USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > North Kingstown > Facts and fancies concerning North Kingstown, Rhode Island > Part 10
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Early in the 19th century, three well-known stores were located at the foot of what is now Main street and bordered on the cove. These were owned and run by Captain John Westcott, C. Allen Chadsey and Captain Thomas Baker respectively. The two latter merchants dealt also in coal.
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Captain Baker's coal heap was on the south side of Main street and C. Allen Chadsey's directly across the street on what is now James Reyonld's lawn. On Bay street, from Barber's Point to C. Allen Chadsey's store was located a ship-building plant in which William Hammond was actively interested.
These three stores at the foot of Main street were typical country stores. When the daily paper arrived, in late afternoon, the denisons of the lower town, all seafaring men, would gather in one or the other of these stores, usually in that presided over by C. Allen Chadsey. Then the late John Willis, a young man at that time, would mount an empty cheese box and give an exhaustive reading of the contents of the paper, while the men, clay pipes in their mouths, seated on stools, soap boxes and kegs gathered around a cast iron, pot-bellied stove in the center, and busied themselves cracking shagbark nuts and munching rock candy and crackers. Occasion- ally, one of the men would interrupt the reading by telling some pet joke of his own.
C. Allen Chadsey had formerly been an officer on a whaling vessel sailing out of New Bedford, and on the side he was an expert cooper. At these evening gatherings, he enjoyed telling the story of a man who came to him, holding a good sized bung in his hand and asked him to make a barrel to fit the bung. It would be late in the evening, after all the news had been gleaned from the paper, their stock of nuts eaten, their jokes exhausted and their pipes burned to ashes, that the men would, one after the other, slowly leave the shop and saunter to their homes.
In those days, storekeepers kept molasses in barrels. Captain John Westcott was unfortunate in having a rickety molasses barrel in which the bung sometimes became loose. At such times, he would call to his tenant on the upper floor above his store: "Hey, Mercy! I've got a molasses shower," and then he would proceed to mop up the molasses in a wash tub.
In the early days, coal was delivered to the various ports on Narragan- sett Bay and Providence River in small schooners which were frequently becalmed before reaching their destination, and would anchor in the harbor of Wickford to wait for a favorable wind. Then the crew would come ashore and purchase a large amount of groceries from the local stores. These purchases helped the local trade immensely.
It was an everyday sight to see carts heavily loaded and drawn by one pair, and often two pairs of oxen, slowly wending their way down Main street to the docks where schooners were awaiting their arrival. To these, their loads would be transferred. These carts would often come from long distances in the interior of the state.
On one occasion two yoke of oxen had brought a heavy load of oak bark from Hopkinton to the Wickford dock to be transferred to sailing vessels which would deliver it to a distant tannery. The unloading of the carts was a long and arduous task, and it was late in the afternoon when the oxen were on their way for the return trip. The driver, wearied by the labor of the day and lulled to a doze as the team followed its steady, even pace along the country road, had fallen asleep. Suddenly he was awakened by an unusual sound, and found himself beside the gibbet on which hung the bones of the man Carter, a murderer. These bones had been placed there to bleach and decay. A frisky young skunk was playing with them
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and causing the clanking sound; needless to say the driver felt a momentary sense of terror.
If we make our way up the Wickford Main street from the docks, we come to the old Gladding house which is near the corner of Pleasant street, and is now owned by the Mason family. This house is outstanding in interest because it, at one time, housed three different enterprises -- a coffin factory, a grocery and rum shop; and there was a school held in the north end of the house.
John Gladding, the proprietor of the coffin factory, delivered his coffins on a wheelbarrow, and on one occasion, while a funeral was being held, John Gladding was seen trundling his barrow upon which a coffin rested, up the street. John O. Lewis remembers making a friendly call upon the aged man and his wife, and he saw two coffin boxes reposing upon a shelf in the living room in which he was sitting.
If we continue up Main street to the west, we find other stores operat- ing during the early years. Benjamin Fowler, first president of Narragan- sett bank, sold West Indian goods on the corner of Fowler and Main streets, the bank building. His successor and son-in-law, Peleg Weeden, kept a jewelry store there later. The latter lived in the house across the street which he used for a silversmith's shop. The house was later occupied by the late Christopher Wightman. Carpet bags were also manufactured in Wickford and sold largely in New York.
