USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1698-1821 > Part 12
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163 George Rome came from England to Rhode Island in 1761, as agent of Hayley & Hopkins, a large commercial house in London. He divided his time between Newport and Narragansett, where he entertained his friends with great hospitality. In the trouble between the Colonies and England, he sided with the Crown, aroused the indignation of the people by his course, and was at length compelled to find shelter on board a man- of-war in the harbor. His property was seized by order of the General Assembly, and when sold the proceeds were turned into the General Treasury.
155
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
ford, Thomas Wickham, Evan Malbone,164 Philip Wilkinson, Joseph Wanton, Jr., Charles Wickham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton, Simon Pease, John Bours, Francis Brinley and Francis Malbone.
Voted : that an alteration be made in the galleries, by removing the negroes to the west end of the Church, provided it be agreeable to the proprietors of the pews behind the organ to exchange their pews for those to be built at the south side of the gallery, where the negroes now sit, and the negroes can be as well accommodated as they are at present.
Voted : that for the future, a person leaving the Church with his family, shall be at liberty to sell his pew without consent first ob- tained from the Wardens and Vestry.
May II, 1772. The Rev. Mr. Willard Wheeler was chosen As- sistant and School-master, on Mr. Kay's foundation ; his salary to commence from the first of last April.
[From the Town Records: Whereas ye Church bell rings at 9 of ye clock at night without any charge to ye Town, that for y* future John Simms, who rings Dr Stile's bell, and had nine dollars a year for ye same, be not allowed anything for ringing ye same.]
Under date of 1772, in the Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Society, there is this entry :
"Advice has been received of the death of the Rev. Mr. Marma- duke Browne, the Society's worthy missionary at Newport, in Rhode Island. The people have chosen Mr. Bisset, who used to assist the missionary, and kept the school founded by Mr. Kay. But the flourishing state and opulent circumstances of that parish having
164 Evan Malbone died at the village of Long Island, March 30, 1830, aged 83 years. For many years he was a member of the Legislature of Connecticut.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
been fully represented, the Society do not think it consistent with their trust to give any longer a salary from hence, as it would pre- vent their bounty where it is more wanted, to other Churches, which cannot be supported without their assistance."
[Rev. Mr. - Page, Chaplain to the Right. Hon. Countess of Huntingdon, arrived here March 1, 1773, and preached in Trinity Church on the following Sunday .- Newport Mercury.]
Easter Monday, April 12, 1773. John Bours and Isaac Lawton were elected Church Wardens, and the clerk and sexton were re- elected. No change was made in the Vestry.
Voted : that the Church Wardens be requested to write to some proper person in London, to desire his assistance in procuring an organist as soon as may be, and that they represent the encourage- ment that will be given by the Church to a suitable person for that office ; and that Mr. Charles Bardin officiate as organist in the mean- time; and that he be allowed and paid for his services at the rate of sixty Spanish milled dollars per annum.
Voted : that the Wardens have the parsonage-house newly shingled if they find it absolutely wants it.
John Freebody165 died, in his 67th year.
May 26, 1773. Mrs. Mary Lightfoot, consort of Robert Light- foot,166 Esq., died.
165 " John Freebody was a gentleman of great integrity and unblemished morals, and in all his various connections, both in public and private life, he discharged his duties with that faithfulness and affection which are the true characteristics of a mind that delighted with the practice of virtue." -Newport Mercury.
166 .Robert Lightfoot had many friends in Newport. At the time that he held the office of Judge of Vice Admiralty in the Southern District of the United States, he came here in enfeebled health, and finding the place so attractive, he gave up his office and settled here, dividing his time between Newport and Narragansett. His daughter Frances, who died in 1800, lies buried in the church-yard.
157
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
June 3, 1773. Charles Bardin died.
September 12, 1773. Christopher Mardenbrough167 was married to Rhoda Fryers.
December 20, 1773. Meeting of the congregation. Whereas, Mr. William Selby168 is arrived in town from London, in consequence of an application made to him by the Wardens of the Church, and now offers himself as an organist, and the congregation having heard him officiate, and think him a suitable person to sustain said office, it is therefore voted : that he be received as organist of the Church, and that he be paid at the rate of £30 sterling per annum, to com- mence from the first day of October last; and that the Wardens be requested to collect by subscription, ten guineas or more, for him, towards paying his passage to America.
Easter Monday, April 4, 1774. The officers of the previous year, were re-elected, with the addition of William Selby, as organist.
Voted : that Mr. Peter Cooke have the improvement of the lot of land adjoining the distil-house lot, and bounded upon the harbor, part of Mr. Kay's estate, at the annual rental of twenty shillings, sterling, and that the Church Wardens give him a lease of the same for the term of twenty-one years from this time ; Mr. Cooke to build a stone wall before the same, to keep it from washing into the sea.
