USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 3
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August 3, 1831. Voted: that Stephen T. Northam, Esq., Hon. William Hunter and George Irish, Esq., be appointed
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
delegates to attend the Diocesan Convention of the Eastern Diocese, to be holden at Salem, Mass., on the 28th inst.
October 5, 1831. Application having been made to Mr. Ed- ward Brinley, for the purchase of the Kay estate, it was
Resolved: that Mr. Edward Brinley say to Mr. Nathaniel · Emery [Amory18] the person making the application, that he can have the same by giving the price of $300 per acre.
Rev. Mr. Wheaton gave us a partial exposé of the doings of the Convention, at Salem, and the Vestry separated.
November 2, 1831. Voted: that any occupant of a pew, from and after Easter next, who shall be in arrears for pew tax for one year, shall be liable to have his, her, or their pew advertised and sold for the same.
Voted: that the Senior Warden be authorized to offer to Miss Burdick additional pay, at the rate of $20 a year (say for six months) for playing the organ in the absence of Miss Easton, who has resigned.
January 4, 1832. Voted: that the thanks of this Vestry be presented to Miss Angelica Gardner, for her benevolent donation of $75.00, and that the Secretary write her accordingly.
To Miss Gardner:
I am directed by the Minister, Wardens and Vestry of Trin- ity Church, to offer their thanks and acknowledgments for your benevolent and liberal donation, which has been the means of their contributing many more comforts to the indigent at this inclement season: and allow me to add an assurance of my individual respect.
Newport, January 18, 1832.
LEVI TOWER, Secretary of the Vestry.
18 NATHANIEL AMORY was born in 1777. He married Mary Preble, daughter of Eben Preble, a niece of Commodore Preble. He was appointed Navy Agent at Pensacola by President John Quincy Adams. In the latter years of his life he came to Newport, built a cottage and lived here. He died in Boston in 1845.
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1805018
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
February 8, 1832. Voted: that the Bible Class and Sunday School have the use of the Church School House, and that they have liberty to make such alterations and improvements as they may think necessary for their convenience-the Church to be at no expense for the same.
April 4, 1832. Voted: that a committee of three, Edward Brinley, John G. Whitehorne and William Littlefield, take into consideration the state of our funds, devise ways and means to meet the current expenses for the coming year, and make report on Easter Monday.
April 23, 1832. Annual Meeting on Easter Monday. Pres- ent, the Rector and 28 Corporators. The following officers were elected:
George C. Mason, Senior Warden.
Stephen H. Cahoone, Jr., Junior Warden.
John G. Whitehorne, Samuel Whitehorne, Thomas W. Brown, Stephen A. Robinson, Isaiah Crooker, Stephen T. Northam, Rob- inson Potter, Levi Tower, William Littlefield, John H. Easton, and Edward Brinley, Vestrymen.
Levi Tower, Secretary.
Henry Potter, Treasurer.
Voted: that the appointment of an Organist be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: that the report of the Committee appointed by the Vestry, be received. [There is no record and no copy of this report. ]
Voted: that the tax on the pews on the lower floor be $7, and that on the gallery pews $2.
July 12, 1832. Voted: that Robinson Potter be a committee to confer with any applicant who may appear for the lease of the Kay estate.
Voted: that the Rev. Mr. Wheaton on Sunday next notify the congregation that there will be a meeting of the Corporation
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
of this Church on Thursday next, the 19th inst., for the purpose of employing an Organist for the remainder of the year; and that George C. Mason, Senior Warden, in the meantime call on some one skilled in music to play the same, and report to the Corporation.
Voted: that the vote passed at Easter, "that there be no Organist for the year ensuing," be, and the same is, hereby repealed.
Voted: that the Senior Warden engage an organist for the residue of the year, at a salary not exceeding $100 per annum.
Voted: that there be a contribution for the three months next ensuing.
Voted: that the Rev. Mr. Wheaton give notice to the Con- gregation, on Sunday morning next, there will be a contribution immediately after Divine Service, and so continue every Sabbath morning, till otherwise ordered.
July 26, 1832. At a meeting of the Corporation specially called, Voted: that so much of the doings of the Corporation at their last meeting as authorized a weekly contribution, be repealed.
The following was the call for the meeting:
The undersigned, members of the Corporation of Trinity Church, respectfully request the Rector of said Church, to call a meeting of the Corporation, on Thursday next, to take into consideration the propriety of repealing the vote passed the 19th inst. relating to weekly contributions.
