USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Glocester > A brief history of the town of Glocester, Rhode Island : preceded by a sketch of the territory while a part of Providence > Part 3
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Pensions were allowed invalid soldiers after the war.
The inhabitants were charitable and humane. In the Revolutionary war they used great efforts for promoting the independence of the colonies, and after the war was over, they, with great courage and energy, set about restoring their shattered fortunes.
To encourage home manufacture, the Assembly enacted an additional import duty on many foreign goods, both on implements of husbandry and wearing apparel.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Money* became so scarce that many rents were paid in grain, and by necessity industrial pursuits were well attended to ; also domestic manufacture was very much encouraged by legislative acts. Spinning of cotton was commenced about this time.
To make the people of this colony more independent, and to increase the making of linen cloth, an act was passed by the Assembly that a bounty of one penny be paid, lawful money, on every pound of good hemp or flax that should be raised in this State during the years 1786 and 1787. All flax raised for sale had to be examined by a justice of the peace or a warden, in the town, who also weighed the same in the pres- ence of the one who raised it. Upon the assurance that the flax was raised by himself, the justice or warden gave him a certificate to sell the same. For the certificate the man paid the justice one shilling. Very nice, fine and. whitened linen cloth was made in this town.
The men and women began now in good earnest to see what they could do to support themselves independent of foreign aid. Meetings of women of all ranks in life were held, where they learned to spin flax, and no lady con- sidered it beneath her dignity to spin or weave linen or woolen cloth for family use. The men set about to establish various mills for making boards, nails, etc., etc. Men of property and influence wore their American wool cloth instead of foreign-made. Mr. John Brown, of this town, in January, 1789, appeared in the General Assembly dressed in cloth made from the wool of his own sheep, kept on his
* Near a pond in the northwestern part of the town (now in Burrillville), in a rocky hill by a little running stream, is a den not easily to be found. It was all surrounded by brush and trees. Here a gang of men from sev- eral towns had a forge made, to make plated and silver coinage. They made the old 'S6 and the Spanish milled dollar, both plated and mixed. They were soon detected, the tools were taken and brought with the chief operators before the justice court at Chepachet. It was finally settled with the large number engaged in it. Silver was then scarce, but the dishonest way of adding to their coffers followed their reputation and gave great pain to many families.
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farm where he lived in this town. And the paper from which this was taken also adds that the yarn was spun by a woman 88 years of age.
In some families much fine linen was spun on a linen wheel, a curious and delicate piece of machinery, and it was quite an accomplishment to learn to use it. The flax was made free from its woody parts, hetcheled and drawn out long, then wound around a kind of distaff that was above the wheel ; a spool was in readiness for the thread to be wound around as it was spun. The movement of the foot on the pedal below, set the machinery in motion to twist the thread that the fingers were pulling from the flax on the distaff. Very nice and fine lawn linen was made, some of it striped with coarser thread, which made rich window and bed-curtains all whitened. Fine patterns of diaper for table cloths, and many and various other articles, including nearly all kinds of wearing apparel and bedding, were manufactured from wool and flax. Some of the towns-people will remember Nancy Bowen, who spun linen and made it into skeins of nice linen thread, and also thread for stockings. After getting ready as large a pack as she could carry, she would put on her famous patch dress and take the thread to her regular cus- tomers.
In 1783 a large number of inhabitants were very discom- fited on account of the continental bills and high taxes. Many persons lost a large part of their property by receiving the depreciated paper money. The insurrection broke out with violence. Armed men entered Glocester and towns in Connecticut, where they were joined with others to obstruct the payment of taxes ; persons were rescued who had been arrested by law. The infection so spread that a convention was called for the avowed purpose to pay no more taxes and to overthrow the government. The rioters not only seized cattle that had been taken for taxes, but prisoners while on trial. Deputy Governor Bowen acted with great energy at this critical time, causing the ringleaders to be arrested. United measures were taken by the three States to crush the insurrection.
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The leaders were prosecuted to the extent of the law. The rioters taken, soon confessed their crime and petitioned for pardon. Abraham Tourtellotte and John Phetteplace were among the number of the ringleaders.
The Providence Society for the Abolition of Slavery was incorporated about this time for the relief of persons held in bondage unlawfully, and for improving the African race. Several signed the petition from this town. The gradual abolition of slavery from this State was authorized on the first day of March, 1784, on this wise: "All children on or after the above date shall be free, and that such children shall be educated in the principles of morality, religion, and instructed in reading and arithmetic. The respective towns to bind out these children until boys are twenty-one and girls eighteen years."
