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Part of the American
History & Genealogy Project |
The Pilgrim Women
History and tradition have made heroes
of many of the men, and they were entitled to far more glory
than they have ever received for their heroic daring. Alas! of
the women who shared the burdens and displayed equal courage
with the men, little to their credit has been preserved by
tradition or history. But when one recalls that in those days
women had not the privileges they have now, one realizes that
their self-denial, heroism, patience and long-suffering were
accepted as a matter of course and no note was taken of it by
their selfish the lords.
In November, 1620, the Pilgrim fathers landed from "The
Mayflower" at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, and Mary Chilton, it
is said, was the first to place her foot upon American soil. The
day after the arrival of these Pilgrims, the first child was
born. The parents were William and Susanna White. The son was
named Peregrine, which signifies Pilgrim. There are very few
records of any women of conspicuous effort or influence at this
time. Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish" is
familiar to us all and presents a more or less authentic picture
of the lives of the women of that day in New England.
The wives of the Pilgrims were:
Mrs.
Katherine Carver
Mrs.
Dorothy Bradford
Mrs.
Elizabeth Winslow
Mrs. Mary
Brewster
Mrs. Mary
Allerton
Mrs.
Elizabeth Hopkins
Damaris
Hopkins
Mrs.
Elizabeth Tilley
Mrs.
Bridget (Van der Velde) Tilley
Mrs. Mullens
Mrs. Susanna
White
Mrs. Sarah
Eaton
Mrs. Chilton
Mrs.
Helen Billington
Humility
Cooper
Mrs. Tinker, no information provided
Mrs. Rigdale, no information provided
Mrs. Rose Standish, no information provided
Mrs. Martin, no information provided
Mrs. Fuller, no information provided
The daughters of these Pilgrim mothers
were:
Elizabeth
Tilley
Remember
Allerton
Mary
Allerton
Constance
Hopkins
Damaris
Hopkins
Mary
Chilton
Priscilla
Mullens
Desire
Minter may be listed as a "Mayflower'' daughter
"Mrs. Carver's
maid" must also be mentioned among the women of the
Mayflower
The little "bound" girl,
Ellen More,
is worthy of place in this distinguished group.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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