USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The early records of the town of Providence, Vol. XVII, 1600s > Part 5
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Wheras it is knowne that his Majesties Colloney of Rhoade Jsland & Providence Plantationes hath receaved Quowarranto from o' Gratious. Majesty by the hand of Edward Randolph Esq : and in order therunto the honored Govor" gaue warninge to the freemen of the severall Townes to meet and give in their aprobation what they would doe concerninge the prem- ises the resolve to the sayd Asembly was to leaue the farther considerations to their Juditious Consult, vpon which the Asembly left the manadgement of that aforsd to a Comittee for to manadge the good of the whole for that end the Comit- tee met and drew vp their Adresse and Submission to his Majesty accordinge to Proclamation / But vpon farther & more mature Consideration of the sayd premises with some rumors of dissatisfaction haue thought fit to desier the free Jnhabitantes of this Collony & of the Cheife Townes thereofe to meet once more and give vnder their handes their voluntary Submission and Surrendringe to his | Gratious | Majestie of the Priveledges in their Gratious Charter conteined as in their former Adresse the Substance therofe apearr /
At a meetinge of the Comittee at Providence July the 26th i686
By vs of the Comittee
Walter Clark Govr
Joseph Jenckes Jn | Asis : |
John Greene Asistant
Peleg Tripp
[ 76 ]
(Verso)
Information from a Comittee
[0482] To the Towne Mett July the 27th: 1686
my humble Request is, that you would Change| mee 70 Acrees of Land belonging to the first | fifty | Acrees diuision and grant mee liberty to take it up neer or ad Joyneing to the Pond Called Maswansecott Pond and Jn soe doeing you will obliege him whoe is your ffriend to serve you Jn what I may Edward Bennet
(Verso) Ed: Bennetts Bill July 27th : 68
[0483] to the town that you would Please forthwith to Settle & finish that general highway ConCernd in my former bill giuen in vpon the 18 day of deCember 85 to extend north- ward on a PeiCe | of | Comon which is betwixt a spott of swamp that Laurans Wilkason had: & Mr Roger Wiliam| his six aCre lott
Daniel Brown
(Verso) Daniell Brownes Bill. / July 27ª: 86. /
[0484] Where as thair is a paper presented to the towne of prouidence this 27: of July 1686 wher in thair is a Requeste of the honered gouerner and others of the Comittie Judging it very Convenient for the satisfiing of som dissatisfied persons as if the Court and Comitty war about to surender of the gou- erment | of this Colony | vnder the gouermente of yorke we the subscridbers do her by deClare that our minds ar that ther be a surender or prosterating our Charter and the priuiledges
[ 77 ]
ther in Contained vnto our gratious sourin lord King Jeames the second and to us other person or gouerment
the subscridberes ar :
Joseph Jenckes
Daniell Abbott
Thomas Arnold
Thomas: Harris
Eliezar Arnold
Samuell Comestock
[0485] To ye Towne mett upon Ajornement from ye: 271 of Janvary : 168$ : I desire to know if it may be, The Bounds of ye Towne of providence southerly, pautuxett Right Excepted, that I may know how much mony to pay, and how much for a Towne Right, to defray ye Charge, to Answer if need Require, or make out before his Excelency sir: Edmund Andros what if ye Townes Claime, and I shall pay my Dve,
Jon Whipple
(Verso)
To ye Towne
[0486] To ye Towne mett upon Ajornement from the : 27th of January: 168§ I Desire to know if it may be, the Bounds of ye Towne of providence southerly, pautuxett Right. Excepted, that I may know how much mony to pay, and how much for a Towne Right, to Defray ye Charge, to Answer if need require, or make out before his Excelency S': Edmund Andross : what is ye Townes Claime, and I shall pay my Due : Jon Whipple
(Verso)
abovt ye Townes Right
[ 78 ]
[0487] to the toune meet this 2 [ ] of january i686 or S[ ]
My Requ[ ]st is that I may Exchange my 60 ACors of Land which I bought of William Hopkins I paying such | dewes | as may Aris in so deuing you will obLidg your frind Gorge Keech
[0488] to the toune met this 27th of january j68687
My Request is that the Land Exchanged by Stephen Arnold may Remane Common and in so doing you will oblidg your freind
Joseph Whippel
[0489] These for ye moderator of ye Quarter meeting of ye Towne of prouidence| held by aJurenment the 7th day of Febuarey 1686. or 7.
