Benedict Arnold I (1615 - 1678)

Born 21 Dec 1615 in Ilchester, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Damaris (Westcott) Arnold — married 17 Dec 1640 in Providence, Providence Plantations

Descendants

Died 19 Jun 1678 at age 62 in Newport, Rhode Island

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Biography

Benedict Arnold I immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Benedict Arnold was born or christened 21 DEC 1615 in Ilchester, Somerset, England^[1]

"..coming from Ilchester, in southern Somersetshire or within about five miles of that place. The leader of the party was William Arnold whose 48th birthday was the day of their arrival. His oldest son Benedict, one of the party, a lad 19 years of age at that time. "^[2]

Benedict Arnold (21 December 1615 – 19 June 1678) was president and then governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving for a total of 11 years in these roles. Coming from Somerset, England, he was born and raised in the town of Ilchester, likely attending school in Limington, nearby. In 1635, at the age of 19, he accompanied his parents, siblings and other family members on a voyage from England to New England, where they first settled in Hingham in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In less than a year they moved to Providence on the Narragansett Bay at the request of Roger Williams. In about 1638 they moved once again, about five miles south to the Pawtuxet River, settling on the north side at a place commonly called Pawtuxet. Here they had serious disputes with their neighbors, particularly Samuel Gorton, and as a result put themselves and their lands under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, a situation lasting for 16 years.

Learning the native languages at an early age, Arnold became one of the two leading interpreters in the Rhode Island colony, Roger Williams being the other. He was frequently called upon to interpret during negotiations with the natives, but on one occasion was accused by them of misrepresentation.

In 1651 Arnold left Providence and Pawtuxet with his family, settling in Newport where he began his public service which would last continuously until his death. He quickly became a freeman, Commissioner, and Assistant, and in 1657 succeeded Roger Williams as President of the colony, serving for three years. In 1662 he was once again elected President, and during the second year of this term the Royal Charter of 1663 was delivered from England, naming him as the first Governor of the colony, and offering broad freedoms and self-determination to the colony.

A bold and decisive leader, Arnold was elected for two additional terms as governor, the last time following the devastation of King Philip's War. He died on 19 June 1678 while still in office, and was buried in the Arnold Burying Ground, located on Pelham Street in Newport. In his will he left to his wife his "stone built wind mill," which still stands as an important Newport landmark. His many descendants include General Benedict Arnold, best known for his treason during the American Revolutionary War, and Senator Stephen Arnold Douglas who debated Abraham Lincoln in 1858, and lost to him during the 1860 presidential election.^[3]

Family

Benedict and Damaris Westcott were married on 17 Dec 1640, probably at the Providence Plantation.^[4] They had nine known children: ^[5]

1. Benedict, b. Feb. 10, 1641/2; m (1) Mary Turner (2) Sarah Mumford
2. Caleb, b. Dec. 19, 1644; m. Abigail Wilbur
3. Josiah, b. Dec. 22, 1646; m. Sarah Mills Brinley
4. Damaris, b. Feb. 23, 1648/9; m. John Bliss
5. William, b. Oct. 21, 1651; lived two days
6. Penelope, b. Feb. 10, 1652; m. (1) Roger Golding (2) ___ Cutler?
7. Oliver, b. Jul. 25, 1655; m. Phebe Cook
8. Godsgift, b. Aug. 27, 1658; m. Jurah Bull
9. Freelove, b. Jul. 20, 1661; m. Edward Pelham

