William White (1603 - 1673)

Born 1603 in Derbyshire, England

Descendants

Died 30 Oct 1673 at about age 70 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Jo Robinson [send private message], and Andrew White [send private message]

William White migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 7, p. 351) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Avoid Mistaken Identity--This is not the William White (1587 - 1621) of the Mayflower, nor of his descendant, William White (abt.1683-bef.1780), whose wife was Elizabeth Cadman.

Birth Discussion:

• 1600‐1610 – Born sometime in these years. Nothing is known about his birth or parentage and no reasonable deductions are possible from the available evidence. Although he is associated with London this does not mean that he was born there – inward migration to London has always been very heavy.
• 1620s – possibly living in London by this time and associated with the Dutch/English inventor Cornelis Drebbel and his sons‐in‐law the Kuffler brothers.

William White was born about 1603 in England. He married Elizabeth (Unknown) White. He died 30 Oct 1673 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

William White ^[1] BIRTH 1603 England

Birth BET 1600 AND 1610 England^[1] Death: Exact date of death uncertain. Will was signed October 13, 1673 with Suffolk Probate Office, and Inventory of Estate was provided December 30, 1673. Death occurred between those two dates.^[1][2][3]

William White ^[4]

DEATH 30 Oct 1673 (aged 69–70)

Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA BURIAL Body lost or destroyed MEMORIAL ID 65050352 A bricklayer, William worked at the Iron Works in Lynn MA for a time, but his work took him to other areas of New England. In Feb 1655 he was residing in Warwick, Kent Co RI and on 17 Oct 1656, he was granted a house lot adjoining his son-in-law "...Benjamine Herndell". In Feb 1657, he was granted a share for his "meddow" near another son-in-law, Thomas Walling [aka Wallen].

Marriage:

• 1629 – Marriage of William White to Elizabeth Jackson at St Gregory by St Paul’s in London. While this is a conjecture it is the best match to the known facts of any marriage record found. Their daughter Elizabeth was married by 1647 which makes a date of 1629 fairly credible. Elizabeth is often mistakenly identified as Elizabeth Cadman which is incorrect – there was an Elizabeth Cadman who married a William White, but at a much later date.
• 1630s –probably living in London for most of this time. Associated with the antinomian preacher John Everard and the writer Gabriel Plattes. Worked as a furnace maker with many customers among alchemists, brewers, dyers, soap‐makers and other trades using heat. Assisted Everard in alchemical projects. Probably a peripheral member of the “Hartlib Circle” which included Plattes and Robert Child

Marriage Wife William White. Marriage 19 JAN 1629. St Gregory's by St Paul's, London England^[2]

Births of children – c1630 – Elizabeth c1633 – William c1635 – Margaret c1637 – Ursula c1640 – Susanna c1643 – Isaac

William White^[5][2][6][7]

Immigration

First 3 children born in England, Elisabeth, William & Margaret. Ursula b. 1639 is born in Providence, RI. Thus immigration must be after 1635 and before 1639.

He migrated from England on the Increase. The Increase left London, England April 1635 with her master, Robert Lea, arriving in Massachusetts Bay.

The Increase left London, England April 1635 with her master, Robert Lea, arriving in Massachusetts Bay. Wlliam White was listed as as number 48^[8]

Increase sources: Hotten P of Q pg 55,57,58,60,61,64-66 http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/increase1635.shtml http://www.winthropsociety.org/ships/increase.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20110216073611/http://www.allcensus.com/original_lists_051.htm (archived site) http://english-america.com/spls/635ne011.html#Increase https://web.archive.org/web/20030709050442/http://www.calaisalumni.org/Maine/ships.htm#Increase (archived site)

