
Mayflower 400 Play - Historical Research
Mayflower 400 Play - Historical Research Project
This page presents material from a Historical Research Project as part of the background to creating the Mayflower 400 play, A New World Odyssey. The project ran from January to April 2020 supported a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The project brief was to carry out research into Harleston during the period between the accession of James I in 1603 through to the eve of the English Civil War in 1640. The research group were tasked with finding as much information as possible about six pairs of individuals who lived or worked in the Parish of Redenhall with Harleston during that period.
This material, along with more general background facts about the social and political circumstances in which these individuals would have operated, were collated into Information Packs on each pair of historical figures. The packs were given to local residents of Harleston and district who were organising and performing in ‘living history’ re-enactments in six yards and alleyways around the town. These performances were originally scheduled for July 2020, however, due to the Coronavirus outbreak they may be delayed until later in the year.
A selection of the research material which relates to Harleston, Redenhall and the surrounding parishes during the first few decades of the 17th Century will be published each month from May 2020. Included are transcripts of original documents, wills and
inventories along with a wealth background information about everyday life, community infrastructure and hierarchies, religious beliefs, and local politics in this period.
We will include contextual material about important local and national events which impacted on the town. Information about some of the people and families who were residents in the town, some wealthy and others impoverished, who played important roles in the history of their communities will be added once the living history re-enactments have taken place.
VOLUNTEERS
Julie Craven
Pat Douglas
Margaret Griffiths
Robert Halliday
Gordon Lascelles
Janine Lascelles
Stephen Poulter (Project Lead)
David Seddon
Jill Tan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All written content for this site has been written by the volunteers working on the Mayflower 400 Play - Historical Research Project as a result of the grant given to the project by the Heritage Lottery Fund, made possible with money raised by National Lottery players. The copyright for their work remains with the original authors. Special thanks to Nicky Stainton and Eileen Ryan for originating the idea for the living history re-enactments, providing the original project brief, passing on all sorts of useful contacts, and giving continuous constructive feedback on all aspects of the incoming research. Robin Twigge was kind enough to provide us with a room at the Swan Hotel for all of our volunteer meetings which was much appreciated. Kate Jewell provided her expertise by running a fascinating workshop for us on 17th century wills and inventories as well as transcribing a range of original deeds and manuscripts to assist in our research efforts.
USEFUL LINKS
Norfolk Record Office
www.archives.norfolk.gov.uk
Norfolk Heritage Centre at the Norfolk Millennium Library
www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/researching-family-and-local-history/norfolk-heritage-centre
Suffolk Record Office
www.suffolkarchives.co.uk
Gressenhall Workhouse & Farm
www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/gressenhall-farm-and-workhouse
Norfolk Heritage Explorer
www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk
American singer, songwriter and artist, Jeffery Lewis, presents the Mayflower history with this wonderful song and comic book illustrations.
From the Pilgrims' reasons for leaving Europe to the treacherous journey across the Atlantic, this short video provides a quick and entertaining summary of the Mayflower.
Seventeenth Century Harleston
2020 marks the 400 year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America. Celebrations are taking place throughout major towns and cities across England to commemorate the occasion. Harleston had a role in this significant chapter in world history.
There were a mere 102 passengers on board the Mayflower ship, and four of them came from Harleston. There were only 41 signatories to the the legal document, created to establish their rules of governance. This was called the ‘Compact’ and became the foundation for the American Constitution. Two of the signatories were from Harleston, Samuel and Edward Fuller. You may see references to them in street names.
Historical Background
2020 marks the 400 year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America. Celebrations are taking place throughout major towns and cities across England to commemorate the occasion. Harleston had a role in this significant chapter in world history.
There were a mere 102 passengers on board the Mayflower ship, and four of them came from Harleston. There were only 41 signatories to the the legal document, created to establish their rules of governance. This was called the ‘Compact’ and became the foundation for the American Constitution. Two of the signatories were from Harleston, Samuel and Edward Fuller. You may see references to them in street names.
Events
2020 marks the 400 year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America. Celebrations are taking place throughout major towns and cities across England to commemorate the occasion. Harleston had a role in this significant chapter in world history.
There were a mere 102 passengers on board the Mayflower ship, and four of them came from Harleston. There were only 41 signatories to the the legal document, created to establish their rules of governance. This was called the ‘Compact’ and became the foundation for the American Constitution. Two of the signatories were from Harleston, Samuel and Edward Fuller. You may see references to them in street names.
Next Research Events