Where as I vnderstand: that at This Towne meeting there is an intent of an agreement of ye Towne to laye out ye lands to ye westward of the Seauen mile line: now I would aduise you not to laye out any lands | belonging to pautuxet men that are not Consenting there to | for the present beyond ye seuen mile line : for I fear yt ye Towne which haue gon about to Rong. & confine pautuxet men : where in ye Towne haue allso confined and bounded them selues for thay can goe no further westward then pautuxet men doe goe: the comisiton court did order in deed that a thowart line Should be Runn to pautuxet Riuer: where that prouidence men haue limeted pautuxett men : Euen So prouidence will be limeted from ye Same place to pautuckett Riuer which will bee as great a lost to mee as it will to most men in prouidence : I perseiue that ye lands of pautuxet are to goe as farr westward as prouidence doe for all deeds & Confirmations & Towne Records that I doe knowe or
[ 79 ]
haue Seene doe Specefie to ye Same : as first ye Combenation made in ye year 1640 Specefieth that ye line betwene ye perticu- lor propriaters of ye men of pautuxet & ye Ginorall Comon of ye Towne of prouidence shall Runn of an euen distance be- tweene pautuxet Riuer & wanasQuatucket Riuer Secondely Caussuck Quansh & Nenekelah haue Confirmed to the men of prouidenc & ye men of pautuxet there lands according to their Joynt agreements all ye lands betweene pautucket & pautuxet Riuers up the | Streams | with out limets : or as farr | as | thay shall thinke fitt
Thirdely Cauiani Quanett haue Confirmed all ye lands be- tweene patuckett Riuer & pautuxet Riuer to ye men of proui- denc & ye men of pautuxet Twentey | miles | from fox hill in to ye Countrey : fourthely. Scattappe & Que Qua Qunnuett haue Estableshed all. ye land that was Granted to Mr Roger Williams agent for the men of prouidence & ye men of patuxet all ye land reaching from pautucket Riuer to pautuxet Riuer : & up those Streames with out limets: yt their Grandfather. & Cousin had granted to ye men of prouidence. & ye men of pau- tuxet : to whome thay againe Confirmed ye foresaid lands up ye Streemes with out limets or as farr as ye men of prouidence and ye men of pautuxet Shall Judge Conueanient according to their Joynt agreements
fiftely a volaltt of ye Towne in ye yeare 1660 upon a bill that William harris put in to ye Towne whether ye Towne would owne ye line betweene | wanas Quatucket | & patuxett of an EQuall distance Twentey miels according to Cauiana Qanets grant or as farr as ye men of prouidence : & ye men of pautuxet See fitt according to ye Rest of ye other Sachims : the voat Car- ried it that thay would so owne it Twentey miles :: Sixly by
11
[ 80 ]
an order of ye Towne and pautuxet mens Consent in | ye | year. 1663. pautuxet men paid to ye Confirmations a Quarter part of ye whoal Sume: & so were to haue a Querter part of all ye lands betweene pautucket Riuer and pautuxet Riuer: Seu- enthly that in ye year 1638 M' Williams Reseuid. 30: pound of ye inhabitants of prouidenc for ye land belonging to ye Towne : and 20 pound he had at ye Same time of y: 13 purchesors in perticulor for pautuxet lands which is a great deall moar than a Quarter part : : and other writings and Recordes are to be seene that proues pautuxet lands to Reach as farr westward as prouidence doe or Cane doe
(Verso)
Now to Conclud me think ye Towne of prouidence is that thay did but see or hear all ye writings: and Records of the Towne that Spekes of these things: Shourely all that were Wisse or Rashonall would not make Such a Controuersey with out any Ground or Reason: to put out their owne eyes to doe other men Rong: So now it would bee better for prourdence men. & pautuxet men to agree to maintain their first and ancent Counants Confirmations and Joynt agreements which may possabely preuent futtuer damedges to our Selues : So now I would desiar ye Towne Seriously to Consider of those things that it may preuent that which is lickely Enofe to Com | up | on vs :: I Rest
your frind in what I maye Stephen Arnold
[0490] An aCount of our Estate, ratable as wee vnder- stand: 1687: march the 12
bogey and upland medoe neeare home: i5 acors or neare
[ 81 ]
there about : I paster land : 26: And 3 of planting land And own acor of Salt Mash And 2 of mungerel and fresh More 4 acors of bogey Medow not fenct 20: Cowes and : 2 : hefers: 2 oxen and 2 Steres hardly oxen More 4 Steres of 3 year and uantag : And : 8: Catel of 2 year And uantag. And 6 : of year and uantags Sheep Aboue a year olde aboute 5i And hors kind : 6 :
.
