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 94
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
009
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
LAND AND WATER ROUTES .-- The town founders made broad provision for thoroughfares through their properties, but while they foresaw the needs of their descendants in many particulars, it is very noticeable, from a glance at their old map, that we walk not to-day in the ways of the fathers. Pri- vate selfishness, at odds with the public rights, has made the ways never the more straight and much the more narrow. The Great West road, that magnificent boulevard which the men of 1674 made straight and broad, has lost both those characteris- ties, but some things are unchanged. The rats on many fre- quented roads are as deep as they were two hundred years ago.
The Taunton bridge was the subject of much concern to Little Compton while it was included in Bristol county, Mass. As early as 1700 the trouble began. " At a meeting of the inhab- itants of Little Compton this ye 5th day of August 1700 voted that W. Jacobs and Daniell Eaton are chosen for to go to . Taunton to morrow for to act as agents for this Town to meet the Committee Appointed by the General Court to treat about the Charges that they may be at about rebuilding of Taunton Bridg."
The encroachments upon the width of the Great West road made trouble nine years later, which was settled by Nathaniel Searles, John Palmer, Edward Richmond, selectmen. Again, May 15th, 1712, " Whereas Little Compton Are Served and No- tilied from the General Court to Answer Concerning Taunton Bridge, voted that this Town are not willing to be at any more charge about or concerning Taunton Bridge."
In 1713 the town made record of a communication which was given no farther attention : "Taunton January 21th 1713 To the select men In Little Compton . Gentlemen This come to advise you that you would be pleased to send your proportion of that twenty ponnds money that the great and general court ordered Dartmonth Little Compton Tiverton and Freetown Concerning the great Bridge over the great River. The Town of Taunton have ordered & do receive the s'd money to give request or acquittance for the same pray fail not but send or bring this or send me word what you Intend to do For I think it is hig time the matter be finished, Sign your most humble servant,
" JOHN KING."
A line of communication to the island across the Seconnet
1000
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
became of the greatest importance prior to the Revolution, and from a cove on the Compton side, called Church's harbor, to a landing near the Berkeley Memorial church in Middle- town, a ferry was maintained for years as Taggart's ferry. This and the one from Fogland, five miles farther north, were the principal means of business intercourse with the people of Rhode Island.
A lottery was authorized by the general assembly in Febru- ary, 1763, by which it was proposed to raise £6,000 to build a wharf in Church's harbor. Thomas Church, William Hall, Samuel Bailey, Thomas Brownell, Aaron Wilbour. Simeon Palmer, William Richmond, Jr., and Henry Wood were ap- pointed directors of the lottery, The road along the south line of the 1673 purchase was given by Esquire Taylor about this time and the town built the walls dividing it from the fields. It is generally known as Taylor's lane.
Since the natural advantages of Seconnet point as a summer residence have built up that part of the town and brought an annually increasing number of summer residents, more atten- tion is being given to the care of the thoroughfares. A railroad from some point in this town to connect with the Old Colony road at Tiverton is seriously urged and the requisite legislative action has been secured, both by state and town, the town pledging, conditionally, the sum of $25,000 in aid of the scheme. Two steamers, the "Dolphin" and the "Queen City," make the present connection with Providence, from Seconnet point.
THE REVOLUTION .- The people of Little Compton were among the first in southern New England to take public action in regard to the initial steps in the war for American inde- pendence. So closely allied and mutually dependent were the salient features of that period, in their relation to this town and Tiverton, that many of the events concerning both towns alike, and which occurred within their borders are incorporated in the latter; yet a few incidents in Little Compton were so strictly local as to require mention here.
