Difference between revisions of "Mayflower" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:MayflowerHarbor.jpg|thumb|300px|right| ''Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor'' by William Halsall (1882)]]
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[[Image:MayflowerHarbor.jpg|thumb|300px|right| ''Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor'' by [[William Halsall]] (1882)]]
 
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{{otheruses}}
 
  
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The '''''Mayflower''''' was the famous [[ship]] that transported the [[Pilgrims]] from [[Plymouth]], [[England]], to [[Plymouth Colony]], [[Massachusetts]] ([[United States]]), in [[1620]].
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The '''''Mayflower''''' was the famous ship that transported the [[Pilgrims]] from Plymouth, [[United Kingdom|England]], to Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts ([[United States]]), in 1620.
−
<ref name=sos>
+
The vessel disembarked from England on September 6, and after a grueling journey marked by disease, the ship dropped anchor inside the hook tip of Cape Cod (Provincetown Harbor) on November 11. The ''Mayflower'' originally was destined for the Hudson River, north of the 1607 [[Jamestown Settlement]]. However, the ''Mayflower'' went severely off-course as the winter approached and remained in Cape Cod Bay.
−
    "The Pilgrim-Fathers’ Voyage with the 'Mayflower'" (history),
 
−
    Bjoern Moritz, [[2003]], ''ShipsOnStamps.org'' webpage:
 
−
    [http://www.shipsonstamps.org/Topics/html/pilgrim.htm SoS-Pilgrim]:
 
−
    states, "The 'Mayflower' was employed bringing wine from the Mediterranean to England and outward bound, she carried furs and bales of cloth to France"
 
−
    and "anchored off today's Provincetown in the Bay of Cape Cod"
 
−
    and "December 15 the 'Mayflower' sailed to this place...called Plymouth"
 
−
    and "throughout the winter the passengers remained on board"
 
−
    and "contagious disease...mixture of scurvy, pneumonia & tuberculosis"
 
−
    and "53 persons still alive, half of the Pilgrims, half of the crew"
 
−
    and "March 21, 1621, the surviving passengers left the 'Mayflower'"
 
−
    and "on April 5 Captain Jones sailed back to England with an empty ship"
 
−
    and "November 11, 1621, the ship 'Fortune' arrived...with 35 settlers."
 
−
</ref>
 
−
The vessel disembarked from England on [[September 6]], and after a grueling journey marked by disease, the ship dropped [[anchor]] inside the hook tip of [[Cape Cod]] ([[Provincetown Harbor]]) on [[November 11]] (dates in [[Old Style and New Style dates|Old Style]], [[Julian Calendar]]).<ref name=sos/> The ''Mayflower'' originally was destined for the [[Hudson River]], north of the [[1607]] [[Jamestown Settlement]].
 
−
<ref>
 
−
    Bradford (original destination: [[Hudson River]]), webpage:
 
−
    [http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm GTC-Brad].
 
−
</ref>
 
−
However, the ''Mayflower'' went severely off-course as the winter approached and remained in Cape Cod Bay (mapped in [[1602]] by [[Bartholomew Gosnold|Gosnold]]).
 
  
−
On [[March 21]], [[1621]], all surviving passengers, who had inhabited the ship during the winter, moved ashore as [[Plymouth Colony]], and on [[April 5]], the ''Mayflower,'' a privately-commissioned vessel, returned to England (details below).<ref name=sos/>
+
On March 21, 1621, all surviving passengers, who had inhabited the ship during the winter, moved ashore at Plymouth Colony, and on April 5, the ''Mayflower,'' a privately-commissioned vessel, returned to England.
  
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<!-- (Hide text until sourced, NPOV objective: Mayflower has much literature.)
 
  
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The ''Mayflower'' has a famous place in American history as a symbol of early European colonization of the future US. With their religion oppressed by governments, the small party of religious separatists who comprised about half of the passengers on the ship desired a life where they could practice their religion freely. {{fact}} This symbol of religious freedom resonates in US society and the story of the Mayflower is a staple for any American history textbook.
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The main record for the voyage of the Mayflower and the disposition of the Plymouth Colony comes from William Bradford who was a guiding force and later the governor of the colony.
  
