AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

William White

MOTHER

Katharine Downs or Dower of Maryland

WIFE

  Abigail

CHILDREN

1. William White

2. Abigail White b. 20 Jun 1697

3. John White

4. Peter White

5. Ruth White bap. 23 Jul 1710

6. Daniel White bap. 09 Mar 1711

7. Catherine White bap. 20 Jul 1716

Peter White
by Susan Brooke
Jun 2022

The first time Peter White appeared in any record was in 1692 when William White of Jamaica deeded land in Jamaica to his "well beloved son, Peter White."  (1)  Another deed written in 1696 is from William White of "Citty of New York, Feltmaker", to son Peter White of Jamaica for 4 pounds 10 shillings and a cow.  Both deeds were entered on the same date, Jan 18, 1708.  The latter deed says he is selling "all the Right title & interest I the said W. W. ever had in Jamaica, not formerly sold -- to any other person."

So, Peter White must have been a young adult by 1692.  He is found in the Jamaica deed books several times after that date.  He and Samll Bayles were chosen assessors at the town meeting in 1703, and in 1705 he was voted constable for the year.  Later, in Piscataway, Middlesex Co., NJ he was also constable in 1721.

Peter was active in the Grace Church of Jamaica and actively supported the Church of England. (2) Baptisms at this church have been found and recorded from 1710 to 1732.  Three of Peter's children, with his wife Abigail, were baptized during this period. (3) He most likely also had children before 1710.  His great granddaughter, Margaret White Geary, recollected that her grandfather, John White, who was a son of Peter White, had several siblings: Her son wrote, "John, William, Peter and Abigail White constituted the family of my mother's great grandfather whose name is not recollected.  Their residence was Shrewsbury, New Jersey.  William and Peter never married.  Abigail married "Peter" Bainbridge and was the mother of John, Edmond, Peter and Absolom Bainbridge." (4) We know John White was the son of Peter White because of the land holdings in Piscataway.

In 1716 Peter White and his wife Abigail were in the Jamaica, Long Island, deed books as living in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey, selling his lands in Jamaica to Samuel Deane. (5)  It is of note that 42 years previously, in 1664 three men from Jamaica, Bailey, Denton & Watson, had applied for permission to purchase land in that area of New Jersey from the Indian Sagamores.  That permission was granted by Col. Richard Nicholls, who acting on behalf of the Duke of York, had just ousted the Dutch from New York.  Nichols granted land to various tenants with the provision that they pay quit rents for seven years back to the Duke of York. This purchase became known as the Elizabethtown Purchase.  What Col. Richards did not know at the time, was that the Duke of York had just patented the same area to 24 proprietors and that became known as the Monmouth Purchase.  In the 1740's the title to the land in Piscataway, New Jersey was in dispute. (6)  The proprietors who had obtained the land through the Monmouth Purchase were claiming that the farmers living on "their" land must either pay the quit rents to them in arrears or vacate the land.  So, these farmers who had already been paying the Duke of York now found they owed rents to the proprietors.  Many a small farmer ended up paying for his lands two or three times and still not having clear title to their land.

We do not know how Peter White obtained his land.  He may have purchased it from the Elizabethtown Purchase.  Or he may have bought it from the John Harrison tract.  (See below)  However he obtained his six hundred acres, the title was under dispute by 1718 when he and his wife Abigail were called into court. (7)  John Gale and Thomas Whitehead had made an indenture of bargain with Peter White with the condition the indenture would be cancelled at time of repayment.  Peter White and Abigail, his wife, owed £50 plus another £62 10 shillings in 1718 and without payment John Gale and Thomas Whitehead were claiming the land.   Peter appointed Thomas Gowan his attorney. (see Peter White's signature below).  The case dragged on until June 27 1723 when a jury trial found in the favor of the plaintiff. 

Peter must have paid the debt because he was still in possession of the land in 1725 when a neighbor had his land surveyed.  This is an important document since it shows that in 1725 Peter White and John White had land abutting.  (8) The survey map as found on page 194 of East Jersey Land Records D2 shows the location of Peter and John's land. The two survey markers were a quarter of a mile apart thus it is most likely they were once part of the same tract.   

John White was probably one of peter's older children. John had married Sarah Leonard by 1722 and by 1725 was probably living on land that had originally belonged to his father.  However, in 1731 John purchased land from Samuel Leonard and was living close to his sister Abigail White who had married Edmund Bainbtridge in 1717.  By 1734 Peter White, Jr. was also living close to his siblings, John White and Abigail Bainbridge.  (9) The only child probably still living at home was Daniel White.  From 1725 to 1734 there is no mention of any of them in the courts. 

