Our Family Past and Present | home
Prudence Island, RI
1660
William Allin, a native of Wales, came to New England from Yorkshire, England in the year 1660. It is generally believed that William arrived first in Barbados, and from there sailed to Newport, RI. When William first arrived in Rhode Island, he rented a house and acreage from John Paine and later built a house a short distance south of the present Homestead Wharf in Portsmouth. A short time later he came over to Prudence Island. He may have worked for John Paine at the north end of the island. John Paine later built a house for him near his own home. The two became very close friends, and remained so all their lives.
William was born in the year 1634. The date and place of his first marriage is unknown. His second wife was Elizabeth. They married about 1662 in Portsmouth, RI.
He and his family settled on Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay. He owned a large stock farm there. Soon he became a large cattle owner. William also raised a considerable number of sheep. He was the forerunner of the prosperous sheep industry that soon developed on Prudence Island. Many of the old stone walls were built by the Indians of the island. The “stone fences” as they were called, penned in the cattle and sheep. Some of the early settlers learned the art of building from the Indians. Most of these old walls, some of which still stand, were built directly north to south, and east to west. Perhaps these early farmers used the sun for their transit.
The sheep pens and the cattle barns were scattered all over the island, most of them in the north and central areas. These were built of stone, sparsely tied together with lime mortar. Most were made of slate, which is plentiful there. They were well constructed, about two feet thick, one side usually marked the boundary of their land. Many old wells dot the fields. These were used to water the stock. Those who lived near Mill Creek, had ample water for their animals. William Allin had 685 sheep.
The principal source of income of these farmers was from the sale of wool, flax, hemp, cattle, fruit and produce. Some tobacco was raised, as well as Indian corn and rye. These grains were used for bread and also as animal feed. Salt hay was grown in large amounts at Nag Creek and the marsh at Pine Hill Creek. It was used for packing and thatching. Orchards produced pears, plums, apples and peaches. Every farm had at least one or two oxen, and usually some horses and cows. There was an abundant supply of fresh seafood. These farms were very self supporting, and the inhabitants needed very little assistance, if any, from the mainland..
William was made a freeman in 1669. He served as constable of the Island for twelve years and was called upon many times to sign legal documents. He aslo was a surveyor of cattle for a number of years.
William Allin purchased land for £55, New England money, from the estate of Captain Willett of Swanzey, MA; “50 akers of land, be it more or less, in the North Purchased Lands, lying on both sides of the Seven Mile River, lying and ajoyning to the north side of Sampson Mason’s land.”
He eventually owned about six hundred acres in Swanzey, which is now West Barrington, RI. Some of this land, the portion purchased from Capt. Willett, was originally purchased from the Indian sachem, Wamsitta, the elder brother of King Philip. It came to be known as Rehoboth, North Purchase, belonging first to Captain Myles Standish, then to Captain Willett who succeeded him as Colony Militia Commander. The land next went to William Allin.
There are several interesting stories about William Allin.
The very cold winter in the year 1680, the Bay was frozen over. For a long while, William had considered building on the mainland as his business required frequent trips across the Bay. At times, crossing in rough weather in a canoe was impossible. William took advantage of the frozen condition, and he made hurried plans to remove his house at Potter’s Cove to the mainland of Swanzey, which is now West Barrington. With the aid of several Indian servants, three large trees were hewn, and a huge sled was built. After great difficulties, they finally succeeded in raising the house high enough to enable the sled to be slid underneath. After making it secure, four oxen were hitched to the sled and the house was drawn slowly over the Bay where the chains and ropes were readjusted. . William dressed in his Colonial attire, wearing his castor hat and snapping his long cowhide whip over the oxen must have been a very spectacular sight in those early days. He was truly a man to take advantage of a situation, and not shy at all about taking risks. The plan worked. Before reaching the mainland the oxen were guided over Allin’s Cove to the north end. The dwelling was drawn up over the hill for about a quarter of a mile to its final destination
The following summer, William had the dwelling house enlarged. One end of the house was built of great stones.
The first post office in Barrington was established in this old mansion. After the death of William, the property was left to his son, Thomas.
A second story of interest concerns William’s relations with his Indian servants:
When Tom, a faithful Indian servant of Mr.Allin’s was taken prisoner by Captain Gorman, his squaw followed close by in her canoe. When they arrived at Newport, she resisted the officers by trying to release her husband. She was then taken prisoner also. Mr. Allin missed the servants the next morning. He went to their wigwam to awaken them, and was surprised to find they had disappeared, having left behind their one year old papoose wrapped in flax matting. Mr. Allin took the child into his own home. Although Mrs. Allin had several of her own young children to care for, she reared this child. His Indian parents were never returned to the Island. They were suspected of being spies for King Philip. When William drew up his will, the little Indian orphan was only seven years old. He left the child to his wife. He remained with the Allin family, and when he was nineteen to took an Indian wife.
William and Elizabeth had several children:
Mary born in 1664 on Prudence Island. She married Thomas Remington who was also born on the island and they settled in Warwick, RI
William was born about 1665. He married Martha Sweet.
Thomas was our direct descendant. He was born in January of 1668. He married Anna Barnes and lived in the home of his late father. He died on August 11, 1719 at the age of fifty one.
John was born on October 26, 1670. He married first Margaret Havens and second Sarah Mansfield. His family settled in North Kingstown, RI.
They had several children.
Matthew was born on November 20, 1675. He married Phebe Cook on May 2, 1700. they had no sons and four daughters. The family settled in North Kingstown.
Mercy, birth date unknown, married John Barnes. they had fourteen children.
Sarah, date of birth not known.
William died in Barrington, then known as Swanzey, in 1685. His wife Elizabeth died in 1704.
The grave of William and Elizabeth is said to be in the north end of Prudence Island where they lived so many years. There is a low stone wall built around an early grave with no inscription. It was said to have been covered with large stone slabs in earlier days. Prudence Island historians believe this to be their final resting place. Later generations of the family are buried at Allin’s Cove in West Barrington where William moved his home from Prudence Island
