USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Narragansett > A history of the Episcopal Church in Narragansett, Rhode Island, including a history of other Episcopal churches in the state, Volume III > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
Along-fide of Virginia, and more north-eafterly, lies Mary- land, through which runs the great river Sufquehannah, which empties itfelf, not into the ocean, but, as the Virginian rivers do, into the great bay of Chefapeak. This tract, or pro- vince, was granted to the great Calvert, Lord Baltimore, an Irish nobleman, by Queen Mary, wife of Philip of Spain ; and, in honour of her, called Maryland, as Georgia has fince been named in honour of the prefent King. As the late Lord Baltimore was the firft Protestant peer of the Calvert family, his predeceffors (as it was natural they fhould) firft peopled this province with a colony of Irish Catholicks. Thefe, hav- ing the ftart, in point of time, of the after-fettlers, are alfo, to this day, a-head of them in wealth and fubftance; by which means, the first and beft families are, for the most part, ftill of the Roman communion. Tho' this province have a fuc- ceffion of fecular clergy fent them, chiefly from Ireland, who fubfift on the free-will offerings of thofe to whom they ad- minifter; yet is the Country cantoned into Parifhes and Pre-
15
Appendices
cinets, over which prefide, by legal Eftablifhment, a compe- tent Number of Clergymen of our Church, handfomely pro- vided for. Forty Pounds of good infpected Tobacco is due to the Incumbent for every Poll in the Parifh, young and old, White and Black; and is collected for his Ufe, and is paid in to him, by the Sheriff of the County or Diftrict where he officiates. This is called the Forty-Pound Poll-Tax, equal to 5s. Sterling per Head; and, as no Parifh is under 150/. per Annum, fo a great many far exceed 300/ .- a competent Provifion in a cheap Country, were not Phyfic dearer than Food, and the Demands for it (efpecially about the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes) more frequent than for eatables. There are fome Quakers here, in Confequence of its bordering on Pennfylvania; and fome Irifb Presbyterians, owing to the Swarnis that, for many Years paft, have winged their Way Weftward out of the Hibernian Hive. One Mr. Hugh Conn, of Macgilligan, my Senior, but former Ac- quaintance, when I was a School-boy at Foghan-veil, and Minifter to a Presbyterian Congregation in Maryland; as he was preaching, a few Months ago, upon the Subject of a fud- den Death, dropped down dead in his Pulpit, -a melancholy and, indeed, remarkable Verification of the Truth he was inculcating on his Audience. He has Relations in the Place of his Nativity; and this, perhaps, may be the only Intima- tion they may have of his Demife. The Lord Proprietor has the Privilege of prefenting a Governor to his Majefty, and nominating the Council; and, upon the King's approving the Prefentation and Choice, their refpective Commiffions are made out, and the Governor's Salary is fettled by the Af- fembly of the Province, and paid by a tax. As to the Pro- duce, Exportations, and Commerce of this Colony, they are fo much the same with Virginia, that they need no Repeti- tion. The Inhabitants are all Tenants to Lord Baltimore, upon a fmall Quit-rent; and yet fo prodigioufly have the Planters extended themfelves, that his Lordfhip's Quit-rents are computed at 8000/. fterling per Annum; and if the Irish go on, but a few years more, to people the upper and inland Parts of the Province, as they have begun, it will foon raife his Rents to double that Sum.
