USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1698-1821 > Part 10
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20. Captain Stoddard,
21. Captain Charles Wickham,
22. Captain Simonds,
23. Solomon Townsend,
24 and 46. John and Jonathan Thurston, double, 25 and 45. Jahleel Brenton,
double,
26 and 44. Captain George Wanton, double,
27. Mrs. King,
28. Mrs. Fortana,
29. Col. Daniel Updike,
30. Samuel Brenton,
31. Capt. Samuel Wickham,
32. Capt. Godfrey Malbone,
33. Colonel Whiting,
No.
34. Jabez Champlin,
35. Evan Malbone,
36. Capt. Thomas Wickham,
37. Thomas Cranston,
38. John Collins,
39. Capt. William Paul,
40. John Mawdsley,
41. Edward Scott,
42. John Bours,
43. Capt. Robert Eliot,
47. Francis Malbone,
48. Thomas Cranston,
49. Robert Jenkins,
50. Francis Brinley,
51. Capt. Samuel Sweet,
53. Matthew Cozzens,
54. Benjamin Carr,
55. Andrew Hunter,
56. Col. Joseph Wanton,
57. George Gibbs,
58. Benjamin Wickham,
59. Augustus Johnston,
62. Edward Mumford,
63. Nathaniel Hatch,
64. James Martin,
65. Metcalf Bowler,
66. Walter Chaloner,
67 and 73. John, Thomas and Samuel Freebody,
67. Simon Pease,
69. Robert Sherman,
I28
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
No.
70. John Tweedy,
71. Mr. Bourke,
72. Isaac Stelle,
74. Mrs. Cupitt,
75. John Forester,
76. John Jepson,
77. Capt. Jas. Lillington,
78. Walter Cranston,
73 and 61. Godfrey Malbone,
So and 60. Daniel Ayrault, 81. Captain Charles Handy, 82. Captain John Dennis,
83. Nicholas Lechmere,
84. John Overing.
85. Captain Keith,
86. Capt. Samuel Johnson,
87. Capt. Job Snell,
88. Capt. Robert Oliver,
89. Henry Bull,
90. Robert Crooke,
No.
91. Ignatius Battar,
92. John Jenkins,
93. Sherman Clarke,
94. William Mumford,
95. Thomas S. Taylor,
96. John Brown, 97. George Goulding, a pew and a half,
98. John Brown, a pew and a half,
99. Philip Wilkinson and Mar- tin Howard, a pew and a half, 100. Joseph Wanton, a pew and a half,
IOI. Mr. Coggeshall and Mr. Clarke,
102. Mr. Brenton and Mr.
Ayrault, 103. Mr. Whitehorne.
Gallery pews occupied :
No. No.
13. Robert Dunbar,
21. John Tweedy,
14. Henry Nye,
22. Robert Wheatley,
15. George Owen,
23. Mark Morton,
17. John Archer,
24. Ann and John Chaloner,
18. James Wilson,
25. Jahleel Brenton,
19. Charles Anthony Wigne-
26. James Holmes,
ron136
28. illegible,
20. Charles Bardin,
29. Benjamin Jefferson.
INTERIOR OF TRINITY CHURCH.
129
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
[February 27, 1763. Mr. Fayerweather was married to Mrs. Abigail Bours, the surviving relict of the late Peter Bours, of Marble- head, in the church at Newport by the Rev. Marmaduke Browne, and that day (an exceedingly cold day) preached on the occasion from these words : Do all to the Glory of God.]137
Easter Monday, April 4, 1763. Samuel Brenton was chosen eldest Church Warden, and Samuel Bours, the younger.
The Vestry the same as last year, except that Stephen Ayrault takes the place of Walter Cranston.
William Paul, clerk of the Vestry, John Grelea, clerk at £200 per annum, John Ernest Knotchell, organist, at £30 sterling, per annum, Richard Durfee, sexton.
