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 8
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 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
" Under his mission neither the native Americans nor the poor Africans were neglected. 'I have always (says Johnson,) had a catechetical lecture during the summer months, attended by many negroes, and some Indians, about seventy or eighty in all, and as far as I can find, where the dissenters have baptized one, we have bap- tised two, if not three or four, negroes or Indians, and I have four or five communicants.'
" Notwithstanding the laborious duties of his mission, Dr. Johnson found time to continue his favorite study of Hebrew, and to pursue his investigations in moral and metaphysical philosophy. Two treatises which he published about this time-one on logic, the other on metaphysics-were printed together by the celebrated Dr. Frank- lin, for the use of a college at Philadelphia, which he was then projecting. This college was soon afterwards founded ; and it is a sufficient proof of the high estimation in which the missionary of Stratford was held by Franklin, that he consulted with him about the plan of education, and urged him to accept of the presidency of the college. This offer Johnson declined. Two years afterwards how- ever, in 1754, when he was unanimously elected President of Kings (now Columbia) College, New York, though loath to quit his beloved Stratford, where he had now labored faithfully for the space of thirty years, he accepted the appointment. Had he done otherwise, the project of founding such an institution, would, for a time at least, have been relinquished. Dr. Johnson therefore had no choice ; yet he left his mission with much pain, and to the great regret of all his people. Here, therefore, our notice of him, as connected with the society, might be expected to terminate, but it so happened, that after nine years of active service as head of the college, during which time he spared no exertion to place it on a secure and permanent footing, Dr. Johnson resigned his charge and returned to Stratford.
102
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
In a letter dated from that place, May 10th, 1763, he says :- I am returned to reside here the little time that remains of me, being near sixty-seven.'
" The year following, the mission becoming vacant, he expressed to the society his willingness to resume his duties there, and the offer was of course, thankfully accepted. Notwithstanding his now ad- vanced age, he still retained the vigor and activity of youth. He continued from time to time to recommend such candidates for holy orders, as he considered qualified to fill the vacant missions ; but justly complained of the hardship under which they labored, in con- sequence of there being no Bishop in America, of being compelled to go to England for ordination, at an expense of not less than one hundred pounds.
" He also took an active part in the controversy, which grew warm about this time, on the subject of introducing Episcopacy into America ; but he did not live to witness the success of this long struggle. He was summoned to his rest, on the morning of the Epiphany, 1772, to the great loss of the society and of the American Church.
" Intelligence of his death was conveyed to the society in a letter, dated January 24th, 1772, and signed by four of his brethren, the Rev. Messrs. Lamson, Dibblee, Leaming, and Hubbard. They write as follows :-
" The learned, pious, and most benevolent Doctor Johnson, of Stratford, full of years, faith, and charity, fell asleep in the Lord the 6th instant ; with great respect to his memory, was interred on the 9th, and a funeral sermon preached to good acceptance by the worthy Mr. Leaming."
Under the head of Johnson the " Encyclopedia Americana" says, Dr. Johnson " was a man of great learning, quickness of percep- tion, soundness of judgment, and benevolence. While Bishop Berkeley was residing in Rhode Island, which he did two years and a half, from the time of his arrival in 1729, Dr. Johnson became acquainted with him, and embraced his theory of Idealism."
As all the circumstances connected with these important events, in the progress of the church in America are interesting, we add the following :
" The day after the commencement in Yale College, Rector Cutler,
103
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
five other ministers and one of the tutors of the college exhibited a written declaration signifying that some of them doubted the validity, and the rest were more fully persuaded of the invalidity of Presby- terian ordination in distinction from Episcopal.
" This declaration was given to the Trustees in the library of Yale College, Sept. 13th, 1722, signed by Timothy Cutler, John Hart, Samuel Whittlesey, Jared Elliot, James Wetmore, Samuel Johnson, and Daniel Brown. Mr. Cutler was Rector, Mr. Hart minister of East Guildford, Mr. Whittlesey minister of Wal- lingford, Mr. Elliot minister of Killingworth, Mr. Wetmore minister of North Haven, Mr. Johnson minister of West Haven, Mr. Brown tutor in Yale College. A public conference and dispu- tation was holden soon after, by appointment, in the college library, at which Gov. Saltonstall presided. The public disputation between them and the Trustees was in October, when the General Assembly was sitting in New Haven, in consequence of which Messrs. Hart, Whittlesey and Elliot recanted, being satisfied of the validity of ordination by presbyters, chiefly by the learned reason- ings of Gov. Saltonstall, who was formerly a minister. They all continued in the ministry of their respective churches. In Nov. 1722, Messrs. Cutler, Wetmore, Johnson and Brown embarked at Boston for London, where they received Episcopal ordination. Mr. Brown died there of the small pox, Mr. Cutler returned a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, for Boston, Mr. Wetmore missionary for Rye, New York, and Mr. Johnson for Stratford."-Holmes' Annals.
