USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island Historical Society : sketch of its history, with list of papers read at its stated meetings > Part 1
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GEN
J ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L 3 1833 03421 0150
Gc 974.5 R3440 Rhode Island Histories! Society
RHODE ISLAND
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY
WITH
LIST OF PAPERS READ AT ITS STATED MEETINGS.
HISTORIC
ONVISI-
1642
SHAWOMET
1638
AQUIDNECK.
RHOD
MOOSHASUCK.
1636
SOCIETY.
1822
PROVIDENCE PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY SNOW & FARNHAM.
15.0.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
Reprinted from PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 1 $$9-90.
97/26
GEN
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SOCIETY,
WITH A
Chronological List of Lectures and Papers,
READ AT STATED MEETINGS FROM 1835 to 1889, INCLUSIVE.
(PREPARED BY THE SECRETARY.)
THE origin of the Rhode Island Historical Society, the circumstances which led to its formation, and the aims of its founders, all well understood forty or fifty years ago, were thrown into comparative obscurity by the pressing events of our Civil War. To bring these matters again to view, and thus promote a better understanding of the success of the Society, and also of the duties devolving on its mem- bers and citizens of the State, is the object of this paper.
The Society owes its origin to a spirit of inquiry and re- search manifested long before steps were taken for its formation. The need of such an institution was felt and the way was prepared for it by men who early entered the historie field and labored without the advantages of asso- ciate action.
The founders of the State and the men of their day were followed in due time by men who appreciated their work 'and strove to perpetuate their memory by making a record of what they did. Of the latter class, were notably the Rev. John Callender, Governor Stephen Hopkins, Friend Moses Brown, Senator Theodore Foster and their compeers.
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They led the way to a connected and truthful history of the State, and their services are appreciated by their successors in this line of labor.
The Society's records and public journals show that there was, in 1822, a newly-awakened interest in historical pur- suits, and that there was then earnest inquiry after authentic documents belonging to various periods of these Planta- tions. A Revolutionary soldier, who became the second president of this Society, is reported to have spoken as follows :
" From the settlement of the Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations, more than a hundred and eighty years ago, valuable historie material has been wasting away year by year without any concerted effort being put forth to save it and use it in the interest of veritable history."
It was stated that through ignorance or other causes some valuable historical records had been converted into pulp for paper, some had been used for kindling fires, and some had been accidentally burned ; and the hope was ex- pressed that the Society might prevent similar losses in time to come, and secure for historical purposes the valua- ble family, town and State records then in existence .*
* It is a matter of regret that the hope thus expressed has not been realized. Many losses have occurred since that time. Some valuable documents have been de- stroyed because they were kept in unsafe places; some because their historic value was not understood by those who owned them or had them in charge, and some for other reasons that need not be stated. It is proved that stores, shops, dwelling-houses, and even some buildings called town-houses or town halls, are not fire-proof. The following losses, of which the secretary of this Society has authentic information, are a few of the many that have occurred :
The town records of North Kingstown were injured and narrowly escaped complete destruction from an accidental fire, December 16, 1870. The numerous manuscripts of United States Senator Elisha Mathewson, including antograph letters of Thomas Jeffer- son and other historic men who lived in the latter part of the last century and in the early part of this,-these, with Mr. Mathewson's library and portraits of himself and wife (partially promised for the archives of this Society) were all destroyed February 6, 1870, together with the house in which they were kept in the town of Scituate. The many exceedingly valuable records of the proprietors of the Providence Plantations, kept in a wooden chest in a paper and twine warehouse, were all reduced to ashes in the Aldrich House fire that occurred February 15, 1888. A large collection of manuscripts left by the late Deputy Governor and Chief Justice Danlel Owen, who presided over the convention that adopted the National Constitution in 1790, were kept in Judge
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After deliberation, a meeting was called and held at No. 3, South Main Street, Providence, on the 19th of April, 1822, the time being noted as the anniversary of the skir- mishes at Lexington and Concord. Jeremiah Lippitt was elected chairman and William R. Staples secretary of that meeting, and measures were then and there adopted for the formation of this Society and for its incorporation by the General Assembly. On the 29th of the following June a meeting of the corporators* of the Society was held at the old Manufacturers' Hotel (kept then by John Wilde, at No. 65 North Main street, opposite the First Baptist Church). The charter introduced into the General Assem-
Owen's family mansion in Glocester till about a third of a century ago, when one of his grundsons submitted them to the flames, assigning as a reason for this Het that they never had been wanted and probably never would be. Another considerable collection of manuscripts, left by Col. John Singer Dexter, a distinguished officer of the Continental army,-manuscripts, some of which were personal sketches, entitled " Memoranda Con- cerning the Society of the Cincinnati," of which Colonel Dexter was successively treas- urer, secretary, vice-president and president,-were burned by a descendant of Colonel Dexter to get them out of the way. Still another lot of manuscript, left by Captain Daniel Singer Dexter, who, on necount of his remarkable skill us n penman served a + clerk or secretary for many organizations during and subsequent to the Revolution, were burned n quarter of u century ago by n descendant of his to get possession of a trunk in which they were kept.
