Josiah Winslow

Josiah Winslow
13th Governor of Plymouth Colony
In office 1673–1680
Preceded by	Thomas Prence
Succeeded by	Thomas Hinckley
Personal details
Born	1628 Plymouth, Massachusetts
Died	December 18, 1680 Marshfield, Massachusetts
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Penelope Pelham
Children	4

Josiah Winslow (1628 – December 18, 1680) was an American Pilgrim leader. He served as governor of Plymouth Colony from 1673 to 1680.

Born in Plymouth Colony (now Plymouth, Massachusetts), he was son of Edward Winslow and Susanna White. In 1651 in London, with his father, he married Penelope Pelham, daughter of Herbert Pelham, the first treasurer of Harvard College. She had previously lived in Plymouth Colony from 1638-1649. Edward, Josiah and Penelope had portraits painted in London that year. (Josiah's mother had remained in Plymouth on their estate, Careswell, in the town of Marshfield.) Josiah returned to Plymouth with his wife in 1655, the same year his father died on an excursion to the Caribbean against the Dutch. Josiah was the first governor of the colony born in the New World and served at the time of King Philip's War.

Josiah took a harsher stand against the Indians than his father had done. Instead of relying on their allies, the Wampanoag, for survival, learning New World skills, and as trade partners, the second generation Plymouth settlers were now eager to dominate this new land and further expand the colony. In this endeavor, the Wampanoag now stood in the way. Metacom, chief of the Wampanoag (aka King Philip) and Josiah, did not have a relationship of trust as did their fathers. Josiah demanded concessions from the Indians and demanded they give up their arms. In other equally overt and subtle ways the past alliance bonds were broken. Metacom, insulted in his own homeland, resisted, and decided to make a stand. He gathered native allies and the devastating King Philip's War soon broke out all over New England.

Josiah Winslow had two half-brothers. Resolved White was the eldest child of William and Susannah White, and had crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower while a young child. The second child born to William White and Susannah White was Peregrine White, the first English child born in New England.

Josiah and Penelope had a daughter who died at two days, a daughter Elizabeth, a son Edward who died in his first year and a son, Isaac.

Sources

• Encyclopædia Britannica

External links

• Short biography of Josiah Winslow at Plymouth Hall Museum website
• Winslow Family Homestead