USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > Governors for three hundred years, 1638-1959; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations > Part 6
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James P. Reid, (Soc. Labor) 2,877
Edwin A. Lewis, (Prohib.). 2,012
42,856
Gov. Dyer's plurality, 11,519.
1899. For Elisha Dyer, (Rep.) 24,308
George W. Greene, (Dem.) 14,602
Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 2,941
Joseph A. Peckham, (Prohib.) .. 1,279
Gov. Dyer's plurality, 9,706. 43,130
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
46
1900. For William Gregory, (Rep.) 26,043
= Nathan W. Littlefield, (Dem.) .. 17,184 James P. Reid, (Soc. Labor) 2,858 Henry B. Metcalf, (Prohib.) 1,848
Gov. Gregory's plurality, 8,859. 47,933
1901. For William Gregory, (Rep.) 25,575
Lucius F. C. Garvin, (Dem.) .. 19,038
= William E. Brightman, (Prohib.) 1,945 James P. Reid, (Soc. Labor) .... 1,120
Gov. Gregory's plurality, 6,531. 47.678
1902. For Lucius F. C. Garvin, (Dem.) ... 32,279 Charles Dean Kimball, (Rep.) .. 24,54]
William E. Brightman, (Prohib.) 1,689 Peter McDermott, (Soc. Labor) . 1,283 Scattering. 1
Gov. Garvin's plurality, 7,738. 59,793
1903. Lucius F. C. Garvin, (Dem.) 30,578
= Samuel Pomeroy Colt, (Rep.) . 29,275
William O. Angilly, (Soc. Labor) 943 Frederick T. Jencks, (Pro.) 936 James E. Furlong, (Soc.) 303
62,035
Gov. Garvin's plurality, 1,303.
1904. For George H. Utter, (Rep.) 33,821
Lucius F. C. Garvin, (Dem.) 32,965
William E. Brightman, (Prohib.) 1,089 John Edward Carney, (Socialist) 743
Peter McDermott, (Soc. Labor) . 487
69,105
Gov. Utter's plurality, 856.
1905. For George H. Utter, (Rep.) 31,311
Lucius F. C. Garvin, (Dem.) 25,816
Bernon E. Helme, (Prohib.) ... 882 Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 367 Warren A. Carpenter, (Socialist) 364
58,740
Gov. Utter's plurality, 5,495.
1906. For James H. Higgins, (Dem.) 33,195
George H. Utter, (Rep.) 31,877
Bernon E. Helme, (Prohib.) 714 Warren A. Carpenter, (Socialist) 395 David J. Moran, (Soc. Labor) ... 320
66,501
Gov. Higgins's plurality, 1,318.
1907. For James H. Higgins, (Dem.) 33,300
Frederick H. Jackson, (Rep.) .. 31,005
Louis E. Remington, (Prohib.) . 831 William H. Johnston, (Socialist) 681 " John W. Leach, (Soc. Labor) ... 289
Gov. Higgins's plurality, 2,295. 66,106
1908. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.) 38,676
Olney Arnold, (Dem.) 31,406
William H. Johnston, (Socialist) 1,321
Louis E. Remington, (Prohib.) . 1,229
Albert E. Mowry, (Independ- ence) . 679
Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 198
73,509
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 7,270.
1909. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.). 37,107
Olney Arnold, (Dem.). 25,338
Willis H. White, (Prohib.) 1,417
= Fred Hurst, (Socialist) 946
= Richard Holland, (Soc. Labor) . 259
65,097
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 11,769.
1910. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.) 33,540
Lewis A. Waterman, (Dem.) .. 32,400
Nathaniel C. Greene, (Prohib.) . 998
Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 684
67,622
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 1,140.
1911. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.) 37,969
= Lewis A. Waterman, (Dem.) 30,575
Ernest L. Merry, (Prohib.) 912
= Edward W. Theinert, (Socialist) . 1,392
John W. Leach, (Soc. Labor)
. ..
307
71,155
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 7,394.
1912. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.) 34,133
.. Theodore Francis Green, (Dein.) 32,725
Willis H. White, (Prohib.) 687
Samuel H. Fassel, (Socialist) ... 1.913
Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 251
=
Albert H. Humes, (Prog.)
8,457
78,166
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 1,408.