Then in 1734 the title to the land of Peter White Sr. was being questioned again. (10)   Thomas Farmar was ejecting Peter White, the tenant in possession of the premises. The ejectment notice was delivered to the WIFE and the land is described as  “One Messuage or Tenement, a Dwelling house, one orchard, one garden, three hundred acres of arable land, three hundred acres of pastureland, three hundred acres of woodland, three hundred acres of meadowland with appurtenances lying near Georges Road.”  Peter White seemed to owe £50. 

Peter's son Daniel White was 23 in 1734 and therefore also involved in the ejectment.  John White had taken a bond from Daniel White for £33 on Jan 30, 1734.  (11)  However,  they must have gotten all their debts paid  again, for there is no record of them in the courts until 1739 when Peter Praa claimed a small portion of land.  (12)

Then in 1742, it all really boiled up again with a series of New Jersey Supreme Court Cases.  Samuel Nevill, John Nevill and Peter Sonman laid claim to the land and rented it out to Bernardus LaGrange and thus they were ejecting Peter White from his land. (13) Peter and his son Daniel retaliated.  "With force of arms" they cut down 200 of the trees on that land; trees they had no doubt planted and nurtured but which the court now said belonged to those three men. (14)

Peter may have tried once again to pay whatever was being demanded.  He alone signed a quit claim on March 18, 1745 on the land saying he, Peter White and Daniel White gave up any claim on the land in return for £25.  However, this quit claim was not acknowledged until April 5, 1750 and was not recorded until Aug 4, 1759.  Peter White may have thought he could buy back his quit claim at some time in the future.  Daniel White never signed the quit claim. (15)

There was unrest all over East New Jersey at this time.  Many small farmers were distraught over court rulings, feeling they were unfair.  Small farmers were protesting, getting thrown into jail.  Their friends would break them out of jail only to get arrested themselves.  Larger groups of protesters would form resulting in even more arrests.  These protests, however, were peaceful in that none of the protesters carried firearms or swords.  They instead mostly waved clubs. In New Jersey Colonial history they were known as the Riots of 1747.   Along the way Daniel White and Edmund Bainbridge got arrested for treason for breaking Edmund's son, John Bainbridge out of jail. (16)

The small farmers had had enough.  They wanted justice from the royal courts. John Nevill was brought to trial and was tried and convicted. This must have been heartening to the small farmers.  Immediately,  Peter White brought a suit against John Deare who was the high sheriff asking for £58  3 shillings and 4 pence from the writ of judgment against John Nevill. (17)  Peter White probably never saw a pence of this money though.  John Nevill's verdict was overturned two days later by the governor.  There were accusations that the jury had been bribed.  Their friend, Dollens Hegeman filed a petition reporting the abuse of the courts.  And Daniel White gave testimony about the misconduct in John Nevill's trial in Jan 1747/8.  See below.  (6)

Hegeman's petition did not reverse the overturned verdict on John Nevill nor gain the small farmers any land titles, but it did bring the problem to the eyes of the King.  Shortly thereafter, the proprietors were removed from office and any small farmer under indictment of treason was pardoned if they gave an oath of loyalty to the King.

As stated above, Peter White had signed the quit claim in 1745 probably thinking he would still keep his land.  However, Philip Kearny, the lawyer who had acted for the Nevills and Sonman, took possession  of 270 acres of this land and in 1750 proceeded to sell 150 of those acres to two men, Frederick Vanlue and Abraham Williamse.  But when Peter heard about the sale he approached the two men saying the land did not belong to Kearny.  "Allso that would Mollest & Disturb any Person that should or would buy the said Land & Premisses of the s’d Philip Kearny." The sale fell through.  And, another law suit followed with Kearny accusing Peter White of obstructing the sale and Kearny demanding £500 damages from Peter White. (18)

On Oct 10, 1750 Peter White was once again ejected from his land of "one Messuage one Tenement, one Barn, one Orchard, one Garden, eight hundred acres of arable land, eight hundred acres of pastureland, eight hundred acres of woodland and eight hundred acres of Meadowland with the appurtenances situated in New Brunswick saying Peter's seven years extension had ended. (19)  His son, Daniel White, wrote his will 9 days later and died in April of 1751.  The death of his son and this final law suit against Peter must have been totally demoralizing and unbearable. Peter White had lost his land and the son who was farming it with him.  From November Term 1750 through March Term 1752 there were warrants out for the arrest of Peter White. Most were in Middlesex Co, NJ. The Warrant returned to Hunterdon Co, Aug Term 1752 states “Kearny testified that Peter White lieth, hid and surfaceth in your county (Hunterdon) therefore we command that you take him if he should be found.” (20) There was still a warrant out for his arrest in 1753. (21) There is no record of his after this date.

