Rhode Island: Governors: 1663-1687

Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America
25 Nov/5 Dec 1663 - 2/12 May 1666	Benedict Arnold
2/12 May 1666 - 5/15 May 1669	William Brenton
5/15 May 1669 - 1/11 May 1672	Benedict Arnold
1/11 May 1672 - 6/16 May 1674	Nicholas Easton
6/16 May 1674 - 3/13 May 1676	William Coddington
3/13 May 1676 - 2/12 May 1677	Walter Clarke
2/12 May 1677 - 19/29 Jun 1678	Benedict Arnold
Deputy Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America (ex officio)
19/29 Jun 1678 - 28 Aug/7 Sep 1678	John Cranston
Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America
28 Aug/7 Sep 1678 - 1/11 Nov 1678	William Coddington [1]
Deputy Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America (ex officio)
1/11 Nov 1678 - 14/24 Nov 1678	John Cranston
Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America
14/24 Nov 1678 - 12/22 Mar 1680	John Cranston [2]
Deputy Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America (ex officio)
12/22 Mar 1680 - 16/26 Mar 1680	Peleg Sanford
Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America
16/26 Mar 1680 - 2/12 May 1683	Peleg Sanford [3]
2/12 May 1683 - 6/16 May 1685	William Coddington Jr. [4]
6/16 May 1685 - 5/15 May 1686	Henry Bull
5/15 May 1686 - 30 Dec 1686/9 Jan 1687	Walter Clarke [5]

The election of Coddington to the office of Governor is presumed to have been proclaimed on the first day of session of the General Assembly. The record of the Assembly does not specify the exact date, noting only the opening of the session on 28 Aug/7 Sep 1678 and the date of dissolution on 31 Aug/10 Sep 1678.
The election of Cranston to the office of Governor is presumed to have been proclaimed on the same day a committee was appointed to retrieve a copy of the Charter (14/24 Nov 1678). The record of the Assembly does not specify the exact date of the election, noting only the opening of the session on 8/18 Nov 1678 and the proceedings concerning the Charter—a vote appointing the committee on 14/24 Nov and their report on 15/25 Nov 1678.
The election of Sanford to the office of Governor is presumed to have taken place on the first day of the General Assembly session, held on 16/26 and 17/27 Mar 1680.
The election and swearing-in of Coddington to the office of Governor is presumed to have taken place following the refusal of the governor-elect Sanford to take the oath on the day of election (the first Wednesday in May). The record of the General Assembly does not specify the exact date, noting only the opening of the session on 2/12 May 1683, with no other dates recorded.
Clarke was appointed to the Council of the Territory and Dominion of New England and took part in its proceedings, formally acquiescing to the authority of Governor Andros on 30 Dec 1686/9 Jan 1687.