Does anyone want to collaborate with me on John Alden of the Mayflower?

[Becky]

John Alden is a very popular ancestor. 

 

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alden-63

 

 He has many descendants - 10 children, over 60 grandchildren.  I'm trying to do clean up - merging multiples of the same individual and removing the less relevant stuff from the bio section.  Looking for people who can write smoothly to clean up my rough draft write-ups.  

 

Also, I want fellow WikiTreers, especially relatively new ones, to understand the why of merging and clean up.  What is the best way to do this?

 

 

[Debbie]

I am an excellent writer - even published twice.  I can help you with the rough drafts..

Strong is knowing that just because something has never been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. - Sir Richard Branson

[Becky]

This is excellent! Thank you. We want the very best WikiTree we can get, so go for it. 

 

 

John Alden, Mayflower Pilgrim is done - There were 3 biographies already written in the huge messy merged file.

 

John's first two children and their children need to be smoothed out.  You probably can edit  them because the profiles are open.  Alden-6 (John Jr.) and Alden-7 (Elizabeth Pabodie)..

[Debbie]

I am able to get into Alden-6.  However, I am new to Wikitree and not sure exactly what you need me to do.  Send me a link about merging and clean-up and I will get it done right!  I am a very quick study and a genealogist dedicated to truth and sources.

Strong is knowing that just because something has never been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. - Sir Richard Branson

[Tim Wilder]

You might want to add a link to the Alden Kindred of America (www.alden.org).

Also something about his physical characteristics might be interesting. He is supposed to have been the tallest man in the Plymouth Colony, and the characteristic was inherited by some descendants. 

[Becky]

You don't need to worry about doing merges.  Those are up-to-date. I check back periodically.  You don't need any specific WikiTree technical knowledge.

 

What I'm looking for:

 

1) A careful proof reading on writing mechanics. PLEASE!! - spelling, paragraphing, etc.  Pretend that you are an English teacher.  Think footnotes - I didn't use any, but I did not directly quote. Would the presentation be clearer if I had? 

 

2) I've checked and double checked the spouse and children etc. I use material from the Society of Mayflower Descendants as my main documentation. 

 

3) If you have any additional information, please add it in as appropriate, correct as appropriate.

 

4) Look at my ==Sources==  section. Chris Whitten likes web source citations. I'm a dinasour and prefer to use books on paper.  Anyway, we're trying to be professional on the bibliograpy entries. 

[Becky]

Thanks, Tim.

 

I will incorporate these suggestions later in the evening.

[Debbie]

I finished John Alden, Jr.  What I did not see in any of the references is the suffix (Jr).  I'm not sure it was used in this family because there were two boys names John.  The elder Jonathan, the younger John.  I parenthesied all the Jr. suffix - put the paragraphs in logical order, loked it over for spelling and grammar.  I also added the source suggested by Tim, great info on that page.  Please look at it when you have a chance - and let me know if you need footnotes or other source documentation.

If all is well - I will move on to the next one you need.  I'm having great fun with this!

Debbie

Strong is knowing that just because something has never been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. - Sir Richard Branson

[Becky]

[Chris Whitten]

This is awesome work you guys! Go, Debbie and Becky!

If you come to a profile you want to work on and need a sysop to do
super-expedited merging, post here and Lianne or I can do it.

Chris

--
Chris Whitten, WikiTreer-in-Chief
http://www.WikiTree.com/wiki/Contact_us#Chris

[Debbie]

I didn't find any references to John Alden Jr's physical appearance - such as being the tallest man in the colony.  I agree it would be an interesting note - as I have an ancestor who was chosen for a special rifle squad (under George Washington) because he met the requirements of "over 6ft tall and able to shoot the eye out of a squirrel."  I find such personal glimpses are treasured...

So where do I look?  Any ideas on websites, books, etc.?

RE:   Also something about his physical characteristics might be interesting. He is supposed to have been the tallest man in the Plymouth Colony, and the characteristic was inherited by some descendants. 

Strong is knowing that just because something has never been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. - Sir Richard Branson

[Tim Wilder]

You can find places where a tradition is cited, as here: Elihu Spencer Miller, "John Alden Acting Governor of Plymouth colony, 1664-5, 1677.

http://books.google.com/books?id=AzcRAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=John+Alden+tallest+man+in+Plymouth+colony&source=bl&ots=qm9Ezof9BV&sig=rxEfdxLu5CiTbqQzELyeLwPd7Fs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=48xbUKD4C_SByAGsl4G4BQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=John%20Alden%20tallest%20man%20in%20Plymouth%20colony&f=false 

or here:

http://holmlund.org/family/davis/pilgrims/pilgrimancestry.html 

and his children, such as Elizabeth Pabodie were also noted as tall. But what the original source is, I don't know. 

[Debbie]

Tim:

What an incredible book!  I went to the link you provided and immediately started reading the section on John Alden.  Then the history buff in me kicked in and I just kept reading!  What is even more incredible is the book has been digitized by Google and is public domain (download free).

Thank you so much for guiding me to this source...I will add some personal touches to John Alden this weekend!

Debbie

Strong is knowing that just because something has never been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. - Sir Richard Branson

[Becky]

Tim,

 

Thanks for your help on this.  Something like this is more interesting than the usual born-married-and-died stuff of genealogy.

[Becky]

Work is continuing on the merging and biography information of John Alden's descendants with work on merging the children of Joseph http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alden-5.