USA > Rhode Island > Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. Printed by order of the General Assembly, Vol. III pt 1 > Part 6
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King's Province, in Narragansett, this 21 of July, 1679.
JOHN GREENE.
Testimony of Roger Williams concerning the Narragansett Country.
Providence, 2d July, 1679 (ut vulgo).
I Roger Williams, of Providene, in the Nanhigonsett Bay, in New England, be- ing (by God's mercy) the first beginner of the Mother Towne of Providence, and of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, being now neere to fower score yeare of age, yet (by God's mercy) of sound understanding and memo- rie, doe humbly and faithfully declare, that Mr. Richard Smith, Sen'r, deceased, who for his conscience toward God, left a fair possession in Glocestershire, and ad- ventured with his relations and estate to New England, and was a most acceptable and prime leading man in Taunton, in Plymouth Collony, for his conscience sake (many differences arising) he left Taunton and came to the Nahigonsik countrey, where (by the merey of God and) the favour of the Nahigonsik Sachims, he broke the ice (at his great charges and hazards), and put up in the thickest of the barba- rians, the first English house amongst them.
2. I humbly testifie that about forty-two years from this date, he kept possession (coming and going), himselfe, children and servants, and he had quiet possession of his howsing, land and meadows, and there in his own house, with much serenity of soule and comfort, he yielded up his spirit to God (the Father of spirits) in peace.
3. I doe humbly and faithfully testifie (as aforesaid), that since his departure, his honored son, Captain Richard Smith, hath kept possession (with much acceptation with English and Pagans) of his father's howsing, lands and meadows, with great improvement; allso by his great cost and industrie. And in the late bloudie Pagan war, I knowingly testifie, that it pleased the Most High to make use of himselfe in person, his howsing, goods, corne, provision and cattell for a garrison and supply to the whole army of New England, under the command of the ever to be honored Gen'l Winslow, for the service of his Majesty's honour and countrey in New England.
4. I doe alsoe humbly declare, that the aforesaid Capt'n Richard Smith, Jun'r ought by all the rules of justice, equitie and gratitude (to his Honered Father and himselfe), be fairly treated with, considered, recruited, honoured, and by his Maj- esty's authority confirmed and established in a peacefull possession of his Father's and his own possessions in this Pagan wilderness and Nahigonsik countrey.
The premises I humbly testifie, as leaving this countrey and this world.
(Signed.) ROGER WILLIAMS.
Taken upon oath, this twenty-one day of July, 1679, before me, John Whip- ple, Assistant of this his Majesty's Colony of Road-Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America.
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RECORDS OF TIIE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND,
[1679.
Petition from the inhabitants of the Narragansett Country to the King.
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. The humble Petition and Remonstrance of your subjects, the inhabitants of the Narragansett Countrey, in the southerne parts of New England, called by your Majesty's Commissioners the King's Province.
May it please your Majesty : About forty-two yeares since, the father of one of . your petitioners, namely, Richard Smith, deceased, who sold his possessions in Gloucestershire, andI came into New England, began the first settlement of the Nar- ragansett Country (then liveing at Taunton, in the Colony of New Plymouth), and creeted a trading house on the same tract of land where now his son Richard Smith inhabits, not only at his cost and charge, but great hazard, not without the consent and approbation of the natives, who then were very numerous, and gave him land to sett his house on, being well sattisfied in his comeing thither, that they might be supplyed with such necessaries as affore times they wanted, and that at their owne homes, without much travell for the same. The said Richard Smith likewise being as well pleased in his new settlement in a double respect ; first, that hee might bee instrumentall under God in the propagating the gospell among the natives, who knew not God as they aught to know him, and took great paines therein to his dy- ing day ; secondly, that that place might afford him a refuge and shelter in time to come, for the future subsistence of him and his ; wherein he was not only deceived in his expectation for loosing almost all hee had in the Indian war among the Dutch, where hee likewise made a settlement, chose at last this place of Narragansett for his only abode ; no English liveing neerer to him than Pawtuxet, at his first set- tleiny, being neare twenty miles from him. That place now called Warwick, was not then thought on. Much about that time, some gentlemen of the Massachusetts Collony removed from their habitations and came to the Narragansett Bay and pur- chased of the natives an Island in said Bay, and called it Rhode Island ; Mr. Wm. Coddington being the chiefest of them, and who only purchased the same, and was the first and chiefest Governor they had for many yeares ; settling up among them- selves a government by consent for the well ordering of their owne affaires, and