USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Portsmouth > History of Portsmouth, 1638-1936 > Part 1
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History of Portsmouth 1638 - 1936
M. L.
Gc 974.502 P367w 1408269
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02954 1726
HISTORY
OF Portsmouth RHODE ISLAND 1638-1936
WEST 1936
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/historyofportsmo00west
Title Page
Portsmouth, Rhode Island, before 1800 by EDWARD H. WEST
PORTSMOUTH, a town on the northern part of the Island of Rhode Island, formerly called Aquidneck, belonged to the Aquidneck Indians. These Indians were conquered by the strong Narragansett tribe, and it was the Narragansett Sachems who sold it to the white settlers.
In order to really understand the story of the settlement of Portsmouth, we must go back to Boston, or the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the year 1634, there arrived in Boston, William Hutchinson, and his wife, Anne, a woman who was to change con- ditions in New England far beyond the expectations of the staid Puritans of that town.
At that time religion was the backbone of the state, and hairs were split on the interpretation of the Scriptures. Anne Hutchin- son's opinions differed from those of the orthodox churchmen, and soon she had established a bi-weekly meeting of her own. At this meeting she explained the sermon of the Sunday before, or at least, how she understood it. Soon men began to attend these talks, and at times there were present as many as eighty persons. By that time there were discussions, as well as explanations, and questions were asked by the people and answered by Anne Hutchinson. Many accounts of these events have been written, and the whole story cannot be told in this narrative. Anne was tried before the Court and found guilty of "traducing the ministers and their ministry," excommunicated, and sentenced to be banished. Her followers
were ordered to appear before the court, and in order to "prevent riots," were ordered disarmed.
Even before these final events, some of the men, mostly fol- lowers of Anne, discussed the advisability of founding a separate colony, where they could get away from the interference with their religious life. These men, many of them holding office, and prac- tically all of them educated, met on the seventh of March 1638, probably at the house of William Coddington, and signed the following Compact.
Originally there were twenty-three signers, but four names seem to be crossed out, although three of them became Inhabitants of Portsmouth at an early date. Perhaps the line across their names was not intentional, but accidental.
THE COMPACT
The 7th day of the first month 1638
We whose names are underwritten do here solemnly in the presence of Jehovah incorporate our selves into a Bodie Politick and as he shall help will submit our persons laves and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of his given in his holy word of truth to be guided and judged thereby
William Coddington John Clarke William Hutchinson
Exod 24. 3. 4 *
2 Cron II.3 + 2 Kings II.17 ±
*"And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord: and all the judgements: and all the people answered with one voice and said, all the words which the Lord hath said will we do."
"And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillers according to the twelve tribes of Israel."
+"Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin."
#"And Jahoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King and the people, that they should be the Lords people, between the King also and the people."
Less'od 9-19h6 -up 1951.9 00'S 8 77EL
John Coggeshall William Aspinwall Samuel Wilbore John Porter John Sanford Edward Hutchinson Jun Esq
1408269
Thomas Savage
William Dyre
William Freeborne
Phillip Shearman
John Walker Richard Carder
William Baulston
Edward Hutchinson Senr
Henory X Bulle his marke
Randall Howldon
Thomas Clarke
John Johnson
William Hall
John Brightman X his marke
John Clarke in company with two others, one of them probably being Randall Holden, and with the advice and help of Roger Williams, purchased of Conanicus and Miantonomah, chief Sachems of the Narragansett tribe of Indians, the Island of Aquid- neck, as well as the grass on some of the smaller islands in the bay. The deed was dated 24th of March 1637, and the consideration was forty fathom of white beads. To this was added ten coats and twenty hoes, on condition that the Indians left the Island before the next winter. Later other agreements were made with the Indians for grass privileges and for ground broken up, for which was paid more wampum and coats. There is a receipt, signed by Mianto-
nomah, and Conanicus, for twenty-three coats and thirteen hoes "to distribute to the Indians that did inhabit the Island of Aquid- necke".
Some of the party came from Boston over the Indian trails, while others came by boat. No record exists of where they landed when they arrived at the Island, but it was probably near the site of Stone Bridge, or in the Cove, probably the latter place.
