USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > North Kingstown > Facts and fancies concerning North Kingstown, Rhode Island > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
27
and we waited for Elder Albro who was expected, but he did not come. It seemed to me I dare not omit speaking. After some time I got up and mentioned a text and spoke awhile and then endeavored to pray. From that time some seemed to want me to go forward and others to pull me back." From this rather unique beginning "Preacher Pardon" went through life preaching whenever or wherever he had the opportunity with more or less acceptance.
For over fifty years Betsy Ann Briggs, better known as "Blind Betsy", who lived a short distance away, was an outstanding figures in the Stony Lane Church, of which she was the caretaker to the end of her days, in early 1900. Though blind from early childhood, she walked with firm and stately step, as she tramped alone and unguided about the lonely country roads. She was always the first one at the church on the Sabbath day, and as time went on and most of the older members had passed away, frequently there would be only four or five persons present, with no one to bring the gospel message. "Blind Betsy", tall and thin, with snowy hair, and bearing the expression of an inspired prophetess would take charge of the service. She would tell of her faith in God, and of her spiritual sight which was of more value to her than any physical sight could be. In the minutes of a business meeting held June 30, 1855, Betsy A. Briggs, reported that she had caused the meeting house to be painted, also that she had collected the subscription money and paid the bills. In the October business meeting of the same year, it was voted to have the locust trees in the church yard cut down, to sell the butts, and use the tops to warm the meeting house.
At the October business meeting, in 1876, Miss Ellen A. Whitford was appointed to collect $9.50 to pay for a stove. It is believed that the same stove is used to heat the building at the present time whenever there is any occasion for it.
The Sweet family who live near by have always taken much interest in the old church and have assumed leadership in having services there from time to time. In 1915, Mrs. Washington Sweet started a Sunday School there which continued for many years and was kept up by her daughter, Miss Mae Sweet, until about 1934, when there were few children left in the community to attend. Mr. Foster Sweet, as have many others before him, has had the grave yard cleared of bushes and brambles, but the poison ivy, briars and wild cherry trees continue to grow in spite of these efforts and the place is now in a very much overgrown condition.
We little realize today what the early churches meant to the commun- ities, and how far spread was their influence. In the old records, we find the following item, which reads in part, "August 31, 1769, a request was made by a number of our bretheren living in Richmond, asking for liberty to building a meeting house in Richmond, and also for permission to em -. bodiate." Their request was granted at the next business meeting. Six years later, February 11, 1775, notice was given the North Kingstown Church that the General Meeting had given advice for Elder Wightman and his Church to give their bretheren and sisters over to the care of Elder Pendleton of Richmond. This was signed by 29 members. Thus the "Old Baptist" has been the mother of two other churches, the Exeter Baptist .Church at Chestnut Hill and the Six Principle Baptist Church of Richmond town. There were no entries in the record book from June 2, 17776 to
28
د
June 1, 1827. The General Six Principle Baptist Association was organized in 1670. The name Six Principle was give to it by its founders because they took for their distinguishing faith and belief the principles contained in the sixth chapter of Hebrews, first and second verses which read thus: "There- fore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying the foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God. Of the doctrine of baptism, and the laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do if God permit."
The doctrine of baptism is, of course, in their belief as in all Baptist churches. The only great point of doctrine in which they differ from the established Baptist Church is the rite of "laying on of hands." They are often called "General" Baptists, because they believe in general atonement. Sometimes they are good naturedly called "Hard Shells" because they have always been so strict in their beliefs. The denomination grew rapidlly in influence and size. In 1729 there were 13 flourishing churches in New Eng- land, which were nearly all in Rhode Island. It remained thus for two or three generations, and then began as rapidly to decline, and by the time of the Revolutionary War had decreased astonishingly in number and strength.
Benedict's History of the Baptists, Vol. 1, page 505, speaks of the (supposed) first Association held in 1729, to be "the largest assembly of brethren they had ever seen." Thirteen churches were represented and the North Kingstown church was mentioned among them.
