Click/tap to view more posts from the series One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Mayflower is its history prior to Christopher Jones taking charge. While more information has come to light since I wrote this chapter, and there is more that I know that I refuse to share for reasons which would become clear … Continue reading Beyond the Mayflower – Part 10: Lifespan →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series In “The Finding of the ‘Mayflower’” by James Rendel Harris, it it suggested that the four appraisers of the Mayflower in 1624 each “naturally represents an owner and looks after his interest”.  Given that one of the appraisers was Robert Clay, who we know was friends with … Continue reading Beyond the Mayflower – Part 9: Other Appraisers →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series Two more Mayflower owners to go, firstly Thomas Short, who was directly involved with the original vessel, then Miles White, a merchant invested in her descendant. To Short we go. Like Nicholls, Thomas Short was a part-owner in 1609 and 1612, and appeared to be out of … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 8: Other Owners II →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series We have four more Mayflower owners to discuss, so let us start with two contrasting figures. Robert Child's life can be determined with some confidence (with thanks again to Winifred Cooper for an important fact, which will be discussed imminently), while that of Christopher Nicholls is still … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 7: Other Owners I →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series A man whose legacy extends beyond the Mayflower, John Totton nevertheless played his own role in the story of the famous ship. In 1624, when the Mayflower was said to be in ruins and ready to be broken up, it was decided a new ship was to … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 6: John Totton →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series With the primary Harwich-related chapters out of the way, we turn to the original beginning of the book, and to Robert Bonner. Firstly, a metaphor: Historical research can often be compared to the most complex of jigsaw puzzles: Instead of a picture on the box, there is … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 5: Robert Bonner →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series Last time, we looked at Thomas Thompson sr, Elizabethan mariner. This time we will be looking at his son, Thomas Thompson jr, and immediately finding that his connection to the Mayflower is far greater than that of his storied father. Thomas Thompson the younger was never likely … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 4: Thomas Thompson The Younger →

Click/tap to view more posts from the series Firstly: In the previous part, I introduced wills from Appendix I, but I did not introduce the Appendix section itself, so here is the intro: This appendix contains the wills of many of the people referenced in the book.  They are transcribed here using modern spellings and … Continue reading Beyond The Mayflower – Part 3: Thomas Thompson The Elder →