Reuben White
Encyclopedia
Reuben White was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was likely born in Schoharie County, New York, in 1779, the son of William White and Hannah Tompkins. The family moved to Upper Canada and settled in Sidney Township, Hastings County, Ontario
about 1800. His father and some siblings became Quakers in Upper Canada
but it is clear that Reuben did not. He was not a United Empire Loyalist though he married Esther Marsh who was a daughter of Loyalist, Matthias Marsh.
Early on he was a farmer along the shore of the Bay of Quinte
. In 1820, White was elected to the 8th Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
session for Hastings
. He was reelected in the 9th and 11th Legislative Assemblies.
In 1833 he was one of the Commissioners who received tenders for the construction of a 750 feet (228.6 m) long covered bridge
spanning the mouth of the Trent River
at Trenton, Ontario
, called Port Trent at the time. He was a tavern owner as evidenced by the fact that he paid a tavern licence fee in 1837. In 1841 he sold 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land from his farm for the construction of a large frame Methodist church known as “White’s Church” and capable of holding 1000 people. An 1855 map indicates a saw mill on his land.
His son-in-law, Henry W Yager
followed him by being elected to the 12th Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
.
Following the 1837 Rebellion he was arrested in December of that year on a charge of insurrection or treason but released in early January and the trial never occurred.
He is buried in White’s Cemetery, near his farm, and has a tall column headstone demonstrating his prominence in the community.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was likely born in Schoharie County, New York, in 1779, the son of William White and Hannah Tompkins. The family moved to Upper Canada and settled in Sidney Township, Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
about 1800. His father and some siblings became Quakers in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
but it is clear that Reuben did not. He was not a United Empire Loyalist though he married Esther Marsh who was a daughter of Loyalist, Matthias Marsh.
Early on he was a farmer along the shore of the Bay of Quinte
Bay of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte is a long, narrow bay shaped like the letter "Z" on the northern shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is just west of the head of the Saint Lawrence River that drains the Great Lakes into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. In 1820, White was elected to the 8th Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
session for Hastings
Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
. He was reelected in the 9th and 11th Legislative Assemblies.
In 1833 he was one of the Commissioners who received tenders for the construction of a 750 feet (228.6 m) long covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
spanning the mouth of the Trent River
Trent River (Ontario)
The Trent River is a river in southeastern Ontario which flows from Rice Lake to empty into the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. This river is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway which leads to Georgian Bay. The river is 90 km long...
at Trenton, Ontario
Trenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
, called Port Trent at the time. He was a tavern owner as evidenced by the fact that he paid a tavern licence fee in 1837. In 1841 he sold 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land from his farm for the construction of a large frame Methodist church known as “White’s Church” and capable of holding 1000 people. An 1855 map indicates a saw mill on his land.
His son-in-law, Henry W Yager
Henry Yager
Henry Wandal Yager was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Claverack, Columbia County, New York, in 1802, the son of Wandal Yager and Eva Dings. The family moved to Upper Canada and settled in Thurlow Township, Hastings County, Ontario about 1800. He was not a...
followed him by being elected to the 12th Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
.
Following the 1837 Rebellion he was arrested in December of that year on a charge of insurrection or treason but released in early January and the trial never occurred.
He is buried in White’s Cemetery, near his farm, and has a tall column headstone demonstrating his prominence in the community.