FROM OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION
BY WILLIAM BRADFORD
William Bradford (1590-1657) was born in Yorkshire,
England to an affluent farming family. After numerous
deaths in his family, Bradford was orphaned at the age
of seven and was sent to live with two of his uncles. A
long period of sickness in his youth meant that
Bradford could not work the land, so he would spend
most of his time reading the Bible. This interest in
religion led Bradford to become a member of the
Separatist church. He accompanied the religious
leader of the Separatists, William Brewster on their
journey to Holland and sailed aboard the Mayflower to
Plymouth. While aboard the ship, Bradford signed the
Mayflower Compact, the first official government
document in the New World. He was elected
governor of the colony five times, serving for over 30
years. His journal of the voyage and settlement of the
colony became Of Plymouth Plantation remains one of
the most important documents of New World
exploration.