WOW! Is he ever wrong! A good book to read is Eugene Aubrey Stratton's, Plymouth Colony, It history and Its People. After that read a biography of John Adams, our 2nd President...McCollough. (forgive any error's in the titles.) When you read John Adams' letters and Abigail's, his wife. You will see an example of those early founding fathers faith. The Plymouth Colony was a group of people escaping religious persecution in a newly discovered land. When they came there was no one to receive them from Europe. There were actually very few pilgrims in that Mayflower party. Elder Brewster was considered their religious leader then. They suffered severely and lost an appalling number of their band. Just seeing the Plymouth 'rock' site and reading the names of all who died that first winter on the memorial puts you in touch with their reality. The puritans didn't show up until 1630 and they were strictly a commercial venture on the part of those leaders. Myles Standish came as a military man and never did join the pilgrim congregations. Only the Mayflower made the trip, as the accompanying ship, the Speedwell, became unseaworthy and those people had to stay behind. The pilgrims never just took land from the indians, they exchanged goods with the indians for their land. If you learn the history of those times, you will see why the constitution of the U.S. provides for separation of church and state. The religious descensions and founding of different colonies, show the uproar of colliding religious beliefs and interpretations. Roger Williams (founder of what became Rhode Island) was almost put to death by the puritans for his strong beliefs. He was a remarkable man for his times. My father's line of Ames were among the first settlers of Bridgewater, MA., and stayed there to the present day. My cousin lives in Middleboro and Brant Rock. My father was the first to marry outside of the pilgrim line, that was a fascinating discovery for me. He met my mother (born and raised in Ireland) in the military hospitals of France, WW1. She was an R.N. So far, I've discovered at least 12 Mayflower pilgrims among his ancestors. He did not speak of these things, as he would say, it's not your ancestors that count, it is who and what you are. When you go before your maker, it is you and you alone that is judged. (YOU are the the master of your fate, YOU are the captain of your soul). I think I'd better put my soap box away, hope I haven't offended any Puritans! :^) -Fran <50% Pilgrim, 50% 1st generation Irish> (Raised in the Pilgrim traditions)