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 Copy 2 
 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 AN 
 
 Historical Sketch 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ToA^^n of Seituate, R. I, 
 
 EY 
 
 C. C. BEAMAN, 
 
 Published by order of tbe Town Council. 
 
 1. 
 
 
 
 ^^.-^:5«i4^ 
 
AN 
 
 . HISTORICAL ADDRESS, 
 
 DELIVERED IN 
 
 SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 July 4.tli, 1876, 
 
 AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOWN AUTHORITIES, 
 
 By C. C. BEAMAN. 
 
 P 1 1 E N I X : 
 
 Capron & Campbell, Steam Book and Job Printers. 
 
 1877. 
 
r^^ 
 
 Sonice unknown 
 
THE OCCASION, 
 
 The great republic of the world celebrates its first century 
 to-day ! It has invited all nations to participate in the occasion by 
 an exhibition of the products and workmanship of their respective 
 countries, in the city where the assembled Congress framed, adopt- 
 ed, and sent forth, July Fourth, 1776, their Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence. It has selected an orator and poet, and other exercises 
 appropriate to the event to take place in the same city. Our own 
 State has requested, through its legislature, that every town in our 
 borders should have a local celebration ; and Congress and the 
 President have sent a similar appeal to every town in the Union. 
 
 The extraordinary growth of the country in the last century, 
 the very high position it occupies to-day, the success on so large a 
 scale, and for so long a period, of a free government, would seem 
 to demand an uncommon manifestation of the nation, on the happy 
 event of completing our first one hundred years ; and that to-day 
 our Union is perfect and complete, with not a single star blotted 
 out from our banner, and many more added to the original thirteen, 
 standing to-day stronger and more immovable than ever. 
 
 It was with fear and trembling, one hundred years ago, that 
 the delegates from the colonies assembled in a small hall in Phila- 
 delphia, put forth their immortal Declaration, July 4, 1776. They 
 were wise and prudent men — some of them, as was our own Hop- 
 kins, advanced in years ; a few, like Hancock, were rich. They all 
 had much at stake, having families, high character, the ablest meii 
 chosen from Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the other 
 
4 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 colonies : they exposed themselves, in case of defeat, to confis- 
 cation of property, banishment, imprisonment, loss of reputation, 
 and death by being hung as traitors, but they drew not back, there 
 was no faltering while they cut the tie which bound them to the 
 mother country, apd launched their bark upon the tempestuous 
 ocean of conflict with a mighty nation that had the resources of a 
 standing army, vessels of war, wealth, and all the munitions ready 
 for instantaneous and deadly war. To oppose all this strength of 
 warlike array, there were a few regiments of militia, no ship of 
 war, and guns, cannon balls and powder; and other requisites of 
 military warfare were few indeed, and neither money nor credit 
 but in a very limited degree. 
 
 The infant Congress staggered not at the impending and 
 deadly struggle looming up at the future, and boldly appealed to 
 the arbitration of the sword, and the decision of the impartial na- 
 tions of the world : 
 
 "When," they said, commencing their declaration, "in the 
 course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dis- 
 solve the political bonds which have connected them with another, 
 and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and 
 equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God en- 
 title them, a decent respect for the opiniuns of mankind requires 
 tJiat they should declare the causes which impel them to the sepa- 
 ration." 
 
 Many and dear were the ties wliich bound them to the mother 
 country! It was beyond other great nations, a free country ; and 
 the men of the revolution often expressed tliemselves as demanding 
 nothing more than the rights of a British subject enjoyed at home. 
 England was dear to them, as the source whence their supplies and 
 protection proceeded ; they had an interest, in licr glory as a nation ; as 
 the ci)untry from whose bosom the colonies came as from a mother. 
 Their literature, religion, language and customs had been brought 
 over to America — the graves of ancestry made the burial places of 
 Britain dear to Americans. Ties of interest, affection and consan- 
 guinity were sundered with regret. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 5 
 
 But Great Britain, her rulers, and her people looked upon the 
 colonies to be sources of pecuniary profit; they were jealous of all 
 manufactures and commerce which interfered with their own ; and 
 by custom-house taxes and vexatious laws to prevent the Americans 
 from trading with any people but England and her colonies, they 
 turned the love of the people into hatred. The people were treated 
 in some respects as a conquered or dependent race, and not to be 
 ranked in privilege and honor with subjects at home. All these 
 reasons, and more, are stated in the declaration ; then comes the 
 solemn determination that they will bear the injustice and oppres- 
 sion no longer, but set up for themselves. In well considered 
 words they take tlieir final farewell : 
 
 " We. therefore, the representatives of the United States of 
 America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme 
 Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the 
 name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, 
 solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of 
 right ought to be, free and independent states ; that they are ab- 
 solved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all politi- 
 cal connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is, and 
 ought to be totally dissolved : and that as free and independent 
 states they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract 
 alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things 
 which independent states may of right do. And for the support of 
 this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine 
 Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our for- 
 tunes and our sacred honor." 
 
 The fighting at Concord and Lexington had already taken 
 place, and two mouths afterwards the battle of Bunker Hill sent its 
 echo round the world. Boston had been evacuated by the British 
 forces March H, 1776. and now, July 4, 1776, the rebellion had 
 taken shape in an official act of the newly organized government, 
 casting off all allegiance to Great Britain, and asserting its entire 
 independence and determination to maintain it by all the force they 
 could command. 
 
6 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 We meet to-day without distinction of party or religious de- 
 nomination ; and though we come together as town's people of 
 Scitnate, we hold fellowship with all the towns of our State, and 
 passing out of the bounds of Ehode Island we stand up to-day with 
 every state, city and town in the Union in a Grand National Jubilee ! 
 on the occasion of our completing our first hundred years. We 
 go farther, and extend a call to every other nation to rejoice with us 
 in our remarkable history ; in the unexampled prosperity we have 
 enjoyed, in the success which has attended the experiment of a peo- 
 ple self-governed. We may be pardoned for some little self-ex- 
 ultation wliile we recognize the guiding hand of our God in our pres- 
 ervation and blessing. 
 
 In the city of Philadelphia, where our delegates in Congress 
 assembled a hundred years ago, and framed and adopted a Declara- 
 tion of Independence there will be an extraordinary gathering of 
 our fellow citizens from all parts of our country, and many distin- 
 guished visitors from foreign lands will be convened to witness a 
 national festival, commemorative of what transpired m that city a 
 hundred years ago, and what great results have come out of it. 
 
 We have dared to invite an International Exhibition of Art 
 and Manufactured, Inventions and Discoveries, Literature and Sci- 
 ence, and other matters relating to man's progress in society, and 
 to put side by side, our own skill and taste, not for vain show, but 
 in order to bring the world into fellowship and useful and honor- 
 able competition. 
 
 We may not be able to grasp in our vision the spectacle which 
 our still youthful nation presents to the world to-day. Our place 
 is in the New World discovered by Christopher Columbus four 
 hundred years ago. The vast extent of territory that maps out our 
 heritage lying between two groat oceans ; its natural features of 
 mountains, valleys and plains, and lakes and rivers, indented coasts 
 by inlets, bays and harbors where proud navies ride and prosperous 
 cities lift their spires is but imperfectly realized. A view of the 
 manufacturing and mechanical establishments, a sight of the farms 
 cultivated with all tlio help of newly invented agricultural imple- 
 
OF SCITUATE. 7 
 
 ments, a perception of the warehouses where are stored the produc- 
 tions and workmanship of every clime, the schools and colleges 
 filled with pupils of both sexes, the churches whose bells ring 
 cheerfully on the Sabbath morn, the printing presses worked by 
 steam power, scattering leaves of knowledge over the whole land, 
 the railroads running in every direction, bearing immense freights 
 and conveying passengers in multitude, the telegraph with its wires 
 beneath the ocean and stretched out over the whole land, and the 
 activity of the people, and the enterprise visible, and the arrivals of 
 emigrants daily from the four quarters of the globe, with the gene- 
 ral intelligence, comfort and happiness of the people, the steady 
 march of population over the deserts, or uncultivated places, 
 and the returning march from the West to meet midway the East; 
 this is the picture too great and wonderful to be fully realized, as 
 the orators of our centenuary year vainly strive with uplifted 
 voice and choice expression to describe to-day in the assemblies 
 convened all over the land. 
 
 Praise and thanksgwing may well go up from the nation so 
 highly favored of God ! who has not so blessed every other nation 
 under the broad heavens — no other nation has a history like ours. 
 Behold what God has wrought for us ! May thanks go up from the 
 shores of both oceans, and from the banks of every river and lake, 
 from every hill and valley, and all places where man has set his 
 foot on the soil of these United States and sheltered himself from 
 oppression and wrong beneath the folds of our star spangled ban- 
 ner. 
 
 Berkeley, the English philosopher, who made for a while his 
 home in Newport, in 1730, filled as it were with superhuman fore- 
 sight of the coming glory of America, wrote the well-known pro- 
 phetic lines : 
 
 " Westward tlie course of empire takes its way; 
 . 'J'he fii-st foiu" iU'ts already past, 
 A fifth shall close the drama with the day- 
 Time's noblest oftspring is the last! " 
 
 SCITUATE IN EAKLY PAYS. 
 
 The arriving of a centennial year naturally turns our thoughts 
 to the pa^t. We revert to the beginning and progress of men and 
 
8 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 things, and love to connect old things with new. It is a duty 
 which we owe to those who have gone before us to consider their 
 wrongs and enquire for their principles ! We cannot go back 
 like China, Japan and India, to a very remote past, for our country 
 is very new ; but we may turn to ancient and discolored manu- 
 scripts, antiquated house furniture, old houses, by-gone burial 
 places, deeds of valor, primitive and frugal ways, times of poverty 
 and need, of honesty and patriotism, to the period of forest and 
 self-denying and perilous lives, to ther simple faith and child-like 
 trust in God of the early days. 
 
 Wealth and luxury, numbers and power, things that are new 
 and wonderful we can see every day and year, but we must make 
 special exertion and set apart a time to explore the past and rumi- 
 nate in the quiet shades of by-gone generations. We have before 
 us to-day a town hifttory : one that is eventful, that called out hu- 
 man strength and fortitude in an extraordinary degree, and devel- 
 oped what is good and noble in man and in communities. 
 
 It will be expected of me, on the present occasion, to present 
 some outlines of the history of Scituate. Like other parts of Ehode 
 Island, it was first inhabited by Indians, and the territory remained 
 in a state of nature, for the red men were hunters and fishers, culti- 
 vating only little patches of ground, of corn, tobacco, beans, etc. 
 Little collections of huts or wigwams formed their towns — of which 
 there may have been a dozen in many miles travel. 
 
 The settlement of Roger Williams at Providence in 1636 is the 
 commencement of our history. He dedicated himself to the spread 
 of the gospel among the Indians, and traveled among the different 
 tribes who were at war with each other, to pacify them and satisfy 
 them that he and his associates had honest intentions to live peace- 
 ably with them. God gave him with Cnnonicus, the great and 
 powerful Indian chief, favor so that he obtained as a gift large and 
 valuable tracts of laud. The deed of gift was dated March 24, 
 1631, in the second year of the Rhode Island plantation and reads 
 — "in consideration of the many kindnesses and services he hath 
 continually done for us." The land given was of the lands upon 
 
OF SCITUATE. 9 
 
 Mooshansick and Woonasquatucket rivers. Soon after this grant, 
 Mr. Williams, in an unselfish spirit, executed a deed j;'iving an 
 equal share with himself to twelve of his companions, and -'sueli 
 other as the maj«r part of us shall admit into the same fellowship 
 of vote with us." All of them, with others, filty-fonr in all, had 
 lots assigned them, in the first division of land, which took place 
 soon after the initial deed was accepted. 
 
 The settlement increased, as from other colonies and from be- 
 yond the sea, emigrants continued to arrive, and numbers spread 
 themselves over the wooded heights and vales of that part of Prov- 
 idence afterwards set oft' as Scituate. 
 
 It was formerly the practice — that is soon after the proprietors 
 connected with Roger Williams had been increased to one hundred, 
 that persons " took up lands," as the current phrase was, that Ihey 
 had them surveyed and marked off, and enterod njion the records — 
 some compensation may have been given to the propiictors. Deeds 
 were however in early use; an old one was found not long ago, 
 among the papers of Gideon Harris, bearing date 1(161, of the 
 size of half a sheet of letter pnper, written on both sides, and with 
 the curious orthography of the oldcni time. 
 
 The first settlers of Scituate drove tu» large herds and flocks 
 before them, and there were no meadows lor a supply of grass to 
 feed them; at first, probably, men alone; came to build a rough 
 cabin and make a clearing, and afterwards, tlicy broiiglit their fam- 
 ilies. The soil was good, but it was rocky and covertMl with woods. 
 Wild beasts and Indians roved over it. Stephen Ifoivkins. who 
 was born in Scituate in 1710, and lived thcio till middle life, in 
 a few pages of early Rhode Island histiuy, wrote in poeti<; verse 
 the pitiable condition of the first inhabitants: 
 
 " Nor house, nor init, nor fruitlul liild. . 
 Nor lowing herd, nor bleating lloc-k. 
 Or garden that might comfort yield. 
 Nor cheerful, early crowing cock.'" 
 
 No orchard yielding pleasant fruit. 
 
 Or laboring ox or useful plow; 
 Nor rndghing ste'ed or browsing goat. 
 
 Or grunting swine or feedful cow. 
 
iO HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 No friend to help, no neighbor nigh. 
 
 Nor healing medicine to relieve ; 
 No mother's hand to close the eye. 
 
 Alone, forlorn, and most extremely poor." 
 
 A better class, and very enterprising and successful, came af- 
 terwards. In 1710 some emigrants arrived from Scituate, Mass. 
 In 1730 Scituate was set ofl" from Providence as a distinct town- 
 ship. 
 
 Tradition gives John Mathewson the credit of building the 
 first white man's house — if it may be so called — in Scituate. It was 
 a hovel or hut put up in the north-eastern part of the town, within 
 a quarter of a mile of the Great Pond, Moswansicut, within a few 
 rods of the boundaries of Scituate, Smithfield, Johnston and Glo- 
 cester, almost on the line of junction of the four towns. The place 
 lies about six rods from the road, and is indicated by a depression 
 and raised banks. It was six or eight feet square, four or five 
 feet deep, and raised above the ground by logs and branches of 
 trees, some three or four feet. There was only one way of en- 
 trance, and holes were left in the upper part, through which a gun 
 might be pushed to shoot bears, wolves, foxes, wildcats or other 
 animals that might approach with design to enter the premises. 
 
 Tradition, handed down in the Mathewson families still resident 
 in the neighborhood, further says : that Boston was at that time 
 the nearest trading town, and thither, on foot, through Indian or 
 other paths, John would make his occasional journeys, stopping at 
 houses on the way. lie made acquaintance with a Miss Malary at 
 one of those houses where he stopped on his route, and offering 
 marriage, was accepted. He bnilt him a house a hundred yards or 
 more from his cave, and cultivated a good farm. lie died there, 
 suddenly, aged about forty, leaving a widow and children. John, 
 one of his sons, was the direct ancestor of the late Hon. Elisha 
 Mathewson, senator in Congress. 
 
 Daniel, another son, when a boy of ten years, about the year 
 1700, was sent with a cart load of oak wood to Providence to sell. 
 Two yokes of oxen and a horse were put in to draw the load over 
 tlie rougli and hilly road, and alter driving all over the town to find 
 
OF SCITUATE. 11 
 
 a customer, he sold the load for five shillings, the most he could get. 
 There were three houses only at that time on the north side of 
 Westminster street, between the pumps and the forks of the road, 
 by the bridge. 
 
 Thomas Mathcwson and others of this name came to settle 
 round this pond, one of the most beautiful ponds in the State, and 
 having good lands around it. Elder Samuel Winsor owned a tract 
 a little farther east of the pond, and his lands were said to reach to 
 Providence. John Waterman, Dean Kimball and others were 
 neighbors. 
 
 Mr. Stephen Smith kept tavern at the Four Corners, North 
 Scituate, and as there was a great deal of teaming past his house, 
 going to and returning from the furnaces of Smithfield and Gloces- 
 ter, to get iron ore at Cranston, his half-way house was well pat- 
 ronized. 
 
