Per Avery Angell's book, Richard Arnold owned allegiance in 1670; was named in the royal commission of Council to Sir Edmund Andros, 1687 and died April 22, 1710.
History of Woonsocket
by E. Richardson
Woonsocket: S. S. Foss, Printer, Patriot Building, Main Street, 1876.
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p. 39 - 41.
HISTORY. CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF WOONSOCKET.
When the first settlement of Woonsocket was made, I have been unable to ascertain. The reader will remember that I alluded to a saw-mill which existed in these parts in 1666. As its builder, Richard Arnold, was at that time but twenty-four years of age, it is fair to infer that it was erected about that time, and that then was 'the beginning'. The first settlers, as I have said before, were Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock - the latter 'pitching his tent' a little west of the Union Village, and the former locating himself at the river. During their lives they held the lands in common, and no lines were drawn between their estates until many years after their death. This was done by their heirs, March 26, 1731.
When this act was consummated, the Arnold family became proprietors of a greater portion of the lands in the vicinity of the 'Falls', and which is now the most valuable part of the town. It therefore devolves upon me to devote a brief space to Richard Arnold, from whom the titles to our estates are derived.
Richard Arnold was a man of superior abilities, and honored with the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. During the greater portion of his life he held official positions, being either a member of the General Assembly or Assistant-Governor of the Colony. And when our Colony was reduced to a single county, under the Administration of Sir Edmond Andros, a seat was given him in his Council, at Boston. Not only did he take an active part in the affairs of government, but he was repeatedly chosen to act with committees in the adjustment of boundary disputes with the neighboring colonies, and to settle differences that arose, from time to time, among his fellow-townsmen. It was probably during some of his official excursions to the northern part of the Colony that he was moved by the beauty and fertility of the region, and selected it as a fitting place for a settlement. And, taking the up-stream-without-limit clause in the deed from the Indians to mean something, as one of the proprietors of Providence he proceeded to make improvements upon the territory without going through with the formality of purchasing it over again.
According to an ancient document which I have seen, Richard Arnold was married to an 'angel woman'. The contemplation of the fruits of this union, miraculous not only in numbers but often in conception, I am led to believe that the spelling of the word 'angel' with a small 'a' was intentional. He died April 22, 1710, aged sixty-eight years, leaving a widow (Sarah) and four children, namely - Richard, John, Thomas and Mary. The following document will show the extent of his estate and the manner of its division:
The Will of Richard Arnold.
'I, Richard Arnold, of Providence, in the Collony of Rhode Island, etc., being aged and something infirm of body, but sound and perfect memory, thanks be to God; but considering the uncertainty of this life, and not knowing how soon it may please God to take me out of this world, I am willing to do something for the setling of that small estate I have to dispose of; and do therefore make and appoynt this my last will and testament as followeth:
'And, first, I give to Sarah, my wife, for the terme of her natural life, my two lots in the town, with the orchard and house upon them, and also my meadow at the West River, which I bought of Edward Manton, and after my said wife's decease to ----, the lots and said meadow unto my three sons - Richard, John and Thomas Arnold - their heirs and assigns forever. 'I also give to my wife two cows and one-third part of my household goods her in the towne, and all the estate that was hers before I married her.
'Item: I give to my aforesaid son, Richard Arnold, all the land within his fence where he now dwelleth at Wansocket, on ye east side ye Little River, to be for him, his heirs or assigns for ever.
'Item. I give to my son, John Arnold, all the land within his fence and where he now dwelleth, with my interest and part of ye saw-mills at ye Falls, as also ------ of meadow ------more, being within fence on ye east side of ye Little River, with the piece of meadow called the Island, joining on ye west side ye Little River, bounded on ye west with the ditch and on ye south with the drain, to be to the ye said John Arnold, his heirs or assigns forever; and all the rest of lands adjoining, belonging to me at Woonsocket, with my farme granted by ye towne, lieing on ye west side ye branch of Pawtucket river, I give to my said two sons, Richard and John Arnold, to be equally divided between them and theirs forever.
'Item. I give to my son, Thomas Arnold, all my land adjoining at the place where he now dwelleth, or that leith on both sides the highway that leads fro the towne to Loquasqussuck, with the house and other buildings on said farme. That part of said farme lieing on the north-east side said highway is bounded on ye south-west with said highway, on ye norwest, part with the land belonging to Edward Smith and his brother, and partly with land laid out to William Whipple, and on ye north bounded with the land of John Dexter, and on the south-east with Eliezer Arnold; and that on the south-west side of said highway, bounded on the south-east with the land belonging to John Angell and partly with common or undivided land, neere unto land laid out formerly to ----- Olney. The said land I give to my said son, Thomas Arnold, his heirs and assigns forever, he paying the several sums as followeth, that is: To pay fifteen pounds, in money, to his brother Richard, and ten pounds to his brother John, and twenty-five pounds to his sister, Mary Steere.
'Item. I give to Thomas Steere that piece of land belonging to me which lieth at ye bent of ye river below ye bridge, near Thomas Steere, his meadow. And my will is that Thomas Steere shall have half the mills at Nassatuckett, and the other half of said mills, with the farme now in the hands of Elisha Smith - the effects of said mill and farme to be to my executors hereafter named. And my right in common or undivided lands, with all other lands belonging to me not before specified, I give to be equally divided to my said executors.
'And my will is that Toby, my negro servant, serve with my son Thomas until he comes to the age of twenty-five years, which will be in February, 1716 or 1717, and that my said son to then set him free, and give him two suits of apparill, a good narrow axe, a broad hoe, and one sithe with tackling, fit for mowing, and twenty shillings in money.
'And I do make my three sons - Richard, John and Thomas Arnold - joynt executors of this my last will and testament. In witness hereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal this eight day of June, 1708.
RICHARD ARNOLD.
