• Since the voyagers were well north of their intended destination of Virginia, some of the passengers wanted total independence from their shipmates. To prevent this the Mayflower Compact was signed in the cabin of the Mayflower by the adult men.

During the Mayflower's voyage across the Atlantic to the New World, Captain Christopher Jones and his officers, plus some of the passengers' leaders, lived in the sterncastle while everyone else was packed with their baggage on the main deck without bunks or hammocks.

After enjoying fair winds and weather for some time, cross winds and many fierce storms were encountered when the Mayflower took in all sail and rode the sea with bare masts. Passengers were confined to quarters below deck in unhealthy, soggy conditions since it was impossible to plug all leaks.

Surprisingly, only one passenger, William Button, died during the voyage. One child was born appropriately christened 'Oceanus.' After two months the pilgrims sighted land which they knew from Captain John Smith's chart to be Cape Cod - farther north than they intended. Trying to turn south, they soon encountered dangerous waters and, fearing the ship would run into a sandbank, turned back and dropped anchor at the tip of Cape Cod.

The day was 11 November 1620: 'Having found a good haven and being brought safely in sight of land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean.'

Mayflower Compact

Disagreement had been voiced between the Puritans and other passengers and as a result the Mayfower Compact was drawn up on board and signed (pictured right) by the heads of the families - 41 of the 65 men on board. In effect, the pilgrims gave themselves power to elect their own Governor, and if they wished, re-elect a new one every year:

'In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovreign Lord, King James . . . Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid.'

'And by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have here undersubscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th November, in the year of the reign of our Sovreign Lord King James, of England . . . Anno Domini 1620.'

Signatures of the Pilgrims

Volunteers led by Captain Miles Standish explored inland and ran into several Indians who ran off into the woods. The explorers followed, lost them, but found signs of an old Indian settlement, stumbling upon a great kettle and a winter store of Indian corn under heaps of sand. Hesitating as to what to do, they finally decided to 'borrow' as much corn as they could carry in the kettle, feeling they could repay the Indians later on. This corn later saved the pilgrims from starvation and William Bradford called it: 'a special providence of God.' It seems that Indian corn yields two plentiful harvests and makes wholesome bread and good bisket.

The bay was not suitable for anchorage as they could only go ashore at high water. The weather was becoming cold and stormy and with pilgrims constantly wading ashore, coughs and colds became prevalent: 'as if they should continue long in that estate, it would endanger the lives of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst us.'

A second expedition set out in the repaired shallop but failed to find a good anchorage though they did find Indian wigwams with signs of habitation, an Indian grave, and more corn and beans of various colours. When the party returned to the Mayflower, it was agreed the most urgent need was to find a place for settlement as: 'the heart of winter and unseasonable weather was come upon us.'

New Plymouth

On 6 December a third party set out in the shallop again to explore the bay. It was so cold the spray of the sea froze on their coats like glass. After breakfast on their second night ashore that they were unexpectedly attacked by Indians with bows and arrows. They beat off the Indians, discharging their muskets: 'The cry of the Indians was dreadful, especially when they saw the men run out of the rendezvous towards the shallop to recover their guns, the Indians wheeling about them. But some of the men, armed with coats of mail and with cutlasses in their hands, soon got their guns and let fly among them which soon stopped their violence.' No one was hurt and as trophies they collected 18 arrows, some headed with brass, others with Hart's horn and some with eagles' claws.

Continuing their search of the bay through snow, rain and a storm, they lost their mast. Eventually finding the shore and with everything being wet, they made a fire despite their fear of Indian attack. The next day, being a fair sun-shining day and a Sunday, they kept the Sabbath.

On Monday their discomforts and difficulties were at last rewarded when 'they sounded the harbour and found it fit for shipping. And marching inland found several cornfields and little running brooks - a place as they supposed - fit for a settlement.' This was to be the birthplace of the tiny New Plymouth Colony.

On Friday 15 December, the Mayflower sailed around Cape Cod into the bay and put down 3 anchors. For defence, the pilgrims built a gun-platform on a hill, taking a canon ashore from the Mayflower. Plots for houses were laid out designed into a small compact fort that could be defended.

Mistress White gave birth to a son called Peregrine and tragically William Bradford's 23-year-old wife was drowned when she accidently fell overboard.

John Carver, 'a godly man and highly approved among them', was formally appointed Governor of the new settlement.

The Mayflower Pilgrims

In the following list of the Mayflower passengers the head of each party is named on the left. The names of those pilgrims who did not survive the winter appear in black.