1. Edward Fuller

Click for the Mayflower Passenger List Web site


Baptism: 4 September 1575, Redenhall, Norfolk (See notes in the Biographical Summary below).	Edward Fuller for Five Generations, contains the complete researched genealogy on the Mayflower passengers. It covers every known descendant for the first five generations, to the birth of the sixth generation. This book is over 220 pages packed full of pure genealogical research. Published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Marriage: Married, but name of wife unknown. (See notes in the Biographical Summary below).
Death: Sometime the first winter at Plymouth.
Children: Matthew , Samuel
Biographical Summary Edward Fuller has been generally identified as the son of Robert and Sara (Dunkhorn) Fuller, baptized on 4 September 1575 at Redenhall, Norfolk. However, a number of genealogical scholars and Mayflower researchers, including Robert S. Wakefield, Robert Sherman, Robert Leigh Ward, Robert C. Anderson, Eugene Stratton, Leslie Mahler, and others, have all questioned the identification over the past couple of decades. The current identification is based upon circumstantial evidence only: the fact that the names Samuel, Edward, and Ann occur within the same family; and the fact the father is identified as a butcher. Thomas Morton, writing in 1637, says that Samuel Fuller was the son of a butcher. The name Matthew also occurs in this Redenhall Fuller family. The counter-evidence is primarily that the ages for the Fullers appear to be too old, when compared to their marriage dates, the ages of their spouses, and with the births of their children. The name of Edward Fuller's wife has not been discovered. In James Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (1860-1862), Edward Fuller's wife was given as "Ann". However, there are no American or English records which give her name. I suspect James Savage may have made a simple typographical error: Mayflower passenger Edward Tilley had a wife Ann; or perhaps he was thinking of their sister Ann Fuller. None-the-less, numerous sources published after 1860 have utilized Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, and so the identification of Ann can be found in numerous other books and online resources. So, in truth, very little is known about Edward Fuller. His English origins and the name of his wife are widely disputed. What is known is that he, his wife, and his son Samuel came on the Mayflower in 1620 to Plymouth. A single Leiden judicial document mentions Edward Fuller, and proves that he, like brother Samuel Fuller, were living in Leiden. Both Edward and his wife died the first winter, but son Samuel (who would have been about 12), survived. Edward and his wife had two sons: Mathew and Samuel. Samuel traveled with his parents on the Mayflower. Our descendent is Edward�s older son Mathew who stayed in England and traveled to Plymouth in about 1640 with his wife and three children. Descendants of his Mathew still live around the Plymouth area to this day. Samuel (I)(Son of Edward) was born around 1612 and was a eight years old during the voyage of the Mayflower in 1620. His father and mother died during the first winter in the colony. He was brought up by his Uncle, Dr. Samuel Fuller, at Plymouth. In 1623 his Uncle died. Samuel left his Uncle's house with his cattle and swine to seek a home on his own. He was declared a freeman of the Colony in 1634 and he settled in Scituate. He married Jane Lothrop between April 8 and 18, 1635. One account says that Captain Miles Standish performed the marriage. Jane was born in 1614, the daughter of Reverend John Lathrop of Scituate. In 1636 they built the 15th house in Scituate on Greenfield Street at Kent Street. The houses of this period were very rough affairs. The walls consisted of poles filled between with stones and clay. The roof was of thatch, the windows of oiled paper, and the floor of hand sawed planks. Samuel and Jane also had 20 acres of land east of Bellhouse Neck. Between 1639 and 1644 they followed Janes' father, Reverend John Lathrop, to the new town of Barnstable (now in Massachusetts). Jane died between 1658 and 1683. Samuel died between October 31 and November 10, 1683 in Barnstable at Mr. Cudworth's house in Scituate. Samuel and Jane had nine children:

2. Ann; Mrs. Fuller

Biographical Summary

The identity of Edward Fuller's wife has not been discovered. In James Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (1860-1862), Edward Fuller's wife was given as "Ann". However, there are no American or English records known which gives her name. I suspect James Savage may have made a simple typographical error: Mayflower passenger Edward Tilley had a wife Ann; or perhaps he saw a reference to Edward's sister Ann Fuller. Nonetheless, numerous sources published after 1860 have utilized Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, and so the identification of Ann as his wife can be found in numerous other books and online resources.

