CHILDREN ON THE MAYFLOWER
by Ruth Godfrey Donovan
The "Mayflower" sailed from Plymouth, England, September 6, 1620, with 102 people aboard.
Among the passengers standing at the rail, waving good-bye to relatives and friends, were at least thirty children. They ranged in age from Samuel Eaton, a babe in arms, to Mary Chilton and Constance Hopkins, fifteen years old. They were brought aboard for different reasons. Some of their parents or guardians were seeking religious freedom. Others were searching for a better life than they had in England or Holland. Some of the children were there as servants. Every one of the youngsters survived the strenuous voyage of three months.
As the "Mayflower" made its way across the Atlantic, perhaps they frolicked and played on the decks during clear days. They must have clung to their mothers' skirts during the fierce gales the ship encountered on other days.
Some of their names sound odd today. There were eight-year-old Humility Cooper, six-year-old Wrestling Brewster, and nine-year-old Love Brewster. Resolved White was five, while Damans Hopkins was only three. Other names sound more familiar. Among the eight-year-olds were John Cooke and Francis Billington. John Billington, Jr. was six years old as was Joseph Mullins. Richard More was seven years old and Samuel Fuller was four. Mary Allerton, who was destined to outlive all others aboard, was also four. She lived to the age of eighty-three.
The Billington boys were the mischief-makers. Evidently weary of the everyday pastimes, Francis and John, Jr. went in search of excitement one day and found it in the space occupied by their family. Their father was not around. Francis took some gunpowder and made pellets. Placing them in the father's gun, he shot it off. A small barrel of powder lay nearby. It caught on fire! Many passengers were nearby but fortunately they escaped harm. Quick action brought the fire under control.
Another exciting event was the birth of a baby while the "Mayflower" was at sea. The son of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins, he was appropriately named Oceanus.
Another baby, Peregrine White, was born as the "Mayflower" lay at anchor near Provincetown, Massachusetts. Because this baby boy was the first English child born in "those parts," the General Court in 1665 granted him 200 acres of land. He lived until 1703.
Mary Chilton, fifteen, was destined to have her name in the history books. After the long voyage and the decision to settle at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Pilgrims finally disembarked. In some later stories Mary Chilton was given the honor of being the first to step on Plymouth Rock.
John Alden
John Alden was born in England about 1599, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He was a cooper by trade and hired on as a "Mayflower" crew member in that capacity at Southampton. The conditions of employment permitted him to either remain in America or return as a crew member to England. He chose the former course of action after arrival in the New World. He was one of the fortyone signers of the Mayflower Compact.
On 12 May 1622 John Alden married Priscilla Mullins. Her parents had died in the general sickness of that first winter at Plymouth.
About 1632 they moved to nearby Duxbury. In 1653 they moved into a second house which is still standing (105 Alden Street) and maintained by the Alden Kindred of America, Inc. An excavation in 1960 revealed the location of the original house, about 300 yards away.
John Alden served in many public service capacities over the years, including assistant to the Governor and twice as Deputy Governor.
John and Priscilla had eleven children. Descent from John Alden has been proven through eight of them: Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Jonathan, and David. Little is known about the other children, Priscilla, Zachariah, and Mary.
It is not known when Priscilla died, but perhaps she was still living as of 1680. John died on September 22, 1687, the last of those who signed the historic Mayflower Compact.
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Isaac Allerton
Isaac Allerton was born in England about 1586, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or the exact location of his birth. He was a tailor in London before joining the Separatist group at Leyden, Holland. In Holland he married Mary Norris of Newbury, England on 4 November 1611. With his wife and children, Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary, he embarked from Holland on the "Speedwell" and transferred to the "Mayflower" at Southampton.
Isaac Allerton was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact.
Isaac Allerton's wife, Mary, died at Plymouth on 25 February 1620-1 during the general sickness that befell the Pilgrims that first winter. He then married Fear Brewster, daughter of William Brewster, before 22 May 1627. She died 12 December 1634 after they had two children, Sarah and Isaac. He was married a third time, before 1644, to Joanna Swinnerton.
Isaac Allerton served as an Assistant Governor from 1621 to 1631, and as a business representative of the Colony, making several trips to London in that capacity. He was dismissed after being accused of extravagance and mixing private trading with public interests. He moved to Marblehead about 1633 and operated a coastal trading fleet for a time before moving to New Amsterdam where he resided for ten years. He finally located at New Haven. He was a trader at both locations.
Isaac Allerton died in February 1658-9. Descent from him has been proven through two children of his first marriage, Remember and Mary, and one child of his second marriage, Isaac. His oldest son, Bartholomew, lived in England, had four children, and died there.
