Samuell Gorton: A Forgotten Founder of our Liberties; First Settler of Warwick, R. I.

The following books, articles and manuscripts have been consulted in the preparation of this paper:

1. Simplicities Defence against Seven-Headed Policie. By Samuell Gorton. Original Edition, London, Aug. 3, 1646. Second edition, 1647. Reprinted in Vol. III of R. I. Historical Collections, with introduction and notes by Judge W. R. Staples.

2. An Incorruptible Key Composed of the CX Psalme, wherewith you may open the Rest of the Holy Scriptures. By Samuell Gorton. London.

3. Saltmarsh Returned from the Dead, in Amicus Philalethes; or the Resurrection of James the Apostle out of the Grave of Carnall Glosses, for the Correction of the Universall Apostasy which cruelly buryed him who yet liveth. By Samuell Gorton. London Edition.

4. An Antedote against the Common Plague of the World. * * Smartlash Ascended to the Throne of Equity, for the Arragnments of False Interpretations of the Word of God. By Samuell Gorton. London Edition. (Dedicated to “His Highness, Oliver, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, with the dominions thereto belonging.”)

5. A Running Commentary on the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. vi, 9-13). By Samuell Gorton. (Mss. in Library of the R. I. Historical Society, at Providence).

6. Certain Letters which Passed between the Penman of this Treatise and Certain Men Newly Come out of Old England into New. By Samuell Gorton. (London Edition).

7. Letters to Nathaniel Morton and others. By Samuell Gorton. (Some of these letters are in the possession of Mr. Edward Crowninshield, of Boston).

8. Life of Samuel Gorton. By John M. Mackie. (Sparks’s American Biography).

9. A Defence of Samuel Gorton and the Settlers of Shawomet. By George A. Brayton. Late Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (R. I. Historical Tracts, No. 17.—Sidney S. Rider).

