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Capt. Robert White

Birth	:	17 Sep 1775 County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Death	:	5 Sep 1851 Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Oak Grove Cemetery, Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate	:	37.7808300, -79.4450600
Plot	:	White 2A 150
Inscription	:	R O B E R T W H I T E born in the County of Londonderry Ireland Sept. 17th, 1775, died Sept. 5th 1851, aged 76 years ——.—— He lived a usefull life and died in the full de____ in
Description	:	"Robert White was born in Ireland in 1775, and came to Lexington in 1800, going into the mercantile business. He was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, a justice and sheriff, and in politics, was a Whig. On 27 May 1802, he was married to Margaret "Peggy" Johnston, the daughter of Zachariah Johnston, in Rockbridge Co., Presbyterian minister, Daniel Blain, officiated. His sons were Zachariah J. and Robert L. Mr. White died in 1851." From A History of Rockbridge County, VA, by Oren F. Morton, p 277. Read More	"Robert White was born in Ireland in 1775, and came to Lexington in 1800, going into the mercantile business. He was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, a justice and sheriff, and in politics, was a Whig. On 27 May 1802, he was married to Margaret "Peggy" Johnston, the daughter of Zachariah Johnston, in Rockbridge Co., Presbyterian minister, Daniel Blain, officiated. His sons were Zachariah J. and Robert L. Mr. White died in 1851." From A History of Rockbridge County, VA, by Oren F. Morton, p 277. Robert I White, inherited his father, Robert White's land, bought originally in about 1800 on Lewis Street at E. Washington St., in Lexington, VA. Then it was deeded to James Gardner Paxton on 22 Nov 1869 in Deed Book HH, p 78. Paxton built the home on it. It went to various other family members, all traced in the the 1937 WPA Historical Inventory of the Home of Jas G Paxton, by Jas W McClung. It gives a complete description of the home, a photo of it and some history. The informants were his kin, Hon. Hugh A White and Matthew W Paxton, Jr. Another WPA report called the Sheridan Hotel, #ROC-54, in 1936, was then at 115,117, 119, 121 and 123 S Main Street "came into the possession of Robert White about the year 1778, and he erected 3 building on same in 1779. He sold them to (I believe his son) Joseph White on 27 Apr 1845," in Rockbridge Co. Deed Book, AA, p 48. Following Joseph's death, it passed to Robert's children: George and Annie R White. The old building/s on the west side of Main street, were owned by the White family for about 130 years. They sold it to John Sheridan, on 1 Oct 1908 and he demolished the buildings, replacing it with the Sheridan Hotel. (See newspaper clipping about this home on his son William's FaG site, below.) War of 1812 Veteran Buried in Virginia by the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dec 2011 draft compiled by Myron E. Lyman, Sr. lists Lieut. Robert White, in Rockbridge, VA, buried at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. Robert and his brother William, were the administrators of sibling Joseph White's estate, from 1816 onward. On the 1850 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., VA census, I found farmer Robert White, 74, born in Ireland and merchant Joseph White, 23, VA born. The following is an excerpt of a long article reprinted in the 15 Oct 1902's Lexington Gazette's series titled The Old Men of Rockbridge. It was written by the former editor Judge James T. Patton (per the 22 Oct 1902 article titled the same.) "From the Gazette of April 30, 1875: "Mr. Robert White, you have spoken of, and said all that is important to be known. I will endorse all you have said, but as I knew the family well in my early days and used to spend some happy hours in his hospitable home with his eldest daughters, Misses Ann and Hannah, very pretty and interesting ladies of their day; also of their brother, Zechariah White, who had just grown to man's estate. Of Wm. G., Robert and Joseph White, I need scarcely speak; they are in your midst, worthy sons of an honest sire, and grandsons of Zechariah Johnston, Sr., who had eight children, if not more. I knew James Johnston, Zechariah Johnston, Dr. Johnston and Alex. Johnston, Mrs. E. McChesney, Mrs. Ann White and Mrs. Robert White." "Thus you will see the descendants of the Whites are numerous. Jos. White, Wm. White, Robert White and Mathew White came from Ireland, and the Johnstons were of Scotch-Irish descent, if I am not mistaken. Seventy-Eight." In the same paper, the Lexington Gazette on 29 Oct 1902 reprint from 1875, Judge Patton wrote about Capt. Robert White. It confirms he came from (N.) Ireland and was a self made man. "The first we hear of him is of his arrival in the city of Baltimore where he invested a few hundred dollars in merchandise, and with his little stock of dry goods set out for a location in VA, to open a store. He settled upon the town of Middlebrook, in the county of Augusta, and there offered his wares to the market of that vicinity." "We are told that he returned to the city of Baltimore with the intention of re-embarking for his native land, and the inference is that he was rather discouraged with the prospects this side of the great waters. But, at all events, he