By Barb Hauge
Are you a Daughter of the American Revolution? Apparently I qualify but am not sure I want to be. Having heard Marian Anderson's beautiful voice at a Community Concert in Great Falls, I too could not understand why the D.A.R. refused to let her sing. Thank God for Eleanor Roosevelt who invited the black woman to perform at an Outdoor Concert in Washington D.C. with an audience of thousands.
My ancestor, who signed The Mayflower Compact Nov. 11, 1620, was Edward Doty, an indentured servant in the household of Stephen Hopkins of London, England. Edward Doty was one of ten volunteers who set out in the "The Mayflower's" small boat to explore America's mainland and find a suitable place for landing. They suffered rough seas and a skirmish with Indians but eventually selected Plymouth Rock as a landing place for the Colonists on Dec. 21, 1620.
Doty was noted for his belligerence. In 1621, he fought a duel with a fellow servant, Edward Lister using swords and daggers. They managed to wound each other before being separated. The Plymouth Colony assembled to decide their punishment which was tying their heads and feet together for 24 hours until they made peace. The complete Journals kept by William Bradford of the Colony of New Plymouth state, "Before one hour had passed, their suffering coupled with their humble appeals for pardon, secured their release."
In 1634, Faith Clarke arrived in New England on "The Francis" with her father, Thurston Clarke. She became Doty's wife and mother of his nine children. Their seventh child, Joseph Doty was my ancestor. Eventually William French married Esther Doty and their daughter, Adelia Angeline French married William Henry Baird. My, how convoluted it all is!
For our Baird/Taylor Family Reunion in Wisconsin (1986) I wrote: "We Did It Again. We faithfully charted our Family Tree and collected ancestral lore. Were Dotys and the English debtors who sailed on "The Mayflower" to America's shore? Was Jeanette from Roxburshire; did she ever live in PurvisHall? Did Lord Purvis cast out his son when he wed a Scotch commoner after all? For love has happened to better men and they tend to do it again and again! Yes, we saw the schools they attended and the last cottage built into the hill. We visited the graves in River Falls where Frank and Fanny lie still. Though the bones of our loved ones may lie there, their spirits have soared above; born on the Wings of Eternity to complete their Cycle of Love. If the Fates give us a chance though I don't know when, we all would love to do it again!"
And we did Do It Again (1990) with a reunion in Montana's Bitterroot Mountains and then at Baird Ranch: "We Met In Montana. All of the cousins joined right in; we danced and talked till dawn. We looked at everyone's albums; played music and sang every song. After John and Kim's wedding we toured the mansion built by Daly, the Copper King and saw Montana's Centennial quilts; the display was a beautiful thing! We also drove to Sleeping Child and all had a glorious swim. We watched the deer on the mountain and a forest fire over the rim. We're glad our children could join us and our precious grandchildren too for we need you always and forever. Its for you that we do what we do. We will keep the home fires burning and a light in our window tonight to guide you back to Montana 'cuz Montana's a beautiful sight!"