10. Historical Discourse—Calendar.

11. Rhode Island Colonial Records.

12. Massachusetts Colonial Records.

13. Records of Plymouth Colony.

14. Town Records of Portsmouth.

15. Town Records of Providence.

16. Town Records of Warwick. (Unpublished).

17. History of the Town of Warwick. By Orris Payson Fuller, B. A.

18. Narragansett Historical Register.

19. History of the Narragansett Church. Updike.

20. History of New England. By J. G. Palfrey.

21. History of Rhode Island. By Samuel G. Arnold.

22. A Short History of Rhode Island. By George Washington Greene.

23. The Beginnings of New England. By John Fiske, LL. D.

24. Proceedings of the R. I. Historical Society, 1887-88, 1890-91.

25. Hypocrisie Unmasked. By Edward Winslow.

26. Hazard’s State Papers.

27. Austin’s Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island.

28. The Colonial Era. (American History Series). By G. P. Fisher.

29. Letters of John Winthrop.

• Adams, Charles Francis, on Samuell Gorton, 83
• Agnosticism, Gorton’s views on, 88-89
• Aldredge, Mrs.
  • Her trouble with the Plymouth authorities, 28
  • Samuell Gorton’s defence of, 28-29
• Anarchism, Gorton’s alleged, 74-78
• Anchor, the Seal of Rhode Island, 115
• Andros, Governor, 78
• Antinomianism, 97 and note.
• Apponaug.
  • Town Hall of Warwick in, 9, 14
  • Ancient records in, 14, 15
• Aquidneck.
  • Settlement of, 29-31
  • Effort of Massachusetts to separate from Providence Plantations, 49-55
  • A refuge for Warwick residents in King Philip’s war, 70
• Arnold, Hon. Samuel G.,
  • His History of Rhode Island, 17, 19
  • On Samuell Gorton’s political creed, 75
  • His kinship to Samuell Gorton, 75, 110
• Arnold, William,
  • His contentions in Providence and Pawtuxet, 34, 36
  • His alliance with Massachusetts Bay, 36
  • His small following, 36, note.
  • His friends accuse the men of Shawomet, 62, and note.
• Arrow-heads, 14
• Atherton Company, 39, 49
• Awoshosse, 52
• Barton, Benjamin,
  • Marries Susanna, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Bible, Samuell Gorton’s principal text-book, 22, 99
• Bibliography, 119-122
• Blasphemy, Charges against Gorton for, 39, 43, 45
• Boston, Sympathy with Gorton in, 45-46
• Bradford, William, 10
• Brayton, Hon. George A.
  • His Defence of Samuell Gorton, 18, and note, 19
  • On Gorton’s noble connection, 21-22
  • On the peace-makers from Providence, 40, note.
• Canonchet, 69
• Carder, Richard.
  • His banishment from Portsmouth, 33-34, note.
  • His imprisonment in Massachusetts, 47
• Channing, William Ellery.
  • Samuell Gorton’s theology compared with, 96
• Charles the First.
  • His contest with Parliament, 35
• Charles the Second.
  • Gorton prepares an address to, 67
  • Grants the Charter of 1663, 68
• Charlestown, Samuell Gorton’s imprisonment in, 45
• Charter.
  • Of Providence Plantations, 1643-44, 53, 56, 60, 61, note.
  • Of Warwick, 54
  • Royal Charter of 1663, 68
• Christ, Samuell Gorton’s teachings about, 88, 89, 91, 95-97
• Christocentric character of Samuell Gorton’s theology, 88
• Church of England, Samuell Gorton’s indebtedness to, 23
• Clam-bakes, 14
• Clarke, John.
  • Represents Rhode Island in England, 66
  • Gorton’s letter to, concerning the Quakers, 67
  • Secures the Charter of 1663, 68
• Coddington, William.
  • Settles at Aquidneck, 30
  • Removes to Newport, 30
  • Establishes a Theocracy, 30
  • Supported by a minority, 31
  • Opposes union under the Charter of, 1643-44, 56
  • Secedes from the Charter Government, 63
  • Governor under the Royal Charter, 30, note.
• Code of 1647, 60-62
• Cole, Daniel, marries Mahershallalhashbaz, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108
• Colonial dwellings in Warwick, 8
• Common Law of England, 76-77, 105
• Conanicus, 52
• Conimicut Point.
  • Samuell Gorton’s Block House on, 12, and note.
  • The siege of, 12, 40-42
• Connecticut rejects the limitations of citizenship by church-membership, 80
• Cotton, John, his alleged heresies, 47-48, and note.
• Coventry, 114
• Coweset, Gorton’s lands in, deeded to his sons, 72
• Coweset Bay, 9
• Crandall, John, marries Elizabeth, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Cromwell, Oliver, letter to, concerning the Quakers, 66-67
• Cutshamekin, 46
• Declaration of Independence, 105
• East Greenwich.
  • Land in owned by Samuell Gorton, 72-73, 114
  • Benjamin Gorton, one of its first settlers, 73
• Eddy, Samuel, on Samuell Gorton’s character, 106, note.
• Ely, William D., his studies of the Gorton history, 48, and note.
