USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Scituate > An historical address, delivered in Scituate, Rhode Island, July 4th, 1876, at the request of the town authorities > Part 4
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We are very liable to undervalue country taverns in these days of their decline. In a newly settled country they are pioneers, and the house of the first settler becomes of a necessity the inn or lodging place of the traveler. As the settlement increases and the traveling multiplies, the tavern becomes a real estate office, where land is bought and sold. Inasmuch as there were no newspapers in circulation, and no post office, the tavern became the centre of information for those who were shut out by a residence in the woods, from tidings of the world. Macauley, in his History of Eng-
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land, says that tavern keeping was most flourishing as to patronage and being well kept when the roads were in the poorest condition," and traveling slow and laborious.
Daniel Webster's father, building his house on the farthest line of civilization, in New Hampshire, could not well help being a tavern keeper, and his son Daniel was favored with more avenues of information by reason of it than the boys not so privileged in new settlements.
The old Angell tavern is well represented to-day in Mr. James B. Angell, the popular president of Michigan University.
Capt. Thomas Angell's children were Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jonathan, Thomas, Martha and Sarah-all Scripture names. Every one but Jonathan married and had children. Dividing his lands, he gave large farms of two hundred acres to each of his sons, and built handsome houses of two stories high for four of them, and a smaller house for Jonathan. Two of these houses re- main. The daughters, no doubt, received gifts. At their father's death in 1744, Martha inherited by his will a negro girl called Phillis, and Sarah a negro boy named James.
Thomas, the youngest son, was the executor of his father's will. Jeremiah followed his father in the keeping of the tavern, and was a highly respectable man. He was a Justice of the Peace as early as 1741, and was afterwards Town Treasurer. His first wife was Mary Mathewson, his second Abigail Graves, and his third Elizabeth Stow. He died in 1786, aged seventy-nine years, having been born January 29, 1707. His widow survived till De- cember 10, 1821.
Nehemiah Angell, second son of Thomas, married Mary Hop- kins, sister to Elder Reuben Hopkins. He had three sons, Pardon, Nehemiah and Abraham, and his daughters were four, namely: Zilpah, Martha, Mercy and Mary. A grandson, Mr. Pardon Angell, became the owner of the farm, and soon after took down the old one-story red house, and put up a new one. Isaiah, the third son, married Miss Wilkinson, and had only one daughter, named Pru- dence, who married Gideon Austin, and had a large family.
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Thomas Angell, jr., married Mercy, and had one daughter, Sally, who married a Sterry. Mr. Angell sold out and removed to Provi- dence. Martha Angell married Mr. Knight, and Sarah married Jeremy Mathewson, on the very day the Angell tavern was raised. The children of Jeremiah were brought up with their father in the tavern. Daniel, born August 16, 1748, went to sea unmarried, and did not return. Andrew, one of his sons, married Tabitha Harris, daughter of Gideon Harris, Esq., and carried on the tavern after his father.
SCITUATE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
From the character of the men who settled in Rhode Island it might be expected that they would be quick and energetic in re- sisting all encroachments upon their liberties, and such was the case. The taking of the Gaspee was the earliest resistance by arms to the power of Great Britain in any of the colonies. Great sympathy was awakened for the people of Boston, under the vexa- tious and vindictive treatment of England, and supplies were voted in all the Rhode Island towns, and sent for their relief.
When the news of the battle of Lexington arrived at Provi- dence a thousand men were on the march the next day for the scene of conflict, but were countermanded by expresses from Lexington.
The Rhode Island forces, incorporated with the grand army be- fore Boston, were placed under the direction of Washington. Rev. William Emerson, of Concord, chaplain in the army, who saw them at Cambridge in 1775, describing the military camps there, from various places, and noticing the want of tents and arms and apparel of many of the companies, says of some proper tents and marquees : " In these are the Rhode Islanders, who are furnished with tent equipage and everything in the most exact English style."
But it was not always so. Two years later, Aug. 27, 1777, Col. Israel Angell writing from the camp to the Governor of Rhode Island, declares that " pure necessity urges me to write you of the wretched condition of my command, as to their clothing and equip- ments. Only one half of the men are fit for duty, and many are barefoot." At another time, of some companies, it was said :
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" There are not two in five who have a shoe or stocking, or other apparel to make them decent. But they rendered good service at Brandywine a month afterwards, contributing to a very important victory. Washington said of them : "The gallant behavior of Col. Angell's regiment on the 23d of June, at Springfield, reflects the highest honor upon the officers and men: they disputed an im- portant pass with so obstinate a bravery that they lost upwards of forty in killed and wounded and missing-nearly one-fourth of their number, before they gave up their ground to a vast superior- ity of force.
