WHALING CAPTAINS, CHINA TRADE, and 1812

THE DELANOS REVISIT THEIR HERITAGE

From all over the United States, Delano descendants will gather in Fairhaven to visit the area and learn the history of their ancestors. Warren Delano, a large ship owner of Fairhaven who engaged in the China Trade, Captain Paul Delano of Fairhaven who was instrumental in forming the South American Chilean Navy, the magic of Sara Delano Roosevelt portrayed by Natalie Hemingway and the westward migration of the old families to the Mid-Hudson Valley will be the interesting topics of the four speakers during the three day reunion in September.

The decision to revisit Fairhaven this year was determined by the town's Bicentennial, and its logo, "A small town with a big history," is no understatement. A big part of the town's history is the Delano family and what a great adventure for all to share with the town in their 200 year celebration. The townspeople of Bristol and Plymouth counties are well acquainted with one of the most progressive and interesting families of the early settlers -- the Delano family.

The vital records and histories of Southeastern Massachusetts are alive with the many seafaring men, whalers, merchantmen and boat builders, ancestors who left their footprints on the soil and are forever stamped in the history of our nation. Those who are still remembered are never really "gone" when their lives and accomplishments live on through their descendants. From the arrival of Philippe deLanoy in 1621 on board the ship Fortune the family has been involved with shaping the local history of Plymouth, Bristol and Duke counties. The Delanos descend from Philippe deLanoy, who was born in Leiden, Holland in 1602. His parents had fled first to England and later to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution. A young lad of 17, Philippe arrived in Plymouth Colony and settled in Duxbury in 1637 where he was granted forty acres of land. Philip Delano [now anglicized] is named as one of the 34 colonists who purchased land from Chief Massasoit and his son Wamsutta in 1652 and on 7 March 1652. He is on the list of "Purchasers of Dartmouth" who met at Plymouth to make the allotment of their shares. Philip's son Jonathan Delano married Mercy Warren at Dartmouth in 1677/8. The 800-acre allotment in Dartmouth was transferred to Jonathan on 13 November 1694 by deed of confirmation from Governor Bradford "in right of his father." Jonathan and Mercy settled and resided near the brook of Tusket Hill, or Wasquatucket (now East Fairhaven) where he built a gristmill. Jonathan served as constable, surveyor, commissioner, and selectman and was deputy from Dartmouth in 1689. Jonathan served in King Philip's War (1675-78) and on 25 December 1689 Governor Richard Hinckley commissioned him Lieutenant. Jonathan's descendants remained in the Fairhaven area and married with many of the early families of Aiken, Allen, Blossom, Briggs, Eldridge, Howland, Taber, Swift, Tallman and other early settlers. These early families reach deep into the history of the southeast area of Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. In September, 2012, the descendants of Jonathan Delano as well as descendants of other Delanos who settled in Duxbury and Southeastern Massachusetts towns will be visiting Fairhaven to honor and recognize their ancestors. Plans are to visit the home of Warren Delano [grandfather of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and now a charming Bed and Breakfast], see the site of the first grist mill in Fairhaven run by Jonathan Delano, hear the firing of the canons [purchased for the town by Warren Delano] and the re-enactment of the War of 1812 at Fort Phoenix that was so devastating to the town. You do NOT need to be a Delano Kindred member to attend this reunion.

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