 Daniel Mathewson, the boy already spoken of, lived to about 
 1776, when he died at an advanced age. Noah, the son of Daniel, 
 died Sept. 17, 1824, aged 89 years, and was buried by the side of 
 his parents on the family lot. His widow, Judith, deceased Jan. 
 28, 1827, aged 87 years. Tlie house that Daniel built was occupied 
 successively, alter his death, by his son Noali and his grandson 
 Daniel, who was living in 1856 in his 78th year, and gave me this 
 information of his family. Its height was one story, with four 
 rooms on the ground floor, and a cellar underneath. In the old 
 stone fire-place were seen hanging Irom a piece of timber, placed 
 horizontally, high up in the cliimney, two very long iron hooks or 
 trammels, five or six feet long, for hanging kettles and other ves- 
 sels over the fire. These were hoisted or lowered by mcjans of lit- 
 tle holes in the upper piece. Tlicy had no barns in these old times 
 when this house was built, but there were little shanties or hovels 
 where they stored many things. 
 
 James Aldrich removed to Scituate from Smithfield in 1775, 
 and purchased of the heirs the estate of Mr. Ishmael Wilkinson, 
 deceased. This was in the north-west part of the town, and in the 
 vicinity of Beacon Hill. When Mr. Aldrich came to Scituate 
 
1^ IIISTOKICAL SKETCH 
 
 himself and ihmily travolcd on horseback, that being' the usualmode 
 of conveyance. Attempts were made to discourage him from leav- 
 ing Smithficld by representing the lateness of spring, it being the 
 middle of May, but as the land was good he declined to stop. 
 Soon after his arrival he sent back to Smithfield to get a cheese tub 
 made by a celebrated worker iu wooden ware, Jesse Inches, who 
 was known far and wide for his skill in manufacturing churns, pails 
 and tubs. This cheese tub, made of cedar, held twenty pailfuls, 
 which gives us^ some idea of the dairy oi' Mr. Aldrich, and of the 
 cows about liis premises. A stout man brought it on foot, and up- 
 on his back, all the way from Smithfield. It was sold at auction 
 some seventy-five years after, on the breaking up of house-keeping 
 by his son John, having been in the family three-quarters of a cen- 
 tury. 
 
 The Smithfield people considered a journey to the adjoining 
 town of Scituatc, one hundred years ago, somewhat as we regarded 
 a trip to Ohio some fifty years since; but quite a number of fami- 
 lies and some very fine additions to the property, respectability and 
 enterprise of Scituatc, nevertheless, removed, and it may have been 
 with a desire to keep them at home that the discomforts of Scituate 
 were magnified. James Aldrich took the farm made vacant, as we 
 have seen, by the unfortunate death of Mr. Wilkinson, and found 
 the land pretty well prepared for culture — a comfortable house and 
 barn, a good orchard, stone walls, good soil, and a very pleasant 
 and healthful location. 
 
 Having a great taste for orcharding, which his son John- im- 
 bibed, and his grandson Arthur inherited, who had the finest fruit 
 in the town, he planted fruit trees for which the soil, climate and 
 elevation of laud were highly favorable, and became a successful far- 
 mer. He raised horses for sale, as was the custom then, and Scit- 
 uate horses, for their fine qualities, were regarded at that time 
 much as we regard those which are now brought from Vermont. 
 He is said to have introduced the first cherry trees in the town. 
 
 Mr. James Aldiich was a groat politician in those days, and 
 belonged to the Republican or Democratic party, both names being 
 
OF SCITUATE. 13 
 
 used at that time to desig-nate the Jeflerson party, in opposition to 
 tlie federal party of Ilaniiltori. lie represented the town of Scitu- 
 ate in General Assembly for one series of nineteen consecutive 
 years. Elislia Mathewson, John Harris and Col. Ephraim Bower 
 were often at his house, and Governor Arthur Fenner. The Gover- 
 nor used to come out of Providfuce on horseback, with liis gun and 
 other equipments, to have a good hunt with his warm friend and 
 brother democrat, James. Dr. Battey told me he had seen them 
 hunting together when he was a boy, and a daughter'of Mr. Aldrich, 
 Mrs. Charles Harris, remembered that many a time she had seen the 
 Governor ride away home from Scituate with foxes and squirrels 
 that he had killed, strung over his saddle. 
 
 Arthur must have loved the fun, and there was no very awful 
 .state about a chief magistrate in those days to prevent his indul- 
 gence in a favorite sport. Political, as well as social and hunting 
 propensities, doubtless mingled in these expeditions, for Mr. James 
 Aldrich and his friend Elisha Mathewson were said to control the 
 votes of Scituate, and the people loved to see a Governor 
 among them in such a free and easy spirit and costume, and gladly 
 gave him the favor of their votes. 
 
 Women generally rode on horseback in these days, and favor- 
 ite daughters were privileged with some fine horses to ride. Two 
 women were sometimes seen riding on one horse, each with a child 
 in her arms, but more frequently the "good man" with his wife be- 
 'hind him, going to church or to shopping in the small but thriving 
 village of Providence, which, in the first settlement, was indeed the 
 village of Scituate, as well as Providence. 
 
 Gideon Harris is a very prominent man in the history of Scitu- 
 ate. He married Damaus Wescott, a noted maiden in her day. 
 He died in 1^11, at an advanced age, and was buried in the Quaker 
 burying ground. For many years he filled the ofiBce of Town 
 Clerk. It was a common saying that everybody who was poor, in 
 distress, or wanted employm(Mit, resorted to Mr. Harris, on account 
 of his property, influence and b(Mievolent disposition, llis house 
 was in a place called the " Old Bank." It was enlarged and made 
 
14 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 into two stories by his son, and pleasantly situated on ground ris- 
 ing from the road, with its stately and ancient button-wood and elm 
 trees, makes an imposing appearance. 
 
 JOSEPH WILKINSON AND THE HOPKINS FAMILY. 
 
 About the year 1103, Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, a son of Capt. 
 Samuel Wilkinson, Esq., of Providence, came to live in the north- 
 west part of Scituate, known by its Indian name, Chapumishcook. 
 He married Martha Pray, a grand-daughter of one of the first set- 
 tlers in the town. There was a crooked road leading from Provi- 
 dence to this neighborhood at this time. The first barn built in 
 what is now Scituate was erected by him. lie also brought the 
 first cow into the town, and a piece of meadow where he pastured 
 his cow, a little north, running into Foster, where the first hay was 
 cut, had been created, it is supposed, by a beaver dam in the vicin- 
 ity, causing an overflow of water and rotting the trees so that they 
 fell down and gave an opportunity for the grass to grow. 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson was a surveyor, and much employed in this 
 work ill the town. In a deed of 1738 the surveyor's return was 
 made under his hand. His residence was on the estate improved 
 afterward by his great grandson, John Harris, Esq., in the most 
 northern turnpike, a pleasant spot and a valuable farm. At the 
 raising of his barn men came from Smithfield and Glocester to as- 
 sist the Scituate people in its raising. When they had raised it 
 they all sat down upon a large log and drank metheglin, a bever- 
 age made of honc}' and water and fermented, often enriched with 
 spices. Some eighty years ago an old man named Hopkins, nearly 
 eighty j-ears of age, who was at this raising, and had a fresh recol- 
 lection of the event, came ahjiig, and related it to the family resi- 
 dent there, and stated his participation in it. The barn had been 
 taken down a little while before he came. 
 
 The house now standing on this farm is quite a large one, as are 
 also the barns. The house has been twice repaired and enlarged 
 by additions, but no part of the old Wilkinson house is retained in 
 it. Two magnificent chestnut trees are standing in a lot opposite 
 the house, of apparent great age. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 15 
 
 Some anecdotes connected with" his wife, whose maiden name 
 was Martha Pray, illustrate the perils and heroism of the early 
 settlers. Her husband, being absent at work some two miles off, 
 she discovered a bear upon a sweet apple tree, shaking off the fruit 
 that he might devour it on the ground. As it was the only tree of 
 the kind they had, and highly valued, Mrs. Wilkinson not a little 
 regretted the absence of her husband, whose gun kept loaded for 
 such emergencies, was in its place on the pegs at the side of the 
 wall. The apples continued to fall and rattle on the ground, and 
 there was no other help at hand but the gun, which Maitha, in a fit 
 of desperation, took into her hands and going out the door which 
 stood open, she took aim and fired. Dropping the gun on the 
 ground immediately after the discharge, alarmed and trembling at 
 what she had done, she ran back into the house and shut the door, 
 afraid to look back and see what she had done, or the effect of the 
 shot. When Mr. Wilkinson returned home, and was informed by 
 his wife of what she had done, he went out to the tree and fouud 
 the bear dead on the ground, so that his faithful and resolute wife 
 had not only saved the cherished apples, but had secured some 
 good meat as a supply. 
 
 This young married couple had also to guard their sheep by 
 night from bears and wolves by putting them in log enclosures near 
 the house. On one occasion they were awakened by a bear rolling 
 the logs away in order to get at the sheep, and had to get up and 
 drive him away. 
 
 Another incident called for his wife's coolness, courage and 
 wisdom. Roving Indians sometimes called at the houses of the 
 first settlers — a large party called at Mr. Wilkinson's house when 
 none but his wife was at home. Ffom their appearance, as she 
 could not understand their language, she guessed that they wanted 
 food, and she gave them all the provision she had in meat and 
 meal. They took it and withdrew into a field near, made a fire and 
 cooked and ate what had been given them, with great relish. It was 
 no small relief to Mrs. Wilkinson, though she manifested no alarm, 
 when they took their departure. 
 
16 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 They came back after a few days and brought some line veni- 
 son, which they left, apparently as a return for Mrs. Wilkinson's 
 favors, and as an expression of their grateful sense of her kind- 
 ness. In this way a friendship was created with the Indians, and 
 Ihey wei'e often welcome and happy inmates of the Wilkinson 
 household, and brought their baskets, moccasins and manufactures 
 to barter off for food and other things which they wanted. 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson appears prominent in the first town meeting of 
 Scituate after it was set off" from Providence. lie is called Lieut. 
 Wilkinson, was elected a member of the Town Council and chosen 
 Deputy. 
 
 Mr. William IlopkiiiS, the only cliild of Major Wiliiam Hop- 
 kins, of Providence, married Ruth Wilkinson, daughter of " Capt. 
 Samuel Wilkinson, Esq.," as he was styled in public records, and 
 immediately after his marriage removed to a farm in Scituate in the 
 neighborhood of Lieut. Joseph Wilkinson, the brother of his wife. 
 His house was small, but the land was good — probably, not mueh 
 cleared for tillage — in 116."), or thereabouts, when he took tlie 
 place. 
 
 He is not much spoken of in the town records, and probably 
 did not seek office, but gave himself steadily to the woik of lifs 
 farm and the care of his family. Ilis memory is chieliy connected 
 with some of his children who became illustrious and reflected 
 great honor on their parents, and on the state ami nation. William 
 was the first born. He went abroad, and was presented iit the 
 court in England, and so took the favor of the King h-oni his lino 
 manly appearance, that he was appointed Major by him. A pait of 
 the coat he wore at court has been preserved by his descendants, 
 and I have seen it on exhibition at one of the late antiquarian exhi- 
 bitions in Providence. His other children were Sti'phen, John, 
 Eseck, Samuel, Hope, Abigail and Susanna. 
 
 Eseck, soon after the death of his fatlier, in the summer of 
 1738, a stout, tall and handsome young man, then in the twentieth 
 year of his age, bid adieu to the old homestead and journej'ed to 
 Providence and became a sailor, soon rising to the position of Cap- 
 
OF SCITUATE. 17 
 
 tain. He married when he was twenty-five years of age, Miss 
 Desire Burroughs, daughter of Mr. Ezekiel Burroughs, of Newport, 
 and took up his residence there. His conspicious services in the' 
 war of the revolution, as the first commodore of the navy are well 
 known. His fleet, consisting of the ships Alfred, Capt. Dudley 
 Saltonstall, and the Columbus, Capt. Whipple, the brig Andrew 
 Doria, Cfipt. Nicholas Biddle, and the Cabot, Capt. John B. Hop- 
 kins, son of Eseck, and the sloops Providence, Fly, Hornet and 
 Wasp, put out to sea Feb. It, 1776, with a smart north-east wind, 
 and cruising among the Bahama Islands, captured the forts at New 
 Providence, Nassau. This was a very fortunate affair, for the heavy 
 ordinance and stores taken proved quite acceptable to the country. 
 He captured two British armed vessels on his return. 
 
 The Commodore, or Admiral, as Washington addressed him, 
 met with diflBculties in creating an eflBcient navy, and his force was 
 wholly inadequate to protect the long lino of coast and meet the 
 vessels of the English navy, and he soon resigned and engaged in 
 private armed vessels, as did his lieutenant, the famous John Paul 
 Jones. He was successful in capturing many British vessels. In the 
 collections of the Rhode Island Historical Societyis a French engrav- 
 ing of him, which has a splendid figure and a handsome open counte- 
 nance. It was circulated in France and this country in the early 
 part of the war. The Commodore's family clock has been pre- 
 sented to Brown University, by his grand-daughter, Miss Elizabeth 
 Angell. He died in 1802, and was buried at North Providence. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins was still more distinguished than the Com- 
 modore.' He was born March T, 1101. But little is known of his 
 boyhood, but he must, with the other sons of William, been early 
 taught to labor on the farm. There were no schools in his day, but 
 his mother was a woman of marked talents and character, and no 
 doubt instructed him in many things. It has come down to us that 
 he inherited his abilities from her. His uncle Wilkinson, the survey- 
 or, probably instructed him in that art, for we find him, still a youth, 
 engaged in surveying. A strong passion for reading characterized 
 his mature life. I was permitted to examine his library, which 
 
18 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 was large and valuable for the time. It would be interesting to 
 know what books he read when a boy — procured at home, or ob- 
 tained from connections and f/iends, — scarce, they probably were, 
 and mostly of a religious character, but we may be sure he searched 
 them thoroughly. Other means of culture were at hand. The 
 conversation of parents, of visitors at his father's house, with vis- 
 its to other families, added to his store of knowledge. Letters were 
 arriving from England ; men and boys were returning from voyages 
 at sea. Rhode Island being quite a maritime place, a minister 
 would occasionally arrive from abroad and preach at a private 
 house. If the school master passed through the place he may 
 have said something. What other means had the boy Stephen 
 Hopkins of education? Nature spread before him a beautiful pan- 
 orama. Ilis father's hotise, built on high land, overlooking a wide 
 extent of country, presenting a succession of wooded summits, 
 rounded in the blue sky, the aspect of the heavens, radiant at night, 
 and the seasons, 
 
 " Whither the blossom blow.s, the summer ray 
 Russets the plain, inspiring antnnin gleams, 
 Or winter rises in the blackening east," 
 
 all teaching some important lesson, and moulding the character : 
 thus grew up that youth, who became fond of poetry, and the au- 
 thor of some fine pieces, which have been preserved, I have stood 
 upon the spot where the birth place of this signer of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence drew out my thoughts to consider the local- 
 ities of the place as sending their influences to act upon his child- 
 hood. The foot-worn paths to the well, to the barn, and to the 
 road, on account of a change of houses, the old. one being much 
 smaller, and built a little on the one side of the present structure, 
 are not discernible. The garden in front of the house, on the op- 
 posite side of th(J road, and the family burying place, just outside 
 of the garden walls, reach back to ancient times. The graves of 
 Buocessive residents are there, but no lines are on ihe stones that 
 mark the last resting place of AVilliam and Rnth Hopkins, the pa- 
 rents of Governor and Admiral Hopkins. NVould it not be well 
 
OF SCITUATE. 19 
 
 for the town of Scituate, on this centennial year, to put up in that 
 ground a monument of honor and gratitude to the memory of those 
 parents ? 
 
 Stephen Hopkins married, June 27, 1726, Sarah, the youngest 
 daughter of Major Silvanus Scott, of Providence. He married 
 early, being only nineteen years of age — his wife was about the 
 same age. To create a home and a support for the newly married 
 ones, the father of Stephen made him a gift of seventy acres of 
 land, and his grandfather, Thomas Hopkins, bestowed upon his 
 " loving grandson," as the will reads, an additional grant of ninety 
 acres. The grandfather of Sarah was Mr. Richard Scott, of Provi- 
 dence, "gentleman," the term used to show his quality. 
 
 Four years after this marriage, the portion, now Scituate, was 
 set off from Providence, and Stephen Hopkins, then only twenty-three 
 years of age, was the Moderator chosen. This fact is significant of the 
 very high opinion entertained of him in his native town, as a man 
 of business and competent to preside over public meetings. Joseph 
 Brown was chosen Town Clerk for the first year, an office which 
 included the registration of deeds, and Stephen Hopkins was elected 
 the year after, and this office he held for ten successive years, and 
 then resigned. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins removed to Providence in 1744, and purchased 
 an estate on South Main street, at the corner of what is now Hop- 
 kins street, named after him, but formerly Bank lane, because the 
 first bank in Rhode Island was located at the foot of it. 
 