With the founding of other churches and the passing away of the old members, there are few left to take an interest in the historic "Old Baptist Church." Two services were held there in the fall of 1934, with Rev. Arthur C. Lambourne, President of the Providence Bible Institute, in charge of the services. He was assisted by several other ministers from the neighboring churches. A fire was kindled in the small iron stove near the pulpit to offset the fall chill which had penetrated the one-rom building. The 17 box-like pews began to fill long before the service started. One hundred and ten persons from all parts of the state occupied the little church and the over- flow was standing outside near the door. It has been the plan of the Associ- ation to old a meeting there each fall, and they have met with great success.
There is something about these sacred old places which seem to draw the people back occasionally for a glimpse into the past with the feeling that sometime their ancestors might have sat in these same straight-backed seats and listened to the long sermons that the old-time preachers felt it their duty to deliver. We hope that there were not as many wasps there then as there seem to be today. They come from every nook and corner as the room gets warm, and whiz about to the discomfiture of the congregation; they are no respecters of persons, as the speaker has to keep on the alert or suffer the consequences.
The Meeting House is in fair condition. It was painted in 1931, under the supervision of Mr. Charles Webster, a faithful member of the Six Principle Association. The September hurricane of 1938 caused some dam- age to the roof and chimney but that was soon repaired by Mr. Webster. Years ago there used to be spit boxes full of sawdust or earth in the pews to accommodate the men-folks who chewed tobacco while they listened and meditated.
29
i
:
,
An amusing story is told by Mrs. Susie Sprague Hoxsie, a descendant of Elder David Sprague who preached at The Stony Lane church prior to 1750, which proves that boys have always been boys. Elder Sprague had a son Solomon, born April 2nd, 1730. One Sunday, when Solomon was a young lad, and his father was preaching in the meeting house, he gathered a number of the younger generation together in a deep hollow across the road, and told them not to go to the church and listen to the rantings of David (his father) but to stay with him and listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
It is claimed that young Sprague preached a fine sermon to his young friends that day. Several years later, Solomon Sprague was ordained in his father's church in Exeter and led a very useful life, for he was a physician as well as a preacher.
Yes, time passes on, and no one will ever know the amount of good accomplished in our country by having "a Meeting House in Kingston for the service and worship of God."
A NORTH KINGSGTOWN FEUD
Peirce vs. Congdon
NELLIE CAMPBELL HAMILTON
A CURIOUS and interesting event took place on the old Congdon Farm in Hamilton a hundred years ago. There were no public or town roads in those days, but there was a law that any citizen had a right to get to the shore through anyone's ground, with horses or oxen; so there were always "cartpaths" about once in so far apart. The cartpath leading through the Congdon farm was at the identical spot, where the gate is now, two or three rods north of the mill dam. The right of way was given but no damage must be done to anything in the lot through which people passed. In those early days there were feuds between big families. The placid waters of the community would be troubled and everyone would take issue on one side or the other.
A feud had arisen between the Peirce brothers and the Congdons who had forbidden the Peirces to pass through their grounds. The villagers were watching the progress of events and were rubbing their hands and chuckling in anticipation of fun. They were hustling to one side or the other of the question and it was being discussed on every corner. At last Giles Peirce with his sons started for the front with their ox team. They stopped at every farm house along the way. Everywhere they got reinforcements of men and . teams. There were in line probably 25 men and 20 ox teams. The Congdons, in order to stop passage through their grounds, had plowed and planted corn
30
2
=
1
1
in the whole lot, path and all; but the army of which Giles Peirce was king was not to receive a check. He knew just how matters stood and had looked on all sides of the case. He had the right of way through that field with his team and every man with him had that same right of way but, on the other hand, no damage must be done to Congdon's corn. It was like the case in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice; the Jew had a right to a pound of flesh out of Christian's body, but in taking it not a drop of Christian blood must be shed. However the gate was thrown wide open and Giles Peirce, swinging his ox lash and shouting "Ge, Haw, get up" and much more which none but the oxen could understand, led his columns in zig zag directions, right wheel movements, left reverse, double quick, paces and changes, right through the midst of that field of corn.
Old Congdon, though well along in years, was strong as iron and he and his half dozen sons stood in the way and swung their fists with effect. Among the invaders were six muscular sons of David Green, Esq. They just relished the encounter and sprang at the Congdons. It was an interest- ing time that day in the tall corn and ere the victory rested with the invaders, there were several sore heads and several men were carried off the field with black eyes as souvenirs. It was a triumph for the Peirces and their followers for miles in every direction.
