Arrival in America

THE PILGRIMS' LANDING IN AMERICA

Having landed on Cape Cod, a small party set out to explore. Coming on a place where Native People had stored corn underground, they confiscated it to use for seed. Finding poor soil and lack of fresh water, they decided to look further.

The Mayflower’s pilot, Robert Coppin, remembered Plymouth Harbor from a previous visit.

An exploring party set out in the shallop :
...though it was very dark and rained sore, yet in the end they got under the lee of a small island [Clark's Island] and remained there all that night in safety... And this being the last day of the week, they prepared there to keep the Sabbath. On Monday they sounded the harbor and found it fit for shipping, and marched into the land and found divers cornfield, and little running brooks, a place (as they supposed) fit for situation. At least it was the best they could find.

William Bradford


	The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by Halsall Click HERE for Bradford's full account of the landing at Clark's Island and Plymouth.

		The exploring party went ashore at Plymouth on December 21, 1620. Bradford noted "it was the best they could find, and the season and present necessity made them glad to accept of it." The 17th century records do not mention Plymouth Rock. Nevertheless, Plymouth Rock has become one of the most enduring symbols of the Pilgrims. Click HERE for more information about Plymouth Rock!
The Landing of the Pilgrims by Corne

Finding the place "very good for situation," they resolved to stay. Soon, however, the little band began to suffer mightily from cold and disease. Of the 102 Mayflower passengers, only half remained alive by spring.

The Mayflower sailed back to England in the spring of 1621. Despite the hardships of the winter, none of the Pilgrims returned with the ship. The Mayflower resumed transporting cargo, never returning to Plymouth. By 1624, the Mayflower’s sailing life was over and the ship was described as being "in ruins."

It was not until April of 1621, that Samoset (a Native Abenaki who spoke English) entered the village and said "Welcome!"

LATER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PILGRIMS LANDING

"Two thousand miles westward from the rock where their fathers landed, may now be found the sons of the Pilgrims ... [cherishing the blessings] of wise institutions, of liberty, and religion."

Daniel Webster, 1820

Paintings from the early years of the new American nation emphasize the Pilgrims' separation from the Old World or their landing in the New. They show the Pilgrims as larger-than-life heroes. Later scenes are more sentimental. Usually missing is the Pilgrims' sense of identity as loyal Englishmen!

Some paintings show the Native Peoples who occupied the continent, although the meeting of the two groups is often skewed. By the 1840s, however, Natives are absent from landing scenes, reflecting the emerging idea of "manifest destiny" and America's push to the Pacific Ocean.