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 6
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In 1767, says the Rev. David Benedict, in his History of the Baptists, " the Baptist Church in Glocester was repre- sented at the Warren Association by the Rev. Joseph Win- sor." For years this church prospered. About 1790 a number of active members moved to other parts of the country, and their pastor, becoming aged and infirm, was un- able to fully attend to his pastoral duties, and the members became reduced and scattered. Mr. Winsor remained with them and continued their pastor until his death, in the sum- mer of 1802, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He was buried on his own homestead farm, which was on a com- manding hill with a very fine prospect. His large house is still standing.
Mr. Winsor had a great interest in the religious and gen- eral education of the town. He built on his farm a good- sized meeting-house with a gallery ; the outside was finished, but not the inside. Christopher Winsor, grandson of the Rev. Joseph Winsor, (now living, January, 1885,) says "no church was ever organized here, but large neighborhood meetings were held there." Later the house was used for a school. Mr. Christopher Winsor also says that "his grand- father, when his sons married and settled, built a school- house near their dwellings." He had five sons, viz .: Abra- ham, Amos, Christopher, Anan and Samuel; and seven daughters, viz .: Amey, Deborah, Lillis, Martha, Mary, Thank- ful, and one died in infancy. All married. Samuel Winsor, his youngest son and for many years Judge Winsor, inher- ited his father's homestead, on Winsor's hill, and lived there
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until his death. The old Winsor burying ground is on this hill.
After the death of Rev. Joseph Winsor, who was for some years an invalid, his church was very much broken up by some active members dying and some emigrating to colonize a neighborhood in the town of Newport and other places in New York.
John W. Hunt, Clarissa Danforth, of Weathersfield, Vt., and Elder John Colby were devoted religious teachers. Rev. George Lamb held neighborhood meetings several years in Deacon Asa Steere's large kitchen, on Sundays. The old meeting-house at Chepachet had either been torn or blown down.
THE DORR WAR.
Glocester has been for many years a Democratic town. Until 1842 the charter given by King Charles the Second had been in full force in this State. Several years previous to 1842, the unequal distribution of political power had agitated many politicians in the State, many expressing a desire for a change when it could be peaceably and lawfully made. Samuel Y. Atwell, of this town, strongly favored the giving up of the land qualification. Some of the Suffrage leaders were Thomas W. Dorr, Duty J. Pearce, Ariel Ballou and John R. Waterman. Mr. Dorr was nominated by the Suffrage Con- vention as their Governor in April, 1842, and appealed for support to the people. His supporters claimed a majority of the votes cast. The Judges of the Supreme Court gave their opinion that the Suffrage Convention had acted illegally. April 18, 1842, Thomas W. Dorr was declared Governor by his party. Two days later the existing government reelected Samuel W. King by a large majority over Dorr. The Gen- eral Government favored the Law and Order or Whig party, and President Tyler, on the 7th of May, said "that if neces- sary he would sustain by force the Charter Government." June 25, 1842, Dorr issued a proclamation as Governor of the State under the Suffrage Constitution to convene the Gen-
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eral Assembly, to meet at Chepachet, in the town of Gloces- ter, on the 4th day of July, and on that day to transact such business as might come before that Assembly.
Gov. King was authorized, with the advice of R. K. Randolph, James Fenner, E. C. Carrington, L. H. Arnold, N. F. Dixon, Peleg Wilber and Byron Diman, to take such measures as he might see fit to protect the private and pub- lic property of the State. Martial law was established and in full force.
June 23d, Dorr took up his headquarters at Chepachet, and established martial law around the village. A fort was built on Acote hill. Dorr took command of his forces. Five or six hundred soldiers were said to be within his estab- lished fortress on the hill. They had several rusty cannon and many muskets. The excitement was intense. Law and Order men of the town and village had taken to the woods, where some of them remained several days; others fled to various secret places without food. Mr. Atwell, who resided in the village, saw the mistake Mr. Dorr was making, and entirely withdrew from the Suffrage party and removed him- self and family to the house of a Law and Order friend (Mrs. Waite Phetteplace), about two miles from the villlge. There were no males at this house except servants. So much has been printed on this subject of the Dorr war that it is treated briefly here.
