A quarterly newsletter published by the Society of Mayflower Descendants of California

Transcription

1 A quarterly newsletter published by the Society of Mayflower Descendants of California WINTER 2012, VOLUME XXXVI, NUMBER 3 1 1st and 2nd grade student drawings from Clarendon School in San Francisco after a visit from Mary the Pilgrim. 1) Layla s depiction with projector, the Atlantic projected on the wall and three students on floor in foreground. 2) William s Mayflower. 3) Jameson s illustration of early Plymouth. 2 3

2 2 WINTER Governor s Report Let me start by saying Happy New Year! 2012 wow! Where did 2011 go? I hope and pray that this will be a good year for each of us, that we may be successful in our good endeavors, that we may be healthy and happy. I am saddened by the death of former State Governor Thomas Cooper of San Gabriel Valley Colony. He was colony Governor and State Governor A descendant of William White, he was a fine man who served the Mayflower Society for many years. Now I would like to say a few words about volunteers. The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California is made up of many, many seen and unseen volunteers. It is what makes the Society function and grow. A volunteer is defined as 1) a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking and 2) a person who performs a service willingly and without pay. We have many hardworking volunteers I would like to thank for their devotion and service. Thank you! We need to be kind to each other and not too critical of each other s limitations, or if things are not done exactly as we would do them. We need to work together and talk to each other civilly. Remember the Golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I love the Mayflower Society and the individuals that make up the Society. We are a big family with deep roots in this country. We have established a 2020 Committee with Ward White as chairman. This committee is looking for and collecting ideas for ways California can celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth. No idea is too wild or crazy, and one idea may stimulate other ideas dues envelopes are being prepared to be sent out the first week of January. Please send your dues to Ward White, Treasurer, before February 1st. We are having two State Board Meetings where we can all come together, and all are invited to come, without Skype. The first is January 21 at the Irvine Marriott Hotel at 10:30am. Hope to see you there. Ralph Waldo Emerson, I believe a Tilly and Howland descendant, wrote, What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. I hope we will all recommit to doing our best to help the California Mayflower Society grow in numbers, unity, and solidarity and all ways. Kenneth Whittemore State Governor COLONY NEWS INLAND EMPIRE COLONY The Inland Empire Colony held its regular luncheon meeting on Nov. 12 at Marie Callender s in Redlands. This meeting was our Mayflower Compact Day. Our membership recited the Mayflower Compact at the start of the meeting. We had the largest attendance of the year and several guests were present that are in the process of becoming members of the Mayflower Society. Our Mayflower Moment was given by Kemi Price on the Billington family. Jean Wilcox Hibben, a Board Certified genealogist and the head of the Corona Family History Center, gave the program Ancestors as Heroes. Her program is excellent and very informative on the definition of hero and how our ancestors fit the definition. Members of other colonies are especially invited to join us for our next meeting on February 11 in Redlands. Our speaker will be Franklin Smith, Governor of the Los Angeles Colony, on Plymouth and the Congress last fall. This will be very appropriate as many of our members have never been to Plymouth and have no idea what the Congress does. Please Rick Clark at rick_clark1@verizon.net or Dave Grinnell at dvytca@ gmail.com for reservations and directions. Rick Clark, Governor Los Angeles Colony The Los Angeles Colony had a great meeting at the Tam O Shanter Inn with President John Adams (my cousin) as speaker, portrayed by Mr. Peter Small. 56 members attended. We handed out colony

