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Gc 974.502 W29p 1774731
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 6721
EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
PRICE ONE DOLLAR
By REGINALD E. PECK
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WATCH HILL IN 1872
Starting from left-The James S. Nash House, The Joseph C. Nash House, Plimpton House, Bay View House, Narragansett House, Ocean House, a barn, Atlantic House Bowling Alley, Atlantic House, Watch Hill House, "Whale" Larkin's Shore Dinner House, Two Cottages of James L. Howard, Bathing Houses of Frank Larkin, Larkin House, Larkin House Billiard Room and the Steamer "Belle" at the dock.
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845945 .67
Peck, Reginald E. Early land holders of Watch Hill ... by Reginald E. Peck. (Westerly, R. I., The Utter company, printers, '1936,
27, (y) p. front., Ins. (2 maps) 23jem.
"This paper was first read at a meeting of the Westerly historical society on May 21, 1936." "Errata" slip mounted on p. 27.
1. Watch IIIII, R. I .- IIIst. 2. Real property-Watch HIIII, R. I. I. Titre.
36-12638
Library of Congress
F89.W3P4
- Copy 2.
Copyright A 95661 974.50
H 7002
F845945.27
Copyright, 1936 By REGINALD E. PECK .
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This History is dedicated to the many who have helped me in my search for information. They will have to remain nameless for fear of slighting anyone who should be mentioned, but who is overlooked in the rush to get it ready. However, I wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance Winifred A. T. Bogle, B.A., and S. Allyn Peck, B.A., M.S., have given me.
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PREFACE
I would like to say that four or five years ago I conceived the idea of writing a history of Watch Hill; so I started collecting data of all kinds. I spent many long hours in town clerks' offices searching the records for deeds, wills, births, and in fact I looked for everything except the kitchen stove. I have made transcripts of a great many deeds and wills. I have gone through many family genealogies at the Library in Westerly, and at the Forty-second Street Library in New York. And with all of that, I had planned to spend as many more years in my hunt, but with the coming of the Tercentenary of Rhode Island, this year, my hand has been forced and I have had to write this history. It is far from complete, but will in a measure go to show what has been happening here down through the years. Perhaps some of it may be wrong, for I have had little or no time to check it properly. If any errors are spotted, I would be more than thankful to hear of them. (I probably will.)
If this history has been of the least bit of interest I will feel more than fully repaid for the amount of time spent in its writing.
-REGINALD E. PECK.
Watch Hill, R. I. May 7th, 1936.
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This paper was first read at a meeting of The Westerly Historical Society on May 21, 1936
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
By REGINALD E. PECK
In giving an account of the land holders of Watch Hill it would not be remiss to begin with the aborigines, the Indians. When the white man first came to these shores the comparatively mild and quiet Niantics held sway from the Connecticut River to Weekapaug (Charlestown) and reaching some twenty-five to thirty miles inland.
In the olden days when an Indian's supplies ran low he went a-raiding and if his neighbor was caught off guard he was plumb out of luck. Tradition tells us that the Montauks (located at Montauk Point) discovered that such a condition was about to become a reality, so picking an evening during a late Indian Summer they shoved off from Montauk Point in their war canoes and headed for the Hill. As the story goes it seems that the Niantics had a similar raid under way, but a favorable moon disclosed the approaching foe. The expedition was at once abandoned, and a reception committee was formed and placed in ambush which, when sprung, wiped the Montauk raiders out almost to a man.
In 1632 the warlike Pequots descended from the head waters of the Hudson River and found the Niantics an easy prey to their ruth- less warfare. Thus were the Niantics reduced in numbers and divided into two small tribes, a Western tribe and an Eastern tribe. The Eastern tribe settled between the Pawcatuck River and Weekapaug. They later formed a defensive alliance with the Narragansett Indians, but the allies were unable to stem the tide, for the Pequots soon drove ten miles into this Niantic territory. This was getting too close to the English settlements for comfort ; so Captain John Mason with his mere handful of white soldiers and a large supporting force of Indians was sent against the powerful Pequots. The Allies made a forced march across Rhode Island, and, with an early morning surprise attack at Mystic in 1637, forever crushed the power of the mighty Pequots. Very few of the Pequot warriors survived this battle.
