2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
HARRIS, William (1610-1681) was one of the original settlers of the town of Providence in 1636. The following year, he became one of the proprietors of the Pawtuxet Grant, a tract of land located in present-day Cranston, R.I., a few miles south of Providence. After 1659, much of this valuable land was offered to newer settlers, and Harris and the other original proprietors became involved in a protracted dispute over their legal claim. Harris travelled to England four times in an attempt to secure his claim to the land. In 1680, he was captured by Algerian pirates; he survived to be ransomed, but then died a few weeks later. William Harris' descendants continued the disputes over the Pawtuxet lands for many years after his death. The area we today call Cranston was part of the territory included in the 1638 deed given to Roger Williams by the Narragansett Sachem, Canonicus. The first settlement within the limits of the town was made by original settlers of Providence called the "Pawtuxet Purchasers." The most prominent of these were William Arnold, Zachariah Rhodes and William Harris. Pawtuxet Village, part of which is in Cranston, became a separate entity but remained a part of Providence. Bitter disputes between Roger Williams and William Harris over jurisdiction of Pawtuxet and an attempt to drive Samuel Gorton and his followers from nearby Warwick, caused the Pawtuxet Men to pledge allegiance to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This caused a great deal of concern and discord and opened the possibility of a Massachusetts takeover of Rhode Island territory. In 1658 Pawtuxet broke its ties with the Bay Colony and was again part of Providence. Manuscript Document Signed, “William Harris” 1p. oblong folio, November 10, 1670, and reads in part: “...I William harris of Providence...in Narronganset Bay in New England...” assigns land to his soon Andson Harris. Some fold separations, else VG.
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