May 23 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Portsmouth Historical Society will host a talk by Stephen Luce on the subject of Puritans, Pirates, and the Portuguese on Thursday, May 23rd at 6:30 PM, at the museum.
In 1630 Robert Rich, the 2nd Earl of Warwick, together with other prominent English Puritans, claimed the Spanish island of Santa Catalina, re-named it Providence, and started the Providence Island Company. They envisioned this small, isolated island as becoming the ‘Godly and profitable Puritan base of an English empire in Central America.’
However, by 1635 many colonists had turned to pirating by attacking Spanish and Portuguese interests. The story of Providence Island has centered largely around the Providence Island Company, its powerful investors, and the island’s use as a base for pirates. What has been missing are the names and voices of the Portuguese during Providence’s re-conquest from the English, along with Providence’s ties to early New England, including slavery. This presentation seeks to address those forgotten histories.
The museum is at 870 East Main Rd, Portsmouth RI 02871. The second floor lecture hall is not handicap accessible. The lecture is free to Society members and a $5 donation for non-members.  The museum, Old Town Hall, and Southermost School will be open before the talk and docents will be available to answer your questions.