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 5
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1800. Senior Class Company-Nathan Cooper, Captain ; Esek Brown, Lieutenant ; Aaron Logee, Ensign.
First Company-Samuel Steere, Jr., Captain ; Richard Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Pascal W. Wheeler, Ensign.
Second Company-Nathan Williams, Captain ; Jesse In- man, Lieutenant ; Peregrine Mathewson, Ensign.
Third Company-Oliver Owen, Captain ; Jenckes Sprague, Lieutenant ; Adfer Eddy, Ensign.
Fourth Company-Ezekiel Emerson, Captain ; Esek Paine, Lieutenant ; Stephen Thayer, Ensign.
Fifth Company-James Reynolds, Captain ; Jonathan Thornton, Lieutenant ; Eleazer Clarke, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Sixth Company-John Greene, Captain ; Amasa Evans, Lieutenant ; Nicholas Brown, Ensign.
Officers of Light Infantry, Glocester :
1800. Joseph Steere, Captain ; Jesse Botte, First Lieu- tenant ; Tristam Burgess, Second Lieutenant ; William Car- penter, Ensign.
1806. Thomas Brown, Captain ; Moses Hawkins, First Lieutenant ; Robert Steere, Second Lieutenant ; Obadiah Smith, Ensign.
1807. Robert Steere, Captain ; Obed Smith, First Lieu- tenant ; Chad Sayles, Second Lieutenant ; Jonathan Paine, Ensign.
1808. Robert Steere, Captain ; Obed Smith, First Lieu- . tenant ; Chad Sayles, Second Lieutenant ; Jonathan Paine, Ensign.
1810. Chad Sayles, Captain ; Jonathan Paine, First Lieu- tenant ; Elisha Sayles, Second Lieutenant; William Carpen- ter, Ensign.
1814. Arnold Brown, Captain ; Samuel Potter, First Lieu- tenant ; Sayles Brown, Second, Lieutenant ; Rufus Brown, Ensign.
1815. Arnold Brown, Captain ; Samuel Potter, First Lieu- tenant ; Sayles Brown, Second Lieutenant ; Uriah Colwell, Ensign.
1816. Samuel Potter, Captain ; Sayles Brown, First Lieu- tenant ; Job Armstrong, Second Lieutenant ; Uriah Colwell, Ensign.
1820. Job Armstrong, Captain ; Uriah Colwell, First Lieutenant ; Theodore F. Millard, Second Lieutenant ; John Young, Ensign.
1821. First Company-Welcome Aldrich, Captain ; John W. Smith, Lieutenant ; Elisha Winsor, Ensign.
Second Company-Christopher Winsor, Captain ; Thayer Bellows, Lieutenant ; Rufus Steere, Ensign.
Third Company-George Brown, Captain ; Solomon Clarke, Lieutenant ; Amasa Smith, Ensign.
56
HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
In 1821 the Glocester Light Infantry and the Burrillville and Glocester Washington United Cavalry were revived, and said companies were attached to the Twelfth Regiment of the Militia, in the Second Brigade, in this State, and subject to the command of the officers of that regiment.
1803. Twelfth Regiment of State Militia from Glocester : Anan Evans, Major, and Richard Burlingame, Second Major.
First Company-Pascal P. Wheeler, Captain ; Samuel Bowen, Lieutenant ; Robert Aldrich, Ensign.
Second Company-Peregrine Mathewson, Captain ; John Wallen, Lieutenant ; Rufus Smith, Ensign.
Third Company-Ebenezer Felch, Captain ; John Arm- strong, Lieutenant ; Stephen Thayer, Ensign.
Fourth Company-Stephen Thayer, Captain ; John Arnold, Lieutenant ; Arnold Sayles, Ensign.
Fifth Company-Eleazer Clarke, Captain ; Thomas Bur- gess, Lieutenant ; Othnil Saunders, Ensign.
Sixth Company-Nicholas Brown, Captain ; Daniel Med- bury, Lieutenant ; Seth Hunt, Jr., Ensign.
1804. First Company-Samuel Bowen, Captain ; Esek Page, Lieutenant ; Bani Phillips, Ensign.
Second Company-Peregrine Mathewson, Captain ; John Wallen, Lieutenant ; Rufus Smith, Ensign.
