Pilgrim Fathers
The Pilgrims, also known as the** Pilgrim Fathers**, were the English settlers who travelled to North America on the ship Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony at what now is Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. John Smith had named this territory New Plymouth in 1620, sharing the name of the Pilgrims’ final departure port of Plymouth, Devon, England. The Pilgrims’ leadership came from religious congregations of Brownists or Separatists who had fled religious persecution in England for the tolerance of 17th-century Holland in the Netherlands.
These Separatists held many of the same Calvinist religious beliefs as Puritans, but unlike Puritans (who wanted a purified established church), Pilgrims believed that their congregations should separate from the Church of England, which led to their being labelled Separatists. After several years of living in exile in Holland, they determined to establish a new settlement in the New World and arranged with investors to fund them. In 1620, they established the Plymouth Colony, in which they erected Congregational churches. The Puritans’ later establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony eventually became more powerful in the area; but the Pilgrims’ story nevertheless became a central theme in the history and culture of the United States.
The Pilgrim Fathers, or Pilgrims, were English Separatists who, seeking religious freedom and a new life, sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 to establish Plymouth Colony, the first permanent English settlement in New England. They faced extreme hardships during their first winter, but received help from the Wampanoag people, particularly Squanto, leading to the famous harvest feast in 1621, considered the basis of the first Thanksgiving.
Who were the Pilgrim Fathers?
Religious Separatists: They were a radical faction of Puritans who wanted to break away from the Church of England and establish their own church free from Catholic traditions.
Exiles: After facing persecution in England, they first fled to Holland in the 17th century but eventually decided to leave for the New World to preserve their English identity and find a new home.
The Mayflower Voyage: In September 1620, around 102 people, including both the Separatists and non-Separatists hired by a London stock company, set sail on the Mayflower.
Arrival and Plymouth Colony
Landing: In November 1620, the Mayflower landed on Cape Cod, and the group eventually settled at Plymouth Harbor in December.
Mayflower Compact: Before disembarking, the settlers agreed to the Mayflower Compact, a document that established a form of self-governance for the new colony.
Survival: The first winter was extremely harsh, with only about 50 of the original 102 passengers surviving.
Interaction with Native Americans
Assistance: The Wampanoag people provided crucial assistance, with Squanto teaching the Pilgrims how to cultivate local crops like corn.
Harvest Feast: In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims shared a harvest feast with the Wampanoag, a traditional event that is the basis for the American Thanksgiving holiday.
Legacy
Founding Myth: The Pilgrims’ journey became a central story in American origins, though it is a complex narrative of both settlement and colonization.
Cultural Significance: The term “Pilgrim Fathers” was popularized in 1820, becoming a symbol of the pursuit of freedom and religious principles.