At New England

The Petition of William White to the Honourable Court of Assistants and Deputys of the General Court at Boston Humbly sheweth that whereas he hath bin by this Court fined the sum of foure pounds for Drawing and selling beere to some few travellers who pass by his house towards Taunton, by virtue of an order lately made by the Court … none should draw it without a license. He humbly Desireth that this fine be taken off, he being a very poore man, not offending willfully, but being a stranger, was totally ignorant of this law, noe notice being given to him by any man, and further his intentions being only to brew a little small beere, for the collyers and other workmen about the Ironworks, which he with much difficulty hath done, being destitute of necessary things for the purpose, without which the workmen would not so comfortably proceed in their workes – and he shall endeavour to shew himself thankful, and always pray for your health and prosperitys. William White The copy of this in the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society incorrectly dates it as 1645. A more likely date is 1647.

To the Right worshipfull mr. wentrupp Governor of newe Ingland at his house at Boston These presente RIGHT WORSHIPFULL SUR, my humble seruice Remembered first to yourselfe major Endicott mr. Downinge mr. John wentrupe and whosoeuer hath wished my good: with hartie thanks for all your louinge kindnesses, first I desire pardon that I did not personally take my leaue of your worshipe and some other of my good frinds but mr. Rainsford can showe that acidentall hast was the cause, for I lost allsoe 10s that my landlords sonn is to haue of Goodman allen that tooke my house, only for his good will a very vnjust thinge. Goodman beettfeeld tooke the house for me and can certifie that I haue made the house tennantable and saleable that the landlord yeelded for as good as lost. if goodman beettfeeld Recouer it I desire it may be giuen to the poorre: and not giuen to them that need it not: nor hath Right to it. I dessire to give your worship a touch of the Causes of my passage howe first I was promised 5s a day by doctor Child for myselfe and my sonn and 2 Cows and house Rent fre and land for me and all my Chilldren; alsoe Couenants for the same. but the deffered the Couenants and I never had them nor performance: to my great losse: and if you knowe all a greater losse to the cou[ena]ntor. I should haue come over about the tym that mr. John wentrupp cam ouer: if I had the Iron myns of newe ingland had been tryed with less Cost, for I tryed most of the myns in Derbesharre with a bloome harth: I told mr. doctor Child more of the nehaunt myne then I can now spick of. For most parte of the York myns the lye at the day and are partly cutt from there life: and the speritt of feusion and sollidditie is not in them. but the swompe myne is liuing and good. great Riches concer[n]inge whit glass and 2 other things not to be spoken of are within 4 myles of boston: more at large I will write when it shall please god that I write the good news from bermoodos and what I porfitt there you shall suerly knowe: and howe I prosper: it may please god I may se you next springe for there is greate things for me to doe. the second Cause is longe strong winter, 3 Cause, the base dissastor of strong Furnals wife against my poore harmless wiffe: 4thly the Contrie pay is bad to get when a poore man hath earned it that it coms to little or nothing, 5. being none remember all things prevaile against me, 6. I se such hard dealinge with shop keepers both in price waight and measure and the that profese much, and alsoe such sewinge one another in Courts that I thinke loue is wantinge, which is the maine key of Religon for without loue it is nothinge more I haue to say but not at this time. soe with my hartie prayers for this Contre, and the good prechinge and all your healths wealths and prospeties I begg pardon for my boldnes. I leaue your worship and all the rest to the protextion of the allmighti god and Rest your humble seruant to comand WILLIAM WHITE from aboard the Returne this 24 July or 5 month 1648

