USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > A discourse delivered at Providence, August 5, l836 : in commemoration of the first settlement of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Being the second centennial anniversary of the settlement of Providence > Part 7
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Let then our song of joy and gratitude arise to the giver and preserver of all, for his manifold mercies to our fathers, and his rich bounty to us-and may the sound be prolonged, in future centuries, when our descendants shall assemble, in memory of their fathers, and swell the loud pæan of their gratitude.
nearly a century. He will be 98, should he live to the 23d Sept. 1836. He was a liberal patron of the college, and more recently, of the college belonging to the Society of Friends, creeted in this town, in 1818. These four brothers were liberal benefactors to Rhode-Island College, and the three first, more par- ticularly, and their descendants, to the First Baptist Society.
For much interesting information relative to the history of Brown Univer- sity, see Notes, prepared by Professor Goddard, to the Discourse delivered at the dedication of Manning Hall, February 4, 1835, by Dr. Wayland, Presi- dent of Brown University.
* Brown University.
t The question in reference to our northern boundary, now pending before the Supreme Court of the United States, between Rhode Island and Massa- chusetts.
APPENDIX.
Note A-Page 21.
DEED OF THE CHIEF SACHEMS OF NARRAGANSETT TO ROGER WILLIAMS.
" At Narraganset, the 24th of the first month, commonly called March, the second year of the plantation or planting at Moshassuck, or Providence; Memorandum, that we, Canonicus and Miantinomo, the two chief sachems of Narraganset, having two years since sold unto Roger Williams the lands and meadows upon the two fresh rivers, called Moshassuck and Wanasquatucket, do now, by these presents, establish and confirm the bounds of these lands, from the river and fields of Pawtucket, the great hill of Notaquoncanot, on the northwest, and the town of Mashapaug, on the west. We
also, in consideration of the many kindnesses and services he hath continually done for us, both with our friends of Massachusetts, as also at Connecticut, and Apaum, or Plymouth, we do freely give unto him all that land from those rivers reaching to Pawtuxet river; as also the grass and meadows upon the said Pawtuxet river. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.
The mark (a bow) of CANONICUS. The mark (an arrow) of MIANTINOMO.
In the presence of The mark of SOHASH. The mark of ALSOMUNSIT.
" 1639. Memorandum. 3d month, 9th day, this was all again confirmed by Miantinomo. He acknowledged, that he also [illegi- ible] and gave up the streams of Pawtucket and Pawtuxet, without limits, we might have for our use of cattle.
Witness hereof, ROGER WILLIAMS, BENEDICT ARNOLD."
Note B-Page 22.
AGREEMENT IN REGARD TO PAWTUXET LANDS.
October 8th, 1638.
" It is agreed, this day abovesaid, that all the meadow grounds at Pawtuxet, bounding upon the fresh river, on both sides, are to be
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impropriated unto those thirteen persons, being now incorporated together in our town of Providence, viz : Ezekiel Holliman, Fran- cis Weston, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, Robert Cole, William Carpenter, William Harris, John Throckmorton, Richard Water- man, John Greenc, Thomas James, William Arnold, Stukely West- cott ; and to be equally divided among them, and every one to pay an equal proportion to raise up the sum of twenty pounds for the same ; and if it shall come to pass, that some, or any one, of these thirteen persons aforesaid, do not pay or give satisfaction of his or their equal proportion of the aforesaid sum of twenty pounds, by this day eight weeks, which will be the 17th day of the 10th month next ensuing, then they or he shall leave their or his proportion of meadow grounds unto the rest of those thirteen persons, to be at their dispos- ing, who shall make up the whole sum of twenty pounds, which is to be paid to Roger Williams."
This money was punctually paid on the 3d of December follow. ing, and was acknowledged as follows :-
" According to former agreement, I received of the neighbors abovesaid, the full sum of £18 11s. 3d. Per me,
ROGER WILLIAMS."
Note C-Page 23.
DEED OF CONFIRMATION FROM ROGER WILLIAMS TO HIS ASSOCIATES, SOMETIMES CALLED THE HISTORICAL DEED.