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John Billington
John Billington was born in England about 1580, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He married Elinor before 1605. They and their two sons, John and Francis, boarded the Mayflower at London or Southampton.
He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact.
However, he was resentful of authority and in 1621 was punished for insubordination, having refused to obey a command given by Capt. Myles Standish. In 1630 he was executed after being found "guilty of willful murder", according to William Bradford's account, of John Newcomen. Elinor married Gregory Armstrong in 1638.
Descent from John Billington has been proven only through son Francis.
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William Bradford
William Bradford, son of William and Alice (Hanson) Bradford, was baptized on 19 March 1589 at Austerfield, Yorkshire, England. He joined the Separatist group at the age of 17 and went to Holland when that group fled from England. He married Dorothy May at Amsterdam on 10 December 1613, by whom he had one child. This child was left in Holland when William and Dorothy embarked on the SPEEDWELL and transferred to the MAYFLOWER at Southampton.
William was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact, his name appearing second on the list, after John Carver.
Dorothy May Bradford drowned in Cape CodHarbor on 7 December 1620, an event which has never been authentically explained.
William served as Governor of Plymouth Colony from 1621 until 1657, with the exception of five years. From 1630 to 1650 he wrote the famous History of Plimoth Plantation.
William married widow Alice (Carpenter) Southworth on 14 August 1623 shortly after she arrived at Plymouth on the ANNE. By this marriage there were three children. Descent from William Bradford has been proven through only two of his children, William and Joseph.
William Bradford died on 19 May 1657. His will and inventory of estate are on record at Plymouth. Alice died in April 1670.
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William Brewster
William Brewster was born in England about 1567, probably in Nottinghamshire or Yorkshire. His father, also named William, became bailiff of Scrooby Manor in 1575, and in 1588 was made postmaster. The younger William attended CambridgeUniversity 1580-83 but did not stay to graduate. He married about 1589. His wife's name was Mary.
In 1590 William Brewster assumed the responsibilities formerly carried by his father, but in the following years became involved with leadership of the Separatist movement and ultimately was instrumental in the migration of the Scrooby group to Holland. There he became the ruling Elder of their new church, a teacher of English, and a publisher of religious books.
With others William Brewster helped organize the emigration of the Separatists (Pilgrims) from Holland to America in 1620. Brewster joined the group on the MAYFLOWER at Southampton. His wife and two of their children (Love and Wrestling) were on the SPEEDWELL from Holland to England. A son, Jonathan, came to America on the FORTUNE in 1621, and daughters Patience and Fear came on the ANNE in 1623.
Descent from William Brewster has been proven through all of the above named children except Wrestling.
William Brewster was one of the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact.
Although not a minister in the Pilgrim sense, William Brewster became the true leader of the church at Plymouth and was greatly respected for his wisdom and fairness of judgment. He died on 10 April 1644. Inventory of his estate is on record at Plymouth. He did not leave a will. His wife Mary died in 1627.
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Peter Brown
Peter Brown was born in England, perhaps about 1600, but nothing has been established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He seems to have been a carpenter. He joined the Pilgrim group at Southampton, sailing on the Mayflower.
He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. In 1624 or 1625 he married widow Martha (?) Ford, who came over on the Fortune in 1621. She died in 1627 and he remarried, but only this wife's given name, Mary, is known, and she died after 21 November 1633. There were two children by each marriage, but descent from Peter Brown has been proven through only daughter Mary (of the first marriage) and Rebecca (of the second marriage).
Peter moved to nearby Duxbury soon after that community was established. He died in 1633. He did not leave a will but an inventory of his estate is on record at Plymouth.
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James Chilton
James Chilton was born before 1563 in Canterbury, Kent, England, the son of Lyonell Chilton. James became a tailor. He married before 1587 and had ten children. His wife's name was possibly Susanna Furner.
It is believed that this family was part of the Pilgrim group that resided in Leyden, Holland. However, of this family, only James, his wife, and youngest daughter, Mary, came to America on the MAYFLOWER. The eldest daughter, Isabella, came to Plymouth about 1629 with her husband, Roger Chandler. The youngest daughter, Mary, was the first lady to come ashore from the MAYFLOWER. Her granddaughter, Ann Winslow, at age 92, told her own grandson in 1769 that Mary's "curiosity of being first on the American Strand prompted her, like a young heroine, to leap out of the boat and wade ashore. She was a twelve year old at the time."
James Chilton was one of the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact, but he died on 18 December 1620 while the ship was still anchored off Cape Cod. His wife died sometime after 21 January 1621 during the general sickness which occurred that winter.