About the time hostilities began, this town contained three hundred and four white male persons over sixteen years of age in its population of twelve hundred and thirty-two. When Little Compton was incorporated as a town of Rhode Island its militia was organized as a company and attached to the New- port county regiment, but in May, 1776, better discipline was
1001
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
deemed desirable, and the Little Compton company was divided into two companies, by a line running from Perez Richmond's house easterly across the town. The first company was to be officered by Gideon Simmons, captain; Ephraim Simmons, lien- tenant; and William Bailey, ensigu. In the second company George Simmons was captain; David Cooke, lieutenant; and Fobes Little, Jr., ensign.
Preparations were making for further sacrifice, and, with the events of the summer already noticed, the people looked for- ward with forebodings to the future. In December, as a prep- aration for offensive, and if occasion required, for defensive measures, the town was authorized to take from Howland's ferry two mounted field pieces, one four or six-pounder and one smaller one, and the proper cartridges; the town clerk was empowered to draw 150 pounds of lead, 50 pounds of powder and 500 flints for the use of the Little Compton soldiers. The cannon were not long idle in Compton, for within ten days after New Year's they took them out to try them on the British frigate "Cerebus," laying at Fogland ferry. They worked well on such a target; six English were killed before the craft could get out of range; but one Compton man was wounded.
For fourteen months after July, 1778, a system of signaling was kept up between the Americans in Little Compton and their friends, who were under the surveillance of the British, on the other side of the Seconnet. Isaac Barker, of Middle- town, managed that end of the line, and Lientenant Chapin, of Sherburne's regiment, stationed in Little Compton, managed the east end of the system. Great adroitness was required on the part of Mr. Barker, for the British were quartered in the house where he lived, the house still standing in Middletown, the residence of Stephen P. Barker. Lieutenant Chapin had less to be solicitous about, and improved his time at odd jobs of his own inventing. In 1778, December 17th, he took a whale boat and six men and captured a British brig bound for New York. His prisoners, including Mrs. Sir Guy Johnston, were landed at Seconnet point.
During the same winter Major William Taggart, who had com- manded a flotilla of gunboats under General Sullivan, had re- tired with his son, Captain William J., to his farm in Little Compton. In July, 1779, an attempt was made by tories from Newport to capture them. The two American sentinels on the
1002
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
shore were surprised and captured, and also Thomas Bailey, at whose house the sentinels were quartered. This house is still standing on the Kempton farm, east of the Warren Point road. Captain Taggart and a brother of his were taken prisoners, and four of the five taken were lodged in Newport jail as prisoners. The captain's brother was shot in an attempt to escape. The captain subsequently resigned his position as prisoner of war, and, with Benjamin Borden, of Fall River, retired again to the American lines.
Five years after the settlement of peace, when the question of adopting the federal constitution was agitating the public mind, Little Compton recorded this vigorous action :-
"To Messrs. George Simmons and Nathaniel Searle, Deputies for the town of Little Compton :-
"We the inhabitants of the town of Little Compton, being lawfully assembled in public town meeting, this 6th day of Jan- uary 1788 for the purpose of taking into consideration the pro- ceedings of the late honorable Continental Convention * * * and viewing the new Federal Constitution as a plan of govern- ment well adapted to the present critical situation of our na- tional affairs: We do therefore enjoin it upon you, gentlemen, as our positive instructions, that you each use your utmost en- deavors at the next session of the General Assembly of this State, to have an act passed [providing for a Constitutional Convention]; and these our positive instructions, gentlemen, you must not fail to execute on pain of incurring our highest dis- pleasure."
The general assembly, in February, 1788, passed an act pro- viding that town meetings be held on the fourth Monday in March, 1788, at which the voters should declare by ballot for or against the adoption of the federal constitution. Little Comp- ton and Bristol were the only towns casting a close vote. The vote of Little Compton is here preserved, as a reliable list of the active freemen as well as their different views on a great public measure.
