BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 58
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
transferred across, the
The Pilgrims had
Mayflower, now under
initially intended to land
Harwich born Captain
in Northern Virginia,
Christopher Jones, set
which at the time
out to make the journey
included a designation
alone.
region, where they had
Whilst
awaiting
already been granted
departure, some of
permission to build
the passengers had
their new colony, near
become so tired and
the modern day State
disappointed with all
of New York just far
they had encountered by this time, north as the Hudson River where they had
decided to forget any further interest in the good reports whilst earlier domiciled in the
journey, whilst others, more determined to Netherlands.
succeed, crammed themselves onto an
All things considered however, it would
already overcrowded, Mayflower. And don't appear that the transatlantic course had
forget, back then sailing vessels didn't been well plotted and truly navigated but
have any lifeboats or such-like small craft! except for the various minor mishaps along
Finally however, on September 6th, having the way, they were almost, spot-on target.
already spent over a month and a half, either
Nearing their destination and approaching
on board the ship or at sea, even both; land and just as the sun rose on November 9th
passengers and crew departed from Plymouth the crew spotted Cape Cod allowing the ship
Harbour and headed on their long and to then head south towards the mouth of the
tempestuous journey across the vast Atlantic. Hudson, where they had planned to make their
The transatlantic voyage itself took sixty- new homes and plantation.
six days, from the actual departure date in
But again another disaster struck the
early September, until the coast of Cape Mayflower as she headed southwards, by
Cod was sighted on 9th November 1620.
encountering very rough seas and at that
However the unknown journey, like the initial point, the vessel almost foundered.
planning, had been marred with mishaps,
The Pilgrims, rather than risk another similar
misery and disasters.
attempt, then decided to remain in the safety
Whilst the earlier days into the voyage had of the coast and turned back north, rounding
gone fairly smooth, with the only problem the tip of Cape Cod before setting anchor and
being sea-sickness amongst many of the finally mooring in what is now the
passengers, however by October they began Massachusetts harbour of Provincetown
encountering a number of major storms that
Arriving there, and now safely on land, the
made the voyage even more treacherous.
Pilgrims fell upon their knees (above) and
On several occasions high
gave thanks to their heavenly God ..
winds, particularly the cross
'for bringing them over the vast
winds, were so strong that for
and furious ocean, delivering
safety reasons, sails were
them from all the perils and
lowered, lest they were ripped
miseries thereof.'
asunder, and as a result, the
They spent the next couple of
forlorn vessel drifted off
months there, exploring the
areas around nearby Cape Cod,
course to wherever the foul
weather might take them.
before deciding just where to begin
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 56 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING