John Endecott Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Endecott (c. 1588-1665), also spelled "Endicott", was a colonial governor (1629-1630, 1644-1645, 1649-1650, 1651-1654 and 1655-1664) and deputy governor (1641-1644, 1650-1651 and 1654-1655) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the New World. Endecott arrived with 60 other settlers in the Naumkeag, future site of Salem, Massachusetts and already settled by seceders from the Plymouth colony, led by Roger Conant. The colony benefitted from his strong - at times stern - leadership during his first winter there, and he remained active in the colony's politics whenever he found himself without an official position. He also led the Massachusetts militia in 1636 during the Pequot War. However, Endecott was also a strict Puritan and is remembered for his religious intolerance, most notably the torture and religious executions of Quakers.