William White (1587 - 1621)

Born 25 Jan 1587 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1621 at age 34 in Plymouth Colony

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William White was a passenger on the Mayflower. Join: Mayflower Project Discuss: mayflower

General Society of Mayflower Descendants has announced the discovery and published the ancestry of Mayflower passenger William White in 2017. All sources before this date are likely to be incorrect. ^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Name and Origins

Name: William White

Son of Edward White and Thomasine Cross

English Origins

The origins of Mayflower passenger WIlliam White have recently been discovered and published in 2017. This article from The American Genealogist supersedes and replaces all previous work and speculation regarding his birth, parents and marriage. ^[1][2]

The origins of William White have long been sought and discussed in the genealogical literature. Noted Mayflower historian Caleb Johnson has recently shown that he was William White, son of Edward White and Thomasine Cross, baptized in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Because of the numerous previous articles and books which have been written about William White, care must be taken not to rely on out-of-date information. Specifically:

• He is not the son of John White and Eleanor Smith.
• He is not the William White who married Anne Fuller.

The identification was made based on the discovery of his baptism, and the numerous family connections of this White family with other members of the puritan community in Amsterdam. He was the half-brother of Henry May who was the father of Dorothy May, wife of Governor William Bradford. He witnessed the marriage of his half-sister Jacomine May in 1609 in Amsterdam. This William White also had a first cousin named Peregrin, a very distinctive name which he gave to his own child, Peregrine White.

Birth

Baptized: William White was baptized 25 January 1586/7 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. He was the son of Edward White and Thomasine Cross.^[1]

William White was a member of Henry Ainsworth's congregation of Separatists in Amsterdam. His half-brother, Henry May was a leading elder of this congregation.

Marriage and Children

Married: William married about 1614 (estimate based on the birth of first child), Susanna Jackson, daughter of Richard Jackson and Mary Pettinger.^[3]

They traveled on the Mayflower with their son Resolved. Their second son Peregrine was born while the Mayflower was offshore (before disembarking). William died the first winter.^[4]

Susanna married 2nd Edward Winslow on 12 May 1621 at Plymouth (the first marriage at Plymouth) by whom she had five children.^[5]

Children of William White and Susanna Jackson: ^{[1] [2]}

1. Resolved White. Born about 1615 (deposed aged 59 in 1674 and aged 63 in 1678).
2. Peregrine White. Born 4 December 1620 ("Whilst some were employed in this discovery [of a good harbor], it pleased God that Mistress White was brought abed of a son, which was called Peregrine" (Mourt, 31).

Children of Edward Winslow and Susanna Jackson:^[6]

1. Unnamed child who died young.
2. Edward Winslow.
3. John Winslow.
4. Josiah Winslow.
5. Elizabeth Winslow.

Death

Died: William White was among those who died during the first winter in New England at Plymouth, 21 February 1620/1.^{[1] [2][7][8][9]}

Most likely he was buried on Coles Hill, Plymouth in an unmarked grave as was the custom at that time - so the Indians could not tell that the Pilgrim ranks had become so decimated.^[10] William White's name appears on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb located on Coles Hill. (The Tomb contains only a small sampling of unknown remains found in the Plymouth vicinity long ago but are not identified as those of any Pilgrims. ^[11]

Notes

Excommunication and Removal to Amsterdam

In the spring of 1608, William, identified as a shoemaker, was cited for nonconformity and excommunicated from Wisbech St Peters, along with his half siblings Henry May and Jacomine May. William removed to Amsterdam in May 1608; his half-siblings joined him the following August.^[12]

Amsterdam

The May and the White families, both from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, arrived in the Netherlands around 1608. The marriage of Gov. William Bradford to Dorothy May in 1613 states that she was 16 years old and that she had been living there for about 5 years. Henry May the Elder stated in 1627 that he had been living in Amsterdam for about 15 years. In June 1608, "Willem Wit" was granted permission to reside within the city, and in August 1608 "Hendrick May" also received permission. In 1611, William White purchased a house in the "new city" of Amsterdam.

Mayflower Passenger

Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall, 1882.

After a couple of false starts the Mayflower left Plymouth, England on 6 September 1620 for what was originally planned to be a journey to Virginia. Onboard were 102 passengers, including this William White. The historic voyage took 66 days, and on 9 November 1620, the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod (well off-course). A decision was made, however, to remain at Cape Cod for safety rather than attempt to sail south to the area they were supposed to settle by the terms of their patent.

Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, 1899.

