~OU F1\lJILY OF RFODE ISLA.I-JD Compiled by H. F. Johnston & Olive Maxson Jones ) . MAXSON FAMILY OF RHODE ISLAND Compilers Harry F. Johns~on - Oliv·e Maxson Jones From Seventh Day Baptist Memorial volumes 1 and 2 The Rev. John Maxson's parents came from England and were the earliest settlers of New England and also among the first who attempted a landing on the shores of Connecticut. _The party with which they were connected • made a temporary settlement, it is supposed, near Throg's Neck, hence for some time after called Maxson Point. They carried on a trade with the Indians, and prospered until about the time of the breaking out of the Pequot War, in 1637, when tne Indians who surrounded them, instigated probably by emissaries from the Pequods, suddenly abstained from inter­ course with the settlers. Upon their sending to the natives to ing_uire why they did not come· .in as usual to trade, they received answer that they feared dogs, which they allowed to go unconfined, but that if they would shut them up they would come again. The unsuspecting colonists·, blinded by their apparent good will, complied with the conditions, and their watchful sentinels once confined, the savages made an attack. on the .settlement and drove the whites to their shallop. A portion of them landing in a boat ~he next day to procure more provisions and produce· from their gardens were again attacked and Rich2.rd Maxson and his son Riche.rd were killed. Mrs. Maxson·escaped with the survivors in a shallop and after a long and tedious passage landed in the Island of Aquidneck, thG nearest place on the coast at that time, free from the danger of the hostile Indians, where soon after her son, John, was born. This was in the spring of 1638. As the Island was purchased from the Sachems, Manitonmah and Canonicus on the 24th of March of that year, and settled by the English immediately thereafter, Mrs. Maxson remained there and devoted herself to the support and education of her son. John has the distinction of having been the first white child born on the Island. We regret that we do not have more of this Christian mother and heroine. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *·* * * * * * * * * * * * * Under date of Feb. 2, 1639 the following entry app~ars:-- "Richard Maxson, blacksmith, upon complaint made against him was accordingly detected for his oppression in the way of his trade - who being convinced thereof, promised amendment and satisfaction." On May 16, 1639 the new town of Newport was laid out and Richard Maxson was· invited to join the group as blacksmith. It is evident that he ac­ cepted as his name appears on the first list of freemen. Also, he had 36 acres allotted to him. In 1642 Richard Maxson sold his land at Portsmouth, including hi'S home, to William Roulston, and removed to Long Island. There is some suppos­ ition that he may have been in the Hutchinson party. Ann Hutchinson, widow of William also went to Long Island in 1642. - 970 1 At the time of his removal to Long Island Richard Maxson's family consisted of himself,. his wife Rebecca, his son Richard. age about 13, a daughter Rebecca.probably about 11 and John bin 1638. Several years aft~r Richard Maxson's death (which is often erroneously given as 1638), that is, later than 1647, -his widow, Rebecca, married John Harndell, Richard Maxson's death occurred in the Indian attack in 1643. There has be·en considerable confusion regarding the chil­ dren of this Maxson family, .. but there seems·to be.no indication that Rebe.~ca Maxson Harndell had any family by· her second husband, John Harn¢!.ell, Additional information on this Maxson family indicates that Richard Maxson was admitted to the Church of Boston on 2 August 1634, He was at that time a journeyman blacksmith with James Everell. It is interesting to note that Ann Hutchinson arrived in America and also in Rhode Island at about the same.time that we first hear of Rich­ ard Maxson. Both were in the party that was killed in the Pequot up­ rising at Throgg's Neck, N.Y. in 1643, Suppcsition suggests a _poss­ ible tie-in. or. close connection between the Hutchinson and Maxson fam­ ilies, It would be indeed helpful if proof or disproof of this suppos- ition could be found. , Richard ~.axson b m Rebecca Shem 2d after 1647John Harndell d 1643. in Pequot ttprisip.g at.'