Mayflower Pilgrims, 1606-1620 | William Bradford | Plymouth Plantation | Mayflower Compact

A separatist congregation is formed in Scrooby, England. William Bradford is in the congregation. The Separatists want to break away from the Church of England, which is politically charged because the King, James I, is head of the Church of England.
East of Nottingham, in a town called Boston, Separatists are jailed while trying to go to Holland. But the next, 1608, they try again.
The Separatists flee for Holland (the Netherlands). The Separatists relocate from Amsterdam to Leiden. William Brewster starts a printing press there. John Robinson is the minister of the church.
The King is displeased with Separatists printing materials in Holland. Arrests are made. It is time to look for a new home in America.
Robert Cushman and John Carver are in London forming terms with the Virginia Company. However, Thomas Weston of the Merchant Adventurers convinces the Separatists to go with his company. He has a patent for the Hudson River mouth.
The Pilgrims acquire the Speedwell in Delfshaven, Holland. The Mayflower is acquired in England. The two ships meet in Southampton, England. The ships sail through the channel, but must return to Dartmouth, England after the Speedwell is leaky. Again the ships set off and again they return to Plymouth. The Speedwell will not come on the voyage.
The Mayflower sets off alone. There are 102 passengers. Elisabeth Hopkins gives birth at sea. She names the child Oceanus.
The Mayflower reaches Cape Cod, over 200 miles from their intended landing spot at the Hudson River. They attempt to sail for the Hudson, but dangerous shoals force the ship back.
The Mayflower turns north, cycling around Cape Cod. The passengers write the Mayflower Compact.
On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower Compact is signed. The Mayflower is near modern Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Music credit:
"Mongrel Dance" by Dan Bodan
A film by Jeffrey Meyer

[@adamzaki6232]

“Babe, I can’t. Jeffrey the Librarian dropped a new video”

[@scottanno8861]

"Actually, leave it on..." 😏

[@ballsrawls]

Jeffrey, you have a gift for explaining long ago, forgotten times. I beg you to continue your efforts. Your videos are appreciated by some, but will be remembered by many. Thank you for all your time and passion. It is so enjoyable.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks! Comments like this make the effort worth it.

[@nowthisnamestaken]

I'm hoping the Gettysburg videos work into a complete work at some distant point.

[@larrygrossman8021]

The ship creaking sound during the closing credits pushes this lesson past the perfect and into the sublime!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I like how a subtle noise can charge the imagination.

[@avondalemama470]

William Bradford and Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford are my husband’s (many greats) grandparents. This is so interesting. Very well done. 😊😊😊

[@maryellenmeyer2702]

Another great one! Thanks Jeff

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@mcclure440]

I knew of the Mayflower but not on all the reasons they left for America. Your video fills in the details. Great job!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@eucliduschaumeau8813]

I learned more history from this video than I ever did in decades of school in just under 27 minutes. Thanks!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@rogermellie8068]

Fantastic story, much of which I didn't know as an Englander, thank you for the clear and detailed information

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you, friend! The United States was born in a little town in Nottinghamshire. Pretty neat.

[@user-rm3yi1ui3g]

The place between Hull and Grimsby has a name - Immingham. A few miles from where I was born.

[@billr8667]

Thanks for all of your work on this. I discovered recently that I am descended to Stephen Hopkins (14 generations) and James Chilton )13 generations) through my maternal grandmother. The descendants of the Mayflower number in the millions.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching. It's neat how such a small ship with 102 people essentially changed the world.

[@AmerikiDork]

​@@JeffreytheLibrarianHow did they change the world?

[@stevehayward1854]

I was born and still live in the English port city of Plymouth, the last stop they made before New England. Plymouth at this time was a Puritan town so they would have found Plymouthians close to their cause. Later, during the English Civil War Plymouth was against the crown and defended successfully against the Kings army for the whole war. King Charles I tried to convert Plymouth to Catholicism by building Charles Church, which was hated by Plymouthians to the point that during the War both St Andrews and Charles Church was both destroyed by German bombing but only St. Andrews was rebuilt, Charles Church was left as a ruin to commemorate the war dead and now sits in the centre of a round about. In 2012, my wife and I had a great visit to Plymouth MA and found the people very warm, welcoming and very helpful.

