John Winthrop's Flagship Arabella

In the early 17^th Century under King James I the Puritans were in the midst of a major conflict with the Church of England.  They felt the Church needed to be moved toward a more Reformed theology which emphasized preaching rather than ritual.  Consequently the adopted Calvinism.  When Charles I became king in 1625 the conflict worsened.  King Charles temporarily dissolved parliament in 1626 as a result of this conflict.  In 1629 he dissolved it permanently instead relying on Personal Rule.  This led to the “Great Migration” of Puritans to New England.      
                                        King James I of England

                                                                                                                                   

A small colony, about 300 people, had settled in Salem in 1626 governed by John Endicott.    A group of wealthy leaders were able to obtain a Royal Charter in 1629 for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  An “advance party” of about 300 colonists and five ships left for New England in late 1629.  The leaders remained for a time in England in order to develop a more detailed plan for the new colony.  The elected John Winthrop to be Governor of the Fleet and of the Colony.

John Winthrop Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

John Winthrop, aboard his flagship the Arabella, accompanied by a three ship escort left England on April 8, 1630.  The remainder of the fleet, seven additional ships, followed in a few weeks.  All together the 11 ship fleet carried about 1000 Puritans, primarily families with women and children, along with livestock and necessary provisions for the new colony.  It is said there was three times as much alcohol (about 10,000 gallons of wine) on board as water most of which was consumed on the six week voyage.  Their arrival in New England gave legal birth to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Arabella was originally known as the Eagle.  The name was changed in honor of Lady Arabella Johnson, daughter of Thomas Clinton, 3^rd Earl of Lincoln, who was a member of the company.  John Winthrop is said to have given his famous “A Model of Christian Charity” sermon from the deck of the Arabella.  The six week crossing from Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight to Plymouth was mostly uneventful.

                                     Painting by William Halsall  Arrival of the Winthrop Colony

For the month of February, 2017 Ship Models Online is offering its tall ship model of John Winthrop’s Arabella for a discount of $110 from our regular price.  For more details click here.