This is a collection of lists of early

settler A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer. Settle ...

s (before 1700) in the

Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded by Roger Williams. It was an English colony from 1636 until 1 ...

. Most of the lists are of the earliest inhabitants of a particular town or area.

Indian tribes and leaders

The following people lived in Rhode Island prior to Colonial settlement:

Wampanoag The Wampanoag , also rendered Wôpanâak, are an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands based in southeastern Massachusetts and historically parts of eastern Rhode Island,Salwen, "Indians of Southern New England and Long Island," p. ...

people lived throughout

Plymouth Colony Plymouth Colony (sometimes Plimouth) was, from 1620 to 1691, the first permanent English colony in New England and the second permanent English colony in North America, after the Jamestown Colony. It was first settled by the passengers on the ...

and around

Mount Hope Bay Mount Hope Bay is a tidal estuary located at the mouth of the Taunton River on the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border. It is an arm of Narragansett Bay. The bay is named after Mount Hope, a small hill located on its western shore in what is ...

Bristol, Rhode Island Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, US as well as the historic county seat. The town is built on the traditional territories of the Pokanoket Wampanoag. It is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England. The population of B ...

Massasoit Massasoit Sachem () or Ousamequin (c. 15811661)"Native People" (page), "Massasoit (Ousamequin) Sachem" (section),''MayflowerFamilies.com'', web pag was the sachem or leader of the Wampanoag confederacy. ''Massasoit'' means ''Great Sachem''. Mas ...

, tribal leader, met the Pilgrims at Plymouth *

Wamsutta Wamsutta ( 16341662), also known as Alexander Pokanoket, as he was called by New England colonists, was the eldest son of Massasoit (meaning Great Leader) Ousa Mequin of the Pokanoket Tribe and Wampanoag nation, and brother of Metacomet. Life W ...

, son of Massasoit, became tribal leader upon father's death but died shortly after * Metacomet, son of Massasoit, succeeded his brother as tribal leader; colonists gave him the name of Philip, at his request; instigated

King Philip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

Narragansett people The Narragansett people are an Algonquian American Indian tribe from Rhode Island. Today, Narragansett people are enrolled in the federally recognized Narragansett Indian Tribe. They gained federal recognition in 1983. The tribe was nearly la ...

lived throughout the Rhode Island colony *

Canonicus Canonicus (c. 1565 – June 4, 1647) was a chief of the Narragansett Indigenous Peoples. He was wary of the colonial settlers, but he ultimately befriended Roger Williams and other settlers. Biography Canonicus was born around 1565,Benjami ...

, chief sachem, deeded the land to

Roger Williams Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantatio ...

on which he established

Providence Plantations Providence Plantations was the first permanent European American settlement in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It was established by a group of colonists led by Roger Williams and Dr. John Clarke who left Massachusetts Bay ...

Miantonomo Miantonomoh (1600? – August 1643), also spelled Miantonomo, Miantonomah or Miantonomi, was a chief of the Narragansett people of New England Indians. Biography He was a nephew of the Narragansett grand sachem, Canonicus (died 1647), with whom he ...

, nephew of Canonicus, sold

Samuel Gorton Samuel Gorton (1593–1677) was an early settler and civic leader of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and President of the towns of Providence and Warwick. He had strong religious beliefs which differed from Puritan theol ...

and others the land to establish

Warwick, Rhode Island Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, the third largest city in the state with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, southwest of Boston, Massach ...

Canonchet Canonchet (or Cononchet or Quanonchet, died April 3, 1676) was a Narragansett Sachem and leader of Native American troops during the Great Swamp Fight and King Philip's War. He was a son of Miantonomo. Canonchet was a leader of the separatist N ...

, son of Miantonomo, led Narragansets during the

Great Swamp Fight The Great Swamp Fight or the Great Swamp Massacre was a crucial battle fought during King Philip's War between the colonial militia of New England and the Narragansett people in December 1675. It was fought near the villages of Kingston and W ...

and accepted his own death at the end of King Philip's War *

Pumham Pumham (died 1676) (also known as Pomham) was one of Metacomet's chief advisors during King Phillip's War. He was sachem of Shawomet. He was described as "one of the stoutest and most valiant sachems that belonged to the Narragansett." He was frie ...

, lesser sachem of

Kent County, Rhode Island Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 170,363, making it the second-most populous county in Rhode Island. The county was formed in 1750 from the southern third of Providen ...

