November 25, 2013
Introduction: In this article—just in time for Thanksgiving—Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to trace ancestry all the way back to the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board the Mayflower in 1620 for a fresh start in the New World. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.
Although endlessly rewarding, it is true that tracing ancestry is a time-consuming process requiring much patience—especially if one wishes to connect to the Mayflower passengers, those 102 Pilgrims who sailed from Leiden, Holland, in September 1620 bound for the New World—anchoring off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in November 1620.
Tragically, only half the Plymouth Rock settlers survived their first winter in the New World—and if any are your progenitors, you could conceivably be required to compile from 12-18 generations of documentary evidence to trace your Pilgrim ancestry and prove you are a descendant. Fortunately, there are many ways to research the Mayflower voyage and the Pilgrims, even if you can’t visit Leiden or Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts (although please put these stops on your genealogical travel shortlist).
I traveled to Leiden, Holland, several years ago to conduct first-hand research on my Mayflower Pilgrim ancestry, and found this Dutch marriage record for future Mayflower ship passengers Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris from 1611.
However, as I say, you don’t need to travel to research your Mayflower Pilgrim ancestry—you can do it from the comfort of your own home, relying on your computer and the Internet, using several helpful websites and having access to online historical newspapers.
Common genealogical advice suggests that you start your family history research with yourself and work backwards to prove ancestry. However, with Mayflower genealogy research, you might want to work “down the research ladder,” instead of up, as it could very well save you a few steps.
Approved List of Mayflower Passengers
Start at the top of your family tree by looking for surnames matching the list of passengers on the Mayflower, shown on the accepted list of eligible ancestors compiled by Pilgrim lineage societies, most notably the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
| John Alden | Bartholomew Allerton | Isaac Allerton |
| Mary (Norris) Allerton | Mary Allerton | Remember Allerton |
| Elinor Billington | Francis Billington | John Billington |
| William Bradford | Love Brewster | Mary Brewster |
| William Brewster | Peter Browne | James Chilton |
| Mrs. James Chilton | Mary Chilton | Francis Cooke |
| John Cooke | Edward Doty | Francis Eaton |
| Samuel Eaton | Sarah Eaton | Moses Fletcher |
| Edward Fuller | Mrs. Edward Fuller | Samuel Fuller |
| Samuel Fuller (son of Edward) | Constance Hopkins | Elizabeth (Fisher) Hopkins |
| Giles Hopkins | Stephen Hopkins | John Howland |
| Richard More | Priscilla Mullins | William Mullins |
| Degory Priest | Joseph Rogers | Thomas Rogers |
| Henry Samson | George Soule | Myles Standish |
| Elizabeth Tilley | John Tilley | Joan (Hurst) Tilley |
| Richard Warren | Peregrine White | Resolved White |
| Susanna White | William White | Edward Winslow |
Publications by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants
And if that surname research strategy fails, research Mayflower descendants to the fifth generation to try and find a match to your family. Many publications exist, including the famous pink or gray Pilgrim lineage books published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants—many of which are available at libraries. As accepted references, these Society publications allow you to bypass submitting proofs for any Mayflower descendant they’ve already established.
The silver books trace the first five generations of Mayflower descendants.
The smaller pink books are Mayflower Families in Progress (MFIP), and are produced as new information becomes available.
Newspaper Evidence for Peregrine (or Peregrin) White and His Descendants
An extraordinary amount of newspaper articles and obituaries mentioning Mayflower ancestry exist in GenealogyBank’s historical newspaper archives.
Although not my Mayflower ancestor, I’m fascinated by Peregrine White. He was the son of William and Susanna White, who crossed the ocean on the Mayflower with his older brother Resolved. Susanna was pregnant with Peregrine during the Atlantic crossing, and he became the first Plymouth Colony baby of English ancestry when he was born on 20 November 1620 on board the Mayflower in Provincetown Harbor. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peregrine_White.)
After William White died—as so many did, during the Colony’s first winter—Susanna married widower Edward Winslow, of whom much is written. After reaching manhood, Peregrine married Sarah Bassett, and if you are one of their descendants, you have a multitude of cousins.
One of your relatives is their grandson George Young (1689-1771), son of their daughter Sarah White (1663-1755) and Thomas Young (1663-1732).
George Young’s lineage was noted in this 1771 obituary.
Being such a small colony of settlers, the Mayflower Pilgrim’s children intermarried. As reported in this 1821 newspaper article, John Alden was a descendant of his grandfather by the same name—and also of Peregrine White, via his grandmother. He is thought to have married twice, first to Lydia Lazell and later to Rebecca Weston, although neither of his wives are mentioned in this obituary. Note how many of John Alden’s descendants were living when he died at the ripe old age of 103.
Elder James White, who founded the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, was another direct descendant of the Mayflower Pilgrims. His religious affiliation and his Mayflower ancestry were reported in this 1881 newspaper obituary.
Reporting Trend in Pilgrim Descendants’ Obituaries
Do you notice a trend in these obituaries? The importance of being a descendant of a Mayflower passenger tends to overshadow all other aspects of an individual’s life!
For example, Ellen Gould Harmon was the spouse of Elder James White—and her obituary from 1915 makes more notice of his roots than her own.
Are You My Mayflower Cousin?
Although I have not located Peregrine White ancestry in my own family tree, if you trace to any of the following Mayflower passengers, then you and I are cousins:
- William Brewster and Mary (maiden name unknown)
- Giles Hopkins and Catherine Whelden
- Stephen Hopkins and Mary (maiden name unknown)
- John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley
We are in good company. By 1909, one writer’s conservative estimate calculated that by the 10th generation, any of the Mayflower passengers could have had at least 3,500,000 descendants! Since most Mayflower descendants are now of the 13th, 14th, 15th or 16th generation, that number has skyrocketed.
The rising number of Mayflower Pilgrim descendants is reported in this 1909 newspaper article.
If you think you are a descendant of the Mayflower passengers, this article from the New England Historic Genealogical Society may be of interest, “The Society of Mayflower Descendants: Who they are, where to find them, how to apply”.
Learn more about the people on the Mayflower passenger list and how to research your Mayflower genealogy using GenealogyBank. Or search our ship passenger records to start tracing your family history on the Mayflower and other passenger ships from 1704-1984.
Have you traced your ancestry back to one of the Mayflower ship passengers? If so, please tell us about it in the comments section. We’d love to know who your Mayflower ancestors are.
Interesting article and according to your ancestry we are distant cousins. I have built on another relatives genealogy work and am descended from- William and Mary Brewster, Thomas Rogers thru son Joseph who was a child on the Mayflower and Stephen and Mary Hopkins thru Giles and Catherine Weldon.
I find it amazing that out of 51 Pilgrims Millions of people can claim this ancestry.
Nice to meet you and Happy Thanksgiving.
I am a descendant of John Howland and elizabeth Tillry through their daughter Desire Howland. This is so cool! I found out through BYUs Relative Finder.
Me too!
I also am related through john Howland Elizabeth Tilley daughter, Desire.
Hello! I am also a great granddaughter of Catherine Wheldon and Giles Hopkins! There are others (at least 21 lines) I am still working on. One of my cousins belongs to the Jamestown Society, and through her I’ve been able to achieve a length line of mayflower relatives. It’s great to be able to say hello to you all ❤️
I have traced back to Stephen Hopkins and Constance Hopkins. I think there are other Mayflower ancestors in my genealogy as well.
I am a descendant of Edward and Samuell Fuller. So excited to just discovering this.
Hi Paige,
I also descend through Edward and Samuell Fuller. My line goes through the Blackfords eventually. I can’t recall who was in-between. Does you line include the Blackfords?
Hello Paige & Camilla,
I am descendant of Edward & Samuel Fuller. My line goes from Samuel Fuller marrying The Reverend John Lothrops daughter, Jane. Her brother Samuel Lothrop is my 9th Great Uncle & 9th Great grandfather. A descendant of his Eunice Lothrop married into the Rappleye Family that migrated in 1624, they are my maternal side, the Fullers my paternal side. Both of my Grandmothers share THE Reverend John Lothrop as their 9th Great Grandfather. Lothrops migrated, I think 1633.
My maternal Grandmother is a descendant of Mayflower passenger William Brewster. My Grandmothers never knew they were related.
I am related to Elizabeth & John Tilley, their dau. Desire, her son, James.Gorham, his dau. Experience Gorham Lothrop, her dau. Lydia Lothrop Bacon, her son, Ebenezer, his son, Ebenezer, his dau. Margaret Bacon Lewis whose son John Bacon Lewis continued the adventurous spirit & came to California in 1849. He stayed in San Francisco until 1857 when he & his wife moved to Petaluma, Sonoma, CA where the family resided until 2000 & separated to other parts of CA.
Barbara,
You have many cousins related to the same ancestors. Hope you are enjoying this 400 year anniversary of the sailing.
Mary
Hi!
I am related to
John Tilley, his wife Joan Hurst Tilley (12th great grandparents);
Elizabeth Tilley and John Howland (11th great grandparents);
Richard Warren (12th great uncle); Henry Samson (1st cousin 12xR);
Edward Winslow (2nd cousin 11xR);
William Mullins (2nd cousin 11xR) and his daughter Priscilla Mullins (3rd cousin 11xR who later married John Alden); and
William Bradford (2nd cousin 12xR and his 2nd wife, Alice Carpenter, is my 10th great aunt).
So fun to have these connections… many relatives among their descendents. Makes history come alive.
I am related to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins.
I am a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins…. my Revolutionary War ancestor, Robert Lenthal Eells, married my Alden line ancestor Ruth Copeland. Sorry we are not cousins but I know many, many people who are Hopkins and Tilley descendants like you! Just attended the Maine Mayflower Society meeting last Saturday and it was great- we had an interpreter from Plimoth to speak with us in character, Elizabeth Tilley. I am so looking forward to the celebrations in 2020 for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims voyage!!
@pat claus, i too am a descendant of John Alden as well as William Bradford. My dad (now deceased) and brother are both named John Alden
A cousin of my husband traced her (and my husband’s) ancestry to Gov Bradford’s son. One of our ancestors married the son. Do you have info re the son?
/
I am descended from William Bradford, b. 1624, son of Governor William Bradford, b. 1589.
Pat,
Thank you for the comment you posted many years ago. We may be cousins. I haven’t established it yet, but there’s a good chance I have Alden and Mullins roots.
Mary
I found out from my sister that my family are descendants of William Brewster, Myles Standish and John Alden. My family consists of Miller, Jhart, Winterson, Collins, Sisler and MacGrath. And Triller.
At least according to family lore I am descended from William and Mary Brewster. I have yet to verify it and join the Mayflower Society.
Pat,
I am also a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins! It is so amazing to find out our roots!
Thank you for sharing all of the Mayflower connections! And for those who don’t share my Pilgrim ancestry, perhaps we are related in other ways.
My best wishes for a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
I am a descendant of Isaac Allerton through his daughter Remember. I have loved reading the Mayflower articles available on GenealogyBank.com and was thrilled to see the marriage record of Isaac and Mary Norris that you discovered in Leiden. Thank you so much for sharing that record and your knowledge on the blog!
Julie,
Very happy that the Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris marriage record was a welcome addition to your family research, and thank you also for the nice comments.
One of the reasons I pursued this line, is that I have an ancestor named Isaac Allerton, but the proof connecting him to his ancestor is missing!
Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy your holidays.
Mary
To Allerton Descendants: My husband John Shiels (1942-2018) was adopted at birth but was a direct (DNA) biological descendant of Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris by way of their daughter Remember who married Moses Maverick. I have more information about the Allerton Family I am wiling to share.
Hi Carol
My name is Adrian John Allerton. I live in Torbay, not far from Plymouth but i hail from Manchester. My grandmother told my father that we had connections and relatives in the USA. I was intrigued to be told by my father that a long time ago a delegation came across from America and visited her in Manchester. They requested passport’s which they said they would return but never did? Its all quite confusing. I am curious and wondered if there was any way i could find out if I am related to any of the Allerton’s aboard the Mayflower.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Kind regards.