 He engaged in commerce at Providence, but was soon called 
 to fill important places in the State, as Chief Justice and Governor, 
 — appointed to the Judgeship in 1739. No man was so often chosen 
 as Moderator of Town Meetings in Providence. He assisted as- 
 tronomers in making observations on the transit of Venus, at Provi- 
 dence, having a high mathematical reputation. His zeal for liberty 
 led him in early life, and later, to write and publish papers on the 
 "Rights of the Colonies," and to hold correspondence with distin- 
 guished patriots in various parts of the land. His memory was 
 very retentive, and his capacity great. He died July 13, 1785. 
 
so HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Stephen Hopkins may stand forth as a representative of Rhode 
 Island. Born and educated there amid hardships and perils, and 
 believed in and honored by its people ; his whole life, as it were, 
 spent within its boundaries, and in its service, in the critical 
 and forming period of its history, he represents its people. 
 
 Connected with the early settlers of this colony, on both the 
 paternal and maternal sides ; his birth reaching back to its simplest 
 or rudest condition, and forward to the close of the American Revo- 
 lution ; his long, active, conspicuous life, spent among its people, 
 moving and acting among thera in constant and intimate contact 
 with all classes and denominations, in domestic relations, business 
 operations, and political and religious actions ; assisting in framing, 
 interpreting and executing their laws, and trusted by them with 
 almost every oflfice in their gift, we may consider him as a fair 
 specimen of native growth, showing all the capabilities of soil and 
 culture. 
 
 It is to the honor of Rhode Island that she produced Stephen 
 Hopkins; that he was the son of immigrants who selected her terri- 
 tory for a home, and that he was cradled, nurtured, approbated, 
 exalted, and kept in public service so long, with her full consent 
 and honest pride. The existence of such a man under such cir- 
 cumstances may certify, as a volume of true history may declare, 
 to the character of her settlers and the influence of her institutions. 
 There were true men and women who sought an asylum and 
 built their homes on the Narragansett Bay; and they were not 
 wanting in mental power, moral principle and heroic devotion to 
 duty. 
 
 If these settlers maturing in their own native soil, and from 
 their own native seed,, had produced no other evidence of their 
 worthiness to take an lionorable place with the other New England 
 colonies, the production of Stephen Hopkins would of itself suf- 
 fice, lie was a working man, beginning early and continuing late, 
 covering half a century with his record of diligence. 
 
 His farming and mercantile operations absorl>ed much of his 
 time and thought and strength. The business of surveying in the 
 
OF SCITtJATE. 21 
 
 rough country in which he lived involved much hardship and labor, 
 and he had much of it to perform. He was early engaged in at- 
 tempts to develop the resources of the State in mining. His pub- 
 lic life made him the servant of all ; and he was a close and severe 
 student, filling up all the spare hours of his life with reading. The 
 town records of Scituate attest that he was familiar with drudgery, 
 and his committ^ labors in Congress won for him the praise of 
 John Adams, as a business man. He owed much to his fine natural 
 gifts, to the reputation and assistance of his %mily connections, 
 and to the open field which Rhode Island oflered at the time to a 
 man of talent, tact and ambition — all three of which he possessed. 
 But he, nevertheless, was indebted to his close application, mde- 
 fatigable labor, and resolute persistence in toil, for his advancement. 
 He thought it not beneath him to perform well the humblest duty, 
 to execute faithfully the smallest trust, to excel in little things, and 
 he never dreamed of idleness as his portion, or conceived that he 
 could float into public favor and maintain influence without exer- 
 tion. He had a small and obscure pi)sition, like a rill on a wooded 
 mountain side, but he worked himself out of it, despite of obstacles, 
 and became like a river growing wider and wider as it proceeded 
 from its source to the place where it passed into the sea. 
 
 He was one of the people at all periods of his history. He 
 had long been placed over them in oflBce, but he never outgrew his 
 place among them, and never lost his sense of fellowship and sym- 
 pathy with the toil, exposure and privations of the humblest citi- 
 zen. His heart beat responsive to the hearts of men ; he was ever 
 fighting their battles, considering them as his own ; therefore it 
 was that he had such a weight of influence — such a power of direct- 
 ing movements, and dared to act with so much decision. As an 
 Illustration of his readiness to bear his part in all the burdens of 
 the people we find his name, in 1757, heading a list of tiiirty-six 
 men — his son George one of them — who were ready to march 
 against the French and Indians, who had invaded the northern 
 frontier, possessed themselves of Fort McHenry, and were carrying 
 death and devastation on their way. The tidings of their retreat 
 prevented the party from srtting nut. 
 
22 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 In the taking of the Gaspee, in which his son, John B. Hop- 
 kins, took a leading part, Mr. Hopkins being Chief Justice he 
 asked the advice of the Assembly what course he should pursue if 
 the British government should demand the men who destroyed her. 
 He was told to use his own discretion, to which he answerd, — 
 " Then, for the transportation for trial, I will neither apprehend any 
 person by my own order, nor suffer any executive officer in the 
 colony to do it." 
 
 In the North Burial Ground, of Providence, is his grave; and 
 there his State has erected a monument to his memory, on which, 
 with other commendations, is inscribed these words: "His name is 
 engraved on the immortal record of the Revolution, and can never 
 die." 
 
 The children of Stephen Hopkins were Rufus, the first child, 
 born Feb. 10, 1727 ; John, the second sou, was born Nov, 11, 1728. 
 Ruth, the eldest daughter, was born in 1729, and named after her 
 grandmother Hopkins. She died in infancy in 1731, and was 
 buried in Scituate. Lydia, the fourth child, was born in 1732, and 
 probably died young, Silvanus, the third son, was born Oct. 
 16, 1734, Simon was born Aug. 25, 1736, and George, the 
 seventh and youngest child, was born in 1739. All the sons ex- 
 cept Simon, who died while a lad, were sailors, going to sea while 
 boys, and all became masters of vessels but Silvanus, who became 
 mate at eighteen, and would have been captain soon after, had he 
 lived. Rufus was so far successful that he invested five hundred 
 pounds in the Hope furnace, Scituate, 1766, and became its super- 
 intendent. This furnace cast cannon which were used in the army 
 and navy during the revolutionary war. There were two cannon 
 usually cast at one time, and they were afterwards bored. 
 
 While living at the furnace he received the appointment of 
 Judge, which he held for several years. He was one of a commit- 
 tee appointed by Congress, Dec. 14, 1775, to superintend the build- 
 ing of vessels of war. He was concerned in the first cotton factory 
 put up near the Hope furnace in 1807. Silvanus, one of his sons, 
 was the first agent of the Hope Manufacturing Company. Rulus 
 
OF SCITUATE. 23 
 
 Hopkins died in August, 1809, at the house of Mr. Andrew Ralph, 
 and was buried in the North Burial Ground, Providence. He is 
 said to have greatly resembled his father, and the likeness in the 
 picture of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, pur- 
 porting to be that of Gov. Hopkins, is his. 
 
 Capt. John Hopkins, the second son of Stephen, in 1153, 
 sailed for Cadiz, Spain, and died there July 20th, with the small 
 pox, aged twenty-four years. Silvanus, the third son of Stephen 
 was killed by Indians after he was cast away on the Cape Breton 
 shore. Of the remaining children, Simon died at Providence, at 
 the age of seven years, and George, the youngest, who married 
 Ruth Smith, was lost at sea in the year 1775, with the vessel he 
 commanded. 
 
 JOHN HULET, GOV. WEST, AND HUNTING GKAND OLD FURNITURE. 
 
 As the land was being cleared, with here and there, at irregu- 
 lar places, a clearing made or commenced, 
 
 " Where not a liahitation stood before. 
 Abodes of men iiTegularly massed." 
 
 One of these, whose chimney smokes were illuminated by the 
 morning sun in the woods of Scitaate, in its early settlement, was 
 John Hulet and Berenice, his wife, who, about 1740, resided in the 
 north-western part of the town. Ills grave is pointed out in a pas- 
 ture back of the house of John Harris, Esq., a short hillock, 
 marked by two walnut trees, and lying on the westerly side of the 
 most northern one. Two rough moss covered stones, one at each 
 end of the grave, and without inscription, designate the last resting 
 place of one who owned large tracts of land in the vicinity, but 
 now sleeps unnoticed and unknown by the living generations about 
 him. His transactions in deeds were numerous, and run from 1743 
 to 1763. In 1744 he bought one hundred and fifty acres of Stephen 
 Hopkins for three hundred pounds, land commonly called "Oyster- 
 shell Plain." We find him, among others, taking the oath against 
 bribery, Aug. 15, 1747, an example which might be followed at the 
 present day for the advantage of the country. 
 
 Benjamin Gorton, of Warwick, married John Ilulet's daughter 
 
24 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Avis, July 18, 1162. His son Mason married, the year following, 
 Oct. 23, 1763, Elizabeth Mathewson, of Johnston. Elder Eeuben 
 Hopkins performed the marriage service on both these interesting 
 occasions. Mason Hulet removed to Vermont and settled at Wal- 
 lingford, on the Otter Creek, and has left numerous descendants in 
 that State. John Hul^t, March 1761, sold to Col. Wm. West the 
 farm of two hundred acres which he bought of Stephen Hopkins. 
 He sold it for forty thousand pounds, a price not to be accounted 
 for, except, we admit, the great depreciation of the currency. Mr, 
 Hulet was appointed, with Thomas Angell, pound keeper, in 1747. 
 He is called " Captain " in his appointment of fence viewer in 
 1750. He was undoubtedly a man of considerable property for 
 those days, and quite a dealer in lands. He sold to Boylston Bray- 
 ton, of Smithfield, May 28, 1768, two tracts of land, — one lying 
 in Gloccster, according to the deed, "the half of a farm whereon 
 Ralph Wcllman did formerly live, and bounded as in deed of Wil- 
 liam West to Eliphalet Eddy, Feb. 16, 1760, and also more particu- 
 larly by the said Eddy to me, the said John Hulet, containing 
 three hundred acres, more or less. The other tract is in Scit- 
 uate, and is my homestead farm, and the same whereon I now 
 dwell, and contains about two hundred and fifty acres, bounded 
 northerly on land of James Wheeler, easterly on land of the 
 eame, and on land belonging to Capt. John Whipple, southerly 
 on land of William West and westwardly on land of Charles 
 Hopkins and Barnes Hall, and on land belonging to heirs 
 of Joseph Wilkinson." This homestead farm would seem to have 
 been very near to the place of his burial. We find him buying at 
 the same time of Benj. Anthony, of Swanzea, for 1800 Spauish 
 milled dollars, 229 1-2 acres of land, where Thomas Knowlton once 
 dwelt in Scituate, in part bounded by territory of heirs of Joseph 
 Wilkinson. Mr. Hulet must have died soon after these last trans- 
 actions, as we find no further mention of him in the town rec- 
 ords. Ho is said to have died of fever after a very short illness. 
 
 Lieut. -Gov. West, who purchased the old homestead which 
 Gov. Hopkins sold to John Hulet, had for some time previous to 
 
OF SCITUATE. 25 
 
 ITGl, been living in Scituate, and had resided a little west of said 
 farm, where his son John afterwards lived. He removed from 
 North Kingston to Scituate, and was chosen Deputy. He was also 
 elected to represent the town in a General Convention held at East 
 Greenwich, Sept. 26, 1786. In the appointment by the Governor 
 in 1775, of Eseck Hopkins to be General of troops to be raised for 
 the defence of the shores of the Narragansett, Col. West waa 
 placed second in command. We find him very active in town af- 
 fairs during the Eevolutionary war. In May, 1777, he was made 
 chairman of a committee to ascertain the number of effective sol- 
 diers still wanting to complete the (Continental battalion, then rais- 
 ing by the State. He was several times chosen as Moderator of 
 the town, and was a man of intelligence and enterprise, infusing 
 energy and courage in the people. 
 
 In 1775 he put up the largest and most showy house that had 
 ever been erected in Scituate. Mr. Welcome Arnold, who died 
 some twenty years ago, was at the raising of this house, and used 
 often to speak of the great gathering and interest of the occasion. 
 Liquors of all sorts were furnished, but while rum was very plenti- 
 ful there was a choice kind of wine, of which the people were only 
 permitted to take a Utile. This house is on the Providence and 
 Hartford turnpike, three miles west of the village of North Scitu- 
 ate. It is a gambrel-roofed house of two stories as it fronts the 
 road, and of four stories on the end opening to the east, including 
 the basement and the attic story. The rooms in the house are very 
 spacious, and the attic seems as large as many meeting houses, it 
 being all in one room. It was quite a museum, with old fashioned 
 looms, spinning wheels, chests of drawers, and other articles, when 
 I saw it. 
 
 A very interesting historical place is this house, built by Lieut. 
 Gov. William West, coeval with our centennial year, and it is a 
 very pleasant coincidence that one of our committee lives in tlie 
 house with his brother-in-law, Mr. Richard A. Atwood. I rather 
 think that not a few rebels were (juartered there at times in the Rev- 
 olution, and seditious conversation indulged in, and even rebel- 
 
26 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 lion openly talked of, and schemes devised against the British 
 troops and vessels. I don't see why that house, built on the prem- 
 ises where Gov. Stephen Hopkins and Commodore Eseck Hopkins 
 were born, should not be placarded, these centennial days, with the 
 noble and patriotic words of Rhode Island statesmen and heroes 
 as is the case to-day with the Old South Church in Boston, and 
 flags and streamers displayed upon it. The old house was raised 
 and built by patriotic men who knew how to handle the musket and 
 the sword, and doubtless did, most of them, serve in the American 
 army and navy. If the old folks have gone to their reward in 
 heaven they have left us a memorial of their day, in this edifice, 
 and may it stand a century longer. 
 
 Gov. West was quite a farmer and kept a great many cows. 
 He would often set oif with a load of cheese to sell, valued at $1,500. 
 He married Ellen Brown ; his children were William, Charles, John, 
 Samuel, Hiram, Elsie, Olive, Ellen, Sally and Hannah, Job Ran- 
 dall married two of his daughters — Ellen for his first wife, and 
 Sally ior his second. Jeremy Philips married Elsie West, and 
 Hannah married Mr, Gideon- Smith, father of Mr. Russel Smith, 
 who resides in North Scituate village. 
 
 The going down in value of continental money ruined Gov. 
 West financially, as it did many other patriots of the Revolution 
 who trusted the government, and made his last years afflictive. 
 This was one of the sacrifices our fathers made for us, that we might 
 enjoy freedom and prosperity, Mr. West died about sixty years 
 ago. Elder Westcott attended his funeral. He was a man rather 
 above the middle height, a bony, sinewy man, long favored, with a 
 prominent nose. 
 
 As an illustration of the spirit of the town of Scituate, in the 
 Revolutionary war, and as evidence of confidence in their 
 townsmen, are many votes on record. Here is one! — " At a Town 
 Meeting held April 28, HTT, it was Voted that Col. William West 
 be appointed to use the utmost of his endeavors and abilities, by giv- 
 ing directions to his under-ofiicers, as well as using his influence other 
 ways, to raise soldiers by enlisting the number of men assigned to 
 
OF SCITUATE. 27 
 
 be raised in this town, by act of Assembly aforesaid." May 5, 
 following, he was chosen chairman of a committee "to prepare and 
 divide into classes the male inhabitants of the town, liable to bear 
 arms." How ready the town was to bear its proportion of war ex- 
 penses, see the following vote of September 23, 1'7'79 : " Voted 
 that the town will raise their proportion of the $20,000,000 recom- 
 mended by the Hon. Continental Congress, £5,359, 2s, 8d being 
 said town's proportion. The collector of taxes is directed to pay 
 the same, when collected, into the Loan OiKce in this State, taking 
 Loan OfiBce certificates of the same." 
 
 In this part of the town, where Col. West lived, are preserved 
 some articles of furniture of great antiquity, heir-looms of families. 
 Mrs. Farnham, who lives on the road to the West House — a little 
 east — the only surviving child of the late Hon. Elisha Mathewson, 
 has in her possession the veritable looking-glass brought to Scitu- 
 ate by her first ancestor, John Mathewson. It is small — the plate 
 only seven inches by nine — of hard wood frame, stout, and of good 
 repair, save that the quicksilver has come off in a good many 
 small spots. The same lady has other centennial articles, — one is 
 a solid mahogany table of an oval form, three feet in length, an old 
 fashioned tea table. This table was brought from England, and it 
 belonged to Mrs. Farnham's grandmother, the wife of Richard 
 Smith, whose maiden name was Lydia Clarke, daughter of Judge 
 Joseph Clarke, who was driven off in tlie Revolutionary war to 
 Pawtuxet. Several ancient chairs are also the property of this 
 venerable lady, who is still living. The backs are about four and a 
 half feet high, with leather bottoms and backs, with brass nails and 
 carved work on the top. Tlicse were brought from Newport, and 
 came from the same family as the table, and were made in England. 
 An old cane of her grandfather, Thomas Mathewson, with round 
 top and brass ferrule and bottom, is also preserved by this lady. 
 John Harris, Esq., had an oaken arm chair, rush-bottomed, miide 
 by his grandfather, John Aldrich, during a great snow storm and 
 the time subsequent, in all three weeks, that the people were kept 
 from traveling. This chair commemorates a fall of snow unpara- 
 
98 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 lelled in Rhode Island history, and probably dates back to the re- 
 markable snow storms of 1716 or 1138. A silver cup, holding 
 about a pint, and reaching back to Jonathan Harris, great-grand- 
 father of John, is in preservation to be handed in due course to 
 Stephen Harris, son of John, now in California. This cup was 
 originally left as a legacy to be thus transmitted from generation to 
 generation. 
 
