Caleb Sutton

Joseph married Mary Sands. Mary (daughter of James Sands and Mary Cornell) was born in 1698; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Hannah. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Mary Cornell. Mary (daughter of John Cornell and Mary Russell) was born in 1679 in Little Neck Long Island, NY; died in 1762. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Livermore's History of Block Island, Rhode Island, 1877
Bridgewater, Mass. Pages 268 to 286


CAPTAIN JAMES SANDS

The Sands family is traceable back into English history seven or
eight centuries, and at various times some of that name acted
conspicuous parts in national affairs, especially in the reigns
of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Sir William Sands, at that time, had
much to do in securing the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey, and in
sustaining charges against Pope Clement the VII. The American
family of this name probably sprang from that of a Mr. James Sands
of Staffordshire, England, who died in 1670, aged 140 years, and
his wife lived to the age of 120. Forty-eight years previous to
his death the subject of this sketch, Capt. James Sands, was born
in Reading, England, and. his father, Henry Sands, the first of
the name in New England, was admitted freeman of Boston in the
year 1640, thirty years before the death of the elder James Sands.
Thus we may infer, if not demonstrate, the line of relationship
between the English and American families of Sands.

Capt. James Sands, born in 1622, was a young man at the time the
noted Ann Hutchinson made so much disturbance among the good
people of Massachusetts, who banished her from the colony on
account of Antinomian preaching. She went to East Chester, N. Y.,
there settled, and employed Mr. Sands to build her a house, the
following account of which is given by the Rev. Samuel Niles, who
was the grandson of Mr. Sands.

"In order to pursue her purpose she agreed with Captain James
Sands, then a young man, to build her a house, and he took a
partner with him in the business. When they had near spent their
provisions, he sent his partner for more which was to be fetched
at a considerable distance. While his partner was gone there came
a company of Indians to the frame where he was at work, and made
a great shout, and sat down. After some time they gathered up his
tools, put his broad-ax on his shoulder, and his other tools into
his hands, and made signs to him to go away. But he seemed to
take no notice of them, but continued in his work. At length one
of them said, Ye-hah Mumuneketock, the English of which is, ?Come,
let us go,? and they all went away to the water-side for clams or
oysters. [They were near the Hudson river.] After some time they
came back, and found him still at work as before. They again
gathered up his tools, put them into his hands as before they had
done, with the like signs moving him to go away. He still seemed
to take no notice of them, but kept on his business, and when
they had stayed some time, they said as before, Ye-hah
Mumuneketock. Accordingly they all went away, and left him there
at his work - a remarkable instance of the restraining power of
God on the hearts of these furious and merciless infidels, who
otherwise would. doubtless in their rage have split out his
brains with his own ax. However, the Indians being gone, he
gathered up his tools and drew off, and in his way met his
partner bringing provisions, to whom he declared the narrow
escape he had made for his life. Resolving not to return, and run
a further risk of the like kind, they both went from the business."
Mrs. Hutchinson hired others to finish her house. Soon after she
with her whole family, sixteen in all, was murdered by the Indians.

It was in 1658 that Mr. Sands with his wife came from England and
landed at Plymouth, and soon after this he undertook the building
of the house for Mrs. Hutchinson.

A short time after his return from that undertaking to
Massachusetts, he became identified with the enterprise of
settling Block Island, three years after his arrival from England.
In what year he came to the Island we are not certain, for his
name does not appear among the sixteen who came here in April,
1661, nor is it in the list of those who met August 17, 1660, at
the house of Dr. John Alcock of Roxbury to buy the Island; and
yet, in the memorandum of the survey, his name is mentioned, and
also the numbers of the lots that constituted his sixteenth part
of the Island. This is sufficient to identify him with the first
purchasers and settlers thereof. His lots were numbered 12, and
14, and 15, the latter two owned by him and John Glover. He came
from Taunton to the Island, and was soon distinguished as a
prominent citizen.

In March, 1664, the General Assembly of Rhode Island notified the
inhabitants of Block Island that they were under the care of the
Rhode Island government, and at the same time informed James Sands,
then a freeman of Rhode Island, to come "in to the Governor or
deputy-Governor, to take his engagement as Constable or
Conservator of the peace there."