Adrian.
My husband is also a descendent of Rebecca Maverick daughter of Remember Allerton Maverick, daughter of Issac & Mary Allerton. It was awesome when I found this connection and told him of this. Going back to make this connection was a very hard job to confirm lots of time on the computer researching and following name after name, story after story. Once started it was hard to stop researching. I made copies of everything I found on this family. The only way to keep the line correct.
Thank you for more information on the family.
Valencia,
Congratulations on establishing this link to the Mayflower passengers.
Mary
Happy 392th Thanksgiving & Thank you for your Blog from a William Brewster, (at least three lines) Thomas & Joseph Rogers, Henry Samson, James & Mary Chilton descendant. Ray Raser Co-Editor CAMayflower Quarterly, Governor San Diego Colony Mayflower Descendants
Thank you for your Thanksgiving greeting! Hope yours was as special as ours was, spent with family. So happy that you enjoyed this article.
Mary
Was excited to see your blog. I just made connection from Mary Allerton through the Cushman families of Isaac, Isaac and Sarah, who married Benjamin Spooner then through Spooners to Harriet Spooner who married Emory B.F. Draper who is my Great grandfather. Is there someway to get a copy of the marriage certificate? Thanks for your information. Lloyd
To Mr. Lloyd Draper
Are you referring to the Benjamin Spooner ca. 1714-1740, son of Rosamond Hammond and John Spooner (son of John S. Spooner)?
I am descended from him, but info about him, perhaps because he died young, is a weak link in my Preliminary Review I’ve just filed with the Gen Soc. of Mayflower descendants.
We just discovered my husbands link to Isaac Allerton through the Cushman line too. We are fairly certain of the link but have been struggling to verify that Asenith Cushman (daughter of Allerton Cushman Jr and Alethea Soule) is the same that married Joseph Downer IV
We need to verify that Cushman Downer was their child to complete the lineage.
Lloyd,
Congratulations on finding your connection to the Allertons.
An easy way to save the image is to save the article in portable document format. Go to the bottom of the blog, and select PDF next to PRINT. After clicking on it, you will be presented with a SAVE, or a SAVE AS PDF option and can then proceed to save it to your computer.
To extract the image from the article, right-click the image and select Save As (on a MAC use Ctrl+Click as a substitute for right-clicking.) Take the opportunity to add an appropriate name such as “Allerton-Norris Leiden marriage from Mary Harrell-Sesniak and GenealogyBank blog of 2013-11-25.”
Although the name is long, I recommend adding a similar notation so the attribution is retained.
Hope this helps!
Mary
HI,
I am descended from George Soule, Edward, Ann and Samuel Fuller. And probably Francis Eaton and William Brewster, and a few others but can’t prove those. Also Henry Howland, brother of John Howland of the Mayflower.
It gets really complicated the first 4 generations from the Mayflower as there weren’t that many people to marry… cousins got married and the names were so overused… 🙂
anyway, I’m having lots of fun trying to make the “links” viable and real… sometimes there are wishful thinking people who claim some links that are just “wrong”.
Have fun.
Bob,
It certainly is fun tracking down the Mayflower connections. I recommend spending time with the pink and silver books, as well as contacting the various Mayflower groups to see if they can help you with your proofs.
Mary
Bob,
My husband is related to George Soule as well… so you are probably a cousin. Would you like to exchange information? The Soule line is through his mother..
Barbara Elio
Well, i have found that George Soule was the father-in-law of my 8th great uncle, Francis West. But so far, I haven’t found a Mayflower ancestor.
Bonnie, at the time of your writing this, I had just discovered my connection to George Soule through Patience Soule (Soule, Haskell, Drinkwater, Bayes, Semple, and me). I’m a direct descendant and was completely shocked. I’m Canadian and didn’t realize there was a Canadian contingent of the Mayflower Society. I’m avidly on the trail. Spent August in the New England researching this interesting aspect of my family history.
I am a descendent of George Soule and Sarah Drinkwater, “an American” as it is written in an old family letter; does this mean she was a Native American? I met a man whose name was Soule, a clammer in Oyster Bay, Washington who talked of his direct lineage to George Soule of the Mayflower. We celebrated our common relations long into the night around a campfire at the edge of Willapa Bay and an ancient forest!
I am a descendent of George Soule on my mother’s mother’s side and I have a West connection as well.
Hi Bob – I too am related to the Fullers!
What is your connection?
my ancestor is Joshua Robinson whose mother Ruth Fuller was the daughter of Sgt Samuel Fuller the son of Lt Samuel Fuller the son of Dr Matthew Fuller the son of Edward and Ann Fuller.
George Soule is my 10th great grandfather
and Stephen Hopkins is my 11th great-uncle, Constance and Giles Hopkins my 11th 1st cousins once removed.
I was curious about the first person in my family to step foot in America, thanks to the tv series “Who do you think you are” and “Finding your Roots”. With the help of online databases, I was shocked to discover my roots go waaaay back – both to Jamestown Colony (William Powell and Temperance Flowerdew) and the Mayflower (John Alden, Issac Allerton, William Brewster, Edward Fuller and Richard Warren).
I wished I had paid more attention to American history in high school. And I am learning all about the English Civil war(s).
Lina,
Thank you so much for sharing, and best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable Thanksgiving.
I think all genealogists relate to your comment about wishing we’d paid more attention in history class — but as you discovered, it’s never too late to start finding your family’s place in history.
Mary
I am a decendent of Peregrin White, He was my 8th great grandfather on my fathers side, (George W Young 1901 to 2000), the direct decendent of Sarah White and Thomas Young. I am curious as to how much information exists about Sarah and Thomas and the decendents from them. My father was born in Arkansas and moved his family to the bay area of northern California in the mid 40’s, where I was born in 1946 he passed at age 99 in 2000. I currently live in northern Cal, just 120 miles north of our original home site. I had no clue as to who I was until after the deaths of my parents, my first introduction to Ancestry.com was exciting beyond my wildest dreams and then I went to Europe, on line, and found ancestors on my fathers side, of grandfathers Young, Yonge etc. back to the year 1325 My mom was also the decendent of very early pilgrims sur names Savage/Glotfellty who settled in the north west parts of Pennsylvania and southern Maryland, the Savage side of which may have been here even before the Mayflower, as they came from the Virginia area. Wow, Who knew? Very exciting stuff!
Sandy,
What an exciting genealogical journey. Peregrine White is widely followed. You may wish to research him in the many books published on the Mayflower passengers.
Mary
Hello Sandy, I believe we are related through Peregrine White. I found out after my Grandfathers death through a published book by Roscoe White called White Family Records; Descendants of Peregrine White, son of William and Susanna (Fuller) White, 1620 to 1939. My grandfather, James Russell Jenkins and my Great grandmother, Marella Bernice (Bush) Jenkins were listed. If I am reading it correctly, then I am a 12th lineal descendant. I am utterly amazed and shocked. I have recently submitted my descendant list to The Mayflower Society. I am eagerly awaiting their findings.
It is my understanding that it was recently proven that Sarah White was Sarah Jackson White and not Sarah Fuller White. I believe it’s true and wonder if it changes your lineage. My White family is a line for numerous Patriots for my Daughters of the American Revolution membership and I’ve hit a couple of stumbling blocks along the way. Knowing Sarah’s true lineage will help a lot but I’m still stumbling on a few others in the White line – name Daniel White all the way to William T. White. If you have information on the White line that you will share, I’d appreciate it. You can email me at dee@deeeva.com
Dee Eva
650-619-2999
Sandy, I am also a descendant of Peregrine White, I seen where your mother was a Glotfellty , my mother was a Clodfelter & that is the way her surname is spelled here in N,C. & thru her is how I go back to Peregrine & Sarah Bassett. When her ancestors arrived in Pa. 1743 their name was spelled Glattfelder & that is the way my 4th GGgrandfather spelled his name – Felix Glattfelder – when he came to NC in 1762, now called Old Salem. The spelling changed here in NC around 1800 to Clodfelter. The Glattfelder family just had their 113th reunion in York, Pa. I have seen our name spelled over 7 different ways & Glotfellty is one of them, so I’m pretty sure we both are Glattfelders on our mom’s side of our familys. Vance
Hi Vance,
I, too, am descended from Felix Glattfelder through son Jacob-daughter Elizabeth Weir-daughter Mary Ann Siceloff-daughter Sarah Eller- daughter Esther Eads- daughter Ruth Holloway- me.
I have tried to connect to Peregrine White through his son Jonathan.’s daughter, Mary. I thought she had a son Jonathan who was mentioned in her father’s will calling him Jonathan Dell. But, Mary’s marriage to James Russell in 1729 and children are all that is found. Except for a record in Yarmouth of Jonathan Dell born 1719 to Mary White. She supposedly married Henry Dill and had Jonathan. Can’t find evidence of this. A lot of people are trying to find the same thing and as no one has, it seems we can’t connect to the Mayflower White line through the dills.
What is your mom’s Clodfelter lineage to Peregrine? Maybe I can connect through that line.
Thanks’
Lynn
Hello, I too am a descendent of Peregrine White. He is my 9th great grandfather on my fathers side. My father was a direct decedent of Daniel Peregrine White, Sarah’s brother.
HELLO TRACIE,
WE ARE OF THE FAMILY “TRACY” AND TRACE OUR LINE BACK TO PEREGRINE WHITE. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY TREE OR EVIDENCE OF THE CONNECTIONS?
BEST REGARDS,
NINA
My grandfather was John Alexander Young I have a letter from him before he passed in 1960 stating his family came to North America on the Mayflower and they lived in New Jersey till the RUMPUS which we assume was the American Revolution. He stated they came to Canada and settled in a small south western town called Clearville but later move to Croton .Neither town really exists now as these small rural towns have disappeared. I have Young names back to William Amos Young but I am having trouble after him. I don’t see any Young on the Mayflower so wher did Thomas Young come from who married Sarah White daughter of Peregrine White and Sarah Basset Any name will help me Thank you
Carol Cryderman- Childs UE
Carol,
Thank you for your comments. I love the reference to the Rumpus. Please contact a chapter of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants to see if they have the documentation you are looking for.
Mary
Hi,Sandy!
My grandfather is a Young from Arkansas that moved to California. Id love to connect and learn from your research on the Youngs in England. My email is lstoeber@mailbox.org. Do you have a tree on Ancestry?
Your information is a great help. I started my family tree and could go no further back than Ellis Island. So I started to work on my husbands. His grandmother was Florence Alvord and if I am accurate, through Ruth Norcott, there is relation to multiple Mayflower passengers. I was more excited I think than he was! Remembering grade school and our study of the Mayflower and Pilgrims. Imagine being a descendant! You would have been a celebrity! Anyway, I am afraid to tell the rest of the family until I am sure. Some of the information and references you provided will make me feel more confident with my findings.
Bonnie,
I was reviewing old comments and came across yours. Hopefully by now you have established multiple connections to the Mayflower passengers — just in time to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the sailing.
Mary
Norcott is a name in my son’s family. My Grandmother was a Mayflower Maiden (Brooklyn descendent organization), but I don’t know who our relative was.
Hope you found what you were seeking!
God bless
Bonnie,
Wonderful to hear that my article helped with your husband’s research, and I sincerely hope you’ll be able to discover more of your own.
Mary
I discovered your blog of November 25, 2013 on Genealogy Bank while researching Stephen Hopkins. The blog starts out with the article titled: “New Discovery about Mayflower Pilgrim Stephen Hopkins” The blog refers to the dilemma that Hopkins had getting supplies to Jamestown and that soon after he finally arrived with supplies the colony was evacuated back to England. Can you lead me to the reference for that? I live near Jamestown and have not heard that. I’m research Stephen Hopkins for more Mayflower connections and Jamestown Society. One brick wall for 6-7 connection…need one birth record for Silvanus Whiting (Whitten) son of Asa and Lydiah Cooke of Mayflower lineage. Thanks, Judith Letchworth
My 11th GG was Stephen Hopkins and my 10th would be Constance Hopkins. 🙂 Hello to all my long lost relatives!
