In the pages of Windham’s written history, there are references to people who “ran off” or otherwise never came back and were assumed drowned, killed during the Gold Rush or some other calamity. Researchers of the future or genealogists may spend an inordinate length of time looking for these vacant citizens.

Here’s one we found (or two, rather) that we’ve been looking for – any thoughts, facts would be appreciated!

Hanson Derby White, eldest son of Peter and Huldah (Hanson) White, was born at Windham Hill, Maine, sometime in the year 1811 and was educated at the common schools in Windham and Gorham Academy.

He made literature a profession, writing for various publications – the Boston “Olive Branch” and “Portland Transcript” among others – both in prose and verse, making a specialty of agriculture, criticisms and short sketches. It is said he was rather eccentric, and for the most part his life was quiet and isolated. Mr. White enlisted at Portland in the summer of 1861, and since then none in his native town have known of his whereabouts.

The Peter White house is one of the town’s most outstanding, probably built in the early part of the 1800s and in later days known as the Burnham & Morrill house. In 1811, Peter White married Huldah Hanson, both of them born around 1776. Peter had a brother, John, who was deeply involved in the mast and lumber trade in North Gorham. A sister, Ellen, married a Windham Hill lawyer named Samuel Eveleth who died when he was 30.

Peter and Huldah had two sons (that we know of), Hanson Derby White was born in 1811 and his brother, Alexander. Samuel Dole writes that “both are now dead” in his late 1800s history. We can find no record of when or where or why they died.

By ‘digging” into the Internet, we found a website which collects and transcribes letters and journals from long ago, and in a March 1851 letter written by Samuel Eveleth to his younger brother, he says:

“Alexander P.W. came home Saturday sober, and well, as far as we could judge from appearances. Next Thursday we shall make a watchman (a temperance movement) of him, if nothing turns up to prevent it between now and then. He seems ready and willing, and waiting to become such,” and referring to Alexander’s brother Hanson, “I want you to write to H.D.W. He asked me the other day why you had not done so. I could not tell him any reason of course, but told him you were intending to do so as I had you say, and now I want to put you up to it. Don’t fail. Also, if you can get time, write to John M. White. I want you to do so as soon as you can.”

Obviously, these two brothers were still living at Windham Hill in 1851. Although it is said that an enlistment (Civil War?) took place in 1861, we have found no record of that.

Any thoughts, ideas, information would be most welcome.