"Such things as men ought to provide when they goe to Virginia",
by Capt. John Smith (1624)

What follows is a short account, written by Captain John Smith in 1624, describing what each man should plan on bringing in order to settle in Virginia.  Since the Pilgrims did not make any list of items they brought on the Mayflower, this list is probably the closest contemporary insight we can get into the things they likely brought, and their associated cost.  One 1620 English pound (£) was worth about $200 (U.S. dollars, 1999).  There were twenty shillings (s) to a pound (£), and twelve pennies (d) to a shilling (s).

It may be interesting for some to compare costs.  One share of stock in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company cost £10, and each adult passenger (over 16) was required to own at least one share.  Children 10 to 16 only needed a half share, and children under 10 were free to accompany parents without a share.  Individuals who donated £10 of supplies to the company received an extra share.  The total voyage cost the Pilgrims roughly £2500.  Supplies (food, drink, clothing and provisions) were held in common with the understanding the joint-stock company would be liquidated in 1627, and at that time the capital and all profits (including the land they settle) would be distributed amongst all the shareholders according to the number of shares they held.  I have maintained the original spelling of John Smith (remember the English dictionary would not be invented for another 100 years), and the information here is meant to represent the needs of an adult male passenger.  I have identified some items not easily recognizable to modern readers using brackets.

A particular of such necessaries
as either private families, or single
persons, shall have cause to provide to goe
to Virginia, whereby greater numbers may
in part conceive the better how to provide
for themselves.

Apparell.
A Monmoth Cap 1s. 10d.
3 falling bands [a large, flat laced collar] 1s. 3d.
3 shirts 7s. 6d.
1 Waste-coat 2s. 2d.
1 suit of Canvase 7s. 6d.
1 suit of Frize 10s.
1 suit of Cloth 15s.
3 paire of Irish stockings 4s.
4 paire of shooes 8s. 8d.
1 paire of garters [used to hold up the Irish stockings] 10d.
1 dozen of points [needles] 3d.
1 paire of Canvas sheets 8s.
7 ells of Canvas to make a bed and boulster, to be filled in Virginia, serving for two men.  [1 ell = 45 inches] 8s.
5 ells of course Canvas to make a bed at Sea for two men. 5s.
1 course rug at sea for two men. 6s.
[total] £1, i.e., for one man

Victuall for a whole yeare for a man, and so after the rate for more.
8 bushels of meale [wheat] £2
2 bushels of pease 6s.
2 bushels of Ote-meale 9s.
1 gallon of Aqua-vitae [brandy or whisky] 2s. 6d.
1 gallon of oyle 3s. 6d.
2 gallons of Vineger 2s.
£3. 3s.

Armes for a man; but if halfe your men be armed it is well, so all have swords and peeces [guns].
1 Armor compleat, light 17s.
1 long peece [gun] five foot and a halfe, neere Musket bore. £1. 2s.
1 Sword 5s.
1 Belt 1s.
1 Bandilier. 1s. 6d.
20 pound of powder. 18s.
60 pound of shot or Lead, Pistoll and Goose shot. 5s.
£3. 9s. 6d.

Tooles for a family of six persons, and so after the rate for more.
5 broad howes [hoes] at 2s. a peece 10s.
5 narrow howes at 16d. a peece 6s. 8d.
2 broad axes at 3s. 8d. a peece 7s. 4d.
5 felling axes at 18d. a peece 7s. 6d.
2 steele handsawes at 16d. a peece 7s. 6d.
2 two handsawes at 5s. a peece 10s.
1 whipsaw, set and filed; with box, file and wrest 10s.
2 hammers 12d. a piece 2s.
3 shovels at 18d. a peece 4s. 6d.
2 spades at 18d. a peece 3s.
2 Augers at 6d. peece 1s.
6 Chissels at 6d. a peece 3s.
2 Percers stocked 4d. a peece 8d.
2 Gimblets [gimlet] at 2d. a peece 6d.
2 Hatchets at 21d. a peece. 3s. 6d.
2 frowes [frows] to cleave pale [stakes] 18d. each 3s.
2 hand Bills 20d. a peece 3s. 4d.
1 Grindstone 4s.
Nailes of all sorts to the value of £2.
2 Pickaxes 3s.
£6. 2s. 8d.

Household implements for a family and six persons, and so for more or lesse after the rate.
1 Iron pot 7s.
1 Kettell 6s.
1 large Frying-pan 2s. 6d.
1 Gridiron 1s. 6d.
2 Skellets 5s.
1 Spit 2s.
Platters, dishes, spoones of wood 4s.
£1. 8s.

For Suger, Spice, and Fruit, and at Sea for six men. 12s. 6d.

So the full charge after this rate for each person, will amount to about the summe of £12. 10s. 10d.

The passage for each man is £6

The fraught of these provisions for a man, will be about halfe a tun, which is £1. 10s.

So the whole charge will amount to about £20.

Now if the number be great; [not only] Nets, Hooks, and Lines, but Cheese, Bacon, Kine and Goats must be added.

And this is the usuall proportion the Virginia Company doe bestow upon their Tenents they send.
                                                           

Mayflower Web Pages.  Caleb Johnson © 1998