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November 5 was a lovely, sunny day at the

Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. We were

honored that Governor General Lea Filson

traveled all the way from Louisiana via New

York City to Michigan to be at our Compact

Day meeting. Accompanied by her husband

Ron, Lea brought a wealth of enthusiasm

and information to our meeting.

Lea has been involved with the Louisiana

Mayflower Society since the late 1990s. She

served as Louisiana State Governor from

2002-2005, edits the Louisiana Drumbeats

newsletter and is presently the Louisiana

Society’s Deputy Governor. She served as

Insignia Chair for the General Society from

2005-2012. In 2010, she reworked the

GSMD website, and in 2011, she became

Assistant Governor General until September

when she was elected Governor General.

Lea is descended from Mayflower passen-

gers Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris Allerton,

Mary Allerton Cushman, Degory Priest, Ed-

ward Doty Francis Cooke, Stephen Hopkins,

and Elizabeth Fisher Hopkins. Her career

includes many years on-air as a broadcaster

in television and radio; she specializes in

media, marketing and public relations.

Sharing images of the Mayflower Society

House and Library, Lea also spoke of plans

for the 2017 Congress and the 2020 celebra-

tion. She described ideas for a monument to

be placed in Plymouth to commemorate the

sailing of the Mayflower and the possible

donation of the First Parish Church to the

General Society by 2020.

Member Mary Ellen Vangoff has proven descents from

several Mayflower passengers including Samuel Fuller,

Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris Allerton, and Richard War-

ren. She is the mother of four children, grandmother of

four, and great-grandmother of five, all prospective

members!

Here, she enjoys a pose with her Allerton cousin, Gov-

ernor General Filson, just before the start of the meet-

ing.

Governor General Filson Visits Michigan!

Member Spotlight: Mary Ellen Vangoff

MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER

Thank you, retiring

board members

Patricia Brown,

Bonnie Vokits, and

Terry McKane for

jobs well done!

Thank you, June

Gorman, newslet-

ter editor for ten

years and immedi-

ate past Governor

of the Michigan

society. June also

served as compiler/

editor of The Cen-

tennial History of

Mayflower De-

scendants in Michi-

gan 1901-2001.

Excerpts from the

book may be found

on page three and

will continue in fu-

ture newsletters.

If you prefer an

email version of

this newsletter,

rather than the

print version,

please notify Craig

Rich, Membership

Secretary at [email protected]

A full-color edition

of the newsletter is

also available

online at the Socie-

ty’s website:

http://www.michmayflower.org

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.michmayflower.org

Michigan Society Board of Assistants

MAYFLOWER NEWSLETTER Winter 2016-17

*Governor ……………………………….

Newsletter Secretary, Webmaster

Grace Bliss Smith

C: 586-899-3138 [email protected]

*Deputy Governor………………………. June Gorman

C: 231-286-1162 [email protected]

*Elder……………………………………... Heather McKane Rose

H: 989-839-0288 [email protected]

*Treasurer……………………………….. Thora Goodnight


*Recording Secretary………………….. Elizabeth Williams


*Historian………………………………... Diane Hayford Sonnecken


*Historian for Juniors…………………. Cindy Schmitt


*Assistant: Membership ………………... Craig Rich


*Assistant: Public Relations……….. ...

Flag Captain

Janet Ernst


*Assistant: Corresponding….. ………... Nancy Morley


Counsellor ………………………………. Mary Ellen Byrne


Ex-Officio Board Members.……………. Past Governors: John Allen Crusoe, Terry McKane,

Cory Randall, Mary Ellen Byrne, June Gorman;

Past Deputy Governor: Leonard Decker

Investment Committee…………………... Thora Goodnight, Mary Sue Markey, June Gorman,

Grace Smith, Mary Ellen Byrne, Diane Sonnecken

Michigan Society Scholarship.………... Patricia Brown


Assistants to Board Members…………. Historian: Lee Bennett, Cheryl Stanfield, Vicki

Mott Friddle

Treasurer: Mary Sue Markey

Sales Table: Johanna Balzer, Brenda Zabaroni, Pa-

tricia Brown













Excerpts from The Centennial History of the Michigan Society

Last Surviving Charter Member

Lewis LeBaron Goodwin

25 Charter Members of the Michigan Society

Theodore Otis Leonard

Elizabeth Brewster Cady (Mrs. David Cady)

