USA > Rhode Island > Pictures of Rhode Island in the past, 1642-1833 > Part 3
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
called by the Indians Narragansett ; And quotes an In- dian of so Barberous a name for his Author, that I could not write it. His Antagonist Replyed no-It was from a Spring it had its name, weh hee well knew where it was, which was extreem cold in summer, and as Hott as could be imagined in the winter, which was. much resorted too by the natives, and by them called Narragansett, (Hott and Cold,) and that was the originall of their places name-with a thousand Im- pertinances not worth notice, wch He utter'd with such a Roreing voice and Thundering blows with the fist of wickedness on the Table, that it peirced my very head. I heartily fretted, and wish't 'um tongue tyed; . I set my Candle on a Chest by the bed side, and setting up, fell to my old way of composing my Resentments, in the following manner :
I ask thy Aid, O Potent Rum ! To Charm these wrangling Topers Dum. Thou hast their Giddy Brains possest- The man confounded wth the Beast- And I, poor I, can get no rest. Intoxicate them with thy fumes : O still their Tongues till morning comes !
Wednesday, Octobr 4th. About four in the morning, we set out for Kingston (for so was the Town called), This Rode was poorly furnished wth accommo- dations for Travellers, so that we were forced to ride 22 miles by the post's account, but neerer thirty by mine, before wee could bait so much as our Horses, wych I exceedingly complained of. . . From hence we proceeded . . . through the Narragansett coun- try pretty Leisurely ; and about one afternoon come to. Paukataug River.
27
GOVERNOR SAMUEL CRANSTON.
I 705. Governor Samuel Cranston.
Samuel Cranston (1659-1727) was that governor of Rhode Island under whom, it is said, " the régime of the Quaker was succeeded by that of the world." Arnold says of him, in his History of Rhode Island, " He held his position [as governor] probably, longer than any other man who had been subjected to the test of an annual popular election. . . Thirty times successively chosen to the highest office, he preserved his popularity amidst political convulsions that had swept away every other official in the colony." The following document, Cranston's "Answer to a Circular letter from the Board of Trade to the Governors of the English Colonies, relative to Negro Slaves," is taken from Bartlett's Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, IV. 54, 55.
May it please your Lordships : In obedience to your Lordships' commands of the 15th of April last, to the trade of Africa.
We, having inspected into the books of Her Majesty's custom, and informed ourselves from the proper officers thereof, by strict inquiry, can lay before your Lordships no other account of that trade than the following, viz .:
1. That from the 24th of June, 1698, to the 25th of December, 1707, we have not had any negroes im- ported into this colony from the coast of Africa, neither on the account of the Royal African Company, or by any of the separate traders.
2. That on the 30th of May, 1696, arrived at this port from the coast of Africa, the brigantine Seaflower, Thomas Windsor, master, having on board her forty-
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
seven negroes, fourteen of which he disposed of in this colony, for betwixt £30 and £35 per head ; the rest he transported by land for Boston, where his owners lived.
3. That on the 10th of August, the 19th and 28th of October, in the year 1700, sailed from this port three vessels, directly for the coast of Africa ; the two' former were sloops, the one commanded by Nicho's Hillgroue, the other by Jacob Bill ; the last a ship, commanded by Edwin Carter, who was part owner of the said three vessels, in company with Thomas Bruster, and John Bates, merchants, of Barbadoes, and separate traders from thence to the coast of Africa ; the said three vessels arriving safe to Barbadoes from the coast of Africa, where they made the disposition of their negroes.
4. That we have never had any vessels from the coast of Africa to this colony, nor any trade there, the brigantine above mentioned, excepted.
5. That the whole and only supply of negroes to this colony, is from the island of Barbadoes ; from whence is imported one year with another, betwixt twenty and thirty ; and if those arrive well and sound, the general price is from £30 to £40 per head.
According to your Lordships' desire, we have ad- vised with the chiefest of our planters, and find but small encouragement for that trade to this colony ; since by the best computation we can make, there would not be disposed in this colony above twenty or thirty at the most, annually ; the reasons of which are chiefly to be attributed to the general dislike our planters have for them, by reason of their turbulent and unruly tempers.
