Passengers of 1621 Fortune voyage facts for kids

The Fortune was an English ship that sailed to Plymouth Colony in 1621. This was the second ship sent by a group of investors called the Merchant Adventurers. They had also funded the famous Mayflower voyage in 1620. The Fortune was much smaller than the Mayflower, weighing about 55 tons.

The Fortune Voyage

The ship Fortune left London in the fall of 1621. Its captain was Thomas Barton. It arrived near Cape Cod on November 9, 1621. By the end of that month, it reached Plymouth Bay. The ship only stayed in Plymouth for about three weeks. It quickly loaded up with goods to take back to England.

The Fortune started its journey back to England on December 13, 1621. But on January 19, 1622, something unexpected happened. The ship got lost and was captured by a French warship. Everyone on board was held in France for about a month. The French also took all the cargo. Finally, the Fortune made it back to the Thames in England on February 17, 1622.

Who Was On Board?

Historians mostly figured out who was on the Fortune by looking at old lists. One important list was made in 1623. It showed how land was given out in the colony. William Bradford, the governor, wrote down this list.

The Fortune brought about 35 people to Plymouth. But only 28 names are on the 1623 land list. Many of these passengers were single men. Some were married but came without their families. Only two women, Mrs. Martha Ford and Elizabeth Bassett, are known to have been on the ship. Most passengers (16) were from the London area. Three came from Leiden, a city in the Netherlands. We don't know where the other ten passengers came from.

In 1626, some of these men were part of a special agreement. They helped the colony pay back money owed to the Merchant Adventurers. These men were called "Purchasers."

Fortune Passengers

Here are some of the people who sailed on the Fortune:

John Adams

John Adams was a carpenter, born around 1600 in Yorkshire, England. He received one acre of land in 1623. Later, he married Ellen Newton, who arrived in 1623. They had three children: James, John, and Susana. John was part of the "Purchaser" group. He died in Plymouth in 1633.

William Bassett

William Bassett arrived, likely single, but soon after was recorded with a wife, Elizabeth. They received two shares of land in 1623. William was a "Purchaser." In 1627, the family included William, Elizabeth, and their children, William Jr. and Elizabeth Jr.

Elizabeth Bassett

Elizabeth Bassett was William Bassett's wife. She is listed as receiving land with him in 1623.

William Beale

William Beale was single when he arrived. He shared two acres of land with Thomas Cushman in 1623. There are no more records of him in Plymouth after that.

Edward Bompasse (Bumpas)

Edward Bompasse was a strong young man who arrived alone. He received land in 1623. Edward was also a "Purchaser." He might have been from a region called Wallonia or from Leiden. He died around 1683 or 1684.

Jonathan Brewster

Jonathan Brewster was born in 1593. He was the oldest son of Elder William Brewster, a famous Mayflower passenger. Jonathan arrived single and received one acre of land. In 1624, he married Lucretia Oldham. He was a "Purchaser." By 1627, his family included Jonathan, Lucretia, and their children, William and Mary.

Clement Briggs

Clement Briggs was a fellmonger, which means he dealt with animal hides. He lived in London before coming to Plymouth. He arrived single and received one acre of land. Clement was a "Purchaser."

John Cannon

John Cannon arrived single and received one acre of land in 1623. There are no further records of him in Plymouth.

William Conner

William Conner arrived single and received one acre of land in 1623. He does not appear in any later colony records.

Robert Cushman

Robert Cushman was an important leader in the Leiden church. He came to Plymouth to help settle financial agreements for the Mayflower voyage. He only stayed a few weeks. Robert returned to England on the Fortune's trip back, leaving his son Thomas in Plymouth.

Thomas Cushman

Thomas Cushman was born around 1607 or 1608. He was Robert Cushman's son. Thomas stayed in Plymouth when his father went back to England. He shared land with William Beale in 1623. Thomas was a "Purchaser." He later married Mary Allerton, who was a Mayflower passenger. In 1649, he became the Ruling Elder of the Plymouth Church, taking over from William Brewster.

Stephen Deane

Stephen Deane arrived single and received one acre of land in 1623. He was a "Purchaser." He married Elizabeth Ring in 1627 and died in 1634.

