USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1698-1821 > Part 3
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And also that no person, nor persons that has purchased any pew in the said Church, shall have the liberty to let or hire any part thereof to any other person or persons whatsoever, for their own benefit but for the benefit of the Church, and the money for which it shall be let shall be paid to the Church Wardens, for the use aforesaid, and that no person or persons having a pew, shall sell or exchange his or their property in the said pew, but by the liberty and consent of the Vestry.
October 18, 1719. George Wanton,22 son of Willian and Ruth Wanton, was baptized by Mr. Honyman.
October 25, 1719. Elizabeth and Abigail Wanton, daughters of George and Abigail Wanton, were baptized.
The following was the disposition of the pews in the Church in 1719.23
22 George Wanton, son of Governor William Wanton, born August 24, 1694. Married Abigail Ellery, daughter of Benjamin Ellery, December 15, 1715.
23 No plan or dimensions of the church have been preserved, but from the above it is evident that it was of very limited capacity. Allowing five persons to a pew, it afforded sittings for less than two hundred on
34
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
No.
I. Set apart for use of the Gov- ernor.24
2. Mr. Neargrass.
3. Mr. Gibbs.
4. Dr. Morton.
5. Benj. Shearman.
6. Geo. Goulding.
o. The Minister's pew.
7. Mr. May.
8. Thos. Lillibridge.
9. Gabriel Bernon.
IO. Richard Munday.
II. Samuel Pike.
12. Col. William Wanton.
13. Mr. Neargrass.
14. Capt. John Brown.
15. John Cranston.
16. Nathaniel Kay.
No.
17. Madam Gidley.
18. Madam Elizabeth Carr.
19. John Martindale.
20. Mr. Mackintosh.
21. Mrs. Margaret Wrighington.
22. Mr. Bull.
23. Mr. Matthews.
24. Daniel Ayrault.
25. Samuel Haydon. 26.
28.
29. Thomas Jones.
30. Robert Gardner.
31. Jahleel Brenton.
32. Mr. Bright.
33. Augustus Lucas.29
34. Mr. Brinley.27
35. Capt. Joseph Arnold.
the lower floor, and that in a town with a population of 4640 .* The gallery was probably confined to the west end of the building. The Governor's pew at that time was occupied by Governor Samuel Cranston. In the " Annals of King's Chapel," I., 377, there is this extract from the records of the church.
" Boston, April 29th, 1728, voted : That the Governor's pew be new lined with China, that the Cushions and Chairs be covered with crimson damask, and the curtains to the windows be of the same damask.
" The Governor's pew remained a unique property of King's Chapel." The records of Trinity Church show this to be incorrect.
Sam Canson Go® 24
Gov. Samtiel Cran- ston was elected governor in March, 1698, and remained in office up to the
time of his death, April 26, 1727. He was the son of Governor John
Census of 1730.
35
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
GALLERY.
Mr. Lange.
Mr. Paul.
John Dickerson. Mr. Place.
Captain Flower.
John Davis.
Captain Freebody.
Adam Powell.
Cranston, elected 1678, and who also remained in office up to the time of his death, 1680.
" The death of Governor Cranston was no ordinary event in the his- tory of the Colony. In the strength of his intellect, the courage and firmness of his administration, and the skill with which he conducted public affairs in every crisis, he resembled the early race of Rhode Islanders. Thirty times successively chosen to the highest office, he pre- served his popularity amidst political convulsions that had swept away every other official in the Colony. He was the connecting link between two centuries of its history, and seemed, as it were, the bridge over which it passed in safety, from the long struggle with the royal governors of Massachusetts, to the peaceful possession of its chartered rights under the House of Hanover. The piratical period, the strife about the acts of trade, the desperate efforts of Bellomont and his successors, a long and exhausting foreign war, and two bitter boundary disputes, involving the largest portion of the Colony, one of which he lived to see favorably and finally settled, were some of the perplexing questions of his administra- tion."-Arnold's History of Rhode Island. 29 Augustus Lucas was a French emigrant, who settled in Newport. His first wife died here in 1698. His second wife was Barsheba, daughter of Joseph Eliot, and granddaughter of Eliot the Indian apostle. Their daughter Barsheba married Augustus Johnston, who was later Attorney- General of the Colony. After the death of Johnston she became the wife of Matthew Robinson, who was known as a man of erudition and a skil- ful lawyer.
