USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > 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 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
N
L.
1
FIT
1.
1.J
(1)
1'1
-1'1
I'1
IIB
Y
F
ONGRE'S TI
7
I.
CONGRES
F CONGIES
{ Y.
. THE LIBRARY IE LIBRARY ME.
CON
. Y OF LONG
HE LIER .RY
THE LIBRARY
CONGRES
F
.
F
ve
THE LIFE
II
:
V
THE LIBRARY
S S.
A
CONGRESS
THE HIBRARY
.
F
SHY. VO.
N
1
LI
ONGRES
IIX
Y.
H
THE LE
4
LONGRE
CHE II
II
R 5 )F ( ONGRE. . CONGRES To 12 THE LIBRARY E CONGRIN ME LIBRAV OF CONGIE THE LIA. Y
THE LIBRARY ANPIANTA HE LIBRARY . THE LIBRI Y 0 C A€ $ 1
1 N Y A R . CONGRES' SEVONO2 CONIGFE. THE LIBRARY OF CONGR . THE F . SIBRARY C . CONGRESS
A F
( F
C
N
.
F
ARY
4
3 M CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
" THE LIBARY
CONGRESS
.
R . A OF CONGRESS A CONGRE ;.
OF CONGRESS
.
HE LIRIK>
. Ar CONGIE, II III KARY
A
. 5
.
RI
:
5
TV
F . CONGRESS P A . CONGRESS OF LIBRARY. OF CONGRF.
LI RAY
TIPRARY THE LIBRARY
vaky' RATY
2
0
LIBRARY )NT 2 CONGRESS
A
1
RSS HIFIIR.
THE LIFKARY
FIBRARY
PILE LIBR YY
7
4
F
.
3
F
1
117 .
HISTORY -OF-
NEWPORT COUNTY,
RHODE ISLAND.
FROM THE YEAR 1638 TO THE YEAR 1887, INCLUDING THE SETTLEMENT OF ITS TOWNS, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT PROGRESS.
ILLUSTRATED.
atter EDITED BY RICHARD M. BAYLES.
" I saw it once, with heat and travel spent, And scratched by dwarf-oaks in the hollow way, Now dragged through sand, now jolted over stone- A rugged road through rugged Tiverton.
LIBR.
" Like a soft mist upon the evening shore, At once a lovely isle before me lay, Smooth and with tender verdure covered o'er. As if just risen from its calm inland bay.
** I saw where fountains freshened the green land, And where the pleasant road, from door to door, With rows of cherry-trees on either hand, Went wandering all that fertile region o'er.
" Beautiful island ! then it only scemed A lovely stranger-it has grown a friend."
William Cullen Bryant.
NEW YORK : L. E. PRESTON & CO.,
1888.
F87 N5 B3
Press of J. HENRY PROBST. 36 Vesey St., N. Y.
30095 103
ARTIST, F. M. GILBERT.
ENGRAVER, A. H. RITCHIE.
PREFACE.
To compile the history of a section of the country which, for two hundred and fifty years, has luxuriated in the richest fields of incident and circumstance known to the annals of American history, is not the pastime of a summer holiday. No county in the United States ranking with this in area and population, lias been the scene or source of so many events and influences which, in their effects, have extended over the state or nation, or down through the generations of her people, as the county whose history we have essayed to present in this volume. The preserved history is voluminous, and some of its points have become subjects of extended, controversy.
This spot has received the attention of scholars from all parts of our land, and is the home, at least during a part of the year, of the refined, cultured and wealthy of American society. It is also the permanent home of a people who, in scholarly devel- opment and intelligent appreciation of historic truth, will not suffer by comparison with those of any other similar section of our great country. With such a host of equipped and skilful critics ready to sit in judgment upon our work, it was but nat- ural that we should have entered upon it with some misgivings. The very fact that our work was to be exposed to the reviewing of men whose standing would give weight to their criticisms, has stimulated us to greater watchfulness and care in its com- pilation. We have trod the ground over with caution, and have called to our assistance every available means of securing accu- racy and as high a degree of completeness as could be attained within the measure of our prescribed limits. We have suc- ceeded-even better than onr anticipations would allow us to
.
iv
PREFACE.
expect; and we now submit the work to its readers with the pleasing belief that it will abide with honor the day of historic judgment.
