Newport County History of Coaster's Harbour Island
Naval War
College (building to the left) - June
2003 located
on the Coaster's Harbour Island in Newport, Rhode Island which used to be
the Newport Poor
House. COASTER'S HARBOUR
ISLAND , having,
through the proposed establishment there of the United States training
school for seamen, become a prominent point of interest, we present some
documents throwing
light upon its history, in addition to those published some time since in
the Newport Daily
News. The popular tradition, which for two
or three generations has amounted almost to a religious faith in
Newport, that Gov. Coddington gave the island to the town, for the
purpose of making a home for the poor, illustrates the value of such
traditions, Gov. Coddington's name not being mentioned in any record
connected with it, yet brought to light; on the contrary, the documents
published in the Daily News, and those hereto appended, reveal
distinctly every transaction through which it became the property of the
town of Newport, save in one particular, in which there is some
obscurity. These documents are: 1. Deed; Caganaquant to Benedict Arnold and John Greene, of
date, May 22, 1658 -- L6 10s. 2. Deed: John Greene to Benedict Arnold, of date, May 27,
1672 - L10 in current pay, to be received by Arnold from the town of
Newport for L6 10s, disbursed by him fifteen years before.
3. Deed: Benedict Arnold to town of Newport, May 1,
1673 - L10.
4. Acts of town of Newport, January 31, 1671, April 30,
1673, May 1, 1673. The obscurity above referred to, consists in this, that the
conveyances give the appearance of ordinary bargain and sale between
Gov. Arnold and the town, whereras the acts of the town and John
Greene's deed to Arnold imply that Greene and Arnold purchased of the
Indians, as representatives of the town, or that the town so understood,
and in their vote of January 1, 1671, they propose to treat with the
Governor [Arnold] "concerning some moneys disbursed by him and John
Greene, Sen., to the Indians about Goat Island and Coaster's Harbour,
and that he may not incur damage by any kindness he intended to do for
this town in that respect." The committee by obligation of May 1, 1673, agree to pay to
Benedict Arnold L10 in country pay or L6 10s. in New England money,
which is its equivalent, and which is the exact sum which Arnold and
Greene paid to Caganaquant, fifteen years before. John Greene's deed to Arnold speaks of the desire of the
town of Newport to settle with "the purchasers of the Islands called
Coaster's Harbour and Goat Island within named fro moneys disbursed by
the said purchasers to wit: Benedict Arnold and John Greene," and says
further, "and I, the said John Greene within named, understanding that
the said Benedict Arnold therein named, is free to pass over his right
in the said two Islands unto the said town of Newport, if they will pay
him ten pounds in current pay for the six pounds, ten shillings which he
disbursed fourteen years agone on that account;" further, "I do hereby
surrender, for me, my heirs, &c., to Benedict Arnold, his heirs,
&c., these said islands, to be made over unto the said town of
Newport as aforesaid." Greene's deed is dated a year earlier than Arnold's; he
received no equivalent except the understanding that he shall convey it
to the town for the exact amount he had paid for it; Greene having paid
nothing. Neither Greene nor Arnold were men to give up anything
which belonged to them, or likely to sell at the original cost a piece
of property which, in the interval from 1658 to 1673, must have enhanced
in value fourfold. The conclusion is almost unavoidable, that neither Greene
nor Arnold ever had any personal right in these islands, and the town
was the original purchser. [From Newport News, December 16, 1880.] DEED TO BENEDICT ARNOLD AND JOHN
GREENE. This present writing testifyeth yt I, Cachanaguont, a Chief
Sachem of the Indians in Narragansett Bay, and Country, for and in
consideration of ye value and sum of six pound, ten shillings in land
