Topic: Marymount

Thomas Morton’s inclusive approach to indigenous tribes and his celebration of May Day with a giant maypole drew the ire of Governor John Winthrop. The Puritans spread propaganda claiming Merrymount was a site of drunken orgies and fornication, though Morton maintained it was a peaceful gathering. Tensions escalated when Morton began selling guns to smaller tribes for self-defense against aggressive neighbors, leading the Puritans to view him as a threat to their safety and religious mission.