| Plimoth
Plantation Plymouth, MA |
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We took advantage of a nice weather day and rode our bikes from the Plantation to the Mayflower II, a re-creation of what the Mayflower probably looked like. It was built 40 years ago in England and sailed to Massachusetts. It is 106.5 feet long with a 90-foot hull. We climbed aboard and took a look at what the 66-day voyage was like for the 102 passengers in the fall of 1620. The next day, we experienced the Pilgrim Village and Hobbamock's Wampanoag Homesite at Plimoth Plantation. Set in the year 1627, when the settlers had learned from the natives how to survive the harsh climate of the northern coast, this realistic setting is made believable by "real" Pilgrims who speak as if it were 372 years ago. It was a memorable, educational, entertaining day. We wish we had been prepared with more questions to ask the talkative settlers. We can think of many now that we would like answers to. But it was a fun experience and one that we would recommend to anyone when they are in Massachusetts. |
) This
salty crewman is living in 1620. Every question we asked him was answered
as if he were on the real Mayflower. He said he had been working on ships
since he was 12. He told us young boys were expendable and often had the
dangerous job of climbing up the rigging. The crew of the Mayflower didn't
get paid until they returned to Europe and their salary was set before the
journey. No matter how long they were gone, the pay was the same. |
From the Dover coloring book Historic Sailing Ships by the Tre Tryckare Company |
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But most of their food was probably not cooked. Instead, they survived on a boring diet of pickled or dried meat and fish and dry biscuits.
"I think maybe the beds were for one family. If is was our family, we'd be crammed. I do not think it was a comfortable journey for the Pilgrims. I think lots of people might have gotten sick. I would have gotten seasick in a few minutes, and they had to stay on the boat for two months!" |
If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern |
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Plymoth Rock
The actual "Plymouth Rock" with the date "1620" carved into it. It is not in the original location, having been moved several times. The date was added in 18xx. It broke in two in 18xx, but has been reassembled, and is now found on the beach under a fancy shelter. |
Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz, J. B. Handelsman (Illustrator) |
  Plimoth
Plantation
(Click to enlarge) |
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Samuel Eaton's Day : A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters, Russ Kendall (Photographer) |
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Compare this image of William Bradford to the statue below! |
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) We
stopped in to visit Thomas Prince at his home. He told us about the contracts
the Pilgrims made to pay for their passage on the Mayflower. It took them
seven years to pay back their creditors. |
From the Dover coloring book Early American Crafts and Occupations by Peter F. Copeland |
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"I had fun mucking with Harrison and carrying the basket full of manure up the dirt stairs to the compost pile. When we were done, Mrs. Winslow helped us wash our hands the old-fashioned way. She poured water in a basin and we used homemade soap and she poured water from a ladle to rinse our hands. Mucking once was fun, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time." |
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"Ninepins is a game very similar to bowling. Nine, tall wooden cones are set in three rows of three. Two balls are thrown, one at a time, at the pins, trying to knock down as many as you can. After your two balls, you count the pins knocked over and the next player takes their turn. You play to a score of exactly 28; if not, then 38, or 48, and so on. I liked playing it so much, that I bought my own miniature set in the gift shop." |
Sarah Morton's Day : A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters, Russ Kendall (Photographer)
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) Mr.
John Billington, Sr. was a chatty man who wasn't shy about the fact that
one of his sons was caught starting a fire on the Mayflower. His family
was one of many that were not part of the Puritan group, but became members
of the Plimoth society. He spoke of being looked upon as a "stranger"
(in contrast to the title, "saint", the Puritans called each other).
He was also the first of the group to commit a punishable crime in the new
village. He spoke out against Captain Myles Standish. |
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 Faces
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Why
"P-L-I-M-O-T-H"? Well, 17th century spelling was pretty much
anyone's guess. Even on maps and in books, spellings weren't standardized.
Plymouth/Plimoth was spelled both ways back then, and the later was
chosen to differentiate this unique look back in history from the other
Plymouth attractions.)
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A Journey to the New World : The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
One
Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims 
Blue
Feather's Vision : The Dawn of Colonial America (Adventures in Colonial
America)
A
People's History of the United States : 1492-Present
Before
the Mayflower : A History of Black America