I ran across a book on the Web titled "Descendants of Joseph Greene of Westerly, R.I." by Principal Frank Greene. In his introduction he quotes from another book, "The Greenes of Quidnesset" by Professor Ray Greene Huling (1883-1884). The quote concerns a John Greene emigrating from England to RI (Wickford, North Kingston) about 1639. The quote: "A tradition exists, both among his own descendants and in the Warwick family of Greenes, to the effect that he came hither from England, and had formerly borne the name of Clarke instead of Greene. The change of name, if, indeed, it occurred, may have been made for the purpose of gaining permission to leave England for America. 'Godly deceptions' of a similar kind were not unknown in those trying days. Smith had left Gloucestershire (England) for New England, and again Taunton for Narragansett, 'for his conscience' sake,' says Roger Williams; possibly young Greene was of a family sufficiently obnoxious to the authorities to render desirable a change of name as well as a change of residence." If the above is accurate, perhaps that explains the lack of any link between the New Jersey/ North Carolina Greene's and the Rhode Island Greene's. Thought maybe some of you might have some thoughts on this or have run across it before. I would be interested in your comments. Ron Greene RGreene431@aol.com