Roger Conant's Life
Roger lived in three very different worlds - East Budleigh, England, London and New England in America
Roger Conant was born in East Budleigh, Devon, England on April 9, 1592 and died November 19, 1679 in Massachusetts Bay Colony at the ripe old age of 87.
1592-1609 East Budleigh, Devon to age 17, 17 years
East Budleigh was (and still is) a quaint and quiet seaside village in the southwest of England on English Channel; it is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Roger grew up in a comfortable and religious family; his father, Richard, was quite wealthy and a Church Warden at the local church.
Roger seems to be well educated and probably studied at the local vicar’s place. Since he was so close to the shore, he must have spent a lot of time on the beach enjoying the beauty of the area. He may have begun his apprenticeship in the salter business at one of the local tanneries. He seems to have had a good childhood and learned the values of honesty, ethical behavior and tolerance from his father and neighbors which served him well later in life when he became a peacemaker
About East Budleigh Village see East Budleigh History - Raleigh Mission Community Please note that the Raleigh Mission Community site does not mention Roger or any Conant on its website.
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In the 1870s, John Everett Millais painted The Boyhood of Raleigh along this very coast. You can imagine the same world Roger grew up in – wrapped up in these seaside stories of adventurers and explorers who were traveling the world at the Queen’s behest.
1609-1623 London, England
Can you imagine the culture shock that hit Roger when he arrived in London as a teenager after growing up in the East Budleigh protected bubble? East Budleigh was a haven off of the beaten path, London was filled with pickpockets, beggars, drunks, prostitutes, churches and Elizabethan writers and thinkers. And the smells; the sewer systems did not keep up the explosive growth in the early 1600s. It was exact opposite of life in peaceful and quiet Devon.
Ages 17 to 31, 14 years
1623-1679 New England, America
Can you imagine the culture shock that hit Roger when he arrived in Plymouth Colony with its vast wilderness, infighting and starvation? He must have felt like he was about three miles past the edge of the world after living in the cosmopolitan world of London.
Ages 31 to 87, 56 years
There are many writings about Roger's life. One of the most complete and very boring tedious tome is The Conant Family by F.O. Conant
