Many Americans Think They're Part-Pilgrim Annual Spring
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN WASHINGTON STATE VOLUME 15 ISSUE 1 - WINTER 2002 ANNUAL SPRING MEETING MANY AMERICANS THINK AND ELECTION THEY’RE PART-PILGRIM he Washington Society’s Annual Spring Meeting and By Thomas Hargrove and Guido H Stempel III Election of Officers is Sunday, March 17, at the Tacoma Scripps Howard News Service Club, Tacoma. Registration is at 1 p.m. with lunch at 1:30 p.m. quarter of all Americans have Pilgrim dreams — a belief We are pleased to note and to announce that Eugene Fortine, that their ancestors may have walked the Mayflower's Governor General of the General Society of Mayflower wooden decks and survived to celebrate that first Thanks- Descendants, will be our honored guest and main speaker. This giving at Massachusetts' Plymouth Colony in 1621. "So is only the second time since 1989 that the Washington Society many of us have a family tradition, a belief that they are de- has had the honor of hosting a Governor General. scended from the Pilgrims," said Caroline Lewis Kardell, Histo- Reservations are due to Treasurer Margaret Spangler no rian for the General Society of Mayflower Descendents. later than Saturday, March 9. "Sometimes the oral tradition is right, and sometimes it is wrong." A reservation form and directions are included with this A survey of 1,105 adults in the United edition of the Evergreen Log. States conducted by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University found GOVERNOR’S GREETINGS the 25 percent answered "yes" when asked: "Do you think your family may be descended from one of the Pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower?" The latest estimates provided by the Mayflower society suggest that there are 35-million descendents worldwide of the 26 men who survived the harsh condi- tions of the Pilgrim's first Massachusetts winter. But the survey suggests that nearly twice this number in the U.S. be- lieve they have Pilgrim blood. "It's hard s we move into the new year I want to wish all of to say how good these family traditions our members the very best for a very happy and are," Kardell said. "Many people believe prosperous new year. they were descended from (Pilgrim) Wil- Most of our membership only rarely have the opportunity to liam White, but that was a very common name back in those days." meet a representative from the General Society, which is why The survey found that 96 percent of all adults usually cele- we are so pleased that Governor General Fortine was able to fit brate Thanksgiving, making it the most universal holiday in us into his very busy schedule. America's richly diverse culture. Significantly smaller numbers We look forward to a good turn-out at the Annual Meeting will celebrate Easter, Christmas, or the Fourth of July. Additionally, 56 percent answered "yes" when asked: "Do and know that all will give the Governor General a great you think the original Pilgrims were the kind of folks you’d like Northwest welcome. to have as next door neighbors?" Thirty-one percent believe Pilgrims would be a detriment to the neighborhood; 13 percent See you in March. were undecided. But attitudes toward the Pilgrims are intensely political. Sincerely, Conservatives and older people overwhelmingly like the notion of Pilgrim neighbors while young adults CONTINUED ON 2 Governor WELCOME ABOARD! Editor's Corner new members The reader will note a number of changes in the make-up in Buckley Seattle this issue of the newsletter. Included is a new masthead Jon C Olsen Andrea M Harrison arrangement for the front page, re-location in the placement of 12th from John Alden 12th from John Alden some standard displays and minor adjustments in type size. As the newsletter is always a work in progress and your Gig Harbor Seattle editor is always trying to keep up with the times, improve the Peter C J Bernadelli Thomas B Rice product and keep it interesting, we trust that these changes are 12th from John Alden 10th from William White met with approval. As always, readers’ comments and input are Issaquah East Wenatchee welcome. Mary Clark Levin Dorothy M Heins 12th from John Alden 1lth from Frances Cooke Redmond Theodore R Parker 13th from William Bradford blood than are older people, probably reflecting the statistical reality that the young have a greater chance of possessing such lineage. A son is twice as likely as his father to be a Mayflower ascendant because the son could be descended either through his father's family or his mother's. But the poll also demonstrated the remarkable depth of the JUNIOR MEMBERS WELCOMED Pilgrims' dream to include millions of people of all walks of life. Although the first residents of Plymouth Colony were all devout