ELIZABETH TILLEY
Born about 1608 of England
JOHN TILLEY
BRIDGET TILLEY
Elizabeth’s Parents born in England
JOHN HOWLAND
Future husband of Elizabeth
“MAYFLOWER STORY”
In the midst of the vast ocean, Elizabeth, John Tilley's daughter, thought "The Mayflower"
appeared as a leaf in a torrent. Giant waves carried the vessel high, spilled her between their crests,
and dashed her decks with angry floods. The pilgrim women clustered in the comfortless hold of
the cargo ship, consoling the children and the sick. Elizabeth could see her father and Uncle
Edward Tilley in serious discussion with several of the men near Governor Carver's station.
Elizabeth's Aunt Ann and others, their eyes and voices raised toward heaven, sought the help of
Providence. Prayer had often been their only solace these many months.
Elizabeth tried to hurry across rough planks between stacks of baggage and makeshift beds, her
body adjusting to the water's erratic undulations. The Governor's wife, had sent Elizabeth to the
Carver baggage for a clean napkin with which to sooth the brow of Bridget, John Tilley's ailing
wife. Kathryn Carver expended every effort to assist those whom her husband served, but her
kindly face, like many of the others' was becoming thin and drawn.
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Elizabeth recalled the words of John Carver, their pastor--elected governor of the voyage, as he
had enjoined the pilgrims to meet courageously their trials, and assured them that ere the month
was over, they would rest on freedom's shore.
Despite their difficulties, the hope of freedom burned brightly among the Mayflower passengers.
When she could appropriately do so, thirteen year old Elizabeth listened eagerly as father and the
men discussed freedom and self rule, which seemed dearer to them all, than anything. Father's eyes
had shown with the light of freedom's promise ever since Pastor Robinson had proposed the
voyage. That hopeful light had drawn the separatists from their English homes to Holland, back to
England and, through all manner of trials, onto a ship bound for the new world. Returning with the
napkin, Elizabeth's attention was caught by a quiet but intense conversation near the stairs. John
Howland, reassuring Governor Carver, took the ship's seal from his hand, enclosed it in his own,
and climbed the ladder.
Salty wind and water washed the passengers as the unlatched door flew inward. John pushed
himself out against the blast, and with all his weight forced the door closed from the outside.
Elizabeth shivered. The ship's master had directed all to stay below, for this was the season of the
gales, which even sailors feared. John Howland is very brave, she thought, and breathed a prayer
for his protection.
[As Pilgrim William Bradford described it] ... the ship was in danger, and Howland carrying
some emergency message from the Governor to the ship's master, ["with a seele of the ship”) was
washed overboard... [This "lusty young man") saw the coil of the top-sail halyards also go
overboard. With life at stake he reached the rope, grasped it and climbed it hand over hand, even
when ["sundry fathoms"] under water, and approached the ship. The alarm had been given and
sailors .... [risking] their lives .... pulled in the rope until he was alongside.... Then with boat hooks
and ropes they lifted him to the deck....
The Keelers may be grateful that this "lusty young man" survived, and that Great Grandpa Joseph
B. Keeler, was interested enough in our heredity to admonish, "Dan, find Mercy Gibbs.”
As is well known, the Mayflower Pilgrims, after their difficult voyage, were devastated by
sickness and exposure during the New England winter of 1620-21. When the last of passengers
came ashore near the end of March, fifteen of the twenty-nine women and twenty-one the forty-one
signers of the Mayflower Compact lay buried on a Plymouth hillside. These included John and
Edward Tilley and their wives, Bridget and Ann. Elizabeth, John Tilley's daughter by his first wife,
was taken into the household of Governor and Mrs. Carver. Despite past trials and the difficulties
ahead, when the ship returned to England, not one of the remaining pilgrims preferred the comforts
of their homeland to the sweet taste of freedom.
Before John and Kathryn Carver finished planting a crop or building a home, the two of them lay
buried on Cole's Hill. John Howland, at twenty eight, became responsible for the orphaned
Elizabeth, being considered "head" of the Carver household.
This responsibility was not unfamiliar to John Howland. Though the identity of his parents is
debated by researchers, it is Azel Ames opinion that John "was probably a kinsman" to Carver.
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C.R Howland says that he was apprenticed to this over-seas trader, later becoming his secretary and
business assistant. Deacon Carver, he says, being occupied with church and business, entrusted
Howland with the conduct of his business at home. And while Carver was in England preparing for
the pilgrims' voyage to the new world, John Howland settled Carver's affairs and transported his
household from Leyden to Southampton.
