SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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1 SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Vol. XXIX No. 3 Fall/Winter 2017 Governor s Message Page 2 New Members Page 4 Partnership Between Family Tree DNA & GSMD Page 5 GSMD News Page 7 Join us for Thanksgiving Service Commemoration of We hope you will join us in Commemoration of the First Harvest Festival in Plymouth Colony in 1621, more commonly known as the annual Thanksgiving Service. The service will be held 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon, November 19th, at Parkside United Church of Christ, 505 Main Street, across from the little park in Phoenixville, PA. The Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman, pastor of the host church, will be the preacher. Dr. Mitman has served congregations in Easton, Carlisle, and Colorado Springs. He was Conference Minister and President of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ from 1992 to A renowned expert on preaching and liturgy, he is a sought-after lecturer and consultant. He has authored four books and numerous articles. His newest book, Preaching Adverbally, will be released by Eerdmans Publishing Co. in January First Harvest Festival began appearing in Hungarian and English in After the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, more than 60 Hungarian refugees were taken care of by the congregation and the community. By the time of its 60 th anniversary, the congregation, now part of the great merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches, was known as the United Church of Christ, Hungarian Reformed, of Phoenixville. The name was changed to Parkside United Church of Christ in Besides the obvious reference to the church s location alongside Reeves Park, it was hoped the new name would be a clear sign that the church doors were open to all people, not just to those of Hungarian heritage. Their first non- Hungarian pastor was called in Their present minister has been with them since Upcoming Meetings and Events Pages st General Congress Pages Parkside was founded in 1900 as Phoenixville Magyar Reformatus Egyhaz, the Hungarian Reformed Church in Phoenixville by a small group of Hungarian and Slovak speaking immigrants. The church grew in numbers and faith, and the language barriers melted. The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, and in 1943 the mortgage was paid off, thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the members. Early in 1949 English services were offered along with the usual Hungarian services every Sunday morning. Worship bulletins for the Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church, as it was then called, Parking is on the street. Please remember to bring a canned good as all donations will go to the Chester County Food Bank. Participants and children who will dress in period clothing may gather in the education building. -Article by Rev. Judith A. Meier, SMDPA Elder

2 From the Governor s Desk The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 2017 Board of Assistants Governor: Peter M. Adams Deputy Governor: Reed Kneale Secretary: Christine Hoffman Assistant Secretary: Scott Bond Treasurer: Michael Gardner, Esq. Assistant Treasurer: Acting Assistant Treasurer Scott Bond Historian: John Lapham, D.Mgt. Registrar: Pamela Kolyer Membership: Reed Kneale Elder: Rev. Judith Meier Surgeon: Dr. Ronald W. Simonsen Counselor & Assistant General: Thomas R. Kellogg, Esq. Captain: Acting Captain John Lapham, D.Mgt. Deputy Gov. General: Joan Reed Miller Learning Development Coordinator: Debra Georgantis-Miller Editorial Staff Editor: Sherri Smith SMDPAcoeditor@yahoo.com Co-Editors: Sharyn Davis sharynsdavis@gmail.com Deb Miller debgeorgantis@yahoo.com As we enter into the holiday season, I am humbled by the reminder of our beginnings as a Mayflower Society. The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (SMDPA) was organized in From our inception, the SMDPA, has been committed to education and to perpetuate the memory of our Pilgrim ancestors. I hope you enjoy the two articles by the Deputy Governor, Reed Kneale, and myself on our Pilgrim ancestors. We wanted to share stories about our Pilgrim fathers that we found entertaining and enlightening with the hopes that you will share with your family. In fact, we want to make this a competition! Please vote for your favorite article and we will announce the winner at our Annual meeting. Refer to page 9 for competition rules and voting instructions. In September to share our ancestor s history, we attended the Downingtown Fallfest and introduced Congressman Ryan Costello to the Mayflower Society! We are growing and look to our membership to keep the Society vital. We have several open positions on the Board and various committees. I strongly encourage anyone with an interest to reach out to Joan Miller as noted on the adjacent page. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and share a love of history. The SMDPA 2018 scholarship is open to college bound high school seniors in Pennsylvania who are members or are directly related to members of our society. There is also the GSMD scholarship. We encourage our college bound members to take advantage of these offerings. One of the quotes I am noted as saying, We are Thanksgiving. Please join us in celebrating the First Harvest Festival on November 19 th and share with your cousins our ancestor s history. There is no history like your own history. We are Thanksgiving. Blessings, Peter M. Adams, Governor Page 2 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