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The main record for the voyage of the Mayflower and the disposition of the Plymouth Colony comes from [[William Bradford]] who was a guiding force and later the [[governor]] of the [[colony]].
 
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— (Hide text above) —
 
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—>
 
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In [[1623]], a year after the death of captain [[Christopher Jones]], the ''Mayflower'' was dismantled for scrap lumber in [[Rotherhithe]], [[London, England]].{{fact}}
 
  
 
[[Image:Cape_cod_bay.jpg|thumb|''Mayflower'' arrived inside tip of [[Cape Cod]] fishhook, [[11 November]] [[1620]]]]
 
[[Image:Cape_cod_bay.jpg|thumb|''Mayflower'' arrived inside tip of [[Cape Cod]] fishhook, [[11 November]] [[1620]]]]
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==Ship==
 
==Ship==
  
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The ''Mayflower'' was used primarily as a cargo ship, involved in active trade of goods (often wine) between England and other European countries,<ref name=sos/>
+
The ''Mayflower'' was used primarily as a cargo ship, involved in active trade of goods (often wine) between England and other European countries, (principally [[France]], but also [[Norway]], [[Germany]], and [[Spain]]). At least between 1609 and 1622, it was mastered by Christopher Jones, who would command the ship on the famous transatlantic voyage, and based in Rotherhithe, London, England. After the famous voyage of the Mayflower, the ship returned to England, likely dismantled for scrap lumber in Rotherhithe in 1623, only a year after Jones's death in March 1622. The Mayflower Barn, just outside the [[Quaker]] village of Jordans, in Buckinghamshire, England, is said to be built from these timbers.
−
<ref name=MHcrew>
 
−
  "The Mayflower's Crew" (biographies),
 
−
  MayflowerHistory.com, 2007, webpage:
 
−
  [http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Genealogy/crew.php].
 
−
</ref>
 
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(principally [[France]], but also [[Norway]], [[Germany]], and [[Spain]]). At least between [[1609]] and [[1622]], it was mastered by [[Christopher Jones (sailor)|Christopher Jones]], who would command the ship on the famous transatlantic voyage, and based in [[Rotherhithe]], London, England.<ref name=sos/>  After the famous voyage of the Mayflower, the ship returned to England, likely dismantled for scrap lumber in Rotherhithe in [[1623]], only a year after Jones's death in March [[1622]]. The [[Mayflower Barn]], just outside the [[Quaker]] village of [[Jordans]], in [[Buckinghamshire]], England, is said to be built from these timbers.{{fact}}
 
  
−
Details of the ship's dimensions are unknown; but estimates based on its load weight and the typical size of 180-[[Tonnage|ton]] merchant ships of its day suggest an estimated length of 90–110 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]] (27.4–33.5 [[Metre|m]]) and a width of about 25 feet (7.6 m). The ship was manned by a crew of 25-30.<ref name=MHcrew/>
+
Details of the ship's dimensions are unknown; but estimates based on its load weight and the typical size of 180-ton merchant ships of its day suggest an estimated length of 90–110 feet (27.4–33.5 m) and a width of about 25 feet (7.6 m). The ship was manned by a crew of 25-30.
  
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===Replica===
+
Careful research went into designing a replica, the ''Mayflower II'' (launched September 22, 1956), to resemble its namesake in every detail. This vessel is now part of the Plimoth Plantation living museum, near Plymouth, Massachusetts.
−
Careful research went into designing a replica, the ''[[Mayflower II]]'' (launched [[September 22]], [[1956]]), to resemble its namesake in every detail. This vessel is now part of the [[Plimoth Plantation]] [[living museum]], near [[Plymouth (town), Massachusetts|Plymouth, Massachusetts]].
 
  
 
==Pilgrims' voyage==
 
==Pilgrims' voyage==
 
[[Image:Southampton-MayflowerMemorial.jpg|thumb|right|100px|The Mayflower Memorial in [[Southampton]].]]
 
[[Image:Southampton-MayflowerMemorial.jpg|thumb|right|100px|The Mayflower Memorial in [[Southampton]].]]
 
Initially, the plan was for the voyage to be made in two vessels, the other being the smaller ''[[Speedwell (ship)|Speedwell]]''.
 
Initially, the plan was for the voyage to be made in two vessels, the other being the smaller ''[[Speedwell (ship)|Speedwell]]''.
−
The first voyage of the ships departed [[Southampton]], England,
+
The first voyage of the ships departed [[Southampton]], England, on [[August 5]], [[1620]]; but the ''Speedwell'' developed a leak, and had to be refitted at [[Dartmouth, England|Dartmouth]].
−
<ref name=MayPPM>
 
−
    "Press Kit - Mayflower II" (with history of the ''Mayflower''),
 
−
    Plimouth Plantation Museum, 2004, ''Plimouth.org'' webpage:
 
−
    [http://www.plimoth.org/about/presskit/mayflowerBG.asp PlimouthOrg-MayflowerBG].
 
−
</ref>
 
−
on [[August 5]], [[1620]]; but the ''Speedwell'' developed a leak, and had to be refitted at [[Dartmouth, England|Dartmouth]].
 
  
 
On the second attempt, the ships reached the [[Atlantic Ocean]] but again were forced to return to Plymouth because of the ''Speedwell'''s leak.
 
On the second attempt, the ships reached the [[Atlantic Ocean]] but again were forced to return to Plymouth because of the ''Speedwell'''s leak.
  
−
After reorganisation, the final sixty-six day voyage was made by the ''Mayflower'' alone, leaving [[Plymouth, England]] on [[September 6]].<ref name=MayPPM/> With 102 passengers plus crew, each family was allotted a very confined amount of space for personal belongings.  
+
After reorganisation, the final sixty-six day voyage was made by the ''Mayflower'' alone, leaving [[Plymouth, England]] on [[September 6]]. With 102 passengers plus crew, each family was allotted a very confined amount of space for personal belongings.  
  
−
The ship probably had a crew of twenty-five to thirty, along with other hired personnel; however, only the names of five are known, including [[John Alden]].[http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Genealogy/crew.php]  William Bradford, who penned our only account of the ''Mayflower'' voyage, wrote that John Alden (archaic spellings) "''was hired for a cooper'' [barrel-maker], ''at [[Southampton|South-Hampton]], where the ship victuled; and being a hopefull yong man, was much desired, but left to his owne liking to go or stay when he came here; but he stayed, and [[marriage|maryed]] here.''"
+
The ship probably had a crew of twenty-five to thirty, along with other hired personnel; however, only the names of five are known, including [[John Alden]]. William Bradford, who penned our only account of the ''Mayflower'' voyage, wrote that John Alden (archaic spellings) "''was hired for a cooper'' [barrel-maker], ''at [[Southampton|South-Hampton]], where the ship victuled; and being a hopefull yong man, was much desired, but left to his owne liking to go or stay when he came here; but he stayed, and [[marriage|maryed]] here.''"
−
<ref>
 
−
    "JOHN ALDEN" (history),
 
−
    Pilgrim Hall Museum, 1998-07-14, ''PilgrimHall.org'' webpage:
 
−
    [http://www.pilgrimhall.org/aldenjohn.htm PilgrimHall-Alden-John]:
 
−
    was "hired for a cooper" at [[Southampton, England]].
 
−
</ref>
 
  
−
The intended destination was an area near the [[Hudson River]], in "[[Virginia Company|North Virginia]]". However the ship was forced far off-course by inclement weather and drifted well north of the intended Virginia settlement. As a result of the delay, the settlers did not arrive in Cape Cod till the onset of a harsh [[New England]] winter. The settlers ultimately failed to reach Virginia where they had already obtained permission from the [[London Company]] to settle. {{fact}}
+
The intended destination was an area near the [[Hudson River]], in "[[Virginia Company|North Virginia]]". However the ship was forced far off-course by inclement weather and drifted well north of the intended Virginia settlement. As a result of the delay, the settlers did not arrive in Cape Cod till the onset of a harsh [[New England]] winter. The settlers ultimately failed to reach Virginia where they had already obtained permission from the [[London Company]] to settle.  
  
