Consider White

     Consider White was born 12 August 1763.¹ He married Sarah Washburn, daughter of Noah Washburn and Bathsheba Sexton, 4 October 1788 at Hartford, Connecticut.¹ He married Sarah Tefft 18 July 1819 at Greenwich, Washington County, New York.^2,1 He died 6 January 1837 at Greenwich, New York, at age 73.³ He was buried at Greenwich, New York.³
     

Two letters surfaced recently that say much about the man Consider was. He certainly was a god-fearing man who cared deeply for his family.

The first letter was to his daughter Sally who married Joshua Robbins. In 1808 she appears to have been visiting her grandparents (Washburn) in Hartford. Genealogically, it explains much about why we can't identify his parents, who we now know died when he was an infant. The last page is missing, and the daughter is unidentified, but the letter is owned by a descendant of the Robbins. Spelling and handwriting can cause confusion, even among experts, which I am not, but I think it is fairly accurate. Words or blanks in brackets [ ] are best guesses on my part or the word is indecipherable to me. I've added paragraphing to indicate where there are page breaks, either from being torn or moving to the second page.

Troy Sept 16^th 1808
Dear Daughter
Your kind Epistle of the 29^th August was received in my absence and I have but just returned [say] from Canada. Whare I have been a long a Dangerous and tiresome journey which I have been obliged to perform, & travel both night & day exposed to the lake fogg & [ ] has made me great un will, but am now threw the protection & mercy of a good god in good health together with all the Family. Your mam & and Aunt Hawkins left home on Monday to make Aunt Grayham a visit at Catskill,--you seam to rite very pressing for me to

[consent] to have your mam make a visit to hartford to see grandmam in her old age—and you seam to think that. could I possess those tender feelings of a mother, I should not object—here my daughter let me state that although a father cannot posses those feelings of Nature, as keen as a mother yet they have them impressed on their sences and on their judgements, which will always promp them to action with that. Decorum & prudence which most commonly terminates to the good of the whole of all the family in connection—you or to [Rightest] also, my child. That he who is now Riting to you was Bereafet of his parents in his Infant days—of Course, your grandpaw & grandmam become his and I think I feel for them as much as any of their naturall children Does-- if any think not, Let what I have done for them come in as a Witness, which I think will speak in my behalf—notwithstanding this however

their still remains something of more importance for our consideration, (Viz) that should we labour hard from day to day & obtain a little money, and should we possess breath & spirits, to travil and Vissett even as often as our Inetination would let us yet this would not preserve life a moment nor benefit our famalyes, neither would it bring salvation & comfort to our poor souls, --Let me here (my child) observe for your consideration (provided you should ever become a parent after he who is now Riting may be laid in the cold clods of the earth)—(Viz) that there is two of the greatest of obligations that a parent is bound to observe, first to give themselves up unreservedly to god, soul & body to be his, to love, serve & obay him in all his commands to forsake all even father mother, houses & lands for Christ

sake—Second, when we make a choice of a partner in life, we are again brought to relinquish, our near [and] dear friends and even parents and most solemnly promiss to, cherish love & obay this connetion is most commonly brought to more Indearing ties, when their is aded a number of small children and babes to Nurse cherrish & provide fore. it is then the natural duty for both, say, father & mother to give up their time and talants to nurture & provide for their little family which a good & kind god may see fit to bless them with, their is also an other great and important duty for parents jointly to attend to (Vez)—Educate, advise, & Instruct them the true fear of god & saviorer Jesus Christ to warn them, Constantly, against a wicked & ungodly life ways & manners,--now my child, it so happens sometimes that mothers, Don’t always have those thoughts on their minds—and sometimes that fathers don’t…[rest is missing]

The second letter was written when his wife was suddenly stricken and he urgently pleaded for Sally to come home:

Grenich July 9^th 1818
Dear Children,
I wish you to hasten home if you expect ever to see your mother again. She was attacked yesterday morning with a fitt and all medical aid seems to have no affect. I have sent a waggon after you. You had Best to leave your oldest child and if Joshua cannot come I hope Sally will make no delay—Ride night & day if you can stand it—in haste yours in great affliction C. White

Although some detail has been lost in conversion to images for the web, scans of the original letters can be seen in the exhibits attached to this note.⁴

Consider was a private in the revolution as shown in the muster rolls and payrolls of various Connecticut units in Continental service:

In Lt Col Jonathan Johnson's Company of the 5th Connecticut Regiment, Consider is shown as having enlisted 2 April 1780 for a term of 1 year, 8 months. He appears on the rolls for July, September, October, and December; other months in the period are missing. A pay roll for July shows him being paid $6.60 for 3 months, 2 days of service through 2 August 1780.

