in the Needham Family
Quite a few notable people have sprung from the Needham line, including Presidents, Pilgrims, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Revolutionary War heroes. Not to mention a few infamous black sheep. The page has grown, so the Presidents & First Ladies now have a page of their own.
| My Mayflower Descent |
|---|
| I have four lines of descent from Mayflower families. The two direct lines spring from William Brewster and Richard Warren. Indirect relationships come from John Howland and Edward Winslow. |
| William Brewster |
| William Brewster, the spiritual leader of the Pilgrims, is my ninth great-grandfather through the descent shown below. William arrived aboard the Mayflower with his wife Mary and his two youngest sons, Love and Wrestling. His wife Mary died in 1627; he lived to be nearly 80 years old, dying in 1644. |
|
Vincent Needham, b. 1959 Harold Needham, b. 1928, m. Eleanor Simmons, b. 1927 Fred Needham, b. 1875, m. Theckla Farrell, b. 1889 Hawley Varnum Needham, b. 1849, m. Catherine Amelia Lowe, b. 1844 George William Needham, b. 1805, m. Risa Loretta Titus, b. 1817 John Needham, b. 1770, m. Betsy Cushing, b. 1774 Thomas Cushing, b. 1747, m. Elizabeth Turner, b. 1747 Benjamin Turner, b. 1698, m. Mercy Turner, b. 1703 (note: Benjamin and Mercy were second cousins, hence the same last name.) Benjamin Turner, b. 1659, m. Elizabeth Hawkins John Turner, b. 1620, m. Mary Brewster, b. 1627 Jonathan Brewster, b. 1593, m. Lucretia Oldham, b. 1600 William Brewster, b. about 1566, m. Mary, b. about 1568 |
| Richard Warren |
|---|
| Richard Warren seems to have been a merchant adventurer from London who joined the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. He arrived alone; his wife, Elizabeth, arriving in Plymouth on the Anne in 1623 with the couples' daughters. Though Richard would only survive to 1628, his family prospered and the Warrens became numerous. Richard is also one of my ninth great-grandfathers. |
|
Vincent Needham, b. 1959 Harold Needham, b. 1928, m. Eleanor Simmons, b. 1927 Fred Needham, b. 1875, m. Theckla Farrell, b. 1889 Hawley Varnum Needham, b. 1849, m. Catherine Amelia Lowe, b. 1844 George William Needham, b. 1805, m. Risa Loretta Titus, b. 1817 John Needham, b. 1770, m. Betsy Cushing, b. 1774 Thomas Cushing, b. 1747, m. Elizabeth Turner, b. 1747 Hezekiah Cushing, b. 1703, m. Lydia Jones, b. 1706 Thomas Jones, b. 1679, m. Catherine Caswell, b. abt 1681 Joseph Jones, b. unkown, m. Patience Little, b. abt 1639 Thomas Little, b. unkown, m. Anna Warren, b. abt 1612 Richard Warren, b. abt 1578, m. Elizabeth Walker, b. bef 1583 |
| John Howland | |
|---|---|
|
John Howland came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor
John Carver. Howland is notable for having fallen overboard during a storm, very
nearly being lost at sea. John married
Elizabeth Tilley, who also arrived on the Mayflower with her parents,
who did not survive the first winter.
Two of John's brothers, Henry and Arthur, also emigrated to New England and established considerable family lines of their own. I am directly descended from Arthur, making Pilgrim John my 11th great uncle. Our common ancestor is the brothers' father, Henry Howland, my 11th great grandfather. | |
| Henry Howland | |
|
Arthur Howland Deborah Howland Hassadiah Smith Deborah Russel Dorothy Allen Benjamin Wilcox Hannah Wilcox Absalom Smith Elsie Aquilla Smith Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred Needham Harold Needham Vincent Needham |
John Howland |
| Edward Winslow | |
|---|---|
|
Edward Winslow arrived aboard the Mayflower with his wife Elizabeth.
She died the first winter, and Edward remarried to the widowed
Susanna White,
another Mayflower passenger, in the first marriage at the Plymouth Colony.
Edward eventually became both the colony's governor and its representive to the
home country.
