The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-27
Surprisingly Small LET of Parsons
Who Can Claim plymouth
Ancestry, Latest Records
Will Show.
NOT MUCH BLUE BLOOD
John Alden Was Only Cooper and
Most Of Others In First Col
ony Did Not Wear
spanoles.

\ The observance of Forefather's day,
the anniversary of the landing Of the
Mayfower pilgrims at Plymouth,
Mass. In 1920. often gives rise to the
observation that the Mayflower must
have had the passenger capacity Of a
feet OF modern liners in order to ac-
count for the number of those who
claim descent from the historic COM
pany of pioneers. This criticism con
tains more OF wit than OF truth, for,
as matter of fact. the number Of
those who trace their ancestry back
to Mayfower passenger are sur
prisingly few. Nearly three centuries
have passed since that famous episode
| at Plymouth, and, taking into account
this lapse of time, the number Of May
flower descendants might easily be
many times the enrolled membership
of the general society of Mayflower
descendants
The latter organization celebrated
its twentieth birthday, this week, as it
was organized in New York on De-
cember %, 1884, by lineal descendants
of the Mayfower pilgrims. ITO pre-
serve their memory, their records,
their history, and all facts relating
ito them, their ancestors, and their
posterity.''
According to the record of the May
flower compact" which was signed
by forty-one persons, the total num-
Der on board the Mayflower was one
hundred and one In 1901 the society
of Mayfiower descendants compiled
register of descendants, numbering
about 1000.
The Mayfower passengers were
not of the station Of life to justify the
boast of "blue blood" by their descend
ents. John Alden, who became lead
ing man in the colony. was q cooper.
He lived until. 1851 and was the last
survivor. OF the signers Of the COM
pact. Isaac Allerton was a tailor. His
wife died shortly after reaching Ply
mouth, but he remarked, and, on the
death Of his second wife, took q third.
One Of his daughters, Mary, who mar
ried Elder Thomas Cushman. died in
1899, the last survivor Of the May
flower passengers. John Ellington
was hanged for murder in 1880. Viii
liam Bradford, governor OF the col
ony, was twice married, his first wife
having been drowned in Cape Cod
.harbor before reaching Plymouth. Will
liam White. a rather disreputable
character, although much reformed
/ in his last years." was the father OF
the first child of the Plymouth born
!! in America. Miles Standish, the great
military leader OF the Pilgrims, was
by his wife, but she died
only a few weeks after reaching Ply
mouth. DR.. Samuel Fuller was the
first physician, and has many descent
ents through son, Samuel, Jr.
The christian names of many of the
Mayfiower passengers seem very Pc
culiar to moderns. Isaac Allerton's
second wife was Fear Brewster, and
one of his daughters was christened
Remember. Francis Ellington, whose
papa was hanged, married Christian
Eaton. Elder William Brewster nam
ed one OF his sons wrestling. Humil-
lily Cooper was one of the passengers
who soon tired of the new world and
returned to England. Edward Doty' :;
wife, Faith--a popular feminine name
lin those days--was the mother OF nine
children Doty was servant. and
took part in the first duel fought IN
New England William Whites sons
included Peregrine and Resolved
Priscilla was popular name, and was
borne by John Alden's wife, the
daughter of William Mullins.
! Although many of the Mayhower
Messengers were unable to stand the
rigors Of pioneer life, and soon sick
ened and died OF returned to the old
country, the survivors were sturdy
stock and large families were the
rule. John Carver. the first governor
of the colony, left no descendants.
/