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 9
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he hath baptized thirty infants, married six couples, and buried seven corpses. At Warwick he hath fifteen communi- cants ; hath preached there seventeen times.
Mr. Taylor, the Society's school-master at Providence, writes that notwithstanding his advanced age he gives con- stant attendance to his school; and that, in the preceding severe winter, he supplied ten poor children with firewood, and taught them gratis; and in the spring and summer follow- ing, taught eleven poor children on the Society's account, be- sides two poor boys that were not entitled to that charity.
1777. Mr. Fayerweather, missionary at Narragansett, £50; Dr. Henry Caner, missionary at Bristol, £60; AIr. John Graves, missionary at Providence, £50; Mr. John Graves, for officiating at Warwick, £15; Mr. Taylor, school-master at Providence, £10.
The Society have received one letter from Mr. John Graves, missionary at Providence, Rhode Island, dated No- vember 19, 1776, who continueth to baptize, visit the sick, bury the dead, and attend his people at their houses, although his two churches are shut up. Since September, 1775, he hath baptized twenty-two infants and three adults, married six couples, and buried twenty-one corpses.
Mr. Taylor, the school-master, continueth to teach eleven children on the Society's account, instructing them in the Church Catechism, and endeavouring to imprint on their ten- der minds a sense of the amiableness and rewards of virtue, and the odiousness and bitter fruit, sooner or later, of vice in general, and enlarging on such as children are naturally most addicted to.
1778. No report this year.
1779. The same Missionaries and salaries.
1780. The same Missionaries and salaries.
1781. Dr. Henry Caner, missionary at Bristol, £60; Mr. John Graves, missionary at Providence, £50; Mr. John Graves, for officiating at Warwick, £15; Mr. Taylor , school- master at Providence, £10.
1782. The same Missionaries and salaries.
1783. Dr. Henry Caner, missionary at Bristol, £60; Mr.
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John Graves, missionary at Providence, £50; Mr. John Graves, for officiating at Warwick, £15.
In the general it is to be collected from the missionaries' letters (from New England) that the times were grown more mild, and happier prospects seemed to be breaking forth; the Church people being suffered to live more quietly ; the churches again opened, and divine service performed wherever there are clergymen to officiate; and the clergy themselves increas- ing in esteem for their steady conduct in diligently attending to the duties of their calling, and preaching the Gospel un- mixed with the politics of the day.
The Rev. Mr. Graves, missionary at Providence, has given an account of himself, which seems to be an exception to the foregoing observations; for he has acquainted the Society, that though most of the churches which five years ago were shut up had lately been opened, he could not be prevailed upon, either by threats or promises, to open his church in the pre- sent situation of affairs. That he had therefore quitted his par- sonage-house, and the people had formally dismissed him.
Appendix C [See Vol. I. p. 337]
Deed of Land known as the Site of the Old Church, on which the MacSparran Monument now stands.
TO O ALL PEOPLE UNTO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME Capt Benony [Sweet] of Kingstown in the Narragansett Country or King's County in New England] Gent and Elizabeth his wife send greeting. Know ye that the said [ Be- nony ] Sweet and Elizabeth Sweet his said wife for divers good causes [and] considerations them theirunto moveing Have given granted and [by these] Presents do give grant and con- firme to Mr Christopher Bridge clerk of the church at Kings- town aforest, Charles Dickenson and Sam'l [Albro] Both of Kingstown aforesd and to their heirs, and assigns to the Uses Intents and Purposes Therein after mentioned a cert [ain] Tract or parsell of land Scetuate Lying and being at King [stown] afore said containing by estimation Two acres more or [less ] Being butted and Bounded northerly by land of Valen [tine] Sweet where it measures in breadth fourteen Rodd more or Less [and] easterly on land of said Bennoni Sweet their measuring Twenty four Rodd more or Less. South- westerly on Land of said Be[nnoni] Sweet their measuring Fourteen Road more or Less. northwesterly o [n ?] Rhoad their measuring Twenty four Rodd more or Less to [two or three lines gone here]
established and to be always supplyed or [served? ] by such person or persons as shall be thereunto [appoin]ted by the R' Honoble and Rt Reverend The Lord Bishop of [ London ] and his successors and none other. To have and to hold said tract or percell of land and premisses with the purtenances unto the said Christopher Bridge and his successors [and to] said Charles Dickenson and Samuel Albro and their heirs and [assigns in] Trust to the uses Patents and purposes afore said and to no other [use] intent nor purpose whatsoever and the said Bennoni [ Swe]et for himselfe and his heires [grants ? ] the said tract or parcell of [lan]d and premisses with the ap- purtenances unto the said [Chris] topher Bridge and his suc-
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essors Charles Dickenson and [Sam]uel Albro and their heires in Trust for the uses Patents [? ] purposes aford [? ] against him [?] the said Bennoni Sweet [?] his beires and against all and every other person [and ] persons whomsoever claiming or to claim from by or [und ]er him them or any of them [? ] shall and will warrant [to] hold and forever defend by these presents and that free and [?] and clearly acquited and Discharged of and from all [an ]d all manner of former and other gifts Grants Bargaines Mortgages Joyntures Douries Thirds Title of Doury [ u ]dgments Executions Entails Fines Forfitures; and of and [?] all other Titles Incumberancy and [D]emands whatsoever.
