USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Barrington > A history of Barrington, Rhode Island > Part 35
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In the year 1843 the trustees of the parsonage petitioned the General Assembly to pass an Act empowering them to sell, or donate the property by which the parsonage property was transferred to the United Congregational Society of Barrington, in 1844.
In May, 1851, a meeting was called to consider the pro- priety of disposing of the property, when stormy opposition arose, and bitter feeling was awakened between the parties. At that meeting it was voted to postpone the subject indefi- nitely. On the 3rd of January, 1853, a committee of the Society was appointed, to take into consideration the propri- ety of selling the parsonage. The committee reported Feb. 5th of the same year, in favor of selling the property, and by a vote of twenty-six yeas to thirteen noes, it was then ordered to be sold. It was accordingly sold at public auction, March 25th, 1853, for the sum of $2,800, thereby settling a vexa- tious question which had agitated the community for a long period, and had caused scandals and serious divisions in the society and town. The house was afterwards sold and re-
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. moved from the estate, and is now standing on the main highway, south of its old location, and is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Charles S. Miller. The cut of the parsonage shows it somewhat altered in its exterior since its removal. The house was the home of the Congregational ministers of Barrington, from the ministry of Rev. Samuel Watson, its owner in 1815, to the ministry of Rev. Silas S. Hyde.
The following persons have been officers of the United Congregational Society :
PRESIDENTS.
Nathaniel Smith, from 1797 to 1807; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1807 to 1822; Josiah Humphrey, from 1822 to 1829 ; Sylvester Allen, from 1829 to 1830; Ebenezer Smith, from, 1830 to 1840; Jabez Heath, from 1840 to 1851 ; Benjamin Martin, from 1851 to 1854; Ellis Peck, from 1854 to 1872 ; John Humphrey, from 1872 to 1875 ; Royal D. Horton, 1875 to 1886 ; David A. Waldron, from 1886 to 1895 ; Ebenezer Tif- fany, 1895.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Asa Bicknell, from 1797 to 1800; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1800 to 1801 ; Elkanah Humphrey, from 1801 to 1807; Eb- enezer Peck, from 1807 to 1816; Benjamin Martin, from 1816 to 1819 ; Joseph Bicknell, from 1819 to 1829 ; Allen Bicknell, from 1829 to 1851 ; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1851 to 1860; Samuel Billings, from 1860 to 1861 ; George Kinnicutt from 1861 to.1865 ; Benjamin Martin, from 1865 to 1866; George R. Kinnicutt, from 1866 to 1872; Royal D. Horton, from 1872 to 1875 ; Earl C. Potter, from 1875 to 1886; Charles H. Bowden, from 1886 to 1892; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1892 to 1895 ; R. D. Horton, 1895.
TREASURERS.
Joshua Bicknell, from 1797 to 1838; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1838 to 1851 ; Henry Smith, from 1851 to 1853 ; Lewis B. Smith, from 1853 to May 29, 1892; George T. Baker, July 5, 1892.
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THE PARSONAGE.
SECRETARIES.
Solomon Townsend, from 1797 to 1798; Thomas Allen, from 1798 to 1799; Kent Brown, from 1799 to 1823; Nath- aniel Brown, from 1823 to 1824; Ebenezer Tiffany, from 1824 to 1837 ; Nathaniel Brown, from 1837 to 1838; Emer- son Humphrey, from 1838 to 1846; Anthony L. Viall, from 1846 to 1850 ; Rev. Francis Wood, from 1850 to 1856; Eben- ezer Tiffany, from 1856 to 1864 ; Rev. Francis Wood, from 1864 to 1872; Thomas W. Bicknell, from 1872 to 1875; David A. Waldron, from 1875 to 1886 ; Charles F. Anthony from 1886 to 1SS8; Mark H. Wood, from 1888 to 1892; George T. Baker, from January to July, 1892 ; Charles F. Anthony, July, 1892.
In 1873 a parsonage was built by private subscriptions, is owned by stockholders, and is managed by trustees. The Corporation is known as the Barrington Parsonage Associa- tion, with a capital stock of $5,000. It leases the property to the U. C. Society, for the use of the ministers. The par- sonage is situated near the meeting-house, fronting on the Barrington River. Mr. R. D. Horton is President of the As- sociation, and the trustees are R. D. Horton, J. L. Draper, John B. Humphreys, George T. Baker, Thomas W. Bicknell.
An end view of the present parsonage with its grounds may be seen in the picture of the Congregational meeting- house and parsonage.
