Henry White

HENRY WHITE was a grocer trading as Mr Burridge's in South Gate Street, Exeter. He was baptised at St Kerian's, Exeter, on 22 February 1694. He was bequeathed £20 by his grandmother ELIZABETH WHITE in 1701. On 14 July 1720 at St Mary Steps, Exeter he married ELIZABETH BIDWELL of Exeter, daughter of SAMUEL BIDWELL and his wife THOMAZIN of Westgate, Exeter.

HENRY was appointed one of six Trustees of Pengelly's Charity in deeds dated 1 & 2 August 1726. [See Exeter R/O, Ref: 96M Box 60/5]

HENRY's life was cut short when he drowned on 20 August 1730 in the sea at Exmouth. In family hands are some documents of this period, including a receipt for £3 6s 6d for the expenses incurred by fishermen in searching for his body. It shows that on the night of 20 August 1730 one boat with 7 hands was hired, and on 21 August three boats with a total of 22 hands were hired at a total cost of £3 1s 6d. Drinks were purchased for the fishermen at a cost of 2s 4d, and a tip of 2s 6d was given to DAVID GOSLIN for his trouble. This was paid by HENRY's widow ELIZABETH WHITE on 31 August 1730. There is also a detailed account of the expenses incurred in the interment at Exmouth on Thursday 27 August 1730 totalling £7 9s 0d. This incudes the Coroner's fee of £1 1s 0d, & £2 3s 6d to "Parker, Master of the Fishing Boate, for taking up, bringing Onshoar, & Assisting in Carrying ye Body to its grave". It also included £2 9s 0d for "Expence at Mr Kette's in a Dinner on ye Gent. etc who were so kind to attend on this occasion". HENRY's Will dated 12 March 1727 was proved in Exeter in 1730, but unfortunately it does not survive. However we do know that HENRY bequeathed his son HENRY £400, his son SAMUEL £350, his daughter ELIZABETH £250, his daughter SUSANNA £200 and his daughter MARY £200. [East Devon Record Office Ref: DD100260] His Will was made prior to the birth of the two younger daughters, for whom no provision was made, which was a matter of concern to his widow, ELIZABETH when on her death-bed three years later.

HENRY's widow ELIZABETH did not long survive her husband, and she died at Plymouth on 9 July 1733. There are some letters of this period in family hands, including one of 26 June 1733 from ELIZABETH, bedbound in Plymouth, to her sister Mrs SUSANNA BIDWELL at ELIZABETH's grocery shop in South Gate Street in Exeter, where SUSANNA was running the business and looking after the children for her, in which she instructs her with regard to some business & family matters. Also two letters from uncle JOHN STEVENS in Plymouth to SUSANNA, dated 8 July & 10 July 1733, the first describing in graphic terms ELIZABETH's condition, and indicating that the doctors attending her were unable to successfully combat the illness.

There are also letters of 10 July 1733 to SUSANNA BIDWELL from her mother THOMAZIN BIDWELL and her sister MARY BIDWELL, mainly with regard to their loss, but also concerning ELIZABETH's effects. THOMAZIN also says "I intend with the liking of your uncle & sister to bury Mrs White privately near her good old grandmother with decency & the least expence for the sake of the orphans - we shall make now Mourning only a little for Harry & you also will do well to use the like frugallity as to Mrs White's family". Also a detailed account of the "Disbursements Occasion'd on ye Death of my neice Mrs Eliz. White who Dyed about 6 in ye Morn. 9th July 1733" prepared by JOHN STEEVENS. It totals £10 12s 6d & goes into minute detail itemising & naming all who assisted, incuding the washing of the body, laying out, keeping vigil over the body, the cost of the burial cloth, the coffin, the wainscote for the coffin, the handles, screws & nails for the coffin, the shroud, "for removing my sister Denham's tomb stone to making grave & setting it up again etc", "for making the grave deep & large & trading in of earth again", paying the 5 bearers, Mr JOHN VEALE (the apothecary), & the sexton etc. It also details items of value found among ELIZABETH's effects including "In her pocket silver & copper £1 3s 6½d, a pr. of silver buckles, a silver toothpick case, a small silver box in ye trunk with her cloaths, a diamond ring with seven stones, a pair of single diamond ear rings, a mourning ring with a single diamond, in gold nine guineas, in ye same trunk was Mr Tho. Veal's Bond for £100, dated 26th June 1733, wch I have lodged in my Scripstore" ELIZABETH did not leave a Will, and Letters of Administration were granted in 1733. Details were lost in 1942. Letters of Administration in respect of the estate of THOMAZIN BIDWELL of Exeter with the Will attached were granted in Exeter in 1756. Details were lost in the 2nd World War in 1942.