In witness whereof the said Bennonif Swe ]et and Elizabeth his said wife have hereunto Sett their [ H]ands and Sealls the Seventeenth day of June Anno Domini [ One] thousand seven hundred and seven Annoqu Regni Reginae [? ] ae [? ] angliae &cª Sexto.
Signed, sealed and Delivered [In p]resence of us [? ] HONYMAN BENNONY SWEET [Seall] the marke of ELIZABETH C. SWEET [Seall]
The above sd. Capt Bennoni Sweet and Elizabeth Sweet his wife personally appeared this 22nd day of February 1709/10 and acknowledged the abo [one or two lines gone]
[Land Evidence, Vol. 7 A, pp. 61, 62. Capt. Benony Sweet et ux. to Christopher Bridge et als. ]
Appendix D [Sce Vol. I. p. 341 ]
Letter of W. Taylor, Secretary of the Venerable So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, dated May 20, 1715, to the Gentlemen in Communion with the Church of England, Inhabi- tants of Narragansett, New England.
GENTLEMEN :
20th May, 1715
I AM directed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts to inform you that in the last year they came to a Resolution of sending a Missionary and for that purpose had recd a Gentleman who was very well recommended to them as a proper person to be sent thither, it happened to be at the latter end of the year and he desired to be excused proceeding on his Mission that season wih his fam- ily but gave the Society hope of going in the spring which they depended on, but it hath so fallen out with him as to his Private affairs here in England that he cannot without much Prejudice undertake the voyage. This he Expresses with great deal of concern and this is the Reason why the Society did not send a Missionary among you then, and why they have not now is because at present there is not any Person quali- fied who offers himself. However that you may perceive the tender Regard and care the Society have of you They have (until a Missionary can be sent wch will be so soon as con- veniently may be) increased the Salary of the Revd M' Hony- man for His Support and Encouragement in visiting and supplying Naraganset and some other Places. This Present Bounty and Care of the Society I hope you will receive kindly and improve to your Spiritual welfare, I am
Gentlemen Your humble Servant
W. TAYLOR, Sec'y
Gentlemen Inhabitants of Nuraganset in Communion of y Church of England.
Appendix E [See Vol. I. p. 404] A Letter from Samuel Chace to General George Washington : copied November 13, Anno 1840, by John Barnet Chace, Grandson of Sam' Chace.
Providence, April 26, 1792
GEN. GEO. WASHINGTON:
M OST DEAR AND RESPECTABLE SIRE, Pray permit the address of your Servant, who wishes every happiness to your Excellency.
I, Samuel Chace, father-in-law to Major William Blodget, son of John Chace, Esqe, a gentleman, a native of Barbadoes, who married honourably in Newport, anno 1713, and was Magistrate there, much reputed many years, a Church war- den with Godfrey Malbone, Esqe, the Elder. They together, with greatest zeal and exertion, had built that noble edifice, the Episcopal Church in that Town.
Being left at my Hond Father's death, anno 1738, I was kindly taken care of by my Hond Uncle, Daniel Updike, Esqe, King's attorney or attorney-general for the then Col- ony, till anno 1742. Then, being twenty years old, he kindly assisted me to credit in a good store of Goods, in which, be- ing attentive, I soon paid for them and went into navigation with Governor Hopkins, Judge Jenckes and other respecta- ble characters here. Was concerned in upwards of twenty sail of vessels, but in the French and Span. war, by various ways and means, lost my property.
