Around New England

Rhode Island’s First Slave Ship Was Cover for Biggest Pirate Haul of All Time, Local Amateur Historian Says

Matthew McDonald

The discovery of a small 1693 silver coin from Yemen in a field in Middletown, Rhode Island has helped an amateur historian determine that Rhode Island's first slave ship was a cover for the biggest pirate heist of all time.

James Bailey, 52, of Warwick, who works in security for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, took his metal detector to the site of a former colonial home and came upon the rare coin, known as a comassee. It was taken from a ship from an Islamic empire in India that was attacked by English pirates in August 1695 under the command of a former British Royal Navy officer, Henry Every.

Around New England

Arlington To Hire New ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Coordinator

Matthew McDonald

Town officials in Arlington are planning to hire a Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to help increase diversity among town employees and to handle administrative tasks for the town's Human Rights Commission, Disability Commission, and Rainbow Commission.

The new coordinator will also investigate complaints about disability accommodations and assist the town in implementing its plan to increase access to people with disabilities.

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