. The ancestors of my children : and other related children of the generations living in the morning of the twentieth century . of Capt. Standish, departed thislife on the 29th of January, 1621. This circumstance ismentioned as an introduction to the following anecdote, whichhas been carefully handed down by tradition : In a very short time after the decease of Mrs. Standish,the Captain was led to think that if he could obtain MissPriscilla Mollins, a daughter of Mr. William Mollins, thebreach in his family would be happily repaired. He there-fore, according to the custom of those times, sent
. The ancestors of my children : and other related children of the generations living in the morning of the twentieth century . of Capt. Standish, departed thislife on the 29th of January, 1621. This circumstance ismentioned as an introduction to the following anecdote, whichhas been carefully handed down by tradition : In a very short time after the decease of Mrs. Standish,the Captain was led to think that if he could obtain MissPriscilla Mollins, a daughter of Mr. William Mollins, thebreach in his family would be happily repaired. He there-fore, according to the custom of those times, sent to ask thepermission of Mr. Mollins to visit his daughter. John Alden,the messenger, w^ent and faithfully communicated the wishesof the Captain. The old gentleman did not object, as hemight have done, on account of the recency of the Captainsbereavement. He said it was perfectly agreeable to him, butthe young lady must be consulted. The damsel was thencalled in, and John Alden arose and in very courteous man-ner, delivered his errand. Miss Mollins listened withrespectful attention, and at last, after a considerable pause,. ?«• ?? JOHN ALDEN^ HOMESTEAD, DUXBURY, MASS. I^INK OF COPKIvAND 57 fixed her e3es upon him and said, * Prythee, John, why doyou not vspeak for yourself ? The account further statesthat thereupon, in much confusion young Alden retired, toextricate himself from his perplexing position, as best hecould. As Longfellow sings it: Into the open air John Alden perplexed and like a man insane, and wandered alone by the seaside. Whatever grains of fact the tradition may have had, Long-fellows song has immortalized it. John Alden and PriscillaMollins were married in 1621 or 2. There seems to havebeen the same neglect, on the part of Alden, as to the pre-servation of this record, as others, concerning himself Children of John and Priscilla (Mollins) Alden: 1. Elizabeth^, born about 1624; married William Paybody of Little Compton, R. I. S
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Keywords: ., bookauthorclarkwil, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1906
