'O . X * . . s ^ A '^% V c,-?.^ .^g: .^^ <* / "^ 'J^0^ ^^ ^ ^•l^*. "o a'2^ . ^ ' • -» '^^ "-n^o^ ^^-^t. vO ., ,^> <^. ^^^. V.^' "^'^" ^ ., , ^r* -^y^^^.^ ./% ^^.X'^ ^sr< ■>*. Q^ o ° " " -» C> * 4 _. o «rx$"i^. "_ "^ .*^ "■^*o< %,^^ .^^^V^•^. ^./ :^\ %,^^ /^m \.. ,.. / \.:>^.J \,W-\c/ \--iSJ' ^^ -^^ \^ll^/ .^^ "^. G>- ^o 'bK ^-^^ ^^^^^ .^^ ^^.>.>..^>° ^-^^ ^ .i"^ ^v-^^ ^ ,;^v.. -^^/ .^>^:, '• A r'v .Hex » « o ' <> •> .^'"'J-. ".''^^^^^^ .s^^ ■0" 0^1°". O. t^" % v^ : ^-^^ ^»^ a" •<*•„ c* ^ ^V 0- X'' ^. iV-^ J^ a:^ -^ "^^^^CxHi*" .^ ^z'-, < % ,0 .. ,0 ., -tz-o^ Cv "^^ ,<^ ..>^.?4>, -^^^ / .*:- ..V ,>A:?A-" > '^■ * .^ \ .0' " " -, *o ^^'^<^. ^ a"^ -'.AW/^'^ <^ * « c ,.^'% oV ^0 v: > 1; "*-^^'' •' " A -'?y ^■'' ^^_^ COLLECTIONS OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUME X 529 PROVIDENCE PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY 1902 Collect^ wL 7M aJ^' PUBLICATION COMMITTEE George Parker Winship William MacDonald Frank Greene Bates 1 • arANDAKC O • COMPANY 2 • . rt^ovib OFFICERS OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Elected January 14, 1902 President. JOHN H. STINESS. Vice-Presidents. George T. Paine, Robert H. I. Goddard. Secretary. WlI.FREn H. MUNRO. Treasurer. Richmond P. Everett. Librarian and Cabinet-Keeper. Clarence S. Brigham. Advisory Committee. The above-named officers, and the chairmen of the several standing committees. Albert \'. Jencks, Nam in a ting Com m it tee. William D. Ely, Library Committee. Amasa M. Eaton, Lecture Committee. Ge(jr(;T': P. Winshit, Publication Committee. Isaac H. Southwick, Jr., Committee on Grounds and Buildings. Geor(;1': T. Hart, Committee on Genealogical Researches. Wilfred H. Munro, Committee on Necrology. J. Edward Studley, Finance Committee. James Burdick, A udit Com m ittee. PREFACE In accordance with a vote of the Society passed April 2, 1901, the PubHcation Committee discontinued the Quarterly, of which thirty-two numbers, forming volumes I to VIII of the Publications of the Society, had been issued, beginning with the number for April, 1893, and ending with that for January, 1901. The Collections of the Society constitute another series of publications, numbering volumes I to IX, of which volume I appeared in 1827 and volume IX in 1897. The Society published its Proceedings from 1872 to 1892, in twenty-one annual numbers. A new series of the Proceed- ings, to be published annually, will contain the record of the meetings of the Society, the President's address, reports of officers and committees, lists of members and donors, and obituaries of deceased members. The first number will cover the year ending with the annual meeting in January 1902. The present volume of Collections continues the series which began in 1827. The Publication Committee, as soon as it was relieved of the necessity of preparing material for the periodical issued every 6 PREFACE, three months, set about the collection and editing of the Harris Papers which appear in the present volume. These papers comprise every document of which the committee could learn, not heretofore printed, which throws light upon the career of William Harris, the life-long antagonist of Roger Williams, and one of the most influential of the founders of Rhode Island. The majority of these documents are printed through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary Harris Cushman, the pres- ent owner of the Harris family papers. These papers Mrs. Cushman generously deposited in the Society's building in September, 1900, with permission to publish them in full. They have been supplemented by other documents belonging to the Society, whose library contains a bound volume of man- uscripts pertaining to the Harris family, besides a considerable number of original documents and transcripts found among the papers of Moses Brown, who had at one time all of the Harris papers in his possession. Other documents have been secured from the British Public Record Office in London, and from the archives of the City of Providence. Besides the notes made by Moses Brown which appear on many of the papers, the edi- tors have had the invaluable assistance of the transcripts and notes of Mr. George T. Paine, who has made a careful study * of the Harris controversies. The following letter written by J. Hammond Trumbull, the learned Connecticut historian, is PREFACE. 7 a suggestive indication of the position occupied by William Harris in the history of New England : — State of Connecticut. Office of Secretary of State, Hartford, Aug. 31st, 1865. Geo. T. Paine, Esq. Dear Sir : — I am glad to learn that you have in hand so good a work as the Life and Times of William Harris, who well de- serv^es larger notice than he has hitherto received from writers of the early history of New England. I gleaned our colonial archives, with considerable care, for traces of him, in his work for his colony and ours, and embodied the little which I found in the notes and appendices to the second and third volumes of the printed records. Yours respectfully, J. H. Trumbull. The introductory account of the Land Controversies of Wil- liam Harris is written by Irving B. Richman, of Iowa, who has placed the Society under many obligations by this successful effort to render intelligible one of the most confused episodes in New England history. The Calendar, which gives a chron- ological outline of every significant event in the life of Harris, with references to all the documents, wherever printed, which bear upon his career, is prepared by the librarian of the So- 8 PREFACE. ciety, Mr. Brigham, who has also supplied the notes accom- panying the documents. The map of the localities mentioned in these documents has been prepared by Frank G. Bates of the Publication Committee and Thurston M. Phetteplace. For the Publication Committee, George Parker Winship. HARRIS PAPERS With an Introduction BY IRVING B. RICHMAN AND A Calendar and Notes BY CLARENCE S. BRIGHAM The Land Controversies of William Harris * By Irving B. Richman Between the years 1660 and 1678, William Harris main- tained within the jurisdiction of Rhode Island and the United Colonies actions at law against the towns of Warwick and Providence, and against John Harrud, John Towers, Edmund Calverly and their associates. These suits were based upon the claim that the corporations and individuals defendant with- held from Harris lands within the Pawtuxet purchase which belonged either to him or to his partners and co-proprietors. The litigation in question will be better understood after a glance at certain things which preceded it. In March, 1638, the Indian Sachems Canonicus and Mianto- nomi conveyed to Roger Williams, in the instrument since called the Town Evidence, lands which shortly became known as the Providence and Pawtuxet purchases. On October 8th following, Williams, in response to a demand from Harris, executed a deed and joined in an agreement whereby there was conveyed to the latter, along with twelve others, an absolute property in the Pawtuxet purchase. In 1640 a committee of the citizens of Providence, of which William Harris was a member, drew up a plan of government for the settlement, in which they fixed the course of a line of division between the Providence purchase — a tract in which every full townsman as such had a proprietary interest — and the Pawtuxet pur- chase, the tract which had been made the exclusive property of Harris and the twelve. *The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. S. S. Riders monograph on the Forgeries in the Sachems' deed, and to the monograph by Mr. Geo. T. Paine in reply to Mr. Rider. 12 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. But this was not all. On May 17th, 1659, the Rhode Island General Assembly made an order "that Providence should have liberty to buy out and cleare off Indians within the bounds of Providence as expressed in the Towne Evidence, and to pur- chase a little more in case they wish to add, seeing they are stray tened, not exceeding three thousand acres joyinge to their township." William Harris therefore (with what authority is not clear) proceeded to obtain in quick succession from the Sachems Kachanaquant, Quassaquanch [Pessicus], and Nene- kelah, brothers of Miantonomi, and from the Sachems Scuttop and Quequaquennet, grandsons of Canonicus, deeds (three in all) which added to the township of Providence — including the Pawtuxet portion owned by the Harris partnership — a tract extending twenty miles westward from Fox's hill, and compris- ing not three thousand but more than three hundred thousand acres. The deeds, moreover, did not purport to be new convey- ances. They assumed merely to be in confirmation — explana- tory confirmation — of certain loose, large phrases of the Town Evidence granting to Roger Williams "the lands and meadows upon the two fresh rivers mowshausuck and wanas- quatuckett," and "all that land from those rivers reaching to Pawtuxet river, as also the grass and meadows upon Paw- tuxet river," — phrases which were helped out in looseness and largeness by a postscript, bearing date 1639,* which explained that "for use of cattle" the lands, "up the stream of Paw- tuckett and Pawtuxett," were to be "without limits." Why Harris in procuring his deeds chose to proceed upon the " con- firmation " plan may readily be seen. First, the Sachems could more easily be persuaded to sign a paper purporting to confirm a grant already made than one purporting to make an addi- tional grant ; and second, an additional grant must under the terms of the Colony order of May 17th, 1659, inure to the benefit of the whole town, whereas a confirmation grant could be so worded as to fix at twenty miles west from Fox's hill the *The date 1639 was not upon the postscript at the time when the latter was added to the Town Evidence. INTRODUCTION. 13 limits not only of the original township of Providence, but of that particular part thereof which Harris and his partners exclusively owned — the Pawtuxet purchase. At all events the deeds were procured and, on March 26th, 1660, were accepted by the town of Providence regardless of the Colony — facts out of which grew the litigation which dis- tracted Rhode Island till the death of William Harris in 1681. The case which first brought up the general issue as to the limits of the tract named in the Town Evidence was the one first tried — that against the town of Warwick. This was heard at Newport, or Portsmouth, in February and March, 1659-60. It was the contention of Harris, and of the other Pawtuxet pro- prietors, that the Pawtuxet purchase extended on the south to the Pawtuxet river, but that the proprietors of Warwick, dis- regarding this, had crossed the river at a point called Toskeunke (now Pontiac) and had cut and carried away the grass from the meadows there. The reply of Warwick was, that admitting that the Pawtuxet purchase extended to the Pawtuxet river, it did not follow that the western boundary of the purchase was further west than the Pachaset river, and that, if not, Toskeunke was wholly out.side the purchase and hence within the limits of Warwick, for it lay south of the north line of that town as established under the grant from Miantonomi to Samuel Gorton in 1642. Here then was the issue as to limits squarely pre- sented. And it may be as well perhaps to state at once, that it is difficult to see how, under the language of the Town Evi- dence per se, and the testimony offered upon the trial in ques- tion, any other conclusion can be reached than that the western boundary of the Providence and Pawtuxet purchases was at the most no further west than about the line of Pachaset river. Eor the language of the Town Evidence is that the western boundary of the Providence purchase is fixed by the two points Neuta- conkanut hill and Mashapaug, and it was the testimony of William Wickenden and Stukeley Westcott, upon the trial — the one, that it had been agreed between the men of Providence and Pawtuxet that the latter "were not to Runne higher" [farther west] than the men of Providence were at liberty to 14. RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. do ; and the other, that Miantonomi, upon coming to Providence " to sett our Boundes," said "that he never understood the said Boundes to be further than Pachaset river." And it was, furthermore, the testimony of Wickenden, that " he was one that pitched the bounds [in 1640], as between Pawtuxet river and Wanasquatucket, upon equal distance, and that the Hne went to a rock [Hipses rock] which was as high into the country, as wee considered, as Nataconete hill." But in spite of this, on March 13th, 1659-60, the jury re- turned a verdict in the Warwick case in Harris's favor, assess- ing his damages at two pounds, which upon a rehearing in Oc- tober were increased to four pounds. The Harrud case came next. This was an action brought by Harris for forcible entry upon, and cutting timber from, the complainant's lands at Ma.shantatuck at a .spot within five miles of the newly determined bounds of Pawtuxet westward. The trial was held at Newport, in March, 1663-4, ^^'^ resulted in a verdict for Harris in ten shillings damages. Meanwhile Harris was maintaining an active quarrel with John Towers of Hingham, Massachusetts, because of a purchase by the latter from the Indians on June 17th, 1661, of lands lying within the immediate neighborhood of the complainant's own dwelling at Blackmore pond ; and with Edmund Calverly and James and John Sweet of Warwick, because on June 23d, 1662, they had purchased from the Indians a tract of four thousand acres north of the Pawtuxet and west of the Pachaset. As for the case against Harrud, Harris now had a verdict, but he could not get possession thereunder. The town sergeant, whose duty it was to serve execution, evaded that duty, knowing first that he had the sympathy of the community in so doing, and second that if he attempted to discharge his duty, he would be met by the defendant, ax or matchlock in hand. In view of this, Harris, in 1665, appealed to the visiting Royal Com- missioners — Carr, Cartwright and Maverick — to be awarded possession. They promised to see to the matter, but left the Colony without doing so. Next the assistance of Colonel Richard Nichols — Royal Commissioner in association with INTRODUCTIOX. 15 Carr and the others — was invoked, and he referred the com- plaints to the Governor and Council of Rhode Island, urging attention. The latter body in turn made reference to the General Assembly, which, in March, 1665-6, ordered that exe- cution issue without delay. But execution, whether issued or not, was not served, and in July, 1667, Harris charged James Rogers, "General Sergeant," before the Assembly with neglect of his office. Rogers was arraigned only to be ac- quitted, and at the same time the Assembly revoked the act of the prior Assembly ordering execution, on the ground that when ordered all the members from Warwick, "by a provi- dence for want of passage," were absent. But Harris, though repulsed, was by no means as yet defeated, for, in May, 1669, the General Assembly, at his instance, again ordered execu-- tion to issue against Harrud. It was issued accordingly, and placed in the hands of Rogers to be served. Rogers pro- ceeded to Mashantatuck, and when arrived there found Harrud fortified in his dwelling, whence, presenting a gun, he called to the sergeant " commanding him in his Majesty's name to stand." During this period of contest in forum and field with Harrud, Towers, and Calverly, the Pawtuxet leader was waging even a hotter contest with the town of Providence. It was demanded by Harris that the dividing line between the Providence and Pawtuxet purchases should now fully and finally be laid down. There was no dispute over the general course which the line ought to take. The stipulation in the agreement of 1640 (called the Combination) that the course be "on an even dis- tance between the two fresh rivers Pawtuxet and Wanasqua- tucket " was concurred in by all. Indeed several attempts had already been made by Providence to have the line fully run as thus indicated. But somehow up to 1670 it got no fur- ther west than the limits of the town as determined between Miantonomi and Roger Williams in 1638. The reason for this was simple. William Harris had (by his so-called confirma- tion deeds) procured from the Indians what was to all intent and purposes a new grant of lands. In the eyes of Roger 16 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Williams — the Indians' friend — this was nothing short of a gigantic fraud, and he resolved that Harris should be made to suffer for his conduct. Accordingly when the latter pressed for the running of the Providence-Pawtuxet division line to the twenty-mile limit, Williams in connection with Arthur Fenner and Gregory Dexter (likewise opponents of Harris) stirred up the town to refuse to act. The result was that Har- ris was precluded from obtaining the setting apart to himself and partners of his and their distinct property — the Pawtuxet purchase. Out of all this there grew a violent political storm in the Colony. Harris sought in July, 1667, to have Fenner rebuked by the General Assembly. The Assembly on the contrary sustained Fenner, and, fining his accuser fifty pounds, dis- missed him from office as a Colony Assistant. Harris was now convinced that affairs with him had reached a critical stage. Through force of adverse public opinion in Providence and Warwick, affecting the conduct of public oflficers, he had been unable to secure possession of lands to which his title had been established in the Colony Courts. Now, through force of the same public opinion — an opinion which the Gen- eral Assembly had refused to thwart in its action — he was de- prived of all prospect of extending the Pawtuxet line west- ward to the newly determined bounds of Providence town- ship. The case was desperate and Harris resolved upon an appeal to the King. It was not until 1675, however, that the Pawtuxet leader could obtain the ear of the English authorities. In that year, through the mediation of Fleetwood Shepard of Privy Garden, he was enabled to submit to the Privy Council a petition that " your Majesty would graciously please to command the Gov- ernors of the four Colonyes and their deputies in New Eng- land to take care that speedy justice be done your petitioner and partners by hearinge the cause themselves or apointinge such as are just and able men to hear the same, and together with an upright jury equally chosen out of the respective Collonyes to determine all differences concerninge these lands INTRODUCTION. 17 of Patuxet." This petition was granted, and on August 4th, 1675, was made the basis of a Royal order to the Governors of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. King Philip's war then intervened, and it was not until 1667 that the Court of Commissioners assembled. The place was Providence, and business was begun on October 3d, in pres- ence of a bench and jury presided over by Thomas Hinckley of Plymouth. Harris and his partners (now reduced to two, Thomas Field and Nathaniel Waterman) filed declarations suc- cessively against the town of Warwick, against Edmund Cal- verly and his associates, against the town of Providence, and against John Harrud and his associates. John Towers had al- ready been declared against, and had appeared personally on October 3d. The declarations in the case of Warwick, and in that of the individual defendants, alleged damages by trespass, and demanded compensation. In the case of Providence the demand was chiefly that the Providence-Pawtuxet line should be run equally between the Pawtuxet and Wanasquatucket rivers as high upwards into the country as a place or pond called Ponaganset. On the part of Providence, replies to Harris were filed, on or before November 17th — the day of trial — by Gregory Dexter and Roger Williams jointly, and by Roger Williams separately. Replies were also filed by Calverly and by the town of Warwick. But the most interesting feature of the trial was (and is) the written argument submitted to the Court by William Harris, called the " Plea of the Pawtuxet Purchas- ers." Harris's main point was that the Pawtuxet lands, as described both in the Town Evidence and in the deed from Williams to those of Pawtuxet, " comprehended all the length of the rivers Moshassuc and Wanasquatucket" as measured upon the Pawtuxet. He urged, for example, that the expres- sion in the Town Evidence, " the lands and meadows upon the two fresh rivers Mooshassuc and Wanasquatucket," taken in connection with the further expression, " all that land from those rivers reaching to Pawtuxet river," must be held to mean " the land [upon the Pawtuxet] to the utmost length of 18 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. the other two rivers," because, under the "common and stat- ute law of England and the King's grants and patents to all New England, the most favorable construction is to be given [in any supposed doubt] to the grantees." Then again he urged that the bounds named in the Town Evidence as western bounds (Neutaconkanut hill and Mashapaug) would, if so taken, make the town of Providence not only irregular in form but so contracted in dimensions as to embrace an area (" brought to a long square ") of only one mile in breadth by four or five in length, which was unthinkable. Wherefore it resulted that Neutaconkanut hill and Mashapaug, being un- thinkable as western bounds, or bounds of length, must be taken to have been named as marking merely the breadth of the land on the said rivers. In Harris's own words, these points " being not of length, yet bound, therefore must be of breadth." The foregoing considerations embodied substantially all that could be gleaned by Harris from the Town Evidence, per se, upon which to ask the Court to sustain the claim of himself and partners to all the lands upon the Pawtuxet, west of the Pachaset river (up to which the claim was not generally dis- puted) as far as the Pond of Ponagansett. They also of course embodied all that could be gleaned upon which to support the demand against Providence that the Pawtuxet line be extended westward from Pachaset river, or Hipses rock, its existing terminus. As for the postscript dated 1639, which acknowledged a use of the Pawtuxet and Wanasquatucket lands, " up stream with- out limits," Harris argued that the same was not necessary to his claim, but that it strengthened it. Thus — with fine ap- preciation of effect — he appealed to the bench of Theocrats before him by citing Ezra vii: 22, where, in the case of a gift .by the King of Kings to the King of Israel of a great but un- specified quantity of silver, wheat, wine, and oil, the gift though indefinite was sustained ; and by citing Numbers xxxv: 3, where a gift of cities to the children of Israel, includ- INTRODUCTION. 19 ing the suburbs "for their cattle," was considered to pass title to the suburbs as well as to the cities. The argument of Harris prevailed with the Court despite the emphatically sound view of Roger Williams that the Provi- dence purchase was limited westward by Neutaconkanut hill and Mashapaug, and that the acknowledgment of " up streams without limits " was a mere courtesy and license. On the 19th, 20th, and 2 1 St of November, 1677, the Court returned ver- dicts in the complainants' favor. But this was far from set- tling the great controversy. Warwick at once sent represen- tatives (Randall Holden and John Greene) to England to com- plain of the composition of the Court which had rendered de- cision against the town, and in response it was ordered by the King on January 2d, 1678-9, that for the present Warwick should be left undisturbed in its possessions. No sooner, how- ever, had this been done, than William Harris appeared on the scene in England and procured an order that the Warwick case be reheard before the Governor and Magistrates of New Plymouth. The rehearing took place October 28th, 1679, ^^^ again a decision favorable to Harris was rendered. But meanwhile the men of Providence had not been idle. The verdict returned against the town, in November, 1677, re- quired that the Providence-Pawtuxet line be extended west- ward equally between the Pawtuxet and Wanasquatucket rivers — " till it meet with a thwart line from the head of the Wanasquatucket directly to the Pawtuxet." The all impor- tant question therefore was : Where is the head of the Wanas- quatucket .'' Out of the uncertainties involved in this question, Arthur Fenner and Roger Williams, as representing Providence, made the most. They in fact took a leaf from the book of William Harris himself, and fairly surpassed that master of tergiversa- tion at his own game. Instead of starting their "thwart line" from the natural head and source of the Wanasquatucket (" its old springs and ancient heads "), they started it at a point some distance below, where several streams united with the 20 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. main stream ; and instead of running it directly to the Paw- tuxet, they ran it past Mashapaug, which brought it to the Pawtuxet at Papaquinapaug, a point only about three and one- half miles from the mouth of the stream in question. It is true that afterwards they ran a second line, but this, like the first, was started from the junction of the tributaries of the Wanasquatucket. It was then caused to follow a southeast- erly course past Neutaconkanut hill, terminating at the mouth of the Pachaset. That is to say, a determined effort was made to cut the Harris partnership out of substantially all the lands which had come to it under the confirmation deeds, by taking the Pachaset river, which skirted Neutaconka- nut hill, as the utmost limit westward of both the Providence and Pawtuxet purchases. In this shape matters stood when Harris, on April 15th, 1678, felt himself forced to apply to the Court of Commis- sioners to reconvene the jury which had rendered him a ver- dict against Providence, to explain the meaning of their words. The jury was again summoned and made explanation that by a "thwart line directly to the Pawtuxet " they had meant and " did intend a square line from the head of Wenaskatucket river to Pawtuxet which said line runneth nearest W. S. W. from the head of Wanasquatucket river to Pawtuxet river which comes from Penhungansit pond, as appears by the maps given into his Majesty's Court." But by this time the Court itself had begun to divide on the point as to the " thwart line " raised by Fenner and Williams, and instead of ordering exe- cution upon the verdict, reported the whole affair to the King and begged for instructions. Once more thereupon Harris set sail for England. He reached London (as already has been seen) in season to se- cure an order for a rehearing in the Warwick case. He se- cured also an order, dated July 9th, 1679, directing the Gov- ernor of Rhode Island, John Cranston, to see that the ver- dicts against the defendants other than Warwick were at once put in process of execution. With these orders he returned home in September, 1679. In October the Warwick rehear- INTRODUCTION. 21 ing went in his favor, and by November 24th, John Smith of Newport had been sworn as special marshal to deliver to Har- ris possession of all the Pawtuxet lands involved in the suits against Harrud, Towers and the town of Providence. At this point, however, Harris wavered. He refused to accompany Smith in order to point out the lands which he claimed, and on December 1 5th Smith made return of this fact to Governor Cranston. The story of the Pawtuxet litigation proper now rapidly nears its end. Harris decided to make still a further appeal to the King with the object of securing an order for a more specific form of execution against the defendants to his suits. About Christmas time, 1679, he took ship at Boston for Eng- land. On the voyage the ship was captured by a Barbary cor- sair and Harris was taken a prisoner to Algiers, where he was held in durance pending negotiations for his ransom. In the summer of 1681 he was redeemed and painfully made his way to England. Worn and shattered by his hardships, he died within three days after reaching London. With the death of William Harris, the struggle for the re- covery of the Pawtuxet lands soon assumed the appearance of a lost cause. The remaining proprietors, in 1686, appointed Nathaniel Thomas as their agent, who petitioned in turn to Governor Hinckley, the King, and Sir Edmund Andros, for the execution of the verdicts which Harris had obtained, but all to no purpose. In 1705 a petition for execution was made to Queen Anne, who although at first disposed to look upon the case favorably, was soon convinced of the inadvisability of reviving so ancient a struggle. As the English agent wrote home : " My lawyer tells me that he fears it (a new prepara- tion of the case) will be like dressing a cowcumber with oyle and vinegar, pepper and salt, and then throwing it upon the dunghill. That is to say, he doubts that when you have done all, the great length of time that this case has been depending (about 47 years) will be a stumbling block in your way never to be got over." The Pawtuxet proprietors submitted to the inevitable and immediately petitioned to the Providence Coun- 22 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. cil for the running of the dividing lines. After considerable negotiation upon the matter, it was finally agreed that the north boundary of the Pawtuxet purchase should be a line running from Mashapaug west fourteen degrees north to the seven -mile line, and the west boundary a line from that point running due south to the Warwick line. Occasional disputes occurred later with descendants of those who in opposition to Harris had purchased land within the above described tract, but the Pawtuxet controversy as a whole was thus virtually ended. CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF WILLIAM HARRIS Calendar [The references No. i to No. 134 are to the documents printed in tliis volume.] 1610. Born. {Prov. Rec, vi : 48.) 1 63 1, February i. Arrived at Boston in ship Lyon from Bristol, Eng. (Staples, Annals of Providence, p. 587.) 1635. Inhabitant of Salem. (Savage, Geneal. Diet., ii : 365.) 1636. Was one of the first six settlers of Providence (Arnold, History of R. /., i : 97), and drew his several shares of land. (Hopkins, Home Lots, pp. 30, 60-67.) 1638, October 8. With twelve others made a proprietor of Providence. {Prov. Rec., iii : 90 ; ^. /. C. R., i : 19.) 1638, October 8. With twelve others made an owner of lands at Pawtuxet. {Prov. Rec, xv : 31.) 1640, July 27. Aids in drawing up a report called the " Com- bination," settling a boundary between Providence and Pawtuxet, and arranging several details of town govern- ment. {Prov. Rec, xv : 2.) 1640, August 29. Sells land at Pawtuxet to Wm. Arnold. {Prov. Rec, i : 108.) 1 64 1, November 17. With twelve others of Providence, sends a letter to Massachusetts complaining against Gorton. (3 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., i : 2.) 1643, [October]. Acts as a mediator between Massachusetts soldiers and Warwick men. {R. I. Hist. Soc. Coll, ii : 113.) [1644]. Cast out from Town Meeting for assaulting Adam Goodwin. (See No. 22, and Prov. Rec, xv : 121.) 1645, January 30. With others testifies as to action of Massa- chusetts against Warwick. {R. I. Hist. Soc. Coll, ii : 117.) 1649, April 12. Chosen on a committee to make further divi- sion of lands at Pawtuxet. {Prov. Rec, xv : 97.) 1650, [June]. Summoned to appear before Massachusetts General Court to answer petition of Arnold and Car- penter. {Prov. Rec, xv : 32.) 26 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1650, July 31. Verdict from the Court in favor of Harris. (No. I.) 1650, September 2. Taxed in Providence, ;^i. 6s. 8d. {Prov. Rec, XV : 33.) 165 1, January 29. Bought the right and share of E. Holliman in Pawtuxet. {Prov. Rec, xiv : 76.) 1653, September 5. James Sweet gives receipt for land sold to Harris. (See No. 4.) 1654, April. Harris sells land at Pawtuxet to William Car- penter. {Prov. Rec, xiv : 65.) 1655, A freeman of Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 299.) 1655, June 4. Mentioned in connection with a "tumult and disturbance " which had occured during the winter. {Prov. Rec, ii: 81.) 1656, May 23. Assembly requests that dispute between Paw- tuxet men and others of the Colony be settled by arbitra- tion. {R. I. C. R., i : 339.) 1657, January 12. Charged with high treason by Roger Wil- liams. {R. I. H. S. Pub., i : 216 ; W. H Memoranda, p. 5.) 1657, February 25. Speaks slightingly of Williams in Provi- dence meeting. {Prov. Rec, ii : 100 ; N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., viii : 293.) 1657, April [3]. Obtains from the Indians confirmation deed to land at Pawtuxet. (No. 2.) 1657, May 20. Requested to appear before the July Court to answer Williams's charges. {R. I. C. R., i: 361.) 1657, June 15. Report of arbitrators as to Pawtuxet lands. {Prov. Rec, xv : 94.) 1657, July 4. Examined upon the charge of high treason by the Assembly, which being unable to decide, send his writings over to their English agent. {R. I. C. R., i : 364.) 1657, December 25. Writes to W. Arnold and others, explain- ing the intention of the award of the arbitrators. (No. 3.) 1659, P"ebruary 7. His copy of the Towne Evidence de- clared to be a true copy. {Prov. Rec, iv : 70.) 1659, April 27. Proposes with Field and Arnold to set the CALENDAR. 27 bounds between Providence and Pawtuxet according to the " Combination " of 1640. {Prov. Rec, xv : 76.) 1659, August 15. Receives a confirmation deed to Providence and Pawtuxet lands signed by Cussuckquansh and Nene- kelah. {Prov. Rec, v : 302.) 1659, December i. Receives a confirmation deed to Provi- dence and Pawtuxet lands signed by Scuttape and Que- quaganewett. {Prov. Rec, v: 305.) 1660, January 27. Request for copies of several town papers granted. {Prov Rec, ii : 122.) 1660, February 20. With others brings suit against town of Warwick for cutting plaintiff's grass. (No. 4.) 1660, March 6. Appointed on committee to report on E. Manton's land. {Prov. Rec, ii : 124.) 1660, March 6. Obtains leave to carry the Towne Evidence to Newport to be used in court. {Prov. Rec, ii : 123.) 1660, March 13. At a Court of Trials in the case of Harris et al. vs. the town of Warwick, the jury renders a verdict of £2 damage and costs for plaintiffs. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, ib^b-lbbg, p. 95.) 1660, March' 26. Upon his petition, the town of Providence owned the Providence-Pawtuxet line to run midway be- tween the two rivers twenty miles. {Prov. Rec, ii : 125.) 1660, April 27. Chosen on committee to take charge of pay- ment for confirmation deeds ; also on committee to fix the twenty-mile bound. {Prov. Rec, ii : 127.) 1660, May 22. Deputy to Assembly from Newport[.?]. {R. I. C. R., i, 428.) 1660, October i. Moderator of town meeting. {Prov. Rec, ii: 133) 1660, October 9. Upon a rehearing of case of Harris et al. vs. Warwick jury finds for Harris £^ damage. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, id^d-iddg, p. 98.) 1660, October 18. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 431 ; Prov. Rec, ii : 133.) 1660, October 27. Assists in drawing up reply to Williams 28 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. concerning the purchase of lands from the Indians. {Prov. Rec, ii: 134.) 1661, January 27. Participates in purchase of land at Aqued- nesett. {Prov. Rec, ii : 139.) 1661, April 27. Committee appointed by Providence council to meet with Pavvtuxet men to run dividing line between the two towns. {Prov. Rec, iii : 2.) 1661, October 8. Has judgment rendered against him in rehearing of case of Harris et al. vs. Warwick before the General Court. (No. 7.) 1662, P'ebruary 18. Granted six acres of land in "the Neck." {Prov. Rec, iii : 14.) 1662, May 22. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 468 ; Prov. Rec, iii : 23.) 1662, June 9. Bought George Way's half share of Providence lands. {Prov. Rec, iv : 95.) 1662, June 17. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 480.) 1662, October 14. Brings suit against Burton, Wickes, Har- rud et al. for trespass. Jury renders against them a ver- dict of guilty, but Court refuses to grant judgment on ac- count of a technicality. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, 1646- i6dg, p. 118.) 1662, October 28. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R.,'\: 492 ; Prov. Rec, iii : 27.) 1662, October 28. His case against W. Burton et al. referred by the Assembly to the courts of law. {R. I. C. R., i : 496.) 1663, February 28. Receives back from the town clerk the accounts of disbursements he had made to the Indians for lands. {Prov. Rec, iii : 32.) 1663, March 7. His two sons testify as to Warwick men cut- ting grass upon his and W. Field's meadows at Toskeunk. (Nos. II and 12.) 1663, May 15. Court orders Harrud and others to be exam- ined as to Harris's charges. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, id^d-idOg, p. 121.) CALENDAR. 29 1663, August [31]. Signs agreement between the Providence and Pawtuxet men that the latter shall pay one quarter of the confirmation money. (No. 13.) 1663, September 28. Petitions the town meeting in behalf of Joshua Verin for the restoration of the latter's right of land. {Prov. Rec, iii : 40, and No. 14.) 1663, October 14. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 504 ; Prov. Rec, iii : 40.) 1663, November 24. Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {R. I. C. R., i : 508 ; Prov. Rec, iii : 44.) 1664. Early in this year he went to England. (See No. 42.) 1664, March 8. Court of Trials renders a verdict in his favor, with ten shillings damages, in his case against Harrud. (No. 17.) 1664, October 31. His petition referred by the Assembly to the next meeting of the court. {R. I. C. R., ii : 86.) 1665, January 27. Harris et al. petition Providence council for survey of the line between Providence and Pawtuxet. (Prov. Rec, xv : 105 ; see also No. 20.) 1665, February 22. Chosen deputy to Assembly from Provi- dence. (Prov. Rec, iii : 59.) 1665, March 31. Pawtuxet and Providence agree upon a divid- ing line between the two towns, and commissioners are appointed to run it. (Prov. Rec, iii : 60.) 1665, May [14]. Assembly refers difference between Harris and Calverly to Royal Commissioners. (R. I. C. R., ii : 106.) 1666, February 19. Drew share No. 37 in division of land on the east side of the " .seven-mile line." (Prov. Rec, iii : 72.) 1666, March 29. His petition to General Assembly, praying for execution of judgment against Harrud, granted. (R. I. C. R., iii : 143.) 1666, May 2. Chosen Assistant in the Assembly. (R. I. C. R., ii : 147.) 1666, May 31. Engages allegiance to the King. (Prov. Rec, iii : loi.) 1666, September 4. Appointed by the Assembly on a com- 30 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. mittee to collect money clue John Clarke. (R. I. C. R., ii : 176.) 1666, November 14. Writes to Capt. Deane regarding Roger Williams. (IV. H. Memoranda, p. i. ; R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub., viii : 67.) 1667, April 10. Granted permission to change his land at Cold Spring and at Weybosset Plain. {Prov. Rec, iii : 95.) 1667, April II. Granted land at Ascocanoxsuck. (Prov. Rec, i : 36 ; iii : 96.) 1667, April 27. Moderator of town meeting. (Prov. Rec, iii: 95.) 1667, May I. Petitions the Assembly concerning the serving of the execution at Meshantatuck. (See R. I. C. R., ii : 205, 210.) 1667, May 2. Chosen Assistant in Assembly and objection to his election overruled. (R. I. C. R., ii : 186.) 1667, May 2. His petition regarding Meshantatuck referred to next meeting of Assembly. (R. I. C. R., ii : 205.) 1667, May 6. Upon Harris's indictment, B. Herenden is ad- judged guilty of resisting a constable and fined fifty shil- lings. (MS. R. I. Colony Records, 1646-166^, p. 241.) 1667, May 9. His share in the fifty-acre division laid out. (Prov. Rec, v : 317 ; xv : 1 16.) 1667, June 3. Moderator of town meeting. (Prov. Rec.t iii : 102.) 1667, June 10. Providence sends to other three towns a letter of protest, "The Firebrand Discovered," against Harris. (No. 22.) 1667, June 24. Moderator of town meeting. (Prov. Rec, iii : 103) 1667, July 2. His charge against Fenner and others for riot- ous action in town meeting dismissed by the Assembly. The town officers chosen by virtue of Fenner's warrant declared legally elected. General Sergeant cleared of Harris's charge of neglect of office in not serving execu- tion at Meshantatuck, and execution deferred. Harris CALENDAR. 31 fined ;^5b and discharged from office of Assistant. (R. I. C. R., ii: 200-211.) 1667, July. Harris writes to Col. Nichols concerning the ac- tion of the Assemby. (No. 23.) 1667, July 24. Col. Nichols writes Gov. Brenton, complaining of the action against Harris. {R. I. C. R., ii : 233.) 1667, July 27. Town of Providence writes Assembly charging Harris with riotous proceedings. {Prov. Rec, xv : 117.) 1667, October 23. Herenden sues Harris and others for tres- pass. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, l646-l66g, p. 246.) 1668, May 6. Re-elected Assistant in the Assembly. {R. I. C. R., ii : 223.) 1668, June I. Warwick protests against election of Harris. ( Warwick Town Records, quoted in Arnold, i : 335.) 1668, August 31. Town of Providence sends to the Assembly a letter of protest and complaint against Harris. {Prov. Rec, XV : 121.) 1668, October 21. Harris declared by Court of Trials not guilty of charge brought by Herenden. {MS. R. I. Colony Records, 1646-166^, p. 250.) 1668, October 29. His fine, in consequence of advice from Col. Nichols, remitted. {R. I. C. R., ii : 237.) 1669, January 29. Committee report upon division line be- tween Providence and Pawtuxet. {Prov. Rec, xvii : p. 215.) 1669, April 26. Warwick writes to the Assembly regarding Harris's fine. {MS. Copies of Warwick Records, p. 8.) 1669, May 5. Harris re-elected Assistant in the Assembly. R. I. C R.,\\: 242.) 1669, May 14. Assembly grants execution in Me.shantatuck case to Harris according to the verdict of 1663, unless the matter be mutually settled before October. {R. I. C ^., ii:253.) 1669, June 7. Town of Warwick protests and refuses to assist in serving execution. ( Wanvick Records quoted in Arnold, i:338.) 32 RHODE ISLAND HISORICAL SOCIETY. 1669, July 20. Calverly writes to Gov. Arnold concerning Meshantatuck matter. (No. 24.) 1669, August 24. Roger Williams writes to Whipple a long and abusive letter concerning Harris. (R. I. Hist. Soc. Proc. 1877-78, p. 64 ; R. I. Hist. Tract, xiv : 25.) 1669, September 13. Warwick writes to Providence, complain- ing of Harris. (No. 25.) 1669, October 18. Town of Warwick sends to the Assembly a letter of complaint against Harris. ( Warwick Records quoted in Arnold, i : 340.) 1669, December 15. Harris addresses to Providence Council a letter of protest against " Dexter's Plaster." (No. 27.) 1670, May I. His son testifies as to Warwick men resisting execution at Meshantatuck. (Nos. 28, 29.) 