It should be noted that Peter White's son, Peter White, Jr. is not referenced after 1734 when some timber rights on John White's land  were "formerly" of Peter White, Jr.  It is possible that Peter White, Jr.  had gone back to his father's land in New Brunswick and that the references to Peter White after 1734 are to Peter White Jr. not Peter White Sr.  However, we think the evidence leads to the ejections, etc. applying to Peter White, Sr. 

SOURCES 

(1) Jamaica Deeds B2:245  January 20, 1692/3 (Entered Jan 18. 1706)      Jamaica Deeds B2: 246 April 4, 1696 (Entered Jan 18, 1706      Abstract found in "Historical Miscellany," by Charles T. Gritman

(2) Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica (including Newtown and Flushing--  by Henry Onderdonk,  pg 25

     Town Meeting in Jamaica

     "1710, February 6, Present, Jona. and Thomas Whitehead, Robert Reade and Samuel Baylis, Esquires, Justices.  Voted by a majority that Justice Jona. Whitehead, Jonas Wood, Anthony Waters, Nathaniel Denton, and John Everett be authorized to take into their hands the parsonage lands, housing and meadow, and to divide the meadow and upland according to every man's right.  the home-lot and house to be hired out at their discretion, and the rent to be disposed of to the proper owners proportionally according to every man's rights.  Robert Reade, Peter White, Josiah Wiggins, Thomas Whitehead, and Samuel Clowes protest against the above vote as unlawful." 

The latter list, including Peter White, were men who supported the Church of England.  When Jamaica was settled in 1756 the villagers were like minded in religious matters and thus the building of the church and its maintenance had been levied from the towns people.  However, there were many independent thinkers, and Quakers, among the town, and the unrest soon grew.  In the petition above, the previous minister had just died, and Rev. John Poyer, a strict Church of England minister, was coming to minister to the church.  Some of the townspeople felt it was THEIR church and they should not be taxed to support the Church of England.  Peter White, etc. voted that dispersing the lands to the townspeople was unlawful.

At right is a description of the church. Antiquities of the parish church, Jamaica by Henry Onderdonk

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH CHURCH, JAMAICA. "1704. At Jamaica there is a tolerably good church, built of stone, a parsonage house, an orchard and two hundred acres of land belonging to it; and £60 per annum, settled by Act of Assembly, for maintenance of the minister, who is Mr. Wm. Urquhart, lately arrived. There is in the church a common prayer book and a cushion, but no vestments, nor vessels for the communion table. The church-wardens and vestry are chosen by a majority of the parish, who are chiefly (dissenters); and the church-wardens when chosen would never qualify themselves according to law, and refuse soon to provide bread and wine for the Holy Sacrament at which there are now about twenty communicants, in a great measure brought over to an entire conformity by the Rev. Edmond Mott. There are in this parish near 2,000 souls."

(3) Register Book for the Parish of Jamaica.  Kept by the Rev. Thomas Poyer, Rector from 1710-1732

    Ruth, dau of Peter & Abigail White  July 23, 1710 at Jamaica 
   Daniel, son of Peter & Abigail White, 9 Mar 1711, at Jamaica
   Catherine, daughter of Peter & Abigail White, 30 "7ber" 1716 at Jamaica

   Also of note are the marriages in the same church of:

          Samll READ & Elizabeth WHITE of New Town, 21 May 1722, at Jamaica

           Jno WEEKS & Ann WHITE, 30 "8ber" 1727, at Jamaica, licens'd

(4) Recollections of Margaret White Geary from "Ancestors of Kentucky" Volume 5 page 82.  Margaret White Geary was born 20 May 1770, daughter of Peter White and Margaret Stull White. Her grandfather was John White, sister to Abigail White Bainbridge. (John and Abigail were children of Peter White, son of this William White) In 1846 her son, Rev. Edward Ratchford Geary wrote ass follows:   "John, William, Peter and Abigail White constituted the family of my mother's great grandfather whose name is not recollected.  Their residence was Shrewsbury, New Jersey.  William and Peter never married.  Abigail married "Peter" Bainbridge and was the mother of John, Edmond, Peter and Absolom Bainbridge."

