Martha Ellington was born 1837 in Clayton, Johnston County, NC the 2nd of 6 known surviving children (3 boys/3 girls) born to wealthy planter and Baptist minister, Rev. John F. Ellington and his wife, Christianna "Chrissy" Avera.
She was the paternal grandchild of Jesse Ellington Jr. & Elizabeth Brannon/Brannon of Clayton; and gr-grandchild of Jesse Ellington Sr. & Martha Ann Tucker of Surry Co, VA, who came to the Clayton area of Johnston County ca. 1790. Her two brothers, Sheriff Jesse T. Ellington and Joseph C. Ellington would both become prominent men in the state. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Thomas Avera III and Judith Smith of Johnston Co.
Martha was about 16 years old in 1853 when she married 24-year old William H. Tomlinson, a successful merchant in Clayton. The marriage produced two known children:
* Victor B. Tomlinson (1854-1886)
* Elnora Theodosia Tomlinson (1859-1860)
Martha was widowed in 1861 when her husband of 8 years died at age 32. In 1866, the 29-year old widow married (2nd) Rev. John McDaniel White, of Chatham County, who was then Principal of Clayton Academy.
The couple remained in Clayton where her husband taught and ran a farm. They would become parents to 2 known children:
* Rev. John Ellington White (1868-1931)
* Senator Robert Bruce White (1872-1944)
In about 1880, Rev. White and his family left Clayton for Holly Springs, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of Holly Springs Academy, founded in 1854 to prepare young men for Wake Forest College.
Martha Ellington Tomlinson White died on May 27, 1885 in Holly Springs at age 48. She was buried in Clayton City Cemetery near her parents and first husband.
Her widowed husband, James, then relocated to Apex, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of the Apex Academy and in 1888, the 52-year old widower married (2nd) to 47-year old Martha "Annie" Dowd, widow of the Rev. Thompson of Wake County, and the only daughter of Rev. Patrick Wayland Dowd. Annie came to the marriage with at least 1 child (daughter, Laura) from his prior marriage. This union produced no further children.
Rev. James McDaniel White died on November 15, 1912 at about age 76, and was buried in Clayton City Cemetery next to his first wife, Martha Ellington White. It is not known what became of the second Mrs. White.
As for her children, son Victor B. Tomlinson became a merchant in Clayton in the firm of Ellington & Tomlinson, married, but died young and is buried in Clayton City Cemetery. Daughter, Willie A. Tomlinson, married Joseph J. Rogers of Apex, had children; but she too died young.
Her two sons from her marriage to Rev. White both became quite prominent men. Eldest son, James Ellington White, became a Baptist Minister and was pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, one of the largest and most influential churches in Georgia. He later served as University preacher of the University of Chicago 1914-1916, and then became President of Anderson College in SC. Son, Robert Bruce White, became an attorney in Dunn, Franklin County and served in the NC State Senate.
She was the paternal grandchild of Jesse Ellington Jr. & Elizabeth Brannon/Brannon of Clayton; and gr-grandchild of Jesse Ellington Sr. & Martha Ann Tucker of Surry Co, VA, who came to the Clayton area of Johnston County ca. 1790. Her two brothers, Sheriff Jesse T. Ellington and Joseph C. Ellington would both become prominent men in the state. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Thomas Avera III and Judith Smith of Johnston Co.
Martha was about 16 years old in 1853 when she married 24-year old William H. Tomlinson, a successful merchant in Clayton. The marriage produced two known children:
* Victor B. Tomlinson (1854-1886)
* Elnora Theodosia Tomlinson (1859-1860)
Martha was widowed in 1861 when her husband of 8 years died at age 32. In 1866, the 29-year old widow married (2nd) Rev. John McDaniel White, of Chatham County, who was then Principal of Clayton Academy.
The couple remained in Clayton where her husband taught and ran a farm. They would become parents to 2 known children:
* Rev. John Ellington White (1868-1931)
* Senator Robert Bruce White (1872-1944)
In about 1880, Rev. White and his family left Clayton for Holly Springs, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of Holly Springs Academy, founded in 1854 to prepare young men for Wake Forest College.
Martha Ellington Tomlinson White died on May 27, 1885 in Holly Springs at age 48. She was buried in Clayton City Cemetery near her parents and first husband.
Her widowed husband, James, then relocated to Apex, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of the Apex Academy and in 1888, the 52-year old widower married (2nd) to 47-year old Martha "Annie" Dowd, widow of the Rev. Thompson of Wake County, and the only daughter of Rev. Patrick Wayland Dowd. Annie came to the marriage with at least 1 child (daughter, Laura) from his prior marriage. This union produced no further children.
Rev. James McDaniel White died on November 15, 1912 at about age 76, and was buried in Clayton City Cemetery next to his first wife, Martha Ellington White. It is not known what became of the second Mrs. White.
As for her children, son Victor B. Tomlinson became a merchant in Clayton in the firm of Ellington & Tomlinson, married, but died young and is buried in Clayton City Cemetery. Daughter, Willie A. Tomlinson, married Joseph J. Rogers of Apex, had children; but she too died young.
Her two sons from her marriage to Rev. White both became quite prominent men. Eldest son, James Ellington White, became a Baptist Minister and was pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, one of the largest and most influential churches in Georgia. He later served as University preacher of the University of Chicago 1914-1916, and then became President of Anderson College in SC. Son, Robert Bruce White, became an attorney in Dunn, Franklin County and served in the NC State Senate.