Hi relative of Stephen and Mary Hopkins! My 11th great-grandparents also!
Hi Judith,
Glad you enjoyed my Mayflower blog.
The article titled “New Discovery about Mayflower Pilgrim Stephen Hopkins” was not in my article, but was posted in a companion blog by Thomas Jay Kemp on 7 November 2014. Follow this link to read it:
https://blog.genealogybank.com/new-discovery-about-mayflower-pilgrim-stephen-hopkins.html
Good luck with finding the birth record of Sylvanus Whiting. I wasn’t able to find anything in the newspapers, but recommend you visit the National Archives to see if they have any clues.
Mary
In researching my husbands family I found out the line goes back to William Holmes who came here from England in 1632. His oldest son was John who was born 1638 in Plymouth Colony. John’s oldest son was Joseph who married Mary Brewster. My father-in-law gave us a book titled “The Giles Memorial” and in it was preserved “The Holmes of Marshfield”. I have been researching my parents ancestry as well as the Holmes and have enjoyed and been amazed at the discoveries. It’s been wonderful.
Elaine,
So nice to hear about your research. It’s thrilling to make these Mayflower connections.
Mary
HI Elaine So Are Joseph’s Descendants Mayflower Descendants?? How is his wife Mary Brewster connected to William and Mary Brewster???
Hello, cousin! I am a descendent of Stephen Hopkins and his daughter Constance. My line runs through Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, I cannot find proof for one ancestor. I can find proof he existed but not of his parentage. He’s the son of Nathan Snow and his wife Mary aka Polly. It’s been a decade. I am related to two of his offspring and can prove to his parents and the generations after him. Maddening!
Bonnie,
Very exciting to hear about your Hopkins connection, but sorry to hear that the proof of parentage can not be established. I have a similar issue with one of my lines. Hope you find the proof you are looking for.
Mary
Hi. I also am descended from Stephen Hopkins and Nathan Snow.
please contact me at sallynickersonmuseum@gmail.com or drop off a letter at General Delivery Barrington, N.S. BOW 1EO
THANKS BONNIE. From Sally.
You will find your answer in “Some Descendants of Peter Mallory” by Ambassador Lester DeWitt Mallory. His Mallory ancestor married Jane Snow and he goes into some detail on Jane’s life as a young girl. At one point his Mallory relation and mine lived in the same building in Redondo Beach Ca… Before moving North and eventually to British Columbia where his neice Leanne Mallory is a professor. There was a stop in Washington state prior to BC. My Mallory line also made a set of in BC…..and, like Lester’s Mallorys they originated in ct. Also, Constance Hopkins descendant also connected with the Mallorys. I am descended from Stephen Hopkins , Francis Cooke and Edward Doty. Damaris Hopkins married Jacob Cooke and a descendant married Elizabeth Doty. See Zenas Lazell of sunflower society.
Mallory, My niece through marriage . she married my nephew Michael Pietzke. They live in Oregon. Her name is Elisabeth Doty. Thought you might like to hear this.
I have 2 daughters who are descendants of Edward Doty on their father’s side.
Janice Lynne Mason
Elizabeth Rosseel Mason
I descend from William/Mary Brewster and Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower 1620.
Ermine,
Congratulations on this exciting ancestry!
Mary
I am related to George Soule ,his daughter married a Weston who came on a later ship. My great grandmother was a Weston. I want to share this information with my near relatives at Thanksgiving.
I’d also like to try and join the Mayflower society, I live in Washington state.
thanks for all your sharing and information
Bradley,
Thank you for sharing this information. Glad that you enjoyed the article.
Mary
I guess we also are distant cousins, as I am a descendent of Giles Hopkins on my father’s side and Edward Fuller on my mother’s side. As you point out, there would necessarily have been a fair amount of intermarriage among the surviving Mayflower families, so I am trying to figure out how to track down from other Mayflower families to my own. I would really like to see a connection with the Howland family as a good friend of mine is a descendent of that family. I am sure in this age of computerized databases I ought to be able to input my name, or some of my ancesestor’s names into a Howland family database to see if there is a connection.
Do I have to join a society to do such? If so, do have you a recommendation as which would have better search facilities for finding connections between generations?
Terry,
Thank you for sharing your interest in Mayflower research. You do not have to join a society, although many enjoy meeting with their distant cousins and learning more about their roots. Others do the research on their own or join social media groups.
Mary
Thanks for your research and blog. I believe I am a descendent of Edward Doty. I am having problems connecting several generations back to him. Is there a site or source where I can obtain a chart or description of his line of descendants?
Hi Doug,
Congratulations on your research regarding a probable descent from Edward Doty.
There are many websites and social media pages regarding Mayflower research, but the most definitive source would be to make contact with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. You’ll find information on their website as to how to proceed.
https://www.themayflowersociety.org/
Mary
I too am a descendent of Edward Doty. My first cousin has jusy been authenticated as a descendent to him .
Hi,
I have just been reading thru a lot of these comments. Trying to wrap my head around how only so many people on a ship could have so many at this day and age that can be traced back to them.
I’m relation to Edward Doty as well and I believe another, but will be tracing it further to confirm this.
Anyway, nice to meet you on here.
And they say “small world” haha.
Lisa Michelle Bennett
Lisa,
I agree. It is hard to wrap your head around the fact that so many people descend from such a small group, but it’s true! Thank you for writing.
Mary
Kalvin,
That is exciting information. Thank you for sharing.
Mary
Doug. My wife is a big genealogy person. She did research and found out that I care from Richard Warren. I know she told me that my niece through marriage came from the Doty line. I do not know if she has done more then that. I can ask if you tell me where you left off at going back to Edward Doty. Not making any promises .
I have recently stumbled upon a connection to Stephen Hopkins as follows:
Stephen Hopkins>Constance Hopkins>Mark Snow>Thomas Snow>Aaron Snow> Phebe Snow>Oliver Crowell>Susannah Crowell>Oliver Crowell Dickey>Alphonso Dickey>Leslie Dickey>Lura Dickey>Vernett Fish>Marjorie Smith Elliott. I have one generation (Susannah Crowell m. William Dickey) that fits, but is difficult to find the actual proofs. However, I am “like a dog with a bone” and will eventually find it! I never have as much fun as I do when I am chasing “dead people.”
Thanks,
Marjorie Elliott
Marjorie,
My apologies for missing your post. Thanks for your information. I did a search in GenealogyBank for records, but was not able to location anything to help. Hope you have been able to solve your Crowell/Dickey connection.
Mary
I’ve been doing my ancestor research for a few years now and came across a Sarah Hannah White born in 1641 in Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire to a John White and Lucy ??. John White was born about 1604 in Bradford Abbas, Dorset, England and died November 1678 in Kittery, York, Maine. His parents are Thomas White and Ann White(Looman). Sarah’s siblings are Mary White(Thompson) and Hannah White(Allen) that I have found so far. Is there anyway I could find out if his line is connected with Peregrine White?
Vicki,
Congratulations on your research. To connect an early ancestor to a Mayflower passenger, start by researching in the “Mayflower Families Through Five Generations” books. Many are available at local libraries or through interlibrary loan programs. Alternatively, you may wish to purchase one or hire a Mayflower genealogist to complete your research.
Mary
Descended from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley………..also from James Chilton and wife through daugher Isabella who came over from the Netherlands later.
David,
Thanks for sharing your connection s to the Mayflower.
Mary
Thanks for your info. I am a Dunham. I have at least four possible Mayflower ancestors, Francis Cooke, John Howland, Elizabeth Tilley and Stephen Hopkins. I have wanted to verify and confirm this ancestry. Your tips are valuable to me because I always thought it would be smarter to start from the top.
On with my homework.
Sue,
Nice to know you enjoyed the article. Hope you make the connection to your possible Mayflower ancestors.
Mary
Hi Sue,
I too am a Dunham! I’m even a Susan (Sue) Dunham!
Eventually, in 1833, one of my Dunhams married Mary Jane Beard, who has an almost entirely maternal line going all the way back to the Allertons on the Mayflower. It’s so funny that my Dunham ancestors didn’t connect to the Mayflower until 1833! I suspect I just don’t know yet about the other earlier connections between Dunhams and Mayflower descendants.
My Dunham line:
Deacon John and Abigail Balliou – my 8th great-grandparents
Their son:
Jonathan (Rev.) Dunham Sr (1625 – 1717)
8th great-grandfather
Jonathan Dunham Jr (1658 – 1744)
son of Jonathan (Rev.) Dunham Sr
Gideon Dunham (1686 – 1762)
son of Jonathan Dunham Jr
James Dunham (1722 – 1795)
son of Gideon Dunham
Isaac A Dunham (1765 – 1821)
son of James Dunham
Luther W Dunham (1804 – 1850)
son of Isaac A Dunham
Alfred Gordon Dunham (1839 – 1910)
son of Luther W Dunham
Harry William Dunham (1866 – 1938)
son of Alfred Gordon Dunham
Harold Theodore Dunham Sr (1910 – 1985)
son of Harry William Dunham
Harold Theodore Dunham Jr (1940 – )
son of Harold Theodore Dunham Sr
Me
The daughter of Harold Theodore Dunham Jr
Look up Richard Singletary born 1585-1687 … husband of Susannah( Cooke) Singletary 1616-1682 …mother of Jonathan Dunham (aliases) Singletary 1639-1724 : I’m a descendant of the following family Singletary/ Singleterry ,Jackson ,Hicks, Jones, Miller’s Campbell’s, Champion
Brewster and many more…
Oh my goodness I love being related to folks on the Mayflower! John Cooke, Francis Cooke, Stephen Hopkins, Giles Hopkins, William Bradford, Whilliam White and Resolved White are all my Grandpas!!! Thanks for more information on researching Cousin❤.
Hello relative! Known is Francis right now!
I also am a decendent of Francis Cooke via my mother’s side of the family. Francis’s Cooke daughter Mary married a Tomson, her son started a long line of Tomson (later Thompson) familes and my Great Grandmother was Annette Thompson Samuels.
Kathryn,
You’re so very welcome. Glad you enjoyed my Mayflower article.
Mary
I have been able to trace my family(wallen) to the “anne”.Does that count toward being a Mayflower Decendent? I also have a Hopkins in my line that I have just started to work on.Seems like a long road ahead! Betty
Elizabeth,
How exciting that your family arrived on the Anne in 1623. Since this was after the arrival of the Mayflower, I recommend you pursue your Hopkins ancestry. Another strategy is to see if any of the Wallen descendants match other names in the various Mayflower book. The likelihood of a connection is high.
If you are interested in professional research services, please reply again and someone will contact you.
My mother always told me that we were descendants of William Bradford. I know my great grandfather “Henry Terrette” was married to Flora Bradford. That’s as far as I have gotten. Hopefully you will be able to help me out.
Hi Tresa,
Thanks for writing. I think there is a good chance you’re a descendant.
To do the research yourself, start by tracing your great grandmother’s lineage through the Bradfords. After a few generations, compare the lineage to names identified in the various Mayflower books.
If you prefer to have a professional search conducted, please reply again and I’ll contact you with details about my services.
Mary
Hi Tresa! I am a direct descendant of William Bradford. My brother has the Bradford cane that is passed down to the first born son in each generation. We are also descendants of John Alden. My dad did our genealogy back in the late 70s before the internet and worked with librarians and genealogists, so interesting and always make for good speeches in school growing up:)
Bradford cane? I am a decendent and would like to know about this. It sounds like a nice tradition. Obviousely it would require multiple canes as there are different branches of that tree. My mother was Priscilla Hafford. Her father was Fred Hafford and her mother was Jeannette(June) …..Olive Nadeau was her mother. I believe the connection comes on the Hafford side and can be traced down to Todd Hafford( Fred Hafford’s father). This is all brand new to me. It was brought to my attention by my Grand Daughter. She found out through a school project and a teacher who has done much research. My maiden name was Thibodeau. I would appreciate information re the cane. Thank you.
Cindy,
I was reviewing comments and found yours. That’s fun that your father completed his research by old school methods, or B.I. (before the Internet) as you mention!
