USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1698-1821 > Part 13
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" We would further recommend that these proceedings be made known to every proprietor of pews in said Church, that their minds thereon may be known, as we are satisfied the prosperity of the Church depends on our choice of a minister.
CHAS. HANDY, FRAN. BRINLEY, SAML FREEBODY, GEO. GIBBS."
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 169
July II, 1784. Capt. John Grimes186 was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth Christan.
September 10, 1784. Voted: that Mr. Bours be requested to proceed in officiating in the Church, as heretofore, notwithstanding his letter of decline.187
Voted : that Mr. Bours invite the Rev. Mr. Badger to officiate occasionally for a few Sundays.
Voted that Mr. Christopher Champlin and Mr. P. Mumford be requested to proceed in the exchange of land with Mr. George
186 John Grimes was a patriot, and was active in annoying the enemy in Narragansett Bay, in the Revolution. At one time he commanded a privateer. He died in the West Indies. His wife's maiden name was Cowley, daughter of Joseph Cowley. Grimes was her third husband. After his death she was married for the fourth time, and became the wife of Thomas Tromp Tyrrell, who died January 28, 1806. Mrs. Tyrrell died August 19, 1830, in her 77th year.
187
Newport, July 26, 1784.
Gentlemen :
Impressed with the most grateful sense of the honor conferred on me, at your meeting on Easter Monday last, by your unanimous vote and proposal to me to enter into holy orders, and to become your minister, I now feel myself obliged in conscience, as well as duty to the Church, to defer my answer no longer, but to inform you, that after the most mature deliberation, I am fearful that sacred office would be incompatible with my present circumstances, and therefore must, tho' reluctantly, decline the offer.
As you cannot be insensible of my having the welfare and prosperity of the Church near my heart, so you will not doubt my readiness, at all times, to co-operate with you in any eligible plan for settling a minister. In the meanwhile, if it is your desire, I will continue to keep the congrega- tion together in the way we are in. May heaven direct us to the best.
With every sentiment of love and affection, I remain, Gentlemen,
Your most obe.t, Humle Serv't,
J. BOURS.
The Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of Trinity Church.
12
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Scott, and settle the dispute relative to the fencing the same, in the best manner they can.
October 24, 1784. John Meunscher188 was married to Johanna Sophia Knotchell. December 13, 1784. William Atherton,189 of Jamaica, was married to Mrs. Sarah Wanton.
The ceremony in both instances was performed by the Rev Moses Badger.
March 10, 1785. William Littlefield190 was married to Elizabeth Brinley by Rev. Moses Badger.
Easter Monday, March 27, 1785. No change made in the offi- cers of the Church.
Voted : that a tax of twenty-eight shillings, lawful money, be assessed on the pews below, and of fourteen shillings in the gal- leries.
188 Knotchell, the organist, had died July 20, 1783, and his widow mar- ried Meunscher, the new organist.
189 Mrs. Atherton, who was the daughter of Jahleel Brenton, and the widow of Joseph Wanton, Jr. (to whom she was married January 2, 1775,) died July 19, 1787, aged 35 years. Immediately after her death Mr. Ather- ton disposed of his household goods and went to England, where he had a tablet prepared, bearing the following inscription, which he sent to America, and had it set up in the Church, in November, 1788 :
" Sacred may this marble long remain (the just tribute of a husband's affections) to the Memory of Mrs. Sarah Atherton, wife of William Atherton, of Jamaica, Esq., and daughter of Jahleel Brenton, Esq., and Mary his wife, of Newport, who was translated from this to a happier State, on the 19th of June, 1787, aged 35 years; while her Ashes rest entombed in the Clifton burying-ground in this Town.
" If an assemblage of all the Virtues which adorn and dignify the Soul, united to Elegance of Person and Refinement of manners could have rescued her from Death, she still had lived."
190 Capt. William Littlefield was born on Block Island. He entered the army in the Revolution, and was on the staff of Maj .- Gen. Greene, who married his sister. His son William, for a number of years. was Collector of the Port of Newport,
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted : that Mr. Bours be requested to officiate in the Church, as he has done, for the year ensuing, and that he be paid for his services £30, lawful money, and have the improvement of the parsonage- house and lot, as the last year.
