The below story was written by J. Russell Bullock in his book entitled INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE AND
TIMES OF STUKELEY WESTCOTE, with some of his descendants; printed in 1886 (50 original copies). Copied and typed in sections to be printed in the WESTCOTT FAMILY QUARTERLY, by Lorraine A. Carrington, descendant, for the reading enjoyment of all interested Westcott descendants. Retyped for the website by the webmaster.

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In the spring of 1648, being then fifty-six years of age, Westcote removed from Providence with his family to the new settlement Shawomet, now known as “Old Warwick”, about nine or ten miles south of Providence and on the westerly side of Narragansett Bay. He was not one of its earliest settlers, for Shawomet had been purchased of Miantonomy for one hundred and forty-four fathoms of wampum peage six years before, viz., on the 12th day of January, 1642-3, by Randall Houlden, John Greene, John Wickes, Francis Weston, Samuel Gorton, Richard Waterman, John Warner, Richard Carder, Sampson Shotten, William Wuddall and Nicholas Power, although the latter is not named in the deed. What induced Westcote to leave Roger Williams and his other friends at Providence, after remaining with them ten years, does not anywhere appear. It is known that grave disputes arose during the earlier years of its settlement in regard to the division of its lands, while the doctrine of perfect freedom, both in political and religious concerns, there for the first time promulgated, occasioned contentions alike of creeds and of the right of a people without royal sanction to organize civil government.

Richard Scott and Richard Waterman soon became Quakers. Samuel Gorton, a bold and talented, but eccentric man, not only rejected all outward religious forms and ordinances, but denied the right of the settlers to enact any laws or regulations until authority for that purpose had been first procured from the King.

Warwick, settled in 1642, now in 1643 for the first time enjoyed the advantages of a charter of civil government, granted through the friendship of Robert, Earl of Warwick. Whether some or all of these causes combined led Westcote to a change of residence, is matter of conjecture only. All we know is that on the 5th day of June, 1648, “Steuk Westcot”, with two of his Sons, “Robert Westcott” and “Amos Westcote”, were received as inhabitants of that town.

In November, 1651, in February, 1652, and in December of the same year, he was chosen a “Deputy” to represent Warwick in the Colonial Assembly. In 1653, he was twice elected a “General Assistant”. These officers, usually two from each of the four original settlements in the Colony, formed the Governor’s Council, and also exercised judicial power. Later, they were clothed with legislative powers and finally formed what, under the charter of 1663, was the old Senate of ten. He was one of the committee appointed to call, if necessary, a special meeting of the Assembly, as the Colony was then in “eminent danger”. In 1656, and again in 1660, he was elected a “Deputy” to the Assembly and was, in the former year, one of a committee to restrict the sale of liquor to the Indians, and to regulate the excise and sale of it in the Colony. In April, 1671, he was for the last time elected a Deputy to the Colonial Assembly. Besides these offices under State government, his fellow townsmen committed to him important trusts of a more local character, Thus in 1649, he and Ezekiel Holliman were chosen to collect £13 of the settlers pay to Joseph Cook for watching their cattle against Indian intrusions. In 1653, he was a member of the Town Council. In the same year he was selected to agree with the Indians about Nawsaucet, and the fencing off of their lands. In 1655, he is chosen to take the number of young cattle and divide the money the Indians are to have between them equally; and also to ascertain the damage done to the Indians, and collect the amount of the settlers. This presupposes that the cattle of the whites had trespassed upon the grounds of the Indians. In the same year he is chosen to bound the fence at Quonimicut (Canimicut). In 1656, he is appointed to make a rate or tax to pay for the fence erected between the Indians and the common lands of the settlers. In 1664, he is authorized to keep an ordinary, and to entertain when the King’s Commissioners hold court at Warwick. This vocation of inn-keeper was in early times frequently assumed by such of the settlers as owned commodious houses at central points on the post-roads. The old Benedict Arnold house was for many years a noted hostelry in Warwick. After his last election in 1671 to the Colonial Assembly, being then seventy-nine years of age, Westcote’s name does not appear upon the records as holding any public office.