• Emerson, Ralph Waldo, his philosophy foreshadowed by that of Samuell Gorton, 92, 106
• Ethical teachings of Samuell Gorton, 97, 101
• Fiske, John, LL. D.
  • His account of Samuell Gorton in “The Beginnings of New England.”, 18
  • His story of the murder of Miantonomi, 52
  • On the Gortonoges and Wattaconoges, 57, note.
  • His inadequate estimate of Gorton’s career, 82
• Friends.
  • Gorton’s defence of, 66, and note 67
  • His letters to, 66, note.
  • His theology compared with that of, 93-94
  • He opposes their doctrine of the “inner light.”, 93
  • He opposes their doctrine about Government, 94, note.
• Gaspee, burning of, 11
• Gorton, Adelos, vi, 27, note.
• Gorton, Ann, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Gorton, Benjamin,
  • Kills a wolf in Warwick, 1774, 12, note.
  • Inherits estate from his father, Samuell Gorton, 71
  • Early settler of East Greenwich, 72, 109, 114
• Gorton, Charles, 111-112
• Gorton, Dr. David Allyn, 110-111
• Gorton, Dexter, 112
• Gorton, Dr. Eliot, 111
• Gorton, Elizabeth, 108, note.
• Gorton, Rev. James, 110
• Gorton, John.
  • Inherits estate from his father, Samuell Gorton, 71
  • Shares in final division of the Coweset lands, 72
• Gorton, Mary, eldest daughter of Samuell Gorton, 27, note, 108, note.
• Gorton, Mary Maplett,
  • Wife of Samuell Gorton, 26, 27 and note.
  • His testimony to her gentle birth, 27
  • His provision for her in the disposal of his estate, 72
• Gortonoges, 10, 57, and note.
• Gorton, Othniel, 109
• Gorton, Parish of, in England, 21
• Gorton, Samuell.
  • Born in 1592, 21, and note.
  • The man and his work, 21
  • His education, 22, and note.
  • His residence in London, 23-24
  • His marriage, 24
  • His emigration to America, 25
  • His residence in Boston and Plymouth, 25-29
  • His first meeting with Roger Williams, 26
  • His troubles with the Plymouth authorities, 28
  • His banishment from Plymouth, 29
  • His difficulties in Portsmouth, 31-33
  • His banishment by the Coddington Government, 33
  • His contentions in Providence, 34-35
  • His settlement in Shawomet, 37
  • He is summoned to Boston, 39
  • Besieged at Conimicut, 40-42
  • Taken to Boston for trial, 43
  • Imprisoned in Massachusetts, 43-45
  • His release and return to Portsmouth, 45-49
  • Secures the submission of the Narragansetts to the British Government, 51, 52, 55
  • Excluded from Shawomet by Massachusetts, 49, 51
  • His voyage to England, 1645-48, 54-55
  • Secures Charter for Warwick, 54
  • His later career, 59
  • His service in the General Assembly, 59-65
  • Probable author of the statute against slavery, 63-65
  • General Assistant, Moderator and President, 65
  • His defence of the Quakers, 66-67
  • Incorporator of the Colony under the Royal Charter, 68
  • Assigned shares in Warwick Neck, 68
  • His life saved by friendly Indians during King Philip’s War, 68-69
  • Divides his estate among his children, 71-73
  • His political philosophy, 74-81
  • His religious convictions, 82-102
  • His character and personal appearance, 106-108
• Gorton, Samuell, Jr.
  • Born in England, 1630, 27-28
  • Writes will of John Wickes, 70
  • Elected Town Treasurer, 71
  • Trust reposed in him by his father, 71-72
  • Participates in the final division of Coweset lands, 72-73
• Gorton, Sarah, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Gorton, Susanna, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Gorton, Dr. W. A., 111
• Greene, Hon. Albert Gorton, 110
• Greene, Col. Christopher, 110
• Greene, John,
  • Co-settler of Warwick with Samuell Gorton, 13
  • First deed of Shawomet lands to, 37, note.
  • Accompanies Gorton to England, 54
  • Signs will of John Wickes, 71
• Greene, Gen. Nathanael, 109-110
• Greene, Peter, marries Mary, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Hireling ministry, 91
• Historical Society, documents in the Library of, 15, 18, and note.
• Holden, Randall.
  • Co-settler of Warwick with Samuell Gorton, 13
  • His banishment from Portsmouth, 33, 34, note.
  • Commissioner to convey submission of the Narragansetts, 52
  • Accompanies Gorton to England, 54
  • Will of John Wickes proved before him, 70
• Huguenots, 81
• Hutchinson, Anne.
  • Her banishment from Massachusetts Bay, 25
  • Settles at Aquidneck, 29
  • Gorton not her follower, 97, note.
• Hypocrisie Unmasked, 28, note, 33, note, 42, note.
• Immortality, Gorton’s views about, 97
• Imprisonment for debt forbidden by Code of 1647, 62
• Imputed sin, 97
• Incorruptible Key to the CX Psalme, 78, 79, 84
• Indians.
