Introduction

Biography

Jesse was the son of Ro­bert White, Jr., and Ma­ry G. Coop­er, and ne­phew of Ben­ja­min White (com­pil­er of The Sac­red Harp).

In 1839, he was unit­ed by ex­per­ie­nce and bap­tism with the Ce­dar Springs Bap­tist Church in Spar­tan­burg, South Ca­ro­li­na. In 1840, he was dis­missed by let­ter, and by 1845 was living in Win­ston Coun­ty, Mis­sis­sip­pi, where he served as coun­ty clerk.

He had moved to Tex­as by 1859, when he was re­ceived by the Car­mel Bap­tist Church in Smith Coun­ty. He and his wife Car­ol­ine lat­er joined the Ty­ler Bap­tist Church (now the First Baptist Church, Ty­ler, Tex­as), cir­ca 1873. Jesse served as a dea­con, and was ve­ry active in the Che­ro­kee Bap­tist As­so­cia­tion.

He owned and op­erat­ed a ho­tel in Ty­ler, Tex­as, and served as jus­tice of the peace and no­ta­ry pub­lic. In lat­er years, Jes­se and Car­ol­ine lived with their son-in-law and daugh­ter, Will­iam T. and El­la May Black, in Mt. Plea­sant, Tex­as.

Jesse comp­osed or ar­ranged sev­er­al piec­es of mu­sic that ap­peared in the Sac­red Harp.