http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold_(governor)

Governor of Rhode Island

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Benedict was born in Ilchester, England and died in Newport, R.I. Was Governor of R.I. for more than 30 years between 1657 - 1678. Buried at the Stone Build Wind Mill in Newport, R.I.

This is the great-great grandfather of the noted Benedict Arnold, labeled traitor during the Revolutionary War. It should be noted that modern historians are not altogehter certain the he deserved that label.

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Genealogical and family history of western New York: a record of ..., Volume 1 edited by William Richard Cutter Pg. 274 http://books.google.com/books?id=TccLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&dq=Benedict+Arnold+February+02,+1719&source=bl&ots=fm7PVAwehc&sig=P0qLaudI_M0sIGh6MwVM-07Liuc&hl=en&ei=yfXmS5KxGJfMNNvmvIYI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CDwQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=benedict%20arnold&f=false

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Governor -------------------- First Governor of Rhode Island -------------------- From findagrave.com:

Birth: Dec 21 1615

Death: Jun 19 1678

Colonial Gov. Aft coming w/father to New Eng, in 1637, in RI, he signed "compact as 1 of 13 to any agreements made by the masters of families." He mastered native languages & became negotiator w/Indians in 1645. In 1653 he moved to Newport & was elected Assistant. In 1657 he was 1 of purchasers of island of Conanicut. May 19,1657, aft Roger Williams retired from office of Pres of Colony, he was elected to that office. In 1660 he was elected Assistant again. May 22, 1663, he was elected as 1st Gov of RI. He was re-elected in 1664, 1669, 1677 & 1678, & helped bring abt union of RI & Providence Plantations into 1 colony. (bio by: Linda)

Burial: Gov Arnold Burying Grd, Newport, Newport Co, RI, USA Plot: rear of house

From http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/r/o/Rebecca-L-Brown/GENE15-0001.html

Notes for Gov Benedict Arnold Sr:

William Arnold, father of Benedict, came w/Stukely Westcott, father of Damaris, to Am from Eng in 1635. Burial lot is few rods westerly from old "mill," which, for many yrs, has excited so much of antiquarian interest, & which belonged to & which he referred to in his will as my "mill." Aft accompanying his parents to Hingham, MA & then to Providence, RI, where he remained until Nov 1651 or 1653, Benedict removed to Newport, RI. He is said to have been 1 of wealthiest men in colony, as well as one of its most eminent citizens. He owned lrg tracts of land in & around Newport, also owned southern part of large island in Narragansett Bay (Quonaniquot) Canonicut, now forming town of Jamestown & 1/7 part of Pettiquanscut purchase, now S Kingstown, RI. In 1645, having acquired knowledge of Indian language, he was employed by colony as its interpreter in its negotiations w/Indian tribes. In 1670, he was chosen by Genl Assembly as agent of colony to go to Eng, to protest its rights under Charter against claims of CT. In 1654 & 1660, he was chosen 1 of Gov's "Assistants." In 1657, 1662 & 1663, he was chosen Pres of colony, highest office under 1st Charter of 1643. In 1663, he was named in 2nd Charter as Gov, 7 was afterwards elected by people to that office in 1663-64-65-66, 1669-70-71-72, 1677 & in 1678 d in office. Original seal of Gov Arnold, w/mahogany handle, bearing letters B A & an anchor, is now in archives of RI Historical Soc. Official chair he occupied when, in 1663, he rec'd Royal Charter from Eng, is in possession of Redwood Library at Newport. (History & Genealogy of Stukely Westcott, Vol 1, p 127, 1932)

Benedict d in office Jun 19 1678, his wife surviving him. They removed from Providence to Newport, RI on Nov 19 1651 where they d & are buried. (Book of Appendices, Stukely Westcott, Vol 2, p 76, 1939)

Was richest man in colony & by thorough acquaintance w/manners as well as language of Indians became most effective in all negotiations w/them. In 1653 he removed to Newport, was chosen Assistant next yr & in 1663 made by royal charter Pres & by annual election so continued for 8 yrs & d 1678. His will of Dec 24 1677 w/codicill of Jun 10 1678, was proven Jul 1 1678. Both Godsgift, & Freelove, are by different authors made to marry Edward Pelham &, possibly he had two wives; Penelope is said to have m Roger Goulding; & Damaris m John Bliss. See RI History Coll II 51, & III 294; Callender; Winth. & Knowles. (Genealogical Dictionary of New Eng Settlers, Vol 1, p 67)

Question raised as to 2 Mary Wards. Investigation showed they were both descendants of James Ward & Officer in Cromwells army, Sion Arnold, bro to Benedict, III, m Mary Ward, dtr of Thomas Ward of Newport, RI, Feb 1700. Sion d in 1753 & was buried in common burying ground at Newport. Next to his grave is that of Mary Arnold, his wife, who d in 1754. Benedict, III m1 Patience Coggeshall Jan 23 1705. She d Feb 2 1719; m2, Mary Ward, dtr of Thomas Ward of Middletown, CT. At Hartford State Historical Library are records from Middletown, CT, which show land conveyances by Benedict Arnold III & will of Thomas Ward Sr which makes bequest to his dtr Mary, wife of Benedict Arnold of Newport. (Arnold, Benedict by Ethan L Arnold; via email from Sandra Zak, May 1998)

Gov Benedict Arnold, son of William Arnold, colonist (see p 15), b Dec 21 1615, d Jun 10 1678. He signed agreement of 1640 for form of govt. Removed to Newport Nov 19 1651, & was made Freeman of that town; was Commissioner, 1654-1663; Assistant, 1655-1656, 1660- 1661; Pres of 4 towns, 1657-1660, 1662-1663, & 1st Royal Gov of RI, 1663-1666, 1669-1672, & 1677-1678. He was on council w/15 others, appointed by Gen'l Assembly, to advise w/Assembly. In will of Benedict Arnold, probated in Newport in 1677, testator says: "I devise that my body shall be buried near the path leading from my dwelling house to my stone windmill in the town of Newport, and that the lot shall forever be reserved for my kindred." He left stone windmill to his wife, w/lands & mansion house, for life. At Gov Arnold's funeral nearly 1000 persons were present. He m Dec 17 1640 Damaris, dtr of Stukeley Westcott, of Warwick; she d 1678. Their son, Caleb Arnold, b Dec 19 1644, d Feb 9 1719. In 1671 & 1680 he was Deputy. Aug 24 1676, was of court-martial at Newport for trial of certain Indians chged w/being engaged in King Philip's designs. He was at this time called Capt, having served thru Indian war of 1676. In 1684 he was elected Deputy from Portsmouth, but refused to serve on acct of his profession (physician), & another was elected in his place. In 1707 he was again elected from Portsmouth, which established his residence in that place. He styled himself "Practitioner of Physic." In old public documents he is called "Doctor." At time of his death he had considerable landed estate. His father left him 1/4 of all his land in Newport & 160 acres in Canonicut to be held until his eldest son was of age, when he should possess it.

His marriage to Abigail, dtr of Samuel & Hannah (Porter) Wilbur, took place Jun 10, 1666. She d Nov 17 1730. Their dtr Penelope, to whom in his will he left silver tankard & 10 shillings, m George Hazard I. (Ancestral Records & Portraits Vol 1, Ancestry.com)

More abt Gov Benedict Arnold Sr:

Burial: Newport, Newport Co, RI

More abt Benedict Arnold & Damaris Westcott:

Marriage: Dec 17 1640, Providence, Providence Co, RI -------------------- FIRST GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND AFTER EST; OF RI CHARTER OF (1663)