1-CAPTAIN MYLES STANDISH was born in England in 1584 and died at Duxbury, Mass., October 3 or 13, 1656. He married first Rose whose parentage is not known but she came to New England on the Mayflower with him and died in Plymouth January 29, 1620/1 or according to the New Style, February 8, 1621. He married second, Barbara, whose parentage is also unknown but tradition states that she was a sister of his first wife. She came to New England on the ship Ann in 1623 and died October 16, 1659. A letter written by Mrs. Clarence L. Westcott and published in 1916 reads: "I have visited in Lancashire, both Standish and Duxbury Hall, where the present owners have shown me much of historic family interest. Sir Henry Standish the present proprietor of Standish Hall, married a daughter of the Duc de Cars and resides permanently in Paris. Duxbury Park has passed out of the family but in England, its title is not considered clear, while there are still living lineal descendants of Myles Standish. I have been shown the much discussed parish records and have been given a photograph of the mutilated page. Standish Hall was the seat of the family before the Reformation caused the split that settled the Protestant branch at Duxbury Hall. It was at Standish that the famous Lancashire plot was hatched and from Standish Hall went forth Ralph Standish to fight for Henry V at Agincourt. The hall has undergone some changes since the time of Queen Elizabeth but the old family chapel attached stands as it was and is still controlled by the Church of Rome, the present owner being a Roman Catholic. Four little sycamore trees have been sent to me direct from Standish Hall, with the request that one should be placed by the grave of Capt. Myles Standish and this I shall have done when in 1920 the Tercentenary of the Pilgrims is to be observed." Capt. Myles Standish held a commission from Queen Elizabeth, in the English Army before 1603 and served in the Netherlands against the Spaniards, and after the truce in that war he remained in Leyden, Holland, where he became acquainted with the Pilgrims and came to New England with them on the Mayflower and was the sixth signer of the Mayflower compact. He was the first commissioned Military Officer of New England as the Pilgrims made him Commander-in-chief and that post he held until his death. He led the first exploring expedition from the Mayflower on November 14, 1620. He was also Treasurer of the Plymouth Colony and as late as 1654 he was appointed Commander-in-chief of troops sent to subdue the Dutch in Manhattan. As Military Commander he had more power than the Governor and as Captain and Magistrate, as Engineer and Explorer, as Interpreter and Merchant, as a tender nurse in pestilence, a physician at all times and as the Cincinnatus of his Colony, he showed wonderful versatility of talent and the highest nobility of character. It is very evident that the legal proof of his birth and descent has been destroyed to secure a fraudulent transfer of his inheritance, which is mentioned in his will. He resided at Plymouth, Mass. until about 1630-32 when he removed to Duxbury, which town received its name out of respect for him as his ancestrai family seat was Duxbury Hall, Duxbury, Lancashire, England. He was an Assistant of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1637 to 1642 and from 1645 to 1656 and Deputy Governor in 1653. His will is dated March 7, 1655 at Duxbury and his inventory was presented to the Court at Plymouth by his widow Barbara May 4, 1657. The last paragraph of it is one of interest, being:-"I give unto my son and heir aparent, Alexander Standish all my lands as heire apparrent by lawful decent in Ormistick Bousconge Wrightington Maudsley Newburrow Cranston and in the Isle of Man, and given to mee as right heire by lawful decent, but surreptitiously detained from me my great grandfather being a 2nd younger brother from the house of Standish of Standish." The inventory of his estate is of the usual sort, but his books are of interest and are mentioned as:-The History of the World and the Turkish History; A chronicle of England and the Countrey ffarmer; The History of Queen Elizabeth and the state of Europe; Dr. Hale's Workes; Calvin Institutions; Wilcox's Workes and Mayor's; Rogers's Seaven Treatices and the French Akademy; Ceser's Comentaryes; Bariff's Artillery; Preston's Sermons; Burroughe's Christ in Contentment; Gospel Conversion; Passions of the Mind; The phisisions practice; Earthly Mindedness; Ball of Faith, Brindey's Watch; Dod on the Lord's Supper; Sparke against Herisye; A Reply to Dr. Cotten on Baptism and a number of others of the same class. 