The Society of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Thank you, retiring board members Patricia Brown, Bonnie Vokits, and Terry McKane for jobs well done! Thank you, June Gorman, newsletter editor for ten years and immediate past Governor of the Michigan society. June also served as compiler/ editor of The Centennial History of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan 1901-2001. Excerpts from the book may be found on page three and will continue in future newsletters. If you prefer an email version of this newsletter, rather than the print version, please notify Craig Rich, Membership Secretary at oldpirate@comcast.net A full-color edition of the newsletter is also available online at the Society s website: http://www.michmayflower.org Governor General Filson Visits Michigan! November 5 was a lovely, sunny day at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. We were honored that Governor General Lea Filson traveled all the way from Louisiana via New York City to Michigan to be at our Compact Day meeting. Accompanied by her husband Ron, Lea brought a wealth of enthusiasm and information to our meeting. Lea has been involved with the Louisiana Mayflower Society since the late 1990s. She served as Louisiana State Governor from 2002-2005, edits the Louisiana Drumbeats newsletter and is presently the Louisiana Society s Deputy Governor. She served as Insignia Chair for the General Society from 2005-2012. In 2010, she reworked the GSMD website, and in 2011, she became Assistant Governor General until September when she was elected Governor General. Lea is descended from Mayflower passengers Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris Allerton, Mary Allerton Cushman, Degory Priest, Edward Doty Francis Cooke, Stephen Hopkins, and Elizabeth Fisher Hopkins. Her career includes many years on-air as a broadcaster in television and radio; she specializes in media, marketing and public relations. Sharing images of the Mayflower Society House and Library, Lea also spoke of plans for the 2017 Congress and the 2020 celebration. She described ideas for a monument to be placed in Plymouth to commemorate the sailing of the Mayflower and the possible donation of the First Parish Church to the General Society by 2020. Member Spotlight: Mary Ellen Vangoff Member Mary Ellen Vangoff has proven descents from several Mayflower passengers including Samuel Fuller, Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris Allerton, and Richard Warren. She is the mother of four children, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother of five, all prospective members! Here, she enjoys a pose with her Allerton cousin, Governor General Filson, just before the start of the meeting.
Michigan Society Board of Assistants *Governor. Newsletter Secretary, Webmaster Grace Bliss Smith C: 586-899-3138 gracemi@comcast.net *Deputy Governor. June Gorman C: 231-286-1162 gorman_june@yahoo.com *Elder... Heather McKane Rose H: 989-839-0288 heatherrose2@yahoo.com *Treasurer.. Thora Goodnight H: 989-832-0294 thoragoodnight@hotmail.com *Recording Secretary.. Elizabeth Williams H: 810-635-3469 ewilliams797@aol.com *Historian... Diane Hayford Sonnecken H: 313-885-9429 dsonnecken@aol.com *Historian for Juniors. Cindy Schmitt H: 734-420-2079 pjwhimsey@aol.com *Assistant: Membership... Craig Rich H: 616-813-8678 oldpirate@comcast.net *Assistant: Public Relations..... Flag Captain Janet Ernst H: 989-362-9686 judgejre@hotmail.com *Assistant: Corresponding..... Nancy Morley H: 928-723-2870 njmorley@hotmail.com Counsellor. Mary Ellen Byrne H: 231-223-4193 mecb@acegroup.cc Ex-Officio Board Members.. Past Governors: John Allen Crusoe, Terry McKane, Cory Randall, Mary Ellen Byrne, June Gorman; Past Deputy Governor: Leonard Decker Investment Committee... Thora Goodnight, Mary Sue Markey, June Gorman, Grace Smith, Mary Ellen Byrne, Diane Sonnecken Michigan Society Scholarship.... Patricia Brown H: 248-398-7547 patriciabrown@mail.com Assistants to Board Members. Historian: Lee Bennett, Cheryl Stanfield, Vicki Mott Friddle Treasurer: Mary Sue Markey Sales Table: Johanna Balzer, Brenda Zabaroni, Patricia Brown Page 2 MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17
Excerpts from The Centennial History of the Michigan Society Published in 2001, The Centennial History of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan: 1901-2001, offers insight into the beginning and continuation U.S. S. Mayflower of our state society. The Michigan Society received its charter on 8 February 1901, at a meeting of the General Board of Assistants in New York City. John Lloyd Dexter, of 31 West Atwater Street, Detroit, Michigan, submitted the charter of the Michigan Society. The officers were elected on 19 February 1901, at the Russell House in Detroit. The Society was organized on 3 April 1901, with 25 charter members. From September 5-7, 1903, two Michigan delegates attended the Third General Congress in Plymouth. One name has been lost to time, but representing Michigan was Deputy Governor General Joseph Sumner Rogers who was elected in 1903. Members visited the U.S. S. Mayflower, which was anchored in Plymouth harbor by order of the Secretary of the Navy. The U.S.S. Mayflower was decommissioned in 1904 and converted to serve as a Presidential yacht from 1906-1929. Members of the world's notable families visited the yacht and signed her guestbook over the years, yet President Hoover dispensed with using the ship as a yacht, saving costs of $300,000 annually. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 22 March 1929 and later recommissioned for military use. 25 Charter Members of the Michigan Society Charles Dana Standish, Founder Joshua Edward Howard Charles Wellman Hitchcock Julia Adele Strong Baldwin (Mrs. Lyman Baldwin) Lucy Anna Crapo Smith (Mrs. H. H. Smith) Fanny Judson Knight Butler (Mrs. Wm. Butler) Mary Newberry Ladue (Mrs. Austin Ladue) Helen Elizabeth Keep Joseph Sumner Rogers Lewis LeBaron Goodwin Jessie Clara Chase Fannie Parkins Howarth (Mrs. John Howarth) Ralph Stone Theodore Otis Leonard Elizabeth Brewster Cady (Mrs. David Cady) Mabel Henri Cady Georgiana Web Owen (Mrs. Rank Owen) Margaret Fox VanCleve Priscilla Boyce Webster (Mrs. Wm. Webster) Mark Lyman Vining James Dudley Hawks Emma Jane Farwell Jewett Paul Aaron Langevin Doty Adeline Hamilton Davis (Mrs. Frank Davis) Ellen McReynolds Nims (Mrs. Frederick Nims) Last Surviving Charter Member Lewis LeBaron Goodwin Lewis LeBaron Goodwin, state number 10, was the last surviving Charter Member. Mr. Goodwin was an active and contributing member for almost sixty years, until he died on 5 November 1965 at the age of 87. Mr. Goodwin was an investment broker, a native of Detroit, and a direct descendant of Richard Warren. He was also the oldest member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and one of the first officers of the Detroit Trust Co. Page 3 MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17
Assistant: Membership Secretary, Craig Rich Craig Rich is a lifelong Michigander whose ancestors came to the state in the 1840s. He caught the history bug in 8th grade and has been researching his family origins since then. He currently serves as president of the Cape Cod based Rich Family Association and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Elder William Brewster Society. His Mayflower lines are Brewster and Rogers. As a public servant, he served the people of Holland, Michigan, as city councilman for 28 years and as mayor pro-tem for 20 years. During this time, he represented the city on trade missions to Groningen, Netherlands, and Queretaro, Mexico. A former radio deejay, he has provided professional narration for video productions, radio and TV commercials. He is a speaker for local libraries, museums and historical societies on the subjects of local history, maritime history and especially Great Lakes shipwrecks. A published author, he has written two books on the maritime history of Ottawa and Muskegon counties. Craig also is a certified Master Diver with more than 500 logged scuba dives on shipwrecks throughout the Great Lakes. He is a Detroit Tigers fan, a cigar aficionado, and enjoys travel and photography. Craig is employed in the advertising department of the Grand Rapids Business Journal and lives in Holland, Michigan with his wife of 41 years. They have two grown daughters and a granddaughter. Elder: Heather McKane Rose Ms. Rose is a supply chain planner at the Dow Chemical Company and an adjunct professor at Northwood University. She lives in Midland with her two daughters, Sophia and Ashley Rose, both junior members. Heather s hometown is Lansing where she graduated from J.W. Sexton in 1989. She earned her B.B.A. in Management from Adrian College in 1993 and her Master s of Science Administration in Management from Central Michigan University in 2004. After completing her degree from Adrian College, Heather was hired by General Motors/Delphi Brake and Steering Division in Saginaw, Michigan, where she held numerous positions during her 16-year tenure, including: Manufacturing Supervisor, Supplier Quality Engineer, Chemical Purchasing Manager and Program Launch Leader. In 2010, she began to work for Dow in Midland in supply chain management. Her father, Terry McKane, instilled her appreciation for the Mayflower Society over the past 30 years; he held numerous positions in the Society between 1983 and 2016, when he elected to retire from the Elder position. Heather is looking forward to serving the Mayflower Society for many years to come. Key Dates in 1620 July 22 The ship Speedwell departs Delftshaven with the Leiden colonists and Pilgrims. August 5 The Mayflower and Speedwell depart together from Plymouth, England, but the Speedwell starts to leak again. September 6 The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, without the Speedwell, arriving on November 11 at Cape Cod. November 11 The Mayflower arrives at what is later known as Prov- incetown. The Mayflower Compact, the first governing document of the colony, is signed aboard the ship by 41 English colonists. December 25 The Pilgrims begin building a 20 x 20 ft. Common House at Plymouth. MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17 Page 4