3 4 WINTER PHOTO: FRANKLIN SMITH Orange County Colony Jim Blauer, Marcia Maloney, Principal Christine Malally and Un Hui Yi Fosdyck after a presentation at Condit Elementary School in Claremont, California. Governor Emeritus and Colony Treasurer Cal Cahoon, President John Adams (aka Mr Peter Small) and Governor Franklin Smith. logo shopping bags and 22 karat gold logo coffee cups for donations. Deputy Governor Ward White announced a new committee he is chairing to place a Mayflower float in the 2020 Rose Parade. Chaplain Deborah Clayton and I have joined the committee. California Deputy Governor Marcia Maloney attended and said our society needed costumed volunteers to address children at an upcoming event. I was in costume and spoke about the need for more members to acquire costumes to be ambassadors at large for the Mayflower Society. As an incentive, we will give cash awards at the next Los Angeles Colony Compact Day in 2012 for best costume. I mentioned meetings by the state and other colonies that might interest LA Colony members. Many Mayflower Members from other colonies attend our events from time to time. We are one big family. No colony members should feel restricted to only attending their local colony s events. For example, I recommended attendance at the Orange County Compact Day to which Past Governor General Judy Swan will speak. It is a costume event. I will be attending in costume. Our meeting last August at the Family History Library in West Los Angeles was so successful with many California Mayflower members coming to do genealogy as well as attending the meeting that we have decided to do it again this February 25, We will employ the same caterer (Stratos) for our buffet luncheon. Franklin E. Smith III Governor Santa Barbara Colony Santa Barbara Colony held its membership meeting on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Elephant Bar Restaurant in Goleta. The Colony was honored to have Deputy Governor South, Marcia Maloney, in attendance. Our guest speaker, author Diana Johnson, presented a lively history of The Founding of Jamestown. The Eugene Fortine Education Trophy awarded to the Colony in June was displayed, and immediate Past Governor Tami Wilkening, thanked for her leadership role in making this achievement possible. The Colony looks forward to its joint meeting with the Los Angeles Colony at the Family History Center in Los Angeles on February 25, The next Colony meeting is scheduled for Saturday April 14, 2012 at the Elephant Bar Restaurant in Goleta. The cost of the lunch is $18, and social time begins at 11am with the meeting starting at 11:30am. A docent will speak on the historic Dana Adobe. All are welcomed, and please contact Governor Judy Cardinal for reservations or questions. (Her address is listed on the back of the printed version of this newsletter.) Judy Cardinal Governor San Francisco Peninsula Colony The Yearly Planning Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Delancey Street Restaurant in San Francisco. A portion of the meeting is for the purpose of discussing and planning this year s upcoming meetings, including the Compact Day meeting to be hosted by the San Francisco Colony in November The remainder of the meeting will be devoted to the speaker, Miles

4 6 WINTER Standish, who described personal research on his pilgrim ancestor, which includes certain clothing of the period that might surprise us since it s not what we usually imagine. He is the 10th generation from Miles Standish and is a member of the Sequoia Colony. Linda Longley Governor Chapter charter members Karen Friedman and Elsie Snyder next to Sequoia Colony The Sequoia Colony held its November meeting at the Circus Club in Menlo Park. Tom Federico, a docent at the USS Hornet berthed in Alameda, spoke to the group about the history of the Hornet Name and the history of the two aircraft carriers that carried the Hornet name. The Hornet has a distinguished history in the service of our original charter. country and Tom s first-hand knowledge of the ship made his presentation very interesting for the group. The Sequoia Colony was founded August 12, The 17 charter members began a colony that has grown to 180 members. At our November meeting, two of those 17 charter members attended and are shown in the photo taken next to the charter. We thank all the founders who had the commitment to start our colony and to provide the opportunity to meet with others who have an interest in our shared history. Phil Steward Governor Richard Torney and his slide show. Redwood Empire Colony The Redwood Empire Colony hosted compact day at Sausalito s Spinnaker Restaurant on November 19, 2011, joined by the San Francisco Peninsula and Alameda Colonies. About 85 members and guests attended. Speaker Richard Torney presented a slide show of the photographs his grandfather took the days of and after the 1906 earthquake. Roll Call of Ancestors on Compact Day at the Spinnaker. Mary the Pilgrim related the First Thanksgiving Story to two elementary schools in San Francisco in February. She stands here with hostess Lorna Cain and her grandson Adrian at the West Portal Lutheran School in San Francisco. The illustrations and letters are from Clarendon Public School. Bianca s Mayflower at Plymouth Colony. Mayflowers by Zoe (top), Paolo (middle) and Anton (bottom)

5 8 WINTER Cyde s The Speedwell in a storm. Franklin s Mayflower. Ariel s Mayflower and Speedwell. Sophia s Plymouth Colony. Rory s Mayflower riding a wave. Catherine showing Mary talking about the birth of Oceanus Hopkins. Dagmawit s Pilgrim women Committee State Governor Ken Whittemore approved the formation of a committee to plan an event in California for the upcoming anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please notify Governor Whittemore via the listed at the back of the printed version of this newsletter.