1670, May 4. Not elected Assistant, there being doubt as to whether he or Fenner was chosen. {R. I. C. R., ii : 302.) 1670, June 6. Chosen a member of town council. (Prov. Rec, iii : 152.) 1670, July. Has controversy with Wm. Carpenter over land at Spectacle Meadow. (Nos. 30, 31, 32.) 1670, October 21. Obtains testimony as to length of Woonas- quatucket River. (No. 33.) 1670, November 10. Deeds land on Pocasset River to his son Andrew. (Prov. Rec, xiv : 60.) 167 1, May 3. Chosen General Solicitor. (R. I. C. R., ii : 375.) 167 1, June 5. Appointed town surveyor. (Prov. Rec, iii : 200.) 1671, November 27. Requested to draw up grievances as to colony tax. (Prov. Rec, iii : 204.) 1672, [February]. Writes a long argument in favor of Con- necticut's claim to the Narragansett territory. (No. 34.) 1672, February 24. Arrested by order of the Assembly for speaking and writing against the Charter. (R. I. C. R., ii : 429.) 1672, April 2. His petition to the Assembly refused a reading through being improperly directed. (R. I. C. R., ii : 435.) 1672, August 9. Attends debate between Williams and the CALENDAR. 33 Quakers at Newport. {G. Fox diggd orU of his Burrowes, P- 37-) 1672, August 17. Attends continuation of the debate at Provi- dence. {G. Fox, p. 205.) 1672, October 30. Deputy from Providence to Assembly. {Prov. Rec, iii : 225 ; R. I. C. R., ii : 465.) 1673, May 7. Chosen Assistant in Assembly. {R. /. C. R., ii : 484.) 1675, April 12. Drew share 53 in lands west of "seven-mile line." {Prov. Rec, iv : 46.) 1675, April 26. Writes Sir Joseph Williamson and others con- cerning redress from the King. (Nos. 35, 36, 37.) 1675, April 29. Writes an account of New England for the use of English officials. (No. 39.) 1675, May 24. Drew share 41 in second division of lands east of " seven-mile line." {Prov. Rec, iv : 48.) 1675, June II. Addresses several petitions to the King, which are referred to the Committee for Plantations. (Nos. 40, 41, 42.) 1675, August 4. Committee for Plantations report on the Harris case. {Cal. of State Papers, Am. & W. I., l6'J^-'j6, p. 261.) 1675, August 4. The King commands the New England Governors as Commissioners to appoint an impartial jury. {Conn. Col. Rec, ii : 586.) 1676, January. Returns to New England at about this time. (Hutchinson, Coll. State Papers, p. 506.) 1676, May 3. Chosen Assistant in the Assembly. {R. I. C. R., ii : 542,) 1676, June 19. Appointed on a committee to choose a suitable garrison at Providence. (R. I. C. R., ii : 546, 572.) 1676, July 3. Petitions Newport council for administration on his sister's estate. (No. 45.) 1676, August 12. Writes to Williamson concerning the Indian uprising. (No. 46.) 1677, February 8. Connecticut Council signifies to Harris its 34 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. readiness to attend to the King's command. {Conn. Col. Rec, ii : 487.) 1677, June 4. Receives power of attorney from Field and Waterman, Pawtuxet proprietors. (No. 47.) 1677, June 4. Chosen on Providence town council. {Prov. Rec, viii : 17.) 1677, June 6. Gov. Leverett writes Gov. Winslow concerning Harris's appHcation for a Commission. (No. 48.) 1677, June 9. Gov. Winslow writes that Hinckley and Cud- worth are the Plymouth appointees. (No. 49.) 1677, June 12. Writes to Gov. Leverett stating his complaints. (See No. 51.) 1677, June 23. Gov. Arnold writes that Sanford and Greene are the R. I. appointees. (No. 50.) 1677, July 3. Gov. Leverett writes Gov. Winslow concerning the appointment of a Commission. (No. 51.) 1677, July 6. Gov. Leete notifies Gov. Leverett that Richards and Palmes are to be the Connecticut appointees. (No. 52.) 1677, August 6. Harrud writes Calverly to appear in defence of his claim. (No. 53.) 1677, August 16. Gov. Leete appoints Allyn and Palmes on the Commission. (Hinman, Antiq. of Conn., p. loi.) 1677, August 22. First meeting of Commissioners at Pawtuxet. Primary organization effected. {Conn. Col. Rec, ii : 588.) 1677, September i. Answer to Harris's "bill," as drawn up by a committee, accepted by town of Providence. {Prov. Rec, viii : 19.) 1677, September 17. Harris writes to Gov. Winslow concern- ing the approaching meeting of the Court. (No. 53^.) 1677, September 17. Writes to Gov. Winslow asking that William Randall may be summoned to answer charge of trespass. (No. 54.) 1677, September 22. Gov. Winslow writes to Gov. Hinckley concerning another meeting of the Commissioners. (No. 55-) 1677, September 29. Gov. Arnold writes to the Commis- sioners concerning the approaching meeting. (No. 56.) CALENDAR. 35 1677, October i. Holden and Greene appointed attorneys for Warwick. ( Wainvick Records quoted in Arnold, i : 434.) 1677, October 3. Court meets and adjourns to November 17. (No. 57.) 1677, October 12. Addresses to the Court his declaration against Calverly et al. (No. 58.) 1677, October 13. Addresses to the Court his declaration against the Town of Warwick. (Rider's R. I. Hist. Tract, .ser. 2, no. 4, p. 85.) 1677, October 13. Addres.ses to the Court a declaration against the Town of Providence. (Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 2)7.) i6yy, October 15. Addresses to the Court a declaration against the Town of Providence. (No. 59.) 1677, October 18. Roger Williams addresses to the Court a reply to Harris. {Narragansett Club Pub., vi : 387 ; Prov. Rec, XV : 162, where it is dated August 18.) 1677, October 27. Town of Providence chooses three men to answer summons of Harris. {Prov. Rcc, viii : 21.) 1677, November 17. Addresses a general petition to the Court. (No. 60.) 1677, November 17. Addresses to the Court a declaration against Towers. (No. 61.) 1677, November 17. Addresses to the Court a plea covering all his cases. {R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub., i : 185.) 1677, November 17. Submits to the Court various bills of costs. (Nos. 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.) 1677, November 17. The answer of the Providence men to Harris's charges. (Nos. 67, 68.) 1677, November 17. The answer of Roger Williams to Har- ris's charges. (Rider's Hist. Tract, no. 14, p. 52.) 1677, November 17. The answer of Calverly in behalf of Harrud et al. (No. 69.) 1677, November 17-24. Proceedings of Court. Harris ob- tains a verdict in his favor in each case. (No. 70.) 1677, November 19. Testimony given as to length of Woon- asquatucket River. (No. 71.) 36 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1677, November 19. Sixteen of the Providence proprietors protest against continuing the controversy with Harris. {Sofne W. H. Memoranda, p. 6.) 1677, November 22. Answer of Dexter and Fenner to Harris in regard to damages. (No. 72.) 1677, November 24. Court orders Providence to run line be- tween Woonasquatucket and Pawtuxet Rivers as far as a thwart line from head of former river to latter river. {Prov. Rec, viii : 46 ; xv : 174.) 1677, November 24. Court orders Town Sergeant to deliver possession of lands on south side of dividing line to Paw- tuxet proprietors. (No. 73.) 1677, November 29. Warwick appoints Holden and Greene to proceed to England to protest the verdict. {Wat wick Records, quoted in Arnold, i : 434.) 1677, December 24. Providence appoints three men to view the head of Woonasquatucket River. {Prov. Rec, viii : 21 ; XV : 175.) 1677, December 31. Warwick writes to Providence concern- ing her northern line. {Prov. Rec, xv : 176.) 1678, April 6. Harris proposes a mutual survey of the head of Woonasquatucket River. (No. 74.) 1678, April 15. Harris writes to Gov. Hinckley concerning his inability to obtain execution of the verdicts. (No. 75.) 1678, April 27. Providence accepts the return of the com- mittee and orders that John Smith sui"vey the line. {Prov. Rec, viii : 28.) 1678, [May 8]. Town appoints Fenner as attorney to the ad- journed meeting of the Court on May 23. {Prov. Rec, viii : 29.) 1678, May 21. Olney and Whipple write the Court that the line has not yet been run. (No. 76.) 1678, May 23. Harris petitions the Court for execution of previous verdicts. (No. yy.) 1678, May 24. Court meets in Boston, but owing to absence of Connecticut members, adjourns until June 18 to Provi- dence. (No. 78.) CALENDAR. 37 1678, June 3. In Providence town meeting it is voted that John Smith attend the approaching meeting of the Court " to vindicate his Act in reference to y^ Map." {Prov. Rec, viii : 31.) 1678, June 18. Harris petitions the Court concerning the thwart Hne and dividing Hne. (No. 79.) 1678, June 18. Roger Wilhams writes Gov. Hinckley con- cerning the Harris case. {R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub., viii : 157.) 1678, June 18. Court meets at Providence and adjourns with- out action until October i. (No. 80.) 1678, June 19. Court summons Connecticut jurors to be pres- ent at its next meeting. (No. 81.) 1678, [July 17]. Holden and Greene address a petition to the King concerning Harris. (5 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., i : 505.) 1678, July 30. Committee for Plantations receive a reply from Stoughton and Bulkley, the Massachusetts agents, to the complaint of Holden and Greene. (No. 82.) 1678, July 30. Holden and Greene reply to Stoughton and Bulkley. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., idjjSo, no. 767.) 1678, July 30. Committee for Plantations take petitions into consideration. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., idyy-So, no. 768.) 1678, August 15. Harris addresses to Sergeant Steele a query concerning descent of estates. (No. 83.) 1678, September 7. Samuel Winsor arrested for assault upon Harris. {Prov. Rec., xv : 182.) 1678, October i. Harris presents a petition to the Court meeting at Providence by adjournment. (No. 84.) 1678, October 3. The R. I. Commissioners protest the action of the Court on account of the absence of a Connecticut member. (No. 85.) 1678, October 5. Gov. Leverett sends to England the Court's proceedings in the Harris case. (No. 86.) 1678, November 27. Gov. Cranston sends to the King the proceedings in the Harris case. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., 16JJ-80, no. 836.) 38 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1678, December 4. Harris draws up his will. {Prov. Rec, vi : 56.) 1678, December 4. Harris gives power of attorney to two of his children. (No. 87.) 1679, January 2. Committee for Plantations advise that War- wick be undisturbed until Harris establishes his title be- fore King in Council. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & IV. I., idyySo, no. 858 ; see also No. 95.) 1679, January 31. Order in Council that Warwick be un- disturbed, and that Harris and partners have peaceable possession of Pawtuxet. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., idyy-So, no. 872.) 1679, May. Harris arrives in England at about this time. {R. I. C. R., iii : 67 ; Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & IV. I., idyySo, no. 1005.) 1679, [May]. Harris petitions the King in answer to Holden and Greene. (No. 88.) 1679, June 19. Committee for Plantations advise that Harris- Warwick case be referred to New Plymouth for determi- nation and that Harris have possession of his lands ac- cording to the order of January 31. {R. I. C. R., iii : 66.) 1679, July I. Harris assessed a tax of 15s. 7>^d. {Prov. Rec., XV : 188.) 1679, J^ily *■ New Plymouth sends to King letter of October 5, 1678, which, being wrongly addressed, had been returned to New England. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., l6jy-8o, no. 1042.) 1679, July 2. Board orders that Committee's report of June 19 be prepared for King's signature. {R. I. C. R., iii : 67.) 1679, J'-^ 4- Roger Williams writes to Hinckley regarding Harris. (4 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., v : 29.) 1679, July 7. Secretary Allyn, in a letter to Saffin, mentions Harris as agent of Connecticut. {Conn. Col. Rec., iii : 274.) 1679, July 9. King orders New Plymouth to decide upon Harris's case with Warwick, and to enforce the rest of CALENDAR. 39 the verdicts if neglected by Rhode Island. {Prov. Rec, XV : 191.) 1679, September 25. Harris writes New Plymouth in regard to the King's order. (No. 89.) 1679, September 29. Richard Smith, in a letter to England, mentions Harris as having returned to Narragansett. (No. 90.) 1679, September 30. At a meeting of the Governor and Council of Rhode Island the King's orders are con- sidered and notice sent to those affected by the ver- dicts. (No. 91.) 1679, October 9. Connecticut informs the King of the ap- pointment of Harris as her agent for Narragansett Country. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 278 ; see also iii : 38.) 1679, October 15. Harris chosen Deputy to Assembly from Providence. {Prov. Rec, viii : 59.) 1679, October 25. Stephen Arnold testifies as to Pawtuxet and Toskeunk. (No. 92.) 1679, October 25. Sanford and Coggeshall testify as to former verdict of Court. (No. 93.) 1679, October 28. At a meeting of the Governor and magi- strates of Plymouth, Harris makes his plea in behalf of the Pawtuxet purchasers. (No. 94.) 1679, October 28. Holden and Greene make their plea in be- half of the Warwick purchasers. (No. 95.) 1679, November i. The parties in the case inform the Ply- mouth Court what persons they represent. {Plym. Col. Rec, vi : 22.) 1679, November 2. Gov. Winslow writes to the King of his decision in favor of Harris as against Warwick. (No. 96.) 1679, November 3. Governor and Council of Rhode Island send notice to Providence men to appear at their next meeting. (See No. 91.) 1679, November 15. Providence chooses three men to attend Council at Newport, although the vote is protested. {Prov. Rec, viii : 60.) 40 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1679, November 17. Governor and Council appoint John Smith, marshal, to see that the first and last three ver- dicts are executed in Harris's favor. (See No. 91.) 1679, November 21. Harris declares the willingness of Paw- tuxet men to assist marshal. (Rider's Hist. Tracts, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 97.) 1679, November 21. Warwick men protest to Governor and Council against granting execution ^beyond Pachasset River. (No. 97.) 1679, November 24. Clark and Ward protest against appoint- ment of Smith as marshal as being prejudiced. (No. 98.) 1679, November 24. Smith takes oath before Governor and Council for faithful performance of duty. (See No. 91.) 1679, December i. Harris writes instructions as to manner of execution. (No. 99.) 1679, December 2. Assembly grants Harris reimbursement for colony expenditure which had several times before been refused. {R. I. C. R., iii : 75.) 1679, December 4. Smith goes to Pawtuxet to give Harris execution, but nothing results on account of disagreement as to method of procedure. (See No. 91.) 1679, December 15. At a meeting of the Governor and Coun- cil, Smith makes his return, asserting that the plaintiffs refused to point out the lands according to the verdict. (See No. 91.) 1679, December 15. Connecticut empowers Harris to act as her agent in England for the Narragansett lands. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., iSyy-So, nos. 1225, 1226.) 1679, December 17. Gov. Cranston writes Gov. Winslow that Rhode Island has attempted to grant execution to Harris. {R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub., vi : 108.) 1679, December 25. Harris sails for England. {Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & W. I., idyy-So, no. 1487.) 1680, January i. Governor and Council of Rhode Island send report of their proceedings to King. (See No. 91.) 1680, January 6. Gov. Cranston writes to King concerning the action taken by Rhode Island. {R. I. C. R., iii : 78.) CALENDAR. 41 1680, January 24. The vessel in which Harris was sailing cap- tured by an Algerine corsair. (See No. loi.) 1680, February 23. Harris sold in Barbary as a slave and kept in prison for over a month. (See No. loi.) 1680, April 4. Writes Brinley from Algiers that about ;^300 is demanded from him as a ransom. (No. 100.) 1680, April 6. Writes to his family concerning his trouble and urging them to procure his ransom. (No. loi.) 1680, April 17. Writes to Connecticut concerning his ransom. (No. 102.) 1680, May 5. Assembly suspends order of December 2, 1679, for Harris's reimbursement. (R. I. C. R., iii : 88.) 1680, May 10. Writes to his family concerning his captivity. (No. 103.) 1680, May 14. Connecticut Assembly approves of Governor's action in obtaining Harris as agent and also grants Mrs. Harris £^ for relief in her husband's absence. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii: 51-52.) 1680, June. Connecticut first receives tidings of Harris's cap- tivity. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 304.) 1680, [June]. Writes to his family about this time chiefly con- cerning their spiritual welfare. (No. 104.) 1680, July 3. John Stokes of London writes to Howlong Harris regarding her father's capture. (No. 105.) 1680, July 15. Connecticut offers to give at least ;^50 toward Harris's redemption. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 290.) 1680, August II. Secretary Blathwayt writes Wharton from London regarding Harris's ransom. (No. 106.) 1680, August 22. Harris writes to his family regarding his ransom. (No. 107.) 1680, September 2. Brinley writes Mrs. Harris complaining of her lack of appreciation of the efforts of her friends. (No. 108.) [1680, September.] Wharton writes Mrs. Harris concerning her husband. (No. 109.) 1680, October 2. Connecticut magistrates write Harris of their efforts for his redemption. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 304.) 42 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1680, October 14. Connecticut orders ;^300 to be raised for Harris's redemption. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 72.) 1680, October 14. Mrs. Harris appoints an attorney to treat with Brinley regarding her husband's redemption. {Prov. Rec, XV : 214.) 1680, October 25. Brinley writes Smith concerning Harris's redemption. (No. no.) 1680, October 27. Assembly grants Harris reimbursement of ^20 for colony expenditures. {R. I. C. R., iii : 94.) 1680, October 30. Wharton writes Mrs. Harris concerning the ransom. (No. in.) 1680, November 22. Connecticut magistrates write Narragan- sett proprietors concerning Harris and of his desire for certain papers. {Cotin. Col. Rec, iii : 305.) 1681, January 26. John Allyn writes to Wait Winthrop con- cerning Harris's redemption. (6 Mass. Hist. Soc Coll., V : 8.) 1 68 1, May 29. Wharton writes Mrs. Harris a letter of friendly advice concerning family matters. (No. 112.) 1681, June 3. Secretary of Massachusetts, in a letter to Sir Lionel Jenkins, refers to Harris's captivity. {Cal. State Papers Col., 1681-85, no. 126.) 1681, August 2. Wharton writes Mrs. Harris that her hus- band has been ransomed. (No. 113.) 1681, October 13. Connecticut Court appoints two men to visit Mrs. Harris and, if need be, to grant her ;^io. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 90.) 1681, December 3. Wharton informs Mrs. Harris of her hus- band's death three days after his arrival in London. (No. 114.) 1 68 1, December 21. Brinley writes Mrs. Harris concerning her husband's affairs. (No. 115.) 1682, January 12. Mrs. Harris urges her son Andrew to act jointly with her in settling Harris's estate. (No. 116.) 1682, January 21. Inventory of Harris's estate. {Prov. Rec, vi : 75-89-) 1682, February 20. Harris's will, dated December 4, 1678, ap- CALENDAR. 43 proved by the Providence Council. {Prov. Rec, vi : 34, 48-58.) 1682, September 12. Carpenter and others petition for con- firmation of award of arbitrators of Pawtuxet land of June 15, 1657. (No. 117.) 1682, November 15. Providence appoints a committee to ad- just difference with Pawtuxet. {Prov. Rec, viii : 120.) 1682, November 18. Gov. Hinckley writes to Blathwayt in Harris's behalf. (4 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., v : 82.) 1682, November 27. Pawtuxet proprietors protest against award of arbitrators. {Prov. Rec, xiv : 145.) 1683, January 16. Pawtuxet and Providence committees agree that the western boundary of Pawtuxet shall extend to the seven-mile line, and the northern boundary to a line drawn from Mashapaug to a point on the seven-mile line midway between the Woonasquatucket River and the southern bounds of the purchase. {Prov. Rec, iv : 73 ; xv : 236.) 1683, April 27. Providence approves committee's report and orders lines to be run. {Prov. Rec, viii : 130 ; xvii : .) 1683, October 31. Waterman and Field petition Assembly for execution of verdicts concerning Pawtuxet. (No. 118.) 1683, November i. Olney and others testify that Smith, as marshal, on December 4, 1679, did not act according to verdict. (No. 119.) 1685, May 14. Connecticut Court accepts account of ;^289 9s. 7d. for Harris's ransom. {Conn. Col. Rec, iii : 169.) 1686. Treasurer of Connecticut draws up an account showing an expense of ;^459 17s. id. for Harris's ransom. (No. 120.) 1686, May 12. Pawtuxet proprietors bond themselves to resist award of arbitrators of 1657. {Prov. Rec, xiv : 147.) 1686, June 25. Pawtuxet proprietors make Nathaniel Thomas their attorney. (No. 121.) 1686, July 6. Pawtuxet proprietors petition Gov. Hinckley to enforce verdicts obtained by Harris. (No. 122.) 1686, September 28. Brinley writes Mrs. Harris concerning a codicil to her husband's will. (No. 123.) 44 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1686, December 14. Kin^ receives from Pawtuxet proprietors petition for a final determination of whole controversy by a general governor. (R. I. C. R., iii : 209 ; Cal. State Papers Col., Am. & IV. /., 168^-88, no. 1060.) 1687, February 19. Olney and Whipple testify as to proposi- tions of Wickes concerning Pawtuxet. (No. 124.) 1687, February 21 . Pawtuxet men write instructions to Thomas. (No. 125.) 1687, July 14. Thomas writes Pawtuxet men as to advisability of procuring a new charter. (Rider's Hist. Tracts, ser. 2, no. 4, pp. 108, 126.) 1689, March 8. Pawtuxet men write instructions to Thomas. (No. 126.) 1689, [March]. Thomas petitions Sir Edmund Andros for a determination of Pawtuxet controversy. (No. 127.) 1689, May 4. Pawtuxet proprietors divide their lands according to agreement of 1682. {Prov. Rec., iv : 147.) 1694, March 28. James Fitch writes Mrs. Howlong Harris P'enner concerning Connecticut's efforts for Harris's re- demption. (No. 128.) 1697, March 23. Rhode Island Assembly decrees that the north side of the Pawtuxet River, as far as its southern branch, shall be the southern boundary of Providence, but only as to jurisdiction. {R. I. C. R. iii : 323 ; see also protest from Warwick in MS. Copies of Wafzviek Records, p. 33, in R. I. H. S. Lib'y.) 1698, July 27. Providence orders that the dividing line between Providence and Pawtuxet be run and the seven-mile line extended southward. (Prov. Rec, xi : 43.) 1699, November 21. Assembly orders that ;i^20 previously due to Harris be paid to Arthur Fenner. (R. I. C R. iii : 384.) 1704. Thomas writes to Pawtuxet men regarding prospective success of the case in England. (Rider's Hist. Tracts, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 109.) [ 1 705] . Pawtuxet proprietors petition Queen Anne that previous judgments in favor of Pawtuxet be executed. (No. 129.) 1705, December 18. Queen approves of Pawtuxet men's peti- CALENDAR. 45 tion and orders Rhode Island to explain why verdicts were not executed. (No. 130.) 1706, February 11. Upon petition of Pawtuxet proprietors, Providence appoints a committee to run seven-mile and dividing lines. (Prov Rec, xi : 105.) 1706, June 10. W. Hopkins and J. Arnold testify that Smith, as marshal, on December 4, 1679, did not act according to verdict. (Nos. 131, 132.) 1706, June 12. Pawtuxet proprietors appoint Chamberlain as Enghsh agent. (No. 133.) 1706, September 14. Rhode Island Assembly sends k reply to the Queen's order of December 18, 1705. {R. I. C. R., iii: 559.) 1707, June 12. Chamberlain writes as to failure of Pawtuxet case in England. (Rider's Hist. Tract., ser. 2, no. 4, p. 1 10.) 1707, August 4. Joseph Williams and others petition proprie- tors to increase the committee chosen to run the line. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 1707, August 4. Proprietors receive a petition that the line shall run due north and south seven miles from Foxes' Hill. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 1707, November 7. Pawtuxet committee assures proprietors of its readiness to act. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 1708, May 4. Howlong Harris Fenner makes a declaration to the Court at Newport regarding early Pawtuxet affairs. {R. I. Hist. Soc Pub., iv : 195.) 1708, September 20. Thomas P'enner petitions proprietors to appoint a new committee to run the line. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 1709, July II. Pawtuxet committee petitions proprietors to appoint commissioners. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 1710, August 28. Pawtuxet men petition proprietors to ap- point commissioners to run line. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) 171 1, May. Line run between Providence and Pawtuxet by order of Providence proprietors. (No. 134.) 1 71 2, March 3. Committees from Providence and Pawtuxet fially agree upon line. {Prov. Rec, xvii : .) Harris Papers [The location of the original of each document is given within brackets at the end of the document itself. Those doc- uments marked as Cushnian Papers are from the collection of family papers owned by Mrs. Mary Harris Cushman, a lineal de- scendant of William Harris. Those marked Harris Papers are from the volume of manuscripts so labeled in the library of the Rhode Island Historical Society. The Moses Brown Papers and Copies of Warwick Records, each containing a few Harris documents, are also owned by the Society. The Har- ris papers in English Archives have been copied from the originals in the British Public Record Ofifice, with the excep- tion of a few which are printed from the volumes of tran- scripts in the John Carter Brown Library.] 1 Verdict; Harris vs. Cole & Carpenter, 31 July, 1650. Endorsed by Harris: — Verdict & Judg[ment] I optayned against those y' oposed my right & title in patuxet bearing date y^ 31, 5S 1650 in y^ Jurisdiction of Massachusets At a Court held at Boston 31", 5""°, 1650. Robert Cole and William Carpenter * pi'*, against William Harris in an action of trespass for marking trees upon theire *Cole and Carpenter were two of the Pawtuxet settlers who had sub- mitted themselves to Massachusetts in 1642. Together with William Arnold, on January 30, 1641-42, they had purchased of Socanonoco, Sachem of Pawtuxet, all the land between the Pawtuxet, Pocasset, Woonasquatucket and " great salt " rivers (Suffolk Deeds, i : 63). This land, however, had been included in the original purchase made by Roger Williams of the chief sachems in 1638. 48 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. land and for a peice of Marsh purchased of Socononoco. W"'. Arnold confessed that Harris did pay his part of the pur- chase : The Court ordered there should be a division of the Land. Jury found for the Defend', but the Defend*, desired no costs. This is a true Coppie taken out of the Records of the County Court of Suffolke. as attests Js^i. Addington, Clerk, 1677. [Cushman Papers.] Indian Deed to Harris, 3 April, 1657. Providence [t,^] 2""*^ 1657. These bear witness that I Moscompowes : and I Twopovires, asent to the acts of Myantenomye to the 1 3 men : and the Convayance of the land, Called pawtucksette to them ; as allso that of Apautuck and Achetonsick, of that deed of* scale to William Harris ; and allsoe we hereby upon Good consider- ation ; and sattisfactione reseved in Cloath, sell and confirme to William Harris, that Righte of ours, namely Two of the thirteene parts in all the sayd lands up the streame of pau- tucksette River, about eighte miles more or les, to the side of Providence lands one the north ; and, or, one any other poynte. The bound shall ly upon, in the devisione betweene the land aforesayd, all the aforesayd lands ; with the apurtenances, we .sell to William Harris his heires and asignes forever : and hereby binde our heires : and asignes, not to molest nor trou- ble his, in the aforesayd lands for ever ; allsoe we asent to and confirme the act of scale, that Canonacoe made to Roger Wil- liams, of the sayd land for the thirteene purchasors : I'hese lands aforesayd we say we have soulde to William Harris. HARRIS PAPERS. 49 wittness our hands. That wee will not molest the purchasers within the lands above sayd and that the purchasers shall not hinder the sayd sellers of the land from their planting as for- merly for time to time Signed & delivered X [mark] in presence of us Thomas Harris Jo" Sayles X [mark] [From copy made by George T. Paine.] Harris to W. Arnold and others, 25 December, 1657. Endorsed by Harris : — A Coppy : of a paper, sente, To Will Arnalld : & y^ Rest Opening, y^ true Intente, of y^ Agree- mente of The Arbytrators Will Hathhorne Elyezer Lusher John Easton Joseph Torry Aboute Patuxette.* Shewing & reasoning A defference with w Carpenter, Z Roadss & Will Arnold aboute an arbytration or y^ award which they will not truly but frauddelently understand for, Will Carpenter, will A, & Zach Rhodes i, firste, My willingnes. To devide, y^ land. 2, And how, devide it. 3, And why, soe devide it. ♦This refers to an award as to Pawtuxet lands made during the pre- ceding June (see Prov. Rec. xv : 94). It gave to William Carpenter, Zachary Rhodes, and William Arnold three parts out of four of the land east of the Pocasset River, and to tiie rest of the thirteen purchasers the remaining fourth part and the land on the west side of the Pocasset river, certain exceptions being made in both divisions. 60 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. firste, I am, Allwayes Ready, to devide, because, by de- vitione, of y^ same, Each man, shall posses, his Owne 2ly, And be, in y^ better, Capatity, to posses, whomsoever, he shall see Good Reasone to posses, with y* same after hem. And, for many Reasons beside. 2ly, Thus I am willing, to devide. Three parts, of 4 to Will Carpenter, Will Arnald, & Zach Rhoades, Provided, y* This shall not prejudice, y^ five, Acreas, Rights, Nor A six Acrea Righte, Nor, Any Possessers, of Medow, within, y* Tracte aforesayde. And, Reserveing y^ vinyarde : And, y^ Litle Necke to y^ 13 Purchasers, Allsoe, Excepting, y^ land of Johne Sailes, If it, or soe much, of It as shall fall within y^ tracte aforesayde, youres, or cures, And, Allsoe, to me, my share, within y« Tracte aforesayd Ob And, where as you say, Will A, & Zac Rho, y' you are to have 3 parts (beside y^ Exseptions,) & Reservations, &c. but. Will Carp Admitts, some Exseptions A To all which, I Answer, & firste, to your firste, Ar- guemente, In will Ar howse, (will Carp, was not There, It was an Argumente of Admiratione, y* any man should under- stand, y^ writting, but, as you did, to which, I say, I Cannot, become, such a foole, by such a Reasone, as, to thinke, you cannot er, since formerly, you have, soe much mistooke. And, notwithstanding, you, soe say, I Cannot thinke you soe sim- ple, soe, to beleve, &, whether, my Reasone, be not, as Rea- sonable, as youres, considering. In our former defferences, you, were mistakene. And not I, That Judg. 2 Ob Where as, you say, If, y"^ exseptiones, be any parte, of y^ 3 parts, what, shall you have then ? (you say.) A I answer, 3 parts, of 4, y^ exseptions, y* fall, within, your 3 parts, off your 3 parts, Counte, And, y^ exsep- tions, y' fall, within, our 4"' are, of our, 4*'^ parte, Counte. 2ly we say, your Rights, are but 4, yet have 3 parts, of 4, parts The exseptions, exsepted. And, we are 9, and have 9 Rights, &, but, a fourth parte, & y« exseptions, exsepted, alsoe, &, In our 4"^ : & without your tracte, are tlicse shares of medow, Rich Wa Ro W', R C & HARRIS PAPERS. 51 ffrances Westo y' was, & Will Ani,* &, how much more I cannot tell 3ly Consider, y^ Conveniency, of your land 4ly, y^ worth, how land, is there sowld, whereas land, Re- mote with us, bears noe such price, therefore, not of such worth only. In, maybe, we cannot tell when, 3 ob you say, we have y* land, above pachasett A I Answer, you disclaimed, our Titulle to it, & therefore, your owne Titull, Thoughe, we Reasoned, with you, to owne it, 2ly To, prevente, such, as might Circomvente, I made a second Purchas, of such, as yourselves, Owned, for y« Owners, of y' land 3ly, yourselves say, we shall not possess it, because, of y« Indeans, upone it, 4ly If we doe. It will be Chargable & troublesome 5ly our Catle, are lyable, to spoyle, in y^ use of it, with In- deans traps all which Concidered, you have noe reasone, to complaine, & thus your objections are answered breefly 3ly And now thirdly. Why, so devided, namely your- selves 3 parts, with y^ exseptions, The writing, of y^ Arbytra- tors, Intending soe, from these words, firste. In y« 24 line, y^ land weste, of Pochasette River, shall, belong to y^ 13, pur- chasers, exsepting, will Arn &c, now concider If Those ex- septed out of y^ 13, shall yet be, there, of the 13, Then, you will will, have a parte there, with us, allsoe, but. In as much, as you, are there numbered, with y^ 13, but yet, being exsepted, not of y^ 13, (to possess there) yet there called one of y^ 13, for, without you, is not 13, soe likewise y^ exsepted lands y' falls within, your 3 parts. Counted, with your 3 parts, yet not off, your 3 parts, (Thoughe Joyned, in your 3 parts Counte, or Number 2ly we Reasone from, a pasage, In y^ 26 line, where are *The names to which these abbreviations refer are undoubtedly Rich- ard Waterman, Robert Westcott, Robert Coles, Francis Weston, and William Arnold. 52 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. these words, Never-y«-less, Reserveing to Will Carp &c, yet, in y^ 24 line, it is sayd, all y^ land west y^ 13s &c now here, y« land is called all oures yet, Reserveing, to Will Carp a necke, soe y' then from hence we reason thus, As all above, or weste, of Pachasett, is our land, soe 3 parts is youres below, but, out of our, all, is Reserved, will Carp Necke, & soe his necke is cutt off, from our all, elc, our, all, would Cutt off, all his neck, & being reserved, it is taken out off our, all, soe likewise, all y^ exseptions. In your, 3 parts, off, your 3 parts, yet, to be taken out, as will Cs necke, out off our, All (above Pachasett) 3ly As Zach Roh his medow, is of our, all ; soe y^ exsep- tions, within your 3 parts, is of your 3 parts, but, his, Is Counted, with oures, yet, not off oures, soe y^ exseptions. Counted, in your 3 parts yet, to be taken oute of your 3 parts, afterward 4ly we Reasone from y^ words. Concerning, y^ devitione, in ye 7 line, which is y^ first, devitione, of y^ whole, (below Pachasett River, into two parts, y^ one parte, 3 ; off (4 = y« other,) one off 4, & & soe it is to be measured, from easte to weste, whence, we Reasone, thus. The whole land, below Pawchasett River, is to be devided, from Easte, to weste. Into, bvit Two parts, with one line, firste. Therefore, y^ exseptions, muste be takene, oute off, those two parts, & being, measured, Througheoute, y^ whole, is measured, & then, none is lefte, but all is in y^ two parts, soe y' y^ exseptions, must be founde within y^ two parts, or, noe where. And where as you objecte, noe neede, of measureing y' lands, all redy devided I Answer for y^ performance, of y^ true Intent of y^ writ- ting, There is Need ; from these words. The land shal be devided from Easte, to weaste, Throughoute, Therefore, oughte to be measured truely, lying, both Easte, & weste, y^ land, all redy devided, soe lying A word, to Zach Rho Use playne dealing. In y^ managing, this matter, perswade noe man, to decline, his partners asis- tance, but, lett every man asiste his partner, to a due posses- HARRIS PAPERS. 53 ione of every man, his part And thinke not, y' your, nor Tho Olln* Jugleing will creddet, your Cause, he hath bene, and will be, as much an enemy to your cause as any man, to his power (for his advantage) Thoughe, he be not willing to be scene, (In y^ coste : & trouble, for his Councell I care noe more, then I care for youres, (In this case) Nor, for y^ coste to make him pay, his parte of y chare. If he Refuse, (In due time Allsoe, All of you Concider, y^ Trouble, you have unnesses- arily put us. to, & me more then y^ Reste, & I am perswaded, yt you will have as litle, sattisfactione in this laste, as In, your firste designe. And Certaine I am It will not amounte, to any Christiane acounte, such Continewall strife, And, Thoughe, I forgave you my Charges In y^ massachusetts, & laste of all soughte for none, yet, If you continew troublesome, we will deligently Endevoure Juste, satisfactione, If our reasons prevaille not with you, let us see what Reasons, you have to hinder, you, or us, from such an understanding, of y^ writting, (our thoughte) agreementte your Nbr notwithstanding, your unjuste Continewall strife. 25 Dec 1656 Williame Harris [Cushman Papers] 4 Case of Harris et al. vs. Warwick, March, 1659-60. Endorsed : — The verdict & testimony es. Portsmouth 20 12 1659 The declaratione of William ffield William Carpentor Zach- ariah Rhodes & William Harris Plantives all of Providence ; ♦Thomas Olney (i 600-1 682) of Providence had received a Pawtuxet share, but had disposed of it at different times to William Field and the Arnolds. 54 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ag^*. John Smith treasurer of Warwick In the Behalfe of the Towne of Warwicke Defend* in an action of Tresspasse* upon the case bareinge Date the 4''' of November 1659 shewing that the Defendant hath cut and carryed away much of y^ Plan- tiffes grasse & hath Exposed much to the ffire and more to the floudes for which cause we bringe o"^ complainte to this Courte for Redresse & Satisfaction for y' wronge & for recom- pence of o"" charges ; the Plantiffes Damadge one hundred poundes starlinge William Harris A True Copy As Atest John Sanford Recorder That Grew one y*^ North side of Pautuxet River in y^ yeare 1659 William Harris Warwick the 2^ of March 1659 The Answere of John Weekes Atorney for John Smith of Warwicke Defendant to y^ Declaration of William ffielde William Carpenter Zachariah Rhodes and William Harris of Providence Plantiffes upon an action of Tresspas upon the case bareing Date the 4*^^ of November 1659 wherein the Plan- tiffes complaine that the Defendant hath cut and carried away much of theire grasse & have Exposed much to the fire and more to the Water to which we answere, wee knowe of noe grasse wee have cut nor carried away nor Exposed to fire or *The question between Pawtuxet and Warwick depended upon prior- ity of title. If Harris's interpretation of Williams's original grant was correct, the Pawtuxet men owned all land north of Pawtuxet river. The north line of the original Warwick purchase, however, crossed the south bend of the Pawtuxet river. If, therefore, the Providence and Paw- tuxet purchase extended no further than the Pocasset river, the territory in dispute, a three-cornered tract lying between the Warwick north line and the south bend of the Pawtuxet, belonged to Warwick. The east- ern part of this tract was called Toskeunke (see testimony of Arnold, 25 October, 1679, No. 92 ; and Holden and Greene's petition, 28 October, 1679, No. 95) and the western part, Nachick, or Natick. See the map in this volume. HARRIS PAPERS. 55 water of theires & therefore Deny any Tresspase being in no poynt guilty of theire charge neither cann they make any such thing appeare therefore the writ ought to abate and the de- fendant dismist with good coste for his unjuste MoHstation ■^•^ me John Weeks Atorney A True Copy As Atests John Sanford Recorder William Wickenden* beinge Ingadged Testiffieth that the Boundes of the Towne of Providence are the River & ffieldes of Patuckset & the further parte of y^ hill Notacomanet is the northweste Boundes and alsoe the saide Deponant Testi- fyeth that he was one that pitcht the Boundes betweene Pa- tuckset River and Wonaspatuckset upon an Equal Distance & that the line wente to a Rocke which was as high into the Country as wee consieved as Notaconkonott hill and also Tes- tiffieth that he doth Judg y' the utmoste Boundes from the Sea is about Six miles & also he testifyeth that Patuckset men were not to Runne higher then Providence by vertue of agreemente betweene Providence & Patuxet Taken in Courte A True Copy As Atests John Sanford Recorder Stukely Westcott beinge Ingadged Testiffieth that M'' Williams Received the landes of Providence from Miantonomu the Sachim but we had not Boundes Sett where upon we sente to the s'^ Sachim to come & Sett our Boundes, hee com- einge there was some Difference between o"" selves, so y' he went away and Lefte the Lande unbounded, and alsoe he saith *William Wickenden, one of the " second comers" to Providence, who died 1670. tStukeley Westcott (i 592-1677) an early settler in Providence, but who had for several years been a resident of Warwick. On 6 November, 1648, he had received from the Pawtuxet purchasers a deed of 250 acres near Spectacle Meadow, but on 11 December, 1656, deeded all his Paw- tuxet rights to his son Robert. (See deeds in Cushman Papers.) 56 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. that they never understood theire Boundes to be further then Pachaset River,* Taken in Courte helde in March 1659 or 60 A True Copy As Atests John Sanford Recorder Dated in Warwicke this 5''' of September 1653 Whereas I James Sweete of Warwicke have soulde to Wil- ham Harris a parcell of land lying nere Pachaset River for Twenty poundes these testifieth that I have Reseived the saide Twenty poundes this presente Day of the Date hereof wit- nesse my hand Witnesses James [ X ] Sweete John Greene Ju"" Ezekiell Holliman A True Copy As Atests John Sanford Recorder [A copy of the original deed of Providence and the " mem- orandum " are here omitted.] M'' Benedict Arnold! upon his Engadgment saith y^ name Subscribed in the paper where y^ Evidence of Providence is was not his hand wrighteing But he saith that he did Sub- scribe his name to such a paper as that is aboute that time Taken in Courte held in March 1659$ A True Copy As Atests John Sanford Recorder [Harris Papers, p. 87.] *Roger Williams always affirmed that the bounds of the Providence purchase did not extend beyond the Pocasset river. (See R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub. viii: 156, 158.) tBenedict Arnold (1615-1678), son of William Arnold, had moved from Providence to Newport in 1651. His name, together with that of Wil- liams, is affixed as a witness to the so-called " memorandum " of 1639. tThe plaintiffs' declaration was filed Feb. 20, 1660, and the defendant's answer, Mar. 2. The records of the General Court of Trials, under date of Mar. 13 {MS. R. I. Colony Records, j646-i66g, p. 95) state that the jury found for the plaintiff £1 damage and cost of court. HARRIS PAPERS. 