Behind the Scenes
at Plimoth Plantation

Current articles in this section:

1. Firing Up the Kiln

2. Ordinarie Technology

3. Notes on a Shallop

4. Archaeology at Plimoth Plantation: Key to the Past

5. Maritime Programs at Plimoth Plantation

6. Recreating the Material Culture of Mayflower II

7. Documenting Mayflower II

8. Hands Across the Bay: A 1957 Crewmember Sails Again

9. A New Furnace for Mayflower II

10. The Story and Crew of 1957's Mayflower II

11. Why P-l-i-m-o-t-h?

The Story and Crew
of 1957's Mayflower II

by Marietta Mullen, Mayflower II Manager

The Story of Mayflower II

Warwick Charlton, an Englishman, was a public relations officer who had served with the WWII American Forces from 1939-1945. After the war ended, Mr. Charlton came up with the idea to make a good will gesture to America from the people of England. He wanted to build a reproduction of the Mayflower and sail it across the Atlantic. There it would be presented to the American people. It took “Project Mayflower” the next ten years to plan, develop and accomplish this dream.

A major concern of the project's sponsors was what to do with the ship after it reached the United States. They were well aware of the fate of earlier replica vessels which had ignobly rotted away after the interest in their initial voyages faded, and funding had run out. Project Mayflower became aware of Plimoth Plantation, and had come to ask if this organization could be of assistance in the future berthing and exhibiting of Mayflower II.

By coincidence, Plimoth Plantation was already planning to add a replica of the Mayflower to its exhibits. In 1951, the museum commissioned plans for a Mayflower II from naval architect William A. Baker, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Baker's meticulously accurate plans had already been completed by the time Project Mayflower's intentions became known. A waterline model of the hull had been built, but no further action had been taken.

In March 1955, John Lowe, Warwick Charlton’s business partner in Project Mayflower, arrived in the United States to meet with representatives of Plimoth Plantation. The two organizations were able to arrange a mutually advantageous agreement. In exchange for the use of Mr. Baker's design and advice, and a guarantee to permanently maintain and exhibit the vessel, Project Mayflower agreed to build Mayflower II, sail it across the Atlantic and turn the ship over to Plimoth Plantation, after she had been exhibited in various East Coast ports.

Construction of Mayflower II was undertaken at Upham shipyard in Brixham, Devonshire. Her keel was laid on July 27, 1955, and William A. Baker was sent by Plimoth Plantation to consult with the builders and observe the progress of the construction of the ship.

The Mayflower II project captured the imagination of English and Americans alike. No pains were spared to make the ship as accurate as possible, from the carefully selected English oak timbers to the hand-sewn linen canvas sails and true hemp cordage. Traditional skills of elderly workmen were employed to build a vessel that would not only reflect Mr. Baker's painstaking research, but which also could sail the Atlantic as securely as the original Pilgrim ship had.

Mayflower II was launched on a rainy September 22, 1956. The ceremony was based on what was known about the christenings of 17th-century vessels. She was toasted from a golden loving cup which was then pitched into the water, as was the 17th-century practice, and from which it was quickly retrieved by a diver, in the traditional manner. The ship slid gracefully down the ways and entered Brixham harbor with a great splash.

Finally, on April 20, 1957, Mayflower II began her solitary voyage across the Atlantic with a crew of 34 men. In the interest of time and safety, she took a more southerly route than that of the original ship, but otherwise the voyage was as accurate a replication of a period crossing as possible. Nature cooperated in this concern for accuracy; Mayflower II was first becalmed and then greeted with a violent storm off Bermuda, all common elements of a transatlantic crossing.

Mayflower II sailed safely by Nantucket Lightship on June 11, and arrived at Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod the following day, where the first Mayflower had put in before continuing on to Plymouth Harbor a month later. Mayflower II finally arrived at Plymouth before noon the morning of June 13, to the excitement of the great crowd of eager spectators. The historic 55 day voyage was over. The entire voyage had been accomplished without any modern power or assistance, although a modern wheel, binnacle, generator and radio were required by law.