The first recorded meeting was held May 13, 1638, and the first law was "that none shall be received as inhabitants or Freemen to build or plant upon the Island but such as shall be received in by the consent of the Bodye and do submit to the Government that is or shall be established according to the word of God".
It was also ordered that the "Towne shall be builded at the Springe". "It is further ordered that every Inhabitant of this Island shall be always provided of one muskett one pound of powder twenty bullets and two fademe of match with Sword and rest and Bandeleirs, all completely furnished".
There were thirteen men at this meeting, all of them signers of the compact.
At the next meeting, one week later, but eleven men were present. At this meeting it was ordered and agreed "that every mans allottment recorded in this Book shall be sufficient evidence for him and his rightly to possess and enjoy". At this meeting many pieces of land were allotted, and at this date, the names of three men, not signers, appear.
At the meeting held June 27, 1638, the price of two shillings an acre was put upon the land. This price was unchanged as long as there was any land left, that is in 1713, as at that date, the final distribution was made. At this meeting William Hutchinson and John Coggeshall were elected Treasurers. Sixteen men attended this meeting, and it was ordered that "if any of the Freemen of this Body shall not repair to the publick meetings to treate upon the publicke affairs of the Body upon publick warning, whether by
beate of Drumm or otherwise, if they fayle one quarter of an houre after the second sound, they shall forfeitt twelve pence or if they depart without leave they are to forfeitt the same summ of twelve pence".
At the September meeting, eight men were summoned, none of them signers, to appear before "the Body for a Riott of Drunken- nesse". All of them were fined, and some had to sit in the stocks.
At the meeting of November 1638, a day was set apart for a "Generall day of Trayning for the Exercise of those who are able to bear armes in the arts of military discipline and all that are of six- teen yeares of age and upwards to fifty shall be warned thereunto". A lot of about four acres, just east of the "Founders Brook", was used as a training place until 1713, when it was granted to Stephen Brayton. It was at this meeting that Edward Hutchinson was ordered to bake bread for the use of the plantation.
This same month, Mr Coggeshall, Sergeant Hutchinson, Mr Wilbore and Mr Dyre, were appointed a committee to trade with the Indians for venison, not to give over "three half pence a pound in way of trade".
At the next meeting the government was changed as Nicholas Easton, John Coggeshall and William Brenton were chosen Elders, to assist Judge Coddington, who up to that time had been at the head of the colony, in the "Execution of Justice and Judgement for the regulating and ordering of all offences and offenders" . . . "And that the Judge together with the Elders shall Rule and Governe according to the Generall Rule of the word of God".
By April 1639, the inhabitants had begun to fear for their safety, and it was ordered "that in regard of the many Incursions that the Island is subject unto and that an Alarum for the securing the place is necessary therefor it is thought meet for the present that an Alarum be appointed to give notice to all who inhabit the place that they may forthwith repair and gather together to the Howse of the Judge for the defending of the Island or quelling any
Insolences that shall be tumultuously raysed within the Plantation: Therefore the Alarum that we appoynt shall be this Three Mus- ketts to be discharged distinctly and a Herauld appointed to goe speedily throw the Towne and crye Alarum Alarum Upon which all are to repaire immediately to the place aforesayed".
On the 28th of the 2nd month (April) 1639, came the division of the town, many of the men moving south and founding the town of Newport, which also comprised what is now Middletown. There is no doubt that politics and religion played an important part in this separation. William Coddington, head of the Colony, was not wholly in sympathy with Anne Hutchinson, who had made new followers, and William Coddington, with others, had acquired new ideas about their religious beliefs.
The records up to this time, with the Compact and the copies of the deeds of the Island were all in a book which was taken to Newport, probably by William Dyer, then Clerk, and which was then used for the Newport records. This book is now in the custody of the Secretary of State. Is also contains many of the grants of land to the settlers, as well as a list of those who were admitted Inhabitants of Portsmouth.
The First Book of the Portsmouth records is not in as good condition as the earlier book. Some of the pages are missing, and others are torn, but it has been repaired and rebound, and much information can be gathered from it. This book is one of the town's most valued possessions.