And that most of our planters that are able and will- ing to purchase any of them, are supplied by the off- spring of those they have already, which increase daily ; and that the inclination of our people in general, is to employ white servants before negroes.
-
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COLONEL ROBERT QUARY.
Thus we have given your Lordships a true and faithful account of what hath occurred, relating to the trade of Africa from this colony ; and if, for the future, our trade should be extended to those parts, we shall not fail transmitting accounts thereof to your Lord- ships' orders, and that at all times be ready to show ourselves,
Your Lordships' obedient servant,
SAMUEL CRANSTON, Governor. Newport, on Rhode Island, December 5, 1708.
I708. Colonel Robert Quary.
Colonel Robert Quary (d. about 1712) was gover- nor of South Carolina for a short period in 1684. The encouragement which he gave to piracy induced the proprietor to dismiss him from office in 1685. He was then made secretary of the province, and became governor for the second time about the year 1690. He was afterwards judge of the admiralty in New York and Pennsylvania, and a sort of government spy in this country. The following extract is taken from a " Letter to the Lords of Trade," found in New York Colonial, Documents, V. 31.
I went hence to Rhode Island, which is a distinct Government, not so populous as Connecticut, but have been more ready in assisting their neighbours against the publick enemy it is scituated betwixt Connecticut Province and that of New England, the scituation of this place is very happy for Trade, having a very good
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
harbour, with an easy & quick inlet from the sea, their chief Trade is to the West Indies but more especially they have a great Trade to Curacoa and Surinam, the Chief town of Trade is Newport, which is grown in few years to be a great Town, mainly by illegal Trade to those places, nor is it possible to prevent it while the Government is in the Proprietors hands.
I 708. Governor Samuel Cranston.
For an account of Cranston, see above, p. 27. The following official reply to the Board of Trade in Eng- land is derived from Bartlett's Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, IV. 56-58.
In answer to the several particular matters set forth and contained in your said letter, in obedience to your Lordship's command, and in compliance to said As- sembly's order, I shall here give you the most exact and impartial account as I am capable of relating the said particulars.
1. As to the state and condition of Her Majesty's colony, since the present war. It has pleased the Almighty through his infinite mercy and goodness (upon our endeavors) to protect and preserve us from the assaults of the common enemy, though not without great charge and expense, in keeping and maintaining watches and wards upon the sea coast of this colony, and scouts upon the land side into the country. Our lying so open to the assaults and attempts of the enemy by sea, doth also occasion often and frequent alarms, which doth also create great charge and expense ; this
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GOVERNOR SAMUEL CRANSTON.
colony are also at considerable charge and trouble in maintaining (during the summer season) a quota of men at Block Island, for the defence and safety thereof.
2. As to the strength and defence of this colony, it chiefly consists (under the Providence of God) in our good look-outs, our expeditions by sea, as aforesaid, and in our militia ; the which consists of all males, from sixteen to sixty years of age, who are obliged, at their own charge, to be always provided and fitted with a good firelock musket or fusee, a sword or bayo- net, cartouch-box with one pound of good powder, and four pounds of bullets, who are to be ready upon any alarum or other expedition or service, to repair to their ensigns at their respective places of rendezvous, to at- tend such orders as they shall receive from their supe- rior officers, &c., the which obligations and orders are upon all occasions, very cheerfully and readily obeyed and complied with ; . . In our militia, consists the strength of this colony, it being impossible for us to fortify ourselves so as to keep an enemy from entering into our bay and rivers, or to obstruct their landing, in most places in the colony ; though we have a small fort upon an island that covers the harbor of Newport, which is mounted with fifteen pieces of ordnance, from six to nine pound ball, and is a security to our navi- gation, and the aforesaid town, against any small force.
3. As to the administration of justice in this colony, we have two general courts of trials, which are held on the last Tuesday in March, and the first Tuesday in September, annually ; at which courts are tried all actional and criminal causes happening within said col- ony ; where the laws of England are approved of, and pleaded to all intents and purposes, without it be in some particular acts for the prudential affairs of the colony, and not repugnant to the laws of England.
4. As to the number of inhabitants and servants,
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
with the number of militia, &c., I have herewith en- closed a list of the same in as true and exact a manner as I could procure it from the several towns in the col- ony to which I refer your Lordships for a full infor- mation.
