The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-20

lily presented two places before them in
the Narragansett-Bay, the one on the
Main called Sow-Wames, the south
easterly part of the Neck since called
Phebe's Neck, in Darlington and A
quedneck, now Rhode-Island." And in
asmuch as they were determined to go
out of every other jurisdiction, Mr.. Will
liams and Mr.. Clarke, attended with
two other persons, went to Plymouth to
enquire how the case stood; they were
lovingly received and answered, that
Sowames was the garden Of their patent.
But they were advised to settle nt Aqued-
neck, and promised to be looked on as
free, and to be treated and assisted as
loving ncighbors. Mr.. ]. Clarke's Mar.
! On their return the 9TH Of March,
l637-S, the people to the number of
eighteen,t incorporated themselves
body politick, and chose Mr.. Coddington
their leader, to be the Judge or Chief
Magistrate. After the same manner
Plymouth and Connecticut Colonies
were forced to enter into a voluntary a.
greement or covenant at the first, as
having no legal authority amongst them
the people here however Immediately
sought patent, in few years obtained
one.
Mr.Wiliams was very instrumental
in procuring the Island of the Indian
Sachems, and has left this account in
perpetuam rel memoriam:-"It was not
price or money that could have purchased
Rhode-Island, but it was obtained by
love, that love and favor which that
honored gentleman, Sir Henry Vane
and myself, had with the great sachem
Myantonomo, about the league which
procured between the Massachusetts En-
glish and the Narragansetts in the Pc
quot war. This mention, that as the
truly noble Sir Henry Vane hath been
so great an instrument in the hand of
God for procuring this Island of the bar
barians, as also for procuring and con-
iirming the Charter, it may be with all
thankful Acknowledgements recorded and
remembered by us and ours WHO reap
tL & hon n1I
such unheard ofliberties among US" Ms.
of r. w And in another Manuscript
he tells us, that the Indians were very
shy and jealous Of selling the lands to
any, and chose rather to make grant
of them to such as they affected, but at
the same time, expected such gratuities
and rewards rs made an Indian gift Of
ten very dear bargain. And the Col
ony 20 years ago 1866 avered, that tho
the favor Mr.. Williams had with Myan-
tony was the great means of procuring
the grants Of the lands, yet the purchase
had been dearer than of any lands in
New-England; the reason Of which
might be, partly, the English inhabited
between two powerful nations, the wam-
panoags to the North and East, who
had formerly possessed some part of
their grants, Lefore they had surrender
ed it to the Narragansetts, and though
they freely owned the submission, yet it
was thought best by Mr.. Williams to
make them easy by gratuities,to the sa-
chem, his Counsellors and Followers.
On the other side the Narragansetts
were very numerous, and the natives in
habiting any spot the English sat down
upon, or improved, were all to DO bought
off to their content, and often times were
to be paid over and over again.
On the Gath of March l637-S this
day an hundred years, tho Indian Sa-
chems signed tho deed or grant of the
Island of Aquedneck, &c. and the En-
glish not only honestly paid the men,
toned gratuitics to the Sachems, but
many more to the inhabitants to move
oil, as appears by the receipts still ex-
tant. And afterwards, at considera-
bic expense, they purchased Quit-claims
of the heirs and successors Of the Sa-