Pilgrim Elders - Edward Winslow

Edward Winslow (October 18, 1595 - May 8, 1655) was a Separatist who traveled on the Mayflower in 1620. He was one of several senior leaders on the ship (even at the young age of 25) and also later at Plymouth Colony. In Plymouth he served in a number of governmental positions such as assistant governor, three times was governor and also was the colony’s agent in London. In early 1621 he had been one of several key Pilgrim leaders that Governor Bradford depended on after the death of John Carver. He was the author of several important pamphlets, including ‘Good Newes from New England’ and co-wrote with William Bradford the historic ‘Mourt’s Relation‘, which ends with an account of the First Thanksgiving and the abundance of the New World. By 1649 Winslow had traveled to England to serve the Puritan government of Oliver Cromwell, never to return to Plymouth. In 1655 he died of fever while on a British naval expedition in the Caribbean. His is the only Plymouth colonist with an existing portrait.

Winslow and his wife Elizabeth were part of the Leiden Separatist group who had decided to travel far away from England and the repressive regime of King James I to more freely practice their religious beliefs. Merchant Adventurer investment group agent Thomas Weston assisted them in this venture by providing the ship Mayflower for their journey. Traveling on the Mayflower in company with the Winslows were his brother Gilbert and family servant/employee George Soule and a youth, Elias Story. Also in the care of the family was Elinor (Ellen) More, a girl of eight years. In all there were four More children from Shipton, Shropshire in the care of others on the Mayflower: Elinor, Jasper, Mary and Richard. These childen were later to be found to be the reputed offspring of an adulterous relationship and given into the care of others on the Mayflower by their mother’s husband, Samuel More to put the children at as great a distance as possible. Elinor perished the winter of 1620 with only one brother Richard More surviving.

They departed Plymouth, England on the Mayflower on September 6, 1620 with 102 passengers and about 30 crew members in a small 100 foot ship. The first month in the Atlantic, the seas were not severe, but by the second month the ship was being hit by strong north-Atlantic winter gales causing the ship to be badly shaken with water leaks from structural damage. There were two deaths, but this was just a precursor of what happened after their Cape Cod arrival, when almost half the company would die in the first winter.

On November 9, 1620, after about 3 months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was Cape Cod. And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.


The ill-prepared and poorly supplied colonists lost over half of its population through a multitude of problems - including hunger, scurvy, disease and their first bitter winter on the North American mainland. In the spring of 1621, Winslow and the others attended what would become known as the first Thanksgiving.

The people who survived all worked hard to provide food and shelter. Amidst criticism from Thomas Weston for not loading up the returning Mayflower with goods for the investors, William Bradford sent a letter stating the troubles encountered by the Pilgrims. He blamed Thomas Weston, and stated that Governor Carver has worked himself to death that spring and the loss of him and other industrious men lives cannot be valued at any price.

The following year the ship Fortune arrived at Plymouth colony. But again, Thomas Weston had inadequately supplied the ship for the colony. With winter approaching, the colonists only had half the needed supplies, but as William Bradford recorded, 'they all faced it bravely'.

The following year, despite the adversities of the winter, the colonists were able to load the Fortune for England with enough furs and other supplies for to pay for over half of their indebtedness to the Merchant Adventurers, but the ship was attacked by the French as it came near the English coast and all the cargo was taken by the privateers.

On February 21, 1621, Pilgrim William White died leaving a widow, Susanna, and two sons, Resolved and Peregrine. Edward Winslow had lost his wife Elizabeth on March 24, 1621. And just a month and half later, on May 12, 1621, Edward Winslow and Susanna White became the first couple to marry in Plymouth Colony. This was necessary to provide for the women and children. They were married in a civil ceremony by Governor William Bradford. The couple had three sons, one daughter and one unknown child who died young.

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

Coming Soon!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1
THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Available at Amazon.com!