But though fire has made sad havoc of historical documents, paper-makers are of late reputed to be more efficient agents of mischief. During the War of the Rebellion the registers of the public schools of Providence, some of them dating back to 1st0 and containing records that would have promptly settled more than one legal controversy. were. all delivered over to the paper-makers, and thus used up. Among the tons of materials annually sent off from dwelling houses to pass through junk shops on thelr way to paper mills, are usually some books, pamphlets or manuscripts which, If saved, would greatly enrich the library of this Soclety : and to this end an appeal is here made to the public, In the hope of having valuable material rescued from destruction and the interests of history thereby promoted.
Bearing in mind the principle that historical records should not only be preserved, but be put in such order that they can be readlly consulted, we give, In illustration of this principle, the following extraet from a letter lately written by a gentleman who Is deeply interested in this his ancestral State: "The people of Rhode Island should not only guard against the destruction of their enrly town records, but should have such classi- tied and indexed copies of them made as will render their lessons available to all who wish to be Instructed thereby."
* The following are the names of the twelve corporators . Jeremiah Lippltt, William Aplin, Charles Norris Tebbitts, Walter R. Danforth, William R. Staples, Richard W. Greene, John Brown Francis, Willlam G. Goddard, Charles F. Tillinghast, Richard J. Arnold, Charles Jackson, William E. Richmond.
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bly at its May session and passed in June was received and adopted, and measures were taken to secure a constitution embodying suitable by-laws and rules of action. It was voted at this meeting that the annual election of officers should take place on the anniversary of the granting of the charter of 1663, viz., July 19, corresponding to July 8, old style. Accordingly, on that historic day, in the hotel before named, the first annual officers were elected, the venerable Moses Brown serving as chairman and William R. Staples as secretary, and for twenty-six years the anni- versaries of the charter of 1663 and of the establishment of this Society were observed together. The names of the distinguished members enrolled and officers elected from that time down to January, 1888, may be found in the "Proceedings of the Society, 1887-88."
Thus organized, the Society promptly issued a circular, informing the people of the State of the objects it had in view, and inviting them to co-operate in collecting and turn- ing to account such manuscripts, printed works and other material as might serve to illustrate State, family and local history. One of the earliest responses to this appeal was an autobiographical sketch from Col. Christopher Lippitt, of Revolutionary memory, and this was followed by con- tributions from Moses Brown, Theodore Foster, Henry Bull, John Brown Francis, William Giles Goddard, William Aplin, Zachariah Allen, and other like-minded citizens, who, with their successors down to the present time, merit the honor of having their gifts kept in a safe, commodious and attractive building.
