OLDHAM, John

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Notes:

CT A follower of the Puritans from an early age, he emigrated to Plymouth C olony with his wife, children, and sister in July 1623 aboard the An ne. He and Plymouth Colony Governor Bradford had disputes which le d to his banishment from Plymouth. Oldham recovered nicely though. He g rew rich in coastal trade and trading with the Indians. In 1633 or 1634 , Oldham led a group of ten men (which included Captain Robert Seeley), a long the Old CT Path to establish Wethersfield, CT, t he first English settlement on the CT River.

In July 1636 he was on a voyage to trade with Indians on Block Island. O n July 20 he was boarded by hostile Indians, presumed to be Pequots. He a nd five of his crew were killed, and two young boys with him were captu red. The ship's cargo was looted. A fishing vessel rescued the boys and t ried to tow his sloop to port. When adverse winds affected them, they s cuttled the ship but brought the two boys home. His slaying led to the P equot Indian War

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William married SOWTER, Phillipa. Phillipa was born in 1568 in Derby, Derbyshire, England; died in 1636 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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