On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in the cold, harsh New England winter. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, contributed to what would eventually be fatal for many, especially the majority of women. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship's timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. John Billington, his wife Elinor, and their two sons, John and Francis, departed on the Mayflower from Plymouth, Devon, England on September 6/16, 1620. Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620, a painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris 1899
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