Third Company-Ebenezer Felch, Captain ; John Arm- strong, Lieutenant ; Stephen Eddy, Ensign.
Fifth Company-Thomas Burgess, Captain ; Othnil Saun- ders, Lieutenant ; Henry Wheeler, Jr., Ensign.
Sixth Company-Nicholas Brown, Captain ; George Olney, Lieutenant ; Jeptha Hunt, Ensign.
1805. First Company-Bani Phillips, Captain ; Esek Page, Lieutenant ; Ezekiel Cornell, Ensign.
Second Company-Peregrine Mathewson, Captain ; John Wallen, Lieutenant ; Rufus Smith, Ensign.
Third Company-Ebenezer Felch, Captain ; John Arm- strong, Lieutenant ; Stephen Eddy, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Fourth Company-John Arnold, Captain ; Arnold Sayles, Lieutenant ; David Burlingame, Ensign.
Fifth Company-Thomas Burgess, Captain ; Othnial Saunders, Lieutenant ; Henry Wheeler, Jr., Ensign.
Sixth Company-Nicholas Brown, Captain ; George Olney, Lieutenant; Job Phetteplace, Ensign.
1807. After the town of Glocester was divided, the town was required to furnish but three companies : Robert Steere, Major, for the Twelfth Regiment.
First Company-Job Phetteplace, Captain ; Thomas R. Eddy, Lieutenant ; Joseph Brown, Ensign.
Second Company-Ezekiel Cornell, Captain ; Asa Borden, Lieutenant ; Ira P. Evans, Ensign.
Third Company-Henry Wheeler, Jr., Captain ; Joseph Hammond, Lieutenant ; Jacob Clarke, Ensign.
1808. First Company-Job Phetteplace, Captain ; Thomas R. Eddy, Lieutenant ; Joseph Brown, Ensign.
Second Company-Ezekiel `Cornell, Captain ; Asa Borden, Lieutenant ; Amasa Eddy, Ensign.
Third Company-Henry Wheeler, Jr., Captain ; Joseph Hammond, Lieutenant ; Jacob Clarke, Ensign.
1810. Anthony Sprague and John Eddy, Majors.
First Company-Thomas R. Eddy, Captain ; Joseph Brown, Lieutenant ; Zephaniah Keech, Ensign.
Second Company-Amasa Eddy, Jr., Captain; Esten Owen, Lieutenant ; Seth Peckham, Ensign.
Third Company-Joseph Hammond, Captain ; Jacob Clarke, Lieutenant ; David Page, Ensign.
1811. First Company-Joseph Brown, Captain ; Zepha- niah Keech, Lieutenant ; Amasa Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-Amasa Eddy, Captain ; Seth Peckham, Lieutenant ; Charles Potter, Ensign.
Third Company-Jacob Clarke, Captain; David Page, Lieutenant ; Charles Wade, Ensign. 8
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1812. First Company-Zephaniah Keech, Captain ; Am- asa Steere, Lieutenant ; Dexter Irons, Ensign.
Second Company-Amasa Eddy, Captain ; Seth Peckham, Lieutenant ; Charles Potter, Ensign.
Third Company-David Page, Captain; Charles Wade, Lieutenant ; Cyrus Burlingame, Ensign.
1813. First Company-Zephaniah Keech, Captain ; Am- asa Steere, Lieutenant ; Dexter Irons, Ensign.
Third Company-David Page, Captain; Charles Wade, Lieutenant ; Cyrus Burlingame, Ensign.
Companies of the Twelfth Regiment : Arnold Brown and Zephaniah Keech, Jr., Majors.
1814. First Company-Amasa Steere, Captain ; Dexter Irons, Lieutenant ; Smith Mowry, Ensign.
Second Company-Seth Peckham, Jr., Captain ; Charles Potter, Lieutenant ; Caleb Davis, Ensign.
1815. First Company-Amasa Steere, Captain ; Dexter Irons, Lieutenant ; Smith Mowry, Ensign.
Second Company-Charles Potter, Captain ; Caleb Davis, Lieutenant ; Jeremiah Keech, Ensign.
