USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 1
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ANNALS OP TRINITY CHURCH
NEWPORT, R. I .**
"GEORGE CHAMPLIN + MASON*
SECOND SERIES
Go 974.502 N47ner 1805018
M. L
-
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 5585
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/annalsoftrinityc00maso_0
no. b. leaton
2
ANNALS&
OF
TRINITY HURCH,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND,
1821-1892.
BY GEORGE CHAMPLIN MASON.
SECOND SERIES.
WPORT
IO
GOD
SEND GRACE
VED 1769
TR
V. MOTT FRANCIS, M. D. NEWPORT, R. I. 1894.
1
Copyright, 1894, by V. MOTT FRANCIS, M. D.
F. W. MARSHALL, PRINTER, NEWPORT, R. I.
1805018
TO THE MEMORY OF
The Reverend Salmon Wheaton, D. D.,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED BY
THE AUTHOR :
WHO, BAPTIZED BY HIM IN INFANCY, AND ONE OF THE CONGREGATION OF TRINITY CHURCH FROM HIS YOUTH, RETAINS A VIVID IMPRESSION OF HIS KINDLY PRESENCE AND LIFE OF HOLINESS.
- 1 -19-100X 17:1-20108
Newport, R. I., June 6th, 1894.
At a meeting of the Vestry of Trinity Church, held in Kay Chapel this afternoon, the following resolution was unanimously passed:
Resolved : The Vestry having heard that a second volume of the ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH has been compiled by the late George C. Mason, and that it is about to be published by Dr. V. Mott Francis, desire to put on record their appreciation of the work of their venerated late Senior Warden and to commend the new book to those interested in the history of Trinity Church.
A true copy, Attest: ARCHIBALD B. SAYER, Clerk.
PREFACE.
It was made known by a circular issued December 6, 1892, that a mem- ber of the Vestry of Trinity Church, Dr. V. Mott Francis, with the ap- proval of the Rector of Trinity Church, and of the Author of the "Annals of Trinity Church," was to obtain subscriptions to the Second Series of the "Annals," bringing it down to Easter, 1892. To do this with embellishments would make it necessary to raise the sum of $2000.
A year had elapsed, and with the best efforts of Dr. Francis, owing to the depressed state of the times, less than one-half of the above amount had been paid in or pledged. Under these circumstances it was apparent that the publication must be abandoned, if the cost of production could not be reduced.
Rather than take the former step, Dr. Francis assumed the responsibility of publishing, and arranged to put to press an edition of three hundred copies, omitting some of the proposed embellishments.
The work has now been completed, and the Publisher, in bringing it to the notice of the public, takes pride and pleasure in pointing to the volume from the press of Mr. F. W. Marshall, as a most successful specimen of typographical art: creditable alike to the printer and the city of Newport.
THE PUBLISHER.
Newport, R. I., June, 1894.
At a meeting of the Vestry of Trinity Church, held in Kay Chapel, Monday, February 12th, 1894, the following preamble and resolutions, pre- sented by Dr. V. Mott Francis, were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, it has pleased Almighty God to remove from the scene of his faithful labors our beloved late Senior Warden, GEORGE CHAMPLIN MASON, therefore
Resolved: that we bow in humble submission to the will of Our Heav- enly Father, knowing that He doeth all things well.
Resolved: that in the death of this faithful servant of the Church, who for forty years was in the Vestry, during thirty of which he filled the ar- duous position of Senior Warden, with a thoroughness, fidelity and wisdom seldom equalled and rarely surpassed, that Trinity Church has sustained a great loss, the Church at large a wise and honest counsellor, the community a pure minded, industrious citizen, and the world a true Christian gentle- man.
Resolved: that the Vestry of Trinity Church sympathize most deeply with the widow and son in their great affliction.
Resolved: that a copy of these resolutions be printed in the Daily News of this city and Living Church of Chicago, and that a copy also be presented to the family of the deceased.
A true copy,
Attest:
ARCHIBALD B. SAYER, Clerk.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
December 5, 1821. Voted: that the Senior Warden be au- thorized to procure one copper pipe for the stove.
Voted: that the Vestry, in consideration of the state of the treasury, think it imprudent to furnish the Rector with any wood.
December 23, 1821. Meeting of the Corporation. Voted : that the pipes [stove] be continued to be run out of the win- dows in the same way as usual.
Voted: that the Rector be furnished with six cords of oak wood, including carting, sawing and piling, and that the Rector be informed that this is the last donation of wood to be made by the Corporation, and that the Secretary be, and he is hereby directed to furnish him with a copy of this vote.