No doubt mistakes will be found. No book of history exists without them. Honest criticism we invite, but we would caution the public against the clamorons rantings of those who, having opinions born of their own real ignorance of the matters dis- cussed, are ever ready to descend with vulture-like rapacity mpon works of this kind. Against all such empirical criticisms we protest, and from them we appeal "unto Cæsar"-the Cæsar of the facts, and the tribunal of an intelligent public, unbiased by any ephemeral considerations or influences.
We have been aided in the work of preparation by the gen- erous courtesies of those who had in their keeping or posses- sion most valuable material. Such were the clerks of the dif- ferent towns, the librarians of various libraries, the officers of the historical societies of Newport and of Rhode Island, and many other individuals whom it would afford ns pleasure to mention by name. All such kindnesses rendered us are gratefully re- membered, and to all those gentlemen we wish here to renew our warmest thanks.
The following illustrations, from "The Providence Planta- tions," by permission of the publishers, Messrs. J. A. & R. A. Reid, are inserted in this work, viz. : Fort Adams; Trinity Church, Newport; Channing Memorial Church; Thames Street, Newport ; The Old Coddington House ; Statue of Commodore Matthew Perry ; Statue of Commodore O. H. Perry ; The Casino ; Entrance to the Jewish Cemetery ; Bristol Ferry, Portsmouth ; and Old Fort Dumplings, Jamestown.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE.
GENERAL HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Location and Boundaries .- General Productions .- Scenery .- Native Plants. - Geology .- Causes leading to Settlement .- Purchase and Settlement .- Early Government .- Under the Royal Charter .- Under the New Char- ter-Formation of the County-Population-Important Events-Official Men from Newport County .- Public Schools .- Statistics. 1
CHAPTER H.
The Medical Profession 64
CHAPTER INI. THE FOUNDERS OF NEWPORT.
The Settlement of Aquidneck or Rhode Island .- William Coddington .- Nicholas Easton .- John Coggeshall .- William Brenton .- Jolin Clarke .- Jeremy Clarke .- Thomas Hazard .- Henry Bull .- William Dyre .- Samuel Gorton. 140
CHAPTER IV. INDIAN RELATIONS.
The Narragansett Indians .- Pequot War .- New England Confederation .- King Philip's War .- Canonicus .- Miantonomi .- Pessicus .- Canonchet .- Pumham .- Ninegret .- Massasoit .- Wamsutta .- End of the Narragan- setts. 184
CHAPTER V. NEWPORT IN THE COLONIAL WARS.
Privateering from Rhode Island .- War with the Dutch, 1652-3 .- Privateers and Pirates, 1653-90 .- War with France, King William's War, 1689-98 .- Depredations by Privateers .- Queen Anne's War, 1702-13 .- The Old French War, 1754-61 .- War of the American Revolution, 1775-83 .- RhodeIsland in its Political Relations, 1763-74 .- Stamp Act Congress .- Non-Importation Agreement. 268
CHAPTER VI. NEWPORT IN THE REVOLUTION.
Events of 1774 .- First Continental Congress .- Military Preparations in Rhode Island .- Events of 1775 .- The Army of Observation .- The Train of Artillery .- Depredations by Captain Wallace and his Fleet .- Events of 1776 208
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII. PAGE
NEWPORT IN THE REVOLUTION-(concluded).
British Occupation of Newport, 1777-9 .- The Siege of Newport, 1778 .- The Fleets off Rhode Island .- The Battle of Rhode Island .- Evacuation by the British .- The French in Rhode Island, 1780-81 .- The Naval Engage- ment .- The March of the French. . . 353
CHAPTER VIII.
NEWPORT IN THE WARS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
War with England, 1812 .- The Dorr War, 1842 .- The War of the Rebellion, 1861-65 ... 410
CHAPTER IX. CHURCHES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NEWPORT.
