Westerly-Rhode Island-and its Witnesses, for two hundred and fifty years. 1626-1876. Including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond, until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history

Front matter

■ I1II-E1ET . Frown One origu xjtc im the possession of the "Winthro'p family- WESTERLY (Rhode Island) AND ITS WITNESSES, For Two Hundred and Fifty Years. 1626- 1876. Including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond, until their Separate Organization, with the Principal Points of their Subsequent History. BY Rev. FREDERIC DENISON, A. M, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. PROVIDENCE : Published by J. A. & R. A. Reid. 1878. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by FREDERIC DENISON, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. INSCRIBED TO (m^ QMta LEVINA (FISH) DENISON, FROM WHOSE PURE TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE I HAVE LEARNED TO VALUE AND LOVE OUR NEW ENGLAND HOMES, AND WHO NOW, IN HER EIGHTY-FOURTH YEAR, CONTINUES TO ILLUSTRATE THE BEAUTY AND CHARM OF HOME, DEVOTING HERSELF AS EVER TO THE HAPPINESS AND HONOR OF HER CHILDREN, AND THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. FILIALLY. FREDERIC DENISON.

Preface

. Our work treats of the Township occupying the southwestern corner of the State of Rhode Island. The task, beginning with the first reliable reports of the aborigines, and following the swift and changing current of events through two hundred and fifty years, has been far greater than the ordinary reader will suspect. We found no pioneer annalist to guide us through the first hundred years, and but few historical pens to assist us in the second century embraced in our work. Animated, however, by a consciousness that the work was needed, and would be of great service to posterity, we have endeavored to overcome all difficulties, and have presented as com plete a record as was possible under the circumstances. Obliged in some cases to depend upon the memories of the aged, whose recollections, though entirely correct in principal things, may be somewhat defective in minor particulars, it is highly probable that small errors of date and minute incidents have occurred in the statements.

And from the unavoidable lack of full information, some records may appear to be defective, mere side views, though we have aimed to be impartial. All considerate persons, and especially all writers of historical papers, will exercise a proper kindness of criticism towards the author in his laborious and deli cate task. We are painfully persuaded that certain names and events have passed beyond our reach over the rapids of time, and hope not to be blamed for failing to recover them. Instead of employing foot-notes of reference, we have chosen to mention our principal authorities in the text of the work, as being more convenient to the reader. To avoid presenting a large and expensive volume, we have been obliged to omit many papers that would doubtless be interesting

PREFACE.

and valuable to particular families, a choice in which we have been guided by a view to the general good. As illustrating the obstacles overcome, w7e may state that after a search of two years, we providentially succeeded in finding the main part of the records of the Presbyterian Church in the hands of Capt. James G. Parke, of Searsport, Me. In short, in the prosecution of our work our correspondence has extended from Penobscot Bay to the slopes of the Alleghany Mountains. The appropriation of so much space to moral and religious sub jects is abundantly justified by the fact that in these are the head springs of the streams that make fruitful the fields of society. Ste rility and decay, both of the intellect and the heart, inevitably ensue to the people who are neglectful of their relations to God and to each other.

It remains for us to gratefully acknowledge the interest generally felt in our undertaking by the citizens of Westerly, who, like the majority of the people in New England, have been makers rather than writers of history. While it would be impossible to particular ize all to whom w7e are indebted for information and generous assistance in the prosecution of our labors, we cannot forbear mentioning the Babcocks, Clarkes, Crosses, particularly the Hon. Samuel H. Cross, the Dixons, Maxsons, Pendletons, Perrys, Stantons, Stillmans, Thurstons, and Wilcoxes, to whom our especial thanks are due. With all its facts and faults, we submit the work to the judgment of the candid reader and to the lovers of the venerable past. Auyust, 1878. ILLUSTRATIONS. King Ninigret Frontispiece. Map of Rhode Island Page 16 Col. Samuel Ward 110 Old Babcock House 120 The Town Building 194 Hon. Nathan F. Dixon 240 The Dixon House . 244 The High School Building 246 Rowse Babcock, Esq

Chapter I

Introduction. — Retrospects — Pleasing — Valuable — Our duty — Caveat — The peculiarities of Rhode Island — Tests of principles — Canon of judgment Pages 17-18

