William Bradford was born in 1588 in Austerfield, Yorkshire, England. As a child, he became interested in reading the Bible due to frequent illness. Bradford joined the Separatist movement and fled to Holland in 1608 to escape religious persecution in England. In 1620, Bradford traveled to America on the Mayflower and helped establish the Plymouth Colony, signing the Mayflower Compact. He served as governor of Plymouth Colony for over 30 years and described the first Thanksgiving in his journal "Of Plymouth Plantation." Bradford died in Plymouth in 1657 at the age of 68 and is buried there.

2. During 1588 in Austerfield, Yorkshire, a boy was born to honest parents. “ Where people were unacquainted with the Bible” Mather, C. (1702).

3. by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton, 1915

4. St Helena’s Church where William was baptised. William’s family were Yeoman farmers and owned the land they worked.

5. TommY Gunn - flickr William was not well as a child, to fill his time, he took to reading the Scriptures.

6. 1607

15. In 1604 at Hampton Court, James 1st King of England and his bishops met and approved a new set of rules and Bible that the Separatists were unwilling to follow.

16. 100 Anglican Clergy refused to comply and were stripped of all their possessions and lost their living.

17. The Separatists made their escape to Holland and lived there peacefully for 12 years. Unable to secure civil autonomy, they voted to emigrate to America.

18. The passengers drew up the Mayflower Compact before making their historic landing on 21st December 1620. In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwitten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King and Defender of the Faith, e&.

20. William describes the First Thanksgiving in his own words in “Of Plymouth Plantation.”

21. Here is the first page of The Governor’s book.

23. 2007

36. St Helena’s Church Austerfield