John Clarke (Baptist minister)
John Clarke was a physician, Baptist minister, co-founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, author of its influential charter, a leading advocate of religious freedom in America. Clarke was born in Westhorpe, England, he received an extensive education, including a master's degree in England followed by medical training in Leiden, Holland. He arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637 during the Antinomian Controversy and decided to go to Aquidneck Island with many exiles from the conflict, he became a co-founder of Portsmouth and Newport, Rhode Island, he established America's second Baptist church in Newport. Baptists were considered heretics and were banned from Massachusetts, but Clarke wanted to make inroads there and spent time in the Boston jail after making a mission trip to the town of Lynn, Massachusetts. Following his poor treatment in prison, he went to England where he published a book on the persecutions of the Baptists in Massachusetts and on his theological beliefs.
The fledgling Rhode Island colony needed an agent in England, so he remained there for more than a decade handling the colony's interests. The other New England colonies were hostile to Rhode Island, both Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut Colony had made incursions into Rhode Island territory. After the restoration of the monarchy in England in 1660, it was imperative that Rhode Island receive a royal charter to protect its territorial integrity, it was Clarke's role to obtain such a document, he saw this as an opportunity to include religious freedoms never seen before in any constitutional charter. He wrote ten petitions and letters to King Charles II and negotiated for months with Connecticut over territorial boundaries, he drafted the Rhode Island Royal Charter and presented it to the king, it was approved with the king's seal on 8 July 1663. This charter granted unprecedented freedom and religious liberty to Rhode Islanders and remained in effect for 180 years, making it the longest-lasting constitutional charter in history.
Clarke returned to Rhode Island following his success at procuring the charter. He left an extensive will, he was an avid proponent of the notion of soul-liberty, included in the Rhode Island charter—and in the United States Constitution. John Clarke was born at Westhorpe in the county of Suffolk and was baptized there on 8 October 1609, he was one of seven children of Thomas Clarke and Rose Kerrich, six of whom left England and settled in New England. No definitive record has been found concerning his life in England other than the parish records of his baptism and those of his siblings. Clarke was highly educated, judging from the fact that he arrived in New England at the age of 28 qualified as both a physician and a Baptist minister, his many years of study become evident through a book that he wrote and published in 1652, through his masterful authorship of the Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663. The difficulty with tracing Clarke's life in England stems from his common name. Rhode Island historian George Andrews Moriarty, Jr wrote that this was the same John Clarke who attended St Catharine's College, but he may have received a bachelor's degree from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1628 and a masters degree there in 1632.
Another clue to his education comes from a catalog of students from Leiden University in Holland, one of Europe's primary medical schools at the time. The school's ledger of graduates includes, in Latin, "Johannes Clarcq, Anglus, 17 July 1635-273", it is apparent that Clarke earned a master's degree from the concordance that he wrote, where the authorship is given as "John Clarke, Master of Arts". Clarke arrived in Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in November 1637 when the colony was in the midst of the major theological and political crisis known as the Antinomian Controversy. A major division had occurred within the Boston church between proponents of so-called "covenant of grace" theology, led by John Cotton, proponents of so-called "covenant of works", led by John Wilson and others; the controversy resulted in many people leaving Massachusetts Bay Colony, either voluntarily or by banishment. Some went north in November 1637 to found the town of Exeter, New Hampshire, while a larger group were uncertain where to go.
They contacted Roger Williams, who suggested that they purchase land from the Narragansett people along the Narragansett Bay, near his settlement of Providence Plantations. John Clarke went with both groups, based on what he wrote in his book: "By reason of the suffocating heat of the summer before, I went to the North to be somewhat cooler, but the winter following proved so cold, that we were forced in the spring to make towards the South." Clarke joined a group of men at the Boston home of William Coddington on 7 March 1638, they drafted the Portsmouth Compact. Some historians suggest. 23 men signed the document, intended to form a "Bodie Politick" based on Christian principles, Coddington was chosen as the leader of the group. Roger Williams suggested two places where the exiles could settle on the Narraganset Bay: Sowams and Aquidneck Island. Williams was uncertain about English claims to these lands, so Clar
Rhode Island
Rhode Island the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest state in area, the seventh least populous, the second most densely populated, it has the longest official name of any state. Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west, Massachusetts to the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound, it shares a small maritime border with New York. Providence is most populous city in Rhode Island. On May 4, 1776, the Colony of Rhode Island was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown, it was the fourth among the newly independent states to ratify the Articles of Confederation on February 9, 1778; the state boycotted the 1787 convention which drew up the United States Constitution and refused to ratify it. Rhode Island's official nickname is "The Ocean State", a reference to the large bays and inlets that amount to about 14 percent of its total area.
