Isaac Allerton
Encyclopedia
Isaac Allerton was one of the original Pilgrim fathers who came on the Mayflower
to settle the Plymouth Colony
in 1620. Allerton is an ancestor to Presidents of the United States
Zachary Taylor
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
He is believed to have been born in London, England, about 1585 or 1586 and was raised to become a tailor
. A religious non-conformist, he apparently followed the Scrooby
exiles to Leiden, Holland as a young man. There he married his first wife, Mary Norris (b. 1590), in November 1611. The couple had three children; Bartholomew, Remember and Mary
.
Accompanying Isaac and Mary on the Mayflower were their three children and a servant boy named John Hooke, who was 14. Allerton's wife and John Hooke died aboard the Mayflower
while it was still anchored in Plymouth Harbor during the first winter, as noted in the death lists. Both were buried in Cole's Hill
. Mary died from the effects of childbirth, after giving birth to a stillborn
son on February 25, 1621. Because of this birth, Mary was the first woman to give birth in the New England Colonies.
Allerton, a Bronx neighborhood, was named in honor of Isaac Allerton.
. These ventures failed, thus leaving his colleagues back in Plymouth saddled with a greatly increased debt. Also, Allerton was asked to bring over trade goods to sell to the natives, however, Allerton brought over retail goods to sell to the colonists and fishermen who came over every year. Later on Allerton did not mark which goods were his and which belonged to the colony. When the goods were unloaded, Allerton took the most expensive items leaving the Plymouth colonists with the cheaper goods. In 1629 Allerton brought Thomas Morton
back to New England
, and allowed him to live in his house; this got the Plymouth colonists very upset. This rendered Allerton permanently persona non grata
in Plymouth.
Bradford wrote: "Mr. Allerton played his own game and ran a course not only to the great wrong and determent of the Plantation... but abused them in England also in prejudice against the Plantation," and later on he wrote "Concerning Mr. Allerton's accounts. They were so large and intricate as they could not well understand them, much less examine and correct them without a great deal of time and help and his own presence, which was hard to get," and also "he screwed up his poor father in law's account".
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
to settle the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
in 1620. Allerton is an ancestor to Presidents of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
He is believed to have been born in London, England, about 1585 or 1586 and was raised to become a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
. A religious non-conformist, he apparently followed the Scrooby
Scrooby
Scrooby is a small village, on the River Ryton and near Bawtry, in the northern part of the English county of Nottinghamshire. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 329. Until 1766, it was on the Great North Road so became a stopping-off point for numerous important figures...
exiles to Leiden, Holland as a young man. There he married his first wife, Mary Norris (b. 1590), in November 1611. The couple had three children; Bartholomew, Remember and Mary
Mary Allerton
Mary Allerton Cushman was the last surviving passenger of the Mayflower. She arrived at Plymouth on the Mayflower when she was about four years old and lived there her entire life; she died aged 83....
.
Accompanying Isaac and Mary on the Mayflower were their three children and a servant boy named John Hooke, who was 14. Allerton's wife and John Hooke died aboard the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
while it was still anchored in Plymouth Harbor during the first winter, as noted in the death lists. Both were buried in Cole's Hill
Cole's Hill
Cole's Hill is a National Historic Landmark containing the first cemetery used by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The hill is located on Carver Street near the foot of Leyden Street and across the street from Plymouth Rock.-History:...
. Mary died from the effects of childbirth, after giving birth to a stillborn
Stillbirth
A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus. The Australian definition specifies that fetal death is termed a stillbirth after 20 weeks gestation or the fetus weighs more than . Once the fetus has died the mother still has contractions and remains undelivered. The term is often used in...
son on February 25, 1621. Because of this birth, Mary was the first woman to give birth in the New England Colonies.
Allerton, a Bronx neighborhood, was named in honor of Isaac Allerton.
Allerton the Businessman
While serving as the colony's business agent, Allerton began many business ventures of his own, relying on the colony's credit for collateralCollateral (finance)
In lending agreements, collateral is a borrower's pledge of specific property to a lender, to secure repayment of a loan.The collateral serves as protection for a lender against a borrower's default - that is, any borrower failing to pay the principal and interest under the terms of a loan obligation...
. These ventures failed, thus leaving his colleagues back in Plymouth saddled with a greatly increased debt. Also, Allerton was asked to bring over trade goods to sell to the natives, however, Allerton brought over retail goods to sell to the colonists and fishermen who came over every year. Later on Allerton did not mark which goods were his and which belonged to the colony. When the goods were unloaded, Allerton took the most expensive items leaving the Plymouth colonists with the cheaper goods. In 1629 Allerton brought Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton may refer to:* Tom Morton , Scottish journalist, author and BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster* Thomas Morton , Bishop of Durham and Chester in the 17th century...
back to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and allowed him to live in his house; this got the Plymouth colonists very upset. This rendered Allerton permanently persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
in Plymouth.
Bradford wrote: "Mr. Allerton played his own game and ran a course not only to the great wrong and determent of the Plantation... but abused them in England also in prejudice against the Plantation," and later on he wrote "Concerning Mr. Allerton's accounts. They were so large and intricate as they could not well understand them, much less examine and correct them without a great deal of time and help and his own presence, which was hard to get," and also "he screwed up his poor father in law's account".