Although every family member is important in their unique way, some people are better known for their accomplishments than others…here are a few of those people.

Format: Name (relationship to the author); name may provide link to additional source information; if associated with stories, links provided.

Notable Ancestors

Cowles Family

John Cowles (1600-1675) [10th Great-grandfather] – The first of the Cowles family in America, arrived approximately 1635-38 (first in Hartford, CT and then moved on to Farmington, CT), a farmer and a prominent leader among the Farmington community, one of the seven pillars responsible for founding the First Church of Christ (Congregational) in Farmington, CT in 1652, his descendents were many and married into many prominent families of CT and beyond.

Maj. General Solomon Cowles (1758-1846) [2nd cousin, 8x removed] – Officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, Maj. Gen. of CT forces during the 1812 War, Statesman, member of the Society of the Cincinnati (July 4, 1787).

Admiral Walter Cleveland Cowles (1853-1917) [4th cousin, 6x removed] – USNA Class 1873, Commanding Officer of the USS Kentucky during the battleship cruise around the world, Commandant of Naval Station, Honolulu, and Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet.

Rear Admiral William Sheffield Cowles (1846-1923) [4th cousin, 6x removed] – USNA Class 1867, Naval Attache to the American Embassy (London), Commanding Officer of the USS Topeka and the USS Missouri, Naval Aide to President McKinley, brother-in-law of President Teddy Roosevelt (married Anna Roosevelt, 25 Nov. 1895).

Rev. Thomas Hooker (1586-1647) [10th Great-grandfather] – a leader among the founders of the Connecticut Colony, a prominent religious leader and preacher in colonial America.

Rev. Samuel Hooker (1633-1697) [9th Great-grandfather] – The second pastor of First Church of Christ, Farmington, CT.

Gov. William Leete (1613-1683) [9th Great-grandfather] – Colonial Governor of Connecticut, 1676-1683, and the only person to be Colonial Governor of both the New Haven Colony and the Connecticut Colony.

William Wadsworth (1594-1675) [10th Great-grandfather] – Among the founders of the city of Hartford, CT.

Rev. Daniel Wadsworth (1704-1747) [7th Great-grand uncle] – The seventh pastor of First Church of Christ, Hartford, CT; father of Jeremiah Wadsworth.

Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth (1743-1804) [1st cousin, 8x removed] – Sea Captain, merchant, Officer in the American Revolutionary War, and Statesman (represented CT in Continental Congress and U.S. House of Representatives).

Hon. Gideon Welles (1802-1878) [4th cousin, 6x removed] – U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1861-1869), member of the CT House of Representatives, instrumental in the founding of the Congressional Medal of Honor (the U.S. Military’s highest honor for bravery).

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Perkins Family

Abraham Perkins (1613-1683) [9th Great-grandfather] – A prominent man and one of the founders of Hampton, New Hampshire, the first Perkins’ family member of this line (and likely a brother of John Perkins from Ipswich, MA, and both John and Abraham may have been sons of John Perkins, probably emigrating from Newent, Gloucestershire in 1631), many of Abraham’s descendents moved south to the Boston area and Plymouth County, MA.

John Alden (1598-1687) [9th Great-grandfather] – Mayflower passenger, last surviving signer of the Mayflower Compact and other than Mary Allerton (see below), was the last surviving passenger of the Mayflower, a carpenter and cooper by trade, became a prominent man among the Plymouth Colony and the town of Duxbury, MA.

Mary Allerton (1616-1699) [9th Great-grandmother] – Mayflower passenger (age 4 at the time of the transit) and daughter of Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris, last surviving passenger of the Mayflower, wife of Thomas Cushman (passenger of the Fortune, arriving in Plymouth at age 13 in 1621), a prominent resident of Plymouth throughout her life.

Sgt. William Harlow (1624-1691) [9th Great-grandfather] – Arrived from England sometime prior to 1637, a prominent man in Plymouth County, MA, where he served as an accessor, selectman, and a deputy of the General Court, a Sergeant in the local militia, and owner of the Harlow Old Fort House in Plymouth, MA.

William Mullins (1572-1621) [10th Great-grandfather] – Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact, a successful shoemaker and one of the investors of the Merchant Adventurers Group (business investment of the Pilgrims’ venture in the New World); William, his wife Alice, and son Joseph all perished during the first year, leaving daughter Priscilla as the lone family survivor; Priscilla married John Alden (see above).

George Soule (1602-1679) [9th Great-grandfather] – Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact, an earlier settler of Plymouth and Duxbury, MA.

Myles Standish (1585-1656) [9th Great-grandfather] – Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact, military adviser, leader of the Plymouth Militia, among the founders of Duxbury, Massachusetts.

Richard Warren (1578-1628) [11th Great-grandfather] – Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact, a prominent man among the Plymouth community and one of few successful merchant businessmen to make the trip to the New World during the first trip with the Pilgrims.