The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-03-04
THE TERMS
OF THE
MEMOIR OF RHODE-IsLAND.
1856.


The affairs of the colony were now brought to
crisis, the charter cancelled and the seal broken
by Sir Edward Andres, and the people placed un-
der an arbitrary government, and entirely subjected
TO the prerogatve of the crown. Rhode-Isand, how
ever, suffered only in common with all New Eng
and-indeed she may be said to have suffered less
than her neighbors as she had no ecclesiastical es-
Enlistment, which the neighboring colonies had,
and were very tenacious Of One great object with
the King, was to regulate, restrain the ndepen-
dcnce of New England in their ecclesiastical affairs,
government, erected by the commission to Sir Ed
ward Andros, which allowed general federation in
matters of religion.
In an old record book belonging to the Court of
trials, and which is now i'm the clerks Office of the
Supreme Court for the county of Newport we have
found the doings of the court of commissioners APP
pointed by Gov. Andres for the province or county
of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations and
Kings Province. As the public records, of local
proceedings, under Andros commission, are not
now to be found in Massachusetts, as Hutchinson
informs, and as we have not seen them mentioned
in any histoy of the other colonies under his govern
ncnt, we shall be the careful to give the sub
stance of those in r.. Island
The entry of the first meeting recorded, is as fol-
lows.
Al the General Quarter Sessions and Inf~"ior
Court of Common Pleas, holden in his Majesty s
name at Newport for Rhode-Island, Narragansctt
or Kings Province, and Providence Plantations the
iith day of June, 1857.
Justices Present.
Francis Brinley, Chm & Judge. Peleg Sanford
Richard Smith John Foanes
John CogseshaIl Caleb Carr, Sen
Lyman Ray Arthur Fenner
James Pendleton.
The Commissioners appear, by their names, to
have been all appointed from the citizens of this
Province.
The names of the grand and petty jury are record
ed, at this, and their subsequent meetings, or ses
sons and at this there list of the constables fo
most of the town who were sworn in court.
The names of three town were altered, viz: Yves
terly was named Feversham; Kingston Rochester
and East Greenwich Dedford by which names the.
are called throughout the Records under the govern
meut of Sir E. Andros
The government appears to have set heavy upo'
the hearts Of the people, from the numerous smal
indictments, which probably arose. principally iron
an opposition to. and contempt of authority.
The grand jury found bill against the towns O
Newport and Portsmouth for not having provided
pound, for impounding cattle, &C.
-"Ordercd, that the overseers Of the poor of eac
town within this Province, county, shall hav
power to make and assess rate, levy, on all an
every of the estates of the inhabitants, and Others
within their townships according to tine custom
England fer the relief of the poor of their respecuv
towns"
The next session was called Petty Session an
was held at Newport, Oct. 25th 1857. AT this se'
sion three magistrates only presided, and no jul
was impannelcd. The magistrates Franc
Brinley, Pelcg Sanford and Caleb Carr. At tn
court, probate business, only, was dones-