In the early days of Plymouth Colony, finding leaders was no easy task. It was so difficult that in 1633, Plymouth enacted a law that required anyone who was voted in as a governor or council member to accept the position or face fines or taxes. Just months after they first landed, Governor John Carver fell ill while working in the field, dying days later. It was then that William Bradford was thrust into leadership of the colony while still recovering from his own illness.
Bradford guided the community for twelve years before he finally got a break from his tiring work as governor on January 1, 1633. Edward Winslow, a dependable leader and diplomat, was then chosen to replace him.
Despite the challenges of finding leaders, the Plymouth Colony continued to grow but was outpaced by the newer Puritan colony to the north. John Winthrop's colony had more strict rules regarding who could vote or hold office, requiring individuals to be acknowledged members of the Puritan congregation to be considered full citizens.
Bradford's respite from the governorship was well-deserved, but short-lived. He was voted in several times again throughout his career. His legacy as a leader continued long after his time as governor. He served intermittently for about 30 years between 1621 and 1657 and even served as a commissioner of the United Colonies of New England on multiple occasions, and twice as president. The weary leader's work proved critical to the survival and success of the Plymouth Colony.
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“I am not able to bear all this people alone, for it is too heavy for me.”
(Numbers 11:14; 1599 Geneva Bible)
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