Rhode Island Historical Society Collections Volume 7 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ...Island towns Was called by the President of the colony, to consider the invasion of its territory.3 This second attack of Massachusetts was also unsuccessful. But the attempt (continued during several years) was highly injurious to the weaker colony. It tended to the subversion of all legal authority and social order. The Indians were no indifferent spectators of the proceedings. They hoped for a protectorate from the Bay which would shield them from the consequences of their depredations upon Rhode Island property. The weakness of the smaller colony was now fully understood, and disorders by the Narragansetts continued long after the original cause of them had gone by. A feeling of insecurity everywhere prevailed, and found expression both in private correspondence and in public acts. A few extracts from these may show the dangers and the spirit of those days. In May (23d) 1650, supplies of power and magazines of arms proportioned to the population of the place were to be established in every town.4 At the Town Meeting, November 3, 1655, "ordered that the matter of fortification against the barbarians be farther debated the next fourth day." They did debate it, but the poverty of the first generation precluded any effectual measures of public defence. Jan. 28, 1655-6, "Ordered that liberty be (l)See Arnold's Hist. R. I., I. 230, 231, 232. (2)The government of "the Bay " sent peremptory orders to Khode Island not to prosecute any suits against the Pawtuxet men who had renounced her jurisdiction, May 30. 1650, and threatened intervention if taxes were levied upon them. (3)Providence Town Records, June 27, l6, -0, p. 142. Wit. I. Col. Records p. 223. The town of Providenc'e was a partaker in the general apprehensions. Town Records September...