Last Will & Testament

By the permission of God Almighty, I, Benedict Arnold, of Newport, in ye colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, &c, senior, aged sixty and two years, finding myself subject to weakness and Infirmities ye usual attendants on aged persons, , and considering my days are not like to be many that I have to abide in this temporal life, and now at the writeing hereof being (tho somewhat weak of body yet) in perfect memory and reasonable understanding, and resolving it necessary for preventing ye many inconveniencies that may arise for want of seting my house in order and setling my temporal estate while I am alive, do therefore make this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Imprimis. And in ye first place I having full assurance of ye infinite mercy of my Almighty Creator unto my soul do cheerfully and willingly recommend ye same into his blessed hands and from whom I received it, and by whose grace am made willing to wait his pleasure for my change from this transitory life, unto a life in and with himself eternally, and my body unto ye earth from whence by ye Almighty power and Decree of ye same God it was taken, willing and appointing that after my decease my body may be decently interred by my Executors hereafter in this writing named, ye charge of said interment to be defrayed out of my personal estate. My body I desire and appoint to be buried at ye North East corner of a parcell of ground containing three rod square being of and lying in my land in or near ye line or path from my dwelling house leading to my Stone built Wind-mill, in ye town of Newport, abovementioned, the middle or center of which three roads square of ground is and shall be ye tomb already erected over ye grave of my grand-child Damaris Goulding, there buried on ye fourteenth day of August, 1677, and I desire that my dear & loving wife, Damaris Arnold, after her death may be buried near unto me, on ye South side of ye place aforesaid ordered for my own interment, and I do order my Executors to erect decent tombs over her grave and my grave in such convenient time as it may be effectually accomplished, and further I do hereby solemnly prohibit ye selling or otherwise disposing of said three rod square of ground or any part thereof, but that it be wholly reserved to ye use of my kindred relations for so many of them as shall please to bury their dead in the said ground and therefore do order and appoint that they shall have from time to time on all such occasions to and from ye said burying place, free egress and regress without any molestation from any that shall succeed me in ye land about it.

Item. In ye next place I will and ordain that all my just debts shall be paid, all which at ye writing hereof do not amount to thirty pounds sterling, in New England money, either by bill or book due to any or all men whatsoever, and after clearing all such debts as shall appear just, I do give and bequeath unto my dear, loving and beloved wife, Damaris Arnold, aforenamed, and to her proper use and behoof during her natural life , and after her decease, to ye proper use and behoof of our beloved daughter, Godgift Arnold, and to her heirs and assigns to have and to hold, possess and enjoy as her and their own true rights and lawful inheritance forever, that is to say, ye lands and tenements hereafter mentioned, namely: ye house and two acres of land, be it more or less, that I bought of William Haviland, being and lying in ye precincts of ye town of Newport, above said, bounded on ye South and on ye East parts on land now or later in the possession of Thomas Clifton or his assigns, on ye West by a highway belonging to said town, and on ye North by land that I have bequeathed to my son Josias Arnold, and I order ye said line of fence to be made and forever maintained by ye occupants of ye premises which I bought of Wm. Haviland aforesaid, as also all that land which I bought of Wm. Vaughan being and lying in ye precincts of the said town of Newport, and by me named Spring Harbor lands containing ninety acres more or less in two parcels ye greater of which two parcels is bounded on ye North by land now or later in ye possession of Henry Bull, on ye East by land in ye possession of ye assigns of Wm. Brenton, Esq., deceased, on ye south by land in ye possession of John Coggeshall, senior, and on ye West by a highway belonging to ye said Town. The lesser of ye said parcels of land is bounded on ye North by land of Henry Bell aforesaid, on ye East by ye highway aforesaid, on ye South partly by a broad way and partly by land in ye possession of ye assigns of George Gardner deceased, and on ye West by a creek or cove of salt water, all which the premises together with a certain parcell of land in the Close called Stillhouse close, being and lying in the precincts of ye aforesaid Town, containing by estimation two acres and a quarter, more or less, in two distinct parcells each bounded as followeth, namely ye bigger parcel on ye North and West in part by Roger Goulding?s land on ye North and East more largely by a highway belonging to ye said Town, on ye South by my son Benedict Arnold?s land, and on ye West by a highway paralell with ye Town?s highway leading towards this ye said Benedict Arnold?s land: and ye lesser parcell of the premises is bounded on ye North by a parcel of Roger Goulding?s land aforenamed, on ye East by ye highway last mentioned as aforesaid, on ye South by Benedict Arnold?s land aforesaid, and on ye West by ye sea or harbour on the Town aforementioned, and it is ordered that the said Benedict Arnold his heirs and assigns are to make and forever maintain a good and sufficient fence in ye line between his said land and both ye said parcels of ye premises and ye least or last discribed parcell thereof is to make and forever maintain by ye occupants thereof a good and sufficient fence in ye line between it and Roger Goulding?s land thereto adjoining as aforesaid all which ye premised parcells of land lying and being in five distinct parts, each bounded as aforesaid, I do give and bequeath to ye only proper use and behoof of my said wife Damaris Arnold for her support and in order also toward ye maintenance of my daughter Godsgift Arnold during ye natural life of her mother my said wife Damaris Arnold, and in ye mean time to be carefully kept and reserved to ye only use and behoof of my said daughter Godsgift Arnold, after her said mothers decease for her my said daughter Godsgift Arnold to have and to hold use and enjoy to her self and to her heirs and assigns as her and theirs and every or either their undoubted rights and lawful inheritance forever.

