John Clayton White was born in 1835 and
eventually joined the Corps of Royal Engineers. His trade was listed as
draughtsman.White volunteered for service with
the Columbia Detachment. He was on board the Thames City on its 6 months
long voyage to British Columbia.
White was a skilled artist and made all
the backdrops for the various plays and farces on board the Thames City.
| "..Nor can we speak
too highly of the new stage properties, all of which, from the
dresses to the footlights, were in perfect good taste, and of the
highest quality. That eminent artist, J.C. White, has clearly
established, beyond a doubt, his superiority to Solomon, and we look
forward with much pleasure to witnessing on Wednesday next further
proofs of a talent which, with the aid of two or three colors, in
the midst of a crowded deck, and in the worst weather, succeeds in
producing specimens of artistic genius, that will contribute in a
very important degree to the lustre and general effect of our
theatrical entertainments."
-- 29th January, 1859, From
The
Emigrant Soldier's Gazette and Cape Horn Chronicle. |
White arrived in the Colony on the 12th of
April, 1859 and was sent to the Camp at Queenborough.
While in the Camp, White appears to have
been under the command of Captain Parsons and his small select party of
skilled men. White worked as a draughtsman making maps, town plans and
architectural drawings.
|
THE ENGINE HOUSE - Two plans were submitted to
the Fire Department for approval; one from Messrs. Wright and
Sanders, architects of Victoria, and one from Corporal White, RE.
The latter was adopted at a meeting of the Company on Friday last,
and the contract awarded to Mr. Sutherland, at $1343.
-- 3rd December, 1861
The British Columbian |
White remains in the Colony when the
Detachment disbands in November of 1863.
|
J.C.WHITE
ARCHITECT AND DRAUGHTSMAN!
IS
NOW PREPARED TO DRAW UP PLANS OF
Buildings, Specifications,
estimates, &c., on the
SHORTEST NOTICE.
OFFICE ON COLUMBIA ST., NEW
WESTMINSTER,
Opposite Mr. Holbrook's Store
-- From The British Columbian, November 7, 1863
|
In 1864, White worked for the Department
of Lands and works and was responsible for an addition to Colonel Moody's
home, now called Government House.
In 1865, White worked on St. Mary's the
Virgin Church and a School House, both in new Westminster.
In 1866, White worked on the British
Columbia extension of Collin's Western Union Overland Telegraph Line,
draughting several maps along the route and painting
a series of
watercolour scenes illustrating
the progress of the construction.
By 1869, White had moved to San Francisco
where he was employed as draughtsman with the firm of Wright and Saunders.
According to Woodard, White dies in 1907,
at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. T.J. Deasy, Berkley California,
aged 72 years. He was survived by 4 sons and 2 daughters.
| "J. C. White was an
artist and architect, well known in San Francisco, where several of
his paintings had found a place on the walls of the Hopkins Art
Institute." -- Obituary from "The San Francisco Call" - 1907
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