9p ■^ ^^''\ ^:'d%'V J'''\ -s^j^,- ^^^\ V "^-o* .o .» • • ' > % "'V -«■'' .\ .. •' ^*. v^'^- <>. v^*^ .*^' .^^ \ % ^ vrf v^' ■ . O > % ..^■' .' % o > ■^*^«^ '^* .•^^ «^ . . . - ->--^ #. ^oV^^ \3 .. »' o > % ..^^ ■i- •* - •V--.V %. *»^ V 77' A '5' -j"^ ♦W^i .0 -TV .0' -^ ».To' .^^ "->' .-b^^^.. ^V-*' ^ -J-^ <"> '•".'."* ,0*" '*h *^T77'' A • ■ ,-^*V-'-'- .^^"^ % '/ .^""'^^. '-^a 4 o ^bv" .f^ .^^^^. 1^ V r'c ♦ L'^'. V son. — Albert Seabury. — George Arnold Gray. — Edward Wing Howland. — Philip W. Almy. — Personal Paragraphs 1028 ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. Almy, Philip W 1046 Almy, Samuel E 951 Anthony, Henry C 690 . Bailey, William SOO jBall, Nicholas 863 Bateman, Luther 575 Bateman, Seth 574 Bedlow, Henry 576 Berry, R. P 578 .Brinley, Francis 555 x/Brown", Isaac 953 J Brown, Joshua C 579 VBrownell, Christopher 950 MButtrick. J. T 68 'Carr, George C 748 ■/ Champlin, John P 868 ■ Chase, Albert L 801 Vchase, Daniel 803 -IChase, John F 691 /Chase, Robert S 802 •J, Church, Colonel John 1030 ■. Church, Joseph 944 ■I Church, Nathaniel 1032 Clarke, W. A 581 TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX / PAGE /Clews, Henry 582 , Coe, (ieorge S 586 .'poggeshall, David 8U5 vfcoggesliall, (ieiirge C 804 Poggeshall, Joshua 804 /Cranston, Henrv Y 590 -/Cranston, K. B 591 ^/Cranston, W. H 593 /Davis, Lucius U 594 .Davol, Asa 952 ^Durfee, Joshua C 949 '/Durtee, Thomas 934 .Galvui. Thomas 596 ■'Gray, George A 1044 ' Greene, Nathaniel 88 JHall, Robert 1) 693 /Hammett, Jo.-eijh M 597 • Hammett, Nathan 597 ^ hazard, K. N 514 ^Hazard, Thomas R 694 Holnian, Thomas 695 . Howland, Edward W 1045 I Johnston, John D 59a J King, David S 97 /King, David 98 yLeRov, Daniel 599 ^Littlefield, Lorenzo W^a Manchester, William M 696 Harden, O. S bT6 Mitchell, B. B 880 Olyphant, David 106 Osborn, Joseph 940 Peckham, Jethro 807 Peckham, Nathaniel 808 Peckham, Thomas P 601 Peckham, William F 806 Powel, John Hare 603 Rankin, Francis II 116 Read, Oliver 603 Rhodes, James T 604 Richmond, Isaac B 1034 Rogers, L M 697 Sanborn, John P 606 Sands, Austin L 116 Seaburv, Albert 1043 Shettiefd, William P 607 Sherman, Peleg T 809 Sisson, Alfred 698 Sisson, Ephraim B 1043 Sisson, Henry T 1038 Sisson, Levi W 1040 Sisson, W. L 699 Smith, J. G 810 Thurston, W. H 608 Turner, Henry E 130 Underwood, William J 608 Ward. John B 811 Watson, Thomas Carr 750 Weaver, John (i „ 609 /West, Samuel 946 ' Wetmore, Cieorge Peabody 610 •W^olfe, Catharine Lorillard 613 JWordell, Job 954 X TABLE OF CONTENTS. VIEWS. PAGE ^ Fort Adams ' 428 /Channing Memorial Cliurcli 449 ^Trinity Church, Newport 453 ^/ Thames Street, Newport 485 -/The Old Coddington House 486, ^House of Charles W. Shields, Newport, R. 1 488 ^The Tooker Cottage, Newport, R. 1 489 4 •" The Breakers." Residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Newport 490 -(Residence of Gordon McKay, Newport, R. 1 491 VThe Chalet. Residence of Hugh L. Willoughby, Newport 495 / Rough Point. Residence of Frederick W. Vanderbilt, Newport 496 ■J Statue of Com. Matthew Perry 499 -y statue of Com. O. H. Perry 500 J Anglesea. Residence of Walter H. Lewis, Newport 502 The Casino. Bellevue Avenue 504 The Moorings. Residence of Schuyler Hamilton, Jr., Newport 506 - Residence of J. J. Van Alen, Newport 510 vElmhyrst. Residence of R. N. Hazard, Newport 515 J Vinland. Residence of Louis L. Lorillard, Newpoi't. R. 1 534 jFriedheim. Residence of Theo. A. Havemeyer, Ne\^ort, R. 1 538 ' J Entrance to the Jewish Cemetery 544 i Hodgson's Newport Botanical Garden 546 s/.Malbone. Residence of Hon. Henry Bedlow, Newport 577 J Views at " The Rocks." Summer Residence of Mr. Henry Clews, Newport, R. I 583 Galvin's Garden, Newport 596 V Wol-me. Residence of Josiah O. Low, Newport 600 V Sunset Ridge. Residence of A. A. Low. Newport 601 v/Roselawn . Residence of J. Fred Pierson, Newport .^, . . . . 605 VOcean House. Newport, R. 1 609 \/Residenee of Mr. G. P. Wetmore, Newport 611 V The Capture of Major-General Prescott T.T. . 649 ^ Bristol Ferry, Portsmouth 672 s/ Oakland Farm, Portsmouth. Property of (l!ornelius Vanderbilt 682 ^Residence of Robert D. Hall, Portsmouth, R.I 693 •J House of William T. Richards, Jamestown, R. 1 730 ■//House of Joseph Wharton, Jamestown , R . 1 738 V Old Fort Dumplings, Jamestown 746 J The Irish Homestead. Residence of William Bailey, Middletown 800 -/Residence of Darid Coggeshall, Middletown 805 i Residence of W . J . Brightman, Tiverton 958 ^,The "Gardner Homestead." Residence of John M. Gardner, North Tiverton. 962 \(The Church Homestead 1030 •J Residence of Isaac Bailey Richmond, Little (\mipton 1035 V Residence of H . M . Bundy, Little Compton 1050 y //^^/J ^7.-^:j -^ -"'"'0' • I ^^w. :: jiT(ivknonP%> "W^^l Neyluvvrt .%rBridgeport f':'^ o VortUPC ^ cf^'^ iverto' orn^S J . #R ' NoMiiit FotiA ' {f^i^aafcMWI'* )^ ■ Roo'llT arreilsPt. -4. tT ^ 5" J i ''%i>,fff!fIloc^ ^ 0/ .\ftff.s sMAP OF:— NEWPORT COUNTYl RHODE ISLAND. U E. PRESTON & CO. PUBLISHERS. :/ MAP OF BI^O CK I S LAND ^'Sf^ Part of 'ir*i<§' NEWPORT COIJNTV 'W SameSculc as niaittMeM.\\\\v;'\ ". f'roX'V I'oillt Clay He ad Graces Fo^-f SactuiifistMii^ J| Dickens |>|ort!|^ RivatrtT A .vti,i:«f phD;o i.nM.natt HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. CHAPTER I. GENERAL HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Location and Bountlaries. — General Productions. — Scenery.— Native Plants. — GeologJ^ — Causes leading to Settlement. — Purchase and Settlement. — Early Government. — Under the Royal Charter. — Under the New Charter. — Forma- tion of the County. — Population. — Important Events. — Official Men from Newport County. — Public Schools. — Statistics. THE County of Newi:)ort i.s sUnated in the southeastern part of the .state of Rhode Island. It has an area of about one hundred and seventeen square miles. It lies centrally in latitude 41° 33' north, and longitude 71° 17' west from Green- wich, or 5° 43' east from Washington. It is bounded on the north and east by Bristol county, Mass., on the south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by Narragansett bay. It com- prises several islands, the largest of which are Rhode Island, Block Island, Conanicut and Prudence, which together consti- tute about one half the area of the county. It has a beautifully undulating surface, and a geiiei'alh' fertile soil, that of the islands being especially rigorous and productive. It also con- tains large quantities of anthracite coal. The county is inter- sected by the Old Colony railroad, which has about fifteen miles of track within its borders, this being tiie only railroad entering the county. It has 97.'i farms, the land, especially of the islands, being highly improved and almost entirely under cultivation. The number of aci'es of improved land is 46,762. The land is divided into small farms, and such is the general thrift of its cultivators that the value of its farms, including lands, fences and buildings, reaches the sum of !?6,291,96ii. For 1 2 HISTOIIY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the cultivation of these farms implements and machinery are employed to the value of $164,6i56. Live stock is kept on farms to the value of S-172,269, and the annual cost of building and repairing on these farms amounts to about lifty thousand dol- lars. The natural fertility of the soil is such that comparative- ly little commercial fertilizer is needed, the annual expenditure for this purpose not exceeding about thirty-five thousand dol- lars, while the annual products of the soil amount to more than three quarters of a million dollars in value. Among the annual products the principal are: 131,878 bushels of potatoes, 107,048 bushels of Indian corn, 78,098 bushels of oats. 12,249 bushels of barley, 14,737 tons of hay, and $12,662 worth of orchard prod- ucts. There are kept on farms : 1,875 horses, 1,066 working oxen, 3,590 milch cows, 1,973 other cattle, 6,118 sheep, produc- ing annually about twenty-five thousand pounds of wool, 2,943 swine, and dairy products consisting of 420,971 gallons of milk, 245,601 pounds of butter, and 9,771 pounds of cheese annually. Of the 28,280 inhabitants of this county. 8,476 are citizens, and of these, 5,207 are native born, and 2.669 are foreign born. The ratable j^roperty of the county amounts to §37,779,768; of which $28,951,641 is on real estate, and $8,828,127 is on personal prop- erty. The post offices in this county are Adamsville, Block Island, Bristol Ferry, Jamestown, Little Compton, Newport, North Tiverton, Portsmouth, South Poitsmouth, Tiverton, and Tiver- ton Four Corners. Its townships and the total valuation of real and personal property in each are as follows : Jamestown, $1,028,280; Little Compton, $1,322,700; Middletown, $2,083,- 350 ; Newport (city), $28,540,300 ; New Shoreham, $598,160 ; Portsmouth, $1,946,900 ; Tiverton, $2,260,078. The county contained in 1880 a population of 23,051 white, 1,125 colored, and four Indians. The native population then was 19,537, and the foreign population, 4,643. Of the native poi>iilatiou, 15,4.52 were born in the state and 3,036 in other parts of New England and New York state. Of the foreign population 388 were born in British America, 829 in England and Wales, 2,023 in Ireland, 137 in Scotland, 199 in the German Empire, 82 in France, and 123 in Sweden and Norway. In point of beauty of location and enchanting scenery the in- sxrlar portion of the county is one the most attractive spots to be found on the face of the earth. Travelers who have had op- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 3 portunities for wide fields of observation liave come liither and declared that nothing thej' had seen in the famed regions of the old world was equal to magnificent scenes which opened to their view in this county. Nor does the insular portion engross all the beauty of scene to which this county may lay claim. The mainland shores are equally rich in this respect. Possessing an almost immeasurable extent of shore line upon the beautiful bay, with which the land is playing hide and seek in a thousand jutting promontories and indenting cove.s, the surface of the county presents miles upon miles of wayside, field and bluff, whence the vision stretches away upon the broad ocean — '• A waste Of waters weltering over graves, its shores Strewn with the wreck of fleets, where mast ancks, 8 HISTOTiY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Goat island (as ascertained by a recent well boring), the Little Lime Rock and some submerged rocks sontliwest of it. To this series belong also the Lime Rocks, where layers of magnesian limestone are associated with purple slates. On the Little Compton shoi'e the green slates recur, extending from Brown's point to Church's cove. From the outcrops of these rocks in our harbor, we ma.y infer that they originall}^ extended from the Little Lime Rock to Coaster's Harbor island, to Rose island and thence to Castle hill, occupying the entire harbor and the passage. The great veins which traverse these rocks often abound in chlorite, with which occurs also a pink feldspar. The series measures from 500 to 2,000 feet. "At the north end of Rose island and the southwest end of Coaster's Harbor island is a peculiar dark gray or black rock made up of large grains of quartz firmly cemented together by metamorphic action. It is properly a coarse metamorphic sand- stone or grit. The same rock forms the entire western part of Sachuest Neck, overlying the flinty slate of the eastern portion, and contains here and there small seams of black slate vpith coal i:)lants — one of which is the Annularia longifolia. This rock occurs also at Conanicut on the east side of Mackerel cove, M^here it rests upon the protogine and forms a triangular area. Its greatest thickness is about 7o0 feet. This is the lowest and earliest rock in this vicinity which upon palajontological grounds we can refer to the carboniferous pei'iod. "Apparently overlying this metamorphic sandstone we have in Mackerel cove a mass of light and dark gray argillaceous schists, which cover the entire southern extension of Conanicut and extend as far north as Taylor's point above Jamestown. These schists generally contain minute nodules of carbonate of iron (siderite), which, when oxidized, give the surface of the rock a striking appearance. Instead of siderite, iron pyrites in cubical crystals sometimes occurs. This series of beds is repre- sented at the south end of Coaster's Harbor island, and forms the southern part of Easton's point. The veins which traverse these rocks often contain chlorite and sometimes also calcite and a little iron. The total thickness is 600 to 2,000 feet. At Easton's point these argillytes are overlaid by the conglomerate with which we are all familiar, which is made up of jiebbles of finely laminated quartzyte with some mica and contains Lingu- Ice (Brachipod Mollusks). This rock recurs at Paradise on both IIISTOIIY (IF NKW I'OItT COUNTY. 9 sides of the hornblende and mica scliist beds, and ah)iig tlie east shore of the island from Smith's beach to Black point, and on the other side of the east passage at High Hill point. There is some uncertainty as to whether the similar conglomerate, which forms the summit of Miantonomah hill, and that which covers the greater part of Coaster's Harbor island, and which differs considerably in its character from that of Easton's point, etc., belong to the same age. The thickness is abont 750 feet. "The lowest and oldest rocks in this part of the state are of sedimentary origin. The first geological fact in the history of the region indicates the presence of water, the sea probably, which formed the calcareous, aluminous, siliceous and magnes- ian deposits which, under metamorphism, become gneiss, pro- togine, mica, epidote, (ddorite, hornblende and serpentine schist. It is difficult to determine how far, if at all, these older strata had assumed a crystalline structure prior to the carboniferous jieriod, as the whole series, including the carboniferous, evi- dently suffered metamorphism and llexture in late or past car- boniferous times. It is also uncertain how far these older rocks had been disturbed when the carboniferous rocks were deposited, but from several indications it seems probable that the folds indicated in the section began to be formed in pre- carboniferous times, and that the chief outlines of our bay were determined at that remote period. " We may therefore conjecture that the nearest elevations on either side of the carboniferous deposits formed the shore of the swamps and estuaries of the carboniferous time. Such eleva- tions occur at Barber's Height and Tower hill, in North and South Kingstown, and on the other side of the bay, in Tiverton and Little Compton. These southward tending ranges of pro- togine, gneiss, mica schist and chlorite slate bonnded a bay or arm of the sea some 15 miles wide. In about the centre of the section maybe seen masses of protogine and other pre carbonif- erous rocks. While it is possible that they may once have been covered by carboniferous deposits which subsequent erosion may have carried away, I rather incline to the belief that these rocks were never covered in the carboniferous times, but formed then an island around which such rocks were deposited. This island embraced the greater part of Newport Neck, the entire liarbor, and a portion of Conanicnt, and accordingly measured .some four miles in diameter, so that as we ramble over the 10 HI.STOIiY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. small, hilly and rocky wilderness which characterizes portions of the Xeciv and of Conanicnt, we may transport ourselves in imagination back to the time wlien in looking away our eyes would have rested on nothing but a shallow sea, or else upon great swamps, crowded with the peculiar vegetation of the car- boniferous time. The remainder of Conanicnt and of our own island, excepting perhaps a small tract at its northern extrem- ity and possibly anothei' at Paradise, were not in existence ; with these exceptions the nearest terra firnia was at Tower hill and Little Compton. "The carboniferoiis series consists of four groups of strata : (1) the metamorphic grit, (2) the claj' slates with carbonate of iron, (3) the quartzyte conglomerate, and (4) the slates, coal beds and fine conglomerates, which together constitute the coal measures proper. During the deposition of the two first and lowest of the series, there was nothing of a very exceptional character in the physical conditions of our bay. The line quartz grains of the first deposit probably came from the erosion of some areas of granite or protogine. The presence of fossil plants in the layers of slate which occur in this bed, indicates the neighborhood of marshes ; and the abundance of iron car- bonate in tlie succeeding bed shows the presence of carbon in the water and originally in the atmosphere. During these de- positions, it is quite probable that that process of subsidence commenced which marked the period of the coal measures. This subsidence would affect the whole region, but, either owing* to its taking the form of great folds, or owing to the greater elevation of the central island, would still leave that island above water. But during the time of the third group, the coarse con- glomerate, we have evidence of an exceptional state of things. The great size of some of the bouldei's in the conglomerate at ' Purgatory ' and ' Paradise ' has been noticed by many. Some of these measure from four to nine feet in diameter. " The following theories are held in regard to the origin of this conglomerate : (1) that in carboniferous times, another glacial period covered this part of the continent with an ice sheet, and that these great accumulations of boulders were tran- sported hither from distant ledges and left by the thawing ice. A serious objection to this theory is the fact that the boulders do not bear the scratches which characterize glacial boulders. Another theory is that the bay at that time was a gulf leaning IIISTOIIY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 11 northwards into Artie regions, :uicl tlint icebergs, broken off from some Arctic glacier, iloated soiitliwards, and, thawing as they reached a warmer latitnde, deposited their burden of pebbles and boulders here, just as they are doing to-day on the banks of Newfoundland. Another tlieory is that the place of these conglomerates was originally occupied by a iiuely stratiiied quartzite of mica schist, formed during an earlier geological period and of marine origin, as indicated by the presence of the Brachiopoda, and that the action of the sea ground up the entire deposit into pebbles, by a process similar to that we see going on along our shores to-day. Still anothertheory is that a strong and swift river current opened in those times into the bay, and rolled the stones to their present place froui some shore or hillside to the north. Each of these theories contains an element of prob- ability. The large size of the boulders and the absence here of strata of their identical character are remarkable facts. " However that may be, after the formation of the conglom- erate came a period of comparative tranquility, during which the ' Coal Measures,' measuring here some 2,000 feet, were de- posited. To account for alternating beds of coal, slate, and conglomerate, it is customary to suppose alternating periods of submergence and emergence. Under this theory the prospect from the Aquidneck island of the carboniferous time must have greatly varied. There were long periods during which a supposed ol)server would have looked out only upon the broad arms of the bay. others during which his eyes would have rested, at least northward, northwestward, and northeastward, on a landscape bearing some resemblance to that of the Dismal Swamp of Virginia or the Everglades of Florida, and such periods recurred alternately. " During the close of the carboniferous period, changes of a more radical, though, perhaps, gradual character set in. The submergence of the beds having reached its limit, the beds were powerfully compressed in a lateral direction, folded, tilted, faulted and tissured. This compressure is generally attributed to the disturbance of the rocky envelope of the earth following upon the cooling and contraction of its molten interior. At the same time, if not due to the same cause, the rocks assumed a crystalline structure, the beds of carbonaceous vegetation, then probably resembling lignite or hardened peat, were changed into plumbaginous anthracite. The beds of clay in places be- 12 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTV. came mica schist, the couglomerate was compacted, and its peb- bles arranged in pai'allel order, and the underlying older rcjcks became still more crystalline in character. The fissures through- out the series became filled witii veins of quartz. Numerous observations prove that this pressui-e came chiefly from two directions : One W. NW.— E. SE., the other at right angles N. NE. — S. SW., the former producing the great folds tending N. NE. — S. SW. parallel to the Appalachian range which was formed at this time, the other producing a series of minor folds and fissures tending W. NW. — E. SE. " The folded strata were brought above water and the main outlines of the bay and of our island were formed. The surface thus exposed suffered erosion by the rivers, tides and rains during a great lapse of time, until the glacial period set in, when they were subjected to still greater changes at the hands of the ice sheet, which by means of its enormous weight and the stones and boulders frozen into its under surface, plowed out hollows, shattered and broke off rock masses, furrowed, grooved and polished all the surfaces which withstood its southward march. During the thawing of the glacier, a de- pression of the land took place, followed l)y an elevation of forty to fifty feet. To the action of the ice sheet and of the great stream to which it gave rise as it thawed, the final configuration of our bay and islands is mainly due. This becomes apparent in examining a section of the bay, for the depressions do not always correspond to the depressions in the folds of the strata. The folds have been cut into. How much of this is due to the preglacial erosion is uncertain. The most notable instances of these influences are seen between High Hill point and Black point in Seaconnet river and at the ' Paradise ' ridges. The recess between Easton's point and Sachuest point was thus formed; that between the Cliffs and Easton's point, and also the hollow occupied by Easton's pond, Bren ton's cove, and the depression between the chloritic slates and the flinty slates on the Neck, the passage between Conanicut and Fort Adams and the harbor. Mackerel cove in Conanicut, and the passages on either side of Dutch island, all are due to the same causes. '• A few things remain to be noticed. As the ice sheet thawed it deposited its load of clay, sand and b;)ulders, all over our region, but very unequally. In this vicinity [Newport] the niorainal matter is not very thick, but near Providence it forms HISTOKY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 13 considerable hills and plateaus. Biif we received our share of the boulders, as evei'y builder, farmer, gardener or pedestrian knows. Much of this moi-ainal matter was dept^sited in the sea, and this, together with what has since been cairied thither by streams or formed by the wear and tear of the waves, the sea has, in part at least, thrown bacli upon the shore in the form of sand bars and beaches. Then the wind coming to the aid of the waves piled up the sand in di'ifts back of the beaches, dam- ming up the outlets to small streams and forming ponds which are gradually transformed into marshes. In this way the re- cesses in the coast are filled out and the shore is becoming more rounded in outline." Religious ideas were the paramount factors in the various set- tlements which were made in different parts of onr conntry, and which in time grew together into the concrete social mass which at length became the foundation of a mighty republic. As in different localities those religious ideas had their various colors, so the t'onditions gathering around the settlement of Newport countjj^ gave to it a hue peculiarly its own. It is designed here to notice the development of those conditions, and trace the steps by which the banner of civilization was brought hither and planted on these delectable hills, where it has so gracefully and grandly waved upon the invigorating breezes of two and a half centuries. As soon as we enter upon this investigation we shall llnd Roger Williams standing as one of the most conspicuous char- acters of the time in this section of the new world. Some notice of him could hardly be omitted in this connection, though our immediate tield was not the scene of his action. We find him an irrepressible character, of great native force and determina- tion, who had been highly educated in the schools of England and invested with orders in the Ciuirch of England. He, how- ever, embraced the doctrines set I'oi'th by the Puritans and took passagein the ship "Lyon," with nineteen others, I'or America. The ship arrived in JSTantaskett Roads on the 5th of February, 1631, and reached Boston three days later. Williams was at this time about 25 years of age. He shortly became assistant pastor of the church of Salem, bat differences of opinion at once arose between him and the magistrates, and as his impet- uous disposition would brook no restraints or dictation of the constituted authorities, he gave up the field in the following 14 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. autumn and removed to Plymouth. Here he met witli nmn_v of the representative Indian chiefs of the surrounding wilderness and spent much time in studying their language, among whom were Massasoit and Miantonomi, the latter being a chief of the territory now embraced in Newport county. Two years later he resumed the pastoral position which he had left at Salem, but after another jieriod of controversy extending over nearly another two years, he was duly banished from that colony by the solemn and decorous pronunciamento of the general court. This action was not an unusual one in those times, but was con- sistent with the laws under whicli they lived, and in harmony with the general tone of popular sentiment. The banishment of a member for teaching doctrines in opposition to (heir ac- cepted laws was no more an exhibition of intolerance than the execution of any punishment for the violation of law at the present time. The difference is in the color of the glass through which we look. But it is not purposed here to discuss the propriety or ex- pediency of the banishment of Williams. We have only to deal with the fact. The order of banishment was dated Sep- tember 8d, 1635, and the language was as follows : "Whereas Mr. Roger Williams, one of the elders of the church of Salem, hath broached and dyvulged dyvers newe and dangerous opinions, against the aucthoritie of magistrates, as also writ letters of defamacion, both of the magistrates and churches here, and that before any conviction, and yet maine- taineth the same without retraccion, it is therefore ordered, that the said Mr. Williams shall departe out of this jurisdiccion within six weekes nowe next ensueinge, which if he neglect to performe, it shall be lawfuU for the Governor and two of the magistrates to send him to some place out of this jurisdiccion, not to return any more without licence from the Court." A strong character will always draw to itself strong adherents. So Williams had many ardent friends and followers. The rumor gained credence that a new colony was thus to be formed, and the fears that under his leadership such a colony would be planted somewhere near their own, wjiich must of course be weakened by withdrawals of members to form the new one, prompted the general court again to consider the matter, and on January 11th they resolved to send Williams to England, But before the messengers sent to apprehend him readied Salem HISTORY OF NEWI'OUT COUNTY. 15 he had taken hi.s departure, journeying through the wilderness southward. Some account oL' his movements is given in his own language at a subsequent time, as follows : " I first pitched and began to build and plant at Seekonk, now Eehoboth, but I received a letter I'roni my ancient friend, Mr. Winslow, then Governor of Plymouth, professing his own and others love and respect to me, yet lovingly advising me, since I was fallen into the edge of their bounds, and they were loth to displease the Bay, to remove to the other side of the water, and then, lie said, I had the country free before me, and might be as free as themselves, and we should be loving neigh- bors together." After leaving Salem in January, as we have seen, he was, as he says,, "sorely tossed, for fourteen weeks, in a bitter winter season," between Plymouth and Seekonk, where he fixed his habitation in the following spring. After remaining but a short time he heeded the warning of his friend Governor Wins- low, and embarking in a canoe with live associates sailed across the water and up Providence river to the point where he estab- lished his plantation in May or early June, 1636. In his sojourn in the wilderness he was sheltered and fed by friendly Indians, and on his way to the site of his jilantation he was greeted by others in the same amicable manner. With the Indians Wil- liams continued to maintain friendly relations. He purchased land of them, the chiefs at that time being Canonicus and his nephew, Miantonomi, both of whom made their residence gen- erally on the island of this county which perpetuates the name of the former. Williams, with his twelve associates, founded the settlement of Providence on a more broad, civil platform, and one in which entire freedom from ecclesiastical character was aimed at. It was well for the new settlement that the friendship of the Narragansett Indians had been cultivated, for about this time the great chief of the Pequods, Sassacus, was growing in bitter determination to annihilate the whites and subdue the Indians of all the country adjoining his own territor}^ In the expe- dition which the English sent under Capt. John Mason in 16:37 to break the power of this threatening monarch, Miantonomi, with two hundred of his bravest Narragansett warriors, joined as against a common foe. Thus augmented, and with the addi- tion of other Indians from the Niantics and the rebellious Pe- 16 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. qiuxls under Uncas, the forces of Mason nnmbei'ed about live liundred strong. Attackiuo; the Peqnod fort at Mystic at earlj' dawn of a June morning, taking it by surprise, this force with wild vengeance applied fire and sword relentlessly, till seven hundred victims had fallen. The fleeing remnant of the nation were pursued along the sound shore westward, with sad slaughter by the way, until the remnant were overtaken and captured near Fairfield, except that Sassacus and a few others escaped to the Mohawks, only to meet death at their hands. Thus the great nation of the Pequods was wiped out, and the English settlers breathed free of the terrors on their account which had made residence in the new country peculiarly hazardous. Though the scenes of the Pequod war were enacted in other fields than Newport county the influences exerted here must have amounted to a powerful factor in the means which brought such auspicious results to tiie white settlers of both this locality and Massachusetts bay. The scenes which took place here, on Conanicut island, perhaps turned the tide of events, and in their final development gave to the white settlers an overvvhelniiiig victory for all time instead of a complete extermination of their feeble numbers by the combined forces of the bloodthirstj' sav- ages. The Pequod embassadors sent to secure the cooperation of the Narragansett Indians were already in conference with Canonicus and Miantouomi on the island of Conanicut, when Roger Williams, being apprized of ilieir movements and pur- poses, came down the bay to intercede with his friends, the Narragansett sachems. Thougli the latter had already entered into negotiations with the Pequods to join them in their war upon the whites, ^yilliams threw all his energies into the cause, and at the imminent risk of his life, for three days and three nights labored by entreaty, argument and expostulation, to pre- vent the proposed alliance. His efforts were at last crowned with success, the proposed compact was completely nullified and the friendly relatiojis of the Narragansetts with the colon- ists fully established. History can never tell what direful results would have fol- lowed had it not been for that interview on Conanicut and the herculean struggle of Williams' superior intellect with that of the untutored savages. But the aspects which seem to have HISTORY OF NEVVPOUT COUNTY. 17 been entirely changed by it, vvlieii the fate of a coming nation hnng quivering in tlie balance, strongly suggest that bnt for that interview the feeble colonies of white settlers then in New England might have been completely annihilated before the sweep of tomahawk and tirebrand, wielded without mercy by reckless savage hands. While the field was being prejDared for the occupation of a new race by the confirmation of friendly relations with the Nar- ragansetts, and the removal of possible danger from the hostile Peqnods, agencies were at work in Massachusetts bay piepar- ing the seed which was soon to be planted here, as the nucleus of civilization in Newjiort county. We turn now to look briefly at the working of those agencies and the development of their results. From the early days of the Christian church, when the apos- tle James wrote his general epistle, there have been at times liersons who taught the doctrine that faith in Christ relieves those holding it from all obligation to keep the moial law. Those holding this doctrine were called Antinomians. The doc- trine appeared in Germany in the time of Luther, by whom it was vigorously opposed, and in England during the protector- ate of Cromwell, when some of its votaries maintained that "as the elect cannot fall from grace nor forfeit the divine favor, any wicked actions which they may commit are not really sinful ; and that consequently, they have no need to confess their sins or to break them off by repentance."" It appeared again in the following century, when its supporters maintained that it was a logical consequence from the doctrines taught by Calvin. From England the doctrine was brought to the new settlements in America by Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, a lady of considerable cul- ture and liberal education, who arrived in Boston September ISth, 1634. She became a member of the Boston church, and rapidly acquired influence. Meetings of the women of the church were held under her direction, in which she taught her peculiar relig- ious speculations. Among them was the tenet that the person of the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, and that the inward revelations of the Spirit, the conscious judgments of the mind, are of paramount authority. Among those who accepted her doctrines were Henry Vane, John Cotton and John Wheel- wright and nearly the whole Boston church. The neighboring churches and clergy however, were strongly opposed to them. 18 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The contest in 1636 became violent and all-pervading. Bancroft says, — "The dispute infused its spirit into everj'thing ; it inter- fered with the levy of troops for the Pequot war; it influenced the respect sliown to the magistrates, the distribution of town lots, the assessment of rates ; and at last the continued exist- ence of the two opposing parties was considered inconsistent with the public peace." The peculiar tenets of Mrs. Hutchinson were among a long catalogue of opinions which were condemned as erroneous by an ecclesiastical synod held at Newtown, Mass., Atigust 30th, 1637, and in the following November she was tried by the general court, and together with a number of her associates sentenced to banishment fi'om the territory of Massachusetts. Nineteen of these exiled colonists, under the leadership of Jolin Clarke and William Coddington, were welcomed by Roger Williams to establish a plantation near him, and by his recom- mendation purchased of tlie Indians the island of Aquidneck, now known as Rhode Island. Here a body politic was formed on democratic principles, in which no one was to be "accounted a delinquent for doctrine." Mrs. Hutchinson, with her hus- band and sons, joined the new settlement, and remained there until 1642. wlien, her husband having died, she removed with her family into the territory of the Dutch near New York, where during the following year she died at the hands of the Indians who were then at war with the Dutch. We are now prepared to consider the actual circumstances of the purchase and settlement. Tile initial part of what is now tlie county of Newport was the insular territory. Of that, the island lying in the bay, against tlie northern part of Rhode Island, now known as Prudence, but called by the Indians Chibachuwese, was the first purchase from the Indians of wliich we have any knowledge- This was first i)urchased by one Mr. Oldham, as will shortly be seen, upon conditions of settlement which were not fulfilled, hence the sale was void. Later it was sold to Roger Williams and Governor Winthrop. The date of these transactions is not known, but it was probably some time during the year 1636. The i)urchase was made of the two chiefs, Canonicus and Mian- tonomi. Previous to the transaction Roger Williams wrote to Goveinor Winthrop in regard to his motives and purposes that "Cannonnicus gave an Island in this Bay to Mr. Oldham, by HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 19 name Chibackuwesa, uppon condition as it should seem, that he would dwell there neare unto them. The Lord (in whose hands all our hearts are) turning tlieare affections towards my- selfe, they desired me to remove thither and dwell nearer to them. I have answered once and againe, that for the present I mind not to remove; but if I have it from them, I would give them satisfaction for it, and build a little house and put in some swine, as understandinge the place to have store of fish and good feedinge for swine. Of late I have heard, that Mr. Gibbons, upon occasion, motioned your desire and his own of putting some swine on some of these islands, which hath made me more desire to obtain it, because I might thereby not onley benefit myselfe, but also pleasure yourselfe, whom I more desire to please and honour. I spoke of it now to this sachem, and he tells me, that because of the store of fish, Cannonnicus desires that I would accept halfe, (it being spectacle-wise, and between a mile or two in circuit, as I guess) and he would reserve the other ; but I think if I goe over, I shall obtain the whole." But the first definite and most important transfer of the ex- tensive insular lands of this county was made in the year 1637. The following is a copy of this conveyance : " The 24th of ye 1st month called March in ye yeare (soe com- monly called) 1637. " Memorandum. That we Cannonnicus and Miantunnomu ye two chiefe Sachims of the Nanhigccansitts, by virtue of our Generale command of this Bay, as allso the perticuhir subject- Inge of the dead Sachims of Acquednecke and Kitackamuck- qutt, tliemselves and land unto us, have sold unto Mr. Cod- dington and his friends united unto him, the great Island of Acquednecke lyinge from hence Eastward in this Bay, as allso the marsh or grasse upon Quinunicutt and the rest of the Islands in the Bay (exceptinge Chibacliuwesa formerlj^ souhl unto Mr. Winthrop, the now Governour of tiie Massachusetts and Mr. Williams of Providence) ; allso the grasse upon tlie livers and coves about Kitickamuckqutt and from these to Paupausquatch, for the full payment of forty fathom of white beads, to be equally divided between us. In witnessH whereof we have here subscribed. '■^ Item. That by givinge by Miantunnomus' ten coates and twenty howes to the present inluibitants, they shall remove 20 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. themselves from off the Island before next winter. Witness onr hands. "Themarkeof X Caunonnious " In the presence of " Ye marke of X Yotuesh "Roger Williams " The marke of X Miantunnomu "Randall Holden " Ye marke of X Assotemuet "Ye marke of X Mishammoh "Caunonious, his son." Other memoranda relating to the transaction have been pre- served, among the most interesting of which are the following : "This witnesseth that I, Wanamatraunemit ye at present sachem, inhabitant of ye Island, have received five fathom of wampum and doe consent to the contents. Witness my hand. Ye marke of Wanamataunewit " In ye presence of Randall Holden." " Memorandum. That T, Ousamequin, freely consent that Mr. William Coddington and his friends United unto him shall make use of anygrasse or trees on ye maineland on Powakasick side, and doe promise loveinge and just carriage of myselfe and all my men to the said Mr. Coddington and Englisli his friends united to him, havinge received of Mr. Coddington five fathom of wampum as gratuity from himselfe and the rest. " Dated the 6th of the fifth month, 1638. " Ye marke of X Ousamequin " Witnesse Roger Williams, Randall Holden." Existing receipts from Miantunnomu, Weshaganesett, Wani- menatoni and Canonnicus show that during the year 1639 Cod- dington and his associates paid to the Indians at different times, to satisfy tliem for this purchase, twenty fathoms wampum, twenty-five coats, thirteen hoes and two "tarkepes." The In- dians now removed from the island of Aquidneck and its neighboring islands, and surrendered them to the peaceable and undisputed possession of the white purchasers. The first settlement was made at Pocasset, in the northern part of the island, near the present village of Portsmouth. HISTORY OF NE\\ rt)i:r COUNTY. 21 • William Coddington, wliose name appears prominent in the first pim-hase of lands of this county, was previous to that, one ol the magistrates of the Massachusetts colony. He was one of a company of nineteen persons who associated themselves to- gether at Boston for the purpose of settling as a colony at some place southward, and accordingly sent out a committee of their nnmber to select a i)lace and secure territory upon which to locate. They made choice of the beautiful islands and shores of Narragansett bay, as has been seen, and two and a half cen- turies of enlightened progress confirms the wisdom of their choice. The deed was taken, as we have seen, in the name of '* William Coddington and his friends." It was so held by Coddington until April 14th, 1G52, when he executed an instru- ment transferring all rights which he might claim under the deed to the company of which himself was but a single member, holding equal rights with the others Soon after the jmrchase of the " plantation " the settlers who located upon it entered into a compact, of which the following is a copy : " The 7th day of the first month, 1638. " We whose names are underwritten do here solemnly in the presence of Jehovah incorporate ourselves into a Bodie Politick and as he shall help, will submit our persons, lives and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to all those perfect and most absolute lawes of his given us in his holy word of truth, to be guided and judged thereby. Exod. 24. 3, 4. William Coddington, 2 Cron. 11. 3. John Clarke, 2 Kings. 11. 17. William Hutchinsois-, Jr., John Cogqkshall, William Aspinwall, Samuel Wilbore, John Porter, John Sanford, ■- Edward Hutchinson, Jr., Esq., Thomas Savage, William Dyre, William Freeborne,' Phillip She.xrman, John Walker, 22 history of newport county. Richard Carder, WiLMAM BaULSTON, Edward Hutchinson, Sen'r., Henry* X Bulle, his niarke, Randall Holden." William Coddington was chosen a judge and the little colony promised to "yield all due honour unto him according to the lawes of God." At the same time William Aspinwall was ap- pointed secretary and William Dyre was made " Clarke of this Body." Meetings of the colony were held at irregular intervals, some- times of a week or two and sometimes of a month or more, whenever occasion demanded, which in those primitive days was frequent. At these meetings laws and orders were passed, lands allotted to individual settlers, and provision made for the needs of the colony in various directions as those needs ap- peared. The colony flourished during the year 1638, and such was its rapid growth and the prospects of future prosperity that it was soon deemed expedient and desirable that a new colony or em- bryo town should be estid)lished on the southern part of the island. On the 28th of April, 1639, William Coddington and eight others decided to found such a plantation, and the steps which followed resulted in the foundation of what afterward became the town, and still later the city of Newport. Though the official vote which constituted thehrst act toward establish- ing the new settlement bears the above mentioned date, the 12th of May is the traditional date on which the settlement was be- gun. This is attested by the inscription on the monument to the memory of William Coddington, which marks his resting place in the burial ground on Farewell street, near the Second Baptist church in Newport. It is a stone slab, standing in the middle of the plot, and bears the following legend of the time of which we are writing : " THIS MONUMENT Erected by the Town of Newport on the 12th day of May, 1839, being the Second Centennial Anni- versary of the settlement of this Town ; To the memory of WILLIAM CODDINGTON, ESQ. That illustrious man, who iirst purchased this Island from the Narragansett Sachems Canonicus and Miantunomo for, and on account of himself and Seventeen others his associates in the purchase and settlement. HISTORY OF NKWPORT COUNTY. 23 " He presided manj' years as chief Magistrate of the Island — and Colony of Rhode Ishxnd — and died much respected and lamented on the 1st day of November 1678, Aged 78 Years— and was here interred." If we may be jjardoned for the digression, we would linger in this ancient burial place a moment longer to speak of two or three others of the first settlers of this island whose remains lie buried here. Doubtless beneath the grass and in spots other- wise half hidden in this enclosure " Tlieie lie memorial stones whence time ha* gnawed The graven legends ; " but the "legends" upon some of them are still intelligible. Among them is a monument to Henry Bull, " Late Governor of this Colony aged 85 years deceased January 22d 169f. He was one of the eighteen original purchasers of this Island who set- tled the town of Pocassett or Portsmouth in 1638 ; and one of the eight who settled the town of Newport in 1639." Others bear the inscriptions of William James, Sr., who died October 19, 1697 ; John Easton, governor, wlio died in 1705 ; and Edward Thurston, who died in 1706. A little confusion appears to exist in regard to the exact number of the first settlers here. It §eems probable that one of the nineteen, Randall Holden, was not a member of the com- pany at the time the purchase was made, but joined or re- joined it about the time the compact was entered into. He then a few years later separated from tlie company. Hence we find the original number of settlers spoken of sometimes as eighteen and at other times as nineteen. We now behold the island of Aquidneck with two settlements in active and prosperous existence upon it. Tlie usual labors of a new settlement engrossed their attention. What with break- ing roads, clearing up woods, exterminating wolves and foxes, opening a trade in lumber, building vessels and laying the foundations of a well established and regulated local govern- ment, these towns were soon advanced to a more prosperous and important position than their elder sister. Providence. During the summer of 1638 Richard Dummer began building a mill. For tliis public convenience he was granted a share in the common proprietorship equal to a €150 estate. In the lat- ter part of the same year Mr. Esson was encouraged to build a water mill for the use of the plantation, and for that use he was 24 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. permitted to fall and carry away any timber that might be necessary. At this j^eriod the general meeting of the people empowered creditors to sell property of absconded debtors, also appointed men to trade with the Indians, and fixed the rates at which venison should be bought and sold. These prices were three half pence a potind to be paid for it in trade with the In- dians, and two pence a pound was the price at which it was to be sold, a farthing to each pound to be returned into the public treasury as revenue. On training days all men able to bear arms, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, were required to exercise in military drill. In 1639 fences of either hedge or post-and-rail were required to be made around corn ground. Keepers wei'e appointed for the cattle which ran at large in the common pasturage, from April 15th to November 1st. The set- ting of fire on any lands for purposes of clearing was forbidden, excei^t during certain specified days in March. This indicates the prevalence of a custom of burning grass and shrubs. Stocks and whipping posts were among the first institutions set up for the public weal in these jjrimitive towns. The fields and woods were held largely in common, and the falling of timber, which was plentiful here, was regulated by the towns. Those who were licensed to cut timber and saw it into lumber were forbid- den to sell any lumber outside of the town or to any one in the town without license from the proper authorities. The prices, which were then regulated by law, were eight shillings per hun- dred for inch boards and seven shillings per hundred for half inch boards ; and twelve pence per foot for clap-boards and palings. On the 12th of March, 1640, a compact amounting to a gov- ernment was entered into by a union of the two towns occupy- ing the island. It was agreed that this should be under a gov- ernor or deputy governor and assistants. The governor and two assistants were to be chosen from one town and the deputy and two other assistants from the other town. The governor and all his assistants were invested with the authority of jus- tices of the p6ace. The election of all town officers was now ef- fected by the united towns. The first officers of the primitive state thus oi'ganized were : William Coddington, governor ; William Brenton, deputy governor; Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall', William Hutchinson and John Porter, assistants ; William Dyre, secretary, and Henry Bull, sergeant. The term IIISTOKY OF NKWl'OKT COUNTY. 25 of tlieir offices was one year. A more full estahlislnnent of the government was elfected at a general court (jf the two towns held on the 6th of May following. Among the acts passed at that time the following are some of the most interesting: " 13. Whereas, it was desired that all the orders and Laws formerlie recorded in this Book of State should be oi)enlie read, l^erused and examined by this present Courte assembled ; Be it known, therefore, that it hatli been so done; and sucli as were disallowed are repealed, and so noted in the Margent, and the rest are ratified, and stand in full force, though the title of the Magistrates be altered. "14. In regard to the many Incursions our Island is subject unto, and that an Alarum be necessary foi' the .safe securing thereof; Be it therefore eiuicted, that in each plantation there bee this forme dulie observed. That as soon as a notice is given of any probable Incursion, that then forthwith Three Musketts be distinctly discharged, and the Drum or Drummers inces- santly to beat an Alarum ; and that forthwith each Man bearing amies shall repair to the coalers, which sliall be lodged at ye Chief Magistrates House in each Plantation, as he will answer it at his perill. "1/5. It is ordered, that the Governour with the Assistants shall write to Plymouth about their Title of the Maine Land Grass. "16. It is ordered, that all su<'li who shall have a House lott granted unto them within any of our Townes, shall build a House thereon within a year after the Grant thereof, or else it shall be forfeited to the Townes use. Repealed. "17. It is ordered, that Commission be directed to the Treas- urers to make demands of all such inonies as are due to the Treasury for the Lands assigned forth to particular men, and to make return of all such who shall be therein remiss, at the next particular Courte who are to be ordered thei'eby according to Law. " 18. It is ordered, that the particular Courts, consisting of Magistrates and Jurors shall be holden on the first Tuesday of each month ; and one Courte to be held at Nieuport, the other at Portsmouth ; and that the .sayd Court shall have full powre to Judge and determine all such cases and actions as shall be presented." August 6th, 1640, the general court passed further enact- 26 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ments requiring that all men liable to bear arms slioiild appear completely armed with musket and jiike and all their "furni- ture," at the places respective!}' designated, " by Eight of the clock in the morning, at the second beat of the Drnm, on such dayes as they are appointed to Traine ; " that " eight severall times in the j'eare the Bands of each Plantation shall openlie in the field be exercised and discii>lined by their Commanders and Officers : " that there should be two general masters an- nually, one in Newport and one in Portsmouth : that a fine of five shillings should be paid by any delinquent : that a fine of twelve pence should he paid for every failure to come properly equipped: that when a general muster should be held in one town a sufficient guard should be set in the other town : that all men remaining twenty days or longer upon the island should be liable to do duty in the training bands : that herdsmen and lightermen detained by their employments should be excused for absence on training days on payment of half the fine : that the two chief officers of each town — one of the commonwealth and the other of the band — should judge the validity of all ex- cuses of this kind : that each town should have the transaction of its own local affairs, the magistrates of each having liberty to call a court on the first Tuesday of each month, wherein actions might be entered, juries impaneled and causes tried (but they were to have no jurisdiction over cases involving " life and limb,") and whence appeals might be taken to the quarter sessions : and that the two general courts of the year should be held on the first Wednesday after the 12th of March and 12th of October resj^ectively. The time t)f holding the quarter sessions was subsequently fixed on the Tuesdays pre- ceding the general court days, and ou the first Tuesdays in Jan- uary and July. The Indian question is a perplexing one even to this great nation, with all its advancement, its great wealth, its sixty million people and its territory expanding from ocean to ocean. Of how much more pressing importance and grave perplexity must it have been to the handful of inhabitants of this little island who composed the government whose history we are re- viewing. Governor Coddington and his assistants, on the 7th of July, 1640, entered into a treaty with Miantonomi and his associates, sachems of the Narragansett Indians, as follows : " That no Indian whatever, under his jurisdiction shall eyther 1I1!^T()I!V OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 27 Winter or Summer, kindle or cause to be kindled any tires upon our Lands, but such as they shall put forth immediately again upon their departure ; Provided, that no hurt or damage be done thereby upon or after the kindling of the said tire ; or if it so fall out, that hurt or damage be done by their kindling of fire, then ye damage to be adjudged and they to be tryed by our Law. " That in lieu of a Eoore yt belonged to the Island, killed by an Indian, the said Indian shall paj^ ten fadome of beads at harvest next. " That no trapp or Engine l)e sett by them upon the Island, to take or stroye the deare or other cattle thereon. " That if any Indian shall be unruly, or will not depart our houses when they are bidden, they are to carry them to the Governour or other Magistrate, and they shall be punished ac- cording to their demerit. And further, that for any common or small crime he shall receive his punishment according to Law; and for anj^ matters of greater weight exceeding the value of ten fadome of beads, then Miantonomy is to be sent for, who is to come and see the Tryal. But if it be a Sachem that hath offended, though in smaller matters, then he is also to be sent for, and to see his tryall and Judgment, who hath promised to come. " That no Indian shall take any Cannew from the English, neyther from their Boatside or shoreside, and the like not to be done by them. " That upon their trading and bargaining, having agreed, they shall not revoke the said bargaine or take their goods away by force, and that they shall not be Idling about nor resort t1<' NEWPOKT COUNTY. 35 The people at this time seemed rather desirous of courting the favor of tlie English crown, for the reason perhaps more emphatically than they might otherwise have felt, that the con- dition of affairs in their new home was not at all satisfactory, and the prospect of maintaining here a government of any kind seemed enveloped in darkness, and the only source from which they could expect help was from the crown. The following act, passed in 1650, exhibits this desire to appear jealous of the honor of the crown. "Be it enacted by this present Assemblie, that whosoever shall speake wordes of disgrace contemptuoixsly undervaluing of that Honored State of England, he shall suffer a severe pun- ishment according to the judgment of his ])eers, tlieare fault being proved by two lawfull witnesses." The general court of 1650 ordered that a committee of six men from each town should meet four days before the meeting of the next general court, and be invested with the authority of the full court. They were to be paid by the town that should send them two shillings and six pence a day for each man. The plan of representation seems to have worked satisfactorily, as at the next meeting of the assembly, October 26th, 1650, the following record was made : "Ordered, that the representative committee for the Colonie shall alvvay consist of six discreet, able men, and chosen out of each Towne for the transacting of the affaires of the Common- wealth ; and being mett, they shall have powre to make and establish rules and i)enalties for the ordering of themselves dur- ing their sessions." From the year 1651 to 1654 the island towns maintained a government of their own, while the towns of Providence and Warwick claimed to exist under the former charter and main- tained as well as they could their charter jirivileges. We quote from " Staples' Annals" the following picture of the times : "The towns of Providence and Warwick appointed Mr. AVil- liams their agent to go to England and solicit a confirmation of privileges. In tlie mean time Plymouth and Massachusetts re- newed tlieir dis])ute before the United Colonies about Warwick. In Sejitember Plymouth was advised to take possession of that l)lantation by foice, unless the inliabitants would willingly sub- mit themselves to their jurisdiction. This undoubtedly hastened the appointment of an agent to England. The proceedings of 36 IIISTOi;V OK NEWPORT COUNTY. Mr. Coddington were not approved bj^ all the inhal)itants of the islands over which he was appointed Governor. Forty-one oi" the inhabitants of Portsmouth, and sixty-five of the inhabitants of Newjiort joined in requesting Dr. John Clark, of Newport, to proceed to England as their agent, and solicit a repeal of his commission. Mr. Williams and Mr. Clark sailed together from Boston in November. The objects of their respective missions were different. Mr. Clark was the sole agent of the island towns, to procure a repeal of Mr. Coddington's commission. Mr. Williams was the sole agent of Providence and Warwick to procure a new charter for these two towns. It seems to have been admitted that the commission of Mr. Coddington had in effect vacated the previous charter." The commission of Coddington covered in its jurisdiction the islands of Rhode Island and Conanicut. This, it was said, was then the greater jiart of that which had been under the charter of the Providence Plantations. While the Gortonists (fol- lowers of Samuel Gorton at Warwick) and tlie people of Showomut were raising money to send Williams to England for the purposes already mentioned, Mr. William Arnold at the time wrote concerning the movement as follows : "It is a great petie and very unfitt that such a company as these are, they all stand professed enemies against all the United Colonies, that they should get a charter for so small a quantity of land as lyeth in and al)out Providence, Showomut, Pautuxit and Coicett, all which now Rhode Island is taken out from it, it is but a strape of land lying in betweene the colonies of Mas- sachusits, plymouth and Conitaquot, by which means if they should get them a charter, off it there may come some mischiefe and trouble upon the whole country if their project be not pre- vented in time, for under the pretence of liberty of conscience about these partes there comes to live all the scume tlie runne awayes of the country, which in tyrae for want of better order may bring a heavy burthen upon the land." In the midst of this period of disorganized government war broke out between England and Holland, and these hostilities affected quite directly the towns on Narragansett Bay, espec- ially Newport, which was then engaged in a profitable com- merce with the Dutch. Meanwhile the agents in England had obtained permission for the colony to act under tlie charter un- til a more thorough investigation of the questions in which it IlISTOUV (IF NK'.VroliT COUXTY. Si was involved could be had and a more mature derision l)e ar- rived at. The island towns, on account of their superior num- bers and importance tiow claimed the piivileges and riii,lits oT the charter, and that they were the proper descendants of the government which for about three years had been divided. They accordingly proceeded to act in the matter of prospective relations with the Dutch, and in the name and by the authority of the colony of the Providence Plantations, commissioned John Underhill, Edward Hull and William Dyre to make treaties with the Dutch or to provide for defense against them. Against this action Providence and Warwick strongly protested. They declared that if they were drawn into any such complica- tion by the unwarranted action of the island towns they would appeal to the crown. They then passed an edict disfranchising all those persons in the colonj^ who should own the commission of Underhill, Hall and Dyre. Thus the colony was sorely disquieted by the conilict of two factions, each claiming the heritage of the char- ter. Though tiie difficulty with the Dutch did not prove as great as might have been expected, yet the controversy on the priority of riglits between the governments centered at Newport on the one hand and at Providence on the other, was still main- tained, even after the news arrived that the English court had revoked the commission of Coddington and had reinstated th«^ charter. Many weary months passed in a vain attemi)t to reorganize the government under the charter. Each faction claimed the right to dictate terms upon which a. union under the charter should be made. Finally, in the summer of 1654 a committee representing the four towns was agreed upon to meet and form a plan or scheme of union. This committee was composed of Messrs. Olney and Williams from Providence ; Burden and Roome from Portsmouth ; Smith and Torrey (Joseph) from Newport ; and Weeks and Potter from Warwick. Tliis com- mission met at Warwick on the 81st of August, 16o4, and ad- justed the differences between their constituents. It was agreed that the acts of the two factions, as far as they concerned their own towns, should stand, but the acts of neither were to be in force in the towns of the other. Henceforth the colony, united again, should be governed under the charter of 16-13. Tk« 38 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. general iissembly of the colony was to be composed of six commissioners from each town. The government thus re-established, a period of comparative peacefulness was enjoyed, biif the people of this county were not permitted to fall into a condition of drowsy lethargy. What with the alarms of the Indians, the continual demands of Mas- sachusetts for territory that belonged to Rhode Island, and the defense of the persecuted Quakers, these people were kept awake to vital questions which daily pressed upon them. Not the least of these questions was that as to what might be the sentiments of the newly crowned King, Charles II., in regard to the religious freedom, which was a cardinal feature of the colonial policy of Rhode Island. At this juncture Greene de- clares in the following language complimentary to one of the men of Newport: "It was well for her that at this perilous moment she was represented at the new court by so earnest, clear headed and dextrous a diplomatist as John Clarke. By his exertions a new cliarter was obtained, and on the 24th of November, 1663, accepted 'at a very great meeting and assem- bly of the colony of Providence Plantations, at Newport, in Rhode Island, in New England.' " A new era now opens in the history of Rhode Island, of which the towns now of Newport county then constituted the principal part. The charter of 1663 was so liberal and complete in its provisions and so perfectly in accord with the sentiments of the colony that it remained in force during the remainder of the colonial period, and was accepted as the foundation of the state government down to the adoption of the constitution of 1842. A document which could thus hold the respect of the people for nearly two hundred years deserves more than a passing mention. Our curiosity is at once aroused to know something of the details of such a document. We feel, there- fore, abundantly justified in quoting liere some of the most in- teresting passages and otherwise nuiking abstracts so as to pre- sent in condensed form the details of that charter. It begins with the following recital : " Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Whereas, we have been informed by the humble petition of our trusty and well-beloved subject, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamin HISTOltY OK NEWPOUT COUNTY. 3'9 Arnold, William Brenton, Williani C()(lin, gold and silver ore that should af- terward be discovered there. By the charter the Narragansett river was made the dividing line between this colony and Con- necticut. In all matters of public controversy between this colony and the other colonies of New England the charter con- firmed to the people tiie right of appeal to the crown, and also the right "to i)ass and repass, with freedom, into and through the rest of the English Colonies, upon their lawful and civil oc- casions, and to converse, and hold commerce and trade with such of the inhabitants of our otiier English Colonies as shall be willing to admit tliem tliereunto, they behaving themselves peaceably among tliem." In good earnest tlie freemen now set about the work of re organizing the government conformably to tiie new ciiartei-. Two general coui'ts for the trial of causes were held annually at Newport, which was the chief town of the (;olony, and the seat of government. They were composed of the governor and not less than six of the assistants, with the deputy governor and as manv more assistants as might be present. The attend- 44 HISTORY OF XEWPORT COUNTY. ance of the deputy governor was not essential. These courts were regularly held in May and October. Courts of trial were also held in Providence in September and in Warwick in March. Grand and petit jurors were chosen for these courts, five of each from Newport, tliiee of each from Portsmouth, two of each from Providence, and a like number from Warwick. For the management of the interests of Rhode Island before the court of England, and conducting the business to such a propitious result, in the face of such ^wwerfully opposing in- fluences, the colony was i^laced under a lasting debt of gratitude to their agent, Mr. John Clarke, one of the citizens of I^ewport, whose name the people of this county have not yet ceased to honor and to regard with a grateful veneration not excelled by that accorded to any other man known to its history. It has been already shown that the territory now occupied by Newport county was enlarged as to the Rhode Island jurisdic- tion by the charter of 1663. That charter, as we have seen, gave to Rhode Island the island of Block Island. This had already been settled, under Massachusetts patronage, having by the issues of the Pequot war fallen into the hands of that colony, by whom it had in 1658 l)een granted to Governor John Endicott and three of his associates. By them it was again transferred to a company of nine men, who in 1661 had made a -settlement there. Representatives from the island attended the meeting of the general assembly of the colony in May, 1664, and formally acknowledged the jurisdiction of Rhode Island and the " submission " of the inhabitants to the will of " His Majesty." A sort of town government was established there, in which three selectmen were the chief executives, legislators and judges. The town was authorized to send two representa- tives to the general assembly. This island was called by the Indians, Manasses, or Manisses, and was named Block Island by its discoverer, Adrian Block, the Dutch navigator, who in 1614 sailed around it. November 6th, 1672, it was incorporated with more full privileges as a town, and at that time its name was changed to New Shoreham, the reason for this name being given by the people "as signs of our unity, and likeness to many parts of our native country." The claims of Massachusetts on the one hand and Connecticut o a o >-5 O % ^ I>KT COUNTy. place at Newport, July lOtli, 176i). Here also was enacted the first naval engagement of tlie war. This took place June 15th, 1775. between a colonial sloo]) commanded by Capt. Abraham Whipple and a tender of th^ ]?ritish fri.uate "Rose," in which the latter was pursued till she grounded on the shore of Conan- icut and was there cai)tured. The general assembly of the colony formally lenounced al- legiance to Great Britain May 4th, 1776. A hospital for vaccination and treatment of small pox was es- tablished by law in the county in 1776. The declaration of independence having been formally ap- proved by the general assembly July 19th, 1776, the British army under General Clinton took possession of Newport on the 8th of the following December. The island was now given up to the British, and the functions of local government and par- ticipation in the colonial government in an open manner were suspended. General Prescott, who was in command of the British forces on the island, was quartered at the house of a Mr. Overing, on the west side of the island, just north of the present town line which divides Middletown from Portsmouth. On tlie night of July 9th, 1777, he was suri)rised and cai)tured by a party of Americans headed by Col. William Barton. The French fleet arrived off Newport July 29th, 1778, and one month later, viz.: August 29th, the battle of Rhode Island took place. This engagement was the result of an eifort made by the Americans to dislodge the British from the island. The American forces, ten thou.sand strong, under General Sullivan, had moved over from Tiverton upon the north end of the island, on the 9th of August, where they occupied the abandoned forts of the British. The latter, in the meantime, fell back toward Newport. On the 15th Sullivan advanced with his army to a point within two miles of the British lines, which extended across the island, from Tonomy hill to Easton's pond. Here cannonading was kept up for several days, and so effective was the work that Sullivan was about to storm the enemy's works when his army became demoralized by the withdrawal of the French fleet which had been expected to afford assistance, so that the number of his effective troops was reduced to abf)ut fifty-four hundred. With these he began to fall back to the northward on the evening of the 28th, and at two o'clock that niSTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 49 night encamped on Butt's hill, in tlie northern part of Ports- month. The British forces marched out from Newport and pursued. A general engagement took 2)lace on the 29th upon the high lands of Portsmontli, in which the loss of the Ameri- cans was two hundred and eleven, while that of tiu^ enemy was one thousand and twenty-three. The Americans held their po- sition and repulsed the British. On the following day Sullivan withdrew his forces to Tiverton. Newport was evacuated by the British, Octohcu' ^.^jth, 177'J. It was incorporated as a city June 1st, 1784, and the charter was repealed in March, 1787. Another city <;harter was granted May 6th, 1858. Here the federal constitution was adopted by the state, after a long and heated contest May 29th, 1790. The first trip of the steamboat "Firefly," the pioneer steam packet, was made between Newport and Providence May 28th, 1817. The adoption of a state constitution was considered, and a ccmvention in 1824 at Newport adopted one, but the vote of the people rejected it. Another convention met at Providence in 1834 and 1835, but nothing was matured. A third (convention met in 1842 and adopted what was called the " Landholders' constitution," which was also rejected by the vote of the peo- ple. In the meantime another convention was held which drafted tlie " People's constitution "' which it was claimed was subsequently adopted by the vote of the people. A government organized under it, with Thomas W. Dorr at its head, claimed the right to exercise the functions of government. The author- ities acting under the charter refused to accede to their demands, and preparations were made for hostile action. The rebellion culminated on the 28th of June, 1842, when a party of the in- surgents attempted to make a stand at Chepachet. The state troops moved upon them 'and they dispersed and gave up the contest. Another constitutional convention in 1842 adopted a constitution which was approved by the people, and govern- ment under it was organized May 2d, 1843. It will be interesting to note some of the men whom this county has given to prominent positions in the state. Among the governors we find the following were from this county : William Coddington, March 12, 1640, to May 9, 1647. John Coggeshall, May, 1647, to May, 1648. William Coddington. May, 1648, to May. 1649. 4 ilO HISTOKV OF XEWPORT COUNTY. Nicholas Easton, May, 1650, to August, 1651. John Sanford, May, 1653, to May, 1654. Nicholas Easton, May to September 12, 1654. Benedict Arnold, May, 1657, to xMay, 1660. William Brenton, May, 1660, to May, 1662. Benedict Arnold, May, 1662, to May, 1666. William Brenton, May, 1666, to May, 1669. Benedict Arnold, May, 1669, to May, 1672. Nicholas Easton, May, 1672, to May, 1674. -William Coddington, May, 1674, to May, WTQ^ Walter Clarke, May, 1676, to May, 1677. Benedict Arnold, May, 1677, to June 20, 1678*. ^ William Coddington, August 28, 1678, to November 1, 1678*. John Cranston, Novembers, 1678, to March 12, 1680*. Peleg Sanford, March 16, 1680, to May, 1683. William Coddington, Jr., May, 1683, to May, 1685. Henry Bull, May, 1685, to May, 1686. Walter Clarke, May to June 29, 1G86. (The charter was suspended till 1690). Henry Bull, February 27, to May 7, 1690. John Easton, May, 1690, to May, 1695. Caleb Carr, May, 1695, to December 17, 1695*. Walter Clarke, January, 1696, to March, 1698. Samuel Cranston, Marcli, 1698, to April 26, 1727*. William Wanton, May, 1732, to December, 1733*. John Wanton, May, 1734, to July 5, 1740*. Richard Ward, July 15, 1740, to May, 1748. Gideon Wanton, May, 1745, to 1746, and May, 1747, to May, 1748. Josias Lyndon, May, 1768, to May, 1769. Joseph Wanton, May, 1769, to November 7, 1775 ; at which date he was deposed. John Collins, May, 1786, to 1790. William C. Gibbs, May, 1821, to 1824. William C. Cozzens, March 3 to Mtvy, 1863. Charles C. Van Zandt, 1877 to 1880. George Peabody Wetmore, 1885 to . The following citizens of this county have held the office of deputy governor or lieutenant governor, the title being changed from the former to the latter term in 1799. *Died in office. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 51 William Brenton, November, 1663, to May, 1666. Nicholas Easton, May, 1060, to May, 1669. John Clarke, May, 1669, to May, 1670. Nicholas Easton, May, 1670, to May, 1671. John Clarke, May, 1671, to May, 1672. John Cranston, May, 1672, to May, 1673. William Coddinofon, May, 1673, to May, 1674. John Easton, May, 1674, to April, 1676. John Cranston, May, 1676, to Novembers, 1678. James Barker, November, 1678, to May, 1679. Walter Clarke, May, 1079, to May, 1686. John Coggeshall, May to June, 1686; and after the suspen- sion of the charter, from May 1, 1689, to May, 1690. Walter Clarke, May, 1700, to May 22, 1714*. Henry Tew, Jnne IS, 1714, to May, 1715. John Wanton, May, 1721, to May, 1722. Jonathan Nichols, May to August 2, 1727*. John Wanton, May, 1729, to May, 1734. Richard Ward, May to July, 1740. Joseph Whipple, May, 1743, to May, 1745 ; and again from May, 1746, to May, 1747. William Ellery, May, 1748, to May, 1750. Joseph Whipple, May, 1751, to November 2, 1753. Jonathan Nichols, Jr., November 2, 1753, to May, 1754; and again, from May, 1755, to September 8, 1756*. John Gardner, May, 1754, to May, 1755; and again Septem- ber, 1756, to January, 1764*. Joseph Wanton, Jr., February 27, 1764, to May, 1765 ; and again, May, 1767, to May, 1768. Paul Mnmford, 1803 to 1805*. Isaac Wilbour, 1806 to 1807 ; and again from 1810 to 1811. Constant Taber, 1807 to 1808. Simeon Martin, 1808 to 1810 ; and again from 1811 to 1816. Charles Collins, 1824 to 1832. John Engs, 1835 to 1836. Joseph Childs, 1838 to 1839. Edward W. Lawton, 1847 to 1849. William Beach Lawrence, 1851 to 1852. Anderson C. Rose, 1855 to 1856. Samuel G. Arnold, 1861 to 1862. * Died in office. 62 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Duncan C. Pell, 1865 to 1866. Pardon W. Stevens, 1868 to 1872. Charles C. Van Zandt, 1873 to 187.'5. Henry T. Sisson, 1875 to 1877. Henry H. Fay, 1880 to 1883. The following list contains the names of the men from this county who have held the office of secretary of the colony or state: William Dyre, March 12, 1640, to May 16, 1648. Philip Shearman, May 16, 1648, to 1651. William Lytheiland, May, 1653, to May, 1654, and September, 1654, to May, 1656. Joseph Torrey, May to September, 1654, and May, 1661, to May, 1666 ; and again 1669 to 1671. John Sanford, May, 1656, to May, 1661 ; and again from 1666 to 1669 ; and from 1671 to 1676 ; and again from 1677 to 1686. John Coggeshall, 1676 to 1677 ; and from May, 1691, to Au- gust, 1692. Weston Clarke, 1690 to 1691 ; and July, 1695, to May, 1714. John Easton, August, 1692, to 1695, or near that date, the record being obscure. Richard Ward, 1714 to 1733. James Martin, May, 1733, to February, 1746.* Thomas Ward, 1746, to December, 1760.* Henry Ward, December, 1760, to October, 1797.* Those of this county who have held the office of attorney general to the colonj^ or state have been as follows : William Dyre, 1650 to 1651. John Easton, May 17, 16.53, to May 16, 1654; May 20. 1656, to May 19, 1657 ; May 22, 1660, to May 22, 1663 ; May 4, 1664, to May 4, 1670 ; and 1672 to 1674. John Cranston, May 16, 1654, to May 20, 1656. John Sanford, May 22, 1663, to May 4, 1664, and May, 1670, to 1671. Joseph Torrey, May, 1671, to 1672. Peter Easton, 1674 to 1676. Weston Clarke, 1676 to 1677; 1680 to 1681; 1683 to 1684; 1685 to 1686 ; and 1714 to 1721. * Died in office. mSTOKY OF NKWI'OHT COUNTY. 53 Edward Richmond, 1077 to 1680. John Pococke, 1682 t,o 1088; 1084 to 1085 ; 1690, for a year or more^the records are missing; 1698 to 1700; and 1701 to 1702. John Williams, 1086 to the suspension of the charter. Nathaniel Dyre, 1702 to 1704. Joseph Sheffield, 1704 to 1706. Richard Ward, 1712 to 1713. John Hammett, 1713 to 1714. Henry Bull, 1721 to 1722. James Honey man, Jr., May, 1782, to December, 1740 ; and 1741 to 1743. Augustus Johnston, 1758 to 1766. Henry Marchant, 1741 to 1777. William Channing, 1777 to 1787: and again 1791 to 1798. Henry Goodwin, 1787 to 1789. Dutee J. Pearce, 1819 to 1825. The honorable offiice of treasurer of the colony or state has been held by citizens of this (county as follows: Jeremy Clarke, May 19, 1647, to May 22, 1649. John Clarke, May 22, 1049, to 1651. John Coggeshall, May 17, 1653, to September 12, 1654 ; and 1664 to 1672. Richard Burden, September 12, 1054, to May 22, 1655. John Sanford, May 22, 1655, to May 21, 1661 ; and May 22, 1662, to May 4, 1664. Caleb Carr, May 21, 1661, to May 22, 1662. Peter Easton, 1672 to 1677. Thomas Ward, 1677 to 1678. Peleg Sanford, 1078 to 1681. Weston Chii-ke, 1681 to 1685. John Woodman, 1685 to the suspension of the charter by Andros, in 1086. John Holmes, February, 1090, to May, 1703 ; and 1708 to 1709. William Hiscock, 1 703 to 1705. Nathaniel Sheffield, 1705 to 1708. Edward Tliurston, 1709 to 1714. Joseph Borden, 1714 to 1780. Abraham Borden. 1730 to 1733. 54 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Gideon Wanton, 1733 to 1743. John Gardner, 1743 to 1748. Thomas Richardson, 1748 to 1761. Joseph Clarke, 1761 to 1792. Henry Sherburne, October, 1792 to May, 1808. Constant Taber, 1808 to 1811. William Ennis, 1811 to 1817. Thomas G. Pitman, 1817 to 1832. Jolin Sterne, 1832 to 1838 ; and again, 1839 to 1840. William S. Nichols, 1838 to 1839. Stephen Cahoone, 1840 to 1851. Edwin Wilbnr, 1851 to 1854. Samuel B. Vernon, 1854 to 1855. Samuel A. Parker, 1855 to 1856 ; and March, 1868, to Feb- ruary 4, 1872. George W. Tew, May, 1866, to March, 1868. The following citizens of Newport county have been honored with the position of speaker of the house of representatives in the legislature of the colony or state. Jonathan Holmes, Newport, October, 1696, to October, 1698 ; and April, 1700, to May, 1703. Benjamin Newbury, Newport, February, 1699, to April, 1700. William Wanton, Newport, May, 1705, to May, 1706 ; and October, 1708, to May, 1709. Benjamin Arnold, Newport, May, 1706, to February, 1707. John Wanton, Newport, February to May, 1707 ; May, 1710, to October, 1710 ; and May, 1713, to October, 1713. Abraham Anthony, Portsmouth, October, 1709, to May, 1710. Ebenezer Slocum, Jamestown, May, 1712, to May, 1713. William Wanton, Newport, May to October, 1715 ; October, 1716, to October, 1717; May to October, 1718; May, 1719, to May, 1722; and February, 1723, to May, 1724. John Cranston, Newport, May to October, 1716. Nathaniel Sheffield, Newport, October, 1718, to May, 1719. William Coddington, Newport, October, 1722, to February, 1723 ; May 5, 1724^, to May 6, 1724; October, 1724, to October, 1725; and May to October, 1726. Henry Bull, Newport, April to October, 1728; and April 30, 1734, to May, 1734. HISTORY OF NKWl'OKT COUNTY. 55 Joseph Whipple, Newport, October, 1728 to February, 1729; and June to August, 1741. Samuel Clarke, Jamestown, May to October, 1729 ; May, 1730, to October, 1731; May to October, 1732; October, 1733, to April, 1734; October, 1734, to October, 1735; October, 1736, to May, 1737; and May, 1740, to May, 1741. Peter Bours, Newport, October, 1744, to Octoljer, 1746; and October, 1757, to May, 1759. Samuel Wickham, Newport, May, 1747, to October, 1747. Thomas Cranston, Newport, October, 1748, to May, 1749 ; May, 1750, to May, 1757; and May, 1760, to May, 1702. Benjamin Wickham, Newport, May, 1757, to October, 1757. Daniel Ayrault, Jr., Newport, May, 1762, to October, 1762 ; and May to October, 1764. Metcalfe Bowler, Portsmoutli, February, 1767, to May, 1767; and October, 1767, to November, 1776. George Champlin, Newport, June, 1793, to October, 1793; May, 1797, to June, 1797; and October, 1797, to October, 1798. Archibald Crary, Newport, June to October, 1797. Constant, Taber, Newport, October, 1802, to October, 1805. Isaac Wilbour, Little Compton, October, 1805, to May, 1806. Nathaniel Hazard, Newport, May to October, 1810; and May, 1818, to May, 1819. William Hunter, Newport, May, 1811, to February, 1812. Benjamin Hazard, Newport, October, 1816, to May, 1818. Job Durfee, Tiverton, October, 1827, to May, 1829. Henry Y. Cranston, Newport, May to October, 1835; May, 1839, to May, 1841; May to October, 1854; and January to May, 1855. Richard K. Randolph. Newport, May to October, 1842. George G. King, Newport, 1845 to 1846. Robert B. Cranston, Newport, 1846 to 1847. Charles C. Van Zandt, Newport, 1858 to 1859; 1866 to 1869 ; and 1871 to 1873. John P. Sanborn, Newport, May, 1881, to November, 1882. During the transition period, when the American colonies were preparing to assume their character and title as states, the continental congre.ss was the legislative and e.vecutive body of the central government. The following citizens of the county were members of that body : 56 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. Jolin Collins, of Newport, 1778 to 1783. William EUery, of Newport, 1776 to 1781; and 1783 to 1785. Henry Marchant, of Newport. 1777 to 1780 ; and 1783 to 1784. John Gardner, of Newport, 1788 to 1789. George Champlin and Panl Mnmford, of Newport were elected in 1785, bnt the congressional records do not show that they were seated there. Newport county has been lio'i'^'ed by the election of her citizens named in the following list to represent Rhode Is- land in tlie United States senate : Christopher Ellery, of Newport, 1801 to 1805. Benjamin Rowland, of Tiverton, 1804 to 1809. Francis Malbone, of Newport, March, 1809; died in June. Christopher G. Champlin, of Newport, June, 1809, to October, 1811, when he resigned. William Hunter, of Newport, October, 1811, to March, 1821. Asher Robbins, of Newport, December 5, 1825, to March, 1839. Samuel G. Arnold, of Middletown, September, 5, 1862, to 1863. William P. Sheffield, Newport, November 19, 1884, to Jan- uary 21, 1885. Newport county men have from time to time been elected to the lower house of Congress. The following list contains the names of such as have been thus honored : Francis Malbone, of Newport, 1793 to 1797. Christopher G. Champlin, of Newport, 1797 to 1801. Isaac Wilbour, of Little Compton, 1807 to 1809. John L. Boss, Jr., of Newport, 1815 to 1819. Nathaniel Hazard, of Middletown, 1819 to December 17, 1820. Died in office. Job Durfee, of Tiverton, 1821 to 1825. Dutee J. Pearce, of Newport, 1825 to 1837. Robert B. Cranston, of Newport, 1837 to 1843. Henry Y. Cranston, of Newport, 1843 to 1847. Robert B. Cranston, of Newport, 1847 to 1849. George G. King, of Newport, 1847 to 1853. HISTOIJY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 57 Nathaniel B. Durt'ee, of Tiverton, 1855 to 1859. William P. Sheffield, of Newport, 18G1 to 1863. The following Newport county men have served the state as presidential electors. It will be remembered that at the time of the first presidential election Rhode Island had not ac- cepted the Federal constitution, hence had no part in the elec- tion. 1792, 1796 and 1800, George Champlin of Newport. 1804, Constant Taber, of Newport. 1808 and 1812, Christopher Fowler, of Newport. 1816, Thomas Pitman, of Newport. 182(1, Dntee J. Pearce. of Newport. 1824 and 1828, Stephen B. Cornell, of Portsmouth. 1832, Nathaniel S. Ruggles, of Newport. 1836, Henry Bull, of Newport. 1840, George Engs, of Newport. 1844, Benjamin Weaver, of Middletown. 1848, George C. King, of Newport. 1852, George Turner, of Newport. 1856, Edward W. Lawton, of Newport. 1860, David Buffum, of Middletown. 1864, Robert B. Cranston, of Newport. 1868, George H. Norman, of Newport. 1872, Benjamin Unch, of Newport. 1876, Samuel G. Arnold, of Middletown. 1880 and 1884, George Peabody Wetmore, of Newport. In the administration of the cause of public education this county shares in the advantages of the excellent system under which the state dispenses elementary instruction to its develop- ing citizens. It will, however, be of interest to notice in brief outline the various stages of gi'owth and progress here, by which tliat system has reached its present degree of efficiency. As in all the New England colonies so in Rhode Island, the early set- tlers gave their attention with much earnestness to the matter of educating their children. Tliis subject seemed to them only second in importance to the maintenance of religious worship. But from the peculiarly unsettled state of the government of this colony in the eai'ly years of its existence, the matter of education was not treated by the colony in general, but local 58 IIISTOHY OF NKWPORT COUNTY. circles managed it, each in their own way, and in accordance with the particular circumstances by which each was surround- ed. As a natural consequence of this independent action of different towns and communities there was no necessary uniform ity in such action, hence the data from which we may learn of the early condition and progress of public education are meagre and fragmentary. To Newport is given the credit of being the leader among the towns of this county, and perhaps of the state, in providing liberally for the education of its children. As early as 1640 we find that town employing a school teacher, one Mr. Lenthal, " to keep a public school for the learning of youth.'" For his compensation the town granted him four acres of land for a house lot, and two hundred aci'es more for his use and benefit while engaged in this work. Of this land one hundred acres were permanently devoted to the support of schools, being sold or leased, and the proceeds appropriated to the support of pub- lic schools. At what time the first school house was erected is not known, but it appears to have been in use at least as early as 1685, and is spoken of in 1700 as an old school house, that had fallen down, and was about to be replaced by a new one. But the new one does not appear to have been built until some thirty or forty years later. The cause during that period doubt- less progressed but slowly. Public education in Rhode Island, reduced to anything like a uniform and general system, appears to have been the outgrowth of influences which originated with John Howland, of Newport, nearly at the close of the last century. In February, 1800, an act to establish free schools throughout the state passed the legislature. This required that every town should estalilish and maintain one or more free schools, at the expense of such town, to be kept open during periods of each year, corresponding in general to the number of children there were to be educated. These schools were provided for all white inhabitants of the town between the ages of six and twenty years, and the list of studies specified by the law was reading, writing and common arithmetic. Every town council was to divide their town into school districts. Each town was entitled to receive annually from the general treasury, for school purposes, twenty per cent, of the sum it had the previous year paid into the general treas- ury, provided not more than six thousand dollars should be IlISTOKY OK NK\VP0I:T COUNTY. 59 distributed in this way out of the state treasury. Under this law Newport was required to nuiintain three schools eight months each; Portsmoutli, Tiverton and Little Conipton were each to maintain tliree sciiools for four months each; and iMid- dletown, Jamestown and New Shoreiiam were each to maintain one school four months. Tiiis law was so strongly opposed that in February, 1803, it was repealed. A decadence of interest in school matters seemed now to fol- low, but after a quarter of a century a revival of sentiment ap- peared, and in 1828, after many a hard fought battle of intellect, with the varied weapons of argument, a new school law was passed. This act provided that a sum, not exceeding ten thous- and dollars, to be derived from certain specified sources of revenue, should annually be paid from the state to the towns for the support of schools, and authorized each town to supple- ment within specified limitations such sum as it received from this source, by a tax upon its people to an amount sufficient to support its schools. The superintendence of schools was placed in the hands of a school committee in each town. On this act the present school system of the state has been builded. At that time Newport had one free school with about two hundred scholars, and forty-two private schools with about one thousand one hundred scholars, supported the year round. Portsmouth then had four school houses in which schools were kept somewhat regularly throughout the winter, and in one or two of them during the summer. Middletown had five school houses in which schools were taught regularl3^ during the win- ter and irregularly during the summer. Jamestown had three school houses, one of which was unoccupied, and schools kept in the other two only during the winter. Little Comptcm had eight school houses open in winter, and most of them open in sum- mer. In New Shoreham there was but one school house, though four schools of about thirty scholars each, on an average, were kept four mcmths in winter, and six months in summer. In Tiverton there were ten school houses in which schools were kept with much regularity, and a few other small schools. The school law of 1828 was amended in 18:30. The first official report of the schools of tlie slate, and the re- sults of the operation of the system, was made in 1832. In it appears the following comment: "There is not a town in wliich all the children may not have 60 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the means of acquiring a common school education; and when we consider the nature of uur institutions, and how much their preservation depends on the general spread of information, and on the correct morals of our youth, we have much cause to re- joice at the present favorable prospects, and we look forward to the period when Rhode Island shall be as celebrated for the facilities afforded to education as she now is for her industry and manufactures." From the statistical tables of that report is compiled the fol- lowing, by comparing which with other tables printed further on a good idea of the growth of the schools of this county un- der the fostering care of the state may be gained : •— < -4^ OX •T" , ox. m 3 CM 7^^ ■a c m "o o o p- "5 i o feS wh -1 J3 gs co^ o 03 11 O !^ 213 ■S 3 11 .n a s M a a 3 ° a Cl, •^ o la PL, ^< < ^ S- c Newport Portsmouth . . . . Middletowii. . . . Tiverton Little < 'onipton. New Sliiirciiam. Jamestown Totals 858 334 194 1.239 350 366 54 3,395 19,933.62 2,115.23 1,135.71 4.744.81 1,9.53.07 885.78 276.13 $21,044.35 M •Jl = i oil .E; M OH D » ? 2S S g 20 1 .f2.318.53 f6,.500.00 8 ! 723.84 300.00 10 3S5.71 200.00 30 1,069.86 1,.500.00 18 , 749.47 2.50.00 5 I 565.61 100.00 3 I 145.80 25.00 94 $6,858.83 |8,875.00 eceived Special unds. 8 « fe =«■= lal 0).- ■op. °°lk Q 3 < Z 125.75 5 7 40.00 5 1,092.22 18 10 5 2 .$1,257.97 52 O) o 17 7 5 21 10 5 The school reports for 1886 show the following figures: •oo oJ cfi •a o •^ " i 2 2'o 1 o —4 03 ts-a X ■■' o l5^ £-5 O . IS ■6 to (U -a * •3^5 is §1 a8 (t-t o 4J § l< ^ci a p s S-g s iz; <5S HW f^ • ca fcix o Jamestown 99 86 3 6 $438.63 .$,500.00 $896,80 Little Coinpton. 203 385 10 15 1,299.36 2.040.00 3,315.97 Middletown 310 163 5 6 7.57.68 1,8,50.00 2,469.80 Newport 3,639 2,310 39 45 6,498.98 38.000.00 $2,820.94 39,6.50.87 282 348 5 11 833.46 868.46 1,843.36 289 341 10 13 1,372.62 3,351.00 4.327.80 Tiverton 603 567 13 30 116 2,061.65 3,800.00 33.74 5,845.26 Totals .5,324 3..S50 85 $13,262.38 $50,409.46 $2,844.68 $.58,349.36 We append the following statistics relating to different sub- jects and periods, which are of interest chiefly in .showing the comparative growth and importance of the different towns of the county. 62 history of newport county. Census of 1730. " In the year 1730 there was by the King's order an exact ac- count taken'of the number of souls in the colony." In this census the four towns which then constituted New- port county were reported as follows : Towns. Whites. 3,843 643 232 350 Negroes. 649 100 80 30 Indians. Total. 148 70 19 30 4,640 813 Portsruouth. ... 331 New Shoreham 390 Newport County 4,958 849 257 6,064 Total of the Colony 15,303 1,648 985 17,935 The census of 1748-49 showed the following figures : Towns. Whites. Negroes. Indians. Total. 5,335 807 360 284 586 842 1,004 1,105 134 30 110 76 99 63 68 51 30 26 18 99 86 6,508 992 Portsmouth New Shoreliatn 300 Jamestown 420 Middleto wn 680 Tiverton . . . 1,040 Little Compton 1,152 Newport County 9,118 1,606 368 11,092 The number of families in the county in 1774 were : Newport, 1,590; Portsmouth, 220; New Shoreham, 15; Jamestown, 69; Middletown, 123 ; Tiverton, 298 ; Little Compton, 218 ; the whole county, 2,593. The census of 1775 showed the population, distributed among the different classes mentioned, as follows : White. Towns. Men Able to Bear Arms. Enlisted Soldiers. Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Newport 534 88 17 30 55 109 110 969 120 66 58 83 159 134 1,696 243 83 86 153 377 344 1,633 238 77 100 206 217 243 1,099 261 52 103 157 378 261 1,091 Portsmo^ith 440 New Shoreliam 53 Jamestown 72 Middletown 165 Tiverton Little Compton 323 295 Newport County 993 1,588 3,782 3,703 2,311 2,438 iiistoky of nkwpoitt county. Black. 63 Towns. Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Newport Portsmouth 400 51 29 42 29 44 28 341 60 41 41 26 67 43 248 50 22 36 19 58 29 345 30 22 Jamestown 37 23 Tiverton 61 30 Newport County 623 619 462 448 Tlie valuations of the several towns of the county in 1796 were as follows : Newport, £257,200 ; Portsmouth, £110,- 207, 9s.; New Shoreham, £33,472, 2s.; Jamestown, £45,599, 18s.; Middletown, £55,747, 16s.; Tiverton, £111,272, 18s., 9d.; Little Compton, £88,082, 16s. War Expenses, 1861-65. Total amount jiaid for Bounties. Total amount paid for Enlisting Volunteers. Total amount paid for Aid of Fami- lies of Volun- teers. Aggregate Dis- bursements for War Purposes. Actual Expenses for War Pur- poses. $11,511 780 3,093 34,454 93,086 19,000 16,358 1439 8 300 567 435 30 77 $11,950 788 3,393 35,021 98,388 19,030 16,634 $7,150 Jamestown 788 3,393 12,871 Tiverton Newport Portsmouth $4,861 61,483 10,030 200 11,234 CHAPTER II. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. By Henry E. Turner, M. D.* IN presenting the following sketches of the medical men of Newport county, the writer desires to state tliat he has been actuated by no motive but the desire to present the exact truth, so far as information could be obtained (in a compact form) and also to make it as exhaustive as possible. lie also desires to acknowledge his gratitude to Doctor H. R. Storer, G. C. Mason, Esq., Hon. William P. Sheffield and many others for valuable aid in liis work. Doctor Albro, born at Portsmouth, R. I., studied medicine with Doctor S. W. Butler, of Newport, graduated at the I'ni- versity Medical School, New York city, in 1879, and has not since been a resident in this county. Doctor John Almy was born in Tiverton, R. I., in 1757. He studied medicine in the office of Doctor Isaac Senter, of New- port, and settled in Little Compton, R. I., in 1797. His wife was Abigail, daughter of Isaac Bailey. He was a very popular and successful piactitioner in Little Compton for 40 years or more. He died in Little Compton in 1844, at the very advanced age of 87 years. Doctor Caleb Arnold of Portsmouth, R. I., was a son of Gov- ernor Benedict Arnold, of Newport, and was a delegate to the general assembly from Portsmouth in 1684 ; was, the same year, appointed an assistant and declined. Of his profes-sional career, nothing is known. Doctor Edmund S. F. Arnold came to Newport some years since and purchased a fine residence, and lived here for several years, but did not resume practice from which he had previously *The following sketches in this chapter were not prepared bj- D(ictor Tur- ner, viz.: Doctors James Tyler Bnttrick, David King, David King, Jr.. David Olyphant, F. H. Rankin, Austin L. Sands, William Turner, and Henry E. Turner.— Ed. HISTOKY Ob' NEWl'OUT COUNTY. 65 retired. He, however, was a consulting jihysician to tlie medi- cal staff of the Newport Hospital from 1874 to 1877. Doctor Avery F. Angell, son of Job and Alcey (Leach) Angell, was born in Scituate, R. I., May 5th, 1811. His early life was passed in farming and mechanical pnrsnits ; from 18B3 to 1847 he was a school teacher and afterward was a dentist until 1864. He subsequently practised medicine, having graduated in a western medical school. For about ten years he resided in Newport, practising medicine and dentistry. About 1880 he went south and is believed now to be in Florida. Doctor An- gell has two sons. He was an oiiginal member of the Newport Medical Society. Doctor Pierre Ayrault was a prominent member of the French Huguenot colony, which purchased a considerable tract in East Greenwich, R. I., being refugees from the paternal government of Louis XIV. after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In 1699, he appears as one of the founders of Trinity church, Newport, and it has been thence inferied that he was a resident of Newport, but this conclusion is not sustained by any other evidence. His will was proved in East Greenwich, June 4th, 1711, and this proves him a resident there at the time of his death. Directly after, his son Daniel sold his house in Green- wich and came to Newport, where for a century or more, he was represented by a numerous and influential progeny, of whom George C. Mason, Esq., and his son, George C. Mason, Jr., are still his worthy representatives in Newport. The will of Dr. Pierre Ayrault, above mentioned, was executed in 1711. He died June 4th, 1711. There is reason to believe that a grandson of Dr. Ayrault, also named Pierre, studied medicine in Newport, but died early. Miss Mary Baldwin, M.D., has been practising medic'ine iu Newport for about three years, having received the degree of M.D. at Blackwell College", New York, in 1874. Doctor Christopher Franklin Barker, son of Robinson P. and Julia Ann (Peckham) Barker, was born in Middletown, R. I., October 31st, 1849. After preliminary education in local schools he prepared for college at the Newport High School, graduating there in 1871. He received the degree of A.B. at Brown Uni- versity in 1875, after which he passed two or three years in private tuition. In 1879 he entered the office of Dr. Samuel W. Butler of Newport, as a medical student, and graduated in medi- 5 66 lirSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. cine at the University of New York in March, 18S2, and imme- diately established himself in practice in Newport, where his preceptor, Dr. Butler, had died in the previous year. He has acquired a large business and an enviable position. He was mar- ried in May, 1881, to Helen E., daughter of Jolin and Hannah (Barker) Peckham, of Middletown, and has two children. Doctor Richard Bartlett came from Mendon, Mass., in 1769, and advertised as surgeon, bonesetter and physician, and seems not to have remained very long. Doctor Charles F. Bartlett came to Newport in 1800, and ad- vertised to inoculate for kine pox, then a new thing. The frigate "General Greene" arrived at Newport July 21st, 1800, from the West Indies, bringing yellow fever. Dr. Bartlett was called upon bj' the town council, with John Wanton, health officer, to investigate the subject and report, which he did; but he was antagonized by the other physicians, and the coun- cil failed to prosecute the plan which he recommended. "Whether or not for that reason, a quite alarming and fatal epidemic ensued, in which 82 cases occurred at Newport, Providence and East Greenwich, and quite a large proportion of the cases were fatal. Doctor Bartlett soon after disappeared. While here he had a portrait of Washington painted, which is described in "Mason's Reminiscences of Newport" (page 291). He died at Darien, Georgia, June 22d, 1800. Doctor John Bartlett, from Charlestown, R. I., was in New- port in 1770. Doctor Gustavus Baylies was at Thomas White's, Church street, opposite Trinity Church gate, in 1798. He staid a short time, removed to Bristol, and married a daughter of Lieutenant Governor William Bradford, who was the father of Doctor Hersey Bradford, late of Astoria, Long Island. Doctor William Hunter Birckhead, son of James and Eliza (Hunter) Birckhead, grandson of Hon.Wm. Hunter of Newport, and great-grandson of Doctor Wm. Hunter, of Newport, of pre- revolutionary fame, was born at Rio de Janeiro, his grandfather being then U. S. minister plenipotentiary at the court of Brazil. His father was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and was son of a distinguished physician of that city. Doctor Birckhead grad- uated A.B. at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., in 1861, and A. M. in 1863. He studied medicine in the city of New York from 1861 to 1863, took his medical degree at the College of Physi- HISTORY OV NEWPORT COUNTY. 67 cians and Surgeons, New York, in 18G4, and was liouse physi- cian at Bellevue Hospital from 18G4 to 1866. lit; was house sur- ffeon of the Woman's Hospital, New York, in 1867-G8. He com- menced practice in Newport in January, 1868, and retired from practice in 1885. Doctor Birckhead was one of tiie visiting staff of Newport Hospital from its establishment to 1877, when he retired. He is a member of the R. I. Medical Society, and of the Alumni Association of the Woman's Hospifal. He also did some hospital service at Fortress Monroe during the war. He has a winning address, by which he soon acquired wonder- ful popularity among his fellow townsmen, and rapidly acquired a large practice of a lucrative character. Doctor John Brett settled in Newport about 1741J, and was for many years a very prominent member of the profession here. He was a graduate of Ley den, and attended I he lectures of the great Boerhaave. He was highly esteemed among his cotempo- raries, not only as a highly accomplished and able physician, but as a man of fine literary tastes, of large pretensions as a man of science. He was an intimate friend and associate of Redwood, and was an active friend of the Redwood library, to which he gave many valuable books, all of tlie highest order. Mr. Sheffield says: '"Dr. John Brett came to Newport in 1743." Doctor Waterhouse says " in 1749." Doctor Benjamin Brown lived opposite Daniel Ayrault's, in Thames street, Newport, opposite the foot of Ann street, prior to 1770. Doctor Richmond Brownell, son. of Sylvester Brovvnell of Little Compton, was born in that towi) in 1790, and died at Providence October 29th, 1864. Dr. Brownell never practiced in Newport county, but settled, as a physician, in Providence, and was a prominent figure there for many years, and highly esteemed. He was president of the R. I. Medical Society from 1840 to 1843. Doctor William Tillinghast Bull, son of Henry and Henrietta S. (Melville) Bull, and great-grandson of Dr. William Tilling- hast, was born at Newport. May 18th, 1849, and graduated A.B. at Harvard College in 1869. He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, under the pri- vate instruction of Dr. Henry B. Sands, then professor of anat- omy in the institution. He received his medical degree in March, 1872, with a prize of §50 foi- best graduation thesis, oq 68 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. " Perityplilitis." He was, immediately after graduation, ad- mitted into surgical service in Bellevne Hospital, remaining tliere until October, 1873. He passed the two years succeeding in professional study in England, France and Germany. He commenced practice at 39 West 35tli street. New York city, in September, 1875. In March, 187(3, he was appointed house physician to the New York Dispensary, in which position he remained two years. In December, 1877, he was appointed at- tending surgeon to Chambers Street Hospital, which place he still holds. From 1879 to 1888, he was attending surgeon to St. Luke's Hospital and demonstrator of anatomy to the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1883, he was appointed surgeon to the New York Hospital, which place he still holds. He is at present consulting physician to St. Luke's Hospital, Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled, Ward's Island Kmigrant Hospital, and the Manhattan Hospital. He is also a trustee of the New York Dispensary, and one of the managers of the New York Cancer Hospital, and adjunct professor of the practice of surgery, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Bull has dis- tinguished himself in operative surgery, and holds a high posi- tion in the profession. He is unmarried. Doctor Samuel W. Butler, of Newport, was born in Farm- ington, Maine, February 2d, 1816. He was a son of Samuel and Mary (Pease) Butler, of Farmington, but originally from Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Mass. He acquired his medical education in Boston, and received the degree of M.D. from Harvard College, He settled in Newport in 1842, where he re- sided the remainder of his life, with an interval of two years, passed in partnership with Di-. Baker, in Providence. He died April 7th, 1881, in consequence of injuries incurred by passing into the stall of an untried and dangerous horse, which he had lately purchased. He was married in 1843, to Amelia, daugh- ter of Holden Backus of Farmingron, Me., and had one daugh- ter; both still survive. Doctor Baker was a member of the R. I. Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. He was for a time hospital surgeon at Portress Monroe, during the rebellion. He was a member of the Baptist church, a dili- gent and faithful man in his profession, and had the confidence of a large number of citizens. James Tyler Buttrick, M.D., the third son of Eli and Polly Jledden Buttrick, was born in Hudson, New Hampshire, March v*^«^'^»v, V *wis-\v IlIsrnKV OF NKWl'OltT COUNTY. 69 6tli, 182.0. His grandfather, Oliver Biitlrick, of Concord, Massachusetts, joined the aiwny before his twenty-first year, was at the battle of Bunker Hill andserved through the i-evolu- tion. His father, Eli Buttrick, was a farmer, respected by all who appreciate the higher instincts of veracity, honesty and the amenities of a rural life. His mother was of an old and highly respectable Vermont family, a woman of great piety and truly evangelical sentiments. Dr. Buttrick was a direct descendant of Major John Buttrick, who at the battle of Con- cord Bridge gave the order (in the ever memorable words) "■^ Fire— for God's saTce, Fire and protect your homcH," for tiiat first shot which Emerson says " was heard around the woild." In person and character the doctor had pre.served the type of those hardy, uncompromising men who laid the foundation of our republic. He despised the effeminate hi.xury of modern life and had a truly Spartan relish for that austere simplicity so much admired in theory and so little appreciated when prac- ticed. His reverence for God and man were shown in high in- tegrity and large benevolence. He kept no telephone between his right hand and his left, the secret of his constant giving and serving being hardly known beyond those benefitted. His sympathy and skill were always for the poor, and in many cases he improvised a hospital, and in addition to medical and surgical aid performed the duties of nurse and steward. Doctor Buttrick pursued a preparatory coui'se of study in Boston and graduated with honor in 1853 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. He later took a supplementary course at Woodstock, ^'ermont, and then received jn-ivate instruction in general, descriptive and surgical anatomy, surger}^ practice of medicine, physiology, chemistry, materia medictt, midwifery, etc., etc., under Prof. Whittaker of New York. He was several times interrupted in his studies for want of means, provided by days and nights of toil and deprivation. He would not Itorrow lest death or accident should overtake him and cause anotiier to suffer. He not only travelled over a rough mad but built the road himself. He possessed much mechanical skill which greatly aided him in the piactice of surgery. As an operator he was self-possessed and careful, using equally well both the left and right hand. He applied himself very closely to the best works on medicine and surgery during the whole of his 70 HISTORY OF NKWPOUT COUNTV. professional career, and kept well abreast of the times in medi- cal literatnre. He first settled in Westford, Massacluissetts, and afterward in Wilton, New Hampshire. In 18G2 he removed to Block Island, and in 1807 settled in Newport. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and in 1863 connected himself with the Rhode Island Medical Society. On the 6th of March, 1867, he married Mary E., daughter of Hon. George G. Sheffield of Lyme, Connecticut, formerly of Block Island, who with a son and daughter survive him. His dtjath occurred July 26th, 1880. A leading practitioner said of him in his remarks before the Rhode Island Medical Society, "Dr. Butt- rick was a self reliant and laborious practitioner in the various branches of medicine, a man of perseverance, of sin- cerity and integrity." Another member of his profession wrote thus: "Dr. Bnttrick was retiring in manner, modest in the extreme, but fearless and self-reliant in the performance of duty. He shrunk from no responsibility when the welfare of his patients required his services. Had he settled in a large city the world would have known him better." Doctor Benjamin WaiteCase was born in North Kingstown in 1772 and died in Newport November 7th, 1834. He married Sarah, d;inghter of Hon. Henry Marchant, who was a member of the continental congress from Rhode Island. They had no children. Doctor Case studied medicine with liis uncle. Doctor Benjamin Case of South Kingstown, and came to Newport about 1800. He soon acquired a large practice, and retained it until his last illness. He was cotempbrary with Doctors William Turner, David King, Edmund T. Waring and Enoch Hazard, and died at ver\' near the same time with the three former, Doc- tor Hazard djing in 1842, several years later, the community being thus deprived of the services of a whole generation of physicians, which they had enjoyed for 35 j'-ears or more, to each of whom a large clientelle was devotedly attached. Doc- tor Case was very positive and heroic in his methods, and made himself veiy conspicuous by the extremely liberal use of cold water at a time when the opposite practice prevailed. He was also thought to be extravagantly free in the use of the lancet. Foi' these and perhaps other reasons, he was not exactly en rap- port with his compeers, but the people who habitually em- ployed him had the most implicit confidence in him. In his early HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 71 career he was a very active Freemason, but, had differences and dissension with the regular fraternity, and afterward established a h)clge which was always spoken of as Doctor Case's lodge, which finally became defunct, and in his later life he became an active and leading spirit among Rhode Island anti-masons. He was a remarkably fine looking man. Doctor Paul Castel advertised the practice of medicine and surgerj' in Newport. He was from Cape Pi'ancois, and in 1786 had rooms at Widow Lillibridge's, North Side Parade. Doctor Nathaniel Ray Chace is now practising in Newport. He was born at New Shoreham, Newport county, R. I., .fuly 8th, 1842, and was a son of Isaac and Celina (Littlefield) Chace, of New Shoreham. He acquired his academic and classical educa- tion at Lombard University, in Illinois, and received there, his degree of A. B. in 1870, and his M. D. in Hahneman College, Philadelphia, in 1872, as a Homoeopathic physician. He prac- tised in Providence one year, and came to Newport in June, 1873, where he has since resided. He is unmarried. Doctor Stephen Champlin. Among the young gentlemen who were under the instruction of Doctor William Turner of Newport, was Doctor Stephen Champlin, from Lebanon. Conn., who married Alice, daughter of George Armstrong, of Newport, who, at the conclusion of his pnpilage, settled in his native town, and practised there foi- many years, and died, leaving no children. Doctor Walter Channing, son of Hon. William and Lucy (Ellery) Channing, was born in Newport, April l.ltli, 1780, in the house southeast corner Mary and School streets, afterward for many years the residence of Charles Gyles, Esq., now oc- cupied as a children's home. His father was a very prominent lawyer and attorney-general ()f Rhode Island from 1777 to 1787. His maternal grandfather was Hon. William Ellery, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. He was a brother of Rev. William E. Channing, D. D. Doctor Channing was a student of medicine witii DoiUor Barton, of Piiiladelphia, and a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical School, University of Pennsylvania. He was professor of midwifery and medical jurisprudence at Harvard, from 1815 to 1854, nearly 40 years. He studied also, at the Universities of Edinburgh and London. He settled in Boston in 1802, and became, in a short time, one of tlie most prominent members of the profession in that ci I y. 72 IIISTOTIY OF NEWPOirr COUNTV. wliere he continued to practice until his deatli. Doctor Chan- ning published many books, and was especially interested in ajtherization soon after its introduction. He was physician to the Massachusetts General Hospital for nearly twenty years. He came to Newport, on the occasion of the reunion of the sons and daughters of Newfjort, x\ugnst 2;}d, 1859, and deliveied an address. Soon after he died. Doctor John Clarke was the earliest iihysician known to have belonged to the settlement of Rhode Island, having been a signer of the original compac-t, on settlement at Pocasset, now Portsmonth, in March, 1638. He was evidently one of the principal factors in that movement, as he was one of the most active, energetic, and efficient in the promotion of the radical ideas which undeilaid it, and of I'esistance to the influences which never relaxed on the part of the home government, to de- feat its prime objects, in which resistance no aid was wanting, which could be given by a considerable party among his fellow colonists. He was a prominent figure in all the negotiations between the colonists, and the parliament, and the king, and is supposed to have been chiefly instrumental in procuring from Charles TT, the charter of 1663, the first gi-mt of perfect reli- gious freedom ever impressed with a royal seal, or signed by a royal hand, and under which the people of Rhode Island prof- ited by its beneficent provisions, and enjoyed the nujst unex- ceptujuably good government ever known among men for 180 years. We have not space to dilate on the political history of John Clarke. It has been sufficiently and very frequently ven- tilated, and no additions can be made to what is thoroughly known. Medical business never brings a man's name into public rec- ord, and generally his other business transactions are limited, and we only know of John Clarke's professional relations very little. He was in London from 1651 to 1653, as is said, engaged in practice, as he probably was during all his residence in Ports- nioutli and Newport. His signature was "John Clarke, Physi- cian," although he was the founder and benefactor and Hrst pastor for many years of the iirst Baptist church in Newport, evi- dently prosecuting his ministrations to the bodies as well as to the souls of his parishioners at the same time. D(jctor Clarke had three wives but left no descendants. He was boru in 1608, and IlISTOItY OK NKWI'OKT COUNTY. 73 (lifd April 2(»rli, I CiTO, and was at the timi> of tlie exodus from Massachusetts ba^-, 30 years of age. Doctor Henry Tisdale Coggeshall was l)oru in Newport June 2d, 1858. His father was Thomas, son of Timothy and Alice (Almy) Coggesliall, and his mother was Ellen Frances, daughter of George Knowles, all of Newport. He was educated in tlie l)ul)lic schools of Newport, preparing for college at the Rogers high school. He entered Yale College in 1880, and after one year there entered Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in medicine in 1883. He passed one year as house surgeon in the Hospital for Women, in Boston, previously to graduation, and one year subsequently, as resident physician of the New York Infant Asylum, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. In 1884 he practised for five months in Newport, after which he passed two years in medical studies in Europe. While in Europe he attended the third international congress as representative of Rhode Island, by appointment of Governor Wetmore, ut Rome, Italy. After his letnrn he served again, for nine months, as resident physi- (Man at the New York Infant Asylum. He was appointed Ger- man secretary to the section of diseases of children at the Ninth International Medical Congress, at Washington, in 1887. He settled in New York city in the antumn of 1887, and is now assistant to the chair of diseases of children at Bellevue Hospi- tal Medical School, and iihysician to out-patients, section of diseases of children, Bellevue Hospital. A Doctor Simon Cno[)er was a resident of Newport in 1678, probably the same who was admitted as freeman of the colony in May. 1606. No othei- re(H>rd of him is known to e.xist. Doctor Dwight Eleazer Cone, of Fall River, Mass., son of Ben- jamin and S. Rosalie Cone, was born at Brooktield, Madison county. New York, August 18th, 1854. He received his educa- tion at New Berlin Academy, and taught school for five years. He studied medicine in the office of his uncle, Doctor Frank D. Beebe, at Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., and graduated in medicine at the University Medical School, New York city, in .May, 1875. He became a member of the Chenango Medical Society in June, 1875. and practised for three years at Coventry, Chenango county. He came to Rhode Island in November, 1878, and settled in the townof Portsmouth, where he practised until December, 1882, having joined the Rhode Island Medical Society i.n March, 1870. He removed thence to Fall River, 74 iriSTOKV OF NEWPORT COUNTY. where he has since practised, giving especial attention to gy- naecology and obstetrics. In November, 1883, he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and is secretary and treasurer of the Fall River Medical Society, of whicli he was an original member. Doctor Charles Cotton, son of Rossiter and Priscilla (Jackson i Cotton, of Plymouth, Mass., was born in that historic town on the 7th of October, 1788, and died in Newport February 3d. 1870. in his 82d year. He graduated as A. B. at Harvard in 1806, and A.M. 1812. February lSth,1811,he received orders, signed by Paul Hamilton, to join the frigate "Constitution" as surgeon's mate, and April 2d following he received his commission as surgeon's mate in the U. S. navy, signed l\v President Madison. October 21st, 1812, he received orders from Commodore Bain- bridge to report toCapt. Lawrence on board U. S S. " Hornet" for duty. Ajjril 26th, 1813, he was commissioned as surgeon U. S. navy. August 2d, 1813. he received notice of the coniir- mation of his commission by the senate. March 25th, 1823, he was ordered to the ship "Hornet,'' at Norfolk, and November 12th, 1823, to the ship "Cyane." February 10th, 1820, he re- ceived a silver medal, by act of congress, for gallant services. He was in the battle between the U. S. S. " Hornet" and H. B. M. S. " Peacock," when the latter was captured, and is said to have been severely censured by Commodore Bainbridge for un- necessarily exposing himself in the action. He resigned his commission in the navy in 1823. He was on board the "Con- stitution" when she carried Hon. John Jay to France. After- ward he was stationed at Charlestown navy yard, and in 1817 had charge of the naval hospital at Newport, R. I., where he married, at that time, Mary, eldest daughter of Captain Stephen T. and Mary (Langley) "Northam. By her he had a large family, of whom the only surviving son is William R. Cotton, Esq., of Newport. Doctor Cotton became a member of the Medical Consociation of Brown Univei'sity March Oth, 1813, and of the Rhode Island Medical Society September 2!)th, 1817, as ai)pears by diploma, signed P. Bowen, Praeses, but was re- commended for election by the censors March 0th, 1816. He was a studious man, and accomitlislied in historical and literary lore. He was genial and companionable, and had a keen appre- ciation of humor and a fund of local anecdote, which made his Rocietv agreeable and instructive. He was highlv esteemed as IlISTdUY Ol' NEWPORT COUNTY. 75 a surgeon and was a wortliy representative of tlie profession. He was a member of tlie R. I. Historif-al Society, and of the Pil- grim Society, and delivered an address before them on the occa- sion of the removal of a portion of Plymouth Rock to the society's premises, which has since been restored to its original position. lie was a jnipil of Dr. James Thatcher of Plymouth. Doctor Lsaac B. Cowen, son of Jesse and Anna Cowen, was born in Canandaigua, New York, March lOth, 1855. His youth was passed, princiiially, at Mattapoisett and New Bedford, Mass. After graduating from the high school he attended a commercial school at Boston, but his ambition led him to pre- fer a profession, and he entered the office of Dr. Charles L. Swazey, of New Bedford, as a student of medicine, and he re- ceived his medical degree at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, at New York, in March, 1873. January 1st, 1874, he entered upon the practice of his profession in Little Compton, where he died, March 3d, 1886, leaving a widow and two chil- dren. He was town clerk of Little Compton from June, 1876, to March, 1881, when the pressure of his professional duties com- pelled his resignation. His early decease afforded him only twelve years of professional life. Doctor John Cranston was born in Scotland, in 1625 or 1626, and died in Newport, March 11th, 1680. He came to Rhode Is- land early, and was elected drummer in March, 1644. In 1656, he is catalogued as a freeman of the colony, from both Portsmouth and Newport, but in the same year was a deputy to the general assembly from Newport. He was afteward at- torney general, and his name, for many years, is con.spicuous in colonial affairs. In 1676, he was the military chief of the colony, with the title of major, and so remained during King Philip's war. He was deputy governor from May, 1676, to November, 1678, and governor from November, 1678, to March 12th, 1680. In March, 1663-4, in consideration of " the blessing of God, on the good endeavors of Captaj^ne John Cranston of Newport, both in Phissicke and Chirurgei-y lie is licensed and commissioned to administer Phissicke and practice Chirurgery throughout tliis entire ('olony, and is, by this court, styled and recorded Doctor of Phissicke and Chirurgery." This is un doubtedly the first medical degree ever conferred in Rhode Is- land, if not on this continent. With pain we have to acknowl- edge that we have no other means of judging of his iiroticiency. 76 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. or of his degree of medical education. As he came to this locality at the age of nineteen, his European advantages were probably limited. He was a near relative of Lord Cranston, and of royal blood, one of his ancestors being John Cranston, Prior of Cold- ingham, a natural son of James V. of Scotland. His wife was Mary, daughter of Jeremiah and Frances (Latham) Clarke. His eldest son, Samuel, was governor of Rhode Island from March, 1698 to xipril 26th, 1727, 29 years, dying in office, like his father. Doctor William Crooke was the son of William and Mary (Malbone) Crooke, of Newport, and was baptized by the rector of Trinity church, September 27th, 1803. He died in Ports- mouth, K. L, in 1843. He studied medicine with his uncle, Doc- tor Waring, in Newport, whose wife was his mother's sister, they being daughters of the Hon. Francis Malbone. He settled at Bhjck Island, and until March, 1842, had almost the entire liiactice of fjiat community, where lie was greatly esteemed. At that time he came to Newport, where he remained about a year, but not pi-actising. He then i^urchased a small place at Law ton's valley, in Portsmouth, and very soon after died there. He married a Miss Champlin. of Charlestown, R. I., and left one son, William Crooke, who is still living. Doctor John P. Curley was born at Newport, March 8th, 1856. was educated at Newjjort, graduated in medicine at Har- vard College, in 1877, and spent two years following at St. Peter's Hospital, at Albany, New York, as resident physician and surgeon, and commenced practice in Newport, in May, 1879. In 1880, he was elected a member of the Newport Hos- l)ital medical staff, and served in that capacity for several years. He lias left Newport since. Although not long here, he gave an impression oL' great capacity and promise. Doctor Peter F. Curley, brother of Doctor John P., was born in Newport, Sep- tember 18tli, 1861, was educated at Newport, and graduated at Albany Medical School, in 1883. He was two years resident l)hysician and surgeon at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, N. Y. Hi- opened nn oHice in Providence, R. I., in Pebi'uary, 1884, and pi-actised there until August. 1887, when he removed to New- port. Doctor Samuel Danfortli, son of Samuel, probate judge of Middlesex county, Mass., was born at Cambridge, in 1740, mar- ried tirst Watts, second Margaret Billings, third Maitha HISTOKY OF NEWrOUT COUNTY. 77 Gray. Seven of his ancestors and relatives were graduates of Harvard College before him. TTegi'ndnated in 1758, stndied med- icine with the elder Doctor Read, and afterward probably with Doctor Kast. He came to Newport, and after remaining there a short time, he went to Boston, where he became very prom- inent, especially as a disciple of the ultra-heroic school, and might be styled the Boanerges of the medical profession, in Boston. On the evacuation of Boston by the Britisli, he was made prisoner, as a loyalist, but his services were so desirable he was soon released. He was much interested in chemistry, and had a very complete laboratory in Boston. He died No- vember 16th, 1827, having retired from practice years before. Thatcher says of him, " rfe was tall, erect, penetrating eye, aquiline nose, very prominent cliiii, and sagacious expression." Doctor James Puritan Donovan, son of James J. and C. A. Donovan, was born in tlie city of New York in 18G4, and gradu- ated in medicine, at New York College of Physicians and Sur- geons, in 1886. He settled tlip same year in Newport, and lias since been a resident and practitioner in that (^ity. Doctor Donovan is a promising young man. Doctor Theophilus C. Dunn was tiie only son of Rev. Thomas Dunn, a Baptist minister, who came from County Devon, Eng- land, in 1795, to America, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Doctor Puddicome and Mary, his wife, of the same county. Doc- tor Dunn was born in New York, July 8th, 1800, and died at New York, February 26th, 1871. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Robinson and Frances (Gibbs) Potter. Doctor Dunn's father lived for many years at Germantown, Pennsylvania, and tlie doctor received his academic education at Mount Airy chiefly, though he had at some time been un- der tlie tuition of Rev. William Rogers, of Philadelphia, who was one of the first class of graduates at Biown I'nivei'sity, in 1769. Doctor Dunn attended his college course at Princeton, and graduated there, after which he entered the otlice of Doc- tor Corson, at New Hope, Pennsylvania, and received the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, at about which time his father's family removed to Newport, and remained here duiing the remainder of their lives. Doctor Dunn also came to Newport and married here, entering im- mediately into the practice of his profession, of which he was a worthy and active member for nearly fifty years. He was a 78 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. most genial and companionable man. He was an optimist of the best variety ; without anj^ tendency to levity, his kindly manner and bright countenance brought relief into the sick room, and gloom was dissipated, iinless the gravity of the case demanded gravitj^ of demeanor, when he instinctively graduated liis address to the requirements, lie was perfectly frank and straightforward; no sham found any [)lace with liiiu If any- thing questionable were suggested, instantly tlie r(q)Iy came, "I wouldn't condescend." In his relations with his profes- sional brethren no suspicion of selfishness ever attaclied to him, and he accordingly had their warm affection. He was fond of general literature, and conversed on all .subjects with great in- telligence and in a very acceptable manner. Doctor Dunn was an active member of the R. I. Medical Society, was its first vice-president from 1840 to 1843, and president from 184'3 to 1846. Doctor Ezra Dyer, son of Ezra C. and Caroline E. ^Tiffany) Dyer, was born in Boston, Mass., October 17th, 1836. and grad- uated A. B. at Harvard, in 1857. Before entering college he had given some time to the study of medicine, under Doctors Wy- man and Ware. He entered Harvard Medical School in 1857, and graduated in 1859, having passed tlie previous year as house surgeon in the Massachusetts General Hospital. Directly after graduation he went to Europe and passed two years in dil- igent study in the various medical centers, and giving especial attention to diseases of the eye and ear, in which he afterward became distinguished as a specialist. Returning home, in 1861, he established himself in Philadelphia. In 1862 he was ap- pointed to have charge of all eye and ear cases in the Phila- delphia army hospitals, and he retained this position until 1865. He was an original member of the American Ophthalmological Society, formed January 9, 1864. In 1873 Doctor Dyer removed to Pittsburg, Pa., where he remained until 1883, having a large practice, but his health being inipiiired by two serious surgical injuries, he removed toNew[i()rt, R. I., where he resided during the remainder of Ills life, practising exclusively in diseases of the eye and eai'. He was attached to the medical staff of the Newport Hospital, having charge in his specialty of all cases of disease or injury of eye and ear. Doctor Dyer had published several hospital papers, and was a man of brilliant parts and of a genial and amiable temper, and a great favorite with his as- HISTOKY OF NKVVl'ORT COUNTY. 79 sociates. He died at sea, on his ret urn from Florida, where he liad gone with the liope of improving liis liealtli, February 9th, 1887. Doctor Jonallian Iviston, son of ■lon;tfhan imd liulli (Cogges- liall) Easton, fifth in descent from Governor Nicliolas, an origi- nal settler, was hoin in Nevvjjort, August (5tli, 1747, married Sarah Thurston, daughter of Peleg and Sarah, December 3d, 1778, and died March 13th, 1813. He had three children : Doc- tor Jonathan, Peleg and Sarali. His residence was the house in Broad street lately occupied by Miss Ellen Townsend, now the property of the city, and used for an industrial school. Doc- tor Easton was a Quaker, as were most of his relatives, and as people of that persuasion abounded on the island, very natur- ally he absorbed a large part of their patronage and did a large business during all his natural life. iVccording to George Channing, vs'ho remembered him well, his appearance and dress were such as adapted him well to secure and maintain the con- fidence of his fellow worshippers. Mr. Channing says, "He blended so much benignity of manner with his medicine as to render the bitter comparatively sweet. He introduced inocu- lation for small pox into Newport, in 1772, his being the first three cases in Rhode Island. He was an original Fellow of the R. I. Medical Society. Doctor Parsons says, he commenced his professional career ten years before the revolution, and con- tinued it for nearly fifty years." Doctor Jonathan Easton, Jr., son of Doctor Jonallian and Sai'ah (Thurston) Easton, was born in Newport about 1780. He studied medicine with his father, and attended lectures in Phihulelphia, after the eslablisnnipnt of the medical school in that city by Doctor Ship[)en and his compeers, Doctor Rush, etc. He remained in Newjiort but a short time, and removed to Cumberland, R. I., and died early. He also was an original member of the R. I. Medical Society Doctor Peter Easton died at Newport, September IGtii, 1817, aged 51 years. A Doctor John Easton is mentioned as having incurred sus- picion, at the breaking out of the revolution, and being put under arrest bj' order of the general assembly, for royalist leanings ; but nothing more is known of him. He probably be- came a refugee, on the evacuation of Rhode Island by the Brifisl). 80 JIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Doctor Henry Ecroyd, Jr., eldest, son of James and Rachel Ecroyd, was born at Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, May ()th, 1858, of Quaker parentage. He attended the Friend's school at Muncy until the age of 14, then entered an ad- vanced Friend's school at Westtown, ten miles from Phila delphia, where he graduated in 1879, having in the interval spent two years at a commercial college, and at the Muncy Normal school. He studied medicine foi' a j'ear and a half in Doctor William M. Rankin's office, in Munc}', and then entered the medical depaitnient (jf tlie University of Pennsylvania, spending the summers in the Friends' Insane Asylum, at Frankfort, and the Pennsylvania Hospital for Insane in West Philadelphia. After a three years' course, he graduated in 1883, and passed the following year in district work and lec- tures. After a few weeks as resident physician in the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania Hospital, he was elected to a similar posi- tion in the Pennsylvania Hospital at Eighth and Pine streets, Philadelphia. After the expiration of his term he passed a few weeks on the Jersey coast, and (;ame to Newport, October 1st, 1885. Here he has made an encouraging beginning, and is one of the attending physicians of the Newport Hospital. Doctor Edward Ellis. Nothing is known of him, except that in the newspaper report of the celebration of King George Third's coronation, in Newport, the route of the procession is said to be "from Dr. Ellis' house to the state house," and an adver- tisement, not very long after, of the house of " Dr. Edward El- lis," describing the house at foot of Pope street, corner Spring wharf, latterly known as the Handy house, earlier as the Over- ing house, gives his Christian name, and makes the route of the parade a very natural one, tliat being then the south end of the town. Doctor J. J. Ellis was born in Boston in 1826, graduated A. B. at Harvard University in 1847, and took his medical degree at Hai-vard in 1852. He was house surgeon for one year in the Massachusetts General Hospital. He settled at Portsmouth, R. I., and after two years, removed to Bristol, R. I. in 1854. He remained at Bristol until, in 1862, he became an assistant sur- geon of volunteers, attached to the 37th Massachusetts Regi- ment. He was sick three months at Washington, and was honor- ably discharged for disability, being in an advanced stage of Phthisis. He returned to Newport, and lingered for a few niSTORV OF XKWPOKT COUNTV. 81 weeks in a liopeless condition, and died March 17tli, 180:3, aged 37 years. He married tlie only cliild of Rev. Jolin 0. Clionles, D. D., by whom lie had one son, wlio is still livinp;. Doctor El- lis was a man of more than ordinary ])roniisc. Doctor Geoi'ge Engs, son of Snnniel and P^lizahctli (Stanhope) Engs, was born in Newport, Febrnary 24th, 1840, and died in JS'ewport. Jnly 7fh, 1887. The family of Engs was of a good old Pnritan stock, its first representative in America having been a deacon in the old Soutli clinrcii in Boston, in very early times. Fonr en- five generations of the family have been among the substantial citizens of Newport. Doctor Engs early indica- ted scholarly tastes and acquired studious habits, and in 1860, received the degree of A. B. at Yale College, and began the study of medicine in the office of Doctor David King, of New- port, graduating in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1863. He commenced practice in New- port as physician and obstetrician, but always eschewing surg- ery, as not congenial with his tastes. In 1860 he went to Eu- rope, passing two years in the diffei'ent medical capitals, but chiefly in Vienna, making himself an acconii)llslied German scholar, and perfecting himself in professional lore. In 1882, he again visited Europe, on a tour of travel for si.x months, and resumed practice on his return. Doctor Engs was a man of great intellectual power and an intense love of truth. He in- vestigated thoroughly and reasoned ably, and his analyses were valuable because his mind was always dominated by that instinctive regard for truth and rejection of any evidence which admitted of doubt. Although reticent and retix'ing, he was genial among his associates, who were not numerous. He had a strong hold on the confidence and kindly appreciations of the community, and gave promise, until his health failed, of an un- usually successful career. He was unmarried. Doctor Thomas Eyres was a son of Rev. Nicholas Eyres, pas- tor of the Second Baptist church in Newport, a native of G-reat Bi'itain, born August 22d, 1691, died in Newport February 13th, 1759. Doctor Eyres was born August 2d, 173'), married Amey Tillinghast, August 2d, 17o9, and died February 23d, 1788, in Newport, leaving a daughter who married AVil- liam Briggs, of Newport. His race being long e.vtinci, little more can be gathered concerning him. He attended Henry Collins in his last illness. He left Newport during the revolu- 6 82 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. lion, and practised in Providence. Doctor Eyres received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Yale College in 1754, and was the first secretary of Rhode Island College, afterward Brown Uuiversity, from i76-4 to 1776. Doctor Joseph J. Fales was born at Wrenthani, Mass., Jan- nary 27th, 1797. He was gradnated from Brown University in 1820, attended lectures at Piiiladelphia and Boston, was grad- nated in medicine at Boston, and settled in Newport in 1822. In 1825 he married Miss Terry, an English lady. She died in 1830, having had two children, who died young. He left New- port in 1832, and afterward lived in Boston. In 1835 he mar- ried Caroline L. Hammett, sister of Doctor George A. Hammett, and daughter of Deacon Nathan B. Hammett, of Newport. His M'idow survived, and with four children, Mary E., George H., Edwin M. and Emma G., resides in East Boston. Doctor Havela Farnsworth, with his brother Oliver, came to Newport in 1798, from A^ermont, and with him established a a democratic newspaper, styled the "Guardian of Liberty." After a j'ear or two the publication was abandoned, and the doctor became a practitioner of medicine in Newport, and, at one time, in Portsmoutli. Oliver continued the paper under the name of "Rhode Island Republican," and published in 1800 a book entitled, "Memory of Washington." Of Doctor Farnsworth's subsequent history nothing is known. Doctor Moses Fifield, son of Rev. Moses and Celia (Knight) Fifield (the father being an itinerant minister of tlie Methodist Ejiiscopal church) was born December 23d, 1823, at Warehouse Point, Conn. The Reverend Moses was from New Hamp- shire, his wife from Providence, R. I Doctor Filield at- tended school at Centreville, R. I., at theWesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., and at East Greenwich Methodist Seminary. He commenced the study of medicine with Doctors George and Charles W. Fabyan, at Providence, R. I., and was graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1846. He mar- ried Hannah A., daughter of Christopher and Sarali (Congdon) Allen, of North Kingstown, in 1846. He practised medicine in Fall River, Mass, and Little Compton, R. I., until 1852, when, on the decease of Doctor Keith, he removed to Portsmouth, R. I. He practised there for several yeai's, when on account of his father's ill health, he removed to Centreville, R. I., where he became cashier of the Centreville Bank, afterward Centre- HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 83 ville National Bank, and of the Warwick Institution for Savings, combining tliese financial duties witli the practice of medicine, which lie prosecutes with equal assiduity and interest. Although 64 years of age, he still enjoys good health. He has been a member of the R. I. Medical Society since 1855, and is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association. Doctor Henry Collins Flagg was the son of Ebenezer and Mary (Ward) Flagg, who were married in Newport February 8th, 1740. His grandfather, Richard Ward, was governor of Rliode Island from July, 1740, to May, 1743. Doctor Collins was born at Newj^ort, at what date is not precisely known ; he was a brother of Major Ebenezer Flagg, of Col. Greene's R. I. Regiment of the continental line of the revolution, wlio was killed with his colonel on Croton river, New York. Doctor Collins was surgeon on General Greene's staff, in South Carolina^ where he I'emained and married, and became prominent in his profession. Doctor William Fletcher came to Newport in 1785, as surgeon in the British navy, but was transferred, while here, to the army. At the close of the war he retired on half pay, and re- mained here and practised until his death, March 9th, 1788. He was born in Lancashire, England, in 1742. His epitaph says, "He lived like a gentleman and died like a philosopher." Doctor Samuel Ward Francis, fourth son of D(jctor John W. and Eliza M. (Cutler) Francis, was born in New York city, De- cember 26tli, 1835. He acquired his preliminary education in Joshua AVorth's school, in New York, and graduated A. B. at Columbia College in 1857, having received five or six prizes dur- ing his undergraduate course. He studied medicine in his father s office, and at the school of Doctors T. P. Thomas and AVilliam Rice Donaghe, and graduated in medicine at the New Y'ork University Medical College in 1860. He married June 16th, 1859, Harriet H., daughter of Judge M. H. McAllister, of the U. S. District Court of California. After graduation he commenced practice in New York, where he was physician to the Dispensary for diseases of head, abdomen and skin. He was in Newport from 1862 to 18G4, again passed two years in New York, and in 1866 took up his permanent residence in Newport, where he remained until Ids decease, March 25th, 1886. The cause of his death was diabetes mellitus. On grad- uation in medicine, he took the Mott bronze medal for best 84 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. clinical report. Doctor Francis wrote voluminously for the medical journals and other jieriodicals, and was author of two novels. He was a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and of the Victoria Institute of Great Britain, and of many other medical and scientific societies, and was vice-president of the New2:)ort Medical Society. He was gifted with a remarkably inventive genius, and obtained several patents. He was the original inventor of the typewriter. He was the founder of the jVewport Society of Natural History. Doctor Francis was faithful and diligent in the performance of his professional duties, and was highly esteemed and deeply beloved by his em- ployers and his professional brethren ; he was a man of most amiable temper and cliarming social qualities, and his demise at the early age of 51 years, produced an impression of shock and sadness quite unusual ; he left five children. Doctor Valentine Mott Francis, third son of Doctor John W. and Eliza M. (Cutler) Francis, was born in New York city April 25th, 1834. He attended the schools of Rev. Doctor Hawkes, and of R.T. Huddard of New York, and some others, and studied medicine with his father, and at the same school as his brother, that of Thomas & Donaghe, and took his degree of M.D. at New York University Medical College in March, 1859, and in June following received his diploma as practical analytical chemist. He also had a diploma for six months' attendance on wards in Bellevue Hospital. He published the first work on hospital hygiene, and also a poem on the fight for the Union, and did much work as a newspaper correspondent. He practised in New York for two and one-quarter years, and then retired and re- moved to Newport, where he still lives, passing his summers at Conanicut. He was a member of the New Y^'ork Sanitary Asso- ciation in 1861, and is a life member of the New Y^'ork Historical Society. Doctor Francis married, first, Sarah Faulkner, eldest daughter of Charles Carville, Esq., April IGtli, 1857. They had two sons, both dead. February 7th, 1865, he married Anna M., daughter of Doctor Rene de La Roche, of Philadelphia. She is still living. They had three sons, one of whom survives. Doctor Francis has not resumed practice since his removal to Newport, but has acquired a large number of attached friends by his sterling qualities. Doctor Sylvester Gardiner was the son of William Gardiner, Esq., of South Kingstown, R. I., and was born there in 1707. HISTOKY OF XEWPOUT CoUXTY. 85 He early developed studious iuflinations, and under the direc- tion of Rev. Doctor MacSparnin, who had married his sister, his bent was encouraged, and lie was sent to Boston and studied medicine with Doctor Gibbons, an English physician, whose daughter he married. After two years he went to Europe, studied four years in Paris, and afterward spent two years in studying opthalniology in France. He returned and settled in Boston, where he became famous, and had a most extensive practice in medicine and operative surgery. He was reputed to have the most extensive obstetrical practice in New Enghvnd. He acquii-ed a large fortune, was largely engaged in purchases of land, and was a member of the Plympton Land Company. He was owner of an extensive tract, now (rardiner, Maine. He is reputed to have erected churches, and to have supported Episcopal clergymen from his own private means, but his pros- perity came to an end at the revolution. Being an active loyal- ist, he became a refugee, his property was confiscated, and he was impoverished. After the war he came to Newport, and practised his profession, and died here in 1786, aged 80 years. Doctor William Gibson did not practice in Newport, except when visiting here in summer, when he occasionally performed operations. He was particularly distinguished as a surgeon. After his retirement he came to Newport, and made his resi- dence here in his latter years. He was born in Baltimore in 1788, and died at Savannah, Georgia, March 2d, 1868, aged 80 years. He was educated first at Annapolis, Md., then at Princetcjn, N. J., and last at Edinburgh, where he attended the high school, and where he received the degree of M.D. in 18(>9. He was jiresent at the battle of Corunna, and received a slight wound at Waterloo. He settled at Baltimore in 1810. He married, in 1810, Sarah Charlotte Hollingsworth. In 1812 he tied the com- mon Iliac artery. He was successively professor of surgery in the University of Maryland, and the University of Pennsylvania, where he officiated for many years, and was very much admired for his distinct and lucid demonstrations, and for his marvelous skill in preparations and drawings for the illustration of his lectures. He was at Lundy's Lane, and extracted a bullet from General Winfield Scott. He performed the CfPsarian section twice on the same woman, who recovered both times, and both children were saved. Doctor John Bernard Gilpin, son of .lolin Bernard and Mary 86 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. (Miller) Gilpin, was born in Newport, E. I., September 4th, 1810. He was prepared for college at Judge Joslin's academy in Church Street, formerly noted as John Frazer's classical school. He took the degree of A.B. at Trinity College, Hart- ford, Conn., about 1831, studied medicine in the office of Doctor T, C. Gunn, and gi'aduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1834. About this time his family had removed to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where he settled, and practised for eight years, when he removed to Halifax. There he became a prominent practitioner until about ten years ago, when he re- tired from active 2:)ractice, and returned to Annapolis, where he now resides. Doctor Gilpin is a younger brother of Hon. Wil- liam Gilpin of Newport. Miss Gertrude Gooding, M.D., daughter of Josepli and Mary (Howland) Gooding, was born at Bristol, R. I., July loth, 1855. She acquired her education in Bristol, graduating in the high school of that town in 1873, and afterward graduated at Mt. Holyoke Seminary in 1876. The five succeeding years she was eraploj'ed in teaching the natural sciences in the Maiden, Massa- chusetts, high school. She received the degree of M.D. from Boston University Medical Scliool (Homeopathic) in 1884. She then practised in Philadelphia for two years, and was a resi- dent physician in West Philadelphia Hospital for infants, in Women's Homeopathic. Maternity and Surgical Hospital, West Philadelphia Presbyterian Home for Old Women, and Rosine Home for Girls. Miss Gooding came to Newport in 1886, and still practises here. Dr. Ebenezer Gray i)ractised medicine at Newport in 1752-3, of which the only evidence obtainable is a bill for services to the family of John Stevens, ancestor of the famous stonecutter family of Newport, from May, 1752, to February, 1753— £10 12s. Od. Doctor Benjamin Greene, son of Hon. Isaac and Eliza (Kf^nyon) Greene, of Exeter, R. I., was born in that town October 30th, 1833. In 1856 he began the study of medicine under the tute- lage of his uncle, Doctor Job Kenyon, al Antliony, R. I., and in 1857 matriculated at the University Medical School, in the city of New York, where he graduated in 1859. He com- menced iDractice directly after at Portsmouth, R. I., and has continued to practice there to the present time. In 1860 he be- came a member of the R. I. Medical Society. Besides his prac- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 87 tice he has been successfully and extensively engaged in real estate transactions in and about Fall River, which is eight miles from iiis iiome. Doctor Greene married November 26th, 1860, Eunice A., daughter of Philip B. and Sarah E. (Cooke) Chase, of Portsmouth, R. I. He is an active member of the Methodist cliurch, and of the order of Freemasons. lie enjoys the respect and conHdence of the community in which lie lives, and of his professional brethren. Doctor Nathaniel Greene, the eldest son of Nathaniel Ray Greene, who was the eldest son of Major General Nathaniel Greene of the revolutionary army, was born at Dungeness, the patrimonial estate of his family, on Cumberland Island, Georgia, June 22d, 1809. His mother, who was born November 8th, 1784, died January 9th, 1886, at her residence in Middletown, R. I., at the extreme age of 102 j^ears, was a daughter of Ethan and Anna (Ward) Clarke. She was a very remarkable woman. She retained her mental faculties unimpaired until her decease, and those faculties were by no means of a common order. She delighted in literary pursuits, and her familiarity with the best class of English authors, of an earlier period especially, was phenominal to her last years ; she would converse in a wonder- fully intelligent manner on the productions and authors oii the golden period of English literature, as Addison, Johnson, Gold- smith, Bolingbroke, etc. She spent some of her latter years, and until her eyesight failed, in reading Hume and t)ther authors of that stamp ; at the same time she kept up a vivid interest in current event.s, and was familiar with neighborliood incidents, and whatever concerned the interests of her friends. No effort of memory was ever evident. Her conversation flowed as easily as that of young persons. She was a very conscientious, judicious and wise person, and thoroughly kind- hearted. Very few persons are permitted to be as interesting at a time of life when they are regarded as monuments of by- gone days. Iler husband, the father of the doctor, was a most amiable, genial and generous specimen of those '' rara aves,'" the gentlemen of the old school ; his habits of reading were in harmony with those of his wife, who outlived him many years. Exce|)t the doctor their only child was I'rofessor George Wash- ington Greene, who held professorships in P>rown and Cornell Universities, and who holds high rank among American Literati. He left one son and three daughters. Doctni- 88 HISTOKY OF NEVVPOirr COUNTi'. Nathaniel Greene passed liis boyhood in East Greenwich, R. I., which became the residence of his parents soon after his birtli, and so remained until 183G, when they purchased a farm in Middletown, R. I., about five miles from Newport, on the west shore of Rhode Island, where his i:)arents passed the remaining years of their life, and whei-e he still resides. December 17th, 1827, he married Miss Marj^ Jane, eldest daughter of Col. Wil- liam and Harriet (Gibbs) Moore, of Newport. She still sur- vives. She have had no children. His school education was pursued chiefly at the academy at East Greenwich. In 1824 he entered the freshman class at Amherst College, and in 1825 the Sophomore class of Brown University, which being, at that time, in rather a languishing condition, it was not thought ex- pedient to complete his course there, and he accordingly left before the completion of his Junior year. He then entered as a student of medicine the office of Doctors Peck and Clarke, one of whom. Doctor Welcome Clarke, was a relative, at Whites- town, Oneida county. New York, where he remained about a year ; he afterward returned to East Greenwich, where he completed his professional education in the office of Doctor Charles Eldredge of that town. His family being large land- owners, he employed several years after the conclusion of his medical studies, in the congenial pursuit of farming, in which he has the reputation of being proficient, and which he has never entirely abandoned, but which became secondary and collateral after he had taken up tlie practice of medicine, which he did about 1848. He has prosecuted his profession with more or less vigor, to the present time, in the towns on Rhode Island, as a disciple of the School of Hahneman. As a physician among the people of those tenets, he has enjoyed a large prac- tice and great popularity, and in the whole community is looked upon with much respect as a man of high character and tone, and as a man of thoroughly gentlemanly instincts, and worthy his race and antecedents. His great-grandmother was a daughter of Rest (Perry) Mott, wife of Jacob Mott of Portsmouth, and daughter of Edward Perry of Sandwich, who was the an- cestor of Commodores Oliver H. and Matthew C. Perry, thus de- riving from an identical source part of the blood of two of the prominent families of Rhode Island. In 1842 Doctor Greene com- manded a company of volunteers raised in Middletown and Portsmouth for the service of the state against the revolutionary c Acd^x^ k'^-UJ'i'O^ iriSTOKY OK NKWPOUT COUNTY. 89 organization called the Dorr government, and althouf^h no blood was shed, he proved his willingness and his capacity for the service which might have been required ; after this he was captain of a conipany of cavalry, organized at that time, on the state establishment, with the rank of colonel ; after a year or two this company was disbanded. He was for several years i)resident of the Aquidneck Agri- cultural Society. He was in 1848-49-50 and 1851 senator in the general assembly of Rhode Island, and filled that position honorably and ac- ceptably. At the preliminary meeting, held at Providence, December 12th, 1877, for the rehabilitation of the Khode Island Society of the Cincinnati, which had been in abeyance, from various causes, since 1835, he was unanimously chosen its president pro tem., and at the annual meeting, on July 4th, 1878, its charter having meanwhile been recognized by the general assembly as having full force, he was unanimously elected its president, and has since, on every fourth of July, been re-elected. He has also been, every year, elected as one of the society's delegates to the meetings of the general society, which meetings are triennial, and has attended four of those meetings, and is very highly esteemed and regarded by the members of that organization. Doctor John Haliburton came to this county, Doctor Parsons says, "in 1750," but as he died in 1807, aged 69 years, he was born in 1738, and was then only 12 years old. He probably came about 1760, as he married, January 4th, 1767, Susanna Brenton, daughter of Jahleel Brenton, Esq., of Newport. He had five children born in Newport, of whom John, the eldest, was an officer in the British navy ; Brenton, the tiftli child, was an eminent Jurist, chief justice of Nova Scotia for many years, was knighted in 1859, and died in 1860, aged 85 years. Doctor Haliburton took high rank in his profession, and being con- nected with the most influential families of Newport, then in its palmiest days, had a most brilliant and successful career, and is said to have accumulated a handsome fortune, but dur- ing the revolution, in 1780, becoming suspected of correspond- ence with the enemy, he retired to Halifax, wliere he passed the remainder of his days. Doctor Castill O. TTamlin came to Portsmouth, R. I., in 1833, directly after Doctor James \'. Turner had removed to New- 90 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. porf. He was from northern New England. He was a promis- ing man, but was cut off in a few months, dying April 8th, 1834, at the early age of 36 years. Doctor George Alfred Hammett, son of Deacon Nathan and Mary (Billings) Hammett, was born in Newport, September 20th, 1809, was baptized December 17t.h, 1809, and died in New- port, February 6th, 187o, aged 65 years. Doctor Hammett, after leaving school, was clerk in a large grocery, at the south- east corner of Thames and Mill streets, but having a studious turn of mind, after a few years he entered Doctor T. C. Dunn's office as a student, and Doctor Dunn often said that the avidity with which he devoured medical books was perfectly phenome- nal. This was carried to such a degree that he once asked the doctor to allow him to occupy his office on Sundays ; t(^ this he did not, accede. After the completion of his studies he offered his services to the public, but he never had any considerable practice, and afterward took charge of a lumber business which had been his fathei^'s. This he prosecuted with no great energy until his father died, leaving him a competence. He then re- tired, and thereafter devoted his entire time to the pursuit to which he had always been devoted, to oniniverous reading, never of trashy books, but of substantial literature, with a de- cided preference for speculative subjects. In his later years he was a constant "habitue" of the Redwood library, to which he, from time to time, gave generous aid. Doctor Hammett married late in life, but had no children. Doctor William Handy, son of Cliarles and Ann Brown Handy, was born at Newport, and was baptized in Trinity church, September 29th, 1766. He married in June or July, 1788, being then of Newport, Abby Saltonstall, daughter of Rosewell Saltonstall, Esq., merchant, of New London. He was for many years a prominent and successful practitioner at New London, Conn. Doctor Enoch Hazard was born in Newport, January 2d, 1773, and died in Newport, May 7th, 1844. He was a son of Thomas and Mary (Easton) Hazard. Doctor Hazard married a daughter of Nicholas Easton and had an only son, General John Alfred Hazard, who bequeathed a large estate to the Newport Hospital. Doctor Hazard i)ursued his medical cal studies with his uncle, Doctor Jonathan Easton, attended lectures in the Philadelphia Medical School, and graduated HISTUUV OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 91 there. Alfhongh not a member of the Friends' Society, as his uncle liad been, he had acquired by habit a close assimilation with their habits and modes of thought, and he always re- tained their favor. He did a large business until his death, at the ripe age of 73 years. He was a tall, hard favored man, angular not only in his appearance but in liis methods, and veiy positive. Nevertheless, he was very popular, and inspired a high degree of affection and implicit conlidence in his habitual em^iloyers. He was a very M'orthy man, but very decided in his prejudices. He represented, through his father and mother, two of the most important and influential of the original set- tlers of Rhode Island. Doctor Jonathan Easton Hazard was the son of Godfrey and Ruth (Easton) Hazard. He was Doctor Enoch Hazard's first cousin, their mothers being sisters, and also sisters of Doctor Jonathan Easton, and daughters of Jonathan Easton, the direct descendant of Governors Nicholas and John Easton. The doctor was always'known as Doctor Easton Hazard, altiiough he never practised, being engaged in other avocations. His wife was Mary, daughter of George Lawton. They had one daughter, who died in 1870, unmarried. Doctor J. E. Hazard had studied medicine in his youth, under the direction of his cousin, Doc- tor Enoch. Doctor Rowland Robinson Hazard was a son of Thomas Hazard, of South Kingstown, R. 1., distinguished as Little Neck Town. He was brought up, from early youth, in the family of Doctor William Turner, and educated as a physician, but never practised, except indoors, having established himself as a druggist, in the shop of Charles Feke, directly after his death, on the parade. Later he moved three doors east, and for many years he was a very industrious and highly esteemed citizen. He married Anna, daughter of Lieut.-Governor Charles Collins, but had no children. He was always known by his title as Doctor Rowland, in distinction from Doctor Enoch. Doctor George Hazard, of South Kingstown, was a son nf Carder Hazard of that town, who was a brother of George Hazard, tlie first mayor of Newport. Doctor Hazard began the study of medicine in Narragansett with Doctor Joshua Perry, an uncle of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, but soon went to Newport, where he completed his medical studies uiid(U- the tuition of Doctor Jonathan E;iston. aiul wliere he married in 92 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. October, 1790, Sarali, widow of Captain Daniel Gardner, and daugliter of his uncle, H(jn. (reorge Hazard. Doctor Hazard attended medical lectures in Philadelphia, and settled in his native town after a period of practice in Newport, and practised there until he died in September, 1828. His second wife was Jane Maria, a daughter of Edward Hull, Esq., of Jamestown and New Shoreham. Their children were Doctor William Henry Hazard, of Wakefield, R. I., and Hon. Edward H. Hazard, one of the lights of the Rhode Island bar. Doctor Hazard was a lifelong friend of Doctor William Turner, of New- port. Doctor William llenr^- Hazard, son of Doctor George and Jane M. (Hull) Hazard, of South Kingstown, was born February 12th, 1808, the eldest of eight children. In 1824 he entered the office of Doctor William Turner, at Newport, as a medical student, and lived in his family for three years, and afterward attended lectures in Boston. He commenced practice in South Kingstown in 1828, and still practises there, although in his eightieth year. He married Louisa Lyman, eldest child of the late Governor Lemiiel H. Arnold, of Rhode Island, March I5th, 1841, but has no children. Doctor Thomas Arnold Hazard, son of Arnold Hazard, of Jamestown, came to Newport in 1832, studied medicine in the office of Doctor Ale.xander P. Moore, and graduated in medicine in March, 1835, at the University of Pennsylvania. He settled at Kingston, R. I., where Doctor D. Watson, who came to Newport, had ])reviously practised, and I'emained there until he died, December Sth, 1886, aged 73 years. He had never married. Doctor Hazard took high rank as a physician, and had a large and successful practice, and had verj^ great influence as a man of affairs, and enjoyed the entire confidence of the community surrounding him. Doctor Henry Hooper was a son of Doctor Richard, of Water- town, Mass., who died at Watertown in 1765, very old. Doctor Henry was born at Watertown in 1687,died at Newport February 17th, 1757. His wife, Deborah, died May 2d, 1750, aged 65 years. Doctor Henry Hooper, Jr., son of Doctor Henry and Deborah Hooper, was born in Newport in 1716, and died in Newport October 15th, 1745, aged 29 years. Nothing further can be traced, by recoi'd or tradition, relative to this family. Doctor William Hunter. The latter half of the eighteenth HISTOKY ()!■' NKWl'OKT COUNTY. 93 century may be properly accounted tlie golden age of medicine in Newport. Sheliad been uncommonly prosperous, and liada community of merchants who had accumulated large estates, for the period. She was then, as now, a favorite resort for people of wealth and leisure. She had a large aristocratic element, such as success always engenders, and was an acknowledged center of literary and artistic taste and of social and mental refinement. The Redwood libiary, comparatively small as it appeal's now, was far in advance of any library in the country, in the num- bei-. and especially in the character of its books, unless, pei'haps, some few of the collegiate institutions miglit be excepted. The merchants of Newport were noted for their generous hospitality, and for their elegant style of living and theii' inagnilicent enter- tainments. Newport then, from n'yi) to 177.'1p, presented a field extremely tempting to those aspiring debutantes for success in the medical profession, who for various reasons had found it e.xpedient to emigrate from Europe, and who had had such ad- vantages of education as assured them advancement in a wealthy and exceptionally refined comnninity as that of Newport then was. We find, accordingly, that quite a number of young phy- sicians, who had enjoyed the instruction of the most eminent medical men of the period, and the eclat of degrees from the best scliof)ls in Euroi)e, liesides the hospital experience of Lon- don, Edinburgh and Leyden, became residents of Newport, and earned the reputation here which their accomplishments deserv- ed. Among those particular!}^ prominent wtiva Hunter, Brett, Moffatt and Halibiirton, and others of whom we are able to rescue less material for biograjjliical account. Doctoi- William Hunter, who was of the same family as the celebrated William and John Hunter, of Edinburgh and London, was a native of Scotland, and acquired his medical education at Edinburgh, where the most brilliant luminaries of the medical woi-ld were then at the zenith of their glory, and who.se .school of medicine was, almost without dissent, deemed the center of medical science. Doctor Hunter was born in Scotland in 1781. and died in Newport January Blst, 1777. It has been generally believed that he was a refugee from Scotland, on account of penalties incuiTed from participation in the rebellion of 174i5. This idea seems to be entirelj^ Illogical, because if he was born in 17:U he would be, at the time of Culloden (174G) when the revolt col- lapsed, 15 years of age, too young, probably, to engage in such 94 HISTORY OF XEWPORT COUNTY. an enterprise, and certainly too young to have commenced the prosecution of a medical education, which he could not have done afterward, with penalties as a rebel against tiie British government hanging over him. He must have received his medical degree as late as 17o2. This fond delusion must, therefore, be dismissed as untenable. Doctor Parsons says Doctor Hunter came to America in 1752, which is probably true, and would be directly after receiving his degree of M.D., although some authors have placed his arrival as early as 1750. However tliat may be, he seems to have ingratiated himself rapidly into popular estimation, for the general assembly elected him, in March, 1758, physician and surgeon-general to the Rhode Island troops. He served in the unfortunate campaign against the French in Canada, in General Aljercrombie's expedition, and probably also in the more propitious one which succeeded under General Amherst. From this time, the war being concluded by the capture of Quebec and Montreal, he pursued the practice of his profession in Newport with great success. In 1756 he de- livered the first cour.se of lectures on a medical subject, viz., Anatomy, ever delivered on this continent, at the state house at Newport. He was married September 13tli, 1761, to Deborah, daughter of Godfrey Malbone, Esq., of Newport. The children of this marriage were: Eliza, born July 20th, 1762, died at Paris in 1859; Anne, born April 20th, 1766, married John Fancounet, died 1859; William, born April 20th, 1768, died November 18th, 1772; Katharine, born June 2d, 1770, died October 1st, 1770 ; Katharine, born February 2Sth, 1773, married Count de Portalis, died 1860; William, born November 26th, 1774, died December 3d, 1849, in Newport. This last child, and only surviving son, was a lawyer of very great classical and scholastic attainments, and stood very high at the Rhode Island bar, and was celebrated especially for brilliant forensic abilities. He was senator in congress from October, 1811, to March, 1821, from Rhode Island. Later he was appointed, by President Jackson, charge de affairs to the court of Brazil, which position he adorned and dignified for many years. He was a student of Inner Temple, London. Doctor Hunter was active and very positive in his adherence to the cause of the crown in all the troubles preceding the revolu- tion, and was, consequently, very obnoxious to the other party, but he died while the British forces were in possession of New- j)ort, and in the full persuasion of the final triumph of the royal HISTORY OK NKWroKT COUNTY. 95 cause. He was outspoken in liis denuuciation of those he was pleased to style the "dommed rubbles." Doctor Fi-ank Hunter, son of Henry and Rebecca (Eells) Hunter of Newport (who were nuiri'ied in Stouington, Conn., December 9th, 1773), wns a student at the University of Edin- biiriili, and graduated in tlie same class in medicine with Doctor William Gibson, former professor of surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, and who, in his old age was a resident of New- port in 1809. It is supposed that Hunter died young and with- out returning home, as nothing more is known of him. He was spoken of by Doctor Gibson as a man of wonderful talent and acquirements, but as of an eccentric and mercurial disposition. Doctor John Francis Hurley, only son of Patrick and Mary (Donovan) Hurley, was born at Boston January '2Sth, 1839, mar- ried Anna Louisa Burke September 1st, 1863, at Boston, and died of Phthisis at Newjwrt December 2d, 1885. Doctor Hur- ley took his medical decree at Cambridge in 1863, and was ad- mitted as fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society August 1st, 1863. He practised in B(^ston for a short time, tlien he went to Springfield, Mass., where he practised until 1867, when he came to Newport and practised here until his death. Doctor Robert JeoftVeys. Although not on the roll of those who signed the comjjact of settlement at Pocasset, Robert Jeof- freys, who may have lieen the Mr. Jeoff reys admitted August 23d, 1638, with Mr. Dummer's party, appears on the roll of freemen at Newport Septendter 1st, 1639, and he was elected treasurer for one year, and was reelected for 1640-41 and 1642. In 1642 he was elected captain for Newport. Tliat he was the Mr. Jef- fpieys who came with Mr. Duminer s(-ems probable from the fact that the name William Jeil'reys does not appear until IGoo, when the whole roll of the freemen of the colony is engrossed, and the name Robert Jeffreys does not appear. If two Jef- freys had been here the record would have been more explicit. In 1641 this entry in the colonial record appears : "26. It is or- dered, that Mr. Robert Jeoffieys shall be authoiized to exercise the function of Chirurgerie." Robert Jeffrey received a part of Rocky farm in the first division of lands in 1641. He is said to have removed in 1646. As he does not appear later on the rec- ord, it is probable, as he had previously been quite conspicu- ous. Doctor Cyrus Johnson, son of Isaiah and Ruth (Leonard) 96 HISTORY OF NEWPOIIT COUXTY. Johnson, was born at Falmoutli, Mass., October 13th, 1779. His grandfather was Daniel Johnson, many years jiidge of the conrt of Plymonth county, Mass. Doctor Johnson married, IMarch 11th, 1804, Hannali (Plaisted) AVarren, daughter of David War- ren, Esq., and Sarah, his wife, of Saco, now state of Maine. She was born April 19th, 1787 and died at Newport June 13th, 1826. They had three sons and two daughters. The youngest daughter was Eliza N., the third wife of James Horswell, Esq. Doctor Johnson had a certificate from his medical instructor, attesting his good character and diligent application as a student, and highly commending his qualifications for the prac- tice of physic, surgery and midwifery, signed by "Jeremiah Barker, M. D., P. M. M. 8.," and dated ''Falmouth, May 1, 1803." He seems to have settled first in Saco, then in what was called the district (now state) of Maine, where he married, and where his first child, Charles C. P. was l)orn February 3d, 1805. Shortly afterward he was in Portland, his second child, Maria M., being born tliere July 0th, 180G. In 1810 he came to Newport and remained tliere until he died, January 17th, 1861, a period of 51 years. He married for his second wife Miss Henrietta B. Lazell, daughter of Isaac and Jane Lazell of Bridgewater. She died August 26th, 1859, aged 62 years. Doctor Johnson had an of- fice and dispensary in his residence on the east side of Thames street, the third house above the Parade, for thirty years and probably more. He was a very mild and unobstrusive man. Doctor John Melvin Keith, son of a Baptist minister from Scotland, who, nearly sixty years ago taught a school in what was then known as Trinity Church school house, corner School and Mary streets, Newport, and who was reputed a man of learning, was born in 1808. He commenced the study of medi- cine with Doctor William Turner about 1828, and after the con- clusion of his studies he settled in Providence county, R. I. After the death of Doctor Hamlin in 1834, he withdrew from his chosen locality and settled himself in Portsmoutli, R. I., and practised there until his death, which occurred July 9th, 1852, a period of eighteen years, he being 44 years of age. His wife was Frances, daughter of Capt. Robinson Potter of Newport, and sister of Mrs. Doctor T. C. Dunn. Doctor Keith was a man of fine appearance and attractive manners, and enjoyed the full- est confidence and regard of tlie community in which he lived. '-y/zt^a e> ITISTOIiY DK NKWI'Oirr COUNTY. 97 He was buried in the chiiiThyanl of S(. Man-'s, Portsnioiitli. His only child, a son, is still living. Doctor Thomas Alphonso Kenefick, son of William and Ann (O'Mealley) Kenefick, was born at Lawrence, Mass. He studied medicine in the office of Doctors Garland and Chamberlain at Lawrence, Mass., received the degree of M. D. at tln^ College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1885, when he settled at Newport, where he still practises, occupying the office of the late Doctor S. W. Bntlei' in Pelliam street. TTe has been for two years a member of the active medieval staff (if fhe Newport Hospital. Doctor David King was born in ilaynhani, Mass., in the year 1774. His ancestry were of Puritan origin, and were distin- guished for their public spirit, and for their Christian and social virtues. His early life was passed amid influences auspicious to the growth of the best elements of character. He was pre- pared for college at a grammer school, under the direction of the Rev. Feres Forbes, LL. D. In September, 1792, Doctor King entered Rhode Island College as a student under the pre.s- idency of Manning, and graduated in 1796, under the presi- dency of Maxcy. After graduating, choosing medicine for his profession, he, to- gether with his classmate, Shurtleff, became the pupil of Doctor James Thatcher of Plymouth, ^^fass. Do(;tor King, by his dili- gence and assiduity in his medical studies, soon acquired the necessary elements of a medical education. Diverted by some accidental circumstance from the navy, which he was inclined to enter as surgeon, he, in tlie autumn of 1799, sought profes- sional employment in Newport, Rhode Island. In the early period of his professional career, his attention was drawn to the consideration of the vaccine disease, then tirsb introduced into the United States. Regarding it as an invalu- able discovery, he proceeded, notwithstanding the strong oppo- sition of popular prejudice, to benefit his fellow citizens by the application of the newly discovered principle in his science. In October, 1800, he vaccinated Walter Cornell of Newport, who was the first i)erson vaccinated in the state of Rhode Island. In thus early adopting the views of the immortal Jenner, and carrying them out in practice, he displayed a decision and inde- pendence of mind which strongly characterized him thi'ongh life. For several years lie held tlie appointment of surgeon to o 98 HISTOKV OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. a detachment of United States troops stationed at Fort Wolcott. In 1819, during the prevalence of the yellow fever in this place, his great skill and experience were actively and successfully called into operation in repelling tliat terrible malady. At that time it was the part of humanity to refute the errors of those who regarded that disease as invariably and certainly l^ropagating itself, and as exposing those who attended upon the sick to almost certain death. Not admitting the contagious character of the disease, he attributed it to a more general and pervading cause ; and by his intrepidity and free personal ex- posure attested his confidence in the truth of his theoretical views. He was one of the earliest promoters of the Rhode Is- land Medical Society, in which he successively held the offices of censor, vice-president and president. He was elected presi- dent in June, 1830, and continued in that office until July, 1834. In the revival of Redwood librarj^, he was an active co-oper- ator with other public spirited men, and he was long a director and at last president of that institution, until ill health com- pelled him to resign that office. It was his pride to advance those enterprises which might benefit the town in which he lived ; and he regarded it with an attachment which, in general, is appropriated only to the spot of our bii'th. The uprightness of his character and the strength of his judgment induced many to consult him as a friend, to whom, nothwithstanding the pressing cares of his professional life, he rendered valuable services. The warm sensibilities of his heart ever prompted him to disinterested action, which made him the object of i)re- eminent respect while living, and will forever perpetuate his memory in the hearts of his friends. In private life his char- acter was adorned by every quality which constitutes goodness. A perfect faith in God was ever an ennobling i^resence in his mind. In August, 1834, he suffered an attack of paralysis, brought on from exertions in the discharge of his professional duties. His constitution gradually failed until his death, which occurred November 14th, 1836. Few men have lived more re- spected or died more lamented. David King, M. D., died in Newport, March 7th, 1882, at the age of 69 years, 9 months and 25 days. He was the second son of Doctor David and Ann (Grordon) King, of Newport, and was born May 12th, 1812. He pursued "his preparatory studies at a classical school in Newport, at that time taught by Hon. Joseph JjiA^Vld i.AJ7l HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 99 Joslen, who still survives at a venerable old age. He graduated at Brown University, in 1831. with tlie second lionors of his class. His father and two of his brothers were also educated at the same university. He immediately began the study of medicine under the direction of his father, who was a leading physician of Newport. lie also attended lectures at the Jef- ferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, where he received his degree as Doctor of Medicine, in 1834. He commenced the practice of his profession in his native town, and there continued it to the end of his life. He entered upon his career just as Newport was beginning to assume the position which it has now long occupied, as the leading place of summer resort in the United States. His i)ractice early became extensive, not among his fellow townsmen alone, but also among the visitors of the season, who would naturally compare its methods with those of the eminent physicians of oilier cities. He prepared himself to meet the conditions thus prescribed, and won the confidence and esteem of families from nearly every part of the country, and even from foreign lands. Thoroughly educated and devoted to his profession, he also possessed in an unusual degree the kindly disposition, the varied intelligence and the exalted character which made him not only the trusted physician, but also the valued friend of persons in every condition of life. In 1850 he went abroad for professional improvement, and spent a year and a half largely among the hospitals of London, Paris and Dublin, and in ob- serving the most approved methods of medical practice. He also made important additions to his well stored medical library. In 1872 he again visited Europe for a somewhat longer period, with his famih', making this visit ti'ibutary to still wider pro- fessional observations, not only in Great Britain and France, but also in Italy and Germany. Doctor King became a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society in 1834, and soon began to make special investigations as to medical science and practice. He won prizes offered by the society in 1836, 1837 and in 1839. His prize essays were all published. He also filled in succession nearly every office in the society, has been repeatedly chosen its president, and has three times delivered the address at its annual meetings. He was also one of the founders of the American Medical Association and a frequent attendant at its meetings. On the erection of the state board of liealth by the L.ofC. 100 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. legislature of Rhode Island in 1877, be was appointed one of its members and filled the office of president to the end of his life. He felt a warm interest in the objects which this board was designed to promote, and in 1880 went a third time to Europe, and informed himself fully as to sanitary methods and regulations. Thovigh occupied through life with a large professional prac- tice, lie also gave much attention to the study of American his- tory, especially of the history of his native state, with which no man of his time was more familiar. He read numerous papers before the Rhode Island Historical Society, on characters and events in colonial history. He was also the leading founder of the Newport Historical Society, in 1853, and was its presi- dent to the end of his life, and while in England prosecuted important inquiries relating to the local history of the town. He was also a member of the New England Historical and Gen- ealogical Society, and a contributor to its journal. He devoted much time to the Redwood library, in Newport, of which he was long the president, and to which he left a legacy in his will, as he did also to the Newport Historical Society. In the crea- tion and organization of the Island cemetery, in his native city, he took a leading part, and by his jiidicious counsel and ex- ertions he contributed very largely toward making it the beau- tiful spot it has now become. He was chosen president of its corporation at its organization, in 1848, and continued to hold the office till his deatli, a period of nearly thiyty-four years. In addition to his medical library he made a large and costly collection of books of general literature, esi:)ecially of English and American history. He was a member of the ancient parish of Trinity church, and did much to promote its prosperity, and to all the higher social and moral interests of his native city he was warmly devoted. He was much attached to the place of his educVition, and at the college commencement in 1881, less than a year before his death, he attended the meeting of his class on the fiftieth anni- versary of their graduation, and prepared for that occasion a touching tribute to the memory of his deceased classmates, and to the honored instructors of his college days. Doctor King, in 1837, married Sarah Gibbs, daughter of the Rev. Salmon Wheaton, D. D., of Newport, who died in the same year. They had three sons and four daughters. One of his sons graduated IIISTOItV OF NKWI'OKT COUNTY. 101 at Brown University in the class of 1859. Another, while en- gaged in his preparatory studies, joined the 1st Riiode Island Regiment that went to the defense of the national capital, and was mortally wounded in the first battle of Manassas Junction, in July, 1861, and taken to Richmond as a prisoner of war. His father was permilled to pass the rebel lines and to bi'ing him away. He was able to travel as far as Philadelphia, where he died of the wound he had received. A third is a well known resident of Newport, and was formerly a merchant in Cluna. John Brown Ladd was a native of Little Compton, R. I. He studied medicine with Doctor Senter, in Newport. He after- ward went to Charleston, where he was soon after killed in a duel with a Mr. Isaacs. A small volume of his poetical effusions was published by his sister after his death. Doctor Francis Lucena, from Lisbon, was in Newport in 1764, at his brother James' on the Point. Doctor Henry Goodwin MacKaye now practises medicine in Newport, and has done so for two years. He is the son of James and Maria (Goodwin) MacKaye, and great-grandson of Hon. Asher Robbins, of Newport, formerly United States sen- ator from Rhode Island, and was born in Marcii, 1856, in the city of New York. He received the degree of A. B. at Har- vard University, in 1878, and his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in 1883. He was married in January, 1887, to Ellen G., daughter of William Bailey, Esq., of Middletown, R. I. Doctor W. Duncan McKim, resided and practised in New- port in 1882 and 1883. He is now a prominent practitioner in New York city. ^ Doctor Thomas Henry Mann, son of Levi and Lydia Laurana (Ware) Mann, was born at North Wrenthani, Mass., April 8th, 1843, eldest of six children. He was at the high school at Wal- tham, Mass., when Sumter was fired on. On the 20th of May, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 18th Mass. Volunters, and was in the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, the Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and at the battles of the Wilderness. He became a i>risoner May 5th, 1864, fif- teen days before the expiration of his term of enlistment, and was exchanged ten months afterward, March 1st, 18G5. He had l)een made corporal and sergeant. He studied medicine with his uncle, Doctor H. M. Paine, of Albany, X.Y., and graduated 102 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in medicine December 24th, 1870, at the Albany Medical Col- lege. He then commenced practice at Willimantic, Conn., but in the autumn of 1872 removed to Block Island, where he prac- tised for four years, when he removed to Woonsocket, R. I., where he still practises. He was married, March 3d, 1869, to Julia, daughter of Salmon and Caroline (Burgevin) Backus, of Ashfoid, Conn., and has several children. Dr. John P. Mann was born in Attleboro or Rehoboth, Mass., in 1755, and died in Newport September 24th, 1837. He was an early graduate of Brown University, and came to Newport and settled as a physician, in early life, and probably practised somewhat in the earlier part of his career, but not at all in his later years. Doctor Mann married Miss Clarke, daughter of Hon. Joseph Clarke (wlio had been general treasurer of the colony and state from 1761 to 1792, 31 years) and of Rebecca, daughter of Abraliam Redwood. She had for- merly been the wife of Doctor Walter Rodman. He married, second, Ann, widow of William Robinson, and daughter of George and Mary (Ayrault) Scott, who survived him. Doctor Mann will be remembered by many still living as a dignified and stately gentleman of the old school, very much resembling the pictures of General Washington. He lived in the house in Broadway, now Mr. Kimber's, and superintended tlie cultiva tion of a tract of land of considerable extent, now divided and constituting an important section of the town, and north and east from the house. To the ordinary mind he represented the an- cient aristocratic element, then fast disappearing. Dr.Curtis E.Maryott,son of Rev.Ichabod B.and Almira(Miner) Maryott, was born in the city of New York, May 3d, 1841. He is descended from Rev. Samuel Maryott, a Sabbatarian, who was born in England in 1706, and for many years was minister to the congregation which occupied the old building on Barney street, now occupied by the Newport Historical Society, and who died in Newport in 1802. Doctor Maryott passed his early years in North Stonington, Connecticut. He took his medical degree at the University of New York in 1866, and in December of that year commenced practice at Block Island, where he re- mained until 1872. He then removed to Wakefield, R. I., where he now lives. He mari'ied, November 2d, 1867, Maria Louise, daughterof Asa and Louisiana (Inman) Hawkins, of Gloucester, R. I. HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 103 Doctor Benjamin Mason was the son of Benjamin Mason, merchant, of Newport, and Mary (Ayrault) Mason, his wife. He was born in Newport in Marcli, 1762, and married, Novem- ber 8th, 178S, Margaret Champlin, daughter of Col. Christopher and Margaret (Grant) Champlin, of Newport. He died Septem- ber 18th, 1801, aged 40 years. He studied medicine in the office of Doctor Isaac Senter, and completed his medical education in London. His career was short but brilliant, being cut off in the early prime of manhood, and leaving a family of young chil- dren. Of these, Benjamin died in youth. George C, the father of the present George C. Mason, Senior, a long-time clerk of the supreme court of Rhode Island, for Newport county, and after- ward cashier of the Rhode Island Union Bank, being of a frail constitution, died at about the same age as his father. Elizabetli was the wife of the distinguished hero of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Doctor Mason outlived his preceptor, Doctor Senter, two years, and succeeded him as director and purveyor-general of the Military Hospital in Rhode Island, and naturally succeeded to a considerable part of his practice. He was an honoi-ary member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Doctor Parsons says: "He flourished many years before the last century, and was at the head of the profession in Newport." Doctor Thomas Moflfatt was one of the galaxy of medical men of European education who made their home in Newport dur- ing the eighteenth century, and siied lustre on the medical his- tory of that ancient and then flourishing town. Doctor Moffat t was a Scotchman, and had tlie best advantages f)f education then attainable. He was reputed to have been an adherent of the Jacobite cause in 1745, and to have come to America about 1746, to escape the penalties of rebellion. In 1750 he was in Rhode Island, and appears to have been in practice in Newp(jrt until, in 1765, when having become obno.xious to the people from his activity in promoting the execution of the stamp act, his liouse was attacked by a mob, his property tlanmged. liis books and papers scattered, iiimself paraded and hung in effigy, and obliged to take refuge in one of the kings vessels in the harbor, and finally to go to New London, where he was made comptrollei' of the king's customs. In the beginning of the rev- olutionary troubles liis pronounced adhesion to the royal cause again made him obnoxious to popular sentiment, and he return- ed to Newport and resumed his practice, but after tlie evacu.i- KM HISTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. tiou of Rhode Island by the British troops, disappeared and never returned. In 1777 Duncan Stewart, who had been royal collector of customs at Xew London, iiad leave to remove to New York, and to take with him the effects of Doctor Thomas Moffatt, which latter was revoked on learning of Doctor Mof- fatt's adhesion to trhe crown. Miss Calkins says (Hist. N. Lon- don): "In 1778 Rev. Mather Byles conveyed to his friend, Doc- tor Thomas Moffatt, his house in N. London, to secure 240£due the church, from which he had retired, for certain contingent claims." He was in London in 1779, and signed an address to the king, and no mention is made of him afteward. He made a claim on the colony of Rhode Island for damages sustained in the riots in Newport, which the general assembly agreed to pay, after a liberal scaling down, whenever their account with the British government, for expenses incurred in the French war, was settled, as it never was. A long history of this affair may be found in Bartlett's R. I. Colonial Records. At one time, dur- ing his residence in Newport, Doctor Moffatt was associated with the elder Gilbert Stuart, in tlie manufacture of snuff, in North Kingstown, at the place now known as Hamilton, R. I. Doctor Alexander Pojie Moore practised in Newport about 10 years, and died here, April 22d, 1836, of smallpox. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Nicholas Easton, of Newport, and left one son. Doctor Thomas Paine Moore, brotlier of Doctor Alexander P., of Newport, came here after his brother's death, from WaiTen, R. I., where he had previously practised, and was appointed surgeon to the Marine Hospital in Newport. About 1841 he re- turned to Warren, and practised there until his death. Doctor Frankland Morton died in Newport July 25th, 1720, aged 33 years. Nothing further can be learned of him. Doctor Moyes, probably an itinerant, advertised ten lectures on natural science at the court house, Newport, in 1785. Miss Annie News, M.D., a native of the state of New York, was graduated in medicine at Ann Arbor, Michigan. She came to Newport about 1873, and practised successfully here until 1885, when she went to Europe and studied for two years in the schools there. On her return she established herself in the city of New York, where she now practises. Doctor George Mountain Odell was born in Frederickton, New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, in 1818. He received the IIISTOltV OI' XKWl'OUT COUNTY. 105 degree of A.B. at King's College, at Frederickton, in 1836. In 1841 he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1842 he received the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh. From 1842 to 1876 he practised his profession in Frederickton, his place of nativity, and in the latter year came to Newport, where he has since prosecuted the practice of his profession. Doctor Odell is a gentleman of fine accomplishments and high tone, and has established an enviable position. Doctor David Olyphant was born in Scotland, in 1720, at •' Pitheaoles," the house where his ancestors had lived for many generations. The house, or castle, as it is called, is about one and one-half miles from the railway station at Perch, and is still owned by one of the descendants of the family in the female line. In common with nearly all the branches of his race, he warmly espoused the cause of the Stuarts. After the battle of Culloden, in which he took an active part, his life was in danger, but he succeeded in escaping from Scotland, and coming to this country landed at Charleston, South Carolina, where he lived for many years, practising his profession and rising in it to the highest eminence. Here, too, as was natural from his early training, he took a leading part in the political discussions of the time. In General Moultrie's "Memoirs of the Revolution" we find his name among the list of members of the provincial congress held at Charleston. He was also a member of the legislative council of February, 1776, of which that revered patriot, the Hon. John Routledge, was president, and, at a later date, in a letter to General Moultrie, the Hon. Charles Pinckney says: "The senate, I hope, will act wisely, though it is to be lamented they are obliged to act now without the assistance of your-self, Olyphant and others, whose aid would give a lustre to their proceedings." On the breaking out of the revolution he at once offered his services to the gov- ernment, and on the 4th of July, 1776, received his commission as director-general of the southern hospitals, the duties of which he discharged with the highest honor, integrity and abil- ity, until the surrender of Charleston, when he became a prisoner of war and, perhaps because of his Scotch birth and early history, was subjected to treatment that called forth a protest from General ^Moultrie to the English commanding officer. In addition l<> ()tll^-^ offices, he was repeatedly elected 106 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. to the senate of South Carolina as representative of St. George, Dorchester. His health failing, in the year 1785 he removed to Newport, R. I., the climate of which, more like that of his native land, proved a complete restorative, and decided him to remain there permanently. In the year 1786 he married Miss Ann Vernon, granddanghter of Governor Ward, of Rhode Is- land, one of the belles and brightest wits of her time. She was Doctor Olyphant's third wife. He had a son by a previous marriage, who was accidentally killed. He lived in Newport, continuing there the practice of medicine until his death, in 1804, at the age of 84 years. One who knew his history well thus wrote on hearing of his death: " Still will he continue to live in the remembrance of those who knew him, and the annals of our country will teach succeeding generations to stamp a high value upon his character. In private life he was an easy, polite and well-bred gentleman; an agreeable and instructive compa- nion, he was always sure to command the esteem and regard of society according to the proportion of their acquaintance with him, and those who knew hira best valued him most." He left one son and one daughter. In the naming of his son he showed the same loj'alty of nature that led to his banishment from Scotland. On the rolls of the Societ}^ of Cincinnati, of which Doctor Olyphant was one of tlis original members, it stands printed in full, David Washington Cincinnatus Oly- phant, the first a family name, then that of the friend whom he considered the noblest of earth's lieroes, and then that name which enrolled under its banner those friends who were the dearest, and nearer to him because of the trials and struggles through which they had pas.sed together. While anxiety may be felt for a child weighted with such a name, we can sympa thize with the feelings that prompted it, and rejoice thar in this case it was carried without stain or l^lemish through long years of an honored life as an eminent merchant of New York, and the founder of American missions to China. The name, as indicated above, was but a sign of love and loyalty, the dis- tinctive traits of the old Scotch family, and which led its histo- rian to write: "but even the sternest foe of the Olyphant T)olitics (in Scotland) will not grudge, I hope, some meed of praise to that unflinching steadfastness whicb was ever ready to give life and lands, home and health, in behalf of a race of doomed kings." The subject of this sketch was true and Cp ^ ao-iJ CyZyA ^a^-^^' IIISTOKY OF NF.WPOUT COUNTY. 107 steadfast to what he believed to be the best for his native land, and then for the land of his adoption. There may be a doubt, perhaps, which was the deepest feeling of his heart, love of freedom, or hatred of the " GeorOM»\., V *\**\'\V0\ ' lirSTOKY 0I<' NEWPORT COUNTY. 11] the signers in the person of Samuel Huntington. Both families took a conspicuous part in the military and political history of New England, and live of Mrs. Rankin's ancestors were gov- ernors of Connecticut. Doctor Francis Huntington Rankin is one of a large family of sons and daughters. In eaily manhood .he manifested a decided preference for the profession which he luis since adopted. He pursued his classical studies at the Col- lege of the City of New York, and took his diploma as doctor of medicine at the medical department of the New York Uni- versity in the spring of 1869. Shortly afterward he went abroad, and spent a year in the hospitals of Vienna. Soon after the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 he went to Berlin, and received an appointment as acting assistant sur- geon in the Prussian army, being stationed in the large military hospital in the suburbs of Berlin. After serving thus for a short time he became acting full surgeon. On his return to America he received the "steel medal of thanks" from the Prussian government. He began the practice of medicine in New York city in the summer of 1871, and during the first year held the position of assistant inspector on the New York board of health. He was subsequently connected with the New York Hospital for diseases of the nervous system, the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, the Demilt, Children's Northeast Dispen- saries, and several other institutions. He was also tutor and assistant to the chair of materia medlca in the medical depart- ment of the University of New York. In the summer of 1876 Doctor Rankin removed to Newport and entered into partner- ship with Doctor Austin L. Sand.s, who died the following year, since which time he has continued alone in jiractice. He is a fellow of the Rhode Island State Medical Society, and was, In 1882, instrumental in forming the Newport Medical Society, of which he is pi'esident. He has manifested great interest in the sanitary condition of the city of his residence, is a member of the Newport Sanitary Association, and was, from its first in- ception, one of the council. He is also one of the attending physicians of the Newport Hospital. The doctor is connected witli the Business Men's Association, is a niendier of the New- port Historical Society, and of the Natural History Society. He was, in 1879, a member of the advisory board of health of Newport. He has frequently contributed to the medical litera- ture of the day through the pages of the leading journals and 112 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ])eriodicals. On the lltli of November, 1879, he married Grace, daughter of Jacob Voorhis, Jr., of New York, a descendant of one of the early Knickerbocker settlers. The doctor is, in his religions associations, a Congregationalist, and a member of the church of that denomination in Newport. Doctor William Richardson was born in Boston, Mass., March 13th, 1788, and died in Johnston, R. I., September 30th, 1864. He was twice married, first to Mary, daughter of Job and Sarah (Lawton) Almy, of Newport, May 4th, 1815. His second wife was Jane, daughter of Isaac Lawton, of Portsmouth. They were married September 5th, 1827. His first wife had seven chil- dren, and the second five. Doctor Richardson, for many years, during his residence in Portsmouth, combined the two avoca- tions of farmer and physician, which was then more common than now. In the latter part of his residence in Portsmouth he occupied what was then called the Gelston place, formerly Samuel Thurston's farm, but after Doctor Richardson, it was owned and occupied by David Almy. It stood a short distance north from Glen road, and is still distinguished l)y an ancient and enormous black walnut tree, larger than any other tree now existing on the island. Doctor Richardson removed, in his ad- vanced years, to Johnston, R. I., and died there. He was some- what eccentric and angular in appearance and manner, but was a very worthy, honorable and estimable man. He was fitted for college at Groton Academy, under the instruction of William M. Richardson and Caleb Butler. He graduated at Bowdoin College, as A.B., in 1809, studied medicine from 1809 to 1813 in the office of Doctor James P. Chaplin, and graduated in medicine at Harvard College in 1813. He first practised at Slatersville for four years, then removed to Portsmouth, R. I., where he remained 21 years, to 1838, wiien he i-emoved to John- ston, at which place he died, having jjractised there for 26 years. He was an efficient and valuable member of the school committee, both in Portsmouth and Johnston, for many years. He was a member of the R. I. Medical Society. Doctor Benjamin Richmond, son of Perez and Deborah (Lor- ing) Richmond, was born in Little Comption, R. I., August 7th, 1747. He was married October 14th, 1770, to Sarah, eldest daughter of Col. Thomas Church, grandson of Col. Benjamin Church, of Indian fighting fame. Doctor Richmond was a practitioner of medicine, widely known and highly appreciated HISTORY OF NEWroKT COUNTY. 113 in Little Compton nnd Westport for almost half a retitiiry. He left several children, of whom Doctor J. W. Riclimond, of Providence, was most known. He died September ISth, 181G. Doctor John Wilkes Richmond, son of Doctoi' Benjamin and Sarah (Chnrch) Richmond, was born in Little Compton, R. I. Having prosecuted the stndj'- of medicine under the auspices of his father, he established himself in Portsmouth, R. I., where he practised for a number of years. While there he built a house of considerable pretensions, on the spot on the west road, next south of the Redwood farm, on the site now occu pied by the residence of Peleg Coggeshall, Esq. He married, November 8th, 1804, Miss Mary Nichols Sheffield, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Nichols) Sheffield? He married, second, April 10th, 1815, Henrietta Bours, widow (jf John, daugliter of Wil- liam Shaw, of Newjiort. Up to the time of his second marriage Doctor Riciiardson was a resident of Portsmouth, but afterwai'd he removed to Providence, and for many years was a prominent figure in that city. His second wife, Henrietta, died in Piovi- dence July 17th, 1849, aged 67 years. He was conspicuous in urging the paj^ment of the Rhode Island revolutionary state debt, not yet paid. He died in Providence at a very advanced age. Doctor William Cabell Rives, Jr., son of William C. and Grace W. Rives, was born in Paris, France, .lanuary lOtli, 1850. He received the degree of A.B. from Oxford University, England, in 1874, and of A.M. in 1878. He studied medicine at Harvard Medical School, and the University of the City of New York, graduated in medicine at the latter institution in 1877, and was abroad in 1880 and 1881, pursuing medical studies at Vienna. Doctor Rives was a member of tlie international congress, at London, in 1881. He settled at Newport, and was appointed a visiting physician to the Newport Hospital in 1882, and was a member and secretary to the Newport city board of health from 1885 to 1887 inclusive. Doctor Rives was also a member of the Newport Medical Society. Witliin a few months he has re- moved his field of practice to the city of New York, leaving behind him the reputation of a faithful and accomplished i)hy- sician. Doctor James Robinson is said to have come to Newport from Little Compton. He was born in 1703, married October ICtb, 1740, Mary Challoner, of Newport, and died November 29th, 8 114 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 1745, aged 42 years. He was a phj'siciaii of high repute, although his career was short. He had three children : John Tyrrell, born September 23d, 1743, died young ; Sarah Ann, born August 1st, 174.'5, married Caleb Gardner, June 3d, 1770, had one daughter, afterward the wife of Audley Clarke; and Marjr, died April 10th, 1764, aged 22 years, unmarried. Doctor Robinson's widow mariTed John Channing, and had two sons, William and Walter. William Channing married a daughter of William Ellery, signer of the declaration of inde- s pendence, and was the father of Rev. William Ellery Channing, the famous divine, and of Doctor Walter Channing of Barvard University. Walter, the son of John and Mary, was one of the celebrated mei'cantile firm of Gibbs & Channing of Newport. Doctor Thomas Rodman came to Newport with his younger brother. Doctor John Rodman in 1680. They were the sons of Doctor John Rodman of Christ Church parish, Barbadoes, where they had been long resident. Doctor Thomas Rodman had had a wife, Sarah, previously, but so far as known, no children. In 1682, June 7th, he married Patience Malins, widow of Robert, and daughter of Peter and Ann (Coggeshallj Easton, and had a son Thomas and a daughter Ann. He-married, third, Hannah, daughter of Governor Walter Clarke and had six children, of whom the second was the future Doctor Clarke Rodman. Doctor Thomas Rodman died January I7th, 1727, aged 87 years and 16 days. He was born in 1640 and was, therefore, forty years old when he came to Newport. He soon became an im})ortant factor in the Quaker Society, to which his family belonged, as well as in public affairs, besides occupying a leading place in his profession, and for the Jifty years, nearly, of his residence in Newport, he held high rank among her most respected citizens. His residence was the house on the west side of Thames street, second below the city hall, now the resi- dence of Rowland Sherman, Esq., and late of his father. Job Sherman. Doctor Rodman's progeny are very numerous, and hold many prominent positions throughout the countrj'. Doctor Thomas Rodman, Jr., son of Doctor Thomas and Pa- tience (Easton) Rodman, was born in Newport, November 11th, 1683, married September 20th, 1706, Katherine Fry, daughter of Thomas and Mary (GrifRn) Fry, and died in South Kings- town, R. I., in 1775. He had nine children, from whom are de- scended many persons of great prominence, and the name is IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 115 among the leading ones in South Kingstown at this date. Doc- tor Rodman received liis medical fniining from his father in Newport, and was equally inUuential and successful in the sphere of activity he had selected. Doctor Clarke Rodman, second son of Doctor Tliomas liod- man by his third wife, Hannah, daughter of Governor Walter and Hannah (Scott) Clarke, was born in Newi)ort March loth, 1699, and died August :^()th, 1752. He nuirried, January 3d, 1717, Ann, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Mowry) Coggeshall of Portsmouth, R. I. They had ten children, of whom Walter and Thomas were also physicians. Doctor Clarke Rodman followed in the footsteps of his father, ministering to the Newport peo- ple, promoting the interests of tlie community in vvliich he lived, and of the religious society to which his family were at- tached, in a manner which inspired the esteem and respect of his cotemporaries. He built and occupied the house corner Thames street and Touro, afterward removed to Bridge street, and still standing, the site being occupied by Young's brick block, in which house afterward lived successively. Doctors Hunter, Senter, Case, and Watson, down to 1837, al)out 100 years. The piece was given to him in the division of the estate of his grand- father. Governor Walter Clarke, whose own residence was the house next south of it, formerly Isaac Gould's. This house is still standing, having been removed to Elm street. He was an original member of Redwood Library Company. Doctor Walter Rodman, eldest son of Doctor Clarke and Ann (Coggeshall) Rodman, was born in Newport August 13th, 1719, and died at Jamestown July 20th, 1753, aged 84 years. His wife was Rebecca Redwood, sister of Abraham, fouiuler of the li- brary, and daughter of Abraham and Patience (Howland) Red- wood. They had no children. It is not known whether he practiced in Newport or on Conanicut, but it is probable that he lived on the farm on the west side of that island, still known as the Rodnuin farm, and it is certain that he died on that island. His widow married Joseph Clarke, for many years (1761 to 1792) treasurer of the colony and the state. Doctor Thomas Rodman, Second, third son of Doctor Clarke and Mary (Coggeshall) Rodman, was born in Newport June 5th, 172G. He married, July 6th, 1750, Catharine, daughter of Deputy Governor John and Frances (Sanford) Gardner. He was admitted freeman of the colony in April, 1745, and signed 116 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the petition to the king in 1750. In 1758 he was commissioner relative to fiags of truce. In February, 1759, "Mr. Thomas Rodman (son of Clarke Eodman, late of Newport, Physician, deceased) was elected Surgeon to the Regiment ordered by this government for the ensuing campaign." In February, 1760, he was reelected. A letter addressed to his wife from Sorel, now in existence, proves that he was engaged under Lord Amherst in that glorious campaign which resulted in the triumph of the British arms in North America. All this proves also that the religious sentiments of .his ancestors had lost so much of their hold on the young surgeon as to have failed to restrain his patriotic ardor. In 1760, he was 34 years old, and had prob- ably practised in Newport for a dozen or more years, but no record is afforded of that interval, nor of his future. The time of his death is not known. He left a son, Walter, some of whose descendants are still living in Newport. This gives ixs an unbroken succession of Doctors Rodman in Newport from 1680 to 1760. Doctor John Rodman, brother of Doctor Thomas of Newport, and son of Doctor John of Christ Church parish, Barbadoes, came to Newport in 1680 with his brother and practised here for several years, and had several children born here. He was afterward at Block Island for some years, and went finally to Long Island, and has a large number of descendants in New York and New Jersey and elsewhere. He had a wife Mary, who, perhaps, came with him from Barbadoes. He died at Flushing, Long Island, July 10th, 1731, aged 78 years. Doctor Austin Ledyard Sands was born in Philadelphia, December 14th, 1825. His father was Austin Ledyard Sands, of New York, and his mother a daughter of Mr. Andrew Hodge, of Philadelphia. Doctor Sands received his preparatory education in the classical department of the New York Univer- sity and entered the regular college coui'se at the age of twelve years and was graduated at the age of sixteen. He at once be- gan the study of medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, of which his uncle. Doctor Alexander H. Stevens, was president. His medical studies were pursued under the direction of Doctor Stevens and regular examinations also attended under Doctor John Watson, who had been a stu- dent and partner of Doctor Stevens. Before taking his degree of doctor of medicine he received an appointment on the surgi- /^6^>,^^^^^i^ ^ cy''^^<:^^=^^<^<^ \.\\%\^' HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. manner, with all the accomplishments which a tine mind and very superior advantages could give, with a social position and popular sentiment which seemed to insure a tide of si;ccess, and during his professional life ever^^thing warranted the brightest hopes of his friends and the public, but in less than five years his tragical end blasted all these expectations and left a gloom on the community, the shadow of which is hardly yet annihilated. He was a fellow student of Doctor John C. Warren, of Boston, at Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London. Edward Senter, the third son of Doctor Isaac, was also in- tended for the profession. He was a student in the office of Doctor William Turner, at the same time with the late Doctor James V. Turner, about 1810, but he died soon after without having practised. Doctor Jotham Sexton came to Adamsville, in Little Comp- ton, K. L, from Connecticut, about 1830, and practised for ten years, his practice being limited, in great measure, to Tiverton, R. I., and Westport, Mass. In 1840 he removed to Fall River, where he practised for ten more years, dying there in 1850. Doctor Benjamin Stanton, son of John and Mary Stanton, was born in Newport, March 13th, 1684, and died Sep- tember 18th, 1760. He married Martha, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Stanton) Tibbitts, his first cousin. He had a large con- nection among Friends, and an extensive practice, dividing with Doctor Clarke Rodman that influence which afterward de scended almost unbroken to Doctor Jonathan Easton and to Doctor Enoch Hazard consecutively. He had one son and three daughters. He lived at the head of Broad street, opposite Equality park. Doctor Nathaniel Greene Stanton, son of George A. and Catharine (Sands) Stanton, was born at New Shoreham, July 8th, 1836. He derived his name from the great Major- General Greene, of the revolution, who was, by marriage, the great uncle of his mother. He attended school at East Greenwich, at Sufiield, Conn., and lastly at Alfred Center, Allegany county, New York. After leaving school he passed five years in Provi- dence, in the drug store of Wadsworth & Burrington, when, the war breaking out, he enlisted as hospital steward in the First R. I. Cavalry. After a year's service he became medical cadet and was afterward transferred to the Third R. I. Cavalry, with commission as assistant surgeon, ranking as lieutenant. He HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 121 had charge of the military hospital at Baton Rouge from Feb- ruary to September, 1803. He afterward rejoined the First R. I. Cavalry, at Poolsville, Maryland, and was mustered out of service as supernumerary. He then studied medicine, and grad- uated in medicine at Harvard, in 18G6. He then went to Europe and passed a year in clinical studies at the hospitals of London and Paris, at the Maternity, and at Guy's and St. Bartholo- mew's. On his return he associated himself with Doctor Thomas G. Potter, in old school practice in Providence, and after two years came to Newport and established himself as a homoeo- pathic practitioner, which he has continued to this time. In Newport he was first a partner of Doctor N. Greene, and after- ward of Doctor Abiram F. Squire. Doctor Stanton is a popular man and has a good practice. Doctor Horatio Robinson Storer, son of D. Humphreys Storer, M. D., of Boston, formerly professor of obstetrics and medical jurisprudence in Harvard Univei'sity, and president of the Ameri- can Medical Association, was born in Boston, February 27th, 1830. He attended the Boston Latin School from 1841 to 1840. On leaving school he entered Harvard University, where he took the degree of A. B. in 1850. He was very early interested in the natural sciences. He was president of the Harvard Natural History Society, and in 1850 published observations made dur- ing a trip to Nova Scotia and Labrador, on the fishes of those coasts. He also spent a summer in Russia before his gradua- tion. He studied medicine in the Tremont Medical School of Boston, and i-eceived his medical degree from Harvard College, in 1853. He also attended lectures at Harvard Law School. He spent two years after graduation studying in London, Paris and Edinburgh, and was assistant for one year, in private prac- tice, to Sir James G. Simpson. In 1855 he commenced a very successful practice in Boston, and was very active and promi- nent in all matters pertaining to the profession, and contributed largely to its current literature, especially in relation to his chosen department, Gyn;ecology. In 18C5 he became professor of obstetrics and medical jurisprudence in the Berkshire Medi- cal College, whicli position he retained until 1809. He was prominent among the earlier ovarotomists, and eventually in- curred septicaemia, by which he was disabletl and relinquished practice, and retired to Europe in 1872, and remained in South- ern Europe until 1877. On his return lie took up his residence 122 HISTORY OF XEWPORT COUNTY. at Newport, where lie has since resided, not in active practice, except for a short time, in connection witli Doctor W. F. Parker, when, finding his health again yielding to the strain, he finally retired. Doctor Storer is a man of great acqnirements and won- derful facile exjiression, both by tongue and pen ; the latter ol' wliich is sufficiently attested by the large number and great variety of the treatises he has given to the public in the thirty years of his professional life. He is one of the vice-presidents of the section of Gyneecology of the International Medical Congress. Doctor Abiram Francis Squire is now practising as a homceop- athist, at Newport. He came here in 1878, and became a part- ner with Doctor Nathaniel G. Stanton. He was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 25th, 1846, and was the son of Abiram H. and Hannah (Huff) Squire. He married, in 1875, Mary Henry Alexander. Doctor Squire acquired his academic education at the Buffalo Central High School, and received the degree of M. D. at Harvard Medical College. Doctor Peter Tallman, son of Peter and Ann Tallman, was born March 22d, 1658, probably in Newport, as his father was a freeman of Newport in 1655, and in December, 1658, made a considerable purchase of land in Portsmouth, and in 1661 was deputy from Portsmouth and solicitor general of the colony. There is no evidence that Peter, the father, was a physician, as is probable, two of his sons having been members of the pro- fession. He is reputed to have been a French refugee. He died in 1708. Doctor Peter Tallman married, November 7th, 1683, Ann Walstone, widow of John, wlio died in 1708. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Jane Wright. He was at one time a resident of Guilford, Conn., but returned to Portsmouth and died there, July 6th, 1726. He had three children : Elizabeth, Peter and Ebenezer. Doctor James Tallman, also a son of the first Peter, of New- port and Portsmouth, was born in Portsmouth, and was a prac- titioner of medicine in that town, of high repute, traditions of which have scarcely j^et died out. He died there in 1724. He married, March 18th, 1689, Mary, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Bray ton) Devol. He married for his second wife, Hannah, daughter of John and Mary (Wyer) Swain, of Nantucket, September 14th, 1701. He had by his first wife, Mary, two sons IIISTOKY OF XKWPORT COUNTY. 123" and one daughter, and l)y Iiis second wife, Hannah, six sons and three daughters. Doctor William Thurston was at Newport in 1787. Doctor John R. Thurston was born April 24th, 1774, at New- port, and received his education there. He was a direct de- scendant of Edward Thurston, one of the very early settlers on Rhode Island. Doctor Thurston probably completed his medi- cal education in Scotland, since he married, in 1799, Mary Ann Bruce, of Aberdeen, Scotland. He was captured in a Newport vessel and taken to St. Christopher's, W. I., where he settled, and died there, May 7th, 1819. Doctor William Torrey Thurston, son of the above, was born at St. Christopher's, July 14th, 18()5, graduated A. B., at Co- lumbia College, New York, in 1819, and M. D. at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1829. He has prac- tised at Westerly and AVoonsocket, R. I., and was distin- guished in the United States service during the war. In 1881 he was admitting surgeon and superintendent to Rhode Islaivd Hospital. Doctor Alfred Henry Thurston, son of Charles M. and Rachel (Pitman) Thurston, was born in Newjiort, October 2d, 1832, and passed his early years there. He graduated A. B. at Columbia College, New York, in 1851, and M. D. at Uni- versity Medical School, New York, in 18;")4. He died in New Y^'ork, August 2d, 18Go. He entered the United States service in 1861, and served with distinction until the close of the war. He was twice married. Doctor William Tillinghast, son of Pardon and Avis (Nor- ton) Tillinghast, was born at Newport, in 1753, and died at Newport, January 26th, 1786. Doctor Tillinghast married a daughter of John Holmes, a direct descendant of Obadiah Holmes, who succeeded Doctor John Clarke as minister of the Second Baptist church, JS''evvport. Mrs. Tillinghast being the onlj' child of John Holmes, inherited a large lauded estate in Middletown, derived from Reverend Obadiah, which descended to her daughters, and has only lately been alienated from the family. They had three daughters; Catharine, married Captain John Dennis ; Avis, married John Baker, and had a son, Wil- liam ; Mary F. IL, married Henry Bull. By this last marriage Doctor Tillinghast was the great-grandfather of the present Doctor William Tillinghast Bull, of New York, who is his 124 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. namesake. Mrs. Bull, at her father s death, was three years old. Doctor Tillinghast, having received preliminary instruc- tion from Doctor Sylvester Gardiner, in Newport, went to Philadelphia and attended lectures, and took a degree at the old school and returned to Newport, where he commenced prac- tice about 1773, and pursued it with great acceptance until 1786, when he died. His residence was in the house built by his uncle, John Tillinghast, on Mill street, opposite the "Old Stone Mill," now the property of Mr. Tuckerman, formerly of Gov- ernor William C. Gibbs. Doctor Tillinghast was a man of fine appearance and elegant address, and never appeared except in the full dress of the period, perfect in all its appointments of ruffles, buckles, etc. Doctor William Jerauld Townsend, son of Solomon and Ann (Pearce) Townsend, of Newport, was born at Newport in April, 1824. His mother was a daughter of Samuel Pearce of Prudence island, and sister of Hon. Dutee Jerauld Pearce of Newport, and granddaughter of Doctor Dutee Jerauld of Warwick, R. I., of an old French family, among the early settlers of Rhode Island. Having completed his academic education, Doctor Townsend entered, as a medical student, the office of Doctor T. C. Dunn, where he proved himself a mosf devoted and faith- ful student, and exhibited remarkable enthusiasm in everything relating to his chosen vocation. After two terms' attendance he took his medical degree at the Jelferson College, Philadel- phia, in March, 1835, and before going home made a visit to the family of Doctor Corson, at New Hope, Penn. There he in- curred a malarial affection, which developed Phthisis, which very rapidly terminated his life. He died at Newport, May 15th, 1835, aged 21 years and 1 month. He was a most amiable and entertaining companion, and gave promise of a most bril- liant future. Doctor Townsend was cousin to the late Christo- pher Townsend. by whose munificence the public library in New- port was established and endowed. Doctor William Turner, 1st, son of William and Patience (Haile) Turner, was born (probably) in Swansea, Mass. His mother was a noted midwife. He studied medicine with Doctor N. F. Vigneron, in Newjiort, where his parents lived at that time, and where they died. He settled in Newark, N. J., and had a large practice, and died there. He had three wives, the last of whom, Mehitabel (Foster), HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 125 widow of Campfield, and mother of Doctor Jabez Camp- field, was also the motiier of Doctor Peter Turner, of East Greenwich, E. I., whose son-in-law. Doctor William Turner, and whose son, Doctor James V. Turner, practised loi- many years in Newport. Doctor Henry E. Turner, tiiird son of Doctor Peter, of East Greenwich, was a pupil in the famous classical school of John Fraser, and afterward a student in the office of Doctor William Turner, at Newport. He practised for some years in East Greenwich. He married Martha Washington, daughter of Major- General Nathaniel Greene, and widow of John Nightingale, Esq. He first went to Tennessee, and afterward to Savannah, Ga., where he died in 1861, aged 74 years. Doctor Peter Turner, second son of Daniel and Sarah (Foster) Turner, of New Jersey, and brother of Doctor William Turner, studied medicine with his brother, in Newport, and was ap- pointed surgeon in the United States army. He died during the war of 1812, at Plattsburg, ver}^ young and unmarried. Doctor Oliver Cromwell Turner, third son of Doctor William Turner of Newport, was born in Middletown, R. I., August 26th, 1814, and studied medicine in the office of Doctors William and James V. Turner, and took his medical degree at Jefferson Med- ical College, in Philadelphia, in 1836. He practised in New- port. He married Sarah, daughter of John Read of Newport. He was a very conscientious and worthy young man, and a great favorite with all who knew him, and very amiable and unpre- tentious. He died November 14th, 1852, aged 38 years. Doctor Francis Lincoln Turner, son of Doctor James V. and Catharine R. (Greene) Turner, was born in Newport, December 27th, 1835. He studied medicine with iiis father and brother in Newport, and took his degree in medicine at the Albany Medical College. He married Mary Catiiarine, daughter of George C. and Elizabeth Munro, but had no children. He commenced practice at Schagticoke, N.Y., but after a year or two returned to Newport and entered into practice here. Shortly after his return to Newport, where he was becoming a favorite and his prospects of a successful career were vei-y promising, his health was seriously impaired by an unfortunate accident, and he never fully recovered it. Doctor William Turner, United States army, was the eldest of five sons of Daniel Turner, Esq., of Newark, N. J., all of 126 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. whom held commissions in the military or naval service of the United States. He was also the lineal descendant in the sixth generation of the Captain William Turner who lost his life in King Philip's war soon after gaining the battle of Great Falls, Mass., May 18th, 1676. Doctor Turner was born at Perth Am- boy, N. J., September lOth, 1775, and early in life commenced the study of medicine with Doctor Jabez Camptield, of Morris- town, N. J., his father's half-brother. His license to the prac- tice of medicine and surgery bears date Princeton, N. J., June 4th, 1794. Shortly afterward he removed to East Greenwich, R. L, where, with his uncle. Doctor Peter Turner, he practised for some four years. In 1«'.)S he was commissioned assistant- surgeon. United States navy, and August 31st, 1799, was pro- moted to surgeon, and oidered to the U. S. Frigate "General Greene" (28guns),Ciii'istopherR-iymond Perry, Esq., commiind- ing, at Newport, R. I. This ship was built at Warren, R. I., in 1799, and was under orders for the West India Squadron, commanded by Commodore Silas Talbot, then oj^eratiug against the French in the war of reprisals — a war, for some reason singularly neglected by our iiistorians, and important as the first foreign war in which we ever engaged after tiie war for in- dependence, though it was against the tri-color and not the lillies of our former allies. They sailed from Newport September 23d, 1799, and made Cape Prangois, San Domingo, October 6th. At this place they frequently met Tonssaint L' overture, Dessalines, Moize, Rigaud and others of the fearful black uprising of 1793, so picturesquely described by Harriet Martineau in " The Hour and The Man." In a letter to Doctor Peter Turner, October lOtli, 1799, he de- sci'ibes Tonssaint as "a little, old and very ugly looking negro, but has a keen eye and is very polished in his manners." After capturing a number of prizes among their " L' Industrie," "Flying Fish" and a Danish brig, they received orders to proceed to New Orleans, then Frencli territory, and receive the American Commissioner, General Wilivinson, and bis suite, and to carry them to the United States. Upon arriving at Newport, R. I., the j^ellow fever, which had made its appearance among the crew of the ship soon after her arrival upon the station, but had disappeared after passing the latitude of the capes of the Chesapeake, again appeared ; and some few cases were reported in tlie town. The town council of IIISTOUY OF NKWi'OKT COUNTY. 127 Newport fully exonerated Doctor Tiini(;r lioiiiiill l)liUMe in the matter. But the incident led to a sharp correspond. -iice with Doctor Moses Brown of Providence, wlii(;li even at tliis late day- excites interest in tin- reader of I lie (•oiirt.Muis hnt decided letters of the young surgeon. An inlcresting incident of this cruise is that Oliver II. Perry and Benjamin Turner, tiie doctor's brother, were hotli niidshipnien of the ship on their first cruise, and there cemented a friendship that was only luoken by death. The private journal of Doctor Turner of this cruise sliovvs a refined and cultivated mind, and one that appreciated to the fullest extent the possibilities and opportunities of his pro- fe.ssion. His success in the treatment of the yellow fever is shown by the few deAths, while nearly all of the crew at one time or another during the cruise had j^assed tlirough the ter- rible malady. Upon his detachment from tiie ship lie made a short visit to his parents, then at New Brunswick, N. J., and was ordered to the U S. Frigate "Adams" (28 guns), S. V. Morris, Esq., commanding, for a cruise in tlie Mcditerianean. 'I'he threaten- ing asjDect of our relations wilii ihe Barbai-y powers made it necessary to strengtlien our force in those waters. General William Eaton had been sent to Tunis with extraor- dinary powers, of which he was not slow to avail himself, his position calling forth tlie exei'cise of the diplomatic skill which subsequently gained for him the approval of congress, and of the court of Denmark. Upon his health failing he visited the ■continent, and December Blst, 18U1, appointed Doctor William Turner in his place, " with full power to act in his absence." Doctor Turner's health, which had been delicate befoi'e these cruises, was now, after some years at sea, quite robust ; and as his desire was for a more extended practice than he could ever hope for in the navy, he resigned his commission October 27th, 1802, and settled in Newport, R. I. Ui)on the breaking out of the second war with Great Britain he was appointed by Oliver H. Perry surgeon of his flotilla at Newport, June 29th, 1812, which position he held unlil Septem- ber 29lh, 1812, when he was commissioned surgeon's mate, U. S. army, and ordered to Fort Walcott, Newport Harbor. On the 24th of April, 1816, he was commissioned post surgeon, and surgeon on June 21st, 1821. Pie was the first surgeon attached to Fort Adams, and supervised its sanitary arrangements dur- 128 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ing construction. He remained on duty at Forts Walcott and Adams until his death, September 26th, 1837. His total mili- tary service amounted to 30 years. He was a strong op]ionent of the severe corporal punishments intlicted on enlisted men, and did not a little to have them abolished. He corresponded with the eminent medical men of his day, and was held in high esteem by Doctors Rush and Physic, as their letters testify. He was conspicuous in all projects for advancing the standard of the profession in Rhode Island. His certificate of membership of St. John's Lodge of F. & A. Masons, No. 1, bears date June 30tli, Anno Lucis, 5801, and is signed by "Moses Sexias, Prince of Masons, etc., etc., etc.:" Robert N. Auchmuty, S. W. ; Thomas Tilley, J. XV.; and S. Cahoone, secretary. He married, August 15th, 1800, at East Grreenwich, Hette Foster Turner, daughter of Doctor Peter Turner, and grand- daughter of Cromel Child, of Warren, R. I. Doctor James Varnum Turner was the fourth son of Doctor Peter and Eliza (Child) Turner of East Greenwich, where he was born on the 27th day of March, 1789. He acquired the rudi- ments of his education under the tuition of Master Stephen Franklin, one of the old time pedagogues, who pursued, in its fullest extent, the ancient system of appealing quite as much to the external susceptibilities of his neophytes, as to their intellectual capacity. As, however, he was a quiet and steady- going boy, he suffered less from the method that has very long prevailed, on the authority of the wisest of men, than did some of his more mercurial associates. He completed his academic studies at the Greenwich Academy, then conducted by Abner Alden, Esq., who was noted as an instructor at tiiat date, and had occupied a similar position in Bristol, R. I., and was well known as the publisher of a series of school books, quite famous and popular in their day. A college education at that time was an exceptional advantage, and immediately after leav- ing school he entered the ofBce of his fatlier and commenced his medical education, which he completed in the office of his brother-in-law. Doctor William Turner, of Newport. He, as well as his elder brother. Doctor Henry E. Turner, afterward of Tennessee and Georgia, was an original fellow of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He first went to Warren, R. I., which was his mother's birtliplace, and where he had numerous rela- HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 129 tives, with a view to settlement, and after remaining there for a time, became dissatisfied with tlie prospect and returned to East Greenwich, which was tiien a place of very considerable com- mercial activity ; falling in with the current, he fitted out a schooner, called the "Leander," with such commodities as were adapted to the supply of the Britisii army, tiien occupying Lisbon, entrenched behind the lines of "Torres Vedras." This was not a very successful venture, the vessel ari'ived in a leaky and damaged condition, was condemned and sold, and he cnme home in one of Brown & Ives' vessels, commanded by Captain Job Cook, to Providence. He then spent several years, associated with his brothers, Henry E. and George, in trading in western lands in Ohio and Tennessee, quite successfully, but came home and went into the West India trade with William Brown of East Greenwich. During this time, August 27th, 1815, he married Catharine Ray Greene, daughter of Hon. Ray and Mary (Flagg) Greene, and afterward had seven sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to man's estate, and of whom eight are still living. In 1821 he took the farm whei-e his wife and four of his children were born, remaining there until 1828, when he removed to Portsmouth, R. I., and resumed the practice of his profession. Here he was popular and successful. At this time he was 39 years of age. Taking uj) his burden where he had laid it down, nearly twenty years before, he prosecuted his calling with all the energy of youth, and api)arently with all the zest of novelty. At the end of five years, in May, 1833, lie removed to Newport and became the partner of his brother-in-law and former instructor. Doctor William Turner. This association was a most harmonious one, and existed until the death of Doctor William Turner, Septem- ber 20th, 1837. Doctor J. V. Turner then associated with him- self, Doctor O. C. Turner, son of Doctor William, and his own son, Doctor H. E. Turner. At the end of a year, in 1838, Doc- tor O. C. Turner retired from the firm and from that time until October 28th, 1863, twenty-five years, when Doctor J. V. died, he and his son remained partners. Doctor James V. Turner was the embodiment of all the sub- stantial qualities that inspiie respect, confidence and affection, and he enjoyed, as he well deserved, all these in their fullest extent. Remarkably modest and unpretentious, and yet self- reliant, tiutliful and conscientious, a strong man but always 9 130 HISTOKY OF NEWPOHT COUNXy. avoiding ostentation, almost too retiring, he yet was firm in as- serting liimself whenever he judged proper. He was a home man in the fullest sense and did no visiting for many years out- side his family. The superlative attraction of his own fireside is well illustrated by the fac-t that, wanderer as he had been in his youth, during the last 25 years of his life he never was off the island of Rhode Island, except an occasional professional visit to Conanicut. Nevertheless, he was social and genial in his intercourse with the community, and held a high place in the public esteem and regard. His reputation as an obstetri- cian was very high in the communilj' he served, beyond which he had no ambition to extend it. Of Doctor Turner's seven sons one died in 1859. At the break- ing out of the war si.\ sous were living, one of these disabled by accidental paralysis. Of the other live, four entered the volun- teer service, two by enlistment as privates, two bj' appointment as officers. When discharged three were captains. The fourth died in the service at Newbern, North Carolina, a lieutenant. The fifth and eldest son. Doctor Henry E. Turner, then 45 years old, with a small family, was attached to the service but not in the field. He was A. A. surgeon. United States Army, at- tached to Fort Adams, then headquarters of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry. Doctor J. V. Turner died at Newport October 28th, 1863. Henry E. Turner, M. D., son of James Varnum and Cathar- ine (Ray) Turner, was born at the Governor Greene homestead, in Warwick, Rhode Island, June 15th, 1816. He is a direct de- scendant of Captain William Turner, of Boston, who, in 1676, raised a company and marched to Northampton under Major Savage, and was present at the repulse of the Indians from that place in March, 1676. In May of the same year, Captain Tur- ner organized a force of one hundred men and surprised and severely punished the Indians at the Connecticut Great Falls, now known as Turner's Falls, but was killed on the retreat. Doctor Turner's grandfather was Doctor Peter Turner, of East Greenwich, R. I., at which place he practised his profession for nearly forty years and died in 1821. During the revolution he was surgeon in Colonel Christopher Greene's Rhode Island regi- ment in the continental line, and was present at Red Bank and other hard- fought battles. Doctor H. E. Turner is also a de scendant of Simon Ray of Block Island and William Almy of S^7^/ (h^ cJu-^^-f^ VV» i. «\l%t^VQ-\ K. ^. HISTOKY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 131 Portsmouth, R. I. His grandfather on his mother's side was tlie Hon. Ray Greene of Warwick, son of the second Governor William Gieene, and grandson of tiie Hrst Governor William Greene, who was a grandson of Deputy-Governor Greene of the colony of Rhode Island from 1690 to 1700. Hon. Ray Greene was attorney -general of Rhode Island from May, 1794, to 1797. He represented Rhode Islaml in ihe United States senate from 1797 to 1801. In May, 1801, he was appointed United States District Judge, which position he did not, however, iill. His son, the Hon. William Greene, was lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island from 1800 to 1868. Doctor Turner is also a de- scendant of Roger Williams and of John Sayles of Providence, John Greene. Randal Holden, Samuel Gorton, Richard Carder and Rnfus Barton of Warwick, and of Jeremy Clarke of New- port, all original settlers of Rhode Island. In early life Doctor Turner attended the academy of East ■Greenwich, now the Methodist Seminary. When abont twelve years of age, in April, 1828, he removed with his parents to Portsmouth, R. I. Five years later, his parents removed to Newport, at which time (1833) he commenced the study of medicine in the office of his uncle and father, Doctors William and James Y. Turner, who were then associated in practice. He later went to Philadelphia, where he graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in March, 1836. After his graduation he went to Indiana, where he spent about a year. On the decease of his uncle, Doctor William Turner, he entered upon the practice of his profes- sion with his father, which partnership continued until the death of the latter, in October, 1863, since which time he has prosecuted his profession in the same place. For four years Doctor Turner was vice-president and for two years pres- ident of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He is secretary of the Rhode Island Society of Cincinnati, which position he has held for ten years. From November, 1862, to June, 1805, he served in the U. S. army as acting assistant surgeon, being at- tached to headquarters of the Fifteenth U. S. infantry at Fort Adams. For nineteen years he was a member of the school committee of Newport. He has been a director of the Redwood library for nearly forty years, and for two years (1884 to 1886) its president. He represented Newport in the state legislature irom May, 1848, to May, 18.'5U. He has been for several years 132 HISTORY OK NEWPOirr COUNTY. vice-president of tlie jN'ewport Histotical Society, is a member of the board of liealtli of ]S'e\vi)orr and chairman of the state board of health. In 1881 Doctor Turner was appointed by Gov- ernor Littletield of Rliode Island on the committee to assist the governor in entertaining the delegation from France to the Yorktown celebration. The delegation were the guests of the state in October, 1881. Ln 1853 he was elected city physician of Newport, which office he still holds. Doctor Turner is much interested in the history of his native state, and amid his pro- fessional and other duties he has found time to gratify his lit- erary tastes. He has delivered before the Rhode Island His- torical Society and the Newport Historical Society many lec- tures, among which those on "the Greenes of Warwick," " Jeremy Clarke's family " and "William Coddington," have been published. In matters of genealogy and history he is considered an "authority," and much of his spare time is oc- cupied in assisting numerous historical students both at home and abroad who are constantly asking his aid. He was married July 18th, 1844, to Ann Eliza, daughter of Joseph G. and Sarah D. Stevens. They have had six children, of whom two sons and a daughter are living. Doctor Peter Thatcher Wales, son of Rev. Atherton and Mary (Niles) Wales, was born at Marshfield, Mass., August 3d, 1745. He married Lydia, daughter of Rouse Potter of Portsmouth, R.I., and died in May, 1809, aged 64 years, in Portsmouth, where his active life had been passed in the successful practice of medicine. His residence was on the Glen road, a short distance from the East Main road, near the Union meeting house, in Portsmouth. His wife, Lydia (Potter) Wales, died in April, 1803, aged .54 years. They had several children, and some of their descendants are still living in Rhode Island. Doctor Edmund Thomas Waring, son uf Thomas Wai'ing, a planter of South Carolina, was born at Charleston, S. C, De- cember 25th, 1779 His early education was received at George- town, S. C, under (he instruction of the Rev. William Stough- ton, a Baptist minister, then living there, but afterward of Philadelphia. He then came to Rhode Island, and was a private pupil of Doctor Jonathan Maxcy, president of Rhode Island College. He entered college but did not graduate ; without completing his college course, he entered the office of Doctor Isaac Senter as a student of medicine. On the comple- IIIST()I:Y of N'KUI'OUT COUNTY. 