Item. I do also give and bequeath unto ye proper use and behoof of my said wife Damaris Arnold, during her naturall life and after her decease to ye use and behoof of my dearly beloved and youngest daughter Freelove ?Arnold, all and singular ye lands and buildings severally hereafter mentioned in particular, that is to say my dwelling house and lands buildings and tenements hereafter named, namely one tract of land being and lyeing in ye precincts of ye aforesaid Town of Newport containing by estimation sixteen acres distinguished into two parcells by a highway belonging to ye said Town and bounded severally as followeth, that is to say, the lesser parcell whereon is erected my Warehouse and Wharf, and bounded as followeth on ye East by ye highway aforesaid, on ye South by a parcell of land I have bequeathed unto my son Oliver Arnold, on ye West by the sea or harbour of Newport, on ye North by land now or late in ye possession of Pardon Tillinghast or his assigns, ye other and greater parcell of ye tract of land abovesaid upon which standeth my dwelling or mansion house and other buildings thereto adjoining or belonging as also my Stone Built Wind Mill and in the said parcell is being and lying ye three rod square of ground abovesaid that I have set apart for a burying place ye whole parcell being bounded as flooweth, on ye West by ye highway aforesaid on part of ye North and part of ye East by a quillet of land containing fifty foot square that I sold and now or late in ye possession of Jeremiah Brown, and on ye rest of ye North by a highway belonging also as ye aforesaid highway to ye said Town, on ye East by land now or late in ye possession of Walter Clarke or his assigns save only as ye Town may order a highway between and on ye South by land I have bequeathed to my son Josiah Arnold, he ye said Josiah Arnold his heirs or assigns being to maintain a good and sufficient fence in ye line between ye premises and his said land. Moreover, I give and bequeath unto my said wife, Damaris Arnold, as above said during her natural life, and after her decease to ye use of our said daughter, Freelove Arnold, a certain tract of land being and lying in ye precints of the said town, and by me called Lemmington farm, containing by estimation, one hundred and thirty acres more or less, and bounded as followeth: that is to say, on ye North by ye sea or harbor of ye said town for ye greater part, and by land in possession of John Stanton on ye rest of the North part; on the East by ye rest of John Stanton?s land aforesaid; on ye South by ye Common, and on ye West by ye Common, down to ye sea or harbor aforesaid, ye Northermost part being divided at present by a stone wall from ye Southermost part of ye premises, which as yet is not fenced, from ye common on which it is bounded as aforesaid, all which ye premises, tracts and parcels of land as distinguished by ye respective bounds of each of said tracts and parcels before mentioned, together with all ye buildings, improvements, fences and conveniences upon any and every part of ye premises erected or thereupon being or to any part thereof properly belonging, or in any wise hereunto appertaining, I do give and bequeath as above said unto ye proper use, and behoof of my said wife Damaris Arnold, for her support, and in order toward ye maintenance of my daughter Freelove Arnold aforenamed, during ye natural life of her mother, my said wife, Damaris Arnold, and all ye premises I will and order to be carefully reserved and kept to ye use of my said daughter Freelove Arnold, after her said mother?s, Damaris Arnold?s decease, for her, my said daughter Freelove Arnold, ye premises and every part and parcel of ye same above mentioned, to have and to hold, possess use and enjoy to herself, my said daughter Freelove Arnold, to her own proper use, and behoof and to ye proper use, and behoof to her own proper use, and behoof of her heirs and assigns as her and their and every or either of her or their true rightful and lawful inheritance forever.

Item. For ye more comfortable subsistence of said wife and toward ye maintenance of my two daughters aforesaid, I hereby will and order that all my cattle, either Horse kind, neat cattle, Sheep and Swine, that are mine in ye precincts of ye town of Newport aforesaid, shal all be delivered and left in the possession and to ye use of my said wife Damaris Arnold, to ye end and purpose before exprest during her natural life, and after her decease what of ye said cattle and their increse shall remain, I order to ye peculiar use and behoof of my said daughters Godsgift Arnold and Freelove Arnold, to be speedily and equally divided between them two, their heirs or assigns, for stocking their respective lands hereby given as aforesaid.

