Rev. Sylvanus White

DAR Ancestor # A134672

Red Flagged: "FUTURE APPLICANTS MUST PROVE CORRECT SERVICE".

Rev. White graduated Harvard University in 1723, and was ordained at age 23, on November 17th, 1727. He was pastor of the Church of Southampton, Long Island. He was one of the charter members of the self-organized Presbytery of Suffolk, Long Island, New York in 1747.

Married

1. Phebe Howell,   b. 11 Jan 1705, Southampton, Suffolk Co., LI, NY ,   d. 24 Jul 1783, Southampton, Suffolk Co., LI, NY  

Children:

• Phebe Tilley (born White), Sylvanus White, Edward White, Hezekiah White, Mehetabel Hildreth (born White), Daniel White, Silas White, Ebenezer White, Ebenezer White, Henry White

biographical notes

From The Early History of Southampton L. I., New York, with Genealogies By George Rogers HOWELL. Page 108 "Ministers":

The seventh pastor was the Rev. Silvanus White. Webster says of him : “He was born in 1704. His father, Rev. Ebenezer White, came with his parents from England to Massachusetts at an early age, and was the minister of Bridgehampton, Long Island, from its first organization as a parish in 1695.”. But Webster is incorrect as to one point—the grandfather of Rev. Ebenezer was the emigrant as appears in the family genealogy. May 27, 1695. The town voted to give him 15 acres of land if he came as Pastor of the church at
Sagg.

“ His son graduated at Harvard University in 1723, and was ordained by a council, November 17,- 1727, pastor of the church of Southampton. He married Phebe, daughter of Hezekiah Howell of that town. While in every town on the Island, there were confusions and divisions growing out of the Great Revival [1741-2] Southampton seems to have dwelt in peace, united in their minister.

In the formation of Suffolk Presbytery, White and his venerable father took an active part, and Southampton promptly and unanimously placed itself under its care, April 27, 1747. Bridgehampton was in circumstances of great difficulty: 0. separation had occurred and much animosity existed. The presbytery ‘ treated with the venerable and aged minister to resign.’ He consented to do so, and then on the settlement of Rev. James Brown, they spent much time at Mr. Job Parson’s with the people of the separation on the point, whether they had not violated the rules of the gospel in their treatment of Mr. White. ‘ Much seeming stifi'ness’ appeared; but at length sixteen men and twelve. women signed an acknowledgment ‘ that, though according to their present light, they were right as to the cause, they were wrong in the manner.’ The aged minister signed a full humble avowal that under ‘ the sore and awful frown of a holy God, in a time of much disorder, temptation and provocation, he had spoken unadvisedly with his lips, and asked forgive— ness for having spoken to the disparagement of a work of grace, while intending to condemn what seemed fraught with evil.’ "

On the 3d of October he wrote to the Presbytery expressing his opinion that the separatists who had been received back had been treated with too much lenity. They replied : “ the object of church government was edification, not destruction.” Still, the separating party as a whole, must have persisted in their separation for some time, for we find them soon after erecting a small church edifice in which Mr. Elisha Paine was installed pastor. This was known at that day as the “new-light" movement, and the organization was called the New Light Church. However, as the original actors in the separation dried 06', none rose to fill their places—the organization dwindled, and finally about the close of the eighteenth century, whatever remnant remained was swapt away in a great revival, and merged into the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Silvanus White “lived in uninterrupted health through a ministry of fifty-five years, and after a week’s illness, died Oct. 22, 1782, his mind not enfeebled by age, and his hope strong and cheerful. He lived, honored and revered, happy in the affections of a large and warmly attached congregation. He left seven sons and one daughter; most of these lived to advanced age.

They removed, but his son, Dr. Henry White, remained in his native town, and died there at the age of ninety in 1840.”

Mr. White used to regard his people as his children and kept an eye upon the reading matter which fell into their hands. On one occasion hearing of a new book going the rounds, bearing the suspicious title of “The Devil on two Sticks,” hetook pains to ascertain where it was, and marched off at once to examine and confiscate it (politely of course) should it prove contraband of Church.

Gravestone Inscription

This monument is in memory of the Revd. Sylvanus White who departed this life Octr. 22 AD 1782 in the 79th year of his age and the 55th year of his ministry.
"Remember them that hath spoken to you in the Lord"

Sources

1. The Early History of Southampton L. I., New York, with Genealogies By George Rogers HOWELL. Page 289

Links

• Find A Grave Memorial# 5624472

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@R703439815@ New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7831::0

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The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly-1917) - Extracts; Publication Place: New York; Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Page Number: 281 1,7831::764668

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@R703439815@ New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7831::0

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The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly-1917) - Extracts; Publication Place: New York; Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Page Number: 281 1,7831::764668

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@R703439815@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0

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North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: The Frost Genealogy : Descendants of William Frost of Oyster Bay, New York : showing connections ne 1,61157::3305261