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Keep The Holiday Fires Burning
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The History of the Pilgrims
Part 4: The First Winter The Pilgrims - for that is how all of the passengers (including the "Strangers") on the Mayflower would be known - sent an exploring party ashore soon afterwards. Over the next few days, they found a number of interesting things, including a freshwater spring, and a hidden stash of Indian corn in a place now known as Corn Hill. The Pilgrim's first encounter with the Indians was less than friendly. During their third exploration of the region, they discovered a number of abandoned Indian summer homes, and camped overnight near the site. The next morning they came under attack, but drove the Native Americans off with gunfire. The area now is known as "First Encounter Beach." Having finished their explorations, they made their permanent landing on December 16 near a place now known as "Plymouth Rock. Bradford wrote: "For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weather-beaten face; and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage view." The men spent their days building cabins on shore and returned each night to the ship. The Pilgrims left the ship for good on the 21st of December. Conditions during that first winter were horrible as the Pilgrims were beset by disease and hunger. The disease, known as "The Great Sickness also was referred to as the "consumption, which indicates that it affected the respiratory system. Forty of the Pilgrims died, including the wives of Bradford, Winslow and Standish. And yet in the midst of all the wretchedness, the survivors did not lose courage. "It is not with us, said the brave Brewster, "as with men whom small things can discourage." As the weather warmed in the spring, they set about burying the dead and planting seed. It was about this time that the Mayflower and its crew returned to England, never to return. Not one of the Pilgrims returned with it. |