Philip Delano facts for kids

Philip Delano (born around 1603 – died around 1681-82) was an important early settler in Plymouth Colony. He arrived in November 1621 on a ship called the Fortune. Philip was about 18 years old when he got there. His uncle, Francis Cooke, was a passenger on the famous Mayflower ship. Philip Delano lived a long life in Plymouth Colony. He became a well-known person, helping with many government tasks like serving on juries. He was also one of the first people to buy land in the colony. When he died, he was thought to be quite wealthy.

Philip Delano passed away in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony (which is now part of Massachusetts). This happened sometime between August 1681 and March 1682. We don't know where he was buried.

Philip's Early Life and Family Background

Philip Delano, whose original name was Philippe de Lannoy, was baptized in a Protestant church in Leiden, Holland. This happened on November 6, 1603. His parents were Jan (Jean) de Lannoy and Marie Mahieu. They came from a region called Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands.

Philip's parents had to leave Flanders around 1579. They fled because they faced problems for their religious beliefs. They first went to Canterbury, England, and then to Leiden. Philip's father, Jean, died when Philip was very young. His mother then married Robert Mannoo in 1605. Philip grew up in Leiden, but we don't know much more about his childhood there. He was part of a group called the Separatists in Leiden. These were English people who wanted to separate from the Church of England.

How Philip's Family Name Changed

Over time, Philip's family name was spelled in different ways. The name "de Lannoy" came from a town called Lannoy. When Philip arrived in New England, his name changed from de Lannoy to Delano. For example, in early land records, he was listed as Philipe de la Noye. Later, in tax lists, he was called Phillip Delanoy.

Philip's Life in New England

In November 1621, Philip Delano arrived in Plymouth Colony. He was a single young man on the ship Fortune. He was almost 20 years old. It's thought he might have worked for another passenger because he was still young.

Philip's uncle, Francis Cooke, was a passenger on the Mayflower. Francis Cooke and his son, John Cooke, had sailed to America in 1620. Philip's aunt, Hester (Mahieu), was married to Francis Cooke. Philip may have lived with his uncle's family when he first arrived in Plymouth.

Land and Community Roles

In 1623, land in the colony was divided among the settlers. Philip Delano was listed as Philipe de la Noye and shared a piece of land with Moses Simonson.

Philip was one of the "Purchasers" in 1626. These were heads of families in Plymouth who were given special rights to get free land. The colony decided to buy back its debts from its financial supporters in London. A group in Plymouth, called the "Undertakers," took on this debt. Philip Delano signed this agreement as "Phillip Delanoy."

In 1627, Philip Delano made the first recorded land sale in Plymouth. He sold one acre of his land to Stephen Deane. This was after private property was allowed in the colony.

Philip became a "freeman" in 1633. This meant he had full rights as a citizen and could vote.

In 1637, Philip Delano volunteered to fight in the Pequot War. This was a conflict between English colonists and the Pequot tribe.

On October 2, 1637, Philip received forty acres of land in Duxbury. This land was next to the properties of other important settlers like John Alden.

Philip Delano served on many juries and commissions. These groups helped make decisions and solve problems in the colony. For several years, he was also a surveyor, which meant he measured and mapped land. By 1639, he lived in Duxbury.

In 1641, Philip Delano stated that he was about thirty-six years old. In 1662, he was on a list to receive land in Middleborough. This land was given to the first-born children of the colony's early settlers.

Philip's Family Life

Philip Delano was married twice. We don't know for sure how many children he had or which wife was their mother. Here's what we know:

Philip married:

• Hester Dewsbery/Dewsbury on December 19, 1634, in Plymouth. She passed away sometime between 1648 and 1653.
• Mary (Pontus) Glass, who was a widow, sometime between 1652 and 1659. Her father was William Pontus.

Children believed to be from Philip and Hester Delano:

• Mary: Born around 1635. She married Jonathan Dunham in 1655. She had no children.
• Philip: Born around 1637. He died in Duxbury in December 1708. He married Elizabeth Sampson and had five children.
• Thomas: Born around 1639. He died in Duxbury in April 1723. He married Rebecca Alden, a daughter of Mayflower passenger John Alden. They had nine children. Thomas and Rebecca were buried in Myles Standish Burying Ground in Duxbury.
• Esther: Born around 1641. She may have died before her father's will was made.
• John: Born around 1644. He died in Duxbury after September 1721. He married Mary Weston and had six children.
• Jonathan: Born around 1648. He died in Dartmouth in December 1720. He married Mercy Warren, who was a granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren. They had thirteen children. Jonathan and Mercy were buried in Acushnet Cemetery.

Children believed to be from Philip and Mary Delano:

• Jane: Born around 1655. She was alive when her father's property was divided in 1682.
• Rebecca: Born around 1657. She died in Plymouth in April 1709. She married John Churchill and had five children. She was buried at Burial Hill in Plymouth.
• Samuel: Born around 1659. He died in Duxbury before August 1728. He married Elizabeth Standish, who was a granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Myles Standish. They had nine children. Samuel and Elizabeth were buried in Myles Standish Burying Ground.
• A daughter: Born around 1661. We don't know much more about her.

Philip Delano's Death

Philip Delano died in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony. This happened between August 22, 1681 (when he made a note about his will) and March 4, 1682 (when his belongings were listed).

The Duxbury Rural and Historical Society says there are no records of where he was buried. However, it's likely he was buried in the Myles Standish Burying Ground in Duxbury. This is because he was a member of the church there, and many of his family members were buried in that cemetery.

His Property and Heirs

On July 5, 1682, Philip Delano's sons, Thomas and Samuel, agreed to follow their father's wishes for sharing his property. Samuel was noted as the only son from Philip's second wife. His other children who shared in the property were John, Jane, Rebecca, and Philip.