The Pilgrims were English Separatists. In the first years of the 17th century, small
numbers of English Puritans broke away from the Church of England because they felt that
it had not completed the work of the Reformation. They committed themselves to a life
based on the Bible. Most of these Separatists were farmers, poorly educated and without
social or political standing. One of the Separatist congregations was led by William
Brewster and the Rev. Richard Clifton in the village of Scrooby in Nottinghamshire. The
Scrooby group emigrated to Amsterdam in 1608 to escape harassment and religious
persecution. The next year they moved to Leiden, in Holland where, enjoying full religious
freedom, they remained for almost 12 years.
In 1617, discouraged by economic difficulties, the pervasive Dutch influence on their
children, and their inability to secure civil autonomy, the congregation voted to emigrate
to America. Through the Brewster family's friendship with Sir Edwin Sandys, treasurer of
the London Company, the congregation secured two patents authorizing them to settle in the
northern part of the company's jurisdiction. Unable to finance the costs of the emigration
with their own meager resources, they negotiated a financial agreement with Thomas Weston,
a prominent London iron merchant. Fewer than half of the group's members elected to leave
Leiden. A small ship, the Speedwell, carried them to Southampton, England, where they were
to join another group of Separatists and pick up a second ship. After some delays and
disputes, the voyagers regrouped at Plymouth aboard the 180-ton Mayflower. It began its
historic voyage on Sept. 16, 1620, with about 102 passengers--fewer than half of them from
Leiden.