After the separation, the two towns operated independently, but in 1640, a general government for the Island was formed. Of course William Coddington was elected Governor, and the men from Portsmouth who were elected to office were, William Hutch- inson and John Porter, Assistants, William Baulston, Treasurer of Portsmouth, and John Sanford, Constable of Portsmouth.
The records of the first meeting, after the separation, are not
complete, but it would seem as if they signed a new compact, which follows, the words in brackets being missing.
"We whose names are under (written doe acknowledge) our- selves the legall subjects of (his Majestic) King Charles and in his name (doe hereby binde) ourselves into a civill body politicke unto his lawes according to matters of justice."
This compact was signed by thirty-one names, William Hutch- inson, William Aspinwall and William Hall, being the only signers of the first Compact. It would seem as if three of the names had been crossed out, but as William Aspinwall was the only one of the three who left the town, I do not think that the other two names were supposed to have been erased.
All of the foregoing records and the First Book have been printed in various histories and stories of the state, so I will try to give a picture of the various customs and events taken from these town records and papers. All of the books of Portsmouth have been preserved, as well as numerous papers.
THE LAND
This, of course, was of the most importance to the people. At the very first the allotments consisted of three-acre house lots, which were gradually enlarged to four and six acres. Many of these lots went by default, as one of the conditions was that the grantee should build a house within a year of the granting.
Soon larger tracts for farms were granted, and, as the number of inhabitants increased, the house lots were given up and the people lived on their farms. This kept the house lots changing hands, and many of the transactions were never recorded. It was realized, as early as 1644, that a clear title could not be found to some of these lots, and so provision was made that testimony or depositions before a Justice would be sufficient evidence to give the owner a title.
Up to the year 1656 the land was granted to the inhabitants as it was needed by the increasing number of inhabitants, which in that
year consisted of about seventy-one Freemen, probably all with families.
In 1857 it was decided to dispose of three hundred acres of land among the Freemen, each being entitled to an equal share. These tracts, scattered about the town, were not only a certain number of acres "more or less," but "according to quality." This meant that a man having a grant of land, part of which was swampy, would get more acreage than if he had a tract of all dry land.
In 1693 there was another division, each Freeman receiving twelve acres. In 1713, John Mumford, a well-known surveyor of those times, was engaged to survey all of the Town's commons, and in that year, each Freeman received the final allotment of twelve acres. At this time the highways were straightened out, and some of the men received part of their land adjoining their farms, while the remainder of their allotment might be miles away. On this account many of these latter grants changed hands immediately.
The Town, as built at the Spring, ran along the East Road from Sprague Street north, and also along the West Road up to Bristol Ferry. The lots on the West Road set far back of the present location of the Road. On either side of the brook, now called "Founders Brook" was the "Great" or "Town Swamp."
In the Swamp was the "Highway to the Spring" which ran the whole length of the Swamp, from the Watering Place to the "highway to the mill," now called Sprague Street. All this land was granted to the abutters in 1657, with the exception of the tract where we have placed a tablet in honor of the "Signers of the Compact." This was left open as a watering place and a place for the washing of sheep.
Opposite this watering place, and formerly butting on the Town Pond, is the site of the tavern of William Baulston. Here were held the early Town Meetings, as well as Colony Meetings, and it was here that the Town's book of Land Evidence was ordered to be kept.
3 1833 02954 1726
East of, and adjoining the Baulston land was the home of Samuel Wilbore, and north of this, butting west on the Town Pond, was the house lot of William Brenton. This lot was sold to Francis Brayton, who gave it to his son Stephen, who in turn, sold it to Preserved Brayton. In all these transactions of this land, a house was mentioned, but, when Preserved sold it to William Anthony (in which family it stayed for many years) no mention was made of the house. Recently a cellar has been discovered on this land, and I have every reason to believe that this was the cellar of the house of William Brenton.