In addition to the interest which, as already appears, Westcote had in the Providence lands, after his removal to Warwick he became a large proprietor in the “Old Warwick” lands, and in the lands of the Wecochaconet purchase, lying in the forks of the Pawtuxet River and thence down the south bank of that river to a point as far east as Apponaug Cove, and westerly into what is now the town of Coventry, and also in the Coweset purchase, lying south and south-west of the Wecochaconet; and in his will he states that he, together with Samuel Gorton, Randall Holden, Thomas Collins, and John Potter, were the sole proprietors of a tract of about 2,100 acres, situated in the north-eastwardly pan of the town, between the Pawtuxet lands on the north and the ‘Old Warwick” lands on the south.

But few incidents in the private or home life of Stukeley Westcote remain to us after the lapse of more than two centuries from his death.

It is recorded that, on the 14th of August, 1649, James Greene, the eldest son of Deputy Governor, John, sued Westcote in an action of trespass, laying the damages at £6, alleging, not that he, but that a great company of his, Westcote’s friends broke into his brother John Greene’s house in Providence and ate up and spoiled the Indian corn he, James, had stored there, After the suit had been brought, it appears Greene met Westcote at a town meeting and demanded £6 or 2½ bushels of corn. Westcote replied that he would see Mr. Wickes first and then he would “know what to doe”. (Note: This was John Wickes, a neighbor of Westcote’s who was killed and beheaded by the Indians, March 17th, 1676, at the time Westcote took refuge at Portsmouth.) At the trial, Westcote’s son Robert swore that his father had tendered Greene 10 shillings, which Greene refused to accept, saying he would sue the bond. The court found a verdict for “his costs and damages”.

Another incident may be worthy of mention. On the 14th day of June. 1657, John Bennet, a neighbor of Westcote’s at Old Warwick, probably aged and without a family, voluntarily conveys to the latter all of his property, consisting of “8 cattel, 19 lbs. of peage at 8 per penny” and his house and land, excepting £5, which Bennet retains “to dispose of as he may see fit”, upon the condition Westcote and his heirs shall furnish him during his life “meate, drinks and aparall”. And on the 10th day of October, 1670, Amos, the son of Westcote, then living with his father, is excused by the town from service at the three courts, by reason of the “weak condition” of John Bennet, and the necessity of Amos personally attending upon him in his illness. This shows the obligation to take care of Bennet was then being faithfully observed.

It further appears that Westcote and his next neighbor, “Peter Burzecot, the Smith”, on the 27th of November, 1656, indulged in the luxury of a little litigation, each suing the other, but the contention was of short duration, for on the 2nd day of February, 1657, they amicably adjusted all differences without the intervention of court or jury. (Note: Peter Burzecot was of Huguenot extraction. His daughter, Abigail married Hugh Stone, also a blacksmith and who succeeded to his father-in-law’s business. Hugh Stone was the first of the name in Rhode Island, and is the ancestor of the numerous family of “Stones” in Providence and Kent Counties. Asa Stone, of Providence, a descendant of both Hugh Stone and Stukeley Westcote, has in his possession a Bible which the latter brought with him from England.)

In November, 1659, he is witness in the noted suit, tried at Portsmouth, brought by William Field, William Carpenter, Zachary Rhodes and William Harris against John Smith, Treasurer of Warwick, where the issue was whether the bounds of the Roger Williams purchase embraced the meadows on the southerly side of the Pawtuxet River, then claimed by Warwick. And he states in his testimony the interesting fact that Miantonomi, who had been sent for to meet the parties litigant upon the ground and explain the bounds of his grant to Roger Williams, was so displeased with the acrimonious deportment of the parties toward each other that he left the place without deigning to give them any information.

Stukeley Westcote and his two sons, Amos and Jeremiah were among the earliest in 1672 to sign the compact binding themselves to resist the threatened encroachments of the Connecticut authorities upon Rhode Island territory.