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CHAPTER XXVIII
HIGHWAYS, FERRIES, AND BRIDGES
Indian Trails - First Highways - Sowams Roads - Liberal Width - Reduction and Sales - Improvement of Highways - Ferries - First to Brooks Pasture - Martin's Ferry - Kelly's Bridge - Barrington River Bridge - Central Bridge.
T' HE study of the highways of our New England towns is one of the most interesting of local history. The in- quiry as to when they were laid out, why they were located as they were, and the changes in their layout reveal many important and curious phases and facts of the early life of the people.
When the settlers came to Swansea and Barrington they found the Indian trails traversing field and forest, and these trails were their guide in the exploration of the territory. Having no wagons at first, the white people followed these trails as far as they could, in making the foot-paths and horse- paths. On the introduction of carts and wagons, these well trodden ways became the foundation for the byways and highways so far as they were convenient for the use of the people. When the town lands were laid out by the propri- etors, highways were provided for of varying widths, from two to eight rods. Some of these were afterwards laid out and made, some were abandoned when not needed for settle- ment, and many were narrowed for economy's sake, from eight and four rods in the original layout, to two or three rods, as we now find many of our town roads.
There were three important Indian trails running north and south in the present town of Barrington. Two led from the lower end of New Meadow Neck, one leading to the fording place over Palmer's River at Barneysville, the other
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HIGHWAYS.
leading northwest towards the Seekonk settlement. The third trail led from Rumstick, or Chachapacassett, north- ward along the west bank of the Barrington River, entering Seekonk, near of Runen's Bridge, where there was a fording place before the bridge was built. These trails were the first foot-paths, horse-paths, and roadways of the first settlers of Barrington, and then became the main highways of the town, changed somewhat in location to suit the conditions of road- making. One of the changes was made in the main road, between the Congregational meeting-house and Prince's Hill. This trail and road originally followed the river bank, but was changed to its present position to allow the location of the Congregational meeting-house on the bank of the river, where it now stands.
To find the layout of highways of the proprietors we for- tunately have the original book of records of the Sowams Plantation. Unfortunately we are not able in many instances to recognize the location of highways, home lots, meadows, etc., from the indefiniteness of the lines, and the temporary character of the bounds, such as trees, stumps, stones, walls, and other movable markers.
Under date of of Dec. 28, 1676, at a proprietors' meeting, it was voted :
"That highways be layed out convenient in such places as the major part shall agree and determine for best conven- ience both for the general and particular."
Two days later, Dec. 30, 1676, a committee was chosen, consisting of Mr. John Allen, Capt. John Brown, John Saffin, and Stephen Paine, Senior, or his son, Nathaniel Paine, "to lay out convenient highways both publique and privet, as they shall in their judgement think needful."
Under date of April II, 1679, it was voted that the com- mittee lay out "the home lots butting upon the river," "and a highway down the neck at the head thereof." The lots and highways referred to were probably at or near Chacha- pacassett, or Little Neck, now known as Rumstick.
At a legal meeting of the proprietors, Jan. 14, 1680, "It
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was mutually concluded that a highway be layed out through the midst of Chachapacassett Neck of two rods wide or as near ye midst as the surveyor may think fit as a common " highway for the general use of the proprieters, and that there be left one rod between the bounds of the meadow and the upland or lots for a conveniency of carting hay only or the like, not prejudasing any lot of upland further." This is the present highway on Rumstick or Little Neck.
Another highway called the great highway, at the end of the home lots " being four rods broad westerly," " and from the said southerly side of the said home lots there is another highway runs to the west side of Hydes Hole, on a west poynt four rods wide and from thence south down towards the Beach, eighteen chains the same breadth aforesaid."
These highways were also at Rumstick, as were also "a four rod highway to Peck's meadows running towards the East," "another way one rod broad until you come to the bottom of the Neck." There were also two highways two rods wide leading out of the grand highway which cannot be located except by the original deeds. Other highways were voted to be laid out as follows : An eight rod highway from the Rehoboth line to Poke Bottom. This is now known as the middle highway of the town, its width having been reduced by votes of the proprietors and of the town. It is an interesting item of the history of this highway that the north end of it beginning at Samuel Barnes southwest cor- ner (now land of Leander R. Peck) of his home lot thence running northward to Rehoboth line, " was given to Doctor Hezekiah Chaffee forever as a bounty and covenant for him to settle amongst us." This gift of an eight rod highway was made by the Sowams proprietors under date of April I, 1730. Had this road been laid out it would have formed a straight highway from Nayatt to the road running west from Runen's Bridge.
