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 87
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924
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
and greatly improving it at an expense of more than $60,000. He opened it in 1865 as the " Lawton House," running it suc- cessfully for two seasons. He sold it in 1867 to a company of thirty men of Fall River. It was controlled by this company until the panic of 1878, when it was sold at a great sacrifice. In 1879 Philander Smith bought it, and after running it, five seasons he sold it, in June, 1884, to Colonel George Alexander, who greatly improved and modernized it. Mr. Alexander was preparing to open it in June, having it finished and partly fur- nished, when it was destroyed by fire. A company styled the " Stone Bridge Hotel and Cottage Association" is erecting a new hotel on this site, to be opened in July, 1888, under the management of Colonel George Alexander, who is the moving spirit in this enterprise.
The Bay View house was built in 1871 by Philander Smith, who sold it in 1877 to Abner Tallman, the present proprietor.
HIGHWAYS .- For a hundred years from the settlement of Tiverton the roads extending eastward were the most import- ant ones in the town. One of these, mentioned as extending from Tiverton Four Corners eastward to Dartmouth; another, passing Bliss Four Corners; and the third, passing the Gardner homestead (32) in the north part of the town, were the princi- pal lines of travel. Now, the great west road from Fall River to Seconnet, and the Stafford and Crandall roads, together mak- ing a line from Fall River to Adamsville, are the most import- ant thoroughfares of the town.
CHURCHES. - The Stone Free Will Baptist church was formed in or about the year 1680, by Baptists residing in Dartmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton. It was first organized by the Six Principle Baptists, who obtained their belief from Hebrews VI : 1-3. In September, 1835, it was voted to adopt the "Faith of the Free Will Baptists" and accept their denominational name. The first pastor was Hugh Moshier, an Englishman, who was succeeded at his death by Aaron Davis, of Dartmouth, who had charge of the church until 1720. Next Philip Taber, of Dartmouth, was pastor for thirty-two years From 1752 to 1775 David Rounds, of Tiverton, and Benjamin Sheldon, of Reho- both, had charge of the church. For the next twenty-five years Peleg Burroughs, of Newport, was the pastor. He died in Au- gust, 1800. The hymn composed by him on the dark day, May 15th, 1750, is still preserved.
925
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
The pastorate of his successor, Benjamin Peckham, of New- port, continned thirty-five years. Ile died in 1836, aged 84. From this time the church is known as the Free Will Baptist church. Its pastors have been: J. S. Mowry, from 1836 to 1840; Joseph Whittemore, 1840 to 1846; Franklin P. Anger, supplied six months; Israel Washburn, supplied six months; James A. Mckenzie, 1847 to 1852; John Pratt, supplied six months; Joshua A. Stetson, 1854 to 1859; James A. Mckenzie, April, 1859, to April, 1873; Maxey W. Burlingame, supplied six months; G. H. Child, 1874 to 1879; William A. Nealy, 1879 to 1885; Herbert G. Corliss, since 1885.
For seventy years the society had no church building, but met in private houses. In 1752 Job Almy gave five-eighths of an acre for a church site, and thirty-four acres for the use of the minister. The first church was built in 1752; the stone church in 1841. The first parsonage was built in 1755; the sec- ond in 1884. In 1788 some of the members withdrew to form the Second Baptist church of Tiverton, now in Fall River, and in 1808 others, to form the Third Baptist church of Tiverton, now the Central Baptist church at Tiverton heights. These two churches became Calvinistic, because their pastors were Calvinists. The Baptist church in New Bedford was organized by seventeen members dismissed from here for that purpose. The whole number of members in 1887 was 148.
An effort to establish Congregationalism in Tiverton was made as early as 1746. On the 20th of August in that year a church was organized called the Congregational church. It consisted of eleven men and was organized by an ecclesiastical council composed of pastors and delegates from the Congregational church in Little Compton and the First church in Rochester, Mass. On August 26th the church voted to extend a call to Rev. Othniel Campbell to officiate as pastor. Mr. Campbell, having accepted the call of the church, was installed October 1st, 1746.
The choice of Mr. Campbell by the new society led to the first local controversy between the civil and ecclesiastical an- thorities. The following interesting serap is copied from the town meeting records :
" Att a full meeting of ye freemen of ye Town of Tiverton le- gally warned and held at ye house of Nathaniel Little on ye thirteenth Day of November A. D. 1749. Voted, John How-
926
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
land Esq, is chosen moderator of the meeting. and it appearing to sd, meeting that one Othniel Campbell who hath entered into ye Southerly part of sd Town near ye outermost thereof for two or three years past who hath Lately since declared himself to be the minister of sd, Town, And ye Inhabitants of sd. Town being very sensible that they never had made any such choice of him or did Ever approve of him in that capacity having made Choice of Mr. Joseph Wanton at a meeting held at said Tiverton the tenth day of April, who hath for some time before sd choice preached in sd Tiverton & Ever since officiated in that office to this time & in whom we are well satisfied.
