Pilgrims and early American settlers
Puritan settlements
As a result of the Protestant Reformation that was taking place in Europe beginning in the early 1500s, a large number of
Puritans and other Pilgrims left for New England in the American colonies.
They eventually founded Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay
Colony, along with other settlements, in the early 1600s. Author James
Russell Lowell notes the similarity of the founding of America by the
Pilgrims with that of ancient Israel by Moses: "Next to the fugitives
whom Moses led out of Egypt, the little shipload of outcasts who landed
at Plymouth are destined to influence the future of the world."(Ames)
French author Léon Bloy argues that "Columbus was to Europe what
Moses had been to the people of Israel."(Stavans) Historian William G.
Dever attempts to describe the feelings from the perspective of the
pilgrims:
We considered ourselves the 'New Israel,' particularly we in America.
And for that reason we knew who we were, what we believed in and
valued, and what our 'manifest destiny' was.(Dever)
Other writers agree that the pilgrims were clearly "animated by the true spirit of the Hebrew prophets and law-givers. They
walked by the light of the Scriptures, and were resolved to form a Commonwealth in accordance with the social laws and
ideas of the Bible. . . . they were themselves the true descendants of Israel, spiritual children of the prophets."(Moses,
Adolph)
John Winthrop, leader of the Puritans and first governor of the Bay Colony, similarly drew inspiration from Moses. While on
board the first Puritan ship, ''Arrabella'', as it sailed toward America in 1630,(Massmoments) he wrote in his log: "
This discourse with that exhortacion (sic) of Moses, that faithful servant of the Lord in his last farewell to Israel, . . . .
wee are Commaunded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walke in his wayes and to
keepe his Commaundements and his Ordinance, and his lawes, . .
.(Cherry, 40-41)
Need for strong leaders
Upon settling in America's wilderness, the Pilgrims soon recognized the
need for strong leadership to minimize violence and keep the people
united in common goals. Historian Edward Arber writes, "The leader of a
people in a wilderness had need to be a Moses; and if a Moses had not
led the people of Plymouth Colony, when this worthy person was their
Governor, the people had never with so much unanimity and importunity
still called him to lead them."(Arber)
John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony and among the
signors of the Mayflower Compact, was also one of the early victims of the
hardships of settling in America, dying just four months after arriving. He
later became known as "the Moses of the Pilgrims," and "a symbol of America," as the the state of Maine planned to erect a
statue in his honor.(Notson) Historian Benson John Lossing describes the settlement:
After many hardships, . . . the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot December, 1620 upon a bare rock on the bleak coast of
Massachusetts Bay, while all around the earth was covered with deep snow. . . Dreary, indeed, was the prospect
before them. Exposure and privations had prostrated one half of the men before the first blow of the ax had been
struck to build a habitation. . . . One by one perished. The governor and his wife died in April 1621; and on the first
of that month, forty-six of the one hundred emigrants were in their graves, nineteen of whom were signers of the
Mayflower Compact.(Lossing)
Arber also quotes William Bradford, Plymouth's second governor following Carver's death:
Friend, if ever we make a Plantation, GOD works a miracle! Especially considering how scant we shall be of
victuals; and, most of all, ununited amongst ourselves, and devoid of good tutors and regiment. Violence will break
all. Where is the meek and humble spirit of Moses? And of Nehemiah, who reedified the walls of Jerusalem, and the
State of Israel?(Arber)
Bradford, also signor of the Mayflower Compact in 1620, spent his later life studying the Hebrew language, in order to have
"as direct a connection as possible with the word of God." In his diary, Bradford writes,
I have a longing desire to see with my own eyes, something of that most ancient language and holy tongue, . . . . to
have seen some glimpse hereof; as Moses saw the Land of Canaan afar off.(Philbrick)
Moses in American History
Moses in American History
Pilgrims and early American settlers
Puritan settlements
As a result of the Protestant Reformation that was taking place in Europe
beginning in the early 1500s, a large number of Puritans and other Pilgrims
left for New England in the American colonies. They eventually founded
Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony, along with other
settlements, in the early 1600s. Author James Russell Lowell notes the
similarity of the founding
of America by the
Pilgrims with that of
ancient Israel by
Moses: "Next to the
fugitives whom
Moses led out of
Egypt, the little
shipload of outcasts
who landed at
Plymouth are
destined to influence
the future of the
world."(Ames) French
author Léon Bloy argues that "Columbus was to Europe what Moses had
been to the people of Israel."(Stavans) Historian William G. Dever attempts
to describe the feelings from the perspective of the pilgrims:
We considered ourselves the 'New Israel,' particularly we in America. And for
that reason we knew who we were, what we believed in and valued, and
what our 'manifest destiny' was.(Dever)
Other writers agree that the pilgrims were clearly "animated by the true spirit
of the Hebrew prophets and law-givers. They walked by the light of the
Scriptures, and were resolved to form a Commonwealth in accordance with
the social laws and ideas of the Bible. . . . they were themselves the true
descendants of Israel, spiritual children of the prophets."(Moses, Adolph)
John Winthrop, leader of the Puritans and first governor of the Bay Colony,
similarly drew inspiration from Moses. While on board the first Puritan ship,
''Arrabella'', as it sailed toward America in 1630,(Massmoments) he wrote in
his log: "
This discourse with that exhortacion (sic) of Moses, that faithful
servant of the Lord in his last farewell to Israel, . . . . wee are
Commaunded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one
another, to walke in his wayes and to keepe his Commaundements
and his Ordinance, and his lawes, . . .(Cherry, 40-41)
Need for strong leaders
Upon settling in America's
wilderness, the Pilgrims
soon recognized the need
for strong leadership to
minimize violence and
keep the people united in
common goals. Historian
Edward Arber writes,
"The leader of a people in
a wilderness had need to
be a Moses; and if a
Moses had not led the
people of Plymouth
Colony, when this worthy
person was their
Governor, the people had
never with so much unanimity and importunity still called him to lead
them."(Arber)
John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony and among the signors
of the Mayflower Compact, was also one of the early victims of the
hardships of settling in America, dying just four months after arriving. He
later became known as "the Moses of the Pilgrims," and "a symbol of
America," as the the state of Maine planned to erect a statue in his
honor.(Notson) Historian Benson John Lossing describes the settlement:
After many hardships, . . . the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot
December, 1620 upon a bare rock on the bleak coast of
Massachusetts Bay, while all around the earth was covered with
deep snow. . . Dreary, indeed, was the prospect before them.
Exposure and privations had prostrated one half of the men before
the first blow of the ax had been struck to build a habitation. . . . One
by one perished. The governor and his wife died in April 1621; and
on the first of that month, forty-six of the one hundred emigrants
were in their graves, nineteen of whom were signers of the
Mayflower Compact.(Lossing)
Arber also quotes William Bradford, Plymouth's second governor following
Carver's death:
Friend, if ever we make a Plantation, GOD works a miracle!
Especially considering how scant we shall be of victuals; and, most
of all, ununited amongst ourselves, and devoid of good tutors and
regiment. Violence will break all. Where is the meek and humble
spirit of Moses? And of Nehemiah, who reedified the walls of
Jerusalem, and the State of Israel?(Arber)
Bradford, also signor of the Mayflower Compact in 1620, spent his later life
studying the Hebrew language, in order to have "as direct a connection as
possible with the word of God." In his diary, Bradford writes,
I have a longing desire to see with my own eyes, something of that
most ancient language and holy tongue, . . . . to have seen some
glimpse hereof; as Moses saw the Land of Canaan afar
off.(Philbrick)
