| PILGRIM FATHERS and other MAYFLOWER HISTORY |
| ORIGINS OF THE PILGRIM MOVEMENT. The Pilgrim Movement in the United Kingdom was first proposed by John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe, together with John Penry, who were all eventually executed. The names 'Puritan' and 'Pilgrim Fathers' are often linked together in the History of Boston in Lincolnshire., but the Puritans belonged to the Church of England under John Winthrop, and the Pilgrim Fathers were 'Nonconformists' , and it is the Puritans who are linked to starting the settlement of Boston (USA). William Brewster, who was friend of King James, was not only a member of the movement, but he was Postmaster at Scrooby Post Office, and became a founder member of the Scrooby movement Other ministers at Scrooby were John Robinson, Richard Jackson, and William Brewster, and that they intended to go to holland. At Boston in Lincolnshire the Captain of the ship that they intended to use to go aboard was a 18 year old named William Bradford, but the Pilgrims were stowed below deck, and their possessions were ransacked, and a runner was sent ashore to inform the authorities. The Boston Magistrates were sympathetic, but could not release them without authority. Brewster and Jackson were released on bail to answer a charge of 'Brownism' Eventually in 1608 Brewster hired a dutch ship to take them to Holland. That the ship would moor in the River Humber, and bearing in mind their previous encounter the men went aboard the ship to check it out, and left the woman and children on shore until they were satisfied, The meantime their activities were discovered, and the women and children were arrested, but the men escaped and sailed to holland |
| WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAYFLOWER? So what did happen to the Mayflower after it sailed the Atlantic? It in fact sailed back again to Europe under Christopher Jones the Captain, and was used to ply cargo between the European countries, still Captained by Christopher Jones. Afterwards it no doubt eventually became unstable for sea voyages, it was no doubt broken up and the usable timber employed for other purposes. History suggests it finished up in a boatyard at Rotherhithe in Kent (UK) and was taken apart. Much of the timber was bought by a J Rendel Harris, and it was eventually sold to a farmer named Jordan, and used to build the interior of a barn in South Buckinghamshire. (The barn in question still exists as does Jordan's farm house and the interior of the barn resembles the interior of a ship). No doubt some of the timber was used to renovate Jordan's farmhouse, and markings on the timber both in the barn and on doors in the farmhouse suggest that it originated from the Mayflower. Although the artifacts have been preserved, there is an ongoing problem with infestation of the wood. Access can be gained to the barn to view the timbers in question (See photographs of the Mayflower Barn). |
| Surnames of Families on the Mayflower Alden, Allerton, Billington, Bradford, Brewster. Britterige, Browne, Butten, Carter, Carver, Clarke, Chilten, Cooke, Cooper, Crakston, Dotey, Eaton, Ely, English, Fletcher, Fuller, Gardiner, Goodman, Holbeck, Hooke, Hopkins, Howland, Langemore, Lister, Latham, Margeson, Martin, Minter, More, Mullins, Priest, Prower, Rigdale, Rogers, Sampson, Soule, Standish, Story, Thompson, Tilley, Tinker, Trevor, Turner, White, Warren, Wilder, Williams, Winslow,
'Anne', and 'Little James' 'A Brief History of the Pilgrims' also contains similar details. ............... or, if wish to have a more comprehensive account of the above, in 'The Pilgrim Story' by Atwood or Vernon Heaton's -The Mayflower which has more biographical detail of all the above persons, including their births and deaths. |
| To the left is the Memorial to the misadventures of the Pilgrim Fathers on the north bank of River Witham to the east of Boston (UK). To the Right are two images that prove the story of the Pilgrim Father's original attempt at try and escape persecution. But the Lincolnshire Fens just north of Boston were not far enough away for them when they started a little settlement and called it New York. It was turned into a small village that still exists today |
| Aerial View of New York (Lincolnshire) The below signboard is on the building north west of junction. |
| PILGRIM FATHERS IN LEIDEN. The name 'Puritan or Protestant' was once a derogatory term for those who protested again the English Anglican Church after 1564 and it's Roman Catholic Traditions. Much later they were they called the 'Pilgrim fathers'. Many people were involved in the original exodus to Holland including William BREWSTER who was born in 1590, and was the occupier of the Manor House at Scrooby in Lincolnshire were the 'Puritans' met and started his life as a politician in Queen Elizabeth's government. William BRADFORD who was an original Puritan from Austerfield who arranged transport, bribes and generally organised things. Also, John SMYTHE who organised the exodus from Scrooby. John ROBINSON who was Born in Sturton in Nottinghamshire, studied at Cambridge University, took Holy Orders, and was a man of peace. He has links with Laurence Chadderton and William Perkins, and who were Puritans or Protestants. Robinson organised the exodus from Scrooby, then went to see the 'Pilgrams' in Holland to organise the trip to America. He was influenced by the Calvinists in Holland. He died in 1625. |
