Meaningful family stories that are passed down from generation to generation never seem to loose their significance. Thanksgiving always seems to be the time of year when I think about my favorite family story - one that has been passed down for over 300 years.
Since I was a little girl my grandmother has told me that I come from "good blood." I come from good blood because my great-grandmother told my grandmother that she was marrying into good blood on the day she and my grandfather announced their engagement. My grandfather Jean came from good blood because his grandmother was Grace Cushman ... descendant of Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton. Mary Allerton came to America from Leiden, Holland in 1620 at the age of 4 years on the Mayflower. Thomas came to America in 1621 at the age of 13 years on the Fortune. We come from good blood.
It is fascinating to research and learn more about these people who are so ingrained in the history of this country and with whom I share lineage. Mary Allerton was born 362 years and 1 day before I was born...and on Sunday, she will have died 311 years ago. She was the last living survivor of the Mayflower. Mary sailed on the Mayflower with her father, mother, brother and sister for 66 days. She lost her mother to disease before they even made it to land. Mary was 5 years old when the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Native people in the fall of 1621. There were 53 pilgrims (out of 102) who survived the first winter. 90 Natives were also present at the feast that lasted 3 days. Squanto and King Massasoit had taught the Pilgrims how to plant and harvest in the new land and had even shared food with them that first winter. Although they had endured much hardship and suffered many losses, they had much to be thankful for.
We have much to be thankful for as well. Even when times are hard and there is suffering all around, we have much to be thankful for. The brave Pilgrims came to this country is search of religious freedom. Freedom defines our country and I'm thankful and blessed to live in this great country. I am thankful to be free to serve God and follow Jesus without the persecution that many people face all over the world. I am thankful to be surrounded by a loving a supportive church family. I am thankful for the health and love of my family - near and far. I am thankful for friends - near and far, friends I've known for years and those I've just met. I am thankful for the experiences that have made me who I am today.
I am thankful for all of the big things but I'm thankful for all of the small things, too. I'm thankful for hoodies and coffee. I'm thankful for OSU football and the changing colors of the leaves; for smut TV and movies that make me cry. I'm thankful for facebook and google and ipods and cell phones. I am thankful for bonfires and wine parties; for snowflakes and Christmas lights. I'm thankful for clean sheets and pumpkin pie.
I'm thankful for dirty windows, because it means there have been children with dirty hands playing nearby. I'm thankful for dirty dishes because it means my family has plenty to eat. I'm thankful for piles of laundry because it means they have clothes to wear - although maybe too many. I'm thankful for the noise that fills my house because someday I know the child-like voices will be gone and my house will be empty. I am thankful to know who I am and to have people in my life who remind me when I forget.
Today, I am thankful for all those who have come before me, weaving the story of history - especially my Pilgrim ancestors.
My genealogy to Mary:
Mary Allerton (m. Thomas Cushman)
Eleazar Cushman (m. Elizabeth Coombs)
James Cushman (m. Sarah Hatch)
Seth Cushman (m. Abiah Allen)
Seth Cushman Jr. (m. Nancy Rundel)
David Cushman (m. Catherine Kennerly)
Thomas Cushman (m. Elizabeth Baker)Grace Cushman (m. Clarence Whitlock)
Merle Whitlock (m. Ruth Riggs)
Jean Whitlock (m. Eileen Stitt)
Kim Whitlock Sisk (m. Kip Yarborough)
Kara Yarborough Farrow (ME!)
