The Standish Family of America

Will dated 7 Mar 1654, By mee, Myles Standish. Further my will is that Marcye Robenson whome I tenderly love for her Grandfathers sacke shall have three pounds in something to goe forward for her two years after my decease which my will is my overseers shall see performed. Further my will is that my servant John Irish Jr have forty shillings more than his covenant which will appeer ujpon the Towne booke always provided that he continew till the time he covenanted bee expired in the ermice of my execquitors or any of them with theire joynt concent.

By mee, Myles Standish March 7th 1655. I give to my sone and heir aparent Alexander Standish all my lands and heire apparent by lawfull decent in Ormistick Borsconge rightington Maudsley Newburrow Crawston and inthe Isl of Man and given to me as right heire by lawful decent but surruptously detained from mee, my great grandfather being a vond or younger brother from the house of Standish of Standish. By mee Myles Standish March 7th 1655. Witnesse by me James Cudworth.

Captain Myles Standish came in the Mayflower in 1620 hired as military commander and defender of the Plymouth Colony. He was accompanied by his wife Rose, who died during the "First Winter". Captain Myles remarried after Rose's death to Barbara Allen who came to Plymouth aboard the "Anne" in 1622. Many Standish descendants believe Barbara was the sister of Rose Standish and probably brought his son Thomas Standish with her from England. Thomas Standish also could have been the child of an earlier marriage as little is known of Capt Myles' earlier life except that he wasa professional military man who served in England and on the continent before being hired by the Plymouth Bay Company. Thomas Standish was not mentioned in the will of Capt Mayles in 3 Oct 1655, only the children of wife Barbarawere mentioned. By that date Thomas Standish was a mature man of considerable estate. He was a founder of Wethersfield,Ct and built the fort and fortificaqtions there before settlement. He had military training, and according to contemporary Wethersfield accounts, a strong physical resemblence to Capt. Myles. Wethersfield setlers believed Thomas Standish was the son of Capt Myles Standish. Thomas being left out of his father's will was not unusua lfor an older child from a previous marriage who had already been well provided for. When Capt. Myles died several of his sons were only in their twenties and obviously in need of a start in life. There was also the influence of their mother,Barbara, who naturally would expect her children to be given an inheritance equal to her stepson's earlier.