Plimoth Colony
In December 1620, the 102 Mayflower passengers established their colony where they landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. No one knows for sure if this was their intended destination.
While anchored at Cape Cod the first child of European descent was born, Peregrine White who would become a member of the First Congregational Church of Marshfield in 1698.
Half of the passengers and crew died during their first New England winter. Five adult women were left when spring came. Peregrine’s mother, Sarah, married Edward Winslow in the first Plimoth Colony wedding. Both had become widows during the winter.
Edward Winslow and the other male survivors assumed leadership roles for the colony and the church. Good relations were established with the Native People of the area especially Massasoit, their leader. This continued until after Massasoit’s death in 1661.
The document known as the Mayflower Compact was created while still on the ship. Referred to as the basis of American democracy it was later used in other colonies. This pact established government based on the consent of the governed.
In 1630 a Puritan group settled Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their numbers, ships and finances over shadowed Plymouth. Yet the colonies existed side by side for the next 62 years. In 1692 Plymouth colony was absorbed into Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The two colonies continued to be very different, though they both had Congregational Churches. The Bay residents wore dark and somber clothing. Plymouth clothing inventory shows red, purple, and embroidered items. Religious freedom was for those that conformed to their religion. However, where Plymouth would usually fine or “warn out” those of other religions (Quakers), Bay Colony would whip or even execute them. Plymouth never tried anyone for witchcraft. There were trials for those that accused others of being a witch. Salem, a part of the Bay Colony has a well know history for their witch trials.