USA > Rhode Island > The "Old Stone Bank" history of Rhode Island, Vol. III > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
At the same time the inhabitants of Providence and Warwick began to urge Roger Williams to accompany Dr. Clarke on this important mission. Williams was unwilling at first because he did not care to leave his family again for a long period, besides, the expense of such a trip pre- sented a serious obstacle. He had never been paid in full for his trouble and ex- pense of getting the original charter, even though one of the first acts of the colony was to vote to Roger Williams one hundred pounds for his services. This amount was assessed upon the three towns - fifty to Newport, thirty to Portsmouth and twenty to Providence - and pay- ments were made in installments. A small balance of this just debt never was paid. With this experience fresh in his memory it took considerable urging on the part of his friends before he decided to join Dr. Clarke on the long trip across the ocean. But this he did, even after his associates failed to raise enough money for his expenses. He sold his very profitable trading-post in Narragansett in order that his wife and six children might be sup- ported in his absence, and to obtain cash for the trip. Arrangements were finally made for the departure of Roger Williams and Dr. John Clarke in November follow- ing the August that the troublesome Coddington arrived on the scene with his ill-gotten commission of privilege. But, before we follow in the footsteps of these distinguished emissaries, let us dwell for a moment upon the subject of the Roger Williams trading-post mentioned just pre- viously.
Near the old Post Road, about two and one half miles to the north of the village of Wickford, is a place that was long re- garded as the site of the original Roger Williams trading-post. It seems that a certain historian made the claim in 1845 that one "Wilkins Updike once said that Williams' trading-house was where Royal Vaughn last lived north of Spink's Tavern." That would place the point not far from the famed Devil's Foot Ledge, the location of which is familiar to most natives of Rhode Island, but the foregoing clue, nothing more than a meagre bit of hearsay, remained for nearly a century the basis for a conclusion that has recently
52
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
been proven false. Through the com- paratively recent studies and disclosures of Mr. Howard M. Chapin of the Rhode Island Historical Society it is now agreed by authorities that the trading-post was not in the vicinity of Devil's Foot Ledge, but that it was more than a mile and one half south of the curious ledge at, or in the immediate neighborhood of, the histori- cally famous Smith Garrison House, more familiarly known as Cocumcussoc.
Roger Williams owned both a shallop and a canoe, and it is reasonable to believe that when he brought his goods from Providence, he would naturally transport them by water down Narragansett Bay rather than carry heavy packs along wind- ing Indian trails which ran down through what is now South County. This being the case, it appears improbable that the efficient and resourceful trader would build a trading-post in the dense woods where it would be necessary to carry wares back and forth to the nearest landing place at Wickford harbor. It is also known that the friendly and wealthy chief sachems of the Narragansetts, with whom he carried on the majority of his trading, lived to the south of the present Wickford. Would it have been good business on the part of this early trader to have made his good customers travel a long distance overland after landing the canoes in which they traveled ?
While living at Wickford or Caweawms- squissik, as it was then called, Williams not only busied himself with the duties of a trader but, like other early settlers, devoted much of his time to agriculture. Among his possessions was a small herd of goats which he kept on a small island in Wickford harbor, commonly referred to as Rabbit Island. It seems quite unlikely that his property and the source of his milk supply would have been kept at any great distance from his headquarters. So much for deductions that seem to elimi- nate the theory that the site in question was anywhere near Devil's Foot Ledge.
During the latter part of the reign of King Charles I a Major Richard Smith left England because of religious persecu- tion, and settled in Taunton, then a part of Plymouth Colony. He became one of the leading men of that thriving settle-
ment, but wishing more freedom and liberty of conscience, he came to Rhode Island and purchased 30,000 acres of land from the Indians - a plantation measur- ing nine miles in length and three miles in width, and including the present site of Wickford. Some time between 1637 and 1642 he established a trading-post on this farm at the head of Mill Cove opposite Wickford and began to barter with the Indians. A John Green of Quidinisset has claimed "that Smith did first begin and make a settlement in Narragansett before 1639" - but he does not say that Smith was the first to build. Present historians are inclined to believe that Williams was the first trader to establish a post and that Smith arrived later. And this fact is conclusively established when we note that Williams sold his Narragansett trad- ing-post to Richard Smith in 1651, and that was the time when Williams was forced to sell his property to raise money for his trip (second) to England.
