RI: Individual County Chronologies

BRISTOL (Mass.) created as one of three original counties in New Plymouth Colony; BRISTOL (Mass.) included part of present Rhode Island. (Ply. Laws, ch. 6/p. 19)

King William III and Queen Mary II issued a new charter for the province of Massachusetts Bay; Massachusetts Bay absorbed New Plymouth Colony and took over BRISTOL (Mass.). (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 1, ch. 27 [1692-1693], sec. 1/p. 63; Swindler, 5:80)

[17 Feb 1746/1747] BRISTOL (Mass.) lost to NEWPORT and PROVIDENCE, and lost to creation of BRISTOL when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. BRISTOL (Mass.) included part of present Rhode Island. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

BRISTOL (Mass.) gained from NEWPORT, lost to PROVIDENCE when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean; BRISTOL (Mass.) eliminated from Rhode Island. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)

[17 Feb 1746/1747] BRISTOL created from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)

Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett County by dismissing Massachusetts's claim and placing the area under royal jurisdiction. The area was named King's Province, and Rhode Island was given temporary administrative authority over it, pending a conclusive royal decision. Connecticut's claim to the area slipped into abeyance but was not abandoned until the boundary settlement of 12 May 1703. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

KENT created from PROVIDENCE. (R.I. Recs., 5:301)

King's Province was established by royal boundary commissioners who decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by dismissing Massachusetts's claim, putting Connecticut's claim in abeyance, and placing the area directly under royal jurisdiction. Rhode Island was given temporary administrative authority over Kings Province pending a conclusive royal decision. King's Province is treated here as separate from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

The governor of the Dominion of New England proclaimed a provisional government for the King's Province in present southwestern Rhode Island and prohibited both Connecticut and Rhode Island from further attempts to exercise authority in the area. (R.I. Recs., 3:197)

Rhode Island reinstated its former government after the fall of the Dominion of New England, and extended its authority over the former King's Province or Narragansett Country in southwestern Rhode Island. Shortly thereafter Connecticut challenged Rhode Island's authority in that area. (Craven, 225; R.I. Recs., 3:257)

King's Province effectively eliminated when Rhode Island and Connecticut settled their dispute over present southwestern Rhode Island substantially along the line agreed by colonial agents in 1662, described in Rhode Island's 1663 charter, and claimed since then by Rhode Island. (Potter, 206-211; R.I. Recs., 3:474, 477-478; Van Zandt, 71)

King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)

Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by placing the area under royal jurisdiction. They created King's Province and gave Rhode Island temporary control pending a conclusive royal decision. Connecticut's claim to the area slipped into abeyance but was not abandoned until the boundary settlement of 12 May 1703. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

[13 Jan 1629/1630] The Council for New England (chartered to establish colonies between 40 degrees and 48 degrees north latitude) issued a new land patent (the "Old Charter") that granted land title and trading rights, but no powers of government, to New Plymouth Colony for the area east of Narragansett Bay and south of a line from the Pawtucket (now Blackstone) River to the mouth of the Cohasset River. New Plymouth Colony included part of present Rhode Island. (Andrews, 1:295; Paullin, 28, pl. 43A; Swindler, 5:28)

New Plymouth Colony lost to Rhode Island Colony when King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony. New Plymouth Colony still included part of present Rhode Island. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)

New Plymouth Colony gained from SUFFOLK (Mass.) and Rhode Island Colony when a joint commission from Massachusetts and Plymouth demarcated their mutual boundary ("Old Colony Line"). (Bradford, 427n.)

New Plymouth Colony protested that Rhode Island's new charter of 8 July 1663 infringed upon Plymouth's territory under its 1629/1630 patent. (Arnold, 1:308)

[27 Feb 1664/1665] New Plymouth gained from Rhode Island Colony when royal boundary commissioners set Rhode Island's eastern limit along the Blackstone River and the east coast of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)

BRISTOL (Mass.) created as one of three original counties in New Plymouth Colony; BRISTOL (Mass.) included all that part of New Plymouth Colony in present Rhode Island. (Ply. Laws, ch. 6/p. 19)

RHODE ISLAND County (now NEWPORT) created as one of two original counties; consisted of Block Island and the islands in Narragansett Bay. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)

RHODE ISLAND renamed NEWPORT. (R.I. Recs., 4:427)

[17 Feb 1746/1747] NEWPORT gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. NEWPORT included part of present Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

NEWPORT lost to BRISTOL (Mass.) when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)

NEWPORT lost Block Island to WASHINGTON. (R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1963, ch. 84, sec. 1/p. 300)

In 1642, Massachusetts, responding to a request from disgruntled Rhode Islanders, extended its jurisdiction over the settlement at Pawtuxet. (Arnold, 1:111)

The Pawtuxet settlers, who gave their allegiance to Massachusetts in 1642, returned to Rhode Island jurisdiction. (Arnold, 1:267)

PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS (now PROVIDENCE) created as one of two original counties; covered the Rhode Island mainland. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)

PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS renamed PROVIDENCE; lost to creation of KINGS (now WASHINGTON). (R.I. Recs., 4:427)

