A Brief History of Pilgrim Robert Cushman As a child growing up in the 1960’s each year our teacher would talk about the Pilgrims and how many believed they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. They had survived a brutal first year, being the second group from England to successfully settle in the New World. Their reason for coming here, to seek religious freedom, has become a key element of the culture and history of our country. I didn’t learn until I was in my 20s that I have a personal connection to the Pilgrims. The Mayflower at Sea Robert Cushman (my ...