John Alden was in his early twenties when he was hired to be the ships cooper (barrel maker). Being a barrel maker made him extremely strong making him a great asset to the Pilgrims. Priscilla Mullins traveled with her father, mother, and brother to the New World. Her family died during the first winter. She devoted herself to helping others, especially the sick. John Alden married Priscilla Mullins in 1621 or 1623. They had 10 children, many of their descendants are famous, one of them being Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. John Alden held many positions in Plymouth, he served as deputy governor, the colony's treasurer, and he helped revise the laws. The Alden's and Miles Standish's family settled in Duxbury.
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/aldenjohn.htm
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about the supposed love triangle between John Alden, Priscilla Mullins, and Miles Standish. This story is not factual at all but an interesting story nonetheless. As I read it, I noticed some historical blunders. Longfellow calls the colonists at Plymouth, Puritans. They really were Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth. Longfellow also refers to the Mayflower landing at Plymouth Rock which is untrue.
Here is the link for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish". It is a rather long but I enjoyed it!!
http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/hwlongfellow/bl-hwl-miless.htm
I still do not understand why there are so many well known false writings! Many of them are like Longfellow's, where someone is accused of a romantic slip up. It reminds me of Pocahontas and John Smith!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post...thanks for the sources.
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