"Speedwell" was re-rigged with larger masts before leaving Holland and setting out to meet "Mayflower" in Southampton, England, around the end of July 1620. The Mayflower was purchased in London. The original captains were Captain Reynolds for "Speedwell" and Captain Christopher Jones for "Mayflower". Other passengers joined the group in Southampton, including William Brewster, who had been in hiding for the better part of a year, and a group of people known to the Leiden congregation as "The Strangers." This group was largely made up of people recruited by the Merchant Adventurers to provide practical assistance to the colony and additional hands to work for the colony's ventures.
"Mayflower" voyage
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
"Mayflower" "Mayflower" Mayflower. "Speedwell"
which group of english immigrants first settled in plymouth in 1620
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Puritan Separatists
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when did they start their journey to this place?
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End of July 1620
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what was the name of the ship they traveled on?
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Another ship called "Mayflower" made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony in 1629 carrying 35 passengers, many from the Pilgrim congregation in Leiden that organized the first voyage. This was not the same ship that made the original voyage with the first settlers. The 1629 voyage began in May and reached Plymouth in August; this ship also made the crossing from England to America in 1630 (as part of the Winthrop Fleet), 1633, 1634, and 1639. It attempted the trip again in 1641, departing London in October of that year under master John Cole, with 140 passengers bound for Virginia.
Mayflower | Second "Mayflower"
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620 with 102 passengers and about 30 crew members in the small, 106 foot-long ship. The seas were not severe during the first month in the Atlantic but, by the second month, the ship was being hit by strong north-Atlantic winter gales, causing it to be badly shaken with water leaks from structural damage. There were many obstacles throughout the trip, including multiple cases of seasickness and the bending and cracking of a main beam of the ship. One death occurred, that of William Button.
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
Continuing westward, the shallop's mast and rudder were broken by storms and the sail was lost. They rowed for safety, encountering the harbor formed by Duxbury and Plymouth barrier beaches and stumbling on land in the darkness. They remained at this spot for two days to recuperate and repair equipment. They named it Clark's Island for a "Mayflower" mate who first set foot on it. They resumed exploration on Monday, December 11/21 when the party crossed over to the mainland and surveyed the area that ultimately became the settlement. The anniversary of this survey is observed in Massachusetts as Forefathers' Day and is traditionally associated with the Plymouth Rock landing tradition.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Settlement
They named their settlement "Plimouth" (sometimes spelled "Plimoth") after the major port city in Devon, England from which the "Mayflower" ultimately sailed.
Plymouth, Massachusetts | Colonial era
The "Mayflower" passengers sighted land on November 9, 1620 after enduring miserable conditions for about 65 days, and William Brewster led them in reading Psalm 100 as a prayer of thanksgiving. They confirmed that the area was Cape Cod within the New England territory recommended by Weston. They attempted to sail the ship around the cape towards the Hudson River, also within the New England grant area, but they encountered shoals and difficult currents around Cape Malabar (the old French name for Monomoy Island). They decided to turn around, and the ship was anchored in Provincetown Harbor by November 11/21.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Arrival in America
A second ship arrived in November 1621 named the "Fortune", sent by the Merchant Adventurers one year after the Pilgrims first set foot in New England. It arrived with 37 new settlers for Plymouth. However, the ship had arrived unexpectedly and also without many supplies, so the additional settlers put a strain on the resources of the colony. Among the passengers of the "Fortune" were several of the original Leiden congregation, including William Brewster's son Jonathan, Edward Winslow's brother John, and Philip Delano (the family name was earlier "de la Noye") whose descendants include President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The "Fortune" also carried a letter from the Merchant Adventurers chastising the colony for failure to return goods with the "Mayflower" that had been promised in return for their support.
Plymouth Colony | Growth of Plymouth
"Speedwell" was re-rigged with larger masts before leaving Holland and setting out to meet "Mayflower" in Southampton, England, around the end of July 1620. The Mayflower was purchased in London. The original captains were Captain Reynolds for "Speedwell" and Captain Christopher Jones for "Mayflower". Other passengers joined the group in Southampton, including William Brewster, who had been in hiding for the better part of a year, and a group of people known to the Leiden congregation as "The Strangers." This group was largely made up of people recruited by the Merchant Adventurers to provide practical assistance to the colony and additional hands to work for the colony's ventures.
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
The 1621 voyage of the was the second English ship sent out to Plymouth Colony by the Merchant Adventurers investment group, which had also financed the 1620 voyage of the Pilgrim ship "Mayflower". The "Fortune" was 1/3 the size of the "Mayflower", displacing 55 tons. The Master was Thomas Barton. She departed London in the fall of 1621 and arrived off Cape Cod on November 9, 1621, and arrived in Plymouth Bay by the end of the month. The ship only stayed at Plymouth about three weeks loading cargo, and departed for England on December 13, 1621. About January 19, 1622, due to a navigation error, "Fortune" was overtaken and seized by a French warship, with those on board being held under guard in France for about a month and with its cargo taken.