Tra. Brinley 27
the first of the name who came to America, was born in Eng- land in 1690. His grand- son, Francis Brinley, educated at Eaton College, came to Newport by the invitation of his grandfather, who made him his heir. He was admitted a freeman June 20, 1713. From Newport he removed to Boston, where, in 1723, he was a Warden in King's Chapel.
36
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
CHAPTER II.
1719-1731.
IN the proceedings of the Society for the Propagation of the Gos- pel in Foreign Parts there are these entries under date of 1720 to 1721.
" Mr. Honyman, missionary at Newport, Rhode Island, reported that he preached twice every Sunday, catechises twice a week, and administers sacrament every month, and has baptized in about two years seventy-three persons, of whom nineteen are adults.
"The Rev. Mr Honyman, minister of Rhode Island in New England reports, 'That he had been lately to preach at Providence, a town in the Colony, to the greatest number of people he ever had together since he came to America; that no house being able to hold them, he was obliged to preach in the fields ; that they are get- ting subscriptions for building a Church, and he doubts not there will be a considerable congregation.""25a.
May 14, 1721. James Cranston was married to Mary Ayrault.26
25a At this time Mr. Honyman occasionally performed Divine service in the Narragansett Church, and administered the rite of baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Rev. Mr. Gay had been appointed missionary in this section, but did not remain long, and the Society in England, in compliance with the petition from the people in Narragansett for a mis- sionary, sent them Rev. James McSparran in 1721, who entered upon his duties with zeal, and soon acquired great influence for good.
26 Mary Ayrault was the daughter of Daniel Ayrault, born at East Greenwich, February 16, 1704, and died in Newport, March 25, 1764. After the death of Cranston she married George Goulding, and survived him.
37
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
At a Vestry sitting in the Church, May 15, 1721, Nathaniel New- digate and Adam Powell were elected Church Wardens; and Na- thaniel Kay, Robert Gardner, Captain John Brown, Daniel Ayrault, and George Piggott, Vestrymen.
It was ordered that a letter then and there subscribed by the Min- ister, Church Wardens and Vestry, be sent home to the Society's Secretary [Society for the Propagation of the Gospel] for encour- agement for a schoolmaster.28
At a Vestry sitting in the Church, March 22, 1722, Adam Pow- ell and William Coddington were elected Church Wardens, and Henry Bull, Thomas Flower, George Wanton, Godfrey Malbone, John Freebody and Edward Neargrass, Vestrymen.
It was ordered that the Church Wardens have the pavement be- fore the Church completed; they were also to see that leather cushions were provided for the altar. Further instructions em- braced the putting of " a post and rail fence at the end of the lane30
28 As early as 1710 the people of Newport gave attention to the edu- cation of their children by establishing a public school, and placing it under the Town Council ; and a Latin school was opened in 1716. Ports- mouth, " having considered how excellent an ornament learning is to mankind and the great necessity there is in building a public school- house," appointed a committee to put up such a building and obtain a subscription to furnish it, Mr. Kay, one of the Vestry (and probably other members were of the same mind), took a lively interest in the sub- ject of education, and when he died he made a liberal bequest to the Church to promote so good a cause.
30 Church street, from Thames street to Spring street, is defined on the John Mumford map of Newport, 1713 ; but for more than seventy years after that date it was known as Honyman's lane, and was so designated on deeds of conveyance. Rev. Mr. Honyman occupied the house on the south corner of Thames and Church streets, and his widow resided there after him. James Honyman, the son, owned real estate on the north side of Church street, which descended to his heirs. We may reasonably believe that Rev. Mr. Honyman bought a tract running through from
38
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
leading up to the Church," and in the fence there was to be a turn- stile.
Ordered that Mr. James Martin have the pew that was Mr. Near- grass's, he paying.
May 22, 1722. The Rev. James McSparran31 was married to Miss Hannah Gardiner, daughter of William Gardiner, of Boston Neck, in Narragansett, by the Rev. James Honyman, in St. Paul's Church.
October II, 1722. William Coddington 32 was married to Jean Bernon.
January 3, 1723. William Ellery 33 was married to Ann Almy.
Thames street to Spring street, bounded on the south by Frank street, and on the north by the Brenton estate; that a part was set off for the Church, and that the remainder was disposed of from time to time by him- self and heirs. The records of that period are lost.