133 tit)n of his studies he settled in Newport, wliere lie was one of the most proniineiit physicians nntil witiiin a few months of his death, when he joined iiis children in South Carolina, where he died, January 1st, 1835. He was cotemporary with Doctors David King and William Turner, wlio commenced business in Newport about 1800, and all died within three years, 1834-7. Doctor Waring was a well equipped physician and surgeon, and was very much beloved and respected. He was a high-toned gentleman, and of a peculiarly amiable temper and gentle ad- dress. Mr. Channing says, "He never lost a friend or made an enemy." His wife was Freelove Sophia, daughter of Hon. Francis Malbone, member of congress from Kliode Island, who died on the steps of the capitol, at Washington. Docloi' War- ing was an original member of the Rhode Island Medical So- ciety, and was second vi(re-])resident from 1831 to 1834, when disability precluded his promotion. Doctor Benjamin Waterhouse, son of Timothy and Hannah (Proud) Waterhouse, and grandson of Timothy and Kuth Waterhouse, of Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Newport, March 4th, 1754, and died at his residence at Cambridge, Mass., October 2d, 1846. Having prosecuted his medical studies under Doctor Haliburton, at Newport, he visited Europe, and was a student in the office of his relative, the celebrated Doctor Foth- ergill, of London. He went to Edinburgh and Leyden, and was a graduate at the latter place. In 1783, having been for several years a practitioner in Newport, he was offered the professorsliip of theory and practice at Cambridge, and from that time was identified with Caml)ridge and Boston. He retained this pro- fessorship for nearly thirty years, during part of that time de- livering lectures on natural history in tlie (•ollege. His style and delivery were much admired. Tie was also professor of botanj' in Brown University. In 1812, having long previou.sly been surgeon of the marine hospital inCharlestown, he was ap- pointed director-general of all the hospital jiorts in New Eng- land. This appointment he held for many yeai-s, to 1820. He was a voluminous writer on medical, .scientific and political sub- jects, and published quite a number of books, besides contribut- ing largely to magazines and newspapers. His father's house was on south side, Liberty square, Newport. Doctor John A. Wadsworth practised medicine in Ports- month, R. I., for a few year.s, l)elween 1820 and 1828, and mar- 134 HisTOHY OF np:\vport county. ried, October 2(JI, 1822, Elizabeth, dang'bter of Benjamin and Sarah (Chase) Mott. Al'ter leaving Portsmouth he establislied a druggist's business in North Main street, Providence, where he was well known for many years after. Doctor Daniel Watson, son of Robert Watson of Jamestown, was born in that town, April 13th, 1801. His education he ob- tained chiefly at P'lainfield Academy, Connecticut, and after- ward entered the office of Doctor Charles Eldredge of East Greenwich, as a student of medicine. Subsequently he con- tinued his studies in Newport, in the office of Doctor William Turner of the United States army. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated there in the spring of 1834. During his residence in Philadelphia he was a private jnipil of Doctor Chapman, then professor of theory and jjractice in the university. After his graduation he went to East Green- wich, and soon after, March 1st, 1824, married Sarah G. C, daughter of Captain Perry G. and Pi'iscilla (Cook) Arnold of East Greenwich, who survived him for several years. They had eleven children, of whom five sons and two daughters are still living. After remaining at East Greenwich for a year or two Doctor Watson removed to Little Rest, now known as Kingston hill, in South Kingstown. Here he remained until he removed to Newport, about 1834, practising his profession and giving a good deal of attention to politics, for which he always retained a strong penchant. At his coming to Newport he occupied the house so remarkable in its Iraditional association with the med- ical profession, at the corner of Thames street and the ijarade, and which had lately been vacated l)y the decease of Doctor Benjamin AV. Case. In 1836 he purchased and removed to tlie house formerly the Mawdsley house, at the corner of Spring and John streets, where he died and where his family still reside. His death occurred May 17th, 1871, in the 71st year of his age. He still retained his political tendencies after he came to New- port, and was several times a representative in the general as- sembly. In his professional relations he was a most exemplary and judicious man, and very tenacious of old-fashioned ideas of professional etiquette. He was a great favorite with his em- ployers, and very diligent in his attentions to his patients, and never more sought after than immediately before his fatal at- tack which preceded his death by about three months. During his active life in Newport he had the whole practice on the is- IIISTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 135 land of Cunanicut, with very rare exceptions, as liad Doctor William Turner for thirty years previously. Doctor William Arf^^yle Watson, son of Doctor Daniel and Sarah (Arnold) Watson, of Newport, was born at Kingston, R. I. At a very early age he came, with liis father's family, to Newport, where he acquired his early ediicalion, and having studied with his father, he graduated in medicine at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. For a number of years he was a resi- dent and practitioner at Newport. At the commencement of the war, he entered the service of the United States as a naval surgeon, and performed much and very valuable and creditable service, chiefly in the Gulf of Mexico. His health suffered very material impairment in the service from the consequences of wliich he is still suffering. After the war, he made his resi- dence in the city of New York, where he is well and favorably known, and enjoys a large practice. Doctor Watson is a bach- elor. He passes a few months in ever^^ year at his father's homestead in Newport. Doctor Richard M. Webber, who iiad been for several years a promising young practitioner at Tiverton, R. I., died at the Stone Bridge, in that town, in the early part of 1828, of Phthisis. Doctor John E. Weeden, son of Wager and Sarah (Hull) Weeden, (}f South Kingstown, R. I., studied medicine with Doctor William Turner of Newport about 1830-3, graduated at the Univei'sity of Pennsylvania, and settled in Bristol, R. I. In 1836 he removed to AVesterly, R. I., where he practised lif- teen years, when he retired from professional work, ami applied himself to manufacturing ])iirsuits. He is still a resident of that town. Doctor Weeden married Eliza, only daughter of Judge Amos Cross, of Westerly. Doctor Samuel West, Jr. (see town of Tiverton). Doctor William Lamont Wheeler was born at ^fansville, New York, and graduated at McGill College, Montreal, Canada. He studied medicine in the city of New York, where he re- ceived his medical degree. He took honors at the Opthalmic College, and studied at Partish's School of Pharmacy. He was connected with Belleviie Hospital for three years, and held a post at the small pox hospital at Blackwell's island. Early in the war Doctor Wheeler was appointed an assistant surgeon in the navy, and was at Newport when the naval school was thei <•. VSQ HISTORY OF NEWPORT COL'XTY. temporarily. He was severe!}^ wounded at Fort Sumter, and had a jirominent scar on liis forehead thereafter. He settled, after leaving the service, at Ithaca, N. Y., and practised there for several years. About 1872, he married Miss Hester Gracie, daughter of Hon. William Beach Lawrence and settled in New- port, where he practised, excepting a year spent abroad, until his death, October 15th, 1887. He had no children. Doctor Gfeorge F. S. White, son of William and Cynthia White, was born in Westport, Mass., August 6th, 1818. He at- tended the Middleborough, Mass., academy, and afterward taught school for several years. He then prosecuted the study of medicine in the office of James H. Handy, M. D., and re- ceived the degree of M. D., at Berkshire Medical College, at Pittsfield, having also attended lectures at the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, at New York. At the age of twenty six. Doctor White married Mary Corey, of AVestport Point, and at about the same time began the practice of medicine at West- port, removing, however, soon after, to Adamsville, in Little Compton, R. I., where he continued to practice until his de- cease, which occurred on the 5th day of May, 1881, at Adams- ville, having been in practice 37 years. Doctor White was, for several years, a useful member of the school committee. " He was a man of warm and sympathetic na'ture, and was greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends. He had an extensive i)rac- tice and rode a large circuit for nearly forty years, yet he did not lay aside his medical books, nor lose his zeal in his chosen profession." Doctor Thomas Wilbour was born in Little Compton, R. I., in 1718. It is not known where he was educated. He married Edith Woodman in Little Compton, in 1740, and practised medicine in that town until 1760, when he removed to Hopkin- ton, R. I. In 1770 he married a second wife and had a son William born in 1771, who also became a physician and contin- ued practice in the same held as his father. Doctor William Wilboui', who had three sons who were physicians ; Thomas and Amos practised in Fall River, Mass., and William, in Westerly, R. I. This second William had a son, John, who now practises in Westerly. Doctor Norbert Felicien Vigneron, or Wigneron, a native of France, Province of Artois, Diocese of Arras, Parish of la Ventie, was born and baptized June 2d, 1660. He was a son of TITSTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 137 Antoine and Marie Tlierese (nee De Beanssart) Vigneron. He liarl several brotliers and sisters. Tiie date of liis arrival in America is not known, nor of his advent at Newport. He married, at the age of 40 years (1704), Susanna, daughter of John and Joanna Pierce, and had four children. He was in Newport probably early in the eighteenth century. Doctor William Turner, of Newark, N. J., who was born in 1710, grandfather of Doctors William and J. V. Turner, having been a student in his office as early as 1730. He had a very high reputation as a physician and surgeon. His resi- dence was the house northeast corner of Marlborough and Farewell streets, Newport, lately occupied by Capt. Gilbert Chase, now by William E. Dennis. Doctor Vigneron was the great-grandfather of Commodore William Vigneron Tay- lor, who was sailing master of the "Lawrence" at Lake Erie, commissioned for gallantry in that action, and great-great- grandfather of Admiral William Rogers Taylor, U. S.N. By a singular coincidence, the same house, Doctor Vigneron' s, in which his grandfather had studied medicine, was occupied by Doctor James V. Turner in 1834-35-36, and in it his seventh son, Doctor Francis L. Turner, also a physician, was born. Doctor Charles Antoine Vigneron, eldest son of Norbert Feli- cien, was born in Newport in 1717, and succeeded to his father's profession and field of practice. He married, at the age of 21 years (1738), Hannah, daugliter of Jonathan and Mary Irish, of Little Compton, R. I., tiien Massachusetts, and died at New York November 10th, 1772. They had eleven children. In October, 1772, Doctor Vigneron went to New York, and was inoculated for smallpox, of which he died November 10th fol- lowing, and was buried in St. Paul's churchyard. The New York Gazette and WeeUy Reostle, George Fox, began to expound in the j^ear 1644. Coddington joined this society, the members of which thirty years later controlled the government of the colony. Roger Williams, however, never recognized Fox as an apostle. He was his own apostle. But this is a digression, the purpose of which is merely to suggest a motive for acts not as yet suf- ficiently explained. If Coddington were a royalist, as Arnold declares, his going to England with a political purpose would seem to have been a supreme folly. The submission of Charles to the parliament was already known in the colonie.s, and although the fatal end was not foreseen there was no ground for any hope from royal favor. In fact the estates of the royalists were under seques- tration throughout the kingdom. While Coddington was toss- ing on the seas the great tragedy was l)eing enacted, and when he arrived royalty was at an end, the commonwealth of England pi'oclaimed and the government in the stern hand of Cromwell. For two vears Coddington waited a hearing. Cromwell had IlIsrOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. liy'S other work on lii.s hands in the supi)ie.ssioii of the risings in Scotland and Irekmd, and of the desperate efforts of Prince Charles "By what representations," says Arnold, "or throngh what influence he [Coddiiigton | succeeded in virtuallj'' undoing the acts of the long parliament in favor of Rhode Is- land we can never know." (Vitainly it was not by proclaiming royalist sympathies. However this may be Coddington received from the council of state a commission to govern the islands of Rhode Island and Conanicut for life with a council of six to be named by the peo- ple and approved by himself. On his return to Newport in August, Easton, the president of the pruvince of Pi'ovidence Plantations, deserted his office. Newport and Portsmouth sub- mitted to the new order of government but a number of the fac- tion opposed to Coddington, and no doubt others who found it not the " Democracie or popular government" they had de- clared it to be when Coddington was tlieir governor in 1G41, de- spatched John Clarke to England to obtain a revocation of the commission, while Providence and Warwick sent over Roger Williams to secure similar privilege for themselves, in confir- mation of the charter of 1643. Of course Coddington did not at- tempt to exercise any authority outside of his jurisdiction and matters moved along quietly enough, though the situation was embarassing. In September, 1652, a letter from Roger Wil- liams announced that the council authorized the colony to con- tinue under the charter for the present, and in October an order of council was issued directing the towns to unite again under the charter, an order which William Dyre was but too happy to bring home. But thu order did not bring peace ; the main- land and the islands each claiming superiority and each con- vening a general assembly. That which met at Newport de manded the statute book and book of records from Coddington, l)ut the sturdy gentleman replied to tlie messengers that he would " advise with his counsel and give an answer, for he dare not lay down his commission nor hath he seen anything to show tliat his commission is annulled." Not till the return of Roger Williams in 1654 was the reunion of the colony effected. At the general court held at Warwick he was chosen president. But it was not until 1656 that the hatchet was finally l)uried. Coddington was elected commis- sioner foi' Newport to the court of that year, held at Warwick. 154 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Opposition was made to his taking his place and he put on rec- ord his formal submission in these words: "I, William Cod- dington, doe hereby submit to ye authoritie of his Highness in this colony as it is now united and that with all my heart." Clarke, the agent in England, was requested to withdraw the complaints made against him, and certain records which miglu seem prejudicial to him and others were ordered to be cut from the books and delivered to Mr. Coddington. The presentments standing against him on the island book of records were not to be prosecuted but the fine imposed for not delivering up the book of records was not to be returned, and complaint having been made that the Indians had guns like those Coddington brought over from England, he was requested to account for the disi^osal of his. In 1658 he appears with Benedict Arnold as a purchaser of Dutch Island. In 1663 it is pleasant to find the old gentleman, who seems through thick and thin to have held the confidence of the government as well as of the people, the first named of the committee to assess upon the towns of Conanicut island the rate they should pay toward the one hundred pounds voted for supplies to John Clarke, the agent of the colony in London ; to whom Coddington cliiefiy owed the loss of his life estate in the office of governor of the isles. In 1665 Coddington, having openly joined the Quakers, sent a paper on their behalf to tiie royal commissioners, Carr, Cart- wright and Maverick, who were sent over to settle all troubles in the reorganized colonial government, to which they at once sent answer to the governor with instructions that it be com- municated to the Quakers in the presence of the assembly. This was done verbally to Coddington and a copy of five proposals commended by the commissioners to the colonj' was handed to him for their consideration and observance. In 1605 and 1666 Coddington again served as assistant, in 1673 as deputy, and from 1674 to 1676 as governor. He was succeeded by Arnold who died in office in June, 1678, at the beginning of his term. At an adjourned session of the assembly held in August, Cod- dington was appointed to fill the vacancy. When this body met in October Coddington also was on his death bed. He died on the 1st of November, 1778, in the 78th year of his age. Mrs. Ann Coddington, his widow, as was usual, delivered up tlie IIISIOIIY OF NKWrOKT COUNTY. 155 charter and other wi'itiiigs belonging;- to the cohMiy to the com- mittee of the assembly apiioiiited to receive them. Thus ohjsed, as it had begun, tlie long and useful life of this, the father of the Rhode Island colony. He came to the island the first magistrate of a little settlement, small in numbers but great in purpose. He was constantly employed in its service and he left it the governor of a strong and prosperous colony. The town of Newport was especially indebted to him. His sa- gacity foresaw the possibilities for an extensive commerce and establishing himself the first mercantile business, he led the way in its development. He was interred in the Coddington burial place, which he bequeatlied to the Society of Friends, in Fare- well street. The freemen of Newport in 1836, mindful of the memorable services of this, their founder, repaired the monu- ment at the head of his gi'ave. Governor Coddington's house was on the north side of Marlborough street fronting Duke street. Nicholas Easton sailed from Southampton, England, with his two sons, Peter and John, in March, 16B4, and arrived in New England in May following. This body of colonists'first went to Ipswich, where they sjjent the summer and succeeding winter. In 1635 they removed to Newburj^ where Easton built the round house for the colony that year. According to Win- throp, Easton was by trade a tanner, bn t he is said to have been the " architect of the Newbury round house." He was no doubt one of those believers in the new doctrine of the Antinoniiaiis and followers of Wheelwright and Anne Hutchinson, as he was one of those disarmed in November, 1686, for refusing to disavow the se- ditious opinions, yet probalily not aggressive in tiieir expression, as he was allowed to remain in the Massachusetts colony. On the 12th of March he was ordered to leave the jurisdiction, but he was not one of those banished with Coddington by the decree of that court. In the beginning of 1638 the little party again removed to Hampton. Nicholas Easton' s name does not appear among Lho.se of the subscribing incorporators at Providence on the 7th of March, 1638, nor yet do the records make mention of his appearance in the colony, but on the distribution of lands on the 20th of Nay, at Portsmouth, he was granted six acres of land with the rest. He was not admitted a freeman of the town until the 20th of August. He appears first at the meeting of the 23d of the same 156 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. month. His practical character is shown by the grant to him on the " 16th of the 9th month, 16B8, of sufficient accommoda- tion for four cows and planting ground as they shall think meet, all of which is for the setting up of a water mill, which the said Mr. Esson hath undertaken to build for the necessary use and good of the plantation; and further * * * he shall have full liberty to fall and carry away any such timber as shall be of necessary use for the present building of the mill." Mr. Easton was one of the nine incorporators of Newport, and the consideration in which he was held is shown by his selection as the tirst of the three elders, to whom, with the judge, the government of affairs was confided. He was also one of the eleven original proprietors. There is a record that the family moved to the new lands and landed at and lodged upon Coasters' Harbor island, the last night of April, 1639, and the next morning gave the name of Coasters' Harbor to that island, and crossed over to Newport, where they erected the the first English house in Farewell street, near what is now the northwest corner of the Quaker meeting house lot. This house, built about six months after Easton's coming, was destroyed by fire in 1641, the flames taking from an Indian fire in the woods near by. In the early winter of 1639 Mr. Kasroii was requested with Mr. John Chirke to write to Sir Henry Vane to solicit his in- fluence with the king for a charter for the island settlement. It is interesting as showing the strict holding to the letter of the law of the early settlers, that at the meeting of the quarter court in December, 1639, the first act was to fine Mr. Easton, their chief elder, for attending without his weapon as ordered by the laws agreed upon. In 1640, on the abolition of thfi office of eldei', he was chosen first of the assistants. Dropped in 1641, he was again cimsen in 1642. Arnold, the historian, in his division of jiarties, classes Coddington as a royalist and " Clarke and Easton republicans and leaders of the dominant party on the island." In 1648 he was moderator of the assembly at which the Coddington trouble began. In 1650 he was chosen moderator for the day and at the same session president of the colony; but on Coddington's return with his commission as governor he, as appears by the act of the general sessicms of the committee at Providence, "deserted his t)ffice HISTOKY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 157 and with the townes of Newport and Portsmouth declined" from the old established order, by which it seems that he sub- mitted to Coddington's authority. It was for the sake of i)eace and order no doubt, for at the May, 1654, session of the general assembly he was named first moderator and again chosen presi- dent of the colony, which was still torn by dissensions. In 1660 he was again commissioner for Newport and moderator of the general court. Nicholas Easton was one of the assistants appointed in 1653 with Willian Dyre and John Sanford, to look to the state's share in the prizes made in the war with the Dutch, the settle- ment of the accounts for which was a matter of lengthy litiga tion. Prom the proceedings taken by the court of commis- sioners in 1658 it seems that the sum of money committed to Easton" s care in 1652-8, and which appertained to the use of his highness the lord protector of the commonwealth of Eng- land, was considerable. The matter was finally disposed of by a court of commissioners. In 1605 and 1666 he was again deputy, and dui-ing the latter term was appointed with Gov- ernor Arnold to consider the delicate sul)ject of the manner of engaging allegiance to the crown as public servants, anything in the form of an oath being apparently objectionable, although it is difficult with our modern light to detect anything -more than a solemn promise, save only that the penalty was that of ])eriury. In May, 1666, he was again cho.sen deputy gov- ernor, and continuously re-elected until 1672, when he was raised to the dignity of governor of the colony, holding the office until 1675, when he was succeeded by William Codding- ton. In this year (1675) he died at the age of S3. Nicholas Easton married for his second wife Ann Clayton, to whom he gave by deed the land known as Easton' s point, which then comprised 65 acres of land. In the first division of land among the proprietors of Newport, to Nicholas Easton and his sons were assigned all the land on the east side of Fare- well street and between that and Broadway; and tlie Easton's l^oint farm was given to the father. John Coggeshall, fourth on the list of signers of the Aquid- neck compact of 1638, was in reality iie.xt in importance to the fathers of the settlement, William Coddington and John Clarke; William Hutchinson, Jr., the third whose name appears on the agreement, playing a small part in public matters. Mr. Cog- ]."")8 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. geshall was also one of the nine founders of the town of New- port. John Coggeshall was English born, and came to Boston in 1G30, with John Winthrop and William Coddington, when these gentlemen, with others, were sent out by the London Company to reorganize their government of tlie Massa(;hnsptts plantation. He was, like fheni, a man of wealth, and began business in Bos- ton as a merchant. He joined the congregation of the Boston church, and was one of its deacons. He was a member of the tirst board of selectmen of Boston. In 1634, having in his church membership the necessary qualification precedent, he was admitted a freeman of Boston, and chosen to represent the town in the court of deputies, and again chosen in 1635 and 1636. It was in this latter yeai-, while thus engaged, that the Antinomian controversy was brought judicially before the court. The Reverend Doctor Wheelwright, the expounder of the new doctrine of tlie "covenant of grace," and that " the person of the Holy Ghost and a believer were united,'' preached a sermon on the January, 1636, Fast daj', in which he expressed these heresies. Summoned to answer before the court, he was pro- nounced guilt}' of sedition and contempt. At the meeting of the court in 1637, a i:)etition was presented from the Boston church in behalf of Wheelwright, who had drawn a large part of their membership, including Vane, the late governor, and William Coddington, into active sympathy with himself and his faith. This earnest petition was declared a "seditious libel" by the court. William Aspinwall, deacon of the Boston church, and one of the signers of the petition, was dismissed the court, and a few days later disfranchised and banished. John Coggeshall, also a deacon, but not a signer, defending the petition, was also disuiissed and disfranchised, and ordered to keep the jieace on pain of banishment. This was enough for a man of Coggeshall's sturdy character, and he was ready to join the little band who, immediately after these proceedings, began their scheme of a settlement outside of the limits of the ty- rannical jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Of him, as of Cod- dington, it is not possible to say whether' he accompanied or followed John Clarke into New Hampshire in the winter of 1637-8. It is not iiriprobable, however, as he was one of those persons from whom arms and ammunition were taken away un- IIISTOliY OF NKWI'OKT COUNTY. 159 der the November ordi;i' of tlie court. He was also one of tlie ten and the next named in order after Coddington, who, with their families, were formallj^ banished by decree of the general rourt in March, 10:^8. He signed the original compact at Providence, was present at the first meeting of the Aquidneck settlers at Pocasset, and sub- scribed to the agreement to found the second settlement at New- port. At Portsmouth lie was granted the usual allotment of six acres of land, was one of those entrusted with laying out a lot for the meeting house in the neck, of which it may be here said that there are doubts whether the building was for civil or re- ligious purposes — perhaps for both combined — and with the general allotment for the town ; and he was also chosen one of two treasurers for the company, William Hutchinson being the other. When the Portsmouth town chose three elders to assist; the judge, as their cliief magistrate was then called, in the execution of justice and judgment, Coggeshall was the second named. In the agreement for government of the Newport plantation the judge and elders of Portsmouth are named with- out change of persons. He is the second named (Coddington being the first) in the record of the lands allotted to the eleven l^roprietors of Newport. That apportioned to him consisted of three hundred acres on tlie neck, about one and a half miles from the present state house. In 1640, on the organization of a general government for Aquidneck the office of elder was done away with or rather changed in title to that of assistant. Mr. Coggeshall was one of those chosen, and was annually re elected till 1644. In that year, on the organization of a military (;ompany for Newport, he was the first named of the corporals chosen by the general court to the command. When in May, 1647, the general court met at Portsmouth to set their hands to an engagement to the new chartei-, received from the Earl of Warwick, governor in chief of the American colonies, John Coggeshall was chosen moderator of the assembly, and by the same body first j^resident of the province of the Providence Plantations, a high post, and increased in honor bj' the election among the four assistants for the four towns of the colony of Roger Williams for Providence, and William Coddington for Newport. Mr. Coggeshall did not long enjoy his new dignity. He died in office on the 27th of November, 1647, aged about fifty-six. Such is the inscription 160 mSTOKY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. on the tombstone in the Coggeshall buiiul place on Coggeshall neck. William Bkknton was not one of the signers of the Provi- dence compact for the Aquidneck settlement, but was admitted freeman of their society, togetlier with Nicholas Easton, at Portsmouth, on the 20th of August, 1038, and bis name appears as present at the meeting of the 23d of that month. On the establishment of thegovernment of the settlement he was chosen one of the elders to assist the Judge. William Brenton was one of the nine subscribers to tlie agreement at Pocasset, April 28th, 1639, to "propagate a plant- ation " at Newport, and one of the elders governing the same, and one of those original proprietors to whom the grant of lands was recorded, March 10th, 1640. Notwithstanding this he seems to have remained for a time at Portsmouth, where lie was also granted land in 1644, and was in August of that year appointed to view the deer which Massasoit had per- mission to kill on the island and bring to Portsmouth. The appointing of town meetings was also entrusted to him and another. In 1640, the form of government being changed, Mr. Brenton was chosen dei:)uty governor, and again in 1641 and 1642. What part Mr. Brenton took in the Coddington troubles is not shown in the records, but he is known to have sided with him in his views of the Shawomet. purchase, and the dangers threatened by Gorton's action in that town, which some have held to have been the real cause of Coddington's dissatisfaction. In 1655, on the roll of the freemen of the four towns, his name appears as in the Portsmouth list. In 1659, however, he was of Newport, for in that year he was appointed one of the committee of this town to draw up the letters to the commis- sioners of the united colony and the general court of Massa- chusetts, in reference to the purchase of lands in the Rhode Island colony, contrary to law, by the Massachusetts people ; and further to cor-respond with .John Clarke, the colony's agent in London, on the subject. In 1660 he was chosen president of the colony, and in the same year sat as commissioner for the town of Providence, and later in the year for Portsmouth. In 1661 he was a moderator of the assembly, and at the same meeting re-elected president, and again this year appears as commissioner for Newport, and again in 1662 as next or vice- HISTORY OF NKWI'OUT COUXTY. 161 president, Benedict Arnold being chosen president. He was also engaged in the raising and receiving of moneys for the supply of Mr. Clarke in ijoiulon, and the correspondence ap- pears (1662) to have been managed by him. He seems to have protested against the acquisition of Westerly by Vaughan, Coggeshall, Cranston and others, but for what reasons there is now no means of ascertaining. In 1663 he was again elected deputy governor, and with Arnold, governor, addressed Endicott, tlie governor of Massa- chusetts, with a view to tlie "speedy extirpating the root or stem of discontent being or growing between these two colo- nies;'" and the next year the same officers complained to the governor of Connecticut of outrages committed by people of their jurisdiction on the west side of Pawcatnck, "alias Narragansett river." The same year he was named with Roger Williams and others to meet agents of the colony of New Plymouth at Rehoboth, or at Newport, and attempt to settle the boundary lines with that colony also. This meeting was held at Rehoboth the following February. Small as the terri- tory of Rhode Island was their neighbors were constantly en- gaged in efforts to diminish it. In 1665 he was again deputy governor, and in 1666 chosen governor of the colony and con- tinued in office until 1609, when he was succeeded by Benedict Arnold. During his term he endeavored to secure from the king's commissioners, Colonel Nicliols, Carr and Maverick, a settlement of the long standing dispute about the intrusions in the Warwick settlement. Mr. Brenton now withdrew perma- nent!}' from public life. In 1072 he was again elected governor, but though urged to accept the position and give his engage- ment he, both by word of mouth and letter, absolutely refused, and Nicholas Easton was ciioseu in iiis place. Mr. Brenton was then at Taunton on a visit. John Clarke. — In his history of tlie Baptist denomination in America Benedict says : " Where Mr. Clarke was born is not certainly known. In some of his old papers he is styled 'John Clark of London physician;' but tradition makes him a native of Bedfordshire." Of later years it has been assumed that " h^ was born in London, England, on the Sth day of October, 1609." Nor is it known where he was educated or where he studied physic. It is certain, however, that he was learned in the ancient languages. In his will he gives to his "dear friend 11 J62 HISTOHY OF NEWPOHT COUNT?. Richard Bailey his Hebrew and Greek books;'' also •' my con- cordance with a Lexicon to it belonging, written by myself, being the frnit of several years study." We find it nowhere stated at what time or by what vessel he arrived in the Massachusetts bay, nor when nor where he was ordained as a preacher if at all; nor yet to what communion or order of the church he belonged. Tradition says that " he was a preacher before he left Boston, but that he became a liaptist after his settlement on Rhode Island by means of Roger Wil- liams." If we rightly understand the meaning of Mr. Callen- ders inference (Historical Discourse, 1638) Clarke was not an ordained clergyman. He and his followers had depended on the coming of Doctor Wheelwright, the banished minister of Braintree, but he disappointed them, choosing to go to Long Island, from Piscataqua, his first refuge after liis exile. " Mr. Clarke, who was a man of letters, carried on a publick worship (as did Mr. Brenton at Plymouth) at the first coming till they procured Mr. Lenthal of Plymouth, who was admitted a free- man here August 6, 1640." So far Callender. William Brewster, at the first coming of the Pilgrims after the expulsion of their minister, Tyford, had, although a layman, led them in their religious duties as " teaching Elder." Brew- ster also was a scholar, a graduate from the University of Cam- bridge, England, and like John Clarke quite comi;)etent to his task. And further Callender with his usual caution reports as of tradition: " It is said that in 1644 Mr. John Clarke and some others formed a church on the scheme and ])rinciples of the Baptists." Benedict goes farther and says that John Clark, M. D., was the "founder of this church and also its first minister. He took care of them at their settlement and con- tinued their minister till his death." Although it would be hardly just to say that John Clarke, the pioneer Baptist statesman, as he has been enthusiastically named in our day, was the controlling spirit of the colony, the first steps of which he undoubtedly guided, he certainly divided the superior influence with William Coddington, to whom as trained in law and exercised in civil administration the first settlers looked for counsel, choosing him for their first judge or chief magistrate. The name of John Clarke stands next to that of Coddington among the signatures of the incorporators of Portsmouth and first after the elders in the agreement nuide HISTORY OF NEWPORT COHXTY. 163 at Pocasset for the plantation of Newport. The records of the coh)ny are a complete testimony to the nature, the extent and importance of his services. His good Judgment and ready i)en fitted him for a variety of service invaluable in a young settle- ment. He surveyed the lands, arranged the highways and made disposal of the farms. In 1639 he was requested to in- terest Governor Vane for the obtaining of a patent for the island from the king, and the next year was one of the com- mittee on the same subject. In 1648 he was appointed one of the six commissioners for Newport to the general court. In 1649 he was chosen general assistant for the town and again in 1650; in 1649 also he was chosen general treasurer of the colony. In 1650, when it seems to have been uncertain whether Roger Williams would go to England on the business of the colony, John Clarke was nominated as one of the two persons to go in his stead. In the year 1651 there was committed under the au- thority of the Massachusetts government one of the greatest of the many outrages that stain the records of that intolerant colony. In May John Clarke, tiien the pastor of the first Bap- tist church in Newport, and Obadiah Holmes who had lately helped to found a church of the same order at Seekonk (and presented therefor by the grand jury at the general court of Plymouth in the jurisdiction of wliich Seekonk lay, had taken refuge at Newport), were deputed by the Newport church to visit, in company with John Crandall, an aged member of the Seekonk church, who lived near Lynn and had requested to be called upon. While Clarke was preaching there on Saturday to the inmates of the house and later at tiie church, the three were arrested as "erroneous persons l)eiiig strangers," silenced at the church by a magistrate, and the next day, after exconiuiuni- cation, sent to Boston for trial. They were there chargeil by Governor Endicott with being xVuabaptists. Clarke denied that he was "either an anabaptist, a pedobaptist or a catabaptist,. and affirmed though he had baptized many he had never rebap- tized any for that infant baptism was a nullity." The others agreeing in this, they were then and there fined, in default of which " to be well whipped." Refusing to pay the fine they were sent to prison. Clarke in a letter challenged the court to a discussion of the doctrine for which he was condemned. The magistrates named a day but before it arrived Clarke was dischargad, some person unknown 164 HISTORY OF NEWPOJIT COUNTY. to him having paid his fine of twenty pounds. He renewed the challenge hoping to meet the Puritan Cotton, to discuss with him the principles of Baptist faith, voluntary baptism, and in- dividual responsibility ; the theologic points on which Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island were at variance. The debate never took place. Holmes not paying his fine of twenty pounds, was brutally Hogged. Crandall was let free on the jailer's surety. An old man who had come from Seekonk to visit Holmes in prison was arrested for shaking hands with him after the whip- ping and sentenced to be fined or whipped. It seems that dis- cretion tempered the valor of Endicott and his crew, and tliat while they hesitated to do violence to Clarke they laid the full measure of their hate and spite on the back of Holmes, who was within the Plymouth jurisdiction. On his return to Newport after this outrage Mr. Clarke re ceived a fresh instance of the perfect confidence of the colony in his skill and judgment. Governor Coddington had just re- turned from England where he had obtained a commission as governor of Rhode Island and Conanicut for life ; a virtual dis- memberment of the colony. Alarmed at this proceeding, a large number of the important citizens of Portsmouth and Newport selected Doctor Clarke to jiroceed to England as their agent and secure a repeal of the governor's commission. He sailed from Boston with Roger Williams but the objects of their missions were different and wholly independent of each other. Once in England the colony found Clarke enough to do, and with what satisfaction to them appears by the votes of the general court of commissioners held at Newport November 24th, 1663. This was on the occasion of the reading of John Clarke, the colony's agent's letter to the president, assistants and freemen of the colony, which accomijanied the box containing the king's letters of patent under the broad seal. It was thereupon voted that Mr. Clarke be saved harmless in his estate, all his disbursement for his voyage going and when he should return and his ex- penses abroad, be repaid and discharged by the colony, and further, " that in consideration of Mr. John Clarke's aforesayd his great paynes labours and travail with much faithfulness ex- ercised for twelve years in behalf of tliis colony the thanks of the colony be sent unto him by the governor" and deputy governor, and for a gratuity unto him the sum of one hundred pounds sterling. HISTORY OF NKWrORT COUNTY. 165 In this long period he had been constantly engaged. He pro- cured and sent powder and ball to the colony. He was charged in 1658 with letters to his highness, Oliver Cromwell. Two years later he was commissioned " agent and attorney " by the general court. In 1662 he himself addressed two petitions to "High and Mighty King" Charles the Second setting forth in dutiful and honorable light the profound loyalty of his subjects of Rhode Island and their desire for a more "absolute, ample and free charter," of which they were sadly in need to shelter them from the encroachments of their greedy neighbors of the Massachiisetts and Connecticut colonies. The result of his di- plomacy, for such it was to get the better of the agents of these neighbors, was the charter of 1063 ; the gratitude of Rhode Is- land to the king and to their agent has been already shown. Clarke returned to N"ewport in the summer of 1664 and handed in his accounts, which were ordered to be paid. In Oc- tober he was again elected deputy for Newport and continuous- ly until 1668, being constantly employed in the most delicate matters of administration ; settlement of difficulties among the towns, treaties with the neighboring colonies, revision of the laws, arrangements for harbors and in a hundred ways demand- ing tact and discernment. He was chosen deputy governor in 1671 and 1672 and again in 1673, but positively refused to serve. In 1670 he had been again appointed agent to England to pro- test against the intrusions of Connecticut and other colonies into the colony of Rhode Island and their infringement of her chartered rights, and in 1671 two hundred pounds in silver was voted for his supplies. Similai' resolutions were taken in 1672 but delay proved the best policy, and the colony seeming to be in a hoj^eful way to compose the differences with Connecticut " in a loveing and peaceful manner," the votes were rescinded. Notwithstanding the many expressions of confidence and promises of money to Mr. Clarke, it aj^pears by the record that he had still an outstanding claim against the colony of £450 sterling, which the general assembly, "considering that the said Mr. Clark hath received alreadj' a great sum," seemed to consider an over weighty charge. A letter was ordered to be written to Mr. Clarke, and the answer to be reported to the next assembly. Nothing further appears on the record until October, 1676, when Mr. Clarke's executor pre- sented a paper demanding one hundred pounds, current money 166 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of England, as due to Mr. Clarke. The matter was referred to a coiniiiittee for inquiry, but tlie records are thereafter silent as to the final settlement. It is said that in order to meet his ex- penses to England he was obliged to mortgage his Newport estate. In justice to the Rhode Island authorities, however, it must be stated that they claimed that Mr. Clarke had made "show- ing that he liad occasions of his own to go to England which was not the Colony's business," and intimate that some of these expenses might be transgressions against the king or the laws of the colony. As to his business in London there is a curious intimation in the protest of the " pestilent people of Warwick" against the payment of the sum assessed upon them in 1664 for the agent's services. They say "Wee know that Mr. Clarke did publiquly exercise his ministry in the Word of God in London as his letters have made report, as that being a cheefe place for his profitte and preferment which we doubt not brought him in good means for his maintenance; as also he vvas much employed about modelizing of matters concerning the affairs of England as his letters have declared; in which noe doubt he was incouradged by men of noe small estates who in all licklyhood did communicate liberally unto him for such labors and studies."' Mr. Clarke's estate was appraised at the time of his death at £1080.125. To the Baptist church he left a lot of land in Tanner street, known as the Clarke burial ground. The re- mainder of his estate he left in perpetual trust, the income to be distributed for " the relief of the poor or the bringing up of children into learning." Mr. Clarke had three wives, but left no children. He died on the 20th of April, 1676, in the 67th year of his age. The only literary work he left behind him was his narrative entitled "111 News from New England," which was printed in London in 1652 and has since been re- printed by the Massachusetts Historical Society Coll., Series 4, Vol. 2. Jeremy Clarke. — The name of this one of the founders of Newport does not appear among those of the Aquidneck in- corporators at Providence. He was present at the meeting- January 2d, 1638-9, at Portsmouth, when the form of govern- ment was agreed upon. He was one of the nine subscribers to the agreement at Pocasset for th eNewport plantation. No rela- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 167 tionship is known to have existed between tliis family and that of John Clarke, the fonnder. Nothing is known of the life of Jeremy Clarke in England nor is there (on the authority of Doctor Turner) any mention of a settlement by him in the Massachusetts or Plymouth Bay colonies to be found in their records, and in fact but meagre maleiials for any account of him whatever. He was evidently a man of consideration as he was named not only constable in 16;?9, but appointed to the l^lace of Mr. Jeoffrey, the treasurer of the Aquidneck Company during his absence among the Dutch that year. In 1640 he was again appointed constable and one of the three persons selected to lay out the Newport lands among the proprietors, of whom he was one. In 1G42 he was elected lieutenant and in 1644 captain of the trains band; in 1047 he was chosen treasurer of the colony; again in 1648 both assistant and treasurer; and at the same election, Coddington having declined to qualify as governor, Jeremy Clarke, who is charged with having led the cabal against him, was by the court established governor in his place until Coddington should be cleared of the charges against him or another president; be elected or installed. Clarke is styled in the record of the assembly the " President Regent of the colony." His name last appears as witness to the deed of Misquamacock (Westerly) by Soclio, the Indian sachem of the Niantics, to William Vaughn and others in IGGl. He died in this year. He married Frances, daughter of Louis Latham and widow of Thomas Dongan. After Clarke's death she was married (for the third time) to the Reverend William Vaughn, the first pastor of the Second Baptist church in New- port. Walter Clarke, son of Jeremy, was later governor of the colony. Thomas Hazard.— Of the antecedents of this one of the nine founders of the town of Newport we know nothing. His name first appears as one of the subscribers at Pocasset. He was one of those appointed to lay out the lands within the circuit and bounds of the town after tlie rate and proportion of twenty cows' meat to a division of three hundred acres of upland. He does not ap2)ear to have served. lie was present at the general court of election in March, 1640, whicli established the govern- ment of the colony. In 1655, when the roll of the freemen of the colony in every town was taken, he appears at Portsmouth, after which there is no furiliiM' mention of him on the recorcN. 1(38 HISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Hknuy Bull was either maimed or liad not yet learned the art of writing when tiie Providence compact for the Aquidneck settlement was signed, for he is recorded as affixing his mark. He first api^ears at the meeting at Portsmonth June 27th, 1638, and on the 24th of January, 1638-9, was chosen sergeant of the commonwealth. He was one of the nine sul)scribers to the Pocasset agreement to plant the town afterward named Newport, but neither at Portsmonth nor there does he appear as one of the landed pro- prietors. On the organization of the government he was again chosen sergeant, and in 1641 and 1642 again elected. He is styled sergeant attendant : he had now a companion in the office. The duties of the sergeants were in 1638 defined to be to attend all meetings of the judge and elders and to e.xecute the sen- tences of the court. In 1642 they were granted the fees al- lowed by order of law for arrests and summons. The laws es- tablished in 1647 included the office of general sergeant, and required that he should be "an able man of estate, for so ought a sheriff to be whose place he supplies." Mr. Bull was a commissioner for Newport at the court held at Providence in 1655, and in that year also one of the men chosen for his town to fix the rates on the towns for the build- ing of sufficient prisons in each. In 1657 he was a commissioner for Providence. In 1666 he was deputy for Newport, and again in 1673 and 1674 ; in 1680 and 1681. In 1685 William Codding- ton (second son of the old governor) was re elected governor, and declining to give the engagement to the office, Henry Bull was chosen in his place. James the Second liad just inherited the crown of England. In February, 1689-90, William and Mary coming to the tlirone, there was great confusion in the colony. Walter Clarke, the governor of Rhode Island, being re-elected and declining to act, Christopher Almy was elected ; but he also i-efusing to serve, Mr. Henry Bull was chosen by the assembly and engaged. Clarke refused to let the charter go unless the committee of the assembly should forcibly open the chest and take it. It was surrendered to Governor Bull two months later. In May, 1690, it was ordered by unanimous vole that Walter Clarke, the late governor, and all the officers of the colony in 1686, at the coming over of Sir Edmund Andros, be confirmed and established in their respective places. The old charter was HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 169 resumed. This was at a meeting of the general assembly at Newport, on the 1st of May, 1690, yet on the 6th of the same month Mr. Bull jiresided as governor at a meeting of the assem- bly, and on the 7th of May, at a second meeting, he acted as moderator, and was again elected governor, but probably re- fused to serve, as did Mr. John Coggeshall, next chosen ; where- upon Mr. John Easton was elected and engaged. What became of the reinstated officers the record does not inform us, nor yet Arnold in his history of Rhode Island. Henry Bull died in 1693, and was buried in the old Quaker cemetery on Farewell street, where there stands a square low pillar of granite, witli cornice and pediment, bearing the in- scription : "Here lyeth the body of Henry Bull. Esqr., late governor of this colony, who died January 23, 1693, aged 85." AYiLLiAJi Dyrk. one of the founders, and the first clerk of the Aquidneck company and colony, came to Boston from Eng- land about " 1627 or 1629." He married his cousin, Mary, who is described as a " person of no mean extract or parentage, of an estate pretty plentiful, of a comely stature and countenance, of a piercing knowledge in many things, of a wonderful sweet and pleasant discourse :" and no less an authority than John Winthrop describes her in his Journal of 1638 as a "very promp and fair woman of very proud spirit;" testimony which must be accepted, for these early Puritan fathers were good judges of the things of the flesh as well as of the spirit. William Dyre and Mary, his wife, united with the Boston church, of which the Reverend John Wilson was pastor, and the following March, 16.'^6, was admitted freeman of Boston. Like Coddington and Coggeshall, wlio were members of the .same- congregation, !Dyre was attracted by the preaching of Wheel- wright and the no less persuasive elocpience of Anne Hutchin- son, and warmly espoused the Antiuomian cause and signed the remonstance or petition to the general court against its con- demnation of Wheelright, and was one of those proscribed and disarmed by the decree of November, 1636, to use his own words, " because his hand was to the seditious writing and de- fended the same." Whether he was one of tiie little i)arty which Jolin Clarke led into the cold wilds of New Hampshire that autumn or early winter is not known. Mary Uyre, his wife, was not less earnest in her faith in the new doctrine, and lier devotion to Anne 170 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Hutchinson. She must have remained in Boston as late as March, 1638, when her husband had already joined the expe- dition of Clarke and Coddington. The examination of Mrs. Hutchinson before the church and her defense of five examjiles selected from twenty-nine theses was had before the Boston church March 15th, 1638. When she was cast out of church Mrs. Dyre walked with her. This is Governor Wihthrop's own testimony. He adds that she was not afraid to "show her colors." William Dyre signed the original Aquidneck com- pact at Providence, and was at this, its first meeting, appointed clerk of the "Body Politicke," as they styled themselves. William Aspinwall was appointed secretary. Dyre appears as attending all the meetings at Pocasset, and also as clerk to the nine associates, of whom he was one, who made the second plantation at Newport. To this office of clerk he was continuously chosen until 1640, when he became secre- tary for the colony, and so continued till 1643, and no doubt till the new charter was received. For his services he was voted £19 in 1640 and also ten acres of land. In the records of the original grants of lands to the Newport settlers it appears that at that time he had given full satisfaction for seventy-five acres. This, with ten acres allowed by the town's order for travelling about the island, made eighty-seven acres, more or less. This land lies on the ba}', oj^posite Coaster's Harbor is- land, at what was then known as Coddington's corner, and since as Coddington's point. Here is still the old burial place of the Dyres. On the organization of the colony in 1647 under the first patent, A'V^illiam Dyre was chosen general recorder by the as- sembly, the first to fill that office. Notwithstanding this he was chosen clerk of the next assembly which met in May, 1648, and at which the Coddington troubles began. In those Dyre took an active part against the governor, with whom he was in con- stant quarrel. In 1648 he appears in the record in a suit against him. In 1654 he was very much troubled by Mr. Coddington's alleged infringement upon the highway which led to their farms. In 1667 Mr. Dyre's temper led him into trouble with the authoi'- ities. He had killed a mare belonging to Coddington, who ob- tained judgment against him. Dyre appealed to the general assembly which, however, sustained the verdict. But the royal commissioners being then engaged in the affairs of the colony, IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 171 Dyre appealed to them. The commissioners referred the sub- ject back to the assembly and the execution of the judgment was stayed. Coddington thereupon denumded the service of the execution. But the assembly did not stop here. Dyre was summoned to appear before them and "make a recantation un- der liis hand of the wrongs he had done the colony " in his pe- tition. Dyre's humble recantation appears at length upon the records as well as the pardon of his offense. Coj^ies of the papers were sent to the commissioners. These gentlemen, however, had recommended that Dyre's petition, which was a complaint against the jury in the case, be consid- ered by the assembly. The assembly endeavored to persuade the parties to a composition but without success, and at the next session of the court they were referred to the processes of law for their relief. Mr. Coddington, however, insisted on the execution of the judgment and the court hnally issued the or- ders to the sergeant. The sturdy Coddington was a hard an- tagonist. It does not appear that Dyre ever had any legal training be- yond that he gained in the long exercise of his duties as clerk to the assembly, which of course brought a perfect knowledge of the affairs of the colony. In 1650 he was deputed general at- torney for the colony. The duties of the several officers were de- fined at this meeting of the general court. The attorney-gen- eral " to have full power to implead any transgression of the laws of this state in any courts of this state * * * and be- cause envy the cut throat of all prosperitie will not faile to gal- lop with its full careere let the sayd attorney be faithfully en- gaged, and authorized and encouraged." This appointment was made after Coddington's departure. When the stout old governor returned with his commission as governor of the colony, Dyre's luime disappears from the rec- ords. Whether he went to England with John Clarke in No- vember, 1051, when that gentleman was dispatched as agent of a number of the inhabitants of Providence and Newport to so- licit a rei)eal of Coddington's commission, is not known, but it is certain that he was in England with Clarke, and that he brought home in February, 1653, and deposited with the town clerk of Newport an order from the council of state to the sev- eral towns to go on under the charter, which was held to be equivalent to a revocation of Coddington's commission. It 172 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. seems also that on his arrival Dyre took letters to Providence and Warwick, naming a day at which he would meet at Ports- mouth all the freemen of the colony to communicate to them the orders of the council. On tlie 1st of March, 1653, an assem- bly of the colony at Portsmouth met to receive these orders, and reinstated all officers who had been ousted by Coddington, and Dyre it is presumed returned to his post of attorney general. In May of this year (1653) war having broken out between England and Holland, warlike measures were taken in the Rhode Island colony, and in obedience to the orders of the En- glish council of state that the state's part in all prizes be se- cui-ed and accounted for, three persons were appointed for this purpose, of whom Mr. Dyre was the first named. It may be here stated that in 1659 Mr. Dyre was called on to give account of his action and declined, but was held on his bond and the case sent before the next court. The day after his appointment to look to the state's share in prizes he, with Captain John Under- hill, received a commission to serve, no doubt, though it is not so stated, with the volunteers against the Dutch. In the court of commissioners which met at Portsmouth in 1655 he sat for Providence. In 1060 he appears at Newport as third named in the office of general recorder and second also in that of general attorney ; in 1662 he was commissioner for New- port and again deputy in 1666, and the same year chosen solici- tor for the colony. In 1664 the royal commissioners, Nicolls, Carr, Cartwright and Maverick, having captured New York and nearly completed the conquest of the Dutch possessions in North America, Clarke, Cranston and Dyre were delegated to carry a letter from the Rhode Island authorities with thanks to his majesty for the charter and congratulations to the commis- sioners for their success. The name of William Dyre appears on the records in a public capacity as deputy for Newport Oc- tober 31st, 1666, and again on an order to pay him three pounds for a claim for sei'vices rendered by him wliile secretary to the general council. In May, 1669, it is recorded that Mr. William Dyre, secretary of tiie council "resigned up unto tiie council the books and papers which belonged to them and also the seals." While the name of Dyre will always l)e held in grateful re- membrance by the colony for numy services, it goes down in the IIISTOKY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 173 history of N'evv England witli sad and somljie recollections. When William Dyre went over to England at the time of the Coddington troubles, he took his wife, Mary Dyre, Anne Hiatchinson's early convert, with him. On his return, uncer- tain no doubt as to his reception in the colony, he left her be- hind him. After a stay there of live years she returned to the colonies and landed at Boston, from which she was forever ban- ished in 1856. While in England she had become converted to the new Quaker doctrines, and joined the Society of Friends. These new doctrines had scandalized the good people of Massa- chusetts, who enacted a series of laws inflicting penalties, from fines and whipping, to banishment and death, upon those who held to them. On her airival at Boston Mary Dyre was seized and sent to prison, but on the personal intervention of William Dyre, who was not of the new faith, was released and permitted to go tm to Rhode Island on his entering into bonds " not to lodge her in any town of the colony, nor to permit any to have speech with her on her Journey." . Mary Dyre could not long stay at home, and returned again to Boston to cheer her suffering com- panions in the faith. Husbands never had much control over wives in the free community of Rhode Island. The "inward call" was supreme over all other voices. She was again ar- rested in Boston, and sentence of death pronounced against her by that most cruel, most bigotted of all Puritans that was ever landed on these shores. Governor Endicott. Taken to the gal- lows with her companions she saw them e.xecuted, but, after her face was covered and the noose set about hei* neck, was re- pi'ieved, much it mu.st be said to her dissatisfaction. She was put on horseback and carried off toward Rhode Is- land, from which, home having ap]nu'ently little attraction for hei', she went to Long Island. The next spring, again '"called," she went back to Boston, where the cruel Endicott, unable to bring her into subjection by his state and grandeur and self- sufficient conceit, again ordered her to e.xecution. She was led through the city to Boston Common^, drums beating. She died " requiring her blood of the hands of those who did the deed in wilfulness," a wish which it is at least some satisfaction to think was not unheard at the judgment seat. It is said that in the last days William Dyre jjleaded earnestly 174 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. with the general court for clemency. It has been claimed that this judicial murder was the immediate cause of the stoppage by Charles the Second, of these atrocious acts in Massachusetts, and of the liberal terms of the Rhode Island charter. We find no further mention of William Dyre beyond an indenture in 1070 of two of the sons to make certain payments of money to their sisters within three years after the death of their father. The second son, William Dyre, Jr., went to Delaware about the time of his mother's death. Samuel Dyre, the eldest son, mar- ried a daughter of Edward Hutchinson and granddaughter of Anne Hutchinson. The records of the Dyre family above quoted state that one William Dyre was collector of customs at New York for the Duke of York in 1680, and a letter written by him to Samuel Pepys from that town on the 4th of January of that year, is printed ; and this William Dyre, who is named as Captain Dyre in London, in 1679, is supposed to be the old secretary. As his first child was baptized in 16:^5, he could not have been at that time less than sixty-six years of ;ige, and there is probably some confusion of persons. It is only known that Dyre's death occurred before that of Roger Williams, which took place in 1083. Samuel Gokton, though not a founder, was the central figure in the long bitter struggle between the colonies of Massa- chusetts Bay and New Plymouth on the one hand, and that of Providence Plantations and Rhode Island on the other, for ju- risdiction over an important part of the Narragansett territory. The eastern colonies were eager and persistent in their attempts to gain a foothold in the magnificent bay, the Rhode Island set- tlers stubborn in their resistance to the entrance of the aggres- sive wedge, the near consequences of which were easily fore- cast. Of no man in New England's history have there been so many and discordant opinions as of Samuel Gorton. The early Mas- sachu,setts writers, whose judgment is invariably found to be biassed by a religious jirejudice, concur in styling him " heter- odox, turbulent, pestilent." The milder form of judgment from their successors is that he was an eccentric person, a no- torious disturber of the peace. Arnold considers him " one of the most remarkable men that ever lived." He certainly ap- IIISTOltY OK NKWPORT COUNTY. 175 pears as one of the strongest types of individualism in a day Avhen marked personal character was the rule rather Mian the exception. In his printed worlds and the legal documents wliich he signed he styled himself by turns, "Citizen of London, Clothier," " GentlcMnnn,"' " Professoi' of the Mysteries of Christ." He was born in England about IGOO and landed in Boston in 1636. Thence he soon went to Plymouth where he fell iuto trouble with the church elders and was brought before the court, where he carried "so mutinously and seditiously that he was for the same and for his turbulent carriage toward both magistrates and ministers in the presence of the court sentenced to lind suretie.? for his good behaviour during the time he should stay in that jurisdiction, which was limited to fourteen days, and also amerced to pay a considerable fine." From Plymoutli he went to the favorite place of refuge for the afflicted and oppressed and the generally discontented, the new plantation in Narragansett bay. IIh joined the Aquidneck settlement and on the division of the island into the towns of Portsmouth and Newport he remained in the former. His name is found second in order and next to that of William Hutchin- son among those who at Portsmouth, April 3()th, 1639, "ac- knowledge ourselves the legal subjects of his nuajesty King Charles and in his name do hereby bind ourselves into a civil bodj'^ politic;" and his name again apjiears as Mr. Samuel Gorton, one of the four to whom the honorable prefix is given, in the " catalogue of sucli persons who [at Newport 1st, 8tli month, 1639] by the General Consent of the Company were ad- mitted to be Inhabitants of tlie island now calletl Aquidneck." According to Staples lie was never, iiowever, received as a pur- chaser or admitted as a freeman. He was not happier in his relations with tlic Aquidneck set- tlement than he had been at Plymouth. Like many an English- man then and since, he had contempt for all authority except that of the king. He says himself that he was obedient "so far as it became me," because they were duly commissioned by an authority which he reverenced, but that Rhode Island had no authority but the blessing of a clergyman, and that he held himself as fit and able to govern himself and family as any that were then upon Rhode Island. With these views noisily main- 176 HISTOKY OF NEWTOKT COUNTy. tained and sturdily preached, lie soon came into antagonism witli bis fellows at Portsmoiitli and was iinl)licly whipped and put off the island. From Aquidneck he went up to Providence where he no doubt put the patience and charity and liberal principles of Roger ^Yillia7ns and his companions to a severe test. Nor yet here was he received as an inhabitant. On the Sth of the tirst month, 1640, Williams wrote to Governor Winthrop that "Mas- ter Gorton having abused high and low at Aquidneck is now l)e- witching and bemadding poor Providence." Williams was shocked by his "foul censures of all the ministers of this coun- try" (Rhode Island) and "withstood his inhabitation and town privileges," but found the tide so strong against himself that he had serious thoughts of leaving Providence and taking refuge on "little Patience," an island in the bay next to that of Prov- idence, which he had procured for W^lnthrop. But as yet Providence was not, like Aquidneck, a coherent settlement. Roger Williams had good reasons for wishing to keep clear of the eastern colonies, but there were a few among the associators of the town who had leaning toward a stronger civil authority and a closer alliance with the eastern colonies. Here was the field for Gorton's spirit of independence and con- troversy, and his companions are said to have " carried so in outrage and riotously as they were in danger to have caused bloodslied." A few persons had attached themselves to Gorton and followed him up from Aquidneck, like himself after " fines, whipping and banishment." They abetted or were abetted in " riotous and insolent carriages" by certain of the town.speople of Providence who were opposed to that stronger government which was projected. They had resisted the service of warrants, quarrelled on tiie streets with j)ersons chosen to execute the same, and made a "tumultuous hubbub," and "some few drops of blood were shed on either side." Here was occasion to draw in the Massa- chusetts authority. Immediately a number of the citizens wrote to the governor and assistants of the Massachusetts patent, inviting them " of gentle courtesy and for the preservation of humanity and manhood to consider our condition and lend us a neighbor like helping hand and send us such assistance our necessity urges us to be troublesome unto you to help us to brina- them to satisfaction and ease us of our burthen of them IIISTOKY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 377 at your discretion." Tliis petition begins " We the inhabitants " of Providence 17 November, 1041. Tliere are thirteen signa- tures. Tliat they were a weak minority or tliat tliey had other motives than appear in the petition, is not to be doubted. But Providence was not tlie place at wliich interference could be made with any show of decency, and Winthrop answered the petitioners that "except they did submit themselves to some jurisdiction, either Plymouth or ours (Massachusetts) we had no calling or warrant to interpose in their contentions; but if they were once subject to any then we had a calling to pro- tect them." The hint was plain enough and .soon availed of. In September, 1642, four of the townspeople of Providence, one of wliom was a companion of Williams and all early settlers, two of whom had signed the petition of the previous year and a third the father of one of these signers, petitioned the general court of Massachusetts and were taken under its government and pro- tection. Benedict Arnold's name is given as having a company, for settlement probably, and William Arnold, his father, is ap- pointed "to keep the peace in their land," all of which points to an ^'- imperhimin imperio,'" a colony within the colony under the strong arm of Massachusetts. WinthroiJ says, " they were accepted under our government and protection partly to rescue the men from violence and partly to draw in the I'est in these parts under ourselves or Plymouth who now lived under no government, but grew very offensive and the place was likely to be of use to us especially if we should have occasion of sending out against any Indians of Narragansett and like- wise an outlet into tiie Narragansett Bay; and .seeing it came without our seeking and would be no charge to us we thought it not wisdom to let it slip." Benedict Arnold was an Indian trader and their factor in the Massachusetts bay. The settlement which his father, AVilliam Arnold, was appointed to govern was at Pawtuxet where some of the party had already built houses in which they resided at their pleasure, having also lands and houses in Providence. Before this submis.sion of Arnold to Massachusetts the settlers had occupied the land in common for grazing cattle, except such portions as each fenced in for building houses and planting their corn. This freedom was now restricted, to which Gorton and his friends objecting and making opposition, Arnold coni- 12 178 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. plained to Massachusetts and in replj' Govei'nor Winthrop and his assistants notified their " neighbors of Providence" that whereas they had "gone aboat to deprive them (Arnold of Pawtuxet and others) of their lawful interest, that they and their lands" were under Massachusetts jurisdiction and would be maintained in their lawful rights, and that if there wei'e dispute Providence might proceed against them in the Massa- chusetts court. This warrant was issued on the 28tli of Oc- tober, 1642. Aware of the probable result of any such appeal, Gorton and his party resolved to make a settlement where there could be no dispute about jurisdiction in the acknowledged territory of the Narragansetts, and in the January following (1642) pur- chased for a consideration of one hundred and forty fathom of wampum from Miantouomi, chief sachem of the Narragansetts, the tract of land on Showhomett bay, known as Showhomett river, the deed being witnessed by Pumham, the local sachem of Showhomett. [Twelve fathom of wampumpeage from each one of the twelve purchasers, such was Miantonomi's price.] Before leaving, however, Gorton's party, twelve in number, sent an elaborate theologo-polemic answer from Mooskawset (Gorton's plantation on the stream of that name near Pawtuxet), November 20th, 1642, to the Massachusetts warrant. This curious document is one of the queerest of the droll compound of politics and religion which was the staple public and private literature of the day: the Massachusetts court and church are arraigned before men and heaven; the Gortonists are as Moses and the Jews before Pharaoh; Brother Winthrop is another Pontius Pilate; and numberless of the recondite names of scrip- ture are dragged into service in this rambling complaint. Anathema Maranatha is the measure of their censure on " those in estate who had fallen away from the grace of God as their fathers had done before them." This letter, purposely sent to Boston at the time when the general court was sitting, was sub- mitted to an assembly of the ministers wlio, after much study and careful analysis, found in it twenty-six blasphemous par- ticulars and denounced the authors to their congregations as "worse than the barbarous Indians;" but the aourtdid nothing until after they heard of Miantonomi's deed in the following January. In this deed it will be observed Miantouomi expressly styled HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 179 himself sachem of the " Sliovvomett." Absolute in power and authority, the prince of the Narragansetts cared little whether his action was not pleasing to Puniham whom, as his inferior sachem, he could remove and restore at his pleasure bj' Indian law and practice. But the sachems of Shawomet had acknowl- edged a degree of snbjection to Massasoit. It is probable also that Pumhani was loath to leave his beloved Neck. Taking advantage of this disposition of Pumham, perhaps himself exciting it, Benedict Arnold, early in the year 1G4;1, took Pumham and Sacconoco, sacliem of Pawtuxet, to Boston, where Pumham complained to the general court that he had signed the deed through fear of his superior sachem and had received no part of the wampum. Miantonomi and Gorton were sum- moned to appear. The nature of the tribal dependence Miantonomi did not or would not explain to their satisfaction. It was the interest of the court to break up these ties of alle- giance. In June I'umham and Sacconoco again went up to Boston and signed articles of submission. Miantonomo no doubt made the sale in his straights for money for the summer campaign against the Mohegans. In September the unfortunate chief met his death, murdered by the advice of the Massachussetts elders. In this month also, the great offender being out of the way, the Massachusetts court summoned Gorton and his party to answer before them the complaints of their new subjects, Pumham and Sacconoco, to which Gorton replied that he and his companions were far out of their jtirisdiction and could not and would not acknowl- edge subjection unto any but only the state and government of old England. Upon which the general court immediately sent word that they would shortly send commissioners with a suf- ficient guard to receive satisfaction else they would right them- selves by force of arms. Hearing a few days later that an officer with a company of soldiers was on his way, the Gorton party sent a message to the commissioners warning them on their peril not to set foot on their lands in a hostile way. They received an answer which left no doubt of the intention of the commissioners to look upon those who did not submit " as men ])repared for slaughter." The troo2)s followed close at hand, accompanied by a number of Providence people : the Gorton party offered to submit to arbi- tration and a truce was agreed on until the Massachusetts au- 180 JIISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. thorities might be liearcl from, during which the sokliers be- haved roughly. Governor Winthrop replied that besides the title of land in dispute there were twelve of the Gorton com- l^any " who had subscribed their names to horrible and detest- able blasx)hemies against God and all magistracy," and in- formed them that those who came up under conduct of the commissioners should suffer no violence but come they must. As soon as the messengers came back the soldiers run in the cattle, and the Gorton people entrenching themselves, the troops opened fire upon them. The Gorton company did not return their fire and " finally consented to go down into the Massa- chusetts upon composition," whereupon they were led away prisoners, their cattle and swine were taken, and their houses left to the Massachusetts Indians to pillage. On the seventy miles march to Boston the commissioners had public prayers in the streets of the towns, at Dorchester Cotton and Mather tak- ing a hand in the paeans of triumph ; and so on to the door of the house of Governor Winthrop, who came out and blessed the troops, after which the prisoners were led to the common jail and held without bail until the court sat. They were then re- quired to make answer to four questions on abstruse points of doctrine to which, though they protested against the jurisdic- tion, Gorton was only too happy to reply. He made answer in writing and at the governor's orders signed his reply. No fault could be found with the doctrine, but nevertheless votes were taken as to whether they should be pvrnished by death and they escaped by a majority of two ; th«y were, how- ever, imprisoned, Gorton being sentenced to be set at work in irons in Charlestown ; and so he and his companions lingered the entire winter season, (jorton improving the opportunity to address a stiff religious document to the elders of the Charles- town church. Meanwhile the secrecy in which these proceed- ings were conducted was graduallj^ broken and the people of the towns, who seem to have had more Christianity and more com- mon sense than their ministers and magistrates, because dissat- isfied with such a summary outrage. A general court was called and the prisoners were ordered to be banished, not only from the jurisdiction of Massachusetts bat from Providence and the lands of Puniham and Sacconoco which they were com- manded to leave within fourteen days on pain of death. Gorton declined to have his bolts taken off' on these terms, but HISTOHY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 181 the mag-istrate ordered tliesmith to tile them off and left liim to go, or stay at his peril. Tiie Boston people showing joy in their release, the governor ordered them out of the town before noon. They left at once witliont providing for their journey and made their way to Shawomet to tlieii' own home. There considering the terms of their banishment and finding that their Sliawomet land was not expressly mentioned as a forbidden refuge, they addressed a letter to the Massachusetts court asking if it were so included, and at the same time informing them that Massa- chusetts never had jurisdiction over the lands of Pumliam and Sacconoco and of their oxs'n determination " to wage law with them and try to the uttermost what right or interest they could show to lay claim either to their land or their lives ; " to which bold threat Winthrop curtly answered that Shawomet was in- cluded in the terms of banishment and they must not come there under peril of their lives. They then left their homes and went to Rhode Island. Their return greatly astonished the Narragansei ts and gave them, ac- cording to Gorton's account, an exalted idea of their power. The Indians imagined, as they had heard of a great war in Eng- land, that there were two great parlies there : the Wattacon- oges, as they called the English in their language, and the Gor- ton-oges. Whereupon the chief sachems, old Canonicus and Pessicus, who was first in authority, sent over for them. Six or seven, including Gorton, answered the invitation and cros.sed the bay to Conanicut island where they were met by an armed band and escorted to the house of Canonicus, where they were courteously entertained, and then conducted to the house ©f Pessicus, where they had a conference with the sachems and counsellors of the ti-ibe ; the result of which was the determi- nation of the Narragansetts in a general assembly of the tribe to become subjects to the state and government of Old England ; Gorton and three others being appointed their commissioners and attorneys to convey this solemn act and deed of sul)jection to the king. This document is dated April IDtli, 1G44. On the 24th of May, Gorton of course being still their advi.ser, the sachems answered an invitation of the Massachusetts court, de- clining to go down to attend them and giving notice of their subjection to the king. Thus adroitly did Gorton transfer the contest for sovereignty to England, but indissolubly associated the title of himself and 182 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of his companions to the Shawomet lands with that of the native sachems from whom it was derived. In June the men of Shawomet in tlieir turn gave formal notice of these proceed- ings to the general court and with it some valuable information and some seasonable advice. Meanwhile they lived in Rhode Island or Aquidneck, hiring houses and planting until the re- ceipt of the charter of Providence Plantations, which covered the disputed territory. Failing in these attempts to overawe the settlers, the Massa- chusetts Bay and Plymouth governments raised a force to punish the Narragansetts for making war upon the Mohegans in revenge for the death of their prince, and were only dissuaded by the intercession of Williams and the probable fear of a general Indian rising. They then determined to ruin theNarra- gansetts in another manner and imposed on them a tribute of five hundred pounds, in default of which they were to surrender their territory. The Massachusetts government concluded to issue warrants against any occupation of the Shawomet lands. Gorton and his companions sailed from New York in April, 1644, with the submission of the Narragansetts and the appeal of the Shawomet settlers to the commissioners of foreign jilan- tations in England against the intrusion and violent seizure of their lands by Massachusetts. The board of commissioners of foreign jjlantations had been established by parliament in 1643, and the earl of Warwick appointed governor-in-chief of all plantations in America. The decision of the board July, 1647, though not conclusive, for the controversy continued thirty-five years, was peremptory as to the rights of the Sliawomet settlers to live upon their lands in peace. In 1648 Gorton, satisfied that Winslow, the Massachusetts agent, could not work any harm, returned to New England and boldly landed at Boston, where the court ordered his arrest, but a letter from the earl of Warwick proved his safeguard. So angry were the authorities that only the casting vote of the governor enabled him to pass safely to Rhode Island. The settlers of Shawomet had not attempted any town incorporation before the colony charter of March, 1644. Their first act was on the 8th of August, 1647, when they chose a town council under the order of the general assembly. They had taken the name of Warwick in honor of the earl, president of the board of plantations, to whom they HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 183 owed their restoration to their riglits. In May, 1647, it was agreed in general assembly of the colony that Warwick should have the same rights as Providence. In 1651, during the time of the dissensions of the island and the commission of Coddington, Gorton was chosen i)resident of the towns of Providence and Warwick. The whole subject of the disputed territory came up again with renewed vigor on the arrival of the three royal commissioners to settle the disputes and bounds of the colonies. Cartwright, on the eve of his return to England in 1665, wrote to Gorton a letter as caustic in tone as it was true in tenor. " These gentlemen of Boston," said he, "would make us believe that they really think that the king has given them so much power in their charter to do iinjustly that he reserved none for himself to call them to ac- count for doing so. In that they refuse to let us hear com- plaints against them so that at i)resent we can do nothing in your behalf. But I hope shortly to go to England when if God bless me thither I shall truly represent your suflei'ings and your loyalty." Gorton died at the close of 1677. On what day is not pre- cisely known nor is it known where he was buried. The town of Warwick and the integrity of the soil of Rhode Island are his sufficient monument. His foresight in the submission to the crown of the Narragansett sachems, which was the origin of Kings Province and which maintained the autonomy of the Narragansett territory until it, by the natural order of things, fell under the authority of the Rhode Island colony, was an act of state policy of the highest order. Were his grave but known every Rhode Islander should drop upon it a stone as their tribute for the freedom they enjoy. CHAPTER IV INDIAN RELATIONS. By John Austin Stevens. The" Narragansett'i Indians. — Pequot' "War. — Xew England Confederation. — "" Bang'; Philip's War. — Canonicus. — Miantonomi. — Pessicus. — Canonchet. — Puniham. — Xinegret. — Massasoit. — AVamsutta. — End of the Xarragansetts. IT is estimated by the highest authority on this difficult sub- ject that at the time of the English settlement the region of country now known as New England was inhabited by about thirty-six thousand Indians of whom one-third were warriors. They were most numerous on the coast, about the shores of the bays and the mouths of the great rivers, where the abundance of lish assured them an unfailing supply of food. Of the several tribes who took their names from these bays or rivers the Xarragansetts were the largest and most powerful. There is a tradition, accepted by historians, that three or four years before the landing of the Pilgrims a "devouring sickness" had raged from jS"arragansett to the Penobscot, which wasted the Indians to such an extent that the " living sufficed not to bury the dead," whose bones covered the ground in many places. This desolation, which prevailed mostly to the east- ward, did not diminish but rather increased the numbers of the Narragansetts, many flying from the plague in other quarters to this less afflicted territory. They were reckoned at this time at Ave thousand fighting men— the usual Indian method of computing population. The Narragansetts, in common with their neighbors, are sup- posed to be a branch of the Delawares, and their language, a variety of the speech of that great race, was spoken over a region of country extending north and south from the Bay seat of empire about six hundred miles. They were erect in stature, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 185 with well knit frames, athletic limbs, high cheek bones, hazel eyes, straight black hair and of light cojiper colored com- plexion. They painted their faces in peace and war and in times of mourning; their decoration varying with the emotions they sought to portray. Terrible in war and %-ersed in savage wiles, they were just in their dealings, punctual to their engage- ments, faithful in their friendships. They were monogamous although polygamy was not forbidden. They lived in wigwams adapted to the changes of climate. They were deft in the manu- facture of earthenware, and were moreover the principal makers of wampumpeage of both kinds, the white of the periwinkle and the black of the quohoa or hard shell clam, which together were the sole currency of the Indians over a vast surface of country, as also among the English, French and Dutch traders in Xorth America. Their population was so close that in a travel of twenty miles one could meet a dozen of their towns. They were not only tlirifty, but rich in the accumulation of comfort. While they probably did not carrj' agriculture as far as it was understood by the Mohawks, they were better versed in manufactures of their rude kind, and had some notion of trade before the arrival of the English. The rule of their hereditary sachems was patri- archal rather than autocratic, and their sway was undisputed from the Pawcatuck to the Merrimac. Unlike the Mohawks they had no fortified places or palisaded enclosures; only their council house, fifty feet in diameter at the base of the gathered tent poles, differed from the wigwams in its greater size. Their neighbors, the Wampanoags on the north and east and the Massachusetts beyond, the Xiantics and Xipmucks to the north and west, the Indians of Aquidneck and Block Island and the Montauks at the eastern end of Long Island, all paid them tribute. To the westward their proper domain reached to the river Pawcatuck where they were confronted and defied by the fierce Pequots, their hereditary foes, whose seat of power was at the mouth of the river which bore their name. Precisely at what time the Xarragansetts came into this region is not known. Roger AVilliams, asking as to the origin of the title Narragansett, was told that it was the name of "a little island between Puttisqumscutt and Mus- quomacuk on the sea and fresh water side." He went to see it and "about the placr" called Sugar Loaf hill, saw it 186 HISTORY OF NEWPOirr COUNTY. and was within a pole of it bnt could not learn why it was called Nahiganset." Sngar Loaf hill is on the mainland near what is now South Kingstown. Petaquamscott was the name of a large rock near Tower hill. He was also told that " Canoni- cus' father and ancestors living in those Southern parts trans- ferred and brought their authority and name into those Northern parts all along by the Sea Side as appears by the great destruction of wood all along near the Sea Side." By those "Southern j^arts " no doubt is meant the territory lying east of the Pawcatuck river which, at the height of their power, was the western border of the Narragansett kingdom. That the islands in the bay were conquered not long before Williams' arrival appears from a passage in the original deed of Aquidneck, by which " Canonicus and Mian- tonomi, the two chief Sachems of the Nahigannsitts (convey) by virtue of their general command of the bay as also the par- ticular Subjickgs of the dead Sachems of Acquednecke and Kitackmuckquett, the great island of Acquedneck lying from hence eastward in this bay." This strengthens, though it hardly establishes, the tradition which points out a spot on the island where a great battle occurred in which the earlier Indian inhabitants were overcome; this is a field in Middletown which abuts on the southwest on South wick's Grove. Arrow heads have been repeatedly found here. The field is between the east and west roads about two miles out from Newport limits. The deed clearly shows, however, that the island of Conanicut, whence it issued, was the residence of the chief sachems and the seat of their government. Hutchinson relates a tradition as to the warlike ancestor under whom the Narragansett tribe became a nation: "In the early times of this nation some of the English inhabitants learned from the old Indians that they had, previous to their arrival, a sachem Tashtassuck. Tashtassuck had but two children, a son and a daughter; those he joined in marriage because he could find none worthy of them out of his family. The product of this marriage were four sons, of whom Canonicus was the eldest." At the period when the Narragansetts first appear in colonial history their sachems were Canonicus, son of the chief who first extended his sway over the northern and eastern regions, al- ready advanced in years, and governing with him under his HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 187 council, as " marshall and executioner," to use the quaint and meaning phrase of Roger Williams, Miantonomi, son of his youngest brother. Und«r their joint I'lile, wise and tirm, the Narragansetts were prosperous and happy when the news reached them of the landing of the strange race at the eastward and the wonders bronght with them: the useful implements of peace, the terrible weapons of war and the new domestic ani- mals. Disquieted, no doubt alarmed, at the continual arrival of the emigrant ships, they sent to the new comers a bundle of arrows tied with a snake skin in battle challenge. The wage was not accepted by the sage Pilgrims, nor was it necessary, for between the two there sprung up a third power whose strength was in their enmity and whose immediate interest was in peace. In the Pokanoket country, on the mainland north and east of Narragansett bay, lived the tribe of \Vampanoags whose sway covered the tract now known as Bristol and reached southerly to Seconnet. They were second only in power to the Nari-a- gansetts, to whom their subjection was recent. The chief sachem of this tribe was Massasoit, whose favorite residence was on the commanding hill of Pokanoket, to which the colon- ists later gave the name of Mount Hope. This steep eminence is at the lower end of the peninsula and overlooks the island of Aquidneck and the western shore of Seconnet. Massasoit or Ousamequin, as he is usually named in Narra- gansett documents, received the Pilgrims on their arrival not onl}'- without enmity but with real kindness and was of great service to them in many straights. Often at Plymouth, he be- came early familiar with the superior power and arts of the white men, and seeing how useful they might be to his i^eople he sought their friendship. In the spring after their landing he made with them a formal treaty which freed him from his de- pendence on the formidable Narragansetts. This friendly spirit to the English Massasoit maintained to the end of his life, while Canonicus is said to have been " most shy of the English to his latest breath." As far as can be judged from the records of the times and the writings of the sages, Canonicus was of a higher order of character and a more princely dignity. Viewing them as types of their tribes, the domination of the Narragan- setts seems the natural outcome of race superiority. Roger Williams, in a deposition made in lO.'i-i as to his pur- 188 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. chase of lands, says that "coming into the Narragansett country he found a great contest between three sachems, two (to wit, Canonicus and Miantonomi) were against Ousamaquin on Plymouth side," and that he was forced to travel between them there to pacify, to satisfy all their and their dependents' spirits of his honest intentions to live peacably by them. His- torians have inferred from this passage that these chiefs were "at feud." That Canonicus looked with jealous eye at the alliance of his old tributary with the Plymouth government is probable, but sixteen years had healed this bitterness, and there is no proof of other difference between the chiefs than as to allowing the whites to settle upon land within or bordering upon the free territory of Narragansett. Before concluding his treaty with Canonicus, Williams had al- ready obtained a grant of land from Massasoit on the Seekonk river, which was within the limits over which the new Plymouth colony claimed jurisdiction; a jurisdiction which the sachem, though he did not dispute, did not admit. Indeed, here as else- where among the Indians, and notably in the case of the Mo- hawks, their chiefs claimed a sovei-eignty equal to and inde- pendent of that of the English crown, and never willingly sur- rendered jurisdiction over their own people. The right and jus- tice of this claim Williams always maintained, of which there is witness in his letter to the general court of Massachusetts in 1654, wherein he questions "whether any Indians in this coun- try remaining barbarous and pagan may with truth or honor be called English subjects. Their own consent and conversion to Christianity he considered to be conditions precedent. Massa- soit was no doubt aware that the first and chief of the offences cited in the sentence of Williams' banishment from the Massa- chusetts Ba}' colony was his teaching " that we have not our land from the king but that the natives are the true owners of it and that we ought to repent of receiving it by patent." The teriitory of tlie Wampanoags lying within the limits of the Plymouth patent, the grant of land by Massasoit was of it- self a protest against the jurisdiction of the colony. Williams abandoned liis plantation on the Seekonk and crossed the water to the Narragansett territory because of the warning to him of Governor Winslow of the new Plymouth colony that his people were "loath to displease the bay," otherwise the Massachusetts government, by harboring one banished by their edict. HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 189 What consideration in (•uiient vvampnm or commodities Mas- sasoit received for his land on tlie Seekonk, if any, does not ap- pear. Probably both and if neither, then tlie grant was made only for reasons of gratitude for favors past and to come, and of a personal friendship for Williams which was of long standing; for in his treaty with tiie English he had parted with something of his birthright. Not so tlie sage Canonicus. Proud as he was politic, he would not condescend to sell his lands. Gifts in return were received, no doubt expected, but Canonicus would not have them mentioned in the bond. Williams, in a manuscript, says "the Indians were very shy and jealous of selling the lands to any, and chose rather to make a grant of them to such as they affected, but at the same time expected such gratuities and rewards as made an Indian gift a very dear bargain." According to Callender. in the case of the Narragan- setts, the natives inhabiting any spot the English sat down upon or improved were all to be bought off to their content and oftentimes to be paid for over and over again. It may be here observed that the Indians recognized no individual title to land. To them it was free as air and water. An instance of this may be found in the recent constitution of the Cherokee tribe. The Indian system was communal. Bandelier, in his account of Mexican civilization, assigns ro them a similar system, and it is supposed thej' brought it with them from the northern coun- try from which they migrated southward. The memorandum deed of 1087, of purchase made " two years previous " of " the lands about the fresh river called Mooshaasic and Wanasqutucket " (Providence) signed by marks of Canonicus and Miantonomi, makes no mention of any purchase price, but a second paragraph, " in consideration of his (Williams' > many kindnesses and services" done them at Massachu.sett-s, Connecticut and Plymouth, extends the bounds of the grant to the Pawtucket river. Roger Williams express- ly says : " I declare to posterity that were it not for the favor that God gave me with Canonicus none of these parts, no not Rhode Island, had been purchased or obtained for I never got anything out of Canonicus but by gift." In this document, in- teresting and instructive in many points of view, Williams shows the nature of the services he rendered in return for the protection and generosity of the sachem. " I never denied him nor Miantonomy whatever they desired of me as to goods or 190 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. gifts or use of my boats or pinnace and the travels of my own person day and night wliicli, though man Ivnow not nor care to know, yet the All Seeing eye hath seen it and his all powerful hand hath helped me." In the course of his several treaties, in 1634 and 1635, with the Narragansett sachems, Williams had, he says, " frequent prom- ise of Mian tonomi," his kind friend, that he should not want for land about the bounds where he had settled provided he satisiied the Indians then inhabiting, he "having made coven- ants of peaceable neighborhood with all the sachems and natives round about." In fact the records show no passage of purchase money for land from Roger Williams to Canonicus. The same legal fiction of a sale appears in the case of Chibachuwesa, now known as Prudence island, which is referred to in the deed of Aquidneck. This island became the property of Williams and Governor Winthrop in the spring of 1636. Canonicus and Mi- antonomi, visiting the Massachusetts governor, carried the offer by Williams of a half interest to Winthrop in which he naively adds, "I think that if I goe over I shall obtain the whole," a hope sjieedily realized. And so again in the case of Hope island, the deed of gift of which from Miantonomi, wasi)roduced before the general assembly in 1658, upon the presenting of a petition to have the Indians removed. It seems from the foregoing that Williams received his lands as a princely grant for his wise counsel and his services as an ambassador and peace maker with the encroaching governments of Massachusetts Bay and the Plymouth colony, services for which his knowledge of the Indian language, his character and temper qualified him beyond any man in New England. This acquaintance with Indian character Williams says he got by "lodging with them in their filthy holes even while I lived at Plymouth and Salem to gain their tongue ; my soul's desire was to do the natives good." He was well compensated for all his pains by his Indian friends. The records show one case in which Canonicus took consideration in the form of white beads. This was in the purchase of Aquidneck by Coddington and his friends. Later, in 1642, Miantonomi took wampumpeage in pay for Shawomet. now "Warwick. No such considerations of policy or friendly scruples weighed with Ma.ssasoit, the first and earliest of Williams' friends. The records recite one case where the Wampanoag sachem, HISTOKY OF NEWPOItT COUNTY. ' 191 seeking to withdraw from an agreement to barter certain lands near Pawtucket for sundry commodities and fathoms of wam- pum, was held to his bargain on the testimony of Williams. After "going to slepe" over the trade the Indian demanded to purchase shot and required four coats more in addition to the four engaged to him, which Williams and his associates indig- nantly refused; not willing, as they testify, " to wrong our country in granting his desire of four coats and so uni-easonably to raise the price of such parcels of land in this barbarous wilderness." This was in 1646, when the conditions of the contracting par- ties were greatly changed. The white man was the lord of the soil, the sachem but a poor Indian. Neither Canonicus nor the princely iliantonomi ever thus fell from their high estate. Comparing these several deeds one with another, it seems, how- ever, that these grants of land were, on the part of the sachems, waivers of eminent domain or permissions to settle on condition of satisfying the dwellers thereon. The Narragansetts were largely a farming people. Williams mentions the clearance of the coast line from woods, and it is said that for eight or ten miles distant from the sea shore the lands were cultivated with corn which grew in great abundance. It is natural therefore to suppose that though there may have been no individual owner- ship of the soil, occupancy, betterment and cultivation con- ferred a right which the sachem did not, perhaps could not, disturb. That such was the usage is shown by the statement of Wil- liams that in the case of the first grant by Canonicus of land which had belonged to Massasoit before his submission to the Tiarragansetts, he had thought it prudent to propitiate the Wampanoag chief by gifts and still more plainly in the con- dition of the deed of Aquidneck, " that by giving by Mianto- nomi of ten coats and twenty hoes to the present inliahitants they shall remove themselves from off the island before next winter." Hardly were the colonists established on the island before they began to place restrictions on the Indians in matters of trade. The first regulation was an order in general meeting at Portsmouth on the 16th of the 9th month, 1638, naming four of their number for the venison trade, directing that not more than three half-pence a pound be given the Indians in the way 192 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of trade, and the truck masters to sell the same for two pence a pound; a farthing for each pound to go to the treasui-y, the rest to themselves for their attendance. The next order on the records is of the freemen of the same town granting leave, August 29th, 1644, to Ousanietpiin with ten men to kill ten deei' within the liberty of Portsmouth with tiie proviso tliat the deer be brought to the town to be viewed and " neither Ousamequin nor any of his men shall carry any deer or skins off from the island but at the town of Portsmouth to depart from off the island within five days.'" And the same day all the Indians in the town were ordered to depart with their effects to live in the woods and not to return under certain forfeit. The freemen of Newport, feeling perhaps more secure in their position, which was directly under the wing of Canonicns, agreed on the 2d of the 7th month, 1689, that the trade with the Indians should he free to all men and appear to have put no restriction on their coming or going or their stoppage in the town. In the course of the next j'ear, however, July 7th, 1640, certain propositions were made interchangeably between Gov- ernor Coddington and his assistants on the one side and Mian- tonomi with his sachems on the other side, and the same were solemnly ratified on the 16th of August following. These pro- vided that only temporary fires should be kindled on any of the settlers' lands, and all damages arising from such kindling should be adjudged and the Indian offender to be tried by the law of the town; that any Indian killing a "Boore" (a hog), pay ten fathom of beads at the next harvest; that no trap be set for deer or cattle on the island; that unruly Indians be car- ried before the magistrate for punishment in matters of com- mon or small crime according to law, but for matters of greater weight, exceeding the value of ten fathom of beads, then Mian- tonomi to be sent for who is to come and see the trial. But if the offender be a sachem Miantonomi to be sent for to see the trial whether the matter be large or small. No Indian to take any canoe from the English and the like not to be done by them. They are not .to revoke their bargains or remove their goods by force after trade; nor shall they idle aliout the houses of the settlers. The colonists seem to have been uneasy this year, for at their last session in October the governor was ordered to invite tlie counsel of the governor of Massachusetts Bay concerning their IIISTOKV OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 193 agitations with the Indians. The Indians seem to have been careless in their handling of fire, for in April of the next year (1641) the house of Mr. Nicholas Easton, the first built in ihe town of Newport, was burned, the flames taking from a fire lighted by the Indians in the woods near by. There was great alarm, and an armed boat patrolled the shore to prevent the In- dians from landing. In a skirmish two English were wounded and one Indian killed. Garrison liouses were appointed for refuge in case of alarm. The misunderstanding was explained and quiet was restored. In September, 1641, the general court ordered that no Indian should fell or peel any trees upon tlie island; a restriction which struck at tlie manufacture of canoes. The very last legislation taken by the general court at New- port before the freemen of Aquidneck reorganized under charter from the crown and changed the name of the island to the Isle of Rhodes, granted a full commission to Roger Wil- liams to consult and agree with Miantonomi for the destruction of the wolves, with the condition that this enterprise effected, the Indians must not require more the ''like curtesie of hunt- ing." The deer must not be injured. Stringent orders had but a short time before been issued against the sale or gift of powder, shot, gun, pistol, sword or other weapon to "the In- dians that ai'e or may prove offensive," and forfeitures attached of forty shillings for the first and five pounds for the second offense. For the history of further legislation tlie records of the colony of Rliode Island and Providence Plantations must be searched. Meanwhile mention must be made of the sale by Miantonomi to a company of settlers, of Shawotnet,on Sowhomes bay, which soon after received the name of Warwick, in lionor of the king's newly appointed governor of his islands and other plantations in America. This deed was signed by Miantonomi, as sacliem of Shavvhomett and witnes.sed by Pumhomm (Pum- ham) sub-sachem of the tribe; an act apparently unimportant in itself, yet portentious in its consequences to the noble prince and his nation. The PKCiiOT War.— The Pequots. of all the tribes of the coast, seem to have been the most jealous of English rule and to have had the clearest insight into the danger it threatened to Indian independence. Hereditary enemies of tlie Naragansetts. they had taken advantage of the weakening of the power of 194 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Canonicus in the defection of the Wanipanoags and the Nip- mucks from their tribal dependence. By successive inroads they had wrenched from the Narragansett j^rince the .sover- eignty of the Long Ishmd Indians of Montauk and of Block Island, and pushed their border on the mainland ten miles east of the Pawtucket river into the very domain of their enemy. Emboldened by this success they turned their arms upon their English neighbors of the Connecticut and, without the formal declaration of war which usually precedes or opens Indian hostilities, began a series of massacres of isolated boats' crews on the sound and in the river. Among these was the surprise and murder, in 1636, at Block Island, of John Oldham, an Eng- lish trader, well known along the whole New England coast, and in such favor with the Narragansetts that Canonicus, shy though he was of the English, had invited him to settle in the bay on the island of Chibachuwesa (that Prudence island which later became the property of Roger Williams and Governor Winthrop) and establish a fishing station there. Returning from a trade voyage to the Connecticut and touching at Block Island with his little vessel, with two English boys and two Narragansett Indians for his crew, he was set upon and mur- dered, his companions being carried off. The news of this outrage reaching Miantonomi, he at once sent out an expedition which recovered the Indians and the boys, who were returned to their homes. The people of Boston, greatly alarmed for their coast trade, dispatched an embassy, accompanied by the sachem of the Massachusetts tribe as intepreter, to Canonicus; they returned satisfied with the success of their negotiation and full of praise for the "state, great command over his men and marvellous wisdom in his answer and the carriage of the whole treaty " by the prince. It was found that some of the Narragansett sachems were concerned in the plot, but Canonicus and Mian- tonomi were not, and offered "assistance for revenge of it, yet upon very safe and wary conditions." An expedition was fitted out at Boston in three pinnaces, which landed on Block Island, destroyed the Indian wigwams and canoes, and push- ing on to the mouth of the Pequot river, in September burned the villages on the two sides of the stream in the absence of Sassacus, chief sachem of the tribe, on Long Island, after which they returned safely to Boston without the loss of a man. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 195 They killed fourteen and wounded forty of tiie Indians. The Peqnots were greatly e.xcited, but looking beyond immediate retaliation which is a part of Indian creed, they conceived the idea of a more thorough revenge by a league of all the savage tribes, which should extirpate to the last num the English settlers, whom they instinctively felt to be the common enemy of their race. They sought the aid of the Mohegaiis, a fierce tribe whose home was in the region between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers, and whose sachem was Uncas, a revolter from the Pequot tribe. Here they were repulsed. They also sent ambassadors to their hereditary foes, the Narragansetts, proposing to close the ancient feud, bury the hatchet and form with them a league against the English. The success of the Boston mission to Canonicus was no doubt compromised by this summary proceeding of the Massachusetts colony. It was not in accord with Indian methods. Even the Plymouth gov- ernor disapproved and remonstiated with his neighI)or of the Bay for his ruthless provocation to war. The Connecticut colony, weak, almost defenseless, were in- dignant at a proceeding which brought the torch to their dwel- lings without notice. Great was the alarm in Massachusetts when rumors reached them of the proi)osed league. In their distress the governor and council of the Bay appealed to Roger Williams to interpose his influence with the sachems. The en- voys of Sassacus Avere alreadj^ at the island of Conanicut, where the Narragansett sachems were gathered in council about their sage chief, when Williams, "alone in a poor canoe, paddled his way down the bay through a stormy wind with great seas" to the home of Canonicus. "For three days and niglits" he says his business forced him to lodge and mi.\ witii the bloody Pequot ambassadors whose "hands and arms methought reeked with the blood of my countrymen murdered and massacred by them on Connecticut river, and from whom I could not but nightly look for their bloody knives at my own throat also; God wondrously preserved me and helped me tobreaic to pieces the Pequot negotiations and design; and to make and tinish by many travels and charges the English league with the Narra- gansetts and Mohegans against the Pequots." Tradition has it that Canonicus "desired to have preserved peace" and only finally yielded to the persuasion of Williams. The ambitious Pequots were " hoist with their own petard;" the league they 196 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTf. had devised with theNarraganselts and Moheg-aps being turned against themselves. At the request of Governor Vane, Mianto- tonomi, witli two sons of Canonicus, visited Boston, where he was received witli military honor. He there agreed upon and concluded a treaty of amity and alliance offensive and defensive against the Pequots, the interpretation of some clauses of which, not understood by him, he left to the interpretation of Williams. In the spring the Pequots wreaked their vengeance on the Connecticut settlers. Massacre followed massacre. The colony ordered war; their troops were at once joined by the Mohegans. The Pequots fell back to their two fortified villages on the Mystic river and the sea. The Connecticut troops sailed for Narragansett bay and landed at what is now Wickford, where they were joined by a strong force of Narragansett warriors. Marching across the country they struck the rear of the Pequot village at night; assaulting at daybreak and plying the torch as well as the musket, in an hour's sharp work they destroyed the entire village of seven hundred Pequots, only fourteen of whom survived, seven escaping and seven taken prisoners. The English lost two killed and twentj' wounded. The second village, defended by three hundred P'equots, was not attacked. A month later Massachusetts dispatched a detachment to de- stroy the remnant of the tribe. Their hiding places were broken up, and by July not over sixty of the tribe remained. Eight hundred had been slain and two hundred captives were distributed among the Narragansetts and the Mohegans as slaves, under the pledge that they should never be called Pequots nor allowed to see their native country. The Con- necticut assembly obliterated the name b}'^ act; Pequot river was called the Thames and the site of their village New London. Sassacus, their sachem, gave himself up to the Mohegans and was by them murdered. The story reads like a chapter of Csesar's campaign against the Gauls. The supremacy of the ISTarragansetts over the Montauk tribe was now revived. Their western border was freed from alarm. Between them and the Mohegans, their allies, there was no hostile tribe. Thus closed the first great crisis in the New England settlement. The two years of the Pequot war were no less eventful in Indian history. But for the coming of Roger Williams into the Narragansett country there is little HISTORY Ol' NEWPORT COUNTY. 197 doubt that in the temper of the nation in 1636 tliey would have joined and led tlie Indian league with their whole power. Tlie blotting out of the Pequot j)ower in 1637 was the first act in the internecine struggle which was to end in the ruin of the Narra- gansetts. The second was an inevitable consequence of the first: a struggle at first peaceful, afterward by war, to control the Indian tribes who inhabited the zone between the Pawca- tuck and the Connecticut rivers, the respective bounds of Nar- ragansett and Mohegan power. Some of the Connecticut river tribes, dreading the encroachments of the fierce Uncas, had sought and obtained the alliance of the just and generous Miantonomi, now, in the advancing years of Canonicus, the master spirit of his nation. Uncas, fearful doubtless of the interference of the English, sought by intrigue to break the confidence of the Massachusetts authorities in the good faith of Miantonomi by secret ruuKUs. Summoned by the general court the loyal sachem promptly appeared, satisfied them of his innocence and directly charged Uncas with the calumny. This was in August and September, 1642. New England Confederation. In May of the next year an act of policy was consummated by the authorities of the sev- eral settlements, whicli had a determining influence in this as in later Indian struggles. This was the confederation of Massa- chusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven under the style of the United Colonies of New England. Tlie plan was first broached at the close of the Peqiu)t war which had shown the advantage of concert, but various jealousies had hitherto sto(jd in the way. The general restlessness about this time ann)ngst the natives, who were now well snp[)lied with arms and accomplished in their use, brought harmony at last and the league for defense was completed. It may here be mentioned that the English settlements on Narragauseti bay were not in- vited to join this confederation, although the most exposed from their position in the heart of the most numerous and pow- erful of the Indian nations. In July, 1643. rlie Mohegans de- clared war upon Sequasson, a sachem of the Connecticut and an ally of the Narragansetts. Both parties sought the aid of the English, who announced their intention of renuiining neutral. Miantonomi, before marching to the aid of his ally, faithful to the engagement he had made at the time of the Pequot war, notified the governor of the Massachusetts bay, and received 198 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. an answer that "if Uncas had done him or his friends wrong and wonld not give satisfaction he might take his own course " with them. Miantonomi took the field with a thousand warri- ors and was defeated in a bloody fight. By the treachery of two of his own captains he was given up to Uncas. An attempt was made by his subjects to obtain his liberty under ransom which, as appears by the letter of the owners of Shawomet who were interested in the effort, was "given and received" by his captors. He was then taken to Hartford and delivered over to the English there to be held prisoner, as he himself entreated, until the meeting of the commissioners of the United Colonies at Boston. These, it is claimed, were prejudiced against him because of his sale of Shawomet, which was coveted by Massachusetts, to men, some of whom, like Williams, they had exiled as heretics. The commissioners were all of opinion that it would not be safe to leave him at liberty nor yet had they grounds to put him to death. In tlieir dilemma they called in five of the most judicious elders who, adding another to the sum of villainies perpetrated in hypocritical godliness, recommended his death. He was accordingly again delivei'ed over to Uncas with orders to execute him and two Englishmen were delegated to witness the deed. Uncas was promised protection and assist- ance in case his territory were invaded in retaliation. The un- righteous sentence was carried out. Thus fell one of the truest friends, most generous benefactors and earliest patrons of the Rhode Island settlement. To the lasting disgrace of the United Colonies its records bear witness among the earliest of its proceedings to its sanction of this hid- eous crime, mean in its inception, cowardly in its close. The deception of Massachusetts was only equalled by the ingrati- tude of Connecticut. The absence of Roarer Williams, then in England on the business of a charter for the Providence settle- ment, was a ])ublic calamity. Yet it is doubtful whether his in- fluence could have stayed the liand of the " clerico-jndicial murderers," as the judges of Miantunomi have been styled. The Narragansetts long and bitterly mourned their noble chief. Canonicus was broken with grief. Pessicus, the brother of Miantonomi, succeeded him as chief sachem, together with Canonicus, who appears to have already abandoned the chief control of the government even in name, though still taking part in the councils and joining in all acts of sovereignty. The HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 199 Narragansetts now enter on a new and the last phase of their national or i)o]itioal existence. Ci'ipi^led in their resources by the heavy ransom of which they had been wronged, yet thirst- ing for revenge ; fearful also of the interference of the Massa- chusetts i^ower to thwart their wai'like jinrpose, they resolved to throw themselves upon the protection of the English king. In the absence of Roger Williams the Narragansett chiefs, on the murder of Miantonomi, took advice of the settlers of Shaw- omet, of whom the leading spirit was the heretic, Gorton, whom the general court had banished by another of their atrocious decrees. These settlers liad, it appears, sided in tiie effort at ransom. On the 19th of April, 1644, Canonicus and Pessicus invited Gorton, who had taken refuge from the pursvxit of the Massa- chusetts government on the island of Aquidneck, and his friends to cross over to Conanicnt. Here tiiey found the sachems in solemn council. The result of the deliberations and conference was the voluntary and free subnnsslon of the chief sachem and the rest of tlie princes, with the joint and unani- mous consent of the whole people, with their lands, rights, in- lieritances and possessions, to King Charles, acknowledging themselves his servants and subjects, to be ruled, ordei-ed and disposed of according to the laws of that honorable state of Old England, "upon condition of his majesty's royal protection and lighting of the wrong done or to be done to them ; not that they found the need thereof in respect to their relation with any of the natives in these parts, knowing themselves sufficient defence and able to judge in any matter or cause in that respect, but that they had just cause of jealousj' and suspicion of some of his majesty's pretended subjects." They express their desire to liave their matters and causes tried in his majesty's pleasure under just and equal laws but witii tliis express understanding, best given in their own words : "Nor can we yield over our- selves unto any that are subjects themselves in any case; having ourselves been the chief Sachems or Princes successively of the country time out of mind." This deed or act of submission, signed by Pessicus as chief .sachem and successor of Miantono- mi, Canonicus as "protector of the late deceased Miantonomi in the time of his nonage" and Mixan, son and heir of that above- said Canonicus, was entrusted to Gorton and his associates, who '-U0 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. are named commissioners in the instrument, and by tliem some months later taken to England. Tliis act brought the Narragansetts into direct antagonism with Massachusetts, which liad been seeking covertly or overtly to ob- tain an outlet into the Narragansett bay. They summoned the sachems to appear at the next meeting of the court in the spring. The sachems on the 24th of May peremptorily refused, pleading their press of business preparing to avenge the death of their chief and asking their reasons of Massachusetts for advising them not to "go out against tlieir inhuman and cruel adversary," who had taken not only tiieir ransom but the life of their prince also. They give formal notice of tlieir late subjection to King Charles, declare their intention of referring all serious matters of dispute to the English government, and ask for and offer free passage and conduct to their respective people desir- ing to have commerce. The general court, startled by the tone of this dignified document, sent messengers to dissuade the Narragansetts from their warlike purpose. The envoys were coldly received. In June the settlers of Shawomet in their turn addressed the general court of Massachusetts, notifying them thar- they had themselves witnessed the deed of subjection and that they, the general court, need take no further trouble concerning the In- dians in their neighborhood since the home government could be appealed to in case of disagreement. They also assured the court that the Narragansetts would take a sharp and princely revenge for the indignity done to their sovereign; and further warned them that they had lately met abroad one of the great sachems of the Mohawks, the most fierce and warlike people in the country with some of his men, and that they were furnished with 3,700 guns, plenty of powder and shot and defensive furni- ture for their bodies in time of war ; that the Mohawks deeply sympathized with the Narragansetts in the loss of their sachem and the unjust detention of the ransom given for his life, and were determined to wage war to the uttermost against any that should assault them. Both the tone and the contents of this letter must have been as gall and wormwood to the gentlemen addressed. The air was full of war and the settlers of Aquidneck were in alarm all of the summer. To add to their anxiety they were short of powder and Massachusetts, either from inability or HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 201 malice, refused to give thera a supply. Their religious opinions were, as Governor Winthrop phrased it, too " desperately er- roneous" for their distress to awaken much sympathy from the self-elected saints of the Puritan colony. In February, 104;"), the Narragansett sachems sent messengers to Boston declaring that unless Uncas made amends by the pay- ment of one hundred and sixty fathoms of wampum or agree to a new hearing of the dispute within six weeks, they should make war. No redress forthcoming, one thousand warriors, some armed with guns, fell upon the Mohegans and defeated Uncas with much slaughter. Connecticut troops marched to his aid. The general court again ordered the Narragansetts to stop the war. Negotiations ensued. A second time messengers were sent to both the Mohegans and Narragansetts, on this oc- casion by the New England commissioners. Roger Williams, now returned, was called on by the sachems. The embassy on their return carried a letter from Williams stating that terms of neutrality had been agreed upon by the sachems and the Rhode Island colony and that the Narragansetts would continue the war. They were resolved to have the head of Uncas. The United Colonies now declared war on the Narragansetts and began to raise troojjs. A mounted troop was despatched in advance. The Narragansetts, alarmed at this joint action of the colonies and at last awake to the leal value of King Charles' protection, sued for peace. Roger Williams again interposed and for the second time within eight j'^ears saved the general peace. Pessicus, with other sachems and a large train, went to Boston. A treaty was concluded, onerous in the extreme to the Narragansetts. They were condemned to pay two thousand fathoms of wampum within two years, a sum the magnitude of which best appears when compared with that demanded by them of Uncas. Captives and canoes were to be exchanged with the Mohegans ; all claim to the Pequot counti-y conquered partly by their arms was abandoned by the Narragansetts. The sachems, helpless, signed the treaty. A part of the lirst install- ment of the tribute was sent to Boston the spring of the next year. The venerable Canonicus died in June (the 4th) of this year. "He was laid to sleep," says Williams, " in the same most honorable manner and solemnity in their way as was Governor Winihrop himself." The burial of a Narragansett sachem was T 202 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. an imposins: solemnity not unlike the ceremonies of the Chinese at the funeral rites of their dynastic emperors. Pessicus, summoned by the commissioners to answer for the neglect to fulfill the treaty, and charged besides with an at tempted conspiracy with the Mohawks, excused himself on plea of illness, declared that he had only accepted the treaty under duress, and sent Ninegret, sachem of the Niantics (or the West- erly tribe), to answer in his place. The Niantics wei'e not prop- erly Narragansetts but a tributary nation. Ninegret was, how- ever, related to the great sachems, his sister, Quiapen, having married Mexham, the son of Canonicus. He escaped from the commissioners under promise to pay one thousand fatlioms of wampum within twenty days after his return, the remainder in the spring. The tribute was not paid. Ninegret again appeared to answer for the failure and also a charge of an attempt to as- sassinate Uncas, of whose territorial and personal rights the commissioners were exceedingly tender. The next year an offi- cer and guard of men were sent to Narragansett, who surprised Pessicus in his wigwam, and dragging him by the hair from his attendants, made him prisoner. The sum was gathered, the debt paid, and the troops withcirew. Thus ended, in an act of personal outrage, of all the most of- fensive to Indian piide, seven years of Indian protest and English brutality. Yet, as Roger Williams stated later, " the Narragansetts had long been confederates with the English, faithful allies, true in the Pequot wars and the means of draw- ing the Mohegans to the alliance. Never had they stained their hands with any English blood neither in open hostilities nor in secret murders. Through all their towns and country many and ofttimes one Englishman travelled alone with safety and loving kindness," — and this was their reward. For three years, from 1644 to 1647, owing to a break in the records, there is no information as to the legislation of the col- ony upon Indian matters. In 1649 an order was made against the taking of black wampumpeage of the Indians at less than "four a penny" under penalty of total forfeiture, from which it appears that the value of this currency had fallen, owing in part to the greater abundance of commodities and in part to the gradual substitution of other money, which it was of course in the interest of the whites to foster. In 1651, whether to protect the Indians or the original grantees of the land, it was ordered IIISTOI'vY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 203 that no purchases should thereafter be made of the natives for a l^lantation without the consent of the state, except for the clearing of the Indians from particuhir plantations already set down upon ; from which the theory already advanced of Indian right of occupanc}^ if not of domain, is confirmed. A breach of this order carried a forfeiture of the land thus bargained for. But this seemingly having been evaded, the law was again en- acted in 1058 with the addition of the forfeiture of twenty pounds to the colony in case of transgression. There was no doubt early regulation of the sale of liquors to the Indians, but drunkenness was now common among them. In 1654 the general sergeant was authorized to collect the tines from those offending in tiie sale and to take one half for his fees. The next year, for the preventing of the great mischief of the Indian drunkenness two ordinary (tavern) keejiers were ap- pointed in each town to whom it was alone permitted to sell any sort of strong diink either to English or to Indians by retail, that is under a gallon, under penalty of five pounds for each offense, one half to go to the constable and the other to the in- former ; and further, that neither of these ordinary keepers should sell more than a quarter of a pint of liquors or wines a day to an Indian ; and in case an Indian were found drunk, the ordinary keeper by whose means he was made drunk was fined twenty shillings for each person's transgression, the Indian to pay ten shillings or be whipped or "laid neck and heels." Tlie clause of the law authorizing the sale of a quarter of a pint in a day to an Indian was repealed in 1656, and in 1659 a stringent statute was passed against either selling or giving either strong drinks or wine directly or indirectly to any Indian, any person being allowed to seize from any Indian carrying it and convert it to their own use: only it was allowed to give a dram to an hired Indian servant. In this year also an elaborate statute regulated punishment for Indian thefts ; their petty robbing and pilfering and inability to make restitution proving of great damage. The value of white peage is here fixed at six a penny, and in case of inability to pay the penalty and costs of trial, it was made lawful for the judges of the court where the trial was had to condemn the Indian offender "to be sold as a slave to any foreign counti-y of the English subjects." Although, as has been seen, the crushing blow in the destruc- tion of the Pequots was struck by the troops of Connecticut 204 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUKTY. and their allies of the Narragansett tribe, neither the one nor the other was considered in the distribution of the spoils. Prompted either by wisdom or disdain, or perhaps even deeper motives of a Machiavellian order of policy, the English did not ap- parently contest the tribal sovereignty of the Narragansetts over the sachems of the intervening tribes, but confined their demand to the lion's share of the conquest, the soil itself, and the commissioners of the United Colonies assigned to Massa- chusetts the entire Pequot country. We have seen also the imprudent sale by Miantonomi and Pumhara of Shawomet, in 1642, to a company of settlers who were in quarrel with the Massachtisetts colony. The next year the authority of the Narragansetts being rudely shaken by the death of Miantonomi, Pumham repudiated the sale he had himself authenticated as a witness, and apparently assuming an independent authority, made forma) submission (June, 1643) to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. The sachems of the Pawtuxet, also under the tribal sovereignty of the Narragansetts, made similar submission at tlie satue time. By this defection the sovereignty of the Narragansetts was narrowed almost to the original limits of tlie ti'ibe. The Wampanoags and the wandering Nipmucks of tlie northern ccMintry had long since accepted English pro- tection; the Niantics who lived about the Pawcatuck river alone held iirmly to their ancient allegiance. It was not long before the general court made the sachems of Pawtuxet and Shawomet to understand the meaning of submission. They were held to obey the summons of the court. It was at this meeting of the court that a final insult was put upon the Narragansetts by a grant to Captain Atherton, the brutal insulter of the sachem Pessicus, of five hundred acres of land in the Narragansett territory. The Narragansetts seem to have understood tiie folly of an attempt to resist this con- stant encroachment of the English with a front so broken. But the white men were by no means at their ease. The breaking out of war between the English and the Dutch (1652) was a fresh cause of alarn); not from any fear of their neighbors of the New Amsterdam colony on Manhattan island, but from the uncertainty of the attitude of the Indian tribes. The Maquas or Mohawks, by far the most powerful of the Indian nations, had long been the faithful friends of tlie Dutch, to whom they were bound by the famous treaty of Corlear. Should the Dutch HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 205 enlist them in their service and they in tnrn form a league with the Narragansetts, the peril would be supreme,even though the Mohegans should stand fast or even hold aloof from the con- test. In April, 1653, the council of Massachusetts sent messen- gers to question Pessicus, Mexham, the son of Canonicus, and Ninegret, the three chief sachems of the Narragansetts. Their answers to the several queries did not satisfy the commisioners. But while unwilling to affront the Englisli power by direct act of hostility, the sachems took advantage of the occasion to pun- ish the defection of the Long Island tribes, whom the}' assailed in the September following. For this they were again called to account by messengers from the commissioners,and their answer being again unsatisfactory, war was declared by the commis- sioners. But Massachusetts prudently pronouncing the cause insufficient, this declaration was not carried into effect. According to Roger Williams' account, John Endicott, the governor of the Massachusetts colon}', had expressly given consent to Ninegret to right himself against the "insolent challenges of the Long Island sachem." Ninegret took his revenge, but at the request of the English restored the captives. The next year (1654) the Long Islanders treacherously broke the peace and slaughtered at midnight near thirty of the Narra- gansetts at Block Island, one of whom was the nephew of Nine- gret. The war broke out afresh and the Narragansetts from AquJdneck went to the assistance of their chief. The United Colonies, alarmed again, sent messengers to Ninegret summon- ing liim to Hartford; he returned a haughty reply, refused to go to Hartford and asked to be let alone by the English. Roger Williams, the president of the Providence colony, addressed the general court of Massachusetts, defending tlie fealty of the Narragansetts to the English and justifying their war of self- defense against the Long Island tribes. In this interesting document he describes the Narragansetts and " Mohawks as the two great tribes of Indians in the country, as confederates and long liaving been and both yet friendly and peaceable to the English," and urges the need of frieiulsliip with one if ever the Englisli should go to war with the other. From this letter it is also learned that these two nations had of late not been friendly, but that their differences were now healed and some of the Narragansetts had gone home with the Mohawks on a visit. He expresses the fear that in case of any great defeat to 206 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the English, Mohawks and Narragansetts, Long Islanders and Mohegans would unite against tbem. However this just api)eal and sound reasoning may have affected the Massachusetts government, it did not prevent the dispatch of a force by the commissioners. The Indians with- drew to the refuge of a swamp and the troops returned unsuc- cessful, to the mortification of the commissioners at Hartford. The influence of Massachusetts brought the struggle to a close. The unavenged murder of Miantonomi still haunted the con- sciences of his tribe. The perfidious retention of his ransom by Uncas shocked the sense of justice, one of the strongest traits of Indian character, not only of the Narragansetts but of the Mohawks. Alike thej?^ looked upon the renegade Pequot chief of the Mohegans as an outlaw. In the interview of the Mohawks with the Narragansetts measures of concerted action were agreed upon, and the Mohawks sent out a large force against the common enemy in the summer of 1657, but all their plans of surprise, an essential part of Indian tactics, were set at naught by information given to the Mohegans bj^ the English scouts. It is strange to understand the determined effort of the English settlers in tlie Pequot country to thwart all efforts of the Narragansetts against the Mohegans, unless it be that they held their expeditions to be an invasion of the soil which they sought to bring within jurisdiction of the Connecticut colonies. So constant was this interposition that, on the request of the Narragansett sachems, the general court of commissioners held for the colony of Providence Plantations at Warwick in July, addressed a remonstrance to the English settlei's at Pequot, in- timating in a plain way that it was the opinion of the Narra- gansetts that the English scouts were acting, not under the orders of the colony but in the pay of Uncas himself. They give notice also that the Mohawks were coming down in numbers and would pay little legard to any scouts they might find giving notice to tlie enemy. In May, 1660, the final act iu the series of villainies was committed by the commissioners of the United Colonies upon the Narragansetts. For alleged injuries on the Mohe- gans, which their sachems denied, a heavy fine was levied upon the Narragansetts and an armed force sent down to compel them to mortgage their entire territory for the payment of a sum of six hundred fathoms of wampumpeage within four HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 207 months. Six montlis were allowed for ledemptioii. The Indians were unable to effect the redemption and in the spring of 1662 the sachems delivered formal possession. The mortgage deed was signed by Sucqiiansli, Ninegret, Scuthip and Wiquanlva- mitt, chief sachems of the Narraganselts, and beai-s date 13th, 1660. The history of the Narragansett empire ends here; and yet the sachems retained somewhat of their dignity. In 1664, soon alter the restoration of Charles the Second, a roj'al commis- sion was issued to reduce the Dutch provinces in America to subjection, and further, to determine all questions of appeal and jurisdiction and all boundary disputes arising in the New England colonies. On their arrival in Rhode Island the Narra- gansett sachems confirmed to them the formal submission they had made by writings to tlie crown in 1660, and they agreed to pay an annual tribute of two wolf skins and not to make war or to sell land without the consent of the authorities appointed over them by the crown. While they had parted with their territory they still acknowledged no sovereignty except that of the English king. King Philip's War. — A new and startling figure now ap- pears upon the scene ; the hero of a dramatic episode similar in character and not inferior in interest to that which Parkman has made famous in his glowing page : that vast plot, which the Puritans call in their qnaint phrase, " tlie Design of Philip," was the jirototype, and perhaps, though a century earlier, the suggestive cause of the "Conspiracy of Pontiac." The name of the proud young chief of the Wampanoags, Philip of Pokanoket, first aiapears upon the records of the colony with a simplicity which denotes his consequence ; in an order of disarmament of all the Indians on Aquidneck island because of information from Seconck of " such dejwrtment of the Indians, especially of Philip, which giveth great occasion of suspicion of them and their treacherous designes." Not otherwise does history name its heroes, its sages, its kings. Massa.soit, the sachem of the Wampanoags, whose dominion spread along the coast from Narragansett bay to Cape Cod, died in the winter of 1661 to 1662, and with him closed the era of peace and good will between the lords of the soil and the Eng- lish invaders. For forty years he kept sacred the treaty made with the Pilgrim fathers. In the early days of the weak Ply- 208 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. mouth settlement, when, wasted by disease and famine, they wonkl liave fallen an easy prey to concerted action among the many tribes whom he swayed, he not only held to his compact, but with generous hand gave to them of his abundance. As years went by the annoj^ances and encroachments of the white men increased. No race has better understood the policy of divide and con- quer than the Saxon. It has been the history of its progress and empire. To the Pilgrim fathers it was a native instinct. One by one the tribes whicli had acknowledged the rale of the chief fell from their allegiance, and, yielding to the intrigui's of their white neighbors, asserted their independence. Mas- sasoit's chief residence was on Narragansett bay, at what is now the town of Bristol, at a spot called Sowams by the Wampa- noags, Pokanoket by the Narragansetts, and Mount Hope by the early colonists. }[ere, at the headland of the peninsula which commanded tiie beautiful bay, with its swarming waters and fertile islands, "the very garden of New England," the old chieftain, " the earliest and firmest friend of the Pilgrims," had his seat of patriarchial government ; and here resided with him two sons, Wanisutta and Pometacom or Metacomet. To these young sachems the names of Alexander and Philip were given on occasion of a visit to Plymouth court, about the year 1656. Wamsntta or Alexander, the elder of the brothers, increased his power by a marriage with Wetanioo, squaw sachem of Pocasset (now Tiverton), the chief of tlie Indian villages on the eastern mainland. On the death of Massasoit, Wamsutta, who had shared the government during the declining years of his father, became chief sachem. The proud spirit of the young chiefs had long chafed under the quiet submission of their aged father and the general policy of non-resistance which he main- tained to the close. That any general plan of conspiracy was thus early conceived is not probable, but there is little doubt that the germ of a concerted action by savage tribes of the con- tinent lay deep within their politic souls. There was example of the power of union close at their doors in the military force of the United Colonies, and proof that such alliance was not beyond the reach of Indian diplomacy in the wonderful struc- ture of the confederation of the six nations of the New York ]iroviii('i'. IIISTOIJY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 2()9 • Massasoit was hai'dly in his grave before nniiors were rite in. the Plymouth colony that Warasutta was plotting against the English, anrl the distinct charge was broiiglit that he had iil- ready made oveitiires to the Narragansetts, tiie hereditary enemies of his (lihe. Summoned before the general court at Plymoutli, he did not nppear, wiiereupon he was seized by an armed force at o.ne of his iiunting stations and forcibly carried off prisoner, witli liis train of warriors and women, some eighty in numbei'. Crazed with anger and fatigue, he fell ill and was permitted to return home on promise of attendance at the next court and the surrender of his son as a hostage. He died be- fore he reached his wigwams. The more moderate of the Puri- tans did not hesitate to condemn this rigor. The Indians did not forget it. The widow nursed her feelings of revenge. The injury rankled deep in tlie heart of the brother, and stirred to life the fated germs wliicli (iame to full fi'uition in such disaster, devastation and death as liad never before fallen upon tlie Eng- lish settlements. Metacomet, or Philip, now became chief sachem. He still further strengtliened his power by marriage with the sister of Wetamoo, widow of Wamsutta, the squaw sachem of the Po- cassets. From tiie very beginning of his sway he undertook the vast enterprise of a union of the tribes to the alternative of Indian independencie or English extei'niination. Prudent and politic, iiis line of conduct effectually cloaked his designs. Answering witiiout hesitation the summons of the general court, he made submission, consented to treaties, even to pay tribute; in a word agreed to whatever was required of him by the Ply- mouth autliorities. By what means he soothed the jealousies of the neigiiboring tribes, assuaged tlieir rivalries and brought them to a common action is not, will never be known. Indian liistory is in a manner a sealed book. We know their motives and see the results, but not their metliods. Strange Indians were constantly at Mount Hope, and Philip's emissaries were heard of wherever there was disaffection. The mere pi'esence of Ills ancient men with Ninecraft, sachem of the Narragan- setts in 1669, was held sufficient evidence of a plot to warrant the arrest of that chief. At this time also Governor Lovelace, of the New York province, informed Governor Arnold of lihode Island of apprehensions liad at the east end of Long Is- 14 210 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. land of a rising bj' the Narragansetts, but in the same letter said that he did not thin'i them in a condition strong enough to make any such attempt. But in the spring of 1671 Lovelace was of another mind. In a letter to Governor Prince lie says, "I verily believe by what relations I have met with, even of our own (New York) Indians, the defection seemed almost uni- versal." Again Philip, not yet ready, bent to the storm. At a conference held at Taunton in April his men gave up their arms, and in September he made submission at Plymouth. No data exist by which even to appro.xiraate the number of the Indian tribes to which Philip addressed himself. We only know that in the report of the king's commissioners, made in December, 1660, the Rhode Island colony is credited with the "greatest number of Indians," but as yet there had been no harmony of feeling or action between them and the neighbor- ing tribes. Early in May, 1667, on information of the suspicious deport- ment of the Indians, especially of Philip, the Rhode Island council which sat in the intermissions of the assembly, had or- dered the disarming of all the Indians on the island, leaving the magistrates of Providence and Warwick to do as they saw fit ; and on the lOtli, fully satisfied of the existence of plots, every Indian above sixteen was ordered by proclamation to leave the island. Only a license from the governor, the deputy governor or two assistants in the island was an adequate pass- port. But even at this juncture the number on the island proper must have been small. It does not ajipear that this or- der had been repeated. On the eastern mainland Philip naturally turned to his sister- in-law, Wetamoo, the squaw sachem of Pocasset (now Tiverton) who, although she had condescended, after Wamsutta's death, to a marriage with an Indian of lesser degree, was eager to re- venge the death of her first husband. Beyond, on the head- land opposite to Rhode Island, was the tribe of the Sogknonates, who occupied the territory from Fogland ferrj^ to the sea, some seven to eight miles long; Seconnet, later Little Compton. Their squaw sachem, Awashonks, timid or prudent, hesitated, controlled by the advice of Mr. Benjamin Church, who had lately made a settlement on the point, and chanced upon a great dance at the very moment when she was entertaining Philip's She was herself quite willing to be dissuaded HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 211 fioni joining the league, but the young braves would not be held back. For weeks Philip entertained the youth of the tribes from near and far, at Mount Hope, with dances, until crazed with excitement, and even he could not longer control them. In an unfortunate hour, furious with the indignity put upon him in the hanging of his executioners, as though he were a vassal of the English power and not a lord of the soil, he yielded to the entreaty of his braves and consented to the beginning of depredations. For four years constant rumors had alarmed the borders. The plans of Philip, it is generally believed, were laid for an uj^rising in the spring of 1676, but as usual in time of extreme tension, the outbreak was hastened in an unforseen manner. One of John Eliot's "praying Indians" of the Massachusetts tribe, who had received instruction at Harvard College and later served Alexander and Philip as secretary-, discovered and be- trayed tJie plans of the sachem to the Plymouth governor. In- dian justice quickly reached the traitor, who was found dead in an ice pond. The executioners were in their turn betrayed, tried by a mixed jury of whites and Indians, found guilty and put to death. From this time Philip kept his men in arms, moving from place to place, gathering forces and to avoid sur- prise. Alarmed at the near approach of hostilities, Mr. John Easton, the deputy governor of Rhode Island, together with three other magistrates, reljdng on their ancient friendship, sought an in- terview with Phili]). By Easton's own account of the interest- ing event the Indians had the best of the argument. Indeed, what answer could be made to Philip's complaint that " when the English first came their king's father (Massasoit) was as a great man and the English as a little child ; he constrained other Indians from wronging the English and gave them corn and showed them how to plant, and was free to do them any good, and had let them have one hundred times more laud than now the king had for his own people." To the magistrates' persuasion that he should abandon the thought of war " for the English were too strong for them," the Indians said " then the English should do to them as they did when they were too strong for the English." Not less striking was Philip's reply to John Borden, of Rhode Island, a warm friend who urged him to peace. "The 212 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Engjlish wlio came first to this country were but an handful of people, forlorn, poor and distressed. My father was then sachem. He relieved their distresses in the most kind and hos- pitable manner. He gave them land to build and plant upon. He did all in his power to serve them. Others of their own countrymen came and joined them. Tlieir numbers rapidly in- creased. My father's counsellors became uneasy and alarmed lest, as thej'^ were possessed of firearms which was not the case with the Indians, they should finally undertake to give law to the Indians and take from them their country. They therefore advised him to desti'oy tliem before they should become too strong and it should be too late. My father was also the father of the English. He represented to his counsellors and warrior.s that the English knew many sciences wliich the Indians did not; that they improved and cultivated the earth and raised cattle and fruits, and that thei-e was sufficient room in the country for both the English and the Indians. His advice prevailed. It was concluded to give victuals to the English. They flourished and increased. Experience taught that the advice of my father's counsellors was right. By various means they got possession of a great part of his territory. But he still remained their friend till he died. My elder brother became sachem. They pretended to suspect him of evil designs against them. He was seized and confined and thereby thrown into sickness and died. Soon after I became sachem they disarmed all my people. They tried my people by their own laws and assessed damages against them which they could not pay. Their land was taken. At length a line of division was agreed upon between the En- glish and my people and I myself was to be responsible. Some- times the cattle of the English would come into the cornfields of my people for they did not make fences like tiie English. I must then be seized and confined until I sold another tract of my country for satisfaction of all damages and costs. Thus tract after tract is gone. But a small part of tlie dominion of my ancestors remains. I am determined not to live till I have no country. With such a spirit there was no room for comjjosition. Nor was there more disposition to arrangement on the part of the English, for hardly had the Rhode Island mediators departed from the Ferry, the scene of their interview, " without any dis- curtiousness," when they were notified by the riymouth gov- irrsTouY c)i.^ newi'ort county. 213 ernoi- tliat he intended '•inarms to conform Philip," that is to re- duce him 'to subjection. All hopes of peace were now at an end. Hostilities were preceded by individual depredations. The war opened by an attack made at Swansea on Sunday, the 24th of June, 1675, on the people returning from public woi'ship. Philip's young braves would no longer be restrained. At first only deserted houses on the neck of Pocanoket were plundered, but a shot being tired and an Indian wounded, the savages could not be controlled. A number of whites were waylaid and killed. Troops soon arrived and under the guidance of Mr. Benjamin Church, of Little Compton, the neck was occupied and Philip withdrew from Mount Hope to a swamp at Pocasset, where he successfully defended himself and drove back the soldiers, and later, hard pressed, escaped toward the Nipmucks in Worcester county. During the summer and autumn the Indians hung about the Massachusetts and Connecticut settlements with brand and tomahawk. No further doubt existing that the Narragansetts were in alliance with Philip, the commissioners of the United Colonies declared war against them in November and in Decem- ber marched an army of fifteen hundred to two thousand men to their reduction. The Indians' force at the beginning of the war has been estimated by the highest authorities at ten thou- sand warriors ; of these the Narragansetts alone had two thou- sand, those of the Plymouth country at least four thousand. But perhaps because of the precipitancy of the war the scheme of Philip to the westward seems to have failed. The Long Island Indians, none of whom were warlike tribeSj and always held well in hand by the governor of the New York province, were early disarmed and their canoes secured, while an armed sloop patrolled the sound to i)revent the crossing of the ill disposed. Watches were kept, block liouses erected on the coast and heavy guns sent to the islands of Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, both of wliicli were under New York authority. Later in October, news reaching New York of an extraordinary confederac}'' of the Indians and a threatened at- tack on Hartford of from five to six thousand and of disturb- ance at the Navesinks, the same stringent rules were applied in the vicinity of New York and all the canoes in tiie sound east of Hell Gate were ordered into the ))lock house. A few days later proclanuitions were sent out comnumding the erection 214 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. and fortification of a block or palisadoed house in every town or village in the province. The sale of powder at Albany to the Indians was prohibited by an order of council. In Mary- land theSusquehannas rose. Fortunately for the New England colonies the great Mohawk confederacy stood aloof and the river Indians, of whom the chief were the Mohegans, who occu- pied the eastern border between the Hudson and the Connec- ticut colony, were controlled by Uncas, their sachem, a revolted Pequot and a faithful ally of his English neighbors. The ex- tent of the alarm is itself proof of the genius of Philip. On the 18th of December, 1675, the English troops found the Indians with Philip at their head, gathered with their families to the number of three thousand on a piece of upland or high ground three or four acres in extent, in the midst of a difficult swamp in what is now SoTith Kingstown, about seven miles nearly due west from Narragansett south ferry. The Narragan- setts had surrounded his camp with pallisades and a heavy abattis of inclined trees. They were thoroughly provisioned and well armed. And here it may be stated that the Indians were now well used to firearms, though owing to the disarma- ment to which Philip had been forced to submit, the supply of muskets, powder and ball was small. Not until their territory was invaded did the Narragansetts forget their old league of friendship with the Rhode Island colony, and the English array was almost at their wigwams before they fell upon the isolated garrisons of the whites. The first overt act of the waj' was the surprise of Bull's garri- son at South Kingstown about the 15th of December. On the 18th, the weather being intensely cold, the English army marched through heavy snow to the assault of the fortified enclosure. Besides the enlisted quotas of Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut, one thousand men, including a troop of horse, there marched one hundred and fifty Indians, Mohegans of the tribe ruled by Uncas, and the remains of the broken Pequots, eager for revenge on the destroyers of their race. With the volunteers who joined the marching body in the Rhode Island colony the number could not have been less than fifteen hundred men. No records show how many men the councils of war in the Rhode Island towns mustered for this engagement, nor yet if there were any regularly enlisted. Indeed, but for the recent massacres of the outlying garrisons, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 215 it is questionable whether any of her people would have volun- teered for the fray. They were commanded by General Josiah Winslo\v,with whom rode, as an aid and counsellor,Captain Ben- jamin Church, who was already well known for his knowledge of Indian character and ways, and who now showed not only great personal courage, but high military qualities, prudence, judgment and foresight, which won for him his indisputable place in history as the foremost Indian fighter of his day. Arriving before the narrow entrance to the enclosure, which ■was flanked by a block house, early in the afternoon, the Eng- lish sought in vain to force the passage or climb over the sharp breastworks. For three hours the carnage I'aged, at one time the assailants being driven from the assault. At last an en- trance was effected in the rear by the reserve guai'd. The Indians, out of powder and ball, had but their bows and arrows with which to resist this double attack. The wigwams were flred and the enclosure blazed with the flames of five hundred dwellings. Night closed the dreadful scene. In this, the most deadly bat- tle in the history of New England, the Indians lost in killed, wounded and prisoners not less than one thousand, of whom one-third perished in the flames and as man}^ more in the fight. To the English the victory was at a heavy cost. How many were slain, how many wounded, how many perished in the snow on the return is not now known. The estimates vary from two to four hundred. But among these were a large number of the officers that led the assault. Six of the cajotains fell in the first attempt to force the entrance. Church himself was badly wounded. From motives of policy, as well as humanity, he had opposed the firing of the w-igwams. Owing to this error the victors and the vanquished alike suffered. One half of the losses of the English are ascribed to the want of shelter for the wounded on the night of the battle, and in the forced march homeward in the cold and snow of the December night. No positive evidence has come down as to the presence of Philip at this fight. That there were AVampanoags of his adherents among the Narragansetts is certain from the refusal of Canon- chet, the Narragansett chief, to the demands of the English in November, but according to Church's recital Philip himself was at this time on the Hoosac river, engaged in an attempt to enlist the Mohawks in the general cause. Andros, governor of New York, writing to the governor of 'J16 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Maryland a few days before the swamp fight, says that, " bas- ing tlinir action on their means in the Plymouth and Massa- chusetts colonies, the eastern Indians were endeavoring by all means of command and profit to engage the Maquas (Mohawks) and sent to all other parts, as far as Canada."' All accounts agree that Philip failed in these negotiations, and some assert that he was driven from the Hoosac by a descent of their war- riors. However this may be, he is found in the spring with the Narragansetts. They had tlien made their winter quarters in a "rocky swamp," about twenty miles to the northward of Wick- ford, where the English troops went into garrison. The winter, rude in the beginning, was unusually mild in January. The troops, re-inforced, dislodged the Indians from their new po- sition, pursued their broken organization, and were then dis- banded. The war was by no means over, the hostile tribes gathering in the spring in the Nipmuck country, in the rear of Wachuset hills, in the neighborhood of Worcester, where it is supposed that Philip joined them. The upper towns of Rhode Island colony, trembling not only for safety, but for life, besought aid of the general assembly. This body convened on the 13th of March, 1676, at Newport, to consider the hazardous situation, replied by letters to the appeals of Providence and Warwick that the colony was not "of ability to maintain suflicient gar- risons for the security of the out-plantations," and advised the inhabitants to come into the island, which was most secure. The Newport and Portsmouth inhabitants had taken care, they said, that land should be provided by the towns for those to plant who could not otherwise find land, and pasturage for a cow would be given to each family ; and they warned those that stayed out with their cattle, provisions and ammunition that it was at their own hazard and to the probable advantage of the enemy. On the same day, to further enforce the orders of the council of war on the island, they directed that every Indian from twelve years old and upward in the custody of the inhab- itants should be secured, a keeper attending him by day and securely locking him up at night, under heavy forfeiture This order was published in the towns of Newport and Portsmouth by beat of drum. To temper this rigor the assembly voted that " noe Indian in this colony be a slave, luit only to pay their debts or for tlieir HIST01!Y OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 217 bring-ill"- up or custody they have received'or to perform cove- nant as if they had been countrymen not iu war." How many Indians there were on the island at this time is not known, tlie census taken in separate lists of English, Negrues and Indians in April, as also the provision of corn, guns, powder, shot and lead, having disapi)eared Ironi the archives, nor is there author- ity for even an approximate estimate. The fears of the petitioners on the mainland were immediately realized. Warwick was sacked and burned, only one house, and that of stone, escaping. On the other hand, only one of tlie inhabitants was slain. Providence was deserted. The town records give the names of thirty men only "That stayed and went not away." The venerable Roger Williams, the father of the colony, now seventy-seven years of age, was the captain of the train l)and. It is related that when the Indians approached tlie town he went out alone to meet and admonish them. " Massachusetrs," said he, so runs the tradition, "can raise iliousands of men at this moment, and if you kill them the King of England will supply their places as fast as they fall." "Well, let them come," was the reply, "We are ready for them. But as for you. Brother Williams, you are a good man; you have been kind to us many years ; not a hair of your head shall be touched." The town was assaulted on the 29th or :!Oth of March. Some fifty-four houses at the north end were l>urned. There is no record of any killing of persons. Certain it is that Roger Williams was n(jt harmed. h\ April, the assembly, at an adjourned meeting, held on the first Tuesday, organized a service of boats for defen.se of the waters of the bay ; four boats, with live or si.\ men in each, well furnished, one-third of the men to be of Portsmouth if thought best. The persons charged with the ordering and em- ploy of these were : Mr. John Easton, deputy governor, Mr. Walter Clarke, Captain John Cranston, Mr. John Coggeshall and Mr. Caleb Carr for Newjjort ; Captain John Albro, Mr. Robert Hodgson and Mr. Robert Hazard for Portsmouth. Power was given them to increase or diminish the number of boats, as tiiey found cause. This is the first mention of a naval force on the records. It appears from other sources that it con- sisted of sloops, and tiiat tlie colony had sent out several sloops well manned in June of the ])revious year. It is claimed by .Mr. Arnold, the historian of the state, that it is the first instance 218 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in the history of the colonies when a naval armament was relied on for defense. "It was," he says, "the germ for a future Rhode Island squadron a century later, and for an ultimate American navy." It was further voted that a barrel of powder be supplied to Portsmouth, and the two great guns lying in the yard of the late deceased Mr. William Brenton be pressed for the country's ser- vice and carried to Portsmouth, and placed one in the ferr\' neck, the other at or near the house of Mr. John Borden. The pow- der and guns were entrusted to Captain John Albro, Mr. Robert Hazard. Lieut. William Correy and John San ford, who were empowered at the charge of the country to cause the guns to be set on carriages and fitted for service, and to appoint for the care and ordering of each. And further the company and council of the most judicious was invited at their next sitting of the assembly, which was adjourned to meet again the ne.xt Tuesday, the 11th inst., at Henry Palmer's houSe in Newport. The hot work of March seems to liave forced the peace loving- people from their neutrality, and there were surely those among the judicious inhabitants who longed to have a hand in the stirring fray. For nearly ten years little or nothing had been done by the authorities to further the organization of the militia or the discipline of the train band on the island, but now it was agreed to choose a major to be the "chiefe Captain of all the colony's forces," to have his commission from the general as- sembly. Captain John Cranston was chosen major, yet true to the old spirit of purelj'^ popular will, it was conditioned that this action should "noe wayes extend to hinder the liberty of the soldiery in their election of a major when soe appointed by the assembly to elect." The acts, as usual, were published by beat of drum at Newport and Portsmouth. Major Cranston continued in his command during tlie remainder of King Philip's war, and his commission was later renewed in 1077. Canonchet was surprised in April near the Biackstone river. The fall of this, the last of Narragansett's great sachems, was a fatal blow to Philip's cause. For two months the Rhode Is- land colony was left in comparative peace. In June the Indians made the famous assault on Hadley on the Connecticut river. While Philip was absent on this raid Colonel Church made a treaty with Awashonks, queen of the Seconnet tribe. The squaw sachem received a safe conduct from the Rhode Island HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 219 assembly sitting at Newport. About tlie same time this body- sent back to Providence the Indian captives which had been de- livered them for safe keej^ing, "judging they properly belonged to Plymouth colony." After the defeat at Hadley the Indians again ravaged the Plymouth country. Pursued by the English, they were again surprised in a cedar swamp near Warwick. Magnus, an old queen of Narragansett, and sister of Ninegret, was taken, and with ninety other captives, slain. In this engagement the In- dians lost one hundred and seventy-one, the English not a sin- gle man. The savages now began to submit,, many coming in to Conanicut. The main body fled to the Housatouic, where they were overtaken by Major Talcott and nearly annihilated. Meanwhile Governor Winslow had commissioned Captain Church to take a force of two hundred men and break up Philip's retreat at Mount Hope. Two Rhode Island companies, under Lieutenant Richmond and Captain Edmonds, brought in nearly fifty captives, who were sold into service in the colony for a term of nine years, as were all other captives taken. None were permitted to enter the island. Philip's followers were gradually captured, and the sachem himself took refuge in a swamp near Mount Hope, the home of his race. But his un- daunted spirit would not stoop to surrender. A follower who counselled submission was slain by his own hand. The swamj) was now surrounded. Captain Roger Goulding, of Rhode Is- land, went in to drive out the few that remained. An Indian named Alderman, a brother of the man Philip had thus uncere- moniously killed, shot the chieftain through the heart. The body was dragged to Captain Church, who ordered his head to be cut off and his body to be quartered. The head was sent to Plymouth, where it was exposed on a gibbet for twenty years. The body was hung on four trees. One hand was sent to Bos- ton as a trophy, the other was given to the Indian who killed him and was exhibited for money. Some of the Indians escaped from the swamp under the lead of an old warrior, Annawan, a chief counsellor of Massasoit. Church captured him l)y surprise and received from him, as his memoirs say, "Philijj's belt, curiously wrought with wampum, being nine inches broad wrought with black and white wam- pum in various figures and flowers and pictures of many birds and beasts." This, when hanged upon Captain Church's shoul- 220 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ders, reached liis ankles, and another belt of wampum he pre- sented him with wrou,2;ht after the former manner, which Philip was wont to put upon his head. It had two flags on the back part wliich hung down on his back, and another small belt with a star upon the end of it which he used to hang on his breast, and they were all edged with red hair which Annawan said they got in the Mohoys (Mohawks) country. Then he pulled out two horns of glazed powder and a red cloth blanket. He told Cap- tain Church these were Philip's royalties which he was wont to adorn himself with when he sat in state." Young Metacomet, the only son of Philip, and numberless Indian captives taken at this period, were sent as slaves to Spain and the West Indies. In the entire struggle the Pagan Indian, in his treatment of captive.?, showed a higher civiliza- tion than his Christian foes. After defeat punishment. Such is the customarj- sequence of war. And now the hand of vengeance was no longer stayed by tlie fear of reprisal by the crushed foe. Already the council of Rhode Island by act of July 24th, 1676, had empowered a com- mittee to sell the Indian men aiid women able for service, an act confirmed by the general assembly on the 6th of August fol- lowing with the limitation tiiat those so sold should be for the term of nine years. In .Tune it had been voted to return the In- dians sent by Captain Roger Williams from Providence on the ])lea that they belonged to Plymouth colony, because it was said that they were left as hostages to the English forces. The peaceful colony stood iu equal dread of the United Colonies and of Philip's savage confederacy. Philip fell on the morning of Saturday the 12th of August. On Monday the 14th, the town authorities of Providence, upon the recommendation of a committee of live, of which Roger Williams was the first named, condemned all their Indian cap- tives, innocent and guilty alike, to terms of servitude — " All In- dians under five to serve till 30, above 5 and under 10 till 28, above 10 to 15 till 27, above 15 to 20 till 26. From 20 to 30 to serve 8 years, all above 30, 7 years;" a graduation seemingly devLsed to secure tlie master against any contingency of loss by the support and nourishment of the servant at a non-wage earn- ing age. A record of the proceeds of this sale of the first com- pany of Indians on account of the townsmen, shows the share of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 221 each mail to have been sixteen shillings and fourpence half- pennj^ Bnt there were other captives made by the Rhode Island troops in the course of the campaign and held for trial and the stern I'igor of the law. Among the powers granted to the colony in its charter was that " to exercise the Law-Martiall in such cases as occasions shall necessarily require and ujion Just (^ause to invade and destro.y the native Indians and other enemies of the said colony." A court martial, composed of the major part of the government and a large number of military officers, was convened at Newport on the 24t]i of August, 167(), for the trial of the Indians charged with being engaged in Philip's designs, that is with rebellion against the colony in adhering to Philip, chief sachem of the Indians of another colony and in particular of assisting in the burning and destroying of Pawtuxet, South Kingstown and Warwick and f)ther towns. Edmund Calveiley, the attorney general, brought the impeachment. Quanopen, a cousin of Canonchet, bravely owned to the charge that he was in arms against the English nation, "admitted liis presence at the destroyinges and l)urnings and declined to say anything against the Indians so engaged." He was voted guilty of the charge and condemned to be "shot to death in the town on rlie 26tli." Quanopen was the second in command in the Narra- gansett country. Two of Quanopen's luothers were condemned to suffer the death ])enalty at the same time and place. There is no record that tliere was either respite or commutation of this sentence. The court was still sitting on the :nst of August when Penja- min Church ajapeared with a letter of the 28th from Josiah \Yinslow, governor of the Plymouth colony, to Governor Clarke, demanding the surrender of all Indians, "whether men, women or children," who had been received and entertained on the island and further empowering the captain to conduct them to Plymouth, "and to s»]l and dispose of them there to the in- habitants or others for term of life or shoi'ter time as there may be reasons." Perhaps the taste for blood of the more gentle Newporters was already sated with the sliootings of the 26th. However this may be, the records of the court show a vote that the three Indians, whose trial was in progress, were ordered to be delivered out of the prison to Captain Church, seven more to Captain Anthony Low, who engaged to transport them out of in 222 HISTORY OF NEWPOliT COUNTY. the colony, and singular to add, "one more to be at the dispose of Henry Lilly which he I'eceives in fall satisfaction for his at- tendance at this court and to be transported as the other to Captain Low." The Henry Lilly thus gratified was the rnarshall and cryer of the court. That these unfortunate crea- tures were destined to tlie slave block seems beyond question, OaiJtaiu Anthony Low commanding a vessel in the westward trade. The records of the court close with the declaration in the name of his majesty '' that noe Indian either great or small be landed on any part of Rhode Island or any Island in the Nairagansett Bay upon the penalty as formerly imposed upon such offenders ; and they shall be taken as being contumacy of the authority of this colony." Walter Clarke, the governor, was a Friend, and as such op- posed to the war, which he believed, with many of his sect, might have been averted by negotiation. He does not appear to liave attended the court martial, over which it fell to him as governor to preside. • On the contrary, though there is evidence that he was in Newport, the court directed the copy of the transactions to be rendered to the deputy governor, and em- powered that officer to summon them at his pleasure. From Church's narrative of his father's proceedings in this memorable war, it appears that Captain Church brought old An- na wan and a half dozen of his Indian soldiers to Rhode Island, sending the rest of his company and his prisoners by his lieu- tenant, Jabez Howland, to Plymouth. On his return to Ply- mouth, where the general court was then sitting, he took with him Annawan. Thence he visited Boston, to wait upon Gov- ernor Leverett. On his return to Plymouth "he found to his grief the heads of Annawan, Tispaquin, etc., cut off, which were the last of Philiji's friends." Tispaquin was one of the most famous of Philip's captains. Ciiurch had captured his wife and children and carried them with him to Plymouth, leaving word to the chief that if he would come in their lives and his would be spared. But his safe conduct seems to have availed not with the stern authorities. For this ruthless barbarity the only ex- cuse is the temper of the times. Governor Hutchinson, in his history, justly observes: "Every person almost in the two col- onies [Massachusetts and Plymouth] had lost a relation or near friend, and the people in general were exasperated; but all does not excuse this great severity. One eleventh of tlie able bodied HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 223 men of New England are said to have been slain during the tw(j years of the war. and such was the suffering from the inter- rui)tion of farming tiiat a famine was only averted l)y tliechar- itit" of London and Dublin." It is some comfort to know from contemporary authority that, like their comrades at Newport, these chiefs had a soldier's death ; they were shot and their heads cut off, and their bodies quartered after execution. No history'- of New England nor of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, nor yet of the Island of Rhodes proper, were complete without some narrative of this terrible war, on the result of which the destiny, nay the very life of the English settlements hung. The part taken in it by Rhode Island was not active. While defending themselves they gave aid and comfort to their sister colonies, but little or no armed assistance. Callender sums it up in one graphic phrase : "As to the part this colony had in that war it must be observed that tho' the Colony was not, as they ought to have been, consulted, yet they not only afforded shelter to the fly- ing English, who deserted from many of the neighboring Planta- tions in Plymouth Colony and were I'eceived kindly by the inhab- itants and relieved and allowed to plant the next year on their commons for their suppart ; but they likewise furnished some of the Forces with Provisions and Transports ; and some of their principal Gentlemen, as Major Sanford and Capt.Goulding, were in the action at Mount Hope as Volunteers in Caj^tain Church's Company when King Philip was slain. The Indians never landed on the island in the war time ; armed boats kept plying round to break their canoes and prevent their making any at- tempts. . But our settlements on the JNTain suffered very much both at Petequamscut and at Warwick and at Providence where the Indians burnt all the ungarrisoned and deserted houses. And the inhabitants nuide numy complaints that when the army of the United Colonists returned home they did not leave a suffi- cient number of forces to protect our plantations, which were now in a very peculiar manner e.\'posed to an exasperated and desperate enemy." This attitude of self defense, as is claimed by the defenders of Rhode Island, of apathy, as was charged by its unfriendly neighbors, was long a subject of bitter quarrel. The agents of the Plymouth colony charged the colonists of Rhode Island Avith ingratitude to them, indifference to their distresses and a 224 IIISTOKY OF NEWPOItT COUNTY. want of English spirit. This tliey ascribed to the authority of Khode Island being at the time of the war in the hands of the Quakers. But though, as was charged, the governor and lieutenant governor were both of this persuasion, there are military commissions still in being under their hands and seals, to Benedict Arnold, junior, and others, to go in an armed slooj) to visit the garrisons at Prt)viilence and other towns, and, as Callender justly observes, " It was but reasonable the United Colonists should have left a sufficient guard at least at their own headquarters and some other places while the island, the only part of the colony able to contribute to the charge of the wars, was at so great an expense in supporting and defending the distressed English who tied to them from all the adjacent parts;" and he adds that to confound the slanders of the day the deputy governor gave an affidavit or evidence or solemn en- gagement that "he never was against giving forth any Com- missions to any that might have been" for the security of the King's interest in this colony. The further charge that the Rhode Islanders took in many of the Indians who, routed and almost subdued, were Hying before the victorious and savage English, is not questioned by historians. It was, to say the least, a safe as well as humane policy. It does not appear that any of those who shared in the burnings, destroying^ or massa- cres sought this shelter, l)ut rather the peaceful and helpless, who still clung to the old amity pledged between Mas.sasoit and Roger Williams. Nor yet does it appear that these were ex- empted from the official sale and servitude. Canonicus or Quanuanone, chief sachem or prince of the Nar- ragansetts, was the oldest son and heir of Canonicus, and the grandson of Tashtassuck, the first of his line of whom there is any account. According to Indian tradition he was the might- iest chief in the country who, having a .son and daughter and finding no one equal to them in dignity, married them together. From this union sprung the first Canonicus, the father of the sachem whom the whites found in supreme authority on their coming to the shores of New England. On the arrival of the first Pilgrims he sent them as a warlike message a bundle of ar- rows tied in a snake skin, and received in return, it is said, the skin filled with powder and l)all. By the declaration of Canon- icus he and his forefarlicrs had long ruled the country, " liav- ing ourselves been the Chief Sachems or Pi-inces successively IMSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 225 time out of iiiiud." Under their rule rlie tribe hiid extended its territory by wars, its influence by confederacy and its comfort and happiness by ])eace. While the Narragansetts were proud and warlike they were not, at least under the rule of Canonicus or at any time during their intercourse with the whites, an aggressive tribe. Their conquests were assured, not by tyranny, but by conciliation, and their policy was to absorb the subjected race into their own nation as individuals, or to bind them to themselves as parts of a common confederacy. But for the coming of the English it is probable that, with their advanced ideas, they would have welded the coast tribes of the continent into a great and happy nation. They had every element of power, an extensive coast line for their trade, an understanding of agriculture, a better knowledge of manufacture tlum their neighbors and, what was of more importance as a political factor, they provided the cur- rency for a large section of country. They showed a keen appreciation of the arts and appliances of civilization and were quick to supply themselves with guns, kettles and tools. It cannot be supposed that Canonicus looked with any favor upon the coming of the English into his territory. The treaty of alliance which Ou.samequin (Massasoit), chief of the Wam- panoags, had made with the Massacluiseris had withdrawn from him his most powerful ally and greatly weakened the intiuence of the Narragansett nation. Roger Williams says ^)f him that " he was most shy of the English to his last breath." It is dif- ficult to decide whether the old princ^e had ever put himself within the power of the whites or visited them at their Massa- chusetts settlement. In one letter Williams says, "I spend no costs towards tliera and in gifts to Ousamequin (Massasoit) and all his, and to Canonicus and all his, tokens and presents many years before I came in person to the Narragansett, and there- fore when I came I was welcome to Ousamequin and the old prince Canonicus." In another he says, " When the hearts of my countrymen and fiiends and brethren failed me his (the Most High) infinite wisdom and mercy stirred up the barbarous heart of Canonicus to love me as his son to his last gasp, by which means I had not only ivriantonomi and all the Cowesii Sac^hems my friends but Ousamequin also who, because of my great friendship with liim ai Plymouili and the authority of CaTionicus, consented freely (being also well gratilied l>y me) trv 1.5 226 HISTORY OF KEWPORT COUNTY. the Governor Wintlirop's engagement of Prudence, yea of Providence itself, and all the other lands I procured of Canoni- cus which were upon the point, and iu fact whatever I desii-ed of him." Thus, as he does not state tliat he had met Canonicus at Plymouth, it is reasonable to suppose that their first personal interview was when tliey met in treaty for the settlement in the Narragansett territory which he named Providence. It is not to be supposed that when Canonicus gave i)ermis- sion to his new friend to settle on his lands, he had the least idea of the nature of an English deed, or supposed that it carried with it any exclusion of himself or his people, or any surrender of his authority over them. By William's letter to Winthrop in 1637, on the subject of the occupancj- of the con- quered Pequot territorj'-, it appears that the right of hunting was tacitly reserved everywhere. "I told him (Miantonomi) that they (the Narragansetts) might hunt in the woods as they do in Massachusetts and here notwithstanding the English did generally inhabit; and this satisfied." The Indians themselves had no individual rights in the soil. Williams expresslj' says that "according to tlie law and tenor of the natives (as I take it) in all New England and America, viz: that the inferior sachems and subjects shall plant and remove at the pleasure of the high- est and supreme sachems;" such was the habit of the Peru- vians under the Incas. Not that the Narragansett chiefs were long left unier this delusion. First they were requested to re- move their Indians, tlien ordered to remove them and soon for- bidden to sell their lands except to such persons as were agree- able to the new comers. But amid all these encroachments Canonicus held fast to his friendship to Roger Williams. He was already a man of seventy when the settlement of Provi- dence was made. His age and his temper induced him to peace. Moreover his nephew, Miantonomi, then in the vigor of his age and power, was inclined to closer relations with the whites. The old chief yielded no doubt to the more active and superior will. Roger Williams was at heart and in true spirit a practical missionary. In his zeal, and urged besides by his natural love for the acquisition of languages, he had spent " many a day in their filthy, dirty holes to gain their tongue." Later the chiefs would not trust themselves with the Massachusetts authorities unless he went with them as their Interpreter as well as their HISTOllY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 227 safeguard. So well pleased was Canonicus with him that hegave to him the island of Chibachiiwesa (Prudence) as an inducement to him to settle near himself. A careful study of the history of tliH period shows that both he and Miantonomi usually yielded to the peaceful counsels of their friend. Roger Williams was in England when the old chief was stricken by the perfidious murder by the "elders of Massachusetts," of liis beloved nephew, but had it been otherwise no persuasion of his could have overruled the determination of the Narragansetts for re- venge. On his return he attempted to quench their wrath and to hold them to the league thej' had subscribed with the Mas- sachusetts, but as he wrote, there was "a spirit of desperation fallen upon them to revenge the death of their prince and re- cover their ransom for his life or to perish with him." It is a satisfaction to know that the result of this expedition was the severe chastisement of the Mohegans, whose sachem, Uncas, was as treacherous a savage as there is any record of. The United Colonies imposed and collected a forced tribute which precipitated the ruin of the Narragansetts. They were in this crisis of their affairs when Canonicus died, June 4th, 1647. He had already passed his eightieth year. He had once said to Roger Williams, " I have never suffered any wrong to be offered to the English sinc^^ they landed nor never will. If the Englishman speaks true, if he means ti'uly, then shall I go to my Grave in peace and hope that the English and my pos- terity shall live in love and peace together." To this Roger Williams bore testimony in his appeal in favor of the Narra- gansetts to the general court of Massachusetts some years later. He was then president of Providence colony. "I cannot yet learn that it ever pleased the Lord to permit the Narragansetts to stain their hands with any English blood, neither in open hostilities nor secret murders. * * * For the people many hundred English have experimented them to be inclined to peace and love with the English nation. Their late famous, long-lived Canonicus so lived and died, and in the same honor- able manner and solemnity (in their way) as you laid to sleep your prudent peace-maker, Mr. Winthrop, did they honor this, their prudent and peaceful Prince." The burial of an Indian chief was an impressive ceremonial. On that of the son of Canonicus, the father burned his own home, with all its con- tents, that the young brave might want for nothing in the spirit 228 HISTORY OF newpout county. land. Hardly more than a decade had passed since Canonicus received the exiled, landless wanderer to liis broad and beauti- ful territory, and to the protection of his proud and powerful nation ; yet that decade had sufficed to strip him of his lands, his i:)eople and his authority, nearly to the last vestige. In 1883 the Rhode Island Historical Society, with suitable ceremonies and addresses, erected a boulder memorial in a place called the Glen, in the North burial ground at Providence, to the great chief. The site is now known as the Sachem's Glen. The boulder was a short time before unearthed in the town. It is a symetrically shaped, oblong rock of primitive granite, about five feet in height and two feet square. It bears the name of Canonicus, and beneath the carving of a rude bow and arrow. MiANTONoMi, or Mecumeh, prince sachem of the Narragan- setts, was the nephew of Canonicus, the son of his youngest brother, Mascus — so Roger Williams testifies in a solemn depo- sition made in 1682, in reference to his purchase of the lands about Pi'ovidence from these two sachems. Canonicus, hesays, was the heir, and Miantonomi, "his Marshall and Executioner, and did nothing without his uncle Canonicus' consent." He first apj^ears in history as leading his tribe in 1636 to the rescue of the Niantic country about Misquamicut and the mouth of the Pawcatuck river from the dominion of the Pequots, who, in the year 1682, had, in a fierce struggle with the Niantic tribe, "extended their territory ten miles east of the Pawca- tuck." Overcome by their superior force, the eastern Niantics had called on the aid of Canonicus and making an alliance with the Narragansetts, had become tributary to their power. To this Wawatoam, the wife of Miantonomi, gives certain testi- mony in her confirmation of Socho or Sosoa or Sassawwaw's title to the land of Misquamicut, "Whereas my uncle Nine- gret sayeth that it is his land, I, Wawatoam, do utterly deny it before all men for it was conquered by my husband, Miantono- my, and my uncle, Canonicus, long before the English had any war witli the Pequots, therefore I, Wawatoam, do really con- firm it and affirm it to be Socho' s land." Socho was a renegade Pequot who, as Roger Williams informed Governor Winthrop, had deserted his native tribe and become Miantonomi' s "special darling and a kind of General of his forces." For his service in this successful campaign, which forced the Pequots to the westward of their river, Socho received a grant of the territory HISTOIJY OF NEWrOKT COUNTY. 229 from his new prince, though it appears that Ninegret, theNian- tic sachem, lield the Niantic fort on Fort Neck in 1637, when Captain Mason, with his Connecticnt troops ;nid INIohegan and Narragansett allies, halteil there on their mai'cdi to the destruc- tion of the Pequot fort at the Portal rocks on the Mystic river, and the complete overthrow and destruction of this savage and warlike lace. The guide on this expedition was Weqnash, a revolted Pe- quot. This man, who is said to have been " the first convert to the Christian faith among the aborigines of New England," was a brother of Ninegret, but it is presumed by a Pequot wo- man, and not of the blood royal of the Niantics. In 1637, soon after the fall of the Pequots, Roger Williams wrote to John Winthrop that his guide had slain Sassawwaw (Socho) treach- erously, and that Miantonomi was bent on revenge, but a few days later reported that Socho was still alive. This attempt of Wequash was probably before his conversion, and perhaps prompted by his jealousy of Miantonomi's favor to Socho to the detriment of his brother Ninegret' s interest as the sachem of the Niantics. As of Canonicus, there does not appear to be any evidence that Miantonomi was ever within the limits of the Massachusetts colony, or had ever personally met Roger Wil- liams before his coming to the Narragansett country in 1636. The first letters of Williams to the governor and deputy gov- ernor declare that Canonicus was by no means pleased to see him but that Miantonomi was more cordial. "At my first coming," he says, " Canonicus was very sour and accused the English and myself of sending the plague amongst them, and threatening to kill him especially. * '■' - I discovered cause for bestirring myself and staid the longer, and at last (through the mercy of the Most High) sweetened his spirit. * * * Miantonomi kept his barbarous court lately at mj' house and with him I have far better dealings. He takes some pleasure to visit me and sent me word of his coming eight days hence." In the autumn of 1636 Roger Williams, at the request of the Massachusetts authorities, at risk and peril of his life, broke up the league the Pequots were seeking with the Narragansetts, and succeeded in foi'ming an allia!u;e between the English, the Narragansetts and the Mohegaus agaiust the Pequot power. Immediately afterward Miantonomi, at the request of Governor Vane, went up to Boston, taking with him two sons of Canonicus 230 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. and a large train of attendants. He was received with military honors, and after the conclnsion of a formal treaty of alliance, departed with the same honors. But it does not seem that the Indian prince put great faith in the English. Williams wrote in the spring of 16.37, just before the depart- iire of Miantononii on the expedition against the Pequot fort, that Miantononii had visited him with a great train and that the Narragansetts were "at present doubtful of realitj' in all our promises." After the complete success of the expedition his trust seems to have been strengthened, for Williams then wrote, " If I mistake not I observe in Miantonomi some sparks of true friendship, could it be deeply imprinted into him that the English never intended to disjioil him of the country, I prob- ably conjecture liis friendship would appear in attending of us with five hundred men (in case) against any foreign enenly;" and yet the proposal made by Miantononii at this time that Governor Vane would send some English to take possession of the Pequot country and there inhabit does not seem to justify this hesitation. Miantonomi proposed that the English should inhabit near the Connecticut and leave the Narragansetts free to hunt in the neighborhood of Mystic on their own immediate border; but to Williams' answer that the English might inhabit and the In- dians be free to hunt in the same places Miantonomi made no objection — "this satisfied." As Miantonomi was bold in war so he was generous in victory. It was he that proposed to his Massachusetts allies that " if the Governor were so minded they (the Narragansetts) incline to mercy and to give them (the Pequots) their lives;" and in all the negotiations that followed he showed a higli souled nature. In all the jDreceding years, he said, "we never killed nor consented to the death of an Englishman." The destruction of the Pequot stronghold left the range of country between the Pawtuxet and the Connecticut rivers with- out any certain jurisdiction. The Mohegans on the one side and the Narragansetts on the other roamed over it in pursuit of the scattered Pequotsand not seldom came to blows themselves over their captives. This continued warfare was a source of alarm to the English, who were never at ease when any of the Indians were on the war path. Miantonomi, anxious that his good faith should not be doubted, proposed a visit to the Massa- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 281 chusefts governor, "if he may safely go." Williams assured him of good treatmenf. He returned satisfied of their good intentions. In his gratitude for Goveinor Winthrop's " loving- carriage" to him, he ordered all the Indians off from Prudence island, which had been given to Williams and Winthrop, and upon which they were about to commence a little plantation for the drying of fish and the breeding of hogs. The Pequot war ended with the murder of Sassacus, their chief sachem, by the Mohegans, to whom he had fled for shelter, and the division of the survivors of the tribe as slaves among the conquerors. The share of the Narragansetts Miantonomi left to the wisdom of Cxovernor Winthrop. The correspondence of Williams shows that the Narragansetts, though they had a principal share in the captures, were not liberally treated in the division; Miantonomi's request for a Pequot squaw being haggled over if not refused. Nor does Williams' own temper seem to have been over kindly, as he advises Winthrop " if there be any just exception (to their demands) which they can not well answer tliat the use be made of it (if it may be with safety to the common peace) to get the bits into their mouths especi- ally if there be good assurance from the Mohawks." Of the possible enmity of this powerful confederacy the New England colonies were in daily dread. There was a bitter quarrel over the disposal of the captives. The Mohegans on the one side and the Niantics on the other wished for the additional strength this recruitment would bring to them. The Niantics refused to yield up any of those to whom they had promised life, either to the Mohegans or to the Connecticut government who sup- ported their Mohegan allies in all their demands. Canonicus and Miantonomi in vain endeavored to persuade the Niantics to give up the Pequots, but they in turn threatened that for every life the English should take they would have revenge even in the settlements of Prudence, Aquidneck, Providence and elsewhere. In 1640 Uncas, the Mohegan chief, having cai)tured three Niantics, refused to give them up and Miantonomi determined to go himself with a sufficient force to Monhegan (Norwich) and bring them in. The Massachusetts government again summoned Miantonomi before them but he declined, not satistied with in- terpreters whom he feared to trust, or to go up without being accompanied by "Williams. Yet in all this period he lost u>* 292 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. opportunity of propitiuting the governor b\' an exchange of gifts. Canonicus and he sent beads to Winthrop and Mianto- nomi's wife a "basket" to Mrs. Wintlirop. "In return Ca- nonicus asks for little sugar and Miantonomi for a little powder." In August of this year the general court of Massa- chusetts summoned the sachems to answer charges of a con- spiracy with the Mohawks against the colonies. These charges originated in Connecticut. Miantonomi answered in person, accused Uncas of the malicious intrigue, and entirely satisfied the court. In 1642 Roger Williams sent to England to obtain a charter which might compose the dissensions of the Rhode Island set- tlements at home and secure them against the threatening ag- gressions of their neighbors of Massachusetts and Connecticut. In the summer of tliis year a war broke out between Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, and Sequasson, a sachem on the Con- necticut river, an ally of the Narragansetts. The English de- clined to interfere. Miantonomi, before going to the aid of his allies, faithful to his old engagement, sent to the governor of Massachusetts "to know if he would be offended if he made war on Uncas," and was answered "If Uncas had done him or his friends wrong and would not give satisfaction we should leave him to take his own course." In July, 1643, Uncas began the war against Sequasson. Miantonomi, with a thousand braves, took the trail across the country toward Monhegan and came upon Uncas at a place about a mile and a half southwest of the Yantic river. According to tradition Uncas sent a mes- senger across the space which lay between the forces and asked an interview. Miantonomi is said to have consented but to have been outwitted by a stratagem of the wily Pequot, and the Narragansetts being thrown into panic by a sudden charge, fell prisoner, being now no longer young, to his fleeter footed ene- mies and was carried by Uncas to his fort li"ard by. No violence was at the time offered to him. He was soon after taken by Uncas to Hartford, where he was held prisoner for judgment by the commissioners of the United Colonies. He was taken in July. His defeat was ascribed by the good people of Connecticut to the prayers of their minister, Thomas Hooker, who was reck- oned by the colony as the "Moses who turned away the wratli of God from them and obtained a blast from heaven upon tlie HISTORY OF NEAVPORT COUNTY. 233 Indians by liis uplifted hands in those remarkable deliverances which they sometimes experienced." On tlie occasion of this war in wliich, it must not be forgotten, the English took no part, the "Magnatia" says: "Much notice was taken of the prevailing importunity wherewith Mr. Hooker urged for the ac- complishment of that great promise unto the people of God 'I will bless them that bless thee and I will curse him that curseth thee,' and the effect of it was that the Narragansetts received a wonderful overthrow from the Mohegans though the former did three or four to one exceed the latter. Such an Israel at prayer was our Hooker." The united commissioners met at Boston in August, when the case of Miantonomi was debated. They were all of opinion that "it would not be safe to set him at liberty neither had we sufficient ground to put hitu to death. In this difficulty we called in five of the most judicious elders and propounding the case to them, they all agreed that he ought to be put to death; Mild we agreed that upon the return of the commissioners to Hartford they should send for Uncas and tell him our determi- nation that Miantonomi should be delivered to him again and he should put him to death so soon as he came within his own ju- risdiction, and that two English should go along with him to see the execution and that if any Indians should invade him for it we should send men to defend him." It is to be regretted that the names of these elders are not known and that they escape their xiroper place in the pillory of history. The reason for the hatred of the elders to the Indian prince was the sale he had made of the Shawomet country to Gorton, the proscribed her- etic of the Massachusetts colony, and the consent of the com- missioners to the murder, their jealousy of the Narragansett power and their desire to promote animosity among the Indian tribes. With such a cause of quarrel and the aid of the Mohe- gan power, they might repeat upon the Narragansetts the story of the Pequot destruction five years before. It is said that the commissioners stipulated with Uncas that Miantonomi should not be tortured, but proof is lacking of any such humanity. It is of tradition that Unc:is took Miantonomi back to the spot where he had been overtaken, when his head was cloven with a hatchet from behind and he was buried where he fell. A heap of stones was raised about his body, which disappeared nmny vears after. Some citizens of Norwich have erected on the tra- o 234 HISTORT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ditional spot a monument about eight feet high, a solid cube of granite five feet square on a massive pedestal, with the simple inscription, "Miantonomi, 1643." Thus fell the " noble souled," high spirited chief, whom Hop- kins calls " the most potent prince the people of New England had any concern with; and this was the reward he received for assisting them seven years before in their wars with the Pequots." Pessicus was the son of Mascus, the youngest of the brothers of Canonicus, and himself the brother of Miantonomi. Aftei' the murder of that prince in 1643 he shared the sovereignty of the Narragansetts with his uncle, now well advanced in years. His name first appears in an official way as " Chief Sachem and successor of that late deceased" Miantonomi, in the letter of submission to King Charles. Next in order comes the mark of " that ancient Canonicus, Protector of that late deceased Mian- tonomy during the time of his nonage," after which the " marke of Mixan, son and heire of that above said Canonicus." The mark of Pessieus is a strung bow and arrow, the head pointed downward, the mark of Mixan a hatchet or tomahawk, while that of the old chief is the familiar carpenter's instrument known as a T square. The act or deed, as it is styled in the record, was witnessed by two of the chief counsellors to sachem Pessieus; Awashoosse and Tomanic, Indians. It will be observed that Pessieus signed first in order. The paper is dated the 19th of April, 1644. It is followed on the record by a letter sent to the general court of Massachusetts on the 24th of May, 1644, which is signed by Pessieus and Canonicus, the formality of the signature of young Mixan probably being deemed un- necessary. The power of the government was wholly in the hands of Pessieus. It fell to him when the affairs of the tribe were in a difficult financial and political situation. Financially they were impoverished by the large amount of wampumpeage they had paid and paid in vain for the ransom of Miantonomi. Politically the authority of the sachems was compromised by the contempt of their power which this breach of faith implied, and further by the disloyalty of Pumham in his denial of the validity of the sale made in 1642 by Miantonomi, as sachem of Shawomet, which he himself witnessed, and his more recent submission to the jurisdiction of Massachu.setts. This act brought theNarra- HISTORY OF NP^WPOIIT COUNTY. 235 gansett chiefs face to face with tlie powerful and meiciles.s Massaclmsetts colony; the general court of which inipioved the pretext thus given tiiem, and which no doubt was of their own suggestion, to gain a footing on the shores and in the affairs of Rhode Island and "an outlet into Narragansett bay." Gorton and his followers, who made the purchase of Mianto- nomi, were forcibly ejected from their settlement and banished on peril of their lives. After confinement at hard labor for a- while the leaders were released, but, being notified by Governor "Winthrop that their own purchased territory was included in the ban, they took refuge at Aquidneck. The occasion seemed propitious to Canonicus and Pessicus. Messengers were sent to invite Gorton and his friends to visit the Narragansett chiefs assembled in council on the island of Conanicut. The question before this conference was one of the jurisdiction of Canonicus as against the claim of a subordinate sachem, Pumham; of Gor- ton and his associates as to the title to the land they had pur- chased and paid for. The result was the formal act of sub- mission to King Charles. " Our desire is," they, say, " to have our matters and causes heard and tried according to his just and equal laws in that way and order His Highness shall please to appoint; nor can we yield ever ourselves unto any that are sub- jects themselves in any case; having ourselves been the chief sachems or princes successively of the country time out of mind." This voluntary and free submission, as they styled it, was placed in the hands of Gorton, wlio, with three others, his associates, were made attornies or commissioners for the safe custod}', careful conveyance and declaration thereof unto his Grace. Gorton is supposed to have gone to England with tliis document in the ensuing winter. After their murder of Miantonomi the general court of Massa- chusetts summoned the Narragansett chiefs to appear before it. To this Pessicus and Canonicus replied with a formal notice of their submission to King Cliarles and of their intention to refer any disputes to his royal decision. They decline to go up to the court and assign as their sufficient reason "Our brother (Miantonomi) was willing to stir much abroad to converse with men and we see a sad event at the last thereupon. Take it not ill therefore thougii we resolve to keep at home (unless some great necessity calls us out) and so at this time do not repair unto you according to your request." They give plain notice, 236 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. however, that they intend to take revenge for the death of Miantonomi, and ask to know why they are advised " not to go out against their so inliuman and cruel adversary who tool\ so great a ransom to release him and his life also when that was done." Alarmed at the new posture of affairs, the general court sent messengers to dissuade the Narragansetts from war. Pumham and Sacconoco, who had played the same part at Pawtuxet as the wily savage had done at Shawomet, were so fearful of punishment that thej' applied for and received a guard of soldiers from Massachusetts. In reply to the message of the court, the Narragansetts sent messengers to the commissioners of the United Colonies demanding the payment by Uncas of one hundred and si.xty fathoms of wampum or a new hearing of the case within six weeks, threatening war in case of re- fusal. In the spring tlie Narragansetts, one thousand strong, and partly armed with guns, defeated Uncas and his Mohegans with .slaiigliter. The Connecticut colony sent troops to the aid of their old ally. Both the tribes were summoned to Boston to explain the cause of the troubles. Tei'ms of neutralitj^ were agreed upon between Rhode Island and the Indians, and a con- tinuation of the war was inevitable, although Roger Williams again exerted himself for peace. The Narragansetts were de- termined on the thorough subjection of Uncas. The United Colonies now declared war, sent back the peace offerings of the Narragansetts, who sought no quarrel with any but the Mohe- gans, and mounted troops were impressed and sent forward un- der Lieutenant Atherton. The Narragansetts, alarmed in their turn, sought for i:)eace. Roger Williams, accompanied by Pes- sicus, two other sachems and a large Indian train, went up to Boston. Disappointed in their hope of exterminating the Nar- ragansetts by war, the commissioners imposed upon them a treaty which was their ruin. An indemnity was imposed upon them of two thousand fathoms of wampum, to be paid within two years, in four equal installments; each, it will be observed, three times and more the amount demanded of the Mohegans by the Narragansetts. They were required to give up all right to the Pequot territory, originally a part of their own domain, and recovered in great measure by their arms. The next year (1647) the Narragansetts were charged with an attempt to engagp the Mohawks in a war with the English. HISTORY OF NEWPOHT COUNTY. 237 Canonicus, dying in Jnne of this year, left Pessicus in sole command, aided, however, by young Mexham, the grandson of the old chief. Pessicus was summoned to Boston, but in his stead sent Ninegret, whom they held as a hostage until some wam- pum was forced from him. The ensuing installments not being forthcoming, Captain Atherton, who seems to have been about the most brutal of the unscrupulous henchmen of the United Colonies, was sent with an armed band to collect it by force. Surprising Pessicus in his wigwam before he could summon as- sistance, he dragged him out by the hair of his head, and col- lected the debt in true highwayman fashion at tiie point of his pistol. Arnold considers this a courageous act, but we fail to see the courage in surprising an unarmed man, while holding his assistants at bay through fear of the murder of their chief. For his conduct on this occasion Captain Atherton was given a farm of live hundred acres, carved out of the lately stolen and newly anne.ved possessions at Warwick (Shawomet). Both Warwick and Pawtuxet were now attached to Ply- month by the commissioners of the United Colonies. There is an entry on the Rhode Island records. May 2'3d, 1650, which shows the change in the attitude of the colonists to the Narragansetts ]u-inces which ten years had wrought. It is an order "that Pessicus shall have libertie to gett so many chesnut rinds, upon the common of the Island as may cover him a wigwam ; pnjvided he take John Greene with him that no wrong may be done to any particular person upon the is- land." In 1653 the council of Massachnsetts sent messengers to question the Narragansett princes, among whom iMe.vham, son of Canonicus, now appears for the first time, and to de- mand reasons why they had taken up arms against the Long Islanders. A satisfactory answer not being received, war was declared by the United Colonies, but Massachusetts held back, refusing her quota. In 1660 the commissioners of the United Colonies completed their woik of spoliation. Under the pretense that the Mohe- gans had been injured by the Narragansetts they sent down an armed force, witli instructions to collect a fine of five hundred and ninety-five fathoms of wampum within four months. To raise this sum the sachems mortgaged their entire country to a company consisting of Mr. John Winthrop (the governor of Connecticut), Major Atherton and their associates, who had al- 238 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTS. ready purchased tlie previous year the northern tract known as Narragansett country and Coweset country ; but the signature of Pessicus does not appear in this instrument. In 1661, how- ever, we find his supreme authority again in his denial of the right of Ninegret, the Niantic sachem, to the Misquamicut lands lateh' conve\'ed to a party of settlers. In 1665 tlie three royal commissioners appointed to settle all the colonial dis- putes, arrived at Pettaquamscot. The Narragansett sachems confirmed their submission to the crown, and the commissioners set up a new authority in the king's name over the entire terri- tory, from the baj' to the Pawcatnck river, under the name of the " King's Province," the Rhode Island charter recognizing the validity of the Indian titles to the soil. The governor and council of Rhode Island were appointed magistrates until the May election. And what was of supreme importance, the mortgaged lands held by the Atherton company were ordered to be released on the payment of two hundred and thirty-five fathoms of peage by Pessicus or Ninecraft, the pnrcliase of the tracts being declared void for lack of consideration of the deed and because of prior cession to the crown. In the report sent to England by the commissioners the same year thej' state that two of the sachems then living did actually in their own persons surrender themselves, people and country, into his royal majesty's protection before his commissioners, who had made the submission in 1644. To each of them a coat was presented in the name of his majesty. They in turn en- gaged thereafter, in token of subjection, to pay a tribute of two wolf skins to his majesty on a fixed day, and by the commis- sioners they then sent to the king two caps of peage and two clubs inlaid with peage as a present, and a feather numtleand a porcupine bag as a present for the queen. Pessicus also de- sired the commissioners to piay King Charles that no strong liquors might be brought into that countrj', for he had thirty- two men that died by drinking of it. At that time Ninecraft seems to have divided the autliority with Pessicus. Pumham, however, maintained his independent position, and in s])ite of all the efforts of the English commissioners, declined to submit to Pessicus. He was supported in his resistance for twenty years by the counsel and force of the Massachusetts colony. With this account of the commissioners Pessicus disappears from the scene. What part he played in the great war in which JIISTORY OK NKWl'Uirr COUNTY. 239 his kinsman, Canonchet, led the tribe is not known. TJpdilve, in his account of this chieftain, says that " he was put to death by the Mohawls^s in 1076." CAN0>fciiKT — Naunuiiteno, "as be was last called," says Drake in his notes to Cliurch's narrative, was tlui last sachem of the race of Narragaiisett princes. ITis name does not appear at all on the records of the Riiode Island colony. He was noted fur bis enmity to the English race, for which he had good and sufficient cause. His name appeal's first of the six sul)scribing sachems of the Narragansetts to the treaty forced ujjon them by Captain Hutchinson on behalf of the Massachusetts government, at the point of the sword at Petaquamscott in July, 1675. By this treaty they agreed to harbor none of King Philip's people in the course of the war which had broken out in the spring. The tribe as a whole kept to their engagement but it is proba- ble that some of their young braves had a hand in the hot tights of this battle summer. On the defeat at Hatfield (Connecticut) Philip's forces dis- persed, and as winter was now approaching, the greater part re- treated to Narragansett where they were warmly received by Canonchet and his tribe. The United Colonies, di-eading that the Narragansetts would join Philip in the spring, summoned them to surrender Philip's men and the women and children he had put under their protection. To this Canonchet gave the spirited and famous reply: " Not a Wampanoag nor the paring of a Wampanoag's nail shall be given up." No word of notice was given to the Rhode Island colony, and the entire proceed- ing of Massachusetts, tiiis demand and the hostilities which fol- lowed, were in direct disregard and contravention of the char- ter of Rhode Island, in which it was explicitly declared "not lawful for the rest of the colonies to invade or molest the native Indians without the knowledge and consent of the Governor and Company of the Providence Plantations." The three colonies of Plymouth, Massachu.setts and Connecti- cut raised eleven hundred and thirtj'-five men, including one hundred and fifty Mohegans and Pequots, and marched under the command of General Winslow, the govei'nor of the Ply- mouth colony, upon the winter fortress of the Narragansetts, about fifteen miles distant from Wickfordin the present town of South Kingstown, R. I., hardly a stone's throw from the line of the Stonington railroad, "biit then the center of an impassable 240 HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. swamp upon some rising ground containing about four acres of land. It was securely hid by tall junipers which, with the cedar and pine, formed the intricacies of the place, and was fortified wit li great ingenuity and strength. * * * Upon the approach of winter the tribe had removed to tliis fortress all their women and children and had rendered it as impregnable as their knowledge of defensive warfare could possibly make it. Thej'^ had erected about live hnndred wigwams of a superior construction, in which their provisions were stored, and had piled the tubs and baskets of grain around inside of the walls, making their dwellings still more impervious to the bullets nf their enemies. The tubs were made of hollow trees cut or sawed into suitable lengths, with a wooden bottom. More than three thousand persons had taken refuge within these huts. ''• * * The passage over the ditch that surrounded the fort was by a single tree which had been felled, on which all must pass to gain the opposite side. * * * Besides the high palisades the Indians were protected by a breastwork of fallen trees about a rod in thickness, which extended entirely around the fortress, their tops foremost." This was the scene of the celebrated swamp fight of the 19th of December, 1675, the most hardly contested and bloody con- test in the early history of the colonies. The English lost about eighty killed and one hundred and fifty wounded; the Indians three hundred to three hundred and fifty slain and as many more captured. Cliurch, in his narrative, says that he was informed at the time that "near a third of the Indians be- longing to all the Narragansett country were killed by the En- glish and by the cold of that night;" and adds that "sixty or seventy were from Pumham's town of Sliawomet who never be- fore then fired a gun against the English. "' Nor in fact do the histories of the colonies contain mention of one single act of hostility by the Narragausetts upon any of the colonies until this invasion of their home and territory. It is not probable that Philip was in this fight. If he were, Church, who acted as aid to General Winslow, would certainly have known it and his son, who wrote the history of Philip's war, would have made mention of it. It seems hardly possible, as he was in force enougii in January to plunder Warwick and desolate the neighborhood on his way up to the Nipmuck coun- try, but it is certain that ('anonchet commanded his tribe in the HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 241 last grand struggle, and that he was with Philip in the ensuing winter. The Narragansetts sued for i)eace but the Massachusetts col- ony refused the overture and marched reinforcements into the territory. Canonchet accompanied Philip in his invasion of the Massachusetts colony. He is supposed to ha.ve commanded at the bloody attacks upon Lancaster and Medtield, and in the raid upon Weymouth within fifteen miles of Boston in Febru- ary, and it is certain that he led the party which surrounded and destroyed in March the party of Captain Pierce, whom he surprised on his way to attack him at Pawtuxet. Such was the terror in Providence, which the Indians nearly destroyed, that the records preserve the names of but " thirty that stayed and went not away." Among these was Roger Williams, of whom the tradition is preserved that lie went out alone to meet the approaching savages and was kindly received. As Canon- chet commanded at Pawtucket falls on the 26th of March and the burning of Providence was on the 29th, there is little doubt that it vvas Canonchet who thus remembered the ancient friend- ship of Canonicus and Miantonomi for the venerable founder of the Providence Plantations. The whole colony was now in terror; gunboats patrolled the island. But the alarm vvas now widespread and from every quarter troops marched to the center of hostilities. In April Colonel George Denison led a force of English and Mohegans from New London along tiie okl Indian trail, across tlie Pawca- tuck ford, through Westerly and the heart of the Narragansett territory, and came upon Canonchet near the Pawtucket river, close to the spot wliere nine days before he had destroyed Cap- tain Pierce and his party. Canonchet was surprised in his tent. Flying in haste, lie missed his footing in the ford of the river and wet his gun. He was overtaken and captured " without resistance, though a man of great strength," by one of the Pequots. A young Englisliman coming up to him asked him some questions but was answered, "You too much child! No understand matters of war! Captain come; him I will answer." He was offered his life on condition of the submission of his tribe. He would not listen to tiie proposal, wished '• to hear nc more about it." Drake, in his notes to Cluirch's narrative, says ''lie was afterward shot at Stonington." Arnold says that "he was sent 1(! 242 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in charge of Captain Denison to Stonington where a counnil of war condemned him to be shot." But Mr. C. H. Denison, from whom free quotations have alreadj^ been made abi)ve, says: " Tlie army continued its march (liomewardi until it reached and crossed tlie Pawcatucli river at the ford where tlie present bridge is situated, and after advancing about two miles came to a halt on a small plain. A council of war was now held by the captains, assisted by the Rev. James Noyes, whose residence was at hand, and it was decided that the prisoner must be shot. While they were deliberating, a mat was spread for him to sit upon, and while resting upon it one of the soldiers sat down by him and looking him in his face insultingly while he was speaking, he took it in such indigna- tion that although his arms were pinioned, he gave the man such a violent thrust or blow that the fellow went sprawling along the ground. The plain which was destined to be the spot where the noble chief sliould be executed is about two miles from Westerly, R. I., toward Mystic, and is now known as Anquilla. When told that he must die and that his last hour had arrived the chief said, ' I like it well; I shall die be fore my heart is soft or I have said anything unworthy of my- self.' * * Two Indians were appointed to fulfill the order of the court. The whole army stood to their arms, a quick, sharp word of command was given and a report of two muskets echoed among the surrounding hills. Down, like a tall jiine stricken by a thunder bolt, fell the stately form of the Narragansett chief. With a loud, exultant whoop, the Niantics, Mohegans and Pequots, traitors to their race, rushed upon the fallen foe and the work of death was finished. He was quartered, be- headed and his body burned by the Indians, who carried his head to Hartford and. presented it to the governor," Arnold gives some other interesting details. He says, "To insui'e the fidelit_y of the friendly tribes by committing them to a deed that would forever deter the Narragansetts from seeking their alliance, it was arranged that each of them should take part in the execution. Accordingly the Pequots shot him, the Mohegans cut oflf his head and quartered him and the Niantics who, under Ninegret, joined the English, burned his body and sent his head as 'a token of love' and loyalty to the commissioners at Hartford." In the story of these barbarities t'lere is little difference between the English and the savages. HISTORY OF NEWl'ORT COUNTY. 243 The English, however, do not. seem to have tortured their cap- tives but to have reserved this mode of punislinient for their religious enemies or antagonists of tlieir own race. Pu.vii.\M was a Narragansett Indian; the local sachem of that tribe of the nation which inhabited the countiy about Warwick neck in Kent county. His own residence was on the neck. This land was sold bj^ Miantonomi, sachem of the Narragansetts, on the 12th day of January, 1642, for four hundred and fifty- four fathom of wampumpeage. Totanomans joins in the con- veyance, though his name does not appear in the body of the instrument; Pumham and Jano being witnesses to the deed. The purchasers were Holden and eleven others, among whom was Samuel Gorton, whose eccentric career is stated elsewhere. The land conveyed is described as "lying upon the West side of that part of the Sea called Sowhames Bay from Copassnatuet, over against a little Island in the said I3ay being the North bounds and the outmost point of that neck of land called Shawomet; being the South bound from the Sea Shore from each boundary upon a straight line westward twenty miles." It may be observed here that as in all the deeds or titles granted to the whites, this deed is made by the chief sachem or prince of the nation, the local sachem simply witnessing the transfer. Arnold, in his History of Rhode Island, estimates the consid- eration as the equivalent of seventy-two pounds sterling, if black peage is meant, or half that sum if white. It was prob- ably the black peage, the ordinary currency. With this sale Pumliam, the sachem of Shawomet, was dis- contented. He seems to have been attached to his lands and to have striven to maintain his own residence and that of his tribe upon them. The weakness of the young colonies on the Narra- gansett territory and their inabilitj'^ to aid their allies, Canonicus and Miantonomi, in any effective way, were apparent. In his discontent Pumham followed the example set by Ousamequin (Massasoit), chief of the Wampanoags,' and together with the sachem of Pawtuxet, submitted himself and his lands to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. lie at the time denied having consented to the sale of Shawomet or having received any part of the i:>urcha.se money. Thirteen years later, in 1656, he pleaded having been drawn into the covenant by the awe of his superior sachems, to which Roger Williams made answer that "it was the law and tenor of the natives in all New England 244 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. and America, viz: that the inferior sachems and subjects shall plant and remove at the pleasure of the highest and supreme sachems." And again, in 1665, Pumham and his tribe are described by the same authority as "a melancholy people and judge themselves by their former sachem [Miantonomi] and these English oppressed and wronged." The submission to Massachusetts brought protection to Pum- liam, but little peace or enjoyment of his lands. The charter of 1643 distinctly placing this territory within the Providence Plantations, the only hope of Massachusetts to secure a footing on Narragansett bay was through the usurped jurisdiction over the tribe of Shawomet. In 1645 the general court of Massa- chusetts granted ten thou.sand acres of the lands of Pumham to thirty-two persons, and Benedict Arnold was appointed to negotiate with the sachem for the right in any Improved ground. The houses in the Holden-Gorton settlement granted by Mian- tonomi were included in this new grant on such payment, if any, as the general court should order. Plymouth also claimed the land as within her jurisdictioq, and surely with as much right as Massachusetts, if the original title of the supreme prince were to be disregarded. The return of Gorton from exile, the determination of Rhode Island to maintain her rights under the charter, and the direct submission of Canonicus and Pessicus and the Narragansett kingdom to the English crown, were of perilous omen to Pum- ham, and his fear of the anger of his inferior sachems in view of the threatened renewal of war with the Mohegans, so alarmed him that he applied to Massachusetts for a guard, in response to which an officer and ten men were sent to build a fort and hold it for his protection until danger was over. In 1649 the general court for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations meeting at Warwick, summoned "Pumham and the other sachem (Sacconoco)and ordered letters to be sent to Bene- dict Arnold and the rest of Patuxet" about their subjecting to the colony of Rhode Island. Pumham does not appear to have paid much regard to their summons, and Warwick neck seems to have become a- thorn in the side of the colony. In 1655 Roger Williams, at that time president of Providence Planta- tions, comijjained to the general court of Massachusetts of the insolence and injuries done to themselves and their cattle by the Warwick and Pawtuxet Indians under shelter of the authority HrSTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 245 of Massachusetts. '"J'hese Indians," he says, "live as bar- barously, if not more than any in the country;" and he adds, to show the general condition of affaii's at that period, "The barbarians all the land over are filled with artillery and ammu- nition from the Dutch openly and horridly, and from all the English over the country by stealth." The next year, 1656, on the complaints of the Warwick set- tlers of oppression by Indians, a committee, including Roger Williams, Benedict Arnold and Gorton, was named to treat with " Pumham and his company." Williams went to Boston and wrote to the court a month or two later that his negotiations with the sachem were progressing favorably. That the accord was not of long duration appears by the order of the general court in 1658 for any that see canse to arrest Pumham, "who dwells on Mishowamett Neck," or any other Indians upon Warwick lands. His men had been again busy killing cattle and nuiking forci- ble entry on the settlers' lands. And the next year the sheriffs had warrants to arrest Pumham himself and any other Indians concerned in an insurrection at Warwick, and the rescue of an Indian there as well as a robbery at Pawtuxet. In 1664, on the receipt of their new charter from Charles the Second, and the sufficient assurance that its terms would be en- forced, the general court of Rhode Island, on the petition of the Warwick inhabitants, gave notice to Pumham by letter from the governor and deputy governor that "he was within the Jurisdiction of the Rhode Island colony, and that he must take some speedy course to remove the difference betwixt the men of Warwick and himself concerning lands, or else he may expect that upon a legal trial the Courts of the Colony are re- solved to do justice in the premises." But the determined old .sachem still refused to leave Shawomet neck, the home of his fathers ; and it was not until the Icing's commissioners came into the province to settle the outstanding disputes between the colonists themselves and with the Indians, that he was finally induced to remove. These commissioners, according to their instructions, entered npon the Narragansett territory and named it the King's Province. In thoir report they state tliat " the Matachusetts did maintain Pamiiam (a petty sachem in the province) twenty years against this (R. Island) Colony." The commissioners in April ordered that Pnndiam and his In- dians should that j'ear plant their corn on the neck, but before 246 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the next planting remove to some other place out of the King's Province provided for them by such as thej'^ have subjected themselves unto (a reference to Massachusetts) or to some other place within the King's Province appointed for them by Pessicus, their rightful prince. On his removal the courts of Warwick to pay him twenty pounds at eight a penny, and if he and his tribe subject themselves to Pessicus, then the town of Warwick to give ten pounds at eight a penny as a present. And it seems that Cbeesechamut, eldest son of Pumham, hav- ing received thirty pounds in peage, at eight a penny, from the gentlemen of Warwick, and the promise of ten pounds more in like pay, engaged to depart from and quit the tract of land known as AYarwick neck, as also that province now called the King's Province, formerly the Narragansett country, imme- diately on the receipt of the said ten pounds, and not at any time thereafter to return to inhabit in tlie aforesaid place or places. This acquittance and agreement, signed at "Mr. Smith's trading house," at Narragansett, was signed by Cbeese- chamut, Nauswahcomet and Assowaet, in the presence of a number of witnesses, of which Robert Carr, the king's commis- sioner, was one. December 28th, 1665, the additional ten pounds was paid by Robert Carr himself to help along the ne- gotiation, and on his advice the final sum was paid by Gorton and his Warwick associates. Pumham would not or at least did not join in this agreement, although he is said to have taken the ten pounds from the Warwick people, and did not leave the neck, although formally ordered in a requisition addressed by Sir Robert Carr, "To Pumham, pretended Sachem on Warwick Neck and his adher- ents." Pumham had endeavored to interest his Massachusetts friends, and John Eliot himself had written to Carr interceding for him, saying, " Pumham and his 2)eople have suffered much hard and ill dealings by some English ; and tliere hath been both force and fraud used toward tliem to drive them or deceive them out of their lands.'' Eliot adds that they are in no wise willing to part with that little which they still hold, and be- seeches Carr, as the king's commissioner, to deal honorably by them ; to which Carr replied that, at their hearing of tlie case, he had heard nothing of hard and ill dealings to Pumham and his people, nor did he understand whom it was intended to ac- cuse, and raps Eliot severely over the knuckles for his interfer- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 247 ence. And Roger Williams also, in the March succeeding the order to remove, notifies Sir Robert Carr of his "having heard of a late confederacy amongst great numbers of these barbarians to assist Pumham." Thei'e is nothing more curious in the whole of this curious history of Indian disputes as to sovereignty and English dis- putes as to jurisdiction, than this letter of Roger Williams. It is printed in the Rhode Island Colonial Records, II, 135. In it he calls Shawomet Pumham's "Lordship," and insists on a satis- factory consideration for it; a matter of some hundreds of pounds. He states that in his negotiations with Pumham "he would not part with that necke on any terms." He intimates that the Narragansett chiefs, Ninecraft and Pessicus, were bar- barians who would join against the English if it came to blood, but adds that if " King Philip keep his promise they will be too great a party against those Sachems;" the first intimation had of Philijys power. One clause is especially significant in Roger Williams' notice: " Your honor will never effect by force a safe and lasting conclusion until you have first reduced the Massachu- setts to the obedience of his Majestie and these their appendants (towed at their stern) will easily (and not before) wind about also." A year after the hearing and supposed settlement at Warwick, Sir Robert Carr informed Lord Arlington of his attempted ar- rangement with Pumham and the unwillingness of that chief to submit to Pessicus, but stated that the matter had been finally arranged by Roger Williams, "an ancient man" who was "very much instrumental in forwarding Pumham's removal, who with his company are removed" to general satisfaction. Arnold, in summing up this part of Pumham's career, styles Pumham " a renegade" and " the abject slave of the Puritans" of the Massa- chusetts colony, but this the records scarcely show; and it is questionable whether, as in the case of Ninegret, had the Nar- ragansett princes not disposed of their territory, they would have proven false to their tribal duties as subordinate sachems. That he was not the "abject slave" of the English is shown by the readiness with which he joined the confederate chiefs who tiocked to Philip's side in the spring of 167;"). When the Massachusetts commissioners nKuched into the Narragansett territory they found the "villages in Pumham's district " deserted, from which it is to be supposed that he had 248 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. been provided with lands somewliere in the iving's Province. That he had been reconciled with the Narragansett chiefs ap- pears from the fact that he was one of the six sachems who "treated with the Narragansetts sword in hand" in July, and subscribed the treaty of peace, which they broke without hesitation the moment the overawing force was withdrawn. He had composed his difficulties with Warwick or else returned to that neighborhood in the progress of the war, as Church states in his narrative that General Winslow, on his march against the Narragansetts in the winter campaign, marched around that township by night instead of crossing the bay to Smith's gar- rison house at the ferry (Wickford) in the hope of surprising Pumham and his town, but found them gone. His village was destroyed at this time, a fewda^-s before the swamp fight. It is not known whether PuiTdiam was engaged in this last great stand of the Narragansets, when Canonchet, the son of Mianto- nomi, led his nation. Pumham was killed at the head of his warriors on the 25th of July, 1676, in a fight near Dedham, Massachusetts. Trumbull says that his grandson, who was esteemed the best soldier and tiie most warlike of the Narra- gansett chiefs, had before this been taken by Captain Denison. Thus says Arnold: "Pumham effaced the stain of a servile life by a manly death." We heartily agree in the conclusion of this sentence. NiNEGRET, who tlrst appears in history as at the Niantic fort when Lieutenant Mason passed by it on the " Old Indian path," on his way from Narragansett (Wickford) through the woods to surprise the Pequot stronghold, is said in the writings of the times to have been a renegade from that tribe which, like the Bulgarians of the Lower Empire, seem to have been ready for- any service. Roger Williams mentions him as one of the chief sachems, a " chiefe soldier," a "notable instrument." He is occasionally called Yanemo or Juanemo. His early fighting reputation was gained in his feud with the Montauks, whom, with their sachem Wyandance, he defeated with great slaughter, after which he attacked their iinprei^ared headquarters at Metoac, devastated their villages and returned with a store of booty, wampum and shells. Ninegret was the chief sachem of the Niantic Indians, who were tributary to the Narragansett nation; their chief ruling un- der the authority of the Narragansett princes in a semi-feudal HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 249 manner. The Niantics, according to Indian tradition, held pos- session of the coast from the Pawcatuclv to tlie Connecticnt river, the territory on the east of the former and the west of tlie latter and from the coast line northward thirty to forty miles into the forests, and by the Europeans were divided geo- graphically into the Eastern and Western Niantics : the eastern having their stronghold near Weccapang, now Charlestovvn, K. I., and the western at Lyme, Conn. They were said to have been a peaceful tribe and to have fallen an easy prey to the fierce Pequots who swept down upon them from northeastern New York, established their headquarters at the mouth of the Pequot (Thames) river where they built two strongholds, and pushed their conquests to the mouth of the Pawcatuck. Here they were met by the Niantics and the Narragansetts called to their aid, but defeating them in battle extended their con- quests ten miles east of Pawcatuck in 1632. The land occupied by the eastern Niantics, of whom Ninegret was then sachem, embraced thesonthwestern part of Rhode Island and was known by the name of Misqnamicut (in the Indian language meaning Salmon) after the neck of the land on the east side of the Paw- catuck river. This seems to have been included in the Pequot contest, but the intruders were in their turn driven from the ' territory in 1635 by Socho (Sassawwa), a renegade Pequot, who had become one of the most trusted of Miantonomi's Narragan- sett captains, a service for which he was rewarded bv Mianto- norni with a gift of the tract of Misqiuimicut. Roger Williams says of Socho in 1637, in a letter to Govei-nor John Winthrop, that he became Miantonomi's "special darling" and a kind of general of his forces. This tiact Socho sold in 1660 and gave a deed for it to William Yaughan and others, "all of Newport in Rhode Island." The grant of Miantonomi was confirmed in 1061 by Pessicus, the In-other and successor of Miantonomi and after the death of Canonicus, chief sachem. Against this sale and transfer of the old territory of the Niantics Ninegret pro- tested, claiming the tract as the property of his people — and here may be found perhaps the key to Ninegret's subsequent desertion of the Narragansett cause. Ninegret had no kinship with the Narragansett sachems. His .sister Quiapen, however, was the wife of Mexham, the son of Canonicus. (So says Updike, but Arnold says Ninegret claimed the tract l)ut his "nephew Pessicus denied his right thereto." In 250 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Pessicus and Miantonomi were nephews of Canoiiicus, father of Mexham. Ninegret was therefore the brother-in-law of the cousin of these princes and not the uncle of Pessicus.) The tract of Misquamicut, which was incorporated as Westerly, the fifth town of the Rhode Island colony in 1669, embraced tlip greater part of the territory of the eastern Nianties including their best trading and fishing station and the Pawcatuck ford. After the death of Miantonomi in 1643, Ninegret seems to have been admitted to a share in the rule of the confederated tribes of the Narragansetts and Nianties. In 1647, when the New England commissionei's demanded the appearance of Pes- sicus at Boston to demand the payment of the indemnity of wampum forcibly imposed upon them in 1645, Ninegret was sent in his stead and was held hostage until his messenger went home for an amount on account of the same and engaged to pay the remainder. He protested against the i)ayineut of tribute to the English, to whom the Narragansetts owed nothing. While in Boston on this visit, Ninegret's portrait was taken. An en- graving of this picture, which is owned by the WinthroiJ family, is to be found in Drake's " History of Boston" and also in Denison's "Westerly and its Witnesses." In 1653 the council of Massachusetts sent messengers to ques- tion the sachems of the Narragansetts as to their intention to ally with the Dutch (in the war between England and Holland then raging), directing their queries to Pessicus, Ninegret and Mexham, as chief sachems, and again on hearing of the attack of the Narragansetts on the Long Island Indians. In 1654, war having again broken out between the Narragansetts and the Long Island Indians, the United Colonies summoned Ninegret to Hartford. He answered that the enemy had slain the son of a sachem and sixty of his tribe. " If your governor's son were slain and several other men, would you ask counsel of another nation how and when to right yourselves?" He refused to go to Hartford and asked " to be let alone." Roger Williams, in a letter to the general court of Massa- chusetts in 1654, throws the blame of this Indian quarrel on the Long Island tribe. " The cause and root of all the present mis- chief is the pride of two barbarians, Ascassassotic, the Long Island sachem, and Ninegret of the Narragansetts. The former is proud and foolish ; the latter is proud and tierce. I have not seen him these many years, yet from their sober men I hear he IIISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 251 pleads. First — that Ascassassacotic, a very inferior sachem bearing himself [i-elying] upon the English hath slain three or four of his people, and since that sent him challenges and dar- ings to light and mend [avenge] himself. 2 He, Ninegret, con- sulted by solemn messengers with the chief of the English Governors, JNIajor Endicott, then Governor of the Massachu- setts, who sent him an implicit consent to right himself, upon which they all plead that the English have Just occasion of dis- pleasure. 3 after he had taken revenge upon the Long Is- landers and brought away fourteen captives divers of their chief women, j^et he restored them all again upon the mediation and desire of the English. 4 after this peace made the Long Is- landers, pretending to visit Ninegret on Block Island, slaught- ered of his Narragansetts near thirty persons at midnight, two of them of great note, especially Wepiteammoe's son, to whom Ninegret was uncle. 