57 T. Olney's Testimony, 8 October, 1660. Endorsed by Harris : — Th° Olney his Testamony proveing y' Roger williams doth now deny what formerly he did as to bounds of patuxeet medows gth gth mth^ 1660 Betweene 20 and 22 yeares agone M^ Roger Williams, Jo : Throckmorton, Stuckley Westcot M"". William ffeild, Wil- liam Arnold, William Harris, William Carpenter and my selfe Agreed together to lay out meddows that did belong to patuxit men, wee went the first day that wee went forth to search out what meddow we could finde ; We went first to Mashepauge* and there found some, from thence we went to William Harrisses meddow which he now enjoyes, then to spectacle meddow from thence to paupauquinipaug : then M''. Williams made a motion to us to goe further up pa- tuxet to search for more we assented and soe we went over the river at paupauquinipaug from thence we went to Cowaude from thence we came to Toaskevmck and there wee found a good quantity and M"". Williams told us it was ours at that present there was at Toaskeunck a grate pawow of Narragan- sett M^ Williams said that the Pawow asked him wherfore wee came M"". Williams said he told him to looke out meddow, that Myantonomy had sold to him, he said that the pawow wondered that Myantonomy should sell that meddow and not make him acquainted with it seing he had the charg of those young men that there dwelt, and as we came home M"". Wil- liams made a motion to us to give that pawow some small *A reference to the map in this volume will show the general location of these meadows. If Williams ever expressed such an opinion as Olney implies, it was contrary to all of his written statements. 58 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. gratuitye seing he had something to doe with the young men of the place Providence 8 day 8 This I testifie upon that Ingagement moneth i66o is upon me as a Towne Deputye ■^ me Thomas Olnye senior A True Coppie "^ mee Joseph Torrey gen Recorder [Harris Papers, p. 88.] 6 Depositions, i6 March, i66a-6i. Endorsed by Harris : — shewing y' such as now in i668 deny A harris to be a purchasor did in i66o grant it Providenc i6 March i66i :" Wee : James Mathewson, John ffener, Andrew Harris, Thoughe we have bene Allredy Lawfully Received into Pur- chas Rights, & not as is pretended by such five and Twenty Acre men * as had noe Righte to y^ Comone, but by a Lawf ull Vote of purchasers & such five and Twenty Acre men as have whole Righte in Comone, & therefore power to dispose, yet we alsoe desire if they please y^ free concente of y^ Reste of our f rends, y* such may be sattisfyde, y* yet unjustly object us and whereas Such sayd there was not acomodatione (for us) yet since they have Received some y* proposed themselves, & have founde Acomodatione for them, & denyed us upone y' ground (pretended) yea Thoughe we lawfully Alredy Received yet say they will pluck up our stakes, yea Thoughe some of us * A five-and-twenty acre man was one who had obtained a free grant of 25 acres, possessed a quarter share of common land, but had no right to vote until received as a freeman. (See R. I. Hist. Soc. Coll., ix : 33.) HARRIS PAPERS. 69 have payd our purchase mony and have possesion delivered to us, Therefore if you are willing we shall injoye as above sayd we Request your hands hereto, We whose names are hereunder writen give our consents y* they above sayd shall injoye theyr grants Abovesayde his mark Thomas Harris Jun"" George X Way Arthur ffener John Steere Thomas Harris John Browne John ffield X T^ Williame Harris his mark his mark Henry X ffowler Thomas X Roberds I Shadrach Manton doe wittnes that Shadrach Manton my father did say he was willing that Edward Smith Andrew harris and John Fenner j^. shoold injoy thair purches rights Richard X Pray „ark as thay weare receved William ffenner Henry Browne, Cristofer Smith, Edwarde Inman, John Jones, say they will not apose James Mathuson nor John ffener nor Andrew Harris in theyre purchas Rights, Alsoe Stephen Northup sayt he will not Apose them Georg Pallmer giveth his Concent to y^ peacable Injoyment of John ffener James Mathueson & Andrew Harris off theire purchas Rights as one y^ other side Specifyde his Georg X Pallmer mark Joshua Winsor [On the last page there is a long note in contemporaneous short hand.] [Harris Papers, p. 88.] 60 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 7 Verdict of Court of Trials, 8 October, i66i. The General Courte of Tryalls held at Portsmouth October the 8"': i66i. A Reheareing of an Action of Trespass* upon the Case Comenced by M"" William ffeild, William Harris Zachary Roades and William Carpenter, Plaintiffs against M"" John Smith Tresurer for y^ Towne of Warwick and in y^ behalfe of the Towne of Warwick damage : lOo" : And for as much as there apeeres some obstruction in the proceedes in that Action depending between the fore Named M'' ffeild William Harris Zachary Roades and William Carpenter Plaintiffs against M"" John Smith Treasurer of the Towne of Warwick because there is not a Letter of aturney that doth Athorize William Harris to proceede as formerly ; and that it doth alsoe apeere that William Carpenter did desert the Cause Therefore to take off all Scruples that may arise by the defendent ; M"" William ffeild and William Harris doth Engage in open, Court them selves in a bond of five hundred pounds ; that they will make good the damage that shall arise upon the I sue of this suite and stand to the verdict and Judgment of the Court in the Case. The verdict of the Jury is wee finde for the defendant with their Charges and Cost of Courte Wheras wee Randall Houldon and John Greene Sc are deputed by the Purchasers and Towne of Warwicke as Aturneys in their behalfe as well as for our selves to implead William Harris before the honored Comissioners now sittinge at Providence In adjournment and having presented our groundes for a non suit which the honored Court not acceptinge Therfore in sub- * This was the action begun in March, i66o. At a rehearing of the case, October 9, 1660, the jury, reversing the former verdict, found for the de- fendant £4 damage and cost of court "not meddling with title of land." {JfS. R. I. Colony Records, i646-i66g, p. 98.) HARRIS PAPERS. 61 mission therunto wee thus answer unto the declaration of Wil- Ham Harris concerninge the meddowes of Toskeunke, and hill of Nachicke, is that the Plaintiffe hath no lawefull Title to the sayd landes forasmuch as they are within the boundes of War- wick Purchase and are our undoubted rightes hee the sayd Plantife havinge nothinge to shew but his Illimited postscript havinge not the hand of the Granter therunto,* and disowned by the grantee and therfore is a fraudulent deed accordinge to the statute of England, as also an illimited graunt in case it had been subscribed by the graunter makes itselfe voyd in lawe and is such as his Majesty will not justifie and furthermore wee have two verdicts of Jury ag^* hj^n in his Majesties Courts of Rhoade Island & Providence in the sayd matter which is con- fessed in his declaration and the Plantiffe neither made his apeale to the sayd Court nor to his Majesties most Honorable Comissioners and wee have peaceably injoyed the same untill now beinge severall years past since the Triall which matter had the kinges Majestic ben truely informed doubtles the com- plainant would have lost his labour concerninge procuringe a rehearinge for us [Cushman Papers] 8 A. andT. Harris, Testimony, Providence, io October, i66i. Endorsed by Harris : — The Testamony of Tho Harris & Andrew Harris as to y^ use & posession of meshuntatack under publique test. * This refers to the " memorandum," or postscript, to the original Town Evidence of Providence, which was not subscribed to by the Indian grantees. {See Prov. Rec, iv: 71.) 62 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Andrew Harris and Thomas Harris * Jiinio'' being ingaged doe wittness that Wilham Harris hath fed and used the med- dovves at pauquobuck or mishantituck both by his Cattle and mowing this eight yeares for in the ycare 1661 they say he mowed it and fetched away the hay besides his Cattle feeding of those meddowes all the time before expressed Providence this 10'^ of the 8 mo : 1661 Taken by me Thomas Olney Deputy Compared with the origenall by mee Joseph Torrey Gennerall Recorder [Cushman Papers] Indian Deed of Mashantatack, 23 June, 1662. Endorsed : — wotapunchamins deed about shantecut lands June the 23^* One Thowsand six hundred sixty and two, on which day this worke was Enacted at the dwellinge houses of the salsemen the place being Called Pataconkqueset Know all men by these presents that wee Wottapunckhomin, Awaskakooke, Shemenahawssowett Coshutaquant, Paquaite and Namponnant, all of us beinge Coessett Indians in the Collony of providence plantations in New-England, In Con- sideration of Twenty pound in peage six "^ penny to us in hand paid by James Sweet & John Sweet t his Brother of the Towne ♦Andrew (1635-1686) was the son of William Harris, and Thomas ( -171 1) was the son of William's brother, Thomas Harris. Andrew, on I November, 1655, had sold to Daniel Brown his house and about eight acres of land. (See deed in Cushman Papers.) t James and John Sweet, sons of John Sweet, were early settlers of Warwick. John lived at Potowomut Neck and James, after King Philip's War, removed to Kingston, where he died, deeding land at Mashantatack to his children. HARRIS PAPERS. 63 of Warwick in the Collony afore-said Have given and granted, bargained and sold And by these presents doe give grant bar- gaine and sell unto James Sweett and John Sweett his brother afore-said all the Lands, and Medowes together with all the timber and other apertanences and Comoditys whatsoever be- inge ffour Thousand Acres more or less lyinge within these bounds hereafter Mentioned, that is to say from pachasett River [ Notaquoncanutt] from thence to Mameawequate, and soe to Maskataquatt and there joyneth with pawtuxett River comonly called soe by the English which is the South bounds, Wee say wee Wotapunkamin, Awaskooke, and the other Indians above-Named ; Doe by these presents fully and absolutely grant and pass over all the said four thow- sand acres of Land more or less both Medow and upland to- gether with all proffitts Comodetys and apertanences whatsoever within the afore-said Bounds above-mentioned from our heires and successors, as alsoe from our selves forever unto James Sweete and John Sweete their heires Executors and Admini- strators and Asignes forever In Witness whereof wee have subscribed our hands and scales the day and yeare first above written and in the ffourteenth yeare of the Reigne of our Soverreigne Lord the King beinge Charles the Second off England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland King &c together with all his Royall Dominions thereunto belonginge * Signed Sealed and The marke off X Wotapumchimin [s] Delivered in the The marke off X Awaskooke [s] presence of us : The marke off X Shemenenhocot [s] Walter Todd The marke of X Quanosett [s] The marke of X ffrancis Dorby John Gerryardy the marke of X Wiquaie. the marke of X Nakanett. A True Copy Extracted out of the publick Records of his *This deed was the outcome of a petition made to the Assembly 17 June, 1662, by John and James Sweet, Edmund Calverly, Thomas Ralph, William Burton, for themselves and ten or twelve others, that they might 64 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Maj''«* Collony of Rhode Island & Providence plantations. As Atests John Sanford Recorder. Warwick the ly^^ of October 1662 in the Collony of provi- dence plantations in New-England This Deed of Bargaine and Sale of land within mentioned was presented before me John Smith Deputy of the Towne aforesaid and acknowledged a Deed of sayle by Wottapuchamon and Awaskooke within mentioned Vallintine Whitman of Providence and Jeremiah Wastcott of Warwarwick beinge the Interpretors John Smith Deputy A True Coppy of the Origonall as Atests. John Sanford Recorder. [Cushman Papers.] 10 Sweet to Arnold and Rhodes, 15 July, 1662. Endorsed by Harris : — Under y^ hand of John & James Sweet y' they have bought y' land y^ s'^ James sould to me W H & providence land alsoe July the 15"' 1662 Loving neighbours Stephen Arnold and Zachary Roades, wee understand that you make use of certaine medowes lying upon the river leading to Pawtuxet upon what account wee know not, but this wee thought good, to give you notis, of y' wee have bought all the landes medowes and else, fro Pochaset to masscettaquat and northward as farr as notaquonkanut where- be allowed to purchase land from the Indians, which was granted upon condition that the land had not previously been pvirchased and did not exceed 4000 acres (J?. I. Col. Rec, i : 483). The locality of Mashantatack is shown on the map in this volume. HARRIS PAPERS. 65 fore take knowledg y' you are not henceforth to mow or make use of any thing either timber or medow without our approba- tion and consent, by mee James Sweete in the behalfe of my selfe and my brother John the marke I§ of James Sweet [Cushman Papers.] 11 T. Harris, Testimony, 7 March, 1662-3. Endorsed by Harris : — Tollaration Harris his testamony as to Warwick mens cutting y^ gras of w ffield & w harris at Tos- kaunk in hay time 1662 Tolleration Harris,* Aged about 18 yeares, being ingaaged doth testifye, that on the 12"' of July last past which was in the yeare 1662, he saw Samuell Gorton the younger, John Gor- ton, Amos westcot : Benjamin Gorton, George Goff, Roger Burlingham and Ebenezzer Moone mow, or cut the Grass of william Feild, and william Harris, both of Providence, the med- dowes that the foresaid men were cuting, he saith was at, or about the place called Toskeonke, upon the north side of Pau- tuxit river. * Providence this 7'"^ of march 1663 Taken by me Thomas Olney Deputy, [Cushman Papers.] 12 A. Harris, Testimony, 7 March, 1662-3. Endorsed by Harris : — Andrew harris his testamony as to * Toleration Harris, born 1645, was the younger of William Harris's two sons. He was killed in King Philip's War. 66 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Warwick mens cutting y= grass of W ffeild and W Harris at Toskaunk in hay tim 1662 Andrew Harris aged about 28 yeares being ingaaged doth testifye, that he did see Certaine men, Inhabitants of the Towne of Warwick, namely these, Samuell Gorton Junior, John Gorton, Benjamin Gorton, Roger BurHngham John Harrud, Amos westcot, Ebenezer Moone, and George Goffe cutting or mowing the Grass and meddowes, of WilHam ffeild of Providence, and William Harris within the boundes of Providence : which meddowes he saith lyeth at or about the place called Toskeonke, on the north side of Pautuxit river, and he saith the time which he saw them so cuting as above said was in hay time, upon the i2 of July last past, in the year 1662. Providence this 7**^ of march 1663 so called. Taken before me, Thomas Olney deputy. [Cushman Papers.] 13 Providence and Pawtuxet Agreement, August, 1663. Endorsed by Harris : — a copie of an agreement between providence & patuxcet men as to y' parte patuxcet men pay as to y^ confirmations Under y^ recorders hand In providence wee the Committe according to agreement are mett This Last of august 1663 (soe Called) and in the 15 yeare of the Raigne of our Lord the King according to order of the Towne and the men of pautuxett ther consent and are Joyntly agreed not differing : our agreement is as followeth That pautuxett shall pay and are willing soe to doe namely to pay unto the payment which the narragansitt Sachim had HARRIS PAPERS. 67 for the Confirmation* of the Lands of providenc & pautuxett namely twelfe pound and one shilHng Eight pence at 6 peag a peny the Quarter part of the whole sumes as for and accord- ing to proportion but if it hearafter appeares that the Lands of pautuxett are more then the quarter part of the Land be- tweene pawtuxett River and pawtuckett River then the men of pautuxett shall pay more according to proportion and if pautuxett Landes hereafter prove Lese then the quarter part of the Land betweene pautuckett and pautuxett then pawtuxett men shall be Retorned ther Just proportion of ther payment back againe Roger Williams This is a True Coppie Rich: waterman drane from and Zackary Roades Compared with the John browne origenall (which Re- James aston maines on file) as William harris atest Joseph Torrey Gen Recorder [Moses Brown Papers, xviii : 225.] 14 Harris to Town of Providence [28 September, 1663]. To y*^ Towne of Providenc mett As followeth Joshua Veer- ing! of Barbadosse once of Providenc desireth me to Demand *This refers to the deeds given by the successors of Canonicus and Miantonimi to the Providence proprietors from 1659 to 1662 confirming the boundaries of the original purchase. (For a di.scussion of these deeds, see J^. I. Hist. Soc. Coll. ix : 80 ; R. I. Hist. Tract., 2 ser., iv : 72 ; Paine's Denial, p. 44.) tjoshua Verin was one of the first comers to Providence, but had de- parted two years after the settlement. He was now attempting to re- cover the title to his original right of land. The town, in answer to Har- ris's request, owned Verin's right {Prov. Rec, iii : 40) and to the time of his death, in 1695, he retained his original purchase share. (See Austin, Cental. Did. of R. /., p. 212.) 68 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. of (your selves) as (I conseve) his meaning In (his word Ten- ants.) In a letter to me, To demand his land Therefore I Re- queste your Answer to send to hem. William Harris. [From Prov. Town Papers, No. 01304.] 15 R. Waterman, Testimony, 9 October, 1663. Endorsed by Harris : — Resolved waterman Testifyeth y« house &c. In patuxcet lands under publick test Resolved Waterman* of Providence being engaged testifieth that there is a house neer that meddow meshuntatack which Is called John Harwoods house which said house is neerer to Pawtuckset river then to wanaspatuckett river, taken before me Providence the 9"' 8"' John Browne Deputie of mon*'^ 1663 Providence A True Coppie ^ me Joseph Torrey Gen Recorder [Cushman Papers.] 16 A. Harris, Testimony, 7 March, 1663-4. Endorsed by Harris : — Andrew Harris his Testamony as to John Harrud & his mens Enteranc (as he sayth) & building a howse 7"^ march 1663 & 64 under y^ recorders test *ResoIved Waterman (1638-1670), son of Richard Waterman of Provi- dence and Warwick. HARRIS PAPERS. 69 This proves Thomas Relf & Roger Burlingham forcably entered at meshuntatack y^ 13 or 14 of May 1663 About the 13'^ or 14'^^ of May in y«= yeare 1663 weare En- tered sertaine persons of y^ Towne of Warwicke upon the up- land neere Meshuntatak Called by som Paquabuck, namly John Harrud, Thomas Realfe, Roger Burlingham, Thomas Hedger, Juni : Ebenezer Moone, John Rice & Larance Pin- nicke;* which saide persons were Cuting out Treese ; Clear- ing timber and beuilding a house upon y^ saide land neere Meshuntatock where I did heare William Harris of Pautuxcet & Providence forbid them soe to doe ; and Peaceablely had them departe from his sayd land ; but some of y^ foresayd persons answered & saide the land was their owne and they would begon when they saw their time, but they did not for- beare their worke nor departe the place, also I did see them have axes and other such things in their hands att y^ time & place aforesaide — allsoe William Harris aforesaide of Pau- tuxcet & Providence hath hadd peaceable use of y^ land afore- saide to my sertaine knowledge more then three yeares with- out Intermistion ; alsoe I sertainely know that within fewe days before y« time above mentioned the saide men of War- wick were not upon y« land aforesaide att or neere Meshunta- tack, I allsoe was by the Constable required to ayed him when he went to Aprehend the persons aforesaide ; but they re- sisted the Constable and would not obey his word nor warant ; the saide persons went all into the howse which they were building upon y^ land aforesaide and stood with axes in theire hands againste the doore it being open and holding them up redy to strike, and saide to the Constable & his ayde stand off at yo"" perell, but the Constable drew neere to y^ doore but *With the exception of Ralph, Burlingame and Rice, very little is known about these early settlers at Mashantatack. Harris, in alluding to Harrud and his partners, often spoke of them as having "fled from Connecticut." Although there is evidence that both Ralph and Burlin- game came from Connecticut, there is no record to show that the others came from that colony. 70 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. could not enter with out danger of his life by reason of John Harrud aforesaide & the rest of his Company which stod in a desperate posture, holding their Axes up att the Constable & his ayde and y^ sayd John Harrud did vow and proteste as he was a living man that if the Constable did sett his foote within the doore he would knocke him downe. Andrew Harris of pachaset in Providence Jurisdic- tion aged 29 yeares doth upon his solemne ingauge- mente testifies, that the above written is true, and that the word, I heard, and I see, is to be under- stood himselfe, that he heard, and he saw ; This he afiermeth this 7"' of March 1663 1664 Before me Thomas Olney Asistant This is A True Coppie Compared with the origenall ^ mee Joseph Torrey Gennerall Recorder. [Cushman Papers.] 17 Verdict of Court, 8 March, 1663-4. Endorsed : — Copie of y^ pocreds of cort in Newport march y^ 8'*^ 63 : 64 wherin An Atorney is made by y^ cort when neither plantiff nor noe Lawfull Atorney was ther &c At a Court of Tryalls held at Newport : March Eighth 1663/64. There beinge a Case dependinge in this present Court be- tween William Harris of providence and John Harrud of Warwick and William Harris not apeareinge in Court but his sonn Andrew doth make answer in his steed, and Engage to stand to and performe all that concernes this present case : fully to all intents and purposes to pay and to Receive : The Court doe accept the said Andrew Harris as Agent or Aturny in his ffather William Harris Roome. HARRIS PAPERS. 71 An action of Trespass by William Harris of Providence, against John Harrud of Warwick Damage two hundred pound sterlinge. The Verdict is Wee finde for the plantiff tenn Shillings Damage and Cost of Court. Judgment granted by the Court to be Entred.* The Jurry on William Harris and Harruds Case. John Nixon ^ Henry Timberlake Edward Thurston V Thomas ffish Robert Colwell j Joshua Coggeshall John Cowdall ^ Samuell Hubbard John Gould V James Man Nicholas Cotterill j Tobias Saunders True Coppys extracted out of the publick Records of his Maj.*^^* Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations As Atests. John Sanford Recorder. [Cushman Papers.] 18 Fenner and Brown, Testimony, 9 October, 1664. Endorsed : — Arthur ffenor & John Brownes Testamony ov y' ye house builte by Horrud is within 5 miles of y^ 20 miles Therfore within y^ bounds &c of An ordonary Plantatione & as [true] allsoe yMo of y^ men of Patuxcet by agreement by arbytration did part with 2 or 3 miles of y^ s'i 5 miles to 3 of those partners for y« s^ land upward of y^ 20 miles Under Tho Olney Assistants test * The action of the Court is in AfS. R. I. Colony Records, 1646-J66Q, p. 214. Edmund Calverly, a deputy of Warwick, attempted to obtain a rehearing of the case on the plea that Harrud had not seen the manda- mus sent him by the Court, but on Oct. 19, 1664, he withdrew his request. {Idem, pp. 215-216.) 72 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Providence this 9'*^ of October 1664 Arthur ffenner Aged 41 yeares, and John Browne Aged 35 yeares, both of them being Solemly Ingaged doe witnesse as followeth, that they being desired by WilHam Harris to give in their testimony how furr the house at mishantituck is one- ward of the way of 20 miles westward from the hill called foxes hill, they say that y*= house aforesaid falleth within 5 miles of the said 20 miles before specified, laying their Com- pase due north and south 5 miles in length in the west line towards the 20 they say according to their best understanding, they so testifye Taken by me Thomas Olney Assistant y^ day and yeare abovesaid They also afirme that upon y' top or high end of neaticon- conot hill is 3 miles measured from foxes hill * Taken upon their ingaugement the day and yeare abovesaid Before me Thomas Olney Assistant [From a tracing of the original in the Cushman Papers.] 19 Smith and Carpenter, Testimony, 16 October, 1664. Endorsed by Harris : — B Smith Josep Carpenter as to spec- ticle meddow — which James Sweet Toke 20 li for of W H Under an asistant test, shewing y' Harruds enterance is upon providence allso Benjamin Smith aged 32 yeares, and Joseph Carpenter, ♦The distance from Fox Point to Neutaconkanut Hill, as measured by modern surveys, is three and a half miles. HARRIS PAPERS. 73 Aged 26 yeeres,* being solemnly Ingauged doe both testifye. that they both ofe them Run a line upon or by a compase from the mouth of pachaset river, due north unto the path that goeth from the Towne of Providence unto neautocon- conet, and when they were at the said path they set their Compase due east, and find that from that path where they set their Compase due east being the place which the north line run to, before specified, they say that from that place due east if not past two miles and a halfe to providence Bridge, and they say that as they run the north line aforesaid they run thorrew a corner of spectacle meddow and neere through the middle of a pond called pesaumkamesquesit : t Taken by me Thomas Olney Assistant this 16''' day of October 1664 [Cushman Papers.] 20 Harris and others to Providence Town Meeting, 27 January, 1664-5. Endorsed by Harris : — Patuxet mens offer of a peaceable Arbytration to Providenc men Jan 64 Providenc 27 Jan 1664 We y^ men of Patuxcet namely William fiield William Car- penter Richard Waterman Zachary Roades & william Harris desirous of peace with our neighbours of providenc Therfore this day In y^ open Towne meeting declare & subscribe to end a certayne defference ffallen in aboughte lands by Arbytra- tione & are ready to speake further & subscrib alsoe to any ♦This testimony places the birth of Benjamin Smith in 163J and of Joseph Carpenter in 163S, dates not previously known to students of Rhode Island genealogy. t Probably the present Spectacle pond. 74 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. thing y* may further the same y* y^ sayd defference aboughte y^ land of patuxcet & providence may Remayne noe longer & such of you our neighbours as are willing to end y^ foresayd defferenc by Arbytratione, shew your such mind by subscrib- ing with us as aforesayde * wittnes our hands William Harris William ffield William Carpenter Zachary Roades mark Richard X waterman his [Cushman Papers.] 21 Harris to Providence Town Meeting [25 December, 1666 1]. To The Towne Mette, This. In Answer, to a paper, put in ; for fenceing in, the necke : firste, y^ sayd paper ; preseth. This Convenyence, A Great quanttety, of land, for a litle fence. We Answer. If it be a Greate quanttety of land. Then, A *A second petition, under the same date, was handed in, requesting a survey of the dividing line between Providence and Pawtuxet {Prov. Rec, XV : 105). Apparently no attention was paid to either petition [Idem, iii : 59). IThis document is not dated, but apparently was handed into the town meeting of 25 December. 1666. The question of fencing in the Neck first appears in the town meeting records on 18 February, 1662, when it was " ordered the Neck shall be fenced in this year." {Prov. Rec, iii : 13.) Five years later, 2 December, 1666, " it is ordered that 4 of our neighbours shall . . . goe unto those of the Inhabitantes who are oppossitt to the fencing in of the neck to know theire mindes, and reasons." {Prov. Rec, iii : 89.) The question is again referred to 11 December, 1673, "which metting being Caled for sum Consideration of bulding of a bridg and fencing in the Neck but Not any thing Agred on." {Prov. Rec, iii : 249.) Harris's opposition on this question doubtless helped in stirring up the HARRIS PAPERS. 75 Great, quanttety of Comoning (In sommer time) you will miss. 2ly of y' which is neer allsoe. 3ly where, your Cattell, will walke : In y^ more safty. 4ly The better : without keeping. 5ly The Indeans, will not dare (soe soone) being Neer To doe, them damage, leaste they should be heard, or seene. As these Convenyences, for catell, will be loste, soe. These, In Convenyences, of Cattell will come, A [2d sorte Some Cattell, either young or lame, or the like will be put in, Throughe straights : (of Temptatione) not knowing what to doe with them, As some, have bene put, into the fielde : &, being in, Thoughe doe ; damag, will not easily be found (sometimes) to be put oute. 2ly when Piggs gett in, as y^ they will, for oughte (I know) There they may, Remayne still, (Tell they be fatt, & y« field leane, & soe, y^ harveste mane, may learne, to Gleane (what y^ Piggs have lefte) Nor will, any future care, keep them oute : (of such a length, of fenc) noe more, nay nor soe much, as paste deli- gence, hath done : oute of y^ field : & yet they gett in : & when they are gott in, to such a larg scope, I hope, you will minde, you you may goe looke, as Scoggine did for y^ haare * (before you finde them) who creepe soe low, & y^ bushes soe highe. As these Inconvenyences, will be, to y^ Inhabytance & more (y', yet apeare not) (with respecte to Cattell.) soe, passions which find expression in the next document. Among the un- dated Providence Town Papers, there are several documents relating to the subject of fencing in the Neck, among them a favorable report from the committee, and a conciliatory appeal from Roger Williams. (See Prov. Rec,^th Report, p. 32 ; R. I. Hist. Soe. Pub.., viii : 159.) * Scogan's Jest Book, one of the most popular chap-books of the six- teenth and seventeenth centuries, is reprinted in W. C. Hazlitt's Old Eng- lish Jest Books — London, 1866. One of the tales in the book is "How Scogan told the hunter he had found a hare," p. 82. 76 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. there are, other Inconvenyences, of a seconde sorte, which Concerns, perticuler persons, This fenceing, In, of some, doeth soe fence out, others, as y\ I heard one say, y* he knew not how (comfortablely) to subsiste, in his presente dwelHng, (when, this neck, shall be fenced in) Off others, I have heard this, y* y^ dwelling, of others upone there Intended howse shares ; would be, alltogether, Inconvenyente Now, y' men should urge, Theire unnesessitated, Con- venyence ; Notwithstanding some mens, such Nesessi- tated Convenience, I cannot see it, an equall spiritte, but, when this, shall come, to be debated : I suppose, such will speake, for themselves, more fully A 3^* sorte of Inconvenyences with respecte to y^ fenceing. firste, Thoughe, It be but a litle fencing, to soe much land, yet. It is a greate deale of fencing, with respecte to presente ocations, & y^ need men have of Corne : which, this fenceing will hinder, for this Consider, y* such as lacked land, for corne, had a late, supply : & is not yet Improved, therefore, It cannot be present wante, of land, but of sattisfactione : which land cannot give ; y^ ey is not sattisfide with seeing 2ly This long fence, will take up much Timber : & will waste much woode : which y^ Inhabitance, will Improve (If They had it) In time to come A 4th sorte of InConvenyences Respecting woode, firste, some mens, wood, will fall far of : when, y^ land is fenced : & devided 2ly It may be of such as have noe drafte : & then, what a trouble y' will be, Judg, Now : leaste, in time to come. It become some of your owne Cases That are soe forward now : not to Judg of others Inconvenyences, for, with what Judgment, ye Judg, ye shalbe Judged. &c Object, we will devide it, by lotte, & then, Everyman : willbe contente. Answer, Consider, for, y^ Olde Planters, will, you say by lotte ; what meane you ? y* all y^ Olde plantters, should devide HARRIS PAPERS. IT by lotte, with y^ new ? If, you Intend soe, they will ob- jecte ; Not only, y'' olde proverbe (firste come first served ; but y' olde Law ; or former unyvertiall founda- menttalle, Combynatione : & agreement, y', every man should have his Righte In turne. Reade y^ Combyna- tione ; Now, as noe new notione (Can Lawfully) Take away y^ olde plantters, proper Intereste, neither can it y^ Apurtenances thereof, Neighboures, (In generall) here you may with us Take notetice of y^ foresayd 13 Inconvenyences & deliberatly Consider : & may be, you may see more Inconvenyences, in it then we ; laying aside some perticuler Intereste, Concerneing self, which makes, us often mistakene ; In our owne Cases Every way of man, is Right, (in his owne eyes) 21 prov* If Any man shall say. It will be, noe damage to me. I Answer (Derectly) It will not, but, for such, sakes, as it may be. Therefore I speake. Opene thy mouth, for the dumbe. In y^, cause of all such &c 31 prov & open thy mouth, Judg Righteously : & plead y« cause &c v 9 t Theyres & youres ; (for Every Right end Williame Harris [From MS. Providence Town Papers, vol. v : No. 01 122.] 22 Providence Men to Newport, Portsmouth and Warwick, 10 June, 1667. The fifirebrand t discovered In a brief narrative or remonstrance to the three townes in * Proverbs, xxi: 2. t Proverbs, xxxi : 8-9. t This was a favorite term of Williams, as applied to Harris. In his George Fox digg'd out of his Burroives — Boston, 1676, p. 205, he speaks of " W. Harris (a Fire-brand of Town, and Colony & Country)." 78 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCITEY. this Collony of Road Hand & Providence plantations, Vid, Newport Portsmouth & Warwick declaring both his name nature qualities & Conditions as apeareth by some of his former & later actions in this town & Collony — I ffirst his nature, he is like the Salamander always delight- ing to live in y^ fire of contention as witnesseth his Severall Suits in Law for these many yeares together to the great disquiett & Cost to this Colony & burden to this poor towne as appeareth by callinge out for rates although he most endevoureth to cover w"' cryinge out aloud a rate for John Clarke * but his covering is not large enough to hide y*^ matter fro us for there are other wayes of dis- posall then to m'' John Clarke : ffor there is none amongst us hath refused to pay y^ rate for o"" honoured ffriende m"" John Clarke as may in time further appeare when audited he yet further declares his conditions & nature for he laitly said he had laid Some of c neighbours lands Si went to one of ther & challenged him to worke upon his land Saying I have laid out yo"" land gon therfore & work & I will arrest yo" upon an actione of trespass or else sayd he I have appointed others to work & soe yo" arrest me & I will answer yo" but neither of th would o"" neighbour doe to satiate this mans humour : then doth this man indict at the late Court, but the men y' were to judge were soe wise as to stopp his burning by an Igno- ramus. *At the October Session in 1664, the General Assembly had levied a tax of ;[^6oo to reimburse John Clarke for his expenses in obtaining the Charter (J?. I. Col. Rec, ii : 77). Warwick protested against this rate, 12 December, 1664 {Idem, p. 78), which drew forth from Roger Williams a long and powerful letter, i January, 1666, in favor of the rate {R. I. H. S. Pub., viii: 147). Warwick replied to Williams, 20 February, 1666, and to the General Assembly, April, 1666 {MS. Copies of Warwick Records, pp. 13, 14 ; R.I. Col. Rec , ii : 142). The Assembly appointed a Committee in September, 1666, to see to the collecting of the rate, and it was Harris's activity in serving upon this Committee that earned for him the enmity of Warwick. The rate was still ungathered as late as May, 167 1 {R. I. Col. Rec, ii : 288, 359, 380). HARRIS PAPERS. 79 2 his nature qualities & Conditions doth further appeare he is a Quarilsome man as in the case of Adam Goodwin in by past yeares for this man beinge then an officer in this towne fell on the sayd Adam & beate him in the open street for w^^ this towne resolved & put him out of their civell society untill he gave the satisfactione : but to this day he hath not done it although often called on about it.* 3 he is like y^ raging sea castinge forth mire & dirt : & from men of high degree throughout the Collonies to men of lowe he scarse spareth one as may easily appeare : but he casth on them foole knave, rascall, base fellowe, scoun- derill or the like : & Soe full of his threats amongst us as if he were a schoolmaister over his boyes or an overseer over negers y' truly it is a Shame for Civell men to repeate the filthines that commonly '^ceedeth out of this mans mouth. 4. this late unparelleld actions maketh this ffirebrand appeare by taking goinge w'^ all & every officer in this towne excepting towne Clarke to take away by distrainte nine shillings 3 pence fro a poore man in this towne, by his throw- inge the poore mans wife over a fence of 4 rayles twice which made her cry out take o"" goods but abuse not my husband : by bindinge by his comandem* the hands of the said poore man behinde him w"" a & hurrying him * There is another reference to this episode in a Remonstrance, written by Williams on behalf of the town of Providence, addressed to the Governor and Council, 31 August, 1668 [Prov, Rec, xv: 121-124): " Har- ris, he now forceth us to rememb'' yt it is about 24 years since he was disfranchised & cast out from ye Assembly of his neighbors in Town Meeting for assaulting a neighbc & blood shedding in ye Kings high way in yt streete, & for a furious maintaining of such a practice."' Another reference is in Williams's George Fox diggd out of his Burrowes — Boston, 1676, p. 206: "He hath been notorious for quarrelling, and chal- lenging, and fighting, even when he pretended with the Quakers against Carnal Weapons ; so that there stands upon Record in the Town-book of Providence an Act of Disfranchisement upon him for fighting and shed- ding Blood in the street, and for maintaining and allowing it (for ought I know) to this day." 80 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. dowiie alonge o"^ streete almost a mile in that sort as if the man had- been a murderer, but the foulenes of this matter will be more made manifest in its place, wee questione not : & the "^test against this man by o"^ towne deputies that he should not be ingaged nor his "^taker till the matter was (cleared) vindicated. His actions amongst us the 3"* of this instant June beinge the day of this townes electinge of towne officers maketh this ffirebrand further appeare : who w"' his ^tener W"" Carpenter deprived a great number of free men libertie to vote for officers 20 some of them had been townesmen 26 yeares all of the above 18 yeares of age & landed men & had given there ingagem'^ of fidelity to his majestic according as is "^vided in the Coloney : The objection why they shoulde not vote was, they had not given there ingagem'^ before the towne, then one steps forth & desireth to give his ingagem** there that also they refused. Another objection there names were not returned to the Clarke, that the assistant tendered by a list of there names to be recorded that had given there ingagem*^ y' was also refused.* Soe that this man w**' his '^tner would neither accept them y^ were ingaged nor let him ingage (that offered him selfe) before them) : w' they woulde have we nowe begin to see. The people be- holding their liberties & p''viledges (by these men) endev- oured to be violated & destroyed : beinge about two partes of the risolveed not to indure it. But moved m'' ffenner assistant to Stand with them to helpe to maintaine there p''viledge & to worke they went to the business of the day & choose there moderator in the same roome the towne Clarke & Constable & when they were ingaged demanded the towne bookes to be delivered to the towne Clerke chosen by the major part of the ffreemen of the towne : This man w'^ his associates having gott y^ table denied the * " The Names of those who have Engaged Alegance to his Majestye . . Recorded the 31 of May i666[7]," are in Prov. Rec, iii : iot-102. HARRIS PAPERS. 81 Books, the Sayd Arthur ffenner moderator in the name of the towne demanded them three distinct times & one of the dared the Company to touche the Books : but we dared to doe it onely we did knowe it would but add fewell to the firebrand w'^'' woulde doe no good neither to Collonie nor towne. Remembring y' o"" is watcht for round about us ; & chose at p''sent another way, '^cured pay recorded C act & officers compleating y^ busines of the day (as in respect to the election) & Chose 4 men to draw this remon- strance to the three townes that if it be possible this ffire- brand may be quenched. Moreover this man whilest we were peaceably acting (his associates having left the roome) came againe & Comanded the Said Moderator of the towne about ten times (in his majesties name to depart that howse from the routt soe that w^'' us the Case lieth thus, that when we meete together in peace to agree about o'' occa- sions not warned by this man or his partner we are called by him a rout : & when warnedby them & doe not as this man woulde have us we are then also tearmed a rout, what other fiery worke this man will yet make we watch to See that we may quench it if it be possable * But by this time we Suppose yo" will be ready to questione as Ahashuerus did to the Queen Esther who is he that durstt pi'sume in his heart to doe Soe. wee answer w*'^ *The records of the two rival town meetings on June 3, 1667, are in Prov. Rec, iii : 102-106. Harris having been elected moderator, refused to allow a good proportion of the townsmen to vote, whereupon his opponents withdrew and held their meeting with Fenner as moderator. Roger Williams was one of those chosen by the Harris party to make up the Town Council. At the Fenner meeting it was " Voted and ordered that ffowe men be Chosen to Draw up a Remonstrance to present to the other thre Townes of this Colony . . . and with all Conveniant speed to send it : to declare the Illeagall and unjust proceedings of severall per- sons at this meetting endeavering thear by to prevent the Leagall choyse of the officers for this towne : and also ff arder to declare as in thaye wis- dome they shall see Cause. The ffowre men Chosen by this Towne to draw up the abovesayd Remon- 82 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Esther, the adversary, the enemie,* the ffirebrand : is this wicked Harris : comonly called M'' William Harris this is his name. Stay neighbours, be not moved, remeber that sayinge y^ wringinge of the nose bringeth forthe blood Soe the forcing of wrathe bringeth forth strife,! we have borne w"^ these his manners these many yeares but we cannot be Silent any longer he compelleth us thus to trouble yo", if it were yC case as it c^ what lesse woulde or coulde yo" doe then tell yC neighbours & ffriends how it fareth w^'^ yo", if the like exercise fall to yo'' share (w* we desire not) we shall at least be willinge to give yo" audience halfe an hower this thinge wee onely desire of yo" is to beware that none of yo" Strengthen the hand of wicked- nes — « The Common peace of yc^ all we desire even when all the worlde (rounde about us) is in tumults : & wee shall endevour after peace to keepe it if it be possible : ffor the Towne of Warwicke in the Name and by the appointment of the towne of Providence Providence y^ lo*'^ June : 1667 : Arthur ffenner John Throckmorton the marke of X Thomas Hopkins Shadrach Manton strance are vizit M"" Arthur ffenner, M"" John Throckmorton seinior Thomes Hoppkins seinior Shadrach Manton." Harris called another meeting on June 24, for the election of deputies to the Assembly, whereupon his opponents held a meeting to elect their deputies on June 26. This brought the matter before the General Assem- bly, which met at Newport on July 2. The matter was warmly debated (see J?. I. Col. Rec, ii: 199-204), and the Harris party were outvoted on every question. On motion of Warwick, it was voted further that as this Assembly had been called at the instigation of Harris, he should be fined ^50 towards the expenses of the meeting. Harris was also ordered to be discharged from his office of Assistant. At the election of May, 1668, undoubtedly through his influence with the Quakers, he was reinstated and Fenner was dropped. *Esther, vii: 5-6. t Proverbs, xxx: 33. HARRIS PAPERS. 83 For M"" John Greene of Warwicke assistant to be communi- cated to the townes men of Warwicke these p''sent at his howse at Passuatuxett '^ a ffriende [From MS. Copies of Warwick Records, p. 15, in R. I. Hist. Soc. Liby.] 23 Harris to Nichols [July, 1667]. Endorsed : — M"" Harris to Coll Nicolls [in another hand] Right Honnourable, Gouernor in Chiefe &c., May it please your Honnoure to bear with my bouldnes this second time be- ing still very much opresed & yet more then when your Hon- nour Required The Gouernor & Asistance of his Maiestys Colony of Rhode Island & prouidence plantations to put a speedy I sue acording to law as to a certaine execution granted on my behalf against John Harrud for though y^ Gouernor & Asistant with y^ rest of y^ Generall Asembly did enact y* y^ sd execution should be speedely executed yet soe it is y* y^ ssearjeant hath to this time neclected * it not withstanding I have ever since petitioned y^ Courts yet I haue noe relief to this time & y^ first tuesday of this Instant July Complayned to y^ Generall Aturny of this Colony y' he would prosecute in be half of y^ Kings Maiesty y^ neclects of y^ sd ssearjeant yet * The General Assembly, July 2, 1667, voted: "Whereas, James Rog- ers, Generall Serjant, hath been charged by William Harris, assistant, for neglect of his office in not serveing an execution at Mashantatutt, the Assembly haveing duly scanned the matter, doe finde him not guilty of the charge, ist. Because it was stopt by the said William Harris's consent. Secondly, because the sayd Harris did put a petition in May last to the Assembly concerning the sayd execution, which was referred to the next Assembly followinge." (i?. /. Col Rec, ii : 205.) There is an interesting account of what happened when Rogers again tried to serve the execution against Harrud, three years later, in No. 28. 84 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. neuer y^ les y^ sd ssearjeant see roughte his owne ends by y* men of Warwick our aduersaryes in law & y^ sd ssearjeants kindred being of y^ late sd Asembly did declare y^ sd ssear- jeant (not guilty) of y^ neclect of his offece though y^ sd execution be not serued moreouer y^ Asembly this instant July hath enacted contrary to y* Assembly act March 1666* commanding y^ sd execution to be executed & our Adersaryes being of y^ sd last Asembly haue procured y^ sd Asembly to enact y* y^ act in 1666 for y^ speedy execution acording to your Honnours command was a Ceruptitious act &c, & soe I become wonderfully opressed & haue no releif hear as yet Allsoe y^ men of Warwick, Thomas Relfe, William Burton, & Roger Burlingham, haue been Indicted of forcable detaynor of my land & for houlding by force what they haue biult ther on & though ye bills of Indictment haue been found true bills & y^ sd persons mandamuses to apear yet apear not but continew theyr force & ther remayne & I can get no protection against them to my moste extreame oprestion & y^ great dishon[ ] of Justice ; Let not your Honnour be Angry at my many com- playnt[ ] once more I am forced to trouble you with this & hum- bly pray your p[ ]ence, for y* on y^ third of June last y^ free Inhabytanc of Prouidence wear mett to Choose Towne offecers but certaine persons who had not [ en] y^ Ingagement of Aleagians to his Majesty (lawfully) they would haue in theyr Voats to choose offecers which y^ law of y^ Colony forbids the[ ] we denyed them whom one M'' Arthure ffener Incoraged y^ sd M"" ffener [ ]ing An asistant but M"" William Carpenter & my self in obedyenc to y^ law [ ]fused them, wherfore y^ sayd M"" ffener & others with drew themselues from [ ] y^ lawfull Asembly of which themselues wear vntill they with- drew out of ye howse a while & then came in againe & began an other meeting & disorderly acted therein & ther out thoes offecors &c & vsed much unpeaceable behauiour & obstructed ye law & ye preseruation of his Maiestyes peace of which dis- * See R. I. Col. Rec, ii : 143-144. HARRIS PAPERS. 85 orders M"" Carpenter & myself made complaint to ye Gouernor & asistants after y^ foresd M"" ffener & y^ rest had sent forth a remonstrance ; * The Gouernor &c haueing seen theyr remon- strance to the three Townes ; & ('our complainte to himself called an asembly (after which) I presented a complainte to y^ Generall aturny y' in y^ Kings behalf he might cause y^ sd M'' ffener to answer for his unlawfull asembleing y^ sd route ; The sd aturny caused sumons to be sent to y« sd M"" ffener to answer &c & y^ sd M'' ffener pleaded (not guilty) & by y^ help of six Warwick men, a kinsman (soe called) of M"" ffeners, & some kinsmen of y^ ssearjeants, soe by major voat of y^ Asem- bly, ye sd M'' ffener was found (not guilty) (without any proof) but y« testamony of some of y^ sd route, (Against y^ testa- mony of two Asistants, f for & in behalf of his Majesty : in obedyent to y^ law ; And he being soe found, (not guilty) my adersaryes in y« law y^ men of Warwick, St y^ kinsmen of y« sd ssearjant, & M"" ffener, & his partty, without any originall writ exhibited against me, (not soe much as demanded whether guilty or not guilty, nor of what, Alowed noe exceptions nor Challenges (against my Aduersarys & partys in y^ sd route, & by them in y^ major voat of y^ Asembly, my aduersarys I say & parttys in y^ sd route, I was condemned, (though I only complained to y^ sd Generall aturny & in y« kings behalf witt- nesed, with M'' Carpenter, yet fined by y« sd Asembly fifty pound, & ye ssearjeant y' is not by y^ sd asembly required to serue y^ execution on John Harrud in my behalf, but found not guilty of neclect therin (thoughe he did not obey y^ act of ye asembly 1666 &c. yet he is commanded by ye last asembly to leuy fifty pound on my goods or catell within three months, & wher as his fee of others is but two shillings vpone ye pound, he is commanded to take 4^ vpone ye pound of me, therfore, & for these further Reasons ; first, ye (noe Cause) of ye sd fine, * See the preceeding document, The Firebrand Discovered, for a note on these rival town meetings. t Harris and Carpenter. 86 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 2 ly (If cause) yet not, (of an unreasonable fine, for, (If a route) y^ fine is but 5", & 14 dayes Imprisonment (for leser routes &c & for greater iqI^ fine, & a monthes Imprisonment : 3 ly The Asembly was called before I mad any complaint (to y« Generall aturny, Therfore, (not y* complaint y^ cause of y^ asembleing ; And in his Maiestyes gratious Charter giuen us, aloweth only reasonable fines & mullts ; Therfore, I humblely pray your Honnours Prohibition of y^ execution of y^ sd un- reasonable fine ; for noe Just cause ; And pray, y* before I am condemned I may haue a fayr tryall of 12 lawfull men & be alowed my lawfull challenges, & y* not y^ major voat of y^ 12, but all ys 12 may agree, or els noe lawfull verdict ; And pray your Honnour for Relief in y^ rest of my fore sd wrongs ; for thoughe my aduersaryes condem me vn justly, yet seuerall of y^ wiser, & honnester sorte of men doe Judg I am wronged (viz) y« Deputy Gouernor,* M"" John Easton Asistant & generall atur- ny M"" William Carpenter Asistant, M"" Ben j amine ssmith as- istant, & M"" John Clark one of y^ asembly with y^ foresd, of which I haue proof, t And I doe not comeplayne against y^ reasonable but, vnreasonable, & pray Relief against them ; & lastly I humblely pray your Honnour, to apoynt some wise Impartiall men, of y^ neighbouring Colonys y* may end all defferences betweene y^ men of Prouidence & y« men of Pa- tuxcet, & between y^ men of Warwick & y^ men of Patuxcet ; for y« sd defferences are greeusious to many & to me, whoe pray God, & your Honners help ther in, & your petitioner shall all way es prayes God, & be thankfull to your Honnour, William Harris To Coll Nicolls t [in same hand as heading] [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record * Nicholas Easton. t Carpenter and Smith presented formal protests, dated 9 July, 1667, which are in /?. /. Co/. Rec, ii : 213. I Nichols answered Harris's appeal by a remonstrance addressed to Gov. Brenton, whereupon the Assembly revoked the fine {R. I. Col. Rec, iii: 233, 237). HARRIS PAPERS. 87 Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxi : No. 86. See Sainsbury, Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1661-68, no. 1534.] 24 Calverly to Gov. Arnold, 20 July, 1669. Endorsed by Harris : — A copie of a letter from Calverley * to y^ Counsell July 1669 as to meshuntatack proveing he & they hold by force y^ s^ land, therfore trespasers Claymeing y^ title under pviblique test to be used to y« s us which wee cannot, nor dare not doe, for they depend upon the Kings Ma^'e for protection ag' William Harris, and all such as he is, They tould the arbitrato''s that hee had cheated them, for they confirmed noe more then Myantenomy or Chepasotem * granted to M*" Williams Therfore I desire Wee may have as much Injoyment of the Kings Comissioners orders, as any other plantation on the Maine hath ; And if ther orders & acts are good for others, to hold their Land by &c why not for us, But laying all heat aside. If as William Harris Promiseth in his writeing, that hee will follow mee to England, Then to Arbitration or Law Wee will goe, When we come there, as the King or Councell shall direct against whome I hope hee will finde noe Objection, and Let the Colony bee in peace the meane time for I wish the peace thereof ; soe with my humble service to you, hoping to have some return from You, I rest Vol's in behalfe of all that are concerned w^^ mee in the pur- chase of Mashantetate &c Warwick y^ 20'^ of Edmund Calverley Atorney & a July 1669 Proprieto"" alsoe ; * [Canonicus ?] 90 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. To the Honc^ Benedickt Arnold Esqu"" GovernC of the Colony of Road Island & Providence Plantations att his house In Newport on Road Hand to be comunicated to the Councell of the Colony aforesaid with care & trust These deliver. A true Copie compared w* the Originall remain- ing among the Councills papers as is attested this 27*'^ of July 1669 '^ Richard Baily Secretary [From Moses Brown Papers, vol. 18, No. 227.] 25 Town of Warwick to Providence, 13 September, 1669. Addressed : — Thes to be delivered to M'' Henry Browne towne Clarke * of Providence to be Comunicated to y« towne at the towne meeting Gentlemen, your remonstrance bearing date the 30* of June 1669 was read in our Towne meetinge y« 6'^ of September in- stant and havinge heard the uncivill Cariages of William Har- ris &c therin inceited wee could not so easily have given credit therto but that the former Generall asembly of this Collony havinge found the truth of Such matters have declared ag^* him so as not to bee fit to beare office for the future by reason of such like practises as your remonstrance, doth declare, wee cannot but bee deeply Sensible (as members together with you of one boddy) of or sufferings together with you herin * According to the original record book Shadrach Manton had been elected Town Clerk on June 7, 1669, and was mentioned on July 27 as still holding the office. The rivalry concerning town officers evidently had not ceased. On April 2, 1670, the town met upon advice of the Gen- eral Assembly and elected new officers, John Whipple being chosen Town Clerk. {Prov. Rec.\\\\ 147-149.) HARRIS PAPERS. 91 and the rather because it is a Sleightinge of his majesties propositions Sent to us by his Honorable Comission for a per- son So barbarously qualified to bee imposed on us, Wee much marvaile how hee escaped beinge indicted for a common barra- tor since Such practises renders him liable but there is no per- son so vile in any government but shall find some abettors al- though they dare not cary on their designes so boldly and openly as amongest us Wee are not altogether without hope that the boddy may bee yett purged of such peccant humours and may againe vomit out their former resumed vomit either of their owne acord or else by the prudent care of some Skil- full Phisistians and therfore are willinge to waite with you for the Season and in the meane time desire as neighbours and friends to condole with you untill a reformation doe apeare in order wherunto we have writt to the Governour & Counsell, So with our respects to you all we take leave. Signed by order & apointment of the Towne of Warwicke — E C Towne Clarke * Warwicke this 13*^ of Sep 1669 [From Copies of Warwick Records, p. 22, in R. I. Hist. Soc. Liby.] 26 Whipple and Olney, Testimony, 16 October, 1669. Endorsed by Harris : — Dextors & wickendens act to take away y^ purchasors lands as a law acording to Dexters equall conclutions as he calls them 16 octo 1669 y^ witneses John whiple & Epenetus Olney under y^ test of Thomas Olney Joh Whiple of providence Jun"" Aged 29 yeares or there- abouts being ingaged Testefieth * Edmund Calverly. 92 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. That upon the 21 day of Januarey in the yeare 1667 : 68 (he haveing heard befor) that there was to be a meeting at the howse of William Wickenden ; unto the which howse this de- ponant saith he went : where he found severall of the inhabi- tants of providence, (viz) Will : wickenden Gre : Dexter, Arth : ffenner, Tho : Hopkins sen"", Resolved Waterman John field jun"" Henry Browne Edward Smith, & divers others to the number of 20 in all or there about ; where Gre : Dexter tooke out a Roule of papers out of his pockett declareing unto the people that they were there mett together & therefor the first thing that they would doe should be to Read theire agree- ments, Gre : Dexter then sett to reading of one of the papers where he Read as an order made by them ; That all those who would not subscribe to their agrements ; but oppose ; all theire landes which formerly had been layd out to any of them, without the River & fieldes of pautuckett, Bewets Brow, ob- servation Rock, Absolute Swampe, Oxeford, Neotakonkonitt Hill & Hippesses Rock ;* should be liable to the desposall of the Major part of the purchassers, from time to time but those * In his " Sovereign Plaster" (see following note) Dexter mentions the bounds " limited in our Towne Evidence and by us stated about 20 years since and Knowe to be the River, and fields of patuckit suger loafe hill Bewits Brow observation Rock absolute Swampe oxford & hipses Rock & the men that were apointed to set it were Chad Browne Hugh bu- Gre Dexter will wickenden." {Prov. Rec, ii : 73) Of these early boundaries, Sugar-loaf Hill and Oxford cannot be identified with modern localities. From deeds and other early records, it is possible to locate the remain- ing boundaries with a probable degree of correctness. Observation Rock occupied the site of the present Stump Hill Reservoir. Absolute Swamp lay just to the east of the present Louisquisset Turnpike, extend- ing as far north as the Breakneck Road. Hipses Rock was undoubtedly the high rock still standing in the three-cornered tract formed by the Plainfield Road, the Morgans Mills Road and the Pocasset River. Bewits Brow was on the west side of the Moshassuck river, and accord- ing to Welcome A. Greene — an authority on early localities to the north of Providence — stood somewhat southwest of the present junction of Charles and Hawes streets. HARRIS PAPERS. 93 which doe not subscribe, nore opose their Lands should still remaine ; October the i6''» 1669 : Taken before me Thomas Olney Juo"^ Assistant Epenetus Olney being Engaged testefieth, that what is above written is trueth he being at the same Time with John whiple Taken before me Thomas Olney jun"" Assistant October the 16*^ 1669 [Harris Papers, p. 90.] 27 Harris to Providence Town Meeting, 15 December, 1669- Endorsed by Harris : — A copy of Ans to Dextors plaster 15 Des 1669 To ye Towne, meeting in providenc this 15th of Desein 1669 Wher as a paper was presented to be put upon record in y^ Towne book called by gregory dexter an instrument & a sov- eren plaster &c,* with other title &c and y^ s<^ paper unlaw- fully forced into y^ Towne book it being allsoe unlawfull in y^ contence ther of and intended end by y^ foresd Dextor & Thomas Clement & y^ rest of y' partty ; bearing date &c, y« *"Salus Poppuli . . . The Health of the People . . . An In- strument, or soveraign Plaister, to heale the many fold present soares in this Towne " was written by Dexter and recorded by him, being then town clerk, without authority, under date of 27 April, 1653. {Prov. Rec, ii: 72-75. See Dorr, Providence Proprietors^ m. R. 1. Hist. Soc. Coll., ix : 66 ff.) It was afterwards presented by Thomas Clemence to the rival town meeting of the Fenner party on 3 June, 1667, and was by this meet- ing ordered to be recorded in the records of the town — where it had been for fourteen years. {Prov. Rec, iii: 105.) 94 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. s^ paper, being indeed an evell instrument & poysonous plast- ter tending not to y^ weal but wo of y^ Towne & agaynst y« peace of y^ people & place, haveing therin much open perfide- ous profestion in it, y^ is to say, notoryously disclayming per- formance of ys Townes ssollem agreements with theyr neigh- bours profesing therby openly y* they will not keep theyr promeses. allsoe y^ s^ unlawful as to common law which bindeth men to keep theyr promeses, violating all law therto pertayne- ing for ye s^ lands apoynted to any person by y^ town & by record therof granted is theyr undoubted Right & noe mans right or preveledg can any man or men take away, but by y^ Judgment of theyr peers in open sesions acording to due form of law but ye poyson of y^ s'^ plaster is such y* it would destroy not only y^ common law & common Right but allsoe y^ law of our lord y^ king which by his Charttor to this Collony none may opugne, which s*^ law of England sayth That noe Corporation may make any law in dimenution or dishertion of y^ rights or prerogatives of any of y^ kings Liege subjects & people but y^ s^ poysonous plaster by one y' is noe Liege subject in & by a notoryous Route pretends by y^ authourity therof y^ deminu- tion & dishertion of our Rights in lands lawes, y^ Common law, statut law of England, & our Rights in Magna charta soe soundly confirmed by 32 parliaments to all y^ Kings Lieges people denying hereby & herby his Charttor of England, & y^ foundamentall lawes of this his Collony, in all which consider- ations, and yt y^ trespasors against Magna charta shall by y^ law of England be inquired into &c, I not only take my self bound to protest agaynst y^ s a great Salt- river, only to ye Land ward there is an Entrance into y^ Towne of about 40 Perches large, over a low-salt marsh & wch is sometimes over flown by y^ Sea, & where they may cutt a River. They have 3. Meeting Howses, sett round w'h Galleryes, & very full. Each Meeting-Howse is as large as an Ordinary Parish Church here. The Country- Howses are generally of Timber ; in Rhode-Island y^ Howses are very good, especially at a Town called New- port in yt Colony, w<=h thrives very well, & where are more sheep than in any place in New-England, t y"" Haven is very commodious, being situate just upon y^ Sea, whereas yt of Boston is 2. or 3. leagues w'^i" ye Land, and is large enough for 100. ships. *" Observations," as above: "No house in New England hath above 20 Rooms : Not 20 in Boston, which have above 10 Rooms each. About 1500 ffamilies in Boston. The worst Cottages in New England are lofted."' Randolph in his Report says : " The town [of Boston] contains about 2000 houses, most built with tymber and covered with shingles of cedar, as are most of the houses in the country, some few are brick build- ings and covered with tyles." See also Josselyn account of 1663 in his Tivo Voyages, p. 162; and that of the Commissioners in 1666 in Hutch- inson Collection, p. 421. t The Royal Commissioners reported in 1666 that in Rhode Island was " the best English grasse and most sheep, the ground very fruitfull, ewes bringing ordinarily two lambs." (Hutchinson Collection, p. 416.) William Brenton alone in 1673 owned over 1500 head of sheep (Austin Geneal. Diet., p. 254), and William Coddington was also a large sheep-raiser. {4 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., vi : 319, vii : 279.) HARRIS PAPERS. 145 This Island is about 12. miles long, & 2. broad, & y^ Gar- den of New-England. There is a good Harbour likewise in y^ Jurisdiction of Connecticut, called New-London, but ye Town nor Trade are not as yet considerable, though very commodious. Rivers, he sayes, he knowes none there that are navigable, but that of Connecticut, he not having seen Puscatoa, The Country is so well provided with Waters, that you can hardly passe a Mile, or two, w'^^out some River, Pond or Brooke. The Islands, he knowes not y^ certaine number of. In y« Juris- diction of Rhode-Island is one Blocke-Island, w'^^ was first inhabited about 7. yeares agoe, there is excellent fish- ing for Codd round about it, only it wants a Harbour. The Colonyes of Plymouth, Connecticut & y^ Mattatu- sets, are in a Confederacy or Union, by vertue of certaine Articles, but Rhode-Island is not, for w^^ reason y^ for- mer are called y^ United-Colonyes. The Soldiers, are all of the inhabitants, none being hired, they exercise often & well, their Horsemen weare buff-Coates, pistolls. Hangers, & Croslets. Every Soldier beares his own Charges, unlesse in time of Warre w**' y^ Indians.* All men y* are able beare Armes, except some few Ana- baptists, & ye Quakers, who will not beare any. The Governours are chosen by all y^ Freemen. The present Governour of Boston, is one John Leverett, a resolute man, but much opposed by one Major Dennison ; the Election is yearly, though he has been Governour these 3 yeares, ever since M"" Bellingham dyed. The Governour of Connecticut-Colony is one John Winthrap Senior, a * Randolph, in his Report, enters quite fully into the question of mili- tia organization. The " observations " say that " not above three of their Military Men have ever been actual Soldiers, but many are such Soldiers as the Artillery men at London " — an evident reference to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, which still maintains the traditions of its two hundred and sixty-four years of service. 146 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. very good sober man, he has been Governour neare 20 yeares, & about eleven yeares agoe gott a Patent of his Maty, xhe Governour of New-Plymouth is one Josiah Winslow, a moderate man, the Laws of this Colony come nearer y^ Laws of England than either those of y^ Matta- tusets or Connecticut. The Governour of y* Colony of Rhode-Island is one William Coddington, a Quaker, y« Lawes of England are pleaded here, and take place. The Governour here has only a single vote, At Boston if y« number of votes happen to be equal, the Governour carryes y^ matter by his. Of y* Ministers, The most Tyrannical to those y' differ fro them are y^ Presbyterians, and amongst tho y^ fiercest is one M^ Thatcher,* y^ only man in y« Country y' keeps a Coach. Much y« greatest part of y^ Ministers are Pres- byterians, Anabaptists & Quakers in respect of the are very few, in Rhode Island-Colony y« Quakers & Anabap- tists, rule, as being much y^ greater numbe[r.] There is also a considerable Party in all y^ Colonyes called Common Protestants, who in y« Mattachusetts are not permitted to beare any High Office, as Governour or Assistant, but may be Constables, but in Rhode-Island they enjoy y^ same Priviledges as y^ other Inhabitants. In ye Mattachusetts, at a Town called Cambridge, about 3. miles fro Boston, is a Colledge, where many Preachers, Physitians, & Indians (but no Lawyers) are bred.t The said Colledge has translated y^ Bible into y^ Indian lan- guage, And in y^ Mattatusetts there are 3. or 4. Churches or Congregations (as they are called) of Indians, who are likewise called Praying Indians, & distinguished fro the others in Rhode-Island, who continue unconverted in their Paganisme. * Thomas Thacher (1620-1678) was the first minister of the Old South Church in Boston. t Similar descriptions of this college are in the Commissioners' Report of 1666 and in Randolph's Report of 1676. (Hutchinson Colleciioft, pp. 421, 501.) HARRIS PAPERS. 147 A Fenceing Schoole there was formerly in y^ Mattatusetts & Rhode Island, but whether there is any now M"" Harris knowes not.* % Gameing is not allowed in y^ Mattatusets. As to Cloath, There are made there Linsey Woollseys, & others of Cotton & Wooll, & some all Sheeps-wooll, but ye better sort of Linnen is brought fro England. They have many Wool combers, Spin their Wool very fine, of w^h some make Tammyes, but for their own private use. Salt they have fro a Place in y^ West Indyes, called y^ Salt Tortudas, uninhabited, & w'^*' is not farre fro Barbadoes. The People who trade to Barbadoes goe & take in Salt at y« Tortudas, made by y^ Sun, the Sea overflowing some part of yt Place. It is sold in New England in time of Peace at lo^. y« Hogshead, it is cleare & as white as Allom, but very sharp, & much stronger y^ y^ Ordinary bay-salt. Oathes in Rhode Island Colony the Inhabitants, unlesse they please, take not any, (Quakers-there, as in England, per- emptorily refuse the.) only an Engagement (upon y^ pen- alty of Perjury) to performe such Office, or to give true Testimony, -w^^ if they doe not, they suffer as if for false swearing. The forme of y^ Engagement is this, You here promise to speake y^ truth, or justly to performe such office, upon y^ penalty of Perjury. The Oath of Alle- giance is to ye effect of y* taken ordinarily in England, to be loyal & obed' to y^ Kings Ma'y &c. but y^ Oath of Su- premacy, as to y« Kings being head of y^ Church, differs fro yt w^^ is administred in England. [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxiv : no. 66. See Sains- bury, Caletidar State Papers, Am. & W. /., l6'/^-y6, no. 543.] * The " observations," as above, say : " There are no Musitians by Trade. One Dancing Schoole, was set up, but put downe. A Fencing Schoole is allowed." There is a close similarity between the heads of this report, of Randolph's Report, and of Harris's Account. 148 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 40 Harris to the King, ii June, 1675. Endorsed by Andrew Harris : — A Coppie of William Harris Petitione to his Mat>'= To the Kinges most Excellent Ma''^ The humble Petition of William Harris of New England humbly sheweth : That wheras your Petitioner and twelve others neere forty yeares since purchased of the Indian Princes a certaine parcell of land called Patuxet which they in joyed peaceably for sev- erall yeares which though afterwardes claymed first by the Towne of Providence, and then by the English Collony of the Massachusets was still adjudged theirs, And that they might injoy the same more peaceably bounds were set therto, and some parts thereofe exchanged by Arbitrators as is recorded in y^ Court of o"" Colloney of Rhoade Island & Providence Plantations yet Notwithstandinge John Harrud and a party with him have forceably entered upon part of these landes (af- ter your Petitioner and Partners had injoy ed them above twenty yeares) upon pretence of purchasinge the same of other Indians, and still houlds them ag^' verdickt, and judge- ment of the Court resistinge Execution, And not onely so, but in regard Patuxet boundes, and is neer unto severall Townes and Collonyes, Your Petitioner & his partners are in no small danger to bee deprived of their right by severall of them more especially some of y« Townes of Providence War- wicke and New Plimouth and two parties of the Massachusets Colloney, Wherfore your Petitioner humbly prayes that your Ma'y would graciously please to Coiriaund the Governors of the four Collonyes & their deputies in New England to take care that speedy justice bee done your Petitioner and Partners by hearinge the Cause themselves, or apointinge such as are just and able men to heare the same, and together with an upright jury equally chosen out of the respective Collonyes to deter- mine all differences concerninge these landes of Patuxet or HARRIS PAPERS. 149 what other way your Majestic shall in Your Princely wisdome thinke meet that Justice bee done us, And Your Petitioner shall ever pray &c * [Cushman Papers.] 41 Harris to the King, ii June, 1675. To The Kinges Moste Excellent Majesty moste humblely Shewing That your petitionor, William Harris, a weary traueler for the space of allmoste forty years in the willdernes of new Eng- land, and one of the first Englishmen that purchased land of the moste Superior Indeans in the Narroganset Bay, and country, and inhabited ther wher and which (now is) part of the Kinges Majesty es Collony of Rhod Island &c. And your petitionor and his partners (in the sayd land) (called patuxcet) of a long time inioyed the same in peace, But in after time diuers persons and partyes some of the fore sayd collony, others of the massatusets collony, and likewise of Newplimoth Collony vnder pretence of other late pur- chases of Indeans, haue entered vpon our fore sayd landes : Againste some of the sayd pretended purchasers your peti- tioner and his partners haue had suites and arbytrations by which the sayd landes haue all wayes bin founde. Judged and awarded your petitioners and his partners landes * This petition was presented at a meeting of the King in Council on June II and referred to the committee for Plantations (Sainsbury, Calen- dar State Papers, Am. 6r* W. /., i6y^-y6, no. 585). The committee met on August 4 and heard the Lords' report of William Harris's case "all drawn up in a letter proper for his Majesty's signature, which his Majesty approved of, and ordered to be prepared by M^- Sec. William- son, and sent to the Governors in New England." (Minutes of the com- mittee in Sainsbury, Calendar, etc., no. 631, 632.) The copy of this letter sent to Connecticut is printed in Conn. Col. Rec, ii : 586. 150 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Yet the sayd pretended purchasers againste the sayde Judge- mentes and awardes, Still continew to hold by force and sub- tillty that your petitioner and his partners can optayne noe remedy ; And seme of them that enter by force of the massa- tusets and Newplimoth can and doe enter and voyd wher the Kinges writs of Rhod Island runes not, see that by nee means can optayne remedy, but that our see long Just rightes are like to be defeated, Your petitioner therfere prayeth, your moste Excellent Majesty, to grant power to some knowne. Just, wise men in New England to hear and determine all the sayd defferences by a spetiall assise [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxiv : no. 86. See Sains- bury. Calendar, State Papers, Am. & IV. /., /6/^-/6, no. 586.] 42 Harris to the King, ii June, 1675. To The Kings Moste Excelent Majesty moste humblely Shewing That your petitioner A weary traueller for the Space of almoste forty years In the wildernes of New England And one of the first six persons * that purchased land of the moste Superior Indeans in the Narreganset Bay and Country and inhabited there wher and which (now) Is part of The Kings Majesty es Colleny of Rhode Island And preuidence planta- tions by patent from your maiesty which sayd land purchased &c is called patuxcet by the Indeans and English ther And in the Kings patent to the sayd Collony. And your petitioner and his partners possesed y^ same in peace *The six "first-comers" to Providence were Roger Williams, William Harris, John Smith, Francis Wickes, Thomas Angell and Joshua Verin. (See Arnold, History, i : 97 ; Field, Rhode Island, i : 24.) HARRIS PAPERS. 151 for many years vntill some neer dwellers vnder pretence of an after purchase of the Indeans molested vs But y^ sayd deffer- ence being refered to Arbitration Joyntly. The award con- cluded y^ sd land your petitionors & his partners Some years afterward some of our partnors subiected them- selues & lands to the Jurisdiction of the Massatusets (wher of Boesten is y« chief Towne) And ther (by suit) demanded y« sd land &c, our Evedence of the same lands (being formerly com- mited to y^ sd demandant to keep) part of the sayd Evedence was cut out : and peiced together on another paper,* But your petitioner being confident of his honnest cause & that his ino- cency would answer for him & that y^ demandants fraud would not avayle went to Boesten wher by y^ good prouidence of God And the honnesty of the then gouernor one M"" Dudley his plaine honnest dealing with y^ demandant he conf esed in y« sayd court your petitionors right in y^ sayd land Yet neuer the les after ward y^ fore sayd demandants & Adherents Againe demanded y^ sayd land by Arbitration To which sayd arbitratio The Collony of the Massatusets and the Collony of Rhode Island consented and two arbytrators came from Boesten & two from Rhode Island all foure awarding vs the sayd land Patuxcet afore said Next the Inhabytance of a place called Warwick (hearing our sayd Evedence was cut & defaced) pretended to some of y^ sayd land by a pretend purchas of y^ same, after our purchase, & theyrs, not of the moste Superior Indeans, for y^ ending of which sayd deference your petitioner & his partnors offered arbitration : to y^ said claymors of Warwick, which they re- fused, and ther vpon : perceued, y' your petitonor & partnors intend to sue y^ sayd of Warwick, They then put on a party of Warwick (y^ chief actors among them fled out of the Juris- diction of conecticot pursued ther for supposed crimes) To *Here Harris again accuses Arnold of mutilating the original Town Evidence (see note on p. loi), and connects the matter even more closely with his case against Arnold and Carpenter in Massachusetts Courts in 1650. 152 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. pretend a new late purchase of inferior Indeans, of some of your petionors & his partnors fore sayd land Lying neerer to vs and betweene y« former clayme of others of Warwick afore sayd takeing in ther by (by theyr sayd pretended boundes) your petitioners house wherin he dwells with his partnors lands with other lands of y^ inhabitants of Prouidence which sayd pre- tenders (who clayme our sd lands) wear inhabitants in War- wick (The Boundes wher of) they of Warwick say Exstends twenty miles in length And y^ Inhabytants of y* sayd War- wick but about half soe many as they of y« towne of Proui- dence (nether)! your petitioner & his partnors perceiueing the great fraude intended by y« sayd pretended purchase of some of Warwick afore sayde did reason with them y' wear leaders in it to pre- uent y« mischiefes like to ensue but they intending ther by to strengthen each otheyrs partyes forceable entryes into & on your petitionors & his partnors | lands would not Receiue our Reasons to preuent them But Entered by force in to our sayd lands thinking by theyr many parttyes And each for theyr pretended interest to encomber vs not only with many suits but by theyr Adherents & kindered soe to byas the Inhabitantes that a competent Jury might not be had among soe few people our sd aduersaryes allso vseing to haue a great partty in & of y^ court wher such sayd cases vse to be tryde And they haueing soe tired them- selues Entered by force on your petitionors & his partnors lands with [diuers persons in y« time of y^ Court then ther about twelue years since we then complayned of y^ sayd force to y^ Justices of peace of ye sd Courte who sent a cunstable & ayde to fetch y^ sayd Enterors but the sayd Cunstable & ayde wear by y^ sd Enter- ors rezisted & could not be, nor yet, are not remoued But one of y^ sd enterors one John Harrud of Warwick afore sd came to y^ sd Justices of y« peace and gaue bond to answer the next court. But not withstanding by theyr partty in y« law makeing court had enacted a law That who euer comeplayned of a forcable entry he should first HARRIS PAPERS. 153 proue his title to y^ land before y^ force should be tryed by which law (contrary to y^ law of your Majesty es &c) (noe tenant for tearme of years could haue any remedy against a force commited against his possession) your petitionor & his partnors wear forced in such forme of law to proceed y' a de- mandant may be kept out of his possession about two years though his title to the land be good & his possession allsoe your petitionor seeing such delay, and vnder, (and long like to be) of soe great & griueous wrong, & damage : about Eleuen years since I came from New England then intending to sup- plicate to your Majesty but then your Majestyes Commition- ors wear goeing to New England (by whome I hoped a remedy) (but founde none) But while I was then in England * ther was in New England a tryall of the case And your petitionor for himself & partnors had a verdict against y^ claime of y« sd Harrud Then y^ sd Harrud (by vertue of a by law ther) without shewing any Reason Error or ataint optayned by the same to haue another hearing of y« sd case &c But when the time came to answer in y« said court The sd Harrud by his Aturny & partnors only pleading was to be exscuesed from y^ then tryall which y« court before he only desired to preuent Judgment & Execution vpon which sd pleading (for allmoste a dayes time) he was alowed not to plead &c (as he desired) And then upon y* sd verdict your petitionor had a Judgment But then the sayd Harrud (by his aturny & partnor one Edmund Caluerley petitioned to the Kings Majestyes commitionors then at Rhode Island in New England That they would hear & de- termine that mater But your Majestyes commitionors sayd That they had more vrgent maters of y« kings in hand but when they came back from y^ Eastward they would hear & de- termine y^ matter but they had not the opertunity And the sayd forcable enterors by force detayn the same the while I ♦Harris evidently went to England early in 1664. The preparation for sending the Royal Commissioners took place early in this year, and Harris's verdict against Harrud was obtained 8 March, 1664. 154 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Still continewed to petition to the court of Rhode Island &c That they would require a writ of Execution to Issue out, which did, But y^ officer the seargant that was to Execute y* sd writ was and is soe adherent to the sd enterors & detaynors that they rezist y^ Execution and y« said officer is soe willing to be rezisted that noe Execution is done And by reason of y^ partnors kindered Abetters & adherents of y^ sd Enterors detaynors & seargants we haue bin & yet are & like to be kept out of our soe often proued true title to our sd land & posses- sion oures for y^ space of allmoste forty years & kept out of y^ moste part for twelue years And concidering we cannot get Execution of one verdict & Judgment (in soe long time,) we cannot acspect If we should commence suits against soe many as haue entered they being very many knowne & it may be as many vnknowne that may (to encomber vs) yet enter, as others haue designed & done euer to liue soe long a time nor noe man to end them all (with such delayes) All which, Entyers, or claims ar, of one party at proui- dence, consisting of many persons, two partyes of y^ Massa- tusets, consisting of diuers persons, on party of Newplimoth, of which are diuers persons. All (which sd parttyes) haue bin anemated by the bold rezistance of the kings writ, by y« fore sd of Warwick, forcable enterors & detaynors, & theyr succes, & our defeate. (as yet without remedy) O that it would please God, and the king to take notice of our opressions And of the humble supplication of your petitionor, our opres- sions ar, by the many pretended purchases & Entryes of y^ partyes & theyr abeters ayders kindered & Adherents open rezisters (some of them) of the kings writ of Execution, con- trary to y= minde of y^ honnest party in y^ sd collony of Rhode Island &c, y^ partyes y* rezist & theyr adherents are soe con- federated : & ingaged, for theyr owne vsurped interest, to ayd each other, that your petitionor : & his partnors : are neuer like (ther to haue) y^ verdict & Judgment soe long since giuen y« verdict for about Eleuen years since, & y^ Judgment for more than seuen, neuer like to be executed. Nor neuer like HARRIS PAPERS. 155 (there to be) (in y^ sd case) a competent Jury to try y^ abound- ance of defferences about the sayd matters which yet remayne (without your majestyes spetiall commition) &c But beside (& more then that) there are diuers partyes & persons of y^ other Collonys who allso pretend title to y« sd lands, vnder pretence of late purchases who haue Entered by force & Aliened y^ same & voyded & agayne Entered at ther pleasure And cannot be preuented y« sayd patents bordering vpon each other and y^ kings writ of Rhode Island not runing into the other Collonyes makes your petitionor & his partnors vtterly vnable of Remedy (but by your Majestyes spetiall commition) True it is (and neuer to be forgoten) your Moste Excellent Majesty hath gratiously granted many fauors & great enduld- gence to your subiects of New England all Emuneties of free- borne English men, and therfore, the lawes of your Realm of England, by which, they may liue in safty of theyr lines & lands &c But for as much as three thousan miles distance of place doth soe allter our case that when incompetent or fauor- able enquests are, we cannot : soe soone come, nor returne, nor with, soe litle danger nor with soe small charge optayne writs of Circeorari (as your Majestyes subiects inhabiting in England may) nor can (but very few liueing soe remote) vndergoe soe long delay & stay cost charge absence from home & trouble to doe it, but y' they must either lose all such suits at home (to theyr vtter vndoeing or spend all they haue to come soe far for remedy & then peraduenture y^ charg and exspence may be more than they imagined would be, or haue to exspend & soe end seeking a right remedy & find an vtter Ruen to themselues & famelyes be theyr causes neuer soe Just And for as much as your Majestyes lawes of England presup- pose Just ocacation for granting Spetiall comitions into Cor- porations within your Majestyes Rhelm of England and yet, noe detryment to y^ former commition, nor to y^ such sd cor- poration How much more nesessety : hath your : so long opressed, greatly grieued, & remote petitionor to supplicate to your Majesty for such sd commition not with standing your 156 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. former commition, & y* sd corporation being but few & lately and matters neuer well setled nor haue had but litle time to doe it & haue bin much enterrupted in it and therfore noe wonder then If in y« kings corporations in his Realm of soe antient standing soe long setlement y* mulltitude of people (among whome might be thought to be had Impartiall Juryes) The law presupose for y« mayntenance of Impartiall Justice the kings Honnor & peace & his subiects rights spetiall commi- tions needfull & spetiall assises, much rather and more need in newengland O ! That The Kings Moste Excelent Majesty would be pleased Gratiously therefore to grant A spetiall Commition to some known wise Just men in Newengland to hear and de- termine by a spetiall assise there wher it may be sooner heard wher all persons concerned are [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxiv : no. 87. See Sains- bury, Calendar State Papers, Am. & W. /., l6y^-y6, no. 587.] 