Vol 62, Fall 2017 Mayflower Lynes Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Delaware mayflowerde.org David Bradford Governor Greetings Mayflower Cousins! It and Bob Hansen, at this year s 2017 Triennial was a thrill and honor to represent the Delaware Society, along with Noel Kuhrt Congress in Plymouth, MA. The Congress claimed the largest attendance of Mayflower cousins in the history of the GSMD! There is so much enthusiasm emanating from our sister societies across the country. The next 36 months promises to be an exciting and active time to be a Pilgrim descendent. I trust you will be eager to join in many of the exciting opportunities planned here in Delaware to honor our Mayflower kin and educate our friends and neighbors. In light of the high degree of divisiveness, rancor and racist vitriol that has swept over our nation these past months, I feel compelled to share with you a few thoughts. The increasingly hostile rhetoric and acts of protests seem to be invading every facet of American life, from politics to entertainment and sports, even challenging the very institutions and core values that have distinguished us as Americans since our Nation s founding. While attending the Congress, I was struck afresh by how truly miraculous the events at Plymouth Colony really were and how the special bond between the Pokanoket Indians and the Pilgrim Colonists left them uniquely positioned, or providentially intended as the Pilgrims understood it, to overcome the suspicions, biases and malicious transgressions of the French and English ship captains. In so doing, they forged the most positive and long-lasting friendship between two peoples in the history of North America. The Pokanoket were a friendly and peace-loving tribe of indigenous people who lived amongst hostile neighboring nations, tribes, and clans. When the French explorer Giovanni de Verranzano sailed into the Naragansett Bay in 1524 he referred to the Pokanoket as the goodliest people on earth noting that, These people are the most beautiful and have the most civil customs we have found on this voyage. They also were a deeply spiritual tribe and were known throughout the region as the praying Indians. In the Spring of 1621, the Massasoit couldn t help but notice something peculiar about the group of Englishmen at Plimoth that was very different from the other foreigners they had encountered. These men brought with them women and children something they had never seen before. They reasoned that had the Pilgrims intended to cause them harm, they surely would not have brought their women and children with them. The subsequent treaty that was quickly signed established both parties as equals and promised mutual assistance should either be attacked or threatened by others. Adherence to this treaty would ultimately blossom into a genuine and lasting friendship that lasted well over half a century. As Mayflower descendants we should be well-acquainted with the details and history of this special relationship; now more than ever. As we approach the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower crossing with its heightened publicity, you and I will have many opportunities to remind our friends and neighbors of the legacy our ancestors left us as Americans a legacy as peacemakers and problem-solvers, not bigots or problem-makers. We can point our fellow citizens to the one true founding relationship that is emblematic and worthy of our understanding and remembrance. The relationship between the Pokanoket and Pilgrim, who together humbled themselves before their Creator and were mindful to give thanks for what He had bestowed upon them, was a relationship of friendship, peace and respect that built not only a colony and a community, but ultimately a nation. As Governor Bradford so eloquently reminded us, Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise. Let us choose to follow their example and take the message of peace, love, respect and reconciliation displayed at Plymouth to a world desperately seeking of examples of this hope today.y
The 41st Congress, September 9-12, 2017 by Noel Kuhrt There were over 600 attendees including 361 delegates from 51 of our 53 Member Societies. Delaware was represented by Governor David M. Bradford, AG Robert J. Hanson, DGG Noel H. Kuhrt and their wives Kathy, Barbara and Karen. The opening ceremony of Congress was in the National Memorial Pilgrim Church which is the fifth structure on the site where the Pilgrims built their first meeting house in 1621 at the top of Leiden Street adjacent to Burial Hill. We observed Parish and GSMD leaders signing the contract donating the meeting house to the General Society in 2020 providing GSMD raises an endowment fund of $3 million for restoration and maintenance. The intent is for us to use the meeting house as our Mayflower education center, as a rental venue for other activities and as a continuing spiritual center. The building celebrates the Pilgrim story through its Norman architecture, Arts and Craft interior and Tiffany stained glass windows depicting Pilgrim scenes. Later during Congress GG Filson brought up the subject of the endowment fund. Since a first question of any funding institution asked to make a donation is, How much have you raised from your membership? GG Lea Filson asked each Member Society to pledge their intent to donate a total of at least $5,000 over the next 3 years. She then called each Member Society individually to have a delegate stand and publicly state the intent of that Society. All 51 societies present, including Delaware, pledged this intent. Raising this endowment fund is perhaps the most significant financial goal since our Mayflower Society was founded in 