Who Settled in Rhode Island

Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who had been banished from the Massachusetts colony for his advocacy of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state.

Who lived in the Rhode Island colony?

Algonquin family of tribes. Second largest were the Wampagnoags who were the Narragansett’s enemies and there were many battles between the two tribes. Other tribes inhabiting Rhode Island were the Nipmucks, Niantics and Pequots. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island in 1636.

What ethnic group settled in Rhode Island?

During the colonial era most settlers were English Protestants, although some Irish Protestants, French Huguenots, and Jews also arrived then. Added to this mix were enslaved Africans, who began arriving in the 17th century.