Roger Williams

The founder of Rhode Island was Roger Williams. He was kicked out of the Plymouth Colony because he believed in freedom of religion and separation of church and state.  That did not fly with the Pilgrims. He got a charter to start a new colony and he called it Rhode Island. He was my 11th great grandfather. Since he's our relative, we drove around looking at things related to him. 

Here is the site of the church he founded in 1638. It is the oldest Baptist congregation in America. This church was built in in 1775. 

Roger Williams left the church a few years later and the new pastor was Chad Brown. He's our 10th great grandfather. 

The houses next to the church were so pretty!

Here's the dedication plaque from 1775 on the side of the church. 

As usual, we pulled around our cooler and ate sandwiches and fruit. Here we are eating near the Roger Williams visitor center. 

Jeremy making some sandwiches. 

The site of the original well in Providence used by the first settlers. 

The Roger Williams museum. 

There were some beautiful old homes leading up to the big statue of Roger Williams. 

From the Roger Williams statue, you could see the Rhode Island State House. 

Posing next to a statue of our 11th and 12th great grandfather. 

In front of the Roger Williams statue.