June 5, 1822. Voted: that a committee be appointed to make sundry needed repairs on the parsonage, and on the belfry of the School House.
November 25, 1822. An application being made to this Ves- try by the Rector, through the Senior Warden, that he be fur- nished his winter's wood, and whereas this Vestry are clearly of the opinion that they do not possess that power ;
Voted: that the Rector be requested to call a meeting of the Congregation, after service in the afternoon, on Sunday next, to take the matter into their consideration, and that the Rector be furnished with a copy of this vote for that purpose.
December 2, 1822. Meeting of the Corporation. A motion to furnish the Rector with his winter's wood was negatived by a decided majority: whereupon the following resolution was put and carried unanimously :
Voted: that the salary of the Rector be raised sixty dollars, commencing from last Easter.
January 8, 1823. The committee appointed to investigate the state of the Poor Fund, made their report, which was received and ordered to be recorded with the accompanying documents.
On the 7th day of June, A. D. 1758, William Tate, by his
II
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
last will and testament, gave a lot of land and messuage thereon to the poor of this Church; on the 3d day of April, 1800, this estate was leased to John Yeomans, for the term of 999 years, for the sum of eight hundred dollars.
On the 19th day of May, 1806, a lot of land containing three and a half acres, was purchased of Lawrence Clarke, for the sum of seven hundred dollars, arising from the leasing of the Tate estate to Yeomans; on the 20th day of April, 1822, was leased to George Harkness, for the term of 999 years, for the sum of six hundred and forty-five dollars, and on the same day it was paid to the Treasurer of this Corporation. On the 7th day of March, 1808, Mrs. Judith Tillinghast, jointly with her sister, Miss Ayrault, gave one hundred dollars to the poor of the Church.
On the 22d day of August, of the same year, a share, No. I22I, was purchased in the stock of the Rhode Island Union Bank, which cost one hundred and sixteen dollars. One hun- dred dollars of its cost was furnished by the aforesaid bequest, and sixteen dollars was taken from the Poor Fund for that purpose.
On the 13th of March, 1810, John Bours, Esq., was indebted to the Poor Fund the sum of $560.74, for which amount he gave his note, endorsed by Stephen T. Northam. This note was surrendered to Mr. Bours by Mr. John Banister giving his note for this amount by his mother, Mrs. Christian Banister, which sum is secured to the Poor Fund by Mrs. Christian Ban- ister giving a mortgage upon a lot of land situated in this town. This sum accrued to the Poor Fund by the difference arising upon the lease of Clarke, and also other funds of the poor then in the hands of Mr. Bours.
On the 5th day of November, 1800, William Crooke and William R. Robinson, Esquires, then Wardens of this Church, gave a bond, in the penalty of $800 conditional to pay $400 and annually to pay interest $24 to the Poor Fund. This sum of $400 arose on the sale of the estate given by Robert Wheatly, Esq., for the benefit of the poor. The aforesaid sum of $400 was borrowed by the Corporation, to repair and enlarge the parsonage. The interest arising on this sum being $24 per an- num, has not been paid for three years last past.
I2
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
On the 13th day of December a liquidated account, amount ing to $154.72, was made to the Vestry, by William Littlefield and William Wood, Esquires, then Wardens of the Church, of the rent and profits of the Tate estate, leased to Joseph Dyer to that period, who recommended at the same meeting of the Vestry to pay the sum of $10 for the interest of the same an- nually to the poor, namely, at Christmas, in addition to the collection made on that day, after that year, which the Vestry had agreed to allow, as they were heirs, the money by passing a previous vote for that purpose, on the 5th of November, 1804, which sum of $10 has not been paid for the three last years.
Benjamin Gardner, Esq., by his last will and testament, gave to the Poor Fund $100, and the $6 interest due thereon was paid to the Rector, who distributed it to the poor. This dona- tion was paid to the Wardens of this Church on the IIth of December, 1810.
A note of $50.55, dated May 20, 1810, with interest and now in the hands of the Treasurer, was given by Mrs. Banister, for the interest arising on the note given by her son John, ante- cident to her giving her mortgage.
Taking the aforesaid sums as a data to predicate a calcula- tion upon, the Poor Fund will amount to the sum of $1,929.01 from which deduct several losses, amounting to $429.29 in the aggregate.
By the above statement it results that the sum of $1,501.72 is due from this Corporation to the Poor Fund, which has, from time to time been taken and hired from it and employed by this Institution, for its own use and purposes.
All of which is respectfully submitted by
BENJ. B. MUMFORD, SAM'L. WHITEHORNE, Committee.