Passengers of 1621 Fortune voyage | The voyage
The "Speedwell" was originally named "Swiftsure". It was built in 1577 at 60 tons and was part of the English fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. It departed Delfshaven in July 1620 with the Leiden colonists, after a canal ride from Leyden of about seven hours. It reached Southampton, Hampshire, and met with the "Mayflower" and the additional colonists hired by the investors. With final arrangements made, the two vessels set out on August 5 (Old Style)/August 15 (New Style). Soon after, the "Speedwell" crew reported that their ship was taking on water, so both were diverted to Dartmouth, Devon.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Voyage
Of the 120 combined passengers, 102 were chosen to travel on the "Mayflower" with the supplies consolidated. Of these, about half had come by way of Leiden, and about 28 of the adults were members of the congregation. The reduced party finally sailed successfully on September 6 (Old Style)/September 16 (New Style), 1620. Initially the trip went smoothly, but under way they were met with strong winds and storms. One of these caused a main beam to crack, and the possibility was considered of turning back, even though they were more than halfway to their destination. However, they repaired the ship sufficiently to continue using a "great iron screw" brought along by the colonists (probably a jack to be used for either house construction or a cider press).
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Atlantic crossing
The White family, as recalled by William Bradford in 1651: "Mr. William White, and Susana, his wife, and one son, called Resolved, and one borne a ship-bord, called Peregrine; and *2* servants, named William Holbeck and Edward Thomson." The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
Peregrine White | "Mayflower" voyage
Samuel Fuller boarded the "Mayflower" with only his servant William Butten, leaving his wife Bridget and his young daughter Bridget behind in Leiden, awaiting until the colony conditions would better suit families. His brother, Edward Fuller was also a passenger and traveled with his wife and a son, also named Samuel. The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship carried 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
Samuel Fuller (Pilgrim) | "Mayflower" Voyage
A total of 120 passengers finally departed on August 5—90 on the "Mayflower" and 30 on the "Speedwell". Leaving Southampton, the "Speedwell" suffered significant leakage, which required the ships to immediately put in at Dartmouth. The leakage was partly caused by being overmasted and being pressed too much with sail. Repairs were completed, and a further delay ensued as they awaited favorable winds. The two ships finally set sail on August 23; they traveled only two hundred miles beyond Land's End before another major leak in the "Speedwell" forced the expedition to return again to England, this time to the port of Plymouth.
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
Over the next five months of the winter and spring of 1620-1621, Captain Jones, his crew and the "Mayflower" would remain in Plymouth. He had originally planned to return to England as soon as the Pilgrims found a settlement site, but members of his ship's crew were ravaged by the same illnesses that overcame the "Mayflower" passengers, and he had to remain in Plymouth Harbor "till he saw his men began to recover". John Alden also fell ill but was nursed back to health by his eventual wife Priscilla Mullins. Priscilla lost all of her family to the unknown illness, whom she also nursed during that fateful winter.
Christopher Jones (Mayflower captain) | Voyage of the Pilgrim Ship "Mayflower"
Historical accounts are unclear about whether the "Mayflower" was sailing under her own power, or she was being towed by the "Cory A. Sheldon".
Mayflower (shipwreck) | Final voyage
During the voyage, the ship was buffeted by strong westerly gales. The caulking of its planks was failing to keep out sea water, and the passengers' berths were not always dry. On the journey there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger. After being blown off course by gales, the "Mayflower" made a landing at Cape Cod. Finding the area near Provincetown occupied by indigenous people, the ship's company decided to continue exploring along the nearby coast. The group arrived in the area near present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 21, 1620. In the space of several months almost half the passengers perished in the cold, harsh New England winter.
William Brewster (Mayflower passenger) | "Mayflower" voyage
It is possible that Philippe went separately to England rather than aboard "Speedwell". They gathered in England with other Pilgrims and hireling colonizers to stage the onward voyage with the two ships. The "Speedwell" proved unseaworthy and eleven of its passengers were able to join the "Mayflower". It is unknown if the twenty (including Robert Cushman and Phillipe de Lannoy) who could not sail on the "Mayflower" returned to Leiden or remained in England. The "Mayflower" proceeded solo with a combined company of 103, leaving Plymouth on September 6, 1620, arriving Cape Cod Harbor on November 11, 1620. The "Fortune" eventually substituted for the "Speedwell", sailing for Plymouth Colony in early July 1621, arriving on November 9, 1621, with Philippe among its passengers.
Delano family | Migration to America
The "Mayflower" remained in Plymouth Harbor through the winter and then on 5 April, with her empty hold ballasted by stones from the Plymouth Harbor shore, Jones set sail for England. As with the Pilgrims, her sailors had been decimated by illness, with Jones having lost his boatswain, his gunner, three quartermasters, the cook, and more than a dozen sailors. The "Mayflower" made excellent time on her return voyage back to England. The westerly winds that had buffeted the ship on departure pushed her along going home and she arrived at her home port in Rotherhithe on the Thames on 5 May 1621 – less than half the time it had taken her to sail to America.
Christopher Jones (Mayflower captain) | Voyage of the Pilgrim Ship "Mayflower"
At 55 tons displacement, and about one-third the tonnage of the "Mayflower", the "Fortune" was tasked with delivering thirty-five new settlers to Plymouth Colony. Their leader was Robert Cushman who, in 1620, had been the Leiden agent in London for the "Mayflower" and "Speedwell". It is believed that the majority of the passengers of the "Fortune" were gathered together in London by Thomas Weston and his partner. And although William Bradford stated that there were thirty-five persons on board "Fortune", the names of only twenty-eight persons are noted as receiving lots credited to those arriving as noted in the 1623 Division of Land.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Preparing for the voyage
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of 30 – 40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken, with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers lying wet and ill, even in their berths. There were two deaths on the trip, a crew member and a passenger. They spotted Cape Cod hook on November 9/19, 1620, after about a month of delays in England and two months at sea.