The records show that the Society was early nursed and encouraged by the State, receiving from it $500 when that sum was more to it than $5,000 would be to-day. From 1822 to 1834 the Society was the guest of the State, hold- ing its meetings, with the manifest approbation, if not by invitation, of the General Assembly in the Senate chamber, and keeping its collections on one side of that room in cases
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furnished gratuitously by the Providence Library Company. In the course of twelve years the Society outgrew its quar- ters in the Senate chamber, and was cramped for the lack of room for its collections. When this fact became known to Messrs. Brown & Ives they offered the free use of what is termed in the records "a spacious room (their present counting room) in their brick block on South Main street." The Society gratefully accepted the offer. At the end of two years Mr. Cyrus Butler expressed his appreciation of the Society as a conservator of the material interests of the community, and offered it still ampler accommoda- tion in the upper story of the Arcade, which offer it grate- fully accepted, and held its meetings and kept its collections in room 53 of that building for the next eight years, when it removed (in 1844) to its present Cabinet ; and now, after having occupied this building forty-five years, it finds itself more cramped for room than ever before. With its re- newed life and the general interest awakened in historical pursuits, it now painfully realizes its need of means to carry forward the work for which it was organized. In Newport the Society was for a long time generously cared for by the Redwood Library Company.
During the first twenty-seven years of its existence the business of the Society was mainly transacted through the agency of a board of trustees and of its committees. Its early records contain long and elaborate reports and letters, furnishing ample evidence of interest and diligence in col- lecting material for local history and in preparing for the publication of the first volumes of its "Collections "; but they fail to show that any lectures or papers (other than reports or letters) were given or read before the Society during a period of thirteen years. The first record on this subject was to the effect that the Hon. William Hunter, of Newport, would address the Society at the State House on the 30th of October, 1828, and a subsequent record shows that on Mr. Hunter's failing to appear at the appointed
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time, the members consoled themselves therefor by a fes- tive and social entertainment. In 1834 an earnest but un- successful effort was made to have lectures that would awaken interest in the objects of the Society and enrich its treasury.
In 1835-36, however, twelve lectures were given in Franklin Hall, the efficient President of the Society, John Howland, presiding on each occasion and reading the first paper. Many of the tickets to these lectures are still pre- served, having upon them the printed name of T. H. Webb, secretary, and the clear autograph of T. W. Dorr, treas- urer.
In the winter of 1836-37, a second course of lectures, ten in number, was given, President Howland reading the first paper, and introducing the lecturers at the subsequent meet- ings.
In December, 1837, through the influence of the Society, but without its agency, the Rev. C. W. Upham, then pastor of the church in Salem, from which Roger Williams was driven into exile, gave in Franklin Hall a course of three lectures, entitled "The Life, Adventures and Character of Roger Williams."
Attention is here called to the appended chronological list of lectures and papers read before the Society from 1835 to 1889, inclusive. In making up the first part of this list it has been found necessary to have recourse to the newspapers of the day, and it is not improbable that, owing to omissions in the early records, some papers are omitted that belong on the list.
Long as the list is, it would be much longer but for the adoption of a rule excluding letters, reports, the annual addresses of the presidents of the Society, and many other papers which constitute an important part of the history of the institution. Thus, though the Canonicus Memorial in the North Burial Ground was erected and dedicated under the auspices of the Society on the 21st of Septem-
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ber, 1883, the valuable papers that were read on that occa- sion are not included in the list for the reason that they were not read at a stated meeting of the Society. In like manner many other papers that are referred to in the records, but were not formally read, are omitted : notably, a paper from Gen. Guy M. Fessenden, of Warren, in 1846, on " How Roger Williams Came from Salem to Providence," a paper still preserved in the archives of the Society ; one from Judge Alfred Bosworth, which was promised to be read in January, 1858, on "The Annexation, or Re-annex- ation, of the Eastern Towns of the State"; and also sev- eral lectures by Walter R. Danforth, Albert G. Greene and William H. Helme, in Pioneer Hall, South Main street, on the antiquities of Providence and explanatory of the build- ings and places noted on the drop-scene of the old Provi- dence Theatre, exhibited in that hall in connection with numerous historic paintings, manuscripts, relics and memo- rials of various kinds, during a period of seven successive weeks, beginning on the 7th of September, 1859. The oration pronounced on the site of the Battle of Rhode Island by the President of the Society, the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, August 28, 1878, is not mentioned, because, though the celebration was inaugurated by the Society, the direction of it was given up to the Veteran Corps Association of the Providence Light Infantry. It is proper to state that in our account of various anniversary and commemora- tive occasions we have noted on the list only the leading papers read.
