Riverside in East Providence in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Thomas Willett 1610-1674
First Mayor of New York
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
1. Thomas Willett First Mayor of New York Marker
1610-1674
First Mayor of New York
Served 1665 and 1667
Erected by the City Club of New York
1913
Erected 1913 by City Club of New York.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1674.
Location. 41° 45.941′ N, 71° 21.26′ W. Marker is in East Providence, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Riverside. It is on Penrod Avenue 0.1 miles south of Cozzens Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: East Providence RI 02914, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Providence and on Narragansett Bay. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Elizabeth Tilley Howland (here, next to this marker); Little Neck Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Roll of Honor (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War II (approx. half a mile away); Crescent Park Looff Carousel (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Bicknell-Armington "Lightning Splitter House" (approx. 0.9 miles away); Haines Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Providence.
Also see . . .
this page online
1. Thomas Willett (Wikipedia).
Thomas Willett (c. 1607 August 4, 1674) was a Plymouth Colony fur trader, merchant, land purchaser and developer, Captain of the Plymouth Colony militia, Magistrate of the colony, and was the first Mayor of New York, prior to the consolidation of the five boroughs into the City of New York in 1898.(Submitted on May 30, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
2. Thomas Willett Sr. (1605-1674) - Find-a-Grave. Colonial Mayor. First Mayor of New York City. Arriving in 1632 on "The Lion" (with a religious separatist movement that called themselves "The Saints", that fled England to Leydon, Holland then went back to England to follow the Mayflower voyage), Thomas Willett was a merchant that traded from Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. He succeeded Captain Miles Standish as head of the Colonial Militia and negotiated what is now known as the "Rehoboth North Purchase" which acquired land (now known as Attleboro and North Attleboro, Massachusetts) from Wampanoag leader Sachem Wamsutta who was the son of famed chief Massasoit. (Submitted on May 30, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
3. Notable Grave Markers - East Providence Historical Society. A self-guided tour created by the East Providence Historical Society offers links to
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
2. Thomas Willett 1610-1674 Marker
Separate white metal informational marker:
Oct 6, 1913
27,500 lbs.
One Stone Boat
16 Horses
27,500 lbs.
One Stone Boat
16 Horses
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
3. Thomas Willett 1610-1674 Marker
John Browne replacement stone (#1) and Thomas Willett boulder in foreground, north-facing original Thomas Willet headstone (#2) and Mary Brown Willett (#3) behind boulder to left.
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
4. Thomas Willett Original Headstone
Here lyes ye body
of ye Wor. Thomas
Willett, Esq. who died
August 4th in ye 64th
year of his age.
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
5. Mary (Brown) Willett Headstone
Here lyeth ye body of ye
virtuous Mary Willett,
wife of Thomas Willett,
esqr. who died, January
ye 8th, about ye 85th
year of her anno.
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 29, 2026
6. Ancient Little Neck Cemetery 1655
Thomas Willett boulder visible in distance to the right of flag pole.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 30, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