The Rev. Mr. Hallam, in a note to his sermon, on re-opening the church at New London, says : "The associate of Dr. Cutler, rector and presiding officer at Yale, in the business of instruction and in the renunciation of Congregationalism, was Samuel Johnson, after- wards Rev. Doctor Johnson, first president of Kings (now Columbia) College, New York, and subsequently Rector of Christ Church, Stratford. The latter was during his connection with Yale College also pastor of the Congregational Church in West Haven. His min- istry there supplies an amusing testimony to the excellence of the liturgy. Having before his conversion to Episcopacy conceived a dislike to extemporaneous prayers in public worship, and having ob- tained a book of common prayer, then a rare and suspected book on
-----
104
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
these western shores, he conducted his public services and especially the administration of the Lord's Supper, mostly by its language, and in this way soon acquired a wonderful reputation for his extraordi- nary gifts. I know not whether we are to attribute it to the inferior sagacity or superior tolerance of the mice of New Haven, that they did not imitate that noted little mouse of Boston who had wit enough to scent out this naughty book in the library of Gov. Winthrop of the latter place, whether as a striking evidence of good . taste as a churchman would be apt to think, or as a mark of divine indignation as the Puritan Chronicle gravely asserts it, is yet a mooted point. Certainly for one, I cannot but think better, both of the liturgy thus unconsciously praised by its avowed enemies, and of Mr. Johnson's good hearers who had sound judgment and de- votional spirit enough to love it. Those who united with Messrs. Cutler and Johnson in their change of opinion in regard to Episco- pacy, were Mr. Brown, also a teacher in the college, and Mr. Wet- more. Mr. Beach, the Congregational minister, at Newtown, to- gether with his flock, conformed to Episcopacy in 1732, and Mr. Seabury, the first minister of this church about the same time .- These events occasioned much excitement in their day. A disputation on the question of Episcopacy was held in the college library, at which Gov. Saltonstall presided. Messrs. Cutler, Johnson and Brown were formally deposed from office by the Trustees as obstinate heretics. The only Episcopal Congre- gation in Connecticut, previous to this time, was that at Strat- ford."
"Sept. 19th, 1725, were baptized by Mr. McSparran, at St. Paul's, in Narragansett, Elizabeth Cole, wife of Elisha Cole, and her children, viz: John, Edward, Susanna, Ann, Elizabeth, and Abigail Cole.
"June 8th, 1726. Elisha Cole, Esq., an adult, being sick, had clinical baptism administered to him at his house, in that part of Narragansett called North Kings- town, by Mr. McSparran.
105
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
" Oct. 16th, 1756. Being wrote to and earnestly en- treated to go to Newport for that purpose, I preached a funeral sermon for and on account of Mrs. Elizabeth Cole, widow and relict of the late Elisha Cole, Esq., who died many years ago, in London, and buried her in the burying ground, in Newport. She was a good woman and a particular friend of the subscriber's, and she and her husband and family were baptized by me, JAMES McSPARRAN."
John Cole, Esq., was one of the early settlers of Narragansett. In 1663 we find his name among those, who at Wickford, signed a written submission to the authority of Connecticut, and in 1668 he was a magistrate there, under the government of Connecticut. (See MSS. extracts from Connecticut records, in R. I. His. Soc. Library.) In 1670, he was arrested by the Rhode Island authori- ties for taking office under Connecticut. In 1682, he was appointed a Conservator of the peace there, under the authority of Rhode Island. Potter's Narragansett, 73. 104.
Before 1667 he married Susanna, daughter of William and the famous Anne Huchinson. By deed, dated April 29th, 1667, he conveyed to Samuel and Edward Huchinson, uncle and brother of his wife Susanna, a house in Boston. Boston Records.
Mrs. Anne Huchinson, after being banished from Massachusetts, came to Rhode Island. From thence she went, with her family, to East Chester, in New York, where they were all killed by the Indians, except one daughter, who after remaining sometime among the Indians, was redeemed, and married to Mr. Cole and lived to old age. This is traditionary in the Cole family. The same account is also given in a history of the Indian wars, written by Mr. Niles, who was intimately acquainted with Narragansett history. See Mass. Hist. Coll. 3d Ser vol. 6, 198. 201. Huchinson 55. 72. Staples' Gorton 57. 59. Farmers Register.
