I began researching my ancestors in December of 2008. Since then an enormous amount of information has been uncovered about my family's background on my mother's side. Several years before this my mom's sister compiled an album of family documents and photographs, including some extensive genealogies. (On the first page of this album she had written a scripture from IPeter 1:24-25 "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever." and I will continue the verse: "And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." ) That album is where I began, and before long, I had a list of ancestors that all came to this country in the 1600's looking to worship God freely. As I learn more about them, I continue to be amazed. I thank God that I have ancestors that feared God.

One group of these immigrants are the passengers of the Mayflower in 1620 and many on other boats in subsequent years coming to Massachusetts. I am directly descended from the following passengers on the Mayflower: John Alden, Pricilla Mullins Alden, Peter Brown, James Chilton, Mrs. Chilton, Francis Cooke, John Howland, Elizabeth Tilley Howland, William Mullins, Mrs. Alice Mullins, Thomas Rogers, Joseph Rogers, Myles Standish, John Tilley, Joan Hurst Tilley, and Mary Chilton Winslow.

Another group of these immigrants began to gather in Rhode Island in the 1630's and 1640's and became known as the Six Principle church (based on the six principles of the doctrine of Christ in Heb 6:1-2). The first recorded formation of this group occurred in 1639 in Providence, Rhode Island when they began to conduct meetings. This was later known as the first Baptist church in America. Several more Six Principle churches were formed in other towns of Rhode Island shortly after. I have established with relative certainty that I am descended from various men that settled Rhode Island and established these Six Principle churches. The most notable among them are Obadiah Holmes, John Crandall, Ezekiel Holliman, Stukely Westcott, Samuel Gorton, John Warner, Chad Brown, and William Wickenden. As God directs, more information about these people will be made available.

Here is a link to some photos gathered after research about Myles Standish and Samuel Gorton: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056115&id=1469536436&l=0a5ddd2c3e

Here is a link to some photos gathered after research about John Howland and Stukely Westcott: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094424&id=1469536436&l=3a63ded894

posted October 9, 2009
updated October, 2010