£=s=d. 0=12= 08
Silas Carpenter Beniamin Carpenter
[0491] This is an account as near as I Can by my indeauer according to ye Sumons Sent out by ye order of ye maistrats of prouidence first for meaddow I haue about. 27. acers of good & bad
2. of Ground in tilledg. 3. acers and a Quarter
3. of pastuer Ground nine acers
4. of fenced Ground lately taken in 14 acers
5. for Cattell I haue at present. 4. oxen & 16 Cowes
6 - 3 Stears nere. 4. years old: &. 3 Cattell nere. 3. years old 7 - and Six Cattell nere Two yeres old
8 - I haue at present. 97. Sheep aboue a year old
9 - 2. horses 4 mares &. 3. mares of 2 yeares old
IO - of orchards about. 2. acers or moar which is a Quarter dead At patuxet this 14th day of march. 1687 by me
£ =s=d 0=10=09
Stephen Arnold
[0492] To The Towne Councill mett, March 14th: 1686 The account of Tho: Walling, his Estate : as followeth Three Cowes, & a 4 yeare old steer
Aboute 4 Acars, of enclosed Land :
[ 82 ]
Aboute one acar &3 | there | of Tillable : & : a 3rd part of a share of meaddow.
Also ye account of Jon Walling
Two Cows, a 3 yeare old steer, a 2 yeere old heaffer.
Aboute | 2 | acars of Enclosed Land, aboute } an acar thereof Tillable: & a 3rd part of a share of meddow :
5- 10 -O 5- 10-0 I - 10 - O
I - II - O
7- 1-0 I - 0-0 0- 0-7 I - 10 - O
0- 0 8
John Wollen
[0493] providence 14th of march 1686.
To ye Towne Councill of providence mett, ye day & yeare abovesd :
Gentlemen. Heare is a List, or an account, of ye Esteemed Rateable Estate according to form' Custome & useage, as Towne order enjoyneth Each jnhabitant to give in. wch is as fol- loweth
A Yoak of oxen, 2 Cows | ye one farrow, | & 2 steers, neare 3 yeares old.
One horse, & a poore (maim'd) yovng maire.
And five Swine, wch is all:
Aboute 12 Acars of jmproveable Land, y' is to say, all ) ye grovndes of my home Lotts.
Of wch, abovte 4 Acars Tillable, abovte 4 Acars Moeable ) swampe, in seasonable yeares
And a 3rd part of a share of meddow at walsingham, w.ch is ye most | of | it but pollopodum-stuffe.
[ 83]
And for ye orchard (there | also | ) in my Custody, I are not able to keep vp fence (there) for proffitt. therefore voyd.
for in 3 yeares, in all, that I can give acovnt of, was but 12 Bushels & a peck | of Apples. |
Dan: Abbott
(Verso)
for my (appeared) fenc'd Land in ye neck, I had not 2d : proffitt Last yeare, nor Like to have, except it were better fen'd, wch I are not Able, nor Like to doe this yeare : .
Memorand : as for my Orchard at home, it is Soe demol- ished | trees ded & cutt down | & That I have very Little Benifitt of Late yeares :
Also, I am prety much downe ye winde at prsent. And have been disabled this winter, from Labovr for a Livelihood, & yet am Lame in one of my handes: & Like to be.
Daniel Abbott.