In May, 1664, Mr. Sands with Mr. Joseph Kent, presented to the
General Assembly of Rhode Island, a petition in behalf of the
Islanders that Joseph Kent, Thomas Terry, Peter George, Simon Ray,
William Harris, Samuel Bearing, John Rathbone, John Davies,
Samuel Staples, Hugh Williams, Robert Guthrig, William Tosh,
Tollman Bose, William Carboone, Tristrome Dodge, John Clark, and
William Barker might be admitted as freemen of the Colony of
Rhode Island. The Assembly referred the petition to a committee
consisting of Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, and Joseph Torrey,
who reported favorably upon all the above names except Hugh
Williams, against whom was a rumor of his having said some words
reproachful of the colony. After further examination as to his
loyalty, however, he was admitted freeman. Mr. Sands had been
previously admitted, and he is probably the James Sands mentioned
as a freeman in 1655, and as a representative of the General
Court of Commissioners, held at Newport, May the 19th, 1657.
(Col. Rec., I, p. 300, 855.) Capt. James Sands, with Thomas Terry,
was the first representative from Block Island to sit in the
General Court of Commissioners of Rhode Island, admitted such in
1665. In 1672, he was foremost in presenting the petition to have
the Island incorporated under the name of New Shoreham, and the
General Assembly granted the request, but in so doing preserved
the old name Block Island, the chartered name being "New Shoreham,
otherwise Block Island."

He understood the carpenter?s trade, as is evident from what has
been said of his undertaking to build a house for Ann Hutchinson.
This knowledge helped him in erecting his own house on Block
Island. He located it a few feet east of the house now occupied
by Mr. Almanzo Littlefield, close to the mill and bridge on the
road from the Harbor to the Center, or Baptist church. He built
it of stone, and Rev. Samuel Niles, his grandson, frequently
speaks of it in his history of the Indian and French Wars. Our
evidence of its location is circumstantial, but conclusive.

There is not an individual on the Island, besides the writer,
probably, who can say with any degree of certainty where the
"garrisoned" house stood.

Mr. Sands was brave, humane, and a devoted. Christian as well as
an enterprising citizen. There was difference of opinion between
him and his grandson, Mr. Niles, to preclude the suspicion that
might arise in the minds of some that the latter overpraised the
former. Moreover, the latter wrote at too advanced. an age to be
prejudiced, or biased from the truth by personal considerations.
Mr. Sands? courage is seen in the following extract concerning
the Indians here and the few settlers: " The English, fearing
what might be their [the Indians?] design, as they were drinking,
dancing, and reveling after their usual customs at such times, *
* went to parley with them, and. to know what their intentions
were. James Sands, who was the leading man among them, entered
into a wigwam where he saw a very fine brass gun standing, and
an Indian fellow lying on a bench in the wigwam, probably to
guard and keep it. Mr. Sands? curiosity led him to take and view
it, as it made a curious and uncommon appearance. Upon which the
Indian fellow rises up hastily and snatches the gun out of his
hand, and withal gave him such a violent thrust with the butt end
of it as occasioned him to stagger backward. But feeling some
thing under his feet, he espied it to be a hoe, which he took up
and improved, and with it fell upon the Indian."

In another connection Mr. Wiles says of him: "He was a benefactor
to the poor; for as his house was garrisoned, in the time of
their fears of the Indians, many poor people resorted to it, and
were supported mostly from his liberality. He also was a promoter
of religion in his benefactions to the minister they had there
in his day, though not altogether so agreeable to him as might
be desired, as being inclined to the Anabaptist persuasion. He
devoted his house for the worship of God, where it was attended
every Lord?s day or Sabbath."

"Anabaptist" was then a term used to designate such as are now
called Baptists, and Mr. Sands? powerful influence did much to
establish Baptist sentiments on the Island.

That he was an enterprising citizen is evident from the simple
statement: " Mr. Sands had a plentiful estate, and gave free
entertainment to all gentlemen that came to the Island." To this
it is added: "When his house was garrisoned it became a hospital,
for several poor people resorted thither."

Such are the facts that furnish the outlines of one of the noblest
characters of New England. An intimate friend of Roger Williams,
the first freeman on the Island, the Orson representative from it
in the Rhode Island Assembly, the one who procured the
citizenships to the Islanders as freemen and presented to the
State the petition for the chartered rights of a township; making
his house the hospitable home of visitors from abroad, the
garrison, and the place of worship for the Islanders, and a
hospital for the poor and suffering. "He died in the 72d year of
his age," (Niles) and instead of the humble slab, from which the
letters and figures are so worn by time, in the Block Island
cemetery, lying over his grave, there should be erected a
monument more expressive of his great excellences. His simple
epitaph reads:

HRE LYES INTVRRED THE
BODY OF MR JAMES SANDS SENIOVR
AGED 73 YEARS WHO DEPARTED THIS
LIFE MARCH 13 A. D. 1695.

He represented Block Island in the Rhode Island General Assembly
in the years 1678, 1680, and 1690. His descendants are very
numerous, and some of them distinguished. Three of his four sons,
during the French privateering on the Island removed to Cow Neck,
now Sands Point, on Long Island. At the same time they retained
their farms and cattle on Block Island, to which they annually
returned in the summer. Their kinsman and intimate acquaintance,
Rev. Samuel Niles, says of them: " Captain John Sands, Mr. James,
and Samuel Sands, each of them leaving a farm at Block Island,
which they stocked with sheep, were wont to come once a year at
their shearing-time on the Island, to carry off their wool and
what fat sheep there were at that time and market at New York."
One of them, it seems, returned to remain permanently after the
French. had ceased their depredations, and of him we give the
following items.