43 Harris's Statement of Case, ii June, 1675. A demandant, with his partners B tenant by force & his partnors A purchaseth land in New England & first purchaseth of y« moste superior Indeans B he purchaseth some of the demandants land of Inferyor Indeans and Enters by force A Complaynes of the force by B And optaynes A Judg- ment B Rezists y« Execution & keeps his possession by force And getts others (soe to pretend purchas) who allso enter by force A seeing soe many parttyes entered And one (of them) (by abetters) able to hold by force, he concludes, y^ more parttyes, HARRIS PAPERS. 157 y* more able, And concludes, ther must be a new remedy, or none. A Then petitions to y^ King for power to be given to some persons in New England to hear & determine by A spe- tiall Assise Now whether A pray y* which may Regulerly be granted B may say y« kings power is in N E all redy & is not to be displaced by a complaynt A supposeth The king grants power in England to some wher his commition is before to hear & determin by a spetiall Assise & noe detryment to the former commition And sup- poseth y^ law sayth it. And prayes a resolution [Transcript from original in British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxiv : no. 88. See Sainsbury, Ca/- endar, State Papers, Am. & W. /., l6y^-y6, no. 588.] 44 Harris's Statement of Case, ii June, 1675. A, And his partnors Trauelled into new England all most forty years since and then & there purchased lands of y« most superior Indeans (meere monarhes over y^ Indeans) before y« exercise of y« kings Jurisdiction ther by patent B, And his partnors, since, purchas some of y« sd lands of Inferior Indeans And enters into it by force A, And his partnors, complayne of B his fore &c And after some delay optaine a Verdict And after longer delay A Judgment but not an execution performed nor serued in twelue years after y^ force commited, nor yet to this day The reason is because y^ officer called a seargant is willingly rezisted by ^&c B pretending he will kill whomesoeuer enters vpon him to dispossess him And pretends first, that he hath y^ best title &c 2 ly sayth, y< y^ kings commitionors eleuen years since : or there aboute, when they wear in new England s^ they would end it when they came from y^ eastward from doeing y« kings 158 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. busynes there, but are not yet come therefore not to be dis- seised A, &c sayth, That he complayned of delay to y« kings Court of Rhode Island And y^ sd Court heard B &c his Al- legations yet required executio And y' y« officer & B confed- erate y* one to rezist & ye other to be rezisted in y^ execution is y« delay And A sayth all y«= s"^ Commitionors are now dead B, keeping y« possessio by force in corageth others to enter by force allsoe Then enters C, & his partnors D, & his part- ners E, & his F, & his G, Allsoe A Then sayth, B hath kept vs out twelue years but C, D, E, F, & G, by y^ same way may keep vs out each as long as B If they wear vnder y« same Jurisdiction by such force And Imbracery but F, F, Si G being of other Jurisdictions where y« fore sd Collony of Rhod Island writs runs not y*= sd E, F, & G, entering, & voyding, can not be tryed at Rhod Island, And by y« sd Rhod Island law prohibited. A, & all others to try y^ title of land lying in y sd Jurisdiction in any other of ye Collonyes Courts (to say) of y^ massatusets, Plimoth, or Conecticott vpon penality of forfeiting y^ land A, concider- ing y^ long delay in a case Judged Just by law, And that A, & his partnors title to y^ sd lands haue bin seuerall times by awards of Arbytrations Judged A, & his partnors And once by an arbytration Agreed to be by y« Collony of y^ Massatu- sets, & of Rhod Island allsoe, two Arbytrators coming from each all foure awarding y^ sd land to /i, & his partnors Then, Ay conciders y* longer likely hood of y« like delayes his old Aige, & short life And supposeth noe remedy in New Eng- land A Therfore intendeth to supply cate to y^ kings Majesty To grant his order to whome y« king pleaseth to hear & deter- mine by A spetiall Assise by B supposed to be sd that the King will not grant such order in the absence of B &c A supposed to say That what he prayeth of the king is noe more nor noe other thing then to bring ^ &c to a fayre tryall, to which If ye defendants or tenants presents must be had, or noe proceeding, then wher & when y* tenant doubts of his HARRIS PAPERS. 159 Just cause ther then he will not be, to endanger it, by his presents, knowing, his Absents will keep of ye tryall : & all danger by it. but writs for apearance doe not vse to depend vpon y* presents of defendant nor tenant supposed may be sd as to B &c That A Judgment is all redy (as to ^ &c & therfore needs noe tryall nor to be brought to it A supposed to say That B hath leased to diuers others y' wear in y'' force with him but now entered for themselues seuerally And B hath many wayes trespased since for which he hath not bin tryde nor Just y* he should be suffered in it B, supposed may say That y« king his grants & Patents to y« Collonyes in New england cannot admitt such order from y^ king as afore sd for then euery disconted person will com- playne to y^ king & perplex his neighbors and render his patents of noe vse to y« ending of defferences A, supposed to Answer That If y^ kings patents to Corpo- rations in England are of good vse for y^ ending of deffer- ences wher may be supposed more contrauercyes (by y« mull- titude of people And easy are to goe to y^ kings higher Courts at Westminster then to come from New England to the king how much more y^ patents of New England, soe remote, y« people soe few, y^ delay soe long, & y^ Charge soe great, wil be noe incoragement to come to comeplayne soe far 2ly A doth not petition to bring any to England to Charge them and trouble them but prayeth of y« king y^ it may be heard & de- termined in New England, without any Charg to y^ king or any other but he or they who vpon tryall shall be found in y« faull or wrong And in the mean time bears his own Charge 3ly A supposed to say That y^ kings grieued subiects by fauor- able enquest to theyr neigbors in Corporations in England ar by law admited by writs of Cerciorarie to remoue theyr suits into y« kings higher Courtes to be tryde by more competent & impartiall Juryes how much more equitable wher among a few interested people soe totally byased as men in theyr owne cases vse to be should cases be admited to be tryd by Jurors of an other Corporation vn concerned 160 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. B, supposed to say That Corporations in new England haue power to make lawes by which all ther should be tryd A, supposed to say That they haue power to make lawes but yet as limited in theyr Chartors 2ly The matter of contrauercy is not as to lawes made but as to what may be Just & equall to relieue y^ wronged agreeable to such like cases in England 3ly A doth not deny but is willing y^ y^ sd controuercyes should be tryd by y^ lawes y* ther are in y« sd Collony wher y^ land lyes but petitioneth y* it may be ther soe tryd acording to all lawes made ther acording to the sd patent or y« lawes of England And not be defeated nor his partnors of theyr lands for want of a fayre tryall nor execution B, supposed to say That y«^ king hath giuen his power out of his hand vpon consideration & cannot call it agayne A, supposed to say That y«= king hath granted to them to proceed as other Corporations of England yet reserues y« superior power to bring them to any tryall for any wrong done or misgouernance by any of them or els they need but make a law & by it escape any tryall for any wrong done And y^ king haueing granted to all his subiects there y^ libertyes & emunetyes of Englishmen cannot be immagined y« y^ king did intend y' some should gouern y« rest by lawes soe as not alow- ing them y^ libertyes of English men By supposed to say That If an order be granted it will not be obeoyed A, supposed to say that y* king did lately send to New Eng- land as to a duch ship y* was taken by some ther as prize & proceeding supposed to be acording to y« sd order made but as to hearing & dermining y« defferences between A^ and his partnors & ^ & his partnors &c A doth not doubt but y^ the Collony of Plimoth, Conecticot & likely of y^ massatusets And Rhode Island If y^ king apoynt will perform the same order but if they, or either of them fayle soe to doe as y* a lawfull number be not out of y^ whole, yet then A only suffers y^ damag And y^ king noe charge but If they doe performe it as A belieues they will then the kings command will enure to doe Justice ther &c HARRIS PAPERS. 161 [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxiv : no. 89. See Sains- bury, Calendar State Papers, Am. & W. I., l6y^-'j6, no. 589.] 45 Harris to Newport Town Council, 3 July, 1676. To the Town Council of Newport this first Monday of July 1676. Whereas Thomas Roberts lately of Providence did decease this life here at Newport, but left his wife alive at his death, who since deceased also, who by the English marriage (which is the Law of England) his said wife stood endowed with all his worldly goods — therefore WE, the only brothers of the said late wife of Thomas Roberts * pray the Administration of the said goods, whereof our said Sister in time of her hus- bands life stood endowed and jointly possessed with her hus- band, but after the death of her husband solely possessed and endowed, her husband having no Child. William Harris Thomas Harris Sc A true copy of that delivered to the Governour Walter Clark on the above said day he being one of the said Town Council, and the said day the time of their meeting by Law — [Moses Brown Papers, xviii : no. 229.] * Thomas Roberts was a freeman of Providence who had served as Deputy in the General Assembly and who died at Newport in April, 1676 (Austin, Geneal. Diet., p. 165). According to the above document his wife was own sister to William and Thomas Harris. Her Christian name was Parnill {Prov. Rec, vi: 85). See also note to No. 88. 162 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 46 Harris to Sir Joseph Williamson, 12 August, 1676. Truely Noble S"" your humble seruant whome your spetiall fauor hath oblieged to a continewall rememberance thereof : and thankfullnes for y^ same, and constant seruis to your Honnor, acording to my best dillegence and abillety (though but slow & weak) and y^ reason I haue noe oftener exspresed my seruis : and thanks to your Honnor, is, by reason y^ way of sending is soe enterrupted by y^ war : y' there is noe safe send- ing, nor pasing to & fro (without danger of life) And allso de- sireing (when I did writ) to giue as certayne acounte : * & per- ticuler (as I could) to your Honnor, (as I could get) and there- fore delayed : hopeing to haue had certayne information : out of each Collony of theyr afayres (as to y^ war) by some espetiall intellegable friend, but wanting opertunety to send to such, and allsoe haueing bin euer since in y« moste dangerous place (by y« Indeans) in y^ country : wher I haue lost a deer son : a dillegent engenious Just man : temperate in all things, whom y^ Indeans lay in waite for by y^ way syd & killd him,t and a * This long and careful account drawn up by William Harris forms a notable addition to the contemporaneous literature of King Philip's War. Since the subject is familiar to students of New England history, the document is not so fully annotated as are those papers which have more to do with Harris himself. Copious bibliographical accounts of the War can be found in Winsor, Narrative and Critical History^ iii : 360 ; Memorial Hist, of Boston^ i : 327 ; and Palfrey, iii : 132-239. t Toleration Harris, born 1645, the youngest son of William Harris. His death was deeply mourned by his father, who in his will specified that his farm should " be called Mourning, as a monument of the death of my deare son Tolleration " {Prov. Rec, vi : 55). It was on January 27, 1676, that 300 Indians attacked Pawtuxet, burning William Carpenter's outbuildings, corn and hay, and driving away 180 sheep, 50 head of cattle, and 15 horses. " Besides, they took much Cattel from young Mr. Harris, and killed a Negroe-Servant of his" [Continuation of the State of New England, London, 1676, p. 14. See also Drake, Indian Chronicle, 1867, pp. 196, 212, 244, 302 ; and Hubbard, Narrative, \()']'], p. 60, add. p. 4). HARRIS PAPERS. 163 negro man, and burnt our houses, and droue away aboute fifty head of Cowkind cattell, and fourscore horskinde of ours & carryed away some goods, and burnt aboue fifty loade of hay, and haue put vs out of our way of liueing, and from all oper- tunityes (for a long time) to doe this small seruis to your Honnor, (soe much & long) bound to : by your great fauor ; And at this time am a soiurnor at Rhode Island, hopeing from thence to haue an opertunity to send these by water to y« bay (viz*) to Boesten. And as to y« state of y« Country in generall, but first : what it hath bin since y^ war began (viz') In very sad & lament- able condition : and y^ wisest men in y^ Country euen at theyr wits end, to think what might become of themselues & famelyes & y^ whole country, y^ Indeans then doeing soe many mischiefs : in a secret sly : sculking way : y* noe man knew well how to finde them, and y^ truth is, had it not pleased god to draw forth some other Indeans (such as were) former enemyes to our now enemyes : to ayd y^ English to finde theyr enemyes : and over- take them (when y^ English cannot) we might haue bin driuen to great strayts. And had y« Indeans bin all our enemyes : and could haue gotten powder : they might haue forced vs to Islands for safety, and there to haue planted some litle Corne, and haue fished for our liueings, takeing some winter seasons (only) to fight y^ Indeans (if we could) much hurt y^ Indeans did, and y« mesengers therof (for some time) came quicly one after another, like y^ news to Jobe : of his sorrowes, and our enemyes boasting : y* god was departed from vs, and was with them. but least our bad succes : should seeme to exspres : our bad cause : makeing an vniust war : therfore, to speak some thing to y* (viz') That y^ war was (on y^ English parte) Just, for. That Phillip an Indean great man : liueing in plimoth patent : did refuse to submit to y^ kings writ, to make answer concerning y^ death of one of y^ Indeans : the kings subiects and insted of apearing therto, he apeared in armes against y^ kings Authourity, and robed some of his subiects, and slew others, before y^ English fought : or killd any of y« Indeans ; and y^ reason : y^ s^ phillip shewed (which he had resolued) to one M"". 164 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. John Easton : y^ then Deputy Gouernor of Rhode Island, (but fiue dayes before y^ war began) (to whome he s<^ it as to a friend) (being soe spake to) That ther had bin former differ- ence between y« Gouernor of plimoth and him (y^ s^ philHp) and y' they had layd fines vpon him, but for y^ future he re- sokied neither to goe, nor pay : to him any such sums ; And yet, y^ s^ former fact : y^ s^ philHp supposed was guilty of : and fined for : was a war ploted by him to destroy y^ English at vnawares ; which was a compasing : and con- triueing : to fight against y^ kings authourity in his dominions : & to take y^ authourety & dominion & rule to himself ; which is high treason against y^ king ; and is y*^ efect of his last facts and therfore y« war made in defence : agaynst him : is Just ; he first leuying war against y« kings Authourity in his domin- ions, and killd many of his subiects. Allsoe, y^ s*^ war was by phillip intended against y« English long before, as apears by y^ s'^ phillips (& not his only) (but others alsoe y^ Indeans of other places) prouiding for y^ s^ war, y^ year before, laying vp corne in such secret maner : as they were not wonte to doe (in time of peace) for, in time of peace : any y' pased by theyr barnes which are made in y^ ground : y^ English (as well as y« Indeans) knew them ; but those made in preparation for y^ war, are not seen : nor knowne by y^ English : nor Indeans nether, (but by such as made them) gras being made to grow ouer them, and layd leuell ; therfore, y^ war by y^ s'^ Indeans intended, and began ; therfore, not an vniust war, (by y^ English) to defend by war ; therfore, y« s"^ war (on y^ Englishes parte : Just) And of my certain knowledg, I know them soe barbarous, y^ thoughe theyr predeseacors : did acknowledg themselues, y^ kings subiects, & subscribed therto : that they might haue preueledg therby : & safety against theyr enemyes : these theyr succesors would acknowledg it to such ends, yet, when theyr obedyence to good law : is to theyr los, they matter not subiection : nor aleigance : noe more then brute beast ; allsoe formerly I haue told phillip (after he plotted against y^ English) that he aboue all other Indeans should loue y^ English & be true to them, for, had it not bin for y^ plimoth old planters (now HARRIS PAPERS. 165 dead) y^ narragansets had then cutt of his fathers head (then called Mas-sa-soyt, since was called Osa-mea-quen, whom I knew forty years since, Allso to my certayne knowledg : they did reason for y^ mayntenance of theyr customes against y« kings law, and yet, haue soe many monsterous customes con- trary to all humanyty : some wherof I shall mention (viz^) to kill theyr Children : yea any litle ones of any ayge : at theyr pleasure, without fear of punishment, And to kill theyr aiged parents, and for a mans murdering another : to kill his brother, or kinsman, with many such like ; And without doubt (were now) resolued to fight for y^ same and to destroy all English men noe doubt (If they could) And wher as some : stick not to say, y* y^ English haue ocationed y^ war : by diuers opretions vsed to y^ Indeans, as defrauding them of theyr land (as they say) trespasing in theyr corne by theyr cattell, with diuers other things obiected, acord- ing to theyr seuerall interest, makeing (they say) y^ Indeans pore. The temptations of men to the s^ acuseations, may be these ? some intending if they could to re buy theyr neighbours lands, as some did, and soe it hath sometimes bin : y' land hath bin bought : and solde three or foure times ouer. others out of enuy to theyr countrymen : for some sinister end : others flattering y^ Indeans (sometimes) to buy theyr land. & some- times to draw y^ Indeans trade, of buying & selling cloath & furs & such like. to which it may be answered, y^ Indeans are or wear when they began y« war far more supplyed and better then when y^ English first came for then they wear in great wants but sine in great plenty, they when y^ English first came had only axes of stone, but since of Iron & Steele, then Hoese of wood : & tortes & other fish shells, but since of Iron & Steele, allsoe they had then but a litle corne, perhapes fine or six bushells a year one famely, but since sometimes forty, fifty, or sixty bushells ; then made drills of flints to make theyr mony, but since haue drills of Steele & can make forty to one ; And doubtles those drills of flint would try y^ patience of y^ most industrious artist : & theyr skill (in theyr way) to make those 166 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. drills ; they then had spent theyr corne early in y^ pring, but since haue corne enoughe & spare & sell, then ate fresh fish to keep them aliue, but by such foode dyed : of fluxes, but since had wholesome foode: & phizick store, in a word they then wanted allmoste all things, but since had allmoste all things y* they might think needfull, and prosperity hath slayne them, yea and many of vs to ; The Indeans since haue had soe much corne as to lay vp for a war a year before : agaynst this present war, and lately Conecticot men found seven hundered bushells of corne : & many beans of this country like y^ beans y' are in England which are eaten shells an all ; it is like y« people y* layd ye s^ vp were dead, or killd, or taken, or driuen where they could not come at them ; then y^ Indeans before y^ Eng- lish came, wear allwayes in war & still in fear of theyr lines, but sine ye English haue slayn theyr enemyes, & now y^ Inde- ans make war with y^ English, rather by y* prosperity they inioyed (by y^ English) then by any aduercity by them tempted to ye war. And that y^ war was not only Just with Phillip but y^ nar- ragansets allsoe, for y* many of them wear with phillip in y^ first fight (aboute mounte hope) And when phillip fled from thence y® s** narragansets fled to narraganset, and ye narra- gansets sachems or rulers confesed them theyr men and were conducted with a great woman * of phillips party & her men to narraganset, wherevpon ye English demanded of ye narra- gansets why they receiued & shelltered theyr enemyes, and demanded them, but ye narragansets did not deliuer them, but entered into articles to deliuer phillips men, & theyr enemyes yt came among them, but did not, yet then makeing large pre- tences of peace, intending noe thing les, but they thought that if they should by a suden war lose theyr haruest : y' then it would soone disable them to continew ye war, Allsoe they receiued of ye English rewards : as if they had taken of some of phillips mens heads, but ye s^ heads (some of them) doubtles * Weetamoe. HARRIS PAPERS. 167 wear heads of Indeans y* y^ English & theyr confederates had killd, or els : some heads of others y^ they slew y* wear run from them : to phillip formerly : for fear of being put to death by ye narragansets for supposed ofences commited against y^ narragansets, or others of phillips men y^ in time of peace contrauerted for phillip against y^ narragansets, aboute former defferences of rightes due : or wronges done, by, or to either ye narragansets : or phillip, against whome they had spetiall spleen ; & soe tooke y* time to reueng themselues on them (when fallen into disstres & into theyr hands : for supposed deliuerance : willing to shellter themselues vnder them) and as to ye last sort against whome they had such spleen : some of them I knew : & heard them debate, y^ s^ defferences in open courte at Rhode Island, y^ defference arose about a man (to say) an Indean y* liued at Rhode Island : y* kild his wife & a man y^ (he s^) lay with her, y^ s'l man was tryd & condemnd for ye s^ murder, but because he killd two, ye sachems s^ they would haue two to put to death for ye s'J two killd, and out of phillips men, for y^ ye murdered wear related to ye narragansets : and ye murderor to phillip. The narragansets allsoe would haue had ye murderor to haue cast him bound into a fire, but ye court would not admit it, but s'' he was ye kings subiect : & soe should haue ye kings law, with much such discource. And y' ye law would not admit to put one man to death for anothers ofences, wherat : ye narragansets shewed great indignation & s^, that before ye English came : they could doe what they list with phillips party, and phillips partty pleaded theyr exemption from them, & theyr owne absolute power, and soe stood theyr defference ; and one (a chiefe interpreter among them then) his head was brought to ye English by ye narragansets & tooke a reward as. for killing one of phillips men, but doubtles ye s'^ man (whome I had knowne neer forty year) was slayn by ye Eng- lish : and then ye narragansets got his head : to get ye reward, & to keep of (for y* present) ye war, or els : they kild him for ye fores'^ defference (in ye debate wherof he was) and not simplely, as one of phillips men : and an enemy to ye English, for, ye narragansets had then among them many of phillips 168 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. partty : whome they neither deHuered vp to y^ Enghsh, nor brought in theyr heads, which shews they did all in deceite ; yea, St all this while vp in y^ country about hadley & deerfield & there aboute ayd phillip : and others of theyr partty : against y^ English to y^ doeing of very great mischiefe ; And further, yt ye sd heads pretended to be taken of by y^ narragansets from liueing men of phillips ; as enemyes to y^ English : seems not to be belieued, for, If soe, y* partty of phillips among the nar- ragansets then (which wear many) might haue supposed them- selues to be determined to y^ same end, & then, would not (at liberty as they wear) there haue stayd (to y' end) but there did stay therfore, not in such danger, nor y^ heads such heads, as wear pretended, but in truth y^ heads either of them slayne by y^ English, or such other as aforesd, not slayne by y^ narra- gansets as Englishes enemyes ; much more playne demonstra- tion : might be made proueing y* y^ narragansets did Joyne with phillip in y^ war, but not to trouble your Honnor therwith, but some hold noe war iust, and noe wonder they obiect y^ iustnes of this war allsoe, and haue some temptation to it allsoe, for. If y^ war iust ? then their ayde may seeme to be engaged, therto, but, they not ayding nor willing to it, yea say they ought, not, had need to haue some pretence (as y^ vnlaw- fullnes of y^ war) to exscuse themselues ; espetially (being) such as are soe far concerned : as defence &c, for y« kings interest : & his subiects safety. The s'^ war as Just Then war began abounte mount hope aboute y^ twentieth of June 1675 * Phillip was encountered by Generall Sauidg of y^ Massachusets, And plimoth forces vnder Captayne Cud- worth or Major, And Major winthrap comeing to ayd them ; but vpon consideration he stoped at narraganset & sent his forces back to Conecticott but y^ rest differed : abute y^ land of phillip before they had ouercome him, which they had better to haue left for y« widowes : & fatherles (when y«= enemy had bin ouercome) for *0n this date, the Indians burned two houses at Swansea, probably the first overt act of the war. HARRIS PAPERS. 169 theyr relief and for y^ criples made by y^ enemy, whose hus- bands : & fathers Hues,: & criples limbes had purchased. They marched after phillip in a few files : some miles long, & shot at ye greene shrubes (when they saw not y^ enemy) so y« Inde- ans they hearing theyr guns : had roome enough to slyd by them, but at y^ last found phillip in a swamp theraboutes, and fought him, but did him litle hurt, and he them some allsoe, but when they had got allmoste to him : a retreat was sounded which drew them out of y^ swamp, & y^ Indeans followed them : 8: fought them : as they marched away, but then ye Indeans would not agayne be founde ; soe y^ English marched home to y^ bay * (y* wear of y^ bay) phillip then takeing his march vp into y^ Country, & some of his men haueing wounded a man at prouidence, & burnt some houses,! prouidence men were willing to be with him, hearing he was to pas by railed aboute thirty or thirty fine, & went to ly in ambush for him, but he was gon by, & while they were lookeing him, ther came to them aboute thirty & fiue more of Rehoboth & tanton, two townes of plimoth patent, soone after them forty Indeans confederates with y^ English, in all about a hundered (y^ s^ Indeans were vnckcas his men (A sachem in Conecticot patent) soe they sent out scoutes some English & some Indeans : And neer night came neer to phillip, in y^ morning they followed agayne, vntill they met with phillips scoute, whome they shott dead, but phillip heard y^ gun : & got redy, and instantly y^ English came vp with them : & fought them, & killd about fifty of phillips, & phillip hardly escaped :t he left his powder : & stafe for haste, and fled vp into y^ * MassachuseUs. t Hubbard records that eighteen house.s were burned at Providence, 28 June, 1675 {-Narrative, add. p. 4). X This was the fight of i August, 1675, near Nipsachuck Hill. F. A. Arnold, in the Narr. Hist. Register, vi: 61-69, clearly shows that both the hill and swamp of this name formerly bordered on the western end of the boundary line between North Smithfield and Smithfield. It was at Nipsachuck Swamp that Talcott's victory of 2 July, 1676, took place. 170 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Country (but a great woman with phillip then, but left him & went with some narragansets to narraganset) Phillip & his partty did much hurte vp in y^ country aboute hadley, deerfield & theraboute, but at narraganset a seeming peace, then y^ English went to y^ narragansets And demanded why they shelltered theyr enemyes, but they deliuered them not, but entered into articles : & to deliuer vp phillips partty, but did not, but y^ English wanting Amunition, & prouition, and therfore wear forced to delay & to get in haruest, and y^ Indeans as willing to get in theyr haruest, but in y^ mean time : y^ Indeans to y^ Eastward rose & did much hurt, but since s^ they are come in : & y^ war there ended ; but aboute the thirteenth of desember last, aboute a thousand of y^ English forces came to narraganset, & after some few dayes stay there : & some perlie with y^ Indeans, they fought them in a swamp to which they had aboute half a dayes march,* The English shewed very much vallour : runing vp to y^ mussells of y^ guns, & to theyr porte holes : fireing into theyr forte, leaping ouer theyr brestworkes, & into theyre fort, turning y^ but ends of theyr guns sometimes, And thoughe many of y« English slayne & wounded, yet, y^ coldnes of y^ season ocationed y« death of many of y^ wounded, they being far from theyr quarters, and it frose y' night very hard ; but many more of ye Indeans wear slayne (then of y^ English ;) there was litle more done there y* winter, but in y^ spring they marched out with about thirteen hundered, vp into y^ Country : & slew aboute sixty, but some of theyr nimblest enemyes : theyr horses could not come vp with : only (some few) (not enough to encounter y^ enemy) which march being ouer : each Collonyes forces marched to theyr owne Collonyes. After which time many mischeifs wear done vpon many townes of y^ massachusets, to y^ los of many soules, Allso a great mulltitude of Indeans came downe out of y^ country : in one body, they met with one captayne pierce at a place neer *The "Great Swamp Fight" in South Kingston, R. I., 19 December, 1675. HARRIS PAPERS. 171 Rehoboth called blackstones River, where he with aboute seuenty lusty vallyent men were fallen into an Ambush of allmoste all y^ s<^ thousand Indeans : & foute with them till they had spent theyr amminition : which when y^ Indeans per- ceiued they ran vpone them : & slew all saue some few, whoe fought throughe them & fled, but they slew many of y« Inde- ans.* The s'J thousand came to rehoboth & there they burnt such houses as were not fortifyde & killd one man y' they found out of y^ garrison from thence they came to prouidence t and there burnt many houses vnfortifyd, and killd two persons yt wear out of y^ garrisons And killd much cattell, And then went to patuxet & ther burnt some houses & an empty garriso, and fought against another, and shott fire vpon arrowes forty or fifty, but y^ English put them out,1: And in y^ night time went ther way, it being supposed y^ they heard of Conecticot forces then not far from y* place, And had taken then y« greatest man of y^ narrogansets, called nau-nau-ta-nute, a man soe proude y' when he was in his enemyes hands : sayd he would speak to none but sachems (to say) princes, but gods meer hand & not subtillty tooke him & gaue him into y^ hand of an Indean sachem to be slayne (to say) Vnckas his son, || y« s^ Vnckas is a confederat with y« English of a long time, he was * " Peirce's Fight'" occurred 26 March, 1676. The best accounts of this battle are in Bliss, Rehoboth, p. 88; Daggett, Attleborough, p. 109: and Bodge, Soldiers ifi King Philip's War, p. 348. t For the burning of Providence, 29 March, 1676, see Drake, Indian Chronicle, pp. 223, 244, 254; Hubbard, Narrative, p. 67, add. p. 4; Mather, History of the War, p. 26; and Backus, History of N. E., i : 424. I See note ante, p. 162. II Canonchet, known also as Nanuntenoo and sometimes by his father's name, Miantonomi, was captured in April, 1676, and shot by Oneco, sachem of the Mohegans and son of Uncas. In 1643 Uncas had carried out the order of the Commissioners of the United Colonies that Mianto- nomi should be executed. 172 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Encountered aboue thirty years since by A sachem of narra- ganset (to say) me-an-te-no-meah, whom god deliuered into y^ hands of Vnckas who slew him, and y^ fore s'' nau-naun-ta-nute, was ye son of me-an-te-no-meah, y^ father : slaynes by vnckas, & ye son by vnckas his son. The s^ narraganset sachems both of them monsterous proud, & both trecherous to y^ Enghsh & had not god formerly soe cut of y^ father he had then done as did since his son a moste cruell man, o god soe defeate all thyn enemyes & deliuer all y* are inocent, now it pleaseth god y' newes from euery quarter is y* y^ English preuayle and y^ Indeans our enemyes fall there hath bin within a few monthes seuen hundered Indeans slayne tooke & come in & they haue but litle prouition, nor Amunition, And they are lean : & dis- mayed, and come into diuers townes & places : & pray they may hue, Phillip is now come downe out of y^ Country, And is now supposed to be in y* swamp wher y^ first fight was : neer mount hope, & supposed to haue with him a thousand. And pursued with aboute eight hundered (English & Indeans) If our sins preuent not, it may be hoped y' this sumer & y^ next winter may neer end y^ war ; It is supposed y^ English haue lost fifteen hundered soules in this war (men, women, & children)* in a towne called Rehoboth (aboute three miles from proui- dence within plimoth patent, they presed there for y^ war with ye Indeans) aboute ye proportion of one of six, and yet ye s*^ towne a frontteer towne, at which time I think they say theyr whole forces English & Indeans was to be thirteen hundered, yea such resolution hath bin : y* If need had required (It was s^) they would haue gon out one of three of ye whole, they now in furtherance of ye war make powder allsoe. God hath wonderfully shewed his wisdome : & power, for wher as ye English (to say) we by our sins : had opened ye *This is a somewhat larger estimate than is given in other contem- poraneous narratives. The A^ezv and Further Narrative of the State of New England, 1676, p. 14, sets the total loss of the English at 800. HARRIS PAPERS. 173 Indeans mouthes to say, y' because we soe sined against god, God would : & did deliuer vs in to theyr hands. And allsoe de- feated y« endeuors & hopes of doeing great exsploytes y^ laste winter vpon y« Enemy, the enemy then insullting ouer poore soules whome they tormented & killd biding them call vpon Jesus Christ aloude perhaps he would here them,* whose blasphemous reproches God infinite in mercy hath heard. And lord of hosts has therfore, (to shew his owne Arme y« power :) defeated the enemy this Sumer, and as fig leaues would not coiier shame nor sin, soe neither y^ green leaues of this desolate wildernes hyde nor couer nor atend to defend the fores^ blas- phemers against god : & our cruell & vniust enemyes from gods indignation, against thyr vniust war, theyr bloud thirsty cruellty & horible ingratitude to god, & y^ English great friends vnto them, soe y* as y^ English too much trusted in y« winter to ouercome, y^ Indeans, trusting allsoe in y^ sumer to ouer- come ye English, but god hath made it y^ time of theyr defeate. O thou lord of hosts y* sauest neither by sword nor speare prepare our hearts to an euerlasting thankfullnes for our de- liverance and giue vs a continewall dependance vpon thyne owne arme for our ayd for euer and bring vs to a sencable soe- bar watchfullnes against all our sins noe more forgetting thyne allseeing ey y' hath and will see our sins, nor thyne Infinite allmighty Arme y* hath defended vs from our soe barbarous enemys o god fill our hearts for euer with sorrow for our sins and giue vs throughe reformation of our hues, & loue & pity to our enemyes wining them to thee by our loueing mercyfull & Just conuersation toward them * " At Sudbury, an elderly Englishman endeavouring an Escape from the Indians by running into a Swamp, was overtaken by an Indian, and being Destitute of Weapons to Defend himself or Offend him, the Indian insulted over him with that Blasphemous Expression, ' Come Lord Jesus, save this poor Englishman if thou canst, whom I am now about to kill.' " True Account of the Most Considerable Occurrences — London, 1676, p. 2. As Harris can hardly have seen this printed narrative, he must, if he refers to this episode, have heard it in the way of news, which doubtless traveled rapidly, despite the dangers of communication. 174 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. At this instant came in a vesell from vergenia who brings newes of great destruction clone there by y^ Indeans * which shewes y* y^ contriuance of a war against y« EngHsh went far only gods prouidence preuented some yea Vnckcas y* olde friend to y^ English was for a time in y^ plot as he confesed and yet since hath done y^ greatest exsployts agaynst y^ enemy How straing are y« prouidences of god & how good to trust in him who defeateth our foes by one another and mak- eth perfideous men faythfull friends at his plesure y* in all strayts men may trust in him & stand in awe of his allmighty power The enemy hath burnt all y^ houses in Warwick, all in patuxet, And allmoste all in prouidence, And y« rest of y« houses in y« Narraganset country allsoe t And y« inhabytance y» wear ther are gon some to one place some to another, such sore desolation is come vpon vs & but few lay it to hear[t] There hath bin litle force made by any to defend y^ s"^ country from y« Indeans y« inhabytants haue bin left to theyr owne ayd & soe ouerrun of late since y^ great mischiefs done Conecticot forces haue bin thereaboute & slayne many Indeans otherwise they might there haue dwelt without enteruption our mischiefs haue hapened y^ rather in y« Conecticott & Rhode Island Challeng y« Jurisdiction of y« Country there- aboute & soe between them both y^ places haue not bin de- fended by either & y^ Inhabytants exspose (among y^ greatest *The failure of Governor Berkeley to punish the Indians who com- mitted numerous depredations in the spring of 1676 was a principal oc- casion for Bacon's Rebellion. t Hubbard says that Warwick was "all of it burned by the enemy at several times," Pawtuxet had " twelve houses burned in the beginning of March, 1676," and Providence had " eighteen houses burned, June 28, 1675. March 29 following, fifty-four houses were there burned, and most of the rest as they were deserted by the inhabitants withdrawing to Road Island " {Narrative, addenda, p. 4). The New and Further Narrative, p. 13, gives the list of losses as follows: " In Narraganset not one House left standing. At Warwick, but one. At Providence, not above three. At Potuxit, none left." HARRIS PAPERS. 175 throng of y^ Indeans y* wear knowne neer) to y^ mischiefs they haue done to theyr vtter ruens, Conecticot haue had Htle or noe mischief done in such partes of theyr Jurisdiction wher Rhode Island Challengeth not And they haue y« moste ayde of Indeans to y^ greatest succes they go out constantly with vollunteers English & Indeans and have great succes theyr boyes cry to goe out against y« Indeans & they let them goe and all run vp on y^ Indeans without fear, they haue killd, tooke, & come into them fine hundered Indeans this sumer. A great counciller of y^ narragansetts (& spatially of a great woman) yea y^ greatest y' ther wa[ ] y« s^ woman (called) y^ old Queene,* y^ fore s<^ counciller her greatest fauoret he doth as much exc[el] in depth of Judgment : common witts, as Saull was taller than others of Israeli, he bore as much sway by his Councill at Narraganset (acording to his & theyr small proportions) as Great Mazerreen among y^ frensh, The s^ man called (Potuck)t he came to prouidence lately inquireing how he might get to boesten safe, pretending to peace, but some vnaduisedly not reaching his intent told him he had better goe to Rhode Island disafacting his goeing to y^ bay and they neither considering y* Rhode Island could make noe peace with him y* woul[d] be y^ Indeans peace with y^ Vnited Collonyes for y^ Rhode Island was not in confederacy wit[h] them but y* notwithstand they should pretend to make peace with them others y^ English would fight them & not safe for Rhode Island to trust the Indeans promeses they are soe per- fideous allsoe, but three men there at prouidence consented to his goeing to y^ Island afores"^ & sent him by water & promesed * Quaiapen, Magnus, or Matantuck, known also as the " Sunk Squaw." She was the widow of Makanno, son of old Canonicus. t Potuck was a Narragansett chief who seems to be first mentioned in connection with King Philip's War as an opponent to Christianity. In the Warr in New England visibly ended, 1676, p. 2, it is stated that " one Potuck, a mischievous Engine, and a Counsellour, taken formerly, said to be in Gaol at Rhode Island, is now sent to Boston, and there shot to Death " (See Drake, Book of Indians, pt. iii : p. 76). 