Mayflower Society Acceptance

It has been a long time coming.  I started my journey of discovering my connection to the Mayflower about 7 years ago.  I have a bit of a special circumstance since my dad was adopted.  I knew my mom's family history (only a few generations in the United States) and my dad's adopted family history (which I wasn't genetically connected to).  However, 7 years ago, my brother had discovered my dad's birth mom in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  We discovered this whole new family history which had never been known to us.

It took a few years, but I was able to trace the family history back to Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower.  However, anyone who has done genealogical research (especially using Ancestry.com) will tell you that some times the information you gather can be a little flimsy at best.  I worked diligently to gather the information that I needed to be sure my information was accurate and defensible.

In November 2016, I started the process of applying to the Mayflower Society.  I will admit I had been putting this off as I had gathered all this information and I "knew" I was descended from Stephen Hopkins, but had this fear that the society would reject me as some of the documentation wasn't "perfect".  It isn't easy to get birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates for the last 400 years.

One of my biggest challenges was David Godfrey's daughter who married Peter Bishop.  David Godfrey's daughter was born in New London, Connecticut around 1757.  Unfortunately, Benedict Arnold (yes that Benedict Arnold), burned the town of New London during the revolutionary war and all the vital records were destroyed.  Luckily, I was able to find the will of David Godfrey where he provided a sum of money for his granddaughter, Elizabeth Bishop.....so I was able to prove the family connection to the other family research that I had completed.  To this day, I still don't know David Godfrey's daughter's actual name...there is no documentation of it. 

The Mayflower Society Historian I worked with at my local chapter has been fantastic.  She identified a few documents I had been missing in my application and through some delays on my part the actual full application with the necessary documentation was finally submitted on August 14, 2017....a little less than 5 months later....

Last night I received an email from the Mayflower historian.

Dear Chris,

I am so happy to inform you that you have been accepted into the Mayflower Society.  I know this was very important to you and a great honor.

You will be receiving a certificate and a copy of your approved application from our state historian, Muriel Cushing in a few weeks.

I couldn't be happier!  For those of us who love genealogy it is a great feeling to have your hard work and research validated and confirmed.

I am proud of finally being able to prove our family connection to the Mayflower and think this is something that my kids, future grandkids and all future family members will appreciate.

In addition, I want to acknowledge and say how much much I appreciate all the help I have received from distant family members in parts of my research.  Amateur genealogists are the most helpful people on the planet and I don't think I could have felt confident in submitting this application without the help of those distant family members who helped me uncover family stories, previously unknown to me family history documents, birth certificates, obituaries, etc.  Thank you so much!

For those of you who follow my blog because we are distant Fuller cousins....get those Mayflower applications ready as this approved applications just made your own applications a lot easier.

Applying to the Mayflower Society - Providing Documentation

In my last post, I mentioned that I had been researching my family for quite sometime.  I know some people spend a life time on this, but I have been working on it for about 6 years.  However, I will admit that I haven't been as diligent in conducting a lot of new research for the last few years.

I just felt it was time to put my "money where my mouth was" and prove that I am descended from Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower.

I compiled all my research and just forwarded it the Ft Lauderdale Chapter of the Mayflower Society for review.   Here is the write up of information I sent to them (I have excluded the last 3 generations for privacy reason).  I have not included all the documents I sent to them, but if you would like to see any of them please contact me.

I will let you know what the next steps are when I hear back from them.

Lineage:

1.  Stephen Hopkins

2.  Giles Hopkins and Catherine Wheldon(Mayflower Families Vol 6 page 10 record 3)

3.  Deborah Hopkins and Josiah Cooke(Mayflower Families Vol 6 page 30 record 18)

4.  Deborah Cooke and Moses Godfrey(Mayflower Families Vol 6 page 113 record 88)

5.  David Godfrey and Priscilla Baker(Mayflower Families Vol 6 page 452 record 424)

6.  <dau.>  Godfrey and Peter Bishop(Mayflower Families Vol 6 page 453 record 424)

6.  Daughter Godfrey and Peter Bishop

Daughter Godfrey (her name is unknown) and Peter Bishop lived in New London, CT.  These records were lost in the fire of 1781 when Benedict Arnold burned the city during the Revolutionary War.

