Beniah, Oliver & Mary Ann White of Henry County, Missouri

In my last post, I suggested that Beniah Nelson White, Oliver P. White, and Mary Ann White might be siblings--Henry White's grandchildren. This might surprise some people because Oliver was living in Henry White Sr.' s household in 1850, and is sometimes thought to be his son. See last entry of census below. 

1850 Henry County, Missouri Census
Household of Henry White Sr.

According to her headstone, Henry's wife, Mary White, was born in 1791, making her about 52 when Oliver was born. This census shows her slightly younger, 48 at the time of Oliver's birth. Either way, I believe Mary was probably too old to be Oliver's mother. More likely, she was his grandmother. If so, where were Oliver's parents?

Henry County, Missouri Abstracts of Wills and Administrations 1835-1854, compiled by Jacqueline Hogan Williams & Betty Harvey Williams, 1968. p. 33.
COUNTY COURT MINUTES BOOK B
Christopher F. White. Died intestate Adm. Henry White appt. 3 May 1850, Sec. Frederick McNew and Henry Duning. 

Is this our answer?

The official 1850 census date was 1 June 1850. Christian White died before that, sometime before 3 May 1850. If his wife had predeceased him, their children would probably be living with relatives or friends. It seems quite possible that Oliver P. White could be Christian/Christopher's son.

Besides Oliver, were any other stray White children living in 1850 Henry County, Missouri? The 1850 census shows Mary Ann White in Henry White Jr.'s household. She was listed after a child who was much younger in age. This placement at the end of a family often indicated that someone was not a member of the immediate family. Henry Jr. also seems too young to be Mary Ann's father. To me, Mary Ann might be be a stray White in the 1850 census. See last entry in the census below.

1850 Henry County, Missouri Census

Household of Henry White Jr.

Finally, Beniah White was another stray without White parents in the 1850 Henry County, Missouri census. His name is spelled as it was probably pronounced at that time and in that locale, "Veniar". He is living with the James Teays family as a laborer. I haven't found any relationship to this family yet. See last entry below.

1850 Henry County, Missouri Census
Household of James Teays

But wait, there's more evidence that Beniah, Mary Ann, and Oliver seem to be Christian's children...Tune in later.