#1956 James White ( Andrew White )

James was born Bef 1759 in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. He died Abt 1824.

James was one of the participants in the defense at the Burning of Hannastown by Indians on July 13, 1782. Below is a copy of some typed pages found amongst Charles Copeland's papers. They appear to be an excerpt from an article that was printed in 1897 in the Johnstown Tribune, recounting the events in the colorful language of the time. Based on the relationships, I believe that the title refers to John White (#1951) although he wasn't a judge.

JUDGE JOHN WHITE

It is most probable that Mr. John White of #325 Vine St. of this City is the only person now living who is the son and nephew, or son or nephew of one who was an active participant in the defence at the burning of Hannastown, Pa. by the Indians on Saturday afternoon July 13, 1782.

Mr. White is now in the ninetieth year of his age, and has been an honored citizen of this town since 1835. The facts he relates in reference to the experience his father's family had with the Red Man came to him from his father John White, and his Uncle James White.

At the time of the burning of Hannastown John and James White were at home with their parents--Andrew and Jean White on their farm along the Greensburg and Somerset Road, about four miles in the southeasterly direction from Greensburg now in Unity Township, in Westmoreland County, and about seven miles from Hannastown.

On that afternoon when men, women, and children were being put to death in the most cruel manner and the town destroyed, some escaped and they soon gave the alarm to the people in the vicinity. These at once began to seek means of defense and prepared to give a distance to those who were locked in the stockades at Hannastown.

[Herein is included a description of the town and its location.]

...On the day above mentioned the Town folks went out to the fields of Michael Huffnagle, a mile and one half north of the Fort on the Indian trail leading to Hannastown to the Kiskiminetas, to assist that gentleman in reaping his harvest. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon they observed probably one hundred Indian Warriors approaching. They at once went, afoot and horseback, to warn the people to seek safety in the Fort, which most of them succeeded in doing, but left their homes to the ruthless hands of the savages, who within a few hours had destroyed all the houses excepting two, and the Court House and Jail. One person within the Fort and one without were wounded. A Mr. Brownlee and one of his children, with a Mrs. White and two children two miles away were killed in a cruel manner. There were about twenty persons put to death on that raid. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hanna and their daughter Jennie were captured and taken away, but subsequently were released. The Mrs. White mentioned was no relative of the family of Andrew White but that event is a part of the History of Westmoreland County.

In 1836 Richard Coulter, Esq. of Greensburg, who subsequently became the Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania published in the Pennsylvania Argus a very excellent article on the "Burning of Hannastown" which is an admitted authority on that horrible affair, he having obtained the information from persons who had been present and were part of it. In referring to the aid that came to the beleaguered people he wrote:

"At Nightfall thirty yeoman, good and true had assembled at Georges' farm, not far from Millers' determined that night to give what succor they could to the people in the Fort. They set off for the Town, each with a trusty rifle, some on horseback, and some afoot. As soon as they came near the Fort, the greatest caution and circumspection was observed. Experienced woodsmen soon ascertained that the enemy was in the Crabtree bottom, and that they might enter the Fort. Accordingly, they all marched to the gate, and were most joyfully welcomed by those within.

After some consultation it was the general opinion that the Indians intended to make an attack the next morning, and as they were about forty five rifles in the Fort and about fifty five or sixty men, the contest was considered extremely doubtful, considering the great superiority of numbers on the part of the savages. It became, therefore, a matter of the first importance to impress the enemy with the belief that large reinforcements were arriving. For that purpose the horses were mounted by active men and were run all night at full trot over the bridge of plank that was across the ditch which surrounded the stockading. This was frequently repeated. To [Two] old drums were found in the fort, which were braced and music on the fife and drum was kept occasionally going during the night. While marching and counter marching, the bridge was frequently crossed on foot by the whole garrison. These measure had the desired effect. The military music from the Fort, the trampling of the horses and the marking over the bridge were borne on the silence of the night over the lowlands of the Crabtree, and the sounds carried terror into the bosoms of the cowardly savages. They feared the retribution which they deserved, and fled shortly after midnight in their stealthy and wold-like habits."

James White, the Uncle of John White, the esteemed citizen of Johnstown was one of the thirty "yeoman" that came to their aid with his trusty rifle and tramped the planks and rode the horses at full trop that night. It is most probable that James White is the only known person who was among the reinforcements that came to Hannastown on that occasion, as the reports made by Michael Huffnagle, Ephraim Douglass, and David Duncan to the Provinicial authorities were very meagre and did not give the details or the roster of their forces; it was not a question of recording matter for History, but to get more ammunition. Nor does Judge Coulter record any names of persons who were there.

