23 June 2011

James White, A Saddler, Born in Virginia

James White was born on November 28, 1828, in Wellsburg, Virginia, now West Virginia.  He was probably the same James White who died February 18, 1909, in Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was the son of John White. 

I believe that the James White enumerated below is my husband's great-great grandfather, because his occupation is "saddler" and he is living in the presumed county of his birth (Brooke). 

1850 Census - Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia)

United States Census, 1850
William Marks     M     44y
James White     M     23y
    Et al

The 1860 and 1870 censuses below are definitely the census returns of Jim's great-great grandfather, because Jim's grandfather, Fernando, is enumerated with him and Fernando is an unusual name for the Ohio/Pennsylvania area.  James White was born in Virginia (now West Virginia), which is consistent with the James White found in the census below.

In 1860 James White was a "saddler" as he was in the 1850 census above.  In 1870 James White was a "harness maker" and in 1880 he was listed as a saddler again. 

1860 OHIO Census - Jefferson Co., Steubenville, 3rd Ward
WHITE, James, 33, m, b. VA, saddler
   "      , Sarah, 32, f, b. OH
           , Fernando, 7, b. OH
   "      , Thomas, 6, m, b. OH
   "      , James, 4, b. OH
Mary Smith, 15, f, servant, b. OH

1870 PA Census - Allegheny Co., Pittsburgh - 17 Ward (Roll 1298)
White, James, 39, m/w, wk in harness maker, b. WVa
     Sarah, 38, f/w, keeps house, b. OH
     Fernando, 17, m/w, b. OH
     Thomas, 15, m/w, b. OH
     James, 13, m/w, b. OH
     Cora, 8, f/w, b. PA
     William, 1, m/w, b. PA

1880 PA Census Allegheny Co., Pittsburgh
 James WHITE  Self  M  W  45  VA      Saddler  VA  VA
 Sarah WHITE  Wife  M  W  43  OH      Keeping H  OH  OH
 Thomas WHITE  Son  S  W  21 OH  R Rd Laborer  VA  OH
 James WHITE  Son  S  W      20  OH      At Home  VA  OH
 Cora WHITE  Dau  S  W      18  PA      Keeping H  VA  OH
 William WHITE  Son  S W  11  PA      At School  VA  OH

Sarah White died March 4, 1897, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania.  There was a James White, born "June 1830" in Virginia, a widower with no occupation, living with Renwick and Cora (White) Denholm in 1900 in Pittsburgh as a boarder; I believe it is the same James White who is featured on this blog.

Other WHITE family related blog posts and obituaries of a few men named JAMES WHITE found in the obituary index at the Pittsburgh library.

2 comments:

Joan said...

The White surname must be almost as difficult to sort out as Smith or Jones. Labors or love.

PalmsRV said...

Joan,

Two trips from Michigan to Pittsburgh and I'm still not done. Luckily James and Sarah White named their son Fernando (and for that I am thankful). The GOOGLE searches are the worst, though.

Cathy