USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > Governors for three hundred years, 1638-1959; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations > Part 18
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He took part in the battle of White Plains, and in all the operations preceding the retreat into New Jersey, where he passed through that terrible winter of suffering so prominent in the history of the country. After General Lee was taken prisoner, the Rhode Island regiment was under the brigade command of Colonel Hitchcock. The term of his regiment was to expire on the 18th of January, 1777, but on the 31st of De- cember preceding, notwithstanding their terrible experience. the men volunteered, at the request of General Washington, for another month.
On the 2d of January the Rhode Island troops took part in the gallant repulse of the British at the bridge of Assanpink, the success of which was chiefly owing to their good conduct. Their bravery was also conspicuous at the battle of Princeton, when "Washington on the battle-ground took Hitchcock by the hand and before the army thanked him for his service." In February, the time of his regiment having expired, Cap- tain Jones returned to Rhode Island. He remained with his family until February, 1778, when he accepted a commission as Captain of Marines on board the Providence, twenty- eight guns, which was one of the two frigates ordered by the Naval Committee in Phila- delphia to be built in Rhode Island, and commanded by Abraham Whipple. On the 21st of April, 1778, the news arrived at Providence of the conclusion of the treaty with France, and the Providence, by order of Congress, was sent immediately with dispatches to our Commissioners at Paris. She sailed April 30, and on the 30th of May arrived at
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
200
HON. WILLIAM JONES 1811-1817 By Marcus Waterman Northwest Corridor
Second Floor of State House
Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
201
Pamboeuf, near Nantes, when Captain Whipple immediately sent Captain Jones to Paris with his dispatches for the American Commissioners. He remained in Paris until the 11th of June.
It is stated on his tombstone that he was the first officer that wore the American uni- form in Paris, probably because he was the first to arrive in Paris after the ratification of the treaty. The Providence sailed from Nantes to Brest, and thence for America. On the 17th of June, 1779, in company with the Ranger and the Queen of France, she sailed from Boston on a cruise off the Banks of Newfoundland. This was the most successful en- terprise of the war. The fleet captured nine ships and one brig, bound from Jamaica to England, and returned to Boston on the 21st of August with eight of the prizes. On the 24th of November the Providence again left Boston, in company with the frigates Boston, Ranger, and Queen of France, for Charleston, South Carolina, where they arrived De- cember 19th.
In the spring of the succeeding year, the British having sent a fleet, with a large force. for the reduction of Charleston, Commodore Whipple did not choose to risk an engagement, and it was determined to put the crews and guns of all his ships, except the Ranger, on shore, to reinforce the batteries. On the 12th of May, 1780, General Lin- coln surrendered the town and garrison. Captain Jones became a prisoner of war, with his companions, but was released on parole, and returned to Rhode Island early in the summer. He remained a prisoner on parole through the remainder of the war, and be- ing thus incapacitated for active service, he went into mercantile business at Providence, to which place his family had removed. He was at first associated with his brothers, but afterwards carried on the hardware business on his own account, in which he continued until his death.
On the 28th of February, 1787, he married Anne Dunn, daughter of Samuel Dunn, of Providence. In 1788 he became a freeman. He was for some time a Justice of the Peace, and in 1807 was elected one of the four members of the General Assembly from Providence. He was re-elected each year until 1811. and from May 1809 was Speaker of that body. In April. 1811, he was elected Governor by the Federal party, and was succes- sively chosen to the same office until 1817. His administration extended over the whole period of the last war with Great Britain, and his position was very difficult and trying. Although by political principle he was opposed to the war, he devoted his time and abil- ities to sustain the honor of the State and country.
In 1817 he retired from public life. He was a member of the Beneficent Congrega- tional Church, of which Rev. James Wilson was then pastor. He was one of the Fel- lows of Brown University, President of the Peace Society, and of the Rhode Island Bible Society. He was also a member of the Society of Cincinnati from its beginning, and his diploma, signed by Washington and Knox, is still preserved. In pursuance of a special resolution of the Society, Governor Jones was succeeded in his membership by his son- in-law.
