The Slovak Yankee

Six Degrees of Mayflower Separation

The following are Mayflower passengers from whom I do not descend, but to whom I have a one-degree of separation.

• William Bradford's second wife was Alice (Carpenter) Southworth.  She was the sister of my ancestress Julia (Carpenter) Morton.
• Patience Brewster, daughter of Elder William Brewster married Thomas Prence.  Two of her daughters married Edmund and John Freeman, brothers of my ancestress Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis.
• Seth Arnold, the only brother of ancestor the Rev. Samuel Arnold, married Elizabeth Gray, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Winslow) Gray, a granddaughter of James Chilton.
• Deborah Ellis, sister of ancestress Elizabeth (Ellis) Briggs, married Joseph Doty, son of passenger Edward Doty.
• Samuel Rider, brother of ancestor John Rider, married Sarah Bartlett, granddaughter of passenger Richard Warren.
• Kenelm Winslow, my ancestor, is the brother of Edward and Gilbert Winslow, both passengers, and John Winslow who married Mary Chilton.
• Josiah Holmes, brother of ancestress Sarah (Holmes) Arnold, married a Hannah Samson, daughter of Henry.  Their brother Israel married a daughter Edward Doty.

Mayflower Ancestry

Just because you have ancestry in the 18th century that centers around Plymouth County and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, doesn't mean that you will ALWAYS find a Mayflower passenger.  Here is a rather complete ancestor table for my ancestress Diademia (Dexter) Cleveland, born in 1778 in Nova Scotia, of parents from Plymouth, County.  She descends from many early Plymouth families, siblings of Mayflower passengers, and members of the Pilgrim Church in the Netherlands who weren't on the Mayflower.  However, she has no Mayflower line.

1 Diademia DEXTER. Born on 10 Oct 1778 in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada. Diademia died in Alma, New Brunswick, Canada, on 16 Aug 1869; she was 90. Buried in Alma, New Brunswick, Canada.¹ On 10 Nov 1799 when Diademia was 21, she married Nathan CLEVELAND Rev. in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada.

2 Ebenezer DEXTER. Born on 6 Aug 1728 in Rochester, Massachusetts.² Ebenezer died in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 10 Aug 1781; he was 53.³ On 27 Mar 1755 when Ebenezer was 26, he married Lydia RIDER in Rochester, Massachusetts.⁴

3 Lydia RIDER. Born on 6 Nov 1734 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.⁵ Lydia died in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada, aft 1811; she was 76.³

4 Benjamin DEXTER Jr. Born on 4 Mar 1700 in Rochester, Massachusetts.⁶ Benjamin died in Rochester, Massachusetts, in Dec 1737; he was 37.  On 8 Jun 1721 when Benjamin was 21, he married Hannah BARROWS in Rochester, Massachusetts.⁷

5 Hannah BARROWS. Born on 17 Jan 1700 in Plympton, Massachusetts. Hannah died in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, bef  Nov 1767; she was 67.

6 Samuel RIDER. Born on 4 Feb 1695/6 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.⁸ Samuel died in Rochester, Massachusetts, bef 1772; he was 76.⁹  On 24 Mar 1719/20 when Samuel was 24, he married Rebecca WINSLOW in Harwich, Massachusetts.¹⁰

7 Rebecca WINSLOW. Born in 1696 in Harwich, Massachusetts. Rebecca died in Rochester, Massachusetts, in Sep 1790; she was 94.¹¹

8 Benjamin DEXTER. Born on 16 Feb 1670 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Benjamin died in Rochester, Massachusetts, bef 4 Nov 1734; he was 64.¹²  On 17 Jul 1695 when Benjamin was 25, he married Sarah ARNOLD in Rochester, Massachusetts.

9 Sarah ARNOLD. Born in 1674 in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Sarah died in Rochester, Massachusetts, bef  Aug 1732; she was 58.¹²

10 John BARROWS. Born in 1667 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. John died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on 7 Oct 1720; he was 53.  In 1698 when John was 31, he married Hannah BRIGGS in Rochester, Massachusetts.

11 Hannah BRIGGS. Born on 14 Feb 1675 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Hannah died in Rochester, Massachusetts, on 11 Aug 1710; she was 35.

12 John RIDER Jr. Born abt 1667 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. John died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 9 Jan 1718/9; he was 51.¹³  abt 1691 when John was 24, he married Esther HALL in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

13 Esther HALL. Born in Apr 1672 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.¹⁴ Esther died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, bef  Jul 1721; she was 49.