The Connecticut Line was reorganized in early 1781, reducing the number of units, but generally retaining the same strength. This could easily explain some of the missing paperwork for this period. Consider is next found in Capt John St. John's Company (succeeded by Capt David Strong) of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment on the muster rolls for March through July 1781, with the same enlistment date and term of service. Connecticut records show he was paid from 1 Jan to 7 Dec 1781 in this company. A portion of this company under Capt St. John (Succeeded by Capt Elijah Chapman) formed one of eight "light infantry" companies that went to Yorktown under Lafayette, but Consider is not on that list.

In Capt David Strong's 8th Company, 2nd Connecticut Regiment, he appears on the Roll and Muster reports for April through August 1782 which show he enlisted 1 April 1782 for a one year term. In September and October he is shown on the roll as "transporting wood to West Point." In November he had returned to post with 4 months remaining on his term and as having last mustered in September. He appears in the December (combined with January) through March reports with the last noting he was discharged 1 April 1783. Connecticut records reflect the same enlistment and noted his residence as Sharon.

In Pierce's Register of payment certificates there are two entries for Consider White: Certificate #51945 for $60.00 and #42041 for $19.32. Per the general index to the register, the first is in a series for an unidentified regiment paid to 1 Jan 1783; the second is in a series made out for a Regiment, supposed to be Connecticut, paid to 4 Nov 1783.

In sum, the records show total service of 2 years, 8 months with a four month break between December 1781 and April 1782.

His pension application includes this deposition:

State of New York
Washington County…Consider White of Greenwich in said County being duly affirmed saith that he made application for a pension under the act May 15^th 1828 and that he then made a declaration agreeably to the said act that his declaration bore date agreeably to the best of his recollection on the twenty first day of January 1831 and this deponent further saith that the only evidence he has of his service is his own personal oath and that his said declaration was duly qualified by his own affirmation and contained the truth which declaration this affirmant caused to be forwarded to the City of Washington by mail and received an answer from the Secretary of the Treasury that his claim was disallowed because it appeared by the record that this affirmant enlisted for Twelve months and this affirmant further saith that his said declaration was not returned to his knowledge and he supposes that it is still in the department which letter bore date the 17^th February 1831—And this affirmant further saith that although his enlistment appears to have been for but one year yet he did serve as set forth in his said declaration until the close of the war and this affirmant further saith that when he entered the service Colonel Swift had the command of the first Regiment in the Brigade and this deponent served in said Regiment until after Swift was promoted to the office of Brigadier General, and until the close of the war.—and received an honorable discharge on West Point which discharge is lost. And this affirmant further saith that at the time of making his application under the act 15^th of May 1828 he resided in the Town of Greenwich in the County of Washington and State of New York and still resides at the same place.

Sworn the 17^th day of July 1832.^5,6,7,8,9 He left a will dated 5 August 1834; and proved 24 October 1837

I Consider White being in the possession of my reason and judging it my duty to make this my last Will and Testament do most sincerely surrender up my soul into the hands of a righteous, just, and good God and humbly pray for and in hopes of eternal life and salvation through and by virtue of the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ—and further I give and bequeath my mortal body to death, to dust, and the grave to be decently interred by the side of my departed wife

1^st      I order my funeral expenses to be paid.

2^nd.     I order and direct that all my Just debts be next paid out of my personal property not herein specially bequeathed, if that shall prove sufficient, if not then out of such other personal property as my Executors shall see fit if my personal estate shall prove insufficient then I authorize my Executors to sell and convey so much of my real estate as shall be necessary for the payment of my debts and appropriate the proceeds to that use.

