Capt. James Sands

SANDS, James, Captain [1622-1694/95] English-American pioneer. One of 16 purchasers and leader of the settlers of Block Island, constable.

Captain James Sandys was born in Reading, Berkshire County, England in 1622, and adopted the name James Sands after he came to New England. He immigrated from Reading in Berkshire, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1638. And, in 1642, he was at East Chester,Westchester County, N. Y., where he was engaged in building a house for Ann Marbury Hutchinson, reputed to have been his mother-in-law. He went to Boston and from there back to Plymouth in 1647, then to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, like so many of our ancestors. There he married Sarah, daughter of John and Katherine Walker, in 1645. In Portsmouth, James Sands had grants of land October 5, 1643, and August 29, 1644; in 1655, he was made a freeman at Portsmouth, R.I. This meant that whatever obligations he had incurred for the land had been discharged. His contemporaries in Portsmouth were William Hall, Thomas Brownell, Richard Pearce and briefly, Peter Folger.

In just ten years, he had advanced and on May 19, 1657, he became the Commissioner from Portsmouth at the General Court which was the legislature at that time of Rhode Island.

He and 15 others purchased Block Island, called by the Indians, Manisses, from the Indians in 1660, and all 16 families sailed from Taunton, Massachusetts to Block Island and settled there. Block Island is due south of Rhode Island and due east of Long Island. The Island was divided into sixteen shares, his share being one part.

In March, 1663-64, he was constable on Block Island, and in 1665 he became deputy from Block Island to the General Assembly; the New York State legislature. He was largely concerned in settling the township, and was one of the first who petitioned the General Assembly for a charter of incorporation, which was obtained in 1672, under the name of New Shoreham; in October 1670, and September 1671, he was tax rater on Block Island; in 1676, he was assistant warden. Prior to coming to Block Island, he had been the commander of the New Shoreham Company.

On Block Island, he turned his house into a fort and garrisoned it, and it was company headquarters during King Philip's War when he commanded a militia company. The death of King Philip reminds us that when our ancestors arrived on these shores, they did not find an empty land waiting to be settled. On the contrary, there were vibrant civilizations already in place which our ancestors were determined to displace to establish their own new home. When you think today that you have had family here a long time, since the early 1600's, you are right only so long as you don't forget the thousands of years that the original inhabitants of New England lived here.

King Philip's War (1675-76) was the most destructive Indian war in New England's history. It was named for Philip (Metacom), the son of MASSASOIT and sachem (chief) of the WAMPANOAG tribe of Plymouth Colony from 1662. Philip deeply resented white intrusion and domination. After maintaining peace with the colonists for many years, he finally became a leader in open resistance. Fighting first broke out at the frontier settlement of Swansea in June 1675, after which the conflict between Indians and whites spread rapidly across southern New England, involving the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and, to a limited extent, Rhode Island. Some tribes, including the Narragansetts and Nipmucks, became active on Philip's side; others gave valuable assistance to the whites. Indian raiding parties burned many New England towns and killed or captured hundreds of colonists. Eventually, colonial forces imposed even greater destruction upon the Indians, until finally all resistance was crushed. Philip himself was trapped and killed in August 1676.

There is a deed, James Sands to John Sands, his son, dated November 15, 1690, recorded in the Hempstead New Book of Record, on pp. 345-61 by Thos. Gildersleeve, Clerk, of the land upon which he settled when he first came to Block Island. He was buried in the public graveyard on Block Island; the stone over his remains, a large recumbent sandstone slab, still in a good state of preservation, bears the following inscription

HERE LYES IN-

TVRRED THE BODY

OF MR. JAMES SANDS,

SENIOVR AGED 73

YEARS DEPARTED

THIS LIFE MARCH

THE 13, 1695

His widow survived him until 1709.

A memoir written by James Sands' grandson, Niles, relates much about his courage, Sarah, his wife, and relations with the Indians and French privateers on Block Island. It was in part due to the depredations of the French that James Sands' sons decided to move to Cowneck.

1. SANDY, Charles H.; Dawn to Twilight in American Colonization The Story of the Sandys and Others who Settled Virginia and Other Colonies; Exposition Press, NY, p.178

