Thomas White (1667-1732)
Encyclopedia
Thomas White of Tuxford
was the son of John White of Tuxford
and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Williamson, Bt.. He was a substantial landowner in Nottinghamshire
, owning the Manor of Tuxford, which had been in the family for several generations by this time.
He was the man responsible for the family eventually settling at Wallingwells
– the result of losing his way one night.
White was on his way home from a journey and had hoped to make the final leg of the trip to Tuxford from Sheffield
in one evening. He was on horseback, followed by his servant and baggage. The land between Sheffield and Tuxford was in those days unenclosed and the roads were little more than packhorse tracks. Thomas lost his way in the darkness, but happened to stumble upon an ancient moated house, which had formerly been a nunnery. The house was owned by Richard Taylor, a captain in the Nottinghamshire Militia, MP
for East Retford and lately High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
. Taylor put White up for the night and showed great hospitality to him.
Richard Taylor was married to Bridget, daughter of Sir Ralph Knight of Langold
and Warsop – a famous and prominent during the Civil War and the restoration of the monarchy. They had a sole daughter, Bridget, who was then aged 16 years. Thomas White was 31 years old at this time.
Following the accidental meeting of White and the Taylor family, Thomas White regularly repeated his visits and became good friends with the Taylors. Eventually Thomas and Bridget married at Carlton Church on 28 July 1698. Through this marriage to the heraldic heiress
, the estates at Wallingwells and Buerly (Pately Bridge) were added to Thomas’s already considerable holdings.
Richard Taylor died in the spring of 1699, with Thomas and Bridget inheriting his possessions. They decided to move into Wallingwells at this time, making it their home and seat.
Thomas White was described by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
(his third cousin) as a jovial countryman. He was MP for East Retford
(most of which belonged to him) in many Parliaments of King William and Queen Anne’s reigns and was a Deputy Lieutenant
for Nottinghamshire. In 1717 Thomas was appointed Clerk of the Ordinance of the Tower.
Thomas and Bridget had five children:
Thomas White died suddenly of an apoplectic fit at Wallingwells on 30 September 1732 aged 63 years. He is buried under the High Altar in Tuxford Church. His widow Bridget continued to live at Wallingwells until her death on 17 January 1761.
Tuxford
-Geography:Tuxford is a village and a civil parish on the southern edge of the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England. It may also be considered a small town as it was historically a market town. Nearby larger towns are Retford and Newark-on-Trent. From Harvest Cottage, near the ECML, the...
was the son of John White of Tuxford
Tuxford
-Geography:Tuxford is a village and a civil parish on the southern edge of the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England. It may also be considered a small town as it was historically a market town. Nearby larger towns are Retford and Newark-on-Trent. From Harvest Cottage, near the ECML, the...
and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Williamson, Bt.. He was a substantial landowner in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, owning the Manor of Tuxford, which had been in the family for several generations by this time.
He was the man responsible for the family eventually settling at Wallingwells
Wallingwells
Wallingwells is a small civil parish and hamlet in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population at the 2001 census of 22...
– the result of losing his way one night.
White was on his way home from a journey and had hoped to make the final leg of the trip to Tuxford from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in one evening. He was on horseback, followed by his servant and baggage. The land between Sheffield and Tuxford was in those days unenclosed and the roads were little more than packhorse tracks. Thomas lost his way in the darkness, but happened to stumble upon an ancient moated house, which had formerly been a nunnery. The house was owned by Richard Taylor, a captain in the Nottinghamshire Militia, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for East Retford and lately High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. Taylor put White up for the night and showed great hospitality to him.
Richard Taylor was married to Bridget, daughter of Sir Ralph Knight of Langold
Langold
Langold is a village in Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire. It was built to provide housing for the miners of Firbeck Colliery between 1923 and 1927, and Langold Lakes Country Park is situated on the south-western edge of the village.-History:...
and Warsop – a famous and prominent during the Civil War and the restoration of the monarchy. They had a sole daughter, Bridget, who was then aged 16 years. Thomas White was 31 years old at this time.
Following the accidental meeting of White and the Taylor family, Thomas White regularly repeated his visits and became good friends with the Taylors. Eventually Thomas and Bridget married at Carlton Church on 28 July 1698. Through this marriage to the heraldic heiress
Heraldic heiress
In English heraldry an heraldic heiress is a daughter of deceased man who was entitled to a coat of arms and who carries forward the right to those arms for the benefit of her future male descendants...
, the estates at Wallingwells and Buerly (Pately Bridge) were added to Thomas’s already considerable holdings.
Richard Taylor died in the spring of 1699, with Thomas and Bridget inheriting his possessions. They decided to move into Wallingwells at this time, making it their home and seat.
Thomas White was described by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
The Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was an English aristocrat and writer. Montagu is today chiefly remembered for her letters, particularly her letters from Turkey, as wife to the British ambassador, which have been described by Billie Melman as “the very first example of a secular work by a woman about...
(his third cousin) as a jovial countryman. He was MP for East Retford
East Retford (UK Parliament constituency)
East Retford was a parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the first time in 1316, and continuously from 1571 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
(most of which belonged to him) in many Parliaments of King William and Queen Anne’s reigns and was a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Nottinghamshire. In 1717 Thomas was appointed Clerk of the Ordinance of the Tower.
Thomas and Bridget had five children:
- John White (1699 – 7 September 1769)
- Taylor White
- Bridget White, married Sir John Heathcote, 2nd BaronetSir John Heathcote, 2nd BaronetSir John Heathcote, 2nd Baronet was a British Member of Parliament.Heathcote was the son of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baronet, Lord Mayor of London, and Hester, daughter of Christopher Rayner...
in 1720 - Anne White (d. 27 February 1744), married Sir Griffith Boynton, 5th Baronet on 6 April 1742. She died just five days after the birth of her son Griffith.
- Mary White (5 February 1710 – 29 September 1785), unmarried
Thomas White died suddenly of an apoplectic fit at Wallingwells on 30 September 1732 aged 63 years. He is buried under the High Altar in Tuxford Church. His widow Bridget continued to live at Wallingwells until her death on 17 January 1761.