John Easton

1625 (age 80)

Romsey, Hampshire, England

In 1680 he described himself as "aged fifty-five or thereabouts". John and his father were among the first settlers of Newport and became prominent in the colony of Rhode Island. John Easton frequently represented Newport in meetings of the General Assembly of the colony. In 1653 he was elected attorney-general and was repeatedly reelected to that office. He served as Assistant under the charter of 1663 and in 1674 was elected deputy-governor, his brother Peter being elected to the combined offices of attorney-general and treasurer. John served as deputy-governor from May 1674 until April 1676, and as governor from 1690 to 1695. In 1694 he refused as governor to issue commissions to privateersmen, who, in many cases, were mere pirates, but the deputy-governor did so and involved the colony in difficulty with the home government by his action. Easton wrote a Narrative of the Causes which led to Philip's Indian War, beginning with the death of Sassamon, which was not published until 1858, when F. B. Hough edited and printed it. Although Increase Mather expressed a contemptuous opinion of it (probably because it emanated from Rhode Island), it is now considered valuable evidence, and was again printed in 1913. Easton became an extensive landowner in the colony. Easton died December 12, 1705, and was buried in the Coddington burial-place, Newport.

John Easton

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politician

Background

John Easton was born in 1625 in Romsey, Hampshire, England. He was the son of Nicholas Easton and as a boy emigrated with him from Wales to Massachusetts.

Career

In 1680 he described himself as "aged fifty-five or thereabouts". John and his father were among the first settlers of Newport and became prominent in the colony of Rhode Island. John Easton frequently represented Newport in meetings of the General Assembly of the colony.

In 1653 he was elected attorney-general and was repeatedly reelected to that office. He served as Assistant under the charter of 1663 and in 1674 was elected deputy-governor, his brother Peter being elected to the combined offices of attorney-general and treasurer. John served as deputy-governor from May 1674 until April 1676, and as governor from 1690 to 1695.

In 1694 he refused as governor to issue commissions to privateersmen, who, in many cases, were mere pirates, but the deputy-governor did so and involved the colony in difficulty with the home government by his action. Easton wrote a Narrative of the Causes which led to Philip's Indian War, beginning with the death of Sassamon, which was not published until 1858, when F. B. Hough edited and printed it. Although Increase Mather expressed a contemptuous opinion of it (probably because it emanated from Rhode Island), it is now considered valuable evidence, and was again printed in 1913. Easton became an extensive landowner in the colony.

Easton died December 12, 1705, and was buried in the Coddington burial-place, Newport.

Achievements

Governor Easton was one of the best qualified and most efficient of Colonial governors. His knowledge of the history of the Colony was complete, his judicial ability was tempered by long experience and careful study, and his great activity and energy, mental and physical, partook of the quality of men at life's meridian. Weakness in policy or vacillation in opinion found no lodgment in Governor Easton's administration.

Connections

He married Mehitable Gant on January 4, 1660, who was the mother of five children. She died on November 11, 1673, and he married Alice, who died on March 24, 1689.

Father:: Nicholas Easton
Spouse:: Alice
Spouse:: Mehitable Gant
Brother:: Peter

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John Easton

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