 Mr. George Brownell left several articles of antiquarian value. 
 A table of curled maple, three feet across at the top, with slanting 
 legs crossing each other, once the property of his grandfather, 
 Samuel Aldrich, who came from England and settled in Smithfield. 
 It came subsequently into the hands of his son John, and his grand- 
 eon James who settled in Scituate. There is a pewter soup platter 
 of the same hereditary origin, twenty inches across, very heavy, 
 marked with the initials of three generations — J. for John Aldrich, 
 S. for Samuel, E. for Elizabeth, wife of John, J. for Jane. 
 
 Simeon Arnold came from Smilhfield, and purchased about 
 two hundred acres of land, including the farm on which his grand- 
 eon, Simeon C. Arnold, now lives ; he died about ninety-six years 
 ago, occupying the premises until his- death. His son Dexter 
 was born, lived and died on the same farm, living as did his father 
 to the age of about eighty years. His son Simeon, now upwards of 
 fifty years old, has known no other home. He and his wife are 
 the sixth generation from Roger Williams. 
 
 Other families have more or less of tables ; chests of drawers, 
 and chairs of ancient patterns, many of them still in use. The 
 quantity of pewter is considerable, and parts of antiquated China 
 Bets are found here and there. Looking-glasses, a few large and 
 handsome ones, of great age, are to be found. 
 
 The spinning wheels, large and small, of former generations, 
 are placed away in garrets, or stored in old and dilapidated out- 
 buildings. Their busy hum is heard no longer, but silent, as those 
 who once used them in commendable skill and industry, we may 
 imagine them as wearing away life in indolent musings of the past, 
 and perhaps wonder if the wheels of fashion will ever bring them 
 
OF SCITUATE. 29 
 
 again into favor. How many pleasant hours are associated in the 
 past with these now neglected wheels. The spinning by them of 
 wool, cotton and flax was esteemed an honorable and indispensa- 
 ble avocation. The young daughters of a household soon learnt with 
 pride to survey the skeins of yarn they had spun, and many a 
 charming day-dream was born in the monotonous buzz of the spin- 
 ning wheel, and many a sweet song was sung by youth and beauty : 
 
 "Noise sweetens toil, however rude the sound. 
 All at her work the village maiden sings, 
 Nor while she turns the giddy wheel around, 
 Revolves the sad vicissitude of things." 
 
 Every newly married couple must have a spinning wheel to 
 commence life with, and the solitude of the new settlements was 
 broken by the cheerful sound of the buzzing wheel. The old ladies 
 solaced many a weary hour of the live-long summer day at this em- 
 ployment, the door thrown open, and the cooling breeze sporting 
 with the rolls they were spinning into useful threads. 
 
 Considerable interest is attached to the table, platter and bureau, 
 handed down from Samuel Aldrich, which have been mentioned, 
 from the following anecdote, showing how they were saved from 
 destruction: Mr, Aldrich, one of the first settlers of Smithfield, 
 had an Indian servant in his family. Several strange Indians came 
 along one day and had a talk with this servant in the Indian lan- 
 guage, the purport of which he made known to his master after the 
 strange Indians had gone away. He told Mr. Aldrich that King 
 Philip had proclaimed war, and he advised him to remove imme- 
 diately. Accordingly, they went to work, digging holes to bury 
 their heaviest and most bulky arti<;les ; and the most light and port- 
 able they took with them, the whole family proceeding in all haste 
 to Providence. They were not any too swift, for on arriving at 
 Tracy's Hill, in Johnston, they saw their house in flames, kindled 
 by the Indians. They passed some armed Indians in their flight, 
 but Mr. Aldrich's Indian, pointing to his master, said : "That man 
 is my master; you must not kill him." Mr. Samuel Aldrich was 
 a Quaker preacher. 
 
 Not very long ago in Scituate, no house was painted, plastered 
 
30 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 or papered, there were no carpets — the parlor floors were sanded, 
 and hardly any furniture was in the house, and what was to be 
 seen was simple and rude. A few ordinary chairs, rush-bottomed, 
 or in the case of the better sort, stuffed with straw and covered 
 with stout leather. Tables, stoutly made, but rude in construction, 
 and bedsteads equally common sjind inelegant. Trenchers, or wooden 
 plates, were in use in most families until the war of the Revolution, 
 and to some extent afterwards. Pewter plates and earthen mugs, 
 with a little China, appeared after tea drinking came in fashion, 
 with cups and saucers very small. The Chinaware was considered 
 so choice and genteel that it was placed in a little cupboard over 
 the fire-place, and the glass door or window in it enabled all 
 visitors to see the half-dozen or more ornamented cups. Old looms, 
 now disused, remain to show how independent the farmer was in 
 those ancient times, wearing his home-made clothes and demonstrat- 
 ing the capabilities of his wife, who often in church on Sundays 
 eyed with just pride her husband's nicely spun and woven clothes, 
 the product of her own hands, and often the cutting and making of 
 them also. 
 
 Edwin and his brother John Ilowland, living on and owning 
 extensive portions of land in the northerly section of Scituate, 
 sold to Jeremiah Smith of Providence, in 1788, one hundred and 
 seventy-five acres for $2,100, who put up on it a one-story gambrel 
 roof house, and died in 1816, aged ninety-two years. Mr. Martin 
 Smith, his groat-graiidson, occupied a large two-story house, built 
 by his father in 1817. 
 
 Richard Brown, living in Providence, attracted by the fine 
 situation of the land for hunting grounds, procured, so tradition 
 sa^'s, at about the cost of laying out and registering, a large tract 
 of land. Richard Brown, Jr., Juno 5th, 1765, gave to his son 
 Jesse two hundred acres, saying : "it is the lot of land given to 
 me by my grandfather, Ricliard Brown, April 28, 1744, and is on 
 Mosquito Hawk Plain." Jesse settled on the spot, and also his 
 brother Samuel. Mr. William Brownell, and after him Isaac S. 
 Devereaux, of Providence, bought and lived there. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 31 
 
 Richard Brown, the senior, lived to be an hundred years old. 
 As his century birthday approached, his children and friends made 
 great preparations to celebrate the day by a dance and a feast. 
 As the old gentleman was still hearty and active, they got him out to 
 dance, and enjoying the sport as well as any one, he exerted him- 
 self to comply with the general wish, making much merriment and 
 acquitting himself well. He did not live long afterwards. 
 
 A hunting house, or lodge, was built nearly a century and 
 three-quarters ago, for the convenience of sportsmen from Provi- 
 dence and other places, wiiile hunting deer and other game in that 
 then wild and unsettled region. These animals used to come to 
 the hunting house brook to drink, and in the thick tangled wood 
 and brush, and tall herbage, they found a covert, and tender grass 
 and berries for food. " Some of the gentlemen who resorted to this 
 place for hunting were Joseph Smith, Richard Brown, Jeremiah 
 Smith, Edward Howland, John Hulet, Joseph Wilkinson, William 
 West, James Aldrich and Gov. Fenner. 
 
 A famous squirrel hunt took place about 1784, on a wager be- 
 tween the towns of Glocester and Scituate, as to which should kill 
 the greatest number. They were to hunt for ten successive days 
 and then bring in the spoils and make the award. Judges were 
 mutually appointed, consisting of a committee of fifteen. Ten gal- 
 lons of rum and the expense of a dinner for the committee was to 
 be the forfeit of the losing party. 
 
 The boys turned out as well as the men, and even the women 
 became fired with ardor. The dogs entered hoartily into the work 
 of searching the woods and ferreting out the squirrels. The sqir- 
 rels were taken by surprise, at such a general, earnest. and murder- 
 ous onslaught, the object of which they so little understood. 
 Doubtless, many Revolutionary soldiers, fresh from the battle-fields, 
 condescended to show their skill on this occasion. At the close 
 of the period allotted for shooting, the company met at the house 
 of James Aldrich, to decide who were the victors. The piles of 
 the respective combatants were ranged on each side of tlie town's 
 border line opposite to each other, and consisted of the heads and 
 
32 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 one of the fore-paws of each of the slaughtered animals. The heaps 
 were about the size of hay cocks. Scituate beat Glocester by sev- 
 eral thousands. Mr. Obediah Fenner, of Foster, was present, and 
 related to me these facts. 
 
 THE ANGELL TAVERN AND OTHER PUBLIC HOUSES. 
 
 Thirty-five years ago there stood very near the geograpical 
 centre of Scituate, in a place latterly known as Richmond Mills, 
 an antique and somewhat grotesque edifice of a century and a 
 quarter's date, looking very much the worse for time, with its 
 red paint nearly all washed off, and looking dingy enough, and a 
 little awkward with its south-east corner projecting very near to 
 the junction of two roads. That was our old "Angell Tavern," 
 built when the stumps in the road, and the wide-spreading forest 
 around, indicated a country just beginning to be cleared up. When 
 it was raised, so few were the inhabitants around, that they had to 
 send to Providence for men to assist; there was a great gathering 
 of the region for many miles in circuit, and a merry time they had 
 of it, and also when the tavern sign was elevated and the house 
 opened for public entertainment. A curious and entertaining his- 
 tory is belonging to tliat old house, for town meetings were held 
 there, and the news of the day proclaimed, and politics discussed, 
 and strangers found there a good supper and a night's lodging. It 
 was two stories high, with the eaves of the front extending a few 
 feet, forming a little shelter in stormy weather. On the western 
 end was a very huge stone-chimney, forming a wall for that end of 
 the building. There was also back of the main building, an addi- 
 tion sloping down from the main roof to form a kitchen, closet and 
 bed-room, one story high, which being old and out of repair, was 
 taken down ih 1823. The house had three narrow windows, with 
 small panes of glass on the lower front, and four of the same de- 
 scription above, with one at the east end. The front door was at 
 the western extremity of the part facing on the road. As you en- 
 tered, a door on the riglit hand of the passage opened upon the 
 bar-room, a large square room, and leading out of it, the entire 
 length of the remaining fore part of the house was a sitting-room, 
 
OF SCITUATE. 33 
 
 used in later years, if not before, for a bed-room. Back of the 
 bar-room was a kitchen, a larg-c square room, which had been as 
 large again before the addition was removed. A bed-room was at 
 one end of it, nearly corresponding in size to the sitting-room, di- 
 rectly behind which it stood. The only pair of stairs to the upper 
 rooms, ascended from the kitchen at the west end. Three bed- 
 rooms were on the east end, and all the rest of the second floor, 
 with tlie exception of a sleeping chamber over the front entry, was 
 a hall for dancing and public meetings. 
 
 1 have been thus minute and full in this description, as this 
 tavern is often referred to in the doings at Scituate — a sort of town 
 hall, exchange, eating and lodging house, real estate office, and 
 place of resort for young and old, day and evening, where bargains 
 were made, balls were held, and a general news-room established, 
 or what was equivalent to it. ♦ 
 
 Capt. Thomas Augell, who built this house one hundred and 
 sixty-six years ago, that is, in 1710, if a stoue, taken out of the 
 chimney, gives the correct date, was a large owner of property in 
 the vicinity, and had built his first house of much smaller dimen- 
 sions and in simpler construction, near where Pardon Angell's 
 house stands, a quarter of a mile north. His land lay on both 
 sides of the Ponagansett river, and his second house was erected 
 near a fall of water, improved of late years for a factory, but might 
 originally have been used for a saw and grist mill. Immediately 
 before the tavern the river makes rather a sudden bend, rounding 
 with a graceful sweep through woodlands festooned with vines, 
 which still grow in the region. Before the house, on the opposite 
 or southern side, the land sloped down to a very beautiful intervale 
 on the sides of the stream. 
 
 The parties taking possession of this new house were the 
 family of Capt. Thomas Angcll. He was the son of John and 
 Ruth Angell, of Providence, and was born March 25, 1672, and 
 married April 4, 1700, Sarah Brown, daughter of Daniel Bruwn and 
 Alice his wife. Sarah was born at Providence, Oct. 10, 1677. It 
 must have been very soon after their marriage that the young and 
 
34 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 adventurous couple took up their line of march for the thousand 
 acres of wild land, of which Thomas had become the proprietor. 
 
 In 1730 Scituate was taken out of the limits of Providence 
 and made a separate town. The first meeting it was voted to hold 
 the town meetings in the new house of Capt. Thomas Angell. 
 Three years afterwards he was appointed to represent the town in 
 the General Assembly. He contracted with the town to build a 
 bridge over Ponagansett river in 1734, and about the same time he 
 petitioned with one or two others to have a pound near his dwell- 
 ing, and leave was granted that they might do it at their own ex- 
 pense, which they did, building it of stone. It stood two or three 
 rods east of the tavern, and continued to be the only pound in the 
 town until 1810, when the place being wanted by, Mr. Charles 
 Angell, the then proprietor of the tavern, to put up a new and 
 spacious house upon the spot, it was removed and a new one built 
 on the opposite side of the road, a little west of the old spot. 
 
 The town meetings continued to be held at Mr. Angell's tav- 
 ern ior many years, until the building of the Baptist Church a mile 
 east. The large hall in the second story was improved on these 
 occai^ions. By far the largest use of the hall was for dancing. 
 This tavern became quite noted among the traveling commu- 
 nity, am! what is remarkable, continued in the hands of the family 
 until quite recently, except a period of ten years, during the ill- 
 health of Mr. Andrew Angell, when it was leased successively to 
 John Miineliestcr, Nathan Manchester and Mr. Hazard. Mr. 
 Charles Angell then resumed it on the old hereditary line. 
 
 Many eminent meii have been entertained at this tavern, as 
 well as a multitude of more humble travelers. Gen. Washinirton 
 has st<)p]ie(l tlieie. Gen. Lafayette encamped his regiment on the 
 pleasant intei\nle in liont of the house while marching through the 
 town during the R<'voliitionary war. They continued there until the 
 troops had finished their washing in the river. The old people 
 nsed to speak olten to their children about the fine mnsic of the 
 band, as in the morning and evening they played in the camp. 
 Lafayette lodged in the tavern, and anoth(!r French officer of high 
 
OF SCITUATE. 35 
 
 rank had accommodations in a house near by, where lived Mr, 
 Abel Ang-ell. Mr. Angell's wife, who died thirty-five or forty 
 years ago, used to speak of making porridge for this oflScer, whom 
 she called General, while he was sick at her house. This house 
 stood for a long period, and Mr. Richard Angell, son of Abel, 
 pointed out to myself and other visitors the small bed-room back 
 of the kitchen which had been occupied by the oflBcer. Gen, 
 Lafayette, on his last visit to this country, passed up the same 
 road, recognized the old places, and enquired particularly for a 
 spring at the foot of Cranberry Hill, some three or four miles west 
 of the Angell tavern on the turnpike, at which spring he and his 
 troops had refreshed themselves on their dusty and weary march. 
 Many were4ben alive to greet him, of his old companions in the 
 war. Dr. Owen Battey, residing within a mile of the tavern, on 
 the same road, remembered seeing Lafayette and his soldiers as 
 they passed along, and also of walking into the camp-ground ou 
 the intervale, led, while a child, by one of his father's men. 
 
 It being in the fall of the year the river was high, and one of 
 the soldiers having drunk too freely tried to drown himself, but 
 other soldiers jumped into the river and pulled him out. 
 
 Some things remain of the old tavern. The well which faith- 
 fully served other generations abides to moisten the lips of several 
 families in the neighborhood, and gives a good supply for all house- 
 hold uses. The old stone steps, as good as new, upon which so 
 many feet alighted from travelers' carriages, and the ponderous iron 
 shovel for the use of the oven, are still in use. A hatchet which 
 once belonged to Jeremy Angell, and marked February, 1755 ; an 
 iron square, bearing the date April 2, 1770, and formerly the proper- 
 ty of Andrew Angell, and a gauge of still greater antiquity, for 
 measuring the contents of barrels, are still preserved, or were up 
 to twenty years ago, when I saw them ; but the hatchet, once so 
 indispensable in a household, for the preparation of flax for use, is 
 no longer wanted. The large old clock *that clicked in the bar- 
 room has been swapped away for a smaller and more modern 
 measurer of time. A chest of drawers belonging to old Capt. 
 
