Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday, in what was clearly a different kind of year.
Until we can all gather again, here are some pictures from Thanksgiving 1968.
Anne C. (Nancy) Nivison and Richard A. Hamilton’s Wedding Album
Just posted the wedding album of Anne C. (Nancy) Nivison and Richard Hamilton in the Documents section. They were married on September 23, 1935, at the 2nd Congregational Church in Waterville, ME.
In the bridal party was a Mrs. John Alden – which I found interesting given John Alden is the Mayflower descendent from which our family descends.
Samuel Woodward Dunham
Found this amongst Nancy Nivison’s records and thought it was interesting enough to share. It is an original photo (on metal) of Samuel Dunham, 1828-1918, with his son Linneus. The inscription on the back reads
Samuel Dunham with Linneus who died young – Samuel was father of Francis D. Hamilton.
Linneus was born in 1855 and died at 9 years old, so believe this photo is from between 1855 and 1860. Linneus was Samuel and Rachel Andrew’s 3rd child of 9. His youngest was our own Frances (Fannie, Gramma Hammie) Dunham.
Also added this to the Documents section.
Mayflower Lineage
Our family descends from multiple Mayflower passengers. That said, Deacon John Dunham was not one of them – he was rumored to have traveled on the Mayflower under the name of John Goodman, but that has since been debunked. He was part of the separatist group that left England for Holland, but didn’t arrive into Plymouth until 1631. It appears to have been a bit of revisionist history by Isaac Watson Dunham in his treatise of the Dunham family (which is unfortunate, as it rendered the book less reliable, even though his treatment of our family branch is largely accurate). An aside – we have an original version of the Dunham Genealogy in the Family Library, if interested.
That said, we do descend from John Alden, through the descendancy listed below. Hat tip to Duncan who was kind enough to give me the roadmap. Alden was the last surviving signer of the Mayflower Compact, and there is a replica of his home at Plymouth Plantation.
If anyone else is interested in joining the Society of Mayflower Descendants, or for that matter the Alden Kindred of America, let Danny or Duncan know and we’d be happy to help with your application.
And it’s a fun year to celebrate (in a year in need of things to celebrate) as it’s the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage.
John Alden m Priscilla Mullins
Joseph Alden m Mary Simmons
John Alden m Hannah White
Thankful Alden m Francis Eaton
Joseph Eaton m Hannah Crossman
Abigail Eaton m Abner Shaw
Lucy Shaw m Nathaniel Pratt
Abigail Pratt m David Andrews
Ziba Andrews m Thankful Washburn
Rachel Andrews m Samuel Dunham
Fannie Frances Dunham m Harry Hamilton