THANKSGIVING THOSE ON BOARD

THE MAYFLOWER
The 102 passengers that fled Holland and England to
THE JOURNEY escape persecution from the Church were Separatists.
Provincetown But all who boarded the Mayflower in search of the New
To pay for the journey to America, the Pilgrims took a loan for 1,700 pounds. This was an Land were Pilgrims.
Cape Cod astronomical sum of money, considering the average day’s wage back then was 10 pence. To
4 repay the loan, the Pilgrims signed a legal contract called an indenture, which obligated them
The captain: Christopher
to work for seven years, six days a week, harvesting furs and cod. However, more than half the
You’re crammed in a room, shoulder to shoulder with 100 other passengers. Jones, born in Harwich,
Pilgrims died from the bitter cold the first winter.
72 passengers 132 crew and passengers* Essex, about 1570, was
It’s dark. It smells. It’s wet and very cold. There’s no privacy. No bathrooms. Your meals are pitiful — salted meat and a hard, partial owner of the
1 Southampton, England
dry biscuit. You, and people around you are sick, because the room is rocking side to side. There’s no fresh water and no Mayflower and had served
2 Plymouth
Atlantic Ocean Leiden, Holland change of clean clothes. In essence, you‘re trapped because land is thousands of miles away. These conditions seem as captain of the ship for 12
inhumane, but this was the Mayflower, the Pilgrims’ only means of transportation to a better life in the New Land. years prior to the voyage to
Europe the New Land.
The New Land 66 days By JEFF GOERTZEN | Southern California News Group
Crew 30*
3

1. Aug. 15, 1620: 2. Sept. 16: 3. Nov. 11: 4. Nov. 21:

Two ships (Speedwell and Mayflower) The Mayflower left The Mayflower Compact was The Mayflower anchored at Masts: During a storm on the Steerage room: Where
left Southampton. The ships were Plymouth carrying signed aboard the ship at sea. Provincetown. By journey’s end, journey, the main beam the pilot steered the
forced back twice because of leaks in 102 passengers from This was the first governining two passengers died and a boy cracked. The Pilgrims fixed it Mayflower with a stick Poop house: Living
the Speedwell. both ships. document of the new colony. was born. with a large screw they had called a whip-staff, which quarters for the ship’s Men 40
brought for housebuilding. moved the tiller, which captain and higher
ON THE SHIP Upper deck: Where
moved the rudder. ranking crew.
The Mayflower was originally a merchant ship that transported goods across the English Channel. Its castlelike seamen worked and
structures fore and aft of the ship were designed to protect the crew from the elements. This made it very difficult to attended to the ship.
sail against the North Atlantic westerly winds, which is why it took more than two months to complete the journey.
After 1624, the Mayflower disappeared from maritime records. Several places in England claim to have a piece of the Capstan: A large Forecastle: Where Cabin: General sleeping
original ship, but there is no historical proof to support these claims. apparatus used to meals were cooked and quarters for the crew
lift and lower cargo. crew’s food supplies members.
kept. Boys 31 (Under age 21)

Gun room: Where gun Women 19

powder, shot and other
The Bible: Was the primary supplies were stored for
source of literature for the the ship’s cannons.
passengers. Adults read Girls 10 (Under age 21)
scriptures to the children English
daily. Worship services Dutch
lasted all day on Sundays. Servants
Gun deck: Where Undetermined 2
Navigation: Was done cannons were located
with a compass and and where the
star location. An hourglass passengers lived. It was THE PILGRIMS
was used to keep time. only 5 feet high. Men: Most of the men had been farmers and
were used to working long, hard hours. But on
the ship, they spent most of their time
Consumables: Were stored in barrels to keep reading or playing board games. The men also
dry and safe from rodents. Food included: met to talk about the journey and plans for
Salted meats and fish Cargo hold: Where their new home.
Raisins and prunes food, tools and supplies
Oatmeal and rice were stored. Women: On the ship, women cared for the
Butter 5’ children, prepared the meals, and sewed
Beer and wine (primary beverage) clothes. Women were expected to obey
Water (used only for animals and cooking) Artillery: The ship carried their husbands, so they never questioned
12 cannons to defend itself their decision to go to the New World.
7’ against pirates. Eight were
Skirvy: Because fruits could not be 2’ Children: There were 41 minors on
Minion cannons that
transported, many of the passengers board the Mayflower. Only 10 were girls.
Crowded space: Each passenger had a space of weighed 1,200 pounds and
suffered from scurvy, a result of The older girls helped care for the
about 2 feet by 7 feet. The ceiling of the gun could shoot a cannonball
vitamin C deficiency. Seasickness younger children. There was no place for
deck was only 5 feet high. over a mile.
was also common. them to play.

*Depending on sources
Sources: mayflowerhistory.com; National Geographic; Teaching & Learning Co.; geni.com; History Channel; wikipedia.org; plimothplantation.org; gosocialstudies.go.wix.com