[@scottanno8861]

LOL they didn't even rebuild the church out of historical grievances 300 years prior 😅

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

That's a great perspective that provides a context to the Pilgrims' voyage. Plymouth, England was the Mayflower's last stop before the long voyage, and the passengers must have been impressed by the town there to name their own colony Plymouth.

[@ZENmud]

I became engaged to my (temporary 😅) wife in 1988; we found our ancestral Maxwell castle, Caerlaverock, near Dumfries, Scotland, then joined her English parents in Shaugh Prior, above Plymouth(!). Ex-wife was actually adopted in California, so wasn't *really* English. But her father's father was the last Gamekeeper to Lord Robraugh(sp?), and we stayed in their family home, on the edge of National Trust lands (north-northwest across the lane). Her grandfather had been a Bobbie during WW II, and thrilled us with stories I sought from him, about drunk sailors and broken windows... Even divorced I cherish the memory of that village, its pub, and the meadows.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

He married a Catholic woman but King Charles I was absolutely Protestant Anglican. Protestant England was still persecuting Catholics. Why would he build a Catholic Church in the colonies? That's just leftover propaganda from WAY back in the day. Protestant Colonists and puritans distrusted him because of his marriage to a Catholic.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

England 🤦‍♀️ I'm like... that never happened in Plymouth Massachusetts! 😂

[@rogerdevero8726]

Jeffrey, very well done, most professional in every way. Thank you, and God bless your work - John 3:16

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you, friend!

[@JimJul1888]

Another excellent presentation. Thank you Jeffrey.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching!

[@mr.lochness8511]

Well done sir! Brilliant work

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@gr500music6]

Jeffrey, once again this is just so good - geography and timeline in lieu of political and nationalist myth-making.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I appreciate it!

[@ChristProvidenceUntoYou]

So excellently done. Thank you so very much, Jeffrey. Beautiful and sound history. Bless you.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Bless you as well. Thank you for watching.

[@markroth9827]

Good one JYL. Thank you for your efforts.

[@PennStacker]

Wow this was amazing! Thanks!!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching!

[@fasx56]

Thank you Jeffery for such a detailed and clearly presented History of how the Pilgrims made their voyage to America. Most of us had heard some general information on how the Plymouth Colony got started but the details you filled in with gave us the full story. I had never read about the serious problems one of the ships had leaking sea water to return three times losing precious time. It is amazing that they were able to compete this voyage.

[@pineywoods420]

Brilliant storytelling

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Much appreciated. Thank you!

[@jamessimmer725]

Bravo! I really enjoyed this! Thank you!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@Squatch_Rider66]

Great presentation, thanks for the work.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@seanmcardle]

Good job, well told.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@garrettknox5266]

Love this stuff. Thanks!!!

[@dj-kq4fz]

I enjoy your work, thanks!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@randybrown140]

Religion and Politics still don't mix 😳

[@TanukiDigital]

Particularly when the religion is politics.

[@nicholasoliver9957]

Amen. Leads to nothing but trouble on both political and religious sides.

[@coyote4237]

Well done, thank you.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I appreciate it!

[@stekarknugen9258]

Peter Jackson will never be forgiven for making an entire generation of Americans pronounce "shire" completely wrong at the end of English locations

[@Thx1138sober]

My relations hung back for another 34 years before they showed up there.

[@kotaowens6978]

This channel is so underrated

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@samgamgee42]

Just discovered your channel.... this video was a Great introduction !! Loved it

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@DeniseFactor]

I love the way you use aerial images to convey the wonderful knowledge you have and the fantastic way you communicate that knowledge. You have a new fan my friend. Thank you

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching!

[@cliffordwaterton3543]

Another hole in my historical knowledge filled - thank you.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@Spitzer3964]

This is what lead to the American Revolution. Self governance and a personal faith in God.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

The Mayflower passengers are the Founding Forefathers. All the ingredients are there.

[@Spitzer3964]

@@JeffreytheLibrarianGreat video Jeffery.

[@ywoof]

No, local American profiteers like the tea monopolies wanted to continue fleecing the local born populace so they wanted the revolution. That's why they staged the fake Boston tea party disguised as local tribes. The tea they dumped into the harbor would have been cheaper than theirs.

[@loushky619]

Good job mate

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you, friend!