Baptist Churches .- The Society of Friends .- Congregational Churches .- Pro- testant Episcopal Churches. - The Moravians. - Methodist Episcopal Churches .- Jews' Synagogue .- Catholic Churches .- Public Schools ..... 431
CHAPTER X. NEWPORT TOWN AND CITY.
First Settlements .- Newport as a Summer Resort .- Private Mansions .- Town and City Governments .- Mayors .- Fire Engines .- Gas .- Public Parks .- Public Buildings .- Liberty Tree .- Libraries .- Fine Arts .- News- papers .- Notable Events. - Trade and Commerce. - Manufactures .- Banks .- Cemeteries .- Charitable Organizations .- Societies 483
CHAPTER XI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-NEWPORT.
Benjamin Anthony .- George A. Armstrong .- Seth Bateman .- Luther Bate- man .- Henry Bedlow .- Robert P. Berry .- Joshua C. Brown .- John Bull. -George W. Carr, Jr .- William A. Clarke .- Henry Clews .- George S. Coe .- William King Covell .- The Cranston Family .- Lucius D. Davis .- The De Blois Family .- George T. Downing .- William Findlay .- The Fludder Family .- Thomas Galvin .- George Hall .- Nathan Hammett and Joseph M. Hammett .- Benjamin Hazard .- Carl Jurgens .- Daniel Le Roy .- Josiah O. Low .- John D. Johnston. - Seth W. Macy .- Felix Peck- ham .- Thomas P. Peckham .- John Hare Powel .- Oliver Read .- James T. Rhodes .- John Page Sanborn .- William Paine Sheffield .- John W. Sherman .- William H. Thurston .- William J. Underwood .- John G. Weaver .- George Peabody Wetmore .- Catharine Lorillard Wolfe ...... 574
CHAPTER XII. TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH.
Geographical and Descriptive .- Settlement .- Dealing With the Indians .- Comparative Importance .- Admitting Inhabitants .- Rates and Taxes .- Taverns or Ordinaries .- Public Morals .- The Common Lands .- Early Customs and Ceremonies .- Public Improvements .- Early Representa- tives .- During the Revolution. - After the War .- Town Action. - Means of Communication .- Mining and Manufacturing. 614
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHIAPTER XIII. PAGE
TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH-(concluded).
The Outlying Islands .- Churches of Portsmouth .- Societies .- Henry C. An- thony .- John F. Chase .- Robert D. Hall .- Thomas Robinson Ilazard .- Thomas Holman .- William M. Manchester .- Isaac M. Rogers. - Alfred Sisson .- William L. Sisson .- Personal Paragraphs. 677
CHAPTER XIV. TOWN OF JAMESTOWN.
Location and Description .- The Indians .- Early Land Purchases .- Early Settlements .- The Carr Family .- Other Early Settlers .- Incorporation of the Town .- During the Revolution .- Fort Brown .- Public Buildings. -Tax List of 1822 .- Conanicut Park .- Ocean Highland Company .- Public Improvements .- Religious Organizations .- The Common Schools. -Ferry Connections .- Light Houses .- Dutch Island .- Gould Island .- George C. Carr .- Thomas C. Watson .- Personal Paragraphs 723
CHAPTER XV. TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN.
Geographical and Descriptive .- Incorporation .- Freemen in 1743 .- Early Town Action .- The Early Settlers .- The Residence of Berkeley .- The Revolutionary Period .- The Small-pox Scourge .- After the War .- The War of 1812 .- Town Action .- During the Civil War .- Roads and Bridges. -Publie Schools. - Churches .- The Women's Christian Temperance Union .- The Miantonomi Library .- The Aquidneck Agricultural Society. -The Town Hall .- Civil List. 752
CHAPTER XVI. TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN-(coneluded).