Mary
I am a descendent of Stephen Hopkins and William Brewster, plus Mary Snow and Nicholas Snow
Below is my lineage ….
Stephen Hopkins
+ Elizabeth Fisher
Constance Hopkins
+ Nicholas Snow
2 Mary Snow b: 1630 d: 28 APR
+ Thomas Paine b: 18 JAN 1612/13 d: 16 AUG 1706
3 Thomas Paine b: 1656 d: 23 JUN 1721
+ Hannah Shaw b: 1662 d: 24 JUL 1713
4 Hannah Paine b: 12 MAY 1684 d: 14 JAN 1759
+ John Binney b: 21 MAY 1680 d: 30 JUN 1759
5 Hannah Binney b: 18 OCT 1717 d: 3 JUL 1770
+ Joseph Gould b: 27 JAN 1714/15 d: SEP 1769
2 Joseph Gould b: 27 JUL 1745 d: 19 FEB 1818
+ Mary “Polly” Coombs b: 7 FEB 1745/46
3 Joseph Gould b: OCT 1770 d: 30 NOV 1833
+ Hope Miller
4 Noah Miller Gould b: 4 OCT 1810 d: OCT 1866
+ Rachel Donnell b: 12 JUN 1813 d: 31 JAN 1890
5 Oscar William Gould b: 24 FEB 1859
+ Elizabeth Hunt
6 Roland Burton Gould b: 2 APR 1905 d: AUG 1972
+ Clarissa Dora Harriman b: 31 JAN 1911 d: APR 1991
7 Peter Brent Harriman Gould
+ Jean Littlehale
8 Adam J Gould ( Myself)
William Brewster b: 1535 d: 1590
+ Mary Smythe Simkinson
2 William Brewster b: 1566 d: 10 APR 1644
+ Mary
3 Jonathan Brewster b: 12 AUG 1593 d: 7 AUG 1659
+ Lucretia Oldham b: 14 JAN 1599/00 d: 4 MAR 1678/79
4 Mary Brewster b: 16 APR 1627
+ John Turner b: 22 OCT 1620 d: 28 JUN 1697
5 Mary Turner b: 12 DEC 1658 d: 10 DEC 1728
+ Issac Prince b: 9 JUL 1654 d: 7 NOV 1718
6 Mary E Prince b: 2 DEC 1685 d: 29 MAY 1749
+ Joseph Goold b: 6 NOV 1685 d: 2 DEC 1769
7 Joseph Gould b: 27 JAN 1714/15 d: SEP 1769
+ Hannah Binney b: 18 OCT 1717 d: 3 JUL 1770
8 Joseph Gould b: 27 JUL 1745 d: 19 FEB 1818
+ Mary “Polly” Coombs b: 7 FEB 1745/46
3 Joseph Gould b: OCT 1770 d: 30 NOV 1833
+ Hope Miller
4 Noah Miller Gould b: 4 OCT 1810 d: OCT 1866
+ Rachel Donnell b: 12 JUN 1813 d: 31 JAN 1890
5 Oscar William Gould b: 24 FEB 1859
+ Elizabeth Hunt
6 Roland Burton Gould b: 2 APR 1905 d: AUG 1972
+ Clarissa Dora Harriman b: 31 JAN 1911 d: APR 1991
7 Peter Brent Harriman Gould
+ Jean Littlehale
8 Adam J Gould ( Myself)
If anyone is related to me, feel free to say hello.
Adam,
I have been researching my tree for quite some time now and I get very close to the Mayflower and then I hit a dead end. I read your lineage with interest – particularly the Gould line. I found a Jane/Sarah Gould 1604-1680. She married John Williams 1600-1674. Would she be somewhere in your line, too? There is so much mis-information on the web and it can be quite frustrating at times. Congratulations on your lineage! Something to proud of for sure!!
Thanks a bunch.
Connie Wells
Connie,
Thank you for the nice comments. The Goulds are unfortunately not in my direct line.
You are correct — there is much misinformation on the Web. Hope you are the one who proves the connection so that others finally get it right!
Mary
Hello Adam,
And Hello. Constance was not the daughter of Elizabeth, but of Stephen’s first wife, probably Mary Kent. We would be delighted for you to join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1490912137821418/permalink/2194078387504786/?comment_id=2194089270837031&reply_comment_id=2194173290828629¬if_id=1535637391735614¬if_t=group_comment_reply “Pilgrim Hopkins Descendants” on Facebook
my wife and I are both related to Stephen Hopkins, my wife through Constance and myself through Giles. My email address is Boudreaudavid@comcast.net
im the 13th great grandson of William Brewster i also have a loy of those names you listed in my family tree
Adam,
Let me start by saying “hello” as you suggested. We are distantly related through the Brewsters and Hopkins. What exciting lineages that we share with many others.
Mary
I believe I am related to Mary butterworth. I am a descendent of Sampson Mason. I get confused as i might be related to the notorious Billing family also. My greatgrandfather , Daniel Mason, 1855-1908 was the grandson of Daniel Mason and back….Pelatiah Mason, i feel tangled…
Eunice,
Sounds like an interesting lineage. The research can be confusing, especially with so many generations to trace. You might find it useful to use genealogy software. I know I couldn’t keep track of everything without a program.
Mary
My lineage if my family is of the same Bassett line as Sarah Bassett is to her and Perigrine white.I can go back as far as Nicholas Bassett my great grandfather and no further . The rumor in the family is we are decendants of (as I call it,The mayflower crowd) and the Bassetts are from England. How do I find out more?
It would be very interesting to find out one way or the other, because I know there are lots of Bassets and there probably is no connection, but I would like to know.
Dear Martha, My research shows that the Bassetts were from Dorking, England. Ann Holland Bassett Burt, remarried widow of Roger Bassett, along with her son, William, on board the Abigail in 1635, landed at Lynn, Massachusetts I can trace my lineage back to Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris via other ancestors.. I will definitely look for a Mayflower connection via the Bassets.
I believe that I may be a decendent of both Stephen Hopkins and John Alden through the the Rickard family with connections to the Nurse family.Mary Elizabeth Rickard married Silas Nurse.
Barbara,
Thanks for sharing your connection to the Mayflower passengers. I am also descended from Stephen Hopkins, but through different descendants.
Mary
Hello Mary,
I just discovered your wonderful blog, thank you! I believe I may be a direct descendant of William White through his “less illustrious” son, Resolved. I’ll be visiting the Pilgrim House museum in Leiden this week and hope to glean more information on all the Pilgrims. Looking forward to the trip.
Best regards,
Ursula
Ursula,
Thank you for writing. Hope you enjoy your visit to Leiden and the delightful Pilgrim Museum! If you find anything unique about your ancestors, please share it with me.
Mary
You and I may be related as well. I have traced my tree back to Resolved as well, and I don’t think he was any “less illustrious” than his brother, considering that as a 5 year old he survived that trip and the first winter!
Resolved married Judith Vassal and their daughter, Elizabeth married my 8th Great Grandfather, Obadiah Wheeler. I have done extensive research, and there is also a published book “The Encyclopedic and Genealogical history of the Wheeler Family in America” and it traces from Obadiah and Elizabeth (White) Wheeler all the way down to my great grandfather’s generation, listing all his brothers and sisters. That made if fairly easy for me to connect the dots, as they say.
It would be great to hear how we might be related!
I believe that I am descended from John Howland and his wife Elizabeth Tilley through descendants of their son John Howland and his wife Mary Lee. I have most of the information that I need to make the connections, but I am missing the birth information for William Pierce (possibly also spelled Peirce) who married their great-great-great grand daughter Lois Thomas. He was born in Taunton, MA around 1764-1766 and he and Lois were married there in 1786. They later moved to Ohio and both died there. I have information on their marriage, their children, and their deaths and places of burial, but cannot find any information on his birth. I would appreciate any suggestions you can provide. Thanks!
Pat,
I share your frustration at having a missing link in the research. There are several things to try:
Research the churches where the parents and couple married, and also the one the family transferred to in Ohio. You may have to go in person or hire a professional researcher. Politely ask if you can gain access to original church records. Remember not every record has been photographed, documented or transcribed correctly. Volunteers are prone to picking and choosing what they find most important, skipping what doesn’t apply to them. I find volunteering to help a church or a donation may help.
Then contact (by phone) the various family cemeteries along with the historical society in Ohio and the other locations. There may be a family record or copy of a bible record in their files. Ask to speak to the Sexton to see if there are records not known about by the person answering the phone. If there is an existing tombstone, try to decipher it. Look to see when it was added, along with who purchased it.
Leave brief messages on the Findagrave or Billion Graves memorials so a descendant with the missing proof can contact you. This may seem like a long shot, but this has been successful for many. There are many one of a kind records in files the public does not have access to. Sometimes we are contacted years later by distant cousins willing to share documentation.
Mary
Thank you for the suggestions. I think they will be very helpful as I try to find the information that I need. Apparently this particular line (through Lois Thomas and William Pierce) to John Howland hasn’t been used before. Nothing like breaking new ground. 🙂 Again, thanks for your help.
Pat
Pat- The information that Mary gave is exactly what I would have suggested. Great advice! The only thing I would add is information that can be found in newspapers can be helpful in researching that far back.
Hello,
We are distant cousins as well. My ancestry traces back to Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of Steven Hopkins and Mary Merrick; Stephen Hopkins, son of Giles Hopkins and Catorne Wheldon; Giles Hopkins, son of Stephen Hopkins and his first wife.
Ginger,
Thanks for the comment. Very nice to network with another Mayflower cousin.
Mary
Hello,
I have just sent in my application and documentation to the Mayflower Society in Maine. I come from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, as well as her parents of course. My line is through their daughter Hope, and her daughter Ruth Chipman. who married Eleazer Crocker, their son Abel, his son Daniel and his son Daniel Jr., his daughter Hannah Crocker who married Andrew Gavel–their daughter Emeline (Emily) who married John Smith Van Beuren Harding. He was my maternal great-great grandfather. I did the Ancestry DNA, and today had a positive DNA to Andrew Gavel. Nice to have more confirmation. This is very exiting to me as I only began this journey last year, and was thrilled to find 3 Harding brothers who came over to Massachusetts in 1623. I have been trying to find what ship–it may be the ‘Anne” but have not found confirmation. Thank you for the site.
Emeline (Emily) Gavel was the sister of my great grand father, John Smith Harding Gavel. Supposedly child of Andrew Gavel and Hannah Crocker. Strange to call him after the man who married Emily. Emily would have been about 18 when her brother was born. I don’t know when Emily married Harding.
I also am descended from Howland and Tilley.down the Chipman line.my grandmother was Thelma Chipman who married Wilkinson.
My line from my 9th great-grandparents John Howland & Elizabeth Tilley of the Mayflower:
John Howland, 1592-1672, m. *Elizabeth Tilley, 1607-1687
Hope Howland, 1629-1683, m. *Elder John Chipman
Ruth Chipman, 1663-1698, m. *Eleazer Crocker, Sr.
Eleazer Crocker, Jr., 1693-1752, m. Judith Sanders
Benjamin Crocker, 1722-1776, m. Elizabeth Fenton
Olive Crocker, 1765-1838, m. Phillip Smith, 1745-1811
Electa Smith, 1789-after 1870, m. David Fay, 1769-1859
Sophia L. Fay, 1827-1900, m. Royal P. Lombard, 1821-1884
David Edward Lombard, 1850-1916, m. Lena Ann Youker, 1855-1898, daughter of Jacob J. & Margaret (Snell) Youker
Essie Lillian Lombard, 1877-1948, m. Winfield Scott Limes, 1875-1959
Maxine,
Thank you for sharing your lineage and the confirmation from your DNA test. Very impressive that you were able to gather the necessary documents and evidence in such a short time. Hope you learn the ship your ancestors were on when they came to America.
