Peter White

The Stulls of "Millsborough": a genealogical history of John Stull "The ...? - Page 571
by Chris Harvey Bailey - History - 2000

John White and Sarah Leonard. Peter was born about 1730 in NJ. .... To his sons
John and Daniel White he left his tract of land in Redstone Settlement, ...This land was in Fayette County, PA where Daniel settled. ...

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History of Western Maryland by Scharf.

Peter White was the son of John White, an Englishman, who settled in New Jersey. Peter White took up large tracts of land on both sides of the Antietam, called "End the Strife," "Whisky," and "Toddy." Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White. They were Sarah, who married John Wagoner, who was sheriff of Washington County for two terms; Margaret, who married Mr. Geary, and was the mother of the late Governor Geary, a Presbyterian minister, now living in Portland, Oregon; Isaac Stull White, who was also sheriff of Washington County, and who married a Miss Rench; John, who was afterwards the father of Mrs. Judge Carson, of Mercersburg, Pa; two sons who died single; and two daughters who also remained unmarried. Mrs. Peter White (Margaret Stull) was the niece of Judge Stull. Mrs. White's sister Susan married Col. Jack Swearingen of racing fame. In May, 1818, Mrs. John Kennedy died, leaving four children,--Sarah Anne, who married Benjamin Price [continuing on page 1034] the lawyer of Frederick, and afterwards of Hagerstown; Louisa Margaret, who married Hon. James Dixon Roman; John Wagoner, who married Mary Elizabeth McPherson, only daughter of Dr. William Smith McPherson, of Prospect Hall, Frederick County; and James Hugh, who married Lydia, second daughter of Col. Jacob Hollingsworth, of Hagerstown.

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Nixon Family Memorials by Jean w. Cox 1970

"Peter was with his father in Frederick Co., MD because he was listed as an ensign in the company of Capt. John White for 1757-1758 during the French and Indian War. His name appeared in the Musters of Maryland Troops page 258, Arch. of Md., Vol 2. He enlisted 20 July 1778 and deserted 20 Dec. 1778. Ibid page 660 showed Peter White, Seaman, a year earlier as having served from 9 Aug. to 2 Nov. 1777. He married Margaret Stull, the daughter of John Stull. Peter died by 1785 when his will was probated in Washington Co., MD."

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The Stulls of "Millsborough" by Chris Harvey Bailey, 2000

"Margaret Stull, daughter of John Stull and Martha----, was born about 1735 (1) in Prince George's (present-day Washington) county, MD. She was married about 1751 to Peter White, son of Capt. John White and Sarah Leonard. Peter was born about 1730 in NJ. They had nine children born in Frederick (present-day Washington) County, MD (2)

1 1. Sarah White, b. abt 1752. She married John Wagner.
2. Martha White, b. abt. 1756. She died in infancy.
2 3. Susannah White, b. abt 1758. She married John Watt, Jr.
3 4. John White, b. May 20, 1760. He married Eleanor Williams.
4 5. Peter White, Jr., b. abt. 1762. He married Nancy Caldwell.
5 6. Daniel White, b. abt. 1764. He never married.
6 7. Drusilla White, b. abt. 1766. She married Sampson Holt.
7 8. Margaret White, b. May 20, 1770. She married Richard Geary, Jr.
8 9. Isaac Stull White, b. abt. 1772. He probably first married Mary Grove and secondly, Mary M Rench.