 

(5) Jamaica Deeds Lib "D", Fol 303 2d May 1716.  Peter White of Township of Piscattancey, Middlesex Co, East New Jersey, and Abigail his wife to Samuel Deane of Jamaica.  for 170 Pounds. "a certain messuage dwelling house and parcell of land" 40 acres in Jamaica.  bounded east by land of Thomas Humphreys south by land of Richard Oldfield as the fence runs to the great swamp  West by lands of Hendrick Hegeman  North by fence as it now stands on ye road leading to New York.

New Jersey History (New Jersey Historical Society) Vol. 101 Numbers 3&4 1983 p. 60-82

"The petition of Dollens Hegeman is a neglected manuscript that provides important evidence regarding the causes of these public disorders. - The petition written by Dollens Hegeman recounts the events surrounding a court case deciding possession to 17,540 acres along the Millstone River. - Hegeman and the other residents of this tract had their title vindicated by a jury trial in 1745, only to see the decision reversed by Chief Justice Robert Hunter Morris on August 20th of that year. -
Hegeman's plantation - lay on a 17,540 acres tract acquired by John Harrison from the West Jersey Society, a group of English investors who had purchased it and other properties from the greatest proprietor of the colony's western division, Dr. Daniel Coxe, of London. Controversy surrounded the tract for the next fifty years, despite the fact that it had been acquired directly from the West Jersey Society and the new owners had taken the precaution of having the East Jersey board of Proprietors confirm their title. Harrison soon learned that he had been deceived into believing that all Indian claims had been extinguished, and was obliged to make an expensive payment to the local sachems himself. Twenty-five years later, Peter Sonmans - alleged that a large portion of the Harrison purchase fell within his own survey, and he sued for it. Sonmans lost in court, but his heir Samuel Nevill threatened to file an identical suit about 1739. Nevill gained title to Hegeman's plantation and several nearby farms through arbitration, and then intimidated many other individuals into repurchasing their fields and fixed improvements to avoid eviction proceedings.
Hegeman believed that Nevill had bribed one of the arbitrators, and he led an expensive legal counteroffensive to have the decision set aside. A jury returned ownership to Hegeman and his neighbors on August 16, 1745, but their victory was short-lived. Chief Justice Robert Hunter Morris promptly overturned the verdict on very dubious evidence from two jurors whose testimony may have been perjured. -
One month after Chief Justice Morris's controversial ruling, the first public disorder caused by the colony's land disputes occurred at Newark. -
Violence peaked in 1747 and declined sharply thereafter. - The assembly passed legislation in 1748 that enjoined the courts from accepting any new indictments for past offenses and offered amnesty to all persons charged with rioting who gave bond for good behavior. -
Capt. John Wetherill, a wealthy landowner unconcerned in the case who later sat in the assembly, reportedly reacted to Morris's action by exclaiming that 'there was no such thing as Justice now a days that everything went by favour and the Chief Justice would not have set aside the aforesaid verdict it had been in Nevill's favour as it was in Hegeman's.' The incident may have contributed to Nevill's temporary loss of the house speakership when the sixteenth Assembly convened in February 1745-6 -
Hegeman denounced the proprietors for repudiating their own deeds. He was outraged that ownership to property was still in doubt a half century after its sale by the West Jersey Society. Honest men who had bought land in good faith or inherited it from their parents found themselves threatened with eviction unless they repurchased their own homes. Some landowners had been forced to pay for their farms three times in the course of this protracted litigation, and yet title to them was still unresolved. It was particularly galling that Nevill and Coxe were demanding the property's current market price, which included the value of improvements made at the owners' expense and effort. -
Hegeman and his neighbors were also indignant over the legal tactics employed by their antagonists. Rather than institute a single test case so that the expenses could be shared by all property owners whose titles were in doubt, they initiated numerous eviction suits intended to intimidate small farmers unable to afford costly legal fees into giving up without a court hearing. Hegeman's defense of his own plantation required 430 pounds proclamation money, an enormous sum for that time. -
Farmers along the Millstone River resorted to violence only after they had failed to obtain relief through established legal procedures. - Hegeman described his neighbors' resistance as a 'Club War, if it is any,' referring to the well-known refusal of crowd members to carry firearms or swords."

