USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > Part 68
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Charles L. Sherman, farmer, brother of Stephen T., was born in 1841, and in 1866 married Emma P. Coggeshall, daughter of Josiah and granddaughter of Simeon Coggeshall.
Elijah B. Sherman, son of Peleg, grandson of Levi, who was a brother of Stephen T. Sherman's father, Richard, was born in 1836. His wife, Deborah H., to whom he was married in 1856, is a daughter of Hicks Cornell, a son of Samuel Cornell.
Parker Hall Sherman was born in 1849. His father was Ben- jamin C. Sherman, grandfather Samuel Sherman, great-grand- father John Sherman, and great-great-grandfather JJohn Sher- man, born in 1696. Parker Sherman married Annie, daughter of the late Charles Carr, of this town. They have two children: Alton P. and Lillie May. Mr. Sherman's occupation is farm-
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ing. His mother was Waite, daughter of Parker Hall, who was a brother of David Hall.
Benjamin C. Sherman, born in 1841, brother of Parker Hall Sherman, married Abby, daughter of Benjamin Almy, grand- daughter of Andrew Almy, and great-granddaughter of Job Almy. Their family consists of five children: Frank P., Ellen WV., Fannie I., Arthur A. and Benjamin C., Jr. Mr. Sherman owns the old homestead, whose covering of cedar, still sound and held in place with the hand-made nails of 1750, is rid- dled with bullet holes from sill to chimney. This old land- mark testifies in eloquent silence that "Quaker Hill" in 1776 was esteemed a prize worth fighting for.
Margaret T. Sherman, widow of Robert A. Sherman, was born in New York state, although her father was a Ports- month man. He was William Hall, one of the thirteen chil- dren of George Hall. Robert Sherman was born in 1822. He was a son of John Sherman, and grandson of Samuel Sher- man. At Mr. Sherman's death he left three children: Mary A., John and Annie C.
Charles Sumner Sisson is a son of William Henry, a grand- son of Jabez, and a great-grandson of Barney Sisson, who was drowned in the river off Fogland point. Charles S. was married in 1878 to Cornelia, daughter of Borden Lawton, of Portsmouth. Their children are: Marion S. and Borden L. In politics Mr. Sisson has been a radical republican as opposed to the trading schemes of the strikers. His business is farming.
Winfield Scott Sisson, son of William H., grandson of Jabez and Eliza (Ward) Sisson, and great-grandson of Barney and Barbara Sisson, was born in 1862. This Barbara Sisson was a great-granddaughter of the original Richard Sisson, who early settled at Mintwater Brook. W. S. Sisson was married in 1883 to Laura, a daughter of Abraham T. Peckham of this town.
Alfred Green Sisson is a brother of Winfield Scott Sisson. His wife is Hannah C., daughter of Robert Dennis Hall. They were married in 1883. His farm is called the Slocum farm. On one of the farms operated by him, called " the Bull lot," are the remains of an old fort and earthworks, rifle pits, and breast- works four feet high, overgrown with grass.
Jonathan A. Sisson, born 1833, is a son of Edmund S. Sisson (born 1809 and died 1885) and grandson of Barney Sisson, who in 1810 was drowned off Fogland. His wife is Jane H. Davey,
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and their children are: Ellsworth, Grace A. and Annie E P. Mr. Sisson as a republican has filled several town offices and for three years represented this town in the legislature. In 1876 he was a member of the republican state committee.
Edward Sisson was born in 1811, and is a son of Pardon and a grandson of John Sisson. Pardon Sisson was a pensioner of the war of 1812. He died in 1866, aged 91 years. Edward Sis- son was married in 1834 to Mary G., daughter of Stephen Stead- man. They have five children, all married : William M., Sarah E., Edward P., George E. and Elbert A. Mr. Sisson was a member of the town council six years, and was manager of the town farm as commissioner of the town asylum. His daugh- ter, Sarah E., is the wife of Martin E. Burtless, of Anburn, N. Y. She has one son, Edward S., who is married to Adella Foot.
William M. Sisson, born in 1835, is a son of Edward Sisson. He married Lovisa H. Northrup. Their children are : Mary E., Jennie, William H., Elmer Burnside, Nellie B. and Annie B. Mr. Sisson's residence is the old Edward Sisson homestead. The fire-place in it has the engraved date, 1797.
George E. Sisson, son of Edward, was born in 1849, and is a farmer. He was married in 1872 to Laura E. Sweet. They have two children : Flora S. and Clara S. Mr. Sisson learned car- pentry and worked at it five or six years.
Elbert A. Sisson, son of Edward, was born in 1853, and mar- ried Emma Florence, daughter of Abram T. Peckham. Their only child is Ethel Peckham Sisson. Mr. Sisson has been clerk of the Christian church in Portsmouth since 1879.
Charles Collins Slocum®, whose direct ancestors were Samnel E., Stephen, Giles, ' Giles, ' Giles, " Giles" and Anthony,' was born in 1824, and was named in honor of Governor Collins, of Rhode Island. His wife is Lydia Jane, daughter of Asa Borden. The Slocumns of the ninth generation are : Clara L. (Mrs. George H. Taylor, of Providence), Mary B. (Mrs. George W. Sherman, Newport), Rowena A. (Mrs. William J. Croucher) and Mattie Słocum.
Frank Slocum, son of Abial T. and Mahala H. (Sisson) Slo- cum, was born in 1838. His wife, Maria R., is a daughter of William Henry Brown and granddaughter of Isaac Brown. They have two children, Walter A. and Oscar E. His business is farming and poultry raising.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Job Sowle, born in 1836, is a son of George W. and grandson of Job Sowle, a native of Westport. His wife Lydia, is a daughter of Sammel Cory, who was largely identified with local politics, being a member of the town council several years prior to his death in 1885, at the age of 88. Her grandfather, also named Samuel, was the hero mentioned among those who captured General Prescott. The grave of the old hero is on the farm where Mr. Sowle resides.
Elbridge I. Stoddard was born in Massachusetts in 1840, and in 1867 came here and was eleven years employed at the copper smelting works at "Coal Mine Farm." From 1877 to 1884 he was railroad agent and had charge of the coal mine and farm. In 1884 he began business as a merchant and coal and grain dealer at Bristol ferry, where he is agent for the Providence and Fall River Steamboat Company. He was a non-commis- sioned officer in the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment three years, 1861-65.
J. Henry Stoddard, a native of Massachusetts, came to Ports- mouth in 1866, and served as superintendent of the copper smelting works until their abandonment in Jannary, 1887. From 1882 Mr. Stoddard was five years in the town council, being president during the last three years of this time. He has also been an efficient member of the school committee.
Benjamin Tallman, born in 1846, son of Benjamin, grandson of Thales and great-grandson of Nicholas Tallman, is part owner and master of one of the fishing steamers of the Church system. His father probably deserves the credit of one of the most im- portant inventions in the present plan of deep water seineing. He was largely interested in the menhaden and seupp fishing until his death in 1883. His son, Benjamin, married Eleanor, daughter of David and granddaughter of George Fish.
William T. Tallman, born 1851, is a son of Benjamin, grand- son of Thales, and great-grandson of Nicholas Tallman. He was married in 1875 to Lanra G., daughter of Job R. Carr. Mr. Tallman's mother was Sarah Ann (Dennis) Tallman. His busi- ness is fishing, as mate with his brother, Captain Benjamin Tallman. Each of these brothers has a snug, comfortable home in Newtown village.
Gardner Thomas, deceased, well known as a merchant here for many years, was a son of Richard and Anna (Brownell) Thomas. His first wife was Eleanor, daughter of John Borden,
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
who at her death left two daughters, Sarah A. and Mary E. Mary E. became the wife of John D. Clark, and at her death left three children : Elnora (now Mrs. Byron Randall), Miss Fannie T. Clark and William B. Clark. William B. married a daughter of John H. Cross, and has one son, Charles G. Clark. Mr. Thomas' second wife, who survives him, is Amey, a daugh- ter of Captain Bateman Monroe, and granddaughter of Thomas Monroe, a surgeon in the revolution.
Charles Gardner Thomas, son of Joseph and grandson of Richard Thomas, was born in 1835. He was married to Ann E., daughter of George L. Fish, and granddaughter of George Fish. They have had five children, all of whom are living. Their names are : Sidney C., Frank L., George P., Annie A., and William II. Mr. Gardner's occupation is farming.
Peleg L. Thurston' is a descendant of Peleg", Peleg®, John', Jonathan3, Edward and Edward1. Peleg L. married Sarah E., daughter of Parker Lawton and granddaughter of William Lawton, of Portsmouth. This Lawton family gave name to Lawton valley in Portsmouth. Peleg L. Thurston's children are : Parker L., Sarah A., Roberta R., Clara M., Howard and Bertha.
