I’m happy to welcome author Noelle Granger to the Power of 10 series. Today, Noelle shares interesting facts about Mary Allerton Cushman.
Here’s Noelle!
Many of you know I am writing a historical novel called The Last Pilgrim, about the life of Mary Allerton Cushman. She was the oldest survivor of the passengers on the Mayflower, who became known as the Old Comers. I have become truly lost in the history of the Pilgrims (not given this name until a very late and passing reference in William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647.) The Old Comers and many who followed were Separatists from the Church of England.
So here are some facts, of which there are very few as it turns out, about Mary.
She was born while the Separatists were living in Leiden, in 1616, daughter of Mary Norris and Isaac Allerton.
She sailed on the Mayflower with her parents, a sister named Remember, two years older, and a brother, Barthomew, eight years older.
Mary’s mother was pregnant aboard the Mayflower and gave birth to a stillborn son. She died, still aboard the Mayflower, in January of 1621, before suitable housing was built on the site of chosen for their settlement.
Bartholomew returned to England around 1630 and insofar as is known, Mary never saw him again.
Her father married to Fear Brewster, daughter of Elder Brewster, the religious leader of the colony, in 1627. Her half-sister, Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Fear, died as a child. Her half-brother Isaac graduated from Harvard.
Around 1636, she married Thomas Cushman, who had come to Plymouth in 1621 at the age of thirteen on the ship Fortune with father Robert Cushman. Robert Cushman was a prominent member of the Separatist congregation in Leiden.
Thomas and Mary had a prosperous family; seven of their eight children survived to adulthood and married.
She had at least fifty grandchildren!
Her husband, Thomas, took over the position of Elder of their church when Elder Brewster died.
She lived in the Plymouth Colony until her death in 1699, and was buried on Burial Hill in Plymouth. The site of her grave is unknown, but she is mentioned on the memorial erected to the Cushman family.
Burial Hill, Plymouth, MA
Cushman Memorial
One side of the Cushman Memorial
Side of the Memorial mentioning Mary
This is basically most of what is known of Mary Allerton Cushman, with the exception of the names and dates of births, marriages and deaths of her children. I don’t know what she looked like, because there are only a few portraits, painted largely from imagination, of the colony’s male leaders. Thus I’ve had to create her from whole cloth, but I want her life set against the real background of everything that is known of the Plimoth Plantation history and life there. Much of this comes from Bradford’s book – how much poorer we would be without it, but it is hard to read and understand! I also glean from information provided by the Plimoth Plantation historical recreation in Plymouth. This venue is about four doors down from the house where I grew up and I was a tour guide there when it first opened. I also use records, online sources and other books. The latter two have to be vetted for their veracity, since there is a lot of misinformation floating around!
Statue of Elizabeth Tilley Howland, who came on the Mayflower at age 13. She had 88 grandchildren. The Pilgrim women were prolific. I played her in a Pilgrim’s Progress when I was a teen.
I recognize that women in the early colonial days were basically servants – did you know they were not allowed to speak in church except for singing psalms? – but you know they had thoughts, memories and opinions of their own, and I am trying to give life to them.
Wish me luck!
Noelle’s Books
Where to find Noelle…
Joanne Guidoccio 
Hello Noelle; Have been searching Cushman/Allerton tree for 20 yrs. Live in Maine. Mary has many great grandkids do and did lived in Maine. Her grandkids of many generations are of Androscoggin and Oxford counties mostly, from 1750’s to present. I am one of them. Then I located a farm place above where I Live. Mary’s 3rd great grandchild Sarah Cushman married guy name John Cousens and had 14 kids. The doctor helped delivered the babies, also cousin to Sarah. Sweet story there. Thanks for the book. Hope some day can read it. Pam M from Maine. Genealogist for 22 years.
Noelle, As the maternal blood line gggrandson of May Flower Passenger Hon. “John” Alden, U.S. President “John” Adams said, “Facts are stubborn things”.. It is not a fact that Mary Allerton was the oldest surviving Passenger of the May Flower. Hon. John Alden was 89, Mary 83. May Flower passenger Hon. John Alden was the oldest person in years alive at the time of his death, living longer then any other known Founder. 73 yr old Mary Allerton surely remembered 89 year old Hon. John Alden’s passing in the year 1689. Did she hope to live that long? If she did, her hopes were not answered. Good luck on your Novel. Stay turned for….”When the book is written the lineage will be known” – G. M. Alden.
I am related to Mary allerton Cushman because of my grandmother btw Mary allerton is my great great great great great great great great great great grandmother.
I am descended from Mary (Allerton) Cushman through my maternal grandfather – she is my 9X great-grandmother and the list of great-grandparents is: Mary Allerton/Thomas Cushman-Lydia Cushman/William Harlow-Lydia Harlow/Barnabas Churchill-Abigail Ryder/Lemuel Churchill-Mary Roberts/Ezra Churchill-Elizabeth Trelfry/Ezra Churchill-Anna Eliza Davison/Ezra Churchill-Ann Eliza Churchill/Joshua West-Henrietta McGregor/Willis Wilkins West (aka William Wilkins)
Interesting
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As it has turned out, I am also related to Mary Cushman, thru my father’s mother who was a Cushman thru marrige,
Mary Allerton Cushman was my 9th great-grandmother. Am reading the book as we speak. Did she actually live with the Bradford family? Was that in Bradford’s book? Good luck, Noelle!
Interesting
I am a descendant of Mary also. I will be 92 in Sept.
Mary is my ancestor also. I will be 92 in Sept..
Please, contact me if you are a founder descendant, or tribal descendant from a forebearer associated with Plymouth Colony.
HI! Through my mom’s maternal side I am a descendant of Mary Allerton Cushman. She is my 10th great grandmother. Would love to know more about her.
I had 9 ancestors on the “Mayflower”. I have just learned about 4 more! I knew I had 5 for several years.
Isaac and Mary Norris Allerton are my husband’s 10th GGparents
Mary Allerton / Elder Cushman
Alice Cushman / Thomas Kirk
on down to my husband ….
Alice Cushman to Mary Allerton / Elder Thomas Cushman, Sr. through their son, Deacon Elkanah Cushman, Sr., brother to my 8X great-grandparent, Lydia (Cushman) Harlow – Hello cousin!
Actually, Hon. John Alden was the oldest surviving Mayflower founder, having lived to the oldest age, with Mary being the Mayflower passenger to last to pass away.