*Soconoco, lesser sachem of the same area as Pumham Niantic people lived around the

Pawcatuck River The Pawcatuck River is a river in the US states of Rhode Island and Connecticut flowing approximately .U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 There are eight d ...

in the southwestern corner of Rhode Island *

Ninigret Ninigret (also known as Juanemo according to Roger Williams) (c. 1610 This source confirms 1662 as the date of his land sales.-1677 This source suggests a date of 1667 for his land sales and a 1647 war against the Mohegans.) was a sachem of the ea ...

, kept the Niantics neutral during King Philip's War *

Harman Garrett Harman Garrett (c. 1610 – c. 1678) (also known as Cashawashett or Wequashcook II or Herman Garrett or Harmon Garrett) was a Niantic sachem and then governor of the Eastern Pequots slightly east of the Pawcatuck River in what is now Westerly, Rh ...

, Indian governor, and nephew of Ninigret

Nipmuc The Nipmuc or Nipmuck people are an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who historically spoke an Eastern Algonquian language. Their historic territory Nippenet, "the freshwater pond place," is in central Massachusetts and nearby part ...

people wandered within Rhode Island Colony, mostly from the north

First European settler

William Blackstone Sir William Blackstone (10 July 1723 – 14 February 1780) was an English jurist, judge and Tory politician of the eighteenth century. He is most noted for writing the ''Commentaries on the Laws of England''. Born into a middle-class family ...

, settled along the Blackstone River in

Cumberland, Rhode Island Cumberland is the northeasternmost town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, first settled in 1635 and incorporated in 1746. The population was 36,405 at the 2020 census, making it the seventh-largest municipality and the largest ...

(1634–35), part of the

at the timeArnold, 98-9

First settlers of Providence

Roger Williams was banished from the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as th ...

in October 1635 but was allowed to remain at his home in

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem would become one of the ...

until the end of winter, provided that he did not preach. However, his followers visited him at his home in sizable numbers, and the authorities deemed this to be preaching. They planned to apprehend him by force and put him on a ship for England in January 1636, but magistrate

John Winthrop John Winthrop (January 12, 1587/88 – March 26, 1649) was an English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading figures in founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led t ...

warned him privately, and he slipped away from Salem in the dead of winter to find shelter with the Wampanoags. He bought a parcel of land in Seekonk from Wampanoag sachem

which was at the western edge of the

(now

Rehoboth, Massachusetts Rehoboth is a historic town in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Established in 1643, Rehoboth is one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts. The population was 12,502 at the 2020 census. Rehoboth is a mostly rural community with many historic sites i ...

). In a 1677 statement, Williams mentioned the four who were with him at Seekonk. The five members of the group were:Arnold, 97Bicknell, 1:158 *

* William Harris *

John Smith (miller) John Smith (c. 1595 – c. 1649) was a founding settler of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence in what would become the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Smith joined Roger Williams at the Seekonk River in 1635 after both were e ...

* Francis Wickes (a minor) * Thomas Angell (a minor) Providence, Rhode Island, Original Deed

In the spring of 1636, Williams and his company planted crops at Seekonk but were informed in a gentle letter from Governor

Edward Winslow Edward Winslow (18 October 15958 May 1655) was a Separatist and New England political leader who traveled on the ''Mayflower'' in 1620. He was one of several senior leaders on the ship and also later at Plymouth Colony. Both Edward Winslow and ...

of Plymouth that they were within Plymouth's jurisdiction, and this fact would cause difficulties with the Massachusetts authorities. Without urgency, Winslow suggested that Williams and his group move across the Seekonk River into the territory of the Narragansetts, where no colony had any claim. Joshua Verin wrote a statement in 1650 mentioning "we six which came first to Providence", suggesting that he was the next to join the original five.Chapin, 11 Also, Benedict Arnold later wrote, "Memm. We came to Providence to Dwell the 20th of April, 1636". While the traditional date of the settlement of Providence has been given as about 20 June 1636, this does not take into account the Arnold record. More recent analysis of the settling of Providence suggests that Williams likely negotiated with the Narragansetts for land in March 1636, and that Williams and his party along with the Arnold family actually settled the land in April 1636. It is likely that the following people were the original settlers in the Narragansett territory at the place which Williams named

:Chapin, 17 *

(his wife Mary and daughters Mary and Freeborn likely came later) * William Harris (his wife Susannah and son Andrew likely came later) * John Smith (his wife Alice and children John Jr. and Elizabeth likely came later) * Francis Wickes (a minor) * Thomas Angell (a minor) *Joshua Verin (his wife Jane may have come later); The Arnold party, including: * William Arnold with wife Christian, daughter Joanne, and sons Stephen and Benedict * William Carpenter with wife Elizabeth (the daughter of William Arnold) *William Mann with wife Frances Hopkins (the niece of William Arnold) * Thomas Hopkins, still a minor, nephew of William Arnold (and ancestor of Governor Stephen Hopkins)

Providence civil compact, 1637

Several young men were admitted as inhabitants to Providence before the settlement was a year old, but they were discontented with their position and wanted to be able to vote and otherwise have equality with the older settlers. The following resolution was adopted in a town meeting on August 20, 1637 and is sometimes called the "civil compact." The 1637 date was on the original town records, but when they were transcribed in 1800, the page containing that date was missing. The text of the resolution is as follows:

We, whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good of our body, in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present inhabitants, master of families, incorporated together into a town fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things.