Right Worshipfull Sirr I most humbly salute you : your wife & family. I am thorough Gods mercie come to new england : with full intent to live near you = when this ship was at bermudos ? said she were bound for Rod yland = I thinking peaquot had not been above 10 or 12 myles of I made more than ordinarie hast to come with them thinking I should have got to you : but we mistook a landmark & fell behind Long island & was 3 weeks = & a week at Rod Yland & a week at Warweek & so be means of some that had heard of me & some that knewe me told me it was to near winter : & that peaquott was a savage barren place : & soe perswaded me to sit down there & to get wood in tyme & many told me that they would send up woode = and I offered 12s = to any that would carry my letters = chiefly because Mr Barklay hath written to you earnestly for some smal boltheads which he sayed you can help him to : & what other busines I knowe not : but he was very desyrus to have an answer by this ships Returne = which if She had not been frozen in could not have been = but as yet tis possible he may = Mr Williams hath letters of publike businese to send to peakquott & hath had my letters near 2 months but about 10 days since the were not gon which greaved me very? because Mr berkle his answer conserned me much : for I had left a mill & other goods for hast behynd me : which if I doe his busines he will doe myne = I have written at large of mynes: of pott ashe : of stilling : of bakinge : of stoues for winter = stoues for swetting the sick ? ? : of salt works & baking biskets : & many other things = but I omit some that I will not trust in paper that will be a benifltt to all parts of the world chiefly england : I have known much money spent on it = & could have done it long since but I have brought many things to pass & have been cossened of them but you I dare trust : for I commit you & yours & all busines that tends to the glory of God & good of a common wealth to God’s protection ?? to my power William Whit I will keep my selfe son setled till I hear from you = if you send ? ? downe speedyly it will give him honest comfort : because of coming in Sumer sessone condition ? enough to plant provision if need be = from Warweek this 14 of 12 month 1654

From fishers yland Right Worshipfull Sir We being very glad of quick & safe Returne doe all humbly Remember us unto you = & doe by these give you notice of our proceedings = that weeke you wente the Rambl (?) was sent to Mistick Ilande which by Reason of Cross Wynds was wholly spent = & the next weeke 4 days about the other Rambos (?) = & the other 2 days we Removed the salt housed and Rased (?) it = & in the absens (?) I cleaned & made a brick plan (?) & began to make bricks = much other worke as parting of Rambos (?) ? &? hath been by us all very carfully done we have allsoe fitted our sythes & haye tooles & they have mowed : & we have made this weeke aboute 5 loades of good haye : being sony wather full of oportunities the wante some rye or Wheate to micx? bread tho Indean corn is for choys that by Reason of waste it is certanlye less proffittable for you & them: as soon as bricks is ready I will make a brick oven & for my ? familyl would desire your Worship if you have non to ? to goodman ? to sende me a bushall of wheat meale & I will? him good pay or ells wheat ? of some of his neighbours mr Cob? xxx had your? mill it would save us some journeys & all for some meal xxx other common? I want shoos for my boys chiefly for as the fall on the ? while? helpe to make haye the ? &? [rest of the page is indecipherable] William White As for help to make haye if I mend (?) well we shall need none = unlesse you can send enough that I and my boyes might be wholly employed in making bricks and then I will offer you no? = and when your Worship can get me some constant helpe I make no question but to doe good of brickmaking till ? can be had — I have digged 2 or 3 places on the rock & at last I have found good fresh watter = & the are very glad for the wattering of? & other cattell was somewhat troublesome other things I might speake of but I will trouble you no more at present

Occupation' "It is said that he hath skill in most worcks> Many of ours have thoughts of trying his skill about a new bridge at Providence, and he hath promised to come over to us to consult, but the weather has hindered.". Roger Williams to J. Winthrop, Jr. 15 FEB 1655. Providence County, Rhode Island, USA.^[2]

Residence Purchases home on Essex Street. 21 MAR 1664. Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. ^[7]

Occupation: On Fishers Island making bricks in preparation for John Winthrop, Jrs. planned settlement. JUL 1656. Fishers Island, Suffolk, New York, USA. ^[6][2] Begins working with John Winthrop Jr and William Berkeley of Bermuda on projects. 1648 Boston Suffolk,Massachusetts. ^[7][2]

Mentioned in Samuel Hartlib's Ephemerides. 1643 London, Middlesex, , England. ^[2]

Leaves for Bermuda. 24 JUL 1648. Boston Harbor, Suffolk, Massachusetts. ^[7][6][9]