2. http//www.piaf.com/genealogy/js1622.html

~~~~~ ~~~~~

A Narrative about James Sands

By: Niles, his Grandson

At Block Island, where I was born, some time after the Island began to be settled by the English, there then being but sixteen Englishmen and a boy, and about three hundred Indians, the Indians were wont, some of them, to treat the English in a surly, lordly manner, which moved the English to suspect they had some evil designs in hand; and it being in the time of Philip's war, there was a large stone house garrisoned erected by James Sands, Esq., one of the first settlers.

The before mentioned James Sands, who was the leading man among them, entered into a wigwam, where he saw a very fine brass gun standing, and an Indian fellow lying on a bench in the wigwam, probably to guard and keep it. Mr. Sands' curiosity led him take and view it, as it made a curious and uncommon appearance. Upon which the Indian fellow rises up hastily and snatches the gun out of his hand, and withal gave such a violent thrust with the butt end of it as occasioned him to stagger backward. But feeling something under his feet, he espied it to be a hoe, which he took up and improved, and with it fell upon the Indian. Upon which a mighty Scuffle ensued, the English and Indians on the outside of the wigwam closing in one with another; which probably would have issued in the destruction of the whole English party.

Mrs. Hutchinson, who came into this country under a religious character, probably not very long after the church at Boston was settled, went farther westward to a place called East Chester, now in the eastern part of the province of New York. In order to pursue her purpose, she agreed with the before-mentioned Captain James Sands, then a young man, to build her house, and he took a partner with him in the business. When they had near spent their provisions he sent his partner for meat, which was to be fetched at a considerable distance. While his partner was gone, there came a company of Indians to the frame where he was at work, and made a great shout and sat down. After some time they gathered up his tools, put his broadax on his shoulder, and his other tools into his hands, and made signs to him to go away. But he seemed to take no notice of them, but continued in his work. At length one of them said, "Pe-hah Mumune Ketok," the English of which is "Come, let us go" and they went away to the waterside for clams or oysters. After some time they came back and found him still at work as before. They again gathered up his tools, put them into his hands as before they had done, with the like signs moving him to go away. He still seemed to take no notice of them, but kept on in his business, and when they had stayed some time they said as before, "Pe-hah Mumune Ketok" and accordingly they all went away and left him there at his work, a remarkable instance of the restraining power of God on the hearts of these furious and merciless infidels, who otherwise would doubtless, in their rage, have split his brains with his own axe. But God had further business for him to do in this world, in conducting the affairs on Block Island afterwards as before is briefly related, for many years when the people there became more numerous and until his eldest son, Captain John Sands, a gentleman of great port and superior power succeeded him. He died in the 72d year of his age, He was a benefactor to the poor; for as his house was garrisoned - in the time of their fear of the Indians, as before is noted, many poor people resorted to it, and were supported mostly from his liberality. He was also a promoter of religion in his benefactions to the minister they had there in his day, though not altogether so agreeable to him as might be desired, as being inclined to the Anabaptist persuasion. He devoted his home for the worship of God, where it was attended every Lord's day or Sabbath.

His wife was a gentlewoman of remarkable sobriety and piety, given also to hospitality. She was the only midwife and doctress on the island or rather a doctor, all her days, with very little, and with some, and mostly, no reward at all. Her skill in surgery was doubtless very great, from some instances I remember she told me of. Mr. Sands had a plentiful estate, and gave free entertainment to all gentlemen who came to the island; and when his home was garrisoned it became a hospital, for several poor people resorted thither, as before is remarked who being driven from their habitations and improvements, could bring but little with them. I heard his wife (who outlived her husband many years) often with admiration express the singular tokens of Gods favorable providence in that time, by increasing remarkably the comforts of life on themselves and the poor that Providence had cast under their care.

I shall give but one remarkable instance more in this digression, with relation to Mrs. Sands, of whom I have been speaking. She had then but one little child, a girl, just able to run about and prattle a little. Her maid had occasion to go into the field on some business and urged that the child might go with her. The mistress denied, and withal telling the maid there was an old well in the field, which the child would be likely to fall into, or some other mischief would happen to her. The maid goes away, and the mother sits down in the doorway, to keep the child out of danger, as they had a mill-pond near the home; and as sewing linen cloth, and wanted a piece that lay on the table on the opposite part of the room, she bid the child to bring it to her. The child went to a door -that led to an inner room, where there was no other passage out, and closing the door, saying, "This, mamma", this she said, "No, that" pointing to the cloth. She was busy and thought no more of her child, until one of her neighbors came and said "The Lord give you patience; your child is drowned" The man came by the child, and saw it floating on the water" in the flume, but took no care of it, but-went up to the home whereas if he had taken it out, he might have been a means of preserving its life. But thus it must be in Providence. The mother often lamented her presumption, in pretending to be her child's keeper.

