The Story of Rhode Island | S1E1 - Roger Williams, the Lone Radical

1631 - 1632 | Roger Williams arrives in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and begins advocating for religious freedom.

My Favorite Books on This Topic:

Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty by John M. Barry

Roger Williams: The Church and the State by Edmund Morgan by Edmund Morgan

Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England by William Cronon

*Map image from Rhode Island Boundaries by John H Cady.

To learn more about this episode and more go to The Story of Rhode Island website

What is The Story of Rhode Island?

The history of Rhode Island is truly remarkable. The Story of Rhode Island is my humble attempt to tell you some of the stories about the people, places, and events that have made Rhode Island the state it is today.

To learn more about the show visit the Story of Rhode Island Podcast website at https://www.storyofrhodeisland.com/

Opening:

Hello and welcome to the story of Rhode Island. The podcast that tells you the story of Rhode Island’s fascinating history. For episode 1 we’ll be discussing the founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams but as we take our first look at Williams he’s still years away from founding Rhode Island. It’s January of 1631 and Williams is a young, radical minister traveling aboard a ship named the Lyon. Surrounding Williams are hundreds of Puritans who are fleeing England for the Puritan Colony in America, known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their already dangerous journey is made even more horrifying by the winter weather; monstrous waves, nonstop winds, and icy rain are a daily occurance. But the people on the Lyon had no choice, they simply had to flee England. The religious persecution Williams and the Puritans dealt with in England was growing more dire everyday and it was only a matter of time before they ended up in jail. Although the Puritans’ journey across the Atlantic is horrifying they all have one thing on their mind keeping them hopeful; America. Because America means freedom, the freedom to worship God in a way that aligns with their Puritan beliefs. However, Roger Williams has a different idea of freedom, one that is far more radical. Williams doesn’t just want religious freedoms for Puritans but for everybody. He believes that everyone should be given the freedom to worship God however they wish, even if it differs from what the Puritans believe. But Williams knows that the leaders of the Puritan movement, people he’s grown extremely close to over the past several years, will consider his belief in religious freedom not only insane but a threat to their new colony. Therefore, Williams has kept his radical belief a secret for now. But that’s about to change. When he arrives in America he’ll share his radical concept of religious freedom and a battle of ideas will ensue between himself and the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts. A battle that will change his life forever. The story of Roger Williams first voicing his radical ideals is what we’ll cover in Episode 1 of the Story of Rhode Island Podcast.

Scene 1:

As the winds continue to howl with a devilish cry, the Lyon is relentlessly tossed around the rough Atlantic Ocean. It’s almost as if mother nature and the devil have decided to team up and toy with the Puritans onboard. Then, A monstrous wave slams against the side of the Lyon. Icy Atlantic waters splash onto the ship's upper deck drenching the crew that attempt to keep the Lyon upright. As the frigid waters seep through the floorboards of the ship they eventually land on the head of Roger Williams sitting below. Williams attempts to dry his head but as soon as he does another wave hits the Lyon, making him even colder than he was a minute ago. He shakes his head in disbelief, struggling to understand how he ended up in such a dire situation. Unfortunately for the young radical minister it was simply unlucky timing. Right around the time he became a well-known Puritan chaplain, England's King, King Charles I, began jailing Puritan ministers throughout England. If Williams had not made the decision to leave for Massachusetts then he would’ve almost certainly ended up in jail. Joining Williams on his journey to America is his wife, Mary. The couple has only been married for a little over a year now and both are still young, Williams being 28 and Mary just 22. They don’t have any children yet so they’ve been praying that God will bless them with kids in the near future. But that’s a prayer for another day because for today they just hope that God will allow them to make it to Massachusetts safely. Waiting for the Lyon in Massachusetts are hundreds of other Puritans led by their Governor, John Winthrop. Perhaps nobody is more committed to the Puritan movement than Winthrop. He’s emphatically claimed that Massachusetts will become a QUOTE “City upon a hill” UNQUOTE, a colony that perfectly exemplifies what it means to be a true Christian nation. To ensure this happens he believes that the religious practices of their citizens must be tightly controlled; everyone must be forced to adhere to the Puritan’s ideals. But when Roger Williams arrives in Massachusetts he’ll challenge the very type of religious control Winthrop plans on implementing. Instead Williams will advocate for complete religious freedom. Such an idea will infuriate the Puritan leaders in Massachusetts. They’ll be shocked to find out that one of their most promising ministers harbors such radical ideas. In 17th century western civilization the idea of religious freedom is considered absurd. No nation would dare give their people such a degree of freedom as they are sure it would only lead to sin and chaos. As Williams sits on the Lyon he’s bothered by the inevitable conflict that is bound to ensue. He knows that once he begins fighting for religious freedom the leaders of Massachusetts will think he’s threatening to destroy their ideal Christian society and the people he once considered his closest friends will quickly become his biggest enemy. Although brave, williams can’t help but wonder if he’s strong enough to endure the battle that’s ahead of him. Soon enough, Williams will have his answer. In just a couple of weeks the Lyon will arrive in America and his fight for religious freedom will begin.

