Landing of the Mayflower

Landing of the Mayflower - People and events

The Harsh Winter of 1620/21
The miseries suffered by pilgrims in that first year at Plymouth Colony were not due to any inhospitable climate, but for the lateness of the year in which they landed as well as insufficiently planning their provisions. Of the 102 passengers many died during the harsh winter of 1620/21. When the next ship, Fortune, arrived in Nov 1621, only 52 settlers were left at Plymouth Rock. The nearby Wampanoags Indians taught the pilgrims how to plant corn for survival.

During the first winter in the New World, the Mayflower colonists suffered greatly from diseases like scurvy, lack of shelter and general conditions onboard ship. 45 of the 102 emigrants died the first winter and were buried on Cole's Hill. Additional deaths during the first year meant that only 53 people were alive in November 1621 to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. Of the 18 adult women, 13 died the first winter while another died in May. Only four adult women were left alive for the Thanksgiving.


 * Landing of the Mayflower - Article
 * Cole's Hill - memorial to those who died in the first winter.
 * Mayflower - List of Mayflower passengers
 * National Monument to the Forefathers - list of Mayflower passengers at Plymouth, Massachusetts