Roger Williams was born in England around 1603. He took holy orders from the Church of England, but became a Puritan. While he did not join the first wave of Puritans migrating to the New World, before the year ended, he migrated to the Americas, arriving in Boston on February 5, 1631. Although he was warmly received, he soon made enemies among the leadership of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and was exiled in 1635. In the spring of 1636, he began a new settlement on land that he had purchased from the Massasoit, establishing Providence Plantation, which became the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island.
Recommended Resources
The text of an article written by Roger Williams in 1644, while he was in England obtaining a charter for the Providence Plantation colony from the British Parliament, is published here.
http://www.constitution.org/bcp/religlib.htm
Libertarianism: Roger Williams
A Cato Institute Project, the site offers a number of essays on the founder of Rhode Island, written by Jim Powell and George H. Smith, exploring biographical data, his views on religious toleration, and other topics.
http://www.libertarianism.org/people/roger-williams
Native American Encyclopedia: Roger Williams
Published on January 28, 2011, the site focuses on Roger Williams’ dealings with the Native Americans, acknowledging that he had been a student of Native American languages and an advocate for fair dealings with the Naive Americans.
http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/roger-williams/
People & Ideas: Roger Williams
Maintained by the Public Broadcasting Service, a brief account of Roger Williams, and the positions that he held, is published here, as well as biographical data.
http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/roger-williams.html
Hosted on the Son of the South website, a brief history of the founder of Rhode Island is featured.
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/patriots/roger-williams.htm
Georgetown University offers a curriculum, classroom issues and strategies relating to the teaching students about Roger Williams, theologian and founder of the State of Rhode Island.
http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/bassr/heath/syllabuild/iguide/williamr.html
The State of Rhode Island presents a biography of its founder, including his childhood, youth and college years, preparatory school and college, Puritanism, graduate school, and a chaplain’s post in Essex, his early years in America with Massachusetts Puritans, his banishment, and founding of Rhode Island, a well as his return to colonial service in England.
http://sos.ri.gov/library/history/famous/rogerwilliams/
Roger Williams Family Association
The organization was formed in 1906 for the purpose of honoring and preserving the memory of Roger Williams, and as a means of promoting communication among his descendants. A biography of the man is offered, along with a history of the organization, membership information and bylaws, genealogical data, and an online catalog.
http://www.rogerwilliams.org/
Roger Williams National Memorial
Maintained by the National Park Service, the facility commemorates the life of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and a champion of religious liberty in the New World. The history and culture surrounding the man and the role he played, as well as the facility’s operating hours and seasons, fees, and a schedule of events.
http://www.nps.gov/rowi/
Roger Williams, Rhode Island Founder
Maintained on the Library of Congress, the role of Roger Williams in the New World, and the founding of Rhode Island, are related, including topographical charts and maps.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb05.html
Roger Williams: Champion of Liberty
Written and maintained by Ian Williams Goddard, the eighth-great-grandson of Roger Williams, the site offers a biography and history of the man, his religious convictions, and his role in the founding of Rhode Island. Links to several other articles are included.
http://www.iangoddard.com/roger.htm
The Twelve Tribes site offers an overview of the biography of Roger Williams, particularly his time in the New World, and the founding of Rhode Island.
http://twelvetribes.com/articles/roger-williams
Theology thru Technology: Roger Williams (C. 1600-1684)
Biographical data relating to Roger Williams, from his early life to his removal to America, life in Salem and his banishment, the founding of Providence, and relations with the Baptists is related.
http://www.tlogical.net/biorwilliams.htm
