Rhode Island's Founders: From Settlement to Statehood

by Patrick T. Conley

Overview

Dr. Patrick T. Conley, Rhode Island's preeminent historian, journeys with us to early America, where Rhode Island's founders laid the groundwork for America's policy of religious freedom. Learn what led Roger Williams to write The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution and discover how James Franklin, older brother of Benjamin, left a lasting impact on the future of American publishing. Find out why Mary Dyer fought for her religious beliefs until she became one of the "Boston martyrs"; how Anne Hutchinson overcame a male-dominated society to allow women the right to preach and teach; and how General Nathanael Greene helped to liberate the South during the American Revolution. These colorful biographies of political, military and religious leaders, artists and craftsmen, scientists and philanthropists illuminate the beginning of America's smallest state, but one that has always exhibited remarkable diversity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467150552
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	05/24/2021
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dr. Patrick T. Conley holds an AB from Providence College, an MA and PhD from the University of Notre Dame with highest honors and a JD from Suffolk University Law School. He has published eighteen books, including Catholicism in Rhode Island: The Formative Era (1976); Democracy in Decline: Rhode Island's Constitutional Development, 1775, 1841 (1977); An Album of Rhode Island History, 1636, 1986 (1986); The Constitution and the States (1988); The Bill of Rights and the States (1992), with John Kaminski; Liberty and Justice: A History of Law and Lawyers in Rhode Island, 1636, 1998 (1998); and The Rhode Island Constitution: A Reference Guide (2007), with Justice Robert G. Flanders, as well as more than a score of scholarly articles on history, law, ethnic studies, religion and political science. The youngest person ever to attain the rank of full professor at Providence College, Dr. Conley also practices law and manages a real estate development business. He has served as chairman of the Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission, chairman and founder of the Providence Heritage Commission, chairman and founder of the Rhode Island Publications Society and general editor of the Rhode Island Ethnic Heritage Pamphlet Series. In 1977, he founded the Rhode Island Heritage Commission. Dr. Conley was also chairman of the Rhode Island Bicentennial (of the Constitution) Foundation and chairman of the U.S. Constitution Council. In May 1995, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, one of a handful of living Rhode Islanders who have been accorded that honor. Presently, he is president of the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, president of the Heritage Harbor Museum and chairman of the Rhode Island Senior Olympics. Pat, who is the father of six children and the grandfather of seven, lives in Bristol, Rhode Island, with his wife, Gail, and their dog, Bridget.

Table of Contents

Preface 11

Acknowledgements 15

Part I The Pioneers: Pre-1700

Giovanni da Verrazzano 17

Chief Sachem Massasoit (Ousamequin) 20

Chief Sachems Canonicus and Miantonomi 23

Reverend William Blackstone 26

Roger Williams 28

Anne Hutchinson 38

Governor William Coddington 42

Dr. John Clarke 44

Samuel Gorton 47

Reverend Samuel Newman 51

William Harris 52

Richard Smith Sr. 54

Reverend Gregory Dexter 56

Mary Dyer 58

Mayor and Captain Thomas Willett 61

Chief Sachem Metacomet (King Philip) 63

Chief Sachem Ninigret 66

Part II The Stabilizers: 1700-1763

Judge Nathaniel Byfield 69

Governor Samuel Cranston 71

Bishop George Berkeley 73

James and Aim (Smith) Franklin 75

William Claggett Sr. 77

Reverend John Callender 78

Reverend Dr. James MacSparran 81

Samuel Casey 83

Peter Harrison 85

John Goddard 88

John Townsend 90

Part III The Revolutionaries: 1763-1790

Sarah Updike Goddard 93

Silas Downer 95

Solomon Southwick 97

Reverend Dr. Ezra Stiles 100

Governor and Chief Justice Samuel Ward 101

Speaker and Chief Justice Dr. Joshua Babcock 104

Governor, Chief Justice and Signer Stephen Hopkins 106

Captain Abraham Whipple 111

Commodore Esek Hopkins 113

Colonel Christopher Greene 117

Major General Nathanael Greene 119

Catharine Littlefield Greene 125

Colonel William Barton 127

Captain Stephen Olney 130

Captain Silas Talbot 133

Joseph Brown 135

Moses Brown 137

Reverend Samuel Hopkins 139

Reverend James Manning 141

John Carter 143

Major General James Mitchell Varnum 145

Signer and Congressman William Ellery 148

Congressman Jonathan Hazard 150

Congressman and Judge Henry Marchant 152

Congressman and Judge Benjamin Bourne 154

Senator William Bradford 156

Senator Theodore Foster 158

Captain Robert Gray 161

Suggested Reading and Reference 165

About the Author 173