September 6

On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, with 102 English and Dutch Separatists and other adventurers and about 30 crew members, mastered by Christopher Jones. The ship's dimensions are unknown but informed estimates suggest it was tiny, with a 90–110 foot length and a 25 foot width. The destination was an area near the Hudson River, but the ship was forced far north by weather so difficult that Jones wanted to turn around. On November 9, at the onset of a harsh winter, the ship reached the hook of Cape Cod. In May 1621 Jones sailed the Mayflower back to England (from Plymouth Colony). Within two years, it was likely broken up for scrap.