Edward Winslow

Edward Winslow
3rd Governor of Plymouth Colony
In office 1633–1634
Preceded by	William Bradford
Succeeded by	Thomas Prence
6th Governor of Plymouth Colony
In office March 1, 1636 – March 7, 1637
Preceded by	William Bradford
Succeeded by	William Bradford
10th Governor of Plymouth Colony
In office June 3, 1639 – June 5, 1644
Preceded by	William Bradford
Succeeded by	William Bradford
Personal details
Born	1595 Droitwich, Worcestershire (England)
Died	1655 Near Jamaica
Profession	Politician and governor
Religion	Separatist
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Edward Winslow (1595 – 1655) was a Separatist who traveled on the Mayflower in 1620. He was one of several senior leaders on the ship and also later at Plymouth Colony. Both Edward Winslow and his brother, Gilbert Winslow signed the Mayflower Compact. In Plymouth he served in a number of governmental positions such as assistant governor, three times was governor and also was the colony's agent in London. In early 1621 he had been one of several key leaders on whom Governor Bradford depended after the death of John Carver. He was the author of several important pamphlets, including Good Newes from New England and co-wrote with William Bradford the historic Mourt's Relation, which ends with an account of the First Thanksgiving and the abundance of the New World. In 1655 he died of fever while on a British naval expedition in the Caribbean against the Spanish. He is the only Plymouth colonist with an extant portrait, and this can be seen at Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Edward Winslow was born in 1595 and would have been baptized a few days later. He was the eldest son of Edward Winslow (Sr.) of Droitwich, co. Worcestershire, by his wife Magdalene Oliver whom he married the previous year at St. Bride's Church, Fleet St., London. Edward Winslow, the father, according to family records, was born October 17, 1560 and was a descendant of the Winslow family of Kempsey, Worcestershire, a line that had existed in the county at least since 1500. The Winslow estate in Kempsey was called Kersweil with a similar name of Careswell later being given to the gentrified Plymouth estate of Governor Josiah Winslow, son of Edward Winslow and Susanna.

Author Charles Banks notes that it is highly probable that this Edward, Sr. was the son of Kenelm Winslow of Kempsey. Author Eugene Stratton believes that no one has been able to discern Kenelm Winslow's ancestry with any certainty. Kenelm Winslow, probably a brother of Edward, Sr., born in 1551, was called a resident of Worcester, yeoman, in 1605. It is not certain if the family was gentry, but were at least fairly well-off. Edward, Sr. was an under-sheriff and involved in the salt production trade.

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