Here's a copy of what Ike did in 1980 on Degory Priest (a Mayflower settler) - minus the cute little drawing of the Mayflower on the cover!! It was pretty faded, but I think its a good copy of the original. It doesn't spell out our connection (of Tippetts genealogy) to Degory Priest.

I have in my mind that our connection is through the Perry line, and I thought it was in an Ensign article I read years ago about Elder (Tom) Perry. But I looked up a couple of articles where Elder Perry's genealogy is given and didn't find any reference to Degory Priest. I also googled Gustavus Adolphus Perry - and didn't find any connection there. Haven't done any research on it through family search - though - has anyone in the family already done that??

Jean Timiney

DEGORY PRIEST’S VOYAGE TO AMERICA
By Isaac Tippetts
December 1, 1980
Degory Priest was born in 1579/80 in London, England. “He is credited as one of the Layden contingent, although he was originally called a “Hatter” from London in the Layden records.” He was married on November 4, 1611 to Sarah Allerton, widow of John Vincent of London, who apparently died on that same day. Sarah Allerton is the sister of Isaac Allerton who also traveled in the Mayflower and signed the Mayflower compact. On November 16, 1615, Mr. Priest was admitted a citizen of Layden, being one of only three of the Pilgrim community who attained that status. The two others who were also from Layden were William Bradford and Isaac Allerton. William Bradford outlived Degory Priest and was elected Governor of the pilgrim colony. Degory Priest’s wife and two daughters, Mary and Sarah did not accompany him on the Mayflower.
Soon the dock at Southampton in England was filled with people. Some, like William Mullins and John Billington, had brought their families, others like Degory Priest, had come alone.
Most of the Separatists were going to America for religious reasons. King James’ law said that the Englishmen could meet to worship God in his church, and the rules of the church were made by the King. The Separatists didn’t choose to obey the King’s rules, nor did they want to attend his church. Instead, they chose their own religious leader, William Brewster, and they met with him secretly. King James didn’t like what the people were doing and he had the Separatist leaders put in jail. After much more religious persecution the separatists left England illegally to settle in Amsterdam and Layden, Holland, where Degory Priest could have joined the group. The one hundred and twenty-five separatists practiced their religion peacefully there until they heard talk that Spain was going to declare war on Holland. They knew that they wouldn’t be allowed to practice their religion if Holland were to be taken over by Spain, the King of Spain was Catholic. The people then decided to go to that new land called America.

About one hundred separatists said that they would go to America if a way to get there could be found. Finally, they found some English businessmen who would agree to become their partners to help them get to America. The men hired a strong and sturdy ship called the Mayflower. They also bought food and other supplies that the Separatists would need in America. Everything was all set for their voyage, but when it was time to sign the partnership papers, only forty-seven agreed to sign. To make the trip economical there had to be at least one hundred passengers. The businessmen located fifty-five non-Pilgrims who wanted to make the trip to America.
On the morning of September 6, 1620, the perfect wind was blowing to send the Mayflower on its way. There were one hundred and two people aboard the ship. Storms tortured the Mayflower for most of October. They had been at sea for over two months until finally on November 11, they sighted Cape Cod. The women and children wanted to go ashore but the men weren’t ready yet. They were signing the agreement that they had written the night before. The agreement was called the Mayflower Compact. The men talked late into the night the day before. They wanted to have some laws for their new land.

This was a written agreement among the Pilgrim leaders for the establishment of a political community based on the principle of government by mutual consent.

Degory Priest was the twenty-ninth [signer] of what was to be the first Democratic Constitution in America. The Pilgrims had a leader but the other Separatists didn’t, as the men agreed on laws that would be good for all the Separatists and John Carver was chosen to be their first Governor.

Fourteen men went to shore in a small rowboat. Each man was armed with a gun because there was fear they would encounter the wild Indians that they had heard about.