To render the list more useful as an index to sources of information some abbreviated references and explanations are introduced :
Thus, the letter P., following the title or subject, indicates that the paper is printed in book or pamphlet form ; Proc., that it is printed in the " Proceedings " of the Society ; Coll., in the "Collections"; Jour., in the Providence Journal ;
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MS., that a manuscript copy is in the archives of the So- ciety ; and other corresponding abbreviated terms are used.
Information is desired in regard to a good number of the many papers that are on the list, and not in the hands of the Society. Some of these are the result of much research and investigation. Copies are solicited, particularly of those that were read at an early period, and relate to our local history.
The hope is entertained that this list may lead to the pro- duction not merely of a list of the books, reports and cir- culars the Society has issued or been instrumental in bringing out, but of a printed catalogue of the library, with its varied historie and artistic treasures, consisting of colonial, State and town documents, family keepsakes and memorials of the founder and first settlers of the State, the promoters of its industries, and the benefactors of its people.
A catalogue, however, cannot be made till the new build- ing is completed and shelves, cases and walls are provided where the books, pamphlets, paintings and material, of whatever nature, can be placed and securely kept. Such a catalogne, with suitable building accommodations, can hardly fail to promote the usefulness of the library and of the So- ciety, and will furnish evidence that the purpose of the Society, as indicated in the following clause of its charter, has been borne in mind : "Created a body corporate and politic for the purpose of procuring and preserving what- ever relates to the topography, antiquities and the national, civil and ecclesiastical history of the State."
The history of the State and of its institutions and dis- tinguished men thus becomes the distinctive object of the Society, as proclaimed by its founders and set forth in its charter. The State, through its General Assembly, early manifested a high appreciation of the Society. It made it the custodian of important documents of various kinds, and established a semi-official relation that has been maintained
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to the present time. The Society has thus come, by com- bined action and effort, to occupy a position of peculiar interest, responsibility and usefulness. It has acquired in the course of three-score and eight years many rare vol- umes, manuscripts and various historic treasures, which the State, with all its material wealth, ean ill afford to lose or disregard. The Society has in its Cabinet the means of determining many titles to real estate and of settling, with- out litigation, many vexatious local controversies, and many questions of interest to the different towns. By keeping in view ancient land-marks and beacons, while new ones are being made, it affords a means of safety and protection in the guidance of the Ship of State. The Society is doing for the cause of sound learning and popular intelligence a kind of service which our schools and libraries, public and private, however good. cannot render-a kind of service to secure which some of the States of this Union make large annual appropriations. *
* The following letter shows what the State of Wisconsin is doing, and other state- ments of this kind might readily be addueed :
ROOMS OF
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN.
MADISON.
REUBEN G. THWAITES,
Corresponding Secretary.
1-26, 1890.
Mr. Amos Perry :
DEAR SIR, -I have your note of the 24th. This Society's financial resources are :
GENERAL. FUND.
Annual appropriation from State,
$3 000 00
From this, we pay our cataloguer $750, purchase books, pay freight bills nnd miscellaneous expenses.
BINDING FUND. Raised by gifts, membership dues and sale of duplicates.
Cash on hand (Dec. 31, 1889.) and out on lonn, . $ 19,93 08
In addition to this we have bequests, real estate and notes (gifts from members) not yet available, enough to make the fund stund. $:3.133 0S
ANTIQUARIAN FUND.
Raised In shullar manner to Binding Fund.
Cash on hand and on loun,
$103 08
Notes not yet available,
10 00
$143 08
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For about fifteen years the Society has been the custo- dian of all the bound volumes of newspapers belonging to the State, and for a much longer period of various other documents ; and it has extended to every citizen of the State the same right to examine and read these works as is enjoyed by its own members. Its Cabinet is the resort for genealogical and historical purposes of persons from differ- ent parts of the State and from different States of the Union, including among the number many descendants of Rhode Island, seeking here information in regard to their ances- tors. The Secretary of the Society is, from the force of circumstances, the medium of a considerable correspondence in regard to Rhode Island historical topics-a correspond- ence which would otherwise devolve on the Secretary of State or not take place. For these and all its varied ser- vices, promotive of the moral and material interests of the State, the Society has annually received for about ten years five hundred dollars.
