July 21, 1620: The Pilgrims Leave Leiden to Start Their Journey to North America
Most Americans know that the first Pilgrims came to North America in 1620 on the Mayflower. But how did the Pilgrims come to be on the Mayflower in the first place, and where did they come from? The...
The Saga of Stephen Hopkins, a Leading Member of the Jamestowne and Plymouth Colonies
Pop quiz: what early American colonist survived a shipwreck, found his way to Jamestowne in 1610, sailed back to England a few years later, then came to America again in 1620 as a passenger on the...
Remembering Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was a prominent leader and diplomat among the early English settlers of Plymouth Colony in the 17th century. Born in 1595 in Worcestershire, England, Winslow was a well-educated man...
Remembering Peter Minuit: The Man Who Bought Manhattan
Most of us have heard the legend of Peter Minuit, who is said to have purchased the island of Manhattan from the Indians for $24. Well, the story is largely true, and I’ll talk about it below. It...
Remembering John Carver, First Governor of Plymouth Colony
Most Americans who know much of anything about the Mayflower and Plymouth Colony remember at least two key events: the signing of the Mayflower Compact when the Pilgrims first arrived in Plymouth in...
Remembering Roger Conant, Founder of Salem Massachusetts, 1626
Most everyone in America today associates the city of Salem, Massachusetts with the infamous Salem Witch Trials, which took place in the year 1692. But I invite you to travel back even further in...
Remembering William Brewster, The Soul of Plymouth Colony
One of the most important passengers on the Mayflower in the year 1620 was William Brewster, who died this day on April 10, 1644. He was one of the original “Separatists” from Northern England...
Remembering Francis Cooke
Among the most stalwart of the Separatists who lived through the entire saga of the Mayflower voyage to North America was Francis Cooke, who died this day on April 7, 1663 at the advanced age of...
Remembering Thomas Prence, Long-Time Governor of Plymouth Colony
Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown, Massachusetts We’ve written about several leaders of Plymouth Colony, including Mayflower passengers William Bradford, William Brewster, and John Howland. Another...
Remembering King James I
One of the most important supporters of early American colonization was King James I of England, who died this day on March 27, 1625. We honor him today for all that he did to promote the earliest...