Despite its name, most of Rhode Island is located on the mainland of the United States. Its official name is State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, derived from the merger of four Colonial settlements; the settlements of Newport and Portsmouth were situated on what is called Aquidneck Island today, but it was called Rhode Island in Colonial times. Providence Plantation was the name of the colony founded by Roger Williams in the area now known as the city of Providence; this was adjoined by the settlement of Warwick. It is unclear how the island came to be named Rhode Island, but two historical events may have been of influence: Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano noted the presence of an island near the mouth of Narragansett Bay in 1524 which he likened to the island of Rhodes. Subsequent European explorers were unable to identify the island that Verrazzano had named, but the Pilgrims who colonized the area assumed that it was this island. Adriaen Block passed by the island during his expeditions in the 1610s, he described it in a 1625 account of his travels as "an island of reddish appearance,", "een rodlich Eylande" in 17th-century Dutch, one popular notion is that this Dutch phrase might have influenced the name Rhode Island.
The earliest documented use of the name "Rhode Island" for Aquidneck was in 1637 by Roger Williams. The name was applied to the island in 1644 with these words: "Aquethneck shall be henceforth called the Isle of Rodes or Rhode-Island." The name "Isle of Rodes" is used in a legal document as late as 1646. Dutch maps as early as 1659 call the island "Red Island". Roger Williams was a theologian, forced out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, seeking religious and political tolerance, he and others founded Providence Plantation as a free proprietary colony. "Providence" referred to the concept of divine providence, "plantation" was an English term for a colony. "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" is the longest official name of any state in the Union. In recent years, the word plantation in the state's name became a contested issue, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted on June 25, 2009 to hold a general referendum determining whether "and Providence Plantations" would be dropped from the official name.
Advocates for excising plantation claimed that the word symbolized an alleged legacy of disenfranchisement for many Rhode Islanders, as well as the proliferation of slavery in the colonies and in the post-colonial United States. Rhode Island abolished slavery in 1652, but the law was not enforced and, by the early 18th century, it was "the epicenter of the North American slave trade", according to the Brown Daily Herald. Advocates for retaining the name argued that plantation was an archaic synonym for colony and bore no relation to slavery; the referendum election was held on November 2, 2010, the people voted overwhelmingly to retain the entire original name. In 1636, Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views, he settled at the top of Narragansett Bay on land sold or given to him by Narragansett sachem Canonicus, he named the site Providence Plantations, "having a sense of God's merciful providence unto me in my distress", it became a place of religious freedom where all were welcome.
In 1638, Anne Hutchinson, William Coddington, John Clarke, Philip Sherman, other religious dissenters settled on Aquidneck Island, purchased from the local tribes who called it Pocasset. This settlement was governed by the Portsmouth Compact; the southern part of the island became the separate settlement of Newport after disagreements among the founders. Samuel Gorton purchased lands at Shawomet in 1642 from the Narragansetts, precipitating a dispute with the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1644, Providence and Newport united for their common independence as the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, governed by an elected council and "president". Gorton received a separate charter for his settlement in 1648 which he named Warwick after his patron. Brown University was founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, it was one of nine Colonial colleges granted charters before the American Revolution, but was the first college in America to accept students regardless of religious affilia
Edward Hutchinson (mercer)
Edward Hutchinson was a mercer and a resident of Lincolnshire, most noted for the careers of his children in New England. While his father and several of his uncles and brothers became prominent as clergymen, aldermen and mayors in the city of Lincoln, Edward focused his efforts on his business after moving to the town of Alford. Remarkably, not a single record for him has been found in Alford, other than his burial and the baptisms of his 11 children, but he gained a considerable estate, his children married into prominent families. What was most exceptional about Edward Hutchinson occurred following his 1632 death. Beginning in 1634, five of his nine surviving children and his widow immigrated to New England, all six of them were exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a result of the events of the Antinomian Controversy from 1636 to 1638. From Boston two of his children went south and became founding settlers of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, three of them, with his widow, went north to establish Exeter in the Province of New Hampshire, proceeded to Wells, Maine.
