Cape Cod's First Shipwreck: Sparrow-Hawk

The first shipwreck off Cape Cod was the (Pinnacle)Sparrow-Hawk in 1626.The ship was smaller than the more famous Mayflower that landed in Plymouth around 6 years earlier( 30 tons verses 130). After a six week voyage and out of beer/water plus a sick captain she foundered off outer Cape Cod in Orlearn's on Nauset Beach. Survivors (all 25) were guided by friendly natives to Plymouth where they stayed until they could hitch a ride to Virginia(there original destination).

The shipwreck was discovered in 1862 after a storm. It did spend over a century at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth Massachusetts. It is now on display in Hyannis, Massachusetts at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum. It is the oldest surviving shipwreck of "New World' colonies.

Wicked Awesome History : 1621 - Not so Merry Christmas in Plymouth

The early Pilgrims treated Christmas as any other day.The hardline Puritans could find no reference to the holiday in the Bible and considered it a pagan holiday.  Christmas day in 1621 Governor Bradford had reluctantly let the “Strangers”(non-separatists) let them have the day off. As he and others went off to work the strangers went about and played in the streets including stool ball(an early version of cricket). Governor Bradford was furious when he returned and even confiscated their bat and balls. Told them it was unfair for them to do so in public and to keep celebrations indoors. In  Massachusetts and Connecticut Christmas was actually against the law for many years until 1681 when the last of these were repealed.

Cold Walk up Burial Hill

Recently I had a chance to visit Burial Hill Cemetery in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. I had first become aware of it through the story of the loss the Brig General Arnold which ran aground off Plymouth Harbor during the Revolutionary War in a bitter snowstorm. Sailors who had lost their lives were buried here and I was curious to find the location of this.

 

 The second (John Carver was first)Governor of Plymouth Colony William Bradford is buried here.

Adjacent to Governor Bradford is his son Major William Bradford who was Plymouth Colony's military commander during King Phillip's War in 1675-76.

The hill was the original location of the first fort of the colony which was also used as a church and meeting house. A replica can be seen at Plimoth Plantation nearby.

Resting place of the sailors lost on the Brig General Arnold off Plymouth Harbor during the Revolutionary War.

 

Burial Hill is listed on the National Register of of Historic Places. Is adjacent School Street., Church Street, and South Russell Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Voyage of the Mayflower 2 in 1957

A short film of the voyage of the replica Mayflower 2 from Plymouth,  England to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Plymouth Colony- "The Pilgrims"

A short 22 minute film made by Encyclopedia Brittanica in 1955 dramatizing the story of the settling of Plymouth , Massachusetts.