Among Hegeman's witness was Daniel White who gave testimony regarding the trial that overturned the possession of Hegeman's land.
"January the 16th. 1747/8 Then appeared before me John Wetherill one of the Aldermen of the City of New Brunswick So in the Original -- Daniel White, and being duly Sworn, on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, saith that on the 19th Day of August, in the Year 1745, being August Term the Dept. being then at Amboy, & saw John Nevill coming into Town in Company with two other Men; the Dept. being told it was John Clarkson and John Skinner, being two of the Jury that had tried the Cause between Dollens Hegeman and Saml. Nevill and the said John Nevill John Clarkson and John Skinner went directly down to Mr. Carnies and the Dept. further sayth that he went to the House of Mr. Carnies and Saw the sd. John Nevill, John Clarkson and John Skinner there as he believes, to be the same Men, as he saw come into Town in Company with the sd. Nevil; and the Dept. further saith that, as he was going out of Town, in Company with one Sam. More, being overtaken by one John Veal, that the Dept. heard the sd Veal say, that John Nevill had brot. down two of the Jury, to recall their Wordes, and the sd. Veal sayd that he had never heard the like before. The Dept. saith not. Sworn before me.
J. Wetherill Alderman
Daniel White
a true copy Examined by Thos. Bartow, Cl of the Assembly."

Additional witnesses were John Skinner, Jonathan Martin, Gershom Martin who testified "Mr. John Nevill, came to know, whether I wod. retract my Verdict & I refused to do it" Jonathan Fitz Randolph and Moses FitRandolph, David Corriel, Samuel Molford who testified that he was a juror at the trial. "This Dept further saith that when the sd Tryal was over, and the Jury had brot. in their Verdict in that Cause, in favour of the plt. that he this Dept. happened to be at the house of James Ellesons, where the sd. Jurymen also were and were about to be treated, by the sd. Hegeman as usual; that before they went to dinner, he heard one (who name he thinks was Elisha Parker) say to John Clawson being one of the sd. Jury, You have had a long Struggle amongs you, and suppose You will have a good Stomach for dinner; to which the said Clawson answered in the Affirmative, and further added, We have found a Verdict, in which I have cleared my conscience. This Dept further sayth that when the sd. Jurymen were all at dinner, he saw John Deare and John Stille come in, and called to sd. John Clawson desiring to speak with him, in which he thought them somewhat Pressing; and he heard sd Clawson say since you are so urgent I will take a piece in my hand, and wait upon you which he accordingly did, rose from Table and went with sd. Deare and Stille, into a little Room, where they had some Discourse, but what, he knows not, and further saith, when sd. Clawson came out again he heard him say to some one (who just before, had told him, he woud have his Head Combed, for bringing in such a Verdict) that he Valued not, who was displeased or dissatisfied, or words to that Effect, for that he had found the same according to his Conscience.. And further this Deponent saith not.

(7)  New Jersey Supreme Court Case #14921* John Gale and Thomas Whitehead vs Peter White for debt,  filed Feb 13, 1718 and resolved in a jury trial in which the jury found for the plaintiff on June 27, 1723

NJ Supreme Court Case #14921*

Peter White appoints his attorney. This may be a signature of Peter White

New Jersey Supreme Court Minute Book indicating outcome of trial.

(8) Extract of New Jersey Land Records C2  D2 by Richard S. Hutchinson D2  "pg 193 May 1726.  James Alexander, Surveyor General sendeth greetings.  WHEREAS, by a Lease & Release, dated 3 & 4 Aug 1724, betw. Peter Sonmans of one part and Christopher Gildermeester, of London, sold to sd. Christopher 2,000 a. in Middlesex co., East NJ. And, by his power of attorney, sd. Thomas Hopkins did obtain an Order & Warrant from the Government to direct me to survey run and ascertain the meters and bounds of the 2,000 a. dated 26 May 1725.  Now, by virtue of the several writings by Thomas Hopkins, I and my deputy Alexander Macdowall proceeded to the location of the 2,000 a. pursuant to his notice given to Peter Sonmans and located, butted and bounded the same (Page 194 is a full detailed map of the area and the adjoining lands, roads, etc. with names of land owners.) as follows. beg. on the 3rd line of the large tr. of 15,600 a. and then numerous courses (wherein the following names are mentioned -- Keyser & Osterland, John White's & Peter White's cleared land).  Signed Ja Alexander. I, Christopher Gildermeester by the sd. Thomas Hopkins, my attorney, do hereby declare that I have accepted the locating and bounding of the sd. 2,000 a. Wits: James Gilchrist, John Revell. Signed Christopher Gildermeester by Thomas Hopkins, his attorney.  Ackn; 30 May 1726.  Thomas Hopkins apprd bef James Alexander, Majesty's Council, and acknowledged that he signed the above instrument as the land deed for sd. Christopher Gildermeester."