MR. SANDS? STONE HOUSE, AND THE SANDS? GARRISON.

Their location is established, in the writer?s mind beyond a
doubt, by the following circumstantial evidence, to have been
nearly where Mr. Almanzo Littlefield?s residence is now standin

THE HOUSE.

That Captain James Sands had a stone house, used as a garrison
and hospital, in times of necessity, is admitted, and shown by
Mr. Niles? History.

1. His sixteenth of the Island - nearly all of it, as seen in
the original plat, a copy of which is in the possession of
Col. S. Ray Sands, embraces the house lot, and mill-pond now
owned by Mr. A. Littlefield.
2. Rev. Mr. Niles, grandson of Capt. J. Sands, lived some years
with his grandparents in the stone house, arid he says the
mill-pond was "near the house." He speaks of that pond as
having a "flume."
3. He says that house was "not far from the Harbor," which then
was the "Old Pier."
4. The house wss within musket shot of a French privateer lying
at the Pier. After the French had plundered it and returned
to their vessel they "fired many pens at the house," says
Mr. Niles, and adds: "I heard several bullets whistling over
my head."
5. When the French took the stone house they "set up their
standard on a hill on the back side of it" [the house].
After it had stood there some hours an English vessel hove
in sight, which "put the Frenchmen into a great surprise,"
whereupon:
6. They were seen "running up to their standard on the hill,
then down again, and others doing the like."
7. Mr. Niles, when the French landed, was "in fair sight of the
house," and at the same time "saw them coming from the
water-side," while just behind him was a "large swamp."
8. The outlines of a cellar still visible between the present
old water-mill and Mr. Almanzo Littlefield?s house, and he
states that part of a cellar-wall is there covered up.
9. No other mill-pond on the Island could have had a "flume,"
and a flume implies the presence of a mill.
10. The mill-pond now there has been there from the Most ancient
traditions.
11. Mrs. Sarah Sands, widow of the above James Sands, in her
will transmitted to her son the "mill," and the "mill" was
in the inventory of her husband?s estate soon after his
death.
12. The stone house of Mr. Sands was "garrisoned." This implies
the presence of a body of soldiers.
13. That garrison existed when the men of the Island were only
"sixteen and e boy."
14. The mill-pond and mill were near the house and garrison when
Mrs. Sands had "but one little child, a girl, just able to
run about and prattle a little" when she was drowned in said
mill-pond.
15. Said garrison was established in the time of "Philip?s War,"
as a protection against the Block Island Indians.
16. The earth work of an ancient garrison that commanded said
stone house on three sides, is now seen, directly east of
the spot where said house stood, and within pistol-shot of
it, with a sharp hill back of it or east of it, and adjacent
from which the whole region around. was visible to a
sentinel.
17. The "upland in a great swamp" to which Mr. Niles fled the
first time the French came to Mr. Sands? house, was a
convenient place of concealment, lying a short distance
northwest of the location of said house. The upland and
swamp remain, and are easily pointed out, lying a little
distance west of Erastus Rose?s house.


These documents are made available free to the public for non-commercial purposes by the Rhode Island
USGenWeb Project, 1998.

James married Sarah Walker. Sarah (daughter of John Walker and Catherine Hutchinson) was born in in Reading Berkshire England; died in 1709 in Block Island RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Livermore's History of Block Island, RI, 1877 Bridgewater, MA
Pages 268 to 286 continued


MRS. SARAH SANDS

This lady had virtues and culture which entitle her to more than
a passing notice. Although at this distant day we can give but a
few outlines of her character, yet these may indicate to some the
beauty of the portrait had it been properly delineated in due
season. There is also incidental, collateral information obtained
from the biographical fragments of her no w presented. In
speaking of Captain James Sands, one of the first settlers, his
grandson, Rev. Samuel Niles, says:

"His wife was a gentlewoman of remarkable sobriety and piety,
given also to hospitality. She was the only midwife and doctress
on the Island, or rather a doctor, all her days, with very little,
and with some and mostly, no reward. at all. Her skill in surgery
was doubtless very great, from some instances I remember she told
me of. One was the cure of an Indian, that under disgust, as was
said, he had taken at his wife or squaw, shot himself, putting
the muzzle of his gun to the pit of his stomach, and pushing the
trigger. The bullet went through him, out and opposite at his
back. He instantly fell, and one of the spectators who happened
to be in the field at the time, and heard the report of the gun,
told me, after he was fallen and wallowing in the blood, he saw
the blood and froth issue out of his back and breast as often as
he drew his breath. He was perfectly healed, and lived a hearty,
strong man even to old age; whom I afterward knew, and often saw
the scar at the pit of his stomach, as large or larger in
circumference than our ordinary dollars passing among us."