31 For an interesting account of Rev. James McSparran, and his labors as missionary in the Narragansett Country, see Updike's Narragansett Church. Mrs. McSparran died in England, June 24, 1755, of small- pox, and was buried in Broadway Chapel burying-ground, Westminster. Dr. McSparran, in making entry of her death, said of her : " She was the most pious woman, the best of wives in the world, and died, as she de- served to be, much lamented." 32 was the son of Thos. and Mary Codding- ton, and a grandson of Gov. Wm. Cod- dington. He was born January 1, 1690, and was accidentally killed with others, by a gunpow- der explosion, September 17, 1744, in Newport. His first wife was Comfort Arnold, eldest daughter of Gov. Benedict Arnold ; his second wife was the above Jean Bernon, daughter of Gabriel Bernon. The following year he was elected Senior Warden of the Church. It was to Col. Cod dington that Rev. John Callender dedicated his Century Sermon, 1738.
In August, 1737, Col. Coddington and his wife, on their removal from Newport, were admitted to St. Paul's, Narragansett, by Rev. James McSparran. 33 William Ellery was born at Bristol, October 31, 1701, and died at
39
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
The Church prospered ; the labors of Mr. Honyman to advance its interests and increase the number of its adherents had met with the most gratifying success, and the subject of a larger and more im- posing Church edifice naturally engaged their attention. A subscrip- tion paper was started, headed by Mr. Honyman with a subscription of £30 (his stipend was but £70), which must have excited the emula- tion of his followers, for they were not long in raising a sufficient sum to warrant them in breaking ground. How the work went on may be gathered from the following minutes of the proceedings of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, on which alone we must depend for the facts, the Church record of that period having been lost.
In 1721 Mr. Honyman "reported that he preached twice every Sunday, catechises twice a week, administers sacrament every month, and has baptised in about two years past seventy-three persons, of whom nineteen are adults."
The following year he reported: "That he had been lately to preach at Providence, a town in that Colony, to the greatest number of people he had ever had together since he had came to America ; that no house being able to hold them, he was obliged to preach in the fields ; that they are getting subscriptions for building a church, and he doubts not but there will be a considerable congregation."
In 1723 Mr. Honyman reported, "that within two years past he hath baptised eighty-two, of which nineteen were adults, three of them negroes, two Indians, and two mulatos ; that there are properly belonging to that Church above fifty communicants, that live in that place, exclusive of strangers ; that the people growing too numerous for the church, and others offering to join them if they could be ac-
Newport, March 15, 1764. He was the father of the patriot of the same name, who was his third son. His wife, Ann (Lawton) Almy, was born in Portsmouth, August 1, 1703, and died in Newport, July 13, 1783.
40
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
commodated with room, he proposed the building of a new church, and has obtained near £1000 subscriptions for that purpose, though it is supposed the building will cost twice that money ; that the mate- rials are getting ready, and the workmen will begin upon them in the spring."
In 1725 he reported to the Society "that his congregation has very much increased; that they are now building a large new church ; that in the year 1724 he baptised forty-three, among which were eight adults, six of them negroes and Indians, and one Indian child."
In 1746, when some litigation was going on between the Church and a pew owner, Rev. Mr. Honyman furnished the following infor- mation, drawn from the records then extant.34
Monday, Dec. 6, 1725.
" At a meeting of the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church, in the new Church this day, it was agreed that the said work should be carried on with all convenient despatch, and that a Plaisterer should be sent for from Boston for greater certainty of having it handsomely Plaistered, and that the best and most prac- tical method of raising Money to defray the necessary charges of the sd building was by laying out the Pews that may amt. in the whole to the sum of money wanted to complete the whole Church as near as possible : and, further, that the whole congregation should meet in sª Church on Wednesday morning next, where every one desirous of a Pew may be accommodated, he paying the price set upon sd Pew, at least one half in hand, or in two months from that date, and the other half at or before the compleat finish of the Pews and the whole Church : according to which resolution all those who do not pay their Money down for the Pews are desired by the
34 This paper was lost by some accident, and was not recovered till 1798, when it was found by Mr. Christopher Champlin, who gave it to the Vestry, which body had it attached to the records of the Church, refer- ence being had to it, with the above statement, on page 231 of the records.
41
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Committee to sign their names against the number of the Pews they choose, to prevent disorder and misunderstanding, as well as to as- certain the payment of the several sums mark'd on their Pews, as followeth :
" Wednesday, December 8, 1725, the Majority of the males of the Church Congregation being present, was read in an audiable voice the Committee's last resolution, and also the sª Conditions upon which the pews in said Church were to be disposed of and bought, viz .:
" Ist. That the Pew purchased shall belong to the purchaser and his heirs forever, he and they adhering to the Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England.