1914. For R. Livingston Beeckman, (Rep.) 41,996 Patrick H. Quinn, (Dem.) . 32,182
Fred D. Thompson, (Prog.) 1,256
Edward W. Theinert, (Socialist) 1,691
= Ernest L. Merry, (Prohib.). 622
Peter McDermott, (Soc. Labor) . 276
78,023
Gov. Beeckman's plurality, 9,814.
1916. For R. Livingston Beeckman, (Rep.) 49,524
46 Addison P. Munroe, (Dem.) .... 36,158
John H. Holloway, (Socialist) . 2,167
Roscoe W. Phillips, (Prohib.) .. 518
Thomas F. Herrick, (Soc. Labor) 201
88.568
Gov. Beeckman's plurality, 13,366. 1918. For R. Livingston Beeckman, (Rep.) 42,682 Alberic A. Archambault, (Dem.) 36,031 Ernest Sherwood, (Soc.) . 1,648
80,361*
Gov. Beeckman's plurality, 6,651.
*Including vote cast by electors absent in the military service of the United States.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
47
1920. For Emery J. San Souci, (Rep.) .109,138 Edward M. Sullivan, (Dem.) 55,963 Ernest Sherwood, (Soc.) .. 3,292 Peter McDermott, (Soc. Labor) . 449
168,842+
Gov. San Souci's plurality, 53,175.
#Including vote cast by women electors for the first time.
1922. For William S. Flynn, (Dem.)
81,935
Harold J. Gross, (Rep.) 74,724
Charles F. Bishop, (Soc. Labor) . 949 George W. Miller, (Lab. Party) . 802
-- 158,410
Gov. Flynn's plurality, 7,211.
1924. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.)
122,749
= Felix A. Toupin, (Dem.) 85,942 Charles Bishop, (Soc. Lab.) 321
Edward W. Theinert, (Workers'
Party) .
378
Frederick W. A. Hurst,
(Soc
Party) .
214
209,604
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 36,807.
1926. For Aram J. Pothier, (Rep.) 89,574 Joseph H. Gainer, (Dem.). 75,882 Peter McDermott, (Soc. Lab.) .. 743 - -166,199
Gov. Pothier's plurality, 13,692.
1928. For Norman S. Case, (Rep.) ... . . 121,748 Alberic A. Archambault, (Dem.) 113,594 Charles F. Bishop, (Soc. Labor) 388 Edward W. Theinert, (Workers' Party) 275
-236,005
Gov. Case's plurality, 8,154.
1930. For Norman S. Case, (Rep.) . .. 112,070
Theodore Francis Green, (Dem.) 108,558 Charles H. Dana, (Soc. Lab.) .. 1,168
---- 221,796
Gov. Case's plurality, 3,512.
*1932. For Theodore Francis Green, (Dem.) 146,474 Norman S. Case, (Rep.) .115,438
Charles H. Bishop, (Soc. Lab.) . 441
" James P. Reid, (Communist). 549 Frederick W. A. Hurst, (Soc.) 1,949
Roscoe W. Phillips, (Pro.) ..
503
--- 266,354
Gov. Green's plurality, 31,036.
*Including vote cast by absentee voters for the first time.
1934. For Theodore Francis Green, (Dem.) 140,258
Luke H. Callan, (Rep.) 105,139 Joseph M. Coldwell, (Soc.) 2,333
-247,730
Gov. Green's plurality, 35,119.
1936 r Robert E. Quinn, (Dem.) 160,776
Charles P. Sisson, (Rep.) 137,369
Charles F. Bishop, (Soc. Labor) . 998
James P. Reid, (Com.) 481
-299,624
Gov. Quinn's plurality, 23,407.
1938. For William H. Vanderbilt, (Rep.) . 167,003 Robert E. Quinn, (Dem.) ...... 129,603
44 William H. Vanderbilt, (G.G.) . 1,621
Walter E. O'Hara, (Square Deal) 12,696
Morris Kominsky, (Com.)
366
311,289
Gov. Vanderbilt's plurality, 39,021.
1940. For J. Howard McGrath, (Dem.) ... 177,937 William H. Vanderbilt, (Rep.) .140,474 Wilfred J. Boissy, (Com.) 257
-318,668 Gov. McGrath's plurality, 37,463.