Just as it grew dark the men came out of the woods and rowed back to the Mayflower. They brought bad news to the rest of the people. There wasn’t any fresh water to be found. All the streams and rivers were salty. One of the captain officers named Robert Coppin, pointed out a place on the map called Plymouth. Plymouth had fresh water and a fine harbor. It was about forty-five miles away and the men had to travel through rain and snow to get there. They discovered that it was good for farming and a perfect place for the Pilgrims to build their colony.

There were two rivers and the harbor was deep enough for a ship as big as the Mayflower. The men sailed back to the Mayflower with the good news. This was to be the place for the Pilgrims to live.
On December 16, 1620 the Mayflower entered the harbor at Plymouth. Because of their poor diet many lay sick in bed suffering from colds and high fevers. Six Pilgrims died and never saw their new home.

The Pilgrims started building their town as fast as they could in order to beat the winter storms. They worked through the storms that brought heavy rain and snow. The meeting house was built first to provide a place to sleep while the other nineteen small family houses were being built.

Degory Priest died January 11, 1621 and before the end of the month seven others died of hunger and colds. He never saw the completion of the colony that he had set out to build. He died along with thirty other people who died before the end of February, and he never saw his wife and children again. He was forty-two years of age when he died.

Gregory Priest’s widow remarried in Layden November 13, 1621 to Cuthbert Cuthbertson and the two of them with three children (Samuel Cuthbertson, Mary and Sarah Priest) sailed to Plymouth in 1623 on the “Ann.” There is definitely no record or any likely to be found of Degory Priest having any sons to show that the Priests of Massachusetts could have derived.

The name of Degory Priest, or Priest is common in Devon and Cornwall, England. A family with these names in Lasant Cornwall offers a promising field for investigation as to the earlier origin of this immigrant. Families of this name were living in the parishes of All Hallows the Great, All Hallows on the Wall, St. Augustine, St. Dustan in the west and St. Margaret Fatten in London at the period of the immigration.

Note: I wrote this for a homework assignment in high school. I had heard that we were related to Degory Priest which sparked my interest in the subject. The paper was focused on the experience of Degory Priest and the Mayflower settlers and not on his relationship to us. It would be the final touch if anyone knew the connection.

Ike Tippetts

The following update from Judy via Dan, answers the question.

Judy Tippetts Wray is the 10th great grand daughter of Degory priest. Here is the genealogy line:

Judy Tippetts Wray
Marion Tippetts
Isaac Harrison Tippetts
Heber Chase Tippetts
Amanda Melvina Perry
Gustaphus Adolphus Perry
Abijah Perry Jr.
Abijah Perry
Mercy Swan (Perry)
Mary Pratt (Swan)
Mary Priest (Pratt)
Degory Priest

Another story - after Jean had Erica, mom flew down to Las Vegas to be with Jean and Dad and I (honestly don't remember if Cindy and Dean were there or not) went down to see the baby and bring mom home. You all understand Dad's penchant for getting there ASAP, we didn't stop except for bathroom breaks. We had water and a bag of Fritos.

When we got to Salt Lake I realized I had forgotten my dress clothes so we stopped at DI. Jean was in Young Women I think and had invited me to attend a YW conference there. But this was back when people used up their clothes so they weren't fit to be passed on, but whatever. I looked and looked and finally found a polyester suit that sort of fit (looked funny, never wore it again after that trip!) We finally made dad buy us a meal and we were off again. We made the trip in one day!!! Started about 4:00 am and got there like at 8-9 pm. I know that's where I got my anxiety about getting there ASAP.

I remember when I was probably 14 or 15, I knew mom was working on a sewing project. She had made a dress and it called for a cowl neckline but she didn't like cowl necklines so she put a facing on it and just made a regular neckline. She did a really good job on it.

I would have killed my kids if they walked into my bedroom unannounced like I did that day, but that was the habit. The first thing I saw was mom standing there trying on her dress. She had done such a good job making the neckline perfect, and since cowl necklines didn't have zippers - well the only problem was the neck opening was too small. She tried her best to force her head through the opening, I walked in just at that moment when she was getting frustrated with it and just trying to make it work. I fell on the bed laughing my head off, it looked pretty funny. She got so mad at me, she just said "shut up and get out!!!" I couldn't move. We laughed about it later, but she then had to modify the modification, I don't remember ever seeing her wear that dress after that.