36 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Thomas Angell, who first occupied the tavern, was burnt up forty- 
 five years ago in the house of Mr. Stephen Peckham, which was de- 
 stroyed by fire. One or two tables of ancient form are left, but 
 time and accident have swept away other articles of furniture. 
 
 In a field back of the house is a burial place containing the 
 graves of some of the ancient household. Mr. Andrew Angell, 
 who died about 1191 ; his wife, Tabitha, who survived thirty years 
 and deceased Dec. 10, 1821; Gideon Angell, son of Andrew, who 
 was born June 21, 1773, and died unmarried. May 14, 1829; Abi- 
 gail Hopkins, brought up by Andrew Angell, and who married a 
 Sanders. The last named grave, with that of him who brought her 
 up, is without an inscription. , 
 
 Capt. Angell seems to have made his tavern the great centre 
 of business and amusement in the town. The militia imisters were 
 held in the vicinity, and the pound drew all the stray cattle, and 
 their owners to reclaim them ; there, too, the blacksmith shop ad- 
 joining the pound, under another line of Angells, brought custom- 
 ers, and there also, we must not forget to mention, was the 
 "stocks," a machine consisting of two heavy pieces of timber, 
 rounded so as to enclose the legs of criminals, and in which ludi- 
 crous and painful condition they had to sit out their time. Here, 
 too, those who got into scrapes during the trainings, and at other 
 times, were put; and the pole of the tavern sign was used as a 
 post to fasten those unfortunate gentlemen who were sentenced to 
 be whipped, an operation they were not likely very soon to forget. 
 
 Other taverns sprung up, as the town increased, in different 
 places. Matthew Manchester was licensed as an inn-keeper in 1769, 
 and Thomas Manchester and Levi Coivin at the same time. Steph- 
 en Smith and Zebedee Hopkins were licensed in 1762, and Col, 
 John Potter and Christopher Potter in 1760, Some of these per- 
 sons lived in Foster, then a part of Scituate. 
 
 Peter Cook, 1755; Joseph Kimball, 1745; Jeremiah Angell, 
 1758; Elisha Hopkins, jr., 1758; William West, 1758 ; John Hulet, 
 1745; Thomas Brown, 1749; Samuel Cooper, 1745; Henry Ran- 
 dall, jr., 1748; William Jackson, 1758, were among the licensed. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 37 
 
 "Tavern Ale House and Victualling House" is the term em- 
 ployed in licensing many of the above. Only a few of these per- 
 sons could have done much business. 
 
 An old house on Bald Hill, marked on the chimney ItlO, or 
 1740, was built by John Hammond, who lived in it ; also Jeremiah 
 Baker lived there, and died about forty years ago. 
 
 The license to Joseph Knight runs thus: "License to keep a 
 tavern, or house of public entertainment, and to retail strong liquors 
 in said town, and hath given bond for maintaining good order and 
 conforming to the regulations of the law respecting taverns and 
 public houses. Provided, that he suffer no unlawful game or 
 games, drunkenness, or any other disorder, in said house, or in any 
 place in his possession, but that good government, rule and order 
 be kept therein according to law." This license is dated Feb. 12, 
 1803, and is signed, John Harris, Clerk. 
 
 Thomas Wilmarth, who was a tavern keeper and clothier, kept 
 an old tavern, still standing. His son, Stephen Wilmarth, of Glo- 
 Cv-ster, married Nancy, daughter of James Aldrich. 
 
 The first tavern in Providence, and the first in the State, was 
 in May, 1638, in charge of William Baulston. 
 
 Two taverns in each town, in early legislation, were allowed, 
 and leave was granted to add one more if they saw fit : this was in 
 1655. Very full laws were enacted regulating the sale of liquors. 
 The tavern bars were to be closed at 9 o'clock in tlie evening. 
 Tavern keepers, when they trusted any one for liquors beyond 
 twenty shillings, were barred an action at law. 
 
 We are very liable to undervalue country taverns in these da^'S 
 of their decline. In a newly settled coimtry they are pioneers, and 
 the house of the first settler becomes of a necessity the inn or 
 lodging place o^ the traveler. As the settlement increases and tlie 
 traveling multiplies, the tavern becomes a real estate oflBce, where 
 land is bought and sold. Inasmuch as there were no newspapers 
 in circulation, and no post office, the tavern became the centre of 
 information for those who were shut out by a residence in the 
 woods, from tidings of the world. Macauley, in his History of Eng- 
 
38 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 land, says that tavern keeping was most flourishing as to patronage 
 and being well kept when the roads were in the poorest condition, 
 and traveling slow and laborious. 
 
 Daniel Webster's father, building his house on the farthest line 
 of civilization, in New Hampshire, could not well help being a 
 tavern keeper, and his son Daniel was favored with more avenues 
 of information by reason of it than the boys not so privileged in 
 new settlements. 
 
 The old Angell tavern is well represented to-day in Mr. James 
 B. Angell, the popular president of Michigan University. 
 
 Capt. Thomas Angell's children were Jeremiah, Nehemiah, 
 Isaiah, Jonathan, Thomas, Martha and Sarah — all Scripture names. 
 Every one but Jonathan married and had children. Dividing his 
 lands, he gave large farms of two hundred acres to each of his 
 sons, and built handsome houses of two stories high for four of 
 them, and a smaller house for Jonathan. Two of these houses re- 
 main. The daughters, no doubt, received gifts. At their father's 
 death in 1744, Martha inherited by his will a negro girl call.ed 
 Phillis, and Sarah a negro boy named James. 
 
 Thomas, the youngest son, was the executor of his father's 
 will. Jeremiah followed his father in the keeping of the tavern, 
 and was a highly respectable man. He was a Justice of the Peace 
 as early as 1*741, and was afterwards Town Treasurer^ His first 
 wife was Mary Mathewson, his second Abigail Graves, and his 
 third Elizabeth Stow. He died in 1186, aged seventy-nine years, 
 having been born January 29, 1707. His widow survived till De- 
 cember 10, 1821. 
 
 Nehemiah Angell, second son of Thomas, married Mary Hop- 
 kins, sister to Elder Reuben Hopkins. He had three sons, Pardon, 
 Nehemiah and Abraham, and his daughters were four, namely : 
 Zilpah, Martha, Mercy and Mary. A grandson, Mr. Pardon Angell, 
 became the owner of the farm, and soon after took down the old 
 one-story red house, and put up a new one. Isaiah, the third son, 
 married Miss Wilkinson, and had only one daughter, named Pru- 
 dence, who married Gideon Austin, and had a large family. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 39 
 
 Thomas Angell, jr., married Mercy, and had one daughter, Sally, 
 who married a Sterry. Mr. Angell sold out and removed to Provi- 
 dence. Martha Angell married Mr. Knight, and Sarah married 
 Jeremy Mathewson, on the very day the Angell tavern was raised. 
 The children of Jeremiah were brought up with their father in the 
 tavern. Daniel, born August 16, 1T48, went to sea unmarried, and 
 did not return; Andrew, one of his sons, married Tabitha Harris, 
 daughter of Gideon Harris, Esq., and carried on the tavern after 
 his father. 
 
 SCITUATE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 
 
 From the character of the men who settled in Rhode Island it 
 might be expected that they would be quick and energetic in re- 
 Bisting all encroachments upon their liberties, and such was the 
 case. The taking of the Gaspee was the earliest resistance by 
 arms to the power of Great Britain in any of the colonies. Great 
 sympathy was awakened lor the people of Boston, under the vexa- 
 tious and vindictive treatment of England, and supplies were voted 
 in all the Rhode Island towns, and sent for their relief. 
 
 When the news of the battle of Lexington arrived at Provi- 
 dence a thousand men were on the march the next day for the scene 
 of conflict, but were countermanded by expresses from Lexington. 
 
 The Rhode Island forces, incorporated with the grand army be- 
 fore Boston, were placed under the direction of Washington. Rev. 
 William Emerson, of Concord, chaplain in the army, who saw them 
 at Cambridge in 1T'I5, describing the military camps there, from 
 various places, and noticing the want of tents and arms and 
 apparel of many of the companies, says of some proper tents and 
 marquees : " In these are the Rhode Islanders, who are furnished 
 with tent equipage and everything in the most exact English style." 
 
 But it was not always so. Two years later, Aug. 21, 1111, 
 Col. Israel Angell writing from the camp to the Governor of Rhode 
 Island, declares that " pure necessity urges me to write you of the 
 wretched condition of my command, as to their clothing and equip- 
 ments. Only one half of the men are fit for duty, and many are 
 barefoot." At another time, of some companies, it was said: 
 
40 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 " There are not two in five who have a shoe or stocking', or other 
 apparel to make them decent. But they rendered good service at 
 Brandywine a month afterwards, contributing to a very important 
 victory. Washington said of them: "The gallant behavior of 
 Col. Angell's regiment on the 23d of June, at Springfield, reflects 
 the highest honor upon the oflScers and men : they disputed an im- 
 portant pass with so obstinate a bravery that they lost upwards of 
 forty in killed and wounded and missing — nearly one-fourth of 
 their number, before they gave up their ground to a vast superior- 
 ity of force. 
 
 Job and Joseph Angell, twin brothers, born January 19, 1*745, 
 were out in arms during the whole of the Revolutionary war. Job 
 commanded a company but did not go out of the State. He has a 
 son Job living in Scituate. Joseph Angell continued a private sol- 
 dier, refusing offers of promotion, and distinguished himself in the 
 war. He was with Washington the greater part of the war and 
 fought in many battles. The old people that knew him had 
 memories very quick to remember " Uncle Joe," the old soldier, 
 who made a good impression on their minds. He used to relate 
 tales of the war and events in the battles of which he was one of the 
 actors. At the battle of Monmouth, the day being very hot, the men 
 after the action flung themselves down by the river to drink, and 
 many of them died in consequence, and indeed many were so faint 
 that they died where they laid down, without drinking. Capt. Boss, 
 Joseph's captain, laid down completely exhausted, until some one 
 came and raised him up to drink spirits. Gen. Washington rode in 
 among the troops ordering them not to drink without first tasting 
 some spiritous liquor. Joseph said he always kept a little in his 
 canteen for such a purpose, and he had so reserved some for him- 
 self in that battle. In the fight at the Red Bank on the Jersey 
 shore, when the Hessians unsuccessfully attacked Fort Mercer, and 
 were so cut up by the fire of the Americans, Joseph loaded and 
 fired his gun for forty minutes as fast as he could, and without a 
 moment's cessation until his gun became so hot that he could not hold 
 it in his hand. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 41 
 
 At a time during the war, when an engagement was about to 
 commence, a cannon-ball from the enemy struck an apple tree in 
 the road, taking off a branch. Washington, who was near, pleas- 
 antly remarked : " That was a good shot." Accounts agree that 
 Joseph really loved the soldier's profession, that he engaged in it 
 with his whole heart, and conducted himself bravely during the 
 whole war. When peace was declared he returned to Scituate to 
 take up once more the plough. lie selected a daughter of John 
 Edwards for his wife, and had two sons, Jonathan and Israel, who 
 both married and removed to the State of New York. 
 
 Joseph Knight acted an important part in the Revolutionary 
 war. His father, Jonathan Knight, executed to him the lease of 
 his farm for six years, April 4th, IIQS, Jeremiah and Andrew Ail- 
 goll witnessing the same. He appears to have used his teams ex- 
 tensively in transporation for Hope furnace. 
 
 From papers in the possession of his descendants, which have 
 been kindly loaned me, we get much information of Revolutionary 
 times. He seems to have had a taste early for military life, having 
 received from Gov. Samuel Ward, June 16th, 1766, a commission 
 as Ensign of the First Company, or Trained Band, of Providence. 
 He was made Lieutenant of the same company, in 1769, and in 
 August, 1774, he was created Captain. April, 1775, after the news 
 of battle of Lexington, a company was formed in Scituate under him 
 as captain, the roll headed thus: " We do enlist ourselves as Vol- 
 unteers in the present emergency in defence of our country and 
 Right of Privileges and Liberty." Four new companies were 
 chartered in Scituate, Dec. 5, 1774, and one of them was called 
 "Scituate Hunters." 
 
 A letter from Gov. Cooke to Joseph Knight, dated Providence, 
 Dec. J 9, 1775, directed to him as captain of the second company 
 of minute men in Scituate, says: "You are hereby directed to 
 gather together the company under your com naiid willi all possible 
 expedition and march them to this town in order to be transported 
 to Rliodo Island for the defence of that island. You are to be care- 
 ful that the men are properly equipped with arms, ammunition and 
 
42 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 blankets fit for immediate service. I have advice from Gen. Wash- 
 ington that eight large transports, with two tenders, having on 
 board one regiment of foot, and three companies of horse sailed 
 from Boston last Saturday, and I have no doubt that your oflBcers 
 and men will exert themselves upon this occasion with their usual 
 ardor." 
 
 Gov. West sends an order from head-quarters to Capt. Knight, 
 Jan. 12, 1*176, for nine privates with a commissioned oflQcer and 
 sergeant or corporal, upon fatigue duty. Ten days afterwards Gen, 
 Lippitt directs him, from Prudence, to send ten men up there to 
 go in a scow down to the Pearl. The men sent were in the fight at 
 Prudence. According to the record they were, Joseph Knight, 
 captain ; William Brownell and Simeon Wilbour^ sergeants ; Abra- 
 ham Angell, corporal ; and Joseph Turner, Stephen Leach, Oliver 
 Leach, Oliver Fisk, Zebedee Snow, Christopher Edwards, Joseph 
 Wight, Moses Colvin, and Christopher Knight. 
 
 Providence was threatened by the enemy and Scituate was 
 called upon to assist in its defence. Gen. Sullivan writes to Mr. 
 Knight, who has been promoted to be Lieut. -Colonel, to march imme- 
 diately with his regiment to their aid : " Pray, delay no time, for 
 by the delay of one hour we may lose the town of Providence; let 
 each man take three days provision, and wait there for further 
 orders." About this time, March 18, 1111, Elizabeth Knight 
 writes from Scituate to her husband, who was with his troops at 
 Warwick : "These lines are to let you know that we are all well at 
 present. I want you to come home soon as you can, to see 
 about getting some flax, for it is very scarce to be had. There are 
 some men who want to be boarded at your house, and I want you 
 to send to me whether you are willing to board them or not. So 
 I remain your loving wife, Elizabeth Knight." 
 
 There you see a woman of the old herioc time, — quiet, dili- 
 gent, deferring to her husband, subjecting herself to the circum- 
 stances of the time, and heartily embracing the good cause. In 
 talking of the men of the Revolution we should never forget the 
 women, whose sacrifices were great, and whose zeal and courage 
 in the patriot cause was abounding. 
 
OF SCITUATE. 43 
 
 Eufus Hopkins, who seems to have been especially active and 
 efficient in the good cause, writes Major Knight from Cranston, 
 July 21, 1780, saying: " By express from the Governor I am re- 
 quested to direct you forthwith to muster together the regiment 
 under your command, completely equipped with arms and ammuni- 
 tion and six days provision ; you are therefore hereby directed ac- 
 cordingly, and rendezvous at Providence as soon as possible; where 
 you are to be ready to receive further orders, the reason is said to 
 be in consequence of Gen. Clinton's coming from New York with 
 eight or ten thousand troops to attack the French army and fleet at 
 Newport." 
 
 Scituate was not invaded, but she was called upon, and re- 
 sponded nobly to the call, to march her troops to the port. The 
 British, on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1T76, landed and took possession of 
 Khode Island, and remained there until Oct. 25, 1179, during which 
 time the inhabitants were greatly oppressed. 
 
 In a list of Capt. Knight's company, April 20, 1775, the day 
 after the Lexington battle, are found the following names: Joseph 
 Knight, captain ; Samuel Wilbor, Benjamin Wood, Isaac Ilorton, 
 John Hill, Nathan Walker, Jamos Parker, John Bennet, jr., Jere- 
 miah Almy, Joseph Remington, Nathan Ralfe, John I. K^'lton, 
 Jonathan Knight, jr., Joseph Briggs, David Knight, Joseph Col- 
 lins, William Taylor, John Manchester, Edward Bennett, Thomas 
 Parker, Joliii Edwards, jr., Simeon Wilbor, Isaiah Austin, Samuel 
 Eldridge, Christopher Knight, Samuel Hopkins, Benajah Bosworth, 
 Obadiah Rolfe, Ezekicl Wood, Caleb Fisk, doctor, John Phillips, 
 Constant Graves, Stukely Thornton, James Andrews, jr., Christo- 
 pher Collill^^, Jos('i.li BcuiK't, Tliomas Knight, Peleg Colvin, Elca- 
 zor Westcott, Caleb Steere, Collins Roberts, Daniel Fisk, William 
 Knight, Nathan Franklin, Uriah Franklin, jr., Ephriam Edwai'da, 
 Stephen Edwards, Francis Fuller, jr., Benjamin Whitmore, William 
 Stafford, Daniel Aiigell, Furnier Tanner — fifty-two in all. 
 
