A number of pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower from England to America and the New World. The foundations that the American republic was built on can be traced back to these people, and the sacrifices they made, when they came ashore just over 400 years ago on November 11, 1620. Noel Maldonado explains.
Embarkation of the Pilgrims, 1857. By Robert Walter Weir.
Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America?
The origins of the Mayflower Voyage date back to the early 1600s, when a group of Christians — labeled “Separatists” (the term Pilgrim wasn’t used until much later) — decided to leave the Church of England to form their own congregation in Scrooby, England. As a result, the group was constantly watched by the King’s guard, since it was illegal to hold their own services. They were fined, imprisoned, harassed, and scorned. This persecution continued until the group decided to flee to Holland. After two escape attempts, they finally succeeded, reuniting in Holland where they could worship freely.
What Was the Mayflower Voyage?
However, after staying in Holland for 12 years, the Pilgrims weighed the cost of remaining there. The hard factory work they were required to do to sustain their families was taking a toll on their health and the health of their children. They were proud Englishmen, so watching their children become Dutch in language and marriage was not ideal. War with Spain was imminent, and, while the country allowed them to worship freely, the Pilgrims believed they were called to share the Gospel with the natives of the New World. It was at this point that the group made the decision to leave and forged their plans to cross the vast ocean to start over in the northernmost parts of Virginia.
By this time, the group had become a congregation of 300 people, led by John Robinson, a pastor, and professor in one of Leiden’s universities. In the end, only 102 people would take on the journey. There were children as young as one year of age and elderly as old as 64. About half the people on board were from the Scooby congregation that had moved to Holland, and the other half were from England. The Mayflower was a simple wine ship that was hired specifically for this journey.
While there were supposed to be two ships making this voyage, the second ship, the Speedwell, began to leak, so all passengers had to travel in the tight cargo compartment of the Mayflower. Unfortunately, because the Speedwell had delayed the group twice, they set sail in September, which was a stormy season on the Atlantic Ocean. A trip that should have only taken 33 days took about 66 days because they encountered bad weather.
Waiting for a Chance to Land
After the group had endured miserable conditions at sea, the Mayflower finally approached land on November 9, 1620, which was confirmed to be the Cape Cod area. They were further north than what their patent allowed, but after attempting to sail further south, they anchored the ship in Provincetown Harbor. The ship had almost wrecked in the dangerous waters of Pollack’s Rip, so they had turned back towards the harbor. There was talk of separation between the Scrooby congregation and the others on board, so the groups compromised with an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. This document established the first civil body politic in America, and would become the basis of the American Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution.
Unfortunately, the group was greeted by the arrival of winter. This meant that there wouldn’t be any crops to harvest until the following year, and they only had the food aboard the Mayflower to last through the winter.
That first winter, the group fell very sick; roughly half of them did not live through the cold winter. When the worst of the winter came during January and February, around two to three people would die every day, so they had to bury their dead in unmarked graves at night. Today, you can find a sarcophagus in Plymouth that protects the bones of those who died during the first winter.
Encounters With Native Americans
As time passed, the Pilgrims were able to nurture a mutually beneficial and friendly relationship with the natives. Through Squanto, the Pilgrims were introduced to the chief, or Great Sachem, of the Wampanoag, Massasoit.
This agreement would work to the benefit of both parties. While the natives shared resources and methods of farming, the Pilgrims provided protection to the tribe, resulting in both communities thriving. Because a plague had devastated the Wampanoag tribe, they were eager to form an alliance with the Pilgrims to protect them in times of war. Both groups agreed to defend one another in case of an attack. The treaty lasted an astounding 50 years.
Settling the Massachusetts Bay Area
The 51 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest with the Wampanoag during the fall of 1621. This is the event that we now commemorate as the first Thanksgiving. As the colony grew, other ships came. As their numbers grew, the Englishmen purchased land from the natives, and in 1630, Boston was founded by Puritan Governor John Winthrop.
The Puritans would eventually settle the Massachusetts Bay area. This era was known as the “great migration” because thousands of Puritan settlers made their way from England to the New World.
Uncovering the Legacy of This Important Event
The real history of the Pilgrims is certainly one to be remembered. The Pilgrims are just one group of people in history who provide us with important lessons such as steadfastness, good character, caring for and valuing others, and treating each other with kindness and respect. The Pilgrims were able to stay true to their beliefs despite persecution, starvation, trials, and death. They were great examples of ordinary men and women that God used for His plans and purposes. As such, this group we call Pilgrims should be remembered as Christians who acted with godliness and genuine concern for those around them.
Conclusion
The true story of the Pilgrims is one of sacrifice and honor which paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today in America. To ensure that they were free to serve and praise God in complete freedom without persecution, they made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that we could do the same today.
What do you think of the first American pilgrims? Let us know below.
