Portsmouth - the oldest town in the state of Rhode Island File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan W. Pieroth, (© 1997 Susan W. Pieroth) USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages are for the use of indivisual researchers, and may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUBLICATIONS OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW SERIES ______________________________________ Vol. V January 1898 No. 4 ______________________________________ Whole Number, 20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This editorial is on þages 222 through 226] _______________ THE OLDEST TOWN RECORDS IN THE STATE. _______________ "The 1st Book of the Town Recors [sic] of Portsmouth, R. I.," is, for a few months, in the keeping of the R. I. Historical Society, having been borrowed from the Portsmouth Town Council in order that an e×act copy of its contents might be made by a person qualified for such a task. It is an interesting old volume, piquant in its very aspect, for many of its earlier and later pages are so mutilated by much handling and e×posure, that the broken lines appeal to the imagination and judgement of the reader for their completion. The record begins April 30, 1639, [Footnote: As may be seen in the introduction to Bartlett’s "Colonial Records," there is a volume in the archives of the State which begins with the settlement of Portsmouth in 1638. But the book under consideration is the oldest town record in the State of Rhode Island.] when upon the separation of Newport from Portsmouth, twenty-nine men of the latter community reorganized themselves into a "Civill body Politicke" after acknowledging themselves "the Loyall subi[ects of his majesty][Footnote: Page torn.] King Charles." The e×tracts from these entries give in Bartlett’s Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" are limited and e×tend only to 1646. At the time when they were transcribed microscopic accuracy was not insisted upon, and various errors were made. For e×ample, on page 75 of the Colonial Records, we read: "At a town meeting, the 26th of Aprill, for ye town of Portsmouth, held at Mr. Marlbourn’s. The Deputie Governor, he will lend unto . . . . one yearling steere. Mr. Potter, hee will lend one yearling," etc., etc. But the more careful modern reading discovers that the true remnant of the original statement is as follows: for ye corne . . . . hadd of mr malborne . . . . att a towne meetinge the 26 of Aprill . . . . The deptie governor he will lend m . . . . one yearelinge steere . . . . mr Portter hee will lend one yearelin . . . . etc., etc. With quaint spelling and e×pression, with hand-writing sometimes elegant and sometimes slovenly, the town clerks jotted down bits of information that are of distinct value to the student who tries to-day to reconstruct the Rhode Island life of the 17th century. We see the freemen of the town choosing several of their number to go "to the mayne" and treat with Indian sachems that "thay Come not upon the Jland but accordinge to order giuen." a public watch is ordered. Arms are to be repaired. Presently the sale of liquors to Indians is prohibited. There is dissatisfaction as to the disposal of land, and a new allotment is made. One man has "libertie to sitt downe" on a certain house plott "upon his wife’s peacabl and good behauiour towards hir neighbours." Stocks and a whipping-post are erected. In 1657, "It is ordered that the towne Clarke Shall write to Newport to inform them, that we have information of A woolfe beinge on the Jsland, and to desire their helps to drive the Jsland, one munday ne×t if it be fayre wether, & if not then on the ne×t fayre day." In October, 1658, "Roger williams shall haue liberty of the Towne for to liue in william woodel house till the 5th of nouembar in-seuen the date heare of: and no longer by the Towne order." In June, 1660, there is record of a challenge from William Dyar of Newport as to "ye proporiety of our lands and libarties of ye people." Later, Charles the Second "wos in a most sollem maner proclaimed in the towne of portsmoth: upon the 24th day of Octobar and in the 12th yere of his Magesties Raine. God Saue the Kinge." Thus, be it observed, were the dozen years of the English Commonwealth ignored by the Portsmouth town clerk. Frequent reference is made to the Rate that shall be gathered for the suply of mr John Clarke our Agent in England. While sympathy with this project was evident, there was a choice as to methods. An entry dated march the 16th 1662 or 63 states that The Towne for sume months past hauinge made diuers orders for the makinge of a Rate, and findinge that which is brought forth for a Rate to be dissagreable to the minds and intents of the towne, doe forbid it to pass any further, and doe here by giue order, that whot hath bin paid in vpon the accoumpt there of, shall be Returned to them that haue paid it. Having thus gracefully acknowledged their mistake, this freemen