1942. For J. Howard McGrath, (Dem.) ... 139,407 James O. McManus, (Rep.) 98,741
238,148 Gov. McGrath's plurality, 40,666.
1944. For J. Howard J. McGrath, (Dem.) .179,010 " Norman D. Macleod, (Rep.) ... 116,158
-295,168 Gov. McGrath's plurality, 62,852.
1946. For John O. Pastore, (Dem.) 148,885 John G. Murphy, (Rep.) 126,456
-275,341
Gov. Pastore's plurality, 22,429.
1948. For John O. Pastore, (Dem.).
198,056
Albert P. Ruerat, (Rep.)
124,441
Clemens J. France, (Progress.)
1,366
-323,863
Gov. Pastore's plurality, 73,615.
1950. For Dennis J. Roberts, (Dem.) ... .. 176,125 Eugene J. Lachapelle, (Rep.) . .120,683
296,808 Gov. Roberts' plurality, 55,442.
1952. For Dennis J. Roberts, (Dem.). .. 215.587 Raoul Archambault, (Rep.) .... 194,102
-- 409,689
Gov. Roberts's plurality, 21,485.
1954. For Dennis J. Roberts, (Dem.) 189,595 Dean J. Lewis, (Rep.) 137,131
Arthur E. Marley, (Ind.)
1,944
-328,670 Gov. Roberts's plurality, 52,464.
1956. For Dennis J. Roberts, (Dem.) . .. .192,315 Christopher Del Sesto, (Rep.) .. 191,604 383,919
Gov. Roberts's plurality, 711.
1958. For Christopher Del Sesto, (Rep.) ... 176,505 Dennis J. Roberts, (Dem.) . .. .. 170,275 -346,780
Gov. Del Sesto's plurality, 6,230.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
48
EXECUTIVE HEADS 1638-1663 Governors of Rhode Island
The State originally consisted of four towns: Providence settled in 1636. Portsmouth in 1638. Newport in 1639, and Warwick in 1642. The Executive heads of Portsmouth and Newport were entitled Judges until 1640 then those two towns united, and the chief officer thereafter was called Governor. Providence and Warwick had no executive head until 1647.
PORTSMOUTH
JUDGES
WILLIAM CODDINGTON March 7, 1638 - April 30, 1639
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON April 30, 1639 - March 16, 1640
NEWPORT
JUDGE
WILLIAM CODDINGTON April 28, 1639 - March 12, 1640
PORTSMOUTH AND NEWPORT
GOVERNOR
WILLIAM CODDINGTON March 12, 1640 - May 19, 1647
In 1647 the four towns were united under a charter or patent granted in 1643 by Parliament.
CHIEF OFFICER UNDER 1643 CHARTER
ROGER WILLIAMS 1645 - 1647
Note: Roger Williams was probably chief officer from September 1644 to May 1647.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
49
PRESIDENTS UNDER THE CHARTER OF 1643
JOHN COGGESHALL May 1647 to May 1648 * JEREMY CLARKE
May 1648 to May 1649
JOHN SMITH May 1649 to May 1650
NICHOLAS EASTON
May 1650 to May 1651
*William Coddington of Newport was elected but the General Court would not engage him for failing to clear himself of certain accusations.
In 1651 a separation occurred between the Towns of Providence and Warwick on the one side which continued the Government established under the Charter of 1643 and Newport and Portsmouth on the other under a new Government under the Coddington Commission.
PROVIDENCE AND WARWICK PRESIDENTS
SAMUEL GORTON
Oct. 1651 to May 1652
JOHN SMITH May 1652 to May 1653
GREGORY DEXTER
May 1653 to May 1654
PORTSMOUTH AND NEWPORT
GOVERNOR
WILLIAM CODDINGTON
1651 to 1653
PRESIDENTS
JOHN SANFORD
1653 to 1654
NICHOLAS EASTON
May 1654 to Sept. 1654
ROGER WILLIAMS
Sept. 1654 to May 1657
BENEDICT ARNOLD
May 1657 to May 1660
WILLIAM BRENTON
May 1660 to May 1662
BENEDICT ARNOLD
May 1662 to Nov. 1663
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
50
GOVERNORS UNDER THE ROYAL CHARTER OF 1663
NAME OF GOVERNOR
YEAR
Age Entering Office
Agc at Death
Length of Service
Benedict Arnold
₹1669-1672
..