Chapter II

The Aborigines. — Themes of American history — State of the aborigines — The Niantics — The Pequots — The Narragansetts — The Manisses — The Montauks — Feuds — Ninigret — War with Ascassassatic — Lack of eels — Wyandance — The night expedition — Raid on Montauk — Thomas Stanton — Capture of a princess — Her redemption — Battle of Shannock — Tragedy at Pawcatuck — Sosoa and his deeds — Religion of the aborigines — Greater and lesser gods — Traditions — Customs — Ideas — Moral decay — Hospitality — Their condition — The Ninigrets — Niantics and Narragansetts — Royal family — Line of kings and queens — King Tom and his reign — The coronation of Esther — King George — Late condition of the tribe — Indian sepulchres — Reflections Pages 19-30

Chapter III

Indian Names. — Of hills, ponds, streams, etc. — Our duty to preserve these names Pages 31-32

Chapter IV

Watfs of Indian Life. — Indian arts — Art cabinet— Samp grinders — Mortars — Pestles — Hoes — Axes — Chisels — Gouges — Tomahawks — Skinning knives — Scalping knives — Spear-heads — Arrow-heads — Pipes — Awls — Fish-hooks — Beads — Wampum — Ornaments — Pottery — Charms — Slung stones — Currying stones — Combs — Hammers — Standard tops— Bows — War clubs — Kinds of stone Pages 33-36

Chapter V

The First Whites. — Voyagers — Verrazzani — Dutch traders — Captain Block — First map — Captain Mason's hand — Pequot battle — Ninigret's visit to Boston — The Pequots — Major Mason's campaign at Pawcatuck — Uncas's band — Plunder— John and Mary Babcock — "The Pioneers " — A ballad — Poetic license — Misquamicut — Stonington — Disputed claims — First settlers — Ministers — Blinman — Thompson — Noyes — Their worship — Their isolation — Variety of sentiments Pages 37-46 WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.

Chapter VI

Purchase of Misquamicut. — Petition to Assembly — Names — Copy of purchase of Sosoa — Signers — "Witnesses — Poetic sketch — Testimony of Wawaloam — First land-holders— First occupants— Difficulties of jurisdiction — House torn down — Arrests Pages 47-51

Chapter VII

Notes of the Seventeenth Century. — Obstacles in settlement— Date of incorporation — First freemen — First court — Philip's war — Desertion of the town — Ninigret's neutrality — The campaign — Swamp Fort — Swamp fight— Canonchet — Colonel Denison's expedition — Death of Canouchet — Fall of Philip— Close of the war — Return of settlers — Roads — Danger of the colonies — First shipwright — War alarm — Cost of battle — Wolves — Hunting — Boundary line — "Nanny Sims" .... Pages 52- 5&

Chapter VIII

First Sabbatarian Church. — Rhode Island principles — Happy results — Sabbatarians in Newport and Westerly — Statistics — Meeting-house — Church organized — " S. D. B. Memorial" — Good testimony of the church — Pastors — John Maxson, 1st — John Maxson, 2d — Joseph Maxson — Thomas Hiscox — Joshua Clarke — John Burdick — Abram Coon — Matthew Stillman — Daniel Coon — Assistants and deacons —Former power of the church Pages 50-05.

Chapter IX

Early Presbyterian Church. — Missionaries — Nathan Prince — Joseph- Park — Meeting-house — Ninigret's gift of land — Towns set off from Westerly — The Great Awakening — Mr. Park's ministry — Gilbert Tennent and James Davenport — Religious condition of Westerly — An explanation — Organization of the church — Constituent members — "Memorandum " — Records of the church — Schisms — Separatists — New Light churches — Reorganization — Mr. Park's departure — First Sabbath school — Extracts — Advice from Association — Incidents — Family covenants — Paper on full communion — Baptisms — Mr. Park's return — Christopher Seegar — His difficulty with the town — His sermon — His death — George Whitefield's visit — Explanation Pages 66-75

Chapter X

Early Episcopal Church. — Anglican church — Dr. McSparran's book — His statement — Ninigret's deed of land — Location — Subscription paper — Marriage — Baptism — Christopher Champlin — An out-station — Life of Dr. McSparran Pages 76-78

