p /\/6'^0^ HolUoger pH B3 MiURunF05.2193 ^ rr le ISi'Ol klMJ. Rooms 82 Touro Street. Open Daily From 10 to 4 P. M. •HE Newport Historical Society was organized in 1863 "for the purpose of collecting, publishing and doing whatever they may think proper that may tend to preserve the history of any portion of the United States, especially of this State." In the early part of its history but little was done to promote tlie objects of the association. Occasional meetings were held in public places until 1870 when permission was obtained from the di- . rectors of the Redwood Library to erect two cases in that building for their small library, and which served to contain all the property of the Society until 1884. RecoQfnizino- the fact that without a home of their own but little could be accomplished, an effort was made in 1884 to secure a building for their own use. This resulted in the purchase of the Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House, then standing on Barney Street, which was put in order, and three years later moved to its present location on Touro Street. This building was erected in 1729 by the Seventh Day Bap- tist Society, the earliest congregation of that denomination in America. It was occupied by them until about 1839, and later by other religious societies. The original square pews (of which there were fourteen on the first floor) had been re- moved in 1840, and modern slips introduced. The pulpit and sounding-board, the pulpit stairs, galleries, piers and panelling remain as originally built. The tablets on the wall were presented to the church by John Tanner and others in 1773. There is a tradition that when the British took possession of Newport in 1776, and desecrated all the places of worship except old Trinity and this house, by using them for riding schools and hospitals, this edifice was saved and guarded through respect for the decalogue found on the wall back of the pulpit. The clock, still in good or- der, was made in 1731, by William Claggett, a Newport clock maker. The bow-window on the front of the building, was taken from the Dr. Johnson house on Thames street. This window was formerly in the house of Charles Feke, Apothecary, built in 1794, on Washington Square. The expense of purchasing the building and the lot on which it now stands was more than the Society could meet, but by the generous donations of the people of Newport and our summer residents, more than two-thirds of the amount was raised, leaving a comparatively small debt for the Socie- ty to provide for, which it is hoped can soon be paid. With a home of its own the Society soon began to in- crease its collections and to establish a library and museum which has been open to the public daily (holidays and Sun- days excepted) since November, 1884. In 1891 the State of Rhode Island recognized the useful- ness of the Society by passing laws making it a depository for State publications and newspapers published in Rhode Island, and by making an annual appropriation for copying records, &c. In 1894 the City Council of Newport authorized the city clerk to deposit with the Society the early town records, which in 1779 were taken by the British to New York and returned to Newport three years later in a damaged condi- tion, they having been sunk in Hell Gate enroute, with the understanding that an effort should be made to copy all deeds and wills prior to 1780 that could be copied from the orig- inal records and other authentic sources. A fireproof vault has been erected for the safe keeping of all valuable records and manuscripts that may be donated or loaned to the Society. The Society is actively engaged in collecting for use, such n)aterial as will serve to illustrate the general and local his- tory of Newport, the State of Rhode Island, and also the his- tory of the United States. Commencing in a modest way, the Society, founded for active research, lias been forced to become a collector of antiquities. Its rooms today show how rapid has been its accumulative power. It is hoped that the possessors of single objects of interest, and those who have valuable private collections, will deposit them with the So- ciety for public exhibition, and, to bring about this I'esult the directors have an additional incentive to properly care for and to make the display of articles in their custody as at- tractive as possible. In this work the co-operation of all is respectfully solicited. That there can be established in Newport a good library devoted to history, genealogy and biography, and a museum that Avill rank with tliose in other cities, there can be no doubt. This can be Ijrought about by the earnest efforts of our people, and to them the Society looks for tlie aid neces- sar}'- to make our institution a success and