different directions, to the north and the south. Several went to Williams's settlement at Providence, where, not changing their mind with their climate, they took part in disturbances, to be recorded hereafter. A more considerable number established themselves together at a lower point on Narragansett Bay.

When Mrs. Hutchinson left Boston, it was her intention to join her brother-in-law on the Piscataqua. At Mount Wollaston, however, she changed her plan, in consequence of hearing of an arrangement of her husband with some friends to make a settlement in a different quarter. Before the final action of the government, Hutchinson, Coddington, John Clarke, and others, — apparently satisfied that, if it should be left to their option, it would be best for them to remove, - had been looking out for a suitable habitation. "By reason of the suffocating heat of the summer before," Clarke, with a party, first "went to the north, to be somewhat cooler; but the winter following proved so cold, that they were forced in the spring to make towards the south." They had in view Long Island or the shore of Delaware Bay, "having sought the Lord for direction"; but, taking Providence in their way, they were induced by the representations of Roger Williams to turn their attention to the beautiful island of Aquetnet, which the Plymouth people, whom Clarke and Williams, with two others, on the island made a journey to consult, told them was beyond the bounds of the Plymouth patent.1 There, accordingly, nineteen persons associated themselves in a body politic, and chose Coddington to be their

1 Clarke, in the "Brief Discourse," prefixed to "Ill Newes from New England." He had arrived in Boston in November, 1637. He says that it was he who made the proposal to look for another residence.

Settlement

of Aquetnet.

1638.

March 7.

follows: "We whose names are underwritten do here solemnly, in the presence of Jehovah, incorporate ourselves into a body politic, and, as He shall help, will submit our persons, lives, and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the

2 Their engagement together was as King of kings and Lord of lords, and

"Judge," and Aspinwall to be Secretary. With Williams's mediation, they entered into a treaty with the native inhabitants, and bought the island from Canonicus March 24. and Miantonomoh for the consideration of "forty fathom of white beads." 1 At almost the earliest moment of deliberation, they found it necessary to adopt the system which had occasioned them so much offence in Massachusetts; and they ordained "that none should be received as inhabitants or freemen, to build or plant upon the island, but such as should be received in by the consent of the body." The place took at a later time the name of "the Isle of Rhodes, or Rhode March 13. Island."3

May 13.

1644.

1638.

The refugees had brought thither their propensity to faction; and, before the year was ended, they had new trouble among themselves. Mrs. Hutchinson Dissensions could not willingly be quiet, or be second, anyat Aquetnet. where. The materials for this portion of the history are defective; but it is apparent that a serious commotion took place in the new settlement, in the sequel of which several of its founders were driven away. "At Aquiday," says Winthrop, "the people grew very tumultuous, and put out Mr. Coddington and the other three magistrates, and chose Mr. William Hutchinson only, a man of very mild temper and weak parts and wholly guided by his wife, who had been the beginner of all the

to all those perfect and absolute laws of his, given us in his holy word of truth, to be guided and judged thereby. Exod. xxiv. 3, 4; 2 Chron. xi. 3; 2 Kings xi. 17." (R. I. Col. Rec., I. 52.) Among the signers were William Hutchinson and his sons Edward and William, William Coddington, John Clarke, John Coggeshall, William Aspinwall, and Thomas Savage, the last of whom married the elder Hutchinson's daughter. Twelve were members of the Boston church, and all but two, Codding

ton and one of the Hutchinsons, were among the persons who had been required to give up their arms. Several of them must have been on Aquetnet Island when Mrs. Hutchinson was excommunicated.

1 The conveyance (for which see R. I. Col. Rec., I. 45) bears the same date as the conveyance of the Providence lands to Williams.

2 R. I. Col. Rec., I. 53; see above, p. 482.

3 R. I. Col. Rec., I. 127.

former troubles in the country, and still continued to breed disturbance." 1

This statement supplies a key for the interpretation of the imperfect public records of the time. From them it appears, that, before a year had passed after the

1639.

election of Coddington to be Judge, it was deter- Jan. 11. mined to choose three persons "to the place of Eldership, to assist the Judge in the execution of justice and judgment," and to share with him "the whole care and charge of all the affairs" of the plantation. Those conspicuous persons, Aspinwall and the Hutchinsons, father and sons, were passed over, and the choice fell upon Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall, and William Brereton. At the same "General Meeting of the Body," the magistrates were directed "to deal with William Aspinwall concerning his defaults."2 A few days later, it was resolved to choose two new officers; a Constable, "to see that the peace be kept, and that there be no unlawful meetings, or anything that may tend to civil disturbance practised," and a Sergeant, "to inform of all breaches of the laws of God that tend to civil disturbances," and "to keep the prison, and such who shall be committed unto his custody, with all safety and diligence. Two weeks after this, Mr. Aspinwall

3

Jan. 24.