[There is further description of the geography at this point]

When the news came to the White Farm, James White, the elder son took his rifle and started with other neighbors to go to the aid of those in the Fort, and John White and his father--Andrew White remained at home to protect the family. They took Mrs. White and other members of the household and with their horses and cattle abandoned their home and fled to the Chestnut Ridge and secreted themselves in the dense forest. After having located them in as safe a place as could be found, Mr. John White returned to a favorable location where he could watch their home. While passing through a thicket of underbrush he discovered a human being, as to whom he had some trouble in distinguishing whether he was white or black, owing to the dirty appearance. He soon ascertained that he was one of the unfortunate men who with his family resided near Hannastown. The stranger was almost exhausted from the effort of the long race made necessary by the close pursuit of the Indians, and when aid had been given him and his strength restored he told them of the escape of himself and his family. He said that when the Indians made the attack he took his wife and child and started for the woods, but not soon enough to escape the vigilance of the Indians, as several of them gave pursuit to the fleeing family. The wife saw that the savages were gaining on them, and she begged that she and the baby might hide in the thicket and the husband go further for assistance. He saw his wife and baby snugly hidden in the underbrush and he went to the White Homestead where he found John White and soon had help. His family were saved.

James was born in what is now Franklin County but was known as Cumberland County in those days. He was the first of his family to come west of the Alleghany mountains. He and his wife lived on the "old Homestead" until his death, about 1824. One source lists it as 1826.

Assuming that piece is true, there are a number of James White families listed in the Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania area. We don't see any evidence of James in Westmoreland Co. prior to the 1790 Federal Census. On that census there are also two females and a male under 16 in the household. One of the females is probably Nancy, the other the first of his daughters. The boy is probably Andrew.

We don't know who the "Mrs. White and two children" who were first taken prisoner and then killed later were.

We have no direct evidence of James' daughters but several researchers have reported five. Whether this is simply assumptions based upon female household members or some other evidence is unknown to me. I've gone ahead and listed young females in the household as daughters. However, depending upon how you guess at the census records you might count anywhere from five to seven.

James then shows up on the 1798 Tax List of Unity Twp. He has a house, a cabin and a barn.

On the 1800 Federal Census there is a boy 10-15, two females 26-44 and three females under 10. The boy is presumably Andrew. One of the older females is probably Nancy. The other older woman is uncertain. She seems too old to be a daughter and so may be a relative, hired hand or boarder. Assuming the younger girls are daughters we aren't certain if these would be one through three or two through four. The daughter who appeared on the 1790 Census would be 10-15 in age...perhaps 9 depending upon the months in which the censuses were taken. So, she is either barely squeaking into the Under 10 category or is no longer at home.

On the 1810 Federal Census there are also one male 16-25, one female 45+, two females 16-25 and three females under 10. The male is again Andrew and the oldest female Nancy. The two 16-25 women might match two of the daughters recorded from the 1800 Census. Alternatively, as I discuss in Andrew's entry, one may be a first wife of his. Of the three females under 10, one might match the youngest girl from 1800—again based upon relative months—but it's a very close thing. The other two are definitely new (assuming no twins). However, if one of the women is Andrew's wife, we don't know if the youngest girls are their children. So, depending upon how you interpret things, we might be seeing new daughters anywhere from Nos. 4&5, to Nos. 5,6&7.

Given the total uncertainty, I've simply left things at five unnamed daughters as reported by other researchers.

On the 1820 Federal Census the household also has a male 26-44, a male under 10, a female over 45, three females 16-25 and one female 10-15. The older male is probably Andrew and the oldest female Nancy. The three middle females might match to younger daughters on the last census. However, if we go with the theory that Andrew had a previous marriage, then one of the middle females would be this wife and the youngest boy probably their child as we will see a boy around that age in Andrew's household in 1830. I assume the youngest female is the youngest daughter of James.

James married #1957 Nancy.

Other names for Nancy: Ann.

Nancy was born Bef 1765.

I have not found any evidence of Nancy after the 1820 Census.

Children of this relationship:

#67167MiKenneth White(–Deceased)
#1960Fii«Unknown» White(1785/1794–)
#1958MiiiAndrew White(Abt 1787–Bef 1860)
#1959Fiv«Unknown» White(Abt 1794–)
#1961Fv«Unknown» White(1795/1809–)
#1962Fvi«Unknown» White(Abt 1809–)
#1963Fvii«Unknown» White(Abt 1810–)

"Judge John White", Johnstown Tribune (29 Jun 1897).

1790 U.S. Census, Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Series: M637; Roll: 9; Page: 84; Image: 55; Family History Library Film: 0568149

1800 U.S. Census, Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Roll: 41; Page: 1172; Image: 292; Family History Library Film: 363344

1810 U.S. Census, Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Roll: 51; Page: 805; Image: 0193677; Family History Library Film: 00221

1820 U.S. Census, Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Page: 176; NARA Roll: M33_112; Image: 186

Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Unknown, Charles D. Copeland Ancestors, diagram of ancestry tree found among possesions of Charles Daniel Copeland, Jr.. Roll: 1496; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0072; FHL microfilm: 1241496

Unknown, Letter describing the early members of the White family. See Andrew White #1951 for transcription


Line Generation: 2

Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather