John Oldham (colonist) facts for kids

John Oldham (born July 1592 – died July 20, 1636) was an early Puritan settler in Massachusetts. He was a captain, a merchant, and traded with Native American groups. His death was one of the reasons for the Pequot War in 1636–37.

Early Life and Arrival in America

John Oldham was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1592. He was baptized in Derby on July 15, 1592. He followed the Puritan faith from a young age.

Plymouth Plantation, where Oldham first settled in America

In July 1623, he sailed to Plymouth Colony in America with his sister on a ship called the Anne. His sister, Lucretia Oldham Brewster, was married to Jonathan Brewster. Jonathan was the son of William Brewster, who was one of the people who signed the Mayflower Compact.

Trouble in Plymouth Colony

Life was not always easy among the Pilgrims in Plymouth. Many people came to America for new chances, not just for religious reasons. In 1624, a man named Rev. John Lyford arrived. Some Plymouth residents who did not agree with the Puritans liked him. Lyford and Oldham secretly met with these people.

According to the Pilgrim leader William Bradford, Oldham and Lyford caused problems in Plymouth. They secretly wrote letters back to England. These letters said bad things about the Pilgrims. Bradford found some of these letters.

Oldham also refused to do his turn on watch duty. This was a job everyone was expected to do. He also became rude to the Pilgrims' military leader, Myles Standish. Oldham even pulled out his knife on Standish. Because of these actions, Lyford and Oldham were put on trial. They were accused of "plotting against them and disturbing their peace." After the trial, they were told to leave Plymouth.

Life After Plymouth

After leaving Plymouth, Oldham did well. He became a successful trader, working with both colonists and Native Americans along the coast. From 1632 to 1634, he was a representative in the General Court of Massachusetts. He also managed the gunpowder and shot for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Captain Oldham traveled a lot for trade. He sailed to Virginia and England. By 1630, he was back in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He lived on an island in the Charles River and was part of the church in Watertown. In 1634, he represented Watertown in the colony's first assembly. He kept trading along the coast, from Maine to New Amsterdam.

Around 1633 or 1634, Oldham led a group of ten men. This group included Captain Robert Seeley. They traveled along the Old Connecticut Path. Their goal was to start a new settlement called Wethersfield, Connecticut. This became the first English settlement on the Connecticut River.

His Death and the Pequot War

On July 20, 1636, John Oldham was on a trading trip to Block Island. His ship was boarded by Native Americans, likely from the Narragansett tribe. John Oldham and five of his crew members were killed. His two young nephews were captured. The goods on his ship were also taken.

Another fishing boat found the ship and rescued the nephews. They tried to pull Oldham's ship to port, but strong winds made it hard. They had to sink the ship, but they brought the two boys home safely.

The Narragansetts told the colonists that the Pequot people were responsible for Oldham's death. Even though Oldham was known for being difficult, and might have started the fight, people across Massachusetts were very upset. The Massachusetts Governor, John Endecott, was ordered to get revenge. The Bay Colony was angry about this event. They sent John Endicott to Block Island. This event was one of the main causes of the Pequot War.

In Fiction

John Oldham appears in a book series called the 1632 Series. In the book 1637: The Coast of Chaos, he is a small character. In the story, time travelers try to stop the Pequot War. They scare away the group that was going to attack Oldham's ship. Oldham is not thankful and thinks about hurting them. He also wants to steal their airship. But he is scared by their better weapons. He tries to get people to drive the Pequots away anyway, saying they attacked him even if they didn't kill him.