[@fromulus]

I live right near Plymouth, and the nearby town, Carver, home of the Myles Standish State Forest/park.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

That's neat that those placenames are there.

[@kilep80]

Loved this history lesson!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@HealthySkepticism1775]

What an incredibly adventurous and dangerous time to be alive.

[@johnhoyle6390]

it's interesting to note that the Mayflower Pilgrims left Leiden, Netherlands during what is now called the 'Dutch Golden Age", a time of vibrant culture and learning. Rembrandt himself may well have passed by some Pilgrims in the streets as he grew up in that time and location.

[@sebastienhardinger4149]

Fantastic stuff

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I appreciate it!

[@user-nl9pc9mx9n]

Thank you for sharing your research about the Pilgrims. Use of the map is so helpful. I visited Plymouth several times in 2023. Is there continuation video available?

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I will have the next episode in the future. I am returning to the Civil War for my next project, but we will get back to the Pilgrims after that.

[@johnwelch6490]

Winslows still in Little Compton.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

That's neat. I love how things like that continue.

[@jarlsoars1150]

Great presentation! One of my ancestors, George Soule, was an indentured servant to Edward Winslow. George was also one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. Through the process and course of time descendants to follow were to find themselves in the midst of the Salem Witch trials. Fascinating and humbling, really.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching. That's neat that you have done so much family history that goes back that far.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Enjoyed this video! People always forget about the Speedwell. My 9th great grandfather Thomas Blossom was on board. He's also an ancestor to Presidents GW Bush and Obama.

[@boblathrop9983]

A video about what my relatives wore when they came over would be appreciated. Uncle Edward Fuller says hello, he misses his parents.

[@peggyh4805]

So many facts I didn’t know about this history; two ships set sail and returned to port two times before the Mayflower set out alone. Thank you, Jeffrey. 💙🇺🇸

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for watching!

[@thexalon]

As a direct descendant of William Bradford, I find this part of his history fascinating.

[@zealandzen]

I loved it.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@SirVashtastic]

Awesomeness

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@clydehendricks6814]

Gov. Wm. Bradford was my 11th great grandfather. Gov. Thos. Prence was also. Both were related to me by a 5th great grandmother with Wm related through her mother and Thos. through her father. This film is of great interest to me. Gov. Edward Winslow is an 11th great uncle as well through this woman, Susannah Wright born in CT.

[@paulnicholson1906]

My aunt lives near Scrooby in Bawtry about a mile down the road. I never knew anything about the Pilgrims there until she moved to Bawtry and she mentioned it.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I love how we can pinpoint a single small town in England and say, "This is where the United States was born."

[@paulnicholson1906]

@@JeffreytheLibrarian that’s an interesting perspective. Scrooby is a pretty small place and probably not much different than it was then to be honest. Pretty much a farming area, very flat very good arable land. Your video was more than I remembered about the Mayflower. I have been to Dartmouth and Plymouth both in the US and England before 🙂 That whole period in English history was very formative and not taught in US schools enough in my estimation. Certainly it was when the King was determined to be subject to the law and the concept of government by the peoples consent solidified in 1649 and 1688 which coincided with the settlement of the USA.

[@kellyfrost1052]

Jeffrey, thank you for speaking the distinctions between the Pilgrims and Puritans. Many historians have become sloppy. I love that you are not.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I think that distinction between Separatists and Puritans is important. Thanks for watching.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

Great video! I have never even heard of the Speedwell. Interesting to think how the could have either struggled less or more with the other ship, how the delay affected them. Also, why did they wait until the got there to sign the Compact? I would have thought that would have been a requirement to get on the boat in the first place.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

The Speedwell was supposed to be used as a shipping vessel for the colony, so it would have likely increased the profits of the colony pretty substantially. The Compact was a last minute agreement as they realized their legal patent was essentially void because they were outside their patent territory.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

@@JeffreytheLibrarian that makes sense. Thank you!

[@elaines5179]

If they landed within the charter land from the King they were under English law so didn't need it. The then wilderness to them was not under any sovereign so no law to govern themselves. The compact was needed for basic structure to govern themselves responsibly.

