| Shadrach White | |
| Birth: | c.1721? Virginia, USA |
| Death: | 1833 Missouri, USA |
| Age: | c.112 years? |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Longevity claimant | |
Shadrach White (c.1721? – 1833) was an American supercentenarian claimant from Virginia. It was said that he served under the personal command of Gen. George Washington in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war.
Biography[]
Shadrach's first wife was Gladis with possible maiden name Ramey. Shadrach married Sarah Gibson on 12 April 1799 in Washington County, VA. According to Judge John Onstott, in the year 1833, Shadrach's wife, Sarah, accompanied their daughter, Rebecca (White) Seela and son, Simon C. White, from Ralls County, Missouri, to what is now Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Missouri. Shadrach remained in Ralls County with his daughter, Nancy Rama (White) Onstott. Shadrach became so distraught that his son-in-law, Abraham Onstott, brought him to where his wife was now living. John Onstott, stated in a 1901 newspaper interview that Shadrach died at the claimed age of 112 and was buried in what became the Gibson Cemetery (Old Gibson Cemetery), now obliterated. He said the cemetery was located on what afterward became Dr. Carter's farm on Center Creek about a mile east of what was called the High Hill School. The school is shown on the 1895 Plat Book of Jasper County, MO. A flood in 1875 may have destroyed the cemetery which was probably on land now owned by Precious Moments (2012).
Many ancestry.com trees list the children of Shadrach as: Children of Shadrach and Gladis are Elizabeth (White) Onstott 1796 VA d 1826-1828 probably Clay County, IL and Nancy R. (White) Onstott 1795 Washington, Rappahannock, VA d 1838 Center Creek, Sarcoxie Township, Jasper County, MO. Children of Shadrach and Sarah are Peter White 07/09/1801 VA d 04/05/1865 Goliad County, TX; Gladis (White) Nowell 04/11/1803 KY d 06/08/1846 Hickory County, MO; Simon Cocral White 07/19/1806 Culpeper County, VA d 09/23/1873 Iberia Parish, LA; and Rebecca (White) Seela 1810 VA d Parker County, TX before 1873.
Some researchers think that Shadrach was not as old as 112. Maybe John Onstott was wrong or the newspaper made an error. If Shadrach White was indeed 112 years old when he died, he was born circa 1721. That would have made him one of the oldest, if not the oldest person in America at that time. It is unlikely that he was a Revolutionary War veteran based on age alone. The Continental Army was formed in 1775 and the Virginia militia at about the same time. Shadrach White would have been around 54 years old if he was in the service at the time the war broke out. The general rule for the militias is that they did not draft men over the age of 50. It's possible he could have enlisted, but that possibility seems remote. However, if he wasn't 112, but a decade or two younger, it is quite possible that he did serve during the Revolutionary War. Another reason that 112 is not realistic is that Shadrach would have been 89 when his daughter, Rebecca was born. Some researchers think that Shadrach born 1721 had a son, Shadrach, born 1754, with the children listed above. John Onstott may have been referring to Shadrach 1721 and Sarah as grandparents when they were actually his great grandfather and step great grandmother. If this is correct, then the children attached to this memorial would be Shadrach 1721's grandchildren. These researchers think that Shadrach 1754 died before 1832, burial unknown.
References[]
- Shadrach White Find A Grave
- Shadrach White Geni
- Shadrach White (1721 - 1833) WikiTree