William Bradford

Robert Weir's painting, "Embarkation of the Pilgrims" (1844), located in the Capital Building rotunda n Washington DC , which we see during our recent visit. Of particular keen interest , Katie and I direct descendants of William Bradford (white arrows in photo).

The painting depicts the Pilgrims on the deck of the ship Speedwell on July 22, 1620, before they departed from Delfs Haven, Holland, for North America, where they sought religious freedom. They first sailed to Southampton, England, to join the Mayflower, which was also making the voyage. After leaks forced the Speedwell to make additional stops in Dartmouth and then Plymouth, its passengers boarded the Mayflower. Five months later the Pilgrims settled the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. (source: US Gov)

William Bradford , an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts , elected thirty times to be the Governor upon the death of John Carver, who was Governor of the Mayflower and first-Governor of Plymouth. Bradford signed the Mayflower Compact and designated the first Thanksgiving. (Source: Wiki)