 
To establish legal order and to quell increasing strife within the ranks, the settlers wrote and signed the [[Mayflower Compact]] after the ship dropped anchor at the tip of Cape Cod on [[November 11]], in what is now [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]].<ref name=sos/>
 
To establish legal order and to quell increasing strife within the ranks, the settlers wrote and signed the [[Mayflower Compact]] after the ship dropped anchor at the tip of Cape Cod on [[November 11]], in what is now [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]].<ref name=sos/>
  
−
The settlers, upon initially setting anchor, explored the snow-covered area and discovered an empty Native American village. The curious settlers dug up some artificially-made mounds, some of which had stored corn while others were burial sites. The settlers stole the corn sparking friction with the locals. {{fact}} They explored the area of Cape Cod for several weeks and decided to relocate after a difficult encounter with the local native Americans, the Nausets.
+
The settlers, upon initially setting anchor, explored the snow-covered area and discovered an empty Native American village. The curious settlers dug up some artificially-made mounds, some of which had stored corn while others were burial sites. The settlers stole the corn sparking friction with the locals. They explored the area of Cape Cod for several weeks and decided to relocate after a difficult encounter with the local native Americans, the Nausets.
  
−
During the winter the passengers remained on board the 'Mayflower', suffering an outbreak of a contagious disease described as a mixture of [[scurvy]], [[pneumonia]] and [[tuberculosis]].<ref name=sos/> When it ended, there were only 53 persons still alive, half of the passengers and half of the crew.<ref name=sos/> In spring, they built huts ashore, and on [[March 21]], [[1621]], the surviving passengers left the 'Mayflower'.<ref name=sos/>
+
During the winter the passengers remained on board the 'Mayflower', suffering an outbreak of a contagious disease described as a mixture of [[scurvy]], [[pneumonia]] and [[tuberculosis]]. When it ended, there were only 53 persons still alive, half of the passengers and half of the crew. In spring, they built huts ashore, and on [[March 21]], [[1621]], the surviving passengers left the 'Mayflower'.
  
 
On [[April 5]], [[1621]], the ''Mayflower'' set sail from [[Plymouth Colony]] to return to England,<ref name=sos/> where she arrived on [[May 6]], [[1621]].
 
On [[April 5]], [[1621]], the ''Mayflower'' set sail from [[Plymouth Colony]] to return to England,<ref name=sos/> where she arrived on [[May 6]], [[1621]].
−
<ref>
 
−
    "Saga Of The Pilgrims" (historical analysis),
 
−
    John Harris, Globe Newspaper Co., [[1983]], webpages (no links between):
 
−
    [http://www.unityinchrist.com/history/print/saga1.htm UCcom-saga1] and
 
−
    [http://www.unityinchrist.com/history/print/saga11.htm UCcom-saga11]:
 
−
    states, "Mayflower reached London in roughly a month, May 6,
 
−
    a quick passage."
 
−
</ref>
 
−
 
−
{{unreferenced|date=December 2006}}
 
  
 
==Passengers==
 
==Passengers==
−
The 102 passengers on the ''Mayflower'' were the earliest permanent European settlers in New England;{{fact}} some of their descendants have taken great interest in tracing their ancestry back to one or more of these Pilgrims. (See [[The Society of Mayflower Descendants]], "[[list of passengers on the Mayflower|List of passengers on the ''Mayflower'']]" for a complete accounting. See also "[[list of Mayflower passengers who died in the winter of 1620 - 1621|List of ''Mayflower'' passengers who died in the winter of 1620–1621]]".) Throughout the winter, the passengers spent time ashore preparing homesites and searching for food but partly remained based aboard the ''Mayflower''. Only about half of the settlers would still be alive when the ''Mayflower'' left in the spring. Governor Bradford noted that about half the sailors died also.<ref name=sos/>
+
The 102 passengers on the ''Mayflower'' were the earliest permanent European settlers in New England; some of their descendants have taken great interest in tracing their ancestry back to one or more of these Pilgrims. Throughout the winter, the passengers spent time ashore preparing homesites and searching for food but partly remained based aboard the ''Mayflower''. Only about half of the settlers would still be alive when the ''Mayflower'' left in the spring. Governor Bradford noted that about half the sailors died.
  
