This Day In History: September 16
September | 16
1620
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the Americas with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists—half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs—had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the “Pilgrims” reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December.
Thirty-five of the Pilgrims were members of the radical English Separatist Church, who traveled to America to escape the jurisdiction of the Church of England, which they found corrupt. Ten years earlier, English persecution had led a group of Separatists to flee to Holland in search of religious freedom. However, many were dissatisfied with economic opportunities in the Netherlands, and under the direction of William Bradford they decided to immigrate to Virginia, where an English colony had been founded at Jamestown in 1607.
Mayflower Myths
The Separatists won financial backing from a group of investors called the London Adventurers, who were promised a sizable share of the colony’s profits. Three dozen church members made their way back to England, where they were joined by about 70 entrepreneurs–enlisted by the London stock company to ensure the success of the enterprise. In August 1620, the Mayflower left Southampton with a smaller vessel–the Speedwell–but the latter proved unseaworthy and twice was forced to return to port. On September 16, the Mayflower left for America alone from Plymouth.
In a difficult Atlantic crossing, the 90-foot Mayflower encountered rough seas and storms and was blown more than 500 miles off course. Along the way, the settlers formulated and signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement that bound the signatories into a “civil body politic.” Because it established constitutional law and the rule of the majority, the compact is regarded as an important precursor to American democracy. After a 66-day voyage, the ship landed on November 21 on the tip of Cape Cod at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts.
After coming to anchor in Provincetown harbor, a party of armed men under the command of Captain Myles Standish was sent out to explore the area and find a location suitable for settlement. While they were gone, Susanna White gave birth to a son, Peregrine, aboard the Mayflower. He was the first English child born in New England. In mid-December, the explorers went ashore at a location across Cape Cod Bay where they found cleared fields and plentiful running water and named the site Plymouth.
The expedition returned to Provincetown, and on December 21 the Mayflower came to anchor in Plymouth harbor. Just after Christmas, the pilgrims began work on dwellings that would shelter them through their difficult first winter in America.
In the first year of settlement, half the colonists died of disease. In 1621, the health and economic condition of the colonists improved, and that autumn Governor William Bradford invited neighboring Indians to Plymouth to celebrate the bounty of that year’s harvest season. Plymouth soon secured treaties with most local Indian tribes, and the economy steadily grew, and more colonists were attracted to the settlement. By the mid 1640s, Plymouth’s population numbered 3,000 people, but by then the settlement had been overshadowed by the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony to the north, settled by Puritans in 1629.
The term “Pilgrim” was not used to describe the Plymouth colonists until the early 19th century and was derived from a manuscript in which Governor Bradford spoke of the “saints” who left Holland as “pilgrimes.” The orator Daniel Webster spoke of “Pilgrim Fathers” at a bicentennial celebration of Plymouth’s founding in 1820, and thereafter the term entered common usage.
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World War IIAs a history enthusiast with a deep passion for the subject, I find great joy in delving into significant events that have shaped the course of human history. The historical account of the Mayflower's departure from England on September 16, 1620, is one such fascinating narrative that I am well-acquainted with.
The Mayflower's journey was a pivotal moment in the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in New England. The ship, originally intended for Virginia, faced adversity in the form of stormy weather and navigational errors, ultimately leading the Pilgrims to reach Massachusetts on November 21, 1620. This unplanned detour resulted in the founding of Plymouth, marking a crucial chapter in American history.
The Mayflower carried 102 passengers, comprised of religious dissenters and entrepreneurs, seeking a new life and escape from the Church of England's jurisdiction. The story unfolds with the Separatists securing financial backing from the London Adventurers, a group of investors, and the subsequent departure of the Mayflower from Plymouth on September 16, 1620.
During the challenging Atlantic crossing, the settlers drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement that laid the foundation for a "civil body politic." This compact is often recognized as a precursor to American democracy, establishing constitutional law and the rule of the majority.
The hardships continued upon their arrival in Provincetown, Massachusetts, but the Pilgrims persevered. In mid-December, they explored the area and discovered Plymouth, where they eventually settled. The first English child born in New England, Peregrine, was born aboard the Mayflower during this time.
The early years in Plymouth were marked by difficulties, with half the colonists succumbing to disease in the first year. However, by 1621, under the leadership of Governor William Bradford, the health and economic conditions improved. The settlers invited neighboring Indians to celebrate the harvest season, establishing treaties and fostering economic growth.
The term "Pilgrim" was not coined until the 19th century, derived from Governor Bradford's manuscript referring to the departing "saints" as "pilgrimes." This terminology gained popularity in 1820 during a bicentennial celebration, thanks to orator Daniel Webster.
In summary, the Mayflower's journey is a captivating tale of resilience, exploration, and the founding of Plymouth, laying the groundwork for the development of the American nation. If you have any specific questions or aspects you'd like to explore further, feel free to let me know.
