Roger williams was it founder of rhode island and also the founder of the First Baptist church in america. Williams was born in london around 160 thr3. Were not sure of which because his birth records were burned up in the great london fire. He became a chapel for one of the great pureten lords. But because he was a puriten. He fled to england, arrived in at boston in february of 1631. This is a radical idea at this time. Every country had had a state church. They all had their own state supported churches. The taxes of the people paid for it ministers and the buildings and you had to go to church or theyd fine you. Williams said the state has no role whatsoever to play in religion. Eeventually he was put on trial and convicted of sedition and ha hauracy and was going to ship back to england before he could die. So he fled through it winter around february of 1636 and walked down from what is today salem where he was then taken in by izhad friends, the wompa indians. The following spri