I am sure some families keep boxes full of mementos but going back beyond my parents and grandparents; I have nearly nothing to tell me very much about them. Nothing they held or possessed.
I believe that finding an old document or souvenir can be an extraordinary find for those of us who love family history. A few months ago, I found a land sale document witnessed by my 5th great grandfather, William White, on eBay. It is dated Jan 30, 1730. Not often do you find a 300-year-old family signature. Lucky for me, I was able to purchase it for a reasonable amount.
The document is a land sale by Joshua Woodbury to John Borey and is witnessed by Thomas Woodbury and William White.
The White family was one of the early inhabitants of Falmouth (what is now Portland, Maine). However, they abandoned coastal Maine when the relationships with the local population became unsafe. The sons of Gloucester Reverend John White were the first to return to Maine and establish their families in what is now Cape Elizabeth. William White (b. Nov 4, 1709, d. 1758) and his brother, John (b. June 15, 1704, d. Oct 17, 1738), settled in the area of Simonton Cove. William married Christian Simonton on Jan 19, 1736. John married Jerusha Woodbury on May 22, 1730.
The White, Simonton, and Woodbury properties were all close together in Cape Elizabeth. Part of the three family properties were sold and used to erect Fort Preble.
William and Christian Simonton had the following children:
- Ruth White (1744-1784)
- Ann White (1745-1837)
- Matthew White
- Christian White
- William White
- Mary White
- Abigail White
Here is a picture of the bottom of the land document containing the signatures of William White, Joshua Woodbury, Thomas Woodbury, and Henry Wheeler.
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