The Courtship of Miles Standish

The Courtship of Mles Standish by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Right.. I know not topping your reading queue these days?? Altho,I must admit that it has made a resurgence back into my literary repertoire!

Have you ever considered that drama, romance, and playfulness existed in early Purtian America? Truly, it wasn't always "Black and White" (hahaha) and mostly (in the beginning anyway), we think of the Pilgrims experiencing hardship, survival, and starvation and illness! And they did. That landing in Plimoth, (Yes.. that is not an error), was one filled with anxiety, fear, and a looming sensation that they indeed may not survive the 1st winter. And they weren't wrong; that 1st winter in New England goes down in history as the 6th coldest, most bitter, we Yankees have ever had!

AS I teach this unit to my preK each and every year, o cover the "basics". However, this particular year, I was forced back into my of earlier years having trained to teach high school history, by spotting some titillating books written by Mr.Longfellow, and of course Governor William Bradford himself!(Of Plimoth Plantation- perhaps not on your best seller/must read list.. but once in a while definitely mine!)

About this time each year, I go for my copy of "Of Plimoth Plantation" by Gov. William Bradford. A classic for sure! I so enjoy the quirkiness of the Pilgrim Separatists. (Honestly this was one of my areas of concentration in college!)

These 2 works, (Bradford's and Longfellow's), just re-enforce for me, that life was still LIFE among our puritanical Christians! They are a dry and straight bunch to be sure, but also not devoid of the standards of real daily living and drama!

One story that is fascinating, is the semi-mythical love triangle that we believe has some shred of truth that existed between Capt. Miles Standish, John Alden and Priscilla Mullens. Longfellow, a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla (Mullens)-Alden, (okay, so now you see at least how it all shook out), wrote a fascinating poem during Victorian England that did rip thru the best seller list in London, about the "love affair" between these main Mayflower travel/soul mates.

There weren't many passengers about the Mayflower...around 101-102... depending on if you count the 1 death, (possibly 2), and birth on board the Mayflower during its harrowing journey across the Atlantic. 30 of these were children! Not leaving much in the way of "adult" choices among the singletons!(No Match.com for them.. altho I would LOVE to see some of their profiles had there been! What a spoof!) Some Pilgrims knew each other and some did not. Some were tradesman and others leaving strictly for religious purpose. All looking for a better way of life than that in England!(England being no-so-merry at the time).

Priscilla about 17, traveled with her parents and brother. Mr. Alden was hired as the ship's cooper, and Capt Standish, as the military liaison, as well as exploratory leader. The three did knew not of one another prior to their voyage.

History tells us that after Miles explored the Cape Cod area he and others found a clearing at the mouth of Plymouth Harbor. It was November, and the winds of change were in the air. It was all they could do to stay alive that first miserable winter. The illness' were running rampant and food a scarcity. Capt. Standish lost his wife the day after he set out to explore the coast of Cape Cod.She may have committed suicide due to the fact that the Standish's left their son behind in England to weak to make the crossing.(That's drama in itself for these ultra -religiously fanatical bunch!) That winter however, Priscilla became orphaned, losing her entire family to the hardships of life in New Plimoth. Matter of fact, half of the Pilgrims perished over the winter, (altho not the children ironically), which then really left "Slim-pickings" in choosing a mate for our band of newcomers!

In the Springtime the drama picked itself up.(If that is even possbile!) The snow melted and warmer days were approaching "all around" the settlement! One could say a new "fever" set in among the colonists, "Spring Fever". In March the Pilgrims were visited by the sachem chief, Massasoit. He could speak the King's English... but knew of one better... Squanto.

Squanto had his own drama, having been kidnapped about 10 years prior to the Mayflower arrival, was taken by English and Spanish explorers and brought back to Europe for an indefinite period of time. He learned English, but more importantly to be monotheistic. He managed to get back to America only to find his wife and children, friends and parents dead having suffered the Indian flu.(A white man's disease not immune to the Native American population). A tradgy and drama in of itself. Not long before the Pilgrims had arrived and settled into "the clearing" once inhabited by Squanto's people did Squanto make his reappearance in America. Squanto taught the Pilgrims more than they could ever have bargained for. One of which was how to grow the indispensable crop of Maize/corn. He was truly a God-send to the Pilgrims!And I have come to believe sent as a gift from God to them.

I have a little girl in my classroom this year that is "in love" with Squanto! (HAH- 1st time in 20 years of teaching have I ever seen this! She believes him to be "so handsome"... or "HOT!" And in my wit and humour I snap back with, "Well, Maggie, Ive always been a Miles Standish kinda-girl myself! And apparently so was Priscilla!(at first). (But I doubt, ever Squanto! That would've changed history for sure!!!)

