Latest Non Fiction Books
In Search of Mayflower Pilgrim Susanna White Winslow
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
Published: 2018
Paperback, 70 pages
Sue Allan’s tenacious pursuit of origins of the Mayflower passengers in England led us from Dorothy May Bradford’s family, to William White’s family in Wisbech, which in turn led to her assembling all the pieces necessary to solve the mystery of the origin of Mayflower passenger Susanna (Jackson) White Winslow – something researchers have been trying to puzzle out for many decades without success. The amazing conclusion that Susanna was the daughter of Richard Jackson of Braithwell (who married in Doncaster and later moved to Scrooby Manor) and who was among those directly tied to John Robinson and William Brewster’s separatist congregation, places this woman in the center of the history of the Pilgrims and the colonization of America. A woman whose maiden name was not even known up until last year, now has a complete biography assembled by Sue Allan that places Susanna in the middle of the entire Pilgrim story.
Sue Allan’s In Search of Mayflower Pilgrim Susanna White-Winslow will inform and inspire all readers of Separatist (Pilgrim) history and especially her descendants. While it is neither dry nor boring, it is thoroughly researched and documented. Her William White and Edward Winslow descendants will equally appreciate the story of their Jackson ancestors. As a family historian and a descendant, I recommend her book and plan to buy multiple copies for my family.– Alan Smith, Governor of the Pilgrim William White Society
This is an easy to read fact-filled book with new information previously unpublished… until now! With each page read, it was if you were present on the journey sifting through records and mentally visualizing their lives. This find is exciting for many family societies and rekindled the flame to search for more. When new lines are discovered, it is a special event. This publication is a monumental event!– John Joseph White- Historian, Winslow Heritage Society.
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
Published: 2020
Paperback
William Bradford, Mayflower passenger, was not just the long-serving and most influential Governor of the Plymouth Colony. His famous handwritten manuscript, Of Plymouth Plantation, has also preserved its history in magnificent detail. While Bradford recorded and preserved the historical record of Plymouth and its people, he rarely wrote about himself and he failed to preserve a record of his own history and background. While a brief biography was assembled by Rev. Cotton Mather in 1702, and a genealogical analysis of the Bradfords of Austerfield was assembled in the 19th century, there has been astonishingly little modern scholarship on Bradford’s origins and development.
In this latest volume of Sue Allan’s In Search Of series, she undertakes to remedy this major oversight, delving into records of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire, and assembling those with her recent discoveries on the Jacksons, Mays, Southworths, and other local families. She uses those to paint the most plausible picture of Bradford’s youth and upbringing: never before have the interrelationships between the Bradford family, and those of the Scrooby separatist congregation, been assembled. Where was Bradford educated? Which uncles did he live with after his parents’ and grandparents’ deaths? What was his family’s religious leaning? How did he become associated with the Scrooby separatists? Sue’s diligent and thorough research has brought answers to these and many other previously unanswered questions."
Caleb Johnson, Mayflower Historian and founder of mayflowerhistory.com
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
In the Shadow of Men
In Search of Governor William Bradford of Austerfield
In the Shadow of Men
Published: 2020
Paperback, 106 Pages
How has it come to pass that when retelling the story of one of the most iconic events in early colonial American history, the women involved have almost disappeared into the shadow of men?
Of the one-hundred-and-two passengers aboard the Mayflower during its momentous voyage of 1620, eighteen were adult women and all were married. Out of these, only four would remain alive to witness the event that has come to be known as the first Thanksgiving the following year. Disturbingly, until very recently we knew almost nothing about the lives of these gutsy women before that fateful voyage: where they were born, or even their maiden names.
The focus of this work is, firstly, to throw light upon the lives and struggles of all English women of that era in general. Secondly, in this same work, to then concentrate on understanding the background of those aboard the Mayflower who were Separatists. By doing so, I hope to bring readers a better understanding of the circumstances under which these particular women each came to their own faith and the important role that they played in the Separatist movement as a whole.
"An important book that delves into the neglected study of the lives and contributions of the women who helped shape the Pilgrim congregation and the Plymouth colony.”
Dr. Francis J. Bremer, author of One Small Candle: The Plymouth Puritans and the Beginnings of English New England (2020)
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
Earlier Titles
In Search of Scrooby Manor
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
William Brewster - The Making of a Pilgrim
Published: 2014
Paperback, 85 pages
The revered name of William Brewster takes center stage in the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Many Americans proudly trace their descent from this great man and yet very few know the name of his clergyman brother James, the Brewster who stayed behind in England.
In 1584, Archbishop Sandys appointed the Cambridge educated James Brewster to the position of Master of the Hospital Chapel of Mary Magdalene near Bawtry. Within a few short years Sandys would be dead and Brewster would be embroiled in a bitter court case accused for his part in misappropriating this Church property for his own enrichment. Historians would label James as a would-be thief and quarrelsome drunkard thus casting a stain upon his character for centuries to come.
