The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-11-02
For the Peoples Press
INTERESTING FAMILY MEETING.
SALISBURY, W

MR. EDI1 oR.--It is a matter of peculiar ln'e'-
est to a true Son of New England, to recount
the deeds and sufferings of the Pilgrims, and
trace his descent from the Puritan fathers of the
Yankee Nation. The time is not far distant
when it will be matter of as much generous
and patriotic pride 10 trace our descent from
those Fathers of Religious Liberty, as it is a
mong the Lords OF Old England, TO trace their
gene alogy to the companions of William the
Conquerer.
1t was my privilege recently, to attend meet
ing of The descendants of Holland Weeks, one
Of the FIRST settlers Of this town. More than
sixty children, grand children, and great-grand-
children were assembled on that occasion, and
listened to an interesting orstion, delivered by
one OF their numb.r, Jonathan Avery Shepard,
who graduated at Middlebury in the class of
1885. As it will soon be published will not
attempt to give an abstract of it. 1t added much
TO tie interest Of the meeting that the grafton
traced their genealogical descent TO John Alden,
one of the Pilgrim Fathers, and the individual
who first leaped upon the shore when they Ian
ded on Plymouth rock. Alden seems 10 be
man of consequence in the lite colony, and is
styled in the colonial records the Hon. John
Alden. HIS youngest daughter married Mr..
Bass, and one Of his daughters. Mr.. Thayer,
one of his daughters married John Adams, father
of the FIST President Adams, and another daugh-
ter Mr.. Capen; daughter Of the last named
married Mr.. Moreley and his daughter Han
nah married Holland Weeks, above mentioned. 1t
was an interesting thought, that the company then
as sembled were descendants from those who had
wandered and toiled and suffered, for the sake OIL
Christ; and had together listened 10 the nstruc-
tons Of John Robinson, the leader of the Pilgrims
and first Of COngregationalsts but it added &
thrill Of delight TO hear it announced that one o
the members was descendant of John Robinson
| himself, daughter of H. Weeks having mar
ried Mr.. Robinson, whose son Samuel, re
cent graduate of Hamilton College, was present
and is the eighth in direct descent from the above
named leader of the Pilgrims. 1t may not b,
known to most of your readers, that the family
of John Robinson came 10 this country after hi;
death sand that many, not all of the Robinsons
now in the country, are his lneal descenda nts.
The Grafton was interspersed with numerou.
lively anecdotes illustrating the manners and
feelings of the Pilgrims, and several hymns ap
propriate TO the occasion were sung.
After the Grafton, several resolutions were a
dopted, in pursuance of which, there were ap
pointed a committee to keep an historical registe
of events, occurring in the family, and jointly Il
call another meeting oil the family, where anc
when it may seem proper.
The subject Of temperance was also commen
ded, and the efforts to edvance the cause appro
we'd.
This was meeting long TO be remembered
by the family, and may be the precursor to efforts
that will rescue from oblivion. many interesting
anecdotes of the fathers of New England, and
cultivate friendship among their descendants.
Yours &c.