Solomon Prower (abt. 1596 - 1620)

Born about 1596 in Great Burstead, Billericay, Essex, England

Died 24 Dec 1620 at about age 24 in Plymouth

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Biography

Solomon Prower, born about 1596,^[1] was the son of Marie (____) and probably Edward Prower of Great Burstead, Essex.^[2]

Solomon's mother married Christopher Martin 26 Feb 1606/7.^[3]

On Sunday night, 15 Sep 1619, Solomon Prower, singleman, was on King's Watch, when he attempted to apprehend John Paprell, blacksmith, who was drunk. John said "he cared neither for the Kings Majesty nor for such Jack-an-Apes slaves as Solomon Prower. Paprell was charged with breaking the peace.^[4]

3 March 1619/20 from the Archidiaconal Registry of Chelmsford: Solomon Prower (of Billericay) was cited for refusing to answer William Pease (Vicar of Bursted Magna) "at all (at Catechising), unless I would ask him some questions in some other Catechisme." On the same day "Christopher Martin (of Billericay) for suffering his sonne to answer me ... that his father gave him his name." Then in April, Solomon returned to the Archdeaconry Court, to object stating he "did answer Mr. Pease the vicar when he asked him who gave him his name: he answered him he did not knowe because his father was dead and he did not knowe his godfathers..." ^[5][6]

Salomon Prower, servant of Christopher Martin, sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. He "dyed in the first infection not long after the arivall." ^[7]

24 Dec 1620. "Lord's day ... And this day Dies Solomon Martin the sixth and last who Dies this Month." ^[8] Solomon died during the "first sickness" and was buried on Cole's Hill

There are other dates that are seen for his death: 21 Dec 1620 and 3 Jan 1621. The above date is sourced.

Why didn't Solomon sign the compact? "... and every male passenger who did not sign it was either a minor or a servant under some form of contract which undoubtedly did not leave him free to sign or which made his signature unnecessary.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ [http://mayflowerhistory.com/prower-mary Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History.com "Mary (Prower) Martin."
2. ↑ Johnson, Caleb. "Undiscovered Mayflower Lineages." American Ancestors Magazine 11.4 p. 36 (2010) Cites Mayflower Quarterly Sept 2010. Link at AmericanAncestors ($)
3. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004). "Christopher Martin p. 315
4. ↑ Johnson, Caleb H. "Solomon Prower: New Information on a Little-Known Mayflower Passenger" The Mayflower Quarterly 76:242, 243 Sep 2010 citing Essex Records Office Quarter Session Q/SR 226/73 and 226/110
5. ↑ "Christopher Martin and his Servant Solomon Prower" New England Historical and Genealogical Register 21:77 (1867) link Google
6. ↑ Johnson: Solomon Prower: New Information ... citing Essex Records Office Archdeaconry Records D/AEA 31 folio 266, 266d and 279d
7. ↑ Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation. Boston, 1856 pp 448, 452.
8. ↑ Prince, Thomas. A chronological history of New-England in the form of annals : being a summary and exact account of the most material transactions and occurrences relating to this country, in the order of time wherein they happened, from the discovery by Capt. Gosnold in 1602, to the arrival of Governor Belcher, in 1730 : with an introduction, containing a brief epitome of ... events abroad, from the creation, including ... the gradual discoveries of America, and the progress of the Reformation to the discovery of New-England (Boston : N.E., Printed by Kneeland & Green for S. Gerrish, 1736) p. 80 Cites Bradford's Pocket Book.
9. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest, 1860-1941. The Mayflower Compact And Its Signers: With Facsimiles And a List of the Mayflower Passengers. (Boston, Mass.: Massachusetts society of Mayflower descendants, 1920.) p. 18

• Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation (Massachusetts Historical Society, 1856) p. 448 "Mr. Christopher Martin, and his wife, and 2 servants, Salomon Prower and John Langemore." p. 452 "Mr. Martin, he & all his, dyed in the first infection not long after the arivall."
• Bradford, William, 1590-1657. Of Plimoth Plantation: manuscript, 1630-1650. State Library of Massachusetts "List of Mayflower Passengers." In Bradford's Hand.
• Mayflower Society - Passengers Who Died With No Known Descent