Chapter XI

The Indian Church. — Our ancestors' regard for the Indians — Mayhew — Roger Williams — The Indians become New Lights — "Sam Niles" — Notable conversion — Remarkable prayer for rain — Ministers — Samuel Niles — Thomas Ross — S. Niles — John Sekatur — Moses Stanton— George Champlin — Aaron Sekatur — Joshua Noka — Present state — Meeting-houses — Treatment of the Indians — Report of a committee — Historical statements — Testimony — Paper from Judge Staples . . . Pages 79-85

Chapter XII

Spread of Great Principles. — Worth of principles — Soul liberty — Tcs'imony to the founders of Rhode Island — Witness of John Callender — Words of Bancroft — Baptist principles — Oppositions — Explanation — First Bap tist churches in Connecticut — Churches in 1739 — The Quakers — Their views — Bancroft's testimony — Protests — Spirit of the Sabbatarians — Persecutions of Joshua Morse — Book by Rev. A. G. Palmer — Principles advanced — Explanation Pages 80-90

Chapter XIII

The Great Revival. — The revival — Date — Duration — Results — Separations — Record due — Oppositions — Reasons — Statements of the Separatists — New Lights spread southward — Shubael Steams — Daniel Marshall — Joseph Breed — Peculiarities — New Light hymn — Articles of doctrine — Articles of practice — Final influence of the New Lights — Rev. Christopher Avery — The idea of the revival Pages 91-99

Chapter XIV

The Hill Church. — Separates — Stephen Babcock — New Lights combine — Church formed — Order of services — Officers — Simeon Brown — Question of baptism — Church formed iu Stonington — Meeting-house — Samuel Gardner — Testimony of the church — Councils held by New Lights — Council in Stonington — Call written by Stephen Babcock — Great principles involved — Oliver Babcock — Groton Union Conference — Elkanah Babcock — Connecticut certificates — Adam States — Nathan Hinckley — William Vincent — Elijah Hinckley — Worthy members — Schism — " Smith and Hix " — Robinson Ross — Cuffy Stanton — Ebenezer Brown — Statistics — Decline — Causes of — Dudley Wilcox — Reflection . . Pages 100-107

Chapter XV

Incidents of the Revolution. — The Revolution grounded in laws — Gov. Samuel Ward — The slave Cudjo — Col. Samuel Ward — Resolutions adopted in 1774 — Letter and money sent to Boston — Artillery company — Independence asserted by Rhode Island — Field and line officers — Devotion to the war — Extracts from town records — Votes — Field-pieces — Ammunition — Agents — Enlistments — Appropriations — Bounties — Labors of women — Watch Tower — Loss of men — Vester — Dr. Christopher Babcock — The " Lucretia " — Her capture of the " Huffa" — Dr. Babcock — His house — Post-office — Col. Henry Babcock — His certificate — Luke Babcock — Kings County changed — Review of the Revolution — Its principle . Pages 108-124

Chapter XVI

The Wilcox Church. — Formation — Original members — Meeting-house — Mixed principles — Testimony to the Great Revival — Isaiah Wilcox — Revivals—Asa Wilcox — His views— Jesse Babcock — Wells Kenyon — Worthy members — Church roll — Lieut. -Gov. Edward Wilcox — Statistics — Jude Taylor ?™ES 125-12*

Chapter XVII

The Quaker Meetings. — Roger Williams — George Fox — Branches of South Kingstown monthly meeting —Westerly meeting — Meeting-house — Stephen Richmond — Prominent men — Peter Davis, 1st — Peter Davis, 2d — James Scribhens — Hopkinton meeting —Meeting-house — John Collins —Christopher Healy — John Wilbur — Gurneyites — Wilburites— Important members — Richmond meeting — Meeting-house — John Knowles— Peter Hoxie — Decline Pages 129-13* WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.

