William White: Mayflower passenger and Plymouth Colony settler (d. 1621)
William White, an English Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact, helped found Plymouth Colony but died in the winter of 1620–1621; his family remained and continued in the settlement.
William White (birthplace and date unknown; died in the winter of 1620–1621) was a passenger on the Mayflower who helped establish the early English settlement at Plymouth Colony. He was among those who added their names to the Mayflower Compact after the ship arrived in New England. Contemporary records indicate he was born in England and died during the colony’s first harsh winter.
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Voyage and settlement
White traveled to New England aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Like other settlers, he became one of the initial group to form a civil body politic and signed the Mayflower Compact, an early document establishing rules for self-governance in the new colony.
Family
On the voyage White was accompanied by his wife and at least one child. His family continued in the colony after his death; a son born during or shortly after the crossing is traditionally associated with the family’s arrival. Members of White’s household are listed among the early passengers who remained in Plymouth after the settlement was established.
Death and immediate legacy
William White did not survive the first winter in Plymouth. He died in early 1621, one of many settlers who perished from illness and the effects of the severe season. His widow later remarried, and his children grew up in the colony; their descendants became part of the early Plymouth community.
Quick facts
- Role: Mayflower passenger and signatory of the Mayflower Compact
- Settlement: Plymouth Colony
- Origin: England
- Death: winter of 1620–1621 (died in the colony’s first winter)
Questions and answers
Q: Who was William White?
A: William White was a passenger on the Mayflower who settled in Plymouth Colony in 1620 and signed the Mayflower Compact.
Q: Where was William White born?
A: William White was born in England.
Q: When did William White die?
A: William White died in the winter of 1621 in Plymouth Colony.
Q: What was the Mayflower Compact?
A: The Mayflower Compact was a document signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620, which established a basic form of self-government for the Plymouth Colony.
Q: Did William White play a role in the Mayflower Compact?
A: Yes, William White signed the Mayflower Compact.
Q: How did William White make his living in Plymouth Colony?
A: There is no information in the text about how William White made his living in Plymouth Colony.
Q: How old was William White when he died?
A: There is no information in the text about William White's age when he died.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com William White: Mayflower passenger and Plymouth Colony settler (d. 1621) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/108317
Sources
- americanancestors.org : "Edward Winslow"
- findagrave.com : "Susanna White Winslow (1595 - unknown ) -"