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Rhode Island Biographies
CODDINGTON, William, colonist and colonial
governor of Rhode Island (1646-47; 1648-49; 1674-76, 1678), was
born at Boston, Lincolnshire, England, in 1601. He was appointed by
the crown one of the magistrates for Massachusetts, and arrived at Salem
on board the Arbella, June 12,1630. He was several times rechosen to the
office; In 1637, however, having sympathized with Vane and the rest
of the antinomian party, he lost his position; but was elected by Boston
a deputy to the general court, and the same year defended Mrs.
Hutchinson at her trial, in opposition to Gov. Winthrop and the
ministers. In the meantime he acquired large property in Braintree
and Randolph by trading as a merchant, and is credited with having
erected the first brick building in Boston. In 1638, with a number of
others, he left the colony to see religious liberty, with the intention
of settling on Long Island or Delaware bay; but, by advice of Roger
Williams, chose the island of Aquidneck, in Narragansett bay. This,
later known as Rhode Island, they bought from the Indians for forty
fathoms of white beads, and began a settlement at Pocasset (now
Porstmouth), near the northern end. On March 7th eighhteen men signed an
agreement, forming themselves into a body politic, to be "guided by the
absolute laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings". Coddington
was elected judge or chief magistrate. Five days later, with ten of his
companions, he was formally banished from Massachusetts. Before a year
had passed three elders were chosen to aid him, and the officials were
directed by the freemen to be governed in their action by the general
rules of the Word of God., when no particular rule was known. The colony
had now become very large, and differneces in religious matters
disturbed the peace so greatly that, on April 28, 1639, Coddington and
seven others agreed to propogate a plantation at the southern end of
Aquidneck. These men, nearly all of whom eventually served as chief
magistrate, were Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall, William Brenton, John
Clarke, Jeremy Clarke, Thomas Hazard and Henry Bull. On
May 16th the settlement was begun. Meanwhile, April 30th, Thomas
Hutchinson, who had been one of the treasurers of Portsmouth, was
elected judge of that town, and he also served as judge of Newport. On
March 12, 1640, Portsmouth and Newport
were united, and Coddington
became chief magistrate, with the title of governor, a
lieutenant-governor and four assistants being chosen at the same time.
He held this position until 1647, when, under the parliamentary charter,
Portsmouth and Newport were united with the mainland towns, Providence
and Warwick, as the Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the
Narragansett Bay. In that same year he aided in forming the body of laws
which has been the basis of the government of Rhode Island ever since.
In 1648 he was re elected governor, or president, as the chief
magistrate was now called; but, because the union was not satisfactory
to him, declined to serve, and for the ensuing year Jeremy Clarke,
assistant from Newport, held office as "president regent." Coddington
now made an attempt to separate Aquidneck (Rhode Island), and secure its
admission into the confederation of the united colonies; but found this
could be effected only by a loss of independence and absorption by
Plymouth colony. In 1649 he sailed for England to obtain a commission
authorizing him to govern the islands of Aquidneck and Canopicut, with a
council of six men, during his life, and two years later succeeded. At
this the people became alarmed, and dispatched Roger Williams and John
Clarke to England, the former, representing Providence Plantations, to
secure the revocation of Coddlngton's commission; the latter,
representing Aquidneck, to obtain a confirmation of the charter. In this
they were successful, Coddington's commission being revoked in the
autumn of 1652. In 1656 the general assembly of Rhode Island struck out
of the book of records the transactions which seemed prejudicial to
himself. He retired from public affairs, and in 1666 united with the
Quakers. In 1674, under the charter granted by Charles II., he was
chosen governor of the colony, and was re-elected in 1675 and 1678 (Aug.
28th), in which year he died, Nov. 1st. Coddington published "
Demonstrations of True Love Unto the Rulers of Massachusetts, by One Who
Was in Authority With Them."
Source: National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume X, 1900
- Transcribed by C.
Anthony
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