The Colonial Governors: Edward Winslow (1633-34) First Term

As mentioned previously, the Mayflower voyage set sail for the new world and they landed on the now United States in November of 1620. It was a foolish idea to try to set up a brand new colony in the dead of fall and winter and half the people on board would be dead by May of 1621. After the first Governor John Carver perished, William Bradford took over and held the colony together for the next twelve years. In 1633, a change was made. Bradford's right hand man Edward Winslow was elected Governor by British Parliament.

                                               "Whatchu lookin at?" - Edward Winslow                           

So who was Edward Winslow? He was born in 1595 in Worcestershire, England and graduated from King's School (which still stands) in 1611. He was an apprentice contractor but didn't fulfil the contract as he was one of the many that fled for Leiden, Holland looking for religious freedom. He worked as an underground printer and in 1618 the separatists published the Perth Assembly, which ripped on England for religious persecution. That same year he married Elizabeth Barker but King Jimmy wasn't happy about being ripped in newspaper. He ordered Winslow's boss William Brewster arrested, which sucked for the separatists because Brewster was supposed to be the leader of the Mayflower. Instead Winslow, William Bradford, Isaac Allerton and Samuel Fuller brokered a deal with John Carver and Robert Cushman to join up and set sail for the new world.

                                       "You infidels! You'll pay for this!" - King James

Thomas Weston helped supply the Mayflower for Winslow and company to take off. His brother Gilbert and an 8 year old girl named Elinor More. More had three siblings Richard, Jasper and Mary also on the trip. As mentioned before, the Mayflower landed in November of 1620 and the colonists almost didn't survive the harsh winter. Only Richard More survived out of Jasper, Mary and Elinor. John Carver also didn't survive and Thomas Weston had the audacity to yell at William Bradford and the remaining colonists for not loading up the Mayflower with supplies to send home. Bradford wrote back to England telling Weston to stick it in his ear and Carver died trying to save the colony. Weston goofed in 1621 by sending an undersupplied ship called Fortune to the new world and that also nearly didn't survive the winter. Thankfully, this time they were able to send the Fortune back once the winter was over, hopefully with some cow manure to send to Weston. In February of 2021 the colonist William White died leaving his wife Susanna behind. One month later, Elizabeth Winslow died so Edward Winslow married Susanna White. Governor Bradford was the one that married them.

                                            "I now pronounce you husband and wife" - William Bradford

Winslow eventually befriended the native tribe Massasoit and opened a supply line with them. Isaac Allerton opened up his own line and the two became trade rivals. Winslow did have some impact on geographical history. While exploring what would later become Connecticut, he pointed out some land for settling that eventually became Windsor, Connecticut. For whatever reason, in 1633 Governor Bradford was removed as Governor and British Parliament named Edward Winslow as the new Governor. Both Winslow and Bradford would be governor again but for now, Winslow was free to explore a butt heads with Isaac Allerton.

                                                   "That damn Winslow!" - Isaac Allerton