[Entered at the Post Offoe at Newport as second-class matter.] NO. 4, VOL. 1, NEWPORT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, APRIL, 1881. The Petition to Revoke the City Charter of Newport, R. I.. 1786 224 Newport Subscribers to the Boston Chronicle, 1767... 1.... 230 Extracts from Two Old Manuscript Volumes.. 232 Extracts from R. I. Colonial Records..... 236 The Destruction of Property in Middletown during the Revolution. 241 Articles of Agreement of the United Fire Club, of Newport, 1783.. 244 An Old Time Deed, 1704...... 248 THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. No. 4. APRIL, 1881. VOL. 1. COASTER'S HARBOUR ISLAND. Coaster's Harbour Island, having, through the proposed establishment there of the United States training school for seamen, become a prominent point of interest, we present some documents throwing light upon its history, in addition to those published some time since in the Newport Daily News. The popular tradition, which for two or three generations has amounted almost to a religious faith in Newport, that Gov. Coddington gave the island to the town, for the purpose of making a home for the poor, illustrates the value of such traditions, Gov. Coddington's name not being mentioned in any record connected with it, yet brought to light; on the contrary, the documents published in the Daily News, and those hereto appended, reveal distinctly every transaction through which it became the property of the town of Newport, save in one particular, in which there is some obscurity. These documents are: 1. Deed; Caganaquant to Benedict Arnold and John Greene, of date, May 22, 1658 -- £6 10s. 2. Deed; John Greene to Benedict Arnold, of date, May 27, 1672-£10 in current pay, to be received by Arnold from the town of Newport for £6 10s. disbursed by him fifteen years before. 3. Deed; Benedict Arnold to town of Newport, May 1, 1673 - £10. 4. Acts of town of Newport, January 31, 1671, April 30, 1673, May 1, 1673. The obscurity above referred to, consists in this, that the conveyances give the appearance of ordinary bargain and sale between Gov. Arnold and the town, whereas the acts of the town and John Greene's deed to Arnold imply that Greene and Arnold purchased of the Indians, as representatives of the town, or that the town so understood, and in their vote of January 1, 1671, they propose to treat with the Governor [Arnold] "concerning "some moneys disbursed by him and John Greene, Sen., to "the Indians about Goat Island and Coaster's Harbour," "and that "he may not incur damage by any kindness he "intended to do for this town in that respect." The committee by obligation of May 1, 1673, agree to pay to Benedict Arnold £10 in country pay or £6 10s. in New England money, which is its equivalent, and which is the exact sum which Arnold and Greene paid to Caganaquant, fifteen years before. John Greene's deed to Arnold speaks of the desire of the town of Newport to settle with "the purchasers of the Isl"ands called Coaster's Harbor and Goat Island within nam"ed, for moneys disbursed by the said purchasers, to wit: "Benedict Arnold and John Greene," and says further, "and "I, the said John Greene within named, understanding that "the said Benedict Arnold therein named, is free to pass "over his right in the said two Islands unto the said town "of Newport, if they will pay him ten pounds in current "pay for the six pounds, ten shillings which he disbursed "fourteen years agone on that account;" further, "I do "hereby surrender, for me, my heirs, &c., to Benedict "Arnold, his heirs, &c., these said islands, to be made "over unto the said town of Newport as aforesaid." Greene's deed is dated a year earlier than Arnold's; he received no equivalent except the understanding that he shall convey it to the town for the exact amount he had paid for it; Greene having paid nothing. Neither Greene nor Arnold were men to give up anything which belonged to them, or likely to sell at the original cost a piece of property which, in the interval from 1658 to 1673, must have enhanced in value fourfold. The conclusion is almost unavoidable, that neither Greene nor Arnold ever had any personal right in these islands, and the town was the original purchaser. [From Newport News, December 16, 1880.] DEED TO BENEDICT ARNOLD AND JOHN GREENE. This present writing testifyeth yt I, Cachanaguont, a Chief Sachem of the Indians in Narragansett Bay, and Country, for and in consideration of ye value and sum of six pound, ten shillings in hand received before ye writing hereof, doe hereby sell and resign up all the right, title and possession of three small islands near adjacent to Road Island: unto Benedict Arnold and John Greene both of Newport, yt is to say Nantee Sinunk, alias Goat Island, and Weenat Shassit, alias Costers Harbour, and a small island commonly known to ye English by ye name of Dyer's Island, all wch Islands are being and neere adjoning unto and upon the west side of Rhode Island in ye Narragansitt Bay afore named; and they ar now in the possession and for the proper Benefit and Behoof of ye afore named Arnold and Greene, for them and their heyres, Executors, administrators and assigns, to have, hold, possess and quietly to enjoy for ever, together with all the benefitts, privileges,profitts,commodity and appurtenances, to ye sayd Islands,belonging or appertaining: and in witness of this, my ffree and considerat act and deed of sale,as also yt the sayd persons shall not, nor any of their Heirs &c.,be molested in ye use of ye said Islandsby any Indians, on any claim or pretence whatsoever, hereto, I engage myself and my Heyres, firmly by these presents. Witness my hand this 22th day of May, 1658. Whereas the town of Newport hath motioned, yt there may be an record made with the Purchasers of ye Islands, called Coasters Harbour and Goat Island, within named, for moneys disbursed by the said Purchasers to Witt: Benedict Arnold and John Greene, within named, and I the said John Greene, within named,understanding yt ye sayd Benedict Arnold, therein named, is free to pass over his right in ye said two Islands, unto ye sayd Town of Newport, if they will pay him Ten pounds in current pay, for the six pounds and ten shillings, wch he disbursed, fourteen years agone on that account: I do hereby surrender and for me,my Heires &c.,deliver up into the hands of the sayd Benedict Arnold, his heires and Assigns, my whole right and intrest, in or to, these two sayd Islands, to be made over unto ye said Town of Newport, as aforesaid. And in witness hereof, I hereunto sett my hand, this the 27th day of May 1672. Dated in Newport, aforesaid in his majisties Collonny of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations &c. Witness. JOHN GREENE. |