Key Dates in Ellen G. White's Life (1827-1859)

1827, November 26 Ellen White born at Gorham, Maine; moved to Portland, Maine, at early age 1836, late Accident in Portland, Maine 1840, March First heard William Miller present the Advent message in Portland, Maine 1840, September Conversion at Methodist camp meeting in Buxton, Maine 1842, June William Miller's second preaching series in Portland, Maine 1842, June 26 Baptized into the Methodist Church 1842, September James White began preaching 1843, September Disfellowshipped from the Methodist Church 1844, October 22 Great Disappointment 1844, December First vision (Portland, Maine) 1845, February “Bridegroom” vision regarding the heavenly sanctuary 1845, spring “New Earth” vision supporting a literal, visual Second Advent and new earth 1845, spring Met James White 1845, spring/summer Relates visions at meetings in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont 1845, August First traveled to Massachusetts 1845, autumn Longest recorded vision (four hours), at Randolph, Massachusetts 1845, October “Time of Trouble” vision at Carver, Massachusetts, rejecting time setting 1846, January 24 First vision published in the Day-Star 1846, April 6 First “broadside” publication of visions 1846, August 30 Married James White 1846, autumn James and Ellen White began observance of the seventh-day Sabbath 1847-1848 Resided at Topsham, Maine, with the Howland family 1847, April 3 Vision of the Sabbath's special significance 1847, May 30 James White published A Word to the “Little Flock” 1847, August 26 Birth of first son, Henry Nichols 1848, April 20-24 First attended conference of Sabbathkeeping Adventists at Rocky Hill, Connecticut 27 1848, autumn Vision regarding the health dangers of tobacco, tea, and coffee 1848, November 18 Vision to begin publishing work 1849, July First of 11 numbers of The Present Truth, published in Middletown, Connecticut 1849, July 28 Birth of second son, James Edson 1849, December 20 William Miller dies 1850, August 24 Vision regarding mysterious “rappings” (spiritualism) and “church order” 1850, November First number of the Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald published 1851, August First book published, A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White 1852, April Moved to Rochester, New York 1852, August First number of the Youth's Instructor published 1853 First Sabbath school organized 1853, February 5 Robert Harmon (Ellen White's brother) died 1853, May 6 Nathaniel White (James White's brother) died 1853, late Offshoot Messenger Party formed (continued until about 1857) 1854, January Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White published 1854, February 12 Second “health vision” on cleanliness, temperance, and rich foods 1854, August 29 Birth of third son, William Clarence 1854, November 20 Anna White (James White's sister) died 1855, November Moved to Battle Creek, Michigan 1855, November 16-19 “General Conference” at Battle Creek, Michigan. Affirmation of Ellen White's visions. Sabbatarian Adventists begin to keep Sabbaths at sundown instead of 6:00 p.m. 1855, December Testimony for the Church, no. 1, published 1856, spring Moved into Wood Street home in Battle Creek, Michigan 1856, August 21 Testimony for the Church, no. 2, announced 1856, October “Laodicean message” applied to the lukewarm spiritual state of the church 1856, December Whites crossed half-frozen Mississippi River to reclaim discouraged ministers in Waukon, Iowa 1857, April 30 Testimony for the Church, no. 3, announced 1857, May/June Traveled east to meetings in New York and New England 28 1857, November 19 Testimony for the Church, no. 4, announced 1858, March 14 “Great Controversy” vision at Lovett's Grove, Ohio 1858, September 9 Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, announced 1858, September-November Traveled east to meetings in Ohio, New York, and New England 1859, June Systematic Benevolence plan officially began 1859, June 16 Testimony for the Church, no. 5, announced 1859, August-November Traveled east to meetings in New York and New England