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Capt Jock,

This is my fourth attempt at a reply to thank you for your input on the Whites of Broughshane, particularly JRW.  The previous three drafts disappeared when the mouse accidentally lifted--never happened before.

Do not have the specific marriage date for JRW but will pull down your reference from FindMyPast, a service to which I have just subscribed.  So far, very impressed with newspaper archive.

Seven year gap to birth of eldest son James (1832-1860) is due to four girls in a row early in the marriage:  Frances, Jane, Elizabeth, Victoria.  Unfortunately, James is somewhat of a "black hole"--no info yet found despite extensive looking. 

The three boys appear to have all been born in different locations, none at Whitehall, as the parents moved from one distinguished home to another in Antrim over the years.  George's birthplace, Low Castle Rock, at Portstewart looked more like a fortress than a gracious gentry home.  I guess it was appropriate considering what life had in store for him.

I use what appears to be the 19th Century spelling of "Councillor" as found in the 1915 biography of the Field Marshall.  The author uses the term which may have come from the extensive family history notes of JRW's daughter Victoria.  At any rate, the book makes it very clear that JRW's shy courtroom personality did not serve him after being called to the bar.  In fact, he had a very short career.  JRW's youngest son, John (1839-1912), apparently mirrored his Father in this regard.  He too was called to the bar in 1866 from Lincoln's Inn, but chose to report himself in several census returns over his life as a "non-practicing barrister".  He put his great intellect to work as a classical scholar, literary luminary and senior public servant in the education establishment.

I hope Cathy can find a certain direct link between her family and the Whites of Whitehall.  If so, her Uncle Sammy would be a prime candidate for me to compare Y DNA markers.  I believe that John White, the younger brother of the General, is my Great Grandfather out of wedlock.  Much documentary and circumstantial evidence, but I need a DNA match with a male line descendant to confirm my findings.

Frank White   

Cathy, wow!  Have to leave for service club picnic in a few minutes, so cannot respond in detail now.  Some quick reaction to your Mother's info.  If I am reading correctly, she is saying that your Grandfather James is son of John White (1839-1912), younger brother of Sir George.  If so, your Great Grandfather is precisely the man I am researching as my probable Great Grandfather.  For purposes of shorthand and clarity, I will refer to this John as the "Scholar."  I have studied his life very thoroughly, or as thoroughly as one can from Colorado, and can provide a great deal of biographical detail on his education, literary awards and professional life as an educator and public servant, most of his life lived in London.  Without going into detail now, I must tell you that I have never found evidence, and in fact, much to the contrary, that the Scholar ever married.  I believe my Grandfather John White (1864-1909) was an illegitimate son of the Scholar and sent to Canada to be raised out of sight of the aristocratic White family of Broughshane.  Ask you Mother if she knows of any Canadian connection to the family.

Frank

Cathy, thanks for your msg.  Received just as I am leaving for evening-long banquet here.  Will research and get back to you tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday worst case.  For your info, I am seeking a direct male descendant of the Whites of Broughshane for DNA comparison with myself to confirm my link to the family through John White, the General's younger brother.   I have not been successful in finding AP White, the son of Derrick, grandson of Jack.  If your mother's brother is a direct male descendant through James, I will be asking if he will submit a DNA sample, all at my expense.  Be back to you soon.

Frank White
Colorado Springs

Barbara,

I am seeking a confirmed direct male descendant of the White family of Broughshane for marker comparison when my test results are returned.  I had hoped to contact Andrew in this regard, but as you can see from my posting above, I did not realize you cannot include personal email in a post or use the PM system until you have posted three times.  I would be interested in comparing results with those of your husband if he is a direct male descendant.

Frank White
Colorado Springs

Hello Andrew & Others Interested in the Whites Of Broughshane

On and off for the past decade, I have been researching John White (1839-1912), younger brother of the Field Marshall, as the possible Father of my Grandfather John Joseph White (1863/4-1909).  I have determined the major facts/events in John's life through census materials, correspondence with Balloil College Oxford, Lincoln's Inn Library (law school in London) and a very helpful Local Studies Librarian in Ballymena.  In short, John White was an Oxford scholar, barrister (mainly "not practicing") and pursued a career as a senior civil servant in London working at the national Board of Education.  My research supports a circumstantial case for the connection (matching many elements of our disjointed family legend) but certainly does not prove it.  I believe the case now swings on finding out whether the John White of Broughshane is the John White who was reported as a Father in the Dublin Birth Registry of November 1864.  The Mother, Mary Conner, who signed with "her mark" reported the birth at 25 Marlborough Street (often occupied by legal professionals according to Dublin directories) and stated that the Father, John White, was a Solicitor.  This is precisely the time frame in which John White of Broughshane was in legal training (perhaps interning in the office of an established solictor) before being called to the bar (barrister) in 1866.  I bring all this to your attention in the hope that you may have some idea where I might access family documents/correspondence that could shed light on whether John of Broughshane lived and/or understudied law in Dublin between 1862 and 1866.  Do you know if any 19th century family papers are preserved anywhere by descendants or libraries?  I am aware from reviewing Durand's biography of the Field Marshall that much material was turned over to him for writing the book.  In fact, many letters  between the General and John White are quoted in the book, but none are from the early period I seek nor address my questions.  Any assistance or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Frank White
Colorado Springs