"Voted that we disallow of Othniel Campbell to be our min- ister and rest Contented with our former choice of Joseph Wan- ton-which vote passed unanimously in sd meeting."
During a number of years this church received aid from the missionary society, but receiving several legacies it became, in time, self-supporting. The original building was where the school house now stands, east of Tiverton Four Corners. This building was used as barracks during the revolution and in February, 1784, this society presented a petition to the general assembly at Providence representing that the meeting house belonging to that society was arranged as a barrack for troops, whereby it was greatly injured ; and praying the assembly to grant them a lottery for raising money, amonnting to $1,500, to be applied to the repairing of the building. This petition was granted and Joseph Taber, Pardon Gray, John Cooke, William Ladd, William Whitridge, Abraham Brown, Benjamin How- land and Nathaniel Briggs were appointed directors of the lot- tery and authorized to establish a scheme for it, giving bonds in the sum of $3,000.
When it became needful, several years later, to build a new church edifice, the question of location divided the society and crippled its powers for a considerable time. As a result of this division a portion of the members built the church building now standing north of Four Corners, and services were main- tained in both churches for several years by the same pastor on alternate Sundays, but the old church and the old prejudice have long since passed away and the nnited congregation wor- ships in the new building.
Rev. Campbell was their pastor for thirty-two years. He died October 15th, 1778. His successors have been : John
927
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Briggs, 1793-1801; David Janet, 1804-1806; Benjamin Whit- more, 1815-1816; Ebenezer Colman, 1818-1825; Luther White, 1825-1828; Jonathan King, 1828-1836; Isaac Jones, 1838-1841; Jared Reid, 1841-1851; David Andrews, 1852-1857; Nelson Clark, 1858-1866; Alphonso Whitmore, 1866- -; A. T. Clark, 1872-1877; W. H. Sturtevant, 1877-1882; H. T. Arnold, 1883- 1887; G. W. Lawrence, 1887.
The society now numbers forty-one members. The church building will comfortably accommodate three hundred persons.
The Society of Friends at Tiverton was formed, and a meeting house was erected before the revolution. The exact date is not known, but during that war their building was in use as a hos- pital. It was subsequently taken down and another was built on the same site. This new house was burned in December, 1860, and soon afterward the third building was erected. This is now standing where stood the old meeting house of a century ago. Around it are the moss grown graves of the quiet men and the modest women, ancestors of worthy descendants who are among the best of Tiverton's citizens to-day.
This society sustained from the first, as it appears, a subor- dinate relation to the Portsmonth monthly meeting of Friends, where the vital statistics of the families of members are well preserved and faithfully kept by Isaac B. Macomber.
Among the early supporters of the Tiverton meeting were Ed- ward Wing and Elizabeth, his wife; Nathan Chase, Abraham Barker, Borden Durfee, Abagail Durfee, John Hicks, Elisha Estes and Ann Hopkins, who was a maiden sister of Elizabeth Wing. Mrs. Wing was the minister for several years. Mr. Barker and Mr. Hicks were the last of the old society. These two, faithful to their earnest belief, sat alone in their house of worship many a First Day and silently worshipped God.
The Central Baptist Church was organized in 1808 by former members of the Baptist Church near Adamsville, and was then known as the " Third Baptist Church of Tiverton." At a point southeast of the Tiverton end of the stone bridge, they, in 1808, erected their first house of worship. The first clerk was Wil- liam Norton. His record, still preserved, is the basis of this article. He says: "This book commences to date 1809, May 31st, altho the Proceedings of the church which now exists tuck place sume time before as will appear by the following * * * colected from Different Letters and Pieces of Paper which were Kept for this Purpose."
928
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Elder William Bentley preached his first sermon on Sunday, Angust 7th, 1808. A formal invitation was sent to him dated August 20th. He accepted, and preached to them until the middle of October following. A subscription of nearly $250 was then " filled up." " Then on Tuesday Nov, 2nd returned and gave his answer in the affirmative and concluded to move on the 17th, which he did, and on the 26th had a meeting of the members of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Tiverton to consult about forming the Third Baptist Church of Christ in Tiverton."