William Bradford (governor) | The "Mayflower" voyage
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England, on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, getting wet. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, contributed to sicknesses. On the way, there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger. After arriving at their destination, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in the cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter.
John Howland | Voyage
The term was also used for many of the indentured servants. Among the Strangers were Myles Standish, who was the colony's military leader; Christopher Martin, who had been designated by the Merchant Adventurers to act as shipboard governor during the trans-Atlantic trip; and Stephen Hopkins, a veteran of a failed colonial venture that may have inspired Shakespeare's "The Tempest". The group who later became the Leiden Leaders after the merging of ships included John Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, William Brewster, and Isaac Allerton. The departure of the "Mayflower" and "Speedwell" was beset by delays. Further disagreements with the Merchant Adventurers held up the departure in Southampton.
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
"Mayflower" embarked about sixty-five passengers in London about the middle of July 1620, proceeded to Southampton on the English south coast and met "Speedwell" bringing the Leyden contingent from Holland. The two ships planned to begin their trans-Atlantic journey on 5 August, but problems with "Speedwell", which could not be corrected, caused the loss of a month of critical voyage time with the fall Atlantic gale season coming on. After two false starts and repairs to "Speedwell", some of the passengers chose not to continue and returned to Holland on "Speedwell". The remaining passengers boarded the "Mayflower", which with 102 passengers and a crew of possibly 30-40, finally departed Plymouth, Devon on 6 September O.S.
Christopher Jones (Mayflower captain) | Voyage of the Pilgrim Ship "Mayflower"
The "Speedwell" was found to be unseaworthy; some passengers abandoned their attempt to emigrate, while others joined the "Mayflower", crowding the already heavily burdened ship. Later, it was speculated that the crew of the "Speedwell" had intentionally sabotaged the ship to avoid having to make the treacherous trans-Atlantic voyage. The delays had significant consequences; the cost of the repairs and port fees required that the colonists sell some of their invaluable provisions. More importantly, the delays meant that everyone had to spend the entire winter on board the "Mayflower" off Cape Cod in what could only be described as squalid conditions.
Plymouth Colony | "Mayflower" voyage
Elinor perished the winter of 1620 with only one brother Richard More surviving. The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and the crew is estimated to be approximately 30 but the exact number is unknown. They lived in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.
Edward Winslow | "Mayflower" voyage
And although English ships bringing new colony settlers did not come out until the "Anne" and "Little James" arrived in the summer of 1623, Plymouth Colony was not entirely isolated. English fishing boats and some ships financed by colonization ventures did call at the colony from time to time. Edward Winslow recorded that in June or July 1622 two ships, the "Charitie" and "Swan", financed by Thomas Weston, came into Plymouth Harbor. The ships carried about fifty or sixty colonists scheduled to settle in areas outside Plymouth. About this time the "Sparrow" and a shallop were also involved in colonization efforts.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Other ships visit Plymouth 1622–1624
The crew inspected "Speedwell" for leaks and sealed them, but their second attempt to depart got them only as far as Plymouth, Devon. The crew decided that "Speedwell" was untrustworthy, and her owners sold her; the ship's master and some of the crew transferred to the "Mayflower" for the trip. William Bradford observed that the "Speedwell" seemed "overmasted", thus putting a strain on the hull; and he attributed her leaking to crew members who had deliberately caused it, allowing them to abandon their year-long commitments. Passenger Robert Cushman wrote that the leaking was caused by a loose board.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Voyage
This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished during the cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about 3 months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor.
Samuel Fuller (Pilgrim) | "Mayflower" Voyage
In November 1621 Philip Delano arrived in Plymouth Colony as a single man on the ship "Fortune". While Bangs states that he was 16 years of age when he arrived he was actually closer to 20 though it is speculated he must at this time have been a servant of one of the other passengers, as he was a minor.. Approximately 65 passengers embarked on Mayflower in the middle of July 1620 at either Blackwall or Wapping on the River Thames.[10] The ship then proceeded down the Thames into the English Channel and then on to the south coast of England to anchor at Southampton Water.
Philip Delano | In New England
On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about 3 months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook. After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the shelter of Cape Cod hook, now called Provincetown Harbor, where they anchored on November 11/21.
Edward Winslow | "Mayflower" voyage
In 1609 John Vassall was recorded as a shareholder on the Second Charter of The Virginia Company. Anne Russell was John Vassall's second of three wives and with her had five children, William being the youngest. The GSMD (Mayflower Society) states that the building date and original owner of the ship "Mayflower" that came to Plymouth in 1620 is unknown. Additionally, the Society states that "Mayflower" was a common ship's name in the period and that the "Mayflower" captained by Christopher Jones from about 1609 has never been adequately researched prior to his time as ship's captain.
