Memorial Plaque to John White on his House in Dorchester

Image: © Nigel Mykura Taken: 13 Apr 2009

Located on his house in Colliton Street just behind the High Street, the plaque reads as follows:- The Residence of John White Who lived 1575 until 1648 Rector of Holy Trinity and St Peter's Dorchester1606-1648 He is buried in the porch of St Peter's Fellow of New College Oxford 1600-1606. He organised the National Relief campaign after the great fire of Dorchester in 1613; from 1620 he organised, raised the funds and procured the charters for three companies which established the colony of Massachusetts. The settlers sailed in 1624-1626 on 'Fellowship', 'Amytic' and 'Pilgrime'; in 1628 on 'Peeter', 'Happy Entrance' and 'Abigail'; and in 1629-30 on 'Arabella', 'Lyons Whelp', and 'Mary and John'. From 1640 to 1646 he also resided in London, where he was a leading member and chairman of the Assembly of Divines. In 1642 this house was plundered and his library stolen by a party of Prince Rupert's Horse. From 1643 he was rector of St Mary's Lambeth where the devil is said to have appeared in his bedroom. After a long wait White remarked "If Thou has nothing to do I have", and turned away and went to sleep.

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