Person:Samuel Gorton (2)

Admitted freeman in 1655. On August 24, 1676, he was a member of the Court Martial held at Newport for the trial of certain Indians charged with being engaged in King Philip's designs. Was several times employed as interpreter between the English and Indians. His will was proved September 28, 1724 source: Gen. Dictionary of Rhode Island, p 302

BIOGRAPHY: The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton By Adelos Gorton Philadelphia 1907 Page 163 Samuel Gorton (Samuel 1), eldest son, was born at Gorton, Lancaster County, England, in 1630, was with him through all his troublesome experiences, and lived with him at Warwick on the homestead assigned to the first settlers of town. His father deeded to him all interests in the property and also his library and all papers and writings, by reason of the great assistance he had been to him in the support of the family when, as he said, his children were young and he was necessarily absent from wife, family and home. He, like his father, early obtained the friendship and good-will of the Indian tribes about them and became proficient in speaking and writing their language, and his earliest public service appears to have been as Court Interpreter between the English and Indians. He was Captain of the military company of the town. In 1678 a member of the court at Newport engaged in the trial of Indians for depredations committed during the King Philip's War. During the eight years 1676-1683 he was a member of the Upper House of the Assembly, and Assistant Judge. Later he filled the office for two terms, was elected for another term and declined to serve. He married, December 11th, 1684, Susannah Burton, daughter of William and Hannah (Wickes) Burton, born 1665. Samuel died September 6, 1724, and Susannah married (2) Richard Harris. She died June 25, 1737.

In his will, made December 21, 1721, he calls himself in his ninety-second year; bequeaths to his wife Susannah all housing and lands for life, and at her decease to sons

Samuel and Hezekiah and daughter Susannah Stafford. The house he had erected on the farm that he received from his father had been sold by him to Samuel Greene, who married his niece Mary, daughter of his brother Benjamin.

Samuel was a man after his father's heart and of whom he often wrote in terms of praise and affection. And although now in less trying times than formerly, he discharged well the obligations of citizenship, well attended to public and private duties, and lived and died, honored and respected by all who loved what was right and good. There had not been and there was not at this time any independent church in Warwick, nor was there any there for many years to come. During earlier times the people there were not only too few, but were to frequently scattered to organize any religions society; and not until after the year 1700 were its settlers of sufficient number to gather from them a society of any one church on belief. Although Samuel, Sr. has been so over charged with trying to establish a church or religion, we do not find in his recorded words or acts, that he attempted to propogate a new church or religion. His tenets, he said he drew from his mother the church of England, and he, it appears did not deem them inconsistent with member-ship in any denomination that was Christian. It was "refreshment in the ordinances of God," a personal piety that he recommended and proclaimed; and it was coercion of his freedom that he condemned. The Rev. Cotton Mahter, said he, could not find that the people of Warwick, the followers of Gorton were agreed upon any other principal so much as that they would not disturb one another in their worship of opinion. The name Gortonoges was not given to them by their religious opponents nor given to them to distinguish their religion. The name was given to them by the Indians and on account of the Indian's belief that they were a strong people, to distinguish them from other Whites, whom they called Wattaconoges. But the name was quickly u  by their enemies and applied t  them a  denominating a sect. If, however, w  may with the other evidences accept for its application the s  high church authority a  Cotton Mather, w  are grateful that they have s  spread and that s  extensively has prevailed, what h  describes a  constituting their main doctrine. (Gorton 1645, R  I. Collec. Ii. Hist. Warwick 23.)

MARRAIGE: Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636 - 1850 First Series Births, Marriages and Deaths Providence, R. I. Narragansett Historical, Publishing Company 1891 Page 26 Burton, Susannah, and Samuel Gorton, Dec. 11, 1684

1. ↑ Abstracts of Warwick Wills, in Rhode Island Genealogical Register. (Princeton, Massachusetts: A. G. Beaman)
   3:37.

   Samuel Gorton of Warwick, in my 92d year of age, but in perfect health. Will dated 21 Dec 1721, proved 28 Dec 1724, pps. 225-227.
   Wife Susanna
   Sons: Samuel & Hezekiah
   Daughter Susanna Stafford