FORE FATHER TO THREE PRESIDENTS AND TWO ACTORS

The story of the Mayflower is known to all.

 

The vessel left England in 1620 for the new land and a new life. One of the passengers was John Holland. History spells he name two ways. Holland and Howland. I shall refer to him as Holland.

 

Holland was 14 years old at the time.

 

The Mayflower was not that large a boat. Large boats were not yet in vogue. The Mayflower was a mere 100 feet long. The wind powered the Mayflower by filling its sails.

 

At one point, the Mayflower engaged strong north Atlantic winter gales. Ferocious storms. Holland was thrown overboard during one of the storms. As he was going over, he grabbed some lose hanging sail ropes. He held onto them for dear life. Eventually he was able to pull himself up and back onto the Mayflower.

 

Holland had looked death in the face and survived.

 

Watching him almost meet his Maker was Elizabeth Tilley. Age 12.  At some time after the Mayflower reached Plymouth Rock, Holland and Tilley married.

 

The Hollands had 10 children. The 10 children produced for the Hollands 82 grandchildren. From that point, the descendants multiplied ad infinitum. They became too numerous to count.

 

The Holland descendants include three Presidents and two actors.  Presidents  Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the two Bushes. The actors Humphrey Bogart and Alec Baldwin.

 

A thoughtful pause. If Holland had not saved himself when he fell overboard, the three Presidents named would not have been. There would be no Social Security today. The Iraqi War would not have occurred. Casablanca might not have been the successful movie it is. 30 Rock might not be the Emmy award winner it is.

 

Holland did save himself and propagate. His blood continued to propagate over the years resulting in the Presidents and actors named. All because he did not die that fateful day.

 

Holland lived a long time. Historians do not know the exact age of his death. They describe it as in excess of 80 years.

 

Holland had a distinction in death. He was the last Plymouth Rock male from the original Mayflower to die. He who almost passed on at 14 outlived them all.