for the peace and security thereof. In process of time, that place called Warwick, was settled by Mr. Gorton and Holden and others ; whereby Richard Smith, aforosaid, had some neighbours nearer to him ; and afterwards Mr. Roger Williams, of Provi- dence, likewise came to Narraganset and built a house for trade, near unto the for- mer house of Richard Smiths, who in some short time quitted his settlement, and sold it to the said Richard Smith, who lived there alone for many yeares, his house being the resting place and rendezvous for all travellers passing that way, which was of great benefit and use to the country; and was at no small cost and charge there- in for many years together, to the great reliefe of all travellers. But time, that produces changes, caused him, being wearie of living alone in a desolate wilder- nesse ; yet haveing plenty of Indians and wild creatures, to desire neighbor- hood and invited his neighbours in New England to purchase of the Indians and settle the countrey with him, which accordingly some well-affected persons of Rhode Island, and some of the Massachusetts Collony, Connecticut and New Plymouth joyned with the said Richard Smith and his son Richard Smith, your present peti- tioner, who lived there with his father, and made two small purchases of two tracts of land by the sea-side. And much about the same time some of Rhode Island pur-
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chased an Island in the Bay called by the natives Quononaquat, and another com- pany of Rhode Island and Boston joyned together, but most of Rhode Island pur- chased another tract of land in the Narragansett country, to the southward of that above-mentioned, first for the digging of black lead, afterwards for their further set- tlement ; whereby the country came to be inhabited with English to the great cost and charge of the first settlers. The country being all this while under no setlted government ; yet claimed by severall Collonies by virtue of grants from some Lords in England in the times of the troubles there. But no settled government till your Majesty was pleased to grant your gracious Letters Pattents to Connecti- cut and Rhode Island, both which including the Narragansett Country, cansed great troubles to the inhabitants by making them offenders for not complying with cithier as they were commanded, when in truth they knew not whom to submit to ; and was the only hinderance of the settlement of that country. Some of the pur- chasers and the proprietors thereof choosing to submit unto the government of Connectient, as per articles of agreement made between the Agents of each Collo- ny in England, by the Lord Brewerton, Capt'n Deane, Major Thompson, Doctor Worsley and Capt'n Brookhaven, may appear. Yet notwithstanding this proved ineffectnall to the ends of peace and unity so much desired, to the great grievance and discouragement of the inhabitants that were there minded to improve their settlements ; though some of the same purchasers haveing sold their rights to oth- ers, now endeavor to obstruct the rest of their co-purchasers in the enjoyment of theirs; but differences still increasing about the government, your Majesty's Com- missioners in the yeare 1694, viz. : Sir Robort Carr, Collonell Cartwright, and Samuell Maverick, gave the name of King's Province to the Narragansett Country, and forbid any persons of any jurisdiction whatsoever to exercise any authority in the said King's Provinee; but who should be authorized by them under their hands and seales untill your Majesty's pleasure was further knowne. Since which the said Commissioners granted forth orders for settling part thereof; as to Mr. Brown, Capt'n Willit and others. Notwithstanding which the government of Rhode Island hath of late forced a settlement upon some of our said lands con- trary to the said Commissioners' orders and your Majesty's letter as lately, at a place they called East Greenwich. In the times of these troubles and contests, the Inilians proved insolent and very injurious to your petitioners, the inhabitants, not without private abetters, as was suspected, killed our cattle, destroyed our creatures and plundered some of our houses, see that wee were hardly able to live among them ; some of us loosing in some few yeares neare 150 head of cattle. And when complaint was made to our superiours at Rhode Island, wee could have no reliefe, which made some of us apply ourselves to the Massachusetts Collony for redress of these outrages and enormities committed against us, according to an order of your Majesty's, granted unto them about the yeare 1663, but still were without remedy ; which many of us foresaw would end in a warr with the Indians if not timely and wisely prevented. Which afterwards came on apace, to the rain and destruction of your petitioners' visible estates in that Province. So that it became a desolate wildernesse againe ; and instead of Christian people, replenished with howling wolves and other wild creatures. But it pleased the Lord in his due time to put a period to these warrs, and your petitioners the former inhabitants, went over from Rhode Island, whither wee retreated with that little wee had left, where it cost us one halfe of our cattle to keep the rest and carry us over. So cold was their charity to their poore neighbours in distress; and then and since imposed taxes on us, when
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, [1679.
