USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Middletown > An historical sketch of Middletown, R.I. : from its organization, in 1743, to the Centennial year, 1876 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
2
Gc 9 74.502 M58a
Gc 974.502 M58a 1145982
M:
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00084 6482
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00arno 0
AV
historical
ketch
OF
MIDDLETOWN. R. I.,
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION, IN 1743,
TO THE CENTENNIAL YEAR, 1876.
-BY-
HON. SAMUEL GREENE ARNOLD,
NEWPORT : .
JOHN P. SANBORN & CO., MERCURY STEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
1876.
1145982
Jusson - 3.50
A RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL INVITING
HON. SAMUEL GREENE ARNOLD,
TO PREPARE AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN.
At a meeting of the Town Council of Middletown, held in said town, on Monday, October 16th, A. D. 1876 :
Resolved, That, in view of the fact that this town was una- ble to secure in July last the preparation of an historical sketch of this town from the date of its formation, as recom- mended by Congress and our State Legislature, that the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, of this town, be and he is hereby invited to prepare such an historical sketch of this town at his earliest, convenience, and that the clerk of this Council be and he is hereby directed to communicate to Mr. Arnold the invitation herein contained, by forwarding to him a copy of this resolution.
A true copy-attest : ALBERT L. CHASE, Council Clerk.
.
A RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO
HON. SAMUEL G. ARNOLD,
FOR HIS HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Also, a resolution authorizing the Town Clerk to have the same printed.
At a meeting of the Town Council of Middletown, held in said town, on Monday, December 18th, A. D. 1876 :
Resolved, That the Town Council would hereby respect- fully acknowledge the condescension and labors of the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, in preparing an historical sketch of the town of Middletown, from the date of its formation, and do further hereby extend to him theire unfeigned thanks for the same.
Resolved, That the Town Clerk of Middletown be and he is hereby authorized and directed at the proper expense of this town, to have printed and bound in a suitable manner, 500 copies of the Historical Sketch of the Town of Middle- town, as recently prepared by the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, and to place fifty copies thereof at the disposal of the histo- rian, the said Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, to file one copy thereof with the Records in the Town Clerk's Office, one copy with the Secretary of State, one copy with the Librarian of Con- gress, to forward one copy thereof to the clerk of each town or city in this State, to retain fifty copies thereof for the use of such historical writers or collectors as may hereafter apply for the same, and to hold the remainder of said copies for distribution among the citizens, tax-payers and inhabi- tants of this town.
True copies-attest :
ALBERT L. CHASE, Council Clerk.
THE HISTORY.
-
THE HISTORY.
The agitation in Massachusetts which resulted in the ban- ishment of Roger Williams and the settlement of Providence, in 1636, had scarcely ceased when the Antinomian contro- versy commenced. Female influence upon the progress of thought and the destiny of States was never more signally manifested than in this struggle between the Puritan theolo- gy and the more liberal ideas inculcated by Mrs. Ann Hutch- inson. Beginning with theological differences, more appre- ciated in a polemic age, like the seventeenth century, than they would be in our time, the breach between the Legalists and the Antinomians rapidly widened. The former party embraced the older settlers and all the clergy but two in the colony ; the latter included most of the Boston church, with Cotton at its head, and Wheelwright of Braintree, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Hutchinson, as the only ministers on that side. The new comers, who were numerous, joined the popular party, whose leader was the young and ambitious Governor, afterwards Sir Henry Vane. From a purely theo- logical discussion, the dispute soon spread to the broader arena of politics. Obnoxious laws were enacted by the dom_ 4
inant faction, and were opposed by those who desired a wider field of action. For two years this strife was waged with all the bitterness of polemic warfare, and with the asperity of a political contest. But the spirit of free thought which
1
8
HISTORICAL SKETCH
had been awakened, was suddenly checked by one false step on the part of Wheelwright, who had been pronounced guilty of sedition and contempt by the General Court, and who threatened an appeal to the King in case the court should proceed to sentence him. The dread of interference from England, where their enemies were in power, was as great in the minds of the new comers as with the older colonists. The change in popular sentiment was rapid and entire. Cot- ton went over to the stronger party. The Antinomians were disarmed. Wheelwright was banished, and the same punishment was soon after inflicted upon Mrs. Hutchinson. Many of the other leaders were disfranchised, among whom were William Aspinwall, John Coggeshall, William Balstone, and Captain Underhill, a hero of the Pequot war. William Coddington, then a deputy from Boston, fell under the dis- pleasure of the court. Many of the ablest and best of the Puritan colonists were scattered abroad by this, the fiercest strife, which has ever distracted New England. For the love of peace, and to enjoy freedom of conscience, these men, twice exiled for opinion's sake, resolved to emigrate. With John Clarke and William Coddington as their leaders, they came to Providence, and on the advice and with the aid of Roger Williams, they purchased from the Indians the beau- tiful island of Acquedneck. On the twenty-fourth of March, 1638, they began a settlement at Pocasset, on the northeast part of the island. So rapid was the increase of this colony, that in the following year it was decided to form a new set- tlement on the southwest part of the island. Nicholas Eas- ton, with his two sons, Peter and John, were the pioneers of this enterprise. On the first of May, 1639, they landed at Newport, and on the 16th the town was laid out and named, and the dividing line from Pocasset was established at a point
9
OF MIDDLETOWN.
