You can find hundreds of Web sites devoted to the topics of Pilgrims, Plymouth Colony, and the voyage of the Mayflower in 1620. I cannot say that I have seen all of these sites, but of those that I have seen, I must say that I am most impressed by Duane A. Cline's "The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620."
Cline's pages are an educator's tool: he describes the events leading up to the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower, provides information about the ships (there were two ships although the Speedwell had to turn back early in its voyage), storms at sea, animals on board, arrival in the new lands, the Mayflower Compact, meetings with the Indians, the rocky merging of the two cultures, the first winter when about half the settlers died, the first Thanksgiving, the starvation of 1622, and much more. Best of all for genealogists, Cline gives a detailed list of all the known passengers on board the Mayflower and brief biographies of each.
The information on "The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620" is divided into lesson plans. This agenda is good for learning and is excellent for any teacher who is planning to present this information in a classroom. Because of the wealth of information available, nearly 100 links (and sub-links) point to various bits of information on this Web site and to other sites as well. In addition, there are nearly 90 images/pictures, mostly original artwork from Duane Cline.
Duane A. Cline is well qualified in this topic. He received his M.A. degree in Speech and Theater from Northwestern University. Over the years, he has written, designed, and directed a great many theatrical productions and historical pageants in his capacity as a university professor, head of theater department, and founding director of a regional art center. In addition, he has written two books: Navigation in the Age of Discovery: an Introduction, and Centennial History: General Society of Mayflower Descendants. He has twice been invited to serve as a Guest Curator at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
When he learned that both he and his wife, Carolyn, were descendants of Mayflower passengers, he became affiliated with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Through the years, he has served that organization in many capacities on both state and national levels. Most notably, he is a Former Assistant Governor General of the national Society and has served a number of years at its Education Chair.
Mr. Cline is assisted by Dave Lossos as webmaster for the "Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620" website. Mr. Lossos is also the creator and webmaster of the popular "Genealogy in St. Louis" website, the Newsletter Editor of the Missouri Mayflower Society, project coordinator of the St. Louis Genealogical Society's "Pitzman's 1878 Atlas of St. Louis" index and reprint, author of "Index of Pictorial St. Louis 1875," lecturer, and genealogy instructor (Society, SeniorNet, and Elderhostel). Dave has published numerous family genealogies and articles.
"The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620" is available at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mosmd.
Over the years, thousands of families have been told that "our ancestors came over on the Mayflower." Indeed, if all the people who were reported to be on board had actually been there, the Mayflower would have been the size of the Queen Mary!
The names of each Mayflower passenger have been found and documented. You can view a detailed list of all the Mayflower passengers, along with a very brief bio of each, at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mosmd/mayfpas.htm.