The congregation Voted : that Mr. John Ernest Knotchell shall have the use of the school-house under our care, and that he shall
136
& Anthony Vigneron
was the eldest
son of Dr Norbent Feli-
cian Wigneron (sometimes written Vigneron), a native of Province d' Artois, France, who came to America in 1690, and died in Newport in 1764, aged 95 years. Dr. Charles Anthony (Antonio) died in New York, November 10, 1772, in his 56th year, after being inoculated for the small pox. Stephen, the second son, also trained to the medical profession, sailed on a cruise, as surgeon, in the war with France, and nothing more was heard of the vessel. Dr. Stephen, son of Dr. Charles, born November 25, 1748, practiced medicine in Newport, as the successor of his father, until the Island was occupied by the British, when he removed from the town. He died on board the hospital ship in New York harbor, August 24, 1781, in his 53d year.
137 The above is from the records of St. Paul's, Narragansett.
Rev. Samuel Fayerweather was a graduate from Harvard. He was settled over the Second Congregational Church in Newport, in 1754, was ordained a Presbyter in the Episcopal Church in England, 1756, and entered upon his mission at St. Paul's, Narragansett, August 24, 1760. He died in 1781, and was buried under the communion table of St. Paul's.
130
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
teach ten boys we shall send him, English, Latin, writing and arithmetic, for each of which ten boys he shall have £10, old tenor, per quarter, paid him out of the rent of the estate of Nathaniel Kay, Esq, deceased, left for that purpose.
July 25, 1763. Voted by the congregation : that a place for another candlestick should be made in the ceiling of the church.138
Voted : that the proprietors of those pews next the pulpit, as it lately stood, may remove those in the middle alley as far as the others, at their expense.
April 17, 1764. Winthrop Saltonstall139 was married by Rev. Mr. Leaming, to Ann Wanton.
Easter Monday, April 23, 1764. Samuel Bours chosen eldest Church Warden, and John Jenkins the younger.
The Vestry remained the same, except that John Mawdsley took
138 In the ceiling, before the church was enlarged, there were two rosettes, enriched with boldly carved leaves and bunches of grapes. From the centre of each there hung a brass chandelier, fitted for candles, and they have hung in the same place since the time when they were given to the church, in 1728. One of them bears this inscription :
"THOS. DREW. OXON. 1728."
When the church was lengthened, it was found necessary to increase the artificial light for evening service ; hence the above vote. Subse- quently, and within the memory of the generation that is now nearly closed, it was found expedient to carry a smoke-pipe in winter, up through the ceiling and enter a chimney built there at the time. This pipe was made to pass through the centre of the rosette that had been put up in 1762. The putting in of a furnace did away with the stove-pipe, but the rosette was never restored. All traces of the brass chandelier that once hung there have been lost.
139 Winthrop Saltonstall was the son of Gov. Gurdon Saltonstall, of New London, and was the cousin of his wife, Ann Wanton, daughter and fourth child of Gov. Joseph Wanton, of Newport.
131
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
the place of Capt. John Brown.14 The other officers were re- tained.
June 9. 1764. The Vestry voted to write to the Society, desiring them to send out a school-master.
September 16, 1764. George Scott1#I was married to Mary Ayrault.
October 28, 1764. Major Fairchild12 was married to Catharine Malbone.
December 16, 1764. John Bell143 was married to Mary Heatly.
[February 17, 1765. Rev. Mr. Fayerweather preached at New- port, and baptized three children, one of Governor Wanton ; all with their proper sponsors.]1+
Easter Monday, April 15, 1765. Joseph Jenkins was chosen eldest Church Warden, and John Bours the younger.
140 John Brown son of Capt. John Brown, and an active member of the Vestry, had died January 2, 1764. He was a merchant engaged in commercial pur- suits, and with Godfrey Malbone and George Wanton fitted out privateers in the second Spanish war. December 26, 1717, he was married by Rev. Mr. Honyman to Jane Lucas, born in 1769, and daughter of Augustus Lucas. She died at Newport, October 13, 1775.
