William Brewster

William Brewster was a postmaster and church elder among the English Separatists. His manor house in Scrooby sheltered secret worship meetings and included a hidden passage for escaping the king's officers. Brewster spent three months in jail after an attempted flight from England was betrayed. He later joined the community in Holland and traveled aboard the Mayflower in search of a new home. When conflict grew between the Separatists and the other passengers, Brewster proposed an agreement that would govern everyone rather than impose religious rules. The resulting Mayflower Compact united the travelers for their common survival. He also offered spiritual comfort during the colony's dangerous first winter.