The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-02
DELIVERED
ENGAGING
ADDRESS,

The Hon. william p. Sheffield. Jr.. of
Newport. addressed the Historical So
ciety last evening. taking for his subject
william Coddington and the Settlement
OF Aquidneok."
There was large attendance and each
individual present was highly entertained
by the reading. Prof. Albert Hardness
presided, ana introduced the speaker.
who said in part:
william Coddington was born In the
Boston OF Old England. He was elect
ed magistrate In the Massachusetts,
colony before he left England. At ono
time he wrote to Gov. Leverett. I was
one of the many Lincolnshire gentlemen,
so-cailed. that denied the royar loan and
suffered IN King Charles l. days. and
bishops and ceremonies were denied OF
US We prosecuted not, but stood to-
gether for the public good He was
prominent I'm the American Boston.
He was a man OF means. is said to
have built the FIRST brick house In Bos-
ton. was @ magistrate OF the colony.
even when he returned 20 England In the
year 1854 TO return TO Boston early in
left out In the spring OF 1887. due to his
support OF Mrs. Hutchinson. The next
day he was elected deputy from Bos-
ton. the election was set aside on the
ground that not sufficient notice OF the
election had been given, and again re-
elected.
when the Aquidneck settlers finally
left Boston they came practically In a
body. an influential fragment torn off the
-. III.
believing in cohesion ana organization.
Their individuality was less strong. their
devotion to uncontrolled personal liberty
was less prominent. perhaps. than that
OF the founder OF Providence. The
cohesion 20 form strong and permanent
government was greater.
Diversity OF opinion among these thus
outcast seems TO have existed as 10
where they should go; some were pros
pect.ng In New Hampshire and some
toward Long Island. The Massachusetts,
authorities at first thought they were
only making a pretence and did not really
intend 10 go.
I'm February. 1888. williams wrote
Gov. winthrop that Coggeshall and
Aspinwan had written him about OBJ
tanning shelter. Coddington in the state
ment OF Sept. 27. 1877. refers 10 the fact
that while he was magistrate In Massa-
CUusetts he ndu DccU one OF the persons
10 make peace with Canonicus and
Miantonomi.
THE campact OF Portsmouth Is signed
March T. 1893. and the Indian deed is on
the 4th OF March. II was probably ap-
proximately about this period that Cod
dington saw Williams, discussed the set
tleraent AT 'Sowans.' visited the Plymouth
authorities. obtained their statement that
Aquidncck was without their Jurisdiction
4. .GA1. n
chusetts, first saw wannetonomey at
'Tamoney HILL who referred them TO
Canonicus. when, through the influence
OF Williams. the deed 10 Mr.. Coddington
and his friends unto him was obtained
william Dyer. CoddIngton's old op-
ponent In 1862, brought over the order OF
council suspending Coddington's COM
mission. though II was not finally re-
voked until 1854. on March H. 1856, Cod
dington sent in his submission to the
general assembly. and subsequently the
transactions In Coddlngton's time which
might seem prejudical TO him and others
were ordered out OF the record book
and delivered TO him, and peace was re-
stored and the colony continued it's in.
terrupted development. The charter OF
Charles III. finally brought a more stable
form OF government than the previous
charter. Coddington died Nov /. 1918 II
years OF age. a man OF influence and
standing In the community. He stands
forth as leading character In early
colonial history