This data results from my personal research and is hopefully free from error. Please advise if you notice any mistakes.
John Alden (1509-1687) and Priscilla Mullins (1608-??)
He was hired on as a Cooper aboard the Mayflower at Southampton, England. He died leaving no will - the inventory of his estate was taken by his son Jonathon. His total estate was about 49 pounds. In June of 1660, Plymouth records show that "in regards that Mr Alden is low in his estate ... the Court have allowed him a small gratuity, the sum of 10 pounds, to be paid by the Treasury."
The popular theory is that he came from Harwich, Essex, England.
Believed to have been born about 1602 in Dorking, Surrey, England, Priscilla Mullins (or Mollins, or Molines) came to America aboard the Mayflower with her parents and younger brother in 1620. The other three members of the family died during the terrible first winter of the Plymouth Colony. Probably in 1623 she married John Alden, a cooper. They lived in Plymouth until about 1631, when they and others founded the settlement of Duxbury. They had 11 children. John Alden became a prominent figure in colonial Massachusetts, but virtually nothing is known of Priscilla's later life. The date of her death is unknown, but it may well have occurred before her husband's in 1687.
Priscilla Alden alone, among the women of the Plymouth Colony, is remembered by name, owing to a legend transmitted orally in the family and then published in embellished form by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in "The Courtship of Miles Standish" in 1858. The tale of the triumph of romantic love is nearly unique in the lore of the Pilgrims and is probably not founded in fact; nonetheless, the story--especially Priscilla's alleged words "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"--remains a part of American folklore.
Priscilla died before her husband. A nineteenth century account published by John A. Goodwin in The Pilgrim Republic in 1888 describes the mourners at the funeral of Governor Josiah Winslow in 1680 including “John Alden, with Priscilla still on his arm” (also New England Historical & Genealogical Register, vol. 51:429). No contemporary corroboration of this statement has been found, and we can only state with certainty that she was alive when Bradford wrote is list in 1650 but dead by the time John’s epitaph was published in 1687 (for certainly if Priscilla had been living, the writer would have mentioned the famous widow). Since no special notice was made of Priscilla’s death, we can probably assume she did not die very young nor under any strange circumstances. Sadly, neither the birth, marriage, nor the death for one of America’s most famous women is known.
Lineage: John Alden -- David Alden/Mary Southworth -- Samuel Cheesebrough/Priscilla Alden -- John Stanton/Prudence Cheesebrough -- William Williams IV/Prudence Fanning -- Erastus Williams/Anna Hewitt -- Gustavus Appelman/Prudence Williams -- Anna Appelman.
John Howland (1602-1672) and Elizabeth Tilley (1607-1687)
John Howland came on the Mayflower as a servant to John Carver. He is best remembered for having fallen off the Mayflower during a mighty storm, as recorded by Bradford.
John Howland is an ancestor to President George Bush, and to First Lady Edith (Carrow) Roosevelt (Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt). Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford are descendants of John Howland's brother Henry. Winston Churchill is descended from John Howland's brother Arthur.
Lineage: John Howland -- John Howland/Elizabeth Tilley -- John Gorham/Desire Howland -- Joseph Hallett/Elizabeth Gorham -- Henry Cobb/Lois Hallett -- Benadam Gallup/Eunice Cobb -- Robert Allyn/Hannah Gallup -- Frederick Larrabee/Abigail Allyn -- Adam Larrabee/Hannah Lester - William Larrabee.
William Brewster (1566-1644)
Lived in Scrooby, Notts from 1588 to 1608 then, in 1608, moved to Amsterdam to avoid religious persecution. In 1609 he moved to Leyden and then sailed on the Mayflower with wife and two sons, Love and Wrestling. The rest of his children stayed behind and came over later..
Attended the University of Cambridge. In service at court, beginning Autumn 1584.
William was a signer of the "Mayflower Compact"
Accroding to William Bradford's history of the First Year of Plymouth Colony:
"But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months' time half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them. So as there died some times two or three of a day in the foresaid time, that of 100 and odd persons, scarce fifty remained. And of these, in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendation, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend Elder, and Myles Standish, their Captain and military commander, unto whom myself and many others were much beholden in our low and sick condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons as in this general calamity they were not at all infected either with sickness or lameness."
William Bradford’s Memoir on the Life and Death of Elder William Brewster:
"I am to begin this year [1643] with that which was a matter of great sadness and mourning unto them all. About the 18th of April died their Reverend Elder and my dear and loving friend Mr. William Brewster, a man that had done and suffered much for the Lord Jesus and the gospel's sake, and had borne his part in weal and woe with this poor persecuted church above 36 years in England, Holland and in this wilderness, and done the Lord and them faithful service in his place and calling. And notwithstanding the many troubles and sorrows he passed through, the Lord upheld him to a great age. He was near fourscore years of age (if not all out) when he died. He had this blessing added by the Lord to all the rest; to die in his bed, in peace, amongst the midst of his friends, who mourned and wept over him and ministered what help and comfort they could unto him, and he again recomforted them whilst he could. His sickness was not long, and till the last day thereof he did not wholly keep his bed. His speech continued till somewhat more than half a day, and then failed him, and about nine or ten a clock that evening he died without any pangs at all. A few hours before, he drew his breath short, and some few minutes before his last, he drew his breath long as a man fallen into a sound sleep without any pangs or gaspings, and so sweetly departed this life unto a better ...
Lineage: William Brewster -- Johnathan Brewster/Lucretia Oldham -- Peter Bradley/Elizabeth Brewster -- Andrew Lester/Hannah Bradley -- Johnathan Lester/Hannah -- Peter Lester/Anna Street -- Nathan Lester/Suzanne Gallup -- Adam Larrabee/Hannah Gallup -- William Larrabee
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