* Richard Scott *William Reynolds X his mark *John Field X his mark * Chad Browne *John Warner *George Richard *Edward Cope * Thomas Angell X his mark (now an adult) *Thomas Harris * Francis Wickes X his mark (now an adult) *

Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold ( Brandt (1994), p. 4June 14, 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defect ...

(now an adult) *Joshua Winsor *

William Wickenden William Wickenden (c. 1614–1671) was an early Anglo-American Baptist minister, co-founder of Providence Plantations, and signer of the Providence Compact. Wickenden Street in Providence marks where he originally settled in the seventeenth c ...

Original proprietors of Providence

Those named in a deed from Roger Williams, dated about October 8, 1638:Arnold, 100 *

Stukeley Westcott Stukely Westcott (1592 – 12 January 1677) was one of the founding settlers of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and one of the original members of the first Baptist Church in America, established by Roger Williams in 163 ...

(left Salem about March 1638) * William Arnold *Thomas James (was minister at Charlestown; Providence by June 1637; left for

New Haven New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 ...

in 1639) * Robert Coles (was earlier at Roxbury, Ipswich, and Salem)Austin, 50 * John Greene (had departed Boston by March 1636) * John Throckmorton (was at Salem earlier)Austin, 200 *John Sweet * William Harris * William Carpenter *

Thomas Olney Thomas Olney (ca. 1600–1682) was an early minister at the First Baptist Church in America and one of the first proprietors in Providence Plantations. Immigration to New England Olney was born in England in 1600 and was trained as a shoemaker. He ...

(left Salem about March 1638) *Francis Weston (left Salem about March 1638)Anderson (1995), p. 1967 *Richard Waterman (left Salem about March 1638)Anderson (1995), p. 1943 *Ezekiel Holyman (left Salem about March 1638)Austin, 102

Pawtuxet settlers

Those settlers who left Providence to settle on the north side of the

Pawtuxet River The Pawtuxet River, also known as the Pawtuxet River Main Stem and the Lower Pawtuxet, is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, ...

about 1638, putting themselves under the jurisdiction of

from 1642 to 1658:Arnold, 102Bicknell, 1:143Moriarty, 20:227 * William Arnold *

, moved to Newport in 1651 * William Carpenter * Thomas Hopkins, did not stay long *William Mann, did not stay long * Robert Coles * William Harris, did not stay long *Zachariah Rhodes (married Joanna, daughter of William Arnold), did not stay long *William Field, did not stay long *

, moved to Warwick about 1643

Signers of Providence agreement for a government, 1640

Those 39 Providence settlers who signed an agreement to form a government on July 27, 1640: * Chad Brown * Robert Coles * William Harris * John Throckmorton * Stukely Westcott *

* William Carpenter * Richard Scott *Thomas Harris * Francis Wickes X his mark * Thomas Angell X his mark *Adam Goodwin X his mark *William Burrows X his mark *

*Robert West *Joshua Winsor *Robert Williams * Mathew Waller *

Gregory Dexter Gregory Dexter (1610–1700) was an early American printer, Baptist minister, and early President of the combined towns of Providence and Warwick in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was in New England as early as 1 ...

*John Lippitt X his mark *John Warner *John Field * William Arnold *William Field *Edward Cope *Edward Manton X his mark *William Man *Nicholas Power *William Reynolds X his mark *

*Richard Waterman *

* Edward Hart *Hugh Bewit * Thomas Hopkins X his mark *Joan Tiler (widow) *Jane Sears X her mark (widow) *Christopher Unthank *William Hawkins X his mark

Settlers of Cocumscussoc (Wickford) area

Those early settlers who had trading posts in the area of Wickford in what was then the "Narragansett country" and later a part of

North Kingstown, Rhode Island North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilb ...