176 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. him safe returne to a place called Warwick poynt at three days end, but when he came there onely two or three seemed will- ing to his safe returne after they had largly talked with him (to say two or three of y-" court) y* wear willing to shew it theyr opinion but some of y" Inhabytants girt on theyr swords & s'l he should not goe of from y^ Island aliue saying he had kild more English soules then any Indean (by his councill) or then any had done with weapons others saying yet it was acording to Armes to keep promes with perleys & it would teach them faythfullnes in such cases & y^ contrary would teach them trechory against y^ Hues of inocent soules, but while he was detayned aboute foure score of lusty Indeans well armed waited at y«= place to which he was to returne whome he there apoynted to be & in y^ mean time came Conecticot forces whoe in theyr march met with Indeans & fought them & kild y s<^ olde Queen & many more & came to Warwick & there met with y<= s^ Indeans (who stayd for Potuck) & slew moste of them allsoe, but y s'' potuck is still at Rhode Island but in danger to be killd & it is further obiected against him yt he was one of them y' slew captayne pierce & his men & yt burnt houses at Rehoboth, prouidence, & patuxet & there killd persons & tooke much cattell and allsoe s^ y' they y' promesed him safe returne had noe such power soe to doe, but true it is y* he was promesed safe returne by three to say one Asistant, two called captaynes but I perceiueing his subtillty neither desired his goeing nor promesed him safe returne nor returne, but in court declared my desire of his safe returne for ye fores'* promes which was by the makers without condition and had power not to haue sent him, & if not sent him then had bin at liberty & not bin there violently nor Irregulerly killd with a tumullt seemeth y more vnreasonable y" s'' mens promeses of his safe returne should be or (jcation only his danger o thou god of truth y* art faythfull thoughe we beliue not thou canst not deny thyself make vs faythfull to y^ death to whome & to which thou hast promesed a crowne of life there came in & brought in yesterday fourteen Indeans to Rhode Island some of them poor & leane & one of them HARRIS PAPERS. 177 wounded before they bring in distris for fear of y^ English & Indeans theyr friends, & haueing noe powder, & wanting victualls. we lately hear y* y^ moowhagues haue slayne one Cononi- cus one of y« narragansetts chief sachems * By reason of y« present vnhappy war The kings Majestyes letter & order to y^ foure gouernors cannot be put in Execu- tion, but know of noe other obstruction my euer thankes to God, And y« kings majesty for y^ same. And your Honnors very Humble seruant shall neuer forget your Honnors kindnes William Harris [The following is written up the side of the page.] It seems to be another Cononicus since, not y* of narraganset * Euer since The takeing of y^ great man of Narraganset the war hath gon moste against y^ Indeans, And within two or three dayes after a great army of Indeans supposed a thousand hosted of theyr victoryes at Providence ouer y^ English in a pearley there the fore s^ great man was taken by Conecticot forces, from which time march to this 12'^ of August 1676 two thousand Indeans haue bin killd taken & come in And supposed fifteen hundered before. And some say a thousan English from y^ first slayne, but I doubt neerer fifteen hundered. The Indeans come in dayly, and fight presently against y« Indeans they came from and betray one another into y^ hands of y^ English And because Conecticot forces are most constantly actiue & kill all saue boyes & girls The Indeans haste into y^ Massa- chusets & plimoth to scape them y* are moste like (by y^ help of Indeans y^ are with them) to kill them * In the latter part of June, 1676, " Canonicus the great Sachim of the Narhagansets, distrusting the Proffers of the English, was slain in the Woods by the Mohawks'' (Hubbard, Narrative^ ii: 28). 178 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Another ocation of theyr comeing in is want of powder which is hard to be got they now haueing but Utle to buy it And goe to buy it in great danger of theyr Hues by reason of y^ Indeans called Moowhauges theyr enemy es y* meet with them yt vse to kill & eat theyr enemyes but formerly they haue s^ they had powder of y^ Duch aboute forte Alboney There haue more Indeans dyed since y^ war began by sicknes & hunger then by y^ sword soe y* dead come in &. transported since y^ war each way about seuen thousand, It hath bin gods heuy hand on them as well as on y^ English for they now are not only in dandger of y« English & diuers sorts of Indeans but of theyr owne supposed friends haueing bin soe much trapand by them y' they are afrayed of all they see but least of those of rhode Island for ther they come in & are as well acommodated as euer they wear in theyr Hues only they are called seruants but soone after peace is concluded they will run all away againe as y^ captiues formerly did after y« pequot war forty years since These Indeans did (before y^ war) Hue with more ease, pleasure, & plenty & far les care then poore labouring men & trades men in England but before y^ English came some what like to what they are now once a year like to starue and euery day in danger of theyr Hues by theyr enemyes Just now newes is brought That this 12*^ of August early in ye morneing phillip was Slayne in a swamp within a mile of mount hope & about a mile & half from Rhode Island he was with a few men there & set vpon by one Captayne Ben j amine Church of Plimoth & Captayne Pealeg Sanford of Rhode Island each of them with forty men & y« s'l phiHip shott through ye heart by an Indean y* Hues on Rhode Island and his head & hands are now on y^ s^ Island, here being one M*^ Moore now bounde for y^ north of England I will at y^ next conuenyent opertunity make bolde to derect these by him to your Honnor your Honnors fauour being my continewall re- membrancer for euer of my moste humble & faithfull seruis for your optayneing for me the kings Majestyes letters on my behalf in soe great a straight by reson of grieuous opretion HARRIS PAPERS. 179 Remayneing only with me prayers for y« kings Majestyes long life & your Honnors Very Humble Seruant William Harris I know noe hinderance of y« Execution of y« Kings Majesty s order but y^ present war Impeading y« same 12 August 1676 [Transcript from the original in the British Public Record Office, London, Colonial Papers, xxxvii : no. 47. See Sains- bury, Calendar State Papers, Am. & W. I. l6y^-y6, no. 102 1.] 47 Field and Waterman, Power of Attorney, 4 June, 1677. Endorsed by Harris : — T ff & N W theyre letter of aturny Know all whome it may concerne That we Thomas ffield : And Nathaniell Waterman both of Providence and proprietors in Patuxet haveing had commited against us many trespases by force & divers wrongs And haveing optayned An order of the Kings Majesty to put an end to y^ sd defferences acording to Justice by law We have made William Harris (our partner in ye 8"^ proprietyes) our Aturney : and given him our full power in our name and to our use to sue Implead & procecute to eject all or any persons or person That hath trespased against us acording to his discretion and his acting therin shall be as vailed as if we ourselves personally did y^ same without revo- cation to all intents and purposes in y^ law whatsoever witnes our hands and Scales* this 4th of June 1677 and 29th year of his Majestyes Reigne &c Thomas fifield [l s] Nathaniell Waterman [l s] *The body of this document is in William Harris's handwriting. 180 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. in open Court this Letter of Attorny was owned by Thomas ffeild : and Nathaniell Waterman 19 Nov^ 1676. [sic] D Henchman, Comiss : [Cushman Papers.] 48 Gov. Leverett to Gov. Winslow, 6 June, 1677. Addressed : — To the Hon'^'^ Josiah winslow Esq"^ Gov of the Colony of New Plimouth to be sent Forward to the Honc^ie the Gov^ of Rhode Island & Connecti- cott these dll'^ Boston June the 6*^ 1677. Hono"''* S""^ m'' W'" Harris hath applyed himselfe to me desire- ing that according his Mat^^s Commands of the 4th August 1675 * to the severall Governors of the Collonys of the Massa- chusets Plimoth Connecticott & Rhod Island concerning the lands about patuxett (the warr being well over in those parts) the same might be put in Execution for his reliefe, occasions me to acquaint you that I am ready to attend those comands & desire you would please to manifest yourselves therein & propownd what may be most effectuall thereunto either by drawing a Commission or appoynting that one may be drawn as may be meet, with Blanks for the names of the Commis- sioners from each Colony & also that Jurors may be appoynted, three or foure from each Colony to try the matters of dififi- rences between plaintifs & defendants allso to appoynt time & place, the charge whereof m"" Harris sayth he will defray de- sireing it may be as litle as the business may permitt, thus commending you to God I rest S''^ your Humble Servant John Leverett *The King's letter embodying this order, signed by Williamson, is printed in Conn. Rec. ii : 586-588. HARRIS PAPERS. 181 [Extracts from Conn. MSS. relating to R. I., i : 218, a man- uscript volume, certified to by the Secretary of State of Conn., in the R. I. Hist. Soc. Library.] 49 Gov. WiNSLOw [to Rhode Island], 9 June, 1677. Hono'^'^ Gen* — In complyance w* his Ma^'^^ Commands & M"" Harris his desires, o-" Court have nominated & Impowered the Worp" Thomas Hinckly* & Major James Cudwortht Esqr^to Joyne with such as shall be Impowered & Comissioned by the other Colonyes & have requested that o"" Hon'^'^ the Governo'' & Councill of the Massachusets would drawe the Forme of a Commission, & give Coppyes thereof to us & the other Col- onyes that they may be concurrent. & the Gen* Commissioned being mett together may chuse their presedent of Stuard of sayd Court, we think patuxett the fittest place for tryall If they can be there accomodated & have allso desired o"" neigh- bours of the Massachusetts to appoynt the time giveing timely notice to you & us requesting to give Speedy conveyance to the Governo"" of Conecticutt, rest your Humble Servant Plimouth June 9. 'JT. Josiah Winslow [Extracts from Conn. MSS., i: 219.] * Thomas Hinckley (1618-1706) of Barnstable, was prominent in Ply- mouth colony affairs, as assistant, deputy governor and governor (1681-92). t James Cudworth of Scituate, Mass., had served as representative un- til rejected for tenderness to the Quakers, in 1659, assistant, commis- sioner of the United Colonies, and captain in King Philip's War, com- manding the Plymouth colony troops. Elected deputy governor in 1681, the following year he was sent as colony agent to London, where he died in 1682. 182 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 50 Gov. Arnold [to Gov. Leete] 23 June, 1677. Horf'^ S"" — In obedience to his Maje^s Commands & in concur- rance w*'' the Hon'^'^ the Governc^ of the Massachusetts & Plymouth the Court have chosen & Impowered the Hon'"'' Cap* Peleg Sanford * & Cap* John Green t Assist^ to Joyne w^^ such as shall be Empowered by the other Colonys to Assist in the hearing & (if it may be) putting a good & Finall determi- nation unto that Controversy of m"^ Harris & others & doe well approve of the proposalls by the Hont'ie Josiah winslow Governo"" of Plymouth, onely conceive that patuxett being ruined by fire there is no^conveniency of houseing. But Provi- dence will better accomadate the Gent° that are to travill in that, no more at present but that I am S"" your Humble Ser- vant Newport June 23ti> 1677. Benedict Arnold [Extracts from Conn. MSS., i : 220.] 51 Gov. Leverett to Gov. Winslow, 3 July, 1677. Addressed : — These for the Hono'^^^ Josia Winslow Esq' Governo"' of his Ma^^^^ Colony of New Plimouth. s-- By a Letter from W« Harris 12° June ult° I understand yC ready concurrence & Speedy dispatch in declaring yo"^ Selfe * Peleg Sanford of Newport (i 639-1 701), who held office in the general assembly from 1667 to 1679, and who was chosen governor from 1680 to 1683. t John Green of Warwick (1620-1708), who served in the assembly al- most continually from 1652 to 1690, and from 1690 to 1700 was chosen deputy governor. His place of residence, perhaps, explains why, al- though nominated, he did not finally serve upon the court. HARRIS PAPERS. 183 obedient to his Ma*'^^ coiriands from Hampton Court 24° Aug" in the 27° yeare of his Majti^^ Reign 1675. in chooseing Comission'^s & Jurymen & saith hee hath not as yet shewed to you, against whome hee complaines ; but in his to mee saith. hee complaines against WilHam Randall & his partn'^s xho : Dexter partn"^ w*'^ Cap* Hubbard,* and divers persons of Re- hoboth, as the Smiths, Hunts or Hunt & therefore desires the Jurors may bee desired to shew whither they bee concerned or a kin ; hee also desires the easiest or cheapest way may bee consulted for entrys of complaints ; which I thinke is his worke with the Cornission''5 I have herewith sent a draught of a Comission. I intend to those sent by mee ; which if liked you and others may use, or others if you and they see meete ; If anything in it you judge meete to alter. I shall readily com- ply w^*! your reason : I set not the President on choice but as put upon it that there may bee a forwarding of the worke — S'' you will heare of the Lords hand going out against us at black point, t [ ] were appointed to rendevouz the 26° June. the. [ ] they engaged the Enemy ; who were enter- tained by a briske first and second party of them, put to re- treat and ambuscaded in theire retreat, so that tho. our men fought like men of valour wee are cut off, Cap* L' & Officers and nigh 50 English and Indians slain and wounded ; what the Enemy lost wee understand not, but doubtless they must loose many : ffrom Kenebeck Indians wee have rec^ Letters de- siring a peace ; Majo"" Clarke is gone thither to understand the motions of the Gentlemen from Gov^ Andros ; the Lord in mercy fit us to his pleasure, certainly it will not sound well, * William Randall (1647-17 12) of Scituate appears in the vicinity of Providence as early as 1674. In 1684 he purchased land from his father- in-law, Henry Fowler. The property which he possessed and which Harris claimed was between the present Randall's Pond and the Pocasset River. Thomas Dexter was probably of Sandwich. Who Captain Hub- bard was is uncertain. t Black Point, now Scarborough, Maine, which was frequently at- tacked by the Indians during 1676 and 1677. 184 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. that being drawn by o"^ ffreinds into a warr wee should bee de- serted by them before it's ended ; If so. the Lord will help us out of it as formerly. Thus with kinde respects from my Selfe and wife to yo"" Selfe and Lady I comend you to God & rest. S' Yo"" humble Servant. Boston. July. 3"^ 1677. @ John : Leverett majo"" Thomas Savage & Capt Dan Hincham are those pitch'^ upon to be Comisioned I have Sent like to Governo"" Leet S"" there is a remayne of the Irish charity w^^ if you please to order wilbe delivered but it is desyred that wil order it to be receyved at once fro m"" Talo"" m"" Deane [ ] Dudley * [Cushman Papers.] 52 Gov. Leete to Gov. Leverett, 6 July, 1677. Hartford July 6* 1677. Hon'"'^ S"" — upon receipt of the foregoing letters t that came to hand 4'^ Instant, these may testify (by o'' Subscription) o*" ready complyance with what is therein propownded upon m"" Harris his behalfe, like as had been before desired by him- selfe, & by us accepted, onely for time & place, we leave with *A committee, headed by Nathaniel, the brother of Increase Mather, secured subscriptions in and around Dublin, Ireland, to send a ship, the Katherine, loaded with meal, oatmeal, wheat, malt, butter, cheese, etc., to relieve the needs of the sufferers from the Indian war in New Eng- land. Most of the relief went to Plymouth colony. The committee consisted of [William?] Taylor, Thomas Deane and Paul Dudley. Mr. Charles Deane printed the little that is known about " The Irish Dona- tion of 1676" in the JV. E. Hist. Gen. Register^ ii : 245-250. t This enclosed copies of the letters of Governors Winslow and Arnold, Nos. 49 and 50. HARRIS PAPERS. 185 yourselfe to Express : & then shall we so endeavour to attend the service, haveing chosen & impowered the Honor day of May next to be held at Boston ; To w^'^ Time & place this Court is adjourned. [Cushman Papers.] 71 Deposition of Field and Steere, 19 November, 1677. Endorsed by Harris : — The testamony of John Steer & Zacary ffield proveing y* wanasquetucket River runs up into y^ Country twelve or 14 mile Zachary ffeild of the Towne of providence being Engaged acording to law testifieth as ffolloweth, that the head of the HARRIS PAPERS. 227 river called Wanassquatuckett River, is aboute twelve or fowerteene miles from the hill Called fox his hill : in disstance westwardly from the sayd hill or neere there aboute,* this this deponant sayth is truth and further sayth not, Taken upon oath this : 19**' day of November 1677 before me John Whipple Junr Assistante. John Stere of the Towne of Providence being Engaged acor- ing to law testifieth in all resspects to the Truth of the above- sd tesstemony of the sd Zachary ffeild, Taken upon oath this 19* : day of November : 1677 : before me John Whipple Junr Assistant : [Cushman Papers.] 72 Dexter and Fenner to the Court, 22 November, 1677. Endorsed: — Arthur Fenners reasons why the Town of Providence should not pay the damage demanded by Wm Harris — 22<^ Nov 1677. Reasons why y^ towne of providence should not pay any damage to William Harris presented to y^ Court and jury this 22* of y« 9**^ month 1677. by adjournment [ffirst] this towne hath not bin sued at all by a writt of partion [B]ut for him to goe to England, as he saith to pray a reamidy to y^ king [in] Councill for lo^' damage, & thus to Trouble this coonttrey [alsoe be]fore he hath sued here, Lett y* be con- sidered. *See Olney's and Hawkins' testimony under date of 21 October, 1670. (No. 33, p. 102.) 228 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. [The] second is, That he would have partition betwixt [two] Rivers, but knows not to what branch of thre[e confessing he] never did see them Therefore why we should be [damified by wa] Iking y^ wildernesse with him, judge ye. [More] reasons we have but we will not [adde nore to y*"" heavy Load of y^] sittings Gregory Dexter Arth[er ffenner] In the behalfe of our selves & so for the Town [Cushman Papers. The words in brackets are supplied from a transcript evidently made before the document came into its present mutilated condition.] 73 Court's Warrant to Way, 24 November, 1677. Endorsed : — Georg Wayes retorn of his warrant. Att a Court of Commitioners held at Providence in the Collony of Rhoad Island & Providence Plantations &c : by adjurnment the 17: Novemb"" 1677 By his Maj^'^^ Spetiall Command &c To George Way Towne Serjent of the said towne of Provi- dence Greetinge &c. You are in his Majt'^^ Name hereby Requiered, and strictly Commanded : after those men that shall bee deputed by the Said towne of Providence : hav Runn the thwart Line from the head of Wenasquetucket River to Pawtuxet River : and the Lyne of devition, Betweene the afore Said Rivers of Paw- tuxet and Wenasquetucket according to the virdicts of Jury, and Judgments of Court thereon &c : forthwith [to deliver po]ssition of [the] Lands Lying on the South side of the said Lyne of pertition, that Runns Betweene the Rivers of Paw- HARRIS PAPERS. 229 tuxet and Wenesquetucket, unto m"^ William Harris, m*^ Thomas ffeild, and m"" Nathaniell Waterman all of Pawtuxet, and Providence, to be possesed by them according to theire Respective parts and shares thereof you are alsoe Requiered to make a true Returne of your proseeds herein, unto some one of the Commition^s of the Said Court hereof fayle not as you will answere the Contrary : Given under our hands the 24*^ day of November : 1677 : Simon Lynde Tho Hinckley Pi^sid* D Henchman James : Cudworth George Denison Peleg Sanford Daniell Wetherell John Coggeshall This warrant was retornd by y^ said Georg Way to y^ Court of Comission'^s sitting by Adjournment at Providenc on y^ 18 June 1678 declaring that he had not executed y« same because they had not agreed to "^fect y« running of the foresaid lines* [Cushman Papers.] Tho Hinckley P-^sidt 74 Harris to Town of Providence, 6 April, 1678. Endorsed by Harris : — my bill to y^ Towne y' we wear Redy to commit y^ Judging & Settelling of y^ head of wanasque- tucket River to such as we should Chuese equally but the s^ towne refuseth Whereas his Majestyes Court y' sate y^: I7*'': of november last, And upon y^ Verdict given by y^ Jury in a Demaund betweene some of pautuxett ; and others of y« Towne of provi- dence, that to y^ head of wanasquetucket River, a line of Devition should be run, And Considering y' those of pautuxett *This return is in Hinckley's handwriting. 230 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. y* desired it need not be required to doe it, but those y» oposed it, (: after theire title to it of pautuxett proved to y« Jury) (and theire verdict upon it) Therefore y« s^ Court required those of providence to doe it,* yet y« s^ Court intending y* both partys should Joyntly agree as y^ s^ Court spake, but for y' y« s«* Towne of Providence (Excepting some persons) doth not at all incline any meanes of Joynt Agreement thereabout with us, demaundants, but Continue still theire former detainer of a part of our Just Right, still intending to perplexe us and trouble y« sd Court and Country, our Intention of prevention of all which is as followeth (to say) we are ready to Joyne with our Adver- sareys of Providence to gett a Surveior or two Joyntly to put our power into their hands to fix y^ place for y^ head of y^ sd wanasquetuckett River, to run and Agree y« thwart or right line, and y« midle line of Devition betweene us &c : and what y^ sd seveyors doe therein or thereabout wee will abide by and Acknowledge in y^ sd Court openly. And that it may further yet apeare, y* we doe not desire to trouble y^ Court nor Country about y« other part of y^ Issue put in tryall above y« head of y^ sayd River as high as pen- hungganset whether we have not y^ best Right according to our proportions in y^ quarter part of y^ whole, wee are also will- ing to reffer to y^ sd surveior or surveyors as aforsayd — But if y sd Towne refuse our sd peaceable offer, or returne us a Contrary Answer or none, then wee will procecute our sd Issue put to y^ sd Jury at y^sd Court as y« law Alows and requires as we shall prove. To ye sd Towne mett this : 6^^ of Aprill :t 1678 : In behalfe of Thomas ffeild and myselfe of pautuxett William Harris : *0n 24 December, 1677, the Providence Town meeting had appointed Arthur Fenner, Stephen Arnold and William Hopkins as a committee " to take a veiw of wannassquatuket river, and where the head of the sayd River is that soe the line may be runn acording to the verdict of ye Jury" {Prov. ^^^., viii: 21). t At the town meeting on this date, it was voted to refer the " Bill pre- sented by William Harris " to the next quarter meeting. {Prov. /^ec.,vu\ : 26.) HARRIS PAPERS. 231 A True Coppie of a Bill Exhibeted to our Towne according to y« date before s^, Coppied May y«: 20*: 1678 as Attest John Whipple Jun"^ Gierke : [Cushman Papers.] 75 Harris to Hinckley, 15 April, 1678. Addressed by Harris : — To the Worshipfull Thomas Hinck- ley Esquire at his House in Bastable Worshipfull S"" with y^ Rest of the Kinges Majestyes Com- mitionors, My humble petition is That y^ would be pleased to Concider The sore & weary travells, Great Encombarance & Charge by many wrongfull molestations opretions & hinder- ances by many persons for a long time And yet our cause by y^ good providence of God The Justice of y« Court & Country hath hitherto apeared Just, yet never y« les our Adversary es are not satisfyde but continew restles & as Implakable as ever & insinuate threates of great danger, And some of our adver- saryes of John Harrudes party have of late since verdict & Judgment for our title & against them fetched of some hay y* stood upon y« s<^ land And lately came to burne y^ woodes ther to defend y^ fences ther calling them theyres by all which & much more theyr sending to England* or pretending soe to doe shewes more fully theyr dispozitions as I have sd & to my Cost moste certaynly found to be restlesly troublesome. And as to y^ men of providence (our adversaryes) they are as far from any peacable Agreement as ever they wear derydeing & con- demning y^ verdict & Judgment against them, M"" Williams in theyr owne towne meeting saying that y« Court & Country in * The town of Warwick, on 29 November, 1677, had appointed Holden and Greene to proceed to England to protest the verdict (Arnold, History of R. /., i : 434)- 232 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ye said case had done unjustly. And Captayne ffenner sd The Judgment contradicted y« verdict, And concidering that noe Clemency nor forbearance betters them nor puts them to any new concideration to reformation It seemeth not A mean to reform them but rather rayseth theyr transported proude pation by pryde to deryde as afore s"^ & too much more to recite And for that they say the Judgment contradicts y^ verdict And for yt ye legallety of both Is not only y^ Honnor & safty of y^ Courte but our safty allsoe, And for y' by y^ law of England it is in ye power of y^ Court to amend any misprision of a Clerk (if any be) &c while y^ case is depending in Court both before & after Judgment as in y^ 9 H 5, 4 & y^ s^ statute made per- petuall ye 4 H 6, 3* not doubting but your worships know it, but I mention y^ s^ y* our reasons of our requests may therby be understood &c why I pray y^ s<^ Jury may againe be Called who may better shew theyr true intent then Captayne ffenner by which his s^ aspertion he would seem to bring y^ Court under ye penalty of ye 8 R 2, 4t for Chainging a verdict. And Concidering y* ye sd Jury had Commited to them an Issue Joyned grounded upon two other partes of our grantes to which thoughe ye sd Jury wear sworne as to ye rest yet by reason of remote dwelling & ye winter Season wear prevented from give- ing any verdict therupon, for want of which we are without remedy deprived of our rightes by our insulting & ungratfull adversaryes to whom we have granted too much all redy I pray Justice to defend ye rest. And if it soe be y' ye Jury wear dismised yet I pray ye Court agayne to require them And our farther reason is from ye 13 Ed i, 25,$ by which statute in a suit wher ther hath bin verdict & Judgment yet if he y^ had Judgment agaynst him can produce record or rolles y* might *" Justices in certain cases may amend their Records." t " The penalty if a Judge or Clerk make any false Entry, raze a Roll, or change a verdict . . . Fine and ransom at the King's will." I The statute of the assize of novel disseisin, by which a defendant who had had judgment rendered against him could obtain a writ of venire facias de novo upon presentation of new " record or rolles." HARRIS PAPERS. 233 have stood him insted or avayled him (in y^ Judgment of y^ Court) before Judgment pased agaynst him by y^ sd law y^ sd Court shall agayne require y^ sd Jury and y^ partyes And y<= sd Jury is to pas upon y^ sd papers or rolles, whenc I reson thus If y^ Judges may require a Jury & y^ same Jury to pas in a case between y^ same persons wher a verdict & Judgment by y« same Court & Jury hath found & Judged How much rather may this Court agayne call y^ same Jury to pas upon an Issue then Joyned to which then sworne but for y' time prevented & not yet accomplished Require them to apear & give in theyr verdict therupon & require y^ apearance of both partyes. my encombrances are very many & only ayded by Gods Assistance agaynst my many adversaryes with many perplexetyes They of Warwick lately Arested me And my partnor Thomas ffield in an action upon a bond of five hundered pound to this Collony Court y« sixt of may next y^ sd bond being obtruded upon his uncle (since ded) & me A menased worthies thing to stand to y^ verdict of y^ Jury and Judgment of y^ Court as we did the sd action was only of trespas by us commenced against Warwick which sd arest of Thomas ffield hath put him into a troublesome pation acording to his humor to encreace of my encomberance I am in y Custody of y^ Goaler but aboute my urgent ocations upon my owne bond to him to returne to him to be at y^ Court, They of Warwick say we have forfeited ye s^ bond for sueing to y« king & in his Court but our action then was only trespas for gras &c but they pretend by our bond y' we might never sue more for our land, but y« law of England forbides any to deny suit in y^ kings higher courtes If our action then had bin a demand of land which was not And as y^ bond by theyr adherentes was obtruded soe it is simple like y^ obtrution it names noe party nor person to whome bounde & therfore they in theyr writ doe not say for debt to them nor noe other & indeed therby we are bound to noe body, & we did abyde y^ verdict & Judgment but If we had not execution had bin law but y^ bond contrary & to y« law of England yet we are perplexed by them as we use to be, other slightes they have used to keep of execution one of them 234 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. came to me & s'^ If I would keep of execution they would call back theyr Agents y* are gon to new york to goe to England but I sayd to them let them goe I would not forbear executio We have Information that Warwick agents thus predict That they will shew y« King that they wear Judged by incompetent Judges of y^ united Collonyes who formerly plundered them of which wrong say they will now complayne And y' they soe intend : they have soe sd, And Dextor hath bin very active to get them some witnesses I knew not to what perticulerly but in generall as to y« coming up of y« massachusets agaynst them they went to some here in this towne for witnes, And Roger Williams hath wrot to his friends in England to befriend them And in perticuler to y^ lady Vane who promesed him such curtecy and one tould it y' heard him read it Allsoe theyr agents of Warwick sd to Nathaniell Waterman our partner in patuxet & theyr partner in Warwick, y* we had cast them into hands of M"" Browne* (to say) meaning in to y^ hands of y^ granttees & Morgagees of y« Narraganset Country, & then concidering y« unyon of y^ Collonyes And y^ cong- quest and clayme of Conecticot who had woon y^ field & would keep it & try theyr title & condemn it seeing they had not & others had Conounicus his title they wear forced to goe to y^ king to get another maner of tryall And recompence for y« wrong y^ Massachusets they sd had done them theyr Agents being now in England to answer did not doubt but to recover theyr damage And concidering y^ Corespondency they had (& others had not) at New york A tryall would have a happy Judgment there but when y^ warwickeds (to say) theyr agents shall as they will suggest disloyallty of theyr Countrymen & flatter y« King * Warwick, in 1672 and 1673, had controversy with James Browne of Swansea, who with his brother, John Browne, and brother-in-law, Thomas Willet, had purchased land at Potowomut Neck from petty sachems. (See MS. Copies of Warwick Records, pp. 26-30, in R. I. H. S. Library.) Potowomut was claimed by Warwick as being within the lines of her original purchase. HARRIS PAPERS. 235 Then it will be good to shew a booke of theyr great prophets Gortons dedecated to Cromwell wherein he commendeth his dealing with y« king & sayth y* he is a meror for after aiges to looke into & y* he could not well doe other wayes* And war- wickmen offered up to Richard Cromwell a great fire aboute a tree & a pitch barell in y« top therof they being mistically minded most like intended a light to see : & fire to consume Richards & theyr enemyes but y^ smoke & smeech therof well vewed will take of y^ glas of theyr pretended laurell loyalty besydes here seems some preparation for mony for some travelling designe but all events at y« pleasure of God to whome I commend all afayres 15 Aprill 1678 your very humble servant William Harris [Cushman Papers.] 76 Olney and Whipple to the Court, 21 May, 1678. Endorsed : — Th5 Olney Assist & J5 Whipples retorn concn- ing their trust fr5 y« Court To the Hon""^ : y^ Court of Comissioners sitting at Boston by an Adjornment, May y^ 23 : 1678. By his Majesty es speciall Comand. *Gorton's Ati Antidote against the Common Plague of the World, London, 1657, was dedicated "To his Highness OLIVER Lord Pro- tector, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Dominions thereto belonging." At one place in the dedication, Gorton says : " I know not but that God hath made your Highness the mirrour of this age, as also exemplary for that to come." 236 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Whereas at yc last sitting at Providence November y« ly^^: 1677 : Wee received order from you by which wee were required to sumons y^ free men of o"" Towne together to make choyce of men to runn a direct Hne a thwart from y^ head of Wanasquatuckett River to Pautuxett River. And then to runn a Hne Equally betweene y^ sayd Pautuxett River and Wanasquatuckett River untill they meete with y^ afor sd thwart line ; — The which done, then to require, & see y' George Way Gave possession to william Harris, Thomas Afield, & Nathanaell Waterman of y^ landes on y^ south side of y^ sd partition line. According to yo"" Order wee caused y^ Towne to meete upon y" 24th day of Decemb"" 1677 : three men were chosen to doe ye worke which you ordred to be done as to y^ sd lines : Upon ye I7'ii of this instant, o"" Towne being mett wee desired to be informed whether y^ sd worke was perfected y* possession might be given according to yC Order, y* so wee might fully perforrae y^ trust to us comitted ; the answere which wee received was y* y^ worke was not yet perfected so as to be in a Cappacitye for us to give possession ;* wee have since inquired as long as time would give way, but find y^ work is not yet perfected, whereby possession is not performed. Thus have wee rendred yo"" Hon""^ : an account of o"" proceeds. Resting yo""^ : to o'' power May ye 21 : 1678 Thomas Olney Asistant John Whipple : Jun'' : [Harris Papers, p. 93.] *The only action taken by the Town had been on 27 April, 1678, when they accepted the return of the committee as to the head of the Woonas- quatucket river, and voted that John Smith, the surveyor, be procured to run the lines (Prov. 2?ec., viii : 28). Olney and Whipple favored Harris's claims and had protested against the Town's act of 24 December, 1677, as not being "acording to the Comitioms order " {Idem, viii : 22). HARRIS PAPERS. 237 77 Harris to the Court, 23 May, 1678. Honnored Courte siting by the Kings Majestyes spetiall Command at Boston the 2^^^ of May 1678 upon Adjurnment, My Humble petition is That for as much as by verdict & Judgment our true title & right (acording to our proportions) the propriety of the lands of patuxet is found & Judged oures, in & by such good form of law as Required by y^ King his Majesty requireing as y« law allsoe doth Execution without delay we Humblely pray y^ same with all convenyent speed. And pray we may have Restitution and seissin in our s'^ lands with- held & detayned by y^ towne of Warwick at & aboute Toskaun- kanet on y« northward syde of patuxet river & of y^ longest & maynest branch therof as high as penhunggans[et] And allsoe pray we may have Execution as to y^ cost & damage found & Judged due to us from them. And we allsoe pray we may have Restitution & seissin as to y* suite against John Harrud & y^ rest in y* forcable entry & detaynor in y* land called Meshuntatack &c acording as our right hath apeared & bin Cleared by verdict & Judg- ment within y^ fore sd bound And Execution as to our damage & Cost we pray without delay on them allsoe haveing bin a long time opresed defrauded & grieved by them Allsoe we pray A Judgment Against Edmund Calverley & some others with him in y^ action against them (who wear not sued by us in y^ other action) (with Harrud in y* force for y* y'' law Requires when a verdict is a Judgment shall be as by y« 21''' of King James & 13* statute, these words (viz') If any verdict of 12 men shall be given &c y^ Judgment therupon shall not be stayed &c And by y^ 32 H, 8, 30 after a verdict of 12 men is given the Justices shall proceed to give Judgment and divers other statutes so speaking therfore I pray a Judg- ment in y^ s^ case & Execution &c And wheras a partty at providence pretend to be a towne to defraude theyr Neighbors of theyr rights & lands who have 238 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. & Still refus6 to performe theyr promeses & agreements soUemly made with us & to us nor matter y« Judgment nor verdict as to our right nor to obeoy y^ same but contrary therto malligne each to such great contempt of legallety y* we have noe Exspectation of theyr consent to our right nor agree- ment to y* which is Just therfore we pray of y« Court that y^ same Jury may agayne be called to exspres whether y^ Judg- ment be not acording to y« verdict for y* Arthure ffenner sayth the Judgment contradicts y^ verdict therfore If y^ Jury agayne meet y^ truth of y* matter may apear. And allsoe as we pray the Jury may give theyr verdict so to y^ full & whole Issue Joyned between us & commited to them y^ s^ Jury, which apears by our declaration of our demand from our grant which y« Jury hath not as yet sd anything to as verdict And as yet hath only given theyr verdict as to our right to yt land Reaching from y^ lands on wanasquetacket River to patuxet River (in y* case) which sd verdict of y^ s^ Jury y^ s*^ persons with M"" ffenner & M"" ffenner doe endevor to delude and defraude by misrepresenting a head of wanasquetucket River which in law & reason is not y^ head of y« sd River but below & short of y^ head of y« s"^ River which we with great paynes cost and Jeopardy optayned & possesed them with y« same by ver- tue first of a grant to us which sd head they hold & from us y^ same head (as to y^ lands reaching therfrom) to patuxet River, and soe make two heads one higher for themselves and one lower for us And not only soe but insted of runing with us a derect thwart line to patuxet River refuse us in y* matter & run by themselves an inderect line makeing rather an acute Angle and soe intend to devide to us y^ poynte or narrowest end therof & y^ brode end to themselves and y^ longest land* And * In Rider's Hist. Tracts ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100, is published a fac-simile of an old map, probably drawn by Harris's surveyors, which shows the thwart lines as drawn by John Smith. The first thwart line is drawn from a point on the Woonasquatucket river where it is joined by the present Stillwater river directly to the point where the Pawtuxet and HARRIS PAPERS. 239 not only soe but by theyr s^ lines & devition of such s Brineley, John Stanton and Will'" Haffernan who ap- peared not till the next day, & when they came, refused to act or do any thing as to the explanation of what they intended in their former Verdict, alleging that they had with the rest of the Jury given in their Verdict on oath, which was accepted by the Court and they dismist ; * and therefore would not concerne themselves further about it ; but the other nine Gentlemen of the said Jury upon consideration of the matter together, gave in under their hands for explanation of what they intended in their former Verdict by a thwart line from the head of Wenas- quetuckett River, directly running to Pawtuxit River, they meant and did intend a square line from the head of Wen- asquetucket River to Pawtuxit River, which said line runneth neerest W. S. W. from the head of Wenasquetucket River to * The Rhode Island commissioners were undoubtedly right in the stand which they took. There was nothing in English law to justify Hinckley in calling together a jury for a case upon which they had already given judgment and been dismissed. HARRIS PAPERS. 265 Pawtuxit River, which comes from Penhungansit Pond as ap- pears by the Mapp given into His Maj'^^s Court Ocf the 3<^ 1678 whereunto the said nine former Jurors made Oath before the Court the s^ 3^* of October 1678. and wee humbly conceive that the said thwart Hne as explained by the said nine former jurors is that line which according to Verdict of Jury and Jus- tice ought to bee run & possession accordingly given to the Plaintiffs their shares thereof according to Verdicts of Jury and Judgements of Court at least until His Majt'^s pleasure is further knowne and also execution granted for their damage and just costs allowed, yet one of the commiss""^ being absent and two present opposing as aforesaid, and one or two more hesitating about the granting of execution as the matter is now circumstanced. After many long and weary Journeys and ex- pences, wee must leave to his Majt'^s finall determination all that whole affair ; the state whereof wee have given a breif e and true accompt, and wherein wee looked beforehand to receive hard thoughts and words from such whose selfe humours and inter- est being crost are apt enough to cast forth reproaches on such as they deemed to stand in their way ; but whatever mans words bee concerning us, wee can truly say, that with all good conscience it hath been our desire and endeavour according to our best understanding to act justly and impartially in the whole matter committed to our trust ; Wee begg His Maj"«s gracious pardon and your honors for what of weaknesse hath appeared in us, and finally prostrate our selves and that whole affaire at His Maj^'^s fggt ^q ^q therein as his Princely wisdome and Royall grace shall continuedly incline him unto. God grant His Maj''^ may have a long and prosperous reigne, and your Honors prosperity and peace under him. So prays His Maj*'«^ most humble supplyants & Loyall subjects & your Honors humble servants Thomas Hinckley President Simon Lynde. James Cudworth. D. Henchman. George Denison. 266 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. This is a true Copy of the Original! returne of the case of William Harris. Received the 7»'» of October. 1678.* by me John Leverett. [From a transcript in the John Carter Brown Library.] 87 Harris, Power of Attorney, 4 December, 1678. Endorsed by Harris : — A letter of Aturny to Andrew Harris And Howlong Harris This be Knowne to all whome it may concerne That I Wil- liame Harris of patuxet in providenc now being intended to take a vioyage for England upon good concideration for y« good of my posterety And for prevention of great evells intended by my adversaryes to me & myne, Therfore In my absence I apoynt & Impower my son Andrew Harris & my daughter Howlong Harris Joyntly & singlely to be my lawfull Aturny or Aturnyes Investing them & either of them with my full law- full power in my name & sted to my use to preserve keep & defend my lands goodes Chattells & cattell for me, to buy & sell what they see needfull, & to receive my dues, & pay my debts, to defend my lands & posestion by law or by any law- full way. And If they or either of them see need to make one or more Aturny or aturnyes in & for any matter or thing there aboute or suite concerning any of my s^ afayres or busynes here by promesing my s^ aturnyes or either of them reasonable satisfaction for theyr paynes & cost and to keep them harmles in theyr s^ undertakeings Alowing & mayntayning theyr or *The document in the British Record Office is dated at Providence, 5 October, 1678. It was enclosed with a letter from Governor Leverett to Sir Joseph Williamson which was read in Committee 6 December, 1678. {Cal. State Papers Colonial, Am. &> W. /., 1677-1680, no. 810). HARRIS PAPERS. 