 The leaders of the colony decided to leave the smaller Speedwell behind after numerous delays caused by leaking , which had caused them to return to port twice . They sold some valuable supplies such as butter to pay the mounting port fees , and finally departed Plymouth , England on September 6 , 1620 on board the Mayflower , bound for the northern part of the Virginia Colony . The Speedwell , now with only a few passengers , went on to London to be resold ; she subsequently made numerous successful journeys as a cargo vessel for her new owners , but never sailed to the New World . The Standishes and most of the Speedwell passengers crowded into the Mayflower . 