The State militia were, in a large force, marching to take possession of Acote hill. Dorr was finally convinced that he was powerless, and on the morning of the 27th of June he dis- missed his military. He and all his force fled in haste. The State military arrived, and without resistance took possession of the famous expected Rhode Island battle-ground and the village. Refreshments in abundance were sent at once from families in the town to the State's artillery. There was great rejoicing that no battle was fought.
In the following October a company of Light Dragoons was chartered by the name of the Burrillville and Glocester Horse Company ; the number not to exceed one hundred,
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exclusive of officers ; the company to be in the Second Bri- gade of the Rhode Island militia, and all its members, so long as enrolled, to be exempt from doing duty in other miltary companies in their district.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Some of the women of this town rode, in 1800, on horse- back to Pawtucket to get cotton yarn of Brown & Almy, manufacturers, to make cotton cloth. It was the custom up to 1817, in the absence of machinery, for manufacturers of yarn to send the webs into the country to be woven by hand looms. In some cases matrons of families could hire girls for one dollar per week, with board, to weave. The weaving was paid in yarn. This yarn was used to make cloth for fam- ily use. India cotton was used .*
Linen thread cannot be spun by the machinery used for spinning cotton or wool on account of the length and strength of the fibres of flax. The linen spinning wheel is a great mechanical curiosity. The flax is broken, hatcheled, stretched and made smooth ; after all the woody parts are shaken off, it is wound loosely upon a distaff ; the fibres se- lected are drawn out by the thumb and fore-finger at the same time ; these fibres were twisted by the flyers by the movement of the foot on the pedal, and wound upon a bobbin which turned somewhat slower than the flyers. In the mid- dle ages linen and woolen were the only materials for dress. In this town some of her maidens one hundred years since succeeded in making quite fine shirting and sheeting ; very handsome diapers and kersey for table cloths, napkins and towels ; bed and window curtains, striped with coarse and
* Previous to 1815 all the weaving was done by hand looms. Judge Ly- man, of North Providence, was the first to attempt to construct the power loom, but did not fully succeed. He employed a Mr. Gilmore, late from England, who had brought some portions of the power loom and dresser with him. He finally succeeded in making the loom. David Wilkinson, of Pawtucket, introduced them into his mill. The hand loom was super- seded.
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fine threads. After woven, the cloth was perfectly whitened. Men's summer clothes were made of coarser threads, and not often whitened. The choicest paper is manufactured from linen. After a few years some of the more favored maidens would have a silk dress, and a cotton dress called the patch,"" or a cotton print. Corsets were made of durant, and dress shoes of velvet.
Early many families had all the materials for making boots- and shoes, and employed a shoemaker to come to their houses. in the autumn to make all needed supplies for the winter.
High post bedsteads were used in some families with cur- tains, especially as a great protection from the cold in the. winter. .
During the latter part of the last century and the first of the present, spinning and weaving woolen cloth was carried on sufficiently to meet the wants of the inhabitants. Some. of the farmers were at great trouble and expense to get fine: merino sheep, their wool being very soft. Excellent cloth was made for men's wear ; after being woven, it was carried to. the fulling and dyeing mill, either at Chepachet or at Kil -. lingly, Conn. When returned, one side had a glossy nap. Covelets were woven of various designs. Beautiful carpets. were made, quite equalling the Venetian ; woolen blankets,. flannel sheets and dresses were also home manufactured. Nearly every family knitted their own stockings from yarn spun from wool on a wheel, doubled and twisted, or by a dis- taff held in the hand. The wool was carded and made into, small round rolls about two feet long, then attached to the revolving spindle of a spinning-wheel which was turned round by one hand ; at the same time the roll was drawn out by the. other hand, and when sufficiently twisted, the wheel was so. turned as to wind the thread on the spindle. Mr. Shadrach Steere, in Burrillville, was a manufacturer of wheels to spin wool and tow. All comfortable families generally had a wheel, reel and swifts ; also a loom and a small wheel to wind. quills to put in a shuttle to weave cloth.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
CORN HUSKINGS.
