USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Watch Hill > Early land holders of Watch Hill > Part 3
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
Point. At first two side roads were laid out to run to the Bay from this road; these side roads were called the Plimpton Road and the Larkin Road. Later a cut was made through the hills down to the Bay and was called Wauwinnet Avenue; this avenue connected with Bay Street which also connected the West ends of Plimpton and Larkin Roads. In 1894 the first of the Toonerville Trolleys made their runs to the Hill. At that time when a car came to a hill and, for some reason or other, the Skipper was unable to make the grade it was a case of "all out and push" the car over the hill. When the local trolley company was absorbed by a traction company, one could go from the Hill to New London or Norwich. With the march of time and the coming of the autos the trolley company soon threw up the sponge, and now the Hill is served by buses. On the other hand, in the early days the really pleasant way to come to the Hill was by boat, as there were a number of steamboats making Watch Hill one of their terminals, and, as my good friend Mr. Everett Barns in his book on the steam- boats of Westerly has gone over the ground so very carefully and thor- oughly, it is useless for me to add anything. Today the steamboats are only a memory.
The "Little School House" was built on land sold to the School District by George Nash. It was a small unpretentious building being about ten feet by twenty-five and having a seating capacity of from twelve to nineteen .pupils. Many of the natives of that time received their education there. It was built about 1852 and served for 49 years, after which the Watch Hill pupils were taken to the Avondale school by stage when the town of Westerly absorbed the School District. Since the closing of the Avondale school the Watch Hill children go to Westerly.
To James L. Howard should go the honor for building, in 1870, the first house at the Hill to be used exclusively as a summer residence. This house was built on the site of the cottage now owned by the Hon. T. H. Newberry. Albert Crandall sold his house to ex-Governor Catlin ; James S. Nash sold his to E. K. Hunt and with these sales these houses became summer residences. As I pen these lines I read in The Westerly Sun of a fire that swept the interior of the old house of James S. Nash, on the evening of April 28, 1936.
In 1876 George Nash gave the land where now stands the Watch Hill Chapel. It wasn't until the summer of 1887 that dedication ser- vices were held in the new chapel. From that time onward the chapel has been added to and renovated until we have the beautiful and im- pressive looking building of today. It is truly a Union Chapel ; Mass is held in the early morning; a service is held by a visiting clergyman during the forenoon, and in the evening the colored people hold a service in the basement. In the basement there is also a heated room which was used as a Sunday School room during the winter by the natives in the good old days when Watch Hill could boast of a large winter popula- tion.
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
During 1879 the first Life Saving Station was opened with Joshua P. Clark in charge. Heretofore there was only a lifeboat under cover to be used by any volunteers that might happen to be among those present when an occasion arose for its use. Watch Hill had always needed a Life Saving Station, but it took the big noise that went up about the Metis matter to inoculate the government with the idea that such a station was needed and might be beneficial; even at that it took about seven years for the inoculation to take effective effect.
There was a time during 1886 that Watch Hill, together with Lotteryville, petitioned the General Assembly at Providence to be set aside as a town, but through a technicality the Legislature was unable to act on the proposal. The main grievance seemed to be that West- erly was "not doing right by our Nell." The amount of taxes collected by the town from this locality then was about twenty-five hundred dol- lars annually, and very little of this amount was being spent in main- taining the local roads which were in a very sad state.
Prior to 1901 Watch Hill's landscape was dotted here and there with many windmills pumping water up from as many wells to supply their owners with running water. But with the granting of the Watch Hill Fire District Charter and the piping of Westerly water to the Hill, the windmills have become a thing of the past and have vanished, though today two of the more elaborate and substantial ones remain. One of them is located on the property of the late Vachel Anderson. The other, after more than thirty-five years, is still in a good state of preservation, and even today at times the big wheel can be seen revolv- ing with the wind. Better look out Mr. Hale or Mr. Ford will get it! During 1909-1910 the Fire District secured a bill from the General Assembly creating the Park Commission and allowing them to buy the land and buildings on the West side of Bay Street from Frank Larkin's line to the property of Wm. H. Peck. At the time there was a number of ugly looking shacks on part of this property. These shacks were torn down and the water front improved. At the same time the Dis- trict assumed control of the Plimpton and Watch Hill docks, the latter dock used to be called the Larkin dock, and of the Shore Dinner House long famous for its shore dinners put up by "Whale Larkin." The Dis- trict rented this house for a number of years before it was torn down to make way for a parking space. Quite recently the old stone wall on the waterfront was removed, and a new one built with a walk along the top of it. At the same time a fine new Fire Station was built to house the District's three pieces of fire fighting apparatus.