Another eight rod strip of land was left for a highway from Daniel Allen's and Peleg Richmond's to the main cove. A portion of this highway is still an eight rod way, from the
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HIGHWAYS.
long swamp to land formerly belonging to Humphrey Kent, and north of the Richmonds.
Another eight rod way was laid out from the east to the middle highway, on which the school-house of the North District now stands.
The west highway was originally laid out at least six rods and probably eight rods wide from the Long Swamp corner to the present village of Drownville, but was reduced to its present width by the purchases of the land owners, adjoin- ing this way.
On the 30th of August, 1774, the Sowams proprietors met at Henry Bowen's tavern in Barrington, and by vote it was declared that the highways already voted as common highways belong to the towns where they are laid out.
The town of Barrington then voted to sell such highways as could be spared or such parts thereof as were not needed for travel and to lodge the money in the bank to maintain a free school, and James Brown, Joshua Bicknell, and Josiah Humphrey were made a committee to sell and dispose of said lands on behalf of the town. Other highways have been laid out by the town which are referred to under town legislation.
In the early legislation of the town, the road department was treated separately by a special tax, levied by the asses- sors, and worked out by the taxpayers of their representa- tives, under officers, styled surveyors of highways. In order to lighten the labor of the surveyors, the town was at first divided into two districts, New Meadow Neck and Peebee's Neck, and later into four or five. The repairing of high- ways was usually done in May or June of each year, after the spring planting and before haying. The tax of the sev- eral districts was made by the assessors and sent to the surveyors. Each surveyor consulted his own convenience as well as that of the inhabitants of his district in fixing the time for the highway service, when men and teams were called into service by a notice from the district surveyor. Each hand and team had a per diem allowance which was
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fixed by the assessors at the usual price of day labor. The following is a record of the surveyor of highways of the north district of the town, including the taxpayers living north of Prince's Hill, made just a century ago :
" WORK ON HIGHWAYS, DISTRICT NO. I, BARRINGTON.
John Barnes, one hand. one team of five
Matthew & Sullivan Allin, one hand. S Cattle.
John Humphrey & J. Hardin, 2 hands & a 3 Cattle team. George Salsbury, one hand.
Silvester Viall, one hand & two Cattle.
Samuel Barnes, one hand & three Cattle & Cart.
Consider Tripp, one hand.
Edward Loyal, one hand.
Josiah Humphrey, one hand. Josiah Humphrey, Junr., one hand & 2 Cattle.
Elkanah Humphrey, Jr., one hand.
Elkanah Humphrey, one hand & three Cattle. -
Joshua Bicknell, one hand & five Cattle.
Josiah Viall, one hand.
Samuel Allen, Jr, one hand.
Josiah Kinnicutt, one hand.
William Brown, one hand.
Kent Brown, one hand.
1 Nathl. Heath, one hand & team 3 Cattle.
Nathl. Heath, one hand. Solomon Peck, one hand & team 3 Cattle. Daniel Peck, one hand.
Comfort Stanley, one hand.
Charles Young, one hand.
Enoch Remington, one hand.
Ebenr. Peck, two hands & team.
Joel Peck, one hand. Thomas Carpenter and Daniel Horn, two hands & team. Thomas Allin, two hands & team.
To work on the highways on Monday, the 25 of June, 1798."
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FIRST BRIDGES.
This method, not system, of highway building and repair was modified by the town in voting a specific portion of the total town tax for highways and dividing the money among the district surveyors, thereby enabling them to hire such labor and at such prices as they saw fit. Later a wiser plan was adopted, which is now in operation, the appointment of a town surveyor, who has a fixed salary and who has the charge of all the town roads, adopting modern methods of road building and thereby securing for the town an excellent reputation for its public highways. For the last twenty years the town has been fortunate in having a large supply of oyster shells for covering the roads, and has been more fortunate in having good men to superintend the expendi- ture of the money. Recently the state has made a sample half mile of road near the Town Hall, and the interest now awakened in scientific road building will lead to much greater improvements in this department in the future.
Ancient Swansea was intersected by five navigable rivers, Lees, Coles, Kickemuit, Palmers or Warren, and Barring- ton. All of these rivers were fordable in the north part of the town and were so crossed until the people were able to construct roads and use carriages, when bridges were needed for crossing. Probably the first bridge built was over Bowen's River, the name formerly given to the upper part of Barrington River. This river is sometimes called in the early records Bowen's Bridge River or Runen's River, and the rude bridge over it made the communication easier between Mr. Brown and Captain Willett at Wannamoisett and Mr. Myles and his settlement on New Meadow Neck at the head of Hundred Acre Cove. The second bridge was built near the fording place over Palmer's River, at the pres- ent Village of Barneysville and was called Myles' Bridge, from the pastor of the Swansea Church, Rev. John Myles, who was probably the leader in its construction.
