USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Barrington > A history of Barrington, Rhode Island > Part 46
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His biographer says of him: "But very few men have been better known throughout the State, and perhaps none survived him who possess more historical and statistical knowledge of the State, from the com- mencement of the Revolution to the present time. Of no man may it be more justly said, he has lived devoted to the best interests of Rhode Island. No man more ardently loved his country."
JAMES BROWN. Son of John, Sen., and Dorothy; admitted freeman at Plymouth, 1636, at Taunton, 1643, and at Rehoboth, 1658; m. Lydia How- land, daughter of John Howland, of the Mayflower ; was liberal in civil and religious matters, and an ardent friend of Rev. John Myles ; was fined £5, with Mr. Myles, for setting up a Baptist meeting in Rehoboth, in 1667; was one of the seven constituent members of the Myles Church ; op- posed the union of church and state, as did his father, John, and believed in individual freedom as to church support and religious belief ; was As- sistant to the Governor, 1665, 1666, and from 1673 to 1683, when he refused to serve longer; was a deputy from Swansea, 1666, 1669, 1671, 1672; was allowed £20 for cattle killed in the Narragansett country in Philip's War; went twice, on June 14 and 15, 1675, to Philip to persuade him to be quiet, but at both times found his men in arms, and " Philip very high, and not perswadable to peace;" his son, James, was admitted a freeman in 1681 ; he probably lived at Wannamoisett, on his father's large estate, and is buried at Little Neck.
CHAFFEE, THOMAS. Son of Nathaniel and Experience Chaffee; his father was freeman in Plymouth in 1658, and in Rehoboth in 1681 ; Thomas was born in Swansea ; from Nathaniel has sprung a large descent of fami- lies, bearing the name and the honorable character of the ancestor, who was an influential citizen, and a large land holder in this section ; Thomas
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was one of the Sowams proprietors, and owned lands in Barrington. The family lived in the Peck neighborhood, near Barrington River, and burials were made near the river.
DESIRE KENT. One of the oldest monuments in the Tyler's Point Cemetery stands in memory of Desire Kent, wife of Samuel Kent, of Bar- rington. The inscription says she " was the first English woman's grand- daughter on New England." This statement has been interpreted to mean that Mrs. Kent was the grand daughter of Mary Chilton, to whom tra- dition gives the honor of being the first woman of the Mayflower band to land on Plymouth Rock. The genealogical history of Mary Chilton and her descendants disproves this theory, however pleasing it may be to Mrs. Kent's descendants, of whom the writer is one.
A more probable theory is that Desire Kent's maiden name was Desire Cushman, daughter of Thomas Cushman and Ruth Howland, and grand- daughter of John Howland and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, both of whom came in the Mayflower. If this theory is true, the lithographic statement may mean that Desire was the grand-daughter of one of the Mayflower Company, in the first immigration "on New England." There is a probable error on the tombstone as to her age. The stone says, "Aged about 94 years." A MSS. book of Genealogical notes, made by Dr. Turner, an able and accurate historian and genealogist, has the follow- ing record : "Kent, Desire, died Feby. S, 1763, aged 89, on Tuesday. Would have been 90 next day." This date makes Desire's birth to oc- cur in 1673.
SAMUEL BOSWORTH. M. Elizabeth Joy of Joseph and Mary Joy1, (Pearce2) (Low3), about 1767 or S; children, Anna, 1769; Joseph, 1771 ;
Samle Ropworth
Samuel, 1773; Mary, 1779; Elizabeth, 17S2. For his military record see chapter on the Revolution.
JOHN ROGERS, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church" is the pith of an old truth and familiar to all, but the people of Barring- ton may not be acquainted with the fact that possibly the blood of the martyrs lies buried in the sacred soil of Prince's Hill. In the old part of " God's Acre," south of the ravine, is an old tombstone, bearing the name of John Rogers. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Rogers, came in the Mayflower, in 1620, and died at Plymouth the first winter of the arrival. This Thomas is said to be a lineal descendant of the celebrated martyr, John Rogers, of Smithfield, England, of Mary's time. John 3rd, son of John 2nd, the grandson of Thomas,1 married Elizabeth Pabodie, daughter
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THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
of William and Elizabeth Alden Pabodie, and Elizabeth Alden Pabodie was the daughter of John and Priscilla (Mullens) Alden, both passengers on the Mayflower.
