Col. Samuel White

• BIRTH 1710
• DEATH 20 Mar 1769 (aged 58–59)
• BURIAL Plain Cemetery Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA
• PLOT Section 051 Lot 25 grave c MEMORIAL ID 79792646 Photos by Dee_Rose, Contributor: Joan Barber Pringle (50351811) • pringle.jr@hotmail.com [5]

Hon. Samuel White was probably the first lawyer residing in Taunton. He was a native of Braintree, graduated at Harvard in 1731, and about 1745 commenced the practice of the law in this town. He was born in 1710, and died March 20, 1769, aged 59. He had the honor of presiding over the House of Representatives during the period of the Stamp Act. It was a circular signed by him as speaker of the House, which called together the first Congress that assembled at New York [Albany] in October 1765. The house he built and occupied is yet standing, called the Bowen house, on the old road to the Weir. [4]

"Presided over the House of Representatives in 1759, 1764 and 1765. It was the circular letter of Massachusetts to the several other colonies signed by him as Speaker of the House, which called together the Stamp Act Congress that assembled at New York in October 1765. He may be considered, therefore, as one of the men who exerted an important influence in the incipient steps toward the Revolution. He died in Taunton, Massachusetts on March 20, 1769. He was described as "a man of fine personal appearance, of great sagacity, an eloquent speaker, and of irreproachable morals." [3]

Hon. Samuel Esq., "Colonel of a foot regt. militia. Barrister at Law and member of the Hon. his majesty's council" [on stone beside that of Prudence] GR 1 Col. White, a. 60 PR 1. Col. Sam[ue]l, in T., PR15 [5]

Transcription [1]
In memory of the
Hon. SAMUEL WHITE, Esq
Colonel of
a foot regiment of militia.
Barrister at law.
and member of the Hon. his
majesty's council.
Who having been often delegated
to the office of government,
faithfully served his God.
his King & his Country.
Exhibiting through an unspotted
course of life, the virtues of
the patriot, friend & christian.
fell asleep in Jesus,
March XX, MDCCLXIX,
in the LIX year of his age.

This humble stone small tribute of their praise
Lamented Shade: thy weeping offspring raise;
O, while their footsteps haunt ye hall and shrine
May each branch shoot fertile as ye vine.
Not with thy dust, be here they virtue tomb,
But brightening fill each grace transplanted bloom
Sire, sons and daughters share alike renown
Applauding angels! a celestial crown.

Spouse
Prudence White 1710–1808

Children
Experience White Leonard 1738–1827
Anna White Leonard 1741–1768

References

[1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79792646/samuel-white#

[2] http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/n/Christine-L-Minima...

• Family Memorial: Part 1. Genealogy of Fourteen Families of the Early Settlers of New England. By Elisha Thayer, Samuel White Thayer, Stephen W. Jackson b. 1787 Page 165 GoogleBooks

Sources

[3] Vital Records to 1850, City of Taunton

[4] http://www.livingplaces.com/MA/Bristol_County/Taunton_City.html added by WGA