Because of their involvement in the controversy, his children had a disproportionately large role in the establishment of these new settlements in New England. Edward Hutchinson was born about 1564 in the parish of St Mary le Wigford in Lincoln in the county of Lincolnshire, England. While the baptismal records for the parish are now lost for that timeframe, Hutchinson's birth year has been determined with a fair amount of accuracy from his apprenticeship records, he was the youngest son, only son of the second marriage, of John Hutchinson, Sheriff and Mayor of the town of Lincoln, dying in office during his second term as mayor. Edward Hutchinson's mother was Anne, the second wife of his father John, whose maiden name is unknown. Anne had been married earlier, because in her will she mentioned her "son William Clinte," her "son Edward Kirkebie," and her "son Thomas Pinder," though the last two are presumed to be sons-in-law. Anne bore two Hutchinson children, both her son Edward and the husband of her daughter Mary Freeston were appointed as executors to her will.
As a young man, Edward was apprenticed to Edmund Knyght and mercer of Lincoln, for a period of eight years. By 1592 Hutchinson had become a mercer in his own right, was living in Alford, Lincolnshire. Here he left behind no records, other than the baptisms of his children, his wife was Susan, as named in the will of his cousin, Margery Neale, who left a legacy to their daughter, Hester. He acquired a good estate, Chester finds it astonishing that there is neither a will nor administration of his estate to be found in either London or Lincolnshire, noting, "it seems impossible, from his business, the character of the matches made by his children, that he was not a man of considerable position and estate." Edward Hutchinson was buried in Alford on 14 February 1631/2. The most remarkable aspect of Edward Hutchinson's life is what happened after he died: five of his nine adult children and his widow immigrated to New England, all six of them were exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a result of the events of the Antinomian Controversy.
During the controversy, the two most prominent antagonists of the established magistrates and clergy of the colony were Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright, both of them married to children of Edward. His other three children in New England, his widow, were involved in the controversy as supporters or family members of supporters. Therefore, when Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright were banished from the colony, their family members went with them. Anne Hutchinson, her husband William, many of their supporters established the first government in what would become the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. John Wheelwright, with many of his supporters, established the settlement of Exeter in the Province of New Hampshire. In this manner, the Hutchinsons, children of Edward Hutchinson, as a family, had a disproportionately large impact on the establishment of two new settlements in New England. Edward and Susanna Hutchinson had 11 known children whose baptisms were recorded in the Alford parish register.
The oldest, was baptised 14 August 1586, married Anne Marbury, the daughter of Reverend Francis Marbury, went to New England. Theophilus was baptised 8 September 1588, because he is not heard of again, Chester surmises that he died as a youngster while his parents were travelling, was buried away from Alford. Samuel was baptised 1 November 1590 and went to New England and Esther was baptised 22 July 1593, married in 1613 Reverend Thomas Rishworth of Laceby. John was baptised 18 May 1595, being buried in Alford on 20 June 1644 and Richard, baptised 3 January 1597/8 died in London with his will proved 11 April 1670. Susanna was baptised 25 November 1599 and buried in Alford on 5 August 1601; the next child, was baptised 12 June 1603 and may have married a Levitt Maria or Mary was baptised on 22 December 1605, married John Wheelwright, immigrated to New England. The youngest child, was baptised 20 December 1607 and immigrated to New England, though he returned to England. Edward Hutchinson's wife, Susanna
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U. S. Census. Portsmouth is the second oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.3 square miles, of which, only 23.2 square miles of it is land and 36.1 square miles of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck Island, which it shares with Newport. In addition, Portsmouth encompasses some smaller islands, including Prudence Island, Patience Island, Hope Island, Hog Island. Portsmouth was settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters from Massachusetts Bay Colony, including Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington, Anne Hutchinson, it is named after Portsmouth, England. Roger Williams convinced the settlers that they should go there instead of settling in the Province of New Jersey, where they had first planned on going, it was founded by the signers of the Portsmouth Compact. Its original Indian name was Pocasset, it was named Portsmouth on May 12, 1639.
It became part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and part of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Portsmouth School Department operates public schools: Portsmouth High School Portsmouth Middle School Howard W. Hathaway Elementary School Melville Elementary School Prudence Island School Portsmouth Abbey School Saint Philomena School The Pennfield School Since 1980, Portsmouth has been home to Clements' Market, a large supermarket. In addition, Portsmouth is home to the Portsmouth Business Park, as well as a few small plazas with a variety of businesses. Portsmouth is home to a branch of Raytheon, its Integrated Defense Systems department. Portsmouth is the headquarters of US Sailing, the National Governing Body of Sailing in the U. S. Portsmouth is home to the Newport International Polo Series held at Glen Farm. Portsmouth is home to the Portsmouth Pirates, the town's soccer team. Portsmouth High School has successful football, basketball and soccer teams.