received before ye writing hereof, doe hereby sell and resign up all the
right, title and possession of three small islands near adjacent to Road
Island; unto Benedict Arnold and John Greene both of Newport, yt is to
say Nantee Sinunk, alias Goat Island, and Weenat Shassit, alias Costers
Harbour, and a small island commonly known to ye English by he name of
Dyer's Island, all wch Islands are being and neere adjoinging unto and
upon the west side of Rhode Island in ye Narragansitt By afore named;
and they ar now in the possession and for the proper Benefit and Behoof
of ye afore named Arnold and Greene, for them and their heyres,
Executors, administrators and assigns, to have, hold, possess and
quietly to enjoy for ever, together with all the benefits, privileges,
profitts, commodity and appurtenances, to ye sayd Islands, belonging or
appertaining: and in witness of this, my ffree and considerat act and
deed of sale, as also yt the sayd persons shall not, nor any of their
Heirs &c., be molested in ye use of ye said Islands by any Indians,
on any claim or pretence whatsoever, hereto, I engage myself and my
Heyres, firmly by these presents. Witness my hand this 22th day of May,
1658. Witness Cachanaguoant. [symbol] his marke. Whereas the town of Newport hath mentioned, yt there may be
an record made with the Purachasers of ye Islands, called Coasters
Harbour and Goat Island, within named, for moneys disbursed by the said
Purchasers to Witt; Benedict Arnold and John Greene, within names, and I
the said John Greene, within named, understanding yt ye sayd Benedict
Arnold, therein named, is free to pass over his right in ye said two
islands, unto ye sayd Town of Newport, if they will pay him Ten pounds
in current pay, for the six pounds and ten shillings, wch he disbursed,
fourteen years agone on the account; I do hereby surrender and for me,
my Heires & c., deliver up into the hands of the sayd Benedict
Arnold, his heires and Assigns, my whole right and interest, in or to,
these two sayd Islands, to be made over unto ye said Town of Newport, as
aforesaid. And in witness hereof, I hereunto sett my hand, this the 27th
day of May 1672. Dated in Newport, aforesaid in his majisties Collouny
of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations &c. Witness. John Greene Recorded, Newport June 3d, 1830, from what appears to be an
Original writing, in the possession of John B. Chace of Providence,
R.I., and brought to this office for recording, by Stephen Gould of
Newport, but at Present residing in Providence. Benjamin B. Howland, Town Clerk. Book 17 DEED OF BENEDICT ARNOLD TO THE
TOWN OF NEWPORT. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--Benedict Arnold,
Sen'r, dwelling in the town of Newport, in his Majestys colony of Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations in New England, &c. sendth
greeting. Know ye that I , the said Bendict Arnold having bought, about
fifteen years since, two small Islands called Nomtussmuck, or Goat
Island and Weenachassett, or Coaster's Harbour, lying in Narragansett
Bay, near adjacent to Newport in Rhode Island aforesaid, as by a writing
dated May 22, 1658, may appear under the hand of cachanaguant, chief
sachem of Narragansett before mentioned, I the said Arnold, for good
causes me unto moving and for and in consideration of the sum of ten
pounds, country pay, in hand received of the town of Newport
aforementioned, and by their order have sold and set over tot he said
town of Newport, all my right and title, in and to the two small Islands
aforementioned, called Goat Island and Coaster's Harbour for the town,
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, as their own right and inheritance forever without
andy the lawful let or hinderance of my heirs and assigns, to them,
their successors and assigns, from time to time to the worlds end,
always provided that it is not to be understood that I, the said Arnold,
by this act, do or have deprived myself, my heirs or successors as
freemen of the said town, of any privilege or benefit of the said Island
