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Pilgrims Dr, Joel B. Peckham, Jr
Pilgrims • "The Pilgrims : a simple people, inspired by an ardent faith in God, a dauntless courage in danger, a boundless resourcefulness in the face of difficulties, an impregnable fortitude in adversity : thus they have in some measure become the spiritual ancestors of all Americans.“ Samuel Eliot Morison, mid 20th century
Separatism • Develops out of reformation • Religious authority grounded solely in scripture, not pope or king • Literacy vital • Democratization— “Those who are to exercise any public function in the church should be chosen by common voice,” Calvin • Leave England For Holland in 1608 • Leave Holland for America in 1620
The Voyage • After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was shroudly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the midships was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage--Bradford
Bradford-- • Being thus passed the vast ocean and a sea of troubles before in their preparation . . . They had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succour . . . . • Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men . . . . • For which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward object
The Mayflower Compact • Haveing undertaken, for the glorie of God, and advancemente of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and countrie, a voyage to plant the first colonie in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by vertue hereof to enacte, constitute and frame shuch just and equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of the Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd the .11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620 –William Bradford
"Amidst the storm they sang,And the stars heard, and the sea:And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rangto the anthem of the free.The ocean eagle soaredFrom his nest by the white wave’s foam,And the rocking pines of the forest roared,This was their welcome home."What sought they thus afar?Bright jewels from the mine?The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?They sought a faith’s pure shrine.Ay, call it holy ground,The soil which first they trod:They have left un-stained what there they found,Freedom to worship God." Felicia Dorothea Hemans, 1808 "The breaking waves dash’d hig On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky their giant branches toss’d. And the heavy night hung dark the hills and waters o’er, When a band of exiles moor’d their bark On the wild New England shore. "Not as the conqueror comes, they, the true-hearted, came; Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame; Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear: They shook the depths of the desert gloom With their hymns of lofty cheer.
The Starving Time In the first few months after landing 51 of 102 colonists perished. Without the help of Native Americans the harvest of the following summer that saved the colony could not have occurred
The First Thanksgiving • Edward Winslow, Mourt's Relation :"our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some nintie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which we brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodnessr of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”
Treaty with Massasoit • 1. That neither he (Massasoit) nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurt to any of their peopl(e)..2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him..3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do like to him..4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he should aide them. He should send to his neighbours confederates, to certifie them of his, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.
Clothes • Pilgrim clothes were often made of wool and linen cloth. A Pilgrim boy would have worn stockings with garters to hold them up, breeches (pants), a doublet (short jacket), leather shoes, and perhaps a felt hat. A Pilgrim girl would have dressed in a petticoat, stockings with garters to hold them up, an apron, a waistcoat, leather shoes, and a linen coif on her head.
Houses • Pilgrim families lived in houses constructed of bark and branches. The roof was made of straw and vines. Most Pilgrim houses had a fireplace, one main room and a small upstairs space. Surrounding the village was a palisade — a defensive barrier made of logs.
Leadership • Church and state were governed separately in Plymouth Colony. The Governor, with the help of his Assistants, or council, presided over the General Court. Until 1639, the General Court was made up of the freemen of the colony, who assembled to vote on laws and try court cases. After 1639 each town sent representatives to the General Court. • William Bradford was the long-time governor of Plymouth Colony, serving in that capacity almost continuously from 1621 until 1656. The Governor and his Assistants negotiated with the Wampanoag and other Native groups, as well as with other colonies.
Music--Psalms • Old Hundred The Bay Psalm Book was the first book in English to be printed in America Aim is not beauty but accuracy, closeness to biblical text. Slow, stern, elongated style of singing reflected the need to “line-out” Each verse—to read it it first so that those without books could follow