Newport, July 20, 1832.
S. T. NORTHAM. WM. NORRIS. 14
14 CAPTAIN WILLIAM NORRIS was a highly respected sea captain, and was never in want of a vessel. From Newport he sailed for many years, chiefly in the employ of Stephen T. Northam, in the brig "John." He was a son of Captain John Norris, and his mother was a member of the Freebody family. He was an only son, and married Mary H. Centre, daughter of James Centre, and grand-daughter of Martin Howard: a name that has a recognized place in the history of Rhode Island.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
D. MELVILLE, 15
DUTEE J. PEARCE. ROBINSON POTTER.
RICHARD K. RANDOLPH. CHARLES COLLINS. JACOB SMITH.
MOSES NORMAN. JOHN P. MANN. 16
Captain Norris continued in the merchant service until 1838, when he received a commission as a lieutenant in the United States Revenue Service; a position for which he was well fitted. He died on board the U. S. Rev- enue schooner "Van Buren," on her way from Charleston, S. C., to Key West, June 10, 1846, aged 58 years. Mrs. Norris died February 2, 1843; and the last of his four sisters died on Christmas Day, 1878, at the age of 89 years.
Captain Norris had a remarkable experience about the year 1823, when his vessel was taken by a pirate, who prepared at once to make way with all on board-captain, crew and passengers- and probably would have done so had not the captain of the rover, after driving all on board down into the hold, Captain Norris excepted, and securing the hatches, discovered a Freemason's apron on the top of Captain Norris' trunk. With it in hand, he went on deck, and having satisfied himself that the Captain was a Mason, he being of the same fraternity, he at once changed his bearing and promised to spare all their lives. This promise he kept, and after rob- bing the vessel of everything he wanted, left the vessel. There was then no one on deck but Captain Norris, and the battens were still on the hatches. With the aid of a crowbar he managed to uncover the hatches and release his people, more dead than alive from fear and want of air. The Masonic apron, which had been painted and presented to Captain Norris by Miss Eliza Lawton, of Newport, is now in the possession of his eldest son, Mr. William Norris of San Francisco.
15 DAVID MELVILLE had an active, restless mind, that kept him always busy without adding materially to his gains. He is entitled to the credit of having first used illuminating gas in America. This was in 1805-6. Gas for this purpose was first used in England, in 1792. Mr. Melville patented his process in 1810, and in 1812 lighted his own house, and Pelham street from Thames street to Spring street, with gas. In 1816 he made a contract with the United States to light Beaver Tail lighthouse in the same manner, which was done successfully for a year; though not at a cost that warranted its further introduction.
16 JOHN PRESTON MANN, M. D., was a resident of Newport, and died here
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
October 3, 1832. Voted: that the Wardens examine the chamber floor [the open space between the ceiling and the roof, properly the attic] of the Church, and make some calculation as to the probable expense of carrying the stove pipe out through the roof of the Church: that the Wardens purchase two cords of wood, and that they cause the windows of the Church to be caulked.
Voted: that Rev. Mr. Wheaton receive from the funds a sum not exceeding $25 to defray his expenses to New York, to attend a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
January 2, 1833. Voted: that Robinson Potter be a Commit- tee to lease the Kay or Harrison estate, provided the sum of $3,300 can be obtained for the same.
Voted: that the Senior Warden pay Mr. Wheaton $9. 14, being amount of postage paid by him during the three years past.
March 22, 1833. It having been represented to this Vestry, specially convened, by Samuel Whitehorne, that Mr. George Engs wished to purchase a lease of the Kay or Harrison estate, whereupon it was
Voted: that Stephen T. Northam and Samuel Whitehorne be a Committee to bargain or lease the said Kay or Harrison estate; the price of which to be not less than $3,300 cash 01 approved credit.
[The Kay house had long before gone to ruin, and nothing remained but the land. The terms offered by Mr. Engs were
in 1837. He was the son of Dr. Bezaleel Mann, of North Attleborough, Mass., and a graduate of Rhode Island College. He studied medicine, but did not practice. His first wife was Mehitible Clarke, daughter of Joseph Clarke, General Treasurer of the Colony and State from 1761 to 1792, to whom he was married in 1782. She died July 23, 1803, and in June, 1806, he married Mrs. Ann Robinson, widow of William R. Robinson, of Narra- gansett, who brought him a handsome property. Mrs. Mann, the daughter of George Scott and granddaughter of Stephen Ayrault, was born in 1764, and died October 10, 184I.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
accepted and it was leased to him for 999 years. On it he built the house southeast of the Jewish Cemetery, and now the prop- erty of Eugene Hartmann. ]
April 8, 1833. Annual Meeting of the Corporation, the Rec- tor and 17 Corporators being present.
