Rachel Yerxa, daughter of John Yerxa and Catherine (Gerow) Yerxa, was born April 1, 1801 supposedly at the Mouth of Keswick. Rachel married Isaac White, born March 27, 1796. "Isaac White of St. Marys and Rachel Yerxa, St. Marys, married 23 July 1820." (Marriage Records, N.B. Archives, Fredericton)
In 1828 Rachel (Yerxa) White was given by her father’s will about an acre of land on which she lived for life and then to her heirs. They did not stay there. Later, Isaac obtained land on the Dugan Road which is now in Carleton County, Parish of Woodstock. They moved to Carleton County and lived in the Parish of Woodstock on the Dugan Road. In the 1851 Census, Carleton County, the last six children were living at home with their parents.
Fifteen children were born to Isaac White, Jr. and Rachel (Yerxa) White; 12 daughters and three sons.
Sometime after 1861 the Whites moved to White Settlement (East Hodgdon). Isaac died June 8, 1874. He and Rachel are both buried in the cemetery at White Settlement. In the 1881 census, Woodstock Parish, Carleton County, Rachel (Yerxa) White, 81 years old, was living with daughter Almeda and son-in-law John Lilley on the Dugan Road. Rachel died on November 2, 1884. The following inscription on tombstone at East Hodgdon or White Settlement, now in State of Maine:
In loving memory of
Grandfather and Grandmother
Isaac White born March 27, 1796
Died June 8, 1874
Rachel White born April 1, 1801
Died November 2, 1884
Generation Seven Yerxa White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Yerxa White 7)
Yerxa White was the son of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr. and was born either in 1821 or 1826 as different ages are given in the census. In all probability the 1821 may be correct. He was likely born at Mouth of Keswick as his mother had been given acreage on John Yerxa's farm and had a home there. Seven or eight of her children may have been born in that vicinity.
Yerxa White is listed in the 1851 census, Parish of Fredericton, York County. He was living in John Atherton's hotel there. On March 2, 1848, Yerxa White was a witness to the marriage of Margaret Yerxa, daughter of James Yerxa, of Douglas Parish to Henry Eckley (probably Akerley). Margaret Yerxa would be Yerxa White's cousin and lived near them at Mouth of Keswick.
In 1861 census, Parish of Woodstock, Carleton County, Yerxa White was living with his parents, presumably on the Dugan Road. He was married to Hannah S. (surname unknown) from the United States. He was aged 24. There was a child, James W. White, 10 months old, probably born in 1860.
Yerxa White was a Baptist lay preacher or elder. In 1860, Elder Yerxa White assisted by Elder Downey visited the Free Baptist Church in Woodstock. Elder Downey continued to serve during 1861 and was again joined by Elder Yerxa White in 1862. From that time, 1863 on, other pastors served the Church which seemed to be settled. The Free Baptist Church in Woodstock was on a lot immediately north and adjoining the site of the present United Baptist Church. In the early days Free Baptist churches did not seem to have settled pastors.
Generation Seven Sarah Jane White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Sarah Jane White 7)
Sarah Jane White, daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr., was born ca 1824 (church record) and married Robert Fleming of McKenzie Corner, Richmond Parish. Sarah Jane and Robert were married at her parents' home in East Hodgdon (White Settlement).
Their children were:
Robert Fleming was dead by April 1862. (Church of Scotland records, McKenzie Corner, Carleton County, N.B.)
Generation Seven Caroline White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Caroline White 7)
Caroline White, born ca 1829 or 1830, was the daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr. She married John Moxon, of Benton, Carleton County, N. B. He had been born ca 1831.
Family of Caroline (White) Moxon and John Moxon were:
John Moxon died January 3, 1912. He is buried in Benton (church record). He was Methodist.
Generation Seven Abigail White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Abigail White 7)
Abigail White was the daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr. She was born ca 1833. She married Henry Moxon, Benton, Carleton County, N.B. Henry was born in Nova Scotia about 1826 or 1827. They lived in Benton. Henry was a farmer. Abigail was known as "Abbie."
Their children were:
According to Methodist Church records, the last three children were all baptized on March 24, 1876 at McIlroy Ridge, now Benton Ridge.
