Timeline of Elizabeth Cadman White

Historic Timeline of Elizabeth Cadman White’s Life (ca. 1685–1768)

1685 (approx.) Elizabeth’s birth; King James II begins ruling England; Thomas Hinckley is the (final) governor of Plymouth Colony; Simon Bradstreet serves as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; Bristol County is established

1686 James II reorganizes New England and New York into the Dominion of New England and appoints Sir Edmund Andros as royal governor

1688 The population of Dartmouth is 432 (Archaeol. Reconn. Survey, 46)

1688–1697 King William’s War

1689 Glorious Revolution in England; James II is deposed by William and Mary, Edmund Andros is sent back to England, and Simon Bradstreet resumes governorship

1691 Plymouth Colony is absorbed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony

1692–1693 Salem witchcraft crisis; Sir William Phips becomes governor in 1693

1702–1713 Queen Anne’s War (Anne begins ruling in 1702)

1705 William White first appears in the Dartmouth town records as a jury member

1707 (approx.) Elizabeth marries William White

1708 Elizabeth probably gives birth to her first child, William, at around this time; the Congregational church is established in Dartmouth; George Cadman and more than 80 other Dartmouth residents send a petition to the Massachusetts legislature opposing the paying of a Congregational minister’s salary as a violation of their right to religious freedom.

1708–1728? Approximate range of Elizabeth’s childbearing years

1710 (approx.) Elizabeth and William move into the Handy House

1714 William White acquires license to serve alcohol; King George I succeeds to the throne in England

1715–1716 William White is supposed to have served as Dartmouth’s constable

1716 George Cadman sells land near Elizabeth and William’s home for the site of a Quaker meeting house

1718 William White purchases several tracts of land, including 1/8th part of a share in the 800- and 400-acre divisions of land in Dartmouth, from Robert Barker, merchant of Newport, for £127; George Cadman’s dies in December

1720 William White sells to Jeremiah Devol several tracts of land that he had acquired from Robert Barker, including 1/16th part of a share in the 800- and 400-acre divisions of land in Dartmouth, for £158

1721 A major smallpox epidemic hits New England

1722 George Cadman’s slave James is freed; the ministerial tax controversy with the Massachusetts government erupts

1723 William White sells to William Cornell several tracts of land that he had acquired from Robert Barker, including 1/16th part of a share in the 800- and 400-acre divisions of land in Dartmouth, for £158

1724 William White is appointed representative to the General Court at Boston.

1725–1726 William White reacquires liquor license

1726 Elizabeth’s daughter Sarah becomes the first of her children to marry when she weds John Brown of Little Compton; Sarah gives birth to a son, William, Elizabeth’s first grandchild, the following year

1727 William White purchases an acre of land and a dwelling house and stable in Little Compton (bordering property of Tobias Brown, John’s father) from Edward Richmond, yeoman of Newport, for £215. It seems likely that he gave this property to Sarah and John. Also this year, George II becomes king.

1730s–1740s A series of religious revivals known as the First Great Awakening sweeps across New England

1743–1749 Elizabeth’s daughter Elizabeth White Slocum dies

1744–1748 King George’s War; capture of Louisbourg in 1745

1749 Hannah Hathaway Cadman’s death

1753 William White sells to Ebenezer Keen 32 acres of land bordering Keen’s property and White’s Bridge Brook for £25

1756–1763 French and Indian War; George III becomes king in 1760

1764 (approx.) Elizabeth’s son George dies; Sugar Act is passed

1765 The Stamp Act is passed and riots occur in Boston; the population of Dartmouth is 4,506 (Archaeol. Reconn. Survey, 46)

1767 Townshend Acts are passed

1768 Elizabeth’s death; British troops occupy Boston