USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of Woonsocket > 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
89
.W9R5
BRARY
CONCRE
1800
HISTORY
OF
WOONSOCKET.
1
BY E. RICHARDSON.
WOONSOCKET: S. S. FOSS, PRINTER, PATRIOT BUILDING, MAIN STREET. 1876.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, ETC. IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JANUARY SESSION, A. D. 1876.
Joint Resolution on the Celebration of the Centennial in the several Cities and Towns.
RESOLVED, The House of Representatives concurring therein, that in accordance with the recommendation of the National Congress, the Governor be requested to invite the people of the several towns and cities of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and cause to have de- livered on that day an Historical Sketch of said town or city from its formation, and to have one copy of said sketch, in print or in manuscript, filed in the clerk's office of said town or city, one copy in the office of the Secretary of State, and one copy in the office of the Li- brarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the First Centennial of their existence; and that the Governor be requested to communicate this invitation forthwith to the several Town and City Councils in the State.
I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the State aforesaid, on the 20th day of April, A. D. 1876.
L. S. - Witness my hand and the Seal of the State, this 27th day of April, A. D. 1876.
JOSHUA M. ADDEMAN, Secretary of State.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
PROVIDENCE, April 27th, 1876. To the Honorable Town Council of the Town of Woonsocket.
GENTLEMEN :
I have the honor herewith to enclose a duly certified copy of a Resolution passed by the General Assembly at its recent Session, requesting me to invite the people of the several towns and cities of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the approaching Cen- tennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and cause to have delivered on such day an Historical Sketch of said town or city from its formation.
By pursuing the course suggested by the Resolution of the General Assembly, the people of the State will derive an amount of information which will be invaluable to the present generation, as showing the wonderful progress of the several towns and cities since their foundation.
It will also be of great value to future generations when the materials for such sketches, now accessible, will have been lost or destroyed by accident, or become more or less etlaced and illegible from time.
Therefore, in pursuance of the request of the General Assembly, I respectfully and earnestly, through you, invite the people of your town to carry out the contemplated cele- bration on the Fourth day of July next.
HENRY LIPPITT, Governor.
Copy of a Resolution passed by the Town Council of Woonsocket, June 8, 1876. In pursuance of chapter 565 of the Publie Laws, passed at the May Session, 1876, by the General Assembly of the State,
RESOLVED : That a sum not to exceed $825 be appropriated for a proper celebration of the approaching Anniversary of our National Independence, and also for the purpose of printing and putting into book-form the " History of the Town," as prepared by Erastus Richardson, Esq., said sum to be expended under the direction of the following Committee : George A. Wilbur, John II. Sherman, George S. Read, Amos Sherman aud L. C. Tourtellot.
INTRODUCTION.
AMONG the requirements of the American citizen, is that of cele- brating the natal day of his Country's Independence. It being a requirement which requires no sacrifice, it is generally performed with commendable zeal. He may be remiss in the discharge of many other of his obligations as a freeman and a patriot, but the observ- ance of the Fourth of July is seldom overlooked. He must either see or participate in a parade of some kind; and if he is denied the ecstasy in his own neighborhood, he seeks it elsewhere.
The first public demonstration in Woonsocket, that is worthy of mention, took place in 1833. The literary exercises were held in the Baptist Meeting House. The dinner was caten and the toasts drank in the Woonsocket Hotel, then kept by Mr. Cephas Holbrook. The orator of the day was Christopher Robinson. That there was the requisite amount of "spread eagle" in this oration of Mr. Robinson, I have no doubt, for at that period the American people required it in large doses at their Fourth of July celebrations. But I am equally confident that his oratorieal flights were tempered with wit, good judgment and learning, for in all the town, State and national affairs in which our distinguished townsman has been a prominent actor during his long and useful life, these have been his distinguishing traits.
The next celebration in Woonsocket was what is remembered to this day as the "Roaring Celebration." This occurred in 1835, and was indeed a "roaring celebration," for reasons which the dignity of history prevents me from recording. The literary exercises were held in the Episcopal Meeting House. Jonathan E. Arnold was orator of the day. A booth was erected on Arnold street, where the toasts were to be drank. Tristam Burgess and Henry Y. Cranston were present. The guests had comfortably seated themselves in the "booth," Tris- tam Burgess had just arisen to respond to a toast, when a storm suddenly arose, and the company adjourned in a hurry to the Woon-
6
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
socket Hotel, then kept by Messrs. Whitcomb Brothers. The rooms were close, and the wine flowed freely. Many of the guests rolled under the table; and one of them jumped on top of the table, and sang the "Star Spangled Banner."
