William Bradford

William Bradford was a leader among the English Separatists who sailed to North America aboard the Mayflower. When disputes threatened to divide the passengers, he helped create the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to govern for the common good. After landing, Bradford insisted that corn taken from abandoned storage pits must someday be repaid to its owners. He suffered deep personal grief when his wife Dorothy died, yet continued helping build New Plymouth through a winter that killed half the colony. Bradford welcomed the friendship and instruction offered by Samoset, Squanto, and Massasoit. His faith and steady leadership helped the settlement survive its frightening beginning and celebrate a shared harvest.