Probate of the Will of SUSANNA BIDWELL of Exeter was granted in Exeter in 1756, but this Will, too, was destroyed. Probate of the Will of Miss MARY BIDWELL, spinster, was granted in London on 28 July 1764 to her nephews HENRY WHITE & SAMUEL WHITE, power being reserved to her nieces ELIZABETH FUGE, widow, SUSANNA WHITE, spinster, MARY WHITE, spinster & ANNA CREES, formerly WHITE, wife of WILLIAM CREES. She left her estate to be divided equally between the six children of the late HENRY & ELIZABETH WHITE. The Will was witnessed by CHARLES VEALE, WILLIAM VEALE & Jno COMMINS. HENRY & ELIZABETH WHITE had issue: 1. HENRY WHITE whose date of birth is unknown. Gentleman of Plymouth. He was appointed a joint Executor with his brother SAMUEL in the Will of his aunt MARY BIDWELL in 1764, & bequeathed one sixth of her estate. [See WHITE/22] Among family papers in the family's possession is a copy of the codicil dated 11 April 1766 made by Dame HANNAH ROGERS, wife of Sir JOHN ROGERS of Blackford in Devon, Baronet. It refers to the original Will in which HENRY WHITE was one of five Trustees nominated, & each of them were bequeathed legacies of £200, & it cancels three of those nominations (three clergymen namely Rev JAMES WALKER of Landlivery, Cornwall, Rev WILLIAM BRENT late of Plymouth but then of Lamerton, Devon & Rev THOMAS VIVYAN of Cornwood, Devon) & their legacies of £200 each, & nominates two different individuals in their places. HENRY's nomination & bequest were confirmed. The copy is attested by one of the newly nominated Trustees, THOMAS MILLICENT, & HENRY WHITE, & a note on the cover indicates that another copy was delivered to Sir JOHN ROGERS on 21st May 1766. No research has been undertaken to establish whether Dame HANNAH ROGERS predeceased HENRY, or whether he lived to fulfil his duties as a Trustee, & to collect his legacy. HENRY died in 1769, a bachelor & intestate. Letters of Administration were granted in London to his brother SAMUEL WHITE, his heir at law on 21st May 1769. [See WHITE/8] 2. SAMUEL WHITE, see below. 3. ELIZABETH WHITE whose date of birth & baptism is unknown. On 1 August 1747 by Licence, she married JOHN FUGE, a tallow chandler of Plymouth. JOHN FUGE was born in 1720, son of JOHN FUGE, of Plymouth, tallow chandler (1680-1746). The father's Will was dated 6 April 1745, & provided for his sister, Hannah Tinford, his daughters Dorothy Bunce & Hannah Fuge, & his grandsons Benjamin Bunce & Samuel Bunce, & his son John Fuge. JOHN died intestate aged 44, & was buried at Charles, Plymouth on 19th May 1764. In 1764 she inherited one sixth of the estate of her aunt MARY BIDWELL of Exeter. Letters of Administration were granted to his widow. She was a party to leases in 1766 & 1772. [See Plymouth R/O] ELIZABETH was buried at Charles, Plymouth on 3rd March 1780, & her Will, to which SUSANNA & MARY WHITE were witnesses, dated 25th May 1779, was proved at PCC London on 27th March 1780. [See WHITE/26] They had issue: i ELIZABETH FUGE, who was baptised at Plymouth Meeting House on 3 August 1748. She presumably died young. ii ABIGAIL FUGE who was baptised at Plymouth Meeting House, Batter Street on 1 July 1749. She was bequeathed £250 & her share in the residue of her mother's estate. Party to a lease dated 28 August 1780, as a spinster. [Devon R/O, Plymouth] She married THOMAS LANG of Tavistock. She was also bequeathed £10 by her great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD in about 1787, & one fifth of a third part of the estate of his great aunt MARY WHITE in 1811. iii JOHN FUGE who was baptised at Plymouth Meeting House, Batter Street on 5th July 1751. He married MARY BANKS. Among family papers is an undated & unaddressed draft of a letter believed to be to JOHN from SAMUEL WHITE. It mentions JOHN's recent visit to India. SAMUEL was endeavouring to procure JOHN's promotion in the Navy. With regard to his moral character, he recommended that JOHN should frequently read the proverbs of Solomon. As to his health, he recommended that he should take the greatest care of his health. In SAMUEL's records is a note that in October 1778 he sent a personal letter to Sir CHARLES HARDY recommending that Mr JOHN FUGE should become a Purser, - a request recorded as being granted. The same records show that in 1781 JOHN was removed from the 'Seaford' to the 'Assistance'. JOHN & his wife were bequeathed £20 each by his mother in her Will dated 25 May 1779. From the Will of SUSANNA MILFORD in 1787, describing them as "late of Stonehouse", had both JOHN & MARY by then died? They had issue:

