Pilgrim Push

WorkshopQuest: Thanksgiving, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

My adventure with my Mayflower descendants began long before I researched my ancestors. This is a rare photo of me taken at the SouthCoast Technology Center where I worked for more than 10 years developing and teaching workshops for teachers in educational technology. In 1999, I bought a digital camera and I went to Plymouth a few days and took photos of the waterfront and started learning about Mayflower times.

All of the photos I used for my later graduate course are posted here.  Many of them I have used in blog posts so I won't be using them again. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

This was a fun project. One teacher specialized in Native Americans and provided information about resources she used in her classroom. Although I have taken down my Web site, the box of materials is still in my basement. Much is still relevant so I will keep it in case my grandsons need a school project. 

My boss did not think this workshop was a good idea. He thought no teachers would come. He was wrong. Every seat was taken. Teachers discussed curriculum and how hard it was to find materials that actually depicted the pilgrims and the native american peoples correctly. I still smile when I go by a display of "puritan" clothes on Pilgrims. 

Finding Pilgrim Proof

Mayflower Families Through 5 Generations Vol. 3, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Gathering Together

While working on entering the "proof" gleaned from our Mayflower applications, I realized that I was just entering information given to me by the Mayflower Society without really understanding what I was referencing. Pictured here is a "silver book" published by the Mayflower Society which is in the Goodnow Library. 

Last year, I tried to find out what books are owned by my friends who are genealogist or family historians. A family story in hubs family says they are descendants of Myles Standish. I can't find the connection at all.

But, we both are descendants of George Soule and John Alden. So, deciding that I don't understand the "pilgrim code" on the applications, I would investigate the process further. The General Society of Mayflower Descendants has a store where you can buy the books. Anyone can buy the "silver books" (MF) as they are considered completed research. This is why libraries and historical societies have them! The "pink books" are research in progress (MFIP) and some day will be published as "silver books".

Alicia Crane Williams, wrote an excellent article about published sources which is posted at NEHGS. She explains the abbreviations used. I have printed this for my Mayflower Binder.

Meet George Soule

Turkey, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

We took down our Halloween decorations this morning after a great Halloween. It was so warm I sat in a chair and gave out treats.

We named this fine fellow after our common Pilgrim ancestor, George Soule.

Our Mayflower Story

Mantel Left, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

The Forefathers

My husband and I are both descendants of some of the people who arrived in America on the ship the Mayflower in 1620. As life-long New Englanders, we weren't surprised to discover that we are related (cousins) by having common ancestors. However, finding out the connections needed to prove that we are descended from those people is quite a journey in itself.

As a genealogist, proving my lines of descent is an everyday job. As a small child, we celebrated this holiday with my maternal grandparents. When I was about six years old, I remember the grownups raising their glasses to "our pilgrim ancestors". I knew what an ancestor was but I didn't know they were Pilgrims! I asked which Pilgrims and they didn't know. But, I do know now.

In my great grandfather, Charles E. Stewart, scrapbook journal, I found this newspaper clipping. I knew then, I should start with my 3rd great grandparents Issac Denison and Levina Fish and work my way backwards in time. My grandmother's connection was more difficult. It meant I was going to have to know more about my French ancestors and that I was going to need a lot of help. So far, this was the most challenging.

My husband's line was not as clear. One photograph in his family states they are descendants of Myles Standish but I have yet to prove that. But, along the way, I discovered one line where people were connected to Aldens and Soule. It still was hard to prove but we did it!

This week, I will show you where I found some of the memorial gravestones of some of our Mayflower passengers.  

 

The Pilgrims and Midge

The Hostess, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

This is a photo taken of me (by my daughter) on Thanksgiving Day, 2006 in my Bridgewater home.

Family history often precedes knowing and proving you are a descendant of those who came early to New England. Many of mine came later than the Mayflower. My paternal grandparents came here from Scotland. We are all immigrants.

My maternal grandparents lived a short distance from the house I grew up in. I know that my mother [my parents] did not grow up in that house as my grandparents bought that house after she graduated from high school. It was a beautiful English Tudor style home which still stands. I spent all my early years at Thanksgiving and Christmas there. [Collage of Houses]

One Thanksgiving, before 1955, my grandparents raised their glasses and toasted to their Mayflower ancestors. As the only child in my family, I was used to the weird grownup conversation but this was something else. "Pilgrims?", I said. "Which ones?" I'd just had that in school. The fact that both grandparents knew their families had them, freaked me out. But, they didn't know which ones. Dinner went on. I remembered.

The winter after my grandfather died, my grandmother showed his family Bible. That's when I became a genealogist. But still, no Pilgrims.

In April of 2004, I bought a $125 book, The History of Stonington, Connecticut, by Judge Richard Anson Wheeler. It was the best money I have spent yet. It may not be perfect but the way it is written helped me piece my grandfather's ancestors together.

On page 340 in the Denison family section, it lists George Denison, grandson of Capt. George as marrying "Mercy Gorham, daughter of Jphn Gorham and wife Desire Howland, daughter of John Howland of the May Flower (sic)."  So, I am a Howland.

On page 515 in the Palmer family section, it lists "Thomas Palmer marrying Mrs. Priscilla Chesebrough, daughter of Samuel Chesebrough and wife, Priscilla Alden, and granddaughter of  Daid Alden and wife Mary Southworth of Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, and great-grandaughter of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of Mayflower fame." So, I am an Alden.

Proving this took a lot of time but at least I had a start.

Billington Mayflower line

Behind the Gravestone, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Our Mayflower Lines: Billington 

Midge's Billington Line

1. John Billington
2. Francis Billington and Christian Penn
3. Joseph Billington and Grace
4. Elisha Billington and Jane
5. Joseph Billington and Abigail Braman
6. Sarah Billington and William Tourjee/Tourgee
7. John Tourgee and Hannah Gould
8. John Tourgee, Jr. and Maria
9. Hannah Josephine Tourgee and James Albert Barber
10. James Frederick Barber and Nellie (Ellen) Schofield 
11. Hannah Josephine Barber and Evans Stewart
12. Dorothy Frances Stewart and Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot
13. Midge

Howland Mayflower Line

Behind the Gravestone, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

  Behind the Gravestone: Our Mayflower Lines

Midge's Howland Line

1. John Howland
2. Desire Howland and John Gorham
3. Elizabeth Gorham and Joseph Hallett
4. Lois Hallett and Henry Cobb
5. Eunice Cobb and Benadam Gallup
6. Benadam Gallup and Hannah Avery
7. Benadam Gallup and Bridget Palmer
8. Bridget Gallup and Sands Fish
9. Levina Fish and Isaac Denison, Jr.
10. Eliza Fish Denison and Dudley Wheeler Stewart
11. Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans
12. Evans Stewart and Hannah Josephine Barber
13. Dorothy Frances Stewart and Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot
14. Midge

Soule Mayflower Lines

Gravestone Back, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Behind the Gravestone: Our Mayflower Lines

Midge's Soule Line

1. George Soule
2. Susanna Soule and Francis West
3. Susannah West and Moses Barber
4. Benjamin Barber and Mary Perry
5. Benjamin Perry Barber and Hannah Merriott
6. Matthew Stillman Barber and Phebe Elizabeth Hall
7. James Albert Barber and Hannah Josephine Tourgee
8. James Frederick Barber and Nellie Schofield
9. Hannah Josephine Barber and Evans Stewart
10. Dorothy Frances Stewart and Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot
11. Midge

Steve's Soule Line

1. George Soule
2. John Soule and Rebecca Simmons
3. Moses Soule and Mercy Southworth
4. Jedediah Soule and Tabitha Bishop
5. Ichabod Soule and Martha Barton
6. Phebe Soule and Amos Sylvester
7. Salome Sylvester and Jeremiah Cotton
8. Eliza Ann Cotton and James Rogers Merrow
9. Fredericka Bremer Merrow and Vergene Ovando Hyde
10. Linda Edwards Hyde and Phares David Frazel
11. Wilbur Hyde Frazel and Ruth Hannah Craig
12. Steve

Alden Mayflower Lines

Gravestone Back, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Behind the Gravestone: Our Mayflower Lines

Midge's Alden Line

1. John Alden
2. David Alden and Mary Southworth
3. Priscilla Alden and Samuel Chesebrough
4. Priscilla Chesebrough and Thomas Palmer
5. Bridget Palmer and Sands Fish
6. Levina Fish and Isaac Denison, Jr.
7. Eliza Fish Denison and Dudley Wheeler Stewart
8. Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans
9. Evans Stewart and Hannah Josephine Barber
10. Dorothy Frances Stewart and Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot
11. Midge

Steve's Alden Line

1. John Alden
2. Elizabeth Alden and William Pabodie
3. Mary Pabodie and Edward Southworth
4. Mercy Southworth and Moses Soule
5. Jedediah Soule and Tabitha Bishop
6. Ichabod Soule and Martha Barton
7. Phebe Soule and Amos Sylvester
8. Salome Sylvester and Jeremiah Cotton
9. Eliza Ann Cotton and James Rogers Merrow
10. Fredericka Bremer Merrow and Vergene Ovando Hyde
11. Linda Edwards Hyde and Phares David Frazel
12. Wilbur Hyde Frazel and Ruth Hannah Craig
13. Steve

Steve's Alden Line

Steve's Alden Line, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Mayflower Passenger: John Alden

After several weeks of putting the right people together and finding proofs, hubs application to join the Mayflower Society was accepted. His next one, called a supplemental, is to George Soule and is roughly the same people. I have submitted that this week. Thanks for Jay Lucas of the Massachusetts Mayflower Society for his expert help.

I still have not found any connection to Myles Standish as recorded on the back of one of his family photographs.

And, so the turkey and Pilgrim season begins....