Feb. 7.

April 6.

was proceeded against as "a suspected person, for sedition against the state." And before two months were passed, it was "thought meet that an alarum be appointed to give notice to all who inhabit the place, that they may forthwith repair and gather together to the house of the Judge for the defending of the island, or quelling any insolences that shall be tumultuously raised within the plantation."5

It may be presumed, that, in the controversy thus indi

1 Winthrop writes thus (I. 356) un

der the date of May 11, 1639.

2 R. I. Col. Rec., I. 63, 64.

3 Ibid., 65.

4 Ibid., 66.

5 Ibid., 68.

April 30.

April 28.

cated, a party, headed by the Hutchinsons and Aspinwall, got the better of Coddington and his friends, and that that revolution in the government took place, of which Winthrop had been informed. For presently we read of a new civil compact at the existing settlement,1 and, at the same time, of the removal from it of the Judge, the Elders, and others, under an engagement together "to propagate a plantation in the midst of the island or elsewhere." The party left behind proceeded at once to choose a "ruler or judge." The record is defaced in this part, and the name of the person so chosen is illegible. But there can be no reasonable doubt that it was William Hutchinson, whose signature stands at the head of those of the twenty-nine persons united in the new organization. Aspinwall was placed on a committee raised to lay out lands. And it was agreed upon, to call the town Portsmouth."3 Coddington and his friends betook themselves to the magnificent harbor at the southern end of the island, and gave to their new settlement the name of Newport. During the summer they had an accession of numbers, including forty or fifty adult males.5 Acknowledging themselves "natural subjects to their sovereign lord, King Charles, and subject to his laws," they appointed a committee "to inform Mr. Vane by Nov. 25. writing of the state of things, and desire him to treat about the obtaining a patent of the island from his Majesty." But the division which had taken place continued only a short time. The last meeting which is re-. corded of the separate jurisdiction of Portsmouth Feb. 18. was held within a year after the first. A negotiation which had been entered into with a view to a re

July 1.

May 16.

1640.

66

union' having proved successful, William Hutchinson and nine of his confederates, " presenting of themselves March 12. and desiring to be reunited to the body, were readily embraced." Others of the Portsmouth settlement, not present in person, were "received as freemen, fully to enjoy the privileges belonging thereto." It was "agreed by the body united, that, if there were any person found meet for the service of the same in either plantation, if there were no just exception against him, upon his orderly presentation, he should be received as a freeman"; "that the chief magistrate of the island should be called Governor, and the next Deputy-Governor, and the rest of the magistrates Assistants"; "that the Governor and two Assistants should be chosen in one town, and the DeputyGovernor and two other Assistants in the other town"; "and that the Governor and Assistants should be invested with the offices of the Justices of the Peace."2 Coddington was chosen to be Governor for a year, and William Hutchinson to be one of the Assistants. It was probably the last time that Hutchinson ever held office.3

Mr. Wheelwright, on leaving Boston, went, with thirtyfive companions, to a river called the Swamscot, tributary to the Piscataqua, and on its banks began a settlement which they called Exeter.

1 R. I. Col. Rec., I. 94.

2 Ibid., 100, 101. The 12th day of March had been fixed upon as the permanent day of annual election. (Ibid., 98.)

3" Mr. Williams related to me that Mrs. Hutchinson, with whom he was familiarly acquainted, and of whom he spake much good, after she had come to Rhode Island, and her husband had been made Governor there, she persuaded him to lay down his office upon the opinion, which newly she had taken up, of the unlawfulness of magistracy." (Baylie, Dissuasive from the Errors of the Time, 150.) Perhaps, if we could

They established a church.

get at the exact truth, it would be found to be, that Mrs. Hutchinson disliked for her husband, not office, but secondary office.

4 The genuineness of a deed, purporting to be a conveyance to Wheelwright by the Indians, nine years before, of land including that on which he now sat down, has been matter of learned controversy. It is generally believed to be a forgery, executed not far from the year 1700. It is given in full by Belknap (History, I., Append. I.), who did not suspect it. (Ibid., 36.) I may recur to it hereafter. In the mean time, I refer those who may be