William Vassall | Vassall family and the "Mayflower"
In September 1623, another ship arrived carrying settlers destined to refound the failed colony at Weymouth, and they stayed temporarily in Plymouth. In March 1624, a ship arrived bearing a few additional settlers and the first cattle. A 1627 division of cattle lists 156 colonists divided into twelve lots of thirteen colonists each. Another ship arrived in August 1629, also named the "Mayflower", with 35 additional members of the Leiden congregation. Ships arrived throughout the period between 1629 and 1630 carrying new settlers, though the exact number is unknown; contemporaneous documents indicate that the colony had almost 300 people by January 1630.
Plymouth Colony | Growth of Plymouth
The "Mary and John" stayed until October 6, 1607 when it returned to Plymouth, England, arriving on December 1, 1607. The colonists built an admiral's house, a chapel, a storehouse, a cooperage, and a guardhouse. They also built a 30-ton ship they named "Virginia". The ship "Gift of God" remained at the settlement until December 16 when it too sailed for England, carrying nearly half the colonists with it with the purpose of conserving the outpost's supplies. The Popham Colony, England's first attempt at a New England settlement, didn't prosper. During a harsh winter season, George Popham died on February 5, 1608 and Raleigh Gilbert assumed leadership.
Mary and John | 1607 voyages
Contrary to conditions on the "Mayflower" one year earlier, everyone on the "Fortune" seemed to be in good health upon arrival. One birth was recorded soon after arrival – Martha Ford gave birth to a son, although her husband William Ford may have died about that time as well as the son. On the ship were a large number of non-religious passengers having been given the sobriquet of "Strangers," many of them single men who would greatly out-number the single, marriageable females in the colony. With arrival of the "Fortune" the colony had a total of sixty-six men and just sixteen women.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" passengers
The "Fortune" stayed in Plymouth for just about two weeks, and on 13 December 1621, she got underway for her return voyage to London. On board was Robert Cushman who had left his fourteen-year-old son Thomas in the care of Governor Bradford. Cushman carried, in addition to Bradford’s letter to Weston, a manuscript that would be become an invaluable historic recording of the Pilgrims first thirteen months in America known today as "Mourt’s Relation". Believed written by Bradford and Edward Winslow, it recounts the First Thanksgiving and the abundance of the New World. "Fortune" was not with the ship of that name on the return to England.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" return voyage to England
Mayflower was the ship that transported the Pilgrims from Plymouth to the New World in 1620. Mayflower may also refer to:
Mayflower (disambiguation) | Introduction
Additionally, 15 of those men (of 58 total) were included in a historic 1626 agreement regarding "Mayflower" and other debts owed by the colony to the Merchant Adventurers which were reorganized and taken over largely by the colony itself under a creditor group known as the “Purchasers” . In 1627 the debts and shares in the company were assigned in to 8 Plymouth colony leaders and 4 Merchant Adventurers, all known as “Undertakers.” Those 15 Purchasers are identified on the passenger list. And although Bradford notes that thirty-five persons were on "Fortune", only the names of twenty-eight persons are listed as receiving lots in 1623.
Passengers of 1621 Fortune voyage | Passenger count
In 1620 John Crackston came to the "Mayflower" with the Leiden contingent in the company of his son John. It is believed that his wife, name unknown, may have been deceased and therefore the reason his son was with him on the voyage without his mother. His daughter Anna had married in 1618 and did not accompany them. The "Mayflower" departed from Plymouth, England aboard the "Mayflower" on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
John Crackston | "Mayflower" voyage
They spent several days trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, but strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, now called Provincetown Harbor, where they anchored on November 11/21, 1620. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day, Bradford being one of the first to sign.
William Bradford (governor) | The "Mayflower" voyage
In the fall of 1621 the Fortune was the second English ship destined for Plymouth Colony in the New World, one year after the voyage of the Pilgrim ship "Mayflower". Financed as the "Mayflower" was by Thomas Weston and others of the London-based Merchant Adventurers, "Fortune" was to transport thirty-five "settlers" to the colony on a ship that was much smaller than "Mayflower". The "Fortune" required two months to prepare for the voyage and once underway, reached Cape Cod on 9 November 1621 and the colony itself in late November. The ship was unexpected by those in Plymouth colony and although it brought useful settlers, many of whom were young men, it brought no supplies, further straining the limited food resources of the colony.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Introduction
In 1624 Capt. John Smith reported, "There hath been a fishing this yeere upon the Coast about 50 English ships…"
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Other ships visit Plymouth 1622–1624
On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21.
Isaac Allerton | The "Mayflower" voyage
(16 September, N.S.). After 66 days of fighting gales and with the ship's timbers rupturing, and with a detriment to the health of all on board, the "Mayflower" finally arrived within the waters of the Cape Cod Bay on 11 November before anchoring off what is now Provincetown. Recent research has revealed that the ship docked at the tiny fishing village of Renews in Newfoundland for fresh water and food before arriving in Provincetown. The "Mayflower" and its passengers and crew would proceed to establish a settlement at Plymouth, on the other side of the Cape Cod Bay from Provincetown.