page 194 of East Jersey Deed BK D2 showing survey The "stake" is on the boundary of John White.  The "green birch" is the boundary for the land of Peter White's cleared land. The two markers are a quarter of a mile apart. In later documents it become apparent their lands were once part of the same tract.

(9) John White and Sarah had purchased the land from Samuel Leonard in 1731.  When John White and Sarah, his wife, were selling this land to James Hude in 1734 there is a reference to the land on this tract that formerly belonged to Peter White, Junr.  In 1734 when a Thomas Leonard (not the father of Sarah Leonard) was selling land to James Leonard there is mention of land  "where the Manalapan River vents into South River, below Peter White's house."  This must be the house of Peter White, Junr. who lived fairly close to John White in 1734. East New Jersey Land Records K pg 295-296       9 Apr 1731 East New Jersey Land Records E2-F2 pg 537       1 May 1735 East New Jersey Land Records E2-F2 pg 118        2 Aug 1734 The 1731 and 1735 land records can be seen on the page for John White The 1734 land record is abstracted below: Abstract by Richard S. Hutchinson Pg. 118  2 Aug. 1734.  Thos Leonard, of Somerset Co., East NJ, Esqr., sells to James Leonard, of the afsd. place, for 50 pounds, for several lots of land on both sides of Manalapan River or near sd. river in Middlesex Co., that lies betw. Wequahalos House where he now lives and where the sd. Manalapan river vents into South River, below Peter White's house, wch. tr. of land or lots were first conveyed to sd. Thos. Leonard be deed from James Alexander, Esqr., being 200 a to be taken up in any unappropriated and surveyed land in East NJ, wch. was dated 2 Feb 1722 and wch. lots of land the sd. Thomas Leonard sold to the absd. James Leonard.  Wit.: Jediah Higgins, Joseph Knox.  Signed: Tho. Leonard. Ackn.: 16 Apr 1737, Jediah Higgins apprd. bef. Thomas Farmar, Majesty's Council.

Raritan Lots Map of 1685

(10)  Supreme Court Case May Term 1734  #13654* Thomas Farmar vs Peter White Trespass & Ejectment

Case #13654* The lower document is John Gidman giving oath that he delivered the ejectment notice, at top of page, to the wife,

New Jersey Supreme Court Case 13654*

(11)  Bond given from John White to Daniel White Dated this Thirtieth Day of January anno Domini 1733/4 Same Contains Thirty Three Pounds Georg Wetherill

bond found in estate of Daniel White

(12) New Jersey Supreme Court Case # 31230

(13) New Jersey Supreme Court Case 24101 Lagrange v White May term 1743 Samuel Nevill, John Nevill and Peter Sonman leased land to Barnabus Lagrange on Oct 1, 1742. for seven years.  Barnabus is suing "Richard Fenn" for 100 pounds.  "Richard Fenn" (fictitious named used much like John Doe) then wrote the following letter to Daniel White. "Mr Daniel White, Sir You may perceive of the above declaration of ejectment that I am sued for the premises therein mentioned, all or part of which you are in possession of, and to which I have no (?), therefore if you have any (?) and intend to defend it you must appear at the next supreme court to be held at the city of Perth Amboy on Tuesday the 16th day of August by some attorney of that court and also yourself to be made defendant in my stead otherwise I shall suffer judgment to be entered against me by default and you will be turned out of possession.  I am your loving friend, Richard Fenn

New Jersey Supreme Court Case # 24101 wherein Daniel White is ejected as tenant from the land by the Nevills and Somman.

(14) New Jersey Supreme Court Case 28249 Nevill V. White  May Term 1743 Peter White and Daniel White of New Brunswick, Middlesex County, "in custody of a plea of trespass", were each accused that on April 6, 1743 "with force of arms" they cut down  fifty black oak, fifty red oak, fifty chestnut and fifty walnut trees, valued at fifty pounds, belonging to Samuel Nevill, John Nevill and Peter Sonman.

