First Families of Westerly, Rhode Island

Surnames/tags: Rhode_Island New_England Westerly_Rhode_Island

For a brief history of the Rhode Island Colony prior to the founding of Westerly, please see my companion page, Rhode Island Colony Primer

Also check out my Sabbatarian ("Seventh Day") Church of Westerly free page, as many of our Westerly ancestors were founding members of this break-off denomination.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 The Founding of Westerly 3 Original Lists of Westerly Inhabitants, 1668-1679 4 Links to the First Families of Westerly 5 Resource Links

Introduction

The primary objective of this project is to provide a gateway to each of the founding families of Westerly, Rhode Island, in order that their individual profiles can be fully developed. Some of these Colonists already have wonderful profile pages, while others are greatly lacking in detail or appear to not exist at all. Wouldn't it be great if we could give each of these remarkable individuals the recognition they deserve, preserving their stories for generations to come?

In order to prevent a loss of information, This page has been set to "Public". If you would like to assist in upgrading this page, drop me a note and I will be happy to add you to the trusted list - just post a comment here on this page, in G2G using the project tag, or send me a private message.

Thanks, David Randall.

The Founding of Westerly

On 29 Jun 1660, a Montauk captain named Sosoa sold a tract of land to a group of Newport colonists, which had been awarded to him by the chief Narragensett sachem, Canonicus, for his role in expelling the rival Pequots from the area. Known as Misquimiquat, the 150-square-mile tract was located in the Rhode Island Colony's remote southwestern corner, and covered the land that now encompasses the towns of Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton. The name "Misquamicut, means “salmon place,” for the plentiful wild salmon that lived in the ocean and spawned in the rivers. (Thus, the reason Westerly’s town seal pictures three salmon.)

The initial six share holders of the Misquamicut purchase were William Vaughn, Robert Stanton, John Fairfield, Hugh Mosher, James Longbottom, and Shubael Painter (although Painter does not appear on the original purchase agreement). Very shortly, those share were divided amongst a company that numbered about 80 men. On 27 Aug 1661, a group of these shareholders petitioned the Rhode Island Court of Commissioners for permission to settle a township at Misquamicut. On behalf of the entire company, the letter was signed by nine men: John Coggeshall Jr., John Crandall, James Barker, Caleb Carr, James Rogers, Lt. Joseph Torrey, and John Cranston. Of these men, only Rev. Crandall appears to have actually settled in Westerly. In fact, it appears that very few of the original subscribers ever settled at Misquamicut. Some were likely deterred from settlement by the remoteness and ruggedness of the region, and others may have had concerns with the increasing hostilities developing over the boundary dispute with Connecticut. But most had likely joined the company for purely speculative purposes and never intend to settle there in the first place.

The first occupants white settlers arrived in the region about 1 Sep 1661, having travelled either by boat along the coast, or by Indian trails through the deep forests. There, they cleared the thick brush and built log homes, sometimes half beneath the earth and half above, thatched with slabs and bark. These homes rarely had windows.

On 14 May 1669, Misquimcut became the fifth town incorporated in the Colony of Rhode Island, with it's name then being change to Westerly, most likely based on its location in the colony. During the rule of Gov. Andros, the town’s name was changed briefly to Haversham, but the former name was restored in 1689. Charlestown separated from Westerly in 1738, as did Richmond in 1747, and Hopkinton in 1757. The remaining town of Westerly now comprises about thirty-three square miles.

Original Lists of Westerly Inhabitants, 1668-1679

This project focuses specifically on the Freemen presented in the first four town lists of Westerly (1668, 1669, 1671, 1679) and their wives. Ancestors and descendants of these families can be traced by clicking on their individual profile links.

Original Freemen of Westerly, 1668

The names of such as inhabit Misquamacott [Westerly], who have formerly presented their names to be made free of the Colony, doe now again present them to this present Assembly, sitting this 28th of October, 1668, and are admitted, viz: Joseph Clarke, John Maxson, James Badcoke Jun'r, John Badcoke, Job Badcoke, John Randall, Daniel Crome, John ---, John Lewis, John Tharp, Jonathan Armstrong, Daniel Stanton, Nicholas Cottrell Jun'r, and James Case."

Free Inhabitants of Westerly, 1669

John Crandall, Edward Larkin, Stephen Wilcox, John Lewis, James Cross, Jonathan Armstrong, John Maxson, Jeffrey Champion Sr, John Fairfield, Daniel Cromb, Nickolas Cottrell, Shubael Painter, Tobias Saunders, Robert Burdick, John Randall, John Mackoon, John Sharp, Daniel Stanton, James Babcock Sr, Thomas Painter, James Babcock Jr, John Babcock, Job Babcock, Josiah Clark.

Oath of Fidelity, 1671

May 18, 1671 - Upon consideration of a petition presented by the towne of Westerly, it is ordered by the Court, that several inhabitants be called on to see how they stand as to their fidelity to his Majesties and this Colony, viz: John Crandall, Tobiah Sanders, Joseph Clarke, Robert Burdick, John Maxon, John Randall, Job Badcock, James Badcock Jun’r, Thomas Painter, Shuball Painter, Jeoffery Champlin Sen’r, John Lewis, Richard Swaite, John Mackoone, Richard Segar, George Lanphere, Steven Wilcox, Jonathan Armstrong, Nicholas Cottrell Jun’r, Daniell Crumb, John Farifield, Edward Larking; all of which persons did promise to stand to their engagement to his Majistie and this Colony. But James Badcock Sen’r, Joh Badcock, Jeoffrey Champlain Jun’r, and Augustine Williams being called did not appeare.