I think this game could teach you to be a better dancer.

http://m.youtube.com/index?client=mv-google&xl=xl_blazer&desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=Lmsu-xjvYCA

From: Shelley Keesler
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:54 PM
To: Judy Wray ; thomas tippetts
Cc: Jean Timiney ; Jim Tippetts ; Dean Tippetts ; Cindy Avery ; Daniel Tippetts ; Michele Corbett
Subject: Re: Grandpa T.s horse

Oh yea, mom had a habit of popping her head up and looking to make sure none of us were within hearing distance, she really tried to keep us from picking up the habits, but some of us still ended up with the family language problem!

Here's one. One time I was with dad, mom and Royal in the Scout. We went over to Dryhead, not sure exactly why, just touring I think. Dad liked to do a lot of 4-wheeling, there are numerous stories about that, but this time he decided to climb a hill that looked quite steep, but that didn't stop him. Mom begged him not to go up but he was bound to do it. She said "then let me and Shelley out." So he stopped and she got out, but stupid me, I stayed in. On up the hill we trudged slowly driving over big and small boulders, the Scout worked pretty hard - my best moments were spent behind Royal as we went up the hill and he was leaning over dad's shoulder - I know you all know what that is like!

It was slow going but we eventually got close to the top. What dad couldn't see from the bottom of the hill was that there was about a 2 foot ledge that he would have to get over to get on top. He hated to do it, pride and all, but he had to back down, I'm sure mom bit her nails all the way. The danger being turning over backwards, he had to ride hard on the break. We got down, I don't know why, it just wasn't our time to die!

New story
Also, the time we got to go to Devil's Canyon as a reward for working hard on the first weeding of the beets. Elaine (boog) McArthur went with me and dad had set up the cattle rack with a couple of mattresses, one on the bed of the truck and the other on boards up on one of the bars of the rack. He had cleverly but braces on the bottom side of the boards so as to hold the boards on the bar. This was all covered by canvas sewn in the shape of the rack, like a tent (primitive camper.)

We were fine and having a great time when suddenly we became vertical in a couple of seconds. I was fairly calm because I knew what was happening, but Boog had eyes the size of dishes. I just told her to hang on to the bar in front of us and curl her toes around the end of the bed. We bounced and jostled to the top of the hill, which we couldn't see and didn't know how long it was. Pretty soon we became horizontal again and the pickup stopped.

Boog and I laid there and I started laughing, then we climbed down and out of the truck. Dad came around to the rear of the truck and said "Why did you let all our gear fall out?" We just looked at him and I started laughing again. In spite of the trip in, we had a great time in the Canyon after we marched down the hill collecting all our pillows and blankets, food, water, etc.
We were able to keep our bed from bouncing out the back flap of the tent

--- On Thu, 7/22/10, thomas tippetts wrote:

From: thomas tippetts
Subject: Re: Grandpa T.s horse
To: "Judy Wray"
Cc: "Jean Timiney" , "Shelley Keesler" , "Jim Tippetts" , "Dean Tippetts" , "Cindy Avery" , "Daniel Tippetts" , "Michele Corbett"
Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 5:21 PM


As far as I know that hat is still in the drain

--Tom


On Jul 22, 2010, at 5:13 PM, Judy Wray wrote:

How many years did he continue to wear the hat after that?
From: thomas tippetts
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:04 PM
To: Judy Wray
Cc: Jean Timiney ; Shelley Keesler ; Jim Tippetts ; Dean Tippetts ; Cindy Avery ; Daniel Tippetts
Subject: Re: Grandpa T.s horse


Michele, you lived a sheltered life across the drain if thats the only outburst you heard. There are some classics.