1+1 George Scott followed the seas, and after his death his widow mar- ried Jahleel Brenton. Mary Ayrault, his wife, was the daughter of Stephen Ayrault. She was born in 1742, and died March 13, 1816.
1#2 " Major " was Fairchild's Christian name, and not a title. Catha- rine Malbone, his wife, born October 21, 1737, was a daughter of Godfrey Malbone.
The Major Fairchild, who married Bathsheba Palmer, March 12, 1729, was probably the father of the above.
143 John Bell was a Major in the British army. He went to England with his family, and died at Islington, County of Middlesex, May, 1779. Mrs. Bell, whose maiden name was Mary Grant, daughter of Sueton Grant, was the widow of Andrew Heatly. She died in England in 1781.
144 History of the Narragansett Church.
132
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
The Vestry and other officers were continued. The sexton's salary was raised to £140 per annum.
January 8, 1765. Henry Marchant145 was married to Rebecca Cooke.
Easter Monday, April 15, 1765. Joseph Jenkins was chosen eldest Church Warden, and John Bours the younger.
The Vestry and other officers were continued. The sexton's salary was raised to $140 per annum.
Voted : that the Church Wardens hire a room for Markadore, for- merly a slave of Nathaniel Kay, Esq., deceased, set him free and pay his rent for one year.
Voted : that James Honyman, Esq., be desired to inquire of the Town Council respecting the affair of John Barzee.146
[The following, from the " Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," should have a place here :]
" The Rev. Marmaduke Browne, the Society's missionary at New- port, in the Colony of Rhode Island, in his letter dated February
145 Henry Marchant was born at Martha's Vineyard in 1741, and died at Newport, August 30, 1796. He became eminent at the Bar. After quali- fying himself in the law office of Judge Trowbridge, at Cambridge, he commenced the practice of the law in Newport. In 1770 he was elected Attorney-General of the Colony, which office he held till 1777, when he was chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress. In the interval he had been sent, 1771, to England to adjust claims against the British gov- ernment. When the war broke out he retired to Narragansett, but in 1784 he returned to Newport, was sent to the General Assembly as a Rep- resentative, and was a member of the Convention that adopted the Federal Constitution. Following the adoption of the Constitution, he was ap- pointed District Judge, which office he filled up to the time of his death. He was highly esteemed.
146 There is no reference to the affairs of John Barzee in the records of the Town Council of that date.
I33
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
29, 1764, writes, that notwithstanding the great enlargement of Trinity Church, there is still room wanting to accommodate all who would willingly attend. In this Colony, he observes, a good har- mony subsists between Churchmen and dissenters. The Quakers, in particular, express their regard for the Church from the experi- ence they have had of the mildness and lenity of its administration. And his parishioners are constant and decent in their attendance on public worship, and unblamable in their lives. In his letter, dated September 19th, Mr. Browne gives a particular account of the rents of the lands and houses left by Mr. Kay for the use of a grammar- master at Newport, which, from the Ist of April, 1765, will amount to the sum of £64 5s sterling, from which deducting fio to keep the house in repair, the estate will produce near £54 sterling per annum. The Society are desired to recommend a grammar-master for this school, as soon as a proper person can be procured. Mr. Browne has baptized in the preceding year forty-five infants, two white and one black adult, and has from 112 to 120 communi- cants."
Easter Monday, March 31, 1766. John Bours was chosen eldest Church Warden, and Simon Pease the younger.
The Vestry and other officers continue the same as last year.
. July 31, 1766. Voted: that the house rented to Mr. Robert Crooke be immediately repaired, under the inspection of the Church Wardens; the gentlemen appointed having reported that £500, O. T. will put it into tenantable repair; but if more be needed, the Wardens are not limited.
January 4, 1767. Dr. John Halliburton147 was married to Susannah Brenton.
147 nº Halliburton Dr. Halliburton was emi- nent as a physician, and socially his standing was equally high. When the Revolution broke out his leaning was to the Crown. He was suspected of holding treasonable correspondence with the enemy, escaped to New York, and from there
134
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Easter Monday, April 20, 1767. Simon Pease, Jr. and Christo- pher Champlin14 were chosen Church Wardens.