William Huchinson came over from England in 1634, and died in Newport in 1642. His wife, Anne, was killed by the Indians in 13A
1
106
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
1643. Their children were, Ist-Capt. Edward Huchinson, who was killed in the Indian war in 1675. His will was made and proved in Boston in 1675. His son, Elisha Huchinson, who died in 1717, was father of the Hon. Thomas Huchinson, who was father of Gov. Thos. Huchinson, the historian, who died in England in 1780. Three of the Governor's sons, Thomas, Elisha, and Wm. Sanford, graduated at Harvard College. 2d-Francis Huchinson, who was im- prisoned for heresy at Boston, in 1641. He was probably killed at the same time with his mother. See Staples' Gorton, 57. 58. 59. 71. 3rd-Susanna, who married John Cole. 4th-another daughter, who married Mr. Collins, a minister from the West Indies. Mr. Collins was obliged to leave the West Indies for nonconformity, and came to Newport and married the daughter of Mrs. Huchinson there. He was also imprisoned at Boston in 1641, and is believed to have been killed with his mother-in-law. See Staples' Gorton as above.
In the records of the old or first church in Boston, we find Edward Huchinson, senior, admitted a member in 1633, and Edward Huch- inson, junior, and William Huchinson, merchant in 1634.
Several of the Huchinson family came to Newport, in conse- quence of the religious persecutions in Massachusetts. They owned land both in Newport and in Narragansett, and their names are frequently found on the records. William Huchinson, (jr. 2d) Edward Huchinson, senior, and Edward Huchinson, jr., were among the first purchasers of Newport, about 1636. We also find land allotted there to Samuel Huchinson in 1638. Some of the family afterwards returned to Boston. See Bull's Extracts from the State Records.
Capt. Edward Huchinson, by his will proved in Boston, 1675, gave all his Narragansett lands to his daughters, Elizabeth Winslow, Ann Dyre, and Susanna Huchinson. Susanna afterwards married Nathaniel Coddington, of Newport. Ann afterwards married Daniel Vernon. See deeds in Secretary's office 1. 442. Records at Wickford, Book 2. 121. 123.
John Cole, Esq., died 1706-7, and administration was granted at Wickford on his estate to his wife Susanna and eldest son William.
Elisha Cole, Esq., another son of John Cole, married Elizabeth Dexter in 1713. He died in London in 1728, where he had gone
107
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
to attend to a lawsuit. His children were, Ist-Judge John Cole, born 1715, married Mary Updike, only daughter of Daniel Updike, and died about 1777. He left a son Edward and a daughter Elizabeth , who married Ichabod Wade. See a notice of Judge John Cole in Updike's Memoirs of R. I. Bar. Mrs. Cole died at her son-in-law Wade's, in June, 1811, in her eighty-seventh year. 2nd-Thomas, born 1720. 3rd-Col. Edward Cole, who served in the war of 1763 and died in Nova Scotia. 4th-Susanna. 5th-Ann. 6th- Elizabeth. 7th-Abigail.
William, eldest son of the first John Cole, married Ann Pindar in 1701, and died about 1734. His children were, Ist-John, born 1702. 2nd-Samuel, born 1712. 3rd-William, 1713. 4th- Joseph, 1716. 5th-Benjamin, 1716. 6th-Wignall, 1721. 7th- Mary, married a Dickinson. 8th-Ann. 9th-Hannah. 10th- Susanna.
John Cole, born in 1702, lived to old age and was twice married. His children were, Ist-William, whose children were, Abby, wife of Warren Gardner, John, William, Ann, wife of Hon. Elisha Watson, Mary, wife of William Watson. 2nd-Mary. 3rd- Nanny. 4th-Capt. Thomas Huchinson. 5th-John. 6th --- Samuel. 7th-Huchinson Cole, who lived to old age and died a few years ago. 8th-Jane. 9th-Sarah. 10-Eliza.
Several of the Cole family were zealous supporters of the Episco- pal Church, and are distinguished in its early records. They were large proprietors of lands in Boston Neck, a little south of Wickford.
John Cole, the eldest son of Elisha, obtained a good early educa- tion in the English branches and a competent knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages under a private tutor. He studied law in the office of Daniel Updike the Attorney General of the colony, married his only daughter, Mary, and commenced practice in Pro- vidence. His talents and address soon acquired him a large share of business throughout the colony.