5 In the prosecution of this war, although he had drawn down the Islanders to his assistance, yet upon protestation of the English against his proceedings, he retreated and dissolved the army." It seems that the Connecticut colony had taken the Long Island Indians under their protection, in reference to which Roger Williams continues, "II know it is said the Long Islanders are subjects ; but I have heard this greatly questioned, and indeed I question whether any Indians in this country remaining barbarous and pagan may, with truth and honor, be called the English Subjects. 2 But grant them subjects, what capacity hath their late massacre of the Narragansetts, with whom they had made peace, without the English consent, though still under the English name, put them into?" Notwithstanding tins appeal which, as it was written on the 5th of October, probably reached its destination too late, the commissioners of the United Colonies despatched Major Wil- lard against Ninegret with a force of two hundred and seventy- four foot and forty horse. Ninegret retreated to a swamp on the 9th of October, and tiie troops returned to Hartford with- out success toward the close of the month. The commissioners at Hartford were greath^ angered, l>ut Massachusetts no doubt in consideration of Roger Williams' appeal, interfered, and the war went no further. Ninegret had a fort, but it was no de- fense against the English troops. The swamp is supposed to be the cedar swamp in Westerly, near Burden's pond. The Nian- 252 IIISTOEY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. tic fort was oriojinally built as a protection against the Pequots. It stood or Fort neck, about eighty rods southwest of Cross' mills. The land had steep banks on the soutli side, and projected into Pawaget pond (sometimes called Ninegret's pond), an arm of which runs northerly. The fort was close on the beach, square and about three-quarters of an acre in extent. It had three bastions twenty feet square at the three angles. The main entrance was near the pond at the south corner, where there was no bastion. The sale of the Niantic country in 1660 to Vaughan and the Newport company has been noticed. In 1659, in defiance of a law of Rhode Island, John Winthrop, governor of Massachu- setts, and others purchased from Coginaquam, sagamore or sachem of Narragansert, the northern neck of Wyapumscott, on the mainland about Narragansett fWickford). In 1660 the final outrage was committed by the commissioners of the United Colonies on ihe unfortunate people. An armed force was sent into the territory, and under pretense of wrongs done the Mo- hegans, their allies, which the Narragansett sachems denied, a lieavy fine was laid, and they were compelled to mortgage their entire country for the payment of five hundred and ninetj'-five fathoms within four months. In October, 1660, Sucquansh (grandson of Canonicus), Ninegret, Scuttup and Wegnakaumut, alias Gideon Chief, sachems of the Narragansetts, for them- selves and their tribe, mortgaged by deed all the lands in their country, commonly known and called by the name of Narra- gansett country and Cowesett country, on condition they should pay the fine of six hundred fathoms merchantable wampum peage to the United Colonies. Six months was named for re- demption. Atherton paid the fine. The Indians were unable to redeem the land, and in the spring of 1662 the sachems made formal delivery of the land. The narrow strait in wiiich tlie successor of Canonicus was at this time, appears from the order of the general coui't of May, 1661, to the recorder to issue a writ to arrest "Susquans, the Indian Sachem," and bring him before the court of trials in an action for debt of thirtj^ pounds. Reading the history of these atrocious proceedings, it is some comfort to remember that Rhode Island was not one of the United Colonies, and had her hands full defending her own rights against her grasping neighbors, without taking up the cause of the Indians. In 1644, harrassed and disiieartened by HISTOIIY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 253 the conflicting claims to jurisdiction, Pessicus and Canonicas made submission to King Charles I., saying that they could ''not yield over themselves to any that are subjects themselves in any case, having been the chief sachems or Princes succes- sively of the country time out of mind." When, in 1663, on receiving the charter from Charles the Second, the commis- sioners notified '' the Indian Kings viz Quissuckquansh (grand- son of Canonicus) and Nineganet (sachem of the Nigantocott country; this of course is Ninegret,) that the king in his patent had taken the said Sachems and all tlie Narragansett Indians into his gracious protection as subjects to himself, the sachems thanked his nuijesty for his gracious relief in releasing their lands from theii' forced pui'chasers and mortgages of their lands by some of the other Colonies." They .se^m still to have had hopes of redress, but his gracious majesty was otherwise employed in the gay days of th.e restora- tion, and too busy with the fair dames at Whitehall to listen to the complaints of his loyal subjects of "King's Province," as the Narragansett and Niantic (H)untries were now styled, even had they reached his ears. He was too heedless of his own inter- ests to care for those of others. For some years nothing more is heard of Ninegret. Shorn of the authority which he had shared with Pessicus, and overruled if not excluded from the council of the Narragansetts by the authority of Canonchet, the son of Miantonomi, Ninegret probably "sulked in his tent" literally. In 1075, when the genius of Philip of Pokaiioket attempted to gather the tribes for a stand for wigw^ams and country, Nine- gret and his Niantic followers stood aloof. When, after the first outbreak. Captain Hutchinson, commissioner From Massa- chusetts, marched arms in hand to Petaquamscott (on Narrow river in South Kingstown) and forced a treaty upon tiie Narra- gansetts, Ninegret was one of the six subscribing sachems (Canonchet, Canonicus, Matatoag, Ninegret and Pumiuim, and Maquus, sister of Ninegret, squaw sachem of the Narragansetts). Church's narrative does not mention Ninegret. Drake, who annotated the narrative, mentions him as one of the six, .saying that " he did not join with the rest in the war." The "rest," although they had given hostages, all turned against the Eng- lish in the course of tlie campaign. What hostages they gave and whom Ninegret- gave up for his good faitji are not men- tioned. Perhaps in this may l)e found tlie reason for his re- 254 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. serve. Drake adds in another note that the war histed "until the Narragansetts were all driven out of the countrj' except Ninegret.'' Easton makes no mention of him in his narrative. But Arnold, in his recital, says that on the execution of Canon- chet at Stonington, in which all the Indian allies of the English took part, " the Niantics, who under Ninegret had joined the English, burned his body." This may have been, however, without Ninegret's knowledge or consent. Arnold cites no au- thority for his statement. Tucker says, " the whites purchased Ninegret's neutrality during the Indian war of 1675, and for this treachery to his paramount sovereign and. his race the ' Tribe Land ' in Charlestown was allotted to him and his heirs forever as the price of his treason;'' but the same writer rather illogically adds, "The Ninegret tribe never were the real Narra- gansetts, whose name they bear. It is a libel on their glory and their graves for him to have assumed it. Not one drop of the blood of Canonicus, Miantonomi or Canonchet ever coursed in the veins of a .sachem who could sit neuter in his wigwam and hear the guns and see the conflagration ascending from the fortress that was exterminating their nation forever."' Yet Drake tells us that Maquus, the old queen of Narragansett and sister of Ninegret, was with the Narragansett party surrounded by Major Talcott in the cedar swamp near Warwick in July, 1676, and taken with the rest was put to sword, and this Arnold confirms. On the death of Canonchet in April, 1676, the sceptre of the allied Narragansett and Niantic tribes devolved upon Ninegret. It may more properly be said that with Canonchet the sover- eignty of the Narragansetts ended and their independent tribal organization also. It is a tribute to their power that the Niantics, who alone remained standing after the dread catastrophe, merged their name in that of the Great Bay tribe. Ninegret died soon after the war, leaving his nibe in possession of such lands as were left to them after the Misquamicut cession, they neither having been taken away from him nor confirmed to him by the English as far as can be learned. He was simply not driven out. He was buried in the burial place of the Ninegrets, the re- mains of which are still to be seen on Port neck. Ninegret had two wives. By one he had a daughter; by the other a son, Ninegret, and two daughters. Weecounkhass, the first daugh- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 255 tei- by the first wife, succeeded him. Slie was ciowued at Che- iiiiingaiiock, now Ixiiowii as Slminaiicauuc iCliarlestown). True to fiieir old policy tlie (!oiiiiecriciit authorities who, I'roui the tiuie of the Pequot war, had claiuieil jurisdiction over and en- deavored to plant tiieir settlers in the Niantic country, had at- ti-nipted to set up Catopeci, a Pequot Indian, as joint sachem with the hereditary sovereign. True also to the old policy of theNiantics and Narragansetts, the injured princess, who in the document styles herself " VVecoiiukhass, the queen of the Ni- hantick Country in the King's Province in New England, with the consent of her Counsell," petitioned the king to leave the jurisdiction of the country, as it ever had been, in the hands of Rhode Island. The question of jurisdiction over King's Prov- ince was finally decided in favor of Rhode Island in 1G87. Weecounkhass on her death was succeeded by her half brother, Ninegret. In 1708 a committee of the general assem- bly was appointed to agree with Ninegret "what maybe a suf- ficient competence of land for him and his people to live upon," and to view the state of the land. In 1709 they reported a great deal of land very poor and some very good, and also that Niije- gret had executed a quit claim deed to all Indian lands what- ever, excei;)t a tract or reservation of sixty-four square miles. In 1717, on the petition of Ninegret (the second), the assembly assumed the care of the Indians' lands and appointed overseers to lease them for the benefit of the tribe and to dispossess tres- passers. In 1718 a memorial was addressed to the assembly in behalf of Asquasurhuks, granddaughter of Miantonomi, setting forth her claim to the Narragansett lands. The claim was dis- proved at the next session and the title shown to have come to the present Niantic sachem from old Ninegret as "survivor of and joint tenant of the sachenulom with Casuckqunce" (Pes- sicus), brother and successor of ^Miantonomi, after his murder by Uncas. Ninegret's will was dated in 1716-17 and he died about 1722, leaving two sons, Charles Augustus Ninegret and George Au- gustus Ninegret. Charles Augustus succeeded as sachem. At his request certain of his lands in Westerly were granted as a site for a meeting house. In 1734 twenty acres of this land were laid out and deeded for the use of the Church of England in Westerly. Charles Augustus, dying, left an infant son, Charles, " who was acknowledged as Sachem by a portion of 256 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the tribe but the greater part adhered to George Augustus, his uncle, as being of pure royal blood.'' The dispute ended with the death of the child. George received the royal belt in 1735. On his death he left a widow and three children : Thomas, George and Esther. In Updike's history of the Narragansett church (here is a minute: " September 6, Thursday, 175'.). The bans of marriage being duly published in the church of St. Paul's in Narragansetr, no objection being made John Anthony, an Indian man, was married to Sarah George, an Indian woman, the Dowager Queen of George Augustus Ninegret, deceased, by Dr. McSparran." Thomas Ninegret, better known as " King Tom," was born in 1736 and succeeded his father in 1746. He was then ten years old and was sent to England where he received a common school education. On his return from England be brought the plans of a building which was set up and in which, known as the sachem house, he lived and died. In 1750 the Indian church was i)lanted. In 1759 Thomas Ninegret petitioned for the re- peal of the law foj'bidding the purchase of Indian lands, which was framed and passed in their interest, and permission was given to him and all other Indums to dispose of their lands without restriction. This act was repealed on. petition of the tribe in 1763, and Ninegret consenting to execute a deed for the sachem lands, a committee was appointed to set them off, but the tribe could not agree as to what lands should be set (.ff. In 1765 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent over a teacher with books to the Narragansetts, and Ninegret petitioned the society to establish a free school, in quitu a touching letter. King Tom, though heavy and fat, idle and not over temperate, was fond of learning and religion. In 1767 he was required by the assembly to execute a deed for the school house lot in Charlestown to the colony and to. settle his accounts and to pay his debts by sale of his personal estate and lands if not ade- quate. The tribe, aggrieved by this proceeding, on the advice of Sir William Johnson sunt an agent to England to lay the matter before the king. King Tom died in 1769 or 1770. Upon his death the saciiein house was sold and a large part of the tribe lands to pay his debts, after which, in 1773, the I'eniainder was secured to liie tribe by act of the assembly beyond (contin- gency of debt. King Tom's wife and only son left liini some time before his HISTOIJY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 257 death and went to the west. The son dying before the fathej- and George Augustas being also dead, tlie sovereignty passed to their sister, Esther, wlio married Tiionias Sachem and was crowned queen in 1770. Quile interesting details have come down to us as to the ceremony. Tlie rock on which she stood is still pointed out. It is about three feet above ground and twelve rods north of King Tom's mansion — Sachem House. An eye witness of the coronation gave an account of it about 1840 to Mr. Updike of Westerly. — "I saw lier crowned over seventy years ago. She was elevated on a large rock so that the people might see her; the Council surrounded lier. There were present about twenty Indian soldiers with guns. They marched her to the rock. The Indian nearest to the royal blood in presence of her counsellors put the crown on her head. It was made of cloth covered with blue and white peage. When the crown was put on the soldiers lired a royal salute and huzzaed in the Indian tongue. The ceremony was imposing and everything was conducted with great order. Then the soldiers waited on her to the house and fired salutes. There were five hundred natives present besides others." Queen Esther left one son, George, who was ci'owned after her death. He was killed when about twenty-two years old by the falling of a tree which was being felled. He was the last of the Ninegrets, and the last king of the tribe. His deatli was in 1827, according to Drake (Notes on Chui'ch's Narrative). Massasoit, or Ousamequin, sachem of the Wampanoags, was the earliest of the sachems of whom there is record in the history of the New England settlements. In March, 1G21, three months after the landing of the Pilgrim's in Plymouth bay, they were visited by an Indian, Samoset, from the coast of Maine, who had learned some English fi'om tht; fishermen wlio visited the coast. He informed the whites that they were in the region of the Wampanoags, whose territory extended to the Narragansett bay. A few days later Samoset brought in another Indian, one Squantum (or Tisquantum), a native of Pa- tuxet (or Plymouth), the place in which they now were. This savage was one of those who had been carried oif to England by one of the sea captains, and also spoke English. An hour later he was followed by Mas.sasoit. An interview was held at which Squantum acted as interpreter, and a treaty of alliance was made between tlie settlers and the Wampanoag'-. 17 258 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. which was maintained unbroken for fifty-four years. Massasoit had already some knowledge of English power from Sqnantum, his subject, and from a visit made to him by Captain Dermer, an English captain, who, coasting from Maine to Virginia in 1615, in an open pinnace, had fallen in with Squantnm, whom he knew, and had been taken by him to the headquarters of his chief at Pokanoket. The territory of the Wampanoags extended from Cape Cod to Narragansett bay, and by some (Miller's King Philip and the Wampanoags) is supposed to have included the islands in the bay. The Tndian plague of 1616 had been particularly fatal to this tribe, and they had fallen under the dominion and become tributary to the Narragansetts, who had taken to themselves the islands before the coming of the English. There are sup- posed to have been four large Indian villages of the Wampa- noags on the neck, a jjeninsula which projects into Narragan- sett bay ; one at Montop, the name of which was later changed to Mount Hope ; another at the head of the cove ; a third at Kickamut, the back river ; and a fourth at Sowams or Sowam- set. The Indian remains at all these places show that it was cultivated and thickly inhabited. The sachems had tlieir resi- dences at Metacom in Montop bay, and at Pokanoket or Sowams. In the summer of 1621 Governor Bradford sent a deputation of the Plymouth colony to return Massasoit's visit : Edward Winslow, Stephen Hopkins, and Squantum as a guide. They were received by Massasoit at Pokanoket, and found him almost destitute of in-ovisions, save a partridge and a few fish. In 1623, word coming to Plymouth that Massasoit was "sick and like to die," Winslow was sent to visit him. He reached Pokanoket in time to rescue him, and so won the gratitude of the sachem that he said, "Now I see the English are my frientls and love me ; and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have shown me." And in fact at this interview he gave the English warning of a plot of Massachusetts Indians against the white settlements. Intercourse soon grew between the bay settlements and Mon- top, and as early as 1632 the Plymouth settlers had a trading post at Sowams, which they held to be the garden of their patent. Here there is a living spring of water known as Mas- sisoit's SI? ring. The trading post is supposed to have been at HISTORY OF NEWPOIIT COUNTY. 259 Phoebe's neck, on the Barrington side of hhe Swanzey river. Massasoit at this time is believed to have been about forty years of ;ige. "The King,'' says the earliest account of him, ''is a portly man in his best years, grave of countenance, spare of speech." It is known that he made repeated visits to Ply- mouth, as indeed was needful, he having i)laced himself and his tril)H under the protection of the PljMuouth government. He is said to have taken the name of Ousaniequin when he started on his war against the Narragansetts in 1630, an e.xpedition, the result of which was apparently his freedom from tributary subjection, but of which there i-emains no account. Moreover, the Indians in the immediate neighborhood of (he Plymouth settlements recognized his tribal jurisdiction. Tiie distance from Plymouth to Montop is about thirty miles, and the Indian trail soon became the route of daily travel. It was while on these visits to his white friends that Massa- soit became known to Roger Williams, who arrived in Boston in 1630, and no doubt also to John Eliot who came to New England the next year. Both of these men were ministei's of the gospel and admirable linguists, one having been educated at the University of Oxford and the other at that of Cambridge. Alike deeply concerned for the conversion of the natives, they alike from the time of their arrival mingled with them and sought by converse to learn their tongue. Of their thorough knowledge of the dialects there is proof in "A Key into the Language of America; or a Help to the Language of the Natives in tiiat part of America called New England," by Roger Wil- liams, ])ublished at London in 1643, and in John Eliot's gram- mar and tianslation of the Bible into the Indian language. The facility which Williams early acquired was of great service to himself personally and to his friend Massasoit, for whom he acted as interpreter at his meetings with the English authori- ties. Young Governor Henry Vane, during his short stay in New England, 1635-87, and Governor John Winthrop, in his teini of ofTife, both beforeA'^ane's coming and after his departure, anil Edward Winslow, governor of Plymoutli, were Williams' friends and alike interested with him in the establishment of peaceful relations with the Indians and their conversion to Christianity. Indeed one of the objects set forth in the charter of the Massachusetts colony was the conversion of tlu' natives; and Winslow was the immediate cause of the fonnding of the 260 . HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New Enghmd (1649). When Roger Williams was banislied from Massachusets in November, 1635, as a distnrberof the peace both of the church and the commonwealth, the first cause of offense named was the teaching of an erroneous yet not religious opinion, viz., that the natives were the true owners of the land and the settlers gained no rights to it by patent from the king. This of course was an agreeable recommendation to the natives. It was natural therefore that when, to avoid the warrant that was to put him on board a vessel about to leave for England, Williams lied in the middle of January to the wilderness, leaving his wife and children behind, he should have gone directly to Massasoit; moreover he was privately advised by his friend WinthroiJ " to steer his course to the Narragansett Bay and Indians for many high and heavenly public ends,"and particularly because of the " freeness of the. place from any English claims or patents." Wil- liams made his journey through the winter snows from Salem, an exi^osure from which he had not recovei'ed thirty years later. He was accompanied by live companions; one of these was a Dorchester miller, like himself banished for " erroneous opin- ions," another a poor destitute creature, a third poor young fellow and two lads. At Montop Williams was warmly received by Massasoit and granted a tract of land on the eastern bank of the Seekonk river near what is called now Cove Mills. See- konkis now Rehoboth. "Here," says Williams, "I first pitched and began to build and plant, but I received a letter from my ancient friend Mr. Winslow, then Governor of Plymouth, pro- fessing his own and others' love and respect to me yet lovingly advising me since I was fallen into the edge of their bounds and they were loth to displease the Bay, to remove to the other side of the water; and then he said I had the countiy free before me ami we might be as free as themselves and we should be loving neighbors together." From this it is clear that the eastern autliorities considered the bounds of their patent and of the Wampanoag jurisdiction under their protection to be the eastern shore of the Narragansett waters. "As good as ban- ished from Plymouth as from the Massachusetts," by this gentle advice,WilIiams, about two months after beginning his planta- tion at Seekonk, took his canoe and with his five companions dropped down the stream to a slate rock on the west shore of HISTORY OF NEWPOHT COUNTY. 261 the stream, at its continence witli tlie liead waters of tiie bay, where lie was liailed by someNarragansett Indians and landinii', was pleasantly greeted. Again embarking, lie passed aronnd the headlands and canoed up the river on tlie west side of tlie peninsula to the mouth of the Mooshassic and chose for the seat of his new plantation the slope of the hill which rises fi'oni the stream, and gave to it the name of Providence. This was witli- out question in the jurisdiction of the Niwragansetts, but it would seem that this country had also belonged to the \Vam- panoags, for Williams himself says that "some time after the Plymouth great Sachem Ousamequin (Massasoit) upon occasion affirmed that Providence was his land and therefore Plymouth's land."' To this Bradford, the governor of Plymouth, and also an old friend of Williams, answered that even if the claim proved true Williams should not be molested again. Williams early gained the favor of Canonicus and Mianto- nomi,the Narragansett sachems, and at the request of Governor Vane of Massachusetts visited them at their headipiarters on Conanicut island and negotiated the league against the Pequots. Within two months of his settlement at Providence he was be- come their chief adviser. In return they had freely granted to him the lands and meadows where his plantation lay, between the two streams at the continent point of which Providence lies. No doubt this dispute about the land was " the great contest between the three Sachems (to wit, Canonicus and Mi- antonomi were against Ousamequin on Plymouth side)," in regard to which Williams, from whom this is quoted, "was forced to travel between them three to pacify, to satisfy all their and their dependants' spirits of my honest intentions to live peaceably by them." It is not at all probable that tlieie was any armed contention or bloody feud between the Narragansetts and the Wampan- oags at the time Williams settled. In the same declaration Williams says that Ousamequin "consented freely, being also well gratified by me to the Governor Winthrops' and my en- joyment of Prudence yea of Providence itself," etc. In fact the land neighboring on Providence to the north, and perhaps that on which Providence stood, had belonged to the Cowesets who, after the defection of Massasoit, were gradually falling away from their tribal allegiance and, with their northern neighbors, the Nipmucks, subjecting to the Massachusetts col- 262 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ony. Indeed a few years later, in 1646, when the Narragansett power had greatly weakened, we find the Providence settlers buying the "right which Ousamequin pretendeth to a parcel of land" between their bounds at Pawtucket and an Indian plantation northwest from thence called Loquasquscit (Smith- field, at the lime quarries), although they claim that they had the right of feeding and grazing cattle there by their grant from the Narragansetts .before they had "released him (Ousame- quin) of his subjection," which gives evidence of a formal con- tract to his withdrawal from tributary subordination. The name of Ousamequin first appears in the Rhode Island records in connection with the first of these transactions. In 1687 there appears annexed to the deed to Coddington and his associates of the island of Aquidneck, a memorandum of a con- sent to them by Ousamequin for a gratuity of five fathoms of wampum of the use of any grass or trees on the mainland on the Powakaseck (Pocasset) side. This by his Plymouth pro- tection was strictly in Wampanoag territory. In 1646, in the matter of the Indian plantation just mentioned, he was in troub- le with the town of Providence. They had jjaid him in coats and hoes and wampum, which he asked, but over night he changed his mind. On the report of Roger Williams and others he was, however, compelled to adhere to the "fair and righteous bargain." Being outside of the Rhode Island juris- diction, Ousamequin' s name rarely appears in the history that concerns it, only we may notice that with ten of his men he had permission from the town of Portsmouth, in 1644, to take ten deer on the island of Aquidneck, within the liberty of that town ; but the deer were to be taken to Portsmouth, there to be viewed, and neither Ousamequin nor any of his men were to carry any deer or skins off from the island except at that time, and they were to depart off from the island within five days. Massasoit and his Wampanoags had no part in the wars l^e- tween the Narragansetts and the Mohegans which were the indirect cause of the ruin of the Rhode Island tribe. It was not the policy of the Massachusetts government to allow their Indian neighbors to go on the war path. The chief, now ad- vancing in years, lived quietly at his favorite seats. He had a large family: his wife, two brothers, Quadequmet and Akkan- poin, three sons and a daughter whose name is not known. His HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 263 oldest son was Wamsutta, sometimes called Mooannm, his sec- ond Pometacnm, Metacom, both of whom figure in history; and a third Sunconewhew. Wamsutta and Metaconiet were better known by their English names of Alexander and Pliilip, by which, according to some authorities, they were called as early as 1G56, but which as others hold were given to them after the princes of Macedonia, when they went up to Plymouth court in 1662. Wamsutta, or Alexander, the eldest of tlie sons of Massasoit, was admitted to a part in the government of the Wampanoags before 1657. In that year he was the cause of a dispute be- tween the Plymouth and Rhode Island colonies in his sale of a little Island in Narragansett bay to Richard Smith, Jr., the son and successor of the old trader of the Narragansett. The colony of Rhode Island had always exercised jurisdiction over this island. In 1638 the town of Portsmouth granted permis- sion to mow its grass to one of their people, and no counter claim .seems to have been set up until this sale, which, as Richard Smith always leaned toward Plymouth, was no doubt one of their practical attempts to help Massachusetts to gain a foothold on Narragansett bay. After the purchase by Smith the authorities of Plymouth colony wrote to Rhode Ishiiul claiming jurisdiction. The letter was answered and commis- sioners appointed on both sides to settle the matter, but from the fact that private instructions were given to their commis- sioners by the Rhode Island assembly, there is little doubt that they were resolved in no event to surrender jurisdiction in any of the waters of their bay. In 16o9 Smith attempted to take forcible possession, but was firmly met and the matter was finally decided as of right in favor of Rhode Island. In this matter Wamsutta played the i^art Plymouth desired. Indeed, as the power of the Narragansetts waned, the lower .sachems reasserted their authority. Not only did Pumham, the subordinate Narragansett sachem of Shawoniet, refuse to leave Warwick neck, which the cliief .sacheuis sold to Gorton and Holden, but still another claimant sprung up to the sauie land in the person of Nawwusliawsuch, " who lived witii Ous- amequin." In 1656 Rhode Island daily looked for hostilities in consequence of this feud. Roger Williams sought in vain to settle this dispute, as well as the difficulties made by .some of the Pawtuxet families who had subjected themselves to Massa- 2G4 HISTORY OF NEWPOirr county. chusetts' jurisdiction before Rhode Island had its charter. Such was the state of affairs when old Massasoit died, toward the close of the year 1661, at the age of about eighty years, faith- ful at the close as he had been from the day when he made the first Indian treaty of amity with the Pilgrim fathers. Yet, though he had on more than one occasion saved the weak set- tiers from disaster, if not utter ruin, he had not escaped with- out suspicion and indignity, and had gradually seen his own power, notwithstanding his release from Narragansett domina- tion, weakened over his own tribe and their subordinate allies. To him, as to all with whom the Indians came in contact, the touch of the white man's hand was death. At the tirst cele- bration of "Forefather's day"' at Plymouth in 1769, one of the regular toasts of the dinner was, "To the memory of Mas- sasoit, our first and best friend and ally of the native.s.*' It may be here remarked that this chief always appears on the Masssachusetts records as Massasoit, on those of Rhode Island as Ousamequin. Wamsutta or Sepaaquet — Alexander, the eldest son of Mas- sasoit, succeeded his father as chief sachem, but from what is known of his character and his brother, it is not probable that either of them shared their father's attachment to the English, or at least were willing as thoroughly as he to conform their policy to that of the Massachusetts or Plymouth governments. His first act was in direct antagonism to Massachusetts policy. This was a deed to the town of Providence in 1662 of a tract of land west of the Seekonk river which Massasoit had claimed, as in the case of the Loquasquscit lands in the old Coweset jurisdiction. This sale of lands which the eastern colonies itched to possess, to the heretics of Providence, was as deadly a sin in the eyes of Plymouth and Massachusetts as the sale of Shawomet to the pestilent Gorton, and it is a striking coinci- dence that in each case this presumption on the part of the In- dians to choose the purchasers of their terrritory was the chief, if not the only reason for their death. Wamsutta had also strengthened the power of his tribe by his marriage with Wetamoo, squaw sachem of the Pocassets, who ruled the country which fronted westerly on the western waters of Narragansett bay, facing Mount Hope and Rhode Is- land in their entire length. Accused by " some of Boston" of contriving mischief against the English, and that he had so- lIISTOltY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 265 licited the Narragansetts to engage witli him in his designed rebellion, Alexander was ordered by Governor Prince of Ply- month colony to appear before the next general court. Not answering the summons, but it is said continuing to visit the Narragansetts, Major Winslow was sent with a force to bring liini up. He was surprised at a hunting station, and only sur- lendered at the point of the pistol. He was taken prisoner, followed by a train of eighty warriors and women. Halting on the way at Winslow's house at Marshfield, Alexander fell ill. It is said of him that the day was very hot, but that he would not ride Winslow's horse because there was Tione for his squaw to ride. To ill to go further, he was allowed to return, on his promise to send his son as a hostage for his appearance at the next court. He is said to have "died before he got half way home;"" some say of "fatigue, rage and heat,"" but there were suspicions of crime iu his death. John Easton, in his " Rela- tion of the Indyan Warr,'" written at the time, relates that Philip and his warriors charged "that their king's brother when he was king came miserably to dy by being forced to Court as they judge poysoned."" His death, which his wife, Wetamoo, as well as his brother, ascribed to foul means, was without doubt the determining cause of King Philip's rising, and of the teiTible struggle which still bears the name of Philip's war. End of the Naki:a(iansett8. — In the winter of 1678-9, the Indian council of five Narragansetts and others of the tribe by the president of the council, Gideon L. Amnions, petitioned the general assembly of Rhode Island to name a committee " to in- vestigate their affairs in reference to the encroachment of the whites upon the tribal lands, and whether it was better to con- tinue the tribe as a tribe or enfranchise tliem." Public hear- ings were had and testimony taken, some of which were at the Indian meeting house in Ciiarlestown, a townsiii]) in the Mis- quamicut region in the southwestern part of the state, and orig- inally a part of the town of Westerly, incorporated as the (ifth town of the colony by freemen of Newport in 1669. The report of the committee is authority for the following statement. After the death of George Ninegret, no king of the Narra- gansetts was ever crowned and the tribe was ever after gov- erned by an annually elected governor or president and a coun- cil of four members. Wlien the Indian council was established ♦ 266 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. is not known. It was in existence in October, 1770. Since 1707, however, the tribe and the reservation of lands have been virtually under the jurisdiction of the colony and state, as the Indian kings and their councils, although holding directly from the English crown, as of the King's Province, have always har- monized with the colony and state authority. They claim to be allied by treaty with the state and to enjoy certain privi- leges and i)rotection by virtue of their subjection, accepted by the English king and their grants of territory. They held an election day in March and a religious meeting in August of each year. An act for regulating the affairs of the Narragansett tribe of Indians in this state passed by the legis- lature of Rhode Island in February, 1792, prescribed the method of election. All the males of the said tribe of twenty- one years of age, born of an Indian woman belonging to the tribe, or begotten by an Indian man belonging thereto or of any other than a negro woman, was entitled to vote at all meetings; the council to be elected at the school house, their accustomed place of meeting, in March, by a majority of votes. The Indian church was planted in 1750, in the reign of King Tom, as their sachem, Thomas Ninegret, was called. In 1847, according to Updike, " there was not an Indian of the whole blood remaining in the tribe." Their character as well as their blood had changed by their mingling with whites and negroes. In 1833 a committee reported that there were one hundred and ninety-nine of the tribe residing in Charlestown and fifty were sujjposed to be absent. In 1858 they enrolled one hundred and thirty-eight members. In 1879 the tribe numbered one hun- dred and thirty-three, of whom fifty-eight were males and sev- enty-five females. They maintained their poor and supported public worship,and the state paid tiie expenses of the school. Be- sides the original reservation, which contained about sixty-four square miles, in 1858 about two thousand acres of their tribal lands were held by individual members of their tribe as their separate estate. In 1879 they owned in all about three thousand acres in the center of the town of Charlestown. In 1880, the Narragansetts having consented to a dissolution of the tribe, the Indian council made a deed to the state for the entire reservation except the meeting house and lot and a right of way to it as long as it should be used as a place of public worship. The sum of five thousand dolars was agreed upon as HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 267 the price, and the purchase money was divided among three hundred and twenty-i'our persons admitted to be members of the tribe, the individual share of each being fifteen dollars and fifty-three cents. It is curious to note in the list of the tribe not an Indian name unless that of Noka is found. The words of Denison are now true to the letter in all their force. Of the old pride and power of the Indian kings and war- riors only their mouldering sepulchres remain. The royal burying ground of the most ancient date is located in Charles- town, about a mile north of Cross' mills, on a piece of pleasant table land near fifteen feet above the surrounding high ground. The spot commands a beautiful view of the adjacent country and the sea. Royal graves were privileged above others. On this plateau, in a mound one hundred feet long, thirty feet wide and three feet high, and in the spaces around it, are the remains of the kings, queens, members of the royal family and chiefs of the Narragansett nation. Some of the graves are evi- dently very ancient. In 1878 the general assembly of Rhode Island, having received a deed of half an acre of this plateau, set up a post and rail fence five feet high which encloses a plot twenty feet by one hundred, including the greater part of the graves, and also a tablet of marble thus inscribed: " This tablet is erected and this spot of ground enclosed by the state of Rhode Island to mark the place which Indian tradition iden- tifies as the Royal burying ground of the Karragansett tribe, and in recognition of the kindness and hospitality of this once powerful nation to the founders of this state." CHAPTER V. NEWPORT IN THE COLONIAL WARS. Bv John Austin Stevens. Privateering from Rhode Island.— War with the Dutch, 1652-3.— Privateers and Pirates, 1653-90.— War with France, King William's War, 1689-98.— Depre- dations by Privateers. — Queen Anne's War, 1702-13. — The Old French War, n.Jlr-61.— War of the American Revoluticin, 1775-83.— Rhode Island in its Political Relations, 1763-74.— Stamp Act Congress.— Non-Importation Agree- ment. ALTHOUGH the treaty of \Yestpha1ia of 1648, which closed the thirty years' war between France and Sweden, the victorions powers and the Honse of Anstria, assnred the inde- pendence of the Netherlands as one of its great results, and gave a temporary peace to Enrope on land, the depredations of the maritime powers npon each other by no means ceased. Priva- teers still roamed the seas with their commissions. Spanish galleons, with the treasures of the Indies, still crossed the ocean at fixed periods, and were too rich a prize to be lightly aban- doned. England, under the reign of James I. and Charles I, was neutral in the continental struggle. The great revolution kept lier too busy at home to meddle in foreign war ; but her ad- venturous sea-faring men took letters of marque from France and probably from Spain also. At first the colonies had too much to do at home in their plantations and little coasting trade to think much of foreign plunder. The time soon came when it was a chief source of occupation and fortune. In the early part of 1649 a prize, captured from the Dutch, though at what date does not appear from the letter of Roger Williams to John Wiuthrop, ,Ir., of Connecticut, which relates the incident, was bought by Captain Clarke, of Newport. It had pi'obably been brought into this port by some adventurous Englishman. Trouble was threatened by Stuyvesant, the gov- ernor of New Amsterdam, who claimed that the capture was HIRTOIiY OF NEWI'Oirr COUNTY. 269 "contrary to the i)eac!e with Spain." This attitude of the Dutch gave alarm because of the purchase by one of their number of Dutch island, at tlie mouth of the bay ; a x"»iii'chase which fell through later. The peace with Spain was the treaty of West- phalia. In the spring of 1650, as is also learned from a letter of Roger Williams to John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut, the records of the Rhode Island colony being silent on the subject,one Bluefield brought a prize into Newi)ort, and some Frenchmen who came with him, i)robabIy his companions in the expedition, "bought a frigate of Captain Clarke [of Newport] to go out upon their voyage to West Indies." The vessel was the Dutch prize pur- chased the year before. To this the English residents demurred, fearing tliat they would practice their trade upon this coast. There was at this time great uncertainty as to the state of affairs abroad. King Charles had been beheaded. Prince Charles, proclaimed king in Scotland, had found it necessary to leave the Hague and his Orange kinsmen and friends to take refuge in Paris. The last vessel from Bristol had brought word of great divisions in England itself and " a fresh report of wars with France," from the court of which an armed attempt at restoration of the monarchy was feared. There is no informa- tion as to the nation from which the Frenchmen, "flesht with blood," as Williams describes, took the pi'ize they brought in, nor yet whether they were permitted to take out the ship they purchased ; but in the absence of contrary order on the records it is probable. But they could have taken no commission from Newport, as England was at peace with all the contracting powers of the treaty of Westphalia. The "crowning mercy" of Worcester, and the tliglit from England of Prince Charles, after that disastrous and decisive bat- tle, left the parliament free to pacify the country and engage its forces in foreign affairs. A war abroad has alway.s been a favorite mode of securing peace at home. The prosperous col- onies and great wealth of the Dutch decided Cromwell to tnrii a deaf ear to tho.se of the parliament, who were urging a close confederacy with the Holland states. Among these was Sir Henry Vane, the old friend of Roger Williams, and after a man- ner an early jjatron of the Rhode Island colony. The famous "Act of navigation" was aimed directly at the Dutch, who had almost a monopoly of the carrying trade of the world. Not 270 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. content with this war of enactment, the parliament issued letters of reprisal to sundry Englisli merchantmen who complained of Dutch ill-treatment, and numbers of Dutch vessels were taken and brought in as prizes. The states-general rei^lied by equip- ping a large fleet, and a collision, accidental or premeditated, in the road of Dover with the English fleet, not satisfactorily ex- plained, brought on war, the formal declaration of wliich was made by parliament in 16.V2. The orders of the council of state to the colonies to prepare for defense found Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations in schism, the foimer separated from the mainland by the commission to Coddington. The latter claimed the authority over the colony by reason of their holding to the old charter which the commission abrogated. Assemblies were held at Providence and Newport the same day — May 17th, 1653; the commissioners of the colony, as the deputies from Providence and Warwick styled themselves, re- ceiving and considering a letter from the town of Newport, written in March, notifying them that for "present security" they had taken measures foi' forts and arms and mustering of the militia. Tlie reason for tliis hesitancy must be sought, no doubt, in the influence of Roger Williams, then in England, as the agent of Providence and Warwick, to secure the conflrma- tion of the old charter. Williams was the guest of Sir Henry Vane at his home, Belleau, in Lincolnshire, and it is known that Vane was opposed to St. John's policy of war with the Dutch, and no doubt hoped that the colonies might be kept clear of entanglement. However this maybe, the colony commissioners, on receiving the letter, passed an order restrictive rather than menacing in tone. After recognizing the authority of the council of state, they forbid further export of provisions from the colony for supply of the Dutch, direct that each plantation (or town) take measures for its own "safety defence," and Anally expressly require that "in the name of the commonwealth of England that no man within the limits of this colony presume to take vessels or goods from the Dutch, as being authorized by this colony, without orders and directions from a General Court of Commissioners, upon such a penalty as the nature of his facts shall require bj^ the judgment of his peers" — and it was further ordered that all writs and warrants shall be issued forth in the name of the Commonwealth of England." While this waiting policy of self-defense and neutralitj^ was IIISTORV OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 271 being adopted at Providence, the general assembly, as they con- tinued to call themselves, which met at Newport on the same day, May 17th, and had the usual election of president and other officers, proceeded at once to active measures. "Three men, Mr. William Dyre, Mr. John Sanl'ord |tlie newly elected president] and Mr. Nic^liolas Easton wei-e cliosen to see that the Older of the Right Honorable the Council of State be attended to. namely in looking and taking caie that the State's part in all i)rizes be secured and account kept." This was the first court of admiralty in Rhode Island. The next day, on the ad- vice of a committee, upon which each town was represented by two members (Newport by Nicholas Easton and John Easton), it was agreed to help their countrymen on Long Island either by defending them against the Dutch or by offensive war, and to lend them two great guns and other arms, and the aid of twenty volunteers. For the trial of prizes brought in, the general court, with three jurors from each town, were authorized. Commissions were granted to Captain Jolin Underhill and Mr. William Dyre, and one to Edward Hull to go "against the Dutch or any enemies of tlie Comnumwealth of England." Captain John Underhill was from Long Island, where he settled after the Massachusetts l)anishment, and had the Puritan hatred for Dutch and English alike. He did famous service in the Pequot war. Some of the freemen of the towns of Providence and Warwick attended this assembly and concurred in its resolu- tions. The commissioners for Pi-ovidence and Warwick met again at Providence in June and adopted a "brief remon* strance," in which, after setting forth their grievances and claim to authority under the old charter, and admitting the validity of the council of .state's direction to " offend the Dutch as they shall think necessary," they protest against tlie com- missions issued to Underhill, Hull and Dyre, declare that they will not be forced into engaging in the .said commission, but will use their endeavor to " free themselves from all illegal and un- just proceedings, and finally order that no inhabitants of the colony that do own the validity of the commissions granted to Undeihill, Hull and Dyre in the name of the Providence Planta- tions shall thenceforth have liberty to act in government until they have given satisfaction to the respective towns of Provi- dence and Warwick." 272 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Tliis subject has been treated at length, as the action of New- port at this time is a point of departure in tlie history of the colony between the policy of peace, held to by the Roger Wil- liams plantation of Providence, and the more warlike tendency of the seaport town. In the course of the summer Captain Hull caplured and brought in a French ship in a manner that Massachusetts j)ro- tested against as unlawful. In the autumn Massachusetts was still further aggrieved, and sent a si:»ecial messenger to remon- strate against the act. This was tlie seizure by Captain Baxter, undei' a Rhode Island commission, of the " Desire," of Bain- stable, in Hampstead Harbor, an English settlement under Dutch jurisdiction, with stores on l)oard. To the complaint of the agent of Massachusetts, President Eastou answered that he liad issued the letter of marque under the autliority of the council, to whom he had sent a report of the case. Baxter next captured a Dutch vessel near New York, and was chased to Fairfield harbor by two Dutch men of- war. To this act the commissioners of the united colonies answered witii a pro- hibition of Dutch vessels from entering any of the English- American ijorts. The cause of this lukewarmness of the United Colonies in this struggle with Holland must be sought in their sympathies with parties in England. They no doubt sided with those who disapproved of the breach of the old alliance of England and Holland against the House of Bourbon. In May, 1604, the vessel "Deborah" was commissioned to defend her- self. This was, probably, the last letter of marque issued, as peace with rhe Dutch had been already signed by Cromwell, April 15th, 1654. The records of tlie Rhode Island court of admiralty no doubt give the details of the pi'izes taken during the war. That the prolits were considerable appears from the proceedings before the court of commissioners in May, 1658, wherein it is stated that there was " remaining in the hands of Mr. Nicholas Easton a considerable sum of money or estate, which was committed to him by order of court in 1652 (or '53), which estate is duly appertaining to the use of his Highness, the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, and the -colony is accountable therefor when his Highness shall please to call for an account of those passages, viz. concerning the State's part of prizes taken in the time of the differences in the colony with the Dutch." Suits were brought both against HISTORY OF NKWPOUT COUNTY. 273 Easton and William Dyre, the latter of whom declined to give any account. The cases were still pending in 10(50. The unhappy influence of this legalized freebooting on the morals of the inhabitants of the colony is shown by the act which the court of commissioners found it necessary to pass in I608, four years after the close of the war, on the information of "several considerable members of the colony of the inordi- nate desires and mischievous conducts and endeavours of ill- disposed persons pretending to make prize of such Dutchmen as come to trade witli the English in this colony." All such persons were warned not to be " so hardy as to attempt or put in i)ractice any such design of seizing any either Dutch goods or vessels that shall arrive or be brought into this colony to be sold to the English here, unless by express commission from the State of England or an order of the law making Assembly of the Colony under pain of felon}-." Privateers and Pirates, 1653-1690. — This isolated case, un- der the very eyes of tlie staid authorities of Rhode Island, is but a feeble expression of the license of sea-faring adventurers. The contest of the two great maritime powers of the world for colcMiial dominion was the (opportunity of the freebooter — an opportunity which the dismantling of posts, the weakening of defenses and the aggregation of protecting vessels in large fleets for concerted action greatly increased. Nor was it much more than the extreme of that domineering spirit, that love of con- quest and adventure which animated Raleigh and Drake and a hundred other kindred spirits a century before ; only that their successors were not always disposed to inquire into the nation- ality of their prizes, and often captured the vessels of their own flag with as little ceremony as those of their traditional enemies. In 1683 the grievance had reached its height. The American coast swarmed with privateers, and this lax commerce soon de- generated into uncontrolled piracy. The vessels were often owned by honest gentlemen, whose sense of nu)rals was dulled by heavy profits, and who rarely inquired closely into the con- duct of captain or of crew. The West Indies, with their easy ccxist, became the Held, and .lamaica the center of the lawless traffic, but the vessels occasionally entered, on one or another pretence, into the north Atlantic ports. In .Inly, 1683, Captain Thomas Paine ari-ived at Newport with a privateer ship from Jamaica. The deputy collector of Boston came down to seize 18 274 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. her. The capuiiii showed Jamaica papers, which satislied Gov- ernor Coddington, who refused to give her up. The Boston of- ficer claimed that the papers were forged, and sent down from Boston a pass of the Jamaica governor to prove the forgery. It would seem that Paine was a Rhode Island man. In March, 1684, the home government sent oi'ders to Jamaica, and later to all the American colonies, to take measures against privateering and piracy and the harboring of suspicious craft. In June following a letter from the king, together with one from Sir Leoline Jenkins, one of his principal secretaries, en- closing a proclamation for the suppressing of privateer.s and pirates, reached the assembly, and was forthwith published in the town of Newport by beat of drum, and read by the recorder at three of the most public places in the town, and the same day an act for the restraining and punishing privateers and pirates was passed. The serving, without a special license from the colony, was made felony, with the i)roviso that any persons belonging to the colony who were then serving any foreign prince, state or potentate, who should return before the end of December next following and surrender himself should be exempt from pursuit under the law, and commissioners were appointed under the king's seal, subject to the judges of ad- miralty in the colony, to hear and determine all matters of treason, felony, piracy, etc., committed on the sea, or in any haven, creek or bay. War with France. King William's War, 1089-1697.— The revolution which drove out James the Second, and brought William and Mary to the throne January 22, 1689, was wel- come to the New England colonies. The new sovereigns were proclaimed in Newport in May. The policy of English sub- serviency to France came to an end and William, whose views of state craft extended far beyond the limits of his new king- dom, was not slow to throw the weight of its arms into the struggle of the Protestant nations to maintain the balance of power in Europe. Louis XIV. had made a war unavoidable by sending troops into Ireland to aid in the reinstatement of King James, and parliament heartily pledged themselves to Wil- liam's support. The king's declaraticju of war was proclaimed in Newport by beat of the drum by the clerk of the assembly, in "solemn i'.'.anner," in March, 1690. The rumor had already come in of a HISTORY OF NKVVPOHT COUNTY. 275 raid of the French and Indians from Canada on one of the towns above Albany, and soon after the proclamation news ar- rived of a French fleet off the coast. In May seven sail of French privateers swept the coast from Cape Cod to New London. Ves- sels were sent out in pursuit, and again on subsequent similar oc- casions, but there is no record of letters of marque being issued. It is known, however, that in 1096 a Rhode Island privateer brought in the "Pelican," a vessel which the French had taken on her voyage from Boston to Loudon, armed and fitted as a privateer. She was coasting on the banks of Newfoundland when she was fallen in with and again captured. That there were letters of marque issued from the Rhode Is- land colony and that some of those persons to whom they were granted were not over-scrupulous in their proceedings, is cer- tain from the nature of an order of the assembly called by Gov- ernor Clarke on special occasion in July, 1696, when it was voted that "considering of the many great complaints that sev- eral vessels have been fitted out of this colony and by all likeli- hood and circumstances are upon some unlawful design which is to the great dishonor of his Majesty and this his Majesty's Government ; and for the prevention of such proceedings for the future be it enacted by this Assembly that there be no per- son or persons comraissionated from this government but shall first give bond of one thousand pounds with good securities that they shall not proceed upon any unlawful act as aforesaid ; except such vessels as shall be sent out by the authority of this Colony for the defence bf his Majesty's interests against a com- mon enemy ; any act to the contrary notwithstanding." There was no court of admiralty provided under the royal charter, but the general council of the colony passed an admir- alty act in January, 1694, as appears from a document in the British State Paper office, which vested the authority, with the approval of the assembly, in it;self. The occasion of its passage was the arrival of the Dublin frigate, of Jamaica, with a French prize, the first which had been brought in since the declaration of war. This seems to have given an immediate impulse to a movement for privateering in Newport. In December following the home government took perhaps the most effectual measure to check these illegal and irregular acts by the establishment of courts of admiralty in all the col- onies, and in June, 1097, the High Court of Admiralty of Eng- 27G HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. land issued comniissions to Peleg Sanford as judge of the court of admiralty in the colony of Rhode Island, and to Nathaniel Coddington as register of the same. The governor, Walter Clarke, refused to recognize the commissions, holding them to be a violation and infringement of the charter rights of the col- ony, and informed the assembly that if they allowed them he would leave the seat of governor, in which case there would be no more choice or election according to their charter. But the assembly not taking that view of the matter, Clarke pocketed the commission and dissolved the assembly. Clarke appears soon after to have resigned his of&ce. He was succeeded by his nephew, Samuel Cranston, who also refused to administer the oath of office to the judge in admiral- ty, and withheld from him his commission. The records men- tion no inauguration of the court, but that it was established is certain from Bellomont's commission to Its members, Brinley, Sanford and Coddington, to collect evidence in 1699 against the pirates and to secure the confederates of Kidd; a difficult matter because of the sympathy everywhere felt for the freebooters. The war closed with the treaty of Ryswick in September, 1697. All Europe was once more at peace. A printed proclamation was issued in England in October, and despatched to America with orders to put a stoj) to all privateering against the French. It reached New England in December and was formally pub- lished. While refusing to recognize the persons appointed in admir- alty, yet no longer venturing to act as such themselves, by their governor, in defiance of royal authority, the assembly of Rhode Island passed a severe law for the. seizing and securing of any per- sons that" may be suspected of having been upon the seas upon such wicked designs as piracy and robbing, ordering that every person that had or should thereafter bring into the colony any foreign coin, gold, bullion, silver, merchandise and other treasure supposed to be taken in and upon the seas shall lie apprehend- ed and made to show cause how he came by the same." King William left the colony in no doubt as to his intentions. He addressed a letter by the hand of Lord Shi-ewsbury to Rhode Island on the general subject of the trade, and immedi- atel}' after the signature of the peace a second letter by the hand of the same lord, his principal secretary of state, com- manding diligence in the obedience to his proclamation order- iriSTOUV OF NKWPOUT COUNTV. 277 ing the seizure of all pirares and in especial manner of Henry Avei-y (the captor of the Mogul's ship). These later documents reached the colony two days after the adjournment of the as- sembly but were all published together with a proclamation of the assembly as of the date of its session, May 4th, 1698, in every town of the colony by beat of the drum. Theextent to which privateering had been carried on under the unrestricted roving commissions, appeal's in the records f>f the years 1698-9 in the rejjresenrations to the king about the irregu- larities in the government of Rhode Island, the instructions of the board of trade and phintations to Bellomont on t)he one hand and the letter of Governor Cranston, Clarke's nephew and successor, to the board of trade and their instructions to Bellomont on the other. The earl of Bellomont, commander- in-chief of the king's province of the Massachusetts Bay, New York and New Hami^sliire, etc., was instructed to make special inquiries into the misdemeanors of Rhode Island and to put cer- tain queries to Clarke, the late governoi-. From these it seems that he was charged with having granted commissions without taking security, to sundry persons named, some of whom were notoi'ious pirates; one, William Mayes, was charged with having assisted Avery in raking the Mogul's ship " Gunsway," to which Cranston replied that " Mayes liad his clearings from the Cus- tom House at Rhode Island to go on a trading voj^age to Mada- gascar with a lawful commission from the government to fight the French, his Majesty's enemies." William Mayes lived at Portsmouth. The general as.sembly adjoui'ned to meet at his house there in 1682. He does not seem to have returned from his voyage, and it is supposed that Avery murdered him and his whole company. He was the only per- son ever commissioned by Rhode Island, says Cranston, that " has been to the southward of Cape Good Hope." In a letter to the board of trade Cranston gives information of a ship scuttled on the coast a month before — a bagboat of four hundred tons belonging in London, l)ound for ]?orneo island. On the island of Polonoys, near Sumatra, the crew took ad- vantage of the captain's being on shore and ran away with the ship. One of the men was (taught at Newport and the rest in the neighboring governments, and tlieir money, about twelve hundred pounds, taken from them. Bellomont visited Rhode Island in September, 1699, with a 278 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. number of the council of Massachusetts, and met the Rhode Is- hind authorities at Governor Cranston's house. Inquiry and examination were made, when it appeared that one Gilhim, a notorious pirate who came fr( on the 23d of December, at the very time when Lee was march- ing through the island. The occasion was the attempt of the cohmel to draft the one quarter of the militia ordered by the recess committee of the assembly to the defense of the island. The colonel was insulted, the adjutant's sword broken, and the enlistment of the quota of the first company broken up. The attempt was renewed on the .26th, and again prevented by a second riot. While General Lee was at Newport, or immediately on his departure, the inhabitants of the town addressed a memorial to congress which, dated the 26th of December, was signed on their behalf I)y William Coddington, the town clerk. It repre- sented their exposure, from thf'ir local and defenseless situation, to insults and destruction from the ships of war then and for a long time stationed in their harbor ; the necessary removal of the caniu)n frcjm the fort by the assembly in their certain ina- bility to maintain the fort, the only place of defense against the attacks of the ships of war ; that the ships of war, availing 326 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of their impotency had, with unparallelled wantonness and ornelty, interrupted their ferry, provision and wood boats, scuttling and dismantling them, thus breaking up their local trade ; that they had seized their AVest India vessels in the harbor and sent them to Boston to supply the ministerial troops there ; that they had laid a plan to rob Rhode Island and all the other islands of their stock, and collected transports to carry it away ; that, exasperated in the failure of this plot, Captain Wallace, w^ith his fleet, had bombarded Bristol and ex- torted what he could from the inhabitants ; that he had can- nonaded the ferry at Jamestown, thus cutting off communica- tion between the town of Newport and the western part of the colony, whence they received the greater part of their supplies ; that expecting next to be bombarded themselves, they had sent proposals to Wallace engaging to supply his ships with fresh beef and beer if their boats were left unmolested, and on this occasion addressed a memorial to the committee of safety and sent a committee to the deputy governor of the colony, then at Cambridge, who took the advice of the committee of congress, and were by them counselled to make the truce with Wallace, which was done on the fourteenth day of November ; that on the ninth of December Wallace engaged to give fresh permits, yet nevertheless the next day devastated Jamestown ; that a few days after they received a message from Wallace " that if the town did not renew the Truce it would be attended with fatal consequences," and that on the fourteenth of December, Avith the knowledge of the deputy governor and the command- ing officer, the truce was renewed, but upon the committee in- forming the commanding officer of their proceedings, to their surprise they were told '• that he had positive orders from the committee of safety prohibiting all sui^plies to the ships of war in this harbour."' The memoiial goes on to say that in view of the prospect of a large town in flames and five thousand men, women and chil- dren forced out of their habitations into tlie open fields to per- ish, numbers of them through the inclemency of the season, a town meeting was immediately called and at a full assembly a numerous committee was appointed to wait on the governor, to request the committee of safety to reconsider their resolution. This was done, the committee consenting to a renewal of the truce until the second Monday in January, the next session of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 327 the general assembly. Tlie memorial then recites the request to Wasliing'ton to send a regiment with a general officer to the Island and details the interview of the town council with Gen- eral Lee. It appears that Lee informed them tliat he "intend- ed immediately to barricade the town," but on their I'epresen- tations that such action would probably bring on a bombard- ment to their great distress in the inclement season, he had laid aside this idea. In the course of the conversation General Lee had said, as the memorial states, that "-letters had gone for- xoartl to the Honorable the Continental Congress on the subject of supplying the ships of loar and that the town was 2)laced in an unfavorable light.'''' This conversation gave rise to the memorial. The memorial then states that in consequence of the truce the ships had lain in quiet in the haibor and thirty vessels had an opportunity to pass on the east and west side of the bay and to imjiort military stores and provisions of every kind for the use of the continental army in the colony, and this state of things it might fairly be inferred would continue; and a stoppage of it might cause destruction wherever the depth of water in the river and bay would admit the ships.. For all whicli reasons the inhabitants most earnestly request that they be still permitted to supply the ships at least for a season. This extremely interesting document contains two pieces of information of value to the historian. One is the number of in- habitants "y/7'e thousand'''' above mentioned. The second is quoted in full: "Newport, the capital of this colony, consists of eleven hundred wooden dioelling houses and upioard, exclusive of stores, ivareJiouses, etc., and is situated so near the shore that the ships of war may and often do approacli within pistol shot of some of those buildings, and if this indulgence had not been granted the ruin and destruction of this town must have en- sued, and many of its inhabitants peiislied with it, and a severe wound been given to the cause in which America is engaged; for your memorialists beg leave to state that the town of New- port itself Ytnys nearly one sixth part of the wliole taxes of the colony and will probably (if not destroyed) pay that propor- tion of the charges and expen.ses which have already arisen or that shall arise in the ju'esent contest with Great Britain and America." The prayer of the memorial was in fact a prayer for life. The poor people were not, however, deserted in their distress. The ;328 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. town council ]nibli9lied a notice on tlie 21st in the Newport "Mercury," that they bad the assurance that Providence county would receive and provide for four hundred of the poor who should remove into tliat county and tlie council offered to make provision for the removal. The situation of the inluibitants of Newport at the opening of the memorable year of 1776 was certainly precarious. The status quo on which daily life depended might at any moment be disturbed, and its continuance depended not on any act of the town but wholly on the determination of the American commanders or the caprice of the British naval officers. For the winter, however, they were reasonably secure. While the king's speech at tlie opening of parliament on tlie 26th of October, which reached the colonies in the first days of the new year, left no doubtof his "rancor and resentment," to use Washington's words, against the colonies, the friends of con- ciliation, and there were many in the large ports which had close relations with Bristol, the most liberal of the English cities, who were in communication with their whig friends there, still had faith in an amicable settlement of the difficul- ties. Of such, among the merchants, the most powerful class ill the colonies, all of which were a trading people, were John Criiger in New York, and enough in Boston to found a small colony in Loudon on their expatriation later. Colonel Joseph Wanton was the best representative of this element in Newport. And there were quite as many, perhaps more, of this way of thinking among those of the professions: John Dickinson in Philadelphia, Doctor Cooper in New York, Thomas Gushing, Harrison Gray and many others of like reputation in Boston. But Washington, after the king's speech, had given up all liopes of a peaceful issue. The distinction the Americans liad endeavored to maintain between the acts of the ministry and the acts of the king under which .subtlety they had issued commissions in the king's name to tight the ministerial lleet and army, was now idle. To Governor Cooke, who had referred him on the tirst of January to General Lee for " the particu- lars of his expedition to Rhode Island," Washington wrote on the 6th concerning the truce with the fleet, in terms which did not command its discontinuance, bnt left no donbt as to liis opin- ion of its inexpediency. " When this treaty was first obtained perhaps it was right. There then might have been some hopes A HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. . 329 of ;in lu'commodation taking place; but now, when every pros- pect seems to be cat off by his majesty's late speech, when the throne from which we had supplicated redress breathes forth vengeance and indignation and a firm determination to I'emain unalterable in its jjurposes and to prosecute the system and plan of ruin formed by the ministry against us, should not an end be put to it and every possible method be fallen upon to prevent their getting necessaries of any kind. We need not expect to conquer our enemies by good offices, and I know not what pernicious consequences may result from a prec-edent of this sort. Other jjlaces circumstanced as Newport is may fol- low the example and by that means their whole fleet and army will be furnislied with what it highly concerns us to keep from them. This, however, with all deference I leave to your con- sideration." The regard in which both parties held the truce and their obligations under it, was shown within twenty-four hours of the receipt of Washington's letter. On the 7th of January a mid- sliipman and two seamen were decoyed from their ship by a party of minute men from headquarters on the island. They had procured a negro man to hail one of the British tenders and draw the officer and sailors ashore at Brenton's point under pretense of men being in waiting to enter the king's service. The British rei)ly to this proceeding was summary. On Friday, the 12th, Captain Wallace, with his entire fleet of twelve vessels, sailed up the river from Newport harbor and at four o'clock in the afternoon landed two hundred and fifty men on Prudence island, where the Americans had from forty to fifty men under Captain Pearce. After exchanging fire Pearce retreated from the island. Some of his men were wounded and one taken prisoner by the enemy. At sunset the British burned seven houses on tlie island, on hearing which Deputy- Governor Cooke, General West, Colonel Richmond, Colonel Martin, Colonel Cook, Captain Allen and (^aptain Wells set out to send forces upon Prudence Island from Warren and Bristol. Fifty men were ordered by General West from War- ren with orders to join those gatheied at Warwick neck and proceed to the island. Governor Cook, with the genei'al, then went to Bristol and sent off Major Tallman with eighty men in whale boats who landed at dawn. Captain Barton had landed 330 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. from headquarters, but. the men from Warwick could not join them for want of boats. At nine o'clocli the next morning the British landed two hundred and fifty men and attacked a guard of forty men stationed to observe their motions. Fifty of the Americans joining this body, a smart engagement ensued which lasted three hours. The British linally retreated, leaving two dead and one wounded. The night before they had taken off one hundred sheep but no cattle. Thi-ee of the Americans were slightly wounded. Sunday evening the British burned two more buildings on Prudence island and on Mondaj' cut a quantity of wood on Hope island, after which they returned to Newport. The assembly which convened at Providence on Monday, the 8th of January, began its business by ordering an address to the continental congress, representing "the inability of the col- ony, from its situation, smallness and poverty, to defend itself," and j^raying for assistance. A committee was ap- pointed on the state of the colony — Deputy Governor Nicholas Cooke, Secretary William Ellery, Joseph Brown, Henry Marchant, Sylvester Child and Gideon Mumford — who were charged with the preparation of the address, and a considera- tion of the places in which the troops in the service of the col- ony had best be stationed. The address was sent by Governor Cooke to the Rhode Island delegates, Hopkins and Ward, en the 21st of January. It represented the services ol' the colony in the "late glori- ous war" against the French and its zealous part in resistance to the stamp duties in 1765, and the immediate share it had in the common defense by marching troops after the attacks at Lexington and Concord. It then gave a description of the physical situation of the colony, which is admirable in succinct- ness : " Unfortunately for the inhabitants this colony is scarcely anything but a line of sea coast. From Providence to Point Judith, and from thence to Pawcatuck river, is nearly eighty miles ; on the east side of the bay from Providence to Seacon- net point, and including the east side of Seaconnet, until it meets the Massachusetts line, is about fifty miles ; besides which are the navigable rivers of Pawcatuck and Warren. On the west side the colony doth not extend twenty miles, and on the east side not more than eight miles, from the sea coast IIISTOIiY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 331 above described. In tlie colony are also included the following islands: Rhode Island, nbout sixteen miles in length ; Conani- cut, nine ; Block Island, nine ; Prudence, seven ; and the smaller islands. Patience, Hope, Gould Island and several others; all which are cultivated and fertile and contributed largely to the public expenses ; the greater part of the above mentioned shores are accessible to ships of war." The inhabitants, it said, derived their subsistence almost wholly from commerce. Ship building was a great branch of business. It gives as a reason for the great number of the king's ships stationed in the bay the convenient situation of the colony for receiving supplies for the continental army near Boston. The fleet stationed in the "bay for seven months past," is described as consisting of two ships of twenty guns, one of sixteen, a bomb-ketch and about eight tenders, whose depredations had put an end to commerce and I'ednced Newport to so deplorable a state that instead of contributing to the ex- penses of the war, the colony had been obliged to grant money out of the treasury for the support of the poor ; many of the wealthy inhabitants having left not only the town but the col- ony. The address then states the efforts already made and their utter inability to maintain the present force. Governor Cooke, in the letter to the delegates enclosing this interesting document, urged the importance of giving up "every idea of partial and colonial defence," saying that unless " the congress enter upon the defence of the colony it must be abandoned." The delegates were also requested to ascertain and inform the assembly as to letters written from the colony concerning the treaty with Wallace for the supply of the ships, in which if seems the patriotism of the people was questioned. They were also informed that the assembly had agreed to supply the king's ships. Governor Cooke sent a copy of this address to Washington, which he undertook himself to lay before con- gress. He was particular!}^ impressed by the request that a body of forces should be piocured on the continental establishment for the defense of the colony. He had satisfied himself of the truth of the representations of the address and the importance of Rhode Island in its extensive sea coast, and he particularly reoogniznd the " zeal and attachment " of its people. Congress referred the petition of Newport to the assembly, every delegate who spoke in the debate having expressed the 332 IlISToliY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. opinion that the "ships should be supplied with necessaries for their support, "" care being taken that the enemy elsewhere should not thus obtain provisions. The assembly under tliis recommendation autliorized the town council of Newport to supplj^ Captain Wallace, so long- as he was peaceable and com- mitted no depredations on the island, with two thousand pounds of beef and with beer as usual, the delivery to be under the direction of the commanding officer of the forces and by the i^erson appointed by him, but that "no member of either House of the Assembly be appointed to deliver the same or to go oB board of either of the ships of war under said Wallace's command on any occasion whatever;" a precaution which shows how uncertain the state of public opinion was and how suddenly that of individuals veered at this period. Washing- ton's letter to the governor was laid before the assembly and liad so great weight with rhem that, as the governor wrote the general, "no supplies would have been permitted to the ships" but for the opinion of the members of the continental congress that tiiey should be continued. A discretionary power under order of secrecy was given to the committee on the close of the session to permit supplies in case of imminent danger of a cannonade or burning during the recess. The inhabitants of Newport were recommended to remove to some place of safety all their aged people, women, children and those unable to assist in tlie defense of the place, togetlier with their valuable effects, ami two hundred pounds were voted to move the poor who could not move themselves. I'he councils of tile towns were ordered to call a town meeting within three weeks from the rising of tlie assembly, at whicli they were to present a list of all the inhabitants able to bear arms who liad not supplied themselves, from inabilit}^ and to provide for the purchase of arms sufficient for such persons to be kept by the captains of the districts. One ai'tillery company of fourteen men was ordered for each of tlie towns, and that each town be supplied with two, three or four pound field pieces on carriages, except those already supplied, among which was Newport. They were to drill half a day every week to exercise the can- non. The committee of safety for each county was directed to see that the order for cannon was complied with. Colonel .John Cooke was appointed on the committee for Newport in addition to Metcalfe Bowler. HISTORT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 333 The regiment ordered at tlie last session was increased to seven hnndi-ed and iifty men exchisive of the artiilerj' company, and to consist of twelve companies. Officers were named for tile four new companies and the artillery company. A new regiment of twelve companies, seven hundred and fifty men, was raised. These two regiments were brigaded together and Christopher Olney appointed major- of brigade. Henry Bab- cock of Westerly, a gallant officer of the French war, who had served on Amherst's staff, was appointed colonel, Christoi)her Lippitt, lieutenant colonel, and Adam Comstock, major. Offi- cers were named for the row gallies, each of which was manned by fifty men; Benjamin Page to the command of the first of the gallies. The commander-in chief on the island was requested to put three hundred soldiers or minute men in Jamestown. A field piece was ordered to Warwick. Orders were issued for the pur- chase of all the shot and powder in the colony. An order was given for the importation of thirty thousand bushels of salt, of which seven thousand was for the county of J«Jewport; Metcalfe Bowler, George Irish and Thomas Corey were the committee on the purchases for Newport. A bounty was offered to encourage the manufacture of saltpetre and gun]iowder. The committee of safety were dii'ected to erect two barracks at headquarters on Rhode Island and one at Rowland's ferry. The stock, corn, provisions and hay on Prudence island were ordered to be re- moved with all possible despatch under direction of Colonel Lippitt and by his regiment, and one of the colony's companies on the island was ordered to Brisrf)l for the defense of that town. A company of fifty men and the Warwick artillery company were stationed at Warwick neck; minute men were attached to them. The neck was to be fortified by the troops who were to remain until the British fieet should go down the river. The commanding officer in Rhode Island was authorized to discharge Cajitain Earle's company of minute men within two days aftei' tlie rising of the assembly, and it is pleasing to notice that on petition of Benjamin Brenton and George Farrish and tlieir statement of good will to the colonies, they were re- lea.sed from confinement and the sequestered estate of Brenton was restored. Farrish had been arrested on suspicion of serving beer to the king's ships at Newport. 334 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTr. At the close of this month the colony was distressed by the tidings of the failure of Arnold's expedition against Quebec and the fall of Montgomery; New Years eve. Rhode Island was fully represented in this expedition. The first battalion of the men Arnold led out from Cambridge camp in September for the terrible march through the valleys of the Kennebec and Chandiere, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Greene of Rhode Island and three of his captains, Wai'd, Top- ham and Thayer, and presumably the men in their companies were from this colony. They were all made prisoners. John Topham was later colonel, and Thayer major, in Rhode Island regiments. Samuel Ward, Jr., tlie son of the old governor, now delegate to the continental congress, then not nineteen years of age, had just graduated from Providence College. In February the town council of Newjjort were authorized to continue the usual supply of two thousand weight of beef to Captain Wallace, under direction of the commanding otlicer. No member of either house of assembly was allowed to go on board the fleet, that privilege being confined to Messrs. Simon Pease, John Malbone and Greorge Sears, or he failing to serve, John Mawdsley, a committee named for the purpose. The British fleet continued their depredations. Wood was cut from Hope island. On the 4th they made a descent on Point Judith and, as it was charged, by connivance of some of the inhabi- tants there, carried off a number of cattle and sheep. On the fifteenth they paid another visit to Prudence island, but finding that all the stock and grain had been taken off by the Ameri- cans, contented themselves with the burning of a few more houses and a windmill. This month the British vessels began to capture American vessels on the high seas, and at this time also Commodore Esek Hopkins sailed from Delaware bay with the first squadron of the American navy of one hundred and two guns. His second in command was John Paul Jones. The flag ship the "Clifford" of twenty-four guns, the "Columbus" of twenty. Captain Abraham Whipple, the brig "Cabot" of fourteen. Captain John B. Hopkins, son of the commodore, and the sloop "Providence" of twelve were all fitted out in Rhode Island. Up to this time Governor Wanton, though he does not ap- pear to have attempted to exercise tlie authority of his office, had maintained his right under the charter and held that jire- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 335 cious document, together with the chest and ('(donial recordsand jiapers deposited therein, in his safe keeping. Now, however, the assembly ordered the sheriff of the county of Newport to proceed to him and take po.ssession of the chest and its con- tents, tlie charter and all other things appertaining to the colony, and bring them to the committee appointed to receive them, as was usual in all changes in this high ollice. In case of any resistance Mr. Wanton was himself to be brought be- foi'e the assembly by the sheriff at East Greenwich, where it began its session the last Monday in February. Mr. Jabez Champlin was the sheriff' of the county. In his official report of this affair he said that he went to Wanton's house and "in his absence took and carried away out of the said house the charter, a large number of bundles of papers, seventeen dies for counterfeiting dollars and half Johannes, an instrument for edge milling, and other implements for counter- feiting," all of which were delivered to the committee of the assembly. "Complaint being lodged against Wanton, he was summoned before the assembly. He appeared and satisfied tliem as to his conduct, and there appearing no cause for de- taining him he was by resolution dismissed. Nevertheless, according to Arnold, he with many other persons was arrested by General West, whose headquarters were at Middletown, and detained by him for examination. The complaint against them was communication with the British lieet contrary to the act of assemblj'. The people of Newpoit, indignant at this invasion of their privileges, assembled in town meeting on the 23d of February and memorialized the assembly, praying it to forbid the en- trance of troops into the town and to leave the custody of the supplies to the British to the town council. West opposed this as a tory movement. The parties complained of, who had been sent up to Providence for safe keeping, were brought be- fore the assembly, examined and dismissed; the assembly at the same time passing a resolution declaring their belief that General ^Vest had acted as "an ofhcer having the love of his country at heart,'' and that they should ever approve of their militai'v commanders exerting themselves for the securing and bringing to trial all persons conducting in a susi^icious man- ner as aforesaid, at the same time carefully observing not to encroach upon, infringe or supersede the civil authority by 336 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. exertion of the military. Greiieral West sent to this meeting the evidence of Joseph Allen, of Newport, respectin<2; Colonel Wanton, and on the dismissal of the prisoners whom he had arrested and their return to Rhode Island, he considered his inrttience as the commander impaired and sent in his resig- nation, which was accepted. Of Colonel Wanton it has been justly said that "during the occupation of Newport he led a quiet and unobtrusive life; and on their departure renuiined unmolested upon its re-occu- pation by the Americans. He was a man of amiable disposi- tion, elegant manners, handsome person and splendid appear- ance. He enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him." He tiled at Newport July 19tli, 1780, aged seventy -five, and was interred in the family vault in the Clifton burial place. In theletterin whicliGeneral West sent to the assembly Allen's testimony, he informed them of a dispure as to rank between Colonels Richmond and Babcock. Colonel Richmond claimed precedence because appointed to the first regiment; Colonel Bab- cock because of his commission from the colony in the old war. The general refused to interfere. Congress applying for specie for the Canadian campaign, a large committee was appointed by the assembly to collect gold and silver coin in Rhode Island. The leading citizens of Newport were on this committee. Not twelve hundred dollars could be found or collected in the colony. The continental fieet under Commodore Hopkins made a suc- cessful descent on New Providence, Nassau, which they found undefended. They cax^tured a large amount of military stores and more than one hundred cannon, and with the governor, lieutenant-governor and one of the council as prisoners, sailed for home. The records of the month of P^bruary contain one notice of more general interest to-day than when it was first inscribed. This is the petition of " Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, wife of Gilbert Stewart, late of Newport, in the colony of Rhode Island, snuff maker, setting forth that her husband is possessed of a tract of land in the township of Newport in Nova Scotia under im- provement and upon which he hath some stock. That he, find- ing it impossible to maintain his family in the said town of Newport in this colony, did some time last summer remove to his said farm where he now is and purposes to remain. And IIISTOKY ()!•' NKWl'OllT COUNTY. 337 that- exclusive of the impracticability of her supporting herself and family in this colony, which strongly impels her to follow her said husband, she is very desirous of joining him, which she is also bound in duty to do if possible." And therefore besought this assembly to permit the sloop " Nova Scotia," packet, David Ross master, to proceed to the said township of Newport in Nova Scotia with herself and family, she being willing to give rhe amplest security that nothing but the 'Sveariug apparel and household furniture of tlie family and. the neces.sary provisions for the family shall be carried in the said sloop." The assembly granted the petition and the sloop was permitted to sail under the inspection of Messrs. John Collins and George Sears of Newport. In the early days of March news was received of the closing of the Amei'ican lines around Boston and of an intended as- sault in two divisions, one of which was to be led by Brigadier General Greene. On the 10th rumors came in of an evacua- tion of the town by the British. As there was no possibility of stopinng them if such was their determination, there was an intense anxiety to know what destination they would take. The British plan of operations had included the seizure of Quebec and New York as bases of operaticms, and the holding of the rivers St. Lawrence and Hudson, and of the intervening waters of Lakes Cliamplain and George, as avenues of stipply and separation of the eastern and nortliern from the middle and western provinces. The occux)ation of Boston was a political rather than military movement, and undertaken when the self-sufficient ministry of Lord North sup])osed that witli four regiments of British troops General Gage could not only reduce' Boston to subjection but march from one end of the continent to the other. The failure of Montgomery's expedition left them in secure possession of Quebec. The capture of New York was the second essential feature of this extensive movement. With the confirmation of the rumor of evacuation by the certain information that Gen- eral Howe was embarking his troops, came the news of the de- sign of the British government to send over a large number of commissioners to offer pardon to the colonies separately, a plan calculated to disturb the peace of tliose in which there was a division of feeling or opinion. Recognizing New York as the key of the continent for ag- 1538 HISTORY OF NEWPOltT COUNTY. gressive war, Wasliiiifiton would Iiardly credit that Halifax was General Howe's destination, and determined at once to se- cure New York. On the 17th of March Washington wrote to Governor Cooke, informing him that the British troojjshad that morning evacuated Boston without destroying it and that he was in full possession ; that most probably the next attempt would be against New York or some southern colony ; and though he did not believe they had "any design again.st Rhode Island, that it will be advisable to keep a strict look out." He suggested the "calling in of the militia and to keep a strict look out." In a postscript written on the 19th he added: "The fleet is still in King or Nantasket roads." (This note, not in Spark's writings of Washington, appears on the Rhode Island records.] On the 18th of March the general assembly convened at East Greenwich and, the same day apparently, addressed a me- jnorial to Washington tlianking him for "his timely notice of the late movement of the ministerial troops," stated that the necessary orders had been issued to the militia, and requested 3iim in case any part of the American forces were ordered to nny of the southern colonies that he would direct their march through the colony of Rhode Island by the sea shore, that they might be present in the case it were invaded, and also to station a considerable force there until the intentions of the •enemy were known. Henry Marchant, Williiim Ellery and Thomas Greene were appointed to wait on Washington with this memorial and urge with pressing instances the necessity of a permanent force. To provide for their own defense they ordered the raising in Newjiorc of a watch company of twenty-five men, and named Philip Moss captain, Augustus Newman lieutenant, and Jo- seph Crandal ensign ; all the troops quartered at Mr; George Irish's house and in all private houses to be at once removed, except those stationed at Dudley House and Straw Castle. A committee — Mr. John G. Wanton, William EUery and Christopher Lippitt — was appointed to estimate the damages done to the house of Mr. John Bannister in Newport, and settle the same. The purchase of two thousand stand of fire arms was ordered and the town councils directed to deter- mine what persons should have the use of said arms, and they were duly supplied: For Newport, Colonel Jabez Champlin ; HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 339 PoitMraoutli, Metcalfe Bowler ; Middletowii, Mr. Nicholas Eas- ton ; Jamestown, Benjamin Underwood. An act was passed anthorizing armed vessels " to defend the sea coast of America" undei' the joint provisions of King Cliarles the Second's charter and the resolution of the continental congress, and a prize court was established to try and condemn all vessels infesting tiie coast. The Massachusetts government having given information that they were willing to join with Rhode Island in the fortification of Bristol ferry, the Hon. William Bradford and Simeon Potter were empowei'ed to confer on that subject, and also respecting fortifications at Howland's ferry. The committee on military defenses reported the assignment of troops. Aj^plication was made to the general arm}' headquarters at Cambridge for forty pieces of cannon, from nine to twenty-four j^ounders. Col- onel Henry Babcock was continued in his command as com- mander of the colony's brigade, with discreet instructions for his government while upon the island of Rhode Island, drawn up by a committee consisting of Jonathan Arnold, Joseph Anthony and Henry Ward. On the 27th of March Washington notihed Governor Cooke that the men-of-war and transj^orts sailed that afternoon from Nantasket harbor, and that he had in consequence ordered a brigade to march for New York, and that he would follow with the rest of the army the moment he had certain information of the fleet "being clear off the coast," leaving a small force to fortify Boston. On the 31st the governor advised Washington from Providence that an express had come in from Newport, that a ship-of-war had arrived in Newport harbor, and that twenty-seven ships were within Seconnet point, and that he had not more than seven or eight hundred men in the whole colony besides the militia, who were not more than half armed. On the 1st of April the governor sent word that this was a false alarm. The sheriff of Newport who sent up the express had been misinformed. A iriesseuger sent down had satisfied him- self that the people had been deceived by the foggy weather, and had descried no fleet. Mr. Cooke's son rode express to Washington with this contradiction of the report. Instantly on the receipt of the first despatch Washington hastened the march of Generals Greene and Sullivan to Provi- dence. They reached Providence on the 5th, and Washington, 340 HISTORY OF NEAVPOUT COtTNTY. with General Gates, the adjutant-general of the army, and other general officers, arrived on the 6th of Aj^ril. General Spencer, with five regiments, the Connecticut brigade, arrived on the 7th, and after a grand entertainment given to the com- mander-in-chief at Providence in the evening, the troops hav- ing alreadj- marched, Washington followed them. He passed through Norwich and New London to hasten the embarkation of the troops who had so far marched, to New York, and there he left General Greene with the Rhode Island regiments of the continental line ready to embark. At New London he saw Commodore Hopkins, and applied to him for thirty of the heavy cannon he had captured and brought from New Providence (Nassau) and was promised what could be spared, as many were wanting for the defense of Providence river and New London harbor ; a curious instance of the manner in which even Wasliington was hampered at that period. Washington was in New Haven on the llth, and reached New York on the 14tli of April, where General Put- nam, who had preceded him, was in command. On his arrival in New York Washington wrote to Commodore Hopkins that he had just received information that the " Nau- tilus," sloop of war, had arrived at New York, " said to be senb express from thence for the 'Asia,' 'Phoenix,' and 'Savage,' and that they are intended for New London to block up your squadron." The "Phoenix." "Savage" and "Nautilus" sailed that morning. The "Asia" remained in the harbor. It may here be mentioned tliat Commodore Hopkins, on ap- proaching the New England coast from his cruise, captured, Thursday, the fourth of Ai^ril, the schooner "Hawke,'" of six guns, Captain Wallace, son of Commodoi'e Wallace ; on Friday the bomb brig "Bolton," of eight guns; on Saturday he en- gaged the frigate "Glasgow," of twenty-four guns, and her tender. The "Glasgow," after a three hours' action, by the seamanship of lier commander got off and reached Newport in safety. The tender was taken, and Commodore Hopkins, with his vessels and prizes, went into New London. It was here that Washington met him, and to him here Washington sent his warning message. On the arrival of the "Glasgow," the British squadron went out to look for Hopkins. A battery planted on Breiiton's point by Colonel Richmond ran the "Glasgow" up tlie bay. o HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 341 and forced her the next day to put to sea. On the morning of the 11th the brig "Cabot," of the continental fleet, brought down ten heavj^ pieces of cannon from the fort at Providence harbor for the defense of Newport. In tile afternoon of the eleventli part of tlie Georgia fleet on its way to Halifax put in to Newport and came to anchor be- tween Rose island and the Dumplings; the "Scarborough," of twenty guns, having on board Governor Wright of Georgia and the refugees, apart of the fleet of eleven vessels which left Savannah on the yoth of March, the " Scymitar," a transport of eigliteen guns with troops, and two American vessels which they had taken ou the Georgia coast. The same night Commo- dore Grimes, who was then at Newport, attacked them with the Rhode Island gallies "Washington" and "Spitfire," each with an eighteen pounder in the bow, aided by a battery of two eighteen pounders planted by Col. Babcock at the north point. They were forced to slip their cables and make the shelter of Co- nanicut island, from which they were driven b,y a new battery and driven to sea, taking and returning the fire from a battery on Castle hill as she went out. In this action Dauiel Jackson Tillinghast, of Newport, was wounded on one of the gallies. The anchors and cables were taken up by the Americans. The prizes were the American vessels captured on the Georgia coast by the " Scarborough." Seventeen English were made pris- oners. The bay for the first time in many mouths was clear of British men of-war. The cannon taken by Hopkins ^t Nassau were distributed by order of congress. Tiiirteen were mounted on a new fort built at the point in Newjjort. Old Fort George was remodelled and a work constructed at Brenton's point. These made a reasonable defense for the harbor of Newport. On the 12th of April Hancock, the president of congress, officially informed the Rhode Island assembly of the act of parliament authorizing the .seizure of American vessels on the high seas, and of their resolution in retaliation, and enclosed bonds, cotnmissionsand instructions for the use of the assembly in "letters of marque and reprisal." Colonel Knox (to whoin was assigned the command of the regiment of continental artillery in December, 1775) passed through Newport on his way from Cambridge camp to New York, and at the urgent request of Govei'nor Cooke, took a 342 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. view of the town and gave directions for the requisite fortifica- tion of the place, which he was (as Cooke wrote to Washington on the25th of April) clearly of opinion might be secured. The day of Cooke's letter a battery to command the north entrance to the harbor was about completed, and the next the fortifica- tions on Port island were to begin. The completion of the works would, the governor believed, put an end to toryism in the colony. He entreated ^Yashington to send him a competent engineer if only for a few days. Toward the close of April Commodore Hopkins, with the aid of two hundred men whom Washington detailed to him from the army, brought his vessels from New London to Rhode Island. He landed one hundred men sick, nearly all with the small pox, at Providence. Tliis terrible scourge, which decimated the American army in Canada, raged over the continent and added another to the terrible trials of the entire population, patriots and loyalists alike. Captain Whipple of the "Columbus," blamed for allowing the escape of the " Glasgow," demanded a court martial, by which he was acquitted. Captain Hazard of the "Providence" was censured for disobedience of ordei's. Later Hopkins was severely censured by congress for his return from New Providence instead of cruising along the soutliern coast as he was oi'dered. The last colonial assembly of Rhode Island met at Providence on the first Wednesday, the first day of May. After the re- election of Governor Cooke and the confirmation of the election of William Bradford (elected in November when, on the dej^osition of Wanton, Cooke was chosen governor) the as- sembly made some re-arrangement of the military. The regi- ment of the county of Newport was divided into two regiments: the first to contain all the companies of militia in the towns of Newport, Portsmouth, New Shoreham, Jamestown and Mid- dletown; the second, those of Tiverton and Little Compton. The companies of Providence were lilvewise divided and they, as well as those of Little Compton, by geographical lines by streets. The commanding officer of the colony's brigade was ordered to build a fort at Beaver Tail upon Conanicut to con- tain six or eight heavy cannon. Under the direction of Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the continental navv, officers were chosen for the colony's brigade: major general of the militia, Joshua Babcock; for the county of Newport, First reg- HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 34L; iment, Colonel George Irish, Lieutenant Colonel George Sears, Major J. V. Almy; Second regiment: Colonel John Cooke, Lieutenant Colonel David Hilyard, Major Pardon Gray. The captains of the trained bands or militia are named for the sev- eral towns but those for the town of Newjjort do not appear on the record, though Portsmouth and Middletown do. The com- mittee of safety for the county of Newport were Metcalfe Bow- ler and Colonel John Cooke. Stephen Hopkins was again elected first delegate to the conti- nental congress. The commanding officer on the island was or- dered to remove the troops from the ferry house on the point belonging to Mr. Benjamin EUery, that the ferry might be kept open. The watchers ordered along the coast in January were sus- pended during the absence of the fleet. Watchers were to be continued only at Point Judith, Seconnet point, at Westerly, Charlestown, at the south ferry in South Kingstown and at; North Kingstown. These preliminaries disposed of, the assembly proceeded to one of the most solemn and important acts in the history of the colony, and considering its geographical and physical condi- tion, one of the bravest in the history of the country. On the 4tli of May it repealed the act of allegiance to Great Britain, virtually declared its independence, because the king, " forget- ting his dignity, regardless of the compact entered into by his illustrious ancestors and till of late fully recognized by him; and entirely departing from the duties and character of a good king instead of protecting, is endeavoring to destroy the good people of this colony and of all the United Colonies by sending fleets and armies to America to confiscate our property and spread fire, sword and desolation throughout our country in order to compel us to submit to the most debasing and detesta- ble tj'ranny, etc., be it therefore enacted that an act for secur- ing allegiance is repealed, and that thereafter in all commis- sions, civil and military, in lieu of the king's name the words, the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations be substituted, other- wise their tenor to be the san;e." The courts of law were no longer to be entitled or considered the king's courts, and no in- strument, public or private, was thereafter in the date thereof, to mention the year of the king's reign. Tiie si.\ deputies for Newport in this assembly were: John Wanton, Samuel Fo'\> lei-. 34;-± HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. George Sears, Gideon Wanton, Tlionias Freebodj' and Colonel Joseph Belcher. These instructions were at once issued in the new stjie to their delegates in congress. They were soon gratified to hear from their first delegate, Hopkins, at Philadelphia, that congress would soon throw ofi all connection in name as in substance with Great Britain and that on the warm recommendation of Gen- eral Washington, congress had X'assed a resolution for taking into continental pay the two Rhode Island batallions. The commanding officer in each company of the Rhode Island bri- gade was ordered to prevent damage 1)}^ travelling over ploughed lands and also to clear all the best houses in Newport of the troops and station them in convenient empty houses, and to pursue the same course at Jamestown. The act to encourage jirivateering by "letters of marque" was enlarged. A gunner was ordered for Fort Liberty (old Fort George), upon Goat island. The maximum price of Bohea tea was fixed at three-fourths of a dollar the pound, all persons charging more to be considered as "enemies to the American cause and treated accordingly," congress desiring to e.xclude all tea except that taken in prizes. The inhabitants on Block island were exhorted to remove. A bounty of three shillings a bushel was voted on salt manufactured in the colony. En- gagement was entered into with Massachusetts Bay to assist in their defense if invaded. Cannon were purchased and twelve eighteen pounders mounted on carriages sent to Newjiort. To prevent supplies to the enemy, fishermen at Block island were restricted to the Newport market, and any inhabitant of the island found in anj" other part of the island saving Newport to be confined to jail. This assembly was also called upon to elect a second delegate to congress, in the place of Governor Samuel Ward, who died at his post in Philadelphia, on the 27th of March, of the small pox, in the fifty-first year of his age, in the very prime of his usefulness. He is justly entitled to be held in grateful memory as one of the founders of the American Union. No one of this time did more i^erfect service than he ; uniting vigor with pru- dence, ardor with conduct, the highest statesmanship with un- swerving patriotism. The student of American history who turns the pages which recite the services of the illustrious dele- gates to the famous continental congress of 1774, and that more IIISTOlty OF NKWPOHT COUNTY. 345 illustrious, because constituent, congress of 1775-G, cannot but regret that death deprived Samuel Ward of that which he would have, living, lield to be the sum of honor, the inscription of his name as a delegate from Rhode Island to the declaration of indexiendence of the United Colonies. His love for his country cannot be better expressed than in his own words, written to his brother, in 1775: "No man living perhaps is more fond of his children tlian I am, and T am not so old as to be tired of life ; and yet as far as lean now judge the tenderest considerations and the most important private concerns are very niinufe objects. Heaven save my countr}^ I was going to say, is my first, my last, and almost my only prayer." The assembly, " in testimony of the respect due to his mem- ory, and in grateful i-emembrance of his public services, re- solved to pay his funeral expenses, and the delegates for the colony were instructed to erect a decent tombstone or monu- ment of marble, with such ins.cription as they shall think suit- able over the place where his body hath been deposited, at the expense of (he colony." Samuel Ward was of an old New- port family. Thomas Ward, the first of the name in that town, came to it from (Tlocester, England, married and died in Newport in 1698. The most ancient residence of the family was on the south side of Market square, about half way between the main street and the market house. William Ellery, of Newport, was appointed to succeed him for one year, and to him fell the honor of signa- ture to the immortal scroll, the charter of liberty. The same day that he was elected the assembly also named the officers of the Second regiment in the colony's brigade : Colonel, Christopher l>ippitt ; Lieutenant-colonel, Adam Comstock ; Major, Christopher Olney ; Brigade- major, William Barton ; and it is noticeal)le that at the close of these proceedings, for the first time on the records, the formal prayer, " God save the King" is omitted. Where it was of custom in- scribed there is a blank. There was no sovereign authority as yet for whom the invocations could be made. The assembly on the Kith of June, the second Monday, re- sumed its sessions in Newport, the town being free from the enemy. It proceeded to the confiscation of the entire estate of George Roome for the use of the colony. It must have been considerable, the records mentioning a tan 3'ard in New- 346 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. X)ort with vats, leather and stock of hides and a lot of land with two dwellings on the sonth side of the Parade. In view of the " dreadful ravages made by the small-pox in the army before Quebec, which was a principal cause of raising the blockade of that city, and the danger of that dreadful distemper render- ing the city incajiable of defense," the assembly passed an act permitting inoculation and establishing a hospital under sani- tary rules and isolated by lieavy penalties. There was protest made by quite a number of leading men against this act for three reasons: because the consent of the people had not been asked, because it had not been permitted for any length of time and was now discontinued in the other New England colonies, and thirdly because no provision was made for the poor, the most numerous part of the community. Notwith- standing this the assembly were so satisfied of the importance of the measure as a protection, especially to the army, that they desired their delegates to move in congress that all com- mon soldiers and seamen thereafter enlisting be permitted to be inoculated at the expense of the united colonies in hospitals to be provided under projjer i-estrictive rules. A census of the inhal)itants was ordered and a committee appointed for each town. For Newport, George Sears, Wil- liam Coddington and Gideon Wanton. The assembly addressed a memorial to the continental congress justifying themselves in a refusal to re-deliver to Commodore Hopkins the twenty pieces of cannon, the loan of which had enabled them to put Newjjort in such a state of defense that it was now "capable of bei-ng defended against all frigates in the British navy." The order for the removal of the cannon they supposed to have been given under the idea that they were just landed, whereas by great exertion they were already mounted and in position. Moreover they said that on receiving the twenty-six cannon from the commodore they had consented that the owners of Furnace Hope, with whom they had contracted for sixtj^ pieces, should first supply the continental ships. And as thirty-six heavy cannon had b^en landed for the defense of New London, which could be defended with one-quarter of the number of pieces needed for Newport bay, town and harbor, they suggest that if the twenty pieces must be removed they be taken fi'om that port. A third of the inhabitants they say were already re- moved from Newport and if a majority of the remainder had HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 847 been induced to temporize and " even to assume an appeaiance rather unfriendly to the united colonies," it was to be attrib- uted to their peculiar situation and not to the want of spirit or love of their country. They hoped, now that they were fortified, Newport would " at all times afford a .safe asylum to the conti- nental shii)s and to privateers and their prizes as well as to other vessels " in spite of all the British fleet. "Take them (the cannon) from us and we cannot answer for the event. The town of Newport and the island of Rhode Island are lost. * * It will be impossible for the inhabitants to defend themselves; they will not even attempt it. * * Leave us the cannon we can save Newport, which hath been induced in consequence of their arrival to take such steps as must bring upon them the British arms and who will be most cruelly treated in being de- prived of them." The thanks of the assembly were voted to Washington for his friendly offices in behalf of the colony. Offices were estab- lished at Newport and Providence for entering and clearing vessels and an act passed regulating trade, two intendants of trade to be annually appointed by the assembly, one for each jiort. The colony salt was distributed among the towns, New- port receiving two hundred bushels. A test oath was adopted, to be administered to all suspected males above sixteen. Sundrj- principal inhal)itants of Newport town were ordered to be re- moved to Glocester, there to have the limits of the town on parole of honor. Two hundred spears were ordered for tlie Newport batteries. Officers were appointed to command the trained bands or companies of militia of the town of Newport, viz.: First company: captain, William Tripp; lieutenant, Caleb Carr, Jr.; ensign, Jonathan Simmons ; Second company : captain, Henry Wiles; lieutenant, Robert Dunbar; ensign, William Pendleton ; Third company : captain. Wing Spooner ; lieutenant, Stukely Wyatt ; ensign, Lee Langley ; Fourth com- pany : captain, William Downing ; lieutenant, John Nichols ; ensign, Benjamin Hamniett. On the 20th of June Lord Howe, " one of the King's Commis- sioners for rt^storing peace to the Colonies," addressed a letter from on board the man-of-war "Eagle," off the coast of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, to the "Honorable Gover- nor Wanton, &c., &c., Rhode Island, or other Magistrate of the Colony," with a copj^ of Ills declaration that day issued. He 348 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. notified liis first object to be an early meetino; with General Howe, who was joined with him in the commission, and re- quested a promulgation of his proclamation or declaration. There was no attempt to conceal this discreet document, wliich offered " free and general pardons to all those who, in the tumult and disorder of the times, may have deviated from their just allegiance, and promise of due consideration to the meritorious services of all persons who shall aid in restoring the public tranquility." But the door of conciliation was already and forever closed ; Rhode Island was an independent colony. The records of the proceedings of this assembly close with the prayer, "God save the United Colonies." The entire subor- dination of Rhode Island to the common interest, and the under- standing of the leaders of opinion were clearly shown in the request of the governor to Wasliington to name such general officers as he thought best to command the colony brigade on the continental establishment. The assembly, which seems to have felt full confidence in tlie ability of Newjwrt to make successful defense of town and harbor, adjourned till August. In fact, on the sailing of tlie ministerial fieet for Halifax, hopes of a quiet summer were gen- eial. It was not supposed that the commissioners, who were expected with offers of conciliation, would be accompanied by menace of war. These and many other like delusions as to the spirit which possessed the king and the great body of the parliament, were dispelled by the news of the arrival at Sandy Hook, on Sun- day, the 30th of June, of the British fleet from Ealifax, counted at one hundred and thirteen sail. The remainder arrived on the 2d of July, when the bay of New York swarmed with one hundred and thirty men-of-war, ti-ansports and tenders. They brought an army of ten thousand men, who were landed on Staten Island. This information of itself was enough to de- mand deliberative action, but liirther I'eason came a few days later, on the aiiival of the news of the declaration of independ- ence. It reached New York on the afternoon of the 9th, and Newport probably on the 112th. Newport, on the 11th, was the scene of a decisive action on the part of the officers of the colony brigade stationed on the island, to determine the position of some of the inhabitants of the town thought to "be inimical to their country." They lodged iriSTOIjy OF NEWPOIiT COUNTY. 349 a complaint against about twenty persons with Judge Metcalfe Bowler, one of the committee of safety of Newport county, re- questing him, as a member of the general assembly, to tender to these suspected persons the Test act passed at the June session. This they refused all but one, and were summoned to give their reasons the next day, which they did to the judge. Col. Chris- topher Lippitt then summoned about sixty more, but only two would subscribe, many no doubt induced by their friends the day before. As this action on the part of the military was based on no particular act but only general accusation, and, as w'as admitted, for "information only," the colonel could do no more than disarm the suspected. This state of affairs Col- onel Lippitt, on the 13th, communicated to the governor and urged their ren)oval. The general assembly met in special session at Newport on Thursday the 18th of July and " taking into the most serious consideration" the resolution of congress declaring independ- ence, appi-oved the same and engaged their support to the general congress. The act of approval was published the next day at noon by the secretary, in the presence of both houses of the assembly. It was ordered that thirteen cannon be dis- charged from Fort Lil)erty (Goat island) upon reading the said proclamation, and that the brigade be drawn up on the parade in thirteen divisions, and immediately upon the discharge of the cannon make a discharge of musketry, each division tiring- one volley in succession. The day set for this proclamation was Friday the 19th but according to the newspapeis (and Arnold concurs), the declaration was celebrated at Newport on the •' twentieth before a great concourse of people assembled in and about the State House. It was read by Major John Handy fi-om the Balcony in front of the State House." The style and title of the government was altered to "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." The col- ony's new gallies, the " Washington" and " Spitfire," were or- dered to New York and their captains directed to take the orders of General W^ashington. The}- did good service during that eventful summer. The committee appointed to determine where cannon should be placed reported an assignment of can- non. There were one hundred and thirtj'-nine in the state, of "which fifty-five were in Newport: five tweuty-four-pounders, fourteen eighteen-pounders, twelve twelve-pounders, one nine- 350 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. pounder, nine six-pounders, ten four-pouuders and four three- pounders. The*continentaI paper money was declared a legal tender, and an act passed to prevent its depreciation and that of all other current paper money of the stales. An act was passed to punish persons who acknowledge the king of Great Britain to be their sovereign and a line imposed of one hun- dred pounds. Another was passed requiring a test oath as a condition precedent to voting at any town meeting. Eleven of the leading citizens of Newport who had refused to subscribe the required test, were ordered to be removed by the sheriff at their own exi)ense, each to a different town in the colony; Governor Wanton to Jamestown, with the liberty of that town under the inspection of that commanding officer, with privilege under ijermission to visit under guard his farm on Prudence island and that only. Three of these persons de- clined to pay the expense of removal and were lodged in the Providence jail. One was fortunate enough to escape on a ves- sel to the West Indies. The remainder went quietly to their destinations. Not forgetting their old-time courtesy, Henry Ward, the secretary, and Colonel Jonathan Arnold were directed to jire- pare an answer to the e.\[)ress from Lord Howe. This, signed by the governor, was a respectful acknowledgment and informa- tion to his Lordship, without comment, that copies of his letter and declaration would be transmitted to the " Most Honoura- ble the General Congress of the United States of America, to whom every application respecting the disputes between the said states and Great Britain ought to be addressed and must be referred.^' The records of the proceedings of this assembly close with the prayer " God save the United States." At the August session William Richmond was appointed colonel of the state brigade, and Christopher Lippitt recom- mended to congress for colonel of the Second regiment. Solomon Southwick was named intendant of trade under the recent act for the district of Newport. Dr. William Hunter, one of the eleven sent out of town at the last session, was authorized to re- turn from Smithfield to Newport and reside there during the pending illness of one of iiis children, but to return as soon as the situation of his family permitted. And here it may be prop- erly said that the student of this period makes a distinction be- tween those persons who, born in the old country, whether with inSTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 3f)l relatives and connections there or without, iield their loyalty to the Ivinji; and preserved a strict neutrality in tlte contest, and those who were active enemies to the counlry which had har- bored them. The struggle now was for the possession of New York. In July Lord Admiral Howe joined his brother, the general, with the fleet and army from England, and on the 12th of August a Heet of sixty more vessels, having on board nine thousand Hes- sian mercenaries, brought up the British force on Staten Island iind in New York harbor to twenty-two thousand men and twenty-five shijjs-of-war. On the 22d Howe began landing his Jroops on Long Island, and on the night of the 29th Washing- ton, unable to hold his position against the superior force, with- drew his army to New York. The Rhode Island assembly met on the 2d of September i\nd, receiving a request from General Washington, through Oovernor Trumbull of Connecticut, that a body of men should be thrown upon tlie east end of Long Island for the protection of the inhabitants and stock, ordered over the whole brigade of state troops, two regiments with a detachment of artillery and two gallies, nnder the command and direction of Colonel Lip- pitt. But on hearing of the evacuation of Long Island the movement was stopped. Great apprehensions were now felt for the safety of Newjiort, and the assembly sent a committee, ■consisting of Joshua Babcock, John Collins and Joseph Stan- ton, Jr., to confer witli General Washington. All the cannon At Newport not mounted were ordered to the main for defense; the troops on Conanicut, and the cannon there, were bronght -over to Newport. There was correspondence between Rhode Island and Connecticut as to the feasibilitj^ of a joint movement to Long Island to bring off the stock with the aid of the con- tinental whale boats collected in Boston harbor. Trumbull had this expedition greatly at heart. On the 3d of September congress wrote a pressing letter, asli- ing that aid be sent to New York. One of the continental bat- talions marched on the 14th, and Colonel Richmond had the -other in readiness to proceed the moment the Massaclmsetts regiment of militia arrived to take their place. Orders were issued to raise seven hundred men to replace Colonel Rich- mond's battalion. Washington was gratified by the readiness of the assembly to meet his wishes. The Rhode Island com- 352 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTS'. mittee, wliioh visifed him in cani}) and was witness of the re- treat from the city of New York to the Heights of Harlem and the cheering fight of the 16th of September in which the Rhode Island regiments were engaged, had expressed their fear that Newport and Rhode Island mnst he evacuated; but Washing- ton was not of that opinion — not at least under any imaginary necessity. The headquarters of llie state forces was at Newport, and two regiments were constantly stationed on the island. But they were poorly supplied. Some of those ordered to Long Island were " bare of clothes, having neither shoes nor stockings to wear," and there was natural!}' "much grumbling."' Congress now, however, undertook to fit them properly with blankets and clothing for winter service. In the first days of October Rhode Island had two battalions in continental pay, troops originally raised by the state: Colonel Varnum's, Colonel Hitchcock's and Colonel Lippitt's with Washington, and Colo- nel Richmond's, who was under orders for New London. In November, the time of enlistment of Colonel Richmond's reg- iment expiring, and the commissions of the field officers also, the organization was disbanded. A new regiment was ordered, and officers were appointed: Colonel, John Sayles, Jr. ; lieu- tenant colonel, Benjamin Talman; major, Thomas Potter, Jr. The surgeon, Stephen Wigneron, was a distinguished practi- tioner, of a Newport Huguenot family. CHAPTER VII. NEWPORT IN THE REVOLUTION [Concluded). By John Austin Stevens. Britisli Occupation of Newport, 1777-9.— The Siege of Newport, 1778.— Tlie Fleets off Rhode Island. — The Battle of Rhode Island. — Evacuation by tlie British. — Tlie French in Rhode Island, 1780-81.— The Naval Engagement.— The March of the French. THE military occupation of Boston was dictated by politi- cal, not by strategic considerations. The earliest English port in the northern colonies, it was necessary to maintain it if possible, and moreover, as the place where the first overt resist- ance to the measures of the government was made, it was politic that it should receive the first j)unishment. That it was un- tenable was soon practically demonstrated, and its evacuation was a militaiy advantage to the British. New York, at the month of the great dividing rivei-, was the natural key to the northern section of the inhabited country, and Newport the natural key to tlie New England portion of that section. New York and Newport, witli their great harbors, in either of which vast fleets could find safe anciiorage and easy defense, and Long Island sound, with its sheltered coirimunica- tion between the ports, offered a base for military operations unequalled in its advantages for an offensive naval power. The English commanders quickly recognized this, and immediately after the reduction of New York turned their attention to Newport. The fall of Fort \Vashington, on the 16tli of No- vember, 177G, securing the British position and leaving a large force disposable for offensive operations, the establishment of a post at Newport was resolved upon as a basis for the operations which Lord Howe contemplated against Boston in the spring campaign. On the 14th General Charles Lee, from the camp at Noith Castle, Westchester county, wliere he was in command, Wash- SB 354 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ington being with the main body of the army in the Jersies, informed Governor Cooke of Rhode Island that a considerable force was "being embarked or abont to embark on Staten Island," and that though South Carolina was given out as the place of their destination, it was "not impossible or improbable that they may have some designs against Rhode Ishind eitlier on a pillaging scheme or perhaps with a view of establishing winter quarters for a part of tlie troops, as they find them- selves straightened at New York." This letter Governor Cooke enclosed to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut on the 18th, with a request for assistance. The general assembly met at East Greenwich on the 21st (November), and among their various orders for the government of the military, directed tliat in order to keep open the passage at Bristol and Howland ferries two strong fortifications be erected at each and sufficient cannon taken off from Rhode Island to arm the batteries. It was dii'ected that one eighteen pounder and two twelve pounders be left in the fort at Bren- ton's point; that one twenty-four pounder, two eighteen pound- ers and two twelve pounders be left in Port Liberty; and that one twenty-four pounder, two eigliteen jjounders and two twelve pounders be left on the North Battery; that all the cannon mounted on field carriages be also left on Rhode Island; and that all the rest of the cannon be removed to the main land; namely three of the heaviest cannon to Bristol ferry and three to Rowland's ferry. The remainder were ordered to the battery on Fox j)oint, near Providence; a committee was appointed to disti'ibute the shot and cartridges. The British preparations completed, the expedition was made up at the watering place off Staten Island, where the heavy /-■ ships lay, and on the 25th and 2Gth of November, sixty-five hundred troops, British and Hessian in about equal proportions, wei'e embarked on sixty transports, mostly East India Com- pany's ships. The command of the expedition. Lord Howe assigned to Sir Henry Clinton. Admiral Sir Peter Parker was in command of the fleet. On the 27th the expedition left New York, and sailed down the sound in three divisions, each es- corted by three men-of-war, one in advance and one on either flank. Commodore Hotham covered the rear. Sir Peter Par- ker, with seven men-of-war and four frigates, took the outside passage, and appeared off Block Island on the 2d of December. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 355 Turnino- westward be sailed up the sound to meet the incoming vessels. Alarmed by the movement of the ships, Governor Cooke, on the 3d, sent a despatch to Governor Artemas Ward, of Massa- chusetts, asking immediate help, and was at once answered that marching orders had been given to the militia of three counties. The committee of safety, consisting of the governor, three of his council, and eleven members of the assembly, which had full power in the recess of the assembly, on the 4th advised Commodore Hopkins, who c(jmmanded the continental fleet, to get all the vessels vvhich belonged to it out of the harbors of the state to sea as quickly as possible with safety; but he re- plied that it was impossible, as he could not enlist sufficient men. An embargo was laid on all the privateers and merchant- men in port to help the manning of the navy. On the 5th or- ders were issued to draft another regiment, of which Joseph Stanton was appointed colonel. A regiment of Providence county militia volunteered for service on the island pending the drafts, and was placed under command of Col. Chad Brown. General West was made brigadier of the troops on the island. The women and children were advised to move with their fur- niture from Newport and the other towns on the bay to the interior for safety. The prisoners of war were sent on board of Commodore Hopkins' vessels, or into the country, for safe keeping. The stock on Rhode Island and Conanicut was driven off. Colonel Waterman's regiment was ordered to Warwick neck, Colonel Aborn to Pawtuxet, and Colonel Noyes' to Tower hill. These arrangements were hardly completed when, on the 7th, the British fleet entered the bay, sailed up the West or Narra- gansett passage, and rounding the north end of Conanicut island, anchored off Stoddard's shore in Middletown. In their passage through the sound they had made several feints of landing. As they passed through the waters of Narragansett they saw red flags waving from every fort and battery. Resist- ance at Newport, however, was impossible, the total force on the island not exceeding seven hundred men. On the morning of the 8th the troops were disembarked from the transports which lay at anchor in Weaver's bay, at the southern end of Prudence island. One regiment landed at Long Wharf; the main body at Greensdale in Middletown (the resi- 356 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. dence of the family of General Greene). The British regiments •were the Twenty-second (Colonel Caniphell), tlie Forfy-chird (ColonelMarsh),t.he Fifty-fourth (Colonel Bruce), the Sixtj^-third (Colonel Sell), all infantry, and Colonel Funis' regiment of artillery. The Hessians were the Brigade of Huyne, the Guards and a part of Losberg's regiment. The brigade of Huyne seems to have been composed of the regiment of Banau, the Anspach- Bayreiith legiment, and the Guards of Landgraf (Prince) Charles Ditfurth. After landing, the light infanty and grena- diers went up the island to Bristol ferry at nearly its northern end, and bivouacked in (he open air until tiieir tents and bag- gage were unladen. The American forces had already retreated, and carrying with them thirty guns left the island and withdrawn to Bristol and Providence an hour before the disembarkation. According to the account sent by Governer Cooke to Washington, at ten o'clock on the night of the 8th, the fleet consisted of seventy- eight ships of war and transports. The British, on landing, marched in three divisions, one toward Newport, the second toward Howland's ferry, the third to Bristol ferr}^ where they arrived in time "to fire upon the boats that brought over our last men, but without doing much damage." The governor says that the retreating troops had to leave behind " about fif- teen or twenty heavy cannon." The main body bivouacked about the country or in the farm houses, which they pillaged, but with little more result than the capture of a few head of cattle. The next morning, 9th Decem- ber, Clinton marched on Newport, which he entered without resistance. He was accompanied by Earl Percy and Major- General Prescott, and by Prince Charles Ditfurth, with the Hessian Guards and a company of light horse. The Hessians who went in with Clinton were quartered on the town. On the 13th the force was distributed in permanent cantonments, and the next day were joined by the Ditfurth regiment. TheNew- l)ort garrison then consisted of one battalion of light infantry, one grenadier battalion, four British regiments, a detachment of English artillery, a company of light dragoons, the Seven- teenth regiment, and the Hessian regiments. General Richard Prescott was put in command of tlie post, Lieutenant-Colonel Cami^bell was the next in rank within the town, and General Smith commanded the troops outside. Two yager or light IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 357 infantry companies were made up from tlie Hessian regiments. Mr. Rosengarten, in his monograph on " Tlie German Soldiers in Newport," made up in the main from Max Von Ellving's "Account of the German soldiers in tlie war of the Revolution," thus describes the appearance of the town at the time of the occupation : "Newport town contained eleven hundred houses, mostly small wooden ones; the large and iuvndsonie residences of the well to do were built so as to show on the street front great iron gates, but in the rear there were large gardens sur- rounded by stables, houses for the negroes, etc. Witliin there were the handsomest carpets, hangings and furniture. The rich people had a great love of pleasure and luxury. The sol- diers quietly set to work to make themselves comfortable, in spite of the unfriendly welcome from the 'Patriots,' to whose numbers most of the people belonged. The officers were quar- tered in the houses of the few royalists who remained, the sol- diers in those of a large number that had tied. The empty ap- pearance of the streets as the troops marched in was due to the great numbers of the inhabitants who had left. The greatest need was firewood. Detachments were sent in all directions to gather it, and in one instance as far as Staten Island. The offi- cers who went there reported that most of the people there, too, had tied from fear of the Hessians; it was indeed currently be- lieved that even the little cliildren would fall victims to the barbarity of these foreign troops. Tlie people generally were very ignorant, credulous and timid; no assurance that no harm should come to them could persuade them that they were safe. The colored people were much less anxious about their fate, and a few Indians were met, mostly day laborers employed in the fisheries." The general assembly of Rhode Island met at Providence on the lOtii, and in view of the invasion ordered the raising of two regiments of infantry, seven hundred and lifty men each, to be brigaded under the command of a general, and a regiment of artillery of three hundred men, "for the defense of the United States in general and of this State in particular." James Mitchell Varnum was appointed brigadier general and Monsieur Franf;ois Lellorquois de Malmedy, chief engineer and director of the works of defense, wiiii tlie rank of brigadier general. The colonels of infantry were John Cooke and Joseph Stanton, Jr.; the colonel of artillery, Robert Elliot. Joseph Nightin- 358 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. gale was appointed major general of the militia in the place of Joshua Babcock, who was appointed one of the council of war. Jonathan Clarke was assigned as "linguist" to M. de Malmedy, with the rank of major. M. de Malmedy was a French gentleman' who, in September, 1776, had been "appointed in the continental service." Gen- eral Charles Lee wrote from Chatham, New York, to Washing- ton, on the 8th of December, that on hearing that the British troops had embarked and directed their course to the eastern prov- inces, sailing one half through the sound and the other turning the southwestern end of Long Island and steering eastward, he had " detached Colonel Varnum and Monsieur Malmedie to take the direction of the Rhode Island troops who are without even the figure of a general." Malmedy reached Providence on the 6th, and at the request of Governor Cooke "viewed the lines of circumvallation which were opened on the right bank of the [Providence] river." He thought them too far out, and changed them, bringing the posts in. In his letter reporting the condi- tion of affairs he said that he had then been given the rank of colonel, and entreated Lee to have him commissioned by con- gress before the 1st of January, that he might rank others. On the 25th Malmedy wrote that he had examined the ground about Warwick neck, which the committee of safety proposed to defend, but found it untenable in case of a descent, and urged the evacuation of the post already begun. He was sur- prised at the inactivity of the British and the lethargy of the people of Providence. Malmedy was modest as to his own abil- ities. He busied himself diligently finishing the open lines, be- cause "there was only one man here who knows that kind of work;" but, he wrote, he was himself "no engineer by profes- sion," and was anxious for a different line of service, thougli glad to do what he could in any line of duty. Heavy snow was falling on the 20th and there was no travelling. In this letter of the 25th he announced the arrival of Major General Lincoln, who had been appointed to the chief command. There were rumors of an intention of the British to march on Boston by way of Providence. On the 23d of December the agreeable news came in of the arrival of "an immense prize ship" at New Bedford, and General Varnum went down at once to save it from the hands of Clinton. A convention of the New England states met in Providence IIISTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTT. 359 on the 25th, when it was advised to concentrate the several quotas to the number of six tliousand men in the stale of Rhode Island, which was called npon to supply eighteen hun- dred. A thousand continentals were to be added. The records of the assembly for the 23d report the request of one James Joseph Halleen, a French gentleman, who had purchased a schooner in Rhode Island, to be permitted to go out in the vessel with a French crew only and a cargo of hoops, shingles and "shaken casks," to the French West In- dia islands. Permission was granted. This assembly also de- termined against the issue of any more paper money, and adopted resolutions for borrowing at five per cent, and for taxa- tion. Regulations were made " to prevent monopolies and op- pression by excessive and unreasonable prices for many of the necessaries and conveniences of life, and for preventing en- grossers and for the better supply of the troops in the armj^" A committee reported the act which regulated the pirices of labor, goods, wares, merchandize, &c.: labor not to exceed three shillings and four pence a day, wheat seven and six pence per bushel, pork four i^ence per pound, grass fed beef three pence, salt ten shillings per bushel. West India rum seven shil- lings and eight pence by the gallon. New England rum thi'ee shillings and ten pence, sugar eight pence per pound, cheese six pence, potatoes one shilling and four pence per bushel, coffee one shilling and four pence the pound. These were all retail prices. At the same session two fire ships were ordered to be prepared and put under command of Captain Silas Tal- bot, and the row galley at Providence to proceed to Pawtuxet to receive the orders of Commodore Esek Hopkins. The last Wednesday of the month of January was recom- mended to be observed as a fast day by the general convention and an act requesting observance was ajiproved by the assem- bly which adjourned on the 2d of January, 1777. On the 10th the British frigate "Cerberus,'' which lay at Fogland ferry, on the East or Seconnet i)assage, was driven from her moorings by the troops of Little Compton with two pieces of artillery and lost in killed and wounded several of her crew. On the 12th General Arnold, .sent by Washington to assist in the defense, arrived at Providence and with him came the inspiring news of the landing of Lafayette to olfer his sword to the new nation. On the 14th the English, in revenge for the attack on the 360 in.sToitY OF NEWPuiir county. '• Cerberus," sent a party to Prudence island wliich burned the few buildings spared in the raid of the preceding winter. The day before, Sir Henry Clinton sailed for England on (he "Asia," "saluted on going aboard by a discharge of cannon," the couimand devolving upon I he Honorable Hugh Earl Percy. Clinton left to Percy six Hessian and four British regiments in the country, and two British regiments and Losberg's Hessian regiment in the town. The notice of his departure appeared in the first number of the Newport Gazette published by John Howe " at the Printing House in Thames street near the Parade." This number, issued Thursday, January 16th, 1777, contains Lord Howe's prochiraation from New York of November 30th, 1776, granting pardons to all who "shall promise to remain in a l)eaceable obedience to His Majesty," and also the address to Sir Henry Clinton by the loyalists of Newport, described by W\Q Gazette ^■s> ''^ iowv hundi'ed and fortj'-four of pi'incipal in- habitants of the town." The address expressed the " truly grateful sense of iiis majesty's paternal affection and tender- ness for his unhappily deluded American subjects exhibited in the i^roclamationof November last," with which the subscril)er3 were penetrated, deplored " the baleful infiuence of factious and designing men through his majestj''s American colonies," congratulated Sir Henry upon his arrival among them, thanked him for his many instances of humanity and benignity dis- playedsiacehisarrivuland solicited his intiuence witli the king's commissioners. The subscribers sum up their dutiful address with the statement of their conviction "that, to be a subject of the British empire with all its consequences, is to be the fi'eest member of any civil society in tlie l^nown world." Anotiiei' address seems to have h&^\\ addressed to Lord Howe and tiie commissioners on tlie l"3(h of Januar3^ 1777, and signed by the inhabitants of Newport — Joseph Wanton, ,^y., John Maudsley, Ste^ihen Ayianlt, Augustus Johnston, .James Keith, Walter Chaloner, William Wanton and Francis Malbons. Prom this Gazette it appears that the English fleet had brought in quite a number of [)rizes. Seven vessels are named, some with valuable cargoes. On the 13th of January the inhabitants of Jamestown addressed Earl Percy in terms similar to those of the loyal addressers of Newport. On the 22d an American galley under cover of a lire upon the British force at Dutch Island ferry, landed four hundred HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 361 men but were driven back to their bouts by Huyne's brigade and the fire of two Englisli six-poiinders and two Tlessian three- poiinders witli some loss. In tlie last week of January tlie "Merlin" sloop of war convoyed in two transports with Hes- sian troops on board, and the " Cerberus " went out again from Newport for the Seconnet passage. On the 28th of January the row galleys made a demonstration upon the "Sphynx" off Warwick point but did not attack. On the 5tli of February the marine committee sent orders to Commodore Hopkins to despalch four vessels under Captain John Paul Jones, of the "Alfred," on an expedition, but it was found impossible to man or get them to sea. On the 14tli the sloop "Providence" went down to capture a Britsh schooner of eight guns which had grounded between Pru- denceand Patience islands, but the crew set her on fire and blew her up. On the 21st the row gallej^ " Spitfire," rigged as a schooner, covering a party landed to bring off hay from Rhode Island, exchanged fire for several hours with a battery on shore. While the enterprise of the patriots kept the armj^ of occu- jjation constantly on the alert, the officers amused themselves with organizing subscription balls. Captain d'Avant and Cap- tain Mahlsburg, the latter one of the most distinguished of the Hessian officers, were "Masters of the ceiemonies." The balls were given on Monday evenings. The regulations as to the comings and goings of the inhabitants were strict. None were allowed to leave the island for the main without permission, and no inhabitant was peimitted to admit any person into his house without reporting him toPrescoIt, the commandant, "on pain of military execution." Percy had his own views on the subject of the small-pox, and on the 13th of February ordered that no person within the island " presume to inoculate for the small pox." At tijis time the colony authorities were legalizing this sanitary precaution. On the loth of February the Ncicporl Gazttle reported the arrival of a " brig with upwards of thirty masters of sliips who have been taken at different times by American pirates. These freebooters are fitted out by men who have made their for- tunes from the credit of British merchants and who have chosen this method most gratefully to repay them." Tliere was an exchange of [jrisoners at this time going on between 362 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Earl Percy and Governor Cooke, under the general cartel and by Washington's recommendation. On the 1st of March the assembly met at Providence, ordered the declaration of independence of the United States of America of the 4th of July, 177G, to be ''entered on the public i-ecords" of the State. This was done on the request of congress of the 18th January, 1777. The Oneida Indians sent a de])vitation to this assembly to pledge their neutrality if not active aid, and one of the chiefs received the present of a gun. This and other presents to the amount of about seventy-eight j^ounds were paid for by the state. The Quakers or '• persons of tender con- sciences were relieved from their fines." At the same session also Major-General Spencer was " strongly recommended (if in any way consistent with prudence)" to make an attack on the enemy at Rhode Island; the assembly considering it a great disgrace to New England in general and Rhode Island in par- ticular that no attempt had as yet been made. Rewards were promised by the assembly for the capture of British officers, ranging from one thousand dollars for a British or foreign general officer to twenty dollars for each private soldier brought oif within fifteen days. Regulations were prescribed for the formation of companies of volunteers who were to choose their own officers; the governor was requested to summon the militia, and a rendezvous was fixed for Wednesday the 12th of March at Providence, East Greenwich and Bristol; those of Newport county to meet at Howland's ferry. The selectmen of the neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire towns were asked to send in volunteers. The plan, however, fell through. On the 15th of March another attack was made by the Amer- icans with a fire ship and two galleys on an English man-of- war, which, according to the German account, ended in the loss of one of the galleys, burned to save it from the Hessians, and the escape of the other, witli the force of the burning vessel. At the adjourned session on the 24th of March General Var- Tium,having been appointed by congress brigadier-general in the continental army, and General Washington having directed two generals of the continental army to take command of the troops on Rhode Island, Generals Varnum, West and Malmedy, ap- pointed by the assembly, were dismissed from service with thanks, and the latter voted a gratuity of fifty pounds for his "abilities, activity and zeal." IIISTOKY OI<' NF.WPOItT COUNTY. 363 At this session the assembly, considering fliat the freemen of the towns of Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown and James- town were deprived of meeting at their usual places for the choice of representatives in general assembly, authorized per- sons known to be freemen in either of those towns to the num- ber of seven to meet for such choice on the third Wednesday in April ; those of Newport in Providence at the state house ; those of Portsmouth and Middletown in Tiverton ; those of Jamestown in North Kingstown. On the 2d of April the row galley "Washington" blew up near Bristol and eight men perished. On the 5th of April Lord Percy left his command and returned to England. The Hessian accounts describe him as " very popular with both troops and people, a good soldier, a kindly man, full of tenderness for the sick and suffering, the poor and needy." He was succeeded in his command of the post by General Prescott. On the 17th of April the assembly ordered the raising of live hundred effective men to fill up the continental battalions. The men were to be raised by draft; the towns of Newport, Ports- moutli, New Shoreham and Middletown being excepted. Large bounties were offered without inuch success, and.the draftcreated such di.safl'ection in Exeter that General Spencer was recom- mended by the assembly to march troops into the town to cor- rect the unruly and protect the quiet citizens. Washington was urging Governor (Jooke to press the enlistment, and ordered him to forward every man who had recovered from the small pox at once, and those who had not as soon as they were re- covered (of course inoculation is here meant). Washington was of opinion that the number of troops on Rhode Island was greatly exaggerated if, as he was informed, they only consisted of six Hessian and two British regiments. "The Hessian regiments when they came out complete (he writes) did not exceed six hundred men each, and the Britisii two hundred and fifty each." With the casualties they should not exceed " three thousand ; a number too small to make any attempt upon the main." He adds that he was "convinced that they intoruT to leave Rhode Island, where they have wintered comfortably and kei)t up a considerable diversion, and join their main body " in the Jersies. To congress he wrote on the lOtli of April that "an attack on the King's troops at Rhode Island was certainly a desirable 364 HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. event could it have been conducted with success, or npon equal terms. It being an object of great moment and involving in its issue many important consequences, I am led to believe the practicability of it has had much consideration, and the meas- ure was found to be unadvisable under the circumstances of the troops collected for the purpose. If the enemy have not evac- uated the Island I suppose the matter will be further weighed." This letter was in answer to the resolutions adopted by congress on the 16th of April recommending the general assembly of Rhode Island to collect their whole force, and with the militia of Massachusetts bay and Connecticut "attack and destroy the enemy on Rhode Island." The resolutions further directed Washington to appoint the general officers, and he and the three states concerned were notified by express. Washington's judgment as to the Britisli imibility to make any further ad- vance on the main was soon justified. After Percy's departure there was so mucli movement in Newport that offensive operations were expected, but this idea was abandoned when it was learned that the Hessian Guards had been returned to New York. The garrison, however, was not further diminished. At the May meeting of the general assembly Cnptaiu John Hopkins or any officer of the ship " Warren" was empowered to impress men for a contemplated cruise, "being seamen — transient foreign persons and not inhab- itants of tliis or any of the United States and not enlisted in the service of this state on the continent." The same authority was given to Captain Abraham Whipple of the ship "Providence," the number of men being limited to si.x'ty. At the assembl}^ meeting in June the new galley " Wash- ington," having been repaired and rigged as a schooner, was assigned to the command of Josei)h (Charles) Alauran, an Italian from Villafranca, wlio had lumimanded a privateer be- fore Sir Peter Parker blockaded the harbor. The " Washing- ton" carried fen four pounders, fourteen swivel guns and eighty men. It does not appear, however, tliat any of tliese enterjjrising officers were able to run the blockade tlirough the long passages, well guarded by batteries and hostile ships of all kinds. A journal kept by one Fleet Green, wlio lived in Newport during the occupation, gives many details of the daily life from June, 1777, to October, 1779. In June the Hessians were in- niSTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 3G5 suiting and the streets were dangerous after dark. The fisher- men were obliged to haul up their boats. On the 31st of June he recoi'ds that a flag sailed " for Providence with one hundred and thirty women and children belonging to the town; their trunks were all searched and some things taken from them, such as tea, pins, linen and men's clothes by the Provost Marshal and Hessian Town Sergeant." In July occurred the capture of General Prescott by Colonel William Barton of the Rhode Island militia, who was then stationed at Tiverton. An account of this daring exploit is given in the history of the town of Portsmouth in this work. The Bi'itish post being thus deprived of its commander, General Sir Richard Pigot was ordei'ed from New York to take his place. He arrived on Monday, the 21st of July, on the "Swan" sloop of war, and landed at noon upon the Long Wharf, where he was received by the principal officers of the army and navy. A detachment of Hessian troops, accompanied by a band of music, escorted his excellency to the house pre- ])ared for his reception. On the 20th the town school house was taken for the use of the bake houses. On the 28th Governor Cooke wrote a letter to General Pigot complaining that the mutual courtesy established at the re- quest of Earl Percy, of allowing ladies to pass from the main to the island and the island to the main had been stopped. The governor reminded the general that " women and children are not the proper objects of war," and added " that the com- manding officer upon Rhode Island appeared to him to have de- parted from the common dictates of humanity." Geneial Pigot answered on theBOtli, e.xpressing his regret that tiieap[)licatiou had been neglected, and while, as in duty bound, he defended his predecessor against the charge of inhumanity, he informed the governor tiiat lie had ordered a flag to be ready to carry as many of the women and children as chose to go. From this it is reasonable to infer that the date in Green's journal has been misprinted. Such a complaint could hardly have been made at the close of July if a flag had gone out in June. Pres- cott was taken in July. In August the assembly, to encourage such brilliant actions as the capture of Prescott, although the time fixed in its offers of reward had expired, voted the sum of eleven hundred and twenty dollars for the officers and men concerned in that expo- 366 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTT. dition. This assembly repealed the monopoly act on the ad.- vice of the New England convention, but ordered that the con- tinental soldiers in camp from the state be supplied at the prices fixed thereby. The convention which met at Springfield in July had resolved that an army of four thousand men should be maintained by the New England states for the defense of Rhode Island. Con- gress approved tliis action. There were occasional affairs of slight importance in themselves, but sufficient to keep both sides wide awake. On the 2d of August Colonel Elliott, by his artillery fire, drove the " Renown," a fifty gun ship, from her moorings off Dutch island, and in the night a raid was made on the island, when some stock was captured, and the same party, crossing to Conanicut, brought oft" two prisoners. On the 5th the militia in Narragansett drove off with some loss a foraging party of two hundred British soldiers; and the same day Captain Dyer, with sixty men, Cro.ssed from Tiverton to the island, attacked a party of twenty who had fired on some fish- ing boats, and compelled them to beat a reti'eat to the cover of their works. Arnold informs us that "the battle of Bennington checked the contemplated advance of Biirgoyne into New England, where he proposed a junction at Springfield with Pigot's forces from Rhode Island." Baum's march into Vermont with his Hessians was absurd enough, but there does not appear to be any evidence that Pigot had any thought that he could break through the cordon l)y which he was held with any such force as he had under his command, though no doubt his Hessians would have been glad enough to try the venture to meet their countrymen. The defeat of Baum on the 16th of August set all such mad schemes at rest if ever there were such entertained. On the 2d of September a new privateer of twenty guns, from Providence, attempting to run tlie blockade, was chased ashore by the British vessels and burned. Surprise parties were the order of the day. Colonel Cornell landed on Prudence island, at night, lay in cover, and the next moining carried oft" an officer and fifteen men who had lamled from a frigate for fresh water. The same night an officer and two men were taken from Rhode Island by a party from Seconnet. The assembly met at South Kingstown on the 22d of Septem- ber. On the petition of Samuel Carr, Benjamin Underwood HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 367 and Christopher Ellery, Esqs., who represented for themselves and many of the hite inhabitants of Newport and the other towns of the county, that tliey had been driven from their island homes to the mainland, had performed all their duties in de- fending the shores, as well as supplied their quotas to the fif- teen months' men and continental battalions, but that their oharges were so great that they were unable to pay the taxes now levied, the assembly exempted them from all rating except for their stock. The news of Gates' victory at Stillwater stimulated the t?astern states to an attempt to recover the island. Massachu- setts resolved to send three thousand men in addition to the two regiments she already had in Rhode Island, and in addi- tion some artillery. The Rhode Island assembly on the 22d ordered that one-half of the militia alarm, independent and artillery companies be drafted from the militia within the state on the 27th day of September, and rendezvous at the order of Major General Spencer on the 1st of October; the militia thus drafted to be formed into one brigade of six regiments, Ezekiel Cornell to be brigadier. It was left to the option of General Spencer to form two brigades, however, and appoint a second brigadier general. A bounty of forty shillings was voted for a month's service. Connecticut promised fifteen hundred men to further the plan. The British force on tlie island was estimated by General Spencer to be nearly four thousand men, four Hessian and three British regiments; two of each on Windmill hill, a corps of grenadiers and light infantry at Fogland ferry, one regiment on Butt's hill and two near Newport. On the 2d of October General Pigot ordered all the furniture and wearing apparel in Newport to be siezed, and on the 17th, word coming in of the threatening movements of the Americans on the mainland to the eastward, all the irihabitants were ordered to the forts to work the next day. There was cause for alarm. On the 16th nine thousand troops were gathered, and a large number of boats was in readiness at Tiverton under charge of Major Nathan Munro; but on the night fixed for rhe attack the prep- arations were not complete. A heavy storm set in and delayed the movement, and when it was at last made the wind was con- trary and some of the boats were fired upon. The attack was postponed and the objective point changed to a landing place 368 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. above Pogland ferry. Again the weatlier was against them. The troops became uneas}^ and nnnibers marclied off. On tlie night of the 26th of October, finally assigned, hardly five tiionsand men remained. A council of officers was held, and it was resolved to abandon tlie expedition. And iiere again was justified the complaint often m;i(le l)y Washington of the litter unreliability of militia for offensive movements. Admir- able often in defense, always in the finisli of a successful bat- tle, they were not to be depended upon for a concerted action, which demanded coolness and i)itiei)idity combined. Tliei'e was a genei'al disgust at tlie failure, and Spencer was blamed for incapacity. But the discouragement which would have en- sued was greatly modified in the general delight at the sur- render of Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga on the 17th of October, which readied them in the midst of tiieir disappoint ment. Tlie Assembly met at Piovidence the day after the failure at Fogland ferry and ajtpoiiited a committee to meet witli any committees tliat Massachusetts and Connecticut sliould raise, to inquire into the grounds of tlie miscarriage. At the same meeting a council of war was again appointed to act in the re- cess, and the remaining half of the militia called out at tlie last session was ordered to be drafted into two divisions on the 6th day of November, and to march at the order of General Spen- cer or his successor in command on the 6th day of December, for thirty day's service. The committee appointed to inquire into the late failure, after considering a statement made by General Cornell, decided on the request of General Spencer to refer the matter to a joint committee from the New England states interested. A court of inquiry was held in pursuance of this resolve, at Providence, and a report was made exonerating General Spencer and ascrib- ing the miscarriage to the failure on the part of Palmer's bri- gade to have the boats in readiness the first night set for the attack and to the bad weather afterward. An inquiry insti- tuted by congress later resulted in a similar verdict. Spencer, however, resigned his command on the 21st of December. On the 5th of November the British ship " Syren," of twenty- eight guns, was stranded at Point Judith and captured by the artillery men of the battery at that station. Her crew, one hundred and sixtv-six officers and men, were carried prisoners HIBTOUy OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 369 to Providence. Arrangements Tor winter quarters were now made by General Pigot. The Presbyterian meeting houses were stripped of their pews and turned into barracks, and the keys of the Baptist meeting liouses were taken by tlie barrack master for the same purpose. At some time during tlie alarm caused by the American movement from Tiverton two regiments of loyalist Americans were raised on the island. On the 17th of November these organizations were disbanded, the colonels and officers dismissed, the non-commissioned officers and men turned into the British regiments, and on the evening of this day the lines that separated the town of Newport from the coitntry were manned with guards for the first time and the gate locked; forty men stationed at each redoubt and two sen- tries on each Hank. On the 1st of December the Landgraf regiment and a company of Hessian chasseurs were brought into the town and quartered. Among the resolutions adopted by the continental congress was one ajapointing Thursday the 18th day of November for a general thanksgiving for the signal blessings and victories of the year. The general assembly which met at Providence on the 1st of December ordered the issue of a proclamation by the governor confirming the same and directing that "all servile labor and recreation be forbidden on that day." Meeting again on Fridaj', December 19th, the day after this solemn act, they appointed a committtee to draft a bill in con- formity with the recommendati(ni of congress for the confisca- tion and sale of the estates real and personal of the tories of the state. This was a terrible blow to many rich merchants and large landholders in Newport who had adhered to the crown. The signature of the loyal addresses supplied suSicient proof for forfeiture. The gentlemen charged with this delicate business were Henry AVard, Henry Marchant, Rouse T. Helme and William Clianning, Esquires. Ward was deputy for New- port in the general assembly and .secretary of that body; Marchant delegate to the continental congress; Helme deputy for South Kingstown and clerk to the council of war; Chan- ning attorney-general to the state. The articles of confedera tion proposed for the United States and the general ta.\ re- commended l)y congress to be assessed on all inhabitants of the United States in 1778 was refen'ed to the next session. Before this assembly met Rhode Island had fresh cause for 24 370 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. alai'in. The extent of llie barracks fitted up at Newjjort, the taking of the meeting liouses and the building of chimneys in them left no doubt that large reinforcements were expected. On the 14th of December Governor Cooke had represented these fears strongly to the council of the state of Massachu- setts and was at once answered that great encoui-agemenls had been extended to the regiments of Colonels Robinson and Keyes to extend their terms of service till January, 177'.). On the 5th of December the British man of- war " Raisonable" arrived off the mouth of Newport harbor with twenty-six trans- ports under convoy from the Delaware. General Burgoyne, in accordance with the terms of convention or surrender at Sara- toga, had marched his army to Boston where he expected to embark them for England. On the 'ioth of November he wrote to Washington from Cambridge, near Boston, expressing his doubts as to whether the transports destined to carry the troops would be able to make the port of Boston at that ad- vanced season of the year, and asking consent from liim, or from congress through him, to march the troops to Providence or pass them bj^ small craft to Newport or some i)ort on the sound when the transports should arrive at the i)oint desig- nated; asking at the same time permission to go at once to Newport with his suite, there to take passage on a separate frigate. On the arrival of the transports, eight of them having come into port. General Pigot sent an open letter to General Burgoyne under cover to General Spencer, the American com- mander of Rhode Island, notifying him that the vessels were at hand and recommending him to a^iply to the council at Provi- dence for permission to obtain supplies of slieej), fowls and other live stock from the Seconnet or Narragansett shore, as the island did not abound in live stock. This letter was sent to Governor Cooke,wlio, on the 7th, noti- fied the council of Massachusetts that by the convention it was evidently the intention of General Gates that " Mr. Burgoyne's troops should not intermix with the other British troops serv- ing in Ameiica, as the port of Boston was assigned for their embarkation;" that it was the intention of the Rhode Island government to fulfill that convention, and that " they could not prevail with themselves to admit Mr. Burgoyne's late army within the state in order to proceed to Newport." The Massa- chusetts council wholly agreed with this view, and answered HISTORY OF NKWI'OKT COUNTY. 371 tlie governor that tlie matter laid wholly with eongress. But the Rhode Island assembly had not been discourteous in their relations with the British officers, and gave permission to General Pigot (Dec. 1st, '77) to send wine, sugar and tea by a cartel vessel to Mr. Ward for transmission to Burgoyne at Boston. Congress had its reasons for declining to permit the departure of Burgoyne' s troops. Although this correspondence explained in part the presence of the large squadron from the Delaware, the assembly was alarmed at the powei'ful armament and their exposure to "still more hostile attacks," and ordered, on the 19th of Dec- ember, the raising of two battalions, each of six hundred men, and a regiment of artillery of three hundred men, for the " de- fense of the United States in general and of Rhode Island ia particular;" the three formations to be brigaded together. Ezekiel Cornell was appointed brigadier-general; Robert Elliott, colonel of artillery; Archibald Crary and William Barton (the hero of Prescott's cai:)ture), colonels of infantry; and the council of war was given power to call out such part of the militia, independent and alarm companies as would supply the delin- quencies in the quotas of the Massachusetts Bay, the New Hampshire and Connecticut contingents in case of emergency. In January, 1778, General Pigot issued an order dividing the town of Newport into five districts, and appointing a " nightly watch." The tories on the island who, since the confiscation act, had no longer any reason for hesitancy, were now organized into a corps known as the Newport Loyal Association. It con- sisted certainly of two, possibly of three companies. The officers were appointed by General Pigot. As the appointments of January 1st, 1778, included the name of one captain, Joseph Durfee vice Simon Pease, deceased, it is probable that this was a revival or continuation of the regiment disbanded in Novem- ber. In the American camp the process of organization was making headway. The recruiting was slow, but tlie commands were made more homogeneous. On the recommendation of General Varnum the Rhode Island battalions in camp at Valley Forge were united by Washington and the officers of one, Colonel Greene, Lieutenant Colonel Olney and Major Ward, were sent home to enlist a negro battalion for the continentnl service. The assembly which met in February at East Greenwich re- 372 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. sponded to this suggestion. The preamble to their resolution, which authorized the enlistment of "every able bodied negro, mulatto or Indian man slave in the state into either of the two battalions," bases it on high grounds: " Whereas history affords us frequent precedents of the wisest, the freest and bravest nations having liberated their slaves and enlisted them as soldiers to fight in defense of their country." A further resolution allowed them the usual bounty; a third, absolute fret?dom on passing muster before the enlisting officer; a fourth, an engagement to maintain thein in case of sicl\:ness; a fifth gave a compensation to their masters at a rate not higher than one hundred and twenty pounds foi' the most valuable. Si.\ of the upper house dissented from this vote for various economic reasons, but the resolution was sustained and Colonel Christo- pher Greene was em^iowered to draw one hundred pounds for bounties to slaves enlisting before him. This assembly also instructed their delegates in the continen- tal congress, Stephen Hopkins. William EUery and Henry Marchant, respecting the proposed articles of confederation and perpetual union, and suggested some alterations, the chief of which was the first formalizing of a claim or demand which, persisted in uncompromisingly, survived the war and kept back Rhode Island from the union comj^leted in 1788. This was the claim that the lands and revenues of the crown were forfeited to the United Colonies as a whole and not to the states within whose limits such lands lay; that the forfeiture (mght therefore to be vested in all the United States, and the lands be disposed of and appropriated by congress for the ben- efit of tlie whole confederacy. It was not meant by this, they represented, "that congress should claim jurisdiction of the for- feited lands; but that the same shall remain to the state in which it lies." This claim, it will be observed, did not alone re- gard the great unoccupied territory which the great states claimed to be theirs under charter to the Pacific ocean, but also the quit-claim crown rents within the established jurisdictions. Yet the assembly instructed their delegates to accede to the articles of confederation notwithstanding this claim, which tliey were, liowever, directed to enter upon the records of congress before signing the articles and to give notice that " the State intends to renew the motion for them." The destitution of the patriot refugees from Newport was so HISTORY OK NEW POUT COUNTY. 373 great in this month of Jauuai}-, more than two liuiidied and fifty persons being then in Providence witiioiit. means of liveli- hood, that an appeal was made throiighont the states in their behalf and, as with Boston at the time of the F'ort Bill, abund- antly responded to. On the 13th of Jannary congress urged the New England states to keep up the force in Rhode Island agreed upon by them, and the asseml)ly in consequence ap- pointed Solomon Southwick, deputy commissary general of issues within the state. The great scaicity of wood, even at this time, in Rhode Island constantly appears. Even the troops about South and North Kingstown found it so difficult to ob- tainasupply that the quartermaster general was given authoiity to enter on the wood lands and cut what; they needed. In February another gallant action relieved the monotony of the tedious winter. Captain John Rathbone, with the United States sloop "Providence," of twelve guns, landed a party of thirty men at New Providence, the most important of the Ba- hama islands, under Lieutenant John Trevitt, of Newport, with fifteen of whom he scaled the walls and captured the fort at night. The remainder of the party landed on an island oppo- site the town of Nassau, which they held for three days, made prizes of six vessels in the harbor, drove off a British war vessel which attempted to enter, and after spiking the guns of the batteries brought off the military stores without the loss of a man. On the 16th of February the frigate " War- ren," Captain John B. Hopkins, taking advantage of a snow storm, ran the blockade of the British squadron, giving and taking fire as she passed, and got safely out to sea. The frig- ate "Columbus" made a similar attempt on the 27th of March, but was unable to get through and, driven on shore at Point Judith, was burned by the British the next day. On March 14tli Green notes that "the Hessian troops appear in their uniforms for the lii'st time," and not to be behind them in ele- gance, the Assembly ordered the purchase of silk for two stand- ards for the new regiments. On the liith of April General Bur- goyne, by leave of congress, came down from Boston and sailed from Newport for England on parole. The convention troops surrendered by him at Saratoga, and since quartered at Cambridge, were marched into Vermont. On the 17th General Sullivan, appointed by Washington to succeed General Spencer, whose resignation had been accepted o 374 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. bj'^ congress on the 13th of January but who was still in command, arrived at Providence and was placed in command of Rhode Island by the council of war. The treaty of Paris, secured by the instrumentality of Lafayette and signed on the 6th of Feb- ruary, reached Boston on the 19th of April and Providence on the 2lst, when salutes were fired from the battery at Fox point and from the frigate " Providence," and repeated at sunset with military honors. The 22d was a day of fast by appointment of congress, but became a day of thanksgiving throughout the land as far as the news had reached. On the 2.5th General Pigot enclosed to General Sullivan copies of the bills of conciliation adopted by parliament under the alarm caused by the French- American alliance." They were burned by the public hangman on the demand of the people. On the night of the SOtli Cap- tain Abraham Whipple took out the frigate "Providence," in the dark and a heavy storm, and van the blockade of the Brit- ish squadron, firing his broadsides as he passed and sinking one of the tenders. He carried despatches to France and re- turned safely to Boston. At the May election Governor Cooke retired and was suc- ceeded by William Greene, son of the late Governor Greene, who held the important post throughout the war and for some years after its close. Rhode Island was certainly happy in her chief magistrates in this troublous period of iier history. On the night of Sunday, the 2.'5th of May, General Pigot sent a fleet of small vessels up the bay from the Newport anchorage to break up the preparations which were making for a descent on the island. Six hundred men were embarked under com- mand of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, and landed at day- break between the towns of Bristol and Warren. They marched at once through Warren to Kickemut river, where they burned a number of flat bottomed boats and a galley, which were being repaired. On their return through Warren they entered the houses, plundered the inmates of clothing, bedding and furni- ture, and then set fire to the meeting house, parsonage and other houses and destroyed a magazine of milifai'y store.s. They also set fire to a new privateer sloop in the harbor, which was not, however, seriously injured. They then retreated by the road through Bristol, where they pillaged and burned in the same fashion all that their haste admitted, not excepting the Episcopal church in the center of the town which, with HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 875 eighteen others of the most elegant dwelling houses, were burned to ashes. In some of the houses they tore the women's aprons and handkerchiefs from their persons, their buckles from their shoes, their rings from their fingers. Word of this raid reaching Providence in the morning, vol- unteers marched at once toward Bristol. Colonel Barton went forward under orders from General Sullivan to rally the people and delay the retreat of the party till the troops could reach them. With twenty men he pursued them and fell on their rear near Bristol ferry. Badly wounded, he was compelled to leave the fight. The enemy's boats arrived in time for the party to get off before Sullivan's arrival, but Barton's attack saved the carrying away of the live stock, which were already collected on the shore. A number of inhabitants were carried awa}"- prisoners. A captain and nine men were also taken on Popasquash neck, and a galley with some of the crew cut out from Taunton river. Fleet Green's journal records that the next day, May 26th, "wearing apparel of all sorts, necklaces, rings and paper money, taken as plunder in a i-ecenl raid at Bristol and Warren, were offered for sale by the soldiers at Newport." That night, he says, there was an alarm of fire in Newport, and the inhabitants who went to the assistance of the owners were "greatly abused, knocked down and beat." The state was in a miserable condition of defense at this time. Sullivan wrote that he had not five hundred men under his command, and that there were less than two hundred from the other New England states. A special meeting of the assembly was held on the 2Sth of May, and orders given for the raising of eight hundred and thirty-nine effective men by all the towns, except Newport and the other island towns, to fill up the bat- talions of infantry and the artillery regiments before the lUth of June; and the conduct of the governor, wlio had already summoned into actual duty one-sixth of all the militia com- panies, was approved. Little Compton and Barrington were ex- empted from the militia call, but one-half of their force of this nature was continued in .service. General Sullivan was fur- ther empowered to call out the entire force of the state in his discretion. On Sunday morning, the 3ist of May, the British made a dash at Fall river. One hundred and fifty men, under INfajor Ayres, were landed at daybreak at the mouth of the river and 376 HISTORY OF newpokt county. burned a mill and house on the shore, bnt were prevented fiom going inland, where they proposed to bui'n Freetown and the mills, by Colonel Durfee, who, with twenty-tive men covered the bridge from behind a wall until the militia came up. Two British vessels, a galley and sloop, covering the retreat, were driven on the Rhode Island shore and abandoned. The boats and vessels were warmly received as they passed down the river by a hot fire from the fort on Bristol neck. Generals Sullivan and Pigot had a sharp correspondence concerning the prisoners taken at Bristol. Pigot declined to release them escept on the usual terms of exchange. On the first of July the Landgrave regiment was marched to Ports- mouth and encarajied at Windmill hill, relieving the Bunau regiment, who were marched into town and encamped on the fields west of the town near the mills. The Huyne regiment was camped on the east side of the road leading into the neck, and threw up works for a batteiy of two guns fronting the road. General Pigot, in July, iel)uilt the forts on Brenton's jioint and Goat island, and also on Rose isjand and Conanicut. The king's stores were removed from the wharves to the rope walk at the back of the town. These operations were caused by the news of the arrival of a French squadron off New York. On the morning of the 29th of July the signal from the wai'e- house reported "a Fleet in Sight," and at a little after one in the afternoon it was known to be the French squadi-on of d'Estaing. At five o'clock the Newport Associatf)rs, the loyal townspeople, were in arms on the parade. The town crier summoned all the inhabitants to join them. The British frigates hauled in under the North battery. The tioops on Conanicut were ferried over, leaving only a few in a battery on Watch hill. The French fleet lay at anchor off the reef. July 81st Fleet Green records: "Early this morning the fleet weighed and took to sea, which revived the spirits of the people. The town still remains in confusion." Some evolution must have been made by the French, of which there is no mention in the general histories. That no British vessels got out is certain. On the 2d of August all the live stock which had been driven in from Portsmouth and Middletown, and all carriages, carts, wheelbarrows, shovels, pickaxes, axes and saws were this day and the next taken from the inhabitants. Trees were cut down and thrown across the road to delay the march of the enemy. HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 377 Six ships were sunk from the north end of Goat island to the town to obstruct the entrance to the harbor on that side. Three others were held ready to sink at the south entrance. The gar- rison, Green writes, was "said to consist of seventy-two hun- dred soldiers and fifteen hundred sailors." On the 5tli of August four transports were sunk in the morning on the west side of Goat island, and on the appearance of the French fleet four frigates were blown up near Coddington point and two transports burned. On the 6th the army overrun the island, cutting down orcliardsand tearing down houses, while the work of sinking vessels went on iu the harbor. On Saturday, the 8th of August, the houses on the heights of Middletown were set on tire by the general's orders, and the inhabitants were plundered by the soldiers and sailors in the streets. The houses at Easton's beach were burned the night befoi-e all this destruc- tion and pillage, and before the Frencli had attempted to force the passage. B^leet Green thus describes the movement: ^'■Saturday, August 8, 1778. Two o'clock this morning the fleet appears under sail. Three o'clock they stood in for the harbor. Half past three the battery on Brenton's Point begins to Are. The ships return the Are and pass the battery under a heavy can- nonading. Four o'clock all three of the batteries continue the firing. The headmost ship is up with the North battery. The harbour is one continual blaze ; the shots fly very thick over the town. August 8. At ten this morning a fleet appears in sight, standing from the eastward, with the wind S. W., to the great joy of the army and the Tories, e-xcess of joy and grief seen in the faces of different parties. A number of people flock on the heights on the Neck to welcome Lord Howe and his fleet to their deliverance. August 10. The French fleet passed the forts under heavy fire for over an hour, standing out to sea in pursuit of the English fleet." Tjik Siege oe Newport, 1778. — On the 8d of May General Sullivan sent to congress a return of tlie troops at his post. Unfortunately Amory, in his monograph on the siege of New- port, while he quotes the letter in full, does not give the return. Sullivan, howevei', informs congress that three regi- ments were to leave hint that day and his force would consist only of the residue mentioned in the return; " not a nmn from Connecticut and but part of two companies from Massachusetts 378 IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTT. Bay; some few have airived fioni New Hampshire and about half their quota are on the march." With this small force he had " to guard a shore upwards of sixty miles in extent from Point Judith on the west, and from Prudence to Seconnet Point on the east," against an enem\^ who could bring all their strength to a point and act against any i)oint they chose. He asked the assignment to him of the two state galleys to guard the entrance to the rivers of Taunton andWarren and that Gen- eral Stark be ordered to him, as he should need two brigadiers. On the 26th he wrote that he had not five hundred men at his command and that there were less than two hundred men from the other New England states. On the 19th of June, at the instance of Sullivan and Governor Greene, congress directed Washington to send home the Rhode Island troops if prac- ticable and the Navy board to provide three galleys for the defense of Providence, Warren and Taunton rivers. French assistance followed quickly the recognition of Amer- ican independence and the treaty of alliance. Marie Antoi- nette, the queen, herself persuaded the king, Louis XVI, to or- der a nrfval expedition to the American coast. The squadron, consisting of twelve ships of the line, four frigates and four thousand troops of the line, was placed under the command of the Count d'Estaing, an ambitious and promising officer. He hoisted his flag on the "Languedoc" and was accompanied by Gerard de Rayneval, a diplomatic agent with power to concert a scheme of offensive war, and by Silas Deane, one of the com- missioners of the United States to the court of France. The fleet left Toulon the 13th of April, 1778, and passed the Straits of Gibraltar on the night of the 17th to ISth of May. On the 20tli the captains of the vessels opened their sealed instruc- tions and learned their destination. Hostilities were to be opened at forty leagues distance to the westwaid of Cape St. Vincent. It was hoped that the great secrecy with which the expedition had been organized would result in the surprise and defeat of Lord Howe's squadron which held the mouth of the Delaware to cover Sir Henry Clinton's position at Philadelphia. But the French fleet was badly composed for concerted action, the vessels being of unequal speed, and land was not seen until July. On the 8th of this month, eighty-seven days after their departure fi'om Toulon, and forty-nine from their opening of IIISIORY OK NEWPOUT COUNTY. 379 orders (when two days out from Gibraltar), the French fleet anchored off the mouth of the Delaware. Clinton, under orders from England, had evacuated Phila- deli)hia on the 22d of June, and both army and Heet were safe in the harbor of New York. Pilots were sent on board the French vessels by order of congress, and d'Estaing set sail and dropped anchor off Shrewsbury. The American pilots were un- willing to venture with the larger vessels which drew from twenty-three to twenty-live feet of water across the New York bar, and in spite of a very large offer of money by d'Estaing absolutely declined the undertaking. The alternative offen- sive operation was an attempt to capture the British garrison on Rhode Island. A j^lan was concerted between Washington and d'Estaing, and Sullivan was notified to be prepared. He was directed to form the American troops into two divisions, to the command of which Generals Greene and Lafayette were assigned. On the 22d of July the French fleet raised anchor and set sail to the southward, but soon changed their course. The plan agreed upon was that General Sullivan should* l^nd on the north of Rhode Island under cover of the guns of the French fleet, while d'Estaing sliould also force the passage of the main channel and take the fortifications of the town of Newport in reverse. On the 29th of July the French fleet ar- rived oft' Brenton's ledge, three miles below Newport, and dropped anchor at the mouth of the great middle channel. The twelve sloops of the line were the "Languedoc," " Mar- seillais," "Provence," "Tonnant," " Sagittaire," "Gnerriere," "Fantasque," "Cesar," " Protecteur," " Vaillant," " Zele," "Hector;" the four frigates, the "Chimere," " L'Engageante," "Aimable," " Alcmene ;" and with these latter a corvette the " Stanlej\" The next day General Sullivan, who had already exchanged lettei's with the French admiral, went on board the "Languedoc," and a plan of operation was agreed upon. The "Fantasque" and "Sagittaire" were ordered to watch the Narragansett or western passage while the frigates "Aimable," "Alcmene" and the corvette "Stanley" should anchor in the eastern passage where the water was too siiallow for the heavier ships. The retreat of the English vessels ly- ing in the bay was tlius cut off. The frigates, pushing up the eastern or Seconnet passage, 380 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. anchored in front of the battery at Pogland ferry, but before fire opened from the guns, the British man-of-war, the "King- fisher," of sixteen guns, and two galleys were set on fire by their crews ; their shotted guns went off in all directions, and their magazines exploded to the confusion and consternation of friend and foe. A company of Ditfurth's Hessian regiment at Black point were witnesses of this strange scene. At daylight on the 5th of August the "Sagittaire" and " Fantasque " sailed up the western passage, doubled the point off Conanicut island and dropped anchor in the middle channel. Four British frigates, the "Lark," "Orpheus," and "Juno," thirty-two guns, the "Cerberus," twenty-eight, and the corvette "Falcon," sixteen, were run ashore on Rhode Is- land and burned on their approach near Tammany Hill. The two Hessian regiments, Bayreuth and Prince of Wales, had al- ready been br'mght over from Conanicut where they were camped. Besides the men-of-war, other vessels were destroyed to keep them out of the hands of the French. The German ac- counts say eight were sunk and thirteen burned. Commander Suffren abstained from firing upon the boats which landed their crews. Tlie "Protecteur" and the "Provence" then took the positions of the "Sagittaire" and "Fantasque" at the mouth of the Narragansett passage. On the 8th of August, General Sullivan announcing himself as ready to cross from the mainland to Rhode Island, Count d' Estaing forced the middle i)assage witii eiglit ships under a heavyfire from the British batteries. The English then destroyed their two remaining ships, the " Grand Duke," a transport of forty guns, burned, and the frigate "Flora," thirty-two, sunk. Altogether the English lost two hundred and twelve guns. A heavy fog settled on the island that afternoon; wlien it cleared the next morning the P''rencli were comfortablysheltered between Gould island and Conanicut, and d'Estaing began landing the troops intended for co-operation with the Americans on Conan- icut island with material of war; f(;r jjreliminary drill and or- ganization. Pigot, the English commander, had witlidrawn his troops from Fogland ferry, Windmill and Quaker hills, and posted them on Bannister's hill and across the island and under the shelter of Tonomy hill. That afternoon a British fieet, thirty strong, was descried in the offing. The wind fell and they did not attempt to enter the harbor. In the night IIISTOKY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 381 d'Estaing re embarked his troops and material, and the next morning, the lOth, the French lleet cnt their cables and stood out for sea ; raked for an hour by the British batteries at Fort George, Goat island and Brenton's point at easy range. IMeanwhile Sullivan was in motion. He had been joined by Major-General Greene from the army, on the 31st of July, and shortly after by Brigadier General Glover, who volunteered for the expedition, and on the 2d of August by the Marquis de La- fayette. On ihe 3d two continental brigades, Varnuni's and Glov- er's, and two companies of artillery, from tlie army at White Plains, Jiriived. On the the 7th, volunteers flockingintocainp, and the Massachusetts contingent coming in also, General Sullivan proceeded to the American camp at Tiverton and took command. On the Stli tliecannonade announced that d'Estaing had forced the passage. On the 9th, while the French troops were landing at Conanicut, Sullivan, with about ten thousand troops, began to cross from Tiverton to the north end of Rhode Island by Fogland ferry, the British fort at Butt's hill being evacuated, and Lafayette was despatched to inform d'Estaing of the move- ment. He arrived as the disembarkation was still going on, when a frigate from below signalled the arrival of the British fleet. Sullivan, while waiting events, took possession of the de- serted forts at the north end of the island. On the 11th a detachment of liglit troops, with supports, under ('olonel Livingston, was jiushed to within a mile and a half of the enemy, who had thrown up a new line of earthworks. On the 11th orders were given for a general advance ; the right under General Greene, the left under General Lafayette, the second line of Massachusetts militia under Major-General John Han- cock, and Ihe reserve under Colonel West. On the night of the 12th a terrible storm arose which lasted for two days and caused anxiety as to the safety of the Frencli fleet, of which nothing as yet had been heard. It is remembered in Rhode Island as the "great French storm." On that night the ele- ments played their parts in the war. On the morning of the inth the English pickets could easily descry the American camj) stretching its front for nearly Ave miles across Honeyman hill and Peckham liiil. The British lines extended from Tonomy hill to Easton's point, near the beach. The distance between the armies was about two miles. 382 HISTOItY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The American detachment which held Honeyman's hill to the right of the British was within half a mile of their front works on Bliss's hill, which it commands. On the 17th the Americans opened fire, and Pigot threw up a second line of defense and sliortened his front. The Ameri- can artillery was better served than the British, and shot and shell dropped thick and fast among the British tents and in their overcrowded line. Pigot withdrew his men into the de- fenses behind Tonomy hill on his left, but on the 2()th they were driven from this shelter by two new batteries planted by the Ainericans. Slowly forced from position to position the English kept eager watch seaward from Brenton's neck for some sign of the fleets. On the evening of the 2()th the French squadron appeared again off Point Judith, though in a shat- tered state. The British were in despair, the Americans in glee ; neither with reason. The movement of the Heets now demands attention. Tjik Fleets off Rhode Island, AuGUsr, 178S.— Large bod- ies move slowly, and it must not be forgotten, also, that the Frenchmen were in strange waters and in the first flush of an alliance with a race whom they had looked upon for centuries as their hereditary foes. They had certainly done good woi'k between the 29th of July, when they appeared in the Newport offing, and the 9th of August, when, every vestige of the na- val force of the British in the harbor destroyed, they were land- ing their men for further service, to be interrupted by the news that the enemy were at hand. Lord Admiral Howe had not wasted his time and he was certainly favored bj^ fortune. In the July days that followed the .departure of d'Estaing's fleet from Shrewsbury harbor four Britisli men of-war reached New York from different quarters. Thus reinforced, Howe was again able to put to sea, and on the 6th of August sailed from Sandy Hook with thirteen ships — one of seventy-four, seven of sixty- four, five of hfty guns, seven frigates and a number of trans- ports, with troops, arms and provisions. But he was hardly prepared for the sudden swoop which d'Estaing made upon him the morning after his arrival. He hastily signalled such of his vessels as were at anchor, and crowding sail, stood out to sea. lie no doubt relied upon the unequal sailing qualities of the enemy and upon the superior speed and rapidity of maiiujuver of his own vessels. The IlISTOllV OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 383 Frencli could not luix-e lum to action. The next day the wind blew to a gale, which not only separated tlie Frenchmen but so badly damaged the "Languedoc," d'Estaing's tiagshij), that on the morning of the 13th lie found lier bowsprit broken, her I'igging down and the helm of lier iiidder gone. At sun- set she was attacked by the "Preston," one of the enemy's ves- sels, and badly raked from the rear. She defended herself with her stern batteries till night brought relief. In the morn- ing all the vessels except the "Cesar" rallied to the admiral's flag, the squadron was anf^hored and the damages repaired. The "Marseillais," also attacked, lost her mizzen mast and bowsi)rit. The "Tonnant," attacked by the "Renown," had driven her off, but was herself dismasted. After the storm of the 11th the "Vaillant" took the bomb ketch "Thunder." On the 15th the "Hector" defeated the "Senegal." The "Cesar" engaged the " Iris" of sixty-four guns, but she was rescued by two of her British companions. In the action the French ship lost seventy killed and one liundred wounded, her captain los- ing his arm. On tl;e 17th sail was again hoisted, and on the 20th the fleet came to anchor off Rhode Island. Here d'Estaing was informed by Lafayette of a new peril. On learning of the sailing from Toulon of d'Estaing's squadron, tlie British admiralty ordered Admiral Byron to tlie Amei'ican coast to reinforce Admiral Howe. Byron left Plymouth on the 12th of June with thirteen vessels. Heavy weatiier disi)ei'sed the squadron. The admiral put into Halifax, others made their waj'^ to New York. The British were now in superior, force in American wateis, while two of the best of the Frencli vessels were badly cripiiled. At a council of war called by d'Estaing on board the "Langue- doc'" on hearing this news, it was unanimously agreed that there should not be an hour's delay in making the port of Boston, where damages could be securely repaired. Lafayette was present at the council and, it is said, urged the French ad- miral to land his troops at Conaniciit, but he declined to sep- arate his expeditionary force in this manner. The next day, the 21st, the entire Frencli fleet set sail for Boston, the admiral taking his sliip through a channel l)etween Nantucket and the banks. The squadron reached Boston on the 28th, whilst Lord 384 HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. Howe, after pursuing d'Estaing for a time, returned to New York. General Sullivan, informed of this sudden change of plans, was greatly aggrieved, and at his instance the American officers di'ew up a protest which Lafaj'ette declined to sign. This paper was dispatched on the 22d by a fast vessel with orders to overtake the admiral, who had already sailed. In fac^t the last of the French vessels had weighed anchor and was out of sight before the close of the day. Sullivan added to the im- prudence of the protest by a general order expressing the hope "that America with her own arms could achieve the suc- cess which her allies declined to help in obtaining," but on the representations of Lafayette and de Fleury that such com- ments would give offense to France, the general modified his expressions by a geneial order on the 24th in which our obliga- tions to our ally were acknowledged. But the consequences of his ill-advised censure were not thus easily averted, and it may here be added that the strong feeling aroused against the French culminated in a riot in Boston, in which two of the officers of the fleet, Messieurs de Saint Sauveur and Pleville de Pelej^ were dangerously wounded, the former mortally. Left to his own resources. General Sullivan asked the opinion of his officers in writing as to the future course of operations. Greene advised pressing the siege and attempting a surprise by boats from Sachuest beach upon the cliffs. Three New Hamp- shire officers, sent out as scouts to look into the feasibility of the i>lan, were captured, and it appears from the Hessian ac- counts, gave the enemj^ an exaggerated idea of the American forces. In truth, however, Sullivan's forces were already re- duced and somewhat demoralized. The thousands of volun- teers who had flocked to the camp, as was the habit through- out the war on the eve of a great action, as at Boston, at Sara- toga, and later at Yorktown, had already disappeared and left the brunt of the war to the regular continental troops. Pro- visions were scarce, bread at Providence hardly to be had at all, and corn selling at eight dollars the bushel. Three thou- sand men left within twenty-four hours and others were fol- lowing. What with the withdrawal of the volunteers and de- sertions of the militia, Sullivan's army was reduced on the 27th of August to fifty-four hundred men. The enemy's works were too strong to be stornu^d with this force, and at a council of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 385 war held the next day it was resolved to fall back on the hills at the north of the island, Butts, Turkey, Anthony's and Quaker's, which had been carefulh' fortified early in the movement by de Gouvion, a capable French engineer, with the aid of Crane and Gridley of the American artillery. Here it was determined to hold the army. Battlk of Rhode Island. — Lafayette was sent to Boston to urge d'Estaing to hurry down the French troops to the north end of the island. The army began to withdraw on the night of tlie2Sthat ten o'clock and by two o'clock in the morning the main body was in position at Butt's hill, the right wing on the west road, the left on the east road, both with their flanks covered. Colonel Henrj^ B. Livingston, with the ligiit corps, held the east road. Colonels Laurens, Fleury and Major Talbot ohe west road, each stationed three miles in advance of the camp. Colonel Wade supported them with the picquet of the army. At daylight the ne.xt morning the British discovered that the American front was withdrawn and a rumor prevailed that they were leaving the island. Pigot dispatched Prescott and Brown to occupy the abandoned works. Smith wirli two regiments, the Forty-second and Forty-third, and flank companies of the Twenty-second and Fifty-fourth, was sent up the east road. Losberg, with the Hessian Anspach chasseurs and Huyne's Ger- man regiment, moved up the west road. At seven o'clock the converging roads brought them upon the American advance and skirmishing began. The first hot action it is said was at Wind- mill hill which Amory considers to mean Slate hill; this was on the west road. Smith, with the king's troops, struck Livingston at Windmill hill on the east road. Livingston fell back fight- ing to Quaker hill, closely followed by Smith who, at its base, found himself confronted by two regiments. Colonels Wiggles- worth and Sprout of Glover's brigade, and one. Colonel William Livingston from Varnum's brigade. Smith attacked twice and was twice repulsed; after which the Americans fell back under orders on the main body. Smith, again pushing on, came upon Glover's command and under range of his guns, where- ui)on he in turn fell back and went into position behind the lines on Quaker and Turkey hills, both of which wer>- strongly protected by bastions. Losberg moved up the west road. Contemporary accounts say that tliey attacked "on the road" but were beaten off with great loss by the light corps 25 386 HISTORT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. under Major Talbot and Laurens, who no doubt fell back after the skirmish on the main body. Com|)aring the various reports of the day's lighting it would seem that Colonel Campbell, with his Twenty-second flank companies, moved up tlie east road and at the cross load con- necting the east and west roads near the Gibbs place, about live and a half miles from Newporl, divided his men. The party which turned into the cross road fell into an ambush. Captain Wade had here concealed his picket guard whicli, rising sud- denly up behind the stone fence of the field, poured two volleys into the forces of the surjjrised men at close quarters, destroy- ing one-fourth of the entire force. They were quickly sup- ported by the Hessians who were moving on the west load, and Wade also withdrew his picket to the main body, which was now drawn up in three lines; the first in front of the works on Butt's hill, the second in its rear and the reserve near a creek about half a mile to the rear of the first line. The distance between Butt's hill and Quaker hill is about a mile, the ground between wooded and marshy. Smith's line covered Quaker hill, the Hessian line covered Anthony's hill. The skirmishing had been rapid. At nine o'clock a cannonade began wJiich was interrupted by the arrival of two British ships of war and some light craft which began a fire on the American right and supported an attempt to turn the fiank and storm a redoubt in advance of that wing which General Greene com- manded. Twice the English and Hessian columns swept down the slope of Anthony's hill, wliich is merely a continuation of Quaker hill, and were repulsed with heavy loss by Varnum's, Glover's, Cornell's and Greene's brigades, which also suffered severely. A third assault was nearly successful, when Sullivan put in two batallions of continentals who quickly restored the day. On this occasion the newly raised black regiment, led by Colonel Greene, behaved with great courage, repulsing three separate charges of the Hessians with great slaughter. The ships of war were driven off by the American batteries. At four o'clock, when Colonel Trumbull took in a brigade of Massachusetts militia to meet an expected attack on the right, the enemy had disappeared. The action was over. Repulsed from all their assaults, the British and Hessians were driven back to their fortified lines, losing one of their batteries on the I'etreat. The American loss was two hundred and eleven, that HISTORY OF NEWPOirr COUNTY. 387 of the British one thousand and twenty-three, including i)iis- oners. The Biitisli had a force superior in numbers and tlior- oughly trained, while not more than iifteen hundii'd of the Americans had ever been under fire. The "battle of Rhode Island " maybe fairly held, as it is said Lafayette styled it, " the best fought action of the war." There seems to have been no error either in tiie plan or execu- tion of the masterl}' movement of retreat ; and the secure re- sult was the holding of the strongest position on the island, ecjually available for a renewal of attack or to cover a safe withdrawal to the main land. The 30th of August, Sunday, both armies spent the early part of the day in burying the dead and caring for the wounded. Colonel Campbell, of the Twenty-second, came out for leave to look for the body of his nephew, who fell at his side. At noon despatches were received from Washington that Lord Howe was on his way with five thousand troops from New York for the relief of the Newport post. A council of officers was held, and it was resolved to evacuate the island. Under a feint of pitching tents and fortifying the camp and a heavy cannonade, the stoi'es, munitions and heavy baggage were moved. At nightfall the tents were stirick and the troops were crossed over the ferry to Tiverton, the Providence regiment acting as rowers. At eleven o'clock Lafayette came in from Boston. lie had ridden seventy miles in seven hours on Friday to Boston, and now returned sixty miles in six and a half. He brought with him the promise of d'Estaing to march his men immediately overland from Boston to join in an attack on the island. La- fayette now aided in superintending the transports, and under his personal supervision the pickets and last covering parties were brought over without the loss of the smallest article of baggage. Sullivan's barge was the last to leave the island. Four of his life guards were wounded by the enemy, who ap- peared on the hills as they were crossing. The next morning tlie British fleet, with Sir Henry Clinton's forces on board, was seen off Newport from Tiverton heights. The army of Sullivan was now reduced to twelve hundred con- tinentals and two thousand state troops with some militia whose time was about expiring, while the British force, with the re- enforcements brought by Clinton, reached eleven thousand men. 388 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Congress voted thanks to Sullivan and his army for their signal service, and Washington issvied a general order in commenda- tion. Congi'ess, moreover, passed a resolution showing "its apYjreciation of the zeal and attachment the Count d'Estaing had shown to the cause of the United States on several occa- sions and especially in the noble and generous offer to mai'ch from Boston at the head of his troops to co-operate in the re- duction of Rhode Island." D'Estaing was of too noble a spirit to bear any malice and in the course of the next year sliowed his zeal and liis mettle, but gained little fame as a naval com- mander. The condition of the inhabitants of Newport during this pe- riod of hostilities was not to be envied. The French shot Hying over the wooden town was alarming but the sufferings war brings in its train were not confined to terror. " Sixteen buildings," says Mrs. Almy in her journal, "were destroyed to clear the field of action," while the blazing ve.ssels and burning buildings thi'eatened the whole closeh^ built wooden town with total ruin. On the retreat of the Americans Ports- mouth and Middletown were plundered. By the report of an- other journal, that of Fleet Green, "some families were desti- tute of a bed to lie on." After Sullivan's retreat the island was held with rigorous military care, the great extent of water line subjecting the out- lying jiosts to constant danger of snrjirise. On the 17th of September Admiral Byron, who had been sent out in June by the British admiralty to reenforce Lord Howe, came into New- port harbor with two ships of the line and on the 2oth Howe followed in his flagship the " Eagle," and turning over the com- mand of the American station to Byron, sailed for England. On the 28th he was followed by General Pigot whom General Prescott succeeded. On the 12th of October four hundred men arrived for the Anspach Bayreuth regiment and one hundred light cavalry nnder Major Von Dieskau. They had been twenty- six weeks at sea and were in poor condition. The entire regi- ment was brought into the town and half went into winter quarters in the abandoned buildings, the assignment between camp and houseing being settled by lot, and in November the Landgrave and Ditf urtli regiments were also marched in to the southern part of the town. Huyne's and Bunau's regiments were marched from the camp at the lines to barracks at Wind- HISTORY OF NEWrOUT COUNTY. 389 mill and Quaker hills; lluyiie's on the east road. Biinau's on the west, and detachments of men sent Ironi each to guard Howland's ferry. In October the town was startled by a daring exploit — the cutting out on the night of the 25th, from' the east passage, of the " Pigot " galley, a vessel of two hundred tons, strongly armed and manned, by Major Talbot in a little sloop with two three pounders. The "Pigot" was carried into Stonington, and later served as guard ship in Providence river. In Novem- ber Admiral Byron, who had left port in September, came into the harbor with twelve ships of the line. He had been cruising for the French fleet off Boston, but without success. Byron's ships lay for a month to refit and then went to the West Indies. In December the town was visited by a storm of intense sever- ity — a heavy fall of snow, and cold so intense that manj' of the Hessians perished, frozen to death. More tlian fifty people are said to have lost tlieii- lives on this fearful night, chiefly sol- diers. Tills was long known as the Hessian storm. Fuel was everywhere scarcce. A few days later a brig bound to New York was taken by Lieutenant Chapin with si.\ men and a whale boat. The troops and the inhabitants had to depend now wholly upon the army supplies, as they were prevented from any communication with the mainland. Many of the towns- people were obliged to remove. After Januarj', 1779, rations were cut down to one-half bread and one-half rice. The bread was oatmeal and rice mixed. Fuel now became so scarce that turf was burned, the old houses destroyed, and the wharves stripped of their timbers. A week or two later the meat ra- tions were cut down one half, and salt or dried fish took its place. At last the famine was relieved by the arrival, on the ■ioth of January, of seven British ships with supplies obtained from a great fleet with provisions from Ireland to New York. A raid was made by the loyalists on the mainland and tliree hundred head of cattle were brought in. But this was dangerous busi- ness, no quarter being given those taken on such forays. In May provisions grew scai'ce again, and there was a great deal of scurvy among the troops. Fifteen sail came in with wood from Long Island, and fish fell so low in price that men could hardly be persuaded to go out. In the arrangement for the summer two of the German regi- 390 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ments remained in the town and the others were posted on Tonomy liill and at Tnrkey hill. In Jnne two of the Hessian regiments were sent to join Tryon's force in its operations along the sound. On the 21st of June Major Arnbach, of the Land- grave regiment, was buried with the honors of war. Quiet was only disturbed during the summer by the forays of the tories and the sharp reprisals of the patriots. In July a murderous raid was made on the house of Major Taggart at Little Comp- ton, but under the sj^stem of whale boats organized by General Gates, who at this time commanded the "Providence," ven- geance was quick and sure. In August Talbot took the tory privateer "King George," belonging to Newport, which he boarded without losing a man, and in the course of a month four other valuable prizes. In October the repulse of the Americans and French at Savannah, when Pulaski fell and d'Estaing was wounded, in- duced Sir Henry Clinton to attempt the subjection of the South- ern colonies. To effect this he needed to concentrate his forces. On the 11th of October the town was thrown into consternation by the arrival of the order to get ready for the evacuation of the island. The next day fifty-two transi)orts arrived to take off the garrison, seven thousand men with the military stores. The refugees were also permitted to embark ^md the merchants hastened to move their stores. Forty-six of the royalists, says Arnold, with their families, and a large number of slaves whom the occupation had liberated, embarked at the wharves. The vessels were hauled out to Brenton's point and moved as fast as loaded. The barracks at the point and the lighthouse at Beaver Tail were burned. The north battery was razed but the Goat Island fort spared. On the 25th the inhabitants were warned to keep within doors on pain of death while the embarkation of the troops was being made. All day long the troops wei'e marcliing to Bren- ton's point, whence they were taken by boats to the ships. "Newport," says an eye witness, "looked as if everybod}' was dead, for doors and windows were shut, not a soul was to be seen, and this was done to guard against desertion." Strange to say, this seems to have been the motive of Prescott's order, which was especially that no woman should be allowed to be seen at the windows or on the street. At ten o'clock at night the fleet, one hundred and ten .sail, convoyed by three men-of- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 391 war, sailed out of the harbor. On the 31st they arrived in New York. Governor Greene had issued a proclamation on the 16th forbidding any person landing on Rhode Island orConanicut to molest the inhabitants after the withdrawal of the enemy. It is not probable that the English garrison or the Hessian contingent were especially rough to the townspeople during this occupation. Indeed, in some things tliose that remained fared better tlian those that went away. Tliough at times pinched for food and fuel, they were generally well and reason- ably supplied from the British stores. The property owners suffered most. All the empty private houses were used as bar- racks, and the troops were quartered upon the inmates of those which were inhabited, with little regard for their own accom- modation and comfort. The artillery officers carried off all the bells from the houses of worship except Trinity. The meeting houses except Trinity and the Sabbatarian were turned into rid- ing schools. The Redwood was thrown open to all. The state house was used as a hospital. The forage yard was on the Quaker field; the wood yard on the north side of Church street. General Prescott had his headquarters in the Bannister house, and it is said that his spacious sidewalk in front, from Mill street to Prospect Hill street, was made out of stepstones taken from i>rivate houses, and the whole of the south flight of steps from the state house. The general aspect was of decay and dilapidation. The interior of the island presented an apjiearance not less melancholy. The groves of forest trees and many of the or- chards even had been cut down for fuel and military purposes, the farms were broken up, the gardens destroyed and the fertile meadows torn up. And as with the liomes so with the avoca- tions of the people. More than half the population had left the island, the wharves were deserted, commerce and trade abandoned. Tiie Jewish merchants were gone. Among theacts of vandalism committed l)y tlie retiring troops was tlie taking off of the records of the town from its settlement; a favorite habit of British conimauders. Tiie vessel which carried them was sunk at Hurlgate. Three years later the frag- ments were fished up and returned to the town and copies made of what remained legible. On the 26th of October, the morning after the departure of the British, General Stark crossed from Tiverton with the troops 392 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. quartered there, and marched into Newport; Colonel Barton being sent on in advance with orders to ]3reventany boat landing- without a special permit. The losses sustained bj^ the town during the occupation were estimated at over one hundred and twenty- four thousand pounds by a committee of the legislature in 1782, and more than five hundred houses vs^ere destroyed; but this was trifling compared with the interruption of commerce, which, notwithstanding her magnificent harbor, never returned to her wharves and merchants. No sooner were the Americans in possession of the city than they took measures to raise the sunken British menof-war and to take possession of the estates of the tories. The winter of 1779 80 set in with intense severity. The bay was frozen over for six weeks, and ice formed into the ocean as far as the eye could reach. Wood sold for twenty dollars a cord ; corn at four silver dollars a bushel ; potatoes at two. All the trooj)S who could be spared were sent home, and the New- port garrison, at first five hundred strong, was reduced to one hundred and eighty men. In February, 1780, the Newport '■'Mercury,'" which had been for three years removed to Re- hoboth, was revived at its birthplace by Henry Barber. In May the spirits of the depressed inhabitants were revived by the news that a French fleet would soon arrive with a contingent force. The French in Rhode Island, 1780-1.— Lafayette, disap- pointed in the result of the e.xpedition under d'Estaing and still hopeful of the active co-operation of a land force of the French army in the next campaign, after the failure at Rhode Island, ai)plied to congress for an indefinite leave of absence from the army, in which he was a full major-general. This he received on the 20tli of October, 1778, and on the 11th of January, 1779, sailed from Boston for France in the frigate " Alliance," which the king had placed at his disposal. During the year he confined himself to earnest efforts for assistance from the French govern- ment in money and material of war. It had been understood before he left America that he should not apply to the ministry for assistance in troops, and this coincided with his own judg- ment, but as the year wore on he changed his mind on this point, and, assuming the responsibility early in 1780, made an application of this nature, and in a letter of the 20th of Febru- ary, submitted a plan of operations for an expeditionary HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 393 corps of thirty-six liundred men to be under his personal com- mand. He had already received from tlie king the appoint- ment to a regiment of di-agoons. Later, on mature consideration, he decided to resume his command in the American army and, charged with private dispatches to congress, he sailed from Rochefort on the 6th of March on the frigate "Iiermione,"and reached Boston on tlie27th of April. Thence he went to Washington's headquarters at Mor- ristown, which he reached on the 10th of May. The news he bi'ought was of the intention of the French ministry to send over a fleet and of the present oiganization of an expeditionary corps. Notwithstanding the secrecy attempted on all sides, the British government was aware in March of the equipment of the squadron at Brest for America, but uncertain of its des- tination. On the 17th of May Rivington's Royal Gazette, pub- lished in New York, gave a detailed account of the composition of the French force. It was arranged with Lafayette in his interview with tlie French minister at Paris that officers should be posted at Cape Henry and on the coast of Rliode Island to watch the arrival of the fleet and convey to the admiral of the French squadron and the general commanding the troops all necessary informa- tion as to the position of the enemy and the wishes of General Wasliington. These dispatches were prepared in duplicate by Lafayette on the 19th of May, 1780. Tlie originals were handed to M.de Galvan with instructions to proceed to the mouth of the Chesa])eake where the fleet was expected first to appear, and copies wei'e sent by trusty messengers to Point Judith and Seconnet. It being later learned that the fleet would "in the first instance touch at Rhode Island for the purpose of landing tiieir sick and supernumerarj' stores and to meet the intelli- gence necessary to direct their operations," General Heath was ordered to Providence to present himself to the French commanders on their arrival. Heath, who was at the time at his home in Roxbury on a leave of absence, went at once to Providence. Congress liastened to fill up the army and Mon- sieur de Corny, a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry in the United States army, who had received at Versailles the appointment of commissary general of the French forces, visited Rhode Island, escorted by a troop of horse, to arrange for hospitals. The French squadron on the niglit of the 2Uth of May lifted an- 394 IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. chor and set sail fro m the roadstead of Brest. The fleet consisted of seven ships of the line, thi'ee frigates, a corvette orflute fitted as a hospital ship, and a cutter; in all twelve ships carrying six hundred and eighteen guns. The transports, thirty-two in number, carried the expeditionary corps of five thousand men. The fleet was commanded by Monsieur de Ternay, chef d'esca- dre, the troops by Count de Rochambeau. The fleet was de- tained some days in the Bay of Biscay by contrary winds, but gained an offing from the continent without meeting a hostile cruiser, although it was known that Admiral Graves was fltting out at Portsmouth to intercept and force them to action. On the 2()th of June the French fleet fell in with Ave British vessels to the soutliward of the Bermudas,a part of the squadron of Commodore Coi-nvvallis, returning to the Antilles. Line of battle was formed by the French, but Cornwallis changed his course and bore away. The squadron held a similar course during the day but at night the English commodore turned to the southward and de Ternay held on to the American coast. On the 4th of July, toward nightfall, he made the mouth of the Chesapeake, where his frigates signaled ten or twelve sail at anchor in the bay. Fearing that these vessels might be part of the squadron of Arbuthnot, who was on the American station, or of Graves who was expected, de Ternay changed his course several times during the night and the next day steered straight for Rhode Island. They came upon the coast in a dense fog. At four o'clock on the afternoon of the 9th of July, land was descried from the masts of the " Conqiioraut." It proved to be Martha's Vinej^ard. The crews, who had suffered greatly from the warm weather and confinement, were in great glee. On the morning of the 10th anchor was again weighed; at noon pilots came on board from the island. The fleet again anchored at ten o'clock. On the morning of the 11th sail was made but the weather being still foggy and a danger signal being hoisted by one of the convoj^ the fleet again came to anchor. At eight o'clock the fog lifted and the shore line opened into view; Point Judith, a league distant, bej'ond the Newport point, and most welcome, the French flag on each of the points of the land. This was the signal agreed upon by Lafayette that Rhode Island was safe in American hands and the French would be well received. General de Rochambeau and his staff went at once on board IIIsroUY OF NKWI'OKT COUNTY. 395 tliH frigate "nermione" and sailed for Newport, wliere lie landed at noon. De Ternay had cause for congratulation. Admiral Graves left Portsmouth in pursuit of the French early in May with seven vessels. Meeting in the chanuel the same westerly ga^e which detained de Ternay in the gulf, he was forced to put back to Plymouth, where he was held by con- trary winds fifteen days. Purting to sea again he crowded sail and on the 13th of July, only forty-eight hours after the arri- val of de Ternay at Rhode Island, reached New York where he found Arbuthnot with four ships. A few days later the French would have found their course to Rhode Island blocked by eleven men-of-war without the impediment of a helpless fleet of transports. The French squadron which now anchored in the Newport harbor, consisted of the "Due de Bourgogne," eighty guns, the "Neptune" and "Conquerant" of seventy-four; the " Prov- ence," " Eveille," "Jason" and "Ardent," of sixty-four; three frigates, the " Surveillante," "Amazone" and "Gentille," of thirty guns. Besides, there was the corvette "Fantasque" which had made the expedition with d'Estaing and was now fitted as a hosjiital ship and carried the heavy artillery and the cutter "La Gruepe." As soon as the ships were anchored the troops of Rochambeau were landed. One third of them, sick, were removed to the interior. The fortifications were placed in charge of the Fi-ench who proceeded at once to remodel and put them in a posture of defense. The troops disembarked, five thousand and eighty-eight men, consisting of the regiments of Bourbonnais, Soissonnais, Sain- tonge. Royal deux Ponts, an Alsatian corps and six hundred men of Lauzun's Legion, three hundred of whom were intend- ed to be mounted for a troop of horse. All the officers of these corps belonged to the best of the old French nobility and many of them had served with distinction in the wars of the continent. The Count de Rochambeau, a gentleman of an old Vendome family, was a veteran of nearly forty years ser- vice, who liad" spent his life in en nips and had won liigli merit in the campaign of the low countries for the prudent qualities which became a- commander, while equally remarked for his bravery and tenacity. Just such cjualities were needed for the delicate position of controlling a hot headed band of young of- ficers in a country jealous of its customs and among a popula- 396 HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. tioii proud in indivicliial freedom. Among his aids were the Count de Fersen, a young Swedish gentleman high in favor with the French court and esteemed one of tlie handsomest and most elegant of this age of courtesy, Chevalier Charles de Lameth and the Counts de Damas and de Dumas. The household of Rochambeau was fully mounted in French state and his major- domo, in liis solemn dignity and magnificent array, was a per- petual wonder to the plain provincials. The other high general officers were the Baron de Viomenil, the Chevalier de Chastellux, a distinguished member of the French Academy, and the Clievalier de Viomenil, who disputed the i)alm of manly beauty with the fair Swede. As aids to the Baron de Viomenil, the Chevalier d'Olonne, a scion of an old historic famil}^ and the Marquis de Vanban ; and serving in the .same capacity as tlie Chevalier de Chastellux, Monsieur de Mon- tesquieu. On the general staff, among those whose later lives were eventful in history, were tlie Clievaliers Alexandre de La- meth and de Berthier. The Regiment Bourbonuais was coiu- nianded by the Marquis de Laval Montmorency, as colonel, and the Vicomte de Rochambeau, son of the general commanding, as colonel-en- second; the Soissonnais by the Count de Saint- Maime, a most sensible and practical officer, with the Vicomte de Noailles, brother-in-law of Lafayette, who married his sister; the Royal Deux-Ponls by the Marquis des deux Pouts, Count de Forbach, as colonel, and his brother, Ct)untdes Deux-Ponts, as second officer (they belonged to the family of the Counts Palatine); the Saintonge by the Con)te de Custine, with the Comte de Charlns, son of Maiochal de Castries, the minister of war, as second. The Legion was the proprietary regiment of the Duke de Lauzun, of the famous family of Biron, which had given several marshals to Finance. As an auxiliary to tlie Legion, attached to it but under independent command, was the Regiment Dillon, with Count Arthur de Dillon colonel, and Barthelemy Dillon lieutenant colonel. The Dillons were of a high born Irisli family who, following the fortunes of James the Second, crossed with him into France where their ancestor entered the military service in which his sons succeeded him. The park of artillery was large and there was an abundance of munitions of war for all arms. M. de Menonville commanded the artillery, a corps of five hundred thoroughly trained men, and de Bei'thier was at the head of the topographical engineers. HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 397 A more perfectly appointed corps, in the quality of its officers, in I he composition nnd discipline of its men, and in its general equipment, could not have been devised; and it would be diffi- cult to find record of any similar army which, in a foreign land of different customs and religion, so won the attachment of the population on whom it was quartered. On the appearance of the fleet in the offing General Heatli was at once notified. The next morning a despatch was sent to Washington, who was then in the Jersies, and Heatli came down the bay. The day being (^alm, the packet did not reach the wharf till midnight. Rochambeau was that night on shore. In the morning General Heath waited upon him, and after breakfast visited the Admiral de Ternay on board his flag ship, the "Due de Boui-gogne." At ten o'clock the admiral saluted the town with thirteen guns, which were returned with a like number. On the evening of the 12th the town was illuminated and thirteen giand rockets were fired from the parade ground in front of the state house. A contemporary letter says of this occasion that '• the brilliant appearance of the numerous gen- tlemen, officers of the fleet and army of our illustrious ally, ' who were on shore, with that of the ladies and gentlemen of the town, and the joy which every friend to libertj'- expressed on the happy occasion, afforded a pleasing i:)rospect of the future felicity and grandeur of this country in alliance with the most polite, powerful and generous nation in the world." The equipment, uniform and accoutrements of the French were worthy of the most martial race of Europe. The infantry wore long waistcoats and coats of white cloth ; the uniform of the officers differed from that of the men in the color of the cloth. The regiments were distinguished by the colors of the trimming. Thus part of the Bourbonnais wore crimson lappels with pink collars and white buttons, the Fores, which had been consolidated with it, but kept their own distinctive uniform, crimson lappels with green collar and white buttons ; the Sois- sonnais red lappels, sky blue collars and yellow buttons ; Sain- tonge sky blue collars and yellow buttons ; Royal Deux Pouts blue uniform and collars and lemon color for the lappels. The buttons were marked with the numbers of the regiment. The non-commissioned officers and soldiers wore a panache of white plumes ; the grenadiers red plumes ; the chasseurs white and green. The artilltu'y wore iron gray coats with lappels of red 398 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. velvet. The perfection of arms of precision had not in the last century destroyed the picturesqueness of armies. War was still a glorious pageant. For several days there was an e.xchange of entertainments by the commanders. Meanwhile the French army was busy. The troops on their disembarkation were encamped across the island to the northward and covering the town, their left resting on the sea, their right on the sliips at anchor, which lay under protection of the batteries which de Rochambeau erected in the commanding positions, flanked^with earthworks. These were manned with great and small artillery, brass cannon of from four to forty-eight pounds calibre, beautiful pieces of ordnance garlanded, and bearing babtismal names, which were the delight of the American artillerists and the wonder of all who saw them. In twelvedays thej^ort was in a state of reasonable defense, a'nd it was well that there was no delay. Before the works were quite finished the arrival of Admiral Graves at Sandy Hook on the 13th was known. On the 2bst the united squadrons of Graves and Arbuthnot api)eared off the harbor. Eleven vessels, one of ninety, six of seventy-four ; a total weight of metal of seven hundred and seventy-six guns, a force in number equal, and in armament fully a quarter superior to the French. And the next day the squadron was increased to nineteen vessels, of which eiglit or nine were line of battle ships. The French held their station, stretching from Rose island to Goat island har- bors. The English squadron hung cruising on the coast, afraid to run the tire of the French, and awaiting the arrival of the land force which Clinton was preparing at New York. While awaiting the signal for active service, the French offi- cers were rapidly winning the affection of the Americans. Their courtly polish was in striking contrast with the overbearing ai'- rogance which was the rule of British officers, and the coarse brutality of the Hessians, with all of which Newport was fa- miliar. " The French officers of every rank," says a letter of that period, "have rendered themselves agreeable by that po- liteness which characterizes the French nation"; and adds, "the officers and soldiers wear cockades of three colors, emblematic of a triple alliance between France, Spain and America." This seems to have been the first useof a tricolor. It was Lafayette, it will be remembered who, in 1784, adding the king's color to HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 399 tlie colors of Paris, made the tri-color I he national banner of France, and predicted that it would make the tour of the world. Newport was by no means an nna ttractive residence at this time, as the memoirs and letlers of I lie French ofticeis abund- antly show. Tradini^- with all parts of the world wiiicli the British navigation laws left open to its commerce, and to some in secret disregard of their restrictions, and the natural port of refuge and supjily on the New England coast, it had become, before the middle of the last century, quite a cosmopolitan town. Their British trade was with Bristol, the most liberal of English cities, the Jews had brought in something of Spanish and Portugese splendor, the Huguenots had leavened the mass with the amenity of their race, and the Newporters themselves, by their many voyages, had acquired something of that knowl- edge of the world, the absence of which is termed provincial. In no town in America could more intelligence, relinement and elegance be found than here. Spanish, the medium of commer- cial correspondence during tlie entire century, was understood, and French also in the upper class of society, being then held indispensable to a polite education. The French visitors were reminded of their Normandy coast by the irregularity of the country and the quality of its fruits, the fame of which was European. They were surprised by the wide stone fences and the long line of the villages miles in ex- tent, with scattered houses. Count de Bourg, an aid of Rocham- beau, a careful observer, writes that "Rhode Island must be- fore the war have been one of the most agreeable spots in the world, as in spite of the disasters it has been subjected to, its houses destroyed and all its woods cue down, it is still a most charming residence." Tlie land seemed to him very much cut up. Before the French revolution there was but little subdivision of the French soil and the difference attracted his notice. The policy of the English settlers was from the begin- ning a limitation of land to individuals. The original distribu- tion in the Plymouth colony was "an acre to each in propriety besides their homesteads or garden plots." This kept them together for defense. Later, in 1G27, "every one in each family was allotted twenty acres to be laid out five acres in breadth by the water side and four acres in length," a mean being kept in distribution; and in Jlhode Island, though the 400 HISTOItY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. soil was bought by a few proprietors, tliere was never an at- tempt to hold large tracts, but on the contrary to promote settlement by sale or hire on moderate terms. Newport the French officers described as the "only town on the island, with but two principal streets but still a pretty town. Three-fourths of the houses are scattered at a distance and are in then-.selves small farms." In the construction of the houses the French found little to admire, the summit of arcliitecure beiiig a building of brick, but thej' were delighted with the interior comfort. There is still in existence, in the possession of Mr. Henry T. Drowne of Rhode Island the etat or chart of tlu^ quartermaster-general of the French army with a complete list of the houses occupied by tiie Frencli during the winter of 17^0-1. The Count de Rochambeau was quartered in the Vernon house, the residence of \yilliam Vernon in New Lane, which still stands, a charming specimen of colonial architec- ture, on the corner of Mar}' and Clarke streets; the Baron de Viomenil, his marechal de camp, at the house of Joseph Wan- ton in Thames street; Desandrouins, colonel of engineers, at that ol Colonel John Malbone in the same street; the Count de Fersen with Mr. Robert Stevens in New Lane; de Choisy, briga- dier, with Jacob Rodriguez Riviera in Water street; the Chevalier de Lameth and the Count de Dumas together at Joseph Anthony's in Spring street; the brothers de deux Fonts at George Scott's and Nathaniel Mumford's in Broad street; theVicomte de Noailles with Thomas Robinson in Water street; the Chevalier deChastillux with Captain Maudsley in Spring street, and the gay Lauzun at the house of Deborah, the widow of Dr. William Hunter, who lived with her young daughters on the corner of Thames and Mary streets in a house still standing, though higher by a story, well known to the last and present generations as the pharmacy of the Taylors, father and son. The high officers of the fleet had also their residences assigned on shore: Admiral de Ternay at the (Colonel) Wanton house at the Point, convenient to the ship- ping, with a boat house and wharf at the foot of the garden; to-day the most interesting of all the buildings remaining from the last century, and the Chevalier des Touches at William Redmond's in the same street. The provost marshal ojiened his office at the town prison and the paymaster at the counting house and elegant dwelling of the Jewish merchants Seixas and HISTOKY OF NEWPOItT COUNTY. 