 Standish was certainly still in Holland in 1620 and living in Leiden when he was hired by a group of refugee dissenters from England — Puritans — to act as their adviser on military matters . At that time , he was using the title of " Captain . " When considering candidates for this important position , the Puritans had at first hoped to engage Captain John Smith . As one of the founders of the English colony at Jamestown , Virginia , Smith had explored and mapped the North American coast . When they approached him to return to the New World , Smith expressed interest . His experience made him an attractive candidate , but the Pilgrims ultimately decided against him ; his price was too high and they feared that his fame and bold character might lead him to become a dictator . Standish lived in Leiden with his wife Rose and was apparently already known to them . 