" Be it known unto all men by these presents, that I, Roger Wil- liams, of the town of Providence, in the Naraganset Bay, in New- England, having, in the year one thousand six hundred thirty-four, and in the year one thousand six hundred thirty-five, had several treaties with Canonicus and Miantinomo, the two chief sachems of the Narraganset, and in the end purchased of them the lands and meadows upon the two fresh rivers called Moshassuck and Wanas- quatucket, the two sachems having, by a deed, under their hands, two years after the sale thereof, established and confirmed the bounds of these lands from the rivers and fields of Pawtucket, the great hill of Notaquoncanot on the northwest, and the town of Mashapaug on the west, notwithstanding I had the frequent promise of Miantinomo, my kind friend, that it should not be land that I should want about these bounds mentioned, provided that I satisfied the Indians there inhabiting. I having made covenant of peaceable neighborhood with all the sachems and natives round about us, and having, of a sense of God's merciful Providence unto me in my dis- tress, called the place Providence, I desired it might be for a shelter
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for persons distressed for conscience. I then considering the con- dition of divers of my distressed countrymen, I communicated my said purchase unto my loving friends, John Throckmorton, William Arnold, William Harris, Stukely Westcott, John Greene, Senior, Thomas Olney, Senior, Richard Waterman, and others, who then desired to take shelter here with me, and in succession unto so many others as we should receive into the fellowship and society of enjoying and disposing of the said purchase ; and besides the first that were admitted, our town records declare, that afterwards we received Chad Brown, William Field, Thomas Harris, Senior, Wil- liam Wickenden, Robert Williams, Gregory Dexter, and others, as our town book declares ; and whereas, by God's merciful assist- ance, I was the procurer of the purchase, not by monies nor pay- ment, the natives being so shy and jealous that monies could not do it, but by that language, acquaintance and favor with the natives, and other advantages, which it pleased God to give me, and also bore the charges and venture of all the gratuities, which I gave to the great sachems and other sachems and natives round about us, and lay engaged for a loving and peaceable neighborhood with them, to my great charge and travel ; it was therefore thought fit by some loving friends, that I should receive some loving considera- tion and gratuity, and it was agreed between us, that every person that should be admitted into the fellowship of enjoying land and dis- posing of the purchase, should pay thirty shillings unto the public stock ; and first, about thirty pounds should be paid unto myself, by thirty shillings a person, as they were admitted ; this sum I received, and in love to my friends, and with respect to a town and place of succor for the distressed as aforesaid, I do acknowledge the said sum and payment as full satisfaction ; and whereas in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven, so called, I delivered the deed subscribed by the two aforesaid chief sachems, so much there- of as concerneth the aforementioned lands, from myself and from my heirs, unto the whole number of the purchasers, with all my power, right and title therein, reserving only unto myself one single share equal unto any of the rest of that number ; I now again, in a more formal way, under my hand and seal, confirm my former re- signation of that deed of the lands aforesaid, and bind myself, my heirs, my executors, my administrators and assigns, never to molest any of the said persons already received, or hereafter to be received, into the society of purchasers, as aforesaid ; but that they, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, shall at all times quietly and peaceably enjoy the premises and every part thereof, and I do further by these presents bind myself, my heirs, my executors, my administrators and assigns, never to lay any claim, nor cause any claim to be laid, to any of the lands aforementioned, or unto any part or parcel thereof, more than unto my own single share, by vir. tue or pretence of any former bargain, sale or mortgage whatsoever,
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or jointures, thirds or entails made by me, the said Roger Williams, or of any other person, either for, by, through or under me. In witness whereof, I have hercunto set my hand and seal, the twen- tieth day of December, in the present year one thousand six hun- dred sixty-onc.
" ROGER WILLIAMS. (Seal.)
" Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us, Thomas Smith, Joseph Carpenter. Memorandum, the words, of the pur- chase, were interlined before these presents were sealed. I, Mary Williams, wife unto Roger Williams, do assent unto the premises. Witness my hand, this twentieth day of December, in this present year, one thousand six hundred sixty-one.
The mark of (M. W.) MARY WILLIAMS.
" Acknowledged and subscribed before me,
" WILLIAM FIELD, Assistant.
" Enrolled, April the 6th, 1662, pr. me, "THOMAS OLNEY, Junr., Town Clerk."
Note D-Page 23.
DEED FROM ROGER WILLIAMS TO HIS TWELVE ORIGINAL ASSOCIATES.
"Providence, 8th of the 8th month, 1638, (so called.)