Next to Maryland, and north-eafterly of it, lyes Pennfyl-
16
Appendices
vania, so called from the famous Wl'illiam Penn, a noted Quaker, of a family of that name in Ireland. This province, including the three lower counties, extends, in length, near 300 miles, and, in breadth, above 200; and is watered with the great river Delaware, navigable 1 50 miles up from the fea, in great veffels, to the city of Philadelphia, and as many more miles, in fmall veffels, above that city. The three lower coun- ties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suffex, lying between Philadel- phia and the mouth of the Delaware, at Cape Hinlopen, on the weft fide of that river, were firft fettled by Swedes and Dutch, tho' the whole province, at this day, are a mixture of feveral European nations, fuch as French, English, Irish, Alo- ravians, Palatines, and other Germans. William Penn, in con- fideration of fome fuppofed merit, or intimacy with his Royal Highnefs, Duke of York and Albany, (afterwards the un- fortunate King James the Second) obtained a proprietary patent of this province; and its quit-rents (by the late nu- merous Irish and German fettlers) arife to a greater eftate than Lord Baltimore's, but is divided among three of faid Penn's pofterity. The firft English fettlers here were Qua- kers; for above two thoufand of thefe people went out of England at one embarkation, with W'illiam Penn, and began the city of Philadelphia, and the plantations contiguous to it. Since that time, great numbers, of other nations, and of different notions in religion, have chofe this province for their habitation; not to avoid any violence to their perfons or principles, (as is more commonly, than truly, alledged, in New-England efpecially) but to improve their fortunes in thofe parts. Soon after this colony had a little increafed, as an English civil government became neceffary, and as it could not be fafely trufted in, nor its powers agreeably exe- cuted by, any but English hands, they were reduced to a fad dilemma. A ftatute of William and Alary, in conformity to their own avowed tenets, had difqualified Quakers from the exercife of any civil authority; and, as there were few fit among them for offices, but perfons of that perfuafion, they petitioned the crown for a difpenfation of the ftatute; and their prayer was heard. Thus let into the administration, they foon thewed, that Nature is often too powerful for principle: And, tho' they declaim againft dominion, yet, when they are
.*.
17
Appendices
once entrufted with power, they won't eafily let go their hold. Thus have we feen the outcry, raifed againft the doc- trine of the difpenfing power in the crown, in the reign of the unfortunate father, funk into filence; and the fucceffors ex- ercifing, with impunity, what only an attempt upon ruin'd the predeceffor : So true is it, that it is fometimes fafer for one man to iteal the horfe, than for another to look at him thro' or over the hedge!
I believe I need not tell you, that Pennfylvania is an abfolute ftranger to an uniformity in religion ; for the different countries, that contributed to the peopling of this province, carried their refpective preachers and opinions along with them. The Church of England entered no earlier here than 1700; but God's bleffing upon the few labourers employed as million- aries among them, has given the church a large and pro- mifing fpread. The Society for the Propagation of the Gof- pel in Foreign Parts maintain at prefent eight millionaries among them, who have the care of treble that number of churches, befides where they officiate in private houfes. In the city of Philadelphia there is a large church, where the Society maintain Mr. Sturgeon,89 their catechift; but the in- cumbent (the worthy and Reverend Dr. Jenny,691 son of Archdeacon Jenny, in Waney-Town, in the North of Ireland) is maintained at the expence of his own Auditors. There is a public and open Mafs-houfe in this City; which I note, there being none allowed to the Northward of it, in all the English Plantations. The Irifh are numerous in this province; who, befides their Interfperfions among the English and others, have peopled a whole County by themselves, called the County of Donnegal, with many other new Out-towns and Diftriets. In one of thefe Frontiers, on the Forks of Dela- ware, I affifted my Brother * (who left Ireland againft my
*James MacSparran, of Erie, Pennsylvania, in a letter states : "Ar- chibald MacSparran was the eldest son of Archibald, and lived with his parents on the homestead. James, his brother, received a classical educa- tion at Glasgow, and was educated for the ministry, and was sent to Nar- ragansett. Archibald being in possession of the homestead, made sale of it, and emigrated to this country in search of his brother James, who was settled at Rhode Island. The ship in which he embarked made another port, and he settled near New Castle, on the Delaware Bay, near the Pennsylvania line. Archibald had seven children : three daughters, Mar- garet, Eliza, and Bridget ; and four sons, John, James, Archibald, and
18
Appendices
Advice) in purchafing a large Tract of Land, which, by his and his Wife's Demife, about a Year ago, defcends to his Children. This puts me in mind to intercede with your Hon- our, in Behalf of his eldeft Daughter, married to one Gamble, and who, I hear, refolves to return again, to receive them to your Favour, if you find they deferve it, as defcended from Anceftors who lived happily under your Father and Grand- father, and Great Grandmother, the Hon. Lady Cork. The Exportations from this Province are principally Wheaten Flour, which they fend abroad in great Quantities; and, by the Acceffions and Industry of the Irish and Germans, they threaten, in a few Years, to leffen the American Demands for Irifb and other European Linens. Philadelphia is a City in- corporated, and governed by a Mayor and Aldermen ; and they have lately erected a little Academy in this City for the Education of Youth.