Shortly after the Spanish-American War somebody sold the gov- ernment the idea that a fort was needed on the West end of Napatree Point. So the War Department acquired possession of a large tract of land on the West end of the Naps, including all of Sandy Point. When the fort was constructed it was named Fort Mansfield. The fort was equipped with six guns from eight-inch ones down. This fort was supposed to protect the passage between Watch Hill Point and
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
Fisher's Island. During 1906 or 1907 the Navy and the Army fought a sham battle here. The Navy under command of Admiral R. D. Evans landed safely on the East Beach, out of reach of the fort's guns, and charged down the Fort Road. The landing party was under the pro- tecting fire of the ships' guns, so the referees gave the Navy the de- cision. If the fort had been equipped with high angle mortars, the fleet would not have been able to approach the coast and land marines ("first to land") and sailors without hindrance. For that reason the fort was later abandoned with a sergeant's guard as caretakers. During the World War the guns were taken away, placed on special mounts and used in France. It was during 1926 that the War Department sold the land and buildings by auction to a group of Watch Hill cottage people. With depression times upon them, the cottagers were unable to carry the load, and the Bank was left to hold the bag.
On the evening of October 19, 1916, Watch Hill was visited by a terrible conflagration. The results would have been much worse, but for a drenching rain that fell for a long time previously. This rain did a good job in wetting down many cottages that otherwise surely would have gone up in smoke. The fire, which started on an upper floor of the Watch Hill House, was fanned by a strong East wind, and from lack of proper equipment, the volunteer firemen were unable to stem the tide. The Volunteers under command of Chief Walter H. Nash, assisted by help and apparatus from Westerly and Pawcatuck; battled a losing fight. Soon Mr. Hastings' cottage, just West of the Watch Hill House, caught and went like a tinder box. At the time Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were residing there. Mrs. Hastings, being very sick, was carried out just in time. The next house to go was Miss Bush's, and after hers the'Colonial House was soon but a smoking pile of embers. By this time the only motor pump within twenty-five miles arrived from Mystic, and it was credited with saving the lower floors of the Columbia House that had started to burn. Besides the Volunteer Firemen that served at this fire, great credit should also go to the Coast Guard and the Sergeant's squad from Fort Mansfield. It was this fire that awoke the voters to the fact that better fire protection was urgently needed; so the LaFrance pumper was purchased and many times since has more than paid for itself. The old Buick hose truck was later disposed of, when a new chemical and hose truck was purchased. The latest piece of apparatus acquired was the hook and ladder truck. These pieces of apparatus are now under the able command of Chief George W. Hoxic.
The early Post Office at Watch Hill shared a small building with the ticket office. This building was at the head of the Watch Hill dock. When the postal business outgrew this building Winslow York, the Postmaster, erected a building on the West side of Bay Street. When this part of the village was improved the post office building was moved to its present site. Quite a number of years ago the post office lost its rating as a post office and was made a station of Westerly. Sad
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
to relate it also lost a postmaster, though it now has a superintendent. Up to a few years ago this office was opened all year, but with the New Dealers in full power the office has been closed from November first to May first much to the discomfiture of its steady patrons.
Winslow N. York was the son of Captain Joseph C. York and Elizabeth Segar Potter. He was a descendant of James York and Joannah who migrated to America on the good ship Philip landing in Virginia, June 20, 1635. He settled in Stonington about 1660. Wins- low York married Rhoda M. Burdick and they had three children, Leon, Edmund, and Hazel. Edmund York is the present superintendent of the Watch Hill Post Office.
At one time there were two burying grounds on the Hill, Nash and Foster. The Nash burying ground was on the site of the Ocean House; the bodies that had been interred there have been removed and reinterred in the River Bend Cemetery. The Foster burying ground was located just to the West of Wauwinnet Avenue between the en- trance to the Misses Moore's place and the cottage of S. G. Rea. The Foster bodies have all been removed to River Bend Cemetery along with others that were interred there. At the present time there are a few graves to be found there. Two still have legible inscriptions.
In Memory of Israel Cudworth died Decemr ye 26 1740 In ye 35 year of his age.
This stone is of slate and is in a fairly good state of preservation; there is also a foot stone marked "1740".
The other stone is sandstone, and hasn't fared so well, as it is flaking badly and has a piece broken off an upper corner.
In Memory - Thomas, son -- Thomas & Abigail Wilcox who died Sep 18th 180- aged 2 year 2 Mons & 16 Da- Sleep sleep sweet babe & take thy rest God called thee home he saw it best.
Besides those inscribed stones, there are a number of graves marked with plain flat field stones. Perhaps under one of those nameless graves sleeps Hezekiah Wilcox or one of the other early settlers of this locality. The first Pendletons were buried on the Southerly tip of Avondale, called Graves' Point.
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EARLY LAND HOLDERS OF WATCH HILL
It would be sad indeed if I failed to bring to light the fact that from time to time during the last century people have spent many long weary hours digging for pirates' gold, which turned out to be not unlike trying to get to the end of a rainbow, for the pot of gold that we are told is there. For what place along these shores hasn't been visited by a Captain Kidd to bury his ill-gotten gold? NEWS FLASH : "A person was reported as having found a crock of gold coins among the rocks on the Point." May God preserve the Point.
And, "The man stepped on a piece of tin, The tin bended, And the story ended."
ERRATA
On Page No. 19: It should read: "Serving as an annex it stood ther for a number of years until the land was sold to Sophie Moen who later sold to Miss Bush, etc."