Job and Joseph Angell, twin brothers, born January 19, 1745, were out in arms during the whole of the Revolutionary war. Job commanded a company but did not go out of the State. He has a son Job living in Scituate. Joseph Angell continued a private sol- dier, refusing offers of promotion, and distinguished himself in the war. He was with Washington the greater part of the war and fought in many battles. The old people that knew him had memories very quick to remember "Uncle Joe," the old soldier, who made a good impression on their minds. He used to relate tales of the war and events in the battles of which he was one of the actors. At the battle of Monmouth, the day being very hot, the men after the action flung themselves down by the river to drink, and many of them died in consequence, and indeed many were so faint that they died where they laid down, without drinking. Capt. Boss, Joseph's captain, laid down completely exhausted, until some one came and raised him up to drink spirits. Gen. Washington rode in among the troops ordering them not to drink without first' tasting some spiritous liquor. Joseph said he always kept a little in his canteen for such a purpose, and he had so reserved some for him- self .in that battle. In the fight at the Red Bank on the Jersey shore, when the Hessians unsuccessfully attacked Fort Mercer, and were so cut up by the fire of the Americans, Joseph loaded and fired his gun for forty minutes as fast as he could, and without a moment's cessation until his gun became so hot that he could not hold it in his hand.
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At a time during the war, when an engagement was about to commence, a cannon-ball from the enemy struck an apple tree in the road, taking off a branch. Washington, who was near, pleas- antly remarked : " That was a good shot." Accounts agree that Joseph really loved the soldier's profession, that he engaged in it with his whole heart, and conducted himself bravely during the whole war. When peace was declared he returned to Scituate to take up once more the plough. He selected a daughter of John Edwards for his wife, and had two sons, Jonathan and Israel, who both married and removed to the State of New York.
Joseph Knight acted an important part in the Revolutionary war. His father, Jonathan Knight, executed to him the lease of his farm for six years, April 4th, 1763, Jeremiah and Andrew An- gell witnessing the same. He appears to have used his teams ex- tensively in transporation for Hope furnace.
From papers in the possession of his descendants, which have been kindly loaned me, we get much information of Revolutionary times. He seems to have had a taste early for military life, having received from Gov. Samuel Ward, June 16th, 1766, a commission as Ensign of the First Company, or Trained Band, of Providence. Hle was made Lieutenant of the same company, in 1769, and in August, 1774, he was created Captain. April, 1775, after the news of battle of Lexington, a company was formed in Scituate under him as captain, the roll headed thus : " We do enlist ourselves as Vol- unteers in the present emergency in defence of our country and Right of Privileges and Liberty." Four new companies were chartered in Scituate, Dec. 5, 1774, and one of them was called "'Scituate Hunters."
A letter from Gov. Cooke to Joseph Knight, dated Providence, Dec. 19, 1775, directed to him as captain of the second company of minute men in Scituate, says : "You are hereby directed to gather together the company under your com mand with all possible expedition and march them to this town in order to be transported to Rhode Island for the defence of that island. You are to be care- ful that the men are properly equipped with arms, ammunition and
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blankets fit for immediate service. I have advice from Gen. Wash- ington that eight large transports, with two tenders, having on board one regiment of foot, and three companies of horse sailed from Boston last Saturday, and I have no doubt that your officers and men will exert themselves upon this occasion with their usual ardor."
Gov. West sends an order from head-quarters to Capt. Knight, Jan. 12, 1776, for nine privates with a commissioned officer and sergeant or corporal, upon fatigue duty. Ten days afterwards Gen. Lippitt directs him, from Prudence, to send ten men up there to go in a scow down to the Pearl. The men sent were in the fight at Prudence. According to the record they were, Joseph Knight, captain ; William Brownell and Simeon Wilbour, sergeants; Abra- ham Angell, corporal ; and Joseph Turner, Stephen Leach, Oliver Leach, Oliver Fisk, Zebedee Snow, Christopher Edwards, Joseph Wight, Moses Colvin, and Christopher Knight.
Providence was threatened by the enemy and Scituate was called upon to assist in its defence. Gen. Sullivan writes to Mr. Knight, who has been promoted to be Lieut .- Colonel, to march imme- diately with his regiment to their aid: " Pray, delay no time, for by the delay of one hour we may lose the town of Providence; let each man take three days provision, and wait there for further orders." About this time, March 18, 1777, Elizabeth Knight writes from Scituate to her husband, who was with his troops at Warwick : "These lines are to let you know that we are all well at present. I want you to come home soon as you can, to see about getting some flax, for it is very scarce to be had. There are some men who want to be boarded at your house, and I want you to send to me whether you are willing to board them or not. So I remain your loving wife, Elizabeth Knight."