In the autumn large farmers sometimes had their corn cut from the field and carried into the lower part of their barns or in some other dry place, and piled up ready to be husked. On a pleasant morning an invitation was given to their neighboring men to come in the evening to the husking ; chairs and benches were set all round and usually well filled. Though very busy husking, their social enjoyment in story- telling, etc., often made them forget their enjoyable supper of baked pork and beans, or roast beef with its accompanyings, bread and butter, coffee, tea and pumpkin pies. When about half through husking, the landlord carried around to the husk- ers pitchers of sweet cider, and sometimes New England rum and sugar. After the husking was finished they were invited into the house, where they had supper.
Apple parings were another source of pleasure to some of the young men and women. For two hours or more the girls would pare, the young men hand the apples and do all the waiting. Several bushels would be pared and sliced already for drying to make apple pies late in the spring, when green apples were used up. When through paring, tea and cake were served ; after this, social entertainments, dancing and different kinds of plays.
Very many families would piece different kinds of calico to make a bed-quilt. This was put on a frame and made ready for four or five to sit on opposite sides, rolling up when quilted as far as one could conveniently reach. Numbers were invited, and at the close a supper was ready, and merry entertainments followed.
THE LONE MAN.
For nearly forty years from about 1820, generally in the spring, a solitary looking man came to the town, always walking slowly. He wore the same tattered suit. He usu- ally called on the same families each year. After his first call the people understood what he wanted, and laid, without his asking, food and drink on the table for him. He always
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
refused any eatables to carry away with him, but seemed grateful for anything received. As he always wore the same suit, rents would often come in them. He would ask for a large needle and dark yarn. When these were furnished he would mend the worn places, and return the yarn and needle. He seldom answered any questions, none in relation to his past life. Where he came from was not found out. His travels extended in Connecticut and New York. Some way the fancied story was circulated that he was once engaged to be married, and the suit he wore was to have been his wed- ding dress ; but he was disappointed, and ever after carefully cherished and cared for the above suit, that was made for what he anticipated to be the most joyful occasion of his life. He was well proportioned, and his personal appearance was gentlemanly, quiet and sad.
THE HAUNTED BROOK.
On the road that leads south, about a mile from the village of Chepachet, is a brook that after much rain used to some- times run across the road. Here it was said an Indian drowned his wife, and all noises heard at this place were believed by many to come from this distressed Indian woman ' still haunting the brook.
About 1825 an intelligent lady of this town, and her cousin, Mr. Rufus Steere, were riding to their home from the village over this road, and carrying a bottle of beer undergo- ing the vinous fermentation. As they were passing the haunted brook, all at once there was a fearful, loud report, like a pistol. The gentleman exclaimed, "Im shot, and I feel the blood running down my back; I am faint." The horse was made to go with all speed. They reached their home and found the feared pistol shot was the explosion of the beer bottle.
A room for a bank was drilled out of a solid rock, near the late Eddy Cooper's, in the latter part of the seventeenth century. The trap door that opened into it could only be lifted by a strong rope which was attached to the ceiling of
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the counting-room. The rope was so hidden as not easily to be found by burglars.
"Cooper's Den," or " Forgers' Cave," was a great rendez- vous for mischievous persons. The place to enter is very :small; one has to creep some distance before reaching the long room of about thirty by eighty feet, and about twelve feet high. The above ledge of rocks is now in the town of Burrillville.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
In 1780, licenses were granted by the town council to six persons to keep a public house in their home dwelling for ·one year on condition that they kept good order, and for the privilege they were required to pay a given number of bush- els of corn to the town. The corn given was used to sup- port the poor of the town. Later, silver dollars were paid. In 1800, license was given to sell liquor on town meeting ·days for fifty cents.
Many years after 1800 six quite large and convenient hotels were kept in the town. Hezekiah Cady kept the hotel in the western part of the town ; Cyrus Farnum and Richard Aldrich kept the two in the eastern part ; Daniel Cornell in the southern part, and Cyrus Cook, Anan Evans and others kept the two hotels in the village. At present there are three. The railroads have taken much of the travel, conse- quently there is much less patronage for public houses.
OTHER OCCURRENCES.
In the great gale of September, 1815, considerable damage was done in the town. Many trees, chimneys and fences were blown down, and many doors had to be barricaded.
On the Page farm, not far from Poneganset pond, a mine was opened a few years since, where some quartz and a little gold were found, but thus far little has been done to find out its resources.
