The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-08-07
MEMOIR OF II. ISLAND.

people, induced them to lay aside Mr..
Coddington and three other Magistrates,
and choose Mr.. VIM. Hutchinson, her
husband, their sole ruler; and also that
Inc died about the year l642.
Mr.. William Hutchinson, was chosen
one ofthe Assistants in l640, and in l64l
Mr.. Vim. Baulsion, was elected in his
place. That Mr. VIM. Hutchinson was
ever sole ruler of the Island cannot be
true, as the records show who constituted
the Government, from it's origin until
long aiier Mr.. VIM. Hutchinson's death,
by regular series. There were many
false charges made against Mrs. Hutch
inson, by her enemies. among which the
above must have been one.
"About I642 there were two trading
houses set up in the Narragansett coun-
try, ono by Mr.. Wilcox and Mr.. r..
Williams; the other by Mr.. Richard
Smith and some few plantations made
near them, on particular grants, or pur-
chases Of the Indians" The one by
Smith, was where Wexford now stands.
"Mr. Williams at first ''made league
of peaceablo neghborhood, with all the
Sachems and Natives round about :" in
this Rhode-Island was included. And
on the 9TH Of July l640, MIR. Codding-
ton, with the rest Of his Assistants had u
particular treaty Of peace and amity with
Myantonomy and the rest of,he Sachems.
Nevertheless, the next year there wns n
misunderstanding and some hostilities
occasioned. think, by some of the In
dians, Gf not Myantonomy, himself)
kind'ing fire in MIR. Easton's land, Lords
day April 4th l64l, whereby an house
of his was burnt. But whether it was
Ndesigningly or only through carelessness
don't plainly appear in the records.
However it alarmed the people, and a.
mong other measures they fitted out an
armed boat to ply round the Island, to
keep off the Indians from landing ,,nd
1t seem, in some scuffle on that account,
two Enelishmen were wounded, and one
Indian slain; though the orders to the
soldiers were as mild and prudent as
could he given. They likewise appoint
ed garrison houses, to which the people
were to repair on an alarm. Among
which find one was Mr.. LenthaI's the
Minister. But the rupture lasted not
long, before peace was restored" Cal
lender page IL.
Where Mr.. Len,hars house stood
there remains no tradition, but one Of
those garrison houses then belonged to
Henry Bull, and is now standing, and
owned by Mr.. Edward Stanhope. and
IS built Of stone; it is situated on the
Easterly side Of Spring Street, a little in
the rear, and fronting short Street rum
ming Nor,herly and Westerly to Broad
Street, which Street was formerly nam
ed Bulls gap.
Calender says, lie thinks those pre-
cautionary measures were taken against
the Indians in consequence Of the burn
ing Of Mr.. Easton's House, and perhaps
that was one ofthe causes. But it ough,
to be recollected that about that time
there was general design manifested
by the Indians against the English and
Miantonomi was supposed to be the au
thor and promoter Of it, aud to have
drawn many other Sachems to join him
The Indians had began TO use Ere arms
and had procured great number to
gether with powder and shot from III,
English traders in the Eastern parts, a,
well as from the Dutch.
A constant watch was ordered TO bs
kept throughout the English Colonie.
from sunset to sunrising, and place d
retreat to be provided for women and
children, and for the security Of Goods
and dAmmunition.--Beacons were erected
and ordered to be fred upon any alarm
and all smiths were required TO lay aside
oil other business (by the Government ol
Massachusetts, until all the arms in the
Colony were put in good order. fol
which payment was promised by the