[17 Feb 1746/1747] PROVIDENCE gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) and SUFFOLK (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

PROVIDENCE lost to creation of KENT. (R.I. Recs., 5:301)

PROVIDENCE gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)

[14 Mar 1643/1644] Roger Williams secured a Parliamentary patent for Rhode Island (called "Providence Plantations") that granted authority for self-government. Boundaries were Massachusetts on the north, New Plymouth on the east, and the Pequot Indian country on the west; western boundary is estimated. (James, 57; Paullin, 28-29, pl. 43, Swindler, 8:360)

The Pawtuxet settlers, who gave their allegiance to Massachusetts in 1642, returned to Rhode Island jurisdiction. (Arnold, 1:267)

King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)

King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony. It was bounded on the north by Massachusetts; on the east by a north-south line between Massachusetts and Pawtucket Falls, thence down the Seekonk River to Narragansett Bay and along a line three miles inland from the Bay; on the south by the ocean, including Block Island; and on the west by the Pawcatuck River and a line due north to Massachusetts. Connecticut continued to claim and control the Narragansett Country. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)

Rhode Island Colony lost to New Plymouth Colony when a joint commission from Massachusetts and Plymouth demarcated their mutual boundary ("Old Colony Line"). (Bradford, 427n.)

[27 Feb 1664/1665] Rhode Island Colony lost to SUFFOLK (Mass.) and to New Plymouth Colony when royal boundary commissioners set Rhode Island's eastern boundary along the Blackstone River and the east side of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)

Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by dismissing Massachusetts's claim, putting Connecticut's claim in abeyance, and placing the area directly under royal jurisdiction. They named it King's Province and gave Rhode Island temporary administrative authority over this new province pending a conclusive royal decision. King's Province is treated here as separate from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

The governor of the Dominion of New England incorporated Rhode Island into the Dominion of New England, following instructions (13 September 1686) from King James II. (N.H. Early Laws, 1:168; R.I. Recs., 3:210, 220)

Upon learning of the Glorious Revolution (replacement of King James II by King William III and Queen Mary II) in England, Bostonians imprisoned the royal governor and others, thereby ending the Dominion of New England. Over the next months Rhode Island and the other colonies that had been united to form the Dominion had to resume self-government. (Craven, 224; Morris and Kelly, pl. 11)

Rhode Island reinstated its former government after the fall of the Dominion of New England, and extended its authority over the former King's Province or Narragansett Country in southwestern Rhode Island. Shortly thereafter Connecticut challenged Rhode Island's authority in that area. (Craven, 225; R.I. Recs., 3:257)

Rhode Island and Connecticut agreed on their mutual boundary substantially along the line established by colonial agents in 1662, described in Rhode Island's 1663 charter, and claimed since then by Rhode Island. Boundary was to run up the Pawcatuck River to the junction with the Ashaway River, thence a straight line to the southwestern corner of the Warwick Purchase, and thence due north to the southern line of Massachusetts. Although not confirmed in London until February 1726/1727, this boundary appears to have become effective almost immediately, and, except for small refinements through surveying, it has not changed since. (Potter, 206-211; R.I. Recs., 3:474, 477-478; Van Zandt, 71)

Rhode Island Colony created two counties: RHODE ISLAND (now NEWPORT) and PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS (now PROVIDENCE) to cover all non-county area in Rhode Island Colony. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)

SUFFOLK (Mass.) created as one of four original counties in Massachusetts; SUFFOLK included territory in Massachusetts and the northeast corner of present Rhode Island. (Mass. Recs., 2:38)

SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to Rhode Island Colony when King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony and defined its boundaries; SUFFOLK eliminated from Rhode Island. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)

[27 Feb 1664/1665] SUFFOLK (Mass.) gained from Rhode Island Colony when royal commissioners set the provincial boundaries of Massachusetts, New Plymouth, and Rhode Island along the Blackstone River and the east side of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)

[15 Mar 1689/1690] SUFFOLK (Mass.) gained from Connecticut when Massachusetts created the town of Woodstock within present Connecticut; area within present Rhode Island was unchanged. (Bowen, Disputes, 53-58; Bowen, Woodstock, 1:31)

King William III and Queen Mary II issued a new charter for the province of Massachusetts Bay; status of SUFFOLK (Mass.) was unchanged. (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 1, ch. 27 [1692-1693], sec. 1/p. 63; Swindler, 5:80)

SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to creation of WORCESTER (Mass.); area within present Rhode Island was unchanged. (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 2, ch. 8 [1730-1731], sec. 1/p. 584)

[17 Feb 1746/1747] SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to PROVIDENCE when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. SUFFOLK (Mass.) eliminated from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

KINGS (now WASHINGTON) created from PROVIDENCE. (R.I. Recs., 4:427)

KINGS renamed WASHINGTON. (R.I. Recs., 9:484)

WASHINGTON gained Block Island from NEWPORT. (R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1963, ch. 84, sec. 1/p. 300)

Rhode Island: Individual County Chronologies