your petitioners had hardly any thing left for the subsistence of themselves and lit- tle ones ; and settled in the King's Province againe, when very dangerous liveing in [cellars and holes] under ground, till wee got a little beforehand to rebuild, which with our owne industry and hard laboure, wee hope in time to effect, if not : discouraged and hindered by many that threaten to turn us off. May it please your Majesty, this being in short, the true state of affaires of the Narragansett Country and the people there inhabiting, from the first settlement to this present time. Your petitioners, the inhabitants thereof, do humbly supplycate your Maj- esty, as you have been pleased to send your gracious letters to the foure Collonys of New England strictly to will and require them to take care of the inhabitants there at present, so that you would in your princely wisdom and Royall bounty and justice, for the future vouchsafe an eye of favour upon the poore inhabitants your petitioners, the first settlers thereof, in a more peculiar manner, who have been at great cost and charge, and have laid out (most of us) all wee have in this world up- on the same, and are not able to subsist, if removed from thence; it being now become in a manner our native country to some of us, and is as to many of our children who were there borne ; and we hope and promise for ourselves and chil-
. dren that shall succeed us, that your Majesty in no part of New England shall have more loyall and faithful subjects than your present petitioners; humbly re- questing and desiring, that your Majesty would put an end to these differences about the government thereof, which hath been so fatall to the prosperitie of the place ; animosities still ariseing in peoples' minds, as they stand affected to this or that government, and may be wronged and injured by either government of these that take place, the transactions of former things being fresh in memory, an impar- tiall and equall judicature being the great and earnest the desires of your petition- ers to live under, being wearied out with the former contests and the troubles wee have mett with from both Collonies commanding us, do all of us unanimously and with one consent supplicate your Majesty not to leave us to the government and dispose of those that seek advantages against us. The country being large and able to containe many families, may make an entire Province, if your Majestye see cause. And your petitioners shall ever pray, &c. And subscribe your Majesty's humble, loyall and obedient subjects.
King's Province, in Narragansett, July 29, 1679.
(Signed in one hand). William Bently, Henry Gardner, John Greene, Richard Smith, Nicholas Gardner, Benj. Gardner, John Coale, Jer. Bull, Geo. Gardner, Sam. Eldred, Tho. Gold, Daniel Greene, Arthur Aylworth, Geo. Whitman, Sam. Wilson, Hen. Reynolds, Robert Vinin, James Greene, James Reynolds, John El- dred, James Reynolds, Thomas Sovell, Daniel Eldred, Rob't Spink, Daniel Swete, Rob't Spink, Jun'r, Joseph Dalauer, Sam. Alsbery, John Shelldin, Alexander Fe- nix, William Gardner, William Coston, Henry Tipcts, John Sheldon, Jun'r, Aron Jackwaies, William Knolls, Frell Newton, Thos. Brooks, Rouse Helme, Geo. Palmer, Joseph Reynolds, Lodwick Updike.
(Indorsed.) Petition of the inhabitants of the Narragansett Country.
Received from Mr. Lewyn the 3d March, 1679-80.
Answer of Randall Holden and John Greene of Warwick, to the Pe-
tition of Richard Smith and others, of the Narragansett Country.
To the Right Honorable the Lords Committees of Trade and Plantations :
In obedience to your Lordships' order of the 30th of July last, requiring us, soo
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far as we are able, to give information to your Lordships and make answer to a pe- tition lately presented to his Majesty by Mr. Richard Smith, in behalfe of himselfe and others, declaring themselves to belong to his Majesty's Collony of Connecticut, in New England, and complaining of matters done by the government of his Maj- esty's Collony of Rhode Island.