Thomas Thurston, a Quaker, aged 34. was a passenger in the "Speedwell" in 1656, landing at Boston August 27th. He, with three other passengers, was examined and committed to prison, " there to remain until the return of the ship that brot, them," then to be carried back to England, "lest the purity of the re- ligion professed in the churches of New England should be de- filed with error."
Edward Thurston was the first of the name in the colony of Rhode Island, and his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Mott, in June, 1647, is the third on the record of the " Society of Friends" at Newport. To this society we are indebted for a complete record of his family and of those of his descendants " who remained faithful." He is mentioned in the colonial re- cords as a freeman in 1655. His will, proved March 12th, 1707, names his son Edward and his grandsons Edward and Jonathan.
Robert L. Thurston, brother of Peleg L., now owns the Thurs. ston homestead where his father Peleg lived. The house is on the site where the Lawton family built more than one hundred and fifty years ago. The old cemetery on this farm contains the graves of the early generations of the Lawton family. Mr.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Thurston's wife, Harriet Rawson, who died in 1883, is buried here.
Stephen A. Watson is a son of Doctor Daniel Watson, of Newport, and a grandson of Robert Watson, of Jamestown. He was five years in the grocery business, and has been twenty years a farmer and market gardener in Portsmouth. He was state representative in 1878-9. He has been a member of the town council for three years, and is now president of the council. He was married in 1878 to Henrietta, daughter of John Croucher.
Jolin W. Watts, son of Lorenzo D. Watts, was born in 1844. He was married to Annie Borden, of Westport, who died in 1881. They had seven children, fonr of whom are living, Georgiana, Sarah E., Emma and Frank. His.present wife, to whom he was married in 1883, is a daughter of George W. Baten. of South Scituate, R. I.
Benjamin B. White, born in 1873, is a son of David White, and a grandson of Thomas White. His wife is Patience, daugh- ter of John Rogers. Mr. White has been an officer in the Union Christian church for about eight years, and a deacon two years. He has been a member of the school committee three years. He served an apprenticeship and worked two years as a silver- smith. His children are: Frank B., Joseph R. and George L.
CHAPTER XIV.
TOWN OF JAMESTOWN.
BY J. R. COLE.
Location and Description .- The Indians .- Early Land Purchases .- Early Settle- ments .- The Carr Family .- Other Early Settlers .- Incorporation of the Town .- During the Revolution .- Fort Brown .- Public Buildings .- Tax List of 1822 .- Conanicut Park .- Ocean Highland Company .- Public Improve- ments .- Religious Organizations .- The Common Schools .- Ferry Connec- tions .- Light Houses .- Dutch Island .- Gould Island .- George C. Carr .- Thomas C. Watson .- Personal Paragraphs.
T HE town of Jamestown comprises Conanicht, Dutch and Gould islands. It was organized as a town November 4th, 1678, and received its name in honor to King James I. of England. The islands composing it are located near each other in the lower part of Narragansett bay. Conanicut, the largest one of these, is about nine miles in length and from one to two miles in width. It has a population of abont five hundred. The name is derived from the Indian name, sometimes written Quononoqutt. This is a modification of Canonicus, the name of the Indian sachem whose favorite residence was on the island. Dutch island contains about three hundred acres, while Gould island contains only about one hundred acres. The sur- face of Conanicut is gently undulating and its soil favorable to cultivation. It is one of the most beautiful islands in the great bay. Agriculture and grazing occupy most of the attention of the inhabitants. Formerly considerable attention was paid to sheep raising. Manufactures have gained but little favor here, the natural conditions of course refusing any water power or other facilities for that branch of human industry. The pech- liar location of the island, however, renders it pleasant and at- tractive, and within the few years past the votaries of wealth and fashion have purchased sites and erected numerous hand- some villas for summer residence.
46
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
The town is accommodated by two ferries-one to Newport, and the other to South Kingstown, on the west shore of Narra- gansett bay, nearly opposite from here. A public thoroughfare extends across the island connecting these ferries. Another main highway extends through the island from north to south, covering its entire length.
Bnt little is known of the Indians who inhabited this locality when the country was discovered by Europeans. Their tradi- tions aver that Tashtassuck, a former chief of the Narragansetts, lived here and was a great warrior, so great, indeed, that he ruled over all the tribes along the Atlantic coast from Connecti- ent to Cape Cod. He was the father of Canonicus and grand- father of Miantonomi. Canonicus, who swayed the sceptre at the time of the arrival of the whites, is said to have been a wise and peaceful rnler, aiming to advance his people in the arts of civilized life as he saw them in operation among his pale-faced neighbors. It is even said that he had conceived some sort of notion of civilization before the coming of the whites, and was actually striving to bring his subjects to a higher plane of life.
