My folks didn't come over on the Mayflower, but they were there to meet the boat.

The origins of many American families are often steeped in tales of early colonial settlement, yet not every story begins aboard the Mayflower. For generations, the Williams family of Massachusetts has shared a wry quip about their ancestors’ arrival: “My folks didn’t come over on the Mayflower, but they were there to meet the boat.” This tongue-in-cheek phrase belies a deeper narrative of resilience and adaptation, tracing their roots to the earliest waves of European migrants who shaped the fledgling colonies in the years following the Pilgrims’ 1620 landing.

Historical records and family archives reveal that the Williams lineage dates back to 1632, when John and Eleanor Williams, a young couple from Dorset, England, arrived in Plymouth aboard the Handmaid, a lesser-known vessel that transported settlers to the New World. Unlike the Mayflower’s passengers, who sought religious freedom, the Williamses were part of a subsequent wave of migrants drawn by economic opportunity. Skilled carpenters, they quickly integrated into the growing community, contributing to the construction of homes, meeting houses, and the infrastructure necessary for the colony’s survival.

“Their story isn’t about fleeing persecution—it’s about ambition,” explains Dr. Rebecca Cole, a historian specializing in early American settlement. “By the 1630s, the colonies were seen as a land of potential. Families like the Williamses weren’t just building lives; they were laying the groundwork for what would become a nation.” Letters preserved by the family describe harsh winters, trade negotiations with Indigenous communities, and the slow transformation of wilderness into farmland.

Over centuries, the Williams family’s legacy expanded alongside the country. Their descendants fought in the Revolutionary War, established textile mills during the Industrial Revolution, and eventually migrated westward during the 19th century. Yet their connection to Massachusetts remained unbroken. Today, the family maintains a historic homestead in Plymouth County, now a museum showcasing artifacts from their journey, including John Williams’ carpentry tools and Eleanor’s handwritten recipes adapted to New World ingredients.

For 89-year-old Margaret Williams-Harris, the family’s unofficial historian, the maxim about “meeting the boat” symbolizes more than just timing. “It’s a reminder that history isn’t only made by the first to arrive,” she says. “It’s made by those who stay, who work, and who build something lasting.” As the U.S. approaches the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage, the Williams family’s story underscores a broader truth: America’s foundation was constructed not by a single ship’s passengers, but by the collective efforts of countless untold journeys.