(from William Bradford,
Of Plymouth Plantation 1620–1647 )
THE MAYFLOWER was a three-masted, bark-rigged ship of 180 tons, with a speed of two and a half knots. It sailed from England on September 16, 1620. While aboard ship the Pilgrims signed an extraordinary document called the Mayflower Compact, in which they agreed to self-government. Not until November 21, 1620, did they sight Cape Cod, their first glimpse of the New World, and anchor in what would one day be Provincetown Harbor. Ashore they collected wood and water and explored the countryside, spotting signs of native inhabitants—cultivation and a grave. After a short march they were attacked by “Indians” with bows and arrows, fired back, and returned to the Mayflower. They sailed across the bay to land at Plymouth, where they began to build log houses and a stockade. Again from his book Of Plymouth Plantation, here is William Bradford’s account of the hardships faced by the young colony.
BEING THUS ARRIVED in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element.
But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people’s present condition. And so I think the reader will, too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean …they had now no friends to welcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succour…For the season was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men—and what multitudes there might be of them they knew not. Which ever way they turned their eyes (save upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect to any outward objects.
Summer was gone. The whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hue. If they looked behind them, there was the mighty ocean which they had passed and which now was a bar and gulf to separate them from all the civilized parts of the world. What could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and His grace?
May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: “Our fathers were Englishmen who came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity.” On the 15th of December they arrived and resolved where to pitch their dwelling; and on the 25th began to erect the first house for common use to receive them and their goods. After they had provided a place for their goods, and begun some small cottages for their habitation, as time would
admit, they met and consulted of laws and orders, both for their civil and military government.
In these hard and difficult beginnings they found some discontents and murmurings arise amongst them, and some gave mutinous speeches, but they were soon quelled and overcome by the wisdom, patience, and just and equal carriage of things by Governor John Carver, and the better part, which clave faithfully together in the main. But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months’ time half their company had died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being inflicted with scurvy and other diseases which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them.
So as they died sometimes two or three a day during these months, that of the 100 odd persons from the Mayflower, scarcely fifty remained. And of these in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered.
Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend Elder, and Miles Standish, their Captain and military commander, unto whom myself and many others were much beholden in our low and sick condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons as in this general calamity they were not at all infected either with sickness or lameness. And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living; that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to help any that had need of them. And I doubt not but their recompense is with the Lord.