  • In Warwick, 12
  • At Pottowomut Neck, 14
  • Employed by Massachusetts against Gorton, 40, 41
  • Their sympathy with Gorton, 46
  • They save his life, 68-69
  • He is their trusted counsellor, 69
• Individualism, Samuell Gorton’s, 77, 105
• Inner Light, Gorton opposes the Quaker doctrine of, 93-94
• Intolerance.
  • Of the Puritans, 25
  • Samuell Gorton opposes, 78, 94
  • Its contest with Soul Liberty, 78-80
  • Final overthrow of, 81
• James the Second, 78
• Liberty of Conscience.
  • Gorton leaves England for, 25
  • Not found in Massachusetts, 26
  • Nathaniel Ward on, 48
  • Upheld by Gorton and Roger Williams, 78-81
• Lincoln, Abraham, 76
• Lippitt, Hon. Charles Warren, 110
• Lippitt, Hon. Henry, 110
• London, Gorton’s residence in, 24
  • His return to, 54-55
• Lord’s Prayer, Gorton’s Commentary on, 85, et seq.
• Mace, William, married Sarah, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Mackie, John M. his Life of Samuell Gorton, 17, 21, 23, 106, note, 119
• Magna Charta, 76
• Mahershallalhashbaz, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108
• Manhattan, 54
• Maplett,
  • Dr. John, Brother-in-law of Samuell Gorton: his bequest to his sister and her children, 27, note.
  • Mary, wife of Samuell Gorton, 26, 27, note, 29, 72, 107
  • Mary, mother of Mrs. Gorton: her bequest to her daughter, 27, note.
• Massachusetts Bay.
  • Intolerance of its government, 25
  • Gorton banished from, 45
  • Its contest for the control of Narragansett Bay, 49-58
  • Its efforts blocked by Samuell Gorton, 51-58
  • Failure of its theocratic policy, 79-81
• Miantonomi.
  • Gorton purchases Shawomet of, 37, 38
  • Winthrop and Roger Williams purchase Prudence Island of, 50, and note.
  • His murder by the Mohegans with the consent of the Boston elders, 52
• Mixan, 52
• Monism, Samuell Gorton’s, 89
• Morton, Nathaniel,
  • On Samuell Gorton, 33
  • Gorton’s correspondence with, 22, note, 84
• Mysticism, Gorton’s, 84, 94
• Narragansett Bay.
  • Gorton’s residence on, 13, 37, 112
  • Settlement of Aquidneck on, 29
  • Efforts of Massachusetts authorities to control, 50, 55
• Narragansett Indians.
  • Allies of Gorton, 10
  • Gorton purchases Shawomet of, 37
  • Gorton obtains their submission to Great Britain, 51-53
  • Massachusetts declares war against, 53
  • Gorton publishes their submission in London, 55
• New England Confederation, 39, 53
• Nowell, Increase, on Gorton’s alleged blasphemies, 39, and note, 83, note.
• Ordinances of religion, Gorton’s opposition to, 90, 93
• Palfrey, John G.
  • His account of Samuell Gorton in his History of New England, 18
  • Admits sympathy with Gorton in Massachusetts, 46
• Pawtuxet.
  • Gorton’s settlement in, 35
  • His contest with William Arnold, 36
  • His departure from, 37
  • Contest of Massachusetts for, 50
• Pawtuxet River, 8, 14
• Peage, 57, and note.
• Perry, Hon. Amos, 85
• Pessicus, 52
• Philip, King.
  • His war with the white settlers, 68
  • Samuell Gorton’s life saved, 69
  • Warwick’s sufferings during the war, 69
  • A battle fought in Warwick, 69
• Philosophy, Samuell Gorton’s, 74, et seq.
• Pilgrims, 26
• Plymouth.
  • Gorton’s residence in, 26
  • His banishment from, 29
  • Sends men to Warwick during King Philip’s war, 69
• Pomham.
  • His assent to Gorton’s Shawomet purchase, 37
  • He repudiates his signature, 38
  • His submission to Massachusetts Bay, 38
  • His Block-House on Warwick Neck, 51
  • He sells his claim to Samuell Gorton, 57, and note.
• Popaquinepaug, (See Pawtuxet.)
• Portsmouth.
  • Town-government instituted, 29-31
  • Union with Newport, 31
  • Gorton’s troubles in, 32-33
  • Gorton returns to, 49
• Portsmouth.
  • Is elected to a magistracy, 49
  • Union with Northern towns under Charter of 1643-44, 56
• Pottowomut Neck, Indian relics found on, 14
• Pottowomut River, 14
• Prayer, Samuell Gorton’s definition of, 91-92
• Providence.
  • Samuell Gorton emigrates to, 34
  • Controversies in, 34, and note, 35
  • Peacemakers from, interfere at Shawomet, 40, and note.
  • United with Aquidneck under Charter of 1643-44, 56
• Providence Plantations.
  • Antagonism of Massachusetts to, 49-55
  • Charter obtained for, 56, and note.
  • Action of General Assembly of in 1645, 53
• Prudence Island.
  • Its strategic importance in the struggle with Massachusetts Bay, 50
  • Its purchase by Gov. Winslow, 50, and note.
• Puritans.
  • Their revolt against religious formalism, 23
  • Send an armed force against Gorton, 40
  • Their preaching to the Gortonists, 46, 47