Furthermore, it was eight years later that the Indian sachem, Coginaquond, deeded a block of land known as the North Purchase to a group of Englishmen who had formed a land company under the leadership of Jonathan Atherton. He deeded all of the land lying to the north- east of "Cosumsoosuch Brook" exclusive of the lands in possession of and already belonging to Richard Smith. If the Williams trading-post had been on the property later owned by Royal Vaughn, as Wilkins Updike stated in 1845, it would have been possessed by Richard Smith before and after the Atherton purchase of 1659. This property can be traced by deeds through to the present day and these documents show conclusively that the property purchased by Richard Smith from Williams was, at no time, included in the possessions of the Vaughn family. Does not this line of reasoning offered by Mr. Chapin, the historian, eliminate any theory that the place in question was located on any ancient Vaughn lands ? Besides, Williams dated many of his letters to his friends in Massachusetts at Cocumcussoc.
It is now believed, but the fact has not been exactly determined, that the much- discussed trading-post of the great founder
53
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
was not only located at or near the present Cocumcussoc estate just north of Wick- ford and on the east side of the main road, but that the original place of business was built upon the present site of the main dwelling there today. Perhaps the lovely, historic homestead of the Fox family, proprietors of Cocumcussoc at the present time, a building which has been changed and rebuilt in part several times during the course of three centuries, stands on the very spot where Roger Williams once
displayed his wares and bartered with his friends, the Indians. It may be that some of the massive boulders and great stone foundations remaining there to this date were once a part of the underpinning of the original structure. Wherever Roger Williams carried on his business in the Narragansett country, and the location seems well determined now, he was forced to sell out to Richard Smith in order that he might again labor in the service of his fellow-men.
DR. JOHN CLARKE
To defeat William Coddington's muti- nous plans, and to seek an annulment of the rights and privileges granted to this ambitious politician, Dr. John Clarke was delegated to represent Newport and Portsmouth and Roger Williams was selected to appeal to the English author- ities in behalf of Providence and Warwick. These distinguished gentlemen, endowed with unusual diplomatic abilities, sailed for England from Boston in November 1651.
Dr. John Clarke was born in Westhorpe, Suffolk County, England, in 1609, but very little is known of his early life. However, it is certain that his youth and early man- hood were devoted to study, since he held two professions before the age of thirty, that of a physician and also of an ordained minister in the Separatist or Puritan faith. He came to New England in 1637 and promptly joined the Boston group of religious independents led by the forceful Anne Hutchinson. Going back a bit in our story we find that John Clarke was one of those elected by the banished Hutchinson party to find a new place beyond the limits of Massachusetts where a settle- ment could be made. This committee of investigation and survey started out on a journey by water from Boston late in the autumn of 1637, the same year that Clarke arrived on these shores, and a brief narrative of this trip is best told in Clarke's own words. "So, having sought the Lord for direction, we all agreed that while our vessel was passing about a large
and dangerous Cape (evidently Cape Cod), we would cross over by land, having Long Island and Delaware Bay in our eye for the place of our residence; so to a town called Providence we came, which was begun by one . . . Roger Williams . . by whom we were courteously and lovingly received, and with whom we advised about our design; he readily presented two places before us in the same Narragansett Bay, the one upon the main called Sowwames (now Warren) and the other then Acquedneck now Rode- Island." Continuing but not quoting, the records show that Roger Williams and Clarke with two other gentlemen journeyed to Plymouth to inquire about the status of these two places. It was found that Sowams was considered a part of Plymouth colony, but that the island of Aquidneck was "open territory" as far as the Plymouth authorities were con- cerned. We have already reviewed the story of the founding of Portsmouth and Newport, but the foregoing was included to date the beginning of Roger Williams' friendly relations with John Clarke, the latter becoming one of the most influential figures in Portsmouth and Newport, as well as being the first educated physician in Rhode Island.
