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The Mayflower carried a cargo of 132 Puritans,only 32 of which were the extremist Brownist sect named after Robert Brown, a Puritan extremist.

There were four puritan sects of the Church of England (Anglican church, renamed Episcopal after the revolution when all things English were anathema).

The puritans were in fact Anglican, but wanted to do away with what they called Popish rituals, customs, traditions, The Brownists want to completely separate from the Anglican church.

The beliefs and practices of the Brownists were so rigid and outrageous that they were made to feel unwelcome in England, so they fled to Leiden, Holland, but it didn't take long for them to make themselves unwelcome in Holland,.

A group of well healed merchants and lesser nobility has prevailed upon King James to grant them a charter to exploit the new world. After the 1st voyage of the Portuguese pilot, Juan Caboto, financed by a Welsh merchant of Bristol, name of Richard Amerike (anglicised from ap Meryck), the Crown claimed the east coast from the location of Roanoke to Main and called it Virginia.

King James granted the charter in 1606, and in 1607 a group of adventurers and indentured servants sailed into the mouth of the James River and established a fort, Jamestown.

Another group of investors, in Plymouth England,, requested and received a charter for the Virginia Company of Plymouth, but no serious attempt was made and the charter laid dormant. the territory that they wished to exploit included what is now New York.

The Brownists having worn out their welcome in Holland, gathered together funds to hire a fluyt called the Mayflower, Dutch built and rented, but they didn't have the resources so they recruited adventurers in England, and the Mayflower sailed from Leiden to Plymouth and picked up 70 Puritans, who were not Brownists.

The Brownists referred to themselves as Saints,. William Bradford, a Brownist, who was Governor of the Plymouth Colony intermittently for about 30 years between 1621 and 1657

1630: Bradford begins writing “Of Plimoth Plantation,” a detailed history of the founding of Plymouth Colony and the lives of the colonists from 1621 to 1647. Bradford writes his last notes in the volume in 1650, it was lost and found in the Bishops Library of London in 1855, and it is from that date and publication of the manuscript that they were called Pilgrims.

They weren't Pilgrims in 1620, but a company of self proclaimed Saints and only 32 out of 102 in number.

They set sail for what is now New York harbor, but ran out of potable war (beer in those days), and decided to land in Massachusetts Bay, to replenish their stores, before they sailed on.

Some of the crew of the Mayflower stayed, while the ship (one of three to carry the name) sailed back to Plymouth, England.

The adventure did not become a Royal Colony until 1624, when James revoked the charters of the Virginia Company of London and Plymouth, and made them Royal colonies, and appointed their governors.

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What an absolutely wonderful essay. There's nothing better than inclusive happiness and joy.

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As an ally of the LGBTQ+ community (I have a trans granddaughter) I’m thrilled to know about P-town. I could feel the peace and love in your writing. How great it would be if everyone would “Mind their own damn business”!

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This essay is one of the best you've written - and you've written a wealth of great stuff. Thank you.

Is it possible for you to share the contact info for one or more folks at Nissan so I can convey my thanks to them?

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Hi Kara,

Connie Burke, here - I’m with the multicultural PR agency that supports Nissan. I was there in P-town with Charlotte and several members of the Nissan team. I’d be delighted to forward your email along!

Connie@allenlewisagency.com

Thanks so much!

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P-Town… isn’t Perfect what the P stands for? ;) Thanks for sharing, Charlotte; I have a new-found respect for Nissan.

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This may be my favorite post of yours Charlotte. I have visited Provincetown many times over the last seventy five years. I have taken the Plymouth to P-town leg of that boat ride and is indeed a treasure of a ride. We are not a perfect state, but we have much to celebrate in Massachusetts. I am happy that you were able to celebrate family week here. Thank you to Nissan for continuing to back inclusivity.

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I have such wonderful memories of visits to Provincetown, and you, Charlotte, have captured its essence: It's a place of celebratory joy woven into the whole cloth of everyday lives. It's parades and promenades, sunny summer days on the beach and gray winter afternoons around the fire. It's a community that nurtures creative arts and provides a place for people to let their lights shine as they were meant to. This beautiful town is a beacon to us all of what the world can be when we embrace our life-affirming diversity. Thank you, Charlotte, for highlighting what makes P-Town so amazing. And thank you, Nissan, for showing the role corporations can play in making the world more inclusive and joyful.

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Another fantastic essay, Charlotte! I adore your writing and the message of kindness, grace and inclusivity you spread. And, wow, I will take a look at Nissan the next time I go car shopping.

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I spent a large portion of my childhood summers on Cape Cod, way, way before it was chi chi. My grandparents had 4 very modest rental duplexes in Hyannis, again before it was chi chi. I have the best memories of PTown. Friendly & joyful.

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“we need joy with our justice” Amen!

So glad you had that experience and shared it with us. ❤️❤️❤️

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