Chapter XVIII

The Gardner Church. — Fruit of the Great Revival — John Gardner — William Gardner — Joseph Gavitt — Daniel Stanton — Records lost — Progress — Basis of judgments — Characteristics of past times — Jealousy of rights. Pages 134-136

Chapter XIX

Notes of the Eighteenth Century. — Loyalty to Queen Ann — Bounty on wolves and blackbirds — On foxes — Extracts from Miner's Diary — Colonial wars — Extract from Madam Knight's Journal — Bridge — Mail route — Earthquake — Public whipping — The hard winter of 1740-1 — Spanish and French wars — Slaves — Bridge — Pair of stocks — Slavery in Rhode Island — Dark day — Great snow — Changes — Great estates — Col. Joseph Stanton — Rate of 1782 — Lotteries — Gala days — "Pull Betty" — The Redemptioner — The privateersman — Harry B. — Burden Pond — Abraham Burden — "Orson" — A ballad Pages 137-146

Chapter XX

Emigrations. — Loss of inhabitants — Westward, ho! — First emigrations — A church — Settlements — Wellses — Hopes — Trials — Exploit of Sylva Wells — Settling in Pennsylvania — Paper by Hon. Benjamin Parke — Census reports — Recent changes Pages 147-150

Chapter XXII

Roll of Representatives. — Colonial records and town records. — Political party preferences . Pages 154-160

Chapter XXIII

Delusions and Superstitions. — Infirmities of human nature — They deserve record — Variety of delusions — The Palatine Light — Whittier's lines — Manifestation of Satan — Paper by Dea. W. H. Potter — Granny Mott — Rebecca Sims — McDaniel — The Shakers — The Beldenites — The Wilkinsonians — Abbott's house — Horse story — Stolen money — Kidd's chest — The Devil 's visit — Haunted houses — Money digging — Rumors — Suggestion . Pages 161-173

Chapter XXIV

Potter Hill. — Contributors — Maria L. Potter — W. H. Potter — The origin of business — Maxsons — Davises — Crandall's Mill — George Potter — His sons — Trade — Lawsuit — Fishing — Ship-building — Cotton mill — The burglary — Blacksmith shop — Daniel and Oliver Babcock — Sale of mills to E. & H. Babcock — Martin Potter — Dea. Daniel Babcock — Dr. C. Babcock — Rocking stone Pages 174-177

Chapter XXV

Westerly and Pawcatuck. — Pawcatuck Bridge in 1750 — Pawcatuck post-office — Stores — Rowse Babcock — William Rhodes — Grist-mills — Pawcatuck Manufacturing Company — Stone mill — White Rock Company — The canal — Tanneries — First merchants — Inn-keepers — Mills on the West Side — Changes — Merchants on West Side — Inn-keepers — Ship-builders Joseph Wells — First steamboat — Plan of early stores — The pond. Pages 178-181

Chapter XXVI

Stillmanville. — A tannery — Simeon Pendleton — First dam — Change of owners — Changes of business — The patent — White Rock Company — Saw-mill on West Side — John Scholfield — First wool carding in the . United States — Orsemus M. Stillman — His enterprise — The Fish Gap. — Nathaniel Stillman Pages 182-183

Chapter XXVII

Dorrville or Niantic. — Shattuck's weir — Shad fishing — Obstructions — First dam — Saw-mill — Works destroyed — Grist-mill — Knowleses — First woolen mill — William P. Arnold — John E. Weeden — Changes — Baptist Church — Sabbatarian Church — Hopkinton Bank — School-house — A tradition Pages 184-185

Chapter XXVIII

Lottery Village. — Names — Col. Joseph Pendleton — His lottery grant — Land laid out — Early inhabitants — Seamen — Merchants — Red store — Rev. Benjamin Shaw — Methodist class — Baptist Church — Members — Meeting-house — Rev. N. H. Matteson — Deacons . . . Pages 186-187

Chapter XXIX

The Red School-house. — New England schools — Early school-houses — Influences — Thomas Slauterry — First free college in America — The Red school-house — Meetings — Revival of 1812 — Actors — Samuel Hazard — List of teachers — First Sabbath school — Rev. Mr. Rogers — Mr. Vanhorn. Pages 188-191

Chapter XXX

The Union Meeting-house. — Variety of sentiments — Union House — Charles P. Otis — Architect — Fund raised — William Woodbridge — Dedication — Rev. David Austin — First steeple and bell in town — Music — George W. Gavitt — Ebenezer Brown — The congregations — Revival of 1842-43 — Rev. James L. Scott — Changes Pages 192-194