1957 Mayflower II Crew

The officers of Mayflower II were highly trained and experienced men. These men had sailed around Cape Horn and all over the globe in wind-driven vessels.

The crew was diverse in both their place of origin and their levels of experience. However, all who participated in the historic sailing of Mayflower II from Brixham England to Cape Cod and Plymouth, New England in 1957 had several important characteristics in common: their enthusiasm, dedication and generosity of spirit.

Seven of the crew hailed from London, seven from the North Country and the Midlands, five from southeast England, three from the West Country, one from Denmark, and two from the United States.

OFFICERS:

Captain: Alan Villiers (Deceased)

Age 54 in 1957. Was born in Melbourne, Australia. Since his teen years, he spent practically every moment "on board." He had been on a pioneer whaling expedition to the South Pole. In the 1930s he sailed the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad more than 60,000 miles around the world. (It is now in the Maritime Museum at Mystic, Connecticut.) After the Conrad voyage Commander Villiers went to Arabia and spent a year sailing with the Arabs in their deep-sea dhows in the Indian Ocean and pearling in the Persian Gulf. He became a qualified nakhoda (captain) of Arab Dhows and held the Sultan of Zanzibar's certificate. During the war, Commander Villiers served six and one-half years in the Royal Navy. In 1949, the Portuguese Ambassador to the U.S. invited Capt. Villiers to sail with the Portuguese codfishing fleet to the Grand Banks off Newfloundland, and to the Greenland fishing grounds in the Davis Straits. These were the last ships under full sail actually wrestling a living from the deep sea. Capt. Villiers also published a number of books describing his ocean-going experiences. When not at sea, he lived with his wife Nancy near Oxford, England.

First Mate: Godfrey Wicksteed (Deceased)

Age 57 in 1957. Home was 6 Earl Street, Cambridge, England. Held a master's ticket and was qualified as a master in deepwater sail. Mr. Wicksteed had sailed before with Captain Villiers in a big four-masted barque called the Ballards. He was granted leave of absence from his teaching post by the Cambridge Education Committee to sail on Mayflower II.

Second Mate: Adrian Small
Age 26 in 1957. Home is Solihull, Birmingham, England. Holds a first mate's certificate with a square rig endorsement. Sailed on the "Passat" and film producer John Huston's whale ship "Pequod."

CREWMEMBERS:

Scottie Anderson-Bell: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 33 in 1957. Home was Princess Street, Edinburgh. Applied for crew from Ethiopia where he was on architectural appointment. Made journey home on chance of getting interview with Captain Villiers. Had Merchant Navy experience.

Dick Brennan: Mariner and Cook (Deceased)
Age 47 in 1957. Experienced caterer in a large hotel restaurant chain. Home was at 230 Strand, London.

David H. Cauvin: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 22 in 1957. Home was at 98 Woodvale, Forest Hill, England. A midshipman on the Blue Funnel Line. South African born.

Warwick Charlton: Super-Cargo (Deceased)
Founder, Project Mayflower, Ltd., London.

Charles Church: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 41 in 1957. Home was Nova Scotia. Serving as a CPO in the Royal Canadian Navy. The only Canadian crewmember descended from an original Mayflower passenger, Richard Warren.

Maitland Edey: Mariner and Chronicler (Deceased)
Life Magazine photographer, New York.

Fred Edwards: Crewman
Age 26 in 1957. Home was West Derby, Liverpool, England.

Mike J. Ford: Crewman
Age 26 in 1957. Home was 30 Royal Crescent, London. A sailing enthusiast with international experience.

Jumbo (John L.) Goddard: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 49 in 1957. Home was at Walking, Surrey, England.