The following officers were elected :
George C. Mason, Senior Warden.
Stephen H. Cahoone, Jr., Junior Warden.
Edward Brinley, Stephen T. Northam, Robinson Potter, Thomas W. Brown, Levi Tower, Stephen A. Robinson, William Littlefield, Isaiah Crooker, John H. Easton, S. Fowler Gardner, William E. Evans, 17 Vestrymen.
Benjamin Finch, Secretary.
Stephen A. Robinson, Treasurer.
Richard Swan, Jr., Organist. Salary $100 a year.
John Springer, Sexton. Salary $50 with $10 for extra services.
A tax of $7 was assessed on the lower floor, and $2 in the gallery.
Stephen T. Northam, Charles Collins and William Hunter were appointed delegates to the State Convention.
June 5, 1833. Voted: that the Senior Warden notify the Sex- ton, that he must be more punctual in opening the Church, and lighting and trimming the lamps. In case he is not, they will employ some person for that purpose, and the expense incurred by his neglect of duty will be deducted from his annual salary.
June 18, 1833 .. The Rector stated to the Vestry, that the Town Committee of Arrangements for the ensuing Fourth of July, had made application for the use of the Church on that day.
17 THE name should be William Mathew Evans. He came from Phila- delphia, purchased the Caleb Gardner estate, corner of Spring and John streets, of William C. Gardner, June 4, 1827, intending to make his home here; but becoming restless, he disposed of his property and removed from Newport.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Voted: that the Town Committee be informed that their request for the use of the Church edifice is not granted. The vote stood as follows- Ayes: Stephen A. Robinson, William M. Evans and William Littlefield; Noes: Robinson Potter, John H. Easton, Stephen T. Northam and Edward Brinley. The Secretary did not vote.
[Stephen A. Robinson was at the time Colonel of the New- port Artillery Company, and would naturally wish to have his command seated where they would appear to the best advan- tage. ]
July 10, 1833. Stephen T. Northam stated to the Vestry that at the late Convention, held at Wickford, R. I., there was an assessment made on the different churches, for printing the Journal of Proceedings, and the amount assessed on this Church was $10, which he had paid and asked to have the same re- funded.
Whereupon the proceedings of the Convention were warmly animated upon by Robinson Potter and Isaiah Crooker, Jr., con- demning the proceedings, inasmuch as they had shown a great want of respect to our Rector, in leaving him out and placing other men in offices held by him, without showing or offering any reason for so doing.
On motion to refund to Stephen T. Northam the $10:
Voted: that it be not allowed, and that the printed Journals sent to the Rector be not received.
August 15, 1833. The Senior Warden was authorized to have the sidewalk in the rear of the Church edifice laid as soon as all the walks from Pelham street to the Church are laid.
Voted: that the vote passed on the roth of July, last, not to refund Stephen T. Northam $10 be and is repealed.
Voted: that Stephen T. Northam be refunded $10 paid by him at the late Convention held at Wickford, R. I., being the
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
proportional tax assessed against this Church to defray the ex- pense of printing the Journal of Proceedings.
October 3, 1833. Voted: that no pew be leased for a less term than six months; the rate of rent to be the interest [six per cent. per annum] on the valuation, and the taxes.
November 6, 1833. On motion of Edward Brinley to orna- ment the Church-yard with trees:
Voted: that the Wardens be authorized to purchase and have set out as many and such kinds [of trees] as they may esteem best.
[The trees so planted in that rich soil grew apace, and spread out so wide as in time to become objectionable, in that they disturbed the graves and monuments. They also became a source of complaint from the owners of houses on the north side of Church street, made damp by the mass of foliage that hung over them. And when it was decided to put around the grounds the iron fence now there, it was found that the trunks of the trees had so pushed across the line as to make any at- tempt in that direction futile until they were removed. One tree alone was left standing -- the elm still seen on the west of the yard and in open ground. The trees had been standing less than forty years when Tuckerman wrote of their overthrow:
"Faith's pioneers and Freedom's martyrs slept Beneath their shade; and under their old boughs The wise and brave of generations past Walked every Sabbath to the house of God."]
