New publications celebrate Nottinghamshire's role in the Mayflower story

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower – one of the most influential journeys in global history.
Children can download A Pilgrim Adventure from the Nottinghamshire County Council websiteChildren can download A Pilgrim Adventure from the Nottinghamshire County Council website
Children can download A Pilgrim Adventure from the Nottinghamshire County Council website

And Bassetlaw and the surrounding area, plays a big part in the Mayflower story as several influential pilgrims who eventually sailed to the new world to found what is now the modern-day USA, came from the area.

One of the most prominent was William Brewster, who was born in Scrooby.

As an elder and the religious leader of the pilgrims, it is Brewster who is believed to have held the first Thanksgiving.

Much of what is known of the early life of the pilgrims can be found in the writings of William Bradford, from Austerfield, who was Governor of the new colony for more than 35 years.

Other significant pilgrims from Bassetlaw include Richard Clyfton, from Babworth and Francis Cooke of Blyth.

Later pilgrims included Brewster’s son Jonathan and Thomas Morton of Haworth.

As part of the Mayflower 400 partnership, Nottinghamshire County Council has launched two new publications focusing on the county’s connection to those who travelled on the Mayflower.The William Brewster Commemorative Booklet tells the story of William Brewster, while children can also learn how this boy from Nottinghamshire helped to change the world with A Pilgrim Adventure, an exciting new augmented reality activity book

Further activity will take place for schools in 2021 when school groups, as well as self-guided home learners, will be able to take on the pilgrims survival c hallenge to learn more about the difficulties that the pilgrims faced on their journey and the trials of having to survive in extreme conditions.Coun Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said, It is 400 years since the Mayflower ship set sail with Brewster and the other Pilgrims on board to find land in America .“The Mayflower 400 Partnership has been created to develop opportunities to mark the anniversary, aligning 11 core destinations in England with wider local, national and international partners.

"We are proud to be part of this project.

“This is a key historical moment from Nottinghamshire’s past, and we want to share it both near and far.”

To read A Pilgrim Adventure, click here.

To read the William Brewster Commemorative Booklet, click here.