New Jersey Supreme Court Case #28249.  Peter White and Daniel White accused of trespass.

New Jersey Supreme Court Case #28249 May Term 1743  Nevill Vs Peter and Daniel White

(15)  Middlesex Deed BK 1-2 pg 264 May 21, 1745 (18th year of the reign of King George II) Abstract by Richard S Hutchinson "Peter White and Daniel White, both of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., NJ, yeomen, forever quit claim, for 25 pounds, unto Samuel Nevill & John Nevill, both of Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co, NJ, Gent.,  All the estate rights, etc. to a tr. of land in New Brunswick on the n. side of George's Road, at the e. bnd of land lately granted to sd. Nevills and Peter Sonmans, Jr. Joshua Smiley, crosses the road and at the w. bnd. of land granted to Christopher Gildermeester, wch. has been lately surveyed and laid out by John Stelle, and to land form. of sd. Gildermeester but now of Philip Kearney and Lewis Johnston and by the Jury Line, and along same, and along the line of land granted to Peter Praa and along his line to George's Road.  Wits: Richd. Williams.  Signed: Peter White only.  Ackn: 5 Apr 1750, Richard Williams apprd. bef James Hude, Esqr, Majesty's Council.  Rec'd 7 Aug 1759, by Chas. Read, sec.

page one of quit claim

quit claim top of pg 2 quit claim bottom of pg 2

(16) New Jersey Supreme Court Case # 21198 The King vs Roberts  Middlesex "Three hundred persons at least" - "with Staves, Axes Clubs and other warlike and unlawful weapons" rioted in Newark on Jan 16, 1745 between the hours of 3 and 5.  They broke out of "common goal" one Robert Young and one Thomas Sergeant.  Also one William Grant. Then on the 17th day of July 1747 in Middlesex county a grand jury presented that Amos Roberts, Theophilus Burrell, Robert Young, Nathaniel Williams, John Jeffers, yeomen of Essex County   -  Simon Wycoly, Thomas Clawson, yeomen of Somerset County  -  Edmond Bainbridge, Samuel Price, Abraham Anders, yeomen of Hunterdon county - Hendrick Hoagland, Daniel White yeomen of Middlesex County - John Hoppa, yeoman of Bergen county evil doers of one hundred and upwards with Staves & clubs riotously, noutously & unlawfully beat grievously John Deare, Esq. and High Sheriff of the City of Perth Amboy and broke one John Bainbridge in the goal & under the custody of the aforesaid John Deare.

New Jersey Supreme Court Case #21198  involving Daniel White and Edmund Bainbridge as they break John Bainbridge out of "goal".

(17) New Jersey Supreme Court Case #44608 Peter White is suing for damages from John Nevill who has been convicted.

top half of case #44608

bottom half of case 44608

(18) Philip Kearney Vs Peter White Of the Term of March 1750 filed the 19th Day of Aprill 1751
New Jersey Supreme Court Case #21485

