| CHAPTER I. |
| CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND PLYMOUTH COLONIES.—ARRIVAL AND BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS. |
| | The religious sentiment connected with the foundation of states, | 1 |
| | Resistance to the doctrine of theocracy occasioned the settlement of Rhode Island, | 2 |
| 1631. | Ship Lyon arrived at Boston, bringing Roger Williams, | 2 |
| | Early life of Williams, | 2 |
| | Massachusetts in possession of two distinct colonies, | 3 |
| | In Massachusetts Colony the clergy were virtually rulers, and they were extremely rigid, | 3 |
| | Disputes between Williams and the authorities of Massachusetts Bay Colony, | 4 |
| | Removal of Williams to Plymouth, | 4 |
| | Williams makes friendship with Massasoit and Miantonomi, | 5 |
| | Learns the Indian language, | 5 |
| | Williams returns to Salem, | 5 |
| 1635. | He is persecuted and finally banished, | 6 |
| | Articles of banishment, | 6 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| SUFFERINGS OF ROGER WILLIAMS IN THE WILDERNESS.—FOUNDS A SETTLEMENT ON THE SEEKONK RIVER.—IS ADVISED TO DEPART.—SEEKS OUT A NEW PLACE WHICH HE CALLS PROVIDENCE. |
| | Attempt to send Williams to England, | 7 |
| | His flight, | 8 |
| | He is fed by the Indians, | 8 |
| | He is given land on the Seekonk River by Massasoit and starts a settlement, | 8 |
| | He receives a friendly letter from the Governor of Plymouth asking him to remove, | 9 |
| | He starts with five companions in a canoe to find a place for a settlement, and finally lands at Providence, | 9 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| WILLIAMS OBTAINS A GRANT OF LAND AND FOUNDS A COLONY.—FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONY.—WILLIAMS GOES TO ENGLAND TO OBTAIN A ROYAL CHARTER. |
| | Early inhabitants of Rhode Island, | 11 |
| | Williams makes peace between Canonicus and Massasoit, | 12 |
| | He receives a grant of land from Canonicus and begins a settlement, | 12 |
| | Compact of the colonists at Providence, | 13 |
| | Experiment of separation of church from state tried in the new Colony, | 13 |
| | The right of suffrage not regarded as a natural right. Illustrated by Joshua Verin and his wife, | 14 |
| 1639. | The first church founded in Providence, | 15 |
| | Five select men appointed to govern the Colony, subject to the action of the Monthly Town Meeting, | 15 |
| | Massachusetts Colony applied for a new charter to cover the land occupied by Providence, | 15 |
| 1643. | Providence in connection with Aquidneck and Warwick sent Williams to England to obtain a Royal charter, | 15 |
| 1644. | Williams returns in 1644 successful, and is received with exultation,, | 16 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| SETTLEMENT OF AQUIDNECK AND WARWICK.—PEQUOT WAR.—DEATH OF MIANTONOMI. |
| 1637. | Anna Hutchinson arrived in Massachusetts and banished, | 17 |
| | Nineteen of her followers under William Coddington and John Clarke, purchased the Island of Aquidneck and formed settlements at Pocasset and Newport, | 17 |
| | Roger Williams proclaimed the right of religious liberty to every human being, | 18 |
| | Samuel Gorton banished from Pocasset, | 19 |
| | He denied the authority of all government except that authorized by the King and Parliament, | 19 |
| | He, with eleven others, bought Shawomet and settled there, | 19 |
| | He is besieged by troops from Massachusetts, is captured, imprisoned, and afterwards released, | 19 |
| | He is appointed to a magistracy in Aquidneck, | 19 |
| | Roger Williams prevented the alliance of the Pequots and Narragansetts, and formed one between the English and the Narragansetts, | 21 |
| | Pequots rooted out and crushed, | 21 |
| | Miantonomi treacherously put to death, | 22 |
| | The Narragansetts put themselves under the protection of the English, | 22 |
| CHAPTER V. |
| CHARTER GRANTED TO PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.—ORGANIZATION UNDER IT.—THE LAWS ADOPTED. |
| 1643. | The charter granted to Providence Plantations, | 23 |
| | Provisions of the charter, | 23 |
| 1647. | The corporators met at Portsmouth and in a general assembly accepted the charter, and proceeded to organize under it, | 24 |
