Rhode Island: Governor: 1651-1654
| Governor [1] | |
| Aug/Sep 1651 - 31 Aug/10 Sep 1654 | William Coddington [2] |
- Coddington was commissioned Governor of the islands of Aquidneck ("Acquednecke alias Rhoad Iland") and Conanicut ("Quinunnugate") by the Council of State of the Commonwealth of England on 3/13 Apr 1651. The commission was read and published in Rhode Island sometime in August or September 1651, establishing a separate government over territories detached from the Colony of Providence Plantations. The official style used by Coddington does not appear in any extant documents.
- The authority of Coddington as governor was challenged following informal reports from England that his commission had been revoked. In response, the General Assembly composed of representatives from the Rhode Island towns of Newport and Portsmouth convened on 17/27 May 1653 and restored the government under the Charter of 1644. Although Coddington refused to acknowledge the restoration, the act of reunion signed by Providence, Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick on 31 Aug/10 Sep 1654 effectively brought his authority to an end. Coddington formally submitted to the government of the Colony of Providence Plantations by signing an engagement on 11/21 Mar 1655.