...
Mayflower Play and Walk: Living History Re-enactments
Ever wondered what it would have been like to live in Harleston 400 years ago? Who were the Fullers and why is there a road named after them? What would it have been like to visit The Swan Hotel when it was a coaching in on the road to L...
Ever wondered what it would have been like to live in Harleston 400 years ago? Who were the Fullers and why is there a road named after them? What would it have been like to visit The Swan Hotel when it was a coaching in on the road to London?
Stroll through Harleston and discover what life was like here in 17th Century.
Actors from Harleston Players will bring to life local residents from the era in outdoor locations around the town centre. The detail of their life stories have been unearthed by the 1600s Historical Research Group from wills and inventories at the Norfolk Record Office as well as books and research documents.
No need to book - just come across the characters and listen to their stories and conversations. Stay as long or as short a time as you like. Look out for fliers with details.
Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure social distancing to keep everyone safe as we enjoy these outdoor performances and local colour.
The community play about the sailing of the Mayflower and life in the new colony in Virginia due to take place this July will now be staged in July 2021. Casting took place just before lockdown, but if anyone would like to get involved please contact us.
SCHEDULED

...
Mayflower Play: A New World Odyssey
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to ...
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to worship as they please after years of meeting in secret? Liberty to govern themselves, far from King and State? And what about the local people who join them at this iconic meal, the original Americans who had watched the Mayflower sail into Cape Cod Bay the previous year?
Join us as we follow the motley assortment of passengers boarding the Mayflower four hundred years ago, among them two brothers - Edward and Samuel Fuller - from a certain market town in Norfolk, called Harleston.
A community heritage project led by Harleston Players with financial support from Norfolk County Council, Harleston’s Future, and others.
Thursday 16 July – Saturday 18 July, 7.30pm, and Sunday 19 July at 3:00pm
Tickets: £9 adults, £8 over-65s and claimants, £4, 10 to 18 yrs (under 10s free) available in advance from Robinson’s Traditional Stationers, 5 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. Limited number on the door.
Subsidised transport from outlying villages and Harleston available for Sunday afternoon performance. Call 01379 855235 for details.
SCHEDULED

...
Mayflower Play: A New World Odyssey
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to ...
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to worship as they please after years of meeting in secret? Liberty to govern themselves, far from King and State? And what about the local people who join them at this iconic meal, the original Americans who had watched the Mayflower sail into Cape Cod Bay the previous year?
Join us as we follow the motley assortment of passengers boarding the Mayflower four hundred years ago, among them two brothers - Edward and Samuel Fuller - from a certain market town in Norfolk, called Harleston.
A community heritage project led by Harleston Players with financial support from Norfolk County Council, Harleston’s Future, and others.
Thursday 16 July – Saturday 18 July, 7.30pm, and Sunday 19 July at 3:00pm
Tickets: £9 adults, £8 over-65s and claimants, £4, 10 to 18 yrs (under 10s free) available in advance from Robinson’s Traditional Stationers, 5 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. Limited number on the door.
Subsidised transport from outlying villages and Harleston available for Sunday afternoon performance. Call 01379 855235 for details.
SCHEDULED

...
Mayflower Play: A New World Odyssey
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to ...
The first Thanksgiving, New England, 1621. Fifty men, women and children from the Mayflower voyage gather for a grand feast. But what are they celebrating? Survival after a gruelling ocean crossing and a merciless winter? The freedom to worship as they please after years of meeting in secret? Liberty to govern themselves, far from King and State? And what about the local people who join them at this iconic meal, the original Americans who had watched the Mayflower sail into Cape Cod Bay the previous year?
Join us as we follow the motley assortment of passengers boarding the Mayflower four hundred years ago, among them two brothers - Edward and Samuel Fuller - from a certain market town in Norfolk, called Harleston.
A community heritage project led by Harleston Players with financial support from Norfolk County Council, Harleston’s Future, and others.
Thursday 16 July – Saturday 18 July, 7.30pm, and Sunday 19 July at 3:00pm
Tickets: £9 adults, £8 over-65s and claimants, £4, 10 to 18 yrs (under 10s free) available in advance from Robinson’s Traditional Stationers, 5 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. Limited number on the door.
Subsidised transport from outlying villages and Harleston available for Sunday afternoon performance. Call 01379 855235 for details.
SCHEDULED
People and Family
2020 marks the 400 year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America. Celebrations are taking place throughout major towns and cities across England to commemorate the occasion. Harleston had a role in this significant chapter in world history.
There were a mere 102 passengers on board the Mayflower ship, and four of them came from Harleston. There were only 41 signatories to the the legal document, created to establish their rules of governance. This was called the ‘Compact’ and became the foundation for the American Constitution. Two of the signatories were from Harleston, Samuel and Edward Fuller. You may see references to them in street names.
To find out more about the Mayflower Research Project please send an email to Nicky Stainton at nmstainton@gmail.com