5. As to the trade and commerce of this colony, to and from what places, with the number of ships or ves- sels that have been built here, and now belonging to the same, and the number of seafaring men, &c., I have herewith enclosed another list, relating to those particulars for your Lordships further information.
6. As to what commodities [are] exported from this colony to England, and how said colony is now sup- plied with any manufactories that it was wont to be supplied with from England.
This colony never had any immediate or direct trade to or from England, nor any supply directly from thence, but what commodities any of the inhabitants have had to export for England, hath been exported by way of Bos- ton, where their returns are also made, and from whence we have and are chiefly and for the most part, supplied with the manufactory of England ; and it is computed, that not less than £20,000 in cash hath been annually, for some years past, remitted from this colony to Bos- ton upon that account.
7. As to the methods taken to prevent illegal trade, we have a collector and controller of Her Majesty's customs settled by the honorable the commissioners in this colony, and a naval officer by the Governor, who take all due methods and care they can, by searching and inspecting the several cargoes imported, and putting the several masters or commanders upon their oaths, &c. We have had no trade to any place but Corrico, that could give us any suspicion of illegal trade ; but that trade is at present wholly laid aside by our traders, so that I know of no other place that they have any trade
1
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GOVERNOR SAMUEL CRANSTON.
to or from, that can give us grounds to suspect any fraud.
Your Lordships may assure yourselves, that all due methods will be taken, as there may be occasion, to prevent and suppress any illegal trade, that may here- after be managed or carried on by any of our traders; and that what orders or directions we shall at any time receive from your Lordships, or the honorable the commissioners, relating to trade, shall and will be punctually and duly observed and complied with in the best manner and method we are capable of.
8. As to the number of vessels built in this colony, we are not capable to inform your Lordships, by reason there hath been no list or memorandum ever kept till since the act for registering hath been in force, from which time you have an exact account in the enclosed list.
9. As to the increase or decay of the trade of this colony, of late years, &c., it doth appear that, about twenty years past, we had not above four or five ves- sels that did belong to this colony, which hath since gradually increased to the number of twenty-nine, as is set forth in the list.
The reason of which increase (as I apprehend) is chiefly to be attributed to the inclination the youth on Rhode Island have to the sea. The land on said island, being all taken up and improved in small farms, so that the farmers, as their families increase, are compelled to put or place their children to trades or callings ; but their inclinations being mostly to navigation, the greater part betake themselves to that employment, so that such as are industrious and thrifty, as they get a small stock before hand, im- prove it in getting part of a vessel, as many of the tradesmen in the town of Newport also doth, for the benefit of their children that are bred to navigation, in which town consists the chiefest of our navigation ; not
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
above two or three vessels belong to all the colony besides.
One other cause of the increase of our trade is, that it has pleased God to protect them from the hands of the enemy, so that they have not lost above two or three vessels taken this war, they being light and sharp for runners; so that very few of the enemy's privateers, in a gale of wind, will run or outsail one of our vessels.
I729. Bishop Berkeley.
George Berkeley (1684-1753), afterward Bishop of Cloyne, was, at the time when he wrote the following letter, Dean of Derry. It was perhaps characteristic of Berkeley's philosophizing temperament that he should look upon the wastes of America as a fitting environ- ment for the development of his educational and re- ligious ideals. He obtained a charter and subscriptions for the foundation of a college, which he hoped eventu- ally to found at Bermuda. In January, 1729, he came to Newport, and remained until the autumn of 1731. He bought a farm of ninety-six acres and built a small house, which he called Whitehall. Here he read and meditated, and, naturally, left his impress upon the minds of the intelligent and educated people of New- port. The letter cited, written to his friend Thomas Prior, founder of the Dublin Society, is taken from Fraser's edition of his Works, IV. 160.
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1225933
BISHOP BERKELEY.
Newport, in Rhode Island, April 24, 1729.
Dear Tom,
I can by this time say something to you, from my own experience, of this place and people.
