John White (colonist priest)
John White ( baptized January 6, 1575; † July 21, 1648 ) was an Anglican clergyman. Although he considered himself back with open criticism of the official church, he supported the nonconformity of the Puritans, by advocating for their emigration to New England. Through his efforts he has made a significant contribution to the settlement and colonization of New England.
Social Commitment
White was from 1606 to 1648 rector of Holy Trinity College and pastor of the churches of St. Peter in Dorchester (Dorset), England. After the great fire of 1613 he sat down in an exemplary way for the formation and support of the poor and needy. He founded a preform of the later almshouses, for whose maintenance he set up its own brewery.
Dorchester Company
Already in 1620 was white with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower connection, who built the first permanent settlement in New England with Plymouth.
He assisted emigrants, which he brought together with interested merchants and financiers. For this purpose he founded the Dorchester Company, which tried to be operating in 1623, we opened an office on Cape Ann, near the present city of Gloucester. In the fall of 1625 he tried the support of Roger Conant from the new colony in Plymouth to win by offering him the post of governor of the new branch. But his plan to establish a permanent settlement on Cape Ann, failed and most of the settlers returned in 1626 returned to England. Only a small group of settlers remained in New England and later founded under Roger Conant later Salem.
After this defeat he supported the newly established Massachusetts Bay Company, whose co-founder, he was. One of their first ships, the Mary and John, brought by White himself selected emigrants of Dorset, Somerset and Devon to New England. They landed in June 1630, founded by the native model Dorchester, now a suburb of Boston. Despite its intensive efforts his life he never set foot on American soil itself.
English Civil War
Through its reform efforts and his sympathy for the Puritanier White was increasingly at odds with the policy of Archbishop William Laud. During the English Civil War Dorchester stood on the side of the Parliament, but the Royalists surrendered without a fight, as they were approaching 1643. White was forced to flee to London. After Cromwell's victory and the time- being, abolition of the monarchy in 1646, he returned to Dorchester. Without regain its former influence, he died 1648th