Continuing up the north side of Main street, we come to a one story building, just east of the Wickford House, the north end of which formerly served as a young ladies' private school, and was taught by Miss Annie Porter, who later became Mrs. Philander Thomas. The building was moved from the south side of the street to its present location, and the front end was added. This place was later occupied by a man who kept a grocery store and who had a habit of tasting the different kinds of food he weighed, and was known at "the taster".
Next we come to the place of business of Robert Eldred, now known as the Wickford House. This must have been a combination hotel and store. I have in my possession a circular dated 1831 which reminds one of present day methods of department store advertising. It read as follows:
"Valuable Salve.
"Robert Eldred offers for sale at his Store in Wickford, and at his Store in Four Corners, formerly occupied by Samuel Brayton and Joseph Waite, and prepared only by him which he has purchased the recipe of from Joseph Buffington: It is excellent for Rheumatism, Nervous Headache, Weak and Lame Side, Bad Scalds and Brown Bruises and most kinds of Sores, and is probably the best draughts for Fevers that can be used. Direc- tions for using it will be given to purchasers at the time of purchase ..
"He has a few good Axes and Drawing Knives made by George Till- inghast; one large Grinding Stone and Shaft; one small ditto; one Emery Wheel, one Blacksmith's Bellows, and a quantity of old Iron; some Steel and Nail Rods. He also keeps constantly on hand Groceries in Wickford at the store above mentioned. He wishes to purchase wood for which he will give the best price and pay half Cash. Sellers of wood will please to call and try him.
Also, a Blacksmith's Shop to Let. Wickford 1831."
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A great deal of bartering was carried on in the early days. This is accounted for by the fact that little real money was in circulation.
Directly across the street from Robert Eldred's hotel was the one run by his brother Bryer Eldred, later known as the Narragansett Hotel.
We go a little farther to the west and come to a double house; now the property of Henry E. Dawson and wife. In the west end of this house in 1801 Richard Thomas kept a store in the basement, and in the east end J. G. Chadsey and son, from 1825 to 1849, sold dry goods and groceries. Calico was worth two shillings per yard at that time. Later Henry R. Reynolds succeeded the Chadseys, and Richard Thomas's son, Allen M. Thomas, moved farther up the street, and later had a store in the Avis Block wheer he and his son continued the business until the former's death in 1887 when his son Philander Thomas continued until his own death, some years later.
There was the old-time jewelry shop of Noel Freeborn, located in the brick building on Main street which, at one time, housed the Wickford savings bank. The proprietor died many years before, but his wife and daughter continued to carry on the business for some years after his death. The late William R. Talbot visited the shop in its latter days and was per- mitted to go into the attic, where he found a box containing 12 pairs of colonial brass candlesticks. He purchased the entire collection which is still in use by members of his family.
A little farther up the street, was the store of John J. Reynolds, (ex- Lieutenant Governor Reynolds) which he inherited from his father and ran until a few years before his death, at an advanced age. Across the street was the house in which Eliphalet Young ran an apothecary shop and which is now owned by Henry Bull Hamond of New York.
We next come, on the south side of the street, to the three story build- ing, erected by Allen, Page and Tucker and now occupied by the Wickford Standard office. This was the first attempt at a department store in this community. Tucker, of the above mentioned firm, ran a tin peddler's cart to accomodate the people living in the outlying districts. At that time, tin peddler's carts were very common but are long since obsolete.
This store was taken over by the firm of Clarke Potter and John Page, who were succeeded by Clarke Potter in his new Brown street store. Clarke Potter was a very popular store keeper and so considerate was he of his customer's welfare that he refused to close out any line of goods to a single customer, for fear of disappointing a prospective buyer. Mr. Potter always kept his violin near him in his store, and it required very little urging on the part of customers to induce him to give a demonstration of his skill in playing it.
On the corner of Main and Brown streets was the hardware store kept by Daniel Wall and son. Now we move on to the present Trading Post at the bridge. Here "Uncle Daniel Smith" came in 1849 and kept his fish market. Inside his shop he had a sign tacked on the wall which read:
"Two reasons why I do not trust you:
One because I do not know you The other-because I do."