Next to Pennfylvania, and on the Eaft Side of the River Delaware, lies the Province which goes by the Name of the Eaft and Weft Ferfeys. This Tract was formerly reckoned Part of Nova-Belgia, now New-York; but the aforefaid Duke of York, to whom Penn's Country, this, and the prefent Pro- vince of New-York, was granted by King Charles II. gave this Part, in 1664, to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. Thefe Gentlemen cantoned this Country into two Parts, viz. Eaft and Weft Ferfeys ; but the Proprietaries, in 1702, furrendered their Rights to the late glorious Queen Ann, ever fince which Surrender it has gone by the Name of New-fer-
Joseph. The eldest, John, became a merchant in Philadelphia, and there died. James was a husbandman ; lived with his father; was in the posses- sion of the homestead, and there died. Archibald was in the mercantile business, at or near Baltimore. Joseph, the youngest, was born in this country, and was quite young when his father died. He was father to my father, that is, my grandfather ; my father's name is Archibald. My father (after the death of his father, Joseph) emigrated from the interior of this State to this section of the country. He was among the earlier pioneers to this place ; he has resided here near forty years. My father has no written genealogy of his relatives, and the information he gives me is from me- mory, of what his father imparted to him. Yet, from what my father re- lates, I am confident that Doctor James MacSparran, whom you mention, was great-uncle to my father, and that his brother Archibald was grand- father to my father. The Dr. MacSparran of Narragansett, of whoin my father speaks, made a will, at the request of his partner, previous to their going to England, and devised a portion of his property to the son of his brother, Archibald, by the name of James, uncle to my father."
19
Appendices
fey. It ufed to be fo annexed to New-York, that whoever was Governor of the latter was alfo Commander in Chief over the former: But they had a dittinEt Legiflature ; and they are now feparated, each having its refpective Governor. He who at prefent prefides as Governor over New- Jersey is a New- England Man ; an Independent, but occasionally conforms in Confequence of the Test Act. His name is Belcher; * and as he was born at Bofton, in New-England, he was many years Governor there. The firft Inhabitants were Quakers and Ana- baptifts, and Sabbatarian Baptifts. But, as your Honour may have a curiofity to know wherein thefe latter differ from other Antipædobaptifts, you are, then, to know, that to the errors of the other Sects of this ftamp they add this, as peculiar to themfelves, That they, in a Sort, judaize in their Beginning and Manner of keeping the Sabbath, and refufe all religious Regard to the Lord's Day by abftaining from their ordinary Callings on Sunday. After the Conqueft of this Country, in 1664, out of the Hands of the Dutch, their religious Af- fairs were a long while unfettled and confufed; but, at pref- ent, its Inhabitants are generally Dutchand Irish Prefbyterians, New-England Independents, Quakers, and Baptifts of divers Sorts. The Church of England, however, began to enter here in 1702, and its Succefs and Progrefs yields Matter of great Thankfgiving to God. The Society maintain here feven or eight Miffionaries, who have the Care of many more Churches; and, as our Church gains Ground, the Sectaries leffen both in their Oppofition and Numbers. There are feveral confid- erable Towns in this Province ; and one fmall City, viz. Perth- Amboy, but more thinly inhabited than many of their Towns. Their Produce and Commerce, being much the fame with that of Pennfylvania and New-York, may be confidered in the paragraphs dedicated to them. They have lately fet up a little College as a Seminary for their Youth.