Item. And to ye end ye business and work may be carred on ye more conveniently, I order and appoint, that all my servants of what sorts soever, and all my household staff and utensils, shall be and remain to ye use of my said wife Damaris Arnold, during her natural life, and after her decease what remains to be divided among my children, to wit: to each of my daughters aforesaid, one third part thereof and y other third also to be equally divided between them except my said wife do otherwise dispose of that part to some other of our children before her death.

Item. Unto my eldest and well beloved son Benedict Arnold, I give and bequeath half of my neck of land being ye Southermost part of ye Island, called Quonanaquit, lying in Narraganset Bay. , near Rhode Island, in ye colony aforesaid, ye said neck of land being by me named Beaver Neck, and doth contain one thousand acres, surrounded by sea excepting where it is joined to ye rest of quonanacut by a narrow beach or sponge of land called Parting Beach, which said beach where it joineth to ye said neck is to be fenced off therefrom by my said son. Benedict Arnold, and a gate therein to be hanged or bars to be put up and down upon occasion of going or coming into or out of said nect by any and every of my sons, their heirs and assigns, to whom I have bequeathed land at ye Southern end ye Island, to wit: my son Josiah Arnold, and my son Oliver Arnold, ordering and hereby providing that there shall be a mutual privilege and liberty to my said sons Benedict, Josiah and Oliver, their heirs and assigns, forever (being that these lands will lie joining or near unto each other) to pass and repass through one another?s lands on their necessary occasions, either of carting, driving ye cattle or ye like, as also for fishing and fouling about ye shores and creeks, and for sheltering boats or canoes in any ye ponds, coves, creeks or nooks of ye see, as occasion shall require from time to time, and also free passage to and from ye boats over each other's?lands they not otherwise damnifieing one another by leaving open gates or bars or ye like; and whereas I give and bequeath one half of ye said Beaver Neck unto my son Benedict Arnold, I intend he shall have ye Northermost end thereof, and that the neck shall be equally divided in two, as near as may be, over thwart ye breadth of it from ye East shore to ye West shore, and ye fence that shalll be made and maintained in ye said line, three parts of four beginning at ye West end of sd. Line shall be made and forever maintained by my son Josiah Arnold and his heirs and assigns, and ye other fourth part of that line of fence shall be made and forever maintained by my said son Benedict Arnold and his heirs and assigns, from time to time, athe premises to him bequeathed is five hundred acres, bounded on ye South by ye aforementioned line; on ye East by an arm of ye sea called Mackrell Cove; on ye North partly by he beach end aforementioned, and ye rest by ye pond called Eel Pond, and ye outlet thereof into ye sea down to ye place called Fox Hill: and on ye West by ye sea; as also to my said son Benedict Arnold, I give and bequeath one third part of my interest in Dutch Island, lying near adjacent to that part of Quononicut, all which, and premises, I will and order to ye only use, and behoof of my said son Benedict Arnold and his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. Unto my beloved son Josiah Arnold aforenamed, I give and bequeath a certain parcell of land, being and lying in ye precincts of ye town of Newport above mentioned, ye said land containing by estimation, four acres more or less, being eight rod in breadth from North to South, and eighty rod in length from East to West, bounded on ye North by land I have bequeathed to his mother Damaris Arnold, &c. on ye East by land of Walter Clarke on ye South in part by land now or late in ye possession of Thomas Clifton or his assigns and partly by ye land above said, I bought of Wm. Haviland and bequeathed to ye said Damaris Arnold, &c. and partly by a high way belonging to the said Town and on ye West by a highway belonging also to ye same Town, as also to my said son Josiah Arnold, I give and bequeath a certain parcell of land lying in ye said town containing near a quarter of an acre, being in length North and South nine rod, more or less, and in breadth East and West sixty two feet, bounded at each end by ye street ways belonging to the said town and on each side by land in ye possession of Thomas Ward, as also unto my said son Josiah Arnold, I give and bequeath a certain parcell of land, being and lying on ye South end of Quononicut Island above mentioned, and ye neck of land Beaver Neck, ye premises containing five hundred acres and bounded as followeth; on ye North by land above given and bequeathed to my son Benedict Arnold, and on ye East, South and West, by ye sea, and therewith free egress and regress to and through ye said Benedict Arnold?s land, and to and through ye land I have given to my son Oliver Arnold, on occasions more particularly above expressed, to be mutually used and allowed by ye said Benedict Arnold, Josiah Arnold and Oliver Arnold, according to my true intent and meaning in that matter, and together with