Society of Mayflower Descendants
in
South Carolina
Organized August 11, 1938 at Greenville, South Carolina
South Carolina Mayflower Descendants College Scholarship Competition
It is the mission of Mayflower Descendants to perpetuate the legacy of their forefathers and mothers. What better way than to educate the young! It is important to teach the values and character traits that made them "survivors" under very difficult conditions, and to school the youth in the ideals that lead to the formation of a democratic government. Therefore encouraging intellectual growth will foster and protect freedom. One way to do this is by offering scholarships to students in the memory of those who came on the Mayflower in 1620.
Each year high school seniors graduating in the Spring and
enrolling in college Fall or already attending a college/university
with plans to continue college in Fall enter the Mayflower Society's Scholarship Competition.
Please congratulate this year's scholarship winner, Kylie Sommer Clark!
Kylie Sommer Clark, a Life Member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in South Carolina and freshman at The University of Florida, is this year's winner of the $1,000 college scholarship. The topic for year 2009 was, "Select a Mayflower passenger and describe how this person contributed to the survival of Plymouth Colony during the winter of 1621." Kylie chose to write about her relative Isaac Allerton.
The following is an excerpt from her essay:
"During this winter (1621), little information was archived except for the all-too-common deaths that occurred. Very little is known about the colonist's contributions to their new society. One passenger named Isaac Allerton stood out in this ominous period. That year, Allerton, who was held in high esteem, was made Assistant Governor of Plymouth, second in rank to Governor William Bradford. Sadly, the winter claimed Allerton's wife, Mary Norris Allerton, and his young apprentice, John Hooke. Even after his immense losses, he continued his job as Assistant Governor and even served as Business Representative of Plymouth colony. As Business Representative, he was in control of the colony's debt and trade. Allerton imported essential English items and exported fashionable furs to be sold to English hatters. Allerton's profession was the most important for the colony, which was in great debt to the 'merchant adventures' who funded their voyage. To pay off the debt, the colony grouped together to form a stock company that owned most of the homes and livestock. The stock company declared that in seven years, all of the assets would be divided evenly to the members of the company and their families."
Congratulations Kylie!