* Jonathan Belcher was graduated from Harvard in 1699. He was a good scholar, and possessed a literary taste. He visited Europe and became acquainted with literary and political characters of influence. In 1730, he was appointed Governor of Massachusetts, and was superseded in 1741. He moved to New Jersey, and was appointed Governor of the Colony in 1747. He died in 1757, greatly lamented for his private virtues and pub- lic services. He was esteemed a pious man, and some thought him an en- thusiast. He was a great admirer of Whitefield. He was a great benefac- tor and patron of Princeton College.
20
Appendices
The next Province we proceed to is that of New-York. This Province (exclufive of Nafau Ifland, which is 200 Miles long, and on that Account called Long Ifland, and other leffer Iflands) is that Tract of Land that lies between New- England and New- Ferfey, and is not above 20 Miles broad upon Hudfon's River, but extends along that River up into the Main-Land at leaft 200 Miles. It has two Cities, viz. New-York, at the Mouth, where Hudfon's River throws it- felf into the Sea; and Albany, 100 Miles up the faid River, to which Veffels of any Burden, under 100 Tons, may go up, and fmaller ones, 20 Miles further, to the Village Sche- nectady. Thefe two Cities, after the Reduction of this Pro- vince, were named in Honour of the Duke's English and Scot- tifb Titles. The Dutch, soon after their tranfporting the Eng- lifh Brownifts (of whom more hereafter) from Leyden, in Hol- land, to New-Plymouth in New-England, in 1620, fent a Colony of their own to New-York, at that Time called the Manhadoes by the Indians ; but King Charles the Second fent Sir Robert Carr, at the Head of three or four thoufand Men, who foon fubdued Hogan Mogan, and wrefted this Country out of thefe Hollanders' Hands. However, in the Peace that fucceeded the Firft Dutch War in that Reign, this Tract, containing the prefent Penufylvania, New-Jersey and New- York, was for ever ceded to the Crown of England; and Su- rinam, a Sugar Settlement, in the Latitude of five Degrees North, on the Main-Land of America, was yielded to the Dutch in Lieu of it. Almost all the English Surinammers quitted their Plantations, agreeable to the Articles, to the Dutch Supplanters. But not fo Dean Swift's Nicholas Frog, who had overfpread the Fens and fat Farms of Hudfon's River; they almoft all, to a Man, submitted to the Crown of England, and faved their Settlements. A little Time after this Conquest, great Numbers of English came into this Coun- try, and, by After-acceffions, it is become a well-cultivated and extenfive, and, in confequence, a rich and populous Pro- vince. Indeed, no Places, but what are populous, can ever be opulent. The King's Quit-Rents from this, and New- Ferfey, are confiderable, and (as you will cafily believe) every Day increating. The Governor and Council are commif- fioned by the Crown ; who, with the Reprefentatives chofe
21
Appendices
by the Counties and Corporations, conftitute the Legiflature. Four Independent Companies, paid out of the Privy Purfe, as Part of the Guards, (not upon the national Eftablifhment) are cantoned in York, Albany, Schenectady, Forts Ann and Hunter, Ofwego, and other Frontiers, to watch the Motions of their Neighbours the French, and the frenchified Indians. Several Gentlemen have taken out Patents for large Tracts up in the Country, which they are fettling as faft as they can; and, in an Age or two, (if, before that, we fhould not be drove into the Sea by the French) will be profitable Ef- tates. Sir Peter W'arren, the Admiral, and our Countryman, is one of thofe who own much of thefe Lands. The Expor- tations from this Province are principally Furs, Flour, Bread, Wheat, Indian Corn, pickled Beef and Pork, Rye, Buck- Wheat, and other Articles, being much the fame as the Pro- duce of the two laft-mentioned Provinces, New- Jersey and Pennsylvania. As the Provinces, above pointed at, are re- markable for Melons, Peaches, Cherries, Apples, &c. fo the farther North you come, the lefs rich and poignant thofe hot- country fruits are; but then this Lofs is made up by Apples and Pears growing better, in Proportion as