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 > Part 19
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One who knew Jemima well when she resided in this State, gives the following description of her :- She was higher than a middle stature, fine form, fair complexion, with florid cheeks, dark and brilliant eyes, and beautiful white teeth. Her hair dark auburn, or black, combed from the seam of the head, and fell on her shoulders in three full ringlets. In her public addresses, she would rise up and stand perfectly still for a minute or more, then proceed with a slow and distinct enunciation. She spoke with great ease, and with increased fluency ; her voice clear and harmonious, and manner persuasive and emphatic. Her dress rich but plain, and in a style entirely her own ; a broad brimmed white beaver hat with a low crown, and the sides, when she rode, turned down and tied under the chin ; a full light drab cloak, or mantle, with a unique under- dress, and cravat round the neck, with square ends that fell down to her waist forward. On horseback her appearance was imposing. On her religious peregrinations, Judge Potter usually rode beside Jemima, and then her followers, two by two, on horseback, consti- tuted a solemn and impressive procession.
A portrait of Jemima is now preserved at her late residence in Jerusalem, Yates Co., New York. It is placed over the fire-place in one of the chambers, and is reverently shown to strangers. She is represented of light complexion, with dark hair, and dressed in a dark colored robe, or gown, with a white cravat round her neck, tied in front and hanging down over her robe. Although reduced in numbers, her society still keeps up their religious meetings, which
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are conducted after the manner of the Friends, by which name they are generally known there. They still own a fine estate, easily cultivated, and affording abundance of fine fruit, and all the luxuries of a new country.
Jemima, or as she styled herself " the Universal Friend, a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath named," was engaged in what she termed her ministry from the close of the year 1776, until the first day of July, 1819, when she died at the age of 68 years, at her seat at New Jerusalem.
Judge Potter returned in a few years after his emigration, and re_ occupied his homestead, but his circumstances became so embarras- sed, in consequence of his devotion to this artful woman, that he was soon compelled to mortgage his estate ; and finding it impossible to redeem it in its deteriorated condition, he finally, in 1807, sold the remainder of his interest in it, and settled in Genessee. The late Hon. E. R. Potter purchased the homestead, but the elegant garden with parterres, borders, shrubbery, summer house, fruit orchard- his ancient mansion, with the high and costly fences, outhouses, and cookery establishment, and the more recent erections for the accom- modation and gratification of this priestess of his devotions-were in ruins ; and, within a few years, the whole buildings have been removed, and a small and suitable house for a tenant has been built in its place.
The following is a copy of the last will of Jemima Wilkinson :
The Last Will and Testament of the person called the Universal Friend, of Jerusalem, in the county of Ontario, and State of New York,-who, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, was called Jemima Wilkinson, and ever since that time the Universal Friend, a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath named.
"I. My will is, that all my just debts be paid by my executors hereafter named.
"II. I give, bequeath, and devise unto Rachel Malin and Margaret Malin, now of said Jerusalem, all my earthly property, both real and personal :- that is to say, all my land lying in said Jerusalem, and in Benton or elsewhere in the county of Ontario, together with all the buildings thereon, to them, the said Rachel and Margaret, and their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally and amicably shared between them, the said Rachel and Margaret-and I do also give and bequeath to the said Rachel and Mar-
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garet Malin, all my wearing apparel, all my household furniture, and my horses, cattle, sheep, and swine, of every kind and description ; and also, all my carriages, wagons, and carts of every kind, together with all my farm- ing tools and utensils, and all my moveable property of every nature and description whatever.
"III. My will is, that all the present members of my family, and each of them, be employed, if they please, and if employed, supported during natural life, by the said Rachel and Margaret, and whenever any of them become unable to help themselves, they are, according to such inability, kindly to be taken care of by the said Rachel and Margaret. And my will also is, that all poor persons belonging to the Society of Universal Friends, shall receive from the said Rachel and Margaret such assistance, comfort, and support during natural life, as they may need,-and in case any, either of my family, or elsewhere in the Society, shall turn away, such shall for- feit the provisions herein made for them.
"IV. I hereby ordain and appoint the above-named Rachel Malin, and Margaret Malin, Executors of this, my Last Will and Testament.
" In witness whereof, I, the person once called Jemima Wilkinson, but in, and ever since the year 1777, known as and called the Public Universal Friend, have hereunto affixed my name and seal, the twenty-fifth day of the second month, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen.
