• General Notes

  [316552.ftw]
  
  Notes for John Alden:
  From the history of Bradford Co. Pa - published 1891
  
  "John Alden, ancestor of most persons bearing the name of Alden in this country was one of th e Plymouth Pilgrims, and the last male survivor of those who came in the May Flower and signe d the compact in her cabin in 1620. He was not of the Leyden Church, but as Bradford in "hist ory of Plymouth Plantation" informs us, was hired for a cooper at Southhampton, where the shi p victualled, and beign a hopeful young man, was much desired, but was left to his own likin g to go or stay when he came here, so stayed and married here. He was distinguished for pract ical wisdon, integrity and decision, and early influence ofer his associates. He was much emp loyed in public business, was an assistnt to the governor many years, andm in every positio n he occupied, fulfilled his duties promptly and to the satisfaction of his employers. So fa r as is known his ancestry in Englnad has not been traced. He was born in 1599, and died at D uxbury, September 12, 1687, in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was was gath ered to his people, and his sons buried him. He married in 1621, Priscilla, daughter of Mr. M olines or Mullins, who with his famliy came also in the "May Flower" and both died in Februar y succeeding their landing. Traditon represents Priscilla to have been very beautiful in he r youth, and JOhn also was a coely person, and considering his other accomplishments, it is n ot surprising that when he was sent by Capt. Standish, after the death of his wife, to solici t her hadn in marriage, she preferredn the messengett to the message:
  
  "But as he warmed and glowed, in his simple and eloquent language
  Quite forgetful of self, and full of the praise of his rival,
  Archly the maiden smiled, and, with eyes overrunning with laughter
  Said, in a tremulous voice, 'why don't you speak for yourself, John?"
  
  Their residence, after a few years, was in Duxbury, on the north side of the village, on a fa rm which is still in the possession of their descendants (as of 1891) of the seventh generati on.... ""

Details of John's family with Priscilla Mullins