Philip Delano

Philip Delano (also known as Phillipe De La Noye) was about 16 years old when he arrived. He shared two acres of land with Moses Simonson in 1623. Philip was a "Purchaser." He married Hester Dewsbury in 1634 and died around 1681 or 1682.

Thomas Flavel

Thomas Flavel was an older, married passenger. He came with a son whose name we don't know. In 1623, Thomas and his son received two shares of land. His wife, Elizabeth, arrived later in 1623. The family is not listed in records after 1627.

Flavel (son)

This was the unnamed son of Thomas Flavel, mentioned in the 1623 land division.

Ford (unknown name)

This was the husband of Martha Ford and father of her two children. He may have died shortly after the ship arrived. His family received four acres of land in 1623 under "Widow Foord." Martha and her husband had a third child in November 1621, likely in Plymouth.

Martha Ford

Martha Ford was the widow of the unnamed Ford passenger. Her family received four land lots in 1623. In 1626, she married Peter Browne, a Mayflower passenger. She died by 1630.

Martha Ford (daughter)

Martha Ford was born around 1619. She was the daughter of William and Martha Ford. She married William Nelson in 1640.

John Ford

John Ford was born around 1617. He was the son of William and Martha Ford. He died between 1640 and 1643.

Robert Hicks

Robert Hicks was born around 1570. He was a fellmonger in London. He arrived single and received one land lot in 1623. Robert was a "Purchaser." His wife, Margaret, and two children arrived in 1623. The Hicks family, with their four children, appeared in the 1627 cattle division. Robert died in 1647.

William Hilton

William Hilton was from London. He arrived single and received one land lot in 1623. His wife and two children came over in 1623. The family later moved to New Hampshire. His brother, Edward Hilton, founded the city of Dover there.

Benedict Morgan

Benedict Morgan was a sailor, born in 1597. He arrived single and received one land lot in 1623. He went back to England in 1623 and did not return to New England. He died in 1630.

Thomas Morton

Thomas Morton arrived alone and received one share of land in 1623. He was the brother of George Morton and father of Thomas Morton Junior. Thomas was a "Purchaser." He may have died around 1627.

Augustine (Austen) Nicolas

Augustine Nicolas arrived single and received one acre of land in 1623. There are no further records of him in Plymouth. He may have died or left the colony.

William Palmer

William Palmer was one of the older passengers, born in 1581. He was a nailer, someone who makes nails. He came without his family and received one acre of land. William was a "Purchaser." His wife, Frances, and son, William Jr., came over in 1623. The family was listed in the 1627 cattle division. William died in Duxbury in 1637.

William Pitt

William Pitt arrived single and shared two land lots with William Wright in 1623. There are no further records of him in Plymouth.

Thomas Prence

Thomas Prence arrived single when he was about 20 years old. He received one land lot in 1623. Thomas was a "Purchaser." In 1624, he married Patience, the daughter of Elder William Brewster. She died in 1634. Thomas Prence was a very important Fortune passenger. He had a long career in colony politics and served as Plymouth Colony governor for many years.

Moses Simonson

Moses Simonson was a Dutch member of the English Separatist church in Leiden. He arrived single, possibly as a young person. He shared two acres of land with Philip Delano in 1623. Moses was a "Purchaser."

Hugh Stacie

Hugh Stacie was a yeoman, which means he was a farmer or landholder. He arrived single. He received one land lot in 1623. He was not listed in the 1627 cattle division.

James Steward

James Steward arrived either unmarried or without his family. He received one land lot in 1623. There are no records of him after 1623.

William Tench

William Tench arrived single and shared two acres of land with John Cannon in 1623. He is not listed after 1627.

John Winslow

John Winslow was born around 1597. He arrived single and received one land lot in 1623. John was a "Purchaser" along with his brother, Edward Winslow, a Mayflower passenger. By 1627, he had married Mary Chilton, who was also a Mayflower passenger.

William Wright

William Wright was one of the oldest passengers, born around 1588. He came alone and received two acres of land, which he shared with William Pitt. He later married Priscilla Carpenter in Plymouth. Priscilla's sister, Alice, married Governor William Bradford. William Wright was a "Purchaser." He may have been a skilled woodworker. He died before November 1633.