Walter Godfrey: Ship's Cook (Deceased)
Age 58 in 1957. Home was at Romford, Essex, England. First went to seas in 1919 as a deck boy. Last ship was in 1951 aboard the "Royal Daffodil." Was employed by the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., of London as chief steward on a daily passenger service from London to France serving 2000 passengers a day.

Jimmy Horrocks: Wireless Operator (Deceased)
Age 29 in 1957. Home was Southport, Lancaster, England,

Lee Israel: Mariner and Chronicler (Deceased)
Trans-Atlantic News, 1 Dover Street, London.

Jan Junker: Third Mate (Deceased)
Age 40 in 1957. Home was Copenhagen, Denmark. A veteran of the sea on sailing ships.

Joe Lacey: Bo'sun's Mate (Deceased)
Age 28 in 1957. Home was Kingsdown Parade, Bristol, England. Fastest of the crew in climbing the rigging. Sailed on the Pequod.

Andrew Lindsey: Crewman (Deceased)

Julian Lugrin: Mariner and Chronicler (Deceased)
Movie cameraman, Queens Park, Bournemouth, Hants, England.

Ike Marsh: Bo'sun (Deceased)
Age 56 in 1957. Home was Berry Dock, South Wales. Had been at sea for more than 20 years. Sailed on the "Pequod." Recognized as champion ship model maker of England.

Joe Meany, Jr.: Cabin Boy
Age 17 in 1957. Grew up in Waltham, Mass. Chosen to represent the Boys' Club Association of America.

Edgar Mugridge: Ship's Carpenter (Deceased)
Age 54 in 1957. Home was Knick Knack Road, Brixham, England. Worked on Mayflower II construction as carpenter since the keel was laid. Observed 54th birthday aboard the ship Mayflower II on April 19, while enroute under tow from Dartmouth to Plymouth, England.

Graham Nunn: Cabin Boy (Deceased)
Age 16 in 1957. Home was 62 Gainsborough Road, Corby, Northants, England. Chosen to represent the National Association of Boys' Clubs.

Peter L. N. Padfield: Crewman
Age 25 in 1957. Home was St. George Road, Weybridge, Surrey, England.

Joe Powell: Crewman
Age 35 in 1957. Home was Beak Street, London. A commando for 4 1/2 years. Was a partner on a film stunt team. Sailed on the Pequod.

Jack Scarr: Cook's Assistant (Deceased)
Age 41 in 1957. Home was 47 Blemheim drive, Oxford, England.

Harry C. Sowerby: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 52 in 1957. Home was 63 Piccadilly, London. Commissioned Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Sailed on the Joseph Conrad.

John Stevens, M.D.: Surgeon Seaman (Deceased)
Age 32 in 1957. Ships' doctor. Home was 69 Berners Street, Ipswich, England. Was a cadet on the British Training Ship General Botha. Served in submarine service as sub-lieutenant. South African born. Studied medicine after World War II.

Gordon Tenney: Mariner and Chronicler (Deceased)
Life Magazine photographer, 420 Lexington Ave., New York.

David C. Thorpe: Crewman
Age 24 in 1957. Home was Ewell, Surrey, England.

Stuart Upham: Caulker (Deceased)
Age 49 in 1957. Builder of Mayflower II, lived in Brixham, Devon; came from a long line of shipbuilders. Built more than 1,100 MTV 110-footers from 1939 to end of World War II. During the same period, his shipyard reconditioned torpedo tubes and forty destroyers for the British Coastal Force, also built mine sweepers for the Netherlands Navy. At one time, he had 500 men in his employ.

Beric Watson: Crewman (Deceased)
Age 25 in 1957. Home was at Layton Road, Horsforth, England. An amateur sailing enthusiast. Was the one who rescued the cup thrown overboard at the launching of the Mayflower II in September 1956, at Brixham.

John Winslow: Crewman
Age 21 in 1957. Home was at 64 Kew Green, Surrey, England. A descendant of John Winslow (brother of first Mayflower passengers Edward and Gilbert Winslow) who arrived on the Fortune in 1621.

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