"THE PUBLIC UNIVERSAL FRIEND. [SEAL.] " In Presence of, &c., &c."
" Be it remembered, That in order to remove all doubt of the due execu- tion of the foregoing Will and Testament, being the person who before the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, was known and call- ed by the name of Jemima Wilkinson, but since that time as the Univer- sal Friend, do make, publish, and declare the within instrument, as my Last Will and Testament, as witness my hand and seal, this 17th day of 7th month, 1818.
her JEMIMA WILKINSON, X cross or mark.
" Witness, &c. Or, UNIVERSAL FRIEND."
Jemima Wilkinson was the daughter of Jeremiah Wilkinson, and great-grand-daughter of Lawrence Wilkinson, the first emigrant. Lawrence was a Lieutenant in Cromwell's army, and emigrated to this country about 1645. The Rev. George Taft, Rector of St Paul's Church, Pawtucket, R. I., has furnished me with some in- teresting particulars relating to this family.
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A few years since there was a coin in possession of the family which was struck long ago in England, representing a man with a strong, muscular arm, and a forge-hammer on one side, and the words "John Wilkinson, Ironmaker," on the other. The family have always been distinguished for mechanical genius. One ofthem is said to have cut the first screw ever made in the country, and they made the first nails ever made here by machinery. Abraham and Isaac assisted Sam- uel Slater in setting up the first frames he set up at Pawtucket for spinning cotton by water. The family have always been extensively engaged in casting anchors, cannon, and other nail and iron works, and in manufacturing cotton and woolen goods. David Wilkinson was one of the strongest supporters of the Church at Pawtucket. He removed to Sutton, Mass., and thence to Cohoes' Falls, New York.
Lawrence Wilkinson settled in Providence in 1645. He married the daughter of Christopher Smith, and had three children, Samuel, John, and Josiah.
Samuel married Plain, daughter of William Wickenden, the Bap- tist minister. His children were-
1. Samuel, born 1674, married an Aldrich. His chilren were 1. Huldah. 2. Josiah. 3. Samuel. 4. Jaira. 5. Patience
6. Mary. 7. David, born 1707, married Mary Arnold. 8. Jacob. 9. Isaac. 10. William. 11. Ruth. 12. Pain. 13. Ichabod, born about 1719 ; removed to near Bristol, Pa. His family there, now spell the name, Wilkeson.
2. John, born 1678, settled in Maryland or Virginia.
3. William, Quaker preacher, went to England, and died there, leav- ing one daughter.
4. Joseph, born 1683; married Martha Pray. His children were Israel, Susannah, Benjamin, Joseph, William, and Susannah.
5. Ruth, married William Hopkins. She was the mother of Gov. Hopkins, and Com. Hopkins.
6. Susannah, married an Angell.
John, another son of Lawrence, the first emigrant, was born 1654. His children were-
1. John, born 1690, married Rebecca Scott. His son, John married Ruth Angell, and their son, Oziel, born 1744, married Lydia, daughter of Edward Smith. The children of Oziel were, 1. Lucy, born 1766, married Timothy Greene. 2. Abraham,
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born 1768. 3. Isaac, born 1768; died, 1843. 4. David, born 1771. 5. Marcy. 6. Hannah, born 1774, married Samuel Slater. She died 1812. 7. Daniel, died 1826. 8. George, died 1783. 9. Smith. 10. Lydia, married a Howe.
2. Marcy.
3. Sarah.
4. Freelove.
5. David.
6. Jeremiah, born 1707, married Amy Whipple. Jemima, their eighth child, was born 1751.
Josiah, third son of Lawrence, had one daughter, who married a Dexter. She was grand-mother of Col. John S. Dexter.
The descendants of Judge Potter are numerous in the State of New York. His son, Arnold, entered Harvard College, and remain- ed there sometime, but did not graduate. He was a man of great intelligence and enterprise. He owned a large estate in Middlesex, Yates Co., now owned by William H. Potter, of Providence, R. I. The town of Middlesex was divided several years ago, and the eastern part of it named Potter, in honor to the memory of the Judge Potter family. Penelope, daughter of Arnold Potter, married Chas. W. Henry, now living at Laporte, Indiana. Edward, son of Judge William, married a daughter of Capt. Samuel Johnson, of Norwich, Ct. ; and the son, Dr. Francis M. Potter, is now living at Penn- Yan, New York.