John 3rd was a merchant, lived in Duxbury, Boston, and Barrington, successively, and died in our town in 1732, at the ripe old age of 92 years. The blood of John Rogers runs in the veins of the Richmond and other families of Barrington.
THOMAS ROGERS,1 was a passenger in the Mayflower; children, Joseph,2 John,2 Thomas,2 William,2 George,2 Sylvanus.2 - JOHN,2 Thomas,1 m. Frances Watson ; children, John,8 Joseph,3 Timothy,3 Ann,3 Mary,3 Abi- gail.3-JOHN,3 John,2 Thomas,1 m. (1) Elizabeth Pabodie, b. 1647 ; chil- dren, Hannah,+ 1668; John,+ 1670; Ruth,4 1675; Sarah, + 1677; Elizabeth,+ m. Sylvester Richmond. JOHN,3 m. (2) Marah, a widow, who d. 1739. John,3 d. in Barrington, 1732, as above.
ABIGAIL SALISBURY. Barrington had heroines as well as heroes dur- ing the Revolutionary period. The women of the town must have encour- aged and nursed the patriotic spirit with true devotion, or the husbands, fathers, and sons could not and would not have made so heroic a record. In addition to the ordinary work of the women of the household, which was very arduous and exacting in the early day, the care of the farm, the stock, and the business of the exchange of farm produce for household needs, were added. We must also add the making of blankets and cloth- ing for the soldiers, and the care of men, sick and wounded in the ser- vice.
Among the most distinguished of the number, among Barrington house- wives, was Abigail Salisbury, wife of George Salisbury, who was a ser- geant of a guard stationed at Rumstick, and who saw other service during the war. Benjamin Cowell, author of " The Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," says of Mrs, Salisbury, "She was another choice specimen of female patriotism. She was one hundred years old when she applied for a pen- sion, was married fifteen years before the war, and she too took an active part in the struggle for Independence, and knit stockings for the whole guard. Indeed she was so fond of knitting, that she continued it until her death. She showed the writer a pair of stockings she knit after she was one hundred years old."
Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury lived on the west highway in Barrington, on land now owned by E. F. Richmond. It is related of Mrs. Salisbury that she read the Bible through each year, during the last thirty years of her life. One who knew her says, " She had a fair complexion, a full, bright eye, and was short and thickset in body. Her mind was active to the close of life."
She was born May 26, 173S, died Aug 30, 1839, at the age of 101 years and three months, and with her husband was buried at Prince's Hill Cemetery.
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NATHANIEL F. POTTER. Son of Earl C. and Hannah Potter; contract- ing builder, and brick maker ; at the age of twenty-one he built the Groton monument in Conn., the Unitarian Church on Mathewson St., and many brick residences on High St. After the great fire in Charleston, S. C., he, together with his brothers, engaged in the reconstruction of much of the burnt district, including the Charleston hotel. In the year 1847 he started the Brick Works in Barrington, which grew into a large business through his energies. Nayatt Point at that time attracted his attention, and he became the owner of the original farmhouse with many acres of land, to which he added, establishing the Hotel known for many years as the Bay House. He beautified the place by planting hundreds of trees, which have now grown, and stand as a monument to his efforts, and also did much in making roads in the town of Barrington. [See p. 515.]
N. J. SMITH. B. Prov. R. I., March 31, IS3S; grad. of H. S .; bank- ing and jewelry from 1855 to IS75; Junior partner in H. M. Coombs & Co .; had valuable military experience in connection with the F. L. I. and other bodies ; resides at Barrington Centre ; is Treas. of the B. R. Improv. Association, and is deeply interested in all town matters.
