hugh Lawson White, departed this life April 10, 1840, in his 67th year.
Elizabeth Carrick White, his wife, departed this life March 25, 1831.
My granddaughter, Isabella White, departed this life Nov. 30, 1805.
Samuel I. Carrick, departed this life July 8, 1814, aged 35 years.
The Rev. Samuel G. Ramsay, departed this life July 5, 1817.
Mary Lawson White, departed this life March 10, 1819, 3:30 in the morning, age 77 years.
Gen. James White, departed this life Aug. 14, 1831.
Andrew White, died Oct. 6, 1806.
Rev. Samuel Carrick, departed this Aug. 18, 1809.
Rebecca L. Williams, our granddaughter, departed this life July 22, 1810, aged 10 months.
James White Williams, departed this life April 30, 1817, age 10 months.
Dr. F. T. May, departed this life Nov. 26, 1817, age 40 years.
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http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/essex/bios/s5300000.txt

VII. BRIG. GEN. THOMAS ADAMS5 SMITH, U.S.A. (Francis4, Col. Francis3, Capt. Nicholas2, Nicholas1), born at "Piscataway", Essex Co., Va., 12 Aug., 1781; died at "Experiment", his seat in Saline Co., Mo., 25 June, 1844.

He entered the United States Army as ensign; was commissioned 2d lieutenant of artillerists, 15 Dec., 1803; 1st lieutenant, 31 Dec., 1805; captain of Rifles (the crack regiment of the army), 3 May, 1808; lieutenant-colonel, 31 July, 1810; colonel, 6 July, 1812; brevet Brigadier-general, "for distinguished and meritorious services", 24 Jan., 1814; Brigadier-General, 25 Jan., 1815; resigned his commission in the army, 10 Nov., 1818. On the opening of hostilities in the war of 1812 his regiment was ordered to the North, taking part in the engagements at Plattsburg, Sackett's Harbor, Burlington, etc. In 1815 he was stationed at Belle Fontaine, near St. Louis, as commander-in-chief of the Territories of Missouri and Illinois, which command he held until his resignation from the army he was appointed by President Monroe Receiver of Public Monies at Franklin, Mo., the most lucrative position in the West, which he resigned in 1826, retiring to his seat, "Experiment", where he became "the foremost man in the section". (Hist. Register U.S. Army; Original Commissions and Correspondence).

He married, 17 Sept., 1807, Cynthia Berry (born near Knoxville, Tenn., 7 Apr., 1786; died at "Aldie", Loudon Co., Va., 11 Aug. 1855), third daughter of Brig. Gen. James and Mary (Lawson) White, of Knoxville, Tenn., and sister of Hon. Hugh Lawson White. (Post, note 2). Issue (Family Bible):

Page 50.

   1. Lucy Anne6, born in Knoxville, Tenn., 11 Nov., 1812; died in Williamsburg, Va., 18 Feb., 1867. She married, 13 Apr., 1830, Judge Beverley Tucker (born 6 Sept., 1784; died 26 Aug., 1851), professor of law in the College of William and Mary, author, etc., and had issue:
       i., Cynthia Beverley Tucker7, born 18 Jan., 1832; married first, 8 July, 1852, Prof.
Henry Augustine Washington, issue died in infancy; secondly, 29 Oct., 1861, Charles
Washington Coleman, M.D., issue:
      ii., Lucy Beverley Tucker7, died young;
     iii., Beverley St. George Tucker7, M.D., born 11 Dec., 1839; died 30 Mar., 1894; married Eliza Christina Mercer, issue;
     iv., Thomas Smith Beverley Tucker7, born 22 Aug., 1841; died 5 May, 1873; married Julia Clarke, issue;
      v., Frances Bland Beverley Tucker7, born 18 Dec., 1843, married in 1861, Prof. Edwin Taliaferro, issue died in infancy;
      vi., Henrietta Elizabeth Beverley Tucker7, born 9 Jan., 1846; died 25 Apr., 1879; married in 1867, John Peyton Little, M.D., no issue;
     vii., Montague Beverley Tucker7, born Apr., 1848; died 24 June, 1883, married Ada Lewis, issue.
   2. James White6, born 5 Sept., 1815; died, unmarried, 14 Jan., 1851.
   3. Mary Lawson6, born 18 Nov., 1817; died 11 Aug., 1818.
   4. Hugh Lawson6, born 2 Dec., 1818, died 18 Jan., 1819.
   5. Reuben6, born 6 Nov., 1822; died, unmarried, 27 Feb., 1843.
   6. Crawford Early6, of whom hereafter. (See VIII).
   7. Troup6, born 20 July, 1827; died at sea, unmarried, 18 Nov. 1850.
   8. Cynthia White6, born 26 Sept., 1829; died in Loudoun Co., Va., 13 Mar., 1869. She married 18 Dec., 1851, William Noland Berkeley, of "Aldie", Loudoun Co., and Charlottesville, Va., major C.S.A., and had issue:
       i., Lucy Beverley Berkeley7, married Alexander Moore, issue;
      ii., Cynthin White Berkeley7,
     iii., Edmonia Berkeley7;
     iv., Francis Lewis Berkeley7;
      v., Frances Callander Berkeley7.