Immediately upon arrival some dissension broke out among the colonists. Since they were not settling in the area specified by their patent, some colonists felt they were no longer bound by the laws of England and the terms of the patent. An agreement was drawn up to help establish law, government and social order. The Mayflower Compact was signed while the Mayflower was anchored at Cape Cod (Provincetown Harbor) on 11 November 1620. It was signed by all free adult males and some, but not all, of the servants. William White was the eleventh male to sign.

Plymouth Colony

From William Bradford's List of Mayflower Passengers

In his list of those who came in the Mayflower Bradford includes "Mr. William White and Susanna his wife and one son called Resolved, and one born a-shipboard called Peregrine, and two servants named William Holbeck and Edward Thompson" (Bradford, 442). In his accounting of 1651 Bradford tells us that "Mr. White and his two servants died soon after their landing. His wife married with Mr. Winslow, as is before noted. His two sons are married and Resolved hath five children, Peregrine two, all living. So their increase are seven".^[4]

After their arrival in America, the Pilgrims spent the first month exploring and eventually settled on an area for their new colony which they would name Plymouth. However, because of the winter conditions, the new colonists only managed to build one building in the first winter. Most of the colony continued to live aboard the Mayflower for months after their arrival.

William Bradford's accounting of the White Family 1650/1

The harsh conditions with disease, inadequate shelter, and scarce resources led to a very high death rate during the first year. Forty-five of the 102 passengers died the first winter, including William White and both of his servants, William Holbeck and Edward Tompson. Three other Mayflower passengers died on the same day as William White.^[8]

In the 1623 Plymouth division of land William White received five acres as a passenger on the Mayflower (even though he had been dead for two years).^[13] In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle Resolved White and Peregrine White were the tenth and eleventh persons in the third company.^[14]

Common Errors to Avoid

Origin Forgery: The supposed bible of William White has been mentioned in a G2G thread and on the page of his wife. This bible was 'discovered' in the 1890s and published in various forms over the next decade. ^[15][16] It has long since been proved a forgery, and should not be referred to in any discussion regarding William and Susanna White.^{[17] [18][19]}

Incorrect parents: John White and Eleanor Smith are often listed as William White's parents. This is incorrect.

Incorrect parents: : Robert M. and Ruth W. Sherman have suggested that William White may have been a nephew of Alexander and Eleanor White of Sturton-le-Steeple in Nottinghamshire, England. Bishop John White of Barham, Suffolk, did not mention a son William in his will, nor any son "who left his country and his church" (Mayflower Quarterly, 41:16-18). This is now shown to have been wrong.

LNAB of wife: His wife has recently been identified as Susanna Jackson, daughter of Richard and Mary (Pettinger) Jackson. She was not Susanna Fuller as was long speculated. Please see her page for further details.

Because of the different theories and controversy about William White and his wife(s), we now have two profiles for William White, one married to Susanna Unknown and one William White married to Anna (Ann or En) Fuller, sister of Samuel Fuller, these profiles are not to be merged ! see this G2G where all is discussed and see : Ancestry of Susanna aka Anna (Fuller) White wife of (Pilgrim) William White By James R Hancock March 03, 2003 and see 'The Case Against Susanna Fuller',by Joe Cochoit

Research Notes

DNA

Y-DNA Results  :R1b-M222:^[20] Previous Y-STR testing found at both the Mayflower DNA Project and the White surname DNA Project Group R --- 1324.1410.11-13.000---William W has disclosed that William White belongs to the Y haplogroup R1b-M269, which is quite common in Western Europe. In addition, the Nevgen.org R1b clade predictor has further refined the clade to likely fall under R1b L21>DF13>Z39589>DF49>>M222 with 99.99% probability.

