Mayflower Home    Search Document Center    Back To Document Center 

Rhode Island Documents 4

Handwritten addition to the inventory of the estate of Samuel Ward, Colonial Governor of Rhode Island, which includes "one negro man named quaco".

Below is a statement by a Joseph Crandall stating "...it was the true intent of the deceased Samuel Ward Esq that Negro should be liberated and not held in his estate...".

The document was recorded by Crandall on July 1st, 1777. Signed by a Joe Bennet and a Nathan Babcock as well.

1704:  Handwritten deed for property in Westerly in the Colony of Rhode Island known as Muxquata Nech by a Captain William Champlin of Westerly to James Noyes, Justice of the Peace of Stonington Connecticut.

The property is described in a metes and bound description. Witnessed by a Joseph Hull and Christopher Champlin.

"Thanks to Charles Noyes for the following:"

"James Noyes, of Stonington, CT, was the second son of James Noyes and Anne Parker Noyes. James and Anne arrived in America from Choulderton, England in 1634. They and others, including Anne's uncle Thomas Parker, founded the town of Newbury, MA. Both Mr. Noyes and Mr. Parker were Congregationalist or ministers. Mr. Parker was the first pastor of the church in Newbury, and Mr. Noyes was the "teacher" or assistant pastor. James Noyes of Stonington was born 11 MAR 1640, He graduated from Harvard in 1659, married Dorothy Stanton 12 SEP 1674, and died 30 DEC 1719. He went to Stonington to preach in 1664. He resided at the home of Mr. Thomas and Ann Lord Stanton. His wife, dorothy was their daughter. He was ordained 11 SEP 1674, and married Dorothy the following day. He was active in military matters during the Indian Wars, and helped raise a militia to patrol the woods between Nashua (now in NH) and Deerfield, MA. (Ever see a movie called "Drums along the Mohawk" with Henry Fonda?) He was Chaplain with Captain George Denison's expedition that captured Canochet, chief sachem of the Narragansett Indians in April, 1676. He was awarded Cedar Swamp lots for his Indian War service. He was appointed by the Assembly as one member of a committee to settle differences regarding the division of land in Quinnebaug. In 1708 he was granted two-hundred acres of land. He was selected as one of the first trustees and founders of Yale College. He is buried in a cemetary on a hill on the east side of Wequetequock Cove, midway between Stonington, CT and Westerly, RI James had a son, also named James, born 2 AUG 1677, married Ann Sanford, 1703. She was the daughter of Governor Peleg Sanford of RI, and the granddaughter of Governor William Coddington, of RI. James died in 1718. James and Ann lived at Noyes' Beach, RI, on land bought of a Niantic Indian chief. I cannot tell you which of these two Jameses is the maker of this deed, but I suspect it is the earlier. However, the proximity of the marriage date of James, the younger, in 1703 and the date of the deed in 1704 make a convincing argument for him to have been the maker."

Handwritten two page deed for property in Westerly in the Colony of Rhode Island dated 1752 whereby Stephen Gavit of Westerly, Blacksmith , and his wife Mary convey property to Samuel Ward, Merchant. The property is described in a metes and bounds description with some neighboring properties identified by owner.

Signed and sealed by Mr and Mrs Gavit, with paper seals. Witnessed by Joseph Crandall, Justice of the Peace, John Bliven, and recorded by the Town Clerk Silas Greenman; all of who sign.

i815 This is a deed for a 40 acre farm in Barrington, Rhode Island sold by Watson Ingraham and George Gladding to Rebecca Bosworth all of Barrington, RI

2 sided 1838 document is a bill for goods sold in Scituate, Rhode Island. Approx 7.5" X 12"  Document names appear to include Wheeler, Smith, Eddy and others.

Rhode Island Revolutionary Documents:  2 document set, with the soldier's service discharge written at Morristown.  Served in Henry Sherburne's regiment. Camp Morristown April 28 1780. Joshua Flint a soldier in the first Company in Colo Henry Sherburnes Regit haveing served three years in the Continental army the term of his engagement as a good and faithful soldier to satisfaction of his officers is hereby discharged from the Service with Reputation. Abijah Savage Capt Commdt Colo Sherburnes Regit/......

The second document is his pay order from Hartford, CT pay table for eight pounds twelve shillings and twopence. Joshua Flint was from Bolton, Connecticut and enlisted in Capt Savage's Co. on April 29, 1777. In October of 1777 he went to the relief of Fts. Clinton & Montgomery, and on December 10, 1777 he was involved in the expedition against Long Island. He was also engaged at the Battle of Rhode Island on Aug. 29, 1778; wintered at Morristown (the origin of the service voucher here), and also fought at the battle of Springfield, NJ on June 23, 1780./.......... Capt. Abijah Savage was a Lieutenant in the Quebec expedition: He was captured, exchanged and appointed Captain on Feb 25, 1777. He retired June 1, 1780.

NO IMAGE: 1736 Land Deed from the Colony of Connecticut, from Alexander Bow to James Robinson, County of Hartford, town of Middletown.Land was 20 rods in size and went for four pounds and four shillings. size of the document is about 8 x 13.5 inches.

Land survey done for Timothy Sweet of Gloucester,R.Island.This 7x14 manuscript document is dated 1788,1789 and final recording in 1792.

Three pages on paper with two red wax seals on signature page. Signatures of several parties.