A tombstone in Benton Community Cemetery has the following record:
Henry Moxon died Nov. 7, 1900
aged 74 yrs. 4 mos.
His wife Abbie died
April 9, 1904 aged 71 yrs 11 mos.
Generation Seven Mary White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Mary White 7)
Mary White was the daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr., born in 1835. She married William McPherson, Benton.
Children of Mary (White) McPherson and William McPherson were:
A tombstone in Benton Cemetery states: "Maggie, wife of Allen McPherson, died May 26, 1888 aged 22 yrs." Evidently Agnes was nicknamed Aggie so the name was thought to be "Maggie."
Generation Seven Leonard H. White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Leonard H. White 7)
Leonard H. White, son of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr. was born ca 1837. He married Rhoda A. ___________, born in 1841. Apparently he was a farmer. This family lived in Richmond in 1881 and probably in 1867 as their second child was buried in Union Corner Cemetery on November 6, 1867.
Their family:
Generation Seven Angelina White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Angelina White 7)
Angelina White, daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr., was born ca. 1839. She married Isaac McPherson.
Generation Seven Martha White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Martha White 7)
Martha White, daughter of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr., was born December 9, 1840, probably in White Settlement, which was then in New Brunswick. She married Levi Yerxa, born 1824, son of John Yerxa and Joanna Sarah Merrithew. Levi was born in Douglas Parish, York County, and came up to Carleton County with his parents when a young lad. Levi and Martha were married about 1859. They lived in John and Joanna's old home at Lower Woodstock. John was dead and Joanna moved up the road to live in the home of her son, Gideon and his wife, Jane.
Children of Martha (White) Yerxa and Levi Yerxa were:
After the death of Levi Yerxa in 1899, Martha lived on in the home with her two unmarried sons, John H. and Allen W. Some of the furnishings in the home were very old, including a high oven stove in the kitchen.
Martha Yerxa was a very small woman. The main road between Woodstock and Fredericton was a short distance from the house, and on the other side of the road was the school building with its activities which possibly helped to make the days more interesting for her. Martha Yerxa died on October 3, 1930 at 89 years of age. She would have been 90 on December 9. Her strength gradually gave way with her declining years. She was buried in Northampton Cemetery beside her husband, Levi Yerxa.
Generation Seven Almeda White (Poulus 1, Johannes 2, Johannes 3, Abraham 4, Johannes (John Yerxa) 5, Rachel (Yerxa) White 6, Almeda White 7)
Almeda White, the 12th daughter and 15th child of Rachel (Yerxa) White and Isaac White, Jr., was born ca. 1841, perhaps in the Parish of Woodstock. She married John Lilley about 1858/9. He had been born in 1835. Almeda's father, Isaac White, Jr., had owned the original farm on the Dugan Road (left side). Apparently Yerxa White purchased the property from his father, Isaac White, Jr. On April 12, 1869, Robert Speer purchased the farm from Yerxa White and wife. Then Robert Speer sold the property to John Lilley and Almeda. Years later John Lilley and his wife sold to their daughter Clara and son-in-law William Flemming, and the older Lilley folk moved to Lower Woodstock, north of the Dugan Road. They lived at various places at Lower Woodstock.
Children of Almeda (White) Lilley and John Lilley were:
The Lilley family was musical, especially Beatrice. Almeda played the autoharp very well and likely accompanied it. A great-dranddaughter of Beatrice (Lilley) Norris has a beautiful voice.
John Lilley was noted for great strength and endurance. The story is told that after preparing to swim across the St. John River one day, he lighted his pipe, placed it in his mouth and then swam across the river to the opposite shore at Northampton; then swam back across the river, still smoking the pipe when he reached the starting place. At that point, the distance was probably a half mile each way over the water.
John Lilley died July 11, 1912, aged 77 years. Almeda (White) Lilley died December 21, 1921, aged 80 years. They are buried in Northampton Cemetery by the old Kirk Church. Their son, Isaac Lilley, is also buried there as well as son-in-law William J. Norris and daughter, Beatrice.
(References: 1881 Census, Parish of Woodstock; Family records, Tombstone, Church records.)