Mayflower Day
We celebrate Mayflower Day this week! On September 16, 1620 the Mayflower left Plymouth, England headed west. Sixty-six days later the Pilgrims arrived at Cape Cod (weather kept them from their target in Virginia). On the left is a replica of the ship built here in 1957 shown at sea.
Have you ever wondered if your ancestors came over on the Mayflower? The General Society of Mayflower Descendants may have the answers for you!
You can check the list of the 51 known family lineages by clicking here. Some of the better known include Alden. Fuller, Mullins, Chilton and Standish.
Perhaps you plan to go northeast for "Leaf Peeping" as Fall takes over the landscape. You could visit the replica of the Mayflower in Plymouth, MA at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park. The Mayflower II is now a floating classroom and is a working vessel. You can tour inside, but there are a lot of stairs! Most people are surprised at how small the ship really was! It was only 25 feet wide and 106 feet long.
The Mayflower is important historically, not just because it became the first surviving English setttlement here. Since they were supposed to go to Virginia where they actually had a charter from the King to settle, but endeed up in Massachusetts, where they were NOT legally supposed to be, they were in a "No Man's Land."
Before they got off the ship, they drafted and signed The Mayflower Compact. This document was written and signed by the 41 (out of 50) men on board who were the religious Pilgrims to establish a set of rules or laws that would govern the new colony. This was the first rule of law establishing self-governing in the New World.
From History.com we learn these were the basics in the agreement:
The colonists would remain loyal subjects to King James, despite their need for self-governance.
The colonists would create and enact “laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices…” for the good of the colony, and abide by those laws.
The colonists would create one society and work together to further it.
The colonists would live in accordance with the Christian faith.
Now you're all set to start off Fall next week on the 22nd! Dig out those pilgrim hats and start planning Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a great time to share family history stories with those not glued to a football game on TV. Get some pictures ready, and get ready to ask and answer questions!
If you need help with your family tree, please send me an email for a free review of what have or don't have to WhoIComeFromInfo@gmail.com and we can talk about it!
Best wishes for a great coming week,
Leslie Ryan
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