1897. Consequently, we need our members to make generous contributions. Please write a tax deductible check to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Delaware or simply SMDD with the notation For the Pilgrim National Meeting House Fund. Both you and SMDD will receive credit for your thoughtful gift. Historian General Marjorie K. Hurtuk reported 2,035 applications and supplementals were approved this past year bringing in our 100,000th member since 1897 for a total of 30,000 current members. Treasurer General Donald T. Studley reported our net assets are $10,627,575 not including the Mayflower House and campus. This is a net increase of $638 K. All General Society Officer, Committee Chairperson and Member Society reports will be published in full in the December Quarterly. Three Constitutional amendments were approved. They are that the election of the 3 Executive Committee Members-at-Large shall be elected by plurality vote i.o. majority. That wherever State Society occurs in the Constitution and By Laws it be replaced by Member Society to accommodate our international societies. Lastly, the Nominating Committee shall submit its report in February and that it be published in the March Quarterly Magazine. Congress elected all of the Committee nominated General Officers except Surgeon General. Current SG Naomi S. Mann was floor nominated and elected to a 2nd term. The elected Executive Committee Members-at- Large are Lisa H. Pennington of TX, Donald T. Studley of CT and Jane D. Schleinzer of IL. Governor General George P. Garmany, Jr. and his wife Beverly have been invited to visit Delaware for our November 17, 2018 Compact Luncheon. The next General Board of Assistants meeting will be on September 8, 2018 in Chicago. The 42nd Triennial Congress in 2020 will last 10 days occurring consecutively in Boston and Provincetown as well as Plymouth. There will be many Mayflower tours in England and Holland over the next 3 years. Check out availability on www.themayflowersociety.org. y 2
GSMD Congress Achievements by Robert J Hanson Jr, Social Media Chair At the 41st General Congress three major contracts were approved. The first contract was approval for the Mayflower DNA Project with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). FTDNA hopes to collect DNA from as many members as possible to establish a more accurate profile of our ancestors DNA. While this will not be used as proof of a lineage, it could be used to make links that might not have been considered and help develop a family tree. There are three different DNA tests that can be considered. Y Chromosomal DNA (Y-DNA), mitochondrial DNA (mtdna) and autosomal DNA (nuclear DNA). You can learn more about each at FamilytreeDNA.com. All GSMD members can get a discount on their tests as part of the Mayflower Project. If you have already had a test done by ancestry or 23and me, you can transfer the results for free to Family Tree. All information will be kept confidential. Another part of the project includes identifying potential members who will be referred to Plymouth with their permission. The second contract was between GSMD, New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)and Family Search (FS). FS will digitally scan and index all membership applications, supplemental applications and associated vital records. The records will be secured in one of the many deep caves that hold over three billion records. They will return every five years to scan the newest records. When indexed the records will be available on line to anyone researching their ancestry. Vital records will not be available that were established within the last100 years. The cost of all this is free to the GSMD. The digital records will be the property of GSMD and subject to their rules. I think you will agree that this will be a valuable resource to our historians and anyone trying to establish their lineage. Last but certainly not least, is the contract between GSMD and the First Parish Church Congregation. The congregation is not large enough to be able to maintain the church and has offered to donate it to the GSMD, subject to assuring it will be maintained. The contract establishes a trust fund, with trustees from both GSMD and the parish. GSMD will need to raise $3 million dollars in three years, for repairs and maintenance, and if successful, title will be transferred to GSMD. If not successful, the church will revert to the parish and any money in escrow will be used for repairs. First Parish Church is on the National Registry of Historical Places and is home to the longest continuous congregation in the U.S., having been founded in 1606. The GSMD hopes to make it into a Pilgrim learning center and continue the parish services and other religious events. This is a very worthwhile undertaking and I would hope everyone would make a donation. Donations can be made through the Delaware Society, and are allowable tax deductions. y DELAWARE MAYFLOWER FACEBOOK by Robert J Hanson Jr, Social Media Chair I would encourage our membership, who have not already done so, to visit our Facebook page. I will continue to make posts, but would like to hear from you about how we can improve the site and what additional information we can post. I encourage you to like the site and share with others who might be interested. We have been receiving likes from the general public and I would like to see many more followers. Thanks for your interest. y 3