In 1838 there was another "glorious" celebration. The oration was given by Edward II. Sprague in the Baptist Meeting House, and the Declaration was read by Christopher Robinson. The dinner and toasts were discussed in a vacant room of a building owned by Messrs. W. & L. A. Cook, on Main Street. It was at this cele- bration that a certain dignified citizen of the village honored the American Eagle with a toast and a speech which brought down the house. The eseort duty to these celebrations was performed by the Bellingham Rifles, under the command of Abiram Wales, assisted by Lieutenant Landers.
In 1846 occurred what is remembered to this day as the " Temper- ance Celebration." The church bells were rung at sunrise and sunset, and during the day the usual national salutes were fired. At ten o'clock a procession was formed on Market Square by Lyman A. Cook, Chief Marshal, assisted by Arnold Briggs and Peleg W. Lippitt. The line was as follows:
Aid. Chief Marshal. United Brass Band. Woonsocket Guards. President (Jolin Boyden, Jr.). Chaplain (Rev. Mr. Talbot). Orator (James W. Smith). Reader (L. W. Ballou).
Aid.
Vice-Presidents : (Samuel Greene, George S. Wardwell, Samnel F. Man, Eli Pond, jr., George C. Ballou, Nelson Jenckes and Dr. II. A. Potter). Committee of Arrangements. Revolutionary Pensioners. Choir. Members of General Assembly. Town Councils of Smithfield and Cumberland. Other Town Officers. Martha Washington Society. Woonsocket Total Abstinence Society. Hamlet Temperance Society. Woonsocket Young Men's Temperance Association. Woonsocket Fire Department. Odd Fellows. Delegations from Neighboring Towns. Citizens and Strangers. It moved down Clinton street, through Cross and Main streets, returning to Market Square; thence through Bernon, Bridge and Greene streets, and through Centre Avenue to the Grove, where the literary exercises were held. The order of exercises at the Grove was as follows:
Song. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Talbot. Song. Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Oration. Recitative and Chorus. Benediction.
After which the line reformed and marched to " Liberty Hall." (This was a spare room in a new mill of Mr. Edward Harris.) Here
7
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
the guests, consisting of about six hundred ladies and gentlemen, partook of a collation. After the feast came the toasts and the speeches. The exciting theme of the day was the Temperance ques- tion, and King Alcohol and the late King George were berated with extraordinary vehemence. The toast master was Colonel Edward II. Sprague, without whom no literary exercise in Woonsocket, in those days, was complete. The thirteen regular toasts were as follows, each being accompanied. of course, with pertinent and pointed remarks:
1. " The Event and the Day which we Celebrate."
2. "The Constitution."
:. "The President of the United States."
4. "The Army and Navy."
5. " Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce."
6. "The White Banner of Temperance."
7. "The Public Schools of New England."
8. " The Memory of Washington."
9. "The Surviving Soldiers of the Revolution."
10. "Liberty of Conscience."
11. "The American Flag."
12. " Rhode Island."
13. "Our Fair Countrywomen."
After which came volunteer toasts by the guests. That of Colonel Tourtellot bore off the palm, and was: "Rhode Island-Small in territory and in nothing else." L. W. Ballon (now our Hon. Repre- sentative to Congress) was present, and gave one of his characteristic addresses, which then, as now, was received with respect and ap- plause.
The next grand celebration in Woonsocket was in 1848, and oe- enrred (by the way) on the same day of the week as that of this Centennial year (Tuesday). The chief marshal was Colonel Arnold Briggs. The place of the literary exercises and of the collation, the reader of the Declaration and the toast master, were the same as before. But the orator was a young man who has since become widely known throughout Rhode Island, and to whom I am largely indebted, not only for much valuable historic material, but for many other favors of a personal nature-I refer to Hon. Thomas Steere. The oration received the applause which it merited, and was referred to by the press in flattering terms. At the banquet were the thirteen regular toasts and the enstomary patriotic speeches. The wit of the day was P. P. Todd, Esq. Two of his toasts given on the occasion are worth preserving: "Thomas Steere, the orator of the day, though a Steere in years, he is a real ox for Fourth of July celebrations." " llenry Clay (the country's Harry) and Edward Harris (our Harry)-
8
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
the one in favor of home producers, the other ever ready to furnish this hall for home consumers." In the evening there were fire-works, given on rafts anchored on the Bernon Pond.
