Major Haffield White - Obituary

American Friend, March 5, 1819

Died on the 13th of December last [1818], at Wooster, in the County of Washington, Ohio, Major Haffield White, at the advanced age of about 80 years.

In noticing the death of this veteran and valuable man, it may be proper to refer to particulars of his life and services, which remain only in the memories of those who must soon follow him to the silent grave.

The excitement to virtuous actions and hazardous deeds in the service of our country, is greatly enhanced by a remembrance and acknowledgement of them after death. It is the anticipated reward of the hero in the day of battle, and of the patriot in his struggles in dark and perilous times.

Major White engaged in the service of his country in early life; he served several years in the war of 1755. At the commencement of the Revolution he was found at the battle of Lexington and Bunker Hill. In 1776 the Regiment in which he was a very active and efficient officer, received the thanks of our beloved Washington for their active and useful services in conveying the American army across the Delaware river, prior to the battle of Trenton and Princeton; in which also Maj. White participated. In 1777 he commanded a company in the Massachusetts’ line of the army, and was detached with that part of it to whom we are principally indebted for the capture of Burgoyn. In this service, before our forces were concentrated, he lost by capture, a considerable sum of money which he had then recently received as Paymaster of the regiment. This sum has never been refunded to him by his country, and has rendered bitter many of the struggles which in the latter part of his life he was doomed to encounter.

He was engaged in most of the sanguinary conflicts which preceded the convention of Saratoga.

In 1778 or 1779 he was taken into the Commissary’s department, where his activity and energy were of great use. He thus spent the prime of his life in the most dangerous and useful services, beginning in the very commencement of the revolution and continuing in the service until the close of war, and was one who witnessed the affectionate farewell of the Commander in Chief when he took leave of his dear associates in arms; by whom our liberty and independence were achieved.

Soon after the close of the war he associated with a number of veterans, who had become poor, having realized nothing for their services, but a depreciated paper, worth but 12-1/2 per cent.

They joined in a company, called the Ohio Company, with intent to purchase lands with their little pittance, in the Western Country and to secure a home in old age. A purchase was made in the year 1787, and in the same year he, in conjunction with Gen. Putnam, Col. Sproat, and others, was selected to lead forth a company who in the Spring of 1788 effected the first settlement in the now State of Ohio, at Marietta.

His services and usefulness will be long remembered by all those who embarked at that perilous period in so arduous an enterprise. It is to be regretted that he could not have lived long enough to have received the munificent offer which his country have made to those surviving veterans. He made early application but had received nothing. We must lament that he grew old in useful services and did not live to receive the remuneration he deserved. But it is to be hoped that he will yet receive as a reward, the benediction of “well done thou good and faithful servant.”