3 Be a Part of Our Growing Society - Join Our Board Each year at our Annual Meeting in April, slots on our Society s Board of Assistants become vacant and successors are elected. Board positions are officers who serve one-year terms. There are three assistant groups with three members in each serving a term of three years. Only the Governor and Deputy Governor are limited to a total of three successive one-year terms. All other officers may serve, at the discretion of the Nomination Committee, for an indefinite number of one-year terms. The Board meets on Saturdays at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, PA, approximately five times a year, typically February/March, May, June, September, and November. We are currently looking for members to serve in the following board positions and committees: Secretary - Attends and writes minutes for all SMDPA meetings; maintains all records of meetings; receives and sends all general correspondence. Performs duties delegated by the Governor or Board of Assistants. Assistant Secretary - Assists Secretary and performs duties delegated by the Secretary. In absence of Secretary, performs duties of Secretary at Board meetings. Assistant Treasurer - Responsible for all incoming funds (dues, contributions, new applicant fees, sales and event fees), including preparing, processing, maintenance and reporting on these activities. Support Assistant Treasurer - Duties are delegated by the Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer is responsible for collecting yearly dues and sales. Historian Committee Members - Under the purview of the SMDPA Historian and following GSMD guidelines, manages the applications process from initiation to completion. Reviews, assists and coaches the applicant throughout the membership application, supplemental and transfer processes to ensure sufficiency of corroborating documentation. Maintains administrative data, tracks and reports on progress, and serves on the Historian Committee. Sales Committee Chair (ad-hoc) - Responsible for Society sales and record keeping. Reports directly to the Assistant Treasurer. Social Media Committee Chair and Members (ad-hoc) - Work closely with SMDPA WebMaster for frequent updates to content on the website, Facebook, etc., and creating sections when necessary. Has the ability to go beyond just external social media (Webpage and FaceBook) and adopt realistic/economical collaboration technology solutions for our internal use. Continue and keep current collaboration/sharing IT capabilities that allow us to create, store, share and archive our working documents and important files. Archive Committee Members - Works with select SMDPA members for the restoration, destruction, digitization and storage of important records. Monitors the SMDPA off-site archival repositories to ensure for the care and protection of vulnerable archival records, documents, photographs and artifacts. Publicity Committee Members - Responsible for publicity, providing information to the general public, media representatives, newspapers, radio, TV, and Internet about our Society. Education Committee Members - Coordinate activities that relate to educating others about our Society. Responsible for coordinating and implementing annual visits of re-enactors into our schools throughout the Commonwealth of PA. Junior Membership Committee Members - Responsible for recruitment of Jr. Members (including for Thanksgiving Service), activities, newsletter, etc. Will work with Membership Chair, Registrar, Elder, and Editor of the newsletter. Social Event Committee Members - Social functions of the Society; Annual meeting in April, Summer Jr. Picnic, Thanksgiving Social, etc. If you wish to volunteer to serve, contact Joan Miller, Chair of the Nominating Committee at: reedmiller107@yahoo.com The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 2017 Committees Annual Dues: Scott Bond, Acting Chair Archive: John Lapham, D.Mgt., Acting Chair & consultant Layton Fireng Audit: Peter Dustin, Chair Education/Scholarship: James Buckner, Chair & Daniel Lute Finance: Scott Bond, Chair, Treasurer Michael Gardner, Esq. & Governor Peter Adams Junior Membership: Deborah Markowitz & Cathy Smith, Co-Chairs, & Nevin Sackson Membership: Reed Kneale, Chair & Sue Henning Newsletter: Sherri Smith, Editor; Sharyn Davis, Co-Editor, Debra Miller, Sue Henning, Daniel Lute & Joan Miller Nominating: Joan Miller, Chair; Bob Heinsohn, PhD, Dorothy Lees & Debra Miller Parliamentarian & By-Laws: Thomas Kellogg, Esq., Chair & Peter Dustin Pink Book Member Directory Update: Daniel Lute, Chair, Auditor Peter Dustin, Registrar Pamela Koyler Publicity Community Relations: Christine Hoffman, Chair Sales: Scott Bond, Acting Chair & Layton Fireng Social Events: Deborah Markowitz, Chair Social Media: Sherri Smith, Chair; Governor Peter Adams & Debra Miller Thanksgiving: Rev. Judith Meier, Chair & Junior Committee Webmaster: Joe Wood, Chair Page 3 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

4 Embarkation of the Pilgrims from Delfthaven Holland, By Robert Walter Weir (1843) Welcome Our New Members Leanne Marie CASNER Bath of Royersford, PA - 14th generation descent from Richard Warren Sharon Elaine LITTLE Biedrzycki of Kennett Square, PA - 12th generation descent from William Brewster Dianne Jean BUCKNER of Capistrano, CA - 13th generation descent from John Howland Kristi Dawn DUNLAP Burhenn of Aliquippa, PA - 10th generation descent from William Bradford Brent Allan JONES of Glenmoore, PA - 13th generation descent from Richard Warren Laura Cope KELLOGG of Radnor, PA - 12th generation descent from Stephen Hopkins Susan Barbara (MIKOLIECIK/Sheerin) Rinaldi of Throop, PA - 12th generation descent from John Howland Linda Anne PERKINS Pepper of Ford City, PA - 14th generation descent from William Brewster Rita DeMICHELE Kennison of Smithfield, PA - 11th generation descent from John Howland In Memoriam Mrs. Elizabeth Baker Bowers (Member since 2002) - descent from Stephen Hopkins Mrs. Josephine Adeline Cockrell (Member since 2012) - descent from William Brewster Mr. J. Bennett Hill Jr. (Member since 1980) - descent from Richard Warren Mrs. Charlotte Taylor (Member since 2005) - descent from Stephen Hopkins Page 4 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

5 DNA Strain Goundbreaking Partnership Established Between Family Tree DNA and GSMD Pioneering company in the field of Genetic Genealogy, Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), is partnering with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) to identify the DNA profile of the Mayflower Pilgrims. The partnership is a natural progression. Both organizations strive to bring the most accurate information possible to their constituents. Marrying the GSMD lineage documentation to FTDNA tests will allow The Mayflower Society to remain cutting edge in the genealogy field. At Family Tree DNA we can provide DNA proof of lineage, said owner Bennett Greenspan. Partnering with GSMD with its comprehensive lineage review process allows us to do the research needed to identify accurately the Mayflower Pilgrims all the way back to Work is being done to identify the genetic profile of each Mayflower Pilgrim. So far, all but three direct male lines have been identified. FTDNA will provide test takers who meet this profile with a Mayflower descendent icon explaining that there is a strong possibility of a Mayflower Pilgrim connection. The icon will take them to information from the GSMD on how to do proof documentation to confirm direct lineage. Those who receive the icon on their results will know there is a possible connection, said Lea Sinclair Filson, Governor General of GSMD. Our documented lineage research will tell them if they are related directly to the Mayflower Pilgrim or just a close relative. Pairing DNA evidence with accurate lineage documentation allows the field of genealogy to advance. Those who are experiencing brick walls where no documentation exists will have another tool to prove the connection through a DNA test. Through help with credible genealogy review, organizations like GSMD can assist in unraveling the mysteries that arise from DNA testing for people who show proof of being related with no prior knowledge of the relationship. FTDNA conducts the most sophisticated testing on the market. GSMD is the gold standard in genealogy documentation research and has approved lineage documentation to the Mayflower Pilgrims from over 100,000 people since Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United State after gardening. It is expected that soon DNA tests will be required by most genealogy organizations along with documented proof of lineage. -GSMD Press release Clayton Conder, claytonc@genebygene.com and Christina Scott, communications@themayflower society.org Fall/Winter 2017 Page 5