(i.)	MARY BANKS FUGE, who was baptised on 29th August 1779 at Charles, Plymouth by Reverend HAWKER, her Godparents being WILLIAM CREES, Mrs SAMUEL WHITE, & Mrs ROBERT FUGE.   She had small-pox in 1780.    In about 1787 she was bequeathed £10, payable at age 21, by her great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD. iv	HENRY FUGE who was baptised at home on 24th July 1752. He died on 8th February 1753, an infant. v	ROBERT FUGE, whose baptism has not been found, but he was born about 1753.   He became a merchant & ironmonger of Plymouth.   He was bequeathed a legacy by 	his mother, & £10 by his great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD.   He was also bequeathed one fifth of a third part of the estate of his great aunt MARY WHITE in 1811.   Freeman of Plymouth 5th June 1779.   Receiver of Plymouth 1792/3.   His Will dated 17th January 1821 was proved at PCC London on 27th March 1821.	On 8th December 1778 at Charles, Plymouth, he married KATEY MARIA HAYDON, daughter of ROBERT & MARY HAYDON.   She died at Bath on 30th January 1841.   They had issue:

      (i.)	ROBERT FUGE, (1781-1847) a merchant of Bristol, who was baptised on 2nd September 1781     at St Andrews, Plymouth.   On 1st May 1806, at St Michael's, Bath, he married MARY LOUISA ELIZA PHILLOTT, (1784-1840) daughter of SAMUEL PHILLOTT of Bath, a surgeon.    They had issue: 			1.	ROBERT HENRY FUGE, baptised at St Andrews, Plymouth on 11 July 1809.  			2.	CHARLES FUGE, bapt. at St Andrews, Plymouth 24 Aug 1810.

                        3.	JOSEPH FREDERICK FUGE, born 4 December 1812, & baptised at St Andrews,                    Plymouth 1 April 1813. 			4.	EDGAR FUGE, bapt at St Andrews, Plymouth 6 May 1814.

                       5.	EDWARD PHILLOTT FUGE, Lieut. RN, at St Andrews, Plymouth on 6 June 1848 married    ANN AMELIA, daughter of JOHN HELE FUGE, surgeon. 			6.	WILLIAM HAYDON FUGE (1818-1892) artist & engraver.

   (ii.)	MARY ELIZABETH FUGE, who predeceased her father.   In 1809 she married JOHNSON PHILLOTT (1784-1840), son of CHARLES PHILLOTT, & they had issue:

   (iii.)	SAMUEL FUGE who was baptised on 14th June 1789 at St Andrew's, Plymouth. 

   (iv.)	ELIZABETH FUGE.

   (v.)	SUSAN FUGE who married CHARLES LOWDER of Bath, and had 	issue. vi	SUSANNA FUGE, who was baptised at home on 19th June 1755.  In 1764, she 	inherited one sixth of the estate of her aunt MARY BIDWELL of Exeter.   In 1787 	she was still unmarried.    She was bequeathed £250 & her share in the residue in her mother's estate, in her mother's Will dated 25 May 1779. She was also bequeathed £10 by her great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD in about 1787 & one fifth of a third part of the estate of his great aunt MARY WHITE in 1811.  vii	JOSEPH FUGE, who was baptised at home on 3rd January 1757.   He died on 12th July 1757, an infant. viii 	SAMUEL FUGE, who was baptised at home on 11th May 1758.   He became a 	surgeon & resided at Frankfurt Street in Plymouth.  He was bequeathed a legacy by 	his mother, & £10 by his great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD in about 1787.   He was also bequeathed one fifth of a third part of the estate of his great aunt MARY WHITE in 1811.   He died on 9th April 1844, & was buried at St Andrews, Plymouth on 16th April 1844.  He married ELIZABETH ................., & they had issue:

