Mary Brewster

Mary Brewster (ca. 1569 – April 17, 1627) was a Pilgrim and one of the women on the Mayflower. She was the wife of Elder William Brewster and the mother of six of his children (one of whom died in infancy and another of whom, Wrestling Brewster, never married). She is an ancestor of possibly millions of people living in America today.

Mary married John Simkinson and had two children. He died shortly, leaving Mary a widow. The widowed Mary later married a man named William Brewster in 1589. They had six children; Jonathan, Patience Prence, Fear Allerton, Love, and unnamed child(she died too early to be given a name), and Wrestling. They lived as a family in Holland until Mary and William decided to leave, and find a place of peace with other members of their church. Love and Wrestling were the only two children who went with Mary and William on the voyage(a good 31 years after their marriage). The other children followed on other ships. Mary was 51 when the voyage began. Mary was one of the only four women to survive the first winter. She survived long enough to cook the first thanksgiving.

Mary’s husband was the patriarch for the pilgrims. He was their Ruling Elder from 1609 to 1644(the year he died). In fact, his gravestone reads: “In Memoriam Elder William Brewster Patriarch of the Pilgrims And Their Ruling Elder 1609-1644 Outstanding Leader of Pilgrim Movement…”

There is a lot of speculation over Mary Brewster's maiden name. She is believed to have been born in Scrooby, England, and to have married Brewster about 1591. Her name is often given as Mary Love Wentworth, Mary Love Brewster, Mary Love, Mary (Mayflower) Brewster, or Mary Wyrral. She has been suggested as the daughter of Thomas Wentworth and Alice Gascoigne.