Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.

[p. 26] gained one). Here is a group whom we know far less well—Mrs. Thomas Tinker and Mrs. John Rizdale, Mrs. Francis Eaton—but we feel sure their quality of mind and heart must be the equal of many of their companions. Here are the wives of John and Edward Tilly, each with a young girl to mother. Humility Cooper is cousin to Ann Tilly, and Elizabeth is stepchild to John Tilly's wife. Mrs. Edward Fuller and Anna White are those sailing for another haven, though knowing it not.

From London has come Mrs. John Billington, quite different in style and manner from her companions, yet not lacking in good qualities, and little Ellen More in Mrs. Winslow's care. Mrs. William Bradford (standing in the shadow of tragedy), and Mrs. Isaac Allerton with her two little girls, Remember and Mary, complete the count. Mary Allerton's namesake daughter stands nearest to us of all that company between that day and this. The courage and fortitude and endurance of that band of women can never be described.

To this tossing ship, on a very stormy day, there comes a stranger, promptly called Oceanus, and the Hopkins family becomes of great interest, with its new baby for the women and children to delight in.

One who kept a record of those days wrote: ‘At anchor in Cape Cod Harbor. This day Mistress Dorothy Bradford, wife of Master Bradford, fell overboard and was drowned.’

At last, in a November dawn, land is in sight. With the episode following, the women had no actual part, but with some it was of great interest, as their husbands signed the document drawn up in the cabin, and because of it Katherine Carver was made first lady, as her husband was elected Governor of this Colonial company. The next day new life and animation was among all on board the Mayflower. Hope flung aside the gray veil that had almost enveloped her for many weeks and stood in the radiant garments of expectancy.