Mary
Hi Cousin Mary –
I did the process and joined the SoMD about three years ago. I’ve confirmed descent from Isaac and Mary Allerton and their daughter Remember. I’m also a direct descendant of Deacon John Dunham and Abigail Balliou , although they stayed behind in Leiden and arrived two or so years later to Plymouth after the Mayflower. I went to Leiden this past January and visit the pilgrim museum there – fabulous experience! I would love to connect with you and explore any intermarriage(s) that I haven’t stumbled upon yet. I’ve had my DNA and my father’s tested.
Hi Susan,
Nice that you were able to visit Leidena and the Pilgrim Museum, as well as to join the Society.
To add to the family research, I can recommend expanding your newspaper research. There are still many discoveries still left to be found in GenealogyBank — and when you find them, be sure to share with others.
Happy Hunting!
Mary
An aunt or cousin of mine researched my mother’s maiden name “McAuslan” and it traced to John Howland. How can I get an updated version of this list?
Thomas- I am assuming you are wanting an updated version of the Mayflower list. You can google list that may be helpful to your family. There are many websites you can search as well as searching newspaper article about the descendants. Another good site for the Mayflower heritage is http://mayflowerhistory.com/mayflower-genealogy/.
Lyndel,
Thank you for sharing the link.
Mary
Hello. Just wanted to tell you that I am a direct descendant of Richard More on my father’s side. Of the four More children who arrived with the 3 families they were boarded with, he was the only one to survive that first winter. From everything I’ve read about him he had quite an “adventurous” life to say the least! I’ve visited his grave site in Salem, Ma. (where my husband is from) and thought it would’ve been great to talk to him, and get his story.
Maggie,
Thanks for getting in touch. It does sound like he was an adventurous man.
Mary
Hello, I was wondering if someone could answer this question. Through research I have found that I may be related to Samuel Fuller, the son of Edward Fuller. Wouldn’t Edward Fuller be the one you would apply for if applying for the Society? Also, in my tentative research I have found links to Isaac Allerton. Do you have to apply for each person you are descended from?
Theresa- from what I understand you can apply for supplemental applications to other ancestors after you have joined. (I am mailing my documentation this week, but I have multiple lines as well.)
–through William Bradford, William Brewster and Richard Warren
Karen-
(by the way, my name is Karen too…………)
Is there some way you could show me how you hook up to Richard Warren– my great grandmother
was a Warren; She married Frank Pike from Vermont, moving to Massachusetts. Like genealogists say, ‘everyone is 50th cousin or less……………’ Almost scary, eh?
Karen Frandsen the below comment is meant for you also.
Karen Reich. My niece through marriage is a Doty, Elizabeth Doty she married my Nephew Michael Warren Pietzke.
Theresa,
Thank you for writing. I would agree with Karen Reich’s reply. After joining, you can make additional applications for supplemental ancestors.
Mary
Hi Theresa
Are you descended from the Fuller’s?
I am a descendent of Matthew Fuller who was Samuels brother – the sons of Edward and Ann Fuller.
Edward, Anne and Samuel traveled on the Mayflower but Matthew stayed in England and came twenty years later. How are you descended from the Fullers? Mine is as follows
Edward Fuller/Matthew Fuller/Lt Samuel Fuller/Sgt Samuel Fuller/Ruth Fuller (Robinson/Joshua Robinson/Betsey Robinson/Catherine Hammond
Excited to just find out that Thomas Rogers was my 9th Great Grandfather on my mother’s side. What a pleasure to be a descendant from the Mayflower.
Charles,
Thank you for writing and sharing your excitement to learn about your 9th great grandfather.
Mary
Charles, just researched to find out Thomas Rogers is my 11th GGF on my Dad’s side. Joseph, his son was also on the Mayflower being my 10th GU. Thomas’s son John, who came over slightly later is my 10th GGF. Wondering how far down the line we might be related?!?!?
I knew for a very long time that my dad’s family was descended from several Mayflower families. The most obvious one for my dad’s family is Hopkins, as my great great grandmother was Jennie E. (Hopkins) Cannon. (There are a few other Pilgrim families I’m directly descended from, notably Bradford and Brewster, but for space sake, I won’t discuss all those other connections.)
Nevertheless, I’m not sure that anybody in my dad’s family ever officially registered as a Mayflower descendant. If memory serves me, I believe I wrote the organization for Stephen Hopkins and they said something like only 5 generations are official. I wouldn’t mind finding this out. The website has a guest membership, but it sounds like it is only good for a little bit of time and only for some databases. (I probably would need it for some time since I have additional families I’m related to, plus I don’t know if the Pilgrim databases are included for guests.)
Do I need to find a library that has these gray or pink books that you mentioned?
My Hopkins line is:
Jennie E. (Hopkins) Cannon9 [my gg grandmother], (Titus Bonney, Hopkins8, Rossiter Hopkins7, Josiah Hopkins6, Sylvanus Hopkins5, Judah Hopkins4, Stephen Hopkins3, Giles Hopkins2, Stephen Hopkins1)
Any suggestions on how I go about proving the line would be appreciated.
Nick,
Thank you for your comments.
If the Society only confirmed the first five generations of your family lineage, you do not need to locate the books, unless you wish to cite them for personal reasons.
I suggest contacting a local chapter and discussing your ancestry with the registrar. You will be guided as to what evidence you need to accumulate. In general, you will need documents connecting one generation to the next, including pertinent births, marriages and deaths in your direct line.
Mary
We are cousins. My name is Jan Corley and I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Giles Hopkins & Catherine Wheldon are my 10th GG making Stephen Hopkins and his first wife my 11th GG. If you would like to communicate, please do.
Jan,
Thank you for writing. It’s always nice to hear from a cousin in the Mayflower line.
Mary
My children’s 11th grandfather (on their dad’s side) was Giles Hopkins as well. Hi cousin!
Hello. I guess we must be cousins. My name is Ron Collins and I am a direct descendant of William, Mary and Love Brewster. I have lived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for 34 years now and just found this out about 18 months ago. I am also a direct descendant of Gov. William Bradford. I have walked by his statue many times and never knew he was my great grandfather X9. So cool to live were they also lived.
I ALSO HAVECONNECTION TO THE COLLINS NAME. MY SISTER SAYS MY MAY BE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM BRADFORD,,W ILLIAM BREWSTER, JOHN ALDEN AND MYLES STANDISH, MY FAMILIES URNAMES ARE THE FOLLOWING – KING, TRILLER,NICKERSON,ABOBONDOLO, WINTERSON,PEZZANITE,DONAHUE, SISLER ,HART,KEARNEY,POVINELLI ,EVANS, AND MACGRATH.
Hello Double Cousin Ron!
Thanks for writing. How fun that you live in Plymouth and only just discovered your connection to the Brewsters and Bradfords!
Mary
Hello. I am researching my own lineage, and my whole life I believed that all my relatives were straight from Germany, Massachusetts and New York. Then, the other day, I see in a handwritten story that a man named George Crowell may have come over on the Mayflower in 1620 and he is from London. So on a whim, I’m searching passenger lists. I can’t link him to the list you have but I am wondering if the Mayflower made other voyages??
I believe the Mayflower made at least one return trip to England, but I don’t know if a passenger list is
available. There should be more information from one of the societies and/or genealogical groups that
have done extensive research on the people of Plymouth Colony.
Good luck in your quest!
Susan Olmsted Ewell Alden
Descendant of Priscilla Mullins through my mother’s line, and from John Alden by marriage.
My Olmsted line descends from James and Richard Olmsted, founders of Hartford, CT
Michelle,
Thank you for writing.
As Susan pointed out, there was more than one ship named Mayflower. All early immigrant research is exciting, even if you don’t connect to the first Mayflower voyage.
Mary
Susan,
Thank you for sharing your comments.
You have several exciting connections to the Mayflower. It’s not often I come across someone with one of the surnames, so thank you also for sharing your connection by marriage. I am also connected to the Olmsteds of Hartford, so we are distantly related.
Mary
Hello. I researched my husband’s family.
Leslie Chipman descendant from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley daughter Hope Howland Chipman (John Chipman ). Was so excited for the Chipman family.
Les,
Thank you for your comment. You have interesting roots. How nice that you are a direct descendant of the Chipman line.
Mary
I am descended from Margaret Howland, mother of John Howland. Just getting into my ancestry, although my father and my uncle did a lot of work. John Howland was apparently the illegitimate son of an incestuous relationship between Margaret Howland and her brother Henry Howland. The family arranged to have him shipped on the Mayflower as an indentured servant to hide the scandal. Margaret’s father arranged to have her married to Richard Bissell, who was probably in the military. Their son John Bissell, John Howland’s half brother, is my direct ancestor. My mother said we were descended from William White, but I haven’t been able to confirm this.
Stephen,
Thank you for sharing your connection to the Mayflower.
Mary
Stephen,
How did you come about to learn that Margaret Howland and her brother Henry had an incestuous relationship?
Billington connection here I believe?
Lewis,
Thank you for writing. Hope you make the connection to the Billingtons.
Mary
I go through William Brewster (1566-1644) down to Amy Brewster married Francisco to Pinkney to Crary to Young to Phillips (me)
Carol,
Thanks for writing and sharing your connection to the Brewsters.
Mary
I am 14 generations to Resolved White 1614-1687, and also 13 generations to George Soule 1593-1679 because of his great-great granddaughter Sarah Waste 1748-1789.
Aaron,
That’s exciting to have two connections to the Mayflower. Thank you for sharing.
Mary
Hi Aaron
I have the same ancestry with Resolved White, George Soule and Sarah Waste. I am constantly working on my family tree and its cool to see so many others that share the same ancestors.
Are any descendants of James Avery or William Dennison also Mayflower descendents?
Anne,
Interesting question.
Assuming you are talking about early immigrants, I am certain there are descendants that have Mayflower ancestry (such as myself to the Dennison line) and many who don’t. Each line needs to be looked at individually to know for certain.
Mary
My Denison Line does not have direct decendancy but my Aunt was a direct decendant. I found direct evidence that William Denison was meeting in England with Mayflower operatives in 1629. The reference is to a pub in London where they were meeting and planning to purchase a ship for transport. Has anyone else come across this?
I am decended from the Avery & Dennison (Denison) Families of CT.
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for commenting. Looks like we may be cousins!
Mary
I have traced my lineage back to Resolved White, brother of Peregrine, son of William & Susanna. I am currently living in Arizona, but my husband and I travel to New England in the summer to escape the heat of the desert. Since it was only recently I tied all this together (within the last 18 months) I am spending some of my days visiting the Massachusetts and New Hampshire archives and vital records to get the necessary birth certificates for membership in the Mayflower Society.
I recently came across some new evidence regarding Susanna’s actual identity. I received the book; however, it is at my sister’s house in MA and I just haven’t made it over to see her since she received it for me.
My only regret is that I wasn’t that interested in genealogy until after my grandparents and parents passed on. I am sure they had a wealth of personal knowledge that would have made this journey easier.
Dawn,
Congratulations on your research.
Sadly, many of us share the same regret of not networking with family before they passed on. Try to write down some of your own memories for future generations.
Mary
This may be a silly question but I see people writing that so and so is my 9th great grandpa or whatnot, how exactly do you figure that out? Do I start counting from my grandpa? Sorry, silly… Direct descendant of John Alden and William Bradford here… Dad had genealogy done.
Cindy, the Ancestry website is a great help. My former husband is a direct descendant of John Howland and Elizabeth Tilly. I just looked at other trees that listed his parents and grand parents and worked backward to John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley.
My Grandson traced my Grandmother Porters’ background all the way back to Richard Warren, a passenger on the Mayflower! Richard Warren married Elizabeth J. Jouatt (Ivatt).Their daughter Anna Warren married Thomas Little, their daughter Abigail Little married Josiah Keen, and our family was traced down from there!
Judith,
Thank you for sharing your grandson’s research.
Mary
Judith Chadwick Baurle I too am a member of the Richard Warren line. My wife does my genealogy . I do not remember how. I know that she told me but I am not sure how. I will ask again… Welcome Warren family,s
Mary Chilton is my 9th great grandmother; was so glad when I found her in my tree.
Brenda,
Thank you for commenting. It’s always exciting to make a Mayflower connection.
