William Blackstone, The first European settler of Boston,
and Roger Williams, founder of Providence, Rhode Island were
the two gentlemen who provided the inspiration for our company’s name: Blackstone Williams.

Like William Blackstone and Roger Williams, we, too, are pioneers forging new ground in both Boston and Providence so that our clients can settle into a place they call home. 

Below is some interesting information about our namesakes.

William Blackstone
A man of many firsts: The first European settler of Boston and Rhode Island; the first to have a library of any significance; owned the first hull; was the first to take the "Freeman's Oath' and the first to have an apple orchard, the first that ever bore fruit in Rhode Island,

Roger Williams
English theologian and founder of Providence, Rhode Island and notable proponent of religious toleration and separation of church and state. An advocate for fair dealings with native Americans
                                               
In 1644, Roger Williams received a charter creating the colony of Rhode Island, named for the principal island in Narragansett Bay. He is credited for originating either the first or second Baptist church established in America, which he is known to have left soon afterwards, exclaiming, "God is too large to be housed under one roof." He assumed the attitude of a "Seeker" or "Come-outer," always deeply religious and active in the propagation of Christian truth, yet not feeling satisfied that any body of Christians had all of the marks of the true Church. He continued on friendly terms with the Baptists, being in agreement with them in their rejection of infant baptism as in most other matters. The fact that people should have freedom of opinion on religious matters—he called "soul-liberty.

After he left England, he established a settlement with twelve "loving friends and neighbors". Williams' settlement was based on a principle of equality. The colony was named Providence, due to Williams's belief that God had sustained him and his followers and brought them to this place. When he acquired the other islands in the Narragansett Bay, Williams named them after other virtues: Patience Island, Prudence Island and Hope Island.

Though Roger Williams lived only six miles from Reverend William Blackstone, they did not share the same opinions.

Williams died in early 1683. In 1965, the Roger Williams National Memorial was established as a city park in downtown Providence.

Reverend William Blackstone was 28 years old when he first arrived in the new world, and at 30, he moved across to the North Shore and finally established himself on the western slope of the peninsular of Shawmut (Boston).

He is said to have been the first white inhabitant of Boston and was known to be a hermit during his first years. However, in 1630, when Governor Winthrop sailed into Boston Harbor in July 1630 and landed at Charlestown, sickness soon befell them due to the lack of good drinking water, which, in turn, exacted a heavy toll in lives.

William Blackstone on the other side of the Charles River, being a witness to this terrible scene and a man who often "thanked God" for his many blessings, promptly offered to share with those less fortunate, possibly knowing full well the eventual consequences. Nevertheless, he could not turn his back on these unfortunate people. For the next four years, the 35 year old William was anything but a hermit!

By June of 1631, the population at Shawmut (Boston) had reached 3,000 to 4,000. In that month alone, 14 ships bad arrived bringing in hundreds more.

Four years later, William decided to leave Boston driving his little herd and ladened with all of his worldly possessions, 186 books, and also a stipend of 20 Pounds per year. He passed through the territory of the Plymouth Colony and in all likelihood, picked up an Indian trail that eventually brought him to a spot that pleased him on the banks of a river which emptied at no great distance further on into the Narragansett Bay.

It was here that he built another house, planted another orchard and passed the remainder of his life, nearly 40 years of it.

Reverend William Blackstone died May 26, 1675, at the age of 80 years. Roger Williams was the person who notified Governor Winthrop of his friend’s death.

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