6 Downingtown Fallfest The SMDPA was proud to participate in the Downingtown Community James Buckner, SMDPA Education Chair Peter Adams, SMDPA Governor and Congressman Ryan Costello Fallfest on September 23 rd. The event had over 250 vendors and 7,000 people in attendance. A special thank you to board members Peter Adams, SMDPA Governor, Christine Hoffman, SMDPA Secretary and Jim Buckner, SMDPA Education Chair for setting up the Society's colorful and attractive exhibit booth. They all worked to promote our Society throughout the day. It was a hot, sunny day and our board members helped dozens of children create colorful, fun sun visors to shield the sun from their eyes and faces - while talking about our Society to the many interested parents. Board members Scott Bond, SMDPA Assistant Treasurer and Layton Fireng, SMDPA Archive Consultant also arrived to support the activity and assist in answering hundreds of questions to the interested and enthusiastic attendees who wanted to learn more about our Society. The wonderful participation by our Board members made it very easy for Governor Peter Adams to network with many of the event attendees. In fact, we handed out hundreds of our Mayflower Society membership brochures. As a consequence we obtained specific information from at least nine individuals who claimed they were certain they would qualify for membership in our Society, "because their grandparents had told them their ancestors came to America on the Mayflower. A special surprise, U.S. Representative Ryan Costello, of the 6 th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, stopped by and had his picture taken with the Governor! Christine Hoffman, SMDPA Secretary and James Buckner, SMDPA Education Chair We look forward to helping each prospective member apply for membership in our Society. We all felt this was a wonderful experience and we were pleased that our Society was warmly welcomed by so many interested Chester County residents. The most common statement of the event was, "I did not know a Mayflower Society even existed. We were pleased to inform the attendees that, "Our ship is still sailing strong" and we were happy to share our knowledge that, "There is no history like our history. It was enjoyable to tell all that our Society welcomes their interest and participation as we proclaimed, "We are Thanksgiving!" -Article by Peter Adams, SMDPA Governor Photos courtesy of James Buckner, Peter Adams and Christine Hoffman Page 6 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

7 GSMD News 2017 GSMD Scholarship Winners The General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) Scholarship Program offers $6,000, $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are Mayflower Descendants and will be attending a fouryear college or university or two-year community college. Congratulations to the 2017 winners: 1st Place: Stellan Nils Riffle, OH ($6,000) 2nd Place: Matthew Robert Brewer, OH ($4,000) 3rd Place: John Martin Ferrara, TN ($3,000) 4th Place: Holly Kay Sobon, NC ($2,000) 2018 application deadline is March 1st. For more information and to begin the application process please go to: Patriots to Passengers Project As more and more information becomes available on the Internet, descendants are reaching out to connect their Revolutionary War Patriot with the Mayflower Society. Many Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution Societies (DAR and SAR) are asking if they also have an ancestral tie to a Mayflower passenger and are interested in finding how they may become a member. The Patriot to Passenger Project is a growing published list of Patriots who descend from Mayflower passengers in an effort to build a bridge between other heritage societies. So many of our Mayflower members are also members of other lineage societies such as DAR, SAR, Colonial Dames, etc. We often see many of our friends at these other meetings. The Patriot to Passenger Project is a way to help others find their link to a Mayflower Pilgrim and also benefits our Mayflower members to discover other Mayflower lines of descent so that they can submit supplemental applications to honor and recognize all of their ancestors. This project is a work in progress. If you have any ideas, thoughts or suggestions, please contact Muriel Cushing at Flash1620@comcast.net. Pilgrim Family Societies The Family Societies listed below are organizations run by Mayflower descendants with a focus on a particular Pilgrim family and lineage. Many descendants like to get involved with the family society devoted to their Mayflower ancestor in addition to joining the SMDPA/GSMD. As a member of the SMDPA, you can easily join one of the Family Societies associated with your Pilgrim ancestor listed below. DOTY: The Pilgrim Edward Doty Society - Donna Masaniai at dotysociety@gmail.com FULLER: The Fuller Society - Jane Engleman at hengleman@msn.com HOPKINS: Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society - Ken Whittemore at historian@pilgrimhopkins.com HOWLAND: The Pilgrim John Howland Society - Jean Albert at sjalbert03@gmail.com ROGERS: Thomas Rogers Society - Tracy Crocker at genealogist@tracycrocker.com SAMSON: Pilgrim Henry Samson Kindred - Scott Samson at scottsbsi@myfairpoint.net SOULE: Soule Kindred in America - Russell Francis at rfrancis97@me.com WHITE: The Pilgrim William White Society - Prarie Counce at prariec@me.com Fall/Winter 2017 Page 7

8 MARK YOUR CALENDARS The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 2017 Dues Reminder The end of the year is upon us. Please pay your 2017 Annual Dues! Dues are $40.00 for regular members and $15.00 for Junior members (does not include Regular Junior Members). Life and Emeritus members owe no dues. We encourage members to make additional contributions to the SMDPA program(s) listed on the form. Please note, all contributions are tax deductible under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Tax Code. Please pay your dues promptly so that our Society s financial obligations for Susquehanna and Western Colony rebates, scholarship events, newsletters, activities, meetings, library mini-seminars, membership certificates, etc. can continue to be met on a timely basis. Any questions, please contact Scott Bond at: SMDPA Attn: Asst Treasurer 929 South High St., Suite 135 West Chester, PA Pennsylvania Meetings November 19, Thanksgiving Service & Dinner 2 PM Service: Parkside United Church of Christ Phoenixville, PA Dinner: Desmond Hotel, Malvern, PA Dinner immediately following service April 14, Annual Meeting Merion Cricket Club Haverford, PA Guest Speaker: Caleb Johnson June 3, Summer Picnic (sponsored by Education & Junior Committees) Haverford Township Historical Society Heritage Festival Karakung Drive 11 AM - 4 PM Susquehanna Colony Meetings May 5, Spring Meeting at Country Cupboard, Lewisburg, PA :00 AM Registration & Business Meeting 12:00 PM Lunch Guest Speaker: TBA Contact: Susquehanna Colony Governor, Daniel Lute at: dglute@verizon.net Western Colony Meetings November 18, Fall Meeting at The Oakmont Country Club 1233 Hulton Rd., Oakmont, PA Guest Speaker: Todd DePastino May 19, Spring Meeting (location and speaker to follow) Contact: Western Colony Governor, Lois Lang at: llangpgh@aol.co Page 8 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

