William Latham (pilgrim)

William Latham (1608–1651) was a Mayflower passenger who traveled to North America as a young servant and later became a settler in Plymouth Colony. He is known for his survival of the first winter and participation in early colonial life, though he later perished in an ill-fated expedition to the Bahamas, led by William Sayle.

William Latham was born in 1608 to William 'Hugh' Latham and Eline Saunders. Not much is known about his early life other than he became a servant to John Carver at age 11. He had a wife in Plymouth Colony, Mary and another partner named Elizabeth. William Latham had at least one son, Robert Latham, who was born in England.^[1][2][3]

In 1620, Latham traveled on the Mayflower as an 11-year-old servant to John Carver, a leader of the Pilgrim group that founded Plymouth Colony.^[4] He is listed on the passenger manifest as part of Carver's household.^[5]

After the death of John Carver in April 1621, Latham completed his service under William Bradford. He appears in early Plymouth records, including the 1627 Division of Cattle, indicating his continued residence and participation in colony life.^[6] During the 1630s, Latham was taxed at the lowest rate, held land, and engaged in local economic activities such as property transactions and farming.^[7]

Latham apparently returned to England after his house burned down, and then shortly thereafter made a trip to the Bahamas.^[8]

Around 1645, Latham left Plymouth Colony and joined an expedition during the English Civil War to settle on Eleuthera, in the Bahamas.^[9] The settlement failed, and Latham is believed to have died in 1651, likely from starvation after the loss of supplies.^[10]