[0494] To ye Towne mett, upon Ajornement, March ye: 25th : 1687
My humble Request : is that you woold be pleased to Grant mee leave to be an Jnhabetant of yo' Towne, and to sell such Goods and Wares, as I shall produce, and Saleable, according to his Majetys law, Acording to his law, Exstent or yt may, or shall be in this Towne, and in soe doeing yov will oblige him who desires the Welfare of yor Towne : Gedion Crawford
[0495] His Majesties gratious declaracon to all his Lov: subjects for liberty of Conscience
It haveing pleas'd almighty god not only to bringe us to ye Imperial crown of these kingdoms through ye greatest difficul- ties but to preserue us by amore then ordinary providence
[ 84 ]
upon ye throne of o' Ancestors, there is nothing now that wee so earnestly desire as to establish o' Goverm': on such a foun- dation as may make or Subjects happy, & unite them to us by inclination as well as duty, wch wee thinke can be done by no meanes so effectually as by granting to them ye free exercise of their religion for ye time to come, & add that to ye perfect en- joyment of ye property wch has never been in any case invaded by us since o' comeing to ye Crown wch being ye two things men value most shall ever be p'served in these kingdom[ ] dureing o' reighn over them as ye truest method of y' peace & our glory : wce can't but heartily wish as it will [ ]sily be be- lieved yt all ye people of o' d[ ]minions were members of ye Catholick Church, yett wee humbly thanke almighty god it is & hath of long time been our constant sence & opinion wch upon diuers occasions wee haue declared yt conscience ought not to be constrain'd nor people forc't in matters of meere reli- gion : it has ever been directly contrary to our inclination as wee thinke it is to ye Interest of Goverment which it destroys by spoyling trade depopulating Countries & discourageing strang's & finally yt it never obtaind ye end for wch it was im- ploy'd & in this wee are ye more confirm'd by ye reflections wee hauc made upon ye conduct of ye four last reigns for after all ye frequent & pressing endeavo's that were used in each of them to reduce this kingdom to an exact conformity in religion, its visible ye success has not answer'd ye designe, & ye difficulty is invincible, wee therefore out of o' princely care & affec[ ]on unto all o' loveing subjects yt they may liue at ease & quiett, & for ye increase of trade, & incouragem': of strang's haue thought fitt by virtue of or Royall prerogatiue to issue forth this o' declaration of Indulgence makeing no doubt of ye concurrence
[ 85 ]
of or two houses of parliament when wee shall thinke it con- venient for them to meet
In ye first place wee doe declare that wee will protect & maintaine our Arch Bishops Bishops & Clergy & all other sub- jects of ye Church of England in ye free exercise of y' religion as by law establish't & in ye quiet & full enjoym' of all y' pos- sessions without any molestation or disturbance w'soever
Wee doe likewise declare yt it is o' royall will & pleasure y' from henceforth the execution of all & all manner of penall laws in matters Ecclesiasticall, for not comeing to church or not receiveing ye Sacram': or for any other Nonconformity to ye religion established or for or by reason of ye exercise of re- ligion in any manner w': soever be immediately suspended & ye further execution of ye said penall laws & every of them is hereby suspended. And to ye end yt by ye liberty hereby granted ye peace & security of o' Goverm': in ye practice thereof may not be indangered, wee have thought fitt & doe hereby straitly charge & command all or loveing subjects that as wee doe freely give them leave to meete & serve god after their own way & manner be it in private houses or places pur- posely hired or built for yt use so that they take speciall care y' nothing be preached or taught amonge them wch may any wayes tend to alienate ye hearts of o' people from us or or Gov- ernmt: & yt their meeteings & assemblies be peaceably, openly & publickly held & all persons freely admitted to them & that they doe signifie & make known to some one or more of ye next Justices of ye peace what place or places the[ ] sett apart for these uses. And that all or subjects may injoy such their religious assemblies wth greater assurance & protection wee have thought it requisite & doe hereby command yt no disturb-
[ 86 ]
