The Pilgrim Fathers UK Origins Association

The Association
- Association Background
- Management Group
Pilgrim Fathers Origins
Heritage
The Mayflower Trail
Pilgrim Country Map
Pilgrim Country Tour
Visitor Information
Community Activities

Bassetlaw in North Nottinghamshire and neighbouring districts pride themselves as being at the forefront in developing the United States of America in that this is where the Separatists from the Church of England, who became the leaders of the Pilgrim Fathers, were born and came together in the years prior to1607. 3 of the first 4 signatories to the Mayflower Compact came from this area This document is considered the earliest example of democracy in New England in the United States.

John Carver of Doncaster, William Bradford of Austerfield and William Brewster of Scrooby led the foundation of Plimoth Colony, the first settlement of New England, held the first Thanksgiving in 1621 and paved the way for the first amendment of the US Constitution which protects religious freedom in the US.

2007 was the 400th anniversary of the Separatists leaving the area and attempting to leave Boston in Lincolnshire for Holland. They were betrayed and briefly imprisoned before successfully reaching Holland from the Humber estuary in Spring 1608. They remained in Holland for 12 years before setting out to cross the Atlantic in the Mayflower in September 1620.

To plan to celebrate these anniversaries and to promote the heritage of the Separatists from the area, The Pilgrim Fathers UK Origins Association was launched in April 2006 as an independent community organisation.

Signing the Mayflower Compact by Edward Percy Moran
courtesy of thePilgrim Hall Museum

The aims of the Association, as set out in the Constitution are:

1. To bring together and promote the heritage of the local Separatists who became leading Pilgrim Fathers.

2. To increase awareness of the heritage of the Separatists and the Pilgrim Fathers both in local communities and internationally, particularly in the United States.

3. To work with others to engage local communities in this heritage.

4. To work with others to increase visitors to the area and ensure that they receive all the information, services and support that they require to make their stay memorable and enjoyable.

In recognition of the period that the Separatists spent in Holland before setting out to cross the Atlantic the Association maintains a special relationship with the American Pilgrim Museum in Leiden and its Director, Dr. Jeremy Bangs.

The Management Group of the Association meets every other month to initiate, co-ordinate and organise community activities and improve visitor amenities. Annual General Meetings of the Association are held in May each year. The Chairman's Review for the period to 31st March 2010 show that significant progress in meeting the objectives has been achieved over the four year period.

The Association also aims to bring together all who are interested in the original Separatists and the Pilgrim Fathers. This website contains links to a large number of organisations that have such an an interest. If you represent an organisation that should be, but is not, listed please email the address of your website, with a request for inclusion, to the website manager.

The Association would also welcome contact with any member of the Mayflower Society who is a descendent of the Pilgrim Fathers and is now resident in the United Kingdom. Please send your contact details and details from whom you are descended to the Chair of the Association