Voted : that Col. Christopher Champlin, Mr. George Gibbs, Mr. Samuel Freebody and Capt. Charles Handy be a committee to call upon Mr. Brinley, Mr. George Scott and others, who are indebted to the Church on account of the Kay estate, and receive of them the money due, and pay the same to Mr. William Vernon, in part of the bond due from the Church to the heirs of Peter Dorden, deceased ; and that said committee be clothed with power to lease out for one or more, but not to exceed seven, years, all the said estate, upon the best terms they can ; that ten poor boys, whose parents belong to the Church, have their schooling paid by the Wardens out of the rents ; and the remainder, after the necessary repairs are deducted, be appropriated towards paying the said bond.
May 2, 1785. The committee made report of their proceedings with regard to the negotiation with Mr. Brinley and Mr. Scott, and the deed of the land is agreed to be signed by the Wardens and Vestry, and the exchange completed with Mr. George Scott.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
CHAPTER XI.
1785-1789.
MAY 29, 1785. Henry Sherburne191 was married to Catharine Tweedy, by Rev. Moses Badger.
June 26, 1785. Thomas Grosvenor, of Connecticut, was married to Ann Mumford, by the Right Reverend Bishop Seabury.192
The Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church received a letter from
191
1 8 Saturne
Col. Henry Sherburne was
a Revolution- ary officer. His first commis- sion, dated July 1, 1775, was signed by John Hancock; and, as Major, he was attached to the regiment commanded by Col. Church. Dur- ing the war he lost all his property, and needing some employment after the return of peace, he was appointed commissioner to adjust the accounts between Rhode Island and the United States. From October 1792 to 1808 he was General Treasurer of the State of Rhode Island, and he held other offices; but the one that gave him the most satisfaction was a mission to the Choctaws and Chickasaw Indians, in which he was so successful as to call forth a vote of thanks from Congress. He died May 31, 1824, aged 77 years. Mrs. Sherburne was the widow of William Tweedy, and the daughter of James Honyman, Esq.
192 Rt. Rev. Bishop Seabury, on his return from England, landed at Halifax ; from there he came to Newport, reaching here June 25th, on his way to New London. The following day he performed the marriage ceremony. This was probably the first couple that he married in America after he was raised to the Episcopate. He also preached in the Church, from Hebrews xii., 1 and 2, and this was his first sermon after his return.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Rev. Samuel Parker, under date of August 1, 1785, calling their attention to a vote at a convention of Episcopal clergymen of Mas- sachusetts and Rhode Island, held at Boston, September 8, 1784, appointing the Rev. Edward Bass, Rev. Nathaniel Fisher and Rev. Samuel Parker, a committee, with power to call a convention of the Episcopal Churches in Massachusetts and the neighboring States, " at such time and place as they might deem most necessary and convenient." Notice was given in this letter that there would be such a convention in Boston on the 7th of the following September " to deliberate upon some plan of maintaining uniformity in divine worship, and adopt such other measures as may tend to the pros- perity and union of the Episcopal Church in the American States." Trinity Church was asked to send one or more delegates to the convention.
The Wardens replied, August 9th, that it was their purpose to lay the matter before the congregation ; but that before doing so, " several of the gentlemen of the Vestry have signified a desire to know what was the result of the convention of the Clergy, held the last week at Middletown," adding : "As we have the interest of the Episcopal Church in America greatly at heart, we shall think our- selves happy in promoting any measures that may tend to forward the same."
To this letter Rev. Mr. Parker replied :
BOSTON, August 15, 1785. 1
MESSRS. BOURS AND MALBONE,
Wardens, &c.,
GENTS: In answer to your favor by Mr. Mumford, I have to in- form you that the Clergy of Connecticut, in convention assembled, agreed to recognise, accept and receive Dr. Seabury as their Bishop, and promised to render him that respect, duty and submission which, as they understand, were given by the Presbyters to their Bishops in the primitive Church when unconnected with, and uncontrolled
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
by, secular power. After which a convention assembled, a com- mittee was chosen to attend the Bishop and wish him to propose such alterations in the liturgy as sh'd be thought expedient for the present, to be laid before the convention at New Haven next month ; which alterations I am requested to propose to the Churches in this and your State, to see if they will unite with the Churches in Con- necticut in promoting a uniformity of worship. The grand object of the proposed convention will be, to see if we shall join with Con- necticut and receive their Bishop; or, whether we shall choose a deputy or deputies to attend the general convention at Philadelphia in September, or adopt any other measure to continue as one com- munion. To this end the convention is called, and it is hoped you will send one or more of your members to promote the design.
