Introduction
Bradford William came on the Mayflower in its penultimate voyage from the Netherlands when the ‘Pilgrims’ voyaged to America in search of a land where they would be free from the harassment they faced in Britain. Bradford was the person in charge of accounts, outfitting for the journey and he maintained a meticulous record of the Journey and life in the new land where the Pilgrims made their home. The record has been compiled as “Of Plymouth Plantation” a journal that gives very interesting facts about life in the years before and after the Pilgrims landed in America (Kelso, 1998).
Journal Entry dated December 13, 1620, a few days prior to the death of his wife, Dorothy
It was miserable in the winter with cold and wind and the savages had decided to continue their attacks. The night sentry often shouted ‘Armis’ to wake us and we loaded our muskets and shot at the savages who fired back with their arrows. Our men also armed themselves with a cutlass as they drove back the savages who scaled the walls. We put our trust and lives in the hand of our Lord and prayed that he should not abandon us in this savage land. We huddled around the fires, as the fierce wind and cold tread heavily amongst us. Beer was found to be almost over and we drank water to quench the fiery thirst (Bradford, 1657).
Journal entry dated December 19, 1620, the day Bradford learns of her death
My dear wife Dorthy, may her soul rest in peace, fell to her death from the ship even as we tossed in the wild seas. I wonder what I would say to our four-year son who we had left behind in Leiden as the journey would be very harsh for the infant (Bradford, 1657).
Journal dated March 15, 1621, in which I decide what happened
The Mayflower was set to sail back and we decided to plant the crops. Not one of the settlers thought of going back to England and be at the mercy of the dreaded His Highness King James. The seeds we brought from England were no good as they were diseased or not fit for the new land and so we grew the old corn, wheat, and other crops. There was plenty of fish in the streams and many nuts and fruits. The disease spread amongst us, with death claiming many of us and the governor John Carver came in from the fields and lay down till he died. His death caused us much distress and after he was buried we set out to elect another governor. William Bradford was chosen as the governor in place of John Carver. Squanto the Indian was a great help and he taught us how to plant corn and catch eel (Bradford, 1657).
Journal Entry dated November 25, 1621, the day of the first Thanksgiving
We decided to begin our harvest with Thanksgiving day and this was a day of rest and now work was to be done and no revelry. Some men who were playing on the streets were confiscated of their tools and told that this day of the Lord was not for revelry and fun but for the emergence and thanking the Lord for the kindness and harvest he gave us. But true be it that while the men rested and talked, the women worked all day to prepare the victuals of which we partook in great numbers (Bradford, 1657).
Conclusion
The paper has presented four journal entries of William Bradford who was on the Mayflower and who became the second governor of Plymouth. The paper presented the customs and the perils that the Pilgrims had to face.
References
Bradford William. 1657. Of Plymouth Plantation: Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation, 1606-1646. Ed. William T. Davis. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. Web.
Kelso Dorothy Honiss. 1998. William Bradford: Piligirm Hall Museum. Web.