EDWARD WHITE, Methodist minister and missionary; b. 11 Nov. 1822 in Philadelphia, Penn., son of William and Hannah White; m. in Canada West, on 22 or 23 July 1852, Sarah Jane Woodman by whom he had several children; d. 15 June 1872 at Montreal, Que.

Edward White grew up in the township of Raleigh, near St Thomas, Upper Canada. He attended the local school while working on his father�s farm, and after studying at home was licensed as a local preacher at the age of 21. He earned a teacher�s certificate and taught for a short time, then in 1845 began circuit work under the guidance of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Canada, Canada conference. By 1852 he was sufficiently advanced to be passed at the annual conference meetings in Kingston, where he was ordained the same year. White worked on the Smithville circuit until 1858 when he and three other Wesleyan Methodists were chosen for missionary work in the newly formed colony of British Columbia. Dr Ephraim Evans, superintendent of the group, Ebenezer Robson, Arthur Browning, and White arrived in Victoria in February 1859 and received a warm welcome from local Methodists. Governor James Douglas and other influential citizens, though not themselves Methodists, eagerly greeted the newcomers and offered assistance in setting up the mission.

White was assigned to Queensborough (New Westminster) in the mainland colony where conditions were rough and primitive. On 1 April in the open air outside his tent he held his first services, preaching to a congregation of �fifty men, one woman and two children.� Confronted with virgin forest, overwhelmed by �the unspeakable mosquito,� and suffering the usual privations of pioneer life, the undaunted missionary with his wife and two children took up his task with a will. White possessed an athletic frame and was an expert axe-man � qualities which enabled him to build a parsonage and later a church while the Royal Engineers under Colonel Richard Clement Moody carved the proposed capital city out of the wilderness. White�s small wooden building-the first Methodist church west of the Great Lakes � was dedicated on 8 April 1860 on land donated by Colonel Moody. Before long, ably assisted by his wife�s sister, Emily Woodman, the missionary had established a day school, a night school for the Chinese, a Sunday school, a temperance society, and prayer groups.

After four years White and his family were named to replace Robson at Nanaimo, where the congregation included numerous Indians. Thomas Crosby, a layman, was already there and had mastered enough of the Salish tongue to interpret for White on the circuit, which embraced Comox, Cowichan, and Saltspring Island.

By 1866 White was again in New Westminster, and he assumed the added responsibility of chairman of the British Columbia District since Dr Evans had retired. The New Westminster circuit had been enlarged to include Burrard Inlet, Chilliwack, Hope, and Yale, and as chairman White was expected to visit all stations including far-off Barkerville and the Methodist churches on Vancouver Island. Fortunately the Cariboo Road had been completed and Barnard�s stage coaches were operating. Toward the end of 1869 White was again in charge at Nanaimo but by then the effects of exposure to the elements and over-exertion were beginning to show. The need for a protracted rest was evident by 1871 and White returned to Ontario.

In less than a year�s time White was travelling in Britain �for health and observation� and lecturing as immigration agent for the Ontario government. Returning home from an enjoyable and successful tour, during which he had sent interesting dispatches to the Victoria Colonist, he paused in Montreal where he was stricken with smallpox and died.

Edward White�s character as a minister of the Gospel, unselfish and zealous, is revealed in his soul-searching diaries. They show him as a �man of virility and faith.� The foundations of Methodism in British Columbia were well laid by the �incredible zeal of men of this calibre.�

Time Line

11 Nov. 1822: Born in Bucks County, near Philadelphia, PA, 35 miles up the Schuylkill River.

1825: To Southwold Co., 7 miles from Talbotville (now St. Thomas), ON, with George HARVEY

07 March 1827: sister, Mary marries George HARVEY in St. Thomas.

June 1827: moved to Raleigh Twp. Kent Co., Canada West
-while a young man chalked Euclid problems on barn to solve while ploughing.

1848- became a probationer for Methodist Ministry, age 26.

1852 July 22: married in St. Thomas to (Sarah) Jane WOODMAN (1831-1913)

1853/54: on Sandwich and Windsor circuit, part of Chatham District.
: Son, Milton, was born and died as infant.

1855 March 24: son, James Henry born.

1857 June 04: daughter, Sophia (Sophy) Jane born.

1858: served on Smithville circuit.

1858: Pound changed to dollar for currency; both used for awhile.