It appears to have been a subject of controversy what the articles of faith should be, but finally those of a Boston church were adopted, and on the 28th of December, 1808, the church was regularly organized. Several churches, by their elders and messengers, took part in this ceremony at the house of Captain Elisha Brown. The First Baptist church of Tiverton was rep- resented by Benjamin Peckham, Noah Palmer and Jeremiah Davenport. The Second Baptist church of Tiverton (now in Fall River) by Elder Job Borden, Enoch French, Edmund Da- vis, Joseph Stillwell and George Wodell. The Baptist churches of Boston, Providence, Newport and Warren were also repre- sented.
The first members were: William Humphrey, his wife Lydia, his daughter Harriet, his son William and wife, Elisha Brown, Stephen Taber and wife, William Norton and wife, and their daughter Mary, John Albert, Betsey Hambly, Priscilla Hambly, Alice Hambly, Nancy Hambly, Sarah Hambly, Mary, Barsheba and Ruth Howland, Patience Thurston, Elizabeth Westgate, Alice Westgate, Mary Manchester, Elizabeth Hunt, and Eliza- beth Osborn, wife of William.
Sixteen members were dismissed June 22d, 1813, to constitute a new church in New Bedford. Thirteen members were dis- missed to form a Baptist church in Worcester, Mass. Elder Bentley, after preaching here until October 26th, 1812, became pastor of the Worcester church.
"1813, May 16th, This day Elder Livermore came among us by our request to preach (if GOD Willing. ) 6 months and tarry at different places."
"1814, July to Angust 1815. No steady preaching and the church in a dry and barren situation."
929
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
"May 19th, 1816, Jonathan Smith of Norton, Mass., is preach- ing to ns, We are seeing what we can do for him."
"1816, Ang. 23rd, An examination took place to know the minds of the brethren and sisters in regard to communion. * *
* It has been years since we met for this important inquiry."
"Voted if they think it proper to ordain Brother Smith that if he should continue with us we may enjoy the privileges of gospel ordinances."
"Elder Jonathan Smith left us in October, 1816, and went to Middleborongh, Mass."
"May 17th, 1818. Benjamin HI Pitman of Newport agreed with to come and .preach the present season by the church pay- ing his traveling expenses, which was raised chiefly by the sis- ters."
"1819, Oct. Mr. Pitmans' farewell sermon."
"1820, Three male members and forty-six females."
These preceding passages from the clerk's book are quoted ver- batim, in order to preserve, not only the historical facts, but the mode of doing business at that time. The remainder of this sketch is the chronological record, edited from this clerk's book, and a later one in the hands of Mrs. Rodney Bennett, the pres- ent clerk. August 4th, 1820, Deacon William Humphrey, Wil- liam Norton and William Osborn were made a committee to take charge of the meeting house, as to what preachers shall be admitted.
"1820. Dec. 2nd, Brother Taggart the young man preaching to us is keeping a school. Voted by all that his preaching is acceptable and that he continue with ns a year."
"May 13th 1822 Jonathan Wilsons first sermon; subscription is out for his support. April 4th 1824, Rev. Caleb Green pas- tor one year. 1826 August. Rev. Elbridge Gale's pastorate began July 20th 1830 Thirty three persons raised $19,95, for the purchase of a bass vial to assist the singing of the Second Baptist Church in Tiverton."
Prior to this year the church was called the Third Baptist church.
June, 1832, Reverend Gale removed to Dighton. July, 1832, Edward Peterson, pastor.
January-April, 1834, Josiah S. Parker pastor. March 29th. 1834, Thomas Osborn chosen clerk. The former clerk is re- ferred to as " Father Norton."
930
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
May 31st, 1837, Alexander Milne was ordained and made pastor for one year. In April, 1840, Reverend Jeremiah Kelley became pastor.
The records do not mention the length of the pastorate of Mr. Kelley, but during the next decade some serious difficul- ties and misunderstandings in the church came very near costing this religious body its life. Covenant meeting and communion services were discontinued and there was no regu- lar preaching service during the greater part of this time. Members living at a distance lost their interest, and but for the faithful few, the Central Baptist church of Tiverton would not be in existence to-day. The records tell us: "The Rev. Henry Jackson, chairman of the Associational Committee, visited the church August 25th, 1849, and by his advice a church meeting was called. A set of resolutions was presented and adopted. The name of this church was again changed. Since that time it has borne its present name. Each person whose name was on the church record received a letter stating that all persons who nominally sustain membership in this church shall, on application to the clerk within six months, be enrolled as members in good standing, and the names of all who neglect to do so shall be erased without any implication of their moral or christian character." This measure was necessary or at least highly expedient, as the members had many of them changed their places of residence and joined their interests with other churches during this time of ad- versity. On this basis the Central Baptist church of Tiverton was reconstructed with a membership of thirty-six, and David W. Burdick called to the pastorate.
