The historic Irish name of Larkin[6] is found in Rhode Island as early
as 1655. So far as known, Edward Larkin was the first of the name to
locate in the colony.[7] In the year mentioned, he was of Newport, R. I.
In 1661, he had a quarter share of land in what is now Westerly, R. I.
In 1663, he was commissioner from Newport in the “General Court of
Commissioners” held at Providence that year. He was an inhabitant of
Westerly as early as 1669. In 1671, he and John Mackoone were “called on
to see how they stand as to their fidelity to his Majestie and this
Colony.” Perhaps these two Irishmen had not hesitated on occasion to
forcibly express their opinion regarding English tyranny in Ireland.
Edward Larkin had five children, Mehitable, Hannah, Edward, Roger, and
John. The family prospered and in time became very influential
throughout the colony. Mehitable, who was probably named after her
mother or some of the latter’s relatives, married and had five children.
Hannah died without issue, Edward, Jr., married twice and had eleven
children, Roger married twice and had four children, John had one child.
Roger’s estate inventoried £742, 1s., 9d. It included “2 linen wheels.”
In 1755, his widow became an inhabitant of Richmond, R. I. Edward
Larkin, Jr., and wife of Westerly sold 100 acres of land to Samuel Lewis
in 1701.
In 1705–’07–’15, Edward Larkin, Jr., was a deputy to the General
Assembly. His will was proved in 1741. It gives “To wife £100, all
household goods and improvements of homestead and profits of saw mill,
for life, to bring up the young children, and then the said homestead to
go to son Stephen, but the goods and £100 to be free and clear to wife.
To son Stephen, the homestead at death of his mother. To son Nicholas,
£100 and 50 acres, at death of wife, and saw and grist mill. To son
Daniel, a farm at age. To daughter, Elizabeth Babcock, 10 acres where
she lives with house and orchard for life, and then to one of her sons
as she sees fit. To daughter Penelope, £30. To daughters Tabitha and
Lydia, each £50 at eighteen. To son Nicholas, 10 acres of salt marsh. To
son Joseph, 50 acres adjoining land formerly given him. To grandson
Joseph, my son Edward’s son, 5s., his father having had. To sons John
and Samuel, 5s., they having had. To sons, John and Samuel, rest of
estate.” The inventory showed, among other things, books, three beds,
pewter, loom, linen wheel, woolen wheel, card, seven cows, two pairs of
oxen, horse, 37 sheep, etc.
The will of Mary Larkin, widow of Edward, Jr., was proved in 1743. It
gives “To son Nicholas, £50, and bonds against him if he is not able to
pay them. To son David, great bible, and the mortgage to be cleared off
his land, and a house built 16 feet square if he lives to be 21 years of
age. To daughter Tabitha, a horse. To daughter Lydia, a little bible and
£100. To daughters Tabitha and Lydia, all wearing apparel and a double
portion of what is left over the debts. To three sons, the rest
equally.”
Descendants of Edward Larkin, the original immigrant, are still found in
the state. Many of them take a notable pride in their Irish ancestry.
Since the first Edward’s time, other Irish Larkins have come to Rhode
Island and have done their share toward the upbuilding of the state.