Chapter XXXI

Churches in Towns set off. — Higher life of men — Towns set off — Churches in Richmond — Six-Principle Baptist Church — Ministers — Regular Baptist Church — Rev. Benjamin Barber — Second Richmond Church — Rev. Charles Boss— Rev. J. H. Sherwin — Wilberforce Collegiate Institute — Sabbatarian Church — Rev. John Green — Churches in Charlestown — Previous notices — Free Will PSaptist Church — Regular Baptist Church — Rev. John H. Baker — Rev. J. P. Brown — Rev. Seth Ewer — Churches in Hopkinton — Regular Baptist Church — Ministers — Levi Walker— A. R. Wells — T. V. Wells— S. D. B. Church — S. D. B. Church at Rockville — Regular Baptist Church at Brand's Iron Works — Rev. David Avery. Pages 195-197

Chapter XXXII

Later Churches in the Town. — Episcopal Church — House — Parsonage — Rectors — First Baptist Church — House — Parsonage — Pastors — Officers — Sabbatarian Church — House— Pastors — Westerly S. D. B. Church — Pastors — Congregational Church — Ministers — Pastors — House — Christian Church — House — Pastors — Methodist Church — Preachers — Catholic Church — Priests — Explanation Pages 198-200 WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.

Chapter XXXIII

Notes of the Nineteenth Century. — First chaise — First light-house — Jonathan Nash — The Naps — Great gale of 1815 — Artillery company — Members — War of 1812 — Duel of midshipmen — Brailford and Fowl — A little fox — A wild cat — Game — Census reports — Horse insurance company — Dorr Rebellion — Martial law — Incidents — A singular prayer — Public whipping — Eccentric David — Stroke of lightning — First piano — First organ — First hearse — Windmill — Small-pox — Humorous lines — Changes of life — Watch Hill — Resolutions on Public Affairs — Lynch-law — Town-meeting of 1826 — Opening of Stonington and Providence Railroad — Telegraph lines — Improvements in highways — Poultry trade . - Pages 201-212

Chapter XXXIV

Fanatics and Enthusiasts. — Human weaknesses — Fanatics — Their advances — Errorists — Millerites — Adventists — Mr. Howland — Mr. Hancox — Instances of delusion — Fanatical leaders — Bad arithmetic — Annihilationists — Political enthusiasms — Parties — Campaigns . . Pages 213-216

Chapter XXXV

White Rock Village. — An ancient dam — Mr. Jefford's death — Tannery — Saw-mill — Crumb's Neck — Sale of lands — Name — Christening of the place — Change of owners — Babcock and Moss — Founding of the village — The mill — School-house — Sabbath school — Revival — Spirit of the village Pages 217-210

Chapter XXXVI

The Quarries. — Order of Providence — Resources of the town — Quarries — Granite — White — Blue — Red — Maculated — Orlando Smith — William A. Burdick — George Ledward — Rhode Island Granite Works — "Antietam Soldier " — Quality of granite — Quarry of Mr. Macomber — Clarke quarry — Lanphear quarry — Capital — Monuments — Soap-stone — Peat . Pages 220-222

Chapter XXXVII

Fisheries. — Ancient fishing — Whales — Vote of town in 1687 — River fishing — Legislation — Lottery to clear the river — Proposed canal — A monopoly — Migratory fish — Grand Bank fishing — List of captains — Seal-men — Captains — Whale-men — Captains — Coast fishing — Capital engaged — Late fishermen — Oil making Pages 223-226

Chapter Xxxviii

Marine Losses. — Storm of 1035 — Brig — Boat — English ships — Brig — Schooner — Ranger — Cold Friday — Losses — Christmas storm — September gale — Revenge — " Spindle " wreck — Schooner — " Phebe Ann " — " Little Cherub" — "Spartan" — Schooner — "Thomas Williams" — " Caroline" — Schooners — Hard times — "Caspian" — "Catharine Hale" — Schooner — Smack — Porto Rico — Brigand schooner — " Bulrush " — Schooner — ' ' Mary Jane " — Brig — Schooner — Brig — " Watson " — " Gulnare " — " S . F. Solliday "—"Cape May"—" Elba" — "Eben Sawyer" — " Stranger " — "Laura Clinch" — "Laura Church" — " Adelina " — "Albert" — " Lizzie " — " Minnehaha " — " G. D. King" — " John Adams " — " Metis." Pages 227-233