There you see a woman of the old herioc time,-quiet, dili- gent, deferring to her husband, subjecting herself to the circum- stances of the time, and heartily embracing the good cause. In talking of the men of the Revolution we should never forget the women, whose sacrifices were great, and whose zeal and courage in the patriot cause was abounding.
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Rufus Hopkins, who seems to have been especially active and efficient in the good cause, writes Major Knight from Cranston, July 27, 1780, saying : " By express from the Governor I am re- quested to direct you forthwith to muster together the regiment under your command, completely equipped with arms and ammuni- tion and six days provision ; you are therefore hereby directed ac- cordingly, and rendezvous at Providence as soon as possible, where you are to be ready to receive further orders, the reason is said to be in consequence of Gen. Clinton's coming from New York with eight or ten thousand troops to attack the French army and fleet at Newport."
Scituate was not invaded, but she was called upon, and re- sponded nobly to the call, to march her troops to the port. The British, on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1776, landed and took possession of Rhode Island, and remained there until Oct. 25, 1779, during which time the inhabitants were greatly oppressed.
In a list of Capt. Knight's company, April 20, 1775, the day after the Lexington battle, are found the following names: Joseph Knight, captain ; Samuel Wilbor, Benjamin Wood, Isaac Horton, John Hill, Nathan Walker, James Parker, John Bennet, jr., Jere- miah Almy, Joseph Remington, Nathan Ralfe, John I. Kilton, Jonathan Knight, jr., Joseph Briggs, David Knight, Joseph Col- lins, William Taylor, John Manchester, Edward Bennett, Thomas Parker, John Edwards, jr., Simeon Wilbor, Isaiah Austin, Samuel Eldridge, Christopher Knight, Samuel Hopkins, Benajah Bosworth, Obadiah Rolfe, Ezekiel Wood, Caleb Fisk, doctor, John Phillips, Constant Graves, Stukely Thornton, James Andrews, jr., Christo- pher Collins, Joseph Bennet, Thomas Knight, Peleg Colvin, Elea- zor Westcott, Caleb Steere, Collins Roberts, Daniel Fisk, William Knight, Nathan Franklin, Uriah Franklin, jr., Ephriam Edwards, Stephen Edwards, Francis Fuller, jr., Benjamin Whitmore, William Stafford, Daniel Angell, Furmer Tanner-fifty-two in all.
Another list, dated Feb. 5, 1776, gives the following additional names : Daniel Dexter, Peter Pierce, Alexander Lovell, Ebenezer Handy, Joseph Turner, John Gunnison, Isaiah Ashton, Benjamin
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Bacon, Nathan Mathewson, Christopher Edwards, Knight Wilbor, . Abraham Angell, Moses Colvin.
An order of Capt. Knight to Aaron Fisk, one of his corporals, dated Dec. 8, 1774, directs to notify every enlisted soldier to ap- pear in arms complete, to appear at the new dwelling-house of Lieut. Samuel Wilbor, Jan. 16, 1775.
-Lieut .- Col. Ezekiel Cornell, of Col. Hitchcock's regiment, Providence, writes to Major Knight, dated Warwick, July 20, 1777, informing that he has just received an express telling him that forty sail of square-rigged vessels were off Watch Point standing towards Newport, last evening ; also, desiring me to send an express to Col. Colwell, which I have done, ordering him imme- diately to warn the militia to be in readiness.
Return of the Scituate Light Infantry company, Benj. Boss, captain, and Richard Rhodes, clerk, gives captain and two lieuten- ants, one ensign, four sergeants, three corporals, four drummers and fifers, thirty-eight rank and file-total fifty-four.
The return of Capt. Nathan Worker's company gives Lieut. Joseph Carpenter, Ensign Samuel Wilbor, seventy-two men, eight all equipped, and twenty-nine guns.
Capt. Coman Smith's company had Lieut. Fabel Angell, and Capt. Herenden's company had Lieut. Isaac Hopkins, and Ensign James Wells. Timothy Hopkins, jr., was adjutant. Jos. Kimball's company had Gideon Cornwell, lieutenant. Capt. Edwin Knight's company had Ensign Daniel Baker. Capt. Herenden, Lieut. Wm. Howard, Ensign Reuben Read.