I am directly descended from Kenelm Winslow, Edward's brother, who emigrated in 1629. Our common ancestor is their father, Edward Winslow, my 10th great grandfather. That makes the younger Edward my 10th great uncle. | |
| Edward Winslow | |
|
Kenelm Winslow Kenelm Winslow Edward Winslow Sarah Winslow Nathaniel Whitcomb Margaret Whitcomb Dorcas Ingersoll Risa Loretta Titus Hawley Varnum Needham Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Vincent Needham |
Edward Winslow |
|
John Hart Signer of the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| John Hart was a representative for New Jersey to the Continental Congress, and as such, signed the Declaration of Independence. John Hart is the second cousin, eight times removed of Vincent Needham. Our common ancestor is Ralph Hunt (born about 1613 in London). | |
| Ralph Hunt | |
|
Edward Hunt Edward Hunt Sarah Hunt Elsie Lanning Hannah Wilcox Absalom Smith Elsie Aquilla Smith Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Vincent Needham |
Mary Hunt Edward Hart John Hart |
|
William Floyd Signer of the Declaration of Independence for New York | |
|---|---|
| William Floyd was a representative for New York to the Continental Congress, and as such, signed the Declaration of Independence. William Floyd is the third cousin, six times removed of Vincent Needham. Our common ancestor is Richard Smith (born about 1613 in England), and William Floyd is both brother-in-law and a second cousin of General Nathaniel Woodhull (see below). | |
| Richard Smith | |
|
Richard Smith Sarah Smith Hannah Woodhull Hannah Strong Bridget Matthews William Fletcher Lowe Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Vincent Needham |
Jonathan Smith Jonathan Smith Tabitha Smith William Floyd |
|
Nathaniel Woodhull Revolutionary War General | |
|---|---|
| Nathaniel Woodhull was the leader of Long Island's militias. During the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, he was captured by the British. Legend holds that General Woodhull was ordered by his captors to say "God save the King", but in defiance he said "God save us all". This supposedly angered his captors such that one struck him with a saber, inflicting a mortal wound. The legend is unproven, but Woodhull was held aboard one of the infamous British prison ships and did, in fact, die from wounds inflicted during the battle. As noted above, he was the brother-in-law and second cousin of William Floyd. Nathaniel Woodhull is a 6th great uncle of Vincent Needham, and our common ancestor is his father, Nathaniel, born 1693 on Long Island. | |
| Nathaniel Woodhull | |
|
Hannah Woodhull Hannah Strong Bridget Matthews William Fletcher Lowe Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Vincent Needham |
Nathaniel Woodhull |
|
David Matthews Loyalist Mayor of New York, 1776 | |
|---|---|
| One of the black sheep of the family, David Matthews, was the loyalist mayor of New York City in 1776. He was accused of being part of the "Hickey Plot" to assassinate or kidnap General George Washington. He was captured by the patriots, but made his escape to Canada. David Matthews is my 5th great uncle. | |
| Vincent Matthews | |
|
James Matthews Bridget Matthews William Fletcher Lowe Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Harold Vincent Needham II |
David Matthews |
|
Pat Roberts US Senator for Kansas | |
|---|---|
| Charles Patrick "Pat" Roberts is currently a United States Senator for Kansas. Pat Roberts is my third cousin by way of my great-great-grandfather George William Needham and the Oskaloosa branch of the family. | |
| George William Needham | |
|
Hawley Varnum Needham Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Harold Vincent Needham II |
Charles Fitch Needham Daisy May Needham Charles Wesley "Wes" Roberts Patrick "Pat" Roberts |
|
The Bordens: Gail & Lizzie Inventor & Alleged Axe Killer | |
|---|---|
The famous and the infamous combine in the Borden family. Gail Borden is
the founder of the famous dairy emblemized by
Elsie the Cow. Lizzie, on
the other hand, stands accused by a nursery rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe | |
| Gail Borden | |
| Gail Borden is the inventor of condensed milk and founder of the Borden company. Our common ancestor is Richard Borden, an early immigrant to Rhode Island. Gail Borden is my 4th cousin 7 times removed. | |
| Richard Borden | |
|
Mary Borden Hannah Cook Daniel Wilcox William Wilcox Benjamin Wilcox Hannah Wilcox Absalom Smith Elsie Aquilla Smith Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Harold Vincent Needham II |
John Borden John Borden John Borden Gail Borden Gail Borden |
| Lizzie Borden | |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Andrew Borden, better known as Lizzie, was accused of the brutal axe murder of her parents. While she was acquitted, the case continues to enthrall mystery lovers to this day. Lizzie Borden is my 7th cousin, 4 times removed, also though the immigrant Richard Borden. | |
| Richard Borden | |
|
Mary Borden Hannah Cook Daniel Wilcox William Wilcox Benjamin Wilcox Hannah Wilcox Absalom Smith Elsie Aquilla Smith Catherine Amelia Lowe Fred L. Needham Harold Vincent Needham Harold Vincent Needham II |
John Borden Richard Borden Thomas Borden Richard Borden Abraham Bowen Borden Andrew Jackson Borden Elizabeth Andrew Borden |
