Settlement of the town of Providence—Whatcheer—islands of Prudence,
Patience and Hope.
Our account of the division of the lands has led us onward to a period
more than two years after Mr. Williams’ arrival. Some time must have
been spent in his negotiations with the sachems; but he certainly
erected a house soon after his landing, for in a letter, written within
a short time from that event, he says, “Miantinomo kept his barbarous
court lately at my house,” and in his letter to Major Mason, he
mentions, that he entertained General Stoughton, at his house, in May,
1637, when the Massachusetts troops were on their march against the
Pequods.
It is probable, that Mrs. Williams and her two children came from Salem
to Providence, in the summer of 1636, in company with several persons,
who wished to join their exiled pastor.[156]
The family of Mr. Williams was now dependent on his exertions for
support. No supplies could be derived from Massachusetts. The natives
were unable to afford much aid. It is probable, that Mr. Williams had
nearly expended all his funds, in the support of his family during his
absence, and in the negotiations with the Indians. Of his poverty,[157]
there is evidence, in a touching incident, mentioned in his letter to
Major Mason. It is alike honorable to all the parties: “It pleased the
Father of Spirits to touch many hearts, dear to him, with many
relentings; amongst which, that great and pious soul, Mr. Winslow,
melted, and kindly visited me at Providence, and put a piece of gold
into the hands of my wife, for our supply.”
In a deed, which was enrolled January 29, 1667, Mr. Williams says, that
he planted, with his own hands, at his first coming, the two Indian
fields, Whatcheer and Saxifrax Hill, which he had purchased of the
natives. Thus was he forced, as at many other times, to resort to manual
labor for his subsistence. In his reply to Mr. Cotton, (p. 38) he says:
“It is not unknown to many witnesses, in Plymouth, Salem and Providence,
that the discusser’s time hath not been spent (though as much as any
others whosoever) altogether in spiritual labors and public exercises of
the word; but day and night, at home and abroad, on the land and water,
at the hoe, at the oar, for bread.” But he sustained all his labors and
hardships with a patient spirit, and with a steadfast adherence to his
principles.
His house was, undoubtedly, erected near the spot where he landed, and a
few rods eastward of the celebrated spring.[158] Here the wanderer found
a resting place. This was his home, for more than forty years. Here he
died, and near the site of his dwelling his ashes were deposited.
It would be an interesting effort of the imagination, to contrast the
situation of Providence at the time of the settlement, with the present
condition of that beautiful and flourishing town. Where now are busy
streets, and ample warehouses, and elegant mansions, and a population of
nearly 20,000 souls, were, at that time, dense forests, and a few
scattered Indian families. How astonishing is the change! Roger Williams
himself, with all his vigor of imagination, and his ardent temperament,
could not have anticipated the expansion of his little settlement to its
present amplitude, beauty and strength. The glorious vision could not
have visited his mind; but he acted under the power of that prophetic
faith, which assured him of success, in his efforts for the welfare of
men. He looked beyond the present, to the bright future, and was
confident, that his principles, though then misunderstood and rejected,
would ultimately triumph.
In the course of two years, Mr. Williams was joined by a number of
friends from Massachusetts, with whom, as we have seen, he shared the
lands which he had obtained. The community, thus formed, were invested
with the power of admitting others to the privileges of citizenship.
Their number was soon increased, by emigrants from Massachusetts, and
from Europe.[159] It was the design of Mr. Williams, that his colony
should be open to all persons who might choose to reside there, without
regard to their religious opinions. He was careful, nevertheless, to
provide for the maintenance of the civil peace. Every inhabitant was
required to subscribe the following covenant:
“We, whose names are here underwritten, being desirous to inhabit in the
town of Providence, do promise to submit ourselves, in active or passive
obedience, to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public
good of the body, in an orderly way, by the major consent of the present
inhabitants, masters of families, incorporated together into a township,
and such others whom they shall admit unto the same, _only in civil
things_.”
This simple instrument, which combines the principles of a pure
democracy, and of unrestricted religious liberty, was the basis of the
first government in Providence. It was undoubtedly drawn up by Roger
Williams. It bears the impress of his character, and it was the germ of
those free institutions, under which Rhode-Island has flourished till
the present day.
The government of the town was thus placed in the hands of the
inhabitants; and the legislative, judicial and executive functions were
exercised, for several years, by the citizens in town meeting. Two
deputies were appointed, from time to time, whose duties were, to
preserve order, to settle disputes, to call town meetings, to preside in
them, and to see that their resolutions were executed.[160] But the
power of the deputies was very limited, and their term of office short.
A form of government so simple could not exist, except in a small
community, and among men whose moral principles were pure, and their
habits peaceful. Winthrop was mistaken, when he asserted of the settlers
at Providence, that they “would have no magistrates.”[161] If they had
not the usual forms, they had the essence of magistracy.
The settlers applied themselves to agriculture, for subsistence. An
intelligent antiquarian, of Providence, whose opinions are authority on
all points touching its early history, says,[162] that the first
inhabitants settled “on such places as were most convenient, and planted
their corn on the old Indian fields, as they could agree among
themselves. When their number had increased, they laid out what is now
the Main street, on the east side of the river, and divided the land
eastward of the street, into lots of six acres each, being of equal
breadth, and extending back to what is now Hope street. There were
eventually one hundred and two of these six acre lots, extending from
Mile End Brook, which enters the river a little north of Fox Point, to
Harrington’s Lane, on the north, which lane is now the dividing line
between Providence and North Providence. Each proprietor had one of
these six acre lots, and on which he built his house. How they were
located, whether by lot or draft, or by choice, I am not informed; but
it is probable that the first comers had their choice, as the six acre
lot of Roger Williams was the place where he first landed, and had built
his house.[163] The street, now Bowen street, leading from Main to
Benefit street, divides that part of his lot nearly in the middle. The
object of locating themselves so near together was for security and
mutual aid against the Indians, and in conformity to the practice in
Europe. Each proprietor, besides his town lot, as it was called, took up
out land, upland and meadows, by grant of the whole in proprietors’
meeting. These grants were entered on the records. None of them, at
first, took up sufficient for a farm in one place. Each one, besides his
_upland_, as it was termed, or planting land, had, in another place, and
frequently quite distant, his proportion of meadow land. This was
necessary, because there was no hay seed known or in use. They had no
grass for winter fodder, but bog or salt meadow, or thatch, and each
must have his share of this, or his cattle would perish, or browse in
the woods in winter.”