as other freemen of the said town of Newport may or shall enjoy in the
said Islands, or each of them, from time to time, and in witness of this
bargain and sale, I have hereunto put my hand and seal the first day of
May in the year of our Lord 1673. BENEDICT ARNOLD. Witness ACTS OF TOWN OF NEWPORT IN RELATION TO THE
PURCHASE. The town having taken into consideration of former tender
and motion made the governor, concerning some moneys disbursed by him
and John Green. Sen., to the Indians about Goat Island and Coaster's
Harbour, and being willing to remove any future troubles or disputes
that may arise, have appointed Mr. John Coggeshall, Mr. Peter Easton,
Mr. Thomas Ward, or any two of them, to treat with the governor about
the same. That so he may not incur damage by any kindness, he intended
to do for this town in that respect. And the persons are desired to
return what shall be transacted in that behalf, to the next quarter
meeting. WESTON CLARKE, Town Clerk. January 31, 1671. [R. I. Col. Land Evidence, Book 1, p. 110.] Whereas there was appointed, Mr. John Coggeshall, Mr. Peter
Easton and Mr. Thomas Ward, to agree with Mr. Benedict Arnold, Sr., of
Newport, about Coaster's Harbour and Goat Island, and they did not agree
and conclude, according to the town's intent and desire, whereupon the
town thought fit to add to them, Mr. Francis Brinley, Mr. Caleb Carr and
Mr. Jireh Bull, and what all or the major part of them shall do, as in
order to the premises, shall be as authentic, as if done by the
town. A true copy of a Town order of the Town of Newport, met at
Capt. Morris', April 30, 1673. WESTON CLARK, Town Clerk. Recorded Feb. 17, 1675. [R. I. Col. Land Evidence, Book 1, p. 110.] We, whose names are underwritten, to wit: Francis Brinley,
John Coggeshall, Caleb Carr, Thomas Ward and Jireh Bull, all of us
freemen of the Town of Newport in his Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations, in Narragansett Bay in New England, in
America, being by the said Town, in their quarter meeting held April 30,
1673, nominated, appointed and empowered to treat with Benedict Arnold
of the same Town and colony, Sen., and in the said Town's behalf, to
agree with said Arnold about two Islands vulgarly known by the name of
Goat Island and Coaster's Harbour, lying on the west of and adjacent to
the Town of Newport, in Rhode Island aforesaid. We seeing by a writing
signed by Cachanaquant, a chief Sachem or Commander of Narragansett,
that the said Islands were sold to the said Arnold, & c., near upon
fifteen years since by the said sachem for L6 10s., then paid to him for
the said Islands by the said Arnold, and whereas the said Benedict
Arnold, from the day of the date hereof, by a deed, under his hand and
seal, granted and made over the said Islands to the Town of Newport
aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of L10 in country pay, or
L6 10s. in N. E. money: We the above named, do, in the Town's
behalf, and in persuance of their order abovesaid, jointly and severally
engage ourselves, our executors and administrators, to pay or cause to
be paid the said sum of L10 at or before the 10th day of November, now
next ensuing the date hereof. In consideration of the aforesaid two
Islands by him, the said Arnold, purchased and procured as above
declared. Witness our hands, this first day of May, in the year
sixteen hundred, seventy-three. FRANCIS BRINLEY Witness JOHN SANFORD, Recorder. Recorded Feb. 17, 1675. Memorandum.--The contents of this Bill are Received ye
first day of May, 1676. me. BENEDICT ARNOLD, SEN'R. True copy. Recorded July 22, 1676.
Source: The Newport Historical Magazine No. 4, April 1881, Vol. I, -
Transcribed by C.
Anthony
John Sanford, his marke.
Awashaws
O
James H. Sweet. [symbol]
his marke
John
Coggeshall, Sen'r.
Thomas
Ward.
Page
459
Jan. 31, 1710.
[R.I. Col. Land Evidence. Book 1, p.
316.]
R. BAILEY
JOSIAH ARNOLD.
[R. I. Col. Land Evidence. Book 1, p.
110.]
JOHN SANFORD,
Recorder.
JOHN COGGESHALL,
CALEB
CARE,
THOMAS WARD,
JIREH BULL.
RICHARD BAILEY,
JOSIAH ARNOLD.
JOHN COGGESHALL,
Recorder.