The small pox prevailed much in the army at different times, causing alarm, and the town of Scituate voted that the house of widow Mercy Angell and the house of Peleg Fiske, Esq., be opened as hospitals for the innoculation of the small pox.
Capt. Joseph Kimball, by vote of the town, Nov. 15, 1777, was appointed to supply the families of officers and soldiers, in the con- tinental service, with the necessary articles of life, according to a late act of the General Assembly.
The returns of the Third Regiment, made to Major Knight, of
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eight companies, are as follows : Capt. Potter, 75 men, Capt. Dor- rance, 67 men, Capt. Smith, 123 men, Capt. Paine, 109 men, Capt. Wilbour, 76 men, Capt. Howard, 64 men, Capt. Medbury, 32 men, Capt. Rolfe, 67 men.
We get some idea of the imperfect equipments of the soldiers in the return of three companies of two hundred and seventy-two privates. Of these, without bayonets, one hundred and one, with bayonets, twenty-six, and cartouches of the same number only forty- three.
The Rhode Island soldiers in our civil war received much praise for their brave and effective service, and their fine appear- ance. A Massachusetts man, writing for a newspaper, at the com- mencement of the rebellion, from Washington, July, 1861, says : "Three cheers for Rhode Island rang along the avenue to-day, as the quota of that gallant State marched proudly along, the first battalion escorting the second, which had just been landed. Cheers were given for the continental color carried by the second battalion and for the ladies who marched bravely with the file-closers of two companies, rivalling Florence Nightingale. A baggage train brought up the rear." Another writer says of them : "This is . the finest and best furnished body of men in the field."
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, MINISTERS AND PHYSICIANS.
In the history of a place there are some things more important than its size or wealth. Its farms, manufactures, trade, are indeed to be considered. The services performed in war, when they have reference to the establishment of freedom, or its preservation, ought to hold our attention :
"By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung : There Honor comes, a pilgrim grey, To bless the turf that wraps their clay ; And Freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell, a weeping hermit, there."
Improvements in the laying out of roads, the introduction of steam travel, the erection of public and private buildings, are not to be forgotten, but remembered, also should be first and foremost,
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Religion, as seen in the churches and families, social and business intercourse, and political institutions, and pervading the community.
The schools and higher seminaries of instruction are, with re- ligion, to be examined as institutions lying at the foundation of a respectable, orderly, intelligent town, and household behavior, and teaching by precept and example on the part of parents, tend much to refine and elevate society.
Physicians and ministers are so placed as to healing power in body and soul, to their giving a healthy tone to society and encour- aging all goodness, that their character and abilities may prop- erly come under scrutiny. School teachers, out of school as well as in, may encourage and sustain all good works.
Religion came and followed our original settlers in this town, but they were opposed to taxation, and their ministers probably received at first only such recompense as private individuals might occasionally give them. The Friends were of this kind, and the Baptists also, and these denominations were the two earliest in the field, and probably established their religious meetings at about the same time.
Rhode Island was from the start tolerant of all protestant reli- gious faith, allowing the freest utterance of doctrine, from which cause she attracted settlers of various creeds. Quakers and Bap- tists were the most numerous. The Friends, or Quakers, had a church burnt in Scituate before the Revolutionary war, showing how early they began to erect church edifices. Dec. 14, 1811, their last meeting house was erected, and William Almy and Moses Brown attended from Providence. Mr. Elihu Bowen, one of their preachers living in Scituate, wrote in his record book of the church, of the proceedings : "William being livingly opened in Gospel love to the edification of the auditory, and concluded in prayer and supplication to the Father of our mercies." Of late, owing to decline in membership of Friends, few or none are the gatherings in the town.
They, at one time, numbered in their ranks many of the most important citizens of the town. The Wilkinsons of the first gene-
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ration, James Aldrich, Daniel Fiske, Isaac Fiske, Ezra Potter, John Potter, Mr. Mial Smith, Hon. Elisha Mathewson, and Gideon Har- ris attended the meetings. .
Their first church was built on land given by Gideon Harris, a mile west of the present church building, near the old bank, and was supposed to have been accidentally consumed. Meetings were subsequently held in private houses, sometimes with Elizabeth Al- drich, Mr. Mial Smith and Elihu Bowen, until a new house was built.