"Another signal cure she told me God made her an instrument of
making, was on a young woman that was struck with lightning
through her shoulder, so that when she administered to her by
syringing, the liquid matter would fly through from the fore part
to the hinder, and from the hinder part to the foremost, having
a free and open passage both ways, yet was cured, and had several
children, and lived to old age. I also knew her long before her
death. She had also skill, and cured the bites and venomous
poison of rattlesnakes."

Her husband, in his last will, made her the sole executrix of his
estate which, after his death, was inventoried as follows:

James Sands' Estate, March 13, 1694:
"About 400 acres of land;
Fifty-six head. of cattle, small and great:
Three horses - mare, colt, one horse:
Thirty swine, old and young:
About 300 sheep:
A negro woman - house and barn, and mill.
Sundry household goods not appraised."

Mr. Sands died. in March, 1695, and in March, 1699, Mrs. Sarah
Sands, his widow, had a lawful record made of the following
emancipation of her slaves:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Sarah Sands, of Block
Island, alias New Shoreham, in the Colony of Rhode Island,
Providence Plantations, in New England, Wife to Mr. James Sands,
of Block Island, and made sole executrix by my said husband,
James Sands, at his death, and having three Negro children born
under my roof and in my custody, being left to my disposing by my
above said. husband."

"Know ye therefore that I, the above Sarah Sands, do hereby and
voluntarily give and bestow of them as followeth, that is to say:

"First: I give to my granddaughter, Sarah Sands, daughter to my
son, Edward Sands, one of the Negro girls named Hannah: The other
Negro girl I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter, Catharine
Niles, daughter to my son-in-law, Nathaniel Niles, of Point
Judith in the colony above said - the two Negro girls I freely
and voluntarily give to my two grandchildren above named until
the said Negroes come to the age of thirty years, and then I do
by these presents declare that they shall be free from any
service, and be at their own disposal - the Negro girl given to
my granddaughter, Catharine Niles, is named Sarah. The other
negro above said being a boy named Mingo, I freely give and
bequeath to my grandson, Sands Raymond, son to my son-in-law,
Joshua Raymond, of Block Island above named, which I give freely
until that he the said Negro boy comes to the age of thirty-three
years, and then to be free and his own man and at his own
disposal forever after that he shall arrive to the age of 33
years; for I Sarah Sands do by these presents freely declare that
I have made a promise that no child whatsoever born under my
service and care shall be made a slave of any longer than is
above specified, and for the confirmation and ratification of
this my free and voluntary act, I have under set my hand, and
affixed my seal this ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine."

Signed in presence of
SAMUEL NILES. SARAH SANDS.

Two years and a half passed away and Mrs. Sands, conscious of her
approaching end, in her last will, left a preamble to it that
speaks well for her character, revealing a faith which was her
brightest ornament through her long and eventful life mostly
spent among her fellow-Islanders, many of whom she had seen in
their barbarous state, and all of whom, with her devoted
companion, she had labored to improve both socially and religiously.

HER WILL.

"In the name of God, Amen. I Sarah Sands of Block Island, alias New
Shoreham, in the colony of Rhode Island, and Providence
Plantations, in New England, being aged and weak in body, but of
sound and perfect memory - Praise be given to Almighty God for
the same - and knowing the uncertainty of this life on earth, and
being desirous to see that things in order be done before my
death, Do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form
following:

"I being wife to Mr. James Sands deceased, and. made sole
executrix by my said. husband., as by will bearing date June the
18th, 1694, may plainly appear, That is to say, First, and
Principally; I commend my soul to Almighty God my Creator,
assuredly believing that I shall receive full pardon and free
remission of all my sins, and be saved by the precious death and
merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Christ Jesus; and my
body to the earth from whence it was first taken, to be buried in
such decent and Christian manner as to my executor hereafter named
shall be thought most meet and convenient: And as touching such
worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent me, my will and
meaning in the same shall be implied....

[Things specified for each.] That they shall be equally divided.
amongst my five children, viz.: John Sands, James Sands, Samuel
Sands, Sarah Niles, and Mercy Raymond.....

Signed in presence of SARAH SANDS.
SAMUEL NILES, and
HANNA ROSE, Oct. 17th, 1703."

In Sept., 1704, she gave her negro woman to her grandson, Rev.
Samuel Niles, to be kept by him ten years, at the expiration of
which time she was to be free for ever thereafter.