401 Levy in Ruppert street, which still preserves some remains of its once rich and elaborate interior decoration. Here in the attractive climate Rochambean anxiously awaited the coming of the force left behind for want of tiansportation, amounting to twenty-six hundred and forty-five men. Wash- ington was eager for an immediate movement on New York, and Lafayette came on to Newport on the 21st of July to sub- mit the plan, but Rochambeau hesitated. He was expecting daily the second detachment and the admiral also the arrival of live vessels promised by de Guichen from the West India station. To Lafayette's urgent expostulation the self contained veteran rejilied that he had an experience of command of forty years and that of fifteen thousand men who had been killed or wounded under his orders he could not reproach himself with the loss of a single person killed on his account. De Ter- nay i)ositive]y refused to sail for Sandy Hook; considering the draught of water on the bar insufficient for the safe passage of his heavy ships. On the 25th and 26th of July news came of a projected attack on Rhode Island by Clinton with ten thousand men. All was bustle and activity. General Heath ordered Colonel Greene with his regiment of continentals to take post at Bristol Ferry and on Butts hill to command the northern approaches. Rhode Island and Massachusetts were called on for militia men, the first for fifteen hundred the second eight hundred men. The Rhode Island regiments were those of Colonels Tyler and Perry. Signals were put out as far as Watch hill. The bat- teries were strengthened, a new one erected on Rose island and redoubts thrown up on Coasters island and all the posts con- nected with the French encampment by avenues across the fields carefully marked out. "Never," says Heath, "did the militia discover more ardor in pressing to the field or more regularity when there." Washington threatened Kingsbridge from the Hudson Highlands. Clinton embarked six thousand men at Throg's neck in transports, then changing his mind crossed the sound to Huntington bay and disembarked at Whitestone on the 31st of July. The attack on Newport was definitelj' abandoned. In August the general assembly met at Newport, and on the 21st addressed de Rochambeau and de Ternay. The reply of Rochambeau was a model of wisdom. He authoritatively set 26 402 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. at rest the suspicions aroused by the tory press that tlie French would attempt to maintain an independent command, and ex- pressly subordinated himself to the wishes of Wasliington. Clinton remaining quiet in New York, anddeGuichen making his appearance on the southern coast, Rochambeau at Washing- ton's invitation, visited him and held a conference at Hartford on the 20th of September. Rochambeau took with him his aids, the Counts de Fersen, de Dnmas and de Damas. The French general and his young staff were delighted with their journey and theii' interview with the "hero of liberty." At the end of September Admiral Rodney arrived off Newport. The fortilications had been greatly strengthened, new works thrown up at Brenton's point and on Conanicut and Rose islands and armed with thirty-six and twenty-four pounders, the fire of which, crossing with that of the French ships, se- cured the main passages. Rodney reconnoitered the position, and abandoning rhe idea of attack, returned to New York. In November he sailed for the Antilles, leaving Admiral Arbuth- not with twelve vessels to watch the French fleet. ^ There had been some entertainment for the Frenchmen dur- ing the " summer season." On the 2d of August nineteen In- dian warriors of the Iroquois paid them a visit with an inter- j)reter. They were Oneidas, Tuscoraras and some Cagnawagas, from Sault St. Louis, near Montreal. The deputation had been arranged by General Schuyler, the great "White Sachem" of the iMohawks, to detach the Iroquois from the English. They liad maintained friendly relations with the French during the colonial wars. The Canada Indians heard mass on their ar- rival. Rochambeau entertained them at dinner with ceremoni- ous courtesy. Blanchard, the French commissary general, de- scribing the strange scene, says "they behaved themselves well and ate cleanly enough." After dinner they gave an exhibi- tion of their war dances. Heath gave them also what he de- scribes as a "sumptuous treat." On the 24th of Angnst they were invited to witness a grand review of the French army, preceded by alternate discharges from the batteries in and around the town and a feu de jo'ie from the troops. The sj)lendid appearance of the French army made a happy im- pression on all the spectators, including the savages. On Friday, the 25th, the birthday of his most Christian Majesty, Louis XVI., was celebrated with great X'onii). The ships were HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 403 decked with the coloi's of the dilFereiit maritiiue iiutions and fired a salute, and the transports were also decorated. Never before had the birtliday of a Catholic king or a French mon- arch been celebrated in a town of Protestant Englishmen. Verily, the world was moving. And not only in Newpm't, but in every city not held by the English enemy, the white flag of France was flung to the breeze and tlie healtli of his majesty, the great ally of the United States, was drunk in bumpers oft renewed. The admiral also entertained the Indians at dinner on board the "Due de Burgogne." After a harangue by Rochambeau, and gratified by a varietj^ of presents, among which a number of red French blankets, they departed greatly pleased. The Indians marvelled much at the French drill and discipline, and to find even the apples in the orchards where they camped untouched — a different conduct from that of the outgoing British and Hessians in the preceding autumn, who " stripped all the gardens and orchards of their fruit " to take on shipboard. On the 2d of October the French ambassador, the Chev- alier de la Luzerne, paid a visit to the camp and on the 6tli.a mock battle was fought on the island between a detaclunent of the French army and Colonel Greene's continentals. On the 28th of October La Perouse, later famous as a navigator, took out the frigate "Amazone" through the blockading squadron, part- ly dispersed by a gale of wind, and carried the Vicomte de Rochambeau with dispatches to the court asking for the troops withheld and money to pay the army. La Perouse was hotly pursued but got safely through with the loss of his main mast. Winter was now approaching and it was found impossible to hut the troops, so complete had been the destruction of the trees on the island. It was arranged with the state authorities that the damaged houses should be repaired at French expense. There were several hundred of them and tlie cost to the French was twenty thousand livres. In November the corps went into quarters; the Bourbonnais first, the others in tlieir order. The cavalry of Lauzun's legion and the artillery horses were sent to winter at Lebanon, Connecticut, where forage was plenty. The Duke de Lauzun gave a ball in Providence on his passage through on the 9th; de Chastellux followed him on a visit to Wasliington at the camp on the 12th; the Marquis de Laval, the Baron de Custine and the Count de deux Pouts made a tour to 404 IIISTOIJY OF NEWPOHT COUNT?. the interior; the Viconite de Noailles and the Count de Damas also visited Wasliington. Rochambean occupied himself in looking for quarters for the second division when it should ap- pear and passed througii New London, Norwich and Windham in Connectictit, looking in upon Lauzun on his JourneJ^ When Rochanibeau returned he found Admiral de Ternay ill of a fever, but as his state was not alarming, pursued his own journey to Boston. In his absence de Ternay died. He was taken on shore from his ship on the 14th and died in the Wanton house, at the jioint, on the 15th of December. On the 16th, the day being remarkably tine, the admiral was buried in great pomp. Newport had never witnessed such a cortege. The troops were all under arms ; the sailors bore the coffin on their shoulders to the cemetery in Trinity church yard. At the grave nine priests chanted the funeral services. In 178o an elegant monument was erected over the remains by order of the king. It was a large and beautiful slab of Egyptian marble, with an inscription in gold. Below the inscription and between the brackets is an escutcheon charged with the insignia of the Knights Hospitallus of Saint John of Jerusalem. The slab was designed for the interior of the church, but as no suitable place could be found for it inside the building, it was set up over the grave, where it crumbled under the exposure. It was at first erected on the west side of the gate, but its position was changed at the expense of the officers of the " Meduse '" when on their visit in 1794. In 1873 it was restored at the expense of the United States, an appropriation of eight hundred dollars being unanimously voted by congress. The restoration was exe- cuted under the dii-eotionof the Marquis de Noailles, then min- ister of Pi'ance to the United States, and the slab transferred to the vestibule of the church, where it now is. A granite stone was placed over the tomb with a short inscription in Latin. That on the slab, also in Latin, is an elaborate record of the admiral's long service. Even the tory gazette of Rivington honored his memory, announcing his death as of " an offi- cer of distinguished reputation ; a gentleman of most ex- cellent heart and amiable disposition. * * A real ornament of the elegant nation from whom he was derived." Tiie com- mand of the fleet now fell on the Chevalier des Touches, who held as closely to his instructions as his predecessor. About Christmas a vessel from Nantes brought word that M. de Cas- HISTORY OF N?:\VrOIiT COUNTY. 405 tries had succeeded de Siirtiues as minister of tlie marine. The Marquis de Castries had shown military ability in the Low Countries. Neckar had also undertaken a thorough reform of the finances, and activity by sea and land was expected. In January, 1781, the Count des deux Fonts gave an elegant ball to the ladies of Newport. The great hall, which was con- structed by orders of Rochambeau, for the use of the officers, was not completed till later in the month. It then became the place of nightly resort. Late in January the French frigate " Astree" brought to Boston official news of the change in the ministry, and word from the Marquis de Castries that the second division would not be desj)atched. Lauzun was indig- nant and wrote to demand the men of his legion, of which he was colonel proprietor. On the 21st of January Generals Knox and Lincoln and Colonel Laurens visited the French camp. This young officer, an aid de camp to Washington, was on his way to France with a special mission. His father, the envoy to France, captured in crossini^ tlie Atlantic, was still a prisoner in the tower of London. Knox was the chief of American artillery, and greatly interested by the French arm- ament. In February the weather was very cold and the officers took great delight in sleighing, a new pastime to many. On Tuesday the 6th of February, the anniversary of the ever memorable daj^ when the treaty of alliance was signed at Paris, the brothers Viomenil, young men who are described as of resplendent beauty, gave an elegant ball to the ladies. Many are the tradi- tions of the fascinations of these dashing noblemen and the win- dow pane is still cherished on which they cut their names. The wife of General Greene, whose operations in the Carolinas were at the moment of absorbing interest, graced this entertainment. A letter of the time says: "The decent gaiety and hilarity which characterized the assembly afforded a convincing proof of the general satisfaction the alliance caused to both nations." The Naval Engagement. — Wiiile tlie French fleet lay se- cure within the sheltering haven of the Narragansett cliffs the English squadron in the offing imd a sev(>re experience. Cnught at sea in a heavy January gale, Arbuthnot lost one of his best vessels, another was disabled and a third driven far to sea. This giving the French a temporary superioritj', Des Touches in February determined on an expedition. .Dumas was sent by 406 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Rocliambean to New London to watch the British fleet which lay quietly off Montank Point. The ships were gotten ready and the land forces selected. In March Washington came on in person and the greatest in- terest in his visit was shown by the entire French force. His fame as the hero of the old French war was as familiar to tlie humblest of the allied force as to his own countrymen. He ar- rived on the 6th and reached Conanicut about two o'clock in the afternoon, where he found the admiral's barge in waiting to convey him directly to the " Due deBourgogne." Here he vvas met bj' Rochambeau and the general officers of the army and fleet. On his leaving the ship a salute was fired. Landing at Barney's ferry, the corner of Long Wharf and Washington street, he was again met by the French officers and escorted to the headquarters of Rochambeau in Clarke street, receiving the same honor that would have been paid to a marshal of France or a prince of the blood royal. The route was lined with the French troops three deep on either side and in close order the entire distancce. In the evening the fleet in the harbor and all the houses in the town were illuminated, the town council hav- ing voted candles to all who were unable to provide them. A procession was made through the streets. In front walked thirty boys, each bearing a candle fixed in a staff, then Generals Washington and Rochambeau with their aids and officers, fol- lowed by a large concourse of citizens. The night was clear and calm. Passing through the principal streets the commanders returned to headquarters. The object of Washington in visiting Newport was to con- fer with the admiral, and to witness the departure of the French fleet and detachment, which was about to leave Newport to co-operate with Lafayette, who was on the march by land, in an attempt to intercept and cai>ture Arnold who, after his trea- son of the past summer, was now in command of an English force engaged in ravaging his countrymen of Virginia. Twelve hundred and fifty French troops were detached, placed under the command of M. de Viomenil and embarked. The chevalier himself, with the officers of the grenadier company of the Bourbonnais, were on board the flag ship. The men were embarked on the day of Washington's arrival. On the 8th Captain Des Touches led the squadron down the bay. Wash- ington and Major General Howe, who accompanied him, re- lIISTOliy OF NKWPOIIT COUNTY. 407 turned to lieadquarters, and were taken leave of with the same form and ceremony with wliich they were received. Tlie French army was paraded on Broad street, and lined the road for some distance beyond the town, the general officers in the center. As the American commander passed down the lines he received every known military honor, and as he reached Tonomy hill was finally saluted with tiiirteen guns from the French artillery. The squadron with which Des Touches sailed consisted of one line-of-battle ship of eighty guns, two of seventy-four, four of sixty-four, oneof thirty-two, and the "Romulus," a late capture from the English — in all five hundred and sixty guns. Arbuthnot, from his post of observation at Gardner's bay, was aware of the French movement and their point of destination on the 8th. On the 9th he drop[)ed down with his squadron to the entrance to the hay. On the lOtli he weighed anchor, and hoisting his pennant on the "London" followed in pursuit, with one line-of-battle ship of ninetj' eight guns, three of sev- enty-four, three of sixty-four, one of fifty — in all eight ships, carrying five hundred and sixty-two guns. Fi'igates accom- panied each fieet as signal vessels. The English Heet over- hauled the French on the morning of the 16th, about sixty miles from the capes of the Chesapeake. The sea ran high. After some mancEuvering Des Touches gave signal for action, and in a sharp contest the van of the British squadron was severely handled. A fog now settled on the fleets, both of which held their course to the land. In the night Arbuthnot entered the Chesapeake and anchored his squadron in Lynn Haven bay. The next day the French officers decided to return to New- port to repair the damages maintained by " Le Conquerant " and "1" Ardent." The French had the honors of this action, but the English attained the object for which they sailed. The superior sailing qualities of the Erilisli vessels were again ap- parent. The French and English admiralties were alike dis- satisfied. Des Touches was pensioned but not promoted. Ar- buthnot was censured and ordered home. Congress was more generous, and though sadly disappointed at the failure of the expedition, warmly commended I he French commanders for their zeal and Des Touches for his gallantry. The French vessels were safe in Newport harbor on the afternoon of the 2Cth of March. 408 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The March of the French, 1781. — The month of April was without incident. The officers in their diaries notice the delightful weather. News from France and of the prospect of reinforcements were eagerly looked for. The French officers interested themselves in the establishment of a Masonic lodge over which M. de Jansecourt presided and initiations were frequent. On the 8th of May the " Concorde" arrived in Bos- ton with the Count de Barras, chef d'escadre, appointed to succeed de Ternay as admiral. The same frigate brought back the Vicomte de Rochambeau from his mission and Baron Cromot du Bourg, who joined Rochambeau' s staff, to whose full and intelligent diary liistorians are indebted for many details of the subsequent movements. The Vicomte brought word also of the sailing from Brest on tiie22d of March of the Count de Grasse with a strong squadron convoying fifteen transports laden with supplies and having on board two companies of artillery and five hundred men to fill up the regiments, moreover all restrictions were removed and full power was given to Rochambeau to act as he chose. He gave orders for instant preparation. The light artillery and heav_y equipments were already in Providence. Five hundred of the land force were put on board the shij^s of war which were ordered to sea to meet the incoming convoy. Tlie officers and men were in joy at the prospect of a campaign. Even the most sensible, unaware of the secrets of the commander, were judging his inaction with no lenient thought. Tiie French dis- patches rendering an interview with Washington necessary, a meeting was, at the request of Rochambeau, had at Wethers- field near Hartford on the 21st of May. Rocliambeau was ac- companied by the Chevalier de Chastellnx. Admiral de Barras, at the point of departure was detained by the appearance of the British fieet off Block Island in force. A phm of summer campaign being agreed upon Rocham- beau returned to Newport on the 26th of May, and the order of march wa§ arranged. At a council of war-l)ekl on board the admiral's sliip on the 6th of June it was decided that on the departure of the troops only a small guard should be left to hold the town, and that the fleet which it had been proposed to take to Boston should remain at the Newport anchorage. On the 7th of June Admiral de Barras gave a grand farewell dinner on board the "Due de Burgogne. There were sixty x^eople present, among whom were many HISTORY OF NKWPOUT COUNTY. 409 Newport ladies. Tlie quarter deck was canopied with sails aiul a handsome hall arranged. The Due de Lauzun, gayest of the gay, was x^t'esent, just returned from an interview with Washington on points of military detail. On the 9th marching orders were issued and the next morning the first division, Bourbonnais and Royal deux Fonts, moved from Newport under command of Baron de Viomenil. They reached Providence in the evening too late to mark out a camp and were lodged by the town anthorities in some empty houses. The next day the regiment of Deux Fonts went into camp on the heights, and the brigades of Soissonnais and Saintonge, which arrived the same day, took posts on their left. All the heavy artillery was left on the batteries at Newport. The trooi^s left behind were four hundred recruits just arrived from France, a few pieces of artillery and a thousand local militia. The whole, under command of M. de Choisy, brigadier of the forces, an officer of experience and of approved courage. The commissary general, M. Blanchard, who succeeded M. de Corny on his return to France in February, was sent forward of the army to arrange its supplies. On the 11th of June M. de Rochambeau and his entire staff passed through Providence to the camp. The army lay in camp for eight days while transporta- tion was being provided. The arrival in Boston of the " Sagit- taire," and in convoy, fifteen ships, with six hundred and ninety recruits, and money for the land and naval forces, en- abled Rochambeau to close his preparations to his entire satis- faction. On the l(5th of June the Baron de Viomenil held a general review, and the army moved in the following order ; On the f8th the Bourl)ounais, under Rochambeau and de Chas- tellux ; the 19th the Royal Deux Pouts, under the Baron de Viomenil ; the 20th the Soissonnais, under the Count de Vio- menil ; the 2Ist the Saintonge, under the Count de Custine, successively left the camp and moved by easy marches to the appointed rendezvous in the county of Westchester, New York, preserving between the corps the distance of a day's march. Lauzun' s dragoons moved, byroads between the line of march and the sea, to cover the flank. The Count de Dumas preceded the columns to point out the camps and positions to be successively occupied. Here they must be left on that bril- liant movement through the American states to the junction with de Grasse in the Chesapeake bay, and the capture of Cornwallis and his arniv at Yorktown. CHAPTER VIII. NEWPORT IN THE WARS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. By John Austin Stevens. War with England, 1813.— The Dorr War, 1843.— The War of the Rebellion, 1861-5. THE acquisition of Louisiana by the United States, the transfer during the Napoleonic war of a lar^'e share of the carrying trade of tlie world to the American flag and tlie general prosperity of the new nation in the early years of the century aroused the jealousy of Great Britain who, in her lust for maritime dominion, had not yet learned that her true inter- est was in peace with the growing republic of her blood and origin. Relying upon her vast naval armament, the mistress of the seas confined her hostility to deliberate aggressions on commerce, the searching of American ships, the impressing American seamen and an occasional questionable capture of some peaceful American trader. To these acts the United States government replied witli a resolution suspending all im- portations from Great Britain until " equitable and satisfactorj^ arrangements were made;" in fact, by a declaration of non- intercourse. The first open act on the part of England was tlie capture of the American frigate "Chesapeake" by a British man-of-war, the "Leopard" in ,]\ine, 1807, the American com- mander having refused to surrender sundry enumerated men claimed by the British commander as deserters. The British government disavowed the act but English vessels still hovered about the American coast. The British administration continued a war in disguise and by an Order in Council in November, 1807, shut all the ports of Europe to American trade, thus destroying the advantage the United States enjoyed as a neutral power in the hostilities then raging abroad. This policy, ostensibly in response to Na- niSIOUV OK NEVVPOUT COUNTY. 411 poleon's Berlin decree of a similar nature against British com- merce, was in reality aimed at the United States and was an- swered as soon as announced by the passage of an act of embargo by the American congress in December, 1807. The embargo act was a renewal of the old policy which had so signally failed in 1774. More strictly enforced by the federal government, it acted with great inequality, bore with severity upon the East- ern states and caused more suffering at home than in Great Britain. The strain was great and invasions were soon the rule rather than the exception. Meanwhile France took as little note of the interests of the United States as Great Britain, and congress resolved in November, 1808, to shut out the ships and merchandize of both countries alike from the ports of the United States and to prepare for defense. But the powers of enforce- ment conferred on the executive were at variance with the spirit of American institutions and aroused intense opposition in New England. In this opposition Rhode Island shared. The em- bargo act bore heavily upon the West India trade, always a principal jiart of her commerce. The political tension was too strong to be endured, and con- gress in March, 1809, repealed the act as to all nations except France and Great Britain, and to either or both of these nations should they revoke or modify their edicts. Hopes were enter- tained of a modification by England, but these were dashed by a disavowal of the expres.sions of tiieir minister by the British gov- ernment and a proclamation by President Madison, renewing the act of non-intercourse in August. " Free Trade and Sailors' rights" became the general cry, and the drift was daily toward a declaration of war. This feeling was aggravated by the im- pressment of a man from an American brig by an English man- of-war olf Sandy Hook in May, 1811. Commodore Rodgers, hearing of this outrage, set sail on the "President," forty-four guns, and overhauling a British man-of-war, the " Little Belt," eighteen guns, and being fired upon, returned the fire and badly crippled her. This affair was smoothed over by diplo- macy, but no excuse could blot out the fact that nine hundred American vessels had been captured by British cruisers since 1803. A want of good faith of the British officers in their deal ings with the hostile Indian tribes on the frontier aggravated the hostile feeling. War was formally declared against Great Britain by act of 412 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. congress on the 17tli of June, 1812. Tlie proclamation of Pres- ident Madison followed on the 19th, and on the 2()th of the same month congress authorized the issue of letters of marque. And now, in addition to her loss of commerce, Rhode Island, and especially Newport, was in alarm at her inadequate defense. At first the eastern ports profitted somewhat by the declaration of hostilities. The British government, from motives of policy, confined the blockade to the southern coast and later to the port of New York. This course naturally diverted the neutral trade to Newport and the ports to the eastward. But this was but a temporary exemption, and the town was in constant alarm of a hostile visit. The records were taken to South Kingstown, on the mainland, where they remained till the peace. The banks removed their specie, and a memorial was addressed to tlie general government setting forth the ex^josed situation of the town and asking for protection. In December Captain Decatur, in the "United States," brought in the British frigate "Macedonia," to Newport liar- bor as a prize. In 1813 Captain Oliver H. Perry, a native of Rhode Inland, and a resident of Newport from earlj^ childhood, left the town with a detachment of seamen from the federal gun boats in the harbor to take command of the American squadron on Lake Erie. He found the squadron in embryo state, and with the aid of his carpenters and artificers, hurriedly completed it, and in September achieved the victory which made his name famous. Among the citizens of Newport engaged in this action under Perry's command as officers were: A. Perry, Daniel Turner, William V. Taylor, Thomas Brownell, Thomas Almy, Thomas Breeze, Peleg Dunham, Stephen Champlin ; among the petty officers and men were : Cornells, Southwi(dcs, Codding- tons, Lawtons, Peckhams and other familiar names. Four of the nine commanders hailed from Newport : Perry on the "Lawi'ence," Turner on the "Caledonia," Champlin on the "Scorpion," Almy on the " Somers." The commodore's fight- ing burgee is preserved in the hall of the Naval academy. It bears on a blue ground the famous legend (Lawrence's dj'ing words) which became the password to victory, " Don't give up the ship." In October, 1813, the revenue cutter, "Vigilant," under the command of Captain JohnCahoone, with a volunteer crew from Newport and seamen from the gunboats, went out HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 413 in pursuit of a British privateer, tlie "Dart," which was liov- ering about tlie coast, and brought her in as a prize. Newport still maintained her old reputation as a privateer port; the "Providence," of eight guns, manned chiefly by her citizens, was exceptionally successful, capturing nuiny valuable prizes and repeating the old feat of surprising N«w Providence, where her captain and ofBcers held the fort for thiee days, feasted at the expense of the British coniniander, and after spiking its guns sailed out of the port in safety. John Trevett was lieutenant commanding, Peleg Hall the sailing ituister, on this occasion. The crew consisted of twenty-eight men. The British blockaders were active on the coast, and the Newport militia were occasionally called out to save from capture the vessels which, attempting to run the blockade, were driven on shore. In June, 1814, the general assembly authorized the town councils of the seaports to remove the shipping lying at their wharves, and Newport took advantage of this permission. The coast defenses were everywliere inadequate to protection, and Mr. Jefferson's famous gunboats could not be relied upon to resist a serious attack of the British men-of-war. But the American marine was not idle in this maritime guerrilla contest. The underwriters of Glasgow disclosed in 1814 that "in the short space of twenty-four months above eight hundred vessels had been captured by a power whose maritime strength had been hitherto held in contempt." In July the Newport artillery company, one hundred and fifty strong, under command of Colonel Benjamin Fry, was posted at Port Green, at the north end of Washington street on the point, by order of the United States. The grounds were put in admirable order b}^ the command. In August the Brit- ish captured Washington and burned the public buildings. On Christmas day tlie treaty of peace was signed at Ghent; a fort- night later the battle of New Orleans avenged the vandalism of the burning of tlie Capitol. Americans may feel a grim satis- faction that no cal)le dispatches averted hostilities before this humiliating di.saster to tlie British arms. Tjie Dorr W.vr, 1842.— The charter of King Charles the Sec- ond (1668) was still at the time of tlie American revolution the only written fundamental law of the state of Rhode Island. It l^rescribed no other qualification for a freeman or voter than his admission by those who were already freemen. This right 414 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of admission carried with it tlie right to those already freemen to prescribe some uniform qualilication to new members of the "body politic." The greater part of tlie colonies, either dur- ing the revolution or at its close, not only threw off their alle- giance to the crown from which they held their charters, but adopted new constitutions. This Rhode Island did not do, but continued under her old colonial charter as to form, cluinging only her title, and under this foiin of government she was ad- mitted without prolest or question to the federal union in 1790. That this form of government was republican in the largest sense of the word, and in the meaning ascribed ro it before the more exact definition which it took from the French revolution, cannot be denied; but the denial or restriction of the right of franchise was soon felt to be a grievance, and tliat portion of the people of the state who were deprived of what they held to be their "natural rights" grew restless. In 1811 a bill to extend the suffrage was introduced into the state senate by the republican party, who entertained tlie new theory of natui'al right which Jefferson brought with him on his return from France. The bill passed the senate, but the federal party regaining political ascendancy, it was defeated in the house at the next session. In 1824 a convention was held under the authority of the general assembly, which framed a written constitution of state government. The delegates to this convention were elected after the old manner by the freemen, which included only free- holders and their eldest sons. For one hundred and fifty years the appoi'tionment of representatives for the several counties had not been changed, while there had been great changes in the population of the counties. In the colonial period Newport, the seat of greatest population, had six representatives; Provi- dence, a small community, four. In 1824 the population of Providence was double that of Newj)ort and the ratio of other counties had shifted in as great degree, yet the apportionment remained the same. All this the new constitution changed, re- placing it with a numerical basis for representation but retain- ing the freehold qualification and its concomitant real estate ownership. The constitution was i-ejected by a large majority in a small general vote. Newport rejected it by five hundred and thirty-one votes to five. Providence accepted it by six HJSTOliy OF NKWPOUT COUNTY. 415 linndied and fifty-three votes to twenty-six. For tlie ne.\t five years tlie limitation went steadily on. In 1829 nnnieron.s memorials were presented to the legi.slatnre on the subject, when the commiltee to which Ihej- were leferred repoi'led them back with an adverse recommendation. By the consent of the assembly the petitioners weie granted leave to withdi'aw their memorials. Thus summarily disjiosed of in 1829, the suffrage question came np again after the presidential election in 1832; but tliis time not in the separate action of a few scattered memorialists, but by an organized party move- ment in which some of the lawyers of the state joined. Among them was Thomas W. Dorr of Providence. The new organiza- tion took the name of the constitutional part3^ Their first at- tempt was to call a state convention. In this they were success- ful. Their plan was recommended to the people, but an appeal through the ballot box at this time failed. In 1837 it only drew out seven hundi-ed votes, other major considerations determin- ing the fate of the candidates. The party was disbanded. Mean- while the general assemblj' had by an overwhelming vote set its face against any amendments to the restrictive system. A convention uas called but after sundry sessions fell to pieces without definite action; nearly one-quarter of the towns not being even represented. In 1840 the subject was renewed and an association was formed which, in full public meeting at Providence, adopted a consti- tution. They styled themselves the " Rhode Island Suffrage A.ssociation," and confined their numbers to "native white male cilizens of the United States resident in Rhode Island." In the spring of 1841 auxiliary societies were formed in various parts of the state; in May at Newport when a committee was appointed to prepare for a constitutional convention. A mass convention met at Providence in July and directed th^ state committee to call such convention. Meanwhile and before this Providence meeting of July, the general assembly ordered the ■calling of a convention to amend the charter or frame a consti- tution for the state. The people's convention invited election of delegates on the 28th of August. The a.ssembly fixed the day for the election under their call for the 31st of August. Tlie assembly convention was ordered to meet on the 2d of November; the people's convention on the IGth of November. The assembly convention met and adjourned to the 14th of 416 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. February, 1842. The people's convention met on the 16th of November, matured a constitution and gave it out to be voted on December 24th, 1841. They met again on the 12th of Jan- uary, 1842, and declared their constitution adopted. Meanwhile the landholders' convention, as the body called by the general assembly was styled, met at Providence on the day assigned, and after preparing a draft which was printed and distributed, adjourned till February. Tliere was some disposition shown to extend the suffrage but the intluence of the st)Utliein part of the state, which, as has been seen, had superior representation though infei-ior nuiubers, was against an_y radical change. In -February the landholders' convention, who had meanwhile felt the pulse of the state in the vote on the people's constitution, completed their own revision of the constitution and proposed an extension of the right of suflfi'age to every American born resident who had reached the age of twenty-one. It was ordered to be voted on by the people in March, 1842. The leaders of the people's constitutional party claimed that their constitution was now the law of the land. This was the view taken by Thomas W. Dorr, who advised abstention from voting on that submitted by the assembly or landholders' con- vention, but the majority were of opinion that the true way was to defeat it at the polls. This was done, the new instru- ment being rejected bj' a majority of seven hundred votes. The suifrage party now resolved to establish the people's constitu- tion, to use the language of their- resolutions, "by all necessai-y means." Their flag bore the inscription "The Constitution is adopted and shall be maintained." A military enrollment Avas begun and independent companies organized, who drilled and marched about the streets of Providence. Quite a number of the chartered companies joined in the movement. But the Landholders' or Law and Order party, as they styled them- selves, did not yet believe any collision would occur. The gen- eral assembly, on the rejection by the people of the constitution submitted under their authority, intended, it is said, to have summoned a second convention, but the suffrage party declar- ing that they would yield no point in controversy, it did not carry out this intention, but called on the governor to issue a proclamation warning the "good people" not to countenance the attempt to set up a new government, and passed a restrain- ing act which their opponents denounced as the "Algerine HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 417 law." It was defined as "an act in relation to offences against the Sovereign power of" the State." An extra session of the asseml)ly was held, at which a bill providing for an extension of the snffrage was promptly reject- ed. On the 18th of April, 1842, elections were held nnder the provision of the people's constitution, and the military were re- quested by their leaders to appear in Providence and install the new government. Alarmed at these movements, Samuel AVard King, the governor of the state, made by commission a requisi- tion for aid on the president of the United States, John Tyler, but was answered on the 11th of Ajiril that the subject was one of municipal regulation with which the general government had nothing to do, and that he could not furnish aid before some overt act had been committed. Thrown on his own resources, but with this contingent promise of ultimate assistance, Gover- nor King summoned the general assembly to meet at Provi- dence April 25th, 1842. Meanwhile the elections were held on the 15th of April under the people's constitution and Thomas Wilson Dorr was chosen governor. A full senate and nearly a full house had been chosen in defiance of the restrictions of the Algerine law. The regular annual election under the old char- ter was held on the 19th of April, when Governor King was re- elected by a large majority as also a full senate in support of the existing government. The house of representatives, with the exception of six who were friends of Dorr, adhered to the established order. On the 3d of May the officers elected under the people's con- stitution assembled in Providence to organize a state govern- ment. Refused the state house, they met in an unfinished building to which, escorted by military, Mr. Dorr and other members of the government elect marched in procession. The business of the day was transacted without disturbance from within or without. The people's general assembly, as it was called, adjourned on the 5th of May, after two days session, to assemble at Providence again on the 4th of July, 1842. Governor Dorr sent in a message with a proposal to seize the state house. But his assembly thought discretion the better irdrt of valour and confined themselves to resolutions informing the president of the United States and the governors of the several states of the establishment of the new government. The Algerine law was repealed and at the close of the session a resolution was 27 418 HISTOia* OF NEWPORT COUNTY. adopted to demand the public records, the funds and the prop- erty of the state. The assembly elected by the legal freemen met at Newport May 4th. It was resolved that the emergency named by the president of the United States had arrived and the jiromised aid was called for. Some military arrangements were made and the assembly adjourned to wait the return of the commissioners sent to the j^resident. Demonstrations were now made. On the departure of Governor King and part of the assembly from Newport, to Providence the Newport artillery, more than eighty strong, and three hundred citizens unarmed, escorted the gov- ernor to the steamboat. At Providence tlie governor was re- ceived by the light infantry and other military organizations. Rumors were floating of an intention to seize the governor. This was not attempted but on the other hand quite a number of arrests were made of men prominent in the people's party. No attempt was made to arrest Mr. Dorr. The Providence Daili/ Express^ Dorr's organ, on the lUth of May issued a " particular notice" headed, '"The People of Rhode Island to arms," but the courage of the editor stopped here, for the particular notice is only a list of persons arrested under the Algerine law and its only malignitj^ was the giving the names of the informers and •of the committing justices. The letter of the president in an- swer to the requisition of Governor King was what might have been exjiected of a John Tyler. He declined to interfere until after a collision. Mr. Dorr had meanwhile left the state, and with his friends had interviews with the president at Washing- ton. In his absence both sides armed and prepared for the col- lision which now seemed inevitable. A public meeting was held by Dorr's friends at Providence on the State House Parade May 12th, which declared that no compromise would be accepted. On Monday, May 16th, Mr. Dorr arrived in Providence where he was received by a large number of people, about two hun- dred and fifty of whom were armed, and paraded through the principal streets of the city clad in undress uniform, a sword at his side, in an open barouche drawn by four white horses. He was accompanied by his secretary of state and the sheriff of Providence elected under the people's constitution. He took up headquarters at Marshal Anthony's, protected by a military guard and two pieces of cannon. The same day, though it HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 419 was clear that there was no sufficient force to back him, he issued his proclamation. The next day, Maj' 17th, he sum- moned his council. Threats had been made of an assault on the arsenal and it was resolved to call in troops from the outer counties on the first indication of movement. At one o'clock the signal gun was fired from Dorr's quarters; at half past four a company of insurgent volunteers surprised the armory of the United Trains of artillery to which they weie attached, and car- ried off two brass field pieces, six pounders, to Dorr's quarters. Governor King, who had apjxirently anticipated no immediate attempt, had gone to his residence some two miles distant, and no one had power to give orders for resistance. He now re- turned at once to town and expresses were sent out to the southern parts of the state, Newport and other towns to be ready to march. The Providence troops were posted at the arsenal at ten o'clock at night and a steamboat sent to Warren, Bristol and Newport to bring up their comi)anies. During the night Dorr's force increased to from three to four hundred men and he resolved to attempt to capture the arsenal, without which he could not take another step; all i")romises from abroad of arms and munition having failed him. At one o'clock on the morning of the 18th, signal guns were again fired from the camp in front of Dorr's quarters. About half of his men now de- serted him. The remainder, less then two hundred and fifty, with Mr. Dorr at their head, sallied out to storm the stone building. At two o'clock, to the sound of the alarm bells ring- ing throughout the city and in a dense fog, he drew up his bat- talion at musket shot distance from the building. He then sent in a flag of truce demanding the surrender of the arsenal and received a contemptuous refusal. He then ordered his guns to open tire but the gunners declined; upon which he applied the fuse himself, but whether from fog or other cause the powder only flashed in the pans. His men now deserted him and he was left with thirty of his immediate followers to carry off his cannon. Not a shot was fired, and at daylight, not two hours from the fire of his signal gun, not an enemy was to be seen. The state forces now marched into the city. The mayor issued a proclamation requesting a suspension of business and a rally of the well disposed citizens. At eight o'clock the steamboat arrived witii artillery companies from Bristol, War- ren and Newport; the Newport company under the command 420 HISTORY OF NEWPOllT COUNTY. of Colonel Swan. At nine o'clock Mr. Dorr, seeing himself de- serted by bis political associates, yielded to the advice of bis friends and made bis escape from Providence. Horsemen fol- lowed in pursuit but be fled in safety beyond tlie limits of the state. A few^ of bis followers made a stand Init on their engag- ing to give up the cannon they had carried olT, tlie troops were withdrawn. The next morning, the 19th, the cannon were re- turned. Mr. Dorr's i:)lace of refuge was concealed, but it is supposed that he put liimself under the protection of Governor Cleveland of Connecticut. One thing was certain; he was a much more important personage outside of Rhode Island than in the state. The friends of universal sufl'rage looked upon him as their hero and the newspapers of the leading cities ad- vocated his cause. Governor King made a requisition on Gov- ernor Cleveland for his delivery as a fugitive from justice, but no resiwnse forthcoming, on the 8th of June offered a reward of one thousand dollars for his apprehension. The state was now agitated with rumors and on the lOtb of June the insur- gents, who were strongest in the manufacturing districts in the northern part of the state, began fresh demonstrations, armed bands parading. Cannon disappeared from Providence in a mysterious manner. Attempts were made to seize the guns belonging to the company at Warren, and a powder magazine near Providence was forcibly entered and robbed. It was soon known that Chepachet, a considerable village in the town of Glocester, and near the Connecticut line, was the point selected for the concentration of the insurgent troops. An embankment was thrown up commanding the road fi'om Prov- idence to Springfield through Connecticut. Informed of this threatening movement, the general assembly authorized the governor to declare martial law. This was the signal for the flight of Dorr's friends to the insurgent camp, which now held about eight hundred men, one-half of whom were armed. Mr. Dorr arrived from New York at Chepachet on June 25th, and martial law was enforced about the camp. On the day of his arrival Mr. Dorr issued a proclamation convening the people's assembly at Glocester, instead of at Providence, on the 4th of July, and requested that the vacancies made by resignations be filled. The same day he issued a second proclamation summon- ing the military of the state to appear at headquarters at Glo- cester, and calling on the jieople of the state to assert its rights. lirSTOKY OK NEWroUT COUNTY. 421 This ])r()clniiKili()n the Rhode Island pajiers refused to publish. The cities of the state were now in great excitement. Newport was a camp; armed men were marching and connter-marcliing. The assembly was convened liere in June, and in order to re- move all ground for armed collision, passed an act to call a con- vention to form a constitntion to meet at Newport in Septem- ber. Gfovernor King, naturally considering the protection of a fugitive from justice by an armed band as a sufficient resist- ance to state power to warrant the interference of the president, made a third requisition on him for aid, whicli was lefused be- cause it did not proceed from the state legislature, then in session. June 23d Governor King issued his preliminary orders, and on the 24th a steamboat was sent down the bay to bring up the military companies from Warren, Bristol and Newport. The next day the boat returned and took up three hundred in- fantry from the same towns, and detachments marciiing from all directions, and promptly armed from the government stores, quite a formidable force, nearly three thousand men, was col- lected at Providence. The Newport artillery marched on this occasion, also under the command of Colonel Swan; the two companies of volunteers under Captain Vars and Captain Swan. On the 26th and the 27th the army marched by different roads, the plan being to surprise and capture Dorr's entire foi'ce at Chepacliet. But he got wind of the preparations on Monday, and in the evening, yielding to the entreaties of iiis father, quietly decamped, leaving behind him a letter to his forces, directing them to disband. When the troops airived at Che- pachet the insurgent camp was nearly deserted. Some two hundred prisoners and six pieces of cannon were captured. Governor King issued a second proclamation offering this time a reward of five thousand di^llars for the arrest of Mr. Dorr. Thus ended the Dorr rebellion. Wiiatevei' opinions may be entertained of tlie grievances of the people's party, tliere can be no defense for the conduct of its leaders. Civil war is tiie last resort, and there were legal remedies the application of which should have at least been sought for before the sword was drawn. Mr. Dorr absented himself from the state for a long period. When he returned early in 1844 he was arrested, brought to trial in Newport for treason, and condemned to im- prisonment for life, but was set free by tlie general act of am- nesty of 1847. In 1851 he was restored to his political and civil 422 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. rights by act of tlie legislature. Nor did the general assembly stop here, but reversed his sentence as illegal. The supreme court, however, which was not influenced by political consid- erations, refused to sustain this reversal. A new convention had before this been called, and submitted a draft of a constitution which the people rejected. Still another convention was called, and the subject was finally disposed of by the adoption of the present constitution of the state at a meeting held at East Greenwich November 5th, 1842. The old charter was at an end. The new government went into opera- tion in May, 1843. The suffrage question is not yet definitely closed, and at each session of the legislature efforts are made to abolish the property qualification which is still applied to foreign born citizens. Thp:War of the Eebellion, 1861-5.— No state in the Union was more loyal or more prompt in its action to suppress the re- bellion of the southern people than Rhode Island. By the re- port of Colonel Crandall, acting adjutant general, made at the close of the war, it appears "that the number of men sent into the field was in excess of all liable under the law to do military duty." The many and heavy calls of the president for men were met as they were made. The quota of Rhode Island un- der all calls was 23,778, consisting of eight regiments of infantry, three regiments and a squadron of cavalry, three regiments of heavy and one of light artillery. The number of men raised in Newport is not stated. The amount of money expended by the state for war purposes was $1,622,288, the proportion of New- port being $98,383, of which $36,900, was repaid by the state, leaving as the charge of the city $61,483. No body of men saw service more varied and over so large an extent of country as the Ninth Army Corps, to which the Rhode Island troops were attached for a long period. They served un- der Burnside, Hunter, Sherman, Gillmore, McClellan, Hooker, Meade, Sheridan and Grant; on the coast from North Carolina to New Orleans; in the interior to the mountains of the Tennes- see; everywhere with honor. The news of the ca2:)itulation of Fort Sumter on the evening of Saturday, the 13th of April, 1861, reached Washington the next day. On Monday, the 15th, the president's pi'oclamation, calling out seventy-five thousand men to serve for three months, was published throughout the loyal states. As soon as it reached Providence Governor HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 423 Spragne telegraphed to the president, tendering him the instant oflVr of one thonsand men; this being accepted, a company of uniformed militia of the state was summoned by general order of Tuesday the 16th, to headquarters. In response to the gov- ernor's request to know how many of the marine artillery of Newijort would march on 'this summons, Colonel Tew warned the company in and by evening one hundred, the required num- ber, were enrolled. The next morning they were marched to the boat for Providence xxnder an escort of past members and a large number of citizens. Much feeling was displayed but aa unalterable determination to crush out the treasonable sedition. In the evening the old members met at their armory and re-or- ganized as the Newport Artillery Old Guard; about eighty members enrolling. Twenty-live of these were detailed daily •thereafter to garrison Fort Adams. Colonel William B. Swan commanded this Old Guard. Within a week after the march- ing of the artillery, a company of infantry was recruited by Ad- jutant William H. Hudder at Fort Adams, where Colonel Charles W. Turner, now commissioned brigadier general of state militia, was in command. The order of the governor organized the Fii'st regiment* There was alarm for the safety of Washington and no pains were spai'ed to hasten the movement. The first of the Massachusetts quota were already on their way on the 17th. The First Rhode Island moved in two detachments. The first, under Colonel Ambrose E. Bnrnside, major general of Rhode Island militia, left Providence on the 20th of April; the .second, under Lieuten- ant Colonel Joseph S. B. Pitman, followed on the 24t]i. This infantry regiment was composed of ten companies, of which Newport furnished one, "Artillery F Company." This was the famous old Newport artillery organized in the last century. It now marched with full ranks, one hundred men, quite a num- ber of volunteers offering beyond the prescribed quota. It was under the command of Captain George W. Tew (later distin- guished in the line). As the steamboat conveying them pa.ssed down the harbor toward the sound it was saluted by artillery from the Old Guard and from Fort Adams. The first detachment carried with them a beautiful national rtag presented by the ladies of Providence. The regimental colors were the gift of natives of Rhode Island residing in Cal- 424 HISTORY OF NEWPOItT COUNTy. ifornia. The colors were entrusted to Company F, the New- port artillery, and are now in their armory in Clark street. Governor Spragne accom])anied the tirst detachment, which reached New York on the 21st, left the same afternoon for An- napolis and marched to Washinglou on the 26tli of A^jril. They were quartered for a short time at the patent office, and afterward established at Camp Spragne, a beautiful spot near the city. The camp was laid out by Lieutenant Henry A. De Witt, of the engineers. The tents were built under the direc t.ion of Colonel William Goddard and Lieutenant William B. Walker. A skirmish company of carbineers was formed, un- der command of Captain Francis W. Goddard, and armed with Burnside rifles. Mr. James H. Taylor of Newport went out with the command as hospital steward, and his intelligent ser- vices were of great value to the organization. Mr. William L. Hunter, also of Newport, was the commissary sergeant. The Second regiment of infantry, Colonel Slocum, followed on the the 19th of June. These two regiments were brigaded together, and with the Seventy-tirst New York and Second New Hamp- shire, under command of General Burnside, led the army col- umn on its march to Bull Run. In the disastrous battle which ensued the Rhode Island regiments behaved with great coolness and couj'age, and their commanders were especially distin guished for their gallantry. Governor Spragne serving as an aid to General Burnside throughout the day witii exceptional dash. The three months term of enlistment being over, and Wash ington being considered safe, the command returned to Provi- dence, where they were warmly welcomed by the state autlior- ities and the citizens at large. The return of the artillery com pany early in August (R. I. V., 1st Reg., Co. F.) was the oc- casion of great rejoicing in Newjiort. The steamboat having the entire regiment on board was saluted with rockets as it passed up the river. The next morning an escort of tiie Old Guard went up to Providence to receive their companions. Re- turned to Newport, the marching company was welcomed in the park by Mayor Cranston and the citizens, and an elegant sword was formally presented to Colonel Tew on behalf of Mi-. John Hare Powel. In August Colonel Burnside was appointed brigadier general. The Second Rhode Island Regiment was enlisted under the first call of the president for troops to serve thi-ee years or IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 425 during the war. After tlie failure at Bull Run, in which action Coh;nel Slocnni, its colonel, was killed, the regiment was placed in command of Colonel Prank Wheaton, a captain of United States regulars, and went into (juai'ters nearWasliington, wiiere it remained until March, 18(52, busied with the erection of F'ort Slocum, one of the defenses of the capital. In March it moved with the army of the Potomac to the peninsula, and attached to Stoneman's command, tooh part in the battles of that un- fortunate campaign: Whiteli juse, Mechanicsville, Seven Pines, Turkey Bend and Malvern Hill. It shared in the second Bull Run campaign under Pope, was in position at Elk Mountain during the battle of Antietam, and behaved with gallantry in the assault on Fredericksburg. During this period of service it was successively under command of Colonel Wheaton, upon his promotion to a brigade, of Colonel Nelson Viall, of Lieu- tenant Colonel Goff and of Colonel Horatio Rogers, Jr. Under this officer it was in position at the battle of Gettysburg, and took part in the movements which followed. In the spring of 1804 it shared in the eventful campaign during which the rebel army was forced from the Rapidan to the Chickahominy and the lines about Richnionc,!. Soon after the bloody affair at Cold Harbor, the term of service of the three years' men ex- piring, they returned to Providence under command of Colonel Read, and were mustered out. Newport was represented in this i-egiment in Company K, of which Charles W. Turner was captain. The nucleus of the organization remained in the lines before Petersburg, and recruited to a regimental standard, was placed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha T. Rhodes. The new organization shared in the defense of Washington from Early's raid, and in the Shenandoah campaign which fol- lowed, being engaged in the historic light at Winchester in Sei^tember. In December it rejoined the army of the Potomac, and was engaged in siege dut}' during the winter. It partici- pated in the linal attack on Petersburg in April, 186.'), and al- though in the second line of the advance of the Sixth Corps, was the lirst to plant its colors on the parapet of the enemy's works. The regiment was mustered out of the United States service in July, ISCf). When it reached home it numbered three hundred and forty-live, raids, and tile. By general orders from the war department it was permitted to inscribe on its colors: "First Bull Run ; Yorktown ; Williamsburg ; Malvern 426 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Hill; Antietara ; Fredei'icksbiirg ; Marye's Heights; Salem Heights ; Gettysburg ; Rappahanock Station ; Wilderness ; Spotsylvania ; Cold Harbor ; Petersburg ; Fort Stevens ; Opequan." The Fourth Regiment, Rhode Island volunteers, was orga- nized in September. 1861, and in October placed in command of Colonel Isaac P. Rodman. Included among the troops selected for the North Carolina campaign under General Burnside, it made part of the Third brigade of the coast division. They were engaged at Roanoke island, where they were gallantly led, and later distinguished themselves in the capture of Newbern. When Burnside was ordered from North Carolina to the sup- port of McCIellan in the peninsula, the Fourth Rhode Island moved with his command. They were hotly engaged at South Mountain and Antietam. In this last bloody affair their com- mander, Colonel Steere, was badly wounded, and their old com- mander. General Rodman, killed. In November they lost their lieutenant-colonel, Joseph B. Curtis, killed while forming line before Fredericksburg. In July the regiment was transferred to the Seventh corps, but rejoined the Ninth before Petersburg in 1864, and took part in the assault on the rebel lines. It was jiermitted to inscribe on its colors the names: " Roanoke Island, Newbern, Fort Macon, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Suffolk, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hat- cher's Run." Newjiort was represented in this regiment in Company G, of which George W. Tew was captain. This was the officer who went out with the three months' men as captain of the Newport artillery (Company F, First R. I. V.) In the Fourth infantry Captain Tew was twice promoted— major and lieutenant-colonel. The Ninth Regiment was organized in May, 1862, in tlie emer- gency of the raid up the Shenandoah valley, and the fear enter- tained for the safety of Washington. Placed under command of Colonel John T. Pittman, it was chiefly engaged in gari'ison duty on the line of the Potomac during the three months of special service for which it was enlisted. It returned in August, having honorably discharged its duty. The Honorable John H. Powel, the present mayor of Newport, went out with this regiment as captain of Company L; entirely recruited from the island of Rhode Island. He returned as lieutenant-colonel of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 427 the command. The muster shows the mimes of representatives of many of the old resident families. The Tenth Regiment was raised under the same call for short service, principally in Providence. Like the Ninth, it was made up of well known citizens. Its duties were of a similar charac- ter of defense. They were assigned to the chain of forts com- manding the Potomac at Chain bridge and the road from Har- per's Ferry to Rockville. The Eleventh Rhode Island was enlisted for the war under the general order of May, 1862, and went to the field under the command of Colonel Zenas R. Bliss in the following September, and was assigned to Paul's Second brigade of Casey's division. It did good service at the assault on Fredericksburg, spending the night on the field after the engagement. In this battle it lost one hundred and forty killed and wounded, including among the former Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles, Major Babbitt, Adjutant Page and several other line officers. In the winter of 1863 the Seventh was sent to Kentucky as part of the Ninth army corps, and was engaged in the movements which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg. In the spring of 1864 it returned to the army of the Potomac and took part in the struggles at Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor. Consolidated with the Fourth Rhode Island in October, 1864, before Petersburg, it shared in the labors of the siege, making part of the garrison of Fort Sedgwick (Fort Hell) on the Jerusalem plank road. In the pursuit of the retreating confederate army the regiment moved with the Ninth corps. It was permitted to inscribe on its colors the names of "Fredericksburg, Siege of A'icksburg, Jackson, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hatcher's Run." In this regiment Newport was represented in Company I, of which Thomas B. Carr of this city was captain. The Twelfth Regiment was organized at about the same per- iod as the Eleventh (September, 1862), under the call for nine months' men, and in the enlistment received the Newport re- cruits. Company I., Captain George C. Almy. The regiment was placed under command of Colonel George H. Browne and marched to the front before Fredericksburg, where it was brig- aded under General Nagle in Sturgis' division of the Ninth army corps. It was thrown across the river and took part in the assault of the town, in which it suffered severely. In Jan- 428 HISTORY ov nf:\vpokt county. uary it moved with tlie Ninth army corps to the Peninsula. It marched with Burnside to the Department of the Ohio and en- gaged in various service in tlie campaign of tlie Tennessee, re- turning home in July, 1863. In the Rhode Island cavalry Newport was honorably repre- sented among the officers, the First regiment being commanded by Robert B. Lawton, colonel; Troop P being led by Captain John Rogers and Troop G by Captain T. B. Wood; and on its reorganization Captain Rogers was promoted major. In the Second regiment Charles W. Turner served as fii'st lieutenant FOKT ADAMS. in Troop G, and iufer in tlie same rank in Troop G of tlie Third regiment. In the heavy artillery New[)ort was chiefly represented in the Fifth regiment, in companies E, G and II, and in the Four- teenth regiment (Coloit'd), which was moved to the Department of the Gull' and iil'lerward transformed into the Eleventh United States heavy artillery (colored). The adjutant general's office does not supply full returns of the naval recruits from Rhode Island, but in the partial list printed b}^ oi'der of the state, Newi)ort is fully represented. In 1862 the war department designated Fort Adams as the IIISTOIIY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 429 headquarters of the Fifteenth United States infantry, General Fitz John Porter colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson in com- mand. The companies enlisted were in the field and many of the officers on special duty. The new men recruited were or- dered to Fort Adams for instruction. A list of soldiers from New])ort, wlio died during tlie war, is given here with date and place of death: First Regiment. — Company F: Tliomas Harrington and John P. Peckham, July 21st, ISGl, at Bull Run, Va. Second Regiment. — Company K: William McCann and John C. Nicholson, July 21st, ISGl, at Bull Run, Va.; David A. New- man, May 14tli, 1862, at Washington, D. C. ; Robert Shane, June 25th, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va.; James Taylor, May 12th, 1864, at Wilderness, Va.; Anson J. Smith, June 3d, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. Third Regiment. — Company C: Henry H. Warfield, October 8th, 1861, at Fort Hamilton, N. Y. Fourth Regiment. — Companj'^ A: W^illiam Tew, January 5th, 1864, drowned; Company C: Robert Hardman, February 4tli, 1863, at Washington, D. C; Company D: John T. Clark, March 14th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C. ; Company G: Samuel Curtis, August 20th, 1862, at Newport, R. I.; Henry Fish, Thomas B. Tanner and G. B. Gardiner, September 17th, 1862, at Antietani; William S. Denham and Robert Williams April 19th, 1862, at Carolina City, N. C; John W.Chase, April 26th, 1862, at Carolina City. N. C; William H. Cair, June 14th, 1862, at Beaufort. N. C; Thomas C. Lake, August 1st, 1864, at Peters- burg, Va.; Fred. J. Peabody, September 30th, 1S64; Henry Dunnegan, November 28th, 1863, at Bowers Hill, Va.; James Walker, December 11th, 1862, wounded at Antietaur, Richard T. Tew, August 3d, 1863, at Portsmouth, Va. ; Company H: William J. Anthony, December 18th, 1862, at Washington, D. C. First Cavalry.— Thomas C. Moore, December 14th, 1864; Company A: George H. Harris, May 19tli, 1864, at hospital; Philip B. Smith, December 1st, 1863, at Audersonville, Ga. ; Company C: James P. Taylor, August 10th, 1862. Fifth Cavahy. — Company A: Amos B. Sherman and Edward Bass, March 18th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C; William F. Caswell, December 12th, 1862, at Newbern, N. C; Company C: Joliu W.' Allen, October luth, 1864, at Newbern, N. C 430 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Seventh Cavalry. — Company I: John Kilroy, January 30th, 1864, at Petersburg; Samuel F. Simpson, May 26th, 1864, at North Anna River. Twelfth Cavalry. — Company D: John Caswell, January 5th, 186B, at Falmouth, Va. Fourteenth Cavalry. — Company G: George H. Jackson, Oc- tober 15th, 1864, at Fort Jackson, Fla. CHAPTER IX. CHURCHES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NEWPORT. By John Austin Stevens. Baptist Churches. — Tlie Society of Friends. — Congi-egational Churches. — Protest- ant Episcopal Cliurches. — The Moravians. — Methodist Episcopal Churches. — (Jews' Synagogue. — Catholic Churches. — Public Schools. THE spirit which moved the English emigrants to leave their native land and make their settlements on the savage coast of America was a religious spirit. A phase of the revolt against form, which began with the burning of the Pope's bull by Luther, has continued through various evolu- tions and has not yet reached its legitimate conclusions in any land; the absolute freedom of the mind from priestly leading strings. Indeed, if the motive which directly governed the emigration be carefully studied, it will be found to have been a revolt against the manner of the form rather than against form itself. The colony founded was a religious colony, the majority of whose members were as thoroughly attached to uniformity as the English church establishments from which they broke away. Yet while the colonies agreed in this pro- test in kind, they diilered in degree. The Puritans, as it is the habit to call all the early settlers, were by no means of one mind. The Plymouth colony were of the sect of dissenters known as Separatists; that which settled about the ^lassachusetts bay lield more nearly to the communion of the Church of England. While they were in near accord as to the nature of the Lord's kingdom, they were by no means in harmony among them- selves as to tlie manner in which it should be ''externally man- aged and maintained in his church." On one point, however, there was agreement; the interdependence of cliurch and state; the supremacy of the church over the state and the consequent need oi a theocratic form of government. Heresy or "errone- 432 insTollY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ons opinions," to use their own gentlest form of condemnation, was tlierefore criminal — punishable by imprisonment, by exile and even death. Intolerance accompanied uniformity as its natural corollary and, in accordance with the universal law of the 7uoi-al as of the physical world, pressure developed resislance in the precise ratio of its force. At first the conditions of the settlement, isolated in an unknown country uiufer a severe climate, and among savage tribes, compelled sulimission in practice if not acquiescence in spirit to the established forms of the theocratic rule. The age was an age of religious inquiry. Religious inquiry was the very reason and cause of the Puii tan settlement. It was the life, the business, the amusement, after a grim fashion, of the Puritan fathers. But difference, not uniformity, is the underlying law, and it is not surprising to find even among these peoi)le the tendency to divergence from the common center of faith — a divergence the expression of which was at first restrained by the phJ^sical condition of the settlement. As their numbers increased by the continuous flow of emigration from the mother country and they grew more self reliant, measures restrictive not only of independent action but of expressions of independent opinion were now rigidly enforced, until at last intolerance reached its extreme limit in an inquiry into opinion itself, regardless of its expression. To hold " erroneous opinions " was an offense against their theocratic law. In the beginning revolt, even re- sistance to this oppression of the dominant theocracy was mad- ness. There was no escape but to return to England, which would be to put themselves again within the fangs of the san- guinary laud or in exile among the savages of the interior. In- deed this casting from them of the offender into the outer dark- ness was the favorite punishment of our sanctimonious fore- fathers. At first this seemed a terrible outlook, but as ac- quaintance with the Indians reassured them as to their friendly disposition toward the invaders of the soil, e.xile lost its hor- rors and even took on the pleasing guise of adventure and the chance of profit. This desire for freedom from the established formalism cul- minated in two separate movements, which were respectively the origin of the Connecticut and Rhode Island colonies. These movements differed as much in purpose as in scope. Hooker led his Newtown charge to the Connecticut valley, HISTORY OF NKWPOirr COUNTY. 433 there to found at Tlnrtford a colony on olnircli tenets not in conformity with those of the established church in England certainly, but not so far removed in practice as that of the chiirch established in Massachusetts bay. Thus the beginnings of Connecticut, as those of Massachusetts before it, were relig- ious beginnings — a schism within a schism, but nevertheless a theocratic government in which the clergy and the civil magis- trates were either identical or held equal coordinate jiowers. This hegira of Hooker was in the summer of 1G3C. He had already been preceded in his tiight into the wilderness by a clergyman of his own faith: not like him, howevei', a voluntary exile from the hoaie of his adoption, leading to a lield promis- ing profitable enterprise a select band of the best and foremost of the New England settlers, but an exile by the law, a solitary pilgrim, an exile from the pilgrims' land. The edict of banisliment of Roger AVilliams bears date of the 8d of November, 163.'i. Summoned from his charge of the church at Salem before the general conrt in October, he de- fended himself of his "errors.'" Hooker was chosen to dispute with him, but could not "reduce him from any of his errors." All the ministers of the colony were present, and all save one concurred in his sentence. The names of Hooker and of Wil- liams are not mentioned here either in antithesis or opposition, but simply to l)ring to attention the fact that the wilderness was by no means so dangerous to either of them as might be supposed. Williams had already made himself the friend of the Indians, " living in their huts about Boston and learning their language," and Ousamequin (Massasoit), the great chief of the Wampanoags, who welcomed him to the Narragansett waters, was his personal friend. It is of history also that John Eliot, later the apostle of the Indians, was an intimate com- panion of Hooker, and had been his assistant teacher at a school in London before their emigration. Eliot and Williams came to America the same year (1631) and alike were earnest in their desire to benefit the Indian tribes. They were probably the only two educated white men who understood the language of the natives. The habitation of Williams at Seekonk and his later settle- ment at Providence must of course be held the beginnings of Rhode Island; and the liberty of conscience, which he later in- sisted upon as the religious motive upon which the civil govern- as 434 HISTORY OF NEWPOHT COUNTY. merit of the colony was to hinge, may likewise find in him its first representative. The early records of Providence seem to contemplate a future settlement, but in the agreeuient of the thirteen "inhabitants, masters of families incorporated together in town fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things " (four of whom it may be said pusslm only signed their marks), there seems to liave been no tlidught except of the simplest form of patriarchal regulation; none whatever of any religious organization. In point of fact the true political beginnings of the Rhode Island settlement are found in the establishment on the island of Aquidneck of the lit- tle colony which followed John Clarke. Here also will be found the beginnings of religious observance, tenets and rules. In the agreement entered into at Portsmouth on the 7th day of the lirst month (March, 1638), signed by Williams, Coddington, John Clarke and their seventeen associates, they solemnly incor- porate themselves into a "Bodie Politick," submitting their persons, lives and estates unto the Lord Jesus Christ and ''to all those perfect and most absolute laws of his given in his holy word," and to make more explicit their understanding of the laws intended they name Exodus, 24, 8, 4, Second Chronicles, 11, 3, and Second Kings, 11, 17, and the same day electing Cod- dington to be their judge, "covenant to yield all due honour uuto him according to the lawes of God;" and again, at their next general meeting, upon "publick notice 3d month, 13 day, 1638," require submission to the government that is or shall be established on the island according to the vi^ord of God; and by further resolution order that the meeting house shall be set out on the neck of land that goes over to the main of the island. At the synod held in Newtown in August, 1635, preceding that meeting of the genei'al court in October and November which passed the sentence of banishment on Roger \Villiaras, no less than "eighty erroneous opinions" were presented, de- bated and condemned. The majority of the court, after a three days debate and some cliange of sides, determined to stand by the synod and carry its judgment into effect by legislation or rules, whereupon Mr. John Clarke, one of the remonstrants, made proposal. to which a number agreed, to seek out a place where they might govern themselves and worship God after their own manner. Yet that this manner was not that entire liberty of conscience which Roger Williams later claimed to HISTORY OK NKWroUT COUNTY. 435 have been the piirposeof settleiiienf, appears in tlie banislinient of Gorton a year or so later on contention because of religious opinions peculiar to himself and his followers. John Clarke was a Baptist and may fairly be claimed to have founded the first Baptist cliurch in America. Benedict, in his history of the Baptist denomination in America, claims that the church founded by Roger Williams at Providence in 1G3J) was the first of the Baptist denomination in the American continent and assigns the second place to that founded by John Clarke in Newport in 1644. The Massachusetts hierarchy liad consented to no such heresy. That the beginnings were in the Rhode Is- land settlement there is no doubt, but the order of precedence is not so certain. It is certain, however, that John Clarke, as the leader of the little colony and a man of letters, carried on public worshijx A survey of New England in 1641 records " the religious condition of Aquidneck as broken and precarious; the Newport church where one Master Clark was Elder as dissolved; at the other end of the island a town, Portsmouth, but no church — a meeting of some men who there teach one another and call it propliecy; at Providence Master Williams and his company of divers opinions, most are Anabaptists." Tradition is so uncertain and history in matters of religion so takes its color from the opinions of the reporter, that it is vain to attempt to settle these discordant opinions, but whatever date may be assigned to the earliest beginnings of John Clarke's preaching, there is no doubt that he was the first who taught the Bai)tist belief in America, that liis first open teachings were in Rhode Island and that the meeting or church, or whatever name may be given it, was in full operation in 1648, when the names of fifteen i)ersons appear in the list of the members of the church on occasion of the baptism of Samuel Hubbard. This worthy had fled from Hartford, being threatened witli imprisonment because of his holding wilh his wife to " the holy ordinance of baj)tizing only visible believers." The chief helpmate of Clarke in his early teachings was Robert Lenthal, who was admitted a freeman of the town of Newport in 1640. He had come from Weymouth because of his inability to found a church there; the common people embracing liis opinions but the authorities re- pressing his efforts with a stern hand. On his arrival he opened a public school which is said to have been the first attempt of the kind in this country, if not in the world. He soon drifted into the- 436 IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ology and aided Clarke in a public controversy of the two fun- damental questions which then convulsed the Puritan world; namely, the sufhciency of scrij)ture as a rule of faith and prac- tice and the existence on earth of a visible church with visible ordinances. The Antinomian heresy, which claimed exclusive possession of an inner light which, rather than the teachings of the scrijD- tures, is the true rule of action, was spreading its convenient doctrine far and wide. At Newport it became the cause of con- tention ; Coddington, Coggeshall and others of the foremost men holding to the new theories ; Clarke, their minister, Len- thal and others vigorously dissenting from and strenuously op- posing them. Hence a schism in the infant church. In 1649 the members of the church were, howevei", increased by numerous additions. These removed from Seekonk (Reho- both), where their attempt to found a church had been merci- lessly throttled by the Plymouth magistrates, within whose jurisdiction the town lay. Some of these new comers became pillars of the church and eminent in the Narragansett colony. Of Mr. Clarke's connection with their entrance into the new or- der of religion there is evidence in a letter of Williams to Win- ' throp, in which he says, "at Seekonk a great many have con- curred with John Clarke and our Providence men about the point of a new baptism and the manner by dipping, and Mr. John Clarke hath been there lately (and Mr. Lucar) and hath dipped them." But AVilliams adds (and this of itself seems sufficient evidence that he had not established a Baptist church at Providence), " I believe their practice comes nearer the fii'st practice of our great founder Christ Jesus than other practices of religion do, and yet I have not satisfaction neither in the au- thority by which it is done nor in the manner. In 1649 also Mr. Clarke jireached and baptized in the neighborhood of Prov- idence. John Clarke continued tcr minister to the Newport church until his death in 1676, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He was succeeded by Obadiah Holmes. Holmes was a native of England and emigrated to America about 1639, and was a com- municant of the Pedobaptist congregation first at Salem, later at Seekonk, or Rehoboth, Avhere he was baptized by Clarke. Visiting Boston he was arrested bj^ the authorities and terri- bly scourged for his heresy. He was glad to escape the vin- IIISTOKY OK NKWJ'OKT COUWTY. 437 diolive pursuit of the Plymouth government by moving to Newport, which was beyond the pale of their authority. The Narragansetts were still the undisi)uted masters of this soil. On Clarke's visit to England on the alTairs of the charter for the colony Holmes was made pastor of the church, and held the charge until his death in 1682, at seventy-six years. It is not necessary here to enter into details of the ministry of his successors, but an exception must be made in the case of the sixth pastor, John Callender, A. M., who was called to his charge in 1731, and continued in it until his death in 1748. He was a graduate of Harvard College, and to him we owe the "Century Sermon," a sketch of the history of Rhode Island for a hundred years. This discourse, preached, or i-ather de- livered, in 1738, and printed at Boston in the following year, is the undisputed text book of the historical student, and an ad- mirable summary of tlie traditions of the fathers for the cen- tury elapsed from the beginnings of the plantation to the year of its preparation. The English Baptists have been described uiuler the name of Congregational Liberalists. There were churches of the order of General Baptists in England in 1608, and of English in Am- sterdam in 1611. A printed confession of the latter in this year affirms the "Magistracy to be a holy ordinance of God, and that every soul ought to be subject to it not for fear only, but for conscience sake," but adds " that the magistrate is not to meddle with religion or matters of conscience." The doctrines which Mr. Clarke brought with him were those of the English Particular Baptist church. The church which he established was early in correspondence with the cliurch in London, but it does not appear that he was ever a preacher except according to the Baptist practice of eldership. Indeed he is always mentioned as an elder. There is little doubt that he was the anthoi' of tlie confession of faith and purpose which was the foundation, not only of the Baptist church of Aquidneck, but of the civil government of the colony. The terms General and Particular Baptists may be thus de- fined. The Particular Baptists held to the narrow dogma of Calvin and believed in the salvation of the elect only; a doctrine peculiarly acceptable to the New England theocratic hierarchy. The General Baptists on the contrary leaned to the Arminian 438 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. belief that salvation was possible to all. It is natural to find that the exclusive doctrine found by far the most adiierents, but it is to the credit of the early settlers of Rhode Island that they were of the General Baptist order and not unwilling to share salvation with the outer world. The First Baptist Church. — Founders: Constituents ac- cording to tradition, Dr. John Clarke and wife, Mark Lukar, Nathaniel West and wife, William Vaughan, Thomas Clark, Joseph Clark, John Peckham, John Thomdon, William and Samuel Weeden (Benedict's History). Pastors: Elder John Clarke, M. D., 1638-1676; Obadiah Holmes, 1652-168-2; Richard Dingley, 1689-1694; William Peck- ham, 1711-1732; John Comer, A. B., 1726-1729; John Callender, A. M., 1731-1746; Edward Upham, A. M., 1748-1771; Erasmus Kelly, 1771-1784; Benjamin Foster, D.D., 178.5-1788; Michael Eddy, 1790-1835; Arthur A. Ross, 1835-1840; Joseph Smith, 1841-1849; Samuel Adlam, 1849-1864; Comfort E. Barrows, 1865-1888; Francis W. Rider, 18841886; E. P. Tnller, 1886. House of Worsliip. — This ancient society has considerable possessions in real estate bequeathed to it by Dr. John Clarke, its founder. Later Governor Lyndon bequeathed to it his mansion house for a parsonage. It is uncertain whether the early members of the society ever carried into effect the early order of the colony to build a meeting house on Ferry neck. The first house of worship in Newport proper was on Tanner street (now West Broadway), which was sold in 1738 and a new edifice erected on the present site. This was taken down and replaced by a new structure in 1841. The lot, according to Benedict, was seventy-three feet by sixty-four, and was given to the church by Colonel Hezekiah Carpenter and Governor Lyndon. The meeting house was forty feet by nearly sixty. The Second Baptist Church was organized by twenty one members of the First, who seceded from it in 1656 for the fol- lowing reasons: 1st. Her use of psalmody. 2d. Undue re- straints upon the liberty of prophesying. 3d. Particular redemption. 4th. Her holding the laying-on of hands as a matter of indifference. The last article was no doubt the chief cause of separation, which might perhaps have been avoided but for the absence of Mr. Clarke in England. Their leader was William Vaughan, who became the first pastor of the new church. He continued his ministry till his death in 1677. His JIISTOliT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 439 ■sncoessor, Thomas Baker, after a short service, raised up a church in North Kingstown. The third pastor was John Harder, a native of Enghind, who died in liis charge in 1700. The fourth was James Clarke, a nephew of John Clarke, the common founder of all the Baptist churclies. Founders /William Vanghan, Thomas Baker, James Clarke, Jeremiah Clarke, Daniel Wightman, John Odlin, Jeremiah Weeden, Joseph Card, John Greenman, Henry Clark, Peleg ' Peckham, James Barker, Stephen Hookey, Timothy Peckham, Joseph Weeden, John Rhodes, James Brown, John Hammet, William Rhodes, Daniel Sabear, William Greenman (Bene- dict's History). Pastors: William Yaughan, 163(3-1677; Thomas Baker, 1677 -1679; John Harden, 1679-1700; James Clarke, 1700-1736; Dan- iel Wightman, 1736-17.)0; Nicholas Eyres, 17o0-17o9; Gardner Thurston, 1759-1801; Joshua Bradley, 1801-1807; John B. Gib- son, 1807-1815; Samuel Wydown, 1815-1817; Romeo Elton, 1817-1822; William Gammell, 1823-1827; John O. Choules, 1827-1833; John Dowling, 1833-1836; Leland Howard, 1838- 1840; Tliomas Leaver, 1841-1845; John O. Choules (2d time), 1847-1856; Charles H. Malcom, 1857-1877; N. B. Thompson, 1878-1881; Frank Rector, 1881-1887; Covell, 1887-1887 (a few months); S. W. Stevens, 1888. House of WorsJiip. — The original building stood on Farewell street on a lot one hundred and forty feet by seventy-five, and adjoining was a smaller lot fifty feet square, on which stood a smaller building, at first occupied as a school house but later de- voted to the housing of poor members of the congregation. The present house is on the corner of North Baptist and Farewell streets, a building of a gothic order eighty-six by fifty-four feet, erected in 1834-5, and thoroughly renovated in 1885. It is finished with a tower and bell, galleries, an organ and conven- ient vestries. Tiiiui) Baptist Ciiuucir. — The Sabbatarians, as this sect of Baptists were formerly denominated, differ from their brethren of the general name in hardly any other article that the observ- ance of the Sabbath. Holding to the strict text of the Old Tes- tament they believe in the Jewish Sabbath and the observance of the seventh day when the Almighty rested, and not of the first day as ordained by Constantine in the law for the' observ- ance of Sunday. There is no precise infoimation as to the ori- 440 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. gin of the sect of the Seventh Day Baiitist.s in England. In America they first appear in Rliode Island. Green (in his sliort history of Rhode Island) says that in 1667 they were sufficient- ly numerous to justify them in asking that niarliet day might be changed from Saturday, their Sabbath, to some other day, and that the assembly, to quiet their scruples, added Thursday as another market day. • The first Sabbatarian church in America was formed in New- port in the year 1671. Its founder was Stephen Mumford, who came to this country from England in 1665, bringing with him the last variety of Baptist doctrine, viz., that it was an anti- Christian power that had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. He joined Mr. Clarke's church in which he soon found many who agreed with him in his new opinion, among whom some of its more considerable members. The majority of the church, however, though it seems, concur- ring in tlie opinion that the change of day was a reformation, did not take the extreme view of the innovators, who in conse- quence, to the number of seven, among whom were William Hiscox, Samuel H. Hubbard and Steplien Mumfoi'd, thereupon withdrew. William Hiscox became their pastor. He died in 1704, aged sixty six years, and was succeeded by William Gib- son, an Englishman who was ordained in London before he crossed the seas. The new church grew in inttnence if not to great numbers and many of their chief characters in Rhode Is- land history are to be found in the list of its communicants, among whom two of the governors of the colony foremost in intelligence and patriotism, among the best of colonial and rev- olutionary worthies, Richard and Samuel AVard. Yet even these strict constructionists had in something to bend to the practical temper of the day; and the more liberal went so far as to contend that they might lawfully ride their horses to meet- ing and do other things which to the Jews were forbidden on pain, not of eternal damnation in the world to come, of which they seem not to have had notice, but of an immediate j^unish- ment in the world tiiat is. On the settlement of Misquamicut (now Westerly) many of the membei-s removed to that place and joined in the organization of the church of this denomination there in 1705. The Newport church was at the height of its membersliip from the middle of the last century until the revolutionary war. About the middle IIIPTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 441 of the present century it had dwindled to such small numbers that services were suspended and for twenty-five years its meet- ing house was closed. Founders: William Hiscock, Samuel Hubbard, Stephen Mumford, Roger Baxter and three sisters, Tacy Hubbard, Rachel Langworthy, ■ Mumford. Pastors: Reverends William Hiscock, 1671-1704; William Gibson, 1704-1717 ; Joseph Crandal, 1717-1737 ; John Maxon, 1737-1788; Ebenezer David, 1775-1778; William Bliss, 1788- 1808 ; Arnold Bliss, Henry Burdick, 1808-1843 (the last pastor). House of Worsliip. — In 1729 a building was erected for tliem by Henry Collins, one of the founders of the Redwood library, on the north side of Barney street, near to Spring street. In 1884 this ancient structure which, in the long lapse of time, preserved its original appearance without and within, passed into the hands of the Newport Historical Society. During the year 1887 this young bnt vigorous institution, desirous of preserving from all possible danger this, almost the last of the quaint rel- ics of the olden time, purchased a fine lot on Touro street, next to the Jewish synagogue, and removed their building. It now stands safe and sound alongside of its durable neighbors. It is an odd conjuncture that after a century brings together, alike de- serted of worshippers, the two buildings in which the Hebrew ritualists and their followers in strict observance of the Sab- bath day commandment, were wont to gather in worship on the seventh day. Central Baptist Church. — This church, organized Janu- ary 7th, 1847, had its origin in the interference of members of the Society of Baptists, who were not professors of the faith, in the church government ; one hundred and forty-five members, including all the officers of the church, asked letters of dis- missal, "hicli were granted them, and under the lead of Dr. Henry Jackson founded a new church, whic'h has proved a sound and thriving organization, maintaining besides their own religious instruction a Sunday school on Callender avenue. Their meeting house was dedicated in September, 1847, and the society has had a career of uninterrupted prosperity. House of Worship.— On their organization in 1847 the Central Baptist Church purchased the Second Congregational meeting house, a handsome frame building, erected on the west side of 442 nisTOMY OF newpoht count y. Clarke street in 17B3. This was entirely remodelled witli a tower, galleries, vestries, a bell and an organ. Pastors: Henry Jackson, D. D,, 1847-1863; H. E. Robbins, 1861-1867 ; S. F. Hancock, 1867-1869 ; N. J. Wheeler, 1869- 1879 ; Warren Randolph, 1879. . The Siiiloh Baptist Church was organized on May 10th, 1864. The Rev. William Barnett was the first pastor. Rev. H. N. Jeter is the pre.sent pastor. The meeting house of this so- ciety is on the southwest corner of Mary and School streets. It was erected in 1798, and was for many years the property of Trinity cluirch. It was purchased in 1869 by Shiloh church. The present membership is about seventy. Friends' or Quakers' Society. — George Fox. the father of this denomination of Christians, began his labors in England in the year 1644. In the year 1656 Mary Fisher and her com- pany arrived at Boston, where the appearance of this "cursed sect of heretics" alarmed and mortified the worthy Puritans to the appointment of a day of humiliation. Laws were passed for their suppression, and in 1658 their tenets were made a capital offense. A persecution followed which continued for five years, and was only stayed by the order of Charles the Second, requiring a stoppage of all punishments, capital or corporal, and the dispatch of the offenders to England. But before adopting their violent measures of suppression, the Massachusetts au- thorities had resorted to their favorite method of exclusion. The party of eight which arrived in 1656 was returned to Eng- land the same year, but nothing daunted by their experience or the terrors of the sea, they re-embarked for America in 1057, this time, however, for New Amsterdam. The Dutch colony and the city of Manhattan was at this period the only soil where liberty of practice as well as of conscience in matters of religion, save in the case of Roman Catholics, was freely allowed. Yet even here the Quakers were harshly dealt with in the city proper, though permitted to live undisturbed on Long Island, where they rapidly grew in numbers and prosperity. A part of this little emigrant party landed in the Dutch city, the rest remained on the vessel, the ship " Woodhouse," which carried them on to Rhode Island. A trade and intercourse had already grown up between the settlers in Narragansett bay and the Hollanders at the western extremity of Long Island sound. Before the arrival of these professed Friends at Newport, IIISTOItY OV NKVVPOKT COUNTY. 443 opinions similar to tlieirs had been held by a sect termed Seekers, who soon after were merged in tlie former society. The bnsiness of " Seekers," Callender defines to be, "to wait for new apostles to restore Christianity. " Mr. Arnold, writing of 1647, states that up to that date the Friends did not exist as a distinct society holding to the nnlawfnlnessof oaths. Among these was William Coddington, one of the founders and the first judge of the colony. The opinions of the new sect spread rapidly, and it is said that in I608 there were no less than fif- teen ministers of the society in New England, nearly all of them in prison at once place or another. Tlie commissioners of the United Colonies assembled at Bos- ton in 1657, wrote to Rhode Island urging the banishment of the Quakers already arrived and the prohibition of any more from coming to the state, but the authorities and the general assembly answered that freedom of conscience, the principle and ground of their charter, should be maintained; adding that "being iinmolested the Quakers were becoming disgusted with their want of success." In this they were probably ill informed, as the free soil of Rhode Island was fast becoming the haven of rest to the persecuted Friends. Again in 1658 the commissioners summoned the general courts of all tlie colonies. Massachusetts passed a law punishing with death any Quaker returning after banishment. Rhode Island was threatened witli non-intercourse and stoppage of trade with all the other New England colonies and again held fast to her freedom. It is true that the threat of non-intercourse had no terrors for the colony so long as the English and Dutch were at peace. New Amsterdam was a nearer port and of easier and safer reach than Massachusetts bay. But the commissioners cared more for the rotundity of their phrases than the soundness of their facts. In 1658 the wife of one of the Providence settlers was pub- licly flogged in Boston for protesting against the cruelty prac- ticed on three of her brethren whose ears were cut off as Qua- kers under the penaltj- of the law, and in 1660 Mary Dyre, the wife of the first secretary of Aquidneck, having embraced the l)roscribed tenets and returning to Boston in spite of a decree of banishment, was hanged. She had before been condemned and reprieved on the scaffold, but returned to brave the general 444 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. courf, which was at tlie time sitting; this third appearance proved fatal. That the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church was now shown in the histoiy of the Friends. They gathered at Newport in 1661 in such numbers as to alarm the people of Boston for their personal safety. This gathering is called the First Yearly Meeting of Friends in America. In 1672 George Fox, the founder of the English Society of Friends, visited Newport when the yearly meeting was held at the house of William Coddington and lasted six days. Fox arrived from the Barbadoes, barely escaping capture by an Al" gerine rover, a good fortune he ascribed to the power of j^rayer. The Quakers were already in considerable numbers in the En- glish West India islands, and naturally found their way to the shores of Narragansett, whose settlers were already coasting on the islands and the main in a trade of barter. While Fox was in Newport a grand religious combat was proposed. No less a champion than Roger W^illiams himself sent a written challenge to the Quaker apostle to meet him in public discussion of four- teen jn-opositions denouncing the Quaker tenets; seven to be disputed at Newport, the remainder at Providence. The chal- lenge was some days on the way, and when it reached the hands of Deputy Governor Cranston, to whom it was consigned, Fox had already left the island. The dispute came off never- theless. Williams, though then seventy-three years of age, rowed himself down the bay from Providence. He was met by three of Fox's disciples. For three days the war of words raged high. The next hearing was at Providence, where one daj^ suf- ficed. No result is recorded; one fact remains, however, to whatever influence it be ascribed, whether the persuasion of Fox or the failure of Williams : at the October election, 167:^, William Coddington was cliosen governor of the colony. The Quakers were in control. i It has been found impossible to ascertain the date of the first organization of the Friends as a society. The first records of a monthly meeling at Newport are of the year 1676. The records of the yearly meetings begin at 1683. This meeting also was held at the house of Coddington; the date is of the 11th of the fourth month (June). The record states the assembly of Rhode Island to begin " ye second daye of ye 4th month in every year- til friends see cause in ye wisdom and council of God to alter it." IirSTOllY OF NKWPOUT COUNTY. 445 Friends'' Meefinf/ House. — The house of Governoi- Coddinf?- ton, wliere the earlj' meetings were held, stood on Mailborongh street, opposite Duke street. Coddington's lot of six acres was bounded by what are now Marlborough, Farewell. North Bap- tist and Thames streets. Then in open grounds, this must have been an admirable spot in the lovely month of June for an out- of-door gathering. Occasionally the nneetings were held at Portsmouth, at the house of Joshua Coggeshall, or at Adam Mott's, on the northern end of the island toward Bristol ferry, a large country house Avell fitted for the purpose. The first Friends' meeting house, devoted to that service and the place of the yearly meetings, was begun in the year 1699 and completed the next year. The women's section was added in 1808. Tliis was the period of the Friends' greatest i^rosper- ity when it is estimated that one-half of the population of this neighborhood were of this persuasion. Newport retains its prestige among the New England Friends. There is still a monthly meeting, a quarterly meeting for Rhode Island and a part of Massachusetts, and the great yearly meeting of all New England, held here every other year. Tliis church is the first house of worship built in Rhode Island. The First Congregational Church had its origin in the gatherings attracted by the preaching of Mr. Nathaniel Clap of Dorchester in the Massachusetts Bay, a graduate of Harvard College, and a member of the church of this denomination in Boston, who, at the instance of his minister, came to Newport, where he ])reaclied until his death. In 1720 the Fiist Congregational church in Newport was or- ganized, and Mr. Clap was chosen its pastor. The church grew and flourished ; its membership lapidly inci-easing for a few years wiien the pastor, whose ideas of discipline and church government were severely rigid, refused both to administer the sacrament of the Lord's J^upper and the right of baptism to the child of two of the communicants of his church on the ground that these members of his chui'ch were " not of sufficiently holy conversation" for the sacred ordinances. This course gave rise to heart burnings and differences which culminated in 1724 in a respectful petition to the pastor for consent to receive the sacrament in otlier churches ; to which he replied that lie had come to Newport on the advice of the reverend minister of Boston, and warning them of the awful account they would 446 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. have to render for the " damnation of souls lost for the want of his preaching." Mr. Clai) was evidently an eccentric jj^rson, and it would be difficult to understand how such strained relations could exist between a minister and his parish if it be not borne iu mind that the connection was at that time held "as solemn and as sacred as the marriage contract." In 1725 his people proposed a colleague, but this he also declined, and when, notwithstand- ing his objection, a minister was engaged, he took care to occupy the pulpit throughout the service to the exclusion of the new- comer, and in 1723 he maintained the same stand, in spite of the recommendation of an exparte council of churches, con- vened in April of that year. Exasperated bj' tliis persistence, a large. part of the congregation withdrew and organized a new church. Meanwhile it appears that in some way Mr. Adams, the minister with whom Mr. Clap refused to divide his charge, preached in the church building, whereupon Mr. Clap declined to preach in it thereafter, and a new house of worship was erected for him on Mill street. Mr. Clap died at an advanced age in 1745. There is a portrait of him in the church vestry. In 1755 the Reverend Samuel Hopkins, one of the most dis- tinguished divines in the history of New England, was installed as pastor of the First church. He was in charge when the rev- olution broke out, and in 1776 left the city for Great Barring- ton, in Massachusetts. He returned to his parish in the spring of 1780, and set himself to work to build up the broken con- gregation. Founders : Nathaniel Clap, John Reynolds, Thomas Brown, Culbert Campbell, Ebenezer Daveni)ort, William Sanford, Richard Clark, Job Bissefc, Joshua Statson, Kendal Nichols, John Mayhem, James Carey, Nathaniel Townsend and John Labeer (Peterson's History of Rhode Island). Pastors : Reverend Nathaniel Clap, 1720-1745 ; Joseph Gard- ner, 1740-43 ; Jonathan Heliei-, 1744-1745 ; William Vinal, 1746-1768 ; Samuel Hopkins, 1755-1803 ; Caleb T. Turney, 1804 -1815 ; Calvin Hitchcock, 1815-1820 ; Samuel Austin; 1821- 1826 ; William Torrey, 1827-1829 ; William Beecher, 1830- 1833. House of Worship. — This building was used for barracks by the British troops during their occupation of the city, and was left by them in a very bad condition. The pulpit, pews and fixtures were all demolished and the bell sent over to England. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 447 The Second Congregational Church was organized in 1728. Perliaps the most interesting event in its history is the connection with it of the Reverend Ezra Stiles, who was or- dained its pastor in i7o5, and continned in its charge nntil October, 1776, when the remnant of the (H)iigregation in the city resolved to suspend public worship during the winter be- cause of its disturbed state in the British occupation. In March of the following year Doctor Stiles left Newport and be- came president of Yale College, although he was not dismissed from his charge until after the close of the war. In 1786 he was succeeded in it by the Reverend William Patton, an ad- mirable scholar and worthy man, ))ut of Doctor Stiles it may be said that he was one of the most learned and profound scholars of his own or indeed of any age in American history. Pastors: Reverend John Adams, 1728-1729-1730; James Sear- ing, 1731 1755; Ezra Stiles, 1755-1776; William Patton, 1786- 1833. House of Worship. — This building fared little better than the first during the revolution. It was used also for barracks by the British troojis, the pews were destroyed and a chimney built through the middle of the pulpit. In 1787 a new bell weighing about eleven hundred pounds was imported from Copenhagen, and was hung in the belfry of the Union Congre- gational church in Springfield. "The City of Newport" is cast on the bell. United Congregational Church. — In 1833 the First and Second churches, after their separation of- more than a century, resolved to ninte again, and carrying their puri)ose into effect, the Reverend A. Henry Dumont was installed by an ecclesias- tical council the first pastor of the United church. A new house of worship was the next j'ear erected. Pastors: Reverend A. Henry Dumont, 1833; Thatcher Thayer, 1833-73; J. P. Taylor, 1873-76; II. J. Van Dyke, 1881- 1883; Forest F. Emerson, 1883. House of Worship. — On the union of the First and Second Congregational cliurches it was resolved to erect a new house of worship. This was dedicated to the worship of the Triune God on the 4th of June, 1834. Later a new house was erected on the corner of Spring and Pelham streets. 448 niSTOKY OF newpout county. Unitarian Congregational Church.— Congregationalism, Channing himself defined to be " the independence of Christian chiuclies." This was the fundamental principle of the fathers of New England. "They taught," he says, "that every church or congregation of Christians is an independent com- munity; that It is competent to its own government, has the sole power of managing its own resources, electing its own ministers and deciding its own controversies: and that it is not subject to any other church, oi' to bishops or synods or assemblies, or to any foreign ecclesiastical tribunal whatever." Newport was Channing's birtliplace, yet such was the heredi tary distaste to any innovation which threatened the "essen- tials," as they were called, of religion and faith, that for many years he rarely found welcome in any pulpit in the city. Nor is this surprising; for not half a century ago a Unitarian was held to be no better, indeed by many as somewhat worse, than a heathen. This exclusion of Channing was of course the consequence of his open identification with the Liberal church. The decisiv^e beginning of the Unitarian movement in Newport was in the autumn of 1835, when the Reverend Charles Briggs of the American Unitarian Association repeatedly preached in the state house. On the 24th of October a meeting was held at the house of William EUery, whose sister was the mother of Doctor Channing. Thei'e was present Samuel St. John, Richard Randolph of Virginia, Josiah C. Shaw, Charles Gyles, James Hammond, George Wanton EUery, William V. Taylor and Robert J. Taylor. A society was formed and the old Hopkins meeting house, then in possession of the Fourth (Freewill) Baptist Society, was purchased and remodelled. The society was originally formed as the Unitarian Association but at the next meeting of the general assembly, in January, 1836, it obtained an act of incorporation as the Unitarian Con- gregational church. . The last preaching in the state house was by Dr. Hale of Providence. The opening service in the church building formerly the Con- gregational, on Mill street, which they purchased in 1835, was held by Mr. Farley. He was followed during the winter by Mr. Angier of New Bedford, Samuel Barret of Boston, George Briggs of Fall River, on Thanksgiving day and in December by Ezra Stiles Gannett. In May Mr. Charles G. Brooks arrived on the island for the first time and preached the next day. The HISTOIIY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 449 church was dedicated on the 27th of .Tiily, 1836, Doctor Chan- ning himself preaching. Here they continued to worship until the present edifice, known as the Channing Memorial church was dedicated in 1881. The corner-stone of this structure was laid April 7th, 1880, the 100th anniversary of the hirth of Chan- ning. In August Mr. Brooks, of Salem, was invited to come to Newport and organize the church. He began his settled minis- try in December and was ordained on Wednes- day, June 14th, 1837, Doctor Brazer of Salem preaching the sermon and Doctor Channing de- livering the charge. Mr. Brooks ended his ser- vice, which had been rarely inter- rupted either by absence or ex- change, on the last Sunday before Thanksgiving, 1871, when the condition of his eyes compelled him to retire. He resigned his charge in the winter of 1872-73 and in Oc tober was succeed- ed by the Rever- end John C. Kim- ball as past 01', who served until Rev- erend M. K. Scher- merhorne took charge. He was followed bj^ the Reverend John W. Day who resigned in 1887. The church is now without a settled pastor. There is a fine medallion of Doctor Brooks in bronze in the Newport Histoiical Society. TkinityEpi.scopalChukcii.— On the 20th of September, 1C99, the people of the Church of England then resident in Rhode Is- land delivered a petition to tiie Earl v)f Bellomont, captain-gen- eral of the New England colonies and the New York province. 29 CH.\NNINO MEMORIAL CHURCH. 450 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. to tlie effect that they had agreed and concluded to erect a church for the worshiji of God according to the discijiline of the Church of England yet that, though disposed to encourage a pious and learned minister to settle among them, they were not able to provide a requisite maintenance; they therefore prayed the earl to intei'cede with the king for letters to the government of Rhode Island in their favor and also to interest himself with the lords of council of trade and i^lantations. This petition the earl sent to the board of trade with a cordial concurrence. Thej^ placed it in the hands of the bishop of London who presented it to the king. The king referred it back to the board of trade. To this and other petitions for promoting the Gospel among the Indians is ascribed the incorporation in 1702 of the "Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," which soon be- came an effective missionary agency of the Church of England among the whites as well as Indians of the American colonies. From the fact that the first two signatures to the Rhode Is- land petition were of French Huguenots, Gabriel Bernon and Pierre Ayrault, it is probable that the movement to organize an Episcopal church here sprung from them. The Huguenot col- ony at Frenchtown had just been dispersed by the encroach- ments of their neighbors; the families scattered and their church closed. The forms of the French Protestant church, its ritual and services, do not vai-y much from that of the Church of England and were more acceptable to the French than the want of form of the Puritan nonconformists in any of their sect varieties. The original founder and patron of Trinity church, the first Episcopal church in Newport, was Sir Francis Nichol- son. Of English birth and by profession a soldier, he held continuously from 1687 to 172.^ various posts of the highest honor in the provinces of the British crown in America. He was successively lieutenant governor and governor of New York, of Virginia, of Maryland, and again of Virginia. He com- manded the British forces sent to Canada in 1710, and cap- tured the post of Port Royal. In 1713 he was appointed governor of Nova Scotia, and in 1720 of Carolina. He re- turned to England in 1725, and died in London in 1728. The church in Newport was gathered by Mr. Lockyear, an Episcopal clergyman who began his ministry in 1698. A soci- ety was soon collected which, aided by the bounty of Nichol- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 451 son, built a handsome church. It was completed in 1702. In that year the " Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts " being incorporated in England, tiie wardens of Trinity applied to it for aid. In response, the Reverend James Ilon- eyman was sent over as a missionary in 1704, and also a fine theological library of seventy-live volumes, mostly in folio. A bell was presented by Queen Anne in 1709, ami funds to hang it were sent by the governor of Massachusetts and the Reverend Samuel Miles, minister of Boston, in whose respective hands Sir Francis Nicholson had left funds. The society grew and prospered in the charge of Mr. Honeyman, who is said to have been of a broad and conciliatory spirit to other religious denominations, all of whom he "embraced with the arm of charity." In 1713 the rector, church wardens and vestrj^ petitioned the queen for the establishment of bishops in America. Among the signers of the petition was Mr. Nathaniel Kay, the collector of the queen's revenue and a liberal patron of the church. In the year 1724 the society had so much outgrown the church that there were not seats enough to accommodate its own mem- bers and those who desired to join the communion, to say noth- ing of the numerous strangers who, even at that early day, were attracted to Newport. The communicants of the church numbered more than fifty. A thousand pounds were pledged toward the cost of a new building, which was completed in 1726, when Mr. Honeyman preached in it. The old structure was given to the people of Warwick, who were without a building. The church society was at this time in high jirosperity, having increased four fold in the quarter of a century since its founda- tion. The denomination was spreading over the island and its neighborhood, Mr. Honeyman having under his care also the towns of Freetown, Tiverton and Little Compton. In 1729 occurred an event interesting in itself and fraught with advantage to the church and town. This was the unpre- meditated arrival from England of Dean Berkeley, whose name is indissolubly connected with Newport history. The dean was an eloquent preacher and attracted large numbers to Trinity church. His son and his servants, to whom, after the fashion of the day, were given the family name of their master, were baptised into it by himself in the year of his coming. On his 452 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTi'. return to England in 1733 the dean sent over a fine organ as a donation to the church. The early records of Trinity church have been long lost. The second book begins with the date of July 5th, 1731. lu 1740 the society received a large bequest from Mr. Nathaniel Kay, one of the vestry, for the building of a school. In 1750 Mr. Honeyman died and was buried at the expense of the church in the south of the passage from the gate to the church, where his tomb- stone lies. He was suc- ceeded by the school teacher, deacon and priest, Mr. Jeremiah Leaming, under a temporary ap- pointment, or until the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel should supply a perma- nent minister. In 1752 a sum sufficient to purchase a parsonage was raised by subscription. In 1754 Thomas Pollen was sent out from England by the society a s missionary. The society having cut off twenty pounds of their allowance to the churcli, the pewholders had agreed among themselves to an annual tax for the support of their minister. Mr. TRINITY CHURCH, .NEWPORT. Polleu left the church of his own accord in 1760, and the venerable society was again invited to send over a successor ; but they neglecting to reply and withholding their annual allowance, the church called to their charge the Reverend Marmaduke Brown of Portsmouth, whom they settled with a salary of one hundred pounds ster- ling per annum, provided the English society did not continue their mission in Newport. In 17G9 the .society petitioned the general assembly for an act HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 453 of incorporation. The same year Mr. Brown visited England, the pulpit being filled in his absence bj' the Reverend Mr. i5is- set, who came from England two years before as an assistant. On the death of Mr. Brown the charge was placed in Mr. Bis- set's liands until the venerable society should be heard from. Mr. Bisset was soon after sent abroad with a letter from Trinity church soliciting the continuance of the mission, but without result. Thrown wholly upon their own resources, the congrega- tion in 1771 elected Mr. Bisset their minister. This reverend gentleman was in charge when on Sunday, tlie 8th of December, 1776, the British entered the bay and took possession of the island. Mr. Bisset, English born, was natur- ally loyal to the crown ; moreover, a large number of the wealthy and influential members of Trinity church were in full sympathy with the royal cause ; in this not dilfering from the Episcopalians in general throughout the colonies, in whose creed church and state were indisollubly joined. On the evac- uation of Newport by the British Mr. Bisset and many of these gentlemen went out with the fleet and sought refuge in New York, the British military headquarters. With Mr. Bisset' s departure services ceased. Indeed in the state of feeling of the inhabitants, they necessarily came to a close. Nay, more, the church building was occupied for some years by the " Six Principle Baptist Society." This suspense of the English ser- vice continued until 1781, when it was resumed by Mr. John Bours, a lay reader, who was invited in 1784 to take orders, and accept their charge as minister, but declined. In 1786 the Reverend James Sayre was settled as minister, but his jjastorate was not of long duration. The cause of the disagreement which brought it to a close is vvorthy of remark as showing how the principles of the American revolution had penetrated to tiie heart of society. He liad declared that he would never be brought to conform to any form which might be agreed ui)on for the establishment of union in the Episcopal churcliesof America if it dift'ered in any manner from the forms of the church of England, excepting the prayers for the liing. Record does not show how he was dismissed, wiiether or not by the intervention of Bishop Seabury, who was appealed to, or of Ills own free will. In 1789 tlie Reverend William Smith of St. Paul's church, Narragansett, became the minister of Trinity. 454 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Trinity church was represented by Mr. John Bours, their late lay reader, at the convention wliicli met at Boston in ITSii, and established the union of the New England churches and the liturgy and forms of worship. These were agreed to by the Trinity congregation, hut the agreement was rescinded on a nearly equal division of its members at the Easter meeting in 1789. In 1790 the Rhode Island Episcopal churches of New- port, Providence and Bristol, assembled in convention, declared the Right Reverend Samuel Seabury, J). D., then bishop of the church in Connecticut, to be also bishop of the church in the state of Rhode Island. But the feuds of the Newport church were not yet healed and Mr. Smith withdrew, accepting a call to Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1797. The Reverend John S. J. Gardner, assistant minister of Trinity church, Boston, was then invited to the charge, but finding it " a scattered church and a divided people," and perhaps because of an increase of his salary by the Boston congregation, declined the service, and recommended to the Newport church Mr. Theodore Dehon, a young clergyman, who entered on his duties in January, 1798. Under his ministry the church again began to flourish in its affairs, both temporal and spiritual. Mr. Dehon' s health was the cause of many absences, bnt his influence was beneficial, and he left the church in full prosperity when, in 1810, he re- signed the rectorship and proceeded to his new charge of bishop of South Carolina. Mr. Dehon was succeeded by his brother- in-law, the Reverend Salmon Wheaton from New Haven, who continued his ministry for thirty years, being sncceeded on his his resignation, in 1841, by the Reverend Francis Vinton as rector. Rectors of Trinitj/ Church: Reverend Mr. Lockyear, 1704; James Honey man, 1704-1750; Jeremiah Leaming, 1750-1754; Thomas Pollen, 1754-1760; Marmaduke Brown, 1760-1771; George Bisset, 1771-1779; James Sayre, 1786 1788; William Smith, 1789-1797; Theodore Dehon, 1798-1809; Samuel Wheaton, 1810-1840; Francis Vinton, Robert Hall, Darius R. Brewer, 1846-1855; Ale.xander Mercer, O. H. Prescott, J. H. Black, I. P. White. George J. Magill. Founders of Trinity Church: Petitioners to the Earl of Bell- omont, 1699; Galniel Bernan, Pierre Ayrault, Thomas Fox, George Cutler, William Pease, Edwin Carter, Francis Pope, Richard Newland, William Brinly, Isaac Martindale, Robert HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 455 Gardiner, Thomas Paine, Thomas Mallett, Robert Wright ington, Anthony Blount, Tliomas Lillibridge. Second Episcopal Parish (Zion Church). — This churcli, an offshoot of Trinity, was organized in 1833 by a number of per- sons who believed there was room in Newport for a .second church of this faith. They were incorporated by act of tlie general assembly in 1834. Their first jninister was the Reverend John West, who, after service for some time as a convocation missionary, was invited to take permanent charge of the con- gregation as rector in 1834. During the first year great diffi- culty was found in procuring suitable places for the holding of services. The early meetings were held in the chamber of rep- resentatives in the state house. Later the congregation found comfortable accommodations in the vacant Presbyterian church building on the hill and in the brick school house in Mill street. The churcli building which the congregation erected on the south side of Washington square was completed in the spring of 1834, and consecrated in June by the Right Reverend Bishop Griswold. The building was expensive and tlie church struggled under a considerable debt until 183G, when a committe was raised to relieve it, who, it is said, in a few days collected enough money to extinguish it. The church has been since prosperous. In 1840, it being found that the bell in the tower was injuring the organ, the tower was taken down and tlie bell removed. In 18n3 the chancel was altered in accordance with a plan sub- mitted by the rector, the Reverend Mr. AVatson, and greatly improved. In 1863 a new altar table and credence were presented by the Reverend Mr. Child, and the next year a very fine and costly organ took the place of the old instrument. It was ob- tained by voluntary contributions. The same year the rector, Mr. Child, consti'ucted at his own expense an addition to the chapel in gothic style with an emblen: chancel window, for the accommodation of the Sunday school. During the rectorship of Mr. Murphy various improvements were made to the interior and exterior; among othersa beautiful stained glass window, the subject of which is Raphael's "Ascension of the Saviour.'' In 1885 the property was sold to St. Joseph's church (Roman Catholic), and "Zion church" ceases to exist. Founders: Stephen T. Northam, James Mumford, Samuel Whitehorne, John G. Whitehorne, Henry Potter, Jacob Smith, 456 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Charles H. Mnmford, Alexander P. Moore, James Atkinson, John F. Townsend, William Rider, George Knowles, W. Van Zandt, John B. Lyon, Richard Johnston, John G. Barlow. Ministers : Reverend John West, 1834-42; Benjamin Watson, 1842-55; L. Richmond Dickinson, 1856-58; William Colvin Brown, 1858-61; William S. Child, 1861-68; T. Logan Murphy, 1868-1876; Edward H. Kettell, 1876-1881; John C. Hewlett, 1881- 1883; Frank Woods Baker, 1884-1885; Charles C. Gilliat, the last rector. Emmandel Church. — In 1850 thecotton mills in the southern part of the city attracting a considerable population to that neighborhood. Miss Charlotte Tew began to visit them and soon interested the clergy in their behalf. The Reverend D. R. Brewer, then rector of Tiinity, who had but shortly before suc- cessfully established All Saints' chapel for tlie occupation of the more well-to-do in worldly affairs, was quickly and earnestly interested in the new movement. The old Free Will Baptist church was purchased, and the other rectors of the Episcopal church on the island joining with him, services were there held continuously from October, 1850, until the summer of 1851, when the Reverend John L. Gray received a call as permanent rector, his support being paid for by subscrij^tions from mem- bers of TrinitJ^ A Sunday school was organized and the new church grew rapidly in numbers. Doctor Gray withdrew the next year and was succeeded by the Reverend Kersey J. Stewart, whose salary was pledged in advance by the Reverend Mr. Brewer, and the parish being now duly organized, was admitted into the convention in 1852. Three years later, in 1855, Mr. Stewart resigned, accepting a call to Virginia and the Reverend Doctor Brewer assumed the charge of the parish, leaving for this small mission that of Trinity church. A sufficient sum of money being pledged, a new church build- ing was erected on the corner of Sjiring and Dearborne streets; a fair was held by the ladies of Trinity church which brought a sum larger than that pledged. It was given to the building fund of the Emmanuel Free church, which was inaugurated in June, 1856, by the Right Reverend Bishop Clark by the mar- riage by the bishop of Miss Charlotte Tew, who may be held the founder of the parish, and the rector. Dr. Brewer. The first Sunday service was held two days later. In April, 1858, the last indebtedness being cleared, the new church was consecrated. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 457 The church lias been successful in a high degree, its Sunday school education being one of its most extensive features. Ministers: The Reverend John D. Gray, 1850-1851; Kersey J. Stewart, 1851-18.55; D. R. Brewer, 1855-1858; Charles Win- gate, 1858-1861; Louis P. W. Balch, 1861-1865; F. A. McAllis- ter, 1865-1867; S. C. Hill, 1867-1876; Robert B. Peet, the present rector. House of Worship. — Originally, 1850 to 1856, in the old Free- will Baptist church on Thames street; from 1856 on the corner of Spring and Dearborne streets. All Saints' Chapel. — This chapel, which originally stood on Church street, was built in 1848 by the Rev. D. R. Brewer, with a view to relieving the pressure during the summer months upon Trinity, of which he was then the rector. The cost of the building was defraj'ed by a subscription among the parishioners, to which Miss Phoebe Bull was the largest contributor. The services at the chapel were intended to be and were conducted by visiting bishops and clergymen. Mr. Brewer retained the control of the building until, to obtain funds for the addition of a tower and school room to Emmanuel church which he had since erected, he sold the chapel to the Reverend Doctor Mercer who had succeeded him as rector of Trinity. The purpose of Doctor Mercer was the reverse of that originally contemplated in the erection of the chai:>el. He proposed to occupy the pulpit himself in the summer months and give the use of Trinity to the visiting bishops and clergymen. The next year the chapel was removed from Church street to Beach and Cottage streets, where it now stands. Some differences of ojnnion arising between Doctor Mercer and his vestry in which, however, the rector had the support of his congregation at Trinity, he resigned his charge and accepted a call to Trinity church, Boston. In the progress of this differ- ence some of the higher clergy recommended to the church a waiting policy and on the advice of Bishop Clark, a young di- vinity student, Mr. Walter Bernard Noyes, was invited to occu- py the pulpit of All Saints' as lay reader of the services and of the sermons of Fiederick Robertson. In 1861 the vestry of Trinity, disturbed at the protracted withdrawal of so large a number of its members, proposed that if they would close the chapel and return to Trinity no objections would be made to Doctor Mercer's return to the chapel whenever he might 458 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. choose. This was accepted but immediately afterward the rec- tor of Zion church, who had before joined with the vestry in their opposition to the officiating of Doctor Mercer in the chapel after his resignation of his charge in Trinity, and held him to be a clergyman foreign to the parish, again made pro- test, on this occasion joined by the rector of Emmanuel church, and the qhapel was once more closed. Again, as in the case of the Trinity congregation, the people of Emmanuel had no part in this action of their rector. It was now proposed to Doctor Mer- cer that^if he would relinquish the right of personal property in the chapel and leave it in trust for the purposes of the Episco- pal church it would be received into the diocese at the ap- proaching convention. This Doctor Mercer at once agreed to and in 1864 the j^arish was organized and the chapel became free. It had always been kept for the accommodation of sum- mer visitors. St. George's Church. — This is an outgrowth of Zion church. For a year after the sale of the property on Washington square, this parish worshij^iped, by the courtesy of the order of the Grand Army of the Republic, in their hall on Thames street. In April, 1885, the society purchased a lot on Rhode Island av- enue opposite Berkeley street, and in August the cornerstone was laid by the Right Reverend Bishop Clark, assisted by Bishop Potter of New York and the local clergy of the Episco- pal church. Bishop Potter delivered the address. The site was selected because of the rapid growth of the city in the neigh- borhood and the need of more accessible accommodation in the winter season. The church was named after the Right Rever- end George Berkeley. The wisdom of the selection of the site has been shown by the growth of the parish since the change of location. The parish has been constantly in the charge of the Reverend Charles G. Gilliat since its removal, and to his devo- ted service its remarkable success is due. An organ was pre- sented by some of the liberal friends of the parish in the sum- mer of 1886 and the choral service is already an attractive fea- ture of the service. A memorial window to Mrs. Duty J. Pierce, widow of the late Judge Pierce, the oldest communicant of Old Zion parish, is now ready to be set uji, and the church is the constant recijjient of gifts appropriate to the festal seasons. A commodious building has been erected on the church lot for the Sunday school which has a. large and rapidly growing attend- IIISTOUY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 459 ance. Built essentially for the local permanent population, the attractive situation has brought to St. George's a large number of transient summer worshippers. The Moravians or United Brethren. — This order of Chris- tians, Brethren of the Law of Christ, as they at first called them- selves, and later United Brethren, originated in Moravia toward the middle of the fifteenth century. They first came into his- torical notice about the year 1725, when they were received into the protection of Count Zinzendorf and allowed to settle in his village of Bethelsdorf. In 1734, the Elector of Saxony expel- ling the order from his dominions, the count, who had himself joined the society, undertook to procure them passage to Geor- gia from the agents of that colony residing in London. The society established missions there, but declining to take up arms in defense of the colony, were forced in 1739-40 to take refuge in the Pennsylvania settlement. In 1740 Bishop Nischnian, with a company of the brethren, arrived from Europe and purchased a wild and woody tract in Pennsjdvania, in the heart of the In- dian country, to which they gave the name of Bethlehem. They soon after purchased of Mr. Whitefield " his manor of Nazareth " and his unfinished school house. In 1742 they were visited by Count Zinzendorf. They soon began to send out mis- sionaries, not only among the neigliboring Indians, but into distant lands. In 1749 two of these missionary brethren, Matthew Reutze and George Henke, came to Newport to take passage foi' Sur- inam. Here they preached among the Sabbatarians, then un- der the charge of the Reverend Timothy Peckham, and greatly interesting these people, were requested to organize a church. At their request the parent society in Pennsylvania sent on two brethren, who were followed by others, until in 1758 a congre- gation was established and a minister settled. The church maintained its existence with various -fortunes for nearly a cen- tury, but gradually united with other societies and has since passed out of existence. The meeting house was taken down and the land since sold to Trinity church, and a fine brick school house has been built thererui. Pastors: Reverend Richard Ultey, 1758 ; Thomas Yar- rell; Frederick Smith, 1763; Louis Rusmeyer, 1760— 1783; Frederick Smith, 1785—1802; Samuel Towle, 1803-1819; George I. Muller, 1819—1829; John G. Herman, 1821—1823; Charles A. Van Vlyck, 1834—1837; Charles P. Seidel, 1837. 460 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Methodist Episcopal Church. — Methodism, the religions revival of the eighteenth century, takes its name from the or derly progression, the observance of system or meth(xl in re- ligious affairs, which was inculcated in the doctrines preached and illustrated in the methods practiced by the Wesley broth- ers and by Whitefield. John and Charles Wesley began their teaching at Oxford in 1729. In 1735 they crossed the ocean as missionaries to Georgia, but met with little success. In 1736 Charles Wesley visited New England and preached in King's chapel, the English Episcopal church of Boston, after which he returned to England, whither his brother followed him some time later. GeorgeWhitefieldcame over i»173S and made an itinerant tour through New England, preaching in the open air to great crowds of people. He arrived in Newport in a sloop from South Caro- lina, on Sunday, the 14th day of September, 1740. Contrary winds detained the vessel in the offing, but Whitefield set him- self to ))rayer that he and the ship's company might arrive in time for public worship. When he had done praying, lie says in his recital, and had come up out of the cabin, it was quite fair. He arrived in time for worshii^, and after the services was invited to lodge with one of the gentlemen of the city. In the evening he visited the Reverend Mr. Honeyman, the rector of Trinity, and obtained permission to use his pulpit on the next daj% though the reverend gentleman at first hesitated, ob- jecting that preaching on week days was disorderly. The next day he read prayers from Trinity pulpit to some tliree thou- sand persons who were gathered without and within the church, and numbers were greatly affected. The general assemblj', which was then in session, adjourned that its members might hear him. Richard Ward was then the governor. Whitefield also preached from a small table in the fields near the old stone mill, in what is now known as Touro Park. He left Newport on Wednesday and preached in Bristol and Brockton with great effect, and journeying on to Boston was met some miles outside of the city by the son of Belcher, the governor of Massachusetts, and a company of gentlemen of dis- tinction. He was at this time but twenty-six years of age. In his mission work in America Whitefield crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, and finally died in Newburyport in 1790. He founded the Princeton and Dartmouth colleges and the negro HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 401 children's school, of Nazareth, on the banks of the Delaware. Neither of the Wesleys ever returned to America, but the con- verts of John Wesley came over in large numbers. In 1769 Richard Boardman and Joseph Pittmoi'e, Wesleyan preachers, were sent over to take charge of his following in this country, the first going to New York and the latter to Phila- delphia. In 1771 Francis Asbury and Richard Wright came over, and Mr. Asbury became the first resident bishop in America. At the first Wesleyan conference held in 1773 the number of members was reported at nearly twenty-one hundred. During the colonial i^eriod these American churches were connected with the church in England, but in 1784 the Methodist Episcopal Church in America was organized as an independent body, five years before the similar reorganization of the Pro- testant Ei:)iscopal Church. At the conference in 1784 rhe num- ber of Methodists was reported as nearly fourteen thousand, but in the appointments for that year no preacher was assigned to New England. In 1789 Jesse Lee, of Virginia, made a tour of New England, and preached in September at Cranston's coffee house in Charlestown, Washington county, R. I., after which he visited Boston. In 1790 he returned to Rhode Island, preached his first ser- mon in Newport on the 30th day of June, "as is believed in the church on Division street," and on other occasions both in the city and other towns on Narragansett bay. In 1800 Joshua Hall was appointed to Rhode Island and preached in Newport several times. Meanwhile regular cii'cuits were established for the itinerant preachers, Newport being at first included in Greenwich and in 1794 in Warren circuit. In the same year the first Methodist house of worship was built in Warren. The Newport Methodist society was at first transitory. In 1803 Thomas Lyel, whose post was at Boston, was appointed to Newport for two months, George Pickering being the presiding elder. In 1805 Reuben Hubbard and Peter Payne, whose station was also at Boston, preached in Newport in the First Baptist church, of which the Reverend Michael Eddy was pastor. In 1806 a regular appointment was made for the town of Newport and Mr. Hubbard was assigned as preacher in chaige. The use of the senate chainber in the state house and afterward 462 HISTORY OF newpokt county. of the assembly chambers was granted to the congregation. There remains, however, no record of the names of the early members of the society. The society was incorporated by act of the general assembly in 1807. Of the twenty-three incorporators named in the act the first, Reuben Hubbard, was the pastor. He came from Maryland, to which he soon returned, however, and joined the Protestant Episcopal church. Many of the others were promi- nent citizens of Newport. The first board of trustees under the charter consisted of James Perrj% Benjamin Wightman, Joshua Ajipleby, John Hull, Joseph Boss, Jr., George Irish and Benjamin Moore. The first preserved records of the meet- ing of the incorporators was in March, 1810, when Lloyd Beale presided as itioderator and James Perry was elected steward. Their first task was to build a house of worship in which they were greatly aided by two jiersons, Captain James Perry and Benjamin Wightman, who, though neither of them were mem- bers of the church themselves, erected the building. In June an attempt was made to raise the funds needed by a lottery. The scheme was based on a ten thousand dollar prize, the price of tickets being set at five dollars. The Newport Mercury of June 5th, 1807, contains the advertisement: NEWPORT METHODIST CHAPEL LOTTERY. 10,000 dollars a going for only five dollars. Now is the time to make your for- tune. Tickets in the above lottery for sale at the Auction Room of Lopez & Dex- ter, where a scheme of the lottery may be seen. It is hoped that those who wish to encourage religion, laying aside the prospect of a fortune, will call and pur- chase liberally. No deduction from prices — 10,000 Dollars THE HIGHEST PRIZE for 5 Dollars. Adventurers I You have now a fine chance to make your fortune. If you do not buy a ticket you will not draw a prize. Tickets in the Newport Methodist Chapel Lottery of John C. Shaw, No. 3 Washington Square. and later followed : Nothing Venture, Nothing Have. Now is your time, Adventurers to try your good fortune or lose only five dollars. Y'ou may gain Ten Thousand Dollars on trial in the Newport Chapel Lottery. James Pekry. This plan of raising money for public purposes by lottery was common during the last half of the last century and in the beginning of this. It was usual in the colonies and states. The Newi)ort lottery, however, seems never to have been drawn. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 4G3 The chnrch was not fully completed at the time of its dedi- cation in May, 1807. Samuel Merwin, the preacher in charge, preached the sermon. The society now began to attract new members, and is said to have had an element of " worldliness " nnnsnal in that day and not precisely in accord with the origi- nal spiiit of the early Wesleyans. In 1829, when the term of service of Mr. Norris as preacher in charge expired, the number of members was reported as ninety- five. When the towns of Newport and Portsmouth were united under a single charge the full membership was one hundred and sixty-four. In 1832, during the term of Asa Kent, a period of adversity for the church began in the charge of murder brought against Mr. Avery, the pastor of the Bristol church, who was brought to Newport for trial. Opinions as to his guilt were di- vided within as well as without the church and feeling ran high. Animosity to the individual turned to hatred of Methodism in general. Kent held firm in his work though the membership of the chnrch fell off one half and at times the service was almost wholly deserted. The acccused was aquitted but the cause of Methodism suffered until 1834, when a revival of religion, iinex- ampled in its historj^, restored its waning fortunes. In 1844 the annual conference was held in Newport, Bishop Hedding presiding, assisted by Bishop Janes, and the influence of the chnrch again took increase and an era of unchecked pros- perity set in. In 1855 P"'rederick Uphani was appointed to New- port as pastor and his administration was of great advantage to his people. In 1871 a new act of incorporation was obtained from the leg- islatui-e for tlie first church. Before this the church had not been incorjiorated in accordance with the forms prescribed b}^ the "Book of Discipline." Under the new charter the parish holds the legal title of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Newport. The first charter, however, remains in force under the title of the Methodist Episcopal Clumdi and Congregation. The two work together. In December, 1881, dui'ing the pastor- ate of Mr. Angelo Carroll, the society met with calamity in the almost total destruction of the first church by fire. They were not without frieiuls in their disaster, the Friends offering them one of their large rooms and the Second Baptist society inviting them to join with it in worship. The Congregationalists gave them a similar invitation and the Central Baptists offered the 464 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. use of their building half of each Sabbath, an invitation which was heartily accepted. The injured Iniilding was promptly re- stored with many convenient changes and in July, 1882, the congregation bade farewell to their hospitable friends and re- turned to their old home. Incorporators of the First MetJiodist Episcopal Church : Reu- ben Hubbard, James Perry, Joshua Appleby, John Hull, Jo- seph Boss, Jr., George .Irish, Henry Moore, William Dennis, Lloj'd Beale, William Moore, Jr., Benjamin Wightman, John Spooner, Albert W. Gardiner, John Pitman, Paul M. Mumford, Jonathan Heath, Benjamin Pearce, George Cox, Isaac Sherman, Samuel E. Carr, John A. Shaw, Nicholas R. Gardiner. — (Davis' History of Newport Methodist Chnrch). Pastors of the First Mothoclist Church : Reuben Hubbard, 1805; Samuel Mervvin, 1807; Daniel Webb, 1809; Benjamin F. Lambert, 1811; Daniel Webb, 1814; Enoch Mudge, 1825; Sam- uel Norris, 1827; James Porter, 1829; Thomas W. Tucker, 1830; Asa Kent, 1832; John Lord, 1834; Louis Janson, 1835; Thomas Ely, 1836; Jonathan Cady, 1837; Isaac Stoddard, 1838; Frank- lin Gavitt, 1840; Joel Knight, 1842; Robert M. Hatfield, 1843; Elislia B. Bradford, 1845; Richard Livesey, 1846; Bartholomew Otherman, 1848; Asa U. Swinerton, 1850; John B. Husted, 1852; John Lovejoy, 1853; Frederick Upham, 1855; Micah J. Talbot, 1857; John B. Husted, 1858; Henry S. White, 1859; Charles H. Titus, 1861; Lucius D. Davis, 1863; Daniel A. Wheadon, 1866; George M. Hamlin, 1868; Edwin S. Stanley, 1869; Dudley P. Leavitt, 1871; William F. Whitcher, 1874; Edgar M.Smith, 1877; Angelo Carroll, 1880; Daniel A. Wheadon, 1882; Joseph Hollingshead, 1883-5; Thomas J. Everett, 1886; Joshua A. Rich, 1887. Second Methodist Episcopal (Thames Street) Church. — This second organization of the Methodists, originally intended as a mission in the southern part of the city of Newport, was formed in 1856, during the i:)astorate of Mr. Upham. Twenty- seven persons took letters from the First church, and were placed under the charge of Mr. O. N. Brooks. They had at first met for prayer and class instruction at i:)rivate houses. In 1854 they held stated meetings in an old school house in Mil- burn court, and soon after in a vacant store on Sisson's wharf. They still continued a part of the First church until the next year, when the conference assigned Mr. Brooks to South New- HISTORY OF NEAVPORT COUNTY. 465 port. He found the churcli witlumt a single member. Bishop Janes joined the two organizations in one charge, and Mr. Brooks was appointed assistant. A house and lot were pur- chased on the corner of Thames and Brewer streets, the build- ing was converted into a temporary chapel, and the next year the new society was formed. The leading spirits in this move- ment were Clark Burdick and Isaac W. Sherman. Founders of tlie Second {Thames Street) Methodist Episcopal Clmrcli: Clark Burdick, Martha Burdick, Isaac W. Sher- man, Emily D. Sherman, William T. Holt, Eliza G. Holt, Ed- ward S. Hildreth, Seth Swinburne, Ira S. Eldredge, Sarah H. ■ Eldredge, William D. Morehead, Sally Morehead, Alexis M. Slocnm, Mary G. Albro, Susan A. Carr, Levi J. Greene, Ben- jamin A. Sayer, Jacob H. Lamb, Harriet P. Lamb, David Reed, Charles Williams, Rebecca Williams, Hannah Peabody, Mary E. Mowrj', Sarah Slocum, Mary E. Sherman, Susan C. Kaull. Pastors of the Thames Street Church : Orlando IST. Brooks, 1855; Edward A. Lyon, 1858; William H. Richards, 18C0; Wil- liam Livesey, 1862; Edward A. Lyon, 1864; Frederick Upham, 1866; Asa N. Bodfish, 1868; Benjamin A. Chase, 1870; Shadrack Leader, 1874; William T. Harlow, 1876; Oliver H. Pernald, 1878; Samuel T. Carroll, 1880; Edgar P. Clarke, 1883-5; Pran- cis D. Blakeslee, 1886; Orange W. Scott, 1887. The house of worship of the Pirst Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 18(^7. It is said to have been the first Meth- odist church with pews, a steeple and bell, erected in Amer- ica; and there is a tradition that Bishop Asbury "lilted his hands with holy horror when he first saw it and predicted that a church which began with a steeple would end with a choir and perhaps even with an organ." The partial destruc- tion by fire in 1881 left the steeple undamaged, but the bell has been changed and the old square pews have given way to more modern seats. Houseqf WorsJiip. — The church occupied by this congregation stands on the corner of Thames and Brewer streets. It was erected in 1866 and the chapel rebuilt in 1873. In 1879 great changes were made in the chief building, the walls frescoed, stained glass windows introduced and a good organ provided. The methods of the Methodists are now more like those of their worldly neighbors than in the simple beginnings of the foundation of their order. 30 466 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The Cnion Congregational Church (Colored). — This church was oi'gfinized in 1824 witli fourteen members. It orig inated from a society formed in 1780, called the Union Society for General Improvement. The present edifice, which is located on Division street, was erected in 1871. The pastor is Rever- end M. Van Horn, who commenced his service in 1868. The church has about two hundred members. The Jewish Synagogue. — It is said to be of record in the annals of the order of MasDnry that fifteen Hebrew families from Holland arrived at Newport in 1652, and brought with them the first three degrees of the craft. If it be true it is the earliest mention of Jews in Newport. In 1677 two of this race, Moses Pacheco and Mordecai Campanal, bought for tlie use of the Hebrews then resident in Newport a plot of land "for a burial j^lace," and the deed assigns it to the said Jews and their heirs and assigns and successors forever. The piece of land thus conveyed was forty by thirty feet. This was the begin- ning of the cemetery of the ancient Hebrew congregation, which i^icturesque and well oi'dered burial place is to be seen on Kay street, at the head of Touro. Among the pi'oceedings of the general assemblj- held at New- port June 24th, 1684, the following is recorded: '■'Voted, In answer to the petition of Simon Medus, David Brown and asso- ciates, being Jews, presented to this assemblj^ bearing date June 24, 1684, we declare that they may expect as good protec- tion here as any stranger, being not of our nation, residing amongst us in this his Majesty's colony, ought to have, being obedient to his Majesty's laws." This is the first mention of the Jews as a class, or indeed at all, in the colonial records. The answer of the assembly to the l^etition is not a law but a declaration, and is in entire accord with the first article "touching Lawes" in the " Lawes and Orders " adopted and promulgated in 1647, which reads, "That no person in this colony shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseized of his Lands or Liberties, or be exiled or any other- wise molested or destroyed but by the Lawfull judgment of his Peers or hy some known Law and according to the Letter of it Ratified and confirmed by the major part of the General As- sembly lawfully met and orderly managed." The patent for Providence Plantations, granted in 1643, gave the colony full power to rule themselves and ordain their civil HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 467 laws and constitutions and inflict pnnislinients, provided that tile said laws, constitutions and punitslimenis for the civil gov- ernment of the said Plantations be conformable to the laws of England so far as the nature aiul constitution of tlie place would admit. The charter granted by Cliarles the Second in 1663 contains this phrase: "That our royall will and ])le;tsure is that noe person within the said colony [Rhode Tslaiul and Providence plantations] at any time hereafter shall be in any wise molested, punished or called in question for any differ- ences in opinion in matters of religion, and doe not actually disturb the civil peace of our sayd colony; but that all and every person or persons may from time to time and at all times hereafter freely and fully have and enjoye his and their own judg- ments and consciences in matters of religious concernments." The general assembly at their meeting of May,1664,in conform- ity to this clause declare, "At present this General Assembly judgeth it their duty to signify his majesty's gracious pleasure vouchsafed in these words to us verbatim (viz): That no person within the said colony at any time hei-eafter shall be in any Avays molested, punished, disquieted or called in question for any difference of opinion in matters of religion and do not actually disturb the civil peace of the said colony." But it must not be supposed that either tlie charter or the acts of the assembly invested any person with political rights. The original settlement of Aqiiidneck was under a compact by in- corporators. They styled themselves "Freemen incorporate of this Body politick." Subsequent freemen were admitted. This body alone claimed, held, and exercised all civil authority. The records of 1641 give the court roll of freemen and note the disfranchisement of four of their number and order the names to be cancelled out of the roll. A distinction is made between those admitted to be inhabitants and those admitted as freemen. Later the records do not make mention of formal admission of inhabitants, but there can be no question that the resident Jews were by usage and consent so held. In 1762 two persons professing the Jewish religion petitioned the superior court of the colonj' to be made citizens. Tiieir pe- tition was denied; and whatever may be thought of the wisdom of this denial it is absurd to say that any community from whom the power has not been withheld by charter or constitu- tion has not the natural right to Judge for itself whom it may 4C8 HISTORr OF NEWPORT COUNTY. admit to the share in its government and the framing of its laws. Mr. Arnold (History of Rhode Island) says that "long anterior to the Revolution, Jews were not only allowed in Rhode Island as they were nowhere else in New England, the quiet enjoy- ment of their religious faith and forms of worship, but were on several occasions upon petitions to the assembly naturalized as citizens of the colony." Certain facts of history are hardly to be found outside of le- gal records, newspapers and letters. As the Jews were not free- men of the town they are seldom mentioned in the first; the second were not printed in any of the colonies till after the be- ginning of the eighteenth century; and such as have come down of the third class of information of course do not touch upon the concerns of a race who lived apart, rarely mingled with their Christian neighbors, were by nature and habit secretive and re- served, and at this time had little interest in literature or the arts. It is probable that the first Holland emigrants of Jewish race were of Spanish descent, driven out from their southern home by the Jesuit inquisitions. And here it may be remarked that the southern Jew was and is of a higher order than those of Middle and Northern Europe. The better class of Jews left Jerusalem in the first great exodus and settled along the shores of the Mediterranean, while those from whom the Jews of the Rhine derive were of the lower order and sent up as slaves with the famous Sixth Legion which, after the destruction of the Holy City by Titus, was ordered to garrison the frontier posts in the neighborhood of the present cities of Mayence and Frankfort. This digression is made to account for the esteem in which the Jews in New^rortwere held and the position they were accorded in the social life of the eighteenth century. Some account of their relation to the trade and commerce of Newport appears in another chapter. It has been seen that true to the traditions of Abraham, their first public act was to secure a burial place set aiaart and conse- crated to their use. But toward the middle of the eighteenth centTiry they had increased in numbers and in wealth sufficient- ly to erect for themselves a place of worship; and in the year 1759 they secured a plot of land on which, following the precept of their religion as to constructions, they erected a building which still stands; a worthy monument to the unobtrusive na- ture, the quiet push and the ideas of permanence which char- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 469 acterize the best varieties of their race. This structure was com- pleted in 1703. There were at that time over sixty families of Jews in the town, some of considerable wealtli. An account of the dedication of this, their synagogue, ap- peared in the Newport letter of the Boston Post Boi/ oi the 12th of the same month, 1763: " Newport, December 5. — On Friday last, in the afternoon, was the Dedication of the new Synagogue in this Town. It began by a handsome Procession in which were carried the Books of the Law to be deposited in the Ark. Several portions of the Scripture, and of their Service with a Prayer for the Royal Family were read and finely sung by the Priest and People. There were present many Gentlemen and Ladies. The Order and Decorum, the Harmony and Solemnity of the Mnsick, together with a handsome Assembly of People, in an edifice the most pefect of the Temple kind perhaps in America and splendidly illuminated, could not but raise in the mind a faint Idea of the Majesty and grandeur of the ancient Jewish Worship mentioned in Scripture." Callender writing in 1739 says: " There are at this time seven worshipping assemblies, churches or societies in this town, be- sides a large one of the People called Quakers at Portsmouth, the other end Part of the Island:'' three Baptist, two Con- gregational, one Church of England, one Friends. Morse's Gazetteer m 1797 records that Newport had ten houses for public worship. To-day, in 18SS, there are nineteen churches or houses of worship: four Episcopalian, four Baptist, three Methodist, two Congregational, one Friends, one Swedes, one Synagogue, and two Roman Catliolic; one of the Baptist, Methodist and Congre- gational for colored people. History of the Catholic Church in Newport.* The history of the Catholic church in Newport county, like its history everywhere, is full of interest. From a small begin- ning it has steadil}^ increased and is now an important factor in the promotion of law and order in the community. All things considered, its story reads like a romance, so rapid has been its development, so marvellous the lidelity of its scattered children. To-day, whithersoever we turn, monuments of Catholic zeal and enterprise meet our gaze — monuments, too, tliat are the direct * By Reverend James Coyle. 470 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. result of sacrifices such as tlie world has seldom witnessed. Sixty years ago Catholics in Newport county were extremely few in number and poor in all that regards worldly posses- sions. Historicnlly speaking Newport can claim the honor of being , the cradle of the Catliolic churcli in Rhode Island. During the war of independence, in 1778, the sacrifice of the Mass was offered up b.y the chaplains of D'Estaing in the soutli room of the present state house. It is certain that there were Catholics in Newport after the departure of the French allies, for records in the Boston cathedral, bearing date 1791, show that Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, and Father Thayer of Boston had conferred the sacrament of baptism in that town. Bristol and its environs were visited in 1811 and 1812 by Bishop Cheverus and Doctor Matignon of Boston, who there baptized the children of the French- American portion of the population. In February, 1827, Reverend Patrick Byrne, also of Boston, visited the Catholics employed at Fort Adams and in the coal mines at the northern part of the island and prepared over one hundred and fifty of the operatives for the reception of Holy Communion. Encour- aged by Father Byrne's report. Bishop Fen wick authorized Reverend Robert D. Woodley, then residing in Providence, to attend Newport as an outmission. In 1828, Father Woodley purchased and fitted up a small school building on Barney street, the first Catholic church in the state of Rhode Island. In October, 1828, Bishop Fenwick visited this modest edifice, where he preached and confirmed eleven persons. During his sermon he urged the purchase of additional lands for future needs. In 1830 Reverend John Corry succeeded Father Woodley in the care of the Newport mission. The latter, relying on his rapidly increasing congregation, began the election of a more pretentious edifice on Mount Vernon street, which M-as dedi- cated to the service of God August 20th, 1837. The new church was known as St. Joseph's, and had a seating capacity of be- tween seven and eight hundred. In tiie fall of 1837 Father Corry was succeeded by Reverend C. Lee, who was in turn succeeded by Reverend James O'Reilly in 1839. On Father O'Reilly's departure for New Bedford Bishop Ty- ler appointed as Newport's resident jxistor a man whose name is slill a household word. Reverend James Fitton. Father Fit- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 471 ton considered tlie Moiint Vernon street edifice unsal'e, and fore- casting the future of Newport, secured on Spring street the site of the present splendid temple of Our Lady of the Isle. In his onerous work Father Fitton had not only the support of his own faithful tiock, he had moreover the cordial co-operation of his fellow citizens irrespective of creed or class. To his aid, too, with princely munificence, caine those worthy descend- ants of the Carrolls of Carroll ton, Mrs. Harper and her devoted daughter Emily, both of Baltimore. Their substantial aid was of incalculable value to Father Fitton in his gigantic under- taking. The corner-stone of Our Lady of the Isle was laid June 14th, 1849, the two hundred and tenth year of the settlement of Newport, there being then within its limits a Catholic jJopTi- lation of five hundred and eighty-six souls. During its entire progress the work was superintended by General Rosecrans, then an officer at Fort Adams. Our Lady of the Isle was ded- icated in 1853 by Right Reverend Bernard O' Reilly, the then bishop of Hartford. Saint Mary's, as the church is now called, was among the first and best efforts of that prince of Catholic architects, P. C. Keeley of Brooklyn, who might base his claim to undying re- membrance on this glorious temple alone. In 1855 Father Fit- ton was succeeded by the Very Rev. William O'Reilly. V. Gf. Father O'Reilly entered upon the work of his new charge with ardor, and in 1865 replaced the old school building on William street by the present massive granite structure. After the death of Father O'Reilly, in December, 1868, the aifairs of the parish were conducted by Father O'Connor, till the arrival of the i)res- ent incumbent, Reverend Phillip Grace, D. D., in September, 1869. The new pastor found that much had been done, but that more remained to be done. Debts, numerous and pressing, stared him in the face. With a loftiness of purpose that won him hosts of friends. Doctor Grace began liis great life work. The task was Herculean but priest and people were a unit in well-doing, the result unequivocal success. The history of Doc- tor Grace's nineteen years pastorate is stamped on every move- ment, where scholarly al)ility and unbouuded devotion were called into question. His zeal and self-sacrifice have had their fruition in the absolute clearance from debt of everything con- nected with Saint Mary's. A stately convent, a magnificent church, a majestic school and a beautiful rectory, all free and 472 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. unincumbered, speak volumes for the ceaseless generosity of the resident and visiting Catholics of Newport. To this proud record might be added manj^ less notable works, among them two cemeteries where the faithful toilers, pastors and people, united even in death, slumber together. The Church of Our Ladj^ of the Isle was solemnly conse- crated by Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, Bishop of Prov- idence August ]5th, 1884, in the presence of the Most Rev. Archbishop of Boston and other prominent dignitaries of church and state. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by Very Rev. C. H. McKenna, the far-famed Dominican preacher. In January, 1885, the new Saint Joseph's parish was estab- lished, the needs of the residents in the northern portion of the city necessitating the division. In May, 1887, Doctor Grace took possession of the costly and spacious rectory built on the site of the old parochial residence. This last and crowning glory renders Saint Mary's parish comi)lete in every particular. The new edifice, like all the other buildings, is entirely paid for, a fact that speaks volumes for the united and generous efforts of pastor and iwople. Saint Joseph's Parish. —The history of the new Saint Jo- seph's pai'ish, though covering but a brief space, is full of in- terest. It embraces the northern portion of the city, and has a resident population of about sixteen hundred souls. The formation of Saint Joseph's was officially announced on Sun- day, January 18th, 18S5, from the pulpit of Siiint Mary's. One week later its first pasLor, Reverend James Coyle, held initial services in the old Unitarian church on Mill street, with large and interested audiences in attendance. Here the people as- sembled till the March following, when a more commodious edifice, that of the Zion church corporation, corner of Touro and Clarke streets, was secured. The sum paid fen- this prop- erty was§15,02r), a price by no means exoi'bitant, inasmuch as the site is deemed by far the finest in the city. After making some necessary repairs and alterations, the church and chapel adjoining were solemnly dedicated on Sunday, September Gth, 1886, by Right Reverend Thomas F. Hendricken, Bishop of Providence. Tlie high mass on this occasion was sung by Rev- erend Leo P. Boland of Boston, and the vespers by Reverend William Staug of the Cathedral, Providence. The bishop preached to large and attentive audiences at botii services. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 473 besides administering the sacrament of contirmation to two hundred and sixty-eight persons after the eight o'cloclv mass. In addition to the local, many out of town clergj'men were also in attendance, and took part in the ceremonies. The close of its second j^ear found Saint Joseph's not alone without debt, but ready to augment its possessions. This it did by securing, January 1.5th, 1887, the neighboring property, known as the Young estate, the price paid being $28,500. May of the same year saw the commencement of a new rectory des- tined to be complete in all its appointments, and an ornament to that portion of the city. The architect of this stately edifice was J. D. Johnston, Esq., and the builder Mr. M. A. McCormick. This new structure was taken possession of October 13th, and on the day following was thrown open for the inspection of the citizens generally. Over fifteen hundred people of both sexes accepted the invitation and examined the new residence in all its details. Three days later, October 16th, Right Reverend MathewHarkins, Bishop of Providence, visited the parish offici- ally, and confirmed seventy-five persons and received a large num- ber of aspirants into the various church societies. This year, too (1887), witnessed other changes that drew from all quarters expressions of unqualified approval. Large sums were expended in the beautification of the church, chapel and grounds which, together, now form a picture exceedingly attractive. Besides the wox-k of the parish proper, Saint Thomas' church at the Coal Mines, twelve miles distant, is visited once a month for regular services. The Catholic boys of the Training Squad- ron, too, are attended from Saint Joseph's, as are the inmates of the Newport Hospital, alms house and county jail. The Sunday-school, inaugnrated during the stay in Mill street, has grown steadily until the present, when about four hundred children are in attendance. In addition to the ordinary attrac- tions, these have a large, carefully selected library at their disposal, from which books may be taken weekly without charge. The church societies are ten in number, seven of which have secured costly banners and regalia. The organizations are so graded as to embrace the entire youth of both sexes, their aim being to facilitate i)arish work and to promote real practical piety. Saint Jo.sei)h"s Total Abstinence Society for adults is 474 IIISTOlty OF XEWPOKT COUNTY. the laro-est in the diocesan union and is daily increasing in membership and influence. The third year of Saint Joseph's existence, like the two pre- ceding, has been of rai)id advancement. Not alone has it added to its material possessions, it has besides contributed its mite toward the beauty and moral well being of the city. Since its organization three years ago Father Coyle has actually piaid from its treasury between forty-eight and fifty thousand dol- lars, a marvelous showing, all things considered. This year (1887) a new and spacious rectory has been built and paid for, the vestry enlarged, church, chapel and grounds beautified and the funded debt of the pai'ish reduced considerably. Like its older sister. Saint Mary's, the motto of this young but am- bitious parish seems to be "Upward and Onward." Public Schools. According to the colonial records Mr. Robert Lenthal was admitted freeman of the body politic by the general consent of the general court held at Portsmouth on the 6th of August, 1640. Lenthal came to Newport from Weymouth, near the Massachusetts Bay colony, where the year before (1639) he, with some associates, had been prevented organizing a Baptist church by the magistrates. They were all arraigned before tlie general court at Boston and fined and imprisoned. L:;nthal managed to delay his sentence, perhaps to avoid his tine, and at last joined Mr. Clarke's Aquidneck settlement. His name first appears in the roll of freemen of the town of Newport on the 16Lh of March, 1641. According to Arnold (History of Rhode Island, I, 145), he had been by a vote of the town of Newport, on the 20th of August, 1640, "called to keep a public school for the learning of Youth and for his encouragement there was granted to him and his Jieirs one hundred acres of land and four more for a house lot," and he adds it was also voted " that one hun- dred acres should be laid fourth and appropriated for a school for encouragement of the poorer sort to train up their yoiitli in learning, and Mr. Robert Lenthal while he continues to teach school is to have the benefit thereof." Mr. Lenthal was a minister and sided with Clarke in the early schism which dis- turbed the Baptist church in the summer of 1641. In the fol- lowing spring he returned to England and apparently did not return, as his name appears for the last time in the records of IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 475 the f^eneral court of election IGth and 17th March, 1642, where it is ordered " that Mr. Leuthal being gone for Enghmd is sus- pended his vote in election." There is no doubt, however, that he had given instruction to youths before his departure, though the influence of Governor Coddington, who was one of the dis- sidents in the church controversy, probably interfered with the settlement of Lenthal as schoolmaster under the provisions of the grant. The assembly, in their order directing the preparation of an address to Charles the Second on his restoration to the crown (1666), mention the "erecting of schools and promoting of learn- inge by some encouragements from England" among the sub- jects to be treated of, and the address conforms to the order but asks no other favor than the restoration of the royal grant to its former state that the colony might itself be encour- aged to go on propagating plantations, etc., "and instructing their children in learning and civil education." On the 28th of April, 1697 (as we learn from Governor Coz- zen's Long Wharf address), Newport voted other school lands for the benefit of a schoolmaster. In 1704 the town built an- other school house at the public charge. The town voted six acres to be sold for the purpose, and laid a tax of one hundred and fifty pounds for this object. After some delays a large house was built and fitted, and in 1709 Mr. William Gilbert was chosen schoolmaster, to have the benefit of the land for one year. In 1710 leave was granted to a Mr. Galloway to teach a Latin school in the school house. In 1713 another school was established, and Benjamin Nicholson was chosen schoolmaster. In 1714 John Hanimett was chosen for nine j'^ears, on terms similar to the previt)us engagements. In 1728 one hundred and six acres were voted by the town for a school house in the eastern portion. In 1726 it was ordered that the great school house, and all the public school hou.ses, in the precincts of New- port be repaired and paid for out of the public treasury. Gov- ernor Cozzens, in the address in which these facts are stated, says that "from 1726 down to the time of the revolution we find the same devotion to the cause of learning that characterized our early settlers; but evidently private schools monopolized a large share of the youth between 1740 and 1776," the period of Newport's prosperity. During the revolution the school houses, in common with 476 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. other public buildings, were used as barracks, and education declined. "Consequently," adds Governor Cozzens, "public scliools appear to have been abandoned, and we discover no ev- idence of any effort being made to restore them until 1825, the only exception being the Friends' school under the Potter be- quest and the direction of the Long Wharf trustees. Private schools of c'ourse were continued, but there was no revival of interest in the public school system until 1830, when their mod- ern history may be said to begin." The public school system of Newport owes its origin not to an act of the legislature, but to the spirit of its inhabitants, and one of its chief features is that it was designed by its authors, not for rhe education of one class alone, but of all classes, rich and poor alike. The original agreement of association is pre- served, and may well be looked back upon by the descendants of its subscribers because of its broad and truly American spirit of fraternity. It will be seen that the number of asso- ciators outran that provided for as the minimum in the agree- ment. "Newport, August 26th, 1824. — The subscribers do agree to form an association to obtain the best j^ossible information rel ative to the establishment and support of free schools in those places where they are under the best regulations, and to use all just and honorable means for the establishment and support of free scliools in this town on the l)est plan that can be devised for the education of the youth of every class of the community on just and equitable priMcii)les. And to this end we agree to meet as soon as the signatures of one hundred freemen shall be obtained to carry the object into effect. Samuel Austin" (and others as -follows — the list of subscribers being now classified alphal)etically for greater convenience of reference). Subscribers: Samuel Austin, Jonathan T. Almy, Samuel Allen, John T. Allen, William S. N. Allen, Thomas C. Allen, An- drew V. Allen. John Bigley, Isaac Burdick, Green Burroughs, William Bar- ber, Nicholas G. Bass, Stephen Bowen, Thomas Bush, Alex- ander Barkei', David Braman, David Bowen, Samuel Barker, John Brown, Gardner Braman, Sanford Bell, Lewis Barlow, Abraham Barkei', Jonathan Bowen. John Cahoone, James Coggeshall, David M. Coggeshall, R. B. Cranston, Stephen H. Cahoone, Charles Cotton, Benjamin HISTORY 01' NEWPOliT COUNTY. 477 Waite Case, Henry T. Cranston, Charles Cozzens, Robert Car- ter, Freeborn Cogo-eshall, Thomas Coggeshall, Thomas Clarke, Isaiali Crooker, Otis Chaffee, Christopher G. Champlin, Charles Collins. John W. Davis, John Dennis, Anthony Dixon, Benedict Day- ton, Thomas Dennis, jr., Daniel C. Denliam, Robert Dennis, John W. Davis, jr., Darius Dennis. George Engs, James Easton, William Ennis. Michael Freeborn. Charles Gorton, John Goddard, Isaac Gould. Benjamin Hull, William N. G. Holme, Zeaas L. Hammond, Henry J. Hudson. William Lovie, J. W. Lyon, Benjamin Lawton, Robert P. Lee. Elnathan Manchester, Joseph Martin, David Melville, Jolm S. Maxon, Benjamin Mumford, T. H. Mumford, Benjamin B. Mumford, John P. Mann. Simon Newton, William S. Nichols, Moses Norman, S. T. Northam. Dutee S. Pearce, James B. Phillips, Gideon Palmer, Isaac C. Peckham. David Rodman, Peter P. Remington, Oliver Read, Chris- topher E. Robbins. E. P. Shearman, George C. Shaw, John Stevens, Harvey Ses- sions, Elijah Sherman, Isaac R. Spooner, Richard Swan, Wil- liam Shearman, Joseph G. Stevens, Thomas Sherman, Robert M. Simmons, Abiel Spencer, Samuel Simpson, John Sterns, W^. Stevens. Benjamin H. Tisdale, Anthony V. Taylor, James Townsend, Theophilus Topham, William Tilley, Jr., John Tillinghast, William Thurston, Thomas Townsend, Jr. Nicholas Underwood. Samuel W. Vinson. Joseph Weavei-, Solomon G. Weaver, Pardon White, Ben- jamin Weaver, Thomas Weaver, Charles Whitfield, Nicholas White, Charles Wilcox, John Williams, Robert Williams, Samuel Watson. Shortly after, public opinion being excited in favor of a gen- eral plan of education, the town was authorized in 1825 by the assembly to raise a tax of eight hundred dollars for "educating the white children of the town who are not otherwise provided 478 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTT. with the means of instrnotion," and to apply to this purpose the avails of certain lands which had been bequeathed to the town. In February, 1826, it was voted in town meeting to purchase a lot in Mill street, and a committee was appointed to erect a building. In March of the next year this committee reported the purchase of the lot and the building of a school house of brick and stone at a cost of $2,7o0, of which sixteen hundred dollars came from the two years' tax, the remainder being the proceeds of bequests and private gifts. At the same meet- ing the town took measures to establish a fund for the support of the public school fund from sales and rent of land and the avails of license. They also resolved on the immediate begin- ning of a school for boys on the Lancasterian or Monitorial system. Other general regulations were adopted and a school committee of live was appointed who were " to perform their duty gratuitously, the honor of the station and the gratitude of their townsmen to be their only reward." The gentlemen thus honored as the first committee were: Nicholas G. Boss, Edward W. Lawton, George Engs, James B. Phillips and Theophilus C. Dunn. In 1828 they reported three hundred and thirty-seven applications for admission, of whom thirty-three were reported as not within the provisions of the law. The number then attending was stated as two hundred and twelve. In 1844 a committee reported that there were nearly two thousand children in town between the ages of five and fifteen; that of these six hundred and eighty were provided for in the public schools, and four hundred and fifty in thirty private schools, leaving nearly nine hundred for whom there was no accommodation in the existing buildings. The first full report of the Newport school committee appears in the state report of 1856. It stated the number of public school pupils at eight hundred and seventy-three, distributed among seventeen schools and taught Ijy twenty-two teachers. The appropriation at that period for school support was sixty- five hundred dollars. The report of the school committee of 1887 estimates the population of Newport at twenty thousand and gives the fol- lowing statistics of school attendance in general in 1886: public school pupils, 1,888; Catholic school pupils, 615; select school pupils, 149; total, 3,390; number of children attending no school, 3,539. In the public school instruction fifty-three teachers were employed, and the total exjienditure reached $50,635. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUKTY. 479 The RoGf;RS Hirm School.— This institution, the fame of which is not confined to the limits of Rhode Island, had its be- ginning in a bequest of one hundred thousand dollars by Wil- liam Saiiford Rogers of Boston, which came into possession of the N^ewport city authorities in June, 1872. The conditions of the bequest required the erection by the city of a suitable build- ing. The city accepted the bequest and the tax payers voted an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars for the purpose. A lot was purchased on the south side of Church street about ten thousand square feet in extent. A building was at once con- structed and in December of the same year Mr. Frederick W. Tilton, well known and experienced in educational matter's, was selected as head master. The generous benefactor was himself a Newporter, born in the city in 1786 and buried there in the newer portion of the grave- yard at the head of Farewell street in 1872. He was a purser in the United States Navy and served on the "Adams" in 1813. Not a man of the highest education him.self, he knew the value of learning and his name will be gratefully remembered for his generous practice wlien those of more cultured theorists shall be forgotten. The school maintains its high repute. By the last report of the school committee (1887) the number of students was 133. The Female Industrial School. — In the early part of 1872 Miss Katharine P. Wormeley began in a modest way in the Townsend homestead on Broadway, the training of females for household work and home duties, the attendant expense being contributed by sympathizing friends and long-suilering house- keepers. Application was made at the session of the assembly in tlie ensuing winter for an appropriation from the school fund to the support of this establishment. At the outset it had the sympathy of the community, but on careful examination of the possible ultimate bearing of such special designation, all parties united in opposition to the appropriation. Meritorious as the institution was recognized to be, the policy of any diversion of the general fund, voted to general purposes, to any special pur- pose was seen to be dangerous as a i)recedent; and it is to the credit of Miss Wormeley that she herself, in a noble letter to the public press, accepted the refusal of the assembly as wise and foreseeing. Private assistance enables her to carry on this most worthy 480 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. sclioo], and there is little doubt that in the abundant gener- osity of the citizens of Newport, and the thousands who have interest in this new Eden, she will iind an endowment wliich will, as it should, lift its fortunes beyond the caprice of in- dividuals or the range of legislative enactments, and consequent interference with that class of instruction which is better man- aged by a well governed trust. Minor Schools. — It would not be becoming to mention the names of the many well bred and educated ladies who have undertaken, and still undertake, the tuition of youth in New port. Many of them belong to the oldest and most widely known of New England families ; some to other sections of the country. To the honor of the city it may be truly said that the science of instruction — the pi-ide of the Greeks, the delight of the middle ages— is, at least in this city, a profes- sion in highest honor. The Lenthal School House. — This, the most elaborate of the public school buildings, stands on the corner of Spring and Perry streets, on a lot fronting on each; two hundred and one feet on Spring and two hundred and fifty-four on Perry. It is of stone and brick, two and a half stories high. Its measure- ments are eighty-seven and one-half feet by nearly eighty si.v. Its architecture is of the colonial style, the body of the build- ing being of Swanzey granite. The total cost, furnished, was fifty thousand dollars. The city council, in 18S4, in view of tlie large and growing population in the southern part of the city, and the need of more ample school accommodations there, submitted to the tax i)ayers a proposition to borrow a sum of money for the purchase of land for the purpose, and in 1885 for a further sum for the construction of the building. In September, 1887, the structure was formally transferred by Mr. Nathan Barker, chairman of the common council and chairman of the building committee, in the presence of a distinguished body of citizens, to the Honorable Mr. Powel, mayor of the city. Appropriate addresses were delivered and the building declared open for its designated object. It is named in honor of Kobert Lenthal, who, in 16-±U, opened in Newport the first free school in America, and, as has been said, "perhaiDS in the world;" but, strange to say, there is no allusion to this pioneer in Rhode Island education in at least HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 481 the printed remarks of any of the honorable orators on this oc- casion. In 186.5 the office of superintendent of pnhlic schools was created, tlie first incumbent being the Reverend M. I. Talbot. Mr. George A. Littlefield is now (1888) superintendent. Among the other school buildings may be mentioned : Long Wharf School House, William and Third streets. The origin of this school is an instance of the utilitarian or practical and educational or moral ideas in appeals to the public sympathy and the public purse. In 179.1 thirty-six of the merchants of Newport, anxious to rebuild Long Wharf, which had greatly si;ffered during the war of the revolution, petitioned the general assembly for their incorporation as a board of trustees and jier- mission to raise twenty-five thousand dollars by lottery for this purpose and the building of a hotel, under the engagement that all j)rofits arising from the enterprise should be appropriated to the building of one or more free schools. The public notice of the scheme attracted the attention of Simeon Potter, a resident of Swanzey in Massachusetts, who made a gift of a dwelling house and some buildings on Easton's point, to be added to the school fund. The lottery was drawn, the wharf rebuilt and the income of the Potter gift applied to the betterment of the estate until 1814, when the trustees appointed a committee to devise a plan for opening a free school for poor children. Accommodations in the Potter house were provided for from fifty to si.xty pupils, and Captain Joseph Finch and his wife were placed in charge. The Potter house was on Washington street, corner of Marsh street. It was a large building and had one rooip fifteen by fifty feet long with two fire places, which was adapted for school pur- poses. The first year twentj'-five boys were instructed; in 1815 their number was increased to forty. Under the supervision of an annual committee the school flourished until the death of Captain Fincsh in 1829, when it was changed to a school for smaller children of both sexes under the charge of his widow. In 1834, on the.liberal establishment of town schools, the Potter school was no longer deemed necessary. The estate was sold and the proceeds deposited in the savings bank where the fund increased. In the year 1862 the trustees of the Long Wharf es- tate, under the authority of the general assembly, leased the property for a term of one hundred j^ears to the Newport & Fall 31 482 iirsTOTiY OF Newport county. River Railroad Companj^; they determined to carry out fully the conditions of tlieir trust and appointed a committee to pur- chase ground for and build a new school house in the First ward. Plans were submitted by George C. Mason and accepted. A lot one hundred feet square, on the corner of Tliird and AYillow streets, was bought, and a two-story slate roofed fire i)ro(,)f building, with a front of fifty-four feet on Willow street and measuring forty feet on Third, of pressed brick with freestone trimmings, was erected. It was dedicated with appropriate cer- emony in May, 1863, and an opening address delivered by the Honorable William C. Cozzens, the governor of the state, who was also one of the trustees. The custody of the building, with a formal presentation of the keys, was then made to the mayor of the city, and by him to the chairman of the school committee of the city, before a large assembly of people. Trustees of Long Wharf, Hotel, and Public School: Act of assembly, January, 1795. Henry Marchant, George Gibbs, George Champlin, Christoi)her Cliamplin, James Robinson, Peleg Clarke, Henry Sherburne, John Bours, Oliver Warner, John Handy, Francis Malbone, Daniel Mason, Ethan Clarke, Christopher Fowler, Simeon Martin, Thomas Dennis, John L. Boss, Samuel Vernon, Junior, Christopher EUery, Christopher G. Champlin, William Ellery, Junior, Daniel Lyman, Isaac Senter, Benjamin Mason, Aaron Sheffeld, William Littlefield, Silas Deane, Audlej^ Clarke, Constant Tabor, Caleb Gardner, ^^athan Beebe, Moses Seixas, Nicholas Taylor, Walter Chan- ning, Archibald Crary and Robert Rogers. (36). Public School Houses 1887. — Rogers High School, Church street; Coddingt on school. Mill street; Potter school. Elm street; Willow street school; Cranston avenue school; Cranston street school; Clarke street school; Farewell street school; Edward street school; Fifth Ward school. Perry street; Parish school, South Spring street; Thames street evening school. Dates of Building. — Farewell street school house, 1833; Clarke street school house, before 1852; Thames street school house, 1860; Willow street, Edward street and Parish school houses, 1863; Cranston street school house, 1867; the Coddington, 1870; the Rogers High School, 1873; the Lenthal school house, 1887. CHAPTER X. NEWPORT TOWN AND CITY. By John Austin Stevens. First Settlements. — Newport as a Summer Resort. — Private Mansions. — Town and City Governments. — Mayors. — Fire Engines. — Gas. — Public Parks. — Pub- lic Buildings. — Liberty Tree. — Libraries. — Fine Arts. — Newspapers. — Notable Events. — Trade and Commerce. — Manufactures. — Banks. — Cemeteries. — Charitable Organizations. — Societies. WHEN the British evacuated Newport in 1779 they carried with tliem the town records. The vessel on board which they were placed sunk at Hurlgate. In 1782 the town council applied to General Carleton, then commander-in-chief of the British forces with his headquarters at NewYork, for their restoration. In December, 1782, they were returned by the gen- eral, with a courteous letter of regret for the condition in which they were — water soaked and neglected for thi'ee years. No attempt was made by the Newport authorities to repair or re- store them until December, 1857, when orders were given to this end. About one-half of the records were rescued and re- copied. The real estate and probate records, consisting of over thirty large volumes, were irretrievably lost. The town rec- ords have not as yet been printed. The student is therefore compelled to resort to cognate and collateral sources for the de- tails of town history. The first settlements in the town of Newport were made in conformity with the order of the incorporators, agreed upon in general meeting, that " the town be laid out and built on both sides of the spring and by the sea southward." This spring had its source at or near the head of what was for many years known as Tanner street but now is West Broadway. There was then a pond at this place (Vaughan's pond) and a flow of water from it sufficient to drive a mill. In fact the first struc- ture of this character was built here within a few years after 484 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. tlie settlement. The first house was built by Nicholas Easton, on what is now Farewell street. It was destroyed by fire, kindled, as the records have it, by Indians in the woods near by, in 1641; Callender says, it was thought, by Miantonomi, but there does not appear to have lieen any just cause I'or such sus- picion. Peter Easton, in his diary, says that his father, Nicho- las Easton, with his two sons, himself and his brother John, came down from Pocasset by boat to an island, where they landed and to which they gave the name of Coaster's Harbor, Avhich it has since retained. This island is now the property of the United States and the site of the War College and the Naval Training school. The Eastons were soon joined by others of the company, and the rude beginnings of a town were nuxde in the neighborhood of the present state house, on the two sides ©f the spring which descended to the cove. The mill was on Marlborough street. It may be here observed that all these names of localities ai'e of later date. It was evident that it was the purpose of the settlers to found a seaport town. The cove was the natural harbor. The depth of water admitted of the passage of vessels of one hundred tons. The laud was, however, marshy, and it was only by continued effort that the shores were pi'epared for the purposes of trade. As the population increased the town grew in a southerly direction, following the line of Thames and Spring streets. The earliest authoritative account of the con- dition of the town is found in the answer of Rhode Island, Peleg Sanford, governor, to the inquiries of the board of trade in 1680, which says "that the principal town for trade in the colony was the Towne of Newport; that the generality of the buildings was of timber and generally small." The first survey was made in 1712 by John Mum ford, sur- veyor, on the order of the townholders, granted in response to a petition of John Hammett, the town clerk. It ran as follows: "Whereas, it is universal and orderly custom for all towns and places throughout the world when grown to considerable degree of maturity by some general order to name streets, lanes and alleys tliereof and this town having of late years been so prospered as to increase the number of buildings the which is to the admiration of the neighboring towns so that it is the Met- tropolitan of the said government and trade and yet, notwith- standing to our great reproach persons at a distance are not HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 485 capable to demonstrate when occasions reqnire in what street in this town they dwell. And also it being no small ditficulty to the scrivener in obligatory writings to give such plain and ample demonstrations of the bounds of lands and houses bounding on any of the streets of this town." A map, known as the Mumford map, was drawn in conform- ity with this survey. For many years it was out of sight but in I860 was mounted and hung up in the office of tlie city clerk, where it is to day preserved. On tliis map the main street is called, as it is now, Thames street. It had been previously known, certainly as early as 1699, as the Strand, tiie general name for the water front. Spring street began at Grif- fin, now Touro street, and stopped a little south of Mary street (so call- ed in memory of the wife of Governor Wal- ter Clarke). The part of Spring street from Griffin northerly was called Bull and stopped at Broad street then as now. The only streets which ran easterly, rising to the crest of the hill, were Griffin and Mill — which took its name irom the old stone mill. These were connected bj^ a short street on the ridge called Jews street, now the northern end of Bellevue avenue. The compact part of the town was from tlie town pound, at the head of Broad street, to Tiiames street. The public buildings at this time weie tlie town school house between Queen and Ann streets, now the parade, Govei'nor Bull's house, built in l(i39 and still standing (the oldest house in THAMES STREET, NEWPORT. 486 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the colony), on Spring street near its junction with Broadway. The northern part of this, a stone bniiding, was used as a jail, Mr. Bull having- begun his official career as the lirst jailer or ''Gen- eral Seargeaut of the Colony." The only meeting house was the Friends', erected in 1699, still standing on Farewell street. The principal private residences were the Coddington house, the governor's dwelling ou the north side of Marlborough street near Duke, built in 1641; the Nichols house, dwelling of John Nichols, later deputy governor, afterward known as the White Horse Inn and still standing on the northwest corner of Marl- borough and Farewell streets, and the Wanton houses, residences of the two gov- ernors, William and John, on each side of Thames street. The tlrst census of the col- ony was taken in 1708. The total population was 7,181, of which 1,015 were free- men,56 white and 426 black serv- ants. Of this -X e w port ha d twenty-two hun- dred and three all told. Provi- dence at this time had only fourteen hundred and forty-six inhabitants. By the answer of 1680 to the board of trade it appears that at this date "There was no shipping belonging to the colony but only a few sloops." The governor must have been modest in this statement for the town records show the existence of Long Wharf in 108;"), at which time a privilege was granted for building another "wharf into the sea." Long Wharf is on the Mumford map called Queenhithe, an old English name for a haven for boats,and the next street north was Shipwright street, all of which show a considerable shipping and shipbuilding in- terest. It is curious to notice how the English colonists clung THE OLD CODDINQTON HOUSE. HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 487 to home names. Even the fish market, which was at the foot of Mill street, was called Billingsgate, after the famous London mart. Hammett, in his bibliography of Newj)ort, which is of special value for its treatment of newspapers and maps, says " that in the division of the island among the early settlers it is probable that there was some kind of a survey, but the divisions seem to have been described by reference to prominent objects." The records show that there was a survey and the allusion to prominent objects is adhered to even in surveys of the most ac- curate kind. In 1729 Dean Berkeley wrote "The town of New- port is the most thriving place in all America for bigness;" a comparative but not otherwise instructive description. In 1745 the assembly ordered a plan of Fort George and the harbor for the instruction of the British Board of ordnance. The plan was drawn by Peter Harrison, the architect of the Redwood Library. In 1758 Dr. Ezra Stiles made a map which he annotated witli his own hand. It is one of the treasures of the Redwood Library. From his notes it appears that from the bars below Captain Collins (the south end of Thames street) to the tree at upper end of Main street was 1,900 paces or one mile. There were 17 wharves to the Long Wharf. On the Point 188 dwelling houses and 110 stores, including the buildings on the west side of Thames street; 148 of these dwelling houses two stories high, 48 one story high; 110 stores, still shops, stables, etc. In 1761 Newport contained 888 dwellings, 439 warehouses and other buildings. Descriptions of the city at later periods, during the English and French occupation and after the revolution, have already been given in the chapters relating to those periods, and ob- servations also of sundry visitors to the town during the lat- ter part of the century. Maps were made for military purposes, one on a survey by Charles Blaskowitz in 1777, engraved and published by William Farden, Cliaring Cross, London, in Sep- tember of that year. A fac simile reduction accompanied Mr. Stevens' "French in Rhode Island" in the Magazine of Amer- ican History for July, ]879, of which he was the founder and then the editor. Blaskowitz also surveyed Narragansett bay, and a chart was published at London in 1777, and republished in France for the use of the navy by order of M. de Sartine, minister of the marine, in 1780. De Banes, in 1781, included a map and chart of Newport in the splendid collection entitled 488 HISXOKY OF NEWrOirr COUNTY. "Atlantic Neptune" published by the London admiralty for the use of the royal navy. By the descri^ition of Newpori which Doctor Morse published in his "American Gazetteer" of 1797, it appears that the town then contained one thousand houses built chiefly of wood, and ten houses for public worship. Newport was long in recovering from the effects of the war of 1812 and the total sus[)ension of her commerce. "For thir- teen years," says Mr. Dow in his interesting sketch of New- l^ort in four epochs of her history, from 1815 to 1828, " not a house was built upon the island, and for the ten succeeding years the merchants watched auQ waited in vain for a revival of commerce." From one of the first, the glorious port had be- come the most insignificant of shipping i^laces. Perhaps it was owing to this very repose and tranquility that Newport owes her later prosperity. The relations between Newport and South Carolina were always intimate, and after the revolution, the union of the states bringing their peojile into closer com- panion ship, travel greatly increased. The charm of the summer cli- mate of the "city by I he sea" soon at- tracted num- bers of the richer class, who y e a r 1 y sought relief from the op- pressive heat of the lower latitudes. Nor was this desire confined to the gentlemen of South Carolina. New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore families followed their example, and northerners and southerners met in this Eden of America in peace and harmony. About 1825 the Brinley House on Catharine street was opened HOUSE OF CHARLES W. SHIELDS, NEWPORT, R. I. HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 489 us a hotel, and by ISoO quite a number of boarding liouses regu- larl}' received summer guests. The wave of real estate specu- lation, which followed the withdrawal of deposits from the Bank of the United States and the consequent expansion of the currency, touched Newport in 1830, but no considerable pur- chase was made until 1845, when Charles Hazard Ru^ sell, a Rhodr Island gentli' man of fortune established in New Y o r 1\ . with so lu (■ friends,bouglii three hundii''! acres of land lying south and east of Touro street, and later asso- ciated with TUE TOOKEE COTTAGE, XEWI'DRT, R. 1. them Mr. Alfred Smith, an enterprising native of the island, who had acquired some property in New York. Mr. Smith fore- saw that the hill could be made attractive enough to secure the fortune of Newport as a watering place. Before this date the Brinley House had been enlarged and its name changed to the Bellevue. In 1844 the first Ocean House was built, but was de- stioyed by fire in the summer of the next year. Meanwhile the boarding houses did a thriving business. Among the most noted hosts was Cajjtain Hazard, who kept the Perry House, on the Gibbs farm, where the old trees and well may still be seen on the avenue of that name. Here the writer spent the summer of 1839, and well remembers the fine plover shooting on Easton's point, the old Tea House, about five miles out on the main load leading to the stone bridge, where the high fashion met of an afternoon, and the bathing beach then amply supplied witli bath hou.ses on wheels, wiiiuh were run far into the surf. By tlie year 18^2 twelve handsome residences iiad been 490 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTr. erected, four by gentlemen from Boston, and eight by gentle- men from the Middle and Southern states, and there were three great hotels —the Bellevue, Fillmore and Atlantic — and a large boarding house on the Bateman farm. The writer well remem- bers that toward the close of the forties there were nine gates to be passed between Bateman's and the town. The summer of 1854 was famous for the gathering of beauti- ful women — the Marquise d'Aldania, New Orleans born. Miss Groesbeck of Cincinnati, later the wife of lighting Joe Hooker, and the lovely Dulaney sisters, one of whom was later married to Mr. Rowland of New York, the other to Mr. Gushing of Boston; and there wei'e many bright stars of lesser magni- tude. Since 1854 there has been a steady growth. Bellevue avenue has been macadamized and lighted, the ocean drive of eight miles completed, and nearly its whole length is now bordered by handsome villas, while the growth north and east within the last five years is no less striking. From the middle of the last century Newport has been cele- brated for the taste and elegance of its private mansions, both in exterior ajapearance and in their interior arrangement and adornment. Many of the finest of these were on farms or country places beyond the town limits. Of these, that erected by Godfrey MalbonenearWonnumetonoray hill in 1742 and de- stroyed by fire in 1766 is said to have been the most sumptuous. Whitehall, built by Dean Berkeley in 1729, is in sad decay. Many of the fine residences within the town limits ai'e still standing but altered and disfigured to suit the demand of later occupancy. The brick house south of the custom house in Thames street was the home of the Malbones. The Wanton house on the west side of Thames street is now the Boston store. The Wanton house on Washington street, the residence of Colonel Joseph Wanton, Jr., is still one of the finest specimens of colonial architecture, though sadly changed since it j)assed out of the hands of the Hunter family, Avho resided there in this century. The Tillinghast house on Mill street, later the resi- dence of Governor Gibbs, has been entirely remodelled within a year. Of those which remain unaltered are the Vernon house on Clarke street, the Cheeseborough, late Champlin house on Mary street, the Brenton house on Thames street and the Ban- nister house on Pelham street. The walls of most of these are /^f^irf.' ^ •tFil^Yl S^-;^jS?Mi .'^ "THE BREAKERS." RESIDENCE OF CORNELIUS VANDERBILT. Newport. t. *\\»*AVftA *. ^. HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 491 lined with wainscots, the halls are broad and the staircase, models of graceful architecture, notably those of the Wanton house on Washington street, which has been copied again and again in tiie late retui-n to colonial forms. In the A^ernon house there is a corner cabinet of great beauty. The rich furniture which they once contained has been dispersed but gems maybe seen even in modest dwellings, cliarniing specimens of Chippendale and elaborately carved chairs of Newport make. Not tlie least graceful are the beau- tiful inlaid pieces now styled Huguenot, the work of the French colony which took refuge in New England after the revocation of the edict of Nantes and later removed from Boston to the Narragansett colo- ny. Nor was tlie m i nor furniture, the house orna- ments, the table ware of porcelain, crockery or delft, conlinedtoEnglisli .". importations. The Newport mer- chants traded far and near,and their privateers brought home many a rare addition to their owner's treasure. The wills of the seventeenth century are full of curious de- tails. One before us of Governor Caleb Carr, who died in office in 1695, makes special disposition of his " Silver Possett and the cover belonging to it," of his three gold rings and of "his great Bible and Seal Ring and little cabinet." The seal ring bore the coat of arms of his family. The governor had a dwelling house in Newport and two gardens with " pale and wharfeage," and a farm and dwelling on Conanicut. (Mr. William H. Carr, the courteous clt^rk of the Fiftii Avenue Hotel, New York, is the, fifth in descent from this colonial worthy.) RESIDENCE OF GORDON MCKAY, NEwrulM, It. I. 493 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. To\VN Government. — Although settled in 1639 Newport was not ])ermitted to regulate its domestic affairs until 1705. The seat of government being here it was not held necessary. On the 7fch of May of this year this power was granted to the town of Newport by special statute. At this time the outlying country northward of the settled district was known as " the woods." In 1742 the freeholders inhabiting this wooded country petitioned the assembly for a separation from New- j)ort. The petition was at first rejected, but being renewed in 1743 was granted, and the township of Middletown, the name indicating its position between Newport and Portsmouth, was set off. City Government. — Newport remained under its primitive form of government by the freeholders in town meeting assem- bled, regulated by a moderator, until 1784, when on June 1st it was incorporated as a city, and divided into four wards. At the first meeting held under the charter the officers elected were: Mayor, George Hazard; aldermeTi, Francis Malbone, Christo- pher Champlin, Samuel Fowler and Oliver R. Warner. In 1787, on the petition of a minority and in disregard of the protests of a large majoritj^ the city charter was repealed and a return made to the old town meeting form of government which was long sustained. Arnold terms the repeal "an act of despotic authoritj'." In 1840 a committee was named by the town to report as to the need and cost of a city government. In 1853 a new charter was obtained under which Newport has been since governed. Its chief difference from that of 1784 is that the numbering of wards is geographically reversed — the First be- coming the Fourth and Fifth. The present mayor is Colonel John Hare Powel in whose favor partisan and political oppo- nents have united, and under whose judicious initiative the city thrives and prospers. The problem to be solved is the harmonious settlement of the economic questions which dis- turb watering places, the population and the interests of which so widely differ in the winter from the summer season. Newport clung long to its old customs and there are many who regret them still. The office of town crier was not discon- tinued until 1885. He was an important personage in the olden time. The first bellman was appointed in 1681. His name was HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 493 Richard Barnes. The last was Henry Lincoln. There has been no appointment since 188.5. Mayors of Newport.* — George Hazard. 118A:-f), 1785-6, 1786-7. He was engaged in mercantile affairs, and held many offices of honor and trnst during his active life. Tn 176'2 he was one of a commit tee to prepare an address of thanks to his majesty for giving his royal consent to the repeal of the stamp act. He represented Newport in the general assembly for more than thirty years, and was chief justice of the court of common pleas for Newportcounty twelve years; resigned 1776. WhenNewx^ort received its first charter in 1784 he was elected mayor. He was a member of the state convention that adopted the constitution of United States. Died August 10th, 1797, aged. 73 years. Rohert B. Cranston. First mayor under the charter of 1853. Qualified June 9th. 1853; resigned same day. Thomas R. Hunter. By virtue of his position as alderman, acted as mayor until October, 1853. George Henry Calvert. October, 1853, to June, 1854. Born in Baltimore, Md., January 2d, 1803, he was a great-grandson of Sir George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. His mother was a lineal descendant of the painter Rubens. Graduated from Har- vard 1823, and studied at Gottingen. On his return to America he was for several years editor of the Baltimore American. Mr. Calvert's long and busy life has been occupied principally in literary j^ursuits. He has been a citizen of Newport since 1848, and is still living. William C. Cozzens. June, 1854, to June, 1855. Born in Newport August 11th, 1811, died in Newport December 17th, 1876. Established the dry goods business of W. C. Cozzens & Co., in 1882. " During his administration the cholera visited Newport, and he devoted himself with great fidelity to meet the scourge by carefully guarding the sanitary condition of the city." He represented Newport in the general assembly sev- eral years. In 1863, while senator for Newport, he was chosen president of the senate. Governor Sprague was elected to the United States senate. Lieutenant Governor Arnold, having been previously elected to the same body, and Mr. Cozzens, by vir- tue of his office, became governor, which position he held from March to May, 1863. He was president of the Rhode Island Union Bank and director of the Redwood Library. He took an ♦Contributed by Mr. R. H. Tilley. 494 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. active part in bringing the Old Colony railroad to Newport. He was a member of Zion church, and for many years one of the wardens. William J. Swinburne. June, IS.'JS, to June, 1857. Born in Newport January 23d, 1822. Member of the school commit- tee many years; spent ten years (1836-46) in Virginia; lieu- tenant in volunteer service in Mexican war; many years (is now) in the coal business. During the civil war he was exten- sively engaged in the milling (Hour) business in Newport. Member of the state legislature 1886-7, 1887-8. William Henry Cranston. 18o7-66. (See Chapter XI.) Samuel A. Parker. June, 1866, to June, 1868. He was state treasurer 1855 to 1866, and from May, 1868, until his death, Feb- ruary, 1872. James Atkinson. 1868-9, 1869-70, 1870-1, 1871-2, 1872-3. Stephen P. Slocum. 187R-4, 1874-5, 1875-6, 1880-], 1881-2. Born in Portsmouth, R. I., March 16th, 1818, received a com- mon school education, came to Newport in 1831; 1852-6 was custom house inspector of Newport; in 1858 began the market business, in which he has continued successfully to the present time; alderman 1872; 1880, candidate on democratic ticket for lieutenant governor. Henry Bedloio. 1876 to 1879, inclusive. J. Truman Bur dick. 1879-80, 1880-1. He was in the common council two years, and is at present treasurer of Newport hospital. Robert S. Franklin. 1882 to 1885, inclusive. He was born in Newport August 4th, 1836, and is self educated. Firm of R. & W. Franklin, bakers. He was a member of common council from 1871 to 1881; six years president common council, director Aquidneck Bank, a prominent mason. Jolm Hare Powel. 1885-8. Term e.xpires January 1st, 1889. {See Chapter XI.) Fire Engines, 1736. —The first fire engine. Engine No. 1, was imported from London by Colonel Godfrey Malbone, and j^re- sented to the city of Newport in 1736. The records of Engine No. 1 are complete. By them it appears that the first fire at which it was used was in December, 1749, " Ellery's house on the hill." From this date to January 21st, 1861, there were 217 alarms. A steam fire engine was introduced into the service by the h w u u X h > m X D J J I D 1 U. u o z UJ □ 00 u E HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 495 mayor and aldermen, on iietition of the fire department, in 1806. The present department consists of four steamers, seven hose carriages, one liook and ladder truck, all di-awn l)y horses, and one hundred and twenty-four paid men, including chief engineer and four assistants. Newport has never greatly suf- fered from the scourge of fire. The losses from this cause in 1887 but slightly exceeded eight thousand dollars, a trivial sum when the great value contained in many of the residences even is held in mind. Gas, 1806. — It is claimed that lighting by "hydrogeneous gas or inflammable air, produced from pit coal," was first in- troduced into the United States by David Melville at Newport, Avhere he was then residing, in I806. He had a street gas light in Pelham street, and his residence was lighted in a similar manner. In 1813 he obtained a patent for the invention, and in 1817 a contract from the United States for the Beaver Tail light house. It was finally introduced into Newport, and placed on the streets about 1852. In the month of April, 1888, the committee of the common council unanimously recommended to the board to adopt the proposition of the Newport Incandescent Electric Lighting Company to light the streets. Seventeen hundred and fifty lights will be j^ut in operation, and the cost will not exceed $16,000 a year. Public FA^KS. — TottroPark. JudahTouro, the most honored of the Jewish natives of Newport, died in New Orleans, where he was then residing, in 1854 ; it is said witliout surviving kin- dred. By his will he "bequeathed to the City of Newport the sum of ten thousand dollars, on condition that the said sum be expended in the purchase and improvement of the property in said city known as the 'Old Stone Mill,' to be kept as a public park or promenade ground." The bequest was accepted by the city authorities, and the sum being increased by subscrip- tion from those holding estates contiguous thereto and other generous individuals, of five thousand dollars additional, the entire property known as the " Old Stone Mill" lot was pur- chased and suitably laid out for the purpose indicated by Mr. Touro. The selection of this site was most hapjiy. There is, perhaps, no subject of American arch;eologic inter- est which has excited so much curiosity as to its origin as this circular structure, once romantic with its close fitting garb 496 HISTORY OF NE\VPOKT COUNTY. of ivy, of which it has been since stripped for better preserva- tion. The Scandinavians, who are nothing if not mythical, and whose descendants hardly consider it a wonderful feat to cross the Atlantic in a row boat, sturdily maintain that it is one of the "Round Towers" of their Norse ancestors, who sailed across the sea in the days when the Vikings ruled the waves. Otliers, as well informed, as stoutly insist that the quaint structure was set up on the hill as a "coign of vantage," stronghold of defense, place of refuge if needed, by the early settlers of the island. The controversy was finally settled in 1878 by the able and conclusive paper of Mr. George C. Mason, Jr., a Newport gen- tleman, well known not only as a practical architect but for his historical research. Analyzing its construction and material he shows it to be an almost exact copy of an old mill of the sev- enteenth century still standing in Leamington, Warwickshire, England, where Governor Benedict Arnold of Rhode Island had a farm. This effectually disposes of the idea that the Newport structure was a Round Tower or Norman Baptistery. To this we add that the story of the settlement of the island as shown in the colonial records as clearly shows that it was not set up as a work of defense against the peaceful, friendly Narragansetts. And to add one more stone to Mr. Mason's cairn of evidence, we add the suggestion that the astronomic intention in the exact distribution of the eight piers on the true cardinal points of the comjiass is not an unnatural expression of the astrologic superstition of the seventeenth and even the eighteenth centuries. It is not a matter of tradition only, but of history, that many, if not all Newport vessels, had their horoscopes cast, by which their days and hours of sailing were determined. Of this in- numerable evidences remain in the log books of the vessels, many a one of which has its horoscope on the initial page. How common the practice of casting horoscopes was appears from the manner in which the "Wizard of the North" makes his famous story of manners of the eighteenth century to hinge upon the horoscope cast by Guy Mannering at the birth of the son of the Laird of Ellangowan. It is reasonable to sup- pose that from the top of the Round Tower Benedict Arnold and some familiar, learned in I he ocult science, questioned the stars as Catherine de Medicis and her astrologer Ruggiera, a cen- ROUGH POINT. RESIDENCE OF FREDERICK W. VANDERBILT. Nevvpoi'l. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 499 fury before, from tlie top of the Paris tower, constructed by lier order for (lie study of similar mysteries. vVmid all this fog of conjecture the simple fact renuiins that tlie fust mention of the structure is found in the will of Governor Arnold of 1677, where he calls it "my stone built wind-mill." The stone mill lot was a part of the governor's farm. The mill stands near the center of the rear half of the lot. Mr. August Belmont, who married a daughter of Commo- dore Matthew Calbraith Perry (a younger brother of the hero of Lake Erie), offered to the city of Newport on behalf of his wife and himself a fine bronze statue of the celebi'ated officer whose peaceful victory opened the ports of Japan to the outer world. The city accepted the gift and assigned for it the center of the upper half of Touro Park, where it is a-conspicuous object from Bellevue avenue; a most suitable selection, when it is remembered that the Bel- mont family have long occupied one of the most elegant of the villas on this celebrated highway. The statue is in bronze, of heroic size, and stands upon a circular ped- estal in which is set an emblematic bronze on which are displayed iir separate compartments scenes from the chief events of the gallant sailor's life in Japan, Mexico and Africa. The artist, John Q. A. Ward, stands at the head of American sculptors, and this admirable work, in its dignity and repose of treatment, is worthy of his great fame. The cost of the entire monument was not less than twenty-five thousand dollars. The statue was presented with appropriate ceremonies in October, 1808, and accepted by Mayor Atkinson. Mrs. Belmont unveiled the statue. The l^rocession which formed on Washington square opposite the old Perry residence was marshaled by Colonel John Hare Powel. The navy was represented by Commodore John Rogers and several officers. The address was delivered by the Rever- end Francis Vinton of New York. Washhif/loii Square, as the triangular plot of land or park 3*2 STATUE OF (_(.l.M. MATT^E^V PBRRY. 500 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in front of the state house is termed, was originally an open space and known as the Mall or Parade. In 1800 Messrs. Creorge Gibbs, Caleb Gardner and Samuel Vernon, Jr., were appointed a committee to superintend a Parade lottery voted to raise money to lay out and beautifj^ the Mall and the ap- proach to the state house. The Mall, as appears by a sitetch of the ground at this period, was laid out in a series of circu- lar walks, the largest being at the east end of a diameter covering nearly the whole width of the ground, followed by smaller circles down to the taper- ing point where now stands the fountain. There was a row of trees on the outer edge of the Mall on each side, another row on the outer edge of the sidewalk, a line on the north end of Washington square, and a line on the north side of the Parade. The lottery scheme was only partially success- ful, but sul)scriptions were made sufficient to cari-y out the original plan. Two of the guns taken from the colony's sloop "Tartar," on her return from the capture of Louisburg in 1745, are set at the foot of the triangle, partly sunken in the ground, and a Parrott gun, l^resented to the city in 1861 by the late Samuel Powell, stands in the upper plot. In 1885 the square was appro- priately ornamented by the erec- tion at its lower angle of a stat- ue of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, an adopted son of Newport. The expense of the statue was defrayed by sums voted by the state and city governments and the voluntary contributions of indi- viduals, and the erection was inaugurated with appropriate cere- monies by the citizens' committee; participated in by Gov- ernor Wetraore and members of the assembly. Mayor Franklin and the city council, Mr. Bancroft the historian, numerous dis- STATUE OF COM. O. H. PERRY. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 501 tinguished g-iiests and members of the Perry family. The Hon. William P. Sheffield made the historical address. Mr. William G. Turner, a native of Newport, made the statue. Tiie attitude is that of inspiring command at the crisis of the tiual attack. The statue stands directly in front of the huikling once the residence of the commodore. Morton Park. — In September, 1885, the Hon. Levi P. Morton, for many j^ears a summer resident of Newport, presented to the city "a plot of land" of twelve and one-half acres on Coggeshall and Brenton avenues for a public i^ark. The land is well adapted for the purpose, and when laid out by the city in accordance with the provisions of the gift, will be an attrac- tion to this section of Newport. Liberty Park, on Broadway, and Equality Park, on Farewell street, are both very small but desirable in their respective localities. Public Buildings, — The old colony house or court house, as it is indifferently called in the records, was a wooden build- ing. In 1739 the general assembly appointed a committee "to erect a new colony house built of brick in Newport where tlie old one now stands consisting of eighty feet in length and fortj^ in breadth and thirty feet stud, the length whereof to stand near or quite north and south." The work was placed in the hands of Richard Munday. The structure is a monument to the good taste and true architectural sentiment of the time. Its style is thoroughly appropriate. Massive and imposing, it is the fit seat of authority, and in all its details is one of the finest examples of colonial structure. The body of the building is of brick, the trimmings of stone. There is a balcony over the west front from which proclamations were made after ancient custom. In the senate chamber there is a line full length portrait of Washington, painted by Stuart for the state of Rhode Island. A clock, the work of Benjamin Dudley, a Newport artisan, was set up on the gable in front of the building in 1783. After seventy years' service it was replaced by the present illumin- ated face. The City Hall, or Toion Hall, as it was called in the older days, was built in 1763, the architect Peter Harrison. Its con- struction was in the Ionic order. Its historj^ is curious. In 1760 the proprietors of the Long Wharf in Newport granted a 602 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. lot of land to the town for erecting a mai'ket house and sun- dry kindred purposes. A building was erected, the upper part of which was let for stores for dry goods, the rents fiom which to be lodged in the town treasury toward a stock for purchasing grain for supplying a public granary forever; the cost of the building on the plan of the proprietors to be twenty- four thousand pounds old tenor, to be raised by lottery. The lower part of the building to be for a market house and no other purjjose unless as a watch house. The building to be of brick thirty-three feet in front or in width and about sixty-six feet in length. The upper story of this building was for many years used as a theatre. It was first let for this purj^ose to Har- per and Placide of the Boston theatre. They opened with the tragedy of "Jane Shore" in 1793. Monsieur Adincourt, the keeper of the box book of the Newport theatre, " teacher of the French language at his coffee house near the theatre at the entrance of the Long AVharf" advertised the opera of "Love in a Village" in October of that year. Later the upper story was altered into a town hall. The lower is now occupied for the city offices. The structure is not dissimilar from the old merchants' exchange which stood at the foot of Broad street in New York, the ground floor of which was for a long time a market, or rather mart in the more general sense of the word. The English colonial style pre- vailed from Faneuil Hall to the James river, and had a quiet repose and unpretending dignity which modern ])ublic build- ings usually lack. The Bedioood Library Building. — This beautiful building stands at the head of Bellevue avenue on a broad open plot of ground separated by roadways from neighboring structures. The lot of land, then called the Bowling Green, was presented to the library company in 1748 by Mr. Henry Collins, a New- jjort merchant of education and artistic taste. The building, which is in the Doric order, was begun in 1748 and completed in 1750. The plans were made and the erection superintended by Mr. Peter Harrison, assistant architect of Blenheim house, the seat of the Marlboroughs. The subscrii^tion was five thousand pounds. To complete the work the company taxed themselves equally to the sum of twelve hundred pounds additional. The original building was enlarged by an exten- sion of the north and south wings and a new structure added ANGLESEA. RESIDENCE OF WAL-TER H. LE>A^1S. Newport. V%-\1'\>!^, V- ^W<.'»\VM\^ ' HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 503 at the east end in 1839. In 1844 a bequest was made to the library of one thousand dollars by Mr. Judah Touro for the repair of the portico and the laying of a sidewalk to East Touro street at the corner of Kay street, where the cemetery fronts. Bellevue avenue in front of the library is shaded by beautiful trees, one of which, a fine beech, is famed as the most perfect specimen of its kind in America. It was planted by Mr. John- ston about half a century ago. The Jeiolsli Si/nccffOfjue.— This building, as well as the street on which it fronts, which, thanks to the generous bequests of Abraham and Judah Touro, is kept in perfect repair, was of contemporaneous structure with the Redwood Library and the town hall, and was the work of the same classic architect, Peter Harrison. It is a small brick building, the entrance to which, according to the rules of temple architecture, is at the western end. As the street does not run in cardinal lines this gives to the little sti-ucture a curious air of individuality which arrests attention, built as it is at an angle not only with the surrounding buildings but even with the stone walls of its own enclosure. The interior is of the utmost simplicity but in scrupulous neatness and repair. Newport Artillery Armory. — This ancient organization, though chartered in 1741, can hardly be said to have had a home of its own until 1836 when its members had their tirst drill under their own roof in the armory building constructed for them in Clarke street. The building is a solid low structure of rough stone and looks as though it might be cotemporarj^ with the charter of the corps, granted in the days of " George the Vic- torious." The Boat House. — The original boat house stood at the head of what is now called boal house galley, at the end of Bellevue avenue. It was a wooden building and destroyed by a gale before the present century. It is of tradition that the land and ledge adjoining, on which the house stood, was given to the gunners and iishermen of Newport in perpetuity. It was fol- lowed by a stone structure which stood a little west of the site of the first wooden building. It was badly damaged, the sea breaking comi)letely over it in tlie September gale of 1815, that memorable blow when the watei's of the sea and harbor nearly met across the neck. It was rebuilt bj' the gunners and Iisher- men, and was for many years kept in reiwir by the si)ortsraen craft. It was taken down a few vears since. 504 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The Casino. — The need of a place of rendezvous for the enter- tainment of the throng of summer visitors led to the building of a charming and commodious Casino on Bellevue avenue in 1880. Here, encircling a large court laid out for tennis courts, is an extensive and extremely picturesque structure with nu- merous piazzas, verandalis, reading and restaurant rooms, and at- tached to it a fine ball room and a pretty theatre. It is occa- sionally open in the winter season. In the summer season it is the daily resort of a gay and brilliant assemlsjage of pleasure THE CASIXO, BELLEVUE AVENUE. seekers. The Casino is governed by a board of trustees and is only open to subscribers and by card of entrance. The rates are reasonable and graduated to the time of use. Easton^ s Beach Pavilion. — From the earliest days of the set- tlement, the charms of the lovely beach, with its smooth, hard surface and gradual skjpe, has been recognized, and during the first half of this century it was the favorite bathing resort of the northern states; but of late j^ears rivals have sprung up, Narraganseti Pier drawing even Newport visitors to its bathing HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 505 establishment. In 1S8G some enterprising Newport gentlemen, with the promise of city assistance, erected a large pavilion, to which over five hundred bath houses ai-e attached. The i%a- vilion is 648 feet long, has a broad verandah, drawing rooms, a cafe, two stands for bands, and the baths are provided with hot, cold and sea water. The sea wall has been extended to the west end of the bathing rooms, and the roadway has been widened and improved. His honor, the mayor, in his recent message, notices the throngs which flocked to the beach last summer, the unexceptional good order which prevailed without police interference, and pronounces the improvement a great success. In a word, it was only necessary for Newport to make one effort to regain her place at the head of the bathing stations, as she is, and must always remain, peerless among the watering places of America. These improvements in the beach will be naturally followed by a growth of settlement on Easton's point, which lies contig- uous to it to the eastward, and is bordered by a cliff line as fine as that which faces it from the Newport side. Neioport Beading Room. — This is essentially a club with- out a restaurant. It is managed like the Casino by a board of trustees, and is open on easy terms to the army and navy and acceptable visitors on payment of weekly or monthly dues. It stands on the corner of Bellevue avenue and Church street and is open winter and summer. The Liberty Tree. — The lot on which this tree stands was deeded (1765) by Captain William Read, and is at the junction of Thames and Farewell streets. The tree was cut down by the British during the time of their occupation of the city during the revolution. On the S.^Jth of April, 1783, thirteen citizen^ (John Williams, Walter Johnson, Thomas Mumford, Thomas Stevens, John Stevens, Samuel Simpson, Job Tovvnsend, Ben- jamin Lawton, John Henshaw, George Perry, Noah Barker, Robert Taylor, William Dodericli) brought a tree on their shoulders from Portsmouth and planted it on the old site, in 1823 an oval plate of copper nearly two feet long was engraved by William S. Nichols and nailed on the tree. This plate was renovated for the re-union of 1859. Libraries. — It has already been noticed in the sketch of Trinity church that the first lil)rary in Newport consisted of the seventy volumes, mostly in folio, sent over from England 506 HISTORY OF NEWPORT OOXTNTY. by the "Societj' foi' the Propagation of tlie Gospel in Foreign Parts" to that, the tirst Episcopal parish in Rhode Ishind. In the year 1730, under tlie inspiration of the celebrated Bishop Berkeley, who was tlien residing on the island, a liter- ary and philosophic society was established in Newport. The intellectual tone of Rhode Island was at that period high, and literature and the arts found many and generous patrons among the commercial magnates of the trading colony, while the jiro- fessions were amply recruited from the English, and especially the Scotch, universities. This institution, of which Berkelej' was no doubt a familiar, though from his temporary residence not a member, was the forerunner and cause of the library. To promote the objects of the society Mr. Abraham Redwood, a Avealthy resident of Newport, to which he had removed from Antigua, in 1747 placed at its disposal a sum of five hundred pounds sterling for the purchase of standard books in London, on the condition that a suitable edifice were erected to receive the gift and any others that might follow it. The society at once obtained a charter and incorporated themselves under the name of the Redwood Library Company. Mr. Henry Collins, a Newport merchant, supplemented the gift of Mr. Redwood by that of a suitable lot of land, and a build- ing was erected in 1748. At the first meeting of the company, held in the council chamber at Newport in September, 1747, officers were chosen: Directors, Abraham Redwood, Esq., Rev. James Honeyman, Rev. John Callender, Henry Collins, Edward Scott, Samuel Wickham, John Tillinghast, Peter Bours; treasurer, Joseph Jacobs; librarian, Edward Scott; secretary, Thomas Ward. Books were imported, of which many were classics. The library escaped the disaster of army occupation without serious damage. The company was reorganized in 1785, when officers were chosen : Directors, Hon. Abraham Redwood, Stephen Ayrault, William Vernon, John Malbone, Jonathan Easton, Nicholas P. Tillinghast, Jacob Richardson, Robert Stevens ; secretary, Wil- liam Channing ; librarian, Christo2)her Ellery ; treasurer, Stej)hen Ayrault. Mr. Redwood died in March, 1788. With him the interest in the library is said to have ceased. Indeed, it is said that from 1750 to 1810 no books were added to the library by purchase, and but few by gift. The institution was THE MOORINGS. RESIDENCE OF SCHUYLER HAMILTON, Jr. Newport. *.»^W\»l, \. WtlkMVQI *. ^ . HISTORY OF NliWPORT COUNTY. 507 in 1810 revived by tlie adflition of sixty-five new members. In ]8,').'5 a radical change was made in the rules of the library, and its usefulness was extended, and it has since gradually, if slowly progressed. The librarj' has gTeatly increased both by l)urchase and gift, and while the selection of standard and even rare volumes has been admirable, the lighter current literature is in sufficient supply to attract the reader for amusement only. By the last report of the librarian there were in the libraiy August 17th, 1887, a total of 32,488 volumes, and under the liberal policy of the directors, a circulation of 9,534 against 6,833 the previous year. The present librarian, Mr. Richard Bliss, is admirablj^ fitted for his position, both by training and inclination. There is a fine collection of paintings, statuary, antique furniture and rai'e curiosities, which it will be soon policy to remove to a more suitable place and relieve the build- ing and the gentlemen in charge from tlie numberless annoy- ances which their care and exhibition demand. A fireproof museum building, under proper securities is what Newport now most needs in the way of a public building. The People s Library. — This admirable institution, equally dear to the rich people on the hill and the poor classes be- low, and alike used by both, was founded by Mr. Christopher Townsend, a native of Newport. About the time of its incep- tion, some other citizens, moved by the same desire, procured about three thousand volumes, and obtained a charter of incor- poration for a free library. Meanwhile Mr. Townsend, determined to exercise a direct supervision over his own benefaction, purchased with admir- able judgment a choice collection of standard works of about seven tliousand volumes. Selected abroad, chiefiy in England, this firsi beginning contains numy volumes, earl}^ guide books, county histories, which are rarely, if ever, met with in our great American libraries. On the other hand, the standard literature is almost without exception of the best editions and bound in a manner worthy of a private collection. When Mr. Townsend's lil)rary had reached the number above named, the managers of the Free Library generously turned over to him their collection. This was the beginning of the People's Library. It was dedi- cated in 1870, Mr. Townsend having, by endowment, secured the i)ayment of salaries and running expenses. Mr. Townsend lived to see the practical working of his noble 508 IIISTOUY OF JfEWPOET COUNTY. gift. At the time of his death, in 1881, under his advice and guidance, the collection had increased to 25,(i00 volnmes of good boolvs. Their free circulation among the peojile of Newport and its vicinity aggregated 40,000 volumes, and it was stated at that time that he had expended upon it the sum of $80,000. It was the choice of this modest gentleman that his name should not be given to the collection, but that it should stand as an example which others might follow in tlie same siiirit of self- sacriiice, without fear that their modest additions should inure to his personal credit. But his name shall be remembered so long as Newport remains an intellectual center in this practical, busy country. The library building is in Thames street between Pelham and Mill streets. The present librarian, Mr. David Stevens, is just the man for an institution of this mixed character. Courteous to all, patient with the less intelligent class for whom the library Avas created, he is at the same time thoroughly ac- quainted with the merits and the wants of the collection. Fine Arts. — It is impossible in the limits of a chapter to give a reasonably full account of the abundant works of art in modern Newport. The line arts have always had full repre- sentation here — both in the persons of sculptors and painters and in the work of their hands. Greenough's studio on Corne street is now worthily occui)ied by a rising young artist, Wil- liam Clarke Noble, whose heroic bust of the actor McCuUough as Virginius has already placed him in the foremost ranks of American sculptors. Mr. Noble was boi-n in Gardiner, Maine, in February, 1858. He studied in Boston, commencing at the age of fourteen, and worked for a number of years in architect- ural sculpture in wood and clay. He came to Newport in 1882, being engaged to decorate the interior and exterior of the Casino. Since 1884 he has devoted himself wholly to portrai- ture in sculpture. Among his works may be mentioned Rev. Charles T. Brooks, John Hare Powel and the late Thomas Doyle, ex-mayor of Providence. This brief notice of art in Newport must of necessity be confined to the colonial period and of the works which are of Newport projier. Mr. Henry Collins, a merchant of wealth and a man of taste, formed a gallery of pictures about the middle of the last century, many of which were painted to his order. There were in this collection portraits of eminent divines — Berkeley, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 509 Callender, Hitchcock and Clapp. According to tradition most of these pictures were painted by Smibert, who came to Amer- ica with Dean Berkeley. The only collection of any moment is that of the Redwood Library and Athenfenm. Here may be found quite a number of portraits of old Newport governors and worthies— Coddington, Wanton, and some of the Collins collection. These are of various merit and of uncertain authen- ticity. Some are good copies. Of undoubted oi'iginals by master hands there are few. These are a portrait of William Redwood, a son of the founder, by Sir Thomas Lawrence; of Gilbert Stuart, by himself; and of Mr. and Mrs. Bannister, by the same artist when only fourteen years of age, which reveal the touch and color of the later master; and one of Polly Law- ton, the Newport belle of the revolutionary period, by an un- known hand. In the state house is a grand full length of Pres- ident Washington, by Stuart. But it is in miniatures that Newport is especially rich. For this was the home of Malbone. Among these a profile likeness of Mary Lyman, later Mrs. Benjamin Hazard; of Mrs. Amory at the age of eighteen; of Mr. Preble, a brother of the commo- dore; of Major John Handy of the continental army; of Rich- ard Kidder Randolph; of Charles De Wolf. Mr.' George C. Mason, Sr., from whose Reminiscences of Newport the list is taken, and who gives the ownership of the portraits at the date of his publication (1884), considers the "finest Malbone" then in Newport to be a miniature of Ray Greene, attorney general of Rhode Island. Two beautiful miniatures, one of a daughter of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and one of a Mrs. Turner, painted at the south when the artist was at the apogee of his talent, are now owned by a New York lady, and make part of the interest- ing collection she is forming in memory of her late father. They may be seen at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Ther^ is also in Newport a locket miniature of John Bannister, by the same artist. There is a miniature of Mrs. John Brown, a daughter of Augustus Lucas, who was born in 1697 and married to Captain Brown in 1717; one of Miss ^fontaudevert, later the wife of the famous Captain Lawrence, one of Washington bearing the in- itials A. R., and one of Colonel Lear, AVashington's secretary; miniature likenesses of Lieutenant Cox, later Purser Cox, and his wife; of Miss Verplanck, of Verplanck Point, New York, 510 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. later the wife of Colonel de Yaiix, of Charleston; a nameless miniature of a Quaker lady, by Trott. There is still another fine miniature, bj^ the same delicate hand, of Mrs. Samuel Powel, of Philadelphia. In the Powel family of Newport there is a store of miniatures, some of foreign artists. Mr. Mason names miniatures of Cornelius Low, of New York; of Colonel Richard Gary, an aid of Washington; of Eliza Hunter, a clasp miniature by Copley, and one of her sister Katharine, wife of the Comte de Cardigan (these were two of the three charming young girls whom Lauzun mentions in his memoirs); miniatures of Mr. and Mrs. Field, of Princeton, the lady a daughter of Richard Stockton, of New Jersey, signer of the declaration of independ- ence. These (by an unknown hand) were taken to England by John Paul Jones to be mounted, and were brought home in their peculiar setting. Mr. Mason mentions one of his grand- mother, Margaret Mason, whose maiden name was Chaniplin. Finally, in the writer's family, a miniature of Colonel El^enezer Stevens, of the Second continental artillery, in uniform, painted during the revolution by a French officer; and a pair of minia- tures of the Misses Babcock, of New York, by Ingham. Be- sides miniatures there are numerous silhouettes and some of the characteristic works of St. Memin. Newspapers. — The first newspaper published in New Eng- land was the Boston Neios Letter, 1704; the second was the Boston Gazette, 1709; the third, the Boston Courant, 1721. The fourth was established at Newport by James Franklin, elder brother of Benjamin, who had been one of the printers of the Boston Courant. It was a single sheet and bore the title of the Rhode Island Gazette. The first number bears date September 27th, 1732. It was discontinued in 1733. The Newjmrt Mer- cury, the first issue of which was June 20th, 1758, was also es- tablished by James Franklin, the younger. Franklin dying in 1762, it was continued by his mother and her son-in-law, Sam- uel Hall. Mrs. Franklin died in 1763, after which Hall pub- lished the paper until Solomon Southwick became its proprietor in 1768. Southwick was a thorough whig and patriot. On the coming of the British he buried his press and went to Albany. In 1779, the Biitish having evacuated the town, he returned and on January oth, 1780, the Mercury again appeared as printed by Southwick and Barber, and its publication has never since been discontinued or intermitted. It is now owned and pub- ^^ ..'::t'.\ f\'^ -^ ^\\\l^ '~" ['~~ J z w J < < > u u Q U o a Z HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 511 lished by the Hon. John P. Sanborn, whose first number ap- peared November IGth, 1S72. It has a wide circulation among the sons of Newport and appears weekly in a double sheet. Its politics are republican. During the Britisli occupa- tion in 1777-79 the Newport Gazette was published by John Howe in Thames street, near the Parade. The Newport Herald made its appearance in 1787-88-90, printed by Peter Edes on Thames street; an intermittent publication, the object of which was to oppose paper money. The United States Chronicle ap- peared at Newport and Providence in 1791, the Rhode Island Museum in 1794, the Weekly Companion and Commercial -Sfeft- ^/^eZin 1798 and 1799. This closes Hanmett's list of publica- tions in the last century. The Rhode Island Republican began September 25th, 1800, published by Oliver Farnsworth, near the Coffee House in Thames street, and continued till 1841. There are to- day printed and published in Newport one daily newspaper, the Daily News, and three weeklys, the Mercury, Journal and Newport Enterprise. The first almanac published in Newport was tlie Rhode Is- land or '"Poor Kobin almanac," printed in 1728, by James Franklin, by him continued till 1735 and printed by his son in 1741. The first printed book was " Hammett's Vindication." — It came from the press of James Franklin in 1727. NoTAiiLK Y^\Y.'S,-\:^.— Execution of Pirates, 1723. — The extent and boldness of pirates and freebooters during the earl}^ days of the eighteenth century has been related. The wholesale ex- ecution of twenty-six, taken in the very act, while the black flag was flying from the masthead of their sloops, brought to an end this atrocious practice. The capture of their vessels> the "Ranger" and "Fortune," in June, soon after their plunder and destruction of the ship "Amsterdam Merchant," and while attacking H. M. ship " Greyhound," off the east end of Long Island, under the misapprehension that she was a mer- chantman, was quickly followed by the trial at Newport of the X)irate crews, thirty-six in number. Twenty-six were hanged on Gravelly point, opposite the town, on the 19th of July, 1723. Their bodies were taken to Goat island and buried between high and low water mai-k. One of these men only belonged to Rhode island. 512 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The last execution in Newport county was of a sailor, wlio had committed several burglaries. He was hanged on Easton's beach, in November, 1764. The Great Storm, 1740. — According to the diary of William Greene of Warwick, who sat in the assemblyduring this season, " the winter of 1740 was the coldest known in New England since the memory of man." At Warwick, where the assembly was sitting, there fell on the 28th, 29th and 30th of .January full three feet of snow, in addition to what lay on the ground be- fore. The tops of the stone walls and fences were so crushed that cattle passed over them. "During the great snow storm the last of January there was a great loss both of cattle and sheep ; some were smothered, and great numbers of sheep were driven into the sea by the wind." The snow in the woods was three feet deep on the 15th of March. " In the midst of the winter it was frozen from the mainland to Block island, and thence southward out to sea." T?ie Hessian Storm, 177S. — This, which is remembered as tlie great snow storm, though not of as long duration as that of 1740, was quite as severe. It commenced on the night of the 22d of December. The snow fell in great quantities and the cold was intense. The sentinels of the British army (then oc- cupying the town) of the outer lines were found after the storm frozen to death at their posts. The storm received the name of the "Hessian Storm" from the large number of the mercenary troops of that country who perished. The French fleet of d'Estaing, whicii had stood out to sea, was so much disabled by it that the officers unanimously signed a protest against enter- ing the harbor. TJie Dark Day, 1780.— The winter of 1779-80 had been re- markable for its atmospheric phenomena ; spots on the face of the sun, auroral displays of unusual brilliancy and duration, the severity of the weather, and the continuance of snow on the ground from November till April. The spring opened late and even May was dry and cold. Such were the conditions pre- cedent to the 19th of May, 1780. The day dawned as usual. Clouds soon gathered thick to the southward. The wind blew in gusts, with occasional thunder. Darkness began to creep over the earth. '■ By the middle of 'the forenoon the darkness was as of night. The day birds took to their roosts, the night birds came out from their cover; the occupations of life were HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 513 impossible without candle lipjlit. There was a general dread of approaching calamity, and the superstitious thought that the last day had come and awaited the trumpet call. There had been analogous phenomena in America since the English settlement : in October, 1716 : August 9th, 17:32 ; October 19th, 17G2 (all old style). Not dissimilar in cause was the recent YeUow Day, September 6th, 1881. Tiie causes of all tliese phenomena were the gathering of the smoke of burning forests, blown by north- erly and westerly winds to the sea coast, and backed ujj against dense, imiiermeable sea fogs. T7ie VeUoiD Fevei\ 1799. — A malignant disorder thus desig- nated was brought to Newport by the U. S. Frigate " General Greene," which arrived from the West India station on the 27th of July, 1799. Tlie disease broke out on the voyage, and a large number went into hospital on arrival. The contagion spread, and in its course carried off many persons. The September Gale, 1815.— The 23d of September, 1815, is rendered memorable hv a most awful and destructive storm. Tile gale commenced in the morning at the N. E., and continued increasing in violence, the wind varying from N. E. to S. E. and S. AV., until 11 o'clock, wlien it began to abate, and by 1 o'clock the danger from wind and tide was over. The tide rose three feet higiier than it had ever been known before. Two dwelling houses and nine stores and workshops on the long wharf were swept away by the violence of tlie wind and waves. In one of the houses five persons perished. Many of the wharves on the jioint were carried away. The steeples of the First and Second Congregational churches were partly blown down and the roofs of the Episcopal and First Congregational churches were partly carried away. The shipping in the har- bor wei-e driven from their anchorage and went ashore. The damage to pioperty was great. Tlie Asiatic Cholera, 1832-1849.