is
assumption, though he became their "sword-hand" in the New World.
By some writers, though apparently with insufficient warrant,
Standish has been declared a Roman Catholic. It does not appear
that he was ever a communicant of the Pilgrim Church. His family,
moreover, was not of the Roman Catholic faith, and all his conduct
in the colony is inconsistent with the idea that he was of that
belief. Master William White, his wife and son, were of the Leyden
congregation, both husband and wife being among its principal
people, and nearly related to several of the Pilgrim band. The
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. White is duly recorded in Leyden. William
Holbeck and Edward Thompson, Master White's two servants, he
probably took with him from Leyden, as his was a family of means and
position, though they might possibly have been procured at
Southampton. They were apparently passengers in the SPEEDWELL.
Deacon Thomas Blossom and his son were well known as of Pastor
Robinson's flock at Leyden. They returned, moreover, to Holland
from Plymouth, England (where they gave up the voyage), via London.
The father went to New Plymouth ten years later, the son dying
before that time. (See Blossom's letter to Governor Bradford.
Bradford's Letter Book, "Plymouth Church Records," i. 42.) In his
letter dated at Leyden, December 15, 1625, he says: "God hath taken
away my son that was with me in the ship MAYFLOWER when I went back
again."

Edward Tilley (sometimes given the prefix of Master) his wife Ann are
known to have been of the Leyden company. (Bradford's "Historie,"
p. 83.) It is doubtful if their "cousins," Henry Sampson and
Humility Cooper, were of Leyden. They apparently were English
kinsfolk, taken to New England with the Tilleys, very likely joined
them at Southampton and hence were not of the SPEEDWELL'S
passengers. Humility Cooper returned to England after the death of
Tilley and his wife. That Mrs. Tilley's "given name" was Ann is not
positively established, but rests on Bradford's evidence.

John Tilley (who is also sometimes called Master) is reputed a brother of
Edward, and is known to have been--as also his wife--of the Leyden
church (Bradford, Deane's ed. p. 83.) His second wife Bridget Van
der Velde, was evidently of Holland blood, and their marriage