Roger Williams, in addition to his six acre town lot, had a lot in the
neighborhood of Whatcheer cove. The deed, already quoted, may be
appropriately introduced here, as a document which belongs to the
history of Roger Williams and of the town:
“Whereas, by the good Providence of God, I, Roger Williams, purchased
this plantation of the natives, partly by the favors which I had long
before with the sachems gotten at my cost and hazard, and partly with my
own monies, paid them, in satisfaction for the settling of the said
plantation, in the midst of the barbarians round about us; and whereas
for the name of God and public good, and especially for the receiving of
such as were troubled elsewhere about the worship of God, I freely
parted with my whole purchase unto the township, or commonalty, of the
then inhabitants, and yet reserved to myself the two Indian fields,
called Whatcheer and Saxifrax Hill, as having peculiarly satisfied the
owners of those fields for them, besides my general purchase of the
whole from the sachems, and also planted both those fields at my first
coming as my own peculiar with mine own hands, and whereas the town of
Providence by their deputies, then called five Disposers, William Field
was one, long since laid out unto me the aforesaid field called
Whatcheer, and adjoined my six acre lot unto it, making up together
twelve acres by the eighteen foot pole, and I having forgotten my
bounds, the town deputies, William Field and Arthur Fenner, have since
laid out and measured the said twelve acres unto me by the eighteen foot
pole as aforesaid. These are to certify unto all men, that I, the said
Roger Williams, have, for a full satisfaction already received from
James Ellis, of Providence, sold and demised unto the said James Ellis,
the said twelve acres aforesaid, bounded on the east by the river, on
the west by a highway between the said twelve acres and the land of
Nicholas Power deceased, on the north by a highway lying between the
said twelve acres and William Field’s land, and on the south by Mr.
Benedict Arnold’s land; the aforesaid twelve acres I do by these
presents demise and alienate from myself, my heirs, executors, &c. to
the aforesaid James Ellis, his heirs, executors, &c. with all the
appertenances and privileges thereof.
Witness my hand and seal,
ROGER WILLIAMS. (_An arrow._)
In the presence of us witnesses, Arthur Fenner, William Field,
enrolled the 29th day of January, in the year 1667.
Pr. me, SHADRACH MANTON, _Town Clerk_.”
This field, Whatcheer, was afterwards sold to Arthur Fenner, Esquire,
and is now occupied, as the family seat of the Hon. James Fenner,
formerly Governor of Rhode-Island.
We may mention here, that Mr. Williams obtained the island of
_Prudence_, from the Indians, and held it as a joint proprietor with
Governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts. The following letter relates to
this transaction:[164]
“_The last of the week, I think the 28th of the 8th._
“Sir,
“The bearer, Miantinomo, resolving to go on his visit, I am bold to
request a word of advice from you, concerning a proposition made by
Canonicus and himself to me some half year since. Canonicus gave an
island in this bay to Mr. Oldham, by name Chibachuwese, upon condition,
as it should seem, that he would dwell there near unto them. The Lord
(in whose hands all our hearts are) turning their affections towards
myself, they desired me to remove thither and dwell nearer to them. I
have answered once and again, that for the present I mind not to remove;
but if I have it from them, I would give them satisfaction for it, and
build a little house and put in some swine, as understanding the place
to have store of fish and good feeding for swine. Of late I have heard,
that Mr. Gibbons, upon occasion, motioned your desire and his own of
putting some swine on some of these islands, which hath made me since
more desire to obtain it, because I might thereby not only benefit
myself, but also pleasure yourself, whom I more desire to pleasure and
honor. I spoke of it now to this sachem, and he tells me, that because
of the store of fish, Canonicus desires that I would accept half, (it
being spectacle-wise, and between a mile or two in circuit, as I guess)
and he would reserve the other; but I think, if I go over, I shall
obtain the whole. Your loving counsel, how far it may be inoffensive,
because it was once (upon a condition not kept,) Mr. Oldham’s. So, with
respective salutes to your kind self and Mrs. Winthrop, I rest,
“Your worship’s unfeigned, in all I may,
“ROGER WILLIAMS.
“For his much honored Mr. Governor, these.”
Governor Winthrop retained his moiety of the island, and gave it, in his
will, to his son Stephen.[165]
Mr. Williams also owned the islands _Patience_ and _Hope_. The names of
the three islands are indicative of his mind. William Harris said, in
1677, in a somewhat reproachful tone, that these islands were “all put
away.” Mr. Williams sold them, perhaps, as he certainly did some other
portions of his property, to maintain himself and family, during his
long and unrequited toils, in England, for the welfare of the colony. To
a native of Rhode-Island, these islands should be interesting monuments
of the virtues and services of her founder.
Having thus stated the manner in which the settlement at Providence was
commenced, we must now return to the period of the first arrival of Mr.
Williams, and narrate briefly his agency in averting the imminent danger
of a general league among the natives for the destruction of the
colonists.