As one of the original proprietors of Providence, Westcote was largely interested in the common and undivided lands acquired by Roger Williams from the Indians, and deeded by him to his associates. On the 8th day of the 8th month, 1638, Roger Williams agrees that his twelve original associates and grantees, of whom Westcote was one, might “impropriate” to themselves twelve thirteenth parts, he reserving one thirteenth part to himself, of all of the natural meadows on both sides of the fresh river called the Pawtuxet, upon the condition that they should by that day eight weeks pay in therefor £20; and in case any of the number should fail to pay their proportion within the stipulated time, their share or shares should fall into and become the property of such of them as should pay. On the 3d day of the 10th month, 1638, or five days before the time expired, Roger Williams receipted to them for £18, 11 shillings and 3 pence in full. Westcote’s interest as the owner of one thirteenth part of these natural meadows he gave to his eldest son, Robert, by deed dated December 11th, 1656.

In the latter part of the 10th month, 1638, Westcote contributes £2, 10 shillings toward meeting the debt and expenses of the town, a sum as large as was contributed by any one of the proprietors. An ancient paper in the archives of the R. I. Historical Society gives the date of these first contributions or voluntary taxes as of the year 1635, but this is manifestly erroneous.

“ The lives of the early settlers at Shawomet were full of eventful incident and hazard. No sooner had they completed the purchase of this territory of Myantonomy, the chief sachem, than their rights, alike of jurisdiction and of soil, were disputed by Massachusetts, by Plymouth Colony, and by the local undersachem, Pomham, although this sachem was present and a witness to the deed of sale from Myantonomy. At the instigation of Massachusetts, Pomham, to overawe the settlers, built an earthen fort-work near the head of “Old Warwick Cove”, the remains of which exist to this day. At the same time, as we have already seen, the authorities of that Colony sent there an armed force, who seized the cattle of the settlers, arrested and carried captive to Boston the principal men, tried, convicted and punished them, and upon their release forbade them to return to their home. Massachusetts went so far as to allot the lands of these settlers to others. Upon their release they took refuge at the island of Aquidneck, and the settlement at Warwick was for a time suspended. It was not until 1646, when Samuel Gorton returned from his mission to England, that they felt safe in going back to their former homes. They found Pomham and his tribe, now more hostile than ever, in possession of their fields, and seeking even occasion to seize their cattle, steal their goods, and entering their houses, insult the occupants. During this and through many subsequent years, the records of Warwick are full of precautionary measures adopted by the town to protect the property and lives of its inhabitants from the predatory Indians, who secretly haunted its shaded swamps and shores. But these determined men remained and suffered, for it was their only home. The year 1676, was the most eventful of all. After the great fight at the Great Swamp in South Kingston, on the 19th of December, 1675, the troops of the United Colonies returned to their homes, leaving the town of Warwick defenseless. The Indians, exasperated by defeat, again gathered in armed bands, and on the 16th day of March, 1676, swooped down upon this settlement, burning every house in it but one, and again scattered its inhabitants.
In this war, Stukeley Westcote’s eldest son, Robert, was killed, and now homeless, his remaining sons, Amos and Jeremiah, fled to the island of Prudence, where in safety they could raise a crop for their support and he, wifeless and at the age of eighty-four years, is driven for refuge to the island of Rhode Island.

At Portsmouth, on that island, on one of the early days of the month of January, 1677, at the home of his grandson, Caleb Arnold, the son of his daughter, Damaris, by her husband, Gov. Benedict Arnold, after a long life filled with many cares and trials, he sickened and died.” (Note by Editor: Gov. Benedict Arnold, second generation, was the son of William Arnold I who came to America on the same ship with Stukeley Westcott in 1635. The Benedict Arnold of U. S. History was known as General Benedict Arnold, sixth generation in America. The given name, Benedict was carried on for a number of generations in the Arnold family.) “Stukeley’s remains, borne by his Sons across the Bay to its western shore, near to which the last thirty years of his life had been passed, were laid to rest beside those of his wife, in the first public burial ground of Warwick, adjoining his home lot and former residence. This ancient burial ground was near to and west from the present white or old Baptist church, and Mr. Amos Lockwood, a descendant in the seventh generation, living near, and now (1886) seventy-eight years of age well remembers when many tumuli, eroded by time and marked by rough and uninscribed headstones, told of the place where the ancient sleepers rest; but now the ploughshare has obliterated all.

