The Pennsylvania Mayflower Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania SMDPA Governor: Scotti Sawyer-Kershner www.SAIL1620.org Volume: XXVI, No. 2 [email protected] Editor: Debra G Miller Co Editor: Joan Miller Summer 2014 Sue Allan is SMDPA 2014 Scholar of the Year This Distinguished Achievement Award will be presented to Sue Allan, on August 23, 2014, at the Doubletree Hilton in Lancaster, ur Society’s, “Katharine F. Little Pennsylvania. Distinguished Mayflower Scholarship Award” for 2014, goes to our dear friend and neighbor Sue Allan’s Story: “I became interested in the across the Mayflower Pilgrims story relatively late in life Atlantic in when in the summer of 2002, at the age of 47, I England, Sue unexpectedly found myself moving to Allan. The Lincolnshire. Within weeks I then discovered national Gainsborough Old Hall just a few miles away and award is learned that a Separatist congregation was once given to those sheltered there. I had not heard of the individuals Separatists before nor had I been taught about who are not the Mayflower Pilgrims in school. I was members of immediately intrigued. But more than this, I the State somehow felt strangely ‘connected’ to both them Society in and matriarch of the family who had protected recognition them at Gainsborough Old Hall – Lady Rose of their Hickman. Lady Rose would soon feature in my meritorious work in enhancing understanding of first novel, ‘Mayflower Maid’ which I began to the Pilgrims and the Pilgrims’ contributions to write one year later. (I had never been an author American life, in particular, Sue’s continuing research at "Scrooby Manor" surpasses beyond before). In the meantime I had found myself words of gratitude for her efforts and devouring anything and everything that I could accomplishments. read about the Old Hall, the Separatists and the Mayflower. Continued Page 2 1 Continued From Page 1 During that time I had also come to realize how little even local people knew about this momentous story, much of which had played out in this part of England. The main stream story of the ‘Mayflower Maid’ was quite simply my response to that and was never intended as a purely ‘commercial venture’. I had instead envisaged this hard-hitting tale as acting as a ‘hook’ with which to draw local people towards visiting the Old Hall and into learning more about the Mayflower Pilgrims. Over the coming years I quickly became involved across the county border from Lincolnshire into Nottinghamshire. Firstly with the formation of the Pilgrim Father’s (UK) Origins Association with its primary aim of promoting and perpetuating the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims in the area from which many of them came. By that time I had also begun guiding visitors around the Mayflower Trail but was sadly unable to get onto the Scrooby Manor site itself which was private property. Neither had I been able to answer questions about the existing building such as what was it exactly or if indeed William Brewster had ever actually lived in it. This was not through my own ignorance but simply because the accepted experts simply did not seem to know. And the fact that I could not answer those questions for visiting descendants and witnessed their subsequent look of disappointment it bothered me deeply. How could we not know? I asked myself? In 2009 at a book signing of my latest novel ‘Tudor Rose’ (about Lady Rose Hickman) I came face to face with a new fan, Julie Dunstan, who with husband, David, owns Scrooby Manor. In that instant we became the best of friends. Encouraged and aided by Julie Dunstan, and in the wake of having had cancer, in 2012 I decided to focus my attention into marshalling all of my own research on Scrooby Manor together in one place in the hope of being able to answer these questions. Also thanks to the generosity of the Dunstan’s I now had unlimited access to Scrooby Manor and its outbuildings. I am delighted to say that the result was my book ‘In Search of Scrooby Manor’. “ August 23, 2014, Sue Allan will be giving a riveting presentation about Scrooby Manor and her incredible journey with Julie Dunstan to try and unlock the secrets of Scrooby Manor. Sue will talk about how she trawled through archives in order to piece together tiny scraps of information and countless documents in order to build upon an idea of what the lost part of Scrooby Manor was once like and the highs and lows encountered during that process. Sue will include a power point of photographs taken inside the Manor itself, of the Chapel, the music room, and places people rarely get to see. 2 August 24, 2014, Reservation Form is at the end of the newsletter. Please complete and return as soon as possible. Due to Room Capacity, Space is Limited - We anticipate 200 to 300 people Sue Allan "In Search of Scrooby Manor" August 23, 2014 Join fellow Mayflower Descendants, Historians, Genealogists, England Researchers, and