Sir Thomas White, 2nd Baronet

Sir Thomas Woollaston White, 2nd Baronet, of Tuxford and Wallingwells (3 October 1801 – 7 August 1882), was 16 years old when he succeeded his father Sir Thomas White, 1st Baronet, in his titles and estates. Being a minor when he succeeded, he was cared for by two guardians, Sir Frederick Gustavus Fowke, Bt., of Lowesby Hall in the County of Leicestershire, and his cousin Henry Gally Knight of Langold. Gally Knight was a well-known archaeologist and the author of Ecclesiastical Architecture of Italy and Normandy, amongst others.

White attended Rugby School in Warwickshire, before joining the 16th Lancers.

Marriage and family Georgina, Lady White, was the first wife of Sir Thomas White, Bt. She died at the age of 18

On 4 March 1824, White married Georgina Ramsay, the youngest daughter of George Ramsay, Esq., of Barnton and Sauchie. She died on 2 December 1825, aged 18, and was buried in the White family vault at the Church of St Nicholas, Tuxford.

White married, secondly, on 21 March 1827, Mary Euphemia Ramsay, daughter of William Ramsay, Esq., of Gogar. Mary was a cousin of Georgina's, their fathers being first cousins, both descending from the 4th Lord Belhaven and Stenton and their mothers being sisters.

Children from White's first marriage Name Born Died 1. Georgina, married Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Horace Manners Monckton, son of 5th Viscount Galway) 1879

Mary Euphemia, Lady White, was the second wife of Sir Thomas, 2nd Bt., and mother of the 3rd Baronet.

Children from White's second marriage Name Born Died 1. Thomas Woollaston, his heir 7 February 1828 20 May 1907 2. Mary Elizabeth 16 July 1829 15 September 1894 3. Bethia 22 November 1830 31 January 1834 4. Frances (Fanny) Lucy Fowke 31 May 1832 17 March 1896 5. William Knight Hamilton 23 January 1834 11 June 1900

Army career White's first military commission was as an Ensign in the 3rd (Retford) Regiment, Nottinghamshire Local Militia, commanded by his father. 30 June 1813 3rd or Retford Regiment of Nottinghamshire Local Militia Ensign Thomas Woollaston White to be Lieutenant, vice Sherratt, deceased 19 October 1820 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart. to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Tuite 9 May 1822 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons Cornet Sir Thomas Woollaston White from the 16th Light Dragoons, to be Cornet, vice Moore, who exchanges 12 November 1824 Worksop Troop of Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart., to be Lieutenant 1 June 1833 Royal Sherwood Foresters or Nottinghamshire Regiment of Militia Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart., to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Roger Pocklington, retired 26 February 1836 Sherwood Rangers Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart., to be Major-Commandant 29 April 1840 Sherwood Rangers Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart., to be Lieutenant-Colonel

High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire

In 1833 White was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. In 1833, the full pomp and ceremony of the meeting of the assize judges was still enacted and he rode out with his javelin men, who were all his own people. They were dressed in the green and silver livery of his seat, Wallingwells, and the trumpeters had silk banners showing his achievement-of-arms of 28 quarterings. White rode a skewbold horse, which was caparisoned in the crimson velvet and gold trappings of the 1st Duke of Marlborough (the trappings came into the White family via his paternal grandmother, who was the daughter of the Duke's right-hand man, Major-General John Armstrong). Behind the javelin men and White came the judges in White's coach and four.

It is said that on one occasion when White was waiting for a judge in his coach, two old farmers came up to it, peered in through the window and eventually uttered, "Nay, he is not half so good-looking as his father were when he was Sheriff!"

Letwell Church In 1867, Letwell Church, which stood on White's Wallingwells Estate, burnt down. He rebuilt the church at his own cost, and it reopened on 12 August 1869. The west window was dedicated to his third cousin, former guardian, and neighbour at Langold, Henry Gally Knight. Gally Knight had left his Langold estate (3,209 acres) to White, upon his death in 1846.

The three lights of the east window are memorials to White and his two wives. The font was carved by his youngest daughter, Lady Maitland, whilst the pulpit and reading desk of oak with cedar let in, were carved by another daughter, Mary.

Carriage accident and death In June 1870, when he was 68 years old, White was driving through Worksop when his horses took fright and the carriage collided with another. He was thrown out of the carriage and sustained injuries so severe that he was not expected to live. His right leg was amputated above the knee as a result of the accident. Incredibly, largely due to his constitution and calmness of mind, he recovered and survived for another 12 years.

White died on 7 August 1882 and was buried in the vault of the White chapel in the Church of St Nicholas, Tuxford.

Succession to the baronetcy White was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son of the second marriage. He was also named Thomas Woollaston and was formally known as Sir Thomas Woollaston White, 3rd Baronet of Tuxford and Wallingwells.