John White (ca. 1602-1673) was baptized in South Petherton, Somerset, England. He married Joan (1606-1654), daughter of Richard and Maudlin Staple-Cooke West, 1627 in Drayton Parish, Somerset. They lived in Drayton for awhile with their two oldest sons before immigrating to Salem, Mass. in 1639. They later moved to Wenham and to Lancaster. They were the parents of nine known children. Five children were born in England, the rest in Massachusetts. One son, Thomas, settled in Wenham, and another son, Josiah, in his estate in Lancaster. Descendants live in Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Vermont, Canada and elsewhere.

This book traces the history of immigrants from the British Isles who settled in New England and Virginia, and whose progeny were among the first settlers in Wisconsin.