 In 1637 Arnold was one of 13 settlers who signed a compact agreeing to subject themselves to any agreements made by a majority of the masters of families . About 1638 he accompanied his father , his brother @-@ in @-@ law William Carpenter and Robert Cole in a move about five miles south to the Pawtuxet River . The settlement , called Pawtuxet , was still within the jurisdiction of Providence ( and later became a part of Cranston , Rhode Island ) . On 17 July 1640 Arnold signed an agreement with 38 other Providence residents to form a more compact government " to preserve the peace and insure the prosperity of a growing community . " It did neither , especially after the arrival of Samuel Gorton in Providence , who Roger Williams wrote was " bewitching and bemadding poor Providence . " In one incident , " Upon the attempt to enforce the execution of an award against Francis Weston made by eight men orderly chosen , Gorton , with many of his followers , assailed the representatives of law and order making a tumultuous hubbub . " In a petition that Arnold wrote , dated 17 November 1741 , he with 12 others formally applied to Massachusetts for help , asking the government there to " lend us a neighborlike helping hand . " Massachusetts replied that they could not help unless the complainants fell under their jurisdiction . 
