A Moment in History

While I was in the English Village I saw one of the Native staff members walking through. I assumed his shift was over and he was going to the main building. As he approached one of the Pilgrims he started asking him for directions in broken English and with gestures. I thought it odd that the man seemed to be role-playing as an “Indian” (especially since Plimoth Plantation stressed how the Native people were not role playing). I decided to follow him to see what was going on. It seems that when this man crossed over into the English village he took on the role of Tisquantum (better known as Squanto) and he was heading to John Alden’s home for dinner.

In this photo we have Squanto and John Alden (lesser known as my 13th great grandfather) discussing a trade between the hides Squanto brought and some of the items John Alden had in his home- notice the English hat on Squanto’s head. It was actually rather interesting to watch this trade going on and to observer the role playing of an event that might have actually taken place in 1627. These two men were fun to watch and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Priscilla Alden was also at home but she was tending to the fire (off to the left).

A bit of my family genealogy:

John Alden: hired by the Pilgrims to be the cooper (barrel-maker) on the Mayflower. The Pilgrims gave him the option of staying in America or going back to England. He decided to stay (lucky for me).

Priscilla Mullins: 17 years old when she traveled on the Mayflower with her parents and younger brother. She was the only member of her family to survive the first winter in America. Imagine not only being orphaned but alone in a whole new world.

Myles Standish: hired by the Pilgrims to be their military captain. He had previously been part of Queen Elizabeth’s army. Myles’ first wife Rose came over on the Mayflower. She also died during the first winter. Myles’ second wife, Barbara arrived on the ship Anne in 1623 and they were married by the end of that year.

John Alden and Priscilla Mullins were married around 1623. They had 10 children over the next 20 years. Myles Standish and Barbara had 7 children. Alexander, the son of Myles and Barbara, married Sarah, the daughter of John and Priscilla. If you kept following their genealogy you would eventually arrive at my name (through my mother’s side of the family).

I used my 430EX flash on this photo. I was very pleased with how well the flash lit this scene. The only light came from the fire to the left and the door behind me. Looking through the viewfinder I could barely see anything in the house and hoped the shot was within the frame.