The Ark and the Dove were two ships which carried the first company of pioneers to settle the Province of Maryland. There were over two hundred on board, some of which were from the Gentleman class to make the trip. A few of the ship's passengers became sick and died during the voyage. These were buried at sea. Each person had to pay his passage or have someone pay for him, the charge being 20 pounds sterling, which covered all expenses. If a man paid his own fare he was given 100 acres of land, if someone paid for him, the benefactor received 200 acres of land.
Father White and Father John Altham accompanied the expedition and held the first Mass at St. Clements Island, March 25th, 1634.
The Piscataway Indians occupied the territory at St. Mary's City. They agreed to sell 30 miles of territory to Leonard Calvert, also to allow him to occupy half of their village and cultivate half of their cleared land the first year. Their Chief, Tayac, had a dream that a missionary who loved him would confer a great blessing on him. The Chief became sick and his medicine men could not help him. Father White, who had considerable experience with sick people, took charge of the case and the Chief recovered. Tayac later adopted the Catholic faith.
There is a list of passengers of the expedition and in 1910 a goodly number of descendants of this list met and founded THE SOCIETY OF THE ARK AND THE DOVE. Any person of good standing, who can prove his line back to a passenger of the Ark and the Dove is eligible to membership.
Not all Gills have a line back to the Ark and the Dove list. There may be some yet unproved, but we know one line proven from Thomas Price, a passenger on the Ark and the Dove, as follows:
Thomas Price of England married Elizabeth Phillips at St. Mary's City, circa 1637, to them born among others was Thomas Price II.
Thomas Price II of St. Marys County married Elizabeth Johnson, circa 1657, to them was born Mordecai Price.
Mordecai Price of Charles County married Mary Parsons, circa 1684, to them among others was born John Price.
John Price of Anne Arundel County, married Rebecca Merryman of Baltimore County, about 1723, and to them, among others was born Mary Price.
Mary Price of Baltimore County, married John Parrish of the same county on January 30,1744 and to them, among others was born Elizabeth Parrish.
Elizabeth Parrish of Baltimore County, married William Ambrose of the same county June of 1755 and to them among others was born Mary Ambrose.
Mary Ambrose of Baltimore County, married Nicholas Gill, son of Stephen Gill and Cassandra Cole, son of John Gill and Mary Rogers, February 7th, 1807. and to them were born:
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