The Pilgrims--some unknown facts

When I was in grade school I loved the celebration of Thanksgiving because

we got to dress up as both Indians and Pilgrims, and we got to taste some of

the foods they ate. We also heard their story every year. 

There were about 102 passengers and 30 crew members on the Mayflower,

but some of the passengers were called Strangers because they were not

part of the Pilgrims and were not coming to the new world to escape 

persecution. The Mayflower sailed from Holland where the Pilgrims lived 

for a number of years after fleeing England. (One Thanksgiving we visited 

Leyden and attended a Thanksgiving service in the church where the 

Pilgrims had worshiped.) Two died on the 65 day voyage in a very stormy 

crossing. The ship was forced by storms to go further north than intended  

and landed in an uninhabited area in November of 1620. They built a common 

house which was destroyed by fire in January of 1621 which meant losing 

supplies and  forcing them to shelter on the cramped ship. William Bradford 

said of that winter: “...soon a most lamentable blow fell upon them. In two or 

three months time half of their company died...scarcely 50 remained, and 

sometimes two or three persons died in a day. In the time of worst distress, 

there were but six or seven sound persons, who, to their great commendation 

be it spoken, spared no pains night or day, but with great toil and at the risk of 

their own health, fetched wood, made fires, prepared food for the sick, made 

their beds, washed their infected clothes, dressed and undressed them; in a 

word did all the homely and necessary services for them which dainty and 

queasy stomachs cannot endure to be mentioned.”  Approximately 55 people

survived the voyage and that awful winter but in March when the ship sailed, not 

one of the Pilgrims was on board. 

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!