The following note was at this time addressed by the Rector to Benj. B. Mumford, Secretary :
Dear Sir: In compliance with your request, I have examined the annual lists of the poor of Trinity Church, and of the mon- nies received for their use, and find that the interest on the
I3
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Poor Bond (so called) has not been received since December, 1819, and that no income has been received from the lot of land on the hill, lately belonging to the poor, since December, 1820.
Very Respectfully yours, S. WHEATON.
1
March 27, 1823. Special meeting of the Vestry, when the following resolutions relating to the Poor Fund were passed:
Voted and Resolved: that eight shares of the Rhode Island Union Bank, issued to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trin- ity Church, be transferred as a fund for the Poor of Trinity Church: the interest of which to be annually distributed to the Poor, in proportion to their situation and wants.
Voted and Resolved: that it shall be the duty of the Senior and Junior Wardens, every year, in the month of December, to make out a list of all the Poor belonging to this Church, and exhibit the same to the last Vestry meeting previous to Christmas, for their inspection, and that they request the Rector to assist them in that duty.
Voted: that at the last meeting of the Vestry previous to Christmas, in every year, the members thereof shall take up the list of the Poor of the Church, exhibited by the Wardens, and with the assistance of the Rector, examine into their several situations and necessities, and distribute the interest arising from the bank shares transferred as a Poor Fund, in proportion to their respective wants; and if that sum should prove insufficient to make them comfortable, with the amount collected on Christ- mas Day in the Church, then the Vestry shall have power at their discretion, to take such sums as they may think proper from any other funds belonging to the Church, as will relieve their distresses, provided they do not interfere with the Perma- nent Fund.
Voted: that if the Poor of the Church should be diminished
I4
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
in numbers, or their situation such as not to require the whole of the interest arising on the bank shares funded for the Poor, in addition to the collection made on Christmas Day, in the Church, in that case the surplus shall be passed over to the Treasurer to meet the current expenses of the Church.
Voted: that the Rector, should he be called upon, or in visit- ing the Poor of the Church he should find them sick and in distress, without any means of relief, he shall have power at all times to draw on the Senior Warden for any sum not exceeding three dollars, which shall be paid to his order on the Treasurer; provided that the amount does not exceed $35 per year.
April 1, 1823. At an adjourned meeting of the Corporation the following officers were elected:
Samuel Whitehorne, Senior Warden.
William H. Rathbone,1 Junior Warden.
Stephen T. Northam, B. B. Mumford, William Crooke, Ed- ward Brinley, J. S. Whitehorne, John P. Mann, Levi Tower, Robinson Potter, John B. Lyon, Charles Collins,2. Vestrymen.
1 WILLIAM H. RATHBONE, son of Captain Joshua Rathbone by his second wife, Ann Sears, daughter of George Sears (a well-known man in his day), was born June 4, 1796. He was engaged in business, but was unsuccessful, died of consumption, and was buried May 21, 1827, aged 30 years. January 5, 1823, he married Sarah Ann Centre, daughter of James Centre, and an- other daughter married Captain William Norris, of this port. His only son went to California, and died there. George S. Rathbone, brother of William H., removed to Providence.
2 CHARLES COLLINS was born at Warren, R. I., became a shipmaster and hailed from Bristol. In 1801 he was appointed Collector of the District of Bristol and Warren. When he retired from that office he removed to New- port, using here, as he had done in Bristol, his capital in commercial pur- suits. In 1823 he had a seat in the Legislature. He owned and occupied the fine house on School Street, next north of Masonic Hall. About 1832 he purchased the Dudley place, in Middletown, now the property of Major Henry Bull, and made that his home during the rest of his days. From 1824 to 1833 he filled the office of Lieutenant Governor of the State. Through a long life he enjoyed the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends. He died June 2, 1845, aged 74 years.
I5
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
James Mumford, Treasurer; Stephen H. Cahoone, Secretary; Eliza Davis, Organist; John Springer, Sexton.
Voted and Resolved: that the tax on the pews be reduced to six dollars, and that the Trustee of the Permanent Fund be, and he is hereby directed, to carry it into operation.
Voted: that the Senior Warden and Secretary, be a commit- tee to cause two hundred copies of the Charter to be printed.
April 9, 1823. Voted, at a meeting of the Vestry: that Sam- uel Whitehorne, Esq., the Senior Warden be, and he is hereby directed to transfer eight shares in the stock of the Rhode Island Union Bank to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry, in trust, as a Permanent Fund, for the benefit of the Poor of the Church, in conformity to a vote passed on the evening of March 27, 1823.
Voted: that the Wardens be directed to give public notice in the Newport Mercury, to the owners of the gallery pews, that they will be sold at public auction, on the twelfth of July next, if the taxes now due on them are not paid on or before that day.