you remove far- ther from the Sun. In this Province you begin to meet with good Cyder and Perry, which grows better and better as you advance more Eaftward. While I am writing this, the public Prints, brought me by Poft, purport, that the Truftees of Georgia did in June laft furrender their Charter to the Crown, and that a Patent had paffed the Great Seal to inveft the King, and his Succeffors, with all the Properties, Powers, and Privileges, heretofore granted to the Body Politic. The firft public Beginning of the Church of England in the Pro- vince of New-York, was Anno Domini 1693; but fo remark- ably has God appeared againit Schifm and Herefy, and in Behalf of the truly Apoftolic Faith and decent Worfhip of the Church of England, that at this day there are ten Mif- fionaries, who officiate in more Churches. Befides thefe ten Clergymen, the Society maintain fix Epifcopal School-maf- ters, one Catechift on Long-Ifland, and another Catechift, in Holy Orders, in the City of New-York, for the Inftruction of the Negro Slaves there, and as Affiftant to the Rector of the Church of that City, who is maintained by the People :
22
Appendices
So that, where nothing but Herefy and Irreligion, and Schifm prevailed, there are now twelve regular Clergymen in Holy Orders; and the Pofterity of the French and Dutch, forget- ting their refpective Languages, are crowding into the Eng- lifb Churches, and worfhipping God with them, with one Mouth and one Heart. There is alfo a Subfcription on Foot for erecting a little College in this Province: But I think the Multiplication of fuch fmall Seminaries, tho' it may a little increafe Knowledge, will not advance Learning to any re- markable Pitch; as the Endowments muft be fmall, and their Libraries ill-ftocked, to what thofe of one general Col- lege or Univerfity might be.
Next to New-York, in proceeding Eaft and by North, we enter on the Country called New-England, and which is can- toned into the two Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-Ifland, with the four Provinces of the Maffachufets-Bay, New-Hamp- Jhire, Main, and Sagadabock. Before I enter particularly into thefe Provinces, I muft beg Leave to premife a few words relating to New-England in general. King James, the Firft of England, and Sixth of Scotland, granted this Country to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and others, moftly Devonshire Gentle- men, under the Style and Title of the Council of Plymouth; and as the Geography of this Country was hardly emerged into any tolerable Light, inftead of afcertaining their Limits on Earth, they fixed their Boundaries in the Heavens. He granted them all that American Tract, between the Degrees of 40 and 45 of North Latitude, and acrofs Land to the South- Sea :- A Grant furely void, on account of uncertainty, and for that no King of England, or other European Monarch, were Lords of the American Soil, who had vait Numbers of fav- age, petty, and yet abfolute Princes of its own. However, their royal Grants gave them the exclufive Right of Pre- emption from the native Princes; as no Subject can, without Royal Licence, tranfport themfelves out of the Precincts of any Prince, more than transfer their Allegiance. Thus the Patents, whereby the Lands are held, and civil Dominion ex- ercifed, gave them Leave to remove hither, and purchafe; but referved the fovereignty over them, as fubjects to the English Crown. New-England was firft peopled by the Brown- ifts, the firft Sect that feparated from the Church; and its
23
Appendices
increafe was owing to After-acceffions of Puritans, whofe actual Departure from the national Worfhip commenced no earlier than their entrance into New-England. While the Vir- gin-Queen, of immortal memory, fat at the Helm, the fteered fo fteady a Courfe, and rode with fo tight a rein, that Cal- vin's Englifh Difciples, impregnated with the leaven of Geneva, could do little more, upon their return, after the Maria Per- fecution, than fret in her Fetters, murmur, and mutter their Difcontents in fecret. 