USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Jamestown > History of Jamestown on Conanicut Island in the State of Rhode Island > Part 9
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The members of the society were mostly farmers living on the northern part of the island, but the village envisaged by the original purchasers along the 4 rod road (Narragansett Avenue) was beginning to materialize and fast becoming the center of the island population. Realizing this the society on October 25, 1856, resolved :
"That this Corporation believe it be expedient for the Welfare of Sion to alter the location of the 1st Baptist Meeting House to a more central place or sell the same and build another if found to be advisable.
The forgoing resolutions having been signed by 3/4 of the members of the Society and More. Viz.
Wm. A. Weeden, Oliver Hopkins, John E. G. Weeden, Walter S. Weeden, George W. Weeden, Daniel W. Carr, John W. Carr, John Congdon, Joseph M. Carr, Wm. P. Weeden, Philip Caswell.
"It was voted and resolved that we will make an effort to carry into effect the said resolution.
"Voted that the committee be instructed to procure a Lot of land upon which to locate the Meeting House; somewhere Between the Friends Meeting House and the Bridge."
Evidently the Meeting house was not built at the location suggested, for at the meeting of June 25th. 1874, $75.00 was raised by subscription to "repair the malicious damage done to the Meeting House."
The members of the church were mostly from the farming section of the northern part of the island, but in the late 1800's the village along old Ferry Road. now Narragansett Avenue, had become a reality. The sailboat ferries had their landings at the east and west ends and Ferry Road had become the main thoroughfare of the island.
As with the Quakers, so it was with the Baptists-their church was too far from the center of population. In 1867 a new Baptist society, the Central Baptist Church, was organized by Henry, Stephen C., Benjamin C., William H., Sister Mary W. and Sister H. E. Gardner, and in 1868 the first church at the village, then referred to as "the Ferry" was completed. Rev. James Hammond was the first minister. In 1890 the congregation had outgrown the building and in 1891 a new church, the one now standing at the corner of Narragansett and Southwest Avenues, was completed and has been in use ever since. The old church had been moved to Cole Street and is now used by the colored people as a place of worship.
It is evident that the original Baptist Society could no longer carry on and April 7, 1905, they voted to "deed the Meeting House of this Society to the Newport Episcopal Convocation by the Treasurer of the Society." This old Meeting House is now privately owned and has been remodeled into a private dwelling.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 1833, the inhabitants of the island, feeling the need of stated religious services, erected a meeting house, capable of seating 200 persons, on the Artillery lot about where the library now stands. The pulpit was supplied
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by ministers of various denominations. In 1836 St. Matthews Parish was founded on St. Matthew's Day, September 21, and in June, 1837, the parish was admitted into union with the Rhode Island Episcopal Convention. In the summer of that year the pew holders called in the aid of the Rhode Island Convention and a debt of $165 was discharged and a deed to the church "taken in trust." Rev. Edward Wayland was the first minister. There was no resident minister for many years, the pulpit being supplied by Rev. Benjamin Hickok, Rev. Samuel Penny Jr. and Rev. John Suddard who, being in Priest's orders, was the first rector of the parish.
FIRST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - LATER DOUGLASS HALL
For 17 years, beginning 1849, Rev. George Anthony was in charge of the church. In 1878 Rev. Dr. Magill took charge, making it a mission of Trinity Parish, Newport. Through his untiring and zealous work a new interest was awakened and it was decided to build a new church. Dr. V. Mott Francis, a summer resident, was the moving spirit in this endeavor which was brought to a successful conclusion. The old building was moved off the Artillery lot and became known as Douglas Hall. Later it was re- modeled into a private home. The new church, the one now standing, was consecrated on the Feast of St. Matthew, 1880. George C. Mason Jr. of Newport was the architect and Gordon D. Oxx of Jamestown, the contractor.
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MOVABLE CHAPEL EN ROUTE TO CONANICUT PARK
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It was continued as a mission of Trinity Parish until 1896 when, by a vote of the congregation, the parish became independent and the Rev. Charles E. Preston was appointed the first resident rector of the independent parish.