Martha Ellington was born 1837 in Clayton, Johnston County, NC the 2nd of 6 known surviving children (3 boys/3 girls) born to wealthy planter and Baptist minister, Rev. John F. Ellington and his wife, Christianna "Chrissy" Avera.
She was the paternal grandchild of Jesse Ellington Jr. & Elizabeth Brannon/Brannon of Clayton; and gr-grandchild of Jesse Ellington Sr. & Martha Ann Tucker of Surry Co, VA, who came to the Clayton area of Johnston County ca. 1790. Her two brothers, Sheriff Jesse T. Ellington and Joseph C. Ellington would both become prominent men in the state. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Thomas Avera III and Judith Smith of Johnston Co.
Martha was about 16 years old in 1853 when she married 24-year old William H. Tomlinson, a successful merchant in Clayton. The marriage produced two known children:
* Victor B. Tomlinson (1854-1886)
* Elnora Theodosia Tomlinson (1859-1860)
Martha was widowed in 1861 when her husband of 8 years died at age 32. In 1866, the 29-year old widow married (2nd) Rev. John McDaniel White, of Chatham County, who was then Principal of Clayton Academy.
The couple remained in Clayton where her husband taught and ran a farm. They would become parents to 2 known children:
* Rev. John Ellington White (1868-1931)
* Senator Robert Bruce White (1872-1944)
In about 1880, Rev. White and his family left Clayton for Holly Springs, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of Holly Springs Academy, founded in 1854 to prepare young men for Wake Forest College.
Martha Ellington Tomlinson White died on May 27, 1885 in Holly Springs at age 48. She was buried in Clayton City Cemetery near her parents and first husband.
Her widowed husband, James, then relocated to Apex, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of the Apex Academy and in 1888, the 52-year old widower married (2nd) to 47-year old Martha "Annie" Dowd, widow of the Rev. Thompson of Wake County, and the only daughter of Rev. Patrick Wayland Dowd. Annie came to the marriage with at least 1 child (daughter, Laura) from his prior marriage. This union produced no further children.
Rev. James McDaniel White died on November 15, 1912 at about age 76, and was buried in Clayton City Cemetery next to his first wife, Martha Ellington White. It is not known what became of the second Mrs. White.
As for her children, son Victor B. Tomlinson became a merchant in Clayton in the firm of Ellington & Tomlinson, married, but died young and is buried in Clayton City Cemetery. Daughter, Willie A. Tomlinson, married Joseph J. Rogers of Apex, had children; but she too died young.
Her two sons from her marriage to Rev. White both became quite prominent men. Eldest son, James Ellington White, became a Baptist Minister and was pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, one of the largest and most influential churches in Georgia. He later served as University preacher of the University of Chicago 1914-1916, and then became President of Anderson College in SC. Son, Robert Bruce White, became an attorney in Dunn, Franklin County and served in the NC State Senate.
She was the paternal grandchild of Jesse Ellington Jr. & Elizabeth Brannon/Brannon of Clayton; and gr-grandchild of Jesse Ellington Sr. & Martha Ann Tucker of Surry Co, VA, who came to the Clayton area of Johnston County ca. 1790. Her two brothers, Sheriff Jesse T. Ellington and Joseph C. Ellington would both become prominent men in the state. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Thomas Avera III and Judith Smith of Johnston Co.
Martha was about 16 years old in 1853 when she married 24-year old William H. Tomlinson, a successful merchant in Clayton. The marriage produced two known children:
* Victor B. Tomlinson (1854-1886)
* Elnora Theodosia Tomlinson (1859-1860)
Martha was widowed in 1861 when her husband of 8 years died at age 32. In 1866, the 29-year old widow married (2nd) Rev. John McDaniel White, of Chatham County, who was then Principal of Clayton Academy.
The couple remained in Clayton where her husband taught and ran a farm. They would become parents to 2 known children:
* Rev. John Ellington White (1868-1931)
* Senator Robert Bruce White (1872-1944)
In about 1880, Rev. White and his family left Clayton for Holly Springs, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of Holly Springs Academy, founded in 1854 to prepare young men for Wake Forest College.
Martha Ellington Tomlinson White died on May 27, 1885 in Holly Springs at age 48. She was buried in Clayton City Cemetery near her parents and first husband.
Her widowed husband, James, then relocated to Apex, Wake County, where he took over as Principal of the Apex Academy and in 1888, the 52-year old widower married (2nd) to 47-year old Martha "Annie" Dowd, widow of the Rev. Thompson of Wake County, and the only daughter of Rev. Patrick Wayland Dowd. Annie came to the marriage with at least 1 child (daughter, Laura) from his prior marriage. This union produced no further children.
Rev. James McDaniel White died on November 15, 1912 at about age 76, and was buried in Clayton City Cemetery next to his first wife, Martha Ellington White. It is not known what became of the second Mrs. White.
As for her children, son Victor B. Tomlinson became a merchant in Clayton in the firm of Ellington & Tomlinson, married, but died young and is buried in Clayton City Cemetery. Daughter, Willie A. Tomlinson, married Joseph J. Rogers of Apex, had children; but she too died young.
Her two sons from her marriage to Rev. White both became quite prominent men. Eldest son, James Ellington White, became a Baptist Minister and was pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, one of the largest and most influential churches in Georgia. He later served as University preacher of the University of Chicago 1914-1916, and then became President of Anderson College in SC. Son, Robert Bruce White, became an attorney in Dunn, Franklin County and served in the NC State Senate.
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