For those in Massachusetts...

My mom's family is from Mass, my mom grew up in Maynard and my aunt currently lives in East Falmouth. We're having a big family reunions in E. Falmouth this summer, and I'm looking for some historical things to pick up for my English MIL who is an historian and keenly interested, specifically, in Suffolk immigrants to the Massachusetts area.

I'm reading "The Winthrop Woman" right now, which is a really interesting read about the Winthrops from Suffolk who came over with the Massachusetts Bay Company...

I'm looking for books or maps that are about the early English settlers, hopefully something about Suffolk folk in particular, and preferably (why I'm asking!) for something published locally (like in a museum?) that my MIL would have no access to here in England.

How's THAT for a request!

Anyway, if you can think of anything interesting, I'd love to hear ideas. I'll be going to the Ply(i)mouth area while I'm there and hope to pick up something there, and maybe some old maps here and there - she loves how many East Anglian names are in Massachusetts. But if anyone has some other ideas of something she may not be able to get here, or even anything related to the Winthrops, I'd love to hear it.

Dear Marlespo,

You've probably already done this, but googling for "Suffolk Settlers Massachusetts" (worldwide, rather than UK only) seems to come up with interesting stuff, for example "Winthrop Fleet Passenger List 1630" at

http://members.aol.com/myself7482/win5.htm

Good luck with your researches, and *do* let us know how it goes!

Howard

Plymouth has a quaint little town center and is loaded with little shops so you'll no doubt find things related to the Landing. There's also Plimouth Plantation (English spelling) open year round that depicts life at that time. Falmouth is further south on Route 28. These areas are considered the South Shore and are located south of Boston. Winthrop is slightly north of Boston and is considered to be on the North Shore. Two different histories altogether. The North Shore towns historically promote the Salem Witch Trials history.....The South Shore towns the Landing at Plymouth Rock.

Our Plymouth (Devon, on the mouth of the River Plym) is spelt the same way as yours, Celtic!  From what little research I've done, it seems that old maps of America spelled yours "Plimoth", as did William Bradford, and the founders of the Museum decided to use this form of the name.

Thanks everyone.
Howard I looked at that web page... it's so interesting because I recognize so many of those names from reading this historical novel about Eliz. Winthrop... the author worked her butt off to keep it historically accurate obviously!

I'll offer up my husband as a guide of Plymouth, UK!  So long as you make it between March 11 and March 22nd! He works for beer.  

It's actually not a bad little place considering it was pretty much flattened during WWII.  They are making moves to make the Mayflower steps area a bit nicer.  The are is definantely interesting little trip to make and a good point for exploring all that related to Naval history.

 

I'll be 9 months pregnant then, so I think I'll pass! lol...

I went to Plymouth Mass a long time ago, my mom is from Mass and we used to go every year, but I haven't been in 8 or 9. I loved it there, and loved the whaling museum in New Bedford, and some other places I'll take David this summer... I'm sure I'll appreciate it all more now that I'm A. older and B. more aware of the English side of things!

God that's right!  I may be in the UK when you give birth!!!  Hee hee! (Plotting......)

So you WILL be posting here mid labor right?

Us March babies are great btw!

I'd love to see Mass, and might get the chance depending on what happens with these Universities.

David and I would *love* to live in Mass, but his job will probably take us back to Detroit... le sigh... one can only hope...

Posting mid-labor? Umm... sure!!!