Plimoth Plantation, the recreated 1626 tourist village populated by in-character reenactors, recently announced that it will change its name late this year. In the meantime it is using "Plimoth Patuxet" with a swirly blue image in between the two words, representing water. Some years ago the Plantation experience incorporated a Wampanoag village staffed by individuals with Native American ancestry (not necessarily of New England) but who do not pretend that every day is 1626. Management said the current change has been considered for a year, and that may be true since a 400th anniversary requires years of planning and is a great opportunity to improve or enhance. The Boston CBS affiliate news program says the Plimoth Plantation folks are requesting public input. Wikipedia explains that Patuxet was the name of the original "Native American band of the Wampanoag tribal confederation...[living] primarily in and around modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts." This was the group to which Squanto (Tisquantum) had originally belonged and that had been wiped out by disease by the time the Mayflower showed up in 1620. If you have an idea, get in touch.

One of my biggest disappointments at having to cancel my 3-month fun-and-research trip to New England this year was missing the opportunity to see the restored Mayflower II in sail. Click here to see footage of the Mayflower II on the high seas, sort of, and to follow it as it travels about this summer and early fall. If you would like to help pay to keep the ship in sailing order, Plimoth Plantation is offering a unique incentive: a hand-cast bell created by the same bell works that made a new one for the ship, from the same bronze, and mounted on a piece of wood from the restoration, with a bell pull made by Mystic Knotworks in CT, where the ship was restored over the last few years. They are making one for each passenger - 104 - so it is a limited edition unique keepsake for anyone donating $1,000 (or more) to the Restoration Fund.

I admit that I do not update the Mystery/Fun Photos or the Findagrave Mayflower Ancestors sections (lower part of the long menu bar on your left) very often, but when I do it's to present something pretty unique (or maybe just funny) that might give you an idea of a new source for genealogical information through pictures. I've just updated Mystery/Fun Photos to tell you about an online collection of 96 cartoons published in a SE MA newspaper over 100 years ago, featuring prominent citizens, and showing by example that the likenesses are decent and the rest of the picture tells you a lot about the person, opening up new avenues of inquiry. It also suggests where you might look for something similar for the region you are investigating yourself. Check it out!