USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 23
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As the village of Pawtucket owes its present flourishing con- dition-principally to Cotton Manufactures, and these were first introduced by Mr. Slater ; we shall give such facts as we have been able to learn respecting him, followed by a statistical view of the manufacturing establishments in the town of Pawtucket.
SAMUEL SLATER was born in England, June 9, 1768 ; emi- grated to America in 1789; and, in connexion with Messrs. Moses Brown and William Almy of Providence, established the first factory in this country for spinning cotton .* He com- menced the spinning of cotton in 1790, in a building near Paw- tucket Bridge, and occupied it about twenty-one months, and then removed to the factory now called the " Old Mill,"" from its being the first erected for the business in the country. This building is now owned by Messrs. Almy and Jenkins ; and some of the old machinery, used at the starting of the factory by Mr. Slater, is still in operation, and is exhibited to the numerous visiters to the establishment.
Establishing, as he did, the first cotton factory in the country, Mr. Slater had, of course, the whole market to himself; and, so great was the demand for his manufactures, that he frequently had money lodged in his hands for months before he could an- swer the orders of his correspondents. Thus circumstanced, every thing in his hands turned to money. His business profi- table, without competition, and he alone master of the art, he
For the facts in this sketch of Mr. Slater I am indebled to: Messrs. Ronsmaniere, editors of the Pawtucket Chronicle.
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pushed steadily forward in the path of success, the unrivalled favorite of fortune.
At the time of his death, he owned one third of the manu- facturing village of Slatersville, the Steam Mill in Providence, the whole town of Webster, and other immense tracts of landed property, besides a large amount of bank stock ; all of which, it is said, has been estimated by Moses Brown of Providence at $1,200,000. This estimate is said to have been founded on a schedule of his property, exhibited by Mr. Slater to Mr. Brown in 1829.
" Mr. Slater," says the Pawtucket Chronicle, " was not exactly a generous man. He gave little to public institutions, and regarded not the appeals of private individuals. His ob- ject was gold ; and no man was more indefatigable. Buona- parte never pursued schemes of conquest, never followed the phantoms of ambition more constantly, than did Samuel Slater his business. With him there was no second object to divide his thoughts. Like a shrewd, worldly man, he never boasted of his riches. When the President visited him two years ago, he told him he understood he had made a very large fortune ; " Why," said Mr. S., " I have made, I think, a competency !" An answer that opens an avenue into the very heart of his char- acter."
Mr. Slater is said to have been the first who established Sab- bath Schools in this country. Reading, writing, and arithme- tic were taught to the children in these schools.
He had two wives, and left four children, all by his first wife, who was a daughter of the late Oziel Wilkinson of Pawtucket village .*
COTTON FACTORIES, &c.
YELLOW MILL .- The first cotton factory that was erected upon the east side of the river, in the village of Pawtucket, was " the Yellow Mill." It was erected in 1805 by the " Paw- tucket Cotton and Oil Manufacturing Company," but is not now in operation. The basement story is now occupied as a machine shop.
* Should further facts come into my hands, in season, as I expect, relative to Mr. Slater, they will be inserted in the Biographical Sketches.
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
GREAT STONE MILL .- This factory was re-built in 1827, a wooden building, erected for a factory, at quite an early date, having been consumed by fire, on the present site, in 1824. It contains 60 looms, 2000 spindles, employs 70 hands, and man- ufactures yearly 400,000 yards of cloth, No. 35.
STONE FACTORY .- This factory was erected in 1813, by the same company that built the " Yellow Mill." It is now divid- ed into four departments, and owned and occupied by four different firms, viz. John Burbank, Starkweather & Claffen, John F. Walcott, and Edward Walcott. John Burbank has in operation 40 looms, runs 1500 spindles, employs 40 hands, and manufactures annually 300,000 yards of No. 30 printing cloths. Starkweather & Claflen have in operation 50 looms, run 1700 spindles, employ about 50 hands, and manufacture yearly about 350,000 yards of printing cloths. Edward Walcott has in op- eration 34 looms, runs 1200 spindles, employs about 40 hands, and manufactures annually 225,000 yards of printing cloths. The estimate of John F. Walcott's part of the factory is nearly the same as that of the latter.
