USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Smithfield > History of the town of Smithfield [R.I.] from its organization, in 1730-1, to its division, in 1871 > Part 1
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Gc 974.5 Sm6s 1142978
GENEALOGY .. `LLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00076 3372
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofs00stee 0
IN Precith. NORWOOD. RI
HISTORY
OF THE
of Smithfield R.
FROM ITS
ORGANIZATION, IN 1730-1, TO ITS DIVISION, IN 1871,
COMPILED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTES OF THE TOWNS OF SMITHFIELD, NORTH SMITHFIELD, LINCOLN AND WOONSOCKET, R. I.
BY
THOMAS STEERE.
PROVIDENCE, R. I. : E. L. FREEMAN & CO., PRINTERS TO THE STATE.
1881.
1142978
NOTE.
The undersigned desires to express his obligations to the Hon. Joshua M. Addeman, Hon. Samuel Clark, the late Hon. Charles Moies, and the late Thomas A. Paine, for valuable aid in the prose- cution of his work. He is indebted to Erastus Richardson's History of Woonsocket for suggestions and the smoothing the path of inves- tigation.
The death of the Hon. Charles Moies and Thomas A. Paine, mem- bers of the town committees during the progress of the duty accepted by the writer, has removed from Lincoln and Woonsocket men of pronounced ability and character, who have left no survivors more embued with Rhode Island sentiment and conservatism, or more faithful in the performance of public trusts than themselves. As they were representative men in Old Smithfield, so were their acts and example such as to stimulate and encourage public spirit, public honesty and genuine patriotism.
THOMAS STEERE.
3.00 1
PUBLIC RESOLUTION
Passed by Congress and Approved by the President, March 13th, 1876.
JOINT RESOLUTION on the celebration of the Centennial in the several counties and towns.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it be, and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our national independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the librarian of congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the pro- gress of our institutions during the first centennial of their exist- ence.
PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Repres- entatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day of March last, which resolution is as follows:
" Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and the House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our national independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed in print or manuscript, in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the librarian 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
WHEREAS, It is deemed proper that such recommendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States,
Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby declare and make known the same, in the hope that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect.
Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1876, and of the independ- ence of the United States the one hundredth.
By the President, U. S. GRANT.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
State of Rhode Island, &t.
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 cities and towns of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the ap- proaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and cause to have delivered 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 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 librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions du- ring the first centennial of their existence; and that the Governor be requested to communicate the 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 Seal of the State, this 27th day of April, A. D. 1876.
JOSHUA M. ADDEMAN, Secretary of State.
B
State of Rhode Island, &t.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDENCE, April 27th, 1876.
To the Honorable Town Council of the Town of -
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor 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 Centennial 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 informa- tion 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 ma- terials for such sketches now accessible will have been lost or destroyed by accident, or become more or less effaced 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 celebration on the fourth day of July next.
HENRY LIPPITT, Governor.
LINCOLN.
At a Town Meeting held in Lincoln, on the thirteenth day of June, A. D. 1876, it was
Voted, That we hereby recommend and advise that the Town Coun- cil, in accordance with the contemplated action of the General Assem- bly, take necessary action in the matter of making the written history of the old Town of Smithfield, and printing the same, of which the Town of Lincoln was formerly a part thereof, and that the said Town Council be authorized to expend not more than Five Hundred dollars in defraying the expense thereof; the whole cost of said history to be borne by the towns of Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln, and the sum above appropriated is that the town of Lincoln may pay to- wards the whole cost of said history in proportion to its payment of the old Town of Smithfield's indebtedness at the time of the division of the old Town of Smithfield in 1871.
-
WOONSOCKET.
At a Town Council holden within and for the town of Woonsocket, June 15th, 1876, Thomas A. Paine was " appointed a committee to confer with committees appointed by other towns regarding the prep- aration of a history of the old town of Smithfield."
July 10th, a verbal report was made recommending that this Coun- cil make an appropriation for the purpose of the history; whereupon the whole matter was referred to Dr. Ariel Ballou, Spencer Mowry, Thomas A. Paine, Charles Nourse and Darius D. Farnum as a com- mittee to consider the subject and make recommendations to the Council as soon as may be. On August 1st, 1876, " The committee heretofore appointed by this Council to consider and recommend ยท suitable action on the subject matter of aiding in the publication of a history of the old town of Smithfield, make report in writing rec- ommending that a committee of one be appointed to confer with the committees appointed by the respective towns of Lincoln, Smithfield and North Smithfield having this matter in charge, also recommend- ing that a sum of money not exceeding one hundred dollars be appro- priated to pay the attendant expenses; also recommending that Thomas A. Paine, Esq., be appointed as such committee;" where- upon said report is received and ordered placed on file, and it is
Voted, That the recommendations contained in said report be adopted, and Thomas A. Paine is hereby appointed as such commit- tee, and the sum of one hundred dollars is appropriated for the pur- pose aforesaid.
