Since he was the oldest son and his father died suddenly without a will, John probably got all of his father’s lands. He sold 160a on 30 May 1652, but he seems to have kept a good portion, as he had 510a southeast of Newport by his death (now one of the nicest areas of town). He was the General Treasurer for Newport and Portsmouth in 1653-4 and for the colony for 8 years 1664-1672. He also served as Deputy to the General Assembly from Newport 8 times between 1665 and 1683 and as General Recorder 1676-77. His appointment as Major of Militia for the Island in 1683 seems to indicate he had thrown off his father’s Quaker tendencies. The now “Major” Coggeshall was elected Deputy Governor in May 1686 and served until James II appointed a governor of New England, when he because a member of Gov. Andros’ Council of New England in Boston. After the Glorious Revolution, Andros fled (and was captured) and Coggeshall and the governor (Clarke) resumed their positions. he served until 1690, when at age 86 or so, he was elected Governor, but declined to serve.[ [694]]

John and Betty’s divorce was one of the first in the colony and is covered extensively in NEHGR Oct. 1995, p. 361-373. At first, John attempted to divorce betty privately by asserting that the marriage was not consumated. Betty accepted the decree, but the Rhode Island courts were not going to allow them a private divorce. However, they did grant them a divorce a vinculo, which was basically an annulment - it illegitimized their children and made them free to remarry. John did not mention the children of his first marriage in his will, and later court records show that descendants were still suing for their right to the Coggeshall estate 70 years later. It seems possible that all parties were willing to accept the public fiction of an uncomsummated marriage rather than charge Betty with adultery, which would have meant an easy divorce. On deposition says Nathaniel Brittain claimed the youngest child (William) was his, but Betty later filed a deposition saying John was the father.[ [700]]

John and his second two wives are buried in the family plot in Newport; his first wife and children by here are not.

Savage’s: JOHN, Newport, s. of the preced. b. in Eng. m. a. 1647, Elizabeth youngest d. of William Balstone, had William; and John, b. 12 Feb. 1650; beside one or more ds. of wh. Elizabeth m. John Warner. He and w. by mut. cons. separat. in 1654, and he gain. leave of Ct. to m. again, she obtain. the same license next mo. and m. Thomas Gould of Narraganset next yr.; and he m. Dec. 1655, Patience Throgmorton, prob. a. of John, had Freegift, 1 Mar. 1658; James, 17 Feb. 1660; Mary, 10 Mar. 1662; Joseph, 30 May 1664 or 5, but which, is uncert.; Rebecca, 20 June 1667; Patience, 13 Aug. 1669; Benjamin, 27 July 1672; Content, 28 Mar. 1674; and Content, again, 10 May 1676; and his w. d. 7 Sept. foll. aged 36 yrs. says gr. stone. He was oft. assist. and dept. gov. bef. and aft. Andros, and d. 1 Oct. 1708, in his 90th yr. Descend. are still in repute.[ [500]]

Her father was quite wealthy, so an alliance with the family of President Coggeshall must have seemed like a good idea. See John’s notes for an account of the divorce in 1655.

Elizabeth was “blind and almost deaf” at her death in 1700. [700]