The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-03
MEMOIR OF II. ISLAND.

used firearms in the Pequot war; winch
.npssr. 10 have been the first instance.
The same year many of the Indian cap
tiye., taken in that war were sent to
Bermudas, and sold for slaves; which
appears 10 have been the first trans
notion Of the kind in New England.
Mr.. Roger Villains having been ban
isbed tho Massachusetts,, came TO Sea-
konk in the winter Of 1856. and being
desired by the gov. of Plymouth to re-
move from thence, it being within the
paten, of New Plymouth. The spring
following, 1886, he came over the river
to place called by the Indians Moo
sbausick, which was by him named
Providence; and was assured by Canon
icus and Miantonomo, the chiefsachem
of the Narragansetts, that he should
not want land for settlement. at is
raid that he, with Thomas Angel
hired servant. and some others went o.
YER in canoe ,and were saluted by the In
dians near the lower ferry, by the word
watcheere, i. e. how do you do! which
gave name 20 the field that Mr.. Williams
sold many years after, and in the deed
says he satisfied the owner for it, e. plan
ted il, "at my first comingwith mine own
hands," They went round until they gotto
pleasant spring above the great bridge,
where they landed; and near to which
both he and ANGEL lived to old age.
Backus's Hist. Of the Bapts. p. "a.
About the time that Mr.. Williams
came to Providence, William Blackstone
settled in what is now the state of II.
Island.
'.Thesc and such like proceedings
caused the removal Of Mr.. VIM. Blax-
ton abou, this time. He was minister
in the church Of England, but came ear
ly to ,his country. 1t appears by John
sons history, p. 20. that he was here in
1923, but not agreeing with Mr.. Endcot
and others about church affairs, he be-
took himselfto agriculture. lie had
planted himself upon the neck Of land
where Boston now stands, which from
linn was called Dlaxion's Point, when
the Massachusetts company first arrived
with their charter. At a court in Bos-
ton, April 1, 1858, they made him a
grant Of fifty acres Of land near his
house there, Mass. Records.] Yet now
he faid, 81 came from England, because
! did not like the Lord Bishops; but ]
cannot JOIN with you, because l would
not be under the the Lord Brethren"
[Magnalia.] He went and settled six
miles north Of Mr.. Williams, near what
is now called Whipple's Bridge, in Cum
berland; where he lived to old age, and
nsed at times TO preach at Providence,
and other places adjacent, and left behind
him the character Of a godly and pious
inan, though his family is extinct, He
planted an orchard near where he lived,
which we are told is the first that ever
bore fruit in Rhode-Islond colony; and
40 years after, many Of the trees con-
tinued to be thrifty and fruitful Back
VS., p. 81.
Mr.. Williams and Thomas Angel his
servant, with "a few others, perhaps no
more than Mr.. Williams own family,
set down in Providence, and commenced
planting and trading with the Indians
much in the same manner as William
Blaxton did, abou, the same time, in the
sams neighborhood. 1t does not APP
pear that either Of them contemplated
the establishment of a colony to be gov
ernerned by laws and magistrates, any
more than John Oldham, when he obtain
ed grant Of Prudence Island, which
the Narragansett sachems gave him to
induce him to settle near them. Mr..
Williams had sought for, and obtained
the favor and protection Of the Nara
gansett sachems his inducement to re-
move over the river into their territory,
and out Of the Plymouth Jurisdiction,