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Mayflower II

For Immediate Release	Contact: Jennifer Monac
	(508) 746-1622 x8206

Plimoth Plantation's
Mayflower II: and What She Represents
Backgrounder

Mayflower II is a reproduction of the ship that brought a small group of English colonists, popularly known as the "Pilgrims," to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The story began in 1606 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. A small group of religious dissidents gathered together there to establish their own church, separate from the national Church of England. At a time when church and state were one, such a move was treasonous. Thus, the "Separatists," were forced to leave England and find refuge under the more tolerant government of the Netherlands.

After almost twelve years of struggling to get by, the Separatists, fearing they would face poverty in old age, and rejecting the idea that their children would grow up Dutch, were impelled to move once again. They were able to gain financial backing from some London merchants or "Adventurers" (speculators) to set up a colony in America. They received a charter from the Virginia Company and planned to settle near the mouth of the Hudson River.

The group purchased a small ship, Speedwell, which took them first to England. There a larger ship, called Mayflower, carrying more people for the colony, joined them. They set out together from Southampton, but the smaller ship soon proved unseaworthy, and passengers were shuffled amongst the two vessels. Finally, Speedwell was left behind at Plymouth, England while Mayflower went on to North America, departing September 6, 1620.

Wearied by gales and near-disasters at sea, the small band of immigrants sighted land on November 9. Two days later, Mayflower anchored at what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod. Here the famous "Mayflower Compact" was signed. Due to the lateness of the season, they decided not to attempt to sail around the Cape to their original destination, and groups of men were sent out to explore the region for a safe haven. They decided on Plymouth, and work on the little colony began Christmas Day, 1620. After a terrible winter in which half the passengers and crew died of sickness, peaceful contact was made with the local Native People, the Wampanoag. Crops were planted and Plymouth Colony was on its way to being established. Mayflower departed for her return voyage to England on April 5, 1621. The rest is history.

What is Known of the Original Vessel
Very little is known about the ship that brought the colonists to New England. No name is given in Governor William Bradford's history of Plimoth Plantation, or in the other early accounts. The first mention occurred in a document of 1623, which assigned to each individual colonists an acre of land apiece. The list of people was subdivided by ship name, and the first group came under the heading, "The Falles of their grounds which came first over in May-Floure, according as their lotes were cast .1623." Bradford stated only that she " ... was hired at London, of burthen about nine scoure..." A later passage concerning passenger John Howland's fall from the Mayflower and subsequent rescue refers to his catching hold of a topsail halyard, thus indicating that topsails were present.

From this meager amount of information, plus the knowledge that the ship's master was one "Master Jones", a researcher named R.G. Marsden searched the English High Court of Admiralty Records in 1904, looking for a matching vessel that could have traveled from London between July 1620 and May 1621. This proved to be a lengthy operation as "Mayflower" was a popular ship's name, but he eventually reduced the number to six, and finally to one, the Mayflower of Harwich, whose master was Christopher Jones.

Notations in the Port Books indicate that the Mayflower went on at least one voyage to Norway, carrying hats, hemp, Spanish salt, hops, vinegar and Gascon wine, returning with tar, pine planks and herring. More frequently, she traveled to Rochelle and Bordeaux with cloth and returned with wine. In the summer of 1620. she was hired to transport a group of colonists to the "northern parts of Virginia" (around the mouth of the Hudson River).

After Mayflower's return to England in May of 1621, she was again involved in trade between London and France. The last mention of her in the Port Books was recorded on October 31, 1621. Christopher Jones died in early 1622. On May 26, 1624, an application was received by the High Court of Admiralty from Mayflower owners Robert Child, John Moore and the widow of Christopher Jones, declaring the ship to be "in ruinis" and requesting an appraisement. She was valued at 128 English pounds, 8 shillings and 4 pence.

The History of Mayflower II
The idea of constructing a reproduction of the Mayflower had been conceived in August of 1954 by Mr. Warwick Charlton, who had served alongside many Americans in North Africa during World War II. He wanted to do something to commemorate the wartime cooperation between the two English-speaking nations, and the idea of building and sailing over a full-scale model of the ship which had brought the "Pilgrims" from England to America seemed like a fitting memorial. As a result, Project Mayflower was created in 1955 to construct a reproduction of the Mayflower and sail it to America as a symbolic gesture of Anglo-American friendship.