" 2ª. That in case the purchaser or his Successor, in his own or any other right, shall desert the Church, or join himself to any other Society, shall forfeit all title or claim to that Pew, which in such case shall revert to the Church, for a new disposition.
" 3ª. That if a purchaser or his heirs shall leave the Town, they shall be allowed to dispose of their Pew to such as the Minister, Church Wardens or Vestry shall approve of, he or they having first given the offer to them at the first cost.
4th. That in case of the death of a purchaser, without heirs of his body, or name in his will, the Pew shall revert to the Church for a new disposition.
" Last. That the aforesaid rules shall be recorded in the Church books and become binding Laws to all concerned.
" This may certify that the aforewritten is a true Copy of the reg- ulation of the Pews in Trinity Church in Newport, in the Colony of Rhode Island, made on the 6th and 8th days of December, 1725, as the same now stands recorded in the Church Books, which was com- pared this 24 day of June, Anno. Dom., 1746, by me."
James Honyman
July 21, 1725, the New England clergy met at Newport to confer together and take council of each other, when a letter to the Secre-
4
42
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
tary of the Society was prepared and forwarded to him, making known the difficulties under which they labored, and urging that a Bishop might be sent to them.
" We humbly conceive," said they, " nothing can more effectually redress these grievances and protect us from the insults of our ad- versaries than an Orthodox and Loyal Bishop residing with us, and at this time are awakened to such a thought by the coming over of Dr. Welton, late of White Chapel, who has privately received the Episcopal character in England, and from whose influence and industry we have reason to fear very unhappy consequences on the peace of the Church and the affections of this Country to our most excellent constitution, and his most sacred Majesty's Person and Government. Not only those who profess themselves Churchmen long and pray for the great blessing of a worthy Bishop with us, but also multitudes of those who are well-wishers to us, but are kept concealed for want hereof, and immediately appear and form many congregations too. If once this happiness were granted, this would supply us with many useful Ministers from among ourselves, whom the hazards of the sea and seasickness, and the charges of travel discourage from the service of the Church and tempt them to enlist themselves as Members or Ministers of Dissenting Congregations. Our people might receive the great benefit of Confirmation, the use- fulness whereof we preach and they are deeply sensible."
"Signed by Messrs. Cutler, Honyman, McSparran, Plant, Pigot and Jopson. Mr. Myles was absent, not being able to bear the fatigue of the journey, and Mr. Usher 35 not only failed to sign the letter, but abruptly left the convention."-Annals of King's Chapel, I., 338.
35 Rev. Mr. Usher was sent as missionary to Bristol, and he was to have a stipend of £60 per annum. At Bristol he was cordially received, and entered upon the duties of his mission with zeal and faithfulness. But he was not permitted to enjoy the emoluments of his office to the full; for it appears from a vote passed in 1731, that he was required to support all the widows of the Church (St. Michael's) from what he received as his own salary. Mr. Usher's ministry was very successful ..
TRINITY CHURCH.
43
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
In 1726 word was received by the Society, from Rev. Mr. Hony- man, " Acquainting that the new church there is nigh finished, and will be ready for the Society's present as soon as it can be sent (which present is a plain purple communion cloth, pulpit cloth, and cushion), and that the people had given the old Church, with all its furniture, to a neighboring place, where they conceive it will be of great use."35a
35& The building was given to a congregation gathered at Warwick, but having no Church of their own. Although it was taken down and car- ried there, it does not appear that the materials were ever put together again. There is a tradition that it was floated from Newport to Warwick, but for this there is no warrant.
The following interesting letter from Rev. James McSparran is taken from Rev. Dr. Hallam's " Annals of St. James's Church," New London :
Narraganset, March 21 1725-6
Gentlemen. Pursuant to ye advice of Feb. 25th, I went to Newport ye next monday & the Committee for building their new Church being acquainted with my business, met yt evening at Mr. Honeyman's house, to whom having Proposed when & upon what Terms they would Part with the old Church, they came to the unanimous Result, that Provided the Gentlemen of New London would take down, Transport, Erect & Finish the Church at New London, & Expect no assistance from them, they should have it & all its appurtenances Gratis : except the altar piece, which was expected to be given to Narraganset. Next day one or Two at most yt are not of the Committee objected against parting it with it upon Terms : wt Those Terms will be when their Congregation meets (if ever it meets) to Consult upon yt affair, I am as yet unable to advise you. In ye mean time Gentlemen, I would have you make no offer : for should the few yt are for parting with ye old Church upon Terms Prevail (weh I can hardly think) yet must the price they Set be governed by ye advantage their old Church will be to themselves, if you have it not ; & not by the Benefit it will be of to you if ye have it. These things, there- fore, Let me Propose to be distinctly & maturely Considered by you the Committee.