   VIII. CRAWFORD EARLY6 SMITH, M.D. (Gen. Thomas
A.5, Francis4, Col. Francis3, Capt. Nicholas2, Nicholas1), of "Ingleside", St. Louis Co., Mo., born in Cooper Co., Mo., 16 Aug., 1825; died at "Ingleside", 31 Dec., 1886. He married, 13 May, 1852, Virginia (born 19 Nov., 1832, died 11 Jan., 1892), daughter of Dr. George and Sarah Bella (Chambers) Penn, of St. Louis Co., Mos., and had issue:
        1, Isabella Early7, born 1 Mar., 1853;
        2, Mary Cynthia Berry7, born 2 May, 1855;
        3, George Penn7, born 3 Feb., 1857; died 11 Sept., 1858;
        4, Thomas Adams7, born 10 Sept., 1858; married, 12 Oct., 1880, Kate Howard, issue;
        5, Crawford Early7, born 26 Oct., 1860; died 14 Apr., 1864;
        6, George Penn7, born 12 Jan., 1864;
        7, William Noland Berkeley7, born 12 Aug., 1866; died 31 Dec., 1893,
        8, Virginia Crawford7, born 8 Dec., 1868; married, 12 Oct., 1893, Thomas Bryant Hall;
        9, Philip Montague7, born 3 July, 1871; married, 15 May, 1895, Kate Crutcher;
      10, Lucy Lawson7, born 23 Nov., 1873.

The portrait of Colonel Meriwether4 Smith reproduced with this article is from a crayon portrait by Persico, made from an original drawing by his youngest son, Edwawrd Bathurst5 Smith, and said to have been a fine likeness. This, the only known portrait of Meriwether4 Smith, is owned by his great-grandson, Bathurst Lee7 Smith, of Knoxville, Tenn., who has also his watch, seal and snuff-box, all marked with his name. The portrait of Gov. George William5 Smith is from an oil painting int he Virginia State Library. That of Gen. Thomas Adams5 Smith is from a miniature owned by his grandson, Thomas Adams7 Smith, of "Experiment", Saline Co., Mo.

NOTES.

NOTE 1. The following extracts are from letters in the possession of Bathurst Lee7 Smith, Esq., of Knoxville, Tenn.

From an unfinished letter written by Gov. Geo. Wm5 Smith shortly before his death - "Inclosed you will find a copy of the paper entitled The American Crisis, which was written by my father [Meriwether4 Smith] in 1776, and also of the notes enclosed of the proceedings which were then moved by himself and adopted by the General Assembly, and which may be seen in the Journal of that session. I have also the original manuscript of the Bill of Rights as written by him. Besides these, I find among his papers many others, that you may choose to peruse at your leisure, respecting alliance with France, of which he was in Congress the most zealous, and not the least powerful, advocate; the negotiations for peace; the instructions relative to both, which were drawn by him; reflections upon the report of the Secretary of the Treasury relative to the funding system, &c., &c., and which I will with pleasure furnish. The copy inclosed in intended for your own perusal. However, I should not object to your friend Mr. Strode seeing it; but as hitherto I have had, so now I have, reasons why I should not show his papers, or speak generally of the services of my father in the commencement of and during the Revolution. The evidences of his patriotism show that it was not less influential in directing and fixing the destinies of his country than it was bold and manly and honourable for himself".