Voted : that a tax of twenty-eight shillings, lawful money, be assessed on the single pews below, and fourteen shillings on the gallery pews in order to pay off part of the bond due to Messrs. Vernon and Mason.
167 Christopher Mardenbrough came from the Island of St. Christo- phers and settled in Newport. He died October 25, 1806.
168 William Selby advertised in January, 1774, that he had just arrived from London, and would "teach the violin, flute, harpsicord and other instruments in use," and that he intended to open a dancing school.
August 1, 1774. Selby gave a concert of instrumental and vocal music at the Court House.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Voted: that Mr. Simon Pease be requested to write to his friend in London, for a new stop for the organ, agreeably to Mr. Selby's direction.
May 23, 1774. James Bisset,169 son of Rev. George Bisset, and Penelope, his wife, was baptized by his father.
December 27, 1774. Brenton Halliburton was baptized.
January 22, 1775. Joseph Wanton, Jr., was married to Miss [Sarah] Brenton, daughter of the late Jahleel Brenton.
Easter Monday, April 17, 1775. The officers of the previous year were re-elected.
May 1, 1775. Lieut. James Conway170 died, and was buried in the church-yard, aged 45 years.
Easter Monday, April 8, 1776. No change was made in the officers of the Church.
April 15, 1776. Voted: that Mr. Francis Malbone and Mr. Simon Pease be added to the Church Wardens, as a committee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Wheeler, and acquaint him that the Vestry and congregation are greatly disappointed and dissatisfied with re- gard to his school, and that, as many difficulties arise from the un- happy situation of public affairs, in collecting the rents and taxes of the Church, to support the officers, they would have no objection to Mr. Wheeler's171 being removed to another more advantageous living.
Easter Monday, March 31, 1777. The Wardens and Vestry were re-elected. James Gibbs was elected clerk in place of John Grelea.
169 The child was probably named after his grandfather, James Hony- man.
170 Lieut. Conway was a Lieutenant of Marines, and was attached to the man-of-war, Rose, then stationed in this Bay.
171 This probably closed the connection with Mr. Wheeler, for no fur- ther reference is made to him in the records.
159
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
February 1, 1778, Major John Breese172 was married to Elizabeth Malbone.
Easter Monday, April 20, 1778. John Bours and Isaac Lawton were elected Church Wardens ; James Gibbs, clerk; Thomas Law- ton, clerk of the Vestry; George English, sexton.
Vestrymen : Joseph Wanton, Evan Malbone, Philip Wilkinson, Joseph Wanton, Jr., Charles Wickham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Francis Malbone, Isaac Lawton, Thomas Wickham, Wil- liam Wanton, and James Keith.
March 29, 1779. Henry Goldsmith was married to Mary Mason.173 Easter Monday, April 5, 1779. No change was made in the officers of the Church.
April 27, 1780. At a meeting of the congregation, April 27, 1780. Voted: that Messrs. George Gibbs, Christopher Champlin, Thomas Freebody and John Bours be a committee to lease out all the estates belonging to the Church, upon the best terms they can, and that they make what repairs they judge necessary on the parson- age-house, the church and fence around the yard; and that they
172 Major John Breese was an officer in the British Army, 54th regiment. When the British retired from the Island, he left the army and settled in Newport. In 1796 he was appointed British Vice Consul for Rhode Isl- and, and died here April 23, 1799. Mrs. Breese, who was the daughter of Francis and Margaret (Saunders) Malbone, died May 22, 1832.
173 This was the last marriage ceremony performed by the Rev. Mr. Bisset before he took his hurried departure with the British troops.
Henry Goldsmith was born in the County of Westmeath, Ireland, July . 4, 1755. His wife, Mary Mason, daughter of Benj. Mason and grand- daughter of Daniel Ayrault, was born November 9, 1759. Mr. Gold- smith adhered to the Crown. After the birth of his first child he removed to St. Andrews, N. S., from there to Annapolis Royal, then to Halifax, and, finally in 1800, to England, where he and his wife died. They had fourteen children born to them.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
make some allowance, at their discretion, to Mr. George English for his past services as sexton.
Voted, also : that the said committee make inquiry relative to the estate of William Tate, which was left by will to the Church after the death of his wife, who had lately deceased : and that they make report to the Church.
161
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
CHAPTER X.
1780-1785.