Protestants, 21 percent of the Roman Catholics in the study said The Washington State Society is pleased to announce the they may have Pilgrim blood. following to Junior Member Status. Although the Pilgrims were all Caucasian, 17 percent of Afri- can American poll respondents said they believe that they are Sydney Mae Bostick - Ancestor, James Chilton - Sponsor, Ma- Mayflower descendents. They could be right because millions of vis Mae Ratcliff. African Americans have white ancestors. Victoria Summer Felix - Ancestor, James Chilton - Sponsor, “As one small candle may light a thousand, so Mavis Mae Ratcliff the light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sorte to our whole nation.” —William Bradford See Winter Log 1999 for related story. CONTINUED FROM 1 and liberals want to live in Pilgrim-free zones. "That has to do with a very, very common misconception," said Richard Max- well, former Governor General of the General Society of May- flower Descendents. "Many people think of the Pilgrims of the Mayflower in the same way they think of the Puritans who set- tled in Massachusetts Bay 10 years later. EVERGREEN LOG The Puritans were stem Calvinists, more inclined to be judg- mental of others. Maxwell said it was these people and their A Publication of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Washington. Issued descendents — not the Mayflower Pilgrims — who were respon- three times a year in February, June and sible for the Salem Witch trials that resulted in the execution of October. 20 people for suspected sorcery and devil worship in 1692. "But Material received by the Editor less than thirty the group that settled Plymouth were less judgmental. They days prior to issue month can not be guaranteed tended to be more tolerant because they had lived among the inclusion in the current LOG. Dutch and had suffered so much for their faith," Maxwell said. EDITOR - Donald Wingerson The poll found that residents of small towns and rural areas 3700 32nd Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98199. are much more likely to believe that their family tree could be Copyright © 2002 by the Society of Mayflower Descendants rooted to the Plymouth Colony than are those in major cities and in the State of Washington, 715 North 77th Street, Seattle, WA.98103. suburbs. Young adults are more likely to believe they have Pilgrim 2 | EVERGREEN LOG WINTER 2002 continued to be a printer in partnership with William Brewster. PLYMOUTH’S He married Elizabeth Barker in 1618. They came on the May- flower accompanied by a girl put in their care (Ellen More) and OTHER two servants, George Soule and Elias Story. Edward and Elizabeth, who died in 1621, had no children. GOVERNORS Winslow later married Susanna (Fuller) White, by whom he had four children. They resided in Marshfield after the mid-1630s. by Robert C Thompson In 1623, Winslow was chosen as an agent of the colony to handle affairs with England. He made trips to England in 1623, hen we think of the Governor of the Plymouth Colony, 1624, 1630, 1634, and 1646. He is believed to be the principal the name William Bradford automatically comes to author of “Mourt’s Relation” (1622) and he was the author of mind. But there were other governors: John Carver, who the chamber-of-commerce-style pamphlet “Good News from was the first; Edward Winslow and Thomas Prence, who were New England” (1624). woven into the governorship along with Bradford between 1633 Winslow served again as Governor in 1636 and 1644, and and 1657; the extensive service of Prence after Bradford died; was an Assistant Governor many times. In 1646, he went to followed by Josiah Winslow and Thomas Hinckley. England for the last time and accepted employment in Oliver After the signing of the Compact aboard the Mayflower on Cromwell’s government. He never returned to Plymouth and November 21, 1620, “they chose, or rather confirmed, Mr John died at sea near Jamaica in 1655. Carver (a man godly and well approved amongst them) their Thomas Prence was chosen as Governor for the year 1634, Governor for that year.” again in 1636 and finally from 1657-73. He served as an As- The phrase “or rather confirmed” infers that Carver had per- sistant Governor many times during the intervening years. haps already exercised the role of “Governor of the Mayflow- Prence was the first Governor who had not been a Mayflow- er,” replacing the unpopular and pompous Christopher Martin er passenger. He arrived from England in 1621, young and who had been originally chosen as governor of the ship prior to single. There years later he married Patience Brewster, daugh- departure from Southampton. ter of the Elder. They had four children before she died in Carver’s leadership was cut short. Bradford describes what 1634.