Wee, Randall Holden and John Greene, inhabitants af the towne of Warwick, within the said Collony of Rhode Island, doe humbly informe your Lordships, that whereas the said Richard Smith, and others named in the petition, call themselves proprietors and inhabitants on a tract of land called the Narragansett Country, wee doe much wonder at their confidence to challenge the lands, forasmuch as they can- not bee ignorant that his Majesty is sole proprietor thereof, and soe declared by his Majesty's most Honorable Commissioners in 1665, and by them called and since known by the name of the King's Province; who having then duly heard the matter of their claim, upon their complaint against his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, for notwithstanding them in their intrusions ; as alsoe his Majesty's subjects the Indian Sachems' allegations with respect to their deed made in 1659, for those lands his Majesty's said Commissioners did declare their pretend- ed Indian purchase void, and required them speedily to quit the said lands. Copies of writings that are pertinent to these matters wee have to show. And did more- over prohibit the Colony of Connecticut as well as other Collonies, from exercising any jurisdiction there, John Winthrop, Governour of Connecticut Collony being then present. And did then immediately order the temporary jurisdiction of those lands to the Governour and Assistants of his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, untill his Majesty's further pleasure should bee known, as by their order, ready to bee produced may appear.
That about four years after, his Majesty's Collony of Connecticut raised new dis- turbances, claiming jurisdiction of the King's Province. Whereupon there was a treaty held at New London with them; but they remaining obstinate and perverse, the Collony of Rhode Island made appeal to his Majesty ; but they refused any such appeale, and, by violence and force, compelled one town, viz .: Westerly, to submit to them, and have ever since endeavored to break in farther into the said Province, not regarding the decision of his Majesty's Commissioners, nor his Majesty's own Roy- all determination thereof, by his declaration of the 10th of April, 1666, wherein his Majesty signified his pleasure in these words following : " And for the better pre- vention of all differences and disputes upon the bounds and limits of the severall Collonies, his Majesty's pleasure is, that all determinations made by his Majesty's Commissioners, with reference as to the said bounds and limits, may still continue, and bee observed till, upon a full representation of all pretences, his Majesty shall make his own final determination. And his Majesty expects that full obedience, bee given to this signification of his pleasure in all particulars." Nevertheless they strive to take those lands by force from his Majesty, under pretext of conquest from those Indians, forbidding us to build upon our own lands, or repair our late ruined habitations. Yet in the meane time, under pretence of high loyalty, petition his Majesty for the same.
As to the complaint, that the petitioners sent to the government of Rhode Island for help in the late Indian warr, and which, hee saith was absolutely denyed them, wee know and doe say, that the petitioners not only disclaimed the jurisdiction of said Collony, but alsoe used all means hee could to bring in the jurisdiction of Con- necticut upon us. Nevertheless the other Collonys forces wee judge dealt not well
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by him ; for after they had made use of his house for their head quarters, and put a garrison in it, yet suddenly after deserted it, soe that it was soon after burned by the Indians. And for what hee alleges that the then Governor of Rhode Island being a Quaker, thought it not lawfull to grant Commissioners; wee answer, there were Commissions given forth in the beginning of the warr with the Sachem Philip, and the other Collonies having desired assistance of this our Collony of Rhode Island accordingly good assistance was given them by our sloops well manned, transporting their soldiers, and oftentimes venturing hard on shore to fetch off their men, when they were in danger to bee surprized, taking care of their wounded men, and pro- viding quarters for them, which matters being alsoe treated on in our reply to the paper given by the Massachusetts Agents to your Lordships, wee shall not here further enlarge.
But forasmuch as we are members of his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island, in whose stead wee answer ; wee most humbly petition his Majesty that hee will bee graciously pleased to continue our jurisdiction entire, and order the Collony of Connecticut to restore the place taken from us, and to prohibit them the exercise of any jurisdiction within the same ; and we hope wee shall continue (as in duty and allegiance bound), as wee have always been since his Majesty's most happy restora- tion to his Royall Throne, ready to assent and yeeld all obedience to his supreme anthority, not making our Pattents a cloak for contempt, or warrant to disobey and oppose his Royall commands.
(Signed.) RANDALL HIOWLDEN, JOHN GREENE.