MAY 5, 1780. The committee appointed by the Church, at their meeting on the 27th of April last, to lease out all the estates belonging to the Church, have this day agreed with Mr. Francis Brinley that. he should pay ninety silver dollars for the rent of the house and lot he now improves, for the present year. That Mr. George Scott have a lease of the lot of about eight acres, he improves, for the present year, for forty-five silver dollars, and that Mr. Jabez Champlin live in the parsonage-house this year, at forty-five dollars per annum rent. Agreed also, that a rough fence be put around the church- yard, and that two carpenters be consulted upon the cost, and that if it should not exceed $25, silver, it be done immediately.174
174 The town of Newport was at this time in a deplorable condition ; its trade was gone, some hundreds of dwellings, store-houses and barns had been destroyed by the British, its people were scattered, and those who had been forced to remain at home were so impoverished that they could only secure in scanty measure means for the support of their families. To do much for the Church was out of the question ; but the will was there and, step by step, they gradually brought it up to its former standard ; though it was not till 1786, that they could command the services of a settled pastor. In the meantime the pulpit was filled as opportunity offered ; and when a clergyman could not be obtained, the congregation were drawn together, to listen to a lay reader. For some time, beginning in 1780, while his own church was being repaired, the Rev. Gardiner Thurston, Pastor of the Second Baptist Society, occupied the pulpit and his own people were invited to worship there. The services of the Church were also conducted by Rev. John Graves, then residing in Providence without a parish, Rev. Moses Badger, who was at Newport at the time
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
July 22, 1780. M. de Vilernaas,175 First-Lieut. of the French frigate Hermione, was buried in the church-yard.
August 29, 1780. Mr. James Keith176 died and was buried in the church-yard.
Easter Monday, April 16, 1781. John Bours and Francis Mal- bone were elected Church Wardens, James Gibbs, Clerk, and Geo. English, sexton.
Vestrymen : Philip Wilkinson, Charles Wickham, Thomas Crans- ton, Stephen Ayrault, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Francis Mal- bone, James Keith, Charles Handy, Christopher Champlin, George Gibbs, Henry Hunter, Thomas Freebody, Samuel Freebody, Silas Cooke and John Malbone.
Voted : that Messrs. George Gibbs, Christopher Champlin, Thomas Freebody, and John Bours be a committee to lease the estates of the Church upon the best terms they can; and that they inquire about a lot of land at Narragansett, left by will towards the support of the Minister of the Church for the time being, by Na- thaniel Norton.
July 27, 1781. Heithcote Murison,177 of Fairfield, Ct., died, and was buried in the church-yard.
that he was called to St. John's, Providence, in 1786, and Rev. Samuel Parker, of Boston, when he could arrange to fill the pulpit.
175 M. de Valernaas died of wounds received in the action between the Hermione and the British frigate Iris, and was interred with military honors. The Hermione, commanded by the Chevalier de la Touch, had reached Newport, June 19, 1780.
176 James Keith was a relative of the Rev. Alexander Keith, Jr., by whose side his remains were placed. He was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, had resided in America nearly forty years, and had attained to his 70th year. "As he lived beloved he died lamented."
177 Heithcote Murison died of wounds received in the excursion of our allies to Long Island. He was of a very respectable family on Long Island, very attractive in his manners, and full of zeal for the cause, which latter
163
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
September 29, 1781. Francis Malbone178 was married to Kather- ine Pease, by Rev. Samuel Parker, of Boston.
Easter Monday, April 1, 1782. No change was made in the officers of the Church, save that Capt. James Arnold was added to the Vestry, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Capt. James Keith.
Voted : that the Wardens make an allowance to the clerk and sexton out of the money collected at Church on the first Sunday of every month, to begin in May.
May 23, 1782. Mr. William Tweedy179 died, and was buried in the church-yard.
Easter Monday, April 21, 1783. The officers of the Church were re-elected, with Samuel Brenton as Vestryman, in place of Philip Wilkinson, deceased.
July 20, 1783. Mr. John Meunscher was employed as organist, at the rate of one dollar per Sunday.
August 17, 1783. Henry Edwin Stanhope180 was married to Peggie Malbone by Rev. Mr. Fogg.
quality led him to become a volunteer in an enterprise which cost him his life. His remains, followed by the gentlemen of the town, and a great number of French officers, with a detachment of troops, were interred with military honors. He was 26 years of age .- Newport Mercury.
178 Francis Malbone died in 1785. His widow died in Boston in 1817, and her remains were brought here for interment.
179 " The Sunday following the death of Mr. Tweedy, his remains, at- tended by his connections and numerous friends, were carried to Trinity Church, where the ceremony and an excellent sermon, well adapted to the solemnity of the occasion, were performed by a particular friend of the de- ceased, after which they were interred in the church-yard."-Newport Mercury.