Priscilla Mullens, a now 19 yr orphaned young woman, alone in the new world is portrayed as someone strong, put together, modern-day gal! She was vying for a Plimoth man, a townie we'll say, to come and romance her...any pilgrim gal would! She learned with the best of them how to make corn meal, bake bread, mend and make clothing, you get it.

I only imagine myself, my longing to live in a 350 year old home, (to this day my dream), sitting by the fireside at night, doing my evening chores and sipping my beer or spirited water! (Which apparently Priscilla enjoyed very much!- A girl after my own heart!) In my head, she was the Carrie Bradshaw of Plimoth.(Minus the Jimmy Choo's!) She was great alone... but also waiting for her "Big"! And although she was great, at 19, she was also perfect marrying age in Pilgrim times. And she was looking. There were a few other girls left behind from sick parents as well... but as said the pickings were not that of the rich Harvest they experienced in the Autumn of 1621! There was not a Cornucopia of men and women to choose to spend your life with in New England at that time! (I still challenge that!!!)
She truly was not the Carrie in NYC, but the one of New Plimoth.

Suitors were not in plenitude, and yet the young and attractive Ms. Mullens was I am positive more than pursued!!! Capt Miles Standish who had lost his wife Winter before had taken a strong interest in Priscilla. He was clearly in good shape on paper, (in all ways!) Strong, well-to-do, debonair, heroic, brave. You get it?? Hired as the military liaison to the Pilgrim separatists he was asked to make the voyage and begin new life in the new world. The Pilgrims were a God-fearing folk, they did not know of such things as military protection and strategy... and they certainly did not know what to do if there would've been an Indian uprising!

Capt. Standish to your rescue!(He aways reminds me of the men I tend to get involved with- arrogant James Bond-types, full of themselves and their clout! Surely had vehicles been invented, Capt Standish, would've been in an Astin Martin, or Maybe Range Rover, due to his position!

Mr. John Alden, the young ship's Cooper, happened to be Miles' roommate during those early days. And why not? There was not a lot in the way of new housing... and hey.. 2 single guys bunking in together would solve a few problems! Capt, Standish would go on and on about Priscilla to the young Alden. A fair haired, big eyed, lad who not only made a good beer barrel, but apparently was renowned for his, shall we say, tempered behavior, that most coopers were not known for!(Bet he made a damned good beer too!)

Mr. Alden also had a "thing" for ol' Priscilla! But like most quiet,polite, gentleman types of men, thought how will I ever out due Capt. Miles Standish??

The reality, is that John, had the one thing that Miles did not. And that was the art of how to communicate with Priscilla! It is joked that Miles couldn't really "speak"! He had trouble voicing his concerns, or affection or anything else... and other accounts claim that Priscilla never could understand him due to the dialect. (As he was like from our version of The Bronx or Jersey, and she from Manhattan!)( I'd prefer to think he was just too damn smug, arrogant and narcissistic for Priscilla!) She and John however, happened to be raised very close to one another and so DID understand one another, and could very much exchange the Language of Love!

One day Miles had made his mind up that he would ask Priscilla for her hand. A moment every Pilgrim girl I'm sure "Dreamed" of! But alas, no Cinderella /Barbie Dream Wedding to rival the Kardsashians... No-Remember these people didn't even celebrate Christmas! (Well in a fun way... anyway!)You think weddings were big?? God No-
If celebration was not a formality in the Bible.. then it wasn't in Puritan times either!!!

Miles however , for whatever reason, was not about to ask her himself. (AW.. too bad email hadn't been invented yet...she could have least witnessed his wordsmithing intelligence.) He copped out- as many men do, and he sent John Alden over to Priscilla's to do the deed! (And here's where it gets good!)

Upon hearing the question uttered by Mr. Alden, the independent-minded woman utters one of the most famous retorts ever: "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" At this moment the Love triangle takes hold.. and Priscilla and John engage in a secret relationship while Standish is off fighting Indians. It is reported that he is dead... and John and Priscilla may now wed!

( I Love that part.. it always reminds me of when I decided that Paul McCartney was not really the Beatle I actually dug!)

And then... Miles returns... dunt, dunt, dunt, dunt!!!!!

John and Priscilla Alden go on to produce 10 living children...obviously SOME fun DID happen in ol' Plimoth Between the roped beds, and stiff, (at um), black and white attire! (Or at least the Beer was mighty good!) And Miles? He got remarried to "Barbara", his deceased wife's sister, that same year and they went on to have 7 children. The Aldens and The Standish's mended their fences and went on to found the town of Duxbury, Ma.

And they all lived Happily ever after... Or at least until the Salem Witch Trials!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Dawn M. Grinnell,
Direct Descendant of John and Priscilla Alden