Having arrived in England, petitioning, watching, lobbying and waiting became the wearisome duties of these agents who hoped to upset Coddington's schemes and thereby restore orderly government to the Island of Rhode Island and Providence
54
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
Plantations under the original charter secured from England by Roger Williams alone and unaided seven years previously. Their task was a difficult one in those troublesome times in the mother country. England had just plunged into war with the Dutch and that naturally drew the attention of those in power. On the other hand, enemy influences from New Eng- land were on hand opposing the designs of Williams and Clarke; even Winslow of Plymouth, an old friend of Williams, had returned to England and was actively opposing this desperate effort to reunite the towns in the Narragansett lands. Lobbying for political favor is not a new practise; it was being carried on at the English Court, by several New England representatives three hundred years ago, and each party had friends that were played one against the other in the battle for favor or redress.
Roger Williams enjoyed the friendship of many prominent men of England at the time and to these he naturally looked for support in his designs. Important among these was Sir Henry Vane, who was Governor of Massachusetts during the exciting Hutchinson controversy. Vane had later returned to England and it was mainly through his influence that Roger Williams was enabled to secure the first charter. Vane had also opposed the cause of the king, and was, at the time of Williams' second visit to England, the virtual head of the English Navy, and directing its attacks against his nation's enemies. Roger Williams spent much of his time at the Vane estate and there he found many opportunities to meet and talk with the most powerful figures of the times.
Although Williams had barely enough money to take him to England and back, he did not depend upon his wealthy friends to defray necessary expenses. At home he had turned his strong hands and his versatile talents to whatever task that might serve his purpose, and now he put his excellent scholarship to good use. He taught Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French and Dutch, some of his pupils being sons of Parliament members. He was inti- mately associated at the time with John Milton, not yet author of "Paradise
Lost," but then Secretary of the Council of State. Williams taught Dutch to John Milton and was in return taught languages into which he had not before delved. Besides, these two immortals were in sympathy in politics, which was in those days some bond of union. (It would be interesting to know if Milton ever referred to his Rhode Island friend in private papers that surely must be preserved in some English archives.) In addition to his tutoring engagements and his political activities, Roger Williams also kept his pen busily employed, turning out treatises aimed at the union of Church and State and at compulsory support of Gospel ministers by taxation.
To cover considerable ground in a short space, it took Roger Williams, ably assisted by John Clarke, about one year before he had the satisfaction of sending to his friends the good news that the Council of State had vacated William Coddington's commission, and of directing Providence, Warwick, Portsmouth and Newport to reunite under the charter as before. While these joyful tidings were yet on their way, the General Assembly met at Providence and voted a request to Williams to have himself appointed Gov- ernor of the Colony for one year. This request was officially forwarded to him, clothed in warm terms of commendation for his many services, and accompanied by strong expressions of confidence that in him alone rested the respect of his people for their government, and that, by him, a sound basis for future stability would be attained. In the opinion of Williams it was considered important that the agents remain in England to represent the interests of the colony and so he wrote the following letter to the towns of War- wick and Providence : "You may please to put my soul's condition into your soul's cases; remember that I am a father and a husband. I have longed earnestly to return with the last ship, and with these, and yet I am not willing to withdraw my shoulders from the burden, lest it pinch others, and may fall heavily upon all, except you are pleased to give me a dis- charge. If you conceive it necessary for me still to attend to this service, pray you consider if it be not convenient that my
55
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
poor wife be not encouraged to come over to me, and wait together on the pleasure of God for the end of this matter. You know how many weights hang upon me, how my own place stands, and how many reasons I have to cause me to make haste; yet I would not lose their estates, peace and liberty by leaving hastily. I write to my dear wife my great desire for her coming while I stay, left it to the freedom of her spirit because of the many dangers; for truly at present the seas are danger- ous." Another year passed away with Williams still in England, while dissen- sions raged in the colony at home. Why did mischief back here threaten to thwart the cause of peace and order when the strong and steady hand of leadership left the scene temporarily? What was hap- pening back in Rhode Island while Williams and Clarke were far away on Colony business ?