It is time to return to Mr. Sands, where we left him, working on his frame, the Indians being gone, he gathered up his tools, and drew off, and in his way met his partner bringing provisions, to whom he declared the narrow escape he had made for his life. Resolving not to return, and run a further risk of the like kind, they both went from the business.

Captain James Sands had four sons, all living on Block Island, until the island was infested, and plundered twice by French privateers; after which the three elder brothers removed to Long Island, and settled there (from whom I had the narrative of what I am now writing), namely Captain John Sands, Mr. James and Samuel Sands, each of them leaving a farm at Block Island, which they stocked with sheep, and were wont to come once a year at their shearing time on the island, to carry oft their wool and what fat sheep there were at that time, and market at New York. Upon this design they were all coming together, sometime in the beginning of June and as near as I can remember, in the year 1702, one of them bringing a little daughter, about seven years of age, in a new vessel he had built, designing to leave the child with his mother for some time. Sarah Sands the famous doctor I spake of before, who was then living a widow; and several Indian servants were in the forecastle or fore part of the vessel, which was enclosed, but there was no bulk-head abaft, - where these gentlemen were sitting together. There was also a quantity of wheat in the hold under the deck, which lay partly at the lower part of the mast as they were sailing down the Sound, as it is called, between Long Island and the mainland, under an easy, pleasant gale of wind, they observed a dark, threatening cloud gathering in the north-west. Apprehending a sudden gust of wind, they pulled down their sails, as they saw at a distance also a rippling of the water and it proved accordingly. But the cloud scattered, and the gust went over, and they hoisted their sails and proceeded in their course as before. After a short time the cloud gathered again, and being apprehensive of a like sudden gust, they lowered their sails; and it proved as they expected, and they again proceeded on their voyage with a fair and easy gale. But in a space of time the cloud gathered a third time, and appeared more terrible, threatening an extraordinary tempest; upon which they lowered their sails, as they had twice before and it proved very terrible, with thunder, lightning rain and wind, with stress and uncommon violence. At length there came a loud clap of thunder with sharp lightning, and struck on the top of their mast; and the lightning ran down into the hold of the vessel to the step of the mast, and then suddenly started upward; and they saw apparently the wheat that lay near the mast fly each way from it, and seemed to disperse; but it soon gathered into a round solid body, as big, or bigger, than a man's fist, and in that form flew to one side of the vessel, and then broke with an extraordinary loud noise as of hard thunder, and then seemed to scatter; but then gathered into the like form as before, and flew to the other side of the vessel, and broke with the like mighty noise, and dispersed; but gathered the third time, and flew back to the other side, where it made a hole between wind and water, and disappeared. The child, before mentioned, lay all this time asleep, while the lightning passed forward and backward over it, as has been related, without the least hurt, when her father, and uncles with him, that beheld the Lightning in its motions and operations, as plainly as to see from one side of the room to the other, concluded she was struck dead as she lay. Nor were any hurt in the vessel, except these men's eyes were so sore they scarcely could see when they came to the island where I then was, and from them received the narrative, as here is related, of this wonderful salvation God wrought for them. Sometime in July 1689, three French privateer vessels came to Block Island. As they were thus become masters of the island, they disarmed the men, and stove their guns to pieces on the rocks, and carried the people and confined them in the home of Captain James' Sands before mentioned, which was large and accommodable for their purpose, and not far from the harbor. This they made their prison. The French came a third time while I was on the island, and came to anchor on Saturday, sometime before night; and acquainted us who they and what they intended, by hoisting up their white colors. None of the people appearing to oppose them, and having at this time my aged grandparents, James Sands and his wife, before mentioned, to take care of, with whom I then dwelt; knowing also that if they landed they would make his house the chief seat of their rendezvous, as they had done twice before, and not knowing what insults or outrage they might commit on them, I advised to the leaving their house, and betaking themselves to the woods for shelter, till they might return under prospects of safety, which they consented to accordingly we took our flight into the woods, which were at a considerable distance, where we encamped that night as well as the place and circumstances would allow, with some others, that for the like reasons fell into our company.

FIN

http//www.piaf.com/genealogy/niles.html