Daughter Godfrey and Peter Bishop had 4 children:

• Simeon Bishop (b. 1755)
• Elizabeth Bishop (est.1757 )
• Lemuel Bishop (b. 1758 )
• William Bishop (b. 5/5/1759)

Record of daughter Godfrey and Peter Bishop is captured in the “The Genealogy of the Bishop Family of Horton, NS” published in 1918(a).

7.  Elizabeth Bishop and Noah Fuller

Elizabeth Bishop was born in New London, CT probably about 1757.  These records were lost in the fire of 1781 when Benedict Arnold burned the city during the Revolutionary War.   Elizabeth Bishop married Noah Fuller on Nov 6 1777 (i).  The date of her death is unknown.  Proof of her relationship to David Godfrey is proven as she is mentioned as his granddaughter in his will (ii).

Noah Fuller was born in about 1750 likely in Salem, MA.  No records have been found of his birth.  His marriage to Elizabeth Bishop is shown in the Horton, Nova Scotia Township Book (i) which contains the towns early vital records.  Proof of his relationship to his father Noah Fuller is in Noah Fuller Sr. Will (iii).  There is no record of his death, but based on land transaction records it occurred after 1838 in Nova Scotia.

The Horton Township Record indicates that Noah and Elizabeth had at least 9 children: 

• Lemuel  (b. 2/4/1779)
• David (b. 4/13/1781)
• Rebeccah (b. 12/17/1783)
• Charlotte (b. 1/22/1786)
• Olive (b. 2/21/1790)
• Eliza (b. 7/4/1793)
• Mary (b. 12/6/1797)
• Noah (b. 4/2/1800)
• Benjamin (b. unlisted)

8.  David Fuller and Mary Cary

David Fuller was born Apr 13, 1781 in Horton, Nova Scotia (i).  David Fuller married Mary Cary on Sep 10, 1812 (iv) .  The date of his death is unknown.   

Mary Cary was born about 1791(v).  She died in Portland, Maine on Sept 14, 1873 (v).  She is proved to be David Fuller’s widow based on being referred to as David’s widow in death notice (vi).

The Horton Township Book record records five of David and Mary’s Children (iv): 

• Lavinia (b. 9/23/1813)
• Rebecca (b. 8/23/1815)
• Sephrona (b. 10/31/1817)
• Matilda (b. 11/4/1819)
• Martha (b. 10/18/1821) 

David and Mary had at least six additional children not recorded in the Horton Township Book records (it is also possible they moved to neighboring Windsor, but I cannot confirm):

• David Bishop Fuller (b. 10/17/1823)
• Benjamin (b. 12/1825)
• James (b. 9/25/1827)
• Theodore (b. 1829)
• Andrew (b. 10/7/1831)
• Collingwood (b. 1/6/1836)

 There was no legal requirement for births to be recorded in Canada at this time and Canadian records from this period are sometimes incomplete.

David and Marry lived in Horton (or the surrounding area) Nova Scotia.  They last appear in Nova Scotia in the Horton, Nova Scotia Census of 1838 (vii).  This shows David’s family as 13 total people.  This lines up well for what I believe I know about his family.  It indicates 5 women in the household above 14 years old.  This would include Mary (the mother) and 4 of the daughters.  The oldest daughter, Lavinia would have been 25 at this time and would likely be married and no longer be living at home.  I have not been able to find a record of Lavinia’s marriage to George Voye of Horton, Nova Scotia.  However, their first recorded child born is listed as Milward Voye born 4/14/1841.  In addition, the 1838 Horton Census indicates 1 male over age 14 presumably David (the father).  It indicates five males 14 years old or under (David Bishop, Benjamin, James, Theodore, Andrew, missing son) and two sons under age six (Collingwood and missing son).  It seems likely that there were two sons that must have died young.  Most of the David and Mary’s children are two years apart, but there is a five year gap between the birth of Andrew and Collingwood.      