| | The government declared to be democratical, | 24 |
| | President and other officers chosen, | 25 |
| | Description of the code of laws, | 25 |
| | Design for a seal adopted, | 26 |
| | Roger Williams presented with one hundred pounds for services in obtaining the charter, | 26 |
| | Spirit of the law, | 27 |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.—UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT USURPATION BY CODDINGTON. |
| | Death of Canonicus, | 28 |
| | Possibility of the doctrine of soul liberty demonstrated, | 28 |
| | Dissensions among the colonists, | 29 |
| | Troubles with Massachusetts, | 29 |
| | Baptists persecuted in Massachusetts, | 30 |
| 1651. | Coddington obtained a royal commission as Governor of Rhode Island and Connecticut for life, which virtually dissolved the first charter, | 30 |
| | Roger Williams sent to England to ask for a confirmation of the charter, | 31 |
| | John Clarke, also, sent to ask for a revocation of Coddington’s commission, | 31 |
| 1652. | Slaves not allowed to be held in bondage longer than ten years, | 32 |
| | Commerce with the Dutch of Manhattan interrupted by war between England and Holland, | 32 |
| | Coddington’s commission revoked and the first charter restored, | 32 |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| MORE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.—CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REGULATIONS OF THE COLONY.—ARRIVAL OF QUAKERS. |
| | Conscience claimed as the rule of action in civil as well as religious matters, | 33 |
| | Contentions between the Island and the main-land towns, | 34 |
| 1654. | Court of Commissioners met and effected a reunion in the Colony, | 34 |
| | Attempts of the United Colonies to make war on the Narragansetts, but they failed, as Williams had influenced Massasoit not to sanction it, | 35 |
| | Qualification of citizenship, | 36 |
| | Duties of citizenship ascendant over dignity of office, | 37 |
| | Protection of marriage, | 38 |
| | The Pawtuxet controversy settled by acknowledgement of the claims of Rhode Island, | 38 |
| | Fort built for protection against Indians, | 39 |
| | Quakers arrived. Difference of treatment of them between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, | 39 |
| 1663. | A new charter granted by Charles II. and accepted by the colonists, | 40 |
| CHAPTER VIII. |
| TROUBLES IN OBTAINING A NEW CHARTER.—PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER.—DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE NARRAGANSETT PURCHASE.—CURRENCY.—SCHOOLS. |
| | The new charter gave a democratic government, | 41 |
| | Some of its provisions, | 41 |
| | Religious liberty recognized by it, | 42 |
| | Assembly and courts reörganized, | 43 |
| | State magistrates chosen by the freemen, | 44 |
| | Jealousy of Massachusetts, | 44 |
| | Trouble concerning the ownership of Narragansett, | 45 |
| | Attempt to dispossess Rhode Island of part of her territory, | 46 |
| | The Narragansetts compelled to mortgage their lands to the United Colonies, | 47 |
| | New charter obtained by Connecticut extending its bounds to the Narragansett River, | 48 |
| 1663. | The boundary line left to arbitrators who fix it at the Pawcatuck River, | 49 |
| | The intrigues of John Scott for the purchase of the Narragansett tract, | 49 |
| | Letter obtained from the King, putting the Narragansett purchase under protection of Massachusetts and Connecticut, | 50 |
| | This was rendered null by the second charter of Rhode Island grant soon afterward, | 51 |
| | Wampum used as money in the Colony, | 52 |
| | Also used as an article of ornament by the natives, | 52 |
| 1652. | Massachusetts began to coin silver in 1652, | 53 |
| | Rhode Island abolished the use of wampum ten years later, | 53 |
| 1662. | New England shilling made legal tender in Rhode Island, | 53 |
| 1640–1663. | First schools established at Providence and Newport, | 53 |
| | Affirmation is declared to be equal to an oath, | 54 |
| CHAPTER IX. |
| TERRITORY OF RHODE ISLAND IS INCREASED BY THE ADDITION OF BLOCK ISLAND.—DISPUTES BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND THE OTHER COLONIES SETTLED BY ROYAL COMMAND.—STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COLONY IN 1667. |