Mabel Henri Cady

Georgiana Web Owen (Mrs. Rank Owen)

Margaret Fox VanCleve

Priscilla Boyce Webster (Mrs. Wm. Webster)

Mark Lyman Vining

James Dudley Hawks

Emma Jane Farwell Jewett

Paul Aaron Langevin Doty

Adeline Hamilton Davis (Mrs. Frank Davis)

Ellen McReynolds Nims (Mrs. Frederick Nims)

Charles Dana Standish, Founder

Joshua Edward Howard

Charles Wellman Hitchcock

Julia Adele Strong Baldwin (Mrs. Lyman Baldwin)

Lucy Anna Crapo Smith (Mrs. H. H. Smith)

Fanny Judson Knight Butler (Mrs. Wm. Butler)

Mary Newberry Ladue (Mrs. Austin Ladue)

Helen Elizabeth Keep

Joseph Sumner Rogers

Lewis LeBaron Goodwin

Jessie Clara Chase

Fannie Parkins Howarth (Mrs. John Howarth)

Ralph Stone

Published in 2001,

The Centennial Histo-

ry of the Society of

Mayflower Descend-

ants in Michigan:

1901-2001, offers in-

sight into the begin-

ning and continuation

of our state society. The Michigan Society received its

charter on 8 February 1901, at a meeting of the General

Board of Assistants in New York City. John Lloyd Dexter,

of 31 West Atwater Street, Detroit, Michigan, submitted

the charter of the Michigan Society. The officers were

elected on 19 February 1901, at the Russell House in De-

troit. The Society was organized on 3 April 1901, with 25

charter members.

From September 5-7, 1903, two Michigan delegates at-

tended the Third General Congress in Plymouth. One

name has been lost to time, but representing Michigan was

Deputy Governor General Joseph Sumner Rogers who was

elected in 1903.

Members visited the U.S. S. Mayflower, which was an-

chored in Plymouth harbor by order of the Secretary of the

Navy. The U.S.S. Mayflower was decommissioned in

1904 and converted to serve as a Presidential yacht from

1906-1929. Members of the world's notable families visit-

ed the yacht and signed her guestbook over the years, yet

President Hoover dispensed with using the ship as a yacht,

saving costs of $300,000 annually. She was decommis-

sioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 22 March 1929 and

later recommissioned for military use.

direct descendant of Richard Warren. He was

also the oldest member of the Sons of the Amer-

ican Revolution (SAR) and one of the first of-

ficers of the Detroit Trust Co.

Lewis LeBaron Goodwin, state number 10, was

the last surviving Charter Member. Mr. Good-

win was an active and contributing member for

almost sixty years, until he died on 5 November

1965 at the age of 87. Mr. Goodwin was an

investment broker, a native of Detroit, and a


U.S. S. Mayflower

Craig Rich is a lifelong Michigander whose ancestors came to the state in the 1840s. He caught the history bug in 8th grade and has been research-ing his family origins since then. He currently serves as president of the

Cape Cod based Rich Family Asso-ciation and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)and the Elder William Brewster So-ciety. His Mayflower lines are Brewster and Rogers. As a public servant, he served the people of Holland, Michigan, as city councilman for 28 years and as mayor pro-tem for 20 years. During this time, he represented the city on trade missions to Groningen, Neth-erlands, and Queretaro, Mexico. A former radio deejay, he has pro-vided professional narration for vid-eo productions, radio and TV com-mercials. He is a speaker for local libraries, museums and historical

societies on the subjects of local history, maritime history and espe-cially Great Lakes shipwrecks. A published author, he has written two books on the maritime history of Ottawa and Muskegon counties. Craig also is a certified Master Div-er with more than 500 logged scuba dives on shipwrecks throughout the Great Lakes. He is a Detroit Tigers fan, a cigar aficionado, and enjoys travel and photography. Craig is employed in the advertising department of the Grand Rapids Business Journal and lives in Holland, Michigan with his wife of 41 years. They have two grown daughters and a granddaugh-ter.