14 Kenelm WINSLOW III. Born on 9 Aug 1668 in Scituate, Massachusetts. Kenelm died in Harwich, Massachusetts, on 20 Mar 1728/1729; he was 59. Buried in Dennis Worden Cemetery, Dennis, MA. Occupation: Clothier.  On 5 Jan 1689/1690 when Kenelm was 20, he married Bethia HALL in Harwich, Massachusetts.

15 Bethia HALL. Born abt 1668 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Bethia died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 9 Sep 1745; she was 77.¹⁵

16 William DEXTER. Born in Feb 1618/9 in Great Bowden, Leicester, England. Christened on 21 Feb 1618/9 in Great Bowden, Leicester, England. William died in Rochester, Massachusetts, in 1694; he was 75.

17 Sarah VINCENT. Sarah died in Rochester, Massachusetts, aft 1694; she was 63. Born abt 1631.

18 Samuel ARNOLD Rev. Born on 9 May 1649 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Samuel died in Rochester, Massachusetts, on 11 Feb 1708/9; he was 58.¹⁷ Occupation: Minister.  abt 1671 when Samuel was 21, he married Sarah HOLMES in Marshfield, Massachusetts.

19 Sarah HOLMES. Born in 1646 in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Sarah died in Rochester, Massachusetts, bef  May 1724; she was 78.

20 Robert BARROWS. Born bef 1647. Robert died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in Dec 1707; he was 60.  On 28 Nov 1666 when Robert was 19, he married Ruth BONHAM in Plymouth, Massachusetts.¹⁸

21 Ruth BONHAM. Born abt 1646 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Ruth died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, bef 1684; she was 38.

22 Samuel BRIGGS. Born abt 1638 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Samuel died in Rochester, Massachusetts, aft  Feb 1714; he was 76.  abt 1664 when Samuel was 26, he married Elizabeth ELLIS.

23 Elizabeth ELLIS. Born abt 1645 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Elizabeth died in Sandwich, Massachusetts, abt 1677; she was 32.

24 John RIDER. Born in Dec 1636 in Allhallowes Parish, Northampton, England. Christened on 4 Dec 1636 in Allhallowes Parish, Northampton, England. John died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 5 Jan 1705/6; he was 68.¹⁹ abt 1663 when John was 26, he married .

25 UNNAMED. Born abt 1640.  died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 23 Oct 1691; she was 51.

26 Deacon John HALL Jr. Born abt  May 1638 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Christened on 13 May 1638 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. John died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 14 Oct 1710; he was 72.²⁰  abt 1661 when John was 22, he married Priscilla BEARSE in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

27 Priscilla BEARSE. Born on 10 Mar 1643/1644 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Priscilla died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 30 Mar 1712; she was 69.²⁰

28 Kenelm WINSLOW Jr. Born abt 1636 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Kenelm died in Harwich, Massachusetts, on 11 Nov 1715; he was 79. Buried in Dennis Worden Cemetery, Dennis, MA.  On 23 Sep 1667 when Kenelm was 31, he married Mercy WORDEN in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

29 Mercy WORDEN. Born abt 1641 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Mercy died in Harwich, Massachusetts, on 22 Sep 1688; she was 47. Buried in Dennis Worden Cemetery, Dennis, MA.

30 Gershom HALL Rev. Born in Mar 1647/1648 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Christened on 5 Mar 1647/1648 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Gershom died in Harwich, Massachusetts, on 31 Oct 1732; he was 85. Occupation: Minister; millwright.  bef 1669 when Gershom was 21, he married Bethia BANGS.

31 Bethia BANGS. Born on 28 May 1650 in Eastham, Massachusetts. Bethia died in Harwich, Massachusetts, on 15 Oct 1696; she was 46.

32 Thomas DEXTER. Born abt 1588 in England. Thomas died in Boston, Massachusetts, abt Jan 1676/1677; he was 88. Occupation: Farmer.  On 30 Jan 1613/4 when Thomas was 25, he married Mary HARPER in Great Bowden, Leicester, England.

33 Mary HARPER. Born abt 1590 in Great Bowden, Leicester, England. Mary died aft 1624; she was 34.

34 John VINCENT. Born abt 1600 in England. John died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, aft 1670; he was 70. bef 1624 when John was 24, he married  in England.

35 UNNAMED. Born abt 1605.

36 Samuel ARNOLD Rev. Born abt 1622 in England. Samuel died in Marshfield, Massachusetts, on 1 Sep 1693; he was 71.²¹ Occupation: Minister.  bef 1648 when Samuel was 26, he married Elizabeth.