 
==Second Mayflower==
 
==Second Mayflower==
−
In [[1629]], a ship called the ''Mayflower'' made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony carrying thirty-five passengers, many from Leiden. This was not the same ship that made the original voyage with the first settlers. This voyage began in May and reached Plymouth in August.{{fact}}
+
In 1629, a ship called the ''Mayflower'' made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony carrying thirty-five passengers, many from Leiden. This was not the same ship that made the original voyage with the first settlers. This voyage began in May and reached Plymouth in August.
  
−
==Popular culture==
 
−
The ''Mayflower'' voyage and the ship became famous as an icon of a perilous one-way trip to a new life, with many things named for it:
 
−
*The Mayflower is the emblem of the English football club [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.]], who are known as "The Pilgrims" (nickname).
 
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*Songwriter [[Paul Simon]] mentions the ship in his "American Tune" (song).
 
−
*Folk/Rock singer [[Bob Dylan]] mentions the ship in his song "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" on the album [[Bringing It All Back Home]].
 
−
*The space-shuttle parody in the movie [[Airplane II: The Sequel]] is called ''Mayflower One''.
 
  
−
Among the most popular myths of [[Americana]] is that the ''Mayflower'' was the original ship that brought our first American ancestors, e.g. that somebody's ancestors go "all the way back to the ''Mayflower''" (expression).
 
−
<ref>
 
−
    "Stories in our December 2001 issue include" (on [[genealogy]] research),
 
−
    ''Family Tree Magazine'', 2001, ''FamilyTreeMagazine.com'' webpage:
 
−
    [http://www.familytreemagazine.com/magazine_dec01.asp FamilyTree-Dec2001]:
 
−
    contains expression in "Whether your New England roots go back to the Mayflower."
 
−
</ref>
 
−
The myth is most notable, perhaps, for comparison to other settlements in North America:
 
−
* The Mayflower sailed in 1620, but [[Virginia]] was settled in [[1607]] at [[Jamestown]], [[1610]] at [[Hampton]], [[1611]] at [[Henrico]], [[1613]] at [[Newport News]], [[1613]] at New Bermuda, and several other Virginia settlements which pre-date Plymouth. Virginia even had black [[indentured servant]]s by 1619 and a population of about 4,500 in [[1623]].<ref>
 
−
    "Virginia Records Timeline 1553-1743" (history),
 
−
    The Thomas Jefferson Papers, [[Library of Congress]], American Memories, webpage:
 
−
    [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjvatm3.html LOC-TJPapers]:
 
−
    in August [[1619]], the first African [[slave]]s were brought to Virginia by
 
−
    Captain Jope in a Dutch ship. Governor Yeardley and the merchant Abraham Piersey
 
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    exchanged twenty slaves for supplies; however, these Africans became
 
−
    [[indentured servants]] like white men trading passage for servitude.
 
−
</ref> Also, [[Albany, NY]], was settled by the Dutch in [[1614]], [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]] by the [[Spain|Spanish]] in [[1610]], and [[St. Augustine, Florida]] dates back to the [[16th century]].
 
−
* Considering [[Puerto Rico]], the towns of [[Caparra]] and [[Old San Juan]] would be the first European settlement in the USA, in [[1508]].<ref>
 
−
    "[[Guaynabo]] — Encyclopædia Britannica" (with history of [[Puerto Rico]]),
 
−
    ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2006, ''Britannica.com'' webpage:
 
−
    [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9038345/Guaynabo EB-Guaynabo-Puerto-Rico]:
 
−
    names: [[Caparra]], the first Spanish settlement of Puerto Rico ([[1508]]).
 