Probably the most peculiar sale of land in Portsmouth was made by Richard Searl, a seaman and early inhabitant of the Town, who sold his three-acre lot to Mary Paine for a pint of wine. Although he gave her no deed, she was enabled, with the aid of witnesses to the transaction, to get a clear deed from the Town. This lot was part of the land on which now stands the Bristol Ferry Inn, and it was here that John Tripp, who married Mary Paine, lived and ran his ferry to Bristol.
On the west side of the Town Pond were the houses of John Anthony and Lott Strange. In 1656 they were granted permission to dig a ditch, seven or nine feet wide, from the pond to the dry land before the house of Goodman Strange, "for the bringing up of any goods more conveniently."
On the north side of Boyd's Lane was the home of Richard Borden, while on the south side was the land of Richard Hart, afterwards owned by John Keys.
Running west from the south end of the Watering Place, was another "Highway to the Spring," known as Hawkins' Lane. On the south side of this lane was the home of Richard Hawkins, whose wife, Jane, was a great friend of Anne Hutchinson. Winthrop says that "Hawkins wife had familiarity with the devil in England."
The old settlers had many names for the tracts along the way to Common Fence Point which have long ago fallen out of use.
Calf's Pasture, Claypit Field, Flag Pond, Muskatoe Marsh, the Great Rock and Twenty Acres would be hard to find today without a long search in the records.
It is interesting to record that there are but three descendants of the original grantees of these lands who are now living on those grants, Mr. Arthur Sherman, Mr. Frank Sherman and Mr. Doug- lass Cornell. It is very possible that there are female descendants of the grantees, but if so, they are married and in that way have lost the family name.
TAVERNS, INN KEEPERS AND HOUSES OF ENTERTAINMENT
Among the records of the second meeting held in 1638 is found a provision for a public house. "It is ordered and agreed upon by General consent that will Baulston shall erect and sett up a howse for entertainment for Strangers, and also to brew Beare and to sell wine and strong waters and such necessary provisions as may be useful in any kind."
In 1679 it was ordered that "none of the persons shall be allowed to Sell that Sort of drink commonly Called Rum at any higher price than after the Rate of two pence the gill."
All through the records of the first book permission is given to keep taverns under some name peculiar to those times. With the exception of William Baulston's, these were generally located at the ferries. Later they were in other parts of the town.
In those days the taverns were the only places for the people to meet, and all the public meetings took place at one of them. Nat- urally the first meetings took place at William Baulston's, but later the Colony Meetings were held at the tavern of Captain Richard Morris, which was on the east side of the East Road, between Childs Street and Park Avenue.
In 1656 a law was passed forbidding any person to sell any liquor to an Indian either "directly or indirectly," and it was made lawful for any person who met an Indian with liquor, to take it away from him.
It was a habit of Anthony Emory, who had no license, to sell to the Indians. This is brought out in an inquest on the body of an Indian who was drowned in Emory's well, while drunk. At this inquest, held in 1670, testimony was given by several Indians, among them the Indian squaw, wife to the Sachem Philip, that Sam, the dead Indian, became troublesome, and had angry words with Tom Dumpling, an Indian.
An indictment was brought against Anthony Emory for ob- structing the highway, as the well was situated outside his lot. But when the Court found that the well had been filled up, the indict- ment was dismissed.
This case probably caused much talk in the town, for more laws were passed pertaining to the sale of liquor to the Indians.
In 1709 it was ordered that an informer against any person selling drink without a license, should have twenty shillings out of the fine. This seemed to give steady employment to several per- sons, as the court records give a number of cases in which the same people testified. Some of the alleged sellers were found not guilty, although a number were convicted, some of them being women.
DEFENSE
At an early date the inhabitants of Portsmouth took precautions against any attack from outsiders, and many laws were made requir- ing all inhabitants to be well armed. Very little is to be found in the records about King Philip's War, as probably there was little fear that the Indians would dare to come on the Island.
At the time of the Spanish War in 1739, a beacon was erected on Watch Hill, at the corner of the Middle Road and Mill Lane, also a Watch House was built. This "Watch House, with an Iron Crane and an Iron Kittle" were sold at auction in 1758.
In 1640 it was ordered that two barrels of powder be always ready in the town, while in 1650 it was ordered that the town shall have in its magazine, two barrels of powder, one thousand weight
of lead, twelve pikes and eighteen muskets, all in good case and fit for service.