Across the street from Uncle Daniel's was the store kept by Horatio Reynolds, whose clerk was the venerable Horace Shippee. Horatio had the
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reputation of carrying large sums of money in his pockets, which accounts for the fact that he was held up by a highwayman one night on his way to his home on what was called "Quality Hill', knocked down and relieved of a considerable sum of money. It was known that he always had one hundred dollars in change about his person. Among the local people he had the reputation of being immensely wealthy, but after his death is was discovered he had never been possessed of large means. It was for self glory that he encouraged the impression to be circulated that he was the richst man in the town.
On the east side of Bridge street, was the variety store with restaurant attached, kept for many years by Joseph Sealy whose clerk was the late James Tully. One day some young people belonging to the household of W. R. Talbot, and accompanied by a young Englishman, went to Joseph Sealy's restaurant to purchase ice cream. The clerk who waited on them was Jimmy Tully. In a spirit of fun the young man in the party handed Jimmy a one hundred dollar bill in payment of the order, expecting, of course, the latter would return it in dismay and plead his inability to make change. But such was not the case. In a few minutes, Jimmy returned with bills of all denominations as well as a goodly amount of specie in silver, asserting to the fact that our stores were equal to doing business on a large scale.
A little farther along on the same street we come to the paint shop owned by Gideon Hunt, father of the late Daniel Hunt and afterward run by the latter. Just across the street was a large jewelry factory, owned by the late James Eldred and which employed between sixty and seventy hands. This factory was later known as Vaughn Hall.
One industry, which has its beginning in the middle of the 19th century, continued its business until the hurricane destroyed it in the year 1938. I refer to the fishing business, started by the late John Lewis, Sr., and gradually increased by the entry of his sons into the company, until in the end it was a business of large proportions. When Mr. Lewis started to fish, he used a net which snared fish by their gills, but the former must be removed, at once, to prevent their being devoured by sharks which infested the waters of Narragansett Bay in great numbers at that time. It was a common sight to see whole wheelbarrow loads of the detested sharks wait- ing on the wharves to be taken to the farmers for fertilizer.
An experienced fisherman can tell by the temperature of the water, at entrance of the bay when to expect a herring run, and how large a run it will be to the sheltered inlets of the bay. Again, a seasoned fisherman can tell by the dandelions in his yard when to expect arrival of the scup, and by the abundance of dandelions, he will know in how large numbers to look for the run of scup.
The fish caught in early days were shipped to Providence on the sloop John Curtain. Later the railroad came into being and local freight facilities were introduced which shipped the barrels of fish to distant ports.
About one half mile beyond the center of the village of Wickford, on the Victory Highway, is Collation Corner, which in the early days pos- sessed considerable historical interest. It was here that a political party was . formed which was known as the Coalition Party, and it was here that, during the campaign of Andrew Jackson, a big feast was given by the
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latter's followers which was more than usual in its conviviality and hilartiy with plenty of wet goods dispensed. So the name, Collation Corner, has since clung to it.
It was here that, in the beginning of the 18th century the whipping post and punishment stocks were located There is an item in town records of October, 1739, noting a sum of money paid for repairing the whipping post and punishment stocks.
At the beginning of the 19th century, there was much trading going on at this spot, and we early find the name of Samuel Gardner associated with the corner. He was succeeded by his son, Absalom, who kept the store until it was burned by the hand of an incendiary in the year 1876.
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ACID DOCK, WICKFORD
The remains of Acid Dock can be seen between the prop- erty of Capt. Joseph Smith and Capt. Howard R. Mason on Pleasant Street. Wickford. On the dock was an acid works where birch wood was "tried out" for tar products, used in part for construction and maintenance of boats. The foundation of the engine used still remains on Capt. Smith's property. The factory was removed to Point Wharf at the end of Pleasant Street, and was later used as an oyster house.