Mary
The nearest we can figure, my husband is a Peregrine White cousin:
Peregrine and Sarah Basset
Johnathan White and Elizabeth
Alexander White and Mary Mc Maurtie
Samuel White and Jane
Samuel White and Fanny Clark
Paul (Goetschius) Gutches and Lovina White
Henry Gutches and Mary Palm
Clarence Gutches and Jessie Richards
Henry Gutches and Florence Clarke
Joseph Gutches and Carla Rupp
Mrs. Gutches,
Thank you for sharing your connection to Peregrine White.
Mary
Hi Mary. My name is Wayne Clifton, but I’m writing in regards to my wife, Nancy Radaker.
We recently found a document page from her parents that seems to indicate that Peter Brown (Browne?) is in her heritage, but we’re not sure where to go from here.
Since you seem to be very current on Mayflower information, we were wondering if you might be interested in reading the one-page document. I can send it along if you’re interested; just let me know.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Wayne,
My apologies for missing your message when you posted it.
Although this sounds very interesting, we are not equipped to assist with individual research other than newspaper queries. If you are still pursuing this, I would recommend contacting a chapter of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for guidance.
Mary
We were told we are descendants of William Bradford. My son did a project for school and went back to Bradford who is his 16th grandfather. What do we have to do to prove our lineage? Thank you.
Melinda,
My apologies for missing this message. Hopefully you have discovered your connection to William Bradford, but if you haven’t, please contact a local chapter of the Mayflower Society for research guidance.
Mary
Through my paternal grandmother, I am descended from Stephen Hopkins through his daughter Constance Hopkins and her husband Nicholas Snow. Through my maternal grandmother, I am descended from William Brewster and Mary through their son Jonathan and his wife Lucretia. Other notable ancestors in colonial history are Governor William Stone of Maryland and his wife Verlinda Graves, whose father was Thomas Graves of Jamestown. Another notable direct ancestor is John Lathrop. The infamous Benedict Arnold was a nephew of my direct ancestor Eleazer Waterman.
Martha,
Thank you for sharing this interesting information.
Mary
Enjoyed browsing and wishing… Thompson is the only name I see that I have proven to the late 1600s. This states that Thompson died first. Is there any other information on this Thompson?
I have several ancestors proven to the late 1600s but Thompson is the only name recognizable on the list of Pilgrims.
I have Quirl, Slaughter, Miller, Forehand, Grimes, Thompson, Luck, Munich, Castleman, Crownover, Stanley, Smith, to name a few.
Elizabeth,
Thanks for your comments.
We’re not equipped to do personal research through the Genealogybank Blog, so I recommend you network with active Thompson researchers. Look for research groups on Social Media sites, such as Facebook. I believe there may be a forum devoted to the Thompson surname.
Good luck with your research
Mary
Hello. I am descended from Rogers, Howland, Tilley, and Winslow. Just starting on this adventure!!
Melinda,
Thank you for sharing your connection. Hope you enjoy the adventure!
Mary
I believe I found lineage from Peregrine White. It goes: Sylvanus White, William White, Oliver White, Mary White Collins, Joshua Collins, Margaret Collins Blaisedell, Mary Blaisedell Seabridge, Lee Seabridge, Grace Seabridge Hibbs, my Grandmother. I also saw a few Warrens back there, but have not looked at them too closely. Very interesting article.
Shelly,
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the article. You have an exciting connection to the Mayflower.
Mary
Shelley good luck on your Warren line. I am also on that line.
I have recently discovered that I have Mayflower ancestors! So exciting! They are: the Billingtons – 10th and 11th great-grandparents; Francis Cooke – 12th great-grandfather and his son John my 11th great-grandfather and Richard Warren.
Jeri,
Thank you for writing and sharing your exciting Mayflower discoveries.
Mary
Jeri welcome to the Warren line.
Mary,
Having only just read this message thread I’m looking forward to reading your article. Having dabbled in genealogy for the past couple of decades I never went much beyond 1700 until a DAR member connected me with Soule paternally, a near miss to Henry Howland, brother of John. A cousin recently gave me a copy of a bare genealogy linking her to Roger Allerton Tilley and Howland. Doty and a couple others have shown up in my own research. Just today a maternal link to Hopkins showed up. This is definitely an obsession I’m not sorry for!
Tim,
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for this genealogy research!
Mary
Tim glad you found the Doty line. My niece through marriage is from that line she married my nephew Michael Warren Pietzke
This is a great site to read and follow.
Thank you for your kind words, Paul.
I am a descendant of Henry Samson. I come from the long line ……Chandler (my Grandmother was a Chandler and Capt. Edwin Chandler was born and raised where I reside.
I am also a descendant of Henry Samson. He is my 11th great-grandfather.
Furthermore, I come down through the line of his son, John Samson and his wife, Sarah Samson Pease.
Sarah Mary Pease Samson, my 10th great-grandmother, was imprisoned in Salem, Massachusetts on accusations of witchcraft. She survived a year in prison before her release and absolution of any wrong-doing.
I can be proud!
Joyce,
My husband had Chandlers in his family tree. Joseph Chandler (1772-1860) was married to Mary Cushman (1771-1840). They lived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Joseph’s father was Josiah Chandler, and the next ancestor was Lt. Zebedee Chandler. In the generation before that, Edmund Chandler was married to Elizabeth Alden. Do any of these names sound familiar?
I believe I am a relative of Myles Standish.
Linda,
That is an exciting discovery. Hope you confirm the connection.
Mary
I’m a direct decendant of Peregrine White. I’m 15th or 16th generation. My mom has applied for a certificate of pilgrammage.
Tracy,
Thank you for sharing this just before Thanksgiving!
Mary
My husband is also a direct descendant of Peregrine White. He’s the 16th generation and our children are the 17th! Dianne Manchester.
Hi – we just found out we are descendants of the Fullers. Edward and his wife Ann were on the Mayflower and died that first winter – their son Samuel (and his uncle Samuel) lived. Their other son Matthew Fuller didn’t come on the Mayflower but came twenty years later and was involved in colonial life. I am directly descendent of his. We also are related to John Robinson who was the Pastor to the Pilgrims and a founder of the Congregational church. I am amazed! Anyone else a descendent of the Fullers?
i have three relative that where on the Mayflower Stephen Fuller,Stephen Hopkins, Giles Hopkins, and John Tilley and Joan Hurst are all my descendants. Edward and Anne Fuller were my 9th g grandparents.
Molly,
Thank you for sharing your connection. What a nice discovery and great timing just before Thanksgiving.
Mary
My former husband was descendant of John Howland as well as
Hon. Isaac Allerton – connected from Ichabod’s marriage.
Regina,
Nice to learn of your connection to the Mayflower passengers.
Mary
Hello Cousin! I am a descendant of all those you listed, plus a Peregrin White. I believe I can count 11 Mayflower Colonists/Pilgrims in my combined family tree of both my Parents. Debra Norton
Hello Cousin Debra!
So nice to hear of your connection to 11 Mayflower Colonist/Pilgrims. Thank you for sharing this information.
Mary
I think I might be a descendant of John Cooke. I need more information on his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Daniel Wilcox. I have found conflicting informaton on who she was married to and when.
Michael,
One of the best things to do when considering conflicting information is to determine the accuracy/reliability of the source(s). Is it primary/secondary? Have you seen actual documents that help to prove/disprove the claims being made?
Elizabeth’s profile in Geni may be seen here (https://www.geni.com/people/Elizabeth-Wilcox/6000000003938270499).
“The Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in 1996 published its account of the descendants of Francis Cooke as Volume Twelve in the series, compiled by Ralph Van Wood Jr.” (Quoted from https://mayflower.americanancestors.org/francis-cook-biography . Visited Jan. 22, 2019.) This might be a book to look into for resources on whom Elizabeth married and when.
John & Susan Howell Family Trees (https://www.jhowell.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I3501) website has Elizabeth tied to Daniel Wilcox.
Message boards can be another great tool for you to help you discover information regarding Elizabeth’s husband(s). Here’s one on Francis Cooke (Elizabeth’s grandfather) that may assist you (https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.cook/6314/mb.ashx).
I wish you much success in your efforts! Happy hunting!
Mike,
Thank you helping Michael with his research.
Mary
I have numerous ancestors that were passengers on the Mayflower, namely: William Brewster (9th great-grandfather), Mary Brewster (9th great-grandmother), Love Brewster (9th great-uncle), Francis Eaton (8th great-grandfather), Sarah Eaton (8th great-grandmother), Samuel Eaton (8th great-uncle). These are from the confirmed list. I also have John Turner (9th great-grandfather) and those who came with him. Thomas Rogers, a (2C10R), and others in great aunts and uncles or spouses.
My line is closer than most due to the fact that my father was a 20th child from a Civil War Veteran from his third wife. I have my DNA confirmed with ancestry.com. I cannot establish a documented line to the Mayflower ancestors as no records exist for some marriages, like my great-grandparents on my father’s paternal line that traces back. I have matching DNA with many in these lines.
Coburn,
Nice to hear about your lineages. Interesting how your father was the 20th child of a Civil War veteran!
I wouldn’t give up on your research. You may some day find an elusive church record or a cousin with the evidence you need.
Mary
I have recently traced my lineage back to Thomas Rogers 1571-1621 (11x great grandfather) who travelled on the Mayflower with his son Joseph. Thomas died within the year of landing. Wife Elsgen Cosford had initially remained behind with the other children in Leiden but followed shortly thereafter. I am descended from son, John
It was exciting to uncover this information and history of my Paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Dunning Ford’s family.
Karen,
Thank you for sharing this information. The first year was very difficult for the Mayflower passengers. Sorry that Thomas Rogers didn’t survive longer.
Mary
Stephen Hopkins is my relative. Anyone have any more information?
Roger,
Thank you for writing.
There is much information out there on Stephen Hopkins. I recommend you network on social media and learn more about his connection to the Mayflower and also to Jamestown.
Mary
anyone finding Hannah Paine 1770 -1805 marrying Otis Smith 1771 – 1833, please let us know.
Thank you
Bill Brown
Bill,
Thank you for writing.
I didn’t locate a marriage notice in GenealogyBank. However, the Findagrave memorial mentions they married 13 December 1794 in Windham, Connecticut. Try contacting the Historical Society or the owner of the memorial to see if this is accurate.
Mary
We are lineal descendants to Mayflower passengers and American Colonial history ancestors like, William White, Resolved White, George Soule, George Soule II, Arthur Howland (brother of Mayflower passenger John Howland), Peter Crapo and Penelope White, and John Tripp, “The Founder” and early settler of the Aquidneck Island in the Colony of Rhode Island. We descend from patriotic heroes who served honorably in the King Phillip’s War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. We also descend from well-known artists like Henrietta Crapo Smith and James J. Tissot, the French Impressionist painter. It is interesting in learning, understand and connecting the links.
Dear members of the Tissot Family,
You have an exciting lineage. Thank you for sharing your connections.
Mary
I have discovered my “almost” connection to William and Susanna White. I have a seventh great grandmother, Prudence Hayward, 1687-1736, who married John White, grandson of Peregrine White, in 1707. Three years later, with one child born and another on the way, John White was captured by Indians near South Brookline, Ma., and killed while attempting to escape to companions. Prudence later married Richard Crary, whose parents had come from Scotland, and had seven more children. I am descended from Prudence and Richard. Going back another generation, an uncle of Prudence married Anna White, daughter of Resolved White. So I don’t have a direct connection, but if either of these lines have living descendants, I have Mayflower cousins.
Stephen,
Thank you for writing and sharing your connection to the Whites. Hope you find a direct connection in the near future.
Mary
Do you know if the uncle of Prudence who marries Anna White was named, John Hayward? Married in 1671.