Yeas .- John Bailey, Benjamin Coe, Thomas Briggs, Constant Seabury, Zebedee Greenell, Gideon Simmons, Billings Greenell, Zebedee Stoddard, Joseph Brownell, Joseph Wilbur, Job Man- chester, Ebenezer Church, Nathaniel Tompkins, Sylvanus Brown, David Hilliard, Jr., Nathaniel Searle, Joseph Gifford, George Wood, John Woodman, 2d, Nathaniel Church. Borden
1003
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY:
Wilbur, Isaac Wood, Samnel Coe, Adam Simmons, Thomas Davenport, Isaac Baley, Williams Simmons, Gamaliel Tompkins, William Ladd. Caleb Church, 2d, Lemuel Sawyer, Jeremiah Davenport, Gideon Taylor, Ichabod Wood, Aaron Wilbur, David Hilliard, Robert Woodman, Enos Gifford, Samuel Gray, Robert Taylor, William Brown, William Baley, Elisha Wood- worth, Thomas Brownell, William Southworth, William Wood man, Thomas Richmond, John Greenell, Isaac Simmons, John Tompkins, Barnabus Clapp, Arnold Stoddard, Benjamin Tomp- kins, John Davis, David Tompkins, Abell Simmons, William Richmond, Perez Richmond, Philip Taylor, Nathaniel Taylor, Nathaniel Simmons, Nathaniel Stoddard, John Woodman. -[63.]
Nays .-- Jonathan Taylor, Nathaniel Dring, Thomas Wilbur, John Brownell, Thomas Brown, Charles Brownell, John Pearce 2d, Henry Head, William Wilbur, Jr., Wing Durfy, Aaron Simmons, Stephen Brownell 2d, John Bennet, Seth Shaw, Benjamin Head, George Simmons, Israel Shaw, William Hunt, William Carr, Moses Brown, Brownell Stoddard, Peter Shaw, Nathaniel Pearce, Fobes Little, Jr., Aaron Greenell, Peleg Wood, Ezra Chase, Caleb Simmons, Elkanalı Palmer, Fobes Little, Charles Manchester, John Carr, Benjamin Stoddard, Benedict Palmer, John Wilbur, John Simmons, Daniel Wilbur, Thomas Palmer, John Salsbury, Zurah Simmons, George Brow- nell 2d, Isaac Peckham, James Pearce, Pardon Snell, Joseph Pearce, Isaac Wilbur (son of John), Joseph Brown, Canaan Gifford, Benjamin Head, Sen., Abner Wood, Owen Greenell, Thomas Baley, Jonathan Brownell, Joseph Bennett, Thomas Irish, William Wilbur, Gideon Gifford .-- [57].
The history of that effort is extant. Finally, on the 29th of May, 1790, with the majority at Newport, Little Compton's delegates, John Davis and William Ladd, who had voted against the South Kingstown adjournment, voted for the adop- tion of the federal constitution.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT .- The more strictly internal affairs of the town have generally been administered by as able men as those who have been chosen to participate in its behalf in the colonial or state legislation.
We have considered the religious trend of the people in their first steps toward organizing a local government; how the coll- trol of public affairs was made a matter for the church to con-
1004
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
sider, and how the management of the church was considered the public business as much as maintaining the highways. This business. whatever might be its nature, was largely di- rected, and in most cases practically controled, by the leading men of the town who were chosen to that trust. They were elected by the people and were given the title selectmen. This office was one of honor and responsibility, and the names of the men who have filled it will include quite generally the influ- ential citizens of each decade. The same officers are now called councilmen, individually and collectively, the town council.