July 22 – The ship Speedwell de-parts Delftshaven with the Leiden colonists and Pilgrims.

August 5 – The Mayflower and

Speedwell depart together from

Plymouth, England, but the Speed-

well starts to leak again.

September 6 – The Mayflower sails

from Plymouth, England, without

the Speedwell, arriving on Novem-

ber 11 at Cape Cod.

November 11 – The Mayflower ar-

rives at what is later known as Prov-

Assistant: Membership Secretary, Craig Rich

Ashley Rose, both junior members.

Heather’s hometown is Lansing

where she graduated from J.W. Sex-

ton in 1989. She earned her B.B.A.

in Management from Adrian Col-

lege in 1993 and her Master’s of

Science Administration in Manage-

ment from Central Michigan Uni-

versity in 2004.

After completing her degree from

Adrian College, Heather was hired

by General Motors/Delphi Brake

and Steering Division in Saginaw,

Michigan, where she held numerous

positions during her 16-year tenure,

including: Manufacturing Supervi-

sor, Supplier Quality Engineer,

Chemical Purchasing Manager and

Program Launch Leader. In 2010,

she began to work for Dow in Mid-

land in supply chain management.

Her father, Terry McKane, instilled

her appreciation for the Mayflower

Society over the past 30 years; he

held numerous positions in the Soci-

ety between 1983 and 2016, when

he elected to retire from the Elder

position. Heather is looking forward

to serving the Mayflower Society for

many years to come.

Ms. Rose is a supply chain planner

at the Dow Chemical Company and

an adjunct professor at Northwood

University. She lives in Midland

with her two daughters, Sophia and

Elder: Heather McKane Rose


Key Dates in 1620 incetown. The Mayflower Compact,

the first governing document of the

colony, is signed aboard the ship by

41 English colonists.

December 25 – The Pilgrims begin

building a 20 x 20 ft. Common

House at Plymouth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delfshaven

Michigan Society Board of Assistants 2016-19

Nancy has volunteered for various interests, including being the co-chairman of the NCA School Im-provement Committee, while she was a classroom teacher at Randels Elementary School, Carman-Ainsworth School District, Flint. As a result, Randels was named the sec-ond elementary school in the state to become NCA accredited. Nancy volunteered at First Presbyterian Church as a member of the Board of Deacons and was secretary. She has been a training team leader for the Crim Festival of Races. Nancy volunteers with her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, as a founding

member of the Mid-Michigan Crown Alums of Alpha Sigma Al-pha, holding offices of president, vice–president, secretary, and schol-arship chair. She was named Alum-nae District Liaison. At the national level she was named as a trustee for the sorority’s foundation, and also served on the scholarship commit-tee. Her Mayflower connection is through Stephen Hopkins, and she is also a member of the Pilgrim Hop-kins Heritage Society. She enjoys reading, playing golf, walking her dog, Josie, and travel.

Nancy was born and raised in Lan-sing. She earned a B.A. in Education from Central Michigan University, and an M.A. in Education from Michigan State. Dennis and Nancy have been married for 37 years and have one daughter, Alicia, and one granddaughter, Lily, 13 years. They live in Owosso.

Assistant: Public Relations, Nancy Morley


Back row: Craig Rich, Diane Sonnecken, Cindy Schmitt, Nancy Morley, Thora

Goodnight, Mary Ellen Byrne, Elizabeth Williams; Front row: Janet Ernst,

Grace Bliss Smith, Heather McKane Rose; Not pictured: June Gorman

Mayflower Wood Plaque

Michigan Society Marker at Pilgrim Monument

Member Vicki Mott

Friddle’s father-in-

law collected

coins. Vicki

recently

discovered the

350th anniversary

coin (from 1970)

in his collection.

