PILGRIM FATHERS (PILGRIM FATHERS). - In England, in the 16th century, alongside the official Church, two dissenting groups arose: the Puritans (v.) and the separatists, who sought complete separation from the established Church.
This movement was given form and doctrine by Brownel, whose followers were called Brownists; but, since this name had become odious because of his attitudes, it was changed first to Independents and then to Congregationalists. Anglican hostility compelled them to emigrate to the Continent; many took refuge in Amsterdam in 1608, and later, under the leadership of Giovanni Robinson (v.), in Leiden; but after some years of hardship they decided to go to the English colonies of North America. The first party, consisting of about a hundred families, embarked on the Mayflower, a small vessel of 180 tons, and landed at Cape Cod (Massachusetts) on 21 Dec. 1620. This first group was called the P. F. They professed the strictest Congregationalism; ministers were chosen and ordained by the faithful; there was no distinction among the ministers. They still regarded the king of England as their temporal sovereign, but did not recognize him as head of the church. About 10 years
later numerous groups of Puritans arrived, settling not far away, and the descendants of the “Pilgrim Fathers” gradually merged with the Puritans of Massachusetts, forming with them the most intolerant colony in all English America.