The marriage law of 1701 and later, required notice of in- tention to marry to be set up in a public place fourteen days,
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and persons coming from other States were required to pro- duce certificates that they had conformed to the law.
In 1844 a committee was appointed to examine and survey the established line between Glocester and Burrillville. It was found that Glocester had 1,049 acres more than belonged to her territory. This fact was presented to the General As- sembly, when a committee was appointed to run the division . line again. This was done and found right as presented. The 1,049 acres were added to Burrillville. These acres in- cluded the well known estates of Messrs. Ahab, Esek and Welcome Sayles.
In 1859 the boundary line between Glocester and Smith- field was settled by the State committee.
In 1875 the boundary between Glocester and Foster was established.
SCHOOLS.
The early facilities for instruction were limited. Schools were kept in private dwelling houses or some little building made for the purpose in the house yard. In some cases patrons of the school allowed poor parents to send their chil- dren to the schools and take day labor for tuition; in this way most of the children were taught to read and write. Little girls were taught to do plain stitching ; in some cases, the old custom was in vogue for little girls to work a sampler on linen cloth or canvas. After the Revolution several good school houses were built in different parts of the town. Men were generally employed to teach the winter schools, and women the summer schools. Some of the summer teachers instructed the little girls to embroider on muslin for bags in which to carry handkerchiefs ; also caps, ruffs and capes. Chil- dren were taught to be reverent to their parents and supe- riors, and to be mannerly when meeting persons on the road. Among some of these early teachers were Harriet Greatrix, from Providence, teacher of a private school in the Irons neighborhood in 1790; Lucina Sayles, Miss Ballou, Anna Sibley, Susan Sibley, Roby Bowdish and Sarah Brewster.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
As children advanced in their studies, select schools and academies were patronized. Rev. Mr. Atkins, generally known as " Priest Atkins," of Killingly, had an excellent family school for boys. Children could be carried there on Monday morning and brought home on Friday, after the school closed for the week. Others older were sent to Dudley, Leicester, Plainfield and other established academies.
In the Brown neighborhood, in 1812, Esek Brown, Olney Brown, Eber Phetteplace, Thomas Owen and Nicholas Keech built a good-sized arched school house, with closets for the boys and girls' hats, and caps, bonnets and dinner pails. Here generally an excellent private school was kept from seven to ten months in each year until the free schools were established, in 1828. The common and higher branches were taught. Several other well-built school houses were erected about this time. At Chepachet, besides a school of experienced teachers for older pupils, a school for young chil- dren was yearly kept. Miss Hannah Blackman kept the school for about thirty years.
In all the older schools, the scholars had the privilege of choosing their own studies. In several schools, history, phil- osophy and rhetoric were taught, and occasionally a young man studied surveying.
In 1828 the State appropriated $10,000 to be divided among the towns according to their population on condition that each town doubled the amount received. It was ac- cepted. The town appointed a committee to divide the town into seventeen districts with their boundaries defined. Each district without a school house was encouraged to build one.
The free money would sustain a teacher but a few months yearly. In several of the districts the schools were kept longer by the liberality of some patrons in the district. The schools were well patronized and generally under good dis- cipline. Teachers were first appointed by a school commit- tee ; later a superintendent was appointed, who is the super- visor of the teachers. The system has worked well.
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In 1840 the State appropriated $10 to aid in maintaining a district school library for the use of the schools. In a few years afterwards several districts secured very small libraries. At Chepachet there is a well-built school house for a graded grammar school.
In 1854 the Manton library, in this school house, contained 750 volumes of well selected books, valued at $400. The library was given by the late Amasa Manton, of Providence, in memory of his native town. The citizens, in honor of the giver, gave it the name, "Manton Library." For several years past the library has been closed. In 1885 a new inter- est was awakened in the village and town. The Manton Li- brary Association called a meeting to reorganize the society, and elected officers as follows : President, John T. Fisk; vice president, Thomas Irons; secretary, E. W. White; treas- urer, William H. White; executive committee, Miss Mary O. Arnold, Dr. George A. Harris and Walter A. Read. The library has been removed to a more accessible room, on Main street, a large number of new books have been added, and much interest is manifested by the people in reading the books.
