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Introductory
In preparing the following history I am indebted to "Seventh Day Baptists" in Europe and America, the "Seventh Day Baptist Memorial", and the friends who have sent extracts from Rhode Island histories and from family records.
On nearly every point, more than one authority has been consulted and no important difference found, which indicates that these records following may be relied on for accuracy.
Great care has been used in copying to avoid mistakes. It is a matter of regret that in some instances more complete records could not be obtained.
Mary S. Andrews
Florina, IL, August 17,1910
The Second S.D.B. Church in America
A tract of land, called Misquanicut, meaning Salmon, extending about fifteen miles northward from the ocean, and ten miles eastward from Pawcatuck river, was purchased of Sosa, and Indian captain of the Narragansetts in 1661, by a company formed at Newport. Robert Burdick, Tobias Saunders and Joseph Clarke Sr., were the first settlers in 1661.
John Maxson soon followed. He married Mary Mosher, Daughter of Hogh Mosher who was one of the Purchasers of Misquanicut. Elder John Crandall soon followed.
These all soon embraced the Sabbath, and joined the church at Newport. The first settlers of Misquanicut found it a thin, sandy and stony soil, covered with dense forests, without roads, inhabited by wild and ravenous beasts, such as bears, wolves and wild cats. Indians troubled them for twenty years. They made clearings and built one room log cabins, some of them half buried in the earth, usually near springs of running water. They had wide fireplaces, and rough homemade furniture and homespun clothes. After a little time their farms were surrounded and subdivided with stone walls.
Massachusetts and Connecticut both claimed Misquamicut. Tobias Saunders and Robert Burdick were arrested, and carried to Boston and committed to jail for probably more than a year. Joseph Clarke was also imprisoned in Hartford, Connecticut. Elder John Crandall, whose wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the famous Samuel Gorton, was persecuted and imprisoned in Boston for his Baptist beliefs. He was one of the purchasers and first settlers of Misquamicut. Died about 1676.
Question of ownership was not permanently settled for more than forty years.
Arnold's history of R.I. in speaking of the above mentioned Saunders, Burdick and Clarke, says "Had it not been for the steadfast fight of these men, Rhode Island would not have held the territory." It would in the event, have belonged to Massachusetts or Connecticut instead of RI. "the state that bears distinction of being the first to establish religious liberty."