Edward White gent. (abt. 1550 - aft. 1593)

Husband of Thomasine (Cross) White — married 11 Jan 1585 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Descendants

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Biography

The father of the Mayflower passenger William White has been identified as Edward White of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England.^[1][2][3] He first appears in the records at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1585 on his marriage to the widow Thomasine May. He is frequently called gentleman in the records, and land transactions indicate he was a man of some substance. The lack of records of a White family before this time makes it likely he was born elsewhere.

The Wisbech manorial records in June 1585 state that on his death bed John May had surrendered his customary tenement to his wife Thomasine May, an that she had "made fealty by Edward Whyte, her husband." The records go on to say that "Thomasine late relic of the said John May before this court had married Edward Whyte, gentleman, contrary to the firm pretended in the said will."

He disappears from the Wisbech records in 1593. It is not known if he died (no burial is recorded) or if he perhaps returned to a previous home. In March 1608, his two children William and Martha were in the custody of their grandmother Jacomine Robinson.

Birth

Born: About 1550.

Estimate based on age of wife making him approximately the same age.

His exact birth, parents and origins are not known.

Marriage and Children

Married: Thomasine Cross as her second husband on 11 January 1584/5 at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. ^[2] Since she had to of been in her mid to late 30s when they married, it is likely that Edward White was also a bit older and perhaps on a second marriage.

Thomasine Cross had previously been married to John May on 27 January 1571/2 at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. ^[2]> They had five known children. John May died between July and 25 August 1584. ^[4]

Children of John May and Thomasine Cross:

All baptized or buried at Wisbech. ^[2]

1. Henry May. Born say 1572. ^[5] Married Katherine Unknown. Removed to Amsterdam in August 1608 where he was an elder of the Henry Ainsworth congregation. His daughter Dorothy May was a Mayflower passenger and the wife of Gov. William Bradford. He died after February 1624 (last record which can with any certainty be assigned to him).
2. John May. Baptized 8 December 1576. Probably died young as he is not mentioned in will of his father in 1584.
3. Mary May. Baptized 13 August 1578. Buried 26 August 1578.
4. Jacomine May. Baptized 31 August 1580. She married Jan L'Ecluse, a printer in Amsterdam, on 5 May 1609 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has been frequently and incorrectly assumed to the sister of Dorothy May when she was in fact her aunt. She died before 11 December 1616 when her husband ("widower of Jacomijne Maij") remarried to Anne Harris.
5. Barbara May. Baptized 16 March 1582/3. Buried 12 February 1583/4.

Children of Edward White and Thomasine Cross:

All baptized or buried at Wisbech. ^[2]

1. Robert White (twin). Baptized 10 December 1585. Buried 16 December 1585.
2. Thomasine White (twin). Baptized 10 December 1585. Buried 12 December 1585.
3. William White. Baptized 25 January 1586/7. Married Susanna Jackson. He was the Mayflower passenger. Died 21 February 1620/1 in the Plymouth Colony.
4. Martha White. Baptized 18 October 1589. She was living with her grandmother in March 1607/8. Buried 19 May 1608.

Death

Died: After 1593.

He last appears in the Wisbech records in 1593. If he died around this time, their s no record of his burial. He was likely dead in March 1608 when his children were in the custody of their grandmother, Jacomine Robinson.

Some Records

• 11 January 1584/5, his marriage to Thomasine May is the earliest record of him in Wisbech.
• 28 April 1585, Edward White appointed to oversee cleanliness in the Whyte Croos Ward of Wisbech following an outbreak of plague.
• June 1585, Thomasine made fealty for lands of her late husband John May by Edward Whyte, her husband.
• 1586, Edward White listed as a tenant at Wisbech.
• October 1586, Edward White essoined at the Wisbech manorial court by Robert Sadler and John Cross.
• 10 January 1587, John Cross surrendered land to Edward White.
• 1588, elected reeve of Wisbech Barton.
• 1588, 1589, 1590, homage juror in Wisbech.
• April 1588 Edward White and John Cross are found in the Feet of Fines selling land for £500. This a very substantial amount indicating their social and economic status.
• 17 September 1588, obtained a license to fell wood.
• October 1588, John Cross surrendered 2 cottages and 32 acres of land to Edward White.
• 6 October 1590, Feet of Fines transaction regarding 4 messuages and 100 acres of land from Thomas and Jacomine (his mother-in-law) Robinson.
• 18 May 1592, John Cross surrendered 24 acres for the use of Edward White.
• 1 October 1593, Edward White surrendered the same land to William Stirman.
• No further records.

Sources

Footnotes and citations:

1. ↑ The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 2 (April 2017): 81-94.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} The American Genealogist, vol. 89 no. 3 (July 2017): 168-188.
3. ↑ All sources prior to these 2017 articles should be disregarded.
4. ↑ Dates his will was made and proved.
5. ↑ Estimate used in TAG articles based on parents marriage in Jan. 1571/2. He could have been born between 1572 and 1575.

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.