He was elected an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court in 1763, and the succeeding year was promoted to the chair of Chief Justice. The stamp act began to agitate the colonies in 1765, to which measure of the Home Government Judge Cole was sternly opposed. He resigned his situation on the bench in the spring of 1766, and
108
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
entered the legislature as a representative from Providence. He was one of the committee, with Stephen Hopkins and others, to draft instructions from Providence, respecting the stamp act ; their report declared the contemplated measure of taxation " unconstitu- tional, and had a manifest tendency to destroy British as well as American liberty." And that the courts of common law and not courts of admiralty, ought to have jurisdiction in all cases respecting the collection of taxes, or any matter relating thereto.
Mr. Cole was a representative through the stormy period of 1766, and in 1767 was elected speaker of the House.
On the commencement of hostilities in 1775, the legislature erected a vice Admiralty Court, and Mr. Cole was appointed Advocate General, which office he sustained during life.
Mr. Cole maintained the character of an able and faithful advo- cate-a firm whig and an active leader in the revolutionary cause. He was highly esteemed as an exemplary citizen and an honorable man. In advanced life, he was induced to enter the Hospital at North Providence, for inoculation for the small pox, a disease par- ticularly prevalent at this period. It proved fatal, and he died in the Hospital in October 1777, and was buried in the adjacent yard.
Edward Cole, the third son of Elisha, was a well educated and accomplished gentleman, and predisposed to a military life and early entered into the service. He was Colonel of a regiment, under the celebrated Gen. Wolfe, at the siege of Quebec, in 1759. He com- manded a regiment at the capture of Havanna under Albemarle .- Afterwards, Col. Johnson, the Superintendant of Indian Affairs in America, appointed Col. Cole to treat with the Indians in the west. And to effect this hazadous enterprise he suffered great privations, in traversing the forests of Ohio, then untrod by civilized man. The object of the mission was to secure the friendship and prevent the confederation of the native tribes, through the influence of the French agents. He effected the objects of this perilous mission to the satisfaction of Gen. Johnson. On his return, he settled at Newport.
In the commencement of our struggle for independence, in opposi- tion to his brother, he adhered to the royal cause. He had fought the French and he dreaded their contemplated alliance, but the
109
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
country could suffer no neutrals in her trial for national existence. He was suspected, his house was broken open, his furniture and pictures mutilated. In resentment he fled to the enemy, finally en- tered the British service, and at the termination of hostilities set- tled in Nova Scotia. He died at an advanced age at the Island of St. Johns, in April, 1793.
"Sept. 20th, 1728. Mrs. Ann Chase, the wife of Capt. John Chase, was baptized by immersion, by Mr. McSparran, at Narragansett, consent thereto being had of the Rev. Mr. Honeyman, the minister of Newport.
Captain John Chase moved from Barbadoes to Newport, and married Anne, the second daughter of Benedict Arnold, Sep. 20th, 1713. Their children, born in Newport, were, Ist-Sarah, born Sept. 29th, 1718; 2nd-Eliza, born March 10th, 1720; 3rd- Samuel, born July 30th, 1722; 4th-John, born Nov. Ist, 1726 ; 5th-William, born Jan. Ist, 1723.
Samuel was a sea captain. He married Rosabella Angell, daugh- ter of Nathan Angell. He died about eighty years of age. Their children were Abigail, now living, (1845)-two children died young ; Mary died single.
Anstis married Doctor Malcolm ; he was a surgeon in a privateer or government vessel of war, in the revolution.
Henrietta married Capt Tillinghast, of Providence.
William was accidentally shot when a lad.
Anne Phillis married Major William Blodget, of the revolution- ary army, and father of Colonel William Blodget, now living.
Elizabeth, the youngest daughter, married her cousin, Thomas Lippitt, of Warwick. The family are buried in St. John's church yard.
John, son of Samuel, studied medicine under Doctor Wm. Barnet, of Elizabethtown, in New Jersey ; returned to Provi- dence, and having obtained a scientific knowledge of the treat- ment of the small pox, officiated in that branch of practice in
110
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
the Hospitals of Providence and in the country. He mar- ried Prudence Jenkins, the daughter of John and Prudence Jen- . kins, of Boston. He died in March, 1791, leaving a widow and three children ; Anstis, John B., and Elizabeth. Anstis and Eli- zabeth are 'unmarried.
John B. Chase was born April 13th, 1782 ; married Harriet F. Jones, daughter of Alexander Jones, of Providence ; she died, leaving three children, now living.
His second wife is Lydia S. Stilwell ; and six children are living by this second marriage.
Gov. Benedict Arnold's original seal, with a mahogany handle, lettered B. A., and an anchor, has been presented to the R. I. Historical Society.