In early February of 1631, Roger Williams' treacherous journey across the Atlantic comes to an end. As the Lyon approaches Boston, Massachusetts all of the Puritans collectively let out a sigh of relief, that is all of them except for Roger Williams. William's body is flooded with an odd mixture of emotions. While he’s never felt more committed to his radical ideals he’s also nervous about the conflict that’s headed his way. When the couple step off the Lyon they begin taking their first steps in the newly built town of Boston. It was just a few months ago when John Winthrop decided to leave the town of Newtown, or what we know today as Cambridge, and build the town of Boston on the Shawmut Peninsula. Williams quickly realizes that Boston is still experiencing the typical growing pains that all newly built settlements face. He sees a starving population that’s desperately awaiting the 200 tons of food that are sitting aboard the Lyon. Boston’s public food stores have run out and many have resorted to eating acorns and nuts to avoid starvation. The starving people of Boston flock to the Lyon as food supplies like butter, cheese, and oatmeal are carried off of the ship. But The sick and weak colonists suffering from scurvy skip the food and head towards the lemons, hoping that the fruit will cure their ailments. Williams is even more shocked when he realizes that instead of houses most people are living in wigwams and tents, desperately doing everything they can to stay warm. While observing his new home Williams hears somebody call out to him. “Mr. Williams!” a welcoming voice calls out “glad to have you with us in Massachusetts”. As Williams turns around he realizes that the man calling to him is John Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts. Winthrop approaches swiftly as he’s excited to greet Roger Williams to his colony. The governor considers Williams to be a Godly Minister and plans to make him an integral part of their new Colony. As the two men chat Winthrop has a smile on his face throughout the entire conversation. Williams manages to force a smile as well but behind his smiles lies thoughts of the conflict that will soon occur between himself and the man he is speaking to. Winthrop then tells Williams about the challenges they’ve experienced throughout the winter and how he’s seen 11 of his own servants die from the conditions. But Since he now has the extra space, he tells Williams and his wife that they can stay with him while they get situated in Boston. Williams reluctantly accepts the offer and his time in Massachusetts begins.

Over the next couple of months, Roger Williams begins voicing his radical ideas to the leaders of Massachusetts. It starts when he tells them that he’s taken his puritan beliefs to new lengths and is now a separatist. The separatists, like the Puritans, also believe that the Church of England needs to be purified of Catholicism but unlike the Puritans they have given up on the Church of England and no longer consider it to be a true christian church. John Winthrop and the Puritan leaders are shocked to hear about Williams separatists beliefs but they quickly find out that Williams has even more radical ideas he’s kept hidden inside of him. A few weeks later,, Williams then begins advocating for religious freedom when he finds out that the leaders of Massachusetts plan on punishing people who do not abide by the 10 commandments. Roger Williams tells the leaders of Massachusetts that the state has no right to do such a thing because the first four of the ten commandments deal with an individual's personal relationship with God. Williams claims that everyone should be given the freedom to have whatever type of relationship with God that they wish, even if it differs from what the Puritans believe in. Such a statement is deeply despised by the Puritans. They not only consider it absurd but a threat to their goal of creating an ideal Christian society. Immediately after Williams shares his views, the leaders of Massachusetts meet to strategize how they should deal with Williams' push for religious freedom. Their discussion takes place in the spring of 1631.