| 1663 | Block Island added to Rhode Island, | 55 |
| | Regulations concerning its admission, | 56 |
| | It is incorporated under the name of New Shoreham, | 56 |
| | Four Commissioners sent to America to reduce the Dutch and settle all questions of appeal between the colonies, | 57 |
| | The vexed questions of boundary line between Rhode Island and Plymouth; the Narragansett question and Warwick difficulties referred to the Commissioners, who referred the first to the King and decided the second in favor of Rhode Island, | 57 |
| | The Indians removed from King’s Province, | 59 |
| | Five propositions submitted by the Commissioners to the Rhode Island Assembly, | 59 |
| | 1st. All householders should take the oath of allegiance to the King, | 59 |
| | 2d. Mode of admitting freemen, | 59 |
| | 3d. Admission to the sacrament open to all well disposed persons, | 60 |
| | 4th. All laws and resolves derogatory to the King repealed, | 60 |
| | 5th. Provisions for self-defence, | 60 |
| 1672. | Trouble with John Paine concerning Prudence Island, | 62 |
| | Members of the Assembly to be paid for their services, | 63 |
| | Financial difficulties in the Colony, | 64 |
| 1667. | Preparations for defence against the French, | 64 |
| 1672. | Act passed to facilitate the collection of taxes, | 65 |
| CHAPTER X. |
| KING PHILIP’S WAR. |
| | Wamsutta summoned before the General Court at Plymouth, | 67 |
| | His death, | 67 |
| | Indignation of the Indians, especially King Philip, | 68 |
| | Condition of the Indians, | 68 |
| | Attack on Swanzey, | 69 |
| | The Indians pursued by the English, | 69 |
| | Philip and his allies besieged in a swamp at Pocasset, | 71 |
| | His escape, | 71 |
| | The Indian attack on Hadley, | 71 |
| | Goffe, the regicide, | 72 |
| | Philip joined the Narragansetts, | 72 |
| | Battle in the swamp, | 73 |
| | Indians defeated, and their village destroyed, | 74 |
| | Depredations in Rhode Island, | 75 |
| | Death of Canonchet, | 76 |
| | Death of Philip and end of the war, | 77 |
| | Condition of the country after the war, | 77 |
| CHAPTER XI. |
| INDIANS STILL TROUBLESOME.—CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.—TROUBLES CONCERNING THE BOUNDARY LINES. |
| | Precautions against the Indians, | 78 |
| | Troubles with Connecticut concerning Narragansett, | 79 |
| | Two agents sent to England, | 80 |
| | War party obtains power, | 80 |
| | Foundation of East Greenwich, | 82 |
| | Bitter controversy concerning the limits and extent of the Providence and Pawtuxet purchase, | 82 |
| 1696–1712. | Settled in 1696 and 1712, | 83 |
| CHAPTER XII. |
| DEATH OF SEVERAL OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEN.—CHANGES IN LEGISLATION. |
| | The United Colonies still encroached upon Rhode Island, | 84 |
| | Deaths of John Clarke, Roger Williams, Samuel Gorton, William Harris, and William Coddington, | 85 |
| 1678. | Financial condition of the Colony in 1678, | 88 |
| | Changes in the usages of election, | 89 |
| | Bankrupt law passed and afterwards repealed, | 89 |
| | Law concerning disputed titles to lands, | 90 |
| 1679. | Law for the protection of servants, | 91 |
| | Law for the protection of sailors, | 91 |
| | John Clawson’s curse, | 92 |
| CHAPTER XIII. |
| COURTS AND ARMY STRENGTHENED.—COMMISSIONERS SENT FROM ENGLAND.—CHARTER REVOKED. |
| | Disputes concerning the title of Potowomut, | 93 |
| 1680. | Power of the town to reject or accept new citizens, | 93 |
| | Efficiency of the courts increased, | 94 |
| | English navigation act injures the commercial interests of the Colony, | 95 |
| | Commissioners appointed to settle the vexed question of the King’s Province, | 96 |
| | Rhode Island’s position in New England in regard to the other colonies, | 96 |
| | Trouble with the Commissioners, | 97 |
| | Charter revoked, | 98 |
| | Rhode Island returned to its original form of government, | 98 |
| CHAPTER XIV. |
| CHANGES IN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.—SIR EDMOND ANDROS APPOINTED GOVERNOR.—HE OPPRESSES THE COLONISTS AND IS FINALLY DEPOSED. |
