Humility Cooper facts for kids
Humility Cooper was a young girl who sailed on the famous ship Mayflower in 1620. She was only about one year old at the time. Humility traveled with Edward Tilley and his wife, Ann. They were her relatives.
Sadly, Edward and Ann Tilley died during the first winter in the New World. But Humility survived. She lived her early life in Plymouth Colony. Later, she returned to England, perhaps when she was a teenager. We do not know what happened to her after she went back to England.
Humility was born around 1619 in Holland. Her parents were Robert Cooper and Joan (Gresham). They were from Henlow in Bedfordshire, England. Her parents were living in Leiden, Holland, with other English Separatists. Robert Cooper was the brother of Ann Tilley, Humility's aunt.
Contents
The Mayflower Journey
Edward and Ann Tilley did not have their own children on the Mayflower. Instead, they traveled with two young relatives. These were Ann's 16-year-old nephew, Henry Samson, and her one-year-old niece, Humility Cooper. It seems the Tilleys took care of both children in Leiden. The exact reason for this is not fully known.
William Bradford, a leader of the Pilgrims, later wrote about this family. He said: "Edward Tillie, and Ann, his wife; and *2* children that were their cossens, Henery Samson and Humility Coper."
It is unclear why Humility was with the Tilleys. Perhaps her mother had passed away. If she was an orphan, Ann Tilley, who had no children, might have taken her in.
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. This small ship was about 100 feet long. It carried 102 passengers and around 30 crew members. For the first month, the Atlantic Ocean was calm. But in the second month, strong winter storms hit the ship. The Mayflower was badly shaken, and water leaked in. Two people died during the voyage. This was just a sign of what was to come. Almost half the passengers died after arriving in Cape Cod.
On November 9, 1620, after about three months at sea, they saw land. It was Cape Cod. They tried for several days to sail south. Their goal was the Colony of Virginia. But strong winter seas forced them back. They returned to the harbor at Cape Cod hook. They anchored there on November 11. That same day, the Mayflower Compact was signed. Forty-one adult men, including servants, signed this important agreement.
Life in Plymouth Colony
Humility lived in Plymouth Colony after the Mayflower landed. In 1623, land was divided among the settlers. Humility Cooper was given one "aker" of land. It was next to the property of Henry Samson. This shows she was still living in the colony.
In 1627, cattle were divided among the families. Humility Cooper was in lot five. This group was with the Brewster family. These records show she was part of the community.
Return to England
William Bradford wrote in 1651 that Humility "was sent for into England." We do not know who sent for her. It might have been her father. She may have returned to England around 1638 or earlier.
She was baptized in London on March 17 or 19, 1638/9. This happened at the church of Holy Trinity Minories. The church record stated she was born in Holland. Her baptism date would have made her about nineteen years old. This matches her being about one year old on the Mayflower in 1620.
What Happened to Humility Cooper?
William Bradford's 1651 writings also mention Humility Cooper's death. He wrote: "……and the girle Humility, ther cousen (niece), was sent for into England, and dyed ther."
We know that Humility Cooper returned to England. She was not married at that time. If Bradford's record is correct, she died in England. This would have been between her baptism in 1638/9 and Bradford's writing in 1651. There is no more information about her life after that.