He died April 22, 1822, leaving his widow and an only child, Harriet. His daughter was the wife of the late Thomas C. Hoppin. Governor Jones was a Federalist of the old school, a man of the strictest integrity and the most courtly manners.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
202
NEHEMIAH RICE KNIGHT
Governor: May 1817-January 9, 1821.
Born: December 31, 1780 in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Died: April 20, 1854 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Buried: Providence, R. I. Grace Church Cemetery.
KNIGHT, HON. NEHEMIAH RICE, GOVERNOR of Rhode Island and United States Senator, son of the Hon. Nehemiah Knight, was born at Knightsville, Cranston, Rhode Island, December 31, 1780. His father was a farmer and politician of prominence of the Anti-Federal party, who represented the State of Rhode Island in Congress from 1803 to 1808. Nehemiah Rice spent his youth at home on the farm, and received the or- dinary schooling of his times, which was neither extensive nor of a superior grade. But he must have made the most of such advantages as he did have, for in after years his career shows that his attainments in the practical and useful branches of learning com- pared favorably with those of his contemporaries who had enjoyed larger opportunities for culture.
At the age of twenty-two he was chosen to represent the town of Cranston in the State legislature, in which capacity he served with ability; but before the next election occurred he had removed to Providence, where he continued to reside until his death. In 1805 he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Providence, which position he held until 1811, when the Federal party got into power. From June, 1812, to 1817, he was Clerk of the Circuit Court for the District of Rhode Island, and ac- ceptably performed the duties of that office. In 1817 he was elected President of the Roger Williams Bank of Providence, which position he continued to fill until the time of his death. That year he was elected Governor of the State after a very severe political contest, resulting in the defeat of the Federalist party which had been long in power. To this office he was successively re-elected until 1821. While Chief Executive of the State he repeatedly recommended measures to the legislature for the establishing of public schools throughout the State, and urged the necessity of a common-school education. Many of his suggestions were subsequently adopted, and proved to be eminently wise and good.
For some time during the War of 1812 with Great Britain he served as Collector of In- ternal Revenues for the district of Rhode Island, having been nominated by President Madison and confirmed by the Senate before he had even an intimation that his appoint- ment was talked of. This position he filled with efficiency, and resigned the same on his election as Governor. In January, 1821, he was unanimously elected by the legislature to the United States Senate from Rhode Island, to fill the vacancy caused by the decease of the Hon. James Burrill, who had served four years of his term. In January, 1823, he was re-elected for a full term of six years, and in October 1828 was unanimously chosen for another term, and again, in 1835, he was elected to the same position by the National Republican party, with which he became indentified in the reorganization which fol- lowed Monroe's administration.
During the long period of more than twenty years which he served in the United States Senate he fulfilled the duties of his position with great satisfaction to his constitu-
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
203
ents, and with honor to himself and his State. In 1841, he retired to private life, though in the summer of 1843, he was called by the people of Providence to represent them in the convention at which the present constitution of Rhode Island was framed, in which convention he was an active and influential member. From that time to the close of his life, April 20, 1854, he was occupied with his own private interests.
He was married early in life to Lydia Waterman, with whom he lived happily more than fifty years. She died in Providence, December 4, 1854. Governor Knight was mild as a partisan, firm in his friendships, and true to his convictions of duty.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
204
HON. NEHEMIAH R. KNIGHT 1817-1821 By James S. Lincoln Northwest Corridor Second Floor of State House
Grace Church Cemetery Providence, R. I.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
205
JEREMIAH KNIGHT, Grandfather NEHEMIAH KNIGHT, Father
of
GOV. NEHEMIAH RICE KNIGHT
A short distance beyond the junction of Phenix Avenue and Cranston Street at Knightsville, on the Cranston Street side, is a small cemetery. The oldest grave in it is that of Jeremiah Knight who died June 23, 1800 at the age of 80 years, 6 months. He was the father of Hon. Nehemiah Knight and grandfather of Gov. Nehemiah Rice Knight, in whose honor the name of the village where they lived was changed from Monkeytown to Knightsville.