Therefore on the scant occasions when mention is made that William Brewster had a brother, it is only ever in passing and never at length, lest the deeds of the one taint the other. And yet was James Brewster deserving of his sordid reputation?
In this book Sue Allan tells the reader more about James Brewster’s life and more importantly about the political and religious backdrop against which the Hospital Chapel affair ran its course. The author trusts that readers will come to their own conclusion as to the truth of the matter and the character of the man.
Also contains valuable the Morton family of Bawtry.
SEE ASSOCIATED VIDEO
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
William Brewster - The Making of a Pilgrim
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
William Brewster - The Making of a Pilgrim
Published: 2016
Paperback 116 pages
"Sue Allan is the official historian of Scrooby Manor, the home where William Brewster grew up and where he served for a time as postmaster. While Brewster is often relegated to the background in the story of the Pilgrims and Plymouth, taking a secondary place to William Brad- ford, Miles Standish and others, he played a critical role in the story that leads to New England. The protector of the separatist congregation that worshiped in Scrooby, Brewster helped to plan the emigration to the Netherlands, the relocation in Leiden, and ultimately the settlement of Plym- outh. But his most important role was as a lay elder to the congregation and the spiritual leader of the Plymouth congregation for most of its early history. Indeed, he epitomized how lay believers helped shape and lead the puritan movement.
Sue Allan has written an important book which focuses on Brewster’s upbringing, life, and career up to the point where he became a puritan sep- aratist in Scrooby. Much of the Brewster family history is uncertain due to a lack of critical records. Allan both includes the text of many of the re- cords that do remain and provides a judicious analysis of them, offering in- formed judgments as to how she thinks they should be interpreted. This is particularly true with her assessment of the character of Brewster’s father. Along the way she presents some records that have been previously missed or ignored. The short study is particularly useful in analyzing William’s relationship to Sir William Davison, the Eliza-bethan envoy and eventually Secretary of State whom Brewster served following his time at Cambridge. Allan sees Davison as having an important role in shaping Brewster’s re- formed religious outlook.
The book is well written and the primary source excerpts are well integrated.
Dr. Francis J. Bremer is History Professor Emeritus at Millersville University and Editor of The Winthrop Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Review published in 'Mayflower Journal 'Fall 2016 Edition .
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
Published: 2014
Paperback, 85 Pages
The revered name of William Brewster takes center stage in the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Many Americans proudly trace their descent from this great man and yet very few know the name of his clergyman brother James, the Brewster who stayed behind in England.
In 1584, Archbishop Sandys appointed the Cambridge educated James Brewster to the position of Master of the Hospital Chapel of Mary Magdalene near Bawtry. Within a few short years Sandys would be dead and Brewster would be embroiled in a bitter court case accused for his part in misappropriating this Church property for his own enrichment. Historians would label James as a would-be thief and quarrelsome drunkard thus casting a stain upon his character for centuries to come.
Therefore on the scant occasions when mention is made that William Brewster had a brother, it is only ever in passing and never at length, lest the deeds of the one taint the other. And yet was James Brewster deserving of his sordid reputation?
In this book Sue Allan tells the reader more about James Brewster’s life and more importantly about the political and religious backdrop against which the Hospital Chapel affair ran its course. The author trusts that readers will come to their own conclusion as to the truth of the matter and the character of the man.
Also includes valuable insight into the Morton family of Bawtry.
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
In Search of Edward Southworth of Leiden
In Search of Edward Southworth of Leiden
James Brewster, Bawtry Chapel & a Trybe of Wicked People
Published: 2019
Paperback, 64 Pages
In this new work, Sue Allan presents significant research that disputes Samuel Webber’s early study of the origins of the Southworth line in America. The claim that Constant and Thomas, sons of Edward and Alice Carpenter Southworth, descend from the Samlesbury Southworths can no longer be upheld. The evidence she presents is compelling and sheds light on many of the Bradford, Southworth and other connections.
Sue’s traditional approach — hard work, diligence, hands-on research, and logical thinking — is refreshing and admirable in this internet age.
Doris Wheeler, Genealogist and project administrator of the Southworth-Southard DNA Project.
Available in US from NEHGS Bookstore www.americanancestors.org
In Search of the Mayflower Trail
In Search of Edward Southworth of Leiden
In Search of the Mayflower Trail
.jpg/:/cr=t:2.83%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:94.34%25/rs=w:388,h:194,cg:true)
Published: 2018
In Search of the Mayflower Trail is not intended to be a book about the Mayflower Pilgrims – or Separatists, as they were known before the voyage to America.
Instead, this book has been written as a reference companion for those who are already familiar with the Separatists saga – but who are perhaps not so familiar with the places that feature in it.
This book sets out to illuminate those villages, towns and buildings in the three counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, that played major roles in their odyssey. These are places that many of the Separatists would have once known as home.
Out of print