William Bailey .- Albert Lawton Chase,-Robert S. Chase .- Daniel Chase .- Joshua Coggeshall .- George C. Coggeshall .- David Coggeshall .- William F. Peekham .- Jethro Peckham .- Nathaniel Peckham .- The Sherman Family .- John G. Smith .- John B. Ward .- Personal Paragraphs .. ... 800
CHAPTER XVII. TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM,
Description .- Geological Formation .- Discovery .- Footprints of the White Man .- Settlement .- Civil Connection .- Some Early Freemen .- Trouble with the Indians .- Incursions by French Privateers .- During the Revo- lution .- The Phantom Ship .- Colonial History .- Maritime Protection .- Block Island as a Summer Resort. - Public Buildings. - Schools .- Churches .- Agriculture and Commerce .- Light Houses .- Wrecking Com- panies .- Biographical Sketches 827
CHAPTER XVIII. TOWN OF TIVERTON.
The Boundary Question .- The White Man and his Title .- Purchasers of Po- casset .- The Commons and the House Lots .- The Proprietors of Punca- test .- The King Philip War .- Tiverton as a Town .- The Period of the Revolution .- Howland's Ferry and Stone Bridge .- Postal and Railroad Facilities .- Tiverton Four Corners .- North Tiverton. - Prominent Locali- ties .- Mills .- Taverns. - Highways .- Churches .- Schools .- Library and Reading Room .- The Town Government ..
88.4
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER XIX. TOWN OF TIVERTON-(concluded).
Hon. Joseph Osborn .- Joseph Church .- Samuel West. A. M., M. D .- Miss Hannah Howland West .- Joshua C. Durfee .- Christopher Brownell .- Samuel E. Almy .- Asa Davol .- Isaac Brown .- Job Wordell .- Personal Paragraphs. . . 940
CHAPTER XX. TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON.
First Land Titles .- The Proprietors of Seconnet .- Distribution of the Great Lots .- The Commons. - The Aborigines .- The Body Politic .- Public Char- ity .- Land and Water Routes .- The Revolution .- The Federal Constitu- tion .- The Local Government .- Churches .- Cemeteries .- Adamsville .- Potter's Corners. - Secular Education. - Public Library. - Business Interests. 974
CILAPTER XXI. TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON-(concluded).
Colonel Benjamin Church .- Colonel John Church .- Nathaniel Church. --
Joseph Church .- Thomas Church .- William Pabodie .- Major Sylvester Brownell .- Isaac Bailey Richmond .- James F. Simmons .- Georgo W. Briggs, D.D .- Ray Palmer .- The Coe Family .- Colonel Henry T Sisson. -Levi W. Sisson .- Ephraim Bailey Sisson .- Albert Seabury .- George Arnold Gray .- Edward Wing Howland .- Philip W. Almy .- Personal Paragraphs.
.1028
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAITS.
Almy, Philip W. 1046
Almy, Samuel E.
951
Anthony, Henry C.
690
Bailey, William
800
Ball, Nichola -
862
Bateman, Luther
575
Bateman, Seth.
574
Bedlow, Henry
576
Berry, R. P.
578
Brinley, Francis
555 --
Brown, Isaac ..
953
Brown, Joshua C.
579
Brownell, Christopher
950
Buttrick. J. T
68
Carr, George C.
748
Champlin, John P
868
Chase, Albert L.
801
Chase, Daniel
803
Chase, John F.
691
Chase, Robert S.
802
Church, Colonel John. -
1030
Church, Joseph .. 944
Church, Nathaniel
1032
Clarke, W. A. 581
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ix PAGE
JClews, Henry
Coe, George S.
Coggeshall, David ..
Coggeshall, George C
Coggeshall, Joshua.
804
/ Cranston, Henry Y
590
Cranston, R. B.
591 592
/Davis, Lucius D
594
.Davol, Asa ..
952
Durfee, Joshma
949
/ Durfee, Thomas
934 596 1044
/ Greene, Nathaniel.
88
Hall, Robert 1).
692 597
/Hammett, Joseph MI
597
/ Hazard, R. N. .
514 694 695
Howland, Edward W
1045
Johnston, Jolm D
598 97
King, David S.
98
LeRoy, Daniel
599
Littlefield, Lorenzo
Manchester, William M
Marden, O. S
Mitchell, B. B.
