the first winter was very difficult for the pilgrims.more than half of the english colonists died during the winter of 1620-1621.sickness ,lack of food ,and cold left only 50 people alive out of the 102.ofen,two to three people would die on the same day,and four entire families passed away.
although the pilgrims had not met the indians since their arrival,they were afraid of the indians.thus ,the pilgrims tried their best to hide the fact that there were so few english settlers left.burial services were held at night,and graves were planted over with corn to hide them.
it was march 21,1621 before enough houses were built on land and the settlers could move from living in the mayflower ship to living on land.
when the mayflower prepared to return to england in april.1621,its captain offered to take any survivors with him free of charge.amazingly ,no one went.instead,the pilgrims decided to stay in this difficult new land and make a new life.