I am, Gents, with respect and esteem, your most ob't and very humble Serv't,
Samuel Garter® 193
August 22, 1785. Meeting of the congregation :
The Wardens laid before the congregation two letters, of the Ist and 15th instant, from the Revª Samuel Parker, of Boston, advising them, that pursuant to a vote passed at a meeting of the Episcopal Clergy of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, held at Boston on the 8th day of September last, he, with the Revª Edw. Bass and Nathan- iel Fisher, were appointed a committee to call a convention of the Episcopal Churches, in that and the neighboring States, to meet at such time and place, as they should judge most necessary and con- venient ; and requesting the said Wardens to propose to the Church
193 Rev. Samuel Parker, D.D., was born in 1744, graduated at Harvard College, was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1774, became Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, in 1784, was made Bishop of the Eastern Dio- cese, September 16, 1804, and died on the 6th of the following Decem- ber before he had discharged a single duty of the Episcopal office.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
to chose one or more, of their members, to meet in convention, at Boston, Wednesday, the 7th day of September next ; then and there to deliberate upon a plan for maintaining uniformity in divine wor- ship, and adopting such other measures as may tend to the union and prosperity of the Episcopal Churches in the American States.
The congregation having taken the said letter into consideration, and duly weighed the contents of the same, do vote and resolve : that they will comply with the request of the said Committee, by sending a member to represent this Church; and do hereby nominate and appoint Mr. Bours, and unanimously request him to proceed to Boston, and meet in the said convention, with full power and authority to join in and agree to, in behalf of this Church, any plan, or plans, that may be adopted at the said convention, or at any other that may be judged necessary by the said convention, to be holden at a future day, for promoting the interest of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America; reserving to the members of this Church the liberty of approving, or disapproving, of any alteration that may be made in the form of prayer.
Voted : that Mr. Bours be paid the expenses of his journey to Boston.
August 28, 1785. Martin Benson194 was married to Jane Cod- dington.
September 12, 1785. Mr. Bours having reported to the congre- gation the proceedings of the convention of clergy and lay depu-
194 Martin Benson, born at Newport, October 2, 1741, was the son of John Benson and Anna Collins (probably a daughter of William Collins), his wife. He was engaged in the African trade for many years, and was familiarly known as the " Governor of Goree," on which island he resided for some time. Having acquired a handsome property, he returned to Newport. Subsequently he sailed on another voyage to Africa, and died at Goree, December 24, 1811. His wife, who was twenty years younger, was the daughter of Capt. John Coddington, and the granddaughter of Gov. Joseph Wanton. She died at Newport, December 6, 1836.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
ties from the several Episcopal churches in the States of Massachu- setts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, at Boston, on the 7th day of this month, and they having heard read, and duly weighed the same, do vote and resolve, that they fully approve of said proceed- ings, and do agree to adopt the alterations made in the Liturgy, agreeable to the plan proposed.
Voted : that Mr. Bours be requested to attend the convention, at their adjournment, on the 26th day of October, with full power, as before, to represent this Church,
The committee who were appointed at Easter last to lease out the estate belonging to the Church, late Mr. Kay's, reported that they had agreed with Dr. John Baker, of Philadelphia, to give him a lease of the house now improved by Mr. Brinley, with the garden and buildings thereon, together with the lot of land, containing upwards of seven acres, lately had of Mr. George Scott, in exchange for the same quantity of land, part of said estate, for the term of six years from the first day of January next, 1786, and to conclude and end on the first day of January, 1792, upon condition that the said Dr. Baker pay to the Wardens and Vestry of the Church two hundred silver Spanish milled dollars, per annum, for the rent of the same ; three years' rent being advanced and paid down, and the remainder as it becomes due, yearly or half yearly ; the said Baker to return and surrender up the said estate to the Church, at the expiration of the lease, in as good repair as he received the same.
The said report is accepted, and the Wardens are desired to give a lease accordingly to Doct Baker.
December 8, 1785. Robert Nichol Auchmuty195 was married to Henrietta Bruce, by Rev. Mr. Badger.
195 born in 1758, was the eldest son of Rev. Dr. Auchmuty, of New York. He graduated at Columbia College, and in the Revolution served as a volun-
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
In July of this year, 1785, a marble monument196 was erected to the memory of Admiral de Ternay, who, while in command of the French fleet in these waters, had died here after a brief illness, De- cember 15, 1780, and was buried in the church-yard, with great pomp and ceremony.
Easter Monday, April 16, 1786. Samuel Freebody and Francis Malbone, elected Wardens, John Bours, clerk of Vestry ; James Gibbs, clerk; John Meunscher, organist ; Daniel Vernon, sexton.
teer in the British army. After the death of his first wife, he married Henrietta Overing, his first cousin, daughter of John Henry Overing, of Newport. He died January 28, 1813.
Arthur Gates Auchmuty, probably a brother of the elder Judge Auch- muty, was buried in Trinity Churchyard, but no stone marks the spot. He was married to Ann Dickinson, by Rev. Dr. McSparran, September 3, 1734. 196 The monument sent out by order of the French King, was intended for the interior of the Church, but as no wall space could be found for it, it was set against the exterior wall, in the church-yard, where it was gradually falling to decay, when the Marquis de Noailles, then the French Minister to the United States, had it repaired, and the Vestry found a place for it in the vestibule of the Church, where it is well cared for. Īt was placed there in 1872. It bears the following inscription ;
D. O. M. CAROLUS LUDOVICUS D'ARSAC DE TERNAY. ORDINIS St Hierosolymitani Eques. non dum vota professus, à vetere et nobili genere, apud Armoricos Oriundus. unus è Regiarum Classium profectis, CIVIS, MILES, IMPERATOR.
de Rege suo, et Patriâ, per 42 annos bene meritus, hoc sub marmore JACET. FELICITER AUDAX, naves regias, post Croisiacam Cladem, per invios VICENONIA fluvii anfractus disjectas, è cœcis voraginibus, improbo labore,
anuis 1760, 1761. inter tela postium, detrusit, avellit, et stationibus suis restituit incolumes, Anno 1762, TERRAM NOVAM in America invasit. Anno 1772, renunciatus PRAÆTOR.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Vestrymen : Charles Wickham, Stephen Ayrault, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Charles Handy, Christopher Champlin, George Gibbs, Henry Hunter, Thomas Freebody, Samuel Freebody, John Mawdsley, Thomas Wickham, John Malbone, Francis Malbone, Benjamin Gardiner, Benjamin Brenton.
Voted : that the house given by the late William Tate to the poor of the Church be inspected.
Voted : that Mr. Bours be requested to write the chairman of the
ad regendas BORBONIAN et FRANCIA Insulas, in GALDIAS commoda, et Colonorum felicitatem per annos Septem, totus incubuit. FŒDERATIS ordinibus, pro libertate dimicautibus. A Rege Christianissimo missus subsidio Anno 1780. Rhodum Insulam occupavit ; Dum ad nova Se accingebat pericula, IN HAC URBE. inter commilitonum planctess, inter Fœderatorum Ordinum lamenta et desideria.
Mortem obiit, gravem bonis omnibus, et luctuosam Suis. die 15 A xbris, M DCC, LXXX, natus annos 58. REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS Severissimus virtutis judex. ut clarissimi Viri memoria posteritati consecretur hoc monumentum ponendum jussit. M. DCC, LXXX:
This done, the Marquis de Noailles caused a heavy slab of granite, bearing the following inscription, to be placed over the Admiral's grave in the churchyard :
Hoc Sub Lapide Anno MDCCCLXXIII Posito Jacet Carolos Ludovicos D'ARSAC DE TERNAY Anno M.DCCLXXX Decessos Sub Proximo Templi Porticvm Restavratvm Et Protectvm Translatvm Est.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
convention, to be holden the 26th inst., at Boston, and obtain a copy of their proceedings.
Voted : that a tax of one guinea on the lower, and half a guinea on the gallery pews, be continued for the ensuing year.
Voted : that Mr. Bours, Mr. Brinley and Capt. Handy, with the Wardens, be a committee to write Bishop Seabury upon the subject of obtaining a minister.
Voted : that the thanks of the congregation be returned to Mr. Bours for his past services, and that he be requested to keep them together, as he has done, and that he receive at the rate of £30 per annum, with the improvement of the parsonage-house, as before.
Pew No. 13, the property of Thomas Cranston, was sold by him to Mr. Christopher Champlin, with the approbation of the Wardens, Jnne 29, 1786.
Meeting of the congregation, July 31, 1786.
A letter from Bishop Seabury,197 in answer to one wrote to him
197
New London, July 17, 1786.
Gentlemen :
It has not been in my power to give an earlier answer to your letter of April 21". The Convention of the Clergy at Stratford did not break up till June 12th and my duties required my absence from home for a fortnight after. I had no sooner returned than I was again obliged to go to New Haven. And, indeed, it was in this last journey, that I got such intelligence as enables me now to write to you with any degree of certainty.