The "Mayflower" had brought supplies and other pilgrims [perhaps including John Tilley’s
family to Southampton from London. When Deacon Carver was selected the ship’s Civil Governor,
John Howland continued as his "Executive Assistant."
Let us imagine how John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, who became our forebears, fit into the
circumstances of "the First Thanksgiving." Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth, by July 30, 1623 - the date
set aside for the pilgrims to celebrate and to give thanks for a good crop of corn - had married John
Howland and had become the mistress of his household.
Perhaps Elizabeth helped grind grain or bake the "journey cakes" and corn meal bread. Perhaps
she furnished some of the linens and serving pieces from among the Carver household goods with
which to set the tables. Perhaps John hunted or helped prepare the geese, ducks, or fish which the
pilgrim men provided. Or did he hew lumber or – as the governor’s assistant – arrange for
construction of the long outdoor tables?
On the day of the feast, our great grandfather, John Howland, was among those to greet the
Indian friends who brought wild turkeys and venison. Our great grandmother, Elizabeth, helped to
serve the meat and fish, the bread, the nuts and succotash. And John and Elizabeth Howland, with
the Plymouth pilgrims, raised their voices in grateful thanks to God who brought them safely across
the waters and preserved their lives so that they might enjoy this land of freedom.
“John Howland continued until his death to do everything, little or big, to help to build the
Pilgrim Republic, without tincturing his effort with any desire for private advantage, or hope of
exercising more power through holding high office”
The following story told by Mr. Swain is illustrative of his character. One of the merchant
adventurers, John Howland, with seven others, including Captain Miles Standish, Edward
Winslow, William Brewster, and John Alden contracted for six years with the Colony of Plymouth
to pay the Colony’s debts and provide them with certain commodities in exchange for a stock of
furs, the use of boats, and exclusive right of trade with the Indians. In 1634, Howland had the chief
management of the trading establishment on the Kennebeck.
It seems that John Hocking of Piscataqua repeatedly attempted to trade within the limits of the
Plymouth patent. On one occasion, John Howland found and confronted this law breaker, ordering
him to weigh anchor, which Hocking “refused with foul speeches.” Mr. Howland sent some of his
men in a canoe to cut the cables.
Hocking came on deck with a carbine and pistol, and put his piece almost to Moses Talbot's head,
which Mr. Howland seeing, called to him desiring him not to shoot his man, but to take himself for
his mark, saying his men did but that which he commanded, and therefore desired him not to hurt
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any of them. Howland continued to reason with Hocking and called again to him to take him for his
mark, saying he stood very fair.
This unselfish invitation was ignored, fortunately for John Howland's wife and children of whom
Elizabeth Howland Dickinson, our ever-so-great grandmother, was one. As if such things are
inheritable, many of Joseph B. Keeler's descendants seem to have acquired from their Pilgrim
ancestors - in addition to courage, consideration, and a love for freedom - a disposition toward
education, a respect for the value of land, longevity, and a reverence for God, family, law and
country. Theirs is merely one example which seems to repeat throughout the generations, not only
through this family line, but through the others of which the authors are aware.
Our forebears valued education. Among the women of the Mayflower "Elizabeth Tilley ...
excelled her associates among these girls of Plymouth in one way,--she could write her name very
well." Possibly she was taught to write by her husband, John Howland, who wrote records and
letters for the colonists. C.R. Howland describes John Howland as "a well educated gentleman
…especially...in commercial business, in statecraft and in religion ...
Our forebears valued land. Howland left his wife and children a large estate which he had
acquired through his diligence and acumen.
Our forebears reverenced God and man. More important than the bequest of land, from our
viewpoint, was an inheritance of goodly purpose bequeathed by John Howland and his wife,
Elizabeth:
“Hee was a Godly man, and an ancient professor in the wayes of Christ . ...Hee was one of the
first Comers into this land and proved a useful Instrument of Good in his place & was the last man
that was left of those that Came over in the ship Called the Mayflower, that lived in Plymouth”.
Among the articles mentioned in Elizabeth's will are "many books of a religious type". In her will
are also mentioned Elizabeth's desires for her children, which seem to have been heeded by the
descendants of Joseph B. Keeler.
“Item it is my Will and charge to all my children that they walke in ye Feare of ye Lord, and in
Love and peace towards each other and endeavor the true performance of this my last Will and
Testament.”
They were blessed with long Life. John Howland died "in his eightieth year" in February 1672.
This "last man that was left," was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who did not die until 1687, past
ninety years of age.
