About Us
A Story Written in
Stone, Soil & Water
From Narragansett homeland to colonial farm, from a governor's estate to a community-preserved nature sanctuary — Canonchet Farm carries 350+ years of Rhode Island history in its trails, ruins, and waterways.
Friends of Canonchet Farm
Stewards of the Land Since 2007
Friends of Canonchet Farm is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2007. We partner with the Town of Narragansett to manage and preserve 174 acres of wetlands, forests, brooks, and ponds abutting Pettaquamscutt Cove on Narrow River.
Our volunteers maintain 1.5+ miles of trails, remove invasive species, restore native habitats, and lead educational programs connecting the community to this extraordinary landscape. We coordinate with state and federal agencies including RI DEM, EPA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and CRMC.
Whether your interest is a quiet walk through the forest or the hands-on experience of preserving the environment, we invite you to join us.
Join Us174
acres
of preserved land
4,286+
hours
of volunteer labor (2012-2016)
100+
volunteers
40% URI Master Gardeners
9+
species
of invasive plants being removed
Timeline
350+ Years of History
Narragansett Homeland
For thousands of years, the Narragansett people inhabited this land along the Pettaquamscutt River. They fished in the cove, farmed the fertile soil, and held seasonal camps along the Narrow River. The name 'Pettaquamscutt' comes from their language.
The Pettaquamscutt Purchase
Colonists from Aquidneck Island, with assistance from Roger Williams, purchased a twelve-square-mile tract from the Narragansett Indians — allocating approximately 7,000 acres to each of the five original purchasers. Thomas Mumford Sr. received the Little Neck parcels that would become Canonchet Farm.
King Philip's War
The Narragansett sachem Canonchet — for whom the farm would later be named — led his people during King Philip's War. On December 19, 1675, the Great Swamp Fight in nearby South Kingstown killed hundreds of Narragansetts. Canonchet was captured and executed in April 1676. When told he would die, he said: 'I like it well. I shall die before my heart is soft.'
The Robinson Dynasty
Rowland Robinson (1654-1716) settled in Narragansett Country and accumulated over 3,000 acres. His son William served as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island. The Robinson family farmed this land for over 150 years, and their 18th-century cemetery still stands on the property.
The Sprague Empire
Attmore Robinson sold the property to the A&W Sprague Manufacturing Company — the largest calico printing operation in the world. William Sprague IV, soon to become Rhode Island's Civil War governor, and his brother Amasa became the new owners.
The Mansion Era
Governor Sprague and his wife Kate Chase Sprague — daughter of Lincoln's Treasury Secretary and one of the most famous women in Washington — built a magnificent 68-room mansion on the property. They named it 'Canonchet' after the Narragansett sachem, influenced by Washington Irving's literary rehabilitation of the native leader.
Leadership
Board of Trustees
Tom Hoagland
President
2025 RI HOPE Award recipient
Alan Woodmansee
Trails Chair
Board Members
Trustees & Volunteers
Dedicated residents of Narragansett
Our Partners
Working Together for Conservation
South County Museum
Located on Canonchet Farm since 1985. 10,000+ artifacts.
Narrow River Preservation Association
Protecting the Pettaquamscutt estuary since 1970.
Save The Bay
Salt marsh restoration with mitigation runnels.
URI Master Gardener Program
Canonchet is a URI MGP Demonstration Project.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Vernal pool monitoring and wildlife surveys.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge (10 acres).
Governance & Position Papers
We've published our thoughts on managing Canonchet Farm as a world-class natural park.
The Master Plan
General comments on the proposed master plan
Appropriate Uses
Our vision for compatible activities
Park Management
Sustainable management strategies
Finance Issues
Funding and financial sustainability