David and Mary don’t appear in the next King’s County Census of Nova Scotia in 1851.   They left Nova Scotia and arrived prior to 1850.  The US Census from 1850 show them living with their sons:  James, Theodore, Andrew and Collingwood (Collingwood is listed by his middle name Elijah) (viii).  David and Mary must have arrived in Portland, Maine between 1840-1850, because they do not appear in the 1840 US Census.

Just in case there is any concern that the David and Mary Cary Fuller of Nova Scotia are not the same David and Mary Cary Fuller of Portland, Maine.  I have included several of their sons’ death records and daughter’s death record which indicate their birth in Horton, Nova Scotia and their parent’s names as David Fuller and Mary Cary.  In addition the fact that David Bishop Fuller’s middle name is “Bishop” is obviously referring to his grandmother’s family the Bishops.

·        David Bishop Fuller – Death 6/11/1901 (ix)  (Lists father are David Fuller and Mother as Mary Cary and birthplace as Horton, Nova Scotia.  Maine Death Record – June 11, 1901 – Proof of David Bishop Fuller’s middle name being “Bishop” comes from his son, William S. Fuller’s death record from 9/30/1916 (x) which states his father’s full name of David Bishop Fuller.

·        Andrew Hanley Fuller – Death 9/19/1914 (xi) Obituary lists Andrew’s birthplace as Horton, Nova Scotia and living in Portland, Maine

·        Benjamin Fuller – Death 12/2/1911 (xii) (Lists father as David Fuller and Mother as Mary Cary and place of birth as Nova Scotia)

·        Matilda Fuller Marine – Death 10/3/1901 (xiii) Matilda Fuller married Thomas Marine while living in Nova Scotia and moved to Standish, Maine prior to 1900.  (Lists father as David Fuller and Mother as Mary Cary and place of birth as Nova Scotia)

9.  James Henry Fuller and Margaret Armstrong O’Hagen

James Henry Fuller was born Sept 12, 1827 in Horton or Windsor, Nova Scotia (xiv).  He married Margaret Armstrong O’Hagen (Margaret was married prior to this marriage to Patrick O’Hagen) on Dec 31, 1882 (xv),  James Fuller died on Dec 21, 1917 at Sailor’s Snug Harbor on Staten Island, NY (xvi).  I have provided his death certificate from Sailor’s Snug Harbor and his application to live there.  Sailor’s Snug Harbor was an old age home for sailors.  He was probably too old to live on his own and his daughter was quite young.  The home was for American sailor’s which may be why he stated he was born in Eastport, Maine (which is close to the Canadian border).  We know this is the same James Fuller because it is the same exact birth date, his daughter is named Elizabeth in the document and on his daughter, Elizabeth’s marriage record it indicates that her father lives in New York (xviii).  

James and Margaret had one child together: 

·        Elizabeth Margaret Fuller  (b. 2/11/1886)

James wife, Margaret Armstrong O’Hagen Fuller was born about 1842 in Maine.  She died on Dec 23, 1891 (xvii)

10.  Elizabeth Margaret Fuller and Robert Edward Armstrong

Elizabeth Margaret Fuller was born on Feb 11, 1886 in Portland, Maine (xix).  She married Robert Edward Armstrong on Oct 22, 1910 (xviii).  Elizabeth died on Sep 23, 1971(xx).

Robert Armstrong was born on Apr 24, 1880 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine(xxi).  Robert Edward died Mar 31, 1963 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine (xxii).