Pilgrim Biographies This issue continues a series of short biographies of each of our Pilgrim fathers who have proven descendents. Credit is given to the Historian of the Arizona Society who compiled these biographies in the 1980s. Please enjoy learning about these brave men whose combined efforts and dedication to a new way of life left an indelible mark on the world. 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 November 4, 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 February 25, 1621 during the general sickness that befell the Pilgrims that first winter. He then married Fear Brewster, daughter of William Brewster before May 22, 1627. She died December 12, 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. 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 at Leyden, Holland Hester Mahieu from Canterbury, England on July 4, 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. His wife, Hester, 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 on April 7, 1663. His will and inventory of his estate are on record at Plymouth. Hester, his wife, died after June 8, 1666. JOHN HOWLAND John Howland was born in 1592 at Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England. He was the son of Henry Howland. He came aboard the Mayflower listed as a servant to John Carver. In the mid Atlantic during a storm, Howland was swept overboard, but he caught a topsail halyard which hung over the side and was hauled 4
back on board ship. About 1624 John Howland married Elizabeth Tilley, also a Mayflower passenger, who had lost her parents during the great sickness that befell the Pilgrims during their first winter at Plymouth. Descent from John Howland has been proven through all ten of his children. He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. John Howland was prominent in the public affairs of the Colony, serving several times as an Assistant Governor, and in 1634 was in command of the Pilgrims trading post on the Kennebec River in Maine. He died on February 24, 1672/3. His will and inventory of estate are on record at Plymouth. His wife, Elizabeth, died on December 21, 1687 at Swansea. GEORGE SOULE George Soule was born in England, probably between 1593 and 1600. He came over on the Mayflower as a servant of Edward Winslow, possibly as a tutor for his children. He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. He was married at Plymouth before 1626 to Mary Becket (or Bucket) who came over on the Anne in 1623. Nothing is known of her ancestry. They moved nearby Duxbury about 1642, and he served as a representative from that community on the Plymouth Colony General Court for many years. Existing land records show that he acquired extensive holdings in the nearby towns of Dartmouth, Middleboro, Marshfield, and Bridgewater; however, he never resided in any of these communities. George Soule died at Duxbury in 1679. His wife died in December 1676. His will and inventory of his estate are on record at Plymouth. There were nine children, but descent from George Soule has been proven through only seven on them: John, Nathaniel, George, Susanna, Mary, Elizabeth, and Patience. y MD Governor Battles to Address Delaware Society Be honest. By the title of this article, I m sure some of you were wondering why a Maryland Governor would have to fight to speak to our SMDD. Quite the opposite, this year we are honored and delighted to have Maryland Society Governor James Battles address our 2017 Compact Day luncheon Saturday, November 18th at 11:30 a.m. at the Vicmead Hunt Club, 903 Owls Nest Road in Wilmington. Dr. Battles will tell us how the military and armour used by the Pilgrims helped secure the peace and friendship with the Pokanoket nation for over half a century; the longest lasting treaty with native American indians in the history of this continent and the only North American treaty to survive both lifetimes of its principal leaders, Governor Bradford and Massasoit Osamequin. His presentation titled, Rembrandt s De Nachwacht and the Arms and Armor of the Pilgrims, traces the influences of the Dutch Militia, as expressed in art, on the formation of the militia for Plymouth Colony. Jim will also share with us exciting news of the recent creation of the GSMD Mayflower Guard. This should be an exciting topic and one that many of Jr. Members might be excited to see and hear! Hope to see you on the 18th. y 5
Did you know trips are being planned in commemoration of the 400th Anniversary? PILGRIM PATHWAYS are four heritage tours being sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in collaboration with The General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plimouth Plantation, and the Plymouth 400 Anniversary. Pilgrim Roots of the Great Migration from August 7 15, 2018, Scrooby Manor, England Pilgrim Escape to Leiden, Spring 2019, Leiden, The Netherlands The Mayflower Embarkation, Spring 2020, Plymouth and London, England A New England Sojourn, June 2020 and September 2020, Massachusetts To learn more, visit American Ancestors. org/heritage-tours or contact Danielle Torres at Danielle.torres@nehgs.org or call 617-226-1215. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TOURS TO ENGLAND ORGANIZED BY MAYFLOWER UK. Mayflower 400 Trail, seven night tour of England from September 10 17, 2018 and September 9 16, 2019; Mayflower 400 Trail, ten day tour England and the Netherlands from September 7-17, 2018 and September 6 16, 2019. Contact Rowena Drinkhouse at Rowena@ ReformationTours.com\ for group tours or tailored itineraries and for individual tours contact www.tours-international.com or call tollfree 888-505-1050. y 6 400th Anniversary Commemoration by Noel Kuhrt The 41st Congress approved the commission of a life size bronze statue of William Bradford writing in his diary, Of Plymouth Plantation the quote, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some part to our whole nation. The statue will include a small eternally lit candle as well as the phrase and be located