:Arnold, 195 * Richard Smith, built a trading post established about 1637 where his house

Smith's Castle Smith's Castle, built in 1678, is a house museum at 55 Richard Smith Drive, near Wickford, a village in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States. Smith's Castle is one of the oldest houses in the state. It was designated a National Historic ...

still stands, rebuilt by Richard, Jr. after King Philip's War *

, built his trading post about a mile north from Smith's post along the Pequot Path (or Post Road) and occupied it from about 1644 to 1651 and then sold it to Smith to get funds for his proposed errand to England *Mr. Wilcox (possibly Edward or John), built his trading post in the early 1640s in the same general area

Founders of Portsmouth

Supporters of

Anne Hutchinson Anne Hutchinson (née Marbury; July 1591 – August 1643) was a Puritan spiritual advisor, religious reformer, and an important participant in the Antinomian Controversy which shook the infant Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638. Her ...

who signed the

Portsmouth Compact The Portsmouth Compact was a document signed on March 7, 1638 that established the settlement of Portsmouth, which is now a town in the state of Rhode Island. It was the first document in American history that severed both political and religious ...

, dated March 7, 1638: *

William Coddington William Coddington (c. 1601 – 1 November 1678) was an early magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and later of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He served as the judge of Portsmouth and Newport, governor of Portsmouth ...

* John Clarke * William Hutchinson, husband of

John Coggeshall John Coggeshall Sr. (2 December 1599 – 27 November 1647) was one of the founders of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and the first President of all four towns in the Colony. He was a successful silk merchant in Essex, Engl ...

William Aspinwall William Aspinwall (1605 – c. 1662) was an Englishman who emigrated to Boston with the ''Winthrop Fleet'' in 1630. He played an integral part in the early religious controversies of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Life Aspinwall as most of th ...

Samuel Wilbore Samuel Wilbore (c. 1595–1656) was one of the founding settlers of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He emigrated from Essex, England to Boston with his wife and three sons in 1633. He and his wife both j ...

John Porter John Porter may refer to: Politicians * John Porter (portreeve), 1390–94, Member of Parliament (MP) for Taunton * John Porter (Illinois politician) (1935–2022), Illinois politician, U.S. Representative * John Porter (MP for Bramber) (died 1599 ...

* John Sanford * Edward Hutchinson, Jr., oldest son of William and Anne Hutchinson * Thomas Savage * William Dyer, husband of

Mary Dyer Mary Dyer (born Marie Barrett; c. 1611 – 1 June 1660) was an English and colonial American Puritan turned Quaker who was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, for repeatedly defying a Puritan law banning Quakers from the colon ...

William Freeborn William Freeborn (December 13, 1816 – June 3, 1900) was a pioneer in Minnesota, Montana, and California. Freeborn County, Minnesota is named in his honor. Pioneer Born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1816, Freeborn moved to Saint Paul, Minne ...

* Philip Shearman *John Walker *Richard Carder *

William Baulston William Baulston (16051678) was a colonial New England innkeeper, who was very active in the civil and military affairs of both the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was a founding settler of ...

* Edward Hutchinson, Sr., brother of William Hutchinson * Henry Bull (signed with a mark) *

Randall Holden Randall Holden (1692) was an early inhabitant of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, one of the original founders of Portsmouth, and one of the co-founders of the town of Warwick. He came to New England from Salisbury, Wiltsh ...

*''Thomas Clarke'' *''John Johnson'' *''William Hall'' *''John Brightman'' The last four names on the list were crossed out, but these men nevertheless came to Portsmouth or Newport.

Inhabitants of Aquidneck Island (1638)

The following individuals were among the earliest settlers of

Aquidneck Island Aquidneck Island, also known as Rhode Island, is an island in Narragansett Bay in the state of Rhode Island. The total land area is , which makes it the largest island in the bay. The 2020 United States Census reported its population as 60,109. T ...

in the

Narragansett Bay Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound covering , of which is in Rhode Island. The bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor and includes a small archipelago. Sm ...

; the island was officially named Rhode Island by 1644, from which the entire colony eventually took its name. The first group of 58 names appears to be settlers of Pocasset (later Portsmouth), while the second group of 42 appears to be settlers of Newport. These two lists come from Bartlett's ''Records of the Colony of Rhode Island'', and apparently they were compiled and incorporated into the town records of Newport on November 25, 1639. The actual arrival dates of the individuals likely span over several months during 1638; a few individuals have legible dates next to their names, while several others have illegible dates. ''A Catalogue of such who, by the Generall consent of the Company were admitted to be Inhabytants of the Island now called Aqueedneck, having submitted themselves to the Government that is or shall be established, according to the word of God therein''

638 __NOTOC__ Year 638 (Roman numerals, DCXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 638 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno ...

