We all know the Mayflower as the famed vessel that carried the English Puritans across the Atlantic. After a 66‑day trek, she touched land with roughly 130 souls aboard. Today, these brave travelers are commonly called the Pilgrims. In this roundup we’ll reveal the 10 most interesting passengers who set foot on the New World, sharing their quirks, families, and daring deeds.

10 Most Interesting Stories from the Mayflower Voyage

10 Samuel Fuller

Samuel Fuller experienced a whirlwind of marital adventures, tying the knot three times and fathering four children. Two of those youngsters were born to his second wife, another two to his third, while his first two offspring tragically died young. He embarked on the Mayflower in 1620, leaving his third spouse, Bridget Lee, behind; she later joined the colony aboard the Anne in 1623.

A trained surgeon, Fuller possessed enough education to practice medicine in the fledgling settlement. He also served as a deacon within his church and was an active member of the Leiden Separatist community. Later, he helped steer discussions that eventually birthed the Salem church. In 1633 he acted as a Plymouth tax assessor, the same year he succumbed to a smallpox outbreak that claimed at least ten colonists.

9 Francis Cooke

Born around 1583, Francis Cooke likely hailed from England’s Canterbury or Norwich regions. He worked as a wool comber and was already residing in Leiden by 1603—well before the Pilgrim Separatist community made its move to Holland. His wife, Hester, and their children were members of the Leiden Walloon Church, whose beliefs closely mirrored those of the English Separatists.

Cooke set foot on the Mayflower alongside his eldest son, while his wife and remaining children followed aboard the Anne in 1623. In Plymouth he served on a variety of committees, including one that laid out highways. He also acted as a land surveyor, juror, and received numerous land grants over the years. He lived to the age of 80, passing away in 1663.

8 Mary Brewster

Mary Brewster traveled to the New World with her husband William, forming one of the many married couples aboard the Mayflower. Together they raised six children, bestowing upon them such distinctive names as Patience, Fear, Love, and Wrestling. Love and Wrestling rode the Mayflower with their parents, while the remaining youngsters arrived later aboard the ships Anna and Fortune.

The most remarkable facet of Mrs. Brewster’s story is her repeated defiance of the odds. She was one of only five adult women to survive the brutal first winter and one of just four women to live to witness the inaugural Thanksgiving. She died in 1627 at age 60, while her husband survived another seventeen years.

7 William Latham

When the Mayflower set sail, William Latham was a mere 11‑year‑old, serving as an apprentice‑servant to John Carver’s household. After Carver’s death in 1621, Latham continued his service under William Bradford. Records show he was still residing in the Bradford home during the May 1627 Division of Cattle.

Latham’s interactions with Plymouth’s legal system were colorful. He was fined 40 shillings for “entertaining John Phillips into his house contrary to the act of the Court” and for “lavish and slanderous speeches.” Unable to pay the full amount, the court ordered him not to depart the colony without first obtaining a license, a restriction he lifted a month later after settling the debt.

In 1639 Latham sold his Duxbury property and moved to Marblehead in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His house burned accidentally in 1645, after which the last colonial record of him disappears. He later returned to England, embarked on a trip to the Bahamas, and tragically perished there along with his entire party from starvation.

6 Peter Browne

Peter Browne was not part of the Leiden Separatist group; instead, he arrived on the Mayflower as a single man. Historical accounts note that he and his neighbor John Goodman were once cutting thatch when their two dogs chased a deer into the woods. The duo got lost, endured an afternoon of rain, and eventually sought shelter in a tree, only to spot the bay the next day and make their way back to the settlement.

In 1626 Browne married Martha Ford, one of the few women who arrived on the ship Fortune. They had two children before Martha’s untimely death. He later wed a woman named Mary, with whom he also had two children. A 1633 epidemic swept through the colony, most likely claiming his life. His estate listed 130 bushels of corn, six goats, a cow, eight sheep, pigs, and other livestock. Peter and his brother were weavers, explaining why he owned more sheep than any other colonist.

His holdings reflected a modest but diversified farm, and his weaving trade left a subtle imprint on Plymouth’s early economy.

5 Richard Warren

Richard Warren arrived alone on the Mayflower, a prosperous London merchant. His wife and five daughters joined him aboard the Anne in 1623, and the couple later welcomed two sons born in Plymouth. He received a land parcel during the 1623 Division of Land, and his family participated in the 1627 Division of Cattle. Warren died the following year, in 1628.

His widow outlived him by 45 years, and all of his children reached adulthood, married, and produced large families. Consequently, Richard Warren became one of the most frequently cited ancestors among Mayflower descendants. Notable figures tracing lineage back to him include President Ulysses S. Grant, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and astronaut Alan Shepard Jr.

4 Degory Priest

Degory Priest, born in England, was among the earliest arrivals in Leiden, becoming a citizen there in 1615. He worked as a hatter alongside other members of the Leiden congregation. In 1617 he became entangled in a dispute with John Cripps, who was rumored to be having an affair with another man’s wife. Priest’s friends signed an affidavit stating he had only “touched the jabot” – the frilly part of a shirt – rather than striking Cripps.

Degory married Sarah, sister of fellow Mayflower passenger Isaac Allerton. The couple had two daughters, Mary and Sarah. He traveled alone on the Mayflower, intending to bring his family over later, but he succumbed to the harsh first winter. Sarah later remarried a fellow hatter, and she and her new husband arrived on the ship Anna.

3 John Carver

John Carver stood out as a leading figure within the Leiden Pilgrim congregation, serving as a deacon and representing the group in negotiations to relocate to America. Alongside Robert Cushman, he journeyed to England to secure arrangements with the Virginia Company for the transatlantic venture.

Carver boarded the Mayflower as the ship’s acting governor and was subsequently elected the colony’s first governor. He participated in an exploratory expedition on Cape Cod, which produced the famed “First Encounter” with Native Americans. Both Carver and his wife made the voyage, though their two children had died before the journey. He governed until his death in April 1621, and his wife passed away a few days later, reportedly from a broken heart.

2 Stephen Hopkins

In 1609 Stephen Hopkins set sail on the Sea Venture bound for Jamestown, Virginia, only for the ship to founder on the reefs of Bermuda. Stranded for ten months, Hopkins and his fellow castaways survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. During this ordeal they organized a mutiny against their governor; when discovered, Hopkins faced a death sentence but managed to secure a commutation through heartfelt pleas.

After constructing a small vessel, the survivors escaped Bermuda and eventually reached Jamestown. While there, Hopkins’ first wife died, leaving three children behind. He later remarried Elizabeth Fisher in England, and together they had seven children, all of whom journeyed on the Mayflower. His prior experience made him invaluable in subsequent exploration missions and in negotiating with Native peoples.

Hopkins served as a governor’s assistant for many years and volunteered in the 1637 Pequot War. He opened a tavern that sold alcohol, a venture that landed him in trouble: he was fined for permitting drinking and shuffleboard on Sundays, later fined again for overcharging on beer and selling a looking glass at double its value. He died in 1644.

1 John Alden

John Alden was recruited as a barrel maker for the Mayflower’s Atlantic crossing. Upon arrival he faced a choice: return to England or remain in the New World. He elected to stay, and about two years later married fellow passenger Priscilla Mullins. The couple ultimately raised ten children together.

Elevated to the role of assistant to the governor, Alden gradually became a prominent community figure. He became embroiled in a fur‑trading dispute that escalated into a double murder; although detained for questioning, the authorities lacked the jurisdiction to hold him.

Alden later helped found the town of Duxbury, with construction of homes beginning as early as 1629. He served as a deputy to the Plymouth Court, participated in numerous committees and war councils, and held the position of colony treasurer. In 1653 he built the Alden House, which still stands today. He lived to the age of 89, passing away in 1687 as one of the last surviving Mayflower passengers.

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With an estimated 22.2 million domestic and global flights in 2021 and an average of two million people flying the friendly skies each day, it’s only natural that strict guidelines have been put in place by the TSA. They govern what can be brought on board and placed in checked bags to ensure everyone’s safety during the flight.

Aside from passenger and crew safety, there are also agricultural guidelines in place to prevent any animal, pest, or food products from being brought into a country that could carry disease or harm the ecosystems.

Unfortunately, in any environment with rules or guidelines, there will naturally be a handful of rule-breakers who believe that they will either not get caught or that their plan to sneak a prohibited item past officials is completely fool-proof.

This list contains the stories of 10 bizarre things that airline passengers have tried to hide in their luggage, assuming they would not be caught.

10 Albino Alligator

Albino alligators are very rare, with fewer than 200 living in the world. Additionally, their lack of pigmentation puts them at a severe disadvantage in the wild, given that they have no way to camouflage themselves, can quickly die from overexposure to the sun, and have poor eyesight.

Sadly, their rarity also makes them a target for animal smugglers, as they can be sold for anywhere between $20,000 and $2 million.

On September 25, 2022, a 42-year-old American man traveling from Germany to Singapore decided to bring one of these rare animals along on his travels. Naturally, customs officers were quite surprised when a 3-foot (1-meter) albino alligator was detected in his suitcase during a security checkpoint.

With the exception of its nostrils, the alligator was completely wrapped in cling wrap and duct tape. Luckily, the alligator was alive despite being in poor health. Customs officers, along with a veterinarian, worked to free the alligator, and it was then taken to a reptile sanctuary.

The man’s cell phone was confiscated, and he was also assessed a fine. Legal and criminal proceedings into the matter are still ongoing.^[1]

9 Six-Day-Old Newborn

Forty-two-year-old Jennifer Talbot was scheduled to board a flight from Manila, Philippines, to Columbus, Ohio, on September 4, 2019. However, little did anyone know she had carefully concealed a precious piece of cargo—a six-day-old baby boy.

Talbot had placed the infant in an oversized carry-on bag and managed to get through immigration but was eventually stopped by officials before boarding the plane. That’s when the baby was discovered.

Talbot originally claimed the baby was her nephew, although she had no documentation to prove her claim. Talbot later gave officials an affidavit, supposedly from the infant’s mother, that gave her consent to travel with the newborn. However, the affidavit had not been signed by the baby’s mother.

