Henry Samson

The Tilleys died in the first winter but Henry Samson survived to live a long, fulfilling life in Plymouth Colony.

Henry Samson, age about sixteen, boarded the ship Mayflower as a nephew of the Edward Tilley family, along with his cousin, one year old Humility Cooper.

The reason that Humility and Henry were given over to the care of the Tilleys, apparently in Leiden, has never been fully explained.

[3] Per William Bradford's later recollection of this family: "Edward Tillie, and Ann, his wife; and *2* children that were their cossens, Henery Samson and Humility Coper.

This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.

After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbour at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21.

[5][6] At the death of the Edward Tilleys in the winter of 1620/1621, Henry Samson and Humility Cooper were given over to the care of others – it being uncertain what family that was.

"[9] Over the years, Henry Samson received generous land grants becoming a Freeman before March 7, 1636/7.