Pilgrim Leiden Congregation

Timeline

1. 1609–1610Leiden · NetherlandsSeparatist Puritans, fleeing persecution by the Church of England, settled successively in Leiden via Amsterdam and elsewhere, forming a congregation under John Robinson and establishing independent worship.
2. 1610–1619Leiden · NetherlandsCongregation members mostly worked in handicrafts such as textile and hat-making, maintaining English worship and an autonomous church in the relatively tolerant Dutch environment while worrying about economic pressure and the linguistic and cultural assimilation of the next generation.
3. 1617–1620Leiden · NetherlandsAfter years of discussion the congregation decided to move to New England north of the Virginia Company's charter, signed contracts with London merchants, departed Leiden in batches for England in 1619-1620 to board ship, and finally sailed on the Mayflower in 1620.