Thomas White (1667–1732)

Thomas White (1667 – 30 September 1732) of Tuxford was the son of John White of Tuxford and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Williamson, Bt.. He was a substantial landowner in Nottinghamshire, owning the Manor of Tuxford, which had been in the family for several generations by this time.

He was the man responsible for the family eventually settling at Wallingwells – the result of losing his way one night. White was on his way home from a journey and had hoped to make the final leg of the trip to Tuxford from Sheffield in one evening. He was on horseback, followed by his servant and baggage. The land between Sheffield and Tuxford was in those days unenclosed and the roads were little more than packhorse tracks. Thomas lost his way in the darkness, but happened to stumble upon an ancient moated house, which had formerly been a nunnery. The house was owned by Richard Taylor, a captain in the Nottinghamshire Militia, MP for East Retford and lately High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. Taylor put White up for the night and showed great hospitality to him.

Richard Taylor was married to Bridget, daughter of Sir Ralph Knight of Langold and Warsop – a famous and prominent person during the Civil War and the restoration of the monarchy. They had a sole daughter, Bridget, who was then aged 16 years. Thomas White was 31 years old at this time. Following the accidental meeting of White and the Taylor family, Thomas White regularly repeated his visits and became good friends with the Taylors and eventually Thomas White married Bridget Taylor at Carlton Church on 28 July 1698. Through this marriage to the heraldic heiress, the estates at Wallingwells and Buerly (Pately Bridge) were added to Thomas’s already considerable holdings, as Richard Taylor died in the spring of 1699, and Thomas and Bridget inherited his possessions. They decided to move into Wallingwells at this time, making it their home and seat.

Thomas White was described by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (his third cousin) as a jovial countryman. He was MP for East Retford (most of which belonged to him) in many Parliaments of King William and Queen Anne’s reigns and was a Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire. In 1717 Thomas was appointed Clerk of the Ordnance of the Tower.

Thomas and Bridget had five children:

1. John White (1699 – 7 September 1769)
2. Taylor White (1701–1772)
3. Bridget White, married Sir John Heathcote, 2nd Baronet in 1720
4. Anne White (d. 27 February 1744), married Sir Griffith Boynton, 5th Baronet on 6 April 1742. She died just five days after the birth of her son Griffith.
5. Mary White (5 February 1710 – 29 September 1785), unmarried

Thomas White died suddenly of an apoplectic fit at Wallingwells on 30 September 1732 aged 63 years. He is buried under the High Altar in Tuxford Church. His widow Bridget continued to live at Wallingwells until her death on 17 January 1761.