James SANDS(2) was born in 1622. He died in 1695. Capt. JAMES SANDS born in England in 1622, died in America 1695. He came from Reading, Berkshire, England. He followed Ann Hutchinson in her exile on the banks of the Hudson, N. Y., and returned to Rhode Island in 1664. He m. Sarah Walker in 1645 or 1646, dau, of John Walker and Catharine Hutchinson, she d. 1709. Their children were:

John J. b. 1650, m. Sybil Ray, b. 1665, d. 1733,
dau. of Simeon and Mary (Thomas) he d. 1712.
>>>>Sarah m. 1671, Nathaniel Niles, son of John and
Jane, he b. 1642, d. 1723, she d. 1726.
Mercy m. 1683, Joshua Raymond, b. 1644, son of
Joshua and Elisabeth (Smith), she d. 1704.
Capt. James b. 1662, m. 1694, Sarah Cornell, b.
1679, dau. of John and Mary (Russell).
Samuel b. 1666, m. 1699, Dorothy Ray, dau. of
Simeon and Mary (Thomas), he d. 1730.
Edward b. 1672, m. 1693, Mary Williams, dau. of
John and Ann (Alcott), he d. 1708, she d. 1708.

Bunker, Mary Powell. Long Island Genealogies. Genealogies of early settlers of Long Island, which includes deeds, wills and records of the early Thomas Powell.
Bibliographic Information: Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers. Albany, NY, 1895.
=======================================================================
Since 1784, on the division, it is in the township of North Hempstead.... Sands Point derives its name from the purchase, December 25, 1691: and deed to John Sands (son of Captain James Sands of Block Island) from Richard Cornell, of Rockaway, and his wife of 500 acres of land at Cow Bay, L. I., which included this point. Cornell held under a grant from Governor Dongan in 1686.

Mr. John Sands resided there till his death in 1712: in his house still standing: which remained in his family till about 1765, when it passed to Benjamin Hewlett with the existing family burial-lot.

Rev. Samuel Niles, in his rambling narrative (A. D. 1700) of the Indian wars, describes Block Island during his own residence there (1674-1762). After detailing the completion of his large stone house there by Captain James Sands, adds: "In 1689 the island was captured by French privateers, and on his advice, Mr. Niles. Mr. Sands and family, with some others, 'took our flight into the woods, which were at considerable distance, where we encamped that night. After which the three elder brothers, Captain John Sands, Mr. James and Samuel Sands, removed to Long Island and settled there, each leaving a farm at Block Island, which they stocked with sheep, and came over once a year, at shearing time, on Block Island, to carry off their wool and fit sheep for market at New York.'"
From: "Tristram Dodge and his Descendents in America "
Author: Robert Dodge
Call Number: CS71.D645
A comprehensive, historical and descriptive accounting of Block Island and Cow Neck, Long Island, the original 17th and 18th century settlements of Tristram Dodge and his descendants.
================================================================
In May, 1664, Arnold in his History of Rhode Island says: "The first regular assembly, as established by the Charter, met at Newport in May. The affairs of Block Island were definately settled at this session. Three messengers, James Sands, Thomas Terry and Joseph Kent, appeared from the Island to signify their obedience to His Majesty's will."
================================================================
Bibliographic Information: Pierce, Ebenezer W. Peirce's Colonial Lists. Boston: Press of David Clapp and Son, 1880
================================================================
SANDS (Sandes, Sandys), James (1622-95)
from Eng., 1638, settled at Portsmouth, R I
1640; later at Block Island; dep. Gen. Ct for
New Shoreham Co.. 1665; asst. warden, 1676 cdr
militia co. in King Philip's War; m Sarah, dau
John Walker.
ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM, Frederick Virkus A compendium of family genealogies that includes practically every name distinguished in the early history of the country, Vol. I
================================================================
The sixteen settlers entered into possession of their allotments; and here have ever since remained undisturbed by the natives, or the several wars of the colonies and States. When, in 1664, Rhode Island was chartered by Charles II., they elected to become part, and not of Massachusetts; and those settlers, by Delegates James Sands and Joseph Kent took the oaths as Freemen of Rhode Island, as appears hereby:

Rhode Island Colonial Records, 1664-77.

(Prov. 1857), printed by order of the General Assembly, vol. xxi., p. 58. "At a General Assembly of the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, assembled Rhode Island, the fourth of the third month ("May") so-called, 1664, and in the sixteenth yeare of the raygne of Charles the Second, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, etc.