about five miles north and east of the town, near the centre of the island.
There were nine signers of the compact of emigration, framed at Pocasset on the twenty-eighth of April, 1639. These were :
WILLIAM CODDINGTON, Judge. NICHOLAS EASTON, JOHN COGGESHALL, WILLIAM BRENTON, JOHN CLARKE, Elders.
JEREMY CLERKE, THOMAS HAZARD,
HENRY BULL, WILLIAM DYRE, Clerk.
These constituted the first government of Newport. The larger portion remained at Pocasset and organized a new government on the thirtieth of April, under William Hutch- inson as Judge, with seven Assistants. They changed the Indian name of the place to Portsmouth. The separate governments of Portsmouth and Newport continued for about ten months, when they were united on the twelfth of March, 1640, at the first "General Court of Election." The titles of Judge and Elders were changed to Governor and Assistants. William Coddington, of Newport, was chosen Governor, William Brenton, of Portsmouth, Deputy Gover- nor, with four Assistants, two Treasurers and two Consta- bles equally divided between the towns. William Dyer, of Newport, was chosen Secretary of the colony, and Henry Bull, Sergeant. Portsmouth was the more populous settle- ment. Five men from that town, and three from Newport, were selected to lay out the lands. In the original lay-out of Pocasset, six acres of land were apportioned to each in- habitant, which was soon after reduced one half. At New- port, four acres were assigned for each house lot, and six acres
2
10
HISTORICAL SKETCH
were granted to Mr. Coddington for an orchard-the second planted in the State. One hundred acres were appropriated for school lands.
Of the startling principles of government established on the island, embodying the novel ideas of liberty already in- corporated at Providence, it is unnecessary to say much. Familiarity with these theories, now confirmed by two hun dred and forty years of successful application, and become the recognized system of the American continent, renders more than a mere allusion to them uncalled for in this place. "It is ordered and unanimously agreed upon, that the Gov- ernment which this Bodie Politick doth attend unto in this Island, and the Jurisdiction thereof, in favor of our Prince is a DEMOCRACIE, or Popular Government ; that is to say, It is in the Powre of the Body of Freemen, orderly assem- bled, or the major part of them, to make or constitute Just Laws, by which they will be regulated, and to depute from among themselves such Ministers as shall see them faithfully executed between Man and Man." This was the remarka- ble manifesto of civil rights put forth at the second general court of election in March, 1641. It was followed by an equally memorable declaration of religious liberty. "It was further ordered, by the authority of this present Courte, that none be accounted a Delinquent for Doctrine." Here were the two distinctive, and at that day, entirely novel features in a State constitution, which make the rise of Rhode Island an era not alone in American history, but in the political experience of mankind.
In 1644, the name of Acquedneck was dropped and that of Rhode-island was adopted, which has since been extended to the State. Meanwhile, in March of that year, a Parlia- mentary charter had been obtained by Roger Williams, uni-
11
OF MIDDLETOWN.
ting the several settlements in the State under the style of "The Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narra- ganset Bay in New England," but the colonial government was not organized under this patent till May, 1647.
