sometimes called the Portsmouth Compact, establishing a non-sectarian civil government upon the universal consent of the inhabitants, with a Christian focus. Planning initially to settle in New Netherland, the group was persuaded by Roger Williams to purchase some land of the Indians on the Narragansett Bay. This they did, settling on the north east end of Aquidneck Island, and establishing a settlement they called Pocasset, but in 1639 changing the name to Portsmouth. William Coddington was elected the first chief magistrate of the settlement, not being called Governor, but instead using the Biblical title of Judge. Freeborn had arrived in Portsmouth by 13 May 1638 when he was present at a general meeting there. The following year he was granted a lot on the condition that he build there within a year. In 1641 he was made a freeman of Portsmouth, and the following year he was made Constable of the towns of Portsmouth and Newport. From 1641 to 1655 he held a number of town offices, including member of the town council, overseer and collector for the poor, and member of the petit jury. In 1655 he appeared on a list of freemen for Portsmouth and in 1657 was a Deputy for Portsmouth to the Rhode Island General Court. Freeborn died on 28 April 1670 according to the Friends' records, but the age of 80 given for him is inflated. His only known wife, Mary, died five days later. Family With his wife Mary, Freeborn had three known children: Mary, who married Clement Weaver; Sarah, who married Nathaniel Browning; and Gideon, who first married Sarah Brownell, and then married Mary (Boomer) Lawton. Gideon served for several years as a Deputy from Portsmouth, and also as Overseer of the Poor. Freeborn is the ancestor of the first Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Gideon Cornell. See also List of early settlers of Rhode Island Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations References Bibliography External links 1594 births 1670 deaths 17th-century Quakers Converts to Quakerism Kingdom of England emigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony People from colonial Boston People from Portsmouth, Rhode Island People of colonial Rhode Island