Our History
The lands of Mount Hope Farm—originally known by the Pokanoket name Potumtuk—are steeped in history. While we are proud of our inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, it is essential that we honor the history that predates later residents like the Royall family or Revolutionary War figures such as George Washington. From time immemorial, the region's Indigenous peoples lived on this land, their long presence here ending only with their forced removal during Metacom’s Resistance (historically known as King Philip’s War).
We invite you to learn more about the Pokanoket, the First People of the land of Sowams
In 1680, Nathaniel Byfield was one of four Boston merchants who purchased the area known today as Bristol from Plymouth Colony, which claimed the land as a trophy of King Philip’s War (1675–1678). When the land was divided, Byfield claimed the acreage that is now Mount Hope Farm. Between 1702 and 1714, Byfield sold Mount Hope to his son-in-law, Scottish merchant and Suriname planter Colonel Henry MacKintosh.
In 1745, Isaac Royall Jr. built the house that still stands on the property today. Royall—who married MacKintosh’s granddaughter, Elizabeth—came from a family of prolific enslavers. Following their marriage, Royall and his wife inherited Mount Hope Farm, the people enslaved there, and a portion of the MacKintosh plantation in Suriname named Fairfield.
At least 23 enslaved individuals maintained the farm, cared for its livestock, and served their enslavers; their forced labor directly fueled the wealth and success of men like Henry MacKintosh and Isaac Royall. These enslaved men, women, and children are among nearly 500 identified enslaved, likely enslaved, or indentured African, African American, and Indigenous people who lived in Bristol between 1680 and 1808.
To explore the primary sources and ongoing research behind this history, please follow the links below:
As a Loyalist, Royall fled the Boston area three days before the Battle of Lexington in 1775. He sailed first to Nova Scotia and then to England, where he died in 1781. To learn more about his story and historic primary home click here to learn more about the Issac Royall House
Isaac Royall Jr.’s Mount Hope Farm property was soon confiscated by the State of Rhode Island, with the proceeds used to pay Continental soldiers. In 1783, the land was transferred to Nathan Miller of Warren, a Brigadier General and member of the Continental Congress. Shortly thereafter, the farm was sold at auction to William Bradford.
A doctor and lawyer, Mr. Bradford served Bristol for 35 years. He was the region's last Deputy Colonial Governor (serving until 1776) and the first Deputy Governor of the State of Rhode Island (serving until 1778), before joining the General Assembly. He later served as a United States Senator from 1793 to 1797 before resigning to return to a quiet life at Mount Hope Farm, where he died in 1808. Mr. Bradford’s wife, Mary, had passed away in 1775, leaving him with eight children; he ultimately willed his estate to his daughter Ann.
In 1837, Samuel W. Church, a wealthy Taunton and Bristol merchant, purchased Mount Hope Farm from Bradford’s heirs. Mr. Church developed a model farm on the property and expanded the Governor Bradford House twice. Even after moving his family of 12 children to the Church Homestead in the Poppasquash section of Bristol in 1855, Mount Hope Farm remained in the Church family and continued to produce Indian corn, Irish potatoes, and butter.
In 1916, Rudolf F. Haffenreffer II purchased the property, which by then had fallen into a neglected state. (The land adjacent to Mount Hope Bay, now part of the acreage that had been given to Brown University, had previously been converted into an amusement park in 1898.)
The Haffenreffers were industrial leaders in Rhode Island, owning the Mount Hope Bridge, Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, and Narragansett Brewery. They undertook extensive restorations of the Governor Bradford House and expanded the farm—adding lush gardens, Cove Cabin, the Caretaker’s Cottage, the North Pasture House, and a relocated Civil War–era barn. Prize Guernsey cattle soon replaced traditional sheep in the farm’s pastures.
In 1955, R.F. Haffenreffer III and his brother, Carl W., donated 255 acres of the original estate to Brown University. While the property was stewarded by Brown for decades, a significant portion has since been repatriated to The Pokanoket Nation. This transfer marks the return of Mount Hope—the Nation’s ancestral seat—to its original stewards, ensuring its sacred history is preserved.
Following the deaths of Rudolf (“Pete”) Haffenreffer (1902–1991) and his wife Virginia, the Mount Hope Trust in Bristol acquired the remaining 127-acre property in 1999. The purchase was made possible through an impressive community effort: an 80% voter-approved $1.5 million town bond issue, a $400,000 State Open Space grant, a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, and a $500,000 loan from St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, repaid in 2001.
Today, the farm is operated by the non-profit Mount Hope Trust in Bristol as an inn and community venue. Livestock—including, Nigerian dwarf goats, donkeys, cows, and chickens—call the farm home once again.
The Trust’s mission is to preserve open space, protect historic structures, and enhance these landscapes, providing visitors with a place to explore and connect with Rhode Island’s history. The farm relies on venue rentals, inn stays, memberships, grants, and donations to maintain its grounds and preserve this open space for future generations.
If you would like to learn more about our property, we invite you to take our walking tour the next time you are at the Farm. Our walking tour goes into detail about the vast history of the property, you can learn more here
To bring deeper context and awareness to our shared past, we actively collaborate with historians and descendants of the people enslaved on this land through ongoing research, relationship-building, and guidance from partner historic sites. This work informs many of our initiatives across the farm, including the thoughtful renaming of our guest rooms.
As a small staff managing multiple projects with limited resources, our commitment to this ongoing work remains unwavering. Through these efforts, we aspire to present a collaborative, multi-vocal, and accessible narrative that honors the lives of those who were enslaved here—including Harry, Mingo, Anthony, Cesar, Hector, Fortune, Antonio, Betty, Diana, Nanny, Philice, Barsheba, Suca, and Bette.
Our work to uncover and share their stories is ongoing. We invite you to follow our journey and reach out to us directly with any questions, thoughts, or suggestions.