180 Henry Edwin Stanhope, vice-admiral of the blue, was the only son of the Hon. Edwin Francis Stanhope, cousin to the Earl of Chesterfield, and the Rt. Hon. Lady Catherine, daughter of John, Marquis of Caer- navon, eldest son of James, Duke of Chandos. Peggie Malbone was the
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
October 5, 1783. Gilbert Eames181 died, and was buried in the church-yard.
October 10, 1783. Richard Chilcot was married to Elizabeth Thurston by Rev. Gardiner Thurston.
November 20, 1783. Thomas Russell182 was married to Ann Handy.
November 24, 1783. Voted by the congregation : that the Church Wardens and Vestry be requested to petition the General Assembly for liberty to dispose of the lot of land left to the Church by Na- thaniel Norton, deceased, late of Newport, lying in North King- ston, the same being of no use to the Church, and that the money arising from the sale thereof be invested in real estate in New- port.
December 28, 1783. William R. Robinson183 was married to Ann Scott by Rev. Mr. Badger.
Easter Monday, April 11, 1784. John Bours and Francis Mal- bone were chosen Church Wardens; James Gibbs, Clerk; John Meunscher, organist ; Daniel Vernon, sexton.
daughter of Francis and Margaret Malbone. She died in England, in August, 1809.
181 Gilbert Eames was for many years one of the Honorable Council of the Island of Granada, prior to its reduction by the French in 1779. He was born in the County of Limerick, Ireland, and was in his 54th year at the time of his death.
182 Major Thomas Russell, son of Thomas, was born September 28, 1758, and died in Newport, February 19, 1801. When but eighteen years of age he was commissioned a lieutenant in Col. Henry Sherburne's regi- ment, and subsequently was appointed Aid-de-camp to Brig .- Gen. Starke. In 1781 he retired from the service and devoted himself to business. His wife was the daughter of Capt. Charles Handy.
183 William R. Robinson was the son of Rowland Robinson, and grand- son of Lieutenant-Governor William Robinson. He died without issue. His wife was the daughter of George Scott. After his death she married Dr. John Preston Mann, and died October 10, 1841, aged 77 years.
165
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that the Wardens dispose of the lot of land given to the Church by the late Nathaniel Norton, agreeably to an act of the General Assembly, for the most they can obtain for it; and that the amount of the same be laid out in a lot of land in Newport, the annual rent of said lot to be appropriated for the use afore- said.
Voted : that Mr. Charles Handy and Mr. George Gibbs be a committee to view the lot of seven acres of land, part of Mr. Kay's donation, and that they take into consideration a proposal made by Mr. George Scott to the Church for exchanging the said lot for the same quantity of land adjoining the house now improved by Mr. Brinley, and make report at the next meeting.
Voted : that Mr. Handy, Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Champlin, with Mr. Brinley, be a committee to draw up a plan for settling a minister, and for fixing on ways and means for his maintenance ; and that they propose to Mr. Bours his taking orders and becoming our minister ; and that the congregation be notified to meet here again on Mon- day, the 19th, to receive their report.
Vestrymen elected : Charles Wickham, Stephen Ayrault, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Francis Malbone,184 Charles Handy, Chris-
184 Pre Malbons Col. Francis Mal- bone, born March 20, 1759, was the son of Francis Malbone, of Vir- ginia. He was in business in Newport, first with his brother, Evan Malbone, who died in August, 1784, and then with Daniel Mason, who died in September, 1797. Col. Malbone was one of the most popular men of his day. He left New- port, February 20, 1809, to take his seat in Congress, and while ascend- ing the steps of the Capitol the following June, to attend divine service, fell and immediately expired. The Senate, of which body he was a mem- ber, voted to attend his funeral, and to erect a monument, in Washington,
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
topher Champlin, George Gibbs, Henry Hunter, Thomas Freebody, Samuel Freebody, John Mawdsley, Thomas Wickham, John Mal- bone, Samuel Brenton, Joshua Arnold.
April 19, 1784. Adjourned meeting of the congregation.
Voted : that Mr. Charles Handy and Mr. George Gibbs be con- tinued a committee to make an exchange of land with Mr. George Scott, provided his first proposal be adhered to by him, of giving acre for acre, and if an exchange be made, that the same gentlemen endeavor to obtain a passage to it through land belonging to the Jews by making an exchange also with them.
Voted: that the rent of the house Mr. Brinley improves be affixed at the same sum that Gen. Greene gave for the hire of the estate of the late John Tillinghast, to which Mr. Brinley con- sented.
