USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 4
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The remnant of Zion Church, with commendable tenacity, held together, organized anew as St. George's, under the Rector they had called, Rev. Charles G. Gilliat, D. D., appealed suc- cessfully to their brother Episcopalians, and with the aid so obtained, and their own energies, erected a new Church edifice, which they are now enjoying, free of debt.
The Rector of Trinity Church, with the approval of the Ves- try and with a Christian spirit that the reader cannot but admire, learning that the congregation of Zion Church, while waiting for the completion of their own Church edifice, had difficulty in finding a suitable place in which to hold service, invited them
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
through Rev. Mr. West, to worship with his own people in Trinity Church, as appears by the following correspondence.]
Rev. and Dear Sir:
The Vestry of Trinity Church, in consideration of the in- convenience to which the congregation of Zion Church are at present subjected, in consequence of having no suitable place for the celebration of public worship, have requested me to state to you, and through you to your congregation, that they would be much gratified if they would take seats in Trinity Church, until Zion Church edifice shall be ready to be occupied for divine service.
Should the invitation of our Vestry be acceded to, I shall expect you will do me the favor to take such part in the public services in Trinity Church as may suit the present state of your health, and be most convenient and agreeable to ourselves.
Very respectfully yours,
S. WHEATON.
Saturday morning, 12th April.
Rev. John West.
Monday morning, April 14th.
Rev. and Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your note of Saturday, communicating the polite proposal of the Ves- try of Trinity Church, for the accommodation of the congrega- tion of Zion Church. In reply I am requested to communicate to them thro' you the assurance that the offer is regarded as manifesting a spirit of kindness and courtesy on the part of that respectable body, and altho' the Vestry of Zion Church do not feel at liberty to avail themselves of the proposed accommoda- tion, they trust that their declining it will be attributed entirely to the unwillingness to have the slight and temporary inconven- ience to which we are now subjected, removed at the expense of subjecting the congregation of Trinity Church to the more serious inconveniences, which will unavoidably attend the inter- mingling of another entire congregation with theirs during the same services.
49.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
I beg you also to receive my acknowledgment of your respect- ful proposal, in regard to my own participation in the public services, and to allow me to indulge the hope that nothing may hereafter intercept the interchange of those friendly offices be- tween the two Churches which may comport with the spirit of Christianity, the dignity of the Episcopal Communion, and the true interest and prosperity of members of the same body.
Very Respectfully Yours,
JOHN WEST.
June 2, 1834. Voted: that the Wardens hire on the bank stock, in any of the banks in town, any sum that the Painting Committee may find it necessary to pay their laborers, and all necessary cash expenses.
Voted: that the Wardens be a committee to wait on the United Congregationalist Society, to obtain the use of their old meeting house for public worship, until ours is painted and ready to be occupied.
August 4, 1834. Voted: that the Senior Warden hire $150 to defray contingent expenses.
Voted: that the Journals of the late State Convention, held at Providence, be received, and the $5 assessed to pay for the same by the Convention, be paid.
Voted: that the Wardens be a committee to thank the United Congregational Society, in behalf of the Vestry and Congrega- tion, for the polite loan and use of their Meeting House, during the time ours was repairing.
September 1, 1834. The committee to employ a male chor- ister verbally reported to the Vestry, that they had engaged John Goff, Jr., at $60 per year, from the 20th of August to Easter Monday; he to furnish one female to assist him.
Voted: that the Painting Committee be authorized to pay Oscar F. Wentworth $6 in addition to his contract for lettering, &c., the Ten Commandments, in consideration of his faithful performance of said contract, and not having made fair wages.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
January 5, 1835. Voted: that the Wardens allow the ladies of the congregation to put up a stove in the Vestry Room, for the convenience of the Rector, provided it does not militate against the policy of insurance.
April 6, 1835. The Wardens and Stephen A. Robinson were a committee to make an exchange of pew now occupied by Doct. A. P. Moore with William V. Taylor19 for his, by his paying a fair difference; provided Dr. Moore is willing to give it up.
April 13, 1835. The Senior Warden having informed the Ves- try that Mr. George Engs had given notice that he wished to pay off his note, it was
Voted: that the Treasurer be authorized to receive the same, and to pay over to the Senior Warden, so much as will pay off the debts against the Church, and to invest the balance, either in bank stock, or let it on satisfactory security.
April 20, 1835. Annual Meeting, Easter Monday.