Next we find the corner occupied by quite the most outstanding per- sonage in the town of the past generation. I refer to George T. Cranston, who conducted what was in the most literal sense of the word, a trading post. One could purchase anything here from a spool of thread to a swapped horse and every sort of commodity between. People, who for miles around, possessed any sort of merchandise which he or she wished to' dispose of, took it to George T. Cranston's store for trade, and they
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were never turned away empty. Farmers from home sections, as well as from miles distant in the interior of the state would load their work teams with farm products-butter, eggs, vegetables, as well as huckleberries, bar- berries and cranberries in their season-and guide old Dobbin the horse, to George T. Cranston's trading post, and in due season they would return with their equivalent in flour, sugar and, in fact, everything which is required to carry on a progressive household.
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Mr. Cranston also conducted an undertaking establishment and, in the last years of his life, was much in the political limelight, holding numerous. political offices.
Many are the original and good natured stories told about this unusual man. It was at a political rally, held in the former Vaughn Hall, Wickford, that Senator Cranston introduced the speaker and incidenally remarked: "I feel just as if my name is written on the tail feather of the American eagle." This was a homely way Mr. Cranston had of expressing his intense patriotism and love of his country, and it occurs to me that in reviewing the history of those early years, Mr. Cranston's heartfelt words were a fitting exponent of the spirit of those times.
THE OLD FOREST GRAVEYARD
LOUISE HAMILTON O'NEIL
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It was a forest graveyard I visited today, Where under a crude stone marker My great-great grandpa lay.
He fought so bravely years ago To insure his fellow man Who followed him down the years, A peaceful lifetime span. :
I put a tiny banner there, For he did not die in vain. He was a part of the rebel troops Who launched the first campaign.
And though none may come to see, I'll know that it is there. He was a man of whom I'm proud His immortal name to bear.
(The graveyard here described is situated on the farm of Mrs. Nellie E. Hamilton, and contains the grave of Zebulon Northup, a Revolutionary soldier.)
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MOWBRA CASTLE AND THE PHILLIPS FAMILY MARY KENYON HULING
ABOUT a mile south of Cocumcussoc, on the Post Road, stands Mowbra Castle, the home of the well known Phillips family of North Kings- town. The fanciful name of "Mowbra Castle" was given the place years ago by a woman friend of the family who found it in a book and thought it a fitting name for the old house. We find it also spelled "Mobra" and "Moira". Prior to this time it had been called "Phillips. Castle".
It is uncertain just when the house was built. Dates are given from 1695 to 1709, when the land was purchased from the Colony Agents by Samuel Phillips, but it is well known that most of the settlers had been living on the land for many years before the formal purchase. It is believed that the northern part of the house was built first, with a remarkable stone. chimney twenty feet square at its base, on the south end of the house, making it one of the stone-end houses of that time. The chimney has a handsome pilastered top, which has interested many architects.
The second part of the house, built on the stone end, was added by Samuel's son Christopher, it is supposed, for Christopher, Jr., sometime before 1750. Nearly two hundred years have passed since that time, but this part of the house has not been changed very much. In the large living room is a huge fireplace, with it mantelpiece nearly six feet above the hearth stone. At the side of the fireplace, cupboards are set into the chimney, having doors with one broad panel of wood at the bottom and small panes of glass set in the top. At each end of the mantel-piece are two small drawers to hold the pipes and tobacco of the menfolks.
The entire design of the wooden fireplace front is unique and inter- esting. It is claimed that the last descendant of the Phillips family to live in the house was offered two thousand dollars for this remarkable piece of old time workmanship, by a man who knew its value, but the offer was refused. The woodwork of this room was painted a rich dark red when the house was built, and the original paint has never been disturbed, but just grown mellow with age.
The doorways are low and narrow, except the door opening into the front hall. This door now stands unhinged inside the room and has hinges reaching nearly across its entire width. The adjoining room, evidently"the kitchen, also has an interesting fireplace front. A cupboard was built into the chimney directly over the fireplace, and had charming round-topped glass-paned doors. The chimney is much smaller than the one in the living room, and was built into the western end of the ell. It has been removed, however, and replaced with a modern one of brick. The job has never been completed, the floors and celiings revealing yawning gaps around this much smaller chimney.