There have been many celebrations in Woonsocket quite worthy of mention, but I pass on to that of last year. This was quite unique in its character, and partook more of the nature of a fair than of a celebration. But as it was a sort of introduction to the Grand National Centennial Celebration, onr citizens were enthusiastic in its observance. The exercises took place on the farm of Mr. Rensa- lier A. Jillson. It was gotten up by the ladies for the purpose of raising money in furtherance of the national project. The President was Mrs. Cyrus Arnold, assisted by almost every other woman in town. After the "clam-bake," whielt was served in a capacious tent, came the literary exercises, which were conducted by Hon. L. W. Ballou. The Declaration was read by Charles F. Ballou. The oration was given by Erastus Richardson, and was in rhyme. Fol- lowing the "Centennial Epic" were eloquent and stirring speeches by Hon. L. W. Ballou, Rev. F. Denison, Colonel Amos Sherman, Colonel James W. Smyth, Hon. A. J. Elwell, IIon. Thomas Steere, Edwin Metcalf, Esq., and Rev. C. JJ. White. Between the addresses the Glee Club enlivened the occasion with spirited and appropriate songs.
Finally comes the Grand Centennial Celebration of 1876. This celebration of the Fourth of July began on the 3d. There was probably more noise put into a given space on the eve of the Fourth than was ever before accomplished in the same period since the set- tlement of Northern Rhode Island. Tin horns were tooted, cannon fired, Roman candles and sky-rockets were sent up in all directions, houses were illuminated, and a grand torch-light procession of our firemen, headed by the Cornet Band, paraded the streets. On the morning of the Fourth, the Antiques and Horribles, under the com- mand of Grand Mogul Frank M. Cornell, eame ont in full force and costume. It was the most horrible display that ever limped and hobbled through a civilized community. The grand civic and mili- tary procession moved from Greene street about ten o'clock A. M., passing direct to Cold Spring Grove, where the literary exercises were held. The procession was as follows:
Platoon of Police, in charge of Sergeant Allen. Chief Marshal L. C. Tourtellot.
FIRST DIVISION. Aids : Captain Charles M. Arnold and Major S. H. Brown. Woonsocket Cornet Band, B. W. Nichols leader, twenty-five pieces. Escort : Co. A, Third Battalion, John R. Waterhouse commanding, twenty-nine muskets. Committee of Arrangements. Orator. Reader of the Declaration of Independence.
President of the Day and Chaplain.
Honorable Town Council, Senator, and Representatives of General Assembly.
9
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Members of Congress, Clergy of the Town and vicinity. Disabled Soldiers. Press. Thirty-eight Young Ladies, representing the States of the Union. St. John Society, Jos. Danis, President, seventy members.
SECOND DIVISION. Division Marshal, Michael Baggan. Aids : William Powers and Daniel Ahearn. Union Brass Brand, twenty-five pieces, Professor Leavy leader. National Flags. Civic Societies : Temperance Cadets, fifty members.
Father Mathew Temperance Society, thirty members.
No. 2, Benevolent Aid Society, fifty members.
A Jaunting Car, in which five Young Ladies represented the four Provinces of Ireland and the Goddess of Liberty. No. 3, Shamrock Society, forty members. No. 4, Ancient Order of Hibernians, eighty members. No. 5, Christian Doctrine Society, forty-five members.
THIRD DIVISION. Marshal : Frank Cornell. Aid : O. Roberts.
Woonsocket Steamer Co. No. 1, Richard Barnett captain, twenty members, with machine trimmed with evergreen and a profusion of flags and flowers, two large flags
bearing dates, representing 1776 and 1876.
Social Steamer Co. No. 2, James Pickford foreman, eighteen members, with machine trimmed with red, white and blue, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers in smoke stack.
Old Rotary, dated 1825.
Elliott Hook and Ladder Co., fifteen members, William II. Smith eaptain. And a long Line of Citizens in carriages and on foot.