6 10 WINTER Welcome New Members Elected November 12, 2011 s Alameda Colony Mr David Franklin Peterson CA th from Edward Doty Roberta Joyce (Grossman) Popst CA th from George Soule Mr Stanley Alan White CA th from John Howland Inland Empire Colony Mrs Carol Lee (Dikeman) Barr CA th from John Alden Los Angeles Colony Mrs. Sally Eloise (Curtis) Cicuto CA th from William Brewster Mr Richard Todd Hoyt CA th from William Brewster Monterey Bay Colony Mrs Mary Elizabeth (Strobl) Basile CA th from Edward Fuller Mr Ian Alfred Magruder CA th from John Alden Mrs. Amelia Inga Von Gerer CA th from James Chilton Mother Lode Colony Heather Aleta (Macomber) McDowall CA th from Myles Standish Orange County Colony Mr Scott Andrew Miller CA th from William Bradford Breanna Rose Rhoten CA 8528 Life Member 14th from Edward Doty Redwood Empire Colony Mr Raymond Brien Glanton CA th from Edward Doty Mr Timothy James Nelson CA th from Samuel Fuller Santa Barbara Colony Mrs Martha Emmaline (Young) Engle CA th from Peter Brown Mr John Alan Rhodes CA th from Edward Doty San Diego Colony Mr Michael Lee Austin CA th from John Alden Mr Edward Lee Rudisill CA th from Thomas Rogers Norma Fern (Graham) Wohlfarth CA th from Samuel Fuller Sequoia Colony Mr Perry Richard Adams Jr CA th from Stephen Hopkins Mr John Burgess Jamieson 3rd CA th from Edward Fuller Mr Mark Alexander Nichols CA th from John Howland Mrs Diana Lynn (Moore) Rothe CA th from John Howland San Gabriel Colony Mr David Ansel Young CA th from William Bradford San Joaquin Colony Mr Laurence Owen Beston CA th from William Mullins Mrs Mary Elizabeth (Crane) Couchman CA 8535 Life Member 12th from John Alden New Supplemental Lines Presented November 12, 2011 s Inland Empire Colony Mary Jill Bays CA 8377 S th from Samuel fuller Monterey Bay Colony Clark Alan Magruder CA 8482 S th from James Chilton Orange County Colony Curtis Lee Horst CA 8142 S th from John Billington San Diego Colony Belle Johnson Bohn CA 7939 S th from Francis Cooke Frederick Watson Pierce CA 8372 S th from James Chilton Sequoia Colony Sharon Elaine (Winslow) Erickson CA 7508 S th from William Mullins

7 12 WINTER STATE NEWS California Mayflower This is a second reminder that the Board of Assistants approved a change for the deadline dates for the California Mayflower. Dates will be the first of the month except January, which will be the second two weeks after the previous deadline (e.g. October 1 instead of September 15). A deadline summary is printed at the back of this newsletter. Mary Ames Mitchell California Mayflower Co-editor Data Processing Over the past few weeks, several Mayflower members computers have been infected with a virus that pretends to be from another member with a personal message. Clicking on the link that comes with the message infects the computer of the recipient. The virus accesses the address book on the infected computer and sends out infected s to everyone in the address book. The solution to this problem is to activate virus software on the infected computer and have it do a full scan (not a quick scan). It is important that the virus software is currently updated. In other news, Microsoft bought Skype. New software updates appear to make Skype more stable. The last two Board of Assistants meetings have experienced only minor problems using Skype. Franklin E. Smith III Data Processing South Scholarship A reminder to appeal to all your relatives who are seniors in high school this year. The Scholarship Contest deadline is March 1st. Applications should be sent to me. Also, donations to the Scholarship Fund are always greatly appreciated. The more money we receive, the more scholarships we can give each year at $1,000 per person. We have approximately $1600-$1700 at present. Just $400 will allow for a second scholarship. We usually have 10 to 15 participants per year. Money is tight for these kids planning on college and every little bit helps for books and tuition. The award is tax deductible. To obtain an application, me and I will one back. My address is listed at the back of the printed copy of this newsletter. Copies can be made to hand out to members at colony meetings. Jim Blauer Scholarship/Education Chair Webmaster Phase one on building the new website is completed. The website is now up and running at Phase two will be the taking control and modification of the old website, and filling out the new website to make it more informative. Once all the layout and text are in place then a phase three process of refining the overall character and artwork of the website can begin. A web page for all colonies that don t have websites is planned which will include officers, contacts, meeting dates and places. Please send your information to webmaster@camayflower.org I am looking for early pictures of the California Mayflower Society if any member has copies or information leading to them then please send them to the webmaster . Franklin E. Smith III Webmaster Linda Longley, Jane Ordway Carman, Myrtle Savage and Mary Ames Mitchell manned the California Mayflower Society booth at the Family History Expo on October 8 & 9, 2011.