May 6, 1823. On motion, made and seconded, that the Rec- tor attend the General Convention, to be holden in Philadelphia, on the 21st inst., it was
Voted: that the Vestry consider it inexpedient for the Rector to attend the General Convention at the expense of the Church.
August 6, 1823. Voted by the Vestry, that the Wardens be authorized to make such arrangements as to the location of Blacks in the gallery, as may be agreeable to the proprietors of the gallery pews.
Sale of fifty pews in the gallery of Trinity Church, forfeited for non-payment of taxes, by J. B. Lyon, Auctioneer.
No. I to No. 8, inclusive, to Trinity Church.
9. John B. Lyon.
" IO. John B. Lyon. 21/2
21/2 JOHN BOWEN LYON, son of Joseph Lyon, was a ship chandler in New- port, but not being successful in business, he entered the employ of Colonel
I6
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH, .
II. John Woods. *
66
I2. John Woods.
I3. Benjamin Brenton.
66 14. Not sold.
15 to 39, inclusive, to Trinity Church.
"IIO. Stephen T. Northam.
III. Stephen T. Northam.
" II2. Trinity Church.
42 to 57, inclusive, to Trinity Church.
November 5, 1832. Voted: that the Secretary be authorized to purchase a book, for the purpose of recording the deeds of sale of pews in the Church, and that he be directed to transfer from the old records the deeds which may be recorded in them, and that he present his bill to the Vestry, for payment.
December 26, 1823. The Senior Warden made a report of the number of the Poor, and their wants, &c., which was read and ordered to be recorded.
Voted: that the sum of $140 be distributed among the Poor, and that the balance of $30 be credited to the Poor Fund, to be distributed next year.
Annual Meeting, April 18, 1824. Voted; that the tax on the pews on the lower floor be reduced to five dollars.
Voted: that the tax on the gallery pews be assessed at one dollar, and that the owners of gallery pews who have purchased within the past year, be allowed to deed them back to the Church.
Totten, as superintendent of workmen, at Fort Adams, in which employ he remained up to the time of his death. He married Elizabeth Thurston, Feb- ruary 15, 1815. She survived him, and removed to New York. Her daugh- ters were distinguished for their beauty.
3 CAPTAIN JOHN WOOD died at Cape Coast, Africa, in 1826, aged 56 years. He was an enterprising and skillful mariner, and both as a merchant and navigator he was highly respected. In the war of 1812 he commanded the corps raised by the State for the defence of Newport Harbor, "with credit to himself and satisfaction to the State and General Government."
I 7
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
April 25, 1824. Joshua Sayre was elected Treasurer in place of James Mumford, who had declined serving, and a committee was appointed to transfer the books to Mr. Sayre.
October 6, 1824. The Vestry, having taken into consideration a letter from a committee appointed by the citizens of the town, inquiring if the town could have the use of the School House, provided they should carry into operation the system of free schools as established in Providence: it was
Voted: that the town may have the School House for such rent and on such terms as the Vestry may deem fair and rea- sonable, and that the Secretary be requested to communicate to them a copy of this vote.
November 10, 1824. Voted: that the Sexton and the Congre- gation be respectfully prohibited from taking fire out of the stoves, on Sundays or Prayer Days: and that the Sexton be made re- sponsible to this Vestry for every violation of this vote: and that all votes heretofore passed upon this subject be repealed.
January 5, 1825. Voted: that George Fairweather and R. Rodman, two infirm blacks, have permission to occupy the pew under the south stairs.
Voted: that pews No. 17 and 18, at the corners of the middle aisle, be appropriated to the use of strangers, and that Stephen T. Northam be a committee to have them lettered in a suitable manner. 5
Voted: that the Wardens be instructed to allow no colored person to sit in the north gallery, in conformity to the condi- tions on which the pews were sold, and that they be requested to locate them in the upper seats of the south gallery. 4
5 THE two pews, known as "free pews," were on the first floor, under the organ loft, in front of pews 36 and 37. They were removed some years ago, to widen the aisle running from the north door to the south door.
4 THERE was a row of pews in the galleries, against the north and south walls, set apart for the colored portion of the congregation. They were so raised that the occupants could see the preacher over the heads of those
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
January 8, 1825. A motion having been made and seconded at a meeting of the Vestry, to repeal the vote passed at the last meeting of the Vestry, relating to the expulsion of the Blacks from the north gallery, and an animated discussion having taken place thereon, a motion was made and seconded for an indefi- nite postponement, which, on being put, was carried in the affirm- ative.
