Lithograph of Roger Williams. 1881. Roger Williams was born in England in 1599. He was baptized on July 24, 1600. When of age, Williams began attending Cambridge University. In 1627 he graduated from Pembroke College, after which he began studying law. Soon he changed the direction of his studies to theology, after which he was admitted to orders in the Established Church and probably charged with a parish. As he was opposed to the liturgy and hierarchy in the church, Williams left for the colonies. In 1631 he was received by the church at Salem as a minister; however, disregard for the magistrates forced his withdrawal to Plymouth. He returned to Salem in 1633. The next year Williams was ordained, after which he became a popular preacher with lay people. Conflict with the magistrates intensified, culminating in his banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Leaving the colony, he started the “Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.” Along with those who followed him into exile, Williams was immersed in baptism in 1639, after which a church was started. In 1644 Williams received a charter in England for the Rhode Island colony; however, that colony would not be formerly established until after a second trip to England and ten years had passed. In 1654 Williams returned from securing his charter for the colony, and he set up permanent government structure. He was chosen as the colony’s first governor, a position he retired from in 1658. Roger Williams died in 1683, at the age of 84. JPG file (491 KB)
Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/