 Another list, dated Feb. 5, 1776, gives the following additional 
 names : Daniel Dexter, Peter Pierce, Alexander Lovell, Ebenezcr 
 Handy, Joseph Turner, John Gunnison, Isaiah Ashtoft, Benjamin 
 
44 . HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 BacoD, Nathan Matliewson, ChriBtopher Edwards, Knight Wilbor, 
 Abraham Angell, Moses Colvin. 
 
 An order of Capt. Knight to Aaron Fisk, one of his corporals, 
 dated Dec. 8, 1714, directs to notify every enlisted soldier to ap- 
 pear in arms complete, to appear at the new dwelling-house of 
 Lieut. Samuel Wilbor, Jan. 16, 1715. 
 
 Lieut. -Col. Ezekiel Cornell, of Col. Hitchcock's regiment. 
 Providence, writes to Major Knight, dated Warwick, July 20, 
 1117, informing that he has just received an express telling him 
 that forty sail of square-rigged vessels were oS Watch Point 
 standing towards Newport, last evening ; also, desiring me to send 
 an express to Col. Colwell, which I have done, ordering him imme- 
 diately to warn the militia to be in readiness. 
 
 Return of the Scituate Light Infantry company, Benj. Boss, 
 captain, and Richard Rhodes, clerk, gives captain and two lieuten- 
 ants, one ensign, four sergeants, three corporals, four drummers and 
 fifers, thirty-eight rank and file — total fifty- four. 
 
 The return of Capt. Nathan Worker's company gives Lieut. 
 Joseph Carpenter, Ensign Samuel Wilbor, seventy-two men, eight 
 all equipped, and twenty-nine guns. 
 
 Capt. Coman Smith's company had Lieut. Fabel Angell, and 
 Capt. Herenden's company had Lieut. Isaac Hopkins, and Ensign 
 James Wells. Timothy Hopkins, jr., was adjutant. Jos. Kimball's 
 company had Gideon Cornwell, lieutenant. Capt. Edwin Knight's 
 company had Ensign Daniel Baker. Capt. Herenden, Lieut. Wm. 
 Howard, Ensign Reuben Read. 
 
 ■ The small pox prevailed much in the army at diflerent times, 
 causing alarm, and the town of Scituate voted that the house of 
 widow Mercy Angell and the house of Peleg Piske, Esq., be opened 
 as hospitals for the innoculation of the small pox. 
 
 Capt. Joseph Kimball, by vote of the town, Nov. 15, 1111, was 
 appointed to supply the families of officers and soldiers, in the con- 
 tinental service, with the necessary articles of life, according to a 
 late act of the General Assembly. 
 
 The retarns of the Third Regiment, made to Major Knight, of 
 
OF SCITUATE. 45 
 
 eight companies, are as follows : Capt. Potter, "75 men, Capt. Dor- 
 rance, 67 men, Capt. Smith, 123 men, Capt. Paine, 109 men, Capt. 
 Wilbour, 76 men, Capt. Howard, 61 men, Capt. Medbury, 32 men, 
 Capt. Rolfe, 67 men. 
 
 We get some idea of the imperfect equipments of the soldiers 
 in the return of three companies of two hundred and seventy-two 
 privates. Of these, without bayonets, one hundred and one, with 
 bayonets, twenty-six, and cartouches of the same number only forty- 
 three. 
 
 The Rhode Island soldiers in our civil war received much 
 praise for their brave and effective service, and their fine appear- 
 ance. A Massachusetts man, writing for a newspaper, at the com- 
 mencement of the rebellion, from Washington, July, 1861, says : 
 "Three cheers for Rhode Island rang along the avenue to-day, as 
 the quota of that gallant State marched proudly along, the first 
 battalion escorting the second, which had just been landed. Cheers 
 were given for the continental color carried by the second battalion 
 and for the ladies who marched bravely with the file-closers of two 
 companies, rivalling Florence Nightingale. A baggage train 
 brought up the rear." Another writer says of them : "This is 
 the finest and best furnished body of men in the field." 
 
 CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, MINISTERS AND PHYSICIANS. 
 
 In the history of a place there are some things more important 
 
 than its size or wealth. Its farms, manufactures, trade, arc indeed 
 
 to be considered. The services performed in war, when they have 
 
 reference to the establishment of freedom, or its preservation, ought 
 
 to hold our attention : 
 
 "By fairy liands their knell is rung, 
 By forms unseen their dirge is Sinig: 
 Tliere Honor com(!S, a pilgrim grey, 
 To bless the turf that wraps tiieir clay ; 
 And Freedom shall awhile repair, 
 To dwell, a weeping hermit, there." 
 
 Improvements in the laying out of roads, the introduction of 
 
 steam travel, the erection of public and private buildings, are not 
 
 to be forgotten, but remembered, also should be first and foremost, 
 
46 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Eeligion, as seen in the churches and families, social and business 
 intercourse, and political institutions, and pervading the community. 
 
 The schools and higher seminaries of instruction are, with re- 
 ligion, to be examined as institutions lying at the foundation of a 
 respectable, orderly, intelligent town, and household behavior, and 
 teaching by precept and example on the part of parents, tend much 
 to I'efine and elevate society. 
 
 Physicians and ministers are so placed as to healing power in 
 body and soul, to their giving a healthy tone to society and encour- 
 aging all goodness, that their character and abilities may prop- 
 erly come under scrutiny. School teachers, out of school as well 
 as in, may encourage and sustain all good works. 
 
 Religion came and followed our original settlers in this town, 
 but they were opposed to taxation, and their ministers probably 
 received at first only such recompense as private individuals might 
 occasionally give them. The Friends were of this kind, and the 
 Baptists also, and these denominations were the two earliest in the 
 field, and probably establisliod their religious meetings at about the 
 same time. 
 
 Rliode Island was from the start tolerant of all protestant reli- 
 gious faith, allowing the freest utterance of doctrine, from which 
 cause she attracted settlers of various creeds. Quakers and Bap- 
 tists were th(> m«>st numerous. Tlie Friends, or Quakers, had a 
 church burnt in Scituate before the Revolutionary war, showing 
 how early they began to erect church edifices. Dec. 14, ISIl, their 
 last meeting house was erected, and William Almy and Moses 
 Brown attended iVom Providence. Mr. Elihu Bowen, one of their 
 preachers living in Scituate, wrote in his record book of the 
 church, of the proceedings: "William being livijigly opened in 
 Gospel love to the edification of the auditory, and concluded in 
 prayer and supplication to the Father of our mercies." Of late, 
 owing to decline in membership of Friends, few or none are the 
 gatherings in tlie town. 
 
 They, at one time, numbered in tlicir ranks many of the most 
 important citizens of the town. The. Wilkinsons of the first gene- 
 
OF SCITUATE. 47 
 
 ration, James Aldrich, Daniel Fiske, Isaac Fiske, Ezra Potter, John 
 Potter, Mr. Mial Smith, Hon. Elisha Mathewson, and Gideon Har- 
 ris attended the meetings. 
 
 Their first church was built on land given by Gideon Harris, a 
 mile west of the present church building, near the old bank, and 
 was supposed to have been accidentally consumed. Meetings were 
 subsequently held in private houses, sometimes with Elizabeth Al- 
 drich, Mr. Mial Smith and Elihu Bowen, until a new house was 
 built. 
 
 The Six Principle Baptist Church, according to a sermon of 
 Richard Knight, one of their elders, preached in 1727, was consti- 
 tuted in 1725, received a grant of an acre of land and built a meet- 
 ing house upon it, reserving a part of the land for a burial place. 
 This was about the centre of the town. In August, 1827, Samuel 
 Fiske was ordained pastor, and Benjamin Fiske, deacon of the 
 society. The services were performed by Elders Brown, Morse 
 and Martin, James Colvin was ordained colleague with Elder 
 Fiske about 1738. Elder Colvin died in 1755, and the church was 
 without a pastor until July 8, 1762, when Reuben Hopkins was or- 
 dained elder, and the church prospered under the able and useful 
 ministry of their *' nourishing pastor." A reformation commenced 
 and continued several years, and numbers were added to the church. 
 In 1821 they built a new and larger meeting-house on the same 
 spot, which is still standing and in use. Elder Jaques is the present 
 preacher and the meetings are regularly held. This church and 
 ministry has doubtless exerted a very great and beneficial influence 
 upon the town. 
 
 An Episcopal Church was established at Richmond villagej 
 South Scituate, several years Since, having quite an extensive mem- 
 bership. 
 
 A meeting-house was put up in Hemlock, Foster, by the Cal- 
 vinistic Baptists, but was never finished. It was bought by the 
 town for a town house, with a provision that the house should be 
 open for preaching. Elder John Williams was their first minister, 
 and his colleague was Elder John Westcott. In 1827 these preach- 
 
48 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 ers were between eighty and ninety years of age, and still continu- 
 ing their labors in the ministry, although Elder Williams preached 
 but seldom. He addressed the convention called to ratify the con- 
 stitutution, forty years before, against the measure. 
 
 The church at Foster was at first in connection with the Cal- 
 vinistic Baptist Churches, but they separated about 1*780, and be- 
 came a Six Principle Baptist Church. Elder John Williams erect- 
 ed a house about 1190, at Hopkins Mills, a very elevated site. 
 
 Elder Young was the pastor of the Calvinistic Baptist Church, 
 in Foster, and had a large family. One of his sons, Zadock, be- 
 came a judge ; and his son, Abiather, had some reputation as a poet. 
 
 A Congregational Church was formed at North Scituate, and 
 organized January 1st, 1834. A house of worship was dedicated 
 in 1834 and is now standing and occupied. Pastors: Revs. Benja- 
 min Allen, Charles P. Grosvener, Benjamin J. Relyed, James Hall, 
 Charles C. Beaman, Thomas Williams, Loring P. Marsh, J. N. U. 
 Dow, William A. Fobes, J. M. Wilkins, Thomas L. Ellis, J. H. 
 Mellish. All now living except Allen and Ellis. 
 
 A Methodist Church is established at Riclimond village. South 
 Scituate ; also, one at Ashland village, and also anotlicr at Hope vil- 
 lage. All now in a flourishing condition. 
 
 A Free Baptist Church, having a comfortable house of wur.sliip, 
 has long been in existence in the north-west part of the town. 
 
 In North Scituate a Free Will Baptist Cliurch was gathered 
 January 7th, 1832, as a branch of the Sraithfield F. B. Church, with 
 thirty-two members. Rev. Reuben Allen, pastor. Church organiziul 
 April 22d, 1835, with thirty members. Pastors: Revs. Martin J. 
 Steere, Eli Noyes, D. P. Cilley, Reuben Allen, J. B. Sargent, John 
 Chanly, Amos Redlon, William H Bawen,0. H. True, J. M. Brew- 
 ster, L. P. Bickford. All but Allen, Noyes and Cilley now living. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 The town did not begin very early, as a .corporation, to estab- 
 lish schools. For a long time education was left to the people to 
 do as they pleased as to the employment of teachers. They taught 
 in private houses, or in rooms of other buildings. Miss Fiske 
 
OF SCITUATE. 49 
 
 taught in a room of her father's tavern, seventy years ago. Mar- 
 vin Morris, from Dudley, Mass., kept school for half a dozen years, 
 about 1800 ; he was called a good penman. Thomas Mowry was 
 a teacher, and a Mr. Dutton ; also Samuel Perry from Connecticut. 
 The first town appropriation recorded was $300, in 1834. This 
 continued for successive years until 1850, when the sum advanced 
 to $900, and so continued a number of years. It has still further 
 advanced, and $3,000 have been voted the last two years. The 
 town has built school houses in locations convenient for the schol- 
 ars, and they are handsome structures, fitted up with recent im- 
 provements, and kept in good order. The report of the school 
 committee for the year ending April, 1876, says, that from obser- 
 vation they believe that in school property they favorably compare 
 with the most progressive towns of the State. 
 
 SMITHVILLE SEMINARY AND LAPHAM INSTITUTE, 
 
 Founded in 1839. First principal, Hosea Quimby, from 1839 to 
 1854; second principal, Samuel P. Coburn, from 1854 to 1851; 
 third principal, Rev. W. Colgrove, from 1857 to 1859. Up to this 
 time the school had been known as Smithfield Seminary. From 
 1859 to 1863 there was no school. In 1863 name was changed to 
 Liipliam Institute, and Rev. B. F. Hayes was principal from 1863 
 to 1865 ; Thomas L. Angell was principal from 1865 to 1867 ; Geo. 
 H. Ricker was principal from 1867 to 1874; A. G. Moulton was 
 principal Irom 1874 to 1875; W, S. Stockbridge was principal in 
 1875 and 1876. 
 
 BANK. 
 
 There has been one bank in Scitiiate for a long time, called the 
 Citizens Union Bank, changed to Scituate National Bank. 
 
 PHYSICIANS. 
 
 Physicians occupy an iuiportant place in the community. In 
 the absence of educated and settled ministers, as was the case in 
 many parts of Rhode Island in former periods, they seem to have 
 been the only educated class passing round in the coniniunity. 
 Tlieir labors must have been toilsome ; riding on liorscliack over 
 the Inid roads, and going great distances by night and by day. 
 
50 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 Such men deserve to be held in grateful remembrance. They 
 often exercise a refining and christian influence, and have done very 
 much to prolong life. In the Revolutionary war they distinguished 
 themselves both in the army and at home. 
 
 Dr. Ephriam Bowen, of Providence, used to ride extensively 
 in Scituate and the adjoining towns before the conflict of the Revo- 
 lution. He died about sixty years ago, aged more than ninety. 
 Contemporary with him was Dr. Benjamin Slack who lived in 
 the extreme north- east part of Scituate. He came from Mas- 
 sachusetts about 1T50. The oldest record of him in Scituate is the 
 birth of his daughter, Mary, Sept. 28, 1753. His first wife, Phoebe 
 Slack, " the virtuous wife of Benjamin Slack, Esq.," departed this 
 life July 8, 1*162, as her grave-stone, the oldest with an inscrip- 
 tion in the town, inform us. Dr. Slack was much esteemed, and 
 his practice was great in Glocester, Smithfield, Scituate, and other 
 towns. He left quite a large and good farm. His second wife 
 was Miss Hannah Harris, of Johnston, whom he married, March 5, 
 1767, Gideon Harris, Esq., town clerk of Scituate, officiating at 
 the service. 
 
 Dr. John Barden, in the north-west part of Scituate, three or 
 four miles west of Dr. Slack, during, and after the war of the Revo- 
 lution, had considerable reputation as a doctor, and used to take 
 long rides into Massachusetts, where he had many friends and much 
 practice. 
 
 Dr. John Wilkinson, a medical practitioner of high estimation 
 in Scituate, was also a distinguished surgeon in the Revolutionary 
 war. 
 
 Dr. Caleb Fiske was a man of much distinction in the town, 
 living on Bald Hill, at the south-east part of the town. He was the 
 sou of John and Elizabeth Fiske, early settlers in the place, and 
 was born Feb. 24, 1753. He was president of the Rhode Island 
 Medical Society, acquired much property and left to the society 
 $2,000, and most of the remainder to his grandson, Caleb F. Rea. 
 
 Dr. Owen Battey was in medical practice for many years, but 
 retired in later life. He was president of the Exchange Bank, at 
 
OF SCITUATE. 51 
 
 Greeneville, in Smithfield, aud held the office of post master in 
 South Scituate for a long tinae, through many party changes. lie 
 was a gentleman of the old school and highly esteemed. His 
 father was Joshua Battey, and his grandfather, by the mother's side, 
 was Oliver Arnold. His great-grandfather, Owen Arnold, was a 
 British officer who came out to this country and engaged in the 
 French war. He died July 24, 1*762, in his ninetieth year. 
 
 Dr. Jeremiah Cole, who studied medicine with Dr. Anthony, 
 of Foster, resided about a mile and a half west of North Scituate 
 village. He was esteemed fn his practice, died suddenly. May 7, 
 1843, in his seventy-third year, shortly after his removal to Olney- 
 ville. 
 
