Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous and glamorous stars of the 20th century, known for her beauty, charisma and tragic death. But did you know that she also had a connection to one of the first settlers of America, John Alden?
John Alden was a crew member on the Mayflower, the ship that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620. He decided to stay in America instead of returning to England with the ship. He married Priscilla Mullins, a fellow passenger who had lost her entire family during the first winter in the New World. They had 11 children who survived to adulthood and became the ancestors of millions of Americans.
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How did Marilyn Monroe descend from John Alden?
According to Ancestry.com, Marilyn Monroe is descended from John Alden through his son Joseph Alden and his daughter Ruth Alden Bass. Ruth married John Bass, who was also a descendant of William Mullins and Priscilla Mullins, making them cousins. Their son Samuel Bass married Ann Savil, and their daughter Ruth Bass married Ebenezer Thayer. Their son Ebenezer Thayer Jr. married Hannah White, and their daughter Hannah Thayer married Solomon Smith. Their son Solomon Smith Jr. married Sarah Hunt, and their daughter Sarah Smith married Daniel Milliken. Their son Daniel Milliken Jr. married Mary Jane Van Dusen, and their daughter Della Mae Milliken married Otis Elmer Monroe. Their son Jasper Newton Monroe married Gladys Pearl Baker, and their daughter Norma Jeane Baker became Marilyn Monroe.
What else do we know about John Alden?
John Alden was not only a barrel maker, but also a leader and a diplomat in the Plymouth Colony. He signed the Mayflower Compact, the first governing document of the colony. He served as an assistant to Governor William Bradford and sometimes acted as governor himself. He was also involved in negotiating with the Native Americans, especially Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag tribe.
John Alden was also immortalized in literature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who was his descendant. Longfellow wrote a poem called “The Courtship of Miles Standish”, which depicted a romantic triangle between John Alden, Priscilla Mullins and Miles Standish, the military leader of the colony. The poem was based on a family tradition that claimed that Standish asked Alden to propose to Priscilla on his behalf, but she rejected him and chose Alden instead. However, there is no historical evidence to support this story.
Who are some other famous descendants of John Alden?
Marilyn Monroe is not the only celebrity who can trace her lineage to John Alden. Some other notable descendants include:
- John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the second and sixth presidents of the United States.
- Orson Welles, the actor and director of Citizen Kane and War of the Worlds.
- Dan Quayle, the vice president under George H.W. Bush.
- Raquel Welch, the actress and sex symbol of the 1960s and 1970s.
- Dick Van Dyke, the actor and comedian of Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
- Julia Child, the chef and author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
- Matt Hasselbeck, the former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst.
Conclusion
Marilyn Monroe may have been a modern icon, but she also had a link to one of the founding fathers of America. Her ancestor John Alden was a brave and influential Pilgrim who helped shape the history and culture of the nation. His legacy lives on in his millions of descendants, some of whom have achieved fame and fortune in their own fields.
