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R

CHAPTER X.

WICKENDEN, WHIPPLE, AND HOAR ANCESTRY.

As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake;
The centre mov'd, a circle strait succeeds;
Another still, and still another spreads;
Child, parent, brother, first it will embrace,
His neighbor next, and next all human race.
Adapted from Pope.

EV. WILLIAM WICKENDEN was a native of Oxfordshire, Eng-
land, where he was born about the year 1614.* Shortly after reaching

his majority he emigrated to America, probably accompanied by his wife. He landed at Salem about 1637, and remained there till 1639 or 1640, when he concluded to follow the fortunes of Roger Williams in his newly-established settlement in Rhode Island. He was recognized in the second list of Williams's companions who shared with him the purchase of the Providence Plantation from Miantonomo and Canonicus. In the division of this land, the lot which fell to Wickenden's share was at the southern end of the territory now comprised in the city of Providence, on the eastern side of the Providence River. The northern boundary of Wickenden's lot was the highway (now Power Street) which separated his land from that of Nicholas Power. On the 27th of July, 1645, he bought of William Field sixty-eight acres situated "on Foxe's Hill, bounding on the East and South-east with the land of ffrancis Wicks on the north & north east with the high way, on the West and North West with Mile End Cove, on the South with the Sea."† September 21, 1646, he sold to Christopher Unthank his "house and homelot, excepting two poles square of ground on the south corner next the street, which Nathaniel Dickons now possesseth." Just where Mr. Wickenden made his residence after selling his house in 1646 is not clear.

The following are extracts from the Town Records, which are somewhat fragmentary:

"the 10th of 12th month 1649.

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The said day William Wickenden sold unto William ffield one Share of

* Documents relating to the Colonial History of New York, vol. 14, p. 370.

† Old Providence Record, p. 75.

Old Providence Record.

Meadow lying on the South Side of Putchaset, bounded on the East side with Widow Brow's [Brown's] Meadow and on the West side with the Hill."

1650. "Wm Wickenden changed his share of meadow at small brook for a share of meadow lying over against the hither end of the great meadow."

"12th 3m 1651. Ordered that whereas WTM Wickenden presented a bill for leave to make some meadow at Saxafrasse, the motion be taken into future consideration."

1652, Mr. Wickenden sold to Mr. Sayles the two poles square of land which he excepted in his deed to Christopher Unthank, lying at the "south side of Mr. Sayles's now homelot next unto the highway."

About 1655 "Stephen Northup sold to Will Hawkens a Share of Meadow on the West Revir next adjoining to Will: Wickendell, being bounded at the East end with a pine tree and at the west end with a green tree."

May 14, 1657, "Ordered that it be recorded in answer to Will: Wickendell's Bill, that the Town cannot conceive any right he hath in addition to his home lot."

April 17, 1660, Mr. Wickenden purchased a house and three acres and a half of upland lying on the south side of the Pawtuxet River, also some meadow land lying within Mashapaug meadow. The above-named property in Pawtuxet he, on the 9th July, 1666, bestowed by a deed of gift, upon his daughter Ruth and her husband Thomas Smith, who settled there. February 19, 1665, he had lot No. 66 in the division of lands.

Mr. Wickenden's name appears among the signatures to the agreement entered into by the "second comers," the date of the document being uncertain. It reads 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 the public good of the body, in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present inhabitants, masters of families, incorporated together into a town-fellowship, and such others whom they shall admit unto them, only in civil things." The other signers are Richard Scott, William Reynolds, John Field, Chad Brown, John Warner, George Rickard, Edward Cope, Thomas Angell, Thomas Harris, Francis Wickes, Benedict Arnold, and Joshua Winsor.

A fuller agreement was afterwards entered into in 1640 by all the settlers, as reported by a committee of arbitration, relating to the boundaries of the town, the establishing of a board of disposers (an incipient town council) and the office of town clerk, the protection of liberty of conscience, and the adoption of certain rules and modes of procedure. Mr. Wickenden signed this paper. He was also active in various efforts to promote the public welfare. There are important documents upon record in which his name appears in connection with Roger and Robert Williams, Gregory Dexter, Thomas Olney, and others.

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