Before the arrival of Roger Williams it seems they knew con- siderable of the means and appliances of civil warfare, and had by this superior knowledge conquered a kingdom for them- selves, which covered a front of six hundred miles in length. After their conquests they laid aside their weapons of warfare and encouraged commerce and the manufacture of such imple- ments and articles of use and trade as people of their condition needed. A knowledge of their language, their customs, the progress they had made in the arts of civilized life, was encour- aged among them, and this rudimental education greatly ameli- orated that barbarous condition which had formerly character- ized their race. The settlers not only fonnd the Indians here peaceful in their attitude toward strangers, but a refuge often- times from the oppression of their own countrymen.
This island of Conanicut was the summer abode of the chief- tain, Canonions, though it is thought he wintered in some local- ity more sheltered from the rigorous winds of the seashore. Even the untutored mind seems to have had some sense of ap- preciation of the beautiful, as evinced by their love of this little gem of the waters. The island was not only used for purposes of summer residence, but here they had extensive burial grounds also. Oftentimes, by accident or otherwise, skeletons of this
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early race have been unearthed, but the citizens, always re- specting their notions of that " happy hunting ground beyond," have buried their bones again in a decent manner. One of their favorite places of camping was on grounds near the present resi- dence of Mr. John Howland.
The first purchase of land of this town was made by Benedict Arnold and William Coddington, in the year 1657. The records give the following historical account of the transaction :
" Newport, Rhode Island, Aprell 17, 1657.
"Know all men by these Presents that I Cashasaquoont a chiefe Sachem and commander of Narragansett and Quonono- quet Island in Narragansett Bay aforenamed &c. for and in con- sideration of Several gifts beforehand received. And also for and in consideration of ye fulle and juste sume of 100 lbs ster- ling in hand, also received in name and nature of a fine or purchase money I say that I ye aforenamed sachem for ye afore- said nation have and by these presents doe fully bargain for, make over, and make lawfully of all and every parcell of the forenamed Island Qnononoquont appurtenances Benefits, proffits, commodities, and privileges, therefrom, and thereto properly belonging, or appertaining unto William Coddington Esq, Benedict Arnold sen. both of Newport on Rhode Island in ye aforesd Bay of Narragansett for themselves and others of ye free inhabitants of Rhode Island and others of their friends as are in covenant with the said William Coddington and Benedict Arnold sent by writings abont ye premises which writings beareth date March 1656, And furthermore ye aforesaid Island Quononoqutt is hereby abonched, declared by me ye forenamed Cashanaqnoont that it is ye proper right and inheritance of ye sons before promised themselves and their heirs, executors and administrators, assigns for all and every, or either of them to hold possess, use and enjoy, Quietly without any lawfull lett or hindrance as their and every and either of their true rightful and lawful inheritance forever, according to each his propor- tion as mentioned in ye promised covenants written between themselves as aforesd And furthermore the Aforenamed Sachem Cashanaqnoont doe hereby owne myself to share and satisfy all ye other Sachems pretending or that shall or may hereafter pretend to lay clayme of interest in ye premises to ye disposi- tion of ye promised purchasers And moreover I hereby engage that upon my own proper charge to satisfy them and all
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of them so clayming in time convenient so shall be required by ye aforenamed purchasers I doe make proper charges to move all ye Indian Inhabitants and throw them off from ye foresd Island Quononoquett them to leave free and full possession of ye said Island wholly to ye said purchasers to other charges either for the Indian Cornfields or any other labors of theirs that is to remain over after their departure off said Island.
" And in witness of this my free and considerate bargain I, Cashanaquoont doe set my hand this the 17 of Aprell 1657 as first above is mentioned ye day of sd signed sealed and de- livered.
" CASIIANAQUOONT.
" Witnessed by
" BRINLEY and.
"AWAWSHOWES."
In confirmation of this purchase another sachem, Quisaquann, quit-claimed his interest to William Coddington, Benedict Ar- nold, William Brenton, Caleb Carr and Richard Smith. This bears date July 25th, 1659. It appear to have been made at Warwick and refers to a previous writing bearing date March 10th, 1656. The reader may have noticed in the deed given in full above that reference is also made to the same previons writing.
