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James Bennett “Bennie” White

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James Bennett “Bennie” White

Birth	:	Aug 1851 Mathews County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	May 1910 Mathews County, Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Gayle Burying Ground, Pribble, Mathews County, USA
Description	:	Bennie was the son of Bartlett White and Martha Diggs Davis, born in August of 1851 and raised in White's Neck at Whitehaven on the Mobjack Bay. He is usually referred to in documents as "James B." I have found references to his middle name as both Bennet (in his father-in-law's will), and Benjamin (on the birth record of some of his children). Since Benjamin occurs nowhere else in the family and he had an Uncle Bennet, I believe that his name was James Bennet White. On October 18, 1875, he married Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie Wise"... Read More	Bennie was the son of Bartlett White and Martha Diggs Davis, born in August of 1851 and raised in White's Neck at Whitehaven on the Mobjack Bay. He is usually referred to in documents as "James B." I have found references to his middle name as both Bennet (in his father-in-law's will), and Benjamin (on the birth record of some of his children). Since Benjamin occurs nowhere else in the family and he had an Uncle Bennet, I believe that his name was James Bennet White. On October 18, 1875, he married Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie Wise" Gayle, daughter of Joshua Gayle (1822-1876) and Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Billups (1824-1896). In January of 1876, Bennie and Bettie Wise purchased 46 acres of her father's land [called Edgewater] on North River, for the sum of $356.80. Because they were able to purchase it at such a reasonable price, Joshua Gayle considered this to be Bettie Wise's inheritance, as stated in his will, which was filed on the same day as the above transaction. He died six months later in July 1876. It was here that Bennie and Bettie Wise raised their family of eight children, right next door to her mother and brother over at Edgewater, where she grew up – just hollering distance across Godsey Creek. This is the same property that later was named "Bloomsdale". Bennie was a farmer and, as many did in the Mathews area, raised jonquils as one of his crops. On the birth records of two of his daughters he is listed as being a merchant also, though this is never reflected in the census records. Bennie died by his own hand in May of 1910 at the age of 58. According to his obituary, he had been in a period of depression for some time. His son, Floyd, had died of typhoid fever two years before at age 25 – perhaps adding to or initiating the depression. Fred Parker, who was a good friend of Walter Gayle's (Bettie Wise's nephew who was raised and still lived over at Edgewater), told his daughter, Frances, that he had stopped by to chat with Bennie one day when he (Bennie) was obviously depressed. Fred jokingly (and prophetically) said, "You look like you've got one foot in the grave already – you might as well put the other one in!" Bettie Wise and one of his daughters grimaced when they heard this but relaxed when Bennie started laughing and joked back at Fred. According to Mr. Parker, Bennie was probably suffering from manic-depression, -- what we now call Bipolar Disorder. A short time later, he shot himself in the head with a shotgun – out by the orchard - and was discovered by his youngest daughter. The picture shown above was probably the last picture ever taken of Bennie. Bettie Wise continued to live at Bloomsdale after Bennie's death and one by one her daughters married and moved away, except for Elizabeth Mae (called "Baby"), the youngest. Baby and her husband, Stanley Anderton (brother to Roland Anderton who married Baby's sister Bertha), married in 1917. They remained there with Bettie Wise and were responsible for naming the home place "Bloomsdale". Bettie Wise's grandson, Roland Anderton, Jr. came to live with them in 1927 after the death of his mother, Bertha. Bettie Wise died July 31, 1931, at almost 76 years of age, of a stroke. She was buried in the Gayle Family cemetery across the creek at Edgewater, along with her parents and husband. Unfortunately, the graves were never marked by stones, but by trees, and soon lay under a boathouse, constructed by new, unknowing owners. The last time I was over at Edgewater (October 2005), the boathouse had been removed and there was no evidence of the graves.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Bennett “Bennie” White's memorial?
James Bennett “Bennie” White's memorial is located at: Gayle Burying Ground, Pribble, Mathews County, USA.
When did James Bennett “Bennie” White death?
James Bennett “Bennie” White death on May 1910 in Mathews County, Virginia, USA

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Sarah Elizabeth Wise “Bettie Wise” Gayle White

(1855 - 1931)

Siblings

John Diggs White

(1835 - 1912)

William Henry Harrison White

(1842 - 1910)

(unknow - unknow)

Children

(1876 - 1882)

(1878 - 1879)

(1880 - 1960)

(1882 - 1908)

Ruby Gayle White Shinault

(1885 - 1973)

Bertha Virginia White Anderton

(1890 - 1927)

Elizabeth May White Anderton

(1892 - 1956)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Armistead Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

2. Armistead-Miller Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

3. Hall Cemetery
Beaverlett, Mathews County, USA

4. John T and Rosetta Hudgins
Beaverlett, Mathews County, USA

5. Minter-Pugh Burials
Beaverlett, Mathews County, USA

6. Wayland Baptist Church Cemetery
Beaverlett, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4121300, -76.2871200

7. Gayle-Hudgins Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

8. Green Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4130329, -76.2705721

9. Grinnell Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4017546, -76.2663572

10. Hatch Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

11. Horn Harbor Cemetery
Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3970650, -76.2721060

12. Isleham Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

13. John J Foster Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA

14. Diggs Family Cemetery
Laban, Mathews County, USA

15. John T. Diggs Cemetery
Laban, Mathews County, USA

16. Banks Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA

17. Bergdoll Family Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA

18. Diggs Family Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4121300, -76.2871200

19. Diggs of Canoe Yard Trail
Onemo, Mathews County, USA

20. Hudgins Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4130329, -76.2705721

21. Hudgins Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4017546, -76.2663572

22. Hudgins Family Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA

23. Pear Tree Cemetery
Onemo, Mathews County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3970650, -76.2721060

24. Stuart Family Cemetery
Mathews County, USA