Gideon White
Encyclopedia
Gideon White was a merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
. He represented Barrington township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1790 to 1793.
He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Captain Gideon White and Joanna Howland, both descendents of the Pilgrims. White was in Nova Scotia in 1776. In September that same year, he was captured by an American privateer
and taken back to Massachusetts where he was placed under house arrest. White went to Liverpool, Nova Scotia
in the winter of the following year. After trading in the Caribbean
, he established himself as a merchant in Charleston, South Carolina
. In 1782, he went to New York City
and served as a captain in the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment. White settled at Shelburne, Nova Scotia
with other members of that retired regiment in 1784, retiring on half pay from his military service. He served as a justice of the peace
for Halifax County
and then Shelburne County
, also serving as custos rotulorum
, major in the militia, customs collector, justice in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and as commissioner of bridges and roads. In 1787, he married Deborah Whitworth. He was elected to the assembly in a 1790 by-election held after Joseph Aplin
left the province. White died in Shelburne at the age of 80.
He was a cousin of Edward Winslow
.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He represented Barrington township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1790 to 1793.
He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Captain Gideon White and Joanna Howland, both descendents of the Pilgrims. White was in Nova Scotia in 1776. In September that same year, he was captured by an American privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
and taken back to Massachusetts where he was placed under house arrest. White went to Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool is a Canadian community and former town located along the Atlantic Ocean of the Province of Nova Scotia's South Shore. It is situated within the Region of Queens Municipality which is the local governmental unit that comprises all of Queens County, Nova Scotia...
in the winter of the following year. After trading in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, he established himself as a merchant in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. In 1782, he went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and served as a captain in the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment. White settled at Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
with other members of that retired regiment in 1784, retiring on half pay from his military service. He served as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
and then Shelburne County
Shelburne County, Nova Scotia
Shelburne County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Shelburne County was founded in 1784 shortly following the influx of Loyalist settlers evacuated from the newly independent United States of America...
, also serving as custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum is the keeper of an English county's records and, by virtue of that office, the highest civil officer in the county...
, major in the militia, customs collector, justice in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and as commissioner of bridges and roads. In 1787, he married Deborah Whitworth. He was elected to the assembly in a 1790 by-election held after Joseph Aplin
Joseph Aplin
Joseph Aplin was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Barrington township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1785 to 1787....
left the province. White died in Shelburne at the age of 80.
He was a cousin of Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
.