" April 22d, 1730. In Westerly Narragansett, Christopher Champlin and Hannah Hill, daughter of Captain John Hill, were joined together in holy matri- mony by the Rev. Mr. McSparran, at the house of the said Captain John Hill." 1
In 1738 the town of Westerly was divided, and the north part was erected unto the present town of Charlestown. The great estate of the Champlins, containing 2000 acres, fell within the limits of the latter town. The homestead farm, containing seven or eight hundred acres, with a spacious manion house, &c., now re- main in the family. Christopher Champlin, as above mentioned, was the father of the late Christopher, John, George, Robert, &c. Christo- pher, George, and Robert moved from Charlestown to Newport in early life. Of the last named Christopher, the church record mentions : "Nov. 29th, 1731,-Christopher Champlin, a child, and son of Christopher and Hannah Champlin, was baptized at said Champlin's house, by the Rev. Mr. McSparran." He died in 1805, and his re- mains were deposited in the North Burial Ground, Newport. The following is inscribed on this grave-stone :
111
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
HERE
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN, ESQUIRE,
PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF RHODE ISLAND,
AND THE FIRST GRAND MASTER OF THE MASONIC, FRATERNITY
IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ; HE DIED ON THE 25TH DAY OF APRIL, 1805, IN THE 75TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
The following obituary notice is extracted from the Newport Mercury.
" DIED-In Newport, on the 25th of April, 1805, Christopher Champlin, Esquire, President of the Bank of Rhode Island. Mr. Champlin was a native of Charlestown, and came to Newport at an early age. He was an enterprizing and successful merchant for many years. He was the first Grand Master of the Masonic Fra- ternity in this state. His character was not of public eminence, but of private worth.
Mr. Champlin left three children ; his son Christopher Grant Champlin married the daughter of Benjamin and Mehetabel Ellery ; the said Mehetabel was the daughter of Mr. Abraham Redwood, the patron of the Redwood Library, and celebrated for her beauty and accomplishments. Christopher Grant Champlin died recently, without issue. The following is extracted from the Newport Mer- cury of April 4th, 1840 :
DIED-In this town on Saturday evening last, Hon. CHRISTOPHER G. CHAMPLIN, in the 72d year of his age.
Mr. Champlin was a graduate of Harvard University. After leaving College he spent several years in Europe, a greater part of the time at the College at St. Omars. On his return to this country, he was elected in 1796, a Representative in Congress from this state ; in 1800 he declined a re-election. Retiring from public life, he engaged in commercial pursuits until 1809 ; when he was chosen a member of the United States Senate ; he resigned in 1811 ;- and though until the close of his life warmly interested in political af- fairs, he was never again a candidate for office.
In 1813, on the death of Samuel Elam, Esq., he was elected
112
HISTORY OF THE NARRAGANSETT CHURCH.
President of the R. I. Union Bank, over which he presided until prevented by sickness during the past winter ; and for the welfare of which he always cherished the most lively interest.
As a merchant, he was distinguished for his scrupulous exactness, and for his high-minded undeviating integrity. Prompt in forming his opinions of right and duty, he was fearless and uncompromising in its expression and execution. Gifted with the most delicate sense of honor, he always manifested the greatest hostility to what- ever was mean or selfish, and though carrying his strong and ardent feelings into politics, he was respected by his political op- ponents.
As a citizen, and as a man, the recollection of Mr. Champlin will be dear to a large circle of deeply attached friends. Public spirited, and strongly attached to his native state and town, he had their interests always at heart. Benevolent, generous, and warm- hearted, the poor and distressed felt that in him they had a friend, to whom they might look for advice and assistance. Never was his ear deaf, or his hand closed to such applications ;- his generosity was only equalled by his delicacy. As a friend he was firm and true ; in the nearer relations of life, kind, devoted, and affectionate. His memory will long remain hallowed by the recollections of his many virtues.
One of the daughters of the late Christopher, and sister of Christopher Grant Champlin, married the late John Coffin Jones, of Boston, and the other the late Doctor Benjamin Mason, of Newport. Mrs. Dr. Mason left several children ; the late Geo. C. Mason and Mrs. Perry, the widow of the late Commodore Perry.
George Champlin, the third son of the above marriage, died at Newport. The late Benjamin Hazard, Esq., in an obituary notice, published in the Mercury, says :
" DIED-In Newport on the 16th of November, 1809, George Champlin, Esquire. Mr. Champlin was a native of Charlestown. He settled at Newport, and previous to the revolution was an enter- prising ship-master from that port. At the commencement of the revolution, he espoused the cause of his country, and in 1775 was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of the First Regiment of Militia. After the revolution he was chosen one of the Representa-
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.