January 6, 1834. Voted: that the payment of the assess- ment, made against this Church, to increase the Bishop's salary, at the late Diocesan Convention, held at Boston, be postponed to Easter Monday.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
CHAPTER II.
1834-1839.
March 31, 1834. Annual Meeting of the Corporation: pres- ent the Rector and 27 Corporators.
The following officers were elected:
George C. Mason, Senior Warden.
Stephen H. Cahoone, Junior Warden.
Edward Brinley, Stephen T. Northam, Robinson Potter, Thomas W. Brown, Levi Tower, Stephen A. Robinson, William Littlefield, Isaiah Crooker, Jr., John H. Easton, Samuel F. Gardner, William M. Evans, Vestrymen.
Stephen A. Robinson, Treasurer.
Benjamin Finch, Secretary.
John Springer, Sexton. Salary $60.
Richard Swan, Jr., Organist. Salary $100.
William Hunter, Edward Brinley, William C. Gibbs and Rob- ert Johnston were appointed delegates to the State and Diocesan Convention.
Voted: The tax assessed against this Church by the Diocesan Convention, held at Boston last year, for the increase of the Bishop's salary, and referred to this meeting by the Vestry, be recommitted to them, with power to pay the same; provided the churches generally have complied with the aforesaid requi- sition.
April 11, 1834. Special Meeting of the Vestry.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that a committee be appointed to have the sidewalk in the rear of the Church edifice laid with flag stones, with a curb-stone next to the street.
Voted: that the Wardens be authorized to reduce the valua- tion of the small pews next to the pulpit, agreeably to their discretion.
Voted: That the Junior Warden be authorized to advertise and sell at public auction, pew No. 19, in arrears for taxes.
Whereas: the Convention of the Eastern Diocese, held at Boston, September 26, 1833, assessed a tax on this Church, of $18.48, as its proportion of tax for an additional salary of the Bishop, of $600, it was:
Voted: that this Vestry does not recognize the right of the Convention to assess a tax on the individual churches, for this or any other purpose.
Voted: that the sum of $20 be appropriated to the Bishop, as a remuneration for his services from this Church, and that the Rector be requested to forward the same.
May 5, 1834. Voted: that the Church edifice be painted, inside and out, and the walls whitewashed; and that Robinson Potter, Stephen A. Robinson, and George C. Mason be a com- mittee to carry the above vote into effect.
Voted: that the Wardens be authorized to hire money, to meet the expense of laying the sidewalk in the rear of the Church edifice.
A letter of resignation was received from Stephen T. Nor- tham; the Vestry being of the opinion that it should be sub- mitted to the Corporation for their consideration, directed the Secretary to inform him that they would lay it before the first Corporation meeting that shall be convened.
No further mention is made of the above letter, and there is no record of it; but the following is a copy of it :
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Newport, May 3d, 1834.
To the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church : Gentlemen :
I regret that it was not in my power to have attended the meeting on Easter Monday last : as I should, if there, been able to explain away many accusations and transactions that have taken place in the course of the last year, and perhaps prevented further misapprehensions that may be made against me in regard to the affairs of Trinity Church, and my attention to the building of Zion Church. My father, myself, and all my children were born in Trinity Church, and of course that place was always considered my home.
In the spring of 1833 it was contemplated to build a new Church in this town, and believing the Episcopal Doctrine cor- rect, and that another Church could be supported, I readily agreed to lend my public aid in furthering the cause, and to assist in building Zion Church, presuming that it would have a tendency' to promote the interest of the Church at large, and to call in many respectable families that appeared to have no settled homes. Those were my views, and my best wishes have in part been real- ized.
It was my intention, as Mr. Wheaton can state, in our first conversation on that subject, for me [not] to leave Trinity Church, but to have a pew in each, that my family might attend either; believing that it is but one Church, although two houses.
But my motive has been misconstrued and a few of the con- gregation, not the members of Trinity Church, have waged war against me for my good intentions, and have threatened to turn me out of the Church-at least, from holding any office under that government.
For that purpose they met on Easter Monday, with a full expectation of carrying their point, and there met with that de- feat that improper motives should always experience. To my friends I feel grateful for their exertions. Of my opponents I ask no favors, being confident that the good of the Church was not their motive.
Above thirty years I have held an office in that Church, either Vestryman or Warden, and the most of the time a delegate to
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
the different Conventions: in each capacity I have endeavored to do my duty, and if I have failed in either, it was from error of judgment and not from intention.