Before coming to Jamestown Mr. Preston had conceived the idea of a chapel which could be moved from one place to another. After being on Jamestown for a while it seemed to him that the conditions there fitted per- fectly with this idea. The village centered around Ferry Road (Narragansett Avenue) and was supplied with churches. But at the north end of the island was a thriving summer community at Conanicut Park, while half way between the Park and the village was a year round community of farmers. Mr. Preston presented the idea to Bishop Clark, who gave it his enthusiastic approval. Money was raised by public subscription and a contract to build the Movable Chapel, mounted on wheels, was given to George L. Barber. The unusual character of the project aroused great interest over a wide territory. The final cost was surprisingly low as most of the interior fittings and church furnishings were donated by the manufacturers.
The chapel was completed in the carly spring of 1899, and on April 18 fourteen yoke of oxen, gathered from Middletown and Jamestown, were hooked up to the chapel and, accompanied by a throng of interested spectators, started out for Conanicut Park. After successfully completing several miles of their journey they ran into difficulties on Stork's hill at the farm of the Hon. T. G. Carr. Realizing that it was impossible to go any further Mr. Carr said "better wheel her in here", indicating a corner of one of his meadows. This was done and the chapel remained there for many years.
On June 3rd probably the greatest assemblage of church dignitaries ever to gather on the island came to lay the corner stone and conduct con- secration services. The chapel was crowded to overflowing and the clergy vested in the nearby summer residence of Mr. T. B. Stork. Services were thereafter held quite regularly during the four years rectorate of Mr. Preston.
In 1900 Mr. Preston was succeeded by Rev. Chas. D. Burrows. Chapel services were infrequent until finally, with the father gonc, the child was neglected and the chapel was never used again. After several years it was moved across the lots to a site on the North Road just south of the old North Meeting House, then called Guild Hall. It was finally moved to a site just north of the Bay Voyage Hotel where it was very artistically remodeled into a private residence by Mrs. J. H. A. Day.
After 35 years of service Mr. Burrows was succeeded by Rev. Albert C. Larned, who in turn was followed by Rev. John Howard Wright. The present rector, Rev. Herbert J. Dowling, assumed his duties December 14, 1948.
CATHOLIC CHURCH
During a visit of Archbishop Kendrick of St. Louis and Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia at the summer home of Mrs. Ferris of St. Louis the first mass celebrated on the island was held at the Thorndike Hotel, July 20, 1890.
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In 1893 James Wilcox of Philadelphia, since looked upon as the actual founder of the present congregation, donated a large plot of ground on Clinton Avenue as a building site for a Catholic Church. Although the resident Catholics were few, they at once responded to Mr. Wilcox's example. Through the united efforts of the Catholic residents and summer visitors, aided by several gifts from non-catholics, an attractive church edifice was soon erected, in which services were regularly held during the next fourteen seasons. The mission was attached to St. Mary's Newport, whose rectors, Rev. Fathers Grace and Meehan, undertook this additional charge. During the summer of 1909 the mission was served by Rev. P. J. Sullivan, a former Newporter, and success attended his labors from the beginning.
In October, 1909, by direction of Bishop Harkins, the rapidly growing mission passed from the jurisdiction of St. Mary's to become itself a permanent parish, and Father Sullivan became the new pastor. He secured the Dr. Littlefield estate on Narragansett Avenue, with a commodious house admira- bly adapted for a rectory. The church was then moved from Clinton Avenue to the new site, mass being celebrated there for the first time on Christmas day, 1909. Since then the church building has been greatly enlarged.
Father Sullivan was succeeded by Rev. Edward L. Tierney, who served until his death, October 25, 1941. Rev. Robert C. Cassidy served for four years and was succeeded by Rev. Francis P. Brady. The present pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Greely, was recently appointed. The membership is somewhat over 800 and several church societies have helped materially in the development of the church.
A large Guild Hall was built during the first world war for the use of the service men stationed at the forts. During the second world war 128 boys and 4 women served in various branches of the service, and Rev. Joseph Gal- lagher served as chaplain in the navy. Francis Zweir was the only boy from St. Mark's to make the supreme sacrifice.
Plans have been drawn for a new church to replace the present building, which is too small to accommodate the increasing demands of the parish.
