26 Facts About Samuel Cranston

Samuel Cranston was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations during the first quarter of the 18th century.

Samuel Cranston held office from 1698 to 1727, being elected to office 30 times and served as governor longer than any other individual in the history of both the colony and the state of Rhode Island.

The crown wanted piracy stopped, while many colonists were sympathetic to the pirates, and Samuel Cranston had to make difficult political decisions to satisfy the home country on this issue.

Samuel Cranston is buried in the Common Burying Ground in Newport, and shares a large marker with his father.

The son of former Rhode Island Governor John Samuel Cranston, Samuel Cranston was born in Newport in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and lived there his entire life.

Samuel Cranston's mother was Mary Clarke, the daughter of an early colonial President, Jeremiah Clarke.

In 1684, at the age of 24, Samuel Cranston became a freeman from Newport.

Bicknell relates an interesting personal experience Samuel Cranston had as a young man.

Samuel Cranston managed to gain his freedom and made his way back to Newport, arriving the evening of his wife's wedding.

Samuel Cranston found his wife before the marriage ceremony, and the event was turned into a celebration for his return, with the groom-to-be surrendering his expected bride with good grace.

Samuel Cranston was in his late 30s when he began his political career, becoming an Assistant in 1696.

Samuel Cranston stated that two men suspected of piracy would be brought to trial.

Samuel Cranston wrote a long letter to the Board of Trade, deprecating the many false reports against the Rhode Island colony that were mostly circulated by Randolph.

Samuel Cranston succeeded in enticing Captain Kidd to come to Boston, where he was seized and imprisoned.

Samuel Cranston had had many narrow escapes, but this was the most wonderful of them all.

At the close of the Assembly Samuel Cranston addressed a petition to the King imploring the continuance of the charter.

Samuel Cranston wrote the Board of Trade informing them that the late deputy governor had been left out of all offices of trust at the recent election on account of his illegally granting privateer commissions several years earlier.

Samuel Cranston added that a more perfect copy of the laws was to be made, and that a new form of engagement had just been adopted to meet the views of the home government.

Samuel Cranston wrote to the Board that he had given up all attempts at reducing the disorders in Rhode Island, and he forwarded papers relating to the seizure and trial of the Westerly prisoners.

Samuel Cranston was able to weather the storm, being considered too able and being too respected by both parties to be removed from office.

Samuel Cranston married first Mary Hart, the daughter of Thomas Hart and Freeborn Williams, and the granddaughter of Providence founder Roger Williams, with whom he had seven children.

The year after Mary's death in 1710, Samuel Cranston married Judith Samuel Cranston, the widow of his younger brother Caleb.

Samuel Cranston was buried in the Common Burial Ground in Newport, beside his father.

Samuel Cranston has a governor's medallion in front of his grave.

Samuel Cranston held his position probably longer than any other man who has ever been subjected to the test of an annual popular election.

Samuel Cranston was thirty times successively chosen governor, holding office till his death, in 1726 [1727].