John Sanford (governor)
| John Sanford | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Governor of Newport and Portsmouth (under Coddington Commission) | |
|
In office 1653–1653 |
|
| Preceded by | William Coddington |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Easton as President of all four towns of the colony |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1605 |
| Died | 1653 Portsmouth, Rhode Island |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Webb Bridget Hutchinson |
| Children | John, Samuel, Eliphalet, Peleg, Endcome, Restcome, William, Esbon, Frances, Elisha, Ann |
| Occupation | Cannoneer, Constable, Assistant, Governor |
John Sanford (c. 1605 – 1653) was an early settler of Boston, Massachusetts, an original settler of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and a governor of the combined towns of Portsmouth and Newport in the Rhode Island colony, dying in office after serving for less than a full term. He had some military experience in England, and also was an employee of Massachusetts magistrate John Winthrop's household prior to sailing to New England in 1631 with Winthrop's wife and oldest son. He lived in Boston for six years and was the cannoneer there.
A divisive religious controversy arose in Boston, and Sanford was disarmed for supporting his mother-in-law Anne Hutchinson, who was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was then compelled to leave Massachusetts as well; he and many others signed an agreement to form a government, then settled on Rhode Island. Here he became a lieutenant, assistant, chief magistrate of Portsmouth, then governor of the two island towns of Portsmouth and Newport in 1653 following the repeal of William Coddington's commission to govern the island. During his administration, the two island towns slowly negotiated a reunion with the two mainland towns of Providence and Warwick.
Sanford was probably from Essex, England, and he probably served in the English Army before emigrating from England. He was a trained surveyor, familiar with military matters, and in his inventory were listed some pieces of armor. He was mentioned in a letter from Massachusetts magistrate John Winthrop to his wife, dated 2 March 1629/30, just prior to the sailing of the Winthrop Fleet: "Our 2 boyes and Ja Downinge, Jo Samford and Mary M. and most of my servants are gone this daye towards S Hampton: the good Lord be with them and us all." Earlier references by Winthrop very likely refer to Sanford, as well, dating back to 1624 and concerning "my man-servant John". There was a period of time when "servant John" was not mentioned in Winthrop's correspondence, and this is probably when Sanford was pressed into military service with John Winthrop, Jr. in a disastrous campaign to relieve the Huguenots at the Isle of Rhe. Sanford became experienced in the use of artillery during this campaign in which nearly 60 percent of the English force became casualties.
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