 Dr. Cyril Carpenter, in that part of Scituate now Foster, 
 lived in the latter part of the last century, and from him descended 
 two generations in the healing art : his son Thomas and his grand- 
 son, Thomas 0. Carpenter, a skillful doctor of great promise, who 
 died early. 
 
 Dr. John H. Anthony practiced medicine, residing in North 
 Scituate for many years, but his health failing him he removed to 
 Provid'^nce, where he died. 
 
 Dr. T. K. Newhall, after practicing about seventeen years in the 
 town, removed to Providence. 
 
 Drs. James E. Roberts, Charles N. Fisher and William H. 
 Bowen, the present physicians in Scituate, have long enjoyed the 
 respect and confidence of our citizens. 
 
 LAWYERS IX SCITUATE. 
 
 Jonah Titus was for more than forty years a resident lawyer of 
 this town. He removed lo Providence in 1865, where he died 
 at an advanced age in Muy, 1876. 
 
 Charles H. Page is now a resident lawyer of Scituate, having 
 lived here since boyhood, lie has an office in Providence. Both 
 have represented the town in botli brances of the General Assem- 
 bly. 
 
 nOPK FURXACK. 
 
 Hope furnace, in Scituate, for the casting of cannon, nianu- 
 
52 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 facture of bar iron and nails, became well known before and dur- 
 ing the Revolutionary war. They used to cast two cannon at a 
 time. Ore was obtained from the bed in Cranston and carted to the 
 furnace. 
 
 In 1165, the discovery of another bed of iron in the same 
 locality caused a company to be formed and a furnace to be erected 
 at Hope village. Thirteen new cannon, cast at the Hope furnace, 
 were fired at the Great Bridge, in Providence, in honor of the De- 
 claration of. Independence, July 26, 1776. Stephen Hopkins was 
 one of the earliest and most influential of the men who got up this 
 company, and his eldest son, Rufus, who had been a sea captain, 
 was for many years superintendent at the furnace. Wrought iron 
 nails were also made at Hope furnace. 
 
 MECHANICS. 
 
 Some of the m^hanics in Scituate in early times were the fol- 
 lowing : ^ 
 
 Elihu Bowen, who removed from Swanzey in 1773, was the 
 first tanner in Scituate, having his tannery by the Moswansicut 
 brook. He died in his eighty-eighth year, and was buried in the 
 old Quaker burial ground. His funeral was a " large and solemn 
 meeting." 
 
 Elihu Fiske was a good cabinet maker ; Jonathan Hill learned 
 cabinet making of him. Mr. Fiske came from Newport and became 
 rich; keeping also, a tavern. 
 
 Capt. Thomas Hill learned his trade as a carpenter of Hugh 
 Cole. Richard Philips learned of him also. 
 
 Daniel Smith, blacksmith, died sixty years ago. 
 
 Thomas Field's cooper Khop was well known. 
 
 Mr. Angell's blacksmith shop, near the Augell tavern, was car- 
 ried on by a different branch of that family from the tavern keeper, 
 and continued in the family for several generations. 
 
 THE CORLISS ENGINE. 
 
 Our own State, " Little Rhoda," as she is called, has won the 
 proud distinction of furnishing the steam engine whose power 
 moves the whole machinery at the Exhibition. In other respects in 
 
OF SCITUATE. 53 
 
 our varied and extensive manufactures on exhibition at Pbiladelphia 
 this State makes a noble contribution to American workmanship, 
 and receives commendations from all observers. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 It is with just pride that we have surveyed the past of Scitu- 
 ate : and let us ever honor the memory of the men and women who 
 have preceded us in our history, and who have bequeathed to us so 
 mauy privileges and blessings : Freedom to worship God, a free 
 representative government, the hope of Christianity, and the glori- 
 ous anticipations of a liberty covering the whole earth with the 
 freedom with which Chkist makes free, are among the rich gifts 
 which have come down to us from our fathers. As God was with 
 them, so may lie be with us. 
 
 Comparing the present with past times we find our State great- 
 ly advanced in wealth and population ; and wliile commerce has 
 declined, manufactures, have attained great prosperity. The old 
 hand looms for weaving cloth, as used m families, have given place 
 to the more wonderful machinery of our numerous mills, moved by 
 "our water falls and steam engines. The spinning wheels and hand 
 cards are laid aside also, because of modern inventions. We can- 
 not say as much for farming, although Americans have astonished 
 the world in agricultural implements ingeniously contrived to re- 
 lieve the farmer's toil and do the work better, and on a grander 
 scale. Some good farms, well managed, and made remunerative, 
 remain, but the larger number are still untilled, or are so much neg- 
 lected that they are growing up to brush. 
 
 Facilities for education are much greater. The common 
 schools are superior to those of early times. 
 
 One design in the earnest and united declaration of this cen- 
 tennary Fourth of July is to increase the spirit of Patriotism, to 
 arouse the nation to a deeper sense of their privileges, to revive 
 the memory of Our Fathers by repeating their deeds and by glow- 
 ing eulogiums on their valor, love of liberty, spirit of self-sacrifice 
 and regard for the welfare of those who should come after them. 
 
 All our revolutionary actors are in their graves — new genera- 
 
54 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 tions have risen, new discoveries have been made, and a new aspect 
 
 has come over the land. Wealth has increased, intelligence has 
 
 been diffused, large cities have grown up, manufactures and the 
 
 mechanic arts have flourished, our territory has lapped over to the 
 
 shores of the western sea, and our name is great among the nations 
 
 as a young giant arisen upon the earth. 
 
 But all this prosperity may be our ruin, and wealth and fame 
 
 and luxury, and its consequent evils, may prove a false dependence. 
 
 " What constitutes a State ? 
 Not high raised battlement or Libored mound, 
 
 Tliick wall, or moated gate ; 
 Not cities proud, with spires and turrets' crowned ; 
 
 Not l)ays and liroad-armed ports, 
 Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride ; 
 
 Not starred and spangled courts. 
 Where low-born baseness wafts perfume to pride ; 
 
 No— ^en, high-minded men ; 
 
 " Men who their duties know. 
 But know tlieir rights, and knowing dare maintain : 
 These constitute a State." 
 
 A nation wholly intent upon sordid gain, given up to frivolous 
 pleasures, separate from God and holiness, forgetful of the fathers, 
 from whom, under God, they received their blessings, is necessarily 
 a weak and pusillanimous nation, as the history of Rome and other 
 similar empires proves. If to these declensions are to be added, 
 dishonesty of bankers and men in trade, corruption of men in public 
 life, to the extent of making dishonest gain the usual concomitant of 
 an office-holder and legislator, and bribery at the voting place, car- 
 ried on without a blush, quite a practice, and increasingly more so, 
 wliy, then there is pressing need of an awakening of the people to 
 make the inquiry, "Whither are we drifting ? " At such a junc- 
 ture 0^ affairs, as believed in by many of the more thoughtful and 
 deserving, as coming upon us as a people this present celebration, 
 recalling vividly to mind the more simple and honest days of the 
 Republic, and holding up for emulation the characters of the period 
 of 1776, when persons were put into the crucible and tried, as it 
 were, by fire, and came out pure gold, for all countries and ages to 
 admire, and when Washington took his place as in the heavens a 
 
OF SCITUATE. 55 
 
 shining star for all time — a sight of all this — the entering of it, as 
 it were, into the very souls of the people, and taking possession of 
 them, may well be held as the sacred duty of all who are privileged 
 to be the orators of the hour. 
 
 Before us lies a new century, on which the nation is aboiit to 
 enter. Great as were the perils supposed to be incident to the 
 first, they have been gallantly met, by the several generations, and 
 overcome. God's hand, clearly seen in colonial times, was still 
 more visible in the national history which followed, and to Ilini we 
 must look for guidance and blessing. Very timely is the Presi- 
 dent's proclamation, and very proper and well expressed. Great 
 would have been the oversight if it had been forgotten. It says : 
 
 " The founders of the government, :it its birth and m its feebleness, in- 
 voked the blessings and protection of a Divine Providence, an<] the thirteen 
 colonies and three millions of people have expanded into a nation of sti*ength 
 and numbers, commanding the position which tlien was demanded, and for 
 which fervent prayers were then ofi'ered. It seems fitting that on the 
 occurrence of the hundi'edth anniversary of our existence as a nation, a 
 grateful acknowledgment should be made to Almighty God for the pro- 
 tection and bounties which He has vouchsafed to our beloved country, and 
 humbly to invoke a continuance of Ilis favor and of His protection." 
 
 We trust there will be a two-century life of our nation ; that 
 we may continue united, prosperous and free up to that period, but 
 none of us will be alive to witness it. The imagination toils in 
 vain to picture the two-century spectacle. A hundred years more 
 must make many changes, but what they will be no one can tell. 
 We must pass through several generations, who will in turn come 
 to preside, as the administration and the people. More territory 
 may be added, and more people and more wealth acquired, and new 
 discoveries make as great changes in the future as the steam engine 
 and the telegraph have wrought in the past. 
 
 Civil war, a contest between the North and South, was what 
 Washington feared, and warned the people of both sections against 
 those who should attempt to put variances between them. But 
 his farewell address was disregarded by both sides, and the result 
 of civil war, naturally, and as it were, inevitably followed. Con- 
 tests may arise in the future, but it will not come on the subject of 
 
56 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 slavery. It is with profound satisfaction that we to-day can look 
 around and exclaim : " No slave breathes the air of our country." 
 Never again will that stain make an American ashamed of his 
 nationality. 
 
 We must cultivate love and forbearance with one another; and 
 especially we should, in our centennial, reach our hands over the 
 bloody chasm and cultivate friendly relations with the South, since 
 the rebellion has been put down and the people have submitted to the 
 result. To-day they, with us, unite in a centennial, which is theirs 
 as well as ours. North and Si)Utli participated in the battles of the 
 Revolution, and the South and the North unite in thfe rejoicings 
 over the glory of our common heritage. 
 
 The East may feel a little sensitive at the waning of their po- 
 litical supremacy, and the West may not a little exult that they 
 are rising in the scale of comparative greatness, but let us bear in 
 mind that the East has sent her children West, and that the great- 
 ness of the West is the theme of our own glory. 
 
 The shores of the Pacific and the Atlantic may engender sus- 
 picions of the unjust political favors awarded to one more than the 
 other, but mutual concessions and kindnesses, and the rapid growth 
 of California and Oregon will naturally, and without opposition, 
 bring to these territories iucreaseil and increasing influence. Let 
 us be just to all sections, and we need not fear any hostility tend- 
 ing to disunion. 
 
 The great cry of tlie day is for retrenchment and economy in 
 public and private exprn litures. Honest men and able should be 
 sought after for office, and both of the greot political parties should 
 have their proportionate share of public oflices, and thus a civil 
 service reform will be created which every patriot should encour- 
 age. 
 
 Two great political parties should always exist, and they 
 should be nearly equal in numbers, power and influence, that they 
 may watch each other and correct any mistakes or frauds that may 
 be discovered. Ceaseless watchfulness of our rulers and tlieir do- 
 ings is the price the people must pay for the blessings of liberty I 
 
OF SCITUATE. 57 
 
 The people, and the people only, in the teachings of history, can 
 
 be safely trusted to preserve and hand down freedom. 
 
 In the words of our poet Longfellow, apostrophizing our 
 
 country, as a ship sailing on the ocean, we may hopefully say: 
 
 " Thou too sail on, O ship of State! 
 Sail on, O Union strong and great! 
 Humanity, with m11 its fears, • 
 
 With all the hopes of future years, 
 ■ Is hanging breathless on thy fate! 
 We know what master laid thy keel, 
 What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel. 
 Who made each mast, and sail, and rope, 
 What anvils rung, Avhat hammers beat, 
 In what a forge and what a heat 
 Were shaped tlie anchors of thy liope ! 
 Fear not each sudden sound and shock — 
 'Tis of the wave, and not the rock ; 
 'Tis but the flapping of the sail. 
 And not a rent made l^y the gale . 
 In spite of rock, and tempest's roar. 
 In spite of false lights on the sliore. 
 Sail on, nor fear to bi'east the sea ! 
 Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears. 
 Our faith triumphant o'er our fears. 
 Are all with thee, — are all with thee ! " 
 
 Let the day be given to patriotic and grateful recollections of 
 the honored dead ; the men and women who braved the perils of 
 the sea and the wilderness, and built their homes for wives and lit- 
 tle ones, where wild and ferocious beasts of prey and savage men 
 roamed the forests. 
 
 • Sacred to the memory, also, of those whose love of liberty 
 impelled them, at all hazards, to enter a solemn protest against the 
 entrance of every form of tyranny and unjust edicts, and to resist 
 with all their might, even unto death, the armed forces sent out by 
 Gi'eat Britain to subjugate the people. 
 
 A careful enquiry would show the nobleness of mind and 
 patriotic devotion of the xoomen of the Revolutionary period, who 
 not only made no opposition, and uttered no complaint, but cheered 
 the men, who were compelled to leave, hardly begun, the clearfng 
 of the wilderness, and the care and protection of their young l;xm- 
 
58 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 ilies, to rush to the camp and the battle field, and lay down their 
 lives, if need be, that their children and their children's children 
 might not come under the burdens of unjust and tyrannical govern- 
 ments to which the world had been so long subject, and might pos- 
 sess the free representative government, which we now enjoy. 
 
 Shame would it be ! — ii there were not a spontaneous and uni- 
 versal uprising all over our land, to proclaim to the world that the 
 sins of ingratitude and forgetfulness of our benefactors, the heroes 
 of the Revolution, and of all who since that period have, in office 
 and out of office, and of all political parties, who have aided in car- 
 rying out in continued practice the principles and spirit of 17 "76 
 until now, one hundred years from the memorable Declaration, our 
 liberties have been preserved and the threatened description of our 
 Union averted. 
 
 Let the present generation preserve and hand down these lib- 
 erties to those who mav cnmi' after us ; and watch with zealous 
 
 r 
 
 care all tendencies of our nation to encroach upon the freedom our 
 fathers won for us. 
 
 And let the sons and daughters of Rhode Island, here, within 
 our borders, and abroad, wherever they may be scattered, bear 
 gratefully iu mind the intense love of freedom and hatred of wrong 
 and oppression, that characterized the settlers of the State, and has 
 ever since marked its inhabitants. Let the names of Angell,West, 
 Knight, Williams, Aldrich, Westcott, Harris, Whipple, Green, 
 Ellery, Perry, Hopkins, Ward, Greene, and other patriots be 
 sounded, and with them the statesmen and heroes of all the other 
 States, — Samuel Adams, James Otis, Putnam, Knox, Lee, and a 
 multitude beside. Sound high and feelingly the name of Lafayette, 
 and remember gratefully the French nation. 
 
 The Avar of 1812-15, and the terrible civil war of 1861-4, added 
 greatly to the niimber of these illustrious names that have adorned 
 our country's annals, and laid down their lives willingly, that the 
 glorious Union might be preserved, in the most deadly warfare 
 ever waged to destroy it. Rhode Island, as distinguised for prompt- 
 ness, bravery a'hd gallant exploits in that war, as in previous con- 
 
OF SCn^UATE. 59 
 
 tests, hands down her names to our admiring and grateful remem- 
 brance, to the present and all coming time. Iler officers and 
 soldiers and seaman are enrolled on the undying scroll of our coun- 
 try's glory, and so of other States — praise, honor, th;aiks, we give 
 to all. 
 
 One great name, that of the " Fathicr of his country," will be 
 everywhere sounded to-day ; and no poem, oration, song or melody 
 shall be able to reach the height of his deserved praise, or add a 
 single leaf to the wreath of his world-sounded renown. 
 
 His fame, now after the lapse of three-quart(!rs of a century 
 since his death, has suft'ered no diminution; his star still blazes 
 single and alone in brightness and glory in the firmament of Amer- 
 ican Freedom I Raised up by the Great Dispenser of Events in a 
 critical period of the world's history, and in the birth-day of the 
 nation destined to pour back a reflective light upon the old world, 
 and to exert an influence in human affairs beyond that of any em- 
 pire in the world's history, the American people hailed him as 
 Moses was saluted by the Israelites when he led them out of 
 Egypt. 
 
 It is the great glory of America that she has produced a 
 Washington, and it will not be presumption to say that, with all 
 our exhibitions to-day, in our centennial, we have nothing greater 
 to ask the world's attention than to him. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 DEPUTIES, SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES, ETC. 
 
 DEPUTIES. 
 
 n3i. 
 
 Joseph Wilkinson, 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 Zachariah Rhodes. 
 
 1T32. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 Zachariah Rliodes. 
 