It’s late at night and John Winthrop is tired. He’s tired of dealing with the challenges of building a new colony, he’s tired of Roger Williams advocating for religious freedom, and he’s certainly had enough of the conversation taking place in front of him. The Puritan leaders of Massachusetts have been shouting at each other for hours trying to agree on how they should respond to Roger Williams' push for religious freedom. The loudest man in the room is Thomas Dudley, a man with a rich military history. The more Dudley speaks, the louder his voice becomes, making Winthrop increasingly annoyed. Dudley and Winthrop have had their fair share of disagreements while in Massachusetts. Dudley’s had a grudge with Winthrop ever since Winthrop decided to move out of Newtowne and build the town of Boston on the Shawmut peninsula. When Winthrop moved to Boston, the other leaders of Massachusetts left Dudley behin in Newtowne and since then Dudley’s watched Boston become the unofficial capital of Massachusetts. But in reality, there’s a deeper reason for their feud, something that speaks more to their difference in personality. When it comes to ensuring everyone in Massachusetts conforms to their Puritan beliefs, Dudley prefers strict discipline whereas Winthrop prefers a more lenient approach. Therefore, the argument taking place on this Spring night has primarily been centered around Dudley aggressively asserting why Williams must be harshly dealt with while Winthrop rationally advocates for a more cautious approach. Suddenly, the men grow completely silent and listen closely as they hear the faint howl of a wolf outside. The wolves of New England have proven to be quite a nuisance to the Puritans and have been terrorizing their livestock since they first arrived. Winthrop himself refuses to travel without a gun at night just in case he encounters one of the beasts. When the wolf’s howl eventually fades into the distance the men agree that it’s about time to head home. To Dudley’s disappointment, the men decide to take Winthrop’s guidance and hold off on taking any harsh actions against Williams for the time being. Williams is still without an official position at any of the churches in Massachusetts so he doesn’t really have the means to convince others to accept his absurd idea of religious freedom. Therefore, there’s no immediate need to cause any commotion in their society and for now it will suffice to just keep a close eye on Williams. When the discussion finally comes to an end the leaders of Massachusetts slowly begin departing out of the Boston meetinghouse and see that the town has grown completely still. As winthrop travels home, he once again hears the sound of wolves howling in the distance but tonight it seems like there are more of them than usual. Winthrop wonders if the wolves are a bad omen for the future battles he’ll eventually face with Roger Williams. For the remainder of his journey home Winthrop prays that Williams will simply give up his fight for religious freedom. Unfortunately for Winthrop, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Shortly after that discussion the leaders of Massachusetts receive some troubling news. Winthrop is informed that Roger Williams is on his way to Salem as he was just offered to be the teacher of the Salem Church. The leaders of Massachusetts know that this position will give Roger Williams the opportunity to sway people towards his radical ways. At this point, the magistrates of Massachusetts all agree that something has to be done so they decide to step in and begin persuading the Salem Church to revoke their offer. The Salem Church, having no desire to challenge the most powerful men in Massachusetts, give in and revoke their offer to Williams. When Williams hears about what the state of Massachusetts has done he’s furious. To him, this only further proves his point why the church must be protected from the intrusion of the state. But at the same time, he knows that as long as the magistrates of Massachusetts are keeping a close eye on him that he’ll never be able to obtain the support he needs to see his belief in religious freedom implemented. Therefore, Williams and his wife decide to pack up their belongings and move south to the separatists community named Plymouth where they will continue to fight for religious freedom. Massachusetts has managed to solve their Roger Williams problem for now but it won’t stay that way for long. While in Plymouth Roger Williams will not only continue advocating for religious freedom but also develop another radical view that will shake up Puritan society in New England. Soon enough, Massachusetts will realize that their challenges with Roger Williams are far from over.

When Roger Williams arrives in Plymouth Colony in 1631 he’s happy to see that plymouth has already pushed through the growing pains that Massachusetts was still experiencing. Plymouth Colony was founded back in the winter of 1620 and has established a strong foothold in the New World. While in Plymouth, Roger Williams is an unpaid pastor and although people certainly enjoy his sermons he still needs to make a living. To do this Williams begins trading with the tribes of southern New England, primarily the Pokanoket and the Narragansett tribes, two of the strongest tribes in southern New England. Overtime, he demonstrates that he’s an open minded individual who is genuinely interested in their way of life so he develops a strong friendship with the sachems or leaders of the Pokanoket and Narragansett tribes. The Pokanokets are led by their sachem, Osamequin. Although the Pokanokets were decimated by the epidemic that ravaged the tribes of New England from 1616-1619 they’ve since watched their influence grow after allying themselves with Plymouth Colony in 1621. The tribe rules over about numerous subtribes and their territory includes most of present day eastern Rhode Island and southeastern massachusetts. However, the other tribe Williams trades with, Narragansett tribe, is even stronger than the Pokanokets as they are THE strongest tribe in southern New England. The Narragansett’s saw their power rise after avoiding the 1616 epidemic and becoming one of the sole producers of wampum, a form of currency of New England at the time. The size of their population alone speaks to their strength. In 1630, the entire English population in NE was at most 2500 people whereas the population of the Narragansett nation was up to 25,000 people. It’s even rumored that they can field up to 2000 warriors. The Narragansett tribe is also made up by a confederation of tribes and are led by their head sachems, Canonicus and his nephew, Miantonomi. Their land encompasses most of present day Rhode Island that lies to the west of Narragansett Bay along with the Islands inside the bay. While Roger Williams is living in Plymouth, the Narragansett and Pokanoket tribes are bitter rivals but in a few decades they will put their differences aside and wage a war against the English colonies of New England. The war will have the highest death rate in American history, destroying towns like Providence, Wickford, and others throughout New England. But we’ll cover that story later on in season one. While trading with the tribes Roger Williams makes a troubling discover and realizes that the English do not fully understand how the natives use the land. This discovery that will lead him to attack the legitimacy of the English land grants and once again put him at odds with the Puritan leaders in America. Williams makes this discovery while visiting the Pokanoket on a summer day in 1632.

