The White Family’s ancestry can be traced back to Sophie and George Warren.  Sophie and George were born enslaved in the years 1828 (Sophie) and 1829 (George).   The 1880 Census listed the place of birth for both Sophie and George as North Carolina.  The census also listed their professions as housekeeper and farmer.  From this new information we can now declare that the parents of Sophie and George likely came to this country on slave ships through the Carolinas as these states were the major ports for human cargo during this time.   We also know that they resided in Tennessee for a period of time as was cited in the 1870 US Census. 

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Sophie, George and their children were then sold to slave owner L H Warren of Jefferson County near Pine Bluff, Arkansas in the Vaugine District.  That means that Sophie and George and at least two of their children walked with other slaves from North Carolina to Tennessee and then to Arkansas where they set up their homestead, a 990 mile trek through undeveloped terrain.  Their matrimonial union took place during slavery and produced 7 children: Minor Warren (1842), Esther Warren (1847), Webster Warren (1852), Parish Warren (1854), Cruso Warren (1858), Lucy Warren (1865), and Nancy Warren (1848), also known as Nannie our direct family matriarch.

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The entire Warren family endured being owned as slaves, but they were a strong family union that did not break even under these horrendous circumstances.  The Census indicates in 1870 that the Warren family were still together in the same household even when slavery had ended.  We know that many slave families were forced apart or fled which separated entire communities.  We can be proud that they were able to keep our family together despite those terrible odds.

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George Warren, who was the patriarch of the White Family, died in or around 1889 and on the 1890 Census Sophie Warren was listed as a widow.   God graciously smiled on Sophie Warren and blessed her to live to the beautiful age of 116. 

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Nannie Warren was given her freedom at the age of 12 in 1860 five years before the end of slavery.  During this slavery period, a young boy of mixed heritage,  by the name of Bowman White, per the 1880 Census was born in 1840 in the state of Tennessee.   It is said that he had traveled a long distance and was found in the hen house dirty, hairy and hungry.   But Nannie saw something in Bowman, we can only imagine that it was love at first sight and in 1874 they were joined in holy matrimony.  The 1900 US Census lists Nannie as a widow which means Bowman was deceased before future generations could learn about his life and his family.  The Census indicates that he was Mulatto and oral history from family members have said he was either mixed with Native American or Irish ancestry.

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Nannie and Bowman were blessed with 11 children and their names and the order in which they were born is;  (from the 1880 Census) George 1872, Robert 1873, Webster 1875, Sophie (Rison) 1876/1883, Armenthia (Minty) (Burns/Williams) 1877, Parish 1879, Betty (Grimes) 1882, Delia (Lovell) 1885, Grant (White) 1887, Mariah 1888 and Ida 1896.  This is the White Family third generation and they were a very close-knit family, with many living in the same neighborhood for their entire lives.  Today, nearly 150 years since the union of Bowman and Nannie White, we are blessed to be amongst the direct descendants of their children Sophie Rison, Armenthia Burns/Williams, Betty Grimes, Delia Lovell, and Grant White.  

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During our 2018 reunion in Atlanta, GA, we discovered that we are descendants of the people of Guinea-Bissau, adding a rich new chapter to our family story and history. Guinea-Bissau is located off the coast of West Africa and is a country known as the top five cashew producers in the world. From these strong roots and firm foundations have come leaves that signify descendants of outstanding people such as educators, ministers, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, professional athletes, doctors, research analysts, biochemists, corporate executives, financial advisors, firefighters, performing artists and the list goes on.  As generations pass we want current and future generations to understand the strength of our family lineage.  We are descendants of proud and strong people that believed in family support, togetherness, and unity.