REV. LUTHER WRIGHT. Born at Acton, Mass, April 19, 1770; was or- dained a Congregational minister at Medway, Mass, 1798; m. Anna, dau. of Rev. Josiah Bridges ; preached at Medway seventeen years, and was in- stalled at Barrington, Jan. 29, 1817, where he labored in the gospel minis- try four and one-half years. "The Great Revival" occurred during his pastorate, and more than eighty persons united with the church. The Congregational Sunday School was established during Mr. Wright's min- istry, and the Church Creed was adopted. The last generation of Barring- ton people remembered Mr. Wright's work with great satisfaction. He died at the ripe age of eighty-eight years, at Woburn, Mass., June IS5S.
GEORGE W. WIGHTMAN. Son of Daniel and Charlotte Wightman ; b. May 10, 1821 ; m. Lydia Bosworth Smith, May 10, 1843 ; children, Har- riet Chace, Annie Wilson, Walter Russell, George Henry ; d. Feb. 24, 1893 ; Mr. Wightman spent his early years on a farm in Barrington, but the most of his active life was devoted to the development of system and proper organization in benevolent, charitable, and correctional institu- tions, for which he had remarkable fitness and adaptability. His first experience as an executive officer over charitable work, was in the office of Overseer of the Poor of Providence, where he made a wise administra- tion from 1857 to 1889. In June, 1869, at the organization of " The Board of State Charities and Corrections," Mr. Wightman was chosen the Agent and Acting Superintendent of the Board, continuing in office until his death. As Overseer of the Poor of the City, and Agent of the Board for many years, Mr. Wightman had the fullest opportunity to exercise his remarkable talent for the work, and in the study of the needs and care of the dependent classes, he learned and applied wiser and more humane methods of treatment. His large acquaintance with men and institutions
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THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
outside the State, made him an authority in charity and correction man- agement. His tender sympathies, good judgment, and wise counsels brought him into close contact with the people he was called on to aid, and the officials, responsible for their care. The unfortunate of all classes and conditions found in Mr. Wightman a true friend as well as a faithful officer, who was in touch with their infirmities and sorrows. He had the strength of will and magnetic energy that gave strength and courage to the weak and erring, and cheered the hopeless to hopefulness. At his death, the Board, whose Agent he had been for twenty-four years. said :
" During this long period, Mr. Wightman had the fullest confidence and esteem of the Board, and they desire to record here their apprecia- tion of him, as a true and an able man, and an honest and efficient officer.
"Mr. Wightman was a man of marked and masterful individuality, and it was not at first interchange of relations with him that he was always estimated at his true value; but when the relations became closer few failed to find him a man of strong intellect, excellent judgment, and kindly and sympathetic feeling."
MOSES TYLER. Wasa prominent citizen of the town of Barrington, and was descended from an honorable English ancestry.
His great grandfather was Thomas Tyler, who came from England soon after the Pilgrims and settled in Boston. His great grandmother was Miriam Simpkins, daughter of Pilgrim Simpkins of the Mayflower party.
. He was the son of Moses Tyler and Hannah (Luther) Tyler of Boston. He was born Nov. 26, 1734, and in early manhood came to Rhode Island He married Elizabeth Adams and settled in Barrington near Duncan Kel- ley's ferry, the place of crossing the main or post road between the towns of Bristol and Providence.
Inheriting the thrifty habits of his Tyler ancestry, he became in early manhood a freeholder and at middle life was one of the largest owners of real property in the town.
The tract of land on which he resided extended bewteen Palmer's River on the east to Barrington River on the west and has ever since been known as " Tyler's Point." On the upland of this land is one of the old burying grounds of the town and is known as the "Tyler Burial Ground."
The sturdy virtues and independence of character of his Pilgrim ances- tors were prominent in Moses Tyler's life, and while yet a young man he took an active interest in the affairs of the town, and was always to be found in favor of all measures that had for their object the general wel- fare of the people. He noted with concern and anxiety the disposition of the British Parliament to enact measures of oppression towards the American Colonies, and was among the first to raise his voice and exert his influence in resisting them. He never hesitated to affirm that " the instincts of freedom are inherited from the Creator, and the oppressive
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VIEW AT DROWNVILLE, LOOKING NORTH .- METHODIST CHURCH ON THE RIGHT.