Arriving at the Grove, where platforms had been erected for those who took part in the exercises, the Choir, consisting of one hundred voices, assisted by the Cornet Band, and under the direction of Prof. S. N. Lougee, sang "Old Hundred" with grand effect. After which, Judge George A. Wilbur, chairman of the Committee of Arrange- ments, introduced the Hon. Francello G. Jillson, President of the Town Council, as President of the Day, who opened the exercises by saying:
Fellow Citizens :- I congratulate you upon being permitted to wit- ness this centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the thirteen Colonies, upon which Declaration was founded our national existence and Government, and from which thirteen Colonies have arisen thirty-eight great, powerful and wealthy States, bound together for each other's welfare and protection-then rebels, now one of the most powerful nations of the globe. Representatives of the various nations of the earth have assembled to-day in the very city and upon the very spot where that memorable Declaration was adopted and signed, to congratulate us as a nation upon our success- ful existence and wonderful progress, at the same time exhibiting to us as peace-offerings the products of their lands, industry and skill. Therefore, it is indeed fitting that the people of these United States should assemble together in their various towns and cities, and thank the God of nations for the protection, guidance and progress which He has vouchsafed to us in the past hundred years, and pray for the continuance of His favor and blessing in the century upon which we now enter; to review our history, both as a nation and as towns and
10
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
cities; to take fresh courage, and strengthen and enlarge our purpose for the coming years; but, above all, to thank God that we are now in very deed united, free and independent, and that not the clank of the chains of a single slave is now heard within our borders, but all, whether of high or low estate, equally enjoy the rights of personal liberty. Let us, therefore, attend with reverent hearts to prayer by the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. J. E. Hawkins.
After the prayer by the Chaplain of the Day, the Choir sang the "Angel of Peace."
Mr. Jillson then followed with an eloquent and stirring speech, in which he briefly recounted some of the Revolutionary scenes in which our State took an active part. He then introduced Colonel Henry Holbrook Robinson, the reader of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, who put a meaning and a soul into his rendering of this immortal document which awakened a thrill in the breasts of all.
An original piece, entitled "Columbia's Flag," composed by Prof. Spencer Lane for the occasion, was then sung, and received a well- merited applause.
Next came the oration by Erastus Richardson, which consisted of extracts from the following History.
After the oration the "Centennial Hymn" was sung, and the exer- cises at the Grove were closed with benediction by Rev. J. L. Miller.
The line then reformed, and completed the route of march to
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
The young ladies representing the thirty-eight States of the Union encircled it, and the various organizations, civic and military, massed. The Hon. Latimer W. Ballon, M. C., was called upon by the President, and taking position at the base, said that it was very appropriate that on this day we should come here and gather about the monument, in memory of those who had given their lives for freedom, and acknowledge that all are now equal, with no East, no West, no North, no South. Ile was glad that on this occasion it had been deemed appropriate that the young and beautiful should come and sing songs of praise. He hoped that on the Fourth of July, 1976, the country will bear the same relative progress in wealth, prosperity and greatness that the present bears to 1776. The young ladies then united in singing "America," accompanied by the Cornet Band, with impressive effect, after which Chief Marshal Tourtellot announced the parade dismissed.
AFTER THE PARADE,
Social Steamer Co., No. 2, Captain James Pickford, invited Steamer No. 1 and Elliot Hook and Ladder Co. to a grove near their engine- honse, where a model Rhode Island clam-bake was enjoyed by the firemen and families, with the Board of Engineers and a few friends
11
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
as invited guests. Some two hundred sat down at the long tables, which were laden with a tempting display of native bivalves in every conceivable shape, with fruit and ice-cream as a sequel. After justice had been done to this pleasant episode of the day, an hour was given over to greetings, song and sentiment, and the bond of unison and fraternal love was firmly cemented. The Woonsocket Guards, with invited guests, dined at the Woonsocket Hotel, and made merry for an hour or more in an informal, social way. The Mitchel Guards had a target-shoot on the island, and participated in the merry scenes at the picnic. The picnic by the societies of St. Charles parish was very liberally patronized, some two thousand people at- tending, and a series of athletic sports kept up the interest till dark. Among the attractions was a base-ball contest, in which the Oceans, of Providence, defeated the Mutuals, of this town-13 to 4. Excel- lent order was maintained, and all who attended seemed to regard the pienie as the most enjoyable of any ever held in town.
THE FIREWORKS
in the evening were a disappointment to some who did not take position near enough to fully enjoy the display, but the programme was carried out, terminating with a huge bonfire that lit up the country for miles around.
