On Tuesday, October 5, as people gathered on the historic Plymouth waterfront, the long-awaited American Pilgrimage 400 culminated with the re-enactment of the landing of the Pilgrims from the newly restored replica shallop. Jumping from the boat into waist deep water to the cheers of on-lookers, the role players from Plimoth-Patuxet Museums came ashore, some…
When exploring on Cape Cod, the Pilgrims desired to know everything they could about the Natives who already lived there. What they may not have known, however, was that in 1614, previous to their arrival, Thomas Hunt, an English trader, had taken over 20 Natives to Europe as slaves, leaving another stain upon the reputation…
To whom were the writers of the Declaration referring when they wrote “Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions?” Was it a mystical God that no one could define? Was it any god at all? These are important questions in our day. We are often told that those…
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” said Jesus in his sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5:9. Though peace had been ratified with the Pilgrims’ closest neighbors and their great king, Massasoit, due to past injuries by the English, and also due to the challenge of…
The first winter was devastating. Nearly half their number had perished by the end of May, 1621. 28 men, 13 women and 7 children had died leaving only 56 people alive. By the fall only half of the 104 (102 on the voyage, and two born before landing) would remain. Yet they still saw the…
William Bradford wrote under the title of “Anno 1621”: “They now began to dispatch the ship away which brought them over, which lay till about this time, or the beginning of April.” Though there are practical reasons Bradford states as to why the Mayflower had stayed so long through the winter of 1620-21, even after…
Leyden (or First) Street in Plymouth is historic for many reasons. One such reason is that it is where the common (or first) house was built by the Pilgrims. The white house seen in the picture is Lot #1 historically. It is on this spot that the first free election took place on February 17…
Beginning in January, 1621, after enduring a very difficult voyage, one of the most remarkable testimonies in the midst of suffering by the Pilgrim church began to take place. They had already elected John Carver as Govervor after the Compact had been signed. Now that they settled on a spot to establish their Colony, however,…
Forefathers Day, the day the Pilgrims stepped on Plymouth Rock, is an original American holiday. It predates the official celebration of Independence, Thanksgiving and Christmas as a part of American culture. The landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, however, was the culmination of a month of exploration on Cape Cod.
Mayflower Compact Day is hardly heard of these days. It used to be on the calendar years ago, but now it is not taught or remembered in most schools in America though we have benefited from it as a legacy of self-government All it takes, however, is for a few to commemorate its significance to…
The historic voyage of the Mayflower began on Wednesday, September 6 (new style the 16th) as it departed Plymouth harbor in England. There was now one ship, the Speedwell having been sold and twenty remaining in England, probably returning to London or Leyden. Bradford writes: “These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact…
The persecution, hardships, suffering and discouragement that accompanied the Pilgrims before they even began their journey has caused many to wonder how their conviction to continue remained so constant. Consider first, not all of the congregation could depart in 1620, so a remnant had to volunteer. Second, the change in their contract was a huge…
Members of the Leiden Congregation knelt in prayer on the deck of the Speedwell on Wednesday, July 22nd in Delftshaven, Holland. This was captured by artist Robert Weir and shows Pastor John Robinson (with hands outstretched) and William Brewster (holding the open Geneva Bible) and several parents and children in prayer.
Upon their departure from Leiden in the Speedwell, Bradford relates “So they left that goodly and pleasant city which had been their resting place near twelve years; but they knew they were pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, but lift up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits.”
George Henry Boughton’s (1833-1905) painting Pilgrims Going to Church in 1867 was originally called The Early Puritans of New England Going to Church. Boughton was known as the “painter of New England Puritanism” and here portrayed the Pilgrim Church of men, women and children walking to the meetinghouse on guard in defense of their liberty. …