Prior to 1701, Captain Southworth, Christopher Allen, Wil- liam Fobes, George Webb, Aaron Davis, William Jacobs, Ed- ward Richmond, Daniel Eaton, Jonathan Thurston and Henry Head are the only names recorded. The significance of the fol- lowing list of those who have held the office since 1700, is the pre- servation of prominent names-a matter always of interest-and the approximate dates of their prominence. In the town's records the same name frequently recurs during consecutive years or at intervals. Here the date preceding a name is the date it first appears, and if it is in the list of selectmen or coun- cilmen more than two years the number of years is given after the name. When the same name recurs in the record after an interval so great that the name is not probably of the same man it is repeated with a date, and the years of subsequent service noted: In 1701, Joseph Wilbore; Thomas Brownell, 3; 1703, Porter Taylor, 4; John Coe, 3; Nathaniel Searles, 9; 1706, Ed- ward Richmond, 10; 1707, John Palmer, 4; 1710, Jonathan Head; John Sanford; 1711, Thomas Searles; 1712, Thomas Gray, 7; William Pabodie, 5; 1715, Capt. William Southworth; 1716, George Brownell, 6; Robert Woodman; 1717, Thomas Church, 25; 1718, Samnel Crandall, 8; 1719, Samuel Wilbor, 10; 1723, George Pierce, 4; 1727, Joseph Southworth, 5; 1730, James Ronse, 9; 1735, William Richmond, 10; 1745, Elijah Woodword; Samnel Gray, 7; 1746, Nathaniel Searles, Jr., 29; Joseph Wood, 11; Robert Taylor, 8; 1746, Joseph Peckham, 6; 1750, Elihn Wood- worth; Jolin Hunt, 7; Jeremiah Brownell; 1752, William Shaw, 4; Samuel Tompkins, 3; Benjamin Seabury; 1754, Oliver Hil- yard, 12; 1755, Thomas Church, 6; Fobes Little; 1756, Charles Brownell; Benjamin Simmons, 8; 1757, Jeremiah Briggs; 1758, John Gifford; 1759, William Taylor, 6; Richard Brownell, 11; 1760, John Briggs; 1762, Thomas Brownell, 7; William Briggs,
1005
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
6; 1764, John Irish; 1765, Philip Taylor, 28; George Simmons, 12; 1766, Thomas Dring, 3; 1769, George Pearce, 8; John Peck- ham, 5; 1770, Perez Richmond, 14; 1771, David Hilyard, 3; 1774, Aaron Wilbour, 18; Daniel Wilbour, 12: 1779, Thomas Palmer, 25; 1784, John Davis, 6; 1787, James Brownell, 12; Ebenezer Church; William Southworth, 3; 1788, Joseph Gifford, 4; Nathaniel Church, 9; 1791, Andrew Taylor, 3; 1793, Thomas Briggs, 16; 1797, Pardon Brownell, 5; John Bailey, 5; 1799, Edward Woodman, 10; 1800, John Brown, 15; 1802, Josiah C. Shaw; 1803, Zebedee Grinnell, 5; 1804, William Wilbour, 7; 1806, William Wilbour 2d, 3; Thomas White, 11; 1807, Joseph Pearce, 9; 1808, Sanford Almy, 14; 1809, Philip Wilbonr; 1811, Stephen Brownell, 10; 1813, Sylves- ter Gifford, 4; Owen Grinnell, 4; Tillinghast Bailey, 4; 1814, Syl- vester Brownell; 1815, Davis Simmons; 1817, Job Briggs, 6; 1821, Jadiah Shaw, 10; Peleg Bailey, 3; Ezra Coe, 3; Samuel Ililliard, 6; 1824, Peleg Peckham, 7; 1827, Nathaniel Tompkins, 6; 1829, Christopher Brownell, 17; 1831, General Nathaniel Church, 41; 1832, Clark Brownell 12; 1834, Elisha Brownell, 4; 1835, Pardon Almy; 1837. Christopher Brown, 9; 1838, George Potter, 19; 1839, Peleg Sanford; Jonathan Wilbour; 1840, Thomas Wilbour, 6; 1845, Isaac B. Richmond; Pardon Gray; Allen Gifford; James Bailey: 1846, Nathaniel Gifford, 15; John Church; 1848, Oli- ver C. Brownell, 32; 1849, Billings Grinell; 1854, Benjamin Sea- bury, 14; 1861, Charles W. Howland, 4; Thomas G. Tompkins, 4; 1863, George W. Staples, 3; 1865, William S. Church 9; 1866, Ezra Wilbur; Oliver P. Peckham; 1867, George F. S. White, 3; 1869, Frederick R. Brownell; Oliver H. Almy, Jr .; Ben- jamin F. Wilbur, 9; 1870, George W. Butler, 11; Thomas Wil- bor 2d, 5; Warren Seabury, 5; 1871, William H. Sisson; 1873, Oliver H. Wilbor, 4; 1875, Frank W. Simmons; John Sisson; 1876, John Sisson 2d; 1877, Philip W. Almy, 11, Edwin T. Seabury, 8; 1885, George H. Peckham: Daniel Wilbour, 3; 1887, William H. Briggs.