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edicts of a tyrant King and his Parliament must be resisted even to the sacrifice of life and fortune." At a town meeting called by the people of Barrington on March 14, 1774, to consider the action of Parliament in placing a duty upon all tea exported to the American Colonies, he took an active part, and at a subsequent meeting held March 21st, he was appointed a member of a committee of seven citizens to correspond with similar committees appointed by the other towns in the different colonies to arrange for concerted action in opposition to receiving or using from any source or under any circumstances any of the "dutied tea." He was elected a deputy to represent the town of Barrington in the General Assembly in 1776-77, and served his constituents faithfully and accepta- bly. He was also a member of the town militia and appointed a lieuten- ant, and elected by the General Assembly a justice of the peace. Moses Tyler died Sept. 16, 1811, aged 77. [See p. 396].
EMERSON HUMPHREY. Son of John and Elizabeth (Bullock) Humph- rey; b. Oct. 24, 1792; farmer; member of Town Council 1826, 1834, 1838-45 ; president for 8 years ; moderator of town meetings from 1839 to 1856, lacking one year; was a captain in the town militia and com- manded the Barrington Company of 32 men in the Dorr War; was a member of the state convention to frame a Constitution in 1841; was elected Senator to the General Assembly for the years 1845 and 1846; while through his long life he took a deep interest in local and state affairs, and was ever ready by his example and with his means to promote all enterprises for the improvement of the interests of this town. He was married in 1819 to Huldah Peck, daughter of Ebenezer and Huldah (Brown) Peck, who survived him four years, dying in 1869. By her he had six children, five of whom survive him. He died in IS65, after a most painful and distressing illness of more than a year's duration, aged 72 years.
DAVID A. WALDRON. B. Bristol, R. I., May 10, 1828; learned tailor's trade and conducted business in Bristol, then engaged in clothing busi- ness in Ohio; purchased the Chapin estate at Drownville about 1870; m. (1) Mary A. Simmons of Bristol; children, a son, Walter, and Mary Marcia, m. Walter A. Potter; Mr. W. m. (2) Mrs. Mary J. D. Bowen of Warren ; he conducted a real estate business for twenty-five years in Prov- idence and was well known throughout the state. He held many offices, civil and military, among which were the presidencies of the trustees of the town library, of the Antiq. Society, of the United Cong, Soc; was the efficient superintendent of the Cong. Sunday School for many years, was actively interested in Y. M. C. A. work, in church work, and was de- voted to the various matters, which promoted the growth of Barrington. His ministries to the sick and needy were constant and generous, and in all his social and benevolent work he had a sympathetic and wise coun- sellor in Mrs. Waldron, both of whom were very useful members of the religious society and community.
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REV. CHARLES PEABODY. B. July 1, IS10; grad. Williams College 183S; pastorates, Biddeford, Me., Barrington, 1843-46, Ashford, Conn., Windsor, Mass., and Pownal, Vt.
Mr. Peabody's pastorate was a useful one, but was disturbed by a division in the church over matters relating to the parsonage, which was a bone of contention for many years. He was a genial, peacemaking man, earnest and devoted in his ministerial work, and had it not been for troubles in the church and community, his labors would have been richly blessed.
JOHN KELLEY. Son of Dunkin and Abigail Kelley; b. Dec. 3, 1799; miller and toll-keeper; m. (1) Lois Martin; children, John Edward, George Henry, Esek Bowen, Anna C., Charles D .; m. (2) Sarah
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Jones ; children, Sarah, William Winslow. He was of a family of ferry keepers and managed the affairs of the ferry and mill well, and left the reputation of a kind husband, a good neighbor, and an honest man. He died Nov. 22, 1860. Autograph of his ancestor.