'Tis true, that the above-faid Browne, a young Clergyman, of Fire and 'Zeal over-proportionate to his Difcretion, drew the firft Diffenting Difciples after him; who, tho' he boatted he had been in every Prifon in England, for Religion and Confcience fake, yet when he cooled, and came into the Church again, by a Recantation, he found it eafier to miflead, than reduce his Followers into the right Road again. It fhould feem, God would not fo far favour the firft Schifmatick, as to vouchfafe him either Skill or Succefs in re- building the beautiful Fabrick of his Church he had before done his utmoft to deface and pull down :- An honour, which 'tis poflible the great Apoftle of the Gentiles had never en- joyed, had his Zeal, inftead of fpending itfelf in forcibly keep- ing his Countrymen to the old Religion, which certainly came from God, been employed in a fly Seduction from an Apoftolical Church into another, that had lefs of Divine, and more of Human Contrivance in it. To Elizabeth fucceeded James, Father of the Martyr: He, imagining it more for his Cafe, threw away that Queen's Curb, and rode with a Snaffle. Under this foft Sovereign, the Noncons feem, by the Gallio- tifm of the State, and the Grindalizing of the Church, to have grown into great Numbers. But Charles refumed, in fome Sort, the Heroine's Bridle, and gave Leave to Laud to make ufc of Whip and Spur ; fo the fturdy Puritan, unufed to Reftraint, and grown reftive, finding flouncing and plunging would not throw down, run away from his Riders and took Sanctuary in New-England. But, good God! how dearly did that moft pious Prince, and holy Prelate, pay for this! and how fatal and lafting have been the Confequences of that grand Re- bellion, that brought both thofe great Perfonages to the Block ! I return from this Digreffion, to acquaint your Honour, that Connecticut is that Part of New-England next to New- York.
24
Appendices
The firft English Settlers of this Colony were Puritans, who tranfported themfelves hitherin 1 630. They formed themfelves into a Civil Society, by an Instrument of Government of their own making; and, by fo doing, became, by strictnefs of Law, liable to the Penalties of Treafon ; and into an Ecclefiaftical Society, by a Platform partly borrowed from the Brownifts of Plymouth, who come nine years before them, and partly by Additions or Inventions of their own, and fo became In- dependents, and, if you pleafe, Schifmaticks. When Cromwell began the exercife of Sovereign Power, without the Char- after and Style of King, thefe Sectarian Settlements foon fub- mitted to his Yoke; and their fulfome and fawning Addreiles, ftuffed with the odious Cant peculiar to the Age and People, are at this Day offenfive to a loyal and pious Ear.
In 1663, when the Revival of the Good Old Caufe be- came defperate, by the fucceeding Reftoration, and Re-fet- tlement in Church and State, they made a Virtue of Necef- fity, and fubmitted to the Crown. The reftored Monarch, who was all Condefcenfion, Grace, and Good-Nature, gave them a Charter; which, tho' furrendered in the Reign of his Royal Brother, was refumed at the Revolution, and by that they ftill govern. In confequence of this Charter, the Free- holders annually chufe a Governor, and a certain number of Affiftants, who compofe the Council, or Upper-Houfe of Affembly, and are alfo the Grand Ordinary in all Teftamen- tary Cafes. The Freeholders alfo chufe from among them- felves, Two, to reprefent each Town, who are the Lower- Houfe; and both Houfes, refolved into a Grand Committee, chufe all other Civil and Military Officers; and this whole Houfe have the Cognizance of Matrimonial and other Mat- ters. Marriages are too often, and for flight Caufes, diffolved by the Affembly; and Divorces, with Liberty to marry again, eafily obtained. Independency, by a more creditable Nick- name, called Presbyterianifm, is the Religion of the State; but, of late Years, fome Quakers, more Anabaptists, and a ftill greater Number of Churchmen have crowded into, or rather, conformed in, that Colony; and, by prefent Appearances, one may foretel, that the Members of our Church will, in a Century more, amount to a major Part of the whole. I my- felf began one Church, by occafional Vifits among them, at
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.