— This terrible scourge made its first appearance in the neighborhood of Calcutta. Crossing the eastern hemisphere it ravaged France and England and, unstayed by the Atlantic barrier, was wafted to the American continent. First striking Canada, the shortest sea line, it passed to Albany and New York, where it r.fged througiiout the summer of 1832. At the June session the Rhode Island assembly recommended a public fast. But prayer has no avail against the order of nature, which is the higher law; the only 514 IIISTORT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. visible expression of a supreme power. In July the island was visited. Newport was favored, indeed almost exempt. In 1849, Avhen the cholera reappeared, not a single death from the dis- ease occurred in Newport. In 1854, when it again appeared, the exemption of Newport was not so complete. A special hos- pital was early established by the city council, and the total number of deaths by the disease and by cholera infantum, which were ignorantly classed together in the reports, was fifty- nine, of whom forty were adults, this latter number being probably the true number of victims to cholera proper. YisiTS. — Washington entered Newport for the first tim^ in the spring of 1781 for a conference with Rochambeau pre- vious to the summer campaign. The details of this interesting occasion api>ear in a previous chapter. His second and last visit was as president of ohe United States in August, 1790. An account of this visit, written by William Smith, member of the first congress of the United States, recently made public, gives some interesting details of this second and last visit of Washington. The object of his visit was to show his appreci- ation of the accession of Rhode Island, the only outstanding state, to the Union. Congress adjourned at New York on the 13th of August. The president and his party left the seat of government on Sunday, the 15th, on board a Rhode Island packet, and arrived at Newport, after a pleasant passage, on Tuesday morning. Salutes were fired as the vessel entered the harbor. The principal inhabitants were in waiting at Long Wharf. The jtresident was escorted to the Brenton house, then the principal house of entertainment, and kept by Mrs. Almy. This historic building is still standing, graced by stately linden trees, on the easterly side of Thames street. Thence he was escorted to the state house where he held a public reception in the council chamber, and at five in the afternoon sat down to dinner in the representatives' chamber; the table being set with services of silver contributed for the occasion by the principal gentlemen of the town. The thirteen regular toasts were drank, Washington giving the "town of Newport," and Judge Mar- cliant, immediately on his withdrawal, " the man we love." In the presidential party were Governor Clinton, of New York, Jefferson, then secretary of state. Judge Blair of the supreme court, and three gentlemen of tlie "president's family," Colonel Humphreys, Major Jackson and Mr. Nelson. The next morn- XH-^..^ CO > X u Z HISTORY OF NKWPORT COUKTY. 515 ing, Wednesday, the ]8tli. tlie president and liis wife embarked for Providence. It was on this occasion tliat the Hebrew congregation in New- port, through Moses Seixas, warden, "the children of the stock of Abraham," asthej^ stj^led tliemselves, delivered to the president an address of welcome, a noble and touching ac- knowledgment of their gratitude for the liberty the Union promised. The president replied at a length not less than their own and in full appreciation of the sentiments of the address. Andrew Jackson, president of the United States, visited New- port on his northern tour on the 19th of June, 1833. He was received on his arrival by the Newport artillery company. General Grant, president of the United States, visited New- port and exchanged courtesies with the city authoriiies on Saturday, August 21st, 1869. He was received by Mayor At- kinson and a committee of the city council and conducted to the state house, where he formally welcomed the citizens, after which the president returned to the residence of Governor E. D. Morgan, where he held a brilliant reception in the afternoon, and in the evening attended a gay hop at the Ocean House. Other entertainments followed. The president quietly left the city on Wednesday, in a light carriage, driving to the railroad station and himself holding the reins. The Ctold Pkver, 1849. — The excitement which spread over the entire country east of the Rocky mountains on the news of the discoveiy of gold in placers in California, ran high in New England and reached fever heat in Newport, whose people from earliest days were alwaj's keen for adventure. Toward the close of the year 1848 a company, promoted l)y Captain Charles Cozzens and others, was organized, and the whaling ship " Aud- ley Clarke'' purchased and fitted out. A company of seventy- four persons, in which nearly every one of the old Newport families was represented, enrolled their names, and the good ship sailed for the "land of gold" under the command of Cap- tain Ayrault Wanton Dennis, on the afternoon of February 15th, 1849. She doubled Cape Horn and dropped anchor with- in the Golden Gate on the 1st day of September, after a voyage of one hundred and niuety-eight days. The enterprising com pany found San Francisco in full activity, the passengers by the Aspinwall steamers having long preceded them and taken the lirst cream of the extraordinary profits of this unexampled 33 516 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. movement. Nevertheless many of the companjMvere fortnnate, and the credit of Newport stood high on the Pacific coast. That their old home was not forgotten in the struggle for riches appeared in the interest shown by the colors sent by them to the First Rhode Island regiment in the war of the rebellion, and by their active co-operation in the reunions of the sons of Newport in 1859 and 1884. Re-union of the Sons and Daughters of Newport. 1859, 1884. — In the autumn of 1858 a call appeared in the Newport Mer- cury inviting the "Exiles from Eden" to visit Newport in August of the next year. The attention of the city council was called to the subject by William H. Cranston, mayor of the city, in June, and the snm of one thousand dollars was voted to the ex- penses of the celebration, wliich had assumed form and name. A convention of the incorporated bodies in the city was called, to which delegates were sent: the Artillery Company, Colonel Turner; St. John's Lodge, No. 1, Gilbert Chase, Esq.; R. I. . Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, William B. Sher- man, Esq. ; Newport Historical Society, Hon. Thomas R. Hun- ter; Redwood Library, George C. Mason, Esq.; Atlantic Di- vision, Sons of Temperance, S. T. Hoj^kins, Esq.; Board of B^ire Wards, ex-mayor William J. Swinburne; Musicallnstitute, Ira N. Stanley, Esq.; Philharmonic Society, J. W. Wood, Esq.;, Hook and Ladder Co., William H. Greene, Esq.; Engine Com- panies: No. 3, Captains Julius Sayer, No. 4, George S. Ward, No. 5, Lewis Lawton Simmons, Esq., No. 7, Henry B. Burdick, Esq. The convention elected Thomas Coggeshall secretary and treasurer, appointed committees of detail and placed the gener- al management undercharge of the Hon. William J. Swinburne as chief marshal. On the 23d of August there was a large gath- ering in the tastefully decorated city, which wasgayly illumin- ated on the eve of the celebration. The register of names opened at the mayor's office received over, eleven hundred signatures. The returning sons and daughters came in from every section of the country. An account of this interesting celebration, with an appendix giving the registered names, was prepared by Mr. George C. Mason and printed by the committee of arrange- ments. On this occasion the United States and the service was represented by John Magruder of Viiginia and his staff. Bu- chanan was then president, and the southern officers of the reg- ular army had all the choice posts. Magruder commanded at HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 517 Fort Adams and it is but just to say, did his full share in the hospitalities of the city during the period of his command. In the winter of 1883 the project was broached of a repetition of the celebration of 1859, on its twenty-fifth anniversary, but piactical form was not assumed until the 6th of May, 1884, when Robert S. Franklin, mayor of the city, brought tlie sub- ject before the city council who, the same day, named a special committee to carry out the plan. A jiublic meeting was held at the ojiera house on the 16th of May, and an organization completed : Chairman, John Waters ; secretary, Frank G. Harris ; treasurer, Charles T. Hopkins, and chief marshal, Wil- liam J. Swinburne. Preparations were begun and fornuil meet- ings of the Sons of Newport were held at the four centers of Newport emigration — Providence, New York, New Bedford and Boston. The legislature passed an act authorizing the city council to expend the sum of three thousand dollars for the Fourth of July celebration, and it was directed to hold the re- union on this day. The summer residents of Newport came forward in a most generous manner. The Izard lot was selected for the erection of the mammoth tent, and Mr. George Wash- ington, the colored caterer, was charged with the entertainment of the concourse of people. The procession moved from Wash- ington square, starting from in front of the state house, the marshal leading, at eleven o'clock. Nearly four thousand i)er- sons were in line, while the streets were thronged along the route of march through Broadway, Marlborough, Thames, Franklin, Spring to Broadway again ; thence by Mann avenue, Kay street, Bellevue avenue to Bowery, Spring to the Izard lot. A history of the celebration was pi-epared and published by the secretary, Mr. Frank G. Harris, in 1885. One of the most val- uable of its chapters is a retrospective glance over the quarter of a century elapsed since the first re-union. The taxable property of the city had risen from $10,484,400 in 1859, to $27,- 543,600 in 1884. Whole sections, then only field land, had been converted into summer residences, and the part of tlie<;ity about Broadway and the contiguous streets filled with comfort- able homes for the permanent population. The manufacturing interest had died out, or lather been burned out bj'^ re])eated fires, and the mills and factories had not been rebuilt, yet the amount of deposits in the savings banks had shown a constant increase; indicating a change but not a decline in the industries 518 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of the city. Tlie war of the rebellion had come and gone and was already almost forgotten. The genial Colonel Magrnder had seceded with his state, and a young U. S. officer, with an old Rhode Island name, Lieutenant Dyer, of Light Battery F, Fourth United States Artillery, the original company raised by Alexander Hamilton in New York in 1776, responded to the toast to the army. The union that Hamilton welded, the guns of his battery had protected and helped to preserve. Trade and Commerce. — In the very beginnings of Pilgrim settlement there is record of one English skipper who had the daring to sail his sloop on trading trips, coasting from Boston around Cape Cod to the Connecticut river. Before the coming of Coddington to Aquidneck, before even the solitary landing of Roger Williams at Seekonk, John Oldiiam had put into the harbor of the Narragansett and been the guest of Canonicus at his home on Conanicut island. The Indian chief, either from friendship for the man or desiring to extend the trade of his tribe, had before 1686 given to the captain an island in the Nar- ragansett bay, Chibachuwesa (later Prudence) in the Indian tongue, famous for its store of fish, on condition that he should settle upon it and dwell near to him and his son. Oldham was murdered by the Pequots at Block Island in 1636. That the trade was active and more than one vessel engaged appears from the fact that still another captain, John Gallup, returning also from the Connecticut river, and seeing Oldham's vessel near the island and full of Indians, bore up for it, boarded and drove the savages into the sea, and found the mangled body of Old- ham. But there is no mention of any other white man trading at or near this time within the bay. Such is the meagerness of this class of information that we have not fallen on any mention of this coastwise trade between the eastern settlements of New England and Connecticut and New York until the time of Phil- ip's war. Captain Church, in his narrative, mentions his en- gagement of Mr. Anthony Low, who put into the harbor of Newport with a loaded vessel bound to the westward, to take him to Plymouth. This was about the close of June, 1676. In August of the same year the records of a court martial held in Newport show that Captain Anthony Low was then engaged by the court to transi)ort seven Indians, found guilty of being en- gaged in Philip's designs, out of the colony. The inference is natural that the vessel was engaged in a regular coasting trade. HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 519 He is known to have gone as far as New York on these trips. The first trading houses in the Narragansett country were on the nuiinland, in tlie neighbi)ihood of wliat is now Ivnown as Wickford. The pioneer in this enterprise, according to tlie testimony of Roger Williams (concerning the Narragansett country, 1670), was Richard Smith, a man of estate in Glocester- shire, England, who, selling his property in the mother country, came over to New England about 1637, and first settled at Taun- ton, in the colony of New England; but disagreeing with the authorities in religious matters came intoNarragansett, and ob- taining the favor of the sachems " he broke the ice (at his great charges and hazards) and put up in the thickest of the barbari- ans the first house among them." Shortly after, Roger Williams, and with him a Mr. Wilcox (whom we suppose to be either the Edward Wilcocks admitted inhabitant of Newport in 1638, or Daniel Wilcox appointed on the grand inquest of Newport in 1G43), built a second trading house near U) the first. Both were in operation in 1642-3, soon after which Williams sold his home and settlement to " Richard Sill i til, who lived there alone for many years, his house being the resting place and rendezvous for all travellers passing that way, which was of great use and benefit to the country." In the beginning these men were only permitted to live upon the land by sufi^^erance and favor, but about 1649 the Narragansett princes together assembled, and many hundred Indians present granted by "livery and seizing a tract of several hundred acres about a mile in length and so down to the sea." Here in this first trading house Richard Smith and Captain Richard Smith, Jr., his son, lived together, industrious and thriving, for over forty years. In it the father died. This house, fortified and garrisoned, was the headquarters of General Josiah Winslow and the rendezvous of the troops of the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies on the famous expedition of 1675 in Philiiys war. Here, from its abundant store of corn, provisions and cattle. Captain Church prepared for the coming of the main forces. The garrison is known in the histories as Major Smith's garrison, and the ferry, the principal in that neighborhood, as Smith's ferry (now Wickford). In the grant of land by Conia- qnon, sachem (.son of Miantonomi), of the northern tract to Governor Winthrop, Major Atherlon and others, Richard Smith, Sr., and Ricliard Smith, Jr., are named as of Cocumco- 520 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. suck traders. This is the brook which gives the name (Stoney Brook) to the liarbor of Wickford. It was the chief mart of Indian trade on the Narragansett waters. Roger Williams was a frequent visitor here. His letters to John Winthrop, Jr., governor of Connecticut, of June, 1675, are dated from '' Mr. Richard Smith's " and from " Mr. Smith's at Nahigonsik." And the records of the colony show that the apijointed place of meeting of the authorities of Rhode Island and New Hampshire to settle the claims to territory in 1683 was "Mr. Richard Smith's at Narragansett." About 10.57, says Callender, several gentlemen on the island (Rhode Island) and elsewhere made a considerable purchase, called the Petaquamscot purchase. This tract is a strip of land running east from Narragansett Pier in South Kingstown due west to Charlestown. It is known that Rhode Island men settled here before 1661, at which time there was a hot dispute as to the ownership of the land between the governments of Plymouth and the Providence Plantations. It was at the Petaquamscot settlement, at the mouth of the river, that the Connecticut detachment of General Winslow's expedition ex- pected to find shelter on their march to join the main body moving from Smith's garrison house to the northward. The Petaquamscot settlement was incorporated as Kingstown in 1674. . In 1660 William Vaughan and other Newport men purchased of Socho, a Niantic chief, the tract of Misquamicut, the neck of land on the east side of Pawcatuck river, and a set- tlement was made here which took the name of Westerly on its incorporation, in 1669. About this tract there was trouble between the Connecticut government and the King's Province (as the Narragansett country was called after their submission), Connecticut claiming it as her share of the Pequot conquest, careless alike of the fact that the Narragansetts claimed juris- diction to the river, and that her warriors had aided in the Pequot defeat. In addition to these three chief trading stations, in which Indian products were the chief articles of barter and Indian wampum peage the sole cui-rency, the island of Manisses or Block island, which fronts the roadstead of Narragansett bay, must be named, for though not as important as the other ports, it lay in the way of traffic between the inhabitants of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COTTNTT. 521 Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth coast with the New Haven colony and the settlements on Long Island, both English and Dutch. It was here that Oldham was wounded in 1633 by the savage Pequots, who then held the island. In 1G72 this is- land was incorporated as New Shorehani. The English found the Narragansetts a thriving, industrious people, combining agriculture and manufactures, fishing, hunt- ing and fowling, witli a certain address in the arts of ornament. Prom the prolific soil they raised Indian corn, their staple food, in great abundance and used in various forms of preparation, fresh, pounded and dried. Beans and squash were plentiful; acorns and chestnuts they dried; froni walnuts they took oi); fruits grew in profusion: strawberries, whortleberries and cur- rants. The sea swarmed with fish, large and small, the rocks on the shore with cormorants, the beaches were thick with clams and other shell fish. The ponds were at seasons covered with geese, ducks and innumerable wild fowl, the woods were full of turkeys, pigeons and smaller birds, all of which the Indians snared or killed with bow and arrow. The de«r they drove in great parties, encircling and gathering them to a place of slaughter. Their manufactures were rude but well adapted to their purposes. Their earthen vessels were shapely, their tools convenient, and their stone pipes and bracelets not without grace of form. The recent discovery (1878) of an Indian pottery factory shows the extent of this industry. It was found in a large cave of soft limestone in the town of Cranston on the west of the bay— unfinished and broken plates were scattered about the ground. Their tools were chisels and hammers made of a hard stone found in the hills near by. There had previously been found a factory near Providence, in a ledge of steatite or soapstone rocli, the only formation of this character, it is said, east of the Alleghanies, unless there be one as stated near Rich- mond. The Indians dug around the pots and hollowed them out. Abundantly supplied themselves, the Indians carried their surplus wherever they might hope for a market, sometimes to a distance of forty to fifty miles. They were keen at a bargain, suspicious of deceit and true themselves. In addition to these various industries they were the chief makers or coiners of wampum-peage, the currency of the country when the English arrived and for a long period after the first settlement. Warn- 522 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. pum-peage was of two kinds; the vvliite made of the stock of the periwinkle shell and the black from the shell of the quahawg or round clam, about twice the value of the white. The eye of this shell was ground smooth, polished and drilled. Strung to- gether, they were worn as necklaces, armlets or bracelets, or blended into figures as ornaments. When used as money they were strung in fathoms. A string of three hundred and sixty white beads made a fathom. A fathom of black was worth twice that of the white. There was no limitation in its nuike nor any license required from the prince or local sachem. This cun-ency was current among the Indian tribes for six hundred miles in the interior and also with the English, French and Dutch, who made it a legal tender. Defective pieces injured the value of the fathom and were not taken by the Indians. That there was counterfeit peage appears by the order of the assembly in 1647 that any false peage offered for goods by In- dians and warranted so should be confiscated. The value at the first coming of the English was for the white six for a penny; the black three for a penny. A string of white beads or fathom was worth five shillings sterling; of black ten shillings sterling. With the fall in the value of beaver skins* in England caused by the spread of tlie fur trade, the value of wampum was ten shil- lings the fathom. The cause of the decline was beyond the financial understanding of the natives. These values changed, for in 1649 the Rhode Island colony passed a law that no person should take any black peage of tlie Indians but at four a penny: under j^ain of forfeiture, half to the informer, half to the state, and in 1658, "seeing that peage is fallen to so low a rate it is ordered that all fines shall be accounted and paid in peage at eight per penny white and in other pay equivalent thereto;" and in 1662 it is ordered that "upon the consideration that peage is fallen to so low a rate and it cannot be judged that it is but a commodity and that it is unreasonable that it should be forced upon any man, therefore all fines, &c., shall be accounted and paid in current pay according to merchants pay and all former laws stand repealed." Current pay was sterling or New England coin. Shillings and sixpences were coined in Massa- chusetts in 1652— thirty shillings equal to twenty-two shillings and sixpence sterling. Rhode Island was the last of the colo- nies to give up the use of wampum. The records are full of in- stances of the use of peage in matters of consequence. HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTV. 523 In 1687 Caiionicus and Miantononii received forty fathoms of wampum from Coddiiigton and liis friends for Aquidneck is- land and other privileges and Wanamatrauemit, the sachem of the island, five fathoms for his consent thereto; and in ]6:^9, Wammenatoni, five fathoms in satisfaction of any and all other titles. In 1642 Miantonomi and Pumham, the local sachem, re- ceived one hundred and forty-four fathoms for the entire tract of Shawomet, or Warwick, and in 1645 the fine imposed on Pes- sicus by New England for making war on his enemies without their consent, amounted to two thousand fathoms, to secure which they mortgaged the entire Narragansett country. Of a true trading spirit, the Narragansetts were eager pur- chasers of the tools, little articles of ornament and especially of the fire arms, of which they quickly learned the use; and the wampum paid was the most convenient medium for the purchase of furs at any of tlie trading posts from the Atlantic to the St. Lawrence, and served to raise the nature of the trade to a higher plane than that of common barter; but it is to be observed that the transfers of title to land were generally ac- companied by gifts of some kind — clothing, tools or ornaments — in addition to or in lieu of wampum consideration. There is no means of ascertaining the value of this Indian trade, but it no doubt entered largely into the daily life of the colony. In 1638, the year of the Portsmouth settlement on Aquidneck island, three of the freemen, Mr. Coggeshall, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Dyre, the clerk of the company, were appointed for the venison trade with the Indians, and were forbidden to give them above three half pence a pound in waj' of trade, the same to be sold by the truck masters for two pence a pound. In 1640 the trade with the Indians was made free by law at Newport to all men, and the same year also it was ordered that Indian corn should "goe at four shillings a bushel between man and man in all payments for debts from that day forward, provided it be merchantable." The same year it was ordered by the general asserpbly that " all the Sea Banks are free for fishing to the towne of New- port." The imjjortance of the fishing trade was early seen by Roger Williams, who liad from Canonicus a gift of Chibachii- wesa or Prudence island in the bay " because of the store of fish." This island he divided with Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts. It was suited for double occupation, being in 524 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. shape, as Williams queerly describes, "spectacle-wise." Fish were no doubt dried here for winter use and export. That the Narragansett Indians pushed their trade amon^ the Dutch and French appears from the ordinance in 1647 forbid- ding any trade by the Dutch, PVench or other alliants or even any Englishman to trade or barter with the Indians within the jurisdiction of the colony on pain of forfeiture of ship and goods. The Dutch governor was to be notified, and to secure obedience Newport was ordered to take into their custody the trading house or houses of the Narragansett bay; Portsmouth to take in Prudence island, and Pawtuxet to make its choice be- tween Providence, Portsmouth or Newport. Arnold in his history of Rhode Island gives some idea of the prices which ruled in the colony at different times. Those of 1664 are taken from the i-ates at which the several articles were valued in the collection of the tax upon the towns to provide money to pay the expenses of their London agent: in colonial currency wheat at four and six pence per bushel, peas at three and six pence, pork at three pounds ten shil- lings the barrel. In 1670, summary means being again taken to send agents to England, a compulsory tax was laid on the following scale of market values : Pork three pence ; butter six pence ; wool one shilling ; peas three shillings and six pence a bushel ; wheat live shillings ; Indian corn three shil- lings ; oats two shillings and three pence. Forty shillings of New England cun-ency was then equal to thirty shillings ster- ling. New England shillings silver were taken for two shil- lings value in produce. This was before Philip's war, which was by far the most disturbing incident in Rhode Island history ; after its close, in 1678, a tax was laid which showed the effects. Fresh pork was valued at two pence a pound, salted pork tifty shillings the barrel, fresh beef twelve shillings the hundred weight, packed beef in barrels thirty shillings a hundred, peas and barley malt two shillings and si.\ pence a bushel, corn and barley two shillings, washed wool six pence a pound, and good firkin butter hve pence. "Most of the tax was paid in wool, the price of which was reduced to five cents." While this great change in the price of staples occurred, the relative value of English and colonial money remained un- changed. An insufficiency of information is found when search is made IITSTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 525 into the foreign trade of Newport before 1700; indeed until the issue of the first newspaper. We know that when Roger Williams and John Clarke went to England on the matter of the charter that they sailed from Boston in November, 1661, and we have no doubt that when Coddington went tliither on his errand in 1C49 with his daughter, and sailed in January, that it was from the same port. That there was some direct trade with tlie Barbadoes is certain. Mr. William Coddington was engaged in shipping horses to that point from Newport in 1658. Quakers came direct to Newport from that port the same year. George Fox arrived in 1672. In 1666 such trouble was found in obtaining exchange on England to remit to John Clarke, the colony's agent in London, that a committee was raised to send a venture to Barbadoes by which to procure the needed bills from that colony — sufficient proof that commerce was at a low ebb at this period. The answer of Rhode Island, May 8th, 1680, to thejboard of trade and plantations to the questions tonching commerce are selected and given in full: "To the eighth we ausw^er that with respect to other nations that the French being seated at Canada and up the Bay of Fundy are a very considerable number, as we judge about two thousand, but as for the Indians they are generally cut oif by the late war that were inhabiting our coUony. "To the ninth we answer, that as for foreigners and Indians we have no commerce with, but as for our neighboring English we have and shall endeavor to keep a good correspondency with them. "To the eleventh, we answer that our principal town for trade in our collony is the Towne of Newport, that the general- ity of our building is of timber, and generally small. "To the thirteenth, that we have several good harbors in the colony of verj^ good deptli and soundings, navigable for any shipping. "To the fourteenth, that the principal matters that are ex- ported amongst us is Horses and provisions, and the good.s chiefly imported is a small quantity of Barbadoes goods for supply of our families. " To the si.xteenth, we answer that we have several men that deal in buying and selling, although they can not properly be called merchants, and for planters that there are about five hundred, and about five hundred men besides. 526 IIISTOKY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. "To the seventeenth, that we have had few or none either of English, Scots, Irish or foreigners, only a few blacks, imported. ' " To the eighteenth, that there may be of whites and blacks about two hundred born in a year. " To the nineteenth, that for marriages we haveabont tifty in a year. "To the twentieth, that for bnrials the seven years last past according to computation amounts to four hundred and tifty- five. "To the twenty-first, that as for merchants we have none, but the most of our colony live comfortably by improving the wil- derness. "To the twenty-second, that we have no shipping belonging to our country, b.ut only a few sloops. "To the twenty-third, that the great obstruction concerning trade is the want of Merchants and men of considerable Estates amongst us. "To the twenty-fourth, we answer that a fishing trade might prove very beneficial provided, according to the former article, there were men of considerable Estates amongst us, and willing to propagate it. "To the twenty-fifth, that as for goods exported and import- ed, which is very little, there is no customs imposed." The interference by travelling traders or peddlers with the set- tled business of the colony had so increased in 1698 that a law was passed for their government. It reads : " Whereas divers transient persons and trading strangers are continually coming into all parts of this colony with a quantity of sundry sorts of goods and commodities, retailing the same from house to house in chambers, warehouses and other places, for some time aiid then going away to another jilace, gathering up quantities of ready money and carrying it off, and who pay little or no ac- knowledgment to the government or scote or lote, nor are at those charges the freemen and inhabitants that trade are at, who also triist the inhabitants and yearly take off considerable quantities of the produce of the colony in i)art of pay, which the other transient traders do not; but carry off the ready money to the damage not only of the traders but of the govern- ment and inhabitants in general. And not only so, but some of the transient traders, taking up quantities of goods of the merchants of Boston, &c., come here and vend them at low rates HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 527 and then run away and never pay said inei'chants, as several hath done; all which is and will be of very ill consequence to the government and inhabitants if not redressed. For the pre- vention of which inconvenience and in direct way of trade, and that the government may receive some proportional consid- eration from them as well as from the inhabitants and freemen, he it enacted that from and after the publication of this act no person whatsoever (not admitted an inhabitant or freeman ac- cording to the laws of this colony) shall be permitted to retail any commodity either in shop, warehouse, chamber, vessel or any other place in any town of this colony before said person has entered his name with an invoice of the particular species and value of said goods he intends to retail, with the clerk of said town, upon the penalty of forfeiture of all said goods and commodities that shall be found in his custody, one third to the informer, one third to the governor and one third to the town. And for every ten pounds value of said goods en- tered and sold he shall pay to the town clerk five shillings money which said money and invoice shall be produced at the next Town Council in order to pay said money into the Town Treasury for the use of the poor and mending of high- ways and bridges. And further that no merchant, factor or any person whatsoever that shall bring on shore any goods into any town of this colony, not admitted an inhabitant or freeman as aforesaid, he shall not have liberty to expose any of said goods by wholesale before he enter his name with an invoice of his goods with the Town Clerk upon the penalty aforesaid." Power was given to assess the same not exceeding twenty shil- lings on the hundred pounds. Some exceptions were made for the fairs allowed by act of assembly, but always under condi- tion tiiat articles l)ronght to fairs should not be transported to any other town or the trader be allowed to trade in the town itself where the fair is held after " the fairs are passed." For further protection of the home business it was enacted in 1701 that " wherever there are several persons that are traders from foreign parts that doth come to trade in this colony with several sorts of merchandise to the great detriment of such merchants as live here and are settled and have their residence now here, all such merchants so coming or others whatsoever that doth reside in the Colony for the term of one month shall be liable to all such rates and duties that shall be raised on 528 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. their persons and goods as others of his majesty's subjects of this Colony is or may be at, &c." Thus, while the liberal in- stitutions of the colonj^ opened wide its doors to attract the stranger, a contracted economic legislation stood at the gate to take toll from them or warn them away. While Rhode Island was thus engaged in regulating trade as among themselves, the British government was endeavoring to bring the entire commerce of all the colonies into harmonious relations with each other and subordination to itself. This was to be effected bj^ an enforcement of the provisions of the famous navigation act; an act the objects of which were to force the entire import and export trade of the colonies into English bottoms to the exclusion of the Dutch and to secure to England the monopoly of the American market. It was passed by the parliament of the commonwealth in 1651, and, with some changes in form, by the king's parliament (Charles II.) again in 1660. It was far reaching in its purpose and scope. Its author builded better than he knew. It crippled the maritime power of Holland in its rigid enforcement. It aroused a resistance which was the germ of American independence. An order to enforce its provisions and that of the plantation act, which was of kindred nature but special application, was issued from White- hall in November, 1680. In March,1681, the governor and council made ordinance which was published by beat of drum in New- port in April of the same year and contirmed in May, 1682, by the assembly, establishing " a public office to be known by the name of a naval office." Here masters of vessels were required to make entry and give bonds as required b\^ act of parliament. Fees were prescribed for entrance and discharge. The arrival and departure of vessels above twenty tons and the regulation of seamen while in port had been the subject of legislation in 1679. The governor was to have a "just knowledge of their designe " when sailing. The colonies chafed under other restrictive provisions and even under this necessary regulation. To the complaints of the board of trade Governor Easton replied, in 1694, that it was the want of forts in the bay that made the enforcement of the navi- gation laws difficult — an answer which these gentlemen probably valued at its worth. Disregard and breach of the law had so exasperated the government in England that a royal letter was issued in 1697 threatening the colonies with a withdrawal of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 529 their charters if they were continued. The establishment of courts of admiralty under Englisli rule was an effective measure to reach one class of offense — that against the law of nations. Slave Trade. — Little or nothing more tlmii lias been related regarding the commerce of Newport until tlie close of the sev- enteenth century is to be found exce[)t the arrival in 1696 of a vessel direct from the coast of Africa, with a cargo of slaves. She brought forty-seven negroes, fourteen of whom were sold in the colony at thirty to thirty-five pounds each, and the re- mainder sent overland to Boston where the vessel was owned. There had existed in England three trading companies to Af- rica. The first, incorporated in the reign of Elizabeth, was suc- ceeded by the Company of lloyal Adventurers, chartered in 1662, which in turn sold out to the Royal African company, chartered in 1672. Parliament opened the trade to all merchants June 24th. 1698, for a term of fourteen years. The act of parliament opening the trade stated that it was "for tlie well supplying of the plantations and colonies witli suthcient numbers of negroes at reasonable prices," and was followed b\' a circular from the board of trade and plantations to all the English colonies in America to ascertain the condition of the trade. The reply of Rhode Island stated that only one vessel (as above stated) had ever arrived direct and that two years before the passage of. the act. In 1700 three slavers, owned in the Barbadoes, sailed from Newport for the coast of Africa. Before that time the supply had come from Barbadoes. From twenty to thirty slaves was the average annual supply and from twenty to thirty pounds their average price. The rej^ort said further that the trade was lim- ited by the dislike of the Rhode Island planters for these negroes by reason of their turbulent and unruly tempers "and to tile inclination of the people in general to employ white per- sons before negroes;" yet in 1708 the census of the colony showed that the " few bhudvs " reported in 1680 had increased by birth and importation to 426 black servants, while tlie total number of freemen was hardly over a thousand and the num- ber of white servants only forty-six ; and already in 1703 negroes and Indians alike were forbidden to walk the streets of Newport after nine o'clock at night without a certificate that they were on their master's business. With the opening of the eighteenth century began the history 530 HISTOItY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of Rhode Island commerce and commercial prosperity. It is very common to theorize on the charms of the sea and the de- lights of seafaring men, but if history be searched it will be fonnd that the proportion of those who have gone upon the Atlantic willingly is a small one in the large number, and that it increases in ratio to the difficulties of obtaining a living on shore. So long as there was land in the island of Rhode Island not already taken np in small farms the youth preferred to set- tle upon and cultivate it and become freemen like their fathers. A letter from Governor Cranston, in reply to a further circu- lar from the board of trade to the colonies, gives the commei- cial statistics of Rhode Island at the close of 1708 and shows the wonderful progress whi(;h had been made in a few years. In twenty years the shipping had increased sixfold owing " to the inclination the youth on Rhode Island have for the sea," be- cause of want of opportunity on land, Within eleven years eighty-four vessels, ships, brigantines and sloops had been built in the colony, twenty-nine were then owned in it, all but two or three in Newport, and the number of native seamen was one hundred and forty. The vessels are described by the governor as "being light and sharp for runners so that very few of the enemy's privateers in a gale of wind will run or outsail one of our loaded vessels." Tliese qualities had not only proved of safety to themselves but of danger to their enemies. War had taxed the resources of the colony, but the chief ex- penditure for it was in a way that proved of benefit. The colony giving up control over the shores to the towns, each set to work to build wharves and warehouses. Up to the close of the pre- ceding century it has been seen that the little foreign trade of Rhode Island was with Barbadoes, and the direct trade still continued to take that direction, but by Cranston's statistics it appears that the amount of annual exports to England by way of Boston was estimated at twenty thousand pounds. But al- ready parliament was jealous of the evasion of the clause of the navigation laws which required that all plantation produce should go to the United Kingdom before being sent to foreign countries. The extraordinary expenses of the war were such that a resort to bills of credit was necessary to supply a suffi- cient circulating medium. In 1721 the shipping of the colony consisted of sixty small vessels, aggregating tiiirty-tive tons. In 1723 the records state HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 531 that there were one hnndrecl and eighty-four sail foreign ancT three linndred and fifty-two coastwise vessels engaged. There were thirty distilleries and tlie molasses imported reached eighteen hundred hogsheads. In 1731 it had increased to five thousand tons, and included two ships, several brigs and many sloops, and employed four hundred sailors. Two vessels arrived each year from England, two from Holland and the Mediter- ranean, ten or twelve from the West Indies. A large number of small craft brought supplies from Boston, and under the act of 1731, giving a bounty to vessels engaged in the whale and cod fisheries, these industries began to assume some importance. At this time also an effort was made by the conservative mem- bers of the colony to check the issue of paper money. There were already outstanding one hundred and twenty thousand pounds of the one hundred and ninety-live thousand pounds of bills of credit emitted, and the value of silver had risen from eight to twenty shillings the ounce. In 1732 a tonnage duty of six pence jier ton was levied on all except fishing vessels for purposes of defense. In 1733 the lottery system made its first appearanc^e, but was suppressed by a severe penalty. In 1735 Governor Wanton informed the board of trade that the import on slaves bronght in from the West Indies having been removed, there were no duties levied on English trade. The streets of New- port were originally paved from the proceeds of duties on im- ported slaves. The Spanish and French wars of this period, which included the expedition against Louisburg, Cape Breton, in which the citizens of Newport had an active part, had cost the colony over sixteen thousand pounds sterling, the repayment of which by Great Britain was long disputed, but finallj' adjusted. The de- lay increased the many difficulties. In Newport especially there was bitter antagonism to the paper money system, and an able petition to the king from the merchants there had the effect to aid the passage of law " regulating and restraining paper bills of credit " in the New England colonies, of 1751. A census taken in 1748 showed the population of the colony to be 34.128, of whom 29,750 were whites: the remainder blacks and Indians. Newpoi't contained 4,640 and Providence 3,452. The early feeling against lotteries has been noticed; but legalized in 1744, it was applied to public works as well as private chari- ties, and in 17.'>2 a scheme was granted for paving the streets, 34 532 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the import duty on slaves being abolished; the Parade, then called Queen street, and Thames street to be first finished. The Reverend James McSparran, an English clergyman of Scotch-Irish descent, settled at Narragansett by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, gives an interesting account of the state of the colony in 1752: "The pi'oduce of this colony is principally butter and cheese, fat cattle, wool and fine horses that are exported to all parts of the English America. They are remarkable for ileetness and swift pacing, and I have seen some of them pace a mile in little more than two minutes, a good deal less tlian three. There are above three hundred vessels, such as sloops, schooners, snows, brigantines and ships from sixty tons and upwards that belong to this colony; but as they are rather cari-iers for other colonies than furnished here with their cargoes you will go near to conclude that we are lazy and greedy of gain, since instead of cultivating the lands we improve too many hands in trade. ■>**-* i men- tioned wool as one of the productions of this colony, but al- though it is pretty plenty where I live, yet if you throw the English America into one point of view there is not half enough to make stockings for the inhabitants. We are a vast advantage to England in the consumption of her manufactures for which we make returns in new ships, whale oil and bone (which grows in the whale's mouth), and dry fish to the ports of Portugal, Spain and Italy, which are paid for by draughts. I wish Ireland were at liberty to ship us their woolens which we shall always want instead of her linens which will soon cease to be in demand here." In this year (1752), a marine society was formed for the relief of distressed widows and orphans of seamen. In 1755, at the request of the board of trade, a census of the colony was again taken, and the population found to be close upon forty thousand, of whom thirty-six thousand were whites, the number capable of bearing arms over eight thousand, of whom fifteen hundred were soon engaged in the active priva- teering of the old French war, which resulted in the conquest of Canada. The first line of packets between England and the colonies was at this time established by the post office depart- was estimated between Falmouth and New York. In 1753 it ment monthly that three hundred sail of vessels of si.xty tons and upward arrived at Newport. In 1758 the establishment of the Newport Mercury gave co- IIISTOKY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 533 herence and character to tlie trade of the colony. Newport, far from siiflfering by the war, was thriving nnder it. This year the comity paid one-fil'th of the entire tax of the colony, over forty- two thousand pounds, to twenty-six thousand pounds paid by Providence. In 1761 it is interesting to note that there was a regular packet between Providence and New York, which took Boston passengers, and stopped regularly at Newport on her way. During the two years from the peace of Paris, 1703, to the political agitation about the stamp act in 17G;'), Newport was at the height of prosperity. Nor was there much decline until the l)reaking of the storm of revolution. A view of the indus- tries of the town in 1769 will show the nature and extent of this activity. In this year there were live rope-walks in the town, those of Malbone, Brinley, Hays, Tilley and Buloid which gives an idea of the extent of the shipping interests. There were twenty-two rum distilleries, which shows the ex- tent of the slave traffic, in which rum has always been the chief factor. These were owned by theCookes, Overing, the Browns, Beers, Cranstons, Coggeshalls, Malbones, Ayraults, Scots, Thurstons, Marsh, Wyatts, Richardsons, Tillinghasts. There were four sugar refineries — Overing's, Mumford's, Gibbs' and Greens'. In 1769 the importations of molasses for these pur- poses reached three thousand hogsheads, brought in sixteen vessels from the West Indies. There was one great brewery belonging to George Roome, south of the First Baptist meeting house, the product of which was carried by an aqueduct to the court house cellar, where it was fermented and sold. The Jewish colony was then at the height of its activity, rein- forced no doubt by the Jews driven from Portugal after the fail- ure of the great conspiracy of 1759, in whi(-h they were said to have been the chief instruments, and for which, though it was a national and not a religious conspiracy, they were by the Holj'^ Inquisition made the chief sufl'erers in the terrible public exe- cutions at Li.sbon. The head of the Newport Jews was Aaron Lopez, a native of Portugal, one of the first merchants in the colonies. The Jews introduced the art, which they kept secret, of preparing sperm for candles, and before 1775 there were six- teen manufactories of sperm oil and candles inactive operation, owned by Lopez, Riviera, Pollock, Seixas, all Jews and bj' Robinson, Handy, Maudsley, Still. Carpenter and Pease. Dur- ing the period of British restriction which intervened from 1703 534 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. to 1775, the Rhode Island merchants openly disregarded the navigation a('t, and smuggling was the rule rather than the ex- ception of its trade, which was essentially with the West Indies, forbidden by the act. The breaking out of the revolution struck this prosperity with a sudden blight. Many of the chief merchants, sympathiz- ing with the English cause, left the city, the Jewish colony dis- persed and disappeared as the swallows at approach of frost. In 1782, the population of the state had fallen from nearly six- t3r thousand as by the census of 177-1: to a little short of tiftytwo thousand; that of Newport from 9,20'J in 1774 to 5,531 in 1782, a still larger ratio of decrease. The commerce of Newport was annihilated. It has never been recovered. Its incorporation as a city in 1784 did not mend matters. A tariff act for raising a revenue for the support of the government of the state was passed in 1783. It incliided a foreign import, an internal rev- enue and some sumptuary provisions. This act was amended by an increase early in 1785 and again in the summer of the same year when ad valorem duties were added to the spe- cific duties on sundry articles, expressly "for encouraging the manufacture thereof within this state and the United States." The wise men seem to have foreseen that manufacturing and not commerce was to be the future industry of the state; al- though Providence was quick to follow New York, which in the winter of 1784 had opened the trade with China by the 'dispatch of the first American vessel to the imperial kingdom, the " Em- press of China," which sailed from New York February 22d, 1784, and reached Canton August 20th, 1784, and New Y'ork on her return voyage May 11th, 1785. Doctor Morse, describing Newport in his "American Gazeteer" of 1797, makes no mention of any foreign commerce of conse- quence. He says "it is probable this may in some future per- iod become one of the man-of-war ports of the American Em- pire." He adds: "the excellent accommodations and reputa- tion of the numerous packets which belong to this port and which ply thence to Providence and New York are worthy of notice. They are said by European travelers to be superior to anything of the kind in Europe. This town, although greatly injured by the late war and its consequences, has a considera- ble trade. A cotton and duck manufactory have been lately established. The export for a year ending September 30th, Residence of LOUIS L. LORILLARO, NEWPORT, R. I. HISTORY OF NKWl'OKT COUNTY. 535 1794, iimniinted to :!1 1,200 dollars." The desirabiliry of estab- lishinsr a navy yard at tliis i)ort was already a subject of a re- port by one of the Britisli officers to the Biitish admiralty in 1764. John Harriott, who visited Newport and Providence in this year, draws a comparison between the two cities favorable to the foi'mer as a site for residence and a harbor for commerce. Yet Providence, with a "long river to navigate, far from a com- modious harbor, yet it is crowded with shipping. Newport has the best tish market in Anmrica and Providence one of the worst. Notwithstanding so many natural advantages in favor of Newport, yet, from the decay of trade, wharves out of repair and going to ruin, houses falling for want of tenants, with the small number of shipping and stillness of its streets, Newport, compared with its former flourishing state, brings to remem- brance the idea of Goldsmith's "Deserted Village;" while Providence, from the spirited exertion of many of its inhab- itants, seems like a thriving, crowded beehive. " * * Yet I am i)ersuaded it only requires the spirited e.Kertion of a few more merchants, as Messrs. Gibbs and Clianning, to become again a flourishing seaport." Tliis celebrated him, to which the traveller here refers, were among the most enterprising merchants of that day. Mr. George Gibbs, the senior partner, was already at the head of his profes- sion when he associated with himself Mr. Walter Channing. His business extended over Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and he had correspondents in New York and the southern cities. He constructed the frigate "General Gi't^ene" for the United States government, and it is of interest to note that it was to the house of Gibbs & Cimniiing tiuit the "En- deavor," tiie ship of Cook, the famous navigator, was consigned when cha.sed into New[)ort l)y a British frigate in 1792 or 1793. Slie was then in French ownership and was called " La Liberte." Such at least is the accepted tradition. In 1798, the advisability of a naval station on the .southern coast of New England being mooted in congress, the cove at Newport was tendered to the United States government for a dock yard. The cove ct)nsisted of about twelve acres kiU)wn as the mill pond north of Long wharf. Gibbs & Channing made the offer on behalf of the town. George G. Channing, who was a clerk of this firm, in his earlj^ recollections of Newport gives 536 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the names of a large number of vessels owned by them which traded toBatavia, Sf. Louis, Isle of Bourbon, Havana, Surinam, Holland, London, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Trieste and France. He names also, as distino;uished merchants of the period of his clerkship, 1804 — 1811, the Champlins, Vernons, Stevens, De- blois. Of these the elder Charajilin was the head. In 1805 a line of packet ships was established from Newport to Charleston, between which cities the relations were always in- timate. The embargo act of 1808 interrupted the business of Newport, and again checked the prosperity which her active merchants were seeking to regain. In May, 1817, the arrival of the steamboat " Fire Fly," from New York, opened the era of steam navigation for Nevvj)ort. She was twenty-eight hours making the passage, and hardly a competitor in a fair wind for one of Newport's fast sailing sloops; but from this small beginning has developed one of the most valuable of the industries of the state. Naturally the travel between New York and Boston would seek this mode of communication as it had before sought the sloop packet line. In 1822 the steamboats which connected with the overland stages at New Haven were drawn off, and on the organization of the Rhode Island and New York Steamboat Company the divergence of travel to it was permanently assured. The history of the growth of this passenger travel and freight traffic cannot be en- tered upon. It is only necessary to name the famous " Pil- grim," and the promise of the still more enormous steamer "Puritan," which is to be put on the Old Colony line next season — the steamboat marvel of our time. The railroad system was begun by a vote of the city council of Newport in October, 1861, conveying lands for the construc- tion of a railroad from the city limits to the boundary line be- tween the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and Fall River ; the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Company hav- ing announced their intention of immediately beginning the building of the road. The first train ran over the road in Feb- ruary, 1864. In 1869 the city council pledged the sum of fifty thousand dollars toward the constiaiction of a line of travel between Newport and New York, via Wickford, by steamboat and rail- road to connect New2)ort and the Stonington railroad at North Kingstown. The route was first opened to the public in 1871. HISTORY OF NEWPORT OOTJNTY. 637 The establishment of a cotton duck factory at Newport be- fore 1794 has been noted, but it was easy to foresee tliat this seaboard town couhl never compete witli the superior water power at Fall River. A society was formed in 1792 called the '' Newport Association of Meclianics and Manufacturers" for the promotion of industry and ingenuity, by the elforts of which, through lectures from 1848 to 1851, much was done to promote the progress of manufactures in the state, but no effort could divert the irresistible course of the industry in the town of Newport. The cotton and duck factory noticed by Morse as existing in 1794 was taken down early in the century, and the minor industries which were then in full operation did not long survive. The four large tanneries and five grain mills have disappeared. The central position of these factories and distilleries was in and about the cove and Long Wharf. There was some revival of enterprise in Newport about 1832, and a few years later (1837) the Coddington cotton mill, a sub- stantial structure, was erected. It changed hands several times and was in the ownership of Providence gentlemen when totally destroyed by fire in 1860. It then contained eleven thousand spindles and two hundred and seventy-five looms, producing about fifty thousand yards of printing cloth weekly and employ- ing two hundred and twenty hands. The same year a woolen mill, built about 1837, and employing fifty hands, was also burned, and in 1864 a similar fate befell the Point cotton mill erected early in the century. There still remains the Aquidneck mill, on Thames street, with ten thousand spindles and twenty looms and capacitj' of employment for one hundred and seventy- five operatives. It is the property of the Richmond Manufactur- ing Company, but stands idle. Still another cotton mill, erected in 1835 by the Perry Manufacturing Company, is now idle; the building being used for various meidianical purposes. The Newport Manufacturing Company erected a fine building in 1871 on Marlborough street, but failing in the enterprise, the structure is now used by the Newport Water AVorks in the manufacture of water pipes. The Newport Gas Liglit Company, chartered in 1853, has its extensive works on Thames street near Lee avenue. The lead works, which included a large shot tower and were in full operation from 18G1 to 1865, the period of the war, are now idle also. Even hats are no longer made here. 53S HISTORY OF KEWPOUT COUNTY. The annual re}K)it of the commissioner of industrial statistics made to the general assembly of Rhode Island at the January session of 1888, i^oints out the fact that considei-ably more than one-half of the inhabitants are enarao-ed in manufacturino" in its mills, and that the state is second only to Massachusetts in cotton manufacturing, while at the head of all in that of jewelry; but sensibly adds that "in the last analysis the farming in- terests sustain the whole." The inference is plain that legis- lation whicii does not open markets for the surplus products of the soil must in the end prove detrimental to the interests of the rest of the community. Banks. — To give even a summary of the history of the banks of the colony and the state, or mention the incidents of linan- cial history in the last and present century, would require a separate chapter. The term " bank" had a diltVrent signitioa tionin the eighteenth century from what it has now. The issue of forty thousand pounds in 171.'> by the colony for loans to the towns, in the form of bills from live pounds to one shilling, with provisions of redemj)tion, was known as the "first bank." A similar issue, of the same amount, in 1721, was the •' second bank." In 1728 a new loan, with an extension of time of redemp- tion, was "the third." Tiie "fourtli bank," in 1731, was not only a I'enewal of the third, but the loan was extended to sixty thousand pounds. The " fifth bank," created in 1733, amount- ed to one hundred tliousand pounds, issued at live per cent., the interest for the first year being appropriated for a harbor and jMer at Block Island for the tisliermen. Tiie "sixtii bank," also of one hundred thousand [)i)unds, was created on the same terms as tlie former loans, save that (lie interest as well as the principal was secured by mortgage on real estate. Further banks weie created, one for twenty tliousand pounds, for ten years, at four per cent., with an attempted stipulation of the precise amount of coin in which they should be redeemed. These bills were named new tenor bills, a terra which constantly occurs in the sequel of the history of the colony. In 1744 a new issue of forty thousand pounds was voted. In 17o0 a ninth bank of twenty-five thousand pounds was issued on new plates. It is needless to follow colonial legislation on this suliject further, nor yet to recite the struggles between the advocates of hard money and the paper money party, wliich resulted in i- H i 11. u n CL i ivi . RESIDENCE OF THEO. A. HAVEMEYER, NEWPORT, R. I. IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 539 the triumpli of the hitter at the general election in 1786. The Bank of North America had already been established on a specie basis as a national bank by Robert Moi-ris, the financier of the United States in 1781, the headquarters at Philadelphia, and a movement was inaugurated at Providence to establi.sli a bank there on the same basis in 1784. The action of the Rhode Island assembly — the paper money assembly — of 1786 in at- tempting to maintain the credit of tlieir bills by a " forcing act," not only brought business in general to a standstill, but prevented the success of the Providence scheme until 1791. The founding of tlie Bank of Providence was followed by that of an institution, the Bank of Rliode Island, on similar ])rinciijles, at Newport, in 1795. The original subscribers met at the slate house on the 21st of Octol)er, and the books having been opened the day previous for subscriptions to the stock in gold and silver, organized with tiie election of a board of direc- tors (Christopher Champlin, George Champlin, Greorge Gibbs, James Robinson, Peleg Clarke, Caleb Gardiner, Thomas Dennis, Simeon Martin, and Walter Channlng). Chistopher Ciiami)lin was chosen president, and Moses Seixas cashier. The bank opened for business at tlie residence of Mr. Sei.Kas, the cashier, in the Perry mansion on Touro street, where its l)usiness was conducted until 1820, when it was moved to its present location on Thames street. It entered into the national bank system September 22d, 1865. Capital, §10U,000. President, Freilerick Tompkins ; vice-president, Augustus P. Sherman ; cashier, Tliomas P. Peckham ; clerk, John P. Peckham ; directors, Frederick Tompkins, A. P. Sherman, J. D. Richaidson, T. P. Peckham, Henry A. Clarke. The Newport National Bank, 8 Washingt(jn square, was in- C(n-porated as a state bank in October, 1803, and reorganized as a national I)ank in 1865. Capital, $120,000. President, William Brownell ; casliier, Henry C. Stevens ; teller. Grant P. Taylor; assistant teller, Henry C. Stevens, Jr.; directors, William E. Dennis, William Bailey, Henrj' Bull, Jr., William Brownell, William Gili)in, .bilm C. Stoddard, Henry C. Stevens. The lirst president of the bank was Constant Tabor; the first cashier John P. Shernian. The Union National Baul\ 260 Thames street, was inctn-- porated in June, 1804. The first president was Samuel Elam, first cashier John L. Boss. Organized as a national baid< August .'540 iiisTOi;y of Newport counts. 31st, 1881. Capita], $15.'5,25(). Present officers : President, Robert S. Barker; casliier, Jolin S. Coggesliall ; teller, William A. Coggeshall ; directors, R. S. Barker, Noah Redford, George F. Crandall, Thomas B.'Bnffnm, Michael Cottrell, Benjamin B. H. Sherman, John fl. Crosby, Jr. The Merchants' Bank, 223 Thames street, was incorporated in February, 1817. The hrst president was Samuel \\^hitehorne, first cashier Thomas H. Mumford. Capital, §10U,0(X). Officers: President, ; cashier. A. S. Sherman ; clerk. Charles Crandall, Jr.; directors, A. S. Sherman, George A. Richmond, William B. Sherman, Albert Sherman. The JVe'W England Commercial BanJc, 263 Thames street, was incorporated in February, 1818. The presidents of the bank have been : William Ennis, Doctor David King, J. Munroe, George Bowen, James Swan. Cajjital, §75,000. Present offi- cers: President, James Swan; cashier, Nicholas Underwood; directors, James Swan, Nicholas Underwood, Augustus Goffe, Howard Smith, Harwood E. Read. TJie National Exchange Bank, 38 Washington square, was incorporated in January, 1834. It became a national bank September 22d, 1865. Capital, $100,000. Officers : President, Samuel Carr; cashier, Stephen H. Norman; teller, Thomas A. Spencer ; clerk, George H. Proud ; directors, Samuel Carr, Perry G. Case, Augustus C. Titus, Stephen S. Albro, Stej^hen H. Norman, David Braman. The First National Bank, 231 Thames street, was incorpor- ated as " The Traders' Bank " in June, 1836, and reorganized as the First National Bank May 1st, 1865. Capital, $12t»,000. Officers : President, T. Mumford Seabury ; cashier, Nathaniel R. Swinburne; teller, E. I. Spencer; clerk, David E. Easter- brook ; directors, Benjamin Marsh, T. Mumford Seabury, J. E. Seabury, Philip Rider, Henry H. Pay, Robert S. Chase, Wil- liam S. Cranston, John S. Langley, Lewis Brown. TJte Aquidncck National Bank, 284 Thames street, was incor- porated as a state bank in May, 1854, and in 1865 became a national bank. Rufus B. Kinsley, E.sq., the founder of the Kinsley Express Company, was the first president, and Timothy Coggeshall first cashier. Capital, $200,000. Officers: President, Thomas Coggeshall; cashier, Charles T. Hopkins; teller,/niomas B. Congdon; clerk, E. P. Landers; directors, Thomas Coggeshall, W. H. Fludder, William P. Clarke, Samuel McAdam, Robert S. Franklin, Lewis L. Simmons, William O. Greene. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 541 Tlie Savings Bank of Neioport, 282 Thames street, was incor- porated in June, 1819. President, Richard Cornell; vice-pres- ident, James C. Swan; directors, Benjamin Finch, Joseph Sher- man, Henry C. Stevens, William S. Cranston, Charles E. Ham- niett, Benjamin Marsh, Edward W. Lawton, Joh^n S. Coggeshall; treasurer, William H. Sherman; assistant treasurer, Thomas A. Lawton; secretary, William G. Stevens. The Coddtngion Savings Bank, 231 Thames street, was incor- porated in May, 1856. President, T. Mumford Seabiiry; secre- tary, Benjamin Marsh, 2d; treasurer, N. R. Swinburne; trustees, William J. Swinburne, T. M. Seabury, Benjamin Marsh, G. W. Swinburne, John E. Seabury, John H. Cozzens, W. M. Frank- lin, Clark H. Burdick. The Island Savings Bank, 38 Washington square, was incor- l^orated in May, 1873. Officers : President, Samuel Carr; vice- presidents, Robert S. Franklin, John C. Stoddard, John P. Sanborn; trustees, P. S. Case, William A. Stedman, W. H.Wil- bour, S S. Albro, A. C. Titus, N. G. Stanton, I. R. Spooner, William A. Armstrong; secretary and treasurer, Stephen H. Norman. Cemeteries. — Respect for the dead is one of the noblest at- tributes of our nature, and the beautiful cemeteries that are be- ing established and consecrated as the final resting place of the departed give evidence of the affectionate interest the living cherish in these beautiful repositories of their honored dead. Not upon unknown ground, but in consecrated lots, we lay the bodies of our loved ones, and the hand of affection still scattei"s fresh flowers over their graves, and, as in life they were the ob- jects of our kindest regard, so are their remains the subject of our dearest thought and tenderest care, in these ever-growing cities of the dead. " A jilace where the forms of our loved ones rest; Where contemplation is nature's guest." The older "God's Acres," as the Germans so beautifully des- ignate the burial places of their dead, in Newport are well oared for by the city. Located in different parts of the city are several small family cemeteries. On Pelham street, now the property of ex-Gover nor Yanzandt, is the family burial place of Governor Benedict Arnold, who died in 1678. Here are also buried members of the Pelham and Bannister families. On Frank street, on the estate 542 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of the late William A. Clarke, the tomb-stones erected to the memory of Governor Caleb Carr and his family are in good or- der and the inscriptions still legible. The governor died in 1695. On West Broadway is a little cemetery containing the graves of Doctor John Clarke, one of the founders of Newport and the first pastor of the First Baptist church. He died in 1676. Here also rest the remains of Reverend Jolin Callen- der and other pastors of this church. Callender died in 1748. On Coggeshall avenue is a little burial ground of about one acre, inclosed by a handsome stone wall, with an iron gate in the central front, over which is chiseled "Coggeshall, 1854.'" The interior is kept in perfect order, the stones free from stain. In the center is a granite obelisk bearing the following inscription: "To the memory of John Coggeshall, First President of the Colony, died Nov. 27, 1647, .Et. 57.'' The original stone bearing the same inscription is still i)re- seived at the head of the grave. On Farewell street, near the First Baptist church, is the Coddington ground. Here are the graves of Grovernors Henry Bull, who died in 1693; Nicholas Easton, 1675; John Easton, 1705; and William Cod- dington, 1678— four of the original settlers of Newport. In this ground are buried many of the first inliabitants. The Easton cemetery on Anandale road, the Bliss ground on Ev- erett street, and the Wilboi' Inirial place on Bliss road, are in good order. The "■Common Ground,''' so-called, is the oldest public ceme- tery in Newport. It was laid out about 1665. It remains to-day in all its primitive surroundings, and the quaint headstones of common slate, with their rude inscriptions, awaken a feeling of veneration which surrounds this spot with no little degree of interest. Here maybe seen the graves of many of the early gov- ernors of the colony, that of a signer of the declaration of inde- pendence.the graves of our early merchants and clerical worthies. Many stones are dedicated to the memory of old sea captains. This cemetery contains twenty stones on which armorial ensigns are cut; all of these lie flat on the surface of the ground, and of course have, like most of the early stones in this ground, suffered every sort of injury, even, in a few cases, wanton mutilation. Among the stones on which family arms are cut may be men- tioned the Cranstons, Sanford, Bayley, Wanton, Thurston, Chaloner, Buckmaster, Freebody, Vernon, Ellery, Sears, HISTOKY OI-^ NEWPORT COUNTY. 543 Gardner and Ward. One niiftlit almost wiite a history of Newport in this common gronnd, so I'nll are the inscriptions on the stones erected here. Trinity CJi/tirchi/ard. — The ancient bniial place connected with Trinity church, on Church street, is an object of much interest. Several of the early pastors of the church lie buried here. Here may be found the grave of the French Admiral de Ternay. who died in 1780, and of many others who fought in the war of the revolution. On eight stones are found the arms of live families: Gidley, Wanton, Bell, Goulding, Gibbs, repre- senting a few of the wealthy merchants of Newport in the last century. Clifton Ground. — This cemetery, on Golden Hill street, was first ajipropriated as a burial place in 1671 by Thomas Clifton, a worthy member of the Society of Friends. The Governors Wanton are buried here. A daughter of Roger Williams also finds a resting place here. The I-stniul Ocmetenj. — The town of Newport, on the 18th of May, 1836, purchased the tract of land which was the begin- ning of the cemetery now known as the " Island Cemetery," on Warner street. Early the next 3'ear Mr. Henry Bull and William W. Freeborn, were appointed to lay out the new burial ground. In 1839 a certain portion was surveyed and laid out into one hundred and thirty-six lots, each one rod square. These were offered for sale at moderate rates. In 1844 the balance of the purchase was laid out, avenues made, trees and ornamental shi-ubery set out, and a substantial fence built, the wail and gateway costing §831.33. In 1848 a companj' was formed to whom the town conveyed the gronnds. The trustees of the " Island Cemetery Company" were authorized to take care of the property, to grant deeds of lots unsold and to adopt the necessary means for raising funds as might be required for the purposes of the new company. Several additions have been made to the original purchase, thus affording better conveni- ences, and rendering this spot a fitting repository for the dead. Recently a fine freestone chapel has been built by Honorable August Belmont, near the lot owned by him, wherein rest the remains of Commodore M. C. Perry. Tiie grounds are tastefully laid out and contain many beautiful lots, where the hand of affection has been lavish in its adornments, and loving hearts have reared elaborate and e.vpensive nu)iiuments. 544 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The Jexoish Cemeterj/. — This beantifiil spot is well known to the many thousands who visit Newport. It is situated on Kay and Touro streets, surrounded by a granite wall and iron fence, with a plain square gnteway, over which is cut in bold relief a winged globe. 'I'liis cemetery of the ancient Hebrew congrega- tion was acquired in the \'ear 1677. Here are buried many of the early members of this congregation. The inscriptions on the stones are in Hebrew, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish and English. When the Hebrew congregation was broken up, in consequence of tlie removal of its members to other cities, the burial ground was suffer- ed to fall into neglect and decay. In 1820 Mr. Abraham Touro, tiien a resident of Boston, visited Newport and gave directions for the erec- tion of a brick wall, which for many years afforded am- ple i^roteciion to the cem- etery. In 1842 his lirother Judah Tonro, a resident of New Orleans, caused the grounds to be put in perfect order, and replaced the brick wall with the present substantial fence. At his death he be- queathed a considerable sum in trust to the city of Newport for the perpetual care of this cemetery. This trust is faithfully and well discharged. Charity Organizations. — The Netoport Charity Organiza- tion Society was organized in 1879, and is designed to assist the worthy poor of the city. It acts in conjunction with the over- seers of the poor and the several charity organizations. Item- ploys a regular secretary, whose office is open daily, room 3, National Bank of Rhode Island building. The officers are : President, Edmund Tweedy ; vice-president, F. \V. Tilton ; treasurer, J. T. Burdick ; secretary, M. S. Bnrdick; and a board of reference consisting of twenty-three persons, including the overseers of the poor. Tlie Dorcas Society was organized in the early part of this century, and its object was then, as now, to provide garments for the needy. It is not incorporated, and has no permanent ENTRANCE TO THE JEWISH CEMETERY. IIISTOliY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 545 fund, but depends npon subscriptions, donations and collec- lionsiu the churches I'or the means to carry on its good vvorli. A few of the members meet one afternoon of each week during tiie winter to cut and mai^e the ch)thing, whicli they distribute. Its organization is simple, the officers consisting of a president, secretary, treasurer and a visitor for each ward. The visitors investigateall cases that, come to their knowledge, and if found worthy tliey are relieved to the extent of the ability of the so- ciety. Tl'e aged, the sick and children are particularly cared for, and in all cases the relief is given without publicity. The officers are : President, Mrs. James Townsend ; secretary and tieasurer, Mrs. M. T. Berry. The Townsend Aid for the Aged. — This society was organized in 1860 by a number of ladies representing the different churches of the city. Its object is to assist the aged poor by the distribution of a certain sum of money quarterly. Mr. Christopher Townsend, at his death, made the society one of his principal legatees, in recognition of which it assumed its present name. The officers are : President, Mrs. Benjamin Melville ; vice-president, Mrs. Samnel Engs ; treasurer, Mrs. Thomas Cog- geshall ; secretary, Miss A. S. Bailey. The CJiildreri s Home was incorporated in 1866. At fii'st this institution was simply an experiment, instituted by the ladies of Newport. It was, however, attended with so great success that a charter was obtained in January, 1867, and twenty years of successful operation lias established it among the permanent charitable institutions for which Newport is justly celebrated. Mr. Christoplier Townsend, with his usual liberality, provided a suitable home, and a fund of $10,000. The Fry Orphan Fund, which was left to the city, with provisions to furnish aid for such an institution whenever it should be established, is accord- ingly devoted to the home. Other gifts have been made from time to time by the citizens of Newport, thus placing this noble institution upon a prosperous and permanent foundation. The house occupied by the home is the birthplace of William Ellery Clianning. The children are under no great restraint, but attend the public schools, and have the advantages of a Christian home. The whole number admitted since its forma- tion is one hundred and eighty. Officers: First Directress, Mrs. William C. Cozzens ; second directres.s, Mrs. Joseph Bradford ; 546 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. treasurer, Mrs. W. K. Covell, Jr.; secretary, Mrs. Charles E. Hammett. The Newport Hospital. — In the spring of 1872 efforts were marie to establish and maintain a hospital for the care of the sick and unfortunate, who are unable to care for themselves. An impulse was given to this good work by the energy and lib- eralitj' of one who, although residing here but a portion of the year, took a lively interest in the welfare of our jioor and sick, and cheerfully gave Iker time, influence and sympathy to the l^romotion of this useful charity. A committee was appointed to present the subject to the public, solicit conti'ibutiDns an 1 hold as trustees all money collected until an act of incorpoia- tion could be obtained. Manj'^ of the citizens of Newport and summer residents promptlj^ and liberallj'^ resp jnded, and the sum of §24,123.40 was obtained. In 1873 the hospital was in- corporated and duly organized and placed under the manage- ment of ten trustees, consisting of the mayor of Newport, ex- officio, and nine otliers elected from the corporators. The cor- poration is composed of those named in the act of incorpora- tion, and of all persons who at any one time may give $100 or more to the institution. A lot on Friendship street, near Broad- way, was purchased, and a building erected after the plan of the army hospital, now adopted by the government. This was opened for the reception of patients on the 22d of November, 1873. The hospital is now endowed by the following funds : The Littletield hospital fund, §23,600; the devise of General John Alfred Hazard, 825,243; Dehon gift, 86,708; Samuel Clinton annuity, 85,000; Robert Roger's memorial, $1,000; dis- trict musing fund, 8800, besides sums received from various sources for the endowment of free beds. The several churches in the oitj^ annually take nj) a collection, which is devoted to this charity. The medical staff is composed of the several phy- sicians of the city, who, with the usual liberality of their pro- fession, give their services without charge. The officers are : President, Frederic W. Tilton ; treasurer, J. Truman Burdick; secretary, Edward W. Lawton ; trustees, George C. Mason, George P. Wetmore, William P. Sheffield. Edward VV. Lawton, David King, Darius Baker, George A. Richmond, Charles E. Hammett, John Hare Powel ; superintendent, Cornelia E. See- lye ; admitting iJiysician, Henr3^ E. Turner, M. D.. and a visit- ing committee of twenty ladies. C/J Z Cd D ffi < O < o z < h O CQ h O a z z o (J) o o o tiist0i5y of newport county. 547 Societies (1887). american legion of honor. Touro Council, No. 9. — Meets iirst and third Wednesdays of each month in Odd Fellows Hall. Officers: Commander, W. B. Bates; vice-commander, G. H. Ghamplin; past-commander, Sam- uel Peck; orator, W. S. Bailey; secretary, Thomas P. Peck- ham; collector, James C. Topham; treasurer, Simeon Hazard; chaplain, W. L. Northrup; gnide, C. Anderson; warden, A. Bar- ker; sentry, A. J. Ward. ANCIENT ORDER OF FORRESTERS. Coiirt Wanton, No. 6979. — Meets first and third Tuesdays of each month. Hall over Caswell & Massey's, Thames street. Officers: P. C. P., James Graham; C. P., Daniel Galvin; S. C. R., Joseph Haire; P. S., Alvah Weaver; R. S., G. Milton; S. W., Edward Sharpies; J. W., G. Cooper; S. B., James Buchanan; J. B., James Ojienshaw; T., Joseph Taylor; D. D., William Sharpies. Court Pride of the City, No. 7363.— Meets first and third Tuesdays of each month. Officers: P. C. R., A. W. Potter; C. R., W. T. Walch; S. C. R., W. S. H. Bliven; F. S., W. H. Young; R. S., Maurice Roche; S. W., J. J. Cassidy; J. W., A. W. Fitt; S. B., B. H. Johnson; J. B., D. Galvin. Knights of Sherwood Forest. — Meets second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Officers: Past-commander, James Graham; commander, Peter Knowe; vice-commander, Arthur W. Potter; adjutant, W. H. Young; jiaymaster, Daniel G. Roche; first lieutenant, Thomas Knowe; second lieutenant, C. H. Hal- lock; master-at-ai'ms, Levi Norbury; quartei'-master sergeant, John W. Horrocks; first sergeant, B. Robson; second sergeant, A. W. Fitt. ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS. Division No. 1.— Organized 1885, meets Friday evenings, Thames street. Officers: County delegate, Michael Howley; president, John S. Duggan; vice-president, Michael Coni'oy; financial secretary, Cornelius Moriarty; recording secretary, James Hogan; treasurer, John Woods; sergeant-at-arms, Pat- rick Elbitt. 35 548 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. Charles E. Lawton Post, No. 5. — Meets Wednesday eve- nings, G. A. R. Hall, 97 Thames street. Officers: P. C, Wil liam S. Bailey; S. V. C, John H. Peckham; J. V. C, C. B. Mason; Adj., John Y. Hudson; Q. M., C. E. Harvey; surgeon, James H. Taylor; chaplain, Overton G. Langley; O. of D., Ed- ward H. Tilley; O. of G., A. R. Tuell; S. Major, Thomas Carter; Q. M. Sergt., William T. Lawton; guard, Charles E. Ash; O. G., John B. Cozzens; organist, Augustus French. Charles E. Lawton Relief Corps, No. 3, Ladies' Auxiliary Association.- -Meets in G. A. R. Hall, second and fourth Tliursdaj's. Officers: President, Hannah Edgar; first vice-pres- ident, Mary J. Lawton; secretary, Nettie P. Harvey; treasurer, Margaret Hamilton; chaplain, Lydia McMahon. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. Redwood Lodge, No. 11. — During the winter of 1870 an at- tempt was made to introduce into Newport the order of Knights of Pythias. An application for a charter made by over thirty persons failed, liowever, of success. In August, 1871, another attempt was made, which resulted in the or- ganization of a lodge on the 7th of the following September, composed of thirteen charter members. The organization was effected on that evening, and tlie charter members were sev- erally initiated and the ranivs conferred in full on the whole number. The following is a list of the first officers : C. C, Stephen Gould; Vice-C, Harwood E. Read; V^. P., James P. Bray ton; K. R. and S. Scribe, Daniel P. Bull; M. F. Scribe, William O. Gladding; M. E., Lyman R. Biackman. The lodge is in a very prosperous and flourishing condition, having its Castle Hall on Pelham street. The present officers are: P. C, Noah Butts; C. C, Everett I. Gorton; K. of R. and S., Daniel P. Bull; M. F., Simeon Davis; M. E., George W. Barlow; M. A., Henry D. Root; I. G., Isaac N. C. Northrup; O. G., Jolin Y. Hudson; D. K. of P. S. B., James B. Bray ton. KNIGHTS OF HONOR. Perseverance Lodge, No. 336. —Instituted August li5th, 1876. Meets second and fourth Tuesdays, in Odd Fellows Hall. Officers: Dictator, Thomas J. Stoddard; vice-dictator, Jere. I. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 549 Greene; assistant dictator, William T. Rutherford; past dic- tator, Duncan McLean; reporter, Charles H. Chase; financial reporter, D. L. Cuniniings; Treasurer, Benjamin F. Davis; chap- lain, Henrj' Weston: guide, Otis D. Sleeper; guardian, J. D. Hidler; sentinel, H. P. Wixen; medical examiner. Dr. C F. Barker; trustees, W. W. Marvel, H. E. Turuer, Jr., E. B. Marsh. Union Lodge, No. 668.— Instituted June 25th, 1877. Meets second and fourth Tuesdays, in Odd Fellows Hall. Officers : Dictator, W. S. Bailey; vice-dictator, James Hardy; assistant dictator, Henrj^ J. Hess; reporter, James H. Goddard; financial reporter, Francis Stanhope; treasurer, Allen C. Griffith; chap- lain, William S. Batcheller; guide, Joseph Singer; guardian, George W. Leonard; sentinel, Jacob P. Hanson; trustees, Wil- liam S. Bacheller, Allen H. Bishop, Walter Sherman. KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF HONOR. Berkeley Lodge, No. 410. — Protector, Mary H. Goddard ; vice-protector, Henrietta W. Bishop; secretary, Francis Stan- hope; financial secretary, Francis Stanhope; treasurer, James H. Goddard; guide, James Harney; chaplain, A. M. Bailey; sentinel, Walter Sherman; guardian, John E. Perrj^; past pro- tector, John H. Gillingham; medical examiner. Dr. Stephen H. Sears. MASONIC. St. John's Lodge, No. 1. — In 1749 Masonry entered upon its oi'ganic life in Newport. St. Johns Lodge, No. 1, was chartered by St. John's Grand Lodge of Boston on the 27th of December, 1749, R. W. Thomas Oxnard being Provincial Grand Master of Masons in North America. The following abstracts from the records of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts relate to the es- tablishment of jMasonry in Newi)ort: 1749. Dec, 27. "At the petition of Sundry Brethren i-e- siding at Newport, on Rhode Island, our R. W. Bro. Thomas Oxnard, Esq., G. M., granted a constitution for a Lodge to be held there, and appointed our R. W. Bro., Caleb Phillips to be their first ^raster." 1750. April 13. "For the Lodge at Newport, ]?. T., nobody appeared." 1750. July 13. "For the Lodge at Newport Bro. Abram Boi'- den aj)peared, but paid nothing." 650 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1750. Oct. 12, " For the Lodge at Newport Bro. H. Price ap- peared and paid charity two dollars," 1751. April 12. For Rhode Island Lodge Bro. Jenkins, Jr., appeared and paid nothing." 1753. . "For tiie Newport Lodge Bro. Robert Jenkins, Master, paid charity one dollar." 1754. . "For the Lodge at Newport, R. I., nobody ap- peared." 1756. April 9. " For the Newport Lodge Bro. Robert Jenkins, Master, Bro. Benjamin S. W., Bro. Robert Jenkins, Jr., J. W," 1758. Jan. 13. " For the Newport Lodge Bro. Robert Jenkins, Master, Henry Leddell, S. W. Paid ex- penses." 1759. Oct. 12. "The Grand Lodge purchased ten tickets in the Lottery at Rhode Island for building a Free Mason's Hall at Newport." Of this early period but scanty records have been preserved. There is sufficient testimony, however, to show that the brethren were animated by a very commendable zeal in their support of Masonry. At the session of the general assembly of Rhode Island held in June, 1759, an act was passed entitled " An Act raising two thousand and four hundred dollars for and towards the erect- ing a public edifice in the town of Newport, to be called and known by the name of Mason's Hall." The act provided for the raising by lottery of the sum above named, the scheme to "consist of four thousand tickets at four dollars each, whereof one thousand one hundred and thirteen shall be fortunate without any deduction." The prizes to range from one of SI, 000 to one thousand of $8 each, making the total value of the for- tunate prizes $13,600. The lot on which the present hall stands, and which is the first and only one held by the fraternity in Newport, was purchased July 18th, 1759, and the foundation at once put in. On the 20th of August of the same year, the craft were convened, and at 12 o'clock noon R. W. Master Robert Jenkins laid the first angular stone in "ye N. E.," at the same time the W. S. warden, John Maudsley, laid the second stone in the S. E. The W. J. warden, Samuel Brenton, laid the third in the S. W. The R. AV. treasurer, Benjamin Mason, laid the fourth in the N. W., and the secretary, Na- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 551 thaniel Muniford, laid the fifth stone " at the surface of the earth in the N. W." It appears that no immediate progress was made in the work of building. The foundation was cov- ered and remained undisturbed for more than forty years. The records of St. John's Lodge for the greater part of this period are missing, hence we fail to get a full explanation of the reasons for the delay in the building of the hall. On Mon- day, April 12th, 1802, we find a record of the laying of the corner stone of the present building. On this occasion Chris- topher Champlin, Past Grand Master, Moses Seixas, W. M., of St. John's Lodge, and John L. Boss, J. G. W., conducted the services. The hall was dedicated February 22d, 1803. Moses Seixas was then master of the lodge,also grand master of Masons in Rhode Island. The Grand Lodge of Rhode Island was organized in 1791 by St. John's Lodge of Newport and St. John's Lodge of Provi- dence, which latter was organized in 1756, by representatives from the Newjiort lodge. The Newport lodge then consisted of one hundred and thirteen members. The first communication of the Grand Lodge was held at the state house, in Newport, June 27th, 1791, when Christopher Champlin of Newport was elected first grand master. It was arranged that the officers should be equally divided between the Newport and Providence lodges, and that they should be elected by each lodge in its separate capacity. In accordance with this plan the following were elected as the first grand officers of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island: Grand Master, Christopher Champlin, Newport; Dep- uty G. M., Jabez Bowen, Providence; S. G. warden, Peleg Clarke, Newport; J. G. warden, Daniel Tillinghast, Providence; S. G. deacon, George Sears, Newport; J. G. deacon, Ebenezer Thompson, Providence; grand secretary. John Hanlej', New- port; grand treasurer, John Russell, Providence; grand mar- shal, Jabez Champlin, Newport; grand sword bearer, Gersham Jones, Providence. Hon. members, Heiuy Hunter, George Gibl).s, Newport; and John Brown, Benjamin Bowen, Provi- dence. On this occasion an oration was delivered in Trinity church by Reverend William Smith. The following is a list of officers of St. John's Lodge: R.\V. Robert S. Franklin, W. M.; W. William Hamilton, S. W.; R. W. John MviMS. J. W. ; W. James G. Tophain, treasurer; R. VV. Ara Ilildreth, secretary; William H. Crandall, chaplain; 552 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. William E. Mumford, S. D.; George W. Smith, J. D.; Everett I. Gorton, S. S. ; Charles E. Spooner, J. S.; Thomas C. Burling- hahi, marshal; John SpoQner, sentinel; Jacob L. Frank, musical director. Regular communications are held on the Monday preceding the full moon. During the past year extensive additions have been made to the old building, which, when complete, will give ample room for all the masonic bodies in Newport. St. Paul's Lodge, No. 14.— In February, 1816, the grand lodge granted a dispensation for a new lodge in Newport, to be known as St. Paul's Lodge, No. 14. On October 23d, 1817, this lodge was constituted, the ceremonies taking place in Trinity church, with the following charter members : John A. Shaw, Henry Shaw, W. Stevens, Daniel Waite, Elisha Chase, Isaac C. Peck- ham, John W. Lyon, James Stevens, Jeremiah Bliss, Robert Dennis, Henry Y. Cranston, John W. Stephens, Theophilus Topham, Job E. Townsend, Henry Moore, James Townsend, Levi Tower, S; Cahoone, H. Sherbourn, John G. Whitehorn, James Barker, John T. Tilley, John Brown, Caleb Tripp, Ben- jamin Watson, James Mumford, Joseph T. Tripp, Samuel Al- len, William Dennis, Richard Merrill, Charles Devens, Charles Gorton, B. B. Mumford, William C. Gardner. The officers in- stalled were: Charles Cotton, W. M.; William Stevens, S. W. ; Theophilus Topham, J. W. ; James Townsend, treasurer; Levi Tower, secretary; John E. Townsend, S. D.; Isaac C. Peckham, J. D.; John T. Tilley, Robert E. Dennis, stewards; B. B. Mum- ford, chaplain; John Tillinghast, tyler. In 1818 the charter was surrendered and the lodge ceased to exist. In 1875 St. Paul's Lodge was re-chartered with the fol- lowing members: Francis Brinley Fogg, sole surviving member of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 14; W.-. George Penton Crandall, John Page Sanborn, John Rogers, John Dean Richardson, Thomas Pickering Peckham, David Stevens, Gardner Bannister Rey- nolds, Tlarley Wheaton Pray, George Tilley Finch, Charles Sumner Moore Stewart, William James Cozzens, John Hookey Crosby, Jr., Lyman Rawson Blackman, Michael Cottrell, Rob- ert Porter Hamilton, John Fadden, Henry Bull, Jr., Edward Briggs Harrington, Daniel Chace Denham, Richard Henry Jack- son, Edward Allen Crocker, Michael Francis Walsh, Thomas Weaver Freeborn, William Henry Cotton, John Gilpin, Ris- brough Hammett Tilley, Charles Benjamin Marsh and Olin HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 553 Heath Cmnston. Present officers : W. M., Jere. W. Horton; S. VV., Thomas C Shernuin; J.W., George E.Vernon, Jr.; treasurer, George F. Cranclall; secretary, Charles B. Marsh; chaplain, Andrew K. McMahon; S. D., W. H. Lee; J. D., William J. Eas- ton; S. S., John H. Wetherell; J. S., John F. Titus; marshal, W. J. Cozzens; sentinel, Thomas E. Sherman; musical director, W. C. Stoddard; tyler, George H. Lovejoy. Regular commu- nications, Monday after full moon. Newport Royal Arch Chapter, No 2. — Constituted Septem- ber IStli, 1806. Regular meetings first Tuesday in each month, Masonic Temple, Church street. Officers : High priest, William W. Marvel; king, William J. Huntington; scribe, Wil- liam E. Mumford; treasurer, John E. Deblois; chaplain, Over- ton G. Langley; C. of H., Frank L. Deblois; P. S., William H. Lee; R. A. captain, William J. Easton; M. of 3d V., Andrew J. Deblois; M. of 2d V., William D. Sayer; M. of 1st V., Noah Butts; S. S., William Riggs; J. S., William J. Denman; organ- ist, J. H. Barney; tyler, J. Gottlieb Spingler. Deblois Council, No. 5, R. and S. J!/:— Constituted 1870. Officers: T. T. M., William Hamilton; D. M., William H. Strat- ford; C. C. of W., William H. Davis; treasurer, J. Gottlieb Spingler; recorder, Ara Hildreth; C. of G., William E. Mum- ford; C. of C, William H. Sampson; steward, Samuel J. At- water. Regular meetings. Masonic Temple, second Tuesdays in March, June, September and December. Washington Commander y. No. 4, chartered 1814. Officers: E. C, Overton G. Langley; G., M. F. Walsh: C. G., William J. Cozzens; prelate, G. A. Littlelield; S. W., Andrew J. McMahon; J. W., William M. Marvel; treasurer, Frank Powell; recorder, David Stevens; standard bearer, William E. Mumford; sword bearer, William Cany; warden, W. J. Huntington; first guard, W. P. Sampson; second guard, W. J. Easton; third guard, John F. Titus; sentinel, John G. Spingler. Meet third Wed- nesday of each month in Masonic Hall. Van Rensselaer Lodge of Perfection. — Constituted 1868. Meets tiiird Tuesday of every montii in Masonic Hall. Officers: T. P. G. M., James" B. Bray\on; H. of T., Dep. G. M., Robert S. Franklin; Ven. Sr. G. W.. James G. Topham; Yen. J. G. W., William H. Crandall; grand orator, H. W. Pray; grand treas- urei', Everette L Gorton; grand secretary, K. of S. & A., D. E. Young; grand master of ceremonies, Ara Hildreth; grand cap- 554 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTr. tain of the G., R. A. Mason; grand hospitaler, James Fludder; grand tyler, J. G. Spingler. Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic SJirine. — Meets first Wednesday of every montli in Masonic Temple. Officers: Grand potentate, Clarence B. Mason; chief rabkn, Robert S. Franklin; assistant raban, William J. Huntington; high priest and prophet, John F. Sanborn; orien- tal guide, William W. Marvel; treasurer, John Waters; record- er, Thomas C. Sherman; first ceremonial master, William Carry; standard bearer, William H. Lee; marshal, Michael F. Walsh; captain of guard, William Gosling; outer guard, J. Gottlieb Spingler; alchemist, William C. Stoddard; musical director, James Barney. St. John''s Mutual Beneficial Association. — Chartered March 17th, 1874. President, Robert S. Franklin; vice-president, John D. Richardson; treasurer, John Gilpin; secretary, David Stev- ens; trustees, George P. Leonard, Thomas P. Peckham, John Myers, William J. Cozzens, William Hamilton, William F. Townsend, Robert S. Franklin, William H. Davis, George E. Vernon, Jr., Michael Cottrell, J. D. Richardson, John Gilpin. Boyer Lodge, No. 8 (colored).— W. M., Thomas G. Williams; S. W., Reuben Jackson; J. W., David C. Brent; treasurer, James W. Johnson; secretary, Samuel C. Johnson; S. D., Per- cy A. Peer, Jr.; J. D., Clifford Johnson; S. S., William R. Johnston; J. S., George A. Seaman; chaplain, Richard B. King; marshal, Collins S. Burrill; tyler, Edward G. Johnson. Meets first and third Tuesdays in each montli. Stone Mill Lodge (colored). — W. M., Samuel Brown; S. W., Dennis Owens; J. W., Samuel Norris; secretary, Henry Coop- er; treasurer, Rev. M. Van Horn; S. D., George Johnson; J. D., William Gooden; marshal, William Boardley. Meets first and third Mondays, 43 Spring street. Benjamin F. Gardner Commander y. No. Q, K. T. (colored). — E. C, James A. Willis; Gen., Pusey A. Peer, Jr.; Capt. Gen., Henry W. Cooper; prelate, Anthony Randolph; recorder, Samuel Brown; treasurer, Reverend M. F. Van Horn; S. W., Albert Stevens; J. W., John Ambush; standard bearer, W. H. Dixon; sword bearer, James A. Harris; wai'der, George Jones; First G., W. Gooden; Second G., Samuel H. Norris. Meets 43 Spring street, second Monday in each month. f^9i ^ /y .^^A^a^ ISiFrmtU'-. tCaKY IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 555 HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Newport Historical Societi/. — Tliis society was organized March Stli, 1853, at a meeting of a few citizens lieid at tbe resi- dence of George C. Mason on Thames street. At an adjourned meeting on the 14th of the same month a constitution was adopted and the following officers elected: President, Doctor David King; vice-president William Littlefield; recording sec- retary, Robert J. Taj'lor; corresponding secretary, George C. Mason; treasurer, Nathan H. Gould; librarian, Benjamin B. Howland. The society was incorporated by the general assembly of Rhode Island in 1854. From the date of incorporation until 1884 but little was done by the society beyond an occasional meeting and the collection of a few books and manuscripts. In 1884 the society purchased the old Sabbatarian meeting house on Barney street, which they at once commenced to restore. The building is an interesting one, having been built in 1729 by the tirst Seventh Daj^ Baptist society in America. The build- ing, including the old pulpit and sounding board, the old clock, still in good ordei', made in 1731, vvas successfully removed to the site it now occupies in 1887. It is filled with interesting relics of the olden time, and portraits, engravings and photo- graphs of deceased citizens of Newport. Regular monthly meetings are held on the third Monday in each month. Tiie building is open daily for visitors. The income of the society is derived from the annual dues ($2) of members and from the Ciuirles II. Russell and Mechanics' Association funds. The life membership fee is $50. In 1886 the Newport Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers voted to disband and transfer their funds to the Newport Historical Society " to be and re- main the property of the said Newport Historical Society as a permanent fund, the income only to be used and to be known as the Newport Association of Me(!hanics and Manufacturers F'und." The surviving members of the Mechanics' Association were made life members of the Historical Society. The officers of the Historical Society are: President, Honorable Francis Brinley; first vice-president, George Gordon King, Esq.; second vice-president, James M. K. Soiithwick, Esq.; recording secre- tary, Mr. lI(u-atio B. Wood; corresponding secretary. Colonel William P. Sheffield, Jr.; treasurer, Mr. Ralph R. Barker; librarian, Mr. R. H. Tilley; curator of medals and coins. Colonel Howard Smith. .0/)6 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ODD FELLOWS. Rhode Island Lodge No. 12. — The order of Odd Fellowsliip dates from 1843. At that time Ocean Lodge was instituted with the following officers: N. G., Henry Tisdale; V. G. Daniel T. Swinburne; P. G., Henry Y. Cranston; secretary, Augustus Bush. A large number of the members subsequently with- drew and petition was made for a charter lo establish a new lodge, which was granted February 2d, 1846. They had been working, duly organized, since December 16th, 1845, at which time Rhode Island Lodge, No. 12, was formed. The first officers of Ehode Island Lodge were: N. G., John E.. Weeden; V. G., George V. Knowles; P. G., Henry Tisdale; treasurer, Robert J. Taylor; secretary, Charles Devene, Jr. The lodge has attained great popularity, being composed of intiuBUtial men, and is at present in a sound condition. In 1878 they purchased a fine site on Washington Square and erected a spacious and sub- stantial building in which their regular weekly meetings are held. The hall is also occupied by other societies, the first floor by three large stores. Present officers: N. G., Robert M. Pike; V. G., Seth B. Hammett; R. secretary, B. Hammett Stevens; P. secretary, Jere. W. Horton; treasurer, John H. Crosby, Jr.; I. G., Albert G. Crosby; O. G., James T. Barker; chaplain, Samuel Peck; conductor, Wm. Allen; warden, Philip G. Frank; P. G., Joseph P. Pike. Aquidnecli: Encampment., No. 5. — Instituted September 25th, 1851. Officers: C. P., William Allen; H. P., Robert M. Pike; S. W., Seth B. Hairimett; recording scribe, Allen C. Griffitli; treasurer, Arthur B. Gladding; J.W., James E. Stevens; guide, George F. Rounds; I. S., Bent. A. Nelson; O. S., Josiah S. Bliss; 1st W., John B. Allen; 2d W., Joseph B. Pike; 3d W., John P. Steele; 4th W., John A. Gibson; 1st G. of T., John D. Pike; 2d G. of T., John Nelson. Meets first and second Fri- day evenings of each month in Odd Fellows Hall. Esther Lodge. No. 5, D. o/ 7?.— Officers: N. G., Mrs. John T. Delano;V. G., Mrs. Pryce Jones; recording secretary, Mrs. John Pitman; permanent secretary. Miss Sarah E. Bliss; treasurer, Mrs. John J. Carry; conductor, Mrs. James T. Barker; warden, Mrs. John H. AVetherell; I. G.. Mrs. Josiah S. Bliss; 0. G., Josiah S. Bliss; chaplain, James E. Stevens; R. S. to N. G., John T. Delano; L. S. to N. G., John H.Wetherell; R. S. to V. G., James T. Barker; L. S. to V. G., John P. Steele; S. P. G., IIISTOUY OF NEW]>011T COUNTY. 657 Mrs. Jeremiah Parmenter. Meets the second and fourth Wed- nesdays in each montli in Odd Fellows Hall. Canonchel Lodge, No. 2,489, G. U. 0. of 0. F. (colored).— Officers: N. G., Jefferson Morrow; V. G., Nathan T. Jackson^ N. F., David B. Allen; P. N. G., Joseph Myers; P. N. F., William T. Grose; R. S. N. G., William H. Go'oden; L. S. N. G., Charles Waters: R. S. V. G., Henry Washington; L. S. V. G., J. D. Nichols, Jr.; warden, George T. Tizz ; I. G., James A. Harris; O. G., William H. Jackson; chaplain, Daniel D. Pugsley; treasurer, Levi Jackson; P. S., H. W. Cooper. Meet- ings second and fourth Thursdays of each month. OKDEIl OF SCOTTISH CLANS. Clan McGregor. — Officers: Chief, William Edward ; tanist, Joseph W. Milton; chaplain, J. W. B. Jackson; secretary, James B. Edward; financial seci-etary, Alexander J. Dalgleish; treasurer, Charles Clark; S. H., John Adam; J. H., George Douglas; S., David Scobie; W., James H. Buchanan; sentinel, James Sheaver; past chief, John Brown; trustees, John Brow^n, Robert McLeod, James McG. Buchanan. Clan meets at K. S. Forest Hall. St. Andrew's Soc/'eij/. — Officers: President, James Graham; vice-president, Alexander McDougal; secretary, James B. Ed- ward; treasurer, Duncan McLean; trustees, Angus McLeod, Peter King. John Anderson, William Findlaj', James Buchanan, Alexander McDougal; auditors, Adam Hempseed, Alexander Cuthbertson; chaplain. Doctor Thatcher Thayer, D. D. Meets in May and November. HOYAL AKCANUJI. Coronet Council, No. 63.— Organized March 22d, 1878. Offi- cers: Regent, Fiank G. Harris; vice-regent, William H. Lee; orator, Charles A. Neff; past regent, John H. Wetherell; secre- tary, James W. Langley; collector, John M. Taylor; treasurer, T. P. Peckham; chaplain, William Holt; guide, W. D. Sayer; warden, Edward II. Tiliey; sentry, Josiah Bliss; medical exam- iner, Francis H. Rankin, M. D.; trustees, Robert ti. Franklin, George F. Crandall, Lewis Brown. Meets every second and fourth Friday in each month, in Odd Fellows Hall. 558 HISTORY OF KEWPORT COUNTY. TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. Atlantic Division, JYo. 6, , Sons of Temperance. — Instituted September 29th, 1851. Officers: W. P., W. A. Hildreth; W. A., N. M. Chappell; R. S.. A. Hildreth; A. R. S., M. E. Dyer; F. S., M. E. Wood; T., H. B. ^Yood; chaplain, J. Vars; C, H. M. Wheeler; A. C, H. S. Wetherell; I. S., A. M. Martland; O. S., A. E. Wood. Meets on Thursday evenings in Sons of Temperance Hall, 45 Spring street. Newport Cotinty Proliihiti on Union. — Officers: President, An- thony M. Kimber; vice-presidents. Rev. F. W. Ryder, Joshua Brown, T. J. McDonald, W. B. Franklin, W. P. Buffum, of Newport; Rev. J. W. Willett. Middletown; Ellwood G. Macom- ber, Portsmouth; Rev. W. D. Hoit, Little Compton; I. Bowen Briggs, Jamestown; Rev. W, A. Durfee, New Shoreham; secre- tary, Charles R. Thurston; treasurer and financial secretary, J. S. Kimber: executive committee: A M. Kimber (ex-officio), Michael Butler. H. D. Scott, Dr. H. R. Storer, H. W. Pray, A. W. Luther, George C. Barker. Meetings the first Monday eve- ning in January. MartJia Washington Temperance Society. — Officers: Presi- dent, Mrs. Sophia L. Little; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. John Pitman. Meets every other Friday at Mrs. Philip Simmons', No. 122 Touro street. Women'' s Christian Temperance Union. — Officers: President, Mrs. Sophia L. Little; acting president. Miss Mary A. Gifford; corresponding secretary, Mrs. C. W. Dyer; recording secretary, Mrs. Jolin Pitman; treasurer. Miss Lizzie Sherman. Meets every other Friday, at 3 P. M., in Sons of Temperance Hall, No. 45 Spring street. St. JosepJt's Total Abstinence Society. — Officers: Reverend James Coyle, spiritual director; president, John J. Hayes; vice- president, William J. Christmas; recording secretary, Bernard Haclvett; fiiuincial secretary, Edward J. O'Connor; treasni-er, Philip A. Hayes; marshal, Daniel J. Moriarty; sergeant-atarms, James Gouldie. Meets first and third Tuesday evenings of eacli month at 8 o'clock P. M., at St. Joseph's Hall, 9 Farewell street. Father Matthew T. A. B. Society.— Officers: President, Michael Butler; vice-president, Timothy J. McDonald; recording secre- tary, Daniel E. Doherty; financial secretary, Dennis Sullivan; IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 559 treasurer, Dennis B. Sullivan; marshal, Nathaniel Watterson; sergeant-at-arnis, Morriniore T). Sullivan. Meets the last Sun- day of each month. UNITED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS. Miantonomi Oommandery, No. 114. — Officers: N. C, James B. Brown; V. C, Mrs. M. F. Popple; prelate, Mrs. A. L. Carter; K. of E,., Sarah A. Govill; F. R. of R., David Stevens; treas- urer, D. L. Cummings; herald, Thomas F. Carter; T. W., Mrs. S. Smith; O. W., Levi Norbury; medical examiner, Doctor S. H. Sears. Meets the second and fourth Thursdays. MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES. St. Mary' s Catholic Benevolent Society. — Officers: President, Doctor Philip Grace; vice-president, Timothy A. Sullivan; sec- retary, Dennis Buckley; corresponding secretary, Timothy W. Sullivan; treasurer, John Murray; marshal, John Martin. St. Mary's Guild. — Officers: President, Reverend S.W.Moran; treasurer, Mrs. C. T. White. Meetings at St. John's Reading Room, 52 Poplar street, Tuesday evenings and Thursday after- noons. St. Stephen's Guild of Trinity Parish. — Officers: President, Reverend George J. Magill; vice-president, AVilliam G. Ward, Jr. ; secretar}% Richmond B. Underwood; treasurer, George M. Dockray; steward, Charles H. Koehne. Regular monthly meet- ings the first Tuesday in each month. Unity Club of Channing Memorial CMirch. — Officers: Pres- ident, Doctor A. F. Squire; 1st vice-president. Reverend John W. Day; 2d vice-president, Mrs. Thomas Coggeshall; treasurer, W. J. Swinburne; secretary, Miss Carrie W. Crandall, address, 63 Poplar street, Newport, R. I. INIeetings are held on specified Tuesday evenings in each month, from October to the next May, in the Channing Memorial church parlors, Pelham street. Unitarian Womerts Auxiliary Conference of t?u' Channing Memorial CJiurcJt. — Officers: President, Mrs. Emma A. Buck- liouf; vice-president, Mrs. Anna M. Bigelow; 2d vice-president, Miss Henrietta C. Ellery; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Squire; re- cording secretary, Mrs. Mary M. Smith; corresijonding secre- tary, Miss Susan J. Weaver. Meetings, alternate Tuesday after- noons, in the Channing parlors. Object, benevolence and de- votion. 560 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Ladies' Society of the Channing Memorial Society.— Oncers: President, Mrs. Thomas Coggeshall ; vice-president, Mrs. H. C. Stevens; treasurer, Miss E. C. Boss; secretary, Mrs. A. P. Balder. Weekly meetings in the Channing parlors. Aquidneclc Agricultural Society. — Officers: President, John . F. Chase; vice presidents, George PeabodyWetmore, Nathaniel Peckham, James Anthony, John P. Sanborn, Doct;or Benjamin Greene; secretary and treasurer, John J. Peckham: general superintendent, Melville Bull; assistant superintendent, John Bluck; auditors, A. C. Landers, William J. Cozzens; superin- tendent of fair house, James Anthony; executive committee, Robert S. Franklin, William O. Greene, Melville Bull, George V. Wilbur, George B. Coggeshall, Asa B. Anthony, Charles C. Slocnm, Elijah Anthony, F. M. Ware, Edward Almy. Henry Anthony, George C. Carr, Thomas Biii-lingiiam, William J. Cozzens, Henry Bui), Jr., John J. Carry, John H. Chase, John Bluck, C. Henry Congdon, William L. Sisson, George Lawton, William J. Underwood, John J. Flood, A. C. Landers, Benjamin Howland, George P. Lawton, George A. Weaver, Wil- liam A. Peckham, William A. Barker, Arnold L. Biirdick, Frank W. Andrews, William H. Gardner. Annual meeting for the election of officers first Saturday in January. Newport Casino. — Governors : Frederic K. Sheldon, W. Watts Sherman, James Gordon Bennett, Cornelius Vanderbilt. August Belmont, Thomas F. Cushing, David King, George Henry Warren, Ogden Goelet, Nathaniel Thayer, George R. Fearing, Fairman Rogers, John N. A. Griswold, E. L.AVinthrop. There are two vacancies in the board of governors, occasioned by the death of William R.Travers and Henry S. Fearing. Presi- dent, August Belmont; vice-president (vacant by the death of W. R. Travers); treasurer, George R. Fearing; secretary, W. Watts Sherman; honorary counsel, Samuel R. Honey; execu- tive committee: chairmanship vacant by the" death of Henrj'^ S. Fearing; secretar3r, W. Watts Sherman; Fairman Rogers, Ogden Goelet, J. N. A. Griswold. Newport Reading Room, chartei-ed in 1854. — Chairman, Ed- mund Tweedy; treasurer, John N. A. Griswold; secretary, George C. Mason; governing committee, Edmund Tweedy, John N. A. Griswold, George C. Mason, E. M. Neill, Lewis C. Led- yard, Theodore K. Gibbs, Walter L. Kane, Frederic Slieldon, HISTORY OK NKWrOKT COtTNTY. 561 Edward A. Crocker, Samuel Powel. Annual meeting on first and third Wednesdays in August at Club House. Newiwrt Business Men' s Association. — President, Francis B. Peckham; vice presidents, Lucius D. Davis, T. Mumford Sea- bury, George Pierce; secretary and treasurer, Robert S. Frank- lin; executive committee, J. A. Peckham, Steplien P. Slocum, Anthony Stewart, B. B. H. Sherman, Joseph Cotton; arbitration committee, Darius Baker, David T. Pinniger, Philip Rider, W. P. ShelHeld, Ji., W. S. Cranston. Meetings the fiist Mondays in each month at their rooms, corner of Church and Thames streets. Sons of St. George. — President, F. G. Harris; vice president, J. Gilpin; secretary, William Sharpies; assistant secretary, T. B. AVilkinson; treasurer, J. Taylor; messenger, F. R. Hall; chaplain, J. S. Cowles; assistant messenger, G. Beakhurst; in- side sentinel, T. Pyott; outside sentinel, J. Radford. Meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, in Caswell & Massey's Hall, 235 Thames street. Newport Fis7i and Game Association. — President, Captain J. P. Cotton; vice-president, Reverend F. F. Emerson; treasurer, Will H. Hnmmett; secretary, Frank H. Wilks; directors. Colo- nel W. P. Sliefiield, ,Sy., Thomas Burlingham, G. \V. Swin- burne, Jr., Benjamin M. Thurston, AVill A. Armstrong, Captain J. P. Cotton; Frank H. Wilks. Regular meetings second Mon- day of each month. Annual meetings first Monday in January. Meets at Club House on Wanton avenue. Northern Mutual Relief Association, Newport Associates No. 4. — President, John J. Peckham; vice-jiresident, William S. Bailey; secretary, Sarah A. Gavill; collector, David Stevens; treasurer, Daniel L. Cummings; marshal, Overton G. Langley; chaplain, James B. Brayton; inner warder, Andrew J. Kirwin; outer warder, John Y. Hudson; organist, Hattie J. Bacheller; medical examiner. C. F. Barker, M. D.; relief committee, John J. Peckham, William S. Bailey, James B. Brayton, Mrs. M. L. Farrow, Mrs. C. M. Crandall; trustees, James B. Brown, John P. Sanborn, Edward P. Marsh. Meets the first and third Tues- day evenings of each month, at G. .V. R. Hall. Newport t'ricketClutj. — President, William T. Lynch; captain, P. O'Brien; secretary, P. Keefe; treasurer, William Smith; committee on ground and mat('hes, Messrs. Murphy, Smith and O'Brien. Place of meeting, 2(3 Goldenhill street, last Saturday in each month. 562 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. BrmifTi of tlie Iruliari EigJifft Association of PJiiladelpTiia. — President, Alexander 0"D. Taylor; vice-president, Henry G. Marquand; secretary and treasurer, Arthur B. Emmons; execu- tive committee, A. O'D. Taylor, H. G. Marquand, Reverend F. F. Emerson, Reverend R. B. Feet, Reverend W. Randolph, John H. Cozzens, Arthur B. Emmons, John Hare Fowel, A. B. Almon. Covrpavy F.^ Association First R. I. 8. ?f. — President, James H. Chajipelle; vice-president, Henry T. Easton; treasnrer, Jolin S. Coggeshall; secretary, James H. Taylor. Hercnles Engine Company^ No. 7, Veteran Association. — Captain, Nathaniel Wilson; lientenant, A. Wright Aldred; clerk, Philip Dowling; first assistant, Mortimore Sullivan; engineer, Daniel Buckley; second engineer, John Cooper; axeman, Charles C. White; Orderly, Jolin P. Steele. Meets annually, the last Tuesday in December, in Light Infantry Hall, 317 Thames street. Newport Natural History Society. — Instituted 1882. Presi- dent, Colonel John Hare Powel ; vice-presidents, Honorable George P. Wetmore, Reverend F. F. Emerson, Le Roy King; trustees. Professor Raphael Pumjieley, Honorable Lucius D. Davis, Andrew B. Almon; corresponding secretary, Doctor H. R. Storer; recording secretary, George Gordon King; librarian. Doctor William C. Rives, Jr.; treasurer, Doctor Francis H. Rankin; curator, A. O'D. Taylor. Other members of council, Charles E. Hamniett, Jr., Colonel George H. Elliott and J. M. K. South wick. Meets monthly at the Historical Society's room on Touro street. This society has published three volumes of proceedings, and seeks to foi-m in Newport a collection illustra- tive of the local geology, fauna and flora. Newport Liederkranz. — President G. O. Herrmann; vice- president, Frederick Landau; secretary, Caspar Hill; treasurer, Henry Biesel; musical director, Jacob L. Frank. Meets Tues- day and Friday evenings at Bryer's Hall, 158^- Thames street. Irish National League {Michael Dairitt BrancJi). — President, J. S. Duggan; vice-president, J. N. Keefe; treasurer, M. Roche; secretary, C. Moriarty. Meets at No. 8 Kinsley Wharf, at the call of the president. People's Historical and Literary Association. — President, James W. Johnson; first vice-president, Thomas Johnson; second vice-president, Henry Ruster; secretary, Miss Emma HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. fiGS Fisher; treasurer, Mrs. Ella Kemp; lihrariaii, Edward Toogood; lecturer, William Hutton; marshal, Joseph Marchell; chaplain, James Venable. Tlte Hansard Club of Rhode Island . — President, Honorable Francis Brinley, '18; vice-president, George Henry Calvert, '23; treasurer, A. Prescott Baker, '67; secretary, Malcolm Storer, '85. Meeting semi-annually, in Providence ill winter, and Newport; in summer. Newport Marine Society. — Originated 1752 and incorporated in 1754 as the Fellowship Club, and continued to bear that name until 1785 when it was changed to the Marine Society. This society was instituted for the relief of unfortunate mariners, their widows and orphans. The charter members, in 1754, were Benjamin Wickham, Joseph Bull, John Maudsley, Samuel Cooper, Robert Rodman, Israel Brayton, James Duncan, George Croswell, Robert Stoddard, John Coddington, Michael Molton, Gideon Wanton, Jr., Samuel Dyre, Jr., John Dennis, Peter Dorlin and William Freeborn. In 1785 Oliver Ring Warner, Thomas Rumreill and Christopher EUery, in behalf of the society, petitioned the general assembly asking that the charter be renewed and the name changed to the Marine Societj', which was granted. The following persons are named in the new charter: Oliver Ring Warner, Thomas Rumreill, Chris- topher EUery, John Thurston, Peleg Clarke, William Ladd, John Northam, William Minturn, George Champlin, Joseph Gardner, William Shaw, Samuel Lawron, William Engs, John Lawton, John Hall, Charles Handy, Jr., Benjamin Sayer, Ben- jamin Pearce, Benjamin Cozzens, Samuel Vernon, 2d, William Howland, Richard Chilcot, Peleg Clarke, Jr., and John Morris. Benjamin Sayer was the first secretarj^ and Oliver Ring Warner the first president under the new charter. The funds of this societj^ now (1887) amount to over 825, 0(X), and there are nineteen widows who are pensioners. The present officers are: President, Captain Samuel C. Bailey; secretary, Captain Benjamin S. Melville; treasurer, Captain Alfred S. Chase. Rogers' High School Alumni Association. — Organized 1878. President, John S. McAdani ; 1st vice-president. Miss Carrii W. Crandall ; 2d vice-president, Mr. Frederick J. Cotton; cor- responding secretary, Mr. TJKimas Wood, Jr.; treasurer, Mr. Henry C. Stevens, Jr.; stats'n, Mr. John G. Costello; lit. com., 36 564 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Herbert D. Dyer; Ch'nr., William F. Tilton, Miss H. Swinburne; social com., Mrs. Gussie T. Tilton, Cli'm., Mrs. Abbie T. Lang- ley, Mr. Henry C. Stevens, Jr. A public literary meeting is annually held on the 31st of December at Rogers' High School. Law and Order League. — President, Honorable Thomas T. Carr; vice-president. Reverend Thomas P. Doran; secretary, Arthur B. Emmons; treasurer, William Buffum; executivecora- mittee. Reverend Warren Randolph; Reverend Thomas P. Doran ; Thomas T. Carr, Reverend F. F. Emerson, Henry D. Scott, Joseph P. Cotton, Arthur B. Emmons, William P. Bulfum, Benjamin F. Thurston. Meets every third Monday. Potcel Council, No. 65, Home Circle. — Leader, F. G. Harris ; vice-leader, J. H. Wetherell; secretary, E. L. Spencer; financier, A. K. McMahon; treasurer, J. H. Crosby, Jr.; guide, E. E.Ver- non, Jr.; warden, A. Almy; P. leader, J. Graham. Meets the first and third Thursdays of each month. Sisters of Mercy. — Home, 261 Spring, corner of Fair streets. Sister M. Bonomeo, sujierior; and nine sisters. St. Mary's Academy is located in this building, having an attendance of about sixty pupils. Young Men's Christian Association. — Organized in 1878. President, D. B. Fitts; vice-presidents, Henry C. Bacheller, Thomas S. Mason; secretary, Charles R. Thurston; ti-easurer, John S. Kimber; auditor, Walter B. Simmons. Newport Medical Society. — President, Doctor Francis H. Ran- kin; vice-president. Doctor Ezra E. Dyer, deceased; secretary. Doctor Mary E. Baldwin; treasurer, Doctor William C. Rives, Jr.; librarian, Doctor T. A. Kenefick; curator, Doctor Stepiieu H. Sears. Meets the 3d Tuesday of every month at the resi- dences of the different members. Sanitary Protection Association of Newport. — Established November 11th, 1878. Incorporated in 1879. President, Hon. Francis Brinley; vice president, W. C. Rives; recording secre- tary, W. T. Parker, M. D. ; corresponding secretary. Doctor H. R. Storer; treasurer. Reverend W. J. Magill; consulting en- gineers, George E. Waring, Jr., J. P. Cotton, G. N. Bell; chem- ical analyst, Doctor William B. Hills of Harvard University; councilors, Lucius D. Davis, Doctor F. H. Rankin, A. B. Al- mon, F. O. French, J. J. Van Alen. Meetings monthly al; houses of members. Annual dues, $2.00. Ulfila Lodge., No. 443 (German Order of Harugari). — O. B., HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. fi65 Charles G. Muencliinger; U. B., Henry Biesel; secretary, E. Otto; treasurer, Peter Faerber. United Friends, 0. II. Ferry Council, No. 258. — Organized March 30(;h, 1878. P. G. C, J. B. Brayton; P. C. C., J. P. Sanborn; P. C. C, C. B. Mason; cliief councilor, Jolin J. Peck- ham: vice chief councilor, John B. Mason; recorder, Harali A. Gavill; hnancier, Overton G. Langley; treasurer, Tlionias C. Sherman; prelate, Joseph C. Coggeshall; marshal, Albert I. Easton; guardian, Andrew J. Kirwin; senti'V, John Hudson; medical examiners. Doctor C. F. Barker and Doctor Stephen H. Sears. General Burnside Assembl;/, No. 64, Roi/al Sucicfi/ of Good Fellows, Newport, R. /.—Organized March 17tli, 1887. Ruler, Charles H. Chase; instructor, John A. Hazard; councilor, George B. Leonard; past ruler, William P. Denman; secretary, George F. Rounds; financial secretary, Walter Sherman; treas- urer, George H. Popple; prelate, William Carry; director, William H. Lawton; guard, John B. F. Denman; sentry, William Wilcox;~ trustees, J. J. Carry, A. C. Landers, C. F. Frasch. Place of meeting, Odd Fellow's Hall. Weenat Shassiit Tribe, No. 6, /. 0. of R. J/.— Instituted Oc- tober 29th, 1872. Officers: Sachem, John H. Wetherell; senior sagamore, Albert I. Easton; junior sagamore, John J. Peckham; prophet, Henry C. Burdick; chief of records, Francis Stanhope; assistant chief of records, Charles C. Sterne; keeper of wampum, J. G. Spingler; 1st sanap, H. C. Stevens, Jr.; 2d sanap, E. W. Minkler; 1st warrior, Frank L. DeBlois; 2d warrior, George A. Wilcox; 3d warrior, George A. Lake: 4th warrior, Frank C. Pierce; 1st brave, George S. Ward, Jr.; 2d brave, ^V. F. Bar- low; 3d brave, Arthur L. Gilman; 4th brave, Joseph S. Allan; guard of wigwam, Joseph A. Hoar; guard of forest, W. P. Daw- ley. To give a detailed history of this ancient and influential or- ganization, claiming an existence of nearly a century and a half, would require more space than is posssible within the limits of this volume. From the beginning its record has been honorable and its roll adorned by many of the most prominent names in the country. It was organized during the turbulent times prior to the American revolution and received its charter *Bj- E. O. Wagner. 566 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. on the 1st of Februaiy. 1741, its primary object being to render the militia of the colonies more effective in case of invasion. Its charter slates that: the "preservation of this colony in time of v?ar depends under God chiefly upon the military discipline of the inhabitants, and it being necessary in order to revive and protect the same, to form and establish a military company, which by acquiring and accustoming themselves to military ex ercise, by more frequent trainings than the body of the people can attend — may serve for a nursery of skillful officers, and in time of actual invasion, by their superior skill and experience may render the whole militia more useful and effective." The petition to the general assembly for a charter was signed bj' the following gentlemen, who with others soon after enrolled, formed the company: Godfrey Malbone, Jahleel Brenton, Samuel Wickham, Henry Collins, John Gridley, Jr., James Honey man, Jr., John Brown, Nathaniel Coddington, Jr., Peleg Brown, Charles Bardin, Simon Pease, David Cheseborough, Philip Wil- kinson, John Freebody, Jr., Thomas Wickham, Walter Crans- ton, Sueton Grant and William Vernon. The company having received its charter, first appeaj'ed in uniform September 17th, 1744. The occupation of Newport by the British during the period of the revolution precluded active service at that eventful time, though eighteen men were fur- nished as the quota of the company to the Rhode Island de- tachment for the relief of Fort William Henry on the 16th of August, 1757. On the 9tli of August, 1792, a new charter was granted by the general assembly, and. in May, 1794, the artillery mounted the first gun on Fort Washington in the upper part of the harbor. In August of the same year a dinner was given by the company at the state house in honor of the French Generals Rochambeau and Richard, and later the artillery was reviewed by General Knox, the secretary of war. The follow- ing year the organization paraded at the general election of state officers, and the succeeding year appeared as escort to the governor, a custom which is maintained to the present day. During the j^ear 1812 the services of the Newport artillery were offered the government to assume charge of the battery at Easton's jioint. This offer was accepted July 14th, 1814, and Fort Greene occupied with a muster of eighty-seven men. Of this point they retained possession until peace was pro- jrirtTOKY OF NKWPOIiT COUNTY. 567 claimed in Febrimry, 1815, wlien t-lie fort was delivered to the govei'iinient, the company iiiiiiiberiiig one hnndred and til'leen men. In 1826, when the remains of the great naval victor, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie, were brought to Newport for interment, the artillery formed the funeral escoi't, thus paying proper honor to a man whose memory the citizens of Newport revere to the present day. In 1833 the company received and escorted President Andrew Jackson on his visit to Newjwrt, and in May and June, 1842, it was ordered to Providence to suj)press the so-called Dorr rebellion. The artillery won much praise by its prompt action at the time and although no blood was shed, the Mayor of Providence honored its presence by the presenta- tion of a flag. At the first call for troops at the beginning of the late civil war the members responded in goodly numbers. Company F, Rhode Island Detached Militia, was composed of members of the artillery company, one hundred and eleven men leaving for Washington April 16th, 1861. Company after company was recruited from the artillery, and no less than fourteen hundred men from this organization served in the army and navy during that eventful crisis. The Newport Artillery is an independent organization under the immediate command of the colonel and the governor of the state. The company receive no emoluments from the state, own their own armory, uniforms and equipments, and although annually inspected by the adjutant general of the state have no connection with the Rhode Island militia. It is free from debt and has several beneficial funds, chief among which are the Tliayer and King funds. It has in its possession a number of rare and valuable relics, including paintings, engravings and tattered battle flags carried during the war of the rebellion, as also a unique collection of the various kinds of ammunition used during the war. The following list embraces the officers of the company from its organization to the present date: Captains.-^Iahleel Brenton, 1741 to April 28, 1747; \Villiani Mumford, April 28, 1747, to April 28, 17.^2; Daniel Ayrault, Jr., April 28, 17.")2, to April 20, 1770; Nathaniel Mumford, April 26, 1770, to April 25, 1775; John Malbone, April 25, 1775, to Aug- 568 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNT J". ust 1, 1792; Francis Malbone, August 1, 1792, to June 4, 1809; Benjamin Fry, June 4, -1809, to April 27, 1813. Colonels (rank from April 27, 1813). — Benjamin Fry, April 27, 1813, to April 25, 1815; Christopber G. Champlin, April 25, 1815, to April 28, 1818; Richard K. Randolph, April 28, 1818, to April 27, 1824; John B. Lyon, April 27, 1824, to April 26, 1825; Henry Y. Cranston, April 26, 1825, to April 29, 1828; James Boon, Jr., April 29, 1828, to April 28, 1829; Peleg Clarke, April 28, 1829, to April 26, 1831; jSTicholasG. Boss, April 26, 1831, to April 24, 1832; S. Ayrault Robinson, April 24, 1832, to April 25, 1837; William B. Swan, April 25, 1837, to April 29, 1845; Cliris- topher G. C. Perry, April 29, 1845, to April 7, 1854; Thomas B. Carr, April 7, 1854, to December 21, 1858; Charles W. Turner, December 21, 1858, to December 11, 1860; Geoi-ge W. Tew, De- cember 11, 1860, to April 30, 1861; William H. Fludder, April 30, 1861, to August 12, 1861 ; George W. Tew, August 12, 1861, to April 29, 1862; William A. Stedman, April 29, 1862, to April 25, 1865; John Hare Powel, April 25, 1865, to Novem- ber 15, 1877; Augustus P. Sherman, November 15, 1877, to April 29, 1879; George R. Fearing, April 29, 1879, to April 25, 1882; George H. Vaughan, April 25, 1882, to April 30, 1885; Jere. W. Horton, April 30, 1885. First Lieutenants.— Jolin Brown, 1741, to May 13, 1745; Wil- liam Mumford, May 13, 1745, to April 28, 1747; Philip Wilkin- son, April 28, 1747, to April 28, 1752; Josias Lyndon, April 28, 1752, to April 29, 1755; Samuel Freebody, April 29, 1755, to Au- gust 14, 1757; EbenezerRumreill, April 14, 1757, to April 27, 1762; Metcalfe Bowler, April 27, 1762, to April 25, 1769; Nathan- iel Mumford, April 25, 1769, to April 26, 1770; Samuel Brenton, April 26, 1770, to April 25, 1775 ; George Champlin, April 25, 1775, to August 1, 1792; Daniel Rogers, August 1, 1792, to Sep tember 18, 1792; Benjamin Fry, September 18, 1792, to April 27, 1802; Walter Channing, April 27, 1802, to April 29, 1806; Benja- min Fry, April 29, 1806, to June 4, 1809; John Wood, June 4, 1809, to April 27, 1813. Lieutenant Colonels (rank from April 27, 1813). — John Wood, April 27, 1813, to August 20, 1814 ; Clu'istopher G. Champlin, August 20, 1814, to April 25, 1815; Levi Tower, April 23, 1815 to April 28, 1818; Robert B. Cranston, April 28, 1818, to April 27, 1819; John B. Lyon, April 27, 1819, to April 27, 1824; Henry Y. Cranston, April 27, 1824, to April 26, 1825; James Boon, Jr., HISTORY OF NEVVPOKT COUNTY. 5G9 April 26, 1825, to April 29, 1828; Peleg Clarke, April 29, 1828, to April 28,1829; Nicholas Gr. Bo.ss, April 28, 1829, to April 26, 18:5]; S. Ayrault Robinson, April 26, 1831, to April 24, 1832; Abner Hathaway, Jr., April 24, 1832, to April 30, 1833; William D. Terry, April 30, 1833, to April 29, 1834; William B. Swan, April 29, 1834, to April 25, 1837; Robert J. Taylor, April 2/5, 1837, to April 25, 1843; AVilliam A. Coggeshall, April 25, 1843, to April 30, 1844; Christopher G. C. Perry, April 30, 1844, to April 29, 1845; William H. Henderson, April 29, 1845, to April 28, 1846; Charles D.Weeden, April 28, 1846, to June 21, 1848; George Bur- roughs, June 21, 1848, to April 2fl, 1853; Thomas B. Carr. April 26, 1853, to April 25, 1854; William H. Stanhope, April 25, 1854, to April 24, 1856; Charles W. Turner, April 24, 1856, to Decem- ber 21, 1858; Isaac S. Boss, December 21, 1858, to September 26, 1860; Charles C. Clarke, December 11, 1860, to August 12, 1861; William A. Stedman, August 12, 1861, to April 29, 1862; B. L. Slocum, April 29, 1862, to October 29, 1862; John Hare Powel, April 28, 1863, to April 25,1865; Augustus P. Sherman, April 25, 1865, to April 30, 1867; William M. Clarke, April 30, 1867 to April 28, 1868; Augustus P. Sherman, April 28, 1868, to November 15, 1877; Thomas S. Nason, November 15, 1877, to April 30, 1878; Thomas S. Burdick, April 30, 1878, to April 29, 1879; George H. Vaughan, April 29, 1879, to April 25, 1883; Jere. W. Horton, April 25, 1883, to April 30, 1885; George A. Brown, April 30, 1885. Second Lieutenants.— John Gidley, 1741 to October 22, 1744; William Mumford, October 22, 1744, to May 13, 1745; John Tillinghast, May 13, 1745, to August 6, 1745: Philip AVilkinson, August 6, 1745, to April 28, 1747; Daniel Ayrault, Jr., April 28, 1747, to April 28, 1752; Samuel Freebody, April 28, 1752, to April 29, 1755; William Paul, April 29, 1755, to April 27, 17.56; Daniel Russell, Jr., April 27, 1756, to April 2.5, 1758; Metcalfe Bowler, April 25, 1758, to April 27, 1762; Nathaniel Mumford, April 27, 1762, to April 2.5, 1769; Samuel Brenton, April 25, 1769, to April 26, 1770; Thomas Wickham, Jr., April 26, 1770, to April 25, 1775; Wil- liam Chanuing, April 25, 1775, to April 26, 1776; Thomas Ainnid, April 26, 1776, toAugust 1, 1792; P>enjamin Fry, August 1, 1792, to September 18, 1792; Thomas Russell, September 18, 1792, to April 22, 1794; Walter Chanuing, April 22, 1794, to April 27, 1802; Frederick Crary, April 27, 1802, to Api-il 29, 1806; Walter Channing, April 29, 1806, to April 25, 1809; Christopher G. Champlin, April 25, 1809, to April 27, 1813. 570 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Majors (rank from April 27, 1813). — Clu'istopher G. Cham- plin, April 27, 1813, to August 20, 1814; Levi Tower, August 20, 1814, to April 2o, 1815; Richard K. Randolph, April 25, 1815, to April 28, 1818; John B. Lyon, April 28, 1818, to April 27, 1819; Henry Y. Cranston, April 27, 1819, to April 27, 1824; James Boon, Jr., April 27, 1824, to April 20, 1825; Peleg Clarke, April 26, 1825, to April 29, 1828; Nicholas G. Boss, April 29, 1828, to April 28, 1829; James M. Tuell, April 28, 1829, to April 27, 1830; S. Ayrault Robinson, April 27, 1830, to Apiil 26, 1831; Abner Hathaway, Jr., April 26, 1831, to April 24, 1832; Silas Ward, April 24, 1832, to April 30, 1833; William B. Swan, April 30, 1833, to April 29, 1834; AVilliam A. Coggeshall, April 29, 1834, to April 27, 1835; John B. Weeden, April 27, 1835, to June 4, 1842; W. A. Coggeshall, June 4, 1842, to April 25, 1843; Christopher G. C. Perry, April 25, 1843, to April 30, 1844; W. H. Henderson, xVpril 30, 1844, to April 29, 1845; George Burroughs, April 29, 1845, to June 21, 1848; Thomas B. Carr, June 21, 1848, to April 26, 1853; W. H. Stanhope, April 26, 1853, to April 25, 1854; Benjamin Marsh, 3d, April 25, 1854, to April 24, 1855; George F. Turner, April 24, 1855, to April 24, 1856; Isaac S. Boss, April 24, 1856, to December 21, 1858; George W. Tew, December 21, 1858, to December 11, 1860; William A. Stedman. December 11, 1860, to August 12, 1861; B. L. Slocum, August 12, 1861, to April 29, 1862; Augustus P. Sherman, April 29, 1862, to April 25, 1865; William H. Fhulder, Ainil 25, 1865, to April 24, 1866; Thomas S. Burdick, April 24, 1866, to April 30, 1878; Jerre W. Horton, April 30, 1878, to April 24, 1883; H. T. Eas- ton, April 24, 1883, to April 30, 1885; A. A. Barker, April 30, 1885. Ensigns. — William Mumford, 1741 to October 22, 1744; John Tillinghast, October 22, 1744, to May 13, 1745; Charles Wick- ham. May 13, 1745, to August 6, 1745; Daniel Ayrault, Jr., Aug- ust 6, 1745, to April 28, 1747; Thomas Wickliam, April 28, 1747, to April 28, 1752; Edward Cole, April 28, 1752, to April 29, 1755; Daniel Russell, Jr., April 29,1755, to April 27, 1756; Metcalfe Bow- ler, April 27,1756, to April 25,1758; Henry Ward, April 25, 1758, to April 24, 1759; Nathaniel Mumford, April 24, 1759, to April 27, 1762; Samuel Brenton, April 27, 1762, to April 25, 1769; Thomas Wickham, Jr., April 25, 1769, to April 26, 1770; Samuel Goldthwaite, April 26, 1770, to April 25, 1775; William Brooks Simpson, April 25, 1775, to April 26, 1776; William Brenton, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 571 April 20, 1776, to August 1, 1792; Walter Channing, August 1, 1792, to April 29, 1794; Joseph Boss, Jr., April 22, 1794, to January 2r), 1798; Frederick Crary, Januajy 25, 1798, to April 27, 1802; Hanson Hull, April 27, 1802, to April 26, 1808; Stephen Cahoone, Ji'., April 26, 1803, to April 29, 18()0; Fred- erick Crary, April 29, 1806, to April 26, 1808; John Wood, April 26, 1808, to April 25, 1809; Levi Tower, April 27, 1809, to April 27, 1818. Captains (rank from April 27, 1813).— Levi Tower, April 27, 1813, to August 20, 1814; Richard K. Randolph, August 20,1814, to April 25, 1815: Robert B.Cranston, April 25, 1815, to April 28, 1818; Henry Y. Cranston, April 28, 1818, to April 27, 1819; James Boon. Jr., April 27, 1819, to April 27, 1824; M. T. Dilling- ham, April 27, 1824, to April 26, 1825; Nicholas G. Boss, Ajiril 26,1825, to April 29,1828; James M. Tuell, April 29,1828, to Apiil 28, 1829; S. Ayrault Robinson, April 28, 1829, to April 27, 1880; Sylvester R. Hazard, April 27, 1830, to April 26, 1831 ;Silas Ward, April 26, 1831, to April 24, 1832: John R. Randolph, April 24, 1882, to Ai)ril 30, 1888; Robert J. Taylor, April 30, 1838, to April 29, 1834; John B. Weeden, April 29, 1834, to April 27, 1835; Jolm Stacy. Jr.. April 27, 1835, to April 26, 1886; Henry W. Carr, April 26, 1886, to April 80, 1889; Charles D. Weeden, April 80, 1839, to April 25, 1843; James D. Seabury, April 25, 1843, to April 30, 1844; George BuiToughs, April 30, 1844, to April 29, 1845; Benjamin A. Mason, April 29, 1845, to August 8, 1847; Thomas B. Carr, August 8, 1847, to June 21, 1848; James Barton, June 21, 1848, to November 15, 1852; Benjamin A. Mason, November 15, 1852, to April 24, 1856; Augustus Frencli. April 24, 1856, to April 28, 1857; Charles C. Clarke, April 28, 1857, to December 11, 1860; B. L. Slocum, Decendier 11, 1860, to April 80, 1861; James H. Chappell, April 30, 1861, to April 29, 1862; John S. Coggeshall, April 29, 1862, to April 28, 1863; William H. Fludder, April 28, 1863, to April 25, 1805; Thomas S. Burdick, April 25, 1865, to April 24. 1866; William M. Clarke, April 24, 1866. to April 80, 1867; John S. Coggeshall, April 80. 1867, to April 28, 1870; Thomas S. Nason, April 28, 1870, to Novend)er 15, 1877; Jere. W. Horton, No- vember 15, 1877, to April 30, 1878; George A. Brown, April 80j 1878, to April 30, 1885; George C. Shaw, April 80, 1885. Clerks. — losias Lyndon. 1741 to April 28, 1747; William Cod- dington, Jr., April 28, 1747, to April 24, 1753; William I'aul, 572 inSTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. April 24, 17o3, to April 29, 1755; John Bours, April 29, 1755, to April 25, 1776; James Clarke, April 25, 1776, to August 1, 1792; Samuel Freebody, Jr., August 1, 1792, to October 6, 1794; Wil- liam Marchant, October 6, 1794, to April 28, 1795; William Til- linghast, April 28, 1795, to October 6, 1795; Holmes Weaver, October 6, 1795, to April 25, 1826 (with rank of first lieutenant and quartei'master from April 27, 1813); William Ellery Almy, April 25, 1826, to April 30, 1833; William A. Coggesbail, April 30, 1833, to April 29, 1834; William J. Munroe, April 29, 1834, to April 27. 1835; William A. Coggeshall, April ' 27, 1835, to April 24, 1838; William H. Henderson, April 24, 1838, to April 30, 1844; Thomas E. Townsend, Apiil 30, 1844, to April 27, 1847; James H. Demarest, April 27, 1847, to August 3, 1847; B. Ham- mett Stevens, August 3, 1847, to April 25, 1848; W. H. Stan- hope, April 25, 1848, to April 26, 1853; Charles \V. Turner, April 26, 1853, to April 25, 1854; George F. Turner, April 25, 1854, to April 24, 1855; Augustus French, April 24, 1855, to April 24, 1856; John B. Langley, Jr., April 24, 1856, to December 1, 1860; James H. Chappell, December 1, 1860, to April 30, 1861; H. Bull, Jr., April 30, 1861, to April 26, 1864; Howard Smith, April 26, 1864, to April 25, 1865; I. W. R. Marsh, April 25, 1865, to April 24, 1866; J. Perry Clarke, April 24, 1866, to April 30, 1867; I. W. R. Marsh, April 30, 1867, to April 28, 1868; Henry T. Easton, April 28, 1868, to April 25, 1871; George H.Vaughan, April 25, 1871, toApril29, 1879; B. B. H. Sherman, April 29, 1879, to April 27, 1880^ Robert C. Cottrell, April 27, 1880, to April 25, 1882; Alvin A. Barker, April 25, 1882, to April BO, 1885; Henry C. Stevens, Jr., April 30, 1885. Officers of the Veteran Association. — Colonel John Hare Powel, president; Colonel Augustus P. Sherman, first vice-jires- ident; Colonel William A. Stedman, second vice-president; Col- onel Thomas S. Nason, third vice-president; Sergeant William S. Slocum, secretary; Lieutenant B. B. H. Sherman, treasurer. Present Roster.^ — Colonel, J. W. Horton; lieutenant colonel, G. A. Brown; major, A. A. Barker; captain, G. C. Shaw; quar- termaster, H. C. Stevens, Jr.; adjutant, J. H. Wetherell; sur- geon, Dr. S. H. Sears; commissary, W. T. Stevens; paymaster, E. T. Bosworth; chaplain, Rev. T. Thayer, D. D.; assistant surgeon. Dr. N. R. Chace; assistant commissary, J. L. Nason; assistant paymaster, J. H. Stacy; sergeant major, G. W. Thompson; quartermaster-sergeant, M. Muenchinger; sergeant illSTOllY OK NKWi'OKT COUNTY. 573 of ordnance, T. II. Lnwron; ensign sergeant, P. B. Dawley; first seigeant, E. II. Tilley; second sergeant, G. A. Tilley; tliird sergeant, II. Bliss; fourth sergeant, J. D. Richard.son, Jr.; fifth sergeant, A. A. Stacy; color sergeant, B. W. H. Peckhani; cor- porals, T. S. Holm, H. C. Christian, A. J. De Blois, W. H. Schwarz; right general guide, C. T. Bliss; left general gnide, G. Davis; niaikers, 0. E. Peabody, M. W. Wetherell; buglers, G. S. Bowen, S. H. Lawton, F. S. Patterson, J. P. Leonard, F. J. Eckhart. Privates.— W. H. Allen, W. R. Allen, M. Bnll, A. G. Bur- dick, S. C. Bailey, 2d, C. Biesel, W. M. Borden, H. A. Boole, C. Crandall, Jr., Charles E. Clarke, W. H. Crowell, F. T. Carr, Clarence E. Chirke, J. 'J\ Duriee, J. R. Duckworth, H. T. Eas- ton. a. E. Eldridge, W. H. Easton, C. E. French, J. H. Glynn, A. N. Gray, H. Greene, W. F.. Gratrix, M. W. Hall, F. H. Holt, J. E. Kesson, W. H. King, F. P. King, F. Langley, E. P. Landers, P. T. Leonard, R. P. Manchester, R. W. Mitchell, W. McDonald, J. C. Peckham, J. R. Peabody, G. H. Proud, C. A. Palmer, F. E. Rowell, C. J. H. Sohwarz, G. T. Swan, F. M. Stevens, E. Spooner, O. M, Smith, W. T. Stevens, W. D. Sayer, G. W. Tilley, C. O. Titcomb, G. H. Vaughan, W. A. Ward, E. Wilbur, D. Wetlierell, Jr. CHAPTER XI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.— NEWPORT. Benjamin Anthony. — George A. Armstrong. — Seth Bateman. — Luther Bateman. — Henry Bedlow. — Robert P. Berry. — Joshua C. Brown. — John Bull. — George W. Carr, Jr.— William A. Clarke. — Henry Clews. — George S. Coe. — William King Covell. — The Cranston Family. — Lucius D. Davis. — The De Bloia Family.— George T. Downing. — William Findlay. — The Fludder Family. — Thomas Galvin. — George Hall. — Nathan Hammett and Joseph M. Hammett. — Benjamin Hazard. — Carl Jurgens.^ — Daniel Le Roy. — Josiah O. Low. — John D. Johnston. — Seth W. Macy. — Felix Peckham. — Thomas P. Peckham. — John Hare Powel. — Oliver Read. — James T. Rhodes. — John Page Sanborn. — William Paine Sheffield.— John W. Sherman.— William H. Thurston.— Wil- liam J. Underwood. — John G. Weaver. — George Peabody Wetmore. — Cath- arine Lorillard Wolfe. Ben-tamin N. Anthony was born in South Kingstown, Au- gust 27tli, 1821, being the youngest child of Peleg C. and Abby G. (Tillinghast) Anthony. His father removed to Newport about 1824 and engaged in farming, wliicli occupation luis been folh)wed by his son. Peleg C. died January 14th, 1882, in his ninety-first year. Benjamin M. married Elizabeili, daughter of Josiah and Eliza Pecivham, and tliey had twelve children, of whom seven are living: Abrani Tilley Anthony, born August 14th, 1845, and married Marian R. Ball; Joseph Smith, born April 1st, 1847, married Abby Cook Hudson; William Clark, born May 8th, 1852, married Mary Jane Sullivan; Charles Green, born January 17th, 1854, married Francis Mary Hardwick; Eliza Abby; James Edward, born March 17lh, 1859, married Elizabeth Parker Congdon; and Mary Alice. George A. Akmstrong was born in Newport, September 1809, being the sou of George and Esther (Williams) Arm- strong. His early life was spent on his father's farm, which was located where Narragansett avenue now is. He married Harriet H., daughter of George and Content (Wilbour) Hazard, who was also a native of Newport. They had two children, one of whom is living, viz., William A., born in October, 1834, and married Carrie, daughter of William Lewis. <:?Ho^fii^.dz/M/ ■^z'2^*^^ &^. ^£/:^^hto v^io^t^t^ X. %\V*.%\\.\i\ V w o PQ < J Q U CO >• u I 2: a: o u o z Id Q 55 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 577 One son in each generation lias since represented the family, who have always made New York their residence. William Bedlow, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was appointed by the government one of the commis- sioners to make the survey and establish the military school at West Point. He married Catharine, daughter of Colonel Henry Rutgers, and had one son, Henry, wlio married Julia Halsey of Newark, New Jersey. Their second son, Henry, was born on the 21st of December, 1821, in New York, studied under private tutors at the Yale University, and was graduated at the Harvard Law School. After a thorough study of the practice of law he was admitted to the bar of New York state and subsequently studied medi- cine both in this country and in France. Mr. Bedlow in early life became an attache of the American legation at Naples. Though this is a position of no special importance in American foreign representation, yet in this instance, from his familiarity with the court language and a knowledge of etiquette, he was enabled to render Mr. Polk, the chargee and brother of Presi- dent James K. Polk, considerable service in his intercourse with what was at the time considered the most formal court in Europe. He was likewise a member — acting officially — of the United States Dead Sea expedition, under the command of P. W. Lynch, who, in his published report, has not failed to bear most complimentary testimony to the efficient aid rendered by him in the exploration and survey of the Jordan valley and river and the lake of Sodom and Gomorrah. For many years Mr. Bedlow has, with his family, spent the summer and autumn in- Newport, and meanwhile become closely identified with the interests of the city. He was elected mayor for the years 1875, 1876 and 1877, and during his candidacy won from the local press the most laudatory notices for his varied capabilities and social accomplishments. His record during the war of the re- bellion proclaimed him a sincere lover of his country, and his thorough loyalty showed itself in word and sjieech. Mr. Bed- low was married March 2d, 1850, to Miss Josephine De Wolf Homer, daughter of Fitzhenry Homer of Boston, Massachu- setts. Their children aie Harriet Hall, widow of Lieutenant- commander Francis Morris, and Alice Prescott, wife of William Henry Mayer. 578 IIISTOKY OK NEWPOKT COUNTY. EoBEKT P. Berry was the son of Joshua and Olive Berry, of Falmouth, Maine, where his birth occurred on the 14th of Jan- uary, 1814. In early youth he removed to Windham in the same state and received his academic education at the Gorham Academy in Gorham, Maine, afterward entering upon the study of dentistry in Providence, R. I. Later removing to Bristol, R. I., he engaged in active professional labor and about 1842 be- camea resident of Newport where much of his subsequent life was passed. In 1859 Doctor Berry established an ofhce in New York, returning to Newport for the summer months, where the few days of leisure stolen from an arduous professional careei- were spent in recreation. In 1808 he made Newport his per- manent home and there continued actively employed until his death, which occurred February 9th, 1873. Doctor Berry's thorough knowledge of dental science enabled him to take high rank in his profession and made his name a familiar one, not only in this country but in Europe. He was esijecially fond of the study of chemistry and in pursuance of his natural bent spent much time in his laboratory. These ex- . periments, while gratifying a peculiar taste, served also to broaden his knowledge of a profession of which he was already an acknowledged master. A lover of books and an intelligent reader of sound literature, his well-stored library contained the best productions of English authors. Doctor Berry was a lover of field sports and accustomed to devote a portion of each au- tumn to the gratification of this pleasure, from which he derived much benefit and greatly needed rest. A republican in his po- litical affiliations, he was in no sense a politician, and with the exception of his membership in the school board of Newport never held office. His religious associations were with Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, Newport, of which Mrs. Berry was a member and he a vestryman. Doctor Berry was, on the 18th of July, 1848, married to Mary Ann, daughter of William and Ruth Thurston of Newport, and she survives him. Joshua C. Brown, though a native of Newport county, and at present one of its enterprising citizens, has spent much of his active life in California. His grandfather, Peleg Brown, resided inNarragansett, though he was born in Newport county. Among his children was Pardon Brown, who early removed to Middletown township, where he spent much of his life as a farmer. He mairied Lucy, daughter of Captain Nathaniel t^.^/'^^^u p,rJ^u,m h^Crt-inyi^ HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. fi7!) Armstrong, of Narragansett, and had children: George A., Joshua C.,Mary A. (Mrs. George Coggeshall) and Nathaniel A. He contracted a second marriage with Sarah, daughter of Cap- tain Peleg Sanford, their children being: Lucy (Mrs. James Brown), Peleg, Lydia (Mrs. John Sanford) and Pardon. Joshua C. was born February 27th, 1828, in Middletown, Newport county, R. I., and from early youth until the age of eighteen assisted in the farm his father owned, meanwhile pur- suing tlie English branches at the neighboring public school. He determined to acquire a trade and chose that of a wheel- wright, establishing himself in connection with his brother In his native township. At a later date, varying somewhat his occupation, he devoted his skill to the work of a house car- penter. Mr. Brown, like many ambitious spirits of that day, followed the tide of emigration to California in the year 1850. His business, that of a cattle dealer, necessitated many trips across the plains, no less than ten long and wearisome journeys being made in succession with droves and herds. At a later day the superior facilities offered by I'ailroads rendered the shipment of cattle an easy task. Mr. Brown was for several years located in Nevada, and subsequently purchased from the government a ranch in Northern California. Here he engaged in the raising of blooded stock, shipping from Kentucky short- horn Durhams and from Rhode Island Southdown sheep. In 1883 he returned to his native county, located in Newport, and has since devoted his time to building and improving the prop- erty he owns in the city. Mr. Brown was married on the 14th of January, 1853, to Jane, daughter of Captain William Smith, of Middletown. Their children are: Nebraska, wife of A. A. Tilley; California, wife of Daniel Chase; Nevada, married to Herbert Tilley; Esmeralda, Pardon and Joshua C. Mr. Brown was a second time married May 2d, 1872, to Elizabeth A. Ward of Newport, a descendant of Governor Ward of Rhode Island, and daughter of Henry Ward of Middletown. Mr. Brown is a member of the First Baptist church of Newport, which he joined at the age of four- teen. He, with others, organized a Sabbath school in Modoc county, California, and was until his dei)arture one of its mos; active supporters and workers. This school formed the nucleus around which grew a prosperous church, of which he was an exemplary member. Mr. Brown is an avowed prohibitionist 37 680 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. and earnest in the cause of temijerance as in all Christian work. John Bull, the yonngest son and child of Henry Bull, was born in Newport July 11th, 1822. He was connected during his life with the Newport Gas Company, holding the position of treasurer. He married Clarissa, daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth Peckham. They had three children: Daniel P., Evan M. and Phebe C. He died June 22d, 1863. George W. Caru, Jr. — The Carr familj' are of Scotch descent, the progenitor of the family in America, of which the subject of this sketch is a representative, having been Caleb Carr, who emigrated from London in the year 1635, sailing for Boston in the ship " Elizabeth and Ann" when but eleven years of age. Three years later he settled in Carr's lane, Newport, and sub- sequently became the owner of much land. He was three times married, and left to his son, Nicholas, an extensive tract on Conanicut island, which is still owned and occupied by repre- sentatives of the family. Another son, John, great-grandfather of George Washington Carr, Jr., married Waite, daughter of Peter Easton. Among their children was John Carr, who won distinction as a cajitain at the battle of Trenton during the war of the revolution, and at the close of the conflict settled in New port. He married Mary Arnold and had children: John, Mary, Sarah, Samuel, Caleb A., Richard, Abagail, Waite, Ebenezer, George Washington and Hannah. Of this number George Washington was born July 12th, 1777, and married Margaret, daughter of William and Mary Thurston, born April 11th, 1779. Their children are: Dolly T., Abby, Margaret, George W., Jr., Mary Ann, Caleb A., Thomas T., Sarah R., John and Amelia, of whom seven survive. George W, Cair, Jr., was born in Newport on the 22d of April, 1808, where he now resides. He enjoyed such advantages of education as that early day afforded, his tutor being Levi Tower, a teacher of repute at the time, and was aprenticed to the trade of a tailor. On completing the allotted time .he re- moved to New Bedford, and was for twenty years the successful manager of a merchant tailoring business for other parties. Returning to Newport he opened a dry goods store, chiefly as a congenial means of occupying his leisure time, and to this he still gives his personal attention. Devoted to books, an un- tiring reader of current literature, and a collector of old and ObwYUi. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 581 rare manuscripts, Mr. Carr enjoys ample opportunity for the gratification of his taste in this direction. Always either a whig or republican in politics, he has often been urged to accept office, but invariably declined. He is an active member of the Newport Historical Society, in which he is much interested, and was formerly a working member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was educated in the religious faith of the Society of Friends with which he worships. William A. Clarke, late president of the National Bank of Rhode Island, Newport, was born in that city March 22d, 1803. His father, Audley Clarke, was connected with tliat bank from its organization in 1795 until his death in 1844, a period of fortj^- nine years, and was its president for the last twenty-nine years of his life. Mrs. Mary Clarke, the mother of William A., was the daughter of Caleb Gardner, a prominent and successful bus- iness man of Newport. The son began his business career in the bank with his father in 1818 and worked his way througli all the grades of that time-honored institution, the second of its kind established in Rhode Island. He was its cashier for twenty-four years and its respected president from 1862 until his death, which occurred on the 26th of March, 1887. Mr. Clarke was the oldest bank officer in the country, having served in the institution with which he was connected for nearly seventy years. Meanwhile, all the patrons of the l)ank when he entered it, had passed away, and Newport daring his lifetime had undergone important changes. But few persons of his ad- vanced age are able to assume the oversight of so extensive a business. Mr. Clarke was much interested in the growth and prosperity of Newport, was the first president of the company that introduced the telegraph into that city, and gave encourage- ment to every worthy enterprise. He in politics adhered to the principles of the Jeffersonian school of democrats and manifest- ed a lively interest in the public questions of the day, while avoiding active participation in the struggle for ascendency and power. His integrity and business capacity caused him to be made the recipient of many offers to fill positions of trust, wliich were usually gratefully declined. He led a quiet, unobti'usive life, spent much of his leisure in reading the best current lit- erature of the da}', and in his unostentatious manner did much to advance the interests of the community. In religion he was a firm believer in the Unitarian faith. 582 IITSTORY OP NEWPORT COUNTY. Henry Clews. — Among tlie successful men of Wall street few have by their own efforts and by strictly legitimate means raised themselves to so prominent a position in the financial world as Mr. Henry Clews. Many have risen and subsided, but he has maintained both his position and his integrity. Mr. Clews is an Englishman by birth and the youngest of four sons, his family having resided in Staffordshire, where they held a large landed estate. He began at an early age a course of study designed to fit him for admission to Cambridge, to qualify him for the cliurch. He came to America on a pleasui'e trip and determined to remain and engage in commercial pursuits. His first essay was as a clerk in the well known dry goods house of Wilson G. Hunt & Co., and the careful training he received there proved of inestimable value in after life. The panic of 1857 had come, and while all around could be seen the fearful havoc made by this financial storm, in the shape of wrecked corporations, stojipage of industry and ruin of private fortunes, there was still a growing feeling in business circles that the woi'st had come and improvement must follow. Mr. Clews, sharing this belief, left the mercantile house, came to Wall street, and embarked as a broker and banker, establishing in 1858 the house of Stout, Clews & Mason, afterward changed to Liverraore, Clews & Co. By hard labor Mr. Clews succeeded in doing a fair business, and was being constantly trained for the more active and exciting career wliich was soon to follow. On liis first attempt to gain admittance to the Stock Exchange he had many difficulties to contend with. The Exchange was then a close corporation and managed bj' old fogies, wlio were afraid of the admission of young blood and consequent inno- vations. About this time one hundred dollars a day and some- times more was freely offered for the privilege of listening at the keyhole during the calls, and holes were made in the build- ing adjacent to the exchange, which were let at a high rate by the hour. Mr. Clews directed his efforts toward the breaking of the monopoly by doing business on more liberal methods than the regular members, who were ultimately obliged to admit him in self defense. Prosperity smiled on his efforts, and the " success of Clews " became an accepted adage in Wall street. On the breaking out of the civil war he threw himself with all his force into every project that might tend to assist the gov- ernment in its negotiations for raising money to carry on the ex- 1% X-O^y Views at "THE ROCKS.' Summer Residence of Mr. HENRY CLEWS. NEWPORT. R. I. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 583 penses of the great eoiiHict, and no individual, from the open- ing of the war to Lee's surrender, did more than the young banker Clews to forward the interests of the North. Secretary Chase, speaking in terms of commendation of the New York hankers wlio had assisted him in his efforts to sustain the credit of the government, stated that the house of Clews & Co. had jilaced more government bonds than any other firm. By his marvellous foresight in the beginning of the war Mr. Clews was the means of saving his firm, as well as many of its cus- tomers, from collapse. He visited Washington and had an interview with Secretary Chase. In opposition to the general opinion then prevalent, he foresaw that the war would be a lengthy and a desperate one. He immediately telegraphed to his partners to sell out at once all the mercantile paper which his firm held, and this was an immense quantity. His orders were executed, and the losses of the firm only exceeded a few thousand dollars. When the collapse came a few days after- ward, 071 the firing on Fort Sumter, the panic wiiich occurred in Wall street shattered some of the best financial institutions of the country. In 1862 Mr. Clews was elected a member of the New York Stock Exchange, and in addition to his large transactions in government securities, gradually became known as a power in the vast dealings in railroad and other securities, and his oper- ations In gold were marked as showing unusual foresight and sagacity in the wide fluctuations that prevailed in that then speculative commodity. The great secret of Mr. Clews' suc- cess was, after all, his unbounded belief in the perfect respon- sibility of the government to meet all its engagements, and the depth of his conviction that sooner or later the North would be triumphant, and the old unio'n of North and South continue to be an accomplished fact. The amount of labor involved in the conduct of such a business in government and other secur- ities as was done by Mr. Clews was enormous. The correspond- ence alone was enough to startle an ordinary business man, for it was the invariable rule to answer all inquiries for informa- tion. The commissions of the concern rolled up to important sums, and the firm became strong and extensively popular. In tlie height of liis prosperity and i)oi)ularity Mr. Clews en- countered a severe blow by the repudiation of the state debt of Georgia, and by the bad faith of the state of Alabama, through 684 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. both of uiiich lie lost over five million dollars. To meet the necessary expenses and subsequently accumulate a large fortune with such stupendous losses, affords some idea of the magnitude of his business, and the executive ability which has directed it to that success. His entangling alliance with Georgia arose chiefly from a patriotic desire to assist in the reconstruction of the South by negotiating their securities and thus aiding to develop their industries. This beneficent purpose was frustrated by the destrnctive ijolicy of President Andrew Johnson. Mr. Clews is a member of the Stock, Cotton, Produce and Coffee Exchanges of New York and of the Chicago Board of Trade, his private wires also bringing him into instantaneous communication with the Philadelphia and Boston exchanges. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, and of the Union and Union League Clubs and the Geographical and Statistical Societj'. He was for many years treasurer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He has been more or less identified with politics but never held public office. He was a delegate to the republican state convention held at Utica, and the entire credit is due to Mr. Clews for the nomination of General Dix for governor of New York state and which insured the election of General Grant to the presidency', who generously acknowledged his obligation in several personal letters to Mr. Clews. Mr. Clews was offered the collectorship of the port of New York and twice could have been made secretary of the treasury, and the nomination for the mayoraltj^ of New York was also twice tendered to him, but declined. He originated the Com- mittee of Seventy that aided in the overthrow of the Tweed Ring, and was offered one of the most lucrative positions in the gift of that powerful circle to be lenient with the Ring. This offer, it is needless to' say, was indignantly refused. The business of the firm of which Mr. Clews is chief has grown to immense proportions and is still increasing. About one hundred clerks are employed and eighteen branch offices have been established. System, integrity and perseverance seem to have been the three working elements of success in the career of the subject of this biography. Mr. Clews was on the 4th of February, 1874, married to Lucy Madison Wor- thington, grand niece of President Madison. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 685 George S. Coe. — The Coe familj^ of New England .has been represented in tlie population of Newport county for many years, and prominent members of it are mentioned in this work in the chapters on Block Island and Little Compton. Adam S. Coe for many years was well known in Newport as senior part- ner in the memorable firm of Robert P. Lee & Co., hardware merchants and lumber dealers. The subject of this sketch, a son of this Adam S. Coe, was born in the town, now the city of Newport, in 1817, and passed there the formative period of his life. When fourteen years of age he was a clerk in the business with his father's firm and within the next four years was given a clerkship in the Rhode Island Union Bank of Newport. The schools and the school- masters often determine what the boys will be and those two old teachers, loved and remembered yet by many successful bus- iness men — Levi Tower and Joseph Joselyn — each in turn, made their imprint as teachers of the boy who was to become the George S. Coe of to-day. In the Union Bank, however, it ap- pears that the general trend of his life was determined, and in 1838 we find him in New York city with the banking house of Prime, Ward & King. Six years later he went to Cincinnati in confidential relations to the business of Prime, Ward & King, and in 1847 he became cashier and agent for the Ohio Trust Company in New York city. Mr. Coe's relations to the Amer- ican P]xchange National Bank of New York, now covering a period of more than a third of a century, began in 1855 when he was elected cashier and within a year was promoted to the vice- l)residency and tliree years later, in 1858, he was placed at the head of the institution and under his care the success of the last thirty years of this bank's career has been achieved. Mr. Coe is one of those fortunate men of affairs who find time to cul- tivate a literary taste. Being always a lover of books, his recre- atiDH from business is in the laboi's of astudent. Although presi- dent of a bank for a period the length of which gives his name lirominence in banking circles, yet he is probably best known through his relation to the Associated Banks and their work through the New York Clearing House. Tie is widely and fa- vorably known as active in the Banking Association of the United States. In the days of the government's financial embarrass- ment Mr. Coe exerted a wise and patriotic influence. The clear- 686 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUKTr. ness of his views foi'cibly apiiears in a If^tter written by him to Hon. E. G. Spaulding in October, 187ii, published in "The Financial History of the War," from which the following extract is quoted: '•After the accession of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, the securities of the government became difficult of sale, and they declined to such an extent that for the week ending June 24, 1861, the following quotations were published: U. S. Bonds, 1881 (coupon), 6 per cent 83f 83f U. S. Treasury nojes, 12 per cent, interest. . lOlf 102 U. S. Treasury notes, 11 percent, interest.. 101 101| U. S. Treasury notes, lOf per cent, interest. 100^ "Zealous exertions had been made by carefully organized €omniittees of the New York Chamber of Commerce, the month before, to obtain suljscriptions to government loans l)y sending circulars throughout the Northern States, in wliich citizens, ])ublic officers, banks and other institutions were solicited to act as voluntary agents. But the aggregate secured was incon- siderable and utterly failed of the amount required for press- ing necessity. The great conflict was rising daily into more apijalling magnitude. Moneyed capital, with instinctive timid- ity, buttoned tightly its pockets, and shrank from the danger. "Fortunately, the commercial conditions of the Northern States were altogether favorable. The panic of 1857 had been followed by three or four years of great productiveness and economy, which had so turned international exchanges in favor of this country tliat larger balances in coin than ever before had, during ISGO and 1861, been in)ported from Europe. The banks in New York alone holding the unprecedented amount of fifty millions, equal in August, 1861, to about fifty per cent, of their liabilities, while the apprehension of war had pro- duced a general curtailment of credit throughout the Northern States. "After the battle of Bull Run, and when Washington was closely beleaguered, and the avenue tlience to New York through Baltimore was intercepted by the enemy, Mr. Cha.se, then Secretaryof the Treasury, came to this city via Annapolis, iind immediately invited all persons in this community who were supposed to possess or control capital to meet him on the evening of August 9th, at the house of John J. Cisco, Esq , then y; HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 587 nssistaiit treasurer of the United States in New York. This invitation drew tot^ethera Uir^e number of gentlemen of various occupations and circumstances. During the discussion whicli ensued, I suggested the practicability of uniting the banks of tlie North \)y some organization that would combine them into an efficient and inseparable body for the purpose of advancing the capital of the country upon government bonds in large amounts, and througli their ('learing-house facilities and other well-known expedients, to distribute them in smaller sums among the jieople in a manner that would secure active cooper- ation among the members in tliis special work, while in all other respects each bank could pursue its independent business. This suggestion met the hearty approbation of the assembled company and arrested the earnest attention of the secretary. At his request it was i»resented to the consideration of the banks at a meeting called for that purpose at the American Exchange Bank on the following day, and was so far enter- tained as to secure the appointment of a committee of ten bank officers, to give it form and coherence. The committee con- vened at the Bank of Commerce, whose officers zealously united in the eft'ort, and a plan was reported unanimously. It may be found in the BanTeef s Magazine of September, 1861. Their report was cordially accepted and adopted by the banks in New York, those in Boston and Philadelphia being represented at the meeting, and as zealously and cordially united in the organization. * * * " It was at once unanimously agreed that the associated banks of the three cities would take fifty millions of 7 3-10 notes at par, with the privilege of an additional fifty millions in sixty days, and a further amount of hfty millions in sixty days more, making one hundred and iifty millions in all, and offer them for sale to the people of the country at the same price, without charge. In this great undertaking the banks of New York assumed more than their relative proportion. To ensure full cooperation and success, tlie expedient of issuing clearing liouse certificates, and of appropriating and averaging ail the coin in the various banks as a common fund, whicli had been invented but the year before, was applied to this special ol)ject with good effect. " So vast a responsibility, involving figures of such nuigni- tude, had never before .been attempted in this country, and the sss HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. assumption of it willi siicli promittitnde was witliout precedent in history. "The capitals of hanks thus associated made an aggregate of one hundred and twenty millions, an amount greater than the Bank of England and the Bank of Prance combined, each of which institutions had been found sufficient for the gigantic struggles of those great nations, from time to time, in conflict with all Eurojie. And this combination, made up of distinct and indej)endent corporations, while it possessed all needed capacity for government work, was free from the ob- jections made to one great financial institution. The following figures also show that its financial condition was one of great strength: Liabilities. Deposits. Circulation. Banks in New York $93,046,308 18.235,061 15,335,838 $8,521,426 6,366.466 2,076,857 $49,733,990 6 G(io 929 Banks in Boston Banks in Philadelphia 6,765,120 $125,617,207 $16,964,749 125,617,207 $142,581,956 against $63,165,039 coin on hand, equal to 45 per cent, of all liabilities. Surely such conditions as these, with judicious administration, were adequate to the work which the country required. A great merit of this bank combination at that critical moment, when the life of the nation hung in the balance, consisted in the fact that it fully committed the hitherto hesitating moneyed capital of the North and East to the supj)ort of the government. The bank officers and directors who thus counseled and consented were deeply sensible of the momentous responsibility which they assumed, Init all doubt and hesitation were instantly re- moved, and perfect unanimity was secured by the question, ' What if we do not unite?'' And, acting as guardians of a great trust exposed to imminent danger, they fearlessly elected the alternative best calculated to protect it. "The problem to be practically resolved by the banks was tliis: How can the available capital be best drawn from the people, and devoted to the support of the government, with the least disturbance to the country? And by what means can arms, clothing and subsistence for the army be best secured in ex- HISTORY OF NEWPORT OonNTY. fi89 change for government credit? These were simple questions of domestic exchange, and most naturally suggested the use of the ordinary methods of bank checks, deposits and transfers, that the experience of all civilized nations had found most efficient for the purpose, and that this should be accomplished by the Associated Banks in a manner best calculated to prolong their useful agency, and to preserve the specie standard, it was indisi)ensable that their coin reserves remain with the least pos- sible change. Accordingly it was at once proposed to the secre- tary that he should suspend the operations of the Sub-Treasury act in respect to these transactions, and following the course of commercial business, that he should draw checks upon some one bank in each city representing the Association, in small sums as required, in disbursing the money thus advanced. By this means his checks would serve the purpose of a circulating medium, continually redeemed, and the exchanges of capital and industry would be best promoted. This was the more im- portant in a period of jjublic agitation when the disbursement of these large sums, exclusively in coin, rendered the reserves of the banks all the more liable to be wasted by hoarding. To the astonishment of the committee, Mi\ Chase refused, notwith- standing the act of Congress of August 5th, which it seemed to us was passed for the very object then presented, but which he declared upon his authority as tihance minister, and from his personal knowledge of its purpose, had no such meaning or in- tent. This issue was discussed from time to time with much zeal, but always with the same result. It was seen by the most experienced bank officers to be vital to the success of their un- dertaking. To draw from the banks in coin the large sums involved in tliese loans, and to transfer them to the treasury, thence to be widely scattered over the country at a moment when war had excited fear and distrust, was to be pulling out continually the foundations upon which the whole structure rested. . . In the light which has since been shed upon the act of Congress referred to, it is evident that undue weight was given to the views of the Secretary, and that the banks would have conferred an incalculable benefit upon the country, had they adhered inflexibly to their own opinions. But the pressure of startling events required prompt decision, and the well known intelligence and patriotism of the Secretary, gave to his judgment overwhelming power. It soon became manifest that 690 IIXSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in consenting to have their hands tied, and their most efficient powers restricted, wliile engaged in these great operations, and in allowing their coin reserves to be wasted by pouring them out upon the community in a manner so unnecessary and excep- tional, tlie banks deprived themselves and the government of the ability of long continuing, as they otherwise could have done, to negotiate the national loans upon a specie standard. " This Hi'st great error, if it did not create a necessity for the legal tender notes, certainly precipitated the adoption of that most unhapin^ expedient, and thereby committed the Nation at an earlier day to the most expensive of all methods of financiering." The vicissitudes of business, ever disintegrating social and family circles, have thrown Mr. Coe far from the place of his birth; and while his business career is principally a part of the financial history of the metropolis, his iiome is at Englewood in New Jersey. WiLJ.iAM King Covell was born in Newport, April 11th, 1802, and was the only child of Ephraim and Abigail (King) Covell. His father was a native of Connecticut and his nujther of Providence. He engaged in the business of boat building which lie f(^llowed till 1880. Tjie Ckanstox Family. — Tiie branch of the Cranston family represented in this sketch is descended from Samuel Cranston, one of the early governors of the province of Rhode Island. Peleg, son of Caleb Cranston, a later representative of the fam- ily, married Elizabeth Young. Their son, Henry Y. Cranston, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, October 9th, 1789. At an early age he learned a trade and at the age of seventeen opened a store at New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he remained sev- eral years. Returning to Newport he engaged in the commis- sion business and conducted it successfully until 1815, when his attention was given to the study of law and his admission to the bar soon followed. Determining to pursue his [)rofession in his native city, heal once acquired a lucrative i)ractice. From 1818 to 1833 he held the office of clerk of the court of ctinimon pleas, was a member of the house of representatives from 1827 to 1843 and served in the same capacity from 1847 to 1854, being fre- qnently clioseu speaker. During the troublous times of 1842 Mr. Cranston was a staunch advocate of law and order. From 1843 to 1847 he was representative in congress, where he was dis- ^^-^S5 ^ "^ niSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 691 tinguished for his " urbanify, infegrity and industry." He was a member and vice-president of the convention which framed the constitution of the state of Rhode Island and presided over a great part of the deliberations of that body. For many years he was moderator of all the town meetings of Newport and one of the most popular colonels of the Ancient and Honorable Ar- tillery of that city. The confidence reposed in him by the com- munity was attested by the various trusts committed to his care. He was essentially a self-made man and in appearance, costume and manner a gentleman of the old school. Mr. Cranston mar- ried, July 15th, 1813, Mary, daughter of Nathan and Catherine Hammett of Newport, who was born August 2d, 1784, and died November 24th, 1857. Tlieir children were: Elizabeth Young, Narcissa Young, William Henry who died in infancy, William Henry whose life is embodied in this sketch, Catherine and Julia Ann, the last named being the only survivor. Mr. Cranston died in Newjiort February 12th, 1864, aged seventy-four years. One of the daily pa])ers of his native place paid tlie following tribute to his memory: " Possessed of great frankness, strict integrity, perfect gentility of manner, ever ready to aid and accommodate all who sought his kindness, he made friends of all who knew him." Robert B. Cranston, one of the three surviving children of Peleg and Elizabeth Young Cranston, was born January 14th, 1792, in Newport, for generations the home of the family, where the whole of his life was passed. After a thorough English ed- ucation, he entered the office of his brother, Henrj' Y., as clerk and served for several years in that ca2)acity. Imbibing here a taste for public life and evincing the strong Whig proclivities of the family, he embarked in ]iolitics. was for successive terms elected sheriff of his county and served as postmaster of New- port. In 1843 he was elected to the state legislature and con- tinued to till that responsible position until 1847, part of the time acting as speaker of the house. Mr. Cranston was in 1839 the representative of his district in congress and continued in office until 1843, when he was succeeded by his brother. He was also favorably known in business circles as cashier of the Traders' Bank of Newport. He enjoyed an extended inlluence as a man of great integritj% of marked force of character and untiring in- dustry. The death of Mr. Cranston occurred January 14th, 1873, on concluding his eightj^-lirst year. 592 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. WrLLiAM Hknky Ckanston, son of Henry Y. and Mary H. Cranston, was born in Newport, March 29th, 1821. After a thorough preparatory course he entered Brown University in 1837, but owing to ill health was unable to complete his course. On leaving tlie university he determined upon the study of law, and entered his father's office, after which he was in due time admitted to the bai'. Literary work proving, however, more congenial, soon after he became associated with George H. Nor- man in the publication of the ^'■Newport Daily Neios,'" which relation extended over a period of sixteen years. He was a vigorous and pleasing writer and a constant contributor to many of the leading journals and periodicals of the day. He was also the author of many poems and lyrics, a volume of which has been recently publislied. Mr. Cranston was a highly cultivated man and wrote with much facility and grace. His diction was pure, and the sentiments embodied in his poems highly moral, and at times replete with pathos. In 1857, having embarked in politics, he was elected mayor of Newport, and in this office manifested so much executive ability and conscientious lidelity to duty as to warrant the peo- ple in choosing him for eight succeeding terms. No better proof of his high character can be given than was afforded by this popular indorsement. Mr. Cranston died on the 10th of October, 1871, deeply regretted by his numerous friends and the public. Lucius D. Davis, the son of Norman and Lavina Davis, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county. New York, January 21st, 1825. His early years were chiefly spent in New Lisbon, Otsego county, in the same state, to which place his parents re- moved. At the age of fifteen, desiring better educational ad- vantages than the district school afforded, he entered the Prank lin Academy at Prattsburgh, New York, as a student, and sub- sequently the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York, for the purpose of fitting himself for college. About this time Mr. Davis united with the Methodist Ei)iscopal church and de- cided to prepare for the work of the ministry. He arranged for entering Dickinson College, but was persuaded by his friends to abandon the purpose and connect himself at once with the conference. This conclusion being reached, he spent a few months at the Giibertville Academy, and in the summer of 1846, when twenty-one years of age, he was received into the Oneida r ■"'% 9r.y9. IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 693 Conference, then holding its sessions at Auburn, New York. Wiiile a member of this conference Mr. Davis occupied some of its most prominent pulpits, spending the allotted time at Hart- wick, New Hartford, Madison, Manlius, Cortland, and at two churches in the city of Utica. During these years he wrote frequently for the press, and was the author of several works, some of which were published anonymously. His " Life in the Itinerancy" and " Life in the Laity " were widely circulated, and though works of fiction in the ordinary sense of the term, exerted a marked influence on ministers and churches, and in effecting reforms where most needed. He iiublished also "Creeds of the Churches," "The Child in Heaven," "History of Methodism in Cortland," and other sketches and pamphlets that were well received. At the close of his pastorate in Utica the physicians advised a change to the seaboard, and in 1859 he was transferred to the Providence Conference, his station being Edgartown, Martha's Vineyaid. Thence he was placed in charge of the parish in Warren, Rhode Island, from which he went to the First Church in Newport. At the close of his i)astorate in the latter place, and at his own request, after twenty years of service, his connection with the conference was severed. Deciding to remain in Newport, I\lr. Davis, in connection with Reverend M. J. Talbot, D. D., purchased the " Newport Bally News'' and engaged in editorial work. About this time he re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts from Wesleyan University. Two years later Doctor Talbot retired from the firm and re- sumed pastoral work, his interest having been purchased by Mr. T. T. Pitman. Under the new management the paper rapidly increased in circulation, and a weekly, known as the '■'• Newport Journal'' was establislied, which met with favor, especially in the country towns. Mr. Davis has fully identified himself with the public interests of Newport He organized the Cliff Cottage Association and built the beautiful summer residence on the cliffs, besides originating the Conanicut Land Com))any, having previously purchased a large tract of land on Conanicut island. This is now known as Conanicut Park, a watering place of growing reputation, from the first under his management. He has twice been elected to the general assembly from New- port, has been chairman of the Newport school board, member of the state board of education, and called to other public po- 594 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. sitions, most of wliich he has declined. Though interested in jwlitics, he has shown no desire for office. He may be termed an independent republican, and is outs[)oken in his abhorrence of politicians who seek merely the loaves and fishes as the chief end of their so-called patriotic action. He continues his inter- est in the church of his early choice, has served in various po- sitions assigned liim, and was in 1876 chosen a lay delegate, representing the New England Southern Conference to the gen- eral conference which met in Baltimore and continued in ses- sion four weeks. Mr. Davis gives considerable attention to agriculture and stock raising, and has wiitten a work, entitleil, "Improving tlie Farm," besides contributing to agricultural papers. In March, 1846, lie was married to Miss ilai-y A., daughter of Elnathan Bennet of Buffalo, New York. They have had four children, three of whom are liviug. One of them is well known as an authoress, under the nom de plume of "Margery Deane," and another is the wife of Fi'ed. Ferry Powers of Washington. The DeBlois Family was originally of French extraction, but emigrated to England about 1135 A. D. Stephen, the founder of the family in this country, came from Oxford, England, (where he was educated), on account of ill health, under the care and charge of Lord Howe about 1750, being then only fifteen years of age. He refused to return to the old country on account of the sickness experienced during his voyage, and finished his education under the care of his uncle at Boston. Arriving at the age of manhood, he came to Newport, where he married and engaged in the importing business from 1777 to 1783, being a partner in a company of five of his own name, viz.: Gilbert and Lewis, of London, England; George C. and George J. of New York. The firm was obliged to dissolve on account of heavy losses, each partner thereafter conducting the business independently. He died February 15th, 1805, leaving two sons, Stephen J. and John, who were natives of Newjiort. The former was born in the year 1784, and married Sarali Ellis, daughter of Silas Deane. He followed his father's business for a num- ber of years, but during the latter part of his life was engaged in manufacturing and wharfage business. He was the father of fourteen children and died March 17th, 1853. George T. Downing was born in New York city, December SOtli, 1819, and was ediicaled in ihe common and private schools t- 9& "lo^in, I viMimi , , inSTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 595 of that city. His fathei', Tiiomas Downing, was engaged in the oyster business on Bi'oad street, where the Drexel building now stands, from 1819 to I860, both in a wholesale and retail way, making shipments to various parts of Europe. George T. married Serena, daughter of Count George de Grasse, who was the adopted son of the French count of that name. After his marriage he removed to Newport, engaging in the confec- tionery and catering business, which he followed till 1884. He was sent to Washington, D. C, in 1865, by a convention of the colored people of the New England States to protect their interest during the reconstruction period of Johnson's adminis- tration, and during the sessions of Congress for the succeeding twelve years had charge of the restaurant of the house of repre- sentatives. He was induced to change his residence from New York to Rhode Island to secure superior educational advan- tages for his children, but found proscription in regard to pub- lic instruction, which he combatted, his efforts finally being crowned with success. He is a large real estate owner in New- port, owning the Downing block on Bellevue avenue, and there is a street in that city named in his honor. He was a large donator to the fund to secure Touro park to the city. He has a family of seven children, three of whom are sons. His pride is centered in increasing the architectural and material beauty and prosperity of Newport, and above all that the efforts of justice and equality in freeing the statute book of Rhode Island from all proscription to race, not stopping at the colored, birt including the adopted United States citizen. William Findlay established his green house business in this city in 1875. He was born in Scotland and came here in 1851. His establishment consists of two rose houses, 80 feet by 26; one peach house, 60 by 26; one plant house, 126 by 12; two rose houses, 126 by 26; and the grape house, 205 by 20, on Bliss road. Mr. Findlay was gardener for sixteen years for the Peru- vian minister, F. L. Barreda, when he owned the place now known as the J. J. Astor place on Bellevue avenue. William Fludder, the founder of the Fludder family in Newport, was born inMetcham, county of Surrey, England, May 2d, 1804, being the second child of John and Jane (Bignall 1 Fludder. He emigrated from his native country on the ship " Brighton" in 1829, and landed in New York, but came to New- port in 1831, where on January 26th of the following year he 38 . . 596 HISTORY OF NEWPORT GOVSTY. married Catharine Slierman Jack. Having served liis appren- ticeship as a mason in the old country, lie engaged in tliat busi- ness and in 1872 establislied tlie present firm of William Flud- der & Co., which in connection with masonry deals in all kinds of drainage supplies. He had a family of nine children, tlie fol- lowing of whom are at present residents of Newport: William H., who married a daughter of Joseph H. Record and has one daugiiter; George M., Alexander J., Edward Y., Sarah J., wife of George H. Vaughan; James, and Rebecca J., wife of David Braman. Thomas Galviin was born on the 23d of February, 1826, near Westminster Bridge, county of Surrey, London, England, where Ills childhood until his eighth year was spent. He then re- moved to county Rosscommon, Ireland. His education was such as could be obtained at the schools near his home and from the necessities of the situation, of a limited character. In 1842, in company with his father, he emigrated to America, a part of the family having already preceded him thither. Father and son remained in the city of New York until 1845, when Mr. Galvin removed to Newport and became the pioneer in a busi- ness which has since reached large proportions, tiiat of Horist. His son Thomas, on the death of his father in 1864, succeeded to the business of which he had i)reviously become master, and whicli under his successful management has been greatly ex- tended. He makes a specialty of landscape gardening, in which his excellent taste is readily made available, and has the exclu- sive charge of many of the most attractive summer residences in Newport. Mr. Galvin was on the 27th of August, 1851, mar- ried to Catharine Mary, daughter of William Kelly of Dublin, Ireland. Their children are: Thomas, James, Patrick, William, Mary Catherine, Catherine Mary, Margaret and Anne. Mrs. Gal- vin died on the 17th of April, 1871, and he was a second time married on the 3d of February, 1883, to Mary Ann, daughter of John Nicholson, of New York. Their children are: John, Joseph and Anne. Mr. Galvin has been thoroughly engrossed by the demands of an increasing business and found no leisure to devote to other enterprises. He is in politics an ardent republican, thoTigh formerly a war democrat. In his religious ])elief a Romanist, he is a member and one of the trustees of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Newport. Mr. Galvin is of both English and Irish extraction. His 'r try 7 1 (1-^ zy a^i tr-i^T^ h cc o a ^ z z w Q < o w z > < o Q u I J < h (/) li) NATHAN HAMMETT. vu-iftTiv^^ \ %\^^>.s■\v^^ / y/i: '/!.„.., HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 597 paternal grandfather, William Galvin, resided in County Ross- common, Ireland, where he married Mary Kelly. Their chil- dren were four sons and five daughters, of whom Tlioma.s, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Mt. Talbot, County Rosscommon. He married Maria, daughter of Jonas Hall, of London, England. Their children are: John, William, Thomas and a daughtei-, INIary Ann, of whom .lolin and Thomas are the only survivors. Georgk Hall was the son of George and Elizabeth (Peck- ham) Hall, and was born in Newport in 1781, and died March 5th, 1862. He was engaged in the tanning business in liis early life. He had a family of nine children. Nathan Hammett and Joseph M. Hammett.— Nathan Ham- mett, the father and grandfather respectively of the subjects of this biography, resided in Newport until his death, which oc- curred Julyl8th,lS16. He married Catherine Yates of Providence, R. I., who died on the 17th of February, 18:57. Tlieir cliildren are: Edward, Nathan, Benjamin (who died in youth), Mary and Mrs. Gould. Nathan, of this number, was born in Newport in 1786, and died on the 14th of March, 1867. He learned the trade of a carpenter and jiarsued it with success in his native town during the greater part of liis active life. He was one of Newport's most enterprising citizens, and identified with many leading business schemes. For forty years he was either presi- dent or director of the Newport Exchange Bank. Though not connected by membership with any religious denomination, he was a regular attendant upon divine service, and a willing con- tributor to many worthy objects. Mr. Hammett married Eliza- beth Mumford, who died December 29th, 1854. Their children are: Joseph M., Frank, Maria M., Susan E., Stephen, Thomas and one who died in infancy. The only survivors of this num- ber are Susan E. (Mrs. D. B. Fitts of Newport), and Joseph M. Joseph M. was born October 3d, 1817, in Newport, and in youth received a common school education, after which he served for four years in the capacity of clerk. Desiring to ac- quire a trade, he chose that of a tailor and spent four years as an apprentice in Providence. On returning to New^iort he es- tablished himself in business, and continued thus employed until his retirement in 1867. He then spent a period of five years with his brother in New Jersey, but returned again to Newport, which has since been his residence. Mr. Hammett 598 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. has led a quiet and imeventfnl life. He has declined frequently proffers of municipal office, and never participated actively in the political combats of his day. He was formerly a director of the National Exchange Bank of Newport, but has for some years given little attention to matters aside from his private business, and for that reason is not identified with the public interests of Newport. Bkn.tamix Hazaud, the son of Thomas G. and Patience (Bor- den) Hazard was born in Newport, November 15rh, 1819. He followed his father's occupation of farming. Carl Jurgens came from New York to Newport in 1873 and established his greenhouse business. The first year he produced about 200,000 lillies of the valley and 50,000 hyacinths and tulii)s. That year he erected four houses on Mill street, 100 by 12 feet each. He has since built three large houses 200 by 23 feet each, understood to be the largest in the state. His build- ings are all heated by the steam system. He visits Europe each year to select stock. In 1887 he produced 900,000 lillies of the valley, which makes him the largest producer in America. He also grew a half million tulips, hyacinths and narcisses. John D. Johnston was born July 27th, 1849. He enjoyed thorough advantages of education, and when a youth removed to Portland, Maine, where he became a student of architecture and building, and also mastered the carpenter's trade. He pursued his vocation in Boston until 1876, when Newport be- came his home. Establishing himself as an architect and builder, the taste and knowledge displayed by Mr. Johnston soon gave him a commanding position and brought him an ex- tended patronage. His efforts are not confined to Newport, his skill being sought in other important cities and popular places of resort. He is also frequently called upon for drawings and designs, and in decorating and designing has an enviable repu- tation. Mr. Johnston as a republican has manifested much in- terest in the success of his party, but is not a politician nor an aspirant for office. He is not a member of anj^ organizations or societies other than that known as the Johnston Relief Fund established by him in the interest of his workmen, now num- bering more than one hundred. Daniel Le Roy, fourth son of the late Herman Le Roy, was born in New York city, June 28th, 1799. His youth of great promise and personal attractions matured into a dignified and ^^ ^^y^i/^^^^^- ^/'^i^ VWVWVKy^ \. ^\\\\Wi-\ X u/it^ujL ellevue avenue, since the site of many of the most elegant houses in the city. Here, with his family, he was accustomed to seek relaxation from care during the summer months. Mr. Rhodes, until a brief period preceding his death, gave personal attention to his extensive business concerns, and mingled daily in the busy affairs of life. His remarkably quiet and unassum- ing manner but rendered more conspicuous his clear mind, his sound judgment and his high sense of commercial honor and personal integrity. Mr. Rhodes repeatedly represented Providence in the general ^^^v 9 -^. ^^L.J^^'^^"^ <: w O IX u. O W u w Q u; U c 606 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. re-elected for the years 1880, 1881 and 1882. In May, 1881, he was unanimously chosen speaker of the house of representa- tives, and re-elected the following year under like circum- stances. In August, 18S2, he was appointed by President Ar- thur one of a board of three commissioners to examine the Northern Pacific railroad. His warm interest in the cause of education influenced his election in 1883 to the Newport school board for three years, and again for the succeeding term. In 1885 Mr. Sanborn was made state senator, and re-elected in 1886, during which time he served as chairman of the committee on finance, and was a member of the State Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners. An enlightened and public spirited citi- zen, he is actively identified with the leading interests of the place of his residence. Mr. Sanborn has held important posi- tions in the Grand Lodge of Masons of Rhode Island, was for two years at the head of the Grand Ciiapter of Royal Arch Masons of the state, and is now an officer in the Grand Com- mandry of Knights Templar of Massachusetts and Rhode Is- land. Mr. Sanl)orn, in 1871, married Miss Isabella M. Higbee of New Hampton, New Hampshire. They have three children. William Paine Sheffield was born in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, August 30th, 1819. His parents were George G. and Eliza Paine Sheffield, both descendants of early settlers of Rhode Island. On the completion of liis academic studies he, in 1844, entered the Harvard Law School, and the same year was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. In 1842 he was a delegate to the "Landholders' Convention," convened for the purpose of framing a new constitution, and the same year was a member of the general assembly, standing firmly for law and order as against " Dorrism." He was returned to the general assembly ■ by New Shoreham in 1843 and 1844, while pursuing his legal studies. Mr. Sheffield began the practice of his profession at Tiverton, where he was brought into intimate friendly and pro- fessional relations with Honorable Job Dnrfee. In 1849 he was again elected to the general assembly as representative from Tiverton, and re-elected in 1851 and 1852. Removing soon after to Newport, where his talents were speedily recognized, he was, in 1857, returned to the general as- sembly by that city. He continued to serve in that body until 1861, when he was chosen a representative to the Thirty-seventh Tl^Uli^^tyU P ^L^L<^£-.^ V'*-\Q-\XV\^ i ^V^ftS^VUA 'fc. HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 607 con. »»-!:i''r-:-A~:.v.H-hi' HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 609 William J. Underwood was born in Newport on the lOtli of October, 1837, and received such an education as was obtain- able at the public schools, after which he was employed on his father's farm'in the suburbs of the city. At the age of sixteen he deterniined'to acquire a trade and choosing that of a mason, served a four years' apprenticeship in Providence. The three succeeding summers were spent in Boston, his native city prov- ing sufficientljr attractive for a winter's sojourn. In 1864 he settled in Newport and established himself two years after as a mason, contractor and builder, which business he has since that time conducted with marked success. Mr. Underwood was married December 25th, 1864, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mary Underwood. In I)olitics the subject of this biography is a staunch democrat, and one of the most prominent representatives of his party in the county. He lias been for seven years a member of the city council and connected with tiie board of health since its organi- zation. He was in April, 1887, elected to the Rhode Island senate from tlie district embracing the city of Newport. He has ever manifested a warm interest in the growth of his native place and contributed in various ways to its advancement. Mr. Underwood is an inliuential Mason and a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 1. of which he is past master. He is past commander of Washington Commandry of Knights Templar, past presiding officer of Van Rensselaer Lodge of Perfection and past commander of the Rhode Island Sovereign Consistory. He is also connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Providence. John G. Weaver is descended from an ancestry that fiom the earliest history of Newport have been identified with its most important interests. His grandfather, Perry Weaver, settled in the town as early as 1740 and for years pursued his trade of hatter. He was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Goddard of Newport, and reared a large family, of whom Ben- jamin Weaver, born in Newport about the year 1780, acquired under his father's instruction the hatter's trade. He married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Briggs, of Newport, and had chil- dren: Josepli, John G., Mary, Catherine and George. Mr. Weaver later in life abandoned mercantile pursuits and retired to the farm, which, since the settlement of the island, has been and is still in the possession of the famil}-, where his death occurred. 610 TIISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. John G. Weavef was born on the 25th of November, 1812, in Newport, where he received a rudimentary education at rhe common schools and maintained tlie traditions of fhe family by learning the trade of a hatter. At the age of twenty-one, his health requirin<^ a less sedentary life, he abandoned his trade and established himself in the livery business in which he is still engaged. He was one of the proprietors of the Provi- dence Mail Stage line and was interested for a period of twelve years in this enterprise. Mr. Weaver's active mind sought a more extended field and in 1848, in connection with a partner, he became the landlord of the Bellevne Housh in Newport, continuing this relation for one season. Desiring greater freedom of action than was possible through a partner- ship arrangement, the following year he built the Ocean House which was under the management of its popular host speedily enlarged, and in 184.5 consumed by fli'e. Nothing daunted, the jjresent spacious and attractive structure rose from its ashes in 1846 and Mr. Weaver has continued its proprietor, his urbanity and uniform courtesy having made the house one of the most in- viting to summer tourists. When Newport was incorporated as a city, Mr. Weaver be- came one of its aldermen and for a period of fifteen years was a member of one or the other of its municipal bodies. Always a staunch whig or a republican in his political faith, he in 1863- 64 represented his district in the state legislature. In his reli- gions belief he is a Unitarian and president of the board of trustees of Channing Memorial church of Newport. Mr. Weaver was in 1832 married to Susan, daughter of Ray and Susan Bliven of Newport. Their children are a son, John Gr. , Jr., as- sociated with his father as one of the proprietors of the Ocean House, Newport, and the Everett House, New York, and two daughters, Susan and Hannah, who survive, and three children deceased: Benjamin, Joseph and Marion Jones. George Peabody WETMoitE, the eldest surviving son of tlie late William Shepard Wetmore, of Newport, Rhode Island, was born in London, England, on the 2d of August, 1846. After a thorough preparatory course he entered Yale University, and was graduated from that institution in the cla^s of 1867. He received the degree of LL.B. from Columbia College in 1869, and that of A.M. from his alma viaterm 1871. He was made presi- dential elector of the state of Rhode Island in 1880 and 1884, il RESIDENCE OF Mr. G. P. WETMORE. Newport. k^iQ-^tn^ V. *\v*^^vi\^ *. ■<. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Cll and a member of the state committee to receive the representa- tives of France on their official visit to the state in 1881. Mr. Wetmore filled the office of governor of Rhode Island from May, 1885, to May, 1887. He is one of the trustees of the Pea- body Museum of Natural History in Yale University. Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, daughter of John David Wolfe and Dorothea Ann Lorillard his wrife, was born in New- York city March 8th, 1828. Miss Wolfe was descended from an old Lutheran family in Saxony, whence her great-grandfather, Jolin David Wolfe, came to this country before the year 1729. He died in 1759, leaving four children, of wlum the eldest was David. David Wolfe lived till near the end of a long life of eighty-eight years in the old family residence on Fair, now Ful- ton street, and this, with other city real estate, has remained in the family to the present time. In the war of the revolution, David Wolfe and his brother Chi-istopher served their country with credit. After the war David and his younger brother John Albert were partners as hardware merchants in New York city, and about 1816 they were succeeded in business bj^ Christopher, son of John Albert, and John David, son of David. John David Wolfe, born Julj!- 24th, 1792, retired from active business in the prime of his life. Thereafter he devoted his large wealth and judicious labors to benevolent purposes, largely in the foundation and encouragement of educational, charitable and religious institutions. He was devoutly attached to the Episcopal church, was for some time vestryman of Trinity parish. New York; afterward vestryman, and at the time of his death, senior warden of Gi"ace church. His memory is perpetuated in many noble institutions, not only in his native city, but in various and remote parts of the country. Miss Wolfe was endowed with a mind of remarkable power, cnltivated by education, reading and extended travel. Her biography cannot be written here. She devoted herself and her large and largely increasing wealth to the widest and most effective charity, governing herself in her gifts by careful ex- amination and calm judgment, where personal investigation could be made, and where that was not possible, displaying her superior ability in the selection of sound and trustworthy ad visers, on whom she relied with confidence. Her catholic dis- position of charities may be gathered fiom the names of a few objects of her larger appropriations, as Union College at 89 612 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Schenectady, St. Luke's hospital in New York, the noble chari- ties at St. Johnland on Long Island, the American chapel at Rome in Italy, the Italian mission in Mulberry street, New York, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Grace church in New York city, towliich she gave the chantry and other buildings, the Wolfe Expedition to Asia, the Home for Incurables at Fordham, the Diocesan House in Lafayette Place, New York — the list must stop abruptly. There is not space to enumerate half of her recorded gifts, in sums varying from twenty to two hundred thousand dollars. But tiiose who should form an estimate of Miss Wolfe's benevolence from the ,mere magnitude and number of her gifts would fail to appre- ciate her inner life and character. Siie was constant and un- failing in personal charities among those who were suffering. She visited the poor, and her presence always carried with it the atmosphere of purity and kindness in which she lived. She educated young girls; she had always large numbers of benefi- ciaries; she sought out opportunities to relieve the poor and those who were in trouble or sorrow. When she was absent in Europe she did not forget home benevolence. A friend tells of her sending to him in New York, from her boat on the Nile, $25,000 in a check, to be distributed in charities. Nor did she, while devoting so much of her life to good works, fail in any degree to fulfill the duties of that position in the social world to which she was called by her wealth and her accomplishments. She recognized those duties, and performed them with grace and dignity as the accomplished liostess in her own house, and the always welcome guest in others. Those who knew her best admired and loved her most. She had from early life cultivated her affection for the fine arts. Her taste was excellent, and lier judgment strengthened by study and very thorough acquaintance with the works of old and modern artists. She had, therefore, great enjoyment in gathering around her, in her city residence, examples of mas- ters in the modern schools, a work which was continued steadily from year to year through her life, and in which she was happy in her reliance for advice and assistance on her kinsman, John Wolfe, Esq., through whom most of her selections were made. Nevertheless, she exercised a completely independent taste, which decided her, after thorough acquaintance with a painting, ^vhether to retain or reject it. ^ HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 613 Miss Wolfe had a constant interest in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to whose collections she had been a lar<^e con- tributor, and of which she was one of the patrons. Her interest in art history had been exhibited shortly before her death by her gift to the American School at Athens, and by her payment of the expenses of an expedition to Asia for the purpose of explor- ation with reference to future work of excavation among the buried remains of ancient art. By her last will she disposed of more than a million dollars in money and objects of art, for the perpetuation of those works of Christian charity and centers of education of the people to which her father and herself had so wisely and faithfully con- tributed. Her gifts to the Museum of Art illustrate the judic- ious consideration which had characterized all her generosity. Taking into consideration, as few have ever done, the fact that in a museum without an endowment, dependent on its members for its current expenses, every new gift entails increased expense on the institution, she not only gave to the museum her collec- tion of paintings, but added an endowment of $200,000, the income to be used for the preservation and increase of the col- lection. The death of Miss Wolfe occurred in New York city on the 4th of April, 1887. CHAPTER XII. TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH. Geogi'aphical and Descriptive. — Settlement. — Dealing With the Indians. — Com- parative Importance. — Admitting Inhabitants. — Rates and Taxes. — Taverns or Ordinaries. — Pulilic Morals. — The Common Lands. — Early Customs and Ceremonies. — Public Improvements. — Early Representatives. — During the Revolution. — After the War. — Town Action. — Means of Communication. — Mining and Manufacturing. THIS township occitiiies the northern part of the island of Rhode Island, originally called Aquidneck. The town was at first called after the Indian name of the locality, Pocas- set. The township covers an area of thirty-three square miles, being about ten miles in length on the longest line that can be stretched across it. which would be a line running from the ex- treme north point of the island southerly to the southeastern point on the Middletown line. The greatest width of the town is in the southern part, where it is about three miles. Cen- trally, the town lies nineteen miles south-southeast from Providence, and eight miles north northeast from Newport, in latitude 41° 35' and longitude 5° 44' west from Washington. The surface of the town is beautifully rolling and hilly, with sufficient elevation to secure a dry and healthy condition of atmosphere. Some of the hills rise to a height of 260 feet, while but a narrow belt of lowland skirts the shores with a less elevation than twenty feet. Some of the prominent elevations are Slate hill, in the southern part, 260 feet; Quaker hill, in the central part, 270 feet; the farm of William M. Manchester, in the southern part, 260 feet; lands of Joseph Coggeshall, Edward Almy and George E. Sisson, 180 feet; hill on the West road, at the junction of Potter's lane, 200 feet; at the junction of Mid- dle road and Mill lane, 260 feet; Butt's hill, 180 feet; on Ben- jamin Hall's land, near Portsmouth grove, 160 feet; and on land near Sandy point, on the east side, 140 feet. The land is clear of trees or forest growth, and beautiful views of the water HISTORY OF NEAVPOHT COUNTY. 615 on either side, the numerous ishinds, the jutting peninsulas, tlie rambling coves and the distant liills of the mainland shores greet the eye from almost every point. In the varied and de- lightful landscapes which its many eminences afford, this town is probably second to no other in the New England states. The soil in the southern part of the town is rich and heavy clay loam. In the northern part it becomes a rich sandy loam. It is everywhere susceptible of tlie highest degree of cultivation, and yields abundant crops. The land is almost entirely under cultivation, the principal products being potatoes, corn, oats, barley, hay, apples, peaches, strawberries, .pears and garden vegetables. From the main central ridge of the island the surface slopes generally in either direction to the shores on the east and west sides. In the northeastern jKirt a rambling cove enters the land, whicii is here low and largely occupied by salt meadows. But few brooks are found in the town. On the west it is bordered by the main channel of Narragalisett bay and on the east by the East passage or Seconnet river. The high lands of the north end of the town command a line view of the elevation of Mount Hojie, with its historic associations, and the beautiful bay of the same name. The western side overlooks the beautiful peninsula of Bristol and the verdant island of Prudence On the eastern slopes the picturesque heights of Tiverton and the ])eaceful undulations of Little Comiiton fill the vision with en- rapturing prospects. Portsmouth has always been pre-eminently an agricultural town. Its people are progressive, though but few marked pub- lic improvements may be noticed. The Old Colony railroad rnns along the low grounds which skirt the western shore, but tiiis, while it cannot be claimed as a local improvement, it may be answered, has been of but little importance in developing the resources of the town. It has stations at Bristol Ferry, Coal Mines and Portsmouth Grove. Besides the stone liridge, with wliich the town is connected with Tiverton, other means of communication are afforded by the steamers of the Fall River and Providence Steamboat Company which touch daily at Bristol Ferry and a row boat ferry across from the same point to the Bristol shore. The coal mines whicii underlie this town have been worked to considerable extent for many decades past. The fisheries 616 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of the adjoining waters constitute a very important source of revenue to many of the inhabitants. These fisheries consist of menhaden, cod, mackerel, lobsters and scallops. Several lights are maintained by the government in tlie neighboring waters. These are, one on Prudence island, John T. Chirke, keeper; another on Muscle Bed Beacon, at Bristol ferry, An- drew T. Smith, keeper; and another near Hog island, Augustus Hall, keeper. The assessed valuation of real estate in this town is §1,509.100; of personal property, $437,800; making a total of $1,946,900. The town finances are well managed, as is abundantly attested by the fact that it has the honor of being one of only seven towns in the state that are entirely free from debt. At what time the people of this town began to give attention to the education of their children is not known, but there is written testimony that as early as 1716 the people, " having considered how excellent an ornament learning is to mankind," made an appropriation for building a school house. This was no doubt the first school house erected by the town at public expense. In 1722 two others were built, the size of one being 25 by 30, and the other 16 by 16 feet. Of their location we have not been informed. The town is now divided into eight school districts. Of these No. 1 is in the southeastern part, at South Portsmouth; No. 2 is in the northern part of that locality; No. 3 is in the middle of the town; No. 4 is on the west side adjoining the Middletown line; No. 5 is at "Newtown;" No. 6 is at Bristol ferry; No. 7 is on Prudence and No. 8 is at the Coal Mines. In conclusion of this descriptive introduction it may be men- tioned that the town comprehends several smaller islands in the adjoining bay. The largest of these is Prudence; others are Patience, Hog, Hope, Dyer's, East Gould and Desjmir islands, besides Tommy's, Sherman's, Spectacle and Hen islands in the cove in the northeastern part of the town. The circumstances and details of the purchase and settlement of the original company of exiles upon the island have been so fully given that they need not be repeated here. Among the first regulations that were made were those decreeing that no inhabitant should be admitted on the island, or allowed to build or plant on it, except by consent of the body of settlers; and one of the first requirements made of those who sought admis- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COTTNTT. 617 sion to such privileges was that they sliould "submitt to the Government that is or shall be establislied, according to the word of God." It was decided that the town should be built at "the Spring," but Mr. Hutchinson was permitted to have six lots laid out for him and his cliildren at the "Great Cove." In order to protect themselves from the possible sudden as- saults of the Indians a specific requirement was made that each inhabitant should always be jirovided with a musket, a pound of powder, twenty bullets, two fathoms of match, also a " Sword and rest and Bandeliers, all completely furnished." Apropos to the general tone of their laws and sentiments, one of the first things established by the settlers was the house of worship. On the 13th day of the third month (May), 1638» they passed the following enactment: "It is ordered that the Meeting House shall be set on the neck of Land that goes over to the Maine of the Island wher Mr. John Coggeshall and Mr. John Sanford shall lay it out." During the same month house lots of five or six acres each were set off to William Coddington, John Clarke, William Dyre, William Hutchinson, Samuel Hutchinson, Mr. Easton (who had recently joined the company), Edward Hutchinson, .Sr., and Edward Hutchinson, Jr., John Sanford, John Coggeshall, Ran- dall Holden, Richard Burden and William Balston. The latter was also authorized to "erect and sett np a howese of enter- tainment for Strangers, and also to brew Beare and to sell wines of strong waters and such necessary provisions as may be use- full in any kind." Thus early, and in this simple manner, was- inaugurated the business of feeding the stranger who might visit the island, a business which, during the two and a half centuries to the present time, has grown to a magnitude of great importance. In the first allotments of land John Coggeshall and John Sanford acted as surveyors, by appointment of the company. Military discipline was essential to the peace and security of the little colony. Train bands were formed at the outset, and William Baulston and Edward Hutchinson were ai^pointed ser- geants, Randall Holden and Henry Bull were corporals, and Samuel Wilbore their clerk. A tax of two shillings per acre was laid upon all who had or should take up land in the plantation, the money so derived to be held by the treasurers api)ointed by the company to meet 618 HISTORY OF NEWPORT OOTTNTY. the common expenses of the colony. William Hutchinson and John Coggeshall were chosen treasnrers for the company during the first year of its existence. The public meetings of the company for the transaction of business pertaining to the common welfare were held, as we have before intimated, at frequent intervals. Attendance upon these meetings was an important duty which attached to citizen- ship. They were sometimes called by beat of the drum and sometimes by personal vocal call, always on short notice. In order to secure prompt attendance an order was made that '"if they fayle one quarter of an houre after the second sound, they shall forfeitt twelve pence; or, if they depart without leave, they are to forfeitt the same summ of twelve pence." The little colony was thus fairly established, but disturbances from without were not the only class of dangers that threat- ened. To provide for internal elements of discord a pair of .stocks and a whipping post were ordered on the 2Uth of August, 1638, to be made "forthwith," at the expense of the public treasury, and three days later it was ordered that "a Howse for a prison, containing twelve foot in length and tenn foote in breadth .and ten foote studd, shall forthwith be built of suf- ficient strength and the charges to be payed out of the Treas- ury." William Brenton was appointed to oversee the work. Nor let it be supposed that the above-mentioned instruments of punishment were to be regarded only as ornamental append- ages. They had not been built a month before seven men, who had been engaged in a drunken riot, were arrested, and in ad- dition to a tine of five siiillings, which was imposed on all alike, three of the principal transgressors were placed in the stocks several hours. ''General meetings" of the inhabitants were held and all matters of public concern or private disjjute were acted upon as by a court of proper jurisdiction. But as the company grew in numbers, it became too bulky to be assembled so frequently as necessity seemed to demand, without considerable inconven- ience to the people, especially on account of the amount of tiieir time which was consumed by the frequency of such meetings. To remedy this difficulty on the 2d of January, 1639, a board of elders was organized, who were to act in conjunction with the judge, in deciding all such matters as had previously come be- fore the assembled people in a body. The actions of this board lIISTOltY OB' NEWPOUT COUNTY. 019 were to be reviewed once every tliree riiontlis by tlie general meeting, and tlieir rules and decisions tlien confirmed or re- versed. The first elders chosen under this plan of jurispru- dence were Nicholas Esson (or Easton), John Coggeshall and Mr. Brenton. Associated with, and as the servants of, the court thus constituted were a sergeant and a constable. These offices were filled by election on the 24th of the same month, their first incumbents, respectively, being Henry Bull and Samuel Wilbore. The little colony now seemed fairly on the road to prosperity. New settlers were frequently admitted during the early years. Pictures of the social condition of that remote time cannot be produced in a degree of perfection which might be desired, but some interesting hints are afforded by the few extracts which are given below from the records of the court referred to: " Richard Maxon, Blacksmith, upon complaints made against him, was accordingly detected for his oppression in the way of his trade, who, being convinced thereof, promised amendment and satisfaction." Blacksmiths in those days were factors in society of much greater importance than they are now considered. They held a monopoly of a branch of work which was a great ne- cessity, and the little colony might suffer from the abuse of the power which they held. It was a very proper function of the court to prevent extortionate charges being made by the black- smith whom the little colony bad encoui-aged to settle and ply his trade in their midst. '• Mr. Aspinwall, being a suspected person for sedition against the state, it was thought meet that a stay of the building of his Bote should be made ; whereupon y'^' workman was forbidden to proceed any further." This may look like an interference with private rights, but the jjrinciple of sacrificing the rights of the few for the good of the many is one which has not even yet been eliminated from the acts of legislative bodies. " It is oidered tliat the Swine that are upon the Island shall be sent away from tlie plantation six miles up into the Island, or unto some Islands adjacent, by the 10th of the 2d, 1639, or else to be shutt up that so tliey may be inoffensive to the Towne." We see thus early the outcropping of the spirit of care for o G20 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. public'cleanliness and order which are to-day among the most prominent characteristics of the city of Newport and the island upon wliich it is bnilt. Farther regulations were made to pre- vent swine running at large in the town, the sergeant was charged with the duty of enforcing it, and a pound was provi- ded for the detention of stray cattle. '' It is ordered that in regard of the many Incursions that the Island is subject unto, and that an Alarum for the securing the place is necessary therefor; it is thought meet for the present that an Alarum be appointed to give notice to all who inhabit the place, that they may forthwith repair and gather together to the Howse of the judge for the defending of the Island or quelling any Insolences that shall be tumultuously raysed within the Plantation. Therefore, the Alarum that we appoynt shall be this. Three Musketts to be discharged distinctly, and a Herauld appointed to goe speedily throw the Towne and crye Alarum, Alarum! Upon which, all are to repaire immediately to the place aforesayed." Up to this time but a single colony or embryo town existed on the island. The suggestions of circumstance and the incli- nation of a number of the settlers favored a division of the col- ony and the improvement of a new plantation toward tlie lower end of the island. Accordingly, on the 28th of April, 1639, William Coddington and eight others established by their vote another colony, to be known as Newport, as more fully appears in the portion of this work devoted to the history of that town. After this action a re-organization of the original colony was effected, by a compact similar in its provisions and tone to that at first entered into. The parties who now bound themselves together into a body politic under the laws of King Charles, whose subjects they declared themselves to be, were the follow- ing: William Hutchinson, Samuel Gorton, Samuel Hutchinson, John Wickes, Richard Maggsen, Thomas Spicer, Johu Roome, John Sloffe, Thomas Beeder, Erasmus Bullocke, Samson Shot- ten, Ralph Earle, Robert Potter, Nathaniel Potter, George Pot- ter, W. T. Havens, George Chare, George Lawton, Anthony Paine, Jobe Hawkins, Richard Awarde, John Mow, Nicholas Brown, William Richardson, Joiin Trippe, Tiiomas Layton, Robert Stainton, John Briggs and James Uavice. A judge was chosen, who, with the aid of a jury of twelve men, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 621 coiistitnted a court- whicli was competent to render final decisions in controversies wlien theamonnt in qnestion did notexceed forty shillings. Qnarterly and annual meetings of the ''Body" were held, to whom appeals in cases of greater valne than forty shillings might be made. Apportionments of land were made, a few acres at a time, to individuals as they desired it. Besides the officers chosen to survey these parcels of land, other officers were chosen as surveyors of highways. This was done at a qnarterly meeting on the first of July, 16B9, and is the first evidence of any attention being given to the definite laying out of highways. The first to hold the office of surveyors of high- ways were Thomas Spicer and Robert Potter. At this time the term "town" began to be used, the word "body" having most generally been applied to the company of settlers in their organized capacity. At this meeting it was also agreed that this town should henceforth be called Portsmouth. Actual settlers and improvements were especially desired at that time. The idea of speculative holding or traffic was promptly and vigorously opposed. House lots were freely granted to those who were admitted to the town, but they were required to build on them within one year, otherwise they were forfeited. The admission of new settlers was acted upon by the town meeting. In 1643 some apprehension arose in regard to the neighboring Indians. The militia regulations ap[)ear to have become some- what lax, and the town passed orders requiring firearms to be put in order, every man to provide himself with four pounds of shot and two pounds of powder, and to be in readiness to turn out at the beat of the drum. A watch was also maintained at night, and every man was required to come armed to meeting on the Sabbath. Vigil and attention was paid to the enforce- ment of these requirements; and it was further ordered that if any skulking Indians should be found about the island acting suspiciously, the magistrates should send a man to arrest them. Wolves were numerous, and the settlers suffered much from their depredations. Efforts were made to exterminate them by catching them in traps. The firing of guns at deer in the woods made them shy, and in order to prevent their being thus frightened away from the traps this town concurred with New- port in an order jirohibiting shooting deer from the first of May 622 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. to the tirst of November, under a penal t\' of live pounds. At the same time a premium of five pounds Avas offered for every wolf killed on the island, Newport paying four i)ound.s and Portsmouth paying one i)ound. This was in 1046. The Indian name of tlie locality was Pocasset, and by this name the town was at first called, until the name Portsnioutli was adopted, as has already been stated. The name Pocasset was also applied by the Indians to the land on the Tiverton side, as well as to the channel of water which runs between. The first settlement was made near the head of the cove, on the northeastern part of the island. The outlet of this cove was then deep enough for the passage of vessels of moderate size. The filling of the mouth of this cove by the action of the tide currents upon the shore made navigation difficult and finally imj^ossible for the class of vessels which tli,e people de- sired to use, so the original site of the settlement was soon exchanged for a more eligible one a little farther down the eastern shore of the island. To the new site the name Newtown was given, and by this it is still locally known. In 1728 a sur- vey of the plot of Newtown was made and a map of the same caiefully drawn upon parchment. This original map is still preserved in the archives of the town. We have already spoken of the formation of tlie town of Portsmouth as a new organization after the withdrawal of the company who founded Newport. The record of this reorgani- zation is still in existence, and its value as a curious and inter- esting document must warrant us in quoting it entire. On the first legible page of the oldest book in the town clerk's office it is written. The page, like many others wliich follow it, is tattered and worn by the handling of two and a. half cen- turies, but the characters in jet black inlv stand out witii as clear cut distinctness as though they had been recently written. Part of the heading is gone, and a few of the missing words are supplied, as the words that remain sufficiently indicate what the others should be. "A prill 30. 1030. " Wee whose names are under signed do admit our selves the Iriyall subjects of His Majestic King Charles, and in his name we doe bind our selves into a civill body politick agreeable unto his lawes according to all matters of justice. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 623 " WiLLM Hutchinson George Potter Samuell Gorton W. Heavens Samuell Hutchinson George Chare John Wickes George Lawton RiCHARDE MaGGSON AnTHONY PaINE Thomas Spiser Jobe Haukin William Aspinnall Richard Award WiLLM Haule John Mow John Roome Nicholas Brownes John Slosse William Richardson Thomas Boddar John Tkippe Erasmus Bullocke Thomas Layton Sampson Shotten Robert Stainton Ralph Earle John Brigoes Robert Potter James Davice." In the original the names of William Aspinnall and Willm Haule have a line drawn through them. Although the people of this town had many grave appre- hensions of trouble from the Indians on account of the unwise action of others toward the natives, yet they never experienced the serious hostility of the Indians which they often feared. It may be that the iirecantions which resulted from their fears had something to do with their escape from downright assault or annoying intrusions from the red men. It is true that the Indians were for many yea^s an almost constant source of anxiety and a subject of vigilance on the part of the settlers. In 1656 the following record was made in regard to them: "At a towne meetinge of the inhabitants of Portsmouth June ye third, 1656, it is ordered that no p'son or persons in this towne of Portsmouth nor any that shall come amongst us shall sell any liquors strong beer or any wines to any Indian diretly nor indirectly with in the bounds of this towne and any pson or i)sons that shall offend in this case shall forfeit three poundes for every default one thirde shalbe to him that finde it out and atliird to the constable and his aide and a third to the town tresurv. "It is also ordered that it shalbe lawfull for any pson or psons of the inlial)itants of this towne if they mete any Indian within the bounds of this towne with any of the aforesayd pro- hibited liquors stronge beer or wines to take it from them and to call ayde if neede bee and they that take from the Indians 624 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNT f. any such liquors, beer or wines within the bounds of this towne shall have it for ther paynes." The i-ecords of the town show but few entries that, like the above, depict the popular sentiment with regard to the Indian. There are, however, enough to give a clue to the situation. Other abstracts will he made in connection with topics to which they belong. In 1659 the court of commissioners ordered that the articles of agreement made between this colony and the Narragansett Chief Sachem Quissuckquoanch at a general court May 28th, 1650, should be recorded in the general records, and the original committed to the keeping of the president of the colony. It is interesting to note the comparative importance of this town in the colony during the early years of its existence. Pej'- haps no more accurate index of this can be found than is seen in the quota of contrll)utions of the different towns toward the expenses of their agent, Mr. John Clarke, at the court of Eng- land. In 1661 the quotas of the different towns for that pur- pose were : Newport, £85; Providence, £40; Portsmouth, £40; and Warwick, £'S5. In the same year the colony had to raise £300 to send the submission of the ISTarragansett Indians to the king of England. Of this the proportion of Portsmouth was £60, or one-fifth of the whole amount. An additional sum for the expenses of the agent was raised in 1662, in which the proportion of Portsmouth was the same as that of Providence. And in about the same proportion it stood for many years. In October, 1662, £106 more was raised for the expenses of Mr. Clarke to England. At this time the four towns which composed the colony were taxed for the pur- pose as follows: Newport, £47, 10s.; Providence, £20, 12s.; Portsmouth, £20, 12s.; Warwick, £17, 6s. A year later £100 was to be raised and sent to England for Mr. Clarke, "certaintly by the first shipe that goes," as the record says. In this the proportion of Portsmouth was £17, 10s., the same as that of Providence. We have before intimated that the settlers were very jealous of the introduction of unsuitable persons to their society. They were also watchful to prevent any undesirable persons from re- maining among them temporarily to such a length of time as to become chargeable to them as paupers. By such constant vig- ilance in these matters the purity of society was preserved and HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 625 a community established which was composed, as the language of commerce would put it, of carefully selected materials. It will be interesting to notice some of the measures adopted for this purpose. In the town meetings, which were frequently held, candidates for the privilege of inhabitants or "sojourners" were received and disposed of. At a town meeting in 1654 " John Brant and Jerimia Vreland voated not to abide in this towne any longer than 6 weeks, and to forfeit 5 pound for every month that he or either of them shall stay longer than the 6 weeks allowed— without the apro- bation of the towne." On the same date it was also ordered " that no inhabitant shall entertaine any sojorner above one month without the aprobation of the towne, upon the penaltie of the forfeiture of five pounds for every month so offending, and the magistrate of the towne to give licence untill a towne mee tinge bee." August 27th, 1666, the following action was taken in town meeting: — "Voted that two of ye Neighbors are to goe to William Cad- man and siguilie unto him that there is a towne law made in ye yeare 1054 which doth forbid any inhabitant to Receve or En- tertaine any suggenor or strainger above one month without the aprobation or consent of the inhabitants of this towne upon the penualty of ye forfeiture of 5 pound for Every month so oifend- inge; and that the said Neighbors are here by Authorized to forewarne William Cadman that he Entertaine no longer in his honse one William Maze then the said month, William flail and William Wodell are ye men chosen who are to have there order under the towne Clark's hand, and to bring his Answer to ye majestrats of this towne forth with." Overseers of the poor were, about 1675 to 1680, charged with the additional duty of looking out for any strangers that might be in the town. The entry which frequently follows the record of their election continues — "also to take care that the strangers be not entertain in this towne but according to order." June 7th, 1680, the town voted as follows: — "Richard Knight a weaver, is permitted to sojourne in this towne upon his good behavour untill the last day of October next Ensueing the date hereof, and then the towne councell hath power to 7nove him ov continue him until the next towns meet- ing as they see cause." 626 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The freemen of Portsmouth in the year 1655 were as foHows: John Anthonie, John Alsberre, William Almy, John Archer, Richard Burden, Thomas Brooks, Nathaniel Browninge, Wil- liam Brenton, William Baulston, Francis Braiton, Nicholas Browne, John Briggs, James Badcock, Thomas Brownell, Thomas Burden, Francis Burden, William Baker, Thomas Cor- nell, Sr., Ralph Cowland, Thomas Cooke, Sr., Thomas Cooke, Jr., John Cranston, Gregorie Cole, John Cooke, Ralph Earle, Edward Fisher, Thomas Fish, John Ford, William Freeborne, Thomas Gorton, Thomas Gennings, Math: Greenell, Thomas Hazard, Richard Hawkins, William Hall, Samuel Jlutchiuson. William Havens, Robert Hazard, William James, Thomas Lai- ton, John Mott, Adam Mott, Sr., Adam Mott, Jr., John Mason, Richard Morris, William Morris, Jonathan Mott, Samuel Gen- nings, John Porter, George Parker, Arthur Paine, John Roome, Philip Sherman, Giles Slocum, John Sanford, James Sandes, Richard Sussell, John Sanl'ord, Jr., John Tripp, John Tift, Fred. Sheffield, Samuel Wilbore, Sr., Samuel Willson, Samuel Wilbore, Jr.. Thomas Warde, William Woodhill, James Weed- en, Sr., Robert , Henrie , Phliip Taber. The last name is on the list, though he appears not to have been admitted until 1656. The importance of the town of Portsmouth has already been shown by comparison. The examples quoted were special. We will add here another one, this one being taken from the regu- lar, settled schedule for ordinary purposes. In" 1675 the rate levied on the island was was for £4t)(). Of this the proportion of Portsmouth was £120. Taxes were levied on the people according to their property, but the committee appointed to apportion the taxes on the individual inhabitants found great difficulty arising from the absence of any well defined standards of valuation to apply to the matters in hand. To obviate somewhat this difficulty the people in town meeting, February 21st, 1680, set some ar- bitrary valuations on ratable property, as follows : Land, ratable, per acre, 40 shillings. Horses, above 1 year old, each 40 shillings. Cattle, above 1 year old, each 40 shillings. Swine, above 1 year old, each, 6 shillings. Sheep and lambs, each 4 shillings. All persons were required to give in to the officers called HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 627 " rate makers" a true account of all their ratable estate, and if they neglected or refused lo do so, or gave in a false account, a 'fine of 20 shillings was prescribed as a penalty for each offense. In 1695 the following valuations on ratable personal property were iixed by the assembly : Oxen, 4 years old and upward, each 3 pence. Steers, 3 years old and upward, each 2 pence. Cows, of all ages, each 2 pence. Cattle, 2 years old, each 1 penny. Cattle, 1 year old, each i penny. Sheep, 1 year old and upwai'd, per score, 5 pence. Swine, 1 year old and upward, each ^ penny. Horses and mares, above 3 years old, each 3 pence. Horses and mares, 2 years old, each 1 penny. Horses and mares, 1 year old, each ^ pence. Negro servants, men, each 1 shilling, 8 pence. Negro servants, women, each 10 pence. Houses of entertainment were among the early needs of the town. But the body corporate preserved a vigilant oversight lest the matter of keejMng such houses should become subject to abuse. In 1655 the general assembly ordered that two houses of entertainment should be kept in each town and in or- der "for ye certaintie of such houses of entertainment" the court should appoint two persons in each town to keep them. Such persons were required " to cause to be sett out a conven- ient signe at ye most perspicuous place of ye saide house, there- by to give notice to strangers that it is a house of publick en- tertainment; and this to be done with all convenient speede." The persons then appointed to keep such houses in this town were Ralph Earle and John Anthonie. Ordinaries,or houses of entertainment, were afterward licensed by the town. In 1675 five such licenses were granted. These were to Francis Brayton, William Correy, John Bor- den, Thomas Durfee, and Widow Mary Tripj). Licenses were granted on giving bonds and the payment of a fee of ten shil- lings, and they ran for a term of one year. The limit of the price of rum was fixed by the town at two pence a gill. The precautions that were taken to secnre the most desirable society were not sufficient to prevent disorderly persons from dwelling among the settlers. The drinking customs which have been hinted at in the preceding paragraph gave rise then, a^ 40 628 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. well as now, to frequent disturbances of the peace. Tlie drink- ing customs were tolerated, and as a consequence means had to be used to suppress and punish the results. The necessity be- came so great that in town meeting, August 1st, 1654, it was ordered that a rate be levied "for the buildinge of a prison in this towne."' The stocks and whipping post had already been established. Marriage relations were frequently disturbed, and such disturb- ances gave rise to much business, which was referred to the general court. Cases of adultery, fornication, divorce and fam- ily jars were frequent. One case is of such peculiar interest that we are justified in giving it at some length. May 3d, 1665, Peter Tallnian complained to the assembly of his wife commit- ting adultery, and she, being brought before the assembly, con- fessed the same. A divorce was accordingly granted him, and the following sentence was jiassed upon the criminal: "Upon all which the Court doe adjudge the said Ann Toll- man to receive the penalty that the law hath provided for such an offense; that is, whipping and fine, according to the law made May 22, 1655; which law doth determine that the person con- victed of adultery, if living on the Island, shall be whipt at Portsmouth, receiving hfteene stripes; and after a week respite, to be whipt at Newport, receiving hfteene stripes; and to pay a line of ten pound to the Generall Treasurer." The sentence still further specified that she should receive the iirst punishment at Portsmouth on Monday, the22d of May, and the second at Newport on the Monday following, in the meantime to remain in prison. She petitioned the court for mercy, but the assembly, after still further examining her case, declared " that they see noe cause to reverse the sentance for- merly gone forth against her." But she watched her opportunity, and before the time for executing her sentence came round she escaped from the prison and lied beyond the bounds of the col- ony. Two years later she ventured to returu, but the former sentence was not outlawed nor forgotten, and the assembly, on the 1st of May, 1667, issued a general warrant to any constable forthwith to arrest her and bring her before that body. Anthony Emery, a constable of the town of Portsmoutli, succeeded in apprehending the said "Ann Tolman " and bringing her before the assembly, which body then ordered that the officer should be supplied with " necessary provisions and drink," and also be HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 629 " payed for his paines and travill therein," at the public ex- pense. The lapse of two years had somewhat softened the de- termination of the assembly to allow the law to be fully vindi- cated upon the culprit, and now the sentence is modified to the following form: "The Court doe agree and order, that one halfe of her punishment shall be remitted, soe that she shall be but once whipt with fifteene stripes, at the towne of Newport; and this sentence to be exicuted at thediscression andappojnitment of the Governor and Councill; and the line she was then fyned is wholly remitted." The record of the transaction here ceases, and it has not been learned whether this modified sentence was ever executed or not. It was not easy to enforce prohibitory laws then, any more than it is now. The town meeting in March, 1672, voted: " Whereas complaint is made to this meeting of great abuse and molestation to the inhabitants of this town by the Indians drunkenness which is much occasioned by the frequent prac- tices of sevei'al persons who are not licensed to sell strong drink to the Indians whereby the peace and quiet of many is much disturbed, and for the preventing the said abuses within this township it is ordered that for the future no jierson within this town shall sell directly nor indirectlj^ any strong drink as liquors, syder, wine or strong beer unto any Indian or English by retail but only such who are or shall be licensed thereto by the town: and if any shall be found transgressing this order upon complaint made and jirobation thereon by any person or per- sons unto the majestratesor majestrate in this town the ott'end- ing person shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings to the town treasury for each defect herein; and if any person as aforesaid do not forthwith pay the said penalty it shall be taken by distraint out of the estate of the offending person by warrant to the constable under the hand of the magestrates or magestrate." The stocks belonging to the town had become unsuitable for use, and January 11th, 17G8, it was voted, '"That Joseph Thomas Jun'r Make or Repair a pair of Stocks for this town, and to be paid out of This Town's Treasury." The great bulk of land belonging to the town was for many years preserved in a body and held in common, being mainly used for pasturage and the production of timber. Small parcels were granted to individuals for home lots and for cultivation. 