REV. WILLIAM HOUSE. B. Dec. 24, 1826, in New York ; grad. Prince- ton College, 1854, and Seminary IS5S; m. Frances Savage, IS59; pastor- ates at Londonderry, N. H., IS5S-IS73, and Barrington, IS73, ISS6. Among the results of a successful ministry, over 90 were added to the church, benevolences were increased, and the life of the church elevated and quickened ; later labors in Providence in the Union and Beneficent Churches. Mr. House was a true, pure, sincere, unselfish, conscientious, courageous man and minister. He died in ISgS, leaving a widow and four children in life.
REV. FRANCIS HORTON. B. in Boston; grad. B. U. 1828; pastor of churches at West Brookfield, Mass., 1832-IS41 ; West Cambridge, IS42 to 1856; Barrington, 1856-1872. During his ministry in B. 136 were added to the church. His work and influence are referred to in the chap- ter on New Barrington.
JOEL PECK. Son of David and Sarah (Humphrey) Peck; b. Aug. 28, 1759; m. Lucy Fish ; children, Horatio, Elnathan, Bela, Wealthy, Seba, Fanny, Bethiah, Clarissa; occupation, farmer; was a soldier of the Revo- lution. Mr. Peck was a respected citizen of the town. The house in which he lived is still a landmark of the early architecture of the town.
NATHANIEL PECK. Son of Nathaniel and Cynthia (Heath) Peck; b. April 24, 1809; unmarried; farmer; was a member of the Town Council of Barrington, and the tax collector for many years. Mr. Peck had a
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thorough knowledge of town affairs, was possessed of sound sense and an excellent judgment, which made him one of the most useful and respected citizens of the town. His counsel and action were always those of a safe and conservative man. Genial and hearty in disposition, he was the friend of all, and so just, upright and conscientious was his char- acter that he had the full confidence of a great body of acquaintances and friends beyond his town limits. He was one of the few men of whom it can be said, " He had not an enemy."
SEBA PECK. Son of Joel and Lucy (Fish) Peck ; b. Jan 25, ISO3; m. Rebecca Cooper of Boston Sept. 14, 1834; children, Ann Eliza, Emily, Seraphine, Nelson, Laura; was a member of the Town Council and of the school committee, a lieutenant in the Barrington Infantry in IS27; occupation, farmer; d. April 9, 1884. Mr. Peck was an honest and an upright man and a member of the Congregational Church.
NATHANIEL CHURCH SMITH. Son of Nathaniel and Wait (Mauran) Smith ; b. Oct. 12, ISII; m. Sally Bowen April 8, IS35; children, An- toinette Sharp, James Antoine, Albert, Nathaniel H., Nathaniel W., Louise Bowen, Emily Eddy, Walter Parker, Irving Mauran, Ralph An- toine, Harry Martin. Mr. Smith was a member of the school committee and also of the Town Council nearly every year from 1855 to 1869; was captain of the Barrington militia. Mr. Smith was a man devoted to the interests and growth of the town; was public spirited, firm in his adher- ence to conscientious beliefs, possessed a genial, social nature, looked at men and events from the hopeful standpoint, spoke evil of none, and was respected by all and beloved by those who knew him best. His family, parents, and children have been ornaments to society and the town.
LEARNED PECK. Son of Ebenezer and Huldah (Brown) Peck; b. Oct. 15, 1795; m. Harriet C. Short, Nov. 27, 1817; children, Harriet N., Wil- liam H., Betsy S., Sarah D., Julia M., Charles C., Rebecca D. K., Amanda C., Anna C., Tristam B., James D., Sarah U., Milton L., and George L .; occupation, farmer; was a member of the Congregational Church and a useful citizen.
NOEL MATHEWSON. Son of Noel and Susannah (Martin) Mathewson ; b. ISIO; ed. at Warren H. S. and Phillips Academy; m. (1) Hannah Bourne Smith July, 1841 ; children, Martha Smith, John Bourne, George Kingsley; Mrs. Mathewson d. Nov. 21, 1843; m. (2) Mary Ann Webb; no children ; occupation, storekeeper and postmaster at Nayatt; d. May 7, 1869. Mr. Mathewson was a public spirited and generous man and well respected by all.