***************************** From:  http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dav4is&id...

Name: James {1} SANDS

• ID: I00162
• Sex: M
• ALIA: James /Sandys/
• Title: Capt.
• Birth: 1621-1622 in Reading, Berkshire, ENG
• Death: 13 Mar 1694/95 in New Shoreham (Block Island), RI
• Fact 2: 1640 Moved to Block Island, called by natives "Manisses"
• Fact 3: 1660 With 15 others, purchased Block Island
• Fact 4: 1676 Charter obtained
• Fact 5: 1642-1643 In NY with Ann Hutchinson in her exile on banks of Hudson R.
• Fact 6: 1676 Commander militia company in King Philip's War.
• Immigrant: 1637 To Plymouth, MA
• Reference Number: SAND36
• Note: SEE SANDS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
• Marriage 1 Sarah WALKER , Immigrant b: ABT. 1625 in Hingham, NFK, ENG
  • Married: 1645 in Portsmouth, RI
• Children
  • 1  John {3} SANDS b: 1649 in Portsmouth, RI

    ---

    
    

James Sands Sr.

• Birth: 1622, Reading Parish,Berkshire,England
• Death: Mar. 13, 1695, Block Island, Washington Co, RI
• Marriage: Sarah WALKER b: Est 1625-29, England
• Married: Abt 1645/1646, Plymouth, Plymouth Colony, MA
• Children:
  • Sarah SANDS b: 1651 in New Shoreham,Kings Co.,Rhode Island
  • John SANDS b: 1652
  • Samuel SANDS b: 1652
  • Marcy SANDS b: 1663
  • James SANDS b: 1672 in Of Block Island,RI
  • Edward SANDS b: 1672/1673

Note: The name also was spelled Sandes and Sandys although pronounced as if it was spelled Sands.

James was said to be a descendant (grandson) of Edwin Sandes, Archbishop of York. He came to America in 1638 and settled at Portsmouth, R.I., in 1640. He was a housewright. In 1660 he was a resident of Block Island (New Shoreham), R.I. Topographical Dictionary says he came to Portsmouth from Reading Parish, Berkshire.

Founders: James Sands, originally Sandys. Boston 1635. Plymouth 1638. Portsmouth, RI, 1643. Block Island, RI, 1661. Died there 13 March 1695. Deputy. Commissioner. "Captain."

The Direct Forefathers and All the Descendants of Richardson Sands: Will recorded on Block Island March 13, 1695. He came to Plymouth, Mass., and was in East Chester, Westchester County, N.Y., where he was engaged in building a house for Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. He removed to Portsmouth, R.I., where he had grants of land Oct. 5, 1643, and Aug. 29, 1644. Freeman at Portsmouth 1655, and commissioner from Portsmouth to the General Court May 19, 1657. In 1660 with others bought Block Island from the Indians and settled there in 1661. Island property was divided into 16 shares, and his share was one-sixteenth. In 1663/64 he was constable on Block Island and later commanded a militia company during King Philip's War. He was a deputy from Block Island to the General Assembly and was among those who petitioned the assembly for a charter of incorporation, which was obtained in 1672 under the name of New Shoreham. He was buried in the public graveyard, his sandstone tombstone reads:

"HERE LYES IN TVRRED THE BODY OF MR. JAMES SANDS, SENIOVR AGED 73 YEARS DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH THE 13, 1695."

• Austin reports: "1689, Jul. 3. Three French privateers landed a force on the island, and plundered the inhabitants, killing their cattle, etc. They made their headquarters at the house of James Sands, 'which was large and accomadable for their purpose and not far from the harbor,' as Samuel Niles (grandson of Mr. Sands) narrates."
• Source: Film 854,964 says a monument erected on Block Island states that James Sands was an original purchaser of Block Island land but not an original settler.
• Topographical Dictionary: James Sands of Reading Parish, Berkshire, came to Portsmouth, R.I. (Austin Gen. Dict.).
• RIGR: James Sands of Block Island. New Shoreham Wills. Will dated 18 June 1694, proved 6 May 1695, page 295 (pages 307-308 silk). Mentions wife Sarah Sands; sons James, John, Samuel and Edward Sands, youngest; daughters Sarah Niles, wife of Nathaniel Niles, and Marcy Raymond, wife of Joshua Raymond. Witnesses: Simon Ray, John Rathbun and Joseph Rathbun.
• Migration: James Sands, mentioned in wills of his wife's parents, and in a 2 April 1654 land purchase from William Earle of Portsmouth, R.I., husband of Mary Walker Earle, sister of Sarah Walker Sands, James' wife. Portsmouth, R.I., proprietors ordered 3 Dec. 1656 that "William Earl and James Sands shall have 50 acres of land it being an old grant to John Walker deceased."
• Burial: Island Cemetery, New Shoreham, Washington County, Rhode Island, USA

Sources:

• Colonial Families of the USA, Vol. II; Austin;
• Andrews;
• Topographical Dictionary of English Emigrants;
• Founders of Early American Families;
• Founders of Early American Families;
• the Direct Forefathers and All the Descendants of Richardson Sands; R.I. Genealogical Register, v3, #2, p110; The Great Migration Begins, v3, pages 1906 and 1907.
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24866274&ref=wvr
• http://awt.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1034016&i...
• http://www.rihistoriccemeteries.org/newsearchcemeterydetail.aspx?ce...
• GEDCOM Source U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was deriv 1,7836::0 Source number: 8940.433; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1 1,7836::1060619
• GEDCOM Source Millennium File Heritage Consulting. Millennium File [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003. 1,7249::0 1,7249::10032947
• GEDCOM Source Web: Rhode Island, Find A Grave Index, 1663-2013 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,70624::0 1,70624::120460
• GEDCOM Source Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Gale Research Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2006.Original data: Filby, P. William, ed.. Passe 1,7486::0 Place: Rhode Island; Year: 1620-1650; Page Number: 5 1,7486::3692814