There was at least one element in that army of invasion that thought itself in Paradise, and that was the oxen. They feasted all the way on the corn. Of course this energetic action did not bring about more amiable relations between these big families and each waited some convenient season to pay back the other with interest, but the people had a great time over it and laughed and made up songs and handed the story down from generation to generation. One of the songs ran something like this:
"'Twas on an August day when winds blew soft and gay,
That warning legions filled the road
With cart and oxen, proud they strode.
There were Peirce, Gardiner and Cole and Northups, Uncouth lean and droll
There were a lot of notable ones, old David Green And his stalwart sons.
And there on the road the note to indorse, sat
Major Northup on his horse.
Giles Peirce rode sternly at the head, On wrath and fury he had fed.
In words that were loud and full of scorn,
He vowed he'd ruin that field of corn. He warned the Congdons to shun his wrath,
Nor rashly venture across his path.
Old Congdon growled like a lion's roar, 'You'll never reach that bloody shore.' He and his sons plied fierce their fists, And smote the foemen and never missed; But soon the savage battle was done Old Giles' rank had the victory won."
31
7
-
CKFO
WICKEDRy OUST
+1
--
Sketch by Lombard, 1913
THE WICKFORD HOUSE
TAVERNS
BERTHA MAE NICHOLS
TAVERNS were the center of much influence in the community life of early days, being used for assemblies, parties, courts, town meetings, and council meetings . (The Town House, on West Main Street-now used by the American Legion-was not built until 1807.) Some taverns were used as headquarters on training days in the Revolutionary War period when men from all over the outlying district came into Wickford to train for active military duty. The tavern keeper always made provisions for training day by laying in an extra stock of liquor. In the old stage coach days, it was a picturesque sight to see coaches drawn up before taverns with passengers from Providence, New London, Kingston and other points.
THE WICKFORD HOUSE
This old colonial tavern retains to this day its fame as a noted inn, although for a period of many years it was used as a dwelling house. It was built in 1769 on the Grand Highway, now Main Street in Wickford, and is now owned by Clarence Parker.
Col. Hunter White in his Wickford Houses says of it: "This house un- doubtedly received its greatest notoriety in what might be called the bicycle days when Mother Prentice ran the place and served dinners to out-of-town parties. The reputation of Wickford House dinners was certainly state-wide and was probably known throughout a much wider section. In those days in winter time sleighing parties made the tavern their destination."
YE OLDE NARRAGANSETT TAVERN
David Potter and Timothy Dean together built a house in 1773 on land which they bought of Robert Potter the previous year on the southwest corner of Main and Wall Streets
During most of its existance this house was used at a tavern. It was originally called "Ye Narragansett Tavern" and later known as the Narra- gansett Hotel. Its sign was a big bunch of grapes crudely carved out of wood. During its career as a tavern it sheltered all the celebrities who at one time or another passed through Wickford.
Enjoying as the village did a period of great business activity in the decade or so following the Revolution, many notables stopped at this house. It was to this building the episode belongs in which John Randolph of ·Roanoke figured.
Randloph and a New England conferee in the United States Senate had been touring New England looking after political affairs, and at every stopping place had been offered pork in one of its numerous forms, until Randolph at last longed for a change. Arriving at the Wickford tavern his companion cheerily asked the landlord what there was for supper. "Well, we've got some fine quahaugs" said the landlord. "Great Heavens, hog again", said Randolph bitterly.
Benjamin Franklin on his journey in behealf of the postal department stopped there.
33
=
-
Beriah Eldred bought the property in 1805 from Eli Bailey. Mrs. Betsy Cook, who died many years ago at an advanced age, is authority for the statement that her father was mustered in as a Revolutionary soldier in the old taproom at the northwest corner of the house.
There are thirteen rooms altogether in the ancient structure, eight of them sleeping rooms. The building is one of two chimneys, with fire places in every room. The entire front of the second floor was a hall for dancing and village meetings. A peculiarity of construction is that the west end is brick from sills to peak.