As a result of this battle the Massachusetts Bay Colony laid claim to all of the land between it and the Pequot River, now the Thames, by right of conquest. Connecticut Colony disputed her right, as she claimed the land by reason of her charter. Nevertheless, it was the cause of much trouble and some arrests took place. Later, when Rhode Island came into being, the dispute was carried on for many years between Con-
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necticut and Rhode Island until the boundary line was set as it is today, the very same line that Rhode Island originally claimed.
It might be said at this time that the place was always known by the English as Watch Hill. I believe that the Dutch on their early maps called Watch Hill, "East Point," and the Pawcatuck River, "East River." As early as 1675 the name, Watch Hill, is mentioned in Con- necticut Records, and perhaps earlier. During all the early wars, ac- cording to Colonial records, a watch was maintained on "Watch" hill, ready to light a beacon fire in case an enemy was sighted. And perhaps before the white man came the Indians used "Watch" hill, or "High Bank" as it is locally called, now the site of Mrs. Snowden's mansion, to watch for the coming of raiders, or to spot the movements of schools of fish.
During the Revolution it is said that a large blackman was cap- tured by the British here and taken to Fisher's Island, whence he escaped by swimming out into the tide, floating with the current to a position opposite the Hill, and swimming from there to the shore. During the bombardment of Stonington by a British fleet in 1814, a company of Westerly militia was standing-by at the Hill to repel any attempt at landing. It should be borne in mind that at that time Napatree Point was very thickly wooded and more than twice its present width.
And, also, through the years Watch Hill has been the scene of many shipwrecks, among which was the much talked of and ill-fated steamer Metis, whose hull sank off Fisher's Island and whose upper- works were carried by the current around to the East Beach.
The stage being set, it is now proper and fitting that I introduce the reader, or the listener, as the case may be, to the pioneer land holder, Captain Daniel Gookin, later a Major General, of Cambridge. Captain Gookin came of a noble Irish family; he first landed at what is now Newport News, and later he moved to Boston, where he served the Colony of Massachusetts in many ways. In those early days of our country money was scarce and high paying government jobs few and far between; so worthy sons were rewarded with grants of land by a benevolent General Court. How little the government has changed in three hundred years! After the Captain had petitioned the General Court for some reward for his work, they, at a meeting held May 15, 1657, voted that he be granted 500 acres for "publick service donne"; and later at a meeting held October 23, of the same year, the Court ordered Capt. George Dennison to lay out "500 ackes in some con- venient place on the eastermost side of Pequot Riuer." During the next spring, May 26, 1658, Capt. Dennison reported that he had laid out "five hundred acres of land, being bounded on the West wth Poquatucke Riuer, on ye south wth the Sound, on the east wt Thomas Prentice, & on the north wth the wilderness." During 1662 Capt. Gookin built a dwelling house here for his tenant, Thait Strickland.
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When Gookin sold his grant to Symon Lynde, the deed mentions "our farme and housing thereon (being a neck of land) Sittuate lying & being in the Pequitt Cuntery on Pawcutuck River." This deed was dated February 6, 1671/2 and was recorded at Boston among the Suf- folk County Deeds.
Mr. Lynde was an Englishman, who had resided for some few years in Holland before migrating to Boston. His knowledge of the Dutch language made him of great use to the Colony in its relations with the Dutch settlers to the West'ard.
It was about this time that the Colony of Connecticut laid claim to most of what is today the Western part of Rhode Island. On May 14, 1674, however, the General Court held at Hartford confirmed to Symon Lynde the 500 acres of land formerly granted by the Massa- chusetts Court to Gookin, and after giving a description of the bounds the Connecticut Court referred to the place as Watch Hill. This grant was also recorded in the Stonington records on the 11th of No- vember, 1677. Mr. Lynde increased his holdings by the purchase of additional acreage from Steven Richardson, "Tho." Bell, both of Ston- ington, and others. This tract he gave to his son Nathaniel.
When Nathaniel sold to Capt. James Pendleton, the deed sets forth that Symon Lynde, after the purchase of several former grants, had about 870 acres. He then made "some settlements and improve- ments thereto, and afterwards was ratified and confirmed with addi- tional grants that made up the 1000 acres." This was the estate which was transferred to Capt. Pendleton on February 25, 1689. It is interesting to note that in this deed it assigns :- "missuges, tenements, edifices, buildings, trees, timber, wood and underwood, fields, feadings, pastures, moores, marshes, swamps, meadows, ponds, pooles, beaches. river, rivulets, water-courses, fishing, fouling, hawking, and all other privileges." It would seem that the only rights that he missed were the radio rights and the right to fly over the land!
