Week 46 2026 - An Ancestor Who Took a Risk - Ursula (Carter) Dillingham

 In my words, but hopefully an accurate accounting of the voyage of Edward and Ursula Dillingham and their three children from her perspective.

March 9 – June 5, 1632

When I look back on the day we left England, I wonder if I truly understood what lay ahead of us. On March 9, 1632, Edward and I, along with our three children, began a journey that would take us far beyond anything we had ever known. We were leaving England behind, and with it the familiar places, faces, and comforts that had been part of our lives.

We boarded the William and Francis, the vessel that would carry us across the great Atlantic Ocean to a place called New England. I tried to be brave, especially for the children. They were young, and I knew they would depend upon me for reassurance, even when I had little reassurance to give myself.

The ship seemed so much smaller once we were aboard. There were other families, men, women, and children, all crowded together with their belongings. There was little room to move about, and even less room for privacy. Our possessions had to be kept close, and I quickly learned that every bit of space was precious. Sharing space with the other 55 passengers, I wondered how any of us would find comfort in such cramped quarters.

Artist rendering of William & Francis

The first days at sea were difficult. The movement of the ship on the vast water was so very different from anything I had ever encountered.  One moment I could stand, and the next I was reaching for something to steady myself. The children were frightened by the unfamiliar sounds and the constant movement. I did my best to keep them occupied and close to me. There were times when I, too, felt quite ill, but there was little opportunity to give in to it.

The days seemed to blend together. There was no proper place to wash, no comfortable bed, and little opportunity to prepare a decent meal. Food had to be carefully rationed, and much of it was unfamiliar to the children. Hard biscuits, salted meat, dried peas, and whatever else could be stored for the long crossing became our daily fare. Water was precious, and cleanliness was difficult to maintain with so many people sharing such limited space.

When the weather turned rough, the ship seemed to have a life of its own. The wooden timbers groaned, the ropes strained, and the waves crashed against the sides. We were tossed about horribly. I gathered the children close, trying to comfort them when the noise and motion frightened them. I wondered how long the storms would last and whether the ship could withstand the ocean. There was no place to escape the sound or the movement. We could only wait for the weather to clear.

I missed the simple things: a proper bed, a warm meal, fresh air, and the ability to step outside whenever I wished. Most of all, I missed having a home where my children could feel safe and secure. There were moments when I questioned whether we had truly understood what we were undertaking.

As the weeks passed, I tried to keep my worries to myself. Edward had his own concerns, and I knew he was carrying the responsibility of bringing us safely to this new land. We had made this decision together, and I would do my part. Each morning brought another day at sea, and each evening I was thankful that we had made it through another one.

Then, on June 5, 1632, after 88 days at sea, we finally reached New England. 

I did not know what awaited us. I did not know what our new home would look like or what difficulties we would encounter in this unfamiliar country. But I knew that we had come this far together and Edward, our three children, and I would make the best of it. We had left one life behind and were beginning another.

Barbie

NOTE:

Ursula was my 8x great grandmother on my paternal side. She was born June 20, 1590, in Kempston, England and made the brave choice to immigrate with her husband to the New World. Their voyage was a part of 'The Great Migration' and they became the progenitors of what is known as the Northern Dillingham family.  She died February 6, 1656, in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts.