by 1617, the separatists decided to travel to virginia colony in north america. the separatists could practice their religion in the dutch republic, they wanted their children to keep their english customs and language. the colonists made a business arrangement with the merchant adventurers. these were a group of men who were willing to pay for the pilgrims to go to the new world with the promise that the pilgrims would pay them back with furs and other goods they got from the colony. by july 1620, robert cushman and john carver had made the plans and fifty separatists left delftshaven on the ship "speedwell".