The Society is bound by the letter and spirit of its char- ter, as well as by its relations to the State, to procure and preserve historic material, and to stimulate and encourage historical inquiries and investigations, with the view of secur- ing the best possible history of the State. But it had bet- ter be understood that though the Society is a responsible agent, as stated above, it cannot efficiently carry forward
Our binding fund Is steadily growing, though we spend $850 yearly out of its income. One-half of our membership dues and sale of duplicates goes to this fund and half to the Antiquarian.
In addition to the General Fund the State gives us, by standing appropriation, the salaries of the Secretary, Chief Librarian and First Assistant Librarian. We are also given quarters In the State House, light, fuel, janitors, repairs, postage, stationery and all necessary printing-are, in fact, treated as one of the departments of the State gov- ernment, except the Society, a non-partisan body, controls its affairs. The Society is by law the trustee of the State, and amenuble to the Legislature. Its library is partially the lilstorical and miscellaneous portion of the state Library. The State Library, 80 called, Is In the same building, but has only law books, and is managed by the Supreme Court.
Very truly yours, REUBEN G. THWAITES.
P. S .- I suppose that we cost the State in the neighborhood of $12,000 or $14,000 per year.
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its appropriate work unless it have, in addition to its present resources, either a larger annual appropriation from the State, or the income of a large publication and working fund, together with the cordial co-operation and support of intelligent and public-spirited citizens. To bring out such accurate, scholarly and well-illustrated historical work as will reflect credit on the State and promote the intelligence and well-being of its people is an enterprise which, if under- stood, can hardly fail to be approved and sustained.
As the publications of the Society give some idea of work that has been donc, and of the sphere of influence that has been occupied, they are described under the following headings :
A. - Collections. B. - Proceedings. C. - Miscellaneous Papers.
A .- The Collections of the Society comprise seven octavo volumes, whose respective subjects or titles, authors and years of publication are as follows : Vol. I .- A Key into the Language of America, by Roger Williams ; reprinted in 1827 from a manuscript procured by Zachariah Allen from the Bodleian Library in Oxford, Eng., which manu- script was carefully compared with the printed copy of the same work in the possession of the Massachusetts Histori- cal Society. The original was printed in London in 1643 .. Vol. II .- Simplicity's Defence against Seven-Headed Pol- icy. By Samuel Gorton. Edited by Win. R. Staples. 1835. Vol. III .- The Early History of Narragansett. By Elisha R. Potter, Jr. 1835. Vol. IV .- Century Sermon of the Settlement of Newport, in 1739. By Rev. John Callender. Edited by Romeo Elton. 1838. Vol. V .- Annals of Providence, from its Settlement in 1636 till 1832. By Wm. R. Staples. 1843. Vol. VI .- Contents : I. The Invasion of Canada in 1775. II. Revolutionary Cor-
. Coll. R. I. Ilist. Soc'y, Vol. I., p. 4.
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respondence. III. Morgan Edwards' History of the Bap- tists in Rhode Island. Edited by Edwin M. Stone. 1867. Vol. VII .- Contents : I. Early Attempts at Rhode Island History, by Stephen Hopkins and Theodore Foster. Edited by William E. Foster. II. The Narragansetts. By Henry C. Dorr. III. Early Votaries of Natural Science in Rhode Island. By Charles W. Parsons. IV. The First Com-
mencement of Brown University. By Reuben A. Guild. V. The British Fleet in Rhode Island. By George C. Mason. VI. Nicholas Easton vs. The City of Newport. By George C. Mason. 1885.
B .- The Proceedings of the Society consist of eighteen octavo pamphlets or unbound volumes, varying in size from 40 to 216 pages. A volume of these Proceedings has been issued in the early part of each year, from 1872 to 1889, inclusive. These publications contain a good number of original papers, new and old; reprints of some rare old documents ; much local history ; necrological notices of members of the Society who have died since the publica- tion was begun, and a somewhat detailed account of the transactions of the Society during this period.
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