Robert and Elizabeth had 4 children: 

·        Shirley (b. 7/22/1912)

·        Ruth  (b. 2/20/1914)

·        Marion  (b. 5/23/1917)

·        Robert  (b. 4/16/1920)

(a)         The Genealogy of the Bishop Family of Horton, NS pg. 9-10 published 1918

(i)               Horton Township Book, Horton, Nova Scotia  - Noah Fuller and Elizabeth Bishop Record

(ii)              David Godfrey’s Will

(iii)            Noah Fuller Sr. Will

(iv)            Horton Township Book, Horton, Nova Scotia – David Fuller and Mary Cary Record

(v)             Mary Cary Fuller Maine Death Record – Sept 14, 1873

(vi)            Mary Cary Fuller Death Notice, appeared Daily Eastern Argus Newspaper (Portland, Maine), Sept 16, 1873

(vii)           1838 Kings County Census – Horton Township

(viii)         US Census 1850 Portland, Maine

(ix)            David Bishop Fuller Maine Death Record – June 11, 1901

(x)             William S. Fuller Maine Death Record – Sept 30, 1916

(xi)            Andrew Hanley Fuller Obit – Sept 19, 1914

(xii)           Benjamin Fuller Maine Death Record – Dec 12,1911

(xiii)         Matilda Fuller Marine Maine Death Record – Oct 3, 1901

(xiv)         US Naturalization Record (F460) of James Fuller, Sept 4, 1872

(xv)          Maine, Marriage Records – James Fuller and Margaret Armstrong O’Hagen - Dec 31, 1882

(xvi)         James Fuller Death Certificate (Sailor’s Snug Harbor) and Application to Sailor’s Snug Harbor – Dec 21, 1917

(xvii)        Maine, Death Record – Margaret Armstrong O’Hagen Fuller - Dec 23, 1891

(xviii)      Maine, Birth Record  - Elizabeth Fuller – Feb 11, 1886

(xix)         Maine, Marriage Record - Elizabeth Fuller ad Robert Armstrong – Oct 22, 1910

(xx)          Elizabeth Armstrong Obituary, Portland Press Herald Newspaper (Portland, Maine), Sept 24, 1971

(xxi)         Maine, Birth Record – Robert Armstrong - Apr 24, 1880

(xxii)        Robert Armstrong Obituary – Portland Press Herald Newspaper (Portland, Maine) , Apr 2, 1963

Sentimental Sunday: Peter Bishop's First Wife - Elizabeth Godfrey?

My 5th great grandfather was Deacon Peter Bishop.  He was born in New London, CT on August 6, 1735.

Around 1755, he married David Godfrey's daughter in Connecticut.  We don't know much about Peter's first wife, we are not even sure of her name.  She is usually referred to as "daughter Godfrey" or "[blank] Godfrey".  My understanding is that the vital records from New London were lost in a fire during the American Revolutionary War.  So we may never know her true name.  Her grandmother's name was Elizabeth and it seems likely that she may have been named Elizabeth in honor of her mother.  I will refer to her as Elizabeth.

Peter and Elizabeth had at least 4 children all born in Connecticut:

• Simeon Bishop (1755-1756)
• Elizabeth Bishop (1757 - ?)
• Lemuel Bishop (1758-1759)
• William Bishop (1759-1833)

In the early 1760's Peter's father, John Bishop was awarded land in Horton, Nova Scotia.  He was to be one of the original "Planters" of Nova Scotia.  The English had pushed the French out of the area and they were looking to for new colonists to establish the Nova Scotia under British rule.  The call went out to the New England states looking for immigrants.  Many families from Connecticut took this opportunity to get free or inexpensive land including my ancestors:  The Godfrey's & The Fullers.

John Bishop came to Nova Scotia with his sons (John, Peter, William and Timothy) and their families.  Each was awarded a share of land in Horton equal to at least 500 acres.

It is believed that Elizabeth Godfrey arrived in Horton, but died soon after she moved to Canada.  I have not been able to find her exact date of death or where she is buried.

I am descended from Peter and Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth Bishop.  She married Noah Fuller.  It was important to me to dig into her history and find out as much as I could about her for many reasons, but the one that will resonate with many genealogical searchers is that Elizabeth Godfrey is my link to  Mayflower pilgrim, Stephen Hopkins.  More about that connection in future posts.

Of Peter and Elizabeth's children only Elizabeth Bishop Fuller and William Bishop had children and lived long enough to carry on the Hopkins lineage.

