The Two Wives of John White of Early King William County, Virginia: Part 1

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There are a number of books and old genealogies which connect John White of early King William County as the ancestor of the Hanover County White family. These same books and genealogies also state that this John White was the ancestor to the White family of early Albemarle County. But this cannot be true as the two White families of Hanover and Albemarle Counties are genetically different based upon YDNA testing. 

Placing books and old genealogies aside, it is time to dig into the original documents for John White of early King William County (hereafter just referred to as John White). The earliest records that this researcher could find pertain to his two wives - YES, TWO WIVES! So, for this entry, we will focus on the documentation for his first known wife, Elizabeth.  

Disappointingly, in 1885 there was a fire at the King William County courthouse and many of the original records were burned. Fortunately some pages from the earliest deed books were saved and one such 1702 record involves John White and his wife Elizabeth. Although the first page of the record is lost to time, the below two pages describe how Elizabeth White and her husband John White assigned one hundred acres of land to Joseph Brown (relationship not stated). The record refers to an earlier 1699 King and Queen County deed assigning of the land to Joseph Brown. Of course, King William County was formed from a portion of King and Queen County in 1701. Below the two images is a transcription.


Familysearch.com King William County VA Miscellaneous Records Vol. 1

...Thomas Comer as by Deed will more at large appeare bearing date the 12th day of October _____ which is on the records of King and Queen County (And I the said Eliza the wife of John White aforesaid not being of age could not then pass and acknowledge my right) which said deed was assigned to Joseph Brown the 9th day of November 1699 which is on the records of King and Queen ___ And now I the said Eliza White the wife of John White being of age to pass away my doe now joyne with a free and willing consent with my said husband John White to make the said Brown right sure to ye aforesaid lands being in the bounds mentioned aforesaid to have and to hold the aforesaid one hundred acres of land being the same more or less according to the bounds afore expressed together with all privileges and appurtenances there unto belong in as large and ample manner as it is granted unto us and our heirs and unto him the said Joseph Brown and his heirs exors assignees to use occupy possess enjoy forever without the disturbance of us John White and Eliza my wife and our heirs ___ every part and parcell to be free from all incumbrances & except the Rents belonging to her Majtie and we do oblige ourselves that at the request of the said Joseph Brown his heirs & and to sign any further sale that may be devised by him or is councill in the law for the better assurance of the aforesaid premises and will acknowledge this our sale in the County Court of King William. In witness we have set our hands and seales this 20th day of November 1702 and in the first year of her Majisties reigne.

In the presence of us                                                            John White (signed and sealed)
Benj Arnold                                                                          Eliza  W  White (W mark and seal) 
Wm Johns
Thos Green

At a court helf for King William County the 20th day of November 1702 JOHN WHITE and ELIZA his wife within mentioned came into Court and presented and acknowledged this within deed, the said ELIZA being first examined unto JOS BROWN within mentioned upon who motion it was admitted to record.  

It is so unfortunate that the first page of the above deed is missing as it possibly would have told us more about the land, adjacent land owners and perhaps how John and Elizabeth White came into possession of the 100 acres.  But what is clear is that John White of early King William County:

1. Was married to a woman named Elizabeth as early as November 9, 1699

2. Elizabeth was of legal age by November 20, 1702

3. John and Elizabeth White sold the 100 acres to Joseph Brown

4. Elizabeth White relinquished her dower right to the land in 1702

The next surviving record of John White of early King William County records is dated three years later.

Location: King William County, VA, USA

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