But what happened to the Mayflower?
Historic Mayflower
The Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower helped launch waves of immigration which brought puritan separatists, as well as opportunistic adventurers, to populate North America. The step toward democracy was the agreement they signed aboard the Mayflower before stepping ashore as the year 1620 came to a close. This Mayflower Compact gave these first pilgrims a say in the organization and operation of their new village at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The Mayflower: A British Merchant Ship
The Mayflower’s voyage and passengers were more historic than the ship itself, but to millions of people it is an icon for religious freedom, the pioneering spirit the colonists embodied, and the risks they took and deprivation they suffered for what they believed in.
This is a very ordinary British merchant ship that probably was less than 100 feet long and 30 feet wide, was outfitted to carry about 180 tons, had three masts and a crew of perhaps 30, and carried a precious cargo of more than 100 passengers and their meager supplies.
What Happened to the Mayflower?
There are few records of when and where the Mayflower sailed before its historic 1620 voyage to America and little is known of voyages made after its now famous passengers were left in Plymouth to face a winter of hardship, illness and, for many, death.
Historians believe the Mayflower looked like countless other merchant vessels of the period, probably had two decks and conformed to the above cited dimensions. She may have been used in the wine trade and there is some evidence she was used as a whaling ship. This Mayflower was probably at least 20 years old by 1620.
One reason this particular Mayflower is difficult to pinpoint is that there were several ships bearing the Mayflower name. The one chartered by the London Adventurers for the Pilgrims is probably the one captained by Christopher Jones, reportedly a part owner and in command about 12 years,
The Mayflower II
In 1951, the non-profit Plimoth Plantation commissioned Naval architect William A. Baker to draw up plans for a reproduction of the Mayflower. After four years of spare time research, he finalized the plans and guided the vessel’s construction in Brixham, England. The rebuilding process and sailing the Mayflower II across the Atlantic ended up being a joint project that realized an Englishman’s dream.
(Related articles give details of the Mayflower II construction and its 1957 voyage to the United States.)
Sources:
Mayflower II Commemorative Booklet and press information, Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth, MA: 1957)
The Dinghy, Machias, ME (Vol. 7, No. 5, 1996)
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