The town clerks have ever been charged with trusts no less important than the recording and preservation of all the land evidence of the town, the records of the probate court, of which they are also clerks, and the whole clerical work of the town government. The policy of the town has been to keep the clerks in office as long as possible. In the following list the date of commencement of service is given; each serving un-
1006
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
til his successor was chosen: John Woodman, 1696; Edward Richmond, 1714; Joseph Southworth, 1725; William Richmond. 1730: Joseph Southworth, 1732; William Richmond, 1736; John Pabodie, 1746; Jepthah Pearce, 1755; Thomas Church, 1771: Adam Simmons, 1775; Barnabus Clap, 1794; Benjamin Tomp- kins, 1795; Samuel T. Grinnell, 1803; Thomas Palmer, 1813; Samuel T. Grinnell, 1817; Godfrey Pearce, 1819; Alexander R. Brownell, 1821; Otis Wilbor, 1840; Henry M. Tompkins, 1856; Isaac B. Cowan, 1876; Frederick R. Brownell, 1881.
CHURCHES .-- We have considered the settlers at Seconnet in their social and business relations, and noted that union of ec- clesiastical and political functions under which the social fab- ric of the Seconnet community was conducted.
While the disciples of Roger Williams, with their consciences freed from the claims of the Puritan church, were welcoming the peaceful, practical Quakers to Rhode Island, Seconnet was being peopled by men whose minds had been moulded to the Plymouth pattern; so at Seconnet may be seen to this day a fairer instance of the resultant of the political and ecclesiastical forces of Puritanism than in any other part of the county or the state.
Unmistakable traces of the great Puritan ideas are in the public acts of the first century of this settlement, in marked contrast to the ideas underlying the public policy of the famed towns of the island. Here the church and the state were one. The affairs of religion were made a part of the public business, and in the town meetings the preacher and the schoolmaster were elected, and their support by public tax was provided for.
From the first date of the white man's effort to gain a foot- hold in the land of Awashonks, the movement may be regarded as the primitive period in the history of the Congregational church. The proprietors assumed the support of the gospel ministry as a part of the public business, and set apart a por- tion of their lands for sacred uses. This community was for several years regarded as a missionary field by the older towns to the northeastward. In 1682, at the same session of the general conrt in which the town of Little Compton was incor- porated, the following decree was issued :
"Whereas it hath pleased God to move our honored Magis- trates with a sence of the soule langnishing condition of such of the people of this jurisdiction att Seaconett and places adja- cent for the want of the preaching of Gods word amongst them
1007
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
together with their owne want of the sence of that duty to doe what in them lyes, that the good knowledge of God and his wayes might be taught them, and there fore doe commend it to sevral of the elders to take their turnes as they may have op- portunities given unto them, and the elders being moved with compassion toward their soules, being desirous to promote the honor of God amongst them agreed to visit the same in turn."