History Teachers…open to all interested… Mark your calendars! World renowned author, historian, documentary advisor, consultant on English history and genealogy, Sue Allan will be crossing the Atlantic for a one time presentation and book signing in Lancaster PA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tables: Silent Auction, Free Book Signing with Sue Allan, Debbie Yingst, GSMD Insignia Chair, Andrew Cameron Bailey and Connie Baxter Marlow writers/documentary filmmakers -"The First Fifty Years”, Masthof Press, Free Giveaways at door, Lunch Buffet, and much more… When: August 23, 2014 Where: DoubleTree by Hilton 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster PA Order books online at http://www.domtom.co.uk/buy_books_online.htm Domtom assures us we will have Sue’s book by August 23, 2014 Contact Domtom Publishing By Mail By Phone by email: [email protected] Domtom Publishing Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1444 247766 *When ordering let Domtom know you Edward House Fax: +44 (0)1444 250333 are ordering for the August 23,2014 Marchants Way, Burgess Hill presentation in Lancaster PA USA West Sussex, RH15 8QY, UK 3 From the Governor’s Desk SMDPA Governor Scotti Sawyer-Kershner Norman P. Robinson Remembered On March 26, 2014, Past SMDPA Under Norm’s leadership, the Norm was very active in community Governor Norman P. Robinson was company became an innovator in affairs, including Ardmore Rotary taken from us. His presence, long a corrugated packaging, grew rapidly, (President, 1992-1993), Corinthian resource to all of the Society is and eventually was acquired by Yacht Club (Commodore, 1999- sorely missed and the loss is felt by Greif Bros. Corp., a large multi- 2000), and Society of Mayflower many in the Society in many format packaging supplier and S&P Descendants in the Commonwealth different ways. 400 company. Norm then followed of Pennsylvania (Board member He was the youngest of three his passion for German engineering and Governor, 2008-2010), First children born to Andrew F. and and subsequently formed Robinson Church of Christ, Scientist (Board, Anita P. Robinson in Philadelphia, Merit Leasing Corporation, a car 1970’s-2014), Union League, and PA on November 22, 1928. Norm leasing business which he ran until Merion Cricket Club. grew up in Swarthmore, PA and his retirement. Norm became a member of the graduated from Friends Central General Society of Mayflower High School in 1946. After Descendants and SMDPA in 1988. graduating from Principia College in He became a member of the Board Elsah, IL in 1951, he entered the of Assistants eventually was elected U.S. Army serving at Fort Benning, Deputy Governor where he dutifully GA and Fort Knox, KY where he wrote letters of welcome to the taught land mine removal to young newly admitted members and saw recruits. Norm was honorably to their receiving their certificates. discharged in 1954 as a 2nd In 2008, he assumed Governorship Lieutenant and became an office of the Society, where he served until equipment salesman with the Shaw- 2010. Norm chaired the finance Walker Agency in Philadelphia. committee for many years, Recognizing the commercial continuing up to his last few days. opportunity of corrugated paper in protective packaging, Norm formed More than anything what will be Corrugated Inner Pak Corporation in missed will be Norm, who just being 1961. Norm was an avid tennis and who he was, was a resource, he squash player, sailor, photographer, brought his years of business to the Porsche Model 356 fan, and snow Society and difficult problems were skier. Norm was a dedicated easily dealt with. He knew when to Philadelphia Orchestra supporter, hold them and when to fold them, often attending the orchestra’s and that was the difference. Norm performances in Europe and Vail, will be greatly missed. Colorado. He was also an adventurous traveler visiting Layton Fireng numerous countries in five SMDPA Board of Assistant continents, including his most recent trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos within the past year. 4 Megan Winagle of Orford, New Hampshire was chosen as the winner of the Elizabeth Tilley Howland Mayflower Descendant Scholarship SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN PENNSYLVANIA Report of the Scholarship Chair Billie J. Gailey Since I assumed this position in March, my focus has been the scholarship entries to the Society’s two annual scholarship contests. As you know, the contests are the Elizabeth Tilley Howland Mayflower Descendant Scholarship and the Massasoit (Supreme Sachem) Wampanoag Scholarship. There was a small group of talented students who sought the Elizabeth Tilley Howland Mayflower Descendant Scholarship. No one applied for the Wampanoag Scholarship. Three reliable friends served as judges. Megan Winagle of Orford, New Hampshire was chosen as the winner of the Elizabeth Tilley Howland Mayflower Descendant Scholarship.