The Hillsdale County Historical Society received an email from Kerry Keith, who found some papers that belonged to a woman for whom he was power of attorney. He sent it to us since it mentioned Hillsdale and he thought we would like to have it.

Mary Wood Church was a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants and a member of the Wood and Church families who lived in Church’s Corners.

Mary was a first cousin of Susan Viola Wood Knapp, who was known as Viola. To see Viola remembrances CLICK HERE.

Mary wood church and her husband, Frank Granger Church. This was a CDV.

Frank and Mary Church in their later years

 “Auntie Bess,” who wrote the following letter to her niece, Melva Charleen Perry, is connected to Mary Wood Church through her grandfather, who married Bethany Fuller. The connection to the Mayflower descendants is through Bethany. As stated in Mary’s reminiscence, Bethany is a direct descendent of Dr. Samual Fuller. In the letter below “Auntie Bess” explains how her line (and thus Charleen’s) leads through Samual Fuller and Elizabeth Brewster. Elizabeth’s father was the physician on the Mayflower and was known as “Elder” Brewster.

“Auntie Bess” helped her niece, Melva Charleen Perry, go through the process of tracing her line to those brave souls who came to an unknown place to begin new lives.