In 1642 it was ordered that on the first Monday of every month, the "Traine Bands shall be exercised by the Commanders, excepting the months of May and August, January and February."
James Strange, a resident of Portsmouth, was killed at Cape Breton in 1745, as was William Cory, a resident of Tiverton, but who enlisted in Portsmouth.
In 1653 it was ordered that "mr Sanford, mr Boston, mr Parker, Captain Moris, leftenant Albro, Ensigne Wilbur and Philip Shearman or any four of them Consenting, shall Consult and determine all matters for the defence or offense."
There is a record of a fort in 1666, the location of which I have been unable to find. The record says "Lefftenant John Albro pre- sented a bill of debt about work done at ye fort."
In 1667, owing to the trouble between England and France and Holland, more precautions were taken, and a beacon was ordered placed on Windmill Hill, in order to warn the neighboring colonies. At this time the first troop of horse was formed on the Island.
SCHOOLS
The first mention of a schoolhouse in Portsmouth was in August 1716, when a petition was presented to the Town Meeting, praying that a schoolhouse be built by the town on South Side (between Childs Street and Church Lane) on land left convenient for public use. This petition was granted.
At the next meeting, 10 September 1716, William Sanford granted to the town, if they would build a schoolhouse on it for the use of the southern part of the town, a triangular piece of land (on what is now Union Street) granted to him in 1713. This peti- tion was also granted, and the schoolhouse was built.
This schoolhouse appears in the records many times, as there were numerous repairs and other matters brought up. In 1732,
George and Richard Sisson, Jr., were paid for digging a well (which is still there). It would seem as if this schoolhouse was used for other purposes, as in 1725, James Preston, with his family, was ordered out of the "Southermost Schoolhouse." In 1746, Sarah Strange, whose husband was killed at Cape Breton, was also ordered out of that house.
At a Town Meeting held in March 1722, it was voted to build a schoolhouse, sixteen feet square and six and a half foot stud, with a stone chimney. For this building a piece of land, twenty feet square, was purchased of Stephen Brayton, on what was formerly Gatchel's Land. This was on the East Road, a little south of Park Avenue.
At the same meeting it was voted to build another schoolhouse, thirty feet in length, twenty feet in breadth and eight feet stud, with a stone chimney. This house was built on the southwest corner of Hedley Street and the West Road. This building was also used as the first Town House. It was rebuilt in 1788, the old one prob- ably being burned by the British.
In 1728, a petition from inhabitants of the southern part of the town was received, asking for the town to help in building a school- house on land given by William Brown. The Town gave thirty pounds towards the building, the petitioners having to raise the rest. This was afterwards called the Vaucluse School.
In 1746, a small piece of land on the East Road, just north of Dexter Street, was purchased of David Earl, and a schoolhouse was built on it.
In 1763, it was voted to give the inhabitants five hundred pounds for a schoolhouse on Prudence Island, "when they shall produce a deed for a piece of land for the same."
HIGHWAYS
Nearly all the highways of Portsmouth, with the exception of the Turnpike, are as originally laid out. Some of the small ones of today being cut through as the land was cut up for house lots.
The first list of these highways, with their width, was made in 1662. No name was given to any of these roads, it being merely stated as "the highway between William Cadmans and Nicholas Browns is 4 rods" (now Hedley Street). In all there were thirty- four roads in this list, and the swamp, which "is 25 rodd wide at the end towards the pond, about 33 rodd in the middle and 11 rodd at the end by Mr Briggs."
In 1717 another list of highways, with their width, was made, in which the variations in width is noted. This list consisted of but twenty-six roads, but referred to the plat of South Side for the high- ways and lanes in that place. No names were given to any of these roads, with the exception of the East and West Roads, which were called "The King's High Rode on the East side of the Island" and "The Kings High Rode on the West side of the Island."
In this list it is stated "The Plat or Piece of land with the Spring undisposed of in the Town Swamp, is left open or Public place for the washing of sheep and also a watering place for the use and benefit of the Town."
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