About 1757, Peter White served as an Ensign in the militia company commanded by his father, Capt. John White, serving six days during the French and Indina War. (3) He became a large landowner south of present-day Hagerstown, MD. On May 22, 1754 Peter had a 60 acres tract called 'end of Strife' surveyed. It was patented May 11, 1755 and ran along the southern boundary of 'Whiskey' which belonged to his wife's family. On May 18, 1759 he resurveyed this tract to include 310 acres as 'Resurvey on End of Strife' and was granted a patent on Dec. 5, 1760. (4)

On Oct 23, 1766 Peter White was granted 319 acres of land in Berkeley County, (W) VA (5) on both sides of Miles Spring Branch from Thomas, Lord Fairfax. (6) On Oct. 29, 1774 he purchased a 500 acres tract in Middletown District, Frederick County, called 'Sun Is Down & The Moon Is Up' from Samuel Armit. (7)

Peter White is recorded as taking the Oath of Fidelity in Washington County in 1778. In the early 1770's contention and allegations were made among family members over the estate of Isaac Stull. Peter White even brought a slander suit against his brother-in-law, Charles Swearingen, for calling him a 'rogue' in the matter.

Peter White executed a will on Oct. 17, 1784. (8) He died about Jan. of 1785 in Washington County, MD. On Nov. 4, 1786 widow Margaret White purchased a lot in Elizabeth Town 82' wide and 240' long from her son, John White, for 10, pounds. (9). She sold this land May 3, 1794 to Henry Baumwart of Washington County for 24 pounds. (10) Margaret White was shown as a widow in the 1790 and 1800 census enumerations of Washington County, MD.

On Jan 7, 1793 Margaret White appeared in Washington County Chancery Court declaring herself a resident of Washington County and age '56 years or thereabouts.' She also deposed that 'she is the widow of Peter White late of Washington County, deceased' and that 'the late John Stull was her brother' and gave further testimony about the troubles which arose concerning the estate of her brother, Isaac Stull. (11)

On Nov 11, 1797 Margaret White made a deed of agreement with her sons, Peter White and Isaac White, allowing her to sell a portion of 'Resurvey on End of Strife'. (12) On the same day Margaret and her son, Peter White, sold a tract of land to John Wagoner for 430 pounds. (13)

Margaret White died at her home 'End of Strife' on July 29, 1804. The Maryland Herald and Hagers-Town Weekly Advertiser noted on Aug. 1, 1804.

Died - On Sunday morning last, in an advanced age, at her residence, about two miles from this town, Mrs. Margaret White. She is much lamented by all who knew the worth of her truly amiable character.

Isaac S. White was appointed the administrator of Margaret White's estate on Oct. 29, 1804. The Maryland Herald and Hagers-Town Weekly Advertiser ran the following notice on July 26, 1805,

To Be Sold at Public Vendue, On Saturay the 31st of Aug., next, at the late dwelling house of Margaret White, deceased, about two miles from Hagers-town, the personal estate of the said deceased, consisting of Horses, Cows, Young cattle and Sheep; a wagon and Gears with sundry Household and Kitchen furniture, too tedious to particularize. The sale will commence at 10 July 25, 1805
Isaac White, Adm'or

Most of the heirs of Margaret White received their share of Margaret's personal property in 1805, but curiously, her son Peter White did not receive his share until 1818.

'End of Strife' farm, located on the road running from Stull's Mill south of Hagerstown to Funkstown, MD contained 310 acres, of which 299 acres had been left by the bequest of Peter White, Sr., to his sons Isaac S. White and Peter White, Jr. The remaining 11 acres Peter had left to others of his children. Between 1797 and 1807 the entire 'End of Strife' farm was purchased from the White heirs by John and Sarah (White) Wagoner and the land remained in their family for many years.

Note - An Old Error is Corrected

Margaret Stull was married only once - to Peter White (d. 1785) of Washington County, MD. She died his widow. Though it is an often repeated error - Margaret Stull was never married to Van Swearingen, Jr. (d. 1784) of Middletown, Frederick County, MD. Although Van Swearingen, Jr. did have a wife named Margaret, her maiden surname has never been proven. The false concludions that the maiden name of Van's wife was Stull appears to have been based solely on two things (a) they named a son Isaac Stull Swearingen and (b) the idea that three Stull sisters married three Swearingen brothers. Neither of these prove van's wife was a Stull. Widow Margaret (---) Swearingen outlived widow Margaret (Stull) White (d. 1804) many years and, in fact, was still living at Middletown, MD when the 1830 census was taken.