37 Elizabeth. Born abt 1626. Elizabeth died in Rochester, Massachusetts, on 15 Feb 1705; she was 79.¹⁷

38 William HOLMES. Born in 1592 in England. William died in Marshfield, Massachusetts, on 8 Nov 1678; he was 86.  bef 1637 when William was 45, he married Elizabeth.

39 Elizabeth. Born abt 1602/1603 in England. Elizabeth died in Marshfield, Massachusetts, on 17 Feb 1688/1689; she was 86.

42 George BONHAM. Born abt 1618 in England. George died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on 28 Apr 1704; he was 86.²²  On 20 Dec 1644 when George was 26, he married Sarah MORTON in Plymouth, Massachusetts.²³

43 Sarah MORTON. Born abt 1616/1618 in Leyden, Holland. Sarah died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on 25 Aug 1691; she was 75.²⁴

44 John BRIGGS. Born in England. John died bef  Jun 1641 in Sandwich, Massachusetts. John married Katherine.

45 Katherine. Katherine died aft 1641.

46 Lt. John ELLIS. Born abt 1620. John died in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on 23 Mar 1676/7; he was 56. abt 1645 when John was 25, he married Elizabeth FREEMAN.

47 Elizabeth FREEMAN. Born on 11 Apr 1624 in Billingshurst, Sussex, England. Elizabeth died in Sandwich, Massachusetts, bef  Apr 1714; she was 89.

48 Samuel RIDER. Born in Jun 1601 in Newport Pagnell, England. Christened on 19 Jun 1601 in Newport Pagnell, England. Samuel died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 2 Dec 1679; he was 78.²⁵ Occupation: Yeoman, Malster, Laborer.  On 16 Oct 1628 when Samuel was 27, he married Anne GAMLETT in Allhallowes Parish, Northampton, England.

49 Anne GAMLETT. Born abt 1608 in England. Anne died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on 14 Dec 1695; she was 87.²⁴

52 John HALL. Born abt 1611 in England. John died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 23 Jul 1696; he was 85. bef 1636 when John was 25, he married Bethia.

53 Bethia. Born abt 1611 in England. Bethia died in Barnstable, Massachusetts, on 1 Feb 1683/1684; she was 72.

54 AUSTIN BEARSE. Born abt 1618 in Southampton, England. AUSTIN died in Barnstable, Massachusetts, bef 1697; he was 79. Occupation: Farmer. abt 1639 when AUSTIN was 21, he married Mary.

55 Mary. Born abt 1619 in England. Mary died aft 1661; she was 42.

56 Kenelm WINSLOW. Born on 30 Apr 1599 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. Kenelm died in Salem, Massachusetts, on 12 Sep 1672; he was 73. Occupation: Cabinetmaker; Joiner. In Jun 1634 when Kenelm was 35, he married Ellen NEWTON in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

57 Ellen NEWTON. Born abt 1598 in England. Ellen died in Marshfield, Massachusetts, on 5 Dec 1681; she was 83.

58 Peter WORDEN Jr. Born in 1609 in Lancashire, England. Peter died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on 11 Jan 1680; he was 71.²⁵ bef 1638 when Peter was 29, he married Mary.

59 Mary. Born abt 1615 in England. Mary died in Barnstable, Massachusetts, on 25 Mar 1687; she was 72.

60 John HALL. (Same as ahnentafel number 52.)

61 Bethia. (Same as ahnentafel number 53.)

62 Edward BANGS. Born abt  Oct 1591 in Panfield, Essex, England. Christened on 28 Oct 1591 in Panfield, Essex, England. Edward died in Eastham, Massachusetts, in 1678; he was 86. Occupation: Innkeeper. abt 1635 when Edward was 43, he married Rebecca HOBART in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

63 Rebecca HOBART. Born on 29 Dec 1611 in Hingham, England. Rebecca died in Eastham, Massachusetts, aft 1678; she was 66.

 Sources below the fold:

Mayflower Also Rans

There are two families from which you can descend that were instrumental in the founding of Plymouth, Mass., but were not on the Mayflower and therefore, do not qualify you for membership in the Mayflower Society.  One is the family of the Rev. John Robinson, the minister to the Pilgrims in Leyden.  The other is the family of George Morton, who financed the trip.  I descend from him through his daughter Sarah (Morton) Bonham, of whom a children's book was written.  

Notes on George Morton:

Dictionary of American Biography ed. by Dumas Malone (Scribner's, New York, 1932) Vol. 13:254.

The Scott Genealogy by Mary Lovering Holman (1919).