Olyphant, David
940
Peckham, Jethro.
807 808
Peckham, Nathaniel.
Peckham, Thomas P
601 806 602
Rankin, Francis II
110 603
Read, Oliver.
604
Richmond, Isaac B
1034
Rogers, I. M.
697
Sanborn, John P.
606 116
Seabury, Albert
1043
Shetfield, William P
607
Sherman, Peleg T
809
Sisson, Alfred.
698
Sisson, Ephraim B
10-12
Sisson, Henry T
1038
Sisson, Levi W.
1040
Sisson, W. L. .
699
Smith, J. G
810
Tlmrston, W. H.
608
Turner, Henry E.
130
Underwood, William J
608
Ward, John B.
811
Watson, Thomas Carr
750
Weaver, John Gi
609
V. West, Samuel .
946
Wetmore, George Peabody
610
Wolfe, Catharine Lorillard
612
Wordell, Job.
954
/ Hammett, Nathan
/Hazard, Thomas R.
Holman, Thomas.
Y, King, David ..
872 696 876 880 106
Osborn, Joseph
Peckham, William F.
Powel, John Hare.
Rhodes, James T
Sands, Austin L.
582
586 805 804
VCranston, W. H
Galvin, Thomas
Gray, George A.
x
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
VIEWS. PAGE
Fort Adams. . 428
/Channing Memorial Church. 449
Trinity Church, Newport. 452
Thames Street, Newport.
485
The Old Coddington House 486_
House of Charles W. Shields, Newport, R. 1 488
The Tooker Cottage, Newport, R. 1.
489
" The Breakers." Residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Newport. 490
/ Residence of Gordon MeKay, Newport, R. I. 491
The Chalet. Residence of Hugh L. Willoughby, Newport. 495
Rough Point. Residence of Frederick W. Vanderbilt, Newport 496
J Statue of Com. Matthew Perry 499
Statue of Com. O. II. Perry. 500
J Anglesca. Residence of Walter H. Lewis, Newport. 502
{ The Casino. Bellevue Avenue. 504
The Moorings. Residence of Schuyler Hamilton, Jr., Newport. 506
J Residence of J. J. Van Alen, Newport. 510
v Elmhyrst. Residence of R. N. Hazard, Newport. 515
Vinland. Residence of Louis L. Lorillard, Newport, R. I. 534
Friedheim. Residence of Theo. A. Havemeyer, Newport, R. I. 538
/ Entrance to the Jewish Cemetery 544
Hodgson's Newport Botanical Garden. 546
J. Malbone. Residence of Hon. Henry Bedlow, Newport. 577
Views at " The Rocks." Summer Residence of Mr. Henry Clews, Newport, R. I. 583
Galvin's Garden, Newport 596
/ Wol-me. Residence of Josiah O. Low, Newport 600
Sunset Ridge. Residence of A. A. Low, Newport. 601
/ Roselawn. Residence of J. Fred Pierson, Newport 605
Ocean House, Newport, R. I. 609
Residence of Mr. G. P. Wetmore, Newport. 611
· The Capture of Major-General Prescott. 649
· Bristol Ferry, Portsmouth 672
v Oakland Farm, Portsmouth. Property of Cornelius Vanderbilt 682
Residence of Robert D. Hall, Portsmouth, R. I. 693
House of William T. Richards, Jamestown, R. I $30
//House of Joseph Wharton, Jamestown, R. I. 738
Old Fort Dumplings, Jamestown. 746
1 The Irish Homestead. Residence of William Bailey, Middletown 800
Residence of David Coggeshall, Middletown 805
( Residence of W. J. Brightman, Tiverton 958
„The "Gardner Homestead." Residenee of Jolin M. Gardner, North Tiverton. 962 | The Church Homestead .. 1030
Residence of Isaac Bailey Richmond, Little Compton. 1035
Residence of H. M. Bundy, Little Compton . 1050
Bristol
GMTHOPE
North EL
mut R.
