Five Things You May Not Know About the Pilgrims-- Part 2: Not Plymouth, England, Been There, Done That, and Tolerance

3.  THE PILGRIMS DIDN'T NAME THEIR COLONY AFTER PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND.

The site had actually been named that before the Pilgrims had arrived and had already been shown as such on maps (with some variations of spelling such as Plimoth).

It is sheer coincidence that the Pilgrims had originally sailed from Plymouth, England.

4.  SOME OF THE MAYFLOWER'S PASSENGERS HAD BEEN TO AMERICA BEFORE.

Several of the crew had already been there.  One man, Stephen Hopkins, had already tried to settle in the New World at Jamestown ten years earlier, but his ship wrecked off the coast of  Bermuda, stranding him before his eventual return to England.

William Shakespeare admitted that he had based his play "The Tempest" on this story and had even named one of its characters, Stephano, after Stephen Hopkins, who was once one of his neighbors as well.

5.  THE PILGRIMS WERE RELATIVELY TOLERANT OF OTHER RELIGIONS.

They were strict on their interpretation of religion but did not attempt to convert others.  They did not observe Christmas, but allowed others to take the day off.  They allowed men who were not of their faith to hold public office.

Gosh, I Didn't Know Some of This Stuff.  --Cooter