−
</ref>
 
−
* Centuries earlier, 500 hundred years before the voyage of [[Christopher Columbus]], the [[Vikings]], from [[Scandinavia]], had established a permanent settlement in [[Greenland]] (see: ''[[Western Settlement (Greenland)]]'') from 1000 C.E. until circa 1500 C.E.  That settlement lasted 500 years, almost 100 years older than the entire colonial history of the [[United States]].
 
  
−
However, with the ''Mayflower'' voyage in [[1620]], more emphasis is placed on the so-called "[[Thanksgiving|First Thanksgiving]]" and the peaceful co-existence with the native [[Wampanoag]] tribe, as issues of civilized culture, among the 13 original colonies of the [[U.S.]]
+
==External links==
−
 
 
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==Notes==
 
−
<references/>
 
  
−
==External links==
 
−
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Mayflower.ogg|2006-01-02}}
 
 
* [http://www.plimoth.org/visit/what/mayflower2.asp Mayflower II] at Plymouth Plantation Museum
 
* [http://www.plimoth.org/visit/what/mayflower2.asp Mayflower II] at Plymouth Plantation Museum
 
* [http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/passengers.php Mayflower passengers] from MayflowerHistory.com  
 
* [http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/passengers.php Mayflower passengers] from MayflowerHistory.com  
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* [http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ Pilgrim Hall Museum] of Plymouth, Massachusetts
 
* [http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ Pilgrim Hall Museum] of Plymouth, Massachusetts
 
* [http://www.mayflower.org/ General Society of Mayflower Descendants]
 
* [http://www.mayflower.org/ General Society of Mayflower Descendants]
−
* [http://www.gutenberg.net/browse/BIBREC/BR4107.HTM The Mayflower And Her Log]; [[Azel Ames]], [[Project Gutenberg]] edition.
+
* [http://www.gutenberg.net/browse/BIBREC/BR4107.HTM The Mayflower And Her Log]; Azel Ames, Project Gutenberg edition.
−
* DEAD LINK >> [http://www.oldjordans.org.uk/ The village of Jordans and the Mayflower today]
+
* [http://www.oldjordans.org.uk/ The village of Jordans and the Mayflower today]
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* [http://straightdope.com/columns/051125.html The Straight Dope: "Did the Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer?"]
 
 
* [http://www.familyforest.com/Mayflower_Descendants.html Mayflower Descendants Chart].
 
* [http://www.familyforest.com/Mayflower_Descendants.html Mayflower Descendants Chart].
 
* [http://members.aol.com/RichClark7/pilgrims.htm Pilgrims and the Mayflower] Mayflower Interior Pictured
 
* [http://members.aol.com/RichClark7/pilgrims.htm Pilgrims and the Mayflower] Mayflower Interior Pictured
  
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[[Category:Exploration ships]]
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[[Category:History and biography]]
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[[Category:Sailboat names]]
 
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[[Category:Sailing ships]]
 
 
[[Category:History of the Thirteen Colonies]]
 
[[Category:History of the Thirteen Colonies]]
  
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Revision as of 17:41, 13 February 2007

Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall (1882)

The Mayflower was the famous ship that transported the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts (United States), in 1620. The vessel disembarked from England on September 6, and after a grueling journey marked by disease, the ship dropped anchor inside the hook tip of Cape Cod (Provincetown Harbor) on November 11. The Mayflower originally was destined for the Hudson River, north of the 1607 Jamestown Settlement. However, the Mayflower went severely off-course as the winter approached and remained in Cape Cod Bay.

On March 21, 1621, all surviving passengers, who had inhabited the ship during the winter, moved ashore at Plymouth Colony, and on April 5, the Mayflower, a privately-commissioned vessel, returned to England.


The main record for the voyage of the Mayflower and the disposition of the Plymouth Colony comes from William Bradford who was a guiding force and later the governor of the colony.