During his life Westcote conveyed to his sons by deeds of gift a considerable part of his landed estates. During his last illness, he prepared a will, of which the following is a copy:

“ I, Stukely Westcott of Warwick in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, now residing in Portsmouth in Rhode Island aforesaid, being aged about eighty-five years, and in my right senses and perfect understanding and memory, doe make this my last will and testament, to the disposing of my estate which is as follows, to wit:

In the first place, I bequeath my body to the dust to be buryed, and my soul unto God who gave it.
Item. I make ordaine and appoint my eldest son Amos Westcott my lawful and sole executor to see this my will performed, and also to pay and receive all debts as belonging to me.

Item. I give and bequeath to my said Executor all my movable Estate as cattell goods and chattels, and also my land lying in Potaomet Neck, and my meadow lying at Toskownk in the township of Warwick aforesaid. Also two-fourths of my land at Cowesit: all of which said lands together with all privileges there unto belonging or appertaining I give to him his heirs and assighnees forever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson Amos Westcott, my town lot in Warwick aforesaid which I formerly lived on, with orcharding fencing and all things there unto belonging: and also my thirty acres lot lying in Shawomet Neck, be it more or less. Also a six acre lot and a meadow lot lying in Shawomet aforesaid, and also my share of land lying in the south side of Patuxet River which I purchased together with Mr. Samuel Gorton, Mr. Holding, Mr. Collins and John Potter: all which aforesaid lands or parcels of lands with all and singular the privileges and appurtenances there unto belonging or in any wayes appertaining I doe give grant and confirm to my aforesaid grandson his heirs and assighnees forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandson Amos Stafford a fourth part of my lying in Cowesit which is to say, the fourth of the eleventh part of that purchase, to him his heirs and assigns forever.
In confirmation of all the above written presents, I set to my hand and seal this 12th day of January 167 6/7,”

This will was never executed. His grandson, Caleb Arnold. son of his daughter Damaris, being present, dissuaded him from signing it until his sons, who were then upon the neighboring island of Prudence, could be sent for, but before they could reach he was ‘‘not able to sign thereunto’’.

A short time after his death, his sons Amos and Jeremiah, by petition desired the town Council to setle the Estate of their father, who died without his will being sighned or sealled”. Whereupon the Town Council, first stating that they are informed that “he spake somewhat as in adition to his will which was not committed to writing, and for as much as by reason of the late unhappy warres the counsel have been put by that they could no sooner afect the same”, nevertheless deeming it their duty to “perfect the sayd will”, they then proceed to make a will for him by which they give to his son Amos “All the goodes chattells moveables and lands” not otherwise therein disposed of, and make him the executor to receive and pay all debts; to Jeremiah they give all of the lands his father had deeded to him in his lifetime; also the estate John Bennett had deeded to Westcote: also the share of meadow bought of Peeter Buzicot” on the south side of the brook that runs out of the “grate pond”, and one share of “meddowes at Potowomut laying above the rocky nooke, only we apointe him to pay 3 pounds country pay to his brother Amos”, to Damaris Arnold, his daughter, 20 shillings in silver to be laid out in “a piece of plate”; to Mercy Stafford, his daughter, “the bed in her hands with the furniture and such other of the goods mentioned in the inventory to bee in her hands”, provided the executor is to be ‘freed from any other payment concerning his fathers keepinge or funerall to her husband or her”, to “Robert Westcotes eldest sonn Zerobabell, is given one fourth part of the farm at Weequichaconuke”; to Amos Stafford, “sonn” of his daughter Mercy, is given a “fowerth part” of his grandfather’s share in the township of “Coweeset”; to Amos Westcotes sonn of Amos his grandfather Stukeley Westcotts town lott and comanidg”, “After his fathers dicease”, and one fourth part of his grandfathers farm at ‘Weequisaconet” when he comes of age of ‘twenty one years”. This will is dated 1677, January 11th and is signed and sealed by John Green, assistant, Samuel Gorton, assistant, Randall Houldon, Thomas Green and Benjamin Barton, they then being the Town Council of Warwick.

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