The old church at Stone Bridge, standing on a bluff now leveled by the tides, was fast falling into decay, and in 1851 the best of its timbers were transferred to the site of the pres- ent church and incorporated in a new building. This was dedicated August 8th, 1851, and for thirty-five years this so- ciety worshipped here. The pastors during that time were : Reverends David M. Burdick, 1850; Robert Dennis, 1855; Fred- erick P. Shaw, 1855-1859; Andrew D. Milne, 1859-1862; Joseph Reall, 1862 1863; H. G. Hubbard, 1863; James Andem, 1866- 1867; George N. Greene, 1867-1868; Silas J. Weaver, 1870-1873; Edgar Mariot, 1873-1876; P. G. Wightman, 1876-1886. Stu- dents from Brown University have often supplied the pulpit when there was no settled pastor.
931
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
In the spring of 1883 this church sustained a great loss by the death of Judge Joseph Osborn. He had been one of its most efficient workers and the church had learned to lean upon him as one always ready with large heart and willing hand to bear the heaviest burdens of this church of his choice. While this loss was still keenly felt, on the night of October 10th, 1886, the church building was burned. Fortunately for this people, they have still in their ranks a member who follows in the foot- steps of Judge Osborne in earnest efforts for this church. Charles Andrew Hambly, assisted nobly by the few men and the brave women of this society, was untiring in efforts to re- build a house of worship. As a result of these united efforts, supported liberally by gentlemen not members of the society, a new and beantiful church edifice now stands on the old church lot, erected at a cost of about $10,000-a building of which a larger society might justly be proud. Though not large, it is complete in design and finish. As a fitting monu- ment to Judge Osborn a memorial window adorns the chancel. a gift from his son, William J. The church was dedicated December 14th, 1887. It is at present under the pastorate of Reverend Henry W. Tate.
In the development of religious thought among the people of Tiverton, the Puritan idea, as embodied in the Congregational church, the Roger Williams idea, as crystalized in the creed of the Baptists, and the principles of George Fox, as exemplified by the Society of Friends, represented for nearly two hundred years the sentiments of these people. An idea, however, began to develop here about 1840 which has since modified somewhat the course of religious thinking.
Reverend Samuel Longfellow, the Unitarian divine, preached the first Unitarian sermon in the Baptist church at Stone Bridge. As to the time, his letter reads, "It must have been in 1850, possibly a year earlier, that I went down from Fall River for four summer Sunday afternoons and preached in the old Baptist meeting house by the water . side -- so close to the water that as I sat in the pulpit I conld hear the plashing of the water on the shore through the open windows." Ile adds that his preaching at Stone Bridge came about through the influence of the West family, his par- ishioners, who lived in Tiverton. In 1859-60 Rev. Charles I. Bowen held regular meetings in the town hall and occasionally
59
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
in the Baptist church. During the civil war Reverend Bowen was appointed chaplain of the great Camden Street Hospital in Baltimore, where he then lived. In 1865 he again spent the summer here and resumed his preaching. The late Thomas Whitridge of Baltimore, offered $1,000 toward the erection of a hall for social and literary entertainments. This offer was fol- lowed by liberal contributions from others, until it was found practicable to erect the building now known as Whitridge hall. The question of what uses should be made of the hall if com- pleted led rapidly to the idea of building a chapel in connec- tion with the hall. For this purpose Mr. Whitridge contrib- uted another $500, and the building as now standing was erected by Martin Tupper, of Braintree, in 1876. Six years prior to this Reverend Bowen died while pastor at Roxbury, Mass., and in the addition of the chapel to the original plan for the hall Reverend Bowen's many friends contributed liberally, with the idea of making the chapel a memorial to him. On the 9th of June this memorial chapel was consecrated by the min- isters of the Norfolk Conference. Services during the summer seasons have been conducted here by Doctor Peabody, Reverend Robert Colyer, Reverend Edward Everett Hale, D. D., Doctor Briggs, Reverend Augustus Woodbury, Reverend Thomas Sli- cer and many others. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, whose country seat is in Portsmouth, kindly offered her services every Septem- ber. The winter services were carried on by the divinity stu - dents of Harvard College, and it was finally decided to give np the care of the chapel entirely to these students. They have done their work nobly. The congregations are large, the Sun- day school is flourishing.
