𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 the 𝐏𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 landing 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝, Florida.

Local history tells us that Henry A. DeLand and John B. Stetson were good friends and certainly were collaborators on the building of this city and on the foundation and growth of the educational institution that became Stetson University. Both the city and the university have developed into extraordinary places, and much gratitude goes to these two visionaries.

Their friendship, no doubt, allowed them to socialize on many occasions and especially so after Mr. Stetson built his magnificent mansion in DeLand. They most likely dined together at times, and there is even a possibility they shared a Thanksgiving Dinner along the way.  

It would not be the first time the two families gave thanks together. That is because John Stetson and Henry DeLand each had a 6th great grandfather who sat at the table for the very first Thanksgiving in 1621 at Plymouth Colony. John Stetson’s paternal ancestor, William Brewster (1566-1644) and Henry DeLand’s maternal ancestor, Richard Warren (1578-1628) shared a close history together. Both were involved in the separatist movement that took them from England to Leiden in Holland and then to sailing on the Mayflower in the Fall of 1620. They spent the voyage together, both signed the Mayflower Compact…our country’s first government document, they helped build the first colony at Plymouth, lived in a very small settlement together, and they celebrated the bounty of the first Feast of Thanksgiving after a very difficult initial year in the new colony. 

Our nation owes much to these very early colonists who built the foundation for what was to become the United States of America. Yes, both John B. Stetson and Henry A. DeLand were 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬. Only 102 brave souls were passengers on that ship. The pilgrims became very close to one another. Then, 260 years and 8 generations later, two descendants continued the spirit of cooperation and friendship to build great things. Let us all give thanks for these men and their families! 

Notes: Henry A. DeLand was also the 6th great grandson of Governor Thomas Prence (1601-1673) who was a three-term governor of the early Plymouth Colony. DeLand also had among his direct ancestors, Revolutionary War soldiers, Lt. Nathaniel Tracy, Pvt. Daniel DeLand, and Capt. Jonathan Blackman as well as 1st lt. James Tracy who served in the French and Indian War. 

Sources, Leete, Frederick DeLand: The DeLand Family in America, 1943. Colonial Families of America 1607-1775, Vol 5. Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol 1 & 2. Anderson, Robert, The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, 1995. Kellogg, Robert S., et al, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol, 18, 1999. Brewster Jones, Emma, The Brewster Genealogy, 1566-1907, 2022. Services.DAR.Org Online: Ancestor Lookup, 2024.