William White (Mayflower passenger) facts for kids
William White (born January 25, 1587 – died February 21, 1621) was an important passenger on the famous ship, the Mayflower. In 1620, he made the historic journey with his wife Susanna, their son Resolved, and two servants. Another son, Peregrine, was born during the trip. William White signed the Mayflower Compact, an important agreement, but he passed away early in the history of Plymouth Colony.
Contents
William White's English Roots
William White, who sailed on the Mayflower, was baptized on January 25, 1587, in Wisbech, England. His parents were Edward and Thomasine White.
It has been tricky for historians to learn a lot about William White. This is because "William White" was a very common name in England back then. There were many people with that name, which makes it hard to find specific records for the Pilgrim William White.
Also, there was some confusion because two other men named William White lived in Leiden, Holland, around 1620. These other men stayed in Leiden even after the Mayflower left. This led some people to mistakenly think the Mayflower William White lived in Holland.
However, we know William White came from England, not Holland. William Bradford, a leader of Plymouth Colony, kept a list of Mayflower passengers. He listed "Mr. William White" with other merchants from London. If William White had been part of the Leiden group, Bradford would have listed him there. This shows that William White and his family came directly from England.
The Mayflower Journey
William White, his wife Susanna, and their five-year-old son Resolved boarded the Mayflower. Susanna was pregnant at the time. They also had two servants with them. Several weeks after William White signed the Mayflower Compact, Susanna gave birth to their son Peregrine on the ship.
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, in September 1620. It was a small ship, only about 100 feet long. There were 102 passengers and about 30-40 crew members, so it was very crowded. After about two months, strong storms hit the ship. The ship's wood creaked, and water leaked in, making everyone wet and sick.
Life on board was very hard. There wasn't enough good food, and conditions were unhealthy. Many people became ill, and some died, especially women and children. Two people died during the voyage. But the worst was yet to come. After they arrived, nearly half the passengers died during the cold, harsh winter in New England.
In November 1620, after three months at sea, they finally saw land. It was Provincetown Harbor in Cape Cod. They tried to sail south to their planned destination in Virginia. But strong winter storms forced them back to Cape Cod. They anchored there on November 21. On that very day, the Mayflower Compact was signed.
William White was the eleventh person to sign the Mayflower Compact. His servants, William Holbeck and Edward Thompson, were too young to sign the agreement.
Life in Plymouth Colony
William White died on February 21, 1621, during the first winter in the new colony. His death left Susanna as a widow with two young sons, newborn Peregrine and five-year-old Resolved. By the spring of 1621, 52 of the 102 people who arrived on the Mayflower had died.
In May 1621, Susanna White became the first bride in Plymouth Colony. She married Edward Winslow, another Mayflower passenger whose wife had also died that winter. Edward and Susanna Winslow had at least five children together.
Even though William White had passed away, he was still given land in the 1623 land division. He received five acres of land behind the fort. Edward Winslow, Susanna's new husband, received four acres in the same area. In 1627, William White's sons, Resolved and Peregrine, were listed with their mother Susanna and stepfather Edward Winslow in the cattle division. The family later moved to Marshfield in 1632.
Edward Winslow became the Governor of Plymouth Colony. He also worked as the colony's representative in England. He was a skilled diplomat. Edward Winslow spent the last six years of his life in England, working for the government. He died in May 1655 while on a military trip in the Caribbean Sea.
The exact date of Susanna's death is not known. She was an important person in the colony's early days. She was the wife of one governor and the mother of another. She was also the first bride in the colony and the mother of the famous Peregrine White.
The Mayflower Society has confirmed that Susanna White's maiden name is not "Fuller." Her original last name is still unknown. She was not the sister of Dr. Samuel Fuller, as some stories say.
William White's Family
William White married Susanna around 1614. They had two sons. William died on February 21, 1621. Susanna later married Edward Winslow on May 12, 1621, and they had five children. Susanna's death date is uncertain, but she was buried in Winslow Cemetery in Marshfield. Her sons, Resolved and Peregrine, and their wives were also buried there. Edward Winslow died at sea in 1655.
Children of William White and Susanna:
- Resolved White was born in England around 1615. He passed away sometime after September 19, 1687. He is buried with his first wife, Judith Vassall, in Winslow Cemetery. Resolved White married twice. He first married Judith Vassall in 1640. They had eight children. After Judith died, he married Abigail in 1674.
- Peregrine White was born on the Mayflower in November 1620. He died in Marshfield on July 20, 1704. He married Sarah Bassett and they had seven children. Sarah died in Marshfield in 1711.
In 1651, William Bradford wrote about William White's family. He noted that William White died soon after they landed. His wife married Mr. Winslow. Both of William's sons, Resolved and Peregrine, got married. Resolved had five children, and Peregrine had two.
Death of William White
William White died on February 21, 1621. He was buried in Cole's Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth. Like most people who died that first winter, his grave was likely unmarked. His name is on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb on Cole's Hill. His wife Susanna, who later married Edward Winslow, was buried in the Winslow Cemetery in Marshfield.
Servants with the White Family
William Holbeck traveled on the Mayflower as an indentured servant. This means he worked for William White for a certain time to pay for his journey. He did not sign the Mayflower Compact, likely because he was under 21 years old, probably a teenager. His family's origins are not known. William Holbeck died during the first winter in Plymouth.
Edward Thomson (or Thompson) was also a servant to William White on the Mayflower. He did not sign the Mayflower Compact, which suggests he was also under 21. His background is not known. Edward Thompson was the very first Mayflower passenger to die after the ship arrived at Cape Cod, probably on December 4, 1620. This was before the Pilgrims found and settled in Plymouth. There are memorials to him and other early Mayflower passengers who died in Provincetown, Cape Cod.