April 4, 1825. Easter meeting of the Corporation.
Voted: that the committee appointed last year, for the pur- pose of securing the Permanent Fund irrevocably for the use of the Corporation, be continued, and that the interest, and the interest only, shall be used by the Corporation. Benjamin Haz- ard to be added to the committee.
Voted: that the Junior Warden be authorized to select and appoint a person to assist him in collecting the taxes now due, or shall become due and payable during the ensuing year: he being responsible for the integrity and faithfulness of the person by him selected, and that he pay him for his service a sum not exceeding ten dollars.
June 1, 1825. An application having been made by John Rodman, for the use of the School House, it was voted that he might have it upon the usual terms.
June 17, 1825. Whereas Samuel Brown, 6 Esq., late of Boston, did by his last will and testament bequeath to the Permanent. Fund of Trinity Church the sum of $1,000, it is therefore
who sat in the front pews in the gallery. There are a few of these pews still standing in the north gallery, but those on the south side were removed when the system of pews in that gallery was changed, in 1846.
6 MR. SAMUEL BROWN died in Boston, May 22, 1825, aged 72 years. He was a man of liberal means, and besides his gift to Trinity Church he was a benefactor of the Redwood Library. During a residence of 48 years in Boston he acquired, by his public services and private acts of benevolence, . general respect, and the individual affection and gratitude of large numbers in that city. Funeral services were held by Rev. Dr. Gardiner, at Trinity Church, Boston, and his remains were brought to Newport and placed by those of other members of his family.
I9
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that Samuel Whitehorne, Esq., Trustee of the Per- manent Fund, is duly authorized and empowered, by virtue of his appointment as Trustee, to receive of the executor of Mr. Brown, the aforesaid sum, and to give such aquitance as shall be satisfactory to said executor.
August, 1825. Voted: that the pews on the south side of the gallery, now occupied by the Sunday School, and belonging to the Church, be retained for the use of the school.
November 2, 1825. Voted: that the sum of $25 be appro- priated for the payment of the Rector's expenses, attending the Diocesan Convention, holden in Boston.
March 26, 1826. Annual meeting of the Corporation. The following persons were present:
Rev. Salmon Wheaton, Rector; Robinson Potter, Samuel Whitehorne, B. B. Mumford, David Melville, Thomas Breese, James Mumford, Stephen A. Robinson,10 William Crooke, Ed- ward Brinley, Isaiah Crooker, Henry Potter,7 Charles Cotton, 8 Joshua Sayre, Stephen H. Cahoone.
10 STEPHEN AYRAULT ROBINSON was the son of William C. Robinson, who traced his descent from Rowland Robinson, who settled in Narragan- sett in the early days of the Colony. His mother was the daughter of Edward Wanton and Frances Ayrault, his wife. When a boy Colonel Robinson tried the sea, but tired of it and devoted himself to mercantile pursuits in Newport, in what is now the Merchants Bank building. Unfor- tunate in this, he was employed for a time on Fort Adams, then in course of construction, and from Newport he removed to Narragansett, where he spent the remainder of his days in agricultural pursuits. From 1832 to 1837 he was in command of the Newport Artillery Company. He died at Wake- field, R. I., without issue, April 8, 1877, aged 78 years. His wife was the daughter of Jeremiah N. Potter, of South Kingston.
7 HENRY POTTER, who was in sympathy with the movement that resulted in the organization of Zion Church, was a respectable grocer, in Newport; born in 1786, and died in 1856. He was a nephew of Samuel J. Potter, U. S. Senator, who died on the floor of the Senate in 1804, and his sister married Nicholas Easton, who owned a large estate near Easton's beach ; now taken up by villas and summer cottages. Mr. Potter's portrait, painted by the late Benjamin B. Howland, was, after his death, presented to the Newport Historical Society.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
The following officers were elected:
Samuel Whitehorne, Senior Warden.
Stephen A. Robinson, Junior Warden.
Edward Brinley, B. B. Mumford, 101/2 William Crooke, John G. Whitehorne, Levi Tower, Robinson Potter, Robert Robinson, S. H. Cahoone, Joshua Sayre, Thomas W. Brown, Nicholas G. Boss,9 Vestrymen.
Voted: that the salary of the Rector be raised to $800 and that of the Sexton to $50. The latter on the condition that he keep the Church in perfect order.
March 30, 1826. Voted: that the Wardens be authorized to remit to occupants of pews owned by the Corporation, such part of the annual tax as was assessed upon them on Easter Monday last, as they may deem necessary and expedient; provided such relinquishments made, shall not in any instance reduce the tax below five dollars per annum.
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