William R. White was a resident of Putnam, Connecticut on October 24, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. G of the 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.  On October 25, 1862, he was transferred to Co. E of the 2^nd United States Cavalry.  He was discharged for disability on August 15, 1863.  William R. White was a resident of Mansfield on January 14, 1864 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. A of the 1st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery; he was discharged on June 18, 1865.

He was born about 1845, probably in Mansfield to Rand B. and Sarah (Fenton) White. William White married Anna C. Long about 1865; she was born in Maryland. Two children were born in Maryland and they had moved to Pawnee, Illinois by the date of the 1870 U.S. census. He moved to Douglas, Nebraska by 1878. Children include: Edward E. White, born about 1866; William Rand White, born about 1868; Sarah White, born about 1870; Olivia White, born about 1878 and Barton? White, born about 1879. William White was a farmer and moved back to Mansfield before the 1920 census. He married second, Mary L. _____, born in Indiana. 

On August 1, 1881, he applied from Nebraska for an invalid pension under No. 427,466 that was granted under certificate No. 422,635.

William R. White died on November 6, 1930, probably in Willimantic and he is buried at the New Mansfield Center Cemetery in Mansfield.