Individual Notes

Note for: Thomas Harris, 12 APR 1605 - 7 JUN 1686 Index

Individual Note:
Thomas Harris came to New England with his brother William and Roger Williams in ship Lyon from Bristol, England December 1, 1630, and landed at Salem, Massachusetts. Anne Harris of Providence, Rhode Island and Parnill, wife of Thomas Roberts, of Newport, Rhode Island were their sisters. In July, 1676, William and Thomas Harris asked administration of Town Council of Newport, on a state of Parnill (Prov. Rec. vi., 85.), widow of Thomas Roberts, they being the only brothers of the deceased.

According to a written record of Thomas Harris, M.D., (who was born 1749 and whose father Jedediah was living while his grandfather and the second Thomas were and hence must have heard something of the origin of the family), his first ancestors in this country, Thomas and brother William, came from the town of Deal in the island of England. William and Thomas Harris went with Roger Williams from Salem, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island and about August 20, 1637, they signed the following compact: "We, whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good of the body in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present inhabitants, members of families incorporated together, into a town of fellowship, and such others whom they shall admit unto themselves only in civil things." July 27, 1640 Thomas Harris and 38 others signed an agreement for a form of government. On September 2, 1650 he was taxed one pound. From 1652 to 1663 he was Commissioner; in 1654 Lieutenant; in 1655 Freeman. Bishops "New England Judged" published in London in 1703 says "that in July 1658--after these came Thomas Harris from Rhode Island to your colony, who, declaring against your pride and oppression as he could have liberty to speak in your meeting place at Boston, after the priest had ended, warning the people of the dreadful, terrible day of the Lord God, which was coming upon that town and country, him much unlike to Nineveth, you pull down an hall'd him by the hair of his head, out of your meeting, and a hand was put on his mouth to keep him from speaking forth, and then he had before your governor and deputy, with other magistrates, and committed to prison without warrant or mittimus that he saw, and shut up in a close room, none suffered to come at him, nor to have provisions for his money; and the next day whipped with so cruel stripes without showing any law that he had broken, tho' he desired it of the jailer, and then shut up again for eleven more days, five of which, he was kept without bread (your jailer not suffering him to have any for his money, and threatened one of the other prisoners very much for bringing him a little water on the day of his sore whipping", and all this because he would not work for the jailer and let him have eight pence in twelve pence of what he should earn," etc., etc.

Individual Notes

Note for: Thomas Olney, 6 JUN 1632 - 11 JUN 1722 Index

Individual Note:
Thomas Olney, who was three years old when he came from England with his parents, became a leading spirit in the Rhode Island Colony early in life and was constantly engaged in public affairs to the time of his death. He was chosen Assistant during the years 1669, '70, '77, '79. For thirty years he was a member of the Town Council, and frequently we find his name among the members of the Colonial Assembly. His signature occurs through a long term of years as Town Clerk. He was ordained a minister in 1668 and succeeded the Rev. Gregory Dexter as pastor of the First Baptist Church, serving until about the years 1710 to 1715. He severely criticized the methods and teachings of George Fox, a leading Quaker who came from England and resided some years in the Colony, in a document entitled "Ambition Anatomized".

Individual Notes

Note for: Roger Williams, 21 DEC 1603 - 15 MAR 1682/83 Index

Emigration:
     Place:   Arrived in Boston 1631 on the ship Lyon

Event:
     Type:   Fact
     Place:   First govenor of Rhode Island

Birth Note: Source:    Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original data: Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.