Mayflower arrived inside tip of Cape Cod fishhook, 11 November 1620

Ship

The Mayflower was used primarily as a cargo ship, involved in active trade of goods (often wine) between England and other European countries, (principally France, but also Norway, Germany, and Spain). At least between 1609 and 1622, it was mastered by Christopher Jones, who would command the ship on the famous transatlantic voyage, and based in Rotherhithe, London, England. After the famous voyage of the Mayflower, the ship returned to England, likely dismantled for scrap lumber in Rotherhithe in 1623, only a year after Jones's death in March 1622. The Mayflower Barn, just outside the Quaker village of Jordans, in Buckinghamshire, England, is said to be built from these timbers.

Details of the ship's dimensions are unknown; but estimates based on its load weight and the typical size of 180-ton merchant ships of its day suggest an estimated length of 90–110 feet (27.4–33.5 m) and a width of about 25 feet (7.6 m). The ship was manned by a crew of 25-30.

Careful research went into designing a replica, the Mayflower II (launched September 22, 1956), to resemble its namesake in every detail. This vessel is now part of the Plimoth Plantation living museum, near Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Pilgrims' voyage

The Mayflower Memorial in Southampton.

Initially, the plan was for the voyage to be made in two vessels, the other being the smaller Speedwell. The first voyage of the ships departed Southampton, England, on August 5, 1620; but the Speedwell developed a leak, and had to be refitted at Dartmouth.

On the second attempt, the ships reached the Atlantic Ocean but again were forced to return to Plymouth because of the Speedwell's leak.

After reorganisation, the final sixty-six day voyage was made by the Mayflower alone, leaving Plymouth, England on September 6. With 102 passengers plus crew, each family was allotted a very confined amount of space for personal belongings.

The ship probably had a crew of twenty-five to thirty, along with other hired personnel; however, only the names of five are known, including John Alden. William Bradford, who penned our only account of the Mayflower voyage, wrote that John Alden (archaic spellings) "was hired for a cooper [barrel-maker], at South-Hampton, where the ship victuled; and being a hopefull yong man, was much desired, but left to his owne liking to go or stay when he came here; but he stayed, and maryed here."

The intended destination was an area near the Hudson River, in "North Virginia". However the ship was forced far off-course by inclement weather and drifted well north of the intended Virginia settlement. As a result of the delay, the settlers did not arrive in Cape Cod till the onset of a harsh New England winter. The settlers ultimately failed to reach Virginia where they had already obtained permission from the London Company to settle.

To establish legal order and to quell increasing strife within the ranks, the settlers wrote and signed the Mayflower Compact after the ship dropped anchor at the tip of Cape Cod on November 11, in what is now Provincetown.[1]

The settlers, upon initially setting anchor, explored the snow-covered area and discovered an empty Native American village. The curious settlers dug up some artificially-made mounds, some of which had stored corn while others were burial sites. The settlers stole the corn sparking friction with the locals. They explored the area of Cape Cod for several weeks and decided to relocate after a difficult encounter with the local native Americans, the Nausets.

During the winter the passengers remained on board the 'Mayflower', suffering an outbreak of a contagious disease described as a mixture of scurvy, pneumonia and tuberculosis. When it ended, there were only 53 persons still alive, half of the passengers and half of the crew. In spring, they built huts ashore, and on March 21, 1621, the surviving passengers left the 'Mayflower'.

On April 5, 1621, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth Colony to return to England,[1] where she arrived on May 6, 1621.

Passengers

The 102 passengers on the Mayflower were the earliest permanent European settlers in New England; some of their descendants have taken great interest in tracing their ancestry back to one or more of these Pilgrims. Throughout the winter, the passengers spent time ashore preparing homesites and searching for food but partly remained based aboard the Mayflower. Only about half of the settlers would still be alive when the Mayflower left in the spring. Governor Bradford noted that about half the sailors died.

Second Mayflower

In 1629, a ship called the Mayflower made a voyage from London to Plymouth Colony carrying thirty-five passengers, many from Leiden. This was not the same ship that made the original voyage with the first settlers. This voyage began in May and reached Plymouth in August.


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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sos
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