John Alden and Priscilla Mullins
TA love story of colonial America
Immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1858 poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish, John Alden's marriage to Priscilla Mullins was one the earliest romances in the American colonies. While the story is not verifiable, many experts do believe it in fact happened.
 Alden and Mullins arrived on the Mayflower in 1630. Shortly thereafter, Standish, "a blunt old captain, a man not of words but of actions," according to Longfellow, took a liking to Mullins, "the loveliest maiden of Plymouth."
However, although Standish was fearless in battle, he was too shy to confront Mullins directly, so he sent his young friend, Alden. The soft-spoken Alden was
"Fair-haired, azure-eyed, with delicate Saxon complexion
Having the dew of his youth, and the beauty thereof. . ."
After Alden had pleaded Standish's case, Mullins said, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" It was clear that Alden and Mullins were in love, but the couple was afraid of offending Standish. When they received word that the captain had been killed fighting Indians, Alden and Mullins agreed to marry. At the end of the wedding, Standish, who had not been killed after all, appeared, and seeing what had transpired, gave the newlyweds his blessing and asked their forgiveness for his previous behavior.
Alden and Mullins had 11 children and were among the founders of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts.
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The Aldens have many distinguished descendants. They include Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and many other well known figures in American history. Although Priscilla was the lone survivor of her family from the Mayflower, she and John were thankful on that first Thanksgiving for God's blessings. Today their descendants are thought to number well over a million of Americans who have looked to God for guidance and served their country well.
Happy Thanksgiving all of you! Be grateful and teach your children well.
Story told in Apostlot, by the Kingdom players, Sunday morning, November 18, 2012
*note: This was Williams' debut with the main characters of Apostelot. (Great job Will!)
What an honor to be able to teach our children about the history of our land.....
ReplyDeletekim
You moved me this morning...showing the children (and T, Andrew and I) how God can work in the lives of faithful people. I was so proud of all of you and left wanting to leave a better world for the children, just like your characters who came to settle America did. It was a good lesson.
ReplyDeleteMom
It appears that you were among many who were moved yesterday by that story. I think the spirit of God was in that place and used this story to speak to the hearts of several who have reached out to Alden since then. I knew it was powerful when I couldn't help but cry each time I rehearsed those lines at home.....Oh, our God is sovereign over this land and His plans will not be thwarted........
ReplyDeleteLove you.
Kim