When prosperous, I entertained gratis all gentleman tra- vellers, passing thro' Providence. In anno 1734 I went to Philadelphia, on a party of pleasure, and was, by good letters to Mr. Franklin an invited guest at his house to dine with other gentlemen and I was his deputy-postmaster near ten years and had the honour of his company to dine at my house. I have been honoured, in New York, in acquaintance with many fine characters there and, in Boston, with Governor Shirley, Pownall and Hutchinson and with them dined by invitation; as, also, with very many first merchants there,
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when I was in good credit and trade, for upwards of thirty years, and have dined at sixteen different gentlemen's tables in sixteen days there. Also, at Portsmouth, dined with the elder Governor Wentworth, afterwards, for a week, with the principal gentlemen of that Town. Sed tempora mutantur, nos mutamus in illis. In anno 1774, I was obliged to open house for Boarding and had the pleasure of seeing, at that time, your Excellency, General of our armies, at our house, by invita- tion. Mr. Blodget and I then lodged all your life guard with pleasure, gratis.
When General Sullivan commanded here and we were a garrison Town, the Marquis Fayette, visited him and us, often, upon business of importance and we had, as visitors and many of them lodgers, Gen' Lee, Gates, Gen1 Steuben, Lincoln, Howe, Bailey and Spencer, with Brigadiers Hunt- ingdon, Douglas, Glover, the Duc de Lauzun, Starke, Var- num and Cornell. I was honoured in my early days in our Episcopal Church here, Made a warden Anno 1743 and so, many times after, and ever since as one of the Vestry and as a Psalmodist to this day in which I serve gratis.
Mr. Blodgett served on our organ for some years. My son, Dr. John Chace, succeeded him and served gratis, near twenty years. He is very lately deceased, to my discomfort. When he married, about thirteen years since, I had, with him and wife, then attending the ceremony Twelve children, reckoning my own and sons and daughters-in-law, all men and women in full health and rejoicing in the occasion. It has pleased God to take them all away, since, save one only daughter, one daughter-in-law, with Blodgett and Malcolm, two sons-in-law.
I have served this colony and State, as a Justice of the Peace, from anno 1754, to this year 1792 and held positions under nine different governors.
Being the oldest, I've served as coroner twenty three years and as a Notary Public for twenty years past. My house, which has covered us near fifty years, having suffered in trade, I was obliged to mortgage and that is now called for. So must l be deprived not only of a covering but, being no longer a freeholder, must, of course, lose the little offices also. Alas! who is sufficient for such trials, without the immediate in-
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terposition of God's great and peculiar mercy and Grace? May I not with the great Chaldean Job, cry out, " Pity me, O my Friends, for the heavy hand of affliction, by God's permission, is upon me." My children, as many as his, and my property all gone. What can I do without some friendly assistance, at seventy years of age? O the ways of God are unsearchable and past finding out. I see no way to keep up my spirits, my dignity, my power of doinggood, of which I have been formerly possessed. Could I be so happy as to meet your Excellency's pity and compassion under these my distressed circumstances, how happy should I be. O! I beg your blessing, as Esau of old begged of his Father Jacob, saying, " Hast thou not re- served a blessing for me ? Bless me, even me also, O my Father."
With prayers for God's blessing upon your most impor- tant person,
Respectfully, your humble, faithful Serv', SAML CHACE
.
1
General James Updike
Anstis Updike ( Madam Lee)
Appendix F [See Vol. I. p. 538, Note 381]
Mrs. Anstis Lee's Narrative of a Horseback Four- ney to Connecticut, in 1791. Written about 1845, when Mrs. Lee was in her eightieth year.
O N one of the first days of May, 1791, in pursuance of previous arrangement, my oldest brother, Daniel Up- dike (who lately died at East Greenwich, in June 1842, at the advanced age of 81 years) and myself started on a visit to Connecticut.