[@French-Kiss24]

Oh thank you. I never understood the difference between the Pilgrims and the Puritans. 26:46 The book “The Mayflower” is a great book on the subject because it gives the Native American side to the story as well. I got interested, particularly, when I realized I’m related to Stephen Hopkins. His story is fascinating. He was in a mutiny but was pardoned for some reason and then ended up in Jamestown. He was on the Mayflower journey because of his knowledge of the sea and the New World.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I really like Philbrook's Mayflower as well. Stephen Hopkins is a unique person, having been across the Atlantic and seen both Plymouth and Jamestown.

[@JWZelch]

I never realized the poor souls didn’t land in North America until November!!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

It was a rough time to arrive in New England.

[@clydehendricks6814]

Elder Wm Brewster is my 12th great grandfather and father-in-law of Gov. Thos. Prence through his daughter Patience Brewster.

[@readmylisp]

@ 1; 50 Canterberryshire is proffered as Nottingberryshire . A mistake shire ?

[@jls0037cslewis1]

Wow!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@ZENmud]

"Thus, in the beginning, all the World was America" (John Locke)

[@bigcountry5520]

I have 5 ancestors who signed the Mayflower Compact. The U.S. Constitution was framed by ideas from that Compact.

[@mikewhalen7590]

Jeffrey...ever read Cape Cod: Its People and Their History by Henry C Kittredge?

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I have not read this one yet. Thank you for the book recommendation!

[@kellyfrost1052]

As a relative of Robert Cushman, and as an American, these clear distinctions are important. Would you include your sources?

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Yes, the main primary sources are Bradford's "Plymouth Plantation" and "Mourt's Relation." A recent secondary source is Philbrook's "Mayflower."

[@williamhubel4643]

This would make an excellent movie. Are there any good films about this?

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I have wondered that myself. None come to mind. I get seasick just thinking of that little Mayflower rolling over giant waves in a mid-Atlantic storm.

[@veronicahutchinson4580]

William Bradford is my 11th great grandfather ,I found this out about 7 years ago, weird to see this as family history.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Now that is a neat find. And a fun conversation starter.

[@martinlugus5499]

Could this narrative have been more clear and comprehensive? Absolutely not! Keep it up, Jeffrey.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@smokeythebear1633]

Great video. For your reference however, it is pronounced Nottingham-sher not shire

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you. I guess that makes sense. We say "New Hamp-sher" for "New Hampshire." I think I heard "Nottingham-shire" in a telling of Howard Pyle's "Merry Adventures of Robin Hood." It sounded nice, so I went with it.

[@elaines5179]

Your video is Excellent historical education. I wholeheartedly recommend the book "Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul" by John M. Barry Thoroughly researched with copious footnotes It picks up where you leave off, with the broad development of the Pilgrims, the Puritans, and their spreading plantations making most of New England. Published 2012. It is far far broader than just Williams. I just finished reading it as I am descended from multiple people on the Mayflower (Howland, and Tilly family) and also a direct descendent of Roger Williams, Rev John Cotton, Gov. Thomas Dudley, the sister of Gov John Winthrop, and many others in New England history from the 1600's. As a teen my grandfather did original research on King Philip's War. A brutal Indian war that is normally lumped under "the French and Indian Wars". Did you know that Roger Williams argued for the Indian tribes owning their land even in England, and that the settlers needed to buy their land from the true Indian owners? (Which he did) Williams was a polyglot who spoke many languages of Europe and several Native American languages even to publishing a book about that? It could easily be a source book of ideas and knowledge for you for many more episodes.

[@user_____M]

Are we Scrooby Do or Scrooby Don't? -church official declaring separation from the Church of England

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

That's a fun play on words. I guess you can't forget the name of the town now.

[@saltydog584]

The 16th of September is 'English Thanksgiving Day' when we thank God those po-faced puritans left us in peace.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

The Puritans actually gave colonial America a tradition of education, literacy, and work ethic. New England possibly had the highest standard of living in the world by the late 17th century.

[@saltydog584]

@@JeffreytheLibrarian They also persecuted religious minorities.

[@nickanderson7693]

And i would've gotten away with it, if it weren't for those meddling pilgrims. From Scrooby dooby doo.

[@ilFrancotti]

A lonely ship of an improvised crew packed with women and children managed cross the Atlantic ocean with the loss of only 1 member of the people onboard in 1620. Perhaps then, the same voyage could have been taken by the King of England, over a century later, with fairy high chances of success and much less risk of death for the people travelling.