Captain James Pendleton was born in England about 1627. He migrated to New England with his father, Major Brian Pendleton. James first settled in Watertown, Mass., where he was made a freeman in 1648. Afterwards he lived at Sudbury. Later he was a constable, and after that, a selectman of Portsmouth. About 1673 he came to Westerly to look over land on the East side of the Pawcatuck River that his father had purchased for him from John Paine. He liked this part of the realm so well that he made arrangements to move his fam- ily here. This tract took in what is today Avondale and a wide strip of territory running across the neck of land from the Pawcatuck River to the Sea. The deed to this property was signed in 1675, but was not recorded until 1703 in Westerly. The lateness of filing this deed was caused by the fact that until the filing date it was anybody's guess as to which colony would gain control over this section. James was very active in town affairs; his military knowledge was of great use to the
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town, as King Philip's War was brewing. Later, when it did break out, he served his town well. He was twice married, first to Mary Palmer, and secondly to Hannah Goodenow, who survived him. By his first wife there were three children, none of whom settled in Westerly. By his second wife there were eight children. The Northern part of his farm he gave to Joseph, one of his sons, the middle section was given to Edmond, another son, and the lower portion, known as Watch Hill, went to his daughter Eleanor and his son Caleb.
By an agreement between Capt. James Pendleton and Edmond Pendleton, his son, on the one part, and Joseph, another son, on the other part, they agreed to divide the estate and to lay out for Joseph's share, and Joseph on his part agreed to allow a driftway and always to maintain gates or bars in his fence so as to permit the Captain or Edmond, or assignees to pass to their land. This agreement was signed January, 1699/1700; so I would feel pretty sure in saying that at that time Edmond was probably in possession of his share of the farm, and that the Captain still resided on Watch Hill. I am somewhat inclined to believe that his house occupied a site located across the street from the Plimpton House and behind the Bay View Apartments, both buildings now standing. This was the site of the old Dickens House, which was demolished in 1906.
The Captain's will and a "sheduall" thereto were entered in the Westerly Town Records on December 26, 1709. In his will he speaks of having given his sons Joseph and Edmond their share of his farm that he had purchased from Lynde. He willed the remainder of the farm to his wife, Hannah, during her life and after her death to his son Caleb and entailed it to Caleb's eldest son. He also gave, "One- half of my now dwelling house after my decease during her naturall life" to his wife. In the "sheduall" he gives to his daughter, Eleanor, 40 acres, these acres being taken from that part which was being given to Caleb, stipulating, however, that these 40 acres, when sold, must be sold to Caleb or assignees. Another change was that upon Caleb's death his share was to go to Caleb, Junior, who, by the way, was not Caleb's eldest son.
The Northern boundary of Caleb's and Eleanor's land is the same line that we today call the Syndicate Line, a straight line running from Foster's Cove to the Ocean.
From this point forward I will only report on the doings of the land holders south of the Syndicate Line.
At some earlier period a good grade of clay had been discovered which led to the manufacturing of bricks. This was carried on under the hill behind the old schoolhouse (now occupied by the Jane Grey Stevenson Shop). At this time the pond that we now know as Ander- son's Pond was called the Brick Hill Pond. This pond was formerly twice its present size, reaching farther to the South than it does now. In fact, at one time, Everett Avenue crossed it on a bridge. Another
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pond located still farther to the South, but now filled in, was called the Clay Hole Pond. Oldtimers of Watch Hill have told me of finding bits of bricks on this site. I don't believe that this industry long survived, as none of the later deeds refer to it in any manner.
Caleb Pendleton was born at Portsmouth and came to the Hill as a young child. He grew up to be very active in the town government, becoming a constable and later a councilman. He was prosperous when he died as his estate would show.
By September 1726 he had deeded his farm, stock, and tools to Caleb, Junior, in accordance with his father's will, only reserving two horses for his own use. In turn Caleb, Junior bound himself to pro- vide for his father during his life. He also agreed to take care of any stock that his grandmother should send there.
In 1731 Caleb, Junior bought from William and Sarah Avery her mother's share of the old farm, this being the 40 acres. Her mother, Eleanor Pendleton, had married William Walker, and it was their daughter Sarah whom Lt. William Avery took as his second wife. They lived at or near North Stonington.
