baptist minister october april physician baptist minister founder colony rhode_island author influential charter leading advocate religious freedom americas born suffolk england clarke received extensive education including master degree england followed medical training holland arrived boston massachusetts bay colony decided rhode_island conflict original founder newport rhode_island established second america considered banned massachusetts clarke wanted spent time boston jail making mission trip town following poor treatment prison went england published book massachusetts theological beliefs fledgling rhode_island colony needed agent england clarke remained decade handling colony interests new_england colonies hostile rhode_island massachusetts connecticut incursions rhode_island territory restoration monarchy england rhode_island receive royal charter protect territorial integrity clarke role obtain document saw opportunity include religious freedoms seen constitutional charter writing petitions letters king charles_ii negotiating months connecticut territorial boundaries clarke drafted island royal charter presented king approved king seal july charter granting unprecedented freedom religious liberty remained effect years making longest lasting constitutional charter history following success charter clarke returned rhode_island active civil affairs continued pastor church newport death left extensive setting educational trust america avid proponent soul liberty included rhode_island charter later united_states_constitution early life born county suffolk england baptized october son seven children left england settled new_england parish records baptism siblings definitive record found concerning life england clarke highly educated apparent fact arrived new_england age qualified physician baptist minister book wrote published authorship island royal charter mentioning hebrew greek books wrote point years study difficulty tracing clarke existence england stems largely common rhode_island historical authority wrote clarke probably attended college cambridge received bachelor degree oxford masters clue education comes catalog students holland europe primary medical schools time school graduates includes latin july translated england date given clarke earned master degree apparent wrote authorship given master arts controversy clarke arrived boston massachusetts bay colony november arrived colony midst major theological political crisis usually referred controversy members sense difference preaching church original pastor second pastor ear colony women outspoken gatherings held house strongly supported cotton grace ideas condemned works theology wilson ministers colony reverend arrived colony free grace advocates adhered cotton doctrines included members controversy political month young elected governor colony free grace advocate strong supporter unorthodox ideas theology considered radical late theological great called day help ease colony difficulties invited guest preacher boston church fast day january sermon encouraging free grace allies considered colony ministers met march called answer sermon close vote judged guilty contempt having increased bitterness colony vote pass fight friends protested formally members boston church favoring conflict drafted petition sermon people signed protesting conviction returned england summer november court admit wrongdoing banished colony ordered gone days faced trial ministers sentenced following church trial following march authorities feared insurrection week sentencing sent door door colony towns signed petition days served individuals ordered deliver guns pistols swords powder shot match shall owners custody pound default great number signed petition faced losing protection cases pressure acknowledged error signing petition refused suffered hardships decided leave colony man named signed petition subject arrived boston petition circulated clarke wrote circumstances arrival book new_england rhode_island affected events went north november found town exeter new_hampshire larger group uncertain contacted suggested purchase land natives near settlement providence apparently based wrote book reason heat summer went north somewhat cooler winter following proved cold forced spring south march church trial getting underway group men including gathered boston home drafted compact new government probable clarke wrote document based religious sentiment altogether individuals signed instrument intended form based christian principles chosen leader group suggested places settle later rhode_island locations williams uncertain english claims lands clarke led delegation men plymouth informed use considered desirable called garden entire colony island claimed colony suited clarke desire clear territory people williams let known money island available instead love people williams williams suggested natives form tools coats march williams drew deed granting settlers deed signed likely providence williams witnesses names included deed appeared responsible clarke joined william building new settlement year founding settlement leaders clarke joined inhabitants moving south end island establishing town newport remained soon renamed portsmouth new ruling magistrate judge january clarke appointed survey new lands newport june appointed proportion land inhabitants towns portsmouth newport united title ruling magistrate changed judge governor elected position wanted royal recognition settlements protection hostile neighbors massachusetts plymouth connecticut went england obtain patent bringing towns newport portsmouth providence government successful document brought england read representatives towns opposed williams patent island towns grown prospered mainland towns providence managed island towns joining providence representatives towns ultimately met adopted patent unification march island changed rhode_island subsequently colony colony island clarke legal training baptist historian argued clarke principal author complete code laws enacted fledgling colony rhode_island