[@firstlast4165]

Do you have a PayPal or something where I can send you money? I literally refresh your page weekly for new content.

[@firstlast4165]

Also, would love book recs for this topic and early America stuff etc

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. I currently have two methods for tips. One is "Super Thanks." Beneath a playing video, KZbin has a "Super Thanks" button in the drop-down menu next to the "Download" button that allows for tips. A second way is through sales on the channel shop (jeffreythelibrarian.myspreadshop.com) I plan on getting a membership service started in the next month for the channel. Thank you again.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

For primary documents on Plymouth, I recommend "Plymouth Colony," edited by Lisa Brooks and Kelly Wisecup. Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower" is a good secondary source. I also like James Deetz' "In Small Things Forgotten," an archaeological perspective of early America.

[@elaines5179]

Remember the cardinal sin of the Roman Catholic Church that no native peoples owned their land, presupposing all conquest and "land grants" as valid.

[@ericwethington]

In my opinion part of the the issue in the United States today is there are more descendents of the Quaker's from the mayflower than there are of veterans of the Revolution

[@elaines5179]

So you are claiming lots of lying and phony history being used? Sorry "the strangers" were just adventurers who didn't much care about religion. Most of Roger Williams few original settlers of Providence were those "strangers." Quakers too were welcome there.

[@ericwethington]

@@elaines5179 no im saying that a heard some statistics on one of the mainstream news programs that stated they're are more descendents from the mayflower than descendents left of the ones who said the hell with this we WILL fight for our rights

[@UkSapyy]

The pronunciation sounds so off. Weird that America has the same place names as England but pronounces the English completely differently.

[@KGTiberius]

@jeffreythelibrarian 📍 IDEAS: 🔹 Loyalist/Royalists post American War of Independence: impact on Canada, Caribbean, Britain, etc. 🔹 New France: (differences of upper, lower, Quebecois, Acadia, 13 colonies… 1650, 1700, 1750), 7 years war diaspora, Canada, Wisconsin/Louisiana/NewBrunswick, Caribbean (Cuba, French West Indies), etc

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Yes, I will cover the loyalists in the post-Revolution period. And I need to do a detailed look into New France. I just need to do a French course first so I don't butcher the pronunciations.

[@catdaddy2643]

King 👑 James

[@jayshaw63]

The Fullers:: Edward Fuller and Wife (my 10th great grand-parents) their son Samuel, and Edward's younger brother Dr. Samuel Fuller. William Butten was the young indentured servant of Dr. Samuel Fuller.

[@markdoty1213]

That's where those hippie names started oceyona. 😅😅😅😅😅

[@patrickfuchs3859]

Their story is they were hounded by the Brits, but the truth is they were religious nuts.

[@A_scope]

on the other hand ... the english were there .

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I'm surprised more people didn't find that mildly amusing. I kid because I love.

[@user-ks3ol3lw3b]

I grew up in Boston, USA. At the time - 1960s - we learned much of this in school. Now, I live in Dedham, and I'm surrounded by towns with English names. Hull is just south of Boston. These days, I doubt there's much 'white history' in the Boston schools.

[@nicholasmarshall3191]

Great job, but please learn how to pronounce British place names correctly.

[@2001lextalionis]

Thank you for posting illegal immigration indeed

[@steveosborne2297]

An interesting but somewhat simplistic version of events

[@chromiumdragon8190]

Just like your comment

[@scottanno8861]

He has 26 minutes to cover 50 years of history. We aren't going to cover the dietary habits of the separatists in the Netherlands period.

[@steveosborne2297]

@@scottanno8861 It would be more interesting had he covered the real reason for their leaving of England instead of the sanitised US version

[@firstlast4165]

Not everyone is as erudite on these topics as you

[@elaines5179]

The real history is a lot more threats, blood and gore, and burning and beheading around the Puritans in England For example Last burning of a religious heretic by the English Monarch (the State) had the same name as Roger Williams brother-in-law, while which Williams was a boy. Maybe why he was so against the merged Church and State..@@steveosborne2297

[@AntiguaandTuvalu]

You have a weird way of talking like your talking to little kids. Weird cadence and strange inflections.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I'm a dad, so I do talk to kids every day. That would explain that.