Samuel Hutchinson Samuel Hutchinson was an Anglican bishop in Ireland. Formerly Dean of Dromore and Archdeacon of Connor he was nominated Bishop of Killala and Achonry The Bishop of Killala and Achonry was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Kil ...

*Thomas Emons *Richard Awards *Edward Willcoks * George Gardiner *William Witherington *Mr.

*John Wickes *Ralph Earle *Nicholas Browne *Richard Burden orden*Richard Maxon *Mr. Nicholas Esson *Thomas Spicer *Robert Potter *William Nedham *Sampson Shatton *Adam Mott *John Mott *Mr. Robert Jefferyes *Thomas Hitt *James Tarr *John Roome *Robert Gilham * Jeremy Clarke *Nicholas Davis *Wm. Baker *John More *Anthony Pain *George Potter *Wm. Richardson *Wm. Quick *Thomas Clarke *John Johnson *William Hall *John Briggs *James Davis *George Parker *Erasmus Bullock *George Cleer *

Thomas Hazard Thomas Hazard (1610 - after 1677) was one of the List of early settlers of Rhode Island#Founders of Newport, nine founding settlers of Newport, Rhode Island, Newport on Aquidneck Island (Rhode Island) in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence ...

*William Cowlie *Jeffery Champlin *Richard Sarle *John Sloff *Thomas Beeder *John Tripp *Osamund Doutch *John Marshall *Robert Stanton *Joseph Clarke *Robert Carr *

George Layton George Layton (born 2 March 1943) is an English actor, director, screenwriter and author best known for three television roles – junior doctor Paul Collier in the comedy series '' Doctor in the House'' and its sequels '' Doctor at Large'', '' ...

*John Arnold *William Havens *Thomas Layton *Edward Poole *Mathew Sutherland ''"Inhabitants admitted at the Town of Nieu-port since the 20th of the 3:1638" ''(since 20 May 1638) *Marmaduke Ward *Robert Field *Thomas Stafford *Job Tyler *Thomas Sauorie *Hugh Durdall *William Baker *John Layton *Mr. Will Foster *John Hall *Tobye Knight *John Peckum *Michel Williamson *Mr. Robert Lintell *Richard Smith *James Rogers *John Smith *Wm. Parker *John Grinman *Edward Rero *John Macummore *Robert Root *Ezekiah Meritt *James Burt *John Bartlett *Edward _________ *Sampson Salter *Nicholas Cottrell *John Vaughan *John Smith *John Merchant (2 July) *Jeremy Gould *Enoch Hunt *Nathaniel Adams *Samuel Allen *George Allen *Ralph Allen *Mr. Thomas Burton *Henry Bishop *

John Hicks Sir John Richards Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economic ...

*Edward Browce *Mathew Gridell (5 August)

Residents of Portsmouth after split with Newport

AnneHutchinsonMaryDyerMemorialHerbGarden

Those Portsmouth settlers who remained after the group left to found Newport and who signed an agreement for a government on April 30, 1639:Arnold, 133 * William Hutchinson *

, did not stay long if actually here *John Wickes *Richard Magson *Thomas Spicer *John Roome *John Geoffe (?) *Thomas Beddar *Erasmus Bullock *Samson Shotten *Ralphe Earle *Robert Potter *Nathaniel Potter *George Potter *William Havens *George Shaw * George Lawton *Anthony Paine *Job Hawkins *Richard Awarde *John Moore *Nicholas Browne *William Richardson *John Tripp *Thomas Layton *Robert Stanton *John Briggs *James Davis *

(did not sign agreement, but did remain here)

Founders of Newport

Those who signed an agreement for a new government on April 28, 1639:Arnold, 132 *

Nicholas Easton Nicholas Easton (1593–1675) was an early colonial President and Governor of Rhode Island. Born in Hampshire, England, he lived in the towns of Lymington and Romsey before immigrating to New England with his two sons in 1634. Once in the N ...

William Brenton William Brenton (c. 1610–1674) was a colonial President, Deputy Governor, and Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and an early settler of Portsmouth and Newport in the Rhode Island colony. Austin and other hist ...

* John Clarke * Jeremy Clarke (his wife was Frances (Latham) Clarke) *

* Henry Bull * William Dyer

Founders of Warwick

Those who purchased the land from the Indians on January 12, 1642:Arnold, 176 *

* John Greene *John Wickes *Francis Weston *

*Richard Waterman *John Warner *Richard Carder *Samson Shotten *Robert Potter *William Wodell *Nicholas Power *John Sweet

Pettaquamscutt purchasers

Those who purchased the Pettaquamscutt lands (later

South Kingstown South Kingstown is a town in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 31,931 at the 2020 census. South Kingstown is the second largest town in Rhode Island by total geographic area, behind New ...