Arrives in New England to begin working on projects with John Winthrop, Jr. 14 FEB 1655. Providence RI.^[7][2]

Emigration: Works for Robert Child (1645) in New England Ironworks; Richard Leader at Saugus Iron Works (1646-1648); Robt Starkey, Maj John Endicott setting up distillery. 1645 Boston Suffolk,Massachusetts. ^[2][6] Died 30 DEC 1673. Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. Buried Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

Family

William White ^[10]

mentioned in the record of Cornelius White Name William White gender Male Wife Elizabeth Son Cornelius White Other information in the record of Cornelius White from Massachusetts Births and Christenings Name Cornelius White Gender Male Birth Date 07 Jan 1646 Birthplace BOSTON,SUFFOLK,MASSACHUSETTS Father's Name William White Mother's Name Elizabeth

On 17 Feb 1659, son-in-law Benjamin was involved with authorities for his "...breach of peace and fright, Comitted on the family of william white, of this Towne." About 1665, William's daughter, Mrs Margaret Colwell, ran away with her married neighbor Thomas Walling [aka Wallen], whom she later married.

By Oct 1662, William had settled again in Boston, buying a house from Nathaniel Woodward. [Suffolk Deeds, 7:110] The house was located on land belonging to the town, which required William to pay rent until the land was granted ownership to him in Mar 1669/70.

In William's Will, written 13 Oct 1673 and proved 31 Jan 1674, he left to his wife and children:

"...all my vissable estate so long as she was a widowe and to have her thirds if she remarried; two Sonnes Isaacke & Cornelius White; two sonnes & 1 daughter Susanna Waggett, wife of Thomas Waggett after the decease of wife; to son William White 5 shillings... to other 3 daughters, Elyzabeth Harnden, wife of Benjamyne... Margaret Wallen, wife of Thomas Wallen, and Usrulla Bennett, the wife of John Bennett each 4 shillings."

In Dec 1676, the widow Elizabeth White signed a document in Suffolk Co MA:

"Elizabeth White of Boston, relict of William White late of Boston, deeded for love etc. to her Son Cornelius White that part of land which his father (bequeathed to him) excepting the house wherein I dwell which is his after my decease and which I reserve to my Selfe during my life."

Sons of the American Revolution:

Name: William White SAR Membership: 11272 Death Date: 1673 Death Place: England, Boston, Massachusetts Spouse: Elizabeth White Children: Cornelius White

Will (Suffolk Co MA PR 7:343)

The American Genealogist, Vol. 62 p. 198 The American Genealogist, Vol. 73 p. 96 (this issue corrected name from Benjamin White to William White).

Research Notes

• William White Notes, Hartlib: Mr Whites Inventions
• William White Chronology

Died Boston. William White who died late in 1673 in Boston existed and is well documented in recent studies. Please the profile. -- Andrew White, April 2, 2015