First of all, William Coddington with his hated commission succeeded in dis- rupting the political union of the four original towns. The towns of Providence and Warwick were forced to form a new government, and to this end their re- spective commissioners met at Providence in November 1651 and declared that the Island towns (Portsmouth and Newport) deserted from the chartered government formerly established. Acting under that charter they chose a President - Samuel Gorton, founder of Warwick - and en- acted that the legislature should hence- forth consist of six men from each of the two towns. Gorton called a meeting of the Assembly in May 1652, when new officers were elected, and certain laws put into effect. Important among these, was the act providing that no slave, black or white, could be held in servitude more than ten years. This was one of the first, if not the first, law ever made in America which provided for the emancipation of the negro.
Thereafter, Providence and Warwick entered into a long series of trivial dis- putes, principally arising out of the inter- pretation of Williams' instructions to the
Colony communicated from England. Warwick desired to negotiate with the Island towns to bring about unification, whereas the Providence authorities would not contemplate any enlargement of their plans. These and similar differences con- tinued to disturb the peace at the upper end of Narragansett Bay until news came of Williams' success in England, and then local animosities were dropped, and attention was turned to problems of state.
Down in Newport, Coddington was having his troubles while his fellow towns- man, Clarke, remained in England to do his part in securing justice for the citizens on the island. The settlers knew that Coddington had obtained his commission through representing himself as the sole purchaser, and this claim they made him disavow by inducing him to deliver over to them the original deeds. This cer- tainly did not help the causes of har- monious government. Besides, England was then at war with Holland and this contest led to certain restrictions upon the Dutch traders who were carrying on a flourishing trading business between New York and Narragansett Bay. In April 1652, some letters borne by Dutch traders to Governor Coddington were intercepted, opened and found to contain an offer of soldiers to be employed against the inhabitants of Rhode Island. The Assembly immediately charged both Cod- dington and the Dutch Director with treason and conspiracy. The case was never pressed, but the discovery did not display the character of Coddington in a very favorable light.
For these and other disturbing reasons, Roger Williams made up his mind that he was needed more at home than at the seat of English power. Leaving John Clarke in England, he returned early in the summer of 1654 and came back provided with a pass from the Council permitting him free transit through Massachusetts territory. He landed at Boston and was soon in the midst of his family and his grateful fellow-citizens.
56
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
KING CHARLES' CHARTER
TT required the firm hand of Williams and the steadying inspiration of his leadership to restore peace and harmony among the people immediately upon his return to Providence. In September following his arrival, at the first general election held at Warwick, Williams was elected President of the Colony. The conferring of this honor upon their chief citizen showed that a majority of people were appreciative of his many services, and that they looked upon him as the guiding hand in the establishment of some form of permanent government. How- ever, there were dissenters in the infant colony, those who tried every means to create dissatisfaction in the official management of colony affairs. Since such problems had little effect upon the general course of events, and played no significant part in the development of the colony during those years, they will not be included in this narrative. At the same time it may be interesting to quote a letter written by Oliver Cromwell, dated March 29, 1655, in answer to complaints communicated to the English government by certain Rhode Island colonists. The letter follows: "To our trusty and well- beloved, the president, assistants, and inhabitants of Rhode Island, together with the rest of the Providence Planta- tions, in the Narragansett Bay, in New England, - Gentlemen: Your agent here hath represented unto us some particulars concerning your government, which you judge necessary to be settled by us here; but by reason of the other great and weighty affairs of this Commonwealth, we have been necessitated to defer the consideration of them to a further opportunity. For the meantime, we were willing to let you know that you are to proceed in your government according to the tenor of your charter, formerly granted on that behalf; taking care of the peace and safety of those plantations, that neither through any intestine com- motions or foreign invasions, there do arise any detriment or dishonor to this Commonwealth or yourselves, as far as
you, by your care and diligence, can prevent. And as for the things which are before us, they shall, as soon as the other occasions will permit, receive a just and fitting determination. And so we bid you farewell, and rest
"Your very loving friend, Oliver, P."