On Page No. 24: The name "Hale" should be spelled "Haile."
The two maps on the following pages and their division lines are drawn approximately ; the divi- sion lines have been laid out according to my con- ception from reading the description of the bounds in the different deeds. It took a lot of time, gaining a clue from this deed, and a clue from that deed, and then working them together ; it was a great task, as a good hard Jig-saw Puzzle would prove.
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I
#9
1
#5
#6
PawcaTUCK BỘY
#10
BRICH HILL POND
#3
#11
CLAY HOLO POND
#12
SOUND
WATCH HILLER.I. 1736-1829
Watch Hill Point
sea or ocean
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1736-1829
The double line on the North is the Syndicate Line.
Lot No. 9 Nathan Randall to Edmond Pendleton, Jr. 1738 Lot No. 9 Pendleton to Isaac Sheffield 1742
All land South of the heavy line, Caleb Pendleton, Jr. to Robert Hannah 1736
The light solid lines are the division lines of the Robert Hannah estate-1740
Lot I to Nathaniel Helme (Mary Hannah)
Lot II to Elizabeth Hannah (John Potter)
Lot III to Tabitha Hannah (a third went to Potter and two thirds to the other two heirs after Tabitha's death)
Lot IV to Catherine Hannah (Joseph Holway)
Lots Nos. 1, 3 and 4 Edmond Pendleton, Jr., to Isaac Sheffield 1745
Lot No. 7 Joshua Rathbun to Oliver Steward 1746
Lots Nos. 2, 5, 6, and 8 John Potter to Edmond Pendle- ton, Jr., 1748
Lots Nos. 2, 5, 6, and 8 Pendleton to Elisha Willcocks 1753 Lots Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 9 Sheffield to Jonathan Foster 1754 Lot No. 7 Steward to Jonathan Foster 1756
Lots Nos. 11 and 12 to James Wells, Jr., (Ruth Hannah) 1758, heir of Robert Hannah
Lot No. 10 to Desire Hannah 1758, heir of Robert Hannah
Lot No. 5 Elisha Willcocks to Edward Willcocks 1758 Lot No. 6 Elisha Willcocks to Hezekiah Willcocks 1758 Lot No. 5 Edward Willcocks to Jonathan Foster 1759 1/2 of Lot No. 2 Elisha Willcocks to Hezekiah Willcocks 1759
Lots Nos. 11 and 12 Wells to Peter Burdick 1764 Lot No. 7 Jonathan Foster to Jonathan Foster, Jr. 1768 Lots Nos. 11 and 12 Burdick to Wm. Griffith 1768 Lots Nos. 11 and 12 Griffith to Hezekiah Willcocks 1771 Lot No. 12 Willcocks to Jonathan Foster 1772 By Will of Jonathan Foster:
Lots Nos. 1, 9, and 12 to George Foster 1781
Lots Nos. 3, 4, and 7 to Jonathan Foster's Heirs 1781 Lot No. 8 Hezekiah Willcocks to Peleg Willcocks 1789 Lot No. 11 Hezekiah Willcocks to Peleg Barber 1802 Lot No. 10 Hannah Anthony (heir of Desire Hannah) to Peleg Barber 1805
Watch Hill Point to U. S. A. by George Foster 1806 Lots Nos. 10 and 11 Barber to Jonathan Nash 1822 Lots Nos. 6 and 7 Deputy Sheriff to Jonathan Nash 1826 12 of Lot No. 2 Trustum Dickens to Jonathan Nash 1828 and 1829
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FOSTER'S Covr.
VILY ROAD
PawCaTUCK Bay
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7
2
BRICK HILL POND
(II)
6
1
KLAY HOLE PonD
sea or ocean
$10
Sound
WATCH HILL, R. I. 1829~1848
TON ROAD
BAY STREET
# 8
1
1829-1848
Double line on the North is the Syndicate Line.
Between the heavy lines: Jonathan Nash holdings. Nash's land sold as follows:
Lot No. 1 Jonathan Nash to Henry Dickens 1839 Lot No. 2
« to George M. Nash 1839 Lot No. 3 to Nathan Nash 1840 Lot No. 7 " to Albert Crandall 1843 Lot No. 6 to George M. Nash 1844 Lot No. 4 " to Winslow Nash 1845
Lot No. 5 "
to Joseph C. Nash 1845
Lot No. 2 George M. Nash to Henry Dickens 1846 Lots Nos. 9 and 11 Heirs of Jonathan Nash to Lemuel Vose 1848 Lot No. 8 Heirs of Jonathan Nash to George M. Nash 1848 Each side of the two heavy lines, George Foster to Clarke Davis 1834 and Davis to Lemuel Vose 1848
Lot No. 13 Heirs of Peleg Wilcox and assignees
Lot No. 12 Nathan Fitch
Lot No. 14 Foster burying ground
Lot No. 15 Napatree Point section
THE UTTER COMPANY, PRINTERS WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND
F-845945.67
605M -
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