Vestrymen : Godfrey Malbone, Joseph Wanton, Edward Scott, James Honyman, Wm. Mumford, William Paul, Thos. Wickham, Evan Malbone, Philip Wilkinson, Joseph Wanton, Jr., Charles Wick- ham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton and Andrew Hunter.
William Paul, Clerk of the Vestry, John Grelea, Clerk of the Church, Richard Durfee sexton during his good behavior.
Voted: that £4000, old tenor, should be raised by a tax on the pews, for repairing the steeple, and that the Church Wardens, with
removed to Nova Scotia, where he died in 1807. His wife died there in 1818. 148
Chris Champlin fourth of the name, was born at Charles- town, R. I., February 7, 1731, and died in Newport, April 25, 1805. He took up his residence in Newport prior to 1753, for at that time he was a member of the Artillery Company. He joined the expedition against Crown Point, and was commissioned, May 10, 1755, a Major in the regiment raised by Col. Harris. The following year he was made Lt. Colonel. On his return to Newport he entered into business, chiefly commercial, and with other leading men, had much to do with fitting out privateers.
In 1763 a number of British men-of-war under Lord Colville, Rear Admiral of the White, were stationed at Newport, to enforce the revenue laws. For several years there was seldom a day when there was not one or more such vessels in the harbor. The Victualling Agent of the Navy was Sir Alexander Grant, in London, who had his agents in America, Mr. Champlin was his Newport agent; but when the war came on he removed to Narragansett till the return of peace. After the war he again took up his residence in Newport. He was elected an Alderman when the city government was organized, in 1784, and had other appointments of trust.
I35
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
John Mawdsley, be a committee to tax the pews for raising the aforesaid sum, and that Evan Malbone, Capt. John Mawdsley and Andrew Hunter be a committee to hire and agree with proper per- sons for finishing sd work, and to oversee and inspect the same till it is finished.
Voted : that the gallery pews be taxed twelve shillings per annum.
[At the June session of the General Assembly, 1767, a lottery was granted, to raise twenty-five hundred dollars for putting a new steeple upon Trinity Church, the old one being much decayed. ]149
November 16, 1767. Voted : that the Church Wardens should hire the sum of £50 sterling, at lawful interest, to pay the Rev. Mr. Bisset's passage, and his salary to the First of September last; for the payment of which, principal and interest, the Vestrymen them- selves are bound.
December 3, 1767. Whereas the Church Wardens have reported to the Vestry, that they are not able to hire the money for the pur- pose of the aforesaid vote of the 16th of November, unless they give 8 per cent. interest for it, whereupon it was voted that the Church Wardens hire said money at said last mentioned rate, and the Vestry oblige themselves to see the same repaid.
Easter Monday, April 4, 1768. Francis Brinley and Francis Malbone chosen Church Wardens.
Vestrymen : Joseph Wanton, Edward Scott, James Honyman, Wm Mumford, Thomas Wickham, Evan Malbone, Philip Wilkinson, Joseph Wanton, Jr., Charles Wickham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton, Andrew Hunter, Simon Pease, Jr., and John Bours.
The other officers were continued.
April 7, 1768. Voted : that the old tower of the Church, which
149 Arnold's History of Rhode Island.
I36
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
is reported by a survey of carpenters to be very defective, be pulled down, and a new one, of wood, be erected in its place.
April 10, 1768. At a meeting of the congregation, Voted : that Capt. Evan Malbone, Capt. Charles Wickham, and Mr. John Bours, be a committee to agree with Messrs. Charles Spooner, Jethro Spooner, and James Tew, Jr., to pull down the old tower, and build a new one, of wood, eighteen feet square, and sixty feet high, and make a report to the congregation on Wednesday next.