IN CONCLUSION,
it may not be amiss to say that the Committee of Arrangements- Judge George A. Wilbur, Major George S. Read, Councilman J. II. Sherman, Colonel Amos Sherman and General L. C. Tourtellot-are entitled to much consideration for their faithful, successful and gra- tuitous services.
The following was the Introduction to the Historical Sketch:
Two hundred years have rolled away since the axe of the pioneer first broke the solitude of these regions. While the first settlers were erecting their rnde cabins and struggling with Nature to unveil her hidden charms, King Philip, with the remnant of his tribe, was marching up the Valley of the Blackstone, on his terrible mission of revenge.
A century passed. The red-skinned enemy had long since ceased to be an object of terror, and the red-coated enemy was just making his appearance. In the meantime, a saw-mill, a corn-mill, an iron- mill and a meeting-house had found a nestling-place among these hills; the hum of the spinning-wheel and the elink of the farmer's scythe upon the meadow had hushed the war-whoop of the savage, and the nucleus of a busy hamlet had taken root in these parts.
Another century. The spinning-wheel is draped with cobwebs in the ancient attic; the scythe hangs rusting upon the dying
12
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
apple-tree; the meadow is submerged beneath the waters of the river; the busy hamlet has outlived its usefulness, and a new order of things has been inaugurated.
Amid the strange events which have crowded themselves into the last two centuries, Woonsocket has played no unimportant part. In the political, the industrial, the religious and the educational ques- tions which have arisen from time to time, her voice has not been silent, and her influence has not been powerless.
It will, therefore, be a pleasant and a profitable task to trace the progress of our busy hamlet from its rude beginning to its present incompleteness.
0 @
HISTORY.
CHAPTER I. UP THE LEFT BANK OF THE RIVER, FROM REHOBOTH TO WOONSOCKET.
ABOUT the year 1641 a company was formed at Wey- mouth, Mass., consisting of the Rev. Samuel Newman* and a part of his congregation. They purchased a tract of land of Massasoit, and three or four years afterwards removed to their new purchase, which at the time was called "Sea- cuncke," which being interpreted, means " Black Goose "- a name applied by the Indians to the locality from occa- sional settlers on the adjacent river, rather than the Rev. Mr. Newman and his flock. Here around; the Great Plain (Seekonk Plain) they erected their dwellings, with their meeting-house in the centre, and named their settlement after one of the cities of Edom-a name selected by Mr. Newman, for, said he, the Lord hath made room for us- the word Rehoboth being from the Hebrew word "rehob," signifying a broadway, plateau or forum.
*Mr. Newman was born at Banbury, England, in 1600. He was educated at Oxford, and began his ministry in his native country. He emigrated to America, arriving at Dorchester about the year 1638. The following year he removed to Weymouth, and about the year 1644 came to Rehoboth, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died July 5, 1663. IIe is spoken of as a " deep student, an animated preacher, and an excellent and pious man." Among his works was a "Concordance of the Bible," which far surpassed any that hitherto appeared, and was the basis of the celebrated "Cambridge Concordance."
tThe proprietors first selected their lots, and erected their dwellings in a semi-circle, the circle opening towards Pawtucket, or Seekonk river, with their parsonage and meeting-house in the centre. The circle was called the " Ring of the Town." It can still be seen in the present location of the houses, in an castern view from the meeting-house.
["Peck Genealogy," page 17, note.]
14
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The first settlers of Rehoboth had pitched their tents in a barren spot. Previous to their coming the Indians had so nearly exhausted the natural fertility of the soil, that after a short residence of about twenty years, they were forced to look about them for more fertile fields, on which to pasture their cattle and plant their corn. Thereupon Capt. Thomas Willitt* was employed by the town, and empowered by the court, to make a new purchase from the natives. This was consummated in 1661 ; and Wamsutta, the son of Massasoit, and brother of King Philip, yielded the large territory which was afterwards known as the REHOBOTH NORTH PURCHASE .ยก
That portion of this territory which afterwards became Cumberland, was for many years " in controversy " between Rhode Island and Massachusetts ; indeed, the jurisdiction of the northern portion thereof, and which includes Eastern Woonsocket, is an open question even to this day. To the ignorance and the carelessness of English Sovereigns these troubles are mainly due. Probably supposing that the Narra- gansett (Blackstone) river flowed due South, they bounded
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.