historian lieutenant governor virtues code calling broad scope vigorous original bold history rhode_island arnold wrote legal code presented model legislation time surpassed founding newport church established baptist church providence known baptist congregation created likely beginnings clarke arrived island massachusetts governor wrote professed island boston lawyer wrote church island clarke elder pastor understood church dissolved clarke conducted public worship newport time arrival church newport founded later pastor newport church reverend stated century sermon said formed church scheme principles long standing contention existed established baptist church america williams preceded clarke baptized minister convictions leaving church altogether wasn half seventeenth century providence church form visible ministry organized functioning baptist ministry new_england newport church leadership clarke elders church remains active ministry particular carries honor founder religious beliefs held early newport church little different fact rejected infant baptism insisting person baptized understood spiritual significance like rejected inspirational preaching holy spirit found later accepted labelled incorrectly considered second baptism form rebellion associated sect germany practice clarke church similarity early instead similar churches england offered preaching multiple sources allowed open discussion doctrine follow rigid creed associate clarke early newport church turned baptist arrived new_england considered public school teacher america called minister massachusetts opposed infant baptism unorthodox shortly clarke left found newport arrived act minister teacher helpful clarke newport settlement returned england years clarke later went england associated minister named particular london important member early newport church elder clarke shared pastoral duties baptist england arrived newport believed total clarke subsequently embraced practice newport church baptist activism visit clarke went plymouth colony later massachusetts help organize baptist church confirmed letter governor wrote great concurred providence men point new baptism manner believe practice comes nearer practice great founder christ jesus practices religion members church minister broke main church largely issue infant baptism hearing division clarke went welcome men holmes disposition opposite clarke considered man hot tempered fault clarke biographer massachusetts learned furious eyes earlier given children ministers performed massachusetts wrote counterparts plymouth accusing practices pressured act church holmes following court action compelled newport subsequently elder newport church imprisonment july blind elderly man baptist sentiments living massachusetts wanted connect baptist faith travel newport clarke accompanied visited home following earlier plymouth highly likely men mission intended provoke confrontation party arrived july saturday evening held religious service day present included family visitors strangers came unexpected service appeared warrant signed local magistrate calling arrest clarke associates performed wording warrant suggested reason men arrest following arrest men forced attend religious service refused remove hats church end service clarke stood explained congregation refused remove hats men detained evening brought local following day men free return taken boston clarke conducted service holmes baptized people july prisoners taken boston held trial july morning trial brought governor questioning accused clarke replied favoring infant baptism opposing infant baptism governor said men deserved death trash brought jurisdiction trial court represented governor deputy governor reverend weighed prisoners reverend struck holmes supposedly protection court charges men holding unauthorized religious meeting disrupting authorized meeting wearing hats illegally maintaining massachusetts churches true churches maintaining infant baptism false baptism men sentenced witness speaking outcome trial holmes fined clarke fined holmes given heaviest fine clarke protested heavy fines governor replied clarke worthy hanged court told clarke beliefs stand ministers insulted clarke wrote letter court prison following day accepting implied challenge debate ministers religious beliefs practices letter wrote desire appoint time person points publicly disputed challenge initially accepted knowledge clarke fine paid friends released jail departing area clarke accused elders challenge clarke attempts debate clergy case dropped court debate took place clarke drafted points discussion detailed beliefs position friends raised money pay fines clarke consent contrary wishes soon holmes discovered happening able payment fine matter conscience friends attempted pay result september holmes taken town post given whip holmes told struck roses claimed felt pain incident days sleep resting knees later rhode_island governor wrote seen holmes old man marks lord jesus expressed wonder live aftermath following men arrest ill treatment sir wrote england cotton wilson boston church writing rigid lay hearts shortly incident wrote letter governor making earnest plea matters conscience religion request williams let matter rest clarke holmes subjects book bloody bloody copy book williams gave clarke penned following note honoured beloved eminent christ jesus doctrine persecution positive outcome ordeal endured men conversion baptism witnesses witness president conversion faith resulted removal president helped inspire creation scholars argued clarke mission trip planned provoke massachusetts officials order support cause rhode_island england shortly clarke arrived england published book leverage obtaining charter rhode_island colony time england unhappy colonial patent obtained resistant consolidated government rhode_island towns ultimately came result patent wanted colonial independence island towns newport portsmouth decided england present case london april gave commission separate government island smaller neighboring island later rhode_island