They respected law and country. John Tilley and John Howland signed the Mayflower Compact,
among the earliest constitutions for representative government. Thus they chose to subject their use
of the freedom so dear to them, to the laws of God and to a "civil body politic" for the advancement
of the Christian Faith,” as the document states, and for the sake of order and mutual preservation.
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“The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia” 1970 Register pp. 99, 105
states:
John Tilley was born in England, but all other particulars are missing. He was married in
England to Elizabeth_____. There is a record of the marriage of a John Tilley to Elizabeth
Comyngs, 2 February 1605, in the parish of St. Andrew Undershaft, London. He was of the
London contingent of the Pilgrim group, probably boarding the Mayflower at Southampton.
The latter statement may be in error, as Azel Ames cites the log of “The Speedwell,” claiming
that among the list of Pilgrims from Leyden Holland were:
Master Edward Tilley and Mrs. Ann Tilley.
Master John Tilley and Mrs. Bridget (Van der Velde) Tilley (2nd wife).
Elizabeth Tilley, a daughter of Mr. Tilley by a former Wife.
A number of authors seem to agree that Bridget Tilley, to whom a John Tilley was married in
Leyden Holland “ is the wife of John Tilley who was buried with him at Plymouth.
This history and information was copied from “Build Thee More Stately” by Daniel M. Keeler
(JHR 2002)
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ADDENDIUM ONE
Copied from book “Emma and Joseph” by Gracia N. Jones
(Page 3). Born of Choice Lineage
Emma and Joseph Smith shared a common heritage, being descendants of no less than seven
passengers on the historic ship Mayflower.
John Fiske, in his Beginnings of New England”, reported that the Plymouth settlers were “drawn
from the sturdiest part of English stock. In all history there has been no other instance of
colonization so exclusively effected by picked and chosen men. William Stoughton, in his election
sermon of 1668, said, “God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into the
wilderness.” The compelling motive for these pilgrims coming was to gain freedom of worship for
themselves according to their own interpretation of the teachings of the Bible.
Edward Johnson, in his “Wonder-Working Providence of Zion’s Savior in New England”, said,
“The Lord Christ intends to achieve greater matter by this little handful than the world is aware of.”
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(Page 4) Although they probably never knew it, both Joseph Smite and Emma Hale could have
traced their lineage back to a common ancestor, John Howland, whose life was miraculously spared
during the stormy Atlantic crossing of the Mayflower in 1620.
In Bradford’s “History of Plymouth Plantation 1006-1646”, the story of this dramatic event is
recorded in charming old English. The spelling is retained here to hive the reader a feeling for the
language of the time. Some explanations have been added to clarify meaning.
In sundrie of thee stormes the winds were so fierce and ye seas so high as they could
not beare a knote of sale, but were forced to hull for diverce days together. And in one of
them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storme, a lustie young man (called John Howland),
coming upon some occasion above ye gratings, was, with a seele of ye shippe, throwne
into ye sea; but it pleased God (that) he caught hold of ye tope-saile hallards which hung
over-board, and rane out at length; yet he held his hould (through he was sundrie fadomes
under water) till he was hald up by ye rope to ye shipe again and his life was saved; and
though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable
member of both church and commonewealth.
In fact, John Howland married Elizabeth Tilley, one of the few survivors of the first terrible
winter in Plymouth Colony. One cannot help marveling at the twist of destiny that brought these
pilgrims through their ordeals to produce two separate family lines, which converge eight
generations later, bringing these very distant cousins, Joseph Smith and Emma Hale, together as
contemporaries and key participants in one of the most significant events to take place in the
history of the world—the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Page 346) I thought about John Howland, who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620,
and the miracle that saved him from a watery grave. He was an obscure young man and a member
of a persecuted and hated people. Yet how much of this generation depends upon his having
survived. Neither Joseph nor Emma would have existed, had he perished.
Page 13. The “World Book Encyclopedia” (vol. 15, p.518) expands our appreciation for our
ancestors who were on the Mayflower. “One hundred two Pilgrims sailed from England on the
Mayflower. It was a rough passage, taking 65 days. After leaving England in September, they
arrived in Provincetown harbor, November 21, 1620, landing in Plymouth harbor on December 26.
(November 10th according to the calendar then in use.) During the ocean crossing, one died and a
baby was born. Four more died and one was born in Provincetown harbor. Ninety-nine Pilgrims
landed at Plymouth to build a settlement. During the first winter, almost half of the Pilgrims died
of sickness, from lack of food and shelter from the bitterly cold weather.” Elizabeth tilley’s parents
both died that winter.
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