During 1734/5 Caleb, Junior sold these 40 acres, together with 20 acres of his own, to Nathan Randall. About four years later, in 1738, Randall sold these 60 acres to Edmond Pendleton, Junior. Na- than Randall was born in Stonington, became a freeman of Westerly in 1736, and farmed at Watch Hill until about 1750, when he moved to Voluntown. It was his cousin, Mary Randall, that married Caleb, Junior.
Most of the early inhabitants of Watch Hill belonged to Stoning- ton churches. This was probably due to the fact that it was shorter and easier to go across the bay than to ride to Westerly on horseback.
In 1736 Caleb, Junior moved to Colchester, after selling out to Robert Hannah of South Kingstown. Hannah on his part agreed to maintain forever all fences between his land and land to the North. Robert Hannah wasn't fated to enjoy long the use or income from his Watch Hill estate, as he died about 1738. Hannah was twice married and had ten children, three by Elizabeth, his second wife. His wife and seven girls survived him, three children being under age. As he died intestate, it was decided that the Watch Hill estate should be divided among his children. To make a fair division a partition suit was in- stituted in September of 1739 at the court held at Kingston. Hannah's relict, Elizabeth, "withdrew so much of this suit as relates to her three wards, Ruth, Desire & Ann." The Court ordered that the Sheriff "by the oaths of twelve good & Lawfull men of this county make partition of four sevenths of the lands & premises." It is inter- esting to note that in this partition suit it says in part, "Containing about 300 hundred acres with two dwelling houses and a brick yard thereon." During February 1740 the Sheriff reported to the Court that the division had been made, and that William Babcock, surveyor, had made a map or draft of the division. This map or draft had
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been filed with the papers in the case. I personally have locked through the papers with an official in the court building at Kingston, but the draft has disappeared, though it is referred to in a deed of later date. The three-sevenths section left in the hands of Hannah's relict was later divided between Ruth (Hannah) Wells and Desire Hannah. As no provision was made for Ann Hannah I presume that she had died. The result of the division among the elder daughters was as follows: Lot number one was assigned to Nathaniel Helme by right of his wife Mary, and contained about 19 acres; lot number two was assigned to Elizabeth Hannah, later to become the wife of John Potter, and contained about 17 acres; lot number three was assigned to Tabitha, who died in 1740, and contained about 21 acres; lot number four was assigned to Catherine, later wife of Joseph Holway, and contained about 69 acres which comprised the Nap o' Trees section. Tabitha's 21 acres were divided among Mary Helme and Elizabeth and Catherine Hannah.
In 1742 Edmond Pendleton, Junior, sold to Isaac Sheffield the 60 acres that he purchased from Nathan Randall in 1738. In the Sheffield genealogy there is an Isaac Sheffield, 3rd, who married a Freelove Pendleton. They lived in Stonington for a time, afterwards moving to Warwick, as a later deed would show. The Pendleton genealogy also mentions him.
I have been unable to find out how lots numbered one and four and two-thirds of number three came to be in the possession of Edmond Pendleton, Junior, but possess them he did, for in 1745 he sold them to Isaac Sheffield.
Edmond Pendleton, Junior, was the son of Edmond. His father gave him some of his farm, but he evidently didn't take to farming, as the town records show that for a long time he was licensed to sell strong drink; so I take it that he was an inn-keeper. He moved to Stratford, Conn., where he died.
In 1746 Joshua Rathbun deeded to Oliver Steward two acres "where my house now stands." This plot is the land where now stands the Narragansett House, Bay View Apartments, the Homestead Cot- tage, so called, and the two stucco houses of John Kebabian, late owner. Joshua Rathbun, the sixth generation in New England, was born in Stonington, being the son of the late Rev. Joshua Rathbun who was born at Block Island. The Reverend settled in Stonington on the Point. Joshua, Junior married Dorcas Wells, who was a sister of James Wells, Junior, who had married Ruth Hannah. Perhaps this relationship might be the explanation of how Rathbun came to be in possession of these two acres, as I am unable to find where the land was deeded to him. He was locally called "Joshua of the windmill," being the proprietor of a mill on Stonington Point.
Oliver Steward was married to Rebecca Pendleton, daughter of Edmond Pendleton, and a sister of Edmond, Junior. They probably resided in Stonington.