Present: Rev. Salmon Wheaton, Rector; George C. Mason,
19 WILLIAM VIGNERON TAYLOR entered the United States Navy as a sail- ing master, received a lieutenant's commission for meritorious conduct at the battle of Lake Erie, and reached the rank of captain in 1841. He was placed on the retired list in 1855, and died February 1I, 1858. The citizens of Newport, in Town Meeting in October, 1813, placed $100 at the disposal of a committee, to procure some suitable present to mark their high appre- ciation of "his great exertions and meritorious conduct under Commodore Perry"; and they were to "assure him of their esteem and regard, and of the pleasure they have derived from the well-merited commendation be- stowed upon him by the Commodore." There the matter ended, the com - mittee never seeming to have found time to carry out their instructions.
The two sons of Captain Taylor entered the public service : one in the navy, and one in the army. His elder son, William Rogers Taylor, was commissioned as midshipman April 1, 1828, made Rear-Admiral January 19, 1871, retired November 7, 1873, and died February II, 1888. Oliver H. P. Taylor, the younger son, was engaged in the desperate combat of To-kots-nine-me, on the Colville Trail, Utah, and was killed May 17, 1858, aged 33 years.
5I
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. ?
Senior Warden; Stephen H. Cahoone, Junior Warden, and the following Corporators:
John DeBlois, Benjamin Fry,2ยบ John Sterne, Isaiah Crooker, Jr., Henry Bull, Andrew A. Harwood, Henry Wood, Thomas R. Gardner, John Vars, Edward Stanhope, George Hall, Wil- liam Norris, Marin P. Lomax, Joseph F. Havens, Benjamin Hazard, Robert Johnston, John H. Easton, Thomas W. Brown, David M. Coggeshall, Nicholas G. Boss, Joseph Bailey, Russell Coggeshall, William Littlefield, Richard K. Randolph, Alexander P. Moore, William M. Evans, Samuel F. Gardner, Thomas Bush, John W. Davis, William C. Gibbs, Robinson Potter, Stephen A. Robinson, William V. Taylor, Thomas Brinley, John G. Whitehorne and William Turner.
The following officers were elected:
Benjamin Finch, Senior Warden, in place of George C. Mason, resigned.
Stephen H. Cahoone, Junior Warden.
Robinson Potter, Thomas W. Brown, George C. Mason, Ste- phen A. Robinson, Isaiah Crooker, Jr., John H. Easton, Wil- liam M. Evans, Robert Johnston, Nathaniel Amory, Andrew A. Harwood and Thomas Breese, Vestrymen.
Stephen A. Robinson, Treasurer.
George C. Mason, Secretary.
201 BENJAMIN FRY, son of John Fry and Mary Tillinghast, his wife, was born March 10, 1755. He married Ann Bull, daughter of Joseph Bull, of Tiverton, April 28, 1800. He was colonel of the Newport Artillery from 1810 to 1815, and while in command of that company took possession of Fort Greene, under authority from the General Government, in July, 1814, and put it into order to meet an emergency. With his company he crossed over to Conanicut, in April, 1813, to aid in rescuing and saving the ship Whampoa, driven on shore on the west side of the Bay, and fired by the enemy. For want of boats he was unable to get over to the mainland. Captain Benja- min Pierce, of the Third Company of Militia, was more fortunate, and succeeded in putting out the fire and saving the cargo.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
John Springer Sexton. Salary $60.
Richard Swan, Jr., Organist. Salary $100.
Delegates to the Convention: Stephen H. Cahoone, Robert Johnston, William M. Evans and Andrew A. Harwood. 21
A letter from Richard Swan, Jr., was read, wherein he stated he wished it understood, that unless the organ be repaired, and the salary be as much as he could get elsewhere, he should not consider himself engaged any longer than three months from Easter.
The subject was referred to the Vestry, and it was recom- mended by Richard K. Randolph, in case it should become necessary to appoint a new organist, it be done by the Corpo- ration.
Voted: that the tax on the lower floor be $7, and $2 for the gallery.
Voted: that $234.75 be appropriated to pay for iron railing to the steps [on Frank street] and balance due for blinds. [This was the first time blinds were used on the Church windows.]
Voted: that all applications to the Rector, to take up collec- tions in our congregation, be referred to the Vestry.
21 ANDREW A. HARWOOD belonged in Philadelphia. He entered the U. S. Navy in 1818 and held the rank of Rear Admiral when he retired in 1864. He resigned, when a lieutenant, but re-entered the service. He came to Newport, married Sarah Ann Wood, daughter of Captain Peleg Wood, November 10, 1828, and with his brother-in-law, Henry Wood, he went into the brewery business, in which they were not successful.