All four teams are in the top 5 teams in the state. The 2000 U. S. Census reported that there were 17,149 people, or an increase of 1.7%, residing in the town. There were 6,758 households, 4,865 families recorded; the population density was 739.0 people per square mile. There were 7,386 housing units at an average density of 318.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 95.82% White, 1.17% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population. There were 6,758 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.0% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00. In the town, the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $88,835, the median income for a family was $108,577. Males had a median income of $46,297 versus $31,745 for females; the per capita income for the town was $46,161. About 2.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. The 2010 U. S. Census reported that there were an increase of 1.15 %, residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 94.57% White, 1.35% African American, 1.58% Asian, 0.21% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.40% of some other race, 1.86% of two or more races. In the town, 22.98% of the population was under the age of 18 and 16.47% were 65 years of age or older. Females made up 51.03% of the population. Battle of Rhode Island Site Greenvale Farm Green Animals Topiary Garden Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse Lawton-Almy-Hall Farm Mount Hope Bridge Oak Glen Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse Parsonage and Cemetery Prudence Island Lighthouse Union Church Wreck Sites of H.
M. S. Cerberus and H. M. S. Lark Ade Bethune, liturgical artist and Catholic Worker Jeremy Clarke, early settler of Portsmouth, served as second governor of Rhode Island Mike Cloud, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New York Giants Thomas Cornell, one of the earliest settlers of Portsmouth and progenitor of Cornell family in America. Chris Cosentino and cast member of "The Next Iron Chef" Charlie Day, American actor, producer and musician Helen Glover, cast member on Survivor: Thailand and host of the Helen Glover Show on TalkRadio 920 WHJJ Anthony Harkness and inventor Julia Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" Anne Hutchinson, founded colony of Rhode Island in 1638 Betty Hutton, film actress and si
William Hutchinson (Rhode Island)
William Hutchinson was a judge in the Colonial era settlement at Portsmouth on the island of Aquidneck. Aquidneck Island was known at the time as Rhode Island, it became part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Hutchinson sailed from England to New England in 1634 with his large family, he served as both Deputy to the General Court and selectman. His wife was Anne Hutchinson, who became embroiled in a theological controversy with the Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which resulted in her banishment in 1638; the Hutchinsons and 18 others departed to form the new settlement of Pocasset on the Narragansett Bay, renamed Portsmouth and became one of the original towns in the Rhode Island colony. Hutchinson became treasurer in William Coddington was the judge. A controversy compelled Coddington to relocate in 1639 and establish the town of Newport, at which time Hutchinson became the chief magistrate of Portsmouth; this lasted for less than a year, however, as he died shortly after June 1641, his widow and many of her younger children moved to New Netherland.
Mrs. Hutchinson and all but one of her children perished shortly thereafter. William Hutchinson was described by Governor John Winthrop as being mild tempered, somewhat weak, living within the shadow of his prominent and outspoken wife. William Hutchinson was born into a prominent Lincolnshire family, he was the grandson of John Hutchinson, Sheriff and Mayor of the town of Lincoln, dying in office during his second term as mayor. John's youngest son Edward moved to Alford and had 11 children with his wife Susanna, the oldest of whom was William, baptized 14 August 1586 in Alford. William Hutchinson grew up in Alford where he was the warden of his church in 1620 and 1621, he became a merchant in the cloth trade and moved to London. Here he renewed a friendship from Alford with Anne Marbury, the daughter of Francis Marbury and Bridget Dryden, the couple were married on 9 August 1612 at the Church of Saint Mary Woolnoth on Lombard Street in London. Anne's father was a clergyman, school master, Puritan reformer, educated at Cambridge.
Hutchinson and his wife raised a large family in Alford. The couple had 14 children in England, one of whom died in infancy, two of whom died from the plague; the Hutchinsons Anne, became enamored with the preaching of the Reverend John Cotton, the vicar of Saint Botolph's Church in the town of Boston, about 21 miles from Alford, they made the day-long round trip to Boston whenever they could to hear Cotton preach. Cotton had strong Puritan sympathies and Archbishop William Laud began cracking down on those whose opinions differed from the established Anglican church. Cotton was forced into hiding, had to flee the country to avoid imprisonment. Mrs. Hutchinson was distraught to lose her mentor, the family intended to sail with him to New England aboard the ship Griffin in 1633. Instead, they sent their oldest son Edward, age 20 and under the care of Cotton, with the intention of following to New England as soon as they could. William Hutchinson's youngest brother named Edward, was aboard the same ship with his wife.
