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The Scrooby Pilgrims |
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Bon voyage
The voyage experienced several setbacks. Before leaving English waters, the Separatists were twice forced back into port, first at Dartmouth and then at Plymouth, because the Speedwell began to take in water. At Plymouth, the decision was taken to abandon ship and proceed with just the Mayflower. Some passengers disembarked, having given up on the idea, but 120 remained determined to travel to the New World and they finally set sail on September 6th, 1620. William Brewster and the Scrooby villagers were among this group.
A reconstruction of the Mayflower on which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed
© Courtesy of Ian Britton, freefoto.com |
Cramped living areas, food shortages, no fresh meat, precious little water, severe sea sickness and violent storms meant that the crossing was arduous for those on board. Yet despite these conditions, Crispin Gill states that there was a birth on board, a boy named Oceanus Hopkins, and that only one person died in the voyage, William Butten from Austerfield, who was a servant of Samuel Fuller.
This figure compares well to the number of fatalities on other Atlantic crossings of the time. According to Simon Niziol, National Maritime Museum, fatalities were common place on the Atlantic crossings, particularly on immigrant boats, where large numbers of people were kept in close quarters.
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