The first settlement of this branch of the White family in Albany county, New York, was made shortly after the close of the revolutionary war, when the Whites and Gallups (allied families), together with several others from the towns of Groton and Stonington, Connecticut, established in the towns of Knox and Berne. The Whites descend from Elder John White, born in England between 1595 and 1605, and died in Hartford, Connecticut; date of will, December 17, 1683; inventory of estate dated January 23, 1684. He was a passenger on the ship "Lyon," which arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, Sunday, September 16, 1632. He was one of the first settlers of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Hadley, Massachusetts. The descent is through his son Nathaniel, born in England, who was of Hartford and Middletown, Connecticut, and was one of the first settlers and proprietors of the latter town, which he represented in the general court every year from 1661 to 1710, being eighty-one years old the last time he was chosen. His descendants settled in various parts of Connecticut and western New York. The Gallups were first represented in Albany county by the four sons of Nathaniel Gallup, Samuel, Silas, Levi and Ezra, who settled in the town of Berne at the same time John, the son of Joseph Gallup, a cousin of the brothers, settled in the same town. The descendants of these men are still numerous in Albany county, many of them being prominent citizens. Of the sons of Samuel Gallup, Nathaniel became one of the strongest forces of the town. For fourteen years he was town clerk and wielded a skillful pen. He was the grandfather of Albert Gallup, treasurer of Albany county. Joshua, son of Samuel, was the great-grandfather of Ezra Twitchell, sheriff of Schoharie county. Another son, John Enos, was the father of Justice John J. Gallup, of Albany, and Samuel's youngest son Nathan was the father of Professor Henry Gallup, of Poughkeepsie. Samuel Gallup, born 1746, died 1826, was of the sixth generation in America. The founder of the family was John Gallup, who came to America in the year 1630, from the parish of Mosterne county, Dorset, England. He was first of Dorchester, but soon after a resident of Boston. He owned Gallup's Island, where he had a snug farm, with a house in Boston, a meadow on Long Island, and a sheep pasture on Nix Mate. He was a skillful mariner, and was in the habit of making frequent trips along the coast in his own vessels. After the settlement of Rhode Island and Connecticut, his vessel furnished about the only means of communication between the two colonies. At one time he wag greatly delayed on one of his trips, which caused great anxiety. Soon after this Roger Williams writes Governor Winthrop, beginning his letter: "God be praised, John Gallup has arrived." He died in Boston, January 11, 1650. His wife Christobel died there September 27, 1655. She did not come to America with him as the following letter from Governor Winthrop to Rev. John White of England shows:
I have much difficultye to keepe John Gallup here, by reason his wife will not come. I marveyle at the woman's weakness. I pray, persuade and further her coming by all means. If she will come let her have the remainder of his wages; if not, let it be bestowed to bring over his children, for so he desired. It would be about forty pounds loss, to him to come for her.
Your Assured in the Lord's work.
J. Winthrop
Mass. July 4, 1632.
Her "woman's weakness" was overcome, and she joined her husband who piloted the ship "Griffin" with his own family, Rev. John Cotton, Rev. Thomas Hooker, Rev. Mr. Stone, and two hundred others on board, safely into Boston harbor in September, 1633. It is from John and Christobel that all the Gallups descend who claim early New England descent.
(I) George White, son of the Albany county settler, was born in Groton, Connecticut, in 1795. He married Mary Gallup, born in the same town. After their marriage they came, in 1820, to Albany county, New York, where their parents had preceded them. They settled in the town of Knox, where George White died in 1840. His widow survived him until her seventy-eighth year, dying in 1871. Both the Gallups and Whites became prominent, prosperous farmers of the town. George White had brothers and sisters: Jehiel, Dr. Austin Edward, Isaac, Abby, Sarah and Mary. George White had learned the trade of blacksmith after settling in Knox. He was a man of education, as books which he kept are models of neatness and accuracy. He was a member of the Reformed church, and a Whig. Children:
- Gardner, born in Groton, Connecticut, 1817; became a farmer of Knox; married Agnes (Simmons) White, widow of his brother Ledyard. He later removed to Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York, where he died aged seventy-five years; children: Ida and Ira; both married and residents of Schenectady.
- Ledyard, see forward.
(II) Ledyard, son of George and Mary (Gallup) White, was born about the time his parents settled in Knox, Albany county, New York (1819-20). He died in 1858, and was a farmer, owning a substantial property. He married Agnes, born in New Scotland, Albany county, in 1822, died in Schenectady, 1900, daughter of Andrew Simmons, of Dutch ancestry. Andrew Simmons was a carpenter, and was killed by falling from a building that was being raised in the old-time manner. He was then in the prime of life. His widow married (second) Zachariah Smith, whom she also survived. Agnes, widow of Ledyard White, married (second) her brother-in-law Gardner. She survived both her husbands and settled in Schenectady, where she died August 2, 1900, aged seventy-eight years. Children:
- Emily, born 1843; married (first) Philander Johnson, who left a son George; married (second) Levi Wagner, of Schenectady; no issue.
- George, married Jane Boyd, of New Scotland; children: Harvey and Nettie.
- Edward, see forward.
(III) Edward, youngest son of Ledyard and Agnes (Simmons) White, was born on the old White farm, not far from the village of New Salem, Albany county, New York, March 1, 1851. He was educated in the public schools, and reared a farmer. Early in life in connection with his brother George, he purchased the homestead farm, which they jointly operated for eight years, when Edward sold his interest to his brother. He then purchased a farm in the town of Berne, which he cultivated until 1905 when he bought his present farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, located near the village of New Salem, Albany county. This is a substantial, well-improved property, fully stocked and equipped with all modern aids to successful farming. He is a prosperous, influential man of his town, a Republican, and a member of the Reformed church. He is now an ex-commissioner of highways in Berne, having served six years prior to 1899. He married, in the town of Westerlo, Albany county, Catherine A., born in that town May 13, 1858, daughter of Perry R. and Rhoda (Van Wie) Stewart. Children:
- Effie, born April 30, 1878; married George Long, a blacksmith, of Berne; children: Catherine W., Marion, Helen H. Long.
- Hattie, June 25, 1880; married Charles E. Weidman, born March 4, 1872, son of William and Jane (Griswold) Weidman; children:
- Edward, born August 22, 1899;
- Wallace Earle, born January 12, 1905, died March 9, 1905;
- Willard J., born September 1, 1910.
William Weidman, father of Charles E. Weidman, died January 12, 1896; his widow resides in New Scotland; she is the mother of ten children, nine of whom are living. Perry R. Stewart was born in Albany county in 1820, died July 25, 1892; was a farmer and quarryman; member of the Christian church, and a Republican. He married Rhoda Van Wie, born in New Scotland in 1830, died in 1867; children:
- William J., a quarryman of Berne;
- Sylvester, died in boyhood;
- Catherine A., married Edward White.