Third Company-Cyrus Burlingame, Captain ; George Smith, Lieutenant ; Asaph Wilder, Ensign.
1816. First Company-Dexter Irons, Captain ; Smith Mowry, Lieutenant ; Harris Medbury, Ensign; Esek Phet- teplace, Major.
Second Company-Jeremiah Keech, Captain ; Christopher Winsor, Lieutenant ; Thomas Smith, Ensign.
Third Company-Cyrus Burlingame, Captain ; George Smith, Lieutenant ; Asaph Wilder, Ensign.
1,817. First Company-Smith Mowry, Captain ; Harris Medbury, Lieutenant ; John W. Smith, Ensign.
Second Company-Jeremiah Keech, Captain ; Christopher Winsor, Lieutenant ; Thomas Smith, Ensign.
Third Company-Asaph Wilder, Captain; George Bowen, Jr., Lieutenant ; Amos Clarke, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1817. Arnold Brown, Colonel ; Esek Phetteplace, Lieu- tenant Colonel ; George Smith, Esq., Major.
1818. First Company-Harris Medbury, Captain ; John W. Smith, Lieutenant; Welcome Aldrich, Ensign.
Second Company-Jeremiah Keech, Captain ; Christopher Winsor, Lieutenant ; Benjamin Paine, Jr., Ensign.
1819. First Company-Harris Medbury, Captain ; John W. Smith, Lieutenant ; Welcome Aldrich, Ensign.
Second Company-Jeremiah Keech, Captain ; Christopher Winsor, Lieutenant ; Benjamin Paine, Jr., Ensign.
Third Company-George Bowen, Captain ; Amos Clarke, Lieutenant ; Solomon Clarke, Ensign.
1820. Arnold Brown, Colonel ; Ira P. Evans, Lieutenant Colonel ; Jesse Harris, Major.
1821 First Company-Welcome Aldrich, Captain ; John, W. Smith, Lieutenant ; Elisha S. Winsor, Ensign.
Second Company-Rufus Steere, Captain; Thayer Bellows, Lieutenant ; Anthony Sanders, Ensign.
Third Company-Solomon Clarke, Captain ; Amasa Smith, Lieutenant ; Harris Bowen, Ensign.
State Militia of Twelfth Regiment from Glocester :
1822. First Company-Welcome Aldrich, Captain; Elisha S. Winsor, Lieutenant ; Richard R. Clemence, Ensign.
Second Company-Rufus Steere, Captain ; Thayer Bellows, Lieutenant ; Syvanus Bradford, Ensign.
Third Company-Solomon Clarke, Captain ; Harris Bowen, Lieutenant ; Lee Steere, Ensign.
1823. First Company-Harris Bowen, Captain ; Lee Steere, Lieutenant ; Lysander Richmond, Ensign.
Second Company-Benjamin Owen, Captain ; Clark Phet- teplace, Lieutenant ; Asel Hawkins, Ensign.
Third Company-Elisha Winsor, Captain ; Richard R. Clemence, Lieutenant ; Daniel Tourtellot, Ensign.
1824. The same as in 1823.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1825. First Company-Richard R. Clemence, Captain ; Daniel Tourtellot, Lieutenant ; Samuel Waldron, Ensign.
Second Company-Benjamin Owen, Captain ; Clark Phette- place, Lieutenant ; Asahel Hawkins, Ensign.
Third Company-Harris Bowen, Captain ; Lee Steere, Lieutenant ; Horatio Darling, Ensign.
1886. First Company-Benjamin Owen, Captain ; Clark Phetteplace, Lieutenant ; Asahel Hawkins, Ensign.
Second Company-Lee Steere, Captain ; Horatio Darling, Lieutenant ; Otis Paine, 2d, Ensign.
Third Company-Richard R. Clemence, Captain ; Daniel Tourtellot, Lieutenant ; Samuel Waldron, Ensign.
1827. First Company-Samuel Waldron, Captain ; Brown Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Ora F. Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-Benjamin Owen, Captain ; Clark Phette- place, Lieutenant ; Asahel Hawkins, Ensign.