(1.) If you have their Church you must Send the Carpenters you Intend to Raise it to pull it down for the Timber must be marked all anew, & some
44
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH.
[At the Convention held in King's Chapel, Boston, this year, 1726, Rev. Mr. Honyman preached the sermon, which sermon was printed in Boston in 1733.]
new ones there will be wanting in the roof & other places; & although the Carpenter I Consulted, viz. Monday, Said the Charge of pulling it down would be £50, yet the Gentlemen themselves concluded it will be more, & I believe you may Venture to Lay the Charge of taking Safely down, Carting to ye water, putting aboard and Transportation at £500.
(2.) You will by this Church, whether Given or Sold, save no Boards, Nails, Plank Nails, Clift Boards & Nails, Shingles nor Lath Nails. Its like a few, & but a few, Plank & Boards will be Saved; it will save you no Shingles Clift Boards, Laths, lime nor Window Frames.
(3.) If you have the New Port Church you will then be under an abso- lute necessity of conforming to ye dimensions of said Church, both as to the House & Belfry. Now, it may be, Gentlemen, you will think a less Fabrick will do ye Turn web if Built Square, may in time be Lengthened & Enlarged.
(4.) By this Church you will Save Something in the Pews, Pulpit, & Communion Table. You will do well, therefore, to Consider of the Dimensions of ye Church (in case you Cannot obtain this) & See wt ye frame & materials of all Sorts will Cost, and wt the workmen will de- mand to finish ye same, without web you cannot know when you are well offered, Should the Gentlemen here send you up their Terms. As to a Subtreasurer, I have determined Mr. Shackmaple for yt Trouble, & you will wth all Convenient Speed, I hope, Pay in the Several Sums annexed to your Names, yt there may be a beginning ; you have given a good & Encouraging Example in ye Subscription, & the like is Equally needful in paying them In to the Treasurer ; by this others not of ye Committee will be animated, not only to Subscribe, but to make ready pay, for I must beg leave to tell you yt I think it absolutely necessary there be some money Lodged before the building is begun, Leest if Some Consequences yt may Reflect Dishonor upon ye undertaking in So Captious a Country as yours is. The motion made by the Committee hindered me from any Farther Progress then, you See, with ye Subscription Paper, but I may Venture to assure you yt should the old Church be denied you Gratis, Severall of ye Gentlemen will think themselves bound in honor to Con- tribute to ye Assistance, &, for wt I know, yt method may be Equally beneficial to You.
45
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
September 1, 1726-7. Thomas Wickham, adult, was baptized, and June 3, 1730, his son, bearing his name, was baptized.
July 30, 1727. George Johnson36 was married to Bathsheba Lucas. August 3, 1827. Richard Mumford37 was married to Sarah Newdigate.
October 10, 1728. John Gidley38 was married to Mary Cran- ston, daughter of Colonel John Cranston.
I have Enclosed the Deed, there being no Difficulty in Drawing a proper Conveyance from Mr. Mumford to the use of the Church, for the Deed from him must be to 3, 4, 5, or 6 of you by name, in trust, for said use; with a Clause therein inserted, obliging the Gentlemen therein named, yt so soon as a Minister of the Established Church comes & is Settled amongst you, & has Erected & Incorporated a Vestry, they make Conveyance of said land & Edifice thereon built to the Church Wardens by name, & their Successors for Ever in Said Office for said Use. I should have Waited on you My Self the Last Sunday of yt Instant, but having no Horse, & being shortly to go to Boston, hope you will Excuse my Absence. I have no more to add, but the tender of my Best Respects, wch please to Accept from, Gentlemen, yr most Obedient Humble Servant.
JAMES McSPARRAN.
36 The name should be Johnston. Their son, Augustus, became the Attorney-General of the Colony.
37 Richard Mumford was given the command of one of the companies raised in 1745 for the reduction of Louisburg, but dying in October of that year, the command passed to his First Lieutenant, Edward Cole, who became a distinguished officer.
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