Stuart period .281603.E2.80.931714.29 History of Southampton

the pilgrim memorial, town quay

the port original point of departure pilgrim fathers aboard mayflower in 1620. memorial can found on town quay. since time has been last port of call millions of emigrants left old world start new life in usa, australia, canada, new zealand, south africa, barbados , other parts of world.

in 1642, during english civil war, parliamentary garrison moved southampton, defend against seaborne attack royalist ships. royalist army advanced far redbridge in march 1644 prevented taking town colonel richard norton. battle of cheriton, in march 1644, subsequently removed threat southampton.

in june 1664, black death returned southampton. new plague disrupted life , led corporation report unable continue governing town. time epidemic ended in november 1666, 1700 people had died.

isaac watts younger, born in southampton in 1674, wrote words of hymn o god our in ages past. education @ free grammar school. member of above bar independent community. non-conformist community persecuted following act of uniformity of 1662. isaac watts father, named isaac, suffered periods of imprisonment in bargate.

in 1689 right vote in parliamentary elections, had been limited freemen, extended include paying scot , lot.