#Story of the pilgrims full#
#Story of the pilgrims free#

On February 17, 1621, the Plymouth Colony elected Miles Standish to be the commander of the newly formed militia. Seeing the need for defense against potential hostile Indians, the colony formed a militia. This group functioned as a committee of the whole operating in a democratic fashion in adopting such laws and rules as were needed to preserve the order. (Note that there were 74 males aboard the ship, but some of them were servants and some were underage.) Since the Mayflower crew members were also part of the colony, they may have also been included, but that is unknown.

#Story of the pilgrims free#

The “Civil body politic” consisted of all of the 57 free adult male members of the colony. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. The remainder of the 102 passengers were recruited by the London Merchant Adventurers who had invested in the trip or were the servants of those recruits.35 of the London Merchant recruits were men 18 years of age or older, so the 102 passengers included a total of 57 men 18 years of age or older. That included 39 adults consisting of 17 women, and 22 men along with their children who were aged 17 and under, In addition, the church members brought a total of 13 servants with them. Only 46 of those onboard the Mayflower were members of the Separatist Leiden Church. 29 of the passengers were under the age of 18. The 102 Passengers included 74 males and 28 females.

#Story of the pilgrims full#

The Mayflower then resumed the voyage alone carrying 102 passengers and a full ship’s crew. However, the leaks soon reopened causing the ships to return to Plymouth, Devon where some of the passengers from the Speedwell transferred to the Mayflower. A few days after departure, the Speedwell was taking on water, so they returned to Dartmouth, Devon where the ship was repaired and sealed with pitch before departing for the second time. The travelers boarded two ships called the Speedwell and the Mayflower and they departed from Southampton on August 15, 1620. The investors would receive part of the profits from fishing and would eventually own half of the land developed by the colony. After extensive negotiations with the London Company and the English government, the group was informed that a new group of investors known as the Plymouth Council of New England, had been given a charter for a land grant just north of Jamestown and the land grant belonging to the Virginia Company. As their savings dwindled, the pilgrims moved back to England while attempting to find a sponsor who would help them with the expense of traveling to America.

In addition, the more liberal dutch culture was attracting away some of the young people. However, they had challenges with the language making it difficult to find employment. Seeking the freedom to practice their religion without persecution from the government, a group of the Pilgrims left England and moved to an area near Leidon, Holland in 1607 in order to practice their religious beliefs away from the influence of the Church of England. The Pilgrims were members of a separatist church that refused to follow the doctrine of the Church of England.