Christopher Jones (Mayflower captain) | Voyage of the Pilgrim Ship "Mayflower"
With personal and business matters agreed upon, the Puritans procured supplies and a small ship. "Speedwell" was to bring some passengers from the Netherlands to England, then on to America where it would be kept for the fishing business, with a crew hired for support services during the first year. The larger ship "Mayflower" was leased for transport and exploration services.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | Preparations
Arrived In New England June 24 Ano 1635". The name of the ship was not recorded, nor has it been identified since. Governor Winthrop recorded that 15 ships arrived in the Massachusetts Bay area in the six-week period beginning 4 June 1635, but he gave the names of only two of them.
William Arnold (settler) | Voyage to New England
And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21. Samuel Fuller and others signed the Mayflower Compact that day.
Samuel Fuller (Pilgrim) | "Mayflower" Voyage
The passage of the "Mayflower" across the Atlantic lasted more than two months, with 102 passengers crowded onto the cargo ship's gun deck and about 30 crew members. The seas were not severe during the first month of the voyage but, by the second month, the ship was being hit by strong autumn gales, causing it to be badly shaken with water leaks from structural damage. One passenger died at sea, and four others died while the ship was anchored at Cape Cod. On November 9, 1620, lookouts spotted land, but they discovered that they were near Cape Cod and about 200 miles east-northeast of their planned destination of northern Virginia.
Myles Standish | Voyage to New Plymouth
And the ship "Discovery", in a 1622 voyage from Virginia to England, made a short visit at Plymouth with a letter by passenger John Pory, an official of Jamestown, written in praise of the colony. In October 1622 the ship "Paragon", with sixty-seven passengers, came out by "private men's purses" but had to return to England two weeks later, leaking from storm damage. The "Paragon" made another attempt to reach Plymouth in February 1623 but apparently was driven back by North Atlantic weather and never did reach Plymouth. As the years went by, more English fishing boats came out to the New England coast.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Other ships visit Plymouth 1622–1624
In 1623 the ships Anne and Little James were the third and fourth ships financed by the London-based Merchant Adventurers to come out together in support of Plymouth Colony, as were "Mayflower" in 1620 and "Fortune" in 1621. "Anne" carried mostly passengers, and the much smaller "Little James" carried primarily cargo, albeit with a few passengers. After a stormy three-month voyage from London, "Anne" arrived at New Plymouth in early July 1623, with "Little James" a week or so later. Between them the ships brought 90-odd new settlers along with about thirty others who were not part of the core emigrant group.
The ships Anne and Little James | Introduction
At the time of the "Mayflower's" voyage in 1620, Richard and his wife had five daughters: Mary, Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth and Abigail. But Richard came on the "Mayflower" alone, deciding to wait until conditions in the New World were satisfactory before bringing over his family. Governor William Bradford recalled of that time, "Mr. Richard Warren, but his wife and children were lefte behind, and came afterwards." The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on 6/16 September 1620. The small, ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30–40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
Richard Warren | The "Mayflower"
The "Fortune" finally arrived back into the Thames on 17 February 1622. The loss of "Fortune"s valuable cargo dealt a severe financial loss to the Merchant Adventurers who by this time had little hope of recouping their investment in either ship. Due to this, the Merchant Adventurers were reorganized in 1626 in conjunction with Plymouth Colony leaders, in an effort to restructure financial agreements and for Plymouth Colony to eventually pay its creditors.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" return voyage to England
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England, on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter.
William Butten | "Mayflower" Voyage
Bradford wrote, "They were presently put to half allowance, one as well as an other, which begane to be hard, but they bore it patiently, under hope of (future) supply."
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" passengers
There were 26 vessels bearing the name "Mayflower" in the Port Books of England during the reign of James I (1603–1625); it is not known why the name was so popular. The identity of Captain Jones's "Mayflower" is based on records from her home port, her tonnage (est. 180–200 tons), and the master's name in 1620 in order to avoid confusion with the many other "Mayflower" ships. It is not known when and where "Mayflower" was built, although late records designate her as "of London". She was designated in the Port Books of 1609–11 as "of Harwich" in the county of Essex, coincidentally the birthplace of "Mayflower" master Christopher Jones about 1570.
Mayflower | "Mayflower" ship history
Plymouth played a very important role in American colonial history. It was the final landing site of the first voyage of the "Mayflower" and the location of the original settlement of Plymouth Colony. Plymouth was established in December 1620 by English separatist Puritans who had broken away from the Church of England, believing that the Church had not completed the work of the Protestant Reformation. Today, these settlers are much better known as the "Pilgrims", a term coined by William Bradford. The Mayflower first anchored in the harbor of Provincetown, Massachusetts on November 11, 1620. The ship was headed for the mouth of the Hudson River near Manhattan, which was part of the Colony of Virginia at the time, but it did not go beyond Cape Cod.
Plymouth, Massachusetts | Colonial era
The Allerton family boarded the "Mayflower" consisting of Allerton's wife Mary, three children and an apprentice, John Hooke. The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30–40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.
Isaac Allerton | The "Mayflower" voyage
It would remain with the Pilgrims when the "Mayflower" returned to England. On November 15, Captain Myles Standish led a party of 16 men on an exploratory mission, during which they disturbed an Indian grave and located a buried cache of Indian corn. The following week, Susanna White gave birth to son Peregrine White on the "Mayflower". He was the first child born to the Pilgrims in the New World. The shallop was finished on November 27, and a second expedition was undertaken using it, under the direction of "Mayflower" master Christopher Jones. Thirty-four men went, but the expedition was beset by bad weather; the only positive result was that they found an Indian burial ground and corn that had been intended for the dead, taking the corn for future planting.
