Rev. Dr. Charles Hartman gave a 45-minute presentation on Roger Williams at the Roger Williams Memorial on North Main Street in Providence on June 24, 2018. The presentation was the first in the 17th Century Rhode Island MeetUp events scheduled for the summer of 2018.

Rev. Dr. Charles Hartman talks about how Roger Williams left England in 1630 came initially to Boston, Plymouth and Salem only to be expelled in 1636 because of his belief that church and state should be separated, a radical idea for his time.

Sowams Heritage Area Project Coordinator Dr. David Weed listens along with seventeen members of the 17th Century Rhode Island MeetUp group who attended. Click here for a 50-minute video of the talk.

Providence College Professor Doug Blum leads the group on a walk to the Weybosset Bridge, originally built in 1660, where Roger Williams served as a toll taker for several years.

Participants read about the history of the Weybosset Bridge before looking at a 19th century illustration of Market Square at the end of the bridge that served as the commercial center of Providence in the 18th and 19th century.

Dr. Hartman answers questions as he and the group returns from the Weybosset Bridge and Market Square along North Main Street and arrives at the Roger Williams Memorial Visitors’ Center where they were able to view a five-minute video about Roger Williams.

Click here for a 50-minute video of Rev. Dr. Hartman’s talk.