As Barrington consists of two peninsulas, separated from each other and from Warren by navigable streams, the earli- est mode of communication between the settlers was by the
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THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
canoes and boats of individual owners. As this method of travel could not be relied upon, except at the convenience or spirit of accommodation of the owners of these boats, it early became a necessity to establish ferries across the Swansea and Barrington Rivers. The exact date of the establishment. of a regular ferriage is not known, but it was probably soon after Philip's War, when the meeting-house was erected on Tyler's Point, that the first ferry was estab- lished, where the Barrington and Warren Bridge now stands, connecting New Meadow Neck with Brooks Pasture and Kickemuit. This ferry was first established and maintained by the town of Swansea, and William Ingraham was the first ferryman employed by the town. The Swansea town rec- ords as to this ferry are as follows :
"At a Town Meeting Legally warned and being met Octob. ye 19, 1681. That a Complaint be made to a Magistrate to Panell a Jewry to lay out such High ways as are at Present needfull, namely through Brookses Pasture to the ferry to New Meadow Neck.
That as to the ferridge over both Rivers it be left accord- ing to former order to the Townsmen."
"At a Town Meeting Legally warned and ye Town met together March 13, 1681-2. It was voted that six acres of land be left perpetually for the accommodating a Person to keep the ferry. It to be improved for the use and Benefit of ye town as they shall see fit and that this land be laid out by the Committy formerly chosen by ye town to lay out Brookses pasture and that it be laid out as conveniently as may be."
"At a Town Meeting Legally warned Jan. 29, 1682-3. Also then was granted William Ingraham by the ferry yard Rome and Liberty to Wharf."
"At a Town Meeting Legally warned Ist July, 1697, also then agitated Concerning the ferry and the ferry lot not yet laid out in Brookses pasture."
"At a Town Meeting Legally warned and met April ye 9th, 1703. Also then voted and agreed to yet ye Selectmen
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FERRIES.
should take care of the setting of ye ferry according to their discretion.
"According to ye warning given as above sd the Proprie- tors of Swansey met on ye 26th Day of Jan., 1713, at sd meeting It was considered Voted and Concluded to Choose a Committy to Enquire into the circumstances of the Ferry in Swansey from Brookses pasture to New Meadow neck and to let out sd Ferry to some able Person to keep, to give good attendance to Travailers & ye rent to be for the use of ye said Proprietors that is the three fold Ranks for the term of Seven years ; proceeded to choice and chose, viz. :
Joseph Butterworth, Edward Luther, Joseph Carpenter, Joseph Mason, Wm. Anthony.
Committy.
And further concluded that ye town land on Brookses Pasture Point and ferry lot should be rented out with the ferry or as the Committy in their discretion should think best for sd Propriety.
It being requested at sd meeting by ye Widdow Two-good that they would consider her condition and give her the last years rent for the Ferry, Ordered that William Wood Town Treasurer should abate one half of the rent for one year.
A lot of land was laid out for the use of the ferry, and a contract was made with the ferryman to share in the profits of ferriage. The town let the ferry to John Toogood as the successor to Mr. Ingraham, as a town right. Toogood's suc- cessor was Duncan Kelley, who insisted on spelling his given name "Dunkin" because "it was so on the sign." His son, John Kelley, claimed the right to use the ferry as personal property, without recognition of the town rights therein, but was restrained by the town, and on the 12th day of July, 1736, a contract was made between Matthew Allin and James Adams, Selectmen, on behalf of the town of Barrington, and John Kelley, "marraner," that the said Kelley "shall have
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free liberty or allowance from the town to keep a ferry in Barrington aforesaid at ye place called and known by the name of Toogood's or Kelley's Ferry and to carry horse and men or any kind of wares from off Barrington Shore with- out any let, denyals, molestation or Disturbance of from or by ye said town of Barrington for ye space of seven years from and after ye twenty-first day of May last past according to ye tenure, true intent and meaning of ye vote of ye Town of Barrington at their Town Meeting held on ye twenty-first of May last past." For and in consideration of this permit, Mr. Kelley was to have the use and profits of said ferry by paying to the town of Barrington forty shillings yearly, and every year for seven years, "in lawful money or bills of credit."