in our Mayflower House garden as the Society s 400th anniversary monument. By total coincidence our Delaware Governor David M. Bradford, one of a few direct male descendants of William Bradford sat for two days next to Dee Clements the commissioned sculptor. David has given him pictures of his line from sons back to his grandfather. It is entirely possible the monument may bear a close resemblance to our Delaware Governor David M. Bradford. See the web site link http://www.deeclements. net for images of his sculptures. The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee which recommends stamp subjects to the Postal Service has received our request for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower and the arrival of the Pilgrims to the new world. A consideration is being given to using the new thermocromic printing technology first used to depict the recent solar eclipse stamp. It could comprise black and white Pilgrim silhouettes which in turn become colored images upon heat from your thumb. Unfortunately the US House and Senate Bills to have the US Mint issue a series of commemorative coins recognizing the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage expired when the 114th Congress concluded. If we are to take advantage of the national recognition and financial benefit of this issue we must duplicate our previous effort to obtain co-sponsorship. To date Congress has frustrated our efforts to introduce new House and Senate Bill numbers. As soon as these numbers become known you will be informed and asked again to request Senator Carper and Senator Coons to co-sponsor the Senate Bill and our new Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester to co-sponsor the House Bill. If approved into law, GSMD would use its share of revenue from sale of coins at no cost to the tax payer to educate the public how the Pilgrims helped shape western civilization. y
New Members William H. Frost, Jr. William H. Frost, Jr. was born in Middleborough, MA and grew up in Syracuse, NY. He obtained a Master Degree In Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Completed Voyages William worked for the DuPont Company as a systems specialist and am now working as a Data Architect in my retirement. I have been working on my family s genealogy over the last 30+ years, on and off, and finally made it to the Mayflower Society. My granddaughters provided plenty of motivation to get it done. All of my grandparents can be traced back to Mayflower passengers. My mother used to say everybody is related to everybody else. My first line submitted for membership was to Edward Doty. My next submission will be to John Billington. Once more we stand upon the shore of the sea and bid farewell to a ship that loses itself over the rim of the world. O God, give fair voyaging and safe harbor! And as we stand upon this hither shore and bid farewell, grant us faith to hear the voices which on yonder shore cry, Welcome and All Hail. Amen James Ford Richardson Died May 1, 2017 Gen # 57148; DE # 262 Descended 11th from Edward Doty John Watson Christie, Jr., Died August 3, 2017 Gen # 49220; DE # 210 Descended 10th from Richard Warren and 10th from John Howland Carobelle Sutton Hanssmann Died August 21, 2017 Gen # 49021; DE 207 Descended 10th from Edward Doty and 12th from Edward Fuller The smile continues to grace the Delaware Society! This past year $86.77 was added to our treasury simply by placing your Amazon orders through the charitable site. At only.05 % of the purchase price, the cents add up! With the holidays approaching if you don t already use Amazon Smile, please begin placing your orders through this charitable link, http//smile.amazon.com/ ch/37-1572073. You only have to enter the link once. After that the icon may appear on your menu bar, and if not, you can always bookmark it for future use. http//smile.amazon.com/ch/37-1572073 Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Delaware 2017 Board of Assistants Committee Chairs Governor Deputy Governor Secretary Assistant Secretary Treasurer Historian Elder Captain Surgeon Counsellor Assistant Assistant Assistant Past Governor David M. Bradford TBD Lois B. Schlegel TBD Andrew W. Edmonds, Jr. Penny E. Perry D. Geoffrey Gamble John L. Crossan Dorothy B. Wiker Gregory J. Weinig Barbara G. Welch Robert J. Hanson, Jr. Susan S. Bunting Barbara G. Welch Community Outreach Christina W. Lassen Education Susan S. Bunting Finance TBD Library Elizabeth A. Happoldt Membership J. Kai Lassen Publications Barbara G. Welch Social Media Robert J. Hanson, Jr. General Society Deputy Governor General Noel H. Kuhrt, Jr. Assistant General Robert J. Hanson, Jr. 7
Vicmead Hunt Club 903 Owls Nest Road Greenville, Delaware 19807 ANNUAL MEETING AND COMPACT DAY LUNCHEON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 Speaker: Rembrandt s De Nachwacht and the Arms and Armor of the Pilgrims, James B. Battles, Governor, Maryland Mayflower Society Schedule: Gathering at 11:30 a.m. with cash bar Seated for meeting at noon Lunch at 12:30 p.m. Menu: First Course, Entrée and Dessert $33 1st Course: Mixed Greens Salad topped w/ Mandarin Oranges and Orange Vinaigrette Entrée: Breast of Chicken stuffed w/ Ham & Swiss OR Flounder w/ Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce Child s Plate: Chicken Tenders and French Fries $19 RSVP by November 10 to: Lois Schlegel, 114 Horseshoe Road, Newark, DE 19711-2413 or email lbspsu62@yahoo.com Make checks payable to: SMDD or Society of Mayflower Descendants in Delaware I (we) will attend the Compact Day Luncheon on Saturday, November 18 Chicken Fish Child s Member Spouse Guest(s) Jr. Members(s) Make checks payable to: Society of Mayflower Descendants in Delaware (SMDD) $ 8