2-ALEXANDER STANDISH son of Capt. Myles and Barbara Standish was born at Plymouth about 1625 and died at Duxbury, Mass., July 6, 1702. He married Sarah Alden, born 1629, died before September 12, 1687, daughter of John and Priscilla (Mullines) Alden. He married twice after her death. He was made freeman of Duxbury June 7, 1648 and was a member of the Grand Inquest there in 1658 and from 1695 to 1700 he was the Town Clerk. He fell heir to his father's estate in England as stated above. 3-EBENEZER STANDISH son of Alexander and Sarah (Alden) Standish was born in Duxbury, Mass., in 1672 and died March 19, 1755 at Plympton, Mass., being buried in the old burying ground there. He married Hannah Sturtevant born 1670, died January 23, 1759 who was buried by his side, daughter of Samuel and Mercy Sturtevant of Plymouth. 4 HANNAH STANDISH, daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah (Sturtevant) Standish was born at Plympton, March 6, 1703/4 and died at Taunton, Mass., April 5, 1774 as the wife of Deacon Seth Staples, whom she married in Plympton January 4, 1721/2, Mr. Isaac Cushman officiating. (See STAPLES) References-New York Geneological Record, Vol. 47, pp. 282, 312; New England Register, Vol. 5, p. 336; 63, p. 339; History of Duxbury, p. 82; Mayflower Magazine, Vol. 5, p. 184; 19, p. 34, 35; 11, p. 163. MASON Ralph Mason m Ann Samuel Mason m Mary Holman Lt. John Mason m Mercy Merrick Mercy Mason m Deacon Jonathan Shaw Col. Jonathan Shaw m Bethia Hall Jonathan Shaw m Lydia Gushee Amyntas Shaw m Lucy Tufts Williams Isabella M. Shaw m Charles Clark Knowlton 1-RALPH MASON sailed in the Abigail from London, England July 4, 1635 with certificate from the minister and Justices of the Peace of St. Olliver, Southwark. He is listed as a joiner and his age is recorded as 35 years. He brought with him his wife Anne, aged 35 years and three children, Richard, aged 5 years, Samuel aged 3 years and Susan aged 1 year. They located in Boston, but dates of death have not been found. 2-SAMUEL MASON son of Ralph and Anne Mason was born in England in 1632 and died in Boston, Mass., September 20, 1691. He was married there May 29, 1662 by Governor John Endicott, to Mary the daughter of "the late John Holman" who died after August 5, 1700. 3-LIEUTENANT JOHN MASON son of Samuel and Mary (Holman) Mason was born in Boston, January 29, 1673/4 and died in Taunton, Mass., November 3, 1736 in his 62nd year. He married Mercy, daughter of Stephen and Mercy (Bangs) Merrick who died November 16, 1754 in her 81st year. They are buried in the North Burying Ground at Taunton, Mass. Just where and how he received his titles of Ensign and Lieutenant is not clear, but in 1700 he was a member of the first military company of Taunton and resided at the west end of the town. He was one of the selectmen there in 1718, 1719, 1723 to 1726, 1729 to 1731, 1733 and 1734. The History of Taunton states that he was ordered to impress soldiers into Queen Ann's War. His will is dated February 24, 1735 but was not proven until June 21, 1737 in which he mentions his wife Mercy, and his daughter Mary wife of Benjamin Cobb of Norton, his daughter Rebecca wife of Samuel Sumner of Taunton and his daughter Mercy wife of Jonathan Shaw of Raynham to whom he leaves his large Bible. He bequeaths his grandsons, John Cobb and Jonathan Shaw, his sword, belt, cane, silver buttons and paulets—and one-third of the 1esidue of his estate after the death of his wife to his daughter Mercy Shaw. He made his wife Mercy and his son-in-law, Jonathan Shaw his executors and his will was witnessed by Samuel Williams, Ezra Dean and Thomas Clapp. He and Mercy sold twenty-four acres of land in Taunton bounded on the north by the highway from Ware Bridge to the grist mill July 1, 1724. Prior to that on June 17, 1708 they sold land to Robert Crossman. There was another John Mason contemporary with this John who lived in Taunton and belonged to the Rehoboth family, said John being a cordwainer and son of Noah Mason. On November 5, 1753 Benjamin Cobb, gentleman and Jonathan Shaw, yeoman were made the guardians of Mercy Mason because of the infirmities. of old age. Her estate was inventoried March 8, 1755 and is given below to show the average estate of that day and of the articles necessary for the times by the "well-to-do" residents: A mufling apron, 2 Holland aprons and a checked Holland apron....... 3 striped aprons and a mixed flannel blanket Quilted coat, gown and striped undercoat Checked cotton handkerchief 16 caps, 1 pair gloves 1 pair gloves, 1 pair sleeves, 1 velvet hood 1 6 10110000 | 3 | 12 6 6 8 6 8 |