Talbot was arrested, and the baby was placed in the Social Welfare Department’s custody. Talbot was charged with human trafficking and kidnapping.^[2]

8 African Fox Head

On September 12, 2019, a mother and daughter traveling from Senegal decided to bring a rather unusual “gift” with them on their trip to the United States.

When they arrived at Philadelphia International Airport, they were stopped after U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered an 8-inch (20-centimeter) African fox skull in their baggage, completely intact with hair and teeth.

The travelers stated that the skull was meant to be a gift for their cousin, who planned to use it to “ward off evil spirits.” However, the women ultimately decided to leave their “gift” with customs officials.^[3]

7 Missile Launcher

On July 29, 2019, an active military service member was returning home to the United States from Kuwait. However, he decided to bring something back with him that gave TSA officials quite the scare—a missile launcher.

The military weapon was discovered by TSA officials at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The passenger was detained for questioning and simply stated that he brought the missile launcher along with him to take back home as a souvenir.

Thankfully, the launcher was not live and was able to be safely disposed of by the state fire marshal.^[4]

6 One-Month-Old Leopard Cub

Leopards in both Asia and Africa have been listed as endangered due to habitat loss, illegal wildlife trading, trophy hunting, and the ceremonial use of their skins. While smuggling these animals is illegal, one man was persistent in his efforts and tried to conceal a one-month-old leopard cub in his luggage on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Chennai, India.

However, the 45-year-old passenger’s plans were quickly foiled when his tiny traveling companion began crying out as he arrived in Chennai on February 2, 2019. When officials became suspicious, the man tried to rush out of the terminal and avoid questioning. When his luggage was opened, officials discovered the 2.2-pound (1-kilogram) leopard cub concealed in a plastic grocery basket inside.

The tiny cub was naturally in shock but was bottle-fed and assessed by a veterinarian before being transferred to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai.

The case was forwarded to the state’s wildlife crime bureau to determine if the passenger may have been part of a larger smuggling ring.^[5]

5 Gun in Raw Chicken

TSA guidelines state that unloaded firearms may be put in checked baggage as long as they are placed in a locked container and declared at the ticket counter. TSA also allows food items such as meat and vegetables to be transported in either carry-on or checked bags as long as the items are packed with ice or frozen ice packs.

However, one daring passenger who was traveling to Haiti decided to ignore both rules and tried to camouflage a gun in a bizarre way—stuffing it into a raw chicken. Fortunately, his “stuffed bird” was detected by TSA agents at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Florida International Airport on September 27, 2022.

No specific details were given regarding the passenger or charges, but Homeland Security stated this incident was an “ongoing criminal case which has been accepted for prosecution.”^[6]

4 Egyptian Mummy Parts

On February 24, 2019, a passenger visiting from Belgium attempted to conceal parts of two Egyptian mummies inside a speaker packed within their luggage. However, this cunning plan was derailed when an X-ray monitor detected images of mummified body parts—two feet, two legs, the lower part of a left hand, an arm, and part of a torso.

The remains were intercepted by customs authorities at the Cairo International Airport and then examined by an archaeological committee that confirmed they were authentic. The confiscated body parts were then sent to an Egyptian museum so they could be restored.^[7]

3 Cocaine Inside Fried Fish

While illegal drugs are never permitted on an airline (or anywhere else, for that matter), one 38-year-old female passenger believed she could outsmart authorities with the perfect plan to smuggle cocaine inside her luggage by placing it inside fried blowfish.

The female passenger was traveling from Jamaica to Miami, Florida. However, when she arrived at Miami International Airport on June 13, 2015, an x-ray of her luggage revealed something even more strange than traveling with fried fish.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers noticed that some of the fish were bulkier than others, and some had stitch marks on their stomachs, indicating they had been sewn together. They then discovered 2.3 pounds (1 kilogram) of cocaine inside the fish.

The cocaine was seized, and the woman was arrested.^[8]

2 $770K in Cash

Forty-eight-year-old Abdulkarim Altareb was flying from New York to Qatar on March 1, 2015. However, when customs officers asked Altareb to declare the amount of cash he was carrying, he lied, stating he had $6,500.

An additional examination of his luggage was done, and more than $770,000 was discovered. Altareb had concealed $50 and $100 bills in boxes of Alka-Seltzer, Thera-Flu, Dove soap, Band-Aids, and Splenda.

When Altareb was later questioned about the money by Homeland Security, he claimed that it belonged to his family and that they intended to build in Yemen.

Altareb was charged with “bulk cash smuggling.” It was later determined that Altareb ran an unlicensed money transfer business and had committed other types of fraud on food stamp applications, tax returns, and citizenship applications. On May 10, 2017, Altareb was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.^[9]

1 22 Pounds of Illegal Meat

On February 4, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection made quite an unusual discovery during a baggage exam at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.

While a woman traveling from Vietnam provided a negative customs declaration, she was, in fact, hiding something-—22 pounds (10 kilograms)of illegal animal meat and body parts. The meat was discovered after being asked to take her luggage for a baggage exam.

The woman was not charged, and all the meat was destroyed.^[10]