Pilgrims to America: A Pictorial History

The Pilgrims originally anchored at the northern end of Cape Cod (thus named by Bartholomew Gosnold, commander of the first landing of Englishmen in the "new world") near the area we know as Provincetown.

To survive, the small group would have to work together. To prevent continued "mutinous speeches," the men would have to agree to some form of law and authority. (Women, in the 17th century, were not part of such discussions.)

Following the guidance of John Robinson (the Separatists' pastor who had remained in Holland but whose farewell letter - in the sixth paragraph - suggests democratic government), the men essentially signed a contract based on English common law.

The ship's log states that on November 11th (on the Julian Calendar which is November 21st on the "New Style," Gregorian, calendar), before anyone left the Mayflower to find a suitable landing place, the men agreed how they would govern themselves:

Meeting in main cabin of all adult male passengers except their two hired seamen, Trevore and Ely, and those too ill--to make and sign a mutual "Compact" to regulate their civil government. This done, they confirmed Master [John] Carver their "governour" in the ship on the voyage, their "governour" for the year.

Forty-one men signed an agreement by which they would govern themselves. Their words tell us that these early colonists believed government is a covenant which derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

Known today as the Mayflower Compact, this first document of American democracy may have been drafted by William Brewster, the only university-educated Pilgrim. It would ultimately serve as the colony's governmental framework for more than 70 years. (In 1621, it was supplemented by the Pierce Patent which formally authorized the Pilgrims to live in New England [instead of Virginia] and to govern themselves there.)

After signing the agreement, Bradford, Standish and others searched for a suitable harbor and permanent landing spot, ultimately deciding on a place they called Plymouth (in honor of their last port of call) and which Captain John Smith had earlier named "Plimouth" (see the lower left side of Smith's map). Mrs. Bradford, however, never stepped foot on Plymouth Rock.

While her husband was looking for a good place to establish their new home, Dorothy Bradford (who, with the others, was still on board the Mayflower), accidentally died. The ship's log for December 17 (New Style):

At anchor in Cape Cod harbor. This day Mistress Dorothy Bradford, wife of Master Bradford, who is away with the exploring party to the westward, fell over board and was drowned.

William learned about his wife's death five days later, when "the exploration party returned to the ship."

Although illness, resulting in death, was surprisingly low during the crossing, such was not the case when the Pilgrims reached their new home. During the first harsh winter, they lost half their number.

Edward Winslow was the only Pilgrim besides Bradford to write about life in the "Plimoth Plantation." His account, Good Newes from New England, was first published in 1624.

The Mayflower returned to England in the spring of 1621. Her master died the following year and, by 1624, the Mayflower itself (which was made of wood) was rotting in the Thames. (A 1624 record, written in Latin from the High Court of Admirality [HCA 3/30, folio 227], describes it "in ruinis.")

A probate inventory, the last-known record of the ship, leads scholars to conclude she was likely broken up and sold as scrap. At the time, when English wood was in short supply, no one realized what an important role the old ship had played in the settlement of the new world.