The following year the court of Plymouth directed the town to raise £15 for the support of the minister. This order was supported by time-honored precedents in the Puritan towns of New England, but Aquidneck was not far away and there they did as they pleased about such things, and the idea of doing as they pleased at Seconnet struck their minds quite favorably, so they held a town meeting and made varions excuses and finally sent word to the Plymouth Court that they would raise no £15. This was in 1685 and in October the court issued a peremptory order thus: "To the Constable of Little Compton. Whereas the Town of Little Compton hath sent to the Court of Assistants, a vote of the said Towne under the hand of the Towne Clarke, wherein they manifest their refusal of obedience to the orders of the General Court not only in the way of ne- glect, but contempt, if the said Towne shall still neglect to yield obedience to said order, You are then in his Majesty's name required to summon the inhabitants of Your Towne per- sonally to appear at his Majesty's Court at Plymouth March Next then and there to answer the contempt aforesaid."
To answer this order the town chose David Lake and Henry Head as their agents, and they appeared at the court in March and presented a plea under the hand of the town clerk present- ing exceptions, and refusing to plead "because we are not brought in to answer neither by presentment or indictment."
The court maintained its anthority and fined the town $20 for the neglect of its orders and contempt for its dignity. The tax was collected and the position of the rebels abandoned.
Their descendants of the present generation, men zealonsly liberal in their support of churches and schools, excuse the po- sition of their ancestors on the theory that they had already given sufficient for this purpose in donating one-tenth of their land to the use of the ministry, and that they were but acquir- ing thus early some of the commendable ideas of religious lib- erty which prevailed on the other side of the river, from whence the Almys, Brownells and Wilbours came.
1008
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
The erection of the first meeting house on the commons has already been noticed. Two of the ministry lots were sold in May, 1693, to aid in its completion, and in 1695 Thomas Palmer was chosen first minister of the town.
May 17th, 1692, this record appears in the acts of the proprie- tors:
" Whereas by an order of the Proprietors bearing date May 11, 1677, it is granted that the first minister that settles at Se- conet shonkl have one House lot and an equal share of the un- divided lands in the late indian purchase freely, and also an eqnal share in all the unpurchased lands at Saconet, in consid- eration of the said grant and in lieu thereof the said Proprie- tors at this Meeting did order that a Committee shall lay out one hundred Acres of land, so as they judge shall be most con- venient for him, he relinquishing any claim to any other divi- sion, and by settlement, is to be understood and intended, such as shall continne in this Town in the said Work. during his life, or at least for the space of ten years. Voted clearly."
The idea of the Gospel being free is queerly confounded with the notion of its being cheap. The proprietors' records of 1697 show that " At a Meeting of the inhabitants September 7th. it was voted that Mr. Eliphalet Adams be the Minister of this Town provided he will be contented with so much as the people shall willingly contribute to his Maintenance, and the lands be- longing to the Minister, and to the use of the lands belonging unto the Ministry without a rate or tax upon the people." Mr. Adams was a young man twenty years of age, a graduate of Harvard College, and a son of William Adams of Dedham. He preached here for three years.
John Clarke was chosen minister of the town by a vote in public town meeting January 14th, 1701. Sixty-five persons had recently been baptized, and their names added to the record. Among those baptized at that time were seven children of Jon- athan Davenport; five children of Joseph Church; John and Elizabeth Palmer, with their seven children; Edward and Sarah Richmond, with six children; and Lieutenant John Wood, with his seven children. Of these last mentioned seven children, six died within eight days in the month of March, 1712, and were buried in four graves. The name of Nathaniel Searle, who was the first schoolmaster, was in the list.
Ten months from the election of Reverend Clarke, Richard
1009
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Billings was chosen to be the town minister, and then began an uninterrupted pastorate of over forty-seven years. For the three first years he held simply the relation of religions teacher for the town, the same as had his predecessors, but during that period the formative era in the history of Congregationalism in Little Compton may be said to have ended.
Richard Billings was the oldest of a family of thirteen chil- dren. His father was Ebenezer Billings, of Dorchester, Mass. It is probable that he was born in England, September 21st, 1675, and removed to Dorchester when about five years of age. He graduated at Harvard College in 1698, and three years later, at the age of twenty-six, began his labors in this town, where he served faithfully until his death, November 20th, 1748.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.