Samuel CRANSTON

                   OLIVE BATCHER, 2423 HAMILTON DR., AMES, IA 50014; BOOK, 1995, PG 92, 94
     buried in Newport beside his father. His will was dated 17 MAR 1726. In 1680
in Newport, he married fisrt Mary Hart, d/o Thomas Hart and Freeborn Williams
and grandaughter of Roger Williams.  In jun 1714, Samuel received all of the
personal estate of the late Freeborn (Williams) Clarke from his uncle Walter's
children to be divided among Samuel's children, who were also Freeborn's
grandchildren. He m2 Judith Parrott, widow of his brother Caleb.
     Samuel was a goldsmith by trade, a freeman in 1684, assistant in 1696, major
of the Colony forces in 1698. He was elected governor in MAR 1698, suceeding
his uncle Walter, and held this office until his death 26 APR 1727. "He did not
assemble with any sect nor attend any public meetings. The Charted granted a
universal liberty of conscience, and he was a keep-at-home protestant. He was
an impartial and a good man". (From an old manuscript at Hewport Historical
Society library)
    Samuel was an able and popular governor as shown by his reelection 30 times,
serving 29 years as governor. During his administration, numerous seemingly
insurmountable problems, involving privateering, currency, and bounday disputes
were met and overcome. In MAY 1727, the Assembly voted to give (from the
general treasurer) to the executors of the estate 70 pounds "as a gratuity for
the extraordinary service done by the late deceased Governor".  Samuel was a
proprietor of the Westquadnoid Purchase in sourth part of Foster, and owned a
considerable estate in land in Narragansett, Greenwich, and Providence.