When I was 5 or 6 dad dropped one wheel of the hay bailer off the edge of that same drain except further upstream. Mom was with us and I learned some new words, but the most vibrant memory was what his new straw hat looked like when he finished. The biggest piece was about 3 inches across

--Tom


On Jul 21, 2010, at 10:24 AM, Judy Wray wrote:

That's it! Funny, but so typical, dad story from Michele, too.

From: Michele
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 9:53 AM
To: Judy Wray
Subject: Re: Grandpa T.s horse

Actually, I remember grandpa's horse. He was a sorrel and his name was *Dee*. Uncle Tuffy and Aunt Peg had a black horse with white stocking feet that was named *Boots*. I can remember *Ridge* and dads horse *Banner*, *Mike*, *Ajazz*. There were a lot of horses that I can't remember their names right off hand. I always loved to ride him cause he was the fastest runner. He never liked the other horses ahead of him. I remember Jay, Tim, Julie, Les and I rode horses all summer long. We would go out into the hills and explore the country side and we would always race back home cause that was when they ran the fastest. I'm surprised that we lived through all our youth. You asked to jot down a story about your dad and this is so funny to me. This just popped into my head and I don't really know why..I don't remember how old I was but I was outside playing in the backyard. Remember the drain that separated our places? Anyway I couldn't see your dad but I believe he was working on a piece of machinery and things weren't going to well. I could hear him getting agitated, by his voice, and then all of a sudden I heard some language come out of his mouth that I had never heard before. It really surprised me cause uncle Marion just never talked like that. It strikes me funny now that I'm older, cause I've been in similar situations. Thank you for the photo's. I had to call tctwest cause this attachment wouldn't open. It had to be installed on my puter. I don't know what I'd do without Scott and tctwest to help me out..Have a great day and I send my love.


From: Judy Wray
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 7:53 AM
To: Michele Corbett
Subject: Grandpa T.s horse

Michele, you remember the picture of Grandpa next to his horse that Grandma took with her "Brownie" camera? We thought for years that that was Boots but my Dad told me shortly before he passed that it wasn't Boots. He said it was Grandpa's favorite horse and it seems to me it was "Rose" or something. Could you ask your dad and let me know? Plus, Jim has challenged us to write down Dad's story by next year so if you think of any good stories about him, or your Dad, let one of us know. Thanks. Love you! I sent you a scan of the picture Jim sent me. One is black and white the other is greyscale, I think.

Dad was famous for the stacks of golf balls he had around the house. Whenever he received a gift or bought new ones he would stack them neatly in a pile to be used at a later date. Whenever he went golfing he would always return with a few extras he’d find in the roughs that were lost by previous golfers so he’d add those to his stash and was really proud of his collection.

My grandson Gary went to Wyoming a couple of times to spend time with Grandpa and I. He became friends with David Rohrer, Peggy’s grandson. Grandpa took them to the golf course to hit a couple of buckets of balls one day and they had so much fun doing that that Grandpa set them up with some wiffle balls and clubs when they got home so they could continue their practice at the house. They spent the rest of the afternoon out in the backyard “practicing”.
The next day at church, Mary Jane Watson came over to me and asked if Dad had been in the backyard hitting golf balls the day before. I told her no, Dad wasn’t but my grandson was. She said they had recovered 8 balls out of their yard alone but thought I’d better check out the alley. After church I asked Gary about it and he admitted him and David had shot ALL of Dad’s stash of golf balls around the neighborhood. The wiffle balls were not near as much fun. We retrieved the balls from Mary Jane and walked around and found all but 6 balls of Dad’s stash in neighbors yards. A few days later Dwight Despain said he’d found two balls in his mother’s yard which is on the north side of 3rd St. The other 4 were never recovered. I hope nobody had any broken windows from them but Gary sure learned a lesson from it.

Grandpa was very unhappy about it but I caught him sitting in his chair just giggling away but really being careful that Gary not catch him laughing about it.

Judy Tippetts Wray