Dying for a change - 1621
Many pilgrims and ship's crew died aboard the Mayflower.
Introduction
When the Pilgrims sailed to America to escape persecution and establish a place where they could worship as they chose, they were leaping “out of the frying pan into the fire” as the saying goes. Many died that first year in the New World, as did the ship’s crew. The principle scourge was scurvy, accompanied by tuberculosis. The log of the Mayflower does not exist, but through scholarship its principal events have been reconstructed. Here is the Mayflower log from one such reconstruction for this day Tuesday, March 9, 1621 (February 27 old style).
Quote
“At anchorage. The sickness and deaths of the colonists on shore have steadily increased, and have extended to the ship, which has lost several of its petty officers, including the master gunner, three quarter-masters, and cook, and a third of the crew, many from scurvy.”
Ames, Azel. The Mayflower and Her Log, Complete.