Wednesday, November 27, 1996
THANKSGIVING:
Holiday celebration special for descendants of PilgrimsBy Toni
Dimayuga
Daily Bruin Contributor
A highly anticipated holiday for many Americans, Thanksgiving
means more than turkey and a four-day weekend for some people.
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California
 as the name implies  is composed of members whose
ancestry traces back to passengers on the Mayflower in 1620, said
Pat Ansite, state education and public relations chairman of the
society.
The organization began in 1897, when a small group met in
Plymouth, Mass., to record their ancestry and establish The General
Society of Mayflower Descendants. Since then, individual states
have established their own chapters.
Approximately 25 million people can trace their genealogy back
to one of the 26 families who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in
1621, yet only 25,000 people have documented their ancestry. In
California alone there are 16 "colonies," with 200 members in the
Los Angeles area, Ansite explained.
To be eligible for society membership, one must provide
sufficient evidence of his or her line of descent, such as birth
and marriage certificates, wills and census records.
Ansite explained that each colony holds four meetings a year,
and each state holds one meeting a year. In addition, every three
years, delegates from each colony flock to Plymouth to attend the
Mayflower Congress, a major gathering of the entire society.
The meetings usually consist of programs dealing with early
American history and includes a reading of the Mayflower Compact,
the governing contract drawn by the settlers. The November meetings
are different; since it is Thanksgiving month, the Compact is the
topic of discussion.
Not a very publicized organization, those who are aware of the
society are usually people who already know their roots or those
with an interest in history or genealogy.
A magazine photograph of a monument dedicated to her ancestor,
Elder William Brewster, motivated Ansite to join the Society.
"After seeing this article that prompted me on getting my papers
ready for the society," Ansite said.
Some members of the society have always been aware of their
Mayflower origins. Besides Ansite, Los Angeles "Colony Governor"
Don Johnson said he had known since childhood.
A UCLA alumnus, Johnson discovered the society at a genealogical
convention hosted by the Southern California Genealogical
Society.
Johnson said that he decided to join the society because he
believed, "it’s important to document (ancestry) not only for
myself, but for my relatives."
As Ansite pointed out, there are thousands of people still
unaware of their Pilgrim origins. Three years ago, Bonnie Whitley’s
husband Edgar discovered her ancestry through his hobby of
genealogy.
Edgar Whitley, through his detective work on the computer, found
his wife was related to Thomas Cushman, the husband of Mary
Allerton Cushman, the last of the original Mayflower passengers to
die.
The revelation caused quite a stir in the Whitley clan.
"Everybody in the family was thunderstruck … it came as a real
surprise and shock," Edgar Whitley recalled.
For Bonnie Whitley, inspiring her grandchildren’s love of
history was the best part about unveiling her heritage.
"The young ones were very happy and excited. … It’s really
very nice because they’re learning about their history," Bonnie
Whitley said.
Being a Mayflower descendant holds very special meanings for
Ansite, Johnson and the Whitleys, especially during Thanksgiving.
For example, the Whitleys read the Mayflower Compact during
Thanksgiving dinner.
"It’s gratifying and interesting from a historical standpoint,"
Bonnie Whitley said.
Johnson said he feels a sense of respect for his ancestors;
however, he emphasized his celebration of Thanksgiving is not
unique as a Mayflower descendant.
"Thanksgiving means something to all people. It dates back to
the pilgrims but it relates to everyone," he said.
Ansite explained her ancestry leads her to reflect on the trials
and tribulations endured by the Pilgrims.
"It causes me to appreciate not only my heritage but my
country," she said.
She added that every Thanksgiving dinner her family tells a
story of how a three-year drought in the original colony led to
strict food rations of five kernels of corn per person per day.
"It causes you to realize that someone paid a price."