But as my best motives have been misconstrued and misre- presented by some of the Vestry, and as there was an attempt made on Easter Monday, to prevent my re-election as a Vestry- man, I have thought it most advisable to resign the office ob- tained through my friends, and hereby resign the same; with the hope that some person may be appointed without opposition, and one that will do honor to the Church, create peace and harmony in the Vestry, and will assist in promoting the pros- perity of the Church, which will ever be dear to the feelings of
Yours Respectfuly, S. T. NORTHAM, 18
[ The above is the first mention of Zion Church in the rec- ords, and the disturbed state of Trinity Church, growing out of the seceding of a portion of the congregation; and it is a credit to those who still retained the direction of the Parish, that they refrained, as a body, from any expression of dissatisfaction at the course of events. While making this statement, it is due to the reader that he should know something of the state of affairs at the period to which the "ANNALS" have been brought down.
The Church was in an unpromising condition. Probably at no period in its history had it reached so low an ebb. There was a lack of vitality in the town that unquestionably acted upon the Church, and other religious bodies: the trade and commerce of the port had gradually fallen away; the whaleships that were fitted out here had been steadily reduced in number,
18 CAPTAIN STEPHEN T. NORTHAM was born in Swansey, Mass. When he retired from the sea he entered into business in Newport, as a shipping merchant, and he built and owned sailing vessels and steamboats. He married Mary Langley. When Zion Church was projected he took a prom- inent part in the organization of the parish, and retained his interest in it during the rest of his days. He died March 13, 1856, aged 88 years.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
efforts to encourage manufactures were abortive, there was no material increase of population-in 1830 it numbered 8010, and in 1840 but 8333-and while the place showed no buoyancy when there were unusual signs of prosperity elsewhere, it felt keenly any contraction of the currency and the clogging of bus- iness channels in commercial centres. The deadness was de- pressing. Grass was growing in the thoroughfares, save in that portion of the roadbed in which vehicles traveled; one coach daily between Newport and Providence and one to Boston, suf- ficed for the land travel, and a few sloops on the river and Long Island Sound, and a small steamboat that touched here between New York and Providence, met the demand for car- riage by water. The erection of a building was a novelty. The whole tax assessed in 1832 was $6834. There were but 759 names on the tax list, and of this number but five persons were assessed a sum exceeding one hundred dollars.
Trinity Church, although enjoying the advantage accruing from a fund well invested, felt the general depression. To make the burden of taxation as light as possible, the pew rental on the lower floor had been reduced to five dollars. Even at this rate many pews were unoccupied and from time to time reverted to the Church, the owners unwilling or unable to hold them; while pews in the gallery were offered at ten dollars, sub- ject to an annual tax of one dollar, with no buyers. The Rec- tor's appeal from time to time, for an increase of salary, met with no favorable response, and, so far from being able to in- crease his stipend, the Treasurer was frequently forced to hire small sums, of one or two hundred dollars, to meet current expenses.
In the midst of this depression a schism showed itself in the Church, and in spite of the efforts to curb it, it ran its course, and exerted its influence for many years. The movers, believed the deadness in the Church could never be overcome, and that
.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
the only way to insure greater life and activity in spiritual mat- ters, was to break loose from old bonds-give up old associa- tions and begin anew-and form a new organization. To this end a meeting was called, February 21, 1833, at the house of James Mumford. There were present James Mumford, Silas Ward, Alexander P. Moore, Henry Potter, Jacob Smith, Joshua Sayre, Charles H. Mumford, William Weeden, T. C. Dunn and Peleg Clarke; nearly all of whom had previously taken part in the affairs of Trinity Church. Henry Potter was elected Secre- tary; and the committee appointed to procure a place where services could be held-Messrs. Sayre, Potter and Charles H. Mumford-obtained the use of the Representatives' Chamber, in the State House. Rev. John West was called as Rector, and he retained the office till April, 1842. Means were subscribed, land was bought and a Church edifice was erected on the corner of Washington Square and Clarke Street. For years the Church struggled on under the depressing influence of debt; the suc- cessive Rectors sought in vain to remove this incubus, and re- tired, one after another, from the charge: till at last the Vestry, from sheer exhaustion, disposed of the property to the Roman Catholics, who organized a parish there, the outgrowth of St. Mary's, known as St. Joseph's.
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