an honor to our city. The claims of the Society upon the public are based upon the fact that it is organized for public improvement and instruction. All interested, at home and abroad, are invited to become members. MEMBERSHIP. Any person may become a member of the Society by the payment of i2.00 and a like sum annually thereafter. This tax is assessed at the annual meeting in March. Anj^ indi- vidual, on pa3anent of -150 may become a life member, and shall thereafter be exempt from all assessments or annual tax, and shall be entitled to all the privileges of active mem- bers. FUNDS. The Society has as yet but a small fund from which to draw for its work. The late Dr. David King, the first presi- dent of the Society, bequeathed in his will the sum of |2,000 for a book fund, the interest of which will be available when the sum of -14,000 is reached, by the accumulation of divi- dends. This fund now amounts to $3,000. The late Charles H. Russell bequeathed the sum of 11,000, the interest to Ije used for the general purposes of the So- ciety. In 1886 the Mechanics and Manufacturers Society of Newport, an association organized in 1795, disbanded, its members became lite members of the Newport Historical So- ciety, and their funds amounting to -11,023 were transferred to this Society. The Permanent Fund consists of all money received on account of life membership and such othei' donations as may be made to it. It is hoped that this fund will be increased from time to time until the interest therefrom will be equal to the necessary expenses of the Society. Donations to this fund will be gratefully received. DONATIONS. The Society desires to receive contributions of books, manuscripts and newspapers for its library, and relics and curiosities for its museum. Donations and special deposits will be gratefully received and promptly acknowledged. The following list has been prepared of donations solicited : Books. — All books of whatsoever character published in Newport. All books relating to the history, biography, genealogy, the development, the characteristics, the manufactures, the commerce, and the agriculture of the cities and towns of Rhode Island. All publications of the several historical, biographical and genealogical Societies of the United States and Canada. All publications of the United States bearing upon the history or development of the country. All other publications which relate to American history — with a view to making our library comprehensive on all questions rehiting to the history of this country. Pamphlets. — All pamphlets which come under any of the al)ove descriptions of books wanted. All published sermons having either a local, historical or personal signilicance, and all historical and anniversary dis- courses. Reports of the several societies and incorporations in New- port. Newspapers. — All newspapers that have been published in Newport. Odd copies will be valuable in completing files. Manuscripts. — Deeds; Autograph letters; old Ledgers; Journals; Day Books; Letter Books, Etc. Maps. — All maps, both old and new, of a local or general character. Portraits and Photographs. — Portraits, busts and photographs of local and historical personages, Photograplis and drawings of the ancient houses and the memorable places on this Island. Indian Memorials. — Prehistoric and Indian remains of ever}^ variety and description are always valuable. Miscellaneous Relics. — These are the most difficult of any kind of gifts about which to give definite information. Relics or mementoes which are connected in any way with tlie early history of Newport, or with the personal experiences of its early settlers, rarely fail to have a permanent value. Antiquities of every description, foreign and domestic, will be gladly received. As we are making histor^^ every day it is hoped that pub- lishers, authors and compilers of the current pamphlet and book literature of the day, will form the habit of depositing copies of their works with our society. FORM FOR A DEVISE OF LAND. I give and devise to the Newport Historical Society, a cor- poration created by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, and its assigns, [liere describe the land to be devised.] FORM FOR A BEQUEST. I give and bequeath to the Newport Historical Society, a corporation created by the General Assembly of Rhode Isl- and, [here state the sum of money, or describe the personal property to be bequeathed.] OFFICERS OF THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ELECTED MARCH 19, 1894. PRESIDENT, HENRY E.TURNER. VICE PRESIDENTS, JOHN CONGDON, GEORGE GORDON KING. RECORDING SECRETARY, HORATIO B.WOOD. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, GEORGE H. RICHARDSON. TREASURER, DANIEL B. FEARING. CURATOR OF MEDALS AND COINS. ■EDWIN P. ROBINSON. LIBRARIAN, R. HAMMETT TILLEY. STfl^lDlJ^G COMMITTEES. ON BUILDING AND GROUNDS. GEORGE H. RICHARDSON. R. HAMMETT TILLEY. ON FINANCE. GEORGE GORDON KING, W. WATTS SHERMAN, DANIEL B. FEARING, R. HAMMETT TILLEY. MEMBERS OF THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. mpE |VIE|VlBEf^S. Allen, John B. Allen, William Belmont, Hon. Perry Brown, Mrs. Harold Brown, Mrs. John Carter Burdick, Hon. Charles H. Burlingham, Thomas Carr, George W. Caswell, Benjamin Caswell, William Clarke, Joshua P. Clarke, Henry Audley Coggeshall, Hon. Thomas Cottrell, Hon. James B. Davis, Theodore M. Denham, Daniel C. Downing, Benjamin F. Dunn, Thomas Fearing, Hon. Daniel B. Fitts, Daniel B. Foster, John Franklin, Hon. Robert S. Gibbs, Theodore K. Goddard, James H. Griswold, John N. A. Hunt, Miss Jane King, Mrs. Mary A. King, Hon. George Gordon Lee, Peter Marquand. Henry G. Marquand, Prof. Allen Marquand, Henry Mason, Miss Ellen Mason, Miss Ida M. McAdam, Samuel Newton, Edward Nichols, Thomas P. Patterson, Peter Peckham, Henry S. Peckham, Job A. Jr. Phinney, Theodore W. Potter, Hon. WiUiam H. Pratt, Mrs. E. N. Russell, Charles H. Sheffield, Hon. William P. Sherman, W. Watts Sherman, Mrs. Sophia Sherman, Miss Sybil K. Wetmore Sherman, William H. Simmons, Lewis L. Smith, Col. Howard Stevens, B. Hammett Stevens, Lysander Stevens, Edward Stoddard, Thomas D. Southwick, James McK. Swinburne, George W. Tompkins, Hamilton B. Topham, James Tuckerman, Joseph Underwood, William J. Vanderbilt, Cornelius Waldron, Benjamin Wales, George W. Weld, Mrs. William F. Wetmore, Hon. George Peabody fl^lI^UfllJ ]VIE]V[BEf^S. Allen, Erastus P. Armstrong, William A. Arnold, Dr. Edward S. F. Bailey, Miss Annie Bailey, Miss Josephine Baker, Hon. Darius Baker, Benjamin Barker, Dr. C. Frank Barker, Robert S. Barker, George C. Barker, Ralph R. Barker, Stephen P. Barker, Frank S. Barker, Alexander N. Berwind, Mrs. E. S. Berwind, John Betton, C. Grinnell Bookstaver, Hon. H. W. Brown, Thomas G. Buffuni. Hon. W^illiam P. Bull, Hon. Henry Bull, Mrs. Charles M. Burrows, O. Hoffman Burdick, Edwin S. Carry. Hon. John J. Clarke, Hon. William P. Coggeshall, Dr. Henry Congdon, John Cornell, Rodman Cotton, Capt. J. P. Cozzens. William C. Cozzens. Hon. Henry VV. Crosby, Hon. John H. Craig, Rev. J. M. Davis, Hon. Lucius D. DeBlois. Henry D. Dennis, William E. Derby, Richard C. Dockray, George M. Edds, George H. Ellis, John W^ Emmons, Arthur B. Fludder, William Franklin, William B. Galvin, Thomas Gilpin, Hon. William Greene, John H. Hall, Mrs. A. Hammett, Charles E. Hammett, James H. Henderson, William Holt, John M. Horton, Hon. Jere W. Plowland, Mrs. Joseph Ives, Hon. Charles Acton Kane, Mrs. Walter King, Miss Annie King, LeRoy King, William Dehon Lawton, George P. Magill, Rev. George J. Marin, Capt. M. C. Meyrowitz. Mrs. Paul McMahon, Col. Andrew K. Norman, George H. Pell, Mrs. Anna Pitman, Theophilus T. Pinniger, David Powel, Hon. John Hare Powel, Miss Mary E. Pumpelly, Prof. Raphael Rankin, Dr. Francis H. Rives, Dr. W. C. Richardson, George H. Robinson, Dr. Edwin P. Seabury, Hon. Thomas M. Sheffield, Hon. Wm. P. Jr. Sheldon, Frederic Sherman, Benjamin B. H. Sherman, Albert K. 10 Sissoii, William Scott Smith, Benjamin R. Southwick, Samuel S. Southwick, Mrs. Samuel S Squire, Dr. A. F. Stanhope, Clarence Stanton, Dr. Nathaniel G. Storer, Dr. Horatio R. Swan, James C. Swinburne, Harry H. Swinburne, William J. Taggart, Philip Taylor, Alexander O'D. Taylor, James P. Taylor, Grant P. Tilley, R. Hammett Tompkins, Frederic Tuckerman, Alfred Turner, Henry E., M. D. Turner, Mrs. Henry E. Tweedy, Edmund Vernon, George E. Ward, Hon. Henry N. Wetherell, Col. John H. Wood, Horatio B. Woolett, Sidney Woolsey, Miss T. W. Ambrose.Rev. Dr. John. Digby,N.S. Tilley, Sir Samuel Leonard. St. John Bartlett, Hon. Sidney N. B. Farley, Rev. F. A. Walker, Dr. Thomas. Digby N. S. Frazer, William Winthrop, Hon. Robert C. Boston (ioddard, Rev. Warren Mass. COF^f^ESPOflDl^lG MEMBERS. Baker, A. Prescott. Boston. Darling, Gen. C. W. Utica N. Y. Day, Rev. John W. Huling, Ray Greene. New Bedford. Pulsifer, David, Esq. Wood, Isaac F. Poillon, William. New York, N. Y. Marvin, Dr. W. T. R. Boston Kennedy, Prof. George T. Winsor, N. S. Perigino, Cicero. Pernambuco, Bra- zil. Gaynor, Phileas. Quebec. q I I ■x^ <^ 03 -^ ^ 1 b o^ ^ .<^ ^0 S =^ '-^ "W> i-»i^ »~<> ^ -t-4 '^ Si O I S! ?^ ^ ^ ^ "^ ;r5 ^5» r^ :X '^ .a "5^ ^ ■^ ^ 5^ §i Jii Co ^ ^ IS, <:^ t^ '^ ^ ^ ^^ i -^ s^ JO I '^ ?i ? ^ ^ .'^ Q ^ ►Si Si ^ ^ -t^ Si' "^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ '^ ^ -^ ^ "^ on oo •^ Q -Si -^ Si O "^ >J-N -^ ■5/5, ;§ to ^ 5 ^ ^ Si .^ -^ o B on <. ^c ':^ ^ ^ .^ C^ B Si ^ ?i ^6^ on on f2 ^ '^ ^ ^ o -^ O I ^ G- C^ CO , for ID is rea or, volumes, the work s^ o ^ e '^^ ,"?*»• ^ -^ -^ ■N,^ ^r ^ ! ^