by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: October 29, 2009   Last Updated: October 30, 2009

When the English Separatists that we refer to as the Pilgrims made their decision to come to the New World, they probably had no idea how involved, complicated and how much time it would take to solidify those arrangements. They had been living pretty much hand to mouth in Holland, and they didn't have the financial means by which to make any arrangements. It would be necessary to go to England to work out the details and to arrange for financial backing.

*Two people were sent to London to make arrangements -

They decided to send two members of their group to London, and once there, they were to obtain a patent from the Virginia Company of London, the company with whom they had been communicating and attempting to facilitate the arrangements. They secured the patent, but also had to make a bond of allegiance to King James, after which they became a full fledged civil community which enabled them to choose governors for the work among themselves.

*Difficulties erupt within the Virginia Company of London -

But as dissent grew within the London company, the Separatists began to question that association. When they got word that the Virginia Company of Plymouth was reorganizing, and that it had obtained a new charter as the New England Council, they opted to go with the Virginia Company of Plymouth rather than with the London company, which would have meant that they would have had to settle in Southern Virginia. With the new plan, they would be going to Northern Virginia, or New England . They also heard that they might be able to support themselves there as fishermen.

*The attempt to find financial assistance -

Even after making these arrangements, they still needed financial assistance to make the trip possible in the first place, so they got in touch with a London merchant by the name of Thomas Weston. Weston promised to help them, and them were forced to enter into negotiations with a group of adventurers that included gentlemen, merchants and other members of the upper levels of society. The agreement that they ultimately entered into involved a total of 70 men.

*The monetary assistance and agreement -

Weston and the others were supposed to provide the Pilgrims with a monetary advance so that they could finance the trip, but the negotiations proved to be long and wearisome. The merchants purchased shares and they remained in England. The would-be Colonists were to contribute their personal services for a fixed rating.

They would travel to America where they

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