Chapter XXXIX

Corporations, Associations, and Trades. — Combination of effort— Banks — Railroad — Lyceum — Abstinence society — Fire companies — Library — Cemetery — Sons of Temperance — Savings bank — Dredging company — Rifles — Masons — Good Templars — Gas company — Various firms — Merchants — Trades — Armory — Y. M. C. Association . . . Pages 234-236

Chapter XL

Publications, Inventions, etc. — Progress of society — The " Literary Echo"— The "Narragansett Weekly " —The " Sabbath Recorder " — Letters from Ashaway — Mr. Park's sermon — John Wilbur — William Stillman — T. H. Vail — A. L.Whitman — A. G. Palmer — E. T. Hiscox — F. Denison — C. H. Denison — Shearer — Locks — O. M. Stillman — John Brown — S. Wilcox, 3d — Various patentees — J. A. Oertel — His cartoon — Calvin Thurber — Amateur artists — " Westerly Enterprise " . . Pages 237-2:'>'.»

Chapter XLI

Public Men, etc. — " Westerly settlers " — Lawyers— Col. Henry Babcock — Lieut. Gov. Jeremiah Thurston — Hon. Benjamin B. Thurston — Hon. N. F. Dixon, 1st — Hon. N. F. Dixon, 2d — Judge Amos Cross — Town clerks — Roll — Roll of sea-captains— Roll of physicians — Rev. Thomas Hiscox — Watch-makers — Tailors — Principal farmers in 1860 — Town council of 1876 — Postmasters — Light-keepers Pages 240-243

Chapter XLII

Public Houses. — First inn — Edward Denison — Early inns — Inns on West Side — The Dixon house — Notice of — Hotels at Watch Hill . Pages 244-245

Chapter XLIII

Academies. — Academy of 1814 — Charles P. Otis — Roll of teachers — Pawcatuck Academy — Roll of teachers — Private schools — Teachers — High School Building Page 246

CHAPTER XL IV.

Amusements. — Love of amusement — Occupations of our ancestors — Holidays — Special occasions — " Bees " — Trainings — Horse-racing — Race-course — Hunting — Fishing — Reviews — Intemperance — Foot-race — Major Champlin — Athletes — The Legal Potato Hole — John Cross — Beverage levy — Boat clubs — Base-ball — Croquet — Picnics — Shams — Christmas festivals Pages 247-25:'.

Chapter XLV

Swindles and Swindlers. — Deceivers — Deceived — Record needed — Nevins & Rollius — Madam de Bonneville — Mr. and Mrs. Manchester — Cremations — Bristoe Congdon's child — Recipe for rheumatism — Art Unions Lotteries in churches — Gift concerts — C. W. Banner & Co. — Raffles Schemes of speculation — Results Pages 254-258

Chapter XLVI

Banks and Bankers. — Money — Exchanges — Finance. Washington Bank — Former trade — Need of banks — First banks in this country — Washington Bank founded — Officers — Plates and bills — First dividends — Banking rooms — Locks — Leading men in business — Directors — New building — Savings bank founded — Officers of Washing ton National Bank. Phenix Bank — Organization — Officers — Cashiers — Rowse Babcock, 2d — Rowse Babcock, 3d — Changes — Later Directors — Robbery of the bank — Conviction of the burglars. Pawcatuck Bank —Incorporation — Presidents — Directors. Niantic Bank — Incorporation — Officers — Directors . Westerly Savings Bank — Niantic Savings Bank — Mechanics Savings Bank — Financial reaction Pages 259-268

Chapter XLVII

Recent Roll of Honor. — Wars a deplorable necessity — The Rebellion — Westerly Rifles — Muster roll iu First Regiment — Muster roll in Ninth Regiment — Gifts and expenses — Roll of killed and mortally wounded — Tribute — Decoration Day — Ode — Victory of principles . . . Pages 269-273

