General Notes

note: John Greene, surgeon, born in 1597, who married, November 4, 1619, Joan Tattersall. She died at Conanictt in 1643, where she had taken refuge when the Massachusetts troops under Captain Cooke made their raid on the inhabitants of Silawomet, now Warwick, Rhode Island. John's second wife was Alice Daniels, widow, and his third was named Phillip (probably Phillipa), who survived him, and who? in a deed, August 27, 1668, mentioned her "granddaughter Phillip Greene." Alice Daniels, his second wife, held land in Providence as early as 1637. Phillip was born in 1601, and died March 10, 1688.


It is probable that John Greene was born at Elowridge Hall, the seat of his ancestors. He resided in England at Salsbury, Wiltshire, and his first marriage took place in St. Thomas' Church in that city. The baptismal records of all of his children appear in the register of that church. Henry E. Turner, in his work "The Greenes of Warwick in Colonial History" states that John was the son of Peter Greene, of ,Audley Hall, Salisbury, but later investigations proved this incorrect, and the authentic pedigree has been printed above.


John Greene sailed in the ship "James," from Hampton for Boston, April 6, 1635, and landed at the latter place with his wife and five children on June 3rd of that year. He went first to Salem, but August 1, 1637, he was in Providence, where, having spoken contemptuously against the magistrates, he was held in 100 marks bail to appear before the quarterly court. September 29, 1637, he was fined Ð20, and commanded to keep without the jurisdiction of tile court under penalty of further fine and imprisonment. March 12, 1638, Roger Williams deeded to John Greene a parcel of land. John was one of the founders of the Baptist church in Rhode Island, one of the twelve men who organized it. In November, 1642, he purchased of an Indian, Miantonomi, the land called Occupassuatuxet, which property remained in the possession of his descendants until it was sold in 1782 to John Brown, of Providence, whose descendants still live on the property.


From the same Indian, January 12, 1643, John and twelve others purchased for 144 fathoms of wampum (Indian shell money strung on skin cords) the tract of land called Shawomet, now Warwick. September 12, 1643, Pomham and Socconocco, Indians, complained of unjust treatment accorded them by John and his companions and the Warwick settlers were ordered to appear before the magistrates of Massachusetts. The Warwick men refused, denying the power of the Massachusetts courts and soldiers under Captain Cooke were sent to bring them before the authorities. All were captured but John Greene, and were imprisoned until March, 1644. John Greene, Samuel Corton and Randall Holden sailed to England from New York in 1644 to obtain redress for their wrongs, but were unsuccessful, and Greene and Holden returned to America, landing in Boston September 13, 1646. John was Commissioner in1654, 1655, 1656 and 1657. He took the freeman's oath in 1655. He died at Warwick, in 1658, and his will was proved January 7, 1659.