 In 1641 the Pawtuxet settlers complained to the Massachusetts authorities of their neighbors in Warwick , the Gortonites , so called , led by the Samuel Gorton mentioned earlier . Gorton had been causing disturbances for several years , and had already been evicted from several places for creating difficulties which centered around his religious beliefs , insubordination towards the magistrates , refusal to pay taxes , and his dealings with and treatment of the Indians . The Massachusetts authorities replied that they were unable to help because the Pawtuxet settlement fell under the jurisdiction of neither the Massachusetts Bay Colony nor the Plymouth Colony . As a result , in 1642 William Arnold and other Pawtuxet settlers subjected themselves to the Massachusetts government with Arnold appointed to keep the peace . This separation from Providence lasted for 16 years . 
