Thomas Olney
Encyclopedia
Thomas Olney was an early minister at the First Baptist Church in America
and a co-founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Thomas Olney, Marie and their sons, Thomas and Epenetus, immigrated to Salem, Massachusetts
on the ship Planter in April, 1635. The family was requested to leave Massachusetts Bay Colony, and they moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1638 following Roger Williams
.
Thomas Olney signed the first Providence compact and received a land in Providence. He was one of the twelve persons to whom Roger Williams deeded land purchased from Canonicus
and Miantonomi on October 8, 1638. Thomas Olney served the town in various capacities including as the first Treasurer, Court Assistant, Town Councilman, Clerk, Assistant to the General Court of Tryalls, Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, tax collector, and on a sub-committee to prevent sale of ammunition to the Indians.
's leadership to found a second church. Olney became lay pastor for this small congregation until his death in 1682.
He died in Providence, Rhode Island
between June 16, 1682 and October 9, 1682.
First Baptist Church in America
The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, also known as First Baptist Meetinghouse. The oldest Baptist church congregation in the United States, it was founded by Roger Williams in Providence, Rhode Island in 1638...
and a co-founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Immigration to New England
Olney was born in England before 1605 and was trained as a shoemaker. Olney married Marie Ashton at St. Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire, England on September 16, 1629.Thomas Olney, Marie and their sons, Thomas and Epenetus, immigrated to Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
on the ship Planter in April, 1635. The family was requested to leave Massachusetts Bay Colony, and they moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1638 following Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
.
Thomas Olney signed the first Providence compact and received a land in Providence. He was one of the twelve persons to whom Roger Williams deeded land purchased from Canonicus
Canonicus
Canonicus was a Native American chief of the Narragansett. He was a firm friend of English settlers.-Biography:...
and Miantonomi on October 8, 1638. Thomas Olney served the town in various capacities including as the first Treasurer, Court Assistant, Town Councilman, Clerk, Assistant to the General Court of Tryalls, Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, tax collector, and on a sub-committee to prevent sale of ammunition to the Indians.
First Baptist Church
Thomas was one of the original members of the First Baptist Church in Providence, but in 1653/4 he and several others withdrew from the Six-Principle Baptists under William WickendenWilliam Wickenden
William Wickenden was an early Anglo-American Baptist minister, co-founder Providence, Rhode Island, and signer of the Providence Compact. Wickenden Street in Providence marks where he originally settled in the seventeenth century and is named in his honor.-Immigration to New England:Wickenden...
's leadership to found a second church. Olney became lay pastor for this small congregation until his death in 1682.
He died in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
between June 16, 1682 and October 9, 1682.
See also
- List of early settlers of Rhode Island
- Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsColony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsThe Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original English Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of North America that, after the American Revolution, became the modern U.S...