The Sinner
1634 - 1638
On Election Day in May 1636, Boston’s merchants
sweep Vane into the governor’s seat, with John Winthrop relegated to be his
deputy. Young Henry takes up office amid pomp and splendor, trooping down
Cornhill (present Washington Street) to the meetinghouse with an honor guard of
halberdiers. Fifteen ships in the harbor fire a salute, their captains invited
to a banquet with the first proper Bostonian. This roaring affair takes place in
Cole’s ordinary, no guzzler cut off for raising one mug too many.
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| Map showing Cole's Inn location on Washington Street (from Old Boston Taverns by Samuel Adams Drake |
Samuel Maverick is a favorite of the new governor,
who becomes a patron of the rustic arts that flourish on Noddles Island. It’s
not these revels that give greatest offence to Winthrop and his supporters.
It’s Governor Vane’s attendance at meetings in the Hutchinson house, where he
hangs on every word of the American Jezebel.
Anne has the liveliest constituency of any leader
in the colony. “A woman who preaches better than any of your black-coats who’ve
been to the ninneversity,” an
ebullient follower tells Edward Johnson, a London visitor.
In May 1636, John Wheelwright, Anne’s
brother-in-law, arrives in Boston. Wheelwright, a respected minister, is a
staunch supporter of Anne and her beliefs. To men like John Winthrop and Thomas
Steele, Anne’s followers threaten colonial authority by preaching sedition and
slandering ministers who disagree with them. Before they can begin to eradicate
the “filthy sins of an abominable community of women,” Satan unleashes another
group of devils to torment them.
On July 20, 1636, Adam Trane is en route to
Narragansett Bay with fellow trader John Gallop, going to barter for wampum.
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| Wampum |
They spy a pinnace riding off Block Island, its deck crowded with Indians and
no sign of its owner, John Oldham. They maneuver alongside and board with their
men. Oldham’s mutilated body lies before their eyes. His two sons are missing.
All but two Indians in the vessel are slaughtered. The pair who surrender are
bound with ropes: “Gallop being well acquainted with their skill to untie
themselves, if two be together, threw one into the sea and let him drown.”
Adam carries news of Oldham’s murder back to
Boston. He is immediately dispatched with an embassy to Canonicus and
Miantonomo, Narragansett sachems to whom the Block Island Indians are subject.
The sachems produce Oldham’s sons and return his goods. They tell Adam that two
surviving assassins fled to the Pequots, most fearsome tribe in New England.
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| Block Island by Charles Lanman - Walters Art Museum |
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