Plymouth Colony | Landings at Provincetown and Plymouth
Eighteen persons are known to have been unmarried, eight married, but emigrating without their families, and as far as can be determined, Mrs. Martha Ford may have been the only woman on the ship. Although it is possible some of the missing seven persons in the passenger count were wives, Bradford does not leave that impression in his account. Per author Charles Banks, individual records show that sixteen of the passengers can definitely be assigned to London or districts of the city such as Stepney and Southwark. Another three passengers were from Leiden in Holland. Ten more passengers, whose origins cannot be determined, either died early or left the colony as determined by who was listed in the 1627 Division of Cattle, which also doubled as a type of census.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | Preparing for the voyage
And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21.
John Crackston | "Mayflower" voyage
Edward Doty departed Plymouth, England, aboard the "Mayflower" on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30–40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, contributed to what would be a fatal journey for many, especially the majority of women and children.
Edward Doty | "Mayflower" voyage
A third expedition along Cape Cod left on December 6; it resulted in a skirmish with Indians known as the "First Encounter" near Eastham, Massachusetts. The colonists decided to look elsewhere, having failed to secure a proper site for their settlement, and fearing that they had angered the Indians by taking their corn and firing upon them. The "Mayflower" left Provincetown Harbor and set sail for Plymouth Harbor. The "Mayflower" dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor on December 16 and spent three days looking for a settlement site. They rejected several sites, including one on Clark's Island and another at the mouth of the Jones River, in favor of the site of a recently abandoned settlement which had been occupied by the Patuxet tribe.
Plymouth Colony | Landings at Provincetown and Plymouth
On November 9, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod Hook, where they anchored on November 11. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.
Resolved White | "Mayflower" voyage
On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in the cold, harsh New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21.
John Billington | "Mayflower" voyage
Richard More and his siblings departed Plymouth, England on the "Mayflower" 6 September 1620 (Old Style), dangerously late in the season. They endured a rough three months at sea in cramped and unsanitary conditions, eventually landing at Cape Cod Hook (Provincetown Harbor) on 11 November 1620 (Old Style). A number of colonists travelled as indentured servants on the "Mayflower". Exactly what explanation was given for the More children's presence is not known, but many homeless waifs from the streets of London were sent to the New World as labourers. The More children were assigned as servants and wards of three adult passengers, as follows:
Richard More (Mayflower passenger) | "Mayflower" voyage
Because of this, they chose to relocate to the New World, with their voyage being financed by English investors. In September 1620, 102 passengers set sail aboard the "Mayflower", eventually settling at Plymouth Colony in November. Of the passengers on the Mayflower, 41 men signed the "Mayflower Compact" aboard ship on November 11, 1620, while anchored in Provincetown Harbor. Signers included Carver, Alden, Standish, Howland, Bradford, Allerton, and Fuller. This story has become a central theme in the United States cultural identity. A number of English colonies were established under a system of proprietary governors, who were appointed under mercantile charters to English joint stock companies to found and run settlements.
English Americans | Early settlement and colonization
William Bradford, in his memoirs, listed the Tilley family on the Mayflower as: "John Tillie, and his wife; and Elizabeth, their daughter." Elizabeth would have been about 13 years old during the journey. The Mayflower departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
Elizabeth Tilley | On the "Mayflower" and in the New World
The leaders of the colony decided to leave the smaller "Speedwell" behind after numerous delays caused by leaking, which had caused them to return to port twice. The Standishes and most of the "Speedwell" passengers crowded into the "Mayflower", and the "Speedwell" went on to London to be resold, now with only a few passengers. (She subsequently made numerous successful journeys as a cargo vessel for her new owners, but never sailed to the New World.) The "Mayflower" passengers, meanwhile, sold some valuable supplies such as butter to pay the mounting port fees, and finally departed Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620, bound for the northern part of the Virginia Colony.
Myles Standish | Voyage to New Plymouth
The first Plymouth Company ship, "Richard", sailed in August 1606, but the Spanish intercepted and captured it near Florida in November. The next attempt was more successful. The expedition's mission was to find gold, the Northwest Passage, a river passage to China, to fish and hunt beaver for fur and to sell and prove that New World forests could build English ships. About 120 colonists (all men and boys) left Plymouth on May 31, 1607, in two ships. They intended to trade precious metals, spices, furs, and show that the local forests could be used to build English ships. George Popham was president of the colony and captain of "Gift of God".
Popham Colony | Colonists
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30–40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, contributed to the deaths of many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst came after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half of the passengers perished in the cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter.
Resolved White | "Mayflower" voyage
The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter.
Francis Cooke | The Mayflower Voyage
On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come; after arriving at their destination, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. After sighting land they turned south, attempting to reach their planned destination at the Colony of Virginia. However, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11.
Edward Doty | "Mayflower" voyage
The Pilgrim ship "Mayflower" has a famous place in American history as a symbol of early European colonization of the future United States. As described by the European "History" channel: The main record for the voyage of "Mayflower" and the disposition of the Plymouth Colony comes from the letters and journal of William Bradford, who was a guiding force and later the governor of the colony. His detailed record of the journey is one of the primary sources used by historians, and the most complete history of Plymouth Colony that was written by a Mayflower passenger. The American national holiday, Thanksgiving, originated from the first Thanksgiving feast held by the Pilgrims in 1621, a prayer event and dinner to mark the first harvest of the Mayflower settlers.
