Another interesting ancestor is John West I, who served as acting colonial governor of Virginia from 1635 to 1637: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_West_(governor). John is also listed as a qualifying ancestor for the Jamestowne Society, which is a hereditary society for descendants of “early settlers who lived or held colonial government positions in Jamestowne, Virginia prior to 1700, orContinue reading “John West, Royal Governor of Virginia and Jamestowne Settler”
Category Archives: Stories
Mayflower Rumors: John Alden and Priscilla Mullins
If true, our Mayflower ancestor was none other than the famed cooper John Alden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alden. After landing in the colonies, he married Priscilla Mullins, another Mayflower passenger. John’s story is fascinating to me – truly a classic American rags-to-riches tale. John was a poor cooper in England, of unknown parentage. When he arrived in theContinue reading “Mayflower Rumors: John Alden and Priscilla Mullins”
Reverend Joseph Hull: Founder of the Second Oldest Settlement in Massachusetts
Reverend Joseph Hull sailed from England and, with 106 congregants, founded the Hull Colony in Massachusetts in 1635. The Hull Colony was located in what is now Weymouth, Massachusetts. It is the second oldest settlement in Massachusetts, the oldest being at Plymouth. Apparently he held somewhat liberal views that weren’t welcomed by a conservative congregation.Continue reading “Reverend Joseph Hull: Founder of the Second Oldest Settlement in Massachusetts”
The First Monroe Long: Skeletons in the Closet
The Long line has been incredibly elusive, and there are a few reasons why. First, there are three generations of Long men who were named Monroe Park Long. The second is that all three of them used different variations of the name, the spelling, or the name “Mongo/Mungo” at different points in their lives. ThisContinue reading “The First Monroe Long: Skeletons in the Closet”
Mary Bradbury: The Witch Who Didn’t Burn
Great grandma Mable Bradberry’s line goes back to Massachusetts in the 1600s. One of our ancestors from that line was Mary Gater Bradbury, convicted as a witch during the Salem witch trials. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bradbury (You may note that the last name spelling is different, but name spellings actually changed frequently from generation to generation.). Mary was ableContinue reading “Mary Bradbury: The Witch Who Didn’t Burn”
The Michaels Project 