{"id":23681,"date":"2017-07-10T10:52:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T14:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=23681"},"modified":"2021-04-22T13:34:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T17:34:53","slug":"using-the-keyword-mayflower-can-help-you-find-other-pilgrim-descended-cousins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/using-the-keyword-mayflower-can-help-you-find-other-pilgrim-descended-cousins.html","title":{"rendered":"Using the Keyword \u2018Mayflower\u2019 Can Help You Find Other Pilgrim-Descended Cousins"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can trace my lineage back to at least seven Mayflower Pilgrims, meaning I have a lot of American cousins from each of these lines. I enjoy discovering new information about these cousins, and I\u2019ve found that if I search GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> with my Pilgrim ancestor\u2019s name and the keyword \u201cMayflower,\u201d I can usually find articles about other Mayflower descendants that mention our common ancestor.<\/p>\n

One of these Mayflower ancestors is Pilgrim Thomas Rogers<\/span> (1571-1621). So, employing the above tactic, I searched for his first and last name with the keyword \u201cMayflower,\u201d to search for new relatives.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first result of this search was an Evansville Courier and Press<\/em> article about the Indiana Society of Mayflower Descendants that mentioned a fellow Rogers cousin.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana), 19 December 1920, page 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to this article, Edmund J. Rogers was twice a Rogers: he was descended from the Pilgrim Thomas Rogers on his father\u2019s side, and from Captain James Rogers on his mother\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only from Thomas Rogers of the Mayflower could Edmund Rogers trace his descent, but through his mother (also born a Rogers) came Captain James Rogers of the ship Innocence, which cast anchor in Plymouth harbor in 1635.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The article also reports:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1818 he had driven a four-horse team from Damascus, Conn., to Indiana.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Damascus, Connecticut?
\nNever heard of it. I\u2019ll have to look into that.<\/p>\n

The rest of the article tells me more about this cousin\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana), 19 December 1920, page 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edmund began his career as a businessman in 1829, which he continued until he retired in 1870. He then moved to Rockport with his daughter, Celia (Rogers) Laird, who was one of the charter members of the women\u2019s organization the Minerva Club<\/a>. Hmm\u2026 her portrait is on display there \u2013 I\u2019ll have to see if they still have it and request a copy.<\/p>\n

Interested in learning more about Edmund, I next searched for his name in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> with the keyword \u201cRockport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This search led me to Edmund\u2019s death notice, also in the Evansville Courier and Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana), 11 April 1890, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From this article, I learned a little more about his family: his daughter, Celia, was an only child, and Edmund\u2019s grandson, Clarence, was a prominent attorney in Rockport at the time. Edmund died at home with his family at age 90.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip<\/em><\/strong>: Searching for your Pilgrim ancestors in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> with the keyword \u201cMayflower\u201d can help you find new articles that mention other Mayflower descendants \u2013 and help connect you to new branches of your family.<\/p>\n

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