Barclay White

Barclay White (1821 – November 23, 1906) was Superintendent of Indian Affairs during the administration of American president Ulysses S. Grant, ["The New York Times", November 24, 1906: "Mr. White attained prominence in National public life when in 1871 to 1878 he was United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs, having charge of seven tribes and six agencies."] a published authority on the history of West Jersey and the genealogy of local families, ["The New York Times", November 24, 1906: "Mount Holly, N. J., Nov. 23.- Barclay White, 85 years old, of this city, a descendant of one of the oldest families in this part of New Jersey and one of the oldest settlers in Mount Holly, a prominent citizen of this country, a literary man of some prominence, and a genealogist of recognized reputation, died here to-day after a long illness."] and a pioneering New Jersey cranberry farmer. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/nj3/chap7.htm History of cranberry farming in New Jersey.] Accessed May 2, 2008. "By the middle of the nineteenth century, the cranberry business had a stronghold in New Jersey especially in the Pinelands in such isolated locales as Ongs Hat, Double Trouble, Mount Misery, Oriental, Calico, Friendship, Penny Pot, and Hog Wallow. There, Barclay White, J. A. Fenwick, D. H. Shreve and Theodore Budd—the founding fathers of the New Jersey cranberry industry—moved New Jersey's cranberry business out of the experimental stage and into a commercial industry."] [Lurie, Maxine N. and Marc Mappen (2004), "The encyclopedia of New Jersey", New Jersey: New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press, p. 182: "Initially, cranberries were harvested from the wild in natural bogs and along stream banks. In 1851 the first cranberry plants were planted by Barclay White in prepared bogs that were established by controlling water levels through an elaborate system of dams, reservoirs, and water control structures."]

Barclay White was born of Quaker parentage at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joseph White (December 28, 1785 – May 25, 1827) and Rebecca Smith. [Shourds, Thomas (1876), "History and genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey", New Jersey: Bridgeton, p. 308-324: "Christopher White family" ISBN 0-8063-0714-5] His father and uncle, Josiah White, were prominent entrepreneurs. [Morton, Eleanor (1946), "Josiah White: prince of pioneers", New York: Stephen Daye Press] [Shourds, p. 314-320] He became an orphan at the age of six. White was educated at Westtown School, Westtown, Pennsylvania, and Smith's Academy, Wilmington, Delaware.

White lived for many years on his farm at Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. ["New Jersey Mirror" (Mount Holly, New Jersey), December 18, 1907: "The subscribers, executors of the estate of Barclay White, deceased, will offer at public sale, on the premises, on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, the farm known as Pine Land farm, midway between Jobstown and Juliustown, Springfield township, Burlington county, N. J.,"] He was married three times, [Shourds, p. 314: "Barclay married Rebecca Merritt Lamb, daughter of Restore Lamb, of Burlington County." "His second wife was Beulah Sansom Shreve."] ["The New York Times", November 24, 1906: "The deceased is survived by a second wife, who was Miss Adele Wills of Philadelphia,"] fathering four sons. ["New Jersey Mirror", November 28, 1906: "The deceased leaves four sons, Joseph J. White, of New Lisbon, one of the largest and most successful cranberry growers in the State, Daniel S. White, proprietor of the Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, George F. White and Howard White, of Lansdowne, Pa."] Joseph J. White's daughter, Elizabeth Coleman White, pioneered the development and commercialization of the cultivated blueberry.

Barclay White died at Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and was interred at Arney's Mount Friends Meetinghouse and Burial Ground, Springfield Township. ["New Jersey Mirror", November 28, 1906: "The funeral services were held yesterday morning at 11 o'clock at the Mount Meeting House, Arney's Mount, and were largely attended. Interment was made in the burying ground adjoining."]

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External links

* [http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?351,504081 Biography of Joseph White by Thomas Shourds] Based on information provided by Barclay White