It was purchased in 1839 by Stanton W. Congdon from Samuel Carr for $1,100. It remained in the Congdon family for 96 wears, being used most of the time as a tavern. In 1935 L. Rodman Nichols, its present owner, purchased the property from Maria Congdon.
The Providence stage made the Narragansett Tavern its stopping place, and there passengers made connection for the villages to the south. The New York bound coaches of that day were running via the New London turnpike.
OTHER TAVERNS
The small house on the southeasterly corner of Main and Fountain streets in Wickford, now owned by Mrs. Clarke Potter, was at one time used as a tavern. As taverns were small in those days, there was need of many of them to house the many sailors and others when the vessels came to Wickford Harbor.
Another building still standing on the northerly side of Main Street between Pleasant and Fowler Streets, was erected in 1770 and has been used as a tavern, a public hall, a singing school, an evening school for children, and a dwelling house. When Benjamin Fowler Spink kept a tavern there his license for many years carried the provision that no person of color could dispense strong drink. The building is now owned by the Mason family.
The Inn of George Tennant in Wickford was for several years previous to 1816 used by the Wickford Fire Engine Company (chartered in 1803) for its meetings at a cost of $1.00 per meeting.
THE HAVEN TAVERN
The Haven Tavern (replaced by a colonial house now owned by Walter Randall) was situated on the Post Road about two miles north of Wickford. Here Madame Knight stopped one night on her way by stage coach from Providence to New York. She complained that she could get no sleep till the early hours of the morning for, since the partitions of its rooms were very thin, she could hear men in the "great room" laughing and talking loudly while drinking their liquor.
34
:
£ ...
·
1
STONY LANE 1774598
HELEN TALBOT PORTER
M IANTINOMI was harnessed into the phaeton for the ride. The phaeton with the "dickie" for we took one of the children and you sat beside me.
Yes, we drove up Stony Lane!
We started from Barberry Hill at Franklin Corner (now Talbot's Corner). The road from the village was almost dusty and the hill was steep at the end. Wickford Main Street ran right into the front gate at Barberry Hill, you remember that.
In the days when J. S. Vaughn owned it, there were eight stone walls running parallel to the path from the front gate and it was this Mr. Vaughn, I believe, who raised the house and put the new story under it, adding the big square cupola. The high ceilings and long front windows make the house look modern now, but each chimney has a good open fire place. The second story and the attic show the age of the house, when it was one of the inns on our Post Road from Boston to New York.
As we drove out of the gate, the Katydid Cottage was opposite. A house built of three little houses, for the ell was the small house that orig- inally stood on the corner close to the road. W. R. Talbot moved it back and bought a building near the Hunt house that had been used for a store, placing that in front of the small house. He also bought the church of the "Holy Rollers", I think they were called, and moved that over from the Ten Rod Road (The Victory Highway).
Across the road from the Katydid was the rocky corner with a high stone wall on top. That was hard to climb, but we often scrambled over it and "went blackberrying" in those pastures. The sumac grew so high there, it always seemed to be signaling to us to come over the wall.
The little G. S. Holloway house peeped out of a grassless orchard of old apple trees, never to be forgotten by those who lived near. When we passed it their black dog was sitting on top of his dog house, he never seemed to go inside.
Next we came to the Ben Smith house (Mr. Lester's now). Plain, old- fashioned, standing above the road with a big hospitable chimney in the center of it. I think it was Ben Smith who had such a keen eye for build- ing New England stone walls.
Then there was the S. Hall house (now owned by Walter Rodman) another lovely old landmark. We hitched Miantinomi at the gate and walked in to look at the well with its long well-sweep and most thrilling of all, to see the live trout in the well. Staring into its cool dark depths we were rewarded by a glimpse of the very lively fish.
Hall's Rocks piled up behind the house, and half way up we peered into the "devil's cave," with its narrow rock seat on the east side "for the little devils."
Up, up, up and what a view of Narragansett Bay, with "Fishin' Cove" and Sauger Point a little to the left, while Wickford with its church steeples and white houses nestled peacefully on the right.
35
-
..
