Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor Baptist Purchase Rhode Island from the Indians Part Two of Eleven
Thomas E Kresal
May 26, 2020
Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives
Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor
Baptist Purchase Rhode Island from the Indians
Part Two of Eleven
On their return, March 7, 1638, they incorporated themselves (eighteen in number) as a body politic, and chose William Coddington their chief magistrate. They forthwith purchased Aquetneck of the Indian Sachems, and called it the Isle of Rhodes or Rhode Island. The Indian deed is dated March 24, 1638. The settlement commenced at Focasset, or Portsmouth, near what is called Common Fence Point, but they soon removed to Newtown, some two miles South. In May, 1639, Mr. Clarke was one of nine who founded Newport.
It seems not to be fully settled when Mr. Clarke became either a preacher or a Baptist; as no record, or even tradition, remains in respect to either his Baptism or Ordination. He conducted religious worship in the Colony until 1641, when they held meetings in two or more separate bodies. He was the Founder and first Pastor of the Baptist Church in Newport, which tradition dates back to 1644, and which was the second Baptist Church established in America. He was also the Physician of the Island for several years.
In 1649, Mr. Clarke was Assistant and Treasurer of the Rhode Island Colony. In July, 1651, he, in company with Mr. Obadiah Holmes and a Mr. Crandall, made a religious visit to one William Witter, a resident of Lynn, near Boston, which, in its results, marked an important epoch in his history. Mr. Witter, by reason of his advanced age, and partial or total blindness, could not undertake so great a journey as to visit the church at Newport. He lived about two miles out of the town ; and, the next day after their arrival being Lord’s day, they concluded to hold a religious service at his house. Mr. Clarke commenced preaching from Rev. iii. 10 – “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth;” and, in the midst of his discourse, he had an opportunity, according to his own account, practically to illustrate some of the truths he was endeavouring to set forth.
Thomas E. Kresal from: Annals of the American Pulpit: Baptist by John Callender and Backus’ History N. E. III. – Benedict’s History of the Baptist. I. – Calender’s Hist. Disc. – Peterson’s History of Rhode Island.
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