Saints and Strangers: The Mayflower Voyage

Q: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
A: Pilgrims

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As we were crafting the tale of Babusia Bott, the first Bott to come to America, we weren’t able to find much (i.e. any) information about her twine-constructed sailing vessels (because it’s not real). However, we can assume that her voyage had many similarities with the travelers on the Mayflower, who arrived at Cape Cod in 1620.

The Mayflower was a cargo ship rated at 180 tons. The 1620 trip to the New World was the first transatlantic crossing for the Mayflower. Prior to the journey, the Mayflower transported wine, cloth, and other goods around Europe.

The pilgrims rented the ship and crew from the Mayflower owners (one of which was Christopher Jones, the ship captain). An estimate for renting the ship, crew, and provisions was about £2,000.

The ship left Europe on 6 September and dropped anchor off the coast of North America on 11 November 1620 CE.

WorldHistory.org

According to Elder G:

So, the £2,000 fee in the early 17th century would be approximately equivalent to $2.6 million to $5.2 million in today’s dollars. This wide range accounts for various factors, including purchasing power and economic changes over the centuries.

That doesn’t include all the stuff they needed to take with them to the New World. They needed farm implements, tools, seed, goats and chickens, food, nails, and at least three changes of underwear.

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Who paid for all this?

Ah, capitalism, my old friend. The pilgrims negotiated with a group of investors known as the “Merchant Adventurers” in London. In exchange, the Pilgrims promised to send back furs, fish, and lumber to pay off the debt.

A round trip from England to the Virginia colonies took between six and nine months. How could this possibly be profitable for the investors? Keep in mind that the 17th century Merchant Adventurers didn’t have access to a stable version of Microsoft Excel. Typical cargo ships at the time could carry between 100 and 400 tons. The big boys of the British East India Company could carry up to 600 tons. An important factor to keep in (thanks to UC#2) was that labor costs were much different back then.

Imagine this scene: after the Pilgrims became established, they would be waiting around for a cargo ship to arrive from England. “I sure hope they didn’t forget the nails!” Meanwhile, they had a warehouse with 300 tons of salted cod, raccoon furs, hemp rope, and tobacco waiting to be sent back to England.

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Saints and Strangers

There were 102 passengers and about 30 crew aboard the Mayflower. It’s important to note that there were non-pilgrims among the passengers.

Others were on the ship for a multitude of reasons – some anticipated the chance to build a better future for their families and the opportunity of new land, while for others the offer of freedom and adventure was too good to turn down.

Then there were the crew themselves, plus the servants and unaccompanied children sent by their families to be looked after by the adults.

The passengers are often grouped into ‘Saints’ or ‘Strangers’ by historians, alluding to their motivations for the journey. But it’s likely that many ‘Saints’ were skilled tradesmen and many ‘Strangers’ had their own religious reasons for leaving 17th century England.

Mayflower 400 / UK

The separatists were seeking a new home where they could worship freely without fear of the ongoing persecution of the Anglican Church under King James I of England (r. 1603-1625 CE) and contracted with the merchant-adventurer Thomas Weston (l. 1584 – c. 1647 CE) for a ship to take them to the New World. Weston then enlisted the others (Strangers) to assist the separatists in establishing a colony and turning a profit for the investors who financed the expedition.

World History.org

It sounds like the “strangers” were the responsible adults here.

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The voyage originally began with two ships: The Mayflower and the smaller Speedwell. Things got off to a slow start, because the Speedwell kept springing leaks, and 300 miles out had to return to England. Eventually the Speedwell was deemed not sea-worthy and dropped out of the journey. (It is rumored that descendants of the designers of the leaky Speedwell went on to design LG front-loading washing machines).

The ships set sail for America around August 5, but Speedwell sprang another leak shortly after, which necessitated the ships’ return to Dartmouth for repairs. They made a new start after the repairs, but more than 200 miles (320 km) beyond Land’s End at the southwestern tip of England, Speedwell sprang a third leak. It was now early September, and they had no choice but to abandon Speedwell and make a determination on her passengers. This was a dire event, as vital funds had been wasted on the ship, which were considered very important to the future success of their settlement in America. Both ships returned to Plymouth, England, where 20 Speedwell passengers joined the now overcrowded Mayflower, while the others returned to Holland.

Wikipedia

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Cozy Togetherness

The living quarters for the 102 passengers were cramped, with the living area about 20 by 80 feet (6 by 24 m) or 1,600 square feet (150 m2) and the ceiling about five feet (1.5 m) high.