We left our father's house, the residence of the late Lo- dowick Updike, near Wickford, on horseback, on Monday morning .- Carriages were, at that time, rarely used, as the roads were so bad, that it was impracticable to ride on them with comfort or safety. I was mounted on a fine Narra- gansett pacer of easy carriage and of great fleetness. She was the last of the pure blood and genuine gait, that I have seen. We arrived at Plainfield village late in the afternoon and lodged at Judge Robert Lightfoot's that night. The Judge had been a resident of Newport for many years before his re- moval to Plainfield. He was an intimate friend of my father and had visited our mansion in the days of my grandfather, Daniel Updike, for twenty seven years the Colony Attorney- General of Rhode Island. Judge Lightfoot was an English- man, educated at Oxford, studied law at the Inner Temple and was, subsequently, appointed a Judge of Vice-Admiralty in one of the Southern colonies. His life is given in the Memoirs of the Rhode Island Bar. We spent a very social and pleasant night with our friend, who seemed equally well- pleased and delighted with a visit from his Rhode Island ac- quaintances. On Tuesday, after breakfast, we cordially shook hands with our friend and, with his benediction, left for Hartford. We passed through Canterbury and Windham and lodged that night at a public house in Bolton, kept by one Mr. White, twelve miles short of Hartford. We rose early, on Wednesday, arrived at Hartford, put up at Bull's Tavern (sign of the Bunch of Gilded Grapes) and took breakfast on
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bloated salmon. I particularly recollect about the salmon, as it was the fashion, in old times, for parties of gentlemen of Rhode Island to make a special visit to Hartford, almost yearly, to luxuriate on this rare and delicate fish, which, at that period, were caught there in great abundance, and rarely in any of the Narragansett rivers. While we were at break- fast, Mr. Ralph Pomeroy came to take us to his house, on a street leading from the main street, somewhere near where the Episcopal Church then stood. Mr. Pomeroy married the widow of William Gardiner, who was killed in the explosion of the Powder House, at Hartford, on celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act. William Gardiner was brother to my mother and married Miss Eunice Belden, having by her one son named James, who died at Hartford some twenty or thirty years ago. William had kept an apothecary and gro- cery store at that town. He was brought up by his uncle, Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston, and established in business by his father, the late John Gardiner, a brother of the Doctor, but had not kept store long before the explosion. Mr. Pome- roy had been a commissary in the Revolutionary War, was a good person of a man and practised law, at Hartford, with repute, as I understood. He had been frequently at my fa- ther's, in Rhode Island, previously to this visit of ours. Mr. Pomeroy had four children by this marriage, Samuel, Ralph, Eunice and Elizabeth.
This being the day before the General Election, the depu- ties and Presbyterian ministers began to arrive. By afternoon the city seemed to be full, when the Governor, Mr. Wolcott, was expected to arrive. To witness his entrance and the ac- companying parade, Mr. Pomeroy took us to the house of General Wyllys, which stood opposite, or nearly so, to the State House. General Wyllys was the son of old Colonel Wyllys. He appeared to be a fine gentleman, aged about forty. His wife was Elizabeth Belden and sister of Mrs. Pomeroy, that being the reason we were carried there to wit- ness the ceremonies preparatory to the election. We were introduced to General Wyllys and family and pressed to take tea with them and did the same afternoon. Tea was served from a waiter and carried round by a servant.
A troop of horse and a great number of citizens on horse-
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back constituted the cavalcade, to escort his Excellency into the city. The company of horse made an imposing appear- ance. The riders were dressed in caps, with a brass plate and feathers on them, short, tight jackets or coats, short [small ?] clothes and high gaiters. I think the colour was deep blue, faced with red. The horses were very fine and Mr. Pomeroy said they were of two hundred dollars value, each, which was a great price at that time.
After tea, say an hour before sunset, it was announced that the Governor and procession were entering the city. We thronged the windows to view it. The Governor came in, at the head of the military, on a single horse, dressed in afull suit of black, and then followed the cavalry and the citizens, on horseback, two and two abreast. When he arrived in front of the State House, he alighted, ascended and stood on the spacious front step. The military passed and saluted the Gov- ernor by a discharge of their pistols over his head. After the salute, Governor Wolcott walked to a public house near, unaccompanied by any one, the cavalcade having disappeared. Mr. Pomeroy remarked, "that isthe emblem of popularity, - one hour surrounded by everybody and at the next left to walk on foot." The Governor appeared to be, fifty years old and walked as if he had been troubled with the gout.
After the parade, we returned to Mr. Pomeroy's and the next day was the election. The General Assembly organized and then, preceded by the Military, proceeded to the Meet- ing-house, to hear a sermon. The procession was the longest I had ever seen. The Governor was preceded by the Sheriff, with a sword. Then followed the senate, members of the Legislature and, I should think, two hundred ministers, two and two, except President Stiles, who walked alone, at the head of the clergy, dressed in a full, black gown, cocked hat and full-bottomed white wig. He was rather a sharp-faced man, spare and of common height. We were advised not to attend the church, on account of the crowd. The Legislature convened again after service and refreshments, carried into the State House on trays, were furnished, as I was informed, at State expense.