On Sunday, August 4th, 1751, a discourse was de- livered by Dr. McSparran, from Hebrews, v. 4, styled, " The sacred dignity of the Christian Priesthood Vindi- cated," which was printed at Newport. The object of the sermon is thus described by himself, in a letter to his friend, the Rev. Paul Limrick, of Ireland, in his " America Dissected." "The native novanglian clergy of our church, against the opinion of European mission- aries, have introduced a custom of young scholars going
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about and reading prayers, &c., when there are vacancies, on purpose that they may step in them when they get orders ; yea, they have so represented the necessity and advantage of the thing, that the very society connive at, if not encourage it. This occasioned my preaching, and afterwards printing, the enclosed discourse, on which I shall be glad to have your sentiments. I have sent three of them to the North, to Colonel Cary, cousin Tom Limrick, and William Stevenson, of Knockan. And as this was a bold step, I have sent one to the Bishop of London, and other members of the Society. And hope, instead of procuring me a reproof, it will open their eyes, and make them guard better against irregularities, which, when they are co-eval with the church, are hard to be reformed."*
The publication of this discourse by an Episcopalian presbyter, produced a great excitement among the clergy of the non-Episcopal churches, who falsely ap- prehended it was directed against them. Mr. Samuel Beaven published a pamphlet, entitled, " Lay Liberty Asserted." Another pamphlet was published anony- mously, by " A NATIVE OF NEW ENGLAND," entitled, " An Address to the People of New England, occasioned by the preaching and publishing of certain doctrines destructive of their rights and liberties, both religious and civil (by James McSparran,) in a sermon entitled,
* We shall give this sermon at full length in the Appendix.
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" The Sacred Dignity of the Christian Priesthood Vin- dicated," with this quotation as a motto-2 Peter ii. 16 : " But was rebuked for his iniquity ; the dumb ass speak- ing with man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet."
The first pamphlet was answered by Wm. Richardson, a lawyer in Newport, in an essay styled, "The liberty of the Laity not infringed by the sacred dignity of the Christian Priesthood, containing some gentle animad- versions on a late Rhapsody, with a short appendix," by a Layman ; with the motto-Phil. iii. 2: " Beware of Dogs." The last was again answered by Mr. Beaven, in a pamphlet entitled, " Lay Liberty re-assert- ed, in a letter to the late Orthodox Champion for the Dignity of the Christian Priesthood," with this motto -Isaiah Ivi. 11: " Yea, they are greedy DOGS, which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter."
Dr. McSparran wisely took no notice of the splenetic ebullitions of these pamphlets, but continued on "in the even tenor of his way."
The most cursory perusal of Dr. McSparran's sermon cannot fail to convince every one, that the object of his discourse was to correct the irregularities which had crept into the worship of his own denomination. The Congregational clergy either honestly mistook, or else
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affected to misunderstand it, for the purpose of having . an opportunity of directing their shafts against the church of England, towards which they entertained any other than the kindest feelings. Numerous sermons had
. been delivered against the tyranny of lord bishops. " The controversy as to the American Episcopate was fresh, and the eloquent and denunciatory pamphlets of Chauncy and Mayhew were part of New England household literature."
At the commencement of the revolution, public feel- ing in the Eastern colonies was excited by the fears of the spiritual jurisdiction of the British ecclesiastics. Elbridge Gerry, and Samuel Adams, for political effect* led off with predictions as groundless as they were vain. Plain facts demonstrated that, notwithstanding these misrepresentations, Episcopalians were the leading architects of the great work of American Independence.