9 Upcoming Events November 11, Bucks County Ancestry Fair The 11th Annual Bucks County Ancestry Fair will be held on Saturday, November 11th by the Bucks County Genealogical Society. The fair will be held in the Bucks County Community College, Upper Campus, 1 Hillendale Road, Perkasie, PA. Registration will begin at 8:30 AM and the keynote address by Sydney Cruice Dixon will begin at 9:30 AM. For more information, please visit: November 19, Thanksgiving Service & Dinner - The Most Distinguished Pilgrim Award Please join us Sunday at 2:00 PM for our annual Thanksgiving Service at Parkside United Church of Christ, Phoenixville, PA followed by our Society s traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at the Desmond Hotel, Malvern, PA, and the presentation of the John Hunt Jr. Most Distinguished Pilgrim Award to a current SMDPA member. The award is bestowed upon a Pennsylvania Society member for their exceptional service to the state society. We encourage our junior members to come out and participate in the service. We have plenty of period outfits and maybe you can be the lucky one to beat the drum! (Refer to page 19) CONTEST! Our very own Governor, Peter Adams and Deputy Governor, Reed Kneale are going head to head! Each one feels that their Pilgrim ancestor has the best story. Can you help decide? On pages 12 and 13 You will find a story from each on their Pilgrim ancestor. We are asking our membership to vote on the article you enjoyed the most. To vote, go to: April 14, Annual Meeting and Tea Please join us Saturday, April 14 th at the Merion Cricket Club for the SMDPA s Annual Meeting and Tea. The Society will be swearing-in the 2018 board members and guest speaker Caleb Johnson is not to be missed! More details will follow in the Spring Newsletter. June 3, SMDPA Summer Picnic Sunday, June 3 rd, join us for our 2 nd Annual Summer Picnic at the Haverford Township Historical Society Heritage Festival. The Heritage Festival features living history exhibits, live music, delicious food and a beer garden. The SMDPA is proud to be sponsoring a table at this event. Please stop by and say hello! The Heritage Festival takes place on Karakung Drive between Lakeside Drive and Manoa Road in Haverford, PA. Stroll along the drive and enjoy the day with the whole family. We encourage our juniors to participate! We will announce the winner at our April Annual Meeting and Tea. Attend the Annual Meeting and be the first to hear who wins the prize! Do you have a story you would like to tell about your Mayflower ancestor? us and you can be part of next year s contest! Sharyn Davis at: sharynsdavis@gmail.com Fall/Winter 2017 Page 9

10 Susquehanna Colony News Fall Meeting October 7, 2017, an unseasonably warm, beautiful autumn day was the perfect setting for the Susquehanna Colony fall meeting. About thirty members and guests attended Gilligan s Bar & Grill in Harrisburg to enjoy some great food, the company of cousins, and a very knowledgeable guest speaker. Colony Governor Daniel Lute called the meeting to order by welcoming all and asking members to introduce themselves and their pilgrim ancestor. A recitation of the Pilgrim s Pledge followed the introductions. Governor Lute asked that we take a moment to remember recently departed member, Elsie Jean Wagner. Susquehanna Colony Gov. Daniel Lute Copies of the Secretary s report and Treasurer s report were read and approved. Information was given to each member concerning the Mayflower DNA project which is a new partnership between GSMD and the website Family Tree DNA, along with a Mayflower DNA update from Governor General Lea Filson. A list of Pilgrim Family Societies endorsed by GSMD was also provided. In other business, Jane Ordway Carman spoke about attending the 41st Mayflower Congress in September. She suggested that all members try to make the trip to Congress in the future. Joan Reed Miller, SMDPA DGG also spoke about attending the Congress, raising money to aid in the restoration of Plymouth s First ParishChurch and she also handed out a GSMD information sheet on the Mayflower DNA project. John Lapham, newly appointed SMDPA Historian, spoke of GSMD s plans to digitize the 5th generation of the Silver Books. Guest speaker Malka Benjamin at area school Debra Miller, Joan Miller, James Buckner, Malka Benjamin, and Daniel Lute James Buckner, SMDPA Education Chair, and Susquehanna Colony Elder gave grace and a lovely lunch was enjoyed by all. Drawings were held for books, DVDs, and other Mayflower related items. Around 1:30 PM, we were introduced to the guest speaker, Malka Benjamin, a Plimouth Plantation museum teacher. She made visits to Red Lion High School, Red Lion Junior High School, Clearview Elementary School, and Mount Calvary Christian School throughout the week and agreed to stay another day to attend our meeting. Four hundred and five students from first to twelfth grades were educated on the times, language, customs, and clothing of our Pilgrim ancestors. Ms. Benjamin, dressed in period clothing, portrayed Pilgrim Susannah (Jackson) White Winslow. Susannah was the wife of Pilgrim William White and mother of Peregrine White, the first child born to the Pilgrims in America. She told of the hardships of sickness, drought, lack of food and medicinal supplies, and the loss of her husband William White in February She also told of her marriage to Pilgrim Edward Winslow in May 1621, just a few months after becoming a widow and after the death of his wife in March. Ms. Benjamin took questions from the group as Susannah as well as herself. In both instances, she was very engaging and knowledgeable. As the Colony meeting came to a close, the sunny day and beautiful foliage outside provided a perfect backdrop to photograph Ms. Benjamin with past, and present Governors, Joan Reed Miller, James Buckner, Debra Georgantis-Miller, current Colony Governor Daniel Lute. -Article by Sharyn Davis, SMDPA Co-Editor Photos courtesy of James Buckner Page 10 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

