William Coddington (1601 – November 1, 1678) was the first governor of Rhode Island. Bold textItalic textLink titlelink title // Headline text Media:Example. ... Jump to: navigation, search November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... Events August 10 - Treaty of Nijmegen ends the Dutch War. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Ocean State, Little Rhody Other U.S. States Capital Providence Largest city Providence Governor Donald Carcieri (R) Senators Jack Reed (D) Lincoln Chafee (R) Official languages None Area 4,005 km² (50th)  - Land 2,709 km²  - Water 1,296 km² (32. ...

Coddington was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. He migrated to the American colonies in 1630 with the original Massachusetts Bay Company. He served as its treasurer from 1634-1636. He was a leading merchant in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called by the name Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it) was the direct predecessor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and then the state of Massachusetts. ... Jump to: navigation, search For other instances of Boston, see Boston (disambiguation) Boston is the capital and largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. ...

In 1637 Coddington left Boston with some others due to religious differences. He supported Anne Hutchinson who had been exiled by the Puritans. Coddington, Hutchinson, and John Clarke conferred with Roger Williams in Providence. Williams suggested that they buy land from the Native Americans on Aquidneck Island. This group founded the town of Pocasset, which is now called Portsmouth. Coddington's name leads the list of signatories of the Portsmouth Compact of 1638. Anne Hutchinson on Trial by Edwin Austin Abbey Anne Hutchinson (July 17, 1591 – August 20, 1643) was the unauthorized Puritan preacher of a dissident church discussion group, and pioneer in Rhode Island and the Bronx. ... The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ... For the physicist (winner of 2004 Hughes Medal) see John Clarke (physicist) John Clarke (1609–1676) was a medical doctor, Baptist minister, co-founder of the colony of Rhode Island, and a leading advocate of religious freedom in the Americas. ... Roger Williams could mean Roger Williams (puritan) Roger Williams (soldier) Roger Williams, a 17th century English theologian, co-founder of Rhode Island. ... Jump to: navigation, search Motto: What Cheer Nickname: Beehive of Industry Location in Rhode Island Founded Incorporated 1636 1832  County Providence County Mayor David N. Cicilline (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 53. ... Aquidneck Island Aquidneck Island, also called Rhode Island, is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. ... Location of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. ... The Portsmouth Compact was a document signed on March 7, 1638 that established the settlement of Portsmouth, which is now a town in the state of Rhode Island. ...

In 1639 Coddington was deposed as leader of the settlement by Anne Hutchinson and Samuel Gorton. He set out with a small group of people, including John Clarke to found another town, Newport. Aquidneck was later named the Isle of Rhodes or Rhode Island. Samuel Gorton (c. ... Jump to: navigation, search A side street in Newport, Rhode Island, showing the historic buildings near the waterfront Newport is a city located in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. ...

There were four main towns in what is now the state of Rhode Island. Providence and Warwick were in an area called Providence Plantations. Portsmouth and Newport were on Rhode Island. Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Ocean State, Little Rhody Other U.S. States Capital Providence Largest city Providence Governor Donald Carcieri (R) Senators Jack Reed (D) Lincoln Chafee (R) Official languages None Area 4,005 km² (50th)  - Land 2,709 km²  - Water 1,296 km² (32. ... Jump to: navigation, search Motto: What Cheer Nickname: Beehive of Industry Location in Rhode Island Founded Incorporated 1636 1832  County Providence County Mayor David N. Cicilline (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 53. ... Warwick is a city located in Kent County, Rhode Island. ...

Coddington was the Judge of Portsmouth from 1638-1639. He was the Judge of Newport from 1630-40. He was the Governor of Rhode Island (united Portsmouth and Newport) from 1640-1647.

From 1643-1651 the towns of Providence Plantations were united with the towns of Rhode Island. Coddington opposed this union. In 1651 the area was divided in two again.

Coddington married Mary Mosely in 1626. They had two children who both died shortly after birth. Mary died in 1630. In 1631 he married again and in 1647 this second wife "Mary" died as well. In January 1649 Coddington married Anne Brinley. Together they had eight children, two of whom died in infancy.

From 1651-1653 William Coddington served as Governor and President of Portsmouth and Newport.

The four towns were reunited in 1654. In 1663 they became a Royal Colony, called Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Sometime in the early 1660's Coddington became a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). He (and later his widow) often hosted Quaker meetings in his home in Newport. George Fox himself visited this house in 1672. Jump to: navigation, search The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... Jump to: navigation, search 19th-century engraving of George Fox, based on a painting of unknown date. ...

From 1674-1676 Coddington was the Governor of the Royal Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was elected again in 1678 but died in office on November 1.

One of Coddington's sons, William Coddington, Jr., was Governor from 1683-1685.

Sources

William Coddington in Rhode Island Colonial Affairs: An Historical Inquiry by H. E. Turner, 1878