This timely message served to quiet some of the opposition and restore good order among the settlements. Allegiance to the charter secured by Williams in 1644 was strengthened, orderly government was placed upon a strong foundation and the colony grew and prospered under the wise counsel of strong men who admin- istered laws that were sane and practical for the times.
The next milestone in the political career of Rhode Island is marked by the granting of a charter to Rhode Island by authority of King Charles II. In order to explain why King Charles should grant a charter to our ancestors in 1663 when, for a long stretch in this account, we have talked about Oliver Cromwell and Parlia- ment, it will be necessary to dig back a bit into English history, and bring events in England up to the same point that we have just reached in our general story.
Roger Williams was born about 1600, at the close of the reign of Queen Eliza- beth. She was succeeded by James I, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and this monarch ruled over a troubled nation during the youth and early manhood of the founder of Rhode Island. The son of James, Charles the first, ascended the throne in 1625, and it was during the reign of Charles that Roger Williams came to America and entered upon the adventure that has brought him ever- lasting fame and worldwide acclaim. Civil war broke out in England in 1642 between the party supporting King Charles and the factions favoring Par- liament. The latter were victorious, and in 1649, the king was beheaded.
Then, a commonwealth or republic was established, in which Oliver Cromwell
57
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
appeared as the most prominent figure. The story of Parliament and Cromwell is a long and fascinating tale that embraces one of the most revolutionary and event- ful spans in the history of England, but as far as Rhode Island is concerned, it is important to remember that Parliament gave Williams the first charter in 1644, the charter that started Rhode Island on its way to become the first organized government that guaranteed full religious liberty. In December 1653, Oliver Crom- well was installed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and invested with more than regal powers; he brought order out of chaos in England and caused that nation to be feared throughout Europe. Williams was in England from 1651 to 1654, and the revocation of the hated Coddington commission was approved by Cromwell, thereby denoting the latter's friendship for, and confidence in, Roger Williams, and indicating that, in this instance and in others, the Lord Protector had sym- pathy for Rhode Island and the aspira- tions of her citizens.
Cromwell died in 1658, and the brief and feeble protectorate of his son Richard followed. Two years later, Charles II, son of Charles I, who was executed in 1649, was called to the throne, and now we see why a king gave Rhode Island a charter in 1663, a charter that remained as the governing power of the Colony, even after the gaining of American independence, and the confederation of the several states. It remained by the consent of the people as the fundamental law of the state, until it was supplanted by the adoption of the present Constitu- tion in 1843. It has been said that up to this time this instrument was the oldest charter of civil government in existence.
John Clarke, who went over to England in 1651, remained there until after Cromwell died and Charles II came into power and therefore this distinguished diplomat from Newport, carrying out directions from home, had the honor of receiving from the king the document that gave Rhode Island broad freedom in the administration of civil and religious government. The charter itself was committed to the charge of Captain
George Baxter, who brought it across the ocean and presented it to the General Court at Newport, November 24, 1663. The following day it was read to the people assembled and great was the enthusiasm displayed by the freemen who found in the wording of the instrument more liberty than they had antici- pated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.