Third Company-Horatio Darling, Captain ; Otis Paine, Lieutenant ; Orin Reynolds, Ensign.
1828. First Company-Samuel Waldron, Captain ; Brown Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Ora F. Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-Clark Phetteplace, Captain ; Juni Irons, Lieutenant ; Clark Steere, Ensign.
Third Company-Horatio M. Darling, Captain ; Otis Paine, Lieutenant ; Orin Reynolds, Ensign.
1829. State Militia of Twelfth Regiment from Glocester : George Smith, Colonel ; Asa Steere, Major.
First Company-Ora F. Steere, Captain ; Brown Burlin- game, Lieutenant ; Olney B. Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-Juni Irons, Captain ; Clark Steere, Lieu- tenant ; Joshua Williams, Ensign.
Third Company-Orin Reynolds, Captain ; Solomon Sweet, Lieutenant ; Riley Page, Ensign.
1830. First Company-Ora F. Steere, Captain ; Brown Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Olney B. Steere, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Second Company-Juni Irons, Captain ; Clark Steere, Lieu- tenant ; Joshua Williams, Ensign.
Third Company - Orin Reynolds, Captain ; Solomon Sweet, Lieutenant ; Riley Page, Ensign.
1831. First Company-Ora F. Steere, Captain ; Brown Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Olney B. Steere, Ensign ; John Brayton, Colonel ; Jedediah Sprague, Lieutenant Colonel. 1
Second Company-Juni Irons, Captain ; Clark Steere, Lieu- tenant ; Joshua Williams, Ensign.
Third Company-Orin Reynolds, Captain; Solomon Sweet, Lieutenant ; Riley Page, Ensign.
1832. First Company -Scott Mowry, Captain ; Amasa Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Jencks Brown, Ensign.
Second Company-Joshua Williams, Captain ; Alba Bel- lows, Lieutenant ; Otis Sayles, Ensign.
Third Company-Solomon Sweet, Captain ; Leonard R. Williams, Lieutenant ; William White, Ensign.
1833. First Company-Jencks Brown, Captain; Amasa Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Alanson Steere, Ensign ; Jedediah Sprague, Colonel ; Scott Mowry, Lieutenant Colonel.
Second Company-Alba Bellows, Captain; Otis Sayles, Lieutenant ; George Eddy, Ensign.
Third Company-Leonard R. Williams, Captain ; William White, Lieutenant ; Joseph P. Sweet, Ensign.
1834. First Company-Jencks Brown, Captain ; Amasa Burlingame, Lieutenant ; Alanson Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-Alba Bellows, Captain; Otis Sayles, Lieutenant ; George Eddy, Ensign.
Third Company-Leonard R. Williams, Captain ; William White, Lieutenant ; Lester Arnold, Ensign ; Scott Mowry, Colonel ; Asa Paine, Major.
1835. State Militia of Twelfth Regiment from Glocester :
First Company-Charles H. Steere, Captain ; Jonathan A. Tourtellot, Lieutenant ; Cyrus S. Eddy, Ensign; William Aldrich, Lieutenant Colonel; Jesse Armstrong, Major.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
Second Company-George L. Owen, Captain ; Francis Hunt, Lieutenant ; Nathan Page, Ensign.
Third Company-William White, Captain ; Lester Arnold, Lieutenant ; Rhodes Page, Ensign.
1836. First Company-Arnold Tourtellot, Captain ; Elisha M. Aldrich, Lieutenant ; H. J. Tourtellot, Ensign.
Second Company-Abel Man, Captain ; - Warren, Lieutenant ; Edwin B. Olney, Ensign ; Samuel P. Tucker, Major.
Third Company-George C. Smith, Captain ; George W. White, Lieutenant ; Joseph Clarke, Ensign.
1837, 1838. First Company-Darling S. Durfee, Captain ; Calvin Luther, Lieutenant ; Enoch Steere, Jr., Ensign ; George W. Sheldon, Lieutenant Colonel ; Amasa Westcott, Major.
Second Company-William R. Page, Captain ; James R. Rhodes, Lieutenant ; William Wilcox, Ensign.
