The Pilgrim Life
Life: The Pilgrims’ lives were different from ours.
When the Mayflower Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth in November, winter was upon them. Finding food and shelter was difficult, leading to rampant illness and food shortages. Sadly, only half of the Pilgrims who traveled on the Mayflower survived the first winter. Spring brought new hope, and the remaining colonists started to plant crops, hunt, and build their colony.
If you were to observe a Pilgrim/Colonist family today, you may notice some differences from your family.
As you might imagine, the life of a colonist was very different from ours today. It was, in fact, over 400 years ago when their community settled in early America. Pilgrim/colonist dress was as modest as their homes. They wore plain clothes and made what they absolutely needed. They were frugal and used everything they had just to survive.
What Did The Pilgrims Wear?
Where Did The Pilgrims Live?
Where Did The Pilgrims Live?
Where Did The Pilgrims Live?
Think about the furniture in your home.
- What furniture do you use every day?
- What furniture do you have that you could get rid of if you had to?
- What kinds of furniture do you think was in the cabins of long ago?
Where Did The Pilgrims Live?
Although modest, the Pilgrims’ life at the beginning met their needs. They spent time farming and gathering, and thanks to their continued explorations and knowledge-seeking pursuits, they began to establish a stronger life as they settled in early America.
Let’s take a moment to reflect. Think about your house and some of its contents. How do they relate (if at all) to a Pilgrim lifestyle?
- What does your house look like?
- What is your house made from?
- What furniture is in your house?
- What things in your house make your life easier?
- What clothes do you have in your house?
- Where did your clothes come from?
“Bradford had decided that each household should be assigned its own plot to cultivate, with the understanding that each family kept whatever it grew. The change in attitude was stunning. Families were now willing to work much harder than they had ever worked before. ”
– Nathaniel Philbrick author of Mayflower