Children: Matthew, Samuel

3. John Tilley

Baptism: 19 December 1571, Henlow, Bedford, England, son of Robert and Elizabeth Tilley

Marriage:

Joan Hurst Rogers, 20 September 1596, Henlow, Bedford England, daughter of William and Rose Hurst and widow of Thomas Rogers (no relation to Thomas Rogers of the Mayflower).

Death:Plymouth.

Children: Rose (died young), John, Rose, Robert and Elizabeth.

Biographical Summary

John Tilley was born in 1571 in Henlow, Bedford, England, and married the widowed Joan (Hurst) Rogers on 20 September 1596 in Henlow. He, his wife Joan, and his youngest daughter Elizabeth all came on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620.

John and his wife both died the first winter at Plymouth, orphaning the 13-year old Elizabeth Tilley in the New World. Elizabeth would later marry to Mayflower passenger John Howland.

4. Elizabeth Tilley

Baptism: 30 August 1607, Henlow, England, daughter of John and Joan (Hurst)(Rogers) Tilley.	Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 1: John and Elizabeth Howland's Daughter Desire, for Five Generations Volume 2: John and Elizabeth Howland's Son John, for Five Generations. The Five Generations series is the best genealogical research available on the first five generations of the descendants of John Howland.
Marriage: John Howland:
Death: 21 December 1687, Swansea.
Children: Desire, John, Hope, Elizabeth, Lydia, Hannah, Joseph, Jabez, Ruth, and Isaac.
Biographical Summary Elizabeth Tilley was born in 1607 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, the daughter of John and Joan (Hurst)(Rogers) Tilley. She came with her parents on the Mayflower in 1620. Both her parents died the first winter at Plymouth, leaving her orphaned at the age of 13 in the New World. She married to Mayflower passenger John Howland around 1625 at Plymouth.
Will of Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland 17 December 1686 In ye Name of God Amen I Elizabeth Howland of Swanzey in ye County of Bristoll in ye Collony of Plymouth in New Engld being Seventy nine yeares of Age but of good & perfect memory thanks be to Allmighty God & calling to Remembrance ye uncertain Estate of this transitory Life & that all fflesh must Yeild unto Death when it shall please God to call Doe make constitute & ordaine & Declare This my last Will & Testament, in manner & forme following Revoking and Anulling by these prsents all & every Testamt & Testamts Will & Wills heretofore by me made & declared either by Word or Writing And this to be taken only for my last Will & Testament & none other. And first being penitent & sorry from ye bottom of my heart for all my sinns past most humbly desiring forgivenesse for ye same I give & Committ my soule unto Allmighty God my Savior & redeemer in whome & by ye meritts of Jesus Christ I trust & believe assuredly to be saved & to have full remission & forgivenesse of all my sins & that my Soule wt my Body at the generall Day of Resurrection shall rise againe wt Joy & through ye meritts of Christs Death & passion possesse & inheritt ye Kingdome of heaven prepared for his Elect & Chosen & my Body to be buryed in such place where it shall please my Executrs hereafter named to appoint And now for ye settling my temporall Estate & such goodes Chattells & Debts as it hath pleased God far above my Deserts to bestow upon me I Do Dispose order & give ye same in manner & forme following (That is to say) First that after my funerall Expences & Debts paid wc I owe either of right or in Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever in Convenient tyme after my Decease by my Execrs hereafter named I Give & bequeath unto my Eldest Son John Howland ye sum of five pounds to be paid out of my Estate & my Booke called Mr Tindale's Workes & also one pair of sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres & one pr of Bedblanketts, Item I give unto my son Joseph Howland my Stillyards & also one pr of sheetes & one pr of pillobeeres Item I give unto my son Jabez Howland my ffetherbed & boulster yt is in his Custody & also one Rugg & two Blanketts yt belongeth to ye said Bed & also my great Iron pott & potthookes Item I give unto my son Isaack Howland my Booke called Willson on ye Romanes & one pr of sheetes & one paire of pillowbeeres & also my great Brasse Kettle already in his possession Item I give unto my Son in Law Mr James Browne my great Bible Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Lidia Browne my best ffeatherbed & Boulster two pillowes & three Blanketts & a green Rugg & my small Cupboard one pr of AndyIrons & my lesser brasse Kettle & my small Bible & my booke of mr Robbinsons Workes called Observations Divine & Morrall & allso my finest pr of Sheetes & my holland pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my Daughter Elisabeth Dickenson one pr of Sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres & one Chest Item I give unto my Daughter Hannah Bosworth one pr of sheets & one pr of pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth Bursley one paire of sheets and one paire of Pillowbeeres Item I give & bequeath unto my Grandson Nathaniel Howland (the son of Joseph Howland) and to the heires of his owne Body lawfully begotten for ever all that my Lott of Land with ye Meadow thereunto adjoyning & belonging lying in the Township of Duxbury neare Jones River bridge, Item I give unto my Grandson James Browne One Iron barr and on Iron Trammell now in his possession, Item I give unto my Grandson Jabez Browne one Chest Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Dorothy Browne my best Chest & my Warming pan Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Desire Cushman four Sheep, Item I give & bequeath my wearing clothes linnen and Woollen and all the rest of my Estate in mony Debts linnen or of what kind or nature or sort soever it may be unto my three Daughters Elisabeth Dickenson, Lidia Browne and Hannah Bosworth to be equally Devided amongst them, Item I make constitute and ordaine my loving Son in Law James Browne and my loving son Jabez Howland Executors of this my last Will and Testament, Item it is my Will & Charge to all my Children that they walke in ye Feare of ye Lord, and in Love and peace towards each other and endeavour the true performance of this my last Will & Testament In Witnesse whereof I the said Elizabeth Howland have hereunto sett my hand & seale this seventeenth Day of December Anno Dm one thousand six hundred Eighty & six. The mark of Elisabeth E H Howland Signed Sealed & Delivd in ye prsence of us Wittnesses Hugh Cole Samuel Vyall John Browne

