 The first English settlement in Rhode Island was the town of Providence, which the Narragansett granted to Roger Williams in 1636.At that time, Williams obtained no permission from the English crown as he believed the English had no legitimate claim on Narragansett and Wampanoag territory.However, in 1643, Williams petitioned Charles I of England to grant Providence and neighboring towns a colonial patent, due to threats of invasion from the colonies of Boston and Plymouth.