History Comes Alive

After the failed Saybrook Conference and expedition of John Endecott the English concern was growing. That concern was quelled from an unlikely source: Roger Williams. The recently exiled preacher would help to set the course for Puritan dominance for generations. Williams skillfully navigated the tough waters of both the current controversy revolving around the Pequots but also the persistent reputation of the English in general. Williams was masterful!

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The Conference at Saybrook had failed. The Block Island expedition had not yielded the results John Endecott had hoped for. Now, against the better judgement of Lion Gardiner, he would take his men and his mission to the heart of Pequot Country. He would again fail to accomplish his intended goals. Instead of humbling the Pequots, he provoked them into aggression... and the Connecticut region would never be the same.

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The Conference at Saybrook had failed. As far as the English were concerned, the time for diplomacy was passed. The Pequots were the designated enemy, but the Easter Niantics would also have to be put in their place. John Endicott was dispatched to dispense English justice. Block Island was his first stop.

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After the failure of the Saybrook Conference, the Pequots were even more isolated. Their options were limited. They were victims of paranoia and covetousness. It seems nothing they did helped to advance their cause, or the cause of peace. The rumors of Pequot viciousness toward the English never materialized. What the Narragansetts did, and the English conclusion, demonstrates the Pequots were playing a game they would never be allowed to win...the true nature and rational of the murder of John Oldham may never be fully known. In this episode we will examine some of the facts that we do know of these events.

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After the murder of John Stone, the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay came to terms with the Pequot Nation through an agreement known as The Treaty of 1634. The terms definitively favored the English. They took full advantage of the provisions afforded them. Within two years, they were very well established in Connecticut. If nothing else, they were determined.

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In 1633 the seemingly invincible Pequot Nation suddenly found themselves dealing with multiple crises. Their stable leadership was gone. Their commanding population was eroding. The world was changing and they had real enemies. One group they had not had a lot of interaction with was the English...but that was about to change...the chain reaction that was set in motion when the Dutch established The House of Good Hope would prove to be disastrous. Their troubles really began with the death of John Stone.

Show Notes for Ep. 36

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Who were the Pequots, and what happened to them? In this episode, we will be introduced to the Pequot nation. They enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top. Where did they come from? What were the dynamics that drove their world?

Show Notes for Ep. 35

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John Underhill had really done it all. After his arrival in 1630, he was very active for whomever he was working for at any given time. In his later years, living under Dutch rule, he maintained an unusual flair for public service and controversy. In our final episode looking at the life of Captain John Underhill we'll find out that he lived more life in his twilight years than many could imagine. Whether you love him or hate him, John Underhill led a fascinating life. It was better than fiction.

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John Underhill lived enough for two men while serving the New England colonies. It was not enough. In the 1640s he left his English responsibilities behind and began an aggressive military campaign against many of the native groups located in New Netherland. Like his time in the service of the English Puritans, this was a bloody, violent time. John Underhill is the embodiment of that certain type of person almost every growing and expanding society needs. Those willing to do the dirty work behind the scenes. His hands would be blood red once again.

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We have been developing the advent of Puritan society in New England. We have met several characters and worked through several events that helped to establish Puritan dominance. In today's episode, we are going to take a detour and introduce some of the events and people that were directly involved in the American Revolution. We are going to fast forward over 100 years and talk about The French and Indian War, it's provocation, and it's conclusion. We'll also introduce George III in a way you may not have thought about him. These are three short blogs presented together that we think will draw a good framework for future episodes.

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