George Burdett

George Burdett (c. 1602-1671) was the second colonial governor of the Upper Plantation of New Hampshire, later to become the Province of New Hampshire, between 1637 and 1640. Born in England, Burdett was a minister of the Church of England serving at Yarmouth. Under the pretence of being oppressed by a fellow bishop, but in reality because he had been suspended for disrespecting a statue of Jesus, he left his life and children and travelled to New England in 1636.[1] Burdett spent a short time in Salem, Massachusetts before travelling to Dover, New Hampshire where his popularity led to his election as governor within a year. His ministry was characterised by the dispute between Episcopalian and Puritan settlers,[2] resulting in "confusion and trouble."[3]

Burdett corresponded with Archbishop William Laud, and when this was discovered by his political opponents, he was forced from office. Following an adulterous revelation, he left for Agamenticus (present-day York, Maine), however he fell into "usurpation, crime and injustice".[4] According to State Papers from Maine, he was "indicted by the whole Bench for a man of ill name and fame." He was charged with committing adultery with two married women and ordered to pay compensation.[3] As a result, he returned to England, where he served as chaplain to Parliamentary regiments during the English Civil War. After the Restoration he served as a minister in Ireland.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Congregational Quarterly. Vol. VIII. 1866.
  2. ↑ Breen, p. 246.
  3. 1 2 Provincial and state papers, Volume 1. New Hampshire. pp. 119–121.
  4. ↑ Lawrence, p. 318.

References

Government offices
Preceded by
Thomas Wiggin		 Governor of the Upper Plantations of New Hampshire
1637-1641 		Succeeded by
Thomas Dudley
as Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony
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