.rhrogg's Neck, N.Y. Ch: Richard b about-163O England killed in Pequot Massacre in 1643 Rebecca b before 163"7 m Rev. Hugh Mosher Jr, John b 1638 m Mary Mosher b 1641 d 1718 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mr. Johnston, your Editor) would like to correspond with all those in­ terested i.n the Maxson. family. He solici t.s additional information and verification of Maxson family records. It is also suggested that you advise those whom you know to be intel'ested in Maxs·on lineage, that the do.ta on the Maxson family is now being reported in this and sub­ sequent issues of YOUR ANCESTORS. To be continued , , ·· MAXSO:M· .-F,A..M.I.LY OF R.HODE ISLAND , .:.'. ··.'. Co.nii,:(ie r·s· . '.·· .... ·· Har-17 .F •. Joh-n.st'on -~. Olive Maxson· J'ones Sin~e the p~blicat_i;n of the last issue of "Your • Ancestors" a. number of facts have been brought to light concerning the early history of the M~xson iamily which show that many mis­ ' leading and·erroneous statements have been made whioh have tended • t6 co~ttis~:·the ·i~sue, and with the hope of bringing order out of ch~c,~i', \19 ··submit the. following data obtained through very 9areful sea.re~ and'cbntainingidocu~~ntary evidence. Also to bring out .. , ~he fact ·tha'.t because· o·f the ap:pa-rent intimacy and closeness with .. .. : the Hutchinson family·, :there must have been some re lat ionshi p be­ tween the t~6-~amili~·a· even though it was before coming to America. · Richard Ma~son was· admitted to the Church in Boston October 2, i634, with his wife Rebecca. Ann Hutchinson and her party came to ;B_q.ston _on ~he ship 11 Griffin 11 in 1634. It is po s si.bl e ~.h.a t Ri.chard Maxson ca:me on the same ship. ·.: In March· .1.638 Ann Hutchi-nson, wh·o had peen banished · from •th.a- Massachu:sett s Co:L'o·ny 'because of her religious beliefs, took hei .family and wen€ overland t6 Provi~ence, R. I. William Coddington, Dr. John Clarke, John Coggesh~~l .and possibly also .. Richard Maxson, were also banished from the colony for ·their . ··:·•pestilent heresy'.' They seem,.to have made their way around Cape Cod and up N·arragansett Bay to· Providence where, with the aid of Roger Williams, they purch~sed the Island of Aquidneck. The building·of Pocasset (Portsmouth) began Ma~ 24,1638. Their avowed object was 11 to lay the foundation of a Christian State where all who bore :the name might worship God according to the dictate of their consciences, untrammeled by written articles of faith. and unawed by civil power 11 • Richard Maxson was a blacksmith. Bayle s~ys, "Black­ smiths were then factors of great importince. They held a monopo­ ly of work that was vitally necessary, and the colony might suffer from the abuse of any· power that they held. It was, therefore, a proper function of the Court to prevent any excessive charges being made by the blacksmith whom the little colony had encouraged to settle in its midst~ He not only cared for their horses• needs ·but also kept their arms shipshape and in repair. Whether it was ·· · · prospe-rity or the lack of it that went to his head, Richard Maxson - 'b~came one of the first 11 nrofiteers 11 when he decided to raise · price~. This immediately-met with popular dis•pproval. A~ a re­ .. ,. sult his name. appears on the Court Records ii £01lows: Feb. 2, \ ...,. t6J9-- 11 Richar:·a. Maxson, bla-cksmi th, upon cpmpla.int made; against him, was a.;cc6:rdingly detec-ted for his oppresiion in .. th·e·.way of trade,- who I being convinced thereof} promi s.ed ame·n.dl:ll.e'nt· a"nd -sati.sfact.i.on 11 • . ·•. ,., • ' : ' .··, ·· .. .'· Willi am ....C o'.d,.di ngt oh• hat!:"· ·be en· chosen Judge· ~t. Po rt sinout h but the minority pa::r.:ty·, _.b,eade d byi··wi l'li am Hutchinson,· Ann I s hus­ band, put Mr. Cod.dingtori out and: ele-~ted Hutchinson: in hi-a place. .....,. •' ., •: Ousted from Portsmouth, Coddington established a plantation at Newport. These men, William Coddington, Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall, William Brebt6n, John Clarke,. Jeremy .Clarke, Thomas Hazard, Henry :Bull, all Elders-,. and Wi.lliam Dyre, Clerk, .. comprised all the members of the Pocasset .. go:ver.nment., ·Th:ey carri·e:d _off _the records of the colony with them, · ·· , , .. .. 'Deprived at once of their gove_rn_ment and their- records, those ·1-eft at Pocass~t decided to reorg·~nize, and· ·two days later, Apr.il ·30, 1639, they formed a new compact, binding· themselves to the following ..written agreement: 1!We; whose naines ·a·re under, acknowledge ours.elves the legall sub.jects of his·· Ma.,Jestie, King ,, Charles, and .i.n _h,is nam_e _doe hereby· b'inde ou.rei·elve-s into a civill body politicke and doe submit. unto his lawes a:c1c·d'rd.ing to matter of justice 11 • Twenty-nine· 'name·s ··a:re ,·sign.ed, inc·1u•din·g that o·f Richard Maxson, thus choosing t6 remai~ with Ann Hutchin~6n.