Thomas Rogers (Mayflower passenger)

Thomas Rogers (c. 1571 – January 11, 1621) was a Leiden Separatist who traveled in 1620 with his eldest son Joseph as passengers on the historic voyage of the Pilgrim ship Mayflower.

[1][2][self-published source][3][4][5] Thomas Rogers was born in the area of the village of Watford, in Northamptonshire, England, which has extensive history from the Roman, Dane, Viking and Saxon eras.

The earliest Leiden record for Thomas Rogers notes that on February 14, 1614, he bought a house on Barabarasteeg from Jan Bloemsaer, a baker.

That record states that he was a merchant of camlet, a luxury Asian-type fabric made from a combination of silk and camel's hair.

[2][7][1][4] Per author Eugene Stratton, the 1622 Leiden poll tax listed the family of Thomas Rogers residing there in poverty, but apparently without his wife Alice.

Thomas Rogers traveled on the Mayflower with only his eldest son Joseph, leaving behind in Leiden his wife and their three other children – John, Elizabeth and Margaret.

This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children.

After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21.

[2][9] Confusion had arisen related to the discovery by author Eugene Stratton of the listing of an "Elsgen Rogiers" in Leiden's 1622 poll tax records, where she is noted as the wife of Thomas Rogers.

The children were listed as Jan Tomasz (John), Lysbeth (Elizabeth) and Grietgen (Margaret) Rogiers (Rogers).

"[14][2] Thomas Rogers was buried, likely in an unmarked grave as with most Mayflower passengers who died in the first winter, in Cole's Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth.