The Pilgrim Story / Being largely a compilation from the documents of Governor Bradford and Governor Winslow, severally and in collaboration; together with a list of Mayflower passengers.

by William Franklin Atwood

The Historic Landing

Sun. Dec. 20
Mon. Dec. 21

This Sabbath was spent on Clark’s Island where they rested and held service. “On Monday they sounded the harbor and found it fit for shipping, and marched into the land,[8] and found divers cornfields, and little running brooks, a fit place for situation; at least it was the best they could find, and the season, and their present necessity, made them glad to accept it. So they returned to their ship again with this news to the rest of their people, which did much comfort their hearts.”

The romance surrounding the Rock that has become famous in history is not easily discredited. The fact is, that Elder Thomas Faunce, who was born in Plymouth in 1647 and died in 1746 at the age of ninety-nine years, made a statement a few years prior to his death, at a time when removal or covering of the rock was under contemplation, protesting vigorously at what he considered the desecration of an object of deep veneration. He stated in the presence of many hearers that his father, John Faunce, who came over in the ship Anne, had told him that it was on that rock that the Pilgrims landed as stated by them to him. It is further probable that they may have imparted this information to him directly as a number of the Mayflower passengers lived for many years subsequent to his birth.

This information has passed from generation to generation. “Plymouth Rock has now become a symbol of the Pilgrim venture into the unknown of their day and has inspired present-day Americans with a new Faith in democracy and in the American way of living.”

It was during their absence on December 17th, that Dorothy Bradford, wife of William Bradford, was drowned in Provincetown harbor.

Fri. Dec. 25
Sat. Dec. 26

On the 25th, they set out in the Mayflower for Plymouth, but the wind being unfavorable, they failed to make the harbor and put back to Provincetown. “But it pleased God, the next day being Saturday, the wind came fair, and we put to sea again and came safely into a safe harbor.” This was the first arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth. Sunday was spent on the ship.