Reflections about Roger Williams

Written for the Reflections Blog of the Rhode Island Foundation Carter Roger Williams Initiative

“Roger Williams” has become a name that people recognize, but most Rhode Islanders and Americans have no idea of who he was, what his work did for our governance, and the incredible life that he led.  Part of the of the problem has to do with the “summaries”.

Every site starts off by saying that he worked as a “Minister”, that he founded the Baptist Church in America, and that he bought the land for Providence from the Narragansetts.  None of these are true.  

Yes, Williams was ordained as a minister, but he was rarely paid for the job.  When he was a Domestic Chaplin for the home of Sir William and Lady Elizabeth Masham he was compensated but most likely not paid—more like a member of the family rather. Yes, he was paid for some of his work in Salem, nothing for when he was a speaker at the Plymouth church, and a little bit when he had his second stay at Salem.  After he left the bay Colony, he held services in his home, but there was no church to pay him.  He did earn money in two endeavors. One was the owning of two trading posts—one in Providence and the second in Wickford.  He also received payments for his service in the governance of Providence, and stipends when he traveled to England for colony projects.  Founder of the American Baptist Church?  No, not really.  He did join a group of Baptist Particulars who had arrived after being banished from Massachusetts.  He stayed with them for a couple of months, and then withdrew his membership writing that he would be a “Seeker”.  It is odd, too, that this is the same word used by Oliver Cromwell in his last years as Protector. So, yes, Roger Williams was an ordained minister, but he was never a conforming member of any church.

Roger Williams wrote that he went to New England to convert the indigenous people,  but after being here for a while, he concluded that no one could be converted without knowing the language and knowledge of the bible.  He apparently converted no one.  By the time he was twelve years old, he had recruited by Sir Edward Coke to serve as a stenographer for the Star Chamber, and other situations where he met and wrote the words of Francis Bacon, King James I, and all of the active members of the government.   Coke “adopted” Williams, and supported him in high school and college.  While there, Williams learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Dutch.   So, one of the first thing he learned in the Bay Colony, was what is called Algonquin today, but in Roger’s day, Narragansett.  He was well known by the indigenous people throughout the region.  He did not pay the Narragansett much if anything.  No, his relationship with the tribe was much more as brother filled with respect and affection.  When Miantonomoh was killed  by a Mohegan Chief, Williams wrote that Miantonmoh “…We had been in each other homes thousands of times…”.  

The final question is where does Roger Williams fit into the history of Rhode Island and America.  You will surprised, but my answer is that if anyone planned to add a fifth face on Mt. Rushmore, it should be Roger’s face.  Further, we should have a Roger Williams Day not only in Rhode Island but for all the country.  His gifts to our way of life are without limit.

Marc W. Kohler