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Old Houses and Farms
M OST of the old houses have disappeared from view and faded from memory. A few are still standing and occupied and the location of some others can be determined by the remains of the cellar and foun- dation walls. It would be an impossible task to identify them all as to original ownership or date of building but some mention of those now remembered should be made before they are entirely forgotten.
SAMUEL CARR HOUSE
Possibly the oldest house, in part, on the island and certainly the most intriguing is the Samuel Carr house located on the west side of the North Road at the southern entrance to Hull's swamp and Love Lane. It stands on part of the land allocated to Richard and Richard Smith Jr. of Narragansett on the Fisher map. As far as can be ascertained neither of these men ever lived on the island and must have sold their land as opportunity offered. When Caleb Carr bought the land, when he gave it to his son Edward or when the house was built seems to be lost in obscurity. Miss Lena Clarke, in a paper read before the Jamestown Historical Society, states "the house was built about 1686 by Governor Caleb Carr for his son Edward." While it has always been known as the Samuel Carr house there is no doubt that it was built by either Caleb or Edward.
The intriguing thing about the house is its dual construction, which is so unusual and difficult to understand. In this respect it is very similar to the Bull house in Newport, which was destroyed by fire in 1912. It faces south, like most of the old houses, and seems to be made up of two separate units. The west half is of stone construction with walls over 20 inches thick. Originally the outside stone walls went to the caves of the roof on the south, west and north sides. The stones are laid in shell mortar. The first floor of this half was the kitchen, the big fire-place, where all the cooking was donc, being on the north side. The opening of the fire-place was flush with the inside wall, and the chimney, rising thirty or more feet, was outside the outer wall, leading one to believe that the fire-place and chimney were built after the stone walls of the house had been completed. Fifty or more years ago the chimney was blown down in a gale but the north wall of the house was unharmed. A door on the south side opened directly into the kitchen.
The east half of the house was built entirely of wood, with a cellar under it. There was an outside door only a few fect from the door in the stone construction. The chimney in the center of the house provided flues for fire- places for the first and second floors of the frame part of the house and, seemingly had no connection with the stone half.
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Courtesy of R. I. School of Design
Drawing by Edwin Whitefield, 1882
SAMUEL CARR HOUSE
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It does not seem possible that the two units of the house could have been built at the same time. In fact it is very easy to imagine that the stone half was originally built for an entirely different and unknown purpose and possibly was already erected when Caleb Carr bought the land for his son Edward, who simply added the frame construction to the stone work and thereby had a fairly sizeable house with a minimum amount of labor.
A plausible explanation for the construction of the Bull house is found in the town's records for 1639 when the town voted "that the prison formerly agreed upon shall be finished ... and that it shall be set near or joyned unto the howse of Henry Bull, Sargeant." But no such explanation can possibly apply to the Sam Carr house. The solution of the enigma must be left for others.
When repairing the house, probably after the chimney fell down, the old stone work was torn out down to the second floor and replaced with a frame construction. After several years of occupancy, unfortunately by people who did not appreciate its historical value, it became vacant and was falling into decay. It was recently purchased by Miss Elizabeth B. Howry, of Wash- ington, D. C., who has made extensive repairs and taken a great interest in preserving, as far as possible, the original construction.
THE GREENE FARM HOUSE
In what is now known as Shoreby Hill stood the Greene Farm-house. A statement by Francis Brinley, previously quoted, says "John Greene was the first to improve his land and did plant hay-seed whereabout he did intend to build his house." The date of building is given as 1672 and it remained in the family for many generations. Joseph Greene, a descendant of the builder, gave his farm and house in trust for the benefit of the Friends' Church, and described it as: "My farm on the Island of Conanicut known by the name of the Greene Farm, and house thereon standing in which I now live (where my predecessors of the same name lived for generations back, if not from the first settlement of the Island by English Emigrants.")
After arranging in his will for the care of his two sisters, Anne and Mary Greene he ordered that his clock be kept in the southeast corner of the east front room; and that the west front chamber be kept in constant readiness for "Ministers and others traveling in the service of Truth." It was to be furnished with "two good bedsteads, two beds, two bolsters, two pair of pillows, and other necessary furniture."