William Brenton
1666-1669
60
Nicholas Easton
1672-1674
77
82
2
William Coddington
51674-1676
37
77
66
(1678-1678
11676-1677
36
74
3
Walter Clarke
< 1686-1686
. .
John Cranston
1678-1680
52
55
2
Peleg Sanford
1680-1683
41
61
3
66
William Coddington, Jr.
1683-1685
32
37
2
11%
Henry Bull
(1690-1690
John Easton
1690-1695
66
80
Caleb Carr
1695-1695
73
72
1/2 yr.
1Samuel Cranston
1698-1727
39
68
29
yrs.
Joseph Jencks
1727-1732
71
84
UT
William Wanton
1732-1733
62
63
11/2 yr.
John Wanton
1734-1740
51
74
3
[1743-1745
48
62
103/4
William Greene
1748-1755
. .
.
....
[1757-1758
52
74
2
"
Gideon Wanton
11747-1748
48
78
9
Stephen Hopkins
)1763-1765
. .
. .
.. . .
[1767-1768
37
51
3
Samuel Ward
21765-1767
Josias Lyndon
1768-1769
64
74
yr.
Joseph Wanton
1769-1775
64
75
6
yrs.
Nicholas Cooke
1775-1778
58
65
3
William Greene, Jr.
1778-1786
47
78
8
John Collins
1786-1790
69
78
4
Arthur Fenner
1790-1805
45
60
15
3Isaac Wilbour
1806-1807
43
74
1
yT.
James Fenner
21824-1831
William Jones
1811-1817
56
69
6
Nehemiah R. Knight
1817-1821
37
74
4
William C. Gibbs
1821-1824
34
81
3
Lemuel H. Arnold
1831-1833
39
60
9
John Brown Francis
1833-1838
41
73
5
William Sprague
1838-1839
39
57
1
yr.
Samuel Ward King
1840-1843
54
65
3
yrs.
. .
.
.
1Longest term of office. 29 consecutive years. "Shortest term of office.
3Elected Lieutenant Governor-Served the entire year as governor.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
51
6°
yrs.
Richard Ward
[1685-1686
77
85
..
. .
1746-1747
(1745-1746
[1755-1757
1758-1762
(1762-1763
36
75
11
yr's.
[1663-1666
48
63
7
yrs.
(1677-1678
(1696-1698
68
1740-1743
(1807-1811
66
Governors Under the Constitution of 1843
NAME OF GOVERNOR
YEAR
Age Entering Office
Age at Death
Length of Service
James Fenner
1843-1845
36
75
2 yrs.
Charles Jackson
1845-1846
48
79
1
yr.
Byron Diman
1846-1847
51
70
1
Elisha Harris
1847-1849
56
70
2 yrs.
Henry B. Anthony
1849-1851
34
69
2
Philip Allen
1851-1853
66
80
2
Francis M. Dimond
1853-1854
57
62
1 yr.
William W. Hoppin
1954-1857
47
73
3 yrs.
Elisha Dyer, Sr.
1857-1859
46
79
2 "
Thomas G. Turner
1859-1860
49
65
William Sprague
1860-1863
30
85
3 yrs.
William C. Cozzens
1863-1863
52
65
3 mos.
James Y. Smith
1863-1866
57
67
3 yrs.
Ambrose E. Burnside
1866-1869
42
57
3
Seth Padelford
1869-1873
62
71
4
Henry Howard
1873-1875
47
79
2
Henry Lippitt
1875-1877
57
73
2
Charles C. Van Zandt
1877-1880
47
64
3
Alfred H. Littlefield
1880-1883
51
64
3
Augustus O. Bourn
1883-1885
49
91
2
George P. Wetmore
1885-1887
42
75
2
John W. Davis
21890-1891
61
81
2
Royal C. Taft
1888-1889
65
89
1 yr.
Herbert W. Ladd
§1889-1890
46
70
2 yrs.
D. Russell Brown
1892-1895
44
71
3 .
Charles W. Lippitt
1895-1897
49
78
2
Elisha Dyer, Jr.
1897-1900
58
67
3
William Gregory
1900-1901
51
52
1
Charles D. Kimball
1901-1903
42
71
2 yrs.
