On August 5, 1620, 2 small English sailing ships left Southampton Water in England on a trip to the New World, carrying a group of Puritans seeking a land where they could practice their brand of religion without interference. The larger of the 2 ships, the Mayflower, has gone down in history as one of the most famous ships in the English speaking world, while the other, the Speedwell, became an historical afterthought. On July 22, 1620, the pinnace Speedwell left Delfshaven, now part of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with a cargo of English Pilgrims bound for the New World. The ship was to link up with the Mayflower in England for what would become a famous voyage bringing European settlers to Plymouth Rock in North America. Alas, Speedwell did not “speed well” and had to turn back due to severe leaking.
Digging Deeper
A smallish ship of only 60 tons, the Speedwell was only one third the tonnage of Mayflower, which itself was a small ship only about 90 feet long on the main deck. The Mayflower was carrying a crew of around 30 men and perhaps 90 passengers, while Speedwell was transporting perhaps 30-32 passengers or so. Speedwell had picked up her load of religious dissidents in South Holland where they had gone to escape religious persecution in England. She was originally built as a single masted pinnace named Swiftsure in 1577, later taking part in the defense of England against the Spanish Armada in 1588. In 1605, Swiftsure was decommissioned and renamed Speedwell. Prior to the 1620 voyage, Speedwell was refitted with a second mast.