In 1774, Jeremiah Knight purchased seventy acres of the Stukely Westcott farm, which ran from present Sockanosset Road to Knightsville, from Zorobable Westcott for 1450 Spanish milled dollars. Zorobable had purchased it in 1765 from his cousin Benja- min Westcott who had inherited it in 1750 from his father, Stukely Westcott. The pur- chase still kept it "in the family", so to speak, for Jeremiah's wife was Penelope Westcott. daughter of William Westcott, another branch of the family tree. It was to remain in the Knight family for a half century. There was a "red house", records show, on the site of the headquarters of the present Cranston Police Department with a Westcott family burial lot with unmarked stones close by the latter one established by the Knights.
Jeremiah Knight kept a tavern in his dwelling. It was a favorite meeting place of the Town Council, that body finding its hospitality warmer and more cheering than that at the Meeting house on Phenix Ave.
In 1785. Jeremiah Knight gave a piece of his land for a Town pound and was or- dered to build one of good chestnut timbers eight rails high. At the same time, he was appointed pound keeper and held that office until 1797.
In 1786, Jeremiah's son, Nehemiah, seems to have taken over the running of the tavern and shared the property with his father. Nehemiah Knight, brought up in the atmosphere of Council meetings and town affairs, became a politician of prominence and held in high esteem wherever he served his country.
From 1773 to 1793, he was the Town Clerk of Cranston. In 1803 he was elected a member of Congress and held that office until 1808. From Washington he wrote home that he was paying $12.00 a week at his hotel, but "everybody says it must come down". During his tenure of office, he was presented with a worsted suit, the product of a Cran- ston firm, which he wore with much pride as the fruit of his home town and state.
On his stone in the family cemetery at Knightsville, his epitaph closes, "Beloved in private life and respected in public, he departed this life the 13th day of June, 1808."
At sixteen, he had married an equally youthful bride of fifteen, Eleanor Hudson, who bore him ten children. The seventh child was named Nehemiah Rice Knight. He was brought up in the "red house" of his father and grandfather, nurtured in the same politi- cal atmosphere. When he was 21 years old, he was elected to the General Assembly. Be- fore the next election. he and his wife Lydia (Waterman) Knight moved to Providence.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
206
From 1805 to 1811, he served as clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and from 1812 to 1817 as clerk of the United States Circuit for the District of Rhode Island. In 1817, he was elected Governor of Rhode Island and served until 1821. From 1821 to 1841, he was U. S. Senator.
In 1824, the "red house" was in the hands of James Aldrich, Esq., Gov. Nehemiah Knight's brother-in-law. He and a group of Cranston men met at the tavern for the pur- pose of establishing "a library of useful books." They formed a Library Society, were in- corporated, "procured a book case", their old records state, and Mr. Aldrich, having been made librarian, provided room at the Tavern for the Knightsville Library which con- tinued to serve the shareholder members until 1831.
Horace Prior, Lyman Barney and George Sheldon, the latter under lease from Mr. Barney, succeeded Mr. Aldrich as keepers of the tavern between 1827 and 1841 when Mr. Barney sold it to Job Wilbur. Mr. Wilbur remained there until 1845 when he moved across the street to the newer and larger tavern which had been built by Henry King in 1842.
In 1847, the "red house" burned and Mr. Wilbur leased the remaining buildings and land to Benjamin Greene for his slaughtering business.
In 1885, the site was chosen for a new Town Hall. This in turn was superseded in 1937 by a City Hall erected in Auburn and the older building became the headquar- ters for the Cranston Police Department.
While all these changes were taking place at the site of the "red house" in Knights- ville, the Westcott and Knight cemeteries were succumbing to forgetfulness and neglect until the patriotism of one of Cranston's newer families proved what someone has said, that "patriotism is not measured by the time of arrival in this country of one's ancestors". Living adjacent to this neglected historic spot, the Spirito family took it upon themselves to restore and beautify it. Today, thanks to them, Knightsville can be proud of what had become an eyesore. Yearly, through this volunteer service, a new family is paying honor to an old one.