The inhabitants are of a mixed kind, consisting of many sorts and subdivisions of sects. Here are four sorts of Anabaptists, besides Presbyterians, Quakers, Independents, and many of no profession at all. Not- withstanding so many differences, here are fewer quar- rels about religion than elsewhere, the people living peaceably with their neighbours, of whatever profession. They all agree in one point, that the Church of Eng- land is the second best. The climate is like that of Italy, and not at all colder in the winter than I have known it every where north of Rome. The Spring is late ; but, to make amends, they assure me the autumns are the finest and longest in the world, and the sum- mers are much pleasanter than those of Italy by all ac- counts, forasmuch as the grass continues green, which it doth not there. This island is pleasantly laid out in hills and vales and rising grounds ; hath plenty of ex- cellent springs and fine rivulets, and many delightful landscapes of rocks and promontories and adjacent islands. The provisions are very good; so are the fruits, which are quite neglected, tho' vines sprout up of themselves to an extraordinary size, and seem as natural to this soil as to any I ever saw. The town of Newport contains about six thousand souls, and is the most thriving flourishing place in all America for its bigness. It is very pretty and pleasantly situated. I was never more agreeably surprised than at the sight of the town and its harbour. I could give you some hints that may be of use to you if you were disposed to take advice ; but of all men in the world, I never found encouragement to give you any.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
I732. Bishop Berkeley.
The following passage is quoted from a sermon preached by Berkeley before the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; Works, ed. Fraser, III. 242-244.
Rhode Island, with a portion of the adjacent Conti- nent under the same government, is inhabited by an English Colony, consisting chiefly of sectaries of many different denominations, who seem to have worn off part of that prejudice which they inherited from their ancestors against the national Church of this land ; though it must be acknowledged at the same time, that too many of them have worn off a serious sense of all religion. Several indeed of the better sort are accus- tomed to assemble themselves regularly on the Lord's day for the performance of divine worship ; but most of those who are dispersed throughout this colony seem to rival some well-bred people of other countries in a thorough indifference for all that is sacred, being equally careless of outward worship, and of inward principles, whether of faith or practice. Of the bulk of them it may certainly be said that they live without the sacraments, not being so much as baptized : and as- for their morals, I apprehend there is nothing to be found in them that should tempt others to make an experiment of their principles, either in religion or government. But it must be owned, the general beha- viour of the inhabitants in those towns where churches and meetings have been long settled and regularly at- tended seems so much better as sufficiently to show the difference which a solemn regular worship of God
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BISHOP BERKELEY.
makes between persons of the same blood, temper, and natural faculties.
The native Indians, who are said to have been for- merly many thousands, within the compass of this colony, do not at present amount to one thousand, in- cluding every age and sex. And these are either all servants and laborers for the English, who have con- tributed more to destroy their bodies by the use of strong liquors than by any means to improve their minds or save their souls. This slow poison, jointly operating with the small-pox, and their wars (but much more destructive than both), have consumed the In- dians, not only in our Colonies, but also far and wide upon our confines. And, having made havoc of them, is now doing the same thing by those who taught them that odious vice.
The negroes in the government of Rhode Island are about half as many more than the Indians ; and both together scarce amount to a seventh part of the whole Colony. The religion of these people, as is natural to suppose, takes after that of their masters. Some few are baptized ; several frequent the different assemblies : and far the greater part none at all. An ancient antip- athy to the Indians-whom, it seems, our first planters (therein as in certain other particulars affecting to imi- tate Jews rather than Christians) imagined they had a right to treat on the foot of Canaanites or Amalekites -together with an irrational contempt of the blacks, as creatures of another species, who had no right to be instructed or admitted to the sacraments-have proved a main obstacle to the conversion of these poor people.
To this may be added, an erronious notion that the being baptized is inconsistent with a state of slavery. To undeceive them in this particular, which had too much weight, it seemed a proper step, if the opinion of
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
his Majesty's Attorney and Solicitor-General could be procured. This opinion they charitably sent over, signed with their own hands ; which was accordingly printed in Rhode Island, and dispersed throughout the Plantations. I heartily wish it may produce the in- tended effect.