SMITHFIELD.
At a Town Council held at the Hotel in Greenville, within and for the Town of Smithfield, on Saturday, June 24, 1876, present John S. Appleby, Thurston E. Phetteplace, Henry E. Smith, Edwin C. Harris and William Gardiner, members of said Council;
Voted, That the sum of Two Hundred (200) Dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated to defray the expense incurred in con- nection with the towns of Lincoln and North Smithfield, in compiling and publishing the history of the old town of Smithfield; and that Samuel W. Farnum be and he is hereby appointed a committee on the part of the present town of Smithfield to assist in the compila- tion of said work.
Witness:
M. I. MOWRY, Deputy Town Clerk.
At a Town Council held at the Justice Court Room in Georgiaville, within and for the Town of Smithfield, on Friday the first day of December, A. D. 1876, present John S. Appleby, president, and Henry E. Smith, William Gardiner and Edwin C. Harris, members of said Council, Arlon Mowry, Esq., committee of the town of North Smithfield, for compiling and publishing a Historical Sketch of the old Town of Smithfield, appeared in behalf of said North Smithfield and the towns of Lincoln and Woonsocket, and requested this Could- cil to appoint a committee to act in conjunction with the committees of said towns of North Smithfield, Lincoln and Woonsocket in com- piling and publishing said Historical Sketch; stating that the joint committee of the several towns proposed to assume the payment of the One Hundred and Fifty Dollars already paid Hon. Samuel W. Farnum by this town for writing a Historical Sketch of said old Smithfield, and that the said joint committee would consider the said sketch prepared by said Samuel W. Farnum as the property of said committee, and would make such disposition of the same as their judgment should determine; and upon consideration of said matter, it was voted that Jabez W. Mowry be appointed a committee for the purpose aforesaid, with authority to act, as such committee, in such manner as he shall deem expedient and proper.
Witness:
OSCAR A. TOBEY,
Council Clerk.
NORTH SMITHFIELD.
Voted, That we hereby recommend and advise that the Town Council of this Town, in accordance with the contemplated act of the General Assembly, take necessary action in the matter of making the written history of the old town of Smithfield, and printing the same, of which the town of North Smithfield was formerly a part thereof, and that said Town Council be authorized to expend not more than four hundred dollars in defraying the expense thereof, the whole cost of said history is to be borne conjointly by the towns of Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln, and the sum above appro- priated is that this town may pay towards the total cost of said history in proportion to the old town debt.
Voted, That Arlon Mowry, Esq., be a committee to attend to the carrying out the aforegoing vote.
CHAPTER I.
THE town of Smithfield was originally a portion of the territory of the town of Providence. The town of Providence was settled by Roger Williams and the men who accompanied him from Plymouth Colony. As Roger Williams gave to Providence its social and political spirit, and impressed upon it a character still distinct and domi- nant; and inasmuch as the first settlers of the town of Smithfield were men who moved from, and were imbued with the principles underlying the government of Provi- dence, we shall only obtain a clear understanding of their views and purposes by a glance at the rise and history of Providence up to the time that Smithfield was set off there- from; and we shall only comprehend the history of Provi- dence by an intelligent conception of the man by whom it was founded. The starting point, then, of the history of Smithfield, is an enquiry as to who and what was Roger Williams.
Roger Williams, according to the best authorities was born in Wales, near the close of the sixteenth century. He was elected a scholar of the Charter-House, June 25, 1621; and was matriculated a pensioner of Pembroke College, Cambridge, July 7, 1625. He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts, January, 1627. He sailed from Bristol, England, with his wife Mary, in the ship Lyon, December 1, 1630, and after a voyage of sixty-six days, arrived off Nantasket, February 5, 1631. This man, in the very flush of early
2
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
manhood, who had been educated in the learning of the schools, who had so well improved his opportunities as to receive the friendship and esteem of the wisest and best in England, and the confidence and companionship of the ablest in the colonies, was soon invited to become teacher of the Boston Church, which proposition he declined because he " durst not officiate to an unseparated people." Without stopping to discuss ecclesiastical doctrines or forms, it is noticeable that the very first moment in which Roger Wil- liams relates himself, or is called upon to connect himself especially and responsibly to the people, he makes his con- duct a point of conscience. In itself the offered pastorship might well enough have been undertaken by Roger Wil- liams, but his scruples would not permit him to endorse what he thought to be a deficient evidence of faith, even by implication.