By Gladys W. Brayton
Original Knight Family Cemetery, Cranston Street. Cranston, near present Police Station
HISTORICAL CEMETERY
21
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
207
WILLIAM CHANNING GIBBS
Governor: May 1821 to May 1824.
War Service: Major General R. I. Militia.
Born: February 10, 1790 in Newport, Rhode Island. Died: February 24, 1871 in Newport, Rhode Island.
Buried: Newport, R. I. Island Cemetery.
WILLIAM CHANNING GIBBS, was the ninth child of George Gibbs 2nd and Mary (Channing) Gibbs. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island, February 10th, 1790, where he received exceptional cultural advantages. His family were wealthy shipowners engaged in the merchant marine business, in which William became associated. He en- tered political life as a representative from Newport to the General Assembly in which he served for some years. In 1821 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island, and was re- elected in 1822, and 1823. From 1817 to 1820 he served as Major General of the Rhode Island Militia.
Governor Gibbs married Mary, daughter of Elias Kane, of Albany, New York, in 1822. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters. The Gibbs residence, which is still standing, was on Mill Street, Newport-just opposite the Old Stone Mill, and there Mr. Gibbs died, February 24th, 1871.
There were no noteworthy events during Governor Gibbs' administration; New- port had not recovered from the effects of the War of 1812; the state, as a whole, suffered from a depression, its great manufacturing industry was in its infancy.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
208
HON. WILLIAM C. GIBBS 1821-1824 Painter Unknown Northwest Corridor Second Floor of State House
Island Cemetery Newport, R. I.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
209
LEMUEL HASTINGS ARNOLD
Governor: 1831-1833.
Born: January 29, 1792 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
Died: June 27, 1852 in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Buried: Providence, R. I. Swan Point Cemetery, Evergreen Path. Lot 168-Group 204 First Congregational Society Ground.
LEMUEL HASTINGS ARNOLD was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, January 29th, 1792. the only child of Dr. Jonathan and Cynthia (Hastings) Arnold. Dr. Arnold was a native of Glocester, Rhode Island, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, a Member of the Continental Congress, and founder of St. Johnsbury.
Lemuel obtained his preparatory education in the schools of his native town and entered Dartmouth College from which he was graduated in 1811. He followed with the study of law under the supervision of Honorable James Burrill and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1814. After a practice of seven years, in Providence, R. I., he then en- gaged in manufacturing business. Mr. Arnold was a representative from Providence in the General Assembly from 1826 to 1831, when he defeated Governor James Fenner, the incumbent, for the governorship of Rhode Island.
Governor Arnold was re-elected in 1832, and renominated in 1833. There was no choice in the election that followed, and after three special elections had failed to pro- duce a majority for governor, Mr. John Brown Francis was finally elected in January, 1833. During the interval, Governor Arnold had continued in office. During his first term he handled the Olney Lane riot in Providence, in a summary and effective manner, and coped successfully with the Asiatic cholera situation in 1832. He served in the Ex- ecutive Committee in the Dorr Rebellion. He later removed to South Kingstown, and was elected Representative to Congress in 1845 in which he served until 1847.
Governor Arnold married first in June, 1819, Sally, daughter of Major Daniel Ly- man. There were three sons and six daughters by this marriage. Mrs. Arnold died in 1837 and Governor Arnold married (second) in June, 1847, Catherine Shannard, of Wash- ington, D. C. His eldest son Lemuel H. Arnold was the only soldier wounded in the Dorr Rebellion. Another, was brevetted Major General in the regular army in the Civil War, while a third was killed in Battle. Governor Arnold died at Kingston, Rhode Island, June 27, 1852.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
210
HON. LEMUEL H. ARNOLD 1831-1833 By James S. Lincoln Northwest Corridor Second Floor of State House
Swan Point Cemetery Providence, R. I.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
211
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SWAN POINT CEMETERY
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
**
This cemetery was established in 1846. Consecration of the grounds was in 1847. Swan Point Cemetery, an estate of some 210 acres of land, is situated in the northeastern part of the city of Providence, about 3 miles from the civic center. It extends from Blackstone Boulevard to the banks of the Seekonk River. The main entrance is at the terminus of the Butler Avenue bus line.
