Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/357

 CHARACTER OF TOWNS ADDED. 283 Concerning the six towns added to Rhode Island in 1747, it may be said that while the annexation was of vast conse- quence to her interests, the loss was a correspondingly severe one to Massachusetts. The latter colony held Cape Cod and Boston Bays on the east, and she expected to hold Nar- ragansett Bay and Providence River to Pawtucket as a part of her coast line on the southwest. So important was this maritime border to the Bay Colony, that when the question of locating the capital of Massachusetts was raised, and the issue lay between Boston on Boston Bay and Rehoboth on the Narragansett, the former town had only a small majority in its favor. The old town of Rehoboth lacked but a few votes of being "The Hub," of fame and fortune, and this largely because of her situation on Narragansett Bay and her nearness to Providence, Newport, and New York. Besides the importance of the coast line, harbors, and fisheries of the bay, the land of the Wampanoags was regarded as " The Garden of the Colony," and its surrender to Rhode Island, the colony which Massachusetts had so long held in contempt, was a mortifying loss to the proud people. The towns which had grown up along the east shore of the bay, were now prosperous and full of expectancy. The people held the traditions of Plymouth and Boston which had given them laws, education, and religion. Congregationalism, the established church of New England, was the ruling faith in Rehoboth, now East Providence, Barrington, Bristol, Tiver- ton, and Little Compton. The ministers of these churches as well as the membership were among the most influential in the colony, and to their early training in school and church may be traced the character and habits of this bor- derland people even to the present day. The tier of towns from Cumberland to Little Compton may be considered in its governmental, social, religious, and civil aspects, as rep- resenting the best of early New England life and its acces- sion to and influence upon the life and career of Rhode Island have never been estimated at their full value. The breast bone of Massachusetts was transformed into the back bone of Rhode Island.