did not carry out hte purpose of leaving America and abandoning his citizenship in this country..... Having procured a large stock of goods, Capt. White came to Lexington, set up as a merchant, and this was the beginning of a long and prosperous career which he subsequently led among the people of Rockbridge." "He kept store in the building at present occupied as a store-room by his son, Wm G. White, and his family resided in the same building. From accounts the houseroom was much more limited in those days than at the present time, as the building was vastly smaller than now; and still it served for store-room and residence for Capt. White and family. It is no uncommon thing, in these modern days, for us to be surprised to learn how little room our ancestors required to raise a large family and carry on an extensive business." "...His manners were blunt, but his heart was in the right place and his head was level. During his mercantile life he was selected to represent the county in the House of Delegates, and so popular did he make himself as a representative, that he was continued in that capacity for 9 consecutive years...." "25 years ago the venerable from of old Robert White was familiar to the people of Lexington and of Rockbridge county. He had then made his fortune - had settled from business to the enjoyment of his otium cum dignitate, and that stoop-shouldered old man with his swallow-tailed blue coat and brass buttons, walking stick in hand, or during winter season, enveloped in a plain broadcloth cloak, was often seen on our streets. The social centre was enlivened with his conversation. He spoke the truth, let it be agreeable to his hearers or not, but never with a purpose to offend. He had enough of Irish pleasantry about him to make his conversation, though plain spoken, yet agreeable to all." Little is legible on his gravestone in August 2013. I can read ROBE__ __ WHITE but the rest is real sketchy. I haven't found any transcriptions of it online. Also can't find the name on the small stone next to Robert's at the base, in the distance shot. I do not see it listed on the W&L University site above, going by plot #'s. Part of his obit from an unidentified paper says: DIED, at residence in Lexington, on the morning of Friday the 5th inst. ROBERT WHITE ESQ, for the last 50 years a resident of this place. The deceased was a native of the Parish of Banagher county of Londonderry, Ireland, was born on the 17th Sep. 1775, where he received a liberal education in his native land when he emigrated to America, at the ear-age (early age?) of 16. He spent some years of his ear-her life in his adopted country in the business of teaching. About the year 1800 he settled in Lexington as a Merchant, since which time his whole course of life is well known to the people of Rockbridge. He served the people of the County as one of the ________ Legislature..... (thanks LisaS) I understand that his son, Robert Irvin White's slave, a trusted servant, named Samuel Hays, was buried in the Robert White family plot. This was rare, so he must have been held in high esteem. He is believed to be one of 3 African Americans buried in the basically white cemetery (up to 1936), when it was owned by and named, the Lexington Presbyterian Cemetery. Later it was renamed Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. Based on the 10 Nov 1936 Lexington Presbyterian Cemetery WPA Historical Inventory survey report by Jas W McClung. Robert White is also mentioned in The Scotch-Irish in America, Proceedings and Addresses of the 7th Congress at Lexington, VA, June 20-23, 1895, Scotch-Irish Society of America, Nashville, TN, 1895, p 328. Capt Robert I. White was born in Londonderry, Ireland, he graduated from the University of Edinburgh, he served 12 years in the Virginia Legislature, married Margaret, the daughter of Zachariah Johnston....." The following is an excerpt of a long article reprinted in the 15 Oct 1902's Lexington Gazette's series titled The Old Men of Rockbridge. It was written by the former editor Judge James T. Patton (per the 22 Oct 1902 article titled the same.) Excerpt below is "From the Gazette of April 30, 1875: "I send you a brief memorial of the White family, embracing the four brothers Joseph, William, Robert and Mathew, three of whom reside in Rockbridge, and one, William in Staunton. They were intermarried in the Johnston family of Rockbridge and Augusta, where many of their descendants still reside." Rev. R. W. Bailey, Agent American Colonization Society requested the local paper report on the proceedings of the Lexington Colonization to express their wishes on the subject. Augusta Co. raised $624 and Rockbridge Co. raised $411.25. Meeting was held in the Court House on May 13 for the purpose of taking into consideration the removal of the Free Colored population to Liberia. On motion of Col. S(aml) McD(owell) Reid, Capt. ROBT. WHITE was appointed Chairman, and J T Patton, Secretary.... the operation of the law of the last General Assembly of VA appropriating $30K a year for 3 years fo the removal of the Free Colored population.... of this State with their own consent. Others are mentioned in the article. Glad to see this in the Staunton Spectator (VA) dated 12 Jun 1850 (see photo). His marker is very worn in places and very hard to read Bio researched and written by LSP

