Roger Williams (1603-1683) Rhode Island

Roger was born in London, England. he became am English colonist in New England and was the founder of Rhode Island and a pioneer of religious liberty.

His father was a merchant tailor. He was educated at Cambridge.

In 1630 he left his post as chaplain to Sir William Masham to pursue his completely Nonconformist religious ideals in New England.

1631 he arrived in Boston. He refused to associate with the Anglican Puritans and in 1632 moved to the Separatist Plymouth Colony. In 1633, after a disagreement , back in Salem. 1634 invited to be pastor at church in Salem but banished from Massachusetts Bay by civil authorities for his dangerous opinions.

January 1636 he set out for Narragansett Bay where the Narraganett Indians lived. From the Indian chiefs, Canonicus and Miantonomi he purchased land. The original deed remains in the Archives of the City of Providence.

In founding Rhode Island in 1636 he revoked many of society’s norms. He established the separation of church and state by removing religious doctrine from governance of the colony. His beliefs on equality extended to the Native Americans and enslaved people. He purchased Providence and Rhode Island in deeds and goods from the Narragansett Indians. It may have been the first legal deed entered upon in the New World. Many of principles forged on Rhode Island found their way into the US Bill of Rights and the US Constitution.

Roger returned twice to England. In June or July 1643 he came to claim a charter for the providence Plantations in Narragansett Bay. In 1651, having sold his trading post, he returned to have the charter confirmed. He then returned to Rhode Island before 1654.

He was Governor of the Colony from 1654-8.

John Clarke finally got the Royal Charter from King Charles II on 8th July 1663.

During the King Philip’s War 1675/6 most of the Province was burnt but he lived to see it rebuilt. He continued to preach and the Colony grew through its acceptance of settlers of different religious persuasions.

Roger was the first major figure in colonial America to instill democracy, religious freedom and understanding and inclusion of America’ nature cultures. Through his scholarship in language,theology and law and fearless advocacy for freedom and tolerance, Roger’s life reflected the value of learning and teaching.

Roger was a visionary, a revolutionary, a radical and a rebel. His advocacy for religious liberty, equality and a government free from religion forced him to flee persecution from his native England and then cost him exile from colonial Massachusetts.

Roger was a vigorous controversialist and a prolific writer.

In 1956 Roger Williams Junior College became a 2 year ,degree granting institution. In 1992 it became the Roger Williams University (RWU). 1993 it established the RWU School of Law. Today RWU is a leading education institute serving 5,400 students.

Sources used
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Family Association
Roger William’s University