Chapter XLVIII

Grave-yards and Graves. — Sacred witnesses — Explanations — Names of Grave-yards: Allen; Austin; Babcock, 1, 2; Burdick; Barber, 1, 2; Bliven, 1, 2; Brumbly; Carr; Champlin; Chapman, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Chase, 1, 2; Children's; Church-yard; Citizen's; Clarke, 1, 2, 3, 4; Cottrell; Cordner; Crandall, 1, 2, 3; Davis; Denison; Dixon; Dodge; Dunn; Dunham; Foster; Frazier; Freebody; Friends; Gavitt, 1, 2, 3, 4; Green; Hall, 1, 2, 3; Hardy; Hazard; Hiscox, 1, 2; Indian, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Knowles; Lamphear, 1, 2, 3; Larkin; Lewis, 1, 2; Noyes; Nye; Park; Peckham, 1, 2, 3; Pendleton, 1, 2; Rathbun, 1, 2; Ray; Rhodes; River Bend Cemetery; Saunders, 1, 2, 3, 4; Sheffield; Sims; Sisson, 1, 2; Slaves'; Stetson; Stillman; Thompson; Unnamed, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; Vans; Vose; Ward; White; Wilcox; York Pages 274-301

Chapter XLIX

Reforms. — The tide of progress — Power of principles — Political advances — Ideas of brotherhood — Abolition of slavery — Lingering prejudices — Scenes in the Union House — Trials of abolitionists — The temperance reform — Old customs — Experiences — Enlightenment — Steps of the reform — Spirit of brotherly love — Advances of education — Agitation of rights of females — Revival of 1868 — New measures — Agitations — Fruits — Young Men's Christian Association — Episcopal agitation .... Pages 302-307

Chapter L

Review and Observations. — Caveat — Bird's-eye view of times, customs, wars, achievements, changes — Facts and figures of the great progress — The secret of the changes — The great lesson taught . . . Pages 308-314 MAP OF THE I Stats of Eh-j-i? Island. a $» 1878.

Introduction

.

Who does not prize the pages of plain, impartial annals? A profit as well as a pleasure is experienced in tracing the footstep's of our deserving fathers, and noting the control of Divine Provi dence in all the affairs of men. Debtors to the past, we would study and acknowledge our obligation. Peculiarly interesting and impressive must it be for the people of New England to go back by the light of faithful history to the period when all the land was a pagan wilderness, and carefully study the life of the aborigines, and the steps and struggles of those who first brought civilization to these shores. Wonderful changes and transformations have been witnessed during the last two hundred years. Numerous and pow erful agencies have here been employed by the Supreme Ruler in working out great social problems, and creating the large, free, priceless institutions now intrusted to our hands.

We are what we are mainly by the law of inheritance. We are building upon the foundations laid by others. We are reaping harvests in fields that other hands have sown. And the debt we owe to the past should be paid in part, at least, by a generous endeavor to register and place in historical position and security the names and labors of our deserving ancestors, — a service due to our fathers, to ourselves, and to our children. And let it be understood that we do not profess to write complete history, but simply to present a part of those humble annals from which the real historian finally elaborates his noble work. It is comprehended, doubtless, that not simply, nor chiefly, the names and acts of men, their modes of living, their wealth and titles, their wars and victories, constitute a people's history ; but rather the ideas they wield, the principles they adopt and embody in their acts, and which, surviving all men, live to multiply their power in the ages following.

Still distant is the day in which the history of Rhode Island can be fairly written. Through many and severe struggles the principles that took root on these shores from Roger Williams have won their victories and spread their way till now they are becoming the glory of a continent. How fitting, therefore, it is that, at least, the principal events of every town in this small but potent colony — this seed-field of great principles — should receive careful and ])ermanent record. The present effort is an attempt to do some justice to a single township.

Chapter II

♦ - THE ABORIGINES. Scenes and events of the weightiest historical interest have occurred upon our New England shores. These happily, of late, are receiving from the historian and the moralist something of the studious attention and delineation they deserve. Here, in the Occi dent, realities have more than rivaled the wildest fictions of the Orient. Here may be found new and unequaled subjects for philosophy and for tragic and lyric song. Through ages unrecorded, stretching back beyond the dimmest traditions, our land lay enwrapped in clouds, hidden alike from the vision and the imagination of the civilized world. A problem was being solved in this great solitude. Divine Providence was com. pleting a great demonstration. At least so far as the eastern portion of the continent, and especially New England, was concerned, a dense cloud hung over the landand great darkness covered the people.