8 14 WINTER The Development of California s Colonies By Franklin E. Smith III, Los Angeles Colony Governor As we learn from the California Society of Mayflower Descendents logo, our state society was formed in Researching genealogy back then was not an easy task for West Coasters. Many people had their genealogies handed down to them through the centuries by their families. Others researched their genealogy on the East Coast and brought the records west. Mr. Herbert Folger 1, our first Historian and the state society s founder, spent much time on the East Coast gathering genealogical records. He is credited with the first compilation of linage lines for pilgrim descendents. This project later become the Five Generations Project, published in the Silver Books many Mayflower researchers use to prove membership in our society. For twenty years, some California members traveled as far as 500 miles to attend meetings of the state society in the San Francisco region. Mr. Folger suggested colonies form in the south, so people didn t have to travel so far. In 1927, a few years after he passed away, Los Angeles County formed a chapter. Previous to the colony s first meeting, 56 Mayflower descendents gathered at the LA University Club and drew up a charter. Those plans, later ratified by the state board, included the election of a slate of officers, confirming them as representatives for the original 56 members. Many new colony members actively attended meetings of our state society. Los Angeles Colony s first Regent (the title later changed to Governor) was Mr. Arthur Cooke Davis. He also acted as Deputy- Governor for the State Society. LA held its first meeting at the home of Mr. Orra Eugene Monnette, who would become the colony s Orator (later changed to Chaplain) and second Regent. He held the same office for the State Society. Mr. Monnette is well known for cofounding Bank of America, and writing and signing Los Angeles City Charter. He was president of the Library Commission that built the downtown library that is still the largest public library in the world. Many of the first 56 members also belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), including Mr. Davis and Mr. Monnette 2, a president of that organization. The SAR owned their 1 For a free download of another book by Herbert Folger: 2 For more information on Mr. Monnette: own building, which housed a genealogical library. They welcomed the new Mayflower colony by providing a desk for colony records and a meeting place for colony directors meetings. It was announced at the first Compact Day that Governor General Addison Pierce Munroe would be visiting their colony for dinner that spring. Also in honor of founding the colony, a gift was sent to Charlotte Mitchell, the last living descendent of Chief Massasoit, friend of the pilgrims. 3 The Los Angeles colony was the only colony in Southern California for twenty-four years. Then in 1951, members in the lower part of the state formed the San Diego Colony and members in northern California formed the Alameda Colony. Then followed Orange County and Inland Empire, covering Riverside County and San Bernardino County. Two more small colonies formed in Los Angeles County. However, colonies with small numbers, such as Pomona Colony, which closed last year, have had trouble regenerating themselves with new active members. One of our more unusual Southern California colonies is Santa Barbara, organized in It started as the Tri County Colony 4 covering Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Ventura County had the largest population, bigger than the other two counties combined. They met in Santa Barbara. San Luis Obispo members no longer had to take a day s journey round trip to Los Angeles. Now the combined colonies have over a 100 members. All of the California Mayflower s colonies add historic value and tradition to our society. However, we are more than a combination of regional meeting places. We are a family of Mayflower descendents. Every member of every colony is welcome at any colony in the state or country. The Mayflower spirit isn t divided in parts by colonies, it is the spirit of the whole society, united by the memory of our Pilgrim ancestors one of peace and prosperity across faiths and ethnic groups. For those of you who volunteer to become officers in our society, I am reminded of the words of President John F. Kennedy, who said Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. You have truly asked what you can do for our society. 3 Another possible descendent of Massasoit is Lindsy Stewart Cieslewicz of Salt Lake City. DNA shows her to be a descendent of William Bradford. See: article/ /a-descendant-from-both-sides-of-the-thanksgiving-table.html 4 Centennial History of the General Society of Mayflower Descendents , p 669.

