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Banished, R.W. Escapes to the Wilderness

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Author and Natural Philosopher

Fri 8 Feb 2019
Published 7 years ago.
Updated 2 years ago.
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Roger Williams compass and sundial. Tradition says he owned this compass from about 1830.

Banished, R.W. Escapes to the Wilderness

1636

The local legislature decided to send Roger Williams back to England for trial. In early Jan 1636, Roger Williams flees into the wilderness with very little. We know he had his compass and sundial, and that he journeyed to Narragansett Bay with his young devoted servant Thomas Angell. The two wandered for almost fourteen weeks through the winter and into the spring of 1636, encountering hardships along the way. This compass is now in the Smithsonian. Francis Wickes joined  them at some point during their 14 week journey, or soon after they arrived at Providence.

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher

Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.

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7 Jan 2026
Essay of the Week
The Architecture of Change: Finding Stability in Flux
Story of the Week
Heraclitus
Quote of the Week
“Everything is in flux.”
Weekly Crossroads!
1. Science »
Will the night sky have stars nearly forever?
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Is cause and effect certain?
4. History!
Who were the Presocratic Philosophers?
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