In April, 1631, he was invited to the church at Salem, but the authorities interfered, and during the summer he went to Plymouth, where he became assistant to Ralph Smith. Here again, and so soon his restless mind and teasing con- science urged him to compose a "treatise " against the Patent, which brought him into collision with the magis- trates, but upon submission, he was relieved from the threat- ened censure. Before the close of 1633, he returned to Salem, assisting the Rev. Mr. Skelton, but "in not any office." In August, 1634, after the death of Skelton, he was called to be teacher to the church. In November, 1634, he was summoned before the Court for having broken his promise "in teaching publicly against the King's patent." But at the March session, proceedings were again suspended, on the ground that his action sprang from " exemplary con- science rather than seditious principle." When the Court met again, April 30, a new charge was brought against him of withstanding the Freeman's oath. Early in the summer of 1635, the Salem Church proceeded with his ordination,
3
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
which led to his being cited before the Court, July 8, on the ground that "being under question for divers dangerous opinions " he had been called "in contempt of authority " to the office of teacher. At the October session of the Court, sentence was passed upon him, requiring him "to depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks." Being seized soon after with a serious illness, he was permitted to remain till spring, but as he persisted in maintaining and promulgating his opinions, it was decided in January, 1636, to send him to England. He fled to the forest. For four- teen weeks he wandered in the woods "not knowing what bread or bed did mean." In the spring of 1636, he began to "build and plant " at Seekonk, but in June, in conse- quence of a friendly intimation from the authorities of Ply- mouth that he had settled within their bounds, set about finding, as he hoped, a permanent abiding place. In June, looking across the Seekonk river, he saw a pleasant land crowned with noble trees just bursting into luxuriant foliage. The waters northward were attractive in their placid beauty. Behind was one irate colony, and another inhospitable ; before him was the Indian, whom he knew, and no white man to disturb, or be disturbed. Hitherto, however one may partition the indiscretions or the wrongs, Roger Wil- liams had found in America neither peace, nor the oppor- tunity for doing good. If, as must be confessed, he was legally wrong in impugning the validity of the Massachu- setts patent, it was because of a principle which he honestly and fully carried out when his time and temptation came. The Great and General Court of Massachusetts had exer- cised its authority ; Plymouth had warned him away; how would the red man receive him as one who came among them to stay. The future was as impenetrable as the forest
at midnight. One could only predict that whatever might come to pass Roger Williams would be Roger Williams still.
And here it is proper to ask in what spirit, and for what
4
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
purpose Roger Williams came into this then wilderness where only one white man, William Blackstone, had pre- ceded him in 1635, and who had settled at Study Hill, within the limits of the Plymouth Colony, now Cumberland, and on the banks of the Pawtucket, now called Blackstone river. It was no worldly ambition which impelled Williams forward; nor was it a simple desire for a peaceful and inac- tive life. No idea had entered his mind of forming a State. The five companions whom he permitted to cross the See- konk with him in his canoe, he brought at their request and from motives of compassion. His purpose was to preach to the Indians. In his own expressive language: "My soul's desire was to do the natives good." He was well educated; he had seen the power exercised by, and the great deference paid to the leaders in the colony of Massachusetts Bay ; in learning he was their equal ; in ability to gain the friendship of, and deal with the natives their superior, but he sought no personal aggrandizement, he was in heart and in intent a missionary to the heathen. And we may readily accept his own interpretation of his aims because his whole life bore out and exemplified the professions he made.
