FATHER

Richard Conant

MOTHER

Agnes Clark

WIFE

Sarah Horton

CHILDREN

1. Sarah Conant b. 1619

2. Caleb Conant b. 1622

3. Lot Conant b. Abt. 1625

4. Roger Conant b. 1626

5. sarah Conant b. Abt. 1628

6. Joshua Conant b. Abt. 1630

7. Mary Conant b. Abt. 1632

8. Elizabeth Conant b. Ab.t 1634

9. Excerise Conant b. 1637

America's First Families Ancestor Roll Of Honor

ROGER CONANT
MASSACHUSETTS (1591-1679)

A statue of Roger CONANT stands in Historic Salem today, in tribute of his contribution and early settlement in Salem and the Massachusetts Colony.

Roger CONANT, born 15 April 1591, was the eighth child of very respectable parents, Richard and Agnes (Clarke) CONANT, in East Budleigh, Devonshire, England. At about age 18 (1609) he and his older brother, Christopher, went to London and established themselves in career and community. Roger was a salter and Christopher was a grocer. During this time Roger probably married a first wife but she died in 1618, leaving no children. On 11 November 1618, Roger married Sarah HORTON, daughter of Thomas and Katherine (Satchfield) HORTON, at St. Ann Blackfriars in London. They had two children born there, one of which died less than two months old in 1619.

By 1623 Roger and Christopher had decided to pay their voyage to America. They had religious disagreements with the church and undoubtedly had an adventuresome spirit. It is known that Christopher came on the Anneto Plymouth Colony arriving in July, 1923. It is assumed that Roger, Sarah and son, Caleb (just over a year old), were also on that ship. No other ship record of them has been discovered.

Upon arriving at Plymouth, Roger seems to have been at odds with the settlers there, he being a Puritan, not a separatist, as they were. Some of the new settlers, particularly noteable, the Rev. John LYFORD and John OLDHAM, were expelled to Nantasket. Shortly thereafter, Roger and his family followed them. Christopher seems to have remained in Plymouth but no further record has been found of him. Roger resided at "Conant's Island", later called "Governor's Island" in Boston Harbor.

Upon hearing of Roger CONANT's good character and ability, Rev. John WHITE and the Dorchester Company asked him to manage their affairs at Cape Ann. Cape Ann had commenced in 1622-23 as a fishing site. Roger agreed to take charge of the settlement in the fall of 1625. Despite the settlement size of 200, the fishing trade did not profit and the growing of crops was not successful. The decision to disband the community was made. Roger, himself, did not like the Cape Ann location. A new site was chosen at Naumkeag, later called Salem. In the fall of 1626, the CONANTS and about 40 settlers moved to Salem. Many of their group in Cape Ann went to Virginia but Roger was determined to remain in what was to become Massachusetts Colony.

In 1627-28 a patent of land in Massachusetts Colony was granted and the news reached Salem in June, 1628. Roger expected to be appointed Governor or agent since he had already been the agent in charge for three years. However, one of the patentees, John ENDICOTT, was sent from England with about 50 new settlers and was designated the Governor. Despite the disappointment Roger CONANT must have felt, and the disagreements between the old and new settlers, he continued in his effort for a successful venture there, putting the good of the public above his own.

Roger became a freeman 18 May 1631. He was listed with the church members of Salem in 1636. He was a representative to the First General Court of Massachusetts Colony in 1636. He was appointed Essex magistrate and served regularly on the juries of Essex County. He held many town offices and was a Salem Selectman for many years.

Sarah and Roger had eight more children in America. Their sixth child, Roger, was the first white child born in Salem. They primarily resided in the Bass River section of Salem, now called Beverly.

Roger died 19 November 1679 in Beverly, following the death of his wife, Sarah. He accumulated a sizeable estate and lands.

Altho Roger CONANT was not the foremost leader in Massachusetts he certainly was instrumental in the development of it. He was a first settler of Salem, was agent of the beginning of the Colony for three years and served in many civic capacities. He was known to be of great integrity and character and always put the good of the community ahead of his own desires and ideas. he was an excellent arbitrator, often settling matters that could have caused much division and death. Also, because of his connections and reputation in England, his influence brought the formation of the Massachusetts Colony into reality.

Primary references:
"The Great Migration Begins",Robert Charles Anderson. NEHGS,Boston, 1995 Vol.1.
"The Conant Family in America", Frederick Odell Conant
Tourist information of Salem, MA
Submitted by Mrs. Robin Norman