Walter Clarke (governor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walter Clarke
Walter Clarke grave medallion
6th, 13th and 17th Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
In office 1676–1677
Preceded by	William Coddington
Succeeded by	Benedict Arnold
In office 1686–1686
Preceded by	Henry Bull
Succeeded by	Edmund Andros under the Dominion of New England
In office 1696–1698
Preceded by	Caleb Carr
Succeeded by	Samuel Cranston
11th and 15th Deputy Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
In office 1679–1686
Governor	John Cranston Peleg Sanford William Coddington, Jr. Henry Bull
Preceded by	James Barker
Succeeded by	John Coggeshall, Jr.
In office 1700–1714
Governor	Samuel Cranston
Preceded by	John Greene, Jr.
Succeeded by	Henry Tew
Personal details
Born	1640 Newport, Rhode Island
Died	May 23, 1714 Newport, Rhode Island
Resting place	Clifton Burying Ground, Newport
Spouses	(1) Content Greenman (2) Hannah Scott (3) Freeborn (Williams) Hart (4) Sarah (Prior) Gould
Children	Mary, Content, son, Hannah, Catharine, Frances, Jeremiah, Deliverance
Occupation	Deputy, assistant, deputy governor, governor

Walter Clarke (1640–1714) was an important leader in the early Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was the first governor born in the colony itself. Walter was the son of Jeremy Clarke, who was also a colonial president. Like his father, Walter was a Quaker, a Christian group known for its peaceful beliefs. His mother, Frances Latham, is sometimes called "the Mother of Governors" because several of her children and grandchildren became governors.

Walter Clarke began his public service in his late 20s. He was first elected as a representative (called a "deputy") for Newport. Later, he served three terms as an "assistant," which was a higher role in the government. During a difficult time called King Philip's War, he was elected governor for the first time. He worked to help the colony recover from the war's damage. He also had to deal with other colonies trying to take Rhode Island's land.

After a short break from being governor, he became deputy governor in 1679 and served for many years. He was elected governor again in 1686, but his term was very short. The new English king, James II, decided to combine many American colonies under one royal governor, Edmund Andros. This period was known as the Dominion of New England.

When King James II left England in 1689, Andros was removed from power in New England. Rhode Island's government, based on its Royal Charter of 1663, was restored. Walter Clarke initially refused to be governor again. However, after Governor Caleb Carr died in 1695, Clarke accepted the role once more. He faced challenges from the English government during his final two years as governor. He resigned in 1698 and was replaced by his nephew, Samuel Cranston. Even after resigning as governor, Walter Clarke continued to serve the colony as deputy governor from 1700 until his death in 1714.

Early Life and Public Service

Walter Clarke was born in Newport on Aquidneck Island in 1640. His father, Jeremy Clarke, was an early leader and a Quaker settler. Walter also became a Quaker.

In 1667, Walter Clarke was elected as a Deputy for Newport in the General Assembly. This was the start of his long career in public service, which lasted almost 50 years. He was re-elected as a Deputy several times. From 1673 to 1676, he served as an Assistant.

How Rhode Island's Government Worked

Under the Royal Charter of 1663, the people of the colony (called "freemen") elected several officials:

• A governor
• A deputy governor
• Ten assistants
• Many deputies from each town

All these elected officials together formed the General Assembly. Over time, the Deputies became the "Lower House" (like a House of Representatives), and the Assistants became the "Upper House" (like a Senate). The Assembly met twice a year. It also acted as the main court for the colony, working with the governor and deputy governor.

During Clarke's time as a Deputy and Assistant, a major concern for Rhode Island was that neighboring colonies, especially Massachusetts and Connecticut, were trying to claim parts of Rhode Island's land.

Serving as Governor

In 1676, during the difficult King Philip's War, Walter Clarke was elected governor. Many settlers from the mainland areas like Providence and Warwick had to move to Aquidneck Island, where Newport and Portsmouth were safer. Small boats with guns patrolled the island to protect it from attacks. Most of the mainland settlements were destroyed during the war.