As Roger Williams travels southwest down the Taunton River he pulls hard on his paddle and his canoe moves swiftly through the water. On this summer day, he’s heading towards Sowams, a large area of land that is home to the Pokanoket tribe. Today, the land of Sowams is made up of East Providence, Barrington, Warren, and Bristol, Rhode Island along with Seekonk, Rehoboth, and Swansea, Massachusetts. Over the past year or so Williams has made numerous trips to this area so his body has grown strong from his journeys. After traveling for a while Williams eventually begins seeing open patches of land that have been cleared out of the forests by the pokanoket tribe. Williams has noticed other tribes clearing land as well and has always wondered why the natives choose to conduct such an activity. What benefit could this possibly bring them, he thinks to himself. But his pondering is interrupted and his vision redirected forward when the Taunton river opens up into a body of water that we know today as Mount Hope Bay. In front of him he sees a piece of land sticking out into the bay and on that land is a hill, known to the Pokanokets as Potumtuk but what is now referred to as Mount Hope. As Williams passes Potumtuk he hears members of the Pokanoket tribe fishing along the Kickemuit River to the north. Williams knows he is close so he grips his paddle tightly and begins paddling towards them. As he approaches the beaches of the Kickemuit, men, women, and children of the Pokanoket tribe come out to welcome him back to their land. They are standing at their summer encampment which is located in present day Bristol, Rhode Island, just north of Narrows road. Williams parks his canoe on the sand and is led to their sachem, Osamequin.

After a short trip through the woods, Williams reaches the Pokanoket’s village and is greeted warmly by Osamequin who is sitting comfortably in his wigwam. The two begin discussing Williams’ journey down the Taunton River. As they talk, the Sachem sits calmly while playing with the wampum beads wrapped around his neck. Williams smiles as he is happy to see his friend again and he proudly tells Osamequin how his numerous trips throughout New England have made him strong. Williams even attempts to speak Algonquin, the language used by the tribes of southern new england. Osamequin chuckles as Williams struggles to pronounce the words. Eventually, Roger Williams thinks about the cleared land he saw on his journey and asks Osamequin why the Pokanokets and other tribes as well choose to clear the land? The sachem tells Williams that the native throughout southern New England clear the land by burning the trees and underbrush because it helps with planting and hunting activities. Burning the land makes the soil more fertile for growing and makes it easier for their men to hunt. When Osamequin finishes his explanations Williams sits there with a bewildered look in his face. He’s shocked by this discovery. Because the monarchy of England has assumed that since there were no villages on these cleared lands that they were vacant and has been handing out grants for these lands. However, William's new discovery shows that some of this land, land that some of Massachusetts is built on, is actually being used by the natives. This means that the English have stolen the natives land, making some of their land grants invalid. Eventually, Osamequin realizes that Williams is distracted and asks what’s wrong. Williams, hesitant to discuss the issue with his friend just yet, tells him that he’s tired and just needs some sleep. The sachem tells Williams that he can sleep in one of the wigwams for the night and the two men depart for bed. As Williams lies awake in the wigwam he knows that he has to tell the Puritans about their error but he also knows that the Puritans will despise such a claim. The Puritans leaders in New England consider the natives nothing better than heathen savages. When they arrived in the new world and realized that disease had wiped out many of the New England’s tribes they considered it a gift from God, a sign that he was clearing the land to make way for their new colony. But Williams knows he must do what’s right, no matter what the consequences. Soon enough, Williams will return to Massachusetts and not only reignite his fight for religious freedom but also begin fighting for the rights of the natives as well. When support for Williams' arguments grows the Puritans will realize that they have a real problem on their hands and a showdown will take place between Williams and the orthodox leaders of Massachusetts, a showdown that will change Roger Williams' life forever. But that’s a story for next time on episode two of the Story of Rhode Island Podcast.