ye aforesaid lands, I give and bequeath unto my said son Josiah Arnold one third part of my interest in ye island called Dutch Island aforementioned, all which ye premises together with ye priviledges, advantages and commodities thereupon, or upon any part or parts of ye same being or thereunto belonging o9r appertaining, are to be and remain to ye only proper use of my said son Josiah Arnold and his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. Unto my youngest and well beloved son, Oliver Arnold aforenamed, I give and bequeath ye lands, tenements and hereditaments hereafter mentioned that is to say, a certain parcell of land being and lying in ye precincts of ye aforesaid Town of Newport, containing one fourth part of an acre, more or less; being six rods in breadth from North to South, and bounded on ye North by ye land given and bequeathed to my wife Damaris Arnold, &c. as abovesaid on ye East by ye street way or highway aforementioned belonging to ye said Town, on ye South by land I sold to Simon Parrot, and on ye West by ye sea or harbour of ye same Town, he ye said, Oliver Arnold, his heirs and assigns, being to make and forever maintain a good and sufficient fence in ye line between ye said land hereby ganted to my s?d son Oliver Arnold, being to be made and forever maintained by Simon Parrot, his heirsand assigns as by ye deed he had of me doth appear, as also I give and bequeath unto my said son Oliver Arnold, a certain tract of land being and lying upon ye Island of Quononiquut aforementioned, containing by estimation three hundred acres, more or less, and called Cajaset land, and bounded as followeth; on ye north partly by a highway two rod wide, lying between ye premises and ye land now or late in ye possession of Caleb Carr, senior, or his assigns and partlyby land now or late in ye possession of ye assigns of Wm. Weeden, deceased, on ye West and on ye South by a tract of land called ye township, as on ye plat or draftof ye said Island it doth appear, and on ye Easterly part ye premises is bounded by ye sea in ye severall turnings &c. of ye said land on that part thereof &c. and also that with ye foresaid tract, I give and bequeath another certain tract of land being and lying on ye said Island Quononicut, in a tryangular form containing sixty four acres by ye surveyors, Plat of that Island and is bounded as followeth, that is to saqy, on ye North line by ye broad high way that goeth upon a line North Easterly to ye said Township land so called and on ye South and West partly by ye end of ye Beach aforenamed, and partly by Eele Pond aforesaid, and by ye influxx thereof into ye sea, as also I give and bequeath unto my said son Oliver Arnold, all ye land that now is my right to and in said tract called ye Township ye said tract containing by ye surveyor?s acco?t. two hundred and sixty acres my said interest therein being more than one third part of ye said tract as belonging unto my other tracts and shares and to all and every of them in ye said Island as by mne purchased and lawfully procured so that my s?d rights in ye said tract called ye said Township is and ought to be eighty three acres and upward the bounds whereof will be as ye committee shall appoint when they divided ye said tract to ye respective owners thereof untill when it is however contained within ye tract aforesaid called the township land; further I order that whereas there is supposed to be some land belonging to Francis Brinley that may be forty acres which may fall in or about of part of ye premises to wit: forty acres belonging to a two hundreth part and three hundredth part of ye said Island &c., I say for making up ye said forty acres to said Brinley, I order that he shall have forty acres of ye North part of ye triangular tract of land aforementioned as once he proposed or else some land at north end of said Island near or next o his land there which he earnestly desired, and to gratifie him I have procured to that end to acomidate him with in way of Exchange for that aforementioned lying near ye premises, and I order that to make ye premises given to said Oliver Arnold five hundred acres he shall have it out of my land. That I bought of John Tripp, Beorge Bliss, Edward Thurston, Wm. Cadman and Bartholomew West as by deed in writing it may appear under their hands and seals and being and lying in ye main body of said Island, Northward from a tract there granted to Wm. Brenton Esq., deceased, by and among ye first purchasers of said Islands, ye names of ye persons of whom I bought ye aforesaid lands being written in ye place on ye play of said Island shewing where they are to lye and together with ye aforesaid land, I give and bequeath unto my said son Lover Arnold one third part of my interest in ye Island called Dutch Island aforementioned, and also an equall priviledge as is aforepremised and ordered to either his brothers Benedict Arnold or Josiah Arnold, for free and mutuall egress and regress to and through each other?s land on all accasions as are afore more particularly expressed, all which ye lands and priviledges whatever are to be and remain to ye prper use and behoof of my said son Oliver Arnold and his heis and assigns forever (with ye houseing and building thereupon).