He gave to Mary Carr, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Carr, the sum of fifty dollars, "the use and occupancy by herself of the east front room chamber; with the bedroom and two small rooms adjoining over the kitchen, a passage up and down both the front and back stairs, and through the kitchen and washroom, together with a privilege in the cellar and wood-house of putting her vegetables and wood therein and a privilege of drawing water out of the well and to the rainwater also. All of which to be and remain unto her during her natural life, provided she remain single and continue to live
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with my sisters (though not without wages) and to be respectful, kind, and attentive unto them as long as they or either of them live."
This will was contested by the heirs and was before the courts for many years before it was finally broken. The farm and house passed from the Society of Friends to the heirs who sold it to a land syndicate developing Shoreby Hill. The house has been moved and has been so rebuilt and enlarged that it is doubtful if the original structure can be determined. There are many Revolutionary stories told of this, as well as many of the other old houses, which were retold by Miss Lena Clarke in a paper (Number 1) read before the Jamestown Historical Society in 1920.
EBENEZER SLOCOMB HOUSE
Ebenezer Slocomb was the fourth child of Giles and Joan Slocomb. He was born in Portsmouth, March 25, 1650. About the time of his marriage to Mary Thurston, October 25, 1678, his father decded to him about 100 acres of land in Jamestown and he and his wife soon settled there. The house stood on the north side of the old North Ferry road a short distance from the end of the present bridge. The location could be determined years ago by a pile of bricks, which had been the chimney. The dam which had been built to make a pond in which to wash sheep before shearing could also be seen. The farm extended from the present Cedar Cemetery to the shore. This has now all been graded and these landmarks have dis- appeared.
Ebenezer immediately became prominent in Jamestown affairs. Hc served as deputy from Jamestown for 16 terms and was speaker of the house, 1712-14. He also was a valuable minister of the Quakers, representing Jamestown in the Men's Monthly Meeting in Newport and Portsmouth. In 1709 the first Friend's Meeting House was built on the south-cast corner of his farm and in 1710 he deeded 1/2 acre of land, "containing the house where the people called Quakers are won't to worship", to Joseph Mowry, John Hull, David Green and Ebenezer Slocomb Jr. in trust for the Society of Friends. This is now the old cemetery and the absence of grave stones in the south east corner undoubtedly indicates where the meeting house stood.
In 1707 he was granted a license to operate a ferry on the west side of Conanicut Island. He was also granted a license by the town to keep a house of entertainment for the benefit of travelers, which was renewed every year for many years. There is nothing but a persistent tradition, how- ever, that he ever operated the ferry. He had 12 children, died April 13, 1715 and was buried in the Friends cemetery. No stone marks his final resting place.
BENEDICT ARNOLD HOUSE
Benedict Arnold and William Coddington each contributed 1/20 of the purchase price of the island and, being the largest contributors, had the first choice of location. Coddington chose the north end of the island while Arnold chose all the land west and south of the beach at Mackerel Covc.
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Incidentally, all Jamestowners, when speaking of Benedict Arnold, instinc- tively add "not the traitor". Arnold's house was between the west shore of Mackerel Cove and the present Beaver Tail road on land owned by Mr. Nicholas Biddle. It is not known that Benedict Arnold ever lived on the island and it is assumed that the house was built by his son Josiah, with whom there was so much trouble over a piece of land for the Beaver Tail lighthouse. It was said that when the Arnolds left the island during the Revolutionary War, they buried all their silver and valuables down the well or somewhere on the farm. Many have dug for this supposedly buried treasure, but without success.
After passing the beach on the Beaver Tail road is a road leading to Fort Getty. On the brow of the hill stand two very old houses. The one on the right has been in the Cottrell family for many years. It is not known who was the builder or when it was built. The west end is very old and the original construction still remains, as is evidenced by the wide floor boards, the corner posts, not encased, which project into the room and the huge fireplace with baking oven in the back.
Sometime later an addition, larger than the original house, was added on the east side. Here again are found evidences of pre-revolutionary con- struction and the fact that this was only an addition to an already old house, would seem to date the original house sometime in the late 1600s.