Lucius F. C. Garvin
1903-1905
59
81
9 4
George H. Utter
1905-1907
49
58
2
James H. Higgins
1907-1909
31
51
2
Aram J. Pothier
1909-1915
68
74
6
R. Livingston Beeckman
1915-1921
48
69
6
Emery J. San Souci
1921-1923
64
79
2
66
LIVING GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
William S. Flynn, Providence
1923-1925
38
2 yrs.
Norman S. Case, Providence
1928-1933
40
5
Theodore F. Green, Providence
1933-1937
66
.
4
Robert E. Quinn, West Warwick
1937-1939
43
2
William H. Vanderbilt, Portsmouth
1939-1941
38
2
J. Howard McGrath, Providence
1941-1945
38
John O. Pastore, Providence
1945-1950
38
John S. McKiernan, Providence
1950-1951
39
24 days
Dennis J. Roberts, Providence
1951-1958
48
8 yrs.
Christopher DelSesto, Providence
1959
52
Recently Elected
1Longest term of office.
2Shortest term of office.
52
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
.
5
.
4
yr.
§1887-1888
1891-1892
.
1 yr.
PLACE OF BURIAL
Governors Under the Royal Charter of 1663
NAME OF GOVERNOR
PLACE OF BURIAL
Benedict Arnold
Arnold Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
William Brenton
Fort Adams
Newport, R. I.
Nicholas Easton
Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
William Coddington
.Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Walter Clarke
.Golden Hill Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
John Cranston
Common Ground Cemetery
.Newport, R. I.
Peleg Sanford
Unknown-Probably
.Newport, R. I.
William Coddington, Jr.
.Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Henry Bull
. Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
John Easton
Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Caleb Carr
Family Lot Jamestown, R. I.
Samuel Cranston
.Common Ground Cemetery Newport, R. I.
Joseph Jenks
Mineral Spring Cemetery
Pawtucket, R. I.
William Wanton
Golden Hill Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
John Wanton
.Coddington Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Richard Ward
Common Ground Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
William Greene
. Roelker Burial Ground
Warwick, R. I.
Gideon Wanton
Friends' Burial Ground
Newport, R. I.
Stephen Hopkins
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
Samuel Ward
. Common Ground Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Josias Lyndon
Old Kickemuit Cemetery
.Warren, R. I.
Joseph Wanton
Golden Hill Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Nicholas Cooke
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
William Greene
Roelker Burial Ground
Warwick, R. I.
John Collins
Family Lot Neck of
Newport, R. I.
Arthur Fenner
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
Isaac Wilbour
Wilbour Cemetery
Little Compton, R. I.
James Fenner
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
William Jones
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Nehemiah R. Knight
Grace Church Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
William C. Gibbs
Island Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Lemuel H. Arnold
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
John Brown Francis
.North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
William Sprague
.Swan Point Cemetery
.Providence, R. I.
Samuel Ward King
Family Lot (Hartford Ave.)
Johnston, R. I.
Executive Heads 1638-1663
NAME OF EXECUTIVE
PLACE OF BURIAL
William Hutchinson
Unknown-Probably
Portsmouth, R. I.
Roger Williams
. Prospect Terrace
Providence, R. I.
John Coggeshall
Golden Hill Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
John Smith
.Old Greene Cemetery
Warwick, R. I.
Samuel Gorton
Gorton Cemetery
Warwick, R. I.
Gregory Dexter
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
John Sanford
Unknown-Probably
Portsmouth, R. I.
Jeremy Clarke
. Coggeshall Cemetery Newport, R. I.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
53
Governors Under the Constitution of1843
NAME OF GOVERNOR
PLACE OF BURIAL
James Fenner
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
Charles Jackson
.North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
Byron Diman
Juniper Hill
Bristol, R. I.
Elisha Harris
Greenwood Cemetery
Phenix, R. I.
Henry B. Anthony
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Philip Allen
North Burial Ground
Providence, R. I.
Francis M. Dimond
.Juniper Hill Cemetery
Bristol, R. I.
William W. Hoppin
.Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Elisha Dyer
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Thomas G. Turner
South Cemetery
Warren, R. I.
William Sprague
.Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
William C. Cozzens
Island Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
James Y. Smith
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Ambrose E. Burnside
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Seth Padelford
.Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Henry Howard
.Greenwood Cemetery
Phenix, R. I.