Further Notes. A belated thanks for the material on Dr. Charles via Steve Sandford. I contacted him and he gave me Bruce White,s e-mail address in New Zealand. I have been working with Bruce since. \par \par It turns out that the William White I have been working with is the wrong one.Bruce sent me a copy of a letter that a William White wrote to John Winthrop Jr. from aboard the ship Return in Boston harbor in 1645 while preparing to sail for Bermuda. This William White names his children in letter,the same ones as stated in the will that I have so that seems to be vety good proof that this is the correct William White not the one who came with Philemon Dalton in 1635. \par \par This new William is an inventor, an expert in building furnaces for smelting iron ore, with high reputation for building the same in England and New England. He also delved in alchemy. It is not known who his parents are or where he came from in England, but he apparently came from Fulham in the south part of London when he came to NE. in1645. He left Boston in1649 for Bermuda, staying there untill he moved to Warwick RI.In 1656, and then to Providence and was back in Boston by 1662 of a little before.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65050352/william-white: accessed 30 May 2023), memorial page for William White (1603–30 Oct 1673), Find A Grave: Memorial #65050352; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Bonnie's Daughter (contributor 47137929). (No gravestone.)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} White & Woodward, "A Most Exquisite Fellow" Details of William's Immigration in 1645 and employment to his death in 1673
3. ↑ Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Volume: 57; SAR Membership Number: 11272
4. ↑ "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991,"
5. ↑ Ancestry.com London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives, St Gregory by St Paul, Composite register: baptisms 1627 - 1651/2, marriages 1627 - 1635/6, burials 1627 - 1659/60, P69/GRE/A/01/MS010232, P69/GRE/A/002/MS10232
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Bruce D. White "Timeline of William White", private file in possession of Andrew White
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Thwing Collection. Transcription onto index cards of wills and deeds of early Boston William White granted the land on which his house now stands . . . on Essex Street. Named are wife Elizabeth, children Isaac, Cornelius, William, Susanna, Elizabeth, Margaret, Ursula File
8. ↑ Ann Stevens, Packrat-Pro
9. ↑ Ancestry.com London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives, St Gregory by St Paul, Composite register: baptisms 1627 - 1651/2, marriages 1627 - 1635/6, burials 1627 - 1659/60, P69/GRE/A/01/MS010232, P69/GRE/A/002/MS10232
10. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915,"

See also--

• Thwing Index # 18659 & 18660. Boston, MA: Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630-1822 (Thwing Collection). Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630–1800 and The Crooked and Narrow Streets of Boston, 1630–1822. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014.).
• Ancestral chronological record of the William White family from 1607 to 1608-1895 Archive.org

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.pdf. George Starkey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William taught furnace making to the young George Starkey in Boston.

• Hartley, E.N. Ironworks on the Saugus: The Lynn and Braintree Ventures of the Company of Undertakers of the Ironworks in New England. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1957.

• Holman, Winifred Lovering. The William White Descent. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1946.

Newman, William R, and Lawrence Principe. Alchemy Tried in the Fire: Starkey, Boyle, and the Fate of Helmontian Chymistry. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002.

• White, B.D., and W. W. Woodward. "" A Most Exquisite Fellow"—William White and an Atlantic World Perspective on the Seventeenth‐Century Chymical Furnace." Ambix 54, no. 3 (2007): 285‐98. Available from http://hdl.handle.net/10179/666

• Will of William White

• "William White: A Most Exquisite Fellow", Bruce D. White, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand and Walter W. Woodward, University of Connecticut, 2007.

• White, B. D.; Woodward, W. W. (2007). "A most exquisite fellow" — William White and an Atlantic world perspective on the seventeenth-century chymical furnace. Ambix. Vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 285-298 http://hdl.handle.net/10179/666 http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/174582307X237065  : 2007. Correctly identifies William White, ca 1600-1610 to 1673, husband of Elizabeth Jackson, father of Cornelius White I, et al

See Also:

• MediaUS Sons of the American Revolution Membership App-1.jpg. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. 11814, 5:48:41 PM. Volume: 57; SAR Membership Number: 11272.
• Wm White to John Winthrop 1(1).jpg. Wm White to John Winthrop 1. 7211648 William writes to John Winthrop, Jr. about his leaving for Bermuda to work with William Berkeley. John Davis MSS, 1.29 Collections, IV. 198-200. Massachusetts Historical Society.
• mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/666
• William White, an alchemist was associated with noted European alchemists and John Winthrop, Jr.
• "William White: A Timeline", Bruce D. White

• 48 White William

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch [1]: 10 February 2018), William White in entry for Cornelius White, 07 Jan 1646; citing BOSTON,SUFFOLK,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 397,042.

• "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," database, FamilySearch [2] : 8 March 2018), William White in entry for Elizabeth White, burial 30 Oct 1637; citing Penn, Buckingham, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,999,460.