Individual Note:
     Williams, Roger (1603?-1683), English Puritan clergyman and founder of tWilliams, Roger (1603?-1683), English Puritan clergyman and founder of the American colony of Rhode Island. He was born in London and educated at the University of Cambridge, which had become a center of religious controversy. An advocate of the Calvinist theology, he was a member of the party that opposed the ecclesiastical organization of the established church. Upon taking holy orders, he served as chaplain to a Puritan household in Essex, and his association there with the Puritan leaders Oliver Cromwell, John Winthrop, and Thomas Hooker led to his complete separation from the Anglican church.
Shortly after the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the New World by Winthrop and others, as a refuge for the persecuted Puritans of England, Williams immigrated to New England, arriving in Boston in February 1631. He rejected an invitation to serve as temporary pastor of the Boston congregation because that church had not officially severed ties with the Church of England. He then obtained an appointment as teacher of the church in Salem, Massachusetts, but following a disagreement with the Boston authorities concerning the regulation of religious matters, he went to Plymouth Colony as assistant pastor. In 1633 he was permitted to return to Salem as an assistant teacher, and in 1634 he was appointed teacher. Williams again found himself in conflict with the colonial government when he challenged the validity of the Massachusetts Bay charter, which gave the authorities power to appropriate Native American lands without compensation and to establish a uniform faith and worship among the colonists. He asserted that only direct purchase from the Native Americans constituted a valid title to land, and he denied the right of the government to punish what were considered religious infractions. In October 1635, the Massachusetts general court issued an order banishing Williams from the colony; in January 1636, he escaped deportation by the authorities and began a journey to Narragansett Bay.
He found refuge among the Wampanoag, whose chief, Massasoit, was his friend. Massasoit gave him a tract of land east of the Seekonk River, and Williams, together with friends from Salem, settled at the site of the present-day Rumford, in East Providence. However, the authorities of the Plymouth Colony had jurisdiction over the area and forced the dissenters to move across the river to land controlled by the Narragansett. The Narragansett sachems, Canonicus and Miantonomi, gave Williams a large grant of land, and he established Providence, Rhode Island's first permanent white settlement, in 1636.
Williams was highly respected by the Native Americans. Unlike many colonists, he viewed them as fellow human beings, not as savages. He learned their language and dealt fairly and honestly with them, insisting that settlers must compensate the native people rather than seize their lands. In turn, the native groups not only accepted the colonists but encouraged settlement. The Wampanoag and Narragansett were traditional rivals, and each tribe viewed the settlers as potential allies against the other. The settlers also created a buffer against the more aggressive colonies in Massachusetts. When war broke out in 1637 between the Pequot and colonists in Connecticut, the Narragansett aided the settlers, and the Pequot were nearly annihilated. In 1638 Williams and 12 other settlers formed the Proprietors' Company for Providence Plantations to share the land deeded by the Narragansett.
Together with a few companions he established the settlement of Providence and the colony of Rhode Island, naming the settlement in gratitude "for God's merciful providence unto me in my distress." The government of the colony was based upon complete religious toleration and upon separation of church and state. Each household exercised a voice in the conduct of government and received an equal share in the distribution of land. Accepting the practice of adult baptism by immersion, Williams was baptized by a layman in 1639; he subsequently baptized a small group and thus founded the first Baptist church in America (see Baptists). Later in the same year he withdrew from the church he had founded and declared himself to be a "seeker," that is, one who accepts the fundamental beliefs of Christianity but does not profess a particular creed.
Williams went to England in 1643 and obtained (1644) a colonial charter incorporating the settlements of Providence, Newport, Plymouth, and Warwick as "The Providence Plantations in Narragansett Bay." During his sojourn abroad he wrote A Key into the Language of America (1643) and The Bloody Tenent of Persecution (1644), the latter treatise being a notable work on the nature and jurisdiction of civil government. He also wrote the tract Christenings Make Not Christians (1645).
Upon returning to Rhode Island, Williams found that leadership of the colony had been assumed by the opponents of his democratic system, and in 1651 he returned to England in order to confirm the rights granted by the charter. During this visit he became a friend of the English poet John Milton. Williams returned to Rhode Island in 1654 and was elected president of the colony, serving until 1657. Because of his policy of complete religious toleration, the colony was a haven for refugees from bigotry. Notable among these were Quakers (see Friends, Society of) forced by persecution to leave the Boston area. Williams became involved, however, in a controversy with the Quakers, the substance of which is contained in his work George Fox Digg'd Out of His Burrowes (1676). When the Narragansett tribe joined the Native American revolt of 1675, known as King Philip's War, Williams served as a captain of forces defending Providence. Thereafter, he participated in the political life of the colony until the time of his death in early 1683. He is chiefly remembered as one of the notable champions of democracy and religious freedom in the American colonies.

"Williams, Roger," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Great Migration Begins (from Ancestry.com)
Sketches
PRESERVED PURITAN