"Col. Smith's patriotism was distinguished at that early period of the Revolution when men's souls were most tried. Judge Marshall remarked to me, 'I was well acquainted with your grandfather, Meriwether Smith - among the first to move forward in the cause of his country'. Mr. Monroe said, 'Your grandfather was one of the earliest and most ardent patriots of the Revolution. He, from the beginning, struck boldly and confidently for independence and nothing less.'" - Dr. Edward Bathurst6 Smith, of St. Louis, Mo., to John Adams6 Smith, of Richmond, Va., 10 June, 1858.

"He [Meriwether4 Smith] wore a cocked hat, too much snuff when earnestly engaged in conversation, and had great influence and control over the people . . . The likeness of him taken by his son Bathurst, and sent you by my sister Ann, is said to have been a most correct likeness" - Quarles6 to John Adams6 Smith, 1859.

NOTE 2. THE WHITE FAMILY: I. Moses1 White emigrated to America from North Ireland about 1740, settling first in Pennsylvania; married Mary, sister of John Campbell, the emigrant, great-grandfather of Gen. William Campbell, of King's Mountain fame. (Correspondence of Gov. David Campbell and Lyman C. Draper). They had a son,

II. MOSES2 WHITE, who emigrated with his father and about 1742 went to Rowan County, North Carolina. (Wheeler's History North Carolina, II., p. 215). He married, first, Mary McConnel; secondly, Eleanor ---, who survived him. His will, proved in Rowan County, North Carolina, 14 June, 1783, mentions the following children:
     1, David3;
     2, William3;
     3, John3;
     4, James3, of whom hereafter;
     5, Jean3, married ---- Templeton;
     6, Elizabeth3, married ---- Peden;
     7, Mary3, married ---- M'Cree (M'Cay?);
     8, Sarah3, married ---- Wilson;
     9, Penelope3;
    10, Eleanor3;
    11, Margaret3.

III. GEN. JAMES3 WHITE (Moses2, Moses1), born in Rowan (now Iredell) county, North Carolina, 1747; died in Knoxville, Tenn., 14 August, 1821. He served in the Revolution and received large grants of land in what is now Knox county, Tenn., to which he removed in 1783; founded Knoxville, 1792; was a member of the Franklin Convention, 1785; the constitutional convention of Tennessee; speaker of the State Senate; active in the Indian wars, and in 1812 was commissioned brigadier-general of Tennessee volunteers. (Ramsey's Tennessee, pp. 278, 295, 372-74, 443; Scott's Memoirs of Hugh Lawson White, etc.) He married (Family Bible and Rowan County Records), 14 April, 1770, Mary (born 1742; died 10 March, 1819), daughter of Hugh Lawson, of Rowan county, North Carolina*. Issue:
       1, Margaret4 (born 8 April, 1771; died 27 August, 1827), married Charles McClung, of Knoxville, Tenn.; issue:
       2, Hugh Lawson4 (born 30 October, 1773; died 10 April, 1840), justice Tennessee Supreme Court, member United States Senate, etc., married Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Rev. Samuel Carrick; issue:
       3, Moses4 (born 22 April, 1775), married Isabella, daughter of George McNutt; issue:
       4, Andrew4 (born 9 May, 1779; d.s.p. 6 October, 1806);
       5, Mary McConnel4 (born 11 November 1782), married, first, Dr. F. May, second, Judge John Overton, of Nashville; issue by both marriages;
       6, Cynthia Berry4 (born 7 April, 1786; died 11 August, 1855), married Gen. Thomas Adams Smith, U.S.A.; issue: (ante, p. 51);
       7, Melinda4 (born 15 February, 1789; died 2 March, 1838), married Col. John Williams, member United States Senate, minister to Guatamala, etc., issue.
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   *Hugh Lawson's will, dated Sept., 1764, proved in Rowan county, Nov., 1772, mentions son Roger, daughter Mary; sons-in-law George Ewing, Hugh Barry, James Henderson and Thomas Irvin.