Henry Lippitt
.Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Charles C. Van Zandt
Island Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
Alfred H. Littlefield
Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
Augustus O. Bourn
Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
George P. Wetmore
Island Cemetery
Newport, R. I.
John W. Davis
Riverside Cemetery
Pawtucket, R. I.
Royal C. Taft
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Herbert W. Ladd
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
D. Russell Brown
Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
Charles W. Lippitt
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Elisha Dyer, Jr. Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
William Gregory
Elmgrove Cemetery
Allenton, R. I.
Charles D. Kimball
Swan Point Cemetery
Providence, R. I.
Lucius F. C. Garvin
.Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
George H. Utter
River Bend Cemetery
Westerly, R. I.
James H. Higgins
St. Mary's Cemetery
Pawtucket, R. 1.
Aram J. Pothier
Precious Blood Cemetery Blackstone, Mass.
R. Livingston Beeckman
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tarrytown, N. Y.
Emery J. San Souci
Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery Hartford, Conn.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
54
SVE NOR JAMES FENNER
GOV. R. 0
BENED: "T ARNO
:*****
F UNDER THE
STITUTION
UNDER TH
ROYAL CHARTER
1843 - 1845
*** )= 1000
1877-1878
WOODEN MODELS
GOVERNORS' GRAVE MARKERS
DESIGNED BY RALPH S. MOHR BRONZE MARKER
GOVER OR
BENEDICT ARNOLD
UNDER
RTER
HOPE
ROY
1663-1666 1669 -1672 1677-1678
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
55
-- -
-
CHARLES STUART KING CHARLES II 1660-1685
56
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
CHARLES STUART (Charles II, King of Great Britain and Ireland)
Governor: May 29, 1660-February 6, 1685.
Born: May 29, 1630 in London, England. Died: February 6, 1685 in London, England.
Buried: London, England. Westminster Abbey.
CHARLES STUART, who came to the throne as Charles II, King of Great Britain and Ireland, was born in London, England, May 29th, 1630, a son of Charles I and his wife Henrietta Maria, of France. While he automatically assumed the royal title upon the death of his father, the "martyr king," on January 30th, 1649, his actual reign did not begin until his thirtieth birthday, May 29th, 1660, when his restoration having been ef- fected, he made a popular entry into London. He had, however, been proclaimed King of Scotland, February 5th, 1649, and crowned as such at Scone, in 1651. The advance of Cromwell's forces caused him to seek the protection of France, where he arrived on October 16th, 1651.
Charles' first measures as a monarch were prudent and conciliatory, these, combined with his democratic and gracious manners added to his popularity and he was readily granted the same dangerous prerogatives that had been taken away from his unfortunate father. With all his wit and polished characteristics King Charles was a selfish man with whom the gratification of his pleasures came first. His sale of British-owned Dunkirk to France was made to relieve him of debts incurred by his loose and extravagant habits. This, and the personal pension he received from France is an indication of his character.
Charles II was a great benefactor of Rhode Island: The charter he granted the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, July 8th, 1663, was so liberal in its terms that no change in its provisions was needed following the Rhode Island Declara- tion of Independence on May 4th, 1776, "to complete a sovereign, independent republican nation, and none was needed to make Rhode Island, through ratification of the Constitu- tion of the United States, a State in the Federal Union meeting in every detail the require- ment of 'a republican form of government.'" An additional evidence of his friendship was shown in placing the Colony's adjoining territory, "the Narragansett Country" of the Narragansett and Niantic Indians, directly under Royal protection as the King's Prov- ince; by this step the present Washington County was saved from dismemberment at the hands of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
In 1662, Charles married Catherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV, King of Portugal. She was born in that country. November 25th, 1638, and died in her native land December 31st, 1705. Their marriage was childless but Charles left a large number of illegitimate children by various mistresses. He died in London, February 6th, 1685.
The better side of King Charles' character was shown in his tact, tenacity, and genuine interest in the natural sciences. His notorious private life was but a reflection of the morals of the times, especially those of the French court; his father's assassination deprived him of the guidance of a man of unquestioned character while he was less than nineteen years old, and his early upbringing from that time until he ascended the throne of England was that of an exile in Holland and France.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
57
PORTSMOUTH COMPACT
1638
1638 ~ 1936
ERECTED TO HONOR THE MEMORY AND PERPETUATE THE SPIRIT AND IDEALS OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD TO ALLOW AND TO INSURE TO ITS CITIZENS CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ESTABLISHED ON THIS SITE IN THE YEAR 1638.
