The most thickly settled part of East Greenwich is built mainly on a hillside and fronts Greenwich Bay. The town is a favorite summer resort. Some of the early settlers engaged in shipbuilding, and when the town was laid out two locations were set apart for shipyards. The persons named as incorporators of East Greenwich, including Charles MacCarthy, were each required to build within a year, on his lot, a house suitable for habitation, under pain of forfeiture. It was also required that highways be provided “from the bay up into the country” convenient for settlement. In addition to MacCarthy, the founders included Philip Long, Thomas Dungin, and John Strainge—all three names typically Irish. Among the proprietors in 1700 was Anthony Long. About 1732, the town possessed stocks and whipping post, pillory, irons for mutilating ears, branding faces, cropping, etc., and similar appliances rife at that period.
The records of the “General Assembly held at Newport, the 6th of May, 1679,” show that “Charles Mecarte” and two others “being freemen of the towne of East Greenwich, are admitted freemen of the Collony.” It does not appear that Charles ever married, at least the writer has met no record to that effect. Neither wife nor child are mentioned in the copy of the will extant. It is, of course, possible that he may have had both wife and children in the Old Land and that he survived them, but of that nothing definite is known. His will[[13]] is dated “the 18th day of February, 1682,” and was witnessed by John Knight and Thomas Fry, Jr. It was the first will to be recorded in the probate record book of East Greenwich where it was entered by “John Spenser, Town Clark.” Written over two hundred years ago, its quaint phraseology is a source of much interest at the present time. The will thus begins:
Unto all Christian people unto whome these pents [presents] may com know yee that I Charles Macarte now of the towne of Est grenwich in the Colony of Rhod Island and providence planteteons Being in parfact memory but weake in body doe meake this my lastt will and testiment.
First, he requests that all his debts be paid. Then he makes John Spencer, Jr., his lawful heir and bequeaths him “my house and Land or Lands in this Towne.” He designates John Spencer, Sr., “father to the aforesaid Spencer, Guardian to his sonn to teak cere that my will be parformed.”
One Pasco Whitford owed Charles a debt. This debt the latter cancels and, in addition, gives Whitford “halfe the sheepe of mine in his keeping.” The other half he gives to Edward Carter, to whom he likewise bequeaths his arms, i. e., two guns and a sword and also his chest “with the lock and cea.” To Charles Heseltun, Jr., he bequeaths a young horse “that will be two yere old next Spring branded with IS on the shoulder.” To John Andrew is given “my biggest yron poot” [pot] and four narrow axes. His pewter he bequeaths Susanna Spencer, the same to be delivered to her when she is of age.
All his carpenter and joiner tools are given by testator to William Spencer “which shall be resarved for him till hee is capable unto mak youse of them,” or of age. After disposing of certain clothing and household goods to Susanna Spencer, Sr., he mentions “one piece of brod cloth that I had to make mee a wascoat”; this he gives to his heir. Unto Hannah Long, the younger, is given “one heffer of three yere” old, to be delivered her at his decease, and to “John Garard,[[14]] a poor Country man of mine” he gives “three bushels of corne to be paid him presently after my desese.” But one of the most striking passages of the entire will is the following:
I have a letter that came from my Brother from Kingsile [Kinsale] after his return from Spaine Being fersed from home in the war in which Letter he sent for mee home; but the troubles in Cristifars at that time fersed me from thence to New England and soe hee herd not of mee nor I of him.... I will that that letter with another [which] within it is, be sent unto him with a letter to signifie unto him how it hath been with mee since and when and where I end my dayes.
Charles then provides that Richard Dunn[[15]] of Newport, R. I., be added unto John Spencer, Sr., the first mentioned guardian, to carry out the provisions of the will, and “if aither of these soo Before men’oned betrusted should die before that my haire is of edge [age]; then he that doth survive shall heve power; and my will is that hee chuse one to him it being one that my haire doth approve of.” The will goes on to say that “My ould mere [mare] I give to Samuel Bennett and hir foule [foal] or my young mere I give unto Mychell Spenser ... and the rest of my Chatle Goodes and catten [cattle] I give unto John Spenser Senior and all the deapts dowe to mee.... As Concaning [concerning] the Land that I Give unto my haire and the house my will is that the land and house [be] unto him and his lawful haires forever ... and for the Conformation of this my will and that it may apere unto all parsons [persons] unto whome it may come I have sett to my hand and seale this psent 18th day of February 1682.” Charles died soon after, his will being entered in the town records in 1683–’84.
The orthography of Charles MacCarthy’s will must not be severely criticised. It was as correct as that found in the average document of the period in which he lived. Whether it was written by Charles or by someone acting for him, due allowance must be made for the times and conditions and for the fact that educational facilities were very meagre then as compared with those available at the present day.
It is a source of deep regret that so little is known about this Rhode Island pioneer. That he was a man of sturdy character, cannot be questioned. That he was worthy to rank as a founder of a town or a state must also be admitted. He plainly possessed traits and qualities entitling him to a place in the front rank of Rhode Island settlers.