[Government of of Pocasset]

March 7, 1638

The 7th day of the first month, 1638

We whose names are underwritten do here solemnly in the presence of Jehovah incorporate ourselves into a Bodie Politick and as he shall help, will submit our persons, lives and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of his given us in his holy word of truth, to be guided and judged thereby.

Exod. 24.3,4.*
2Cron. 11.3
2Kings 11.17

[Signed by William Coddington and eighteen others.]

The 7th of the first month, 1638.

We that are Freemen Incorporate of this Bodie Politick do Elect and Constitute William Coddington, Esquire, a Judge amongst us, and so covenant to yield all due honour unto him according to the lawes of God, and so far as in us lyes to maintaine the honour and privileges of his place which shall hereafter be ratifyed according unto God, the Lord helping us so to do. William Aspinwall, Sec'ry

I, William Coddington, Esquire, being called and chosen by the Freemen Incorporate of this Bodie Politick, to be a Judge amongst them, do covenant to do justice and Judgement impartially according to the lawes of God, and to maintaine the Fundamentall Rights and Privileges of this Body Politick, which shall hereafter be ratifyed according unto God, the Lord helping us to do so.

Wm. Coddington

William Aspinwall is appointed Secretary.

It is agreed that William Dyre shall be Clarke of this Body.

 

J.R. Bartlett, ed.: Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England: Vol 1, 1636 to 1663 (Providence: A. Crawford Greene and Brother, State Printers, 1856), pp. 52-53. — In: Colonial Origins, pp. 163-164.

*Exod. 24.3,4. — And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgements: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said we will do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

2Cron [i.e. 1Chron] 11.3 — Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they annointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

2Kings 11.17 — And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people; between the king also and the people.