Rhode Island had many Quakers, who believed in peace and did not want to fight. A law from 1673 allowed men to be excused from military duty if fighting went against their beliefs. This law was temporarily removed during the war but was put back in place six months later. During this time, the colony also sent a strong letter to Connecticut, complaining about their claims on Rhode Island's land.

In May 1677, a group called the "War Party" won most of the seats in the General Assembly. Benedict Arnold was elected governor instead of Clarke. Walter Clarke stepped down for two years. However, in 1679, he was elected deputy governor and served in that role until 1686, when he became governor again.

The Dominion of New England

When King Charles II died in 1685, James II became the new King of England. King James II had new plans for the American colonies. He wanted to combine many of them under one powerful royal governor.

Edmund Andros was appointed as the royal governor over all the New England colonies. This new combined government was called the Dominion of New England. When Rhode Island's General Assembly met in May 1686, it adjourned (closed) and did not meet again for almost four years. To keep some power, Rhode Islanders gave more authority to their individual towns. This helped them keep some of their freedoms during Andros's rule.

When Governor Andros came to Rhode Island, Walter Clarke was one of his seven advisors. Andros wanted to take Rhode Island's Royal Charter, which was the document giving the colony its right to govern itself. But Walter Clarke cleverly sent the Charter to his brother's house and told him not to reveal where it was.

In 1689, King James II fled to France. After this, William III and Mary II became the new rulers of England. Andros was removed from power in New England, and Rhode Island's Royal Charter was restored. This meant the colony could govern itself again.

Final Terms as Governor

After Andros was removed, Walter Clarke initially refused to be governor again. He felt the new government was not fully legitimate. Henry Bull was elected in his place.

However, things changed a few years later. In December 1695, Governor Caleb Carr died. Walter Clarke was then chosen as governor again, likely in January 1696. During this time, there was a plot to kill England's Protestant King William III, and the colonies were preparing for a possible invasion by France.

Governor Fletcher of New York asked Clarke for soldiers from Rhode Island. The Assembly replied that Rhode Island had a long coastline and was not well protected. They explained they could not send soldiers away.

Later, the Treaty of Ryswick brought peace to Europe. Orders were sent to the colonies to stop attacking French ships (these attacks were done by "privateers," who were like legal pirates). These orders reached New England in December 1697.

A man named Jaleel Brenton came from England to Rhode Island with these orders. He also had the power to make officials take an oath required by trade laws. However, Walter Clarke, being a Quaker, refused to take this oath. Clarke was also unhappy about a new "Court of Admiralty" being set up in Rhode Island, which would handle sea-related legal cases. Brenton had a document to make Peleg Sanford the judge of this court, but Clarke tried to stop it.

Because of these issues, Brenton suggested that Clarke should be removed from office. These problems led Walter Clarke to resign as governor in the spring of 1698. His nephew, Samuel Cranston, likely took over as governor and was officially elected in May 1698.

Even after resigning as governor, Walter Clarke continued to serve the public. In 1700, he was elected as deputy governor under Governor Cranston. He was re-elected to this position every year until he died on May 23, 1714, in Newport. He was buried in the Clifton Burying Ground.

Family Life

Walter Clarke was married four times and had eight children.

• His first wife was Content Greenman, whom he married around 1660. They had three children.
• After Content died in 1666, he married Hannah Scott in 1667. Hannah was the niece of the famous religious leader Anne Hutchinson. Walter and Hannah had five children.
• After Hannah died in 1681, he married Freeborn Hart. Freeborn was the daughter of Roger Williams, who founded the colony of Providence.
• After Freeborn died in 1710, Clarke married his fourth wife, Sarah Gould.

Walter Clarke's family was very involved in Rhode Island's government.

• His oldest sister, Mary, married John Cranston, who was also a colonial governor. Their son, Samuel Cranston, became governor after Walter Clarke's last term.
• His youngest sister, Sarah, married Governor Caleb Carr, who was governor just before Walter Clarke in 1695.