Item. I also together with ye lands on Quonanicut aforesaid given and bequeathed to my said sons Benedict Arnold, Josiah Arnold and Oliver Arnold, do by these presents give and bequeath all my cattle that are or may hereafter be found within any the said lands lying southward from ye said said Caleb carr?s land whether horse kind, meat cattle, sheep and any other sorts ye said cattle to be equally shared amongst them, to each of my said sons one third part to stock their respective lands, by these presents give and bequeathed aforesaid.

Item. Whereas I have formerly given unto my well beloved son Caleb Arnold, a considerable sum as my book accounts may appear to value of two hundred pounds sterling in current pay, yet in my tender respects to my said son Caleb Arnold, I domoreover dive and bequeath a certain parcell of land lying and being in ye precincts of Town of Newport abovesaid, containing a quarter of an acre more or less and boundeth as followeth, that is to say, on ye North by land now or late in possession of ye assigns of Wm. Brenton Esq., deceased, on ye East by the street way belonging to ye said Town, on ye South by land now or ale in ye possession of Robt. Carr sen?r., and on ye West by ye harbour belonging to ye said Town, and together with ye premises I give and bequeath unto my said son Caleb Arnold, eight score acres of land, being and lying in the Island Quonanicut above mentioned, and boundeth as followeth, that is to say, on ye North and South by land in my own possession or in ye possession of my assigns at ye writing hereof, on ye East and ye sea, and on ye West by the broad highway ye premised land being and lying on ye east side and northern part of Quonanicut, near to ye land of Francis Brinley, above mentioned, all which ye premises together with all ye commodities thereon or thereunto properly belonging and appertaining are to be and remain to ye only proper use and behoof of said Caleb Arnold for and during his natural life, or until his eldest son then living shall come to ye age of one and twenty years, which said son of his shall at that age enter upon and enjoy the premises to him and his heirs forever.

Item. Unto my beloved daughter Damaris Bliss ye wife of John Bliss of Newport, I give and bequeath a certain parcell of land being and lying in ye precincts of ye said Town, containing seven and twenty acres more and less and bounded as followeth, namely on ye North partly by land I sold to James Card lately, and partly by land in ye possession of Joseph Card, on ye east partly by Joseph Cards land aforesaid, and more largely by land in possession of William Weeden, on ye South by land now or late in ye possession of the assigns of Lieut. Joseph Torry dec?d., and on ye West ye Great Common of ye s?d Town ye premises to be and remain to ye only proper use and behoof of my said daughter Damaris Bliss and to her heirs and assigns forever.

Item. Unto my beloved daughter Penelope Goulding, ye wife of Roger Goulding I give and bequeath a certain parcell of land being and lying in ye precincts of ye Town aforesaid, ye said land by me named Scirt field, and is that which I purchased of Wm. Dyre sen?r., now late deceased, containing by measure two and twenty acres and a half, and is bounded as followeth, that is to say, on North by land in ye possession of Peleg Sanford, or his assigns, on ye East by ye Great Common aforesaid as also on ye South by ye same common and on ye West partly by land now or late in ye possession of ye assigns of Wm. Dyre aforesaid, deceased, the premises to be and remain to ye only use and behoof of my said daughter Penelope Goulding and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my two youngest daughters to wit: Godsgift Arnold and Freelove Arnold beforenamed, to each of them fifty pounds sterling New England silvermoney to be delivered to each of my said daughters at ye age of twenty years on ye day of their respective marriages hereby adviseing them to be advised by their mother in that point of marriage wherein either of them being refractory then ye money even both of said fifty pounds to be delivered to ye use of ye obedient party in that point and ye same in case of ye death of either of them in ye mean time ye whole to ye survivor is to be delivered to her use and to no other.

Item. What silver spoons, cups, bowls, beakers, and porringers, are now mine I leave them to ye use of my said wife during her naturall life, or untill in her life time she shall please to give any of it to either our sons, daughters, grand-children and ye rest to be reserved and kept to ye use of such of them as my said wife shall dispose it be theirs after her decease.

