MAYFLOWER COMPACT

On November 21, 1620, forty-one adult male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact. The compact served as a device to preserve order and establish rules for self-government. The signers agreed to combine themselves into a "civil Body Politick" that would enact and obey "just and equal laws" that were made for the "general good of the colony." This commitment to justice and equality would be reiterated in many later documents, including the U.S. Constitution.

Mayflower Compact

In the name of God, amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, c. Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the reign of our sovereign lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth, anno Domini, 1620.1

Mr. John Carver ~ Mr. Samuel Fuller ~ Mr. Edward Tilly
Mr. William Bradford ~ Mr. Christopher ~ Martin John Tilly
Mr. Edward Winslow ~ Mr. William Mullinsr ~ Francis Cooke
Mr. William Brewster ~ Mr. William Whiter ~ Thomas Rogers
Isaac Allerton ~ Mr. Richard Warrenr ~ Thomas Tinker
Miles Standish ~ John Howlandr ~ John Ridgdale
John Alden ~ Mr. Steven Hopkinsr ~ Edward Fuller
John Turner ~ Digery Priestr ~ Richard Clark
Francis Eaton ~ Thomas Williamsr ~ Richard Gardiner
James Chilton ~ Gilbert Winslowr ~ Mr. John Allerton
John Craxton ~ Edmund Margessonr ~ Thomas English
John Billington ~ Peter Brownr ~ Edward Doten
Joses Fletcher ~ Richard Bitteridger ~ Edward Liester
John Goodman ~ George Souler

Thomas Rogers, a Mayflower Pilgrim and one of 41 signatories of the Mayflower Compact was among those who did not survive that first harsh Plymouth, Massachusetts winter of 1620/1621.