Benedict Arnold (governor) - Death and Legacy

Death and Legacy

Arnold wrote his will on 24 December 1677, during his last full term as governor. A codicil to the will was written the following February, and the governor died in June while still in office. On the 29th of June Samuel Hubbard of Newport wrote a letter to Dr. Edward Stennett of London, saying "Our Governor died the 19th day of June, 1678, buried 20th day, all this island was invited, many others was there, judged near a thousand people, brother Hiscox spoke there excellently led forth, I praise God." In his will Governor Arnold gave to his wife, for life, certain land with mansion house and "stone built wind mill." While there are romantic legends of early norse men coming to Newport and building the stone structure that continues to stand in the city, the strongest evidence suggests that the structure was the base of Arnold's windmill mentioned in his will.

Benedict Arnold, his wife, and many of his family are buried in the Arnold Burying Ground located on Pelham Street in Newport. For many years the cemetery was buried under a garden in the back yard of a residence, but in 1949 a major renovation began whereby all the stones were unearthed, cleaned, and returned to their original positions. While there is no inscription on the slabs covering the graves of the governor and his wife, his grave is marked with a governor's medalion.

Lieutenant Governor and Rhode Island historian Samuel G. Arnold wrote of him, "That he was no friend of the doctrines, or advocate of the conduct of the followers of Fox is evident from his writings; but that like Williams, he recognized the distinction between persecution and opposition, between legal force and moral suasion as applied to matters of opinion, is equally apparent. In politics and in theology he was alike the opponent of Coddington and the friend of John Clarke and throughout his long and useful life he displayed talents of a brilliant order which were ever employed for the welfare of his fellow men."