9 16 WINTER It is with much sadness that I send you all the news that Tom Cooper passed away the morning of December 22, two months short of age 95. Tom was a member of Orange County Colony, a Past State Governor of our California Mayflower Society and a dear friend to all of us. The service was held at Rose Hills Chapel in Whittier, California, on December 30. He will be sadly missed. June Lazich Elder of Orange County Colony Alameda Colony Mr William Lynch DeProsse March 9, 2011 Mrs Laurel Grace (Gardner) Traversaro November 14, 2011 Inland Empire Colony Mrs. Dorothy Helen (Tefft) Farley January 5, 2011 Mrs Julie Holmes Simmons January 28, 2006 In Memorium s Orange County Colony Mr. Thomas Woodrow Cooper December 22, 2011 Mrs. Lillian (Colburn) Koontz June 20, 2011 Mrs Marion Winifred Smith Vodonick November 3, 2011 Redwood Empire Colony Mrs. Zella Mildred (Orr) Potter September 9, 2011 State Board of Assistants Meeting Dates 10:30 Board Meeting, Lunch 1 PM North Location: Oakland Mayflower Office. Southern may vary. Date January 21, 2012 March 24, 2012 June 16, 2012 September 22, 201 November 10, 2012 January 19, 2013 March 23, 201 June 14-15, 2013 Membership Location Southern California Northern California Southern California Northern California Southern California Northern California Southern California Southern California Los Angeles Colony Mr Richard Lyman Jones January 1, 2011 Virginia Louise (Knerr) Bellows September 26, 2011 Mother Lode Colony Mr John Terrance Miller April 28, 2011 San Diego Colony Mr James Fowler Goss September 1, 2011 Mrs. Susan Linette (Bragdon) Van Horn September 13, 2011 No Assigned Colony Mr Joseph Frederick Hook January 10, 2011 Board of Assistants Meeting - Southern California contingent. Standing: Shawn Holt (Delegate Los Angeles Colony), Jan Landt (Governor San Diego Colony), Rick Bailey (Captain State Society), Ken Whittemore (Governor State Society), Ward White (State Treasurer and Deputy Governor Los Angeles Colony). Sitting: Betty Link-Holt, Franklin Smith (Governor Los Angeles Colony), Judy Swan (Past Governor General Society), June Lazich (Elder Orange County Colony)

10 18 WINTER 2012 Are You Moving? Be sure to notify our State Membership Chairperson: Pat Meeken at: She will, in turn, notify your governor and everyone else who needs to know. This will enable you to receive your California Mayflower, Mayflower Quarterly and other mailings in a timely fashion. California Mayflower Next deadline: April 1, Send all text and photo submissions to Mary at MaryMitchellDesign@comcast.net. Submissions to the California Mayflower newsletter must be in digital format, either in the body of an or as a Microsoft Word document attachment. Queries relevant to Mayflower families will be published pending space availability. PLEASE limit them to 75 words. Include your membership number and contact information. NOTE the new deadlines: They will remain the same year after year. Submissions prior to the deadlines are always appreciated. Summer issue July 1st Fall issue October 1st Winter issue January 2nd Spring issue April 1st Visit the California Society of Mayflower Descendants on the web at: Visit the General Society of Mayflower Descendants at: California Mayflower Society. All rights reserved. Society members may reprint if credit is given. All others must contact an editor for permission. Authors retain rights to their work.