White, Josiah, 1705-1780

Josiah White was a Quaker minister from southwestern New Jersey. He was born to Josiah and Hannah (Powell) White at Alloway's Creek, Salem County, New Jersey, 6mo. (August) 21, 1705, and was the grandson of Christopher and Esther (Biddle) White.

A dispute in law with neighboring landowners of Salem County, in which White felt unjustly treated, led him to remove to Evesham, Burlington County, and his certificate of removal, dated at Salem, to Burlington Monthly Meeting 4mo. (June) 30, 1729, states that 'he was born and educated within the compass of our Meeting.' White bought land in Mount Holly, where his fulling mill and cloth factory brought prosperity to the town and himself. He was recorded as a Quaker preacher on the same day with John Woolman and Peter Andrews, in 1743, and served his day and generation as a minister until his death.

Josiah White believed that there were plants and herbs suited to the cure of every disease, and he had quite a reputation as an 'herb doctor'. He is said to have been on intimate terms with Benjamin Franklin and his son William, whose farm adjoined Mount Holly.

In 1759 White helped found the Brainerd School in Mount Holly.

Josiah White married 1Omo. (December) 1, 1734, at Evesham, Rebecca (1702-1771), daughter of Josiah and Amy (Borden) Foster. They had six children.

He died in 1780.

Adapted from the Dictionary of Quaker Biography, Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections.