The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-03-09
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAND.

A General Assembly was called by the Govern 8
ors warrant probably in consequence of the receipt
Of the last letter from Connecticut and met at New
port on the 9TH of July 1920
"Whereas his honor the Governor hath commu-
nicated to this Assembly letter from the governor
and company of his Majesty's colony of Connecticut
directed the governor of this colony wherein they
refuse to stand to, and comply with the bounds be-
tween the two colonies, settled by commissioners
of both colonies at Stonington in the year 1903;
Upon the Consideration whereof and of the farther
difference between this colony and the province of
the Massachusetts bay;
." 1t is voted and resolved by this general assem-
by and by the authority of the it is enacted
That the honorable Joseph Jencks, Esq our Depu-
ty Governor be, and he hereby is appointed agent
for this colony appear before his majesty in coun-
Gil in Great Britain, and there to represent this col
ony with Mr.. Richard Partridge, our present agent
. there or without him, as causes and matters may
REQUIRE there to manage the affairs of this colony
for the settling of the boundary between this colony
and those Of the Massachusetts bay, and Connecti-
cut and all other business that may arise or hap
pen and that his honor the Governor give him
commission accordingly
The act goes on to provide for the expenses of
| the agency, instructions to the agents, &c. &c.
The Assembly met again the Eth of July when
they also appointed Capt John Jencks to wait up
on his father during the time of his agency in
Great Britain for which he was allowed ESQ ster
ling per annum, and his expenses paid
| G5~IIe must have died soon after his arrival in
England, as we find the following vote passed at
81 T. e l..
"voted, That the widow of Doct. John Jencks,
so deceased in the colony's service in Great Brit
ain, have ten pounds allowed her of the Gener-
al Treasury of this colony. It being gratuity for
the extraordinary service Of her deceased husband
GF~By the record Gov. Jencks appears to have
returned and presented his accounts to the assem-
bly, in 1921 which amounted to G30I l5, 0.
The assembly met at Providence the last
Wednesday in October 1920 at which nothing
done worthy of notice.
G}sReuben Hall was executed for murder this
year June 23d
Traditions of Block Island.
On request made to Mr.. William p. Sands n-
habitant of Block-Island we here obtained the fol-
lowing tradition, principally from ancient and
very reputable lady, an aunt of his who related as
follows, viz That the origin of the name of the
Island CONTRARY the statement of historians) was
derived from the following circumstances.
4 Dutchmaa by the name Of Timothy Van Block
deserted from vessel in a small boat and landed
= on the Island willie it exclusively possessed by
the Indians, Monchcr the Sachem of the Island en-
ployed him to erect sockade fort a small Is
land in small Lake of the Island for his defence
against the subjects of Nassasoit Sachem of the
Uampanags also the Indians from Long Island,
both of whom were in the habit of making hostile
incurson into the Island. The said Sachem, af-
forwards, had the said Van Block executed for lib
critics he had taken with his daughter, and caused
his head to be cut off aud placed of the gae
posts at the entrance of said Fort. This little Is
land has since been called Fort Island, and the
name Of Block Island was given to the main Island
by the Europeans and Colonsts from the said Van
Block
We also obtained from tie same source the follow.
ing tradition of the ship Palatine. She was ran or
shore on Bock-Island about the wear I7I9 or I72(
but northeast gale and high tide Aoa,ed her off af
ter lying several days She was from Holland boun,
to Pennsylvania with emigrants. Having Ion,
passage, and being put on short allowance most o
: the emigranis died from hardships and disease.
arising, they believed, principally from the desr
Of the Captain appropriate their effects to his ou
use. The surviving passengers l6 or II in nunpts
were landed bat in diseased a state ,ha, three on
o ly survived. who remained and became nhabant
n Of the Island One lady passenger who had muc
gold aud SILVER plate on board refused to quit th
ship; she remained on board and must have perish
Cd, as the ship was never after heard of