The Warren Family
The Mayflower Compact
Richard Warren, born in 1575 in London, England, is a forefather to many famous Americans. Among them, two Presidents - Ulysses S. Grant and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as the first man to walk in space and the fifth man to walk on the moon, Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.
A merchant in London, it is not known whether Richard was born there or had migrated from somewhere else. Searches of the records of England have failed to determine his ancestry. Many Richard Warren's were Baptized in London during the time of his birth, but it is generally thought hopeless that the pilgrim Richard Warren could ever be identified without a doubt, as one of them.
Richard Warren sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620, leaving behind his wife, Elizabeth, and 5 daughters; Mary, Anna, Sarah, Elizabeth and Abigail. They would follow him to the New World 3 years later on the ship Anne.
Once the family was reunited, Elizabeth bore two more children, both sons; Joseph and Nathaniel. Unfortunately, Richard was to only live a short time, leaving Elizabeth with 6 children under the age of 17. Elizabeth lived 45 years longer. She was over 90 years old at her passing.
Of his life in Plymouth, he appears to have been an asset, as Nathaniel Morton wrote in his book "New England's Memorial", first published in 1669:
This year (1628) died Mr. Richard Warren, who was an useful instrument and during life bare a deep share in the difficulties and troubles of the first settlement of the Plantation of New Plymouth.
One of Richard and Elizabeth's daughters, Sarah, married Mayflower passenger, John Cooke, who had traveled on the Mayflower with his father, Francis. On March 28th, 1634, they exchanged vows in Plymouth.
Their daughter, Mary, married Phillip Tabor/Taber. Their son, Phillip, is the grandfather to Elizabeth Sheffield, who became Mrs. Joseph Anthony.