267 either of theyr actings therein as If I my self personally had •done ye same & ratefy y^ same without revocation, And make my 8"^ aturnyes or aturny theyr acts & doeings in all things one my behalf as avaylable in y^ law as if I my self personally had performed y^ same witnes my hand And seale William Harris my Seale [s]* in y« presence of us signed & sealed y« 4 of desem 1678 [Thomas Harris Senior] Nathaniell Waterman William Harris this : 4 : day : of December : 1678 came before me, and the above sd letter of Attorney owned to be his act and Deed : John Whipple Asistant The Wittnesess to y^ above sd letter of Attorney, Came before me this : 4*"^ : day of : December : 1678 : and owned theire hands as Attest John Whipple Assistant [Cushman Papers.] 88 Harris to the King [May, 1679]. Endorsed by Harris : — A coppy but not perfect &c To The Kings Moste Excelent Majesty The humble Petition of William Harris of patuxet & in behalfe of his partnors in y« s** patuxet In y Majestyes Collony of Rhod Island & provi- dence plantations &c In New england humblely Shewing That upon humble suplication for releif & information of our wrongs to y Majesty for fayr tryalls by y^ good Country In new england we might have remedy against divers parttyes for ♦Harris's seal is a letter H upon a heart, surmounted by the word VPRIGHTE on a ribbon curved in the shape of a half circle. It is repro- duced from a document of 1670 in Rider's Book Notes, xi: 109. 268 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. divers wrongs which y Majesty Gratiously granted by y order of ye 4th of August 1675 And by which we optayned five ver- dicts & foure Judgments, one of y^ sd verdicts & judgment being against the towne of Warwick & purchasors of y^ s^ towne &c who had entered into our lands of patuxet, of which sd purchasors of y^ sd towne of Warwick were one John Green & Randall Holdon in y^ s- New Port on Rhode Island November 24''' : 1679. A true Copy. [Harris Papers, p. 98.] Thomas Ward, assistant A true Cop Chris : Musgrave. 99 Harris to his Attorneys, i December, 1679. Instructions as to posestion & execution Demand posestion acording to y« return to y« King & y^ Kings Command (to say) when a midle line is Run between wanasquetucket river & y* branch of patuxet river y' runs out of penhunganset pond at an equall distance as highe as y^ head of y^ s'^ wanasquetucket River to say as high as a pond called wallins pond, & from thence upon a square or rect angle to y^ s*^ branch of y^ sd patuxet river as to y' posestion recovered by tryall with those of providence And receive noe other poses- tion as to them 320 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. And as to executution on theyr Cattell or Chattells for our Costs & damages take not execution of any y' did not deny us of our sd right line whose names are knowne but take execution only on Gregory Dextor & his partty, & refuse y« cattell of others If they be offered to you And take posestion as to Harrud & his partty & Calverley & y^ rest as neer as you can on theyr perticuler Shares for y« whole wher they had built And If y" can shew theyr or any of theyr cattell (to say) as to Harrud any of his or Relfs, burtons, or burlinghams cattell And as to Calverley his Cattell or tods or any other of theyr partners as sweets or other of them but offer them to abate on those of Harruds party forty Shillings If they will set out cat- tell (to say) Cowkind & they & we to take each one to prise them & first agree on one to be as umpire when they deffer other wise abate nothing And soe doe in all things as to Dextor & his partty but as to costs & damages as to John Towers I wholly ex- scuse them from execution on him as to costs & damages for yt I have other wayes excepted as to him Witnes my hand William Harris I desem 1679 [Harris Papers, p. 99.] 100 Harris to Brinley, 4 April, 1680. Endorsed by Andrew Harris : — A Coppie of a letter to M"" ffrancis Brinley * of Rhode Islan from my father from Arjere dated aprill the 4^'^ 1680 It Came to my hand the 29'^ day of October 1680 at Boston * Brinley (1632-17 19) was a large landholder at Conanicut and Narra- gansett. HARRIS PAPERS. 321 M"" Brinley And faithfull friend, of all I have yet found in New England hopeing you and yours well I pray you to stir up both parties to send bills of the said sum and give the best advice you Can and that it Come in time, and as much sooner as they Can, for till then I Cannot goe, to send by the first ship and bills allsoe by the second least the first should be tooke If the sum faile or the time it is most like to be my death for then I fall into the Cruell mans hands that hath bin like to kill mee allready, therefore If you perceive them uncertayne, I pray you if Can to doe it, And I will asure you in all the lands and other things I have, Commending all thing to god, I left two papers with M' Wharton for you, your humble servant William Harris pray tell M"" Smith Daniell Updike * is well, he may doe well to Redeeme him, and pray send the lines below to my Wife, The Consaull saith, that to Cleare mee it will Cost eleven hundred ninty and one peeces of eight and 5 : Royall to say dollers. The sum if Cleared to sett mee safe one the Christian shore the Consull sayth is eleven hundred ninty and one peeces of eight (to say) dollers, and 5 : Royalls, and fifty dollers to Lon- don it is 800 : miles and all goe in Companyes with a gide, and such danger at one place forced to have and pay a Troop. Deare Wife and Children let us Cast our Care on god with- out distracting feare, thouh I should here dy yet god lives, and I am not without hope but that I may see you againe, let us pray fervently and Continually to god that is able to deliver and soe I Commend you all to god all way, Youres &c the 4^^ : of Aprill 1680. William Harris *A son of Gilbert Updike of Kingston, R. I. He was a mariner, and died in 1704, having finally been ransomed from his captivity by his uncle, Richard Smith. 322 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETV. Tell M"" Richeson * I hope he will take Care of the mater, as to the sum and the time, & minding the first and secon Alsoe (to say) ships, if I live to get home I will doe as much for him A True Coppie, if noe mistake in Compareing it, Ass Attest John Wliipple jun"^ Gierke of the Towne of providence, [Cushman Papers.] 101 Harris to his Family, 6 April, i68o. Endorsed by Andrew Harris : — A Coppy of my ffathers Letter to my Mother from Arjeere dated the 6 of Aprill i68o The s'* Letter Came to my Mothers hand the 13 day of Octo- ber 1680 Deare wife and Children I have wrot to you very breefiy twice and som thing allso a third (in other letters) blame not the maner if I live to see you I shall easely passefy you as to the maner, I was (with others) taken the 24**^ of January ; sold in the markett the 23 : or 24 : of February, And shutt up untill the last day of the last March ; none prmited to Come to mee nor I to any, (but all) (and more then now I tell you) to make mee promise what they would have, and I had not to pay them, and beate on John Chapman of boston untill they made him promise them twelve hundred dollers, and the man I think hath it not, with others, that I have not roome to write of, and if a patterroone please he may kill his slave and onely payes the kings house their sum they are to have. * Amos Richardson, merchant, proprietor in Narragansett lands, deputy to Connecticut Assembly from Stonington, where he died, 1683. It was chiefly through him that Harris had been appointed agent of Connecticut. (See No. 128). HARRIS PAPERS. 323 Upon all which Considerations (and more then I tell you) and your Unsettleedness ; and the matters I am Ingaged in, and what my enemies would say If I should dy, and Judge me and my Just Cause as evill, If I aboute it should bee killed with beating as some are, to make them Cutt (as they speake) that is to make them promise what they aske, though they have it not to pay, are forced as I was, to promise 800 : dollers (that is) soe many times 5^ : which is 200" : and besids that (before I am Cleared) I must pay or some for me to the kings house and other payments to make the said 800 : dollers 1191 : dollers and 5 : Royalls, and if it be paid yet then shall lack fifty at the least to Travell through Spaine France, and Portugall to London, Soe that in all will Cost before I gett to be free here 300 : li : Starling allmost ; beside 50 : dollers to get to London which is to Travell a long Jorny, and I have at present thereby some peace untill the last day of the next March, which time fullfiUs the yeare I Could not have any longer time, and If the sd sume to my paterroone be not payd by that time I fall into his Cruell hands againe And then ordinaryly Cannot exspect to live under it. Therefore shew this to M"" Brinley and to M"" Richeson whome I pray to mind my danger and that they both stir up the Gentlemen that Imployed mee that they doe not leave mee in Arjeere, and Rather then soe they should doe, when I Come hoome I will Recon with them and pay them their de- mand, without puting them to suite or desiring Arbtration, and asure the payment in my Lands and all els that I have, but if Mf Brindley perceive that they will not doe it within that time, then I pray him in that straight not to fayle to doe it, and I will asure him in all my land and all that I have for his payment, And I pray them both to mind it, by the first ship for speede, and by a second for safety ; least the first should mis- cary. If it please god that I get off noe man I hope shall bee more diligent and Carefull in their matter then I, and it may please god that my sufferings and your Charge and myne may Cause the more Candor in the Case, I speake there in to M"" Brindley and M"^ Richeson, my prayers to god is that I may in their Cases suckceede, I doe not love to have any matters dy 324 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. in my hands, and I doe profess faithfully and god knows I ly not that If I had of my owne a thousand pound starling, I would Expend it all for them before they should sufer a de- feate, and I asure them that I have suffered so much here all- redy, that if I should be offered all that is in this worlde I would not undergoe againe the s'^ Conflicts and dangers, and I pray god to strengthen me that I may hould out, I was allmost sinking on museing with those things and my dead Susan and Toleration,* but it pleased god to turne my muse another way and Recover me, And for the present I thank god I am very well in health and yet generally live on bread and water and Could eate more bread if I had it, yet I am in as good liking as I was when taken, I doe not know that I ever had more Con- stant health for the time then I have had evesince I Came from home soe long togeather, but since I Came I saw Daniel Updike and he saith he had a plague sore, and that the s of may 1680 and the other the 22'^ : of August 1680 Deare and Loving Wife & Children my prayers to God all- ways for you That you may not be over bourne with the sor- rowes of this life nor over Come with Care how to Come out of it, we are apt to ease our minds in resting on faithfull friends that are able to helpe us, And I have found God allmightie able and still hath at last allwayes delivered mee, And however Cast me in to troublesom straights, yet thereby hath given mee great, often & Sertaine exsperience of his mercyfull pres- ervation which makes mee still stay on him in hopes of di- liverance by him some way or other. And I asure you my 330 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. greatest feare sorrow & Care is for you, for my owne parte I looke upon this world as a place of suffering & sorrow to fitt us for a nother place of longer continuance and my time is neere ex- spired, and for the rest of my short time I am not over Cearefull for my selfe, let it bee as it pleaseth God, I am Content to dy here if god soe please I am not afraid of death, nor doe I soe distrust god but that I Can Resine you all up to him know- ing his mercie ; And all though I am I thank god, in very good health yet I know not how soone I may dy ; & if here I doe dy I would not have any of you troubled for mee to whome sorrow is in y« sd Case most insedent, only I allways pray god you may allway live Justly (as I hope you will) and love one another and shew mercy as you Can to each other & to all other that you Can. And for my unsettled affayers I Commit them to God whose word of providence upholdeth all things, mee and you, myne & your lives and all. And wee are all his of- spring, and hee father of y^ fatherless of whome we have and shall find mercy. I have wrot of afayres to my friends Con- cerned, and I would not have you trouble yo^selves thereabout, in any straight I Refer you to M"" Hinkley and M"" Brinley. never theless I may if it please God be with you before you are a ware of it. Remember my Love to my brother and Sister and all my friends. And soe I Commend you all to God, farwell Wife your faithfull husband Children your carefull Father William Harris. be still my soule, leave Wife & Children all : not in Arjeere, but in Gods armes lett fall, fly thou to heaven, Rest quiet there a while : Thy Wife will Come to the, and every Childe. There thou shalt meet them that are gon before : Rejoycing there a thousand times much more. Then ever in this world, thou yet hast done : And there shalt meet thy blessed happy Son.* * Toleration Harris. HARRIS PAPERS. 331 There all Joy unspeakable and full of glory : When this life ended now the sadest story, farwell deare soules If in Arjeere I dy : Lett noe one weepe shed teare nor for me Cry. What would you not that wee in heaven should bee : Where there an end of slavery shall see. Or that in Heaven wee should not meet in Joyes : but here & there still parted be with Toyes. Lord when thou dost us parte quiet then the Rest : They first that lose this world they find the best. If Lord to terminate my life hast brought me heither yet all with thee in heaven shall meet to geather. These on this paper Written, is a True Coppie, as Attest John Whipple jun"", Gierke of y^ Towne of providence, if there be noe mistak in Compareing itt. [Cushman Papers.] 105 Stokes to Howlong Harris, 3 July, 1680. Addressed : — These For Howlong Harris Daughter of Wm Harris liveing att Providence in the Colony of Road Hand in New England London the 3 by a Safe hand to Boston without his hand : if you have no opportunity send y" on purpose to John Whipple who * Richard Smith (1630-1692) who was one of the largest landholders in Narragansett. t Anthony Low of Warwick and Swansea was chiefly engaged in the coasting trade. At the time of his death, in 1692, he was owner of the sloop Dolphin. t Wait-Still Winthrop of Boston (1642-1717), son of Governor John Winthrop, of Connecticut. HARRIS PAPERS. 339 will Convey y% only acquaint them w' they be your Sister Violl * was well last friday. am. Yo"" loving friend ffrancis Brinley m«' John Whipell Pray Conveye the within Leters with all spede inclosed under you"^ Covert to m"" Richard wharton in Boston that So they may gooe by the first shipe for ouer frend Haris release fayle not you"" frend, I ame you'' Rich*^ Smith 25'i> octo 1680 Kepe this paper tell I Come to you. [R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., vol. 5, no. 935.] Ill Wharton to Mrs. Harris, 30 October, 1680. Addressed : — Thes ffor M'^^ Susanna Harris at Patuxett Boston October 30 : 1680 M-'s Harris I am glad To find Conecticott Soe just and Compas- sionate to yo' husband, and hope their letter will be accepted as Security to Such as may be made use off for their creditt in England, without other Ingagem^^, but least M"" Lynd and Some others who have greatest Creditt in England should De- murr upon it, it wilbee good to lett y^ Instrument stand as yett, But what lyes in me shalbee done in yo"" husbands be- halfe ; effectually and when M"" Smith Comes downe w<='' wee Expect tyme enough before any Ship goes, wee shall fully Conclude and write to England, In y^ mean time rest Yo"" affectionate freind to serve y" Richard Wharton [Cushman Papers.] ♦Elizabeth Smith, sister of Richard Smith, had married John Viall. 340 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 112 Wharton to Mrs. Harris, 29 May, 1681. Addressed : — Thes ffor M'^^ Susanna Harris at Patuxett M'^s Harris Boston May 29 : 1681 That great respect I have for yc husband hath made me as SolHcitous for his redempcon as if he had been my father ; and hope that by the assistance of his other friends (es- pecially M"" Brinley) y" will shortly heare he is in Cristendome ; The same respect makes me advise y^ : That I have lately been Informed That a '^son makes Suite to yo'' Daughter that hath another wife.* and is alsoe under such other Circum- stances as might Render y« Match Very unhappy, and minister more Matter of Sorrow to her affectionate father Then his Turkish Slavery, Matters as represented have a great appear- ance of Truth, but are under a possibility of being falce May it not therefore be Expedient To Suspend, and acquaint y husband or some faithfull friend with y^ business, that may Truely understand y^ lovers Condicioh, if matters prove falce it will be a great Vindication to him, and Satisfaction to yo"^ Daughtr, if true it may be a happy prevention of misery to y^ family, whose welfare I heartily wish and therefore — offer this advice, with Cordiall respects to yo^ selfe and Daughter I re- main Y"" assured friend to serv y Rich'^ WTiarton [Cushman Papers.] *The name of this person is mentioned in the following letter as Pococke, probably John Pococke, of Newport, who had married widow Mary Almy about 1677. Mrs. Harris acted promptly on Wharton's ad- vice, for on 29 June, 1681, she issued the following public order: "To Capt. Arthor ffenner : Mr. Joseph Jiencks: and Mr. Richard Arnold Asistants : or any other in Authority, these are to forbid you and Every of you, that you doe not Joyne John Pocoke and my Daughter Howlong Harris to geather in marrage: till I here from my Husband of his Con- sent to it," etc. (Prov. Rec, xv: 233). Howlong Harris married Arthur Fenner in 1684. HARRIS PAPERS. 341 113 Wharton to Mrs. Harris, 2 August, i68i. Addressed : — Thes ffor M^^ Susanna Harris at Patuxett w"^ Care Boston Aug» : 2^ 168 1 M-^^ Harris By the Same Ship that brought the Inclosed I have the good news that y husband was certainly redeemed, and was got to Marcelleis a ffrench Port, Soe y* it is hoped he is long Since at London, where he will find his business in good forwardness, and will as a '^son of quality Informs find all Reasonable favour and Supply for his Despatch home, Soe y* I hope to see him this winter. I Sent him y^ last letter y" wrote to my Selfe, and Directions how to Satisfy himselfe, and yo' Daughter with relation to M' Pococke, Soe y' I hope yo"^ Daughter will not be Soe Disobed' : to yo^ Selfe, or desper- ately Indiscreet as to proceed any further without her fathers assent or advice Not els but y' I am Yo"" assured friend To serve y^ Rich'i Wharton [Cushman Papers.] 114 Wharton to Mrs. Harris, 3 December, 1681. Addressed : — Thes ffor M"^. Susanna Harris at Patuxett — Boston Dec"^ s'^. 1681. M"^. Harris Knowing how fast bad news flyes and haveing noe p'^sent oppertunity of Conveyance after y^ Last Ships arivall, I Omitted writeing ever since, and p-'sume M"^ Smith and others have Informed you the Certainty of yo^. husbands Death, which was three dayes after his arivall in London, I have noe further 342 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. accompt thereof, and Soe much I have by two Severall Letters the one from M' Deane that lent halfe y« Money for his redemp- tion, and the other from my Son,* who I Expect by the first ship from London, I pray God Comfort y° and Sanctify this Sad news to you and y"^^. when yo'' Son Comes to Boston I desire to Speake with him, and shall give him y^ best Information I Can in his and yo"^ Concerns, Desire him to looke amongst his fathers papers, for a Bill from Henry Palmer of Road Island to my Selfe, w'^'' I deliverd yo'' husband at Road Island about two Months before he went away, If in anything I Can be help- full to y : " my respects to him thats gone will oblige me to be yc assured friend To serve y" Richd Wharton [Cushman Papers.] 115 Brinley to Mrs. Harris, 21 December, 1681. Addressed : — To M" Susanna Harris at her howse in Pau- tuxit NcAvporte the 21'^ of December 1681 M"^ Susanna Harris I Received yours 2 dayes since and have hardly time to write to you an answer, you may be Confident, that trust your Husband my very good friend Reposed in me I will faithfully Performe, your husbands Will is in my hands, and when you see Convenient will open it before the Governor, take a Copy of it and send you the Originall,t this I intend to do least it should miscarry in goeing to you, what advice I * Probably William Wharton, who is known to have been abroad as early as 1680 (d Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll.., iii : 466). t Harris's will is printed in Prov. Rec, vi : 48-58. The inventory of his estate, in the same volume, pp. 75-89, is larger than any other recorded in Providence during the seventeenth century. HARRIS PAPERS. 343 am Capable to give you, will assist you to my power, and doe think it very necessary that with all diligence you proceede to put an issue to that troublesome affaire that your husband traveled so much in, and in a likely way, had he lived, might in a short time Received the end of his desire, I Received a letter from Providence, from some that were Concerned with your husband, pray acquaint them, (by Reason of my suddaine goeing westward, from whence if the Lord permitt will sud- dainly Returne) I have not time hardly to write, but will be mindfull of what they writ. It were necessary to draw a writ- ing, and state the Case how far you"" proceeded in his business before he went of what has been don since, that so it may be Carried on where he left it, for my part I am ignorant how it stands only by Reporte, I want some better information, M"" Whorton is a very Capable man to assist you and willing : your husband died in his friend stokes his house, and my kinsman * that paid halfe his Redemtion was with him a little before his death, but he was Capable then to give an answer, present my Respects to your daughter I am in hast yours to serve you ffrancis Brinley A True Coppie : Exstacted out of y^ originall and Compared this : ii'^ : day of January 1681 : or 82 As Attest John Whipple of the Towne of providence Clerk : [Cushman Papers.] 116 Mrs. Harris to Andrew Harris, 12 January, 1681-2. Addressed : — ffor Andrew Harris my Son ; Son Andrew, Harris You are not Ignorant how greately I have desired a unity * Capt. Thomas Dean and a Mr. Lease lent the money for Harris's re- demption. (See No. 120.) The published pedigrees of the Brinleys ap- parently show no relationship with any of either name. 344 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. amongst us whome your Carefull father hath now left destitute of husband, & father, by his death ; I have & doe greately de- sire, as your father by his will hath appoynted myselfe, & you, & your Sister Howlong joynt Exsecutors, that wee may joyntly goe one to gether to y^ settling of y^ Estate according as y^ law in such Cases requires ; upon your former refusall, my selfe & your sister Howlong as wee are Exsecutrixes to your ffathers will, have made choyce of your unkle Thomas Harris & our Cousin Thomas ffield * to take an Enventorey with us of y« Estate, wee pray you seperate not your selfe from us t but that you would joyntly act along with us, that so you"" deceased fathers will may by us all, be unanimously performed : but if you detirmine with your selfe not to joyne with us as afore- said, Then wee doe desire, and demaund of you, Emediatly to deliver up unto us the Key of y* Chest which is at Nathaniell Watermans house, that so y^ goodes therein may be Come at to be prised, or otherwise wee must be Constrained to take some other legall way to Come at them ; And also y* you doe bring forth & deliver up all those goodes & Cattle in your hands, or Custodye which are part of your ffathers Estate ; January y^ 12''' : Your loving mother, 1681. & your Sister Exsecutrixes to your deceased ffather Susan Harris Howlong Harris [Cushman Papers.] ♦Thomas Field, who married Martha Harris, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris. t Howlong Harris Fenner, sister of Andrew Harris, stated in a declara- tion of 1708 : — " I have cause to remember the transactions of my father, his surveying and his journeys and charges and impoverishment and grievous toil and labour I had and anger I met with from my aged crasie mother while my brother kept himself free from the trouble of my father's business " {/?. I. Hist. Soc. Pub., iv : 198). HARRIS PAPERS. 345 117 Petition of Carpenter and Others Concerning Pawtuxet, 12 September, 1682. Where as there was an arbetration in the yeare 1657 : and men mutually Chosen to determin a Case of diferance Con- serning Tytle of Land in Contravecey at or neare pawtuxet be- twene andrew harris & William ffeild in whos steed Thomas ffeild is Com) and Richard Waterman in whose steed Nathan- iell Waterman is Com) and Thomas Olney Senior of the one part : & William Arnold William Carpenter & Zachariah Rhoads of the other parte The men Chosen were Majer Wil- liam hathorn : Captain Eleasor lusher & M"" John Eston & M"" Joseph Torrey who delivered there determination in writing according to the Tenour of the bonds : * the which determina- tion ought to have bene performed long a goe : and now long time is Expired and nothing is don there in : and sevrall per- sons wants there land and Can not make use thereof for want of a devision Now therefore we who ar at present Conserned in the forsaid matter whos names ar under writen doe by these presentes make a Just demaund of you for to Joyne with us & those Conserned to devid the said land according to the de- termination of the forsaid arbetrators with in Three monthes after the datt here of : and we doe desiar also an answer from you in writing of your mindes what you doe will and intend in this matter with in seaven or eight days : t and so in Confirm- * Their award, dated 15 June, 1657, is printed in Prov. Rec, xv: 94-95. t Ten of the Pawtuxet proprietors, including Stephen Arnold, but not Reape or Carpenter, signed an agreement, dated 27 November, 1682, to disregard the arbitration of 1657, which "made the foresayd difference more darke & dubous then it was before " and arranged a division of the land more to their liking. Since some of the proprietors still refused to consent to any division except according to the arbitration of 1657, another document, dated 12 May, 1686, was drawn up by the ten propri- etors, binding themselves mutually in a bond of ^150 to observe the agree- ment of 1682. {Prov. Rec, xiv: 145-148). On 4 May, 1689, they divided the Pawtuxet lands according to this agreement, describing them as not extending beyond the Pocasset River {Prov. Rec, iv : 147). 346 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ation of this our Just demand of you we doe here unto sett our hands the Twelveth day of September 1682 [Cushman Papers.] the marke [X] of Joan Reepe William Carpenter Stephen Arnold 118 Petition of Waterman and Field, 31 October, 1683. To the Hon''T3Gr/0Hq OOTi —Qc^bt "^ ; I- / ^ LIST OF NAMES Absolute Swamp. An original boundary of Providence and undoubtedly the swamp northwest of the present Olney's Pond and southeast of the junction of the Louisquisset Pike and the so-called Breakneck Road, in the town of Lincoln. {P. R. n-.yi; iii : 243 ; and Fenner Papers no. 177 17 in City Hall.) Antashantuck. The neck of land in the bend of the Pocasset River, east of the present Randall's Pond in the town of Cranston. Antashantuck Pond was the present Ran- dall's Pond. {P. /?. 4 : 68 ; viii : 72 ; and plat in Fenner Papers, p. 43, in R. L Hist. Soc.) AscocANOxsucK. The single mention of this locality in 1667 gives no clue as to its location. {P. R. i : 36.) AssoPUMSETT Brook. See Ossapimsuck Brook. Baileys Butts. Two little hills formerly located on the western side of the present Grotto Brook running into Bai- leys Cove, and probably on either side of the present Black- stone Boulevard near Magellan street. (P. R. iii : 76, 188, and Lockwood Map of 1835. These may be the two little hills shown on Hayward's Plan of the Proposed Survey of the Boston and Providence Railway, 1828.) Baileys Cove. The cove at the southeast end of the But- ler Hospital grounds into which the present Grotto Brook runs. It was also called Baileys Further Cove or Upper Cove. Baileys Hither Cove or Lower Cove was about one- sixth of a mile further south, where the brook from Cat Swamp empties into the Seekonk River. {P. i?. i : 84 ; ii : 36, 106 ; iv : 144 ; viii : 73 ; and Lockwood Map of 1835.) 378 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Benedicts Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 1659, being practically in the same location as it is at the pres- ent time — south of the junction of Union avenue and Wads- worth street. {P. R. i : 99, and Hopkins 1882 Atlas.) Bewits Brow. This locality, one of the original bounda- ries of Providence lands, was on the west side of the Moshas- suck River. The order in which it is listed in the " Sovereign Plaister " would seem to place it somewhere near the present Saylesville, but a careful study of early deeds places it a mile south of where the Moshassuck River bends toward the west at the upper end of the North Burial Ground. According to 1 8th century tradition the brow of land formerly southwest of the present junction of Charles and Hawes streets was called Bewits Brow. {P. R. ii:i8, 19, 73; iii : 243 ; and Harris Papers, p. 92.) Blackstone River. In the 17th century almost invariably called the Pawtucket River. A rare instance of the present name is in Harris Papers, p. 171. Broad Cove. The present Burgess Cove, north of Fields Point. {P. R. ii : 32 ; vi : 37.) Cat Swamp. Mentioned in the records as early as 1669, although of somewhat larger extent than its present area. {P. R. iii : 118, and Lockwood Map of 1835.) Caucaunjawatchuck. a tract of land directly northeast of the present Olneys Pond in the town of Lincoln. {P. R. i : 34 ; V : 87 ; xi : 139 ; and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) Cedar Swamp Brook. The "brook from the cedar swamp flowing into Neutaconkanut river" is mentioned frequently in the early records. Identical with the present Cedar Swamp Brook in the town of Johnston. {P. R. viii : 72, 81; xiv : 100, 220.) LIST OF NAMES. 379 Chapompamiskock. a large tract of land extending south- east from the present Chopmist Hill in the northwest corner of Scituate. The name was also applied to the hill itself. {P. R. viii : 138 ; xii : 68 ; xvi : 322.) Cold Spring. The only apparent mention of the locality of this name near Red Bridge in the early records is in 1681, where the place spoken of is undoubtedly identical with the Cold Spring situated at the extreme eastern end of East Man- ning street. {P. R. viii : 91 and Plat Cards 112 and 125 in City Hall.) Another locality called Cold Spring was south- east of Scotts Pond, being situated near the present corner of Lonsdale avenue and Crossman street in the city of Central Falls. {P. R. ix : 16 ; xiv : 16 ; and Walling Map of 1862.) Cove. " The Cove " or great body of water formed by the joining of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers, as is shown on all the early maps of Providence, was so called as early as 1671. {P. R. iii : 214 ; v : 199, 227.) CowPEN Point. A point jutting into the Providence River at the present corner of Point and Eddy streets. Ap- pears on the Anthony Map of 1803. {P. R. ii : 103 ; viii : 69.) Cranberry Pond. That part of the present Scotts Pond, in the town of Lincoln, which was known as Cranberry Pond before the construction of the Blackstone Canal, and which to-day is sometimes called Floating Island Pond. {P. R. iii : 163 ; xiv : 13-16 ; and Stevens Map of 1831.) Crookfall Brook. This brook, the present boundary between Lincoln and North Smithfield, was so called as early as 1683. It was more often, however, termed the Wesquad- omeset. {P. R. iv : 143 ; xiv : 194 ; xvii : 20.) Devils Hole. A deep hole on the west side of the Woonasquatucket River, near the present village of Dyer- 380 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ville. {P. R. v: 97, 139; xi : 181 ; xiv : 152; and MS. Deeds, iv: 187, in City Hall.) Dirty Cove. See Hawkins Cove. Dividing Line between Providence and Pawtuxet lands. The attempt is here made to summarize the various details of action regarding this line, from 1640 until its final settlement in 1712. The line from Sassafras Cove to the tree at Mashapaug and thence between the Pawtuxet and Woonasquatucket rivers "of an even distance" was agreed upon July 27, 1640 {P. R. XV : 2, 76). It was apparently run out by the Pawtuxet men in 1659 (xv : 76) and by a joint committee sometime between 1661 and 1665 (xvii : 215 ; Harris Papers, p. 256). In 1660 the Town of Providence voted that they would own the line to extend equally between the two rivers for twenty miles, which vote, as later testimony shows, was procured at a " packed " meeting {P. R. ii : 125 ; and Fenner Papers no. 16675 i^i City Hall). On April 27, 1661, a joint committee was ap- pointed to extend the line beyond Mashapaug {P. R. iii : 2). This line, however, as Harris shows in his account of the sur- vey, was run much too far north, to Hipses Rock {Harris Papers, p. 256). A joint committee appointed in 1665 to ex- tend the line correctly beyond Mashapaug never accomplished anything {P. R. iii : 61 ; xvii : 245). In 1669 the committee of 1661 reported that they had run the line from Sassafras Cove to Mashapaug, thence north to a point midway between the two rivers, thence west to a point near the Pocasset River, which report was accepted by the Town (iii : 136 ; xvii : 215). The subject of the dividing line rested until Harris ob- tained his order from the Court, November 24, 1677, requir- ing Providence to run a direct line from the head of the Woonasquatucket River to the Pawtuxet River, and then a line equi-distant between the two rivers to this thwart line (viii : 46 ; XV : 174). Providence immediately appointed a committee (viii: 21), but endeavored to shorten the Pawtuxet territory LIST OF NAMES. 381 by running a thwart line from the head of the Woonasqua- tucket River to a point on the Pawtuxet River near its mouth (viii : 28, 31 ; Harris Papers, p. 238 ; and map in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100). Although the Court disapproved of this method of running the thwart line and an order was obtained from the King requiring a true execution of the ver- dicts, yet the death of Harris, in 1681, removed the leader of the Pawtuxet men from the field, and on January 16, 1683, a joint committee agreed that the western boundary of the Paw- tuxet territory should be the seven-mile line, and that the northern boundary should be a line running from a center point on a head line through the tree at Mashapaug to a point on the seven-mile line midway between the Woonasquatucket River and the Warwick north line {P. R.'w : 73), which was practically an equi-distant line between the two rivers. Provi- dence approved of this report and ordered the lines to be run without delay (viii: 130). Yet, although this order was re- newed in 1698 and in 1706 (xi : 43, 105) and was made the subject of numerous petitions from the Pawtuxet men (xvii : 230-274), it was not until May 14, 171 1, that the line was finally run by a joint committee. This line ran from a marked stone at Mashapaug west 14° north to the seven-mile line, and from that point due south to the Warwick line (xvii : 282). Its more specific boundaries are given in the Harris Papers, p. 371. The committee's report was drawn up on February 11, 1712, and recorded, marked "accepted," on March 3, 1712 (xvii : 284.) Dry Brook. Situated in the town of Johnston and still so called. (P. R. v: 180.) The present reservoirs on the brook, however, are of comparatively recent construction. Foxes Hill. Appears in the records as early as 1644. The hill, which has been mostly cut away, extended between the present South Main and Ann streets as far south as India street, the highest point being near the present corner of Brook and Tockwotton streets. {P . R . \\ : S, and engraving on Anthony Map of 1823.) 382 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Gotham Valley. A valley, formerly so called, located south of the southern bend of the Woonasquatucket River near the present junction of the Hartford and Plainfield roads. (P.R.i'.S; xiv : i68.) Great Meadow Hollow. A valley, mentioned frequently in the early records, directly south of the present junction of Lonsdale avenue and Main street, in Pawtucket. It appears on the Lockwood Map of 1835, where it is called Meadow Hollow. The Great Meadow itself lay on the Moshassuck River to the west of the Hollow. (P. R. i\: y ; iii : 98 ; xi : 165 ; xiv : 162.) Great Point. A hilly point on the northern side of the old Cove, being practically at the present junction of Gaspee street and Kinsley avenue. (P. R. ii : 36; iii: 175; and Lockwood Map of 1835.) Great Pond. That part of the present Scotts Pond in the town of Lincoln which was known as Scotts Pond before the Blackstone Canal was built. {P. R. ix : 16 ; xiv : 16.) Earlier known as Worlds End Pond. Great Swamp. A large swamp, much of which still re- mains, extending north from Cypress street, between East avenue and the Swan Point road, nearly as far as Pidge ave- nue. It had four "openings," the first of which was at Cypress street and the second at Rochambeau avenue. {P. R. ii : 16 ; viii : 149.) Its location is well shown on the Lock- wood Map of 1835. Hackeltons Rock. The original name of Dexters Lime Rocks, in the town of Lincoln. {P. R. iii : 8, 66, 229, 241, and Dexter Genealogy, pp. 14, 26.) Hawkins Cove. A cove, the general outline of which can still be seen, at the eastern end of the present Blackstone LIST OF NAMES. 383 street. It was also called Muddy Cove and Dirty Cove. {P. R. xiv: no; Providence MS. Deeds, iv: 237; and Plat Card 66 in City Hall.) It appears on many of the early Providence maps and was formerly the eastern bound of the Providence- Cranston line. (See Cushing & Walling Map of 1849.) Hawkins Hole. A swampy place at the northeastern end of the present Randalls pond, in the town of Cranston. {P. R. iv : 62, 68 ; v : 137 ; and plat in Fenner Papers, p. 43, in R. I. Hist. Society.) HiPSES Rock. Undoubtedly the high rock still standing in the three-cornered tract bounded by the old Plainfield road, the Morgans Mills road and the Pocasset River. (P. R. ii : 73 ; iii : 61 ; xiv: 26; Harris Papers, p. 256; and plat of the "Wise Farm " in the Fenner Papers, p. 11, in the R. I. Hist. Society.) Hunters Rock. The single mention of this locality in 1686 gives little clue as to where it was situated. {P. R. xiv : 227.) HuRTLEBERRY HiLL. The hill, the highest part of which is near the present corner of Eaton and Hillwood streets, that is now called Bradley Hill. {P. R. iii : 88 ; viii : 158 ; and Plat Cards 118, 377, in City Hall.) Joshuas Swamp. A swamp mentioned in the account of Samuel Winsor's estate, in 1687, and probably situated on Small Brook, directly north of the present Chalkstone ave- nue. {P. R. xiv : 41 ; xvii : 54, 97 ; and Plat Card 118 in City Hall.) Keves. a clump of pines on the eastern side of the northern branch of the Woonasquatucket River, and near the present dividing line between North Smithfield and Smith- field. This branch was occasionally called the Nipsachuck 384 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. River. This statement corrects the note on p. 103, infra. {P. R. iii : 244 ; iv : 151 ; v : 106 ; Harris Papers, pp. 102-104 ; and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) Little Flood. See Rumley Marsh. Long Cove. See Sassafras Cove. Long Craft. A small meadow on the Pocasset River, in the vicinity of Neutaconkanut Hill. Its exact location can- not be identified. {P. R. ii : 124, 126; and Fenner Papers, no. 17760, in City Hall.) Long Neck. The neck, still often so called, extending north and south, to the east of the cove at Pawtuxet. It was also called the Little Neck. {P. R. v : 55, 57; xv : 95 ; and Hopkins Atlas of 1882.) On a plat of 1661, in the R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., v: 11, this neck is marked Washouset Point. Long Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 1661, being in the same location as it was until recent years, — west of Elm wood avenue and between Daboll and Cromwell streets. P. R.'\: 54, 95, and 1882 Atlas.) Loquasqussuck. A tract of wooded country comprising practically the northern two-thirds of the present town of Lincoln. Mentioned as early as 1646. {P. R. iii : 26, 245 ; v: 108; and R. I. Col. Rec. i: 32.) Now spelled Louisquisset. Mameawequate. Apparently a boundary of the Mashan- tatuck purchase. {^Harris Papers, p. 63.) Many Holes. A boggy meadow on the west side of Mashapaug Brook, a few hundred feet north of the present Park avenue. {P. R. ii : 13 ; v : 62 ; xiv : 268 ; xvi : 334 ; and plat in Field Papers, p. 84, in R. I. Hist. Society.) The Cun- LIST OF NAMES. 385 liffs Pond of to-day is chiefly artificial, being merely an en- largement of Mashapaug Brook. (See the Stevens Map of 1 83 1 and plat in Riders' Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) Martins Wading Place. A ford on the Blackstone River, a little south of the present village of Ashton, and about 100 feet north of the present Berkeley bridge. {P. R. ii : 86 ; Wilkinson Genealogy, pp. 53-54 ; and Walling Map of 1862.) Mashackqunt. a tract of land beyond Wesquadomeset. {P. R. v: 283.) Mashantatuck. a tract of land, comprising about 4000 acres, purchased of the Indians in 1662. The Indian bounda- ries are so indefinite that it is difficult to tell how far the pur- chase extended beyond Mashantatuck Brook, but in general its boundaries may be said to be the Pocasset River on the east, the Pawtuxet on the south, the Mashantatuck on the west and the Providence-Pawtuxet dividing line on the north. The locality was also occasionally called Paquabuck. {P. R. vi : 197 ; xiv : 290; R. I. Col. Rec. i : 483 ; and Harris Papers, pp. 62, 64, 69.) The name to-day, as it is given to the brook, is spelled Meshanticut. Mashapaug. A tract of meadow land about half a mile southeast of Mashapaug Pond. The locality was an original boundary of the town of Providence and in the earliest days a pathway led to it. {P. R. i:i3; iv:7i, 135; v : 60 ; xiv: 199; XV : 2, 21.) Mashapaug Pond. — Identical with the present pond of the same name, although of somewhat smaller extent; mentioned in the records as early as 1645. {P. R. V : 61 ; vi : 141 ; xv : 74.) Mashapaug Brook. — The outlet from Mashapaug Pond to the Pawtuxet River. The present Park lakes and Cunliffs Pond have been chiefly con- structed by damming this brook. {P. R. i : 45, 94 ; vi : 205 ; and Stevens Map of 1831.) 