Footnotes

(1) Margaret was under age 16 when her father executed his will on Apr. 17, 1749. John Stull's willo stated: 'I do give to my Daughter Margaret Stull one Negro Girl called Jean and fifty pounds Courrant Money payable from my Son Daniel to her on her sixteenth year of her age.'

(2) All of Margaret White's children were deceased by 1840 except #8.

(3) The muster roll of this company was not dated, but is known to have been in 1757 or 1758. (Reported in Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774, by Murtie J. Clark. Baltimore, 1983. p. 94-5). He may also be the Peter White who was listed as a private on the pay roll of Capt. Robert Spotswood's Company at Winchester, (Frederick County), VA on Oct. 16, 1755 and was paid Sep. 13, 1755 for 18 days service. (Ibid., p. 320).

(4) From Dr. Arthur Tracey's study of land tracts of western Maryland.

(5) Peter White received no warrant for this land, but it was surveyed Mar. 5, 1749/50. There was a house drawn on the plat. (Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, Vol. 2, by Peggy S. Joyner, 1985, p. 165). When granted, this land was in Frederick County, VA and recorded in Frederick County land records, Bk. N, p. 296. (Reported in Virginia North Neck Land Grants, Vol. 2, 1742-1775, by Gertrude E. Gray, 1988).

(6) On Mar. 16, 1773 Peter White and his wife Margaret of Frederick County, MD leased this land to Jonathan Rose of Berkeley County for 5 shillings and rent of one pepper corn on Lady day, if demanded. They released this land to Rose the following day for 25 pounds and Quit rents due to Thomas, Lord fairfax. (Berkeley County, (W)VA Deed Bk. 2, pp. 1-5). Copies sent by George E. Russell of Middletown, MD.

(7) This tract was originally surveyed Dec. 3, 1750 by White's brother-in-law, Capt. Robert deButts of Frederick County, MD who received a patent for it on Jan 21, 1752. Samuel Armit was married to Mary Ann Christy Abigail deButts, the only daughter of Abigail (White) deButts.

(8) Wills of Washington County, MD, Bk. A. p. 105. In this will Peter White left his wife Margaret her bed and furniture and her 'riding Creature & Sade' as well as life use of the home plantation, 'End of strife'. To his sons John and Daniel White he left his tract of land in Redstone Settlement, the West Side of Laurel Hill as well as a negro boy each. This land was in Fayette County, PA where Daniel settled. Peter gave his home plantation to his sons Peter and Isaac White except for seven acres which he gave to their sister, Sarah Wagoner. Daniel White was also to receive three acres from the home plantation on the right hand side of the road leading from Funkstown to Hagerstown and opposite that land given to Sarah Wagoner. Daughters Susannah, Drusilla and Margaret White were to receive a negro girl each and 20 pounds each to be paid by their brothers Peter and Isaac. His widow was to receive a negro woman and her increase and the home plantation was to remain in the possession of his wife during her widowhood and its stock, etc. were to be used for her support and to support and educated his younger children. After his widow's death and her affairs settled, the estate was to be divided equally amon his children, Sarah Wagoner excepted. This will was proven Feb. 11, 1786 in Washington County."

(9) Land records of Washington County, MD, Bk. E. p. 198. This land had an annual rent due to Col. John Stull.

(10) Ibid. Bk. E. p. 964. The land was now described as being in Stull's Additional (to Hagerstown) #3.

(11) In Chancery court suit Abijah Swearingen vs. Otho H. Williams and Elie Williams, Administrators of the John Stull, dec.

(12) Land record of Washington County, MD, Bk. K, p. 542. James and Mercy Kendal witnessed this deed.

(13) Ibid., Bk. K, p. 547. the othr son, Isaac S. White, had sold his half of 'Resurvey of End of Strife' to John Wagoner on Mar. 15, 1797 noting Margaret White's life use. (Bk. K, p. 415)."