The Seal of the State of Rhode Island features a blue field with a golden maritime anchor as its central image below the phrase " HOPE". The anchor has been used as a symbol for

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

since the colony's founding in 1636, well before the region claimed statehood.

History

Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Christian minister,

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 ...

, and others seeking

religious freedom Freedom of religion or religious liberty is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom ...

from persecution in Massachusetts and Europe. The seal's words and emblems were likely inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul," found in

Hebrews The terms ''Hebrews'' (Hebrew: / , Modern: ' / ', Tiberian: ' / '; ISO 259-3: ' / ') and ''Hebrew people'' are mostly considered synonymous with the Semitic-speaking Israelites, especially in the pre-monarchic period when they were still ...

, Verse 6:18-19. After Roger Williams received an official charter in England in 1644, the word "Hope" was placed over the seal's anchor and still remains. The outer circle of the seal reads ''Seal of the State of Rhode Island 1636''. Besides the seal, Roger Williams also used Biblical virtues when he named

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

, and the islands in Narragansett Bay:

Prudence Island Prudence Island is the third-largest island in Narragansett Bay in the state of Rhode Island and part of the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States. It is located near the geographic center of the bay. It is defined by the United Sta ...

Patience Island Patience Island lies off the northwest coast of Prudence Island in the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. It has a land area of , making it the fourth-largest island in Narragansett Bay. Aside from a single 600-square foot house, which is disconnec ...

, Hope Island, and Despair Island.

Legal enactment

The seal has been adopted by successive Rhode Island government authorities since 1644. The current (2021) General Laws enactment asserts: Recto Rhode Island 30 shillings 1786 urn-3 HBS

Recto Rhode Island 30 shillings 1786 urn-3 HBS

§ 42-4-2 State seal. – There shall continue to be one seal for the public use of the state; the form of an anchor shall be engraved thereon; the motto thereof shall be the word "Hope"; and in a circle around the outside shall be engraved with the words, "Seal of the State of Rhode Island, 1636".

Historical seals

File:Rhode Island, 1647 seal-01.svg, Rhode Island Seal in 1647, used in the colonial records"Historic Seals of Rhode Island," ''Symbols & Emblems of Rhode Island

(accessed January 5, 2008) File:Seal of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.svg, The seal used on Rhode Island pound, Rhode Island pounds in the late 18th century File:Rhode Island Seal 1853.jpg, Rhode Island Seal variation used in 1853

Government seals

File:Seal of the Governor of Rhode Island.svg, Seal of the Governor File:Seal of the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.svg, Seal of the Lieutenant Governor File:Rhode Island National Guard Seal.png, Seal of the

Rhode Island National Guard The Rhode Island National Guard consists of the: *Rhode Island Army National Guardbr>*Rhode Island Air National Guardbr>** 102nd Information Warfare Squadron ** 143d Airlift Wing ** 281st Combat Communications Group ** 282nd Combat Communication ...

File:Seal of the Rhode Island Adjutant General.png, Seal of the

Adjutant General An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

of Rhode Island

References

External links

Origins of the Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations''The Seal, the Arms and the Flag of Rhode Island''
1913 booklet by the

Rhode Island Historical Society The Rhode Island Historical Society is a privately endowed membership organization, founded in 1822, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Rhode Island. Its offices are located in Providence, Rhode Island. History Found ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Rhode Island Symbols of Rhode Island