Francis Colegrove - Later Life

Later Life

Francis was a farmer in the new world. There is record of his owning land in the "Narragansett Country", which was an area of Rhode Island named after the Narragansett (tribe) of Native Americans. He was given the land to recompense the loss of his son, who helped him with farming. Here is an excerpt on Francis, known by some today as "The Patriarch", from William Colegrove's Book (mentioned below):

"He was evidently an active, enterprising, pioneer farmer, who attended to his own business and kept out of politics, --- thus setting an excellent example --- which has been followed by his descendants. The death of his oldest son seems to have been a severe blow to him in respect to his business, compelling him to ask a little relief from the Legislature of the Colony, --- which relief, it is pleasant to know, was readily granted. The following is from The R.I. Colonial Records, V. 4, p. 136; "Proceedings of R.I. and Prov. Plantations at Newport, 27 February 1711-12.""

A prominent land holder, Francis Colegrove owned land in other places. On June 28, 1709 a committee that had been formed by the Rhode Island general assembly, sold a large tract of land known as the 'Shannock Purchase' located near Richmond, Rhode Island. Francis was among the recipients of the land.

Ann and Francis ended up in Westerly, Rhode Island by 1712, as there are records of Anne being involved in the Sabbatarian congregation there. Ann Colegrove died sometime after 1718, before Francis. No one knows for sure when Francis Colegrove died, but William Colegrove, author of the 1894 publication, The History and Genealogy of the COLEGROVE FAMILY in America, believed he may have died around 1759 or before in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. Previously, more conservative researchers suggested that he may have died sometime between 1725 and 1729. More recent research shows Francis Colegrove, Sr. still alive in 1728, when he was summoned to appear at a Church meeting in regard to a dispute between his son Francis, Jr. and a William James over payment of an ox that Francis Jr had given Mr. James. The committee found in favor of Francis Jr. In the Seventh-Day Baptist Memorial of 1874, which mentions the dispute, Francis Colegrove is listed still living and attending the Westerly congregation, with a second Francis Colegrove, probably Jr., in 1740 in "a list of members made up by a Committee of the church in 1740".