William Arnold Autograph Collection (MSS016)

Biographical/Historical note

William Arnold (collection namesake)

Son of Nicholas Arnold and Alice Gully Arnold, William Arnold was born June 24, 1587, in Ilchester, Somerset, England. He married Christian Peake in 1610, and they had four children: Elizabeth, Benedict, Joanna, and Stephen. Arnold sailed with his family from Dartmouth, England to America on May 1, 1635. With Roger Williams, Arnold was one of the founding settlers of Rhode Island, and settled in Providence. After several years, he moved and formed the settlement known as Pawtuxet, now a part of Cranston. Arnold died during King Philip’s War sometime between1675-1676.

Frederick Augustus Arnold (collector)

Son of Russell G. Arnold and Sarah P. Arnold, Frederick A. Arnold was born March 21, 1841. He served in the Second Rhode Island Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and later served as Secretary for the Second Regiment Rhode Island Voluntary Infantry Veteran Association. He worked in the water department for the City of Providence, and was a well-known figure among Providence Public Library users of the time. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Arnold died August 8, 1924.