Mayflower | Legacy
The "Mayflower II" is a full-size replica of the "Mayflower", the ship which brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620. It is located at the State Pier in Plymouth Center. The ship is open as a museum about the Pilgrims' historic voyage from Plymouth, England, and is considered a faithful replica of the original "Mayflower". It is officially a part of Plimoth Plantation. The ship was built in Brixham, England in 1956, and sailed to Plymouth across the Atlantic Ocean in 1957 by famous mariner Alan Villiers. The ship is still seaworthy, and routinely takes voyages around Plymouth Harbor. In the year 2007, the "Mayflower II" celebrated the 50th anniversary of its arrival in Plymouth.
Plymouth, Massachusetts | Mayflower II
Thorough exploration of the area was delayed for more than two weeks because the shallop or pinnace (a smaller sailing vessel) which they brought had been partially dismantled to fit aboard the "Mayflower" and was further damaged in transit. Small parties, however, waded to the beach to fetch firewood and attend to long-deferred personal hygiene. Exploratory parties were undertaken while awaiting the shallop, led by Myles Standish (an English soldier whom the colonists had met while in Leiden) and Christopher Jones. They encountered an old European-built house and iron kettle, left behind by some ship's crew, and a few recently cultivated fields, showing corn stubble.
Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony) | First landings
The "Fortune" began its return to England laden with £500 worth of goods (equivalent to £ in 2010, or $ at PPP), more than enough to keep the colonists on schedule for repayment of their debt. However, the "Fortune" was captured by the French before she could deliver her cargo to England, creating an even larger deficit for the colony. In July 1623, two more ships arrived: the "Anne" under the command of Captain "Master" William Peirce and Master John Bridges, and the "Little James" under the command of Captain Emanuel Altham. These ships carried 96 new settlers, among them Leideners, including William Bradford's future wife Alice and William and Mary Brewster's daughters Patience and Fear.
Plymouth Colony | Growth of Plymouth
Per Bradford, the arrivals were "lusty young men, and many of them wild enough."
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" arrival in the New World
As they approached New England, a hurricane struck and they were forced to ride it out just off the coast of modern-day Hampton, New Hampshire. According to the ship's log and the journal of Increase Mather, whose father Richard Mather and family were passengers, the following was recorded; "At this moment... their lives were given up for lost; but then, in an instant of time, God turned the wind about, which carried them from the rocks of death before their eyes. ...her sails rent in sunder, and split in pieces, as if they had been rotten ragges..."
James (ship) | 1635 voyages
Sarah did not travel aboard the "Mayflower"; she arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts on July 10, 1623 aboard the "Anne".
Isaac Allerton Jr. | Early life and ancestors
On December 21, 1620, the first landing party arrived at the site of Plymouth. Plans to build houses, however, were delayed by bad weather until December 23. As the building progressed, 20 men always remained ashore for security purposes while the rest of the work crews returned each night to the "Mayflower". Women, children, and the infirm remained on board the "Mayflower", and many had not left the ship for six months. The first structure was a common house of wattle and daub, and it took two weeks to complete in the harsh New England winter. In the following weeks, the rest of the settlement slowly took shape.
Plymouth Colony | First winter
This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter. On November 9/19, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor.
John Crackston | "Mayflower" voyage
His other children came afterwards." Thomas Rogers and his 18-year-old son Joseph departed Plymouth, England aboard the "Mayflower" on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.
Thomas Rogers (Mayflower passenger) | "Mayflower" voyage
The Plymouth Company ships arrived at the mouth of the Kennebec River (then called the Sagadahoc River) in August 1607 where they established a settlement named Sagadahoc Colony, better known as Popham Colony (see symbol "Po" on map to right) to honor financial backer Sir John Popham. The colonists faced a harsh winter, the loss of supplies following a storehouse fire, and mixed relations with the local Native tribes. Colony leader Captain George Popham died, and Raleigh Gilbert decided to return to England to take up an inheritance left by an older brother—at which point, all of the colonists decided to return to England.
New England Colonies | Arriving in America
On November 9/19, 1620, after about 3 months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.
William White (Mayflower passenger) | The "Mayflower" Voyage
Per William Bradford, John Turner traveled on the "Mayflower" accompanied by his two sons, whose given names are unknown. The name of his wife is also unknown. She may have remained in Holland at the "Mayflower" sailing or more likely died before the sailing of the ship, which may explain why such young sons were traveling with him. John Turner departed Plymouth, England on the "Mayflower" on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
John Turner (Mayflower passenger) | On the "Mayflower"
In the spring of 1623 about 90 passengers embarked in two small ships sailing from London to Plymouth Colony for the purpose of providing settlers and other colony support. These were the 140-ton supply ship "Anne" and the smaller, new 44-ton pinnace "Little James" which had been outfitted for military service. They were financed by Thomas Weston's investment group, the Merchant Adventurers, also those who financed in 1620 and in 1621. After a three-month voyage, "Anne" arrived in Plymouth, per Bradford, on July 10, 1623 and "Little James" a week or ten days later. After this voyage "Anne" was to return to its regular cargo shipping work and "Little James" was to remain in the colony for fishing, cargo and military service.
