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.
A Permanent Settlement
It is evident that they were favorably impressed both with the security of the harbor and the general surroundings, although there was some division of opinion as to the best location for a permanent settlement as the following discloses: “This bay is a hopeful place, innumerable store of fowl, skate, cod, turbot and herring we have tasted of; abundance of muscles, the greatest and best that ever we saw; crabs and lobsters, in their time infinite.”
Mon. Dec. 28
“Monday we went aland manned with the master of the ship and three or four of the sailors. We marched along the coast in the woods seven or eight miles, but saw not an Indian nor an Indian house; only we found where formerly had been some inhabitants, and where they had planted their corn.”
“We found not any navigable river but four or five small running brooks of very sweet fresh water, that all ran into the sea.”
They speak of the trees, the herbs and the soil, some sandy and some rich and fertile. They also speak of the streams that are beginning to fill with fish. That night they returned to the ship, “many being weary with marching.”