Rev. Francis Vinton, missionary of the Rhode Island Convocation, had organized the Church of the Ascension, at Wakefield, R. I. in 1839. At that time services were held in the State House, at Kingston, by Rev. Louis Lansen. When Mr. Lansen retired that year, the two stations were placed under the care of Mr. Vinton, and so remained until he was called to the Rectorship of St. Stephen's, Providence. That the services at Kings- ton might be continued, Lieutenant Harwood was licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese, as a lay reader; and he kept the people together until the Church, then building at Wakefield, was completed, when the two missions were merged into one. This was in 1840.
53
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that the Circular received from the Committee, rela- ting to the support of the Bishop, be received and adopted: and if the day therein designated, to take up the collection, be, in the opinion of the Rector, unfavorable, he may appoint another day, at his discretion.
Voted: that the thanks of this Corporation be presented to Mr. George C. Mason, for the able and faithful discharge of his duties as Senior Warden.
May 4, 1835. Voted: that Benjamin Finch, Thomas W. Brown and Stephen A. Robinson, be a committee to ascertain what amount can be raised by subscription for enlarging and repair- ing the organ.
July 6, 1835. Whereas, a letter from the Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, addressed to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Trin- ity Church, Newport, inviting them to join the Rhode Island Clerical Convocation Society, was received and read at the last meeting of the Vestry, and referred to the meeting now holden: and said letter being again read, after a respectful consideration of the same, it was
Voted: that this Vestry do not consider it at present expedient for this Church to co-operate with said Society.
Voted: that the Senior Warden be authorized to hire a suf- ficient sum to pay the salaries now due.
The Vestry deeming it inexpedient to enlarge the organ, Voted: that it be put in complete repair.
Voted: that the Junior Warden advertise the pews for sale, on which the taxes due thereon exceeds $10.
August 14, 1835. Voted: that Richard Swan, Jr.'s, resigna- tion as organist be received.
Voted: that George Taylor be the organist until next Easter, at a salary of $125.
Voted: that the amount assessed upon this Church by the
54
ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
State Convention, for providing an Assistant for the Bishop, in the year 1832, $17.50, be not paid.
Whereas, this Corporation does not recognize the right of any Convention to tax this Church, and does not consider that it is bound at this, or any future, time, to pay a tax that may be assessed, but do now vote that the amount, $12.50, assessed up- on this Church by said Convention, for printing its journals, &c., be paid.
November 2, 1835. Voted: that the Senior Warden be au- thorized to hire a sufficient sum of money, to pay for the re- pairs of the organ, if there should not be money enough in the treasury.
Voted : that the payment of $3.84 assessed upon this Church by the Diocesan Convention, in October, 1835, be referred to the Corporation.
January 4, 1836. Voted: that Stephen A. Robinson and George C. Mason be a committee to ascertain and report what alteration can be made in the South Gallery of the Church, to increase the accommodation of the colored part of the congre- gation.
Voted: that the thanks of the Vestry be tendered through the Senior Warden, to the ladies and gentlemen, who for the past four months, have assisted the Chorister in singing: and it is also voted: that the Senior Warden present [name not filled in] in the name of the Vestry with a Prayer Book.
Voted: that the Senior Warden be authorized to hire so much money as will be necessary to pay the bills against the Church.
February 1, 1836. Voted: that the Wardens be authorized to sell the pews now occupied by the colored part of the con- gregation, in the South Gallery of the Church, provided they can obtain $10 for each pew.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
April 4, 1836. Annual Meeting, Easter Monday: the Rec- tor and 15 Corporators being present.
The Vestry elected were the same as last year, with the ex- ception of Joseph G. Totten22 and Henry Wood, Vestrymen, in place of Nathaniel Amory and Thomas Breese, and Henry Bull, Jr., Secretary.
Delegates to the Convention: Stephen H. Cahoone, Robert Johnston, William M. Evans and Thomas W. Brown.
No change made in the pew tax.
Voted: that Henry Bull, Robinson Potter, Stephen H. Ca- hoone, Benjamin Finch and Thomas Breese, be a committee to examine into the pecuniary affairs of the Church, and to re- port thereon.
Voted: that hereafter the Annual Meeting of the Corporation be on Easter Monday, as heretofore, but at three o'clock in the afternoon.
June 9, 1836. Voted: that Benjamin Finch be a committee to make such alterations in the organ platform as he may deem requisite for the better accommodation of the chorister and singers.
