Editor,
This is in response to Jerry Emmanuel’s letter “Thanks for the memory” in the Nov. 28 edition of the Daily Journal. In this piece, he claims that the Mayflower “must have been a lot larger than the Titanic” for it to be possible that 10 million Americans are descendants of the Pilgrims.
First of all, it is a well-documented and proven historical fact that the Mayflower only carried about 102 passengers, half of whom died during their fist year in America. This is a far cry from the Titanic’s maximum load of 3,547.
Secondly, it is a little bit of basic math (16 generations to the power of three equals 43,046,721) indeed shows that it is at least possible that 24 men and their wives could easily produce well over 35 million offspring in 16 generations.
In no case would the Pilgrims have needed a ship the size of the Titanic to have 10 million descendants of the Mayflower travelers alive and living with us today. 102 was perfect, and the Mayflower was just the right size.
I for one am grateful that the Pilgrims and Anglo-Americans are part of our American heritage. There is too much hate in the world. Let’s love and appreciate each other.
Chris Yonts
Belmont
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(2) comments
Please excuse me but I never mentioned ten million or any other number of Americans proclaiming their Mayflower heritage.
My words were "more and more Americans proclaim that their forefathers came over on the Mayflower."
Where dd you arrive at ten million? Not my figures.
Please research this and perhaps you may one day have an exact number, who knows maybe even over 100 million?
Perhps it's 1oo million can you find this oput alos.
Somebody missed the boat here.
I wrote >Today more and more Americans proclaim that their forefathers “came over on the Mayflower."
I never mentioned ten million, you did.
Perhaps after further research you might discover even more decedents,perhaps well over 100 million?
Good hunting.
Jerry Emanuel
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