Still it was discovered that some of the inhabitants sympa- thized with the mother country, and this with some other discordant elements hindered the carrying forward to settle accounts and raise funds authorized by the town.
In 1782 the Assembly passed an act punishing with death any one that should counterfeit the bills of the Bank of North America, the first paper money in the country that was redeemed in specie on presentation.
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
At a convention of the several States called and held in Philadelphia in 1787, the Articles of Confederation were revised and a Federal Constitution agreed upon to be sub- mitted to the people of the several States in convention, and by this means a number of copies were sent to each town clerk to be distributed among the inhabitants, that the free- men might have an opportunity to form their opinion on the proposed constitution. The number of said reports sent to the town of Glocester was sixty. It was further required that warrants be sent in time for convening the freemen and free- holders on the fourth Monday in March, 1788, to give their
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votes for the proposed constitution or against it. Notices of the above meeting were set up in the most public places, and to make it sure that all saw and understood it, the town ser- geant and constables were required to go to the residences of all the freemen and freeholders in the town, and give in person the notice of the above meeting. If very stormy, the convention would adjourn from day to day. The convention was held and the vote stood : yeas, 9; nays, 228.
The following are the names of freemen from this town who voted against the new constitution, 1788 :
John Andrews, Daniel Owen, Stephen Smith, Jirah Ballou, Stephen Steere, William Colwell, Jr., Ezekiel Brown, Enoch Steere, Samuel Phetteplace, Elisha Inman, Richard Coman, Charles Wood, David Inman, Esquire Luther, John Kimball, Daniel Brown, Amasa Eddy, Amos Winsor, Stephen Whip- ple, Samuel Cook, Israel Sayles, Timothy Jenne, Esek Smith, William Coman, Jocktan Putnam, Asa Burlingame, Thomas Howland, Stephen Evans, George Hunt, Benjamin Salsbury, James King, Jr., Joseph Howland, Nathan Paine, 3d, Zacheus Aldrich, Jeremiah Ballard, Jr., Josiah Brown, Daniel Smith, Nathaniel Wade, Stephen Woodward, Squire Williams, Preserved Herenden, John Phetteplace, Ezekiel Sayles, Stephen Colwell, Michael Cook, Stukely Turner, Caleb Arnold, Gideon Bishop, William Turner, Joshua Mathe- son, James Harris, Robert Sanders, Jr., Thomas Smith, Othnial Sanders, John Salsbury, Ebenezer Darling, Gideon Cook, Jacob Ballard, Asahel Stone, Adam Phillips, Obadiah Inman, Barzillia Dexter, Jonathan Cowan, George Brown, Andrew Darling, Thomas Steere, Robert Colwell, Jr., David Colwell, James Lewis, Joseph Davis, Elkana Brown, Amos Williams, Orial Hopkins, Olney Eddy, Chad Brown, David Ballou, John Inman, William Eddy, Joshua Cook, John Davis, Joseph Estin, Moses Cooper, Caleb Bartlett, Charles Colwell, Willard Eddy, Aaron Arnold, John Stone, Edward Davis, James Reynolds, Ishmael Sayles, Esek Whipple, Thomas Sayles, Barak Benson, John Whipple, Zebulon Wade, Ezra Brown, Solomon Herenden, Asa Ballou, John Wells, Jr.,
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Job Steere, Thomas Barnes, Samuel Potter, Daniel Barnes, Jesse Eddy, Christopher Sayles, James Stone, Aaron Logee, Henry Sanders, Ezra Steere, William Wilkinson, Simeon Place, Daniel Evans, Stephen Salsbury, Ebenezer Darling, John Howland, David Ballou (son of Samuel), Samuel May, Samuel Winsor, Jesse Potter, Simeon Sweet, Benajah Whip- ple, Aaron Winsor, James King, Charles Salsbury, Nicholas Potter, Jesse Armstrong, Silas Thayer, Elkanah Sherman, Simeon Smith, James Cowan, Thomas Wood, Benedict Bur- lingame, Eleazer Ballou, Jesse Lapham, John Mathewson, Jr., Noah Steere, Zebedee Hopkins, Jr., Basaleel Paine, Caleb Steere, Nathan Cooper, Caleb Steere, William Tourtellot, An- drew Herenden, Eliakim Phetteplace, Thomas Owen, Jr., Joseph Shippee, Andrew Phillips, William Wood, Elisha Bur- lingame, Elisha Steere, William Wade, Martin Smith, Sylvanus Cook, Thomas Burlingame, Ahab Sayles, Stephen Winsor, Reuben Mason, Benjamin Warner, Jethro Lapham, Rufus Williams, Solomon Lapham, William Arnold, Aaron Phillips, Ezekiel Phetteplace, Obadiah Fenner, Benjamin Hawkins, Joseph Hawkins, Jeremiah Irons, Jr., Moses Cooper, Jr., Jonathan Bowen, Jonathan Vallett, Edward Greene, William Hawkins, Benjamin Cowen, John Wells, Daniel Page, Joseph Keech, Joseph Brown, David Richardson, Stephen Aldrich, Jesse Aldrich, David Vallett, Seth Hunt, Jonathan Eddy, Jr., David Burlingame, Samuel Phetteplace, Jr., William Haw- kins, Jr., Jesse Winsor, Jesse Keech, Stephen Barnes, Elijah Armstrong, John Steere, Abraham Clarke, Joshua Luther, Joseph Phillips, William Page, Jr., John Cowan, Jr., Moses Taft, Ezekiel Phetteplace, Abia Luther, Peter Aldrich, John Perry, Nathaniel Bowditch, Jr., David Mowry, Solomon Owen, John Esten, Jr., Esek Brown, John Smithson, Stephen San- ders, Noah Eddy, Benjamin Paine, Stephen Cowen, Joseph Smith-largest number of nays of any town in the State.