11 Western Colony News Summer Picnic Saturday, July 15 th was a beautiful, sunny, 79 F day in nearby Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when members of the SMDPA Western Colony met Colony Governor Lois Lang, Treasurer W. Brewster Cockrell, Esq., Colony Historian Billie Gailey and Colony Elder Elizabeth Ruh in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania under blue skies at the lovely Woodville Plantation, a National Historic Landmark. Woodville Plantation, as described on: woodvilleplantation.org, was the home of John and Presley Neville. It is Southwestern Pennsylvania s principal link to the late 18th century, interpreting the time period of and documenting the lives of the three families that resided there, the Nevilles ( ), the Cowans ( ), and the Wrenshalls ( ). At 10:45 AM the Western Colony members gathered under the gabled roof of the Cowan Estate s Still House which is a smaller building that stands behind the main house. This building has served many purposes. It was a family schoolhouse, wash house, smokehouse, storage building, and groundskeeper residence. Our very knowledgeable tour guides explained that the Cowan family used this structure as a still house. In fact, the day after our Colony tour, the plantation conducted an historical reenactment of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 because Woodville Plantation was a flashpoint for those events. The interior of the main house is decorated with gorgeous furnishings that authentically match the time period of the home. Among other treasures, we were delighted by the period accurate pianoforte that we were invited to play so that the strings would stay in tune. The tour guides fielded questions and adapted their presentations to the historic interests of members. After the tour, the Western Colony Board and members retired to the nearby Walnut Grill and shared a delicious lunch. -Article by Sara Droddy Photos courtesy of Lois Lang, Western Colony Governor, Bonnie Cornish & Sara Droddy Fall/Winter 2017 Page 11

12 Excerpt from Mike Haywood s painting Pilgrim Overboard John Howland John Howland may not be as famous as some of the other Mayflower passengers, but he probably had a greater impact on the history of the United States than any of them. As they celebrate Thanksgiving, hundreds of thousands of Americans are unaware that they owe their very existence to Howland. When he boarded the Mayflower, John Howland was probably in his 20s and he was a servant to John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower departed England on September 6, As the ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean the trip became treacherous. Since it was not safe to use the sails in such high winds, the crew allowed the ship to drift. Today, September and October are recognized as peak Atlantic hurricane months. Imagine sailing through a hurricane in a wooden ship one hundred feet long by twenty-four feet wide! The 102 Mayflower passengers lived primarily on the gun deck which was sandwiched between the upper deck and the cargo hold, and only five and a half feet high. A strapping young man, such as John Howland, would be unable to stand up straight in such cramped quarters. After many days of rough weather and being in a confined area with many seasick passengers, we can guess Howland went topside to get some much needed fresh air. Unfortunately, this was during a fierce Atlantic storm with waves higher than the masts of the Mayflower. As the ship was rocked by the massive waves, Howland fell overboard. He quickly slipped under the freezing water, but had the presence of mind to see the topsail halyard (rope) which was hanging overboard near him. Fearing for his life, he was able to grab onto the trailing rope and pull himself above the water. Clinging to the rope and pulling himself close enough to the ship; the crew was able to haul him aboard using boat hooks. Howland was quite ill, probably suffering from hypothermia, when he was pulled back on board the ship. The young Elizabeth Tilley, along with the other Mayflower women, nursed him back to health for the remaining month they were at sea. This might have been the beginning of Elizabeth s and John s relationship, as she would eventually become his wife. He signed the Mayflower Compact and aided in the founding of Plymouth Colony. Once established in Plymouth Colony, Howland quickly rose to a position of responsibility and respectability. Howland was one of the eight Plymouth settlers who assumed the colony s debt. He could have obtained his wealth from his wife s parents or possibly gained an inheritance from John Carver, all of whom died the first winter. Howland had many positions within the colony; he served as an assistant to the governor, as a member of committees, and was placed in charge of the colony s fur trading post at Kennebec, Maine. John and Elizabeth had 10 children who in turn have led to three U.S. Presidents; Franklin D. Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. Famous poets and actors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Chevy Chase and Humphrey Bogart are Howland/Tilley descendants as well. Had Howland not survived his trip overboard, the aforementioned would not be here including me and my family! I, for one, will remember my Pilgrim forefather at our Thanksgiving dinner table this year. -Article by Peter Adams, SMDPA Governor Page 12 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

13 1957 Boston Herald Newspaper Clipping Stephen Hopkins: Mutineer? Rascal? Stranger? Barrel Rider? How would you like to have a neighbor that was fined several times for alcohol crimes, spends 4 days in jail for not supporting his servant, attempted mutiny (some say twice) and was fined again for badly beating up a local townsman? You might want to vote them off the island! As we think about our Thanksgiving celebration and our ancestors, it clearly was a very different time. It is hard to make judgements about some of this behaviour based on today s culture and lifestyle. Slavery & indentured servitude were still common and daily life difficult without modern conveniences. Imagine leaving your wife and new born in England to join a merchant expedition to the new world thousands of miles away. This eventual promise of land after finishing a servitude commitment was the potential reward for a few years of service. Hopkins was on one of seven ships named Sea Venture bound for Jamestown until a storm separated the ships. Then imagine being shipwrecked in an uninhabited Bermuda island along the way, not reaching your original destination Jamestown, until a year after expected. Stephen s exploits were so interesting, Shakespeare included a character in the play The Tempest called Stephano who was strikingly familiar to Mr. Hopkins. The character Stephano in the play was a butler known to be drunk and boisterous. Stephen started talk of a mutiny while castaway on the Isle of the Devils. Hopkins argued the contract was no longer enforceable due to the ship wreck. He was found guilty and ordered hanged. Only because of his crying and moaning, was he given a pardon and spared. This happened 10 years before the Mayflower voyage and readied Stephen for the trip. Young Hopkins employed riding a barrel full of wine one mile to shore after the ship wreck in Bermuda; this insured his life and adult drink on the 10 month stay. Stephen learned hunting and how to speak with the Indian natives while stranded in Bermuda and in the Jamestown colony, skillsets vital to the Mayflower venture. (Did you know that fellow Bermuda castaway, John Rolfe, married legendary Pocahontas in Jamestown? John was a widower after his wife and child perished on the uninhabited Bermuda island called Isle of the Devils.) After returning home from Jamestown Stephen found his first wife had perished. He soon remarried, Elizabeth Fisher in England and added to his three children from his first wife, Mary. Hopkins joined the 1620 Mayflower venture composed of saints and strangers. The saints were seeking religious freedom. The strangers were tradesman needed to establish the settlement and were hoping for personal gain in the new land. While Hopkins was known for reciting religious verse and often reading scripture, he was considered a stranger not a saint. He was also considered a tanner by trade. Oceanus Hopkins was borne to Elizabeth and Stephen during the Mayflower voyage in Can you imagine a late term pregnancy on a ship with squalid conditions? Elizabeth had to be amazingly hardy! The area in the ship that housed the Mayflower pilgrims was barely five feet high. Togetherness for over two months in cramped quarters, rocking boats, and meager food would test anyone s patience and civility. Stephen was one of forty-one signers of the Mayflower Compact, but only after voicing his concerns. He felt that the original agreement might be void due to the fact they landed in Massachusetts, not Virginia. This was considered his second possible mutiny. The creation of the compact settled Hopkins rebellious mind and bound the voyagers together in an historic way! How would you like to have a fellow voyager that was the first to venture into the wild after being at sea for months? It took courage to be the first of 10 landing party that could face natives that may or may not be friendly? This was after a weary boat ride, malnutrition and November weather closing in. By all accounts Stephen was an industrious risk-taker and productive. He had one of the largest homes, built the first wharf, employed several servants, ran a tavern and fathered a large family. Stephen was at Myles Standish s side during native skirmishes and brokered communications with the Native Americans on behalf of the governor. This involved hosting the Indians at his home and visiting the Indians camp. One record tells of the habit of sleeping in the Indian Chiefs Wampanoag s cramped quarters with the chief s wife, two braves and Edward Winslow. The fleas and lice in the quarters were preferable to the swarm of mosquitos outside; Winslow complained later that they were more weary of the lodging than the journey. Hopkin s will in 1644 showed valuable land and personal possessions. The pilgrims were well served by the Hopkins family and thrived in spite of some rascal-like behaviour. -Article by Reed Kneale, SMDPA Deputy Governor Fall/Winter 2017 Page 13

