Three Visitors to Early Plymouth
Letters about the Pilgrim settlement in New England during its first seven years
"Three Visitors to Early Plymouth" by John Pory, Emmanuel Altham, and Isaack de Rasieres is a historical account edited by Sydney V. James Jr., written in the mid-20th century. The work compiles letters from three outsiders who visited the Plymouth Colony between 1622 and 1627, providing an important, candid perspective on the early settlement and its inhabitants. The letters reveal the perceptions and observations of the visitors, shedding light on the Pilgrims’ lifestyle, their interactions with Native Americans, and the resources available in the New World. At the start of the publication, an introduction sets the stage by explaining that the letters provide a unique outsider view of the Pilgrim settlement, previously overshadowed by accounts from the settlers themselves. The letters, attributed to John Pory, Emmanuel Altham, and Isaack de Rasieres, include vivid descriptions of the abundant natural resources, such as fish and game, and offer insights into the social dynamics between the colonists and Indigenous people, illustrating moments of camaraderie and tension alike. These early perspectives serve to enrich the historical understanding of the settlement's development and the challenges faced by its founders during their initial years in America.