The above votes were carefully sealed up and directed to the General Assembly, to meet by adjournment at East Greenwich, there to be opened and the opinion of the people
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of this town made known in regard to the adoption of the new constitution of the United States.
Thursday, the 26th day of November, 1789, was appointed as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer throughout this State, by Gov. Greene, and from that time until the present there has been but one omission of the above appointment by the Governor or Deputy.
Gov. Daniel Owen was one of the State's committe to draft a letter to the President of Congress stating the rejection of the constitution by this State.
Freemen from this town who voted in favor of the new Rhode Island constitution :
Benjamin Wilkinson, Jonathan Harris, Eleazer Harris, William Ross, Stephen Blackmar, Simon Smith, Thomas Owen, David Richmond, Jesse Brown, William Steere.
Ten voted for the constitution, and 227 against it.
The political affairs at this time called very decidedly for immediate active exertions of our freemen. A convention was called to meet at East Greenwich, in February, 1790, to again discuss the merits of adopting the new constitution, Hon. Daniel Owen and Stephen Steere, Esq., representing this town. An adjournment of the above meeting met at Newport the following May. Hon. Daniel Owen was chosen president of the convention. After much discussion and some amendments were made, the constitution was adopted May 29, 1790. With this act the existence of Rhode Island as a sovereign State ceased.
The convention at its close presented their thanks to Presi- dent Owen for the candor and impartiality with which he had discharged the office.
The following letter was written by the Hon. Daniel Owen, president of the State Convention that adopted the constitu- tion, to the President of the United States :
NEWPORT, May 29, 1790.
HONORED SIR :- I have the pleasing satisfaction of informing Your Ex- cellency that the constitution of the United States of America was this day ratified and adopted by the convention of the people of this State, agreea-
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bly to the recommendation of the General Convention assembled at Philadelphia and the consequent resolution of Congress thereon.
The lower House of the General Assembly of this State, at their session the former part of this month, passed a resolution requesting His Excel- lency, the Governor, in case the constitution should be adopted by the convention, to call the Assembly together, by warrant, as soon after the adoption as might be, for the special purpose of electing Senators and taking measures for a representation of the people of this State in Con- gress. I can, therefore, assure Your Exellency that in the course of a few days, not to exceed sixteen, the Legislature will be assembled, either by special warrant or pursuant to their adjournment, on the second Mon- day in June, when, I have not the least doubt, the Senators will be im- mediately appointed and the State represented in Congress agreeably to the constitution, as soon as the elections can be accomplished.
The ratification of the constitution will be made out and forwarded by the way of the post office with all possible expedition.
Col. William Barton, who is a member of the convention, will have the honor of delivering this letter.
With the highest sentiments of esteem and respect, I have the honor to be
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
DANIEL OWEN, President.
To the President of the United States.
There was still a great love for England and some had the hope that the Articles of Confederation might be revised in some way so as still to be under the protection of the mother country.
About this time a tax of 301 pounds 10 shillings and 7 pence, lawful money, was assessed on this town to be paid into the general treasury.
Slave trade in 1774 was disapproved of by the government. Still some persons bought and sold the African slave until forbidden by law in 1787.
