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William Brewster and the Puritans in Holland decide to migrate to Virginia in the New World. They sail back to England where another group seeking religious freedom will
Brewster Back to England William Brewster and the Pilgrims found religious freedom in Holland but it was very difficult to live and work in a land where English was not the major language spoken. So after many serious discussions the Pilgrims decided to migrate to the New World. There they and their children could speak English and continue to enjoy their religious freedom. Brewster applied for and received a patent from the Virginia Company of London. Now they could settle in that faraway territory in the wilderness being called Virginia. Three long years it took Brewster and his Pilgrims to prepare for this journey, one they well might never see the desired end of. Although they now had their patent they lacked enough money for supplies and other expenses. They did manage to contract with a group of merchants to finance them. The cost to the Pilgrims would be indentured servitude, working for seven years in the New World and giving a share from the results of their labors to the financing merchants. This was not a situation the Pilgrims readily desired but as they had no other choice and it did not compromise their religious principles they agreed. The plan was to sail aboard a small ship, the Speedwell , from Leiden to England where other Pilgrims seeking religious freedom in the New World would be waiting to accompany them with an additional ship. Once they had settled in Virginia the Speedwell would serve as a commercial fishing boat. Now, though having committed themselves to seven years of servitude, but assured, because of the Speedwell , of a means of a livelihood in America, this small but brave band of Pilgrims set off upon the high seas, back briefly to merry old England. Source: Collier's Encyclopedia, Volume 15. Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation, 1968. Comptons, The Complete Reference Collection. CD Rom, 1997, The Learning Company, Inc. Musick, John R. Columbian Historical Novels, Volume IV: Pocahontas: A Story of Virginia. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York, London and Toronto, 1895.
The copyright of the article Brewster Back to England in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Brewster Back to England in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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