3^rd     I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sally and to my daughter Mary Augustus the whole of my household furniture of every description both of the parlor and kitchen together with all my beds and bedding (excepting all such articles as are hereafter otherwise disposed of) and my desire is that my wife should sell or cause to be sold, such articles of furniture which may belong to my daughter Mary as shall not be necessary for immediate use and put the amount with good security on interest for the said Mary’s benefit

4^th     I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sally my one horse pleasure wagon, my horse and harness, also the choice of any one of my cows, ten sheep my silver double capt Watch as her own property

5^th     I give unto the said Sally for her the said Sally’s support and those of her four children during their minority, the use, occupation, rents, profits, and income of the following real estate if she remains my widow subject only to the sixth article of this Will. Viz, the house and lot in Union Village, bounded north by William Bosworth, westerly by my homestead, southerly by Archibald Moores, and easterly by the highway, also my farm lying and being in Greenwich bounded east by the highway, south by the Bleeker lot west by land of Peleg Sherman, and north on lands of David Crandell, containing about sixty five acres, together with three cows to be left on the farm, also I give unto her for the aforesaid purpose during the time she continues to be my widow that part of a lot called the Jerman lot now in my possession lying east of the road running from Nathan Teffts Junior to Amos Fosters, and joins on the the west line of my farm as before described containing about twenty three acres, I also give and bequeath unto her the said Sally, if she remains my widow, for the aforesaid purposes the dividends upon forty shares of Bank Stock in the Troy Bank, to be drawn by her or by her order, or power of attorney upon ten shares until George Henry White arrives to the age of twenty one years, and upon ten shares until Mary Augusta arrives to the age of eighteen years, and upon ten shares until James T. White arrives to the age of twenty one years, and upon ten shares until Darwin Washburn White arrives to the age of twenty one years—the aforesaid provisions for my wife is in lieu of all dowry or dowers out of my estate (excepting what may hereafter be stated)—as I have consulted her upon the disposition of my property and she well acquainted with the provisions of this will and gave her consent and approbation.

6^th     I order and direct that in case the said Sally should marry or decease before the said George Henry and James Teff, Mary Augusta, or Darwin Washburn should arrive or attain to their lawful ages, that then and in that case my Executors or their survivors, shall lease out or rent or on shares as they may think best the farm, and house and lot as abovely described and appropriate the rents and profits thereof to the support, maintenance and education of the aforesaid George H, Mary A. James T and Darwin W. if they shall require it, until they shall separately arrive to lawful age as hereto described, and in the case of the death of either them to the survivor or survivors of them.

7^th     I give and bequeath unto George Henry White, James Tefft White, and Darwin Washburn White their heirs and assigns forever the aforesaid mentioned farm of sixty five acres and the twenty three acres of the Jerman lot, as tenants in common and in the death of either before arriving to lawful age or dying without issue, then I give the same to the survivors their heirs and assigns forever, and in case of the death them all three, then I give the same to Mary Augusta White her heirs and assigns forever, but they are not to enter into the actual occupation nor into the receipts of the rents and profits of the property until the death or marriage of my wife Sally with her consent nor in that case without the advise and consent of my Executors, until the said George, James, and Darwin severally attain the age of twenty one years, and I further direct that if my Executors shall think best and that it will promote the interest of my children that then they sell & convey the aforesaid property and invest the same on good security at interest to be paid to them or to the survivors, when they shall severally come of age in equal proportions, and in the case of death of the three with issue and Mary Augusta still survive, then to the said Mary or her heirs.

8^th     I further providing for my beloved wife Sally and my infant children I order and direct that shee and they remain in quite and peaceable possession if the house and premises where I now live and that my beloved son Albert Consider White make all reasonable provision and support for them and continue to and become a brother and friend, indeed and in truth and as one family, until he should marry and wish to occupy the premises, for himself, then to assist to remove her to the house in the Village, as the same described heretofore, in this my Will, and pay her two hundred dollars.

