The Pilgrims: History and Background of the Early English Settlers on the American Continent

The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were a group of English settlers who made the historic journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower and founded the Plymouth Colony in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. The colony was named after the port of Plymouth in England, which had been the final departure point for their voyage. The Pilgrims were part of a religious movement rooted in the Puritan faith, but with distinct beliefs that set them apart from other Puritans at the time.


The Pilgrims were part of a religious group called the Brownists, or Separatists, who believed that the Church of England was beyond reform. They shared many of the same Calvinist and Puritan religious convictions as the broader Puritan community, particularly in their emphasis on personal piety, Bible study, and the rejection of Catholic practices. However, unlike other Puritans, the Pilgrims felt that the Church of England was corrupt and that their congregations should be completely separate from it. This belief led them to seek religious freedom in places where they could practice their faith without interference from the English state church, which they saw as a violation of their spiritual beliefs.


Initially, the Pilgrims found refuge in Holland, where they lived for several years in the city of Leiden. The Netherlands offered a more tolerant environment for religious dissenters, allowing them to practice their faith freely. However, the Pilgrims faced challenges in Holland, including economic difficulties and concerns about the erosion of their cultural identity. They eventually decided to seek a new home in the New World, where they could establish a society that would align with their religious principles.