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WHITE, Thomas I (1667-1719), of Horsham, Suss.
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b. 2 May 1667, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Thomas White of Horsham by 2nd w. Margaret, da. and coh. of Matthew Taylor, Grocer, of London and Newington, Surr. educ. G. Inn 1685. m. 30 Dec. 1695, Jane, da. of William Pellatt, Grocer, of London, Mitcham and Bletchingley, Surr., 4s. (2 d.v.p.) 3da. (1 d.v.p.). suc. fa. by 1700.1
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White’s family may have been resident in Horsham since the mid-16th century. His father, an attorney, was appointed sequestrator of the vicarage house at Horsham in 1643. Although he owned the moiety of one burgage in the borough (apparently in his family’s possession since 1679), his interest probably owed more to his father’s role in the town. After White’s election, unopposed, in 1690 he was classed as a Whig by the Marquess of Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†). His name appears on Robert Harley’s* list of April 1691, marked with a ‘d’. Most occurrences of ‘Mr White’ in the Journals have been attributed to John White*, although on 16 Jan. 1694 ‘Mr White of Horsham’ was given leave of absence for a fortnight.2
White seems to have been of a lower social status than most Members, serving as an overseer of Horsham free school in 1694. He did not seek re-election in 1695 and by 1699 seems to have moved to Mitcham. He appears to have remained there until 1706, helping to form the first select vestry of that parish and serving as churchwarden in 1703. Around 1706, he moved to Shipley, Sussex. He retained his burgage at Horsham, and a ‘Thomas White, esq.’ voted in the parliamentary elections of 1705, 1713 and 1715, on each occasion for the Tory candidates. He was buried at Horsham on 20 July 1719, leaving lands sufficient to raise a portion of £1,000 for his younger daughter and £200 for his elder son to be educated in the law.3
