The Pilgrim Adventure
by
Catha and Betty
Phase 2 - Crossing the Atlantic
The Pilgrims planned to leave their homeland early in the spring of 1620, but there were lots of delays. By the time they got the king's permission to establish a colony and arranged for ships and supplies, it was late August and many of the Pilgrims decided not to go.
The company that was paying for the trip needed more colonists so other people, who were called "Strangers" by the Pilgrims, went in search of wealth and adventure. Today, the entire group who settled at Plymouth is known as the Pilgrims.
Some of the Pilgrims from the Speedwell joined their friends on the Mayflower. Others stayed behind promising to come later on another ship. There were now 102 passengers and at least 20 crew members crowded on the ship.
There was no heat, no plumbing, and no privacy. People wore the same clothes all the way across the ocean. Anything that got wet stayed wet until the sun came out.
It was under these crowded conditions that the Mayflower finally set sail for the New World on September 6, 1620. It was a bad time to leave. Although the weather was good, Captain Jones knew the waters would soon get rough.
For the first two weeks the Pilgrims enjoyed good weather. They were able to get used to sea travel. Then the Mayflower was struck by a series of fierce storms. The Pilgrims had to stay below decks. Gale force winds attacked the Mayflower. Its seams opened and bedding and clothing were soaked with ocean water.
Halfway across the Atlantic the main beam split and it appeared the ship would split in two. Fortunately there was enough equipment on board to make repairs. The beam was fixed, leaks were plugged, and the Mayflower went on.
Sometimes the storms were so strong that the captain had his crew take in the sails and let the Mayflower be tossed about. Finally, after 65 days at sea, they reached land.
During the crossing a child was born. Since he was born at sea they named him Oceanus Hopkins. Unfortunately one Pilgrim, William Butten, died and was buried at sea.
It had been a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, but they had finally made it to the New World.
