Thomas Weston (merchant adventurer) facts for kids

Thomas Weston (1584-c.1647) was a London merchant. He became involved with the group of English people called Separatists who lived in Leiden, Holland. These Separatists later became known as the Pilgrims and settled the Plymouth Colony in 1620.

Early Life and Business

Thomas Weston was born in Rugeley, Staffordshire, England. He was baptized on December 21, 1584. His parents were Ralph Weston and Anne Smith. In 1609, he joined the Ironmongers Company in London. This was a group for people who worked with iron.

Weston was a businessman. In 1615, he worked with Edward Pickering to bring religious writings into Holland. These writings were not allowed by the government. Later, in 1619, he and his partner Philomen Powell imported large amounts of alum. They did not pay the required taxes on these goods.

Weston and other merchants faced trouble for their business dealings. They were told to stop their unlimited trade in the Netherlands. Soon after, Weston left England. He traveled to Leiden, Holland. His partner Pickering had married a woman from the Separatist group there. This group of English people had left England because of their religious beliefs. They hoped to travel to America.

Helping the Pilgrims

Thomas Weston was the London merchant who first helped the Leiden Separatists. These Separatists later started the Plymouth Colony in 1620. Weston helped to fund and begin the colony. However, he left the project in 1622. One person who traveled with this group was Phineas Pratt. He later wrote about their experiences in Wessagusset.

Family Life

Thomas Weston married Elizabeth Weaver by October 17, 1623. Her parents were Christopher Weaver and Anne Green.

They had one child, a daughter named Elizabeth Weston. She was born around 1630. Elizabeth married Roger Conant Jr. before January 22, 1661/2. Roger Conant Jr. was the son of Roger Conant. Elizabeth and Roger had two children together. Roger Conant Jr. passed away in June 1672.

• Elizabeth, born about 1630. She married Roger Conant Jr. before January 22, 1661/2. They had two children.

Later Adventures

In early 1622, Thomas Weston started a new colony called Wessagusset. This colony was located in what is now Weymouth. However, this colony did not succeed and failed by March 1623.

After this, Weston left New England. He traveled to Virginia. By 1640, he was in Maryland. William Bradford wrote about Weston in his history book. He said, "So, Mr. Weston had come hither again, and afterward shaped his course for Virginia."

Weston is often mentioned in the writings of William Bradford and Robert Cushman. He was a "Merchant Adventurer." This means he was a promoter and investor. He was known for wanting to make money quickly. Some people said he was not always careful about how he did this.

Weston faced serious trouble with the government. On May 31, 1622, the Council for New England ordered that Weston's ships be taken away. This was because of some of his business dealings.

According to C.M. Andrews, Weston later became a planter in Virginia. He also made trading and fishing trips to the coast of Maine. He often got into trouble for not following the rules. After this, he went to Maryland. He gained new property there. Then, he returned to England.

His Final Years

Thomas Weston died in London. He passed away from the plague. This happened sometime between May 5, 1647, and November 29, 1648.

William Bradford recorded that Weston "died afterwards at Bristol, in the time of the wars, of the sickness in that place." The exact burial place for Thomas Weston and his wife Elizabeth is not known.