"The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" By Jennie A. Brownscombe.
The folks who landed and settled Plymouth, MA, and who we call pilgrims in actuality were religious rebels who outwardly criticized Queen Elizabeth the First for trying to unite England under one religion. For Elizabeth, this uniformity was a political necessity as fractious civil wars between Catholics and Protestants (in our terminology) nearly tore apart the country prior to her reign. Though the Puritan’s religious beliefs were an offshoot of Protestantism, the Puritan’s civil disobedience was a wound to Elizabeth’s attempt to restore order in a country bleeding from the disputes of the past. As a result of the censure of their actions many members fled to Holland and eventually settled in Leyden, Netherlands which was much more religiously tolerant than England. However, though they lived there for a little over a decade, they became increasingly uncomfortable with the local culture, considering the Dutch “libertine” and with their children’s assimilation of Dutch culture. The Puritans decided it was time to leave the Netherlands, but where to go was the question.
On July 29, 1619 an English government patent was issued to John Wincob for a colony to be established at the northern borders Virginia colony but negotiations with the London Company over the territory to be settled stalled. In February of 1620 a London merchant, Tom Weston, approached the Leyden refugees with offers of funding the new settlement with the backing of seventy other merchants with assurances he could resolve the difficulties with the London Company. One John Pierce got involved and all of sudden the new colony was to be settled at the mouth of the Hudson River.
Even with stories of the difficulties of the previously established Virginia colony, and the native population the members of the Leyden community decided that the colony could make fishing a commercial venture. They even secured a boat for that purpose. A number of refugees boarded their purchased ship, The Speedwell and made for the meeting with the famous Mayflower . . .except the boat leaked. Here is the story:
“ . . .the Pilgrims sailed from Delfthaven in the “Speedwell” for Southampton. At Southampton the “Mayflower” had been receiving her stores and outfit for a week when the “Speedwell” arrived. The two vessels left Southampton August 15, 1620, but put back to Dartmouth about August 23rd, on account of the alleged leakage of the “Speedwell.” The voyage was resumed about September 2d. When about three hundred miles off Land’s End, the Captain of the “Speedwell” again reported his craft leaking. After consultation they put back to Plymouth (England). Here the “Speedwell” was returned to the Adventurers (the London merchants), and eighteen of her passengers went back in her. The remainder of the Pilgrims, one hundred and two in numbers, sailed from Plymouth for the New World in the “Mayflower” September 16, 1620.”
The sailing however did not proceed smoothly. Halfway to their destination during a violent sea storm, a main beam cracked and there was discussions about turning back. The ship was repaired enough with a “great iron screw” most likely a piece of construction equipment brought by the colonists. Even then, when they first spotted land they encountered difficulties in trying to sail around Cape Cod, encountering shoals, so they turned back and landed in what came to be called Provincetown Harbor.
So what is with all the delays and travel problems and the eventual voiding of the charter? The patent granted to John Wincob was made on a day Mercury was retrograde, that legendary period where it is not wise to sign legal documents since they will not hold up. Not only is Mercury retrograde it is in stress aspect (inconjunct) to the Moon in Aquarius, and conjunct the Sun in Gemini.
But even in Mercury Retrograde state, the June 19 date was a seed of the New Republic to come some 150 years down the road. The Gemini Sun of the Charter date touches the inner rim of the stellium of planets that runs from the Mars position 21 degrees of Gemini to the North Node in Gemini in the chart of the United States. The Libra Moon of the charter date is most likely conjunct the U.S, Saturn in Libra, the planet of our traditions. This is why the story of the Pilgrims is told and celebrated as part of our national identity in the national feast of Thanksgiving.
Ah, this is close to a point I’ve been making for a while. I think the right and proper date for the establishment of America is November 11, 1620 (old style dates). That’s the date of the signing of the Mayflower Compact, the first government established in America. It was the first government ever founded on the principle that the government’s power comes from the consent of the governed, and that government existed for the welfare of the people.