First Generation

1. MYLES(1) STANDISH, b. c.1584, Ellenbane, Isle of Man, England[4] d. 3 Oct 1656, Duxbury, Plymouth Colony @ age abt. 72; m. (1) Rose (--?--), b. England, d. 29 Jan 1620/21, Plymouth Colony; m. (2) c.1623/24, Plymouth Colony, BARBARA (--?--), b. England, d. aft. 6 Oct 1699, Plymouth Colony. He is bur. in Myles Standish Burial Ground, So. Duxbury.

Myles Standish is perhaps the best known and the most famous of all his fellow-passengers, has successfully defied and still defies all efforts to establish his English residence or parentage. The statements in his Will reciting his supposed heirship by remainder in certain specified lands in Lancashire, England practically identifies him as of the Ormskirk branch of the Standish family in that county. His statements that he is the rightful heir of a "second or younger son from the house of Standish of Standish" has been misinterpreted as it does not mean technically of the house of Standish of Standish. There were several district branches of that well-known family in that county and the Standishes of Standish Hall had no estate in the six parishes named by him in his Will. viz- Ormskirke, Burscough, Wrightington, Maudesley, Croston, and Isle of Man.

Although an almost nation-wide search has been made for the record of his baptism and every existing parish register in Lancashire has failed to produce the information in the county where he is said to have been born (Morton, "New England Memorial"), this does not necessarily mean that such a record is non-existant as the author has been given credible information that an English vicar a generation ago told his informant that he had found the record; it was in his possession and that he intended to make it public in a special article. As this plan never materialized the information either died with him or possibly remains among the posthumous paper of the vicar, in possession of his descendants.

It is the belief of the author that Capt. Standish was of London origin or residence in his youth, and in consequence of the possible death of his mother, or that his father died early, leaving him an orphan, and thus without a trade he became a soldier of fortune. Capt. John Smith said that he was "a bred Souldier in Holland" (General Historie:Page 247) and Hubbard amplifies that statement thus: "Captain Standish had been bred a soldier in the Low Countries and never entered the school of Our Savior Christ or of John (the) Baptist, his harbinger." (Ref:History of New England, Page 111) A contemporary writer, who knew Standish personally, has left on record a statement that he was "a quandum drummer", probably meaning that Standish began his military service in Holland as a drummer. (Ref: Morton's New England Canaan; Page 141)

Myles Standish had fought with the English army in Flanders. He became acquainted with the Pilgrims in Leyden, Holland and attached himself to the expedition, although he did not share their religious beliefs and never became a member of the church. His ability and experience led to his prompt selection as military leader, a post he filled with exceptional courage. Enemies called him "Capt. Shrimp" because of his red face and short stature. He came in the "Mayflower" in 1620 along with his wife, Rose, who died 29 Jan 1621. He early became a leading man of the Plymouth Colony. In Feb 1621 at a general meeting to establish military arrangements he was chosen Captain and vested with the command. He conducted all the early expeditions against the Indians, and continued in the military service of the Colony his whole life. He commanded Plymouth Troops which marched against the Naragansetts in 1645, and when hostilities with the Dutch broke out in 1653, he was one of the Council of War of Plymouth and was appointed to command the troops which the Council determined to raise.

He was also prominent in the civil affairs of the Colony. He was many years assistant, that is, one of the Governor's counsel, and when in 1626 it became necessary to send a representative to England to represent the Colonists in their business arrangements with the Merchant Adventurers, he was selected. He went early to live across the bay from Plymouth, in what is now called Duxbury, and the hill rising abruptly from the waters of Plymouth Bay, upon which he built his house and lived the remainder of his life, has been called "Captain's Hill" to this day.[5]


