Benjamin Franklin White

Oh yes, there was an ancestor named Benjamin Franklin White, and his son that we're descended from? Benjamin Franklin White Jr. Isn't that awesome?

Even though the names are fantastic enough on their own, that's not why I'm posting about ol' B.F. White Sr. Nope.

Turns out we've got a semi-famous person in the family tree! I say famous because he is one of the pioneers of Shape Note singing and wrote what their equivalent of a musical Bible would be: The Sacred Harp. And I say 'semi-' cause I have never, ever heard of Shape Note singing before this.

Let's learn something new today!

Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational singing. Shape notes of various kinds have been used for over two centuries in a variety of sacred music traditions practiced primarily in the Southern region of the United States.

I'd like to eventually sit down and learn what this type of musical singing involves, but I haven't really. But I'll give you guys a brief synopsis that I read on his Wiki Page. Now, don't take all that to heart, because Wiki is not really...reliable when it comes to facts.

But the fun of Shape Note Singing doesn't stop there! Oh no! Benjamin Franklin White's son James Landrom White re-released The Sacred Harp in 1911 with some newer gospel songs, and his rendition of the book is often called "The White Book".

I'm going to be looking for books on Ben and family and the history of Shape Note singing, so if anyone has any already they'd like to share, I'd love it if you would share!

If you'd like to know a little more about Benjamin Franklin White, I would suggest checking out the link in the sidebar titled "The White Family". Its a page by Mike White, who is a descendant of Benjamin's brother Elias. He's been working on this lineage for a while now - the page was started in 1997, from what he's told me. He even worked with Mary Coppage {nee White} on some aspects - and its her notes where I got most of my information as well. On the site you'll find dates and locations of births and deaths - even a few other tidbits of information. There's a little more than what's on the surface of the site, so I would suggest sending a quick word to him and he'll be happy to send you the password to access the site.

I came into contact with him while I was looking in a genealogy forum over on Genealogy.com, and saw his post about B. F. White that he made in 2000. I took a chance in sending him an e-mail and he was very quick with a response back. :) I really appreciated that.

How They're Related
me > mom > James L. White Jr. > James L White Sr. > Benjamin Franklin White Jr. > Benjamin Franklin White

me > mom > James L. White Jr. >sister> Mary Coppage {nee White}