All that is known regarding that previous writing is a state- ment made by Thomas Brinley in 1715. He then declares that in the year 1656 a company of more than one hundred persons agreed to purchase Conanicut island and drew up a writing un- der thirteen heads or articles embodying the terms of that agreement. Richard Smith, Jr. was employed to purchase the land and he agreed with Cajanaquant, a chief sachem, for one hundred pounds, and the deed was signed at William Codding- ton's house at " New Lodge," Brinley himself being a witness to the instrument. Possession was given by " turf and twig." The island was then computed to be 6,000 acres in extent and 4,800 acres were allotted to individuals for farms, 260 acres were to be devoted to a town plat, and spaces were to be set apart for an "artillery garden," a place of burial, a prison honse, high- ways and other purposes.
On the 28th of March, 1657, Thomas Gould purchased of the Indian sachem, Koshtosh, the island now known as Gould is-
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
land. Dutch island seems to have been included in the pur- chase of Conanicut under the deed from Cashanaquoont. It seems that prior to these purchases the English had bought the right to the grass on the islands, which purchase of rights had been made in connection with the purchase of Aquidneck. This gave rise to some misunderstanding with the Indians and re- sulted in the full purchase of the land as above set forth.
The lands obtained from the Indians in these islands were held in common by the original purchasers until about the year 1665 or 1666, before they began to divide or admit other owners to their numbers. Then a division of the land of Conanicut was made, lands for farms being allotted to individuals in pro- portion to the various amounts they had invested in the pur- chase. A highway fonr rods wide was laid ont across the island, and a town or village plat, consisting of house lots of one acre each, was planned. William Coddington and Benedict Arnold became the largest purchasers, hence were given the "lion's share" of the territory and the first choice of location. The for- mer took the northern part of the island, and the latter took the southern part. Arnold was a large owner in the plat of the proposed village, and when the plan was abandoned, as was the case a little later on, he, in common with other holders of that property, was given other lands most conveniently situated with reference to his homestead. At Mr. Arnold's death his prop- erty fell to his two nephews. The farms now known as the "Dumplings" and the "Beaver Head Farm" are owned by Thomas HI. Clark and Mrs. B. S. Cottrell. The lot known as the "Tuck Lot," on which the new school house stands, was assigned to the farm across the beach, and the lot west of the school house became a part of the Greene farm. This all re- sulted from the division of the village lots as before mentioned.
Benedict Arnold, the son of William Arnold, was born Decem- ber 21st, 1615, married Damaris Wescott December 17th, 1640, and died at Newport June 19th, 1678. By his will he gave to his eldest son, Benedict, the "north half of a neck of land being southermost part of Conanient istand by me named Beaver Neck, containing 1000 acres surrounded by the sea, except by a nar- row beach called Parting Beach." To the same he also gave one-third of Dutch island. To his son, Josiah, he gave the other half of. Beaver neck and another third of Dutch island. 'fo his youngest son, Oliver, he gave about three hundred acres
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
bounded partly by land of the assignees of William Weeden, deceased, another tract of 60 acres, spoken of as a triangular piece, somewhere on the island, an interest in the 260 acre tract known as the " Township," and the remaining third of Dutch island.
The three sons mentioned were given also all his cattle, hor- ses and sheep, that were on the island south of Caleb Carr's. To another son, Caleb, in addition to considerable sums already given, as book accounts showed, amounting to $200, he gave 160 acres on the island, to be occupied by him till his eldest son should become of age, then to pass to him. By a codicil dated February 10th, 1678, he changes his son Benedict's land in Beaver neck, to the south part, and Josiah's to the north part, and directs that his son Oliver's part of land, which contains the homestead, should be made up to 500 acres. to be equal with the others.
The Carr family became conspicuous in the development of the early history of this town, and their fortunes have been more or less identified with Jamestown from its settlement to the present time. Caleb Carr owned large tracts of land on the island of Aquidneck or Rhode Island, and also in this town. After his death the Jamestown property, known as the home- stead, came into possession of his son, Nicholas, who had al- ready for some time resided there. Ile raised a large family, and many of his descendants reside on the island. The prop- erty belonging to Caleb Carr came largely from his being an original purchaser, and the additional purchases which he made a short time afterward. In 1658 he bought of William Case, sen., of Newport, all his interests in Conanient and Dutch islands, also of Jeremiah Willis, of Newport, fifty-one and a half acres in Conanient, and the interests of a number of others, and subsequently he bonght lands of Henry Bassett and Henry and Jireh Bull, who also owned lands on this island.
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