PORTSMOUTH COMPACT
WE WHOSE NAMES ARE UNDERWRITTEN DO HERE SOLEMNLY IN THE PRESENCE OF JEHOVAH INCORPOR- ATE OURSELVES INTO A BODIE POLITICK AND AS HE SHALL HELP WILL SUBMIT OUR PERSONS, LIVES AND ESTATES UNTO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, AND TO ALL THOSE PERFECT AND MOST ABSOLUTE LAWES OF HIS GIVEN US IN HIS HOL WORD OF TRUTH TO BE GUIDED AND JUDGED THEREBY
WILLIAM CODDINGTON - JOHN CLARKE.WILLIAM HUTCHINSON UK JOHN COGGESHALL WILLIAM ASPINWALL - SAMUEL WILBORE JOHN PORTER JOHN SANFORD EDWARD HUTCHINSON JRRESO THOMAS SAVAGE WILLIAM DYRE . WILLIAM FREEBORNE PHILLIP SHEARMAN - JOHN WALKER . RICHARD CARDER WILLIAM BAULSTON - EDWARD HUTCHINSON SENR HENRY BULL RANDALL HOLDEN . THOMAS CLARKE . JOHN JOHNSON WILLIAM HALL - JOHN BRIGHTMAN ES
BRONZE PLAQUE ON BOULDER
Founders of the first Government in the world to allow and to insure to its citizens civil and religious liberty.
Many of the Signers of this Compact became Governors of Rhode Island
ROAD LEADING TO BOULDER
BOULDER AND PLAQUE
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
58
The Founders of the First Government in the World to Allow and to Insure to Its Citizens Civil and Religious Liberty
By John Callender one of Rhode Island's first Historians
Written at Newport, R. I., October 27, 1738.
To the evidenced desire of the Massachusetts government to be rid of a body of its most intelligent and prosperous colonists, Rhode Island owes the origin of what for a century and a half was her leading town. In the late autumn of 1637 several antino- mians, realizing if they thought as their consciences dictated they could never live at peace with the Puritan clergy, decided to begin a settlement elsewhere.
Accordingly, they deputed John Clarke and a few others to seek out a place. The cold of the ensuing winter induced them to go toward the south. They embarked one day in the early Spring with but little idea as to their eventual destination. The narra- tive of their journey is best told in Clarke's own words.
So having sought the Lord for direction, they agreed, that while their vessel was passing about a large and dangerous Cape, (Cape Cod) they would cross over by land, having Long Island and Delaware-Bay in their eye, for the place of their residence. At Providence, Mr. R. Williams lovingly entertained them, and being consulted about their Design, readily presented two places before them in the Narraganset-Bay the one on the Main called Sow-Wames, (the fourth-easterly Part of the Neck since called Phebe's Neck, in Barrington (*1) and Aquedneck, now Rhode Island. And inas- much as they were determined to go out of every other Jurisdiction, Mr. Williams and Mr. Clark, attended with two other persons, went to Plymouth to inquire how the case stood; they were lovingly received, and answered, that Sowames was the Garden of their Patent. But they were advised to settle at Aquedneck, and promised to be looked on as free, & to be treated & assisted as loving Neighbors. (Mr. F. Clark's Nar.)
On their return the 7th of March 1637,-8, the people to the number of Eighteen (*2) incorporated themselves a Body politic, and chose Mr. Coddington their Leader, to be the judge or chief Magistrate. After the same manner Plymouth and Connecticut Colonies were forced to enter into a voluntary Agreement or Covenant at the first, as having no legal Authority amongst them; the people here however immediately fought a Patent, and in a few years obtained one.
Mr. R. Williams was very instrumental in procuring the Island of the Indian Sachems, and has left this Account in perpetuam rei memorian "It was not price or money that could have purchased Rhode Island, but 'twas obtained by love, that love and favour which that honoured Gentleman, Sir Henry Vane and myself, had with the great Sachem Myantonomo,* about the league which I procured, between the Massa-
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