The State Normal School is highly appreciated. The State Commissioners have always exerted a salutary influence on the schools.
Teachers in the public ungraded and primary schools in 1885, were as follows : Lydia C. Armstrong, Alice M. Bearse, Susan H. Evans, Mystic A. Cooper, Carrie B. Brown, Addie I. White, Alice J. Barnes, George O. Hopkins, Lavinia G. Ross, Philip Shippee, Grace Holden, E. Emily Grover, Ida A. Cunningham, Marcie Arnold, Ella M. Steere, Zelotte A. Coman, Emily A. Lowe, Eliza A. Mowry, Clara L. Irons. Several of the above teachers are graduates of the Rhode Island Normal School. Trustees : Arnold Steere, Calvary Mitchell, William H. White, Thomas M. Greene, James B. Reynolds, Esaias Pray, Joseph Sarle, Frank Warren, William M. Cushman, William C. Tourtellot and George Evans. Two hundred. and ninety-one children in school, and seventy-five not in school.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER. ·
SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF.
Several deaf children from this town have been supported by the State. George M. Darling was a beneficiary at Brat- tleboro, Vermont. Several have been educated at the Hart- ford Institution for the Deaf. All are appointed by the Gov- ernor, and he is authorized to pay for each of the deaf and dumb children at the American Asylum, $175 each year. For the blind at the Perkins Institute, Boston, each one receives $300 ; other institutions, $100 ; also a small sum for clothing. In the town there are now three deaf and dumb ; one is blind and one an idiot.
A good school for the deaf has been established in Provi- dence. It is on the corner of Fountain and Beverly streets. The school is free to any deaf youths in the State who are suitable subjects to be taught. The school is under excellent discipline. Katherine H. Austin is principal.
SOCIETIES.
The Jefferson Society was incorporated in October, 1828. Uriah Colwell, Gideon Smith, David Bowen and others were the petitioners. They were created a body politic, capable in law to hold property of any kind, to sue and be sued. The first directors were Gideon Smith, Thomas Mason, David Bowen, Simeon Bowen, Zephaniah Mann and Benjamin Smith. Secretary, Jervis J. Smith ; Treasurer, Uriah Colwell. A school house was built, and a good school kept in it until it was too small for the number of scholars. A new and larger house for the school was built. The old house was sold to a voluntary religious association to accommodate many in that part of the town. The house was well repaired, and consecrated in 1860 the Union Chapel.
The Union Society is a voluntary association for religious and literary improvement. The desk is supplied twice each month alternately by the Congregationalists and Baptists of the town. A Sabbath-school is kept up through the year. Edward L. Phetteplace is the Superintendent.
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HISTORY OF GLOCESTER.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
Neighborhood female sewing societies have been formed to aid the poor and religious services in different neighbor- hoods. In 1836 the Glocester Female Benevolent Society was formed to assist the religious operations in Chepachet and its vicinity.
Mrs. Mary Steere was President ; Mrs. Paris Irons, Vice President ; Mrs. Roby Browne, Treasurer, and Miss E. A. Phetteplace, Secretary ; seventy members. For two years this society was active and accomplished much good. Besides money raised, many garments were made and given to the needy. The Freemasons of the town granted the society the privilege of meeting in their hall in the village.
Since the above time efficient benovelent societies have been sustained by the Baptist and Congregationalist organi- zations in the village. -
DEBATING CLUBS.
The first half of the present century, societies were held by young men to discuss the current questions of the day. Meetings in the winter were held fortnightly in school houses in different neighborhoods. One of these was for years sustained, and the following are the names of some of the prominent members : Joseph Smith, Clark Sayles, Sterry Smith, Clark Phetteplace, Rufus Steere, Riley Phetteplace Thomas Owen, Nelson Eddy, Clark Steere, Rufus Steere, Rensalaer B. Smith, George Smith, Smith Peckham, Jedediah Sprague, Elijah Armstrong, Cyrel Cooke, Ora Owen, Elisha M. Aldrich and Welcome B. Sayles.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
In 1830, the Glocester and Burrillville Horse Thief Detect- ing Society was incorporated by the General Assembly upon the petition of Daniel Smith, Andrew Harris, Daniel Smith, Jr., Abram Baker, Ira P. Evans and others. They were
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