governor life criticism arose soon returned rhode_island commission september summed feelings providence settlers wrote gotten charter island broken force charter went providence gotten away greater clarke voiced opposition rule island october commissioned island agent england following month sent england commission revoked simultaneously mainland towns providence sent similar men sailed england november months clarke released prison recent hostilities english dutch men meet new_england april october help henry commission island government revoked messenger returned rhode_island following february bringing news return colony clarke remained england wife new_england soon arriving england clarke published book entitled new_england persecution book begins letter conveying earnest plea liberty conscience religious followed letter addressed leaders massachusetts largest book primarily devoted clarke beliefs conducting church thought massachusetts churches proceeding wrong direction half book concerns persecution clarke companions experienced hands massachusetts authorities hoped use incident leverage gaining religious freedoms rhode_island colony wrote lord dominion man conscience conscience sparkling beam father lights spirits commanded forced men angels book ultimately desired effect massachusetts authorities alarmed contents written minister church work titled matters religion debated defended use force maintain correct church massachusetts colony response written confirm clarke party defend massachusetts position ultimately book helped rhode_island secure significant religious liberties prompting baptist historian describe clarke baptist drum major freedom seventeenth century america rhode_island agent clarke officially rhode_island agent england received little compensation work remained active religious commitment joined church means support preaching church called place preference possibly arrangement offered room board ways clarke able find support offering legal services practicing medicine london clarke time england monarch king charles executed successor charles_ii assume throne intervening period rule country largely parliament lord protector wrote letter rhode_island concerning difficulties france confirmed continued validity rhode_island patent clarke primary purpose england secure strengthened charter rhode_island colony ensuring religious liberties relative chaos england time offer opportunity clarke assist colony sending barrels powder barrels shot bullets handled letter colony requesting assistance legal proceedings little diplomatic work clarke remained active likely likely signed manifesto london imminent return christ signed document asking avoid assuming title king likely arrested opposing rule important acquaintance clarke london provided clarke legal expertise helped draft petitions king helped write rhode_island charter clarke eventually returned newport sailed later providing additional legal counsel writing clarke extensive clarke death recipient books negotiating charter charles_ii ascended throne england years act passed requiring unified religious centered new king increasing clarke difficulty crafting charter included religious freedoms clarke commission agent rhode_island renewed october filed petitions letters addressed king begging king clarke offered complete loyalty behalf rhode_island colony requested king sympathy support guarantee freedom conscience pursuit religious worship petition received crown february clarke penned particularly proposal certain words document clarke earnest request hold forth lively experiment state stand best words rhode_island struggle religious freedom soon included charter later island state house later petitions dealt heavily boundary issues rhode_island connecticut colonies sincere petitions covering issues importance rhode_island clarke wait nearly year action emergency occurred spring governor connecticut colony given audience king ahead clarke got new charter approved colony good terms stake undermined sovereignty rhode_island buying large tracts land natives west rhode_island claimed territory clarke regarded conduct connecticut governor rhode_island dark intentions sailing england instead usual route boston furthermore avoided clarke england able charter approved recognizing conflict connecticut rhode_island earl representing king summoned clarke july settle boundary dispute colonies colonies claimed territory west east following months negotiations involving lawyers sides boundary line colonies set favoring rhode_island dispute settled lands allowed choose governed connecticut rhode_island agreement reached returned new_england clarke final push rhode_island charter following land boundaries provisions proposed charter aroused debate provisions rhode_island charter like connecticut connecticut wanted government similar massachusetts rhode_island wanted self government granted earlier patent rhode_island charter went guarantees religious freedom rhode_island boundary issue rhode_island connecticut resolved long awaited charter drafted clarke given king seal july document remarkable offered corporate powers english thought offered degree religious freedom precedent provisions charter far reaching rhode_island proceed autonomous entity document remain effect years charter colonial boundaries outlined provisions military war effected fishing privileges secured means appeal england detailed charter guaranteed rights rhode_island residents travel freely colonies rights curtailed religious reasons past new charter forbade new_england colonies making war indians rhode_island permission directed disputes colonies appealed crown outlined provisions colonial representation colonial governor deputy governor assistants called judicial role addition number deputies allotted town specified paramount importance clarke charter explicit guarantee religious freedom people private opinions conform exercise religion took language declaration person said colony time shall wise harassed punished called question differences opinion matters religion actually