In 1620, the small sailing vessel Mayflower set out across the stormy
waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth, England with a patent for the
northern part of the Colony of Virginia. Blown off course, it finally
dropped anchor off Provincetown on Cape Cod early in November. Most of the
102 passengers were of English origin, Pilgrims seeking a new home free from
religious persecution where they might retain their English identity and
customs. Some, however, had been hired to supply much needed expertise essential
for founding a new community in a new land.
When the Mayflower was safely anchored at Cape Cod, the Pilgrims
drew up a civil document which established the democratic system by which
they wished to govern themselves. This document has come to be known as the
Mayflower Compact. It was signed in the cabin of the Mayflower
by all 41 of the adult male passengers on the 21st of November, 1620. (November
11 Old Style).
John Quincy Adams described the Mayflower Compact as the "first example in
modern times of a social compact or system of government instituted by
voluntary agreement conformable to the laws of nature, by men of equal rights
and about to establish their community in a new county."
John Quincy Adams was the 6th President of the United States, and his 3rd Great
Grandfather was John Alden, a passenger on the Mayflower.
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THE COMPACT Presented in the Style as Originally Written
Spelling and punctuation have not been modernized.
In ye name of God, Amen. We whofe are underwriten, the Loyall subjects
of our dread soveraigne Lord King James by ye grace of God, of Great
Britaine, Franc, & Ireland King, defender of ye faith, &c. Haveing
undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian
faith and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first
colonie in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents
solemnly & mutualy in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant
& combine our felves togeather into a civill body politick, for our
better ordering & prefervation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid;
and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame fuch just &
equall Lawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time
to time, as fhall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall
good of ye Colonie, unto which we promife all due submission and
obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subfcribed our names
at Cap-Codd ye .11. of November, in ye year of the raigne of our
soveraigne Lord King James, of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth,
and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: dom. 1620.
Signers of the Mayflower Compact
! John Carver |
* Richard Warren |
! John Turner |
! Edward Margeson |
*@ William Bradford |
* @ John Howland |
* @ Francis Eaton |
* Peter Brown |
* Edward Winslow |
* Stephen Hopkins |
* ! @ James Chilton |
! Richard Britteridge |
* @ William Brewster |
! @ Edward Tilly |
! John Crackstone |
* @ George Soule |
* @ Isaac Allerton |
* ! @bJohn Tilly |
* John Billington |
! Richard Clarke |
* @ Miles Standish |
* @ Frances Cook |
! # Moses Fletcher |
Richard Gardiner |
* John Alden |
* ! @ Thomas Rogers |
! John Goodman |
! John Allerton |
* @b Samuel Fuller |
! Thomas Tinker |
* ! @ Degory Priest |
! Thomas English |
! Christopher Martin |
! John Ridgdale |
! Thomas Williams |
* Edward Doty |
* ! William Mullins |
* ! @ Edward Fuller |
Gilbert Winslow |
Edward Leister |
* ! @ William White |
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