Capt. John Alden Sr. was a crew member on the Mayflower. Rather than return to England with the ship, he stayed at what became Plymouth Colony. He was hired in Southampton, England, as the ship's cooper, responsible for maintaining the ship's barrels. He was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact. He married fellow passenger Priscilla Mullins, and the two raised 10 children together. Descendants of John and Priscilla Alden comprise one of the largest groups of Mayflower descendants living today.

He served in a number of important government positions such as Assistant Governor, Duxbury Deputy to the General Court of Plymouth, Captain Myles Standish's Duxbury militia company, a member of the Council of War, Treasurer of Plymouth Colony, and Commissioner to Dartmouth.

John Alden was the last survivor of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. He died at Duxbury on September 12, 1687. Both he and his wife Priscilla lie buried in the Myles Standish Burial Ground.