Francis_White_(Australian_politician)

Frank White (Australian politician)

Frank White (Australian politician)

Pastoralist and politician in New South Wales, Australia

Francis John White (21 April 1830 – 4 May 1875) was a pastoralist and politician in New South Wales, Australia.

Quick Facts Francis White, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Upper Hunter ...

Early life

White was born at Ravensworth to overseer James White and Sarah Crossman, the 3rd of 10 children, Jane, James,[1] George, Sarah, William Edward,[2] Frederick Robert, Edward,[3] Henry Charles,[4] and Jane. He was educated by the Reverend John Gregor at West Maitland and then Dr Aitken.[5] His father died in 1842 when he was aged 11.

Land ownership and squatting

He qualified as a surveyor however he returned to work on the family property, Edinglassie, near Muswellbrook, which he operated in partnership with his brothers James and George. On 6 July 1853 he married Mary Hannah Cobb. In 1848 the brothers leased Belltrees near Scone from William Wentworth buying the property in 1853.[1] He later bought further land in the Liverpool Plains and New England, including Saumarez, in partnership with his brothers, making them some of the leading squatters in the colony.[6]

Public office

White was appointed a magistrate in 1855,[7] later becoming chairman of the bench of magistrates. His brother William was the minister at the Episcopal Church in Muswellbrook and the church was built chiefly by donations from the White family. He was president of the local Agricultural Society, and took an active part in the management of the Muswellbrook Hospital and the Benevolent Society of Muswellbrook.[6]

Politics

In 1874 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Upper Hunter, but he died the following year.[8] His brother, James, had represented the Upper Hunter from 1864 until 1868 and had been appointed to the Legislative Council in 1874.[1]

Death

White died at Edinglassie on 4 May 1875(1875-05-04) (aged 45), survived by Mary and 7 of their children.[1] His obituary published by the Maitland Mercury gave his cause of death as typhoid fever,[9] however it subsequently published a denial which stated he had been suffering from a remittent fever for six weeks, with no sign of typhoid.[10]

Family

White had 10 children with Mary, the eldest also named Francis John,[11] James,[12] Walter, Henry,[12] Mary, William,[13] Arthur,[14] Victor,[15] Adelaide and John.

References

  1. [1]
    Rutledge, Martha. "White, Francis John (Frank) (1830–1875)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Dedication of the Archdeacon White Memorial Clock". The Muswellbrook Chronicle. 26 September 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Trove.
  3. [3]
    "Mr Edward White". The Pastoral Review. 15 September 1913. p. 873. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Obituaries Australia.
  4. [4]
    "Death of Mr H C White". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 February 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Trove.
  5. [5]
    Jervis, James (7 April 1955). "The White family, pioneers of Hunter Valley and N. West". The Farmer and Settler. p. 21. Retrieved 21 August 2021 – via Trove.
  6. [6]
    "The late Mr. Francis White". Australian Town and Country Journal. 15 May 1875. p. 13. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Appointment of magistrates". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 109. 31 July 1855. p. 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Trove.
  8. [8]
    "Mr Francis White (1830-1875)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  9. [9]
    "Death of Mr. Francis White, M.L.A." The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 6 May 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 24 August 2021 – via Trove.
  10. [10]
    "Muscle Brooke". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 8 May 1875. p. 7. Retrieved 24 August 2021 – via Trove.
  11. [11]
    "Obituary: Mr Francis John White". The Muswellbrook Chronicle. 28 August 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via Trove.
  12. [12]
    Gray, Nancy (1990). "White, James Cobb (1855–1927) and White, Henry Luke (1860–1927)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  13. [13]
    "Death of Mr W E White". The Sydney Stock and Station Journal. 13 January 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via Trove.
  14. [14]
    "The late Mr Arthur G White". The Scone Advocate. 30 January 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via Trove.
  15. [15]
    "Obituary V M White". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 December 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via Trove.

 

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