The upstairs rooms are still unchanged with their beautiful fireplace fronts. The woodwork in one of these rooms is especially interesting, part of it being painted a soft gray, while the rest is grained in a quaint pattern with the same red as in the living room below. There are several small closets and cupboards opening from this room.
The north end or older part of "Mowbra Castle" was completely re-
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modeled some years ago when a two-story addition was added. A wide veranda built across the front of the entire house, changed the appearance of the place completely. Mrs. Mary Smith Arnold, who had this work done was the granddaughter of Christopher Low Phillips, and the last of the Phillips family to live in the old house. The garden was said to have been delightful, with two beautiful boxwoods standing like sentinels on either side of the walk which led to the front door. Since the death of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold the house and grounds have rapidly deteriorated. The hurricane of 1938, caused much havoc which has never been repaired. There are few signs of the old time beauty and dignity around "Mowbra Castle" today.
The men of the Phillips family held many important positions of honor and trust in the state and town. Samuel Phillips, the settler, was influential in town affairs and he and his son, Christopher, were deeply interested in St. Paul's church. Christopher Phillips was an intimate friend of Dr. MacSparran and was often mentioned in the Reverend Doctor's diary. Thomas Phillips, the eldest son, settled in the part of North Kingstown which was later incorporated as the town of Exeter, and it is supposed had some influence in naming the new town, Exeter, in memory of the Phillips family's home in Exeter, England.
The Honorable Peter Phillips, son of Christopher, held many important positions during his life time. He was State Senator and was elected Com- missary Officer of the Army of Observation, a body of 1500 men raised by this state, of which Nathanael Greene was elected Brigadier General. He was one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the state from 1780 to 1786. He was an associate of Chief Justice William Ellery of Newport, one of the Rhode Island signers of the Declaration of Independence. Judge Phillips held many other public offices, but shortly after 1795, he declined all offices and retired to enjoy his handsome estate, noted for its beautiful grounds and gardens, facing the harbor on Pleasant street in Wickford. Some years after his death the house fell into ruin and was torn down and another was built on its site. Judge Phillips was known as a man of considerable property and a polished gentleman, and was always dressed with great neatness.
Major Samuel Phillips, son of Christopher, Jr., was born at "Mowbra Castle" in 1749, and perhaps is the best known of the Phillips family. In August, 1776, Samuel Phillips was commissioned by John Hancock, Presi- dent of the United Colonies, as Captain of the Sixth Company of the First Regiment of the Brigade raised by this state, for the American Army. In 1777, as a volunteer, he commanded one of the boats in the expedition led by Colonel Barton for the capture of the British General Prescott. In 1778, he was Captain of a company in Sullivan's expedition in Rhode Island and the next year he entered the naval service, serving as lieutenant under Com- mander George Waite Babcock aboard the Mifflin, a ship of 20 guns. They cruised up and down the coast and had many interesting and exciting ex- periences. Once his ship was captured by the British and he with others, was taken to Ireland and held prisoner for two months, but by the assistance of a friend escaped and sailed to the Orient. After some time he was able to get back to America, and soon after he was called as first lieutentant on the cutter, "Assurance," and sailed down the southern coast. Cruising
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along the coast off the Island of Jamaica they captured an enemy's ship called the "Jove". As some of the crew on board the Assurance had the small-pox, the commander was somewhat handicapped. Major Phillips, having had the small-pox, persuaded Captain Potter to let him take command of the prize and go to Havanna. Owing to storms and other misfortunes he was obliged to land in the Bay of Mexico. Hearing that peace had been declared, he returned home in August, 1783. Major Phillips kept a journal of his ex- periences, which ended in this manner: "As an individual, I have ever striven hard and suffered much to help the independence of my country, which I ever held near and dear to me; and am ready to step forth again and oppose any power whatever, that shall endeavor to trample or other- wise injure my country and her rights."
Major Phillips lived in quiet and peace at "Mowbra Castle" for a few years. At the time of the threatened rupture with France in 1799, he was commissioned as lieutenant by President Adams, and served on the "General Greene" under Captain Raymond Perry. After the treaty with France, he returned to his farm where he died in 1808. He was an accomplished gentleman and sustained a character of honor and integrity.
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