   (i.)	JOHN HELE FUGE, (1781-1871) a surgeon, FRCS, who married ANN GRIGG of Tamerton Foliot on 5th June 1810 at St Andrews, Plymouth.   	They had issue:

         I.	ANN AMELIA FUGE, who at St Andrews, Plymouth on 6 June 1848 married her cousin EDWARD PHILLOTT FUGE.

         II.	JAMES FUGE, baptised 30 March 1814 at St Andrews, Plymouth.   M.A. Clergyman

         III.	JOHN FUGE bapt at St Andrews, Plymouth 12 May 1816.   L.S.A., M.RC.S. ix	BENJAMIN FUGE, who was baptised at home on 19th October 1759.   He became a tallow chandler of Plymouth, continuing his late father's business.   He became a Freeman of Plymouth in 1788 & Receiver of Plymouth in 1795/6.   He was bequeathed a legacy by his mother, & £10 by his great aunt SUSANNA MILFORD in about 1787.   He was also bequeathed one fifth of a third part of the estate of his great aunt MARY WHITE in 1811.   His wife SUSAN (born 1759) was buried at 	Charles, Plymouth on 19th March 1845, aged 89.   BENJAMIN was buried at Charles, Plymouth on 10th June 1846. 4.	SUSANNA WHITE, who is presumed to have died before 1787, as she is not mentioned in the Will of her aunt SUSANNA MILFORD, dated 7th July 1787.    She was alive in January1762 when she was bequeathed 1/6 of the estate of her aunt MARY BIDWELL, spinster of Plymouth, when her brothers HENRY & SAMUEL WHITE were appointed Executors, power being reserved to the other Executors, named. i.e. SUSANNA WHITE, and her sisters. 5.	MARY WHITE who died an infant. 6.	MARY WHITE of Plymouth, a spinster.   In 1764, she inherited one sixth of the estate of her aunt MARY BIDWELL of Exeter.   In about 1787, her aunt SUSANNA MILFORD bequeathed her the residue of her estate, & appointed her Executrix of her Will.   Her Will dated 27th August 1805 witnessed by her nieces SUSANNA & SARAH WHITE was proved by her brother SAMUEL WHITE in London on 8th November 1811.   [See WHITE/7]   She divided her estate into three equal parts, which were bequeathed respectively to her brother SAMUEL WHITE, her nieces ANNA & MARY CREES, and the remaining third was divided into five parts & left respectively to her nephew ROBERT FUGE, her nephew SAMUEL FUGE, her nephew BENJAMIN FUGE, her niece SUSANNA FUGE, & her niece ABIGAIL LANG, wife of THOMAS LANG of Tavistock. 7.	ANNA WHITE married WILLIAM CREES at St Mary Major, Exeter on 22nd June 1763.   WILLIAM was baptised at St Andrew's, Plymouth on 24th November 1734, the son of WILLIAM & MARY CREES.    WILLIAM was Storekeeper & became Agent Victualler at H.M.Victualling Office in Plymouth (on a salary of £80 per annum in 1780).   He became a Freeman of Plymouth on 29th August 1768, Receiver of Plymouth in 1777/8, Alderman 1792, & Mayor of Plymouth in 1792/3.  In 1794 he is recorded as being a Justice of the Peace.    WILLIAM was bequeathed £5  5s in the Will of Richard Beach in 1781.    In 1764, she inherited one sixth of the estate of her aunt MARY BIDWELL of Exeter.  ANNA was bequeathed £100 by her aunt SUSANNA MILFORD in about 1787. She was buried at St Andrews, Plymouth on 21st September 1798 aged 68.   WILLIAM CREES died intestate on 20th April 1801 aged 66.   Letters of Administration were granted in London in April 1801.   They had issue:

   i.	ANNA CREES who was living with her sister in Ham Street, Plymouth in 1804.   In 1811 ANNA & her sister MARY were bequeathed one third of their great aunt MARY WHITE's estate to divide equally between them.  ANNA & her sister 	MARY sealed a water lease in respect of a house in Ham Street on 26 September 1804.

   ii.	MARY CREES.    In 1811 MARY & her sister ANNA were bequeathed one third of their great aunt MARY WHITE's estate to divide equally between them.