The first winter of 1620-21...was rough to say the least for the pilgrims who had arrived on the Mayflower.....
First, allow me to say this: Although we refer to these English settlers as "pilgrims", they were actually referred to as "Separatists", because they desired to break away from the Church of England and have the religious freedom to exercise their own form of worship. It wasn't until 1840 that the word "pilgrim" was used to refer to these English settlers, coming as a result of William Bradford's writings on their history and using the word pilgrim from the Sacred Scripture in the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, chapter 11, verses 13-16 where a portion of it reads: "...strangers and pilgrims on earth..." (King James version).
Yet, for simplicity...I will refer to the passengers who came aboard the Mayflower as: "Pilgrims".
As well documented, the passengers aboard the Mayflower were a total of 102. It comprised of a 66 day voyage that began on September 6th, 1620 (due to delays) and reached the Cape Cod area in Massachusetts on November 11th. The initial idea was to land farther south in what was at the time a part of the Virginia colony that included parts of New York. In fact, the present New York City area was the original destination, but dangerous shore lines, poor winds, and the lateness of the year caused the ship to land farther north...in the bay of Cape Cod.
Of the 102 passengers, not all were part of the "Separatist congregation". In fact, only a portion of the members of this religious group travelled to the New World...37 in all. The rest of the passengers consisted of 18 servants (13 of which were with the Separatists), about 50 crew members, farmers hired by the British investors to help establish crops, and Miles Standish, a military adviser that was hired by the Pilgrims.
Here then is how it happened...
After careful thought, the Pilgrims had decided to leave their homes in Holland to seek religious freedom in what is was referred to as the northern part of Virginia...in the new world.
Because of a shortage of money to finance such an undertaking, the Pilgrims then made a contract with British investors that would provide them a safe passage and would include supplies (food, clothing, tools, guns, etc.) to reach and establish themselves upon entry in building a new settlement.
In return, the pilgrim colonists would work for these British investors and send back to England natural resources such as fish, timber, and furs. All assets including the building of homes and land would belong to the British investors for a period of 7 years.
Then, all the lands and homes would be divided among the pilgrims and some with the British investors. There were many disagreements between the British investors and the pilgrims on these matters, but eventually a mutual agreement was finally reached.
The first governor of the new colony of Plymouth (spelled Plimouth in those days) was a John Carver. He passed away only 6 months later and William Bradford became governor. Carver was involved with a very important document that has influenced our political arena ever since it's conception...it was called the "Mayflower Compact".
First, allow me to say this: Although we refer to these English settlers as "pilgrims", they were actually referred to as "Separatists", because they desired to break away from the Church of England and have the religious freedom to exercise their own form of worship. It wasn't until 1840 that the word "pilgrim" was used to refer to these English settlers, coming as a result of William Bradford's writings on their history and using the word pilgrim from the Sacred Scripture in the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, chapter 11, verses 13-16 where a portion of it reads: "...strangers and pilgrims on earth..." (King James version).
Yet, for simplicity...I will refer to the passengers who came aboard the Mayflower as: "Pilgrims".
As well documented, the passengers aboard the Mayflower were a total of 102. It comprised of a 66 day voyage that began on September 6th, 1620 (due to delays) and reached the Cape Cod area in Massachusetts on November 11th. The initial idea was to land farther south in what was at the time a part of the Virginia colony that included parts of New York. In fact, the present New York City area was the original destination, but dangerous shore lines, poor winds, and the lateness of the year caused the ship to land farther north...in the bay of Cape Cod.
Of the 102 passengers, not all were part of the "Separatist congregation". In fact, only a portion of the members of this religious group travelled to the New World...37 in all. The rest of the passengers consisted of 18 servants (13 of which were with the Separatists), about 50 crew members, farmers hired by the British investors to help establish crops, and Miles Standish, a military adviser that was hired by the Pilgrims.
Here then is how it happened...
After careful thought, the Pilgrims had decided to leave their homes in Holland to seek religious freedom in what is was referred to as the northern part of Virginia...in the new world.
Because of a shortage of money to finance such an undertaking, the Pilgrims then made a contract with British investors that would provide them a safe passage and would include supplies (food, clothing, tools, guns, etc.) to reach and establish themselves upon entry in building a new settlement.
In return, the pilgrim colonists would work for these British investors and send back to England natural resources such as fish, timber, and furs. All assets including the building of homes and land would belong to the British investors for a period of 7 years.
The first governor of the new colony of Plymouth (spelled Plimouth in those days) was a John Carver. He passed away only 6 months later and William Bradford became governor. Carver was involved with a very important document that has influenced our political arena ever since it's conception...it was called the "Mayflower Compact".
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