The Six Principle Baptist Church, according to a sermon of Richard Knight, one of their elders, preached in 1727, was consti- tuted in 1725, received a grant of an acre of land and built a meet- ing house upon it, reserving a part of the land for a burial place. This was about the centre of the town. In August, 1827, Samuel Fiske was ordained pastor, and Benjamin Fiske, deacon of the society. The services were performed by Elders Brown, Morse and Martin. James Colvin was ordained colleague with Elder Fiske about 1738. Elder Colvin died in 1755, and the church was without a pastor until July 8, 1762, when Reuben Hopkins was or- dained elder, and the church prospered under the able and useful ministry of their " nourishing pastor." A reformation commenced and continued several years, and numbers were added to the church. In 1821 they built a new and larger meeting-house on the same spot, which is still standing and in use. Elder Jaques is the present preacher and the meetings are regularly held. This church and ministry has doubtless exerted a very great and beneficial influence upon the town.
An Episcopal Church was established at Richmond village, South Scituate, several years since, having quite an extensive mem- bership.
A meeting-house was put up in Hemlock, Foster, by the Cal- vinistic Baptists, but was never finished. It was bought by the town for a town house, with a provision that the house should be open for preaching. Elder John Williams was their first minister, and his colleague was Elder John Westcott. In 1827 these preach-
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ers were between eighty and ninety years of age, and still continu- ing their labors in the ministry, although Elder Williams preached but seldom. He addressed the convention called to ratify the con- stitutution, forty years before, against the measure.
The church at Foster was at first in connection with the Cal- vinistic Baptist Churches, but they separated about 1780, and be- came a Six Principle Baptist Church. Elder John Williams erect- ed a house about 1790, at Hopkins Mills, a very elevated site.
Elder Young was the pastor of the Calvinistic Baptist Church, in Foster, and had a large family. One of his sons, Zadock, be- came a judge ; and his son, Abiather, had some reputation as a poet.
A Congregational Church was formed at North Scituate, and organized January 1st, 1834. A house of worship was dedicated in 1834 and is now standing and occupied. Pastors: Revs. Benja- min Allen, Charles P. Grosvener, Benjamin J. Relyed, James Hall, Charles C. Beaman, Thomas Williams, Loring P. Marsh, J. N. H. Dow, William A. Fobes, J. M. Wilkins, Thomas L. Ellis, J. H. Mellish. All now living except Allen and Ellis.
A Methodist Church is established at Richmond village, South Scituate ; also, one at Ashland village, and also another at Hope vil- lage. All now in a flourishing condition.
A Free Baptist Church, having a comfortable house of worship, has long been in existence in the north-west part of the town.
In North Scituate a Free Will Baptist Church was gathered January 7th, 1832, as a branch of the Smithfield F. B. Church, with thirty-two members, Rev. Reuben Allen, pastor. Church organized April 22d, 1835, with thirty members. Pastors : Revs. Martin J. Steere, Eli Noyes, D. P. Cilley, Reuben Allen, J. B. Sargent, John Chanly, Amos Redlon, William H. Bowen, O. H. True, J. M. Brew- ster, L. P. Bickford. All but Allen, Noyes and Cilley now living.
SCHOOLS.
The town did not begin very early, as a corporation, to estab- lish schools. For a long time education was left to the people to do as they pleased as to the employment of teachers. They taught in private houses, or in rooms of other buildings. Miss Fiske
.
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taught in a room of her father's tavern, seventy years ago. Mar- vin Morris, from Dudley, Mass., kept school for half a dozen years, about 1800 ; he was called a good penman. Thomas Mowry was a teacher, and a Mr. Dutton ; also Samuel Perry from Connecticut.
The first town appropriation recorded was $300, in 1834. This continued for successive years until 1850, when the sum advanced to $900, and so continued a number of years. It has still further advanced, and $3,000 have been voted the last two years. The town has built school houses in locations convenient for the schol- ars, and they are handsome structures, fitted up with recent im- provements, and kept in good order. The report of the school committee for the year ending April, 1876, says, that from obser- vation they believe that in school property they favorably compare with the most progressive towns of the State.
SMITHVILLE SEMINARY AND LAPHAM INSTITUTE,
Founded in 1839. First principal, Hosea Quimby, from 1839 to 1854; second principal, Samuel P. Coburn, from 1854 to 1857; third principal, Rev. W. Colgrove, from 1857 to 1859. Up to this time the school had been known as Smithfield Seminary. From 1859 to 1863 there was no school. In 1863 name was changed to Lapham Institute, and Rev. B. F. Hayes was principal from 1863 to 1865 ; Thomas L. Angell was principal from 1865 to 1867 ; Geo. H. Ricker was principal from 1867 to 1874; A. G. Moulton was principal from 1874 to 1875; W. S. Stockbridge was principal in 1875 and 1876.
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