Friday afternoon, the day after election, we spent, upon in- vitation, with Colonel Wyllys, who lived at the Charter Oak
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place, an ancient looking mansion, that stood in a square by itself. From it was a splendid view, overlooking the Connec- ticut River and the city. The great oak was right before it. We were shewn the gardens and the grounds, which were beau- tiful and tastefully arranged with many flowers in full bloom. Colonel Wyllys was uncle to Mrs. Pomeroy. He was an old man, I should think over seventy, thin and spare, with red baize bound around his legs, probably on account of gout. He was a widower, and his son's wife, a portly woman, prob- ably about thirty years old, kept his house. She had two little children, say, one seven and the other five years old. Whether her husband was living or not, I don't know. Mrs. Strong, the Colonel's daughter, was also with him, having no chil- dren .... President Stiles and Colonel Ingersoll, the Attorney- General of Connecticut, and several other gentlemen took tea at Colonel Wyllys's. President Stiles and my brother conversed nearly an hour, very intimately together, respect- ing Rhode Island. The President had been settled over a Congregational Church, in Newport, many years, and was much in Narragansett, at the house of Colonel Francis Wil- let, uncle to my mother. I remember seeing Dr. Stiles once at St. Paul's Church, Narragansett, when Dr. Smith, after- wards President of Cheshire Academy, was rector. My father was introduced to him after service.
After tea we all went out to see the Charter Oak and stood under it, Colonel Wyllys, however, being too infirm to ac- company us. I felt anxious to stand under the celebrated old tree, where the old Colony Charter was hidden by the an- cestor of the present occupant. President Stiles, as we stood around him, gave us a minute and detailed account of all the circumstances of its seizure and concealment. His manner was eloquent and the narrative, precise and particular, made a deep impression on me. It is fresh in my recollection now, although a half century has passed away, since I heard him. I well recollect his sharp face and spare person and his pre- cision of manner.
The mansion of Colonel Wyllys I admired and the man- ners of the Colonel's family combined urbanity with dignity. The tea was served from trays, in a large room, -a room much larger than was common at that age. The service was
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more splendid than I had before seen. It stood under [?] the mahogany table,-it was the fashion, then. A silver tea-kettle stood on a silver chafing-dish. Coal might be placed in the chafing-dish and that kept the water hot. A large tea-urn of silver and a silver waiter stood on the table, with a silver tea- pot, sugar dish and milk pot, surrounded by an elegant set of china service. I had never seen so much silver service and it was regarded as an evidence of ancient wealth and family. About dusk, Mr. Pomeroy and his wife and my brother and myself came away. Mr. Pomeroy said that Colonel Wyllys was not as rich as he had been. I don't recollect anything of the Wadsworths.
On Saturday morning, after breakfast, we left Hartford for New Haven. We passed through Weathersfield and saw the large meeting-house there, that was said to have been built from the sale of onions. It had two galleries, one above the other. I had never seen such fields of onions,-as large as corn- fields. Men, boys and girls were labouring in them. We missed our road to Middletown, but, before regaining it, saw large quantities of mulberry trees. We stopped at a house, upon in- vitation, to see some domestic silk, being, also, shewn a silk dress by the occupant's daughter. .. . We dined at Middle- town, where the main street was very long, without any rear streets.
At about five o'clock, we arrived at New Haven, after a ride of about forty miles and put up at a public house kept by a Mr. Smith, his mother and sister. After tea, Pierrepont Edwards, Esq., called on us and my brother and Mr. Edwards took a walk over the city. My brother was well acquainted with Mr. Edwards, as he had been called several times to Rhode Island to argue causes. In causes of great interest, Mr. Edwards was generally employed as counsel. He was then es- teemed as the giant lawyer in New England. Great crowds were attracted to hear him. In the great case against George Irish and of John Brown of Providence, against Jacob Smith of Newport, the master of one of Mr. Brown's ships, Mr. Edwards was employed and successfully defended both. Mr. Dexter, of Boston, was his successor in the forum and, in succession, Mr. Webster is now the Lion. Mr. Edwards in- vited us to dine with him on Sunday, coming and waiting
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on us to the Episcopal Church. His wife and daughters were there and a Mr. Hubbard746 preached. My brother, myself, Mr. Edwards, his wife and two young daughters constituted the party. Whether his wife was a member of the Church or not, I do not know. She knelt during the service. We had calves- head for dinner, a pudding &c.
In the afternoon we all went to church, except Mr. Ed- wards. He was a fine looking man about forty years of age, in stature rather higher than common, with dark hair and eyes, florid complexion and person full, but not corpulent. His dress was black small-clothes, black silk stockings and a cocked hat. I was surprised at his Yankiesh tone of speaking. His wife was good looking but not handsome. If they had sons, they were not at home. I saw only these two daughters, eight and six years old.
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