The New England League, from which Rhode Island was basely excluded by the parties who claimed jurisdiction over the now organized and independent colony, and the covert ambition of Coddington, who sought to detach the island from the mainland towns and erect it into a separate govern- ment, with himself at its head, imperilled the existence of the State. Early in 1649 Coddington sailed for England, and after two years returned, to the consternation of the whole, colony, with a commission for life as governor of the islands of Rhode Island and. Conanicut. The patent was thus virtually annulled, the colonial government destroyed, and the islands given over to a usurper. John Clarke and Roger Williams were at once sent to England by the alarmed colonists, the former to obtain a revocation of the commis- sion of Coddington, the latter to secure a confirmation of the charter. They sailed together from Boston, worked together in England, and triumphed together in the end. Codding- ton's commission was revoked by an order of Council, Oc- tober 2d, 1652. But the divisions in the colony were not healed, nor a reunion under the old patent effected for near- ly two years, till the return of Mr. Williams in the summer of 1654. He was chosen President of the colony at the next election. Dr. Clarke remained abroad nearly thirteen years as agent of the colony, and after the restoration of the Stuarts, obtained from Charles II. the royal charter of July 8th, 1663. By this the corporate title was changed to "The English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planta tions in New England, in America." Under this charter,
12
HISTORICAL SKETCH
the freest and most republican instrument that ever emana- ted from the throne of a monarch, the State existed for one hundred and eighty years, passing safely through the coloni- al and the revolutionary periods down to our day. Under it Newport became, with the exception of Boston, the most flourishing commercial town in America. It was the centre of a circle, embracing the island and the Narraganset coun- try, which revived in the New World the traditions and cus- toms of the Old in all that pertained to the amenities of social life. Education was early promoted, and as enterprise expanded and wealth increased, Art was encouraged and scholarship was recognized and honored. The sports of Eng- lish country life and the studies of the English schools were pursued with equal ardor. A society as refined as could anywhere be found, was centered in Newport towards the middle of the eighteenth century. To this society there came in the winter of 1729-30, a great addition in the per- son of George Berkeley, dean of Derry, and afterwards bishop of Cloyne. So intimately associated is this great name with the town where he made his temporary abode, that no apology is necessary for dwelling at some length upon what proved so interesting an event. He was accom- panied by a staff of scholars and artists proposed as the fac- ulty of a college he sought to establish in Bermuda. The failure of his scheme resulted in benefit to the colonies by the stimulus which these men gave to learning and art in New England. After a few months residence in Newport, most of his companions moved to Boston, but Berkeley re- mained. Purchasing a farm of ninety-six acres, about three miles from town, on the eastern slope of Honeyman's hill, in what is now Middletown, he built a comfortable country house in the English style of those days. Here, at the age
13
OF MIDDLETOWN.
of fourty-four, he established himself with his lately married wife, and here two children were born to him, one of whom, dying in infancy, was buried in the grave-yard of Trinity church. How genial was the life at Newport in the times of which we are now writing, may be seen in a brief extract from Fraser's Life and Works of Berkeley. (1) In that ex- quisite chapter entitled "A recluse in Rhode Island," which reads like an idyl, the author says :
" The Rhode Island aristocracy of Berkeley's time main- tained the character of the old English country gentlemen, from whom they were descended. A state of society, sup- ported by slavery, produced festivity. Tradition records the genial life of those days in the colony. Excursions to Hart- ford to luxuriate on bloated salmon were annual indulgen- ces in May. Pace races on the beach for silver tankards were the social indulgences of summer. When autumn ar- rived, there were harvest-home festivities. Large numbers of both sexes gathered on those occasions. Gentlemen in their scarlet coats and swords, with laced ruffles over their hands, silk stockings, and shoes ornamented with silver buckles, and ladies dressed in brocade, with high-heeled shose and high head-dresses. These festivities would sometimes continue for days, and they were shared by the slaves as well as their masters. Christmas was the great festival of the year ; twelve days were then given to hospitalities. The wedding, too, was a great gala in the olden time. And the fox chase, with hounds and horns, as well as fishing and fowling, were favorite sports in Narragansett."