" Memorandum, that I, Roger Williams, having formerly pur- chased of Canonicus and Miantinomo, this our situation, or planta- tion, of New-Providence, viz. the two fresh rivers, Wanasquatucket and Moshassuck, and the ground and meadows thereupon ; in con- sideration of thirty pounds received from the inhabitants of said place, do freely and fully pass, grant and make over equal right and power of enjoying and disposing of the same grounds and lands unto my loving friends and neighbors, Stukely Westcott, William Arnold, Thomas James, Robert Cole, John Greene, John Throck. morton, William Harris, William Carpenter, Thomas Olney, Fran- cis Weston, Richard Waterman, Ezekiel Holliman, and such others as the major part of us shall admit into the same fellowship of vote with us :- As also I do freely make and pass over equal right and power of enjoying and disposing of the lands and grounds reaching from the aforesaid rivers unto the great river Pawtuxet, with the grass and meadows thereupon, which was so lately given and grant- ed by the aforesaid sachems to me. Witness my hand,
ROGER WILLIAMS."
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Note E-Page 55.
The statement of Mr. Eddy will be found among the notes ap- pended to Walsh's Review, pp. 429 to 435.
The great object of Mr. Eddy was to show that this statement of Chalmers was untrue, and to vindicate the fathers of this State from the aspersion which was thus cast upon their memories, and in this he was eminently successful. Whatever imputation may rest upon the Rhode-Island Legislature from 1719 to 1745, it is very clear that those who established, in Rhode-Island, the great principle of liberty of conscience, were consistent to the last : their sun went down with the same radiance with which it arose.
The manuscript Digest of the Rhode-Island Laws of 1719, con- tained not the obnoxious exception, nor was it to be found in any of the preceding records of the State. It is found in the printed Digest of 1745, and is there stated as having passed in 1663-4. Mr. Ed. dy shows how this mistake arose.
But we should be careful (in our anxiety to remove what has been called a blot upon our history, and to show that it rested not upon the fathers of this colony) that we do not, in our sensitiveness, over- look the true character of the act which appears in the Digest of 1745. It will appear that it did not conflict with the liberty of con- science secured by the Charter of 1663-4. This very act provides that all " rights and privileges granted to this colony by his Maj- esty's Charter, be entirely kept and preserved to all his Majesty's subjects residing in or belonging to the same." Roman Catho- lics were not by this law prevented from coming into this colony, or subjected to any penalty or prosecution on account of their religion whilst remaining within it, but had free liberty to enjoy the same without being in " any wise (in the words of the Charter) molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any differ- ences in opinion in matters of religion." They were disqualified simply from electing and being elected to office, and were therefore no more subject to persecution than those who possess not the estate required to be admitted freemen. In Rhode-Island a man may be a free inhabitant, entitled to all the benefits of protection from the laws, and the full enjoyment of life, liberty, property and religion, without being a freeman. Before he can have any voice in town affairs, or in the political elections of the State, he must be ad- mitted a freeman by a vote of the town wherein he dwells. In Feb- ruary, 1783, an act passed which provided that " Roman Catholic citizens being of competent estates, and of civil conversation, and acknowledging and paying obedience to the civil magistrate, might be admitted freemen and have liberty to choose and be chosen civil or military officers."
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The following was omitted in its proper place, and is here in. serted as a most interesting fact in our early history. It is one of the earliest acts on record, in American or European history, in mitigation of African Slavery. It was passed May 19, 1652, by the government of Providence and Warwick, whilst separated from Newport and Portsmouth, by Coddington's obstruction. It is in these words :
"Whereas there is a common course practised among English- men to bring Negers, to the end they may have them for service or slaves forever ; for the preventing of such practices among us let it be ordered, that no black-mankind, or white being formed by cov- enant bond or otherwise, to serve any man or his assigns longer than ten years (until they come to be twenty-four years of age, if they be taken in under fourteen) from the time of their coming within the liberties of this colony ; and at the end or term of ten years to set them free as the manner is with the English servants. And that man that will not let them go free, or shall sell him away elsewhere, to the end that they may be enslaved to others for a longer time, he or they shall forfeit to the colony forty pounds."
The author would here acknowledge the essential aid he received, in pre. paring the preceding discourse, from the Historical Collections of Henry Bull, Esq. of Newport, which have been, (since January 3d, 1832,) and still continue to be published in the " Rhode-Island Republican," printed at New. port. Mr. Bull is a lineal descendant of Governor Bull, who accepted of the government under the circumstances mentioned in page 61. We hope he will persevere and finish the labors he has begun ; they will be of great service to the future historian of Rhode-Island.
Erratum .- Page 13, line 7th, for " should not break," read "should break forth at once."
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KERMAN CO
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