Sources

Footnotes and citations:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 2 (April 2017): 81-94.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 3 (July 2017): 168-188.
3. ↑ The American Genealogist Whole Number 356 October 2017 Vol. 89 No. 4 "The origin of Mayflower passenger Susanna (Jackson) (White) Winslow" p. 241-264.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Bradford's History Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation (Massachusetts Historical Society, 1856) pp 448, "Mr. William White, and Susana, his wife, and one sone, caled Resolved, and one borne a ship-bord, caled Peregriene; & 2, servants, named William Holbeck & Edward Thomson. p. 452 "Mr. White and his 2, servants dyed soone after ther landing. His wife maried with Mr. Winslow (as is before noted). His 2 sons are maried, and Resolved hath 5. children, Perigrine tow, all living. So their increase are 7."
5. ↑ Wakefield, Robert S. (editor). Sherman, Ruth Wilder and Sherman, Robert Moody (original compilers). Mayflower Families Through Five Generations. Volume Thirteen Family of William White. Third Edition. (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006)
6. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004).
7. ↑ Source: The Plymouth Colony Archive Project Mayflower passenger deaths 1620-1621
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Prince, Thomas. A Chronological History of New-England: In the Form of Annals, Being a Summary and Exact Account of the Most Material Transactions and Occurrences Relating to this Country, in the Order of Time Wherein They Happened, from the Discovery of Capt. Gosnold, in 1602, to the Arrival of Governor Belcher, in 1730 : with an Introduction Containing a Brief Epitome of the Most Considerable Transactions and Events Abroad, from the Creation ... (Cummings, Hilliard, and Company, 1826) p. 184
9. ↑ Bradford, William, and Winslow, Edward; Dexter, Henry Martyn, (ed.) Mourt's relation or journal of the plantation at Plymouth. (Boston, J. K. Wiggin, 1865)
10. ↑ See : Mayflower, First Sickness and Cole's Hill Burial Ground.
11. ↑ William White Society
12. ↑ Sue Allen, Caleb Johnson and Simon Neal, "The Excommunications of Mayflower Passenger William White and His Half-Siblings Henry and Jacomine May, at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire," in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (Spring 2021): 101-103, citing Cambridge University Library, Ely Diocesan Records B/2/26 (Act Book 1606-1608), folio 132
13. ↑ Pulsifer, David. New Plymouth Colony; Records of the colony of New Plymouth, in New England Vol. 12 Deeds, &c. Vol. 1 1620-1651 & Book of Indian Records for their lands(New York : AMS Press, 1861) 12:4.
14. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, 12:10).
15. ↑ White, Thomas and Samuel White. Ancestral chronological record of the William White family from 1607 to 1608-1895. (Concord, 1895).
16. ↑ The Connecticut Magazine, vol. V no. 3 (March 1899):147-158. An Historic Bible, by Josephine Baker. Archive.org LINK
17. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest ed. Pilgrim Notes and Queries, vol. 1. (1913): 1-3. The So-called William White Bible, by George Ernest Bowman.
18. ↑ Watson, Marston. "Susanna, Wife of William White and Edward Winslow of the Mayflower: A Review of Recent Research". The Mayflower Descendant 53:69. (2004)Link at AmericanAncestors ($)
19. ↑ Website: Tales from the Vault: Our Mayflower Bible, by John B. Thomas III (2001, via Wayback Machine, accessed 18 May 2021, 24 Dec 2016 capture)
20. ↑ MayflowerDNA.org wiki Y-DNA profile for William White family

Source list:

• The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 2 (April 2017):81-94. The English Origin and Kinship of Mayflower Passengers William¹ White and Dorothy¹ (May) Bradford of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, by Caleb Johnson, Sue Allen, and Simon Neal.

• The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 3 (July 2017):168-188. The English Origin and Kinship of Mayflower Passengers William¹ White and Dorothy¹ (May) Bradford of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (cont.), by Caleb Johnson, Sue Allen, and Simon Neal.
• The American Genealogist Whole Number 356 October 2017 Vol. 89 No. 4 "The origin of Mayflower passenger Susanna (Jackson) (White) Winslow" p. 241-264.

• Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, vol. III, P-W. (Boston: NEHGS, 1995):1980-1981, biography of William White. American Ancestors.org LINK

• Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com Website. Biography of William White.

• Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com Website. Biography of Susanna (Jackson) White.

• Wakefield, Robert S. ed. Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume 13: Family of William White. (Plymouth, 2006): 1-5

• MayflowerDNA.org wiki and Y-DNA profile for William White family

• Plimoth Plantation and the New England Historic Genealogical Society, A genealogical profile of William White, (via Wayback Machine at Archive.org, archived 5 September 2015).

• NEHGS on William White (article via the Wayback Machine, archive date 16 Oct 2013.

• Signers of the Mayflower Compact By Annie Arnoux Haxton 1968
  William White eleventh signer pg.30
• [https://www.freereg.org.uk Baptism transcribed at FreeReg.org. Search with appropriate parameters.

• Kemp, Lisa Farrand, The Farrand Families of Missouri and Illinois,
• The Pilgrim William White Society A Brief History of The Pilgrim William White Family Last revised 11 August 2015
• White, Emma Siggins. Genesis of the White Family (Tiernan-Dart Printing Co., Kansas City, Mo., 1920) Page 49-50

• Bradford, William, 1590-1657. Of Plimoth Plantation: manuscript, 1630-1650. State Library of Massachusetts "List of Mayflower Passengers." In Bradford's Hand.
• Wikipedia:William_White_(Mayflower_passenger) Caution: Not yet updated and contains many errors
• Find a Grave Memorial Caution: Contains many errors

Mayflower Project Checklist Completed

Acknowledgements:

• Substantially revised and sourced by Joe Cochoit. Please don't make significant changes without contacting.