Pilgrim Leaders
Leadership: Let’s learn more about those who helped guide the Pilgrims.
In addition to the Native Americans, many people helped the colonists establish life in early America. Life for the colonists would not have existed without strong leadership. Let’s look at some examples of these people.
Life for the colonists would not have existed without strong leadership. The life of William Bradford is one example.
William Bradford was the second governor of Plymouth Colony. He was elected in 1621, after John Carver, the first governor died. Bradford was born in England and moved to Holland when the Pilgrims first left England. Bradford became unhappy while in Holland because it was difficult to make money. During this time, Bradford, along with other Pilgrims, decided that moving to America might be the answer they had all been looking for. He helped to organize the original group of pilgrims who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to America on the Mayflower.
The Pilgrims became colonists the moment they settled/inhabited the land. William Bradford was one of the (now) colonists to help create the Mayflower Compact, the first government document signed on the land that became the United States. He worked hard to convince all passengers to work together for their own good. The Mayflower Compact said that the colonists would come together under one government and agree to follow “just and equal” laws. In 1621, about one year after the Pilgrims had landed in Plymouth, William Bradford became governor. He served as governor for 30 years.
William Bradford spent time with Squanto, the Native American who helped the colonists survive their first year in America. Bradford compared Squanto to the Biblical character Joseph saying, “It is like the story of Joseph in the Bible, our Sacred Scriptures. Like you [Squanto], Joseph was sold into slavery, and taken from his home. But God had a plan for him. Through Joseph, God saved many people from starving. What man had intended for evil, God used for good. Perhaps God has sent you to be our Joseph.”
Through Squanto’s help, the Pilgrims began to live happier and healthier lives. They wanted to give thanks to the Native Americans for the blessings in their lives. They invited Squanto and his tribe to join them. When the great day came, 90 warriors appeared from the forest, carrying deer, wild turkeys, and vegetables. A great feast!!! When everyone was seated, Governor Bradford began to pray, “Thank You, Lord, for sending Squanto to us. We know that Your hand has been on him through all his trials. You prepared him to be our guide and friend in a great time of need. Squanto is Your living answer to our prayers and tears.” Like this quote, Much of what we know about the Pilgrims comes from William Bradford’s journal, “Of Plymouth Plantation.”
Myles Standish was not a Pilgrim. He and his wife, Rose, joined the Pilgrims just before they sailed for America. Historians are not sure why Standish decided to join the Pilgrims, but he wanted to be one of their leaders. The Pilgrims quickly saw that the military training Standish had received before joining their group would be helpful for their survival. So, they decided to make him their captain. In this role, he was in charge of all interactions with Native Americans.
Captain Standish understood the Native Americans better than most other Pilgrims. In one instance, Squanto, the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive, was kidnapped by another tribe. Captain Standish immediately went to the tribe, rescued Squanto, and brought him back to Plymouth. During the first winter, when conditions were harsh and many Pilgrims were sick, Captain Myles Standish went from house to house, doing whatever he could to help others.
Standish reportedly would help his fellow colonists in many ways. He would cook for them, wash their clothes, care for sick people, and do anything else they needed. During this time, his wife Rose died, but that did not stop Standish from helping. You can find two monuments that honor Myles Standish. One is located over his grave at the Myles Standish Burial Grounds in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The other is in Standish, Maine, a city named after him.
“The settlers, too, began to grow in prosperity, through the influx of many people to the country, especially to the Bay of Massachusetts. Thereby corn and cattle rose to a high price, and many were enriched, and commodities grew plentiful. But in other regards this benefit turned to their harm, and this accession of strength to weakness.”
– William Bradford