14 41st Mayflower General Congress The 41 st Mayflower General Congress was held at the Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor in Massachusetts from September 8 th thru 13 th. Governor, Peter Adams, Deputy Governor General, Joan Miller and Deputy Governor, Reed Kneale were SMDPA delegates in attendance this year. Following are highlights from the event: Our very own Valerie Cullen, SMDPA Historian retiring this year after more than 10 years of service, was honored at General Congress with a Certificate of Commendation and Appreciation. Lea Sinclair Filson, GSMD Governor General Governor Peter Adams read the following article to the GSMD Executive Committee, State Society Deputy Governor Generals (DGGs) and Assistant Generals (AGs), to acknowledge and recoginze the success of our annual Training and Information Seminar (TIS), lead by Debra Miller, Learning and Development Coordinator. One of Pennsylvania s highlighted accomplishments is the collaboration between SMDPA Governor Peter Adams and Learning and Development Coordinator, Debra Miller, to enhance the knowledge and growth of our board members by instituting a NEW ANNUAL Training and Information Seminar (TIS). Since 2016, TIS invited newly installed board members, committee chairs, and incumbents. The incumbents (mentors) are asked to sit at various tables assigned to groups, i.e.: membership, historian, elder, education, junior, registrar, etc., to review their goals and accomplishments with new board members and committee chairs and to encourage new members to ask questions, in particular, their duties and responsibilities as volunteers. In 2017, TIS welcomed guest speaker, GSMD Marti Bobertz, Director of Genealogy and Research Services. Marti spent a great deal of time helping newly appointed historian and assistants to the historian reviewing application procedures. Marti also shared a Power Point presentation about GSMD. A post event questionnaire submitted by all TIS participants indicated a 98% satisfaction rating. We are using the questionnaire results to further improve our intended 2018 TIS training seminar. This year, at the seminar, a new work in progress Manual draft was distributed to all board members. A vision started in 2012 by the late past Governor Stacy B.C. Wood, Jr. Pilgrim monument carving An AdHoc Committee has been organized, chaired by our Learning and Development Coordinator to write a SMDPAHow (not to be confused with WikiHow), for future board members and societies to inform How to plan, prepare, before, during, and after, conduct, follow-up, using step-by-step informal summary descriptions for organizing a Training and Information Seminar. Proud to say SMDPA is Raising the Bar. Photos courtesy of Peter Adams & Reed Kneale Page 14 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

