The Society of Colonial Wars

in the British Isles

History of the Pilgrim Fathers

The Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower were made up from 2 types of backgrounds: These have been called "Saints" and "Strangers".

The Saints were a group of English Separatists based in the village of Scrooby, North Lincolnshire. They desired to live as nearly as possible in acordance with the tradition of the early church and so rejected all forms of organised worship and set prayers.

To refuse to attend church service was against the law and so they were regularly fined or imprisoned by local magistrates. By 1608 they had had enough and travelled to Holland. After 10years in Amsterdam and Leiden, they decided that a fresh start was needed in the New World.

The government of James 1st was keen to encourage settlers to develop the vast area known as Virginia and so a patent was issued to the "Saints" in 1620.

A group of City businessmen financed the trip and found seventy "strangers" who paid £10 each to join the settlers.

The only remaining house of a pilgrim belonged to one of these strangers - William Mullins. It is now known as 58-61 West Street, Dorking and has a blue placque on the wall..

The Saints sailed from Delfthaven in Holland on board the Speedwell to Southampton. In the meantime the Mayflower had been chartered and sailed from Rotherhide to Southampton.

On the 5th August 1620 they set sail but the Speedwell developed leaks. After temporary repairs in Darthouth they put into Plymouth. It was decided to carry on but with 20 less colonists.

On 16th September 1620 110 + 40 crew set sail in the Mayflower. Owing to strong autumn westerlies winds the voyage took eight weeks instead of six and they landed at Cape Cod on 10th November. This was too far North to be included in the northern limit of Virginia.(The Virginia of that time extended to 41degrees parallel). In due course they settled at New Plymouth.

A new patent was granted in June 1621. The Mayflower left on 15th April 1621 after 17 had died in the harsh winter. The survival of the colony owed a great deal to the sudden appearance of an english-speaking Indian called Squanto. He helped them negotiate a friendship treaty with the chief of the Wampanoag tribe and helped set up the beaver trade.

As beaver pelts were in great demand in Europe the debts from the original expenses were cleared in 1645.