Oath of Fidelity, 1679

The inhabitants of Westerly being by warrant required to appeare at this Court to give the oath of allegiance to his Majesty, and of fidelity to his Majerty’s authority, for this Collony, these persons here named appeared, and gave oath, viz: Mr. Tobias Saunders, Gersham Cotterill, Robert Burdick, Henry Hall Sen’r, Edward Larken, William Champion, John Fairfield, James Crandall, John Randall, Peter Crandall, John Macoone, John Lewis, Daniell Crome, Christopher Champion, James Badcock, Henry Hall Jun’r, Joseph Clarke, Jonathan Lewis, Capt’n James Pemblton, Thomas Burdick, Mr. Thomas Wells Sen’r, John Balmiter, John Badcocke, John Wells, George Lampheare, Thomas Wells Jun’r, Jeffery Champion, Richard Parssmore, Nicholas Cotterill, Joseph Pemblton, Job Badcocke, John Parner, Richard Swaight.

Links to the First Families of Westerly

The following is a list of inhabitants identified in the Westerly town records of 1668, 1669, 1671, and 1679, along with the names of their spouses when known. Sons whose names appear below their father's, are those whose names also appear on one or more of the above lists. Additional family members can be found by clicking on the link to each individual's personal profile page.

ARMSTRONG

Jonathan Armstrong (1622-?)

Spouse: Unknown

BABCOCK

James Babcock, Sr. (1612-1679)

Spouse 1: Sarah --

Spouse 2: Elizabeth March

James Babcock, Jr. (1641-1698)

Spouse: Jane Brown

John Babcock (1644-1685)

Spouse: Mary Lawton

Job Babcock (1646-1718)

Spouse : Jane Crandall

BURDICK

Robert Burdick (1630-1692)

Spouse: Ruth Hubbard

Thomas Burdick (1655-1732)

Spouse: Martha --

CHAMPLIN

Jeffrey Champlin, Sr. (1626-1695)

Spouse: Eulalia Garde

Jeffrey Champlin, Jr. (1652-1715)

Spouse: Hannah --

William Champlin (1654-1715)

Spouse: Mary Babcock

Christopher Champlin (1656-1732)

Spouse: Unknown

CLARKE

Joseph Clarke, Jr. (1642-1727)

Spouse 1: Bethia Hubbard

Spouse 2: Hannah Weeden

COTTRELL

Nicholas Cottrell, Jr. (1648-1716)

Spouse: Anne Peabody

Gershom Cottrell (1652-1711)

Spouse: Bethia Wilcox

CRANDALL

John Crandall (1618-1676)

Spouse 1: Mary --

Spouse 2: Hannah Gaylord

John Crandall, Jr. (1649-1676)

Spouse: Elizabeth Gorton

James Crandall (1651-1681)

Spouse: Unknown

Peter Crandall (1655-1724)

Spouse: Mary Babcock

CROMB

Daniel Cromb (1652-1713)

Spouse: Rachel Roberts

CROSS

James Cross (?-?)

Spouse: Unknown

FAIRFIELD

John Fairfield (?-1689)

Spouse: Amphillis --

HALL

Henry Hall, Sr.

Spouse: Constance Rogers

Henry Hall, Jr.

Spouse: Constance Maxson

LANPHERE

George Lanphere (1643-1731)

Spouse 1: Mary Readwood

Spouse 2: Jane Hulet

LARKIN

Edward Larkin (1646-1741)

Spouse 1: UNKNOWN

Spouse 2: Lydia --

LEWIS

John Lewis (1631-1690)

Spouse: UNKOWN

Jonathan Lewis (1659-1708)

Spouse 1: Jemimah Whitehead

Spouse 2: Deliverance Townsend

MACCOONE

John MacCoone (1630-1705)

Spouse 1: Deborah Bush

Spouse 2: Sarah Wood

Spouse 3: Mary --

MAXSON

John Maxon (1639-1720)

Spouse: Mary Mosher

PAINTER

• Thomas Painter (1610-1706)

Spouse 1: Catherine --

Spouse 2: UNKNOWN

• Shubael Painter (1635-1677):

Spouse: Mercy Lamberton

PALMITER

John Palmiter (1645-1704)

Spouse: UNKNOWN

PARMER

John Parmer (?-?) [Could he have actually been a Palmer?]

Spouse: UNKNOWN

PASSMORE

Richard Passmore (?-?)

Spouse: UNKNOWN

PEMBERTON

James Pemberton (1655-1702)

Spouse: Hannah Lord

RANDALL

• John Randall (c.1640-1682)
• Spouse: Elizabeth Torrey (?)

SAUNDERS'

Tobias Saunders (1630-1695)

Spouse: Mary Peckham

SEAGER

Richard Seager (1595-1682)

Spouse: Elizabeth Moody

SHARP

John Sharp (1643-1676)

Spouse: Martha Vose

STANTON

Daniel Stanton (1648-1690)

Spouse: Sarah Wheeler

SWEET

Richard Sweet (1653-1744)

Spouse: Priscilla Carpenter

WELLS

Thomas Wells Sr. (1626-1700)

Spouse: Naomi Marshall

Thomas Wells Jr. (1661-1716)

Spouse: Sarah Rogers

John Wells (1629-1700)

Spouse: UNKNOWN

WILCOX

Stephen Wilcox (1633-1690)

Spouse: Hannah Hazard

WILLIAMS

Augustine Williams (1653-1701)

Spouse: Hannah Norton

Resource Links

Westerly and Her Witnesses by Frederick Dennison, 1878

Westerly at Wikipedia

Town of Westerly Website

Westerly Library

Westerly Historical Society

Rhode Island Historical Society

Rhode Island Genealogical Society

New England Historic Genealogical Society

Westerly at Family Search

Westerly at LDS Genealogy

Rhode Island Genealogy (Links)

History of Rhode Island’s Five Indigenous Tribes