John Carver - Life in Plymouth

Life in Plymouth

Ill-prepared and poorly supplied, the Mayflower lost over half of its passenger through starvation, scurvy, the terrible epidemic and first winter. All of the people helped gather supplies for food and shelter as well as burying the dead. In the spring of 1621, Carver and the others attended what would become known as the first Thanksgiving.

Carver was also in the first group that explored Cape Cod in November, 1620.

In March 1621, Carver established a peace treaty with Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe. This was one of America's most successful Indian treaties, lasting for over half a century

When the Mayflower returned empty of cargo for their investors, Thomas Weston complained that it was due to the selfishness of the Pilgrims and their leader John Carver. The new governor William Bradford answered him by blaming Weston for their ill-preparedness and for the unnecessary deaths and stated that Governor Carver ... had worked himself to death that spring and the loss of him and other industrious men lives cannot be valued at any price. After Carver’s death, William Bradford, age 31, had been unanimously elected governor the following month, an office he held with distinction for thirty-three years.

Carver was a gentleman in every respect, nevertheless during the first winter in Plymouth, Carver he worked alongside common laborers. He died of exhaustion in April 1621 and William Bradford was named his successor as governor. At the time of his death the whole number of survivors in the colony was fifty-five.

Carver was buried in 1621 at Cole's Hill Burial Ground, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Later his remains were interred in The Pilgrim Memorial Tomb, on Cole's Hill in Plymouth.