ance of any kinde be made or given to them under paine of our displeasure & to be further proceeded against wth ye utter- most severity: And foras much as wee are desirous to haue ye benefitt of ye service of all our Lov: subjects wch by ye law of nature is inseparably annext to & inherent in o' Royall person & yt none of o' subjects may | for | ye future be under any dis- couragem': or disability, who are otherwise well inclin'd & fitt to serve us by reason of some oathes or Test[ ] yt have been usually administred on such occasions, wee doe hereby further declare yt it is o' Royall will & pleasure yt ye oathes commonly called ye oathes of Allegiance & Supremacy, & also ye severall Tests & declarations mentioned in ye acts of Parliament made in ye 25th & 30th yeares of ye reigne of or late royall brother king Charles ye Second shall not at any time hereafter be required to be taken declared or subscribed
(Recto)
by any person or persons w'soever who is or shall be imploy'd in any office or place of trust either Civill or Military under us in o' Goverm': & wee doe further declare it to be our pleasure & intention from time to time hereafter to grant o' Royal dis- pensacons under our great Seale to all o' Lov: subjects so to be imploy'd, who shall not take the said Oathes or subscribe & declare ye said Tests or declarations in the above mentioned acts & every of them. And to ye end y' all our Lov: Subjects may receive & injoy the full benefitt & advantage of o' Gratious indulgence hereby intended & may be acquitted & discharged from all paines penalties forfeitures & disabilities by them or any of them incurr'd or forfeited, or wch they shall or may at any time hereafter be lyable to for or by reason of y' Noncon- formity or ye exercise of their religion & from all suits, troubles
[ 87 ]
or disturbances for ye same, wee doe hereby give o' free & ample pardon unto all Nonconformists. Recusants & other o' Lov: Subjects for all crimes & things by them committed or done contrary to ye penall laws formerly made relateing to Religion & ye profession & exercise thereof hereby declareing that this o' royall pardon & indemnit[ ] will be as go[ ]d & effectual [ ] all intent [ ] & purposes as if every individual person had been therein particularly named, or had particular pardons under our great Seale, wch wee doe likewise declare shall from time to time be granted unto person or persons desireing ye same, willing & requireing our Judges, Justices & other officers to take notice of & obey o' Royall will & pleasure herein before declared. And although ye freedome & assur- ance wee have hereby given in relation to religion & property might be sufficient to remove from ye minds of our Lov: Sub- jects all feares & jealousies in relation to either, yett wee have thought fitt further to declare that wee will maintaine them in all their properties & possessions as well of Church & Abby Lands as in any other their lands & properties whatsoever.
Given at o' Court at Whitehall ye 4th day of Aprill 1687 In ye yeare of o' reigne By his Majesties speciall command.
(Verso)
King James's Declaration.
[0496] from the Prison in boston may 19 1687
M' Josepf Ginkes senor M' John whipel senor gentelmen j do hvmbel beseech | yov | will bee so plased to do me that kines to tack sum kar of land | my | land hovsel godes for the good of my Chil by rason of my wif should not mack non of them away I do dasir you to kep them til yov do hear from
12
[ 88 ]
me again by rason I haf asroud suspichon that she will run away and laf the Child be hind her
Thomas waters
(Verso)
This for M' Jospef Ginkes at Prouidenc Post hast
[0497] ffrom the Prison in boston may 27 1687
M' Filip Long and yovr wif and Childern my lof remem- bered vnto you prayin to god for your good wellfar you and all your famely and the of yovr naibers for god, doth know whar I shall se yov any of yov any mor j pray be Kind to my wif for she is a por disstresed Cratvr and haf in no frindes bvt | whar | god rais hvr | bvt | tharfor j pray you jf in kas you yov hear of my mare or know of hvr j pray you help my wif to hvr or any of spring that be long to hvr and sel them for svh mony or pay as may be Conveanant for hur ned I Pray pay that small mator that is dvto me from you to my wif in that maybe for hvr nacari yovs thvs doin yov will obbleg yovr lvfin frind
Thomas weters
(Verso)
ffor Filip Long in dadford deliver with kear
[0498] from the prison in boston may 27 1687
