1648 Town Charter

Whereas, by virtue of a free and absolute charter of civill incorporation, granted to the free inhabitants of the colonie of Providence, by the Right Honorable Robert, Earl of Warwick, Governor in chiefe with the rest of the Honorable Commoners, bearing the date the 7th day of March, Anno 1643, givinge and grantinge full power and authoritie unto the said inhabitants to governe themselves and such others as shall come among them, as also to make, constitute and ordaine such lawes, orders and constitutions, and to inflict such punishments and penalties as is conformable to the lawes of England, so neare as the nature and constitution of the place will admit, and which may best suite the estate and condition thereof, and whereas the said towns of Providence, Portsmouth, Newport and Warwick are far remote from each other, whereby so often and free intercourse of help, in decidinge of differences and trying of causes and the like, cannot easilie and at all times be had and procured of that kind is requisite; therefore, upon the petition and humble request of the freemen of the Town of Providence, exhibited unto this present session of the General Assembly, wherein they desire freedome and libertie to incorporate themselves into a body politicke, and we, the said Assembly, having duly weighed and seriously considered the premises, and being willing and ready to provide for the ease and libertie of the people, have thought fit, and by the authoritie aforesaid, and by these presents, do give, grant and confirme unto the free Inhabitants of the towne of Providence, a free and absolute charter of civill incorporation and government, to be knowne by the Incorporation of Providence Plantation in the Narrangansett Bay, in New-England, together with full power and authoritie to governe and rule themselves, and such others as shall hereafter inhabit within any part of the said Plantation, by such a form of civill government, as by voluntarie consent of all, or the greater part of them, shall be found most suitable unto their estate and condition; and, to that end, to make and ordaine such civill orders and constitutions, to inflict such punishments upon transgressors, and for execution thereof, and of the common statute lawes of the colonye agreed unto, and the penalties and so many of them as are not annexed already unto the colonye court of trialls, so to place and displace officers of justice, as they or the greater parte of them shall, by one consent, agree unto. Provided, nevertheless, that the said lawes, constitutions and punishments, for the civill government of the said plantation, be conformable to the lawes of England, so far as the nature and constitution of the place will admit, yet, always reserving to the aforesaid General Assemblie power and authoritie so to dispose the generall governmente of that plantation as it stands in reference to the rest of the plantations, as they shall conceive, from time to time, most conducing to the generall good of the said plantations. And we the said Assemblie, do further authorise the aforesaid inhabitants to elect and engage such aforesaide officers upon the first second day of June, annually. And, moreover, we authorize the said inhabitants, for the better transacting of their publicke affaires, to make and use a publicke seal as the knowne seale of Providence Plantation, in the Narrangansett Bay, in New-England. In testimonie whereof, we the said Generall Assemblie, have hereunto sett oure handes and seales the 14th of March, anno 1648. John Warner Clerk of the Assemblie

Compact of 1637

We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for the public good of the body in an orderly way, by the major consent of present inhabitants, masters of families, incorporated together in a Towne fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things. Richard Scott William Reynolds X his mark Jon Field X his mark Chad Browne John Warner George Richard Edward Cope Thomas Angell Thomas Harris Francis Wickes X his mark Benedict Arnold Joshua Winsor William Wickenden

Deed of 1638

Deed from Caunounicus & Miantunnomi to Roger Williams March 24 [1637/8] [At Nanhiggansick, the 24] of ye first month [commonly called March in] ye second yeare of [our plantation or planting at] Mooshausick or Providence [Memorandum, that we C]announicus & Miantunno- [the two chief s[ac]hims of Nanhiggonsick [having] 2 yeares since sold unto Roger Williams [ye l]ands & [Mea]dows upon the 2 fresh rivers Moshaus[ick] & Wanasquatuckqut doe now by then presents establish & confirme ye bounds of those lands from ye river & fields of Pautuckqut ye great hill of Nota – quonckanet [on] ye norwest & the towne of Maushapog[ue on] ye west [As also, in consideration of the many kindnesses & services he hath continually done for us, both with our friends at Massachusetts, as also at Quininkicutt & Apaum or Plymouth, we doe freely give unto him all that Land from those rivers reaching to Pautuxett river as Also the grass & meadows upon ye said Pautuxett] river in wit[ness] whereof we have here unto set our hands in ye presence of ye mrke of Caunounicus ye mrke. of Sotaash ye mrke of Assotemawit ye marke of Miantunnomi Md. 3 mon 9 day [this wa]s all again confirmed by Miantunnomi he acknowled[ged] this by act & hand up the streams of Patuckett [& Pawt]uxet without limits we [mi]ght have for use of cattell witness hereof Roger Williams [Benedict Arnold] Reverse Ye [ ] of the second month ye [ ] P [ ] of Providence Memorandum ye Roger Williams in [ ] recent so greatly & fully [ ] ye we gainned [ ] equall right & power to make [ ] within mentioned [ ] this [ ] my [ ] [ ] Ar[ ] F. F. G. F. [ ] with [ ] R witness my hand Roger Williams