In 1634, William Hutchinson, his wife Anne, his other ten children sailed from England to New England on the Griffin, the same ship that had taken Cotton and their oldest son a year earlier. The family first resided at Boston where Hutchinson was admitted to the Boston Church on 26 October 1634, his wife was admitted seven days later, he became a merchant in Boston and took the freeman's oath there in 1635. He was one of the town's Deputies to the Massachusetts Bay General Court from 1635 to 1636, was a selectman from 1635 to 1637, attending a selectmen's meeting for the last time in January 1638 as his tenure in Boston was coming to an end. Hutchinson's wife was described by historian Thomas W. Bicknell, writing 300 years after she lived, as "a pure and excellent woman, to whose person and conduct there attaches no stain." Her own contemporaries, did not view her in the same light. She was helpful to the sick and needy, she was undeniably gifted in argument and speech, but her theological doctrines and open disdain toward Boston's ministers began to inflame a growing controversy between Cotton's followers and the Puritan elders.
In late 1636, Governor John Winthrop wrote that Mrs. Hutchinson was "a woman of ready wit and bold spirit," but she had brought several dangerous theological errors which he elaborated on in his journal, she was holding private meetings at her home, drawing many people from Boston and other towns, including many prominent citizens, teaching them a religious view, antithetical to the views of the Puritan church. She began to express an open disdain for most of the Puritan ministers, with the exception of Cotton, she was put on trial in November 1637, banished from the colony along with some of her followers. William Hutchinson and other supporters of his wife signed the Portsmouth Compact on 7 March 1638 before leaving Boston, agreeing to form a non-sectarian government, Christian in character; the group of signers considered going to New Netherland, but Roger Williams suggested that they purchase some land on the Narragansett Bay from the Narragansett Indians. They purchased Aquidneck Island, called Rhode Island at the time, formed the settlement of Pocasset there, renamed Portsmouth in 1639.
In June 1638, Hutchinson was the treasurer
Thomas Savage (major)
Thomas Savage was an English soldier and New England colonist and merchant, attaining the rank of major in King Philip's War. Born in Taunton, Somerset, he was son of a blacksmith. Thomas was apprenticed to the Merchant Taylors of London on 9 January 1621, he went to Massachusetts with Sir Harry Vane aboard the Planter in 1635. He was admitted a freeman of Boston in 1636; the next year he took the side of his mother-in-law, Anne Hutchinson, in the controversy that her teaching excited. He was compelled in consequence to leave the colony, with William Coddington he and many others founded the settlement of Rhode Island in 1638. Savage was a signer of the Portsmouth Compact. After living there for some time he was permitted to return to Boston, he became a member of the Military Company of Massachusetts in 1637. In 1639 he was elected as the company's second sergeant and in 1640 he became its first sergeant. In 1641 he was elected for a one year term as lieutenant of the Military Company of Massachusetts.
He was reelected as lieutenant in 1645 and was elected as captain of the Company in 1651. He was re-elected as captain in 1659, 1668, 1675 and 1680, he was the only person to be elected as captain of the Company five times. On 12 March 1654 he and Captain Thomas Clarke were chosen to represent Boston at the general court, of which he continued a member, he was elected speaker of the assembly in 1637, 1660, 1671, 1677, 1678. After representing Boston for eight years, he became deputy for Hingham in 1663. In 1664 he, with many other leading citizens, dissented from the policy of the colony in refusing to recognise four commissioners sent by Charles II of England to regulate its affairs, in 1666 he and his friends embodied their views in a petition. In 1671 he was chosen deputy for Andover, in 1675 commanded the forces of the state in the first expedition against Metacomet. In 1680 he was commissioned, with others, by the Crown to administer an oath to Sir John Leverett the governor, pledging him to execute the oath required by the act of trade.