April 13, 1768. Messrs. Evan Malbone, Charles Wickham, and John Bours, made report to the congregation, met by adjournment, that they had covenanted with Charles Spooner, Jethro Spooner, and James Tew, Jr., to pull down the old tower, and build a new one, of wood, upon the following terms, viz. : That the said Charles Spooner, Jethro Spooner, and James Tew, Jr., will engage to pull down the old tower and build a new one, of wood, eighteen feet square, and sixty feet high, they finding all and every the materials necessary for completing the said tower, excepting what mason's work may be wanting, the lead and leading, glass, and rigging wanted at raising, together with the heavy iron work; the Church paying them for the same the sum of £9000, old tenor, or eleven hundred and twenty-five Spanish milled dollars; they to have the old tower for their trouble in pulling it down, and some new timber belonging to the Church.
Voted : that the report made by Evan Malbone, Charles Wick- ham, and John Bours be accepted, and that the said three persons, with Mr. Stephen Ayrault, George Gibbs, and Archimedes George, be a committee to oversee the said works, and enter into articles of agreement with the said persons for carrying out the same imme- diately.
June 7, 1768. Voted : that the Church Wardens hire the sum of £100 to pay the Rev. Mr. Bisset what salary may be due him, and
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. I37
that they be empowered to give 8 per cent. interest, per annum, for the same, provided it cannot be obtained at a lower interest.
Voted : that the persons indebted to the estate of Mr. Kay, for rents, be immediately sued for the same by the Church Wardens.
September 19, 1768. Edward Wanton150 was married to Frances Ayrault.
January 9, 1769. Voted : that Mr. Francis Malbone and Mr. Simon Pease, Jr., be a committee to hire a sum of money sufficient to pay the balance due from the Church to the carpenters for build- ing the steeple, &c., and some other debts due from said Church, and that the Vestry and congregation give to them a counter security for the payment of the said money.
Voted : that Thomas Cranston, Esq., John Mawdsley, Esq., and Mr. Evan Malbone be a committee to go to Providence, to attend the General Assembly, to sit there the 27th inst., and endeavor to obtain the granting of a petition for incorporating the Church, and the said gentlemen were requested to attend the same.
February 26, 1769. In consequence of the vote of the Church Wardens and Vestry, on the inst. [ult.] to hire a sum of money suf- ficient to pay the carpenters the balance due to them for building the steeple, &c., $1000 were hired of Capt. Charles Handy for the term of one year, at the rate of 8 per cent. interest per annum, and $500 of John Tillinghast, Esq., at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, for the same time.
Easter Monday, March 27, 1769. Mr. Francis Malbone and Mr. Peter Cooke were chosen Church Wardens.
Francis Brinley chosen one of the Vestry in the room of Edward
150 Edward Wanton was one of the three sons of Gov. Gideon Wanton ; and Frances Ayrault, his wife, was the daughter of Stephen Ayrault. After the death of Wanton she married John Piper, of the Parish of Colyton, County of Devon, England, and with him resided there.
10
138
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Scott, deceased; John Bours, Clerk of the Vestry ; John Grelea, Clerk of the Church; John E. Knotchell, organist ; and Richard Durfee, sexton, on good behavior.
Voted : that the sexton's salary be augmented to £20 per annum, and that he employ some person to ring the bell on Sundays, which shall be done for the future from the second story of the belfry.
April 3. 1769. Meeting of the congregation. Voted : that James Honyman, Evan Malbone, Charles Wickham, Stephen Ayrault and John Bours be a committee to draw up a set of rules and regula- tions for the Church, agreeably to the charter151 lately granted by the Colony.
Voted : that the Clerk's salary be raised to £30 per annum.
May 29, 1769. The congregation voted : that a tax of $800 be assessed on the pews, towards paying the money lately hired by the Church, of Job Tillinghast and Charles Handy, for paying the debts of the Church, owed for building the steeple, &c., that the pews be rated equally, according to their bigness ; that the gallery pews be rated one-third of the pews below, and that the Church Wardens collect the same.