I was raised from a very early age hearing about the history of my family. Mostly centered on the Colonial Virginia where my family settled in the 1620’s. Unfortunately all family records disappeared with my Aunt when she died. My grandmother on my mother’s side spoke to me often about being descended from William Bradford. When I started to redo my family tree, I searched all over her family but could not find him. I realized that my father had also included him in the family history.. From the part of the history my sister had been working on she discovered that my father’s mother’s family was originally from Maine where I live. Following back from me Diana Lewis Jones, my father George Porter Lewis, my grandmother Mary Eva Porter Lewis, my great grandmother Martha Eva Parker Porter, my 2nd great grandfather Peter Parker IV, my3rd great grandmother Sally Bradford, my 4th great grandfather Joseph Bradford, my 5th great grandparents (cousins) Joshua and Hannah Bradford who with some of their children were brutally killed in the Massacre of Garrison Island on May 22,1758, to my 6th great grandfather Israel Bradford, my 7th great grandfather William Bradford If and finally my 8thGreat Grandfather Governor William Bradford.
Diana,
Thank you for your comments.
It’s sad when family records get lost, but congratulations on this research done by you and your sister. It’s very important to share this with family so it doesn’t get lost a second time.
Mary
Hi cousin,
It seems that we are also cousins as I descend from William Hopkins, Stephen’s brother, and Joanna Arnold. I am also related to Edward Winslow through my Elliot line and someone has told me that I am related to John Alden also, but I am not aware of just how yet. Edward Winslow was my 12th Great Grandfather and I have some info on him from all that has been written about his family. I thoroughly enjoyed your writing and thank you so much for taking the time to share it with all of us.
Sincerely, Gloria
Cousin Gloria,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write and share this information. I appreciate the positive comments very much.
Mary
I am not related to any of the Pilgrims but I sailed extensively on a John Alden schooner, the Commanche II, down in the Virgin Islands in the 1970s. It belonged to my best friend’s dad who himself came from a very distinguished Philadelphia family whose ancestors included LT. Richard Dale, second in command to John PaulJones on the USS CONSTITUTION.
Of course this has absolutely nothing to do with me, but it’s pretty cool.
Lee,
Thank you for sharing. I have also sailed on a John Alden Schooner called Malabar II. It was featured in a movie once. Very cool connection.
Mary
I recently connected with my biological family and I am trying to find out if there was some connection between my adoptive and biological family, as both families had Mayflower connection.
My biological mother was Gloria Bearse (maiden name) – she was 9th generation Mayflower Society. My adoptive family also had a Mayflower connection – Loring – I believe married a great granddaughter of the Aldens. I was born in 1948. I wondered if you had information on the membership of the Mayflower Society of that time. My adoptive parents were substantially older than my natural and I wonder if the families knew each other through the society. Is there any information you could possibly provide?
Thank you – Charles Loring
Note: My adoptive mother was Esther Nickerson Loring; My father Charles L. Loring, Sr.
Charles,
Congratulations on connecting with your biological family and discovering links to Mayflower families.
Unfortunately, I don’t have access to Mayflower Society meetings of 1948, but if you contact a local chapter, they may be able to pursue the question of whether the two families attended the same meetings and knew each other. Good luck with your research.
Mary
Charles, my name is Stephanie. I too have Bearse/ Bearss ancestors and that we are descended from Thomas Rogers who was a Mayflower passenger and signatory to the Mayflower Compact prior to his passing in that first winter. He had another son John who arrived later on and that is my line. Daughter Abigail Rogers Richmond, son Samuel Richmond, Silas Richmond, Ephraim Richmond, his daughter Rhoda Richmond Bearse. Her son Josiah and granddaughter Huldah Ann Bearse Harrett follow. Huldah had a son named William Franklin Harrett whose son Milton was my grandmother’s father. So if your Gloria is related to my Josiah and his father David P. Bearse then we may be cousins. Good luck searching.
Hey Stephanie, my name is Stephanie too!
I am a direct descendant of Thomas Rogers and his son John who arrived at a later date. My lineage goes right down the Rogers side and my Grandmothers maiden name was Nora Rogers. My great uncle’s name was John Peter Rogers like many of their namesake. Not sure if we are any closer relatives than 10 generations ago but kinda neat!
Hi Charles,
I hope you do not mind if I point out something interesting about your post.
I see that you are tracing your Mayflower ancestry. What I find interesting is that the Mayflower pilgrims were known to have made friends with the native Wampanoag tribe upon their landing. I also know that Bearse, your Mother’s maiden name, is a Wampanoag name.
If you have an interest in furthering that lineage, you could possibly find more at: https://www.nswampanoag.org/genealogy.html note: ‘Sarah Bearse’ is a proven lineage.
I am related to George Soule, John Alden and Priscilla, 11th great grandparents.
Cathy,
Thank you for sharing this information about your 11th great grandparents.
Mary
I am john and Priscilla related too. I have d.a.r. papers to prove it..
I, too, but am stuck with proving my great grandfather’s marriage to Caroline Sutton. I am a member of DAR but they didn’t require that marriage license. I have death certificates that prove this connection but are not acceptable. I have all proof down to Issac Sutton and Lorraine (last name very confusing) who are my great great grandparents. who had Caroline Matilda Sutton. Just info on the chance you might have something.
My maternal grandmother’s line goes back to Resolved White, who married Judith Vassall in Scituate MA in 1640, through their son Samuel White. Judith’s father, Wm Vassall, had land on Barbados, which was deeded to them in 1656 or 1657. I’m curious about that but have not pursued it.
Mary,
Thank you for sharing your maternal grandmother’s connection to Resolved White. I think it would be interesting to pursue the land records in Barbaros.
Mary
I am researching my ancestor Mary Slack Jenks, married to Jonathan Jenks. A hint keeps coming up on Ancestry showing a form that she died on the Mayflower. Although I see her name there, I am not finding her on any passenger lists that I bring up. All I know is that she was born in 1694, and I find records stating that she was born in Massachusetts. Why would she be on the Mayflower if she was born in MA?
Peggy,
Thank you for your comments. Our blog addresses issues with GenealogyBank and not other websites. However, I would like to respond to your message as you make a valid point.
Remember hints are just hints and it’s up to each individual researcher to evaluate the accuracy. Sometimes information is presented which results from a typo in another person’s family tree or there may be a descendant relationship to explore. Lastly, don’t forget that there were many ships by the same name.
When presented with a hint that doesn’t make sense, please follow up by informing the search engine why you chose to ignore or reject it.
Mary
Isaac Allerton is my 10th Great Grandfather. I am so excited to find my Mayflower roots!
Paula,
Thank you for sharing how excited you are to locate your Mayflower roots!
Mary
Hello Paula,
I’m also a direct descendant of Isaac Allerton. He’s my 11th great grandfather. He sailed on the Mayflower across the Atlantic Ocean with his wife Mary Norris, and their three children: Mary, Bartholomew, and Remember Allerton. This is on my father’s side of the family. This is exciting to find my Mayflower roots, and I’ve made contact with the Mayflower Society with my direct lineage from Isaac Allerton to myself. Can’t wait to see the results, and what I need to do to finish the lineage.
David Morrow
I am 9th generation to Peregrine White.
I understand it is difficult to gain membership to the Mayflower Society.
Ray,
Thanks for sharing. Try reaching out to the Society to find what documents you need to provide.
Mary
I am a descendant from Stephen Hopkins > Constance Hopkins (Snow) > John Snow & Mary Smalley > Rebecca Snow & Benjamin Smalley, and continues as a direct Smalley line today. Mary Smalley & Benjamin are related (cousins), with Mary b. 1647 and Benjamin b. 1665. I find it unusual that the name has stayed intact for all of these years. Lots of good info from your article, and the Hopkins Silver Book was invaluable in getting started in my Mayflower Society application — which was approved in June 2019, after nearly eight years. It can be done, so I encourage anyone to have patience and try not to get lost with bad information. Make a legacy folder/binder for your descendants when you have completed your journey.
Roger,
That is interesting how the surname stayed intact. Thank you for sharing your connection and your recommendation to make a legacy folder. I would suggest getting the research bound into a booklet so it remains together for future generations.
Mary
I have been doing family history for some years and just receive a “hint” from Ancestry regarding Hannah Church my 5th great-grandmother. So I did some investigating and found that Richard Warren is my 8th great-grandfather who was a passenger on the Mayflower. Hannah married Josiah Sturtevant and so down through the years came my grandmother Edna Sturtevant. I find all this very exciting !
Elosie welcome to the Warren family line
Eloise,
Thank you for sharing this information!
Mary
My niece has traced us back to Richard Warren also .
Hi, I have proved my Mayflower lineage to Stephen Hopkins via Damaris Hopkins who married Jacob Cooke.
So I know for sure I’m related to Stephen Hopkins and Francis Cooke.
Am interested in finding who else I’m related to. I’ve heard Degory Priest but I’m not sure where he comes in specifically.
Any suggestions please let me know.
Ronda,
Congratulations on proving your Mayflower lineage to the Hopkin and Cooke line. I would recommend researching the silver books or contacting the Mayflower Society directly to see if they can assist with your Degory Priest potential connection.
Mary
I too have seen degory priest in my lineage. I can send you screenshots but it is better if it is official
I am a descendant of Richard Warren, 13th generation.
Anne Jackson,
I am getting some hints for Richard Warren. Do you have an Ancestry tree that I could view? I’m struggling with finding my connection.
Thanks!
Hi Gail,
Glad you are getting hints for Richard Warren. We prefer that others do not post links on the blog, but if you check on Ancestry, you’ll be sure to find many public trees to reiew.
Mary
Through the “find” button on my familysearch.org account, I have typed in the names of 25 to 30 Mayflower passengers, hit the “person” button, then hit the “View My Relationship.” It is an easy process, but I do not know how reliable the information is. According to what I have found so far, I am descended from: William and Elizabeth Mullins, Priscilla Mullins, John Alden, William and Mary Brewster and their son Love, Richard Warren, Edward and Ann Fuller, William and Susanna White and their son Peregrine, John and Susanne Chilton and their daughter Mary, and Stephen Hopkins and his daughter Constance. The Pilgrim’s descendants seem to keep marrying people from their same group. Rather incestuous!
Dear F. Erickson,
Congratulations on your research and thank you for your comments.
As in any genealogical hint, they should be treated as just hints. However, the more you receive, the more likelihood there are documents and evidence to support them.
Mary
Hello all , I just discovered I am a Mayflower descendent , Peregrine White is my 8th great grandfather . Is there a place where I can apply for verification ? I have all of the names & dates & places . I would like to know if all is correct .
Chris,
Congratulations on your discovery and special connection to Peregrine White. Please make contact with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. They will check your lineage and tell you how to proceed.
Mary
I want to thank everyone for contributing to this Blog. My husband was a biological descendant of Isaac Allerton and his wife Mary Norris by way of their daughter Remember who married Moses Maverick…
I have always wondered if I had a MAYFLOWER ancestor. Just last week 3/3/2020 I was contacted by someone to whom I was a DNA match. His surname was PLACE and I am a DUTCH, descendant. Through e-mail communications, we determined He was descended from[uncle] Stephen B DUTCH; I from [nephew] Arthur DUTCH Jr. (1807-1888) We helped each other fill in some blanks and determined our common ancestor would be the father of Stephen B DUTCH and Arthur DUTCH SR. (1768-abt 1830)
I figured that if he, J Place, had a MAYFLOWER ancestor , I must have one or more also. posssibly a female. He provided me with some surnames, from whom he was descended; to look into George Soule, John Alden, William Mullins, John Howland, John Tilley, William White, Francis Cooke, Richard Warren, and Peter Brown. I am familiar with several of the names . Now to find my ancestor (cas -9 march 2020)
Carol Anne,
You’re very welcome. Thank you for your comments.
Mary
Interesting site. I’m related to: Edward Winslow; William Brewster; Richard Warren; Constance, Giles, and Stephen Hopkins.
Rich,
Thank you for sharing. You have many cousins who share these roots.
Mary
Help!! I’m trying to figure out the connection from the Alden family to the Mason family. My Grandmother Marjorie Spellman Mason Ramsey was a direct descendant of John Alden. Her mother was Harriet Alden who married William Patten Spellman in 1899. She was adopted by Judge John Whiting Mason in 1910 along with her brother Alden Allen Mason, after Harriet Alden Spellman died in childbirth in 1909. There has to be a connection to Judge Mason’s family. From doing a quick family tree on Ancestry.com for the Mason family, I see that that family is also descended from the Mayflower. Can anyone help me with the connection? Thanks in advance.