Mayflower 350th Anniversary Commemorative Coin

Mr. William Heath of Southington,

Connecticut made this three-

dimensional wood plaque. He is a

member of the General Society and a

descendant of John Howland and

Elizabeth Tilley through their daugh-

ter Lydia.

He presented the plaque to Helen

Pratt on 4 September 2009 to be giv-

en to the Michigan Mayflower Socie-

ty to use as it wishes.

Helen Pratt delivered the plaque to

Rev. Cory Randall, Governor and

Historian of the Michigan Society on

20 September 2009.

of 116 steps and 60 ramps. President Theodore

Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907; it was

dedicated by President William Taft in 1910.

The Pilgrims explored the tip of Cape Cod

before sailing to Plymouth. During their five-

week stay at Provincetown, they drew up and

signed the Mayflower Compact which estab-

lished the first written framework for self-

government and was the basis for our Consti-

tution.

Member Kim Smith’s granddaughter climbed

the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown dur-

ing the summer. Kim captured a picture of her

pointing to the Michigan Society’s marker.

The Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association

commissioned the building of the monument

to commemorate the first landing of the Pil-

grims at Provincetown in November 1620.

Standing at 252 feet, the monument is the tall-

est all-granite structure in the USA, consisting


Pilgrim Tercentenary 1620-1920

2 cent stamp

Looking Back: Michigan Society in 1927

Caption de-scribing picture or graphic.


Iva Avery’s daughter sent this image of a banquet at the Detroit Leland, 11-21-1927. Iva is identified by the arrow.

ered the ringleader, was charged with mutiny

and sentenced to be hanged; the others were

temporarily banished to a remote island. After

arguing that he had a family dependent upon

him, Hopkins narrowly escaped his death sen-

tence and was pardoned. As a result, other

passengers built the ships Patience and Deliv-

erance from salvaged timbers. The ship-

wrecked passengers were eventually able to

sail to Jamestown, arriving 23 May 1609. Ste-

phen Hopkins remained in Jamestown for sev-

eral years.

Although not technically a Separatist, Hopkins

returned to England and became a vocal oppo-

nent of the English church. He later became

one of the colony’s leaders during the early

years at Plymouth. He served as Assistant

Governor from 1633-1636 and frequently ac-

companied Myles Standish during negotia-

tions with area Indian tribes and during ex-

ploratory expeditions.

In their interesting book, One Hundred &

Eleven Questions & Answers Concerning the

Pilgrims: Passengers on the Mayflower, 1620,

authors William P. Muttart and Linda R. Ash-

ley share little known facts about the Pilgrims.

In 1609, Stephen Hopkins was aboard the Sea

Venture that sailed from England in a fleet of

eight ships. The Sea Venture was captained by

Christopher Newport. Separated from the oth-

er ships during a storm, the Sea Venture ran

onto a reef near Bermuda and stranded 150

passengers there for about 44 weeks. Shake-

speare’s play, The Tempest was based on the

story of this shipwreck and the character,

Stephano, most likely refers to Stephen Hop-

kins who once lived in a town near Shake-

speare.

Ordered by Sir Thomas Gates, a fellow pas-

senger and Virginia’s governor in 1610, to

build a ship to transport the marooned passen-

gers another 700 miles to Jamestown, Hopkins

and several others refused. Hopkins, consid-

Pilgrim Spotlight: Stephen Hopkins

Send address changes to:

Craig Rich, Membership Secretary

120 W. 23rd

Holland, MI 49423

Society of Mayflower Descendants in Michigan

Interested in joining?

Contact Lee Bennett at:

[email protected]

We’re on the Web at

http://

www.michmayflower.org


AFTER 10 DAYS RETURN TO:

Mayflower Descendants in Michigan

Craig Rich, Membership Secretary

120 W. 23rd

Holland, MI 49423

Key Dates for 2017

1 May Scholarship Entries

Due

20 May Spring Board Meeting

& Spring Luncheon,

East Lansing

8-13 Sep GSMD Congress,

Plymouth, MA

14 Oct Fall Board Meeting

4 Nov Compact Day Luncheon,

Frankenmuth


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