5.Joan (Hurst)(Rogers) Tilley

Baptism: 13 March 1567/8, Henlow, Bedford, England, daughter of William and Rose Hurst.

Marriage:

Thomas Rogers, 18 June 1593, Henlow, Bedford, England.
John Tilley, 20 September 1596, Henlow, Bedford, England.

Death: Sometime the first winter at Plymouth.

Children: Children by Thomas: Joan Children by John: Rose (died young), John, Rose, Robert, and Elizabeth.

Biographical Summary

Joan Hurst was born in 1567/8 in Henlow, Bedford, England, the daughter of William and Rose Hurst. She married first to Thomas Rogers in 1593 (not related to the Mayflower passenger Thomas Rogers). With her husband Thomas, she had a daughter Joan, baptized on 26 May 1594 in Henlow. When Thomas died, around 1594 or thereabouts, she remarried to John Tilly in 1596. John and Joan (Hurst)(Rogers) Tilley came on the Mayflower in 1620, bringing with them daughter Elizabeth. Joan, along with her husband, died the first winter at Plymouth, orphaning their 13-year old daughter Elizabeth in the New World. Elizabeth would later marry to Mayflower passenger John Howland.

6. John Howland

Link to the Mayflower Passenger List web site

Birth: About 1599 (see notes below), the son of Henry and Margaret Howland of Fenstanton, Huntington.	Mike Haywood's painting, "Pilgrim Overboard," depicts John Howland near-death experience when he fell overboard during a storm on the Mayflower's voyage. This gicl�e print on canvas measures 32" x 22", and
Marriage: Elizabeth Tilley, about 1624, Plymouth
Death: 23 or 24 February 1672/3, Rocky Nook, Kingston
Children:: Desire, John, Hope, Elizabeth, Lydia, Hannah, Joseph, Jabez, Ruth, and Isaac.
Biographical Summary John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington. He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor John Carver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard during a storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions of descendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of the topsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with a boathook. It has been traditionally reported that John Howland was born about 1592, based on his reported age at death in the Plymouth Church Records. However, ages at death were often overstated, and that is clearly the case here. John Howland came as a servant for John Carver, which means he was under 25 years old at the time (i.e. he was born after 1595). William Bradford, in the falling-overboard incident, refers to Howland as a "lusty young man", a term that would not likely have applied to a 28-year old given that Bradford himself was only 30--Bradford did call 21-year old John Alden a "young man" though. Howland's wife Elizabeth was born in 1607: a 32-year old marrying a 17-year old is an unlikely circumstance. Howland's last child was born in 1649: a 57-year old Howland would be an unlikely father. All these taken together demonstrate that Howland's age was likely overstated by at least 5 years. Since he signed the Mayflower Compact, we can assume he was probably about 21 in 1620, so the best estimate for his birth would be about 1599. John Howland had several brothers who also came to New England, namely Henry Howland (an ancestor to both Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford) and Arthur Howland (an ancestor to Winston Churchill).
Will of John Howland 29 May 1672 The Last Will and Testament of mr John Howland of Plymouth late Deceased, exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift Day of March Anno Dom 1672 on the oathes of mr Samuell ffuller and mr William Crow as followeth Know all men to whom these prsents shall Come That I John howland senir of the Towne of New Plymouth in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England in America, this twenty ninth Day of May one thousand six hundred seaventy and two being of whole mind, and in Good and prfect memory and Remembrance praised be God; being now Grown aged; haveing many Infeirmities of body upon mee; and not Knowing how soon God will call mee out of this world, Doe make and ordaine these prsents to be my Testament Containing herein my last Will in manor and forme following; Imp I Will and bequeath my body to the Dust and my soule to God that Gave it in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection unto Glory; and as Concerning my temporall estate, I Dispose thereof as followeth; Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besides what lands I have alreddy given him, all my Right and Interest To that