Robert Charles Anderson The Great Migration Begins; Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 Vol. 1 (NEHGS, Boston, 1995) 2:1296-7.

The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton 1878-1908: Part I, The Ancestry of Warren Francis Kempton 1817-1879 by Dean Crawford Smith (Boston, NEHGS, 1996).

The Ancestry of Thomas Chalmers Brainerd by Thomas C. Brainerd; edited by Donald Lines Jacobus (Montreal, 1948).

Elizabeth, wife of Caleb Wright

In the last 20 years, the Mayflower Society has become more stringent in its application process.  Every single generation must be completely verified using primary sources--no more can one use a compiled genealogy as a source.  That means if your Great-Aunt Bessie was in the Mayflower Society, you will need to redo your own application from scratch.  And if Bessie used a compiled genealogy, you can't, and you'll need to find the sources yourself.  This is a tough sell for people, but it happens.

The wife of Caleb Wright of Oyster Bay, Long Island was a woman named Elizabeth who had three children with him and afterwards married Gershom Lockwood.  For years, she was identified as Elizabeth Dickinson, the granddaughter of John Howland of the Mayflower through his daughter Elizabeth (Howland) Dickinson.  The trouble is, there is no proof that links the wife of Caleb Wright with the Dickinson family.  It is no longer accepted as a line.

Elizabeth Pearson White, a renowned genealogist, is the author of most of the Howland genealogies including the recent Volume 4 on Elizabeth (Howland) Dickinson.  She devotes ten pages in this  book to this controversy, names the three children in question, but does not follow them down.  Her last note, however, needs some revision and commentary.

Howland Descendants Rejoice

The last two volumes covering the descendants of John Howland's third and fourth children is now in print.  The full set for John Howland now is:

Elizabeth Pearson White, John Howland of the Mayflower, Volume1: The First Five Generations Documented Descendants Through His First Child Desire Howland and her husband Captain John Gorham (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1990).

Elizabeth Pearson White, John Howland of the Mayflower, Volume 2: The First Five Generations Documented Descendants Through His Second Child John Howland and his wife Mary Lee (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1993).

Ann Smith Lainhart and Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Volume 23, Part One: John Howland, The First Four Generations of his Children Lydia, Hannah, Joseph, Jabez, Ruth, and Isaac (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006).

Elizabeth Pearson White, John Howland of the Mayflower, Volume 3: Hope Howland (2008).

Elizabeth Pearson White, John Howland of the Mayflower, Volume 4: Elizabeth Howland (2008).

The last two volumes are available for purchase at Picton Press.

Thanksgiving

John Howland almost didn't make the first Thanksgiving.  He was swept overboard while on the Mayflower and held on to a rope before being pulled back on to the ship.  He was one of the strangers, not one of the saints.  He married fellow passenger Elizabeth Tilley whose parents both died that first winter at Plymouth.  Together they had ten children all of whom lived to adulthood and had families, thus producing one of the three largest Mayflower progenies (with the Aldens and Warrens).  John Howland died on 23 February 1672/3 at what is now Kingston, Massachusetts, the last of the male Mayflower passengers.

The moral of the story?  When life throws you overboard, cling to a rope--you get rescued and life goes on, perhaps for a long and fruitful time.   Happy Thanksgiving.

Mayflower Presidents

After the election, Gary Boyd Roberts and Christopher C. Child will be publishing a second edition to Ancestors of American Presidents or AAP as many of us fondly call it.  I don't want to jinx things, but I'm fairly certain the senator from Illinois will be included (as will George W. Bush for the first time).

That will make 44 presidents, but only 43 men to hold that office (Cleveland is counted twice).  How many are Mayflower descendants?  There were only 102 people on the Mayflower, half of which died the first winter.  There are 26 family groupings from which one can descend.  Despite the long odds on being a Mayflower descendant, nine presidents have been thus far (that's 20% if you're keeping score).  They are both Adamses, Taylor, Grant, Garfield, FDR, both Bushes, and Chris Child's latest discovery, Coolidge.  Three first ladies have Mayflower descents too: Mrs. Garfield, the second Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, and Mrs. Barbara Bush.  So twice, the first couple were both Mayflower descendants: the Garfields and the George H.W. Bushes.  That's pretty insular when you think about it.  One out of five presidents are Mayflower descendants.  

A more insular group are the 17 Salem "witches and wizards" who were hanged in 1692.  Two presidents descend from these victims: Arthur and Taft.  Two more descend from siblings of the victims: Coolidge and Ford.  But that's only 4 out of 43.