The Rev. Mr. Browne having informed the congregation, that he is under necessity to go to Europe, and that he has obtained leave of absence from the Society for that purpose ; voted : that he have liberty from the congregation also, and that his salary go on during his absence.
June 12, 1769. At a meeting of the congregation, voted : that the Rev. Mr. Browne, and John Mawdsley, Esq., be requested to procure in London, a new stop for the organ, in the room of that which is wanting ; either the vox humane, or any other stop that
151 This was the first charter granted to any religious society in Rhode Island.
I39
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
may be thought most suitable, and that the congregation will pay the expense of the same. 152
October 9, 1769. Voted: by the congregation, that the salary of Mr. Knotchell, organist of the Church, lately deceased, be continued and paid to his widow until the first day of January next ensuing ; and that the widow and family of the said Mr. Knotchell live in the house in the school-house yard, belonging to the Church, until Easter next, rent free.
Henry Bull, Esq., came into Church and agreed that the pew belonging to him, should be disposed of to Capt. Samuel Wickham,
152 The following imperfect draught of a letter, found in a package of old papers, without signature, will throw light on the subject. From it we also gather the name of the builder of the organ :
"Newport, Rhode Island, October, 1755. " Mr. Richard Bridge.
In the year 1733 you made an organ for the Rev. Doctor Berkeley, late Bishop of Cloyne, in which were the following whole stops (which he presented to Trinity Church.)
Stop Diapason, Principal Flute, 15th & Human Voice.
1/2 stops ; Cornet. Trumpet. 1 Open Diapason. 1
Treble.
Echo Trumpet, stop Diapason. Open Diapason-all half stops.
" We have sent a box to the care of Mr. Richard Mollineau, Iron Monger, in London, all the box H. pipes, which were never of any use here, as no organist could ever make some of them speak, and others when tuned would not stand half an hour. Now, Sir, what we desire is, that if you can so alter them as to make them answer their design, pray do: if not, we are of opinion that if we had a trumpet bass and the treble vox humane, ' it would be a good addition to the loudness of our organ. We waited so long in hopes an organ maker might accidentally come here, but as there is no one expected now, we hope for the credit of your organ, you'll repair this to your satisfaction, as well as to that of, Sir, -
" P. S .- If neither of those ways above mentioned can be made use of, if you think proper, make a 12th in lieu thereof, and Mr. R. M. will pay you."
140
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
for $120, out of which sum the money due on said pew to the Church should belong ; reserving a seat for himself in said pew during his life.
October 16, 1769. Voted : by the congregation, that the tax of twenty-three shillings, sterling, on the pews in the lower part of the church, and twenty shillings sterling on the pews in the gallery, be continued for the present tax, in order to defray the incidental charges of the Church.
Voted: that Capt. Charles Bardin officiate as organist of the Church until Easter next, and that he be paid at the rate of £52 per annum.
[" Yesterday, in the afternoon, we hear there was a very handsome collection at the Church of England in this Town, for the relief of Mr. Thomas Allen, of Providence, in this Colony, a very poor man, whose circumstances are really deplorable ; having a wife, who, by much sickness, has been a long time blind, and II children, 7 of whom were born blind."-Newport Mercury, January 20, 1770.]
February 26, 1770. At a meeting of the congregation, a letter from the Rev. Mr. Bisset to the Church Wardens, acquainting them that he had received an invitation to settle in Boston, as an assistant to Dr. Caner, at the Chapel there, and informing them that unless the Church would give him an additional salary of $100 per annum, and repair the house annexed to the school-house, in a decent man- ner, immediately, so that he might live in it, he should leave them ; , was laid before the meeting. Whereupon a vote was put, whether the Church would comply with Mr. Bisset's proposal, which was passed in the negative.
Voted : that Joseph Wanton, Esq., and Mr. John Bours be a com- mittee to write to the Rev. Arthur Browne, at Portsmouth [N. H.], and inform him that the Rev. Mr. Bisset is about leaving the Church and school, and request his assistance in supplying the Church with
I4I
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
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