) from the Indian sachems in 1657: Original purchasers: *

Thomas Mumford Thomas Mumford (1625–1692) is the progenitor of the Mumford family that left England and settled in Rhode Island. He was one of the earliest settlers in Rhode Island. Mumford and List of early settlers of Rhode Island#Pettaquamscutt purchasers ...

*Samuel Wilson * John Hull (Boston goldsmith and minter) Later purchasers: *

In 1659 a second group set up the Atherton Trading Company, with perceived rights to land in Narragansett, in an area south of the North Kingstown, which included

Wickford Wickford is a town and civil parish in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of 33,486. Located approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of London, it is within the Borough of Basildon along with the original town of Basil ...

. Their claim was declared void years later.

Early inhabitants of New Shoreham (Block Island)

The original ''purchasers'' of

Block Island Block Island is an island in the U.S. state of Rhode Island located in Block Island Sound approximately south of the mainland and east of Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. It is part of Washingto ...

in April 1661, whose names appear on a plaque at the north end of the island: * Thomas Terry * John Clarke * William Jud * Samuel Dearing * Simon Ray * William Tosh * Tormut Rose * William Barker * Daniel Cumball * William Cohoone * Duncan Mack Williamson * John Rathbun * Edward Vorce, Jun. * Trustrum Dodge, Sen. * Nicholas White * William Billings * John Ackurs (Acres). The early ''settlers'' whose names appear on the plaque: * Richard Billingum * Samuel Dearing * Nathaniel Winslow * Tormut Rose * Edward Vorce * John Rathbun * Thomas Faxson * Richard Allis * Phillip Warton * John Glover * Thomas Terry * James Sands * Hugh Williams * John Alcock * Peter George * Simon Ray * Trustrum Dodge was also an early settler, though his name only appears on the plaque as an original purchaser

Those named in the Royal Charter of 1663

The early Rhode Island inhabitants named in the

Rhode Island Royal Charter The Rhode Island Royal Charter provided royal recognition to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, approved by England's King Charles II in July 1663. It outlined many freedoms for the inhabitants of Rhode Island and was the ...

, dated July 8, 1663 and signed with the royal seal by King Charles II; this charter was the basis for Rhode Island's government for nearly two centuries: *Author: John Clarke *Governor:

*Deputy Governor:

Assistants: *

* John Smith * John Greene *

* James Barker *William Field *Joseph Clarke Others named in the document: * William Codington *

*John Wickes *

*John Roome * Samuel Wildbore * Richard Tew *Thomas Harris * William Dyre *________ Rainsborrow (given name omitted) *________ Williams (this is undoubtedly Robert Williams, brother of Roger Williams) *John Nickson

Early inhabitants of Westerly

Westerly, at first called Misquamicut, was purchased on 27 August 1661 by the following Newport men: * William Vaughan *

John Coggeshall, Jr. John Coggeshall Jr. (c. 1624 - 1 October 1708) was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The son of Rhode Island President John Coggeshall Sr., he was raised in the village of Castle Hedingham in northeaste ...

John Crandall Elder John Crandall (15 February 1618 – 29 November 1676) was a Baptist minister, born in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, England and was one of the founding settlers of Westerly, Rhode Island. Biography English roots Crandall was born in 1618 ( ...

* Hugh Mosher * James Barker *

Caleb Carr Caleb Carr (born August 2, 1955) is an American military historian and author. Carr is the second of three sons born to Lucien Carr and Francesca Von Hartz. He authored ''The Alienist'', '' The Angel of Darkness'', ''The Lessons of Terror'', '' ...

* James Rogers * Joseph Torry * John Cranston Of these men, only John Crandall appears to have settled in Westerly. Westerly inhabitants appearing in the town records of 18 May 1669: *

* Edward Larkin * Stephen Wilcox * John Lewis * James Cross * Jonathan Armstrong * John Maxson * Jeffrey Champlin, Sr. * John Fairfield * Daniel Cromb * Nicholas Cottrell * Shubael Painter *

Tobias Saunders Tobias Saunders (c. 1620 – 1695) was a Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly (1669, 1671, 1672, 1680, 1681, 1683, and 1690), a Conservator of the Peace (1669, 1678, and 1695) and a founding settler of Westerly, Rhode Island. Uncertain origi ...