 1733. 
 Capt. Thomas Angell, 
 Stephen Hopkins. 
 
 1734. 
 Edward Sheldon, 
 Capt. Thomas Angell. 
 
 1735. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 Benjamin Fiske. 
 
 1736. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 Job Randall. 
 
 1737. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 
 Thomas Real ph. 
 
 1738. 
 Edward Sheldon, 
 Stephen Hopkins. 
 
 1739. 
 Job Randall, 
 James Colvin. 
 
 1740. 
 Job Randall, 
 James Colvin. 
 
 1741. 
 Job Randall, 
 Stephen Hopkins. 
 
 1742. 
 Job Randall, 
 Thomas Realph. 
 
 1743. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Joseph Knight. 
 
 1744. • 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1745. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Ezekiel Hopkins. 
 
 1746. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Charles Harris. 
 
 1747. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 John Fisk. 
 
 1748. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Charles Harris. 
 
 1749. 
 Thomas Ralph, 
 Thomas Hudson. 
 
 1750. 
 Job Randall, 
 Gideon Hammond. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 1Y5I. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Charles Harris. 
 
 1752. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Charles Harris. 
 
 1153. 
 Job Randall, 
 Capt. Thomas Relf. 
 
 1754. 
 Job Randall, 
 Capt. Amos Hammond. 
 
 1755. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Capt. Amos Hammond. 
 
 1756. 
 Capt. Job Randall, * 
 Gideon Harris. 
 
 1757. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1758. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1759. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1760. ^ 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 William West. 
 
 1761. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 
 William West. 
 
 1762. 
 Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1763. 
 Job Randall, 
 Charles Harris. 
 
 1764. 
 Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell, 
 
 1765. 
 Job Randall, 
 Jeremiah Angell. 
 
 1766. 
 Charles Harris, 
 William West. 
 
 1767. 
 Charles Harris, 
 John Fiske. 
 
 1768. 
 Gideon Harris, 
 William West. 
 
 1769. 
 Job Randall, 
 Benjamin Slack. 
 
 1770. 
 Job Randall, 
 Benjamin Slack. 
 
 1771. 
 William West, 
 Charles Harris, 
 
 1772. 
 Ezekiel Cornell, 
 Rufus Hopkins. 
 
 1773. 
 William West, 
 Rufus Hopkins. 
 
 1774. 
 Ezekiel Cornell, 
 Rufus Hopkins. 
 
 1775. 
 Ezekiel Cornell, 
 Rufus Hopkins. 
 
 1776. 
 Col. William West, 
 Christopher Potter. 
 
 1777. 
 Job Randall, Esq., 
 Timothy Hopkins, Esq, 
 
 1778. 
 Timothy Hopkins, Esq., 
 Christopher Potter. 
 
 1779. 
 William West, Esq., 
 Christopher Putter. 
 
 1780. 
 Christopher Potter, 
 John Williams. 
 
 1781. 
 William Bhodes, Esq., 
 Rufus Hopkins, Esq. 
 
 1782. 
 William Rhodes, Esq., 
 Rufus Hopkins, Esq. 
 
 1783. 
 William Rliodes, Esq.,- 
 Rufus Hopkins, Esq. 
 
 1784. 
 Rufus Hopkins, Esq., 
 William West, Esq. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 n85. 
 
 Rufus Hopkins, Esq., 
 William West, Esq. 
 
 n86. 
 Nathan Bates, 
 Thomas Mowry, Esq. 
 
 1787. 
 Nathan Bates, 
 Thomas Mowry, Esq. 
 
 1788. 
 Peleg Fiske, Esq., 
 James Aldrich. 
 
 1789. 
 Peleg Fiske, Esq., 
 James Aldrich, Esq. 
 
 1790. 
 James Aldrich, Esq., 
 Nathaniel Medbury. Esq. 
 
 1791. 
 
 1792. 
 James Aldrich, Esq., 
 Nathaniel Medbury, Esq. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 1792 to 1794 — February Session, 
 James Aldrich, 
 Nathaniel Medbury. 
 
 1794 to 1800— May Session, 
 James ARhich, 
 Job Randall. 
 
 1800 to 1805— May Session, 
 James Aldrich, 
 Elisha Mathewson. 
 
 1805 to 1808— June Session, 
 Job Randall, 
 Elisha Mathewson. 
 
 1808— February Session, 
 Job Randall, 
 Peleg' Fisk, jr. 
 
 1808 to is 10— May Session, 
 Peleg Fisk, jr., 
 Charles Angell. 
 
 1810— May Session, 
 Charles Angell, 
 Solomon Taylor. 
 
 1810— June Session, 
 James Aldrich, 
 Solomon Taylor. 
 
 1811 to 1813— May Session, 
 Solomon Taylor, 
 Clements Smith. 
 
 1813— May Session, 
 Charles Angell. 
 
 181:j— June Session, 
 Clements Smith. 
 
 1813— October Session, 
 Clements Smith, 
 Samuel Graves. 
 
 . 1814— October Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Samuel Graves. 
 
 1815— May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Eleazer Relph. 
 
 1816 to 1818— May Session, 
 Josiah Westcott, 
 Isaac Field. 
 
 1818— May Session, 
 Josiah Westcott, 
 Isx'ael Brayton. 
 
 1818 to 18-20- June Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Israel Brayton. 
 
 1820— May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Israel G. Manchester. 
 
 1821 — May Session, 
 ElishaMathewsoii, chosen Speaker 
 Israel Brayton. • 
 
 1821 — October Session, 
 Jerry A. Fonner, 
 birael Brayton. 
 
 1822 — May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, chosen Speaker 
 Israel Braytoii. 
 
 1822— October Session, 
 Eleazer Relph, 
 
 1823 — January Session, 
 Elcazcr Relph, 
 Thomas Henry. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 1823— October Session, 
 Stephen Corp, 
 Thomas Henry. 
 
 1824 to 1826— October Session, 
 Thomas Henry, 
 Israel Brayton. 
 
 1826— May Session, 
 Israel Brayton, 
 William Smith. 
 
 1826 to 1829— October Session, 
 William Smith, 
 Nathan K. Stone. 
 
 1829— May Session, 
 William Smith, 
 Benjamin Wilbur. 
 
 1830— May Session, 
 William Smith, 
 Job Randall. 
 
 1831 to 1833— May Session, 
 Benjamin Wilbur, 
 Job Randall. 
 
 1833— May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Josiah Westcott. 
 
 1833 to 1835— June Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Jonah Titus. 
 
 1835 to 1837— October Session, 
 Jonah Titus, 
 John Aldrich. 
 
 1837— May Session, 
 Jonah Titus, 
 Wilmarth N. Aldrich. 
 
 1837 to 1841— October Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Wilmarth N. Aldrich. 
 
 1841— May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, 
 Josiah Westcott. 
 
 1842— May Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, Senator, 
 Josiah Westcott, Representative, 
 Andrew A. Angell, " 
 
 1842 — June Session, 
 Elisha Mathewson, Senator, 
 Job Randall, Representative, 
 Andrew A. Angell, " 
 
 1843 — June Session, 
 Job Randall, Senator, 
 AndrewA. Angell, Representative 
 Richard M. Andrew, • " 
 Israel Brayton, . " 
 
 May, 1843, 
 Job Randall, 
 
 May, 1844, 
 Job Randall, 
 
 May, 1845, 
 Pardon Angell, 
 
 May, 1846, 
 Pardon Angell, 
 
 June, 1846, 
 Pardon Angell, 
 
 October, 1846, 
 Pardon Angell, 
 
 January, 184Y, 
 Pardon Angell, 
 
 May^ 1847, 
 William B. Kimball, 
 
 May, 1848, 
 Albert Hubbard.' 
 
 SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 1849. 
 Josiah Wescott. 
 
 1850. 
 Josiah Wescott. 
 
 1851. 
 Pardon Angell. 
 
 1852. 
 Pardon Angell. 
 
 1853. 
 Ira Cowee. 
 
 1854. 
 Ira Cowee. 
 
 1855. 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1856. 
 Ira Cowee. 
 
 1857. 
 Henry W Emmons. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 1858. 
 Henry W. Emmons. 
 
 1859. 
 Henry W. Emmons. 
 
 1860. 
 Abner W. Peckham. 
 
 1861. 
 Abner W. Peckham. 
 
 1862. 
 Abner W. Peckham, 
 
 1863. 
 Abner W. Peckham. 
 
 1864. 
 Abner W. Peckham. 
 
 1865. 
 Alanson Steere. 
 
 1866. 
 Alanson Steere. 
 
 1867. 
 Alanson Steere. 
 
 May, 1843, 
 Andrew A*. Angell, 
 Richard M. Andrew, 
 Israel Brayton. 
 
 May, 1844, 
 Richard M. Andrew, 
 Isreal Brayton, 
 Stephen H. Fiske. 
 
 May, 1845, 
 Wilmarth N. A Id rich, 
 Harley Luther, 
 William A. Roberts. 
 
 May, 1846, 
 Wilmarth N. Aldrich, 
 Harley Luther, 
 William A. Roberts. 
 
 June, 1846, 
 Wilmarth N. Aldrich, 
 Harley Luther, 
 Abel Salisbury. 
 
 October, 1846, 
 Isaac Saunders, 
 Harley Luther, 
 Abel Salisbury. 
 
 January, 184T, 
 Isaac Saunders, 
 Harley Luther, 
 William Roberts 
 
 1868. 
 Alanson Steere. 
 
 1869. 
 Charles H. Fisher. 
 
 1870. 
 John H. Barden. 
 
 1871. 
 John H. Barden. 
 
 1872. 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1873. 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1874. 
 Charles H. Page. 
 
 1875. 
 Charles H. Page. 
 
 1876. 
 Jeremiah H, Field. 
 
 REPRESENT A^'IVES. 
 
 May, 1847, 
 Albert Hubbard, 
 John Potter, 2d, 
 George Aldrich. 
 
 May, 1848, 
 Horace S. Patterson, 
 Arthur F. Aldrich, 
 George Aldrich. 
 
 1849. 
 Isaac Saunders, 
 Benedict Lapham. 
 
 1850. 
 Isaac Saunders, 
 Benedict Lapham, 
 Richard M. Andrew. 
 
 1851. 
 William A. Roberts, 
 Sheldon Fiske. 
 
 1852. 
 Harley P. Angell, 
 William A. Roberts. 
 
 1853. 
 Jonah Titus, 
 Albert K. Barnes. 
 
 1854. 
 Jonah Titus. 
 Albert K. Barnes. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 1855. 
 Arthur F. Randall, 
 Henry Hierlihy. 
 
 1856. 
 Charles Jackson, 
 Pardon A. Phillips. 
 
 1857. 
 Andrew A. Angell, 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1858. 
 Andrew A. Angell, 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1859. 
 Andrew A. Angell, 
 Samuel P. Boss. 
 
 1860. 
 Welcome Matteson, 
 Henry S. Olney. 
 
 1861. 
 Welcome Matteson, 
 Henry S. Olney. 
 
 1862. 
 Albert W. Harris, 
 Henry A Lawton. 
 
 1863. 
 Olney H. Austin, 
 John S. Fiske. 
 
 1864. 
 Olney H. Austin, 
 John S. Fiske. 
 
 1865. 
 Samuel G. Allen, 
 William G. Smith. 
 
 1866. 
 William G. Smith, 
 Andrew J. Wescott. 
 
 1867. 
 Martin Smith, 
 Andrew J. Wescott. 
 
 1868. 
 Martin Smith, 
 Henry A. Lawton. 
 
 1869. 
 John H. Barden, 
 Ferdinand H. Allen. 
 
 1870. 
 Hiram .Steere, 
 Richard G. Howland. 
 
 1871. 
 Hiram Steere, 
 Isaac Saunders. 
 
 1872. 
 Charles H. Page, 
 Harris H. Stone. 
 
 1873. 
 Charles H. Page. 
 
 1874. 
 Martin S. Smith. 
 
 1875. 
 Martin S. Smith. 
 
 1876. 
 Benjamin Wilbour. 
 
 MODERATORS OF TOWN MEETINGS. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins, 1730. 
 Capt. Joseph Brown, 1731. 
 Benjamin Fisk, 1732. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 1733. 
 Bc;^jamin Fisk, 1734. 
 Edward Sheldon, 1735. 
 Stephen Hopkins, 1737. 
 Job Randall, 1739. 
 James Brown, 1746. 
 Benjamin Fisk, 1742. 
 Capt Charles Harris, 1747. 
 Job Randall, 1759. 
 
 William West, 1765. 
 Charles Harris, 1765. 
 William West, 1765. 
 Charles Harris, 1766. 
 John Fisk, 1768. 
 Ezekiel Cornell, 1768. 
 Rufus Hopkins, 1778. 
 Reuben Hopkins, 1779. 
 Benjamin Slack, 1780. 
 Rufus Hopkins, 1780. 
 Benjamin Slack, 1781. 
 Timothy Hopkins, 1781. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Ezekiel Cornell, HSl. 
 Dr. Caleb Fisk, 1781. 
 Benjamin Slack, 1781. 
 Eufus Hopkins, 1781. 
 Caleb Fisk, 1783. 
 Ezekiel Cornell, 1785 
 Rufus Hopkins, 1786. 
 Reuben Hopkins, 1787. 
 Col. Clemens Smith, 1825. 
 Jonah Titus, 1826. 
 Clemens Smith, 1827. 
 Jonah Titus, 1828. 
 Clemons Smith, 1829. 
 Elisha Mathewson, 1831, 
 Jonah Titus, 1832. 
 Jerry A. Fenner, 1832. 
 Elisha Mathewson, 1833. 
 Jonah Titus, 1834. 
 Elisha Mathewson, 1834. 
 Benjamin Wilbur, 1835. 
 Flavel Patterson, 1835. 
 Olney Battey. 1836. 
 John Graves, 1837. 
 Israel Brayton, 1838. 
 Owen Battey, 1838. 
 Israel Brayton, 1839. 
 
 Flavel Patterson, 1839. 
 Jonah Titus, 1840. 
 Elisha Mathewson, 1840. 
 David Phillips, 3d, 1841. 
 Isaac Saunders, 1842. 
 Horace Battey, 1842. 
 Wilmarth N. Aldrich, 1845. 
 Jonah Titus, 1846. 
 Isaac Saunders, 1847. 
 Horace S. Patterson, 1848. 
 Isaac Saunders, 1849. 
 H. S. Patterson. 1852. 
 George W. Colwell, 1853. 
 John H. Barden, 1855. 
 Caleb W. Johnston, 1856. 
 William G. Smith, 1857. 
 Uriah R. Colwell, 1859. 
 Harley P. Angell, 1865. 
 Jeremiah H. Field, 1866. 
 Dexter A. Potter, 1867. 
 H. S. Patterson, 1869. 
 Alanson Steere, 1870. 
 H. S. Patterson, 1871. 
 Benjamin T. Albro, 1872. 
 William G. Smith, 1874. 
 Richmond M. Knight, 1876. 
 
 TOWN CLERKS. 
 
 Joseph Brown, 1730. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins, 1732. 
 
 Gideon Harris, 1741. 
 
 John Harris, 1778. 
 
 John Westcott, 1779. 
 
 John Harris, 1780. 
 
 Jolm Westcott, pro. tern, 1809. 
 
 Josiah Westcott, 1814. 
 
 John A. Harris, 1845. 
 
 Sylvester Patterson, 1854. 
 
 Albert Hubbard, 1855. 
 
 S. Patterson, 1856. 
 
 A. Hubbard, 1857. 
 
 Isaac Saunders, pro. tem, 1861. 
 
 S. Patterson, 1861. 
 
 A. Hubbard, 1865. 
 
 S. Patterson, pro. tem, Dec. 1867 
 
 S. Patterson, 1868. 
 
 D. C. Remington, 1875. 
 
 TOWN TREASURERS. 
 
 Lieut. Joseph Wilkinson, 1730. 
 Joseph Wilkinson, 1731. 
 Benjamin Fisk, 1732. 
 
 Job Randall, 1736. 
 Capt. Job Randall, 1737. 
 Timothy Hopkins, 1758. 
 
8 APPENDIX. 
 
 Jeremiah Angell, 1160. John A. Harris, 1857. 
 
 Jonathan Hopkins, 17t9. Alpheiis Winsor, 1858. 
 Jonathan Hopkins, jr., 1780. John B. Smith, 1860. 
 
 Josiah Kimball, 1781. Jeremiah H. Field, 1866. 
 
 Joshua Smith, 1825. John B. Smith, 1870. 
 
 Albert G. Field, 1850. Jeremiah H. Field, 1871. 
 
 Joshua Smith, 1851. David Gapwell, 1873. 
 
 John B. Smith, 1852. " Albert Hubbard, 1874. 
 
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