The Mayflower Compact 1620 / J.L.G. Ferris, Library of Congress; - July 28, 1932

            Mayflower Compact

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After the Mayflower was safely anchored, 41 pilgrim men signed an agreement which established the system by which they wished to govern themselves. This document has come to be known as The Mayflower Compact.

The Compact was signed in the cabin of the Mayflower on
11 November, 1620 [old style calendar] or 21 November, 1620 [new style calendar].

 

"In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, & Ireland king, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Haveing under-taken, for ye glorie of God, and advancements of ye Christian faith, and honour of our King & Countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves together into a Civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte lawes, ordinances, acts constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Codd ye 11th. of November, in ye year of ye raigne of our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland, ye fiftie-fourth. Ano: Dom. 1620."

 

Nathaniel Morton, Gov. Bradford's nephew and secretary of Plymouth Colony' published the list of signers in 1669 in New England's Memorial, a history of the colony.
John Carver Edward Tilly Digery Priest
William Bradford John Tilly Thomas Williams
Edward Winslow Francis Cooke Gilbert Winslow
William Brewster Thomas Rogers Edmund Margeson
Isaac Allerton Thomas Tinker Peter Brown
Miles Standish John Rigdale Richard Bitteridge
John Alden Edward Fuller George Soule
Samuel Fuller John Turner Richard Clark
Christopher Martin Francis Eaton William Mullins
James Chilton John Allerton William White
John Craxton Thomas English Richard Warren
John Billington Edward Doten John Howland
Moses Fletcher Edward Leister Stephen Hopkins
John Goodman Richard Gardiner