9^th     In case of marriage of my wife I order and direct my Executors to sell and convey the aforesaid house and lot in Union Village and from the purchase money I direct the sum of two hundred dollars to be kept on interest for the benefit of Mary Augusta White to be paid to her, with it’s increase when she attains the age of eighteen years, and the residue of the amount for which the property may have sold for to be divided into three equal shares, one share for each of the sons as heretofore described which shares shall also be kept on interest until they severally come of age, then to be paid to them with it’s increase, and in case of the death of either of without lawful

10^th     I give and bequeath to my Executors in trust for my eldest son William Augustus White twelve hundred dollars after deducting out the amount charged him on my books and several notes for cash advance to assist him into business, he still remaining temperate and unsteady, I hereby prohibit the balance being paid him only as it may become necessary for his immediate comfort and support, and should any part of the above sum remain expended after his decease, I order and direct that it be put at interest for his infant daughter Almenia Georgiana, to be paid to her with it’s increase, at the age of eighteen years, and in case she the said Almenia Georgiana should not arrive at the age of eighteen years or die with out issue, then in that case I bequeath all such balance to my son Albert Consider White.

11^th     I devise unto my son Albert Consider White my homested where I now live purchased of Simeon Taylor with all it’s appertances thereunto belonging, also all the remaining part of the Jerman lot being west of the road leading from the Nathan Tefft Junior to Amos Foster the fee is in me but is subject to an estate for the life of Isaac Jerman, I also give him the said Albert C. White the amount of a debt against Joseph Allen issued to me by bond and mortgage which said Albert C. shall control and at his pleasure discharge, I also give him my mahogany secretary and mahogany chair bottomed settee and family [xxxx] clock all the aforesaid real estate in fee simple I give to him his heirs and assigns forever. Also I give and bequeath unto the said Albert C Sixty shares of bank stock in the Troy Bank.

12^th     I give and bequeath unto my third son Fisher Ames White one thousand dollars after deducting all demands on book act & notes which I may have against him at my decease, but it is upon this only condition, that he return to his family and render unto them kind treatment and a rational comfortable support according to his ability within one year after my decease otherwise I order and direct that after deducting out all such sum standing against him the half of any such balance shall be put and kept at interest for the benefit of his infant son Albert until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and then paid to him with the increase and the other half I give an bequeath to my son Albert Consider White as well as the whole of said balance provided the said Albert infant son of Fisher A. White should not arrive to the age of twenty one years or die without issue.

13^th     I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Bathsheba S. Henry ten dollars, having given her in the year of her marriage five hundred sixty nine dollars and seventy fine cents and in the year 1828 her dividend of furniture remaining after her mothers death what is here now stated is all she can have out of my estate.

14^th     I give unto my second daughter Laura C. Henry fifty dollars, having given her on the year of her marriage five hundred & twenty dollars and eighty cents and in the year 1828 her dividend of furniture remaining after her mothers death, I hereby order a full discharge of all demands against her husband Doctor Simeon Z Henry which amounts to [xxx]ing twelve hundred dollars, what is herein mentioned is all she can have out of my estate.

15^th     I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Robins ten dollars having given her in the year of her marriage five hundred dollars and in the year 1828 her dividend of furniture remaining after her mothers death Joshua N Robins having removed to Troy Linton County, State of Missouri in the year 1818, at which time he was owing me the sum of $1044.18 on which bond had evidence of debt my attorney Charles Wheeler obtained a judgment in September[xxxx] 1833 for the sum of $1857.37 and on May the 7^th 1834 the said Charles Wheeler in his letter of that date suggested to me that it might be an essential benefit to Joshua N Robins to relinquish in part my demand; and in answer I wrote and authorize him to give to him the said Joshua all over six hundred dollars which amount of six hundred dollars I should hold him responsible. I therefore order and direct a full discharge of said Judgment on receiving the amount of six hundred dollars which is all she or they can have out of my estate.—see letters and memorandum on page 202 my day book.

