John White (colonist priest) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John White
|
|
|---|---|
Contemporary woodcut of White
|
|
| Born | 1575 England
|
| Died | 1648 Dorchester, Dorset, England
|
| Occupation | Cleric |
| Known for | Persuaded Charles I to grant a Royal Charter to the Massachusetts Bay Company for a new colony in North America. |
John White (1575 – 21 July 1648) was an important English clergyman (a church leader). He was the leader of a church in Dorchester, Dorset, England. He played a big part in getting official permission, called a charter, for the New England Company and the Massachusetts Bay Company. He was very interested in helping people settle in a new land called New England in America.
Contents
Life of John White
John White was born in a manor house in Stanton St John, Oxfordshire, England, in 1575. His father was also named John White. Young John went to Winchester School in 1587. Later, he studied at New College, Oxford University.
In 1606, John White became the leader of the Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester. He stayed there for the rest of his life. He was a Puritan, which meant he wanted to make the church simpler and more focused on the Bible. He worked to improve his local church.
John White married Ann Burges. They had three children: John, Samuel, and Josiah.
Starting the Massachusetts Bay Colony
John White himself never traveled to America. But around 1623, he became very interested in helping people from Dorset move to Massachusetts. These people were often "nonconformists," meaning they didn't agree with all the rules of the Church of England. White wanted them to have "liberty of conscience," which meant they could practice their religion freely.
An early attempt by a group called the Dorchester Company to start a colony at Cape Ann didn't work out well. So, White worked hard to find new settlers. He found people from the western parts of England, like Dorset, Somerset, and Devon.
Getting a Royal Charter
John White made many trips to London from Dorchester. He worked to get official permission, called a "patent," for land in America in 1628. He also found rich business people in London to support a new colony.
Because there were arguments over land claims in the New World, the New England Company asked the King for a special document. King Charles I gave them a "Royal Charter" on March 4, 1629. This made the company officially known as the Massachusetts Bay Company. This charter gave them the right to set up a large colony.
The Great Migration to New England
John White was a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company. He helped choose ministers like Francis Higginson and Samuel Skelton to go to the new colony. The charter allowed John Winthrop to gather a large group of ships, known as the Winthrop Fleet.
The first ship, the Mary and John, carried 140 people recruited by White. In June 1630, these settlers landed and started a new town called Dorchester, Massachusetts. The Winthrop Fleet brought about 700 colonists to the New World.
From 1630 to 1640, about 10,000 English colonists sailed to New England. This period is known as the Great Migration. John White played a key role in making this huge movement of people happen.
John White and the English Civil War
When the First English Civil War began in 1642, Dorchester supported Parliament against the King. Soldiers from Prince Rupert's army broke into White's house, took his belongings, and carried off his books.
John White had to leave Dorchester and went to London. He continued his work as a clergyman there. He was chosen to be part of the Westminster Assembly, a group of religious leaders who met to discuss and reform the Church of England. He attended their meetings regularly.
In November 1647, John White was offered a leadership position at New College, Oxford. However, he was too sick to travel and had to decline. He died on July 21, 1648, and was buried in Dorchester.