15 The following report represents what has been contributed by many SMDPA volunteers throughout the past three years Annual Meeting changed from January to April: First Annual Meeting April 18, 2015, Speaker Tom Gibson as Deacon Robert Cushman and the More Children Tragedy. Susquehanna Colony Celebrates 25 years: 2015 guest speaker Michele Dresbold, Sherlock Holmes of Handwriting Thanksgiving Service at Historic Christ Church in Philadelphia, founded 1695 where Ben Franklin, George Washington Betsy Ross, John Adams attended service. Several junior members dress in traditional clothing, carrying food for the homeless to the altar, while marching to the beat of the drum. Education 2015 Elizabeth Tilley Howland Scholarship Winner: Western Colony Member Elizabeth Butler from Cabot, PA. Members participate in Bucks County ancestry program to increase membership and encourage junior participation. SMDPA has 18 libraries using GSMD Silver Books funded by SMDPA. Members present miniseminars at libraries focusing on family roots. Co-Historian, Cinda Hartman leads programs for juniors in Berwick, Pennsylvania Annual April meeting, guest speaker Governor General Lea Sinclair Filson. Incoming and outgoing SMDPA Governors present Governor General check for $1620 for the 1620 club. Governor General Lea Sinclair Filson presented The Distinguished Kitty F. Little Award for outstanding contributions to perpetuate the memory of our Mayflower Ancestors. SMDPA votes to endorse and support GSMD s Coin Initiative Project as its 400th anniversary project. SMDPA holds first Annual Training and Information Seminar (TIS) for new members and refresher for incumbents, led by our Learning and Development Coordinator. Because of positive responses, Governor requests a second TIS, to be held May TIS welcomes guest speaker GSMD Marti Bobertz, Director of Genealogy & Research Services, who spent a great deal of time helping a newly appointed SMDPA co-historian. Education Living history visits Western Colony, 2016: As a part of SMDPA s educational focus, Plimoth Plantation Museum teachers visit 8 different schools. Over 2,000 students had the opportunity to greet two of our Pilgrim ancestors. Peter Dustin contributes a well written educational article on Hannah Dustin, Stones of Time. Cyrus Dallin, internationally known sculptor, is honored in PA Mayflower newsletter. In 1920, Massachusetts and the Nation prepare for the tercentenary of the Pilgrim landing. Dallin was called upon to commemorate the event in sculptor. Education Chair, Jim Buckner, visits schools as John Howland, wearing period clothing, talking about John Howland. A new PA Mayflower Newsletter column by our SMDPA Surgeon, titled For Health s Sake has been well received. SAIL1620.org Webmaster Joe Wood SAIL1620 website underwent a massive upgrade, which included a ground-up core rebuild and major security upgrades. An e-commerce shopping platform was installed; however, due to the untimely death of our Assistant Treasurer, its configuration is on hold was to be the year of reaching out and expanding our Social Media presence. Over the past 12 months the SMDPA website has had 252,215 visitors who viewed a total of 334,972 pages. 93.1% new visitors and 6.9% returning visitors Annual meeting 2017, with guest speaker Michael J. Tougias, New York Times bestselling author/co-author of 24 books spoke about one of America s first and costliest wars that began in King Philip s War. SMDPA members vote to approve Constitution and By Laws revisions. Will be sent to GSMD for approval at the 41 st Congress in Sept SMDPA embraces GSMD project, Passenger to Patriot, a published list of Patriots who possibly descend from Mayflower Passengers, in an effort to build the bridge between two important lineage societies. Education Spring 2017, Mayflower Quarterly Magazine - Article about Education Programs in Pennsylvania published by GSMD Junior Committee Member Elizabeth Tilley Howland Scholarship Winner: Catharine Knowles from Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Haverford Festival: June 4, 2017, Education and Junior Chairs and Committee members promote Junior participation and Membership. I conclude this report with what I have learned over the many years as a DGG, and an AG: anticipate change and provision to bridge the gap between the old way and the new way ; diversity and continuity are key factors; activities and progress have been reflected in GSMD s Strategic Planning. Plymouth Rock Pilgrim monument Pilgrim monument carving Photos courtesy of Peter Adams & Reed Kneale -Article by Joan Miller, SMDPA DDG Fall/Winter 2017 Page 15

16 SMDPA Elizabeth Tilley Howland Mayflower Descendant Scholarship Two $1,000 scholarships will be granted to graduating high school seniors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who are members of, or directly related to an active member of, the Pennsylvania Society of Mayflower Descendants, For Health s Sake... A Note from our Surgeon Public Health services, usually provided by local, state, and federal governments, have affected all of us in our daily lives. At its core, this service depends on the honesty, courage, and sense of dignity for the office, which all of our officials need to fall back on in difficult times. I can think of many times during my 25 years as Coroner of Warren County, when I would realize that the office was the critical element and I was the privileged individual to serve to the best of my ability. As I learn more about our early Plymouth Plantation settlers, I feel that a remarkable example occurred during the psychiatric epidemic that swept the western world- the "witch" hysteria. When two women were accused of witchery in Plymouth in the late 1600's, the court was bound by circumstances to hear them. Contrary to the popular beliefs of the day, and through what I'm sure required great courage in the face of wild-fire pressure, the judges held steady and found that the women were not witches. Although in Salem most accused witches would hang, the Plymouth court found them not guilty, and ultimately fined their accusers. This set precedence in my opinion, for the separation of church and state, and was a strong example of honesty, courage, and sense of dignity. To me, this stands as a rock, unchanged by the ages. -Article by Dr. Ronald W. Simonsen, SMDPA and who have been accepted by an accredited college or university. The scholarship award, which is to be used only for college-related needs, will be paid to the college or university for the student. To be considered for this scholarship, the applicant must provide the following: 1. The applicant must completely fill out the application form and provide the required documents. The application is on the following page. 2. Transcript of high school grades and verification of class size and class rank or class standing by the school counselor on school letterhead. 3. Verification of acceptance by an accredited college or university. 4. An essay of five hundred words or more on the given topic for the year. 5. Essays must be post marked by the listed deadline. Essays will be judged on the following criteria: adherence to the topic, organization, historical accuracy, reasoning, appropriate word choice, correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The essay of the winning applicant becomes the property of the SMDPA and may be published in the Society's newsletter. An applicant's entry with supporting documents must be mailed to the Education/Scholarship Chair at the address listed on the application by June 1st. The SMDPA is calling all Back issues of The Pennsylvania Juniors! Newsletter can be found on the SMDPA The Junior Committee is website: asking for Juniors interested in participating in upcoming event Have article you would like to see in the to please contact newsletter? Let us know! Deborah Markowitz at smdpacoeditor@yahoo.com pasmd2017dwm@yahoo.com Page 16 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

17 Elizabeth Tilley Howland Scholarship Award Application Full Name: Address: Phone Number: Address: Date of Birth: Full name of the relative who is an active member of SMDPA Name: State Society # Your relationship to this member: High school in Pennsylvania: Address: School phone number: Extracurricular activities and school honors: Community service exclusive of high school honors: Employment history: College that you plan to attend and address: Course of study and academic plans for the immediate future: Signature of applicant: This scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who are members of, or directly related to an active member of, the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Submit this application along with the following documentation: 1. Official transcript of high school grades with class size and rank by the school counselor on school letterhead. 2. Verification of acceptance to an accredited college or university. 3. Essay of five hundred words on the following topic: What bearing does the government established by the Pilgrims have on the government we have today? 4. A picture of yourself Send this application and required documents, postmarked by June 1, 2018 to: James Buckner 200 Wild Cherry Lane Marietta, PA Fall/Winter 2017 Page 17