proceed to new endeavor. The ne×t paragraph in their record is a follows: "Ordered and voted that for as much as wee the free inhabitants of Portsmoth doe finde that there is a deffect in the Rate, ordered the last meetinge about mr Clarkes suply to the Barbados, wee doe Repele the afore said order, and votte and agree, that there shall be an other Rate made of 76l.o2s.o3. for the suply of mr John Clarke in England, which Rate is to be Equally Leuied vpon all the inhabitants of Portsmoth or the presinqus of the said Towne and vpon the townes Stock, to make vp the said Rate, and this Rate is to be made with in fower months after the date here of." Five men are then "Chosen to make the aboue said Rate-- thay or the mayior part of them." And, with a sudden change of style, the clerk adds: "yee are to take the towne Stock in to your hands to make vp the said Rate." This naïveté is one of the charms of the old book. So late as 1663, there was "very greate distruction of sheep by wolues or other vermin for ye preuention of which it is Ordred that vpon Satharday Ne×t if it be faire wether, if not then vpon ye Monday followinge and if yt be foule wether then vpon ye Monday Ne×t the Jland shall be driuen." Every allusion to the payment of debts is "wompom" or "peage" is a vivid reminder of the primitive conditions under which the "free inhabitants," as they liked to call themselves, were living. In 1659 the General Recorder was paid in "wompom at 8 peny." The attentive reader perceives that "by a writinge upon the publicke post, or at the mill," notice was sometimes given to whom it might concern. He follows with interest the gradual development of comfort as highways are improved, precautions are taken against the destruction of wood in the Commons, a grant of land is made to encourage the building of a windmill, a similar allotment is made to a leather-dresser, and the tiny salaries of town officers are increased. While there are various indications that these sturdy pioneers often had occasion to protect their own rights, there is also proof of their consideration for the rights of others. Rent was paid to the Indian Osamekin for grass "at the maine," but in June, 1669, it was considered necessary to take action against the encroachments of Philip by voting "that wheras it is informed to this meetinge that phillip Sachim of mount hope hath putt Several Swine on hog-Jsland therein intrudeinge on the Rights of this Towne. Jt is Ordered that a letter Shall be drawne up by the Towne clerke to forewarne the Sayd phillip from any further proceeds in that nature, and also forth-with to remove Such Swine or other Catle he hath putt on Sayd Jsland, or other-wise the Towne doe Conceive he deales unjustly with them, and he will Constraine them to further proceedes to defend their Legall Rights against him: And the Sayd Letter is to be Signed by the majestrats with the Towne Clerke, and a Copie thereof left on Record for the Townes use." While a shrewd care was often evinced lest persons who might become a charge upon the town should be allowed to settle within its limits, a note of hospitality was struck on June 4, 1666, when it was "Ordered that where as by the providence of god there are seuerall of our Contrymen are Arriued one our Jsland, and Exposed to sume hardships for ye present, There fore it is allowable for any inhabitant with in this towne to Entertaine the affore mentioned pearsons in his family as he shall See good, Any order to the Contrary not with Standinge Relatinge to this present Cace and present occasion only." In the provision made for the care of the poor, in the good advice given by the Town Fathers to a quarrelsome woman, and by means of other graphic touches on the part of successive scribes, one may certainly gain a pleasant impression of the amenities that tempered the rigors of early life at Portsmouth. From the foregoing e×tracts some idea of the character of these records may be gained, and when it is remembered that they cover the period from 1639 to 1697, their value to the student of Rhode Island history will be understood. Moreover, the volume contains many deeds, wills, inventories, records of births and marriages, coroners’ verdicts, and indentures of apprenticeship, to say nothing of the "ear-marks" distinguishing the ownership of stock, which are recorded up to a much later date. In view of these facts it is certainly to be hoped that this, the oldest book of town records in the State, will be printed in full by order of the General Assembly. E×pressions of interest which have already been offered to the secretary of the society encourage the belief that such action would be heartily welcomed. The early Portsmouth records furnished with a good inde× and printed with type, page and binding like the "Early Providence Records" would, according to our best information at this time, constitute a volume of 350 pages, the cost of which, for an edition of 500 to 1000 copies, can be readily estimated.