Third Company-Paris Wade, Captain ; Dennis Steere, Lieutenant ; Caleb E. Tucker, Ensign.
1839. First Company-Calvin Luther, Captain ; Enoch Steere, Jr., Lieutenant ; A. A. M. Steere, Ensign.
Second Company-S. C. Newman, Captain; Abel Wade, Lieutenant ; James Owen, Ensign.
Third Company-Paris Wade, Captain ; Caleb E. Tucker, Lieutenant ; Abel M. Wilder, Ensign.
January, 1850, chartered military companies were dis- charged from further State military acts.
LIGHT INFANTRY.
1780. Timothy Wilmarth, Captain ; Martin Smith, First Lieutenant ; Elijah Armstrong, Second Lieutenant ; Ezekiel Brown, Ensign.
1787. Elijah Armstrong, Captain ; Ephraim Brown, First Lieutenant ; Elisha Brown, Second Lieutenant ; Benjamin Hawkins, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1791. Elijah Armstrong, Captain ; Benjamin Hawkins, First Lieutenant ; Eleaser Harris, Second Lieutenant; Wil- liam Gadcomb, Ensign.
May, 1791. The first company of infantry in the town of Glocester, representing that it consisted of one hundred and twenty soldiers, could not be exercised and trained with con- venience, presented a petition to the Assembly that it might be divided and formed into two companies. Said petition was granted, and said company divided in the following manner, to wit : " by a line beginning at Smithfield line near Col. Chad Brown's on the great country road, and extending westward on the road as far as Jeremiah Steere's house, leaving said Steere's in the north company ; thence continu- ing straight to William Coman's house, leaving the said Coman's house in the north company ; thence straight to Job Steere's on the south road, leaving the said Steere's house in the north company, and thence running up the said south road to the west line of the said company ; that all those belonging to the said first company living to the southward of the said dividing line shall be denominated the first com- pany, and all those who live to the northward of said divid- ing line shall be denominated the sixth company."
1791. First Company-Thomas Winsor, Captain ; William Wheeler, Lieutenant ; Benajah Sweet, Ensign.
Second Company-Israel Cooke, Captain ; Asa Ballou, Lieutenant ; Jesse Cooke, Ensign.
Third Company-Anan Winsor, Captain ; Jonathan Cowing, Lieutenant ; Isaac - , Ensign.
Fourth Company-Willard Eddy, Captain ; Pitt Smith, Lieutenant ; Daniel Sayles, Ensign.
INDEPENDENT COMPANY CALLED "MORGAN RIFLEMEN."
The independent company called " Morgan Riflemen" was revived in June, 1815, with all the former privileges and offi- cers appointed, to wit : Daniel Smith, Jr., Captain ; Henry Rhodes, Lieutenant ; Ira P. Evans, Ensign.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1817. Daniel Smith, Jr., Captain ; Henry Rhodes, First Lieutenant ; Ira P. Evans, Second Lieutenant ; Benjamin Bowen, Ensign.
1818. Ira P. Evans, Captain ; Benjamin Bowen, First Lieutenant ; Artemas Smith, Second Lieutenant ; Caleb Logee, Ensign.
1819. Benjamin Bowen, Captain ; Artemas Smith, First Lieutenant ; Caleb Logee, Second Lieutenant.
1821. Artemas Smith, Captain ; Caleb Logee, First Lieutenant ; Ara Hawkins, Second Lieutenant ; Duty Evans, Ensign.
Charter revived in 1822.