Descent from James Chilton has been proven through only his two daughters, Isabella and Mary.
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Francis Cooke
It is believed that Francis Cooke was born in England after August 1583, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or the exact location of his birth. It is known that he married Hester Mahieu (from Canterbury, England) at Leyden, Holland on 4 July 1603.
Francis Cooke was one of the Pilgrim group that embarked from Holland on the SPEEDWELL and transferred to the MAYFLOWER at Southampton. He left his wife and three of his children, Jane, Jacob, and Hester, but was accompanied by his eldest son, John. Hester, his wife, and the other children came over on the ANNE in 1623. One more child, Mary, was born at Plymouth. Descent from Francis Cooke has been proven through all five children.
Francis Cooke was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. He died at Plymouth 7 April 1663. His will and inventory of his estate are on record at Plymouth. Hester, his wife, died after 8 June 1666.
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Edward Doty
It is believed that Edward Doty was born in England, perhaps about 1600, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He came aboard the Mayflower before it sailed from London, and was listed as a "servant" of Stephen Hopkins.
He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact.
Bradford's History of Plimoth Plantation clearly indicates that Edward had a previous wife before he married Faith Clark, daughter of Tristram Clark, 6 January 1643 at Plymouth; and by this second wife it is known that he had nine children. Faith came to Plymouth with her father on the Francis in 1634.
Edward was often in court either as plaintiff or complainant in civil cases, and in June 1621 he received a sentence for breach of peace when he and Edward Leister fought a duel with cutlasses. He owned property in Yarmouth, Cohasset, and Dartmouth in addition to the land where he lived in Plymouth.
Edward died 23 August 1655 and his wife then married John Phillips. Edward's will and inventory of estate are on record at Plymouth.
Descent from Edward Doty has been proven through all nine of his children.
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Francis Eaton
It is believed that Francis Eaton, a carpenter, was one of the London contingent who boarded the "Mayflower" at Southampton. He was accompanied by his wife, Sarah, and an infant son, Samuel. The ancestry of Francis and Sarah, and place of origin, is unknown.
He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact.
Sarah died during the general sickness of the first winter at Plymouth. Francis subsequently married Mrs. Carver's maid, name unknown, but she died shortly thereafter. He married again in 1624 or 1625, this third wife being Christian Penn who had come over on the "Anne" in 1623. By her he had three children: Rachel, Benjamin, and one whose name is unknown.
Francis died during an epidemic in 1633. He lef t no will, but an inventory of his estate listed tools of his trade. His third wife subsequently married another "Mayflower" passenger, Francis Billington, and died in Middleborough, MA about 1684.
Descent from Francis Eaton has been proven through sons, Samuel and Benjamin, and daughter, Rachel.
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Edward Fuller
Edward Fuller was born in England at Redenhall Parish, CountyNorfolk, and baptized on 4 September 1575. There is no reliable information regarding the name of his wife.
It is now believed that Edward and family were part of the Separatist group who resided in Leyden, Holland. If this is the case, then Edward, wife, and son Samuel would have traveled on the Speedwell from Leyden to Southampton, where they would have boarded the Mayflower. Son Matthew remained behind, not coming to Plymouth until about 1640.
Edward was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. Both Edward and wife succumbed to the general illness which struck the Pilgrims during their first winter at Plymouth. Their son, Samuel, was then taken in by his uncle, the senior Samuel Fuller, also a Mayflower passenger.
Descent from Edward Fuller has been proven through sons Samuel and Matthew.
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Samuel Fuller
Samuel Fuller was born in England, baptized at Redenhall Parish, County of Norfolk, 20 January 1580. He was the son of Robert Fuller and was one of the Separatists who fled from England to Holland in 1609. His first wife, Alice Glascock, died before 1613. He married Agnes Carpenter at Leyden, Holland, 24 April 1613. She died in 1615. He then married Bridget Lee at Leyden 27 May 1617.
Samuel left his wife behind when he came to Plymouth on the Mayflower lower. She and one child, name unknown, came over in 1623 on the Anne; that child died at a young age. A son, Samuel, was born about 1624, and a daughter, Mercy, was born in 1627.
Samuel Fuller was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact.
He was a physician, as well as a deacon of the church at both Leyden and Plymouth.
When Samuel's brother Edward and sister-in-law died during the general illness of the first winter at Plymouth, Edward's son, Samuel, came to live with his uncle Samuel.
The senior Samuel Fuller died at Plymouth during the late summer of 1633, a victim of the infectious epidemic of that year. He was survived by his third wife, Bridget, who died sometime after 1 March 1664.
Descent from Samuel Fuller has been proven through only the son, Samuel.