Patience I
ommon Fence
Eagleville POGASSET "
Potow
Poite
Hoy La
Porid
RAILROAD
Bliss
Pine Hill Pr.
on Mines
Sandy
Newtown
Bridgeport
DespairI.
SanaPt,
GouldI
Hopel,
Portsmouth I.
ClarkSPA
Cogg greshan
TIVERTOM
Pu Portsmouth
A
Quartset P.
Wickford
North Pta
Carrs Py
N
E
3P
R Nonquit Pond
S
South Portsmouth
>"Adamsville
Gould 1.
SLATE
WIND MILL ILL
HILL
SIMMONS HILL IT
Middletown
LITTLE
Bishop Rock's
Coasters
TOMMONY
COMPTONS
Dutch
Harbor L
THILL
P.O. Common
NEWPORT
Dumpling's
Goat)
Sachuc
Flint Pt. Island & Rocks
Halfway Rock
N
přiet
FEW
Breakwater
CASTLE
Sheep. Cormorant Rock
HILLS
PI
Brentons
SeacometPt
East Island
&Coggeshalls
West Island
E
Brentons Reef
C
Martygansett Pier
T
I C
0
MAP OF BLOCK ISLAND Part of
VOI. Judith
10 Miles -
NEWPORT COUNTY
Sandy Point
Same Scale as main Map
Grove Point Clay Head
Sachenis Pond
PUSH HILL
Salt Pondsi
Graces Point,
Breakwater
BEACON HILL
PILOT
HILL
Old Harbor Point
Dickens Point
NEW SUOKEHAN
-: MAP OF :--
NEWPORT COUNTY RHODE ISLAND.
I. E. PRESTON & CO. PUBLISHERS.
TLAN
A.
Lang Rock
Scale
2
Miles
Warrens Pt. A
Veck
WESTERNPASSAGE
James
Church's Pt
arrayuns
FlAdams
EastonsIst
In Steps
SachuestPl, Long
Ochre Fi.
Boston
AESTOWN
QUAKERİ
Tiverton (4 Corners
T
Fax l.
Conanicut Park
OLD COLONY
hamilton
Coddington
Black
ADDLErow Little Compton wLittle Comple-
Auch!
Rose
BeaverTail:
"Seal Rk
Ledge
Watuppar
GullPt.
Stafford
idence
s Cove
Stone Bridge #Corners ' ( Tiverton P.Q.)
Nannaquacket Pond.
Dyers
Popis PT.
Black Rock
RUBERT A NELCKÉ PHOTO LITH 178 WILLIAM STAY
GREENWICH BAY Greenwich
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Location and Boundaries .- General Productions .- Scenery .- Native Plants .- Geology .- Causes leading to Settlement .- Purchase and Settlement .- Early Government .- Under the Royal Charter .- Under the New Charter .- Forma- tion of the County .- Population .- Important Events,-Official Men from Newport County .- Public Schools .- Statistics.
T T HE County of Newport is situated in the southeastern part of the state of Rhode Island. It has an area of abont one hundred and seventeen square miles. It lies centrally in latitude 41º 33' north. and longitude 71° 17' west from Green- wich. or 5° 43' east from Washington. It is bounded on the north and east by Bristol county, Mass., on the south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by Narragansett bay. It com- prises several islands, the largest of which are Rhode Island, Block Island, Conanient and Prudence, which together consti tute about one half the area of the county. It has a beautifully undulating surface, and a generally fertile soil. that of the islands being especially rigorous and productive. It also con- tains large quantities of anthracite coal. The county is inter- sected by the Old Colony railroad, which has about fifteen miles of track within its borders, this being the only railroad entering the county. It has 975 farms, the land, especially of the islands. being highly improved and almost entirely under cultivation. The number of acres of improved land is 46, 762. The land is divided into small farms, and such is the general thrift of its cultivators that the value of its farms, including lands, fences and buildings. reaches the sum of $6, 291,965. For
I
2
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
the cultivation of these farms implements and machinery are employed to the value of $164,656. Live stock is kept on farms to the value of $472,269. and the annual cost of building and repairing on these farms amounts to about fifty thousand dol- lars. The natural fertility of the soil is such that comparative- ly little commercial fertilizer is needed, the annual expenditure for this purpose not exceeding about thirty-five thousand dol- lars, while the annual products of the soil amount to more than three quarters of a million dollars in valne. Among the annual products the principal are: 131,878 bushels of potatoes, 107,048 bushels of Indian corn, 78,098 bushels of oats. 12,249 bushels of barley, 14,737 tons of hay, and $12,662 worth of orchard prod- ucts. There are kept on farms : 1,875 horses, 1,066 working oxen, 3,590 milch cows, 1,973 other cattle, 6,118 sheep, produc- ing annually abont twenty-five thousand pounds of wool, 2,943 swine, and dairy products consisting of 420,971 gallons of milk, 245,601 pounds of butter, and 9,771 pounds of cheese annually. Of the 28.280 inhabitants of this county. 8,476 are citizens, and of these. 5,207 are native born, and 2,669 are foreign born. The ratable property of the county amounts to 837, 779, 768; of which $28,951,641 is on real estate, and $8,828,127 is on personal prop- erty.