Item. Concerning my interest in ye purchase of Petaquamscot in ye Narraganset country my said interest being one part of seven of that purchase both of land, mineralls, and all other the commodities, privileges and conveniences on ye said part of ye said purchase being or thereunto in any wise belonging or appertaining I do by these presents give and bequeath my said seventh part unto my said sons Benedict Arnold, Josiah Arnold, and Oliver Arnold, together with my cattle of all sorts that shall be found upon or about ye premises to be equally divided amongst them, to ye prper use and behoof of my said sons and to every of them their heirs or assigns respectively forever.

Only excepting and willing with ye advice and consent of ye rest of ye partners that some tract or tracts five miles to the Northward and Westward of ye Rock called (by ye Indian natives) Pettaquamscot Rock, may be set apart and proposed to ye use of this Colony upon very easie terms for accommodating one or two Townships to be ordered and erected by ye General Assembly of this colony, in which said Township I desire and order may be accommodated more especially my aforesaid three sons and also my son Caleb Arnold aforenamed, as also Major John Cranston, Capt. Peleg Sanford, Capt. Roger Goulding, Mr. James Barker Ensign, John Bliss, Mr. John Coggeshall sen?r., with other deserving persons that may be roposed by ye rest of ye partners and I further will and order that in case ye settling of a Town or two be not effected yet however that my said sons together with Major Cranston, Capt. Peleg Sanford, Capt. Roger Goulding, Mr. James Barker, and Ensign John Blilss, and John Coggeshall, sen?r., afores?d, shall, out of my own interest in ye said tracts five miles distant from ye said Roct called Petawuamscut Rock, each and every of them respectively have two hundred and fifty acres of land, in and of my said shres to every and either of their own proper use and behoof & to ye use and behoof of their heirs and assigns respectively forever, and what shall remain of my said part of said tract or tracts distanced from and not lying within ye said distance of five miles of ye said Rock I desire to my Executors hereafter named to take care thereof and cause it to be disposed towards erecting and maintaining a free public school in Newport aforesaid and toward ye relief of ye poor people of ye said Town and to be ordered & disposed of to ye ends promised by ye council of ye said Town & their successors from time to time forever.

Item. For ye better execution of this my last will & testament I do hereby nominate, appoint, constitute and ordain to be my Executors ye persons hereafter named to witt: my said beloved wife Damaris Arnold my Executrix, and my said sons Benedict Arnold, Josias Arnold and Mr. James Barker sen?r., my executor to assist in ye execution of this my last Will & Testament and what they four my said Executors or any three or two of them or survivors of them (my said wife Damaris Arnold to be also one while she liveth,) shall do or cause to be done in or about the premises, and in order to putting this, my will, in actual execution according to ye contents and true intent & meaning of these presents, shall be held for firm and good to all intents and purposes whatever in ye law, as if I, myself, had actually done the same in my own person while I was living-In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal to every page of this, my will and testament, and finally to ye whole contentsthereof in this last place, this ye four and twentieth day of December, in ye nine and twentieth year of ye reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles ye second, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, &c., Anno que Domini, 1677.

BENEDICT ARNOLD, Senior

Signed and sealed in ye presence of us-

Edmond Calverly,

William Hefferman,

Beriah Browne.

I, Benedict Arnold, abovenamed, senior, having by ye good grace and favour of God, had my days lengthened unto this time, in which time I having considered more maturely of some circumstances in my abovsaid will, and being and remaining through his grace in reasonable understanding and perfect memory, do find it necessary for ye regulation, explanation and confirmation of my said last will and testament, I add as followeth: as to ye place above apprinted for my interment, being at ye North East corner of ye three rod square, appointed for a burying placeabovesaid, I do order and appoint that I and my wife may be buried in ye three rod square, as near as conveniently may be, at ye East end of the tomb, there erected on my Grand-child, Damaris Goulding?s grave abovesaid, myself on ye North and my said wife on y South side of me, and that my kindredrelations may as they die be buried at convenient distance around my grave.