Directly across the road is another very old house which, unfortunately, is almost beyond restoration. Here again are all the evidences of carly con- struction. A very interesting and unusual feature is that the great fireplace for cooking is in the cellar, in this respect unlike any other house on the island. Neither the date of building nor the name of the builder is known. It is generally accepted that the house was burned during the Revolutionary period, but a new house was built on the old foundation soon afterwards for in 1780 Jonathan Law deeded the house and farm to Hazard Knowles. In the little burying ground on the property is a grave stone which reads "Josiah Arnold/ye son of /Josiah and Sarah/Arnold/aged 4 mo 20 days/Dec'd Sept/ye 3d 1694." So far as has been determined that stone bears the oldest date of any on the island.
In the possession of Miss Lena Clarke are two deeds showing that the house and farm passed from George Knowles to John Wilbur and from Wil- bur, in 1852, to Charles Sherman, grandfather to Miss Clarke. The property remained in the Clarke family for many years and was finally sold to one who had no interest in the historical value of the house and it was fast falling into decay. Recently Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Wright have acquired both this and the Cottrell property and are taking a great interest in their plans to restore them as near as possible to their original condition.
Just who built these two houses in the pre-revolutionary period and why they were located so close together on the extreme north end of a thousand acre farm presents an interesting problem.
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THE CARR HOMESTEAD
The old houses so far mentioned have been either torn down or so altered and remodeled that little of the original structure can be recognized. The spacious Carr Homestead, however, still stands as it was orginally built.
Caleb Carr, governor of the colony in 1695, was one of the original pur- chasers of the island, and always took an active interest in its development. His share of the purchase was 120 acres located just north of the present Wceden's Lane and extended from the North road east to the shore. On this land he built his first house on Jamestown, which he gave to his son Nicholas. During his life time he made additional purchases of farm plots. also Gould and Rose Islands, which he also gave to his sons. One of these farm plots he bought of Henry Basset and John Green. On the original Fisher map these names are entered on what is now the Carr Homestead farm, and John Green's name also appcars in the list of original purchasers. From the time of that purchase to the present day this farm has remained in the possession of descendants of Gov. Caleb Carr. It is now occupied by Major and Mrs. Bowser (Mollie Carr) .
The actual date of the building of the Homestead is not known. Mr. Norman Isham, probably the greatest authority on old houses in his day, after an examination of the house when it was being resilled, stated that its date was definitely not later than 1721, and very probably in the late 1600's. In the Carr family at Jamestown it is believed to have been built by Caleb's son Nicholas.
The house was seemingly built around the enormous chimney which provides flues for six fire-places, three on the first floor and three in bedrooms on the floor above. The huge fire-place in the dining room, which in the olden days was the kitchen also, measures 6'2" wide, 4'10" high and 2'5" deep with a baking oven at the back of the fire-place. The house is full of antiques, many of them museum pieces. The grand-father's clock, built by Thomas Claggett of Newport, was placed in the south-east corner of the sitting-room soon after the house was built and has remained there, keeping perfect time, ever since. In a secret compartment of the old Goddard desk were always kept the original wills of Nicholas (1709) Thomas (1753) and Nicholas Carr (1813). These have now been treated for preservation and beautifully bound. By the fire-place are the old molds used for making candles, on the mantel are whale oil lamps which succeeded candles and in the brackets by the fire-place are kerosene lamps, all of which have been converted to the use of electric bulbs. So the whole history of inside illumination, from candles to electricity, is right before your eyes. In the attic, or "up garret" as the old folks would say, are spinning. wheels, flax wheels and all the implements used for carding wool and making lindsey woolsey.
In the parlor is the cup-board where the choice china was always kept. This is now used as a museum where are arrow heads and other Indian implements found on the farm and many interesting articles of olden days
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CARR HOMESTEAD IN WINTER
including old books, shoe buckles, jonny cake board and two revolutionary cannon balls, one of which was found in the attic and the other buried four feet deep in the earth by the cellar wall.
Although the old house lived through troublous times, an atmosphere of peace and serenity seems to envelop it and shed a soothing influence on those who stay there. In 1925 Harry Carr, Pulitzer award for journalism, 1st world war, noted author, columnist of the Los Angeles Times and a lineal descendant of Governor Caleb was visiting at the Homestead. Every day he wrote his "column" for the Times, and for one of these days he wrote the following :
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