Mayflower

The Mayflower was the ship which transported the Pilgrim Fathers from Plymouth, England to "North Virginia" (in what was later to become the United States of America) in 1620, leaving Plymouth on September 6 and dropping anchor near Cape Cod on November 11.

The voyage

Initially the plan was for the voyage to be made in two vessels (the other being the smaller Speedwell). The first voyage of the ships departed Southampton, England on August 5 1620, but the Speedwell developed a leak and had to be refitted at Dartmouth. On the second attempt, the ships reached the Atlantic, but once again were forced to return, to Plymouth. After some reorganisation the voyage was made in the Mayflower alone. Their intended destination was a section of land in the area near the Hudson River. Forced off course by poor weather, the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod after 65 days at sea. As a result of the delay, the settlers did not arrive until the onset of a harsh New England winter. Before disembarking, the settlers wrote and signed the Mayflower Compact. On April 5, 1621 the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts on a return trip to England, arriving back on May 6, 1621.

Related Topics:
Speedwell - Southampton - England - August 5 - 1620 - Dartmouth - Hudson River - Mayflower Compact - April 5 - 1621 - Plymouth Colony - Massachusetts - May 6

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