WHITE MILL .- This, sometimes called the " Wilkinson Fac- tory," was built in 1813, by Wilkinson, Green, & Co. The inside of this building, (the walls of which are of stone,) was burned out in 1824, the same time that the wooden factory, on the site of the " Great Stone Mill," was burned. It is now owned by Geo. Wilkinson, who has in operation 59 looms, 2000 spindles, employs 50 hands, and manufactures yearly 450,000 yards.
KENT'S FACTORY .- This factory is owned by R. & W. Kent, and was erected in 1809. They have in operation 15 looms, 354 spindles, employ 16 hands, and manufacture yearly 100,000 yards.
INGRAHAM FACTORY .- This factory was built in 1825 by the " Pawtucket Calico Manufacturing Company," and is now owned by Dwight Ingraham. He has now in operation 24 looms, 1000 spindles, employs 20 hands, and manufactures annually 220,000 yards. The building is now only partially filled with machinery, and Mr. Ingraham contemplates doubling the amount soon.
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
FRANKLIN PRINT WORKS .- The buildings occupied by these works, were used for upwards of twenty years after their erection, for bleaching, and were erected by the " Pawtucket Calico Man- ufacturing Company." They are now owned by Crawford Al- len, of Providence, and were first filled with machinery for the printing of calicoes, in 1833. They employ 225 hands, and turn out annually 4,600,000 yards of printed calicoes.
PAWTUCKET BANK .- This bank was incorporated June 13, 1814, and has a capital of $100,000. The president is Elijah Ingraham, and the cashier, Amos A. Tillinghast.
PAWTUCKET ACADEMY .- This institution was incorporated in 1832, with power to hold real estate, not exceeding in value eight thousand dollars, and personal estate not exceeding in value twelve thousand dollars, to be devoted exclusively to the purposes of education. The building is neat and commodious, and enjoys a romantickly fine location. The school, since the commencement of its operations, has been under the care of Mr. Joseph Hale, a graduate of Harvard University. The mode of instruction is judicious and excellent, and the school sustains a decidedly high character. The number of pupils is limited to forty.
PAWTUCKET BRIDGE.
In the spring of 1712, a proposal was made by the General Assembly of Rhode Island, to the legislature of Massachusetts, " for building a bridge over Pawtucket river, partly at the charge of that colony, and in part at the charge of this province ; " which was accepted, and " a vote was passed thereon for raising a committee to inquire where the bridge may be best set, and of the benefit and advantage it will be, when erected, to this province, for travel and commerce."
[Mass. Rec. vol. ix. p. 200.]
March 20, 1712, it was "ordered that Isaac Winslow, Na- thaniel Payne, and John Cushing, Esqrs. of the council, with such of the representatives as shall be named by the House, be a committee to inquire of the place where the bridge may best
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be placed, and of the benefit and advantage it will be, when erected, to this province for travel and commerce."
[Ibid. p. 259.]
May 29, 1713, the committee reported as follows: viz. " We are humbly of opinion, that a place called Pawtucket Falls, near the Iron works on said river, is the most suitable place to erect said bridge, and when built, may be of benefit to some parts of this province, especially it will be of service for travelling into the Narraganset country, Connecticut, and New York, at all times of the year, particularly in the win- ter season, when, by reason of the rising of the water, and great quantity of ice coming down the river, it is made very difficult and hazardous, which, if there be a bridge, will make travelling more easy and safe.
Isaac Winslow, Nath. Payne, Sam'l Thaxter, Joseph Brown. Noah Peck, -
1 Committee." [Vol. ix. pp. 273, 274.
" In the House of Representatives, voted, that Nathaniel Paine, Esq., Messrs. Moses Read and Jolin Rogers, be a com- mittee to consider and compute the charge of a highway to Pawtucket bridge, and lay the same before this court; and that the further consideration of the account of building of said bridge, be deferred until the vouchers thereof be produced, or the said account be returned, examined and allowed, by the government of Rhode Island, neither of which are yet done." [Vol. x. p. 22.]
" Upon reading an account presented by Joseph Jenks, amounting to £223 14s. 11d., being the expense of building a bridge over Pawtucket river,
" The House of Representatives resolved that the sum of £51 19s. 52d. be further allowed out of the public treasury, to Joseph Jenks, accomptant ; which, with £60, already paid by this province, is one half of his accompt, and is in full of what this province pays to the building of said bridge."
[Vol x. p. 40.]
