It's early in the 17th century. When we meet Tom he believes he has become an orphan. He has just buried his mother and his father has disappeared (Tom is bitter and hopes that he is dead). Before she died, his mother told him that he should go to Scrooby, her home village. There, some kind people called Separatists would look after him. He sets out for Scrooby and meets up with them. Eventually he joins them on the voyage to the new world.