A Peacemaker in Troubled Times

 

Notable among the visitors to East Budleigh’s 2025 Scarecrow Festival on 7/8 June was a figure from the distant past. Born in the village over four centuries ago, a generation later than its better known Sir Walter Raleigh, Roger Conant was very different from Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite courtier. Sailing across the Atlantic to America in around 1623, he founded the Massachusetts city of Salem.  Today, he is seen as a more modest and peace-loving character than many of the country’s European pioneers. 

And so, ‘Roger Conant’ had come to the 2025 Scarecrow Festival to preside over its Duck Race, now named after him. Many visitors to the American city are struck by the sight of Roger Conant’s statue with its tall hat and long cloak, unfortunately sited next to Salem’s Witch Museum. Understandably they think that its founder must have dabbled in the black arts. Some of East Budleigh’s visitors at the weekend probably thought the same. 

So ‘Roger Conant’ was keen to tell his own story. To some of them he voiced his concerns about the present state of the country of which he is seen as one of the Founding Fathers. And beside the village brook at the start of the Duck Race he addressed the crowds, revealing his role as a peacemaker in troubled times:

The Salter’s Song

 

In sixteen hundred and twenty-three,  

A yeoman’s son from East Budleigh  

Did wish his family ‘Au revoir!   

I’m off to find America.’

 

In London town he’d learnt his trade:  

As salter he had made the grade. 

Now Roger Conant was his name; 

We think he needs a bit more fame.

 

His wife called Sarah joined the ship 

With baby Caleb on the trip.

They sailed across the ocean deep. 

I don’t suppose they had much sleep.

 

And finally at Plymouth Bay, 

Where previous Pilgrims showed the way,  

The Conant family came ashore. 

The year was sixteen twenty-four. 

 

Now Roger’s skill was salting fish  

To make a decent kind of dish.

For, just in case you have forgotten, 

No fridges meant your food went rotten.

 

Just north of Plymouth is Cape Ann. 

West Country merchants had a plan  

To make the Cape a fishing port,  

And maybe even build a fort. 

 

And Roger was named supervisor.  

They said of him ‘There is none wiser!’  

It was of course a job promotion  

With splendid outlook on the ocean.

 

A major problem did occur,  

For Plymouth’s Pilgrims furious were.

Their Captain Standish did arrive.  

The year was sixteen twenty-five.

 

This man was noted for his ire. 

‘Be gone!’ he said. ‘I’ll open fire!

That fishing stage is ours by right.  

We will not hesitate to fight!’

 

The fishermen denied access.  

It could have been a bloody mess.

But hero Roger saved the day.  

His words of peace made all ok. 

 

Conciliation, then and now,   

Is always better than a row.

Diplomacy, a path to peace,  

Will cause all stupid wars to cease. 

 

In Massachusetts he’s renowned,  

For this East Budleigh man did found

A city, which has earned a name

Which matches Roger’s statue’s fame.

 

It’s also known, I’ve heard it said,

And in biographies I’ve read,

That Roger Conant’s peaceful vibe

Impressed the Massachusett tribe.

 

So Roger Conant, worthy chap,  

Deserves, we feel, a special clap.

These verses do indeed attest:  

‘Peacemakers are most surely blest.’

 

PS. If you go to All Saints’ Church in East Budleigh you can see local artist John Washington’s painting of the scene in 1625 which shows the celebrated confrontation between Roger Conant and Captain Myles Standish. The painting is entitled ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’.

PPS. Salem’s terrible ‘Witch Trials’ took place many years after Roger Conant’s death.

PPPS. There is no connection between East Budleigh’s Salem Chapel and the city of Salem. The word simply means ‘Peace’, as in Hebrew ‘Shalom’ and Arabic ‘Salaam’.