Franklin, Laurens, Pinckney's, Wythe, Marshall, Pen- dleton, Randolph's, Hamilton, Washington, Jefferson,
* Extract of a letter from Mr. Gerry to Mr. Samuel Adams, dated Marble Head, Nov. 10, 1772 :- "I should have been glad had the word Christian in your resolves been omitted, (meaning the town meeting resolu- tions of Boston,) that the clergy may be engaged in our cause, and open the eyes of the people to oppression. It may not be amiss to hint at the church innovations, and the establishment of those tyrants in religion-Bishops." Extract from the answer of Adams to Gerry, dated Boston, Nov. 14, 1772 :- "I am sorry when any of our proceedings are not exactly according to your mind ; the word you object to in our resolves was design- ed to introduce into our state of grievances the church innovations and the establishment of those tyrants, Bishops."-Austin's Life of Gerry. 4
. A30
-
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Patrick Henry, Munroe, Rutledge, Lees, Jay, William, Gen. Wayne, Robt. R. Livingston, Goveneur, Lewis, and Robt. Morris, Duer, Duane, Lord Stirling, Wm. Samuel Johnson, Chase, Madison, and a host of others, distin- guished patriots of the revolution, were of the Episco- pal church. The Rev. Mr. Duche opened the first American Congress, 1774, with prayer, and the Rev. Wm. White was chaplain of the army commanded by Washington, in Sept. 1777, at the gloomiest period of the war, and previous to the capture of Burgoyne .* He was afterwards one of the first American Bishops, and the first chaplain appointed by the Senate under Wash- ington's administration.
John Adams, a delegate from Massachusetts to the Congress of 1774, wrote to his wife :
" Philadelphia, 16th Sept., 1774.
" Having a leisure moment, while the Congress is assembling, I gladly embrace it to write you a line.
" When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay, of New York, and Mr. Rutledge, of South Carolina, because they were so divided in re- ligious sentiments. Some Episcopalians, some Quakers,
* Extract from a letter from John Adams to his wife, dated Yorktown, 25th Oct., 1777 :- " Congress have appointed two chaplains, Mr. White and Mr. Duffield; the former of whom, an Episcopalian, is arrived, and opens Congress with prayers every day.".
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some Anabaptists, some Presbyterians, and some Con- gregationalists, that we could not join in the same act of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said, 'he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his country. He was a stranger in Philadelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dusha they pronounce it) deserved that character ; and therefore he moved, that Mr. Duche, an Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read prayers to the Congress to-morrow morning. The motion was seconded and passed in the affirmative. Mr. Randolph, our President, waited on Mr. Duche, and received for answer that, if his health would permit, he certainly would. Accordingly, next morning he appear- ed with his clerk and in his pontificals, and read several prayers in the established form, and then read the collect (psalter) for the seventh day of Sept., which was the thirty-fifth psalm. You must remember, this was the next morning after we heard the horrible rumor of the cannonade of Boston. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that psalm to be read on that morning.
" After this, Mr. Duche, unexpectedly to every body, struck out into an extempore prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced. Episcopalian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself never prayed
1
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with such fervor-such ardor-such earnestness and pathos-and in language so elegant and sublime-for America, for the Congress, for the Province of Massa- chusetts Bay, and especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon every body here. I must beg you to read that psalm. If there was any faith in the sortes Virgileanæ, or sortes Homereæ, or especially in the sortes Biblica, it would be thought providential.
" It will amuse your friends to read this letter and the 35th psalm to them. Read it to your father and Mr. Wibird. I wonder what our Braintree churchmen would think of this ? Mr. Duche is one of the most ingenious men, and best characters, and greatest orators in the Episcopal order upon this continent-yet a zeal- ous friend of liberty and his country.
" I long to see my dear family. God bless, preserve, and prosper it.
" Adieu, " JOHN ADAMS .* "
Mr. Adams, a Puritan, and descendant from Puritans of the strictest sect, in a letter to the venerable Bishop White says, " There is no part of my life on which I
* To show that the more a person goes to the Episcopal church, the more he becomes pleased and attached to it, we extract from another of Mr. Adams letters, written during his Presidency, dated "Trenton, 27th Oct., 1799 :"-" There is something more cheerful and comfortable in an Episcopalian, than in a Presbyterian church. I admire a great part of the Divine service at church very much. It is very humane and benevolent, and sometimes pathetic and affecting, but rarely gloomy, if ever."
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look back and reflect with more satisfaction, than the part I took-bold and hazardous as it was to me and mine-in the introduction of Episcopacy into America."
In Rhode Island, Col. John Malbone-father of the celebrated painter-Col. George Champlin, Mayor Geo. Hazard, Col. Henry Sherburne, Francis Brinley, Major John Handy, Daniel Mason, Dr. Benjamin Mason, of Newport, Col. Jeremiah Olney, John Carter, John Innes Clarke, William Goddard, Judge Metcalf Bowler, John Updike, Judge John Cole, the Carliles, William Larned, John Smith, William and John Mumford, Arch. Stewart, and Robert Taylor, of Providence, Simeon Potter, of Bristol, Col. Christopher Lippitt, Capt. Chas. Lippitt, and Mr. Moses Lippitt, of Kent, Colonel Harry Babcock and Adam Babcock, Judge Peter Phillips, Capt. Thomas Cole, Captain Richard Updike, Major Sylvester Gardner, Col. John Gardiner, Rowland Brown, and Gov. George Brown, of Narragansett, and others too numer- ous to mention, were strict churchmen. Among the inhabitants of Exeter, West Greenwich, and other Tory towns, there were no Episcopalians.