Of the Term of March in the twenty fourth Year of the Reign of our Now Sovereign Lord King George the Second G Philip Kearny complains against Peter White yeoman In Custody HC For that to witt That Whereas this s’d Philip Kearny was and as Yett is Lawfully & Rightfully seized of and In two hundred & Seventy acres of Land with the Appurtenances scituate Lying and being at the City of New Brunswick in the County of Middlesex afores’d, in his Demesne as of Fee and thereof being Seized One Frederick Vanlue and one Abraham Williamse the ninth day of March in this twenty fourth Year of the Reign of our now Sovereign Lord King George the Second at the City of New Brunswick afores’d in the County afores’d, had a Discourse with the s’d Philip of and concerning the Sale of One hundred fifty Acres of the Land with the Appurtenances unto this Frederick Vanlue & Abraham Williamse. That is to Say One hundred Acres thereof unto the s’d Frederick and fifty acres therof unto the s’d Abraham by him the s’d Philip to be made for Certain sums of money between them then Aggreed Upon. By which same discourse between the s’d Philip and the s’d Frederick and Abraham so as fores’d had It was then & there between the said Philip and the s’d Frederick Aggreed & concluded upon that the afores’d Frederick should Pay unto the s’d Philip the Sum of two hundred & Seventy five Pounds Current Money at eight Shillings the Ounce for the s’d One hundred Acres of Land at a Certain time between the s’d Philip & Frederick then & there Aggreed upon And allso that the s’d Abraham should pay unto the s’d Philip the sum of One hundred & Sixty Two pounds ten Shillings Current money afore’sd for the s’d fifty acres of Land at a Certain Time Between the s’d Philip and the s’d Abraham then & there Allso agreed Upon, And that the s’d Philip Upon Payment of the s’d Respective Summs of money by the s’d Frederick & the said Abraham respectively Should Grant Enfeoff And Convey unto the fores’d Frederick & Abraham the Respective Lands afores’d with the Appurtenacnes to Have to Hold unto the said Frederick & Abraham and to their heirs assigns forever respectively in fee simple. Nevertheless the afores’d Peter White the Premisses afores’d well knowing and Allso that he the said Peter White by his certain deeds of release bearing Date the twenty First Day of March in the eighteenth Year of the Reign of our now Sovereign Lord King George the Second for the Consideration of the sum of twenty five Pounds in this s’d release mentioned Had demised released and forever quit claimed unto Samuel Nevill & John Nevill and to their Heirs and Assigns forever All the Estate right Title Interest Claim & Demand whatsoever of him this Peter White of In & To the s’d Land & Premisses And that the afores’d Philip Kearny claimed Title and had right to this s’d Land. & Premisses from & Under the s’d Samuel Nevill & John Nevill. Yett Contriving & Maliciously Intending the right of title of the Philip to the Land & Premisses To Pander and this s’d Philip Kearny from selling the s’d Land & Premisses afores’d & to Hinder & Obstruct afterwards to witt the same sixteen Day of March first a fores’d in the Year first afores’d at the City of New Brunswick afores’d and in the county afores’d/ the s’d Philip then and as Yett of this s’d Land & Premisses inform afore s’d being Seized/ having A Discourse with the afors’d Frederick and Abraham of the afors’d Philip and of the Land & Premisses afores’d with the Appurtenances and of the Estate right & title of the s’d Philip of & to the s’d Land & Premisses with the Appurtenances falsly and maliciously said Published and Affirmed unto the s’d Frederick & Abraham that the s’d Land & Premisses did not Belong unto the s’d Philip Kearny and that the s’d Philip had no r  ight or title to the s’d land & Premisses and Allso that would Mollest & Disturb any Person that should or would buy the said Land & Premisses of the s’d Philip Kearny in the Enjoyment Thereof/ Whereas fact & In Truth the s’d Land & Premisses did not then Belong Unto this s’d Peter White. Neither had the s’d Peter White or any other person at that time or at any time since any estate right or title thereto but the afores’d Philip Kearny as afs’d was Seized and as Yett is seized of a good and Indefeazible Estate of & In all the s’d Land & Premisses with the Appurtenances in his Demesne as of Fee. Nevertheless by which false & Scandalous aspertion & Declaration afores’d of the s’d Peter White, the sfores’d Frederick & Abraham giving faith & credit thereto, they the s’d Frederick & Abraham with the afs’d Philip for the Land & Premisses afores’d, with the Appurtenances upon the agreement afores’d, further would not proceed nor the s’d Land & Premisses of the s’d Philip Kearny would Purchase or buy and the s’d Philip by reason of the s’d false & Malicious Slander of the title afores’d of the s’d Philip of And to the s’d Land & Premisses afores’d to any Other Person as Yett to Sell or In any wise Alien hath not Been Able Nor as Yett able, To the Damage of the s’d Philip Kearny five hundred pounds proclamation money and therefore he brings this Suit.

(19) New Jersey Supreme Court Case #31184

Case 31184 ejecting Peter White

(20) NJ Supreme Ct Case #21485 From November Term 1750 through March Term 1752 there were warrants out for the arrest of Peter White. Most were in Middlesex Co, NJ. The Warrant returned to Hunterdon Co, Aug Term 1752 states “Kearny testified that Peter White lieth, hid and surfaceth in your county (Hunterdon) therefore we command that you take him if he should be found.”

Warrant Returned August Term 1752 #21485

(21) Peter White is "convicted as to us appears of Record."  Warrant returned Hunterdon Co., May Court Hunterdon Co. NJ, 1753  There is still a warrant out for his arrest.

Warrant Returned Hunterdon Co,. May Term 1753 (twenty sixth year of our reign) #21485

Modern day map  of where Peter and John White  were living in 1725

Modern day map  of where John White and Peter White, Jr  were living in 1731 and 1734