Visit to Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth

Thought I'd share photos I took of items from a recent visit to Pilgrim Hall Museum connected to my Mayflower families. I always enjoy being in such close proximity to these meaningful antiques! Some photos aren't great quality given they were taken through glass; the museum has images of some of the items at Pilgrimhall.org. Item descriptions are from information displayed with the pieces.

Pilgrim Hall often participates in the town's "Yarn Pop" installations

The 200+ year old museum has been undergoing renovations and its two huge paintings, The Landing of the Pilgrims and The Departure of the Pilgrims, were restored. The day we were there they were bringing in the paintings to be hung in the main hall which has been closed during renovations.

The Allerton-Cushman Wood Cup has such beautiful carvings including the year of 1608 and this beautiful relgious sentiment:

"Lord help thy people that are in Destresse:
teach all true Christians for to help each other:
turne + the hard hart's that Doth the poore opresse:
teach them to know their needy Christian Brother:
Think on+the ritch mans flourishing estate:
Which cried out in hell+Blessed are the mercyfull+Wh-t was to late"

Cushman Chest

Thomas Cushman hammer

I descend from Isaac Allerton's daughter Mary (both Mayflower passengers) who married Thomas Cushman. 

Turned Great Chair that probably belonged to William Brewster, the spiritual leader of the colony. Men with authority and standing in the community were the users of "great chairs." 

Believed to be the chest that William Brewster brought with him from Holland. The six board chest is made of Norway pine and dates to early 17th century.

"Admonition to Parliament" printed by William Brewster in Leiden 1617

William Brewster's sword

I descend from William Brewster through two of his children Patience Brewster (Gov. Thomas Prence) and Love Brewster (Sarah Collier).

Thomas Prence chair made in Plymouth late 17th century. Thomas Prence arrived on the Ship Fortune in 1621 and later became Governor. He married four times, including to William Brewster's daughter Patience. I descend from their daughters Rebecca (Edmund Freeman) and Mercy (John Freeman).

Constance Hopkins' beaver hat. Constance was a Mayflower passenger with her father Stephen Hopkins. She married Nicholas Snow; I descend from their sons Mark (Jane Prence) and Joseph (Mary whose maiden name is unknown).

All three tin-glzed earthenware vessels in this display belong to families I descend from. Left to right: Bowl ca 1675-1700 from the Cooke-Thompson family; blue porringer ca 1675-1700 from the Warren family; white salt ca 1640-1700, from the Fuller Family.

I descend from from Mayflower passenger Francis Cooke and his wife Hester Mahieu through their daughter Hester (Richard Wright); Mayflower passenger Richard Warren and his wife Elizabeth Walker through their son Joseph (Priscilla Faunce); Mayflower passenger Samuel Fuller and his wife Bridget Lee through their son Samuel (first wife's name unknown).

Fuller cradle, probably made at Duxbury 1680-1720, made of pine, descended in the family of Samuel Fuller. 

The Warren family napkin. It's quite large! From the Netherlands, ca 1600-1625, linen damask. Linens were a sign of wealth and at a time when forks weren't in use people often ate with their hands.The gallery where this is currently displayed does not allow photography; I took these at a prior visit.

Signatures of owners of the Warren napkin

George Soule drinking gourd and spoon. The spoon is latten brass, made pre-1650 in England.

I descend from Mayflower passenger George Soule and his wife Mary Becket/Bucket through their son John (Rebecca Simmons). 

Howland family teapot  was made in Delft, Holland, between 1686 and 1701. I descend from Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley, through their daughter Ruth (Thomas Cushman) as well as Desire (John Gorham).

Henry Howland's tin-glazed ceramic bowl. Henry was brother to Mayflower passenger John Howland. I descend from Henry's daughter Abigail (John Young).

The Morton family chest, probably made in Plymouth 1650-1700. The photo is blurry but the original design was a bright red tulip with green leaves. 

 

Nathaniel Morton's walking stick ca 1650-1700 England.

George Morton and his wife Julianna Carpenter came to Plymouth in 1623 through four of their children: Nathaniel (Lydia Cooper), Patience (John Faunce), Sarah (George Bonham) and Ephraim (Ann Cooper). 

Mayflower passenger Peter Brown/Browne's wood tankard, ca 1610-1650 from the Baltic region. I descend from Peter and Mary's (maiden name unknown) daughter Mary who married Ephraim Tinkham.

If you descend from the same people, you can use the search function to find sketches I've written on many of them.