Dorking and the Mayflower 1620-2020

This week America will celebrate Thanksgiving on 26th November, we are reminded of community and how this year bringing people together has come with many difficulties much as it did for the Pilgrims back in 1620.

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621.

This feast lasted three days, and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings," days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

As I think about community and the hardships we have faced this year I’m reminded of William Mullins who with his family four centuries ago travelled as passengers on the historic 1620 voyage to America on the Pilgrim ship the Mayflower

William Mullins is Dorking’s most famous son and Dorking is the place I call home.

Dorking the town is in the heart of the Surrey Hills, England (an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and a place I’ve re-discovered during the dark days of 2020 and “Lockdown”

Quirky independent shops and stylish boutiques.

Artisans, antiques and art. Woodland walks and sports.

Live music, dance and theatre. Markets and museum tours

Mouth-watering menus showcasing award winning local produce…. Just a taste of what makes Dorking so special.

William Mullins house on West Street which he purchased in 1612 is the only surviving home of a Pilgrim Father.

William intended to establish a business in the new colony, taking 265 pairs of shoes and boots with him.

A delayed start of over a month to the voyage had disastrous consequences. Finally departing Plymouth on 16th September 1620, the Mayflower’s passengers and crew endured treacherous storms crossing the Atlantic.

In November 2020, after more than eight weeks at sea, the Mayflower reached Massachusetts instead of Virginia its intended destination.

Harsh weather conditions, terrible sickness and lack of crops and food took their toll. The colony of just over 100 men, women and children was reduced dramatically in its first year.

William, his wife Alice, son Joseph and their servant Robert Carter also from Dorking all died within a few months of arriving.

Only William Mullins daughter Priscilla survived and later married John Alden the ship’s cooper. They went onto have at least 10 children and 71 grandchildren.

Their legacy is one of the largest groups of Mayflower descendants and includes three former American presidents, other notable names are Marilyn Munroe, Dick Van Dyke, Orson Wells,

Today 10 million living Americans and as many as 35 million people worldwide are descended from the Pilgrims and Priscilla is revered as the founder of the United States. 

Thanks for reading

Matt