The Mayflower and Her Log; July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621 — Volume 4Ames, Azel
History
The Mayflower and Her Log; July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621 — Volume 4
Ames, Azel
Massachusetts -- History -- New Plymouth, 1620-1691; Mayflower (Ship); Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)
John Billington and his family were unmistakably of the English
colonists. Mrs. Billington's name has been variously given,
e.g. Helen, Ellen, and Eleanor, and the same writer has used them
interchangeably. One writer has made the inexcusable error of
stating that "the younger son, Francis, was born after the arrival
at New Plymouth," but his own affidavit shows him to have been born
in 1606.
William Latham, a "servant-boy" of Deacon Carver, has always been of
doubtful relation, some circumstances indicating that he was of
Leyden and hence was a SPEEDWELL passenger, but others--and these
the more significant--rendering it probable that he was an English
boy, who was obtained in London (like the More children) and
apprenticed to Carver, in which case he probably came in the MAY-
FLOWER from London, though he may have awaited her coming with his
master at Southampton, in which case he probably originally embarked
there, with him, on the SPEEDWELL, and was transferred with him, at
Plymouth, to the MAY-FLOWER. There is, of course, also still the
possibility that he came with Carver's family from Leyden. Governor
Carver's early death necessarily changed his status somewhat, and
Plymouth early records do not give much beyond suggestion as to what
the change was; but all indications confirm the opinion that he was
a poor boy--very likely of London or vicinity--taken by Carver as
his "servant."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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