"Whereas (recital that it hath pleased the King to grant a charter to the colony), wherein Block Island is expressly nominated as part of this colony.
"That by these messengers: James Sands, Thomas Terry, and Joseph Kent, the inhabitants of Block Island have declared unto this Assembly their professed obedience to his Majesty said royal pleasure. (After settling form of government, oaths of allegiance and office to be subscribed and filed), proceeds:

"Whereas Mr. James Sands, of Block Island, being freeman in this Collony or Corporation of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, etc., together with Joseph Kent, of Block Island, hath presented their humble petition to this Court, being the Generall Assembly of this Collony, in behalf of Thomas Terry, Peter George, Simon Raye, William Harris, Samuel Dearing, John Raurbone, John Davies, Samuel Staple, Hugh Williams, Robert Gutney, William Tosh, Tallman Rose, William Carhouse, Tristrome Dodge, John Clark, Joseph Kent, and William Barker; inhabitants and housekeepers at Block Island aforementioned, desiring that the forementioned inhabitants may be admitted freemen of this Collony aforesay ed, and being demanded, if they the said James Sands and Joseph Kent did know that all the forenamed persones weare men of peaceable and good behaviour, and lykly to prove worthy and hopefull members of the Collony, they answered 'Yea,' where upon the Court on caution and instructions given to the sayd petitioners, have accepted and admitted all the sayd inhabitants aforementioned, to be free of the sayd Collony, or soe many as shall give under their hands in writting according to the instructions aforementioned."
From: "Tristram Dodge and his Descendents in America "
Author: Robert Dodge

================================================================
James came from Reading in Berkshire, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims had landed 22 years earlier and in 1642, we know he was at East Chester,Westchester County, N. Y., where he was engaged in building a house
for Mrs. Hutchinson, probably his mother-in-law. He then moved to
Portsmouth, Rhode Island like so many of our ancestors.

In Portsmouth, James Sands had grants of land October 5, 1643, and Augu
29, 1644; in 1655, he was made a freeman at Portsmouth, R.I.

In just ten years, he had advanced and on May 19, 1657, he became the
Commissioner from Portsmouth at the General Court which was the legislature
at that time of Rhode Island.

Then, in 1660, in company with others, he purchased Block Island from t
Indians; in 1661, they sailed from Taunton, Massachusetts to Block Isla
(called by the Indians, Manisses) and settled there. Block Island is due south of
Rhode Island and due east of Long Island. It is part of New York. The Island
was divided into sixteen shares, his share being one-sixteenth. In Marc
1663-4, he was constable on Block Island.

In 1665, James became deputy from Block Island to the General Assembly; the
New York State legislature. He was largely concerned in settling the township,
and was one of the first who petitioned the General Assembly for a charter of
incorporation, which was obtained in 1672, under the name of New Shoreham;
in October 1670, and September 1671, he was tax rater on Block Islan
1676, he was assistant warden. There is a deed, James Sands to John Sands, his
son, dated November 15, 1690, recorded in the Hempstead New Book of
Record, on pp. 345-61 by Thos. Gildersleeve, Clerk, of the land upon which he
settled when he first came to Block Island. He was buried in the public
graveyard; the stone over his remains, a large recumbent sandstone slab, still in
a good state of preservation, bears the following inscription:

"HERE LYES IN
TVRRED THE BODY
OF MR. JAMES SANDS,
SENIOVR AGED 73
YEARS DEPARTED
THIS LIFE MARCH
THE 13, 1695."

His widow survived him until 1709.

A memoir written by Great-Grandfather James Sands' grandson, Niles, relates much about
great-grandfather's courage, great-grandmother Sarah and relations with the Indians and French privateers on Block Island. It was in part due to the depredations of the French that James Sands' sons decided to move to Cowneck.

A Narrative about James Sands I

by his Grandson



At Block Island, where I was born, some time after the

Island began to be settled by the English, there then being

but sixteen Englishmen and a boy, and about three hundred

Indians, the Indians were wont, some of them, to treat the

English in a surly, lordly manner, which moved the

English to suspect they had some evil designs in hand; and

it being in the time of Philip's war, there was a large stone

house garrisoned erected by James Sands, Esq., one of the

first settlers.

.(Note: James Sands, your 9th Great-Grandfather)

. .The before mentioned James Sands, who was the leading

man among them, entered into a

wigwam, where he saw a very fine brass gun standing, and

an.Indian fellow lying on a bench in the wigwam, probably

to guard and keep it. Mr. Sands' curiousity led him take

and view it, as it made a curious and uncommon appear-

ance. Upon which the Indian fellow rises up hastily and

snatches the gun out of his hand, and withal gave such a

violent thrust with the butt end of it as occasioned him to

stagger backward. But feeling something under his feet,

he espied it to be a hoe, which he took up and improved,

and with it fell upon the Indian. Upon which a mighty

Scuffle ensued, the English and Indians on the outside of

the wigwam closing in one with another; which probably

would have issued in the destruction of the whole English '

party.- . . . Mrs. Hutchinson, who came into this country

under a religious character, probably not very long after

the church at Boston was settled, . went farther

westward to a place called East Chester, now in the eastern

part of the province of New Pork. In order to

pursue her purpose, she agreed with the before-mentioned

Captain James Sands, then a young man, to build her

house, and he took a partner with him in the business.

