ANTHONY WHITE
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Anthony White was born about 1700 in
Scotland. - There is no documentation to confirm
this
There are a number of web statements that give his
parents as James White and Agnes McCloskey.
So far I cannot find documentation. However, those
names were certainly found in Cumberland County where Anthony
and his family lived. Perhaps in the county
records may be found.
Again, no documentation, but a lot of circumstantial
records imply that Anthony married Margaret Ralston
probably in Cumberland County.
Settlers first entered the Cumberland Valley
between 1725-1727. The majority were Scots
Irish. The area was first part of Chester County,
then Lancaster County and in 1750 Cumberland County.
It is about 40 miles due west of Harrisburg.
There are records in the Cumberland County PA Historical
Society that do connect Ralston, Laughlin and White families. They
may all have come about the same time from North Ireland
and may have known each other there.
*Cumberland County PA Deed Book B1-2 The
deed states that Dec. 4, 1760 Andrew Ralston of West Pennsborough
Twp granted to Anthony
White of Middletown Twp. 152.10 pounds for
Improvement on east side of Big Spring "being the
one half of Andrew
Ralston deceased plantation David Ralston has the
south side of the said plantation bounded the east by William Laughlin and
on the south east by John
Hodge and open to the Barrons. Witnesses were James Laughlin and Allen Leeper.
From this we can suggest that Margaret was Anthony White's wife. It has been
suggested and it fits what we are given that Margaret was the
sister of David Ralston
and daughter of Andrew
Ralston. Deed B2-4 notes that the Orphans
Court was petitioned. It would be very helpful to
read that document.
It seems highly likely from the deed B1-2 that Andrew
Ralston owned a large piece of land that was then
divided to his children, ie son David Ralston,
son-in-laws Anthony White, William Laughlin and John
Hodge. We know that John Laughlin,
William's son married Andrew's
granddaughter, Mary White. and William
Laughlin was married to Nancy Hodge.
There must be a connection to John Hodge, but I
don't know what it is.
Big Spring Creek is beautiful, shallow and clear to the bottom in 2009. It winds through lovely farm land for 4-5 miles to the Laughlin Mill - built by William Laughlin. The Mill was in the family for over 100 years. The original meeting house was constructed in 1737 and the stone structure in 1789. Newville (New Village) was founded in 1790 when the Big Spring Presbyterian Church laid out the town on their land and sold the lots. Therefore, all of the Ralston land mentioned above would be just east of Newtown, as the town is on the west side of the Spring.
Margaret and Anthony White probably moved into the
area of Big Spring maybe by 1737 or very near
there after. It is stated on the web that they
had 4 children. However, as Anthony died
intestate, I know of no direct sources.
Descendants of John Laughlin noted above states that
Mary White wed John Laughlin. I don't know of
the source of the other children. the children
listed are
1. Mary
White born 1725 in Scotland, wed John
Laughlin c 1750 in Pennsylvania
2. Thomas White
3. Samuel White
4. David White
* Deed Book B2-4 The north moiety of tract formerly possessed by Andrew Ralston, now deceased, who gr. Dec. 4, 1760 to Anthony White, who lately died intestate and whose admrs petitioned Cumberland Ct. Orphans Court. The court ordered a public sale May 21, 1764, the sale was held June 4, 1764. Margret White and David Ralston were the admirs. of Anthony White, deceased yeoman of West Pennsborough Twp. The 200 - 250 acres was granted to Jospeh Jacobs for 238 pounds. Witnesses were William Plunket and William McCoskey or McCoskry
* Court House Record
#24 W Estate Inventory of Anthony White,
deceased Feb. 20, 1764. James
Laughlin and Patrick
McFarlance filed the inventory May 21,
1765. The first item listed in the Inventory is his
whiskey still.
It is not known when Margaret Ralston White died,
but it would have been after 1764. We would guess they are
both buried at the Big Spring Presbyterian church cemetery
- now called John
Graham Memorial Cemetery.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Confirm Mary's birthplace and date.
2. Search for immigration records for the White family/
3. Find the Orphan Courts records for Anthony
White's young children.
4. Search Cumberland County records for any info on the family.
5. When and where did she die?
Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2016
Doc; gbwhi010.html
Date created: 2/27/2010
Date edited 7/4/2016