--
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
" The report of the committee appointed to consider and compute the charge of a highway to Pawtucket bridge : viz. In pursuance of the written vote or order, we the subscribers, on the 28th of May, 1716, went to the bridge at Pawtucket, where we met with the persons that were interested in the lands where the highway should go; and, having discoursed with them, and viewed the same, do report that a way of two rods wide be left on the north side of the land belonging to Jo- seph Buckland, jr., beginning at the foot of the bridge, and so to run through the land of Henry Smith, till it comes to said Smith's house, being in length ninety-two rods, is about two acres and a half, only allowing a turn to be made to the north- ward, about fifty rods from the bridge, to escape a great rock, which land we are of opinion is worth £3 per acre ; and the making of a fence the length of said way, if made of stone wall, will be worth 5s. per rod, to be allowed to the owner of said land ; which way then to run from said Smith's house northward about a quarter of a mile, when it will meet with a way that was formerly laid out by Rehoboth, which leads into the county road by the great plain. The land, being two acres and a half, we value at 20s. per acre, without any charge of fence.
" Given under our hands, the 14th of June, 1716. Nathaniel Payne, Moses Read, John Rogers,
Committee."
Upon the report of this committee, the House of Representa- tives passed the following resolve :- " Resolved, that the com- mittee's report be so far accepted, that the highway be laid out and settled according thereto, and that the sum of £10 be al- lowed and paid out, of the public treasury, to purchase the land thereof, according to the said report, and that 24s. be paid out of the public treasury, for their service and expenses."
[Vol. x. pp. 75, 76.] " June 19, 1725.
" In the House of Representatives, resolved that the sum of £15 be allowed and paid out of the public treasury, to Capt. Jno. Foster, of Attleborough, to be employed for the repairing of the Province's part of the bridge over Pawtucket river, be- tween Rehoboth and Providence, part of the repairs belonging 31
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
to the colony of Rhode Island, the said Foster to account for the expenses of the money."
[Vol. xii. p. 402.]
" In the House of Representatives, May 30, 1730, voted that Col. Church, Capt. Foster, and Mr. Peck, be a committee in behalf of this government of Rhode Island, in demolishing the great bridge over Pawtucket river, it being represented as' very hazardous."
[Vol. xiv. p. 372.]
" Sept. 18, 1730. Charles Church, Esq., for the commit- tee appointed to demolish Pawtucket bridge, by an order en- tered July 1, 1730, gave in the following report, viz :
" The committee within named, repaired to the great bridge over Pawtucket river, on the 21st of July, 1730, and there joined with William Jenks, Esq., empowered and appointed on the part of the government of Rhode Island and Providence plantations, and by order of both governments, we then and there demolished the said bridge."
[Vol. xiv. p. 396.
A new bridge was soon erected .- This is the history of the old bridge. Though somewhat long, it may perhaps interest the curious reader. The bridge has been frequently repaired, and, lastly, within a few years.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1828, James C. Starkweather. 1832, Remember Kent.
1829, James C. Starkweather. 1830, James C. Starkweather. 1831, Elijah Ingraham.
- 1833, Remember Kent. 1834, Remember Kent. 1835, Remember Kent.
SENATORS.
1829, Hon. Elijah Ingraham. -
1836, Hon. J. C. Starkweather. 1830, Hon. Elijah Ingraham.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
'THE ecclesiastical history of Pawtucket comprises the histo- ry of three churches, viz : - Elder Potter's church, Elder Green's church, and the Congregational church. But two of these are now located in the town, one having been removed to the west side of the river.
ELDER POTTER'S CHURCH.
'The first church organized within the limits of this town, was gathered by the Rev. Ray Potter, and was styled a " Free-Will Baptist Church." The following is a notice of its organization, extracted from the " Life of Ray Potter, by himself," and de- rived originally from the records of the church : -
" Book of Records of the Church of Christ, in Pawtucket, Massachusetts, commonly called Free-Will Baptist ; constituted October 7, 1820, under the watch and care of Elder Ray Potter."
