William Bradford 1590-1657

Born in Yorkshire, England – father was prosperous farmer. Became a Nonconformist at age 12 – illegal group desired to simply (purify) the Church of England – fled to Holland in 1608 to avoid persecution. Fled to New Land on the Mayflower, a ship that was lent to them by a group of London merchants. Bradford suffered with his shipmates – his wife, Dorothy May, became one of the first to die in the New Land when she jumped or fell from the ship. In 1623, Bradford married Alice Southworth, a widow with two small sons; they had three more children together.

Elected first governor of Plymouth colony and reelected 30 times for 31 year term! Began writing Of Plymouth Plantation in 1630 but it was not published until 1856. His entries become bitter and depressed – his people had become intolerant of non-Puritans and he was upset by their behavior. It is a firsthand description of the initial experiences of the Massachusetts settlers we call Pilgrims.

FYI There were 61 non-Pilgrims on the Mayflower – 40 of other faiths, 18 servants, and three hired workers. The area of Cape Cod where they landed had already been mapped by John Smith in 1614. An epidemic, probably smallpox, decimated the village and Plymouth was deserted. Dead bodies were still in some of the rude houses built there which the Pilgrims cleaned out and used during their first winter in the New Land.