Robert White was born in Essex, England, on Tuesday, June 24, 1561, and died in Essex in 1617. His name was also spelled Robert Whighte. He was buried in Shalford, Essex, on June 17, 1617. Bridget Allgar was baptized in Shalford, Essex, England, on Wednesday, March 11, 1562, and died in Shalford after June 24, 1605. They were married in Shalford on Thursday, June 24, 1585. She took the name Bridget White. She is the daughter of William and Margaret (Parye) Allgar. William Allgar of Shalford, Essex, England died in County Essex, England, in 1575. He was buried in Shalford on August 2, 1575.. His wife was Margaret Parye of England An unknown number of children were born to them.

Robert and Bridget had eight children:

i.	Daniel White was born in Essex. Since Robert White made Daniel the joint executor with his wife, Bridget, it may be inferred that he was the eldest son and possibly of a former wife.
ii.	Sarah White was baptized in Shalford on March 8, 1585. She married James Bowtell of Little Sailinge, county Essex.
iii.	Nathaniel White was baptized in Shalford on April 30, 1587.
iv.	Mary White was baptized in Shalford on August 24, 1590, and died in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, on August 23, 1652. She and Joseph Loomis of Braintree (England) were married in 1614 in Shalford. They lived next door to her sister, Anna Porter, and her husband in Connecticut. They had a son, Joseph Loomis.
v.	Elizabeth White was baptized in Shalford on March 6, 1591/2, and died in Farmingham, Hartford, Connecticut, on May 17, 1667. She married William Goodwin of Bocking in Shalford on November 7, 1616.
vi.	Anna White was baptized in Shalford on July 13, 1600, and died in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1647.
vii.	Bridget White was baptized in Shalford on August 18, 1594.
viii.	John White was born in Shalford.

Robert White was a yeoman; that is, he was not a member of the nobility but did own a small amount of land (small compared to a typical nobleman's estate). He was wealthy and appears to have lived in Shalford from his marriage until a few months before his death. Shalford is about two miles south of Wethersfield.

In his will, Robert White bequeathes 40 shillings to Mr. Richard Rogers, preacher of God's word at Withersfield in Essex. Therefore, it is likely that he was friendly to the non-conformists and attended some of their services. A like bequest to Bartholomew Scrivener, minister of the Church of God in Messing, implies that he was also interested in the established church (or was covering all of the bases). His bequest of 40s to the poor people of Messing and nothing to the poor of Shalford where he is supposed to have lived most of his life, opens the possibility that he was born in Messing.

Sources:

· Jacobus, Donald Lines, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield (reprinted with corrections), Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991 (1930); vol. 1, p. 487.

· English Origins of New England Families, Series 2, vol. 3: The Children of Robert White of Messing, Co. Essex, England, Who Settled in Hartford and Windsor (Family Tree Maker CD181).

Walter Gilbert: 6700 Cipriano Road; Lanham, Maryland, USA; 20706-3877; 301-552-9191

Last modified 05/27/2001