Karen,
What an exciting connection. Unfortunately, we are not able to do research requests in the blog. I recommend you contact the General Society of Mayflower Descendants or librarian to see if any of your first five generations are listed in one of the Silver Books.
(https://www.themayflowersociety.org/)
Good luck with your documentation.
Mary
I am a descendant of the Fullers, via Waitstill Fuller, daughter of Samuel Fuller (son of Samuel and Anne Fuller) and Elizabeth Thacher (daughter of John Thacher and “Rebecca Winslow), who married into my Heath lineage.
Debbie,
Thank you for sharing your connection to the Mayflower passengers.
Mary
I am also john Alden and Priscilla decent.
Matthew,
Thanks for joining in this conversation. You have interesting roots.
Mary
I am trying to research my ancestors, and relatives say we are related to William and Mary Brewster from the Mayflower. My grandfather was Raymond Stretch and another was James Foster.
How can I research how they fit in? I understand we were in a historical book from the Society. Can I purchase that book?!!
Chuck,
Thank you for sharing your connection. If correct, we are distant cousins. If your ancestor is listed in one of the books, please google the Mayflower Society and explore their online bookstore. Alternatively, please contact one of their chapters and they’ll be happy to guide you through reviewing your lineage.
Mary
I am descended from Richard Warren and Francis Cook. My e-mail is victorianlace1959@yahoo.com.
I’m looking for relatives.
Also I am descended from the King’s and Queens. GGG Grandparents.
Looking to connect with any relatives.
Kathleen
Kathleen,
Thank you for your comments. You have some interesting roots. Unfortunatley, this forum doesn’t have a way to connect you with relatives, but you may have success joining social media groups related to the Mayflower.
Mary
I am a direct descendant of George Soule through his daughter, Susanna. George Soule is my 10th great grandfather (Soule/West–Phillips–Miller).
Patricia,
Thank you for sharing your connection.
Mary
I have recently been doing research and found that I am a direct descendant of Thomas Rogers (11th GGF) and Joseph Rogers (10th GGF). I know that Joseph Rogers also signed the “Compact” agreement so I know he survived the first few years, although I understand Thomas died in early 1621. Is there anywhere that I can see their lineage to verify I am correct? It would be great to be able to print something out and have in our record.
Hi, I just now completed a Thomas Rogers search for a DAR member and sent off the info to the CT Mayflower Historian, Marjorie Hurtuk. Thomas and his son Joseph came over on the Mayflower and Joseph, the son Married a Hannah——? Didn’t find her maiden name! Joseph had a son James who married Elizabeth Rowland. His son, Joseph married Sarah Haughton and they begat a son John. He married Deborah Deighton (Dayton) and they had a son John who married Anna Tinker. (the additional info is of our DAR member). Hope this assists you in your Quest.
Hi Stephanie,
There are many online trees related to your ancestry, but as mentioned in my article, research the Mayflower Silver Books to see if you have the first five generations correct. Your next step would be to contact a representative of the Mayflower Society to have them review your lineage.
Mary
I have a book on the history of the Thruston Philips famiies and there are references to connections with Clarkes. Faith Clarke Philips migrated in the Puritan migration from 1620 to 1640. Her father was Thurston Clarke. I was hoping I could make a connection through Thurston Clarke name to qualify for membership in Mayflower Society. I have plenty of information on Thrustons of Virginia , but sometimes the names Thruston and Thurston were interchanged. Clarke was the only name on the passenger list of the Mayflower to which I could relate and Thurston, rather than Thruston was tied to it. I am in the Jamestowne Society because of relationship to people who came in 1607, but I did not go through a Thruston, but rathe Dr. John Woodson, a surgeon who was killed by Indians at Jamestowne. If anyone knows anything about a Faith Clarke , daughter of Thurston Clarke connection to Thrustons and Philips families I would appreciate knowing about it. I do not understand the references to Mayflower descendents which is mentioned when I google the Thruston Philips ancestry book, unless it is through Faith Clarke and Thurston Clarke.
Thomas Williams is my 11th great grandfather on my father’s side.
Stephen Hopkins is my 10th great-grandfather! His 2nd great grandson is Thomas Paine and his son is Robert Treat Paine, who signed the Declaration of Independence! I’m proud of my ancestors. If we’re related, reach out!
My first cousin nine times removed was Elizabeth Nichols c. 1637-1713, who married Dr. Samuel Fuller II (1625-1695). Elizabeth is the daughter of John Nichols (1601-bef. 1655), son of Sgt. Francis Nichols, the immigrant. Does this relationship make me eligible for the Mayflower Society?
Edward Doty was my ancestor. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) have proved my documentation.
Ian a members of the mayflower society through Thomas Rogers, 13 generations. I also belong to DAR through Thomas Loveland. My husband is descended from Isaac Allerton of the mayflower. Blessed to have dependents on both sides .
I am descended from John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. Their daughter, Desire, married John Gorham. My grandmother’s maiden name was Gorham.
I have researched my maternal family’s history to find I am a direct descendant of Samuel Fuller, Degory Priest, John Vincent, Francis Cooke, Richard Warren, and many early settlers of New England. My mother and I have not yet completed the Mayflower Society application but may do so in the future. I have been interested in and researching my family’s history since the 1990s.
Susannah Jackson White Winslow was my 11th great grandmother
I just received my DNA results from ancestry.com and it says my 5th great grandfather Joseph Garrison 1779-1810 is a Mayflower Descendent. How exciting this is!
I am having a great deal of trouble in convincing the Mayflower Society to accept my lineage through Timothy Carver and Rebecca Washburn, even though a published genealogy establishes the link from my grandmother. The Society stated that it could not be established that Rebecca had married Timothy Carver. Timothy Carver was from Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, and died in Putnam Co., NY. Rebecca was born on March 5, 1734, in New Milford, Litchfield, CT. In my research, I did find a Mayflower Society applicant who also descends from Timothy Carver and Rebecca Washburn. Initially, the Society had confused my Rebecca with her aunt, who had married a David Johnson. Rebecca Washburn is mentioned in the Mayflower book as the daughter of Ebenezer Washburn. Is there a list of Descendant Applications that were approved by the Society?
Not too long ago, FamilySearch.org added the Mayflower Descendants Search to their website: https://www.familysearch.org/en/collection/mayflower-descendants/ It is a simple search requiring only the ancestor’s first and last name. Once the results come up, you can click on the name and it will take you to a community tree which will allow you to follow the descendancy line down as far as it is recorded.
FamilySearch.org is a great jumping off point for your own research. I would suggest double checking and verifying any sources you find in these records, just to make sure you are fulfilling current documentation requirements that the Mayflower Society may have for their applicants.
I am trying to make a connection of my White Family line to William White who arrived on the Mayflower through his son Resolved White to my great-grandmother, Ella (Ellen) Jane White Rowan. Does anyone have the lineage for Resolved White that might help me?
Dee Eva
One ancestry descendant question I don’t find anywhere.
Is it qualified as a descendant for Mayflower or any society when blood is not direct?
Example is; FIRST PERSON – son – father son father son father daughter —- then daughter married someone. His sister is the rest of the line…
So go up to the father for common person, then down through the sister…. who is really the sister-in-law.
While I see the connection is close – is that correct in lineage to be the first person’s descendant?
Certainly, DNA would not follow when there is a jog in the lineage.
thank you very much – I have 3-5 on Mayflower and am in process of verifying everything.
I was told that I was related to Joan Tilley by my grandfather but don’t have Tree going back that far yet. Do go back to the Gorham’s and the Westcott’s. Also, Anne Hutchinson was, I believe, on the second ship to follow the Mayflower. Is there anything in publications to talk about the people who immigrated here and a listing of their ancestors who live here. Is anyone keeping the information going on? It would be interpreting to follow into the future. Thank you. Michelle Addison
My husband and I are .09% DNA related. In the search for our common ancestor, I find that we are both descended from Peter Browne of the Mayflower. Interesting. He would be both of our 10th GGrandparent.
Hello! I just found this website. I have been doing my family tree through Ancestry.com for the longest time and through that, I found out I am a descendant of Francis Cooke on my Mothers side. He is my 12x great grandfather.
I am related directly to Richard Warren. I am a Bloomfield by decent I am in the DAR, and Sociery of Colonial Dames. I am so glad to meet family who also were Mayflower Descendants.
I have been told that I am a Mayflower descendant by way of the Allerton family. My ancestor is John Berryman, the immigrant, and the Elizabeth Newton family. Where can I see a copy of the: Isaac Allerton Descendants from the Mayflower through the fifth Generation, Vol. 17?
Any help will be appreciated.
I believe I am a descendant of Thomas Rogers. He is my 11th Grandfather through my Grandmother. My cousin’s include Zac Efron and Jordana Brewster.
I have just recently proved by connection to the Mayflower through Francis Cooke, a passenger. Francis Cooke’s daughter, Mary, married John Tomson. Their daughter, Elizabeth married Thomas Swift. Thomas and Elizabeth had a son named Thomas who married Rachel Stockbridge and they had a son named John Swift who married Jerusha Clark. John Swift and Jerusha had a daughter named Ruth who married Ebenezer Baldwin. As the family is traced to today, my grandmother was Clara Elizabeth Baldwin. My generation of cousins are the 11th generation away from the Mayflower. What an exciting journey.
My daughter, Bonnie May White (b 1969 in Maryland, USA) is a direct line ancestor on her father’s side of Peregrine White. I followed her father’s line (Richard Earl White, 1934-2020) from son to father to father, etc. and found this relationship between her and Peregrine White.
Hello. I recently found I was a descendant of Resolved White. It is fun to read his name in this article.
I am a very distant descendant from John Howland.
I recently found out that I am a descendant to Edward Winslow.
It was really exciting to know that..
awesome !
Ok, I have been researching my family tree for about 2 years now and have some issues with the Mayflower passenger manifest history. I was wondering if some of you might help me out a little. So John Aldean Sr. is my 10th Great Grandfather and the Aldean line runs straight through to the Pabodie lines as well, however, Mercy Pabodie-Simmons is not listed on the Mayflower descendants. Is there a better way of checking these manifests?
I am a decendant of John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, and also of Edward Doty. In fact, some 85% of my 7th generation ancestors were born in British Colonial America. I appreciate this heritage and consider it my responsibility to preserve this wonderful, free United States of America.
Myles Standish is my 10th great grandfather as is John Alden. Finding this came as a shock because no one in our extended family ever mentioned this. I grew up in Massachusetts, and I think I must be related to have of Gloucester and Duxbury. Very exciting.
I am descendant of William Bradford Mayflower passenger, Govenor of Plymouth Colony. I am directly related from a straight line from my mother to her mother, to her mother, to her mother etc., straight to Sarah Bradford daughter of William Bradford IV 1624, to William Bradford 1590. I accidentally discovered this tracing my mother’s side tracing straight up the woman’s side of my family.
According to My Ancestry, the Fullers are my 10th and 11th great grandfathers on my dad’s side of the family. My moms side of the family has DAR ties to the Virginia colonies.
Wow that’s a lot of Mayflowers in my family!
I have been researching my ancestry for almost two decades and I have found at least 30 Mayflower Ancestors. I am wondering how to get a genealogist to gather my information for the Mayflower society.
The relatives are as follows
Katherine, White
Jasper Moore
William Bradford
Dorothy, May,
Edward Winslow
George Soule
Elias story
William Brewster
Mary Brewster
Richard Moore
Mary Moore Mary Norris
John Alden
William MULLINS
Alice MULLINS
Priscilla MULLINS
William White
Susannah Jackson
Peregrine white
Edward Thompson,
Richard Warren
Steven Hopkins
Elizabeth Fisher
Giles Hopkins
Constance Hopkins
Edward Daughton
Thomas Rogers
Joseph Rogers
James Chilton
Susanna Chilton
Mary Chilton
Thomas Williams
John Clark,
Andrew Williamson