The following advertisement was taken from the Providence Gazette, October 18, 1777 :
" Run away from John Fenner, of Glocester, a negro man named Yock- why, about 28 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, marked on both cheeks ; had on and took with him a light cloth-colored homespun coat, with wooden buttons, breeches of the same color, blue serge jacket, pair of good leather breeches, a fine Holland shirt, a fine tow shirt, a new pair of thread
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stockings, one pair of new dark worsted stockings, one pair of white ribbed yarn do., one dark silk handkerchief, one linen do., one good castor hat without loops, one felt do., one pair of shoes with strings, one pair of sil- ver sleeve buttons. Whoever will take up and secure said negro, and re- turn him to his master, shall have six dollars reward. All masters of ves- sels are forbidden to carry off said negro at their peril.
(Signed,) JOHN FENNER."
Several land owners sold farms about this time. The fol- lowing is from the Gazette of March, 1776:
To BE SOLD OR LET .- A farm lying in the northerly part of Glocester, containing 250 acres, adjoining Herring Pond; 150 acres are within good fence, 7 or 8 acres of rye in the ground, and is capable of producing 300 bushels of corn; it has a sufficient quantity of meadow, pasture and plow- ing land, will keep 20 head of cattle and is well timbered; has a good dwelling house, corn crib, two hovels; also an orchard. Apply to
BENJAMIN BOWEN, Providence.
As early as 1791 the population of the town had so in- creased that in the northern part the men found it so incon- venient to go to Chepachet to attend town meetings that a petition was sent from the town to the General Assembly to have the town divided. The petition was received, but for various reasons the division was postponed.
All male persons of twenty-one years and upwards, except ministers of the gospel, paid a poll tax. For several years mothers had the entire responsibility of their children, man- aging their affairs in the most frugal manner, and living on the resources of the town as far as possible. Weddings were celebrated without cake made of wheat flour; ribbons and many foreign articles of wear were not then worn. All con- siderate persons realized that to sustain the strength of the new independent nation, great wisdom, uprightness and in- telligence must be sought and adhered to. Sidney Smith has well said "That civilization does not simply consist in having better china and adornments, but to be just and noble in conduct."
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
THE WAR OF 1812.
After Washington resigned his commission and our nation had been acknowledged free by England, our people had to struggle hard to meet the exigencies of an independent nation. England foresaw what we had to encounter, and solaced her- self with the hope that we should be divided by civil broils and again might be restored to Great Britain. But fortu- nately for America, at this juncture she possessed some very able and wise men, who had great influence over their fellow- citizens. In 1812 it became evident that decisive measures must be taken to secure our rights and privileges. Our sea- men were impressed into the English service, our commerce, by some acts of their's, was nearly swept from the ocean, and contrary to express stipulation, she refused to give up some military posts at the west and other important points of vital interest to the new republic.
In view of these facts and other serious encroachments, on June 18, 1812, war was declared with the mother country. In this declaration the citizens of this town took an active interest. The military was at once put on a war footing. Fort Independence, on Robin Hill, Field's Point, Providence, was thrown up to protect the harbor. Members from this town assembled at Chepachet, spade in hand. When all were ready, the commander called out, "Shoulder shovels- march !" All classes joined in making the defense-a breast- work was thrown up and a ditch around it. Some portions of it still remain. Soldiers received eight dollars per month and bounty from the town.
December 24, 1814, a treaty of peace was concluded. Since that time the two countries have been very friendly. Great depression in business prevailed at this time.
Military officers in the revolutionary and colonial periods, from this town :
Chad Brown, Stephen Winsor, Samuel May, John Smith, Jonah Steere, John Colwell, Dr. Reuben Mason, Caleb Arnold,
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Elisha Bartlett, Asa Kimball, Simeon Brown, Israel Cooke, Nathaniel Wade, Isaac Ross, Jeremiah Ross, Stephen Kim- ball, Benajah Whipple, Edward Solway, Arnold Smith, Ezekiel Phetteplace, Henry Whipple, Simon Smith, Elijah Armstrong, Solomon Owen, Jeremiah Whipple, Abner Chil- son, Esek Brown, Seth Ross, John Pray, Benjamin Colwell, John Colwell, Abraham Tourtellot, David Richmond, Na- thaniel Blackmar, Samuel Thornton, John Phetteplace, James Colwell, Peter Lewis, Zephaniah Keach, John Whipple, Henry Wheeler, Edward Salsbury, Jeremiah Irons, Richard Tucker, Abraham Winsor, Zebulon Wade, Israel Smith, Asa Bow- dish, Asa Kimball, William Herenden, Richard Steere, John Eddy, Stephen Olney, John Bowen, Benjamin Burlingame, Stephen Irons, Richard Lewis, Daniel Mathewson, Stephen Paine, Aaron Arnold, Martin Smith, Caleb Sheldon, Simon Smith, Eliakim Phetteplace, Ezekiel Brown, Timothy Wil- marth, Zephaniah Smith, Daniel Owen, Stephen Kimball.
