Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 27. Hebron Historical Society will be holding their first meeting of the fall at Old Town Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Mary Brown, currently Governor of the Connecticut Society of Mayflower Descendants, will be speaking. Her topic will be "Pilgrims and Their Legacy." She will give attendees a view of their journey and the establishment of their colony in Plymouth, MA.

The group of 102 passengers who crowded aboard Mayflower for the crossing was not homogenous. Many of the passengers were members of the Leiden, England congregation, but they were joined by a number of other English families or individuals hoping to better their life situations or to seek financial gain. These two general groups have sometimes been referred to as the "saints" and "strangers." A replica of the Mayflower can be visited today in Plymouth, MA.

Today there are tens-of-millions of individuals descended from these brave souls, including six U.S. presidents, one astronaut, and even Marilyn Monroe! The Mayflower Society seeks to preserve our heritage. It is the goal of that organization to join together people who share this heritage and to carry on the memory of our Pilgrim ancestors.

Mary will include Connecticut's role in the Plymouth Colony in her talk.

Mary is a retired educator and has a keen interest in genealogy. She belongs to several hereditary societies and works on the education or scholarship committees of many of them. Mary founded the National Society of Descendants of Textile Workers of America, Inc. which was established to promote the history of the American Industrial Revolution, preserve the contributions of its patriots (i.e., textile workers) and provide scholarships to vocational school students.

Old Town Hall is located just east of the intersection of Routes 85 and 66. The public is cordially invited to attend. Overflow parking is available across the street behind Century 21. Light refreshments will be served; donations are gratefully accepted.

For more information, please call Program Chair Louise Casarella at 860-643-9288.