386 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Maskataquatt. An Indian locality mentioned apparently as the southwestern boundary of the Mashantatuck purchase. {Harris Papers, pp. 63, 64.) Mattetakonitt Meadows. The meadows on the north- western branch of the Woonasquatucket River and directly northwest of the present village of Primrose in the town of North Smithfield. Occasionally called the Mattity Meadows and to-day known as Mattity Swamp. {P. R. viii:i39; xiv: 114; and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) Mile End Cove. A cove formerly on the east side of the Providence River, where Link street is now located. After 1700 it was occasionally called Wickendens Cove. The brook that followed the course of the present Brook street, and turning west flowed into the cove, was called Mile End Cove Brook. {P. R. i : 4 ; ii : 5 ; xvii : 280 ; Hopkins' Home-Lots, p. 60; and plat of 1707 in Steere Getiealogy, p. 193.) Mill River. A name given to the Moshassuck River for a short distance above the present Mill street. {P. 7?. vii : 50 ; xi : 148; and folio Plat Book, i : 7, in City Clerk's office.) MiSHOASAKiT. The name of an Indian locality apparently bounded on the north by Wayunkeke, on the east by Secesa- kutt and extending westward seven miles. As a pond, the name might apply to either the present Spragues or Water- mans reservoir. {P. R. v : 284-286.) Moshassuck River. Same as the present river of that name ; an original boundary of Providence. In the town deed, Moshassuck is used as a name synonymous with Provi- dence. (P. R. iv: 71; v: 296; and Roger Williams' Letters in Narr. Club Publications, vi : 263.) MoswANSicuT. First mentioned as a locality in 1660 and as a pond in 1665 — the same as the present pond in the north- LIST OF NAMES. 387 eastern corner of Scituate. The lands about here were di- vided in 1684. {P. 7?. ii : 134 ; iii : 68 ; viii : 138 ; and plat in R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., vii : 11, 12.) Muddy Cove. See Hawkins Cove. MusHATTCHUCKAPEAKE. An Indian ground, which it is impossible to identify with any modern locality. It was, how- ever, evidently near Mashapaug Brook, in the vicinity of Fran- cis Weston's house. {P. R. xv : loi ; and map in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) Nanipsick Pond. A pond mentioned in the boundaries of the Indian tract Mishoasakit, It seems impossible to identify it with any modern body of water. {P. R. v : 284.) Narrow Passage. A narrow place in the Seekonk River, directly south of the present Red, or Central, Bridge. Andrew Edmunds kept a ferry here during the latter part of the 17th century. {P. R. iii : 48 ; viii : 44 ; xiv : 124, 237; and folio Plat Book, ii : i, in City Clerk's office.) Natick. a tract of land, generally spelled Nachick, the boundaries of which, according to its division in 1673, were the Pawtuxet River, the Mashantatuck Brook, the Warwick north line, and the vicinity of the present village of Ark- wright. The hill standing in this tract was called Nachick Hill. {Harris Papers, pp. 61, 303 ; Fuller's Hist, of Warwick, p. 206 ; and map in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) Neck. " The Neck " was the land between the Moshassuck and Seekonk rivers, and extending on the north somewhat be- yond the present line between Providence and Pawtucket. Mentioned in the records as early as 1642. {P. R. i: no; ii : I ; and MS. Town Papers, 01291.) Neutaconkanut. The name of a hill in the present town 388 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. of Johnston, generally spelled Neotaconkonitt in the early rec- ords. One of the original boundaries of Providence (/*. R. iv : 71 ; v: 296; and Harris Papers, p. 55.) The name was also given to the Pocasset River above the southern end of Neutaconkanut Hill. {P. R. iv : 38 ; viii : 71.) NiPSACHUCK. A hill, in the present southwestern corner of North Smithfield, that was a western boundary of the first Inman purchase of 1666. The name was also applied to the river flowing down by the Keyes {g. v.), to the locality around the hill and to the swamp southwest of the hill. {P. R. iv : 184 ; V : 65 ; Narr. Hist. Register, vi : 49, 62 ; and Stevens Map of 1 83 1.) NoNPLUss Hill. A small hill directly northwest of the present village of Enfield, in the town of Smithfield. It may be said to correspond with the southern end of Wolf Hill, al- though this latter name was used as early, at least, as 1 726. {P. R. iv : 54 ; v : 28 ; xi : 16 ; xiv : 226.) Observation. As a hill, the name applied to the present Stump Hill in the southern part of the town of Lincoln. Ob- servation Rock was a high, peaked rock standing on top of the hill before the construction of the reservoir. {P. /?. ii : 73 ; viii: loi.) Observation Meadow was a tract of meadow land now overflowed and known as Olneys Pond. The brook run- ning through it to the Moshassuck River was known as Obser- vation Run. {P. R.\:^^\ ii : 19 ; xvi : 223.) OssAPiMSUCK Brook. A brook in the present town of Johnston, running easterly into the Woonasquatucket River between Allendale and Lymansville. Also called Assopum- sett. {P. R. v:ii7, 134; xiv: 225; xvi: 259; and Harris Map of 1795.) Oxford. An original boundary of the town of Providence, which it is impossible to identify with any modern locality. LIST OF NAMES. 389 Judging from the order in which it is listed in the original boundaries, it was probably a ford on the Woonasquatucket River about six miles from Providence. {P. R. ii : 73 ; Harris Papers, p. 92.) Pamechipsk. a ridge of hills forming the eastern bound- ary of the Indian tract Wayunkeke, and undoubtedly the range extending north and south through the center of the present town of Smithfield. {P. R. v : 285.) Papaquinapaug. The present Fenners Pond in the town of Cranston. The neighboring region was also called Papa- quinapaug, as was the brook running out of the pond. Mash- apaug Brook, near its southern end, seems to have been some- times termed Papaquinapaug Brook. {P. R. i : 45, 80 ; vi : 201 ; Harris Papers, pp. 57, 258 ; plat reproduced in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100 ; and plat in Field Papers, p. 84, in R. I. Hist. Soc.) Paquabuck. a name occasionally applied to Mashanta- tuck. {P. R. XV : 87 ; Harris Papers, pp. 62, 69.) Paugachauge. An Indian field on the eastern side of the Neutaconkanut or Pocasset River, directly south of where Dry Brook flows in. {P. R. v : 53, 319 ; xiv : 39.) Paugeamapauge Pond. Apparently another name for Tabamapauge Pond, q. v. {P. 7?. iv : 136 ; v : 38, 137.) Pawtucket. The name, Pawtucket River, an original boundary of Providence, was used interchangeably with the name Seekonk River for that part of the stream between Paw- tucket and the present India Point, as well as for that part of the present Providence River south of India Point. The name was also invariably applied to the river north of Paw- tucket, now called the Blackstone River. Pawtucket Fields, also an original Providence boundary, were on the western 390 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. side of the river and south of Pawtucket Falls. {P. R. ii : 129 ; iv : 71 ; v : 224 ; xiv : 112, 194.) Pawtuxet. An original boundary of Providence and a name given then, as now, to the locality, the falls and the river. Also in one or two cases called Pootatugock. {P. R. iv : 18, 71 ; xiv : 64. There is an early plat of the lands north of Pawtuxet reproduced in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100, and a hitherto unnoticed plat of 1661 of the lands south of the river in R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., v: 11.) Pesaumkamesquesit Pond. The present Blackmore Pond in the town of Cranston. The magnetic meridan line of 1664, run due north from the mouth of the Pocasset River to the Neutaconkanut road, could have passed only through Black- more Pond. This corrects the footnote on p. 73. (See Har- ris Papers, p. 73, and 1895 Atlas. Pettaconset. The meadow, or bottom, land on the north side of the Pawtuxet River, where the present pumping station is located. {P. R. vii : 199 ; xiv : opp. p. iv ; xvii : 289 ; and Harris Papers, p. 62.) Pocasset River. Mentioned in the records as early as 1652, but generally spelled Pauchasett. It was invariably called the Neotaconkonitt above the bend south of the hill. {P. R. ii : 12 ; viii : 71.) Pomecansett. The neck of land between the present Fields Point and Sassafras Point. Also spelled Pumgansett. One reference, however, in the early records seems to locate this region nearly two miles further south than Fields Point. {P. R. iii : 7 ; xiv : 146, 212 ; xv : loi.) Ponagansett Pond. The present Ponagansett Reservoir in the town of Glocester, being the extreme headwaters of the Pawtuxet River. The name, generally spelled Punhungan- LIST OF NAMES. 391 sett, was also applied to the locality about the pond and to the stream which joined with the Moswansicut River at South Scituate to form the northern branch of the Pawtuxet River. {P. R. iv : 43 ; XV : 87 ; xvii : 230, 262 ; and Harris Papers, pp. 188, 212, 220.) Poor Man's Plain. A name occasionally applied to Ven- ter Plain, g. v. {P. R. iii : 89 ; and MS. Deed Book, xiv : 283, in City Hall.) Providence. The name first occurs in the records in the original Indian deed. {P. R. iv : 70.) Roger Williams often called it New Providence in his earliest letters. The Provi- dence River, from Pawtuxet as far north as the Cove, was in- variably called the "salt river" or the "great salt river" be- fore 1700; the earliest date that the present name occurs in the records is 1705. {P. R. iv : 19 ; ix : 14 ; xvii : 198.) Quttonckanitnuing. The northern boundary of Wayun- keke ; not identifiable with any modern locality. {P. R. v: 285.) Reynolds Valley. That part of the Blackstone Valley between the present Scotts Pond and the Blackstone River, in the town of Lincoln. {P. R. '\\: y ; xiv : 10-16.) RoBBiNS Brook. The brook flowing down by the western side of Windmill Hill to the West River — now a series of ponds, Randall's Pond, Upper and Lower Canada ponds, and Lincoln's Pond. (P. R.v: 15 ; viii : 151.) Rocky Hill. A hill, still so called, in the town of Cran- ston, east of the present Print Works pond ; mentioned in the records as early as 1659. (P. R. i: gy; iii : 169 ; xiv : 128.) Round Cove. A cove chiefly of thatch grass, of about six acres, which was formerly located directly west of the 392 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. present East River street at Red Bridge, and extending northerly to Medway street. {P. R. iv : 192 ; v : 222 ; xiv : 279 ; Plat Card 125 ; and plat in Fenner Papers no. 17030 in City Hall ; and Lock wood Map of 1835.) RuMLEY Marsh. A little marsh, also called "Rumney Marsh on the Little Flood " bordering on the northeast corner of the Cove and directly north of the island later known as Whipple's Island. The location of this island, also called Little Island and Grassey Island, is well shown on the An- thony Map of 1823 and in folio Plat Book, ii : page i, in City Clerk's office. {P. 7?. ii : 4, 21, 56 ; v : 227 ; xiv : 9 ; Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 69; and Prov. MS. Town Papers, no. 0048199, in City Hall.) Sassafras Cove. A cove, generally spelled Saxafrax in the early records, corresponding to the present Corliss Cove at Sassafras Point. Also called Long Cove, occasionally in the 17th century and generally in the i8th century. {P. R. xiv : 146 ; xv : 2 ; and plat in Field Papers, p. 20, in the R. I. Hist. Soc.) Scockanoxet. The region around Hackletons Lime Rocks — the present Dexters Lime Rocks — a little southeast of the village of Lime Rock in the town of Lincoln. {P. R. iii : 66, 229, 241 ; xvii : 295 ; and Dexter Genealogy, pp. 14, 22.) The brook flowing from the Lime Rocks to the Blackstone river was called Scockonoxet Brook. (MS. Deeds, v : 294, in City Hall.) Seekonk River. Generally spelled Seaconke, mentioned in the records as early as 1650, and often called the Pawtucket River. {P. R.'n: io\ v : 283 ; xvii : 155.) Sekesakut Hill. A hill, formerly so called, in the town of Johnston, extending north and south, and about a mile and a half west of the present village of Lymansville. The name LIST OF NAMES. 393 was also applied to the region about the hill. {P. R.\:20; iv: 130; v: ii6, 132.) Seven Mile Line. This line was established on May 14, 1660, as the bounds of the first division of proprietors lands. From a point seven miles due west from Foxes Hill, it was to run north to the Pawtucket River and south to the Pawtuxet River {P. R. ii : 129). On December 30, 1663, a committee was chosen to set the bound seven miles west of Foxes Hill and to run the northern extension of the line (iii : 47). The latter part of this order was renewed February 19, 1666 (ii : 69), and the line was run probably as far as the Woonasquatucket River soon thereafter. According to the Providence-Pawtuxet agreement of January 16, 1683, the southern extension of the line was to be run as far as the Warwick north line (xv : 237). Although it was ordered, on April 27, 1683, that this be done without delay (viii : 130), and although it became the subject of frequent later discussion {P. R. xi : 43, 105 ; xvii : 231, 274 ; and Fenner Papers, no. 16675, 16816, 16847, 16975, i^ City Hall) it was not until February 11, 1712, that a joint commit- tee reported that the line had been run and the bounds set {P. R. xvii: 284). In the meanwhile, on January 27, 1710, it had been ordered that the line should be run out from the Woonasquatucket River northerly unto the limits of the Provi- dence lands (xi : 141). The line which to-day forms the east- ern boundary of Burrillville, Glocester and Scituate is prac- tically the seven-mile line as it was established in 1660. The distance from Foxes Hill was evidently approximated, and not surveyed, since it amounts to slightly over eight miles. Being surv'eyed by a compass, moreover, the line falls about 9° west of the true astronomical north given on most modern maps. Small Brook. The brook flowing through the present Davis Park into the Woonasquatucket River. {P. R. ii: 21 ; V : 222 ; Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 69; and Plat Card 118 in City Hall.) Snail Hill. A hill, formerly so called, near the present 394 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. corner of Waterman and Cooke streets. A plat of the Snail Hill property drawn by Gov. Hopkins is in the Moses Brown Papers, vol. i8, no. 124a, in the R. I. Hist. Soc. {P. R. ii : 12, 20; and MS. Deeds, xii : 152.) SocKANOSSET. The locality of the present Sockanosset Reservoir in the town of Cranston. {P. R. xvi : 286 ; Harris Papers, p. 207.) Solitary Hill. A hill formerly located directly south of the present Olneyville Public Library Building at Olneyville Square. The dividing line between Providence and Johnston ran due north and south from the eastern side of this hill. {P. /?. i : 8 ; xiv : 169 ; R. I. Col. Rec. vi : 194 ; Steere Geneal- ogy, p. 180; Cushing and Walling Map of 1849.) Spectacle Pond. Identical with the present pond of the same name in the town of Cranston ; mentioned in the rec- ords as early as 1644. {P. R. ii : 3 ; iv:i4i.) Spectacle Meadows lay to the west of the pond. {^Harris Papers, pp. 55, 73, 98.) There were also Spectacle Meadows on the Branch River, near the present Burrillville-North Smithfield dividing mentioned early in the i8th century. Stampers. A hill, formerly so called, at the present Stampers street, on the east side of the Moshassuck River. Stampers Bottoms lay at the foot of the hill, on the river. {P. 7?. ii 158, 91 ; iii : 75 ; and plat reproduced in Steere Genealogy, P- 36.) SucKATUNKANUCK HiLL. A hill directly east of the pres- ent Almy's Reservoir, in the town of Johnston. {P. R. iv : 24 ; xiv: 93; and Stevens Map of 1831.) Sugar Loaf Hill. Mentioned in 1653 as an original boundary of the town of Providence. Judging by its order in the list then given, it must have been situated a little north- west of Pawtucket. {P. R. ii : 73.) LIST OF NAMES. 395 SuTAMACHUTE HiLL. A hill, formerly so called, located in the town of Johnston, south of Dry Brook and directly northwest of the village of Simmonsville. Often spelled Sichamachute. {P. R. iii : 241 ; iv : 156 ; v : 319; xi : jy.) Swan Point. On the Seekonk River and still so called ; mentioned in the records as early as 1685. {P. R. viii : 149, 160.) Swan Pond. A little pond on the west side of the Mo- shassuck River, directly south of the present Breakneck Road and north of Olney's Pond. In the 1895 Atlas it is called Quinsnicket Pond, and in Holbrook's Genealogy of the Hopkins Family (1881), p. 18, it is spoken of as Goldfish Pond. {P . R. ii: 107; iv: 119, 228.) Tabamapauge Pond. The present Dyer's Pond in the town of Cranston. Sometimes called Paugeamapauge Pond and in one deed apparently confused with Antashantuck Pond. {P. R. iv : 136 ; V : 38, 137 ; viii : 71.) Tarebreech Plain. The sole mention of this name be- fore 1700 gives no hint as to its location. Perhaps the word has some connection with the i8th century Tar Bridge, at Olneyville. {P. R. iii : 88.) Third Lake Brook. A brook flowing from the northern end of the Great Swamp into the Moshassuck River. Traces of it can still be seen where it enters the river at Moshassuck street in the city of Pawtucket, crossing Main street near the junction of West avenue. {P. R. iii: 21 ; xiv : 191, 208; and Hopkins Atlas of 1882.) Tongue Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 1659, being practically in its present location — between Fenner ave- nue and the railroad, and directly south of the Narragansett Brewing Company. {P. R. i: 98, 99; and 1895 Atlas.) 396 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. TosKEUNKE. The meadows on both sides of the Pawtuxet River, south of the present Warwick Hne and to the east of the village of Pontiac. It was affirmed that the river itself at that place was called Toskeunke, but it was apparently never so termed, except by some of the Warwick settlers. {P. R. iv: i6i ; Harris Papers, pp. 57, 298, 310; plats in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100; and R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS. V : II ; and Warner Papers, no. 63, 75, in J. C. B. Library. The land between Pontiac and Meshanticut Brook is called Chee- Toskeunke on the plat in Rider's Hist. Tract, and there is oc- casional use of the name (See Copies of Warwick Records, p. 33, in R. I. Hist. Society). ToYASKQUT River. A river running "down to Paw- tucket," mentioned in 1661 as the western boundary of Way- unkeke. Perhaps the present Tarkiln River. {P. R. v: 285.) Venter. A name formerly given to a brook flowing into the Woonasquatucket River directly north of the present vil- lage of Merino in the town of Johnston, as well as to the meadows north of the brook and to the general locality. The plain to the south of the brook was called both Venter Plain and Poor Man's Plain. Occasionally spelled Venture. {P. R. ii : 37 ; iii : 89 ; vi : 105 ; xiv : 63, 100 ; xvi : 435 ; MS. Deeds, xiv: 283, in City Hall; and Hopkins 1882 Atlas.) Vineyard. An island in the Pawtuxet River, directly north of the present Rhodes boathouse. It formerly belonged to the thirteen Pawtuxet proprietors and is still known by its original name. {P. R. ii:ii; v : 55 ; xiv : 75 ; and 1895 Atlas.) Wallers Island. An island in the Great Swamp, several hundred feet north of the present Rochambeau avenue and near the Blackstone Boulevard. {P. R. iii: 107; xiv: 165.) Wallers Swamp. The swamp to the west of the present LIST OF NAMES. 397 Mount Pleasant avenue and north of Chalkstone avenue. Called N. Brown's Swamp on Lockwood Map of 1835. {P. R. vi : 63 ; xiv : 82 ; and Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 69.) Wallings Pond. The present Sprague's Lower Reservoir in the town of Smithfield. {P. R.'w : 2i\ xiv : 99 ; and Har- ris Papers, p. 319.) Walsingham. a name given to the Thomas Walling farm, formerly located on the western side of the Louisquisset Pike, in the present town of Lincoln, and near the southern bound- ary line of the town. {P. R. iii : 117, 158, 160; xiv: 31 ; and MS. Deeds, iv : 146, in City Hall.) Wanskuck. The name of a brook flowing into the West River near the present boundary line between Providence and North Providence. The name was also applied to the mead- ows along the brook and to the neighboring locality. The name today is applied to a village and pond somewhat to the east of Wanskuck Brook. In its alternate form of spelling — Wenscott — it seems at quite an early date to have been ap- plied to the meadows a mile and a half northwest of the brook. {P. R. iii : 239 ; iv : 142 ; xvi : 202 ; and Lockwood Map of 1835.) Wapwaysitt. Another spelling of Weybosset, q. v. Washouset Point. See Long Neck. Wavunkeke. The region in the immediate vicinity of the present Wionkhiege Hill in the town of Smithfield, and ap- parently regarded by the early colonists as a tract of about four square miles. The name, in its various spellings, was ap- plied to the hill, to the fields southeast of the hill and occa- sionally to that branch of the Woonasquatucket River which flowed nearby. (P. R. iii: 19; iv:i82; v : 94, 285, 320; xvi : 208 ; and Narr. Club Publications, vi : 315.) 398 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Weecapasacheck. a reasonable interpretation of the records seems to place this locality a little south of the pres- ent Wionkhiege Hill in the town of Smithfield. {P. R. iii : 38, 241, 244.) Wesquadomeset. a name applied at least as early as 1666 to the present Sayles Hill in the town of North Smith- field and likewise to the Crookfall Brook. The surrounding locality, which was included in the Inman Purchase, was also so called. {P. R. iii 1242; iv : 143 ; v: 144; xiv : 112, 140; and Narr. Hist. Register, vi : 49.) West River. Mentioned in the records as early as 1652 and still so called. {P. R.'\\: 11; xiv : 8, 106.) Westconnaug. a tract of land purchased in 1662 and comprising practically the southern half of the present town of Foster and that part of the town of Scituate south of the Pawtuxet River. Its northern boundary line was established in 1708. The name was generally spelled Wesquenoid or Westquadnaig. {P. R. xvi : 204 ; xvii:223; original deed in Fenner Papers, no. 16628, in City Hall; and map of Foster in R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., vii, no. 1409. There is a mutilated plat of the purchase in the office of the town clerk of Foster.) Weybosset. The specific locality, Weybosset, when men- tioned in the early records, invariably meant the neck of land bounded on the north by the Cove, on the east and southeast by the Providence River and on the southwest by Muddy Bridge, or Dorrance street. Weybosset Bridge, connecting this neck with the east side of the river, is the Market Square Bridge of to-day. Weybosset Hill stood directly to the west of the present Turks Head, between Weybosset and West- minster streets. {P. R. ii : 14 ; iii : 33 I ix : 41 ; xi : 90, 92.) Weybosset Plain is spoken of as the "plain south of the Wanasquatucket River" or "the plain between Weybosset and the Pawtuxet line," yet whenever land is mentioned be- LIST OF NAMES. 399 fore 1700 as being on Weybosset Plain, its location is invaria- bly near the east side of Long Pond. {P. R. i : 95 ; ii : 34 ; xiv: no.) Weybosset was generally spelled Waybossett, and occasionally Wapwaysitt. (See R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub. iii : 117.) What Cheer. An Indian field of about six acres, located immediately to the west of "What Cheer Rock" and early granted to Roger Williams. The Fenners subsequently owned this and surrounding property and the plat of their es- tate, known as "What Cheer," is on Plat Card 61 in the City Deed Office. The cove to the northeast of the Rock was called What Cheer Cove, after 1700. {P. R. i: no; iii: in, 190; xi : 114; and Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 61.) WicKENDENS CovE. See Mile End Cove. Wind Mill Hill. Identical with the present hill of the same name, which is located at the joining of the boundary lines of Providence, North Providence and Pawtucket. {P. R. v: 16 ; vii : 22 ; xi : 55.) WooNASQUATUCKET. First mentioned as a river in the original deed of Providence and ever since so known. Woon- asquatucket Plain was the land in the vicinity of the new State Capitol, called Jefferson Plains on the Lockwood Map of 1835. It was generally spelled Wanasquatucket. (P. R. ii : 9, 36 ; iv : 71 ; v : 223, 296 ; xi : 52.) WooNSOCKET. In the early records this name applied to the hill now called Woonsocket Hill and to the immediately surrounding region rather than to the vicinity of the present town of Woonsocket. It was generally spelled Wansokutt or Wansokett. {P. R. viii : n8 ; xiv : 38 ; xv : 217 ; and origi- nal deed in R. I. Hist. Soc, and printed in Narr. Hist Regis- ter, vi : 52.) Worlds End. A pond, formerly so called, identical with 400 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Great Pond, or that part of the present Scotts Pond in the town of Lmcoln which was called Scotts Pond before the construction of the Blackstone Canal. The Worlds End Meadows were southwest of the pond, on the Moshassuck River. {P. R. ii: 102; xi : 164; xiv : 158; and MS. Deeds, ii : 489 ; v : 293, in City Hall. INDEX. [Note. — The following index contains all names of persons and places occurring in the Introduction and in the Harris Papers. The Calendar, which is arranged chronologically, and the List of 17th Century Place-Names, which is arranged alphabetically, are not indexed.] Absolute Swamp 92 Achetonsick 48 Addington, James 48 Ailesbury, Earl of 313 Albany, Fort 178 Albro, John 276 278 286 Alden, John 127 Alexander (sachem) 195 Algerines 332 362 Algiers (Arjeres) 21 189 320 322 323 325 327-331 333 335 336 365 Allen, John 127 192 193 222 223 363 Zachariah 215 Almy, John 127 Mary 340 America 334 366 Anabaptists 145 146 Ancient & Honourable Artillery Co. 145 Andros, Edmund 21 142 183 357 360 Angell, Thomas 1 50 Anglesey, Earl of 313 Anne (Queen) 21 364 366 369 Antashantuck 371 Apautuck 48 Aquidneck 201 Arnold, Benedict 56 90 182 184 191 201 219 259 311 Fred A. 169 John 288 289 368 369 Richard 340 Stephen 64 219 230 280 288 289 290 291 292 293 298 318 345 346 353 360 William 47 48 49 50 51 53 56 57 100 loi 151 204 298 345 Ashton, James 67 Atherton, Humphrey 11 1 112 113 128 Atkinson, Theodore 207 Awaskakooke 62 63 64 Bacon's rebellion 174 Bailey, Richard 90 Baptists 127 277 Barbadoes 67 127 143 147 263 Barnstable, Mass. 188 231 Barton, Benjamin 95 127 Bates, Frank G. 8 Beauclerk, Charles 122 Bellingham, Richard 145 Berkeley, William 174 Bewit, Hugh 92 Bewits Brow 92 Billings 219 Black Point 183 402 INDEX. Blackmore Pond 14 206 Blackstone River 171 Blathwayt, William 334 337 338 Block Island 145 Bond, William 192 222 223 Borden, Mary (Harris) 356 Thomas 356 Boston 21 47 124 128 142-146 151 163 175 180 184 185 189 207- 209 222 226 235 237 240 241 243 260-262 277 320 322 325 332 338-342 359 Bradford, Earl of 366 William 127 353 Bradstreet, Simon 127 276 Brenton, William 86 144 217 219 Brewster, Benjamin 223 244 Bridgewater, Earl of 313 Brinley, Francis 320 321 323-326 328 330 336 337 339 340 343 357 William 192 193 223 264 Brooks, Gilbert 192 193 222 223 Brown, Chad 92 Daniel 62 Henry 59 90 92 James 127 234 John 59 67 68 71 72 234 (Lieut.) John 192 193 222 Moses 6 102 220 350 Bulkley, Peter 246 249 309 Bull, Henry 127 Bullen, Samuel 192 222 223 Burlingame, Roger 65 66 69 84 95 209 210 221 225 280 283-285 291 297 318 352 354 355 367 36S Burton, William 63 84 194 209 210 221 320 Cajaniquanut 206 Calverly, Edmund 11 14 15 17 63 71 87 89 91 95 96 153 185 190 194-197 213 221 222 225 237 279 282 297 318 320 346 Calverly, Edmund 348 Cambridge 146 Canonchet 171 Canonicus 11 12 48 67 89 106 175 177 195 196 201 206 234 303 304 316 Carpenter, Benjamin 353 Ephraim 97 98 287 288 289 296 324 348 360 367 368 369 Joseph 72 73 Priscilla 97 SiJas 337 353 360 Timothy 353 360 William 47 49 50 52 53 54 57 60 73 74 80 84 85 86 88 96 97 98 99 100 loi 102 151 162 204 287 304 310 345 346 Carr, Caleb 278 280 281 284 285 286 Robert 14 15 m 124 Cartwright, George 14 iii 124 142 Chamberlain, John 370 Chapman, John 322 Charles II 63 loS 113 116 122 129 281 283 314 318 364 Chepasotem 89 Church, Benjamin 178 Clarke, James 273 John 78 86 104 105 106 112 117 118 127 Joseph 278 2S0 281 284 285 286 Thomas 127 1S3 Walter 127 161 278 280 281 286 319 355 Clemence, Thomas 93 94 Coddington, Nathaniel 318 William 125 127 129 144 146 201 Coggeshall, John 190 192 222 226 229 241 260 263 299 Joshua 71 127 Cole, Robert 47 50 51 305 Colwell, Robert 71 INDEX. 403 Combination, The 15 199 219 Condy, William 332 Coningsly, Lord 366 Connecticut 17 105-117 121 124 125 127 129 132 136 145 146 151 158 160 166 168 169 171 174-177 180 181 187 191 192 193 205 222 223 234 241 245 259 260 262 263 268 270 276 279 301 309 325 326 337 339 346 350 351 364 Cooke, George 309 310 Cornish, John 293 294 Coshutaquant 62 Cottrell, Nicholas 71 Cowaude 57 Cowdall, John 71 Coweset 69 194 195 196 Crandall, John 192 193 223 Cranston, John 20 21 278 280 284 285 286 297 298 299 Cr-aven, Earl of 313 Cromwell, Oliver 123 235 269 Richard 235 248 269 Cudworth, James 127 168 181 192 222 226 229 241 261 265 Cushman, Mary Harris 6 47 Danforth, Thomas 127 Dartmouth, Lord 366 Davis, Capt. 350 Deane, Charles 184 Richard, 117 Thomas 184 272 342 343 350 351 Deerfield, Mass. 168 170 Denison, George 127 145 192 222 226 229 241 242 263 265 Derby, Francis 63 Dexter, Gregory 16 17 91-94 198 200 202 214-220 224 228 234 239 240 251 279-285 291 318 320 Thomas 183 281 317 263 Dirty Cove 256 Dolphin (sloop) 338 Dudley, Joseph 189 360 Paul 184 Thomas 151 Dutch 128 178 Easton, John 49 86 164 345 Nicholas 86 127 Edgecombe, John 223 244 Edmunds, Andrew 290 291 Eliot's Indian Bible 146 Ellson, James 328 England 18-21 61 89 94 105 108 112-116 118 125-128 136 138 143 146 147 153 155 157 159 160 161 166 178 186 189 196 202 206-208 210-213 218 219 227 231-234 248-250 254 255 258 271 276 277 300 306 309 310 313 314 317 328 332 333 338 339 351 355 361-363 365 Church of 247 Essex, Earl of 313 Fauconberg, John, Lord 313 Fenner, Arthur 16 19 20 59 71 72 80-82 84 85 92 198 200 202 214-220 224 227 228 230 232 -37 239 240 251-256 262 272 279-285 291 318 340 356 358 362 363 Hovirlong Harris 344 351 362 John 58 59 Thomas 370 William 59 Field, John 59 92 Thomas 17 179 180 188 193 194 197 198 203 205 207 216 221 223-225 229 230 233 236 241 243 283 284 287 288 290- 295 302 312 313 344-347 352- 354 357-361 364-367 369-371 William 53 54 57 60 65 66 73 74 102 310 312 345 Zachary 226 227 404 INDEX. Fish, Thomas 71 Fisk, Samuel 371 Fitch, James 223 244 363 Floyd, Philip 313 Fowler, Henry 59 183 257 Fox Point 72 Foxes Hill 12 72 227 France 143 189 323 368 Freeman, John 127 Fry, Thomas 302 George of Denmark 366 Gereardy, John 63 Goff, George 65 66 Goodwin, Adam 79 Gooking, Daniel 127 Gorton, Benjamin 65 66 John 65 66 Samuel 13 65 66 190 195 211 224 235 246-248 278 294 296 302 303 305 306 309 317 352 354 Gould, Daniel 127 John 71 248 Gravesend 258 307 Great Salt River, 47 Great Swamp Fight 170 Greene, John 19 54 56 60 83 96 182 190 195 199 211 224 231 246 268-270 274 275 288-295 300 302-305 307 309 312 314- 318 348 352 354 361 362 365 Thomas 278 281 317 Welcome A. 92 Gwyn, Nell 122 Gyles, Samuel 192 222 223 Hadley, Mass. 168 170 Harley, Robert, Earl of Oxford 366 Harris, Anne 324 Andrew 58 59 61 62 65 66 68 70 148 266 320 322 325 327 328 335 337 343-345 356 Andrew ( grandson ) 364-366 369-371 Elizabeth 344 Harris, Henry 370 Howlong (see Fenner) 266 294 331 340 344 Martha 344 Mary 356 Susanna 287 324 327 329 335 337 339-342 344 356 Thomas 49 59 61 62 161 267 273 294-296 344 347 349 357 360 Toleration 65 95 96 162 324 330 William, passim; see Calen- dar, pp. 23-45 Harrud, John 11 14 15 17 21 66 68-72 83 85 87 95 96 130 148 152 153 185 186 190 205 209 210 221 225 231 237 251 279 280 282-285 291 297 318 320 346 348 352 354 355 367-369 Hartford, Conn. 184 351 Harvard College 146 328 Hawkins, William 102-104 227 Hawthorne, William 49 loi 127 345 Hazard, Robert 239 243 Hedger, Thomas 69 Hedges, Sir Charles 366 Heffernan, William 223 264 Henchman, Daniel 180 184 192 222 226 229 241 261 263 265 Hill, Charles 192 193 223 Hinckley, Mrs. Mary 189 Thomas 17 21 127 181 187 188 192 209 222 226 229 231 241 242 244 245 260 261 263- -65 330 353 Hingham, Mass. 14 205 224 279 282 283 285 318 352 354 Hipses Rock 14 18 92 256 257 Holden, Randall 19 54 60 231 246 248 268 269 274 275 300 307 309 312 314-318 354 359 365 Holder, Christopher 213 INDEX. 405 Holland 189 Holliman, Ezekiel 56 306 Hope (Island) 201 Hopkins, Thomas 82 92 ■" , William 230 289 296 367 368 369 Hubbard, Captain 130 183 Samuel 91 William 169 174 Hull, John 332 Hunts of Rehoboth 183 Hutchinson, Elisha 276 Indians 62 75 88 89 loi 103 129 130 146 148-152 156 157 162- 178 183 194-196 201-205 215 216 220 247 248 253 270 298 3^33-305 359 Inman, Edward 59 220 Irish Donation 184 Jamaica 143 144 Jenckes, Joseph 340 349 350 Jones, John 59 Kachanaquant 12 Katherine (ship) 184 Kennebec 183 Keyes 103 104 Kick, Abraham 275 King, Clement 360 King Philip's War 65 162-179 248 King's Province 275 276 278 Lease, Mr. 343 351 Ledget, Mr. 336 Leete, William 127 184 185 Leverett, John 127 129 145 180 183 185 266 Lewen, John 276 Lewis, Robert 278 Little Neck 50 Lockwood, Moses B. 215 London 20 21 143 258 321 323 324 325 328 331 341 342 350 365 Long Island 185 186 Lovell, John 290-293 Low, Anthony 338 Lusher, Eleazer 49 345 Lynde, Simon 192 222 226 229 240 241 261 263 265 339 Magnus (Queen) 175 Makanno 175 Mallery, Massey 294 Mameawequate 63 Man, James 71 Manton, Shadrach 59 82 90 Many Holes 99 100 Marseilles 333 335 341 Marshfield, Mass. 189 359 Maryland 109 no Mashantatack 14 15 61-64 68 69 72 83 87-89 95 96 102 185 210 218 219 221 237 251 288 295 347-349 357-359 367-369 Mashapaug 13 18 19 20 22 57 99 239 256 258 371 Maskataquatt 63 64 Mason, Daniel 192 193 328 Hugh 328 John 192 328 Massachusetts 17 47 53 121 124 127 129 130 132 136 137 145- 151 154 158 160 168 169 170 177 180-182 186 191 192 195 204-206 219 234 239 246 247- 249 259 260 268 270 279 300 309 346 364 Massasoit (Osamequin) 106 165 195 196 Matantuck 175 Mather, Cotton 277 Increase 184 275 Nathaniel 184 Mathewson, James 58 59 371 Maverick, Samuel 14 in 124 Mazarin 175 Mead, John 326 Mr. 326 335 Mendon, Mass. 219 Miantonomi 11-15 48 55 57 67 89 106 171 172 195 206 303-305 406 INDEX. Miantonomi 311 316 Miscjuamicuck 105 106 iii Mohawks 177 178 Mohegans 171 Moone, Ebenezer 65 66 69 Moore, Mr. 178 Moscompowes 48 Moshassuck 12 17 92 316 Mount Hope i66 168 172 178 Murray, Robert 332 Musgrave, Christopher 319 366 367 Nakanett 63 Namponnant 62 Nanuntenoo 171 172 Narragansett 57 in 112 118 166- 177 185 206 234 274-276 278 293 294 320 322 325 334 338 363 Bay 106 129 149 150 196 River 105 106 Narragansetts 165-177 Natick 54 61 303 309 Nenekelah 12 206 Neutaconkanut 14 18 19 20 55 63 64 72 73 92 257 Nevis (Island) 127 New England 18 62 64 116 120 122 124-130 138 142-150 153 155-160 246 249 255 267 271 275 277 286 300 304 312 314 321 325 327-329 331 334 335 346 349 360 362 364 366 New London, Conn. 145 245 New Plymouth, see Plymouth New York 234 Newport 13 14 21 70 78 90 144 161 182 185 191 201 259 278- 286 309 319 342 Nichols, Richard 14 83 86 iii Nimeguen 189 Nipsachuck 169 Nixon, John 71 Northup, Stephen 59 Norton, Mr. 123 Norwich, Conn. 363 Observation Rock 92 Olney, Epenetus 91 93 102 103 227 296 347 357 Thomas 53 57 58 62 65 66 70- 73 91 93 95 96 103 104 225 235 236 345 359 Oneco 171 Osamequin, see Massasoit Otis, Joseph 370 Oxford 92 Oyster Bay 287 Pain, Mr. 105 Paine, George T. 6 7 ii Palmer, George 59 Henry 342 Palmes, Edward 185 Papaquinapaug 17 57 256 258 Paquaite 62 Parker, Ann 99 Richard 99 100 loi 102 Paquabuck 62 69 Passuatuxett 83 Pataconkqueset 62 Patience (Island) 201 Paulet, Charles 366 Pawcatuck River 106 ni Pawtucket 67 92 River 12 67 92 Pawtuxet 11-22 47-49 53-57 66-69 71 73 74 86 88 97-100 129 131 136 138 148-151 162 171 174 176 179-182 186-188 190 193-201 204-207 215-225 229 230 234 237 242 250-253 256 257 260 266-271 274 282-294 296 298 300-318 327 329 335 337 339-342 345 347 351-355 357-362 364 368-371 Falls 298 River 12-14 17 19 20 48 54 55 57 63-68 99 188 20 1 202 206 224 225 228 236-239 242-244 251 252 256 258 261 262 264 INDEX. 407 Pawtuxet River 265 283 284 298 303 305 306 315 316 319 359 Peck, John 192 193 223 Peirce, Michael 170 176 Peirce's Fight 171 Pequot War 178 328 Pesaumkamesquesit 73 Pessicus 12 311 Phetteplace, Thurston M. 8 Philip (King) 17 163-170 172 178 Pied Piper of Hamelin 204 Pinnicke, Larance 69 Piscataqua 143 145 Plymouth 17 19 ic6 121 124 125 127 129 130 132 136 137 142 145-150 154 158 160 163 164 168 169 172 177 178 180 182 184 186 187 191-193 222 246 259 260 268 271-273 279 299 300 308 309 314 317 336 346 361 364 365 Pocasset 64 70 River 13 14 18 20 47 49 51 52 54 56 63 64 70 73 92 99-102 183 198 239 251 253-258 287 288 298 318 345 371 Pococke, John 340 341 Pomham 309 310 Ponagansett 17 18 20 188 202 219 220 230 237 251 253 265 303 306 319 359 Pontiac 13 Porter, John 124 Portsmouth 13 53 60 78 310 313 Portugal 143 323 Potowomut Neck 234 Potter, Abel 194 Potuck 175 176 Pray, Richard 59 Presbyterians 146 Providence 11-21 48 53-56 58 60- 62 64-70 72-74 82 84 86 90 102 103 106 129 131 148 152 154 161 169 171 172 174-177 Providence 179 182 186-194 198- 207 209 214-217 220-231 236 237 239-251 253 260-263 266 271 272 279-295 299 303 306 307 310 311 314-319 322 325 329 331 335 336 343 346 347 349 352 354 356-362 364 367- 371 Bridge 73 102 103 104 Ferry 263 Prudence Island 201 Pulton, Ferdinando 107 Quaiapen 175 Quakers 79 82 118 127 145 146 147 181 275 277 Quanosett 63 Quassaquanch 12 Quequaquennet 12 206 Ralph, Samuel 348 Thomas 63 69 84 190 209 210 221 225 280 283-285 291 297 318 320 348 352 354 355 367 368 Randall, William 130 183 187-189 Randolph, Edward 142-147 274 334 Reape, Joan 345 346 Rehoboth 106 169 171 172 176 183 Rhode Island 17 20 62 64 71 78 83 90 105-114 116 121 124 125 127 129-131 133 135 136 138 140 142-151 153-155 158 160 163 164 167 174-176 178 180 185-187 191-194 198 200- 206 215 216 221-223 225 228 239 241 248 250 259 263 264 267-270 272 275-279 282-286 293 294 297-300 308 309 315 317 318 320 326 331 346 347 349 351 354 355 359 361 3^4- 370 Rhode Island (Island) 217 246 276 277 319 342 Rhodes, Jeremiah 353 Peleg 353 360 371 408 INDEX. Rhodes, Zachary 49-54 60 64 67 73 74 310 345 Rice, John 69 Richards, James 127 185 Richardson, Amos 192 193 223 322-324 328 336 363 Richman, Irving B. 7 11 Richmond, Edward 192 193 Rider, Sidney S. 11 352 Roberts, Parnill 161 273 324 Thomas 59 161 273 324 Rochester (Kingston) 356 Rogers, James 15 83 95 96 Saffin, John 276 277 Salem, Mass. 142 Sanford, John 54 55 56 64 71 278 280 281 284 285 286 296 297 Peleg 178 182 190 192 198 222 226 229 241 242 260 263 299 Sassafrax Cove 256 Saunders, Tobias 71 Savage, Thomas 168 184 Sayles, John 49 50 97 98 Scarborough, Me. 183 Scituate 187 Scogan 75 Scuttop 12 206 Searle, Edward 348 Seelconk River 106 Sheldon, John 353 Shemenahawssowett 62 63 Sheppard, Fleetwood 16 122 Simons, Samuel 127 Skinner, Thomas 350 Smith, Benjamin 72 73 86 353 Christopher 59 Edward 59 92 Elizabeth 339 John 21 54 60 64 150 236 238 257 282-297 315 316 319 347- 350 354 355 359 367-369 Richard 274 276 278 321 324 336 338 339 341 Smiths of Rehoboth 183 Socanonoco 47 48 298 Sockanosset 207 Solitary Hill 256 Somerset, Duke of 366 Southold, L. I. 186 Southwell, Robert 274 313 Sovereign Plaster 93 239 Sowams 106 Spain 143 323 Spectacle Meadow 55 57 72 73 97 98 99 100 Spectacle Pond 73 Stamford, Earl of 366 Stanton, John 223 264 298 Starr, Samuel 244 Steele, Sergeant 249 Steere, John 59 226 227 Stokes, John 275 325 328 333 336 343 Stoughton, William 127 246 249 309 Sudbury, Mass. 173 Sugar-loaf Hill 92 Swansea, Mass. 168 338 Sweet, James 14 56 62 63 64 65 72 194 221 320 John 14 62 63 64 65 194 221 320 Talcott, John 127 169 Taunton, Mass. 169 Taylor, William 184 Tew, Henry 356 Thacher, Thomas 146 Thomas, Nathaniel 21 349-353 355 358-360 362 368 369 Thornton, James 371 Throckmorton, John 57 82 99 Thurston, Edward 71 Tillinghast, Philip 369 Timberlake, Henry 71 Todd, Walter 63 320 Torrey, Joseph 49 58 62 67 68 70 87 345 Tortudas 147 INDEX. 409 Toskeunke 13 54 57 61 65 66 205 207 211 212 237 251 298 303 306 309 310 315 Toskeunkeneages 298 Towers, John 11 14 15 17 21 130 193 205 207 209 224 240 252 279 282-288 290 294 295 318 320352 354 Town Evidence 61 loi 151 204 Tracy, Thomas 192 193 Trevor, Sir John 366 Tripp, John 127 Trumbull, J. Hammond 6 7 Twopowes 48 Turkey 363 Uncas 169 171 172 174 United Colonies 11 1 145 175 181 185 234 Unity (Ship) 332 Updike, Daniel 321 324 Gilbert 321 Lodowick 324 Vane, Lady Frances 234 Verin, Joshua 67 150 Vernon, James 366 Viall, Elizabeth (Smith) 339 John 339 Vincent, Fridgwith 97 William 97 98 Vineyard, The 50 Virginia 109 no 174 Wadsworth, John 350 Walley, Thomas 189 Wallins Pond 319 Wamsutta, 195 Ward, Thomas 192 193 274 280 281 286 319 336 355 Warwick 12-22 54 56 60-71 78 82- 89 91 106 129 131 148 151 152 154 174 176 194 195 198- 201 211 217 219 224 231 233- 235 237 246-248 251 268 269 271 272 275 298 300-317 354 357 362 365 371 Warwickeds 234 308 335 Waterman, Nathaniel 17 179 180 188 193 194 197 205 207 221 223-225 229 234 236 267 286- 288 290 292 293 295 344-347 352-361 364-370 Resolved 68 92 Richard 50 51 67 73 74 305 345 Way, George 59 225 226 228 229 236 Weetamoe 166 170 West Indies 143 147 277 Westcott, Amos 65 66 Jeremiah 64 Robert 51 55 Stukeley 13 55 57 306 Westerly 105 Weston, Francis 51 199 305 321 Wetherell, Daniel 192 222 226 229 241 242 Wharton, Richard 128 321 325 326 334 335 338-343 350 351 363 William 342 Wheeler, John 350 351 Whipple, John 90 91 93 225 227 231 235 236 257 267 281 295 322 324 325 328 329 331 336 338 339 343 356 357 Joseph 357 Samuel 357 White, Mr. 130 Whiting, Mr. 326 335 Joseph 326 335 351 William 350 Whitman, Valentine 64 Wickenden William 13 14 5591 92 Wickes, Francis 150 John 54 55 95 96 186 194 357- 359 Wilkinson, Samuel 370 Willet, Thomas 234 Williams, Joseph 97 296 347 367 370 410 INDEX. Williams, Roger 11-20 47 48 54-57 67 75 77-79 81 89 119 123 130 150 187 199 201 203 206 214 215 219 220 231 234 251 252 257 258 275 307 311 318 335 Williamson, Joseph 119 121 149 180 266 Willys, Samuel 127 Winslow, Josiah 125 127 129 146 180 181 182 184 186-189 317 365 Winsor, Joshua 59 Samuel 290 291 295 Winthrop, John 106 107 112 125 127 129 145 168 338 Winthrop, Wait-Still 338 350 363 Wiquaie 63 Wise, Joseph 257 Woodward, Peter 192 222 223 Woonasquatucket River 12-20 55 68 102-104 202 224-230 236 238 239 242-244 251-254 256 258 261 262 264 283 284 316 319 Wotapunchamin 62 63 64 York, Duke of no / H 77 78 m A- ;- •-'^4^/ /"X ^'^-•.^'"/' 'x^^% o 0' 0' •f^"^ ^-..:'^;--.\^ ^""^ ^ *;^^^^K*^ <,K o ^>^^^/ vV^ '^^' -^^ •. <. r.^^ ,G^ t. ^j^- x"j> ,^^'''.^.;^ %X' * * ' o' • • ' -^^ .f V V TV .;5 - 40. .^J-' A' /^:^fs^V .^ ^^;^^' ^^^ V \^ .0' /\ ^^ ^\ '-' ^'^ ... ^^ V s'. -^"^^ /°rc^^^ -^^0^ r* -^m^.- "^^-0^ •*^-- ^-°/ -S^- ■'•-o- V *1 o^ \^^ ^•" ^<> 'o , t " /\. ^ o ,v iOv* 0' ,^ ,^°. .<. =■ -*^ rt"*^ 1 ' o "^ A% -X - * ' o- 0^ . ^ ^ ■ ... '^ 5^^-^^ A' Q- .^