" On the evening of the 7th of October, 1820, a number of brethren and sisters, lately baptized by Elder Ray Potter, (whose names will be hereafter specified,) together with deacon Gardner Buffington, and his wife, Mary Buffington, and her daughter, Harriet Buffington ; all of whom had formerly been members of the church of Christ, in Swanzey, Mass. ; also, brother Daniel Green, formerly a member of the Calvanistic Baptist church in Pawtucket, and Elder Ray Potter, assem- bled at the house of deacon Gardner Buffington, in the village of Pawtucket, on Seekonk side, Mass., for the purpose of joining or embodying themselves together, as a church of Christ.
" After prayer to Almighty God, to be owned, and blessed, and directed by his holy spirit, in the present very solemn and
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
important undertaking, we proceeded to consider the subject for which we met. After conversing upon the subject of church government, and what was to be understood by a visible church of Christ, the following persons joined hands, thereby manifest- ing that they united themselves together as a church of God ; taking the scriptures of truth as their only book of discipline, and rule of faith and practice. [Here follow the names, which it is unnecessary to transcribe.]
" After the persons above referred to had united as a church, they unanimously admitted Elder Ray Potter, as one of their members, and likewise as an under shepherd, to take the watch and care of the church. It was also agreed that deacon Buffington should officiate in said office in the church. The church also chose Elder Ray Potter for their clerk.
" Although the church has chosen for its pastor Elder Ray Potter, who is likewise considered as a preacher in the Free- will connexion, yet it is understood that the church is consti- tuted upon the principle of having the privilege and authority to order its own concerns, without being restricted or biased by any other church or churches whatever.
" The above record was written, and laid before the church, in meeting, and duly approved by them.
Witness, RAY POTTER, Clerk."
A division soon took place in this church, a part of the mem- bers adhering to Mr. Potter, and the others uniting with the Rev. Daniel Green, one of the original members of this church ; and whom his party selected for their minister. Immediately on this division a controversy arose, as to which party the meet- ing house, that had been erected for the original church, should belong, The decision was left to referces, who declared in fa- vor of the party adhering to Mr. Green. From this division arose the two churches, now generally known by the names of " Elder Potter's " and " Elder Green's." Elder Potter's church, who by the decision of the referces, above alluded to, lost their right in the meeting house first erected, after worship- ping for a while in a school house in the village, built for them- selves a new house of worship.
Mr. Potter was born in Cranston, R. I., June 22, 1795, and was a son of Col. Andrew Potter, who died at Coventry, R. I., in 1829, aged sixty-seven years. He commenced his ministry in Providence. Mr. Potter published "Memoirs of his Life,
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and Religious Experience," in 1829; and at different times, before and since that date, has published also several pamphlets, both doctrinal and controversial.
ELDER GREEN'S CHURCH.
The history of the origin of this church has already been an- ticipated, in speaking of Elder Potter's .* It was organized in Seekonk, (now Pawtucket,) in 1820, and the present number of members is 100.
The Rev. Daniel Green, who has been the minister of this church since its commencement, (or at least since its existence independent of the preceeding church,) was born in Pawtucket, R. I. April 16, 1793, and is the son of the late Timothy Green, Esq. of the same place.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church was organized April 17, 1829. The following sketch of the formation and history of this church is printed with their " Confession and Covenant."
" The Pawtucket Congregational Church was originally com- posed of but nine individuals-one male, and eight females. All these were members of the Church of Christ in Attlebo- rough, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. FERGUSON. In April, 1829, they were dismissed from that Church, with Chris- tian affection and commendation, for the purpose of being organ- ized into a distinct branch of the Christian Church, to be loca- ted in the village of Pawtucket. That purpose was effectuated by a regularly convened ecclesiastical council, on the 17th of the above named month.
" On the day of their organization, the Church elected the Rev. ASA T. HOPKINS, their Pastor. The Society, by whose munificence a beautiful and commodious house in which the Church were to worship had been previously erected, unani- mously seconded the call of the Church. The Pastor elect
* I have been able to obtain facts respecting these churches very fully only on " one side of the question; " and have not, therefore, given so complete a history, as I should otherwise have done.
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signified his acceptance of their united invitation on the 17th of July, and was ordained on the 5th of August, following.
" On the 15th of July, 1831, REMEMBER CARPENTER, and OTIS READ were elected Deacons-the former having discharged the duties of that office, by appointment, from the organization of the Church, to the period of his election : and on the 17th of the same month, these brethren were publicly and solemnly inducted into their office, conformably to primitive example, See Acts vi. 6.