630 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTS'. After dividing in this way and apportioning to individuals as they desired, small parcels from time to time for many j^ears, a general distribution was planned in 1674, and a competent sur- veyor, Major John Albro, was directed with the assistance of George Brownell, William Wodell and George Sisson to make an equitable survey of all such lands. These latids lay princi- j)ally in the south part of the town. Swine were found to be troublesome, running at large on the common land at unseasonable times. It 1682 it was voted "that if any swine be found on this Town's common which are above a quarter of a yere old between the midle of March next and the middl of June next after the owner hath sufficient warning and doth not take some spedy cours with them any free man hath libertie to kill them swine." Abuses of this kind, how- ever, continued and grew worse, until a decided action was taken by this town. This was brought about in response to the fol- lowing petition: " Wee whose names are here under written are free inhab- itants and freeholders of the town of Portsmouth, and seeing dayly many ereguler and dist)rderly actions by bass 111 minded persons in this Town, by tfencing andTakeing in our comonsor undivided lands contrary to order. They having no Right so to doe, also by turning or puting on many disorderly horse Kind on said comons, contrary to a fformer or-der made in this Town, against it, as also some giveing Libertie to fforiners not Inhab- itants in said Town to bring and turn on horses and sheep to Eate and devoure our grass to the great wrong of our ffree- holders: And also hog Island is flPuU stocked with sheep, horses and other catle, chiefly by those persons as hath very little if any Right there: to the great damage of this townes Rams the grass being devoured before the time of putting Rams there, which bass actions is a great damage to the more orderly and honestly minded free Inhabitants and also for suffering all swine to goe unyoaked and unringed which doe great damage by Rooting up and distroying the ffood to the great damage of all the Inhabitants of all which abovesaid ereguler and disorderly actions, wee doe Joyntly and unanimosly make this our just complaint unto Capt. Joseph Sheffield and Mr. Benjamin Hall, Assistants desireing them with all convenient speed to call a Town meeting of all the ffreeinhabitants in said town and when convened together to consider of some good method for the IIISTOUY OF NKWPOIJT COUNTY. 631 Regulation ol" the above said disorders by making and provid- ing such and so many good and lawful! acts and orders as may bee for the prevention of all such 111 minded persons and ffor the flfntnre good and benititt of all the honest and well minded ffree Inhabitants in said towne. June 7th, 1701. " Daniel Lawtojst Giles Slocum Abraham Anthony " George Brownell John Sanford • John Borden Thomas Manchester John Anthony John Manchester George Sisson William Corie Caleu Arnold William Arnold John Ward William Potter Joseph Cook Isaac Lawton " The town meeting was called on the IStli of June, and a plan adopted for the correction of the abuses mentit)ned. This plan employed Captain Joseph Sheffield as an attorney to sue all who had illegally enclosed common lands, and reclaim such lands; and it inaugurated the office of field drivers, two of whom should be chosen annually to range the commons every month, and see that all horses were fettered and hoppled, and that no freeholder should turn but one horse on the commons. All horses found not coniplying with these provisions were im- pounded, and their owners charged a fee of one shilling and four pence on each. The field drivers were also to impound all sheep found not belonging to freeholders, and Hog island shonld be exclusively appropriated to the pasturage of the rams belonging to the town. Also, it was decreed that all swine found on the commons without yokes and rings should be im- pounded and held for a fee of four pence each. John Cogge- sliall, Jr., and George Cornell were chosen field drivers. Stringent measures were taken to preserve the timber grow- ing on the common land, which appears to have been frequently the subject of waste and useless destruction. In April, 1667, this abuse had become so flagrant as to call forth the action of the town. A committee of seven men was ai)i)ointed to look after the matter, and mature a plan of protection of the lights of the town and preservation of the timl)er. In October, lC)7r), the town granted to Hugh Cole the privi- lege of using such trees as he might find fallen by the wind, with which to build a small frame house, and also to use for 632 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the purpose .of making wheels for the townsmen, his occupa- tion evidently being that of a wheelwright. It was also voted at the same time that all green trees on the common lands that should fall should be carried away and used, not left on the ground longer than a month, the trunk to be used for timber, and the toj) to be trimmed out for firewood. In June, 1680, the town voted that no Indian should be allowed to cut any wood on the common lands on the* " first day of the week," nor in the night time. Any freeman finding Indians violating this order was authorized to seize the wood and have it for his own use. The freemen were in the habit of turning their cattle on the commons to pasture. Where large numbers of animals l)elong- ing to different owners were thus herded together, it was neces- sary that some distinguishing mark should be used by which every man could identify his own property. This was done by means of ear marks. On the tattered leaves of the ancient book of records, almost effaced beyond recognition, are the early entries of this curious and now obsolete class of records. They are numerous. Each man turning cattle on the commons was required to adopt some peculiar combination of marks as his "ear mark," which was to be registered in the town book, and the same mark cut in the ears of his cattle. Among the earliest that can now lie read are the following, which are given as specimens of their class: "The eare marke of Lefftenant Albro is a crope one ye Right Eare about the midle of ye Eare & a slitt downe from ye crope to ye Rout of ye same Eare and a liapeny one the fore side of ye left Eare of nere upon 80 yeares standinge and entered upon Record the 30th of november 1667 by me Richard Bulgar towne Clarke." "The Earemarke of Mr. Calleb Arnold his Cattell is a holl in Each Eare of 3 yeres standinge and entred upon Record the 80th of November 16G7 by me Richard Bulgar towne Clarke." "The Eare Marke of the Cattell of Daniell Lawtons Cattle is two Nicks behinde the left Eare and one Nick one the fore side of ye Right Eare of 4 yeares standinge and is entred upon Rec- ord this 16th of Janauery 1667 by me Richard Bulgar towne Clarke." The customs of early times give a more or less clear picture of the character and sentiments of the people. Some of the HISTORY OF WEWPORT COUNTY. 633 most curious, interesting and instructive will be noticed here. And in treating this subject perhaps no clearer idea can be given of the manner in which the young town did its busi- ness than to copy in full the record of one or two of its meetings. "At a meetinge of ye freeinhabitants Janawery y© 5th, 1666, Mr. William Baulston wos chosen Moderator for that day. The General Courte orders published that day. John Pearce admitted that day a freeinhabitant of this towne. Mr. Smitten wos that day Receved as a suggener into this towne nntell furtlier order. Leflftenant John Albro presented a bill of debt about worke done at ye fort. Richard Bulgar pre- sented a bill of 30 shill wt wos aproved and past by the voat of ye towne." "At a Meetinge of ye freeinhabitants of the towne of Ports- mouth Aprill ye 23d, 1667. "Mr. William Baulston cho.sen moderator for ye day. The Generall Sargants worrant Reed in that assembly. Deputies chosen for searves in ye Generall assembly, 1 Mr. John Gard, 2 Mr. William Wodell, 3 Mr. William Hall, 4 Mr. Robert Hazard. Grand Jurymen, 1 Adam Mott, 2 Giddion Freeborn, 3 William Corry. Petty Jurymen, 1 William Cadman, 2 Dan- ille Greenell, 3 Thomas fBsh. "Voted that Mr. John Sanford, William Wodell, Lefftenant John Albro, Thomas Cooke, Senyor, John Tripp, Senyor, Mr. William Almy, William Hall, which seven and others that these 7 men may advise with are to consider of a way to pre- vent the destruction of wood and timber in the comons of this lowneship and to Ripen a way of Redres and to present there thoughts to ye next towne meetinge. "ffinis." "At a Meeting of ye ffreeinhabittants of ye towne of Ports- mouth Jun ye 3d 1G67. "Mr. William Baulston was chosen moderator for that day. Richard Bulgar was that day chosen towne Clarke for the yeare inshuinge and ingaged. The toAvne Counsell chosen for ye yeare inshuinge Mr. William Baulston, Capt. John Sanford, Lefif. John Albro, Mr. William Wodell. :\[r. R()l)art Hazard, Mr. Samuell Wilber. Ingaged all. Constables chosen John 6;}4 inSTOKY OK NKWPOld" OOUNTV. Brings ScMiyor, cliosuii I'oi' y<' ywire & iii;j,:ig('il, [•"'niiiccs IJiiiitoii ;iulslon majes(ral(! of (he said (own they being m:irried aecording lo law. This IIISIOltY OK NKWJ'OltT COUNTY. 636 li(»in, D J W Z E u >• H H o 00 a, < Q < < o HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUKTY. 683 " As our meeting house luith at this time a number of sol- diers in it renders it inconvenient to proceed to business, there- fore tliis meeting is adjourned to the breaking up of tlie meet- ing for worship at Newport next Hth day." The Friends addressed a memorial 1 mo., 2, 1777, to Lieut. General Henry Clinton, then in command of the British forces, asking for protection. The record, 8 mo., 25, 1778, speaks of communication between Newport and Portsmouth Friends being "obstructed." On the 9tli of tlie 9th month the meeting was very small, on account of the " difficulties remaining." Jacob Mott, who died 1 mo., 24. 1779, was not l)uried at the Friends' burying ground because it and the house were "occupied by a number of German troops." Tradition states that the American troops also occupied the house at one time. This was doubtless true when Sullivan and liis army vs^ere upon the island just before the memorable battle of August, 1788. The Friends' yearly meeting boarding school was founded at this house November Stli, 1784. It was reopened at Providence January 1st, 1819. To this school each monthly meeting of the yearly meeting was entitled to send one " charity scholar." The centennial of the founding of this school was celebrated three years ago in Providence, at which time photographs of the ex- terior and interior of the old meeting house here were taken. The present officers and ministers of the Rhode Island monthly meeting are as follows: Clerk, Joseph E. Macomber; recorder and corresxiondent, Isaac B. Macomber ; overseers, William H. Beale, Ruth Wetherell, Joseph S. Anthony and William Weaver, of Newport, and Lydia K. Chase, Margaret Sherman, Charles E. Boyd and Isaac B. Macomber, of Portsmouth; re- corded ministers, William Jacob, Annabella E. Winn, Thomas B. Buffum and Mary Alice Gifford, of Newport, and Abner Potter, Jr., of Portsmouth. The present membership of the monthly meeting is one hundred and forty-seven, of which about seventy belong to Portsmouth. The Rev. Jesse Lee was the first Methodist preacher that traveled in New England. He preached in Newport June 30th, 1790, and at Bristol July 2d of the same year. In 1791 there was occasional preaching. The Providence circuit, established that year, comprehended nearly all the towns on the Narra- gansett bay, and the Rev. Lemuel Smith was placed in charge. It is supposed that Portsmouth was a station on this circuit as 684 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. early as 1792, and that a class was formed in 1793, when the circuit was being traveled by Rev. E. Mudge. The inhabitants were in great need of a house in which to hold religious services, and after a while subscriptions were obtained for the purchase of a house which had been raised and partly finished for other purposes. They then appointed six men to take the deed for the property and hold it as trustees for the subscribers. The house was linished and used for a meeting house. It was soon found to be too-small, and in 1806 it was enlarged and made more convenient. It was again re[)aired in 1834. Among the first members of the society in this town were Matthew Cook and Mary his wife, John Earle and Deborali his wife, Peter Barker and his wife, John Anthony, an exhorter and class leader, Nathan Brownell, and a colored woman by the name of Violet, who belonged to the family of Matthew Cook. Mr. Cook lived in the old ferry house which stood a little east of the present house. This humble dwelling, which was consecrated by the prayers and labors of such men as Bishop Asbury, Jesse Lee, John Chalmers. Zadoc Priest, Daniel Ostrander, John Broadhead and George Rich, all of blessed memory, was afterward removed to the road leading to the stone bridge. It is a small, one-story, gambrel-roofed house of the style of the revolutionary period, entirely unpretentious in appeai'ance, but rich in historic associations and honored above its fellows as the cradle of Methodism in Portsmouth. The first house of worship owned l)y the members, of which mention has been made, occupied a lot on the turnpike nearly opposite the cemetery, and was fitted in the interior with gal- leries on three sides. This humble temple served the purposes of the society for forty-two years. In 1825 this church was joined with Little Compton in one circuit. An intei'esting and iirofitable revival occurred during the labors of two brothers. Reverends Newell S. and Nathan B. Spaulding. A flourishing class then existed on Prudence island, which had probably been formed by Reverend Joel McKee as early as the year 1823, at which time a great revival had s])read over the town. This class has long since become extinct. Another class was at one time in existence at Stone Bridge, and a weekly lecture was sustained there. In 1800 the whole society numbered fifty-four members. In 1838 a new board of trustees was elected according to the HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 686 discipline ol' tlie ^fethodist F4iiscopal clnirch. They were: Oliver Browiiell, Jonathan Tallmau, William E. Cook, John B. Cook, John Tallman, Joseph B. Corey, Benjamin Tall- man, John S. Brownell and Barzilla Pish. They decided to erect a new honse of worship and appointed a building com- mittee consisting of Reverend Jonathan Cady, John B. Cook and William E. Cook. They purchased the present lot of Haw- kins Greene for $120.50, the deed being dated September 13th, 1838. The frame was raised October 9th, and the completed house was dedicated on the 25th of December following. The house is very conveniently .situated, facing the east, is furnished with a tower and bell and cost $2,020. Besides the revivals already noticed, others occurred in 1829, 1843, 1853, 1857 and 1858. The membership in 1809 was seventy-seven; in 1840 it was forty-seven; in 1850 it was lifty; in 1855 it was seventy-two; in 1870 it was fifty-seven, and in 1887 it was eighty in full membership and seventeen probationers. In 1871 some improvements were made on the church, and about $500 were spent in wiping out the debt, leaving the church free from a burden which had rested on it for more than thirty years. A ladies' benevolent society was organized that year, and has done efficient service. Through their efforts in the year 1875 a parsonage was purchased at a cost of $1,400. The society was incorporated under the state law in May, 1871. The present value of the church building is estimated at$3,000, and that of the parsonage $1,700. A Sunday school numbering one hundred and twenty-five is connected with the church. Previous to the year 1806 the church was a part of a large cir- cuit, which was " ridden" by a number of ministers, who fol- lowed each other around it. Since the date mentioned the chuich has been either a charge by itself or a station on a much smaller circuit. The ministers serving it from that time to the present have been: 1806, Levi Walker ; 1807, Joshua Crowell ; ]8()8-9, Levi Walker; 1810-11, Nehemiah Coye; 1812, Asa Kent and E. Wilie; 1813, Benjamin F. Lambord; 1814, Edward Hyde and William Marsh; 1815, Benjamin R. Hoyt and Jason Wal- ker; 1816-17, John Lindsey; 1818-19, Nathan Payne; 1820. Daniel Dorchester; 1821, Isaac Stoddard; 1822, the same and J. W. Case; 1823, Daniel Webb and Milton French; 1824, Joel McKee; ]825, Newell S. and Nathan Spaulding; 1826, David Cul- ver and Ashabal Otis; 1827-8, Reuben Ransom; 1829, John W. 686 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTT. Case and William Livesey ; 1830, Thomas W. Tucker and Samuel Heath; 1831, Onesiphorus Robbins; 1832, ; 1833, Geo. W. Winchester; 1834, ; 1835, J. G. Standish, a few weeks; 1836, Josiah Litch; 1837, Proctor Marsh; 1838-9, Jonathan Cady; 1840, Chester W. Turner; 1841, ; 1842, Charles Noble; 1843, George M. Carpenter; 1844, Ebenezer Blake; 1845, George W. Wooding; 1846, William Cone; 1847, George Burnham; 1848, Lawton Cady; 1849-50, Nathan Paine; 1851-2, J. B. Weeks; 1853, Charles Hammond and George C. Bancroft; 1854, George C. Bancroft ; 1855, Asa N. Bodfish ; 1856, Henry Mayo; 1857, Silas S. Cummings; 1858-9, Caleb M. Alvord; 1860, George M. Hamlen; 1861, Henry H. Smith; 1862, S. W. Coggeshall ; 1863, T. B. Gurney ; 1864, C. M. Alvord ; 1865, S. Y. Wallace; 1866-7, John E. Gilford; 1868, Wm. O. Cady; 1869, Paul Townsend; 1870-71, Oliver H. Farnald; 1872, Elijah F. Smith; 1873, D. M. Rogers; 1874-6, J. G. Gammons; 1877 8, J. T. McFarland; 1879-81, S. P. Snow; 1882, no pastor; 1883, Hefflon S. Smith; 1884 5, W. H. Allen; 1886, C. T. Hatch; 1887, James Tregaskis. The Rhode Island Union Societj^ was incorporated by an act of assembly in June, 1821, and the charter was amended in May, 1824. The original charter recites that " Peleg San ford, Rich- aid Field, Giles Manchester, James Durfee, Jr., and others have represented to this Assembly that they have formed themselves into a religious society upon liberal and tolerant principles, and are about to erect a house for public worship, which shall be open to the moral and devout teachers of every Christian de- nomination." A charter was granted in accordance with the petition. A majority of those contributing to the erection of the meeting house were of opinion, as in their articles of incor- poration they declare, that the names by which churches and religious societies are commonly called have a tendency to divide the Christian community into sects pernicious to pure and undefiled religion, therefore they agreed to call their church the Union meeting house. No member of the society which should use the church was required to make any other confes- sion of faith than of a belief in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and every member was accorded the right to give such an interpretation of the words of Scripture as best agreed with his own understanding of the truth. The house was made open and free to religious teachers of all deuoiniiia- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 687 tions, provided they were men of unblemished moral chanioter and disposed to promote peace and charity among the different sects of Christians. The care of the house was confided to a committee of three persons or more, annually to be elected, who should decide questions as to who should be permitted to occupy it. The payment of five doUars constituted any one a member of the society and the owner of a share in the meeting house. The society thus incorporated soon built a chnrch. In those days lotteries were very popular. They were considered a good financial lever, convenient and appropriate to the moving for- ward of any laudable enterprise of a public character. Hence it did not appear so incongruous in the eyes of the people of that day as it might at the present time, that a lottery scheme should be planned and carried out, from the proceeds of which to build this meeting house. This, then, was the method em- ployed, and a house of worship was erected in the south part of the town, on the site now occupied by the Christian church, which has become the successor of the Union Society. Another society, under the title of the " Christian Church In the town of Portsmouth." or perhaps more proi)erly the same society under a new name, was incorporated in January, 1861, agreeable to the general act contained in Chapter 125 of the Re- vised Statutes. A new house of worship was built a few years later, on the site of the old Union meeting house, the latter meanwhile having been sold and moved oft" to a neighboring lot, where it is still standing, the purchaser being Mr. Edward S. Sisson. The incorporators of this society were: William Miller, Samuel Clarke, John Manchester, 2d, Jonathan W. Coggeshall, Edraond Arnold, Nathan I). Main, Edmund S. Sisson, Joseph Anthony, Peleg T. Potter and their associates. The society employs a minister regularly, and has done so most of the time since its organization. Baptism by immersion is mainly prac- ticed, and hence the society is sometimes called the "Cliristian Baptists." Elder Miller was their minister for a considerable time. The present minister is Reverend A. Augustus Morton. The chnrch stands on the corner of the East road and Union street. St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church is a handsome gothic structure, occupying a beautiful site on the elevated jilateau overlooking the East river, in the village of "Mevvtown." The HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. society was chartered in June, 1834, the cliarter being amended in January, 1844, and again in January, 1864. By the hist amendment the corporation were empowered and authorized to levy a tax on the pews of the church, which tax could be col- lected in manner prescribed by the by-laws of the society, either by sale of the pews or otherwise, for the purpose of making re- pairs on the house of worship or for the payment of the salary of the rector. The present rector of the church is Reverend J. Sturgis Pearce. St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal church is located at South Portsmouth. It has no resident i^astor, but is in charge of a minister from Providence. The society was chartered in Janu- ary, 1868. Hobart Williams, Albert Coggeshall, Robert Cliase, John B. Gould, William H. Gilford, Christopher Sherman, Noel Coggeshall, Samuel G. Sherman and Peleg T. Coggeshall were prominent supporters of it. The church occupies a beau- tiful site, affording a magnificent view of the surrounding land- scape, from an elevation of two hundred and fifty feet, being on the northern slope of Slate hill. A considerable field of valu- able land is also owned by the society. Societies.- -There are sevei'al benefit and other societies in the town. The most important of these are Sea Side Lodge, I. O. O. P., and Oakland Lodge, L O. O. F. The latter, bearing the number 32, is located at South Portsmouth, and was organ- ized January 1st, 1874. The cliarter members were : Charles C. Slocum, Samuel G. Arnold, Peleg L. Thurston, Joseph B. Slo- cum, Albert S. Walker, Truman C. Main, William H. Sisson, Constant W. Chase, Joseph Endicott, Herbert Chase, William M. Sisson, Josiah C. Gifford, William D. C. Main, Peleg A. Carpenter, John G. Barker, Henry Anthony, Edward A. Cog- geshall, Benjamin Sherman, Isaac M. Grinnell, and Rev. George W. Morrill. A commodious hall was built during the winter of 1874-5, on land bought of William B. and Ann Maria Law- ton. The hall was dedicated July 1st, 1875. The first officers of the Lodge were : Charles C. Slocum, N. G. ; Samuel G. Ar- nold, V. G. ; Herbert Chase, R. S. ; Constant W. Chase, T. ; Edward A. Coggeshall, W. ; Albert S. Walker, C. ; Truman C. Main, I. G. ; Isaac M. Grinnell, O. G. ; Joseph Endicott, William M. Sisson, William D. C. Main and Peleg A. Carpenter, sup- porters to N. G. and V. G. ; AVilllam H. Sisson, R. S. S. ; Jo- seph B. Slocum, L. S. S. ; Josiah C. Gifford, chaplain. The IIISTOMY OF NEWrOUT COUNTY. 689 office of noble grand lias lieen held successively by the follow- ing : Charles C. Slocnm, January to July, 1874; 8amuel G. Arnold, Jnljs 1874, to January, 1875 ; Joseph Endicott, Janu- ary to July, 1875; Joseph P. Barker, July, ]87o, to January, 1876; Edward A. Coggeshall, Januaiy to July, 1876; Peleg L. Thurston, July. 1876, to July, 1877 ; Benjamin VVyatt, January to July, 1877; John Croucher, July, 1877, to January, 1878; James E. Wyatt, January to July, 1878 ; Josiah C. Gifford, July, 1878, to Januarj% 1879 ; Lyman Barker, January to July, 1879 ; William D. C. Main, July, 1879, to January, 1880 ; Free- born Manchester, January to July, 1880 ; William J. Barker, July, 1880. to January, 1881 ; Nathaniel Peckham, during 1881 ; William M. Sisson, 1882 ; John T. Brown, 1883 ; John O. C. Peckhani, 1884; Jonathan A. Sisson, 1885; Albert S. Walker, 1886 ; Charles I. Coggeshall, 1887. The lodge is in a flourish- ing condition, having at present fifty-eight members. It meets regularly on Saturday nights. Sea Side Lodge, No. 17, is located at '"Newtown," Ports- mouth. It meets from May 1st to November 1st on Saturday nights; during the remainder of the year on Thursday nights. The lodge was instituted January 25th, 1871. The first in- stalled officers were the charter members, as follows: Benjamin Tallman, N. G.; Joseph T. Tallman, V. G.: Lewis R. Hazard, R.S.; Oliver G.Pierce, P.S.; Edward W. Fish,T.; Henry C. Fish, R. S. to N. G.; Lewis J. Munroe, L. S. to N. G. The follow- ing have held the office of N. G. for the terms beginning with the dates given: Joseph T. Tallman. January, 1872; Oliver G. Pierce, July, 1872; John B. Cornell, January, 1873; Christopher D. Albro, July, 1873; James B. Ashley, January, 1874; John H. Chace, July, 1874; Edward W. Fish, January, 1875; Alanson Peckham, July, 1875; John W. Franklin, January, 1876; Job R. Can-, July, 1876; Thomas Hallman, January, 1877; John Rabers, July, 1877; William Smith, January, 1878; John W. Watis, July, 1878; John A. Franklin, January, 1879; Henry C. Anthony, July, 1879; Edward W. Fish, January, 1880; Edward C. Faulknor, July, 1880; Leander W. Franklin, January, 1881; William T. Harvey, January, 1882; Dwight E. Cane, January, 1883; Carmi Harrington, January, 1884; Alexander G. Man- chester, January, 1885; Charles C. Hazard, January, 1886 and 1887. The membership of this lodge was reduced in January, 1874, by the withdrawal of twenty-three members to form Oak- 690 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. land Lodge. The present membership is twenty-nine. The lodge occupies by lease the hall belonging to Mr. A. G. Man- chester. Eureka Lodge No. 22, F. <*t A. M., was chartered under the general laws of the state in January, 1871. Its incorporators were Edward F. Anthony, Benjamin S. Anthony, William P. Mott, Constant C. Chase. Philip B. Chase, Frederick Chase, Charles G. Thomas, Benjamin Tallman, Jr., George B. Cogge- shall, George Manchester and William E. Cook. Its member- ship includes some of the most intelligent, respectable and substantial citizens of the town. For awhile tlie lodge tiourished. but the formation of other lodges in the neighborhood checked its rapid increase in numbers. It is, however, abundantly able to maintain its existence, though not at pre,sent growing in menibershi}). It owns a large hall in the upper story of which its meetings are held, the lower story being rented to private parties for commercial purposes. The hall stands on the east side of the village street in "Newtown," on the bluff over- looking the beautiful waters of the Seconnet and the picturesque hills of Tiverttm. Soon after its organization a chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized among its memliership. This is known as Aquidneck Chapter, No. 9. It occupies the same lodge room. The first members of this chapter were Edward F. Anthony, Benjamin S. Anthony, William P. Mott, Constant C. Chase, Frederick Chase, Charles G. Thomas, Benjamin Tall- man, Edward F. Dyer, Benjamin Carr, Doctor Benjamin Green and Richmond Carr. In January, 1872, an incori)oration was effected under the general state law as contained in chapter 125 of the revised statutes. Henry C. Anthony. — Both the paternal and maternal ances- tors of Mr. Anthony were among the first settlers in the nor- thern portion of the ishxnd. His grandfather, Seth Anthony, was born July 27th, 1765, and married Abagail Clarke, whose birth occurred May 25th, 1772. Their four children were Joseph, Samuel, Hannah (Mrs. Joseph Thomas), and Seth R. The last named son, born August 9th, 1812, married, in 1835, Abby, daughter of William Freeborn, whose family are among the oldest in the county. She was born September 12th, 1815. Their children are : Henry Clay, born June 10th, 1852, and Sarah E., wife of Charles H. Dyer, born May 1st, 1854. Henry >^^^^»^ ^ C^^^^ZiCC VVAftTiS^,, t. %^^V>=jAv;)-\ ■ IirSTORT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 691 Clay Anthony is a native of Portsmouth, and has always resided on the farm where his birtli occurred. He received a thorough Englisli education, and tlien prepared for business by a course at Scofield's commercial college in Providence, Rhode Island. He was bred to the occupation of a seed grower, and continuing this pursuit, eventually inherited a portion of Ills father's estate. Mr. Anthony was married on the 27th of December, 1876, to Eldora Jane, daughter of Joseph "Wilcox, of Attleboro. Massa- chnsetts. Tiieir children are: William B., born November 19th, 1877; Ralph H., August 12th, 1879; Joseph G., May 13th, 1881; Jenny Louisa, January 17th, 1884, and Alice Wilcox, March 24th, 1886. Mr. Anthony devotes his time exclusively to the growing of seeds and the raising of vegetables in their season for the mar- ket. He has established a rei^utation for the excellence of his products, is one of the largest growers in the country, and finds a ready market in all parts of the United States and Canada, his individual shipments amottnting to thousands of pounds. His seeds are deservedly popular as a result of their purity, and the care taken in their production. Mr. Anthony represents that class of men whose .sagacity, restless energy, and strict in- tegrity, place them in the foremost rank in their special dejjart- ment of commerce. While alive to the public interests of the day, he has not participated actively in politics, but regularly voted the republican ticket, and habitually refused all offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and master of Eureka Lodge, No. 22, of Portsmouth. He is also past grand of Sea Side Lodge, No. 32, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. John F. Chase is a grandson of Daniel Chase, who was a leading farmer in Portsmouth township. An influential citizen, he was prominent in the administration of local affairs, and served for fourteen years in tiie state legislature, where he earned the sobriquet of the "Quaker member." He married a Miss Lawfon and had children: Darius, George, Daniel, Sally, wife of Humphrey Chase; Mary, married to Rouse Potter; Eliz- abeth, and Ruth, wife of William Coggeshall. Tlieir son Daniel was born in Portsmouth, where he devoted his life to the labors of a husbandman, and by judicious manage- ment acquired a large property. He married Hannah, daughter of Nathan Chase, of Tiverton, and had cliildren: Charlotte (Mrs. James Douglas, of Portsmouth), Daniel, Perry, Albert, Robin- 44 692 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. son, Hannah (Mrs. John Gordon, of East Greenwich), Ruth, Ann (Mrs. Charles E. Boyd, of Portsmouth), Caroline E., John F. and Eliza V. (Mrs. Benjamin Hall, of Portsmouth). The death of Mr. Cliase occurred March 12th, 1861, and that of his wife December 16th, 1860. John F. Chase was born September 1.5th. 1829, in Portsmouth, and pursued his studies at Fall River, Bristol and Middleboro, Massachusetts. Returning to Tiverton, the home of his jiarents, he was for awhile employed as clerk in Fall River, and also en- gaged in teaching. On the 28th of November, 1854, he was married to Adeline T., daughter of Hamilton Chase, and grand- daughter of Abner Chase, of Portsmouth. Their children are: Arthur C, Carrie C. (wife of Rafus C. Bennett), John F., Jr., and Addie T. Mr. Chase, after his marriage, gave his attention to the homestead farm, of which he subsequently became owner. This farm was for many years his residence. In 1876 he pur- chased his present attractive site in Portsmouth, and there con- tinues the congenial pursuit of an agriculturist. In his polit- ical predilections Mr. Chase is a repulilican, and has been an active worker in the party ranks. He has held various town- ship offices, and filled the position of superintendent of schools. He was elected to the senate of Rhode Island from Tiverton in 1877-78-79, and again to the house of representatives for the years 1884-85-86-87-88, being at present the incumbent of the office. He continues his allegiance to the faith of his ancestoi'S and worships with the Friends' meeting. Robert D. Hall is of English ancestry. His grandfather, George Hall, resided on the farm in Portsmouth now owned by his grandson, where he followed his trade of shoemaking and was also a prosperous farmer. His wife. Charity Fish, was the mother of thirteen children, among whom was David Hall, who was born on the homestead, succeeded to the ancestral land and married Hannah, daughter of Robert Dennis. Their children were: Isaac D., Darius. Edward, Gardner, Robert D., David F., Han-iet A., Jane (deceased) and Ruth D. (deceased). Robert Dennis Hall was born on the homestead farm June 18th, 1820. and has devoted his life to the pursuits of an agriculturist. He attended the paid schools of the day, and being the only son who remained at home, at an early age was pressed into the service as a helper to his fatlier. On the death of the latter in 1847, he inherited a sliare in the farm, and se- n ,iftT»V\. \, »\>»Mmi ». ■^. HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 693 curing the remainder by pnrcliase, became sole owner of tlie property. His attention has been given to general farming, though the raising of vegetables for market has been found es- pecially profitable. Mr. Hall married, in June, 18.56, Mary A., daughter of Albert G. Cook, of Portsmouth. Their children are: Robert D., David F., married to Abbie Chase ; Albert C, Hannah C, wife of Alfred Gr. Sisson ; Ruth D., Emma E., Alice D., and two deceased, Isaac D. and William G. Mr. Hall in RESIDENCE OF ROBERT D. HALL, PORTSJIOUTII, R. L liolitics supports the principles of the republican party. He has held vai-ious township offices and been for years a member of the town council, where his judgment and ability have been made available in the administration of local affairs. His re- ligious belief is that of the Society of Friends, the faith of his maternal ancestors. Robert D Hall, Jr., born 1857, married Sarah Howland Smith of New Bedford, and since 1876 has been in Boston with L. G. Burnham & Co., coal dealers, 75 State street. Thomas Robinson Hazard. — A history of Newport county, or, indeed, of the state of Rhode Island, would be incoinplete without at least a slight sketch of tiie life and acliievemenls of 694 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Tliomas Robinson Hazard, who, for nearly half a century, and UY) to the time of his death in 1886, was a resident of the town of Portsmouth. Mr. Hazard was a lineal descendant of Tliomas Hazard, who settled in the same town about the year 1638, and who was one of the original incorporators of the town of Newport. Born of Quaker ancestry, at Tower hill, in South Kingstown, Wash- ington county, Rhode Island, January 8d, 1797, he was trained, from early years, to the business of woolen manufacturing, wiiich his father had established at Peace Dale in the same town, and, at the age of sixteen, he engaged in the same business on his own account. In this he continued, through all tiie vicissitudes incident to the establishment of an infant industry ou a firm basis, until 1842, when, having a few years before purchased the fine old country-seat called "Vaucluse," in tlie town of Portsmouth, he retired from active business, and devoted much of his time to agricultural pursuits, of which he had always been extremely fond. Although never holding political office of any kind, Mr. Hazard always took a deep interest in every movement in the direction of reform and improvement of the conditions of life, and was ever ready to use his pen, without fear or favor, in aid of any cause which he believed to be just. He was the first in the state to establish an evening school, in 1821, in his factory, and he built, largely at his own expense, in Portsmouth, the first school house on the improved plan in any country town in Rhode Island. He also joined in writing the call for the first large meeting ever held in behalf of educational interests in Providence or the state, at which the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction was organized. He visited every public poorhouse in the state, except on Block island, made a full report of their condition to the general assembly, and succeeded in bringing about a thorough reform in their management. He began an agitation in behalf of the insane poor, and did not abandon the cause until after the Butler hospital was in successful operation. It was through his application to the general assembly that fixed appropriations were made for the maintenance of the insane, and for the education of the deaf and dumb and the blind. It was through his untiring efforts, and the influence of a report compiled and written by him, that tiie legislature abolished capita] punishment in Rhode Island by a majority of four in ■ H ^^^f <^^^ Hfer A^ ' lu B ■BHHJJI^^SBtsi^ssdK 1 V1l>0\1*%., \ %\%*MVQ\ V X ^i>^ mTtt-^-is^, t. %\^*^^v^-\ U- •( HISTORY OF NEWPOItT OOUNTY. 695 the senate, and afterward by more tlian two to one in the house. Mr. Hazard also took an active interest in the work of the African Colonization Society, and always maintained that, if the aims of this organization had been adequately aided by the general government, the great question of slavery would in all probability have been settled without bloodshed. In politics he was an ardent whig and an earnest supporter of lleiu-y Clay and his American system of protection to home industry; and in the wisdom and benehcence of this principle he was, to the day of his death, an unfaltering believer. In aid of tlie whig campaign of 1840 he wrote and i:)ublishedin the Newport papers of the time a series of articles entitled, "Facts for the Laboring Man," which the New York Courier and Enquirer, tJien the recognized organ of commercial and financial interests, referred to as being " the best exposition of the financial policy of the present (Van Buren) administration that has appeared." During the latei' years of his life Mr. Hazard spent much of his time in compiling a very thorough genealogical record of the Hazard and Robinson families, prefaced by many interest- ing recollections of olden times, and he also published in the newspapers a series of articles entitled, " Jonny Cake Papers," relating to the early customs and traditions of the state. These were afterward printed in book form, and, together with his volume of "Miscellaneous Essays and Letters," make a valua- ble contribution to the historical, literature of his state and time. Thomas IIoi.man is descended from English ancestry. His grandfatlier, John Holman, was a miner at Grwinear parish, Cornwall, England. His son, Peter Holman, was also employed in the copper and tin mines at the same point. He married Grace Pryer, of the parish of Wendren, in the same county. Their children were : Grace, Mary, Peter, Absalom, John, David, Francis, Thomas, Henry and William. Thomas Holman was born Septeml)er l.")th, 1818, in the parish of Gwinear, wiiere he remained during his youth. His time at the age of eleven was devoted to labor in the copper mines, leav- ing little time for education, which is more the result, with Mr. Holman, of observation and retlection than of time devoted to books. He continued at work in the inities until 1840, the date of his emigration to America, wiieii lu^ came direct to Ports- mouth and found his services in demand at the coal mines 696 iiisTortY OF Newport county. located in that_to\vnsliip. Mr. Holman, by his skill and knowl- edge, soon made his presence felt, and later obtained an inter- est, at the same time acting as snperintendent of the mines, and meanwhile making varions pnrchases of real estate in the im- mediate vi(!inity. In 1860 he acqnired his present farm, on which the famil}^ now reside. In 1877, having abandoned min- ing, he settled on his land, and has since that time been engaged in farming. Mr. Holman was, in 18413, married to Mary D., danghter of Benjamin C. Sherman, of Portsmouth. Their children are : Thomas H. (deceased), Rosalette (widow of Charles A. Briggs), Lav'inia (deceased) and Cordelia (Mrs. Albert W. Lawrence). Mrs. Holman died in 1856, and in 1859 he was again married to Anna B., daughter of Oliver Albro, of Portsmouth. Their children are : Frederick William, Fannie Lavantia, and Her- man Thomas. Mr. Holman casts his vote with the republican party, but aside from his membersliip on the school committee, prompted by his interest in the cause of education, has declined all otfices. He is in his religious belief an Episcopalian, and a member of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church of Newtown. He is one of the vestry, and has been delegate to the diocesan convention. Frederick W. Holman, son of Thomas Holman, was born in Portsmouth, and married Emily A. Davol, of this town. They have three sons: Clifton T., Charles A. and Merle. WiLLr.\M Madison Manchester is a grandson of John Manchester, who was a soldier of the revolution and partici- pated in the battle of Rhode Island. He married Mary Fish, of the same township. Their children were four sons : Edward, William, John and Isaac, and four daughters: Mary, Luc}% Meribah and Freelove. William, of this number, was born in Tiverton, and after his marriage removed to Portsmouth. He lived to an extreme old age, and in the many positions, both local and state, which he tilled, enjoyed the confidence of the public. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Fish and Martha, his wife, a lady of nuuiy accomplishments. Their two sons are AVilliam Madison, and Isaac, who died in early man- hood, sincerely niourned by his many friends. William Madison, the surviving brother, was born August 2.')th, 1814, in Tiverton, and in infancy removed with his parents to Portsmouth, where he has since resided. His early advan- ■*ll ^Ku/^^ct^r^ /h, ^/hci^n.cA.e.>^ -^. X ' -^^ "^"''^^^ "HIOTIV^^ % *\^*^\VM\ ^ IIISTOKY OF NKWPOIiT COUNTY. 697 tages were limited, liis boyhood being devoted to work. While engaged in farming, Mr. Manchester, being of a speculative turn, dealt largely in poultry, and in later years found a larger field for his ventures in real estate and lauded property, much of the fortune he has accumulated being invested in tlie latter. In youth he labored under man}' disadvantages, which by per- severance and industry were finally mastered. He has filled many offices of trust. He has served his township in various capacities, and in 1860 and 1861 was elected to the state legis- lature, where his course was marked by an unswerving regard for the right. In religion he is liberal. Mr. Manchester has not lived for himself alone, but by many unostentatious acts of kindness has added to the happiness of others. At his death tins branch of the family of Manchester becomes extinct. Isaac M. Rogers is a son of John Rogers who was born in South Portsmouth, where his active life was passed as a farmer. He enjoyed a well deserved reputation as a man of excellent judgment and much enterprise. He was a director of the Bank of Rhode Island, and interested in all measures affecting the public welfare. Mr. Rogers married Ann Manchester, of the same township. Their children are: Isaac M., Sarah M., wife of Noah Coggeshall; Thomas G., married to Eliza Maria Peck- ham; Ruth, who died in early life; Fannie B., deceased; Lewis II., deceased; Joseph, residing in Texas; and Patience, wife of Benjamin B. White. Isaac M. Rogers was born October 9th, 1819, in Portsmouth, wliicii township he made his lifetime residence. On concluding Ills school da\-s he engaged in farm labor with his father and elsewhere, and later became a fisherman. This pursuit he con- tinued for many years, ultimately inheriting the farm upon which his widow now resides, where the remainder of his life was spent as a farmer. Mr. Rogers was, in 1852, married to Harriet A., daughter of David Wliite, of Little Compton. Their children are: Lizzie W., wife ot' Pitt S. Littlefield; Isa- bell, married to Sylvester B. Tallman; and Jolin E., deceased. Mr. Rogers was in his political sentiments an early whig, and afterward a republican, but never an aspirant for office. lie was a regular attendant of the services of tlie Clirislian Baptist cliiuch of Portsmouth. His death occurred on the 16th of March, 1887, in his sixty-eighth year. A leading journal paid tlie following tribute to his memory: 698 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNT ST. "In the death of Mr. Rogers, his family, consisting of his widow and two daughters, lose a kind and affectionate husband and father, whose delight it was to do everything that lay in his power to render their lives pleasant and happy. His loss to the community is also one that will be sevei'ely felt, as he was a neighbor always ready to oblige and accommodate and to do kindly offices for those in need, without a seeming thought as to whether he should be recompensed in kind or not, and con- sequently many that took their last look at the familiar features as they lay in life-like naturalness in the casket, felt that they had lost a true friend, as indeed he was." Alfred Sisson is a son of Moses Sisson, a farmer and mar- ketman, who resided in Portsmouth township. He married Phebe Dennis of the same township and their children were: Alfred, Albert, Amy Jane (deceased) and Adeline (Mrs. Brown). Alfred, the eldest son, is a native of Portsmouth, where he was born August 2otli, 1822. With the exception of two years in New Bedford as clerk, all his life has been spent in this township. He received a thorough training in the elementary English branches and began his business career at an early age, first engaging in the fishing trade and later in farming. In 1860 he leased the Bristol Ferry house, located at Bristol ferry on the Narragansett bay, and became a successful and popular land- lord. This property, with about fifty acres of land, he pur- chased in 1872 and having rendered it a favorite resort, still conducts the house, which is filled during the summer months with a class of patrons that find the spot sufficiently attractive to warrant their I'eturn from year to year. He is also engaged in fishing and to some extent in agriculture. Mr. Sisson in 1842 was married to Mary T., daughter of James Faulkner, of Portsmouth. Their children are: EmmaS., Annie, Jenny A., and six who are deceased. In politics Mr. Sisson is identified with the republican party of which he has been an in- fluential representative. He has declined all local offices but from 1871 to 1874 represented his constituency in the assembly, and from the latter date until 1878 in the senate, where he was an able representative of the fishing interests. In his religious views a Methodist, he is a member and trustee of the Methodist Ejjiscopal church of Newtown. William L. Sisson is a grandson of Moses Sisson, who was one of the prosx^erous farmers of Portsmouth. His children ^ tr^/ ^^^^-T^L^ \X\^\\^\^ K %w%.%-\\.\i\ *.. k/Idir? HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 699 were: William B., Ruth, Hannah and INfary Ann. The eldest of this number, AVilliam B., was born in the above township which, with the adjacent township of Middletown, was the scene of his active labors as a farmer and liutclier. An en- terprising and intluential citizen, lie represented his district in the legislature and filled various local offices. He married Mary T., daughter of James Uurfee, of Portsmoutli, whose children are: Mary J., wife of Nathaniel Vars; William L., Anna E., widow of Simeon S. Coggeshall; James M., married to Mary A. Elliott; Josephine D., wife of Edward A. Mason; Ruth I)., married to John C. Barker, and Hetty C, wife of George W. Sherman. The death of Mr. Sisson occurred De- cember 30th, 1886. His son, William L., was born May 24th, 1837, in Poi'tsmouth, and in early youth removed with his parents to Middletown. He enjoyed only such opportunities for education as the public schools afforded, and early engaged in farming. Endowed with indomitable will and an equal amount of energy and self- reliance, these qualities have with Mr. Sisson been synonyms of success. After a period of service given to his father, he in 1860 rented the farm, and inherited the property on the death of the latter. He was married on the 5th of December, 1860, to Sarah A., daughter of Leonard Brown, of the same township. Louie S. is their only child. Mr. Sisson is an active supporter of republican principles. He represented his constituents in the assembly from 1882 to 1881, and in the latter year was elected to the senate of Rhode Island, which office he still fills. In his official relations, as in business, he enjoys the confidence of the i)ul)]ic. PERSONAL PAR.VGRAPHS. Charles Albro is a son of David Alltio, the assessor of Mid- dletown. He was born in lSo3 and in 1876 was married to Sarah M. Anthony, of Middletown. The older of their two children is Arthur Albert. Mr. Albro is a dairy and stock farmer in Portsmouth. Joseph F. Albro, born in 1836, son of Freeborn Albro, mar- ried Jane E., daughter of Hon. Nathaniel Peckham, of Middle- town. They liave one son, Lester Franklin Albro. Mr. .\.ll)ro's business is house carpentering and wagon building. William Gilbert Albro, born 1859, is the son of David Albro 700 mSTOlIT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of Middletown, and gTandson of Peleg Alhro. He married Mary E., daughter of George Hazard. Mr. Albro is a farmer. , John Allan, who has been superintendent at ''Oakland" since Novembei-, 188G, as successor of Robert Elliott, is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated there and in the north of Ireland, and at eighteen years of age came to the United States. Prior to 1886 he was superintendent for Mrs. James G. King, at " Highwood" in New Jersey. Elisha Allen, son of Benjamin and grandson of Elisha Allen, was born in Middletown in 1827. His wife was Martha W., daughter of Sylvester R. Perry, who was a cousin of Commodore Perry. Mr. Allen has one son, Augustus Perry Allen. Mr. Allen has never cast a ballot in any ballot-box for any officer — state, local or national — mn- on any constitutional or appropria- tion question. Edward Almy, born in 1844, is a son of Edward (1808—1883) and a grandson of Peleg Almy. His wife is Frances R., young- est daughter of Noel Coggeshall of Middletown. Their chil- dren are Annie Rebecca and Katie Fales. Mr. Almy was elected in 1887 for his fourth term as councilman. He is now serving his seventh year as commissioner of the town asylum. He is considered one of the best fai'mers in Portsmouth. Susan Hazard Anthony, daughter of Atherton Wales and granddaughter of Doctor Peter T. Wales, is the widow of Levi Almy, who was born in 1809. His father was Jacob and his grandfather Holder Almy. Mr. and Mrs. Almy had five chil- dren: Charlotte, now widow of Christopher Southwick of Mid- dletown; Jacob, Henry W., Robert B., and Holder. At the age of sixteen Levi Almy took a whaling voyage around Cape Horn. He was married at the age of twenty-four, and from that time to his death engaged in farming. Henry W. Almy, born in 1841, is a son of Levi Almy, de- ceased. His wife is Mary Bemis of Troy, New Hampshire. She was a teacher here prior to their marriage in 1866. Mr. Almy worked at "Oakland" when a lad, and had charge of the greenhouses there two seasons. He was eighteen years in the fishing business. He has two children, Frederick W. and Fan- nie Gertrude. Robert B. Almy, a son of Levi and Susan H. (Wales) Almy, was born in 1843. At the age of seventeen he began fishing, in whicli he has been very successful, especially in scuj^p trapping and menhaden pursing. HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 701 Philip Alniy is a son of Peleft- Alniy, who died in 1887, leav- ing seven children. Philip's wife is Sarah Sherman. His grand- father, Peleg, was bt)rn in 1761 and died in 1853. He wasason of John Almy. One of Peleg' s sisters, Bridget, born in 1791, died in 1880, was the mother of George B. and Peleg A. Cogges- hall of Portsmouth. Philip's children are: Edna, :iow Mrs. Clinton Hale of Providence; George M., and Mary, now Mrs. E. Louis Clarke of Providence. George B. Anthony is a son of Samuel Anthony and grand- son of Seth Anthony, whose father, Isaac, lived during the revolution in the old Anthony house, on the West road, south of Butt's hill. This house, now belonging to Henry C. Anthony, is on the scene of some of the hardest fighting in the battle of Rhode Island. Near here is the "Hessian Hole," a spot in the swamp between Butt's hill on the north and Turkey hill on the south, where tradition says several hundred Hessians were buried after tlie battle. The house was riddled with bul- lets, and one cannon ball entering over the front door, left its track through the entire building and out at the north side. The grandfather, Seth, then a young man, was taken prisoner by the British. George B. was elected representative at 23 years of age, and in the following year was promoted to the state senate. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Green, of Newport. Their children are: Abbie S., Hattie G. and Seth. George Anthonj^, son of Rev. Gould Anthony and grandson of Jonathan Anthony, was born in 18;55. He married Lucy Coggeshall, who died in 1883, leaving one daughter, Mary C. Mr. Anthony's present wife, EUie M., is the daughter of Wil- liam E. Coggeshall, of Middletown. They have one child, Gould Anthony. Mr. Anthony's business is fanning. Robert W. Anthony, sou of Joseph, grandson of Jonathan and great grandson of Gould Autliouy, was born in 1847. His mother is a daughter of Charles Wilcox, of Tiverton. Mr. An- thony has been postmaster at South Portsmouth since 1877. His fatlier held the olhce for twelve years before his death. William Henry GilYord was postmaster two years previous. The first postmaster here was Moses Lawton. Orlando L. Baker, son of William Baker, was born in Tolland County, Connecticut, in 184.'). Mr. Baker was in the wholesale produce business at Providence until 1886, when he came to his coal mine farm of 90 acres. His wife. Alpha J., is a daughter 70-2 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of George W. Baton. They liave four children : Charles H., Cora E., Walter O. and Flora. Christopher Barknr, born in 1818, is a son of Christopher Barker and a grandson of David Barker, wlio had fourteen children. The younger Christopher married Ruth, daughter of John Hambly and granddaughter of Benjamin Hambly, of Tiv- erton. They have one son, John Barker, of Newport, and one daughter, noMr Mrs. John L. Borden. Mr. Barker was engaged with his father at menhaden fishing as early as 1829. His father was one of the earliest to "try" the menhaden for oil. The elder Christopher Barker kept a store in a house next south of the town clerk's office, in Portsmouth. This old merchant was representative in the legislature once, and was an officer in the Second Baptist church at Newport. William Borden, ex-president of the town council, was born in New Ham])sliire in 1826. His father was Asa Borden, his grandl'atiier .John Burden. He married Susan E., daughter of Clark Chase. Mr. Borden's business was formerly that of tailor in Newport and Piv)vidence. In 1819 he gave that up and went to California, remaining three or four years. Tiien he re- turned and kept a store on the premises where he now lives. They have three children: Herbert W., who married Sarah E., daughter of Benjamin Brown (They have one child, Charles Howard); Ella M., now Mrs. John L. C. Harrington, who has one daughter named Rebecca; Arthur L. Borden, whose wife is a daughter of George C. Fisli. Benjamin F. Borden, born in 1833, is a brother of William Borden. He married Ruth H., sister of Parker Hall Sherman. Their children are: Alfred H., Alonzo E. and Minnie F. Mr. Borden has served several years as school trustee. He is prin- cijially engaged in farming. Alfred H. Borden.' (Benjamin F. Borden," Asa Borden," John Borden,'"' Joseph') married Hannah C. Collins of South Kingstown in 1884. She has taught school here as did also her father Peleg Collins and her niotlier, Mary (Hawkes) Collins. The Bordens of Fall River and vicinity, according to a fam- ily tradition, are descended from a brother of Josepli. Byron D. Boyd, twelfth child of John and a grandson of Stephen Boyd, was born in 1831. His wife Amy A., is a daugh- ter of James S. Chase. They have three children: Myra, Harry and Ethel. Mr. Boyd has been a marketman for forty years. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 703 His house is an liistoi'ic building, built originally at the ferry, where it was owned by Peter Barker, and served as a place of meeting for the early Methodists. John Boyd moved it here alx)ut 1822. On Mr. Boyd's place are remains of one of the original cellars of 1638. Charles E. Boyd was born in 1819. He is a son of William Boyd, who was a brother of Byron D. Boyd's father, John Boyd. His wife Ruth Ann, is a daughter of Daniel Chase. Their chil- dren, Annie C, Emma F. (Mrs. Clark Chase of Fall River), Mary Alice (Mrs. Samuel D.Howland) and William R. areallliv- ing. Mr. Boyd owns the farm on which is " Hessian Hole." Harriet N. Bourn, widow of B. N. Bourn, late wholesale and retail provision dealer of Providence, is a daughter of Jonathan Tallman. Her only child is Mary B., the widow of William P. ^lacomber, who has one child, Marguerite. Benjamin Brown, deceased, was born in 1821, and was a son of Isaac and grandson of Gideon Brown. He was married to Emeline B., daughter of Samuel Coggeshall, of Portsmouth. Their daughter, Emeline H., is the wife of Herbert W. Borden of Portsmouth. Mr. Brown was killed on his farm by a horse in 1887. Leonard Brown, son of Samuel and grandson of Gideon Brown, was born in 1815. He learned the wheelwright trade, bought a blacksmith shop and made a lucrative business by comi)ining fiie two trades. He is now one of the best farmers in town. He formerly raised poultry and during the winter season he bought pork which, with his poultr}^ he marketed at New Bedford, Mass. His wife is Sarali, daugliter of Cook Wilcox. They have six children: Anna (Mrs. William L. Sisson), Edward P., William J., Etta (Mrs. William Cogge- shall), Hattie N. (Mrs. William Tallman), and Eliza G. William P. Carr, deceased, son of Richmond Carr and grand- son of Robert Carr, was born in IS )7 and died in 1885. His widow, Martha C, is a sister of Edward Sisson. Mrs. Carr has had five children, four of whom are living: Sarah (now Mrs. Nathaniel Brown), Orleana (]\Irs. William Weaver of Middle- town), Martha C. (Mrs. John B. F. Smith of Newport), William Franklin (whose wife is Frances E., daughter of Asa Cory) and Jane M., who died in 1861 aged 17 years. Eleanor Carr, widow of Job R. Carr, is a daughter of Richard and Lucy (Manchester) Fish of Tiverton. Her grandfather was 704 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. John Manchester. Mr. Carr, son of Kichtnond Carr, was born in 1820 and died in 1877. He was a member of Sea Side Lodge, No. 17; initiated December 21st, 1871; installed noble grand of that lodge in July, 1876, and admitted into the R. W. Grand Lodge of Rhode Island February 6th, 1877. He had five children, four of whom are living: Lucy (Mrs. Asa Coggeshall), Charles, Laura G. (Mrs. W. T. Tallman) and Alfred. Charles' wife, Cynthia, is a daughter of the late Lewis J. Thurston. Their two children are Charles and Althea Richmond Carr. Abraham C. Chase, born in 1841, is a son of William Chase of Middletown. His wife, Eunice C, is a daughter of Asa J. Fisher, whose wife was Eunice Coggesliall. Mr. Chase's chil- dren are: Fannie F., Florence M., Ellie F., and Mary C. Mr. Chase is a farmer. Constant W. Chase, born in 1826, is a son of Clark, grandson of Isaac, great-grandson of Zacheus, and great-great-grandson of James Chase. His wife, Susan, is a daus'hter of Slocum Col- lins. Their children are: Herbert, Isaac and Emma. Mr. Chase is a farmer and owns what is called the Bowler farm. The old part of the house was built more than two hundred years ago, and what is known as the new part was built in 1730. The farm was then owned by the Bowler family, who sold it to Dan- iel Chase, who in 1808 sold it to Isaac. On this farm is an old stone barn, once a greenhouse, and in it was raised the original Rhode Island greening, from a slip brought from England in a potting tub. The barn is very old; the plaster in it is like that of the stone mill. Herbert Chase married Eliza G., daughter of Joseph C. Dennis. Their family consists of four boys and three girls. Alfred S. Chase, brother of Constant W. Chase, was born in 1822. He. is better known as Captain Chase. At twelve years of age he went to sea, and for about forty iive years he was sail- ing the main. Over thirty years master of a vessel, he made eight trills around Cape Horn and four around Cape of Good Hope. He was master of a vessel during the Mexican war. He was married in 1853 to Susan G. Murray, of Boston. James S. Chase, born in 1816, is a son of Abner, grandson of Holder, and great grandson of Thomas Chase. The family tra- dition is to the effect that about 1634 William Chase, Thomas Chase and Aquilla Chase, three brothers, from England, be- came the jirogenitors in America of the New England families mSTOUT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 705 bearing this name. Mr. Chase's wife, Mary Fish, died leaving three daughters: Amy, Fannie and Laura. His present wife, the mother of his son, Luther Paul Chase, is Hannah P., daugh- ter of Pierce A. Faulkner. Alfred Clark Chase, born in 1833, is a son of Clark Chase, a grandson of Holder Chase, and a great-grandson of Nathan Chase. Nathan's father was Benjamin and his grandfather was William, and William's father was the original William Chase, the ancestor of this family in America. Mr. Chase's wife is a daughter of W^illiam Anthony, a son of Judge William Anthony. Their children are Edmund and Maud A. His business is with Joseph Church & Co., as a me- chanic. Clark Chase's wife was Ann Borden. Benjamin Chase's wife was Amy Borden. Borden Chase, of Fall River, is brother of Alfred Clark Chase. He began the coal business at Fall River in 1871, established the Fall River Coal Company, removed there in 187.5, and is now interested in the Globe Coal Company. Mr. Chase was born in 1816. His wife is Elizabeth A., daughter of Joseph Thomas, a brother of Gardner Thomas. Philip B. Chase, the town clerk of Portsmouth, is a brother of Alfred C. and Borden Chase. One of Borden Chase's sons, of Fall River, is Simeon B. Chase. He was born in Portsmouth, left there in 1866, and has been treasurer of several cotton mills in Pall River. As financial manager he is credited among mill men with large success. Since 1885 he has been treasurer of the " King Philip." William Alfred Chase, born in 1834, is a son of Alexander Hamilton Chase and a grandson of Abner Chase, a son of Holder Chase. His wife, Sarah C, is a daughter of Joseph and Han- nah (Anthony) Thonuis. Their family of six children are: Clara M., Fannie T. (Mrs. Edward R. Anthony), Abbie T. (Mrs. David Frank Hall), William A., Jr., Walter Bradford and Evelyn B. Mr. Chase's farm of about one hundred and forty acres on "The Neck " was the scene of some of the most stirring events of the revolution. The early generations of this Chase family in Portsmouth were Friends. Josiah Chase, son of John and grandson of Zacheus Chase, was born in 1804 and is a farmer. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and granddaughter of Jonathan Freeborn. She died leaving two children, Benjamin F. and Hannah. Benjamin F. resides at Brockton, Massachusetts. 706 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. John H. Chase was born in Portsmouth in 1835, and is a son of Levi, grandson of John, and great-grandson of Zacheus. John H. Chase was married in 1859 to Mary, daughter of Charles H. Carr and granddaughter of Richmond Carr. They liave two sons, George 11. and Jolin R. Mr. Chase is engaged in the market farming business. Mrs. Eliza Chase, widow of Jacob Chase, was born in Dart- mouth, Massachusetts. Mr. Chase, who died in January, 1884, was a "Friend." He was well known as a contributor to a local papei'. Mrs. Chase now owns and resides at the Cherry or ytone House farm, near A. W. Lawrence's. Charles A. Chase, born in 1841, is a son of Jacob Chase, born 18('2, died 1884; a grandson of Shadrach, died 1841; and a great- grandson of Zacheus, whose father was James Chase, the Eng- lish ancestor of a numerous family in New England. Mr. Chase is married to Abbie J. Boyce, of Massachusetts. Their children are Herbert and Lizzie. Mr. Chase is one of the successful farmers of this town. His place is near Lawton valley in Portsmouth, where Zacheus Chase settled when a young man. C. C. & C. E. Chase are now doing business in the store erected by Benjamin Tallman in 1866 and 1867. Philip B. Chase in 1857 erected the building now the residence of A. Q. Manchester, and E. F. Dyer occupied it as a store for fifteen years, and was postmaster during thirteen years of that time. He was succeeded by Albert F. Sisson and George F. Thomas. These gentlemen, after running the business one year under the firm name of Sisson & Thomas, took O. C. Manchester as a part- ner, and the firm became Sisson, Thomas & Co. This firm built the store now A. G. Manchester's, and conducted it three years. In 1876 the new store and the residence (formerly store) passed into the hands of A. G. Manchester, the present proprietor. His son, O. C. Manchester, was postmaster from 1876 to 1886. Benjamin Tallman conducted his store for two years, and in 1869 the firm of C. C. & C. E. Chase began, the junior partner having once been clerk for E. F. Dyer. C. C. Chase was post- master at Portsmouth Grove during the war. In 1868 he went to Europe as agent for the Walter A. Wood Mowing Machine Com])any. C. E. Chase was local agent for the same company from 1865 to 1868, and since that time the firm have been agents here. The Messrs. Chase have been successful and prosperous. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 707 They ran one wagon from the start, and for the last four years have had two wagons. During eighteen years they have missed but five trips to Bristol ferry with wagon service, abetter record than the mail service. Mr. C. E. Chase was married in 1847 to Ella F., only daugliter of William Henry Faulkner. They have one son, Frank Henry. Asa Coggeshall, son of Abner Coggeshall, was born in Tiver- ton in 1841, and was married in 1S6G to Lucy F., daughter of Job R. and Eleanor Carr. They have four children: Nellie F., Grace Edna, William H. and Eugene Lamont. At the age of 16 Mr. Coggeshall started on a trip around Cape Horn, whaling> and was gone four years. He made a second trip, from which he returned about two years before his marriage. He was em- ployed by the government during the war on a government transport. His present business is farming. Dennis Coggeshall, son of Samuel and Abagail Slocum Cogge- shall, was born in 1822. He is now engaged in farming on the homestead farm where his father and mother died, aged re- spectively 81 and 85 years. Edward Alton Coggeshall, son of Edward, grandson of Simeon and great-grandson of Josiah Coggeshall, married Mary Cath- rina, daughter of Cyrus Peckham and granddaugh ter of Timothy Peckham. They have one son, Elmer Russell. Mr. Coggeshall has been house carpenter for thirty- three yeai'S. His grand- father, father and brother, Peleg T;, all of whom are dead, were also carpenters. Fillmore Coggeshall was born in 1856, and is a son of George C. Coggeshall, of Middletown, whose portrait and biography are given in this work. Fillmore Coggeshall is married to Lizzie M., daugliter of William H., granddaughter of Isaac, and great- granddaughter of Gideon Brown. Their children are : Mary Julia, Frederick William, Gertrude A. and Fillmoie, Jr. Mr. Coggeshall was elected second councilman in 1887. On state and national questions he votes with the democratic party. John Pardon Coggeshall was born in Portsmouth in 1830, and is a son of Abraham C. Coggeshall, deceased, of Middletown. He was married to Elizabeth Roddy, by whom he has had three children: Matthew, Annie M. and Rosalie. Mr. Coggeshall has always been a farmer. Joseph Coggeshall, brother of John P., was born in 1826. His wife is Mary A., daughter of Parker Lawton. They have 45 708 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. live children: Celia S., Charles, Martha, John R. and Fiederick A. Mr. Coggeshall has been a member of the school board twenty-four years. Besides farming he has been engaged in contracting and building for about thirty-five years. He has erected a large number of buildings, including twenty-four for E. J. Anderson, of Newport. Peleg A. Coggeshall, born in 1822, is a son of Peleg, who was the only child of George Coggeshall, a son of Joshua. Mrs. Peleg A. Coggeshall is Lucinda, daughter of Samuel Ayles- worth, of North Kingstown. Their only child is Charles P, Coggeshall, of Boston. Mr. Coggeshall has been assessor of taxes several years. He is a farmer. George B. Coggeshall, brother of Peleg A., has been repre sentative two years and state senator four years. His father, Peleg, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His widow, who died in 1866, at the age of 95 years, was a pensioner. William Earl Cook, the oldest man living in this town, was born in 1797. His father, George Cook, was a son of Matthew Cook. Mr. Cook learned the blacksmith trade, at which he still works, before he was twenty. In 1819 he went to Cuba, where he resided two years, when he returned to Portsmouth. His wife, Eunice Sherman, was born in New Bedford, in 1800. Their only child, Sarah B., is Mrs. Philip B. Chase, who has a family of nine children : William C, Eunice A., Philip S., Re- becca, Nancy, Constant C, Charles E., Isaac S. and Hannah. John Corcoran was born in the central part of Ireland. He came to New York in 1839. He came to Portsmouth in 1840 as engineer in the coal mine. When the coal mine was abandoned he bought a farm here, including the house which had been built for a summer residence. His children are John J. and Elizabeth A., now Mrs. Timothy Connelly, of Taunton. Mrs. John J. Corcoran was Elizabeth Kennedy. They have one child, Ellen. Abner B. Cory is a son of John Cory and a grandson of Thomas Cory, a brother of Samuel Cory, who aided in the cap- ture of General Prescott in the revolution. This Thomas was in the English army before the revolution, in the campaign against the French in Canada. Mr. Cory's wife is Ruth, a granddaughter of George Mall. Several years of Mr. Cory's early life were spent in Little Coinpton, under the strict dis- cipline of poverty. His business here now is dealing in seeds HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 709 and agricultural implements. Mr. Cory is now one of the com- missioners of the asylum. Asa Cory, farmer, born in 1818, is a son of John and grand- son of Thomas Cory. This Thomas and his two brotliei'.s, Sam- uel and Pardon, came to Portsmouth in 1747 and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph E. Macomber. This Samuel Cory was the one who helped capture General Prescott on this island in the revolution. Mrs. Asa Corj^ is Mary, daughter of Hicks Cornell. They have two children : Frances E. (Mrs. William F. Carr) and Charles W. Levi W. Cory, deceased, was born in 1807, married Catherine O'Donnell, a native of Ardara, Ireland, in 1877. Mr. Cory was a successful farmer. In politics he was an uncompromisiiig democrat. He was at one time assessor of taxes. He died in 1883 leaving a handsome property. William II. Cory, son of Joseph and grandson of John Cory, was born in 1834. His wife was Emily Doty of Bristol, R. I. Their children are: Helen J., Mary E., Sarah D. and Harriet A. The farm home of Mr. Cory has been owned by the Cory family nearly half a century. This Joseph Cory is a brother of the Asa Cory mentioned in this chapter. John H. Cross, born in 1833, is a son of John Cross, who was a native of Columbia, Dutchess county, IS. Y. Mrs. Cross is Henrietta, daughter of John G. Child.s, and granddaughter of Lieutenant-Governor Joseph Childs. They have seven children: M. Emeline (Mrs. Hezekiah Gilford), Carrie E. (Mrs. J. Archie Sisson), Edith (Mrs. William Clark), Etta A., John A., Jo.seph H. and Fritz Carl. Mr. Cross has been a member of the school board and town treasurer. William J. Croucher was born in 18.")2 and is a son of John Croucher. The latter was born in 1814 and died in 1880. Mrs. William J. Croucher is a daughter of Charles Slocum. •Joseph G. Dennis, editor of the Portsmouth Chronicle, is a son of Jonathan Dennis, grandson of George Dennis, born in 1707, and great-grandson of Robert Dennis, born in 1727. His wife is Clara E., daughter of Edmund D. Barker, granddaughter of Peter Barker and great-granddaughter of Matthew Barker of the Middletown family. Their only child is a daughter, Fannie P. William R. Dennis, farmer, son of John Dennis and grand- son of Robert Dennis, was born in 1822. lie has been actively 710 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. engaged in tlie scupp and menhaden fisheries. His wife was Abbie Fields.' Their only son, William C, married Susan F. Brownell, and has two children, a son, Albertie S., and a daughter, Martha F. George A. Faulkner, born in 1838, is a son of Joseph, grand- son of George and great-grandson of Thomas Faulkner. His wife was Fannie E. Van Nostrand. They have one son. Walter I. Faulkner. Mrs. Faulkner's grandfather lived to be 100 years old, and an uncle died at 108. Mr. Faulkner's business since he was 18 years old has been trapping and pursing. He has been an owner in steamers, schooners and sloops. Parker H. P. Faulkner is one of the fifth generation of Faulkners in Rhode Island, descended from Thomas Faulkner through George Faulkner, George Faulkner and Pierce A. Faulkner. He was born in 1830. His wife is a daughter of Solomon P. Snow, a former pastor of the Portsmouth Method- ist Episcopal church. Mr. Faulkner learned his trade of sheet iron worker, tinner and plumber at New Bedford, and from 1873 to 1885 followed that business here. William Field, born 1817, son of Richard, and grandson of Richard Field, is the oldest man in Glen street who was born here. His first wife was Mary Mitchell ; his present wife, Mary B., is a daughter of Henry J. Hudson. Their house was rebuilt from one of the earliest houses here. Mr. Field is a carpenter by trade and helped build the first house on Bellevue avenue, JN'ewport, before the avenue was opened beyond Narragansett avenue. He was a member of the artillery company in the Dorr war. Thomas M. Field was born in 1818. His father, Richard Field, was born and educated in England, and at the age of 25 was master of a ship. He died here in 1833. Thomas M. built the blacksmith shop at the head of Glen road in 1859. He learned his trade of William Earl Cook and has worked at it fifty years. His wife, Jane E., is a daughter of Andrew and Jane (Seabury) Cory. Her maternal grandfather is Cornelius Seabury, of Tiverton. Their onlj^ child is Frederick A., whose wife, Harriet, is a daughter of Deacon William Henry Gardner. They have one child, Frederick Harold. George C. Fish, born in 1830, is a son of Joseph W., and grand- son of Job Fish. His wife, Lucinda A., is a daughter of Albert G. Cook, who died in 1886 at the age of 86, having served as HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 711 town coiincilnian and as deputy sheriff of fliis county. Mr. Fisli was engaged in 2)urse and trap fisliing I'oi' twenty years jirior to 1870, and since then in farming. His only child is Henrietta J., now Mrs. Arthur L. Borden. • William F. Freeborne, son of Charles S., and grandson of Stepiien Freeborne, was born in 1840. He was united in mar- riage with Lutetia, daughter of Benjamin Tallman here. For twenty-one years prior to ISSfl Mr. Freeborne was extensively engaged in jjurse iishing, since which he has devoted his time to the different branches of "scnpp" trapping. Has also given some attention to farming. Solomon Gardner was born here in 1835. He was a son of Thomas Gardner who was a native of Jamestown. He married Elizabeth G. Manchester, daughter of the late John S. and granddaughter of John Manchester of Tiverton. They have one son, John T. Gardner, whose wife was Georgie Lawton. Mrs. Gardner's mother was a daughter of Williams Durfee of Tiverton, a relative of Judge Dni-fce. ^Villiam H. Giftord, son of William H. and grandson of Jer- emiah Gifford, was born in 1836. His first wife was Sarah Heath, sister of James M. Heath of Middletown. She died leav- ing one son, Ralph E. Gifford of Providence. The present wife, Harriet Eebecca, is a sister of John H. Manchester, of Middle- town. Her father was born in the old Manchester house, now 110 years old. He died at 92 years of age. Mr. Gifford was engaged in teaching school from 1859 to 1886. He is a prominent officer in the Episcopal church here. Josiah C. Giff'ord, brother of William H., was born here in 1832. His wife is Julia A. P., daughter of Gardner T. Slocura, of Middletown. They have three sons living: William Gardner, Barclay Hazard and Charles. Mr. Giff'ord is a farmer and has been on the Hazard farm " Vaucluse,'' eight years. Jonathan C. Gould, born in 1824, is a son of Thomas Gould, whose father was also named Thomas. Mrs. Gould, Josephine E., is a sister of J. Lawrence Durfee. Their only child, Mary P., is the wife of Kestcom P. Manchester, and iicr only child is Jonathan Gould Manchester. Mv. Gould was cautain of the Portsmouth company of Rhode Island militia. Doctor Benjamin Green, son of lion. Isaac and Eliza (Kenyon) Green, was born in Exeter, R. I., in 1833. His father was rep- resentative in the general assembly at one time. His grand- 712 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. father was Hon. Benjamin Green of Coventry, R. I. In 1859 Doctor Green graduated fi'om University Medical College of New York city. In liis lodge he is now worshipful master. He has been high priest of the Chapter and was once grand king of the Grand Chapter of the state. He was married in 1860 to Eunice A., daughter of Philip B. Chase. They have two cliil- dren: Iva Eunice and Isaac Philip. Cornelius S. Green is a son of Benjamin, son of Hawkins Green. His wife, Amelia A., is a daughter of Wanton Sher- man. Their children are : S. Lizzie and Frank Winslow. Mr. Green's farm, called the "Captain Wild's" place, was pur- chased by his father in 1863. Clinton Hale, of Providence, whose wife is Edna, daughter of Peleg Almy, is a descendant of Nathan Hale and Sir Matthew Hale. He has two sons, Frank C. and Dwiglit A. Hale. Benjamin Hall was born in Portsmouth in 1827, and is a son of Parker Hall and a grandson of George Hall. He was state senator in 1862-63 and town treasurer two or three years. He married Eliza Chase, a sister of Hon. John F. Chase. She died leaving four children : George P., Benjamin Jr., Herbert F. and Mary C. His present wife is from Fall River. His business is farming. Parker Hall was one of the friends of Governor Dorr in the Dorr war, he being a member of the legislature. Lafaj'ette used to make his stops frequently at the home of George Hall, who then lived in the house where Charles G. Thomas now re- sides. During his last visit to America he called on Hannah, who was a sister of George Hall. \Vhile Lafayette was tend- ing her by an open window in 1776 it fell and hurt her hand, and so the general came to see her when both were old and to ask if her hand was injured. George Hall was a leading man in the town, as was also his son, Parker Hall, in his life. The latter was associate judge in the court of common pleas. David Franklyn Hall, son of Robert Dennis Hall, was born in Portsmouth, and married Abbie T. Chase, daughter of Wil- liam Alfred Chase. They have a son, Harold Borden Hall. William Hathaway was born in Middletownin 1810, and mar- ried Mary Manchester, a sister of Deacon John Manchester, late of Portsmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway have three children living: George, John and Lucy (Mrs. Moses Brotherson). The HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 713 fiiiuily are Quakers. William's father was George, who came from Freetown, Massachusetts. The hitter's father was John, a son of Ephraim. This Ephraim, with two brothers, came from England. John Hedly was born in 1800. His father, Henry, was a son of Peleg Hedly, who was killed by the British here in the war of the revolution. Peleg's father was Henry Hedlj'. John has been a merchant here since 1829, and has some of the old goods still. His niece, Esther M., a girl of eighteen, daughter of David Hedly, keeps house for him. Mr. Hedly is a staunch republican, and was a fedei'alist during the existence of that party. He belongs to the society of Friends here. Robert Hicks was born here in 1820, and married Emily Green. Their children are: Emma Francis, Oliver Green, Grace R., George R. George R. is married to Minnie Potter, of Central Falls, R.I., and is one of the school committee now, and has been school trustee. Ou Robert Hicks' farm are the remains of an old cellar, and near by is an old well, and no one living knows how or when they were put there. Julia Ward Howe, whose " Battle Hymn of the Republic " has been " marching on" with the author's fame towards the appreciation of a whole people, has written many exquisite poems, thoughtful and strong as Emerson's, sweet; as Whittier's, and welcome as herself to those who know her. She has been called the Browning of Ainerica, but Elizabeth and Julia do not strike one lyre. Americans may be pardoned for preferring the author of "Passion Flower," " Words for the Hour," and "Later Lyrics." There is a drama, also, "The World's Own," which is poetic; and are not her prose works full of poetry ? "The Trip to Cuba," so redolent with memo- ries of the scholar and preacher, Theodore Parker, then an in- valid fellow voyager; " From the Oak to the Olive," so rich in fancies and fine descriptions. One is at a loss to know whetlier to call Mrs. Howe poet or philosopher. In later years she has added the title of reformer, and shown herself worthy of her place by the side of Samuel G. Howe, the philanthropist, whose "Memoir," for the u,se of the blind and others, the faithful wife has just prepared. That she is the daughter of Samuel Ward, a New York banker, that her mother, Mrs. Julia Ward, was a poet, and that she was finely educated, with other facts, may be learned from the volume called " Eminent Women of 714 IIISTOIJY OF NEWPUKT COUNTY. the Age," and, since it is there to be found, less may be said liere. May it be many a day before lier biography in full shall be penned; for the world hath need of such as she, and our country can ill afford to lose a woman at once so sweet and strong, so loving and wise. Julia Ward Howe has traveled ex- tensively in the old world, and her books telling of classic scenes, or of unfamiliar, lovely spots in the tropic islands of the sea, are full of thrilling interest. She is editorially connected with the " Womari s Journal^ She is mentioned among women who occasionally preach. With Julia Ward Howe crossing the ocean to preach the gospel of peace in England, and inaugurating mother's day on each June 2d, for the world, whereon mothers will specially pray that war may not come to slay any other mothers' sons. She lectures on literary and philosophic themes and for reforms. William M. Hughes, born in 1852, is a son of Charles H. and Anna Lawton Hughes. Mr. Hughes' father died in 1882. Wil- liam M. married Annie H., daughter of General John Gould of Middletown. They have two children: Charles M. and Harriet C. Mr. Hughes is a member of tlie National Gun Club and the Miantonomi Gun Club of Newport. His great grandfather, Peter Hughes, forged the first link of tlie blockading chain across the Hudson in the revolutionary war. A part of this chain is in Redwood Library. Albert W. Lawrence was born in 1847. His father, Luke Lawrence, was born in Troy, N. H., in 1820, and he came to Portsmouth in 1843. He married Mary, daughter of Asa Borden. Mr. Lawrence is the onh^ child. He married Cordelia A., daugh- ter of Thomas Holman. They have two children, William A. and Mary A. Albert, in his ycninger days, made several sea voyage.s, including a trip to the West Indies on board a tea ship, and one between New York and China. Borden Lawton, born in 1820, is a son of Adam Lawton and grandson of Giles Lawton. His mother was a daughter of Giles Slocum. Mr. Lawton's wife is Anna, daughter of Jethro Mitchell, of Middletown. Her grandfather, Richard, and his father, Richard, lived in the old Mitchell house, a landmark still standing east of the Slate Hill road, near the Portsmouth and Middletown town line. Mr. Lawton has two daughters: Mrs. Charles S. Sisson and Mrs. Isaac Cha.se. Joseph E. Macomber was born in 1822 in Vermont, and IIISTOItY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 715 came here a single man about 1845, and engaged as a teacher. He married Finis G. M., daughter of Isaac Borden. Theii' children are: Isaac B., Lizzie W., EUwood G., Anna B. and Richard R. The eldest of this generation was born in 1852, and married Abbie A. Cuslunan, ol Plymouth county, Mass. They have three children: Carleton H., Maurice E. and Ger- trude E. The family are pronunent members of the Society of Friends. Isaac B. Macomber is the recorder of the society here. The family is descended from William Macomber, who settled in Marshfield, Mass., about 1634-36. Joseph E. is the sixth generation from this William. Nathan D. Main was born in Brooktield, N. Y., in 1812. He was married in 1837 to a daughter of Simeon Coggeshall. Their family consists of three boys: William D. C, Truman C. and Abner S. The latter's wife is an English lady named Cope- land. Their children are Bertha L. and Nathan C. Truman Claik Main, boin in 1842, is a son of Nathan J). Main. His wife was Jemima Northup. They have but two children: William Carr and Lottie Frances. Mr. Main has for sixteen years been superintendent of the Barstow farm called " Green Vale." From 1861 to 1871 he was engaged in seine fishing. A. G. Manchester, son of Jeremiah Manchester, was born in Tiverton in 1831. His wife, Fannie A., is a daughter of John Cook of Tiverton. They have one son, Oscar C, who began in the mercantile business here in 1876. He was postmaster here for ten years, 1876-86. His wife, Ruth C, is a daughter of Cook Manchester. A. G. Manchester's mother was Esther, a daughter of Borden and granddaughter of Thomas Wilcox. His wife was a granddaughter of William Cook, son of Judge Walter Cook, who served as judge until in his 90th year. John Manchester, of Poi'tsmouth, deceased, was bcjrn here in 1817, and died January 1st, 1885. He was a son of Edward and grandson of John Manchester, of Tiverton. His life was passed here, where he was twenty-three years deacon of the Christian church and several years treasurer. He has three children liv- ing : Ann Augusta, Bertha (Mrs. Stephen Burdick, of New- port), and Clara (Mrs. Abram Rathbonel. Mr. and Mrs. Rath- bone have one child, Edith. Deacon Manchester was treasurer of tile Christian church at the time of his death, and also at the building of the new church in 1865. Thomas Manchester was born in 1839. He is a sou of Isaac 716 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Manchester and grandson of Thomas Manchester. Thomas, sen. , was a brother of Giles Mancliester, the grandfather of John H. Manchester, of Middletown. 'J'homas Manchester's wife, Mary A., is a daughter of Freeborn Albro. Mr. Manchester's business is farming and house painting. John C. Mott is a direct descendant of Adam Mott, who came from England to Boston about 1634. Jacob, son of Adam, was born in Roxbury, Mass. The family came early to Portsmouth and took up the farm now owned by John C. and Jacob Mott. This farm has never been deeded. The early generations of the family were Friends The line of descent to our subject is as follows: Adam, Jacob, Jacob, Jacob, Jacob, Benjamin, Jacob, John C. John C. Mott maiTied Catherine, daughter of William Borden, who died leaving one son, William B. His present wife is a daughter of Isaac Gary. They have one son, Alfred. William B. Mott, son of John C. Mott, was born in 1859. In 1883 he was married to Annie Louisa Fish. His farm is the old Joseph Thomas farm, near Newtown village. Mr. Mott's mother was a daughter of the late John Borden. Dennis Murphj^ was born in 1860. His father, Dennis Mur- phy, came from County Cork, Ireland, living at different periods in Wales, in the Southern states and in New Jersey. In 1844 he came to New England, spending seventeen _years in Maine as a farmer. He came here again in 1871, and died in 1884, leaving eight children : Mary (now Mrs. Sullivan, of Newport), Katie, Dennis, Elizabeth A., Michael J., Agnes, Patrick F. and Anna. The younger Dennis is a farmer, dealing in vegetables, poultry and butter. Abram T. Peckham was born in 1819, in Newport. He is a son of Joshua, grandson of Joshua, and a great-grandson of William Peckham. His mother was Eliza R., daughter of Abram D. Tilley. Abram T. Peckham was in business in New- port as a contractor and carpenter for twenty-five or thirty years, after which he bought his present farm in Portsmouth. His sons (now deceased) were extensively engaged in the grain business in Boston. The father is largely interested in grain trade. He was in the city council of Newj^ort. His wife was Mary G., daughter of John W. Oman, and sister of Mrs. Abra- ham Coggeshall, of Middletown. They have had six children, four now living : Emma F. (Mrs. Elbert A. Sisson), Laura (Mrs. HISTOKY OF NEAVPOirr COUNTY. 717 Winfield S. Sisson), Mary R. (Mrs. John Rogers, of Newport), and Nellie. Nelson R. Reed, butcliei', was born in Westport, Mass., in 1847. He married a danghter of John Lawton, of Westport, one of the old families of the town. Mr. Reed came here ia 1883 and began running teams over this town and Middletown, living meanwhile in Tiverton. In 1886 he moved to Newtown, opening the meat market where W. H. Faulkner had formerly been. His family consists of four daughters. Sherman. — In a very old manuscript belonging to Margaret T. Sherman we find a record showing that Philip Sherman was born in England in 1610, and that his children were: Eber, born 1684; Sarah, 1036; Peleg, 1638; Mary, 1639; Edman, 1641; Sampson, 1642; William, 1643; John, 1644; Mary, 1645; Hannah, 1647; Samuel, 1648; Benjamin, 1650; and Philip, 1652. This remark- able family probably came to New England in 1638 or 1640. Doubtless all the Shermans mentioned in this chapter are de- scendants from this ancestor. The farms owned by Steidaen T., Charles L., Elijah B.,John, Benjamin C. and Frederick M. Sherman belonged to Philip (1610). Stephen T. Sherman is a son of Richard Sherman, grandson of Richard Sherman, and great grandson of Thomas Sherman. He married Ann Louisa Perkins, of New Hampshire. They have three children: Perkins B., George W., and Warren R. Mr. Sherman was one of the school committee for twenty years prior to 1886, and at one time was assessor. His father, Richard Shei-man, was town clerk for twenty years. Charles L. Sherman, farmer, brother of Stephen T., was born in 1841, and in 1866 married Emma P. Coggeshall, daughter of Josiah and granddaughter of Simeon Coggeshall. Elijah B. Sherman, son of Peleg, grandson of Levi, who was a brother of Stephen T. Sherman's father, Richard, was born in 1836. His wife, Deborah H., to whom he was married in 1856, is a daughter of Hicks Cornell, a son of Samuel Cornell. Parker Hall Sherman was born in 1849. His father was Ben- jamin C. Siierman, grandfather Samuel Sherman, great-grand- father John Sherman, and great-great-grandfather John Sher- man, born in 1696. Parker Sherman married Annie, daughter of the late Charles Carr, of this town. They have two children: Alton P. and Liilie May. Mr. Sherman's occupation is farm- 718 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTT. ing. His mother was Waite, dangliter of Parker Hall, who was a brother of 'David Hall. Benjamin C. Sherman, born in 1841, brother of Parker Hall Sherman, married Abby, daughter uf Benjamin Almy, grand- daughter of Andrew Almj^ and great-granddaughter of Job Almy. Their family consists of five children: Frank P., Ellen W., Fannie I., Arthur A. and Benjamin C, Jr. Mr. Sherman owns the old homestead, whose covering of cedar, still sound and held in place with the hand-made nails of 1750, is rid- dled with bullet holes from sill to cliimney. This old laud- mark testifies in eloquent silence that "Quaker Hill" in 1776 was esteemed a prize worth fighting for. Margaret T. Sherman, widow of Robert A. Sherman, was born in New York state, although her father was a Ports- mouth man. He was William Hall, one of the thirteen chil- dren of George Hall. Eobert Sherman was born in 1822. He was a son of John Sherman, and grandson of Samuel Sher- man. At Mr. Sherman's death he left three children: Mary A., John and Annie C. Charles Sumner Sisson is a son of William Henry, a grand- son of Jabez, and a great-grandson of Barney Sisson, wlio was drowned in the river off Fogland point. Charles S. was married in 1878 to Cornelia, daughter of Borden Lawton, of Portsmoutli. Their children are: Marion S. and Borden L. In politics Mr. Sisson has been a radical republican as opposed to the trading schemes of the strikers. His business is farming. Winfield Scott Sisson, son of William H., grandson of Jabez and Eliza (Ward) Sisson, and great-grandson of Barney and Barbara Sisson, was born in 1862. Tliis Barbara Sisson was a great-granddaughter of the original Richard Sisson, wiio early settled at Mintvvater Brook. W. S. Sisson was married in 1883 to Laura, a daughter of Abraham T. Peckham of this town. Alfred Green Sisson is a brother of Wintield Scott Sisson. His wife is Hannah C, daughter of Robert Dennis Hall. Tliey were maiTied in 1888. His farm is called the Slocum farm. On one of the farms operated by iiim, called " the Bull lot," are the remains of an old fort and earthworks, rifle pits, and breast- works four feet high, overgrown witli grass. Jonathan A. Sisson, born 1833, is a son of Edmund S. Sisson (born 1809 and died 1885) and gi'andson of Barney Sisson, who in 1810 was drowned off Fogland. His wife is Jane H. Davey, HISTORY OF NEWPOltT COUNTY. 719 and their cliildren are: Ellsworth, Grace A. and Annie E P. Mr. Sisson as a republican has filled several town offices and for three years represented this town in the legislature. In 1870 he was a member of the republican state committee. Edward Sisson was born in 1811, and is a son of Pardon and a grandson of John Sisson. Pardon Sisson was a pensioner of the war of 1813. He died in 1806, aged 91 years. Edward Sis- son was married in 1834 to Mary CI., daughter of Stephen Stead- man. They have five children, all married : William M., Sarah E., Edward P., George E. and Elbert A. Mr. Sisson was a member of the town council six years, and was manager of the town farm as commissioner of the town asylum. His daugh- ter, Sarah E., is the wife of Martin E. Bartless, of Auburn, N. Y. She has one son, Edward S., who is married to Adella Foot. "William M. Sisson, born in 1835, is a son of Edward Sisson. He married Lovisa H. Northrup. Their children are: MaryE., Jennie, William H., Elmer Burnside, Nellie B. and Annie B. Mr. Sisson' s residence is the old Edward Sisson homestead. The fire-place in it has the engraved date, 1797. George E. Sisson, son of Edward, was born in 1849, and is a farmer. He was married in 1872 to Laura E. Sweet. They have two children : Flora S. and Clara S. Mr. Sisson learned car- pentry and worked at it five or six years. Elbert A. Sisson, son of Edward, was born in 1853, and mar ried Emma Florence, daughter of Abram T. Peckham. Their only child is Ethel Peckham Sisson. Mr. Sisson has been clerk of the Christian church in Portsmouth since 1879. Charles Collins Slocum', whose direct ancestors were Samuel E.,' Stephen," Giles,' Giles,* Giles,' Giles' and Anthony,' was born in 1824, and was named in honor of Governor Collins, of Rhode Island. His wife is Lydia Jane, daughter of Asa Borden. The Slocums of the ninth generation are : Clara L. (Mrs. George H. Taylor, of Providence), Mary B. (Mrs. George W. Sherman, Newport), Rowena A. (Mrs. William J. Cioucher) and Mattie Slocnm. Frank Slocnm, son of Abial T. and Mahala H. (Sisson) Slo- cum, was born in 1838. His wife, Maria R., is a daughter of William Henry Brown and granddaughter of Isaac Brown. They have two children, Walter A. and Oscar E. His business is farming and poultry raising. 720 HISTORY OP NEWPORT COUNTY. Job Sowie, born in 1836, is a son of George W. and grandson of Job Sowle, a native of Westport. His wife Lydia, is a daughter f)f Samuel Cory, who was largely identified with local politics, being a member of the town council several years prior to his death in 1885, at the age of 88. Her grandfather, also named Samuel, was the hero mentioned among those who •captured Geneial Piescott. The grave of the old hero is on the farm where Mr. Sowle resides. Elbridge I. Stoddard was born in Massachusetts in 1840, and in 1867 came here and was eleven years employed at the copper smelting works at "Coal Mine Farm." From 1877 to 1884 he was I'ailroad agent and had charge of the coal mine and farm. In 1884 he began business as a merchant and coal and grain dealer at Bristol ferry, where he is agent for the Providence i(nd Fall River Steamboat Company. He was a non-commis- sioned officer in the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment three years, 1861-65. J. Henry Stoddard, a native of Massachusetts, came to Ports- mouth in 1866, and served as superintendent of the copper smelting works until their abandonment in January, 1887. Prom 1882 Mr. Stoddard was live years in the town council, being president during tlie last three years of this time. He has also been an efficient member of the school committee. Benjamin Tallman, born in 1846, son of Benjamin, grandson of Thales and great-grandson of Nicholas Tallman, is part owner and master of one of the fishing steamers of the Church system. His father probably deserves the credit of one of the most im- portant inventions in the present plan of deep water seineing. He was largely interested in the menhaden and scupp fishing until his death in 1883. His son, Benjamin, married Eleanor, ■daughter of David and granddaughter of George Fish. William T. Tallman, born 1851, is a son of Benjamin, grand- son of Thales, and great-grandson of Nicholas Tallman. He "was married in 1875 to Laura G., daughter of Job R. Carr. Mr. Tallman's mother was Sarah Ann (Dennis) Tallman. His busi- ness is fishing, as mate with his brothei-, Captain Benjamin Tallman. Each of these brothers has a snug, comfortable home in Newtown village. Gardner Thomas, deceased, well known as a merchant here for many years, was a son of Richard and Anna (Brownell) "Thomas. His first wife was Eleanor, dauijh.ter of John Borden, HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY, 721 who at her death left two daughters, Sarah A. and Mary E. Mary E. became the wife of John D. Clark, and at her death left three children : Elnora (now Mrs. Byron Randall), Miss Fannie T. Clark and William B. Clark. William B. married a daughter of John H. Cross, and has one son, Charles G. Clark. Mr. Thomas' second wife, who survives him, is Arney, a daugh- ter of Captain Bateman Monroe, and granddaughter of Thomas Monroe, a surgeon in the revolution. Charles Gardner Thomas, son of Joseph and grandson of Kichard Thomas, was born in ISS.*!!. He was married to Ann E., daughter of George L. Fish, and granddaughter of Geoi'ge Fish. They have had five children, all of whom are living. Their names are : Sidney C, Frank L., George P., Annie A., and William II. Mr. Gardner's occupation is farming. Peleg L. Tliurston' is a descendant of Peleg°, Peleg', John*, Jonathan", Edward' and Edward'. Peleg L. married Sarah E., daughter of Parker Lawton and granddaughter of William Lawton, of Portsmouth. This Lawton family gave name to Lawton valley in Portsmouth. Peleg L. Thurston's children lire: Parker L., Sarah A., Roberta R., Claj-a M., Howard and Bertha. Thomas Thnrston, a Quakei-, aged 34, was a passenger in the " Speedwell" in 1656, landing at Boston August 27th. He, with three other passengers, was examined and committed to prison, " there to remain until the return of the ship that brot. them," then to be carried back to England, " lest the purity of the re- ligion professed in the churches of New England should be de- filed with error." Edward Thurston was the first of the name in the colony of Rhode Island, and his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Mott, in June, 1647, is the third on the record of the " Society of Friends" at Newport. To this society we are indebted for a complete record of his family and of those of his descendants " who remained faithful." He is mentioned in the colonial re- cords as a freeman in le.'io. His will, proved March 12th, 1707, names his .son Edward and his grandsons Edward and Jonathan. Robeit L. Thurston, brother of Peleg L., now owns the Thurs. ston homestead where his father Peleg lived. The house is on the site where the Lawton family built more than one luindred and fifty years ago. The old cemetery on this farm contains the graves of the early generations of the Lawton family. Mr. 722 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Thurston's wife, Harriet Rawson, who died in 1883, is buried here. Stephen A. Watson is a son of Doctor Daniel Watson, of Newport, and a grandson of Robert Watson, of Jamestown. He was five years in the grocery business, and has been twenty years a farmer and marlxet gardener in Portsmouth. He was state representative in 1878-9. He has been a member of the town council for three years, and is now president of the council. He was married in 1878 to Henrietta, daughter of John Croucher. John W. Watts, son of Lorenzo D. Watts, was born in 1844, He was married to Annie Borden, of Westport, who died in 1881. They had seven children, four of whom are living, Georgiana, Sarah E., Emma and Frank. His present wife, to whom he was married in 1883, is a daughter of George W. Baten. of South Scituate, R. I. Benjamin B. White, born in 1873, is a son of David White, and a grandson of Thomas White. His wife is Patience, daugh- ter of John Rogers. Mr. White has been an officer in the Union Christian church for about eight years, and a deacon two years. He has been a member of the school committee three years. He served an apprenticeship and worked two years as a silver- smith. His children are: Frank B., Joseph R. and George L. CHAPTER XIV. TOWN OF JAMESTOWN. By J. R. Cole. Location anil Description.— Tlie Indians.— Early Land Purchases.— Early Settle- ments.— The Carr Family.— Other Early Settlers.— Incorporation of the Town.— During the Revolution. — Fort Brown. — Public Buildings.— Tax List of 1822.— Conanicut Park.— Ocean Highland Company.— Public Improve- meats. — Religious Organizations. — The Common Schools. — Ferry Connec- tions. — Light Houses. — Dutch Island. — Gould Island. — George C. CaiT. — Thomas C. Watson. — Personal Paragraphs. THE town of Jame.stown comprises Conanicat, Dutch and Gould islands. It was organized as a town November 4th, 1678, and received its name in honor to King James I. of England. The islands composing it are located near each other in the lower part of Narragansett bay. Conanicut, the largest one of these, is about nine miles in length and from one to two miles in width. It has a population of about five hundred. The name is derived from the Indian name, sometimes written Quononoqutt. This is a modification of Canonicus, the name of the Indian sachem whose favoiite residence was on the island. Dutch island contains about three hundred acres, while Gould island contains only about one hundred acres. The sur- face of Conanicut is gently undulating and its soil favorable to cultivation. It is one of the most beautiful islands in the great bay. Agriculture and grazing occupy most of the attention of the inhabitants. Formerly considerable attention was paid to sheep raising. Manufactures have gained but little favor here, the natural conditions of course refusing any water power or other facilities for that branch of human industry. The pecu- liar location of the island, however, renders it pleasant and at- tractive, and within the few years past the votaries of wealth and fashion have purchased sites and erected numerous hand- some villas for summer residence. 4G 724 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The town is accommodated by two ferries — one to Newport, and the other to South Kingstown, on the west shore of Narra- gansett bay, nearly opposite from here. A public thoroughfare extends across the island connecting these ferries. Another main highway extends througli the island from north to south, covering its entire length. But little is known of the Indians who inhabited this locality when the country was discovered by Europeans. Their tradi- tions aver that Tashtassuck, a former chief of the Narragansetts, lived here and was a great wai'rior, so great, indeed, that he ruled over all the tribes along the Atlantic coast from Connecti- cut to Cape Cod. He was the father of Canonicus and grand- father of Miantonomi. Canonicus, who swa\^ed the sceptre at the time of the arrival of the whites, is said to have l)een a wise and peaceful ruler, aiming to advance his people in the arts of civilized life as he saw them in operation among his pale-faced neighbors. It is even said that he had conceived some s(jrt of notion of civilization before the coming of the whites, and was actually striving to bring his subjects to a higher plane of life. Before the arrival of Roger Williams it seems they knew con- siderable of the means and appliances of civil warfare, and had by this superior knowledge conquered a kingdom for them- selves, which covered a front of six hundred miles in length. After their conquests they laid aside their weapons of warfare and encouraged commerce and the manufacture of such imple- ments and articles of use and trade as people of their condition needed. A knowledge of their language, their customs, the progress they had made in the arts of civilized life, was encour- aged among them, and this rudimental education greatly ameli- orated that barbarous condition which had formerly ciiaracter- ized their race. The settlei's not only found the Indians here peaceful in their attitude toward strangers, but a refuge often- times from the oppression of their own countrymen. This island of Conanicut was the summer abode of the chief- tain, Canonicus, though it is thought he wintered in some local- ity more sheltered from the rigorous winds of the seashore. Even the untutored mind seems to have had some sense of ap- preciation of the beautiful, as evinced by their love of this little gem of the waters. The island was not only used for purposes of summer residence, but here they had extensive burial grounds also. Oftentimes, by accident or otherwise, skeletons of this HISTORY OF NEWPOBT COUNTY. 725 early race have been nnenrthed, but the citizens, always re- specting their notions of that " happy hunting ground beyond," have burieel their bones again in a decent manner. One of their favorite places of camping was on grounds near the present resi- dence of Mr. John Howland. The first purchase of hind of this town was made by Benedict Arnold and William Coddington, in the year 1657. The records give the following historical account of tiie transaction : "Newport, Rhode Island, Aprell 17, 1657. "Know all men by these Pj-esents that I Cashasaquoont a chiefe Sachem and commander of Narragansett and Quonono- quet Island in Narragansett Bay aforenamed &c. for and in con- sideration of Several gifts beforehand received, And also for and in consideration of ye fulle and juste sume of 100 lbs ster- ling in hand, also received in name and nature of a tine or purchase money I say that I y^ aforenamed sachem for ye afore- said nation have and by these presents doe fnlly bargain for, make over, and make lawfully of all and every parcell of the forenamedlslandQuononoquout appurtenances Benetits,profRts, commodities, and privileges, therefrom, and thereto properly belonging, or appertaining unto William Coddington Esq, Benedict Arnold sen. both of Newport on Rhode Island in ye aforesdBayof Narragansett for themselves and others of ye free inhabitants of Rhode Island and others of their friends as are in covenant with the said William Coddington and Benedict Arnold sent by writings about ye jiremises which writings beareth date March 1656, And furthermore ye aforesaid Island Quononoqutt is hereby abouched, declared by me ye forenamed Cashanaquoont that it is ye proper right and inheritance of ye sons before promised themselves and their heirs, execntoi'S and administrators, assigns for all and every, or either of them to hold possess, use and enjoj-, Quietly without anylawfull lett or hindrance as their and every and either of their true rightful and lawful inheritance forever, according to each his propor- tion as mentioned in j'e promised covenants written between themselves as aforesd And furthermore the Aforenamed Sachem Cashanaquoont doe hereby owne myself to share and satisfy all ye other Sachems pretending or that shall or may hereafter pretend to lay clayme of interest in ye premises to ye disposi- tion of ye promised purchasers And moreover I hereby engage that ui)on my own proper charge to satisfy tluMu and ail 726 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of them so claj^miug in time convenient so shall be required by ye afoi'enamed purchasers I doe make proper charges to move all ye Indian Inhabitants and throw them off from ye foresd Island Quononoquett them to leave free and full possession of ye said Island wholly to ye said purchasers to other charges either for the Indian Cornfields or any other labors of theirs that is to remain over after their departure off said Island. "And in witness of this my free and considerate bargain 1, Cashanaquoont doe set my hand this the 17 of Aprell 1657 as first above is mentioned ye day of sil signed sealed and de- livered. " Cashanaquoont. "Witnessed by "Brinley and' " AWAWSHOWES." In confirmation of this purchase another sachem, Quisaquann, quit-claimed his interest to William Coddington, Benedict Ar- nold, William Brenton, Caleb Carr and Richard Smith. This bears date July 25th, 1659. It appear to have been made at Warwick and refers to a previous writing bearing date March 10th, 1656. The reader may have noticed in the deed given in full above that reference is also made to the same previous writing. All that is known regarding that previous writing is a state- ment made by Thomas Brinley in 1715. He then declares that in the year 1656 a company of more than one hundred persons agreed to purchase Conanicut island and drew up a writing un- der thirteen heads or articles embodying the terms of that agreement. Richard Smith, Jr. was employed to purchase the land and he agreed with Cajanaquant, a chief sachem, for one hundred pounds, and the deed was signed at William Codding- ton's house at " New Lodge," Brinley himself being a witness to the instrument. Possession was given by " turf and twig." The island was then computed to be 6,000 acres in extent and 4,800 acres were allotted to individuals for farms, 260 acres were to be devoted to a town plat, and spaces were to be set apart for an "artillerj^ garden," a place of burial, a prison house, high- ways and other purposes. On the 28th of March, 1657, Thomas Gould purchased of the Indian sachem, Koshtosh, the island now known as Gould is- mSTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 727 land. Dutcli island seems to have been included in the pur- chase of Conanicut under the deed from Cashanaquoont. It seems that prior to these purchases the English had bought the right to the grass on the islands, which purchase of rights had been made in connection with the purchase of Aquidneck. This gave rise to some misunderstanding with the Indians and re- sulted in the full purchase of the land as above set forth. The lands obtained from the Indians in these islands were held in common by the original purchasers until about the year 1665 or 1666, before they began to divide or admit other owners to their numbers. Then a division of the land of Conanicut was made, lands for farms being allotted to individuals in pro- portion to the various amounts they had invested in the pur- chase. A highway four rods wide was laid out across the island, and a town or village plat, consisting of liouse lots of one acre each, was planned. William Coddington and Benedict Arnold became the largest purchasers, hence were given the "'lion's share'' of the territorj^ and the first choice of location. The for- mer took the northern part of the island, and the latter took the southern part. Arnold was a large owner in the plat of the proposed village, and when the plan was abandoned, as was the case a little later on, he, in common with other holders of that property, was given other lands most conveniently situated with reference to his homestead. At Mr. Arnold's death his prop- erty fell to his two nephews. The farms now known as the "Dumplings" and the "Beaver Head Farm" are owned by Thomas H. Clark and Mrs. B. S. Cottrell. The lot known as the "Tuck Lot," on which the new school house stands, was assigned to the farm across the beach, and the lot west of the school house became a part of the Greene farm. This all re- sulted from the division of the village lots as before mentioned. Benedict Arnold, the son of William Arnold, was born Decem- ber 21st, 1615, married Damaris Wescott December 17th, 1640, and died at Newport June 19th, 1678. By his will he gave to his eldest son, Benedict, the "north half of a neck of land being southermost i)art of Conanicut island by me named Beaver Neck, containing lOOO acres surrounded by the sea, except by a nar- row beach called Parting Beach." To the same he also gave one-third of Dutch island. To his son, Josiah, he gave the other half of. Beaver neck and another third of Dutch island. To his youngest son, Oliver, he gave about tliree hundred acres .728 HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. bomided parti}' by land of the assignees of William Weeden, deceased, another tract of 60 acres, spoken of as a triangular piece, somewhere on the island, an interest in the 260 acre tract known as the "Township," and the remaining third of Dutch island. The three sons mentioned were given also all his cattle, hor- ses and sheep, that were on the island south of Caleb Carr's. To another son, Caleb, in addition to considerable sums already given, as book accounts showed, amounting to £200, he gave 160 acres on the island, to be occupied by him till his eldest son should become of age, then to pass to him. By a codicil dated February 10th, 1678, he changes his son Benedict's land in Beaver neck, to the south part, and Josiah's to the north part, and directs that his son Oliver's part of land, which contains the homestead, should be made up to 500 acres, to be equal with the others. The Carr family became conspicuous in tlie development of the early history of this town, and their fortunes have been more or less identified with Jamestown from its settlement to the present time. Caleb Carr owned large tracts of land on the island of Aquidneck or Ehode Island, and also in this town. After his death the Jamestown property, known as the home- stead, came into possession of his son, Nicholas, who had al- ready for some time resided there. He raised a large family, and many of his descendants reside on the island. The prop- erty belonging to Caleb Carr came largely from his being an original purchaser, and the additional purchases which he made a short time afterward. In 1658 he bought of William Case, sen., of Newport, all his interests in Conanicut and Dutch islands, also of Jeremiah Willis, of Newport, fifty-one and a half acres in Conanicut, and the interests of a number of others, and subsequently he bought hinds of Henry Bassett and Henry and Jireh Bull, who also owned lands on this island. The numerous families by the name of Carr in Jamestown and Newport are descended from two brothers, Robert and Caleb, who sailed from London for New England on the ship "Eliza- beth and Ann," Roger Cooper being master, in the year 1635. Robert, the elder brother, was a tailor by trade, and at the time he reached the western world was twenty-one years of age. Caleb, the younger brother, was at that time eleven years of age. They were natives of Scotland. The history of their pa- HISTORY OF NEWPOirr COUNTY. 729 rentag'e is but partly known. It is supposed by some of the piesent generation that they were the children of the Earl and Countess of Somerset. From Hume's history is gleaned the following, upon which this opinion is based : In 160.3, James Stuart, son of Mary, queen of Scotts, became king of England and Scotland. The king brought with him into England Rob- ert Carr, a Scottish youth of some distinction, whjm he created Earl of Somerset. Subsequently the youthful earl sought the hand of the Countess of Somerset, but was strongly advised against taking that step by Sir Thomas Overbury. This was unsavory advice to the youthful favorite of the king, and Carr secured the imprisonment of Sir Thomas, and after his marriage with the countess the twain joined hands and took his life. For this crime the earl and countess were tried and banished from England. Whether or not any connection existed between these associates of royalty and the two brothers who came to tliis country in their youth and alone is matter for conjecture. The precise dale when Robert and Caleb came to Newport is uncertain, but it must have been about the year 1638. Robert died in 1681, aged sixty-seven years. He left a widow, three sons, Caleb, Robert and Eseck, and two daughters, Elizabeth, who married James Brown, and IMargaret, who married Robert Lawton. His son Robert died in Newport in 1703 or 1704, leaving a son, Robert, and a daughter, Abigail, who afterward married the Rev. James Honeyman, then rector of the church of England. Caleb was a large owner of land in Newport, Jamestown and in other parts of the Natragansett country. Some of the same real estate is still held by his descendants. The ferry originally granted to him remained in the family until the j^ear 1873. He held various offices of trust, and died while he held the hon- orable position of governor of the colony. His tombstone is in the old Carr burying ground in Newport. This ground, located on Mill street, was given by him for the purpose to which it is devoted. The inscription on his tombstone is as follows: " Here lies ye body of Caleb Carr Governor of this Colony, who departed this life ye 17th day of December in ye 73d year of his age, in the year 1695." He had three wives, the first of whom, named Mercy, died in 1675, leaving four sons, Nicholas, Caleb, John and Edward, and a grandson by the name of Job, son of a deceased son Samuel. She was 730 IIISTOItr OF NEWPORT COUNTY. buried bj^ the side of her husband. His second wife was Marj- Vaughan, by whom he had one daughter, Mary, who married Thomas Paine. The third wife was Sarah Clarice, daughter of Jeremiah Chirlve and sister of Governor Walter Clarke. By this wife he had children: James, Sarah, Francis and Eliza- beth. One of the sons of Caleb Carr settled on Long Island, Nicholas in Jamestown and John in Newport. Samuel Carr, son of John and grandson of Caleb, was born in 1G94, married Mary Greene and died June 9th, 1739. His sons were Caleb, Samuel, John and Ebenezer. He was buried on Goat island, where, on his tombstone, may still be read the following legends of solemn fact and poetic fancy: "In memory of Mr. Samuel Carr, died June 9, 1739, in ye 46th year of his age. And Waite, his daughter, died ye same day, age 13 years. " Not human skill nor prayers nor tears could save From the dark chambers of the silent grare. Thus are we of our fondest hopes beguiled, — The tenderest husband and the sweetest child: In this distinguished day of both bereft, The happiest wife a mournful widow left, Dost to their much loved memory bestow This stone — sad monument of real woe." Samuel Carr, Jr., great-grandson of Caleb, was born in New- liort in 1721, but afterward moved to Jamestown. He married Danuiris Carr, and died in Jamestown in 1796. His son Samuel was born here in 1756, and married Damaris Underwood, born also in Jamestown in 1763. They were married August 24th, 1780. She died May 18th, 1798, and lie died March 21st, 1814. John Carr, spoken of above, son of Samuel, and gi-andson of Caleb, took part in the revolutionary war, at the battle on Rhode Island and at Trenton, N. J. Caleb Carr, the governor, lield tliat office under the royal charter from May to December, 169.^, when his career was cut suddenly short by his death by drowning. To his son, Nich- olas, he deeded the farm of 140 acres in Conanicut, another tract of 40 acres on the island, a right in Dutch island, a quarter share in Gould island and propertj^ in Newpcnt. To his son, John, he gave jn-operty in Newport and on Rose island. To his son, Edward, he gave 115 acres on Conanicut, a right on Dutch island and a share on Gould island. His son, Caleb, was, like himself, a public- spirited House of WILLIAM T. RICHARDS, JAMESTOWN, R. I. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 731 man and speno his life on the island. He was born August 23d, 1057, and died October 10th, 1700. His wife, Deborah, also died the same year. He owned houses and lands on Co- nanicut, Dutch and Gould islands. Nicholas Carr lield a number of public offices. He was free- man in 1679 ; ensign in 1680 ; deputy from 1680 to 1699 ; over- seer of the poor in 1687 ; a member of the grand jury in 1087 ; deputy warden in 1690; lieutenant in 1692, and warden in 170-i The names of his children were : Joseph, Nicholas, Jane, Caleb, Robert, Margaret, Ann, Mercy, Thomas, Rebecca and Benjamin. The original homestead property in Jamestown is now owned and occupied by Tiddeman H. Carr. Among the descendants of Nicholas Carr was a grandson, Caleb, who had a very singular adventure, which is related as follows : He was a wild and reckless youth, and pursued his way through early life apparently fearing neither the powers above nor the powers below. On one occasion he was caught in a severe thunder shower, during which he was laid prostrate by a stroke of lightning. Coming to his senses he found, to his great surprise, that he was personally uninjured, although his silver knee-buckles were completely melted. This remarkable escape from death made a deej) impression on his mind. He seemed to be aroused to a sense of his position, and tliought more deeply than lie had ever thought before. The result was that he soon afterward joined the Quakers, and relinquisliing his former wild career, became a celebrated x^reacher of that faith. Daniel Weeden was one of the original settlers of the island. He purchased a large tract of land, extending from the ferry northward, taking in the shore around the lane by the residence of ins descendant, George W. Weeden, who now occupies the old family homestead. The tract embraced between seven and eight hundred acres of land. It is not known just when this purchase was made, but it was among the early years of the settlement. Daniel Weeden built the house now standing on the farm, in which his son John lived after his marriage with Martha Chase. The children of the latter were: Arnold, born in 1769; George, born in 1776, and John, Wager, Peleg and William Augustus, born subsequently. Jolin, the father of these children, was a sturdy son of Amer- ican proclivities, and somewhat too loyal to his adopted coun- 732 HISTOKV OF NEWPORT COUNTY. try to he tolerated by tlie English in their great desire to snp- jjress the colonies. When, during the revolution, the Britisii made a raid on fhe island, they secured the services of a tory to act as guide and paid the young man a visit. They first de- spoiled the farm, driving off the stock and taking such other things as they thought would be of use to them. They then made an assault on the house, taking Mr. Weeden captive and tying him to a chair, and proceeded to pillage the house, secur- ing among other things a quantity of cheese which they found stored in the upper chamber. After obtaining what plunder they desired they returned to the ship, taking their caj^tive with them and leaving his dependent family to take care of them- selves as best they could during the several months that fol- lowed before he was allowed his liberty to return. He afterward pursued his vocation as a farmer, and was a re- spected citizen of the town, representing it in the state assembly. During the year 1787, when a member of that body, he pre- sented a petition of his constituents, asking them to be allowed to condemn a piece of ground belonging to Colonel Joseph Wanton, which had been confiscated by the general assembly. The old mill stood on this ground, and the town desired to erect a new mill on it. The petition was granted, on condition that the new mill should be erected within one year from that time. William Augustas Weeden, son of John, inherited the home- stead. He was a public spirited citizen of the town, an elder of the Baptist church, and an earnest worker and exhorter for that society. It was mainly through his efforts that the old Baptist church, now standing on the the main road beside the north school house, was erected. That church was built on land given to the society by George C. Carr by deed dated Aug- ust 31st, 1841. On this lot a church was built the autumn fol- lowing by voluntary labor. A great portion of this labor was done by Mr. Weeden and his son, George W. For many years the church was without a settled pastor, and Elder Weeden officiated instead. The old Weeden house, now occupied by George Weeden, is said to be the oldest house on the island, but is still in a good state of preservation. It was built of hard wood, in a substantial manner, and was no doubt considered in its time a somewhat elegant specimen of architecture. It also JIlSToKY Of NEWPORT COUKTY. 733 contains many interesting pieces of antique furniture and other relics of the colonial jieriod. John Weeden, known as "Farmer John," to distinguish him from his cousin of the same name, was a man of more than or- dinary intelligence and great probity of character. He was the father of the late John H. Weeden, a lawyer, of Pawtucket. He married Anna Chace, of Portsmouth, a sister of the late Clark Chace, who so long and worthily represented that town in the general assembly. His children were John H., Holden, and Ann Eliza. The first, named was graduated from Brown University in 1827, with the highest honors of his class, and was made tutor in 1828. In the following spring, while he still held that position, he was returned a member of the general as- sembly from Jamestown. His seat was contested on the ground that he was not a resident of the town he claimed to represent, and after a spirited controversy he was unseated. John Hull emigrated to Newport from London in 1687. He and his wife were both Quakers. Soon after his arrival he built a house on the north end of Conanicut, and there settled. His son John is said to have been the first white child born on the island. Captain Hull was thirty three years old when he arrived in this country, and had been for several years a ship master. His name afterward became intimately associated in history with that of Charles Wager, who afterward became Sir Charles, an admiral in the British navy. Among other old settlers of Jamestown may be mentioned John Forues, who bought lands of John Weeden August 5th, 1094; Thomas Francis I3rin]ey, who bought of Joseph Clarke eighty-nine acres in Jamestown in 1685; Peleg and Mary San- ford, who had lands deeded to them from her father, William Brenton, in 1666; and many others of later date. Job Watson came here before the revolutionary war, and at about the same period came Job Howland and the Anthonys, all of whom were active in the early settlement. The early proprietors and incorporatoi-s made the orthography of the name " James Towne," and this form was followed for many years. In several features the charter differs from that of any other town except New Shoreham. The island was erected into a township in 1678, but its early records are so badly mutil- ated that we are unable to give the names of the first officers. It was incorporated by action of the general assembly November 734 HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY, 4th, 1678, the record of their action being in the following language: "Voted, That the petition of Mr. Caleb Carr and Mr. Francis Briiiley oil behalf of themselves and the proprietors for Qao- nonoqntt Island to be made a township shall first be adjetated and debated." "Voted : that the petition is granted and that the said Qiio- nonoqntt Island shall be a township with the like privileges and liberties granted to New Shoreham." Apparentlj' every meeting held before the year 1680 had a clerk or secretary pro tem2yore, bnt none was elected to hold the office regularly before that date. The first general list of offi- cers noted were elected April 21st, 1685. At that election Eb- enezer Slocnm was chosen moderator; Caleb Carr, deputy war- den and clerk ; Nicholas Carr. Joseph Mowry, Oliver Arnold and Caleb Carr, councilmen ; Epliraira Morse, first constable ; Eben Weeks, second constable ; John Ifeading, sergeant, and Nicholas Carr, treasurer. Among the names found on the rec- ords in those early days are the Carrs, Remingtons, Watsons, AVeedens, Hazards, Knowleses, Martins, Congdons, Cottrells, Greenes, Armstrongs and Rowlands, and many of the same names may still be found on the record books of late years. The town election is now held on the first Wednesday in April. The officers in 1887 were : Town council, Thomas Carr Watson, Benjamin E. Hull and Elijah Anthony ; clerk, John E. Watson ; treasurer, Thomas H. Clarke ; overseer of the j'oor, Isaac B. Briggs ; town sergeant, Thomas D. Wright. About the year 1703 the subject of highways received con- siderable attention, but it was not until the year 1709 that the people succeeded in settling with satisfactory definiteness the highway boundaries. In the January session of the general assembly in 1788, action was taken relative to the laying out of the highways, " which wants to be laid forth according to tlie plot of the island." The necessity for taking such action grew out of a dispute between Samuel Cranston, Captain Nicholas Carr and Captain Josiah Arnold, " that was of a long continu- ance." It was regarded as a necessity that an act should be passed in some way regulating the matter, "that each man might fence his land and walk without damnifying his neigh- bor on the highways." An order was issued directing Captain James Carder and Mr. John Mumford to lay out the highways HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 735 throughout the town. Tlie iskind was theu surveyed and the plan of survey sent to the assembly, vyho confirmed it by their approval. During the May session of 1705 the subject was again agitated, and matters continued in an unsettled state un- til the year 1709, when all disputes were amicably adjusted. During the memorable struggle of the American colonies for independence, no town suffered more from the hands of the en- emy than the town of Jamestown. At that time many of the houses were burned and the town was almost depopulated, many of the inhabitants fleeing in a body to North and South Kingstown. During this eventful period town meetings were held at the dwelling house of Mr. Martin Allen, in North Kings- town, and there during the years 1777 and 1778 at least, the cit- izens of Jamestown exercised their rights as citizens and pre- served the organization of their town, electing their town offi- cers and transacting their town business, which they could not do on their own soil because of the presence of an invading army. In response to the act of the general assembly of November 21st, 1770, calling for the raising and equipment of six per cent, of the male inhabitants capable of bearing arms, for the defense of Newport against the ministerial armies and fleets, this town on the 31st of December passed the following: " This town and the few inhabitants thereof in town meeting as freemen being met and considering their depoi^ulated and distressed and defenceless condition towards raising, equiping and sending forward said men agreeably to said act, do at this time most sensibly regret and find that it is out of the power of the town to raise the men required by such act. But at the same time we are willing and desirous to be aiding and assisting in the defense of Rhode Island, and for that purpose will en- deavour to enlist the six men required of tliis town by said act, equip and send them forward for the common defence as speed- ily us may he, agreeable to said act. But if the town in their now most calamitous and distressed situation find it out of their power to raise said men they humbly hope the fine for not rais- ing, equiping and sending them forward agreeable to said act may not be executed upon the inhabitants of the town." As early as October 6th, 1775, the town authorities set a guard of four men to nightly patrol the shores, and this was continued until the island was abandoned to the British. The burning of 736 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Jamestown, as nearly as we have been able to ascertain, resulted from the indiscreet use these patrolmen made of their opportn- nities. For it is said of them that the}' would occasionally lire into the vessels of the British lying at anchor in the bay. On one occasion Captain Abiel Brown fired a shot from a small field piece into a frigate, whicli so exasperated tlie enemy thaf they decided to take vengeance at once on tlie inhabitants of the island. They immediately landed and overran the town, burned the houses neai' the ferry, carried off much provisions, and destroyed a great deal that they could not carry away. At this action the inhabitants fled. Those houses which were known to belong to persons favorable to the royal cause were of course left undisturbed. It may have been that some others escaped destruction through the favorable misunderstanding of the assailants, or were overlooked by them. The islanders enjoyed peace after the great struggle referred to, and being an industrious people they soon settled down to their favorite occupatipn, the cultivation of the soil. In the year 1781 they were annoyed by the sailors belonging to his majesty's fleet and soldiers from the hospital running over their fields, pulling down fences and walls, and otherwise wantonly trespassing on property. Some action seemed necessary to pre- vent such inexcusable annoyance. It was decided to petition the authorities to lay some restraint on their soldiery. Benja- min Underwood and John Weeden were instructed by the town to draw a remonstrance, which was sent by the hands of Aaron Sheffield to the admiral of the fleet. The petition was respected, and from that time the citizens had no further cause of com- plaint from that soui'ce. During the late war the Third Rhode Island cavalry was stationed on the island and remained here for some time. Dutch island also served as a camping ground for colored heavy artil- lery. The soldiers were sometimes annoying to the citizens, but no fatal events occurred, as far as known. During the administration of the elder Adams Fort Brown was built, but was soon abandoned when it was discovered that the guns of Fort Adams opi)osite would immediately bear upon it. The general government purchased six and a half acres for this fortress. It is now deserted. As early as the year 1690 steps were taken toward the erection of a town house. On the 7th of May in that year Caleb Carr and HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 737 John Holmes were appointed by the assembly to agree with carpenters to finish a town house at once, but the writer has been unable to leain what progress was made toward the com- pletion of that building. During the late rebellion a camp was established here called Camji Mead. Several buildings were erected for its accommo- dation. One of these was used as a hospital, and after the war was over that building was re-modelled and used for a town house. The building which had been previously used for that purpose had been destroyed by tire. Singularly enough this house met a like fate in the year 1884. After this another, the present building, was erected. This is situated at the "Four Corners," and has, in addition to accommodations for other jjurposes, an assembly room and library rooms. Some idea of the importance of the town as early as the year 1822, also the names of its freeholding inhabitants, may be had from the tax list of that year, a copy of which is given, with the valuations of real and personal property owned by the people as then estimated. ON CONANICUT. Freeholders. Eeal. Personal. Walter W^atson $9,600 Oliver Hopkins 2,075 $200 John J. Watson 1,932 1/50 Job Weeden 2,640 Daniel J. Weeden 5,760 350 James Tew 1,025 500 John Farr 3,024 Thomas Fowler 1,000 John Hammond 3,400 200 John T. Potter 1,160 150 John Eldred 2,500 500 Job Watson 6,443 400 Martha Munro 575 George Weeden 2,650 600 J. & Benjamin Congden 2,580 Philip Potter 1,650 George Gardner 1,760 130 Caleb T. Weaver 3,655 1,600 John Remington 130 738 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Watty Palmer 80 Benjamin Can- 150 100 Jolm H, Dockaly 75 Widow Greenold 3,500 Daniel Howland 7,316 1,000 Mary Howland 1,500 Mary Gardner 200 James R. Dockroy 2,520 Sweet Brick 3,200 250 Joseph N. Austin 12,863 George Knowles 7,300 Hazard Knowles 4,710 560 Joseph R. Shearman 8,050 500 George Armstrong 150 B. Chappell 1 S. Cranston V . . 350 T. Gardner ) Abijah Watson 6,304 Robert H. Watson 6,900 Thomas Carr 2,650 2,050 Arnold Hazard 4,312 600 John Tew 242 Walter Watson 2,200 Henry Fowler 786 200 John Hammond 125 James A. Arnold 340 AVilliam Batty 680 Daniel Weeden 3,315 Robert Carr 160 Ebenezer Carr 920 Comfort Carr 4.50 250 George Hull 2,500 150 Jonathan Hopkins 3,360 100 ON DUTCH ISLAND. Willet Carpenter 460 Henry Gardner 400 Vincent Gardner 115 Pardon Brown 850 Joseph Green 530 Heirs of J. C. Carr 150 350 T-^' %> fei:;Miii_ House of JOSEPH WHARTON JAMEST nVN, R. I. HISTORY OF NEWPORT CODNTY. 739 Benjamin Weaver 1, ()()() Ed. Hammond 100 Mary Fowler 150 George Shearman 400 Damaris Carr 150 John B. Shearman 75 Abigail Knowles 600 Total assessment, §164,503. The growth of the town financially from that time to the present may be inferred from the fact that the total assessed valuation in 1886 amounted to $1,028,280. In 1872 a company of gentlemen belonging to Newport and Providence organized and were incorporated for the purpose of owning and managing a park, to be known as Conanicut Park. They purchased five hundred acres in the northern part of the island, formerly owned by L. D. Davis, of Newj^ort. Here they proceeded to lay out a park for summer residences and a water- ing place. The company included L. D. Davis, Governor Henry Lipintt, John Kendrick, Leonard Whitney and others, and its capital stock was $50,000. Work was at once begun, and more than twelve miles of streets were laid out the first year. Im- provements have since continued to be made. Last year over 30,000 ornamental trees were planted. On many of these lots most beautiful villas have been erected. Among those who have summer residences here are Judge Shurtliff, of Springfield, Mass.; Samuel A. Irons, of Olneyville; Charles Fletcher and James A. Cranston, of Providence; James A. Young and Rich- ard J. Arnold, of Newj^ort; Doctor Jarnegan, of Boston; and many others. A commodious hotel was erected during the first year, and this, with the additions which have since been made to it, will accommodate more than a hundred guests. It has first class furnishings and appointments, electric bells and telephone con- nections with Newport. A new drive is being opened along the eastern shore of the island, between the park and the Newport ferry, about five miles in length. During the summer season the steamboats of different lines which pass up and down the bay touch at the park, so that communication with New York and all eastern and northern cities is conveniently made. The spot is surrounded with romantic scenery. On tlie north, look- ing up the bay, may be seen the islands of Hope, Prudence and 47 740 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Patience, and on the mainland jnst beyond, Rocky point, Oak- land beacli, Warwick and the Biittonwoods, and in the distance, on the northeast,' the spires of Fall River and Bristol. It is indeed a delectable spot for summer residence. The Ocean Highland Company was organized in 1875, having for its object the improvement of lands in the southern part of Conanicut island for summer residences. The company was organized with eight members, George C. Carr being its presi- dent. Lands were purchased of the heirs of John S. and Ben- jamin Cottrell in the year 1875. Mr. Richard T. Smith, the artist, was the first to build upon the purchase. The first post office in this town was established in 1844, Wil- liam A. Weeden, Jr., being made the first postmaster. Prior to that time mail matter was obtained as circumstances would jjermit, from Newport or any other convenient point. At one time Thomas R. Congdon acted as an unofficial mail-carrier for the accommodation of the people, making regular trips for this purpose twice a week. Since the establishment of the steam ferry in 1872 Jamestown has been supplied with daily mails. The post office is now kept by Thomas Carr Watson. Ferry Meadow is a name given to a tract of land upon which considerable of the village of Jamestown has been built, espe- cially the more recent portion. It is a part of the old Howland farm, the land having been taken up by Job Howland in 1670. It is a beautiful locality, overlooking the bay eastward, with the city of Newport, Fort Adams and the naval station in full view. The Rowlands were Quakers, but notwithstanding the inoffensive customs of those people, their house was burned by the British in the time of the revolution and John Howland, its occupant, carried captive on board the British frigate. John Howland, at present residing here, is a grandson of the one just mentioned, and was one of the first to build a house in this new l^art of the village. The first store in Jamestown was kept by Isaac Carr. The little building in which he carried on trade and barter for half a century was built for that purpose in 1829, and for a year or two past has been used as a meat shop. William H. Knowles began merchandizing in a general way in 1871, and is still en- gaged in the business. Thomas Carr Watson and John W. Douglas also have stores at the present time. The first hotel was built in 1870. Previous to that time tem- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 741 porary provision bad been made by private houses for the ac- •commodation of strangers. William Champlin, now known by the wealth of fashion who visit the island in summer, began keeping boarders during the war. The " Bay View," tlie first hotel spoken of, was built by William H. Knowles, as has been said, in 1870, and occupied by Captain Stephen C. Gardner. In 1873 the Hotel Association built the Gardner house. It has been occupied since 1882 by Captain Stephen C. Gardner and C. ]Sr. Littletield. The present manager of the Bay View, Mr. Charles T. Knowles, took charge of that hotel in 1883, and has since occupied it. Both these hotels have annexed accommo- dations and are well patronized every summer. The public library of Jamestown was organized under the name of the Philomenian Library Association in the year 1849. It was started by subscription as an institution for the public good. The first officers of the association were : George C. Carr, president; William A. Weeden, vice-president ; John E. Watson, secretary ; Jolm S. Cottrell, treasurer ; Robert H. Watson, librarian. The association was incorporated under the general state law of 1847, and received, as it continues to re- ceive, a share of state patronage. The original subscribers to the library fund were : Thomas Carr, Peleg C. Carr, John J. Watson, Ebenezer Tefft, Philip Caswell, William A. Weeden, Jr., Benjamin Cottrell, John Hammond, D. W. Clark, John Wilbour, John E. Watson, William H. Knowles, William A. Weeden, George W. Weeden, George Anthony, George C. Carr, Robert Dennis, Abby Howland, Job W. Hazard, William W. Briggs, Isaac Carr, George H. Weeden, David Bufl'um, James Tew, Jonathan H. Lake, John S. Cottrell, John M. Douglas, Arnold Hazard, Charles C. Weeden, John H. Gardner, William M. Watson, Job W. Weeden, Amy C. Weeden, Hannali Wat- son, Robert H. Watson, John Howland, George Hull, Sarah W. Carr and Mary E. Carr. In 1876 the society was reorganized under its present name. The present officers are : T. Carr Wat- son, president ; Charles Weeden, secretary ; Lucy Ann Teflft, librarian. There are now 1,780 volumes in the library, and it receives an annual appropriation fi-om the state amounting to one hundred dollars. Grist mills, driven by wind, were among the first institutions established here. The isolated condition of the island made it extremely desirable that some means should at once be devised 742 IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. for converting the grain which they raised into flour and meal. As there were no ptieams of any importance on which to bnild mills, the winds of heaven seemed the only resoiirce from which to draw for power to drive the simple machinery. The first of these mills of which any definite knowledge can now be gleaned Avas the Post mill. It was built on the principle of a turnstile, and when the wind changed a yoke of oxen was hitched to the end of a long lever, and the whole building, which stood upon a single post or pivot, was turned until the arms of the shaft came fair into the wind. In the year 1787 the present mill, which stands near the old church on the main road, was erected. A grant for land on which to erect it was obtained from the general assembly. The frame is of heavy oak timbers, and the Avind wheel is fifty-four feet in diameter. Churches. — The Society of Friends was the first religious organization to hold services on the island. The Quakers were a devoted people, and religiously observed the Lord's day in l^rivate houses, long before places for public worship were erected. They were quite numerous on the island. The first house of worship built by them was erected in 1706. It stood a mile north of the present one at the cross roads. The second house of worship was built in 1765. Among the first converts to the new faith here was William Coddington, at whose house the first quarterly meeting in this neighborhood, and perhaps in this country, was held. Despite the persecutions which were raised against this sect, and the opposition which was generally urged against them by the early colonists, it for a time increased in numbers, and here found an asylum where, in the enjoyment of immunity from its op- pressors, it j)assed a period of encouraging prosperity. The Quakers here from that time to the pi-esent have enjoyed their religious convictions without interference, but their numbers have gi'eatly decreased, until at the present time they have but few followers. In 1841 Joseph Greene, Jr., gave his farm by bequest to the care of three trustees as a fund, the profits of which were to be Tised in aiding the Friends or in publishing books on the doc- trines of the primitive faith. The property is now valued at $10,000, and out of its income numerous works have been pub- lished. The Baptist Society has had an organization in this town since HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 743 o> about the year 1835. The litrle frame buildinresentative in the general court 760 HISTOKY OK NEWPOKT COUKTY. of Boston in 163-1, 1635 and 1636. In 1637 he was disfranchised for joining the Antinomians under the teaching of Mrs. Anne Hutcliinson, and'resolved to remove thence with Coddingron and others who came to Rhode Island. The inscription on his tombstone is as follows: " Here lyeth the body of John Cogge- shall, Sen., esq., who died First President of the Colony ye 27th of November aged about 55 j'^ears." His son. Major John Coggeshall, died when 90 years of age. There were two branches of the Coggeshall family residing in the United States in 1749, one of which sprang from Joshua, and the other from John. These, perhaps, were sons of the original John. A grandson of his, by the name of Josliua, died about the year 1723, leaving twelve children, among whom were Riciiard, Mrs. Mary Beard, Caleb, Sarah, Ann and Wait. Thomas married Mary P"'reeborn. He died January 26th, 1771, aged 84. She died May 26th, 1776, aged 85. Their children, were: Elizabeth, married Peleg Peckham, and died September 29th, 1794, aged 84 years; Joshua, born May 11th, 1722, twice married, to Sarah Bailey January 12th, 1743-4, and to Anna Dennis January 2d, 1752, and died September 24tli, 1786 ; Gideon, born 1726, married Hannah Lawton 1748, and died in 1801; Thomas, born 1728, married Hannah Cornell, died in 1803; Comfort, married Daniel Peckham, and died in 1778, about 78 years of age; Waite, married (lirst) James Easton, (second) Rowse Potter; Sarah, married Thomas Weaver; Mary, married Samuel Allen 1745; Marcy, married (first) Joseph Dennis, (second) Samuel Allen; and Hannah, married Robert Dennis. All these ten children of Thomas and Marcy, except Mary, sur- vived their father, and were married and .settled on the island. The children of Gideon and Hannah were: Gideon, born 1757, married Sarah Wilds, of Taunton, about 1776, and died 1794; Timothy, born about 1753, married Celia Wilds, of Taunton, about 1779, and died August 6th, 1794; Jeremiah, born about 1766, and died July 5th, 1780; Thomas, born January 8th, 1759, married (first) Elizabeth Porter about 1780, (second) Rebecca Coggeshall; Hannah, born 1763, married John Spooner about 1789. and died in December, 1842; Sarah, born about 1765, mar- ried Benjamin Hall about 1799 and died about 1801; Peleg, born about 1767, died 1791; Nathaniel, died 1826, and Mary, married Benjamin Hall, and died 1844. The children of Thomas Coggeshall and Elizabeth, his wife, HISTORY OV NKWPOUT COUNTY. 761 were : Hannah, born Janviary 21st, 1781 ; Charles, born Octo- ber 2(>th, 1782; William, born October 21st, 1784; James, born June 17th, 1787; John Porter, born June 12th, 1789; Peleg, born Decem])er 10th, 1791 ; Lydia Leonard, born May 13th, 1794, and Timothy, born November ISth, 1796. The children of Thomas Coggeshall and Rebecca were : Thomas, born No- vember 25th, 1811, and Sarah Hall, born February lOth, 1815. The children of Joshna Coggeshall and his wife, Sarah, were : Thomas, born in 1744, died in 1829, and Ruth, who died young. The children of Joshua and Anne Coggeshall were : Sarah, born September 2.'5th, 1752 ; Josei^h, born August 16th, 1754, married Elizabeth Horsewell, and died October 7th, 1830 ; Eliza- beth, born October 14th, 1756, married Gideon Anthony, died September 3d. 1828; George, born March 19th, 1759, died young; Mary, born July 14th, 1761, married Peleg Brown, died September 15th, 1837 ; Marcy, born September 14th, 1762, mar- ried Thomas Manchester April 2d, 1786, died in March, 1844 ; Ann, born June 13th, 1764, died in December, 1842, and George, born June 8th, 1767, married Cynthia Sherman. The children of Joseph Coggeshall (son of Joshua) and Eliza- beth, his wife, were : Noel, born March 31st, 1777, died August 4th, 1853 ; Ruth, born August 27th, 1780, died September 15th, 1867; Joseph, born June 5th, 1783, married Lydia Cornell, died April 30th, 1871 ; Anne, born January 28th, 1786, died Novem- ber 4tli, 1856 ; Joshua, born December 25th, 1788, married Deb- orah Allen November 26th, 1815, died April 7th, 1879 ; Sarah, born September 18th, 1791, married Isaac A. Dennis, died at rhe age of 69 ; John, l)orn April 13th, 1794, married Sarah An- thony October 9th, 1823, died April 30th, 1830, and Abraham, born March 15th, 1797, married Annie Sisson. The children of Joshua Coggeshall and Deborah, his wife, were: George C, David, Hannah, Mary, born January 6th, 1820, married George G. Chase, March 16th, 1843; Ann Eliza- beth and Sarah Dennis. Sarah Coggeshall, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth, married Isaac A. Dennis December 25th, 1814, and had two children: Ruth A. C. and Joseph C. Ruth married Joseph \V. Chase, October 14th, 1841, and Joseph C. married Mary G. Chase, March 2d, 1851. Tlie children of Simon and Phebe Coggeshall were: John, Mary, William, Thankful, Edward, Josiah, Albert, Phebe Ann and Sarah (born January 12th, 1821). 762 HisTouy ok newpokt county. Joshua Coggeshall, i'lom whom si^rang this branch of that family, owned and occupied lands on which the Coggeshall buiying ground was afterward laid out. For the history of the Bai-kers, which follows, we have drawn largely from an article published by Mr. J. O. Austin in the "Historical Magazine" for July, 1880. John Barker married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Hill. She was the sister of Sir Rowland Hill, the first Protestant lord mayor of London. John Barker and Elizabeth had a son, Edward, who had a son, Row- land, to whom a coat of arms was granted December 17th, 1582. There are some twenty or more coats of arms and ten or eleven crests of different Barker families in England, but the one just alluded to is distinctive in this, that it was conferred — not wrongfullj^ assumed, as many another was and still is — by the king's appointed " Clairencieux," Robert Cooke, when making one of his regular visitations. James Barker, of the fourth generation from the original an- cestor mentioned, is called in family history a "legal descend- ant of Rowland Barker." He came from Harwich, Essex county, England, took passage from Southampton in the ship "Mary and John," and sailed March 24th, 1634, for New Eng- land, but died on the passage. His daughter, Christianna, the wife of Thomas Beecher, had preceded him, coming with her husband in 1630, and his son, James, accompanied him on the ship " Mary and John." The daughter, Christianna, had first married Thomas Coojjer, then Thomas Beecher. and after his death, in America, she married Nicholas Easton in 1638, and died February 20th, 1665. Her brother, James, who survived his father and reached America safe, being then about seven- teen years of age, married, in 1044, Barbara, daughter of Thomas and Frances Dugan, and died in Newport in 1702. Thomas Beecher, the hnsband of Christiana Barker, had been captain of the ship "Talbot " in 1629, engaged in bringing pas- sengers to America. The next year he came with his wife to Charlestown, Mass. He was a freeman there in 1632, one of the first selectmen of the town, a representative to the lirst general court of Massachusetts and for seven following sessions, " Cap- tain of the Castle" in 1635, and died in 1637 leaving an estate valued at a little over four hundred pounds. His widow, Chris- tianna, married Nicholas Easton in 1638. From notes ujade by Peter Easton is obtained the following IIISTOKY OF NEWPOIiT COUNTY. 763 concerning that family. He says: "Came ashore in New Eng- land 14tli of May, 1634; wintered at Ipswioh; thence Newbury in 16B5; Hampton 1638, and built there first English house." From here, inconsequence of the Antinoniian controversy, they removed to Pocasset (Portsmouth), R. I. Under date of May 1st, 1639, he says: "Gave the name Coaster's Harbor Ishind when on the way by boat from Portsmouth to Newport." He speaks of building the first wind mill in 1663. Peter Easton died December 12th, 1693, aged 71 years. He left a large estate and a numerous posterit}^ Returning to the Barker family, we learn that two of the children of Peter Easton married the children of James Barker. Doubtless Peter and his brother John Easton, who was for a time governor of the colony, were intimately associated through life with James Barker, being of about the same age, and from early life more or less brought together in one family. The Eastons and Coddingtons became Quakers, while James Barker and John Clarke were Baptists. A certain manuscript calls James Barker " a teaching brother amongst the Baptists many years." In 1644 James Barker was a corporal; in 1648 a member of the general court of elections; in 1655-61 and 1663 a member of the court of commissioners; in 1661 a member of the committee to receive contributions toward raising the £50 for the agents to England in relation to the charter; in 1663 one of the men named in the royal charter; from 1663 to 1678 one of the gov- ernor's assistants; in 1669-77 and 1681-86 a deputy; in 1678 dejiuty governor, acting after the death of William Cod- dington. James Barker had eight children: Elizabeth, nuirried Nicholas Easton, son of Peter and grandson of the first Nicholas; James, Mary, "William, mari'ied Elizabeth Easton, daughter of Peter and granddaughter of the first Nicholas; Joseph, Peter, Chris- tianiui and Sarah. There were nine James Barkers in direct line of descent through as many successive generations, and at least seven of them were eldest sons. Another peculiar cir- cumstance is that during the time of the early generations all the brothers of a family refrained from naming their sons James, except the eldest brother, thus by common consent leaving to him the monopoly of tliat name. The ninth James, however, refused to name his eldest son after himself, which 764 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. refusal, it is said, was so offensive to his father that he ignored him in his will. The first of these nine Jameses was the one on whom the coat of arms was conferred, the James of Harwich, England. The second was the James who died on his passage to America. The third was his son who was on the ship with him. The fourth, James Barker of Newport, born in March, 1647, married Sarah, daughter of William and Mary Jeffrey, in 1673, died jn 1722. James Barker the fifth, of Newport and Middletown, was born in 167.'5, was fifty years a member of the Second Baptist church, married in 1699, Mary, daughter of Robert and Tamar (Tyler) Cook, and died in 1758. His eldest son, James Barker the sixth, of Newport and Middletown, was born in 1700, married first Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Tew) Peckhain, second, Mai'garet, daughter of Jeremiah Weeden, and died in 1722. His eldest son, the seventh James Barker of Middletown, R. I., and Lanesboro, Mass., was born in 1725, married Anne, daughter of Isaac Peckliam, and died in 1796. His eldest son, James Barker the eighth, of Middletown, R. I., Lanesboro, Mass., and Utica, N. Y., was born in 1749, married in 1770, Rhoda Mason of Swansea, Mass., and died in 1830. His eldest son, James Barker the ninth, born in 1773, married Susanna Greene, and died in Rochester, N. Y., in 1840. Isaac Barker, the son of James Barker and Anne Peckham, his wife, was born May 21st, 1752, married first to Sarah, daugh- ter of Stejihen and Amy Peckham ; second, to Wealthy Peck- ham, widow, and died in 1834. He lived through the times of the revolution and rendered his country's friends valuable serv- ice by communicating to them facts in regard to the movements or position of the enemy. While the British had possession of the island (Rhode Island) British officers were quartered at his house. Barker, by pretending sympathy with their cause, gained the confidence of these officers, and being allowed passes, was in a position to know much of the movements and designs of the British. Such information as was of any value to the Americans he communicated to Lieutenant Chapin, who had command of the American troops stationed at Little Compton for fourteen months from August, 1778. This correspondence was effected by letters which Barker deposited in a cleft of a rock at a certain point previously agreed upon, which was on the east shore, toward the north end of the island. Having depos- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 765 ited a letter there, he then nicade a signal to let Lieutenant Chapin know that it was there, and the latter would send his men to get it. The shore was guarded by the British, but by using caution and proceeding under cover of night, they were able to reach the " post ofhce " and secure the letter. The sig- nal used by Barker was a simple one, consisting of an under- stood arrangement of a stake and bars upon a stone wall on a hill near Barker's house, all of which could be plainly seen through Chapin' s spy-glass. General Gates recognized this service of Isaac Barker as one of great importance. Jeremiah and Priscilla Gould, the heads of this numerous family now in Middletown, came from England hither in 1637, with their three sons, Daniel, Thomas and John. Of this judi- cious patriarch it is said on some old papers that have lately been brought to light, "This man's Armour seems to be Per Saltire Azure and Or. A Lion Rampant." Daniel was about sixteen years old when he came to this country. The father afterward returned to England and died there, but the mother remained with her sons. Here she died and was buried in "John Gould's Old Orchard." The son Thomas became the owner of an estate at a place called Quidnessett neck, in Narragansett county. He married Eliza- beth, youngest daughter of William Boulston, of Newport, in 1755. Having no children, he gave his estate to his brother Daniel. John, the third son, was settled on land situated about four miles from Newport, and he likewise, not having any chil- dren, gave his estate to his namesake and nephew, John, a son of his brother Daniel. Daniel, the eldest son of Jeremiah and Priscilla Gould, was settled by his father in that part of Newport now called Mid- dletown, on lands a portion of which is still in possession of his descendants, Samuel and John Gould. Daniel married Wait, daughter of John Coggeshall (first president of the col- ony), in 1651, and lived with her to an advanced age. After coming hither he became a Quaker, and was a minister of that faith and a sturdy adherent to its principles. He was a man of ready wit, deep penetration and sound judgment, and served the Friends both publicly and privately. The general interest which attaches to the subject of the treat- ment received by the early Quakers is our apology for turning somewhat aside at this point to quote from the language of 766 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. this man a brief account of some of the experience of himself with Marmaduke Stevenson, William Robinson and others, in Boston, at the time of the persecution of the Quakers. After they came from Salem to Charlestown Ferry, he says: "There meets us the constable and a rude company of people with him and takes us all up (about 10 in number besides the two banished friends) and after much scoffing and mocking ex- aminations all of us were led to prison, and God doth know who is a just rewarder of all, how Harmless, Peaceable & innocent we came into the town, behaving ourselves in much fear and humil- ity of mind. Yet notwithstanding, being Quakers, to prison we must go, where we remained some days — it may be 3 or 4 or a week; then the Council sent searchers to search us and our pockets and took our papers and whatever they pleased, carry- ing them away among which was William Robinson's Journal of places where he had been. After that our pockets had been picked we remained in prison till the pleasure of the Court was to send for any or all of us, or sometimes for one alone, for I was sent for sifted and tried, being examined about many things. And seeing that they were as a company of Fowlers to draw the Bird into their net, I was spareing of speech; Then they called me 'Dumb Devel' that could not speak & some said I was simple and ignorant and had no great harm in me, but that I was beguiled & led away by others that were more subtle. " Then I said to them, if you think I am simply beguiled & not willfully in error how have you showed kindness to me ? or where has your love appeared to help me out of the ignorance & delusion you suppose I have fallen into? How have your endeavors appeared to open my understanding— to show me better 'i Do you think your prison, whips and base usage are the way to do it ? Is that the way to begin with, to restore anj^ one from the error of his ways? Then some one cried out and said: he is more knave than fool I Then I answered again and said, If I hold my tongue I am a Dumb Devel, a fool and ignorant, If I speak I am a knave. " After this Richard Bellingham, the deputy Governor, being full of Envy said to me, ' Well Gould, j^ou shall be severely whip- ped;' which was afterwards done, with 30 stripes upon mj^ naked back, being lyed to the carriage of a great gun. And this is my comfort to this day & I bless the Lord for it, that my sufferings HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 767 were in great Innocence. There were five others wliipped at the same time there; each having ten stripes — except tlie two men, fifteen for no other cause than being Quakers. And after we were wliipped we were all led to ])rison, where our lodgings were with our sore backs upon the boards, where we remained until after the execution which was in the year 1659." This good man departed this life on the 26th of January, 1716, and was buried in the Friends' burying ground near the meet- ing house. He was nearly ninety years of age. On the night he died he was in a sweet frame of mind, and imparted much good advice in the course of the night to those about his bed- side, and he finished his life in a full assurance of life eternal, which he signified on his death bed. His widow. Wait Gould, died on the 8th of May, 1718, aged 84 years, and was buried by the side of her husband. The names of their children, taken from the Friends' record, are as follows: Mary, born May 2d, 1653; Thomas, born February 22d, 1654; Daniel, born August 24tli, 1656: John, born March 4th, 1659; Priscilla, born April 30th, 1661; Jeremiah, born March 3d, 1664; James, born May 5th, 1666; Jeremiah, 2d, born December 2d, 1668; Content, born March 23d, 1671, and Wait, born August 3d, 1676. Mary Gould, the eldest daughter as above, married Joseph Bryer April 22d, 1672. This ceremony was x>erformed at the house of William Coddington, and George Fox was one of the signers of the marriage certificate. Their only child, Elizabeth, married Joseph Birdin. Thomas Gould, the eldest son of Daniel, inherited the home- stead. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Joanna Mott, of Portsmouth, January 13th, 1690, and died March 11th, 1734. His wife died January 22d, 1749, aged 78 years. Their children were : Priscilla, born December 3d, 1692 ; Marcy, born October 13th, 1694 ; Daniel, born December 18th, 1696 ; Thomas, born January 10th, 1698 ; Joanna, born August 24th, 1700 ; Ja- cob, born September 21st, 1704 ; Elizabeth, born March 4th, 1707 ; John, born December 15th, 1708 ; and James, born May 5tli, 1711. John Gould, third son of Daniel, was settled by his uncle John, as has been stated, on an estate about four miles from Newport, on the east road. He was an active member of the society of Friends and had a good repute among men. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Matthew Prior, of Matinecock, L. I., 768 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. November 26th, 1685. After his death, which occurred January 5th, 1704, his widow married Walter Clarke. The children of John and Sarah 'Gould were : John; Mar}', born November 29th, 1688 ; Wait, born March 28th, 1691 ; and Content, born Febru- ary 25th, 1695. John, son of John and Sarah Gould, married Ruth Easton. Their children were John and Sarah. Mary, daughter of tlie same, married George Lawton ; and Wait married Richard Coggeshall. Marcy, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gould, married William Cranstone. She died in 1747, in the 53d year of her age. Daniel, eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth, married Mary, eldest daughter of Captain John Browne of Swansea, Mass., in 1717. The greater part of the farm was bequeathed to him. He was a prominent man in the community, and spent much time in settling differences as an arbitrator. For a num- ber of years he was one of the Justices of the court of common pleas. He died in 1765, in the 60th year of his age. His chil- dren were: Abigail, Priscilla, Daniel, Mary, Jeremiah, Thomas, Anne, Waite and Bathsheba, all of whom were born in Middle- town except the eldest daughter. Here they lived and married, and a numerous progeny remains to the present day. Daniel Gould, a descendant, married Mary Weaver; Thomas, a later descendant, married Pliebe Slocum; another Thomas, still later, married Olive Coggeshall. Susan, a daughter of Daniel and Mary Gould, married John Chase of Middletown. Others have intermarried with different families until the Gould blood may be found in nearly all the old families of the town. The Peckhams of Middletown are descendants of John Peck- ham, who came from England at an early period. He was given thirty- two acres of land lying southerly on Hambrook mill, the east end of it butting on Stoney river, having the lands of John Lawton on the south, and of Thomas Clarke on the north. He was made a freeman of the town in 1641, and in 1648 became one of the ten male members of the First Baptist church. He resided in that part of Newport which afterward became Mid- dletown, and a stone marked "J. P.," standing on land now of William F. Peckham, is supposed to mark his grave. He died July 12th, 1696, having become an inhabitant of Newport in 1638. His wife was Mary Clarke, and thej' had children: John, William, Stephen, Thomas, James, Sarah, Rebecca, Deborah, IIISTOJJY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 769 Phebe and Elizabeth. John, the eldest son, was born in 1645, and was one of tlie forty-eiglit to wlioin a tract of live thousand acres was granted for the founding of East Greenwich. Wil- liam married first a Miss Chirlve and second Phebe Weeden. In 1708 he and otiiers, acting on behalf of the church, sold to John Yauglian, for £18, a house at Green End which had been their meeting house. On the l.'ith of November, 1711, he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist cliurch. Each of the children of John Peckham raised a large family, and many of their descendants are at present living in this town. Jethro Peckham, a biography of whom appears in this Avork, was a descendant of Joseph Peckham on his father's side and of William Peckham on his mother's side. Beginning with his maternal ancestor, we have William Peckham, whose son, Augustus, married Esther Pratt, and they had a son, Fe- lix, who married Tryphena Stockman. Of the large family which they raised one son, Gideon, married Cynthia Barker ; one daugliter, Lydia, married Benedict Barker ; another daugh- ter, Ruth, married Christopher Shearman Barker, and another son, Abner, married Rachel Barker. The last named liad a son, Samuel, who was married four times : first, to Sabrina Dewey ; second, to Lydia Rider ; third, to Amelia Dewey, and fourth, to Maiy Young. Of his children, Nancj' married Jolin- son Whitman, Hannah married Benjamin Smith, the million- aire, of Newport, lately deceased, and Tryphena married Jetliro J. Peckham and became the mother of Jethro Peckham, men- tioned above. The Chase family in the United States are nearly all descend- ants of three progenitors, William, Thomas and Aquilla. The two latter settled in New Hampshire. William Chase came from England in 1630, in the fleet which brouglit over Governor Winthrop and his colony. He was at that time about thirty- live years of age. Soon after liis arrival he became a member of the flrst church in Roxbury, Mass., of which the Rev. John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians, was pastor. Tiiere he applied for admission as a freeman October 19th, 1630, and May 14th, 1634, took the freeman's oath. He went to Yarmouth, Mass., in 1638, and after having in various official capacities served the new settlement, he died there in le.^g. His son, William, died there Febiuary 27tli, 1685. The descendants of AYilliam are numerous. James Chase, 770 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the fifth by name of that family, was born February l'2th, 1706, in Swansea, Mass. May 11th, 1727, he married Alice, clanghter of William and 'Mary Coggeshall. He died in this town April 20th, 1782, having resided here since the year 1740. His daugh- ter Alice married, March 3d, 1757, Thomas Gould; Mary, an- other daughter, married Edward Sisson; and Zacheus, a son, married Elizabeth Gould. All these childi'en left descendants common to these names in this part of Rhode Island. James Chase, born in Portsmouth, R.. L, died in Middletowu January 81st, 1848, aged 88 years. Of his children, Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Dennis, of Newport, and Daniel Chase and Joh;i Chase, have left descendants in Middletown. John Chase was born August 8th 1786. He married, July 9th, 1810, Susannah, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Weaver) Gould, of this town. He was repeatedly elected to the general assembly from Middle- town, and held that office when he died. He and his wife lie buried on the farm now owned and occupied by Daniel Chase. The Eastons of Middletown are descendants of Nicholas Eas- ton, who was born in England in 1593, and died here August 16th, 1675. A sketch of his life is given in Chapter III. of this volume. In his will he gave his farm to his two sons, Peter and John, and the twenty acres on which his dwelling house stood to his grandson, Nicholas Easton. His children were: Nicholas, John, Mary, Peter, Ann and John second. Nicholas was married to Elizabeth Barker, and died March 12th, 1677, at the age of twenty-three years. In his will he made bequests for the benefit of Quakers. The first mention found of the family name of Weaver is in the name of Clement Weaver, who made his will August 28th, 1680, giving to his son Thomas his homestead, farm and build- ings, to his sons Clement and Benjamin certain other lands, to his son John fifty shillings, and to his daughter, Mary, five pounds. He held the office of a deputy in 1696, 1710, 1715, 1721, 1722 and 1723. Thomas Weaver died in 1753. There are now living in the town a number of the descendants of Clement Weaver. This town has probably never had a I'esident whose associa- tion with it has brought the locality more conspicuously to the notice of the world than that of the celebrated Irish prelate and philosopher, George Berkeley. Some notice of the circumstances connected with his residence IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 771 here will enable the reader better to understand the man and his motives in coming here. He was born in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, March 12th, 1684, belonging to a family noted for their loyalty to Charles T. Pie received his early education at Kilkenny school and at Trinity College, Dub- lin, of which he became a fellow in 1707. About this time he began to write and publish discussions of philosophical and metaphysical subjects, which soon brought him into contact with many of the most profound thinkers of Europe, and in- volved him in earnest controversies with prominent literary men. After spending several years in Italy and Sicily he re- turned to England, where, in 1724, he was made Dean of Derry, which gave a living worth £1,100 per annum. The energies of his mind were directed toward some scheme for Christianizing the new world, and he finally determined upon the plan of es- tablishing at the Bermuda islands a college for the purpose of training pastors for the colonial churches, and missionaries to work among the Indians. Being recommended by Swift, his intimate friend, he at length gained the consent of Lord Carta- ret to aid the plan with government patronage. In anticii^ation of the happy results of his scheme, he wi'ote the stanzas " On the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America," one of which is familiar, in part at least, to most of our readers: " Westward the course of empire takes its way — Tlie four first acts already past, The fifth sliall close the drama witli the day — Time's noblest offspring is the last." He later seems to have changed his plan, as far as the location of the proposed college was concerned, and directed his atten- tion toward Rhode Island instead of the Bermudas. In August, 1728, he married the daughter of the Right Honorable John Forster, speaker of the Irish hou'se of commons, and in the fol- lowing month set sail for Rhode Island, arriving in Newport harbor on the 23d of January, 1729. He soon after bought a farm of ninety-six acres about three miles from what was then the village of Newport. By the growth of the city the distance is less at the present time. On the eastern slope of Honeyman's hill he built a comfort- able mansion, in which he made his home during his sojourn here. The house is still standing — an object of intense interest to the thousands who annually visit Newport. He named his 49 772 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. counliy seat Whitehall, in honor of the residence of the English king. Here two children were born to him, one of which, dying in infancy, was buried in the grounds of Trinity church in New- port. Many interesting reminiscences of the sojourn of Berkeley on the island exist. Not far from his house are the so-called "Hanging Rocks," from whose jagged crown the outlook sea- ward is broad and free. At their most elevated point nature has provided a sort of alcove, roofed with the overhanging rock and open toward the sea to the southward, where it commands a wide expanse of the ocean. Tradition says that in this alcove he had a table, and there he was wont to sit and meditate and write. It is said the "Alciphron, or the Minute Phylosopher," which was a defense of religion in the form of a dialogue, was produced here. But the expected support of the government for the proposed college did not come, and after waiting in vain about two and a half years, Berkeley returned to England, giving his homestead here and his library of 880 volumes to Yale college. A philo- sophical society was founded by him while here, and the library of that society afterward became a part of the Redwood library. He left Whitehall in the autumn of 1731 and returned to Eng- land, where he died at Oxford January 14th, 1753. A glimpse of a certain phase of life in this town at that early period is obtained from a chapter in " Frazer's Life and Works of Berkeley," from which the following extract is taken, though it is doubtless true that this picture represents but a very small jDortion of the society at that time : "The Rhode Island aristocracy of Berkelej^'s time maintained the character of the old English country gentlemen, from whom they were descended. A state of society, supported by slaver}^ produced festivity. Tradition records the genial life of those days in the colony. Excursions to Hartford to luxuriate on bloated salmon were annual indulgences in May. Pace races on the beach for silver tankards were the social indulgences of summer. When autumn arrived, there were harvest home fes- tivities. Large numbers of both sexes gathered on those occa- sions. Gentlemen in their scarlet coats and swords, with lace ruffles over their hands, silk stockings, and shoes ornamented with silver buckles, and ladies dressed in brocade, with high- heeled shoes and high head-dresses. These festivities would HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 773 sometimes continue for days, and tliey were shai'ed by the slaves, as well as by their masters. Christmas was the great festival of the year ; twelve days were then given to hosi)i tali- ties. The wedding, too, was a gi'eat gala in the olden time. And the fox chase, with hounds and horns, as well as fishing and fowling, were favorite sports in Narragansett." The revolutionary period was not strictly confined to the years during which active hostilities between the colonies and the mother country were in operation. It more properly cov- ers all the time from the first disturbance of the peace of the colonies by warlike sounds to the final and settled establishment of the people under the state and federal governments. In 1754 the peace of the colonies began to be disturbed by the alarm of war with the French. The young men of the colonies were called upon to go to the frontier. In the expedition planned against Crown Point, Rhode Island had four hundred men, and later increased the number to seven hundred and fifty. Of this number tlie quota of Middletown was ten or twelve men, who were promptly furnished. A bounty amounting to £180 was raised by the town to pay these men, in addition to that ofl'ered by the colony. To show the promptness with which men acted in those days, it is worthy of mention tliat, at the meeting of the town autliorizing the payment of this bounty, the funds to do it with were advanced on the spot, James Phillips advancing £100 of it and other men of the town furnisliing the remain- der. In the following year the quota required of this town for the prosecution of the war was seven men. A bounty of £100 each, or £700 in all, was voted at this time. This bounty was increased in January, 1757, to £1,634 altogether. Mr. Arnold accounts for the necessity of this increase in bounty by the rapid depreciation of the colonial paper at that time. He further says: "In April, 1758, twelve men were enlisted for the new campaign, in which the Rhode Island regiment was increased to one thousand men, and £500 bounty was paid to them. This was the last levy of troops in this town during the war, that appears upon the records." Following this i)eriod a time of comparative quiet preceded the disturbances which introduced the war of the revolution. During these intervening years this town shared in the party strife which ran high throughout the state in the bitter con- test between Samuel Ward and Stephen Hopkins, but in view 774 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of the greatei- conflict which was impending that strife sank into insignificance. This town, on the 6th of January, 1768, passed the following vote: " Whereas this colony hath for several years past been un- happily divided by party and faction, the consequences of which were pernicious and tend to the entire destruction of this once happj", flourishing colony. It is therefore voted by this town meeting that our Representatives take the same into con- sideration, and use their utmost endeavours for a conciliation of parties before the next general election." The object of this resolution appears to have been accom- plished, and the parties which had hitherto been engaged in sti'ife now came together, in a measure at least, and joined in opposing the oppressions of the mother country. The intro- duction of tea imder a monopoly held by the East India Com- pany on the authority of Great Britain furnished the occasion for this popular opposition. Newport having led tlie way, Middletown on the 9th of Februai'y, 1774, expressed itself in language of which the following is a copy of the record: "Mr. John Clarke, Moderator. The town came into the fol- lowing resolves ; — 1. Resolved, That we will have nothing to do with the East India Company's irksome tea, nor any other sub- ject to the like duty. 2. Resolved, That we will heartily unite with our American Brethren in sui^porting the inhabitants of this continent in all their just rights and privileges ; and we do disown any right in the Parliament of Great Britain to tax America. Voted and passed. Witness John Barker, town clerk." Matters passed through that year with but little more than ominous threatenings, but in the early part of 1775 more definite organization for action was effected. This town then, on the 4th of January, elected the following committee of correspond- ence to represent it: John Barker, William Stoddard, Capt. James Potter, Isaac Smith, Capt. William Taggart, Nicholas Easton and Joshua Barker. This was in conformity to the re- quirement of the continental congress. On the 29th of August following a committee of inspection was chosen, which consisted of ten men. The condition of things during the years of war are set forth by Mr. Arnold in the following words : " The next year was one of alarm and of active military pre- HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUKTY. 775 paration. The town memorialized the Assembly in February in regard to its exposed position. In April it received two field- pieces from the State, and organized an artillery company, with John Bull as cai)tain and Elisha Allen, lieutenant. In June, forty bushels of salt, at six shillings, and one thousands pounds of wool, at two shillings, were bought for the town. In Sep- tember a bounty of forty-two shillings was voted to privates who furnished their own blankets, and forty-eight shillings to those who furnished all their equipments. The names of ten enlisted men appear on the records September 21st. These were recruits for Col. Richmond's regiment, then at Newport. On 23d November the clerk was instructed to remove the records in case of danger. The peril was now imminent. On December 2d a bounty of forty-two shillings was voted to men enlisted for three months in Col. Sayles' regiment.. This was the last town meeting for thirty- seven months, for on that day a British fleet of eleven ships, under Sir Peter Parker, ap^ieared off Block Island, and on the 8th, 6,000 British troops landed at Greens- dale, in this town, and after a night of pillage marched into Newport. The enemy held the island till October 25th, 1779, notwithstanding two attempts to dislodge them ; an abortive effort in October, 1777, under Gen. Spencer, and Sullivan's ex- pedition, resulting in the brilliant but fruitless victory of 29th. August, 1778, which received the high encomium of Lafayette, that ' it was the best fought action of the war.' "This town was the scene of many gallant deeds during that period, to which we can barely refer. The daring capture of Prescott by Col. Wm. Barton, on the night of July 9th, 1777, occurred just north of the town line in Portsmouth. The less known, but scarcely less courageous conduct of Isaac Barker, of Middletown, is worthy of commemoration. ****** "On the 15th August, 1778, Sullivan's army advanced within two miles of the hostile lines, which extended from Ton- omy hill to Easton's pond. That night a detachment fortified Honeyman's hill, within half a mile of the first line of British works on Bliss's hill. For five days a continual cannonade was kept up along the whole line, and the enemy were driven from some of their outposts. The sudden departure of the French fleet alone prevented the capture of the whole British army at that time. On the 28th of October the gallant exploit of Major Silas Talbot in capturing the Pigot galley, then blockading the 776 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. east ]iassage, added another to the revolutionary events of the town. " On the fourth of January, 1780, the town meetings were re- sumed, and the records were restored ifrom the custody of Thomas Gould, and on the 19th, temporary town officers were elected. May 24th a tax of £200 was laid, and a month later, three men were enlisted at a bounty of fifty silver dollars each. In September, five men were enlisted for three months. At this time fifty dollars of Continental money were equal to one silver dollar, or five shillings of State money. In two years the de- preciation of paper was so rapid that a silver dollar was worth twenty-two dollars of paper and taxes were laid in silver money. The last levy of troops was on March 9th, 1782, for 250 men to recruit the State battalion for nine months. The proportion of Middletown was three, and thirty pounds was voted to them in lieu of government pay." In accordance with an act of the general assembly, passed in December, 1781, a committee was appointed by the justices of the peace of the town to estimate the damages sustained by the people of the town on account of the depredations of the British while they held possession of the field. The following is a list of the persons who sustained losses here, with their respective amounts of loss as estimated by the committee: £ s. David Albro 50 2 John & Elisha Allen 130 13 John Allen, Jr 55 19 Rowland Allen 117 11 Samuel Allen 147 15 Daniel Anthony 200 4 Isaac Anthony 122 12 John Anthony 512 1 Mrs. Hannah Bailey 1,739 4 Mrs. Mary Bailey 158 4 John Banister 2,218 16 Mrs. Bathsheba Barker 10 7 Benjamin Barker 30 Edward Barker 20 Edward Barker, Jr 236 19 Elisha Barker 48 11 Gideon Barker 93 4 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 777 Jeremiah Barker 33 3 Joshua Barker 203 18 Mrs. Mary Barker 11 1 Peter Barker, Jr 50 8 Mrs. Rebecca Barker 37 4 William Bliss 1,302 19 Gideon Brown 181 2 Mrs. Judith Brown 12 18 Pardon Brown 16 William Brown ISO 4 Joseph Card 039 10 James Carpenter 707 Peter Chase 69 5 John Clarke estate 52 12 Mrs. Bathsheba Clarke 23 5 Gideon Coggeshall 1,689 17 Jonathan Coggeshall 93 9 Joshua Coggeshall & Son 338 8 Thomas Coggeshall 498 4 Thomas Coggeshall, Jr 52 10 William Coggeshall 133 4 Robert Cornell 298 4 Mrs. Eliza Cornell 19 7 Samuel Cornell 29 16 William Cornell 63 Oliver Durfee 194 15 Edward Easton 860 12 Jonathan Easton, Jr 240 Nicholas Easton 733 5 Walter Easton 1,656 10 Caleb Foster 129 3 Daniel and Elizabeth Gould 300 John Gould 462 8 Thomas Gould 210 John Greene '. 540 Parker TIall 176 3 Mrs. Sarah Hefferman 46 13 Thomas Hill 22 16 James Honeyman 540 Thomas Hopkins, for Smith 319 4 George Irish 3,257 778 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Jonatlmn Jeflfer 71 10 John Lake 188 2 Robert Lawton. . : 240 William Lawton 271 7 Mrs. Louisa Macomber 2o 17 Isaac Manchester 709 4 James Oliphant 27 10 Henry John Overing 786 16 John Peabody 78 1 Joseph Peabody 18 12 Benjamin Peckhara 489 3 Daniel Peckham 851 17 Elisha Peckham 12 10 Mrs. Elizabeth Peckham & Son 893 1 James Peckham 379 3 Josej^h Peckham 58 8 Joseph Peckham, Jr 638 18 Peleg Peckham 306 1 Richard Peckham 38 5 Silas Peckham 583 10 Stejihen Peckham 64 7 Samuel Peckham 131 2 William, of Samuel Peckham 74 6 William Peckham, Jr 122 4 Ichabod Potter , 1,512 3 James Potter 115 9 Mrs. Elizabeth Reed 1 16 Joseph Rider 286 18 Joseph Rider, Jr 250 14 Mrs. Robert Robertson 10 2 John Rogers 360 3 Mrs. John Rogers and Green Rogers 192 12 Giles Sanford 281 5 Restcome Sanford 24 John Slocum '. '. 244 9 Benjamin Smith 124 Philip Smith 268 15 Salisbury Stoddard 193 2 Daughter of William Stoddard 317 15 William Taggart 3,492 1 William Turner estate 83 12 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 779 Mrs. Richard Ward 3 19 Mrs. Content Weaver 2 11 Daniel Weaver 70 15 Thomas Weaver 380 11 Thomas Weaver, Jr 196 7 Thomas W^eaver of Clem loi 6 Jonathan Weeden 893 5 William Weeden 436 16 William Wilbur. 142 15 Mrs. Sarah Wilcocks 286 8 Jonathan Wilson 976 10 John Wood 136 13 Mac Wharter 121 Samuel Wj^att 32 12 About the close of the revolution, and during several years following that period, the dreaded disease, small-pox, visited many localities of this country, and attracted much attention from the people in their organized civil capacity. In many places pox-houses were erected in some secluded spot at public expense, and some physician of the town was appointed to at- tend them. The disease was brought to Newport by a vessel about the year 1774. At this time the community was agitated by the question of adopting the Turkish preventive of inocula- tion with vaccine virus, and this town instructed its representa- tives in the legislature to oppose its introduction into the colony. The disease re-appeared at different times for thirteen years fol- lowing. Cases of it were sent to the alms house at Coaster's har- bor, and stringent quarantine precautions were adopted. In 1785 it was voted, 33 to 15, " that inoculation be not practiced in this town." The oppo.sition was in the ascendency until 1787, when it yielded, and the town council of Middletown ordered that a family in which the disease had appeared should be Inocu- lated. On the return of peace the affairs of tlie town were adjusted and the wheels of civil government and society again set in motion, ^[any different subjects presented themselves to the consideration of the people. 'J'he encouragement of immigra- tion was thought desirable, and in April, 1784, this town me- morialized the assembly, through its representatives, e.x'pressing its desire " That absentees from this or any otlier of the United States of America, appearing to be men of good morals and 780 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. likely to become good and profitable members of society by their industry, or their stock, be admitted as citizens of this State." The present com^iosition of the society of the town would in- dicate that the welcome to settlers given by this town, as may be inferred from the foregoing, was never very largely accepted by foreign citizens looking for a place in which to settle. Sta- tistics show that more than four-fifths of the population are natives of the state. The January town meetings were abolished in 1785, and jurors were ordered to be drawn at the August meeting. It 1786 the town petitioned the assembly to issue a currency of paper, founded on land security. The people also urged by their vote the repeal of the act i^rohibiting trade with the English colonies. But the subject which at that time stimulated public excite- ment to the highest pitch was the adoption of the federal con- stitution. This struggle in the state lasted from March, 1788, to May, 1790, during which interval repeated votes were taken without success. This town sympatliized in the popular feel- ing, and gradually gave way to the sentiment of adopting the constitution. On the 21st of April, 1790, the town voted in- structing its delegates in the convention, who were then Joshua Barker and William Peckhara, Jr., to use their votes and in- fluence in favor of adopting the constitution, provided certain items of state and local rights were incorporated in it, but other- wise to oppose it. The popular sentiment was modified some- what by a further consideration of the matter, and on the 29th of May, the day on which the constitution was finally adopted, the town voted "That the instructions heretofore given to the Delegates resi^ecting the proj^osed Constitution be recalled. Voted, That the Delegates of this town be and they hereby are instructed to use their influence and votes in the Convention now sitting at Newport for the adoption of the Constitution which hath been already adopted by twelve States." One of the delegates, William Peckhani, was so much opposed to the sentiment of this vote that he resigned, and Elisha Barker was elected in his place. Thus the two votes of this town were se- cured for this measure, and that small number was sufficient to turn the scale, and the state of Rhode Island was thereby ad- mitted into the Union after a long and bitter struggle, with the history of which the world is familiar. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 781 The salary of representatives to the general assembly in those days was six shillings a day, but in 1794 the town de- termined that this sum should be paid only when the assembly met at some place off the island. When representatives were not officially called off the island they were entitled to no pay. This measure was not calculated to stimulate the cupidity of mammon-serving politicians. Ten years later, however, their pay was raised to the uniform rate of one dollar a day regard- less of the locality where the assembly should meet. The line of division between this town and Portsmouth be- came a matter of indefiniteness, and in 1797 a committee was appointed to act in conjunction with another from Portsmouth to agree upon and establish the line. The committee from this town were Thomas Coggeshall, John Gould and Benjamin Gardner, while those of Portsmouth were Thomas Potter, Abraham Anthony Jr., and Thomas Cory, Jr. The line, which was approved by the town meeting April 18th, 1798, was as follows: " Beginning at the East shore at a jDolnt measuring 240 rods northward from a brook now called Stony brook near Joseph Taggart's house, which we judge was formerly called Sachuest river, where we made a monument by a heap of stones on a small fiat rock even with the surface of the earth, on land be- longing to John Holmes, and from thence proceeded on a course North 39° West, by the magnetic needle, to the northerly part of a large rock adjoining the road near Chase's mill, from thence continuing the same course to the blacksmith's shop on the east road, at the south of the chimney which now belongs to Mitchell, and from thence altering the course to North 45^° West, by the said needle, to a monument erected on the west side of the road opposite to the south end of the house of Wm. Brightman, formerly built by Oliver Cornell, deceased, and from thence on a course North 4()i° West, by the said needle, to a round rock on the west side of the island marked N. P. on the top thereof, which now lies below high water mark against land formerly belonging to John Coggeshall, now the propertj' of the heirs of Aaron Shelfield, deceased." The number of councilmen, which hitherto had been six, was reduced to five in May, 1799, and has so remained to the present time. The time for holding town elections was changed in 1804 to the third Wednesday in June. The need of a town 782 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. house had long ))een felt. An attempt to raise money for this purpose by a lottery was made, but after a petition for the re- quired grant had, in 1795, been presented to the assembly the idea was abandoned and the petition was withdrawn. The house was built at the expense of the town in 1813, at a cost of $1,005.13, as given by the council in their report in June, 1814. We come now to the time of the war of 1812, another period of agitation and alarm, in which the people of this town shared with others of its neighbors who were similarly exposed to the depredations which naval forces might commit. One of the most brilliant exploits of the war is thus narrated by the his- torian of Middletown : "The British man-of-war, Nimrod, of eighteen guns, chased a Swedish brig, with a cargo of molasses from the West Indies, into the east passage one afternoon at the end of May, 1814. The brig ran aground on the third beach. The crew escaped in their boats, and hid in the sand hills, leaving on board the cap- tain, Avho could not swim. Next morning men came out from Newport, and the fort, with one six pound gun, on to the beach. The Nimrod came in again and tired on the brig some three hundred shots. No harm was done till the next to the last shot, which killed John E. Smith and took off the leg of Isaac Barrett, who had gone out to the brig in a boat and brought off the captain to the shore. It was a ricochet shot. The victim's brother, Abner Smith, then a lad of twelve years, was standing- close beside him when he was killed. Abner Smith now lives in Michigan [1876], near Ann Arbor, and on a visit which he made a year ago to his old home gave this nari'ative of the affair to the writer. Isaac Barrett recovered from his wounds, and is still, or was lately, living in New Bedford, and wearing a wooden leg. The artillery compelled the Nimrod to put to sea, and relieved this part of the coast from further annoy- ance." The town, at its meeting, June 1st, "as a mark of respect and condolence with the family of the deceased," as well as " respect for the brave but unfortunate young man who fell in defence of the rights of his fellow citizens," voted to pay his funeral expenses and appointed a committee to attend to the business. October 22d, 1814, the town appointed a committee to consult HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 783 with that of Newport on tlie subject of the defense of the island, and on Noveinl)er 24th another connnittee was appointed to in- vestigate the reasons for the call of the Hartford convention, which had l)een called to meet December 15th, to deliberate on the condition of national affairs. The latter comm.ittee reported at a town meeting December 3d, and the following resolutions were adopted and ordered to be published : " Taking into consideration the late proceedings of this State and other State Legislatures in appointing delegates to the Hartford Convention, the following resolutions were adopted, with one dissenting voice only. "1st. Resolved; That the Union of these States is essential to their safety from internal and external dangers — to the liber- ties of the people — to the independence of the nation — to the development of the faculties of the country, and to its gi-owth to that degree of greatness and prosperity which such develop- ment would naturally lead to. That the Constitution of the United States is the bond of this Union, the pledge and security for their great blessings in possession and still greater in pros- pect. That all our public affections are devoted and wedded to that Union, and to that Constitution which secures it; that we will defend both with our blood and treasure ; and succeed in the defence or perish in the attempt. "2d. Resolved; That we feel all projects to dissolve the Union of these States, whether attemi^ted by foreign foes or domestic traitors, or by a conspiracy of both, as death blows aimed at the life of our country in its vital part, and at all our dearest interests as bound up in that country. And we invoke the patriotism of all our fellow citizens of both parties and of every State, and the vigilance of our constituted authorities, to watch the dawnings of all such attempts, to arouse at the alarm of danger, and with their united energies to crush the detest- able foe. " 3d. Resolved; That we view with much jealousy and dis- trust the proposed Convention to be held at Hartford on the 15th December inst. That the objects avowed are inconsistent with our duties as good citizens of a common country; and there is reason to believe that the real object has not been avowed, and that this is to dissolve the Union of these States. We see an army forming in a neighboring State to be independent of the United Stjites. We see in their public jirints this nefarious ob- 784 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ject advocated by the patrons of this Convention, and we see no disavowal through the same channel. " 4th. Resolved; That we disapprove and deprecate the Act of the General Assembly of this State in appointing delegates to said Convention; that it was an unauthorized act and not within their commission as representatives of the people in our State Legislature; that the sense and instructions of their con- stituents ought to have been taken upon so novel, important, and questionable a measure; tliat it was highly inexpedient at this time, as holding the countrj' up to the public enemy as torn, or likely to be torn to pieces by internal dissensions and thereby giving him fresh incentives to persevere in the war and compel a submission to a dishonorable peace; that of all the States, Rhode Island should have been among the last to show any disposition to leave the Wing of the Union, or to give any countenance to any project of separation. She has no security whatever ; no, not for a moment in lier own independent strength. The Union is the Ark of her safety. " 5th. Resolved ; that we will unite with all our fellow citizens of this State and all other States in watching the movements of said Convention ; tliat we will co-operate with our said fellow citizens, and rally round our government in all measures to ar- rest and punish any attempts against the Union should they dare to make any." The bugbear which stimulated the promulgation of these reso- lutions was born of that excess of part}' spirit which at that time waxed hot and high between the federalists and the republi- cans. The latter sustained the administration of President Madison, while the former opposed it and charged it with hav- ing brought on the war and being responsible for its conse- quences. It may be needless to say that the foregoing resolu- tions voiced the sentiments of the republicans. The Hartford convention, however, met and adjourned without disclosing any such treasonable intentions as the republicans feared, but re- commended certain amendments to the constitution, which, however, were opposed by the townsmen of this town, who, on April 19tli, 1815, voted, "That the Representatives of Middle- town be instructed to act and use all their influence in the Gen- eral Assembly against receiving, allowing, or adopting the proposed amendments of the Constitution of the United States, projected by the Hartford convention, so called. Also, Voted HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 785 to instruct the Representatives to oppose pa 3' being- allowed, if asked for by the delegates to the Hartford convention." The four delegates vv^ho represented Rhode Island in that convention were Daniel Lyman, Benjamin Hazard, Samuel "Ward and Ed- ward Manton. In June, 1819, the town election time was changed to April. The line between this town and Newport was in 1823 run anew and defined bj' the committee as beginning "at the northwest end of the line, about ten rods above high-water mark, — said end is in Wm. Roach's land, adjoining James Chace's farm, from thence we proceeded to run the line south 19^^° east until it strikes the corner of Asher Robbins house on the west side of the road, from thence 27° east of south until it strikes the creek on Easton's beach where the bridge formerly stood, and so on that course into the sea." To the first convention to form a state constitution, in 1824, this town sent Joseph Rogers and William Bailey as delegates. The constitution framed by that convention was rejected by Middletown by a vote of ninety-six to one, that one affirmative vote being cast by Mr. George Irisli. In 1S26 the town sold the right to gather seaweed on the strand al auction, and agreed to defend the purchasers. In 1836 the line between common land and the land of N. Easton's heirs was determined, and the lat- ter were allowed to take sand from the beach. In 1828 the town gave seventy-eight votes for Adams against five for Jackson. In 1829 the town instructed its representatives to oppose the movement for the extension of suffrage. In 1839 the town in- structed its representatives to press the adoption of an act lim- iting the time of general assembly sessions to three weeks. To the constitutional convention of 1841 the town sent Benjamin Weavei' and Pard<^n Brown as delegates. The "People's Con- stitution," framed by that convention, was adopted by this town by a vote of 152 to 6. Notwithstanding this vote, when the "Suffrage Party," with Thomas W. Dorr at its head, in 1842 attempted to take possession of the state government by its authority prematurely, Middletown took a bold stand in favor of sustaining the former order of things until the proper time for the new constitution to go into effect, and raised the second cavalry corps in the state for this purpose. This was com- manded by Colonel Nathaniel Greene, a grandson of the revo- lutionary general. To the constitutional convention which fol- 786 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. lowed, the delegates of Middletownwere Pardon Brown and Ab ner Peckham, and this town then gave its unanimous vote of one hundred in 'favor of the constitution. The vote also showed on the question of negro snflfrage a majority of twenty nine in its favor. To the constitutional convention of 1853 the dele- gates of this town were Nathaniel Greene and Augustus Peck- ham. On the constitutional amendments of 1854 the town voted 42 against and 9 in favor. On the amendments of 1856 the town gave about one hundred majority against. The amend- ment of 1863 was rejected in this town by a vote of 35 against 13; those of 1871 were likewise rejected by decided majoritie>, except that against maintaining sectarian scliools, which was ai)- ju-oved by a light vote. Again, in 1876, the town repeated its conservative sentiment by rejecting proposed amendments to the constitution. The presidential vote in the town in 1876 was 148 rejiublicau and 22 democratic; that of 1884 was 131 repub- lican, 31 democratic, and 9 prohibition; and the vote for gover- nor in 1886 showed 123 reijublican, 16 democratic, and 20 pro- hibition. The i^osition of the town during the late civil war is given by Honorable Samuel G. Arnold in his "Historical Sketch" in the following language: "The great Southern rebellion aroused the spirit of the people in defence of the national government, as nineteen years before they had rallied to preserve their domestic institutions. Recruiting for the Union army was active, and military organi- zations were formed. A company of infantry was organized, commanded by Captain Benjamin Howland. In October, 1861, a bounty of twenty dollars was given to each recruit for the national forces, and, if married and having a family, ten dollars were given to the wife and three dollars for each child under fourteen years of age. In July, 1862, §195 bounty was voted to each one of the town's quota of eighteen men, and this sum was doubled two weeks later. The full quota was received and paid on 15th August. On the President's second call for 300,000 men, a bounty of $350 was voted." Roads and Bridges. — The present bridge over the creek at Easton's beach was built in 1855, at a cost of $550, the expense being borne by Middletown and Newport conjointly. The high- ways of the town are ample, and are kept in order under the highway regulations of the state. For the greater part of tlie HISTORY OF nj:wport county. 787 year, the roads liaving good material of wliich to be made, are in excellent order for driving upon. In regard to this subject as well as to the matter of public improvements generally, Mr. Arnold says: "In a town wholly occupied in agricultural pursuits there are few public works or private enterprises to require notice. In 1850 leave was granted to a telegraph company to erect poles along the east or main road, and in 1862 the Old Colony Rail- road Company built a line of railroad down the west side of the island from Fall River to Newport, skirting the western shore of the town. In August, 1864, a tract of eight acres was bought for $2,500 to be laid out as a cemetery, and $1,500 were appro- priated for this purpose during the year. In April, 1869, $500, from the sale of lots, were voted for further improvement of the grounds."' "The town has never sought to avail itself of the great natural advantages which it possesses. With a soil and climate which two centuries ago gave to this island the name of ' the Eden of America;' with a surface so diversified by hill and valley that every few rods presents a new and delightful pros- pect of land or water, and opens to the view fresh surprises of hill and dale, rugged rocks or sandy beach; with the broad Atlantic on the south, the beautiful island on the north, and the fine expanse of Narragansett bay washing either shore, while the fair old city of Newport, now the loveliest watering place in the world, rises close at hand, it needs but a little of the enterprise of commercial communities to make Middletown an ideal home for till that is refined and elegant in our civili- zation. New roads are projected to give access to spots whose beaiity has been too long concealed. A broad avenue extend- ing north from Tonomy hill, near the western shore, and an- other along the beaches, sweeping close under the Hanging rock, to connect with Indian Cliff avenue on the eastern side, are already planned, and when comjileted will throw open to the public the most superb villa sites to be found in America. The fifty years which Bishop Berkeley assigned as the period when this vicinity would 'blossom as the rose' in the sun- light of prosperity, have long gone by; but it seems less rash at the present time to fix that limit as one within which Middle- town will become a permanent resort for those who value the 50 788 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. beauties of nature, and the enjoj^ment of rest, above the excite- ment of city life." It seems fitting in this connection to insert the following, which appeared in the Newport Daily News May 11th, 1887: "There was, upon Saturday last, conveyed by Samuel W. Rodman and Benjamin Crowninshield, trustees, to Messrs. John C. Bancroft, Benjamin Kimball and Charles D. Wainright, trustees, for a syndicate of Boston investors, a large tract ot land in Newport and Middletown, R. I. The estate consists of something over two hundred acres, lying upon the slope of Easton Point at the end of the famous Newport bathing beach, a portion of which is included in the pui'chase. These lands have already been extensively improved and additional work is in progress, and the estate is in the direct line of the further growth of Newport. The syndicate has been organized as the Newport Land Trust, with an actual capital of 80,000 shares at a par value of §10 each, and will, as it is understood, be soon listed upon the Boston Stock Exchange." Schools. — As early as the year 1701 we find the people of Middletown making provision for the education of their chil- dren. At a meeting held on February lltli, of that year, they set apart school lands in the common known as "Lintal's Plaine" six acres for the benefit of the proprietors iu this part of the town, and six acres more "for the like use in ye common be- yond Daniel Gould's land for ye benefit of ye proj^rietors in that part of the town." If either parcel should not be appro- priated to the use for which it was thus set ajiart, it was to be used for "ye maintainance of the poore till put to that use." The lot on Lintall Plains was surveyed July 20th, 1702. The income of it is applied to the benefit of all the schools of this town. In 1715 the proprietors' committee ordered that persons owning land adjoining the school lands sliould maintain the line fences between. In an early school historj^ of Newport, it is written that at the quarter meeting, held April 24th, 1723, it was ordered that twenty i)Ounds apiece be paid out of the town treasury for the building of the school houses in "the woods," in accordance with the petitions of the freemen. At a quarter meeting April 26th, 1732, it was ordered "that the town school-masters in the woods part of the town have ten pounds apiece out of the treas- ury for their good services to that part of the town for the time past." HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 789 Such was the provision made for the cause of education be- fore the incorporation of tiie town of Middletown, but nothing definite is given in the records as to tlie location of tliese scliool houses. After the year 1743, however, the scho(;l houses are referred to as the "easterniosf and the "westerniost." The locations of these were probably the same, or nearly the same, as the former sites. The "eastermost" was probably on the site of the present Wyatt school house, and the "westerniost"' was about where the Oliphant house now stands. The hrst town meeting of the freemen of Middletown was held at the "Easter- most school house," and here the public meetings were held for the most part until the building of a town house in 1813-14. " The school houses, if they had not long been built, demanded repairs soon after the organization of the town, and the subject was brought up at a town meeting held March 7, 1743." At a meet- ing held May 9th, 1744, James Barker and John Clarke were appointed a committee to repair the " Eastermost" house. At a town meeting held August 27th, 1745, Peter Barker, John Green and John Clarke were appointed a committee to hire a good schoolmaster to keep school by the year or by the month, as the committee thought best. The school was to be kej)t one half the time in each school house, and five whole days in each week. This committee was directed to pay the income of the school lands to the schoolmaster. It was also provided that said committee should agree with the schoolmaster, and set a price what the weekly schooling should be of the several sorts, of which weekly schooling the schoolmaster was to keep an account, and if the amount received from the school land and the weekly schooling should not equal the amount of the school- master's wages, then the balance was to be paid from tiie town treasury. In 1746 the east school house was repaired, at a cost of £125, 13s., lid. In town meeting. May 13th, 1747, it was voted to abolish the school committee as it was established by the town August 27th, 1745. The schools were then put into tlie hands of the town council, but in August following the management was taken from their hands, and the town in public meeting hired a teacher for its schools. The next j'ear the busine.ss was again intrusted to the hands of a committee, and tiiis arrange- ment continued until August, 1754, when it was decided that the town should " be divided into two squadrons, one house in 790 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. each squadron, and that each squadron shall have the sole power of managing their own school house and lands by leasing out the same, and employing school masters as it shall be most agreeable to them, and the dividing line between the squadrons shall be along the highway from the south end of Moon's lane and so northward along the east highway to Portsmouth, by James Mitchell's shop." The arrangement thus established continued in operation un- til the school system of the state was re-organized, in 1845. Town meetings were held alternately in the east and west school houses. They were at first called by personal notices served on each freeman by the town sergeant until the year 1752, when the plan of posting notices in public places was adopted, and this has since been followed. Notices thus advertised were required to state the objects of the meeting, and to be given lifteen days in advance. In 1789 the act of 175-1 for the management of schools was re- pealed, and it was also further voted that "all persons who send children to school to the west house shall have the full power of chuseing a Schoole master to keepe schoole in said house, and all other persons who has no children to send shall be excluded from any vote in chusing said school master." Upon application of Alanson Peckham and others, liberty was granted them, by the town meeting, August 31st, 1819, to erect a school house on the common adjoining the 7th District. Under the act of January, 1828, the first school committee was elected at town meeting, April 16th, 1828. This committee was composed of nine members, as follows: Grideon Peckham, George Gould, Joshua Coggeshall, George I. Bailey, Samuel S. Peckham, William Peckham, Peleg Peckham, Jr , Jethro F. Mitchell and Peter Barker. Another school house was built on the Oliphant site in 1823. The money required to do this was raised by leasing school land to Stephen T. Northam for twenty-four years for the sura of S225. The building which now occupies that site was erected in 1882, at a cost of about $2,200. The first tax for the support of public schools was voted April 21st, 1830, and amounted to $119. In 1847 the school tax was $125. The income derived from school lands for a number of years prior to 1883 was $695, the proceeds of which were applied to the erection of the Oliphant school building. The taxable property of that district is assessed at $450,000. TIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 791 "In 184.") bounds weie set up on the line between Newport and ]\Iiddletown, and in 1860 on the Portsmouth line. In 1846, school district number hve was set off, and the next j-ear the schools and school houses were placed under tlie supervision of the school committee, who, if they were opposed by the dis- trict committees, were to appeal to the State Superintendent under the new law of 1845, reorganizing the schools. The last serious disagreement in regard to the schools took place in 1853, when on 20th June the school committee petitioned the Council against the management of the two six-acre school lots, alleg- ing an unfair distribution of the proceeds of these lands, in that the north lot was applied solely to district number one, leaving the south lot alone to the other four districts. In reply, the Council, on the 15th of August, decreed that the rents derived from these lands ' shall be appropriated to the schooling and educating of all the children of all the citizens and inhabitants of the town.* An appeal from this decision was taken in behalf of district number one. The decree of the Council was over- ruled and the appeal sustained by the Supreme Court." During the year 1885 the schools of this town received from different sources as follows: State appropriations, §757.68; town appropriations, $1,800 ; registry tax, §32 ; all other sources, $56.03 ; total, §2.827.51. The expenditures for the same year were as follows: buildings, furniture, &c., §57.53; teachers' wages, §2,227.25 ; fuel, §136.65 ; miscellaneous, §85.05 ; contin- gent, including printing, &c., §40; total, §2,533.48. Churches. — The first church in the town of Middletown was Sabbatarian, or Seventh Day Baptist. The building occupied by them was near Easton's pond, at Green End. The early set- tlers held services there a long time, but after the dissolution of this society a hundred years passed before the erection of another meeting house. The people in the interim met in school houses and in private dwelling's. In the year 1829 the " Swamp " meeting house was built. It cost about seven hundred dollars. During the year 1828 Elisha Peckham, Stephen Barker and John Ward, with fourteen others, withdrew from the First Bap- tist- church at Newport, and were organized into a church on October 14th of that year. New members were at the same time received, and the membership of the new church was thus at once swelled to thirty-two. Rev. Henry Sullings was the first pastor of this church. He 792 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. came liither from Xew Bedford, Mass. He was followed bj- Revs. James Taylor, Elijah W. Barrows and Isaiah W. Graff- am. Rev. .James Taylor began his second pastorate in 1844, and continued six j^ears. He was succeeded by Revs. William E. Hathaway, Frederick P. Snow and Ricliard Eldridge. The latter closed his pastorate in 185.3. The first Methodist class in the town was organized in 1856, under the sujiervision of Dr. Frederick Uphara. Prior to this time the Methodists had held occasional or more or less regular services in the swamp meeting house since the year 1829. Upon the organization of the first class the Rev. John F. Fogg com- menced preaching at this place. The annual conference held April 14th, 1857, sent the Rev. Charles Merrill, and during that year the First Methodist Episcopal church of Middletown was organized under his ministerial labors June 21st, 1857. This church at its organization was composed of four meml^ers in full connection and twenty-five probationers. Rev. William "V. Morrison was the second pastor, and during his ministry the board of trustees was incorporated by the state legislature, and in accoi'd with the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal church. Some iniin'ovements were made in the church building at the same time. Further improvements were made during the pas- torate of Rev. William Lindsay, at which time a pipe organ costing S450 was put in, and a debt of §400 paid off. This oc- curred during the centennial year of American Methodism, at which time a new communion service was presented to the church. In the year 1871 a lot was leased from the " Charity Farm,"' and on it was erected a parsonage at a cost §2,500, two-thirds of which was raised by subscription at the time. In 1877 a " Re- form Club" was organized, having for its officers, W. J An- thony, president; F. Lawton, vice-president; C. H. Ward, second vice-president; W. H. Thomas, treasurer; Rev. Edward Hyde, chaplain; and Giles Peabody, marshal. It enjoyed a season of prosperity, secured a course of lectures in this church, and in due time subsided. Rev. J. W. Willett has been pastor of the church since tlie year 1885. The church, in 1887, had a membership of one hun- dred and fifteen, and is in a very prosperous condition. The first Protestant Episcopal churcii of Middletown was not a parochial organization, but a society of worshippers who have HISTOKY OF NKWPOIiT COTINTT. 793 depended entirely upon St. Mary's chnrch of Povtsmoiith for supx)ort. xVn interest liere was first awakened in the year 1842, through the zeahius and healthful influence of Mr. John A. Gil- liatt and Mrs. Gibbs, who did much toward the formation of the society and the erection of the church building, which was completed in 184G. The late venerable Hobart Williams, rec- tor of St. Mary's, was the pastor of the new society from the year 1842 until his death, which occurred in October, 1884. Probably no better history of the struggles of the Church of the Holy Cross can be given than in the following words of one of the vestrymen, Albert L. Chase, who was ajipointed to convey the message of the church to their pastor on the occasion of celebrating the fortieth anniversary of his pastorate over this church, December 14th, 1883. In his address Mr. Chase said: " Reverend father in God : I am directed by my associates, the Wardens and Vestrymen of your Parish, to explain to you the purijoses of our visit this evening. This day makes the for- tieth anniversary of the beginning of your work in this place as a missionary of Christ and a pioneer of the Church. For forty consecutive years you have ministered unto us and our people with unremitting constancy and steadfastness of i^urpose. This fact standing alone, as an extraordinary period of continuous, unremitting labor, would be deserving of recognition at our hands, affording as it does an example worthy of emulation in an age so conspicuous for change and instability in every rela- tion of life. But there is even a greater reason why we should observe this anniversary. The annals of the Church furnish a few instances of a longer ministry in one locality than yours, but so far as we are advised they furnish extremely few cases like your own, where one, subordinating all personal considera- tions, and abnegating every selfish claim, even to his rightful dues as a minister at the Lord's altar, devotes his best days to the cultivation of a field alike unworthy of his theological learn- ing, and unpromising in its retui-ns. '' Sir, your pastorate is distinguished more by its self-sacrifice than by its great length. It stands out pre-eminently a rare illustration of real faith and genuine Christian devotion. That you have your reward in the consciousness of duty well done and in the approval of that Divine Master whom you have served with a single eye we doubt not, and you need no word of commendation from us. But Sir, out of a sense of duty to 794 HISTOIJY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. ourselves, to the world and church at large, we have deemed it proi^er and fitting to note this event, and we have come hither this evening to convej' to you a testimonial of gratitude and friendshij) from your parishioners in the form of a metallic purse containing thirty-one golden eagles, accompanied by a congrat- ulatory address. Tliis testimonial itself we are aware is very inconsiderable and far from commensurate with the importance and significance of this occasion, but we ask you to accept it with our sincerest regards and congratulations upon this your memorable anniversary day." Women's Christian Temperance Union. — The following account of this institution and its work has been kindly fur- nished by one of its leading members, Mrs. Alfred ^Y. Chase: The W. C. T. U. of Middletown was organized July 12th, 1882. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. James Mather; vice-presidents, ]\frs. D. C. Smith, Mrs. Mary B. Cong- den, Mrs. Charles Peckham, Mrs. Alfred W. Chase; corres- ponding secretary, Miss Ellen Smith; recording secretary, Miss Sadie Peckham; treasurer, Miss Annie P. Smith. Thirteen names were secured as regular members, and three as honorary members. During the years 1882-3 the four departments of evangelistic work, Sunday school work, relations with the press and scientific temperance instruction were adopted, with a super- intendent at the head of each. In the fall of 1883 the Women's Christian Temperance Union hired a few feet of ground of the Aquidneck Agricultural Society, and at the annual fair opened in a small way a booth for refreshments. This proved sufficiently successful to en- courage a reopening each j'ear on a somewhat larger scale until 1886, when the booth occupied a space si.xty by thirtj^ feet. Thus a long felt need was supplied, a wholesome infiuence ex- erted and the treasurj^ reimbursed. In the spring of 1884 the office of president was left vacant by the removal of Mrs. Mather from the town, and it was then filled by the election of Mrs. Alfred W. Chase, who has been re-elected each year since. The other officers remain the same with the exception of the vice- presidents, of which there are now but two, viz.: Mrs. Susie Coggeshall and Mrs. Henry Wilson. The department of tem- l^erance literature and juvenile work has been added. Middle- town being signally a temperance town, the work of the organiza- tion has been mainly educational, and it has sought by lectures HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 795 furnishing the best talent of the country, by distribution of tem- perance literature and by concerts and addresses to enlighten the people regarding the facts relating to all phases of this great reform. In October, 1883, a "Band of Hope," an auxiliary to the Women's Christian Temperance Union, was organized by Mrs. H. D. Walker of Providence. Miss Anna A. Brown was elected superintendent, and Miss Sadie Peckham assistant superin- tendent. Through the untiring efforts of these officers our children are growing and strengthening in temperance princi- ples each year. In 1886 the Women's Christian Temperance Union worked earnestly in behalf of the constitutional prohibitory amend- ment, never ceasing in its efforts until the polls closed on the night of the 7th of April. It also did what it could to secure the women's suffrage amendment in 1887. Thk Miantonojii Library is particularly noted for the excellent character of the books found on its shelves. The question of having a good free circulating librarj^ in the town was first agitated by such men as Henry Barnard, Richard K. Randolph, the Reverend Doctor Wayland, Reverend Charles T. Brooks and Reverend J. O. Choules, all men of distinguished abilities and high literary attainments. In the month of Jan- uary, 1848, the movement was started, and many books were donated by the above mentioned gentlemen as the nucleus of a library. In the year 1851 the library was made a stock con- cern, and among the stockliolders we find twelve of them by the name of Anthony, eight by the name of Brown, nineteen by the name of Coggeshall, nine by the name of Chase and five each by the names of Green and Gould. In the year 1856 the library was incorporated under the name of the Miantonomi Circulating Library. In 1875, the Middletown Free Library Association received a conveyance from the first named asso- ciation of all its property. George A. and Joshua C. Brown, when young men, collected by subscription a fund which be- came the nucleus of what was afterward the Middletown library. The number of volumes has been increased from time to time by donations and purchases which have been made by appropriations from the state. The library now contains nearly 1,000 volumes. Daniel M. Ciiase is the librarian. The Aquidneck Agricultural Society.— The Oliphant 796 IIISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTy, school house had been the place of meeting for the various so- cieties long before the erection of the little church near by. Here the farmers were wont to assemble on Saturdaj^ afternoons and evenings for many years, to exchange their views on vari- ous subjects in their lyceum clubs. In these gatherings their ojiinions were formulated touching the proper method of culti- vating the soil, and out of this custom grew the Aquidneck Ag- ricultural Society. Some years before the late war this society was organized, the names of David Buff um, Joshua Coggeshall, Nathaniel Greene, Thomas Coggeshall, Samuel Gould, John Gould, George A. Brown, George C. Coggeshall, George B. Weaver, Philip G. T. Shearman, Benjamin Greene, Thomas G. Rogers and Albert G. Barker appearing with many others among the oi'iginal members. The society x)urcliased ten and a half acres of land on the Wyatt road, and fitted it up for a fair ground. This site has since been exchanged for another, and the land is now owned by J. A. Armstrong. The first organi- zation was in 1852, and Doctor Nathaniel Greene was its first president. During the early years of its existence the business was run on strictly agricultui-al principles, and fairs were held until 1871. In 1873 the society was revived, and in 1880 the present ground was purchased. It contains thirty-three acres, and is valued at $8,000. Since the occupation of this site the society and its work has become largely a Newport enterprise. The Town Hall. — The first meetings of the freemen of Mid- dletown were held in the school houses. Soon after the revolu- tion tile erection of a town hall was discussed. A lot was pur- chased June 1st, 1798, of George Irish, for forty-four dollars. The town, not being ready to build then, leased the lot to Lydia Clarke for seventeen years, but in 181 1 repurchased the unex- pired part of the lease for §150. A committee comi^osed of Wil- liam Bailey and Giles Mancliester was appointed to build a town house. The building was erected in 1813 and 1814. On June 1st, 1814, the committee brought in bills for the work amount- ing to $1,005.13. The new town hall was erected in 1885. Civil List. — Deputies or repregentativ-es were at first chosen twice a year. The elections occurred in April and August. The following held this office during the legislative sessions included in the dates given: Daniel Gould, October, 1743, to May, 1744, and October, 1747; John Taylor, October, 1743, to May, 1748; Rob- ert Nichols, October, 1744, to xVIay, 1745, and May to. October, niSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 797 1746; Thomas Coggeshall, October, 1745; John Rogers, May, 1748, and May, 1751; Robert Barker, October, 1748; Jonathan Easton, October, 1748, to May, 1750, and October, 1760, to May, 1762; William Turner, October, 1749, to May, 1750, October, 1751, to May, 1752, and October, 1755, to May, 1756; Edward Easton, October, 1750; Peter Barker, October, 1750, to May, 1751; Joshua Coggeshall, October, 1751, to May, 1752; John Barker, October, 1752, to May, 1754, May, 1758, and October, ^ 1767, to May, 1769; Handley Cliipman, October, 1752, to May, 1753; Thomas Gould, October, 1753, to October, 1756; Joshua Coggeshall, Jr., October, 1754, to May, 1755, and May and Oc- tober, 1757; William Bailey, October, 1756, to May, 1758, and . October. 1762, to May, 1763; Samuel Bailey, Jr., October, 1758, to May, 1760; James Barker, Jr., October, 1758, to May, 1759, and October, 1760, to October, 1763; John Clarke, October, 1759, to May, 1760; John Holmes, October, 1763, to May, 1764, May, 1765, May, 1766, to May, 1767, and October, 1791, to October, 1793; Gideon Coggeshall, May, 1764; Joseph Ryder, October, 1764; Samuel Bailey, October, 1764; Joshua Barker, May, 1765, to May, 1767, October, 1771, to May, 1772, May, 1776, and Oc- tober, 1788, to May, 1790; John Bailey, October, 1765; Thomas Coggeshall, Jr., May, 1768, to May, 1769, May to October, 1770, October, 1784, to May, 1785, and May, 1780, to May, 1787; Ed- ward Barker, Jr., October, 1769; Thomas Peckham, October, 1769, to May, 1770; William Taggart, October, 1771; Isaac Smith, May, 1772, to May, 1775; Nicholas Easton, October, 1772, to •May, 1774, October, 1775, to October, 1776, May, 1780, to May, 1781, May to October, 1783, October, 1784, to October, 1785, May, 1791, May, 1794, and October, 1798; James Potter, October, 1774, to October, 1775, October, 1785, October, 1788, to October, 1789, October, 1790, October, 1791, to October, 1792, and October, 1797; George Irish, October, 1776, May, 1780, to October, 1781, and October, 1823; Oliver Durfee, October, 1781, to October, 1782; John Manchester, May, 1782, to October, 1783; Benjamin Gardiner, May, 1784, May, 1793, and May, 1797, to May, 1798; William Taggart, Jr., May, 1784, May, 1798, and May, 1838, to October, 1841; John Gould, May to October, 1786; Joseph Coggesliall, May, 1787, to May, 1788; Elisha Allen, October, 1787; William Peckham, Jr., May, 1788, October, 1790, May, 1794, to October, 1794, and May, 1797; Par- don Brown, May, 1790, and October, 1831, to May, 1832; Wil- 798 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. liam Peckham, May, 1791: Easton Bailey, October, 1793, and October, 1798, to October, 1799; Isaac Barker, October, 1794, to October, 1796, October, 1805, to May, 1806, October, 1809, Oc- tober, 1814, and October, 1815; Joshua Peckham, May, 1795, to October, 1796; Samnel Manchester, May, 1799, to May, 1805, and October, 1806, to May, 1809; Joseph Rogers, May to Octo- ber, 1801, May, 1819, and May, 1827; Benjamin Easton, May, 1802, to May, 1805; Peleg Sanford, October, 1805, October, 1815, to May, 1816, and October, 1818; Alanson Peckham, May, 1806, to May, 1815, October, 1816, to May, 1818, May, 1819, and Oc- tober, 1823; Thomas Manchester, May, 1810, to May, 1812, May, 1815, and May, 1816; Joshua Coggeshall, October, 1812, to May, 1814, and October, 1832; Nathaniel Haza7-d, October, 1816, to October, 1818; Giles Manchester, October, 1819, to May, 1823, and May, 1824, to October, 1826; Peter Barker, October, 1819, to May, 1822, and 1846 to 1847; Peleg Peckham, Jr., October, 1822, to May, 1823; Noel Coggeshall, May, 1824, to May, 1827; William Bailey, October, 1827. to October, 1829; John Chase, October, 1827, and May, 1830, to May, 1831; Nathaniel Wyatt, May to October, 1828; Augustus Peckham, May, 1829, to May, 1830; William Smith 1st., October, 1830, to May, 1831; John R. Peckham, October, 1831, to October, 1837; Thomas G. Rogers, May, 1833, to May, 1837; Benjamin Weaver, October, 1837, to October, 1842; Joseph I. Bailey, May to October, 1842; Augus- tus Peckham, Jr., 1843 to 1844; Abner Peckham, 1845; William Peckham, 1846 to 1847; Samuel Gould, 1848 to 1849; Augustus Peckham, 1850, 1857 and 1871; George I. Bailey, 1851; George H. Peckham, 1852; Abner Ward, 1853; William B. Howhand, 1854; John Gould, 1858 to 1859; James Chase, 1860 to 1863; William B. Chase, 1861; Abraliam Peckham, 1864; Thomas Coggeshall, Jr., 1865 to 1870; Andrew J.Cory, 1872 to 1873; Eugene Sturtevant, 1874; Nathaniel Peckham, 1875 to 1880; James Anthony, 1881 to 1883; Joel Peckluxm, 1885 to 1887. Middletown has been represented in the state senate by the following: Joseph I. Bailey, 1843 to 1844; Benjamin Weaver, 1845 to 1846; Pardon Brown, 1847; Nathaniel Greene, 1848 to 1851; John Gould, 1852 to 1855, 1857, and 1870 to 1874; Augus- tus Peckham, 1856 and 1858 to 1859; Peleg T. Sherman, 1860 to 1862; William P. Peckham, 1863; William B. Howland, 1864; Jethro Peckham, 1865 to 1869; Robert S. Chase, 1875 to 1879; HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 799 James Chase, 1880 to 1882; Thomas Cox, 1883 to 1884; Melville Bull, 1885 to 1887. The following have served the town as town clerks: Edward Easton, 1743 to 1749; Edward Tew, 1749 (died in office); John Barker, 1749 to 1780; Parker Hall, pro tern, awhile in 1780; Oliver Durfee, 1780 to 1783; Thomas Peckham, 1783 to 1785; Elisha Allen, 1785 to 1829; William Smith, 1829 to 1839; Joshua Coggeshall, 1839 to 1873; Albert L. Chase, 1873 to the present time. CHAPTER XVI. TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN (Concluded). William Bailey. — Albert Lawton Chase, — Robert S. Chase. — Daniel Chase. — Joshua Coggeshall. — George C. Coggeshall. — David Coggeshall. — William F. Peckham.— Jethro Peckham. — Nathaniel Peckham. — The Sherman Family. — John G. Smitli. — John B. Ward. — Personal Paragraphs. William Bailey is descended from New England ancestry. His grandfather, Easton Bailey, was a successful farmer in Mld- dletown township, where he resided during his lifetime. His children were four sons: John, William, George I. and Isaac, and one daughter, Patience, who became Mrs. Isaac Kundall, of Pennsylvania. George I. Bailey was a native of Middletown townshi]), where he succeeded to the occupation and a portion of the land of his father. He married Mary S., daughter of James Chase, of Middletown, and had children : James E., William, Sarah (Mrs. David Coggeshall) and Julia (Mrs. Sedg- wick Bailey). William, the second son in order of birth, is a native of Newport, where he was born August 22d, 1822. He at an early age accompanied his parents to Middletown, and alter such advantages of education as the public schools afforded, became interested in the varied occupations peculiar to a farm- er's life. In 1850 he became independent, having purchased a tract of land in addition to that acquired l)y his father, in- cluding in all about two hundred acres. To the cultivation and improvement of this he has since given his attention, his resi- dence being the identical dwelling occupied by his ancestors for many genei'ations, and still in excellent preservation. Mr. Bailey was, on the 26th of March, 185i\ married to Elizabeth E., daughter of John Sprong, of Flushing, Long Island, who is of Dutch extraction. Their children are: Mary S., Elizabeth E. (wife of Nicholas Underwood, of New York), Ellen I. (mar- ried to Dr. H. Godwin MacKaye, of Newport), and a son, Wil- liam E. (deceased). Mr. Bailey is in politics a re])ublican. He has avoided the excitement and engrossing cares incident to ^r(,^^!^d^t.-'y7^ Jj <^^-C^^'^^<-^ Q < W H w u o I I I H u- u z u a u .^CU-^/ HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 801 public life and declined all noniinaticjns I'or office. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of Trinity Protestant Episcox^al chnrch, of Newport. Albert Lawtun Chase. — The progenitor of the branch of the Chase famiJy resident in Middletown township was William Chase, born in England about the year 1595, who came to America in 1630 in the fleet which brought Governor Winthrop and his colony. He first settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, but later with others formed a new settlement in Yarmouth in the same state. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1659. He had three children, among whom was William, born about 1622 in England, who emigrated with his parents, and died February 27th, 1685. His children were eight in number, the eldest being William, born about 1645, who was twice mar- ried. He had six children, Isaac being the third son. The latter was twice married and died in 1760. He had twelve children, James the eldest, born February 12th, 1706, having also man-ied a second time. He died April 20th, 1782, leaving twelve children, his eldest sou being Zaccheus, born November 4th, 1737, in Freetown, Massachusetts, married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Gould, and died August 6th, 1816. Their children were six in numl)er, James, born March 5th, 1760, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, having married in 1785, Ruth, daughter of John and Sarah Davis. He died January 31st, 1848. They had eight children, among whom was John, born August 8th, 1786. and married in 1810, to Susanna, daughter of Daniel and Mary Gould, of Middletown. He was a member of the general assembly and a highly es- teemed citizen. His death occurred January 31st, 1831. Among his twelve children was James, born November 5th, 1817, who married in 1847, Sarah D., daughter of Joshua and Deborah Coggeshall. He resides in Middletown and has fre- quently been elected a member of the general assembly. His son, Albert Lawton, the subject of this sketch, was born August 30th, 1851, on the farm in Middletown township. His education, though largely received at the common school, was unusually thorough. He pursued an academic course and be- came proficient in mathematics, while careful and judicious reading aided in the development of a well stored mind. Un- der the careful training of his maternal grandfather he became familiar with the principles of law and political economy, and 802 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. for some years assisted him in his duties as town clerk. In Apri], 1873, he was elected his successor, which office he has since held. This-iield of usefulness requires a thorough knowl- edge of law, and embraces the duties of a recording officer, town council and arbitrator, demanding such peculiar ability as to render the position difficult to till. Mr. Chase is eminently fitted for this work, and has made a most efficient officer. He has also since June, 1875, held a commission as notary public for the state of Rhode Island, and has practised as such and as a conveyancer. In connection with his father he purchased, in 1879, the farm which is his present home and the family residence. Mr. Chase is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross and one of its trustees. He was for several years a vestryman of St. Mary's parish. South Ports- month, Rhode Island, and also delegate to the Rhode Island diocesan convention from that parish. Robert S. Chase. — James Chase, the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, whose remote ancestors acknowledged fealty to the crown of Great Britain, resided in Middletown, where he was the owner of an extensive tract of land, a portion of which is now in possession of Robert S. Chase. He was a highly re- spected citizen, and an intiuential member of the Society of Friends. He married Ruth Davis and reared a large family of children, the youngest of whom, Robert S., was born on the homestead farm, where he during his lifetime followed the pur- suits of an agriculturist. His wife was Sarah Ann, daughter of William Bailey, of Middletown township. Their children are: William B., Robert S. and Sarah I. Robert S. Chase, of this number, was born October, 17th, 1824, on the farm iu Mid- dletown. His education was received at the neighboring public school, after which his attention was given to farming. On the death of his father he inherited the land on which he now re- sides, originally included in the paternal estate, and since that date Mr. Chase has devoted his energies to its cultivation and improvement. He was, on the 23d of April, 1846, married to Amarintha, daughter of Thomas George Rogers, of the same township. Their children are: George Rogers, James Robert, Henry Irish and Amarintha Rogers. Mr. Chase is a member of St. Mary's Protestant E[)iscopal church, of which he has been for several years senior warden. He is in his political predilec- tions a staunch r»'publican, and has been an intlnential rex)re- axt^ fc»Ao-\-(v>., V. %\%»^iwi)-\ l^. 1, 6^tyn^..^c^ / HISiTOUY OB^ NEWPOirr COUNTY. 803 sentative of the principles of his pni'ty. He has hehl various local offices, and was for the years 1875-76-78-79 member of the general assembly of Rhode Island from his district. Mr. Chase is identified with the leading- business interests of Newport, and is a dii'ector of the First National Bank of Newport and of the Newport Gas Company. Henry I. Chase married Hannah, daughter of Joseph C. Dennis, and granddaughter of Isaac Den- nis. They have two sons and three daughters. Daniel Chase was born July 17th, 1811, in Middletown town- ship, and received his education at the public schools. Con- cluding not to remain upon the farm, he removed to Fall River, Massachusetts, and became an apprentice to the trade of a tan- ner and currier. He was, however, summoned home by the death of his father, and assumed charge of the farm. To this branch of industry he has since devoted his time, though ad- vancing years have brought a respite from active labor, and thrown much of the responsibility on others. Mr. Chase in 1849 purchased the farm which is his present home, where much of his active life has beeti spent. His political affilia- tions have been either whig or republican, but he has never engaged in the strife for office, and declined all public posi- tions other than that of member of the town council. He was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, but now wor- ships with the congregation of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Chase is descended from William Chase, before mentioned, who emigrated from England in 1630 and died at Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in 1659. In the direct line of descent was James Chase, grandfather of Daniel, the subject of this biography, who married Ruth Davis. Their children were: John, Eliza- beth, Zaccheus, Daniel, James, Robert S., Mary and Sarah. John, of this number, married Susanna Gould, a descendant of Daniel Gould, one of the first Quaker preachers in this country who was scourged by bigoted Puritans on Boston Common for his religious o[)inious. Their children were: Daniel, Edward S.. John. Joseph W., James, George G., William, Charles F., David B., Mary G., Mary G., 2d, and Ruth D. The eldest of this number, and the subject of this sketch, was married Octo- ber 30th, 1834, to Martha, daughter of Oliver Wightman, of Middletown. Their children are: Edward P., Susan G., Charles F. and Daniel M., all residents of Middletown. 51 S04 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Joshua Coggeshall, the subject of this sketch, was a grand- son ol' Joshua Coggeshall, who was a native of Rhode Island, and resided on th(5 Coggeshall homestead in Middletown. He married, Januarj^ 2d, 1752, Anne Dennis. Among their sons was Joseph, who was born August 16th, 1754, in Middletown, and succeeded to the vocation of his father. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Horswell, of Little Compton, who became the mother of eight children, as follows : Noel, Ruth, Joseph, Anne, Joshua, John P., Abram C. and Sarah, who became the wife of Isaac A. Dennis, of Portsmouth. Joshua Coggeshall was born December 25th, 1788, on the ancestral property, and spent his life in the healthful pursuits of a farmer. The oppor- tunities for scholastic training were at that early period very limited, compelling him to secure as best he might an acquaint- ance with good English and the elementary studies. His early manhood was devoted to the aid of his father in liis various duties on the farm. On his marriage Mr. Coggeshall removed to the property now owned by his son, David, which he pur- chased and improved. Later he liecame owner of a portion of the farm of Albert L. Chase, and built the residence which he occupied until his death, April 7th, 1879. Mr. Coggeshall mar- ried Deborah, daughter of John and Hannah Allen, of Middle- town. Their children are: George C, married to Mary A. Brown ; David, married to Sarah C. Bailey ; Hannah M., Mrs. George G. Chase ; Anne E., and Sarah D., Mrs. James Chase. Mr. Coggeshall was in early life in politics an old line whig, and subsequently became a democrat. An intelligent and thought- ful man, he was the recipient of many honors from his constit- uents. He served several terms in the general assembly, was for many years president of the town council, and for nearly forty years the efficient clerk of the township. He was often called upon to act as administrator and arbitrator, and in all these offices, unsought by him, displayed great lidelity to duty. While liberal toward all sects, he worshipped with the Friends' meeting. George C. Coggeshall, the grandson of Joseph and Eliza- beth H. Coggeshall, and tiie son of Joshua and Deborah Allen Coggeshall, was born October 7th, 1816, on the homestead farm in Middletown, and received his education at the Oliphant school in the immediate vicinity, Avhere the advantages were superior to those afforded at the ordinary country schools. His w »i*^Q^t"H,, \. *\VVLSTtk\(l ^ eo OQQ£j, h/^, '^1/7^ /(Iy6>^(^s 5 s I w z u Q to HISTORY OF NEAVPORT COUNTY. 805 attention was then given to the work on the farm belonging to his fatlier until his niari'iage on the 19th of Decenibei', 1849, to Mary A., daughter of Pardon Brown, of Middletow n. Their children are: Joshua, married to Elizabeth C, daughter of Ste- phen P. Weaver, who has fou'r children; George, married first to Alzada Weaver, and a second time to Sarah G. Weaver, both daughters of Stephen P. Weaver; Fillmore, married to Eliza- beth, daughter of Henry Brown, who has four children; Fran- cis J., married to Sarah A., daughter of Peleg Thurston, who has one child; and a daughter, Luc}^ (deceased), who married George Anthony, and left one child. Mr. Coggeshall, soon after his marriage, removed to the farm now the home of his widow, where the remainder of his life was ])assed. For seven years he presided over the town council of Middletown and performed the varied and responsible duties of that office with signal cor- rectness and ability. He was also captain of the Home Guards, organized for active service in a period of emergency, during the late war, and from its organization until his death treasurer of the Aquidneck Agricultural Society. Mr. Coggeshall was a consistent member of the First Baptist church, of Newport. By the constancy and purity of his Christian character, by his faithfulness and fidelity in the discharge of public trusts, and by his fair, honorable and courteous intercourse with his fellows, he won the confidence, esteem and brotherly regard of his church, his townsmen and all who knew him. His death oc- curred January 31st, 1873, in his fifty-eighth year. David Coggeshall.- -Joseph Coggeshall, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Rhode Island, resided in Middletown townshij) on a farm lying north of that owned bj^ his grandson, David Coggeshall. By his marriage to Elizabeth Horswell were born children : Noel, Joseph, Anne, Ruth, Joshua, Abram, Sai'ah and John. Joshua Coggeshall passed his life upon the farm which was the scene of his birth. He was a leading citizen and intliiential in the affairs of his town- ship, of which he was for thirty-nine years the efficient clerk. He married Deborah, daughter of John and Hannah Allen, of the same township. Their children are: George C, David, Hannah M. (Mrs. George Chase), Anne E. (deceased) and Sarah D. (Mrs. James Chase). David Coggeshall was born October 28th, 1818, on the homestead farm which has been his lifetime residence. His youth was devoted to labor, varied by attend- 806 HISTOUy OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ance at tlie district school. Finding agricultural eniploj^ments congenial to liis taste, he continued on the farm, giving his attention to its varied interests, and in 1877 inheriting the property on which he now resides. He was. on the 2oth of March, 1851, married to Sarah C, daughter of George I. Bai- lej^ of Middletown township. Their children are: George B., who is associated with his father in the management of the farm; Elizabeth, wife of John L. Simmons, of Newport, and Harriet B. Mr. Coggeshall is, in his political affiliations, a democrat, and although manifesting a laudable interest in local issues, has declined all tenders of office other than that of United States assistant assessor. He is a supporter of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a regular attendant upon its services. William F. Peckiiam. — The progenitor of the Peckham family in Ehode Island was John Peckham, who married a daughter of James Clark. Their son, William Peckham, born in 1675, married Mary Clark, born in 1680. They had two sons, William and Samuel. William was born in 1706, and married Mary Barker. His son, William, the great-grandfather of William F., was born February 14th, 1737, and married Lidia Rogers. Their son, John E., born March 8th, 1767, died in 1837. He was twice married. By his first union were two sons, William and Restcomb, and a daugh- ter. William was born on the homestead January 31st, 1794, and inherited the farm, having married Ann, daughter of Ed- ward Smith, born March 13th, 1794, whose children are: Wil- liam F., Edward Truman, and one daughter, Elizabeth A. (de- ceased), wife of John G. Smith. The death of William Peck- ham occurred July 6th, 1851, and that of his wife March 27th, 1858. Their son, William F., was born December 24th, 1818, in Middletown, and at a late period resided on the farm origin- ally owned by the first Peckham who settled in the township, where his remains are interred. The Oliphant district school, then the best disciplined and equipped school in the township, afforded the opportnnity for acquiring a knowledge of the Eng- lish branches, after which he, until his twenty-ninth year, ren- dered his father valuable service on the farm. He then assumed charge of the estate, and enjoyed the results of his labor. Soon _ after, by inheritance and purchase, he became owner of the property. Some years since he divided the land, assigning a *.»-\Q'\1»t, I 'i\t*ST».^\. *. t- r vAyZiC7 ^^iC^>^y^^^u-'g^g^t^ HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 807 portion, with a residence added, to his sons. Mr. Peclchani, in 1847, married Martha, daughter of Abner Ward, of the same township. Their children are: Arthur L., Elton W. (deceased), AVilliani Clarence, Edward Julian, Ann Maria (Mrs. Marion Peckhara), Elizabeth Amanda (Mrs. McDougal Haman), and Ruth Ella. Mrs. Peckhani died November IGth, 1877, and he married again in December, 1882, Sarah A., daughter of James Barrows, of Providence. Mr. Peckham, as a republican, has filled various offices in the township. He has been councilman for many years (though not consecutively), and in 1803 was elected a member of the state senate. He is, in religious faith, a Baptist, and a member of the Second Baptist church of New- port. Jethro Peckham is of Scotch ancestry, though the family have long resided in IMiddletown. His great-grandfather was Joseph Peckham. Alanson Peckham. a son of the latter and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, married Catherine Coggeshall, whose children were seventeen in number, among whom was Jetliro Jackson Peckham, who was born in 1788, and nuirried Tryphena, daughter of Felix Peckham, of the same township. Their children were nine in number, as fol- lows: Asa, Dorcas, Janet, Celinda, Jethro, Felix A., Julia M., Francis E. and Alanson. Mr. Peckhani died February I'Jth, 1859, and his wife November 20th, 1877. Their son, Jethro, was born November lOth, 1821, in Middletown, and at an early age became familiar with the routine of farm labor, much more time having been spent at work than at school. He then learned the trade of a house carpenter and found his services much in demand throughout the county. This occupation was contin- ued until 1882, when advancing years induced his retirement from active labor, though Middletown continued to be his home. He was on the 6th of July, IS.iG. married to Harriet B., daugh- ter of J. Bailey Hall, of the same township, who was born in 1823, and died in 1862. The only child of this union, Frances, born in 1860, is deceased. He was a second time married in 1809 to Adelaide, daughter of Cai)tain George Barney, of Mid- dletown, whose birth occurred in 1840, and her death in 1872. Their only son, Sidne,y L., born in 1871, is deceased. Mr. Peck- ham, first as a free soiler, and later as a republican, was an in- fluential factor in the politics of his county. He held the prin- cipal townsliip u Hi CHS. as al-'> tlidsc of n c it :ny public aiul justice 808 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of the peace. He was in 1861 elected to the state senate and served in that capacity nntil 1866. During these sessions that bodj' had no more intelligent and fearless defender of the right than was Mr. Peckhara. He was also frequently called upon to act as executor and administrator. In his religious convic- tions he was a Baptist and an attendant upon the services of the First Baptist church of Newport, where his family for gen- erations have worshiped. Mr. Peckham died December 9th, 1887. Nathaniel Peckham.— The Peckham family resident in Khode Island are of Scotch antecedents. William Peckham, the grandfather of Nathaniel, an independent and resolute man, was a citizen of Middletown township, this home of the family for more than two centuries. His children were: Joshua, Augustus, Felix, Gideon and two daugiiters: Lydia, Mrs. Pardon Sherman, and Ruth, Mrs. Christopher Barker. Gideon, the youngest son, was born in 1782 and spent his life in the town- ship as a farmer. He married Cynthia, daughter of Gideon Barker, of the same township and had children fourteen in num- ber, eleven of whom grew to mature years. They are: Benedict, John C, Elizabeth, Cynthia A., Melinda, Gideon B., Hosea, Nathaniel, Sarah, Ardelia and Philip M. Mr. Peckham' s death occurred in 1854 and that of his wife two years later. Their son, Nathaniel, was born August 27th, 1823, in the township which has been his lifetime residence. He received but or- dinary advantages of education, and may therefore be properly termed a self educated man. He early learned the methods and daily duties pertaining to the rontine of a farmer's life, and aided his father to cultivate the farm largely now in pos- session of his son, a portion of which he inherited, and acquired the remainder by purchase. Here he has since continued farm- ing of a general character, and varied his pursuits by an occa- sional contract for constructing roads and bridges. Mr. Peck- ham was married on the L^th of Januaiy, 1849, to Jane Potter, daughter of John Tucker, of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Their children are: Jane Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph F. Albro; Na- thaniel Horace, of Middletown; Herman Franklin, also of Middle- town; Alvin Herbert, of Jamestown, and Justin Hamilton of Le- banon, Connecticut. All these sons are active, enterpiising and successful business men. Mr. Peckham has, in the various polit- ical agitations of the day, advocated the principles of the repub- J^r.ldt tci/, a^ry\^ WW^'itK^ \ WS.H.'bWVK >t, 1 '^^0'^^i-^^i^-^^'^-' HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COTTNTT. 809 lican party. He has from time to time for thirty years been a member of the town council, of wliicii he was, in ISHG, presi- dent. He is frequently moderator of the town meetings and lias often represented his district at state conventions. In 187o he was elected a member of the house of representatives of Rhode Island, and served five years in that capacity. He has also made his presence in Middletown indispensable as the township auctioneer. Mr. Peckham is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and connected with Oakland Lodge, No. 32, of that order, of South Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The Sherman Family.— The Shermans of Middletown are descended from English ancestry. Walter Sherman, the grand- father of Isaac A. and Peleg T. Sherman, resided on a farm in Middletown township. He married Rebecca Anthony and had children: Abraham, born July 4th, 1790, died September 27th, 1S77; and Jacob, whose birth occurred December Otii, 1791, and his death October 14th, 184S. Mr. Sherman was married a sec- ond time to Huldah Wilbur, whose children were: Rebecca, Francis, Moses and Cornelius. Jacob Sherman, whose birth- place was Middletown, spent his whole life in the congenial pursuits pertaining to agriculture. He married Susan, daugh- ter of Peleg Tabor, of Middletown, and had children: Peleg T., Martha (Mrs. Thomas Weaver), Julia Maria (Mrs. Job M. Barker), Isaac A., Rebecca (Mrs. Edwin Barker), Walter and Ann Sarah (Mrs. John B. Ward). Peleg T. Smermax was born in Middletown November 3d, 1816, and received such instruction in his youth as the best sciiools in the vicinity afforded. While inheriting the taste of liis ancestors for country and farm life, he also developed ex- ceptional busine-ss talent. In addition to the management of his farm, he engaged extensively in trading, as also in the call- ing of a drover. In both of these he was largely successful, as a result ()f rare capacity and unerring judgment. Mr. Sherman was one of the most influential rejiresentatives of his paity in tiie county and an active worker in its ranks. As a republican lie was for two terms the representative of his party in the gen- eral assembly, and much interested in the local issues of the day. Hh married Sallie, daughter of Peleg Almy, of Portsmouth, in the same county. His death occurred July 10th, 1879, in his sixty-fourth year. His widow still survives and resides in Mid- dletown. SIO HISTOKY OF NEAVPORT COUNTY. Isaac A. Sherman was born on the 12tli of March, 1823, in Middletown, and was educated in the public schools of the township. He engaged at once in farming, which has been the business of his life. He was married on the 7th of October, ISoO, to Cornelia J., daughter of Francis Sherman, of Steuben county, New York. Their children are: Gertrude E. (deceased) and Isaac Lincoln (born in 1859), who is a resident of the town- ship, and was married in 1883 to Annie E. Cory. Mr. Sherman, the year of las marriage, removed to Tiverton, where for twenty years he followed agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he leturned to Middletown, and became part owner of the homestead on which he now resides. A repuljlican in his political views and a sincere believer in the principles advocated by his party, he Las never sought office and declined all nominations, with a single exception, that of membersliip in the town council. Mr. Sherman adheres to the faith of the Society of Friends, the be- lief of his ancestors. Walter Sherman was bom December 3d, 1827, in Middle- town township ; was educated, as were his brothers, at the pub- lic schools, and began his active life as a farmer. After some years spent at home he purchased a farm in Little Comjiton township, and resided up-in it until his death, which occurred February 7th, 1871, in his forty-fourth year. He married Phoebe Lawton, of Amherst, Massachusetts. Their only child, a son, Frederick L., resides with his mothei' on the farm. Mr. Sherman found agreeable employment in the duties pertaining to his estate, and did not participate in the excitement attend- ing public life, for which he liad little inclination. John G. Smith. — The grandfather of the subject of this liio- graphical sketch was James Smith, who I'esided in ^Yashington county, Rhode Island, where he was a prosperous, miller. By Lis marriage to Joanna Sheldon he became the father of nine sons and three daughters, as follows : Jonathan, Gardner, Ver- iiom, Isaac, Norris, William, John, James, Palmer, Elizabeth, Piusan and Abbie. The eldest of this number, Jonathan Smith, was born April 24th, 1780, in Washington county, and removed to Middletown, where during the gi'eater part of his life he was engaged in the labor pertaining to a farmers occupation. Here Lis death occurred in 1834. He married Elizabeth Wyatt, whose children were : Sarah Ann, Mehitabel and James M. He mar- lied a second time Sarah Leach, and had children: Elizal)eth, '^- "^i^kyl yX\\i.W^\^ t. ^\t*S-VV^T H. 1. HISTORY OF NKWrOKT COUNTY. 811 who died in yonth ; Joanna (]\Irs. Alden H. Barker), John G., and Lucy, deceased. John G. Smith was born August 7th, 1821, in jMiddletown township, whence his father removed dur- ing the early years of his life. His youth was devoted to work on the farm, varied by a period at school in the neighborhood and at Newport, after which for nine years he followed a sea- faring life. On returning again to his native township he re- sumed farming and rented the farm wliich is his present home. This property snlisequently came to him by inheritance. Mr. Smith married, in November, 1843, Elizabeth A., daughter of "William Peckham, of Middletown. Their children are : Fran- cis Wayland, William N., Clinton G., Orlando N. and LidaAV. Mrs. Smith died May 8th, 1882, and he married again October nth, 1886, Mrs. Hannah Eldridge, of Somerville, Mas.sachusetts. Mr. Smith was formerly a whig in politics, and on its formation esjjoused the j^rinciples of the republican party. He is indiffer- ent to the honors of office, but has aided to a limited extent in administering the affairs of his township. He is in his religious belief a Baptist, and a member of the Central Baptist church of Newport. John B. Ward. — The grandfather of the subject of this biog- raphy was John AVard, who was descended from English stock, and resided in Middletown, where he was for many years an enterprising farmer. By his nuirriage to a Miss Barker were l)orn the following children: Abner, Henrj% John, William, Martha and Elizabeth. Abner Ward, the eldest of these sons, was born in ISOo in Middletown, and inherited the agricultural (astes of his father. He married Margaret, daughter of Felix Peckham, of the same township, and had children: John B., Gilbert L., Adouiram J., Jacob S., Martha (deceased), wife of William F. Peckham, and Maria (deceased), married to Aaron S. Coggeshall. The death of Mr. Ward occurred in 1877. John B. was born on the 21st of June, 1826, in Middle- tiiwn, and has during his lifetime resided within its limits. After acquiring u thorough knowledge of farming he, at the ■,MXe of twenty-three, rented the property formerly the home of his father, and continued to cultivate the land until 1873. He then cluinged his location, but renuiined in the township, and in 1884 purchased the property which is his present residence. He was married December ISth. 1848, to Ann Sarah, daugliter of Jacob Sherman, of the same township, whose death occurred 812 HISTORY OF XEWPORT COUNTY. August 21st, 1884. Their children are: Margaret (Mrs. Lyman H. Barker), Cliarles H., Geoige E., Abner H., Josepli Hooker, Sarahs., and. a son, Frank M., deceased. Mr. Ward is still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been identified with the interests of Middletown, and from time to time held various local offices, his vote and influence always being given to the repul)lican party. His brothers, Gilbert L. and Jacob S.Ward, are also residents of the township. Personal Paragraphs. David Albro, born in 1825, is a son of Peleg, born in 1799, and a grandson of David, whose father was also named David Al- bro. Peleg's wife was Eliza, daughter of Hon Samuel Man- chester. David has been tax assessor for many years and is still filling the office. His first marriage was with Sarah Ann Anthony, of Portsmouth, in 1851. They raised three children: Charles, George Herbert and William G. Mr. Albro's present wife is Mary E., daughter of Samuel B. Dodge, of Block Island. Their children are Isaac and Sarah A. One daughter, Lucinda B., is deceased. Peleg Almy, born in 1855, is a son of Charles and a grandson of Peleg Almy, late of Portsmouth, born in 1792, and died in 1887. Mr. Almy is gardener for Mr. Wetherbee, by whom he has been employed for eleven years. Before that he was in the same business for Dr. Heywood, of New York, who built the Wetherbee place in 1872. Abraham Anthony is a son of Joshua, born in 1798, died in 1877, and a grandson of Gideon, born in 1760, died in 1832. Gideon's father w^as Philip Anthony. Gideon's wife was Eliza- beth Coggeshall. Abraham was Ixjrn in 1826, and married in 1850 Sarah D., daughter of Samuel Gould. She died in 1886, leaving three children: Albert A. (whose wife is Sarah E. Man- chester), Abbie C. (Mrs. Ashton C. Barker), and Sarah Maria (Mrs. Charles Albro, of Portsmouth). Susan A. Anthony is a daughter of Phili[) Antliouy. He was born in 1789 and died in 1873. He was a brother of Joshua Anthony. He was married to Mary Manchester, a daughter of John Manchester. George Anthony, the oldest man in this town, is a son of Elijah and a grandson of Jonathan Anthony. Jonathan An- thony married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 813 Gould, November 11th, 1750. Their children were: Mary, Elizabeth, Gould, Jonathan and Eliza. Jonathan Anthony, Sr., kept a tan yard and lived where James Anthony now resides. His house was burned by the British in revolutionary times. His son, Elijah, died in 1842, 75 years old. George Anthony was born in 1796, and married Margaret Hathaway. They had seven children, four of whom, Joseph S., Elijah, Rachel and James, are living. Joseph 8. was born in 1833, and married Josephine Gould. Their daughter, Josephine L. G., is the wife of Thomas J. Sweet, of Portsmouth. George Anthony was a member of the town 'council from 1848 to 1855, inclusive. James Anthony, son of the George last mentioned, was born here in 1840. He was married in 1869 to Charlotte S., daughter of Noel Coggeshall. Their children are Arthur R. and Alfred C. His farm is the old homestead where Elijah Anthony lived two generations ago. James Anthony has been eight years in the general assembly and on the school committee three years. He has been the moderator of town meeting three years. He also was town collector of taxes several years. Albert G. Barker, who was ))orn in 1808 and died in 1869, was a son of John Barker, grandson of David and great-grandson of Isaac Barker, of the revolution. His first wife left one son, John P. Barker, now of Boston. His second wife, who survives, is Mary, a daughter of Mumford Peckham. Their children are: Mary A. W. (^deceased), Dorcas E. , Clark T. and Mumford P. Barker. Mrs Clark T. Barker is Fannie R., daughter of John C. Law ton. Job M. Barker, born here in 1812, has lived at his present residence seventy-three years. He was married in 1837. His wife is a sister of Isaac A. Sherman. Their children living are: W. Scott, of Newport; Julia, now Mrs. John Dowley, of Bos- ton; Susan, now Mrs. Fi-ederick Coggeshall, and James T., at home. Two daughters, Josephine and Annie, are deceased. Rol)inson Potter Barker, born in ISIO, is a son of John Bar- ker and a grandson of David, who was born in 1749 and died in 1819. David was a son of John, born in 1711, died in 1777. John's wife was Dorcas, daughter of Isaac Barker, of the revo- lution. Robinson P. Barker's wife, who died in 1861, was Ju- lia, daughter of Samuel S. Peckham. Their children are: Dr. C. F. Barker, of Newport; Maria N., now dead; Mary E., now Mrs. A. K. Sherman, of Newport, and Elma M., now iMrs. John 814 IIISTOKY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. Peckham. Mr. Barker has been tax assessor many years. His l)resent wife is Harriet N., a sister of John Peclvliam. From manuscript in the liossession of Mrs. Robinson P. Bar- ker the following is quoted: "The Barkers in Rhode Island de- scended from James Barker of Essex countj-, England. His son James and his daughter Christiana started to come to New- England about 1636. James died on ship, and his son James, a lad of 17, became the father of eight children, born in Mid- dletown. He was a magistrate named in the 166B charter, and was one of the deputy governors in 1G70.- He died in 1702." Stephen P. Barker, born here in 1851, is a son of Stephen Barker, who died in 1842, and a grandson of Isaac Barker, who, in the revolution, acted as a messenger for the Americans on the island in their intercourse with their friends in Little Compton to the eastward. Mr. Barkers house is the old place where this grandfather Isaac lived. It was a barrack for the Hessian soldiers during the revolution. This Isaac Barker had five sons and one daughter: Stephen, Cyrus, James, Ira, Hiram and Dor- cas. Stephen P., who is now living, was married in 1837 to Betsey G., daughter of Peter Bariver. They have six sons now living and heads of families. He has been in the town council as a republican and has been assessor of taxes and tax collector. His business is farming, and his residence Paradise avenue, Middletown. Abram A. Brown, born in 1846, is a son of William C, grand- son of Abram and great-grandson of Gideon Brown. He was married in 1870 to Josephine, daughter of Job M. Barker. She died in 1874, leaving two children, Lillie Maria and J. Willie. In 1875 Mr. Brown was married to Maria E. Cory, by whom he has four sons and one daughter. His business is farming. Pardon Brown, born in ISOl, married in 1831, and died in 1881 (fatiier of George A. Brown of Middletown and Joshua C. Brown of Newport), was one of eighteen children of Peleg Brown; twelve of these eighteen became heads of families. Pai don Brown's widow, who survives him, is Sarah Sanford granddaughter of Johrt Sanford, an early grocery merchant in Poitsmouth. Her children were: Peleg, died in Nevada; Par- don, now living in California; Lucy M., deceased, was Mrs. James A. Brown; and Lydia, deceased, was Mrs. John Sanford. Each of these three deceased children left four children. Par- don Brown was prominent in public affairs and was representa- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 815 tive in the state legislature some years. He died while the plans were being made to celebrate their golden wedding. William C. Brown, deceased, was a son of Abraham and a grandson of Gideon. He died in 1885, leaving a wife, Eunice, a daughter of Arnold Barker. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons and Iwo daughters living: Abram A., Natlian B., Annie M. (Mrs. A. Herbert Ward) and C. Etta, a teacher. MellvilleBull, the present senator from Middletown, was born at Newport in 1854, and at the age of 23 graduated from Har- vard college. He served two years as adjutant of the Newport Artillery, and was aid' on the personal staff of Governor Wet- more. He has given considerable attention to party interests as a republican, representing Middletown in the legislature in 1883-85. In business his interests are largely agricultural. John Tew Carr was born in 1845 at Jamestown, R. I. His father and his grandfather were named Robert. He served in Company I), 12th Rhode Island Regiment one year in the civil war. He was married in 1867 to Mary Dawley, of Newport, and she has borne him two sons and one daughter. He has mauagetl the " Ogden farm " in Middletown eight years. George A. Carter and Daniel A. Carter of Middletown and Samuel A. Carter of Portsmouth are sons of William Carter. Their grandmother, who died in 1887, at 96 years of age, was Henrietta Allen. George A. Carter was born in 1854, and mar- ried Anna A., daughter of Elisha Allen, of Portsmouth. Their children are Winfred and Ethel May. Mr. Carter's business is farming. Perry G. Case was born in Westport, Mass., in 1819, and came to Newport city in 1836. He married Caroline A., daughter of George C. Shaw. She died, leaving one son, Philip II., now in California. His present wife was a Newport lady. Mr. Case is a bnilder and contractor. He built George Fearing' s, and Thomas Dunn's residences and numerous others in the city. The firm is P. G. Case & Co. Joseph L. Chace, born in 1848, is a son of Henry C. Chace of Newport, a grandson of Captain James Chace and great-grand- son of Solomon Chace. He was married in 1873 to Lydia Baker Smith, daughter of Daniel B. Smith and granddaughter of Isaac J. Smith, who was a son of James Smith, mentioned in the ancestral line of John G. Smith. Mr. Chace is a farmer. Alfred W. Chase, born in 1835, is a son of John, a grandson 816 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of John and a great-grandson of John Chase. He was married in 1861 to Louise Bond, of Brimfield, Mass. Thej^ have one son and one daughter. The daughter graduated at Vassar College in 1886. Mr. Chase was educated at the public schools here and at Lebanon Academj^ Connecticut. He is i^rincipal of the Cranston Avenue grammar school in Newport. His wife is president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Middletown and a prominent women's suffrage advocate. Arthur W. Cluise, ))orn in ISHo, is a son of David B. Chase and a grandson of John Chase. He married Charlotte, daughter of Joseph Smith. Their children are: Bessie G., Mary A., Dasie M. and Annie E. Mr. Cliase's business is milk farming. James Chase, deceased, was a son of the James Chase men- tioned as Daniel Cliase's grandfather. His widow, now living, is Nancy, daughter of John Crouclier. They were married in J8B5, when she was eighteen years old. William Chase, born in 1820, is a son of John Chase, and grandson of James Chase. Mrs. William Chase, deceased, was Jane M., daughter of Abraham C. Coggesiiall. Her son is Abrani C. Chase, of Portsmouth. The present Mrs. Wiliiatii Chase is Mary C. Coggeshall, sister of Jane M. Her only daugh- ter died at eighteen years of age. Mr. Chase is one of twelve children. His father, John, died wliile a member of the general assembly. William B. Chase, deceased, niai'ried Cynthia, daughter of Peleg Coggeshall, and granddaughter of George Coggeshall. Peleg was the only child of George. This George Coggeshall' s father was Joshua. Mr. Cliase was once representative in the general assembly. He was a son of Robert Chase, and grand- son of James Chase, who owned this same farm. This is called Coddington's cove farm. The children of William B. Chase are: Peleg, now living in Boston, and William B., a single man here with the widowed mother. Noel Coggeshall, born here, is a son of Abraliam Coggeshall (born 1797, died 1873), and grandson of Josepli. who was a son of Joshua Coggeshall. He married Sarah A., daughter of Jolin Rogers. Mr. Coggeshall has been several years in town coun- cil, and is now one of the town auditors. His children are William S. and Joseph. Abi'aham Coggeshall, a I'etired farmer, was born in 1820, and is a brother of Noel Coggeshall. He married Sarah G. Oman, HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 817 who bore one child, Kate, now the widow of Joseph P. Bailey. Mr. Bailey was a son of James E. Bailey, who was a brother of AVilliam Bailey, mentioned in a preceding biography. Mrs Kate Coggeshall Bailey has four sons: A. Howard, Herbert C, Walter P. and Percy T. William E. Coggeshall, born in 1833, is a son of Thomas (born 1796, died 1870), gi'andson of William, and great-grandson of Thomas Coggeshall. He was married in 1866 to Martha, daugh- ter of Abraham Coggeshall. She died, leaving one daughter, EllaM., who is the wife of George Anthony, of Portsmouth. Mr. Coggeshall's jiresent wife is Susan, daughter of Henry Huddy, of Newport. Their children are: Mabel, Minnie and William T. Mr. Coggeshall has been a member of the town council four j^ears. He worked twelve years at carjjentering and various kinds of mechanical work. His present business is farming. Joshua Coggeshall, burn in 18oO, lives in Middletown, and is a son of George C. Coggeshall, whose biography ajjpears in this chapter. He was married tt) Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen P. Weaver, and great-granddaughter of Benoni Weaver. Stephen P. Weaver's wife was Eliza Gibbs. daughter of Enos and Sally Gibbs. Sally Gibbs died in 1887, aged over 101 years. The children of Joshua Coggeshall are: Albert H., Eliza F., Phebie A. and Lucj'. Francis J. Coggeshall, born in 1859, son of George C. Cogge- shall, was married in 1881 to Sarah A. Thurston, of Portsmouth. Thej' have one child, Jeanette. Mr. Coggeshall is engaged in farming. George Coggeshall, son of George C, was born in 18o2, and was mari-ied in 1873 to Alzada F. Weaver, who died, leaving three children. His present wife is Sarah G. Weaver, sister of his former wife. They have one cliild. Mrs. Coggeshall is a daughter of Stephen Weaver. Mr. Coggeshall is engaged in garden farming. He has a good quarry on his farm, the best in the town. Clark Henry Congdon, born in 183G, is a son of Daniel Cong- don, who came to IS'ewiiort from North Kingstown, R. I., in 1819, and to Middletown in 1849, where he died in 1880. Mrs. Clark Congdon was a Miss Kinney. Their children are: Ida M., wife of W. Scott Barker, Daniel J., Henry B. and M. Bertha. Mr. Congdon is a dairj' farmer in Middletown, where he has filled several minor town offices. 818 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Joseph Freeborn was born in 1807, and was married in 1847 to Harriet, danghter of Oliver Wightnian, and granddaughter of James WigUtman. Joseph Freeborn died in 1880. He learned tanning with his father, and went on one voyage to sea when he was single. He then engaged in farming on the farm his father owned in this town, where James T. Peckham now lives. His widow's mother was Rebecca, daughter of Jonathan Coggeshall. Joseph S. Freeborn, carpenter and builder, born in 1838, is a son of Perrj'- W. Freeborn (born 1810, died 1885), grandson of William W. (born 1780), and great grandson of Joseph (born 1716). Joseph's father was Gideon, born 1084. His grandfatlui' was Gideon, born about 1635. This last Gideon was the third child and only son of William and his wife Mary, who came from England in 1634, and became one of the eighteen purchas- ers of this island March 24th, 1637-8. Joseph S. Freeborn married Annie E., daughter of Pardon Smith. Their children are Henry C. and Hat tie F. S. Joseph S. has one sister, Lucy A., and one brother, John P. Samuel Gould, born in 1799, is a son of Thomas, grandson of John, and great-grandson of Thomas Gould. The latter was a son of Thomas, grandson of Daniel, and great-grandson of Jere- miah and Priscilla Gould, who came from England in 1637. Jeremiah returned to England and died there. His wife died here. Samuel Gould married Ann, daughter of John Barker. Their children are: Sarah, Charles, and John. The latter was born in 1831, and was married in 18.55 to Ruth M., daughter of James Barker. Robert Gould, a brother of Samuel, was the only man killed in the Dorr war in 1842. Robert J. Grinnell was born in Johnson, R. I., in 1853, and is a brick, stone and plaster mason. He was married in 1874 to Clara B., daughter of Elisha C. Peckham, and located in this town in 1878. He was the contractor of the mason work on the Edwin Booth villa, and is the leading man in this business on this side of the island. He has four sons. Henry J. Hass, florist, was born in Prussia in 1854 and came to Newport in 1868. In 1877 he was a member of the firm of Brant & Hass, florists. In 1881 he established his present busi- ness. He has 7,500 square feet under glass, and is extensively engaged in the production of flowers, i)lants and vegetables. He was married in Sweden and has two children, Josephina C. and Henry P. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 819 Alfred II. Hazard, born in 1841, is a son of George Borden Hazard, and grandson of Tlionias G. Hazard. He was mar- ried in 1863 to Emma Matilda Hall, sister of Mrs. Gordon D. Oxx. Their children are Alfred H., Jr., and Mattie Eleanor. Mr. Hazard is engaged in dairy farming. Charles H. Hazard, born in 1824, is a son of Mumford Haz- ard, who was born in 1803 and died in 1876. The latter was tlie oldest of eleven children of George S. Hazard, who was a native of South Kingstown, R. I., and Content Wilbor. Charles H. Hazard's wife was Sarah R., daughter of Isaac Smitli, who was a brother of Jonathan, in the line of John G. Smith's an- cestry. Mr. Hazard's children are Daniel B., Maria B., Isaac S. and Emma R. Benjamin Howland was born in 1833, in East Greenwich, R. I., and came to Newport county at 17 years of age. His first wife was a daughter of Captain William Smith. His present wife is a daughter of Edward Almy of Portsmouth. He is a farmer, and has a meat business in Newport. The family of Howlands in New England are descendants of three brothers. One, John, settled near and gave name to Howland' s ferry. Benjamin is in the line of the one who settled in East Green- wich. The other settled in New Bedford. Benjamin Howland is in the ninth generation from the original settler at East Green- wich. He has one son, Benjamin Aldrich Howland, and one daughter. AVilliam J. Irish was born in 1837 and is a sun of James Irish who was born in 1812 and died in 1876. He was married in 1863 to Rebecca, daughter of Captain William Smith. Their children are George, Edward and Mary. Mr. Irish is engaged in farming. Frederick A. Lawton, florist, was born here in 1827. His wife is a daughter of Abner Peckham. Mr. Lawton established his business in 1872 as Frederick A. Lawton & Son. The son, A. P. Lawton, now carries on the green house business as A. P. Lawton & Co. Frederick A. Lawton' s father came from North Kingstown. Mr. A. P. Lawton' s wife is a daughter of Robert Elliott of Portsmouth. Rowland Lewis was born on Block Island in 1811. His father was Je.sse Lewis. His mother was Susan, daughter of William Payne of Block Island. Rowland Lewis' wile is a daughter of Abram Brown and granddangliter of Gideon Brown. Their 52 820 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. children are: Rntk M., widow of Josiah S. Peckham; Susan P., wife of John B. Du Blois; Marj' Ella, wife of Arthur L. Peck- ham; and Frank E. James B. Magee was born in 1821, in Scotland, went to Cin- cinnati when a lad, and was seven or eight years with Nicholas Longworth. He was married in 1856 to Sarah A. Berwick, who was an English girl who came from England to Canada when three years old. They have a pleasant home in-Middletown. John H. Manchester was born in 1826. His father was Cap- tain John, born 1795, and died in 1886. His grandfather was Criles, and his great-grandfather Isaac Manchester. John H. was married in 1847 to Mary E., daughter of Restcom and granddaughter of John Rogers Peckham. Mr. and Mrs. Man- chester have four children living : Restcom, William P., Lewis R. and Lydia. John Manchester was a member of the general assembly, as was also his father, Giles. John McGuire was born in 1814 in Washington county, R. I., and was married in 1837 to Angeline Barker, who died, leaving four children : John H., Daniel F., Mrs. Samuel H. Brown and Edward P., who died from disease contracted in the army dur- ing the civil war. The present Mrs. John McGuire was the widow of John C. Barker, many years deacon of the Second Baptist church at Newport. Mr. McGuire is a farmer. He was for six- teen years a house carpenter. Colby C. Mitchell is a son of Thomas L. Mitchell, of Ports- mouth. The latter was born in Connecticut, and married So- phia T., a sister of Bishop Browneli, of Little Compton. The Mitchell family were in the South during the civil war and lost $1,000,000. Colby C. was formerly in the cotton business. During the war he was conscripted into the Confederate army with Morgan the raider when but fifteen years old. He has three brothers, two in the cotton business in the south, and one in Berlin, Germany, finishing a course of study in music. Gordon D. Oxx is a son of Gordon D. Oxx, now of James- town, and a grandson of Gordon Oxx, who in his lifetime was a resident of New])ort city. Mr. Oxx was married in 1865 to Ce- linda Peckham, daughter of John Bailey Hall, who died la 1884, aged 68 years. Mr. Oxx has one son, John Hall Oxx, a young man of 20 years. Mrs. Oxx's mother was Janet, daugh- ter of Jethro Jackson Peckham and a sister of Felix A. Peck- ham. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 821 David Braman Peabody is a descendant of one of the oldest families in Middletown. John' Peabody settled here in 1680. The line of descent to our subject is as follows : Joseph", John", Joseph* (born 1735), Caleb' (born 1756, died 1829), William" (born 1781, died 1811), William B.', David B.' David B. Pea- body married a daughter of John Hall Whitman and a grand- daughter of Johnson Wliitman, who was born in 1783 and died in 1854. Lionel H. Peabody, brother of David B., was born in 1844 and married in 1873 to Mary A. Gilford. They have three sons and two daughters. Mr. Peabody is engaged in farming. Alanson Peckham, born in 1831, is a son of Jethro Jackson Peckham, a grandson of Alanson Peckham, and a great-grand- son of Joseph Peckham. He was mai-ried in 1856 to Sarah Jane, daughter of Benjamin Dawley and granddaughter of Sprague Dawley. Their children are : Theodore D., Elizabeth Brown- ing (wife of Dr. F. H. Marshall, of Providence), Jethro J. and Howard R. Mr. Peckham is a farmer. Charles Peckham was born in July, 1807. His father, Felix, and grandfather, William, are both buried on the farm here. Mr. Peckham was married, in 1836, to Lydia Gardner, daughter of Joseph Sanford, late of Newport. She died March 8th, 1885. Their daughters, Annie and Emily, are at home. Charles Peckham, second, son of Augustus, grandson of Augustus and great-grandson of William, was born here in 1836, and married Malinda P. Cummings. They have three children living at home with them. Mr. Peckham is engaged in farming. His house was built by an uncle, George W. Peck- ham. Since then nine other houses have been built on parts of the same home farm. Elisha C. Peckham was born in 1823, and is a son of Elisha and a grandson of Peleg Peckham. He is engaged in farming and poultry raising. He was three years in California, from 1851 to 1854, and again in 1865. In 1851 he made the journey overland in five months and seven days. He buys poultry and fits it for the Newport market. He has sold as high as $2,100 •worth at the Ocean House in three weeks. He is married to Ardelia, sister of Philip Mason Peckham. Felix A. Peckham was born in 1823. His wife was Miss Hendrick of Providence. They have had three sons: Herbert Augustus, Benjamin W. Hendrick and Henry Lincoln. The S22 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. eldest died at the age of twenty-three years. Henry L. is a cadet at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Herman F. Peckham, born in 1853, is a son of Honorable jSTathaniel Peckham. He was married in 1877 to a daughter of James H. Sweet of South Dartmouth, Mass. He is engaged in dairy farming on the Third Beach in Middletown. He has two children: Herbert James and Grace Jane. Joel Peckham was born in Middletown, July 21st, 1846, was educated in the public schools of his town, has served on its school board and is superintendent of public schools. He was elected representative in ISSo and re-elected in 1887. He is a member of the old family of Peckhams of Middletown, a family conspicuous in the business, social and political history of the town for two hundred years. John Peckham, born in 1822, is a son of Abner, a grandson of Felix and a great-grandson of William Peckham. Abner Peck- ham was a delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1842. His wife was Eachael Barker, daughter of David Barker. Mrs. John Peckham, deceased, left one daughtei", Helen E., wife of Doctor C. F. Barker of Newport. The present Mrs. Peckham is Elma M., daughter of Robinson P. Barker of this town, Mr. Peckham operates a green house on Paradise avenue where he resides. Philii) Mason Peckham, born in 1813, is a son of Gideon, who raised twelve children. Gideon and four older brothers together weighed 1,000 ijounds, a generation of giants. Gideon was born in 1782 and died in 1854. His father was William Peckham. Philip Mason Peckham was married, in 1854, to Mary D. Tucker of South Kingstown, R. I. They have had nine children, five of whom are living.- Charles A,, Mary E. (now Mrs. Orrin Barker), Phebe, Lizzie L. (now Mrs. William V. Hart) and James W. His business is teaming and farming. Arthur L. Peckham, son of William P., was born in 1850, and married in 1872 lo Mary Ella, daughter of Rowland Lewis. They have one daughter living. Mr. Peckham is engaged in milk farming. William Peckham, one of the broad-minded, independent thinkers, was born here in 1813, and was married in 1833 to Ann Sarah Barker, of Providence. They have had nine chil- dren, six of whom are living. His business is farming. He HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 823 built the first green-honse in town. In politics he is a demo- crat. Henry C. Sherman, dairyman and milk farmer, was born in 1845. He was married in 1870 to Clai'a, daughter of William C. Irish, of Newport. They have had eight children, six of whom are still living: William I., Rowland S., Henry C, Liz- zie I., Julia W. and Geoi-ge Irish Sherman. Mr. Sherman had a fruit and confectionery store eight years in Newport, and worked as a carjienter four years before he was in the store. Since 1870 he has operated a milk farm. His father and his grandfather were each named Elijah Sherman. Thomas W. Sherman, son of William G., grandson of Elijah Sherman, was born in 1839, and married in 1865 to Matilda, daughter of John C. Peckham and granddaughter of Gideon Peckham. They have one daughter, Rosa M., and one son, John Henry. James M. Smith is an older brother of John G. Smith, whose biography appears in this work. His father was Jonathan Smith, who died in 1834, and his mother was Elizabeth Wyatt. Jonathan's father was James Smith, of Exeter. This James, of Exeter, was engaged in the milling business. Francis W. Smith, son of John G. Smith, whose biography appears in this work, was born in 1846, and was married in 1878 to a daughter of William Peckham. They have one child, a girl of four year. Mr. Smith began the business of grape-grow- ing under glass about twenty years ago, on his father's farm. He now has four green-houses devoted to the culture of grapes. He is also manager of William G. Wild's hot-house, at New- port. William Smith, born in 1818, in Portsmouth, is a son of Isaac J. Smith, who, with two brothers, sons of James Smith, came to this island from Washington county, R. I. Mr. Smith was married in 1848 to Mary Dunbar, daughter of Arnold Barker and granddaughter of Elisha, a son of John Barker. Mr. Smith is tax assessor, street commissioner, and has held other minor offices. His children are: Millard F.. William Henry, Ellen C. and Arnold B. Millard F. Smith, son of William, was born in 1849, and in 1872 married Mary Frances, daughter of Jacob Ward. Mr. Smith is deeply interested in the public schools. He is at present trustee in his district, which has one of the best school 824 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY, buildings in Middletown. His children are: Robert Ward, Lizzie R. and Mary Dunbar. Henry Smith Was born in 1820 and died in 1881. His father was Isaac J. Smith, a son of James Smith. Mrs. Henry Smith, now living, is Sarah, daughter of Michael E. Peckham, born 1771, died ISol. She was one of twelve children. Mrs. Smith has four children: Annie P., Eliza L., Alvin P. and Esther T. William Spooner, born in 1836, is a son of John H., and a grandson of Samuel Spooner, who lived in Newport. William Spooner was born in Portsmouth, and he married Miss Bacon, of New York state. They have two sons, Frederick Bacon and William Bradley. Mrs. Spooner' s mother was Eunice Barker. Mr. Spooner is interested in public schools, and has been trus- tee of Oliphant school four years. He is a carpenter. John Spooner, brother of William, was born in 1884, and mar- ried Eliza A., sister of Hon. Joel Peckham. They have three children: John H., Samuel C. and Clara A. Mr. Spooner is a farmer. Benjamin F. Taggart, born in 1827, is a son of William, and a grandson of Joseph Taggart. This Joseph sailed from Phila- delphia in 1804 as captain of a vessel in the China tea trade, and was never heard of again. Joseph's brother John was living near Booth's house in 1776. He crossed to Little Compton to Church's point while the British had possession of this island- In an encounter with the British he was killed in a barley field. Benjamin F. Taggart's mother was Sarah A., sister of James M. Smith. Mrs. Benjamin F. Taggart is Sarah, daughter of Joshua Peckham, and granddaughter of Joshua Peckham. Ruth H. Taggart is the widow of Samuel Clark Taggart, and sister of Job M. Barker. Mr. Taggart was a farmer in the east- ern part of this island, near Taggart's ferry. He was a son of James, and a grandson of Clark Taggart. Francis Talbot was born in 1817 in Massachusetts. He spent several years in the Soutli in the drug business with a brother. In 1852 he bought a place in Middletown, near the city line, and began the nursery business. In 1861 he was married, and moved here and continued the business. His wife is Sophia, daughter of Benjamin H. Ailman, and granddaughter of Fred- erick Ailman, a family name well known in Newport. Mr. Talbot was in the town council four years. HISTORY OF NEWPOIJT COUIfTT. 825 Charles H. Ward, son of John B. Ward, whose biography- appears in this chapter, was born in 1852, and was married in 1875 to Rnth M., danghter of Daniel B. Smith. He is engaged in farming and raising poultry. In politics he is a repnblican. George E. Ward, son of John B., was born in 1853, and was married in 1879 to Lydia M., danghter of Stephen and Abbie Congdon. They have one son, John B. Abner H. Ward, son of John B., was born in 1854, and mar- ried in 1880 to Annie, daughter of William C, granddaughter of Abram, and great-granddaughter of Gideon Brown. They have two daughters. Mr. Ward has been elected to the town council three times. Charles Peckham AVhitman was born in 1824 and died in 1865. He was a brother of John Hall Whitman. His widow, now living, is Ruth Cornell Whitman. Their only child, Ruthie, wa5 married March 16th, 1881, to Robert M. Wetherell of Mid- dletown, who now occupies a part of the Whitman homestead. Henry jM. Wilson was born in 1832 and married Sarah Bab- cock. After her death he married her sister, Mary C. Babcock. Their father was George W. Babcock, a son of William Bab- cock, a baker in Newport at the beginning of this century. Mr. Wilson's children are: Harry, Herbert and James E. Henry M. Wilson's father was James A. Mr. Wilson is a mason and contractor. He learned his trade with William C. Irish, then became partner as Irish & Wilson. His oldest son is now his partner. The firm is H. M. Wilson & Son. Benjamin Wyatt, born in 1820, was married in 1843 to Mary Ann, daughter of George Slocum. Their children are: Robert G., Georgiana, Edward N., William B. and George S. Ben- jamin's father was Samuel, a prominent man of his time; his grandfather was David, and his great-grandfather was Nathan, iel, whose house was Hessian headquarters in the revolution. James E. Wyatt, brother of Benjamin, was born in 1820, and in 1840 he married Rhoda Slocum. She died leaving two sons, Charles A. and William Frank. Mr. Wyatt has been three years in the town council, and was several years assessor. His present wife is Orpha, daughter of Rev. E. M. Starratt. Robert G. Wyatt, son of Benjamin Wyatt, was born in 1844. At sixteen he began to attend the grist-mill on his grandfather's farm, and continually since he has manufactured Rhode Island 826 HISTORY OF ITEWPORT COUNTY. meal. The grandfather left him the mill. This mill was origi- nally built in Tiverton as early as one hundred and fifty years ago. It was brought by Jethro Mitchell to the Mitchell place on the Slate Hill road. The grandfather Wyatt bought it and moved it to its present site. Mrs. Robert G. Wyatt is Nellie Anthony, a daughter of Giles Manchester. Their children are: Herbert G., Ethel IMay, Mary Ann and Benjamin. CHAPTER XVII. TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM. By J. R. Cole. Description. — Geological Formation. — Discovery. — Footprints of the Wliite Man. — Settlement. — Civil Connection. — Some Early Freemen. — Trouble with the Indians. — Incursions by French Privateers. — During the Revolution. — The Phantom Ship. — Colonial History. — Maritime Protection. — Block Island as a Summer Resort. — Pul^lic Buildings. — Schools.— Churches. — Agriculture and Commerce. — Light Houses. — Wrecking Companies. — Biographical Sketches. THE town of New Shoreham, wliicli comprises the island known to the world as Block Island, is located in the Atlantic ocean, twenty-live miles southwest from Newport and eigiileen miles northeast from Montauk point, L. I. It lies in latitude 41°, 8', and longitude 71°, 33' west from Greenwich, or .5°, 27' east from Washington. It resembles in shape a pear, and is a beautiful "gem of the sea," in length seven miles and in width about three miles across the southern part. It has bluffs overlooking the waves, in some places nearlj^ two hund- red feet high, and its surface presents a series of undulating terraces which graduall3' descend until at the farther sliore they sink to the water's edge and shelve into the sea. It is an isolated speck of land, almost out of sight in the ocean, having very many beautiful lakes and verdure clad hills, all of which, with the many features not mentioned, conspire to make it a thing of beauty that is rarely beheld. With one sweep of the eye Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts can be seen from its commanding points, and by following the coast line from Fisher's island in the west to the distant shores of l^iizzard's bay in the east, Watch Hill, Point Judith, Newport and Narragansett Pier come within the range of vision. The '•liuiate is like that of Bermuda, with an atmosphere almost in- toxicating in its strength and purity, and a temperature won- • lerfullj' even, the mercury rareh' rising above 7.v Fahrenheit. Of this romantic island J. G. Wiilttler writes: 828 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. " Circled by watei-s that never freeze, Beaten by liillows and swept by breeze, Lieth the island of Manisses, " No greener valleys the sun invite, On smoother beaches no sea-birds light, No blue waves shatter to foam more white. ' ' Then is that lovely island fair; And the pale health-seeker findeth there The wine of life in its pleasant air." As to the geological formation of Block island we can per- haps give no better idea than that expressed by Mr. Edward E. Pettee, in the following language: "At some not very remote period Block Island undoubtedly formed the eastern extremity of Long Island, having been de- tached from Montauk possibly by some convulsion of nature, but more likely by the combined action of wind and sea, which latter force has since, by gradual encroachment, principally on the Montauk side, widened its channel until at present some thirteen miles of comj^aratively shoal water intervenes. "As a basis for this presumption we take the fact that the geological structure of the two is peculiar and similar, while entirely unlike that of the adjacent mainland, and the estimate of the iS'ew York State Geologist that 'at least one thousand tons of Montauk Point is carried away by the sea on a daily average,' making an annual degradation of several acres, and finall}', Indian traditions indicating that the distance between them was much less in early times. "This theory may seem improbable to many who are un- familiar with the ceaseless work of these great natural forces in modifying coast contours, but it is certain that much more marvellous changes than this have been wrought by the same agencies at other points within a period covered by authentic records." When Block Island was first seen by civilized navigators is only a matter of conjecture. The hardy vikings of old may perchance have cruised along its coast and traded with the In- dians centuries before Columbus was born, but nothing definite was known of the place until Verrazzano, a French navigator, examined its shores in 1.j24, and gave a report of it to Francis I., king of France. This discoverer named the island Claudia in IIISTdR-V OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 829 honor of the king's mother. The French navigator described the island as being "in form of a triangle, distant from the main land three leagues, about the lignesse of the Island of Rhodes; it was full of hills covered with trees and well peopled, for we saw fires all along the coast. We gave it the name of Claudia of your majesties mother." All this statement with regard to the discovery by Verrazzano is of course based on the assumption that the voyage claimed to have been made by that navigator along the American coast from latitude 34° to .50° was actually made. Scholarly antiquarians and investiga- tors, like T. Buckingham Smith and Henry C. Murphy, have denied its authenticity. If their impeachment holds, the above statements are void. Nothing further has been given us in regard to Block Island until the discovery of it made by Adrian Block in the year 1614. He is the first European known to have explored the island. He mentions finding upon it a numerous tribe of Indians who received himself and his crew very kindly, and regaled them with hominy, succotash, clams, fish and game. Block had been detained at Manhattan, where he had been trading, until his vessel was accidentally burned. He then set about building a small vessel, and in it he sailed eastward down Long Island sound, discovering on his way tiie open water which disclosed the fact that Sewanhaka was an island, also discover- ing the small islands about the east end of that island, and pur- suing his course till he finally came upon Block island. This he called "Adrian's Eyiand," and it was so marked on the Dutch maps of that period. The Indian name of the island was ManLsses ; the first civil- ized name given to it was Claudia ; it was incorporated as New Shoreham ; but custom, stronger than all these, has given and preserved to it the -simple appellation, Block Island. The next event of importance was the visit of John Oldham to fliis place to trade with the Indians. Oldham was a con- tentious, turbulent man, who had come from England to Plym- outh in the ship " Ann," in (he year 1623, where, owing to his superior abilities, he was invited to a seat in Governor Brad- ford's council. In 1625, however, his strong attachment to Episcopacy led to his being banished from the colony. He subsequently found his home in the neighboring colonies, and in 1636 he made a visit to Block Island for the purpose of 830 HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. trading with the Indians. While lying here with his vessel, the Indians of the ishmd, whose secret hatred he had incurred by his friendly relations with the Narragansetts, who were their enemies, made an attack on him and murdered him on board' his vessel. The deed had scarcely been done when another ves- sel, commanded by John Gallop, came past the island, and being attracted by the suspicious actions of the Indians, whom he saw in great numbers on board Oldham's vessel, he made the dis- covery of what had been done and attacked the Indians in their boats as they were attempting to flee, and killed a large number of them before they could reach the shore. Oldham's murder greatly incensed the people of Massachu- setts, of which colonj- he was then a wealthy and prominent citizen. "God so stirred up the hearts of the honored governor. Master Harry Vane," says the quaint chronicler, *'and the rest of the magistrates to send forth one hundred well appointed soldiers under the conduct of Captain John Enicott." An ex- l)edition was thus fitted out with orders " to put the men of Block Island to the sword, but to spare the women and chil- dren." It is said that the Indians made very little resistance, but soon fled to the woods. Here the terrified inhabitants concealed them- selves while the English destroyed two plantations — about two hundred acres of corn, partly harvested — and some sixty wig- wams, and then re-embarked. The island at that time (1637) was well timbered, their corn fields being protected on all sides by forests. One of these corn fields was on the southerly part and the other on the northerly part. The latter was known by the early settlers as the "Corne neck," and is still known as the Neck. This exijedition, having made no definite settlement of tlie Indian question, another was soon after fitted out under com- mand of Israel Stoughton. The latter landed his forces on the island in the night, and making a sudden attack on the natives, killed a few and burned a number of wigwams. They then came to a parley and made a treaty of subjugation, by wliich the In- dians were to pay a tribute of one hundred fathoms of "'wam- pum peague" to Massachusetts annually. From this time on Massachusetts claimed the island, and the Indians acknowledged the conquest by paying the stipulated tribute to the governor annually, and they were considered, as HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 831 Roger Williams said, "wholly said governor's subjects." Tn 1658 the general court of that colony granted the island to Gov- ernor Endicott, Richard Bellinghain, Daniel Dennison and Wil- liam Hawthorne. In the year lOGO these men sold it for £400 to sixteen individuals, who had it surveyed and apportioned among themselves. August 7th, 1060, these purchasers met at the house of Dr. John Alcock to confer about the premises above mentioned and "concerning the erecting of a plantation on the aforesaid Block Island." This took place in Boston. Considering the remote- ness of the island to them, it was attended with some consid- erable expense, and each one bore his part by mutual agree- ment. The sixteen purchasers of the island already referred to were Richard Billings, Samuel Derring, Nathaniel Wingley, Tormot Rose, Edward Vorse, John Rathbone, Thomas Faxon, Richard Ellis, Felix Wharfon. John Glover, Thomas Tei'ry, John Sands, Hugh Williams, John Alcock, Peter George and Simon Ray. The division of the lands already referred to was made by a Mr. Noyes, of Sudbury, Mass., acting surveyor, accompanied by Mr. Faxon, acting as a committee of the proprietors. The meet- ing at which the division was agreed upon and ordered was held in September, 1660, at the house of Felix Wharton, in Boston. The island was divided into three parts, the northern, the western, and the southeastern, variations in the quality of the soil suggesting different sized allotments. The lots in the north- ern part were numbered and apportioned to individual owners: In the northern division — 1, Richard Billings; 2, Samuel Der- ring; 3, Nathaniel Winglej^ and Tormot Rose; 4, Edward Vorse and John Rathbone; 5 and 6, Thomas Faxon; 7, Richard Ellis; 8, Felix Wharton; 9, John Glover; 10 and 11, Thomas Terry; 12, John Sands; 13, Hew Williams; 14, John Alcock; 15, Min- ister's land; 16, Peter George; 17, Simon Ray. In the western division — 1 and 2, Thomas Faxon; 3, Nathaniel Wingley and Tormot Rose; 4 and 5, Thomas Terry; 6, Felix Wharton; 7, John Alcock; 8 and 9, Peter George and Simon Ray. In the southeast division — 10, John Rathbone and Edward Vorse; 11, Richard Billings; 12, Richard Ellis; 13, Hew Williams; 14 and 15, John Glover and James Sands; 16, Samuel Derring. In the beginning of April, 1661, two vessels Avhich had been built for the purpose, a bark, under the command of AVilliani 832 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Rose, and a shallop under command of William Edwards and Samuel Staples, started on their voyage to the island, the for- mer from Braintree, and the latter from Taunton. Sailing to the island they commenced a settlement. The name of Rose is the only name of an original settler now represented among the residents of the island. It is highly probable that some of the purchasers never remained for any length of time and indeed may never liave come hither to settle at all. Of those who did come, James Sands was among the prominent ones. He was born in Reading, in the county of Berks, England, and was among the settlers of Poi'ts- mouth, but left that town with Mrs. Hutchinson and joined in the work of erecting a house for her at East Chester, near New York. Mrs. Hutchinson, having been doomed by the In- dians and Sands himself driven out of their territory, he re- turned to Rhode Island, and with his wife, Sarah, became one of the tirst settlers of Block Island. He subsequently repre- sented the town in assembly for a number of years, and built a stone house here, to which the inhabitants were in the habit of resorting in times of special danger. He died March 13th, 1695, having had five sons and three daughters. His wife, Sarah, wlio survived him for several years, was for a long time the doctress of tlie island, being skilled in surgery as well as in medicine. In her will she provided for tiie manumission of her slaves, and made provision for their bringing up. She died in 1702. The children of James Sands were John, James, Samuel, Edward, Job, Sarah and Mercy, and a young daughter who was drowned in a mill pond near the house. Job married Sybil, a daughter of Simon Ray; Edward married Mary, daughter of John Williams; Mercy married Joshua Raymond of New London; John, Samuel and Job went to Long Island. The stone house before spoken of, built by Mr. Sands, stood near a mill pond not far from the harbor. The house was so commodious that when the French took jiossession of the island in 1689 they disarmed the men and imprisoned them in this house. John Alcock was an educated man, being a graduate of Har- vard College in 1646. He came to the island at its settlement, tut died near Boston March 27th, 1667. His estate here was divided among his children. Simon Ray remained at the island and became a distinguished IirSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 833 character in usefulness and honors in the new settlement. Be- sides filling many positions of trust, he was wont, in a laudable Christian manner, to hold meetings in his own house on Lord's days, conducting the same in prayer, singing psalms and exhortations. His children were Sybil, Mary, Dorithy and Simon. The last named was born April 9th, 1672. He was a captain in 1705, and held the office of deputy altogether twenty- one years. He was twice married. By his wife, Deborah Greene, he had four daughters who married as follows; Judith, Thomas Hubbard of Boston; Anna, Samuel Ward, afterward governor of Rhode Island; Catherine, William Greene, who also became a governor of the state; Phebe, John Littlefield, whose daugh- ter, Catherine, became the wife of General Nathaniel Greene. Mrs. Greene says: "Simon Ray, Sen., was a puritan and lived and died in the faith of the puritans. He held public worship very many years on Sunday in his own house and that he had committed the New Testament and the Psalms to mem- ory. When he was old and blind she heard him complaining of being ill and that he had been able to repeat to himself but lift}' chapters of the scriptures that day." He lies buried beneath a massive slate slab on a hill from which a large part of the island and the surrounding sea is in open view. He died March 17th, 1737, in the 102d year of his age. It is said of him that when the French came upon the island he suffered considerable torture at their hands on account of his refusal to disclose the hiding place of his treasures. Atone time they placed him in a clieese press and turned the screws down on him, on another occasion they tied him and whipped him, and again they struck him down with a blow from a fence rail on the head and nearly killed him. At his death he set free by his will his three slaves, Esther, Sofa and Warwick. Hew Williams was a hatter. Why the name appears in the form that it does the writer is not able to explain, except on the general principle that great carelessness in spelling prevailed at tliat day. " Hew " joined the Boston church January 1st, 1642. His will was dated October 21st, 1674. He probably had some domestic difficulty, as we find he deeded his property to his brother John and his sister, Mrs. Hale. An action at law ap- pears also to have been brought against him for defamation of his wife. 834 IIISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Jolin Rathbone, one of the original proprietors, was a sur- veyor of highways in 1676, and a deputy from 1681 to 1684, in- clusive. He and his wife Margaret both died in 1702. His son John fell heir to his mansion. His daughter Sarali married a Mr. George. Thomas was born in 1657 and became identified public!}^ with the interests of the early settlers. William Tosh, another of the original purchasers, did not come to the island till the year following that in which the com- pany came. He had a family of ten children, viz.: Mercy, Sarah, Daniel, William, Mary, Catherine, John, Bethiah, James and another whose name we have not been able to find. It is said that one of these sons started on a very stormy day to come to the island from the mainland, in a small boat, and was lost in the raging sea, never being seen again. William Rose, who was captain of the barque when the projirietors came here to settle, appears to have gone hence soon after, as his name disappears from the records, but Thomas Rose, otherwise called Tormot, who is supposed to have been a son of William, remained on the island, and died in 1684. His son John mai'ried Mary Dodge, and had children: Tormot, Daniel, John, James, Mary, Catherine and Ezekiel, among whom the i^arental estate was divided. Samuel Derring married Mary Ray, who, dying in 1657, he married Frances Newcomb. His son returned to Massachusetts, and nothing further is known of the family here. Peter George, as well as Simon Ray and Samuel Derring, was of Braintree, Mass. He did not live long after removing to the island. Some of his children, it is supposed, settled in New- port. Com. Stephen Decatur is said to have been one of his descendants. Thomas Terry came from England in 1635. Although one of the first settlers on the island, he afterward removed to Free- town, Mass., where his descendants yet reside. Thomas Faxon returned to Braintree, where he was pressed into the service under Sir AVilliam Phipps, in the expedition against Quebec. Richard Ellis was of Dedham, and returned thence, after which nothing of him is known here. Before the town was incorporated the colonists appeared to be in some uncertainty as to whether they were rightfully a part of Massachusetts or of Rhode Island. Their government TIISTOKY OF NlCWPOltT COUNTY. 835 was a pure clemocracj', subject to no law superior to their own will, and they probably differed in opinion as to which colony they would prefer to belong to. The island was settled by Massachusetts puritans, who had but little sympathy with the people or institutions of Rhode Island. It was during this time, in March, 1664, that the general assembly of Massachu- setts requested the governor and deputy to proclaim to the peo- ple here that they were under the care of that jurisdiction, and to direct James Sands, as constable, to call the most able and deserving men of the island to the general court of Massachu- setts in May to be made freemen of that colony, in accordance with the usual custom. Tlie candidates accordingly pre- sented were accepted by the assembly and made freemen, and James Sands and Thomas Terry were appointed by the assem- bly to call the newly made freemen and inhabitants together and read to them the orders of the court for their present regu- lation and to inform them that they were to be owned as free- men, and to take from them their acceptance of the terms and conditions under which they were received as freemen of the Massachusetts colony. Sands and Terry were by the assembly appointed selectmen, and the freemen were directed to elect a third to act with them, as also a clerk and a constable. The people of the island were authorized to send two deputies to the general assembly, a code of laws was furnished the new town, and the people were as- sured on the strength of " His Majesty's most gracious pleas- ure," "That no person within the said colony at any time hereafter shall be in any way molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any difference of opinion in matters of Religion that do not actually disturb the civil peace of the said colony.'' The list of freemen of 1664 was as follows: James Sands, Joseph Kent, Thomas Terry, Peter George, Simon Ray, Wil- liam Harris, Samuel Derring, John Rathbone, John Davis, Samuel Staples, Hugh Williams, Robert Guttory, William Tosh, Tormot Rose, William Gaboon, Tristram Dodge, John Clarke and William Barker. Hugh Williams had made some expressions inimical to the colony, which he was required to retract before he was accepted as a freeman. Thus carefully did the colonists guard the walk and conversation of their mem- bers. 53 836 IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNT f. The town was admitted to the colonj^ as Block Island May 4th, 1664. Some of its earl 3' orders and regnlations were curios- ities, and as such a few are mentioned. It was ordered that Joseph Billington should "plant and sufficiently tend three acres of corn the next ensuing year, and so yearly during his abode here, and if he do not he shall depart the island." It was also ordered " that the town's book shall be constantly kept in the hands of the town clerk. And a town clerk to be chosen yearly for that end who can both read and write." During the year 1665 James Sands and Thomas Terry were elected to represent the town in the general assembly, they be- ing the first deputies from this town chosen to that body. Among those mentioned as freemen in 1664 is the name of Tristram Dodge. He was not one of the original settlers, but closel}' followed them, and soon became conspicuous in the new settlement, as have also many of his descendants down to the present time. Edward Ball, of English lineage, and his wife Mary George, came still later, settling here in 1678. He was deputy warden in 1702, and sheriff in 1704. His son, Peter, was a prominent representative in the colonial legislature, and a prime mover in obtaining a pier for the island in 1735. The Hon. Nicholas Ball, who has been so instrumental in an official capacity in subserv- ing the interests of the islanders, and who will be mentioned again more fully, is a descendant of Edward Ball. Nathaniel Mott was admitted a freeman in 168 i. In 1695 he was town clerk, which office he held for many years. He was a representative in the legislature in 1710. Captain Thomas Paine, who commanded the expedition against the French privateers in 1690, and who has the honor of having fought the first naval engagement on the waters about the island, came at a later period than the last mentioned. He was one of the solid and loyal citizens of the town during the revolution, representing the town in the general assembly in 1753, 1757, 1761, 1765 and 1775. The family of Littlefields have been very numerous on the island for many years, being descended from Nathaniel and Caleb, who were admitted as freemen in 1721. Nathaniel was a representative in the Rhode Island assembly in 1738, 1740, 1748 and 1754. Caleb Littlefield, Jr., was one of the committee of the island to oppose the English tea tax. John Littlefield HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 837 was made a freeman in 1738, and was a representative from 1747 until the revolution, serving during a period of nearly thirty years. "William Littletield was an active soldier in the revf)lu- tion. In 1775 he was appointed ensign, and subsequently lieu- tenant captain. Catherine Littlefield, daughter of John, mar- ried Major-General Nathaniel Greene and became an intimate associate of the wife of General Washington. There are many others who were among the early settlers of the island who deserve mention in this connection, but we have not been informed concerning them, and will close this subject by giving a list of the freemen in 1678. The entire list for that year was as follows : James Sands, Simon liay, Peter George, John Williams, Robert Guttory, John Sands, John Rathbone, Sen., Nathaniel Niles, James Sands, Jr., Thomas Mitchell, John Rathbone, Jr., Thomas Rathbone, Tristram Dodge, Jr., Nathaniel Briggs, Daniel Tosh, Tormot Rose, Tristram Dodge, Sen., Edward Ball, John Ackers, William Frode, Benjamin Niles, William Rathbone. Nathaniel Winslow, Nathaniel Mott and John Mott were made freemen August 2()th, 1682; Nathaniel Coddington in 1683; Josiah Holling, Joshua Billington, William Carder and William Hancock in 1684; James Danielson in 1685; Dr. John Rodman and Job Carr April 7th, 1690; and Joshua Raymond November 17th of the same year. Something of the mode of life of the early settlers of the island is narrated by Mrs. Governor Greene, in a manuscript yet extant, which gives a hint in regard to those times, in the following language: "The first settlers had one cow to three families. They made mush of Indian meal which they eat with a little milk instead of molasses. They had a fish called horse mackerel. This was their daily fare. They eat their breakfast and went sometimes several miles to their work of clearing, and on their return this was their supper." Within a few years after the settlement of Block Island the whites began to experience trouble with the Indians. The lat- ter, conscious of their greater numbers, began to look upon the sixteen families as intruders. Moreover, traders sold fire-arms and "lire-water" to the Indians, and thus ini2)eriled the infant colony. Concerning these unpleasant disturbances the Rev. Samuel Niles relates the following: "At Block Island, where I was born, some time after the 838 nisTOKY OF xewpokt county. Island began to be settled by the English, there then being but sixteen Englismen and ahoy, and about three hundred Indians, the Indians were wont, some of them, to treat the English in a curly, lordlj^ manner, which moved the English to suspect they had some evil design in hand; and it being in the time of Phil- ip's war, there was a large stone house garrisoned, erected by James Sands, Esq., one of the first settlers. To this garrison the women and children were gathered. But this was not esteemed a sufficient defense against such a great number of Indians as were then on the Island. They therefore kept a very watchful eye on them, especially when they had got a consider- able quantity of rum among them and they got drunk, as is common with them, and then they were read}- for mischief. Once when they had a large keg of rum and it was feared by the English what might be the consequence, Mr. Tliomas Terry, then an inhabitant there, the father of the present Colonel Terry, Esq., of Freetown, who had gained the Indian tongue, went to treat with them, as they were gathered together on a hill that had a long descent to the bottom, where he found their keg or cask of rnm with the bung out, and began to inquire who had supplied them with it. They told him Mr. Arnold, who was a trader on Rhode Island. Upon which he endeavored to undervalue him and prejudice their minds against him; and in their cups they soon pretended they cared as little for Mr. Arnold as he did. Hp told them, that if they spake the truth they should prove it, which is customary among them, and the proof he directed was to kick their keg of rum and say ' Tuck- isba Mr. Arnold;' which one of them presently did, and with his kick rolled it down the hill, the bung being open as was said, and by the time it came to the bottom the rum had all run out. By this stratagem the English were made easy for this time. "The Indians still insulting and threatening the English people, they became more cautious and watchful over them. About this time or perhaps not long after, Ninicraft himself came over to visit this part of his dominions, as these islanders were his subjects, but his own seat was on the mainland over against them, and there came wilh him a number of his chief men with many others, which gave the English new grounds of suspicion, fearing what might be their design, as they were drinking, dancing and reveling after their usual customs at such HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 839 times. Whereupon the Eiiglisli went to parley with them and to know what their intentions were. The before-mentioned James Sands, who was tlie leading man among them, entered into a wigwam where he saw a very fine brass gun standing and an Indian fellow lying on a bench in the wigwam, jirobably to guard and keep it. Mr. Sands' curiosity led him to tal-ce and view it, as it made a curious and uncommon appearance. Upon which the Indian fellow rising up hastily and snatches the gun oui uf his hand, and withal gave such a violent thrust with the butt end of it as occasioned him to stagger backward. But feeling something under his feet he espied it to be a hoe, which he took nj) and improved and with it fell upon the Indian, upon which a, mighty scuffle ensued, the English and Indians on the outside of the wigwam closing one with another; which proba- bly would have issued in the destruction of the whole English party, as they were but a handful in comparison with the In- dians into whose hands they seem to have fallen, had not God, by a remarkable instance of his power, prevented it. For in the time of this tumult and impending tragedy, Ninicraft, who was at that time on the Island, was retired into a hot house; there ran a messenger from the company and acquainted him with the affair upon which he came with all haste and running into the wigwam took a scarlet covered coat and brought it out, swinging it around among the people as thej- were scuffling, and cries, 'King Charles! King Charles!' intimating thereby that as they were all King Charles' subjects they ought not to contend; which broke up the fraj' and they became peaceable and friendly together for that time. This coat and gun were likelj' sent by King Charles to Ninicraft, to engage his fidelity and friendship more strongly to the English. "Another instance of the remarkable interposition of Provi- dence in the preservation of these few English people in the midst of a great company of Indians; the attempt was strange and not easily to be accounted for, and the event was as strange. The Indians renewing their insults with threatening si)eeclies and offering smaller abuses, the English, fearing the conse- quences resolved these sixteen men and one boj^ to make a for- mal cliallenge to fight this great company of Indians, near or full out three hundi'ed, in open pitched battle and appointed the day for this effort. Accordingly when the day came the before mentioned Mr. Terrv livinji on a neck of land remote from 840 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the other English inhabitants, just as he was coming out of his house in order to meet them, saw thirty Indians with their guns very bright as though they were fitted for war. He inqnired from whence tliey came. They replied from Narragansett; and that they were Ninicraft's men. He asked their business. They said to see tlieir relations and friends. And for what reason had they brought their guns? They replied they knew not what game they might meet with in their way. He told them that they must not carry their guns any farther but deliver tliem to him; and when they returned he would deliver them back to them safely. To which they consented and he secured them in his house, and withal told them they must stay there until he had got past the fort; as he was to go hy it within gunshot be- tween two ponds. The Indians accordingly all sat down vei'y quietly, but staid not long after him; for he had no sooner passed by the fort but the Indians made their appearance on a hill in a small neck of land called by the English Indian-head- neck. And the reason of its being so called was because wlien the English came there they found two Indians' heads stuck upon poles standing there— whether they were traitors or cap- tives I know not. When they at the fort saw those thirty In- dians that followed Mr. Terry they made a mighty shout; but Mr. Terry had as I observed, just passed by it. "However, the English, as few as they were resolved to pur- sue their design, and accordingly marched with their drum beating up a challenge (Their drummer was Mr. Kent, after of Swanseyj and advanced within gun-shot of it, as far as the water would admit them, as it was on an island in a pond near to and in plain sight of the place of my nativity. Thither they came, with utmost resolution and war like coitrage and mag- nanimity standing the Indians to answer their challenge. Their drummer being a very active and sprightlj^ man and skilful in the business, that drum, under the overruling power of Prov- idence, was the best piece of their armor. The Indians were dispirited to that degree that they made no motions against them. The English after inquired of them of the reason of their refusing to tight with them when they had so openly and so near their fort made them such a challenge. They declared tliat the sound of the drum terrilied tliem to that degree that they were afraid to come against them. Prom this time the In- dians became friendly to the English; and ever after. In this HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 841 insfance also God appeared for the defence of tliis small num- ber of English people in their beginnings; for it was not the rattling, roaring sound of the drnm, which doubtless they had heard befoie this time, but Divine Sovereignty made this a means to intimidate them and restrain their cruel and barbarous dispositions." In addition to the troubles experienced from the Indians the inhabitants of Block Island .suffered from repeated invasions made by French privateers during the war between France and England. The invasion by William Trimmings was very dis- astrous to the island. This lawless navigator entered the har- bor in July, 1689, with a fleet composed of a bark, a barge, a large sloop and a small one, and represented himself as George Austin, a noted English privateer. His men first captured the soldiers on the island, and after imprisoning them in James Sands' house, made a general pillage of the island. They re- mained on the island about a week, killing cattle, plundering houses, stripping people of their clothing, bedding, etc., and impoverishing the inhabitants in various other ways. A part; of this fleet was afterward captnred by the colonies, and Trim- mings himself was killed on Fisher's i.sland, to which he had been pursued. A second visit was made to the island during the same year, this time in the night. Mr. Samuel Niles, who was a sufferer at the hands of these privateers, wrote of it as follows: " I sup- pose I was the greatest sufferer of any under their hands at that time; for before I had dressed myself one of theii' company rushed into the chamber where I lodged. Being alone, without any of his company, not knowing what dangers might befal him, on a sudden, and with a different air, he says to me. 'Go down, you dog.' To which I replied, ' Presently, as soon as I have put on my stockings and shoes.' At which, with the muz- zle of his gun he gave me a violent thrust at the pit of my stomach, that it threw me back on the bed, as I was sitting on the bed-side, so that it was some time before T could recover my breath. He drew his cutlass and beat me with all his power, to the head of the stairs, and it was a very large chamber. He followed me down the stairs, and then bound my hands behind me with a sharp, small line, which soon made my hands swell and become painful." A third demonstration of the kind occurred on a Sunday. S42 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTi'. The inhabitants tied immediately to the woods for safety. The staj' of the invaders this time was short, as they soon saw the English man-of war. under command of Captain Dobbins, ap- proaching. On the 1st (;f June, 1706, a Captain Walker was approaching the island witii a cargo of provisions from Connecticut, when he saw a French privateer pursuing. He ran his vessel ashore and alarmed the inhabitants, who, by beat of the drum, mustered abouta hundred men in a few hours, and they took two sloops and under command of Major Wanton went out to meet the privateer, put her to flight, pursued her, and on the next day captured her with twenty-seven men on board. On the 18th of April, 1717, a strange sloop of the largest class anchored in the bay. After the crew cajne ashore and laid in a fresh supply, they returned to their vessel. Just before weigh- ing anchor they kidnapped three men from the island, George Mitchell, William Tosh and Doctor James Sweete, and took them away with them. It is not known what ever became of those men. It is supposed that the sloop belonged to tlie noted pirate. Captain Kidd. For a period of about twenty-tive years the distressed inhab- itants of Block island thus had their homes invaded and their houses demolished by lawless bands of pirates, against whom they were jjowerless to defend themselves, or to obtain redress for the useless and wanton destruction of their property and peril of their lives. During the revolutionary period the islanders suffered more than at any former time. No other place was exposed to greater dangers. Yet the little colony, without the pale of protection, put its property, lives and sacred honor on its countrj^'s altar, and heroically waded through that bitter struggle. In August, 1775, the Rhode Island assembly passed an act that took from the island all the cattle and sheep (about 2,000 in all) not needed there for immediate sustenance, and a large company of men to secure the stock until it could be brought off. The assembly ordered again, in February, 1776, that the sheep and cattle and firearms should be brought away from the island. The object of this was to prevent their being seized by the enemy. The execution of the order was not prompt enough, however, for as Joseph Dennison 2d, was transporting the cat- IIISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 843 tie and arms in the schooner "Folly," all were captured by the British. About this time the colony sent Jonathan Hazard to the island with instructions to "earnestly exhort the inhabitants to remove from the island." This was immediately followed by an act forbidding them to hind on the Rhode Island coast ex- cept to become citizens on the main under i^nalty of fine and iuiprisonment. Rev. S. T. Liverniore, in his history of the island, continues this subject as follows: "This was the result of a military necessitj^, as it could not be protected by her, and as its resources left there would have been captured by the en- emy and the island, as stated in the bill of excommunication, was 'entirely in the power of the enemy.' The tish-lines and sampmortars, hand-cards and spinning-wheels were left to the islanders. Cut off from groceries, from mechanic shops, from flour mills, from all markets, and left to the mercy of an enemy wJKJse ships were constantly hovering around her shores, the little isolated colony braved the terrors of thesituation as uobly as any band of Spartans found upon the pages of history. We iiave no record of a murmur from their lijjs against the mother colony, nor of an act that indicates a regret of their patriotic offering of their all upon the altar of liberty. But their situa- tion, painful in the extreme, heroically endured, was too pitiful for endurance on the mainland, and it awakened the deepest sympathies from the parent colony, whose assembly relaxed its stringency, and allowed, in 1777, a limited communication to be resumed. The last act of colonial severity toward the island was in February, 1779, and that act fell upon the already scathed and isolated few like the crash of a thunderbolt, whose force was partially spent upon Waite Saunders, Thomas Carpenter and Peleg Hoxie, as they were arrested for ' having carried on ail illicit commerce with the inhabitants of New Shoreham,' i. e.. Block Island. Their conviction would of coarse implicate also the islanders, of whom ' William Gorton, Robert Champ- lin, John Cross, Samuel Taylor, Simon Littlefield, Joseph Sands, .lohn Paine, Stephen Franklin, Edward Sands and Robert Cong- don,' were summoned to appear immediately before the assem- bly, 'upon the penalty of £150 lawful money each, for non- :ipi)earance.' Whether these principal men of the island were •diivicted of participating in said 'illicit commerce,' or what the result of the investigation was, we have not been able to -I 844 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. ascertain. No doubt there were some upon tlie island wliose extremities made them yield to the temptations of British bribes, and for tliis reason, in one of its preambles, the general assem- bly of Rhode Island made this record : ' Whereas, the said town of New Shoreham hath been for a long time, and still is, within the power and jurisdiction of the enemies of the United States, whereby they obtain, in consequence of the evil practices aforesaid, supplies for theniselves, and iutelligence from time to time of the situation of our troops, posts and shores ; by which means they are enabled to make frequent incursions, and thereby commit devastations upon, and rob the innocent inhabitants of their property, and deprive them of tlieir subsistence; where- fore. Be it enacted,' &c. "Suspicions were sharpened against the islanders in Septem- ber, 1779, when a British vessel was captured by an American privateer, and whom should our brave sailors find upon the decks of their prize but two Block Islanders — John Rose and Frederick Willis ! Thej^ were arrested by the sheriff, delivered to Col. Christopher Greene, and by him passed over to Maj. Gen. Gates to be treated as prisoners of war. In May of 1779, Stephen Franklin, an islander, was arraigned before the general assembly for complicity with the British, and passed over to Gen. Gates to be tried as a spy." Perliaps no history would be fairly complete without some narration of that wonderful story of the ship '■'•Palatini'' and the "phantom ship," of which so much has been thought, said and heard, and perhaps seen. Sometime during the early j'^ears of the eighteenth century a ship named the "Palatine" left Holland for America, with a large number of emigrants on board, who intended to settle somewhere in Pennsylvania. The passengers also had with them a considerable amount of value in money and other arti- cles, with which they intended to purchase land and establish themselves in tlieir new homes. The officers of the ship, at- tracted by the amount of treasure on board, formed a conspiracy for the purpose of securing it. They accordingly kept the ship at sea for many weeks, and having possession of all the provis- ions on board, starved the passengers to the extremity of pay- ing extortionate prices for every article of food they required to use. "Twenty guilders for a cup of water, and fifty rixdol- lars for a ship's biscuit soon reduced the wealth of the most IIISTOKY OF NKWPORT COUNTY. 845 opulent among them, and completely impoverished the poor(er) ones." Death by starvation actually put an end to the terrible suf- ferings of many, and others were reduced to such extremes of emaciation and disease that they never recovered. Finally, when the ship had become a pandemonium and a pest house, the officers, having secured all the treasure they could make way with, deserted the ship and left her to drift upon the high seas with her helpless passengers wherever the winds and the waves might toss her. The ship linally struck on Sandy Point, on a Sunday morn- ing about Christmas time, and the island wreckers made their way aboard of her. Sixteen living persons were rescued, being all that were alive except one woman, who positively refused to leave the ship. Although the wants of those brought ashore were carefully administered to, all but three of them died, two of tliem remaining on the island for several years, and from whom the terrible story of the fate of ship and passengers was learned. As the tide rose around the ship, it became evident that in spite of all efforts to hold her there, she would drift off, and as a last resort to frighten the lone woman on board to come ashore, the ship was set on fire, but even this failed of its ob- ject, and it is said, "she obstinately maintained her place be- side her valuables while the 'Palatine' drifted away into the gloom and darkness of the stormy night." '"Over the rocks and seething brine, Tliey burned the wreck of the Palatine." Superstition and human credulity have associated a singular light which is seen at irregular intervals off the shore of this island with the event just narrated, ])icturing the unexplained light as tlie phantom of the burning ''Palatine" which is ever drifting upon the open sea. always burning but never consumed. And as she drifts, at long intervals she appears to the vision of the islanders off the westei'n coast, and they " Behold again with sliininier and shine, Over the rocks anpoi'l unities of viewing the phe- nomenon : " This curious irradiation rises from the ocean near the north- ern point of the island. Its appearance is nothing different from a blaze of fire; whether it actuallj- touches the water, or merely hovers over it, is uncertain, for I am informed that no jjerson has been near enough to decide accurately. It beams with vai'ious magnitude, and ajipears to bear no more analogy to the ignis fatuus than it does to the aurora borealis. Sometimes it is small, resembling the light through a distant window; at others, expanding to the height of a ship with all her canvas spread. When large it disj^lays either a pyramidical form, or three constant streams. In the latter case, the streams are somewhat blended together at the bottom, but separate and distinct at the top, while the middle one rises rather higher than the other two. It may have the same apx^earance when small, but owing to distance and suiTOunding vapors, cannot be clearly perceived. This light often seems to be in a con- stant state of mutation; decreasing by degrees, it becomes in- visible, or resembles a lucid point, then shining anew, some- times with a sudden flare, at others by a gradual increasement to its former size. Often the mutability regards the lustre only, becoming less and less bright until it disappears, or nothing but a pale outline caixbe discerned of its full size, then resum- ing its full splendor in the manner before stated. The duration of its greatest and least state of illumination is not commonly more than three minutes; this inconstancy, however, does not appear in every instance. "After the radiance seems to be totally extinct, it does not always return in the same place, hut is not infrequently seen shining at some considerable distance from where it dis- appeared. In this transfer of locality it seems to have no certain line of direction. When most expanded, this blaze is generally wavering, like the tlame of a torch. At one time it appears stationary, at another progressive. It is seen at all seasons of the year, and for the most part in the calm weather which piecedes an easterly or southerh' storm. It has, how- ever, been noticed during a severe northwestern gale, and when no storm innnediately follows. Its continuance is sometimes transient, at others throughout the night, and it has been known to appear several nights in succession. IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 847 "This blaze actually emits luminous rays. A gentleman, whose house is situated near the sea, informs me that he has known it to illuminate considerably the walls of his room through the windows. This happens only when the light is within half a mile of the shore; for it is often seen blazing at six or seven miles distance, and strangers suppose it to be a vessel on lire. "This lucid meteor has long been known by the name of the Palatine light. By the ignorant and superstitious it is thought to be supernatural. Its appellation originated from that of a ship called the ' Palatine,' which was designedly cast away at this place, in the beginning of the last century, in order to con- ceal, as tradition reports, the inhuman treatment and murder of some of its unfortunate passengers. "From this time, it is said, the Palatine light appeared, and there are many who firmly believe it to be a ship on fire, to which their fantastic and distempered imaginations figure masts, ropes, and flowing sails. "The cause of this roving brightness is a curious subject for philosophical investigation. Some, perhaps, will suppose it will depend on a peculiar modification of electricity, others upon the inflammation of hydrogenous gas. But there are, possibly, many other means, unknown to us, by which light may be evolved from those materials with which it is latently asso- ciated, by the power of mechanical affinities." The light was witnessed in the summer of 1880 by Mr. Joseph P. Hazard, of Narragansett Pier, who thus describes it: " When I first saw the light it was two miles off the coast. I suspected nothing but ordinary sails, however, until I noticed tliat the light, upon reapi^earing, was apparently stationary for a few moments, when it suddenly started towards the coast, and, immediately expanding, became much less bright, assuming somewhat the form of a long, narrow jib, sometimes two of them, as if each was on a ditlerent mast. I saw neither spar nor hull, but noticed that the speed was very great, certainly not less than fifteen knots, and they surged and pitched as thougli madly rushing upon raging billows." At a meeting of tlie Massacliusetts general assembly, Novem- ber 6th, 1672, the petition of the inhabitants of Block Island " for the liberty and privileg of a towneship" was granted, and the town of New Slioreham accordingly incorporated. The 848 HISTORY OF Newport county. name was adopted as a reminder of a place in England dear ro the memory of the islanders, or, as they expressed it, "as signes of our unity and likeness to many parts of our native country." This name for a long time was no doubt a popular one, but as the sentiment in regard to the native localities of the settlers faded out with the early generations, the more sug- gestive and common name of Block Island rose in po[)ular use. On the incorporation of the town the freemen wei'e to meet four times a year to attend to their town affairs. The officers of the town during the remainder of that century are not known. For the year 1700 they were : Simon Ray, head warden; Joshua Raymond, deputy warden: ISTathaniel Mott, town clerk; James Danielson, sergeant; Edward Mott, constable; Thomas Rathbone, ftrst townsman; Joseph Carder, second townsman. The freemen of the island in 1700 were about forty in number. ,The officers of the town in 1887 were: Town council — Presi- dent, John P. Champlin ; vice-president, Herbert S. Millikin ; other members, John R. Payne, Alamanza Littlefield and Daniel Molt; town clerk, Ambrose N. Rose; town treasurer, Edward H. Champlin; overseer of poor, Hamilton L. Mott; town ser- geant, Jeremiah C. Rose. During the wars between France and England, and all through the long struggle of the colonies for independence, Block Island, with no earthly ally, amenable to no other than its own civil authority, was left to itself, and became virtually but a little, forsaken, war-pillaged island, at the mercy of the combatants on both sides. From the year 1690 until after the war of the revolution, Block Island was in sight and hearing of the wrathful guns of the enemy almost constantly, but it so happened that the war of 1812 brought friendship and ])rosper- ity instead of hostility to the island, in consequence of its being declared neutral ground. The Britisli here replenished their vessels with water and provisions, and paid the gold ]ii)eral]y for these supplies, leaving the islanders to enjoy their prosper- ity in peace. Among the first improvements which the condition of things seemed most urgently to demand was some kind of a suitable and safe harbor for shipping to lie in on the shores of the island. The surrounding waters were well supplied with fish and bivalves, and some harbor facilities were also needed to facili- HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 849 tate the taking of these, which indnsti-y promised to yield prof- itable returns if the needful accommodations could I)e obtained. As early as the year 1665, upon a petition of Thomas Terry, in behalf of Block Island and the privileges thereof, the general assembly ordered that the governor and depul}' governor and John Clarke should take pains to visit the island "to see and judge whether there be a possibility to make a harbor, etc., and what convenience there nmy l)e to give encouragement for a trade of fishing." In 167(> the general assembly appointed a committee to raise contributions " to make a.convenient harbor there to the encouradging fishing designs;" but nothing was done worthy of note until about ten years later. An incident connected with this subject may be mentioned in passing. A negro boy by the name of " Wrathy," who be- longed to Peter George, in .the year 1775 was publicly whipped with twelve lashes, "for staling fish from Steven the Indian." In the j'ear 1680 a harbor company was organized and a chan- nel was cut through the narrow rim of sand on the west side of the Great pond connecting this little Mediterranean with the ocean. This inlet became navigable for vessels of seventy or eighty tons burthen, but the improvement was not attended with sufficient prolit to make it a success, and after fourteen years of variable existence the company surrendered its charter. From the year 1694 the town undertook to maintain the affair, but in 1705 "a prodigious storm broke down the above said harbor and laid it waste," upon which the attempt to maintain the improvement was abandoned altogether. During the year 1702 the record given is instructive, and ac- quaints us with the fact that the fishing business at that time had become quite lucrative. We quote the following: "Then Capt. John Merritt brought before us one John Meeker for being a delinquent for absenting himself from out of said Merritt' s employment, being his servant for the fishing season, for forty shillings per month with six pounds of bread and six pounds of pork per week, tiie which consideration the said Meeker did promise to his faithful service till the middle of June or thereal^outs as by witness on oath doth appear before us. We therefore determine and give our judgment that the said Meeker shall perform the said conditions as above said. The forty shillings per month is to be paid current money of the colony with cost of Court, which is one shilling for the Con- 850 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. stable's fees and two shillings for other charges which said Meeker is to paj. "Given under our hands. "Simon Ray, Sen. Warden. "Edward Ball, Dep. Warden." In the year 1723 New Shoreham petitioned for aid to con- struct a new pier, saj'ing that they were without a landing to bring off any of their produce; neither had they any "riding for vessels in a storm." In reply to this petition the Rhode Island legislature, to whom it was made, took some preliminary action, but no actual work was done until several years latei' That legislature evidently regarded the erection of a pier as a much needed imj^rovement to the island, "for the encoiu'adging of the navigation of this Colony, especially the fishery which is begun to be carried on successfully. Ten years later the assembly appointed the governor, Cap- tain Benjamin Eilery, Colonel William Coddington, Mr. James Whipple, Colonel James Stanton, Captain James Potter, Cap- tain William Wanton, Jr., and Mr. George Goulding to go over to Block Island to consider a place most convenient to build a pier or a hai^bor. This action was followed by an api)ropriation of £1,200 for the work of erecting a pier, which work was be- gun in 1785 and completed in Maj', 1745, other appropriations having in the meantime been made, which raised the sum total to £1,800. The committee in charge of the work was composed of Simon Ray, Peter Ball, Henry Bull, William Brown and William Wanton, Jr. Frequent storms retarded the work at times. Though it was thought the pier was built sufficiently strong to withstand the force of the waves, yet actual trial found the structure too weak to stand the test for any consid- erable length of time. By rapid degrees it was broken down by the beating of heavy storms upon it. In 1762 Edward Sheffield and Joseph Spencer, deputies from New Shoreham, presented a petition to the general assembly, praying for a lottery to be granted to defray the expenses of building a new harbor, representing that on the westermost side of the island was a large pond covering a thousand acres, which formerly had connection with the sea by a creek; that then the fishing for cod was well known, and bass was to be caught there; that since the creek had been stopped the fishing ground for cod was uncertain, and the bass had mostly left the lITSTonV OK NKWI'OllT COTTNTY. Sill island. Tlie plan proposed was to open the channel so that a jmssage could be obtained large enough for vessels to pass and re-pass and find a safe harbor within. This would improve the fishery, and the fishing boats would not again need to go to New- port. New London or any other port half loaded to make a harbor against an uprising storm. During the following year a com- mittee of inspection, consisting of Joseph Brown and Thomas Cranston, visited the island, and after viewing the premises, re- ported, advising that a channel capable of admitting vessels of fifty tons burthen be made. In their report the committee stated that there was no landing then at Block Island " but by putting goods afloat in the surf; and even passengers could not land in the smoothest time, as we ourselves experienced, with- out wading in the water above the knees or being carried by those that do." The place proposed for opening a communication with the sea was about a quarter of a mile southward from the old channel, where the water is much deeper. The lottery project did not succeed. During the revolution all attempts at making a harbor ceased, but in the year 1816 the Pole harbor, the most suc- cessful of any up to that time, was begun. This was an indi- vidual enterprise, each man as he chose, at low tide setting his own piles, where many of them are still to be seen near the Government harbor. This method was continued for a period of more than fifty years, and at one time these poles were over one thousand in number. In 1838 the United States government began to take notice of the matter through its appropriate departments, but nothing definite was at that time accomplished. In 1854, through the efforts of Hon. Nicholas Ball and :->enator Sprague, the neces- sary appropriation for a harbor here was secured, and the work begun and carried to completion. Mr. Ball held correspondence and personal interviews with the boards of trade of the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Providence, prepared petitions to congress, and labored with other men of influence in different parts of the country, never relaxing his efforts till the work was accomplished. Of Mr. Ball's appearance before the senate committee, the Boston Journal said: "The committee were so impressed with Mr. Ball's plain facts that they voted to recommend an appropriation of $40,000." 54 852 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Worls on the j^resent liaiborwas begun in October, 1870. The government had .previously made a survey of the Great pond, but it was decided that an attempt to improve that water would meet with failure. Work was begun, therefore, building the present harbor, and in eight years thereafter, in the month of November, it was completed. In securing the various appro- priations which were necessary to carry this work through, the name of Hon. H. B. Anthony is deserving of especial mention for the active and energetic part which he took in favor of the cause. In June, 1872, congress granted the third and last appropria- tion, consisting of $50,000, and under this provision the Hon. J. "fc HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 877 portant lines. As a hotel manager he is the peer of any. It is not generally known by his hotel acquaintances, however, that parallel with hissnccessful laborsin this direction he iiasalso car- ried on a remarkably successful and systematic course of study. He has been an indefatigable student ever since. To large abilities he adds a strong and healthy ambition, indomitable perseverance, and a will that never yields. Above his ambition to succeed in his worlc of ministering to the wants of the weary "summerer," and above liis thirst for knowledge, Doctor Harden has a tine ambition to be useful to the world. All his labor is means to this end. It is not surprising, therefore, tiiat during all these years he has been assiduously pursuing course after course of study, during the months while his hotel work has not taken all his time. On graduating from the academy, Mr. Marden's plans were not matured. Beside the need to continue in his hotel work in the summer for financial reasons, he also found his health so poor that a college course seemed out of the question. Being an earnest Christian, in this emergency he went to the Theolog- ical Seminary at Andover and joined the junior class there, following the advice of friends. He continued there one year. At the end of that time, feeling the great need of a college edu- cation and finding his health liad improved, he applied for ex- amination at the Boston University, was matriculated, and befoie the end of the year passed on into the sophomore class. He graduated honorably with the first class which graduated from this institution in 1877, taking the degree of A. B. The severe strain of double work, soon after his entrance, brought on an affection of the eyes which threatened to end his career as a student. He was advised by his best friends to abandon his plans and leave college. Instead, he employed a student to read liis work to him, his eyes gradually grew better, and after a time he had the satisfaction of recovering their I'li]] use, though he has ever since had to use them with great care. In 187!) lie graduated, witli high honors as an original writer, from the Boston University School of Oratory, under Professor Lewis B. Munrop, and received the degree of A. M. from the univer- sity. In the following year he studied law in the Boston Uni- versity Law School, covering the full course of study in one year, and next year received the degree of LL.B. During 1881 and 1882 he pursued the course in the Harvard Medical School, i 878 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. and gTaduiited in the full course in the latter year, receiving the degree of M. D. A tour in Europe, attended with an almost fatal illness in Rome and Florence, a post graduate course in the Harvard Medical School, medical practice and lecturing on physiology and hygiene, occupied the spare months of the next year. Since that time he has kept uj) a systematic course of private study and general reading in his spai-e time, never idle, always busy. It is a proof not only of the ability, but the energy of char- acter of Doctor Marden, that he could do so much educational work at the same time that he was doing, and doing so well, the work of developing Block Island. He went to tlie island in 1877 as clerk of the Ocean View Hotel, at that time scarcely larger than a country tavern. It was not long before the sa- gacious owner, the Hon. Nicholas Ball, discovered the ability of his new clerk and made him manager of the house. The new manager had already discovered the possibilities of this won- derful island, and began at ouce that system of advertising which has brought it to the notice of the wealthy and influen- tial. Knowing also that it would be useless to attract the rich to the island if there were not suitable accommodations for them after they came, he began a systematic course of enlarge- ment and careful attention to the quality of his accommoda- tions. His policy has been surprisingly successful. Year by year, as business steadily increased, he enlarged his house until in a few years he had a strictly first class hotel, capable of ac- commodating five hundred guests. Meanwhile, the virtues of this wonderful island, as a health resort and summer resting place, have been so apparent to the people whom Doctor Marden has drawn hither, and guests go- ing away have cai-ried such glowing reports to their friends of this magical island out there in the midst of the ocean, that Block Island has become the temporary home of a rapidly' grow- ing summer population. A visitor to the island would not know it as the quiet, dull, uninteresting place of ten years ago. On every hand have sprung np fine hotels and beautiful cottages; distinguished strangers from all over the land flock hither to enjoy the balmy air and magnificent ocean scenery; business has increased many fold; real estate has advanced almost fabu- lously, and still inci-(iases in value. For this great prosperity Block Island and its inhabitants are largely indebted to the wis- HISTORV OF NKVVPOltT COUNTY. 879 doni and enterprise of Doctor Marden; and it is pleasant to re- cord that tiiey appreciate this fact to a hirge extent. He has also liimself prospered with the prosperity of the island; is owner of the "Hotel Manisses," one of the finest of tlie island hotels; also of qnite a large amount of real estate, and is the trustee of several land syndicates. He is also treasurer of the Fort George Island Company in Florida. Doctor Marden's career thus far gives promise of an enviable future. Clear-headed, far-sighted, careful, pains-taking, labori- ous, with large and honorable ambition, dauntless courage, tire- less energy and invincible will, he is also a conscientious, unsel- fish, cultured Christian gentlemen. Such qualities will always enrich not only their possessor, but the world. Captain Arnold R. Millikin was born in 1836. At the age of fifteen he began a .seafaring life of twenty-five years in the merchant marine, in the coasting trade, having command of a vessel eighteen or twenty years. He has been and is corre- spondent for the New York Board of Underwriters. His father was Archibald, and his grandfather was Archibald Millikin. The latter was in the Rhode Island legislature several years. Hon. Bauzilla B. Mitchell. — The ancestors of the Mitchell family of Block Island, now honorably represented here by the gentleman whose name heads this article, were among the early settlers of the island, and the public and private life of mem- bers of this old family have formed, in every generation, no in- considerable part of the social, the political and the business history of the town. Mr. Mitchell was born here in 1838. His father, who bore the same name, was a well-to-do farmer, who, through tliat system of mixed husbandry which still prevails here, and through his connection with the old wrecking company, obtained a compe- tency for those times, and lived and died a respected citizen. The grandfather, Jonathan Mitchell, was one of those plain men whose ambitions and tastes let their peaceful lives run on in uneventful channels to their close. The Mr. Mitchell of to-day was surrounded in his boyhood by those stern circumstances which limited his privileges of an education to the public school system of his native town. These, however, he used to an advantage, and on the foundation there laid he, like many another, by ob.servation and experience, de- veloped a mental discixiline which the college and the university 880 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. often fail to impart, and in the supreme test of practical life, either in public or private affairs, he has acquitted himself fully. In business he became a member of the old wrecking company, and was one of the foremost in the political movement by which Ray S. Littlefield and Darius B. Dodge became the first demo- cratic members of the state legislature from this town, Mr. Mitch- ell having nominated them for the position. In this movement the young men of the town were more in personal sympathy with each other than with the older men, who, as republicans, had controlled the town for years. Mr. Mitchell was but one of the young men of that period, claiming no special credit for results, but it is a significant fact that two years later he went to the legislature himself, and was re-elected for six years in succes- sion. In the legislature he was a working member of various committees; one was the committee on fisheries, of which lie was chairman. When the laying of the present telegraph cable from Block Island to Narragansett Pier was being agitated, the only man from Block Island who went to Washington in the interest of the measure was Mr. Mitchell. He presented to Secretary Eudicott, of the war department, his argument in behalf of the town for an appropriation for this purpose. General Hazen, the chief signal officer, was next interested in behalf of the cable, and the plea for the appropriation, as thus en- dorsed, went to the United States senate committee on the Urgent Deficiency Bill, and was made an amendment to that bill and passed with it. Mr. Mitchell is still chairman of the meteorological committee for Block Island, charged with the monthly inspection of the means and the methods at the gov- ernment signal station here. Probably no one feature, except harbor protection, has given this island so great an impetus as that which naturally flows from good electric connection with the outside world. Brokers now direct, from the corridors of the hotels here, the movements of their afl'airs in Wall street, almost as readily as from a Broad street office. Mr. Mitchell is affiliated with the great Masonic brotherhood through membership in Atlantic Lodge, and is a member of the First Baptist church of Block Island. He esteems the building of churches and the maintenance of the Christian ministry a lleJu^l^ IIISTOHY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 881 duty lying along the line of good citizenship, and hence con- tributes liberally to their support. He donated one half of the site for the new Episcopal chapel built in 1887. Mr. Mitchell, although widely and favorably known in polit- ical and social life, is likely to be longest remembered throngh his successful business career as proprietor of the Spring House, tlie popular summer resort, mentioned in another section of this cliapter. No doubt the crowning event in his career was out- side of all these relations in life which we have noticed; for upon the foundation of a man's home, if it be a happy one, rests the whole superstructure of what the man may be. His wife was a daughter of Archibald Milliken and a sister of Capt. Arnold R. Millikin, an old family of which i)roper mention ap- l^ears in its proper connection in this chapter. D. A. Mitchell, born in 184.'), the proprietor of the "High- land House," is a son of Amos D. and a grandson of Amos, a son of Jonathan Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell was Rozenia Ball. They have one son, John E. Mr. Mitchell built his hotel in 1875, and the annex in 1886. This house, which accommodates one hundred guests, is on the highest ground occupied by a hotel in this part of the town. Aarox W. MiTCHP^LLis proprietor of Mitchell Cottage, which was built in 1866, accommodating thirt}^ guests. His wife is Jane M., daughter of Cornelius Rose. Mr. Mitchell's father, Robert C, was a son of Amos and a grandson of Jonathan Mitchell. Sylvester H. Mott, born in 1828, is the last of the five chil- dren of Thomas Mott, who was born in 1792 and died in 1868. Thomas' father, Edward, was a son of Daniel and a grandson of Edward Mott. From the age of thirteen until five years ago Mr. iMott was engaged in hshing and coasting. His wife was Hannah Elizabeth Liitletield. They have two cliildren: Eliza C. (Mrs. S. D. Mott) and Lovina G. (Mrs. John R. Payne, Jr.) Edw.vhd Mott, second, is a son of Samuel, grandson of Sam- uel, and great grandson of Daniel, who was a son of Edward Mott, the ancestor of this family. Mrs. Mott was Isabelle, daughter of Luther Dickens. They have one son, Leon L. Mr. Mott followed the sea five or six years, built the Pequot House at the harbor, conducted it four years, and is now engaged in farming on the heights north of the center. 882 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. John R. Paynk, born in 1825, is a son of Rebo Payne, who died in 1854. His ancestors in direct male line for several gen- erations were named John. His wife, Pheba C, is a daughter of Edward Sands. Their children are: Edward S., John R. and Fannie E. Mr. Payne has served several years in the town coun- cil. He is considered a model farmer. He owns part of the old Sands' property, including the house built about two hundred and eight years ago. Alamanzo J. Rose, the proprietor of the Woonsocket House, is a son of Alanson D. Rose, who built this house in 1872. The grandfather was the old town clerk, Gideon Rose. The hotel was visited when new by a large party from Woonsocket, hence the name it bears. ' The proprietor was born in 1859. His mother is a sister of William P. Lewis. Mr. Rose was a mem- ber of the general assembly two years, 1885-1887. John Rose, carpenter and contractor, was born in 1852. He learned something of the trade under Alamanzo Littlefield and with C. B. Angel in Providence. His father, Caleb L. Rose, was a son of Caleb L. and a grandson of John Rose. The Rose family is one of the oldest in Block Island. Mrs. Rose was Caroline Mitchell. They have one son, Samuel M. Rose. Six generations of the Sands family have been known in the local history here. Once numerous, the family name now in- cludes but three voters. William C. Sands and Robert T. are sons of Edward and grandsons of Treadwell Sands, whose father was John, son of Edward Sands. William C. Sands married Joanna H., daughter of Christopher E. Champlin. They liave two daughters : Maria E. (Mrs. Albert W. Smith), and Marian R. (Mrs. Macy A. Ball). Simon Ray Sands, born in 1815, is a son of William Pitt Sands and a grandson of Edward Sands. He was named in honor of Simon Ray, one of the original white jiroprietors of the island in 1661, and is also handed down in the name of Simon Ray Sands, Jr., an only son. Mrs. Sands, deceased, was Mary Ann Gorton. The present Mrs. Sands was Tamar R. Mott. Mr. Sands was in the general assembly in 1840-1848, and in the town council several terms, of which body he was moder- ator one or more years. John G. Sheffield and Homer A. Sheffield and Arthur N. are sons of Hon. John G. Sheffield, who was born in 1819 and died in 1886. His father was Nathaniel L. Nathaniel L. Shef- HISTORY OV NKWPOHT COUNTY. 883 field's father was Edinond, son of Edmond who, with Godfrey Sheffield, owned a tract of land on Block Island, to which Nathaniel L.'s father moved in 1756, and died shortly after. He was buried in Newport, where are the graves of three earlier generations of the Sheffield family. Nathaniel married Mary Ann Gorton, daughter of " Gov." John Gorton, one of the most influential men of the island in his day. The Sheffield home- stead is the old Governor Gorton place. John G. Sheflield's wife was Anna, daughter of John R. Payne. She died in April, 1886, leaving two children. Simeon R. Sheffield is tlie only son of the late George Sheffield, who was a brother of the senior William P. Sheffield, of Newport, and cousin of the Hon. John G. Sheffield men- tioned in this chapter. Francis Willis, the proprietor of the " Seaside House," was born in 1825. He married Hannah I., daughter of Hiram Dodge. Orlando F. Willis is their only son. Mrs. Anna D. Winslow, of Putnam, Conn., is their only daughter. Mr. Wil- lis followed the sea for ten years prior to 1851, spent two years in California, built the " Seaside House " in 1853, and has since made farming his business. C. W. Willis, postmaster and merchant, born in 1845, is a son of Hiram D. Willis, whose father was Hiram D. He was with Benjamin Tallman, of Portsmouth, in the menhaden business for two years; lie kept the "Adrian Hotel" at one time, and was three years partner with Nicholas Ball, in the firm of Ball & Willis, merchants. He bought the old " Surf Cottage" in 1876, and built the new cottage in 1884. His wife, Permelia A., is a daughter of Hamilton L. Mott. Their children are: Adella P. (Mrs. Charles E. Littlefield) and Jennie B. 56 CHAPTER XVIII. TOWN OF TIVERTON.* By H. W. Blake. The Boundary Question. — The White Man and his Title. — Purchasers of Po- casset. — The Commons and the House Lots. — The Proprietors of Puncatest. — The King Philip War. — Tiverton as a Town. — The Period of the Revo- lution. — Howland's Ferry and Stone Bridge. — Postal and Railroad Facilities. — Tiverton Four Corners. — North Tiverton. — Prominent Localities.— Mills. — Taverns. — Highways. — Churches. — Schools. — Library and Reading Room. — The Town Government. THAT portion of Newport county occupying the peninsula east of the Seconnet river and whicli now comprises the towns of Tiverton and Little Compton, was a part of that unex- plored country which the Enj^lish charter of April lOrh, 1606, presumed to confer upon the Plymouth Company. It was therefore transferred by that more marvelous document of 1620 which created the Council of Plymouth to supersede the company of 1606, and which, over the royal seal of James I., put more than a million square miles of land into tlie absolute control of forty men. Not all the jirinted books on New England, that topic and field so rich in historic interest, contain a page of the local his- tory of the Tiverton of to-day. Whoever, then, would write of her history must navigate a trackless sea; having not the op- portunity which he who comes hereafter will enjoy, of an out- line chart on which, the criticisms of the many being passed, he may correct somewhat the traditions and memories of the few. An important relation obtains between the Plymouth colony, * Among the many who rendered assistance in the preparation of the sketches of Tiverton and Little Compton especial thanks are due to John T. Cook and Frederick R. Brownell, Esqs., for e.xtracts from public records; to Benjamin Barker, Esq., and the late Holder N. Wilcox for the use of the proprietors' records; and to Honorable William P. Sheffield of Newport and Peleg D. Hum- phrey, Esq., of Nanaquacket. HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 885 the state of Massachusetts and the two towns of Tiverton and Little Couipton; and as no other towns in Newport, county sus- tain that relation to the jiarent colony, something more than a passing mention is reqnired at some point in tiie discussion, regarding those political relations which were sustained by these two towns to Massachusetts prior to Jannai'y 27th, 1746-7. The liistory of Tiverton in its relation to the white race may be regarded as beginning in 1629, when William Bradford and his associates obtained a charter from the forty English gentle- men who had secured nine years before such substantial evi- dence of royal favor. Although there is no evidence that this charter to Mr. Bradford was ever confirmed by the crown, yet the colonists were recognized by the kings of England and held their jurisdiction over the territory for more than one hundred and sixteen years. In the charter to Mr. Bradford his western boundary included one-half of the waters mentioned as the Narragansett river. This was understood to refer to the river east of the island of Rhode Island; for in 1643 Roger Williams' first charted from the Earl of Warwick recognized the same boundary as the east line of " The Plantations " and in that year, while the colony of Rhode Island was denied admission, Plymouth, separated from it on the west by the Seconnet, be- came a member of the United colonies of New England. Thus the boundary between the two colonies, which is now the west- ern line of Tiverton and of Little Compton, remained undis- puted while Cromwell, the friend of the colonies, succeeded the headless Charles, and was in turn succeeded by the second Charles, who in 1063 gave Rhode Island another [tatent by which he thought to put the dividing line some three miles farther east. To this the eastern people objected, and in 1064 the commissioners appointed to hear the case reported against the new line, but their report was confirmed by the crown, and thus the Seconnet again became the recognized boundary. Plymouth colony, in 1685, was divided into the three coun- ties of Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable. Tiverton was then embraced in Bristol county, which, with the other two, in 16!)1, was united by order of William and xMary to the colony of Massachusetts. Forty-nine years after the union of Plymouth witli Massa- chusetts the people of Rhode Island, in 1740, applied to the 886 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. king for a re-examinntion of their eastern bonndary, whicli, as we liave seen, had remained essentially the same as defined in the Plymouth charter of 1629. The policy of George II. to lessen the territory and limit the influence of Massachusetts had been already foreshadowed, and he appointed a committee, whose report he confirmed on tlie 28th of May, 1746, by which Tiverton, Little Compton and three other towns were added to the jurisdiction of Rhode Island. To define the new state boundary thus provided for, the two colonies were to appoint surveyors instructed to run six lines, each three miles long, from six certain points on the eastern bounds of Rhode Island, and to unite their eastern ends by other straight lines, which, together, should form the proper bound- ary between the two states. Rhode Island appointed James Honey man, Jr., Gideon Cornell, George Brown, George Wan- ton and Walter Chaloner on the 11th of November, 1746, and on the 2d of December they ran the line without the aid of the Massachusetts surveyors. From their report they appear to have followed the king's order that land within three miles of the shore of Seconnet river be set off to Rhode Island; for they established three of the six points in the new state line, each point from the shore due east three miles, and the two lines connecting them was reported as the state line, so far as it con- cerned the towns of Tiverton and Little Compton. One meas- urement was made from a point in the present city of Fall River, on the shore four hundred and forty rods south of the mouth of the Fall river, one from the cove south of Nancquastkett [Nanaquacket] in the town of Tiverton, and one from Church's cove in Little Compton. The northeast corner of Tiverton, by this survey, was on Ralph's neck, southeast of North Wattuppa pond. The whole of South Wattuppa pond and Sawdy were in this town. The course surveyed from Ralph's neck was described as south, 22° west, 2,125 rods. The next coui'se, on the east boundary of Little Compton, was south, 2° 15' west, 1,941 rods, to the east coast of Little Compton. This business was approved by the Rhode Island legislature January 6th, 1746-7, and Massachusetts, supposing the bounds had been properly run and marked, accepted the new line, and did not examine it until 1791, when she questioned the survey and appointed commissioners, with power to examine the sub- HISTORY Ol'' NKWl'OUT COUNTY. 887 ject, with the aid of a similar committee, should Rhode Island so appoint. These commissioners found that the teiTitory of Massachusetts had been inrrinu- verini;-, during whicli none of tiie wliites were killed, they were extricated from their dilemma by Captain Golding, who ran down the river with his sloop from his little island below the stone bridge and rescued his friends, taking them up the river and landing them at the foot of Mount Hope. His island is vaiiously known as Golding's island, Gold island, or, in the later corruption of the word, as Gould island. This skirmish has been dignified in Arnold's History of Rhode Island by the title of the "Battle of Fogland." The reader who noticed that white men were residents of Puncatest when the grand deed of Pocasset was executed in 1680, may find light on an interesting topic by consulting the authori- ties, who say this skirmish of the 8th of Jnly, 1675, was in a cultivated field belonging to Captain A] my. Tiie traditions of this family, as preserved by its present representatives here, do not confirm so early a date. However that may be, surely the English were driven off the territory, and Philip, gathering his warriors, repaired to the northward, and for ten days on the defensive, he and Wetamoo, his brother's widow, awaited in the village of the Pocassets the arrival of the English. Their coming, on the afternoon of July 18th, was the signal for slaughter to begin. The English entered the swamp and were shot down as rapidly as they advanced, but their numer- ical advantage could not be overcome and the Indians were driven from their ambuscades with fearful loss. Darkness fell upon the scene; the English were unwilling to risk the issue to the chances of the night and withdrew, but Philip was unwil- ling to risk the issues of the day to come, and accordingly, with Wetamoo and the ablest of their warriors, they crossed Taun- ton river under cover of the niglit and made their escape to the country of the Nipmucks in central Massachusetts. They killed sixteen of the whites and in their flight left their hundred wig- wams and a hundred of their own number to fall into the hands of the English. This event, one of no slight importance in the King Philip war, took place south of the present northern boundary of Tiverton, in a cedar swamp east of the Pish road and west of the outlet of Stafford pond. It is cited variously as the battle of Tiverton, the Swamp fight and the battle of Pocasset. These two engagements and the murder of Zoeth Howland 902 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. (55), are the principal events in the King Philip war occurring in Tiverton. This'Zoeth Howland, the father of Daniel Rowland, mentioned as owning the ferry, was killed by the Indians near the present residence of John S. West, on the 21st of March, 1676. The most shocking barbarities were practiced upon the body, and the tradition is that the stream now known as Snell brook, emptying into the bay south of the stone bridge, re- ceived the name it so long bore — Sin and Flesh river — from be- ing the place where they finally disposed of their victim. Tiverton as a Town.— When the territory of Tiverton, being then included in Bristol county, became, in 1691, a part of Massachusetts, it was still known by the Indian name of Pocasset. In some of the court orders for the government of the settlement prior to this time, and while under the jurisdic- tion of Plymouth, the term " settlements at Pocasset and places adjacent" occurs, by which it seems the intention to include the southern settlement at Puncatest. The colony of Massachusetts, in 1692, erected into towns the newly acquired region, and the town of Tiverton was incorpor- ated on the 2d of March, 1692. On that date, in the order of the court creating the town as a body politic, twenty-seven men were declared freemen of the town, and upon them were placed the responsibilities as well as the privileges of freemen ; for it must be kept in mind that votes then were not worth as much as they have been in modern times, and a desire for holding of- fice was not yet instilled into their minds as an open or secret ambition. The twenty-seven were : Major Church, John Pearce, John Cook, Gersham Woodle, Richard Borden, Christopher Almy, Thomas Cory, Stephen Manchester, Joseph Anthony, Job Manchester, Joseph Wanton, Forbes Manchester, Daniel Howland, Edward Gray, Edward Briggs, William Manchester, Amos Sheffield, Daniel Willcock [Wilcox], Edward Colby, Josejih Tabor, David Lake, Thomas Waite, Joseph Tallman, John Briggs, John Cooke, William Almy and John Cook, Jr. The early manuscripts contain repetitions of these names as men of affairs in the town, and in 1698 the records show that John Searle, Josiah Stafford, Benjamin Chace, Robert Dennis, Samuel Hix, Gersham Manchester, William Durfee, Thomas Cook, Jethro Jeffries and Samuel Snell were residents and property owners at that time. The vexatious questions growing out of the uncertainty of HISTOHY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 903 the bounds of tlie town as Miissacluisetts had created it, have already been considered. Its survey in December, 1746, was followed, on the 27th day of the following month, by its formal annexation to Rhode Island; hence the Rhode Island histories frequently cite this as the date of incorporation. No doubt Rhode Island then intended to include more in this town and in Little Compton than the two towns had comprised up to that time. The general assembly was convened in special session to organize these and the three othpr towns annexed from Massa- chusetts. So much of the act as relates to these towns is in these words: " That part which was heretofore known as Tiverton, with a part of Dartmouth and Freetown adjoining thereto, be incor- porated into a Township by the name of Tiverton ; and that part which has heretofore been known as Little Compton, and a part of Dartmouth adjoining, be incorporated into a Town- ship by the name of Little Compton ; and that the line which formerly divided Tiverton and Little Compton be extended easterly to the colony line, and the whole to be the dividing line between said towns. * * * Every man possessed of lands or an estate sufficient by the laws of this colony to qualify him for a freeman, and the oldest son of such freeholders, be, and the same are declared hereby, freemen of tlie respective towns." At the same session John Manchester was appointed justice of the peace for Tiverton, and William Richmond for Little Compton. The machinery t)f tlie town government was alreadj'' in mo- tion, and so generally like that of Massachusetts was the genius of the institutions of Rhode Island, that transferring the juris- diction was of very slight concern to the people. The first town meeting under the new- regime was held on the 10th of February, 1747. It was subsequently seen that the towns an- nexed to the colony had not been made a part of any county ; accordingly the Rhode Island general assembly was again con- vened, on the 17th of February, and tlie bounds of Newport county changed to include Tiverton and Little Compton. Two companies of militia were to organize in this town and one in Little Compton, and both companies were to be made a part of the Newport county regiment. In 1758 John Wilcock, Edward Sowle, Ebenezer Fish, Samuel 9U4 HISTORY" OF NEWPORT C.OUNTY. Crandall, William Wilcock, Jr., Thomas Tripp, Daniel Fish, Thomas Gray, Jr., and Stephen Gifford, of Tiverton, were ad- mitted freemen of tlie colony by the general assembl}' at tlie May session. During 1759 Walter Cooke, Benjamin Crandal, John Weight, Nathaniel Crandal, Jonathan Hart, Jr., Sion Seabnry, George Crocker, Bennett Bailej^, Christopher Borden, David Manchester, Recompence Gifford and Nathaniel Pettey were admitted; and in the following year Jonathan Greenhill, Daniel Dwelley and Nathaniel Greenhill were also approved as citizens and freemen of the colony. In May, 1757, the names of John Negus, Peleg Barker, William Durfee, Robert Barker, William Woodel, Jr., Thomas Hicks, Abraham Brown, and John Davenjiort were added to the list of freemen. At this time the ])opulation of Tiverton was 842 whites, 99 negroes, 99 Indians, a total of 1040, which then was over three per cent, of the pojiulation of the colony. In 1885 Tiverton contained less than one per cent, of the population of the state. The taxable property of the town in 1748 was two and four- fifths jier cent., and in 1751 three percent, of the taxed property of the colony. The valuation in 1887 — real estate, $1,457,551 ; personal property, $802,527 — was together less than four-fifths of one per cent, of the taxed property of the state. The two southeastern towns of the smallest of the New Eng- land colonies, so near the fountain iiead of those great influ- ences which were destined to give birth to a republic, were among the first to take active public measures in behalf of a " government of the people, by the people, and for the people." Two years before Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery, as their representatives in Independence hall, had pledged " their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor," the honor and fortune of these people had been pledged by acts of their own. So fully were the interests of Tiverton and Little Compton during that period identified with each other that the stirring local events of those times are found to have included alike the sturdy patriots of both the towns in almost every event to be recorded here. Agreeably to the recommendations of a continental con- gress of May, 1774, Tiverton and Little Compton held public meetings, and while the people of Boston, after their tea-party of the ICth of the preceding December, were suffering for having done what the men of Tiverton and Little Compton would be glad to do, they, on the 3d of February, 1774, voted HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 905 to send aid to the Boston people. Tiverton sent seventy-two sheep, and Little Conipton sent money. That these people appreciated the exigencies of the hour and the solemn significance of submitting their cause to the grim arbitrament of war, is apparent from various records of those days. The town meeting on the .5th of June, 1775, "Voted Benjamin Jenks, Gilbert Davol and Cai)tain John Cook be and Hereby are appointed a Committee to Deal out the Town's stock of powder, ball and flints to such persons as shall enlist into a Company to be always ready in case of alarm to Repair to any part of the Town where they may be wanted." This from the Puncatest proprietors, from whose records we have previously quoted: "March 29 1776. Voted That after this meeting be recorded this book be put into the care of Capt. Isaac Manchester for its safety on account of difficult times." Prior to this, in the same month, John Cook, of Tiverton, and Perez Richmond, of Little Compton, were appointed to procure arms and accoutrements for their respective towns. In May the general assembly voted to divide the Newport county regiment into two regiments, and put the companies of Tiverton and Lit- tle Compton into the Second regiment, with John Cook as colonel; David Hilyard, lieutenant-colonel; and Pardon Gray, major. The Tiverton company was officered by Isaac Cook, captain; Philip Corey, lieutenant; Philip Manchester, ensign. The second comi)any officers were Benjamin Durfee, captain; Ebenezer Slocum, lieutenant; Daniel Davol, Jr., ensign. Colonel Cook was a man of ability and fit to command such a regiment. He was made a member of the committee of safety, and did con- spicuous service during the war. Major Gray, afterward known as Colonel Gray (36), had charge of the commissary headquar- ters in the old house, immediately south of the present resi- dence of John S. West. This Philip Manchester had been for forty years a man of affairs in Tiverton. He was appointed in 1757 to enlist volunteers for the war with the French, in which the colony had voted to raise, clothe and pay 450 able-bodied men. A third company was organized in Tiverton before the close of the war, to which, in July, 1781, Jeremiah Dwelly was appointed ensign. June 3d, 1776, the town "Voted that a bounty of thirty shil- lings lawful money shall be given to each Soldier that shall en- list into Colonel Richmond's Regiment." 906 HISTORY OF NEWPORT OOUNTY. "Voted that Coll. William Cook and Major Pardon Graj' be a committee to Eqnip the said soldiers agreeable to Law and to draw the money out of the Town Treasury." "Voted that the Town Clerk be Impowered and Directed to Draw an order in behalf of the Town for the Quantity of Salt proportioned to the said Town itc." "Voted VVm. Cook Mr. Cook and Gilbert Devol be a commit- tee to proportion the salt among the inhabitants of the town &c." The general assembly having, on the 10th of June, 1776, or- dered a census of the colony, as recommended by congress, John Cooke and Walter Cooke, of Tiverton, and Thomas Brownell, of Little Compton, were appointed to "take an ac- count of the number of inhabitants in the two towns." Their returns show a population of 3,393, which, at the close of the war, was found, in 1782, to have decreased 3 per cent. The strategic value of Tiverton heights as a location for a fort overlooking the ferry must have been early appreciated, for in March, 1776, fortifications were raised there, the importance of which became very apparent during the succeeding twenty months. The second Newport county regiment, under Colonel Cooke, was encamped here in December, 1776. In March, 1777, an expedition, not carried into effect, was planned to dispossess the British of the island, which they had held since the Decem- ber previous. Tiverton was made the mustering point on the 12th, and was to have been the base of the attack. Here Colonel William Barton was stationed when, on the fourth of July, 1777, with r]iirt\'-four men and six ofBcers, in five whale boats, he started by a circuitous route on the expedition which resulted twelve days later in the cai^ture of the British general, Prescott, on Rhode Island. Captain Dyer, of Tiverton, with sixty men, crossed the Seconnet on the 5th of August and had an engagement with a British outpostof superior numbers, which they drove into intrenchnients at Butt's hill. Captain Dyer was wounded during this raid. In the following year, July 30th, the British, on the approach of two French ships, "blew up the King FisJier, of sixteen guns, and two galleys, in the Seconnet river." In October, 1778, a British galley, ''The Pigot,^'' of two hundred tons, armed with eight twelve pound- ers, blockaded the Seconnet river. Major Silas Talbot, in a small sloo]p, with two three-pounders and sixty men under HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 907 Lieutenant Helme, descended tlie Seconnet on the night of the 28th, Und after passing Fogland ferry under cover of the dark- ness, surprised "^Z/e Pigof and captured the whole crew without the loss of a man on either side. The thirtj--four months during whicli the British held the is- land were dark days for the people of Portsmouth and Middle- town; Tiverton became the asylum of such as might get to her shores. The general assembly of Rhode Island provided in March, 1777, for the general election of those two towns to be held in Tiverton by such as could find it practicable to attend, at the house of William Durfee. The same session of the general assembly appointed Walter Cook of Tiverton and Pliilip Taylor of Little Compton to enroll in the two towns all persons able to bear arms. The tirst meeting of the Piincatest proprietors after the war was on the 21st of August, 1789, at the house of Captain Isaac Manchester. In a town meeting on the 18th of October, 1790, this vote was recorded: " Major Christopher Manchester be and hereby is appointed to receive and Collect all the Guns and ac- contremenrs belonging to the Town of 'J'iverton." The fortifications at Tiverton heights continued of importance, especially while Butt's hill, to the westward, was occupied bj' the British. Here, in 1778, Generals Sullivan, Green and La- fayette were rendezvoused on the eve of August 9th witli ten thousand men, prior to the battle of Rhode Island, and to this encampment they returned on the night of the thirtieth, after their ill-starred work was over. General Stark was encamped here in October of 1779, and from here with his troops crossed the Seconnet to take possession of Newport after the evacuation by the British. The barracks at Tiverton were occupied by the troops during the terrible winter following. Ice locked the waters of the bay and the river for nearly two months, and ex- tended far out to sea. The suffering of the citizens and the soldiery was unprecedented. Wood was worth twenty dollars per cord, and corn sold for four dollars per bushel, silver money. The barrack here was made oue of the hospitals for the French soldiers in June, 1780, and the resources of the people were taxed to the utmost capacitj^; but they made their sacrifice in the cause of -colonial libertj' a religious duty, and their sanctu- aries were held sacred to the uses of the soldiery. Tiie meeting 908 HISTORY OF KEWPORT COUNTy. house of the peace-loving Friends was arranged for a hospital, the pulpit and pews of the Congregational church were removed and the buildings occupied to the close of the war for military purposes. The question of fidelity to the interests of the colony was, toward the close of the war, becoming a serious one, and the few who had been known or suspected of open or secret tory proclivities were placed in an unpleasant relation to the great body of the people. Their estates were confiscated, their lands were sold or appropriated to pay wages and bounties to the soldiers. In October, 1779, the general assembly passed an act providing for a special court of adjudication to be held in Tiv- erton, to receive complaints about forfeitable estates in Newport county. This court was held on the first Monday of the following January before a jury of citizens of Tiverton and Little Compton, as provided in the act creating the court. The general assembly in October, 1781, resolved that Daniel Brown of Tiverton had been concerned in fraudulently enlisting men in the continental service and had absconded so that a war- rant could not be served on him, and ordered that the sherifi' of Newport county take possession of his lands in Tiverton in be- half of the state and report to the next session of the general assembly. Subsequently he paid $450, silver, to the state, and gave the government evidence against a gang he knew, and hence his lands were returned to him. Others appear to have been suspected; some wrongfully, as this from the town records in- dicates: " Nov. 5, 1781. Whereas Gilbert Manchester of Tiver- ton appeared in the meeting and requested the moderator to take the opinion of the Freemen of the Town then present whether he the said Gilbert Manchester was a Tory or not and whether he was a Freeman of the Town or not. Voted unanimously that the said Gilbert was not a tory also the said Gilbert is a Freeman of this Town." Andrew Oliver, who at this time owned the Nanaquacket peninsula, was one of those whose projierty was confiscated. From the deeds recorded in the transaction it appears that his heirs or some of them were provided for, by lands at the south- ward being set off for them, and that the bulk of his propertj' was taken by the state of Rhode Island. On the 23d of No- vember, 1782, Joseph Clarke, as general treasurer of the state, deeded the property to "Colonel Israel Angell, Major Cog- HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 909 gesliall, Jeremiah Oliiey and Captain William Tew, in trust for the use of the officers and soldiers of the state's regiments, lately commanded by the said Col. Angell, on account of mon- ies due to them from the state and in part compensation of de- preciation of money due to them for their services." \Tlcerton Land records. Book IV., page 116, et seq.] How this trust was discharged is not made fully to appear, but on the fourth Monday in February, 1791, the general as- sembly at East Greenwich passed an act " by force and virtue of which " Jeremiah Olney and Thomas Hughes, on the 2.'5th of March of the same year, conveyed this tract to John Cook, Na- thaniel Briggs and William Humphrey (57) "for and in con- sideration of eight-thousand-seven-hundred-tifty Spanish Milled Dollars paid by John Cook esquire, Nathaniel Briggs, mariner, and William Humphrey all of Tiverton * * * unto them the said * * * as tenants in common and not as joint Ten- ants." [La7id Rec, Blc. /F.] A mortgage for $5,834 was a part of the purchase consideration. In June, 1783, after congress, in April, had ratified the arti cles of peace, the Rhode Island general assembly appointed ".Benjamin Howland and Lemuel Bailey to sell the bake- house, oven, platform and beacon-pole, in Tiverton, belonging to the state." An interesting list of the voting freemen of Tiverton is ob- tained from the yeas and nays on the question of adopting the federal constitution. The vote was taken in town meeting on the fourth Monday in March, 1788. Zm*.-— Joseph Durfee, Peleg Simmons, Jr., John Negus, Abner W^ood, Peleg Sanford, William Cory (son of Caleb), Ed- ward Woodman, Relford Dennis, Isaac Cook, Daniel Dwelly, Gideon Durfee, Thomas Cook, Philip Corey, Abraham Brown, Abraham Barker, Thomas Barker, Lemuel Bailey, Isaac Brown, Joseph Barker, Pardon Gray, Joseph Seabury, John Perry, Lemuel Taber.— 23. iW/?/*.-— Benjamin Jenks, George Crocker, Paul Mosher, John Durfee, Joseph Sowle, Benjamin Sawdy, Jr., Joseph Taber, William Wodell, Daniel Round, Jr., Scriton Hart, Benjamin Hambly, Elihu Gifford, Epliraim Davenport, John Hicks, Jere- miah Cook, Benjamin Chace, Thomas Sisson, Godfrey King, Stephen King, Stephen Mosher, Stephen Hicks, Zebedee Mosher, William Corey (son of David), Zuriel Fisk, William Wilcox, 910 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. William Gifford, Isaac Case, Philip Sisson, Abner Sherman, Olphiee King, -Abner Crandall, Thomas Corey (son of T.), John Tripp, Edward Bailey, John Borden, Isaac Jennings, Hol- der Almj' , Isaac Harf, Isaac Wilcox, Michael Macomber, Daniel Brown, David Eddy, Gilbert Manchester, Gershom Wodell, Jr., Daniel Grinnell, Christopher Wodell, John Jenks, Aaron Bor- den, Obediah Dennis, Richard Sherman, Benjamin Sawdj', Paul Grossman, Thomas Wilcox, Daniel Sherman, Jotham Round, Eber Crandall, Gamaliel Warren, Israel Brownell, Gideon Grin- nell, Benjamin Borden, Ephraim Chamberlin, Sampson Sher- man, Gideon Almy, Thomas Cory, Samuel Sanford, Prince Durfee, James Durfee, Daniel Devol, Gershom Wodell, Knowles Negus, AValter Cook, John Freeman, James Tallman, Weaver Osband, Benjamin Borden (son of James), Philip Manchester, Wanton Devol, Pardon Cook, William Sawdy, Thomas Durfee, Gilbert Devol, Benjamin Howland, Lot Sherman, Christopher Manchester, Icliabod Simmons, Nathaniel Shaw, Abraham Bar- i-ington, Abner Simmons, Godfrey Perry, Benjamin Hambly, John Stafford, Constant Hart.— 92. The Abraham Barker voting "Aye" in this list, and Isaac Manchester, were, two years later, the delegates to speak for Tiverton in the constitutional convention at Newport. After the twelve other stal;es had ratified the great organic law of the new republic, they, on the afternoon of Saturday, May 29th, 1790, voted "Aye" with the majority for the ratification of the federal constitution. The allotment of the thii'ty house lots at Pocasset in 1681 was the prophecy of a village to be built. In the development of the idea, and while a ferry was the only means of intercourse with the island, the village took the name Howland's Ferry. Later on the ferry gave place to a bridge, and the place was generally referred to as Howland's Bridge, but since a more permanent structure has linked tlie town to her political sisters to the westward, the term " Stone Bridge," as the natue of the rugged tie, has naturally come to signify, also, the village at its eastern approach. The ferry was operated by Isaac Howland's brother, a bache- lor, who, at his death, gave it to John Howland. The Tiverton landing was about forty rods north of tiie present stone bridge, and west of Major Hambly's shop (50), at a point, as the old measurements would show, some distance west of the present HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 911 shore line, where stood a tine row of poplar trees. The shore changing, the i)opIais were carried away by the encroaching tide, and the hoys are catching " tantog" to-day in fifteen feet of water under the spot where once the poplars grew. Where now stands the post village of Tiverton was the site of the hamlet of one Imndied and fifty years ago, known as Howland's Ferry. Of it and the interests it included, very little has been retained in the memory of the present generation, but the family giving name to the old ferry and hanUet, which grew up hei-e, produced some of the leading characters of that time. One of the Rowlands (.55) was a member of congress. At Daniel Howland's house, which was doubtless a public inn, the town elections were held as early as 1703. The Howlands of Little Compton (132) are a collateral branch of the same old family. The ferry was of great importance to the settlers on the Tiver- ton side of the Seconnet as a means of intercourse with their western neighbors on the island, who bad many comfortable homes before the first white man's habitation was reared in the eastern land of the Pocassets. The people of the island were benefitted quite as much by this link connecting them witli the mainland, and the ferry was maintained in their mutual interests, while one generation after another laid down the oars, until near the close of the eighteenth century, when, in 1792, a peti- tion from citizens of the town of Newjiort, for liberty to erect a bridge between Rhode Island and Tiverton at Howlands Ferry, was presented at the June session of the general assembly at Newport, and referred to the next session for consideration. The legislature passed the enabling act, and within two years a wooden bridge was completed, which was the first driveway leading to or from the island of Rhode Island. The existence of this bridge was very brief. It was soon so weakened by being worm-eaten, that, despite the efforts to strengthen it by addi- tional piles supporting a sidewalk, an extraordinary rise of water in 1796 carried it away. It was immediately rebuilt, but in the following year it was again swept away, and for a long time the idea of maintaining a bridge was abandoned. In 1807 a i)roposition to build a stone bridge was made; a subscription of 800 shares at $100 each was soon filled, and its construction commenced in the summer of 1808, under the superintendence of Major Daniel Lyman. The structure was completed in July, 1810, but the September gale of 1815 carried away about two i 912 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUKTY. hundred feet of the structure. To repair this and other damages an assessment was made, and the bridge was repaired and re- opened in the fall of 1817. For half a century it now stood firm against the dashing waves, but in a severe gale in Septem- ber, 1868 or 1869, the draw was taken oflf. Prior to this time it had been a loll bridge, but now the state assumed control, lepaired and greatly strengthened it, made it a free bridge, and it now seems of sufRcient strength to with- stand any attack of the elements. It is over two thousand feet in length, with .walls of heavy split stone, railing and sliding draw. Some 280,000 tons of stone have been used in its con- struction, and the cost has been over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It spans the Seconnet river, a beautiful sheet of water twelve miles long and a mile wide, which forms the eastern boundary of the island of Rhode Island and connects Mount Hope bay with the ocean. The first post office was established in Tiverton in 1811. It was given the name of the town and located near Rowland's ferry. The first postmaster was William Norton, who, ap- pointed April 1st of that year, served for over forty years. The office has been administered by the following named ap- pointees: Samuel Seabury, who was appointed June 8th, 1841; William Hodges, April 12th, 1850; Charles F. Seabury, Sep- tember 27t]i, 1852; John W. Almy, March 25th, 1856; Henry Gray, June 21st, 1861; Asa Gray, February 18th, 1864; Charles F. Seabury, January 9th, 1868; Samuel Seabury, March 2d, 1868; Edwin Hambly, September 29th, 1869; Samuel Seabury, February 19th, 188H; Samuel Seabury 2d., February 26th, 1883. The extension of the Old Colony railroad from Fall River to Newport in 1864 gave the community a railroad station and a Western Union Telegraph office. It has also the same stage connections with Fall River as have the villages to the south- ward, and is connected by telephone with Boston and Newport. Tlie following is a copy of a curious document, the original in possession of Mrs. Benjamin Barker. Joseph Anthony, in 1749, owned land in both Tiverton and Portsmouth, although it is not clear that tliis writing relates to the ferry between them: "Whereas my near neighbour, Joseph Anthony, desired me to give from under my hand something concerning his ferry — This may certify whom it may concern that I the subscriber liave known it to be a ferry maintained by s'd Anthony's father HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 913 and by him for fifty years or upwards constantly. As witness my liand at Portsmouth, the7rh day of theTliird month called May, 1745. "Thomas Hicks." We have remarked the impulse wliich business interests re- ceived at Puncatest in 1710. Here was a valuable water power which bore an important relation to the development of Little Compton, as well as of the town in which it was located. On the 21st of March a committee of the Puncatest proprietors was appointed to act with Captain Benjamin Church and a commit- tee from Seconnet and measure out and bound, as had been previously agreed, a mill lot, to include the mill then in pos- session of Joseph Taber. Three days later eighty acres were laid out as a mill lot, located "south of the highway that goeth to Dartmouth." An allusion to the mill in a paper written in April, 1710, calls it Taber's saw and grist mill. Holder N. Wilcox, whose knowledge on this subject gave weight to his opinions, said that the two committees, Puncatest and Secon- net, had granted one hundred and sixty acres to Benjamin Church, as a subsidy for establishing a grist mill for the two sections of the peninsula; that Mr. Church bargained with Mr. Taber to take half the land and build the mill, and that the transaction above recorded was to give effect to those purposes and intentions. This mill lot of eighty acres included what is now the home of Mr. Wilcox's widow and the residence of Pardon Cory. The next business of general interest here in 1710 was the lay- ing out, on the 10th of June, the mill lot having been definitely located, of fifteen small lots east of it. Twelve of these were each six rods wide on the west end, adjoining the mill lot, and extended east fiftj'-five rods, to a road running north and south. South and west of the four corners, bounded on the east by the highway leading to Seconnet, and on the north by the road to "The Neck," fifteen other lots were plotted. Each of these was four rods wide at the north and south ends and fortj' rods long. They were bounded west by the pond and south by the mill lot. These thirty building sites were to constitute the nucleus of the village of Tiverton Four Corners. The pond on the west, and which now separates "The Neck" from these lands to the east, had then the euphonious name, Nonicot, as it was spoken 914 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. and written in that day. This name became the local appella- tion of the village, and the mill, the foundation of its growth, took the designation of the Nomcot mill. After Stephen and Joseph Taber, the mill was owned for years by Taylor and Ebenezer Davenport. The Wilcoxes owned it when it was abandoned some time prior to 1847. To think of a mill of so mnch importance in the economy of a commu- nity as was this, and then to know that its capacity was to grind not more than two bushels of corn in an hour, gives a vivid im- l^ression tliat those were verily the days of small things. A litigation regarding the mill owners' claim received the at- tention of the courts for four years prior to 1812, when it was concluded favorably to the mill interests. During several years, including the above date, a factory for the manufacture of hats was in operation here. One Lindall Tompkins was the artisan in the enterpri.se, which was carried on just south of the residence of the late Holder N. Wilcox. Sometime about 1847 William Pitt Bateman bought the mill site of the Wilcox family and built the grist mill and store, now the property of Charles H. White. Mr. Bateman built also a wheelwright shop, with suitable lathes and machinery, and in the revival of enterprise here, this immediate vicinity — in allusion to Mr. Bateman — has since been known as Pittsville. The mill and store, with the tenement and the shops, passed, in 1866, into the hands of Charles H. White & Bro. Pour years later the real estate became, as now, the property of the senior X)artner — the junior, Andrew P. White, taking the business in charge until the close of 1876. In the southwest angle of the intersecting highways, which suggested the name, Tiverton Four Corners, is an old ruin, which marks the site of what was probably the first store at Pun- catest. Here is the stone work of the old bake-oven, where bread was made for the early dwellers at Fall River. Here Mr. Stod- dard made those delectable compounds of sweetened dough and ginger, that his fair good customers were so gallant as to call cakes. "Stoddard's cakes" became a common household terra, and it shared the fate of nearly every other phrase, soon or late; it was shortened and corrupted, and when the old baker was no more, other men made "'Stodercakes," and other boys and girls ate them, knowing that cakes, however it might be with roses, were just as sweet by another name. Frederick HISTOKY OF NKWPOHT COUNTY. 915 Brownell and Ezra Crandall are two other proprietors of the old bakery whose names are still remembered. There were two old stores here in 1798, known then by names of doubtful propriety, as "The red store" and "The wiiite store." These were the days of decorative exteriors. These structures had been once painted the respective colors that then remained only in their names. Captain Gray had painted red. Fatlier Lake had painted white. Father Time had painted brown, and the years, as they passed by, touched the shingles' ends with mossy green. The northwest angle included the old "Wilcox corner, where descendants of the old first proprietor lived for many years. Southwest of the house — useless, and armless and gray — stands all that is left of the wind-mill, which bore arms, like a hero, in 1776. This corner belongs now to A. P. White, who erected the store and dwelling in 1876, and began business in it at the close of the year. On the northeast corner is the store of Wil- liam H. Davol (123). This is the stand where Captain Coi'nelius Seabury did business in his lifetime, and where, in succession, two of his sons-in-law, Andrew Cory and Oliver Hicks, did business after him. George Almy, Isaac Gray and a Mr. Man Chester, familiarly known as "Captain Jim," are among the others who have tried their skill at buying for casli and selling for credit at '"The Corners." The old account books, so rich a source of definite impres- sions on the subject and methods of business, give us a quaint picture of the times to which they relate. One of these, prob- ably belonging to Burroughs & Davenport, a day-book of 1798, with its entries in pounds, shillings, pence and farthings, re- cites on its first page that it is B. & D"s. book, and that the modest men, known nowhere in it by any other or fuller name than these two initials, did, on Tiiursday, March 21st, begin business in the white store. "Store bout the 7th of March. Possession took the 20th." Bitters and biscuit, rum, tobacco, cider and bread appear to have been the necessaries of life which their customers must have, even if they could not pay for them. Their Adamsville neighbors at the southeast had had a post office sixteen years, and the people at Rowland's ferry had en- joyed a similar privilege more than half that time, when, on the 4th of February, 1820, Alexander H. Seabury was appointed 58 916 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. first postmaster at Tiverlon Four Corners. The successive in- cumbents, with the dates of their respective appointments, are appended: Arnold Smith, October 24th, 1832; Benjamin F. Sea- bury, July 9th, 1863; Emily Seabury, June 9th, I860; Samuel G. Pierce, June 3d, 1868; William H. Pierce, March 3()th, 1874; Frank E. White, April 6th, 1877; Andrew P. White, March 22d, 1878. The Southern Massachusetts Telephone Company have a sta- tion at Tiverton Four Corners, and the two steamers plying be- tween Seconnet point and Providence have a landing at White's wharf. These furnish the people here with valuable facilities. The Fall River and Little Compton stage, a daily mail service each way, completes the public means of transit. Some of the first settlements of the Pocasset purchase were in what is now the northern district of Tiverton, and which has recently become known as North Tiverton. The original set- tlers were ancestors of the well known families, Borden and Gardiner, who are at present identified with and interested in the growth and prosperity of the thriving new community which lies just north of their homesteads. James W. Counsell was the projector of the recent building enterprise in this fast growing community, and seems to have given it, from the beginning, an impetus from which it is not likely to recede. Mr. Counsell was born in England in 1845. He came to Rhode Island in 1869, and building his present res- idence in 1874, he became the first house owner among that in- creasing number of sober and industrious people, not of Ameri- can birth, who are making for their families snug and comfort- able homes in this suburb of the city. Tiiese terms may not be applicable to all the mill workers, but are distinctively true of the neighborhood to which we apply them. In the beginning of 1866 Mr. Counsell entered into partnership with Greenwood Robertshaw, in the firm now doing a grocery business here un- der the style of Counsell & Robertshaw. Mr. Counsell, in 1886, was elected district collector for the sixth time, and the follow- ing year became member of the town council. His partner, Mr. Robertshaw, was also born in England. He came to Fall River in 1873, and in 1877 he removed to this town. He has been in the board of assessors seven consecutive years, and is now serving his fourth year as its chairman. The Rhode inSTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 917 Island legislature, at the May session of 1886, appointed lioth these gentlemen justices of the peace for Tiverton. Another merchant here of English birth is Austin Walker. He was born in 1837, came to the United States in 1862 aTid to New England in 1868. He was a mill operative from 1875 to 1882, when he began a dry goods business in Fall River. Tiiree years ago he opened a store here, where he has resided since 1875. He built his present store building in 1886, and has a good business, in which he is assisted by his sons, William and Austin, Jr. Peleg S. Stafford (90), an old resident, carries on a store and has been postmaster at North Tiverton since June, 1886, at which time the post office was established. As far back as 1870 an undenominational chapel and Sunday school room was erected, opposite what is now the Nortli Tiv- erton post office, on land donated for the purpose by Mrs. Eliz- abeth Gardner. This was called Benefit hall. During the year 188.5 this building was moved to a lot given by Benjamin C. Borden, and enlarged, and is at present a commodious building called Temple Hall chapel, valued at $3,000. It is under the patronage of the Second Baptist church of Fall River. Re- ligious services are held morning and evening each Sabbath, conducted by the pastor. Rev. George W. Gile. A flourishing Sunday school of one hundred pupils, supplied with a good library, is under the superintendence of Joseph U. Carr. In 1881 sixteen men conceived the idea of providing their community with a place for entertainments and secular instruc- tion. They took the title of the Garfield Hall Library and Reading Room Association. Two of their number, as trustees, took deeds of a site, and in December a free hall was finished, with a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty. It was formally opened on Christmas eve. Mr. Counsell was the first president; Joseph Stark the next; Jonathan Robertshaw the next. John Beardsworth is the present incumbent. They liave a library of four hundred volumes, some of which have been donated, Joseph Church, Jr., giving sixty-eight new volumes. G. Robertshaw was the first librarian, and has been succeeded by J. W. Counsell and Riciuird Jennings, who is now librarian. The Primitive Methodist Society held service in Garfield hall nntil the spring of 1886, when they completed their snug church building here. 918 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Several localities in Tiverton have business or historical in- terests which have made them known by distinctive titles in the local geographj;- of the town. Nanaquacket. — This Indian name and its modern corruption, "Quacket/' are applied to a peninsula south of the stone bridge, partially surrounded by the river on the west side and Nanaquacket pond on the east. It is the tract said, in the re- cords of Plymouth, to have been granted by the town of Ply- mouth to Richard Morris, prior to the grand deed to the Pocas- sefi settlers in 1679-80. The grant of Plymouth colony to Plymouth town was revoked, and if any possession was ever taken by Morris, it must have been for a short time only. Boat building was carried on here at one time, and some of the vessels launched from this point were ships of no mean dimensions. Mr. Roach of Nantucket made a large offer for this neck as a site before he established his immense whaling business at New Bedford. This tract belonged to Andrew Oli- ver before the revolution, and is the property mentioned as having been confiscated by the state. Before it was finally settled it was measured as four hundred and forty seven acres, in 1785, and contracted to be sold to William Humphrey at $27 per acre. This William Humphrey was a resident of Tiverton in 1799, and in 1782 was addressed as Captain Humphrey of the Rhode Island Regiment, stationed at Philadelphia. Only the northern portion of the neck was finally deeded to Mr. Hum- phrey, and at his death it passed to his youngest son, George W. Humphrey. The next generation, the Humphreys of to- day, reduced to practice what must have been long and favor- ably considered by the farmers of Nanaquacket, a bridge at the north end of the neck to connect their several farms by a more direct route with Fall River, which was becoming their principal market. Agreeably to a petition from the parties in interest, the Rhode Island legislature passed the enabling act, thus: " George W. Humphrey, Joseph D. Humphrey, Peleg D. Humphrey, Daniel T. Church and other associates and succes- sors are hereby authorized and empowered to construct and maintain a bridge over and across the strait which is at the en- trance from the sea to Nanaquacket Pond in Tiverton with the consent of the owners of the land upon which the abutments for the said bridge will be erected. Provided however, that the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 919 said bridge shall be constructed al a place and upon a plan to be approved by the Town Council of said town of Tiverton." Considerable opposition was manifested at first by the sea- fai-ing men principally, who frequented the pond with numer- ous small craft, especially when a plan was submitted without a draw, but as the question was agitated the opposition ap- peared to die away, but not until April 4th, 1881, was a loca- tion and plan submitted to the council that obtained their approval and which resulted in the erection of the present bridge. With the exception of a fifty feet opening covered with hard pine, it is built exclusively of stone, the foundation being heavy rocks riprapped to low water, and from beginning to end was the result of private enterprise, the contributors, Joseph D. Humphrey, Peleg D. Humphrey, Nathaniel B. Church, A. B. Durfee and Mrs. Mary West, contracting with Cap- tain C. A. Davis to build most of the stone work. This contract being completed November 4th, 1883, the work was continued by the contributors. On the 10th the structure was made passable, and after inspection by the council was approved March 3d, 1884. Heretofore only a private way existed along the point running through several farms, but in August, 1883, a committee was appointed by the council to mark out a public road, and in the latter part of that year a road was built and March 17th, 1884, it was accepted by the town council and at once became a popular thoroughfare, and has now become a stage road. The cost of the bridge, including §420, paid for the south end of Bridgeport wharf for a landing, exceeded §4,000. EagleviUc, while it existed, was southeast of the swamp which has been mentioned as the scene of the battle of Pocas- set. This is doubtless the exact site of the Pocasset Indian village. The outlet of Stafford pond furnished a desirable water power, and Silas Cook bought the Pocasset Great lot, including it, and built a saw and grist mill here in the early days of the settlement. The mill property was bouglit about sixty years ago by George Durfee and Asa Coggesliall, wiio took down the two mills, or what remained of them, and erected a cotton fac- tory and a woolen factorj^ wliich they operated for several years. Tiiey were substantial stone buildings, one of wiiich is still standing, though unoccupied. Tiie woolen mill was burned. The old stone house north of the higliway was built as a part of this mill enterprise. 920 HISTORY OF NEVVPOliT COUNTY. Bliss Four Corners received its name from Cyreniis Bliss, who was horn in Rehoboth, Mass., in 1807. Mr. Bliss came here in early life and found, as all men find who make from the wilderness a home, that hard work must be done ; he cleared the land and in the place of forest trees fruit trees were soon growing; in- stead of a hut in a forest;, a home in a civilized community was enjoyed. In 1827 the wants of the people were met by the gro- cery store which Mr. Bliss opened. Later on dry-goods, and goods for those who were dry, were added to the stock. In ad- dition to his mercantile business he carried on farming. In 1857 a post office was established here, supplied from Fall River. The iirst postmaster, Cyrenus Bliss, was appointed January 15th. Cornelia J. Bliss succeeded him, being appointed on the 7th of April in the same year. Laura A. Bliss was ap- pointed December 7th, 1860, and the office was discontinued April 8th, 1864. Mr. Bliss made Bliss Four Corners all that it has ever been. His home is still there. He has been several times elected to the state senate. His deceased wife was Sarah, a daughter of Isaac Rounds. For/land. — Fogland point was a point west of Nonquit or Nomcot pond, in the Puncatest tract, extending into Secounet river. Prior to the revolution, a ferry was established between this point and the island of Rhode Island. A building used as a kind of depot was standing here in those early days, and the fact that Job Almy was the iirst white man who owned this land supports the tradition that he owned and ran this ferry. At a later jieriod it was owned by John Almy and operated by Thomas Wilcox, who is elsewhere mentioned as maintaining a system of signals with Isaac Barker on the island. The ferry must have been in operation during the war of the revolution, for Arnold mentions that on the 22d of September, 1777, the British had possession of the Rhode Island end of a ferry con- necting here. Bridgeport is a point south of Stone Bridge, containing one of the oldest buildings in the town used for business purposes. A grocery store here is kejit by Pierce & White. William Gi'ay, Mr. McCurry, Albert Gray and Henry Brown are some of the men who have done business at this landing. A tish packing business was carried on here to a considerable extent at an ear- lier period than that of either of the men mentioned, and the landing was important in the days of the rum and molasses business. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 921 White's Wharf. — In the early part of the present century Peleg Corey, an old coaster, owned a tract of land nortii of Fog- land iioint. He bnilt there a wharf and from this point he ran a sloop to Providence, and in this way the people of Tiverton Four Corners and vicinity secured their supplies in the way of .merchandise. At Mr. Corey's death he left one-fourth of his estate to his son Thomas, who, for over twenty years, with oc- casional intervals, sailed the sloop as his father had done. Af- ter Thomas Corey, Benjamin Wilcox sailed a packet boat to and from Providence. Then Holder N. Wilcox put on a freight and passenger boat, "The Temperance." Christopher White and Cai)tain J. A. Petty owned a boat which plied on this route for several years, and subsequently Captain Petty, buying out Mr. White, conducted the sail packet until, in 1887, the " Queen City," owned by a stock company, was put on this line. This steamer makes a trip from Seconnet to Providence daily. The "Dolphin," an older steamer, is also run on this line by Holder Wilcox. These steamers both stop at White's wharf on every trip. About twenty five years ago Isaac Gr. White bought that part of Peleg Corey's estate which was left to Thomas Corey. Alex- ander S. Pierce (76) owns the balance. Mr. White has enlarged and greatly improved the wharf, and White's wharf is now of considerable importance. Mr. White was early in life engaged in purse and trap fishing, and in 1862 established the oil busi- ness at his wharf, where the business was continued until re- cently. The coal business, established here in 1862, is still car- ried on, supplying this part of the town, and amounts to about live hundred tons per year. Mills. — Besides the mills mentioned at Tiverton Four Cor- ners and Eagleville, in the eastern portion of the town, is another knf)\vn as the "Borden Mill," situated on theCrandall road, between Adamsville and Fall River. It was bnilt by Benajah Borden (109), and was for many years the grist mill lor the people in this part of Tiverton and in Massachusetts to the eastward. Early in the develojjment of this section of the two states a saw mill was built above the grist mill on the same stream, at a point west of the present Crandall school house. One Stephen Crandall moved this mill down stream to be supplied by the same dam which supplied the Borden grist mill, and both mills 922 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. on tlie same mill lot subsequently came into the possession of Benjamin H. Waite. The enlargement of the pond, according to rights previously vested but not asserted, led to the long series of litigations which is a part of the history of almost every water power privilege. Mr. Waite built the present mill, and after him the owners were, in 1865, David W. Simmons and Philip J. Gray; then Philip J. Gray, in 1867, and five years later Otis L. Simmons bought it and operated it for years. The VVilbor family are the owners of the mills at the present time. The carding mills mentioned as the principal business of Christopher Brownell in his lifetime are south of the "Borden Mill," on the same highway, known from the name of an early family as the Crandall road. Two of the cotton mills of the Fall River system are located in this town. The Bourne mill was built in 1881-2 by a stock comiDany incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts. Ed- mund Chase was first president. The board of directors were, besides the president, Jonathan Bourne, Charles M. Shove, Charles E. Vickery, George A. Chace, Lloyd S. Earle, Danforth Horton and Frank S. Stevens. The capital stock was then $400,000. The mill was built at a cost of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It is a granite structure, five stories high, with basement. The dimensions are 339 by 80 feet, with an L 80 by 30 feet. It contains one thousand and eighty looms and forty-three thousand and eight spindles. The machinery is operated by one pair of engines of nine hundred horse power, being supplied with water from Laurel lake. The total cost of the machinery was $600,000. Fivq hundred persons are em- ployed in making all kinds of odd goods, any width and any count. Since the company was incorporated three of the direc- tors, Edmund Chase, Charles E. Yickery and Danforth Ilorton have died. Two have since been elected, their names being Nathaniel B. Horton and Stephen A. Jenks. The capital stock is at present $400,000, §700,000 having been actually paid into the treasury. At Mr. Chase's death Jonathan Bourne was elected president. W. S. Barker is clerk, and Raymond Murry superintendent. In 1872 another company called the " Shove Mills Stock Com- pany" was also incorporated under the Massachusetts law. The first president was Charles O. Shove. He was succeeded by John P. Slade. The present incumbent is Charles M. Shove. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 023 Isaac W. Howland, of Little Conipton, is one of the directors. His son, William W. Howland, is clerk. This company, in 1880, built what is known as "Number 2" mill in Tiverton. This mill is of granite, three stories high, dimensions 194 by 75 feet. The building, together with the machinery, cost 8200,000. The mill runs twenty-two thousand two hundred and eight spindles, employing one hundred and twenty-five people. The company owns another mill known as " Number 1," which is situated in Massachusetts. In "Number 2" the spinning and carding are done for five hundred of the looms in " Number 1." The company's stock is $500,000. Taverns. — One of the first public inns in Tiverton — probably the first — was on the highway leading east toward Dartmouth from the Puncatest settlement, now Tiverton Four Corners. The first authenticated date is September 11th, 1749, when the " Puncatest Proprietors" met at the house of William Manches- ter, inn holder (66). The old hostelry was on the north side of the road mentioned, and was a very old structure in 1776, when it was used as a place of rendezvous by one of the com- panies of the Tiverton militia. Opposite the tavern, on the place now owned by Ephraim Sanford, was the parade ground, where the militia as early as 1749 met for drill. At a later date a tavern was built about one mile north of the ferry. This building still stands near H. C. Osborn's, owned and occupied by Mr. Bennett. It was at one time known as the "Jew House." It is believed that Allen Durfee was the first proprietor. About 1816 he enlarged the original structure by adding what is now the north part, and at the same time building the row of sheds. It is now known as the old " Dur- fee House." In the early days of the present century a hotel was standing near the eastern end of the stone bridge, on the mainland and fronting the bridge, for many years known as the "Stone Bridge House." The most reliable information is that it was built about 1790 by Captain Lawton, and was a famous resort in its early history. In 1847 it was destroyed by lire, but a new house was soon erected on the same location by Gardner Thomas. This house was opened July 4th, 1848, by Grant & Alexander. They were the proprietors two years, and during that time they planted the shade trees that are now shading the old grounds. In 1864 Asa T. Lawton, of Newport, purchased it, enlarging 924 insTouY of Newport county. and greatly improving it at an expense of more than $60,000. He opened it in 1865 as the " Lawton House," running it suc- cessfully for two seasons. He sold it in 1867 to a company of thirty men of Fall River. It was controlled by this company until the panic of 1878, when it was sold at a great sacrifice. In 1879 Philander Smith bought it, and after running it. five seasons he sold it, in June, 1884, to Colonel George Alexander, who great;ly improved and modernized it. Mr. Alexander was preparing to open it in June, having it finished and partly fur- nished, when it was destroyed by fire. A company styled the " Stone Bridge Hotel and Cottage Association" is erecting a new hotel on this site, to be opened in July, 1888, under the management of Colonel George Alexander, who is tlie moving spirit in this enterprise. The Bay View house was built in 1871 by Philander Smith, who sold it in 1877 to Abner Tallman, the present proprietor. Highways. — For a hundred years from the settlement of Tiverton the roads extending eastward were the most import- ant ones in the town. One of these, mentioned as extending from Tiverton Four Corners eastward to Dartmouth; another, liassing Bliss Four Corners; and the third, passing the Gardner homestead (32) in the north part of the town, were the princi- pal lines of travel. Now, the great west road from Fall River to Seconnet, and the Stafford and Crandall roads, together mak- ing a line from Fall River to Adamsville, are the most import- ant thoroughfares of the town. Churche-s.— The Stone Free Will Baptist church was formed in or about the year 1680, by Baptists residing in Dartmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton. It was first organized by the Six Principle Baptists, who obtained their belief from Hebrews VI : 1-3. In September, 1835, it was voted to adopt the "Faith of the Free Will Baptists" and accept their denominational name. The first pastor was Hugli Moshier, an Knglishman, who was succeeded at his death by Aaron Davis, of Dartmouth, who had charge of the church until 1720. Next Philip Taber, of Dartmouth, was pastor for thirty-two years From 1752 to 1775 David Rounds, of Tiverton, and Benjamin Sheldon, of Reho- both, had charge of the church. For the next twenty-five years Peleg Burrouglis, of Newport, was the pastor. He died in Au- gust, 1800. The hymn composed by him on the dark day, May 15th, 1750, is still preserved. HISTORY OK NKWPOIJT COUNTY. 925 The pastorate of his successor, Benjamin Peckliam, of New- port, continued tiiirty-five years. He died in 1836, aged 84. From this time the church is known as the Free Will Baptist church. Its jiastors have been: J. S. Mowry, from 1836 to 1840; Joseph Whittemore, 1840 to 1846; Franklin P. Anger, supplied six months; Israel Washburn, supplied six months; James A. McKenzie, 1847 to 1852; John Pratt, supplied six months; Joshua A. Stetson, ISM to 1859; James A. McKenzie, April, 1859, to April, 1873; Maxey W. Burlingame, supplied six months; G. H. Child, 1874 to 1879; William A. Nealy, 1879 to 1885; Herbert G. Corliss, since 1885. For seventy years the society had no church building, but met in private houses. In 1752 Job Almy gave five-eighths of an acre for a church site, and thirty-four acres for the use of the minister. The first church was built in 1752; the stone church in 1841. The first parsonage was built in 1755; the sec- ond in 1884. In 1788 some of the members withdrew to form the Second Baptist church of Tiverton, now in Fall River, and in 1808 others, to form the Third Baptist church of Tiverton, now the Central Baptist cliurch at Tiverton heights. These two churches became Calvinistic, because their pastors were Calvinists. The Baptist church in New Bedford was organized by seventeen members dismissed from here for that purpose. The whole number of members in 1887 was 148. An effort to establish Congregationalism in Tiverton was made as early as 1746. On the 20th of August in that year a church was organized called the Congregational church. It consisted of eleven men and was organized by an ecclesiastical council composed of pastors and delegates from the Congregational church in Little Comptou and the First church in Rochester, Mass. On August 26th the church voted to extend a call to Rev. Othniel Campbell to officiate as pastor. Mr. Campbell, having accepted the call of the church, was installed October 1st, 1746. The choice of Mr. Cami^bell by the new society led to the first local controversy between tiie civil and ecclesiastical au- thorities. The following interesting scrap is copied from the town meeting records : " Att a full meeting (jf ye freemen of ye I'own of Tiverton le- gally warned and held at ye house of Nathaniel Little on ye thirteenth Day of November A. D. 1749. Voted, Jolin How- 926 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. land Esq, is chosen moderator of the meeting, and it appearing to sd, meeting that one Othniel Campbell who hath entered into ye Southerly part of sd Town near ye outermost thereof for two or three years past who hath Lately since declared himself to be the minister of sd, Town, And ye Inhabitants of sd. Town being very sensible that they never had made any such choice of him or did Ever approve of him in that capacity having made Choice of Mr. Joseph Wanton at a meeting held at said Tiverton the tenth day of April, who hath for some time before sd choice preached in sd Tiverton & Ever since officiated in tliat office to this time & in whom we are well satisfied. "Voted that we disallow of Othniel Campbell to be our min- ister and rest Contented with our former choice of Joseph Wan- ton — which vote passed unanimously in sd meeting." During a number of years this church received aid from the missionary society, but receiving several legacies it became, in time, self-supporting. The original building was where the school house now stands, east of Tiverton Four Corners. This building was used as barracks during the revolution and in February, 1784, this society presented a petition to the general assembly at Providence representing that the meeting house belonging to that society was arranged as a barrack for troops, whereby it was greatly injured ; and praying the assemblj' to grant them a lottery for raising money, amounting to §;i,500, to be applied to the repairing of the building. This petition was granted and Joseph Taber, Pardon Gray, John Cooke, William Ladd, William Whitridge, Abraham Brown, Benjamin How- land and Nathaniel Briggs were appointed directors of the lot- tery and authorized to establish a scheme for it, giving bonds in the sum of !58,000. When it became needful, several years later, to build a new church edifice, the question of location divided the society and crippled its powers for a considerable time. As a result of this division a portion of the members built the church building now standing north of Four Corners, and services were main- tained in both churches for several years by the same pastor on ■alternate Sundaj^s, but the old church and the old prejudice have long since passed away and the united congregation wor- ships in the new building. Rev. Campbell was their pastor for thirty-two years. He died October IDth, 1778. His successors have been : John HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 927 Briggs, 1798-1801; David Janet, 1804-1806; Benjamin Whit- more, 1815-1816; Ehenezer Colman, 1818-1825; Luther White, 1825-1828; Jonathan King, 1828-1836; Isaac Jones, 1838-1841; Jared Reid, 1841-1851; David Andrews, 1852-1857; Nelson Clark, 1858-1866; Alphonso Whitmore, 1866 ; A. T. Clark, 1872-1877; W. H. Sturtevant, 1877-1882; H. T. Arnold, 1883- 1887; G. W. Lawrence, 1887. The society now numbers forty-one members. The church building will comfortably accommodate three hundred persons. The Society of Friends at Tiverton was formed, and a meeting house was erected before the revolution. The exact date is not known, but during that war their building was in use as a hos- pital. It was subsequently taken down and another was built on the same site. This new house was burned in December, 1860, and soon afterward the third building was erected. This is now standing where stood the old meeting house of a century ago. Around it are the moss grown graves of the quiet men and .the modest women, ancestors of worthy descendants who are among the best of Tiverton's citizens to-day. This society sustained from the first, as it appears, a subor- dinate relation to the Portsmouth monthly meeting of Friends, where tlie vital statistics of the families of members are well preserved and faithfully kept by Isaac B. Macomber. Among the early supporters of the Tiverton meeting were Ed- ward Wing and Elizabeth, his wife; Nathan Chase, Abraham Barker, Borden Durfee, Abagail Durfee, John Hicks, Elisha Estes and Ann Hopkins, who was a Tnaiden sister of Elizabeth Wing. Mrs. Wing was the minister for several years. Mr. Barker and Mr. Hicks were the last of the old society. These two, faithful to their earnest belief, sat alone in their house of worship many a First Day and silently worshipped God. The Central Baptist Church was organized in 1808 by former members of the Baptist Church near Adamsville, and was then known as the " Tl)ird Baptist Church of Tiverton." At a point southeast of the Tiverton end of the stone bridge, they, in 1808, erected their first house of worship. The first clerk was Wil- liam Norton. His record, still preserved, is the basis of this article. He says: " Tiiis book commences to date 1809, May Blst, altho the Proceedings of the church which now exists tuck place sume time before as will appear by the following * * * colected from Different Letters and Pieces of Paper which were Kept for this Purpose." 928 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Elder William Bentley preached his first sermon on Sunday, August 7th, 1808. A formal invitation was sent to him dated August 20th. He accepted, and preached to them until the middle of October following. A subscription of nearly s250 was then "filled up." "Then on Tuesday Nov. 2nd returned and gave his answer in the affirmative and concluded to move on the 17th, which he did, and on the 26th had a meeting of the members of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Tiverton to consult about forming the Third Baptist Church of Christ in Tiverton." It appears to have been a subject of controversy what the articles of faith should be, but finally those of a Boston cliurcii were adopted, and on the 28th of December, 1808, the church was regularly organized. Several churches, by their elders and messengers, took part in this ceremony at the house of Captain Elisha Brown. The First Baptist church of Tiverton was rep- resented by Benjamin Peckham, Noah Palmer and Jeremiah Davenport. The Second Baptist cliurch of Tiverton (now in Fall River) by Elder Job Borden, Enoch French, Edmund Da- vis, Joseph Stillwell and George Wodell. Tlie Baptist churches of Boston, Providence, Newport and Warren were also repre- sented. The first members were: William Humphrey, his wife Lj^dia, his daughter Harriet, his son William and wife, Elisha Brown, Stephen Taber and wife, William Norton and wife, and their daughter Mary, John Albert, Betsey Hambly, Priscilla Hambly, Alice Hambly, Nancy Hambly, Sarah Hambly, Mary, Barsheba and Ruth Howland, Patience Thurston, Elizabeth Westgate, Alice Westgate, Mary Manchester, Elizabeth Hunt, and Eliza- beth Osborn, wife of William. Sixteen members were dismissed June 22d, 1813, to constitute a new church in New Bedford. Thirteen members were dis- missed to form a Baptist church in Worcester, Mass. Elder Bentley, after preaching here until October 26th, 1812, became pastor of the Worcester church. "1813, May 16th, This day Elder Livermore came among us by our request to preach (if GOD Willing.) 6 months and tarry at different places." "1814, July to August 1815. No steady preaching and the church in a dry and barren situation." HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 929 "May 19tli, 1816, Jonathan Smith of Norton, Mass., is preach- ing to ns, We are seeing wliut we can do for him." "1816, Aug. 23rcl, An examination took place to know the minds of the brethren and sisters in regaid to communion. * * * It lias been years since we met for this iiiii)ortant inquiry." "Voted * * * if they think it proper to ordain Brother Smith that if he should continue with us we may enjoy the privileges of gospel ordinances." "Elder Jonathan Smith left us in October, 1816, and went to Middleborough, Mass." "May 17th, 1818. Benjamin H Pitman of Newport agreed with to come and. preach the jiresent season by the church pay- ing his traveling expenses, which was raised chiefly by the sis- ters." "1819, Oct. Mr. Pitmans' farewell sermon." "1820, Three male members and forty-six females." These preceding passages from the clerk's book are quoted ver- batim, in order to preserve, not only the historical facts, but the mode of doing business at that time. The remainder of this sketch is the chronological record, edited from this clerk's book, and a later one in the hands of Mrs. Rodney Bennett, the pres- ent clerk. August 4th, 1820, Deacon William Humphrey, Wil- liam Norton and William Osborn were made a committee to take charge of the meeting house, as to what preachers shall be admitted. "1820. Dec. 2nd, Brother Taggart the young man preaching to us is keeping a school. Voted by all that his preaching is acceptable and that he continue with us a year." "May 13th 1822 Jonathan Wilsons first sermon; subscription is out for his support. April 4th 1824, Rev. Caleb Green pas- tor one year. 1826 August. Rev. Elbridge Gale's pastorate began July 20th 1830 Thirty three persons raised $19,9.5, for the purchase of a bass vial to assist the singing of the Second Baptist Church in Tiverton." Prior to this year the church was called the Third Baptist church. June, 1832, Reverend Gale removed to Dighton. July, 1832, Edward Peterson, pastor. January-April, 1834, Josiah S. Parker pastor. March 29th, 1834, Thomas Osborn chosen clerk. The former clerk is re- ferred to as "Father Norton." 930 HISTORY OF NEWPOHT COUNTY. May 31st, 1837, Alexander Milne was ordained and made pastor for one year. In April, 1840, Reverend Jeremiah Kelley became pastor. The records do not mention the length of the pastorate of Mr. Kelley, but during the next decade some serious dilRcnl- ties and misunderstandings in the church came very near costing tiiis religious body its life. Covenant meeting and communion services were discontinued and there was no regu- lar preaching service during the greater part of this time. Members living at a distance lost their interest, and but for the faithful few, the Central Baptist church of Tiverton wouhl not be in existence to-day. The records tell us: "The Rev. Henry Jackson, chairman of the Associational Committee, visited the church August 25th, 1849, and by his advice a church meeting was called. A set of resolutions was presented and adopted. The name of this church was again changed. Since that time it has borne its present name. Each person whose name was on the church record received a letter stating that all persons who nominally sustain membership in this chnrch shall, on application to the clerk within six months, be enrolled as members in good standing, and the pames of all who neglect to do so shall be erased without any implication of their moral or christian character." This measure was necessary or at least highly expedient, as the members had many of them changed their places of residence and joined their interests with other churches during this time of ad- versity. On this basis the Central Baptist church of Tiverton was reconstructed with a membership of thirty-six, and David W. Burdick called to the j^astorate. The old church at Stone Bridge, standing on a bluff now leveled by the tides, was fast falling into decay, and in 1851 the best of its timbers were transferred to the site of the pres- ent church and incorporated in a new building. This was dedicated August 8th, 1851, and for thirty-live years this so- ciety worshipped here. The pastors during that time were : Reverends David M. Burdick, 1850; Robert Dennis, 1855; Fred- erick P. Shaw, 1855-1859: Andrew D. Milne, 1859-1862; Joseph Reall, 1862-1863; H. G. Hubbard, 1863; James Andem, 1866- 1867; George N. Greene, 1867-1868; Silas J. Weaver, 1870-1873; Edgar Mariot, 1873-1876; P. G. Wightman, 1876-1886. Stu- dents from Brown University have often supplied the pulpit when there was no settled pastor. IirSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 931 In the spring of 1883 this church sustained a great loss by the death of Judge Joseph Osborn. He had been one of its most efficient workers and tlie cliurch liad learned to lean upon him as one always ready with large heart and willing hand to bear the heaviest burdens of this church of his choice. While this loss was still keenly felt, on the night of October lOth, 1886, the church building was burned. Fortunately for this people, they have still in their ranks a member who follows in the foot- steps of Judge Osborne in earnest efforts for this church. Chai'les Andrew Hambly, assisted nobly by the few men and the brave women of this society, was untiring in efforts to re- build a house of worship. As a result of these united efforts, supported liberally by gentlemen not members of the society, a new and beautiful church edifice now stands on the old church lot, erected at a cost of about $10,000— a building of which a larger society might justly be j)roud. Though nob large, it is complete in design and finish. As a fitting monu- ment to Judge Osborn a memorial window adorns the chancel, a gift from his son, William J. The church Avas dedicated December 14th, 1887. It is at present under tlie pastorate of Reverend Henry W. Tate. In the development of religious thought among the people of Tiverton, the Puritan idea, as embodied in the Congregational churcli, the Roger Williams idea, as crystalized in the creed of the Baptists, and the principles of George Pox, as exemplified by the Society of Friends, represented for nearly two hundred years the sentiments of these people. An idea, however, began to develop here about 1840 which has since modified somewhat; the course of religious thinking. Reverend Samuel Longfellow, the Unitarian divine, preached the first Unitarian sermon in the Baptist church at Stone Bridge. As to the time, his letter reads, "It must have been in 1850, possibly a year earlier, that I went down from Fall River for four summer Sunday afternoons and preached in the old Baptist meeting house by the watei- side — so close to the water that as I sat in the pulpit I could hear the plashing of the water on the shore through the open windows." He adds that his preaching at Stone Bridg«' came about through the influence of the West family, his par- ishioners, who lived in Tiverton. In 18.59-60 Rev. Charles J. Bowen held regular meetings in the town hall and occasionally 59 932 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. in the Baptist churcli. During the civil war Reverend Bowen was ai:)pc)inted chaplain of the great Camden Street Hospital in Baltimore, where he then lived. In 1865 he again spent the summer here and resumed his preaching. The late Thomas Whitridgeof Baltimore, offered $1,000 toward the erection of a hall for social and literary entertainments. This offer was fol- lowed by liberal contributions from others, until it was finind practicable to erect the building now known as Whitridge hall. The qnestion of what uses should be made of the hall if com- pleted led rapidly to the idea of building a chapel in connec- tion with the hall. For this purpose Mr. Whitridge contrib- uted another $500, and the building as now standing was erected by Martin Tupper, of Braintree, in 1876. Six years prior to this Reverend Bowen died while pastor at Roxbury, Mass., and in the addition of the chapel to the original plan for the hall Reverend Bowen's many friends contributed liberally, with the idea of making the chapel a memorial to him. On the 9th of June this memorial chapel was consecrated by the min- isters of the Norfolk Conference. Services during the summer seasons have been conducted here by Doctor Peabody, Reverend Robert Colyer, Reverend Edward Everett Hale, D. D., Doctor Briggs, Reverend Augustus Woodbury, Reverend Thomas Sli- cer and many others. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, whose country seat is in PortsmoutJi, kindly offered her services ever}' Septem- ber. The winter services were carried on by the divinity stu - dents of Harvard College, and it was finally decided to give up the care of the chapel entirely to these students. Tliej' have done their work nobly. The congregations are large, the Sun- day school is flourishing. Schools. — The flrst settlers of Tiverton were chiefly the de- scendants of the Pilgrims, and while they inherited in some de- gree the excellent character of their renowned ancestors, many facts in their history show most fully that they were not dis- tinguished for that superior intelligence and devoted piety which were conspicuous in their fathers. There are but few in- dications of early efforts for the education of their children. About the middle of the eighteenth century feeble eft'orts were put forth to promote general education. A few people seemed to see the importance of giving the rising generation some school opportunities, but there is ample evidence that the im- portance of this subject had not yet dawned upon the minds of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 933 the people. It is strange to note how often the old deeds :ind other important documents were signed, even by individuals who had large estates, with the significant " his X mark." Oc- tober 7th, 1732, it was voted that two school houses be built in Tiverton, "One at ye south end and one at ye north end of ye town." A custom of employing a teacher for the town ai)pears by the following entiy in the town records: " Aug. 15. 1743. Voted Benjamin Delaney Town school master for ye year insuing and he is to have Thirty three pounds old Tenner for his year serv- ice to be paid unto him at the expiration of his year service." He served as agreed, for "Aug. 15. 1744. Voted that the Town hire the money to pay the School nuister for his service Done for the Town." The true relation of the j^ublic school to the body politic seems to have been gradually coming into view, for in town meeting, on the 27th of August, 1799, William Humphrey, Thomas Durfee, Edmond Estes and John Howland were made a committee " to take under Consideration the Bill for an act for supporting a free School in the State and to malie sucli amendment as they may think proper and make Report at the adjournment of this meeting." Here is an extract from the town records showing not only that they intended to have a school but that they needed one: "Aug. 1828 on a motion Whether it be expejient that a Tax be levyed, for the support of Publik schools in this town It is voted that it be desided in the affermative by votes. Twenty being against the meashure and Twenty-nine in favor of it." "Voted that a Tax of Three Hundred and Sixty Dollars be assessed u))on the Rateable property of this town for the sup- port of Publick schools." At the annual meeting, June 1st, 1829, for the choice of offi- cers, the following named persons were elected school commit- tee: Robert Gray, William Shaw, John Manchester, Elbridge Gale, Amasa Borden, Noah Macomber, Benjamin Hambly, Abraham Manchester, John Gray of Elizabeth, John Ihuubly. From the allusions rather than positive statements the record appears that thesemeager provisions for public instruction were supplemented by individual and community action in different sections of the town. A school house was often owned aiul a teacher engaged bv a few families of some community, and thus 934 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTr. the actual provisions for the education of the young in the town greatly exceeded those wliich became a part of the public I'ec- ords. Share holders, as applied to men or families aiding in the erection of school houses, is a term frequently met with prior to 1842. These private schools were not unfrequently taught in apartments of private houses. The compensation was generally very meager and the test of scholarship very feeble. The pedagogue of that day was a migratory creature. One specimen of this New England product perpetrated himself upon the neighborhood north of Rowland's ferry and unexpect- edly, and perhaps unknown to himself, taught one of the best schools ever taught there. He called himself A. B., and was known here by no other name. He never spoke of home or rela- tives, and of his antecedents no one here knew. He faithfully performed the duties he assumed and quietly left his held of labor. Who he was or where he went still remains a question. During the four years preceding and including 1846, the l)resent district system was instituted. The first action of the town meeting relating to schools under the district system was on June 1st, 1846, when $800 was voted to be raised and placed to the credit of the proper committee for expenses, directing' it to be divided equally between the several districts in the town. The committee consisted of Jared Reid, William C. Chapin, Charles Durfee,' Asa G-ray, William P. Sheffield, Joseph Osborn, Samuel West,' Oliver Chase, Jr., and Cornelius Seabury, Jr. In June of the following year $500 was appro- priated — one- half to be divided equally among the districts, the other half to be apportioned according to the daily attendance. In June, 1848, $1,000 was voted by the town to support the schools in Tiverton, and the labors of the school committee in- creasing with the growth of the new system, $75 was voted for their services. In the meantime, the state having provided a plan for dividing the school fund among the various districts, we find the vote recorded that the $1,000 was to be distributed "as the state law directs." Since this time new buildings with modern conveniences have supplanted the primitive struc- tures which had served their day and generation— some of them several generations — and Tiverton has to-day thirteen schools and as many scliool buildings, which are fullj^ up to the New England standard. Several of these new edifices are models of comfort and convenience. The best one in the town is just msTOKY OF NIOWPOTiT rorNTY. 935 nortli of "Tiverton Heights." Thegeiieml manag-emeut of tiie town scliools devolves upon trustees annually elected. At the annual town meeting a school committee is elected. This com- mittee of three persons elect their own officers; their business is to examine the applicants for certihcates, grant those where the examination proves satisfactory, and the applicant gives evidence of having a good moral character. This committee is also expected to visit the schools twice each term. An effort is being made to put the entire control of the schools in the hands of this committee. Since April, 1871, this committee has been composed of women. The first women elected were Mrs. Catherine J. Barker, Mrs. Moses T. Lawton and Ann E. Brown. The present committee are Mrs. Catherine J. Barker, superintendent; Mrs. Hannah F. Osborn, chairman; Mrs. Alonzo Hart, clerk. In the apportionment of school money for the year ending April 30th, 1887, Tiverton received $2,039.98 from the state edu- cational fund. LiBRAiiY. — One of the most potent secular educational in- fluences in this community is the Free Librar}^ and Reading Room at Whitridge hall. Here is exemplified the wisdom of the late Thomas Whitridge, whose generous philanthropy has given the town of Tiverton a free library of about 1,700 volumes. Other gentlemen have contributed to the collection, but so thoroughlj' did Mr. Whitridge identify himself with the scheme at its inception that his name must ever be cherished by a public which appreciates the spirit of his liberality while enjoying the fruits of his wisdom. The library is vei'y suitably located in rooms at Whitridge hall, where there is also a pleasant reading room supplied with the usual periodicals and ain[)le free accommodations for their perusal. This latter feature represents a broad impulse in behalf of the young men of the town, on the part of John S. West. The care of the reading rooms is assigned to Miss Mary Seabury, the librarian, whose courtesy and efficiency are im- portant elements in the popularity of this institution. The privileges of the institution are made forever free to all residents of Tiverton, and the liberal construction put upon the term "residents" must render this one of the attractions of the place for those wlio are temporar}"^ residents of this beau- tiful summer resort. 936 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Town Government. — While Tiverton was a part of the Old Bay commonwealth, that wise division of the law-making power into two concurrent branches, entitled this town to a represen- tative in the popular branch. The persons elected by the town were styled " Representatives to the Great and General Court."' The first election to this office is recorded in 1708, when Amos Sheffield was elected ; the next is on the 16th of May, 1730, when "Job Almy was chosen Representative to the Great and General Court at Cambridge." Legislative honors, as the record intimates, were not at that time highly esteemed, for, on the 7th of July, 1732, the town "Voted Job Almy esqr. agent in behalf of the Town to go to boston aboute the New County and also to try to get rid of the find which is laid upon our Town for not sending a Represen- tative which find is Twenty pound." Job Almy was elected again in 1735, 1738, 1740, and 1746. In 1739 Samuel Borden was elected in May, and Gershom Wodell in June. (This family name is now written Wordell). Ebenezer Taber was elected in 1741, these nine elections being the only ones recorded by the town while it belonged to Massachusetts. When the town became a factor in the little colony, the lower branch of the colonial legislature was known as the " House of Deputies." Sixty years later the legislators chosen by the towns were styled representatives. The following list shows by whom Tiverton has been represented: In 1747-48, by John Man- chester and John Rowland; 1749, John Howland, Edward Wan- ton; 1750, John Manchester, Abraham Barker; 1751, John Man- chester, Samuel Durfee; 1752, Thomas Howland, Edward Wan- ton; 1753, Samuel Durfee, Edward Wanton; 1754-5, Samuel Durfee, Thomas Howland; 1756, John Brown, Thomas Howland; 1757, Thomas Howland; May, 1757-8, Samuel Durfee, John Bowen; 1759, Philip Tabor; 1760, Samuel Durfee, Philip Tabor; 1761-2, Thomas Anthony, Job Durfee; 1763, Samuel Durfee, Jonathan Davol; 1764, Job Durfee, Captain William Cooke; 1765-6, Captain William Cooke, Captain Edward Gray; 1767, Captain Edward Gray, Captain Isaac Manchester; 1768, Samuel Durfee, Captain Edward Gray; 1769-70, Samuel Durfee, Wil- liam Cook; 1771-2, Edward Gray, Oliver Cook; 1773, Edward Gray, Thomas Corey; 1774-5, Edward Gray, Captain John Cook; 1776, Gideon Almy, Colonel John Cook; 1777-8, Isaac Man- chester, William Cook; 1779, Thomas Corey; 1780, Gilbert Davol; HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 937 1781, Joseph Shearman; 1782, Benjamin Howland, Xatlianiel Briggs; 1783-4, Benjamin Howland, Lemnel Bailey; 1785, Benja- min Howland, Nathaniel Briggs; 1786, Benjamin Howland, Joseph Almy ; 1787-90, Benjamin Howland, Thomas Dnrfee ; 1791-5, Thomas Dnrfee, Abraliam Barker; 1795-7, Thomas Dur- fee, Christopher Manchester ; 1797, Christopher Manchester, Joseph Dnrfee ; 1798, Christopher Manchester, Nathaniel Briggs; 1799, Nathaniel Briggs, John Borden; 1801-7, Christo- pher Manchester, William Hnmphrey; 1807, William Humph- rey, Philip Sisson; 1808, William Hnmphrey, John Cook; 1809, Christopher Manchester, Benjamin Howland; 1810, Christopher Manchester, William Humphrey ; 1811, William Humphrey, William Cory; 1812-15, Benjamin Howland, William Cory; 1815, Benjamin Howland. James Manchester ; 1816-19, James Man- chester, Job Durfee; 1819-21, Job Dnrfee, Joseph Dnrfee; 1821, Joseph Durfee 2d, Eliliu Hicks; 1821 (second session), David Durfee, Jr., William Westgate 2d; 1822, David Durfee, Jr., Elihu Hicks ; 1822-24, David Durfee, Jr., James Manchester; 1824, David Durfee, Jr., Joseph Durfee; 1825-7, Allen Durfee, Pardon Gray; 1827-8, Joseph Dnrfee, Pardon Gray; 1829, Par- don Gray, Peter Estes; 1830-3, James Manchester, David Dur- fee; 1833, Job Durfee, Robert Gray ; 1833-4, Joseph Durfee, Robert Gray; 1835-6, Robert Gray, Gideon H. Durfee; 1837, Robert Gray, David Durfee; 1838, David Durfee, Joseph S. Bliven; 1838-9, Joseph S. Bliven, Gideon H. Durfee; 1839-40, Joseph S. Bliven, George W. Humphrey; 1840, Samuel Sea- bury, George W. Humphrey; 1841, Samuel Seabury, William P. Bateman; 1842, Gideon H. Dnrfee, Adoniram Brown; 1843, James Manchester, Walter C. Dnrfee; 1844, James Manchester, Joseph Osborn ; 1845-8, Joseph Osborn, Robert Gray ; 1848, Robert Gray, Cook Borden; 1849, Robert Gray, William P. Sheffield ; 1850, William P. Sheffield, William P. Bateman ; 1851, Joseph Osborn, Nathaniel B. Durfee; 1852, William P. Siieffield, Joseph Osborn, Nathaniel B. Durfee; 18.53, William P. Sheffield, Augustus Chace, Nathaniel B. Durfee; 1854, Natha- niel B. Durfee, Josei)h Osborn, William G. Borden; 1855, B. F. Seabury, John G. Sargent, Stephen Fellows; 1856, Edward Gray, Jr., Frederick A. Boomer, Allen Hart. The town was divided in 1856, and after that sent only one representative. 1856-60, Allen Hart; 1860, Joseph Osborn; 1861, Peleg S. Stafford; 1862, 938 HISTORY OF NEWPOllT COUNTY. Charles A Diirfee ; 1863, Edward Gray ; 1864, Cyrenus Bliss ; 1865-71, Nathaniel B. Durfee ; 1872-5, Andrew H. Manchester ; 1876, Holder K Wilcox; 1877-8, Andrew H. Manchester; 1879- 80, Joseph Osborn; 1881-82, Isaac Brown; 1883-4, Nathaniel B. Church; 1885-6, John R. Hicks: 1887, George W. Gray. When, on the first Tuesday of May, 1843, the charter of 1663 was superseded by the provisions of the state constitution, Tiv- erton became entitled to one vote in the state senate. This office was filled from 1743-47, by David Durfee; 1848, Joseph Osborn; 1849-52, William C. Chapin; 1853, Joseph Osborn; 1854-55, Ol- iver Chace; 1856, Edward Gray, Jr.; 1857-59, Cyrenus Bliss; 1860, Gideon H. Durfee; 1861, Clark Estes; 1862, Gideon H. Durfee; 1863, Joseph Osborn; 1864, Gideon H. Durfee; 1865-75, Joseph Osborn; 1876, Gideon H. Durfee; 1877-78, John F. Chace; 1879-82, Andrew H. Manchester; 1883-84, Isaac Brown; 1885, Nathaniel B. Church; 1886, Henry Clay Osborn; 1887, Nathan- iel B. Church. Toton ClerJcs.—ln 1699 David Lake was elected; in 1703, Thomas Townsend; 1705, Amos Sheffield; 1710, Richard Bor- den; 1712, Robert Dennis; 1730, John Sisson; 1732, Thomas Manchester; 1738, William Wilcock; 1739, Joseph Howland; 1739, John Manchester; 1745, Thomas Howland; 1747, Restcome Sanford; 1771, Walter Cook (great-grandfather of John T. Cook); 1790, Lemuel Taber; 1803, Pardon Gray; 1814, Thomas Durfee; 1829, Asa Gray; 1843, Charles. Durfee; 1850, Asa Gray; 1867, Nathaniel B. Durfee; 1871, George N. Durfee, sun of N. B.; the present clerk, elected in 1883, is John T. Cook. Prior to 1715 the freemen of the town held their meetings at the huuse of Daniel Howland. From that j'ear the residences of Thomas Manchester, David Lake, John Howland and Isaac Howland were used until 1747. The meetings of 1748-54 were at the house of Nathaniel Little; those of 1755-60 at the resi- dence of Peleg Barker; 1761-62, Thomas Howland; 1763, Jona- than Luther; 1772, Isaac Cory; 1777, Friends' Meeting House; 1780, John Howland; 1782, Nathaniel Briggs; 1789, Philip Man- chester; 1795, Joshua Crocker; 1796, store of Burroughs & Dav- enport, and at the house of John Cook, Howland's Ferry; 1797, Benjamin Howland; 1798, store of Burroughs & Davenport; 1801, Taylor Davenport; 1829, George Lawton and Stone Bridge Ho- tel; 1840, Nicholas E. Durfee; August 31st, 1841, and since, at Town Hall. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 939 Prior to 1807, town nieetinj^s were held annually for the election of town^ofiicers on the third Monday in May, bnt in that year, by a proper notice for the meeting in May, a large number of freeholders agreed to request the town clerk to call a meeting for the first Monday of June, and it was voted at that meeting, "that the Town Meetings for the Election of Town Officers for the Town of Tiverton shall be held annually from this date on the first Monday of June." CHAPTER XIX. TOWN OF TIVERTON (Conchided). Hon. Joseph Osborn. — Joseph Church. — Samuel West, A. M., M. D. — Miss Han- nah Howland West. — Joshua C. Durfee. — Christopher Brownell. — Samuel E. Almy. — Asa Davol. — Isaac Brown. — Job Wordell. — Personal Paragraphs. Hon. Joseph Osborn. — Among the men whose lives liave I'e- flected honor upon the place of their birth, few, if any, deserve more honorable mention here than Judge Joseph Osborn, of Tiv- erton. Born in the third year of the century, he passed his four score years in the town where his father, Thomas Osborn, and his mother, Ann Durfee, spent the thirty-six years of their married life, which began in 1797. Two older brothers, William and Thomas, and three younger, Wilson, Weaver and James M., and a sister, Eliza, the fifth of the seven, made up the gen- eration to which the judge belonged and of which only the two younger brothers survive. The grandfather, William Osborn, was born at Newport in 1729, married Elizabeth Shrieve twenty-two years later, and died soon after attaining to his eighty-first year. The family tradition places the ancestors among those English boys who, early in the New England, found these shores more kind to their aims and their ambitions. In his domestic relations, ever the subject of his greatest pride and his kindest care. Judge Osborn was signally favored. His wife, Eliza, the fifth child of Samuel and Catherine Borden Gardner (32), lived to see her sixty-second year, and nearly to complete the thirty-sixth year of their married life. Here in Tiverton, at the homestead where their youngest daughter, Eliza, now lives, they saw their little family of five reach man- hood and womanhood, and here death closed the gate of earthly possibilities to their son, Jason, when scarcely twenty- two. Their oldest child, Ann C, is Mrs. Samuel B. Allen, of Fall River. vnv llISTdKY Ui' NEWPORT COUNTY. 941 The oldest son, after several years of business in Full River and Boston, became a resident of Brooklyn, and with those qualities of head and heart which might be looked for in a son of Judge Osborn, he came to have extensive relations with bank- ing circles, and is now the well and favorably known William J. Osborn, banker and broker, of New York. Henry Clay, the youngest son, following the footsteps of the father, has success- full}' devoted his attention to mixed husbandry and live stock dealing, and has represented Tiverton in the state senate. The foundation of Judge Osborn's fortune was laid in the slow, plodding way of the live stock dealer, making weekly pilgrimages to Brighton and becoming widely acquainted with the farmers of half the state. Later, he became interested in the cotton mills at Fall River and made some very wise invest- ments, from which was developed the larger portion of his for- tune. He was a director in the Osborn Mills, a director of the Pocasset Bank, and president of the Citizen's Savings Bank from its organization in 1851. The record of the trustees' special meeting, April 21st, 1883, contains this resolution: ''Resolved, That by the death of the Honorable Joseph Os- born, President of this Corporation from its organization, the Citizens' Savings Bank has been deprived of a wise counsellor, a discreet and faithful Trustee and an efficient presiding officer. He was a man of sterling integrity. Christian character, true to ever}' trust reposed in him, honest in all his dealings, diligent in business, a friend to the poor and suffering, a lover of right, unswerving and implacable in his opposition to duplicity, wrong and oppression." On the following week the JVewport Mercuri/ published an article by Hon. William P. Sheffield, his lifeh)ng acquaintance and friend, containing these facts and comments: "Mr. Osborn early attracted and constantly preserved the good opinion of his fellow-citizens. Under the old charter he was elected one of the ten Senators that then constituted the upper branch of the General Assembly. He was, also, under the o\i}i reff line, long a justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a member of the convention called to frame a State con- stitution in 1841, known as the Landholder's convention, and has been often chosen by his townsmen to represent them in each branch of the General Assembly; at one time he was a 942 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. member of the Boai'd of State Charities and Corrections, and for fortj-'four years was treasurer of his native town. In all of these trusts he was faithful, and adorned tlie offices with which he was entrusted. But he was more than a ,^ond officer, for he lived a sjiotless life and gathered the harvest of a good name for the inheritance of the children he has left behind him. He was an industrious, equable, energetic, and well balanced man, successful in his undertakings because they were conceived in good judgment and carried on by constant and persevering effort to consummation. He was, through his life, devoted to the cause of temperance, and a consistent member of the Baptist church for many years. Judge Osborn was a man of peace, for he composed more neighborhood differences and settled more quarrels than any live men in Tiverton. He has lived a long and useful life, and in the maturity of age, holding his usefulness to the last, with his life-work well done, has been gathered into the heavenly fold. The gift of such a life is a benefaction to the community in which it is spent. Tiiere is not room enough in the world for both the old and the young; by the order of nature the former give place to the latter, and when a good man's life is brought to an end without any asso- ciation with decrepitude or decay, so that he can be remembered only as in the vigor of his intellectual force, such a life and such a death, both give occasion for thanksgiving and not for sorrow." No estimate of the man would be complete which had not regard to the harsh limitations bounding his horizon in the be- ginning of his career, as well as those broader fields of effort and influence in which, as a successful man of affairs, he found himself in middle life. The generation which knew him as a poor boy, as a teacher, as a fisherman and as a struggling j^ouug farmer, has passed away. Only one of the four men who, with him in business as cattle drovers, made a competence for them- selves, remains to-day,and the younger generation, remembering him only as a man of mature years, with a fortune to enjoy and an honoral)Ie name to bequeath, may scarcely appreciate that from sterner needs than many know he gained by patient care the one and earned by the life he lived the other, and made the place his memory fills to-day in the hearts of those who knew him best. After handling, as treasurer, for more than half his life the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 943 financial interests of the town, he declined a i;e-election, and when he presided for the twentieth time as moderator of town meeting the people attested their esteem by voting him an hon- orary seat with whoever might preside at any future meeting. Tn this day of free speech, when no virtue can shield a public man from the criticisms of the ignorant and the insults of the envious, many have been the stormy meetings when, but for his great coolness and power as an extempore public speaker, the town's interest which he had at heart would have suffered. The Judge, while making his almost paternal relations to Tiv- erton his greatest public care and study, still regarded his seat with the ten in the old charter senate as the crowning honor of his political life, and among the dearest memories of his old age were the friendships of that time. As one by one all those as- sociates passed away, the last two passing scarcely a season be- fore him, a subtle suggestion — perhaps not saddening, yet surely casting its shadow — filled the last of his days with a tender pathos and a dream in which his closest friends well knew they had no part. Joseph Chuuch. — The progenitor of the branch of the Church family resident in Rhode Island was Richard Church (121), who came from England with Governor Winthrop in 1630, and settled in New England. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richai'd Warren, in 1636. He died in Dedham, December 27th, 1668, and his wife in Hingham, in 1670. Their children were : Elizabeth, Joseph, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Caleb, Charles, Richard, Abigail, Hannah, Sarah, Lydia, Priscilla and Deborah. Nathaniel, of this number, married Sarah, daughter of William Barstow, and had children : Abigail, Richard Na- thaniel, Alice, Joseph, Charles and Sarah. The birth of Charles, of this number, occurred in 1683, and his death in 1726. He married Mary Pope, of Dartmouth, whose children were : Charles, Mary, Susanna. Hannah, Seth and Alice. Their son, Charles, born in 1710, died May 6th, 1762. He married, in 1735, Frances Turner, and had children : Charles, Joseph, Mary, Hannah, Seth, Benjamin, Susanna and John. The second son, Joseph, was born in 1742 and died in 1816. He married, in 1765, Sarah Brighlman. Tiieir cliildren were: Ruth, Ann, Susannah, Rebeccah, Sarah, Joseph, Prudence, Hannah, Maiy and Lemuel. The eldest son, Joseph, was born September 28th, 1779, and died October 5th, 1858. He married, in 1802, Hannah 944 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Peckham, whose children were : Julia Ann. RiUh, Francis P., Calista, Joseph (subject of this sketch), Isaac, Elizabeth, Ben- jamin B., Sarah, Lemuel, Huram, Janette and Lemuel 2d. Captain Joseph Church, the subject of this sketch, was born February 20th, 1809, and died August 16th, 1887. His father was commander of a packet running from Providence to Pall River, and resided at the latter point, the birthplace of his son, who received a common school education, and at an earlj' age sought employment in a woolen mill. He was naturally at- ti-acted to the water, and soon after embarked in the congenial but perilous life of a fisherman. About 1840 he removed to Tiverton and engaged extensively in iishing, which pursuit was continued during the remainder of his life. In 1870 he became interested with his sons in the menhaden fisheries, a brief ac- count of which is given below. Mr. Church was married, March 27th, 1834, to Jeminiah, daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah B. Boomer, of Fall River. Massachusetts, born Jan- nary 17th, 1813. Their children are: Daniel T., born January 10th, 1836; Isaac L., October 21st, 1838; Joseph, October 10th; 1840; James B., February l.'ith, 1843; Nathaniel B., October 3d, 1845; George L., January 2d, 1847; Calista (21), June 29th, 1851; and Fisher, September 19th, 1853. Mr. Church was in his polit- ical affiliations a democrat, always a strong partisan and zeal- ous for the success of his party. While active and influential, he invariably declined all overtures leading to official position. He was extensively engaged in the shipping of fresh iish to the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Albany, and in his com- mercial relations brought to bear a general information, the habits of a well-trained business man, and a strict integrity which won respect and confidence. Mr. Church until the end of his life continued to be an active and useful citizen. His widow survives and resides with her son, George, in Tiverton. The Church family are largely identified with the business interests of Rhode Island as the active partners in the firm of Joseph Church & Co., manufacturers of menhaden oil, guano and fertilizers. The menhaden is a fish found in abundance in Atlantic waters, the commercial value of which can hardly be overestimated. They are conceded to be the most abundant species of fish on the eastern coast of the United States. The rapid increase in size and fatness as soon as thej' approacli our shores indicates an abundant supply of food. The oil manu- (J.^.^-^i/L HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 945 facturers report that in the spring- ;i bariel of fish often yields less than three quarts of oil, while later in the fall it is not un- common to obtain five or six gallons. The commercial import- ance of this fish has but lately come into appreciation. Twenty- five years ago it was thought to be of small value, but since that time its uses have been manifold. As a bait fish it excels all others. As a food resource it is found to have great possi- bilities. As a source of oil the menhaden is of more import- ance than any other marine animal, while the refuse of the oil factories supplies a material of much value as a fertilizer. It is estimated that its absence from our waters would probably re- duce all our other sea fisheries to at least one-fourth their pres- ent value. The house of Joseph Church & Co., established in 1870, em- braced as partners Joseph Church, Daniel T. Church, Isaac L. Church, Joseph Church, Jr., Nathaniel B. Church, James B. Church and Jol) Hathaway. A factory was purchased at Bris- tol, Maine, and devoted to the manufacture of menhaden oil and guano, the daily capacity being about eight hundred bar- rels. The supply of fish on the coast of Maine having materi- ally decreased, it was deemed advisable in 1878 to change the location, and the factory in Portsmouth, built by Thomas L. Robinson, w^as purchased. As the business increased, the di- mensions were proportionally enlarged and the factory remod- eled to afford greater convenience. It has now a cai)acity of four thousand barrels of fish per day, which is converted into oil and guano. Two hundred and twenty-five men are employed in the various departments of labor, and seven fishing boats are in ojjeration during the season. These are steamers, and to James B. Church may be given the credit of first applying steam in fishing for menhaden, and thus revolutionizing the business by rendering it possible to explore remote waters. The home market for the product of this factory is found in New York, Boston and New Bedford, though much of it sup; plies a foreign demand. A large part of the business of the Messrs. Church consists of the catching of lish as an article of food. A million and a half pounds are annually caught and distributed in New York, Philadelphia and adjacent markets. Samuel Wkst, A. M., M. D.,*for many years a distinguished physician, was born in Tiverton August 9th, 1806, and died * By George W. Briggs, D. D. 946 HISTOKY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. January 7th, 1S79. He had an ancestry which should not be forgotten. One grandfather was Samuel West, D. U., of New Bedfoid, who was one of the most prominent ministers of his day. Not only was he an honored and most effective preacher, but his councils were sought in respect to great public inter- ests. He was a member of the convention for the adoption of the constitution and its sturdy advocate. Replying to those who argued against it, he said that it .seemed to be taken for granted that the federal government was going to be put into the hands of crafty knaves. "I wish," he said, "that tlie gentlemen who have started so many 2yossiMe objections would trj"- to show us that what they so much deprecate is j^robable. Because power may be abused, shall we sink into anarchy '. May we not ra- tionally suppose that the persons we shall choose to administer the government will be, in general, good men?" His father, Samuel West, M. D., was for many years, per- haps, the most widely known physician in the whole region round about him in Rhode Ishind and the neighboring towns in Massachusetts: His son, the subject of this sketch, truly said of him, "Possessed by nature of a strong mind, rendered vigorous by cultivation, he entered upon the study of physic when it was in its comparative infancy. Yet by his own indus- try and observation, he was enabled to keep uj) with the times, and frequently to come to conclusions, if not anterior to, at least in company with tho.se who enjoyed the advantages of the schools and the hospitals." He had a very large practice, and no physician was more frequentlj- called in consultation by his brethren in the profession in all critical cases, and none was more honored or relied upon by the community at large. His grandfather on his mother's side was Doctor William Whitridge, who was also a widely known physician, and a man of marked ability. He was the father of three sons who were all successful practitioners, one in New Bedford, one in Balti- more, the other in Charleston, S. C, and also of that successful andg reatly respected merchant, Thomas Whitridge, of Balti- more. Doctor Whitridge was a lover of literature as well as of medicine. He was interested in theological works, and was so anxious to read the Scriptures in the original, that, with the assistance of Rev. Doctor West, he studied Hebrew after he was fifty years old. Coming from such a lineage as this, Samuel West the third, /^/yrut 2^, niSTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 947 whose portrait is in this vohiiue, Imd a rich legac}- of mental power. He was faithful to tliat inheritance. He graduated with high ranl\, the sec-ond srliolar in the class of 1827, at Brown University. Among his classmates were Hon. Lafayette S. Fos- ter, for twelve years a senator of the United States from Con- nectici;!, and Bishop M. A. De Wolfe Howe, of the central diocese of Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the Harvard Medical School in 1831, and began practice in New Bedford. But just as a successful career was opening before him there the death of his father, who had a large farm as well as a wide practice, made it imperative upon him to return to Tiverton. There the community at once transferred to him, and his own attainments commanded, the same confidence in him as a phy- sician and resi^ect fur him as a man which had long been award- ed to his father. A laborious practice, extending over a wide range of countr3% left him little opportunity for large study of books. But, like his father, he was a careful, shrewd and con- scientious observer, and in long rides by day and night he had constant opportunities for a true study of the cases under his care, for following out the trains of thought they might suggest, and finding what might be quite as valuable in his profession as the lore of books. Though living apart from the centers of medical instruction, his own thought kept him abreast of his time. His mind was very active in whatever direction he pur- sued his inquiries, and marked by a sturdy independence of thought. He had a deep interest in the public welfare. He was an ardent advocate of temperance, and though he had no children, was a steadfast friend of the public schools. He was loyal in his friendships, and welcomed the companions of youth or manhood with heartj^ good will. He was a lover as well as an observer of nature, inheriting his father's interest in agri- culture, and took great delight in the management of a large farm. Even the labor itself upon it seemed to be a joy. Never physically strong, for many years he did the twofold work of a physician and a farmer, eminently successful in both, as he would have been in any pursuit in life, until his health greatly failed. Late in life he married a daughter of Hon. Judge Durfee, chief justice of the supreme court of Rhode Island, and sister of its jiresent chief justice, and built a liouse upon a rising ground that gave him a view of a portion of Narragansett bay and of the beautiful Rhode Island 60 948 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. shore. There he lived in lii.s latest years, looking out every day upon the fair prospect always before his eyes, enjoying the fruits of former labors, practising occasionally among lifelong friends, or when called in consultations, until an accident, fol- lowed by brief days of keen suffering, brought his useful and honored life to a close. The name of Samuel West was made honorable by his grandfather's life and service. Though he followed a different calling, his father kept it equally bright. And the subject of this memoir, the last that bore it, left it without a stain. Any account of the West family which did not; mention Miss Hannah Howland West would be very incomplete. She was the daughter of the Rev. Samuel West, D. D., was born in New Bedford in 1779, and went witli lier father to Tiverton in 1803. She made her home with her brother. Dr. Samuel \Vest and his family until her death in 1847. She was educated chiefly by her father and inherited much of his gift as a teacher. After his death she taught in various places for more than thirtj' years. Her instruction was sought by teachers, especially in grammar, and many of her pupils, including men distinguished in business and professional life and in (;ongress have asserted that she was the best teacher they ever had. From her mother she inherited a frail constitution, and she conscientiously re- frained from matrimony, being unwilling to transmit a like in- heritance to posterity. She refused many desirable offers of marriage by men attracted by her rare gifts. Her social quali- ties were pre-eminent. Many persons are still to be met who gratefully refer to the benefit they received from her instructions and delightful social intercourse. Mrs. Joseph Willard wrote of her in an obituarj^ notice pub- lished in the Christian Register: " In the hearts of her friends she must always live, for her intellectual and moral qualities were such as to perpetuate her memory. None who had ever known her could forget her energy, her love of the right and detestation of the wrong, her candor and truthfulness, her steadfast devotion to her friends, her disinterested affection to those more nearly allied. Her acquirements were much beyond the age in which she was educated, and her desire for improve- ment constantly induced progress. She was i^ossessed of an uncommon share of rich and conversational talent, which, con- sidering the comparatively retired life she had always lived, was -^A^^^-^^c HISTORY 01' NEWPORT COUNTY. 949 remarkable. The fund of wit ;iiid humor which rendered lier conversation so attractive and winch she ordinarily used to il- lumine her quaint style of discourse, was capable of being con- verted into a powerful weapon of rebuke for tiie unwortliy; yet no one but the wrong-doer ever iiad reason to shiiidv from it. Her wit was tempered by principle and softened by ciiarity, and as justice formed the basis of lier cluiracter she was ever found the advocate of trutli and duty." Another friend wrote of her: " Tliy ready wit, original and rare, Made old and young its happy influence share, None could forget thee, that decided tone Belonged to thee, and unto thee alone. And words of thine, as with a magic art. Fell on the ear and fixed upon the heart." Joshua C. Durfee. — The family of which Mr. Durfee is a I'epresentative is one of the oldest now in Newport county. Their ancestor was Thomas Durfee, who came from England to Rhode Island in 1660. The line of descent is as follows: Thomas', Thomas', Job', Job', George', Joshua C". Job'in 1736-7 bought of Joseph Cook the nineteenth lot or share of the Pocasset pur- chase on Stafford road, and lived there until his death, in 1774. He was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1731. Joshua C. now owns one-third of this original nineteenth lot. George Durfee' was one of six children whose mother, wid- owed early, fought with poverty harder battles than her de- scendants have been called to face. He was married to Sarah, daughter of John Coggeshall. Their family of ten children were: Dwelley, Job, Gideon, Marj^, Joshua C, Eliza, Lucy, Peter, David and Delaney, each of whom had issue. He ac- quired an estate and owned seven hundred acres in Tiverton at his death. The homestead is the present residence of David, known as David Durfee, 3d, on the Stafford road, where the subject of this sketch, the oldest survivor of iiis generation, was born on tlie 11th day of October, 1807. His early days were passed on his father's farm, where he remained until "of age,"' and from which, in the primitive schools of that day he was given the rudiments of an education. In early life he worked in a mill. B}' hard work and economy he obtained a little capital wiiich 950 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. he invested in shares in a whale business, investing in several different ships. For ten years he worked in various mills and kept an investment in whale ships for twenty years from the time he was twenty-one years of age. He then began investing in mill stocks, buying shares to hold, believing it, as he still does, a safe investment for surjilus. Now, in his declining years, he lives in the retirement of his farm in Tiverton, where he owns one hundred and fifty acres. Politically Mr. Durfee, with his ancestors, was a democrat until the "Dorr War."' Since then he has voted with the whig or the republican party. He has ever had a principle to vote, though never trying for office. He has held the office of as- sessor. He was married in 1832 to Patience Brayton. Sarah C, the eldest of their three children, was born February 25th, 1834, and married William T. Robinson. They have one son, Wil- liam G. Robinson, born in 1856, and married June 14th, 1882, to Hattie Manchester. They have two children, Ethel Trafford, and an infant son, Carleton Durfee Robinson. Ellen C. Dur- fee, second child of Joshua C, was born August 15th, 1836, was married to Nelson C. Borden, June 25tli, 1857, and died March 28th, 1870. Mr. Durfee's only son, Joshua Thomas Durfee, lately the trial justice for Tiverton, was born August 10th, 1841. His wife, Amanda M., is a daughter of John and granddaughter of Stephen Crandall. They have two sons. The life of Mr. Durfee strikingly illustrates the working out of a great principle, namely, that strict attention to busi- ness, accompanied by industrious habits, thorough integrity and a true ai^preciation of the smaller matters of life, will give its results — just what it has given in his case — financial success. Christopher Brownell, the son of Josiah Brownell, a prominent ship builder, and his wife, Deborah Howland, was born March 10th, 1798, in Westport, Massachusetts, and died on the 2d of November, 1885, in Tiverton. His education was such as the early schools afforded. Bred to industrious pur- suits in his youth, he began active life as the manager of a grist and saw mill at Adamsville. He then removed to the farm of Stephen Crandall, which land he cultivated for seven years on shares, but desiring more independence and a larger field than was possible under these circumstances, he purchased the fine property, now the home of his widow, and there remained ^^4^/^66)//^^^^^^^^-^^^ V%T^>-\*(»V^ %.. 