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Gov. John CRANSTON

Male 1626 - 1680  (~ 55 years)


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  • Name John CRANSTON 
    Title Gov. 
    Born Between 1625 and 1626  Scotland or England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    Gender Male 
    Died 12 Mar 1679/80  Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Buried Island Cemetery, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I11866  Sorensen-Remington Family Tree
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 

    Father James CRANSTOUN 
    Family ID F06418  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary CLARKE,   b. 1641, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Apr 1711, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married 3 Jun 1658  Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Children 
     1. Samuel Cranston,   b. 16 Aug 1659, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Apr 1727, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     2. James Cranston,   b. Abt Feb 1660/61, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Sep 1662  (Age ~ 1 years)
     3. Caleb Cranston,   b. Abt 1662, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Jeremiah Cranston,   b. Abt 1663, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1678  (Age ~ 16 years)
     5. Mary Cranston,   b. 27 Jan 1664/65, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1665/66  (Age 1 years)
     6. Benjamin CRANSTON, I,   b. Abt 1668, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 1708 and 1718  (Age ~ 40 years)
     7. William Cranston,   b. Abt 1670, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Elizabeth Cranston,   b. 1671, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Jun 1736  (Age 65 years)
     9. Peleg Cranston,   b. Abt 1673
     10. John Cranston, Jr.,   b. Abt 1675, Newport, RI Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F04620  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • The following notes are excerpted from "Descendants of Gov. John Cranston of Rhode Island" by Charles Albert Dubosq and William Jones; printed in Genealogies of Rhode Island Families, Vol. I, p. 277ff:

      John Cranston came to America about 1637, as stated in a letter written by his Gov. Samuel Cranston. He became an inhabitant of Aquidneck Island in 1638. In 1644, at the General Court of Elections at Newport, he was chosen to be drummer of the Portsmouth Militia. At the very same Court, his guardian and future father-in-law, Jeremy/Jeremiah Clarke, was chosen Treasurer of Newport. Not long after this time, John moved to Newport, where he lived for the rest of his life.

      On 1 Mar 1663/64 John Cranston was "licensed to administer physic and practice chirugery throughout the whole colony." This was roughly equivalent to granting an MD. He was known as a "doctor of physik" and a "physition." Thoughout his life he played a prominent role in the affairs of the colony, including Attorney General, Commissioner, Deputy, Assistant, and Deputy Governor, and Governor. During King Philip's War he was appointed "Major and chief Captain of all the Colony forces . . . for the safety and defense of the Colony."

      John Cranston was elected Governor of the Colony on 8 Nov 1678.

      Gov. John Cranston died in Newport at age 55 while serving as Governor of the Colony of RI.

      Information on John's life and his gravesite can be found at findagrave.com.

  • Sources 
    1. [S012422] RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 17, Alden G. Beaman, Ph. D., editor, 325.

    2. [S012424] Gravestone inscription.
      birth year calculated from age at death

    3. [S012825] RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 2, No. 2, 176.

    4. [S013226] Descendants of Gov. John Cranston of RI; Genealogies of RI Families, Vol. 1, 278.