Michigan Society Board of Assistants 2016-19 Back row: Craig Rich, Diane Sonnecken, Cindy Schmitt, Nancy Morley, Thora Goodnight, Mary Ellen Byrne, Elizabeth Williams; Front row: Janet Ernst, Grace Bliss Smith, Heather McKane Rose; Not pictured: June Gorman Assistant: Public Relations, Nancy Morley Nancy was born and raised in Lansing. She earned a B.A. in Education from Central Michigan University, and an M.A. in Education from Michigan State. Dennis and Nancy have been married for 37 years and have one daughter, Alicia, and one granddaughter, Lily, 13 years. They live in Owosso. Nancy has volunteered for various interests, including being the cochairman of the NCA School Improvement Committee, while she was a classroom teacher at Randels Elementary School, CarmanAinsworth School District, Flint. As a result, Randels was named the second elementary school in the state to become NCA accredited. Nancy volunteered at First Presbyterian Church as a member of the Board of Deacons and was secretary. She has been a training team leader for the Crim Festival of Races. member of the Mid-Michigan Crown Alums of Alpha Sigma Alpha, holding offices of president, vice president, secretary, and scholarship chair. She was named Alumnae District Liaison. At the national level she was named as a trustee for the sorority s foundation, and also served on the scholarship committee. Nancy volunteers with her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, as a founding She enjoys reading, playing golf, walking her dog, Josie, and travel. MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17 Her Mayflower connection is through Stephen Hopkins, and she is also a member of the Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society. Page 5
Mayflower Wood Plaque Mr. William Heath of Southington, Connecticut made this threedimensional wood plaque. He is a member of the General Society and a descendant of John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley through their daughter Lydia. Pilgrim Tercentenary 1620-1920 2 cent stamp He presented the plaque to Helen Pratt on 4 September 2009 to be given to the Michigan Mayflower Society to use as it wishes. Helen Pratt delivered the plaque to Rev. Cory Randall, Governor and Historian of the Michigan Society on 20 September 2009. Member Vicki Mott Friddle s father-in- Mayflower 350th Anniversary Commemorative Coin law collected coins. Vicki recently discovered the 350th anniversary coin (from 1970) in his collection. Michigan Society Marker at Pilgrim Monument Member Kim Smith s granddaughter climbed the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown during the summer. Kim captured a picture of her pointing to the Michigan Society s marker. The Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association commissioned the building of the monument to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims at Provincetown in November 1620. Standing at 252 feet, the monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the USA, consisting Page 6 of 116 steps and 60 ramps. President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907; it was dedicated by President William Taft in 1910. The Pilgrims explored the tip of Cape Cod before sailing to Plymouth. During their fiveweek stay at Provincetown, they drew up and signed the Mayflower Compact which established the first written framework for selfgovernment and was the basis for our Constitution. MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17
Looking Back: Michigan Society in 1927 Caption describing picture or graphic. Iva Avery s daughter sent this image of a banquet at the Detroit Leland, 11-21-1927. Iva is identified by the arrow. Pilgrim Spotlight: Stephen Hopkins In their interesting book, One Hundred & Eleven Questions & Answers Concerning the Pilgrims: Passengers on the Mayflower, 1620, authors William P. Muttart and Linda R. Ashley share little known facts about the Pilgrims. In 1609, Stephen Hopkins was aboard the Sea Venture that sailed from England in a fleet of eight ships. The Sea Venture was captained by Christopher Newport. Separated from the other ships during a storm, the Sea Venture ran onto a reef near Bermuda and stranded 150 passengers there for about 44 weeks. Shakespeare s play, The Tempest was based on the story of this shipwreck and the character, Stephano, most likely refers to Stephen Hopkins who once lived in a town near Shakespeare. Ordered by Sir Thomas Gates, a fellow passenger and Virginia s governor in 1610, to build a ship to transport the marooned passengers another 700 miles to Jamestown, Hopkins and several others refused. Hopkins, consid- ered the ringleader, was charged with mutiny and sentenced to be hanged; the others were temporarily banished to a remote island. After arguing that he had a family dependent upon him, Hopkins narrowly escaped his death sentence and was pardoned. As a result, other passengers built the ships Patience and Deliverance from salvaged timbers. The shipwrecked passengers were eventually able to sail to Jamestown, arriving 23 May 1609. Stephen Hopkins remained in Jamestown for several years. Although not technically a Separatist, Hopkins returned to England and became a vocal opponent of the English church. He later became one of the colony s leaders during the early years at Plymouth. He served as Assistant Governor from 1633-1636 and frequently accompanied Myles Standish during negotiations with area Indian tribes and during exploratory expeditions. MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17 Page 7
Society of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan Send address changes to: Craig Rich, Membership Secretary 120 W. 23rd Holland, MI 49423 Interested in joining? Contact Lee Bennett at: smdm-applications@comcast.net We re on the Web at http:// www.michmayflower.org Key Dates for 2017 1 May Scholarship Entries Due 20 May Spring Board Meeting & Spring Luncheon, East Lansing 8-13 Sep GSMD Congress, Plymouth, MA 14 Oct Fall Board Meeting 4 Nov Compact Day Luncheon, Frankenmuth MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17 Page 8 AFTER 10 DAYS RETURN TO: Mayflower Descendants in Michigan Craig Rich, Membership Secretary 120 W. 23rd Holland, MI 49423