Resolved White facts for kids
Resolved White (born around 1615 – died after September 19, 1687) was a young passenger on the famous Pilgrim ship, the Mayflower. In 1620, he made the long journey with his parents, William and Susanna White. Later, he married Judith Vassall, whose father, William Vassall, helped start the Massachusetts Bay Colony. As he grew up, Resolved White became a well-known person in Plymouth Colony.
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Early Life in England
Resolved White was the older son of Mayflower Pilgrims William and Susanna White. He was born in England around 1615, so he was about five years old when he sailed to America. His mother, Susanna, was pregnant during the Mayflower trip. She gave birth to his younger brother, Peregrine, in November 1620. This happened while the ship was anchored near Cape Cod.
The White family likely joined the Mayflower from London, England. They were part of a group of merchants, not the religious group from Leiden, Holland. We know this because William Bradford, who wrote about the Mayflower journey, listed William White with other London merchants.
The Mayflower Journey
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. It was a small ship, only about 100 feet long. There were 102 passengers and about 30 to 40 crew members, all living in very crowded spaces.
The trip across the ocean was very difficult. Strong storms hit the ship, shaking it badly. Water leaked in, making everyone wet and sick. Food was scarce, and conditions were unhealthy for many months. Sadly, many people died during the journey, especially women and children.
After about three months at sea, they finally saw land on November 9, 1620. This land was the tip of Cape Cod, now called Provincetown Harbor. They tried to sail south to their planned destination in Colony of Virginia, but bad winter storms forced them back. They anchored at Cape Cod Hook on November 11. On that same day, the passengers signed an important agreement called the Mayflower Compact.
Life in Plymouth Colony
Resolved's father, William White, died on February 21, 1621. This was during the first harsh winter in the new colony. Resolved's mother, Susanna, was one of the few widows who survived that winter. She had her newborn son, Peregrine, and five-year-old Resolved to care for.
On May 12, 1621, Susanna married Edward Winslow. Edward was another Mayflower passenger and an important leader in Plymouth Colony. Susanna and Edward had five more children together. One of their sons, Josiah, later became a governor of Plymouth.
Around 1638, the Winslow family, including Resolved and Peregrine, moved to Green Harbor, which is now called Marshfield.
Resolved's Marriage and Family
On August 3, 1640, Resolved White received 100 acres of land in Scituate. This land was next to the property of William Vassall. Resolved married William Vassall's daughter, Judith, on November 5, 1640, in Scituate.
Judith White was one of the first members of a new church in Scituate. This church was started by her father, William Vassall, and others who had different religious ideas from the main English Puritan church.
Resolved White became a "Freeman" of Plymouth County on June 1, 1658. This meant he had the right to vote and take part in the colony's government. In 1668, he was chosen to be a surveyor of highways for Marshfield.
Sadly, Judith White died on April 3, 1670, and was buried in Marshfield. Resolved later married Abigail Lord in Salem on October 5, 1674.
Later Years
In 1676, Resolved White fought in King Philip's War. This was a major conflict between the colonists and Native American tribes. In 1680, he became a freeman in Salem, but he moved back to Marshfield a couple of years later. Abigail White died in Salem in 1682.
Death
Resolved White died sometime after September 19, 1687. The exact date is not known for sure. Some records suggest he might have been alive as late as 1690.
Resolved White was buried in Winslow Cemetery in Marshfield, where his first wife, Judith, was also buried. There is a large monument in Winslow Cemetery that honors "The Settlers of Green Harbor Marshfield." This monument names Resolved White and Judith, as well as his brother Peregrine and his wife Sarah. Resolved's mother, Susanna, and her second husband, Edward Winslow, are also named on the monument.
Children
Resolved White and his first wife, Judith, had eight children:
- William White: Born in April 1642, he died in Marshfield in 1695 and never married.
- John White: Born in March 1644, he died before 1685.
- Samuel White: Born in Scituate in March 1646, he died between 1729 and 1731. He married a woman named Rebecca.
- Resolved White (Jr.): Born in November 1647, he may have died young in 1670. He was buried in Marshfield.
- Anna White: Born in Scituate in June 1649, she died in Concord in 1714. She married John Hayward in 1671.
- Elizabeth White: Born in Scituate in June 1652, she was still alive in 1713. She married Obadiah Wheeler (Jr.) in 1672.
- Josiah White: Born in Scituate in September 1654, he died in Boxford between March and June 1710. He married Remember Read.
- Susannah White: Born in August 1656. There is no further information about her.
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