Richard More facts for kids
Richard More (born around 1614, died 1696) was a young boy who traveled on the famous Mayflower ship in 1620. He grew up to become a brave sailor and a skilled ship captain. Richard helped save one colony from starvation by bringing them food and supplies. He also helped the early American colonies grow by trading goods between England and the West Indies. He even fought in sea battles against the French!
Richard and his brothers and sisters were taken from their mother and became what were called indentured servants to other Mayflower passengers. This meant they had to work for someone for a set time. Richard was the only one of his siblings who survived the difficult early years in the new land. He lived a long and successful life, and his family line continues to this day.
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The Mayflower Journey
The More children traveled on the Mayflower as indentured servants to three of the Pilgrims.
- Ellen, who was 8 years old, was assigned to Edward Winslow. She sadly died soon after the ship reached land.
- Jasper, age 7, was a servant to John Carver. Jasper died in December 1620 while the Mayflower was still in the harbor. He was buried on land in what is now the Provincetown area. There is a memorial for him and four others who died around that time.
- Mary, age 4, also died soon after the ship landed.
- Richard lived with the William Brewster family until about 1627.
The three children who died likely caught a common illness that affected many people on the ship. Only Richard survived this difficult time.
Richard and his siblings left Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620. There were 102 passengers and 30 to 40 crew members on board. On November 19, 1620, the Mayflower finally reached land at Cape Cod. They landed officially on November 21.
Before leaving the ship, the passengers wrote the Mayflower Compact. This was an important agreement that 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, forcing them to land at Cape Cod, which is now called Provincetown Harbor.
Richard More's Life in the New World
Richard More was only 6 years old when the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Colony. When he stepped onto the land, he helped the adults gather supplies for food and shelter. He also helped to bury those who had died. In the spring of 1621, he was likely present at the first Thanksgiving celebration.
We don't know much about Richard's daily life while he lived with the Brewster family from 1620 to 1627. However, his name appears on a document from 1627. This document shows that adults were given cattle and other livestock, suggesting Richard was part of the community.
Becoming a Sailor and Trader
By 1628, Richard More was working for Isaac Allerton. Allerton was a merchant who traded goods and supplies over long distances. He also fished near Plymouth and Maine. Richard learned a lot from Allerton. Later, Richard became a captain on ships that brought supplies to the new American colonies.
By early 1642, Richard More joined the church in Salem, Massachusetts. Being a member of this church allowed him to share his opinion and to vote on important matters in Salem.
By the age of twenty-four, Richard More was the captain of his own small ship. He traded goods with the colonies, the West Indies, and England. He moved to Salem Neck, Massachusetts, and started his own fishing business. Drinking water was hard to find there, so More dug a well for himself. He was kind enough to let everyone else use his well too. He traded tobacco and other items with Virginia and the West Indies, and made many trips to England.
Sea Battles and Rescues
Richard More took part in sea battles against the French in 1664. The French were trying to stop the early colonists from fishing and trading for the goods and supplies they needed to survive. These battles happened in the Hudson River region. In 1654, More also fought in another naval battle against the French at Port Royal, Virginia.
In 1665, More bravely rescued the colonists at the new settlement of Cape Fear, North Carolina. The people there were dying because they had no food and not enough clothes to keep them warm. The waters around Cape Fear were (and still are) very dangerous for ships. Despite the risks, More brought a shipment of food and supplies to help them when other captains had failed or refused to try.
Richard and his wife, Christian Hunter More, had seven children: Samuel, Thomas, Caleb, Richard Jr., Joshua, Susanna, and Christian. Christian More died on March 18, 1676, in Salem.
Death and Burial
Richard More died in 1696. His gravestone says he was 84 years old, but he didn't know his exact birth date. Richard lived longer than any other male passenger of the Mayflower. He is buried in the Charter Street Burial Ground in Salem, Massachusetts. He is the only Mayflower passenger whose gravestone is still in its original spot from the 1690s. His two wives, Christian Hunter More and Jane More, are also buried nearby in the same cemetery.
In recent years, Richard More's metal spoon was found during an archaeological dig at the original Plymouth Colony site. His initials were carved into it.
