Dr. Samuel Gorton, IV

Samuel married Ruth Slade 9 Dec 1742, Swansea, MA. Ruth was born Abt 1720. [Group Sheet]

1. Ruth Gorton was born 15 Dec 1744, Swansea, MA; died 1793.

Samuel married Frances Rice 5 May 1768, Warwick, RI. Frances (daughter of Thomas Rice and Mary Holden) was born 11 Jan 1733/34; died Aft May 1779. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

On 13 April 1747 Samuel sold the ferry pier and adjoining land on Warwick Neck to Joseph Nichols of Middletown. The "Warwick Ferry" operated up until the Revolutionary War. The land and pier were later owned by Benjamin Greene of East Greenwich, and then by his son William, who owned much of Warwick Neck.

Samuel — Freelove Mason. Freelove was born 5 Jun 1695; died 1737. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Samuel Jr. came to New England with his parents in 1636, and lived with them on their homestead in Warwick. In 1655 he became a freeman there. Because he was fairly fluent in Indian languages, he often served as an interpreter in court. He also served as a member of the court at Newport on numerous occasions. The Warwick marriage record shows his name as Samuell. His will of 1721 states that he is in his 92nd year of age, but in perfect health.

Samuel married Susanna Burton 11 Dec 1684, Warwick, RI. Susanna (daughter of William Burton and Hannah Wickes) was born 1665; died 25 Jun 1737. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Samuell always signed his name with two "LL"s.

There is an excellent biographical sketch of Samuell by Thomas Gorton in his book "Samuel Gorton and His Descendants," published by Gateway Press. Also interesting is a book entitled "Warwick Neck," compliled by a Mr. Nixon, and published by the Warwick Neck Association. It is available in the reference section of the Warwick Public Library.

Samuell Gorton was a very intelligent free-thinker who was not bound by many of the entrenched conventions of his time. This brought him into conflict with others, especially those who were in positions of power and leadership. Samuell was not hesitant to speak up about what he believed was right, both in his own defense and on behalf of other individuals, and was known to be quite candid and sometimes even sarcastic in his confrontations. While some people of his day considered him to be a rabble-rouser, his political beliefs were vindicated in time, and his religious beliefs are held by many today. I daresay most of us would have strong words for the town fathers of Massachusetts Bay, if we had the opportunity to go back and confront them. Although Gorton has been criticized by some writers, he was greatly respected and admired by many in his own time, and can be credited, along with Roger Williams, for helping to obtain the rights enjoyed by the Colony of Rhode Island, freedoms which eventually spread to the rest of America and to other parts of the world.

There is no ambiguity about his motives in coming to America; his own words were: "I came to New England to enjoy libertie of conscience in respect to faith towards God, and for no other end." Samuell arrived in Boston in March of 1636 or 1637, at the height of a controversy already raging over doctrinal differences. He soon relocated to Plymouth, whose pastor at the time, Rev. Smith, was somewhat "lacking in gifts." As Samuell led his family in times of worship and Bible study at his home, which happened to be rented from the minister, others of the community began to join them. Before long there was jealousy, with some people taking sides. When Mrs. Gorton's servant was ordered to appear in court, supposedly over some inapproprate conversation but really because she had smiled in church, Samuell told her not to go and went to court in her stead to plead her case. Because the proceedings were handled unfairly and the so-called judge criticized by Gorton, the outcome was that he was told to leave the community, which he did. Moving to Portsmouth, RI, he was one of the group who in 1639 signed the second town compact, and was referred to as "Mr." Gorton, which at that time conveyed respect. A struggle over politcal leadership was going on, involving William Coddington and Anne Hutchinson. Of course Gorton freely expressed his opinion, again incurring resentment from certain individuals. A situation with a servant again was the reason for a visit to court, but it soon turned into barrage of accusations against Samuell by the officials, mostly because he had questioned their right to be in charge at all. He and those who spoke up on his behalf were told to leave, which they did, even though the town reversed this order a month later. Gorton and his family, along with his friends and their families, moved to Providence, where most of the town leaders agreed in principle with Gorton's views. However, some key differences in opinion caused tension, so the Gortonites moved south and settled in the area now known as Warwick Neck, adjacent to the settlement at Pawtuxet. A large tract of land was purchased from the Indians, with Roger Williams helping in the negotiations. However, their troubles were not over yet, because a group of Indians on Warwick Neck, the Shawomuts, refused to leave, even though the land had been fairly purchased by the settlers. Years of controversy ensued, during which Massachusetts and Connecticut tried to use differences between the Indian tribes as an occasion to gain control of the Rhode Island territory. At one time Massachusetts even sent a raiding party down to arrest Gorton and the other families. Finally, a charter granted by the King of England and facilited by Richard Rich, the Earl of Warwick, brought resolution to the situation. Samuell named the town Warwick after the Earl. However, the Indians on the neck continued to harass the settlers up until the end of King Philip's War. That such turmoil should prevail in such a beautiful location is a shame. However, in time Samuell Gorton and his family would enjoy the fruits of their labor and persistance.

Samuell, with the help of his sons, built a house at Warwick Neck in 1677, when he was 85 years old -- the year before he died. The house burned down in 1848, and another was built on the site in 1849. There is a stone marker at the lot, 190 Warwick Neck Avenue.

Bio here:
https://www.warwickhistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=476:samuel-gorton-15931677&catid=57&Itemid=130

Samuell married Mary MAPLETT Abt 1629, England. Mary (daughter of John MAPLETT and Mary Unknown) was born 12 Mar 1608/09, London, England; died Aft 1650, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to a Wickes family memorial marker in Warwick Historical Cemetery 28, William Burton was "of Mashanticut, Cranston, R. I."

William — Hannah Wickes. Hannah (daughter of John Wickes, Sr. and Marie Unknown) was born Abt 1640. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have roughly estimated Hannah's year of birth.