Berkeley's country home he named from the residence of the English King's-Whitehall. It adjoined the farm of the Rev. James Honeyman, the first missionary sent to America by the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts. The name is still retained, and the house is yet stand- ing, an object of interest to all strangers visiting the now fa- mous watering place, and a sort of Mecca for all philosophi- cal students from both hemispheres. For nearly two years that Berkeley remained in Rhode Island, his time was studi-
1. The Works of George Berkeley, D. D. by Alexander Campbell Fraser, A. M., in Four Vols. Oxford, 1871.
14
HISTORICAL SKETCH
ously employed. Here he wrote some of his most celebra- ted works. Of these, "Alciphron or the Minute Philoso- pher" was wholly written in Rhode Island, and abounds in descriptions of life and scenery in the vicinity. "The first page of Alciphron represents Berkeley in the last year of his family life at Whitehall. The whole book represents his studies there, in the library, in the field, and on the sea shore," says his biographer. This work is "An Apology for the Christian Religion against those who are called Free- thinkers." To combat the progress of materialism, and sub- vert the Epicurean theories of Hobbs, Berkeley had become the champion of the immaterial system of philosophy, and argued the non-existence of matter, or rather its entire sub- jection to the ideal. Alciphron is divided into seven dia- logues, held between four friends, of wbom two advocate atheism, while the others defend religion, and in their warm, free and earnest conversation, the high argument is evolved. A single brief extract may be allowed in this place as illus- trating one feature of the social life of those days :
"We had hardly seated ourselves and looked about us, when we saw a fox run by the foot of our mount into an ad- jacent thicket. A few minutes after, we heard a confused noise of the opening of hounds, and winding of horns, and the roaring of country squires. While our attention was suspended by this event, a servant came running, out of breath, and told Crito that his neighbor Ctessipus, a squire of note, was fallen from his horse, attempting to leap over a ledge, and brought into the hall, where he lay for dead. Upon which we all rose and walked hastily to the house, where we found Ctesippus just come to himself, in the midst of half a dozen sun-burnt squires in frocks, and short wigs, and jockey-boots. Being asked how he did, he answered it was only a broken rib. With some difficulty Crito persua- ded him to lie on a bed till the chirurgeon came. These fox- hunters, having been up early at their sport, were eager for dinner, which was accordingly hastened. They passed the afternoon in a loud, rustic mirth, gave proof of their relig-
15
OF MIDDLETOWN.
ion and loyalty by the healths they drank, talked of hounds, and horses, and elections, and country fairs, till the chirur- geon, who had been employed about Ctesippus, desired he might be put into Crito's coach, and sent home, having re- fused to stay all night."
One more extract from Berkeley's works may be permit- ted. The short poem whose concluding stanza has made it immortal, was probably written at this time, and associates Berkeley's Rhode Island home with the finest inspiration of his muse :
VERSES ON THE
PROSPECT OF PLANTING ARTS AND LEARNING IN AMERICA.
The Muse, disgusted at an age and clime Barren of every glorious theme,
In distant lands now waits a better time, Producing subjects worthy fame.
In happy climes, where from the genial sun And virgin earth such scenes ensue,
The force of art by nature seems outdone, And fancied beauties by the true ;
In happy climes, the seat of innocence, Where nature guides and virtue rules,
Where men shall not impose for truth and sense The pedantry of courts and schools ;
There shall be sung another golden age, The rise of empire and of arts, The good and great inspiring epic rage, The wisest heads and noblest hearts.
16
HISTORICAL SKETCH
3
Not such as Europe breeds in her decay ; Such as she bred when fresh and young, When heavenly flame did animate her clay, By future poets shall be sung.
Westward the course of empire takes its way ; The four first Acts already past,
A fifth shall close the Drama with the day ; Time's noblest offspring is the last.
In the autumn of 1731, Berkeley prepared to return to England, after a residence of less than two years in America. But he has left behind him an impression such as few men have anywhere made in so short a time. He founded a phi- losophical society in Newport, whose books formed the basis of the Redwood Library, incorporated in 1747. Tradition points to a beetling cliff at the second beach, known as the Hanging Rock, as the favorite resort of the Christian philos- opher, where he composed a great part of the Alciphron ; and popular fancy has given to this romantic spot the name of Berkeley's Cave. Whatever of classic association per- vades the vicinity of his island home, and consecrates these beautiful shores, is due to the genius, and twines around the memory of George Berkeley.
