Gregory Dexter

Gregory Dexter was a printer, Baptist minister, and early President of the combined towns of Providence and Warwick in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was in New England as early as 1644 when he had a fiveacre lot assigned to him in Providence. He had been in the printing business in London, and still operated that business in 1643 when his establishment printed Roger Williams translation of the native languages. As an experienced stationer, he offered his expertise to the printing operation in Boston in 1646, asking for no compensation other than an annual almanac.

It is thought Dexter may have been born in the village of Old, Northamptonshire, England, where his father also named Gregory, was baptized in 1581, and continued to live with his family until his death. Young Gregory Dexter is found in London, apprenticed to Elizabeth Aldee onDecember 1632 for a term of eight years, and admitted to freedom in the Stationers Guild onDecember 1639 . Dexter gained a reputation for printing controversial tracts often critical of the crown. He printed a pamphlet on Prelatical Episcopacy for the poet John Milton. While in London Milton became involved with the Baptist church and began corresponding with Roger Williams in New England. About 1644 Dexter was in New England where he was assigned a 5acre lot in Providence, and in July 1640 he andothers signed an agreement to form a government there. This agreement gave authority to five selectmen to handle the business of the town, leaving difficult matters to arbitration. He possibly returned to Engl

Source: Wikipedia