Now, whereas, in y first article of my last will that concerneth ye disposition of my lands in Quononicut, it is said that my eldest son, Benedict Arnold, Jun?r, shall have for his part in ye middle of ye neck of land called Beaver Neck, having hereby ordered that as his is first in nomination to whom I have disposed of land in ye said neck, so he shall be ye first in situation, and at ye South end of ye said neck, which said part of said neck containeth by estimation five hundred acres, be they more or less, and is to be divided in all equality from the remaining part of ye said neck by one straight line of fence, being at ye Eastern side thereof, so to run over to ye Western shore on a straight line from sea to sea, and ye said line of fence to be made and forever maintained by ye said Benedict Arnold, Jr., and the heirs occupant of ye said land; and whereas it is said in ye second article concerning ye premises that my son Josiah Arnold aforesaid should have his sd. (third part) share of ye said neck at ye South end thereof, he shall have his on ye North side of and adjoining unto Benedict Arnold, Jun?s., aforesaid share, upon ye South and from thence to extend Northward up to ye pond called Eel Pond, which said pond is ye Northern bounds of his, ye said Josiah Arnold?s, share, and ye said Josiah Arnold is to secure himself on ye North and Eastern parts by fence or otherwise, and from and to ye Northward of said pond, called Eel Pond home to ye highway of two rods wide that lyeth between Caleb Carr?s land & the premises within which tract is contain?d my farm called Cajaset farm, my dwelling house & other houses already erected, all which my said houseing and land shall be ye proper share and inheritance of my son Oliver Arnold, and if it shall appear that there is not land enough in that said tract to make his share five hundred acres equal with the rest, he shall have so much land as to make it up according as in an article to this effect is more plainly described to ye Northward of ye premises, to be always to be understood that ye privileges and communitie3s that are ordered that they, ye said Benedict Arnold, Jun., Josiah Arnold and Oliver Arnold, are to have in, upon or through each other?s respective lands shall be duly observed by each of them respectively, according to ye rules set down in a former article concerning that matter, with this further additional proviso, that they, ye said three brothers or either of them shall not alienate by sale or otherwise ye property of any part of their foresaid lands from their heirs by these presents given and granted unto them as in a foregoing article relating to ye premises is more plainly expressed.

Signed and sealed in ye presence of us afore-named,

&c. &c.

BENEDICT ARNOLD, Senior.

[The copy of the above will from which we have printed is one belonging to David Melville, Esq., (who kindly lent it to us,) taken by Wm. Coddington, Jr., Council Clerk, in 1752, from Town Council Book No. 2 (the first record of the will, now probably lost forever.)] ^[6]

Research Notes

(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/326469/?offset=0#page=6&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q) In 1676, Governor Benedict Arnold, the son of William Arnold-18, introduced primogeniture in the descent of estates in colonial Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This was done for the purpose of getting his father’s property into his own possession.

Sources

1. ↑ Author, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 33, Year 1879, p 428: The records of William Arnold he has written his self. https://archive.org/details/newenglandhistor33wate/page/428/mode/2up?q=benedict+arnold
2. ↑ " The Arnold memorial : William Arnold of Providence and Pawtuxet, 1587-1675, and a genealogy of his descendants." https://archive.org/stream/arnoldmemorialwi00arno/arnoldmemorialwi00arno_djvu.txt
3. ↑ Entered by Doug Coldwell, Sep 22, 2011
4. ↑ Austin, John Osborne. The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island Comprising Three Generations of Settlers Who Came before 1690. Albany, NY: 1887. Page 416.
5. ↑ "Benedict Arnold." Early New England Families, 1641-1700. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. (By Alicia Crane Williams, Lead Genealogist.) Subscription Link $.
6. ↑ Fiske: Item 3

See also:

• Caroline E. Robinson, The Hazard Family of Rhode Island 1635-1894, Boston: Author (1895). A genealogy and history of the descendants of Thomas Hazard, 1635-1894, with sketches of the worthies of this family, and anecdotes illustrative of their traits and also of the times in which they lived.

•  Austin, John Osborne (1887). Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. pp. 242?247. ISBN 9780806300061.

• Fiske, Jane Fletcher Gleanings from Newport Court Files, 1659-1783 (Boxford, Mass., 1998).

•  Wikipedia: "Arnold, Benedict (governor)". 

• Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. 1900.

• Leonard Wilson Arnold & E.Z. Luckey, Arnold-Luckey Family Ties, The Rev. Leonard W. A. Luckey, New York, NY, 1931

• The Life and Times of Benedict Arnold ...: A Paper Read ... Before the Veteran Citizens ... (1901) by James Newell Arnold, historian

• source: Brooks, Rev. Timothy Henry (presumed). 1851. "The Controversy Touching on the Old Stone Mill." Charles E. Hammett, Jr., Newport. pp. 77-84.

• Early New England Families. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. (By Alicia Crane Williams, Lead Genealogist.) Benedict Arnold

• Albert G. Greene, of Providence. from : "Newport: Historical and Social." Harper's New Monthly Magazine 9, no. 51 (August 1854): 314-31