* Robert Burdick * John Randall * John MacCoon * John Sharp * Daniel Stanton * James Babcock, Sr. * Thomas Painter * James Babcock, Jr. * John Babcock * Job Babcock * Josiah Clarke

Colonial leaders during King Philip's War

During the devastating events of

(1675-1676), the Rhode Island General Assembly sought the counsel of 16 prominent citizens of the colony with the resolution, "Voted that in these troublesome times and in this , this Assembly desiringe to have the advice and concurrance of the most juditious inhabitants, if it may be had for the good of the whole, doe desire at their next sittinge the Company and Councill of": *

* John Clarke * James Barker *

Obadiah Holmes Obadiah Holmes (1610 – 15 October 1682) was an early Rhode Island settler, and a Baptist minister who was whipped in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious beliefs and activism. He became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Newport, ...

* William Vaughan * William Hiscocks *

Christopher Holder Christopher Holder (1631–1688), was an early Quaker evangelist who was imprisoned and whipped, had an ear cut off, and was threatened with death for his religious activism in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and in England. A native of Gloucesters ...

* Phillip Shearman * Capt.

John Albro John Albro (May 6, 1764 – October 23, 1839) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1818 to 1826. He was also a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Regiment ...

* William Wodell * George Lawton * Robert Hodgson * William Carpenter *

* Capt.

* Capt. John Greene

Original proprietors of East Greenwich

At a meeting of the General Assembly in Newport in May 1677, the following 48 individuals were granted 100-acre tracts in

East Greenwich East Greenwich is a New England town, town and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, Kent County, Rhode Island. The population was 14,312 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within t ...

"for the services rendered during

." *John Spencer *Thomas Nichols, father of Deputy Governor Jonathan Nichols *Clement Weaver *Henry Brightman *George Vaughan *John Weaver *Charles Macarty *Thomas Wood *Thomas Frye, father of Deputy Governor

Thomas Frye Thomas Frye (c. 1710 – 3 April 1762) was an Anglo-Irish artist, best known for his portraits in oil and pastel, including some miniatures and his early mezzotint engravings. He was also the patentee of the Bow porcelain factory, London, ...

*Benjamin Griffin *Daniel Vaughan *Thomas Dungan, son of William and Frances (Latham) Dungan *John Pearce *Stephen Peckham *John Crandall, son of

*Preserved Pearce *Henry Lilly *John Albro, son of

*Samuel Albro, son of

*Philip Long *Richard Knight *John Peckham *Thomas Peckham *William Clarke *Edward Day *Edward Richmond *Edward Calvery *John Heath *Robert Havens *John Strainge *John Parker *George Browne *Richard Barnes *Samson Ballou *John Remington *Jonathan Devell *Benjamin Mowrey *Joseph Mowrey *William Wilbore, cousin of

*James Eyles Pearce *James Batty *Benjamin Gorton, son of

*Henry Dyre, son of

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

and

*John Knowles *Stephen Arnold, son of William Arnold and brother of Governor

*John Sanford, son of Governor John Sanford *William Hawkins *John Holden, son of

Early Settlers of Bristol (1680)

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...

's early history began as a commercial enterprise when John Gorham was awarded 100 acres of land if it could be "honorably purchased from the indians." Gorham's enterprise succeeded on 18 Sep 1680 when four proprietors were awarded the deed to Mt. Hope Lands:Munro, 76 *John Walley *Nathaniel Byfield *Stephen Burton *Nathaniel Oliver (sold share to Nathan Hayman) *Nathan Hayman On 27 Aug 1680, twelve men signed Articles agreeing to purchase lands: * Capt. Benjamin Church *Doctor Isaac Waldron *Timothy Clarke *William Ingraham *Nathaniel Paine *Nathaniel Reynolds *Christopher Saunders *John Wilkins *Nathaniel Williams *Samuel Woodbury *Nathaniel Bosworth *Benjamin JonesMunro, 77 On 1 Sep 1681, more than 60 families were present at the first town meeting and named these lands Bristol after

Bristol, England Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

.Munro, 78 Bristol was originally part of Massachusetts, but it became part of Rhode Island when disputed lands were awarded to the Colony of Rhode Island in 1747. *Eliashib Adams *Watching Atherton *Joseph Baster *John Bayley *John Birge *Thomas Bletsoe *Benjamin Bosworth *Edward Bosworth *William Brenton *William Brown *James Burrill *James Burroughs (Burrows) *David Cary (Carey) *John Cary (Carey) *Samuel Cobbett *John Corps (Cope) *Solomon Curtis *Zachariah Curtis *Thomas Daggett *Jonathan Davenport *Robert Dutch *Jeremiah Finney *John Finney *Jonathan Finney *Joseph Ford *Anthony Fry *Samuel Gallop *John Gladding *Jabez Gorham *Richard Hammond *Henry Hampton *William Hedge *William Hoar *Jabez Howland *Benjamin Ingell (Ingalls) *Joseph Jacob(s) *Daniel Landon (Langdon) *Thomas Lewis *John Martin Jr. *Nicholas Mead *George Morye (Mowrey) *Jeremiah Osborne *Peter Pampelion (Papillon) *Samuel Penfield *John Pope *Edmund Ranger *Increase Robinson *John Rogers *

