New and exciting information has been uncovered in the lead
up to the 2020 ‘Mayflower 400’ anniversary of the foundation of America that
completely changes the story of the Pilgrims in Boston.
Original archive documents and new research, now on display
in Boston Guildhall, has revealed a story of illicit worship, intrigue and
influence in the town with a Boston draper, Leonard Beetson, central to
unravelling the threads that make the story so compelling.
 |
| archival document that uncovered new details |
Luke Skerritt of Boston Guildhall Museum knew of a document
in Lincolnshire Archives that related to the arrest of the Pilgrims in Boston
in 1607 and arranged to view it. It was this document and the leads it provided
which proved to be the first step in uncovering the story. Instead of a brief
relationship with Boston it was actually the case that the Pilgrims were in the
town for three months before their arrest and that those arrested were
incredibly influential individuals such as WIlliam Brewster, Richard Clyfton
and Thomas Helwys as well as the Boston draper Leonard Beetson. This showed a completely different
relationship between the Pilgrims and Boston, accessing other archival
documents and new research the story began to unravel.
 |
| jail cells where pilgrims were held |
Beetson, the Boston Draper, weaves two of Boston’s most
influential American connections together… he is the thread between the
Pilgrims and the foundation of Boston Massachusetts by the congregation of
charismatic Boston vicar John Cotton.
Arrested alongside the famous Pilgrims he chose to stay in Boston and
became a respected business man and eventually a town councillor. He kept his
habit of not conforming to religious convention though and became a close
friend of the charismatic and radical, puritan vicar of Boston, John Cotton who
influenced 1 in every 10 Bostonians to leave for America and found Boston
Massachusetts in 1630.
Not only have these stories been revealed but further
intrigue comes linking them with a hand written letter from Edward Winslow one
of the most famous of the Pilgrims to a Clerk of the local Courts shining a new
light on an unsuspected network between Boston and Scrooby, Nottinghamshire
where many of the Pilgrims came from.
The new exhibition on display at Boston Guildhall showcases
these stories and features as it’s highlight the documents that have helped
reveal them which are on public display together for the very first time.
 |
| new exhibit for the #mayflower400 commemoration |
*with thanks to Boston Guildhall for the information
