PILGRIMS

Who were the pilgrims?

There are many legends surrounding the pilgrims. In fact they were real people: Englishmen and women who wanted to escape the religious controversies and economicproblems of their time by emigrating to America.

The pilgrim story begins in England in the 16th century. A congregation of religiousdissidents in Nottinghamshire believed the hurch of England did not act in accordancewith the teachings of the !ible so they established a church of their own in 16"6. At thattime the church and state were one# so being a separatist was considered an act oftreason. The congregation had no choice but to leave their motherland. They fled to thecity of $eiden in %olland where they could worship as they li&ed.

'nfortunately life was hard there# so they decided to emigrate to the English colonies inNorth America# then &nown as ()irginia*. +ther pilgrims also came for the economicopportunity although they remained loyal to their national church.

Finance The voyage and settlement was financed by a group of English investors&nown as the (merchant adventurers*. They formed a partnership with the colonistswhereby the merchants agreed to ris& their money# and the settlers to invest their labourfor seven years. $and and livestoc& were ,ointly owned and the company would dissolveand divide its assets after the seven years.

Departure to New England +n -eptember 6# 16"# aboard a ship called the /ayflower#1" passengers set sail across the Atlantic. The crossing was smooth at first but thencame many storms# which damaged the ship. Two people died on board and one baby#named +ceanus# was born. Eventually after 66 days of travelling the emigrants arrivedin ape od in southeastern /assachusetts. The pilgrims chose to stay here as it wastoo late to go to the northern part of )irginia.

he !irst winter 

The pilgrims went ashore to e0plore the wilderness. They had carried a small boat insections below dec&s on the /ayflower# and this had to be assembled before groupscould go and e0plore the coastline. E0ploration began with a small group of si0teen men.They discovered a buried cache of corn and a &ettle# signs that the native Americanshad a camp there.

$ater on# in ecember# the pilgrims discovered a sheltered bay# called 2lymouth%arbour# a place which was protected and good for them to live permanently. Their firstwinter was much colder than the English winters they had e0perienced before# but all thesame# the pilgrims continued e0ploring. They found a native American burial ground andunoccupied homes. After a cold night camping# the pilgrims came face to face with thenative Americans at dawn. The pilgrims fled bac& to their boat and sailed home to2lymouth %arbour.

The pilgrims began building houses# but the weather conditions were terrible# meaningthat the building too& longer to complete. -ome of the thatched houses caught fire# dueto pilgrims coo&ing and trying to &eep warm. The pilgrims sheltered from the snowstormsin the /ayflower ship. About half the group died from the bitter cold and frommalnutrition# although happily# a baby# 2eregrine# was also born. The pilgrimspersevered and finally finished their village in 3ebruary.

The native Americans met the pilgrims on /arch 16th. A native American# -amoset#from present day /aine# welcomed the pilgrims in English. -amoset had learnt English

 

from fishermen. %e e0plained how previous e0plorers had &idnapped some native Americans# and said he hoped they would be able to live peacefully together. /assosoit#the regional leader of the 4ampanoag also visited the pilgrims and they e0changedgifts. They signed a peace treaty# which would last for over 5" years.

The first Than&sgiving festival was held in the autumn of 161# and /assasoit wasinvited. Together# they celebrated the harvest and the success of their peace withfeasting and dancing. This festival is now a public holiday in the '-A.