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Williams (1606-83) held various positions in Boston, Salem, and Plymouth until 1636, when the colony finally expelled him because of his radical views.
His radical ideas centered around two principles. He asserted that only direct purchase from the Native Americans constituted a valid title to land, and he denied the right of the government to punish what were considered religious infractions. (Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002) Williams said,
“Nothing is more absurd than the setting up of civil powers to judge the conviction of men’s souls.” (Gaustad & Schmidt, The Religious History of America, p. 66)
Williams fled Massachusetts and purchased land from the Narragansett Indians, establishing the settlement of Providence and the colony of Rhode Island. “I desired it might be a shelter for persons distressed for conscience.” (Roger Williams, quoted in, George Bancroft, History of the United States, vol. 1, p. 254)
Rhode Island became the first commonwealth in modern history to make religious freedom the principle of its existence. (Paul Johnson, A History of Christianity, p. 423)
“No person within the said colony shall be molested, punished, or called in question for any differences in opinion in matters of religion, but all persons may enjoy their own judgments and consciences in matters of religious concernments.” (Rhode Island Charter of 1663)
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