When they had near spent their provisions he sent his

partner for meat, which was to be fetched at a considerable

distance. While his partner was gone, there came a com-

pany of Indians to the frame where he was at work, and

made a great shout and sat down after some time they

gathered up his tools, put his broadax on his shoulder,

and his other tools into his hands, and made signs to him

to go away. But he seemed to take no notice of them, but

continued in his work. at length one of them said, " Ye-

hah Mumune Ketok," the English of which is Come, let

us go and they went away to the water side for clams

or oysters. After some time they came back and found

him still at work as before. They again gathered up his

tools, put them into his hands as before they had done,

with the like signs moving him to go away. He still seemed

to take no notice of them, but kept on in his business, and

when they had stayed some time they said as before, "Pe-

hah Mumune Ketok and accordingly they all went away,

and left him there at his work, a remarkable instance of

the restraining power of God on the hearts of these furious

and merciless infidels, who otherwise would doubtless, in

their rage, have split his brains with his own axe. But

God had further business for him to do in this world, in

conducting the affairs on Block Island afterwards as

before is briefly related, for many years when the people

there became more numerous. and until his eldest son,

Captain John Sands, a gentleman of great port and

superior power succeeded him. He died in the 72d year

of his age, He was a benefactor;:to the poor; for as his

house was garrisoned - in the time of their fear of the

Indians, as before is

noted, many poor people resorted to it, and were supported

mostly from his liberality. He was also a promoter of

religion in his benefactions to the minister they had there

in his day, though not altogether so agreeable to him as

might be desired, as being inclined to the anabaptist

persuasion. He devoted his home for the worship of God,

where it was attended every Lord's day or Sabbath.

Sarah Sands, your 9th Great-Grandmother :

His wife was a gentlewoman of remarkable sobriety and piety, given also to hospitality. She was the only midwife and doctress on the island or rather a doctor, all her days, with very little, and with some, and mostly, no reward at all. Her skill in surgery was doubtless very great, from some instances I remember she told me of.

Mr. Sands had a plentiful estate, and gave free entertainment to all gentlemen who came to the island; and when his home was garrisoned it became a hospital, for several poor people resorted thither, as before is remarked who being driven from their habitations and improvements, could bring but little with them. I heard his wife (who outlived her husband many years) often with admiration express the singular tokens of Gods favorable providence in that time, by increasing remarkably the comforts of life on themselves and the poor that Providence had cast under their care.

I shall give but one remarkable instance more in this digression, with relation to Mrs. Sands, of whom I have been speaking. She had then but one little child, a girl, just able to run about and prattle a little. Her maid had occasion to go into the field on some business and urged that the child might go with her. The mistress denied, and withal telling the maid there was an old well in the field, which the child would be likely to fall into, or some other mischief would happen to her. The maid goes away, and the mother sits down in the doorway, to keep the child out of danger, as they had a mill-pond near the home; and as sewing linen cloth, and wanted a piece that lay on the table on the opposite part of the room, she bid the child to bring it to her. The child went to a door -that led to an inner room, where there was no other passage out, and closing the door, saying, " This, mamma, this she said, No, that, pointing to the cloth. She was busy and thought no more of her child, until one of her neighbors came and said, " The Lord give you patience; your child is drowned" The man came by the child, and saw it floating on the water" in the flume, but took no care of it, but-went up to the home -- whereas if he had taken it out, he might have been a means of preserving its life. Bnt thus it must be in Providence. The mother often lamented her presumption, in pretending to be her child's keeper.

It is time to return to Mr. Sands, where we left him, working on his frame, the Indians being gone, he gathered up his tools, and drew off, and in his way met his partner bringing provisions, to whom he declared the narrow escape he had made for his life. Resolving not to return, and run a further risk of the like kind, they both went from the business.

