I recently viewed a program on TV and I thought I understood them to say that the Beam of The Mayflower was incorporated into the building of a Home perhaps in New England. Can any share any information on my question. I am a descendent of Stephen Hopkins. Thanks & God Bless, Priscilla

Hi Priscilla and all, From: <PPaul888@aol.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 1:33 PM > I recently viewed a program on TV and I thought I understood them to say that > the Beam of The Mayflower was incorporated into the building of a Home > perhaps in New England. Can any share any information on my question. I am a > descendent of Stephen Hopkins. There is evidently a local legend that parts of the Mayflower were used in a barn in Jordans, England. Perhaps that is what the program mentioned. But that legend is without proof. What happened to the wood of the Mayflower is unknown. The best history of the Mayflower was written by J. W. Horrocks in a series of five articles titled, "The 'Mayflower' ", in vol VIII (1922) of The Mariner's Mirror. (They cover about 40 pages and discuss the Mayflower before and after she carried the pilgrims.) She was apparently scrapped sometime after her return to England. Mr. Horrocks writes (p. 140): "On the 26th of May, 1624, an application was preferred to the High Court of Admiralty, on behalf of Robert Child, John Moore, and the widow of Christopher Jones, described as owners of three fourth parts of the _Mayflower_, for an appraisement of the ship, on the ground that she was 'in ruinis' (H.C.A. Acts, 30/227)." The appraised value was about 128 pounds. However, it is not known what happened to the wood after that. (Also, see: http://members.aol.com/calebj/ship.html ) Mr. Horrocks discusses the barn at Jordans conjecture and in my opinion completely debunks it. At the very least, he shows it is unproven. His conclusion (p. 359) in part states: "Neither the evidence of the barn itself nor that of the documents so far examined and produced nor the combination of these seems to me to warrant a decided verdict on the Jordans case. ... But it is only a vigorous Will to Believe that can regard the case as proven. In point of fact, not one of the necessary connecting links has been established..." It is unfortunate that this well-done article is not more widely known and read. Regards, Howard hswain@ix.netcom.com