At the expiration of this contract, the question again arose as to the respective rights of the Town of Barrington and Mr. Kelley in the Ferry, and the vexed question was not settled at the time of the union with Warren in 1747, as the following deposition of Mr. Joseph Mason indicates :
WARREN, April ye 22 : 1748 :
" The Dupusition of Joseph Mason Aged about eighty-four years to Testify and say that he hath Lived in the Town of Swanzey near the ferry ouer from New Meadow Neck ouer to Lands Called Brookis pasture upwards of sixty years and the Deponant was improved in publick Concerns in Town business Twenty years and upward and said ferry was all- ways kept in the Towns hands and they that kept sd ferrey improved sd ferry rods by agreement with the Town of Swan- zey, William Ingraham the first ferryman near Seventy years agoe, by Contract with said Town of Swanzey. Eaming at a futer profit as people and traveling increased; and therefore the Town of Swanzey Laid out a lott of Land for the use of said ferry and this Deponent saith that he was Concerned in behalf of the Town of Swanzey in Letting out said ferry formerly to John Twoogood Deceased as a town Right ; and Cair was taken by the first inhabitant to preserve it for a
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KELLEY'S FERRY AND BRIDGE.
publick benifet and priviledge : so that William Ingraham, John Twoogood, Dunkin Killey held sd ferry under sd town, and allowed sd town of Swanzey a rent for the same and fur- ther saith not :
JOSEPH MASON."
In 1777 the ferry was still run by John Kelley, son of Dun- can, as the General Assembly allowed him, "for the ferriages of a number of soldiers and their baggage, £15, 9s., 4p." On the death of Mr. Kelley, in 1777, his son Duncan suc- ceeded him in charge of the ferry.
· In June, 1792, it was Voted and Resolved, by the General Assembly of Rhode Island, " that Duncan Kelley, the propri- etor of the Ferry on the East side of the Town of Barrington, upon the Post Road from Newport to Boston, be permitted to extend and continue a warp from Posts erected upon oppo- site Sides of the said River, for the greater Convenience of transporting Passengers, without Molestation from any Per- son or Persons whosoever," and it was further Voted and Resolved, "that whenever Boat or Vessel shall pass or re- pass through the said Passage, the said Warp shall be doused, so that such Boat or Vessel may pass without any obstruction."
In February, 1794, the General Assembly passed an Act granting to Duncan Kelley, license to erect a bridge across Palmer's River, at a Place called Kelley's Ferry, as a toll bridge, with a convenient draw for the passage of vessels without expense, with an able bodied man to aid and assist in raising the draw for the passage of vessels and in lowering the same : that the toll shall at no time exceed the present rate of ferriage as established by law: that when the toll shall amount in value to the costs, charges and expenses of erecting and keeping in repair said bridge, with interest thereon, a reasonable allowance shall go to Duncan Kelley for advance made and "for the risque of his property."
To facilitate the travel between the two peninsulas, New Meadow Neck and the main body of the town on the west,
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another ferry was established from the west end of Ferry Lane, near where the present Barrington bridge is located, to the west bank of Barrington River, at the foot of what was known as Jennys Lane, now the road leading from the main highway by Lewis T. Fisher's residence to the river.
Reference is made to a bridle-way and to this ferry in the town records under date of May 18, 1739. Voted "that the town accept a way through John Adams land leading to the ferry, by two good gates, allowing him to take in the highway on the North side of his land until he is molested by court or proprietary ; and it was voted that the town accept of an open highway through Edward Bosworth's land and Jacob Bosworth's to a convenient place for keeping the ferry over to Mr. Samuel Miller's." That part of the vote relative to "an open highway," refers to the road leading to Martin's Ferry, between Barrington and Warren, Mr. Samuel Miller living in Warren.
With the growth of the town on the west side of the river, opposite Warren, a public ferry was needed for the people to communicate with Warren, Bristol, and Swansea, and one was established at the foot of the highway known as Ferry Lane, in the neighborhood of the Martins, Bosworths, and Ingrahams. It was known as Martin's Ferry and was owned and managed by Col. Nathaniel Martin before and during the Revolution. We have not been able to find the date of its establishment or suspension but it was probably given up for carriage travel on the building of Kelley's Bridge. Foot passengers continued to be ferried over at a small fee until recent years, within the memory of people now living. During the Revolutionary War and afterwards most of the transportation of soldiers, baggage, equipments, etc. was made at Martin's Ferry for the reason that thereby two ferriages were avoided, over the Barrington and Warren Rivers.
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