A popular history of the United States : from the first discovery of the western hemisphere by the Northmen, to the end of the first century of the union of the states ; preceded by a sketch of the prehistoric period and the age of the mound builders . 1 See p. 457. 1636.] DEATH OF OLDHAM. 557 of the Massachusetts Bay Company their title to the lands whichthey held under the hand and seal of the king. Restless, energetic,always engaged in some enterprise, he certainly was ; and there is noevidence that there was anything more amiss in him than belongsalmost inevitably to a man of violent tempe
A popular history of the United States : from the first discovery of the western hemisphere by the Northmen, to the end of the first century of the union of the states ; preceded by a sketch of the prehistoric period and the age of the mound builders . 1 See p. 457. 1636.] DEATH OF OLDHAM. 557 of the Massachusetts Bay Company their title to the lands whichthey held under the hand and seal of the king. Restless, energetic,always engaged in some enterprise, he certainly was ; and there is noevidence that there was anything more amiss in him than belongsalmost inevitably to a man of violent temper, removed in a great de-gree from the restraints of civilization, leading a life of adventure,associating and trading with the Indians till he had acquired, perhaps,as such men are apt to do, something of the habits and almost thenature of an Indian. In 1636 he was trading in a vessel of his own, along the Connecti-cut River. What encounter there may have been between him andthe Indians, that led to the final catastrophe, is not known — whetherhis vessel was boarded by them merely for plunder, or whether someaggression on his part provoked retaliation. But off Block Island, aMassachusetts fisherman, John Gallop, descried the vessel drifting. Recapture of Oldhams Vessel. helplessly out to sea, crowded with Indians who could handle neitherhelm nor sail. Gallop, who had only one man and two boys with him,without hesitation attacked the vessel and then boarded her, assault-ing the Indians with such weapons as he had at hand. It must havebeen a gallant naval battle, for the brave fisherman and his brave 558 NEW ENGLAND COLONIES. [Chap. XXL companions drove the Indians before them, some diving into the holdfor safety, some throwing themselves into the sea, till none were leftupon the vessel but the dying and the dead. Upon the deck lay thebody of Oldham, still bleeding from recent wounds where he hadfallen with his crew in defence of his vessel. This death of Oldham was the signal
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