ROGER WILLIAMS

ORIGIN: High Laver, Essex
MIGRATION: 1631 on Lyon [WJ 1:49-50]
FIRST RESIDENCE: Salem
REMOVES: Plymouth 1631, Salem 1633, Providence 1636
RETURN TRIPS: To England in 1643-4 (to obtain a charter for Rhode Island [RWCorr xciii, 217]), and to England in 1651-4 [RWCorr xciv, 355-90]
OCCUPATION: Minister.
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: On 12 April 1631 at "a court holden at Boston, (upon information to the governor, that they of Salem had called Mr. Williams to the office of a teacher,) a letter was written from the court to Mr. Endecott to this effect: That whereas Mr. Williams had refused to join with the congregation at Boston, because they would not make a public declaration of their repentance for having communion with the churches of England, while they lived there; and, besides, had declared his opinion, that the magistrate might not punish the breach of the Sabbath, nor any other offense, as it was a breach of the first table; therefore, they marvelled they would choose him without advising with the council; and withal desiring him, that they would forbear to proceed till they had conferred about it" [WJ 1:63].
      In his account of the year 1632 William Bradford spoke of "Mr. Roger Williams , a man godly and zealous, having many precious parts but very unsettled in judgment, came over first to the Massachusetts; but upon some discontent left that place and came hither, where he was friendly entertained acording to their poor ability, and exercised his gifts amongst them and after some time was admitted a member of the church.... He this year began to fall into some strange opinions, and from opinion to practice, which caused some controversy between the church and him. And in the end some discontent on his part, by occasion whereof he left them something abruptly. Yet afterwards sued for his dismission to the church of Salem, which was granted, with some caution to them concerning him and what care they ought to have of him" [Bradford 257; see also WJ 1:109].
      Williams was back in Salem by 1633, but was not chosen teacher again until 1635, and then, after the death of Rev. SAMUEL SKELTON, was chosen pastor [WJ 1:117, 122, 151, 162, 164, 166].
      In March 1638/9 Winthrop lamented that at "Providence things grew still worse; for a sister of Mrs. Hutchinson, the wife of one Scott, being infected with Anabaptistry, and going last year to live at Providence, Mr. Williams was taken (or rather emboldened) by her to make open profession thereof, and accordingly was rebaptized by one Holyman, a poor man late of Salem. Then Mr. Williams rebaptized him and some ten more. They also denied the baptizing of infants, and would have no magistrate" [WJ 1:352-53].
      (The passages extracted here do not cover all of the church activities of Roger Williams during these early years in New England, and do not touch at all on his expulsion from Massachusetts. The intent is to demonstrate his beginnings and his offices at Salem, at Plymouth, at Salem again, and finally at the establishment of the Baptist Church at Providence.)
FREEMAN: In Providence section of 1655 Rhode Island lists of freemen [RICR 1:299].
EDUCATION: Matriculated at Cambridge from Pembroke College, 29 June 1623; B.A. 1626-7 [Venn 4:417; Morison 407].
OFFICES: President of the colony, 1654-57; assistant 1647, 1648, 1664, 1665, 1670, 1671, 1672 [Austin 432]. Williams held many other lesser colony and town offices.
ESTATE: Roger Williams purchased from the local sachems the land that became Providence, and he then transferred this land to those that settled Providence with him [RICR 1:12-27].
      The early records of Providence contain many land transactions involving Roger Williams. Neither Roger Williams nor his wife left a will.
BIRTH: About 1606, son of James and Alice (Pemberton) Williams [TAG 28:197-200].
DEATH: Providence after 27 January 1682/3 and before 15 March 1682/3 [TAG 28:207].
MARRIAGE: High Laver, Essex, 15 December 1629 Mary Bernard, daughter of Rev. Richard Bernard [NEHGR 113:189-92]; she died after August 1676 (in late August 1676 "it seasonable came to pass that Providence Williams brought up his mother from Newport in his sloop & cleared the town of all the Indians to the great peace and content of all the inhabitants" [PrTR 8:14]).
CHILDREN:
      i MARY, b. Plymouth "the first week in August 1633" [PrTR 1:7]; m. by 1652 John Sayles [TAG 15:228-30]. (Recent research by Gwenn F. Epperson has shown that this man was not related to John Sales of Charlestown and New Netherland [NYGBR 123:72-73].)

      ii FREEBORN, b. Salem "in the latter end of October 1635" [PrTR 1:7]; m. (1) by about 1661 Thomas Hart; m. (2) Newport 6 March 1683 Walter Clarke [RIVR 7:10, 20].

      iii PROVIDENCE, b. Providence "in the latter end of ... September 1638" [PrTR 1:7]; on 22 July 1686 Providence Town Council received a report that "Providence Williams is dead at Newport" and on 14 September 1686 Daniel Williams "exhibited an inventory of his deceased brother Providence Williams" and the Town Council appointed Daniel administrator "as he is next of the kin" [PrTR 6:154-56].

      iv MERCY, b. Providence "about the 15th of July 1640" [PrTR 1:7] ; m. (1) Resolved Waterman; m. (2) Providence 2 January 1676/7 Samuel Winsor [PrTR 15:153, 156-57].

      v DANIEL, b. Providence "about the 15 of February 1641 (so called) counting year to begin about the 25 of March so that he was born above a year & a half after Mercy" [PrTR 1:7]; m. Providence 2 December 1676 Rebecca (Rhodes) Power [PrTR 15:153], daughter of Zachariah Rhodes and widow of Nicholas Power [Austin 356, 364].

      vi JOSEPH, b. Providence "about the beginning of the 10th month [December] 1643" [PrTR 1:7]; m. 17 December 1669 Lydia Olney [PrTR 5:329; RIVR 2:Providence:201].

