Historedia
Person

Roger Williams

Events
5
Episodes
9
Years
1630–1647

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Roger Williams, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Roger Williams Emigrates to Boston

    1630

    Role: Emigrant and Minister

    1. December 1, 1630 · BristolBoarding the Lyon

      Williams and his wife boarded the Boston-bound Lyon in Bristol on December 1, 1630, beginning their transatlantic journey.

  2. Banishment of Roger Williams from Massachusetts Bay Colony

    1635–1636

    Role: Minister and defendant

    1. October 1635 · Massachusetts Bay ColonyTrial and Conviction

      The General Court tried Roger Williams in October 1635 and convicted him of sedition and heresy.

    2. January 1636 · Massachusetts Bay ColonyFlight from Banishment

      Williams fled during a blizzard in January 1636, evading the sheriff who arrived to enforce the banishment.

  3. Publication of A Key into the Language of America

    1643

    Role: Author and founder of Providence Plantations

    1. 1643 · LondonLondon Publication

      Williams published the book in London in 1643 during his first voyage to England.

    2. 1643 · New EnglandLinguistic Study of Narragansett

      The book documents Narragansett, an Algonquian language, as the first English colonial study of its kind.

    3. 1643 · New EnglandRebuttal of Massachusetts Claims

      Williams used the publication to counter Massachusetts' claims about Indian conversions and territory.

  4. Rhode Island Colony Charter

    1644

    Role: Founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

    1. 1644 · Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsUnification of Settlements

      Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport united in 1644 to form a single colony with an elected council.

    2. 1644 · Island of Rodes or Rhode-IslandOfficial Naming

      The name Rhode Island was officially applied to the island in 1644 via legal document.

  5. Drafting of Rhode Island Constitution

    1647

    Role: Founder of Providence Plantations and advocate for religious liberty

    1. 1647 · Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsUnification of Settlements

      The settlements of Providence, Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick united in 1647 to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Sources

  1. Roger Williams Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  2. A Key into the Language of America Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-09
  3. Rhode Island Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24