“Out of small beginnings have greater things been produced by His (God’s) hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled has shone unto many.”

Many of the early European visitors to North America came seeking their fortunes. Trappers earned money selling furs; conquistadors came looking for gold. The early Pilgrims had only one goal: they wanted to worship God as they saw fit. They wanted to pray and read the Bible together without persecution. They believed that both the Catholic Church and the Church of England had become corrupted by greedy leaders. They wanted to start a new religion.

William Bradford joined this group, known as the Separatists, at the age of 18, against his family’s wishes. He and the other church members were persecuted in England. They found some peace in Holland but dreamed of starting their own settlement, with their own culture and religion. At the age of 30, Bradford sold everything he had and sailed for North America on the Mayflower. He became the governor of Plymouth, the new colony in America, and served in this position for more than 30 years. 

Fun Facts

• William Bradford was born in Yorkshire in 1590. His father died when he was a baby. His mother and grandparents died when he was a small child. William was an orphan at the age of seven.
• He and his sister, Alice, were raised by their uncle, Robert Bradford.
• Bradford was a sickly child and enjoyed reading the Bible to pass the time. He learned about the Separatist church during his teenage years and soon converted.
• He married Dorothy May in Holland and they had one child.
• Knowing how hard the journey would be, William and Dorothy left their child with friends when they sailed on the Mayflower. Dorothy fell off the ship and drowned as it sat in the port at Cape Cod.
• William must have been very sad, but he quickly got to work in Plymouth, encouraging the other colonists to build homes.
• Bradford was made governor of the Plymouth Colony after John Carver’s death. He tried hard to be fair and make good decisions for the colony. He helped establish peaceful relationships with the Indians.
• Bradford kept detailed journals of the Plymouth Colony. These journals are the main source of information we have about the people. The journals have been published as a book, History of Plymouth Plantation.
• William Bradford married widow, Alice Carpenter Southworth in 1623. They had three children.
• Bradford became ill during the winter of 1657. He died that May at age 68. He had devoted his life to building the Plymouth Colony.

Vocabulary

1. Persecution:  to be emotionally or physically harmed because of one’s beliefs
2. Orphan:  one whose parents have died

Questions and Answers

Question: What jobs did Bradford do in his role as governor?

Answer: He was a very busy man. He oversaw the courts, kept the finances, communicated with investors, and negotiated relationships with the Indians.

Learn More

Visit Scholastic to learn more about William Bradford.