1
٠٠٠
Trees all over and around Hall's Rocks. Big oak trees, on which many hearts were carved and initialed. Each two hearts joined by an arrow. But you would not tell me who carved yours!
It was not far to the G. F. Nichols house (now Warren Sherman's) where the big stone chimney takes up more than half of the wall in the room on the north side. A rare specimen of a New England farm house, a part of which is about 250 years old.
In front of it is almost the exact spot where our rugged Roger Williams ran his Trading Post. Of course, I told you of when enemy Indians chased him, he escaped them by wearing snow-shoes back side front. But how he loved the Indians in Rhode Island and how they loved and trusted him! You and I agreed that day that we must some day have a monument there to mark our devotion to a great man and an historic spot.
We let Miantinomi trot past Cocumcussoc Farm. In this book it has a chapter all its own, but one thing I want you to remember-Ezra Thomas, Captain and Mate of Clipper Ships, who came home with his treasures to the cottage on the Post Road near "Collation Corner" owned the gold watch chain that belonged to Richard Smith who lived at Cocumcussoc when it was the Block House. The chain was lost when Capt. Ezra's house was burned to the ground.
We passed the red gate, too, where History tells us the widow of a debtor was married "in her shift" to prove she took nothing away with her.
After passing that gate we turned into Stony Lane.
The first house on the right was the H. Smith house (later destroyed by fire) with the old Smith cider mill, where for generations cider was made and sold. We stopped again and got out to see the patient farm horse plodding round and round and round, squeezing the cider apples, while the apple juice ran out on all sides into the wooden trough surrounding the cider press.
We drank, with straws, all the cider we wanted out of the barrels with- out charge. Then, when we had sampled many and chosen one, Mr. Smith sold us what we wanted to take home. Oh, what terrible tasting cider we encountered that day, before we found the right barrel, but it was exciting to choose it that way.
Stony Lane was narrow and true to its name, with deep ruts and "thank-you-ma'ms". There were thick woods on either side of the road. and tall trees over head like one long cathedral arch. Small birds peeped and sang, squirrels frisked and chattered, while from the heart of the cool woods came the thrilling call of the wood thrush.
Rare butterflies, too, fluttered where the sun slanted through the leaves that made dancing shadows on the road. It was a great place to go "butter- flying." If we had only had our butterfly nets with us that day. We saw a "Camberwell Beauty" and a "Wood Nymph" too!
Not far up the road was the gate to the "Rolling Rock." How many of you have had the joy of standing on that rock and rolling it forward and back till it thundered? Even at the time of our ride there was a great roll and roar to it, but we did not try to roll it, it took more strength and weight than you and I had, even adding the child in the "dickie!"
Alas the next owner hated visitors, closed up the gateway and cemented the Rolling Rock so that it's now silent and immovable. But King Philip,
36
. .
F
that great Indian Chief of the Narragansetts, used to call his warriors to- gether from that rock and some day we must free it to thunder again. It is a landmark that must not be lost.
It is said that there were a number of Indian graves a few rods north of Rolling Rock, all with simple, field-stone markers, but we did not see them.
We drew up for a moment at the tiny school house, "a ragged beggar sunning" though this one was not painted red like Whittier's famous school house .. Just as we stopped the bell rang and out of the door trooped more children than we thought could get into the little building. The teacher looked so very young, but she taught the "three R's" and trained her pupils to obedience, which after all is the fundamental preparation for New England backbones.
When we came to the Railroad bridge we stopped again. That was the joy of a ride of long ago, we did not have to hurry. There had been a steady rise in the road and Miantinomi was glad to rest. while we looked up and down the track. "Ten miles of straight railroad!" we exclaimed. Where else could that be seen as clearly as from Stony Lane Bridge.
At the west end of the bridge we were in Scrabbletown.
It was Moses Mawney who gave the town its name. In those early days the use of rum was considered quite proper for all occasions, and during the raising of "Long House" (a landmark for many years) it was suggested the place should have a name and that Mr. Mawney should name it. He swung his bottle of rum high in the air and christened it "Scrabbletown, be- cause the people there had to scrabble to get a living." It is still called Scrabbletown, a delightful tribute to that "jolly old tar," Moses Mawney. Before the days of schoolhouses the Long House was used as a school.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.