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Celiac On The Mayflower? It's Possibe!

celiachap

By celiachap
in Publications & Publicity

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celiachap Apprentice
celiachap
Posted

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Was "Pilgrim" John Howland a Celiac?

During fierce storms on the journey to New England, the Mayflower passengers were obliged to stay below deck, for safety. For some reason, a young passenger named John Howland left the hull, came above deck, fell overboard, and was rescued. My theory is that he had Celiac and the toilet provisions below deck were unsuitable, so he decided to just hang over the side of the ship - which was not unheard of back then. He’s one of my Mayflower ancestors – a 9th great grandfather, and I know that I would have had trouble staying below for very long as an undiagnosed Celiac. Howland is also an ancestor to G.W. Bush and many others (see last link below).

Here is Pilgrim William Bradford's account of Howland's ordeal, in his History Of Plymouth Plantation:

“In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce, and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull, for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a mighty storm, a lusty young man (called John Howland) coming upon some occasion above the gratings, was, with a seele of the ship thrown into the sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard, and ran out at length; yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again, and his life saved; and though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth.” William Bradford, in his History Of Plymouth Plantation.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

“John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington. He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor John Carver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard during a storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions of descendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of the topsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with a boathook.”

An imaginary "interview" with Pilgrim John Howland:

Open Original Shared Link

Some Famous Descendants of Mayflower Passengers:

Open Original Shared Link

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Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

Oh my God! That is awesome! Have a great holiday! B

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

Wow thanks for sharing that...very interesting.

Happy Thanksgiving :D

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Wow! Way cool!! Thanks for that :)

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