Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/104

72 relieved from his position of Assistant in the colony, a post he had honorably held since 1651, and entered upon the more difficult and responsible labor at New York. The Dutch, whose hostility to the English was very great, were to be reconciled, and the hatred of the Indians, whose enmity had been excited by the Dutch, was also to be appeased. He succeeded so well in adjusting these serious difficulties, and harmonizing discordant elements, that his popularity not only entitled him to the title of "Peacemaker," but secured his election as the first Mayor of New York, after the organization of the government. His integrity and ability won for him a second election to that office, and he was also chosen as an umpire to determine the disputed boundary between New York and New Haven colonies. He was also a Commissioner of the Confederate Colonies of New England. As his name occurs in connection with certain offices in Rehoboth in 1664 and 1665, it is probably true that he retained his residence at Wannamoisett, and his interest in town affairs also, and that he returned from New York prior to 1667. In this year, as we have previously seen, his name appears first on the list of those to whom "liberty hath been formerly granted to become a township there (at Swansea) if they should see good." The three proposals for citizenship were prepared by him and adopted by his associates. That portion of Wannamoisett on which his residence had been built was now included within the town of New Swansea, and he with John Myles may be considered the fathers of the town. It is not known in what year he built his house, but the site of it is known to be the same as that on which the house of the late Mr. Samuel Viall stood, in the south part of East Providence. The house was burned in 1892, and the chimney alone is standing. The bricks in this chimney are the same as used by Mr. Willett in the construction, and were either made by the Dutch in New York or imported from Holland. There were two doors in this house which were taken from the old house, and which preserved the somewhat fantastic and