To see more about proving the existence of Elizabeth Godfrey and the connection to David Godfey, see my post David Godfrey's Will Proved

Peter Bishop remarried in 1763 to Phebe Hamilton.  Together they had 10-12 children.  Below is a the Horton Township record of Peter Bishop and Phebe's offspring.

Peter Bishop died April 8, 1825 and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Wolfville, Nova Scotia (the modern name for Horton Township).

Sentimental Sunday - David Godfrey's Will Proved February 24, 1783

David Godfrey of Chatham, Mass and Horton, Nova Scotia is my 6th great grandfather.  I have been looking for David Godfrey's will for some time.  It was not where it was supposed to be.  I reviewed the Will Book of probate records from Kings County, Nova Scotia, which is where he died, but no sign of his will.  I contacted the Kings County Probate Court and they couldn't find a copy, either.

I had nearly given up, but I had found the Genealogical Society of Nova Scotia website. The website didn't have a copy of David Godfrey's, but they did have a section which helped you connect with other people with similar research interests.

It so happens that I connected with Bill Kennedy who had a copy of the will and had used it as a critical document to help him write the article David Godfrey of Chatham, Mass., and Horton, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, which appeared in the October 1991 edition of American Genealogist.

In the article it identified that David Godfrey's will was to be found in the earliest Hants County, NS will book on p. 44.  Since I always want to have a physical copy of the documents, I requested a copy of the will book through my local LDS Family Research Center.

Here is my transcription of the Will of David Godfrey of Horton, NS proved on February 24, 1783

In the name of God Amen, I David Godfrey of Horton in Kings County in the Province of Nova Scotia, being weak in body but perfect soundness of mind and memory (blessed be God) and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die, do this Twenty Second Day of July In the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and seventy four make ordain and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, And first of all I recommend my soul to God that gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors herein after named and those worldly goods and estate wherewith it hath pleases God to bless me in this lifeI give and bequeath the same in manner following after paying my just and funeral charges --- 

Imprimis   I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Priscilla the use and improvement of all real and moveable estate and the privilege of comfortable house so long as she shall continue my widow.  Also, I give and will unto my said Wife Priscilla the use and improvement of so much of my real estate as she shall find necessary or requisite for her comfortable support and subsistence so long as she continues to be my widow and in case my said wife during her widowhood shall by from of providence be reduced to necessity and not well supported by the profits of such my real estate of the improvement of such my personal estate, my Will is, that is that case she may and I hereby give unto her good rights to sell some part of my real estate as shall really be needful for her support ---- 

Item   I give unto my son David Godfrey five pounds to be paid out of my real estate by my executors  --- 

Item   I give unto my son Jonathan Godfrey all my real estate that shall remain after payment of said five pounds to my said son David and after the death of my said wife Priscilla or after her marrying another husband, with my dwelling house and barn, to him his heirs and assigns forever and also I give to my said son Jonathan the use and improvement of such part of the dwelling house and barn and all my real estate that shall not be found necessary for the comfortable dwelling and support of my said wife Priscilla, during her widowhood ------ 

Item   I give unto my daughter Anna Allen two third parts of all my personal or movable estate after the decease of my said wife Priscilla, or at here marrying another husband 

Item   I give unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Bishop one third part of my moveable or personal estate after the decease of my said wife
And lastly   I do hereby constitute make and ordain my said beloved wife Priscilla and my said son Jonathan Godfrey sole executor of this my last will and testament and too hereby disallow revoke all and every other and former testament, Wills, Legacies, bequests and executors by me heretofore made ratified and confirming this and no others to be my last Will and testamentIn whereof I have herein to set my hand and seal the day and year written 

Signed
David Godfrey

Witnessed 

Nathan DeWolf     Anna DeWolf     Elijah Crane 

Special thanks to Bill Kennedy to sharing his great research with me and informing me of where I could find a copy of the original will information.

One of the best things about researching family history is the people that you connect with that are willing to help you in your research.