The post offices in this county are Adamsville, Block Island, Bristol Ferry, Jamestown, Little Compton, Newport, North Tiverton, Portsmonth, South Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Tiver- ton Four Corners. Its townships and the total valuation of real and personal property in each are as follows : Jamestown, $1,028,280 ; Little Compton, $1.322,700 : Middletown, 82,083, - 350; Newport (city), $28,540,300 ; New Shoreham, $598,160 ; Portsmouth, $1,946,900 ; Tiverton, 82,260,078. The county contained in 1880 a population of 23,051 white, 1,125 colored, and four Indians. The native population then was 19,537, and the foreign population, 4,643. Of the native population, 15, 452 were born in the state and 3,036 in other parts of New England and New York state. Of the foreign population 388 were born in British America, 829 in England and Wales, 2,623 in Ireland, 137 in Scotland, 199 in the German Empire, 82 in France, and 123 in Sweden and Norway.
In point of beauty of location and enchanting scenery the in- sular portion of the county is one the most attractive spots to be found on the face of the earth. Travelers who have had op
3
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
portunities for wide fields of observation have come hither and declared that nothing they had seen in the famed regions of the old world was equal to magnificent scenes which opened to their view in this county. Nor does the insular portion engross all the beauty of scene to which this county may lay claim. The mainland shores are equally rich in this respect. Possessing an almost immeasurable extent of shore line upon the beautiful bay, with which the land is playing hide and seek in a thousand jutting promontories and indenting coves, the surface of the connty presents miles upon miles of wayside, field and bluff, whence the vision stretches away upon the broad ocean-
"i A waste
Of waters weltering over graves, its shores Strewn with the wreck of fleets, where mast and hull Drop away piecemeal."
With its thousand verdure clad hills billowing the landscape near and distant, ever varying in ontline, in magnitude, in shade of green, and in adornment of farmhouse, windmill, country seat, or checkered fields, what wonder that the fashion of American civilization should choose here its most valned sum- mering place. Greater wonder, indeed, is it that the hills overlooking these elysian shores have not long since been crowded with the country homes of thousands who fain would come hither to rest and enjoy the delights of surrounding scenery.
The soil of the island of Aqnidneck, or Rhode Island, differs somewhat in its character, between the north and south ends. Everywhere rich and amply productive, it is at the north end of a sandy inclination, and this circumstance together with some advantages of location by which it is protected from the blasting, chilling winds from the sea, makes the north end two or three weeks earlier in maturing season than the south end. Potatoes are largely grown there, and can be marketed from that quarter earlier by the time mentioned than from other parts of the island. A branch of agriculture which has of late years grown to considerable proportions on the island, especially within a few miles of Newport, is the growing of flowers and other greenhouse products. Flowers can be raised here that cannot be grown to equal advantage in the vicinity of New York, hence large quantities of flowers are grown here and shipped to the markets of New York and Boston. Frosts here
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.