DIVISION OF THE TOWN IN 1806.
At a town meeting held on the 27th of August, 1805, the division of the town was again discussed and a committee appointed, consisting of Zebedee Hopkins, Seth Hunt, Abraham Winsor, Daniel Tourtelott, Baralael Paine, Joctan Putnam and Edward Waldron, to draft a petition to divide the town as near as might be into two equal parts, thereby to form two towns, and present it to the next Assembly, which was to meet on the 16th of April, 1806. The petition was presented and granted to divide the town by drawing a line through the middle of the town from east to west, the northern . part to be called Burrillville, in honor of the Attorney General of the State, the Hon. James Burrill. In recognition of this act, Mr. Burrill presented the town a full set of books to keep the town records. The southern half retained the favorite name, Glocester.
The town being divided, an equal division of the poor was made between the two towns, also all debts due or owing,
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and money belonging to the town, said division to be settled and made in proportion to the last tax assessed ; the boundary to be established. The town is nearly five miles from north to south, and nearly eleven miles from east to west, con- taining fifty-three and three-tenths square miles. The business meetings of the town of Burrillville were to be held at Pascoag. Glocester town meetings are held as formerly at Chepachet. The town council meet here. The council- men are chosen annually at a regularly appointed meeting of from five to seven freeholders; a majority constitutes a quorum. It is their duty to annually examine the jury boxes in April, and reject any names that have become disqualified from any cause. They may appoint clerks pro tempore of the council and also town clerk pro tempore during the disability of the regular one, and see to the right use of all charitable aid. The councilmen are ex-officio the board of health ; may adjudge the settlement of paupers and order them removed ; may remove or bind out bad persons ; may lay out highways and driftways ; may grant licenses and recall them ; may remove nuisances and regulate the assize of bread, etc.
The town council constitutes a Court of Probate. This court has the power to take the probate of wills, grant letters of administration, appoint guardians to minors, idiots, etc.
Every person who is a citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one, has resided in the State one year, and in the county six months in which he offered his vote, was a legal voter up to 1846 under the following regulations : Any native or naturalized citizen, without regard to color, who is the oldest son, or others who are possessed of landed property valued at one hundred and thirty-four dollars, or renting for seven dollars per annum."
The town was incorporated and bounded north by Burrillville, east by Smithfield, south by Scituate and west by Killingly and Thompson in Connecticut. The rules of organization at that time were nearly the same as at present. In 1797, the title of Deputy was changed to Representative.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
In 1810, four years after Glocester was divided, the town contained four hundred dwelling houses, a population of 2,310 ; two clothiers' works, six grain mills, four manufactur- ing establishments, seven or eight mercantile stores, two religious societies, twelve private schools, and one good social library.
ROADS.
Previous to the town of Glocester being set off from Providence, a road had been laid out from Providence village to Woodstock, passing through what are now the towns of North Providence, Johnston, Smithfield and Glocester to the road in Connecticut that leads to Woodstock. This road was a large country road, and much used. In 1788 so much of it had been taken by private persons that the travelling at some seasons had become very difficult. To repair said road, a petition from the several towns was presented to the Assem- bly, asking that the road might be relaid to its original width. It was granted, and Thomas Owen, Esq., of Glocester, Caleb Harris, Esq., of Johnston, Stephen Brayton, Esq., of Smith- field, and Mr. Thomas Olney, of North Providence, were appointed a committee to relay and open the road three rods wide, its original width, the aforesaid towns paying all expen- ses. The committee decided to petition for a lottery to raise twelve hundred dollars to aid in paying the repairs. The petition was granted, and Messrs. Timothy Wilmarth, Thomas Owen, Solomon Owen, Jr., Edward Greene and Nathaniel Bowditch were appointed directors of said lottery. The money was raised and the road repaired.
In 1774 there was a road laid out from Providence to East Hoosick, through Glocester. In 1792 there was a road from Providence to Albany through this town ; also there was a road through this town in 1792 to Hartford, Ct., and Brook- field, Mass.
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