Dinsmore Documentation presents Classics of American Colonial History

Author:	Weeden, William B.
Title:	Early Rhode Island: A Social History of the People.
Citation:	New York: The Grafton Press, 1910.
Subdivision:	Front Matter
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THE GRAFTON HISTORICAL SERIES

Edited by FREDERICK H. GRAFTON, A. M.

[Verso of series title page]

The Grafton Historical Series Edited by Frederick H. Hitchcock, A. M. Illustrated, 12 mo. Cloth, gilt top.

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Roger Williams, A Political Pioneer
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Early Rhode Island
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Frontispiece

Mowry Tavern, where Williams held Meetings. Built about 1653.

EARLY RHODE ISLAND

A SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE

WILLIAM B. WEEDEN, A.M.

Author of “Economic and Social History of New England,”
“War Government, Federal and State,” etc.

THE GRAFTON PRESS

PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

iii

Copyright, 1910

By THE GRAFTON PRESS

CONTENTS
CHAPTER		PAGE
I.	Foundations of Rhode Island, 1636	1
II.	Planting in Providence, 1636-1647	28
III.	The Island, 1638-1663	45
IV.	The Colony and the Town of Providence, 1648-1710	73
V.	King’s County, the Patriarchal Condition, 1641-1757	133
VI.	Period Under Charter of Charles II., 1663-1730	174
VII.	The Commercial Growth of Providence, 1711-1762	193
VIII.	Newport in the Eighteenth Century, 1700-1776	266
IX.	The South County, 1758-1787	279
X.	Revolutionary Period, 1763-1785	316
XI.	The Union, 1786-1790	353
	Index	363

ILLUSTRATIONS
Mowry Tavern, where Williams Held Meetings. Built about 1658.	Frontispiece
	FACING PAGE
Rhode Island’s Magna Charts. Here occur the words, “Only in Civil Things”	30
The Bull House, Newport. Built about 1640	58
Coddington’s House at Newport, about 1650	64
Copy of the Record Signed by Roger Williams in His Only Service as Town Clerk	92
Cæsar House. Type of the Houses Built in the Latter Part of the Seventeenth Century	120
Residence of Dean Berkeley, Middletown (Near Newport, R.I.). Built in 1730	268
University Hall and Hope College in 1825	334

viii

FOREWORD

Much has been written concerning the disputes between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The character of the technical rights of Roger Williams in the Bay, and whether such a seditious outcast could have rights, created volumes of discussion. These questions have lost interest in the new perspective of the twentieth century.

Mr. Richman, inspired by Bryce, and coming from the great West, set forth the world-spirit of Roger Williams. Moreover, he brought forward Jellinek’s testimony to the world-wide importance of our Magna Charta “only in civil things,” which he terms the first “unrestricted liberty of religious conviction.” In the recent celebration of the memory of Calvin at Geneva, Professor Borgeaud, of the University, said: “We had above all to call up the vision of an American idea. . . . That part which is not sufficiently known in the Old World is magnificent. The man to whom it is due is Roger Williams.” In his “Modern Democracy,” he said long ago that the acceptance of the Rhode Island charter in 1647 was the “first great date in the history of modern democracy.”

The solid work of Arnold sufficiently treated the politico-theological principles of our State, and Brigham brought up the history to our day. I have freely used his authorities.

In these pages, I have studied to find out how the outcasts lived. Isolated without church or school, with few men educated by system, how did the exiles in this

narrow territory build up a new civilization, sufficient to attract the notice of Europe two centuries later? Liberty of the soul based on law formed a new citizen, freed from feudal restraint and ecclesiastical heredity. Charles II. gave Williams and John Clarke for their “lively experiment” a new standing place, from which to overcome the world.

Information is meager concerning the early ways of living in the society developed on Narragansett Bay; but enough exists to enlighten the story, as heretofore told, of theological controversies and political evolution. The old records both in print and in manuscript yield much that is significant of the thought and action of these striving citizens. One of the rare and very valuable collections of papers, descended from Nicholas Brown & Co., is now in the John Carter Brown library. It yielded much for our use, as shown herein. I have grubbed considerably in the inventories; for whether important or not, they are certainly true.

Let us try to comprehend the social life of our forefathers!

W. B. W.

Providence, R. I., January 1, 1910.

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Dinsmore Documentation presents Classics of American Colonial History