John Carver facts for kids
John Carver (c. 1584 – 1621) was an important leader in early American history. He was a passenger on the famous ship, the Mayflower. He helped lead the Pilgrims during their long voyage. John Carver also signed the important document called the Mayflower Compact. Later, he became the very first Governor of Plymouth Colony.
John Carver was likely from Doncaster in Yorkshire, England. He was a Separatist, which meant he did not agree with the official Church of England. Separatists wanted to practice their religion in their own way.
Carver and his first wife, Mary, were part of a French Walloon church in Leiden, Netherlands. Their religion was not fully accepted there either. Other future Mayflower passengers, like Francis Cooke, were also members of this church. Carver became a deacon in Leiden around 1609. Sadly, his first wife Mary and their child passed away in 1609.
Later, Carver married Katherine White. She was also a Separatist. John Carver became very involved in the Leiden church. He became close friends with the church leader, pastor John Robinson. He also befriended Robert Cushman, who helped plan the Mayflower journey.
Planning the Journey
The church members decided to move to Virginia Colony in America. They hoped to find a place where they could freely practice their religion. William Brewster was hiding from King James I at this time. So, John Carver and Robert Cushman were chosen to make plans for the voyage.
In 1617, Carver and Cushman started talking with officials from the Virginia Company. These were London businessmen who wanted to make money from the New World. By June 1620, John Carver was in Southampton, England. He was buying supplies for the Mayflower voyage with Christopher Martin. They agreed to help pay for the trip. Carver was a very rich man. He gave a lot of his own money to help the church members and pay for the Mayflower journey.
The Mayflower Voyage
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620. There were 102 passengers and about 30 to 40 crew members. On November 19, 1620, the Mayflower reached land at Cape Cod. They landed on November 21. Before leaving the ship, they wrote the Mayflower Compact. This document set rules for how they would live and treat each other in their new home. The Mayflower was supposed to land in Virginia Colony. However, the ship was too damaged, so they had to land at Cape Cod, now called Provincetown Harbor.
Carver was a very educated and fair person. Because of these qualities, the passengers chose him to be their leader on the Mayflower. When they landed, the people again chose him to be their first governor.
Life in Plymouth Colony
Governor Carver was one of the first to leave the ship. He went to explore the land to find a safe place for everyone to live. Other important men like William Bradford, Myles Standish, Edward Winslow, John Howland, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Doty went with him. Stephen Hopkins was very helpful because he had seen Native Americans during his time in Jamestown, Virginia.
On one trip, William Bradford said they explored in freezing weather. Many of the men were sick. When they set sail, the salt spray froze on their coats. They saw Native Americans who were cutting up a large whale. When the Native Americans saw the men approaching, they ran away. At night, the Pilgrims tried to protect themselves from the cold and from any possible danger.
Carver worked very hard with the other men. They built houses to keep the people warm. He also helped with hunting, fishing, and planting food.
During this time, a Native American named Samoset visited Plymouth Colony. Soon after, the chief Massasoit also arrived. Governor Carver worked out a peace treaty with them. This was a very important agreement. On March 23, 1621, John Carver was chosen again to be Plymouth's governor. The people truly approved of him.
In early April 1621, after working in the field on a hot day, Governor Carver felt a pain in his head. He went back to his house to rest. Within a few days, he died. William Bradford wrote that Carver, even though he was a wealthy man, had worked very hard alongside everyone.
Thomas Weston was one of the men who helped pay for the Pilgrims' trip. He was unhappy that the returning Mayflower ship was not loaded with furs and other goods to pay them back. Governor William Bradford sent a letter explaining all the troubles they had faced. He blamed Thomas Weston for some of their problems. Bradford also wrote that Governor John Carver "had worked himself to death that spring." He added that the loss of Carver and other hardworking men could not be valued at any price.
John Carver is buried at Cole's Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
