Event    From 11/11/1620 

Mayflower Compact

Categories: Exploring, Transport

The first governing document of Plymouth Colony. Written by the 'Separatists' who were passengers on the Mayflower. It was signed by forty-one members while the ship was anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbour. The original has been lost, but its text read approximately thus:
'In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.' 
(The "eighteenth" and the "fifty-fourth" at the end refer to the number of years James had ruled in England and Scotland.)

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mayflower Compact

Commemorated ati

Christopher Jones statue

The statue represents Jones looking back at England, while the child is looki...

Read More

Other Subjects

John Weekes

John Weekes

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
John Ratcliffe

John Ratcliffe

Mariner and colonist. His family name appears to have originally been Sicklemore, and why he chose to call himself Ratcliffe remains a riddle. He was captain of the 'Discovery', one of three ships ...

Person, Exploring, USA

1 memorial
Willliam Colbeck

Willliam Colbeck

Explorer. Born at 8 Myton Place, Hull. He made several expeditions to Antarctica, including one which convinced him of the best route to the south pole. This was later followed by Roald Amundsen, w...

Person, Exploring, Arctic & Antarctic

1 memorial
John Lane

John Lane

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir Ernest Shackleton

Sir Ernest Shackleton

Born Kilkee, county Clare, Ireland. He led several Antarctic expeditions and located the South magnetic pole during his voyage of 1907-1909. Died of a heart attach on a voyage to the South Atlantic...

Person, Exploring, Arctic & Antarctic, Ireland

3 memorials