Painting of Michael White by Clarence Ellsworth 1955. The complete story of Michael White's life is available as a book "The Story of Michael White, a California Rebel Pioneer" by Dorothy J. Ross (ISBN 978-0-9653769-4-5)of San Marino Historical Society.

el Blanco's Memorial Card

Michael White, was an English sailor who visited Baja California as early as 1817, and made several voyages between the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands) and Mexico's Pacific coast. He adopted the name Miguel Blanco and became a Mexican citizen so he could own land in California, which was under Mexican rule at the time. In 1830, White, along with former pirate, Joseph Chapman, constructed the schooner, Guadalupe [named for Chapman's wife] from the remains of the brig, Danube, which ran aground in a storm on Christmas Eve, 1828. The vessel was built for the padres of the San Gabriel Mission to be sold to sea otter traders. It was the first ship built in California. White's mother-in-law was Eulalia Perez de Guillen Marine, who worked at the San Gabriel Mission and owned land that eventually become part of Pasadena, South Pasadena and San Marino. Dona Eulalia was, in her day, the most influential woman in Southern California.

Michael White, was an English sailor who visited Baja California as early as 1817, and made several voyages between the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands) and Mexico's Pacific coast. He adopted the name Miguel Blanco and became a Mexican citizen so he could own land in California, which was under Mexican rule at the time. One of the early foreigners to settle in California: sailor and soldier of fortune; a friendly, carefree man of roving disposition; a colorful and outspoken character.

White arrived in California in 1828. Traveled widely in Lower California, New Mexico and the gold regions. Married Maria del Rosario de Guillen, at the San Gabriel Mission in 1831, her mother Dona Eulalia Perez De Guillen was considered one of the most remarkable women of early California history. Serving as a sort of "Mother Superior" at the mission, she reportedly lived to be 108 years of age.

On March 27, 1845, the land upon which his old adobe now stands and adjacent water- bearing lands were granted by Governor Pio Pico to "Miguel Blanco" for services rendered to the mission by his wife and mother-in law. It was not until 1872, however, that the patent to the land was finally issued by Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States.

Michael Claringbud White (1802 - 1885) passed away in 1885, at the age of 83.

St Mary's The Virgen Church, Chislet,Kent,England