The most thickly settled part of East Greenwich is built mainly on a hillside and fronts Greenwich Bay. The town is a favorite summer resort. Some of the early settlers engaged in shipbuilding, and when the town was laid out two locations were set apart for shipyards. The persons named as incorporators of East Greenwich, including Charles MacCarthy, were each required to build within a year, on his lot, a house suitable for habitation, under pain of forfeiture. It was also required that highways be provided “from the bay up into the country” convenient for settlement. In addition to MacCarthy, the founders included Philip Long, Thomas Dungin, and John Strainge—all three names typically Irish. Among the proprietors in 1700 was Anthony Long. About 1732, the town possessed stocks and whipping post, pillory, irons for mutilating ears, branding faces, cropping, etc., and similar appliances rife at that period. The records of the “General Assembly held at Newport, the 6th of May, 1679,” show that “Charles Mecarte” and two others “being freemen of the towne of East Greenwich, are admitted freemen of the Collony.” It does not appear that Charles ever married, at least the writer has met no record to that effect. Neither wife nor child are mentioned in the copy of the will extant. It is, of course, possible that he may have had both wife and children in the Old Land and that he survived them, but of that nothing definite is known. His will[13] is dated “the 18th day of February, 1682,” and was witnessed by John Knight and Thomas Fry, Jr. It was the first will to be recorded in the probate record book of East Greenwich where it was entered by “John Spenser, Town Clark.” Written over two hundred years ago, its quaint phraseology is a source of much interest at the present time. The will thus begins: Unto all Christian people unto whome these pents [presents] may com know yee that I Charles Macarte now of the towne of Est grenwich in the Colony of Rhod Island and providence planteteons Being in parfact memory but weake in body doe meake this my lastt will and testiment. First, he requests that all his debts be paid. Then he makes John Spencer, Jr., his lawful heir and bequeaths him “my house and Land or Lands in this Towne.” He designates John Spencer, Sr., “father to the aforesaid Spencer, Guardian to his sonn to teak cere that my will be parformed.” One Pasco Whitford owed Charles a debt. This debt the latter cancels and, in addition, gives Whitford “halfe the sheepe of mine in his keeping.” The other half he gives to Edward Carter, to whom he likewise bequeaths his arms, _i. e._, two guns and a sword and also his chest “with the lock and cea.” To Charles Heseltun, Jr., he bequeaths a young horse “that will be two yere old next Spring branded with IS on the shoulder.” To John Andrew is given “my biggest yron poot” [pot] and four narrow axes. His pewter he bequeaths Susanna Spencer, the same to be delivered to her when she is of age.