John Grout facts for kids
John Grout (born around 1643 – died July 25, 1697) was an important person in early American history. He was a military leader and served as a selectman (a local town leader) in Sudbury, Massachusetts for 30 years.
Contents
Who Was John Grout?
John Grout was born in England. He moved to Massachusetts during a time called the Puritan migration. This was when many people, known as Puritans, moved from England to New England.
Soon after arriving, John Grout met John Winthrop, who was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. We don't know much about John Grout's very early life.
Life in Colonial Massachusetts
By 1660, John Grout was living in Watertown. He then moved to Sudbury in 1663. In Sudbury, he quickly became a respected leader.
He helped organize the town's militia, which was like a local volunteer army. He eventually became a captain, a high rank in the militia.
A Leader in Sudbury
John Grout was also very active in local government. He served as a selectman for 30 years, from 1647 to 1692. A selectman was a person elected to manage the town's affairs.
He also worked as the town clerk for seven years. In 1676, he was asked to go to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he met with Governor John Leverett and other leaders to talk about the Native American tribes near Sudbury.
John Grout's Bravery in War
John Grout is best known for his actions during King Philip's War. This was a big conflict between English colonists and Native American tribes.
The Sudbury Attack
On April 20, 1676, a large group of Native American warriors attacked Sudbury. Between 500 and 1,500 warriors were involved. They caused a lot of damage to the town.
Captain Grout, who was about 60 years old at the time, showed great courage. He and a small group of his men bravely defended the town. They held off the attackers for about three hours.
Their defense gave enough time for more soldiers to arrive and help. This brave stand helped protect the people of Sudbury during a very difficult time.