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Two years later, during 1748, John Potter, who had married Elizabeth Hannah, sold all of lot number two and a third of lot num- ber three to Edmond Pendleton, Junior. The Potters resided in South Kingstown, where he was a "taylor." This same lot was sold by Pendleton in 1753 to "Elisha Willcocks of Strabery Island, New London Co., Connecticut." Elisha was the fourth son of Edward and Thomasin (Steven) Willcocks. He was born in 1706 and mar- ried a Mary whose last name is unknown. There were four sons and some daughters born to them. Of his sons we are interested in Edward and Hezekiah, of whom we shall hear more anon.
1754 saw a big deal put over when Capt. Isaac Sheffield, now of Warwick, sold to Jonathan Foster, husbandman, 150 acres, being "all my property in lands at Watch Hill in Westerly." Jonathan Foster was born June 8, 1715, at Attleboro, Mass. He was the son of Capt. John Foster and Margaret Wares. Jonathan married Anna Jenckes and they had six children, two of whom were boys. A few years later during 1756 Jonathan Foster bought Steward's two acres "with a house thereon standing"; so, at this time, Foster owned most of Watch Hill south of the Syndicate Line, excepting the 58 acres left to the younger heirs of Robert Hannah, and Elisha Willcocks' 24 acres.
Let us pause for a moment in our account of sales and big deals and take a glance at a tax list for 1757. Elisha Willcocks is taxed four shillings and four pence, Jonathan Foster is down for thirteen shillings, and James Wells gets nicked for two pounds, two shillings. And I'll just bet that they kicked just as much about taxes being too high as we grumble today !
1758 saw a little activity; Desire Hannah of South Kingstown and James Wells, Junior, of Hopkinton exchanged deeds so as to clear up their titles; Elisha Willcocks, now of Westerly, yeoman, deeded to each of his sons, Edward "labourer," and to Hezekiah "labourer," eight acres from his 24 acres just purchased from Pendleton, Junior.
The next year Edward Willcocks deeded his eight acres to Jon- athan Foster, and this deed mentions "a dwelling thereon standing." It should be remembered that none of the former deeds mentioned a house on this lot. During this same year Elisha gave his remaining eight acres to Hezekiah.
Things went along quietly until 1764 when James Wells, Junior, sold to one Peter Burdick, Junior, of Westerly, his lands at Watch Hill, which included a dwelling house. That was the first time a house had been mentioned in this location. Four years later, in 1768, Burdick sold to William Griffith, and the dwelling house is still men- tioned. This plot contained about 31 acres. Three years later, during 1771, Griffith sold to Hezekiah Willcocks the 31 acres, and again the dwelling house is mentioned. And a year later in 1772 Willcox (note change in spelling of the name) sold for "160 Spanish Milled Dollars" 15 acres of the 31 acres to Jonathan Foster. As no house is mentioned I take it that the house was retained by Hezekiah. These
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15 acres included Watch Hill Point, High Bank, and the low land behind A. C. Shinkle's cottage. On the North of the deeded land, there was a pond called the "Clay Hole Pond." This pond was located on the South side of the Ocean House Baseball Field, long since having been filled in.
In 1768 Jonathan Foster deeded to his son Jonathan Foster, Junior, for "goodwill and affection" the two acres that the senior Foster had purchased from Oliver Steward with a dwelling house, and other land not in Watch Hill.
In the census of the Colony of Rhode Island taken in 1774 we find the following families of interest to the Hill: Jonathan Foster, five in family; Jonathan Foster, Junior, six in family; and Hezekiah Wilcox with a family of twelve.
A few years later the Revolution broke in all its fury and, accord- ing to Field's "Revolutionary Defences," during May 1776 a Coast Guard was established at Watch Hill and before the close of this year an artillery company had been formed in Westerly. At the same time a breastworks was thrown up at Watch Hill to protect the gunners. According to "Westerly and Its Witnesses" Oliver Burdick was to be paid ten dollars for the use of his house as a guard-house, and six shillings were allowed for half a cord of fire wood for the Watch Hill guard.
During a northeast gale two British ships-of-the-line were caught off Watch Hill by the storm. H. M. S. Cayenne was able to ride out the gale, but H. M. S. Colondon parted her cable and ran aground off Long Island on a point that now bears the ship's name. It was said that Hezekiah Wilcox and his sons secured the anchor of the latter ship.
One of the Fosters is recorded as having served during the Revo- lution, and I am inclined to think that it was Jonathan, Junior, as his father was rather old, having been born in 1715.
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