Captain James Sands had four sons, all living on Block Island, until the island was infested, and plundered twice by French privateers; after which the three elder brothers removed to Long Island, and settled there (from whom I had the narrative of what I am now writing), namely Captain John Sands, Mr.James and Samuel Sands, each of them leaving a farm at Block Island, which they stocked with sheep, and were wont to come once a year at their shearing time on the island, to carry oft their wool and what fat sheep there were at that time, and market at New York. Upon this design they were all coming together, sometime in the beginning of June and as near as I can remember, in the year 1702, one of them bringing a little daughter, about seven years of age, in a new vessel he had built, designing to leave the child with his mother for some time . Sarah Sands the famous doctor I spake of before, who was then living a widow; and several Indian servants were in the forecastle or fore part of the vessel, which was enclosed, but there was no bulk-head abaft, where these gentlemen were sitting together. There was also a quantity of wheat in the hold under the deck, which lay partly at the lower part of the mast as they were sailing down the Sound, as it is called, between Long Island and the mainland, under an easy, pleasant gale of wind, they observed a dark,threatening cloud gathering in the northwest. Apprehending a sudden gust of wind, they pulled down their sails, as they saw at a distance also a rippling of the water and it proved accordingly. But the cloud scattered, and the gust went over, and they hoisted their sails and proceeded in their course as before. After a short time the cloud gathered again, and being apprehensive of a like sudden gust, they lowered their sails; and it proved as they expected, and they again proceeded on their voyage with a fair and easy gale. But in a space of time the cloud gathered a third time, and appeared more terrible, threatening an extraordinary tempest; upon which they lowered their sails, as they had twice before. and it proved very terrible, with thunder, lightning rain and wind, with stress and uncommon violence. At length there came a loud clap of thunder with sharp lightning, and struck on the top of their mast; and the lightning ran down into the hold of the vessel to the step of the mast, and then suddenly started upward; and they saw apparently the wheat that lay near the mast fly each way from it, and seemed to disperse; but it soon gathered into a round solid body, as big, or bigger, than a man's fist, and in that form flew to to one side of the vessel, and then broke with an extraordinary loud noise as of hard thunder, and then seemed to scatter; but then gathered into the like form as before, and flew to the other side of the vessel, and broke with the like mighty noise, and dispersed; but gathered the third time, and flew back to the other side, where it made a hole between wind and water, and disappeared. The child, before mentioned, lay all this time asleep, while the lightning passed forward and backward over it, as has been related, without the least hurt, when her father, and uncles with him, that beheld the Lightning in its motions and operations, as plainly as to see from one side of the room to the other, concluded she was struck dead as she lay. Nor were any hurt in the vessel, except these men's eyes were so sore they scarcely could see when they came to the island where I then was, and from them received the narrative, as here is related, of this wonderful salvation God wrought for them.

Sometime in July, 1689, three French privateer vessels came to Block Island. As they were thus become masters of the island, they disarmed the men, and stove their guns to pieces on the rocks, and carried the people and confined them in the home of Captain James' Sands before mentioned, which was large and accommodable for their purpose, and not far from the harbor. This they made their prison. The French came a third time while was on the island, and came to anchor on Saturday, sometime before night; and acquainted us who they and what they intended, by hoisting up their white colors.

None of the people appearing to oppose them, and having at this time my aged grandparents, James Sands and his wife, before mentioned, to take care of, with whom I then dwelt; knowing also that if they landed they would make his house the chief seat of their rendezvous, as they had done twice before, and not knowing what insults or outrage they might commit on them, I advised to the leaving their house, and betaking themselves to the woods for shelter, till they might return under prospects of safety, which they consented to accordingly we took our flight into the woods, which were at a considerable distance, where we encamped that night as well as the place and circumstances would allow, with some others, that for the like reasons fell into our company.

Notes:

John Cornell. Born ca 1634 in Essex, England. John was baptized in Saffron-Walden, Essex, Eng. on 6 Jun 1634.5 John died in 1704 in Hempstead, LI.9

From Genealogy of the Cornell Family:9
"1673, March 3, Mary Cornell, wife of John Cornell of Plymouth Colony, testified on the trial of her brother Thomas. 1673, July 4, he was one of those appointed by the court at Dartmouth, Mass. to take charge of so much of his brother Thomas' estate as was in Dartmouth. 1676, Oct. 3, the Governor grants to John Cornell 'who with his wife and five small children, had been driven from the eastward by the Indians,' a tract of 100 acres of land on the west side of Cow Neck. He built a house here, but the land was claimed by the inhabitants of Hempstead, who pulled the house down. Those concerned in this were afterwards indicted and convicted. (See full account in Onderdonk's Queens County, pp. 9-10.) It may have been to quiet the title to this piece of land that Governor Andros issued a patent to John Cornell, Sept. 29, 1677, for 116 acres 'near the bottom of Cow Neck, adjoining Cow Bay,' with a privilege of acquiring an additional 100 acres. This privilege was exercised when a patent was taken from Governor Dongan, dated Dec. 13, 1686, for 100 acres north of the above and extending to the Sound. A tract of land on the first grant was reserved for a family burying ground. John and his wife were both buried there."

ca 1669 John married Mary Russell, daughter of John Russell & Dorothy [Russell].9 Born in 1645.5

Mary, of Dartmouth, MA.

Their children include:
292 i. Joshua (ca1677-)
293 ii. Richard (1679-1757)
294 iii. Mary (ca1679-)
295 iv. John (ca1681-)
296 v. Caleb (ca1683-ca1734)
297 vi. Rebecca (ca1685-)
(Portsmouth Genealogy)

John married Mary Russell. Mary (daughter of John Russell and Dorothy Cotton (?)) was born in 1645 in Dartmouth, Bristol, MA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]