In 1680 he was elected ‘assistant’ or magistrate, retained the office until his death on 14 February 1682. Upon his death his estate had a net value of over 2,500 pounds. Savage was twice married. By her he had two daughters, she died on 20 February 1652. On 15 September he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Zechariah Symmes of Charlestown, by whom he had eight sons and three daughters, she survived him, afterwards married Anthony Stoddard. List of early settlers of Rhode Island Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Savage, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900
Philip Sherman
Philip Sherman was a prominent leader and one of the founding settlers of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Coming from Dedham, Essex in southeastern England, he and several of his siblings and cousins settled in New England, his first residence was in Roxbury in the Massachusetts Bay Colony where he lived for a few years, but he became interested in the teachings of the dissident ministers John Wheelwright and Anne Hutchinson, at the conclusion of the Antinomian Controversy he was disarmed and forced to leave the colony. He went with many followers of Hutchinson to establish the town of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island called Rhode Island, he became the first secretary of the colony there, served in many other roles in the town government. Sherman became a Quaker after settling in the Rhode Island colony, died at an advanced age, leaving a large progeny. Born in the village of Dedham in Essex, near the southeast coast of England, Philip Sherman was the son of Samuel and Philippa Sherman.
His grandfather and great grandfather were both named Henry Sherman. In 1633 he arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, settling in Roxbury, where he was made a freeman the following year. In time Sherman became attracted to the preachings of the dissident ministers John Wheelwright and Anne Hutchinson, during the so-called Antinomian Controversy, following their banishment from the Massachusetts colony and many other followers were disarmed. On 20 November 1637 he and others were ordered to deliver up all guns, swords and shot because the "opinions and revelations of Mr. Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson have seduced and led into dangerous errors many of the people here in New England." The Roxbury church records give this account of Sherman, "He came into the land in the year 1632, a single man, & after married Sarah Odding, the daughter o the wife of John Porter by a former husband. This man was of melancholy temper, he lived & comfortably among us several years, upon a just calling went for England & returned again with a blessing: but after his father-in-law John Porter was so carried away with these opinions of familism & schism he followed them & removed with them to the Iland, he behaved himself sinfully in these matters & was cast out of the church."Scores of the followers of Wheelwright and Hutchinson were ordered out of the Massachusetts colony, but before leaving, a group of them, including Sherman, signed what is sometimes called the Portsmouth Compact, establishing a non-sectarian civil government upon the universal consent of the inhabitants, with a Christian focus.
Planning to settle in New Netherland, the group was persuaded by Roger Williams to purchase some land of the Indians on the Narragansett Bay. They settled on the north east end of Aquidneck Island, established a settlement they called Pocasset, but in 1639 changed the name to Portsmouth. William Coddington was elected the first judge of the settlement. Sherman was in Portsmouth by May 1638 when he was present at a general meeting, the following year he was selected as Secretary. In 1640 he and four others were chosen to lay out lands within the town, the following year he was made a freeman. From 1648 to 1651 he was the General Recorder for the town, from 1649 to 1656 he was the town clerk, he sat on the Portsmouth town council for many years from 1649 to 1657, again in the early 1670s, but appears to have stayed out of public service between 1657 and 1665. From 1665 to 1667 he once again served in a civil capacity when he was elected as a Deputy from Portsmouth. Though Sherman was never the governor or deputy governor of the colony, that he was esteemed by his fellow citizens was made clear in 1676, during the difficult times of King Philip's War.
On the 4th of April in that year, it was voted by the General Assembly that "in these troublesome times and straits in this Colony, this Assembly desiring to have the advice and concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants, if it may be had for the good of the whole, do desire at their next sitting the company and counsel of... Philip Shearman.." and 15 others, including several former governors and deputy governors such as Benedict Arnold, Gregory Dexter, James Barker. Sherman wrote his will on 30 July 1681, it was proved on 22 March 1687, he had become a member of the Religious Society of Friends. His house built in 1670, still stands in Portsmouth as a private residence, though moved from its original location. While still living in Roxbury, in the Massachusetts colony, Sherman married Sarah Odding, the daughter of William and Margaret Odding, he and Sarah had a large family of at least 11 children, most of whom survived childhood and had large families. Sherman's mother-in-law, Margaret Odding, married secondly John Porter, another signer of the Portsmouth Compact.
With Margaret, Porter had one child, who married Samuel Wilbur, Jr. whose father, Samuel Wilbore was another signer of the compact. Among the many descendants of Philip and Sarah Sherman are former United States Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. Other descendants include James S. Sherman, Susan B. Anthony, Janis Joplin, Sir Winston Churchill, Lyndon LaRouche, Conrad Aiken, Mamie Eisenhower, Marilyn Monroe; the ancestry of Philip Sherman is covered in Roy V. Sherman's 1968 genealogy of the family, with additional material published in 2013 by Michael Wood. List of early settlers of Rhode Island List of the oldest buildings in Rhode Island Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Anderson, Robert Charles; the Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New