1739. Rev. John Callender.
The Rev. John Callender (1706-1740) became, in 1728, the pastor of the Baptist Church in Swansey, and, in 1731, was called to the Baptist Church in New- port, where he remained until his death. In 1739, he published An Historical Discourse on the Civil and Re- ligious Affairs of the Colony of Rhode-Island and Provi- dence Plantations, in New-England, in America, From the First Settlement, 1638, to the End of the First Cen- tury. This is usually known as his "Centennial Dis- course." The following extract is from p. 19 of the Discourse.
In 1730 the Inhabitants of the whole Island were Five Thousand four Hundred and Fifty Eight, and of this Town [Newport] Four Thousand six Hundred and Forty, who are no doubt by this Time increased to Five Thousand Souls.
The Trade and Business of the Town at the first, was but very little, and inconsiderable, consisting only of a little Corn and Pork and Tobacco, sent to Boston, for a few European and other Goods, they could not
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REV. JOHN CALLENDER.
subsist without, and all at the Mercy of the Traders there too .*
At present there are above one Hundred Sail of Vessels belonging to this Town, besides what belong to the rest of the Colony. GOD grant, that as we increase in Numbers and Riches, we may not increase in Sin and Wickedness ; but that we may rather be lead, by the divine Goodness, to reform whatever may have been amiss or wanting in us.
there are at this Time, seven worshipping Assemblies, Churches of Societies, in this Town, besides a large one of the People called Quakers, at Portsmouth, the other Part of the Island. .
There are in the nine Towns on the main Land eight Churches of the People called Baptists, one in every Town, except Greenwich, where there is however a Meeting House in which there is a Meeting once a Month.
Of the People called Quakers there are seven Meet- ing Houses on the main Land, and one at James-Town on Conanicut Island ; and a constant Meeting at West- erly, tho' no Meeting House yet erected.
There are four episcopal Churches on the Main, one at Providence, .
. and one at North-Kingston, . besides one at Westerly, and one on the Edge of Warwick, adjoining to East-Greenwich, which are oc- casionally supply'd by the Missionaries at other Towns.
There are three Presbyterian or Congregational Churches at Providence, South-Kingston & Westerly.
* Perhaps it may be agreable to some Persons, to observe, that about 1660, and many Years after, Provision Pay was 100 per Cent. beneath Sterling Money. In 1687 the Prices of Goods set to pay Taxes in, were, Wool 8d. per Pound, Butter 4d. Indian Corn 1s. 6d. per Bushel. If the Tax was paid in Money, then there was to be an Allowance or Abatement of one sixth Part, and that perhaps will nearly give the true current Price, of those kinds of Provisions, at that Time.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
1739. Modern History.
The book from which this quotation is taken is the twenty-sixth volume of a series entitled Modern History : or the Present State of All Nations. It was published at Dublin, in 1739, by Herman Moll, a noted English geographer of the eighteenth century. The extract is found on p. 307.
As to the state of religion in Rhode-Island colony, a gentleman of considerable interest there gives me this account of it. He says, they are a very free people in that respect. They consist of episcopalians, presby- terians, anabaptists and quakers, but the quakers are now the most considerable, their present governor, John Wanton, esq ; being a quaker, as are also several of the council and house of representatives ; and as they are principled for a free ministry of the gospel, so conse- quently there is no forced maintenance in the colony for the ministry of any persuasion, but every different society that are for maintaining a preacher do it volun- tarily by contribution or subscription. .
There is a stage wagon which goes from Boston to Newport in Rhode-Island, being seventy miles. Gen- tlemen also have coaches and chaises, but they travel most commonly on horseback. And there are inns on the roads as well provided for the entertainment of travellers as those of Old-England.
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CAPTAIN WILLIAM CHANDLER.
1741. Captain William Chandler.
Captain William Chandler (d. 1754) was an inhabi- tant of Woodstock, of Killingly, and of Thompson, Connecticut, a surveyor, and a justice of the peace. He was the father of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, the well-known Episcopalian and Tory con- troversialist, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, bishop-desig- nate of Nova Scotia. Captain Chandler's effusion is here copied from a rare broadside in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society, entitled " A Jour- nal of a Survey of Narragansett Bay, made in May and June, 1741, by Order of Royal Commissioners, by One of the Surveyors." It has been reprinted in the Nar- ragansett Historical Register, IV. 1.
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