Life William Baulston

portsmouth compact baulston s name appears 16th on list

like of members of boston church, became involved in antinomian controversy engulfed colony between 1636 , 1638. when reverend john wheelwright censured general court in march 1637, baulston 1 of 60 men signed petition in support of minister. events of controversy came head, baulston brought court on 2 november 1637, fined 20 pounds, disfranchised, , prohibited bearing public office. few weeks later, further action taken against baulston , many others when ordered turn in guns, pistols, swords, powder [&] shot because opinions , revelations of mr. wheelwright , mrs. hutchinson, have seduced , lead dangerous errors many of people here in new england. despite november order, continued boston selectman until april 1638.

on 7 march 1638, baulston 1 of 23 men signed compact establish new government outside jurisdiction of bay colony. men had considered moving new netherland, roger williams convinced them settle near narragansett bay, , established pocasset on aquidneck island (also called rhode island) in bay. present @ general meeting of pocasset residents on 13 may 1638, , week later granted 6 acres of land, , given permission establish house of entertainment strangers, sell wines, , brew beer. in 1639 town of pocasset renamed portsmouth.

once established in portsmouth, baulston became active in military , civil affairs of colony. in june 1638 selected sergeant of train band, , in 1642 became lieutenant. meanwhile, in 1640 treasurer both towns of portsmouth , newport, , in 1643 held same role portsmouth only. in 1641 baulston elected assistant governor portsmouth, position held 20 of next 33 years. 1 of ten assistants named in royal charter of 1663, provided framework rhode island s government 2 centuries. commissioner 7 years between 1654 , 1663, , in 1664 1 of 4 special commissioners chosen meet counterparts plymouth colony settle boundary line between 2 colonies.

in 1667 baulston provided horse, furniture , rider troop of horse. continued hold public office until 1672 when chosen overseer of poor, absence meeting suggests becoming infirm. wrote on 11 march 1677, , died 3 days later according austin, anderson doesn t find evidence this.