 The presence of outsiders such as the Strangers and the Particulars was a considerable annoyance to the Pilgrims . As early as 1623 , a conflict broke out between the Pilgrims and the Strangers over the celebration of Christmas , a day of no particular significance to the Pilgrims . Furthermore , a group of Strangers founded the nearby settlement of Wessagussett and the Pilgrims were highly strained , both emotionally and in terms of resources , by their lack of discipline . They looked at the eventual failure of the Wessagussett settlement as Divine Providence against a sinful people . 
