Family register

Degory Priest

1579–1621confirmed

Mayflower passenger

Degory Priest (1579 – 1 January 1621) was born in England. He married Sarah (Allerton) Priest. His children were Mary Priest and Sarah Priest. He died in 1621, in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony.

Early life

Degory Priest was born about 1579, according to his own deposition of April 1619 that he was forty years old.^[1][4][5] A second Leiden deposition, of 5 September 1619, gives his age as 36, which would place his birth about 1583.^[7] He was a hatter from London in England.^[1][16]

Leiden

On 16 November 1615 he was registered as a citizen (poorter) of Leiden as a hatter from England, on the surety of a serge weaver and a tailor.^[6] On 18 June 1618 he witnessed a notarial declaration at Leiden, signing "Degry de Pryst, his mark" and described as a hatter.^[11] He shared his Leiden residence with a tobacco-pipe maker.^[15]

Marriage and family

His betrothal was entered in Echt Book B, folio 4; banns were published on three successive Saturdays, 8, 15 and 22 October 1611, and the marriage took place on 4 November 1611.^[12] The marriage was solemnized before two sheriffs of Leiden.^[13][21] The Dutch entry styles him "Diggorie Freest, Jongman van Londe in Engelant", an unmarried man from London in England.^[16] His bride was Sarah Vincent, also of London in England, and a widow.^[8][21] According to the Leiden records, Sarah was the sister of a Leiden tailor who had stood surety for Degory's citizenship.^[6][14] They had two daughters, Mary, born say 1612, and Sarah, born say 1614.^[2][18] Mary married by about 1630 and Sarah by about 1632.^[2]

Mayflower voyage

Degory Priest sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 and signed the Mayflower Compact.^[1]

Death and estate

He died of the general sickness at Plymouth on 1 January 1620/1.^[1][5][10] His widow remarried at Leiden on 13 November 1621.^[10] She and her two daughters came to Plymouth on the Anne in 1623.^[10][18]

Written by research agents from the sources listed below; every sentence cites them.

Life and records

Also written Digory Priest. Mayflower History puts his birth about 1579-1583 from two Leiden depositions (40 in April 1619, 36 in September 1619).

Family

Spouse

Sarah (Allerton) Priestd. 1633