Sir John White facts for kids
Sir John White (born 1588, died 1625) was an important government official in England. When he was 22 years old, he became the High sheriff of Nottinghamshire, taking over from his father, Thomas White.
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Sir John's Family Life
Sir John White got married when he was 32. His wife was Dorothea Harpur. Her father, John Harpur, was a very important gentleman from Derbyshire.
The Harpur and Finderne Families
Dorothea's family, the Harpurs, had a long history. Their family tree goes back 14 generations before Dorothea! Her grandmother, Jane Finderne, came from another famous family called Finderne.
The Findernes lived in a place called Finderne, near Derby. They were a very important family in Derbyshire for many years. Members of the Finderne family were brave knights. They fought in the Crusades (holy wars) and in famous battles like Crécy and Agincourt. They owned a lot of land and were also High sheriffs.
There's a cool local story about the Findernes. It says that Sir Geoffrey Finderne brought a special flower, now called the Finderne Flower, back from the Holy Land.
Knighthood and Later Life
On June 9, 1619, King James I made Sir John White a knight. This happened in Greenwich.
Sir John's Children
Sir John and Lady White had several children. Their second son, Richard, passed away when he was 19 years old. Their third son, Gervase, also died young. Their oldest son, Thomas, became the head of the family after his father.
Sir John also had a daughter named Anne. She married John Welby from Lincolnshire. Anne passed away before 1634. She had one daughter, Mary, who also died young.
Sir John's Death
In 1623, Sir John was again the High sheriff of Nottinghamshire. He passed away two years later, on Christmas Day in 1625. He was 67 years old.
During Sir John's lifetime, many important things happened. These included the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the Gunpowder Plot. Also, Galileo made his discoveries. The Puritans started to settle in New England.
Sir John's Tomb
Lady White had a beautiful tomb built for her husband. It is made of alabaster and is in the family burial place at Tuxford church. She left a space on the tomb for her own death date, but it was never filled in.
The tomb shows full-sized figures of Sir John and Lady White lying down. Sir John is wearing armor, and Lady White has a fancy dress and a gold chain. All the details are carved in alabaster. You can still see bits of gold on the chain and the pillows under their heads. There are also small pieces of a cherub (a type of angel) kneeling at their feet.
Above the figures, there are two black marble tablets with writing. These are surrounded by pillars. Above them, you can see a sword, a helmet, and other decorations. At the very top, there are the family's coat of arms. This shows an eagle and a shield with lions.
Sometimes, a coronet (a small crown) is shown in a gentleman's family crest. This means that his family did brave deeds in battle. It is a sign of great achievement.
Lady White and Her Family
Lady White lived until 1653. This was when Oliver Cromwell was very powerful in England.
Gifts to Her Cousin
In the years 1633, 1634, and 1637, Lady White gave some land in Nottinghamshire to her first cousin, George Pierrepoint. She wrote that she did this "out of great affection" for him and his father.
George's father was Robert Pierrepoint, the Earl of Kingston. He was known for being very wealthy and very smart. The Earl was also a strong supporter of the King during the civil wars. He was a lieutenant-general for the King's army. Sadly, he died in battle at Gainsborough.
The Pierrepoint family came to England with the Normans a long time ago.
The Harpur Family's Loyalty
The Harpur family, Lady White's relatives, remained very wealthy during King James's rule. Richard Harpur, a relative, was even knighted by the King. The Harpur family often held big dinners and parties.
During the civil wars, the Harpurs were very loyal to the King. Because of this, the Parliament fined them heavily more than once.
