It’s a part of both the history and folklore of America: the sailing of the Mayflower. September 15, 1620, the famous vessel containing 102 pilgrims departs from Plymouth England for its legendary voyage to America. Originally, the Speedwell was a second vessel that the English separatist had bought in Holland but it leaked so badly it was abandoned and all the puritans boarded the Mayflower for the New World.

It was a harsh and sometimes brief existence for those ill equipped settlers. Families and married couples undertook the journey searching for religious freedom after years of persecution from the Anglican Church in England. They had spent some time in Holland but after problems there, decided to return to England before leaving for America.

“Now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind.”-William Bradford

The expedition was backed by both businesses and the scant monetary supplies of the puritan church and its followers. Many of the records of the passengers have been lost to time but a few journals and suggestions from former Jamestown colonist, John Smith, provide historians with an idea of the cargo and supplies. They brought with them the bare necessities of food, a little weaponry and several hunting dogs.

Life on board the 100 foot cargo ship was not easy, especially for the pregnant women. A few of the original bassinettes from the journey are now housed in some of the nation’s oldest museums. Three children were born on board the ship. Two people died on the ship.

It took 66 days to reach the New England coast. They had hoped to land at Virginia and start a colony similar to Jamestown. Instead, they veered 600 miles off course and came ashore at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Eerie repeats of the trouble at Jamestown occurred. The words “died during the first winter” or “died during the first sickness” punctuate the list of Mayflower passenger records. Several children and infants lost their lives as their parents searched for a better place to raise them.

Despite the many versions of the pilgrim’s journey and settlement and the rose tinted version of events celebrated each Thanksgiving, there are a few things about the pilgrims that conflicting historians cannot deny. The pilgrims were ambitious, determined and passionate about finding a place where they could express themselves freely and without fear of persecution. Their principles joined the many voices and sentiments that eventually filtered down into the American constitution and what it means to live in a democracy.

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