ASSOCIATIONS: Brother of Robert Williams who came to New England by 1644 [TAG 28:199]. The wife of Roger Williams was sister of Musachiell Bernard who came to Weymouth in 1635.
COMMENTS: For two of the daughters of Roger Williams , evidence was not found for the marriage to the first husband (Freeborn to Thomas Hart and Mercy to Resolved Waterman), although both unions are confidently asserted in any number of modern publications. The rarity of the name Freeborn speaks in favor of the marriage to Thomas Hart, but additional information would be welcome in both instances. Assuming these first marriages, the evidence is more than adequate in each case for the marriage to the second husband.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: Given the many facets of the well-docu~ment~ed career of Roger Williams , and the many books and articles that have been written about his life, no attempt will be made here to cover all of his actions or all of the most important writings about him. In 1988 Glenn W. LaFantasie prepared a new edition of the correspondence of Roger Williams [The Correspondence of Roger Williams, two volumes (Providence 1988)]. The editorial material in this set includes an extensive bibliography, both of Williams 's own writings and of later biographical material [lxxvi-lxxxviii]. One important item not included there is an article by Winifred Lovering Holman published in 1952 [TAG 28:197-209].

Individual Notes

Note for: Mary Barnard, 24 SEP 1609 - 1676 Index

Individual Note:
Prior to meeting Roger Williams, Mary was a maid (companion) to Lady Johanna Altham.
[internet]

Individual Notes

Note for: James Williams, 1562 - 7 SEP 1620 Index

Occupation:
     Place:   Merchant, Tailor

Individual Note:
     1587 Admitted to Merchant Taylors Company

Individual Notes

Note for: Lucille, - ABT 1974 Index

Individual Note:
Known as "Cell"

Individual Notes

Note for: Elizabeth Hicks, ABT 1758 - Index

Event:
     Type:   Blood
     Place:   1/2 Cherokee

Individual Notes

Note for: Leo Leonard Harper, 17 FEB 1893 - 7 JUN 1988 Index

Burial:
     Place:   Weaver Cemetery, Christian County, Missouri

Individual Note:
     Leo had five children by a previous marriage. They were Jane's stepchildren.

Individual Notes

Note for: Ethel Cooper, 8 OCT 1902 - 17 MAY 1998 Index

Individual Note:
Ethel B. Cooper Howe, 95, Jay, died Tuesday, May 17, 1998, at Grove General Hospital after an illness.

Mrs. Howe was born October 8, 1902, at the Olympus community, near Grove. She was a homemaker and a member of Dodge Baptist church, east of Grove; the Dodge Home Demonstration Club, Grove; the Oklahoma Brush and Palette club and the Delaware County Historical Society.

She married John B. Howe on May 30, 1918, at Grove. He died May 30, 1980.

She also was preceded in death by a son.

Survivors include a daughter, Mable Kennedy, Jay; two brothers, Lark Cooper, Southwest City, MO., and Jimmy Cooper, Grove; a sister, Allene Grounds, Seminole; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Dodge Baptist Church with the Rev. J.A. Munson and the Rev. John E. Butler officiating. Burial will be in Southwest City (Mo.) Cemetery.
(The Above was the obituary in the Joplin Globe.)

(Ethel was the best friend of Aunt Thelma Lee from childhood on. I saw her at Aunt Thelma's 95th birthday party and took a picture of her then. Ida Muskrat Dunham.)

Individual Notes

Note for: Mable Howe, - Index

Individual Note:
Mable Kennedy lived at Jay, OK at the time of her mother's (Ethel Howe) death.

Individual Notes

Note for: Infant Frazier, 12 JUL 1882 - 12 JUL 1882 Index

Burial:
Place: Frazier Cemetery

Individual Notes

Note for: Alfred E. Henry Frazier, ABT 1862 - 1900 Index

Individual Note:
Taken into the home of Elisha E. Frazier and Margaret Jane Sharp the first year after they were married (1866?) when he was about four years old. He remained with them until he was grown. He was killed in the Howell County jail by a condemned criminal while serving as deputy sheriff and jailor Howell County in 1900.