Roger Williams find

Here's a story from last week that I let slip through. Stuff still turns up all the time, but this is special:

The Rhode Island Historical Society has come across a rare, and lucky, find: a document written by the state's founder, Roger Williams.

The first edition of the 1644 writings, "The Bloudy Tenent," were found by a librarian in August, but only recently verified as authentic. The work was found tucked inside some other historical writings on a shelf with rare books. . .

There are only five other known first editions of the tract, including two of them at Brown University. The others are held by Trinity College in England, Trinity College in Ireland and the New York Public Library. . .

Williams had the treatise printed in England. The first edition was printed in June or July 1644 and a second edition shortly thereafter. Parliament ordered it burned, but Williams is believed to have returned to America with some copies. The historical society also has a copy of the second edition.

Williams was kicked out of Massachusetts for his religious beliefs and fled to what is now Providence. He made friends with the Narragansett Indian Tribe, and learned the tribe's language. Largely because of his beliefs, Rhode Island became a haven for those seeking refuge from persecution and repression.

From the Boston Globe. A bit more on Roger Williams here and here.

Posted by David on October 24, 2005 11:01 AM