civil peace said colony person persons time time times freely fully enjoy matters religious tract land mentioned quietly document hand clarke sent rhode_island received little diplomatic efforts funds immediately sail new_england entrusted charter captain carried rhode_island november rhode_island convened newport time parliamentary patent inhabitants legislators gathered receive result clarke decade long magnitude occasion captured colonial records great meeting assembly colony newport rhode_island new_england november 24th assembly legally called orderly reception letter unto sent having order chosen president assembly voted box king letters enclosed opened letters broad taken forth read audience view people accordingly letters majesty broad seal gravity held presented perfect view people returned box locked governor order safe keeping following day voted words humble thanks delivered king earl given clarke charter stood test time wasn years creation charter finally replaced reason representatives towns longer rendered operation alteration organic law document ultimately retired longest surviving constitutional charter world far reaching american revolutionary war change position revolution charter rested foundation inherent right self government later life royal charter ready travel new_england clarke begin gathering funds week king seal charter clarke london newport properties raise money didn ensure immediate departure england wasn following spring able voyage rhode_island wife sailed aboard sisters london carrying belongings shipment armaments colony despite provisions rhode_island charter definitively settle land disputes connecticut continue half century settle issue occupying large tracts land rhode_island country rhode_island colony arrival group royal commissioners told crown people submitted england king newly arrived commissioners verified declared territory rhode_island including tracts kings province commissioners good friend rhode_island recent governor clarke men allowed present rhode_island views land disputes commissioners ultimately took strong stance favor rhode_island eventually lost property rhode_island colony civil roles following great england clarke involved affairs rhode_island colony return served years deputy newport general_assembly served deputy governor governor years legal background appointed october digest rhode_island laws june march chosen agent england behalf colony selection appeal king incursions connecticut colony making territory rhode_island plan send abandoned rhode_island embroiled king philip war considered disastrous conflict new_england leaving mainland towns colony ruins confrontation indigenous people english settlers named given english rhode_island peace indians colonies geography took damage conflict settlements totally destroyed providence ruined high esteem clarke held colony colonial leaders counsel sought april general_assembly resolution weeks later war raging clarke dead church divisions clarke active affairs colony return england resumed leadership role newport church major occurred church england years return concerned laying hands practice considered christ principles advocated biblical verse ritual welcomed members church wanted practice mandatory want additional restrictions placed disagreement prompted break away church form principle newport called second major division church occurred day worship congregation wanted worship saturday practice largely tolerated attending service attending attending elder hostile practice clarke holmes subsequently withdrew preaching newport church resumed pastoral duties continued critical finally left form church december additional occurred church centered family wife joan denied christ alive following husband children children left church death legacy help clarke drafted april died newport day buried family plot newport directed wives elizabeth jane set trust relief poor bringing children unto learning time time forever use trust generally considered oldest educational trust fund united_states ironically trust undermined principles clarke particularly separation church state trust support church town counsel church legal eventually trust pay salary paid minister clarke thought highly inappropriate clarke believed secular government peacefully religion seminal figure applying separation church state clarke ardent supporters wrote time settlement new_england face earth men civil soul liberty exist clear deliberate organized permanent establishment world distinctly traced colony rhode_island island leadership inspiration true founder wrote hardly clarke bring democracy means rhode_island asserted clarke recognized founder father author compact portsmouth leading spirit organization administration island towns wrote clarke man moral character surpassed questioned final assessment clarke man clarke lived like men past despite religious views gave fellow man received grammar school merchant liberty ship named clarke science building dedicated honor plaque wall reads erected society december physician ancestry family fifth seven known children born thomas born baptized suffolk england margaret oldest child born baptized february followed thomas baptized march mary baptized july subject john baptized october william born youngest joseph baptized december margaret married lived cambridge massachusetts mary married came newport rhode_island husband brothers thomas john joseph married times wife daughter lord manor wife agent england died newport years clarke following death married february jane widow died following year april clarke daughter jane born february dying clarke wife sarah widow clarke long association davis like clarke early merchant moved plymouth colony davis business dealings massachusetts imprisoned banished later lived newport transported founder long_island newport fox visit american colonies soon davis drowned year half widow married clarke sarah survived clarke died children remembered husband daughter second wife clarke known children left descendants
John Clarke (Baptist minister)