1858 December 31: left Toronto, with 3 other Wesleyan missionaries (Robson, Browning and Evans) and his wife, (Sarah) Jane, age 27, son, James Henry (almost 4) and daughter, Sophy Jane (1 1/2), and sister in law, twin, Emily WOODMAN, age 18 to go 7,000 miles to colony of British Columbia via train to New York; ship ILLINOIS to Panama; train across Panama; ship JOHN L. STEVENS Jan. 14-29, 1859 to San Francisco, side-wheel steamship PACIFIC Feb. 3, 1859 to Portland; same ship(?) to Victoria...

1859 February 10: arrive Victoria early AM

1859 Feb. 13: preached in unfinished courthouse in Victoria.

1859: Vancouver Island given to Hudson Bay Company to colonize. DALLAS gave three city lots for a Methodist Church. Land cleared by Edward WHITE and small son, James Henry with his little hatchet: Pandora St. Church.

1859 April 1, 8AM-5PM: Victoria to Queenborough (sic) on steamship Eliza Anderson (built 1858). At the time there was not a house in New Westminster, so he was invited to stay in the KENNEDY tent. One man did live above his store.

1859 April 3: first church service under large tree (on site of present City Hall) to 50 people including 2 women (Mrs. James Kennedy): Romans XV:20,21 (source is personal diary); other sources say Deut.

1859 April 23: rest of family joined his in new Westminster.

1859 June 6: planted potatoes and vegetables. Planted first apple tree on mainland (obtained from Portland).

1859 June 18: moved into new house he built for family.

1859 July 29: "Mrs. WHITE was delivered of a fine son, Newton Arthur", first white child born in New Westminster...a black slave baby had been born before him. Could have been one of the SULLIVAN family, their neighbours.

1859 Aug. 5: New Westminster given its name by Queen Victoria, who was asked by HBC to choose between Queenborough (Moody's choice) or Queensborough (Douglas's choice).

1859 August 4: Oxen trampled CABBAGE and vegetables. "Very disappointed"

1859 Aug. 11: James KENNEDY, second white baby born in New West'r. (of Kennedy Heights fame)

1859 Aug. 15: cornerstone laid by Governor DOUGLAS for first Methodist Church in Victoria.

1859 Dec. 4: Temperature below 0 degrees.

1860 Jan.4: as he was an expert axman, started to build new church; cost $500; 20x36. This church at Mary St. and Provost, now 6th and Carnarvon: Mr. DREW's property in 1924, now Elk's Club (1959)

1860 March 11: preached first service in new church.

1860 April 8: dedication of first Methodist church west of Ontario.

7 Aug. 1860: first election in colony of BC, for municipal council for New Westminster.

1860: wrote to Canadian journal requesting men to come to BC, not for gold, but to bring God to Indians: influenced Thomas Crosby.

12 Feb. 1861: ad for school run by Emily WOODMAN in Columbian Newspaper: 50 cents per week; more for piano lessons.

1861: William and Mary Ann WOODMAN and twin daughter Mary Ann came to new Westminster (parents-in-law)

1863- 1866/1867: to Nanaimo for 3 years (not happy); switched with Browning, who was not liked in New Westminster.

1865 July 30: fellow missionary, ROBSON delivered first sermon in bunkhouse of Edward STAMP, Vancouver.

1868 Jan 25: William WOODMAN dies; buried in Douglas Rd. Cemetery (now New West. Sec.)

1868: Rev. Dr. EVANS left for Ontario; died

July 1869: first Camp meeting at Maple Bay, half-way between Victoria and Nanaimo: conversion of son, James Henry. (old-fashioned revival meeting in out-of-the way spot; many people came).

1865-1870: Chairman of Methodist Church, BC; traveled extensively in BC and assisted many a settler to get started. Also Superintendent of Methodist Missions in BC (not Vancouver Island; this was under EVANS)

1866-1869: sent back to New Westminster where there were now more women and children than before he left.

1869: Took second pastorate in Nanaimo.

1870: Rev. A. Browning left BC.(with WHITE?)

1870/1871: returned to Ontario due to ill health. (Hamilton).

1872 Feb.- June; 4 month lecture tour in England to raise money for foreign mission and attract new recruits; visited Edward HICKS family (wife's uncle) at Park town, Oxford where he lectured at University.

16 June 1872: contracted smallpox on return trip and died few (3?) days later in Montreal hospital.