Passengers of the ships Anne and Little James 1623 | Voyage
Per William Bradford's later recollection of this family on the "Mayflower": "John Tillie, and his wife; and Elizabeth, their daughter." The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on 6/16 September 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30–40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.
John Tilley (Mayflower passenger) | On the "Mayflower" and in the New World
William White came on board the "Mayflower" with his pregnant wife Susanna, son Resolved, then about five years in age and two servants. Susanna gave birth to their son Peregrine on board the Mayflower several weeks after White signed the Mayflower Compact. The White family, as recalled by William Bradford in 1651, per their "Mayflower" voyage, and the birth of Peregrine: "Mr. William White, and Susana, his wife, and one sone, called Resolved, and one borne a ship-bord, called Peregriene; and *2* servants, named William Holbeck and Edward Thomson." The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England, September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions.
William White (Mayflower passenger) | The "Mayflower" Voyage
In 1630, the ship was captained by Thomas Chubb and the company was led by Roger Ludlow, one of the Assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company, who was accompanied by Edward Rossiter, another Assistant to the Company. The ship had three decks for its passengers, livestock, and cargo. She became part of what was later known as the Great Migration. The colonists were recruited by the Reverend John White of Dorchester, Dorset. Nearly all of the passengers originated in the West Country counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and the West Country towns of Dorchester, Bridport, Crewkerne, and Exeter. The ship sailed on March 20, 1630, under the command of a Capt.
Mary and John | 1630 voyage
His daughter Sarah, married to a man named Blunden, was his estate administrator, as requested in Mullins will. Recording those on board the "Mayflower", William Bradford wrote of Mullins as "Mr. William Mullins", possibly as he was somewhat more prosperous than many of the original settlers: "Mr. William Mullines, and his wife, and *2* children, Joseph and Priscila; and a servant, Robart Carter." The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill.
William Mullins (Mayflower passenger) | On the "Mayflower"
The Tinker family's embarkation on the "Mayflower", per William Bradford states: "Thomas Tinker, and his wife, and a sone." The names of the wife and son are unknown. The "Mayflower" departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.
Thomas Tinker | On the "Mayflower"
Apparently due to a major navigation error, navigation being imperfect in those days, the ship sailed hundreds of miles off course from England, south-east into France’s Bay of Biscay off the coast of Vendee, north of La Rochelle. About five weeks into her voyage on 19 January 1622 and not far from the fortified Ile d’Yeu, a French warship overtook the "Fortune" which was off-course about 350 sea miles southeast of where they should be – England’s Land’s End and the English Channel. It seems the "Fortune" made a common mistake – her master mistook the long peninsula of Brittany in western France for the Lizard Peninsula on the southwestern end of England and then she strayed off down the French Atlantic coast to be taken by a French warship.
Fortune (Plymouth Colony ship) | "Fortune" return voyage to England
His name appears as "Franc Eaton" on the agreement dated 26 October 1626.
Francis Eaton (Mayflower passenger) | In Plymouth Colony
Four days later, recaptured "Nancy". "Nancy" arrived at Plymouth before 14 April. "Cambrian" shared the prize money with and .
Nancy (1792 ship) | Career
The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.
Edward Winslow | "Mayflower" voyage
On November 9/19, 1620, after about 5 months at sea, including 3 months of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. And after two days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.
Francis Cooke | The Mayflower Voyage
The colonists elected to retain the name for their own settlement, in honor of their final point of departure from England: Plymouth, Devon.
Plymouth Colony | Landings at Provincetown and Plymouth
On the second attempt, "Mayflower" and "Speedwell" sailed about 100 leagues (about ) beyond Land's End in Cornwall, but "Speedwell" was again found to be taking on water. Both vessels returned to Dartmouth. The Separatists decided to go on to America on "Mayflower". According to Bradford, "Speedwell" was sold at auction in London, and after being repaired made a number of successful voyages for her new owners. At least two of her passengers, Captain Thomas Blossom and a son, returned to Leiden. Prior to the voyage, "Speedwell" had been refitted in Delfshaven and had two masts. Nathaniel Philbrick theorizes that the crew used a mast that was too big for the ship, and that the added stress caused holes to form in the hull.
Speedwell (1577 ship) | "Speedwell"
Note: "Asterisk on any name indicates those who died in the winter of 1620–21".
List of Mayflower passengers | Ship crewmen hired to stay one year
Captain Joseph Jackson sailed from Plymouth on 15 Mar 1761 and arrived at Madras on 23 July. "Pitt" then arrived at Whampoa on 24 October. For her return to Britain she crossed the Second Bar on 30 November, reached St Helena on 22 April 1762, and arrived at the Downs on 28 July.
Pondichéry (1754 ship) | Voyage #2 (1761–1762)
Due to widespread illness among the passengers and dwindling supplies, Jones determined that the colonists would have to disembark and settle in New England rather than the Hudson River. The "Mayflower" eventually came to anchor on November 11 in Provincetown Harbor at the northern tip of Cape Cod.
John Alden | Voyage of the Mayflower