Thatcher Island and the Mayflower

The past few weeks I have re~visted a love of mine ~ researching genealogy and family history. We are in the midst of several family reunions and I seem to be the one on my side of the family, who has been designated to keep records.

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One of my first blogging friend’s Sharon , posted some gorgeous pictures of Thatcher Island off of Cape Ann, in Massachusetts. She and her daughter and a friend took a trip there recently and took some an awesome pictures.

I remember reading in a book of history of my husband’s family about Anthony Thatcher and his wife being shipwrecked during a hurricane on August 11, 1635. They lost all 5 of their children and also his cousin Avery died along with all 11 members of his family who were also drowned. Anthony and his wife were the sole survivors of the shipwreck.

Pictures taken by Sharon of 'A new England life.') Please click to see more of her fabulous work!

Anthony Thatcher wrote of the miraculous and heart wrenching account of each detail of this terrifying occurrence to his brother Peter, just a few days after it took place... He spoke of how hard it was to watch each of their five children die, amongst others he loved... and his miraculous devine intervention of survial. They were on their way from Ipswich to Marblehead, Mass to Marblehead, where His cousin Avery, had been invited to be the new pastor.

He said, sweet mercies were further sent from the Lord, when Anthony found his son William’s coat, a hat and his wife found her petticoat which had washed ashore. All their clothes had been ripped from their bodies from the incredible force of the hurricane wind and waves. He also found a knapsack with DRY flint and a stone to make a fire to warm their cold and numb bodies. Also was found some cheese and butter to sustain them until help arrived.

It is an awe inspiring account written by his own hand in old English of an ancestor who lost not only his children, but all their worldly goods.

On September 3, 1635 (1637), A Governor Winthrop at the time of Massachusetts Colonial Records, states that Anthony was given forty marks and was given the small island at the head of Cape Ann for his inheritance and for all they went through and lost.

Anthony originally named the Island, 'Thacher's Woe.'

The Island was named, ' Thatcher Island', after the family. . .

The family name was mispelled. It is spelled without the T.

(Taken by Sharon of 'A new England Life.')
Thankfully they were able to have more children :)

I often think about what our ancestors and what they went through. We have enjoyed having Anthony’s written account of the incident, but it was a joy to see the beautiful pictures Sharon took and I consider it a blessing. To actually see where this part of the history of our family took place. Just another way, friends in this blogging world bless our lives!
These sweet g~~grandmother of my husbands, descended from Anthony Thatcher and his wife.
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Just another thought..... In my life I have known 6 generations. Several great grandparents, grandparents, parents, ourselves, children and now our grandchildren.

Reviewing my own genealogy and knowing just 12 generations ago, my progenitor grandfather, John Howland came over on the Mayflower.
After seeing and knowing these 6 generations, it really makes those 12 generations seem NOT that long ago!

If other friends out there are also related to John Howland, who was married Elizabeth Tilley, I descend from their daughter Hannah.

Hey, Are any of you, my long lost cousins????

It is reported that currently there are over 10 million living descendants of the 52 Mayflower Pilgrims who had children. Listed below are some of the notable descendants of John and Elizabeth Howland. (This information was taken from Wikipedia)


Maude Adams (stage actress)
Humphrey Bogart (film actor)
Phillips Brooks (wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem")
George Herbert Walker Bush (41th U.S. President)
Barbara Bush (U.S. First Lady)
George W. Bush (43nd U.S. President)
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (Florida Governor)
Ralph Waldo Emerson (poet)
Nathaniel Gorham (Continental Congress President)
Esther Allen Howland (produced the first American Valentines)
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (U.S. Senator)
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (poet)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (32nd U.S. President)
Lillian Russell (stage & film actress)
Joseph Smith (founder, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)


Enjoy a fabulous weekend!

Beth