JOHN JAY ALLIN. B. Dec. 26, 1814; d. Feb. 20, ISgo; a lineal descend- ant of William Allin, who settled in Barrington prior to 1670; m. Mary Tyler Bowen ; children, John Jay Allin, m. Josephine Starkey; Florence Haile Allin ; Charles Irving Allin, b. June 12, 1855, m. Ella Nichols; m. (2) Mary Leete Varley; children, Florence Shores Allin, b. Dec. 25, IS62 ; Howard Everett Allin, b. July 2, 1864, m. Jessie M. Horton ; Mary Milton
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Allin, b. Nov. S, 1866, m. David C. Black; Annie Gertrude Allin, b. Dec. 9, 1869, d. Feb. 4, 1874; Ida Louise Allin, b. Jan. 23, 1872.
NATHANIEL SMITH. Son of James and Sarah (Kent) Smith m. Lillis Humphrey, Dec. 6, 1770; children, Josiah, Nathaniel, Bicknell, Ebenezer, Simon, James, Sarah and Asa; farmer; owned large farm at Rumstick; for services in the Revolution see p. 393.
REV. FRANCIS WOOD. B. Uxbridge, Mass., April 8, 1798; grad. B. U. 1819; m. Lydia Tiffany, Sept. 9, 1823 ; pastorate, Barrington, 1823-1826; Willington, Conn., Prescott and Holland, Mass., and returned to Barring- ton, where he closed a useful life in teaching a select school several years, and in the duties of Town Clerk, from 1865-1875. He died Oct. 28, 1845, leaving a widow, and one son, Mark H., who succeeded his father as town clerk, from 1875 to IS9S.
THE RICHMONDS, a noted New England family, are descended from John and Edward, his son, of Newport and Little Compton, 1633. Peleg Richmond, b. 1732, moved to Barrington from Little Compton about 1732 ; bought large tracts of land of the Allens and Vialls. In March, 1759, Peleg deeded to his son, John Rogers Richmond, " for love, good- will and affection," sixty acres of land, "together with ye mantion house thereon standing and being." The land is now owned by Edward F. Richmond, son of Ichabod, and grandson of John, and the old house is now standing, south of the eight-rod way.
John F. Richmond,6 (Edward F.," Ichabod,6 John Rogers,5 Peleg.+ Syl- vester,3 Edward,2 John,1) lives on the Richmond estate with his father ; farmer; has been in both branches of the General Assembly from Bar- rington, and was an appraiser in the Custom House in Harrison's admin- istration; Mr. Richmond preserves the history and traditions of his family with a proper pride, and is one of the most useful and respected citizens of the town.
SULLIVAN MARTIN. Son of Luther and Elizabeth (Humphreys) Mar- tin ; b. Jan. 31, 1789; m. (1) Belinda Peck, in 1814; children, Anna D., Edwin L., George Sullivan, Stephen B., Nathaniel F .; m. (2) Lydia Rog- erson ; m. (3) Esther V. Tiffany; d. May 27, 1363.
GEORGE S. MARTIN. Son of Sullivan; b. Jan. 3, IS22; m. Betsey S. Peck, Oct. 21, 1845; farmer ; resides in Norfolk, Nebraska, and retains a lively interest in and a retentive memory of the older Barrington of which he was a resident for many years; children, George L., Charles F., Hattie N., Emma D., William, Ida, Ida B.
O. H. P. CLELAND has been a resident of Barrington for nearly forty years, and his name frequently appears on the town records as an officer of the town. His good judgment and conservative spirit render him a valuable tax assessor, and appraiser of property values.
LEWIS T. FISHER is one of the reliable and valuable adopted citizens of Barrington ; m. Jane Drown, dau. of Alfred ; has been a Representative and. Senator for several terms, high sheriff of Bristol County, a member of the Centennial Committee, and other town offices.
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