Newport and Bristol had become major ports for ship owners in the Colonies and were harassed by the Point Judith shoals and Brenton reefs at the entrance of Narragansett Bay . 60 to 90 percent of the ships owned were slave ships generating enormous profits depositing human cargo along the tlantic coast. A nighttime navigation aid location on Beavertail Point was ideal for safe guidance. Its form was a wood fire.
Jamestown Proprietor Records Watch House Fire Beacon Town Council of Jamestown on the 9th day of June 1712 ordered Gershom Remington to set and build at Beavertaile and have Indians watch the light. Benedick Arnold was warranted to look after the watch and to see it faithfully kept.
The First Lighthouse In February, the following appeared in the Newport Town Record: “A committee was appointed to build a Lighthouse at Beavertail on the Island of Jamestown, alias Conanicut, as there appears a great necessity for a lighthouse as several misfortunes have happened lately for want of a light.” Construction of the first lighthouse, the third in the colonies, began in May and ended in September. Peter Harrison was the architect. The lighthouse was constructed of wood. The tower was 58 feet high to cornice with an 11-foot lantern on top. Abel Franklin was appointed the first keeper.