September 16
Mayflower Departs England for the New World
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying a mix of religious Separatists and other English settlers toward an uncertain future in North America.
Summary
In the early seventeenth century, religious Separatists in England faced ongoing persecution for refusing to conform to the Church of England. Seeking a place to worship freely, a group obtained a land patent from the Virginia Company and secured the ship Mayflower for passage across the Atlantic. On September 16, 1620, the vessel sailed from Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers and a crew of about thirty. The journey proved difficult, marked by storms, illness, and cramped conditions aboard the small ship. After more than two months at sea, the Mayflower reached Cape Cod in November, where the passengers eventually established the Plymouth Colony following the signing of the Mayflower Compact.
Context
In the early seventeenth century, a group of English Protestants known as Separatists had broken away from the Church of England, seeking to worship according to their own convictions rather than state-mandated practices. Facing fines, imprisonment, and other pressures, many fled first to the Netherlands around 1608, where they found greater religious tolerance but also economic hardship and cultural challenges after more than a decade abroad.
What Happened
By 1619 the Leiden congregation had secured a land patent from the Virginia Company and financial backing for a transatlantic crossing. Two ships, the Speedwell and the larger Mayflower, departed from England in July 1620 but returned to port twice due to leaks on the Speedwell. The smaller vessel was abandoned, and on September 16 the Mayflower sailed alone from Plymouth with 102 passengers and roughly thirty crew members under master Christopher Jones.
Aftermath
After sixty-six days of stormy weather that carried the ship well north of its intended Virginia destination, the Mayflower anchored off Cape Cod on November 21. Before going ashore, forty-one adult male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact to establish a framework for civil order. The settlers spent the winter exploring the coast and eventually chose a site they named Plymouth, where they began building their colony amid severe losses from disease.
Legacy
The voyage marked the beginning of sustained English settlement in New England and produced the Mayflower Compact, an early written agreement for self-government among colonists outside royal charter authority. Over centuries the event has been interpreted as a foundational moment for ideas of religious liberty and consensual political institutions in American history.
Why It Matters
The voyage initiated sustained English settlement in North America and produced the Mayflower Compact, an early agreement for self-governance among the colonists. It became a foundational symbol in American history, influencing ideas of religious liberty and representative institutions that shaped later colonial and national development.
Related Questions
Why did the Separatists leave England?
They sought to practice their faith without conforming to the Church of England and faced ongoing persecution.
How many people sailed on the Mayflower?
There were 102 passengers plus a crew of roughly thirty.
Where was the Mayflower originally headed?
The settlers intended to reach the Virginia Colony but landed farther north at Cape Cod.
What was the Mayflower Compact?
A document signed by forty-one men establishing rules for self-government in the new colony.
Who were the key organizers of the voyage?
Leaders included William Bradford, William Brewster, and John Carver from the Leiden Separatist community.
Related Portfolio Site
America 250 Atlas: Founding-era U.S. events; the Mayflower voyage and establishment of Plymouth Colony.
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Sources
- Mayflower’s departure for America, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed 2026-07-04.
- Mayflower departs England, History.com. Accessed 2026-07-04.