A major concern of the project's sponsors was what to do with the ship after it reached the United States. They were well aware of the fate of earlier reproduction vessels that had ignobly rotted away after the interest in their initial voyages faded, and funding had run out. Project Mayflower became aware of Plimoth Plantation, and in March of 1955, John Lowe of Project Mayflower arrived in the United States. He met with representatives of Plimoth Plantation to ask if this organization could be of assistance in the future berthing and exhibiting of Mayflower II.

By coincidence, Plimoth Plantation was already planning to add a replica of the Mayflower to its exhibits. In 1951, the museum commissioned plans for a Mayflower II from naval architect William A. Baker of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Baker's meticulously accurate plans had already been completed by the time Project Mayflower's intentions became known. A waterline model of the hull had been built, but no further action had been taken.

The two organizations were able to arrange a mutually advantageous agreement in the spring of 1955. In exchange for the use of Mr. Baker's design and advice, and a guarantee to permanently maintain and exhibit the vessel, Project Mayflower agreed to build Mayflower II, sail it across the Atlantic and turn the ship over to Plimoth Plantation after she had been exhibited in various East Coast ports.

Construction of Mayflower II was undertaken at Upham shipyard in Brixham, Devonshire. Her keel was laid on July 27, 1955, and William A. Baker was sent by Plimoth Plantation to consult with the builders and observe the progress of the ship's construction.

The Mayflower II project captured the imagination of English and Americans alike. No pains were spared to make the ship as accurate as possible, from the carefully selected English oak timbers to the hand-sewn linen canvas sails, true hemp cordage, hand-forged nails and Stockholm tar of the sort used on 17th-century ships. Based on observations of the traditional colors and designs of English merchant ships depicted in Dutch and English paintings, Mayflower II has the buff-brown hull and dark red strapwork ornamentation of 17th-century merchant ships. Carved into the stern is the hawthorne, or English mayflower. Traditional skills of elderly workmen were employed to build a vessel that would reflect Mr. Baker's thorough research and could sail the Atlantic as securely as the original Pilgrim ship had.

Mayflower II was launched on a rainy September 22, 1956. The ceremony was based on what was known about the christenings of 17th-century vessels. She was toasted from a golden loving cup that was then pitched into the water, as was the 17th-century practice, and from which it was quickly retrieved by a diver, in the traditional manner. The ship slid gracefully down the ways and entered Brixham harbor with a great splash.

Finally, on April 20, 1957, Mayflower II began her solitary voyage across the Atlantic. In the interest of time and safety, she took a more southerly route than the original ship, but otherwise the voyage was as accurate a replication of a period ocean crossing as possible. Nature cooperated in this concern for accuracy; Mayflower II was first becalmed and then greeted with a violent storm off Bermuda, all common elements of a transatlantic crossing.

Mayflower II sailed safely by Nantucket Lightship on June 11, and arrived at Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod the following day, where the first Mayflower had put in, before continuing on to Plymouth Harbor a month later. Mayflower II finally arrived at Plymouth before noon the morning of June 13, to the excitement of the great crowd of eager spectators. The historic 55-day voyage was over. The entire voyage had been accomplished without any modern power or assistance, although a modern wheel, binnacle, generator and radio were required by law.

Now docked at the State Pier on Plymouth's scenic waterfront, Mayflower II is open to visitors who can interact with some of the ship's 17th-century passengers and crew. Modern guides are also on board to to talk about the ship's history, wooden ship-building, and Mayflower II's restoration.

Since her original voyage, Mayflower II has been under sail 7 times. In 1991 and again in 1995, the ship made its way to Provincetown to revisit the place where some of its famous passengers first stepped on these shores. A signing of the Mayflower Compact was included in the 1995 sail and re-enactment. In the summer of 2000, Mayflower II set sail to revisit Provincetown in celebration of the new millenium and the start of the 21st century. On board were 12 members of the original 1957 crew who had sailed the ship from England. 2001 saw Mayflower II sail to Boston, Massachusetts and in 2002 she was exhibited in Providence, RI for Independence Day celebrations.

 

Plimoth Plantation is a non-profit, educational institution that is supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales, and revenue from our dining programs/services and museum shops. The museum receives support from private foundations, corporations, local businesses, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

hours: Plimoth Plantation's Administrative offices, Education Department and Creative Gourmet are open 9 AM to 5 PM, M-F
address: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360 USA
telephone: 1 + 508 746 1622