That works out to 15.7 sq ft per person, or a square 3.96 ft on a side.

Elder G helped us visualize this, but remember – the ceiling was at 5 feet.

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Historical Correction

Thanks to eagle-eye UC#1 who noticed an historical inaccuracy in our BLOTT.

Thank you for that interesting history lesson. However, you missed one important point. Due to the length of the voyage, supplies were running low, in particular, wine. Fortunately, they were able to cut it with tea, which they had in abundance. Thus, they became our direct ancestors with their importation of T-wine.

UC#1

Further research shows that not only were the pilgrims drinking T-wine, but had special T-wine chalices.

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# of Descendants

Back of the envelope:

2024 – 1620 = 404 years

If we assume 28 years per generation, 404/28 = 14.4 generations

14.4 generations, 4 surviving, procreating children per generation

4^14.4 = 486,256,689

Multiply this by the number of Pilgrims that survived the first winter:

50 * 486256689 = 24,312,834,450

According to Elder G, our estimate was pretty close:

Estimates suggest there are currently between 30 to 35 million living descendants of the original passengers who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. This figure reflects the extensive and varied genealogical connections formed over more than 400 years since the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World. Despite the initial small number of survivors, the descendants have proliferated significantly due to the exponential growth of family trees and the high birth rates over the centuries.

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Will there be a buffet?

During their voyage on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims’ diet was quite basic and aimed at long-term preservation, given the lack of fresh food and cooking facilities. Here are some key elements of their diet:

1. **Salted Meat and Fish**: They consumed preserved meats such as beef, pork, and fish, which were salted to prevent spoilage.
2. **Hardtack**: Also known as ship’s biscuit, this was a dry, hard bread that could be stored for long periods.
3. **Cheese**: Hard cheeses that could withstand the long journey without spoiling were a part of their diet.
4. **Dried Legumes**: Beans, peas, and lentils were common due to their long shelf life and nutritional value.
5. **Grains and Oatmeal**: These were used to make porridge or boiled for sustenance.
6. **Beer**: Beer was a staple drink because it was safer to drink than water, which was often contaminated.
7. **Dried Fruits**: These provided essential nutrients and some variety in their diet.
8. **Butter and Vinegar**: These were used for cooking and preserving other foods.

Given the conditions, their meals were simple and repetitive, often involving boiling or stewing these preserved foods.

What they don’t teach you in elementary school:

WLBOTT: Given the diet of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, on a scale of one to ten, how much flatulence would have been going on (ten being the highest)?

Elder G: Given the diet of the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, it is reasonable to estimate a high level of flatulence, likely around an 8 or 9 on a scale of one to ten.

Here’s why:

1. Salted Meat and Fish: While proteins like meat and fish themselves don’t typically cause gas, the high salt content and preservation methods could lead to digestive issues when combined with other foods.
2. Hardtack: This dry, hard bread made from flour and water is high in carbohydrates and fiber, both of which can contribute to gas production during digestion.
3. Dried Legumes: Beans, peas, and lentils are well-known for causing gas due to their high fiber content and the presence of certain complex sugars that are fermented by bacteria in the intestines.
4. Grains and Oatmeal: Whole grains and oats contain fiber, which can cause gas, especially if the digestive system is not used to processing them.
5. Dried Fruits: These contain natural sugars like fructose and sorbitol, which can cause gas in some people.
6. Beer: Fermented beverages like beer contain carbonation and certain sugars that can contribute to gas production.

Given the combination of high-fiber foods (legumes, grains, dried fruits) and fermented drinks (beer), it’s very likely that flatulence was a common issue among the Pilgrims. Their diet was lacking in fresh vegetables and fruits, which help regulate digestion, further contributing to digestive discomfort.

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Semi-sequitur: Poor Man’s Lobster

Yes, it is true that in colonial times, lobster was so common that it was considered a poor man’s food and was even served to prisoners, indentured servants, and slaves. In fact, lobsters were so abundant that they would often wash up in large quantities along the shore, making them easily accessible and very cheap. Because of this, lobsters were often seen as “garbage meat” and not fit for the wealthy or for frequent consumption by anyone who had a choice.

Indentured servants in Massachusetts were known to protest against being fed lobster too frequently. Some even negotiated contracts that limited their lobster meals to no more than three times a week to avoid being forced to eat it daily. This historical context highlights the dramatic shift in the perception of lobster, which is now considered a luxury food item.

Elder G