The first interment was the remains of William T. Grinnell who died at Edin- burgh, Scotland, November 9, 1835.
There is a monument in the cemetery that bears the inscription of Timothy Mc- Laughlin, the first person buried in Swan Point Cemetery: born July 8, 1843, died Au- gust 17, 1845.
The first military funeral was for Major John Roger Vinton who was killed in ac- tion in Vera Cruz during the war with Mexico March 22, 1847. His body was trans- ferred from the field of battle to a lot at Cedar Knoll and was buried with honors May 12, 1848.
At this writing, twenty-one Governors are buried in this cemetery.
GOVERNORS OF RHODE ISLAND
213
JOHN BROWN FRANCIS
Governor: 1833 to 1838.
Born: May 31, 1791 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Died: August 9, 1864 in Spring Green, Warwick, R. I.
Buried: Providence, R. I. North Burial Ground, West Side Eastern Avenue.
FRANCIS, HON. JOHN BROWN, GOVERNOR of Rhode Island from 1833 to 1838, son of John and Abby (Brown) Francis, was born in Philadelphia, May 31, 1791. The place of his parents' residence was Providence, to which they removed soon after his birth. When he was five years of age his father died, and he was made the subject of the fostering care of his grandfather on his mother's side, John Brown, the leading mer- chant of the town.
He prepared for college at the University Grammar School, and graduated at Brown University in the class of 1808. After leaving college he spent some time in the house of Messrs. Brown & Ives, and at a later period attended the lectures of law school at Litch- field, Connecticut, rather for the purposes of mental culture in certain departments of knowledge and intellectual discipline, than for entrance upon the onerous duties of pro- fessional life. After completing his term of study at the law school he devoted several years to the management of the large estate bequeathed to him by his grandfather, spending a part of his time among his paternal relatives in Philadelphia.
Upon the decease of his mother he took up his residence in Spring Green. Warwick. the country-seat of his family. Very soon he was called to represent the town of War- wick in the General Assembly and was annually chosen to fill that position from 1821 to 1829. In 1833 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island, and was annually re-elected to this office until 1838, when the party opposed to him came into power. For the next few years he took but little active interest in politics. During the troubles which disturbed the State in 1842 he was chosen a member of the Senate of Rhode Island, and represented in that body the "Law and Order" party.
A vacancy having occurred in the Senate of the United States in consequence of the resignation of Hon. William Sprague, he was chosen to fill it in 1844, and was in Con- gress until the session closed in March, 1845. Having completed his term of service in Congress he was again elected to the State Senate, and annually re-elected until 1856. when he retired from political life. For twenty-nine years, from 1828 to 1857, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Brown University, and from 1841 to 1854, a period of thirteen years, he held the office of Chancellor. He identified himself warmly with the interests of popular education in the State, and was the friend of all good causes which in any way promoted the moral and intellectual elevation of his fellow-citizens.
Governor Francis was twice married; the first time to Anne Carter, only daughter of Hon. Nicholas Brown, in 1822. She died in 1828, leaving two daughters. Mrs. Marshall Woods, of Providence. His second marriage was with his cousin. the daughter of Thomas Willing Francis, of Philadelphia, in 1832. She with one son and two daughters survived her husband. Governor Francis died at Spring Green. Warwick, August 9, 1864. He was one of Rhode Island's most distinguished and useful citizens. "regarded by the people among whom he always lived with a mingled affection and respect which they have ac- corded to no other public man of his time."
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF
214
HON. JOHN BROWN FRANCIS 1833-1838 By John N. Arnold Northwest Corridor Second Floor of State House
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