Thomas weters my tender and lvfin wif derlo thou hast thou pay for mee with wipin jes and sarofvl harts wich god abof do know wee thare war forst to part at that dolsvm plas abof riton bvt it my prayers for the and my swet bab vpon my benddid nies and to the Lord mosthi I shall for most eaver pray and my swet bab also the Lord prasarf yov both Crist kip yov all so pray for me swet lvf for my protexon and saf arifel kip well
[ 89 ]
my lvf in stor and til sich times it shall plas god to bringe us to gather again jf plas god as that j hop he is I do in tend as sven as j Cvm at that land and dissposed of I do in tend to send for thee my pravs lvfin wif and my bab all so jf that j Can find it may be for thy good and Cvmfort abellifin hopin to god that wee both may laf of thos Grat and wicked sines wee for- morli haf Cvmmited, the Lord rais the ffrines in this Itack my laf of the my Lvf j aver shall j trvs in god remain thy Lvfin husband wilst j haf brath to dro adu adu my prashvs Chais
Thomas weters An weters
I Pray kep this Later until you do heare from mee a Gain
(Verso)
ffor Thomas waters in Providens deliver with kare
[0499] To ye Constables of ye towne of providence this 3ith day of may 1687
As Allso you Thomas olney John whiple as grand Jury men And Thomas ffeild & Nathaniell Waterman | for ye | pettey Jury men you & Each of you, I doe here by Order sommon you, to serve his maiestie in a Generall Court of tryalls at newport ye second tusday in June next sighned by me Edmund Calverley gen11: sargent
(Verso)
f [ ] ye towne of provence
[0500] By vertue of the power I haue Reced from the Honourable John vsher Esq' Treasurer of his majesties Terri- tory & dominion of New-England I doe Authorise & appoint m' John Whipple to Receive the whole Excise of all sortes of
[ 90 ]
Drinke that shall be sould within the Towneshipp of proui- dence by Retaile according as ye Law in that Case is prouided untill the 12th day of June next for wch doeing this shall be your warrant dated in Prouidence this 8th day July 1687.
Natha :' Byfield farmer of Excise.
(Verso)
m' Befied. order
[0501] Bee it Knowne vnto all persons; That wee John Whipple Samuell Winsor & Epenetus Olney; All of the Towne of Providence in the County of Rhode Island Kings Province & Providen | ce | Plantations; In his Maties Territory & Dominion | in | New England; Doe Recognize our selves to his Matie James the seacond his heires & successors; In the full sum of twenty poundes Currant silver money of New Eng- land, That is to say; The said John Whipple aforesaid in tenn poundes & the aforesaid Samuell Winsor in fiue poundes & the said Epenetus Olney in fiue poundes to bee payd as his Maties Law shall direct to the true performance whereof; wee binde our selves our heires & Executors; & subscribe our names & seales to the conditions of the Recognizance vnder written; Dated the sixteenth day of July Annoqr Domini 1687 In the third yeare of his Maties Reigne James the seacond King of England &c
The Condition of this Recoginzance is such that whereas the aboue bounden John Whipple of the Towne of Provi- dence; Is admitted allowed & Lycenced by Richard Arnold one of his Maties Councell & Arthur ffenner Esq' one of his Maties Justices of the peace Both of the Towne of Providence ; In his Maties Territory & dominion of New England aforesaid ;
[9] ]
To keepe a Comon Ale house & victualling house & Enter- tainemt for Lodgers & travilers; & horsemeate & for retaileing of wine Brandy Rum beare or Ale; or any other sort of strong drinke whatsoever; By law to bee retailed; For the space of one whole yeare next ensueing the date hereof & noe longer In the house where hee now dwelleth In the County Territory & dominion abouesaid & not Else where in the County afore- said; If therefore the said John Whipple; shall dureing such tyme as hee shall keepe such comon Ale house or house of Entertainemt & retaileing of strong drinkes; To the best of his power shall; not suffer; or allow any misrule or disorder to bee But to doe the best in his power; fully to act according to his said Lycence dureing the terme abouesaid; Then this Recognizance to bee voyd & of noe effect or else to remaine in full force & virtue
Taken before vs the day John Whipple [L S]
of the date abouesaid
Samuel Winsor [L S]
Richard Arnold of ye Councell
Epenetus Olney [L S] Arthur ffenner Justis of peace
(Verso)
Jon Whipple: his Bond
[0502 is the clerk's memorandum of the proceedings of the town meeting printed in Early Records of the town of Provi- dence, Vol. 8, page 171.]
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