	Standish Family Website \| home First Generation \| Second Generation \| Third Generation \| Fourth Generation \| Related Links \| Contact Us First Generation 1. MYLES(1) STANDISH, b. c.1584, Ellenbane, Isle of Man, England[4] d. 3 Oct 1656, Duxbury, Plymouth Colony @ age abt. 72; m. (1) Rose (--?--), b. England, d. 29 Jan 1620/21, Plymouth Colony; m. (2) c.1623/24, Plymouth Colony, BARBARA (--?--), b. England, d. aft. 6 Oct 1699, Plymouth Colony. He is bur. in Myles Standish Burial Ground, So. Duxbury. Myles Standish is perhaps the best known and the most famous of all his fellow-passengers, has successfully defied and still defies all efforts to establish his English residence or parentage. The statements in his Will reciting his supposed heirship by remainder in certain specified lands in Lancashire, England practically identifies him as of the Ormskirk branch of the Standish family in that county. His statements that he is the rightful heir of a "second or younger son from the house of Standish of Standish" has been misinterpreted as it does not mean technically of the house of Standish of Standish. There were several district branches of that well-known family in that county and the Standishes of Standish Hall had no estate in the six parishes named by him in his Will. viz- Ormskirke, Burscough, Wrightington, Maudesley, Croston, and Isle of Man. Although an almost nation-wide search has been made for the record of his baptism and every existing parish register in Lancashire has failed to produce the information in the county where he is said to have been born (Morton, "New England Memorial"), this does not necessarily mean that such a record is non-existant as the author has been given credible information that an English vicar a generation ago told his informant that he had found the record; it was in his possession and that he intended to make it public in a special article. As this plan never materialized the information either died with him or possibly remains among the posthumous paper of the vicar, in possession of his descendants. It is the belief of the author that Capt. Standish was of London origin or residence in his youth, and in consequence of the possible death of his mother, or that his father died early, leaving him an orphan, and thus without a trade he became a soldier of fortune. Capt. John Smith said that he was "a bred Souldier in Holland" (General Historie:Page 247) and Hubbard amplifies that statement thus: "Captain Standish had been bred a soldier in the Low Countries and never entered the school of Our Savior Christ or of John (the) Baptist, his harbinger." (Ref:History of New England, Page 111) A contemporary writer, who knew Standish personally, has left on record a statement that he was "a quandum drummer", probably meaning that Standish began his military service in Holland as a drummer. (Ref: Morton's New England Canaan; Page 141) [Note: - The author of the foregoing text, Banks, spent the best part of a year in England searching every available clue in all classes of records but without adding anyhthing to our present knowledge.[6] Myles Standish had fought with the English army in Flanders. He became acquainted with the Pilgrims in Leyden, Holland and attached himself to the expedition, although he did not share their religious beliefs and never became a member of the church. His ability and experience led to his prompt selection as military leader, a post he filled with exceptional courage. Enemies called him "Capt. Shrimp" because of his red face and short stature. He came in the "Mayflower" in 1620 along with his wife, Rose, who died 29 Jan 1621. He early became a leading man of the Plymouth Colony. In Feb 1621 at a general meeting to establish military arrangements he was chosen Captain and vested with the command. He conducted all the early expeditions against the Indians, and continued in the military service of the Colony his whole life. He commanded Plymouth Troops which marched against the Naragansetts in 1645, and when hostilities with the Dutch broke out in 1653, he was one of the Council of War of Plymouth and was appointed to command the troops which the Council determined to raise. He was also prominent in the civil affairs of the Colony. He was many years assistant, that is, one of the Governor's counsel, and when in 1626 it became necessary to send a representative to England to represent the Colonists in their business arrangements with the Merchant Adventurers, he was selected. He went early to live across the bay from Plymouth, in what is now called Duxbury, and the hill rising abruptly from the waters of Plymouth Bay, upon which he built his house and lived the remainder of his life, has been called "Captain's Hill" to this day.[5] Children by Barbara: ( Born @ Plymouth Colony [5] ) i Charles(2) Standish, b. c.1624, d. c.1627/28 @ age 3. 2. ii ALEXANDER(2) STANDISH, b. c.1626. iii John(2) Standish, b. c.1627, d. c.1650, Plymouth Colony @ age 23, unm. iv Myles(2) Standish, b. c.1629, d.19 Aug 1661, (lost @ sea off Boston) @ age 32 v Lora(2) Standish, b. aft. 22 May 1627, d. bef. 7 Mar 1655, Plymouth @ abt. age 28, unm.[8] 3. vi Josiah(2) Standish, b. c.1633/34. vii Charles(2) Standish, b. aft. 1634, Duxbury, d. aft. 7 Mar 1655, Duxbury @ age 21, unm.[9] [4] "Mayflower Descendant" Vol. IV, Page 119. [5] "Standishes of America" by Myles Standish (1895) Page 7. [6] "English Ancestry & Home of The Pilgrim Fathers" by Charles E. Banks (1968) Pages 82,83. [7] "Saints & Strangers" by George F. Willison (1945) Page 443. [8] "Mayflowewr Increasings" by Susan E. Roser (1989) Page 123. [9] Ibid: Page 124. Continue For Second Generation