one hundred acres of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the eastern side of Tauton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge to him and his heirs and assignes for ever; and if that Tract should faile, then to have all my Right title and Interest by and in that Last Court graunt to mee in any other place, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all those my upland and Meadow That I now posesse at Satuckett and Pamet, and places adjacent, with all the appurtenances and privilidges, belonging therunto, and all my right title and Interest therin, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever, Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all that my one peece of land that I have lying on the southsyde of the Mill brooke, in the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid; be it more or lesse; and is on the Northsyde of a feild that is now Gyles Rickards senir To belonge to the said Jabez his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto Isacke howland my youngest sonne all those my uplands and meddows Devided and undivided with all the appurtenances and priviliges unto them belonging, lying and being in the Towne of Middlebery, and in a tract of Land Called the Majors Purchase near Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased of William White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which may or shall appeer by any Deed or writinges Together with the aformentioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Isacke howland the one halfe of my twelve acree lott of Meddow That I now have att Winnatucsett River within the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid To belonge to him and said Isacke howland his heires and assignes for ever; Item I Will and bequeath unto my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland the use and benifitt of my now Dwelling house in Rockey nooke in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid, with the outhousing lands, That is uplands uplands [sic] and meddow lands and all appurtenances and privilidges therunto belonging in the Towne of Plymouth and all other Lands housing and meddowes that I have in the said Towne of Plymouth excepting what meddow and upland I have before given To my sonnes Jabez and Isacke howland During her naturall life to Injoy make use of and Improve for her benifitt and Comfort; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph howland after the Decease of my loveing wife Elizabeth howland my aforsaid Dwelling house att Rockey nooke together with all the outhousing uplands and Medowes appurtenances and privilidges belonging therunto; and all other housing uplands and meddowes appurtenances and privilidges That I have within the aforsaid Towne of New Plymouth excepting what lands and meadowes I have before Given To my two sonnes Jabez and Isacke; To belong to him the said Joseph howland To him and his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Desire Gorum twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath To my Daughter hope Chipman twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dickenson twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lydia Browne twenty shillings Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter hannah Bosworth twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Cushman twenty shillings Item I give to my Grandchild Elizabeth howland The Daughter of my son John howland twenty shillings Item my will is That these legacyes Given to my Daughters, be payed by my exequitrix in such species as shee thinketh meet; Item I will and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth howland, my Debts and legacyes being first payed my whole estate: vis: lands houses goods Chattles; or any thing else that belongeth or appertaineth unto mee, undisposed of be it either in Plymouth Duxburrow or Middlbery or any other place whatsoever; I Doe freely and absolutly give and bequeath it all to my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland whom I Doe by these prsents, make ordaine and Constitute to be the sole exequitrix of this my Last will and Testament to see the same truely and faithfully prformed according to the tenour therof; In witness whereof I the said John howland senir have heerunto sett my hand and seale the aforsaid twenty ninth Day of May, one thousand six hundred seaventy and two 1672 Signed and sealed in the prsence of Samuel fuller John Howland William Crow And a seale

Click here to go back