4\t*,^'\V.Q'\^ X V*.Att"\',^^t>-^^-^ ^ Vl^dA-iVt^ \. %W HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 955 1853, married to Lydia A., daughter of Edward Gray, of that township. Their children are : Lydia C, deceased; Jane II., Macie D., deceased, wife of Henry G. Douglas; Job, deceased, and James G. After his marriage Mr. Wordell was, for live j'ears, the keeper of the Tiverton town asylum, and at the expiration of that period purchased the farm on which he at present resides. Here he has since been engaged in the growing of the ordinary cereals. A democrat in politics, he has held most of tlie town ofiices, and has been for several years a mem- ber of the town council, as also agent for the town asylum. He is a director of the Tiverton and Little Compton Mutual Insur- ance Company, and its treasurer and agent for Tiverton. He is frequently called upon to act as administrator and executor, when his services are higiily esteemed. Mr. Wordell gave an unqualified sujiport and sympathy to the government during the late war, and was i"eady with means and influence to aid the cause. In religion his support is extended to the Congrega- tional church, though in early life he was trained under the inflnence of the Unitarian church. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. The following paragraphs, numbered from 1 to 99, and the personal paragraphs in Chapter XXL, numbered 100 to 172, are referred to in the history of the towns of Tiverton and Little Compton by the corresponding numbers in jiarentheses. Where a reference from one of these paragraphs to another would elu- cidate the text or avoid repetition, the same method of referring has been employed. In giving lines of descent, the usual plan of genealogical outline has been followed. Thus, John Jones', Caleb', William\ Nathaniel', 1622-1690, would indicate John as the son of Caleb and the grandson of William and the great- grandson of Nathaniel Jones, who was born in 1022 and died in 1690. 1.— Alexander was the oldest son of Massasoit, and at his death became sachem of the Wampanoags in 1662. He was clandestinely taken before the court of Plymouth the same year, and imprisoned in a Boston jail, where he contracted a sickness of which he died after liis release. His people believed he was poisoned, and this belief intensified the animus of tiie Philip war. His Indian name was Wamsutta. His wife was Wetamoo (93), a sister of the Seconnet queen (105). 956 HISTOUT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 2. — Frederick Almy, who died in 1877, was a son of Otis Almy, and had been thirty-two years deacon of the Congregational church of Tiverton. He left two daughters: Harriet S., now Mrs. Gideon F. Gray (38), and Annie E. His widow, now Mrs. Charles Wilcox, is Melissa B., sister of David W. Sim- mons (85). 3.— William R. Almy\ born 1835; William', born 1796; Judge Holder\ born 1764; Joseph', William^, William'. This family is of English descent. William' owned a very large tract of land here, a- part of which is now occupied by Mr. Almy. The sixth generation in this line includes Mrs. John L. Burroughs, Mrs. W. K. Adams, Benjamin, Mrs. George A. King, Holder, Phicbe, William R., Sarah M. (4) and Julia A. Holder Almy' commanded the United States transiDort "Guide" in the civil war. 4. --Captain George W. Baker was born at West Harwich, and married Sarah M. Almy (3). He was in the merchant coast- wise service from Norfolk, Ya., and in the United States navy about seven years, attached to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron under Farragut. He was injured in the navy in 1863, and discharged in 1868. The log of the United States brig "Bohio," in the bureau of navigation at Washington, shows that Captain Baker was commanding officer of that vessel un- til his removal to the Pensacola Hospital, in August, 1864. 5. — Benjamin Barker', born 1822; Abraham", 1786; Benja- min', Prince', 1716; Isaac', 1660; Isaac", Francis', who was in Pembroke, Mass., as early as 1628. In February, 1745, an Abraham Barker of another family was married to Susanna Anthony. Their dauglirer, Ann Barker, subsequently became the wife of Benjamin Barker', the grandfather of the present Benjamin Barker', of Tiverton, wlio now owns and lives on the Wanton farm. His wife is Catherine J. Dennis. Their children are: Richard J., Benjamin, Jr., a graduate of Brown Uni- versity, and Catherine W. Mrs. Barker is the first lady in Rhode Island ever elected to a public office in open town meet- ing. She, with Mrs. Moses T. Lawton and Miss Ann E. Brown, being elected school committee in April, 1871. 6. — Richard J. Barker, born in 1849, is the oldest son of Ben- jamin Barker (5). His wife, Eliza Harris, is a sister of George R. Lawton (59). They have one son, Richard J., Jr. HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 957 7.— Samuel Bateman was born at East Greenwich in 1821, and came to Tiverton about thirty years ago. His deceased wife was a sister of Charles Cook (18). His i^resent wife was a Miss Beatty, of Scituate. Mr. Bateman is engaged in farming. He has been assessor for some time, and is still serving in that capacity. 8. — Benjamin C. Borden", born in 1825 (Richard', Benjamin', Joseph', Samuel", Richard'), married Mary D. Pierce (138). They have two sons, Abel P. and Prank E. Mrs. Borden's former husband was Asa P. Tabor, Jr. They had one daughter, Lizzie D. Mr. Borden is a farmer and surveyor. Richard' died in 1731. 9. — Thomas Hicks Borden, deceased, was a son of John and a grandson of John Borden, of Portsmouth. His widow is Lucy, a sister of Judge Thomas Durfee, of Providence. Mr. Thomas Borden died in 1876, leaving four children: John, Ada M. (now Mrs. Heermann), William H. and Judith A. Borden. 10. — S. Gillman Bowen, born in 1856. son of Rev. Charles J. and grandson of Henry C. Bowen, who was many years lieu- tenant-governor of Rhode Island, came here sixteen years ago with Charles A. Durfee, in the coal business at Bridgeport. In 1882 he opened the coal yard, and in 1884 the lumber yard, since which time he has had the only coal and lumber business here, at Bowen's wharf. 11. ^Preserved Brayton, born in 1840, farmer and teamster, is a son of Preserved and grandson of Balston Brayton. His wife, Lydia B., is a granddaughter of Thomas and daughter of Wil- liam Almy, whose wife was Delaney, daughter of George Dur- fee' (26). Mr. Brayton has two daughters : Elnora S. and Mary A. 12.— William J. Brightman was born at Fall River, and in 1865 became a resident of Tiverton. He was engaged in the scupp and menhaden fisheries for over twenty years, but is best known by his business relations as head of the firm of William J. 15riglitman& Co., in the production of lish oil and fertilizers. This firm was organized in 1874 by Mr. Brightman and Albert Gray. Subsequently Isaac Brown and Captain Nickerson (72) came into the firm as partners, and in 1885 Mr. Gray retired. Two years ago the firm secured a location at Swansea, Mass.) where the scrap from their factory at Tiverton is converted into the four grades of fertilizers, now well known in the mar- 958 HISTORY OF Newport countt. kets as " Brlghtman & Go's Standard Fertilizers." Tlie Swan- sea works employ ten men. The sales of tlie first six months of 1887 amounted to $2O,O0O. Mr. Brightman's residence at Tiverton is shown in the accompanying plate, as it is seen from the stone bridge looking northeast. The dock with the tish market and the sail-boat business is managed by Mr. Bright- man's son. 13. — The Brown family of Tiverton trace their descent from Peter Brown', one of the sailors on the " Mayflower" of 1620. Skidsey Brown' came to Rhode Island about 1655. Tobias' was a large land owner in Middletown, Little Compton, and Tiver- ton, and had a family of seven: John, Aln-aham, William, Nicholas, Robert, Sarah and Alice. To William he willed, on April 1st, 1734, his farm in Middletown; to John and Abraham he gave his farm in Tiverton, and to Nicholas and Robert he gave his Little Compton property. He died in the summer of 1734. Abraham*, born 1709, died 1746, married Sarah, daughter of AVilliam Cory. They had five children : Abraham, Abagail, Sarah, Rebecca and Patience. Abra- ham', born 1735, died 1799, married Abagail Wilbunr, daughter of Charles Wilboui'* (168), and had ten children: Isaac, Benjamin, Abraham, Abagail, Mary, Sarah, William, Pardon, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth. The first of the five girls in this generation became the wife of Adoniram Judson, whose son, Adoniram, was the illustrious missionary to India. Isaac" married Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah Cook and Constant Russell. Their five children were: Abagail, Mary, Adoniram, Betsey and Abraham. Adoniram' had eleven children. Seven are living, some of whom occupy a part of the original Brown farm (69). 14. — George W. Carr,* born in 1836 (son of Rodman, grand- son of John and great-grandson of William), married Sarah, a sister of Benjamin T. Hart (44). Mr. Carr's farm is one of the best improved farms on theCrandall road north of Adamsville. He has two sons: Edwin R. and Wilfred. William Carr was a resident of Little Compton. 15. — Giles M. Chase was born in Portsmouth, where his father, Hon. Abner Chase, and grandfather, Holder Chase, lived. Holder Chase was descended from Nathan," Benjamin," Wil- liam" and William;' the last being the original William Chase, in New England. One Benjamin Chase and Abner Chase, bach- h. U o z w Q u HISTORY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 959 elors, were early owners of a large tract in Tiverton, 150 acres of which descended to Abner Chase, and to Giles M., who now owns it. Giles M. married John Hanibly's daughter, Elizabeth, who died, leaving four daughters: Amanda H., Deborah, Peace Elizabeth, Fannie S. (now Mrs. "William H. Manchester), and one son, Squire M. Chase. 16.— John T. Cook," 1831; Samuel,' 1799-1856; Walter Cook,' 1768-1855; Walter," Thomas,Moseph,' John,' Thomas,' Thomas." Thomas' came from England in 1630 and settled in Taunton, Mass., where he was an original proprietor. Walter" was town clerk during the revolution and had two sons, George and Wil- liam, in the army. He was justice of the peace and a judge of the superior court. Hon. James F. Simmons was one of his grandsons, and Frederick R. Brownell, town clerk of Little Compton, a great-grandson. The old judge died in Tiverton, where John T. Cook now lives. Walter' and SamueP were mar- ketmen and farmers. Samuel taught school twenty-five win- ters. John T. was his 'father's pupil seven winters prior to 1843, and in 1851 graduated from the Massachusetts State Nor- mal School at Bridgewater. He has taught more than fifty terms. In 1883 he was elected town clerk and has held the office ever since. He was married in 1855 to Deborah, daugh- ter of Edward Gray. She died of fever the following Decem- ber. Two years later he married Sarah E. Terry, of Fall River. Their oldest daughter has taught nine years in the public schools of Tiverton and Little Compton. They have two sons living: Albion Church and Hubert Bates. 17._Thomas C. Collins, captain of the "City of Fall River," a freight boat of the Old Colony Line, is himself a native of Fall River, but has resided in Tiverton for the last thirty years. The captain's wife was Mary Baker. 18.— Charles Cook', 1815;' John", William', Walter*. Walter was a descendant of Thomas Cook' who came to New England early and raised three sons', one of whom settled in Tiverton and became the grandfather of Walter', who was thirty years known as Judge Cook, diaries' married Abagail B., a sister of Georgp W. Hambly (51). Tlieir children are: Abbie A. (Mrs. George W. Corey) and John Charles. Mr. Cook for twenty- five years owned and operated four or five boats in the men- haden bnsiness. Later he built the oil works north of White's wharf on Pierce's shore. He now owns a fishing steamer in the 960 HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. pursing and trapping business. His grandfather was a pen- sioner of the revolution. 19. —Pardon Cory, born in 1820, is a son of Job Cory, whose father, William, was an early settler here. Among the earlier residents are found the names of Pardon, Abner and Philip Corey, through whom the present Pardon Cory traces his an- cestry. His wife, Abbie, is a daughter of Robert Gray (34). Their children are: Mrs. Henry Durfee and George W. In early life Mr. Cory was a fisherman, but has since followed the trade of carpenter and has built a large number of boats. 20. — Samuel Corey, born in 1816, is a son of Benjamin and a grandson of Samuel Corey, the ancestor of Mrs. Job Sowle, of Portsmouth. He married Mar}' D. Trii)[) of Westport. Tlieir children are: Elizabeth, Thomas, Samuel R., Annie, Howard, T. , George H. and Emma. His farm near South Watuppa pond was owned by the Shermans before the revolution. 21. — A. Frank Cottrell, son of Abram Cottrell, married Calista Church, only daughter of the late Joseph Church. He has charge of the boarding hall at the " Narragansett Works" for the Joseph Church Company. 22. — Edward M. Dennis is a son of Holder and grandson of John Dennis. He began iishing at the age of 17, and has been engaged in purse and trap fishing since until within three years. He was interested in an oil factory in Maine, was two years mate with Captain Albert Gray, and at one time captain of the "Leonard Brightman," a steamer engaged in the menhaden business. His wife is a daughter of Abner C. King. His son-in- law, William O. Snell, is in business in Little Compton; his daughter, Betsey, is a young lady at home. 23. — Amenzer J. Durfee is a son of Dwelley" and grandson of George' (26). His mother, now living, was Nancy Tompkins, who is a i^ensioner of 1812. This family name is a moderniza- tion of the old "D'Urfey," as found in Pope's Dunciad, III, 147. 24.— Charles A. Durfee', born in 1833, is a son of Charles' (64). His wife is Amanda V., daughter of David Durfee 2d. They have two sons, Allison and David. Mr. Durfee was engaged in the lumber (10) and coal trade here for two or three years. He is now a carpenter and farmer. 25. — Daniel C. Durfee, brother of Joseph D. (29), was born in 1833. He married Laura R., daughter of Gideon G. Durfee. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 961 Their children are: Levi C, Job, Wanton H., Charles Elmer and Laura. He was whaling one voyage of over I'orty-four months in the "General Scott" from Fair Haven. 26.— David Durfee Hd", born in ISlf) (George', Job', Job', Thomas', Thomas') married Eleanor T., daughter of Tiiomas Brayton. They have five children : Marietta B., Ferdinand, Harriet L., George T. and Sarah E. Mr. Durfee now hold.s the office of assessor, which he has repeatedly filled, and has been member of the town council several years. 27. — Edgar J. Durfee, farmer and teamster, is the only rep- resentative in Tiverton of the family of his father, David A., who was a son of Thomas Duifee. 28.— Gideon H. Durfee', born in 1809 (Joseph', David', Wil- liam'), married first Maria M. Seabury, who died at the age of nineteen. His present wife is Emeline D. Seabury. Mr. Dur- fee was elected member of assembly by the democratic party, and was the youngest member of the house. He was for several years senator, and always a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Durfee celebrated their golden wedding September 17th, 1887. Their living children are : Mrs. Richmond (147), Pheba S., Ruth, Henry and Gertrude. 29. — Joseph D. Durfee', son of Job", and grandson of George' (26), went whaling at seventeen years of age, and has been on si.x long voyages. He was on the bark "Edward Everett" which was lost five days out of New Bedford. His last voyage was on the bark "Peru." His family consists of his wife and two children: Ruth W. and Andrew Jackson. 30.— Richard Borden Durfee was born at Tiverton in 1791, and died in 1869. His wife was Charlotte Hooper from Maine. They had three sons and one daughter, Abbie D., now Mrs. Charles E. Manchester. Mr. Manchester began business as a blacksmith at Tiverton Four Corners in 1871. They have two children: Clarence and Lottie. Their home is the old Davenport place. 31.— George W. Fish', farmer and trader, George W', 1800- 1874, William', William Fish'. David and Zewil Fish were of the early generations of this family. George W.' was born in 1828, and has been constable and deputy sheriff here. 32.— A family of prominence in Tiverton sprang from Captain Samuel Gardner, who married Catherine Borden, a grand- daughter of Samuel Boiden"', Richard'. Their home and the 962 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COdNTY. present farm of Benjamin C. Borden were included in flie fif- teenth great lot of the Pocasset purchase. Of Captain Gard- ner's three boys, Joseph married Eliza Borden^ daughter of Benjamin' (8). One of the captain's five girls was the wife of Judge Osborn, and another was Mrs. J. Russell Hicks. The children of Joseph Gardner are Henry B., John M. and Ange- line. Henry B. married Ann Eliza, daughter of Thomas Os- born, Judge Osborn' s brother. They have two children: Abbie E., widow of Isaac T. Haddock, and Emma B., now Mrs. Herbert Chapin. John M. Gardner and his sister Angeline reside at tlie homestead, which is shown in the accompanying plate. This was the home of the Bordens of the first and second generations, and came to the Gardners through the two intermarriages above noticed. The family name is represented by but one other of Captain Gardner's descendants, William H. Gardner, of Cali- fornia, if he be living. 33. — Captain Albert Gray, a son of William Gray and his wife, who was a daughter of Benjamin Howland (55), was born in 1823. The father, William, was captured by pirates near Cuba, died in Algora hospital and was buried in Africa. Albert is the only survivor of six sons, five of whom were seamen at one time. He was whaling, purse and trap fishing several years, and in California 1849-50. His wife is Soi^hia Whalon and their daughters are Sarah F. and Mabel H. 34. — Captain George Gray, born in 1824, is a son of Robert Gray. He began whaling at 18 years of age, and has made eight or ten voyages ; from Bristol one, Westport one, and the others from New Bedford. On the last three voyages he was captain of the barks "Mars," "Arctic" and "Rain- bow." At home he was for three years in the town council and has been assessor since 1884. He was in California in 1849 and 1850. 35. — Hon. George W. Gray, the present democratic represent- ative from Tiverton, is the sou of Captain George Wanton Gray, a brother of Albert Gray (33). He began fishing at 19 years of age and continued until 1876. Since then he has been con- nected with the Church Brothers' business in another capacity. He was a candidate for the senate before his election to the house. 36. — Gideon Gray, born in 1812, is a son of John Gray and grandson of Colonel Pardon Gray, who once lived on the place Q u < 5 u GO UJ O w z Q < o u z I -5 U. u o z u Q 55 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 963 where his father, Pardon Gray, lived, north of Tiverton Four Corners, since known as the Wing place, ^fr. Gray has worked fifty years at carpentering. His wife was Fanny, daughter of Abel Hart. Their family consists of one son, John A., and a daughter, Abbie E., now Mrs. Edward T. Aliny" (Warren W.*, George', Scarford', John', Job'). This Gray family usually refer to Colonel Pardon Gray as their ancestor. An old manuscript book in the town clerk's office notes a son, Pardon, born April 20, 1737, to Philip Gray and his wife Sarah. This Pardon had twelve children. The boys were : Job, Edward, Philii^, born February 2d, 1766; Pardon, born October 11th, 1767; John, born May 20th, 1772; and Thomas. 37. — Otis A. Gray, brother of George (34), was born here in 1823. His home is the homestead which his father bought of Benjamin Cook. He is one of the ten children of Robert Gray. His youngest brother was taken down by a whale in the At- lantic and lost. Captain Otis has made thi'ee or four voyages whaling. His wife is a daughter of Edward Gray and grand- daughter of Deacon Philip Gray. 38. — Philip Gray, brother of Gideon (36), was born in 1815. His wife, Celia, is a daughter of James and a granddaughter of David Lake, a pensioner of 1812. Mr. Gray was the youngest of ten children, and when their father, who owned the place on the Lake road where Philip now lives, became involved, Philip bought it. One part of this house is very old. The second story was used for a school house in this neighborhood before the public school system was inaugurated. Mr. Gray's children are: Abbie, wife of Isaiah Grinnell; Gideon F., Philip J., Mrs. B. F. Macomber and Mrs. Albert H. Hambly. 39.— William Gray', born in 1817 and died in 1881 (William*, 1781-1850; William", William', William'), a farmer, lived and died on the old homestead farm. This house was partly built; by William*. The widow, now living, is Jerusha C, daughter of Clark Woodman, of Little Compton, and granddaughter of Pardon Gray (36). The cemeteries of the William Gray family contain the following inscriptions : " William Gray, died 1813, aged 67." "Isaac Gray, died 1818, aged 35." " Peace, wife of William Gray, died 1791, aged 36." " Priscilla, widow of William Gray, died 1835, aged 74." 40.— Albert C. Green, farmer and l)reeder of line horses, was born at Woonsocket Falls in 1825, and became a resident of 01 964 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Tiverton in 1876. He owns the Daniel Dwellej^farm. He raised "Jay Gould," and after making $40,000 on him, sold him for $30,000. "General Green," "Willimantic Star," "Green Girl," " Lady Rogers," "TenBroeck," "King Philip" and "Judge Brigham, jr." are among the speed horses bred by him. 41. — Philip S. Grinnell, a son of Philip Grinnell, who died on a whale ship off Cape Horn while mate with his brother, Captain Stephen Grinnell, was born in 1831, and began tishing with Benjamin Tallman in 1845. Tliis date we believe is the earliest for any man now engaged in the business. He fished with Captain Gray (33) ten years, when he became captain of a "gang." He now runs the menhaden steamer " Seaconnett," with his son, Walter P. Grinnell, who is captain of one "gang." Mrs. Grinnell is a Canadian by birth. Their only daughter is Masey. 42. — Captain Eli. A. Hammond was born in 18.'54 in West jjort, Mass. His father was William S. Hammond, with whom he began sword fishing and harpooning at IG years of age. He married Marietta C, daughter of William Gray (39). He be- came captain of a vessel at 18 years of age, and owned the schooner "North Star," when he was instantly killed in 1887 by a fall from the mast to the deck of his vessel. 43.— Captain Allen Hart', farmer, born in 1809, is descended from John', Constant', Stephen', Richard'. At 16 years of age he went whaling, and for about twenty-eight years he followed the sea, being captain on two of the whaling voyages. His wife, Innocent Albert, died in 1885, leaving four children : Louisa P., Harriet A., John A. and Henry C. Captain Hart has served in the town council several years and was four years in the general assembly. 44. — Benjamin T. Hart", farmer and stone mason, born in 1829 (Josei)h', Lewis*, Constant", Stephen', Richard'), married Al- media Williston. Their children, the 7th generation, are: Isaac A., Etta L., Lizzie B., Frederick C. and Charles E. Mr. Hart was five or six years engaged in the porgie and scupp fishery. Joseph" was on a whaler several years as mate, and was considered a good navigator. 45. — Horatio N. Hart', born in 1839, is a son of Reuben Hart', who was a brother of Allen Hart (43). Horatio's wife is Sarah R., a daughter of William M. Mauley, and granddaughter of HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 965 William Manley, who was a son of Captain John Manley, an Englishman, who settled in Little Compton early. Mr. Hart's farm contains the grave of, and was once owned by, Peleg Sim- mons (84). 46. — Jotham S. Hart', farmer, born in 1820, is descended from AbeP, Constant', Stephen", Richard'. His wife is Eliza A. Brown. They have one son, William". Richard', with his brother, Nicholas, came to Massachusetts about 1720. Richard settled at Braintree, where it is probable that Stephen was born. 47. — Albert H. Hambly' (William H', Benjamin', Benjamin', John' (51)) was born in 1846. His wife is Elizabeth D. Gray (H8). They have one child living, Albert R., a young man of seven- teen. 48. — Charles A. Hambly, born in 1840, is the only son in a family of nine children. His father, Charles Hambly, who is now eighty-six years of age, is the youngest and only one living of the thirteen children of Benjamin Hambly" (51). Mrs. Charles A. Hambly was Josephine Coit. They have nine children. Mr. Hambly is engaged in farming on the original home of the Hambly family. He is also extensively engaged in the meat business. He was educated at Prince Academy, Middleborough, Mass., and was a teacher for some time. 49. — Edward B. Hambly, son of John' (51), married Ann A., daughter of Charles Hambly (48). Their daughter, Amanda J., is Mrs. Frank E. Reed. In early life Mr. Hambly learned black- smithing and worked at it for a time. He is at present engaged in farming. 50.— Edwin Hambly', born in 1807 (Benjamin', 1783-1867; Benjamin", John"), was postmaster here fur fifteen years, and kept the office in his residence, opposite the blacksmith shop. In 1830 he began blacksmithing in the shoj) he now occupies. His wife was Eliza C, daughter of Samuel Cory, of Tiverton Four Corners. Their children are: Amanda F. (now Mrs. Isaac L. Church), Samuel C, William P., Edwin F., Daniel W. (of Newtown), Ann E. and Abraham L., bookkeeper for the Jo- seph Church Company, of Tiverton and Portsmouth. 51. —George W. Hambly' (John', 1782-1837; Benjamin", John',) married Adaline P., daughter of Silas Terry, of Fall River. Mr. Hambly has been assessor, and was in the town council two or three vears. 966 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 52. — James OtisHambh'Msa son of Joseph S.* and a grandson of Benjamin' (.50;. For the last ten years Mr. Hambly lias car- ried on an extensive butchering business in connection with his farming. He was assessor one year. Mrs. Hambly is a daugh- ter of Samuel Negus. They have nine children. 53. — Edward W. Hicks', born in 18.38, is a son of John Rus- sell Hicks' (54). His wife' is Abbie R. Barker, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Wing Hicks. Mr. Hicks has worked at house carpentering fourteen j^ears, and since about 1882 has carried on a milk farm in the north part of Tiverton. 54.— Hon. John R. Hicks' (John RusselP, 1806-1883; John^ Samuel') is one of a family of six boys. Samuel lived west of the stone house now owned by Charles R." Jolin° married Lydia AVing. He was a merchant at Newport. John R." married Em- ma, daughter of Captain Samuel Gardner (32). The family have been Friends for several generations. The graves are in the Friends' meeting house yard here. John R.' has been assessor of taxes two years and represented Tiverton in the state legis- lature in 1885-1887. 55. — Fannie M. Farnsworth, daughter of Wanton Howland' (Benjamin', Wanton', Benjamin', DanieP, Zoetlr, Henry') is the widow of "William A. Farnsworth, a Vermont man, who died here in 1876, after a residence of twenty years. His business was whaling and fishing. Their children were: Sarah C, Diana H., Abbie B. and Louisa A. Benjamin Howland" was general of militia in 1812. He was U. S. senator in 1804-1807. His house was political headquarters for many years. 56.— William C. Howland', born in 1815 (Edward C.^ John', Isaac'), is a stone mason. He was a builder at New Bedford fifty years. His house, built about 1765, was used as a dejiot for military supplies during the revolution. 57. — Joseph H. Humphrey, born in 1837, is a son of George W., the youngest son of William Humphrey, who came from Swansea and after the revolution bought the north end of Nan- aquacket. The old house which was the original home of the family is now standing and irsed as a barn. Joseph married Elizabeth Holt, from Massachusetts. They have two children, David D. and Etta. 58. — Peleg D. Humphrey, a younger brother of Joseph D., owns "Humphrey farm" on Nanaquacket. For the four years prior to 1887 he was an influential member of the common council, HISTOUY OF NKWPORT COUNTY. 967 of whicli bod.y lie was president three years, taking his seat as a democrat. His wife is Ida Winsor, formerly a teacher here. Mrs. Humphrey (deceased) was a daughter of Captain Clark Estes, an ex-senator from Tiverton. 59.— George R. Lawton" (Moses T.°, 1817; Captain George', George', Robert", George',) was born in Tiverton in 1858. The family, down to the fourth generation, resided in Portsmouth, where the family name is preserved in the name of the principal valley of that town. For six years Mr. Lawton has been book- keeper at the Durfee mill in Fall River. He is president of tlie town council and the conrt of probate of Tiverton. 60. — Perry G. Lawton' (Obadiah', Job', George") was born in 1826, in Westport, where he read law and acted as jiastice of the jieace and deputy sheriff. After a residence of twenty years in the West, he came to Tiverton eight years ago, where he lias been three years trial justice. In July, 1886, he was appointed bj' Judge Baker as the justice to sign warrants in criminal cases here. He has been justice of the peace in Tiverton since 1881. 61. — Benjamin F. Macomber' (Charles', Ephrainr, Ephraim'), is a merchant in the east of Tiverton. His mother, Desire, is a daughter of Lewis Grinnell. Mr. Macomber served one year in the board of assessors of Tiverton. His store building was erected for a jewelry and repair shop, but from time to time various articles of merchandise were added. 62. — B. Frank Macomber, born in 1830, is of Scotch descent, being a son of Benjamin F. and grandson of Job Macomber (Mac Cumber). His father had about a fourth of an acre im- proved where Mr. Macomber has since developed a clean, neat farm of a half dozen fertile fields. He followed the sea as a whaler twenty years, and was in the merchant service during the civil war. His wife is Sarah A., daughter of Philip Gray (38). 63^.— Hon. Andrew H. Manchester' (John\ 1790—1873; Jolul^ John') was senator three or four years and repre.sentative seven years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Asa Gray, who was town clerk for many years. They have one daughter, Phffibe C, now Mrs. Samuel Cory. Her only child is Andrew M. Cory. 64.— Charles Manchester, born in 1813, son of John Manche.s- ter, married Sarah L. Dnrfee' (Charles', 1793—1849; Thomas', 1759—1829; John"', died 1812; Job", died 1774). Mr. Manchester 968 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. was a whaler eighteen years of his life, and is now farming. His children are Charles D. and Fannie D. 65. — Charles Manchester, a farmer on the Lake road, is a son of Benjamin and grandson of Gardner Manchester. His wife is Hannah, daughter of Abel Grinnell and granddaughter of Stephen, who was lost at sea on a voyage to the West Indies. Their children are: Charles E., Mary G. (Mrs. David Gray), Benjamin F., Abel G., Andrew L. and Ruth D. Mr. Manches- ter was on two whaling voyages, one trip to Europe in the mer- chant marine, and one voyage to New Orleans. He was born in 1823. 66. — Gideon C. Manchester, farmer, is a son of Oliver Man- chester, grandson of Pliilii) and great-grandson of Isaac, who was a son of William Manchester, one of the proprietors of the Puncatest purchase. His wife is Betsej^, daughter of Albert Manchester. Their children are Ida M. and Evelyn J. 67.— John E. Manchester, born in 1840, son of John S. (1795— 1880) and grandson of John, married Rachel G., daughter of William Manley (45). They have two children, Mary J. and John E., Jr. Mr. Manchester is a farmer and has been tax as- sessor. His wife is one of sixteen children, and his father was one of thirteen children. 68.— Philip Manchester, born 1798, died 1844, was the oldest son of Matthew, and grandson of Christopher Manchester, a major in the revolutionary army. His wife, Eliza, who died in 1885, was a daughter of Job Manchester. Their family con- sisted of three daughters: Elizabeth S. (Mrs. Rev. McKenzie), Deborah P. (Mrs. Henry Manchester) and Sarah S. 69. — Edwin Meeson, born in 1815 at Little Compton, is a son of Edward Meeson, who came from England when a boy, and married Phoeba, daughter of John Simmons, of Little Compton. Mr. Meeson is a calico printer by trade. He has lived and op- erated at Fall River. His wife is Maria Gray, of this town. They have raised ten children, two of whom, Alfred and Frank- lin, were in the navy during the civil war and lost their lives. Mr. Meeson's residence is the old Brown homestead, where Adoniram' (13) lived. 70. — Gideon Mosher, born in 1813, is a grandson of Amos Mosher and his wife, Mary Davol. His wife is a daughter of Walter Cornell, who was a son of Thurston and grandson of Anthony Cornell. Mr. Mosher followed the sea from fourteen HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 969 years of age until ten years ago. His son, Andrew J., now whaling, was in the navy during the civil war. Plis daughter, Julia, is Mrs. H. A. Gambleton, of New York. His other child- ren are: Abbott, Warren, Asa and M. Etta, now Mrs. Captain Frank Maconiber. 71. — William H. Negus, stonemason, is a son of Samuel Ne- gus and a grandson of Samuel Negus. He has been engaged for fifteen seasons in the trap and purse fisheries. He was with Captains Albert Gray and Philip S. Grinnell. He was one year captain of a gang of five or six boats before steamers were gen- erally used in the business. 72. — Captain George F. Nickerson was born in Tiverton in 1843. His father, Sylvanus, lived here the later years of his life. Cajitain Nickerson at eighteen years of age began fishing, and has run a steamer for the last fourteen years. Since 1879 he has been a member of the firm of William J. Brightman & Co. His wife, Mary M., is a granddaughter of Knight Springer> who was seven years in the continental army daring the revo- lutionary war. He has four sons. 73. — George M. Orswell, son of Salisbury Orswell, has been engaged, for twenty years prior to 1887, in the scupp and men- haden fisheries. His wife was Diana Macomber. Their daugh- ter is Eunice Orswell. East of their place, on the southwest shore of Sawdy pond, is the old Sawdy house, the oldest build- ing in this part of the town. 74._Daniel Page, born in 1749 and died in 1829, was the last male Indian of the Pocassets. In Barton's expedition to cap- ture General Prescott, he was the man who returned for the general's sword. He lived and died near the home of his fathers, and, save a few aged squaws, he was the last of the Pocassets. 75.— Philip (Metacom or Metacomet) was the second son of Massasoit. He became ruler of the Wampanoags at the death of his brother, Alexander, and followed the destinies of that ill- I'ated X)eople until he was muidered in August, 1676. Tlie best written biography in the English language is Washington Irv- ing's essay on his life and character, under the title of " Philip of Pokoanokat." Benson J. Lo.ssing classes Philip with the "Eminent Americans.'''' 76.— Alexander S. Pierce' (Peleg\ John'. Natlianiel', George', George') was born in Little Compton in 1826. His wife is Ann ^^^, sister of George \V. Hambly (ol). They have three chil- 970 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTy. dren: Sarah P., Edward R. and Emily R. Mr. Piei'ce has been conspicuously interested in the proposed Seconnet railroad for the last three j-ears, and is one of the directors. 77. — Rev. Jared Reid was the pastor of the Congregational church at Tiverton Four Corners at the time of his last sickness. He died in 1854. He was assistant pastor from 1841 to 1851. His widow, Mrs. Nancy S. Reid, is a daughter of Cornelius (deceased) and granddaughter of Philip Seabury. 78. — George Reynolds, born in 1838, became a resident of Tiverton in 1879. He has a fish business at Fall River, and a stock farm on Stafford I'oad, where he has bred several fine horses— "AddieB.," "CallieA.," "Golden Horn," and others. His wife was Caroline A. Davol. Their sons are Charles S. and George L. Mrs. Charles S. Reynolds is Addie Ti'ipp. Mr. Rey- nolds was lieutenant in Company J), 3d Massachusett Volun- teers in the civil war. 79. — Captain William R. Rose, son of Charles and Abbie Rose, was born in 1848. His mother is a daughter of Richard Smith. He began with the Church brothers at fifteen years of age, and at twenty four was a captain with Albert Gray in the trap and i:)urse fisheries. His wife, Mina, is a daughter of Samuel Manchester. Their sons are William R., Jr., and Frank M. Captain Rose is the inventor of one of the most valuable modern features of thescupp trap. 80. — Henry Schlegel, born in 1834, and his brother Andrew, born in 1844, came to Tiverton in 1860 fi-om Hesse Cassel, Ger- many. When they had been here about six years they bought the place where they now live, of William Gilford. These brothers are heads of families. Henry's children are Katie> Maggie and Philip. Andrew's are Lizzie, Jacob, John, Emma, Etta, Alice, Louisa and Mary C. Henry resigned his position as private in the German army to come to America. 81. — Charles F. Seabury, son of Samuel and grandson of Wil- liam, was born in 1815. He married Lydia F., daughter of Charles and granddaughter of Judge Thomas Durfee. Thej' have three children: Samuel 2d, Mary J. and Charles Lincoln. 82. — James A. Shaw, farmer, born in 1862, is a son of David Shaw, who was born in England. He was fishing five seasons with Captain Nickerson. His wife is Ella Ray, of Fall Rivei", Mass. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 971 83.— Richard W. Sherman', born in 1831 (Benjamin', Daniel', Richard"), married Abbie E., sister of Charles A. llanil)]y (48). He was thirteen years fishing with Albert Gray. He has held the office of snrveyor and other local offices. His children are: Benjamin F. and Lena B. 84. — Amasa Simmons', farmer, (Thomas', Peleg', Moses') is one of a family of eigliteen. His father was thrice married, and became the ancestor of a long-lived as well as numerous gene- ration. Amasa went to service at fourteen years of age, and followed the sea for about twenty years, beginning at the age of sixteen. His wife is a daughter of Stephen King. Their daughters, Caroline M. and Ann M., are now Mrs. Simeon R. Hart and Mrs. Andrew J. Williston. The grandchildren are: Charles E. Williston and Amasa A. Williston (45). 85. — David W. Simmons, farmer, is a son of William L. Sim- mons, and a grandson of Ichabod, the revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Stephen C. Hart, who is still living, remembers well the tales of Bunker Hill, as related to her by Ichabod, who was her mother's father. She thinks he was a private, although the family tra- dition places him as an officer. His uncle, Peleg Simmons', was an officer. David W. Simmons' mother is Bathsheba, a daughter of Joel, and granddaughter of John Albert. Mr. S. married Gideon Grinnell's daughter, Grace. They have three sons and five daughters. He once owned half of the Borden mill in Tiverton, and was largely interested in the porgie and oil busi- ' ness for several years. 86.— Otis L. Simmons", born in 1831 (Benjamin', Thomas*, Thomas' (84), married Eliza A., daughter of Joseph Barker. She died in 1875. Her children living are: Eliza J. (Mrs. Wood), Otis B., Joseph Albert and Giles H. Mr. Simmons was thirteen years whaling and six years in California. He owned the Bor- den mill at one time, and is now engaged in farming. 87. — William B. Simmons", a farmer, was born in 1831, and is descended from Ichabod'', Icdiabod', Thomas' (84). Ichabod* en- listed at sixteen in the continental army, and served seven years in the revolution. William B.'s wife, deceased, was Cornelia Grinnell, who left tiiree ciiildren: Frank W., Jennie and Lizzie. Jennie is Mrs. Cyrenus Wilbur. Mr. Simmons' present wife is Nancy Grinnell. His l)usiness was with the fish and oil enter- prise for aliout fifteen years, and for six years he was whaling. 88.— James Slocum, son of Benjamin, and grand.son of 972 iriSTOiiY OF Newport county. Thomas, was born in 1851. Fie was nine seasons with Capt. George F. Nickerson in the purse fishing, and eight seasons in the same business wirli others. He married Estell, a daughter of Elijah Wilcox and his wife, who was a daughter of David Manchester, and a granddaugliter of John Manchester (67). 80. — Thomas A. Slocum, son of Aaron, and grandson of Benjamin, married Enialine, daugliter of James VV. Monroe. Mr. Slocum is a surveyor of highways, was two seasons in the fishing business, and for about seventeen years in the butchei'ing business. 90. — Peleg S. Stafford, son of Pelegand grandson of Stephen, married Abbie A. Borden, daughter of Richard' (8). They liave six cliildren: Sarah I., now Mrs. Daniel Springer; James; Adelaide I., now Mrs. Willis Palmer; Stephen E., George and Sybil P. Mr. Stafford has been a member of the legislature one year, and of the town council two years. 91. — Isaac S. Tripp, merchant, born 1812, is a son of Stephen and grandson of Timothy Tripp. His trade was carpentry. He kept a store for twenty years prior to 1875, which was man- aged largely by his wife. Seventeen years of his life have been spent in the whaling business and mercliant service. He was wlialing captain on one voyage. He built his present store on the Crandall road in 1878. 92.— Robert Tripp\ born in 1812 (AbiaP, Rufus\ Abial"), was married to Hannah C. Peclc of Seelionlv, Mass., in 1834. Their children are: Robert P., Thomas and Phoeba R., now Mrs. James P. Millard of East Providence. Mr. Tripp worked at his trade, carpentry, until he was about fifty years of age. He is now engaged in farming. His farm lies on the south town line near Cold Brook. 93. — Wetamoo, the widow of Alexander (1), was a jirincess of the Pocassets. She had three hundred warriors at the battle of P"casset. She was the daugliter and successor of Corbitant, the sachem who was so implacably opposed to the friendly at- titude of Massasoit toward Governor Winslow. After the death of her husband, Alexander, she married Petananuet, the sachem who declined to aid King Philip in his war, and she therefore separated from him and aided Philip, whose wife was her sister. She was drowned in the river between Tiverton and Mount Hope, August 6th, 1676. 94. — Lysander P. Westgate, farmer and stone mason, born in 1833, is a son of James Westgate, wlio lived in the old tavern HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 973 building north of the Judge Osborn liomestead. Mrs. West- gate is Mary E , daughter of Stephen Crandall', 1806, (Stephen', Eber*, Eber', SamueP, Samuer 1662-1736). They have two daughters : Nancy C. (Mrs. Edward O. Iliggins), and Frances E. (Mrs. Frank H. Suell). Mr. Westgate was seven years commissioner of the town asylum and three years in the town council. 9;"). — Andrew White' was born in 181.11 on the farm where he now resides. When twenty-one years old be went out whaling. From seventeen to twenty he was learning the cooper's trade. While at sea, a period of nine years, he was a cooper, a position equal to second mate. He is one of ten children, four of whom are living. He married Louisa Tripp, of Westport, Mass. Their children are : Charles H., Andrew P. (96), Edgar R. (deceased), and Louisa P. (now Mrs. David Hart). Isaac G. White, brother of Andrew, was born in 1821. 96.— Andrew P. White^ born in 1845, (Andrew* (95), Gideon S.', Peregrine", Christopher") was but twenty years old when he began business in the firm of C. H. White & Brother, at Pitts- ville. He is one of the few who have succeeded as merchants in this town. His wife deceased and his wife living are both sisters of Captain Nickerson (72). Mr. White has one daughter, Cora. He has been postmaster at Tiverton Four Corners since April, 1878. 97.— Henry Frank Wilbour, farmer, born 1862, is a son of Henry' (166). His wife was Saidee A. Robertson, whose home was with the family of the late Christopher Brovvnell. Their children are Benjamin F. and Viola E. 98.— Fernando A. Wilcox was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1840. His home was with Captain Arlington Wilcox. At the age of nineteen Fernando A. began fishing with Captain Charles Cook. Afterward he became a.ssociated with Captain Cook and William Cory in the fish and oil factory at Pierce's wharf, owning a share in the firm. He has for the past ten years been engaged independently in fishing. He married Helen Fairlield. They have two children, Henry and Florence. 99.— Captain Gideon Wilcox is a son of John Wilcox and his wife, Anna, a daughter of Thomas Wilcox. Captain Wilcox went to sea in 1829, whaling, and followed the sea until July, 1848. In 1849 he went to California as captain by appoinlment for completion of a whale voyage on the ship " John Adams " of New Bedford. CHAPTER XX. TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON. By H. W. Blake. First Land Titles. — The Proprietors of Seconnet. — Distribution of the Great Lots. — The Commons. — The Aborigines. — The Body Politic. — Public Char- ity. — Land and Water Routes. — The Revolution. — The Federal Constitu- tion. — The Local Government. — Churches. — Cemeteries. — Adamsville. — Pot- ter's Corners. — Secular Education. — Public Library. — Business Interests. THE history of Little Conipton in its relation to Newport county covers now one hundred and forty years, marked by but few events to distinguish it from the common history of all the rural communities of Rhode Island, but rich in those domestic incidents the records of which are so highly prized. The general historical interest in Little Compton as the scene of stirring events, fraught with far reaching consequences, centers in the four score years which preceded its incorporation as a town of Newport county. In the history of Tiverton the pecu- liar relations which, during that period, were sustained alike by Tiverton and Little Ci)mptou to the pai-ent colonies were noticed, and those troublesome controversies regarding the eastern boundary of these two towns having been fully dis- cussed, we will in this chapter consider more particularly the history of Little Compton in its individual interests as a town and in its more peaceful relations to Plymouth and to Massa- chusetts. Some facts to be recorded here will serve as relevant commentaries ujjou the meager recoi'ds given in the Tiverton chapter of the two great communities to the northward at Pun- catest and Pocasset. The charter of January 13th, 1639, giving William Bradford and his associates proprietary rights and magisterial authority over part of the great territory, then called the property of the council of Plymouth, included in its terms the land now comprised in the town of Little Compton'. The authorities agree generally in fixing the year 1674 as the IIISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 975 date of the first white settlement in the town, or more properly in the wilderness which afterward became the town of Little Conipton. This is no doubt the date when Benjamin Church built a house here, but the thirteen years preceding that are of more than passing interest, and the scanty records of those years still furnish data of great value as illuminating many points in the contemporaneous history of the town with which we have regarded Little Conipton as historically associated. Francis Baylies, in "Memoirs of the Plymouth Colony," says: "A Duxbury company had purchased a part of the Seaconet lands and had commenced a settlement [1656] but the settlers did not exceed five or six and they were seated on insulated tracts. The Seaconet tribe still occupied the long neck known by the name of Seaconet Point." Three years later, according to Arnold, the sachems sold in 1659 a large tract, including Se- connet, to William Pabodie, Josiah Winslow and others. He says a son of Pabodie settled on a part of this purchase, and afterward sold anothei' part to Benjamin Church, who, in 1674, became the first white settler of Little Compton, having moved there by the advice of Samuel Gorton. If, as Baylies says, settlements were made in 1656, we are satisfied they were not within the present bounds of Little Compton. The quotation cited treats the present town, or most of it, at least, as "the long neck," suggesting the probability that the Seconnet lands were thought to embrace more than what is now in the town. To raise tradition to the dignity of history, by research and verification, is a pleasant task, but no comparisons support the tradition that there were settlers here in 1656. In 1661, while the Council of Plymouth, as the successor of the Plymouth Company, had yet jurisdiction over the territory, the authority was vested in the great court of Plymouth. It would appear, by implication, at least, from the Plymouth rec- ords, that there were two classes embraced in the population, and that to the one lands were granted by the other, in recogni- tion of services rendered. A record, the earliest known to re- late especially to Little Compton, bears date June 4th, 1661, and shows that "Libertie is granted unto some who were for- merly servants vvhoe have land due unto them by covenant to Nominate some persons to the Court, or to some of the Magis- trates, to bee deputed in their behalf, to purchase parcell of land for their accommodation att Saconett." Nearly a year 976 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. elapsed before the "Libertie" thus granted was exercised, and it seems to have been thought proper by the court to give some persons an interest in the grant who were not of tlie class called servants; for on the third of June, 1662, "Captain Willitt is ap- pointed by the Court to purchase the lands of the Indians which is granted unto such that were servants, and others that were ancient freemen, which the * * * thinks meet to add to them to have interest in the said graunt ye tenure whereof is extant ^- * * of the Court." Many appai'ent contradictions and manifest discrepancies ex- ist in the scanty records of the iirst laud titles acquired from the Indians, by purchase, in nearly every portion of southeast- ern New England, but in no instance more conspicuously than in the title records to the lands at Seconnet. These incongrui- ties arise, no doubt, very largely from a practice quite foreign to our modern ideas of title deeds. A tract of land bought at one time by the white man would become the subject of a sub- sequent deed from Indians who were strangers to the records in the first instance. Thus a sort of cumulative title was ac- quired by the settlers, and it is a puzzle now, and would doubt- less have perplexed even the purchasers themselves, to liave said when or by whom their lands were actually sold to them. The two entries last quoted indicate the action of the court of Plymouth, but by far the most pertinent evidence of the trans- actions of the early days here is found in tlie records kept by the people themselves, who finally, by one way or another, came to be recognized by red men and white men alike, in law and in equity, as the I'ightf ul owners of the soil. These people took the designation in the courts and in history as the "Pro- prietors of Seconnet." Their transactions were at first simply the acts of owners in common of a great landed property, unim- proved and even unexplored. In 1673 they recorded this: " Forasmuch as the Honored Court of New Plymouth have formerly granted a certain tract of land at or about a place called Seconet unto the Old Servants as may appear upon record. And at a Court held at Plymouth afore- said (viz) the second Session of the General Court held June 1673 did further order that the records of said land shall be as followeth. Whereas there is a tract of land granted to the Old Servants, or such of them as are not supplied, lying at Seconet, the Court doth determine the Bounds thereof to be from the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 977 Bounds of the grant made to Plymoutli in Punkateest and the Bounds of Dartmouth, and so all lands Southwardly, lying be- tween that and the sea." This, as the subsequent events indicate, would approximately bound the tract on the east by that portion of Dartmouth wliich now comprises the town of Westport, Mass., and on the north by the Puncatest tract, now forming the southern tract of Tiv- erton. Thus it is that the town of Little Compton, as now bounded, corresponds more nearly to the territory of an original division than any other town in Rhode Island, with the single exception of New Shoreham. The court of Plymouth also, at the same time, to provide for having the lands allotted and the original rights determined, entered an order that "all persons that have rights to the grant of lands unto them as Old Ser- vants at Seconet, shall make their appearance at Plymouth the 22d of the present July then and there to make out their rights and also to pay such Disbursements as shall necessaiily be re- quired, or else lose their rights." Comformably to the purport of this order, twenty-nine men appeared at Plymouth on the 22d of July, 167.S, and proved their respective shares in the grant of land at Seconnet. Of these, Josiah Winslow, Esq., Mr. Constant Southworth, Daniel Wilco.x, Nicholas Wade, Thomas Williams, William Sherman, William Merrick, Simon Rouse, Peter Collomer, Josiah Cook, Thomas Pope, Ephraira Tinkham, Thomas Pinson and William Shirtlif proved tiiem- selves entitled to rights in the lands. John Washborne, Sr., claimed a share as a freenum. Hugh Cole, John Rouse, Jr., John Rogers, Jr., Martha Dean, Winia™_PaJbodie^ Edward Fobes, John Irish, Jr., Daniel Hay ward, John Richmond, Wal- ter Woodworth and Nathaniel Thomas claimed respectively the rights of James Cole, Sr., Samuel Chandler, Williams Tubbs, Joseph Beedle, Abraham Samson, John Fobes, John Irish, Sr., John Hayward, Sr., John I'rice, ThQ^mas_Simrnons and Nicliolas Preslong. Benjamin Church claimed in the right of Richaid Bishop and Richard Bear; Joseph Church claimed in the right of John Smalley and George Vickory; John Cushen had an in- terest in the right of Ni(!holas Wade. These were the original proprietors of Seconnet, upon whose title, then obtained and subsequently confirmed, depends to-day the title lights of the present owners of the broad farms, the fertile fields and elegant homes of Little Compton. The first 978 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. act of the proj^rietors in their collective capacity as such, was to agree upon William Pabodie, one of their number, as their clerk. At the same time thej" made five I'ules or laws unto them- selves, and with this brief constitution of five sections, they set up a government in a dominion which, by English ideas, they could call their own. Their brief record of this important pentalogue is: I.— Expenses paid according to each proportion. II. — Lands purchased to be for benefit of all proprietors. III. — One share foi' Ministry. . IV. — No person shall have more than two shares. V. — Not to sell without consent of Majority of proprietors. Probably at this time no white man had a home within its bounds. The Church brothers, Benjamin and Joseph, were na- tives of Plymouth, and still resided there where their father, Richard, had died five years before. Duxbury, Marshfield, and the neighboring region, were the homes of the others. Thus the first white owners of this now ancient town are found to have been the descendants of the Pilgrims and the representa- tives of the Puritan ideas of government and religion. It may be of interest to recall, in connection with this circumstance, the fact that at this first meeting they agreed upon three of their number. Constant Sonthworth, William Pabodie and Na- thaniel Thomas, to purchase of the Indians. It had then been forty years since Roger Williams, in the same Plymouth, that scene of much that is best and much that is worst in American colonial history, had been compelled for the sake of public peace to burn a paper he had written, embodying the doctrine that no English grant, not even from the king himself, was valid un- til the natives had been fully recompensed. A single genera- tion, in the average develoi)ment of sympathy for the weak in the hearts of the strong, will hardly show as great a change in the public mind as this action of the proprietors of Seconnet imislies. While many of the broad farms of New England are the spoil of unscrupulous conquests, or the proceeds of bargaining which, save for the mere matter of euphony, might as well be called robbery, the homes on this beautiful jieninsula belong to our race by virtue of a purchase, in which the aboriginal landlords received all that the lands were worth to them, and all they would be worth to-day but for the magic touch of toil which a working race has spent to make the present possible. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 970 The rhree men named concluded tlieir negotiations witli the natives on the 31st of Jnly, 1673, and in consideration of sev- enty-five pounds sterling the Seconnet tribe deeded to them under that date the land "bounded on the west by the sea or sound; on the south side by a white oak tree marked on four sides, standing in a swamp called Tompe, and so by an Easterly and Westerly line from the said tree, extending one mile from the seaside into the woods, and from the end of that mile into the woods Northerly till it meet with a fresh meadow in the woods at the head of Packet brooke, for the easterly bounds and for the Northerly bounds the said brook called Packet, till it meets with the sea aforesaid." This deed was signed by Awashonks, as their sachem, with the totem of the tribe, and witnessed by Robert Gibbs and John Monroe. The doctrine of land inheritance appears to have been well established among the tribes in New England, and before the close of the j^ear the purchasers of Seconnet found that several other Indians claimed rights in the lands they had bought of Awashonks. There were those who claimed under Wetamoo, of Pocasset, the widow of Alexander, as heir to the equitable rights of Massasoit. Mamanuah, Osomehen, Suckqua and others met the whites on the first of November, 1673, in a parley, and for thirty-five pounds deeded a larger tract, including within its bounds the former purchase from Awashonks. On the same day Peter, one of Awashonk'ssons, signed the former deed given by his mother. It does not appear in what currency the purchase price was paid in these instances, but the descendants of these first purchas- ers, some of them still here, bearing other family names, may point with pride to the friendly relations existing between their ancestors and the natives of Seconnet. These lands were not only bought, as were others, but appear to have been paid, for. We have seen in a preceding chapter that a white settlement probably existed at Puncatest, to the northward, before the year 1674, which is set down as the date of the first (164) white man's habitation in Little Compton. The reader has already the impression that the proprietors who bought the lands here as recited above were not residents, thus fai-, of this region, bu: were yet in their Puritan homes to the northeastward. Their meetings, until 1087, were held at Duxbnry, and on the first of March, 1674, probably not five of their number had ever seen 63 980 HISTOKV OF NEWPORT COUNTY. their goodly lands by the sea, these very lands which the Plym- outh people, thirtj^-six years before, had told the Aquidneck settlers they claimed and regarded as the very garden of their colony. On that first day of March, however, ai)parently in an- ticipation of the purpose of Captain Church to reduce their right to actual jwssession, the general court of Plymouth passed the following decree: "Ordered that ixpon the petition of the Proprietors of the lands att Seaconett and places adjacent, the Court hath granted unto the said Proprietors or the Major part of them as a Townshippe to make such actes and orders as shall be need- full or convenient for their wel being settleing and ordering of said place or plantation, and especially for the settleing of such a society there as may be instrumentall for the managing and carrying on of the Worship of God and matters of the Commonwealth." This document has been regarded as the act of incorporation of Little Compton, or at least its date assumed as the date of the erection of the town. The wording might mislead, but subsequent orders of the court quoted below preclude such an assumption. The order is of interest, however, as showing how matters and means of religious worship in the territory were legislated upon before a tree was felled or a kernel was jilanted, save possibly in the little tract of Pu neatest. Thirty-two great lots had been surveyed and plotted in the Seconuet tract, and at Duxbury, on the 10th of April, 1674, they were drawn for by the proprietors individual!}', the re- mainder of their lands renuiining as some of them still are, the common property of all concerned. The names of the twenty- nine jiroprietors who, at Plymouth, on the 22d of July, 1673, proved their respective rights formerly granted to certain per- sons have been given above. Of that number, let it be noticed that the two Ciiurch brothers each owned, by purchase, the rights of two others, thus the twenty nine persons represented thirty-one shares. They had agreed that one share should be for the minister, so we find that the lands they bought of Awa- shonks were allotted in the autumn of 1673 into thirty-two shares, and on the lOtli of April, 1674, at Duxbury, the same twenty-nine persons determined, by chance, the lot each should have. The thirty-two shares comprised the whole of the Awa- shonks purchase. It was what is now the northwest quarter HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 981 of the town, bounded north by Tiverton, west by tlie Seconnet river, south by Taylor's lane, and east by a straight line which was one mile from the river at its nearest point and more than a mile where the shore curves. A private copy of the proprie- tors' map, which Otis Wilbour made (the town has allowed the original to become almost useless), shows the location of each proprietor's lot. These lots were each a mile or more in length, and nearly equal in width, separated by paiallel lines running from the river, east. The lot adjacent to Tiverton was numbered I, and the others in numerical order to the southward, the thirty-second one being at the southern limit of tlie purchase. The lots as drawn and the owners' names were : I. Thomas Williams. XVII. Ephraim Tinkham. II. Walter Woodworth. XVIII. John Rouse III. Peter Colomore. XIX. Benjamin Church. IV. William Shirtlif. XX. John Rogers. V. John Aliny. XXI. Nathaniel Thomas. VI. Martha Dean. XXII. Thomas Pope. VII. Nicholas Wade. XXIII. Thomas Pinson. VIII. William Pabodie. XXIV. Joseph Church. IX. Constant Southworth. XXV. Daniel Hayward. X. Minister. XXVI. John Richmond. XI. Edward Fobes. XXVII. Daniel Wilcox. XII. William Merrick. XXVIII. Josiah VVinslow. XIII. William Sherman. XXIX. Benjamin Church. XIV. John Washborne. XXX. Jo.seph Church. XV. Simon Rouse. XXXI. Hugh Cole. XVI. John Irish. XXXII. Josiah Cook. The estates as thus distributed were then, and are at present, known as "The Great Lots." At this meeting Captain John Almy, of the Island of Aquidneck, was admitted an equal pro- prietor. Within the year Benjamin Cliurch, and most probably John Almy and John Irish, had built houses in the town. Mr. Church did not build on the great lot that fell to him, but on one he bought of Mr. Pabodie. They reserved a roadway eight rods wide to run due south across all tliese Great lots. Tlie growth of the settlement was retarded during the year by the prospect of more serious trouble with the Wampanoags, and all attempts to develop the purchase were brouglit to a temporary close by the opening scenes of tiie King Philip war. Benjamin Church, a man of great political sagacity, had secured 982 IIISTOltY OV NEWPORT COUNTY. the pledge of friendship from the shrewd squaw sachem, Awa shonks, but as the war clouds thickened and every white man's life was in the issue, we find the proprietors, under his advice, on the 29th of May, 1675, setting off a tract of land three-ft)urths of a mile square for her use. This reservation was included in a third purchase previously made of the Indians, and was in the very heart of their property, covering the farms now owned by Isaac C. Wilbour, George A. Gray and others in that vicin- ity. Taylor's lane was the northern boundary and the river the western. Nearly two years now elapsed, covering few, if any, local events of notable interest. The attention of all the English set- tlements had been absorbed in the doubtful issues of the King Philip war. Philip, the king of the Wampanoags, was dead; the tribe which had owned him as their chief was practicallj^ eliminated as a factor in the white man's problem of settling New England; Plymouth and her dependencies recovered from the shock; the great heart of New England beat regularly again; circulation was restored, and the extremities were warm once more with the life-currents of enterprise. > The spring of 1677 witnessed a new impulse toward the farther occupancy of the Seconnet purchase. Some lands there, or some rights in the lands, had not been secured by the three deeds mentioned, and on the 6th of March, Mamanuitt, a sachem at or about Seconnet, appeared before the court at Plymouth and sati.sfied them that he and fifteen men had, dur- ing the King Philip war, been faithful to the English, and de- sired that they be allowed to return to Seconnet to possess the land not formerly disposed of. Whether this request was fully granted does not appear, but it is recorded that on the 13th of the same month the Seconnet company made a purchase of land from Mamanuah for thirty-five pounds. It was bounded south by the sea, commencing at "Oquomuck Rocks" and extending to the creek at thesouthwest corner of "Quopognit [Quicksand] Pond," and from the north end of the pond at "Musquetiquit" Brook, thence northerly through "Massawisawit [cold brook] swamp" to the Puncatest line. This was the fourth deed they had taken from the Seconnet natives, and appears to have i;>eaceably extinguished the last title claimed by the tribe or their race in these fair acres. We get a glimpse into the character of Benjamin Church in the fact iriSTORY OK NEWPOirr COUNTY. 983 that the Indians themselves, knowing him as the conqueror of the implacable Philip, souglit permission from the English to become his neighbors and live by him in the pursnits of peace, a relation of amity which was maintained to the close of his life. When the allotment of the farms, or as they are still called, " the Great Lots," was made in 1673 it was presumed by the proprietors that this reduced to individual ownership the most valuable of the farming lands of the tract, and the UMaMs[iicious circumstances of the next three years, at the same time they checked the course of immigration, prevented as well the cor- rection of that impression. We have seen how, after the war, they gave their almost instant attention to the possession and development of their jiroperty. An important step in that di- rection was in the early spring of 1677, when their plans were formulated for having some day, in the midst of their farms or plantations, a central village on lands not comprised within the individual estates. Their meeting to consider this question was held, as all their meetings had been, at Daxbury, on the 21st of March, 1677. They recorded their agreement that a piece or parcel of land within the confines of their individual lands at Seconnet should be appropriated and allotted out for a compact town, if any such place could be there found. At this meeting Thomas Burgess, of Rhode Island, appeared and asked admis- sion as a jiroprietor in right of Hugh CoIh, whose land he had bargained to purchase. The spring of 1677 was well advanced toward summer before further action was taken looking toward the locating of tlie proposed compact town. Settlements were being made on the farms which four years before had been al- lotted, and the settlers were rapidly finding out the truth that in fertility of soil and salubrity of climate they owned the very flower of New England; that trnly their lines had fallen to them in pleasant places. Those not yet in actual possession of their farms came over from Du.xburyand Marsh Held and from Rhode Island, and a meeting was held on their allotted lands, on the loih of May, to see if a suitable place might remain for the vil- lage they had resolved to build. Tliey selected a site near the center of their property, and called it, as it then truly was "The Commons," a name still used and recognized as applying to the village here now, and to its vicinity generally. They agreed at this meeting to lay out seventy-four building lots, which was 984 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. subsequently done, with suitable streets- or common ways, not all of which streets were found needful to be used for that purpose. Of the seventy-four lots, two were for each of the thirty-two 2:)roprie tor's shares, and ten were to be disposed of as they should at times see cause, or for the accommodation of such persons as might thereafter desire to become residents among them. They also voted that "whatever water should be found capable of a mill, should be for that use." In the boundaries of the tenth of the common lots, it is stated " within which is a little Pond and is at present owned for public or Town use." There is scarcely a doubt that the first building erected at the commons was a meeting house, for in scanning the divergent lines of local history and tradition, one must keep ever in view the fundamental fact that this community— the only one in this county — was composed thus far exclusively of Puritan families and descendants of the Pilgrims. With them, in their little local government, the state was the church and the church was the state; so the nieeting house was the place for meetings and, whether for worship or for public business, the same building sufficed. The proprietors continued to hold their meetings at Duxbury, where William Pabodie, their clerk, lived, until 1681, after which time the meetings were held here. Much specula- tion has been indulged in regarding the time of building their first meeting house, iH its relation to the ecclesiastical history of the town, but with the date established, if that were possi- ble, it would have no more reference to the religious than to the political history, for wherever the Puritan principle predomi- nated in planting a settlement, that settlement was planned to be a religious rather than a civil commonwealth. These settlers were from the Plymouth country; the samePlymouth where they once made confession of faith an essential prerequisite in every voter, and where eligibility to office depended, primarily, upon membersliip in the Puritan church. A vote was r'^corded in 1693, May 17lh, authorizing the sale of two pieces of land, the proceeds to aid in the building of a meeting house. The work seems to have been diligently prosecuted, and it became of im- portance to the dwellers on the great west road, where the first farm improvements were made, to have a way leading fi'om their road to the Commons; a matter not satisfactorily provided for in the plotting of the tract. This is the record for March 21st, HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 985 1694. The road is the one from the post office west to the resi- dence of Frederick R. Browne)] : '•Tile Proprietors liave agreed and voted that there be a high- way to go from the Great Highway of ten rods broad, up be- tween the lands of Josepli Ohiirch, Jr., and Edward Richmond, Jr., up to Daniel Butler, his land, repairing what damage is done thereby in land, by restoring so much land and as good, and also to allow in land tlu'ee shillings per rod for so many rods as the highway is in length, that we may have an open way or Common Highway to the Meeting House." During the summer of 1698 the meeting house was repaired at a cost of twenty pounds. In 1711 other repairs were needed, and in 1720 Robert Brownell was paid one shilling and sixpence " for underpining the town meeting house," a matter as nearly omitted as was possible at its building. In 1747 and 1749 fur- ther repairs were voted. One writer has ascribed great piety to Colonel Benjamin Church for furnishing, as was doubtless tlie case, the timber or trees for this interesting structure. The name meeting house in the present generation has an echo as if piety should prevail in its erection and in its use, but when, if ever, this old edifice was dedicated, it was to the week day service of men as well as to the Sabbath day service of God, and in its rugged walls many a scene has occurred which would illy comport with the modern idea of a meeting house, since now, happily for both, the church and state are forever separate and distinct. Probably in all its history the old meeting house never wit- nessed a more exciting scene than occurred in May, 1803. The federalists and republicans were nearly equal as to numbers. The meeting was for the choice of town officers and two repre- sentatives to the general assembly. Benjamin Tompkins held tlie office of town clerk, and Samuel T. Griniiell was the oppos- ing candidate. The moderator, Isaac AVilbour, declared Grin nell elected clerk, and ordered Tompkins to vacate the seat, which he refused to do. The town sergeant was then ordered to put him out. A scene of confusion ensued, and in tiie struggle Tompkins lost his coat, but managed to escape with I lie records. It is said that the freemen came out through I he windows like angry bees from a hive. The party who left the hall oiganized and proceeded to elect officers, while the party tliat remained also chose a set. Part of this public building 986 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. was used for many years as an asylum £or the i)oor, for whose care and comfort the freemen of Little Comptonliave ever stood sponsors. Sometimes, and often, the apartments were leased by the town to individuals as a public inn. Andrew Taylor had a tavern here in 1797. The building was finally sold to Chris topher Brown, with the reserved right to have use of a part for the public business of the town. This right was exercised until the nth of April, 1882, on which day the last meeting within its walls was adjourned to the new and commodious town hall, now furnishing a public hall and elegant rooms, accommodating the public records, the public librarj', and the town's legislative and judicial officers. On this occasion a very scholarly address by Mr. Wilbour closed with these fitting utterances: " I congratulate you, fellow citizens, on the possession of so convenient and substantial a structure, in which we now meet for the first time, and especially for this light and beautiful room, all of which alike does credit to the committee who planned it, to the builders, and to the generous spirit of the town. We have left an unattractive and dimly lighted cham- ber of mediaeval style of architecture, but rich and full of the associations and memories of the past. We have come to a room not only bright with the light of the sun, but also with the dawn of the 20th century. Let us see to it that our legis- lation here be of that enlightened aiid progressive character which the change from the old to the new would seem to sym- bolize and typify." Of the first tavern or inn ke^Dt at the Commons the proprie- tors' records give definite data. The Puritan fathers of the hamlet made it a matter of public concern that a place be pro- vided to care for the traveler and the stranger, and they record jjermission given in 1681 to Simon Rouse " to keep a house of entertainment at Seaconnett for strangers and travellers and that hee be provided with provisions and Nesessaryes for that jDurpose, and likewise he is to keep good order in his House that no damage or just harme befall him by his negligence." A tavern here was of some importance a hundred and fifty years ago, when Little Compton was a way station on a line of travel between Newport and southern Massachusetts. Encroachments of private owners upon the adjoining public domain was one of the first civil vices into which these good people at the Commons fell. In 1708 two of their principal men — HISTORY OB' NEWPORT COUNTY. 987 Captain Soiitlnvortli and Edward Richmond, the latter with "Esquire," that insignia of Puritan importance, attached to his name — were directed to "appoint upon the station the meeting- house now standeth upon." Tliese acts and events were the ru- diments of the present village of Little Compton. Much here said of the old public house is relevant to the following political and ecclesiastical sections of this chapter. The public business of the town has always been transacted at the Commons, and most of the commercial interest of the town has been centered here from the first. The General Church homestead, now the residence of Senator Church, contained one of the early stores. Philip F. Little was the last of the merchants in this building. George Cook Bailey is remembered as a merchant in the build- ing now a residence north of that of Oliver C. Brownell. The same Mr. Bailey ke2:)t a store where Preston B. Richmond's mercantile business was located in his lifetime and where his widow now carries on one of the two general stoi'es of the ham- let. Captain Seabury built and occupied as a store the build- ing, now vacant, north of Mrs. Richmond's. Peter White was a partner in the business at one time and Mr. Bixby at a later period, before he located where he now is, in the old town build- ing on the corner of the Commons. We are thus taken back again to the same old town meeting house, still standing, which has borne its part in the commercial, as well as the civil and religious, history of the town. Humphrey Brownell, Wilbor Brownell, Colonel Joseph Pearce and Stephen Simmons are in that long line of tradesmen here who hired, of the town, part of this historic structure prior to 1831. Li that year Christopher Brown rented the place, and purchased it in the year following, as mentioned above. In the reservation made by the town it was stipulated that the town might for- ever use the assembly room of the second story, but never drive a nail or make any improvement. This restriction for fifty years rendered the quarters almost untenantable, and these strained relations between the public and the individual were tei-minated by the payment of a sum of money, agreed upon, to the town. Li the meantime the building had passed into the possession of Henry Brown, who now owns it, and until 1877 he kept it as a general country store. He built the south wing in 1855, and later arranged the old hall for domestic purposes. Mr. Brown, as a merchant, was succeeded by Smith & Manches- ter, Bliss & Cowan, and George T. Bixby. 988 JIISTOUY OF NEWPORT OOUKTY. Prior to 1834 there was no post office nearer than Adamsville or Tiverton Four Corners, but in May of that year an office was established here called Commons. The first postmaster was Ed- ward Gray, his appointment bearing date May 13th, 1834 Forty days later Philip F. Little was appointed, and served un- til August 3d, 1840, Avhen Jonathan Wilbour succeeded him. Henry T. Brown became ^jostmaster on the 24th of the April following, and in 1846, June 12th, was succeeded by Benjamin Seabury, who kept the office until after its name was ciuinged. Little Compton. the present name of the office, was adopted on the 8th of March, 1847, and on the 3d of July, 1849, Henry T. Brown was again appointed. Preston B. Richmond was post- master from March 26th, 1857, to May 31st, 1861, when Mr. Brown was, for the third time, appointed. The present incum- bent, his daughter, Lilla S., was appointed July 13th, 1886. We have considered somewhat the title rights of the first white settlers, and shall concern ourselves chiefly with the coarse of events under their occupancy, but a glance at the ^relations the Indians sustained for a few years toward the rudiments of our present civilization is of local interest in relation to the pe- ninsula, which was one of the last tracts to pass by deed from the Wampanoags. Just prior to the landing of the Pilgrims, a pestilence had swept over this region and wasted the strength of the natives, making them an easj^ prey to the Narragansetts. The Wampa- noags were formerly the ruling tribe east of Narragansett bay and south of Massachusetts. Massasoit, their sachem, was the first to recognize the imjiortance of making friends of the Pu- ritans, and by formal treaty he enlisted the English upon his side in throwing off the yoke of the Narragansetts. His treaty with the Pilgrims was faithfully kept until Ids death. His two sons, Wamsutta and Metacomet, survived him. The treaty made by the father was not so well kept by the sons. Tiie in- crease in strength of the English aud decay of their own nation made a deep impression on their minds. The elder son, Wam- sutta, survived the father but a brief time. He had been a short time associated with his father in the government, and at his death became chief sachem. When the sway of Massasoit as their sachem, and practically as the monarch of thirty New England tribes, closed with his death of 1662, this territory and the peninsula of Bristol were HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 989 all the lands wliich they had not conipiomised. Their repre- sentatives had signed the deeds and the white men were in pos- session. The generations which sold the lands and enjoyed the proceeds had passed away, but the deeds remained, and the young warriors began to apprehend the significance of what their fathers had done, as they found the settlements of the white man multiplying. The ring of his axe had scared the wild game from their richest hunting grounds; his net had taken the fish from their streams, and upon the resources they had called their own a shrewder race had come to subsist. These considerations, more than all else, led to the Philip war, the adverse infiuence of which upon the development of Little Compton has been ob- served. The Indians were a people with as generous impulses, as lofty purposes, as chivalrous withal as paler men, when hampered by their environments, but by the irresistible logic of events, a power forever potent, forever controlling those who control and leading those who lead, it seems to have been decreed that another people, fewer, weaker, poorer, and not they, should have palaces where they had huts, should sow and reap where they had hunted, and should develop on their soil a higher civilization. The strength of the Wampanoags came less from their num- bers than from the intellectual power and military genius of Massasoit, and neither of his sons ever succeeded him in the influence which he wielded, by the force of his character, be- yond the limit of his material power. Their name for this pe- ninsula was Saughkonet — Tlie Black Goose comes — and the varying orthography only indicates how, to the eye, the settlers tried to show how the natives spoke the word. Sagkonate, Seaconnet, Seconnet and other forms are modern, the latter having obtained, apparently, the most nearly general use. The Indians found here, maintaining a rude system of domestic government, w-ere tributary to the great AVampanoag confed- eracy, which, in the lifetime of Massasoit, included all east of the Narragansett bay. Two of these tribes occupied portions of Tiverton, and while also tributary to the Wampanoags, nuiin- tained their sei)arate tribal governments. Of the Puncatest Indians, appearing to be the weakest of the clans, only the name is preserved. The Pocassets, so conspicuous in the Plulip war, were a tribe under the chieftainship of Corljitant, who was 990 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. succeeded by Weramoo. One of the tribe was Daniel Page (74), the Indian who went from Tiverton in Colonel Barton's squad and aided at the capture of Prescott on Rhode Island. The clan possessing what is now Little Conipton were known to the whites by the name they gave to tlie haunt of the black goose. Their squaw sachem was Awashonks, said to have been a sister of Wetamoo. She appears in the character of a queen beloved by her people, and in her business and treaty relations with the settlers seems to have regarded her obligations as sacred. One of her subjects was Alderman, the Indian wlio shot King Philip. An important compact was made between Awashonks and Colonel Benjamin Church on tlie ]st of August, 1675, with ref- erence to the attitude she and her people should maintain in the Pliilip war and toward the proposed settling enterprises of the wliite men, then scarcely begun. This compact was of signal importance in its bearing upon the is.sues of those times, and was the result of great skill and foresight on the part of Colonel Church. He came from his home at Plymouth to Portsmoutli, on the island, and thence across the Seconnet, and was met by Awashonks and her warriors near the shore, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Chase (120). The exact spot is gen- erally referred to as an immense flat rock on his farm, a few rods from the water's edge. "Treaty Rock" is a term as defin- ite as any used in local reference, and the rock itself is probably the most certain and lasting landmark named in the old writ- ings. South of this, on the Macomber place, an adjoining farm, recently purchased by Ripley Ropes, president of the Brooklyn Trust Company, is another rock with some hiero- glyphics; of which two words are distinguishable, which seem to have been intended for the words sun and moon. Out of this small investment of fact has come a remarkably large income of fiction and speculation. An Indian named Solomon is known to have lived here among the hitest of his tribe, and if these strange words on the rock are simply his rude attempt to leave his name on granite, a great many pleasant fancies will be chased away by this fact. In this question of where the peace treaty was made, we have followed the authority of Colonel Church himself who, in his autobiography, is very exi^licit on this point. Of the event itself he modestly says very little. Awashonks' warriors aided Colonel Church in those critical HISTOKY OF NEWPOHT COUNTT. 991 days and were compensated by awards of the public lands at Seconnet, as this, I'rom the records of the Plymouth Court, of March, 1677, indicates: " Libertie is granted unto eight of the soldiers wlioe have bine in the service May sit downeand plant att Seaconnett, Cap- tain Church accommodating them with land on condition that they shall be ready to march forthe under command of Captain Church when he shall see cause to require them for the further pursuing our Indian enemies, hee satisfying the Indians had the sole prophetts of sucii an adventure." This "libertie" was exercised by those who, with other In- dians, became residents of the town under the white man's re- gime, but they were not called out again to pursue the Indian enemy. Several points in the town have yet a local historical interest growing out of their residence here. Northeast of Pot- ter's corners, on the farm of George H. Gifford, is the grave of Aaron Succenash who, with his wife Mary, lived there since the place has been owned by the Gifford family. The site of his house and his grave are a few i-ods south of Mr. Gifford' s, and on the east side of the highway. The field, now a meadow, contained also the wigwam of Wainer, an Indian who married Mary White. Their son, Rodney, a man of remai-kable phys- ique, was a whaler, remembered by persons still living. North from Mr. Gilford's house, a few rods, in a field still known as " Meeting house meadow," stood the place of worship where religious meetings wei'e held by the Indians. During Rev. Billings' pastorate of the Congregational church he fre- quently instructed the little congregation of Indians in this building. It is to be regretted that so little is known of this in- teresting element in the early ecclesiastical history of the town. When the Congregational church was organized, there were over two hundred Indians residing here. Their village, a col- lection of unpretentious huts, was northwest of the present res- idence of Caleb Mosier. In January, 1703-4, Indian slaves were taken from liere to Newport and offered for sale. When Little Compton was annexed to Rhode Island eighty-six In- dians were included in the population, and the census of 1774 shows that twenty-five Indians yet lived in the town, fifteen of whom were counted as belonging to the households of white people. In the next eight years their whole number was re- duced to thirteen and probably nine tenths of the present resi- 992 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. dents of Little Compton never saw a resident Indian in the town. On Mr. Gifford's farm west of "Meeting house meadow, was the Iiabitation of the Indian priest. His name was Jehu. Here he and liis daugliter Alice lived and died^a brief record for one of the last of a race. His only monument, the tree whose roots have ))ierced his mold, bears no testimony to his cliaracter and no man may say whether 'twas to che God ot the Israelites or to the Kish-tan of the Wampanoags, that he at last commended his spirit. The tree points simply to the better land he hoped for, and in its rugged trunk and gnarled old limbs was given his body, whatever became of his soul, a resur- rection and another life. In September, 1803, Rev. William Emerson of Boston, father of Ralph Waldo Emerson, published a pamphlet entitled: " Notes on Compton, a township in Newport County, State of Rhode Island." This highly curious source of information preserves the name of John Simon, an Indian, as a preacher to bis people. Reverend Emerson was a brother-in-law of Rev. Mase Shepard and may have had special facilities for securing the data for his pamphlet. Some incidents which he there con- nects with the priest, John, are very like the traditions still preserved among the i:)eople here as relating to tlie priest Jehu, above mentioned; we have, however, found no mention of Jehu as a justice of the peace. Reverend Emerson says of John: "Their stated preacher was John Simon, one of their breth- ren — a man of strong mind, prevailingly temperate, but occa- sionally devious, whose object was the welfare of the Indians, and who thought it right to use cunning in obtaining it. So in- fluential was tliis Indian preacher, that he was made a jus- tice of the x>eace. Accordingly, when the Indians were at fault, John was associated with the English justice to do away wrongs. It hajipened on a time that some Indians were delinquent. Col. Almy and John were judges in tlie case. After examitiatiori was had, said the former to the latter, concerning one and another of those in default, ' how many stripes shall these Indians re- ceive ? I think they should receive eight or ten stripes.' ' No,' said John, 'four or five are enow. Poor Indians are ignorant, and it is not Christianlike to punish as hardly those who are ignorant as those who have knowledge.' So John's opinion prevailed. But John's squaw was among the delinquents. 'Well,' said Justice Almy, 'what shall she receive?' 'Double,' HISTOKY OF NEWPORT OODNTY. 993 replied John, ' because slie liad kno\vledfj;e to have done better.' Col. Almy, however, knowing that John loved his wife, and thinking to'do him a favor, had her punishment wliolly remit- ted. John was silent upon this subject whilst the ofTenders were present, but assigned another time and place where he met Col. Almy, and severely remonstrated against his unjust sentence in favor of the squaw, saying: 'To what purpose. Col. Almy, do we i)reach justice, if we do unrighteousness in judgment. Here you have given stripes to such as were less guilty than my wife, but to her you have given none.' The Colonel .so poignantly felt the reproof, as most cordially to wisli that the squaw had been flagellated." The relations which obtained between the Indians here and the tribes to the northward made their trail, which was ap- proximately along the line of the present Great West road, very important, and along this the lirst white settlements ap- pear to have been made. They had another line of communi- cation by way of the head of Westport harbor, passing east of Simmons' hill. Near this trail on Mr. Simmons' farm (156) was one of their burial places. From one of the giaves here was exhumed a skeleton, evidently of a man fully eight feet tall. The skull, which was of remarkable proportions and huge dimen- sions, is now in the Fowler & Wells collection in New York city. For five years after the allotment of the building lots at the Commons and that revival of interest in the proprietors' prop- erty at Seconnet which has been observed to have followed the settlement of the doubts and questions involved in the King Philip war, the community had practically an independent government — a pure democracy. The public acts, if public they may be called, were such as partners in business or tenants in common might do foi' the regulation of their property interests. Their records, the pro])rietors' records of the Seconnet pur- chase, the oldest writings extant concerning this period, have furnished, largely, the statistics and dates of this chapter thus far. The original of these records is in the possession of Frederick R. Brownell, Esq., of this town, to whose courtesy the writer is indebted for the abstracts used and quotations <;ited. In the winter of 1681 the people sought to secure different 994 HISTORY OF nk\vi>()i;t county. relations to the general government and applied to the general court of Plymouth for some order in the premises. The result apiiears in a record of that court directed "To Joseph Church of Seaconnett. Whereas the Court are informed that your neighborhood is destitute of leading men either to call a meeting or otherwise to act in your publick concerns, this court empowers you to call your neighborhood together at Seaconnett in convenient time to make such neces- sary and wholsome orders as may be for your coiiinion good and peace, and to choose and present some fitt person or per- sons to infoini the court of tlie present state of tlie said neigh- borhood, respecting the premises, to the court of iiis majesty to be holden aft Plymouth aforesaid in June next." The meeting was called and men were chosen to serve as grand jurors and one was elected to act as constable. The fol- lowing document shows how and when the town was incor- porated. It is the official record of the court of Plymouth as transcribed by the Seconnet proprietors. "July Seventh 1682. Att the court of his Majesty held att Plymouth for the jurisdiction of New Plymouth theseaventh day of July 1682 before Thomas Hinckley Esq Gov. upon the X)etition of Mr. Joseph Church and the rest of the proprietors and inhabitants that are or shall be there admitted orderly ac- (;oriling to the laws of this Collonie, shall from this time be a Township and have the liberties of a Towne as other Townes of this Collonie, and shall be called by the name of Little Compton." No dated records are extant in the town of a town meeting held until one in the following January, which is noted on the lirst page of the town book thus: "At a meeting of the inhabitants of Seacon. . . this 26th day of January 1682 in obedience to the order of the court of Plymouth Sargt. Edward Richmond was chosen moderator." In this entry the scribe used the Indian name of the com- munity although the name " Little Compton " had been offici- ally proclaimed in June prior. From the lack of general attendance no business was transacted at this meeting. The next entry is this: " At an adjournment of a town nuieting of the inhabitants of Little Compton from tlie 26th day of .lanuary 1682 to the 29th day of the same month inst. and voted that Joseph Church was chosen modei'ator. HISTOUY OF NKWPOUT COUNTY. 99i"> Some remedy seemed to be demanded for this iiidilferenee on the part of the freemen toward tlie public eoncerns, and as one of the sources of misrule the people sought to eliminate it by penal legislation at the outset. They enacted that every legal voter in the town should be required to attend all legally warned meetings or pay a line of one shilling. This seemed to meet the case, and on the 19th of the following Jnne, " At a meeting of the inhabitants of Little Compton, Joseph Church was chosen town clerk for this present year." Within that year William Briggs was elected constable; John Irish and William Brownell, surveyors of highways; and Cai)tain Richmond, Joseph Church and William Southworth, selectmen. Thus providing for the control of their local affairs, they chose Simon Rouse as a grand juror, and sent Henry Head as deputy to represent them at the great and general court of Plymouth. One of the citizens, Joseph Church, was subsequently given the office and title of "One of his Majesties Justices of the Peace," and the little settlement embarked decently and in or- der upon that career of domestic ijrosjjerity and internal peace which, almost uninterruptedly, covers the whole period of its history. The division of the Plymoutii colony, in 1685, into three coun- ties, placed Little Compton with Bristol county, and with name and area unchanged, it became, in 1691, a part of the common- wealth of Massachusetts, and thus entitled to a voice in its government. The officers chosen for this purpose were styled, "Deputies to the General Court." The town's record of these elections begins in 1697, when Joseph Church was chosen. In 1698-9, John Woodman was the deputy; 1700, Henry Head; 1701, Wniliam Jacobs; 1702, John Palmore; 1703, William Southworth; 1704, Joseph Church; 170o, William Briggs; 17()6, Joseph Church, William Jacobs; 1707, Capt. William South- worth; 1709, Benjamin Ciiurch, William Jacobs; 1710, Benjamin Church; 1711-17, Capt. William Southworth; 1718-21, Capt. Thomas Church; 1722, Jonathan Davenport, Joseph Southworth; 17234, Joseph Southworth; 1725-9, Thomas Church; 1730, Thomas Church, David llillard; 1731, Thomas Church: 1732, Sylvester Richmond; 1733-8, Thomas Church; 1739-41, William Hall; 1742-6, William Richmond. In the history of Tiverton is quoted the act of t lie Rhode Island general assembly incorporating these two towns. The 63 1)96 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. etistern line of Little Compton was located somewhat east of where it had i^reviously been, and included a i)ortion of the old town of Dartmouth, which then included what is now West- port. The lirst town meeting in Little Compton, after the act of incorporation, was held on the 10th of February, 1746-7, of which they recorded that "William Hall, Esq. was chosen Moderator of ye meeting and tooh his engagment according to a late act of the General Assembly of the Colony of Riiode Island and then proseaded to qualify the Freemen of ye town according to ye act of Assembly.'' The status in Rhode Island of the former citizens of Massa- chusetts was thus defined, and the general assembly from year to j-ear admitted various persons as freemen of the colony. In May, 1757, John Brownell, Daniel Ormsby, George Simmons, James Pierce, Jonathan Feckham, Samuel Pearce, Adam Sim- mons, George Pearce, Joshua Brownell, Aaron Davis, Benjamin Brownell, Peter Simmons, Peleg Wood, Christopher White and John Briggs were thus admitted, and in 1758 William Carr, William Brown, Benjamin Stoddard and Nathaniel Stoddard were added to the list from Little Compton. In 1759 and 1760 the following named persons were made freemen of the little colony: John Peabody, Jr., Gideon Taylor, Constant Woodman, Gideon Salisbury, Thomas Davenport, Philip Taylor, Fobes Little, Jr., William Davenport and Joseph Salisbury. Fifty years before Little Compton was annexed to Rhode Island its colonial government consisted in part of the house of deputy governors. In the schedule of June, 1797, the title of *'The Deputies" was changed to representatives from the sev- eral towns. These officers are now generally styled representa- tives or members of the general assembly. The following list shows those who have repi'esented Little Compton since the an- nexation: 1747, John Hunt, William Wilbore; 1748, William Hall, James Wood; 1749, William Hall, Nathaniel Searles; 1750, John Hunt, Joseph Feckham; 1751, Lieut. Col. John Hunt, Charles i^rownell; 1752-3, William Hall, Richard Greenhill; 1754, Nathaniel Searles, Joseph Wood; 1755, Moses Palmer, Joseph Wood; 1756, Richard Brownell, Thomas Church; 1757, Thomas Church, William Wilbore; 1758, William Hall, Con- stant Southworth; 1759-60, William Hall, Benjamin Simmons; 1761, William Hall, Thomas Brownell; 1762-65, William Hall, Oliver Hilyard; 1766, Captain Thomas Brownell, Caj^tain George HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 997 Simmons; 1767, Captain George Simmons, Elihu Woodwoi'th; 1768, Nathaniel Searles, Eiiliii Woodworth; 1769-70, Tliomas Chnrch.'Nathaniel Searles. Jr.; 1771, Philip Taylor, John Peck- ham; 1772, Thomas Chnrch, George Pearce; 177H-4, Thomas Church, Daniel Wilbur; 1775, Thomas Brownell, William Rich- mond; May, 1776, Thomas Brownell, Daniel Wilbur; October, 1776, Perez Richmond, Nathaniel Chnrch; 1777-78, Nathaniel Searles, Jr., Adam Simmons; 1779,Thomas Brownell, William Richmond; 1780, William Ladd, William Richmond; 1781, William Richmond, Isaac Bailey; 1782, William Richmond, Edward Simmons; 1783-84, Daniel Wilbur, Joseph Gifford; 1785, William Ladd, William Brown; 1786-87, George Sim- mons, Nathaniel Searles; 1788, George Simmons, Thomas Palmer; 1789, George Simmons, Fobes Little; 1790-91, Philip Taylor, John Davis; 1792-93, William Richmond, John Davis; 1794, George Simmons, Isaac Bailey; 1795, Natha- niel Searles, John Davis ; 1797-9, Isaac Bailey, John Davis ; 1800, Andrew Taylor, John Davis; 1801, William Wilbor, An- drew Taylor; 1802, John Davis, Andrew Taylor; 1703-4, Wil- liam Wilbour, Isaac Wilbour; 1805, Daniel Wilbor, Isaac Wil- bour; 1806, Edward "Woodman, John Brown; 1807, William Wilbour 2d, John Brown; 1808, Thomas White, John Brown; 1809, Isaac Bailey, Andrew Taylor; 1810, Robert Seabury, Ed- ward Woodman; 1811, Philip Wilbour, Godfrey Pearce; 1812, Philip Wilbour, Edward Woodman; 1813, Edward Brownell, Jediah Shaw; 1814, William Wilbour, Jediah Shaw, Abraham Bailey; 1815, Edmund Brownell, Jediah Shaw, Abraham Bailey; 1816, Abraham Bailey, Sylvester Gifford; 1817-18, Sanford Almy, John Brown, Abraham Bailey, Sylvester Gifford; 1819- 20; s'anford Almy, John Brown, William Howland; 1821, San- ford Almy, Jediah Shaw, Tillinghast Bailey, William Howland; 1822, Sanford Almy, John Brown, Nathaniel Tompkins; 1823, Tillinghast Bailey, John Brown, Sanford Almy, Nathan Tomp- kins; 1824-7, Jolin Brown, Jediah Shaw; 1828, Sanford Almy, Peleg Bailey; 1829, Sanford Almy, Ebenezer P. Church; 1830, Sanford Almy, Nathaniel Tompkins; 1831-2, Jediah Shaw, Nathaniel Tompkins ; 1833, Jediah Shaw, Pardon Brownell ; 1834-6, Jediah Shaw, Nathaniel Ciiurch; 1837-40, Nathaniel Church, Christopher Brown; 1841, Nathaniel Church, Jediah Shaw; 1842, Nathaniel Church, Christopher Brown. By the provisions of the state constitution, the town, since 998 HISTOUY OF NEWPORT COUNTS'. May, 1843, lias been entitled to one representative and one state senator. Christopher Brown was the representative in 1843-5; John Church, 1846-8 ; Christopher Brown, 1849 ; Oliver C. Brownell, 1850-62; Benjamin Seaburj^ 1863; O. C. Brownell, 1864; C.W. Howland, 1865; William S. Church, 1866-7; Thadeus H. Church, 1868; Orin W. Simmons, 1869-70; H. T. Sisson, 1871- 72 ; Isaac W. Howland, 1873 ; Frederick R. Brownell, 1874; Kichmond Brownell, 1875; Jediah Shaw, 1876; Albert T. Sea- bury, 1877-8; Benjamin F. Wilbur, 1879; O. C. Brownell, 1880- 81; Oliver P. Peckham, 1882-4; Nathaniel Church, Jr., 1885-6; John B. Taylor, 1887. To tlie state senate, under the constitution of 1842, Little Comjiton has elected the following persons : In 1843 5, Natha- niel Church; 1846-8, Otis Wilbor; 1849-62, Nathaniel Church; 1863, Charles W. Howland; 1864, Benjamin Seabury; 1865, O. C. Brownell ; 1866-7, N. Church ; 1868, O. C. Brownell ; 1869, Isaac B. Richmond ; 1870, no election and Mr. Richmond held over; 1871-2, N. Church; 1873, Henry T. Sisson; 1874 6, N. Church; 1877-8, Jediah Shaw; 1879, Albert T. Seabury; 1880-81, Benjamin F. Wilbur; 1882-5, O. C. Brownell; 1886, O. P. Peck- ham; 1887, Nathaniel Church. Public Charity. — The stages of moral and social develop- ment in a community or a state are generally well measured by the care which the people manifest for the helpless and needy of their own number. The public policy of the Little Compton people has always been liberal toward the unfortunates of their own number. The first generation of settlers here deemed the loss of an ox by one of their number a public calam- ity, and considered the subject of sharing with the owner in the loss. Children have been raised here as wards of the town from their birth. The indigent people of the town have always been comparatively few, and for many years the apartments of the meeting house of 1694 were ample for their accommodation. Before this building passed into private hands the people in the town meeting of Ajn-il, 1827, appointed a committee relative to " the purchase or hiring a house and land for the poor of this town as a home." The result of this action, and the delibera- tions of which this was a part, has been to provide a tine farm and a comfortable house in the south part of the town, where the dependent people are well cared for in the "Town Home." HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 999 Land and Water Uovths. — The town founders made broad provision for thorough Cares through their properties, hut while they foresaw the needs of their descendants in many particuhirs, it is very noticeable, from a glance at their old nuip, that we walk not to-day in the ways of the fathers. Pri- vate selfishness, at odds with the public rights, has made the ways never the more straiglit and much the nujre narrow. The Great West road, that magniticent boulevard which the men of 1674 made straight and broad, has lost both those characteris- tics, but some things are unchanged. The ruts on many fre- quented roads are as deep as they were two hundred years ago. The Taunton bridge was the subject of much concern to Little Compton while it was included in Bristol county, Mass. As early as 1700 the trouble began. "At a meeting of the inhab- itants of Little Compton this ye 5th day of August 1700 voted that W. Jacobs and Daniell Eaton are chosen for to go to Taunton to morrow for to act as agents for this Town to meet the Committee Appointed by the General Court to treat about the Charges that they may be at about rebuilding of Taunton Bridg." The encroachments upon the width of the Great West road made trouble nine years later, which was settled by Nathaniel Searles, John Palmer, Edward Richmond, selectmen. Again, May 15th, 1712, " Whereas Little Compton Are Served and No- tified from the General Court to Answer Concerning Taunton Bridge, voted that this Town are not willing to be at any more charge about or concerning Taunton Bridge." In 1713 the town made record of a communication which was given no farther attention: "Taunton January 21th 1713 To the select men In Little Compton . Gentlemen This come to advise you that you woukl be pleased to send your proportion of that twenty pounds money that the great and general court ordered Dartmouth Little Compton Tiverton and Freetown Concerning the great Bridge over the great River. The Town of Taunton have ordered & do receive the s'd money to give recpiest or acquittance for the same pray fail not but send or bring this or send me word what you Litend to do For I think it is hig time the matter be finished, Sign your most iiumble servant, " Joii\ King. A line of communication to the island across the Seconnet o 1000 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. became of the oreatest importance prior to the Revolution, and from a cove on the Compton side, called Church's harbor, to a landing near the Berkeley Memorial church in Middle- town, a ferry was maintained for years as Taggart's ferry. This and the one from Fogland, five miles farther north, were the principal means of business intercourse with the people of Rhode Island. A lottery was authorized by the general assembly in Febru- ary, 1763, by which it was proposed to raise £6,000 to build a wharf in Church's harbor. Thomas Church, William Hall, Samuel Bailey, Thomas Brownell, Aaron Wilbour, Simeon Palmer, William Richmond, Jr., and Henry Wood were ap- pointed directors of the lottery. The road along the south line of the 1678 purchase was given by Esquire Taylor about this time and the town built the walls dividing it from the fields. It is generally known as Taylor's lane. Since the natural advantages of Seconnet point as a summer residence have built up that part of the town and brought an annually increasing number of summer residents, more atten- tion is being given to the care of the thoroughfares. A railroad from some point in this town to connect with the Old Colony road at Tiverton is seriously urged and the requisite legislative action has been secured, both by state and town, the town pledging, conditionally, the sum of $25,000 in aid of the scheme. Two steamers, the "Dolphin" and the "Queen City," make the present connection with Providence, from Seconnet point. The Revolution. — The people of Little Compton were among the first in southern New England to take public action in regard to the initial steps in the war for American inde- pendence. So closely allied and mutually dependent were the salient features of that period, in their relation to this town and Tiverton, that many of the events concerning both towns alike, and which occurred within their borders are incorporated in the latter; yet a few incidents in Little Com.pton were so strictly local as to require mention here. About the time hostilities began, this town contained three hundred and four white male persons over sixteen years of age in its population of twelve hundred and thirty-two. When Little Compton was inc()r])orated as a town of Rhode Island its militia was organized as a company and attached to the New- 'port county regiment, but in May, 1776, better discipline was HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1001 deemed desiraMe, and the Little Compton company was divided into two companies, by a line running from Perez Richmond's house easterly across the town. The first company was to be officered by Gideon Simmons, captain; Ephraim Simmons, lieu- tenant; and William Bailey, ensign. In the second company George Simmons was captain; David Cooke, lieutenant; and Fobes Little, Jr., ensign. Preparations were making for further sacrifice, and, with the events of the summer already noticed, the people looked for- ward with forebodings to the future. In December, as a prep- aration for offensive, and if occasion required, for defensive measures, the town was authorized to take from Howland's ferry two mounted field pieces, one four or six-pounder and one smaller one, and the proper cartridges; the towu clerk was empowered to draw 150 pounds of lead, 50 pounds of powder and 500 flints for the use of the Little Compton soldiers. The cannon were not long idle in Compton, for within ten days after New Year's they took them out to try them on the British frigate "Cerebus," laying at Fogland ferry. They worked well on such a target; six English were killed before the craft could get out of range; but one Compton man was wounded. For fourteen months after July, 1778, a system of signaling was kept up between the Americans in Little Compton and their friends, who were under the surveillance of the British, on the other side of the Seconnet. Isaac Barker, of Middle- town, managed that end of the line, and Lieutenant Chapin, of Sherburne's regiment, stationed in Little Compton, managed the east end of the system. Great adroitness was required on the part of Mr. Barker, for the British were quartered in the house where he lived, the house still standing in Middletown, the residence of Stephen P. Barker. Lieutenant Chapin had less to be solicitous about, and improved his time at odd jobs of his own inventing. In 1778, December 17th, he took a whale boat and six men and captured a British brig bound for New York. His prisoners, including Mrs. Sir Guy Johnston, were landed at Seconnet point. During the same winter Major William Taggart, who had com- manded a flotilla of gunboats under General Sullivan, had re- tired wifli his son, Captain William J., to his farm in IJttle Compton. In July, 1779, an attempt was made by tories from Newport to capture them. The two American sentinels on the 1002 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTy. shore were surprised and captured, and also Tlionias Bailey, at whose house the sentinels were quartered. This house is still standing on the Kempton farm, east of the Warren Point road. Captain Taggart and a brother of his were taken prisoners, and four of the five taken were lodged in Newport Jail as prisoners. The captain's brother was shot in an attempt to escape. The captain subsequently resigned his position as prisoner of war, and, with Benjamin Borden, of Fall River, retired again to the American lines. Five years after the settlement of peace, when the question of adoiDting the federal constitution was agitating the public mind. Little Compton recorded this vigorous action: — "To Messrs. George Simmons and Nathaniel Searle, Deputies for the town of Little Compton: — " We the inhabitants of the town of Little Compton, being lawfully assembled in public town meeting, this 6th daj' of Jan- uary 1788 for the i^urpose of taking into consideration the pro- ceedings of the late honorable Continental Convention * * * and viewing the new Federal Constitution as a plan of govern- ment well adaj^ted to the present critical situation of our na- tional affairs: AVe do therefore enjoin it upon you, gentlemen, as our positive instructions, that you each use your utmost en- deavors at the next session of the General Assembly of this State, to have an act passed [providing for a Constitutional Convention]; and these our positive instruclions, gentlemen, you must not fail to execute on pain of incurring our highest dis- pleasure." The general assembly, in Februai'y, 1788, passed an act pro- viding that town meetings be held on the fourth Monday in March, 1788, at which the voters should declare by ballot for or against the adoption of the federal constitution. Little Comp- ton and Bristol were the only towns casting a close vote. The vote of Little Compton is here preserved, as a reliable list of the active freemen as well as their different views on a great public measure. Yeas. — John Bailey, Benjamin Coe, Thomas Briggs, Constant Seabury, Zebedee Greenell, Gideon Simmons, Billings Greenell, Zebedee Stoddard, Joseph Brownell, Joseph Wilbur, Job Man- chester, Ebenezer Church, Nathaniel Tompkins, Sylvanus Brown, David Hilliard, Jr., Nathaniel Searle, Joseph Gilford, George Wood, John Woodman, 2d, Nathaniel Church. Borden HISTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY; 1003 Wilbur, Isaac Wood, Samuel Coe, Adam Simmons, Tliomas Davenport, Isaac Baley, Williams Simmons, Gamaliel Tompkins, William Ladd, Caleb Church, 2d, Lemuel _Sawyer, Jeremiah Davenport, Gideon Taylor, Ichabod Wood, Aaron Will)ur, David Hilliard, Robert Woodman, Enos Giflford, Samuel Gray, Robert Taylor, William Brown, William Baley, Elisha Wood- worth, Thomas Brownell, William Southworth, William Wood- man, Thomas Richmond, John Greenell, Isaac Simmons, John Tompkins, Barnabus Clapp, Arnold Stoddard, Benjamin Tomp- kins, John Davis, David Tompkins, Abell Simmons, William Richmond, Perez Richmond, Philip Taylor, Nathaniel Taylor, Nathaniel Simmons, Nathaniel Stoddard, John Woodman. -[63.] iVrti/s.— Jonathan Taylor, Nathaniel Dring, Thomas Wilbur, John Brownell, Thomas Brown, Charles Brownell, John Pearce 2d, Henry Head, William Wilbur, Jr., Wing Durfy, Aaron Simmons, Stephen Brownell 2d, John Bennet, Seth Shaw, Benjamin Head, George Simmons, Israel Shaw, William Hunt, William Carr, Moses Brown, Brownell Stoddard, Peter Shaw, Nathaniel Pearce, Fobes Little, Jr., Aaron Greenell, Peleg Wood, Ezra Chase, Caleb Simmons, Elkanah Palmer, Fobes Little, Charles Manchester, John Carr, Benjamin Stoddard, Benedict Palmer, John "Wilbur, John Simmons, Daniel Wilbur, Thomas Palmer, John Salsbury, Zurah Simmons, George Brow- nell 2d, Isaac Peckham, James Pearce, Pardon Snell, Joseph Pearce, Isaac Wilbur (son of John), Joseph Brown, Canaan Gifford, Benjamin Head, Sen., Abner Wood, Owen Greenell, Thomas Baley, Jonathan Brownell, Joseph Bennett, Thomas Irish, William Wilbur, Gideon Giffofd.— [57]. The history of that effort is extant. Finally, on the 29th of May, 1790, with the majority at Newport, Little Compton's delegates, John Davis ami William Ladd, who had voted against the South Kingstown adjournment, voted for the adop- tion of the federal constitution. Local Government.— The more strictly internal affairs of the town have generally been administered by as able men as those who have been chosen to participate in its behalf in the colonial or state legislation. We have con.sidered the religious trend of the people in their first steps toward organizing a local government; how the con- trol of public affairs was made a matter for the church to con- 1004 UISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. sider, and how the management of the church was considered the public business as much as maintaining tlie highways. This business, whatever might be its nature, was largely di- rected, and in most cases practically controled, by the leading men of the town who were chosen to that trust. They were elected by the people and were given the title selectmen. This office was one of honor and responsibility, and the names of the men who have filled it will include quite generally the influ- ential citizens of each decade. The same officers are now called councilmen, individually and collectively, the town council. Prior to 1701, Captain Southworth, Christopher Allen, Wil- liam Fobes, George Webb, Aaron Davis, William Jacobs, Ed- ward Richmond, Daniel Eaton, Jonathan Thurston and Henry Head are the only names recorded. The significance of the fol- lowing list of those who have held the office since 1700, is the pre- servation of prominent names — a matter always of interest — and the approximate dates of their prominence. In the town's records the same name frequently recurs during consecutive years or at intervals. Here the date preceding a name is the date it first appears, and if it is in the list of selectmen or coun- cilmen more than two years the number of years is given after the name. When the same name recurs in the record after an interval so great that the name is not probably of the same man it is repeated with a date, and the years of subsequent service noted: In 1701, Joseph Wilbore; Thomas Brownell, 3; 1703, Porter Taylor, 4; John Coe, 3; Nathaniel Searles, 9; 1706, Ed- ward Richmond, 10; 1707, John Palmer, 4; 1710, Jonathan Head; John Sanford; 1711, Thomas Searles; 1712, Thomas Gray, 7; William Pabodie, 5; 171.'i, Capt. William Southworth; 1716, George Brownell, 6; Robert Woodman; 1717,Tiiomas Church, 25; 1718, Samuel Crandall, 8; 1719, Samuel Wilbor, 10; 1723, George Pierce, 4; 1727, Joseph Southworth, 5; 1730, James Rouse, 9; 1735, William Richmond, 10; 1745, Elijah Woodword; Samuel Gray, 7; 1746, Nathaniel Searles, Jr., 29; Joseph Wood, 11; Robert Taylor, 8; 1746, Joseph Peckham, 6; 1750, Elihu Wood- worth; John Hunt, 7; Jeremiah Brownell; 1752, William Shaw, 4; Samuel Tonii^kins, 3; Benjamin Seabury; 1754, Oliver Hil- yard, 12; 1755, Thomas Church, 6; Fobes Little; 1756, Charles Brownell; Benjamin Simmons, 8; 1757, Jeremiah Briggs; 1758, John Gift'ord; 1759, William Taylor, 6; Richard Brownell, 11; 1760, John Briggs; 1762, Thomas Brownell, 7; William Briggs, HISTORY OK NEWPOHT COUNTY. 1005 6; 1764, John Irish; 17(35, Philip Taylor, 28; George Simmons, 12; 1766, Thomas Dring, ;5; 1709, George Pearce, 8; John Peck- ham, 5; 1770, Perez Richmond, 14; 1771, David Hilyard, 3; 1774, Aaron Wilbour, 18; Daniel Wilbour, 12; 1779, Thomas Palmer, 25; 1784, John Davis, 6; 1787, James Brownell, 12; Ebenezer Church; William Southworth, 3; 1788, Joseph Gifford, 4; Nathaniel Church, 9; 1791, Andrew Taylor, 3; 1793, Thomas Briggs, 10; 1797, Pardon Brownell, 5; John Bailey, 5; 1799, Edward Woodman, 10; 1800, John Brown, 15; 1802, Josiah C. Shaw; 1803, Zebedee Grinnell, 5; 1804, William AVilbour, 7; 1806, William Wilbour 2d, 3; Thomas White, 11; 1807, Joseph Pearce, 9; 1808, Sanford Aimy, 14; 1809, Philip Wilbour; 1811, Stephen Brownell, 10; 1813, Sylves- ter Gifford, 4; Owen Grinnell, 4; Tillinghast Bailey, 4; 1814, Syl- vester Brownell; 1815,Davis Simmons; 1817, Job Briggs, 6; 1821, Jadiah Shaw,10; Peleg Bailey, 3; Ezra Coe, 3; Samuel Hilliard, 6; 1824, Peleg Peckham, 7; 1827, Nathaniel Tompkins, 6; 1829, Christopher Brownell, 17; 1831, General Nathaniel Church, 41; 1832, Clark Brownell 12; 1834, Elisha Brownell, 4; 1835, Pardon Almy;1837, Christopher Brown, 9; 1838, George Potter,19; 1839, Peleg Sanford; Jonathan Wilbour; 1840, Thomas Wilbour, 6; 1845, Isaac B. Richmond; Pardon Gray; Allen Gifford; James Bailey; 1846, Nathaniel Gifford, 15; John Church; 1848, Oli- ver C. Brownell, 32; 1849, Billings Grinell; 1854, Benjamin Sea- bury, 14; 1861, Charles W. Rowland, 4; Thomas G. Tompkins, 4; 1863, George W. Staples, 3; 1865, William S. Church 9; 1866, Ezra Wilbur; Oliver P. Peckham; 1867, George F. S. White, 3; 1869, Frederick R. Brownell; Oliver H. Almy, Jr.; Ben- jamin F. Wilbur, 9; 1870, George W. Butler, 11; Thomas Wil- bor 2d, 5; Warren Seabury, 5; 1871, William H. Sisson; 1873, Oliver H. Wilbor, 4; 1875, Frank W. Simmons; John Sisson; 1876, John Sisson 2d; 1877, Philip W. Almy, 11, Edwin T. Seabury, 8; 1885, George H. Peckham: IXaniel Wilbour, 3; 1887, William H. Briggs. The town clerks have ever been charged with trusts no less important than the recording and preservation of all the land evidence of the town, the records of the probate court, of which they are also clerks, and the whole clerical work of the town government. The policy of tiie town has been to keep the clerks in office as long as possible. In the following list the date of commencement of service is given; each serving un- 1006 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. til his successor was chosen: John Woodman, 1696; Edward Richmond, 1714; Joseph Southworth, 1725; William Richmond, 1730; Joseph Sonthworth, 1732; William Richmond, 1736; John Pabodie, 1746; Jepthah Pearce, 1755; Thomas Church, 1771; Adam Simmons, 1775; Barnabus Clap, 1794; Benjamin Tomp- kins, 1795; Samuel T. Grinnell, 1803; Thomas Palmer, 1813; Samuel T. Grinnell, 1817; Godfrey Pearce, 1819; Alexander R. Brownell, 1821; Otis Wilbor, 1840; Henry M. Tompkins, 1856; Isaac B. Cowan, 1876; Frederick R. Brownell, 1881. Churches. — We have considered the settlers at Seconnet in their social and business relations, and noted that union of ec- clesiastical and political functions under which the social fab- ric of the Seconnet community was conducted. While the disciples of Roger Williams, with their consciences freed from the claims of the Puritan church, were welcoming the peaceful, practical Quakers to Rhode Island, Seconnet was being peopled by men whose minds had been moulded to the Plymouth pattern; so at Seconnet may be seen to this day a fairer instance of the resultant of the i^olitical and ecclesiastical forces of Puritanism than in any other part of the county or the state. Unmistakable traces of the great Puritan ideas are in the public acts of the first century ( t this settlement, in marked contrast to the ideas underlying the public policy of the famed towns of the island. Here the church and the state were one. The affairs of religion were made a part of the public business, and in the town meetings the preacher and the schoolmaster were elected, and their support by public tax was provided for. From the first date of the white man's effort to gain a foot- hold in the land of Awashonks, the movement maybe regarded as the primitive period in the history of the Congregational church. The proprietors assumed the support of the gdspel ministry as a part of the public business, and set apart a poi-- tion of their lands for sacred uses. This community was for several years regarded as a missionary field by the older towns to the northeastward. In 1682, at the same session of the general court in which the town of Little Conipton was incor- porated, the following decree was issued : "Whereas it hath pleased God to move our honored Magis- trates with a sence of the soule languishing condition of such of the people of this jurisdiction att Seaconett and places adja- cent for ilie want of the preaching of Gods word amongst them HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1007 together with their owiie want of the sence of that duty to doe what in them lyes, that the good knowledge of God and his wayes might be taught them, and there fore doe commend it to sevral of the elders to take their tnrnes as they may have op- portunities given unto them, and the elders being moved with compassion toward their soules, being desirous to promote the honor of God amongst them agreed to visit the same in turn." The following year the court of Plymouth directed the town to raise £15 for the support of the minister. Tliis order was supported by time-honored precedents in the Puritan towns of New England, but Aquidneck was not far away and there they did as they pleased about such things, and the idea of doing as they jdeased at Seconnet struck their minds quite favorably, so they held a town meeting and made various excuses and finally sent word to the Plymouth Court that they would raise no £15. This was in 1685 and in October the court issued a peremptory order thus: "To the Constable of Little Compton. Whereas the Town of Little Compton hath sent to the Court of Assistants, a vote of the said Towne under the hand of the Towne Clarke, wherein they manifest their refusal of obedience to the orders of the General Court not only in the way of ne- glect, but contempt, if the said Towne shall still neglect to yield obedience to said order. You are then in his Majesty's name required to summon the inhabitants of Your Towne per- sonally to api)ear at his Majesty's Court at Plymouth March Next then and there to answer the contempt aforesaid." To answer this order the town chose David Lake and Henry Head as their agents, and they appeared at the court in March and presented a plea under the hand of the town clerk present- ing exceptions, and refusing to plead "because we are not brought in to answer neither by presentment or indictment." ' The court maintained its authority and fined the town £20 for the neglect of its orders and contempt for its dignity. The tax was collected and the position of the rebels abandoned. Their descendants of the present generation, men zealously liberal in their support of churches and schools, excuse the po- sition of their ancestors on the theory that they had already given sufficient for this purpose in donating one-tenth of their land to the use of the ministry, and that they were but acquir- ing thus early some of the commendable ideas of religious lib- erty which prevailed on the other side of the river, from whence the Almys, Brownells and Wilbours came. 1008 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The erection of the first meeting lionse on tlie commons has already been noticed. Two of the ministry lots were sold in May, 1C93, to aid in its completion, and in 169.5 Thomas Palmer was chosen first minister of the town. May 17th, 1692, this record appears in the acts of the proprie- tors: " Whereas by an order of the Proprietors bearing date May 11, 1677, it is granted that the first minister that settles at Se- conet should have one House lot and an equal share of the un- divided lands in the late Indian purchase freely, and also an equal share in all the unpurchased lands at Saconet, in consid- eration of the said grant and in lieu thereof the said Proprie- tors at this Meeting did order that a Committee shall lay out one hundred Acres of land, so as they judge shall be most con- venient for him, he relinquishing any claim to any other divi- sion, and by settlement, is to be understood and intended, such as shall continue in this Town in the said Work, during his life, or at least for the space of ten years. Voted clearly." Tlie'idea of the Gospel being free is queerly confounded with the notion of its being cheap. Tiie proprietors' records of 1697 show that " At a Meeting of the inhabitants September 7th, it was voted that Mr. Eliphalet Adams be the Minister of this Town provided he will be contented with so much as the people shall willingly contribute to his Maintenance, and the lands be- longing to the Minister, and to the use of the lands belonging unto the Ministry witliout arateor tax upon the people.'' Mr. Adams was a young man twenty years of age, a graduate of Harvard College, and a son of William Adams of Dedham. He preached here for three years. John Clarke was chosen minister of the town by a vote in public town meeting January 14th, 1701. Sixty-five persons had recentlj' been baptized, and their names added to the record. Among those baptized at that time were seven children of Jon- athan Davenport; five children of Joseph Church; John and Elizabeth Palmer, with tiieir seven children; Edward and Sarah Richmond, with six children; and Lieutenant John Wood, with his seven children. Of these last mentioned seven children, six died within eight days in the month of March, 1712, and were buried in four graves. The name of Nathaniel Searle, who was the first schoolmaster, was in the list. Ten months from the election of Reverend Clarke, Richard HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1009 Billings was chosen to be the town minister, and then began an uninterrupted pastorate of over forty-seven years. For the three first years he held simply the relation of religious teacher for the town, the same as had his predecessors, but during that period the foin;ative era in the history of Congregationalism in Little Compton maj' be said to have ended. Richard Billings was the oldest of a family of thii-teen chil- dren. His father was Ebenezer Billings, of Dorchester, Mass. It is probable that he was born in England, September 21st, 1675, and removed to Dorchester wlien about five years of age. He graduated at Harvard College in 1698, and three years later, at the age of twenty-six, began his labors in this town, where he served faithfully until his death, November 20th, 1748. Mr. Billings thus far was not an ordained minister, and there was no church organization, but the people were pleased with his gospel ministrations among them and he had gained a warm place in their affections. There was also a desire for the establishment of Christian ordinances. Therefore on the first of November, 1704, William Pabodie and Thomas Gray, in the name of the rest, sent letters mis.sive to the neighboring churches calling a council to establish a church and "ordain the Rev. Richard Billings to the Pastrol office." This council convened on the 30th of November, 1704. A copy of faith was formulated and to it was appended the signatures of Richard Billings, then their ordained pastor, and ten others revered as the founders of this church. Their names are William Pabodie, Thonuis Gray, William Pabodie, Jr., Joseph Blackman, James Bennett, Joseph Church (brother of Colonel Benjamin), Jonathan Davenport, John Palmer, John Church (son of Joseph) and Sylvester Richmond. While the elements of Congregationalism were crystalizing, the Episcopal church kept missionaries in the field. Reverend James Honeyman, who became rector of Trinitj' church at New- port in 1704, was sent to Rhode Island by the English Mission- ary Society, and for eight years made weekly visits to Tiverton and Little Compton. Freetown, Tiverton and Compton were made a missionary Held in 1712, and a missionary sent from England to organize an Episcopal church, but the effort was unsuccessful. In February, 1723, it was voted to build a new meeting house, forty-two feet long, thirty-eight feet wide and twenty feet posts, 1010 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. to Stand about two rods to the southward of the old house. This new liouse occupied the site of the presentCongTegational church. That the old house referred to is the house until recently owned by the town and used as a town house is not undisputed, but it is generally believed to be the same. The building committee were Deacon William Pabodie, Syl- vester Richmond and Thomas (vhurch, Esq., son of Colonel Benjamin Church, who gave the timber for the new house. The timber was of excellent quality, and some of it still exists, sound and strong, in the present edifice erected in 1833. The last Sunday in 1724 Pastor Billings records: " This day we had our first Meeting in our New Meeting House." This structure of 1723-24 was built by a subscription of C'olO Os. 7d., and from that time the contributors or their principals took the name of the " Proprietors of the Congregational Meeting House of Little Compton." The proprietors originally intended this meeting house for the use of the Congregational church, and in 1746 passed a formal resolution, drawn by the pastor, in which they " forever devote .... the meeting house for the public worship of God, to the Church and Christian so- ciety that now worship God in it, of the Congregational per- suasion and way of worship, as long as the said meeting house shall endure, and for no other use." This is the only dedica- tion of the house of which mention is made in the records. Succeeding the pastorate of Richard Billings was the thirty- six years of the parish and piiliiit work of Rev. Jonathan Ellis. He was born in Massachusetts in 1717, graduated at Harvard College in 1737, and was settled here as Reverend Billings' successor in 1749. During his pastorate the " United Congre- gational Society" was formed, February 8th, 1769. Nathaniel Searle, Oliver Hilliard, Constant Southworth, John Bailey, Thomas Brownell, Thomas Church, William Taylor, JohnWood, and Gideon Taylor — who wei-e especially interested in having the meeting house repaired — met and issued a call for a meeting on the 20th instant to consider the subject. At that meeting those who acknowledged themselves as belonging to the Congre- gational denomination formed a society, which had the care of the meeting house and the ministry lands, and also was re- sponsible for supplying the pulpit. This society was incorpo- rated in 1785 as ''The United Congregational Society." After the death of Jonathan Ellis this society, it appears, had the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1011 entire coiitro] of the pulpit, engaging candidates and settling a pastor; but when the next pastor was called and settled, the society acted in co-operation with the church, and this lias ever since been the practice. At the March session of the general assembly at South Kings- town, in 1787, this society petitioned for authority to raise £600 to build a parsonage. The act granting this petition named Perez Richmond, George Simmons, Nathaniel Church, David Stoddard, Nathaniel Searle and John Davis as managers, " pro- vided they shall previously give bond to the general Treasurer of this State, in a sum double the amount of said scheme, for the faithful performance of their trust." The pastorate of Rev. Mase Shepard from September 19th, 1787 (more than two years after the death of Mr. Ellis) until his death, February 14th, 1821, was a marked era in the history of the church. His ordination was celebrated at the house of Captain George Simmons, with an entertainment which was sumptuous, to say the least, and was untrameled by sumptuary amendments. Mase Shepard was a typical New Englander, the son of a farmer, born May 28th, 17.o9, the youngest of thirteen children, and spent his minority at the farm. He graduated at Dartmouth at twenty-six years of age, and two years later be- gan that remarkable career in Little Compton which insures his name a place in the memory of the people here for years to come. In tlie vestibule of the church is a tablet erected in his memory. Rev. Emerson Paine was installed pastor November 20th, 1822. He was born at Foxboro, Mass., in 1786, graduated at Brown University in 1813 and studied theologj^ with the re- nowned theologian. Doctor Emmons. He was ordained as pas- tor of the church in Middleboro', Mass., in 1816, and dismissed, at his own request, in the same year in which he was settled here. It would seem that he supplemented the labors of Mr. Shepard admirably, for in 1831 there was a great ingathering. His careful instructions in jiulpit and Sabbath school were at- tended with happy results, and, in the year mentioned, sixty- three were received into the church. He was dismissed at his own request April 20th, 1835, and accepted an invitation to la- bor in Halifax, Mass., where he continued to preach till his death at the age of sixty-five. After the dismission of Mr. Paine, Rev. Samuel W. Colburn 64 1012 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. labored here for three years, but his health seems not to have been permanent enough to justify a settlement. He was a native of Lebanon, N. H., a graduate of Dartmouth in 1808, and had been previously settled in West Taunton, Mass., but was dis- missed after three years labor because of ill health. He was afterward pastor at West Attleboro, Mass., for seventeen years. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. A. Reed, in New York city, in 1854. Rev. Alfred Goldsmith preached his first sermon here Febru- ary 1st, 1839. He was dismissed at his own request in the au- tumn of 1844. The Sunday following Reverend Goldsmith's dismission, it would seem that Rev. Samuel Beane began his ministry, which continued as stated supply for nearly two years, and after that for eleven years as pastor. He was a na- tive of New Hampshire, a graduate of Dartmouth and of Ando- ver Theological Seminary. His second request for dismissal was granted May 11th, 1857, after which he was principal of a western seminary for three years. At his death in 1865 he was pastor of a church at Norton, Mass. Within a month of Mr. Beane' s resignation, Nathaniel Beach of Middlel)ury, Mass., was installed. This pastorate continued until 1867 and was followed by tliat of Rev. George F. Walker, of Wellfleet, Mass. His pastorate, which was terminated in 1872 at his own request, was marked as having inaugurated an era of changes in the house of worship and the residence of the pastor. The first change consisted in remodeling the inside of the meeting house and frescoing the walls. Then the society sold their parsonage and lot, and bought another lot nearer the church, upon which they erected a large and convenient parson- age, at an additional cost of about §3,000. In 1871 they began work again upon the meeting house, which was completed about two years later. It included raising the house and putting underneath it a vestry, committee room, ladies' parlor, etc., the building of a tower and steeple, and painting the house — the whole requiring an expenditure of some $6,000. Later still the society placed in the church a beautiful and truly valuable pipe organ. In making all these improvements, the Ladies' Sociable con- nected with the church has been a valuable auxiliary. The so- ciety has existed under various names for forty-two years. It was organized in 1846, during the pastorate of Samuel Beane, as the "Peoiile's Colporteur's Society," having as its object the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1013 tiiaiiitenance of colporfenrs in the Mississippi Valley. In 1S.")2 il added to its objects that of general benevolence, and changed its name to the " Ladies Sewing Circle." In 3867 the name was changed to "The Ladies' Social Aid," and it is now known as ''The Ladies' Sociable." Since 1852 this society has, in addi- tion to a vast amount of benevolent work for objects abroad, aided the United Congregational Society to the considerable snm of more than $2,200. Between Mr. Walker's pastorate and the beginning of the present one, the church engaged, as stated supply, for nearly two years. Rev. A. M. Rice. The church, under the pastoral care of Rev. W. D. Hart (130) since October, 1875, has been prosperous in all the departments of its work. Two hundred years ago the dominant idea was the union of the church and the body politic. Here in the midst of Mr. Hart's labors record cannot be made of the chief characteristics of this pastorate, but in his love for, and labor in tiie cause of public secular education may be noticed a renaissance of that other doctrine of two centuries ago — -unhappily since too long untaiight — that the culture and expansion of the intellectual powers lie very closely along the line of religious development; that he who would develop the spiritual may not neglect the intellectual side of man's nature. On a tablet on the wall of the church is this inscription: In Memoriam. Rev. Richard Billings, Pastor 44 years. Died November 20th, 1748. Rev. Jonathan Ellis, Pastor 36 years, Died September 7th, 1785. Rev. Mase Shepard, Pastor 34 years. Died February 14th, 1821. Rev. Emerson Paine, Paf^tor 13 years, Died April 25th, 1851. Rev. Samuel Beane, Pastor 11 years. Died May 8th, 1865. 1014 HISTOKT OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The Christian Baptist church, at Adamsville, is an ecclesias- tical body of waning influence, once belonging with the Baptists of the Stone Church of Tiverton. They took the title "The Christian Baptist Church." and built the edifice now the public school building at Adamsville. The first religious services held in the town by the Methodist people were at the house of Lemuel Sisson, in 1820, preaching by Reverend Mr. Dorchester, of Portsmouth, once in two weeks. A local preacher, Levi Chase, also held meetings in various pri- vate houses early in 1821. July 7th, 1821, Reverend Daniel Webb, of Newport, preached at the house of Mr. Sisson, after which he baptized Mr. Ephraim Sisson and his wife, Mr. Job Sisson, his son John and daughter Mary, also Ann and Mary Brownell. He then organized the first Methodist class of Little Compton, and appointed Ephraim B. Sisson class leader. A lot for a church was purchased of Sylvester Brownell, at the head of what is now called '' Meeting House lane," and on this lot the first church was built, in 182.'). This building was subse- quently converted into a dwelling house, now owned by Abra- ham Wilber. The second Methodist Episcopal church, built in 1839-40, on a lot given by the town, was dedicated April ICth, 1840. This building is now "Odd-Fellows Hall." The present church building, erected in 1872, stands on Little Compton Commons. It was dedicated by Bishop Matthew Simpson, October 22d, 1872. The trustees of the first church were : Lemuel Sisson, John Sisson, Ezra Brownell, A. R. Brownell, Philiii Wilbour, Jon- athan Tallman and Samuel Dedrick, The successive pastors have been : Daniel Dorchester, 1820; Lsaac Stoddard, 1821-22; Milton French, 1823; Joel McKee, 1824; Newel Spaulding, 1825; David Culver, 1826; Amos Bin- ney, 1827; Stephen Puffer, 1828; Hiram Walden, 1829; William Barstow, 1830-31; Israel Washburn, 1832-33; G. W. Winches- ter, 1834; Henry Smith, 1835; Daniel H. Bannister, 1836; Philip Crandon, 1837-38; Joseph Brown, 1839; John C. Goodrich, 1840; Lemuel Harlow, 1841; John W. Case, 1842; Daniel Webb, 1843- 44; Philip Crandon, 1845-46; Richard Donkersley, 1847-48; Elihu Grant, 1849-50; G. W. Rogers, 1851; Carlos Bonning, 1852-53; B. L. Sayer, 1854-55; J. B. Weeks, 1856-57; Charles Hammond, 1858; John N. Collier, 1859; G. B. Cargill, 1860; C. A. Merrill, 1861-62; C. S. Sanford, 1863; S. W. Coggeshall, HISTORY OK NKWPOKT COINTY. 1015 1864-65; W. McKendree Bray, 1866; A. A. \Vri,-lif, 1867-69; Walter Ela, 1870-71; S. T. Patterson, 187-2-74; W. J. Smith, 1875-77; J. O. Tliompson, 1878-79; J. II. Huniplirev, 1880-82; E. W. Goodier, 1883-85; W. P. Stoddard, 1886. The first building erected in Little Compton, exclusively as a house of worship, was built in 1700 by the Society of Friends. For one hundred years this old "meeting house," with its high galleries, its open fire-place and its movable partition, served the purpose intended. By this partition the audience room could be divided into sections, one for the brethren, tiie other for the sisters. Men and women worshiped God, but each on their own side of that partition. All these Little Compton Quakers belonged to and attended the "monthly meeting" at Westport, Mass. The present meeting house was built on the old site in 1815. The leading member of the early society was John Irish, who, with his family, the Wilbours and the Peckhams, were among its earliest members. John Irish's wife was a sister of Colonel Benjamin Church. Their residence was just west of the old meeting house, the stone chimney of vvhich is remembered by residents here. It was standing long after the house to which it had belonged, as well as all the otlier houses of that early day, had been destroyed. John Peckham's wife was Elizabeth Wilbour, daughter of the original Samuel Wil- bour= (168). Edward Howland, one of a family long identified witli this society, is the last to maintain, with eccentric persistency, the "First Day" meeting, often worshiping alone. During some twenty years preceding 1884, Elder John Smith, from New Bedford, occasionally came to Little Compton and preached to the people the doctrines of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sometimes tlieir meet- ings were held in the school buildings, sometimes in private houses, and occasionally his own wagon .served for a rostrum and the Commons for an audience room. Elders John Gilbert and Cyril E. Brown also preached here during the same period. March 30th, 1884, the Little Compton liranch of this society was organized with eleven members. In tiie same j'ear they built themselves a sni;g chapel in the northern part of the town, where a large family and a small hill have furnisiied the local geography the descriptive term of Pearce hill. The seating ca- pacity of tills chapel is about two hundred. The first officers 1016 HISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. of this society were: Priest, Algeriiie O. Tripp; teacher, John L. Crosby; deacon, Joseph B. Pearce. Tiiey have now a mem- bership of thirty-two. Thp officers are: Priests, Samuel O. Wilbur and A. O. Tripp; elder, Joseph B. Pearce; deacons, William Whaley and Charles E. Briggs. Cemeteries.— The people who are moving and controlling the affairs of Little Compton to-day are six or more generations removed from the men and women who were in the prime of life when the first white man's grave was dug in the land of the Seconnets. Much of historic interest centers in the cemeteries and burial places throughout the town, wherein " The rude fore- fathers of the hamlet sleep." The old cemetery at the Commons contains the greater num- ber, and perhaps the most interesting, of these graves, but the private cemeteries in the town contain graves of more than fam- ily interest. The oldest dated grave in the town is that of Captain Edward Richmond, in a family plot on the farm now owned by William H. Chase. This was formerly the Richmond farm, and the burial place of the family is here. The captain's grave is marked by a rude slab with the date 1696. The earli- est date at the Commons is 1698, at the grave of Mary Price. Among the descendants of the Pilgrims who became residents of Little Compton was a woman whose name is ever a part of the song and the story of the quaint old town. She was a daugh- ter of John Alden, whose relation to the courtship of Miles Standish is a part of Longfellow's great poem. Her grave was at first marked, as that of her husband beside it is still marked, with a brown stone slab. The tradition which makes her the , first white woman born in New England suggested the propri- ety of some more substantial monument to mark the spot. This sentiment was reduced to practice, largely through the efforts of Mrs. Sarah S. Wilbour (170), and now the most notice- able monument here is the white marble shaft on this historic spot where a handful of dust has made some other dust seem sacred. Lito the west face of the monument the little old orig- inal headstone was sunk, with its inscription: "Here lyeth the body of Elizabeth the wife of William Pubodie who died May ye 31st, 1717, in tiie 94th year of her age." (North face.) Elizabeth Pabodie, daughter oe the Plymouth Pilgrims, John Alden IIISTOKY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. lOlT AND Pr[SCII-LA MuLLIN. The first white woman boun in New-England. (East face.) New Monument Erected June, 1882. (South.) A bud from Plymouth's Maj'flower sprung, Transplanted here to live and bloom, Her memory, ever sweet and young. The centuries guard within this tomb. — o — The four lines on the south side, from the pen of a resident poet (118), are a monument to him as much as the stone is to her. Immediately north of the monument is the grave of her husband, with its original headstone thus inscribed: Here Lyeth buried ye body of William Pabodie who departed this life Decembr yE 13TH 1707 in ye 88 year OF HIS AGE. Another interesting grave is covered with a horizontal slab- with this inscription: Here lyeth interred the Body of the Honorable Col. Benjamin Church Esqr. who departed this life January the 17th 1717-18 IN ye 78 YEAR OF HIS AGE. Near it is a like stone recording in similar phrase the death of his wife Alice, " March ye 5 A C 1718-19 in ye 73 year of her age." It is rarely the case in America that a direct line of six generations can be found in the grave-yards of one town. Here lie, however, of the Church family Joseph"', Joseph', Caleb', Ebenezer', Joseph", and John' and Nathaniel'. The antiquarians of this vicinity had their curiosity excited by a discovery, in 1887, of an ancient gravestone which ante- dates any heretofore known in tliis town. A Brooklyn gentle- man purchased the farm of the late Allen Gray, and in making repairs workmen found in the cellar a smooth, flat stone, which apparently had for many years served as a standing place for the farmer's pork tub. On bringing it into the light it was found to bear the following inscription : 1018 HISTORY OF NEVVPOKT COUNTT. " Or Jonathan Black- man, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, DEPARTED THIS LIFE July ye 3d 1690." The first Blackman known to have lived here was a Jonathan, born 1667, died Stli of Octol)er, 1717. His wife, Leah, born 1667, died 1st of October, 1741. The upper part of the stone is gone, but it is probable that the inscription may have been prefixed by the words, "Here lyeth the body, etc.," as Savage, in his genealogical dictionary, mentions a Jonathan Blackman, son of John and his wife Mary (Pond), of Dorchester, born 1658. Where this stone came from, and how " it came to this base use at last" are mj'steries, but the extensive carving indicates that it belong- ed to some one of wealth and jjosition. This land formerly be- longed to Edward Richmond (son of John of Ashton Keye.s), born in 1832, was attorney-general 1677 to 1680, died in 1696, and is buried a few rods west of the Gray house. His wife was Amy Bull, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth, of Newport. It was afterward owned by Colonel Sylvester (son of Ed ward), who married Elizabeth Rogers, great-granddaughter of John Alden on the maternal side,and of Thomas Rogers, of the "Mayflower," on the paternal side, and by him devised to his son, William Richmond. Adamsville. — On the eastern boundary of the town, sup- ported by a rural community including more of Westport and Tiverton than of Little Compton, is the post village of Adams- ville. West and south is that portion of Seconnet purchase known then, as it might well be now, by the designation of " The Woods." Isolated thus, as Adamsville is from the rest of the town to which it belongs, the social and commercial interests of the village are more closely allied to those of the region to the eastward in Massachusetts, and to the northward in Tiverton, than to the town of which it is geograiihicall}' and politically a part. This was the condition which obtained in 1788, when from Fair Haven came Samuel Church, and built here the first countrv store. The coming of Mr. Church, if it did not create an epoch in the historj^ of this community, was certainly contemjioraneous with that first awakening which may well be regarded as the be- ginning of Adamsville. He purchased the mill site and water HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1019 power, and erected the store nearest the stream, a building still standing, and which for the most of the intervening century has been used for the purpose first intended. The chaiiges of a hun- dred years would forcibly appear in a comparison of the nature and extent of the business of Samuel Church of 1788 with that of Philip J. Gray of 1888 in the same building. Then the stork of the stores consisted of the plainest necessaries of life; for tlie people of the vicinitj^, as a class, were poor, the wealtli of Comi^ton being then, more generally even than now, in the western portion of the town. Rum was a staple commodity in those days, and at one time as manj'as three stores in the little borough furnished that article of diet. South of his store Mr. Church built a salt works, utilizing the water of the bay, and the manufacture of that staple became no insignificant portion of the business of the place until, in the September gale of 1815, the works were nearly ruined. The plant was rebuilt, but; after the death of Mr. Church little, if anything, was done to render the business profitable. What might have been the future of that and other enterprises of his must remain conjectural, for his years were numbered at thirty- five, and the completion of his schemes was left to his widow and Ebenezer P. Church, his younger brother. The mansion lie had begun was finished by them, and is now the residence of his nephew, Thaddeus 11. (122). This younger brother came here in 1796 as his clerk, and in that capacity, or as proprietor, he was a part of the business history of Adamsville until his death. He lived a bachelor, acquired a fortune, and kept to the close of his life the confi- dence and esteem of the people. From the conflicting statements of those who can date from memory only, it is useless to attempt a chronological arrange- ment of the names of the merchants of the century here. Tiiis Ebenezer P. Church, as a merchant, was conspicuous and suc- cessful. With his brother Nathaniel, as E. P. & N. Church, he did business for several years, and in 1839 the late Philip Man- chester became his junior in a partnership which continued un- til his deatii in 1872. They occupied the store that Mr. Church built in 1820. It is still standing and is occupied by Mr. Man- chester's son, Abraham, as one of the two general stores here at this time. From the deatli of Mr. Church until the deatii of Mr. Manchester in 1878, the firm was Philip Manchester & Son. 1020 HISTOKY OF NKWPORT COUNTY. Another of Mr. Church's clerks, William A. Brown, became proprietor in a building which he erected, and whicli now, on another site, is the residence of George Palmer. The residence of Captain Calvin Manchester was also once a store kept by this Mr. Brown, for whom E. P. Church was at one time clerk. On the corner where John Tompkins now lives, a building was burned in 1855 which had been owned or occupied as a store by Colonel Nathaniel Tompkins, Geoi-ge W. Brown and Albert H. Simmons. East of this corner Joseph Hicks had a store at one time. The Philip J. Gray store mentioned has been occupied at various times since the days of Samuel Church by John Almy, Mr. Bliss, Isaac L. Tripp and Leroy M. White. In January, 1879, it i^assed into control of Mr. Gray, who owns and occupies it in his business as a general merchant. The proximity of Adamsville to Westport harbor quite nat- urally suggested to the early merchants the idea of a packet boat to connect them with the markets of Providence, while the Fall River market, as an outlet for the products of their cus- tomers' farms, makes constant employment for a number of men and teams. One of these early packets was run by Henry B. Simmons, when it was the principal means of communication for the merchants here and at the Commons with Providence, which then was the chief base of supplies. A line of coaches from Westport harbor to Fall River during the summer season, and a daily mail from New Bedford, connect Adamsville with the outside world. Electric communication with Fall River and New Bedford renders possible to-day a volume of business which could not be comj^assed by the methods of a hundred years ago. The first post office in the town of Little Compton was estab- lished here in 1804, and given the naine of the town. On the 8th of March, 1847, the name of the office was changed to Adamsville, to correspond with the name of the village. The first i^ostmaster was the old merchant, Samuel Church, whose appointment was dated October 1st, 1804. He served until July 1st, 1810, Avhen William A. Brown was given the appoint- ment, and held the office as long as it was called Little Comp- ton. Albert B. Cory was appointed the day the name was changed, and Nathaniel Tompkins was appointed April 8th of the following year; Philip Manchester, May 14th, 1850; IIISTOKV Of NKWPOIIT COUNTY. 1021 Albert H. Simmons, June .jtli, 18G1; Philip Manchester, August 6th, 1862; and his son Abrahiim, the present incumbent, July 9th, 1878. Potter's Corners. — Between the Commons and Adamsvilleis a district known as Potter's Corners, including school number seven of the town, wliicii is second in size only to the one ut Simmons' hill. A store was lo(!ated here in 1860 by Noah M. Castino in a private residence. In 1880, Ernest L. Manchester built the store on the corner here, wliich, two years later was sold to Mrs. Castino (169), who has since, by good management, made the business successful. The mail for this community is handled by Mrs. Castino at the store as preliminary to the lo- cating of a government office here. Education. — The attention given to public education is an- other criterion for judging the standard of morality and cul- ture of any people. By this standard, the town of Little Comp- ton ranks as equal to any in the state, and in the early years of its history as much attention was given to the subject of public instruction as other towns reserved until a later period in their development. Nathaniel Searles, one of the leading minds in the early stages of the social development here, was the first man chosen in town meeting to the position of schoolmaster. This was in 1698 or 1699. He was chosen from year to year, his duties prescribed and his wages determined. This is the way they did it: "No- vember 20th, 1710. Nathaniel Searles is to be the Schol Mas- ter of this town for one year from the date of these presents And the town to pay him his years Sallary £26. The Schol is to be keept as foUoweth, the first half year to be keept wliere he now liveth & the third qiuirter at Lut. ^yoods or thareabouts & the last quarter at Will palmers or sum whare thareabouts." The idea of school districts had this early beginning, and it appears that no officei's were charged as now with the care of the schools as a separate duty, for on tiie 15th of May, 1712, it was "Voted that this town meeting Doth advise the Selectmen ther of to procure A Schol iVfaster for this Towne & to remove quar- terly in to the four quarters of this Towne where the Selectmen shall order him to teach Schol." Ten years later. May 7tli, 1722, " Rogger Huzzill was chosen school master for the ensuing year for to teach & instruct our children & youth in reading, Writting & Arithmetick & to have 1022 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. for his servise fonrty 8 pound and to be paid quarterly & to move his school quarterly as the town shall order." This custom of having four schools in the town was given the dignity of a town law in 1722. The control of the four schools was delegated to men residing in the respective parts of the town. This is their record in the premises: "June 15th, 1722. Voted that this town shall be divided into four quarters according to the Numb'r of houses Aaron Davis, Richard Grenill, & William Briggs of John, are chousen to order whare the school shall be keept in ye northwest quar- ter of the town. Voted George Peirce, Richard Heart, Thomas Stodded, are chousen to order whare the school shall be keept in ye North east quarter of the town, voted George Brownell, William Wilbur, & William Wilbur son of Joseph are chousen to order whare the school shall be keept in ye south est quarter of the town, voted Thomas Church, Joseph Southworth & Ensign Peter Taylor are chousen to order where the school shall be keept att the south west quarter of tliis town." The life of Mase Shepard, as pastor for more than a third of a century, was as much a part of the educational as of the re- ligious history of the town. The Puritan clergy measured use- fulness by intellectual as well as spiritual results, and we may expect to find that feature conspicuous in the practice of the Congregational churches which, more truly than any other, may be considered, in form, as the successor of the Pilgrim fathers. His son, Professor Charles U. Shepard of New Haven, Conn., writing on this subject and alluding to Ray Palmer, the poet, says: " It was through my father's exertions that a very superior instructor was obtained for the special benefit of a few families resident near the center of the town. One of these was that of Judge Thomas Palmer, between whose family and ours there existed a close intimacy. The teacher employed was Rev. John Sandford, of Berkley, Mass. Mr. Sandford was an uncommonly fine English scholar, and in every respect a lovely character. In particular, he was a zealous and inspiring teacher. A portion of his success evinced itself in that of some of his pupils in their after life; and in none more strikingly than in two of the young Palmers, one of whom became a prosperous merchant in Boston, but whose wealth was as nothing compared with his extraordi- nary excellence of character and Christian usefulness; the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1023 other, rising if ])ossible, s(ill higlier in the public estimation as young ladies' teacher, a pastor, the manager of an important Christian charity, a literary writer, and most of all, as the author of a hymn destined to he sung around the globe by every kindred and tongue where the name of Jesus is spoken or his dying love adored." In August, 1722, Thomas Gray was chosen to teach with the title, then for the first time used in the records, "Grammar- School master." He taught for one year and then the town in- structed " Joseph Southworth their Representative to inquire at Cambridge for a Grammar school master to serve the town and to know what he wishes j^ear and when he can come." This idea of giving a townsman charge of the hiring a teacher is the first trace of the school trustee system under which all the schools are now managed. This was the recognized method in June, 1725, when the town meeting directed that " Mr. George Pierce be desired to agree with Mr. James Robonson to keep school in Little Compton one year and not to exseed 40 pounds for said year, and to move quarterly if ye Town sh'ld cause, also to teach all children that are sent to him to read, wright sypher and Latten." Ray Palmer, himself, speaking on this subject of school fa- cilities in his native town, recalls the names of Steuben Taylor, Jonathan Bigelow and John Sandford as among the teachers of his time. To Mr. Sandford he attributes the formation of the library of that time which, as managed by Esquire Pardon Brownell, was for years an important element in the educational problem of the town. Isaac B. Richmond, who.se relations to the church are noticed elsewhere, was the means of having an academy opened here at the Commons, and for .seven or eight years a higher education was within the reach of tlie people at home. The building, now a tenement, standing south of his homestead, then stood a few rods south of Thomas Briggs' residence. Under the pro- vision of the state law for a free school, Little Complon in 1846 voted $120. The public school system of the town now consists of ten schools. The school census of January, 1886, shows 202 between five and fifteen years of age. Eighty live per cent, of this num- ber were in average daily attendance. For the last current year the town particii)ated in the educational fund of the state to the amount of $1,247.89. 1024 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. The superintendent is William D. Hart, whose great personal care for the general as well as particular interests of the schools has, during his five years of service, been a potent impulse to- Avard their substantial advancement. His reports to the town are models of neatness and care, and it seems that his ser- vice, much of it in excess of his prescribed duty, is well ap- preciated. The Free Public Library here is the outgrowth of a library established about 1845 by certain shareholders, who purchased a small collection, consisting principally of Harper's publica- tions. Public interest in this collection was so inconsiderable, and the revenue from fines and assessments so insignificant, that the library was of very little value as an element of public edu- cation, when the state law was passed providing an appropria- tion of fifty dollars per annum in aid of any town establishing a library of five hundred volumes. Frederi(;k R. Brownell was instrumental in securing the consent of the stockholders to turn over to the town the whole collection. The books were accepted by the town in town meeting, and Mr. Brownell was appointed a committee to secure the aid from the state. The first board of managers were Frederick R. Brownell, Ben- jamin F. AVilburand Jediah Shaw. Doctor Cowan was libra- rian while he was town clerk. Philip H. Wilbur was elected manager, vice Jediah Shaw, deceased. The collection, now numbering eleven hundred volumes, is increased annually by the state appropriation. F. R. Brownell is librarian. Business Interests.— Little Compton is essentially an agri- cultural town, and the principal revenues of the present gen- eration are the products of the farms, consisting of corn, hay and live stock. Within the last few years the raising of poul- try for the city markets has been added, to a greater or less ex- tent, to nearly every farmer's business. Many of the people make this their main dei)endence, and following a nearly uni- form system, the fields through the town are dotted with the buildings where the flocks are colonized. The middle man is not a great favorite with the average Granger, but this indus- try, whatever may come to be its proportions, may be credited to those who have made a ready market at home for all these products by becoming themselves middle men and trustworthy buyers. The city market for dressed poultry is the ultimate outlet HISTOKY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 1025 for these products. The collecting of the stock from the vari- ous farmers and handling it, with reference to the prices and demands of the outside market, is a business of considerable proportions. E. A. Cornell, of Adamsville, and the firm of Brightman & Lincoln (111) are principally depended upon in this matter by the producers in the town. Mr. Brightnuin be- gan this business at his farm in ]881. They killed and shipped, in 1886, not less than 3,000 geese, 3,.'500 ducks and 6,500 other fowls. During the time they were fitting this stock for market $1,500 worth of grain was fed. Pour men, besides the partners, are employed. They depend upon New York and Boston mar- kets. Wild geese are bred in the town. A pair weighing forty pounds is not exceptional, the price frequently reaching 28 or 30 cents per pound. The first grist mill in the vicinity, accommodating the fami- lies of Little Compton, was the one at the Puncatest settlement, ill Tiverton. Another, just east of the town line at Adamsville, at a later date began to supply a portion of the people of this town. These were the water mills of an early day, both outside the town whose patronage was their partial support. The first water mill erected within this town was between the Commons and Adamsville. It is still standing — or one in the same place — known as the Simmons mill. Benjamin Simmons, the father of Samuel Simmons (156), built the dam about the year 1750, and erected a mill with two run of stones. Here, for years, the families of this town and part of Tiverton were supplied with Hour and meal. Tiie power was secured by an old-fashioned "undershot" wheel which has since given place to the modern Turbine. The mill passed through the hands of other generations of the Simmons family, was owned by Nathan Skinner, George R. Brownell, George H. Woodman, and is now the property of James N. Pierce. South of Potters' Corners, a half mile, William Mauley built a grist mill which he subsequently sold to Peleg Peckbam {l-i'2). It was owned later by Gideon Church and came to be generally known as the Church mill. It was abandoned about 1848. On the farm of Thomas E. White was a water grist mill, built probably by Adam Simmons for his son Isaac. The water supply was that which the original proprietors reserved for common use when they plotted the seventy-four house lots for the village site in 1677. As the farms along this stream were 1026 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. cleared and tilled, the supply of water was diininislied and the mill abandoned. Wind power was utilized here at an earlj' day for grist mill purposes, but now there are none of these mills in operation in the town. One on the Butler lot near the Commons, was abandoned about forty years since. For several years, before and after J800, a large mill was in operation at Seconnet point where Doctor Gardner's cottage now stands. It was probably built by William Roach before either of the other two men- tioned. The octagonal wind mill, with its four canvas sails, is as much an institution and product of New England as Thanks- giving, or pumpkin j)ie, or Indian summer, and several have served their day and generation — some of them two genera- tions — in the domestic economy of Little Compton, in reduc- ing to meal the native corn, as the first stej) in the preparation of that delectable dish known as the New England "Johnny Cake." The mills themselves, like the mills of the Gods, grind slow. They are winged creatures, surely, and some are of the migratory species. One of these was built in 1828 in Tiv- erton by Cook Almy who sold it to George A. Gray who* re- moved it to Little Compton where it did service until 1880. Daniel B. Almy of Portsmouth bonght it that year, and remov- ing its parts to that town, again set it up. In May, 1665, a mutual fire insurance comjiany was incorpo. rated by thestatelegislature, to do a local business in this town and Tiverton. The first board of directors consisted of Isaac B. Richmond, who was chosen president, Gideon H. Durfee, Oliver C. Brownell, Charles W. Howland, Isaac C Wilbour, and Job Wordell. Andrew H. Manchester was made a director in 1876, Henry Durfee in 1881, Frederick R. Brownell in 1883, and Henry I. Richmond in 1884. Israel Allen was elected secretary 1865, Preston B. Richmond 1866, Frederick R. Brownell 1883. The treasurers elected have been: Gideon H. Durfee, 1865; Henry Durfee, 1880; Job Wordell, 1881. Mr. Wordell is the company's agent for Tiverton, and George F. Taylor for Little Compton. In 1884 the present president, Isaac C. Wilbour, was elected. Their assets in June, 1887, were !?10,0il0 in savings banks, and premium notes amounting to over $70,000. The executive committee in 1887 consisted of Isaac C. Wilbour, president ex officio, and Oliver C. Brownell, Frederick R. Brownell and Henry I. Richmond. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1027 Nearly all the lire risks of the two towns are carried by this company, and their experience warrants a continuation of this system of insurance. The premium notes are written obliga- tions of the insured. Dividends to the makers of these notes are declared from the net earnings of the company. An enterprise, bearing an important relation to the future possibilities of the town, was undertaken in 1887 by a company of six persons; John Sisson, George Drowne, Frank T. Church, Valentine Simmons, John Davis and Mrs. Doctor Cowan. Late in the fall they finished a hotel at the Point, the only one in the town, which every indication shows is to be a nucleus of a large summer community there. It is known as the Seconnet Point hotel. 65 CHAPTER XXI. TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON {Concluded). Colonel Benjamin Church.— Colonel John Church. — Nathaniel Church.— Joseph Church.— Thomas Church.— William Pabodie.— Major Sylvester Brownell.— Isaac Bailey Richmond. — James F. Simmons. — George W. Briggs, D. D.— Ray Palmer.— The Coe Family.— Colonel Henry T. Sisson.— Levi W. Sisson. — Ephraim Bailey Sisson. — Albert Seabury.— George Arnold Gray.— Edward Wing Rowland. — Philip W. Almy.— Personal Paragraphs. THE lives of several men, well known bej^ond the narrow bounds of this little township, have reflected credit upon this as the place of their birth or residence. No question has been raised in two hundred years but that Colonel Benjamin Church, in his military, business and political relations, was the most conspicuous figure in the local history of the town. His fame and his usefulness were as broad as New England, and in the general histories of the new world his deeds are always recognized. He and his brother Joseph each were original own- ers in the first Seconnet purchase. They were sons of Richard Church, an Englishman, who came to America in 1630 and died at Dedham in 1667. His will, dated shortly before his death, says: " Equally divided * * * only my son Joseph shall have a dubble portion * * * by reason of the lameness of his hand whereby he is disabled above the rest of my children from the getting of a livelihood." Colonel Church thoroughly understood the character of the Indians and their modes of warfare, which latter he adopted with great success. He was to southern New England what Miles Standish had been to the first generation of Plymouth colonists — a buckler and shield in the hour of danger; but he had far more experience in military affairs than fell to the lot of the Pilgrim captain. It was destined for him to strike the first and the last decisive blows in Philip's war, by which he is now best known to fame. So great was the reputation he gained that he was afterward constantly called to the field to repel the HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1029 French and Indians at the north and east. He served in no less than five expeditions against Canada and Maine, ascommander- in chief of the colonial forces sent out by the roj'al governors of New England. The first time was at the request of Sir Edmund Andros, in 1689; again, in 1690, by Hinckley; then, in 1692, he was commissioned by Sir William Phipps; next, in 1696, by Staughton; and finally, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, he was urged by Governor Dudley, in 1704, to command the forces for the fifth time sent out against the French, and accepted. He was born at Duxbury in 1639. He married Alice Southvvorth, granddaughter of the distinguished wife of Governor Bradford, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. The wife of the late Deacon Sylvester Brownell, of Little Compton, was his great-granddaughter. Colonel Church was killed by a fall from his horse, January 17th, 1717-18, in his seventy-eighth year. The history of his wars, under the title "Entertaining passages relating to Philip's War, with some account of the Divine Prov- idence toward Benjamin Church," was written by his son, Thomas, from the colonel's dictation. The volume contains a Latin ode by a grandson, attesting ohe scholarship of his de- scendants. Some branches of the family have settled in differ- ent parts of the state or moved elsewhere. Some of the descend- ants of the old hero still reside in Little Compton, where they preserve the position and the patrimonial estates inherited from their illustrious ancestor. Governor Winslow, in his letter to the king, June 26th, 1677, accompanying presents of the spoils of Philip, "being his Crown, his Gorge and two Belts of their own making of their goulde and silver taken from him by Capt. Benjamin Church," speaks of Church as " a person of loyalty, and the most successful of our commanders." The original let- ter is in the British State Paper Office, New England papers. Vol. IIL, page 16. Colonel John Church,* son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Tay- lor) Church, was born in Little Compton, on the 17th day of March, 1794. He was a lineal descendant of Ilicliard Church and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Warren, who came in the "May Flower," in 1620. The dii'ect line of descent is John'; Joseph', 1764-1840; Ebenezer', 172r)-1825; Caleb', 1701- 1769; Joseph', 1663-1715; Joseph', 1638-1711; Richard', 1608- 1667. By F. R. Brownell. 1030 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. John' moved to Providence about 1812, and was connected with John H. Green in bnsiness, as an architect and builder. He afterward became the senior partner of the reliable firm of Church & Sweet. Being interested in military affairs, he be- came colonel of the Piovidence infantry, and while occupying that official position, escorted General Lafayette into and out of Providence, when that distinguished friend of our country vis- ited Rhode Island in the year 1824. He was a member of the city council of Providence in 1832, director of the Providence , Mutual Fire Insurance Company for many years, and of sev- eral of the Providence banks. THE CHURCU HOMESTEAD. In 1841 Colonel Church retired from business in Providence and returned to his native town, where he had previously erected a house on the large estate which had been owned by his ances- tors from the time of the first settlement of Little Compton, and which is now owned by his sons, John and William S. This beautiful country home was the hospitable center of a large circle of relatives and friends for the remainder of his life. He represented his native town in the general assembly several years, was a member of the town council, and held other offices; but having no desire for office, he many times refused the so- licitations of his friends to be a candidate. With his excellent wife. Prudence W. Simmons, whom he married in 1816, he -*^ HISTORY OF NKWI'OIIT COUNTy. 1031 united with the Coiiiiref^iitioniil L-liurch in Little Conipton about 1852. He died November 18th, 1882. He was a man of line personal appearance, of great decision of cliaracter, of unswerving integrity, a lover of peace and good order, a helper in every good work, and possessed tlie esteem and respect of all who knew him. The memory of his manly life is a rich legacy for his children, and will long be cherished by his friends. "Without fear and without reproach," might truly have been his epitaph. Nathaniel Ckurch. — Joseph Church, the grandfather of the subject of this biography, and his wife, Elizabeth, had children : John, Peter, Benjamin, Susan (Mrs. Augustus Peck- ham), Lydia (Mrs. James Brownell), and Nathaniel. The last named son was born Decend^er 17th, 1801, in Little Compton, and married Sarah C, daugiiter of Gray and Hannah Wood. Their children are : Cordelia, born in 1827; Hannah E., 1828; Mary A., 1830, deceased; Francis T., 1832; William M., 1835, deceased; Joseph, 1837, deceased; Alexander, 1839; Henry S., 1841, deceased ; Eliza, 1843, deceased ; and Natha- niel. General Nathaniel Church for nearly two generations tilled a prominent jdace in the political and social life of the county. At the age of thirty-two he entered the general assem- bly as representative, and was from that date a member of the upper or lower house for thirty-four years. During the early days of the rebellion he, as the oldest member of the senate, acted as governor for a brief period. When the militia was or- ganized he received a brigadier general's commission and took great pride in discharging the duties of the position. His genial nature won for him many friends and caused him to be sincerely mourned. His son, Nathaniel (who is the nephew of Colonel John Church of the preceding biography), was born December 13th, 1845, in Little Compton, where, with the exception of a brief interval in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, he has since resided. His education is more the result of observation and caieful habits of thought than of hours spent over his books at .school. Bred to the work of the farm in his youth he has since been de- voted to his chosen calling and occupied the homestead farm. To this he has added an extensive traffic in grain, flour and feed. Mr. Churcli was married on the 17th of January, 1861), to Mary E., daughter of Alfred C. and Elvira M. Briggs, born 1032 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. March 26th, 1849. Their only child, a daughter, Sarah W., was born November 23d, 1876. Alfi-ed C. Briggs was born May 21st. 1813, and died June .^th, 1886. Plis wife, Elvira M., was born May 16th, 1820, and died November 3d, 1849. Mr Church has always given his supi)ort to the republican party in politics. He was elected rejiresentative to the general as- sembly in 1885 and 1886, and in 1887 senator from his district, serving meanwhile on the committees on fisheries and state property. He was also appointed one of the commissioners of the stone bridge connecting Tiverton and Portsmouth. Mr. Church fills the role of that important individual, the township auctioneer, and in various other ways has made his presence indispensable to the township. Joseph Church, son of Richard', was the oldest brother of Colonel Benjamin. His descendants, although widely scat- tered, have always been represented in Little Compton, and the property owned by him in 1681, in which year he moved to Seconnet from Hinghara, Massachusetts, is still owned by John Church', son of Colonel John', and several families from the same ancestral line reside here, one of the sons in each gener- ation remaining at home and inheriting the farm. Thomas Church* (Thomas', Benjamin", Richard') was a military man of more than local reputation. He commanded the Rhode Island regiment at the siege of Boston. His home in Little Compton was at Seconnet point, where Colonel Henry T. Sisson now lives. His regiment, " the 15th Regiment of foot," was at Jamaica Plains in 1775. It consisted of five com- panies from five of the Newport county towns. In it were seventy-four men from Little Comj^ton as privates. Their captain was Thomas Brownell, Aaron Wilbour was lieutenant, and Aaron Wilbour, Jr., was ensign. The muster roll of this regiment was sadly mutilated, but what remains of its pages are in possession of Mrs. Wilbour (170), who received them from the colonel's great-granddaughter. William Pabodie, whose grave at the Commons is mention- ed, was a conspicuous man in the early affairs of the town. He was for many years clerk of the Seconnet proprietors. The respect with which he was regarded, and the respectful manner in which some jjublic business was done by the gallant gentle- men of the old school are both vividly portrayed in this entry in their records, September 24th, 1702: " Mr Peter Tay- fc»-\ft-\X»t» i %rt.*»'\V^1 \». ^. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1033 lor was chosen a Clerk of the said Proprietors, Not thereby to diminish Mr William Peabodie, the ancient Clerk, but that either of them May officiate in the said Office, and the reason and intent of our so doing is that the ancient Clerk, while he liveth, may inform the New Clerk in many things touching the records of the lands of the said proprietors, which cannot so well be understood by a stranger." His home was south of the original thirty "Great Lots." Some question has arisen within the last few years as to the location of his homestead. The farm now owned by George A. Gray was the property of John Pabodie in 1762, and on the 24th of April of that year he deeded to Pardon Gray, for £14,000, " Old Tenner" bills of credit, eighty acres, which in the description is called the "homestead where I now live." If this was the Pabodie homestead no doubt the remnants of the original house are in the present buildings of Mr. Gray. Major Sylvester Brownell" (Jonathan*, 1719-1776; George", 1685-1756; Thomas', 1650-1732; Thomas', 1619-1665) was born November 20th, 1757. In his eighteenth year he enlisted in the revolutionary army, and was one of the thousand men who, under Colonel Prescott, on the night of the 16th of June, 1775, marched from Cambridge to Breed's hill and threw up the re- doubt which, the next day, brought on the battle of Bunker Hill. He served through the war, and was in the disastrous battle of Long Island under General Sullivan, and afterward in the bat- tle of Rhode Island. In 1778 he married Mercy, daughter of Colonel Thomas Chui'ch, and great-grandaugliter of Colonel Benjamin Church, the hero of King Philip's war. He had eleven children. The oldest, Thomas Church Brownel!,was edu- cated at Brown University, and after a professorship at Union College, Schenectady, studied theology and was rector of Trinity church. New York city, elected bishop of the diocese of Connecticut, and founded and was first president of Trinity College, Hartford. His statue adorns the public park there. Sylvester was for nearly twenty years a senator in the Massa- chusetts legislature. In 1804 he was elected deacon of the United Congregational church in Little Compton. He died in Little Compton March 21st, 1840. Deacon Brownell was much re- spected for his intelligence and public spirit, and his opinions, after a lapse of half a century, are quoted by the older inhabi- tants of the town. Professor Shephard, of Yale, once said of 1034 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. him: "For genuine excellence and dignity of character he was a model man, and greatly esteemed by my father." His sons, Pardon, Richmond and Jonathan, were educated at Union Col- lege, Schenectady. Sylvester Brownell's commission as major, by John Hancock, governor of Massachusetts, is now in posses- sion of his grandson, Frederick R. Brownell, Esq., of Little Comj^ton. Isaac Bailey Richmond. — The earliest Richmond of whom there is authentic record came from France to England with the Conqueror in the year 1066. We next hear of William Rich- mond of Druycot Hall in 1390. The progenitor of the family in America was Col. John Richmond, who came from Ashton, Heynes, Wiltshire, England, in 1637. He settled in Taunton, Massachusetts, but later removed to Little Compton, accom- panied by his sons, John and Edward. The latter, from whom the subject of this biography is descended, purchased land at Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1661, and at East Grreenwich in 1667, but ultimately settled in Little Compton. Edward was born in 1632 and died in 1696. His son. Colonel Sylvester Richmond, was born in 1673 and died in 1754. He was a lieutenant and justice of the jieace, afterward became a colonel, and was an influential and highly respected citizen. His son. Captain Perez Richmond, born in 1702, died in 1770. He married Deb- orah Loring in 1731 and had ten children, of whom Joshua, the eldest son, was born in 1734 and died in 1778. He married in 1761, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Deborah Barker Cush- ing, of Scituate, Massachusetts. Among their sons was Joshua, whose birth occurred in 1770 and his death in 1812. He mar- ried in 1797, Mary, daughter of Isaac and Sarah M. Bailey, and had six children as follows: Isaac Bailey, Mary, John Cash- ing, Joshua, Mary 2d and William. Isaac Bailey Richmond was born June 14th, 1798, in Little Compton. Here and in Providence, at that date the home of his parents, his childhood was passed. His education was re- ceived at the common schools and under the direction of Rev. Mase Shepard, after which, at the early age of fourteen, he was apprenticed to Mr. John H. Green of Providence, a well known house builder and one of the foremost architects of the country. Mr. Green having received an order to build a large edifice for the congregation of the Independent Presbyterian church of Savan- nah, Georgia,ai)pointed his apprentice as foreman to superintend a z o 2 X o u < o < < (0 u. w o z Q 5) u c o IIISTOKY OF NEWPOKT COUNTY. 1035 this work. The young man, though but niuetfen years of age, ac- cepted the position, and tlirough it became favoraldy l^nown in Savannah, where he determined to locate, and for twenty years thereafter conducted a prosperous business as house buihler and lumber dealer. His wife's health having failed, he returned to Little Compton and purchased the property now embraced in his present home. Mr. Richmond soon after established a lum- ber trade in New Bedford, and also acted as agent for various parties engaged in the whaling l)usiness, being himself largely interested in these ventures. For a pei'iod of thirty years these commercial relations were continued. Little Compton still being his home. Mr. Richmond, on the 30th of September, 1823, married Aba- gail Brown, who was born September 15th, 1803, and died July 14th, 1884. Their children are: Henry Isaac, Horatio Whit- ridge, Georgia Anna, Preston Baker, William Brown, Charles Gushing, Abby Elizabeth and Joshua Bailey. Mr. Richmond, aside from his jirivate business, has been interested in many corporate enterprises. He was the projector, and for nineteen years president of the Tiverton and Little Compton Mutual Insurance Company, and a director of the Commercial Insur- ance Company of New Bedford. His political affiliations have been either whig or republican. He represented his district in the state senate in 1870 and 1871, has been a notary public, president of the town council, and filled other township offices. Mr. Richmond, or Deacon Richmond, as he is familiarly known, in his Christian life has exhibited, as his most marked characteristic, a firm, undeviating loyalty to the truth. It has ever been his aim to do right. He has sought to do his duty; first of all his duty toward God, and then as faithfully his duty toward man. While susceptible, in a high degree, to influences flowing from the love of God, yet the impression which he has made ujion his fellow-men is that of a life grounded upon prin- ciple rather than emotion. Consequently he has e.vhibited a steady, abiding interest in every good work. His position nii any question of duty was clearly defined and easily ascertained, and when once known, was known forever; for as the truth al- ways remains the same, so his loyalty to the truth compelled him to be unswerving in his position toward it. This is not to say that he never changed liis opinion, but only as new light revealed the truth in a different aspect. On this principle he 1036 HrSTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. has been the fast friend of every cause which liad for its object the spread of the truth as it is in Jesus. Hence we find that for years he has been a liberal annual con- tributor to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Home Missionary Society, the American Missionary Association, the American Bible Society, the Amer- ican Tract Society, the American Seamen's Friend Society, the American Education Society, the American Colonization Soci- ety, the Congregational Union, the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, the New West Education Com- mission, the Rhode Island Temperance Union, and doubtless to other benevolent organizations. Of many of these societies he is a life member, and of three or four he made also his wife and each of his eight children life members, desiring thus to culti- vate an interest on the part of his children for those objects so dear to himself. But his strongest attachment has been for the United Congre- gational church and society of his own town. For more than fifty years this church has received his almost constant care, his warmest prayers, his frequent tears, and his great lal)or of love. A deacon for nearly all this period, performing his du- ties wi(h singular fidelity, dignity and love; as Sunday school superintendent, carrying the gospel into less favored parts of the town; as clerk and treasurer of the church, keeping its rec- ords with almost faultless accuracy; as president and treasurer of the society, managing its financial interests with remarkable sagacity; and as member of the standing committee, watching every department with the keenest interest, his wise counsels were felt in the whole administration of the church. In matters of religious doctrine, while cherishing a hopeful view of the ultimate success of the kingdom of Christ, he has, during all his Christian life, been conservatively orthodox. Tills is clearly shown b}' the doctrinal part of the church man- ual, which, although the adopted sentiment of the whole church, was prepared by him alone. To very few persons is given the opportunity for such extended usefulness, and to still less the ability to fill each position with such efficiency. It would be a long story to tell of his deeds of charity. The Bible Depository, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, which was inaugurated and managed pi-incipally by him, being kept for twenty years in his house, and the Richmond Acad- mSTOKY Ob' NKWPORT COUNTY. 1037 emy, wliich he established by erecting suitable buildings and procuring teachers, and sustained for a period of years for the benefit of his own and other children, are examples of that Christian enterprise which has ever marked his course. As a result of this faithful adherence to Christian principles, Dea- con Richmond has ever held an honored place in the resi)ect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. James F. Simmons' (Davis*, 1769-1832; George', 1731-1809; William', 1699-1774; William', 167.'5) was born in Little Comp- ton September 10th, 179o. His means of education were lim- ited to the schools of the rural neighborhood. Trained to the hard}' labors of the farm, his evenings were occupied by study, and at an early age he manifested a taste for finance and com- merce, and when quite young established himself in Providence, and soon after in Johnston, R. I., where he lived until his death. Johnston was then a stronghold of the democratic party for several years. Mr. Simmons contended with the dominant party, but in 1827 was elected to the legislature, where he soon rose to a commanding position, and where he continued, with brief intermission, till 1810, when he was elected to the United States senate for the term commencing in March, 1841, with the administration of General Harrison. Clay and Cal- houn were then in the senate, and Webster had just left it for the state department. Mr. Simmons was a manufacturer and a high taritf man; his memory was remarkably teiuicious of statistics, and lie soon took a high position on financial questions. It is said that Mr. Clay declared on one occasion that Mr. Simmons knew more about finance than any other man in the nation. In 1847, after one of the most memorable struggles ever held in this state, Mr. Simmons was succeeded by John H. Clark. It is said that Mr. Simmons was defeated in consequence of his advocating the pardon of Thomas W. Dorr, who was then in prison on a life sentence for treason. In 1857 he was again elected to the senate. He was a warm supporter of Henry Clay and his personal friend, in his first term in the senate. Soon after taking his seat, he made a powerful speech on the currency, which estab- lished his reputation as a sound thinker and a practical man ac- quainted with matters of trade and commerce. Upon these matters he was always an authority and his views commanded 11 1038 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the respect and attention of his colleagues. The subject to which he gave his greatest study was tlie tariff, and his reten- tive memory and familiarity with financial and commercial sta- tistics gave him great power in debate. Mr. Simmons was tall and elegant in person, but plain and simple in manners. Few men have liad, to a greater degree, the power of attaching friends to them, and few have been followed with greater personal devotion. He died July 13th, 1864. George W. Briggs, D. D., of Cambridge, is a man remem- bered here with love and respect. Ray Palmer, the poet, was born here (131) and his sister, Mrs. Thomas B. Grinnell is still a resident of the town. The Coe Family.— Early generations of the Coe family were prominent here. The grave of John Coe" (106) is south of the Pabodie monument, in the cemetery at the Commons. He was a son-in-law of Elizabeth Alden Pabodie, having married her daughter Sarah. George S. Coe, president of the American Ex- change National Bank, of New York, is one of the descendants. Colonel Henry T. Sisson. — Whoever would know of the prominent men of New England who are or have been a part of the local history of Newport county, must have some knowledge of the life and public services of the gentleman, now a resident of Seconnet, whose well known name and well earned title head this i)aragraph. Henry Tillinghast Sisson was born Au- gust 20th, 1831. His father, David Sisson, was one of the thir- teen children of Lemuel Sisson. Lemuel was a native of Ports- mouth, R. I., in which town David was born on the 16th of February, 1803. In 1811 the family removed to Newport, whence they came in 1816 to Seconnet point, where Lemuel be- came a tenant on the Roach estate, then one of the best farms in Little Compton. Here Lemuel reared his seven sons and six daughters. Here David was trained to the life of a farmer, and after he and his brother had succeeded their father as tenants, he became the owner of the Roach farm. This property, now occupied by Colonel Sisson, is the estate once owned by Colonel Thomas Church and is said to have previously been the property of his grandfather, Colonel Benjamin Church. It is unques- tionably the most valuable land projjerty on the Seconnet pen- insula. Colonel Sisson has been principally engaged for the last several years in managing this property, plotting it and getting it into the market as building sites for summer cottages. HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1039 Eight generations of white owners have made this locality his- toric. As the home of Colonel Church it is of more than pass- ing interest. As the site of the Roach mill it has been men- tioned in the preceding chapter. As the home of Lemuel Sisson it became the Mecca of the early Methodists. The active days of David Sisson' s life were passed outside of Newport county. Beginning at the age of twenty-three as clerk at Fall River for the Fall River Iron Works Company, he was made their agent in 1837 and put in charge of a branch establishment at Provi- dence, where he soon after removed his family, which consisted in part of his wife, who was a daughter of Tillinghast Bailey, of Little Compton, and the son, Henry T., then a lad of eight years. The name of David Sisson from that time until his death was closely identified with mercantile and manufacturing enterprises, including the American Print Works, the Globe Print Works, the American Linen Manufacturing Company and the Providence Tool Company. He was a man of indom- itable energy — a characteristic of his father — and a high ideal of moral and religious duty, a quality conspicuous in the char- acter of his mother. Colonel Sisson was educated at the Gorham Academy, Maine, and fully prepared for college there and at the University Grammar School at Providence. Prior to 1861 he was engaged in various manufacturing and mercantile pursuits, but the opening of the civil war created an era in his life and led to the military career by which he will be best known to posterity. In 1851 he connected himself with the Providence Marine Corps of artillery as a private, and in the same year he received an appointment upon the staff of its colonel, George L. Andrews, the present senior colonel in the United States army. He after- ward acted as major under Governor Sprague, who was colonel of the organization. Probably no man living has displayed more activity in the militia organization of Rhode Island than the subject of this sketc^h. Some two years prior to the rebel- lion he accepted the colonelcy of the Mechanics' Rifles, raising it from a company to a full regiment, and thus earned the dis- tinction of being the first in Rhode Island to raise and comnuuul a full militia regiment. From this regiment were enlisted two companies for the First Rhode Island Regiment for United States service. Colonel Sisson took a jiosition on General Burnside's staff, with the rank of lieutenant, and acted as pay- 1040 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. master. He was appointed instructor of " The Carbineers " — a hundred picked men — and led the company in the lirst battle of Bull Run. For ability displayed there he was put in com- mand of the Ninth Rhode Island Artillery. He was in the fight at James Island and in front of Charleston. For gallant services on that occasion he was recommended for promotion and received the colonelcy of the Fifth Rhode Island Artillery, which rank he held to the close of the war. He performed service as commandant of the Fifth Regiment in North Carolina, commanding a brigade and division in the second siege of Newbern, commanding the center and most important division with more men than both wings. In April, 1863, he raised the siege of Little Washington while in com- mand of the Fifth Regiment. This event is the subject of much war correspondence, and is one of the cardinal points in Colonel Sisson's career. Governor Sprague, one of the colonel's friends and admirers, in an autograph letter, says he was "a distin- guished officer ill our Union army, who conferred great credit u^wn our sr;iip iiihi reaped great honor for himself, doing the cause iiniiiMi-t- service." The legislature of Rhode Island passed a vi,ie <<[' ilianks to Colonel Sisson in apprecia- tion of fliis s.-i-vice. After the war he was general superintend- ent of the Spi-;ig;ie iniils in Coventry and Warwick. From 1875 to 1877 lie was lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island. In 1881, haviiiii- espoused the cause of the democracy, he accepted the nom ilia lion for congress against the present incumbent, Hon. H. J. Spooner, who was elected. He is the inventor of several practical devices in the arts of war and of peace, to which he has not yet given the time and attention which is called for by their possibilities as practical improvements. Colonel Sisson, in the environments of his home life, is hap- pily circumstanced. His wife, Josephine E., is a daughter of Joseph Brownell, whose mother, Lydia Church Brownell, was a daughter of Joseph Cliurch, a lineal descendant of Richard Church. Their four children are: Nettie W., David, Henry T., Jr., and Frank Harris. Levi W. Sisson.— Lemuel Sisson, born in Portsmouth, April 21st, 1769, removed to Seconnet point in 1816, where he resided for the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1849. He married Susannah Lake, of Portsmouth, born April 2Sth, 1775. Their children were: Mary, born October 1st, 1793; John, Jan- «^^r V-j^J-c^n HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 1041 tiary 21st, 1796; Elanor, November 25th, 1797; Ann, Feb- ruary 26tli, 1799; Josepli, February 12th, 1801; David, February 14th, 1803; Lemuel, May 27th, 1805; Levi W., March 19th, 1807; Susannah L., March loth, 1809; James P., June 16th, 1812; Sarah A., January 4th, 1815; William H., January 19th, 1818, and Harriet P., January 19th, 1818. But two of this num- ber, Sarah A. and Harriet P., survive. Levi W. Sisson was a native of Portsmouth, and spent his early youth in Newport. At the age of nine years he removed with, his parents to Seconnet point, and received such education as the primitive schools of the day afforded. He then gave a helping hand to his father in his farming pursuits, and the year succeeding his marriage, having leased the farm, continued for twelve years to cultivate it. Owing to failing health Mr. Sisson deemed it prudent to abandon for a time active employment, but continued his residence as before. He married on the 2d of February, 1837, Mary, daughter of Elnathan Taber, of Fair Haven, Massachusetts. Their children are: William H., born December 24th, 1837, who, with his family, located near the home of his father; Elizabeth T., May 22d, 1839, deceased; Rachel D., October 30th, 1840; Mary F., September 30th, 1845; Lemuel, February 8th, 1849, and Levi, December 9th, 1852. In 1853 Mr. Sisson purchased the property now the home of his younger sons, and there engaged in what is termed mixed husbandry until his death. He was retiring in his manner, shunned the excitements of public life, and was content to cast his vote with the republi- can party, without aspiring to the offices within its gift. On the occasion of his death, which occurred November 1st, 1880, • the following tribute was paid his memory by a friend: "Mr. Sisson had been a member of the M. E. Church about fifty years. He will be remembered as a humble, trustful, con- sistent Christian. As an office-bearer in the church, in busi- ness life, in his family, under all circumstances, he exemi)lified the religion which he professed. Mr. Sisson has, ever since his conversion, taken a deep interest in the church; he loved her doctrines and usages, and enjoyed with a deep relish the means of grace. He was an affectionate husband and father, a genial companion and a true friend. His last sickness, though lingering and jxainful, was met with fortitude, and with a spirit of loving, trustful submission to the will of God. He lived 11 1042 HISTORY OF NEWPORT OOTTNTY. well, and thei-efore died well. A little before losing conscious- ness he said, with utmost assurance, ' I have no fears for the future.' " Ephraim Bailey Sisson. —No family name in Little Comp- ton has been more closely associated with the growth of Ameri- canism than that of Sisson. In 1816 Lemuel Sisson settled at Seconnet, and during his lifetime his home was the Mecca of the Methodists. Jolin Sisson, one of his thirteen children, who was born in Portsmouth twenty years before and died in 1879 in Little Compton,with his wife, Mary Brownell, lived on the farm belonging to James I. Bailey at Seconnet. Their only child, Eijhraim Bailey, was born there February 4th, 1821. At this point his early days were pas.sed, and from this humble home the lad was sent to get as he might, such learning as he could in the primitive schools of that day. Later he enjoyed some advantages at a city school in New Bedford, and during his early manhood was twice employed as a teacher in the schools of his native town. Tlie year after attaining his majority he was married to Harriet E., daughter of Jediah Shaw, and six years later they became tenants of the homestead farm. Here were brought into action those inherited qualities which have dis- tinguished their lives until to-day. For thirty years he con- tinued this business relation, and by the decease of his father he became the owner of the Edmond Brownell homestead prop- erty in 1879, which he now rents, though still retaining his res- idence. Mr. Sisson is a republican in politics, but has uniformly de- clined to be a candidate for ofBce, and devoted his attention to the increase of his estate by the mixed husbandry which lie has found congenial and profitable. His experience as tenant for his father, with whom closeness in dealing was a principle, has tended to make him considerate as he is of his own tenants' rights. John Sisson, his father, made honesty the first virtue, and said on his death-bed he had no recollection of having wronged any man. Mr. Sisson is one of the most exemplary and useful members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Little Compton, and has for many years filled the office of class leader. He is a member of Seaconnet Lodge, No. 39, I. O. 0. F., of Little Compton, and its present chaplain. He has also been high priest of the encampment. He was noble grand, by virtue of which he became a member of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. "*%:. tu^m/. ^.^S. HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 1043 Albert Skaburt.— Robert Seabuiy, tlie father ol' Albert Seabury, was born July 13tli, 1789, married January 3d, 1813, Caroline Woodman, whose birth occurred September 27th, 1789. Their children were: Oliver Perry, boi'n 1814, deceased; Alex- ander, 1815, deceased; Fi'ederick, 1817, deceased; Caroline, 1819, deceased; AlexanderSd, 1822, deceased; Warren, 1826; Al- bert ; Harrier C, 1831, deceased; and an infant daughter. Albert Seabury was born July 8th, 1829, in Tiverton, and spent his earh"- years as an assistant to his father on his farm. The Avinter months were partially devoted to the sessions of the dis- trict school where the simple primary studies were taught, but work was more especially the order of the day. On his mar- riage he received an interest in the income of the farm, largely the result of his industry. In 1872 he purchased the farm which is the present home of his widow and until his death was en- gaged in general farming. Mr. Seabur\' was married on the 8th of September, 1852, to Emeline F., daughter of John E. Alniy, of Little Compton, born February 3d, 1835. Their children are: Charles A., born Jan- uary 16th, 1854; Harriet E., October 23d, 1856; Benjamin C, May 18th, 1861; John E., November 25th, 1864; William H., January 30th, 1867; Flora L., January 9th, 1869; Lester, March 16th, 1870; Emma F., November 5th, 1874, and Cora B. E., September 22d, 1878. Mr. Seabury allowed nothing to divert him from his legitimate business, that of farmer. He was in- dustrious, persevering and successful, enjoying the reputation of being an excellent manager. His death, the result of an as- sault, occurred December 2d, 1882. George Arnold Gray. — Edward Gray, of Plymouth, mar- ried Mary, daughter of John Winslow, a brother of Governor Edward Winslow. His second wife was Dorothy Lettice, whose son, Edward', was born January 31st, 1666. The line of descent from the latler is as follows: Philip', born February 11th, 1702; Pardon*, April 20th, 1737; Job', May 14th, 1756; Willard", July 27th, 1798; George Arnold', May 19th, 1828. Colonel Pardon Gray, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was entrusted with the care of the commissary de- partment during the revolutionary wai', aiul is referred to in the history of Tiverton. Willard Gray, the father of George A., died in 1874. He nuirried Judith Wilbour, of Little Compton, and had two children, a son George A., and a daughter, Abby 66 k 1044 IIISTOKY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. Catherine, wife of Alexander Wilbour, of the same township. George A. Gray was born on the farm in Little Compton, which is his jn-esent residence, and to which some historic in- terest attaches as the home of the first white woman born in New England. On this estate Mr. Gray has sjjent his life, liaving teen bred a farmer. The public school afforded the only op- portunity for an elementary training, after which his father claimed his time and services. At the age of thirty he took upon himself the management of the property, and subsequently, to- gether with his sister, inherited the estate. The interest of the latter he x>urchased, and thus became sole owner. He has since been engaged in general farming, and at times giving special at- tention to grape culture and the raising of poultry. Mr. Gray's private business and personal tastes have precluded an active political life. A staunch republican, he is interested in the questions of the day, but content that othei's shall enjoy the honors of office, which for him possess no charms. As a citizen he is public spirited and liberal in his' views, as a business man «nteri3rising and sound in judgment. Mr. Gray, on the 26th of December, 1859, married Elizabeth H. Rowland" (Charles H'., William', Thomas", Thomas', James*, Nathaniel', Zoeth", Henry'), of Little Compton. Their only child is a daughter, Lizzie Amelia. Edward Wing Rowland. — The progenitor of the Howland family, resident in Little Compton, was Henry Rowland', or Howlan, as then spelled, who, in the year 1659, was disfran- chised by the court of Plymouth for entertaining Quakers. His son, Zoeth^ was married to Abagail — - — in 1656, and the fol- lowing year took the oath of " Fidelitie." The same year he was fined for having a Quaker meeting at his house, and the year after was sentenced to "Sitt in the Stocks for the space of an houre" for speaking opprobriously of the Puritan clergy. He was killed by the Indians at Pocasset in 1676. In the direct line of descent is Nathaniel', chosen Friends' minister of the town of Dartmouth in 1723, James', Thomas', Thomas", Wil- liam' and John B". The last named and the father of the subject of this sketch was born in 1804, and died in his sixty-eighth year. He mar- ried Lydia Wing Hix, of Tiverton, and had thi'eesons, of wliom Edward Wing' is the only snrvivor. He was born May 26th, 1833, in Little Compton, on one of the several farms owned by / 6H.d^ c^y? ^^^ ^-t^U^Oi^^ A^(^^7r^-^^ HISTORY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 1045 liim. After a mastery of the rudiments of English at the piib- lin schools, he became associated witli his father in the manage- ment of the farm, their specialty being market gardeninf^-. Tiiis he has since continued, and at the deatli of his father became sole owner of the j)roperty. Mr. Howhmd has, in all his business ventures, been eminently successful, the result of a conservative method which leads him to weigh carefully a subject, and defer to his judgment rather than be guided by impulse. He is public-spirited and enter- prising, and ready with counsel and material aid to advance all worthy and philantliropic schemes, and all deserving recip- ients of his kindness. Mr. Rowland is a democrat in his polit- ical faith, but has neither sought nor desired office. He is the projector of the proposed Seconnet railroad, and the leading spirit in a project wiiich has the .support and co-operation of many leading citizens. The characteristics of head and heart peculiar to the early Rowlands have been transmitted, and the incidents already alluded to in repelling encroachments, by hiw, upon what they deem to be mat^ters of personal import, find their counterpart in the experiences of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Howland was, July 17th, 1879, married to Lydia, daugh- ter of Isaac T. Hathaway, and widow of Ellery Remington. Mr. Howland adheres to the religious faith of his ancestors, and reg- ularly attends the Friends meeting. The natural aversion of the Friends to anything akin to display is fully developed in Mr. Howland, yet, yielding to the public interest in him as a representative man, he has allowed the publidiers to insert the accompanying engraving in the history of his native township. Philip W. Almy.- -William Almy, the progenitor of the Almy family in America, emigrated from England. His son, Job, born in 1640, died in 1684. A second Job, son of the former, was the. father of John, the great-grandlather of I'liilip W. His son, Sanford, born August 28th, 1759, was married March 15th, 1763, to Lydia Gray. Their children were four- teen in number, of whom Sanford, the fatlier of Pliiiip \V., was born September 20th, 1788, in Little Compton, and married Lydia B., daughter of John Brown. She was born March 15th, 1797. Their children are: Andrew J., deceased; Mary B., de- ceased, married to Theodore Lawton, and Philip W. Tiie last named and only surviving son was born April 17th, 1823, in Little Compton, the home of many representatives of 1 1046 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. the family who are among its foremost citizens. His early ex- periences were not unlike those of most of the youth of the day, the farm engrossing his attention during the summer months, while the rudimentary branches were mastered in winter at the neighboring school. His father claimed his ser- vices for a period, after which the farm was managed in his own interest. The death of Sanford Alniy occurred on the 6th of Febi'uary, 1881, in his ninety-third year, after which his son, as the only surviving child, inherited the estate. He was married on the 1st of January, 1868, to Mary C, daughter of Pardon Almy. Their children are a daughter, Mary Lois, and a son, Philip W., Jr. Mr. Almy has given his allegiance to the demo- cratic party, but has not permitted the fascinations of political life to divert him from his legitimate pursuits. He has avoided office, for which he has no inclination, the only exception being his service as a member of the town council. He worships with and aids in the support of the Congregational church at Little Compton. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. The following paragraphs, numbered 100 to 172, and tlie per- sonal paragraphs of Tiverton, are referred to by corresponding numbers in parentheses. Where reference from one of the pai'- agraphs to another would elucidate the text or avoid repetition, the same method of reference has been employed. In giving the lines of the descent the usual plan of genealogical outline has been followed. Thus: 173. — William Youngs', born 1816; John*, died 1820; Caleb\ born 1750; NathanieF, born 1622; James', 1600-42, indicates that the William Youngs mentioned is rhe son of John, the grandson of Caleb, great-grandson of Nathaniel, and great-great-grandson of James Youngs; that William was born in 1816, that John died in 1820, that Caleb was born in 1750 and Nathaniel in 1622, and that James of the first generation known was born in 1600 and died in 1642. 100. — Alderman, the Indian who killed King Phili]) (75), is represented by Hubbard as being a Seconnet Indian. The dis- similarity of spelling makes it unsafe to say that there is any record of his having lived here. 101. — Allen. — This family name is borne by onlj^ two res- idents of Little Compton, Joseph D. and Mary Allen, children of William P. and grandchildren of William Allen, who came ■/^ •// J I A1'\^^ Vi.\'!i.-\\^\^ K- W'i.VhW.'V^ *. ■* HISTOUY OK NKWVOirr COUNTY. 1047 from Rhode Island. They have two brothers in New Bedford: Daniel B., a merchant tailor, and Jesse, in the harness btisi- ness. Their mother was Mary, a sister of Stanton Beebe (107). 102. — Henry N. Almy, who was born in 1837 and died in 1887, was a son of John Edwin and grandson of Sanford Almy (103). i\Irs. Almy is Clara L., daughter of James Douglass. She has one son, James Henry Almy. 103. Oliver H. Almy, boin in 183.'), is a son of Oliver 11. and a grandson of the Sanford Almy mentioned as the grandfather of Philip W. Almy. Mrs. Oliver H. Almy, Elizabeth, is a daugh- ter of Capt. Frederick Howland. They have one child, Fred- erick W. C. Almy. Mr. Almy is chairman of the school com- mittee, and for four years has held the same position in the board of assessors. He is serving his second year as council- man. 104.— William S. Almy", born in 1853 (John S.', 1815; Freder- ick*, Sandford', John', Job'), has been collector and treasurer of Little Compton since 1883. For the past two years he has con- ducted the store at the Commons for Mrs. Richmond. Mrs. Almy is Ida F. Brownell (113). 105.— Awashonks, the Indian sachem, is first mentioned in 1661 as queen of the Seconnets. She had three children: Peter, Betty and William. The latter had some English education, and was designing to enter college, but paralysis prevented it. 106.— James Irving Bailey', 1833 (James\ John^ Ephraim'), owns the Bailey farm at Seconnet. His wife is Betsey S. Palmer. His mother was Abagail Coe°, Ezra', 1789-1851; Benjamin', John', 1699, John^ 1659; Mathew', who, in 1645, came to New England from Suffolk, England, where the name is still preserved. Mr. Bailey is one of the leading farmers of the town. 107.— Stanton Beebe (1797-1883), son of Daniel Beebe, was born in Little Compton. His business, that of a jeweler and watch case manufacturer, was carried on in Newport and Prov- idence. His daughter, Harriet G., is Mrs. Dr. Alfred W. Clark, and lives in the old Beebe house built by Judge Little about 1787. Doctor Clark, several years in commercial business in New York, came here about thirteen years ago. Tlieir child- ren are: Ellen N. W. (Mrs. Hunt, of Boston), Edward S., Cliarles B., Harriet O. (Mrs. Amos Peckham, of Jamestown), and Eliza- beth A. 1048 IIISTOKY OF NEWPOIJT COUNTY. 108. — George P. Bixby, born in 1852, is a son of Horace W. Bixby, who came to Little Compton from Vermont in 1858. Mis mercantile business at the Commons was established in 1875. He ran a store wagon for two or three years prior to that time. His wife is Ella F. Washbuin. Their children are Bertha W. and John Horace Bixby. 109. — Benajah Alexander Borden, son of Benajali and grand- son of John Borden, was born in 1819. His tiist wife, Elizabeth Russell, left one daughter, Sarah B. (deceased); she was the wife of O. C. Manchester. Mr. Borden's second wife, Hannah B., is a daughter of John S. Palmer. He is road surveyor and school trustee. His father was a long time deacon of the Con- gregational church at "Four Corners" in Tiverton. 110.— Thomas Briggs", born 1822, Jeremiah^ 1778-1856, Ma- jor Thomas', 1757-1822, Jeremiah', 1721-1764, Job', John". John' in 1638 was a freeman of Newport, and in 1640-55 was an officer in Portsmouth. Mr. Briggs' first wife was Miss Harlow, who died in 1886, leaving one son, William H. Briggs'. The present Mrs. Briggs is a daughter of Amasa Gray (128). Mr. Briggs was interested for ten or twelve years in the butchering business. 111. — Thomas Brightman, born at Fall River in 1824, has been a resident of Little Compton since 1880. He was engaged in the oil works and in the Fall' River granite quarry prior to 1880. His wife, Emily D., is a daughter of Oliver INfanchester (66). Their son Everett, and their son-in-law, George F. Lin- coln, comprise the wholesale poultry firm of Brightman & Lin- coln. 112. — Frederick Brownell, born in 1810, is a son of Amasa and grandson of James Brownell, who was a brother of Major Thomas Brownell of militia fame. Major Brownell died in 1808, iiged 89. Mrs. Frederick Brownell is a daughter of Israel Palmer and a granddaughter of John Palmer. They have had four children. Three are living: Esther, William, and Sophia, now Mrs. Joseph D. Allen, of Fall River. Mr. Brownell' s mother was Esther, a daughter of Jonathan Wilbour. 113. — Galen T. Brownell is a son of James and a grandson of Joseph Brownell. His mother was Lydia, a daughter of Joseph Church, (121). His wife, Harriet R., was a daughter of Ben- nette Wilbour. She died in 1884, leaving two children, Ida F., Mrs. William S. Almy, and William B. Mr. Bnjwnell's busi- HISTORY OF NKWPOKT COUNTY. 1049 ness for the last thirty-five years has been house painting and graining. He has been steward in the Methodist Episcopal church here for eight years. 114 —John C. G. Brown was born in North Kingstown, R. I., in 1828. He came to Little Compton in 1842, and twenty-nine years ago began a butchering business here with Thomas Briggs, who operated with him about three years. Ilis wholesale trade in New Bedford and Fall River had increased by ISTo so that he transferred the local trade to Robert G. Brownell. He now kills calves, lambs and sheep exclusively for wholesale trade for Fall River and New Bedford. His wife is Maria M., daughter of Henry S. Brownell (116). Their children are: Edward A. Brown, of Newport; Hattie J., Fannie, Charles and Arthur G. 115.— Oliver C. Brownell was born in 1817, and is descended from Clark', 1793-1870 ; William', 1749-1810 ; Stephen*, 1726 ; George', 1685-17.56 ; Thomas', 1650-1732 ; Thomas', 1619-1665. Mrs. Brownell is Ann B., daughter of Pardon Brownell. They have three children: Pardon, Prank N., Anna (Mrs. Albert Davis). Mr. Brownell was in the cattle business some twenty years with Judge Osborn, and has had a long career as legis- lator from Little Compton. 116.— Robert G. Brownell, son of Henry S. and grandson of Henry, was born in 1852. His wife, Mary E., is a daughter of David D. Palmer. He was with Brown & Brownell (114) seven years in the meat business, and during the last eleven years has been in the same business for himself. 117._Henry M. Bundy was born in North Woodstock, Conn., in 1842. In early manhood he engaged in a horse shoe manu- factory in Valley Falls. In 1878 he bought the old Tillinghast Bailev farm, to which he retired, on account of his health. He bought the place of Henry T. Sisson. The old Bailey house was still standing ; this he took down, and in 1882-83 built his pres- ent residence. The location is one of the finest on Seconnet point. The house is heated throughout by steam, and furnished with hot and cold water. Mr. Bundy only intended tliis as a private residence, but the beauty of the place, the completeness of its appointments and its close proximity to the beach, soon made it sought out by people seeking for summer re.sorts. As a result, it has been filled with summer boarders each season. As surveyor of highways, he opened the road leading past his 1*^^*^ HISTORY OF NEWPOHT COCTNTT. house, Which greatly adds to its attractiveness. The accompa- si;;relttr " '' ''^^ '''''-'' ^^-^^ ----^^-^^^^ ^^^ows Jhe 118 George Shepard Burleigh, the poet, was horn in Plain- field Conn., March 26th, 1821, and for thirty-six years has re- sided here. He published his first volume, "The Maniac and Other Poems," in 1849. This was followed in 1856 by " Sional Fu-es on the Trail of 'The Pathlinder.' " His next work was a metrical translation of the great French poem, " Victor Huo-o's bXV 'ti" ''r^''"'""''-" '^^' ^''' '''''' ^^'-^^ P"»^«l P^-'-^tely in 1867. The lines on the Pabodie monument here are his Mr f " i? ^T -ysociated with his brother, William H., as editor of The Charter OaTc^^ in 1846-47, the earliest Liberty party paper in Connecticut. Mrs. Burleigh (Ruth Burgess) was born here. Sydney R. Burleigh, the water color artist, of Provi- dence, is their son. llO.-Pliilip T. Chase, born in 1833, is a son of Thomas W Chase. His wife, Meribah T., is a daughter of Wanton Man' Chester. They have two children : George P. and Leonora W Mr. Chase was formerly assessor for a term of three or four years, and is now serving his third year of another term Mr Chase's mother was Ruth, daughter of Thurston Davol (123) 120.— William H. Chase,^ born in 1818, is a son of Thomas W (lia). His first wife, Sarah A., was a daughter of Thurston Davol. The second wife, Cynthia, was her sister. Mr Chase IS a farmer. He rented a large farm forty- one years ago, and has bought shares of it at different times until he owns it all. On this farm is the rock known since 1673 as "Treaty Rock " and on the same farm is the oldest dated grave in Little Com'p- ton— older than any in the cemetery at the Commons. 121.— All the people named Church in the history of Little Compton are believed to be the descendants of Richard Church whose will in the Plymouth records is dated December 25th,' 1667. His wife was a daughter of Richard Warren, who came in the " Mayflower." Joseph, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Caleb and Abigail were five of their children. TJie second of the.se was the illustrious Colonel Benjamin Church of the King Philip War William S. Church' (John', 1794-1882; Joseph', 1764-1840; Eben- ezer', 1725-1825; Caleb', 1701-1769; Joseph^, 1663-1715; Joseph^ 1638-1711; Richard-, 1608-1668), was born at Providence, R. L.' in 1823. He was several years in the town council heie, and >■ Q Z D a u o z w Q m c a. £ O HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. IH")! rejiresented Little Compton in the general assembly two years. His wife was Hannah S., daughter of Thomas and grand- daughter of Joseph Wilbor. They have one son, Edmnnd V. Church'. William S. was in California in 1849-54. His present business is farming and market gardening. 122. — Thaddeus H. Church of Adamsville, is a son of Joseph Church, who wasadirect descendant from Joseph Church' (121). His mother was Ruth, daughter of Sylvester Brownell and Mercy Church, she being a direct descendant from Benjamin Church" and Richard'. Mr. Church was largely interested in the cotton business in Mobile, Ala., prior to 1861. He now lives retired, summering at the residence erected by Samuel Church, the old merchant, and passing his winters in Providence. 123. — William T. Davol is one of the nine children of A.sa Davol's oldest brother, Thurston. He was born in 1822. He was married to Phoeba M. Woodman, who died leaving two chil- dren, Phoeba S. and William H., who is now a merchant. He afterward married Anna, sister of Robert Tripp (92). They have two children: Mary A. and Asa T. Mr. Davol, in early life, worked by the month at farming, beginning when only eleven years of age. From lifteen to twenty-nine he went whaling and coasting. He is now a traveling merchant. 124. — James Douglass was born in Bristol county, R. I., in 1839. His wife, Sarah A., is a daughter of Gorton L. Austin (1809-1878), who lived and died in Portsmouth, and a grand- daughter of Job Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass lived in Fall River formerly. They came here about seventeen years ago. Their children are: Clara L. (102), Henry G., George L. and Herbert. 125.— Horace G. Dyer was born in Tiverton in 1837. He mar- ried Rebecca G., daughter of Henry S. Brownell (116). They have one daughter, Annie. Mr. Dyer's business is farming and poultry raising. 126.— Barney GilTord*, born in 1826 (Robbin', Isaac', Enos',) married Rebecca C. Tripp. They have four children: Ella V. (Mrs. Caleb Macomber), Emma C. (Mrs. Joseph V. Peck ham), Frederick B. and Lena G. 127.— Gideon Gifford, born in 1813, farmer, is a son of Noah and a grandson of Canaan GilTord. His wife is Mary Austin. They liave five children: Sarah, now Mrs. George Wadsworth, Lydia, James A., Elizabeth A., who has taught some twenty 1052 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. years in public schools, and Noah. Mr. Gifford and his family were educated at the Friends' school at Providence. He worked at carriage building southwest of Adamsville for several years, where he owned a mill and water power. 128. — Amasa Gray, born December 13fh, 1801, is a son of John Gray, whose father was Samuel Gray. Mr. Amasa Gray's mother, Elizabeth Church, was a daughter of Ebenezer (121). By Mr. Gray's first marriage with Mary Irish he had one son, Benjamin I. By a second marriage with Phoebe A. Irish, he has four ciiildren: Patience, Lydia, Amasa Jr., and Samuel B. 129.— Philip J. Gray, born in 1837, is a son of Philip^ (38). Mr. Graj' is a merchant at Adamsville, where he has been in business since 1879. He was engaged in the oil business at Pierce's wharf, in Tiverton, with Mr. Cook (18), and subse- quently was in the St. George Oil and Guano Company. Later he bought the Abraham Manchester farm in Tivertou. His wife is Permelia W., daughter of William L. Simmons (85). Mr. Gray is now serving as assessor, 130. — Reverend William D. Hart, born in 1843 in Cayuga, was educated at Oberlin, where he was graduated in 1870. He was in Yale College in 1871-2, taking the theological course. In 1873 he graduated from Andover, taking only the senior year. After preaching two years at Litchfield, IS". H., he was settled here October 1st, 1875, over the Congregational church. Mr. Hart is now serving his fifth year as superintendent of public schools, and his second year as moderator of the town meetings. 131.— George T. Howard was born in Easton, Mass., August 27th, 1858, came here in 1876, and in 1883 was married to Juliana Peckham (142). Their children are Louisa H. and Alice May. Mr. Howland was in the purse fishing business seven years, and is now engaged in farming. His home is the house where Rev. Ray Palmer was born. 132. -Isaac Wilbour Howland' (Charles W.^ William', Thom. as°, Thomas', James", NathanieP, Zoeth', Henry'), (55), was born in 1839. He married Mary E., daughter of Christopher Borden. They have one son, William ^Y., who is now a clerk at the Shove mills, in which Mr. Howland is a director and the largest owner. Isaac W., for the past fifteen years, has been interested in real estate business in Fall River. 133. — Stejihen R. Howland was born in Little Com[)ton in 1816. His father, W^illiam Howland, was a son of Thomag II IIISTOUY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. lOr)^ Howland, wlio came here from Bartmonth (132). Stephen U. married Lucy P. Washburn. Tlieir children are: Albert P., Asa R. and William I. Howland. He lived in Massachnsetts about forty years, but has been engaged in farming here since 1881. 134. — Dennis R. Hunt, born in 1810, farmer, is a son of Na- thaniel and Amy Coggeshall Hunt, and a grandson of Adam and Ruth Hunt. His wife is Angeline Manchester, of West- port. Their living children are: Mary (Mrs. William G. Pierce, of New Bedford), William, Allen and Charles. A deceased daughter, Ann Frances, was the wife of Mr. Whitrell. Their daughter, Julia E. Whitrell, has her home with the grandpar- ents. Adam Hunt's name is preserved in the name of the vil- lage of Adamsville. 135. — Cornelius King, born in 1823, a son of Cornelius and grandson of Godfrey King, married Cynthia, sister of William B. Simmons (87). Their children are : Mary E. and Deborah J., wife of Squire M. Chase. Mr. King was gardener for Thomas Whitridge thirty-two years, and was five years on two whaling voyages. He recently purchased a handsome property and lo- cated at Adamsville. His father was gardener at the Whit ridge place for more than sixty years. 136.— Wilbour P. Manchester*, one of the eight children of Charles Manchester' (Edward', Archibald'), was born in West- port in 1822. In 1848 he married Drusilla Gifford, daughter of Robbin' (126). Mr. Manchester died in 1884, leaving his widow and one child, Lucretia A., now Mrs. E. A. Cornell. 137.— The family name spelled Pierce, Peirce and Pearce, is one of those in which a various orthography has been intro- duced by carelessness or caprice, much as in the case of the name of Wilbour. James Pearce*, 1802 ; Godfrey', Right*, James", James', George' (138). Godfrey' was town clerk and justice. He has one son in Illinois, whose name is George S.* George' settled on a large tract north of "Pearce Hill," and at his death left his estate to James' and George'. 138.— Jonathan D. Pierce', 1801-1866; Isaac', 1759 1825. the carpenter; Jeptha', 1822-1770, the town clerk; George', 1697- 1764; George', 1662-1752 (137). Mr. Pierce* was a blacksmith by trade and a farmer by practice. He raised nine children. Miranda, who was twenty-five years a public school teacher here; Hannah M., Horatio, Albert H., Jonathan E. and Susan 1054 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. E., of Texas; Mrs. Borden (8) and Julia A., are the eight now living of the sixth generation. 139. — Joseph B. Pearce, farmer, was l)orn in 1844, son of Joseph and grandson of Joseph Pearce, and married Cynthia E.., sister of Ichabod Wilbour (167). Mr. Pearce is the ruling elder in the Little Compton branch of the Reorganized church. 140. — Rouse Peirce, born in 1820, is a son of Benjamin and Sarah Peirce. His mother, Sarah, was a daughter of Right Pearce' (137). Rouse's jjresent wife was Deborah Bower of Nova Scotia. His daughter was Estella M (167). Mr. Peirce is somewhat interested in the poultry business and has a valuable farm property, quite in contrast with his condition when a boy working for a " darkey " for six cents a day. 141. — Albert Peckham, son of Gideon Barker Peckham, who was a brother of Honorable Nathaniel Peckham of Middle- town, is the largest gardener here, having one hundred and ten acres devoted to market gardening, the pi'oducts of which are marketed principally in Providence. His farm is the oldGrin- nell place. Mr. Peckham has two daughters and four sons. 142.— Oliver P. Peckham', born in 1828 (Wilber", Peleg\ Jona- than', Jonathan', John\ John') married Julia A. Manchester. They have a-son, Edgar S., and two daughters, Sarah and Juli- ana (131). Mr. Peckham has been councilman, deputy sheriff, representative and state senator. 143. — Benjamin S. Pierce' (VaP, Joseph", Nathaniel') was born in 1827, married Pheba Ann Brayton, and has three children: Annie B.\ Philander R.° and Herbert W.' Mr. Pierce's busi- ness for over forty years has been house carpentering and con- tracting. The residences of Warren Kempton, Henry I. Rich- mond, Prudence Wilbor, Isaac W. Howland and the M. E. church at the Commons were built by him. 144. — John Barney Potter, born in 1827, is a son of George M. Potter, who, about 1835, came to Potter's Corners from Westport, where he was born in 1795. He was a member of the town council here fifteen years. John B. married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Wilcox, of Tiverton. They have one son, Clifton F. 145. — Richard C. Reynolds was born in Massachusetts in 1822. He was married in 1852 to Susan, daughter of George Wilbour' (162). Mr. Reynolds made three whaling voyages in his early life. He has worked at his trade, that of a stone ma- son, for many years, and has thus acquired his properly. HISTOUY OK NEWPORT COUNTY. 1055 146.— Henry T. Richmond, son of Isaac B. Ricliniond, was born in 1824, and was married in 1859 to Frances E. Palmer, of Boston. Tiiey have one son, Henry I., Jr., born in 1865. Mr. Richmond was in California in 1849-53, in mercantile business. After 1859 he was in Boston, engaged in a milling business, for six or eight years. ■ 147. — Preston B. Richmond was born in 1832, and died in 1888. He was a son of Isaac B. Richmond. He was in the Seventh Rhode Island infantry during the civil war, serving four years as regimental i)ostmaster. He was one of those who returned to the field to rescue the body of Colonel Sayles. He was in business at the Commons until his death. His widow, surviving, is Maria M. Durfee (28). Their sons are: Gideon H. and Charles D. 148.— Albert T. Seabury', son of Benjamin Seabury' (149). was born in 1843. His wife, Susan A., is a daughter of Henry Bur- lingame. Mr. Seabury has represented this town one year in the state senate and two years in the house. His trade is that of a wheelwright. Farming and summer boarding are now parts of his business. A remarkable coincidence of numbers is noticed on the records of this family. Mr. Seabury' s father and mother were each one of thirteen children, and Mrs. Sea- bury' s father and mother were also each one of thirteen. 149.— Captain Benjamin Seabury', born in 1803, is descended from Benjamin', Gideon' and Constant'. When twelve years of age, Mr. Seabury began working for two dollars a month, and at twenty-three he was master of a vessel. He left the sea at thirty-five, and two years later came to Little Compton. He then built a store here, which he carried on for nearly forty years. Mr. Seabury has been in the town council seventeen years, was senator one year and representative three years. His wife, Elizabetii, was a daughter of Gideon Tompkins. Their children are: Ciiarles H. Seabury, of Providence; Edwin T., Albert T., Lucia N. and Benjamin Seabury, of Providence. 150.— Captain George M. Seabury, born in 1837, is a son of John Seabury, whose father was Benjamin Seabury. His life as a sailor began in 1852, on the bark "Sacramento," of West- port. From that time until 1884 he followed the sea. He was in the vessel "Elizabeth Swift," of New Bedford; the merchant ship "Comet," and was captain nine voyages in the bark "President" and the "Morning Star." 1056 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 151. — Alexander C. Simmons', born in 1817 (Abel', Ichabod', Thomas', Peleg", Moses"), married Clarinda B., daughter of Peter T. Burgess. Their rhihlren are: Edward W., cashier and bookkeeper, Jamaica Plains, Boston; Captain Charles L., Mary J. (Mrs. Frank N. Brownell) and Clara P. Miss Clara is the organist for the Congregational clmrch of Little Compton. Air. Simmons, familiarly known as Deacon Simmons, has for years been an officer in the Congregational church, and one of the town's honoi'ed citizens. Moses' was from England. 152.— George A. Seabury is a son of Andrew G. Seabnry, whose father, Isaac, was born where Ichabod Seabury lives on the Tiverton and Little Compton line. 153. — Frank W. Simmons, born in 1839, died in 1884, was a son of Valentine, whose father was Benoni Simmons. His widow, Harriet M., who sui-vives him, is a daughter of George M. Taylor (157). Mr. Simmons left three children: Josephine, Minnie and Valentine. Mr. Simmons was an apothecary in Boston several years, but the last years of his life he was a farmer- here. He was a member of the town council, was active in church works in both the Congregational and Methodist churches, being sujoerintendent in the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school ten years, also chorister at different times in both churches. 154. — Henry Brightman Simmons, born in 1800, son of Ste- phen, and grandson of John, was married in 1822 to Sarah, daughter of Gideon Seabury. Their children are: Eliza (Mrs. Henry Brown of Little Compton), Henry B., of Fall River; Betsey (Mrs. William Mason of Fall River), and Lotta (Mrs. Henry Weeks). The present Mrs. Simmons is Pheba M. Dow, Nantucket. Mr. Simmons went whaling one voyage. He once owned a passenger and freight sloop which he ran between Westport harbor and Providence. 155. — Orrin W. Simmons, born in 1815, is a son of Abel (151). His first wife, Priscilla, was a daugliter of Christopher Brown- ell. Her children were: James P., Maria W. and Harland P., who was lost at sea when twenty-one years of age. Oliver E., now bookkeeper for the American Steam Gnage Company, and Abel of Little Compton. Mr. Simmons' present wife is Mary B., a daughter of John Taylor. He has been two years in the general assembly, and held several town offices. A blacksmith by trade, his present business is farming. HISTORY OF NEWPOUT COUNTY. 1057 156.— William Taylor Simmons', born in 182r) (Benjamin', William", Samuel*, Benjamin', Peleg", Moses' (84), married Dea- con John Dyer's daugliter. They have six children: Mattie (Mrs. Frank Manchester), William T., Jr., Eva J. (Mrs. William C. Wilbour), Benjamin II., Frank E. and Abbie H. Mr. Sim- mons went whaling at thirteen years of age, and continued for ten years. He carried on the Simmons mill twenty-five years, and is now a farmer where seven generations of Simmonses liave lived. 157.— George F. Taylor', born in 1845, is descended from George M'., 1817-1882; Simeon', 1774-1835; Gideon', 1729-1790; Robert', 1695-1770; John^ 1658-1747; and R(jbert', of Newport, vi^ho married Mary Hodges in 1646 and was admitted freeman of Newport in 1655. George F.' married Sarah A., daughter of George Brownell and granddaughter of Christoi>her Brownell. They have two children, Hattie A. and Mabel B. For six or seven years prior to 1872, Mr. Taylor was 'engaged in whaling. He has since operated as a house carpenter and contractor. 158.— John B, Taylor, born in 1863, son of George M. (157), was elected representative in the general assembly in 1887 as an independent candidate. He was educated in the public schools of Little Compton and at Holmes' Commercial College at Fall River. He kept books for one year for the Lonsdale Manufac- turing Company, at Lonsdale, R. I. Ilattie M. (153), Mrs. Warren Kempton, Mrs. George Hubbard, Andrew S. Taylor ^nd Albert J. Taylor are also of the seventh generation from Robert Taylor. 159. — Mamanuitt — name variously written as Warmanewit, Mamanuett and Mamanuah — was a sachem of the Seconnets. He died September 18th, 1696. 160.— Thomas E. White, born in 1837, is a son of David and a grandson of Thomas White. His wife is Maria W. Simmons (155). Their children are: Hattie M., Mary P., Thomas and Gracie. The old White homestead is where Charles E. Staples lives. 161.— William White, born in 1846, is a son of Doctor George F. S. White, who practiced medicine at Adamsville about thirty years, during which time in 1860 he originated the formula for the remedy once widely known as " Dr. White's Specialty for Diphtheria. "From 1867 to 1877 William was in a drug store in Brooklvn. He then returned to Adamsville. Since 1872 he has 1058 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. given bis attention to the manufacture and sale of tlie diplitlieria specialty which Doctor White used with great success in his practice during the last years of his life, 162. — A large and influential family of the town are descended from William Wildebore (1630), who was born in England, and Samuel, his uncle, who was with the original settlers of Aquid- neck in 1638. The name is said to have an older form, Wilde- boare. The various orthography used by different families in this town, which we have followed in these personal notes, has no significance as showing lines of descent. Willbour-bore-boor- bur; Wilbour-bur-ber-bor-bar, are some of the modern varin- tions which may be seen in the records and on the monuments here. Abraham Wilber" (George', 1768-1837; John\ born 1738; Isaac=, born 1712; SamueF, born 1761; William", of England, born 1630) was born in Westport, Mass., in 1803. When seventeen years of age he came here and learned the trade of blacksmith. He bought his time of his father, and bought the shoj^ near his present residence. His wife, Eliza, was a daughter of Thurston Brown. Their eight children, all of whom are living, are: Nancy R., William B., Mary E., Emily J., Harriet P., Catherine M., George T. and Lydia R. The oldest son, William B. Wilber', married Hannah B. Wilbor. Their children are: Ella Louisa, George Walter and Florence Brown Wilber. William B' was formerly a merchant tailor in Boston. He retired in 1878. 163.— Albert G. Wilbor' (Thomas', Joseph', 1758; Walter*, 1722; Joseph', 1689; Joseph^ 1656; William', 1630) was born here. He is a pharmacist of Boston, where he has resided for the last fifty years. 164.— Benjamin F. Wilbur', born in 1840 (Benjamin F.°, 1802- 1877; Danier, Daniel', William', SamueP, William'), married Clara Browne, of South Kingstown, R. I. They have one son. Mr. Wilbur has been several years in the town council and three years in the state legislature. His house was built about 1724 by Thomas Church, son of Col. Benjamin Church. William' was a resident of Portsmouth, where he died in 1710. The orig- inal Benjamin Church house of 1674 is believed to have been on this farm. 165.— Daniel Wilbour", born in 1838, son of Daniel' (104), married Phoebe Grinnell, who died in 1880, leaving one daugh- ter, Eleanor M. The present Mrs. Wilbour is Hannah B., HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. lOHQ daughter of Jetliro and Mary Sowle, oC Vinelaiid, N.J. Mr. Wilbour has been in the town council the last three years, prior to which he was six years in tiie board of assessors. His farm has been owned by six generations of Williours. 166.— Henry Page Wilbur, son of Benjamin F." (164), was born in 1830. His wife was a daughter of Thomas Wilbour. They have four children: John C. Fi'emont, Stella A., Henry F. (97) and Ellis B. Mr. Wilbur was engaged in purse and trap fishing some twenty-five years prior to 1875. Since that time he has given his attention to agriculture. 167.— Ichabod Wilbour, horn in 1824, is a son of William B. and a grandson of Jonathan Wilbour. His wife was Deborah A. Brownell. His son, Charles Wilbour, born in 18o8, married Estella M. Pierce (140). She, at her death, left one son, Artliur C. Mr. Ichabod Wilbour has also a son, William C, and^a daughter, Cornelia M., now Mrs. William S. Wood, of West- port. His business is furnishing dressed poultry for Newport and Providence markets. 168. — Isaac C. Wilbour', born in 1830, is descended from Philip", Isaacs Charles', William', SamueP, Wiliiam'. One Samuel of this family was banished from Massachusetts with the families who, in 1638, settled Portsmouth. Isaac' was a member of congress in 1807-1809, and lieutenant-governor the following year. The prestige of the family name depends as much upon his public and private life as upon any single in- fluence. 169.— John Gray Wilbour, born in 1819, is the only son of Wright, the only son of Browning, the only son of Isaac Wil- bour, who was an only son. These five only sons have each in turn owned and occupied the farm now owned by John G. Wil- bour, who married Susan, a sister of John L. Crosby. They have had five childi-en: Mary E. (Mrs. Noah M. Castino), Oliver C, Hannah (Mrs. George M. Potter, Jr.), John W. (deceased), and Frances P. (Mrs. William A. Case). Mr. Wilbour's mother was Hannah, sister of Amasa Gray (128). His grandmother, Mrs. Browning Wilbour, was Esther, a sister of Isaac Wil. bour' (168). 170.— Sarah S. Wilbour, a daughter of Governor Wili)our (168), best known as " .Vniit Sarah,"' is to-day one of the most prominent residents of this town. Her knowledge of the tradi- tions and historv of the town, and of the genealogies of the 67 ii n i^ f. 1060 HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY, people, her remarkable memory, and her ability as a writer, form the basis of this prominence. Her husband, Charles Wil- bour°, was a great-grandson of William'. 171. — Borden Wordell, brother of Job Wordell, of Tiverton, was born at Fall Kiver in 1822, and came to Little Compton in 1852, when he bought the Congregational church farm on the west road. He was at sea twelve or fourteen years, three years of this time at whaling. Mrs. Wordell is a daughter of Doctor James E. Peckham. Their children are: John W., Hattie B. (Mrs. William A. Baldwin), Lafayette C, and Mamie S. 172. — Gideon M. Wordell, one of the most successful farmers, was born in Dartmouth, Mass., in 1830. His earljHife was spent in Westport. He came to Little Compton in 1852, and bought the farm where he now resides. His wife, Sarah, is a daughter of Gideon and Sally Grinnell. Mrs. Grinnell's mother was a daugh- ter of Lewis Hart, whose brother was Abel Hart's father. Mr. Wordell' s children are: Harriet (Mrs. Joshua Wordell, of New Bedford), Rodney D. (of Fall River, who married Lizzie Lin- coln), Gideon F. (married Abbie Grinnell), Gershom (whose wife, Emma, is a daughter of George M. Potter), James M. (married Sarah Athington), Charles A., Nelson and Edmund E. An early school was kept in Mr. Wordell's house, and in an older one north of this. BD 11 9 V ^^ . » • I -^o^ Oj * o w ' ,0 ^k>- "^^^ 4 C' 'bV" ^^d^ .^ o. ^°-^-^. :* ■^'' ,0^ ^/^-^^Z -o,^^-/ \'^-\/ V'--%o' \ ^*" ■•:««•• \ /^"-'^' \ ." • ' • « •*^ .0^ . . " • • c A'