  • Their opposition to soul liberty, 78-81
• Quakers.
  • Gorton’s defence of, 66, and note, 67
  • His letters to, 66, note, 78, note.
  • His theology compared with that of, 90-91, 93-94
• Rawson, Edward, on Samuell Gorton, 83-84
• Religion, Samuell Gorton’s views concerning, 82-102
• Religious development, Samuell Gorton on, 99
• Remphan, Chion, Moloch, 44
• Revolutionary War, the first blow struck in Warwick, 11
• Rites and ceremonies, Gorton’s distrust of, 90-91, 92-93
• Rhode Island.
  • Interesting character of its early history, v, 17
  • Settlement of, 29-30, 34, 36
  • Soul Liberty established in, 15, 19, 78-81
  • Contest with Massachusetts Bay, 38-58
  • First Charter of, 56, and note, 61, note.
  • Earliest Code of, 60-63
  • Triumph of Rhode Island principles, 79-81
• Salvation by character, taught by Samuell Gorton, 97
• Sanford, John, marries Mary, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Saracens, 81
• Separatists, 23, 26
• Shawomet.
  • First settlement of, 37, and note.
  • Gorton’s troubles in, 38-48
  • Becomes Warwick, 49-58
• Sheffield, Hon. William Pitt.
  • His address on Samuell Gorton, 18, note, 40, note, 41, note.
• Simplicities Defence Against Seven-Headed Policie, 18, note, 33, note, 39, note, 42, note, 47, note, 54, 117
• Slavery, Statute against, in 1652, 63-65
• Smith, Ralph.
  • Gorton hires a house of in Plymouth, 26
  • Colleague of Roger Williams, 26
• Soccononocco.
  • Signs deed to Shawomet lands, 37, and note.
  • Repudiates his signature, 38
  • Makes submission to Massachusetts, 38, and note.
  • His revolt one cause of the submission of the Narragansetts to Great Britain, 52
• Soul Liberty.
  • Defence of by Roger Williams and Samuell Gorton, 19
  • Rhode Island the first Government founded on, 79
  • Its final triumph in the Nation, 81
• Sources of information, 17-20
• Squatter Sovereignty, denied by Samuell Gorton, 75
• Staples, Hon. William R.
  • On Samuell Gorton, 18, and note, 33, note.
  • On the death of John Wickes, 70
• Sumner, Charles, 76
• Swedenborg, Emanuel, his theology compared with that of Samuell Gorton, 88-90
• Theocracy.
  • Of Massachusetts Bay, 25
  • Of Coddington’s Government, 30
  • Its contest with Soul Liberty, 78
  • Its final failure, 81
• Tomanick, 52
• Transcendentalism. Samuell Gorton a forerunner of, 92, 106
• Trinitarianism. Samuell Gorton’s views about, 95-96
• Unknowable. Samuell Gorton’s doctrine of, 88
• Wampum, legal tender in Rhode Island, 57, note.
• Ward, Nathaniel.
  • His exhortation to Richard Carder, 47
  • His “Simple Cobbler of Agawam.”, 48
• Warner, John.
  • Commissioner to convey the submission of the Narragansetts, 52
  • Marries Ann, daughter of Samuell Gorton, 108, note.
• Warwick Cove, 13, 113
• Warwick, Earl of.
  • Grants Patent to Samuell Gorton, 54
  • Gives Gorton safe conduct through Massachusetts, 55
  • Massachusetts recognizes his authority, 55, note.
• Warwick, Old and New, 7-16
  • Beautiful in Summer, 9
  • Town government organized in, 56-57
  • Unites with Providence and Aquidneck, 56
  • Samuell Gorton’s service of, 59-73
• Wattaconoges, 57, and note.
• West Greenwich, 114
• Wheelwright, John, his banishment from Massachusetts Bay, 25
• Wickes, John.
  • His punishment at Portsmouth, 33, and note.
  • He goes to Providence, 34
  • Commissioner of the Narragansetts, 52
  • His supposed death in King Philip’s war, 70-71
  • His will, 70
• Williams, Roger, 10, 19, 26, 36, 53, 57, note, 63, 77, 78
  • His residence in Plymouth, 26
  • His first meeting with Samuell Gorton, 26
  • His banishment from Massachusetts Bay, 25
  • His early disagreements with Gorton, 35
  • His alleged letter to Winthrop of doubtful authenticity, 35, note.
  • He sells his half of Prudence Island, 50, and note.
  • He visits England and secures a Charter, 56
  • His doctrine of Soul Liberty, 19, 78-81
  • The first charge against him in Massachusetts, 104, note.
  • His conversion to Gorton’s views of civil government, 77-78, 104
• Winslow, Edward, his “Hypocrisie Unmasked.”, 28, note, 33, note, 42, note.
• Winthrop, John.
  • On Gorton’s controversy with Roger Williams, 35, and note.
  • Purchases Prudence Island, 50, and note.
  • His inconsistency, 50-51
  • Defeat of his plans by Gorton, 51-55
• Witchcraft.
  • Provision against in Code of 1647, 61-62
  • Scepticism about in Rhode Island, 62
  • Charges against the men of Shawomet, 62-63
  • No prosecutions for in Rhode Island, 63
• Woman. Samuell Gorton’s favors her equality with man in the Church, 101, 102