400 years since the Mayflower: Captain Shrimp

I'm so disappointed.  

The one thing that I've always known about my heritage is that I'm a descendant of those who came over on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims.  The only ancestor's name I knew for many years was Myles Standish and I was proud of that ancestry.

But I just read up on Grandpa Myles.  Sigh.

Family member name: Myles Standish
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1584-1656
Relation: My 10x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)

The good news

* Myles Standish was hired by the Pilgrims as a military adviser.  

* Admittedly, he agreed to go on a very dangerous journey across the ocean in 1620, from which many before him had not returned. And he stayed in Plymouth when he had the option to return.

* He did his job.  He protected them in many situations.  For example, he forced them to build a protective wall around the village and organized the men into a militia.
* He was loyal to the Pilgrims.

The bad news

* He was not a Pilgrim, but instead accompanied the Pilgrims.  He did not emigrate to the new world for religious freedom.  It was a job.

* He was very short.  He was called Captain Shrimp.  Yes.

* What a psychopath!  On one mission to defend another small European village called Wessagusset, he brutally killed one of the threatening warriors, and brought the head of another back to Plymouth and displayed it at the fort for months to come.  He did this because that Indian had insulted him beforehand.  These actions had negative consequences on the Colony and the friendly local Indians for years to come.

In summary, Captain Shrimp was a loyal, non-Pilgrim sadist.  But yes, he came over on the Mayflower, and he is my 10x great-grandfather.

Standish is a well-known name in Plymouth County, Massachusetts to this day.  Here are some pictures of when my dad and I visited in 2012.

Standish Monument and my dad.  Duxbury, MA

Plaque for the Myles Standish burying ground.

The gravestone of Myles Standish.  Died 1656, Duxbury, MA.

Don't sell wine to the Indians

My 9th great-grandfather, Edward Bangs, was a prominent member of Plymouth Colony.  He did not come over on the Mayflower, however, he came over 3 years later in 1623 on the Anne.  

Family member name: Edward Bangs

Lifetime: c1591-1677/78
Tree branch: Pearson

Places lived: England, Plymouth, MA, Eastham, MA
Relation: My 9x great-grandfather (my father's father's mother's father's father's mother's father's father's father's father's father)

He immediately jumped into life in the new world and began establishing himself. He is mentioned numerous times throughout the years in Plymouth Colony Records. Many times he is listed with Capt. Myles Standish, who is my 10th great grandfather.  I wonder if they were friends?

Here is some stuff he did:

* Division of land
* Division of cattle
* Founder of Eastham, Cape Cod
* Located boundaries of properties, including new meeting house
* Juror
* Survey highways
* Bought land
* Farmer
* Innkeeper / Tavern keeper

"Liberty is granted unto Edward Bangs to draw and sell wine and strong waters at Eastham, provided it be for the refreshment of the English, and not to be sold to the Indians," 6 Oct 1657, PCR 3:123. An account of liquor brought into Eastham dated 28 Nov 1664 included "Edward Bangs, six gallons of liquor," PCR 4:100.

He surveyed and divided up the land belonging to John Alden, a Mayflower passenger and also my 10th great grandfather.

Source:

Pilgrim Hall Museum - Passenger Biographies

North America Family Histories