" Since its organization, this Church has been favored, in two instances, with the special effusions of the Holy Spirit, the results of which have been considerable accessions to its num- bers, and a happy increase of the spirit of benevolence. These doings of a faithful covenant-keeping God, the Church record, and would ever remember, with admiring gratitude and humble praise.
" In March, 1830, the Church constituted itself into a Tem- perance Association. All its members are pledged to abstain from the use of Ardent Spirits, except for medical purposes ; and no person who traffics in them, or who uses them habitually, can be admitted to membership."
Mr. Hopkins was dismissed, at his own request, in 1832, and the Rev. Barnabas Phinney was installed in his place, January 1, 1833. Mr. Phinney took his dismission from this church, January 5, 1836.
Mr. Hopkins is a native of the state of New York, gradua- ted at Yale College, and studied divinity with the Rev. Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, Ct. He is now settled over a church in Buffalo, N. Y.
Mr. Phinney is a native of Lee, Mass. He is now at West- borough, in this state.
The church has now no settled minister, but is regularly and constantly supplied by clergymen of the first rank in the vicin- ity. The present number of members is 140.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
[Under this head are included sketches of several individuals, whose history, being unconnected with either the civil or ecclesiastical history of either of the three towns, I had not occasion to relate in connexion with them. Sketches of the Lawyers and Physicians, who have resided, or may now reside, within the limits of Rehoboth, Seekonk, or Pawtucket, will come under separate di- visions of this head, as also the Graduates of some of our Colleges.]
SAMUEL METCALF FOWLER; for some years the able editor of the " Pawtucket Chronicle," was a native of Rehoboth, and a son of Dr. Isaac Fowler, deceased. Being obliged to labor for a subsistence, he selected the printing business as the best adapted to his talents. Nor did he err in supposing that that profession might one day throw him into a situation where the peculiar bent of his mind would find full scope to display itself. He learned his trade in Providence, where he continued a while afterwards ; and then located himself in the village of Pawtucket, where he published the " Pawtucket Chronicle," as editor and proprietor. He continued to conduct this paper with great ability and spirit, till siezed with a consumption which termina- ted his life, August 26, 1832, at the age of twenty-seven. He composed with great facility ; but it is related of him, that he seldom penned an article on paper, but went to his case, and put his thoughts directly into type. Nor did these original arti- cles, thus composed, often betray haste or carelessness. But this manner of literally composing his ideas, probably applied only to the shorter editorial articles ; as his longer and more laboured productions are written with much care, both of thought and language. The following anecdote is related of one of his early attempts at this double mode of composition. While em- ployed as an apprentice in the office of one of the Providence journals, and yet a mere boy, he set up in this manner, and put into the form, without the knowledge of the editor, an article replete with keen, polished satire, and bitter invective, against
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one of the leading politicians of Providence. The paper was issued, and the editor had hardly discovered the article, and learned, with no small surprise, the author of it, before in came the irritated politician, foaming with rage, and demanding in the bitterest language the writer of the " accursed article." " Who is he ? where is he-the rascal ?" reiterated he in the highest fit of passion. "Nobody wrote it," replied the editor very calinly. " Nobody ! ejaculated the infuriated politician." " The author of it," returned the former, with a coldly indifferent, and sarcastic smile, " is my boy yonder." The man after casting a half glance at the diminutive and stripling form of the youth- ful Junius, made good his retreat in silent vexation and cha- grin.
His fancy was sprightly and fertile, his thoughts luminous, and his language forcible and appropriate. In his more labored satirical articles there is no faint resemblance to the style of Junius, the author of all others whom he most admired, and took for a model. In violence of invective, severity of remark, and bitterness of sarcasm, he excelled. In these he was at home ; and sported with words, as the whirlwinds of autumn, with the seared and withered leaves of the forest. But his invective too often degenerated into cruelty, his remark into prejudice ; and his wit, which, meteor-like, could soar aloft, and gleam along the heaven, or scathe with the lightning, too often descended to quench its brightness in the murky and putrid vapors of the stag- nated marsh. But notwithstanding these prominent blots on his editorial character, as a man he had many and warm friends, and few enemies. Nature had lavished on him her gifts with an unsparing hand ; and had fortune favored him with a more finished education, and the experience which years alone can give, he would have been remembered, when others,-the " flat- tered of the hour," had been long forgotten.
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