1822. Artemas Smith, Captain ; Caleb Logee, Jr., First Lieutenant ; Ara Hawkins, Second Lieutenant ; Duty Evans, Ensign.
1823. Ara Hawkins, Captain ; Hardin Sayles, First Lieutenant ; Fenner Wood, Second Lieutenant ; Burrill Logee, Ensign.
The Burrillville and Glocester Washington United Cavalry was chartered October, 1818, by the petition of the follow- ing persons, residents in Glocester and Burrilville : Eleaser Harris, Otis Wood, Thayer Bellows, David Tourtellot, Daniel C. Tourtellot, Smith Brown, Amasa Brown, Arad Lapham, Thomas Barnes, Jr., Elisha Smith, Richard R. Clemence, Abel Phillips, Russell Evans, Thomas Smith, George Olney, Eddy Waldron, Joseph B. Waldron, Randall Phetteplace, Brown Cary, Eddy Keech, Junia Paine, John Whipple, Washington Logee, Elisha Logee, Whipple Sayles, James Wilson, John Greene, 3d, Harris Cooke, Peter Sherman, Jr., Zadoc Shearman, Duty Lapham, Coomer Smith, Fenner Wood, Smith Ward, Amasa Aldrich, Burrill Logee, Daniel Barnes, Russell Barnes, Russell Kelly, James Irons, Nathan Irons, Amasa Smith, Caleb Westcott, Arnold Angell, John Peckham, James Aldrich, 3d, Rufus Steere, Amasa R. Tour- tellot, Richard Burlingame, Jr., Sanford Edwards, Martin Mathewson, and such others as may hereafter associate with them, etc., etc.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
1820. Eleaser Harris, Captain ; David Tourtellot, First Lieutenant ; Otis Wood, Second Lieutenant ; Hezekiah, Cady, Cornet.
1822. Hezekiah Cady, Captain ; Elisha Smith, First Lieu- tenant ; Otis Wood, Second Lieutenant ; Allen Hawkins, Cornet.
1823. Hezekiah Cady, Captain ; Elisha Smith, First Lieu- tenant ; Otis Wood, Second Lieutenant ; Allen Hawkins, Cornet.
1824. Allen Hawkins, Captain ; Senaca Smith, First Lieutenant ; Stephen Burlingame, Jr., Second Lieutenant ; Elisha Harris, Cornet.
1825. Allen Hawkins, Cornet.
COUNTY MILITIA IN GLOCESTER IN 1820.
First Company-Harris Medbury, Captain ; John W. Smith Lieutenant ; Welcome Aldrich, Ensign.
Second Company-Jeremiah Keech, Captain ; Christopher Winsor, Lieutenant ; Benjamin Paine, Jr., Ensign.
Third Company-George Bowen, Jr., Captain ; Amos Clarke, Lieutenant ; Solomon Clarke, Ensign.
In 1837 the charter of the Glocester and Burrillville Safe Guards was revived, having become forfeited by the omission to make the return of certain officers elected.
The town had a May military training for several years previous to 1830 or later, for the general exercise of different companies ; besides this there was a general muster, the Burrillville military uniting with the Glocester military to form a brigade. Several hours were devoted to drills and military evolutions.
On the morning of the general training it was a custom that the under officers should go before light to the residence of the captain and honor him by firing many guns. After awhile the doors were opened and all were invited into the house to partake of a well-prepared breakfast. When through in the house they mounted their horses for the training ground. The captain wore on his hat a tall black and red
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
feather, on his shoulder a silvered epaulette, and by his side a sword dangling that was attached to his belt. In their march and practice they made a marked display in the towns.
In the late civil war, James M. Eddy was Captain in the Fifth Rhode Island Regiment in 1862.
George H. Browne was Colonel of the Twelfth Rhode Island Regiment in 1862. Amasa F. Eddy was Commissary Sergeant in the same regiment.
Stephen Sweet was Major in the First Rhode Island Cavalry Regiment in 1862 and 1863.
Alexander Eddy was in the Quartermaster's department.
MANUFACTURERS, BUSINESS MEN AND FARMERS. .
Mr. Nathan Blackman had a hat factory, where he manu- factured silk and felt hats for the old, middle-aged and young men. Some elderly persons preferred the broad-brimmed hats, especially the Friends.
Oliver Owen had a nail factory and a trip-hammer in the early part of the present century.
Solomon Owen had a tannery here before 1800. His son, Lawton, continued the business until his death. He was succeeded by his son, George, who had charge of the tan- nery for several years.
The Messrs. Owen had oil works where oil was pressed from cotton-seed.
A brick-yard was established in Glocester by the owners of the clay beds.
Elisha Bartlett was one of the first manufacturers of scythes in Glocester.
Potash was manufactured quite extensively in the latter part of the last century by Timothy Wilmarth, in the vicin- - ity of Chepachet.
