There are not many records of John Tilley throughout his life.
It is known that he lived in England prior to moving to Leiden, Holland.
In England, his name appears on the will of George Clarke in 1607. Thomas Kirke, who was living with John, owed George Clarke money and was named.
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There is a record of him living in England as a yeoman(farmer) in 1613 prior to moving to Leiden.
He was certainly a Separatist along with his brother before the crossing. He and his family first board the Speedwell until it sprang a leak and could not be used. They then boarded the Mayflower for the journey.
He arrived in Plymouth with the Pilgrims and signed the Mayflower Compact.
When they arrived at Plymouth, he and his brother went on some expeditions to view the area they would be settling.
One such extensive exploration in which John and Edward Tilley are named as having taken part began on Wednesday, 6 December 1620, in freezing weather using the ship's shallop – a light, shallow-water boat with oars and sails navigated by two pilots and crewed by a master gunner and two sailors.
The Pilgrims on board for this expedition, in addition to the Tilleys, were John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, and his servant Edward Doty.
Senior members of the expedition included John Carver, William Bradford, militia captain Myles Standish, and Edward Winslow.
The number of persons on this exploration was less than half of a prior expedition due to many becoming sick. It was an unsuccessful mission, but it was their first contact with the Northeast Indian Tribes of the area.
Family Overview
John and his wife arrived in Plymouth with their daughter. The two had left one of their surviving children in an apprenticeship in England.
John traveled with his brother and his wife on the trip.
Unfortunately, John and his wife died the first winter and were survived by his daughter. She would get married and have a large family to carry on his lineage.
His son Robert would live in England for the rest of his life. He would have 4 children and die around 35 years old.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
- Robert Tilley (1540 – 1613)
- Elizabeth Tilley (1544 – 1614)
Spouse:
Joan Hurst (1568 - 1621) - Came over on the Mayflower with her husband but died during the first winter.
Children:
- Rose Tilley (1597 - 1601)
- John Tilley (1598 - 1599) - Gets confused with a colonist of the same name who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony.
- Rose Tilley (1602) - Death date is unknown
- Robert Tilley (1604 - 1639)
- Elizabeth Tilley (1607 - 1687) - The only one of John's children to make it to the New World. She would marry and carry on his lineage.
Siblings:
- Rose Tilley (1574 – 1621)
- George Tilley (1577 – 1612)
- Agnes Tilley (1580 – 1612)
- Elizabeth Tilley (1583 – 1625)
- William Tilley (1585 – 1625)
- Edward Tilley (1588 – 1621)
- Alice Tilley (1591 – 1597)