William Mullins

CHILDREN:

NAME	BIRTH	DEATH	MARRIAGE
William	probably Dorking, Surrey, England	12 February 1672, Braintree, MA	(1). name unknown (2). Ann (---) Bell
Sarah	probably Dorking, Surrey, England	after 1621	Mr. Blunden, before 1621
Priscilla	probably Dorking, Surrey, England	between 1650 and 1687	John Alden, c1623, Plymouth
Joseph	probably Dorking, Surrey, England	cir. April 1621	unmarried

ANCESTRAL SUMMARY:

William Mullins does not have any Molyneaux ancestors--one of the most common (and most absurd when you examine the "evidence") claims in all of Mayflower genealogy. He has no proven royal ancestry, no proven Huguenot ancestors, and the names of his parents have never been proven (though John Mullyns and Joane Bridger of Dorking seem to be the best candidates). [Mayflower Descendant 44:41]

Further, the maiden name of his wife Alice is not known. It has not been shown to be Atwood, Poretiers, or any of the other identifications that are floating around. [Mayflower Descendant 44:44].  The identification of her as Alice Atwood is based solely on the fact that William Mullins mentions a "Goodman Woodes" in his will.  That is clearly not enough evidence to make a genealogical connection!  There is no evidence at all to show that Alice was the daughter of Nicholas Atwood of Westminster, Middlesex as claimed by the I.G.I. and Ancestral Files of the Morman church. 

The occasionally published death date of 15 March 1620/1 for Alice is totally absurd--no such record exists.  Alice was alive on April 2, 1621, as evidenced by the will of William Mullins.  No doubt she was also alive three days later on April 5, 1621 when the Mayflower finally set sail--otherwise the will would have been changed.

Will of William Mullins

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY:

William Mullins was a fairly well-to-do shoe and boot dealer from Dorking, Surrey, England.  He purchased a number of shares in the Pilgrims joint-stock company, becoming one of the Merchant Adventurers.  He brought his wife Alice, daughter Priscilla and son Joseph to America on the Mayflower.  Only Priscilla would survive the first winter, however.  William Mullins made out his death-bed will on 21 February 1620/1, in which he mentions his wife Alice, daughter Priscilla, son Joseph, and married children William and Sarah who were still in Dorking.  He also mentions a "Goodman Woodes" who remains unidentified, and a "Master Williamson" which was likely a Dutch pseudonym for William Brewster who was a fugitive at the time (for printing illegal religious pamphlets in Leyden).

SOURCES:

1.  Mayflower Descendant 1:231-232, "The Will of William Mullins"

2.  Mayflower Descendant 7:37,179, "The Estates of William(2) Mullins", by George Bowman

3.  Mayflower Descendant 44:39-44, "The Mullins Family", by Alicia Crane Williams

4.  Mayflower Quarterly 39:83, "William Mullin's Grandchildren in England", by Robert S. Wakefield

5.  Alicia Crane Williams, Families of Pilgrims: John Alden and William Mullins, Mass. Soc. of Mayf. Desc., 1986