The Mayflower is a poignant symbol in American history. It represents the extraordinary journey of the Pilgrims, who sought a new life across the Atlantic.

The Circumstance

The group we call Pilgrims, a term coined later, originally belonged to the Church of England. King Henry VIII established the Church of England, creating his own rules so he could divorce one of his wives. Many parishioners disagreed with these changes.

Due to many of the church’s rules and specific beliefs, many people did not entirely agree with the Separatists, as they called themselves. They set sail and started a new life for themselves and their families. One common misconception of the Pilgrims that should be noted is that they were not the first group of individuals to discover America. 

Native Americans already inhabited the country; the first English colony established was Jamestown in 1607. One of the reasons the Separatists did not want to settle in Jamestown, Virginia, was because they believed if they did so, their life would be too similar to the one they were trying to escape. It is for this reason this group planned their journey to America differently. This group of people, known as the Separatists, wanted to do just that: separate themselves from the Church of England; they then began to formulate a plan.

A Well Laid Plan

For this journey to succeed and happen at all, they needed funding. The group began speaking with local merchants and negotiated with them. The Separatists promised the merchants that they could send goods back from America if they “invested” with them. Once they had gathered enough, the group had to plan their journey. They also gathered supplies, and all food was salted to last. Nothing was fresh, and most food was kept in large wooden barrels on the ship. Though the group did not want to reside in Jamestown with other colonists, they had to request permission to land in Virginia.

Initially, two ships were prepared to cross the Atlantic with the Separatists. These were the Speedwell and the Mayflower. The ships were harbored in different locations, so they had to “meet” before setting sail. However, it was soon clear the Speedwell was not going to make it as it was already showing wear and had leaks. Attempts were made to resolve these problems; however, after attempting to set sail again, it was determined that the Mayflower was the more reliable ship. 

The Mayflower’s purpose was to be a cargo ship, and it was not meant to carry people; it only carried items. They began prepping boats and getting ready to sail in July, and in August, the passengers realized the Speedwell would not make it across the Atlantic.

The Mayflower’s Journey

The excursion from Plymouth, UK, to America began in September 1620. The Mayflower had 102 passengers, including men, women, and children. Three of the women were pregnant, and one child was born on the Mayflower during the journey. Originally, there were supposed to be more people sailing on the ship, but it appears that after some of the struggles with the two ships initially, some individuals chose not to go after all. The space was cramped, and the seas were not kind.

It took 66 days total to cross the Atlantic. Due to the time of year, they left for their excursion, they hit many winter storms and probably some hurricane-type conditions, given the season. During those months, the passengers were staying in close quarters. The ship was only 100 feet long and a very narrow 24 feet wide. Since, more often than not, the weather was poor and freezing, everyone had to stay below deck for the majority of the voyage. 

There were three levels on the Mayflower. However, the third level was only for cargo, so all occupants were confined to the narrow, small, dark second deck. Sea sickness occurred often, and on top of that, many people fell ill. Due to the unavoidable situation of staying close to each other aboard the ship, illness was passed around often. The journey was also said to be extra slow because the ship kept getting blown backward, so progress on the route could have been more timely.

Extremely Tight Quarters

It is hard to believe 102 people were on the boat. Additionally, there was little to no privacy to relieve yourself in the buckets designated for that, and if you were nauseous, there was nowhere to go aboard the ship to be alone. The conditions had to be miserable, not to mention it was most likely clammy given it was cold outside, but there were so many people inside. Attempts were made to create barriers between families, but this did little to separate anyone.

At least one person was swept overboard, and some died on the ship due to illness. There is no final number of how many passengers did not make it through the journey on the Mayflower. However, it was documented that once the Pilgrims had settled and set up their new colony, only 50 of the original members survived that first winter.

The ship went off course a bit since the wind and weather, in general, were so terrible that they could not utilize the sails most of the time. Instead, the Mayflower and its occupants had to roll with the waves, literally and often drifted at sea. Despite this, the ship almost landed where they intended to. 

It was headed towards the Hudson River; during their planning, the group had been told this area of America was an excellent place to land. However, due to the rough waters and unpredictable journey overall, they just about wrecked, landing near what is now Cape Cod, and they decided to explore this land area. They landed there on November 19, 1620, and after exploring the area, chose to settle in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Not an Exact Replica

The original ship is gone, but you can tour the Mayflower II, anchored in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The replica ship is designed to be exactly that—a replica of the original. The design is humble, and there is not much room below deck. Anyone of above-average height would have to crouch in most areas of the vessel. 

Visitors exploring its cramped quarters encounter the realities faced by those brave souls who journeyed for freedom. As one navigates the dimly lit lower decks, one can’t help but ponder the immense challenges of such a voyage and the tenacity of those who endured the trials of a treacherous ocean in pursuit of a brighter future.

Below that deck, you can peer down into what looks like a dark, mildew-smelling crawlspace. That area was wherewhere the cargo was kept. 

The Pilgrims’ journey was one for the ages. No wonder extensive history is taught about this group of people and the journey they took from their comfortable homes to trek across unchartered territory to a new land. Few people today would risk so much for the sake of freedom.