CHILDREN ON THE MAYFLOWER by Ruth Godfrey Donovan The "Mayflower" sailed from Plymouth, England, September 6, 1620, with 102 people aboard. Among the passengers standing at the rail, waving good-bye to relatives and friends, were at least thirty children. They ranged in age from Samuel Eaton, a babe in arms, to Mary Chilton and Constance Hopkins, fifteen years old. They were brought aboard for different reasons. Some of their parents or guardians were seeking religious freedom. Others were searching for a better life than they had in England or Holland. Some of the children were there as servants. Every one of the youngsters survived the strenuous voyage of three months. As the "Mayflower" made its way across the Atlantic, perhaps they frolicked and played on the decks during clear days. They must have clung to their mothers' skirts during the fierce gales the ship encountered on other days. Some of their names sound odd today. There were eight-year-old Humility Cooper, six-year-old Wrestling Brewster, and nine-year-old Love Brewster. Resolved White was five, while Damans Hopkins was only three. Other names sound more familiar. Among the eight-year- olds were John Cooke and Francis Billington. John Billington, Jr. was six years old as was Joseph Mullins. Richard More was seven years old and Samuel Fuller was four. Mary Allerton, who was destined to outlive all others aboard, was also four. She lived to the age of eighty-three. The Billington boys were the mischief-makers. Evidently weary of the everyday pastimes, Francis and John, Jr. went in search of excitement one day and found it in the space occupied by their family. Their father was not around. Francis took some gunpowder and made pellets. Placing them in the father's gun, he shot it off. A small barrel of powder lay nearby. It caught on fire! Many passengers were nearby but fortunately they escaped harm. Quick action brought the fire under control. Another exciting event was the birth of a baby while the "Mayflower" was at sea. The son of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins, he was appropriately named Oceanus. Another baby, Peregrine White, was born as the "Mayflower" lay at anchor near Provincetown, Massachusetts. Because this baby boy was the first English child born in "those parts," the General Court in 1665 granted him 200 acres of land. He lived until 1703. Mary Chilton, fifteen, was destined to have her name in the history books. After the long voyage and the decision to settle at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Pilgrims finally disembarked. In some later stories Mary Chilton was given the honor of being the first to step on Plymouth Rock. John Alden John Alden was born in England about 1599, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He was a cooper by trade and hired on as a "Mayflower" crew member in that capacity at Southampton. The conditions of employment permitted him to either remain in America or return as a crew member to England. He chose the former course of action after arrival in the New World. He was one of the fortyone signers of the Mayflower Compact. On 12 May 1622 John Alden married Priscilla Mullins. Her parents had died in the general sickness of that first winter at Plymouth. About 1632 they moved to nearby Duxbury. In 1653 they moved into a second house which is still standing (105 Alden Street) and maintained by the Alden Kindred of America, Inc. An excavation in 1960 revealed the location of the original house, about 300 yards away. John Alden served in many public service capacities over the years, including assistant to the Governor and twice as Deputy Governor. John and Priscilla had eleven children. Descent from John Alden has been proven through eight of them: Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Jonathan, and David. Little is known about the other children, Priscilla, Zachariah, and Mary. It is not known when Priscilla died, but perhaps she was still living as of 1680. John died on September 22, 1687, the last of those who signed the historic Mayflower Compact. Return to Table Isaac Allerton Isaac Allerton was born in England about 1586, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or the exact location of his birth. He was a tailor in London before joining the Separatist group at Leyden, Holland. In Holland he married Mary Norris of Newbury, England on 4 November 1611. With his wife and children, Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary, he embarked from Holland on the "Speedwell" and transferred to the "Mayflower" at Southampton. Isaac Allerton was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. Isaac Allerton's wife, Mary, died at Plymouth on 25 February 1620-1 during the general sickness that befell the Pilgrims that first winter. He then married Fear Brewster, daughter of William Brewster, before 22 May 1627. She died 12 December 1634 after they had two children, Sarah and Isaac. He was married a third time, before 1644, to Joanna Swinnerton. Isaac Allerton served as an Assistant Governor from 1621 to 1631, and as a business representative of the Colony, making several trips to London in that capacity. He was dismissed after being accused of extravagance and mixing private trading with public interests. He moved to Marblehead about 1633 and operated a coastal trading fleet for a time before moving to New Amsterdam where he resided for ten years. He finally located at New Haven. He was a trader at both locations. Isaac Allerton died in February 1658-9. Descent from him has been proven through two children of his first marriage, Remember and Mary, and one child of his second marriage, Isaac. His oldest son, Bartholomew, lived in England, had four children, and died there. Return to Table John Billington John Billington was born in England about 1580, but nothing has been conclusively established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth. He married Elinor before 1605. They and their two sons, John and Francis, boarded the Mayflower at London or Southampton. He was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact. However, he was resentful of authority and in 1621 was punished for insubordination, having refused to obey a command given by Capt. Myles Standish. In 1630 he was executed after being found "guilty of willful murder", according to William Bradford's account, of John Newcomen. Elinor married Gregory Armstrong in 1638. Descent from John Billington has been proven only through son Francis. Return to Table William Bradford William Bradford, son of William and Alice (Hanson) Bradford, was baptized on 19 March 1589 at Austerfield, Yorkshire, England. He joined the Separatist group at the age of 17 and went to Holland when that group fled from England. He married Dorothy May at Amsterdam on 10 December 1613, by whom he had one child. This child was left in Holland when William and Dorothy embarked on the SPEEDWELL and transferred to the MAYFLOWER at Southampton. William was one of the forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact, his name appearing second on the list, after John Carver. Dorothy May Bradford drowned in Cape Cod Harbor on 7 December 1620, an event which has never been authentically explained. William served as Governor of Plymouth Colony from 1621 until 1657, with the exception of five years. From 1630 to 1650 he wrote the famous History of Plimoth Plantation. William married widow Alice (Carpenter) Southworth on 14 August 1623 shortly after she arrived at Plymouth on the ANNE. By this marriage there were three children. Descent from William Bradford has been proven through only two of his children, William and Joseph. William Bradford died on 19 May 1657. His will and inventory of estate are on record at Plymouth. Alice died in April 1670. Return to Table William Brewster William Brewster was born in England about 1567, probably in Nottinghamshire or Yorkshire. His father, also named William, became bailiff of Scrooby Manor in 1575, and in 1588 was made postmaster. The younger William attended Cambridge University 1580-83 but did not stay to graduate. He married about 1589. His wife's name was Mary. In 1590 William Brewster assumed the responsibilities formerly carried by his father, but in the following years became involved with leadership of the Separatist movement and ultimately was instrumental in the migration of the Scrooby group to Holland. There he became the ruling Elder of their new church, a teacher of English, and a publisher of religious books. With others William Brewster helped organize the emigration of the Separatists (Pilgrims) from Holland to America in 1620. Brewster joined the group on the MAYFLOWER at Southampton. His wife and two of their children (Love and Wrestling) were on the SPEEDWELL from Holland to England. A son, Jonathan, came to America on the FORTUNE in 1621, and daughters Patience and Fear came on the ANNE in 1623. Descent from William Brewster has been proven through all of the above named children except Wrestling. William Brewster was one of the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact. Although not a minister in the Pilgrim sense, William Brewster became the true leader of the church at Plymouth and was greatly respected for his wisdom and fairness of judgment. He died on 10 April 1644. Inventory of his estate is on record at Plymouth. He did not leave a will. His wife Mary died in 1627. Return to Table Peter Brown Peter Brown was born in England, perhaps about 1600, but nothing has been established concerning his ancestry or exact location of birth.