Bradford, the Mayflower and Plymouth
Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts
Congregationalism (and others from the Reformed tradition) has its roots in the Pilgrims who came from England, led by William Brewster and William Bradford. The issue at stake was religious freedom. The Pilgrims were non-conformists, separatists in a hostile environment. English law mandated that those who missed Anglican worship or attended “unlawful” services would be severely punished. The “established” Church of England was the only church allowed. The Crown feared divisive factions would disrupt the order of the Empire; the Pilgrims were considered a threat. In our modern age of pluralism, we find it hard to imagine not having freedom to worship. The convictions of the Pilgrims influenced America’s founders.
The Pilgrims were mostly modest farmers who argued that everyone, not just the clergy, had the right to read and interpret the Bible. The son of one farmer, William Bradford, began attending worship at Scrooby Manor, the home of William Brewster, who became a mentor and friend. Brewster was a university graduate and was expected to have a promising career in politics. He grew to see the need for purification in both church and state. James I was on the throne, who swore he would not tolerate any challenge to his authority. It became dangerous to even suggest any reforms. Separatists were arrested and imprisoned.
As the situation worsened, the only option was to flee the country. The Netherlands was considered a safe haven. Many who attempted to escape were arrested and lost all their possessions. Gradually small groups made it to Amsterdam. As their plight was publicized in the newspapers, others were inspired by their cause; the movement began to spread. In Holland the growing Pilgrim community banded together, found employment, and began to pray for God’s guidance. They lived primarily in the city of Leyden, an industrial center, and a major life adjustment to people accustomed to agriculture. They joined trade guilds, some even joined the military…and there was fear that they would be assimilated—they were exiles, but did not want to lose their English heritage.
William Brewster published the Pilgrims’ “dangerous” ideas, and King James demanded that the Dutch ambassador have him arrested. He went into hiding as a fugitive as the persecution reached Leyden. Politically, a ten-year truce between Holland and Spain was about to expire. Should Catholic Spain conquer Holland an even greater persecution would follow (perhaps another Inquisition). The only option was to flee Europe altogether. In the “New World” the Pilgrims had a real chance of enjoying religious freedom. After eleven years in Holland they devised plans to sail to America.
There was to be two ships to sail in, the Mayflower, and the Speedwell, but the latter proved to be not seaworthy. Many had to wait in Holland for another opportunity. Other delays occurred, and finally on August 5th the Mayflower set sail. Not all the passengers were Pilgrims (they referred to the other settlers as the “Strangers”). One of the non-Pilgrims became close friends with Bradford, a Dutch soldier by the name of Miles Standish. He later became central to the security of the settlers.
The Mayflower stopped briefly in Plymouth, England, before beginning it’s ocean crossing. The Pilgrims’ last sight of England would be Plymouth, and by God’s Providence, they would settle in an area that had been named Plymouth by English explorers.
The Mayflower was primarily a freight vessel, and was not fitted for passengers. The voyage was extremely cramped and uncomfortable, and high winds meant that most became seasick. There were no beds, so the passengers had to sleep in hammocks or pallets on the deck. The Pilgrims began to look to William Bradford to negotiate with the crew and the other passengers. Surprisingly there was only one death during the passage, a crewman who enjoyed tormenting and cursing the passengers came down with a sickness and died. There was also one birth, a son to Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins.
After 66 days at sea, wondering if they would ever arrive, they came in sight of Cape Cod. Then began the search for a safe place to land. Like the Hebrews who journeyed to the Promised Land, the Pilgrims arrived at a new country, trusting God to help them establish a new way of life.
Because the settlers were a “mixed” group, Bradford drew up an agreement among them, a document known as the Mayflower Compact, which stated that all had equal rights and responsibility for the success of this new colony. The Compact outlined a democratic form of government (far different than the European model of monarchies). John Carver was elected the first Governor.
The location of Plymouth was ideal—an enclosed harbor, ground well-suited for farming, but because they arrived in the late Fall, the land was inhospitable, and there was the ever-present threat of attack by Native Americans. They discovered a supply of seed corn left by a local tribe, and yes, they looted the supplies, but they resolved that they would repay the Natives, and they did when, six months later, they made first contact with the Wampanoag tribe. Had the Pilgrims settled anywhere to the north or south of Plymouth they would have encountered hostile tribes.
Shortly after their arrival, Bradford’s wife Dorothy died; in fact, that first winter half of the settlers died, some of scurvy caused by the unhealthy sea voyage; others of tuberculosis and pneumonia, caused by the exposure to the harsh New England winter.
A turning point came with the arrival of a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, Squanto, an Indian who had been captured by Spanish explorers and brought to Europe, escaped and returned to America. Squanto was fluent in English, and assisted the settlers in negotiating a peace treaty with the Native tribes. He also showed them how to plant corn, fishing methods, and where to find local nuts, fruit and herbs—without Squanto the Pilgrims would not have survived. He remained with the settlers, and was regarded as their most valuable friend and ally.
In the Spring, Governor Carver died, and the settlers turned to William Bradford. At age 32 he assumed the leadership of the settlement. Still grieving over the death of his wife, Bradford poured his energy into running the colony. His tact, honesty and diplomacy proved indispensable for the colony’s development. He was beloved by the settlers, and remained in office for over thirty years. With the warmer weather the colony began to prosper. The settlers built homes, planted crops, fished, trapped deer, beavers and fowl. The primitive settlement began to look more like a town.
That Fall, a year after their arrival, Bradford recalled the Dutch custom of celebrating freedom from Spanish oppression with a holiday. He decreed a day to be set aside so that all could offer thanks to God and rejoice together. He sent Squanto to invite local tribesmen, who arrived with deer. 142 settlers and natives joined for three days of feasting, a celebration of God’s blessing for the harvest, which we continue to observe as Thanksgiving.
Then in November another ship from Europe arrived, the Fortune, bringing more members of the Pilgrim congregation. Eventually other ships would bring Pilgrims to the shores of Massachusetts, to include Alice Southworth, who became Bradford’s wife. With growing numbers, Bradford began to see that a communal setting wasn’t working as planned. He decided that, in addition to the common lands farmed by the community, each household would have private lots on which to farm, which gave the settlers an added incentive to work hard.
Much of what we know of the Pilgrims comes from Bradford’s account of the early settlement, the History of Plimoth Plantation, which was published 200 years after his death. It is a first-hand account of the challenges and courage of the settlers. Bradford details the vision of the Pilgrims and their trust in God’s providential care.
We often take our freedom for granted. I recall, during a humanitarian mission to help Cuban refugees, giving a Spanish Bible to a Cuban. In broken English he told me that if He’d been caught with a Bible in Communist Cuba, he’d be executed. People continue to seek our shores for the sake of freedom. We are a nation of immigrants, and by the hand of divine Providence we enjoy the prosperity of America. May we never fail to give praise to God for His bounty, and may we never cease to appreciate the freedom we possess.
The faith of the Pilgrims was centered in the work of Christ. A Pilgrim is one who is on a journey of faith, which began at the Cross, and concludes in Paradise. The newly-published history of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference is titled "There Are Modern-Day Pilgrims". Our spiritual roots reach to the Mayflower, and our hope is to continue in the tradition of Plymouth. May the faith of our forebears inspire us to live for our Savior as devoted followers, for the glory of God.