Crude ore, taken from the Sea Patch river in Glocester, was used at the Woonsocket forge before the Revolution.
Mr. George Harris had a distillery in the same building where he had his grist-mill for many years. He also had a
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
tannery. In 1808 he built a house to carry on the work of carding, a little east of the bridge. Here annually was car- ried the wool of sheep to be carded and made into rolls to spin on the family spinning-wheel to make woolen cloth .* These works were sold to the Glocester Manufacturing Com- pany.
Near this place, Lawton Owen built a small mill to spin cotton yarn, in 1814. This mill was sold to Ira P. Evans, and again sold to Henry B. Lyman and Elisha Dyer. In 1858, Horace A. Kimball, Jr., and Warren Arnold purchased the factory and commenced the manufacture of satinet ; later, fancy cassimeres. About sixty operatives were employed.
In February, 1867, a freshet did great damage to the man- ufacturing establishments on the Chepachet river, in the vil- lage. Large expenditures were incurred to repair the injury.
In 1820, Elisha Dyer and Henry B. Lyman built a factory on the south side of the river, near the turnpike, where for twenty-five years they manufactured cotton cloth. They were succeeded by Otis Sayles and Joseph B. Smith. About 1862 they put in machinery to manufacture cassimeres. Fifty persons were employed. After the death of Sayles and Smith, in 1881, Edward Valentine had charge of the factory, and manufactured woolen goods.
FARMERS.
Most of the people of the town, outside the villages, are industrious and frugal farmers, though for forty or fifty years some of the best farms have been neglected, as many per- sons have left their homes to seek other employment. The late Enoch Steere had one of the best farms in the town. Fruits and berries of various kinds are cultivated ; potatoes, corn, rye, oats, barley, cabbages and beans are raised, and but- ter and cheese are made. The esculent vegetables are car- rots, onions, turnips, beets and parsnips.
* The " First Custom " house for carding and draping wool was where the Granite Mill now stands, in Burrillville, and was carried on by Daniel Sayles & Son.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
EARLY RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES.
Among the early settlers of this land while forming a part of the town of Providence, were some of the children and grandchildren of English Dissenters. At first some of them held prayer meetings in their very humble dwellings. Some called themselves Seekers ; some were Friends. Several of the owners of land here spent their winters in Providence village. Others lived there most of the time, putting on hired help to clear and cultivate the land. Twenty-four slaves of the late Moses Brown were employed here in cut- ting down trees and preparing the land for good farms pre- vious to the year 1773 .* All that were sufficiently favored to have a winter home in Providence had, a part of the year, better religious privileges. Some of the settlers called them- selves Separatists, having left the Church of England, and desired only the simple forms of worship. Some were called New Lights.
From Backus' "History of the Baptists" we learn that Elder Edward Mitchell was pastor of a church in Glocester many years. He died October 22, 1795, aged ninety-eight years. Elder William Bowen succeeded him. The church was an Independent one. Mr. Bowen is represented as faith- ful in his ministrations for several years. The above church was in the northerly part of the town.
Thomas Knowlton was ordained at Plainfield, Conn., Sep- tember II, 1742. He soon after came to Glocester and was pastor of a Separatist Baptist Church. Here he died. Ste- phen Place and others assisted Mr. Knowlton in his declining years in church work.
Joseph Winsor, great-grandson of Joshua Winsor, who came to Providence in the year 1638, was ordained October 31, 1763, and settled pastor to succeed Elder Thomas Knowl- ton. Backus says in his history : "Elder Joseph Winsor was in full fellowship with our churches." The church pros-
* In 1773, Moses Brown manumitted all his slaves and became an ardent abolitionist.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
pered, had seventy-two members, and a new house of worship was built in the southerly part of the villarge, near the resi- dence of the late Samuel Y. Atwell. In 1771 the church joined the Warren Baptist Association. The members collected a fund to aid in educating pious young men with a view to the gospel ministry. The Warren Baptist Association was the earliest of its kind in New England. It was formed in 1766. It had for its object " to secure the civil and religious privi- leges enjoyed by the mother church in England."
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