" Judge Curwen himself, a descendant of an early emigrant to New England, and the son of a dissenting clergyman, was not in any way connected with the church of England; and his journal abounds in refer- ences to his countrymen, with whom he associated in England, as a refugee. A large number of these, says
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Mr. Ward, the intelligent editor of his journal and letters, were Congregationalists. He mentions the names of seventeen of the more prominent." "A large number of Carwen's friends were Congregational- ists; and I have no doubt that of the Massachusett loyalists, ten were of this persuasion to one of the Episcopal church."
" Bishop White states the remarkable fact, that the General Convention of 1785, (Episcopal) comprising a fair delegation from seven States, consisted, as to the lay part, principally of gentlemen who had been active in the late revolution ; while the application for the Episcopacy then made, was to the very power we had been at war with."
" It is possible, also, that a majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Episcopalians. An intelligent gentleman writes that eighteen were cer- tainly, and was inclined to believe that fifteen more were so. The whole number was fifty-one."-Henderson's Centennial Discourse.
In 1752, Dr. McSparran wrote a work entitled, " America Dissected," being a full account of all the Colonies, and which we shall publish at full length in the Appendix.
Besides containing much important matter relating to the state of the country and people, it contains many interesting particulars relating to the author. We think
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no one can read without being sensibly affected, the passage in one of the last letters where he refers to his own situation, and the probability of his dying in a strange land, and desires that his diplomas may be placed on record in his native parish, that some testi- monial of him may be preserved there.
" Nov. 7th, 1752. Dr. McSparran, at the house of Colonel Thomas Hazard, on Boston Neck, married George Hazard (son of George, the son of old Thomas Hazard,) to Sarah Hazard, the third daughter of said Colonel Hazard."
George Hazard was the son of George Hazard, formerly Lieute- nant Governor of this State, and grandfather of Dr. Rowland R. Hazard, of Newport, who (Dr. Rowland,) married the daughter of Gov. Charles Collins.
George Hazard, the person married, by way of distinction, was called Littleneck George. The great impropriety and gross absurd- ity prevailed among the old settlers of naming one son, most gene- rally the oldest, after the common ancestor. Several families, and particularly the Hazards, have perpetuated this absurdity to the present time. The names of Thomas, George, Jonathan, and Robert, and particularly Thomas, the first emigrant to this country, were names in every family, and the public in order to distinguish them were compelled to give them nicknames ; and those nicknames were generally given from some significant incident in their lives, or from some peculiarity of disposition, habit, or appearance. There were thirty-two " Tom Hazards" living at one time, viz. :
College Tom Hazard, because he was a student in college.
Bedford Tom was his son, and lived at New Bedford. He named a son Tom, and the last Tom named a son Tom.
Barley Tom, because he boasted how much barley he raised from an acre.
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Virginia Tom, because he married a wife in Virginia.
Little Neck Tom, because he lived on the Little Neck farm, so called.
Nailer Tom, because, as a blacksmith, he made excellent nails.
Rock Tom, because he lived on the Rocky farm on Nevport.
Fiddle Head Tom, from the structure of his head-it resembled a Holland fiddle reversed.
Pistol Tom, he was wounded by the explosion of a pistol, when a boy.
Young Pistol Tom, son of the preceding Tom.
Derreck Tom, because he used the word Derreck as a bye-word. Short Stephen's Tom, because his father was a man of low stature.
Long Stephen's Tom, his father being taller than his brother Stephen.
Tailor Tom.
There is a number more now living, but enough is given to show the impropriety of the family habit. The name of George is nearly as numerous.
Little Neck George, Beach Bird George, (had little legs,) Shoe String George, (wore shoe strings when the fashion was to wear buckles,) Mayor George, (Mayor of Newport,) Wig George, (being nearly bald he wore a wig,) Doctor George, and Gov. George.
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