The population of Newport in 1730 was 4640, having more than doubled within twenty-two years since the first census ever taken in the colony in 1708. That it was growing rap- idly is shown by the succeeding census, eighteen years later, when it numbered 6508, notwithstanding the loss of over six hundred by the division of the town; for in 1748, the first census after the separation, Middletown had 680 in- habitants. The almost complete destruction of the Newport records leaves us to conjecture that the movement of the ru- ral districts, of the north and east of the compact part of the town, for a separate organization, had its origin in the usual
17
OF MIDDLETOWN.
occasion for such divisions, the inequality in the distribution of taxes. Two mutilated fragments of the records show that the question was discussed in town meeting and the petition for a division rejected, and that at a later meeting a commit- tee was appointed to examine and report on the case :
"At a town meeting called at ye request [of a]
number of ye inhabitants of ye woods
November 16, 17 [41? upon the]
Petition of a number of ye inhabitants of [the woods] being read for dividing ye town. It was put [to vote] whether ye town should be divided into two parts.
Voted that it should not be divided."
The deputies were directed to oppose the petition for di- vision, Jan. 26, 1742.
"Voted-That the General Assembly of [the colony be invited] to inspect.into the circumstances of the town [and] see if there be a necessity of dividing ye [town, and if] there be, in what manner, and make [report at] ye next sessions of Assembly. Be served [with a copy] of ye said General Assembly's Act, and said town Rodman to get ye copy of ye sd. act of Assembly and deliver [it to] said gentlemen [who are instructed] to enter upon said affair and to determine."
This is all in relation to the subject that now appears upon the Newport records. But "ye inhabitants of ye whods" carried their point. At the June session, 1743, the General Assembly passed
"An Act for dividing the town of Newport, in the county of Newport, into two towns.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of this colony, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the said town of Newport, be divided into two towns ; and the division to begin at the head of the creek that separates the two farms of the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., and Godfrey Malbone, of said 3
18
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Newport, merchant ; and so to extend upon a direct line be- tween the two houses of Elisha Card, and that in the pos- session of Samuel Pemberton, Esq., and from thence on a straight line to the place where the creek on Easton's beach runs into the sea ; and all to the southward and westward of the said line, to belong to the town of Newport; and all to the northward and eastward of said line to be incorporated into a town by the name of Middletown.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that John Dexter, Esq., Messrs. Benjamin Peckham, Jr., and Samuel Easton, surveyor, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, they, or the major part of them, to run the aforesaid line, and make report to the next session of this Assembly."
The act of incorporation was passed at the next session in August, as follows :
"An Act for incorporating the north-east part of the town of Newport into a township, and the same to be distinguished and known by the name of Middletown.
Whereas, the General Assembly, at their session held by adjournment at Newport, within and for said colony, on the second Monday in June last past, did, among other things, enact that the town of Newport should be divided into two towns ; and for that purpose appointed a committee to run the dividing line, and make report thereon to this present session of the Assembly, who have accordingly reported that they have done the same, in the following manner :
Beginning at the head of the creek that separates the two farms of the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., and Godfrey Mal- bone of said Newport, merchant; and on a south course, nineteen degrees and one half east, run a direct line, extend- ing to the north-east corner of a lot of land belonging to Job Almy, of said Newport, merchant; the said corner being between the houses of Elisha Card and that in the possession of Samuel Pemberton ; and from said corner a straight line south, twenty-seven degrees east, crossing the bridge that lieth over the creek on Easton's beach; and so into the sea on that course, it being the place where the said creek usually runs into the sea.
And the said report being accepted :
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of this colony, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that all the lands to the southward and westward of the said line, as before
19
OF MIDDLETOWN.
described, belong to the town of Newport; and all the land to the northward and eastward of said line be distinguised and known by the name of Middletown ; and that the inhab- itants of said Middletown, from time to time shall have and enjoy the like benefits, liberties, privileges and immunities with other towns in this colony, according to charter.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.