6—The Sentinel
Chapter 1: The Mayflower In the year 1620 a courageous group was willing to sacrifice all on a small ship and endure the treacherous ocean to reach this land, a new land, a new life, in a wild country that we now call home. Wild perhaps by this group, but not to native Americans who called it home. Boldly this group set out from England on a ship called the Mayflower. We start here because this is where we see some of the first formations of what will become our national government – where people were more than explorers looking to find riches, jewels, treasures and gold. While some early explorers looked for those things, native Americans were currently living and surviving on the continent in tribes. Survival will be essential for those seafarers coming on the Mayflower, and they will need rules to live by. The Mayflower left England on September 16, 1620, after several attempted starts. One hundred and two people on a small ship. I can’t even begin to imagine what life was like at that time. All in all, there were 50 men, 19 women and 33 children, or 102 total on board. The
Two Mifflin County military veterans – Jan Snedeker, left, and George Anderson – can trace their ancestry back to indentured servant John Howland, who came to America aboard the Mayflower. Howland is the 17th great-grandfather of both men. (Photo by Mark DeVecchis)
ship was 25 feet wide and about 100 feet long (the size of six of today’s tractor-trailers – two long, three wide). The make-up was Pilgrims (true religious separatists looking to break away from the Church of England), indentured servants, merchants, craftsmen and orphans, making their way and contributing to a new land and society. [1] Added to the human load, there needed to be food and water for the voyage. Once they arrived, they would need firearms and powder, gifts for any natives encountered, cattle, animals, plants and tools – saws, hoes, rakes, and shovels to plant to grow food and build shelter
1946- 2022
Stroup-Alexander Post 5935 Veterans of Foreign Wars 76th Year of Service to the Community
The Belleville VFW would like to thank all who support us, and honor our veterans.
