Update on our Mayflower connection

In a previous post - https://descenddance.blogspot.com/2018/01/mayflower.html - I outlined our Mayflower ancestry through my mother's maternal line. John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley are my 8th great grandparents. 

I knew there were other Mayflower passengers in my family tree, but have not been able to confirm. Then, along came this information from Matt, my cousin and fellow family researcher... Not only am I descended directly from John Howland on my mother's side, but am connected to him through marriage on my FATHER's side!!! Already I knew that my mother's and father's ancestors crossed paths and bloodlines several times in colonial days. (This topic will be another whole blog post in itself).

From Matt:

So, these are the most evident connections to the Mayflower, although I assume that there are likely to be several more within the groups these ancestors moved within.

First an Indirect Connection but Interesting (A Connection to the Direct Connection)
John Howland - his grandson Charles Dickinson married Phillip [sic] Green,* daughter of Major John Greene of Rhode Island and sister of Richard Greene (1660-1811) who married Elinor Sayles (1664-1714) their daughter Mary Greene (1706-1757) married Captain John Godfrey (1704-1756) who was the father of Captain Samuel Godfrey (1743-1831). So this connection is not direct. But:

Second the Direct Connection
Stephen Hopkins - his grandaughter Waitstill Snow married Joseph Sabin. Waitstill and Joseph's great-granddaughter was Patience Sabin (1751-1786) married Captain Samuel Godfrey (1743-1831) on 30 July 1769 in Providence, RI. Their daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) Godfrey (1779-1864) married Thomas Whitfield (1780-1830), and their daughter Sarah Gale (Sally) Whitfield (1811-1882) married John L. Abbott (1810-1898 in New York City on 11 Oct 1836. Of course, their son was Whitfield Barry Abbott (1844-1889).

This has given me a lot to chew on! I had Stephen Hopkins in my tree many years ago - I even bought a book about him - but deleted him when some of the genealogical evidence seemed sketchy. 

I will give it a second look.

*Phillip - could be Phillis or Phillipa. 

The Gaspee Affair

We are pretty solidly descended from New England stock.  Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island... much of our lineage can be traced back to these New England colonies.  So many early colonists were related to each other in some way - I have often wondered how many times our genetic lines crossed.

Our direct ancestors include many important colonial leaders.  Descendants of Roger Williams in Providence RI were patriots and conspirators in the early movement against Britain.  These names - Godfrey, Sabin, Greene, Hopkins and Ashton - are commonly found in many early Rhode Island historical accounts. Our own Captain Samuel Godfrey was a participant in the "Gaspee Affair," one of the most significant events leading up to the American Revolution.

Sabins Tavern in Providence was the meeting place of a group of early revolutionaries as they planned an attack on the British ship Gaspee.  The attack took place on June 10th, 1772. The ship was grounded at a spot on the Providence River now known at Gaspee Point.  Eight rowboats full of Providence men quietly approached the ship during the night and burned her.  The ship burned to the waterline before her powder magazine exploded.  This incident is recognized as the first act of violence toward Britain, predating the Boston Tea Party and the "shot heard 'round the world."  Britain never learned the identity of the culprits.

If you want to know more, check this out:  http://www.gaspee.org/

Providence is now on my bucket list of places to visit.

Abbott > Whitfield > Godfrey > Greene > Sayles > Roger Williams.
Abbott > Whitfield > Godfrey > Ashton > Williams > Roger Williams.

Fast Facts

We have a double link to Roger Williams through the marriage of Samuel Godfrey and Patience Sabin whose mothers (both granddaughters of Roger Williams) were first cousins.  

Roger Williams, an anti-Puritan, was exiled from Massachusetts Bay Colony.  He survived in the wilderness by depending on the Indians.  He had an exceptional language ability and learned several Indian languages which he later wrote a book about.  He founded Providence Rhode Island and started the First Baptist Church in America.

Capt. Samuel Godfrey was one of the Sons of Liberty who took part in the famed Gaspee Affair, a fiery event in Rhode Island which was instrumental in sparking the American Revolution.

The Hickock/Hiccox/Hickok family is connected through Anna Dillingham Crofford.  Our ancestor, Hannah, was a 6^th cousin to Wild Bill (James Butler) Hickok.

Joost Van Den Vondell was the “Shakespeare of the Netherlands” in the 1500’s.  His great great grandson came to America in the late 1700’s. (Later note: this connection is not definitively proven).

Charles Wesley Wandell b. 1819 was a missionary to Australia.  He wrote a letter in 1869 from White Pine, Nevada to his sister Miriam Olivia (our ancestor) saying that he was glad to hear that she was “coming west” by railroad and covered wagon.

Thomas Welles, 4^th Gov of CT – through Judd ancestry.  Was a first settler of Hartford, and is memorialized on a monument there. 

Orrin Judd was a well known preacher in Connecticut.  His scandalous divorce is documented in the newspaper of the time.  He wrote a translation of the New Testament Book of Matthew (look him up on Amazon).

Sarah L Wright married Whitfield Abbott – 2^nd marriage for both – both had been widowed.  Their child was George Wright Abbott, a carpenter, who became my great grandfather.  Sarah was then widowed again at age 36.  Sarah’s mother was born in Ireland.