11 Facts About Josias Lyndon

Josias Lyndon was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving for a single one-year term.

At the time of Josias Lyndon's election to governor in 1768, there was a lot of bitter acrimony between one camp led by Samuel Ward and the other camp led by Stephen Hopkins, both of whom had already served multiple terms as governor.

Josias Lyndon was elected almost unanimously as a peace and compromise candidate.

Fifteen letters from the Colonial Secretary, Hillsborough, in London, and as many replies by Josias Lyndon concerning the constitutional rights of the colony were the main business of this administration.

The only act of importance during Josias Lyndon's term was the valuation of the Rhode Island colony, an amount that came to a little more than two million pounds.

When war with Britain came to the colonies and Newport was occupied, Josias Lyndon found safety in Warren, Rhode Island where he died of smallpox in 1778.

Josias Lyndon was buried in a cemetery on Serpentine Road, along the bank of the Kickemuit River in Warren.

Caesar Josias Lyndon was a highly articulate and literate African man enslaved by Josiah Josias Lyndon.

Caesar carried out Josias Lyndon's business, acting as both a purchasing agent and a secretary.

Josias Lyndon was a Secretary of the Free African Union Society, the first Black benevolent society in the United States.

Josias Lyndon provided a large feast for his guests of pig roast, corn, bread, wine, rum, coffee and butter.