Mayflower Descendants Celebrate Thanksgiving In Green Country

Thanksgiving Day has a unique meaning for more than 250 of Oklahoma's own. They're all descendants of passengers that came to America on the Mayflower.

Sharlee Kuhns and Mildred Greenstreet share a special bond. They each trace their ancestry back to the historic voyage of the Mayflower landing at Plymouth Rock.

"It's a wonderful feeling to think that my relatives were there," said Sharlee Kuhns, Owasso resident.

"Edward Fuller and his wife died that first winter but they had their son Samuel with them so I'm descended from Edward, Samuel, and on down," said Mildred Greenstreet, Tulsa resident.

The women are two of 260 members of the Oklahoma Society of Mayflower Descendants. They have pictures and charts detailing their family histories.

"And you have to document the birth, marriage, and death of all your ancestors," Greenstreet said.

Mildred's connection goes back to Edward Fuller born in 1575 in Norfolk, England. Sharlee received her certificate when she traced back to Edward Doty, that's 11 generations.

The men and their families were part of a group of more than 100 people who were seeking religious freedom. It took 66 days to cross the ocean and 49 members of the group died the first year in the new world.

"I think it's important for us to realize that they were real people. They had real issues, they had to make everything that they had," Kuhns said.

Sharlee and Mildred love to talk of their family history, but they want Americans to know it's not the direct line to the Pilgrim's that's important; it's what those 17th century settlers did to spread the concept of one vote for all that should be remembered.

"I'm proud of it, but I don't think that makes me anything. What I really want people to know is that Mayflower Compact is a very important document, that's what started the democracy in the United States," Greenstreet said.

The Oklahoma Society of Mayflower Descendants works to talk with teachers and students about the accomplishments of the pilgrims. It also gives out college scholarships.