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Capt. Robert White's memorial?
Capt. Robert White's memorial is located at: Oak Grove Cemetery, Lexington, Lexington City, USA.
When did Capt. Robert White death?
Capt. Robert White death on 5 Sep 1851 in Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Capt. Robert White's memorial?
Latitude: 37.7808300
Longitude: -79.4450600

Family Members:

Spouse

Margaret “Peggy” Johnston White

(1781 - 1843)

Children

Zachariah Johnston White

(1803 - 1871)

(1808 - 1874)

(1809 - 1831)

(1811 - 1888)

(1813 - 1822)

Pvt Robert Irvine White

(1818 - 1890)

Margaret Anne White McDowell

(1822 - 1901)

Joseph White

(1824 - 1887)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Oak Grove Cemetery
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7808300, -79.4450600

2. Grace Episcopal Church Columbarium
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7866290, -79.4431810

3. Lee Chapel Museum
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7873740, -79.4417470

4. Evergreen Cemetery
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7803001, -79.4321976

5. Virginia Military Institute Museum
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7899950, -79.4355080

6. The Meadow
Lexington, Lexington City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7757000, -79.4615900

7. Green Hill Cemetery
Buena Vista, Buena Vista City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7300200, -79.3758200

8. Green Hill Mausoleum
Buena Vista, Buena Vista City, USA
Coordinate: 37.7286700, -79.3759300

9. Hico Cemetery
Monroe, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6875910, -79.3291640

10. Lipscombe-Garrett Cemetery
Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6834000, -79.3317000

11. Clarence Davis Farm Cemetery
Oronoco, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7495540, -79.2767500

12. Oronoco Church of the Brethren Cemetery
Oronoco, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7447020, -79.2724990

13. Asberry Methodist Church Cemetery
Oronoco, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7372208, -79.2538910

14. Richeson Cemetery
Allwood, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6811000, -79.2779000

15. Bridge Hill Cemetery
Alto, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7709570, -79.2309650

16. Roberts Cemetery
Monroe, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6519012, -79.3052979

17. Hylton Cemetery
Allwood, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6887500, -79.2643170

18. Mount Horeb United Methodist Church Cemetery
Amherst, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7106911, -79.2419758

19. Leonard Coffey Farm Cemetery
Alto, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7781570, -79.2199170

20. Tyree off Slapp Creek Cemetery
Willow, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6763890, -79.2595980

21. Whitten Family Cemetery
Willow, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6932210, -79.2405210

22. Jennings Family Cemetery
Willow, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7012790, -79.2342110

23. Hartless Cemetery
Allwood, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6695710, -79.2577740

24. Tomlinson Family Cemetery
Forks of Buffalo, Amherst County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7029090, -79.2248080