July 5, 1836. Voted: that the Senior Warden be authorized to hire a sum of money sufficient to meet the present exigen- cies.
September 5, 1836. Voted: that the Senior Warden be au-
22 JOSEPH GILBERT TOTTEN was born in New Haven, August 23, 1788, was educated at West Point, rose to the highest grade in his profession in the course of his active life, and for 27 years was at the head of the En- gineering Department of the United States. In April (21) 1864, he was bre- vetted Major General in the Army, for "long, faithful and eminent service," and died in Washington on the following day. The construction of Fort Adams was consigned to him in 1825, and here in Newport he resided with his family so long as his services were needed at this point. While here he took an interest in Trinity Church, and was made, as above, a mem- ber of the Vestry.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
thorized to hire a sum of money sufficient to pay salaries as soon as the same may become due.
Voted: that Thomas Stacy [the chorister of the Church] and George Taylor [the organist] be allowed the use of the school house two evenings in each week during the winter, for the purpose of teaching music gratuitously among the children and others of our own congregation: provided that they engage to repair all damages, and to give proper notice to the children of the Sunday School, that they may remove their books.
Voted: that the Junior Warden be authorized to purchase the pew at auction belonging to Mrs. Naomi Langley, provided it does not sell for more than $10.
March 27, 1837. Annual Meeting, Easter Monday. Present : the Rector and 14 members of the Corporation.
George Hall, William J. Taylor and Joshua Sayre were added to the Vestry, in place of Evans, Totten and Breese.
Mrs. Mary Moore was elected organist in place of George Taylor, resigned. Salary, $150.
The Vestry were authorized to supply the Church with vocal music, at an expense of not more than one hundred dollars per annum.
Voted: that in case of the resignation of Stephen H. Cahoone, Junior Warden, before his term of office shall expire, the Vestry are empowered to fill the vacancy. [Mr. Cahoone was then contemplating a change of residence.]
August 8, 1837. Voted: that the Senior Warden be requested to hire a sufficient sum of money to pay outstanding bills and the Rector's salary.
September 2, 1837. Voted: that Miss Sarah Gibbs be per- mitted to erect a monument to the memory of her deceased father and mother, against the south side of the Church, directly opposite the monument on the north side. [Miss Gibbs did not avail herself of this privilege.]
57
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that the Senior Warden be authorized to sell pew No. 18 for not less than $25.
April 16, 1838. Annual Meeting, Easter Monday: the Rector and 24 members of the Corporation being present.
The following officers were elected:
Robert Johnston, Senior Warden.
Christopher G. Perry, 21/2 Junior Warden.
George C. Mason, Stephen A. Robinson, Isaiah Crooker, John Vars, Henry Wood, George Hall, A. A. Harwood, Benjamin Finch, Edward N. Cox,23 Samuel Allen, Lloyd Minturn, Ves- trymen.
221/2 CHRISTOPHER GRANT PERRY, eldest son of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, born at Newport, April 2, 1812, and died in Philadelphia, April 7, 1854. He graduated at Brown University in 1830. His oration in the graduating exercises, coming from the youngest speaker of the day, awakened unusual interest. He was fitted for the Law, but not liking it, he went to India, intending to devote himself to mercantile pursuits. His health failing in that climate, he returned to America, studied medicine and received his diploma; but being unwilling to assume the responsibility that attended the profession, he went back to his original study, the Law, in which he acquired a reputation for thoroughness in his work. His attainments were solid, and his morals were of the highest. But for his shrinking from pub- lic life, Colonel Perry might have had any office in the gift of his fellow townsmen. For the last nine years of his life he was in command of the Newport Artillery, which company buried him with military honors.
Colonel Perry was married May 31, 1838, to Frances Sergeant, daughter of Hon. Thomas Sergeant, of Philadelphia. His widow and four children- two sons and two daughters-are living.
23 EDWARD N. Cox was a native of Maryland. In April, 1799, he en- tered the United States Navy as a midshipman, and was commissioned a lieutenant in 1807. He retired from the service, and again entered it in 1820, as purser, and died in Newport in August 1845, aged 64, having made it his place of residence. After his death Mrs. Cox continued to live with her sister, Mrs. Lawrence, widow of Captain James Lawrence, U. S. N., until her death. Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Lawrence were the daughters of Mr. Montaudevert, a French merchant who resided in New York. Mrs. Mon- taudevert died in Newport, February 17, 1851, aged 94. Mrs. Lawrence, who died in Newport in September, 1865, was laid by the side of her hus- band in Trinity Church yard, New York.
