Talk:List of early settlers of Rhode Island

More lists needed
This list of early RI settlers needs more material. I have not yet been able to find the list of 16 original families that settled Block Island, and have had to just piecemeal a few of the names in (from Austin). Also, I wouldn't mind including the list of the 40 or so who signed the list for a form of governement in Providence about 1640, and the list of inhabitants of Aquidneck Island (Portsmouth) in 1638. Also needed are any lists from N. & S. Kingstown.Sarnold17 (talk) 09:51, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Who settled Providence first
I was always under the impression that Roger Williams was the first one to come to Providence. However, based on the Arnold family record, which is considered totally reliable based on corroboration with other known documents, the Arnolds came to Providence in April 1636, and most historians agree that Roger Williams didn't arrive until June or July 1636. Therefore, Roger Williams may be considered the founder of Providence, but he was not the first to settle there. In time, the lands that were considered the "Pawtuxet lands" (where the Arnolds settled) were separated from Providence, and in time became a part of Cranston, RI.Sarnold17 (talk) 18:57, 29 August 2011 (UTC)

Added material on Carr family removed
I've removed an extensive section of material that had been added about William Carr and his wife being settlers of present day Rhode Island before Roger Williams arrived. While interesting, the material has been sourced to a "Carr family record" but no details of the source have been provided, and if this material is not found in a peer-reviewed publication, it is naturally suspect. A revelation of this magnitude needs to come from a published history of Rhode Island, or if newly discovered, then needs to come from a reliable journal, such as the New England Historic Genealogical Register. The list of original proprietors of Providence comes from an original deed (or pair of deeds) that has been published in numerous reliable histories of Rhode Island over the past two centuries.Sarnold17 (talk) 18:16, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Probably the most compelling reason for not including William Carr in this list is his omission from the The Great Migration Begins, an ongoing project for which thousands of genealogies and countless other sources have been combed, but which does not include mention of a William Carr.Sarnold17 (talk) 20:13, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Dutch Island
Should Dutch Island and Abraham Pietersen van Deusen be added to this page? He would have been one of the first Europeans. Tuyvan (talk) 00:12, 5 November 2014 (UTC)


 * It appears that van Deusen only had a trading post there and was not a colonist or settler. I have never seen his name in connection with any of the history of Rhode Island.  The intent of the article is to include individuals who resided in and raised families in the Rhode Island colony.  Generally, the article is about people who show up on some early list of settlers.  I would opt not to include van Deusen, but am not adamant about it.Sarnold17 (talk) 01:51, 5 November 2014 (UTC)