| | John Greene sent to England with an address to the King for the preservation of the charter, | 100 |
| | Changes in the names and the boundaries of Kingston, Westerly and East Greenwich, | 101 |
| 1687. | Arrival of Sir Edmond Andros, | 101 |
| | Taxes farmed out, | 102 |
| | Marriages made illegal unless performed by the rites of the English Church, | 103 |
| | Passport system introduced, | 103 |
| | Composition of the council, | 103 |
| | Andros’s commission enlarged, | 105 |
| | The press subjected to the will of the Governor, | 105 |
| | Title of Rhode Island to King’s Province again confirmed, | 106 |
| | Persecution of the Huguenots, | 107 |
| | Andros deposed, | 107 |
| CHAPTER XV. |
| CHARTER GOVERNMENT AGAIN RESUMED.—FRENCH WAR.—INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.—CHARGES AGAINST THE COLONIES. |
| | Chief-Justice Dudley attempted to open his court, he is seized and imprisoned, | 108 |
| | Return of the old form of government, | 108 |
| | Legality of resumption confirmed by the King, | 109 |
| 1690. | The Assembly reorganized, | 110 |
| | Town house built, | 111 |
| | The colonists taxed to sustain the French and Indian war, | 112 |
| | Coast invaded by French privateers, | 112 |
| | New taxes levied, | 113 |
| | Small-pox broke out in the Colony, | 113 |
| 1691. | Sir William Phipps appointed Governor of Massachusetts with command over all the forces of New England, | 114 |
| | This command over the forces of Rhode Island restricted to time of war, | 115 |
| 1693. | First mail line established between Boston and Virginia, | 116 |
| | State officers to be paid a regular salary, | 116 |
| | Assembly divided into two houses, | 116 |
| | Indians still troublesome, | 117 |
| | Courts of Admiralty established in the Colony, | 117 |
| 1697–1698. | Trouble from enemies to the charter government, | 117 |
| | Interests of trade fostered, | 118 |
| | Smuggling common, | 118 |
| | Charges made against the Colony by the Royal Governor, | 119 |
| | Captain Kidd, | 119 |
| CHAPTER XVI. |
| COLONIAL PROSPERITY.—DIFFICULTIES OCCASIONED BY THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.—DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE COLONY. |
| 1702. | Prosperity of the Colony, | 120 |
| | Providence the second town in the Colony, | 120 |
| | Religious freedom, | 120 |
| | Attempt to establish a Vice-Royalty over the Colonies, | 122 |
| 1701. | Better Laws enacted, | 123 |
| 1702. | Preparations for defence, | 123 |
| 1703. | Boundary line between Rhode Island and Connecticut finally settled, | 124 |
| | The character and interest of the Colony misunderstood by England, | 124 |
| | French privateer captured, | 125 |
| | Further acts of the Assembly, | 126 |
| | Slave trade, | 127 |
| 1708. | First census taken, | 127 |
| | Public auctions first held, | 128 |
| | Commercial and agricultural progress, | 128 |
| 1709. | First printing press set up at Newport, | 129 |
| | Internal improvements, | 130 |
| CHAPTER XVII. |
| PAPER MONEY TROUBLES.—ESTABLISHMENT OF BANKS.—PROTECTION OF HOME INDUSTRIES.—PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUFFRAGE. |
| | Issue of paper money, | 131 |
| | Clerk of the Assembly first elected from outside the House, | 131 |
| | Arts of peace resumed, | 132 |
| | New militia laws enacted, | 132 |
| | Laws concerning trade, | 133 |
| | Troubles occasioned by paper money, | 134 |
| 1715. | Banks established in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, | 134 |
| | Paper money question carried into election, | 134 |
| | Improvements in Newport, | 136 |
| | Criminal code, | 136 |
| 1716. | School-houses built in Portsmouth, | 136 |
| | Punishment of slander, | 137 |
| | Indian lands taken under the protection of the Colony, | 137 |
| | Law concerning intestates, | 137 |
| 1719. | First edition of the laws printed, | 138 |
| | Boundary troubles, | 138 |
| | Industry of the Colony protected by loans and bounties, | 138 |
| 1724. | Freehold act passed, | 139 |
| 1723. | Pirate captured, | 139 |
| | Evidences of the progress of the Colony, | 139 |
| 1727. | Death of Governor Cranston, | 141 |
| CHAPTER XVIII. |
