Nicholas Easton was born in 1593. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Easton. His father died when he was very young, after which his mother married John Burrard. As a teenager his stepfather died, and his mother then married William Dollinge.
He emigrated from Wales to Massachusetts in 1634. Lie first settled at Ipswich, being admitted a freeman September 3. The following year (1635) he was elected representative to the General Court but was dismissed as unduly chosen. In the same year he removed to Newbury. He was an adherent of Wheelright in the An- tinomian controversy and was among those disarmed by order of the Court in 1637. With a few others he began a settlement at what is now Hampton, New Hampshire, but was warned off and in 1638 settled at Pocasset (Portsmouth) in Rhode Island.
He was almost at once elected one of the “Elders” who were to assist the “Judge” in governing the community, but, disputes having arisen, he joined the Coddington group in secession, and moved to what is now Newport. He built the first house there in April 1639, which two years later was burned by the Indians, probably by accident.
In 1639 he was one of the two men instructed by the Coddington group to petition Henry Vane to use his influence in procuring for them a patent for the island. He was chosen an Assistant in 1640, was several times reelected to that office, and served frequently as moderator at meetings of the General Assembly.
He was one of the three men chosen in 1653 to see that the “State’s part of all prizes be secured and accompt given. ” This gave him some trouble five years later in making a proper accounting. Under the first patent, the administrative head of the Colony was designated “president, ” and Easton held that office from May 1650 to August 1651 and again from May 1654 to September 12, 1654.
The charter of 1663 provided for a governor and deputy-governor. Easton held the latter office from 1666 to 1669, again from 1670 to 1671, and was governor from May 1672 to May 1674. Apparently his first wife (unknown) had died before he left Wales.
Easton died August 15, 1675, and was buried in the Coddington graveyard, Newport. In his will he named his son John residuary legatee.
He was always prominent in the life of the colony. During the last ten years of his life, Easton was very active in civil matters, serving as Deputy to the General Assembly, Deputy Governor, and then two years as Governor of the colony, which had been strengthened by the Royal Charter of 1663. Easton was a tanner by trade, and also a minister of sorts, being criticized by Massachusetts magistrate John Winthrop for his theological opinions.
His first wife (unknown) had died before he left Wales. In 1638 he married Christian, widow of Thomas Beecher, who was probably the mother of seven of his nine children. On March 2, 1671, he was married to Ann Clayton, who survived him.