| THE ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS It is generally thought that the Pilgrim fathers were pacifists, whereas in fact they were heavily protected with Armour, and armed with edged weapons and weapons that fired projectiles, and not only used these weapons for hunting, but also for killing the indians they came across. The armour included breast and back plates, helmets and neck and thigh protectors, and their swords included rapiers (thrusting swords), and their guns included muskets and cannons. DETAILS OF THE GUNS: Firearms were in fact taken onto the Mayflower, but they were in the form of Muskets, or Matchlocks. They were in fact very basic firearms, and relied on a slow burning match to discharge. This slow burning match was usually a short woven rope soaked in nitre, or a similar substance, which was fastened to a 'serpentine' so it swivelled into the priming pan powder. It was effective, and the ball that it fired did more damage to flesh and muscle than a bow and arrow. BUT, these early firearms had a few drawbacks. Loading a musket was slower, and more complicated that a bow and arrow, and therefore less efficient. It was difficult to load a musket. The burning match had to be first removed so it did not ignite the gunpowder while loading. Then the powder was forced down the barrel, followed by a wad and the ball. The priming pan needed to be replenished, and then the slow burning match replaced on the 'serpentine'. Only them could it be fired, and by then the holder of the weapon was full of arrows. But there was a psychological advantage in these early weapons. As it can be imagined these type of weapons created a lot of smoke and a bright flash, which would create panic in the enemy. But there was also disadvantage, all this smoke and flashing created a smell and visual signs, therefore it was difficult to ambush the enemy. |
| BOSTON CITY'S (USA) ORIGIN FROM LINCOLNSHIRE. Many of the original Pilgrim Father's were from around Boston Town in Lincolnshire where many of them escaped persecution, and went to the USA. The earliest existence of the City of Boston in the USA was in 1630 many years before the American Revolution and it is probably the oldest city on the American continent. A William Blackstone rowed across the Charles river to start a new settlement on the Shawmut (Running Water) Peninsula which had been discovered by other puritans under John Winthrop, and bought from the indians. He called it Boston after the town in Lincolnshire. It was ideal for their purposes because of the narrow neck of the island, which meant they could keep away indians and wild animals, and it would be easy to stop their cattle from wandering. Blackstone could trace his origins to Lincolnshire, and at one time attended Cambridge University in the UK, and was a clergyman. He had already been in the 'new world' for about eight years when he rowed across the river. The peninsula never seemed big enough to support a large city, just a small settlement if the swamps could be avoided. |
| The Wedgwood Pottery Company in the UK made a commemorative plate to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. This plate depicted a picture of the Mayflower. |
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| WERE THE PILGRIM FATHERS THE FIRST SETTLERS? It is believed that a Captain Bartholomew Gosnold preceded the Pilgrim Fathers in there crossing of the Atlantic to Amerca, and he is the overlooked founding father of the first English speaking colony in the USA Bartholomew was born in Grundisburgh in the County of Suffolk (UK) in 1572, He was credited with the title of navigator, regardless of being a ship's Captain. He is also credited with naming Cape Cod in Massachusetts in 1602, and Martha's Vineyard as a memorial to his daughter Gosnold who died in 1607. Bartholomew went to Cambridge University where he studied Law. He also became a member of the Middle Temple (Judges Chambers in London - UK). He had a liking for the explorer's life, and made an unsuccessful attempt at trying to establish a colony in Virginia (USA). Funded by various English noblemen, including Sir Walter Raleigh and the Earl of Southampton, he again sailed from Falmouth on 26 March 1602 as captain on board a ship called the Concord. He first sailed to the Azores, and then travelled westwards. This voyage took about seven weeks where he spotted landfall in Maine (USA). There is a monument on Elizabeth Islands off Massachusetts to mark the spot where he landed. The Virginia Shipping Company was formed in 1606, with funds from business people in the UK and the main merchant who inspired the formation of the company was Sir Thomas Smyth. Authority was obtained from King James I in 1606 for the formation of the company, with the proviso that it would be controlled by a council. A Christopher Newport was in command of the expedition of three ships, with Bartholomew being the captain of the 'God Speed'. Other men in charge of ships were Captain John Smith, and Captain John Ratcliffe. The expedition contained 105 persons and set sail in December 1606. They were held up by storms off Kent for about six weeks. They then took a route known to Christopher Newport and picked up supplies at the Canaries, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Nevis, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In April 1607, the settlers arrived off Chesapeake Bay, and later formed a colony called Jamestown, after King James I of England. Bartholomew became a member of the controlling council; Bartholomew, regardless of being a member of the controlling council, died on 22 August 1607. Since that time Archaeologists believe they have found the remains of Bartholomew. They propose to make cross-checks with the DNA of members of Bartholomews known family, who are thought to have been buried in Suffolk churchyards in the 1600s. It is being arranged for female members of Bartholomew's family to have their remains examined in Suffolk, so that DNA checks can be undertaken to establish that the body discovered in the USA is in fact that of Bartholomew Gosnold. There are two possibilties for the match, one is his sister and the other his niece, and both are buried in Suffolk churchyards. Radar searches of burial grounds in Shelley and Stowmarket, in Suffolk (UK) are being undertaken. Parish Records show that Bartholomew's sister, Elizabeth Gosnold Tilney, lies in a grave at Shelley All Saints Church. In Suffolk, and his niece, Katherine Blackerby, is believed to be buried at St Peter and St Mary Church, Stowmarket, Suffolk (UK). The authority of the Suffolk County Council must be sought before any sort of exhumation or examination can take place. The excavators plan to photograph the remains with a small camera that will be lowered down a tube into the graves. The scientists believe it will not be necessary to actually exhume the bodies, and that samples of DNA can be taken after digging a narrow shaft in a given location, Apparently there is no trace of a living relative, and this method avoids the necessity for a re-burial. |
| Click on image to read inscription on front |