Susanna White is my 9th great grandmother. She is also the xth great grandmother of virtually thousands of people living in the world today. There is more we do not know about her than what we do know about her. We do not know what her maiden name was, nor really when she was born, but it probably was England, somewhere. We have no physical description of her, or any record of her death. Given that she was the wife of a Plymouth governor, and also the mother of a Plymouth Colony governor, it seems all too strange that we know not even the year that she died.
However, we do know these things about her: she was the first English woman to give birth to a child in New England; she was the first widow of the Mayflower passengers; she was the first bride of the Mayflower passengers; and she was the first mother of a native born governor in New England.
We may not know when she died and was buried, but we at least know where she was buried - the Old Winslow Burying Ground, in Marshfield, Massachusetts. You can see her name inscribed on the monument in the link. Her actual grave site is long gone.
We also know this characteristic about her - Susanna was one very tough woman, in body, mind and spirit. In October of 1621, about a year after the Mayflower arrived with its 102 passengers at Cape Cod, there were 4 adult English women taking part in the thanksgiving festival with the other survivors and Indians friends. However, one year before, there had been 18 adult women passengers on the ship when it arrived. Susanna was one of the 4 surviving women. When one considers these life changes - a new born baby, a deceased husband, a new husband - all within a span of 12 months, not mentioning near starvation conditions and the cold and dampness of a North American, New England winter, it is a wonder that she was left still standing. I wonder how well behaved was my 8th great grandfather, little 5 year old Resolved White, during all these life changes as well. He had to go through these life changes with his mother too. Perhaps he inherited his mother's resolve.
However, we do know these things about her: she was the first English woman to give birth to a child in New England; she was the first widow of the Mayflower passengers; she was the first bride of the Mayflower passengers; and she was the first mother of a native born governor in New England.
We may not know when she died and was buried, but we at least know where she was buried - the Old Winslow Burying Ground, in Marshfield, Massachusetts. You can see her name inscribed on the monument in the link. Her actual grave site is long gone.
No comments:
Post a Comment