Discovering America Podcast - 131-Colonization of Rhode Island part three

131-Colonization of Rhode Island part three

08/15/19 • 43 min

Unlike Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the plantations just did not have a firm foundation of government, which gave Massachusetts reasons to find ways to incorporate those lands under their jurisdiction. It also didn’t help that people like Samuel Gorton had beliefs that didn’t quite match up with those Puritans in Boston and sometimes even upset Roger Williams. The Gortonists purchased land from the Indians far away from everybody else in hopes that they would be left alone but, Massachusetts had other ideas and then the process and treatment against this religious group is disturbing.

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130-Colonization of Rhode Island part two

The separation of Williams’ plantations settlements and Coddington’s Rhode Island settlements from that of the more pronounced settlements of Massachusetts and Plymouth was having its toll. There were those in Williams’ camp that wanted the safety and governmental arm that Massachusetts could furnish. Williams sailed off to England with the intent to receive a charter bring the colonies together under one roof. He arrived only to find England in turmoil. He was a man of means, with charter in hand he sailed home.

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132-Colonization of Rhode Island part four

You would think that the charter of 1644, the plantations and Rhode Island had all they needed to move forward but, that was not the case. The Bay (or Massachusetts) or Plymouth felt that their jurisdiction covered more of the Narragansett Bay. Then the charter of 1647 comes along, now we have clarity but, wait there’s more, claims still persist and throw in William Coddington, who would be king and the mess continues. There were those in the Plantations that didn’t believe in magistrates to keep law and order. What will they do?