| CHANGE OF THE EXECUTIVE.—ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY.—GEORGE BERKELEY’S RESIDENCE IN NEWPORT.—FRIENDLY FEELING BETWEEN THE COLONISTS AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY. |
| | New Governor elected, | 142 |
| | State of affairs in England, | 142 |
| 1728. | Revision of the criminal code, | 143 |
| | Laws for the encouragement and regulation of trade, | 144 |
| 1727. | Earthquake, | 145 |
| 1723–1724. | Division of the Colony into counties, | 146 |
| | George Berkeley, | 146 |
| | Establishment of Redwood Library, | 147 |
| | Laws concerning charitable institutions, Quakers and Indians, | 147 |
| 1730. | New census taken, | 148 |
| 1731. | New bank voted, | 149 |
| | Commercial prosperity, | 149 |
| | New edition of the laws published, | 149 |
| | Fisheries encouraged, | 150 |
| | Regulation concerning election, | 150 |
| | William Wanton chosen Governor, | 152 |
| | Depreciation of paper money, | 152 |
| 1733. | Marriage laws, | 152 |
| | John Wanton chosen Governor, | 153 |
| | Watchfulness of the Board of Trade, | 153 |
| 1735–1736. | Throat distemper, | 154 |
| | Law against bribery at elections, | 154 |
| | Arrival of his Majesty’s ship Tartar, | 155 |
| | Means of protection against fire, | 155 |
| CHAPTER XIX. |
| WAR WITH SPAIN.—NEW TAXES LEVIED BY ENGLAND.—RELIGIOUS AWAKENING AMONG THE BAPTISTS. |
| | Preparation for war against the Spaniards, | 156 |
| | Great expedition against the Spanish West Indies, | 157 |
| | New taxes levied on importations by England, | 157 |
| | Death of Governor Wanton, who is succeeded by Richard Ward, | 158 |
| | Arrival of Whitefield and Fothergill, | 159 |
| | Further provisions for the defence of the Colony, | 159 |
| | Report of the Governor concerning paper money, | 160 |
| 1741. | Boundary line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts settled, | 161 |
| CHAPTER XX. |
| PROGRESS OF THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.—CHANGE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS.—SENSE OF COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPING AMONG THE COLONISTS.—LOUISBURG CAPTURED. |
| | Privateers fitted out, | 162 |
| 1741. | James Greene started an iron works, | 162 |
| | Changes of the jurisdictions of the courts, | 163 |
| | Encroachments of Connecticut, | 163 |
| 1741. | Newport Artillery chartered, | 165 |
| | Counterfeit bills troublesome, | 164 |
| 1744. | Lotteries legalized, | 165 |
| | Rhode Island’s part in the capture of Louisburg, | 165 |
| | Death of Colonel John Cranston, | 166 |
| | Two privateers and two hundred men lost, | 166 |
| | Sense of common interest and mutual dependence gaining ground, | 166 |
| | Caution against fraudulent voting, | 167 |
| | Disaster to the French armada, | 168 |
| 1746. | Close of the campaign, | 168 |
| | Accession of territory, | 168 |
| CHAPTER XXI. |
| ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENTS.—CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITIZENSHIP.—NEW COUNTIES AND TOWNS FORMED.—FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.—WARD AND HOPKINS CONTEST.—ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWSPAPERS. |
| 1748. | Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, | 170 |
| | Hutchinson’s scheme for returning to specie payment rejected by Rhode Island, | 171 |
| | Act against swearing revised, | 172 |
| | Provisions concerning legal residence, | 172 |
| | New census taken, | 172 |
| 1748–1749. | Death of John Callender, | 173 |
| | Beaver Tail Light built, | 173 |
| | Troubles from depreciation of currency, | 173 |
| 1754. | First divorce granted, | 174 |
| | Kent County formed, | 174 |
| 1752. | Gregorian calendar adopted, | 175 |
| | Troubles concerning the Narragansett land settled, | 175 |
| 1753. | First patent granted in the Colony for making potash, | 175 |
| | Fellowship Club founded—afterwards the Newport Marine Society, | 176 |
| 1754. | Commissioners sent to the Albany Congress, | 176 |
| | French and Indian war, | 177 |
| | French settlers imprisoned, | 178 |
| | Ward and Hopkins contest, | 178 |
| | Providence court house and library burned, | 179 |
| | David Douglass built a theatre at Providence, | 180 |
| 1758. | Newport Mercury established, | 180 |
