John Turner (Mayflower passenger) facts for kids
John Turner (born around 1590 – died in the winter of 1620/21) was a passenger on the famous ship Mayflower in 1620. He traveled with his two sons. John Turner was one of the people who signed the Mayflower Compact, an important agreement for the new colony. Sadly, he and his sons died during their first winter in the new land.
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Life Before the Mayflower
Not much is known about John Turner's early life in England. Some people think he might have come from a town called Great Yarmouth in Norfolk county.
Living in Leiden
John Turner was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He was part of the Separatist church, a group of people who wanted to practice their religion freely. This group moved to Leiden, a city in Holland, around 1610.
In Leiden, John Turner was known as a merchant. He often helped by carrying letters between the Separatists in Holland and their friends in London, England. He also helped transport goods like English beer and pewter.
The Journey on the Mayflower
John Turner sailed on the Mayflower with his two sons. We don't know their names, or the name of his wife. She might have stayed in Holland or passed away before the trip.
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. The ship was about 100 feet long and carried 102 passengers and 30-40 crew members. It was very crowded!
A Difficult Voyage
The journey across the Atlantic Ocean was very hard. Strong storms hit the ship, and water leaked inside. Many passengers became sick because of the wet, cramped conditions and lack of fresh food. Two people died during the trip.
After about three months at sea, they finally saw land on November 9, 1620. This was Provincetown Harbor at Cape Cod. They had planned to go further south to the Colony of Virginia, but bad winter weather forced them to stay at Cape Cod. They anchored there on November 11.
Signing the Mayflower Compact
On November 11, 1620, John Turner signed the Mayflower Compact. This was an agreement that the passengers made to govern themselves and follow fair laws in their new settlement. His sons did not sign because they were too young.
Life and Death in Plymouth
John Turner and his two sons all died during the first harsh winter in Plymouth. Many other Mayflower passengers also died that winter because of the cold, sickness, and lack of food.
John Turner also had a daughter named Elizabeth. She stayed in Leiden and later came to New England sometime before 1635.
John Turner's Family
John Turner and his wife had three children:
- A son, born around 1615, who died in Plymouth in the winter of 1620/21.
- Another son, born around 1615, who also died in Plymouth in the winter of 1620/21.
- Elizabeth, born around 1620. She later moved to Salem, Massachusetts, and got married.
William Bradford, an important leader of Plymouth Colony, wrote about John Turner's family in 1651. He mentioned that John Turner and his two sons died in the "first sickness," but his daughter was still alive in Salem, married, and doing well.
Burial Site
The exact dates when John Turner and his sons died are not known, only that it was during the winter of 1620/21. John Turner was likely buried in an unmarked grave at Cole's Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth, just like most of the Mayflower passengers who died that winter. His sons might have been buried there too. Today, they are remembered on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb on Cole's Hill, which lists "John Turner and two sons."