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
Henry Bull, Jr., Treasurer and Secretary.
Voted: that the Vestry be empowered to elect suitable per- sons to the offices of sexton, organist and chorister, for the ensuing year, and fix upon the amount of their salaries: it being understood that the same is not to exceed the amount paid last year for like services.
Voted: that the pew tax remain unchanged. .
Voted: that a committee be chosen to solicit donations to assist in defraying the debts of the Church, and that the selec- tion of the committee be referred to the Vestry.
April 20, 1838. Mrs. Mary Moore was elected Organist; sal- ary $130 per year.
Thomas Stacy, Chorister ; salary $70 : it being understood that he is to furnish one female singer, and have the whole charge of the vocal music.
John Springer, Sexton, at $60 per year.
May 8, 1838. Voted: that George C. Mason and the Senior Warden be a committee to dispose of the pews belonging to the Church to the best advantage.
Voted: that George C. Mason and Benjamin Finch be a com- mittee to superintend the replacing of the Martin monument, in the Churchyard.
Voted: that the Treasurer be requested to call on George Engs for interest and fifty dollars of the principal of his note now in the Treasurer's hands.
June 29, 1838. It having been represented to this Vestry that measures were taken at the Convention of Rhode Island for the immediate separation of the Church in this State from the East- ern Diocese; and such a separation during the life of the present Bishop appearing to them neither expedient nor desirable:
Resolved: that this Vestry disapproves of the procedings of the late Convention, so far as they relate to any division of the
59
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Eastern Diocese at the present time, and earnestly request the Standing Committee to call a Special Convention, to meet at Providence, or some other central place, to reconsider the reso- lution passed at the late Convention for the separation of Rhode Island from the Eastern Diocese.
Resolved: that the Secretary of the Vestry transmit this vote to Benjamin Cowell, Esq., Secretary of the Standing Committee, to be laid before them at the adjourned meeting on the 3d day of July proximo.
Voted: that the Senior Warden, E. N. Cox, A. A. Harwood and George Hall be delegates to attend the Special. Convention, with power to fill vacancies in the delegation.
Voted: that the expenses of the Rector, attending said Con- vention, be paid by the Church.
Voted: that the Treasurer be authorized to hire such an amount of money as may be necessary to pay the salaries and other incidental expenses, and that in future he be authorized to manage all the fiscal affairs of the Church.
October 16, 1838. Voted: that George Hall, E. N. Cox and C. G. Perry be a committee to solicit donations to defray the expense of purchasing and putting up stoves and pipes in the Church; and that George C. Mason and Benjamin Finch buy and put up the stoves and pipes.
January 1, 1839. Voted: that the Treasurer be authorized to hire a sum of money sufficient to pay the outstanding bills.
Voted: that the Wardens be a committee to address a note to the Rector, to be read before the congregation, making a statement of the expense of putting up stoves and pipes, and asking their pecuniary aid in liquidating the bills for the same.
February -, 1839. The following communication, laid be- fore the Vestry, was received and read :
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ANNALS OF TRINITY CHURCH,
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Union Church24 and Society, held on the 7th of January last, it was unanimously voted: that the thanks of the Church and Society be tendered to the Vestry of Trinity Church for the donation of a stove.
In behalf of said Church and Society :
JOHN REMOND, Chairman of the Trustees.
To the Vestry of Trinity Church,
Newport, Feby. 5, 1839.
April 1, 1839. Annual Meeting of the Corporation: the Rec- tor and 14 Corporators being present.
[Instead of the usual routine business the following action was taken.]
Voted: that a Committee be appointed to examine into the state of the finances, and to recommend to an adjourned meeting of the Corporation, to be held on the 29th inst. at 3 p. m., such measures as they think ought to be pursued for the future bene- fit of the Church.
Voted: that at all meetings of the above named committee, there must be fifteen members present, to constitute a quorum for business.
Voted: that the following named individuals compose the com-
24 THE UNION CHURCH, now known as the Union Congregational Church, was on Division street, on the site of the present commodious building owned by the Society. The founder of the Society may be said to have been Newport Gardner, who was brought to Newport a slave, when a lad, in 1760, and returned to Africa, in 1825, as a missionary, where he died at Liberia within six months of his arrival. He was altogether a remark- able man. He acquired a knowledge of English without losing his hold on his native tongue; was fond of music, learned to read and write it easily, and became a successful teacher of singing. Rev. Dr. Hopkins took a great deal of interest in him, and encouraged his ambitious desire to go back to Africa, where he hoped to be instrumental in converting and educating the natives.
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