 In the two decades following Pawtuxet 's reunification with Providence , William Arnold continued to reside in Pawtuxet being a party to several land transactions where he deeded away some of his properties . Here he lived in relative peace until July 1675 when King Philip 's War erupted into a major confrontation between the natives and the English settlers . Pawtuxet was not a safe place to be , but Arnold refused to go to his son Benedict 's house in Newport , nor would he go up to Providence . He was eventually persuaded to go to his son Stephen 's garrison house further up the Pawtuxet River . In December 1675 a detachment of Massachusetts troops led by General Josiah Winslow , en route to the " Great Swamp Fight " in Kingston , Rhode Island , stayed at this garrison house and was given provisions . 