18 Cyrus Dallin and the Pilgrims/Puritans In contrast to small bread and butter commissions Dallin s works during the late 1910s and early 1920s were centered around the Pilgrim Tercentenary Celebration. He created a huge bas-relief panel called, Signing the Mayflower Compact for the Provincetown Tercentenary Commission in It was a large 9 foot by 16 foot bronze bas-relief commemorating the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at what is now called Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts and the signing of the compact in the cabin of the Mayflower in Provincetown Harbor. A number of designs were submitted by other artists, but Dallin s work was accepted for its authentic detail. Cyrus Dallin Provincetown bas-relief G:\...\CD Ann Hutchins.jpg Cyrus Dallin made several different sketches of the relief which included the figures of Myles Standish and Elder Brewster. Cyrus used his family and neighbors from Arlington Heights, Massachusetts as models for the large tablet. His youngest son, Lawrence, posed for the small boy on the left side, front of the design. His wife Vittoria Colonna, is the female, the fifth standing figure from the left over-looking the signing figure. The nine by sixteen foot bas-relief, set in a pedestal of Rockport granite with exedra-type wings, cost $30,000. Dallin received $12,000 of this amount for his work. (The word exedra means a place for seating for conversations). The monument is located at the base of the Pilgrim Tower Monument overlooking Provincetown Harbor.* As another unique realization, the female figure standing on the extreme right with a little girl is almost the same composition as Dallin s Ann Hutchinson that was created in 1913 and is located on the left side of the front of the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Street, Boston. Ann Hutchinson was banned by the Puritans of Salem for promoting education for girls and women and could be considered the first woman demanding equal rights for women in the new colony who was banished to the Quakers in Rhode Island for her heresy. Cyrus Dallin Ann Hutchinson sculpture Repaired Plymouth Rock During the celebration, Cyrus performed another auspicious task. While visiting the original site of Plymouth Rock, he was asked by the governor of Massachusetts, to replace some stone fragments which had broken off the large boulder and seal some of the cracks which had formed as a result of aging and weathering. Acting as a stonemason, Dallin repaired the rock which had been honored for three hundred years as the place where the Pilgrim forefathers first set foot on the terra firma of the New World.* Dallin lamented the fact that creative sculptors were obligated to spend so much of their time executing orders for memorials of defunct statesmen. Whenever possible Cyrus tried to exert his artistic freedom by relating these subjects to their contributions. The statues and memorials that adorn our cities and towns should have a twofold purpose, Dallin Stated: Not only should they be memorials to brave men and brave deeds, but they should ornament and beautify our public squares, stimulating thereby the imagination and the love of beauty in all beholders. * During his tenure as instructor in the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, the students called him Cyrus The Great and when he died in Arlington Heights on November 14, 1944, the New York Times proclaimed him: the Dean of New England Sculptors. * Symbol states excerpts were taken for Cyrus E. Dallin - Let Justice be Done by Rell Francis and Frontier To Fame by Rell Francis and Wendall Johnson. Text used with permission of authors and their families. Article by James P. McGough, Founder Cyrus Dallin Art Museum in Arlington, MA (Please note, this article is the last installment from a series that started in the Spring 2017 Newsletter.) Page 18 The Pennsylvania Mayflower

19 Reservation Form 2017 Annual Thanksgiving Service & Dinner RSVP TO: Deborah Markowitz 528 Ridge Road Spring City, PA DEADLINE: Sunday, November 5, 2017 RSVP FOR: Adults and Children SERVICE: Parkside United Church of Christ 505 Main Street Phoenixville, PA DINNER: Desmond Hotel One Liberty Blvd. Malvern, PA TIME: 2:00 PM Service (Dinner immediately following Service) MEMBER S NAME: GUEST S NAME(S): COST: $39.00/Adult (cash bar) $15.95/Child (10 years and younger) PHONE NUMBER: ADDRESS: Cut Here (keep directions if you need them) Directions 2:00 PM November 19, 2017 (Dinner immediately after Service) : Parkside United Church of Christ, 505 Main Street, Phoenixville, PA Desmond Hotel, One Liberty Blvd., Malvern, PA Take I-76W/Schuylkill Expy West approximately 20 miles and take Exit A-A328B for US-202 N toward US-422 W/King of Prussia/W Chester/Pottstown. Keep left at the fork to continue on Exit 328A, follow signs for US-422 W/Pottstown. Continue onto US-422W for 1 mile and then take the PA-23 W exist toward Valley Forge. Turn left onto PA-23 and then in 2/10 miles turn right on onto PA-23W. Follow PA-23W for 6 miles and turn right onto South Main St in Phoenixville. Church is in 3/10 mile. : Take I-76 E/Harrisburg (portions toll). Take Exit 320 for PA-29 N. (portions toll). Turn right onto PA-29 N. Stay on PA-29 N for 4 miles. Turn left onto Nutt Rd. In 100 feet, turn right at the first cross street onto S. Main St. Church is in 3/10 mile. From Church, head South on South Main St toward 4th Ave (back the way you came). In 3/10 mile turn right onto PA-29 S/S Main St. Continue to follow PA-29 for 4 miles. Use the left 2 lanes to stay on PA-29 S. In about 2 miles turn left onto Liberty Blvd. Hotel is on the Left. Fall/Winter 2017 Page 19

20 Pennsylvania Society of Mayflower Descendants Pamela Koyler SMDPA Registrar 1604 Todd Lane Chester Springs, PA Return Service Requested PILGRIM PLEDGE IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I PLEDGE MYSELF TO HOLD ALOFT THE LAMPS OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LIGHTED BY THE PILGRIMS AT PLYMOUTH ROCK, TO RECALL AND CHERISH THE SACRIFICES AND STRUGGLES MADE BY THEM FOR THE COMMON GOOD, TO STUDY THEIR LIVES, DEEDS, FAITH, COURAGE, AND CHARACTER, AND TO DRAW INSPIRATIONS THERE FROM, TO EMULATE THEIR SPIRIT TO BE LOYAL TO THE FLAG AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE COUNTRY WHOSE FOUNDING WAS SO GREATLY AIDED BY THEIR WORK AND WISDOM, TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO DESERVE AND PRESERVE THE HERITAGE, AND AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL WAYS TO PROFIT BY THEIR PILGRIM EXAMPLE.