JOHN WHITE – PROFILE and ART/CRAFT IDEAS

Who was Revd. John White?
Revd. John White was Rector of Dorchester 1605 1648. He lived at the time of the Cavaliers, Roundheads and Puritans. Lots of important and exciting changes took place when he was alive – things like the English Civil War, the execution of King Charles I and the founding of colonies in the New World that eventually became the United States of America. John White contributed to some of these changes and was famous not just Dorchester but throughout England and even in the American Colonies.

Why was John White famous?
During John White’s time, Dorchester was a small, cramped, busy market town. It suffered disastrous plagues and fires (that is why there are not many very old buildings in Dorchester today – they burned down in the fires!). There was also a lot of poverty in the town. John White realised the need to help the poor and sick people. He set about raising funds and convincing people that it was important to care for poor, old and sick people.

Under his leadership, people gave generously to help the poor, old and sick people of Dorchester. A Brew House (Ale Brewery) was built and the profits from the sale of beer were used to help the poor and needy. Three alms houses were built to house poor people - Nappers Mite, in South Street for men to live in, Chubbs in North Square for the women, along with Whetstones, West Walks. Also, lots of money was raised to help other towns and cities that had problems with plague and fires. This care for the poor and needy people made Dorchester famous – it took 300 years for the rest of the country to catch up!

Revd. White also helped to organise the start of new colonies in America. He was a founding member of the Massachusetts Bay Company, which helped people from Dorchester and elsewhere who wanted to emigrate to New England in America. These people took their passage on a sailing ship the “Mary and John”, similar to the well known vessel the “Mayflower”. They started a small town in America that they called Dorchester. This still exists and is now part of the city of Boston.

Revd. White was also a famous – and very good! – preacher. Huge numbers of people used to squeeze into St. Peter’s church to hear him.

What can I paint or make?
Anything to do with Revd. John White and his time in Dorchester. Here are some ideas :

• Ships sailing to the New World (America)
• The Great Fire of Dorchester
• Roundheads and Cavaliers
• Old buildings from John White’s time - St. Peter’s church; Judge Jeffrey’s; Napper’s Mite
• A market scene – lots of animals, merchants and peasants!
• Rich people, poor people

Where can I get more ideas and information?
• Dorset County Museum exhibition : Saints and Sinners - John White and Seventeenth Century Dorchester (February 2006)
• The internet : on this website, click here for more information ‘John White 400’. There are pictures and links to other websites.
• Books : “Dorchester Divided” by the Dorchester Community Play Research Group (lots of pictures in this one!); "Fire from Heaven" by David Underdown.

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