Voted : that Col. Malbone, Mr. Sam1 Brenton, Mr. Frane Mal- bone and Capt. John Northam be a committee to apply to every proprietor of a pew in the Church, with the report now made to, and accepted by, the congregation, assembled by adjournment, to receive the same, by Mr. Chas. Handy, Mr. Brinley, Mr. Samuel Freebody, and Mr. George Gibbs, relating to settling a minister, and that the said proprietors be requested to signify their approba- tion of the same, by affixing their names thereto.
" We whose names are hereunto annexed, being proprietors of pews in Trinity Church, do manifest our approbation of the plan for settling a minister, contained in a report made by the above gentle- men, and accepted by the congregation, assembled at the Church, on Monday, the 12th day of April, 1784.
to his memory. Mrs. Malbone was the daughter of William and Catha- rine Tweedy. She died in 1829, at the age of 66 years. Her daughter, Freelove Sophia Malbone, became the wife of Dr. Edmund T. Waring. Mrs, Malbone was the widow of Simon Pease at the time of her marriage to Col. Malbone, in September, 1782.
167
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
"Susannah Mumford, Abigail Redwood, John Cranston, Steph" Deblois, John Handy, Sam1 Brenton, Thos Greene, Abigail Cogge- shall, Godfrey Wenwood,185 Benj. Mumford, John Northam, Chas Wickham, Abb Wilkinson, Henry Hunter, Mary Overing, N. Bird, Mary Dupuy, Gid. Sisson, Deb" Hunter, Phebe Champlin, Francis Mumford, Jabez Champlin, Francis Malbone, John Malbone, Fraª Brinley, Maj" Fairchild, Sam1 Whitehorn, William Shaw, Steph" Ayrault, Thomas Arnold, Sam1 Freebody, Benj. Gardner, John Mawdsley, Sarah Wanton, Eliz. Scott, Abraham All, Catharine Tweedy, Esther Morris, Thos. Halpin, Peter Mumford, David Mel- ville, Josiah Arnold, John Banister, Chas Handy, James Duncan, Richard Bourke, George Gibbs, Peleg Wood, Dan1 Mason, Rob™ Stoddard, Mary Thurston, Mary Coddington, John Miller, Eliza- beth Lechmere, Mary Paul, Sam1 Sweet, Benj. Fry, Thos. Webber, Adam Ferguson, Amy Goldthwait, Fras Malbone, Jr.
May 7, 1784. Voted: that an exchange of land be made with Mr. Scott, acre for acre, and that Mr. Christopher Champlin and Mr. Peter Mumford be requested to view both the lots and allow Mr. Scott what they shall think just, for what fencing Mr. Scott's lot has more on it than the Church lot; that the said gentlemen apply to the General Assembly to ratify the exchange, and that they give the offer to Gen. Greene, of the lot exchanged.
Voted : that Capt. John Northam be requested to act as assistant Warden, under Mr. Bours.
The report of the committee to consider and draw up a plan for
185 Godfrey Wainwood died October 2, 1816, aged 77 years. He was married to Mary Campbell, May 19, 1775. He was a baker, on Ban- nester's wharf, and claimed to have been instrumental in bringing to light Dr. Church's treasonable correspondence with the enemy, in the early stages of the Revolution. Gen. Washington gave the particulars of the discovery, in a letter to the President of Congress, under date of October 5, 1775.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
settling and supporting a minister, was made and accepted, and is as follows :
"We, the subscribers, having been chosen a committee by the congregation of Trinity Church, at said Church assembled, April 12, 1784, to consider on some plan to settle and support a minister, do report : that we have taken the situation of said Church under consideration and are of the opinion that it is able to support a minister, and would recommend the following plan for that purpose, viz. :
" That the late Mr. Kay's donation to said Church be improved by the Minister, for the present, he keeping the same in good re- pair, and instructing ten poor boys, agreeable to Mr. Kay's will ; and that a tax of twenty-eight shillings, lawful money, per annum, to be paid half yearly, be assessed on each pew below, and twelve shillings per annum, in the galleries, and that £93.6.8, per annum, be paid our Minister, half yearly, out of the money so collected by the tax, to make up a comfortable support for him, in addition to what he may receive from Mr. Kay's donation.
"And whereas, it appears to be the unanimous wish of the congregation, at their meeting on Easter Monday, that Mr. Bours, who has officiated in the Church as a lay reader, to their entire satisfaction, for upwards of two years, would enter into holy orders and become their minister, would recommend an offer being made to Mr. Bours to that purpose ; allowing him a reasonable time to re- solve whether he will accept; and that he be requested, in the meantime, to proceed as he has done, and that he be allowed £30 per annum, and the use of the parsonage-house, for his services.
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