Order of Councill relative to the Narragansett Country.
At the Court at Whitehall, 4 December, 1678, Present. The King's most Excellent Majesty in Councill.
Whereas, Randall Holden and John Greene, Deputies from the town of War- wick, in the Colony of Rhode Island, did this day represent unto his Majesty in Councill that some persons within the Corporation of the Massachusetts Bay, had by a printed paper affixed in public places in New England, laid claime to a tract of land, called the King's Province, which of right belongs to his Majesty, and to the jurisdiction of Rhode Island; and the said printed paper having been also read at the Board, his Majesty was pleased to order that a copy of the said paper be sent unto William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley, Agents for the Massachusetts Colony, who are hereby directed to attend his Majesty in Councill on Fryday, the 6th in- stant, and there to show by what authority or title the said claimants pretend unto the lands mentioned in the paper. The said Agents are likewise ordered at the same time to informe the Board, what obedience has been rendered within the Mas- sachusetts Collony to his Majesty's letter of the 27th of Aprill, 1678, enjoining the Magistrates and other inhabitants thereof, to take the oath of allegiance unto his Majesty, according to the forme there enclosed.
Order of Councill relative to the Narragansett Country.
At the Court at Whitehall, 13 December, 1678. Present. The King's most Excellent Majesty in Councill.
Whereas, William Stoughton and Peter Bulkeley, Agents for the Corporation of
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the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, did this day attend his Majesty, pursuant to an order of the 4th instant, directing them to show what authority or title Simon Bradstreet, Deputy Governor, and other inhabitants of that Colony, have by a printed paper called an Advertisement, dated at Boston, the 30th of July last, laid claime to the lands of Narrhagansitt and Niantick Countries, called the King's Prov- ince ; and did thereupon declare that the Government of the Massachusetts is not at all concerned in this claime, but only some inhabitants, who had purchased those lands from the Indian Sachems.
And whereas Randall Holden and John Greene, Deputies of the towne of War- wick, in the Colony of Rhode Island, did certifie the Board of their certain knowl- edge, as having inhabited that country for about forty years, that never any legall purchase had been made thereof, from the Indians by the Massachusetts or any others, and there being likewise read an act of the voluntary submission of the the Chife Sachem, and the rest of the Princes, with the whole people of the Narra- gansetts, unto the government of his late Majesty, together with two Declarations made by his Majesty's Commissioners, on the 20th of March, 1664, and Sth of Aprill, 1665, whereby it appears that they had then received from some of the principall Sachims of the Narragansett Indians a surrender of themselves, their sub- jeets and their lands to the Government and dispose of his Majesty, not only by their personall acknowledgements and sending his Majesty some presents, but by presenting the Commissioners with the Deed aforementioned of the 19th of Aprill, 1664. And that as for the pretended purchases made by Major Atherton and others of the Massachusetts Colony, his Majesty's said Commissioners did then de- clare the said purchases to bee void, and ordered the said purchasers to leave the possession and use of those lands. And that the Magistrates of Rhode Island should exercise the authority of Justices of the Peace in the Narragansett Country, by them called the King's Province; and to do whatever they should think for the peace and safety thereof, untill his Majesty's pleasure should be further known.
Ilis Majesty having taken this matter into his Royall consideration, is graciously pleased to order, as it is hereby ordered, that the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Coventry do prepare letters for his Royall signature, requiring the respective Colo- nys and their inhabitants, in New England, to leave all things relating to the said Country of Narragansett, or King's Province, in the same condition as it now is, or has lately been in as to the possession and government thereof, and withall giv- ing them to understand that as his Majesty is informed that not only the absolute and immediate sovereignty, but the particular propriety of all that country is vest- ed in his Majesty by the surrender of the Sachims, so it is his Royall pleasure that all such persons who pretend any right or title either to the soile and government to the said lands, do with all speed and by the first convenience send over persons sufficiently empowered and entrusted, to make the same appeare unto his Majesty, and that upon such default, his Majesty will give such order for the government and settlement of the said Province, as shall best sute with his justice, and the good of his subjects, who are already inhabiting, or shall desire to make any further improve- ment within the said Province.
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