Thanksgiving Edition #2 - Issac Allerton - Disgraced Pilgrim - You Can't Keep a Good Man Down

Isaac Allerton (my 10th GGF on my mother's side) was born in London in 1583. He was baptized St. Andrews Undershaft Catholic Church in the City of London. History has mixed reviews of his character but not of his successes. Isaac had four different successful careers during his lifetime and three major setbacks. But ultimately he lived into his 70s and died a wealthy man.

CAREER AS MERCHANT TAILOR - 

His first career was that of tailor in London. But his religious beliefs caused him to flee London with the Robinson Separatists and settle in Leiden, Holland. He was one of three men granted honorary citizenship in Holland allowing him greater freedoms of employment as a merchant tailor. He rose to be an important member of the group as they decided to leave Holland for the New World. He was the fifth signer of the Mayflower Compact, a key foundational document establishing representative government in the New World.

HARDSHIP - Isaac survived the first horrific winter in Plymouth which was no small feat.  The Pilgrims arrived expecting to grow crops but it was winter for which they were ill prepared.  Half of the members of the colony died, including Isaac's wife and stillborn child.

CAREER AS PLANTER AND AGENT FOR PLYMOUTH COLONY - Isaac was a planter, assistant governor, and London agent for the Plymouth colony. He made many trips to England to negotiate on behalf of the colony.  He married his second wife, Fear Brewster, the daughter of William Brewster, well-educated senior leader in Plymouth Colony and former English official. 

HARDSHIP - William Bradford, governor of Plymouth, was wary of Isaac. Bradford was a narrow-minded conservative hardliner while Isaac had become more liberal in his ways and beliefs. Bradford used the words “unlucky” and “unscrupulous” to refer to Isaac when it became apparent that Isaac used his capacity as Plymouth’s designated negotiator to make some questionable and unapproved deals as well as using colony property as security for his private dealings.  The deals Isaac made didn't turn out to be profitable and Bradford bitterly laid the fault at Isaac's feet.  Isaac left the Colony in disgrace and authorized the sale of his lands, goods and cattle to clear all his debts and repay the colony for losses.

FISHING CAREER - After leaving Plymouth he relocated to Marblehead where he had received a license to engage in commercial fishing. His license was the first issued making him the Father of the Fishing Industry in the New England colonies. His venture was hard work but Isaac was up to the task.  Isaac married for the third, and final time, to Johanne Swinnerton.

HARDSHIP - Isaac made a controversial hire. He hired his friend, Thomas Morton of Merrymount as his secretary. Morton was known as the Lord of Misrule and leader of the Merrymount, neo-pagan utopian colony in Massachusetts. It was Morton's dream to recreate the merry old days of England in America.  His rake and libertine manner drew ire from the pious. One of Morton's great "sins" according to the Puritans was giving aid and shelter to Quakers.  Quakers had no need for ordained clergy of any kind in order to “talk to Jesus” directly.  Everyone, including women, were equivalent to any minister or preacher. For Puritans, this was not only blasphemous, but a threat to their highly structured way of life.  Puritans arrested and even executed Quakers simply for not being Puritans. 

 

Morton and Isaac were also friends with Roger Williams who had taken holy orders with Church of England but later became convinced the Church was corrupt and beyond reform. He immigrated to the New World as a Separatist and was an advocate of the controversial idea of complete separation of church and state which was frowned on by Puritans and Pilgrims alike. Williams opposed any government enforcement of religious commandments such as church attendance, gossiping, coveting, etc.  Isaac's friendships with Morton and Williams caused him to be expelled from Marblehead.

YANKEE TRADER CAREER - 

After being expelled from Marblehead, Isaac became one of New England’s most successful trader-merchants and a prominent citizen of both New Haven and New Amsterdam. Isaac travelled to all of the ports on the Atlantic Coast, in addition to Barbados, Dutch West Indies, Spain, Portugal, and England. The historical records of New Amsterdam, New Haven and New Sweden contain no evidence that his trading practices were unscrupulous. Johan Rising, Governor of New Sweden, recorded that Isaac drove a “sharp bargain,” but so did all trader merchants of the time. He established warehouses and trade lines all along the Atlantic coast. In 1655 he was listed as the 5th wealthiest man in New Amsterdam. He was truly the Father of American Commerce.