John Saffin John Saffin (baptised 22 November 1626 – 29 July 1710) was a colonial New England merchant, politician, judge, and poet. He is best known for his ''A Brief and Candid Answer'' to Samuel Sewall's ''The Selling of Joseph'', and for a small colle ...

*Joseph Sandy *John Smith *Richard Smith *Widdo (Elizabeth) Southard (Southworth) *Robert Taft *Major Robert Thompson *William Throope *John Thurston *George Waldron *Thomas Walker *Uzal/Uzell Wardwell *Richard White *John Wilson *Hugh Woodbury

Settlers of Frenchtown

French

Huguenots The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster B ...

settled in what is now East Greenwich in 1687. On 12 October 1686, an agreement was signed between the following, representing the French settlers and the land owners: Representing Land Owners * Richard Wharton * Elisha Hutchinson (son of Edward Hutchinson) *

Representing Huguenot Settlers * Ezechiel Carre' * Peter Le Breton Those who signed the agreement The following individuals signed the follow-on agreement, usually giving only their surname, and these same names are found on a plat map of the settlement. *William Barbret *Paul Collin *Jean Germon *Dechamps *Fougere *Grignon *Legare' *Robineau * Petter Ayrault *Magni, Junior *Magni, Senior *Dauid, Junior *Dauid, Senior *Chadene *foretier *Ezechiel Carre', Ministre *Louis Alaire *Jamain *Bussereau *Le moine (Moses LeMoine, father of Colonel Peter Mawney) *Abraum tourtellot *La Veue Galay *Targe', Junior *Targe', Senior *Grasilier *Amian *Lafou *Belhair *Milard *Jouet *Renaud *Le gendre *Bertin dit Laronde *Menardeau *Galay *Ratier *Dauid *Beauchamps *Moize le Brun *Le Breton *La Vigne *Tauerrier *Bouniot *Arnaud *Lambert *Rambert *Coudret *Jean Julien Also on the map are two additional lots: "La terre pour L'Eglise" (land for the church) and "La terr pour L'ecolle" (land for the school). Almost all of these people left Rhode Island to settle in Massachusetts and New York following some severe civil clashes with the English settlers. Two families remained on their original land, however: *LeMoine (later anglicized to Money, and then Mawney) *Targe' (which became Tourgee) The Ayrault family moved to Newport.

Other prominent early settlers (pre-1700)

* Jireh Bull, early settler of Pettaquamscutt (South Kingstown) *

Thomas Cornell (settler) Thomas Cornell Sr (c. 1595 – c. 1655) was one of the earliest settlers of Boston (1638), Rhode Island (1643) and the Bronx and a contemporary of Roger Williams and the family of Anne Hutchinson. He is the ancestor of a number of North Americ ...

* Joseph Jenckes Jr., early settler of Pawtucket, Warwick, and Providence *

Stephen Northup Stephen Northup (roughly 1630 – after 1687) was an early settler of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and built what may be the oldest house still standing in Rhode Island. Northup was a fairly early settler of Provi ...

, built house that remains as one of oldest in the state *

John Steere John Steere (ca. 1634 – 1724) was one of the earliest settlers of the state of Rhode Island, a town official, and a founder of the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island. John Steere was purportedly born in Ockley, Dorking, Surrey in England aro ...

, early settler of Providence and

Smithfield, Rhode Island Smithfield is a town that is located in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville. The population was 22,118 at the 2020 cens ...

* Pardon Tillinghast, early pastor of the

First Baptist Church in America The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, also known as the First Baptist Meetinghouse. It is the oldest Baptist church congregation in the United States, founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Pro ...

* John Whipple, early settler of Providence * Reverend William Vaughn, first Baptist minister of Newport * Reverend Thomas Dungan, Baptist minister of Newport * Captain Arthur Fenner, established RI boundaries, military leader of the Providence Plantations during King Phillip's War

References

External links

Early Rhode Island mapsOriginal purchasers and settlers of Block Island
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of early settlers of Rhode Island

Settlers A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer. Settle ...

Pre-statehood history of Rhode Island People of colonial Rhode Island