Nor did he come unprepared for his work. He had al- ready studied with equal diligence and effect the language of the natives; he had "lodged with them in their filthy smoky holes; " he had learned their ways, and had dis- ciplined himself to bear with, and by kindness to control them. Moreover, as he had conscientiously written against the King's patent in Massachusetts, so here he honestly acknowledged the rights of the aborigines, and procured of them the titles to the land he wished to acquire. He bought of the Indians, but not alone by presents or commercial pur- chase. "It was not," he says, "thousands, nor tens of thou- sands of money that could have bought an English entrance into this bay, but I was the procurer of the purchase by that language, acquaintance and favor with the natives, and
5
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
other advantages, which it pleased God to give me." The land was deeded to Williams by"Canonicus and"Miantono- mi, and was his own individual property "as much as any man's coat on his back." But desiring to make his purchase " a shelter for persons distressed for conscience," he "com- municated his purchase unto his loving friends." Now he has included in his benevolent purposes others besides the Indians, deeds an equal share with himself to twelve who were his companions, "and such others as the major part shall admit into the same fellowship of vote." And so was formed a Commonwealth in "the unmixed form of a pure democracy."
The first written compact so far as is now known, was in these words: "We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good of the body, in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present in- habitants, masters of families, incorporated together into a town fellowship, and such others whom they shall admit unto them, only in civil things." Such was the foundation, not only of a "lively experiment " in government, but of a com- munity in which the line of demarcation between the tem- poral and spiritual power was for the first time in the history of the world definitely and emphatically drawn. Obedience to the political authority, in a word to the government was to be, and only to be "in civil things." The doctrine of these men was not toleration, but liberty in religious belief. Law, Order, Liberty of Conscience. Upon this basis was
the government of Providence founded. And to-day the spirit of this band of pioneers rests upon and actuates the citizens of Rhode Island. The statute book, the tone and temper of the people, the institutions, the peculiarities of our several local communities bear witness as well to the vividness as to the strength of this theory of government.
6
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
And under this plain compact, and under a King's Charter, and under a written Constitution, ever and alike the demo- cracy and the religious liberty of the Commonwealth have been maintained.
The earliest conveyance of land, to be found in the records of Providence, is in these words :
" At Nanhiggansick the 24th of the first month commonly called March, in the second year of our plantation or planting at Mooshausick or Providence. Memorandum, that we Cannannicus and Meauntono- mi, the two chief sachems of Nanhiggansick, having two years since sold unto Roger Williams, the land and meadows upon the two fresh rivers called, Mooshausick and Wonasquatucket, do now by these presents, establish and confirm the bounds of those lands from the river and fields at Pawtucket, the great hill of Neotaconkonitt on the north west, and the town of Masapauge on the west. As also in consideration of the many kindnesses and services he hath continually done for us, both with our friends of Massachusetts, as also at Quin- ickicutt and Apaum or Plymouth, we do freely give unto him all that land from those rivers, reaching to Pawtnxet river, as also the grass and meadows upon the said Pawtuxet river. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.
The mark of
Canuaunicus.
The mark of
Meanntonomi.
In presence of
The mark of > Seatash.
The mark of > Assotemewit.
1639 Memorandum 3 mo. 9th day. This was all again confirmed by Miantonomi, he acknowledged this his act and hand, up the streams of Pawtucket and Pawtuxet without limits, we might have for the use of our cattle. Witness hereof
ROGER WILLIAMS. BENEDICT ARNOLD."
There is a copy of a deed from Roger Williams, or rather an informal grant from him, known as his "Initial deed," in
7
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
which he grants his "loving friends and neighbors " equal right and power of enjoyment and disposal of his purchase, together with such as the major part shall admit into the same fellowship of vote with us. This conveyance makes no mention of the lands on the Pawtucket river. This " Initial deed " was confirmed in technical language by deed of 1661, which deed Mary, the wife of Roger Williams also signed. The "Initial deed " was also again confirmed, the names being written out in full, the 22, 10 mo. 1666, so called.
During the first years of the colony the government was as has been said, a pure democracy. Town meetings were held monthly ; notice was required before any person could be voted in as a member of the community ; a fine was im- posed upon every person absent from any town meeting ; the town granted the allotments of land to new-comers ; every person was held to improve his or her grounds ; every person was prohibited from selling " his field or lot granted in our liberties to any person but an inhabitant, without consent of the town." And the town assumed and exercised the right of withholding the liberty of voting . from any one who should be guilty of "breach of cove- nant " with the town.
The first departure from the principles and practice of a pure democracy was made in 1640. It was now four years since the six had landed at "What Cheer " rock; already there were "many differences" in the small community which had gathered about the first settlers; but no differen- ces which they were not willing equitably, peaceably and economically to adjust. It may well have been also, that although the number of the inhabitants was so small, they found it necessary to contrive a more speedy method of doing business than by general vote; and this all the more that the town was as yet the legislature and the court. The few bore the burdens; the many were indifferent ; except
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