The John Clarke Trust

Dating from April 20, 1676, this historic trust was created under the will of Dr. John Clarke, a Baptist clergyman and physician and one of the co-founders of the first European settlement on Aquidneck Island in 1638. He was born in 1609 and arrived in Boston in 1637 and was one of some 300 persons that founded the colony on Aquidneck Island. He was the author of the Royal Charter of 1663 that maintained Rhode Island as a colony. Dr. Clarke had no surviving children. He practiced medicine, was a minister and held public office, although his chief interest was that of the Christian ministry. He was also very interested in education and is thought to have been involved in establishing a free school for Newport in 1640. Dr. Clarke is buried in a small cemetery on West Broadway in Newport. In his will, written on the date of his death, John Clarke established a perpetual charitable trust. He directed that the income from the trust be used "for the relief of the poor or bringing up of children unto learning from time to time forever." He further instructed the trustees "to have a special regard and care to provide for those that fear the Lord."