I am much obliged to you, Gentlemen, and to the whole congregation of the Church at Newport, for the favorable opinion you entertain of me, manifested by your wishing to have me reside with you, and take charge of your Church. However agreeable such an event might be to me, the state of Connecticut does not seem to permit it. Since you turned your attention towards me, we have lost five clergymen, and I believe shall lose the sixth. This makes it a matter of more consequence that I stay with them, and endeavor to remedy the inconvenience that must arise on this occasion. And, indeed, should I accept your kind invitation, my neces-
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
by the committee appointed for that purpose, on Easter Monday last, being laid before the congregation, it was voted : that the same committee be requested to write to the Bishop again, and to the Revª Mr. James Sayre, of Fairfield, whom he has recommended as a proper person for our minister, and invite Mr. Sayre to come to Newport, and officiate in our Church a few Sundays, that the con-
sary absence from you, would leave your Church unsupplied more fre- quently than it ought to be.
I am, however, very sensible of the necessity there is, that you should have a prudent and acceptable clergyman settled among you, that divine service may be duly celebrated, and the holy sacraments administered. In the present scarcity of clergymen, no great choice can be had ; but there is one in this State who is not under any present engagement, and whom I think a worthy and prudent man. He has a good understanding, and appears to be well acquainted with and fully grounded in the principles of our holy religion ; and is firmly attached to our Church in doctrine and discipline. I never heard him preach; but he is esteemed a very good preacher by his brethren, and the people to whom he has officiated. He reads prayers much to my satisfaction. His voice is strong and, I believe, equal to your church, and not disagreeable. His character is irreproach- able, and his piety and discretion may be depended on. He is a middle- aged man ; is married, and has, I think, three small children, and a most amiable woman to his wife. The gentlemen is the Rev. Mr. James Sayre. He is at present at Fairfield. I have conversed with him on the subject, and, it appears to me, he would be pleased with a settlement at Newport, but he has some backwardness in offering himself, or going upon trial.
I should be perfectly satisfied to have him for my parish minister, and I persuade myself, your congregation would be happy in him. If you think proper to make any application to him, I shall be happy to promote it ; or to assist your endeavors to procure a minister in any other way that shall be more agreeable to you. He, as well as I, would be glad to hear from you as soon as the importance of the subject will permit, as we have a number of vacancies here, and cannot afford to have him long idle. I could say nothing to him of the living at Newport, but only that I presumed it would be a decent one.
I ought to inform you that there are three young gentlemen, who, we
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
gregation may have an opportunity of hearing him, and if they approve of him, to treat upon terms of settlement.
Mr. Bours having reported to the congregation the resolution of the clergy and lay delegates, met in convention on the 21st inst. at Boston, by adjournment, voted : that the same be approved and adopted by our Church.
August 8, 1786. Dr. Sylvester Gardiner196 died in his 80th year, and was buried under the Church.
Sunday, August 27, 1786. At a meeting of the congregation after divine service, voted: that the Rev. James Sayre, who hath performed the services of the Church this day, be accepted and settled as our Minister, and that he be paid as a salary £100 ster- ling money, per annum, to commence upon his arriving at Newport
expect, will go into Deacons' orders in September, one only of whom is engaged ; but I should imagine that quite a young man would not suit you so well.
Commending you and your Church to the blessing and protection of Almighty God, I beg leave to subscribe myself, Gentlemen, with great regard, your most affectionate
and very humble serv't,
Samuel Bp Connect
Messrs. John Bours, Samuel Freebody, Francis Malbone, Fra's Brinley and Charles Handy, the Committee of the Congregation of Trinity Church, Newport.
198 Dr. Gardiner was born in South Kingston. He was educated in Europe. When he returned to America he settled in Boston, where he became eminent as a surgeon, and amassed a fortune. At the opening of the Revolution he went to England, where he remained till peace was declared. Returning to America, he took up his residence at Newport. The funeral was solemnized at the Church, at which time a sermon was preached at his own request. Many marks of respect were shown to his memory on the day of the funeral.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
with his family ; that he improve the parsonage-house and lot, and be also paid the expenses of his present journey to Newport, and of the removal of his family; and that Col. Malbone, Mr. Champlin, Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Brinley, with the Wardens,199 be a committee to wait upon Mr. Sayre, and inform him of the resolution of the con- gregation, and report his answer.
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