Today’s Leader of Faith
THOMAS MAYHEW Sr.
Home Call : 25 March 1682
Founder and Governor of Martha’s Vineyard, Missionary.
Thomas Mayhew Sr. (1593–1682) was an English colonial settler known for establishing Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. He was also a pioneering missionary among the Wampanoag in colonial New England (America, then under British rule). Unlike many colonists, Mayhew Sr. and his son, Thomas Mayhew Jr., sought peaceful relations with the Wampanoag, integrating Christianity into their culture rather than imposing European customs. They learned the Wampanoag language and taught biblical principles in their native tongue. Hiacoomes, a respected Wampanoag leader, became the first notable convert and a strong advocate for Christianity. By the 1650s, many Wampanoag had embraced the faith, forming self-sustaining Christian communities. In 1657, Thomas Mayhew Jr. sailed to England to seek support for the mission but was lost at sea. Undeterred, Mayhew Sr. took full charge of the mission at age 60, continuing to preach and nurture its growth for 25 more years until his death.
Mayhew Sr, born on 1 April 1593 in Tisbury, England. He migrated to Massachusetts in 1631/2 and managed properties in Medford. In 1641, he acquired Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands, establishing a settlement with his son, Thomas the Younger. They maintained peaceful relations with the native Wampanoags and promoted Christianity. Thomas the Younger drowned in 1657, and Mayhew’s grandsons assisted in governance. In 1665, Martha’s Vineyard was placed under the Duke of York, but Mayhew retained control. He ruled as “Governor” until his death in 1682, and his family’s rule ended in 1691 when the island was annexed by Massachusetts.
Kenneth Scott Latourette described the Missionary Mayhews of Martha’s Vineyard as the longest and most persistent missionary effort in Christian history. Initially, he sought economic gain, but his son, Thomas Mayhew Jr., took up the Indian mission out of spiritual concern. They abandoned secular duties to minister among the 3,000 Pokanaukets, leading to 283 converts, a school, and regular worship meetings by 1652. In 1657, Thomas Mayhew Jr. sailed for England but was lost at sea. Despite this tragedy, he continued the mission. Unlike many indigenous Christian communities in colonial New England (America, then under British rule), which were devastated during King Philip’s War (1675–1678), the Mayhew mission remained largely intact. Mayhew Sr. and his successors emphasized literacy and education among Native American converts. Christian texts were translated into the Wampanoag language, preserving both the faith and aspects of their native culture.
Thomas Mayhew Sr. lived to be nearly 90 years old, passing away in 1682. His long life allowed him to see the fruits of his labour, as many Wampanoag had embraced Christianity, and Martha’s Vineyard remained a peaceful, stable colony under his governance. His grandson, John Mayhew, carried on the missionary work, ensuring its continuity. The Mayhew family remained deeply involved in the Christian outreach to the Wampanoag for multiple generations.