SCHOOLS .- The first settlers of Tiverton were chiefly the de- scendants of the Pilgrims, and while they inherited in some de- gree the excellent character of their renowned ancestors, many facts in their history show most fully that they were not dis- tinguished for that superior intelligence and devoted piety which were conspicuous in their fathers. There are but few in- dications of early efforts for the education of their children. About the middle of the eighteenth century feeble efforts were put forth to promote general education. A few people seemed to see the importance of giving the rising generation some school opportunities, but there is ample evidence that the im- portance of this subject had not yet dawned upon the minds of
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
the people. It is strange to note how often the old deeds and other important documents were signed, even by individuals who had large estates, with the significant " his X mark." Oc- tober 7th, 1732, it was voted that two school houses be built in Tiverton, "One at ye south end and one at ye north end of ye town."
A custom of employing a teacher for the town appears by the following entry in the town records: " Ang. 15. 1743. Voted Benjamin Delaney Town school master for ye year insning and he is to have Thirty three pounds old Tenner for his year serv- ice to be paid unto him at the expiration of his year service." He served as agreed, for " Ang. 15. 1744. Voted that the Town hire the money to pay the School master for his service Done for the Town."
The true relation of the public school to the body politic seems to have been gradually coming into view, for in town meeting, on the 27th of August, 1799, William Humphrey, Thomas Durfee, Edmond Estes and John Howland were made a committee "to take under Consideration the Bill for an act for supporting a free School in the State and to make such amendment as they may think proper and make Report at the adjournment of this meeting." Here is an extract from the town records showing not only that they intended to have a school but that they needed one:
"Ang. 1828 on a motion Whether it be expejient that a Tax be levyed, for the support of Publik schools in this town It is voted that it be desided in the affermative by votes. Twenty being against the measlinre and Twenty-nine in favor of it."
" Voted that a Tax of Three Hundred and Sixty Dollars be assessed npon the Rateable property of this town for the sup- port of Publick schools."
At the annual meeting, June 1st, 1829, for the choice of offi- cers, the following named persons were elected school commit- tee: Robert Gray, William Shaw, John Manchester, Elbridge Gale, Amasa Borden, Noah Macomber, Benjamin Ilambly, Abraham Manchester. John Gray of Elizabeth, John Hambly.
From the allusions rather than positive statements the record appears that these meager provisions for public instruction were supplemented by individual and community action in different sections of the town. A school house was often owned and a teacher engaged by a few families of some community, and thus
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934
IHISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
the actual provisions for the education of the young in the town greatly exceeded those which became a part of the public rec- ords. Share holders, as applied to men or families aiding in the erection of school houses, is a term frequently met with prior to 1842. These private schools were not unfrequently taught in apartments of private houses. The compensation was generally very meager and the test of scholarship very feeble. The pedagogne of that day was a migratory creature. One specimen of this New England product perpetrated himself upon the neighborhood north of Howland's ferry and unexpect- edly, and perhaps unknown to himself, taught one of the best schools ever taught there. He called himself A. B., and was known here by no other name. He never spoke of home or rela- tives, and of his antecedents no one here knew. He faithfully performed the duties he assumed and quietly left his field of labor. Who he was or where he went still remains a question.
During the four years preceding and including 1846, the present district system was instituted. The first action of the town meeting relating to schools under the district system was on June 1st, 1846, when $800 was voted' to be raised and placed to the credit of the proper committee for expenses, directing it to be divided equally between the several districts in the town. The.committee consisted of Jared Reid, William C. Chapin, Charles Durfee, Asa Gray, William P. Sheffield, Joseph Osborn, Samuel West, Oliver Chase, Jr., and Cornelius Seabury, Jr. In June of the following year $500 was appro- priated-one- half to be divided equally among the districts, the other half to be apportioned according to the daily attendance. In June, 1848, $1,000 was voted by the town to support the schools in Tiverton, and the labors of the school committee in- creasing with the growth of the new system, $75 was voted for their services. In the meantime, the state having provided a plan for dividing the school fund among the various districts, we find the vote recorded that the $1,000 was to be distributed "as the state law directs." Since this time new buildings with modern conveniences have supplanted the primitive struc- tures which had served their day and generation-some of them several generations-and Tiverton has to-day thirteen schools and as many school buildings, which are fully up to the New England standard. Several of these new edifices are models of comfort and convenience. The best one in the town is just
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