16^th      I give unto my daughter Julian Mariah Payne ten dollars together with a full discharge of a debt against her husband Hiram Payne which amounted on the 21^st Sept 1827 to $522.58 which debt by note I gave to my son Fisher and was then charged to him, see day book page 140 but on his arriving at said Paynes in Ohio he got the note and neither returned it nor paid it the charge therefore against Fisher A. White is not canceled and Hiram Payne is now discharged she the said Julian Mariah having received in the year of her marriage five hundred dollars and since then a dividend of furniture remaining after her mothers death is all that she can have out of my estate.

17^th     I give unto my daughter Clementine Allen my silver plate consisting of a silver Teapot Silver sugar bowel slver creamer and a sliver cream spoon, she being a kind and an affectionate child to me. I further order and direct my Executors to pay her out of the avails of my personal estate two hundred dollars she having received in the year of her marriage five hundred twenty four dollars and ninety eight cents and in the year 1828 her dividend of the furniture remaining after her mothers decease, this is all she can received out of my estate.

18^th     I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Sarah Henry an instrument of music now in the possession her mother called a piano fort, which cost two hundred and fifty dollars.

19^th     I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Sarah Allen a silver coffee urn that cost forty dollars

20^th     I also give order and direct that all my real and personal estate of every description other than what is now disposed of be sold to the best advantage by my Executors and conveyed by them to the purchasers as in their wisdom they may think best, let my debts be collected and the whole be disposed of in the following manner, First.—to extinguish all my just debts. Secondly to the payment of legacies as above described. Thirdly to loan on bond and mortgage or in such other manner that shall be safe and that my Executors may think best for the benefit of my infant daughter Mary Augusta White three hundred dollars the interest to be paid annually and kept on loan until she arrives at the age of eighteen years and then to be paid to her with the income thereon after deducting the reasonable charges that may arise to my Executors in doing the business—and my further will is that in case of her decease without issue or before she arrives to the age of eighteen years that my executors make an equal division of the same and pay the whole of said amount to George H, James T. and Darwin. or their survivors and heirs, when they severally arrive to the age of twenty one years, and in case the all four of the aforesaid children should decease with out issue and before they arrive to lawful age, then all their property, profits and income be divided equally one third to my son Albert C. White, one third to my beloved wife Sally and the remaining third equally to Albert White the son of Fisher A White and Almenia Georgiana the daughter of William A. White their heirs and assigns forever.

21^st     All the residue of my estate real and personal after paying the above debts and legacies and all reasonable charges which may be necessarily made my Executors or any other duties authorized including all moniys or the avails arising by the sales of my real estate and personal estate I divide in manner following two hundred dollars to my wife Sally as before stated and one half of the residual to my son Albert Consider White and one fourth part to my son Fisher A. White (upon the aforesaid condition that he returns within one year after my decease and become a steady support of his family) and the remaining one fourth to remain in the hands of my Executors in trust for the comfortable support of my son William Austus White provided he may need it.

I further order and direct that in case my son Fisher A. White should not return and that any amount of the portion of the fourth part here set apart for the support of William A White should not be needed, caused by his decease or any other way then I give and bequeath the whole of their part or portion to my son Albert Consider White his heirs and assigns forever

Lastly I appoint my dear and confidential son Albert Consider White, my son in law Joseph Allen, and my beloved Wife Sally Executors of this my last Will and Testament

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.¹⁰

There is a Consider White in Rounsville's militia from Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts that marched on the Alarm of April 1775. John White and Consider Crapo were sergeants in this company. One possiblilty: John and Consider Crapo were neighbors, John named his son Consider after his friend Consider Crapo, and took his son with him as part of the militia company. Consider White is not recorded in Massachusettes Soldiers & Sailors and this service is not mentioned in his pension file. In 1775 he would have been not quite 12 years old. There is a family story that he was a drummer, and this would support that possiblilty. The record was transcribed in 1865 by the historian of the town of Freetown for an article in the Register, but on the original document, the line is on a crease in the paper. By the time the compilers of the Massachusettes Soldiers & Sailors tried to read it, that particular line must have been unreadable. The exhibit attached to this note shows the problem.

There were some Connecticut units that went to Yorktown, and at least one researcher has claimed Consider was there, but I have not found evidence of it nor could she provide a source. Consider also did not mention serving at Yorktown in his pension deposition.^11,12,13,14