USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Portsmouth > History of Portsmouth, 1638-1936 > Part 2
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In this list mention is made of the "Great Rock on the high way that leads from the division line (Wapping Road) so north by Thomas Cornells to the north east corner of Latham Clarkes 3 rods in breadth."
In 1731, a committee was named to inspect all highways of . Portsmouth and make a report on all "Trespasses, Nuisances and Intrusions that are committed on ye highways, watering places and General Priviledges." In the list this committee submitted, no roads were named, but merely the names of the abutters. It was shown that there were trespasses on nearly every road in the town.
Although no highways were named in the above lists, with the exception of the main roads, it seems strange that in each of these lists, what we now call Boyd's Lane, was always spoken of as "ye Stony Lane."
A Quiet Spot at Founder's Brook
Stepping Stones to Pudding Rock
STREAMS AND SWAMPS
The first stream mentioned in the records was called the "First Brook," where in 1640, James Badcock, Robert Ballou and Thomas Fish were all granted land. In 1665, in a deed from Jacob Cole to Richard Pearce, it is called "Little Silver." The swamp that this stream drained, was cut into six shares and granted to six men, it being called for many years "Little Silver Swamp." To me the name is much more colorful than the name of today, "Willow Brook."
The next stream mentioned was the Mill River, or Two Mill River. This started at the top of Quaker Hill, west of the Meeting House, and draining the "Mill Swamp," crossed the West Road and ran into Freeborn's Creek. Part of the Battle of Rhode Island was fought near this stream, and after the war it was called "Bloody Run Brook."
It was on this stream that land was granted in 1642, to James Sands, for a sawmill. This mill was purchased by William Free- born in 1655, and remained in the Freeborn family for many years. It was still running in 1800 but was then a grist mill. John Tyler also had a mill on this stream. At one time there was a mill dam behind the Quaker Meeting House.
The stream running through the Glen had on it a grist mill built by Giles Slocum. After Joseph Cundall bought this land he built a fulling mill.
Wading River was mentioned many times in the records, being the stream that drained the "Hunting Swamp" and the "Round Swamp" and running through Lawton's Valley into the Bay. George Lawton had one of the early grist mills on this stream, and later Robert Lawton had a fulling mill on Union Street, near the bridge.
Besides the swamps already mentioned there was "Long Swamp" lying between Wapping Road and the West Road, and
north of Braman's Lane. At Mint Water Brook, west of the West Road, was "Briggs Swamp."
North of School House Lane is a swamp mentioned many times in the records, as it seemed to be a sort of a landmark. This was called in nearly every case "Solentary Hole," which name describes it perfectly. It was granted to Philip Sherman in 1694, who sold it to Joseph Sheffield, who turned it back to the town in exchange for land next his farm.
The pond at the foot of Park Avenue has generally been called by the name of the man who owned land around it. It was first called "Gatchells Pond," then "Tallmans Pond," and finally "Scotts Pond."
The "Town Pond" was at first called merely "The Pond."
THE GOVERNMENT
Just when the town voted to have a council is unknown, owing to the condition of the first part of the First Book, but in 1649 there is a fragment of a record mentioning the Town Council. This was kept up until the time of Governor Andross.
On the 21st of May 1688, a Town Meeting was held at the home of Richard Cadman, to elect a new town government, by order of Governor Andross. This order called for the inhabitants of each town "to assemble on the 3rd Monday in May, yearly, and to draw an even number of fitt persons, not exceeding eight, as Selectmen." Half of these men were for one year and the other half two years. At this meeting six men were chosen as Selectmen.
Evidently the people of Portsmouth did not take to this new idea for no sooner had Andross lost his power than men began to talk about going back to their old form of government.
On the 2nd of June 1690, the inhabitants elected six men as Town Council, and so it has remained ever since, except that there are now five members of the council.
PRISONS AND PUNISHMENTS
As early as September 1638, steps were taken for the punish- ment of evildoers, and stocks and a whipping post were ordered made. Three days later it was ordered to build a "Howse for a prison."
In the following November, Henry Bull was chosen Sergeant and keeper of the prison.
In 1654, another order for a prison was made, as well as a "doppinge stool" at the pond.
In 1657, William Baulston, treasurer, was ordered to pay John Room thirty shillings for the stocks and whipping post, and in 1665, it was ordered "a sufficient Cagge be made."
It would seem as if the whipping post was used as much as any means of punishment. In a great many cases if the culprits did not pay their fine they were to be whipped. In one case there is a record of a man working off his fine by whipping a thief.
I have found no record of any hanging occuring in Portsmouth, that penalty was generally paid in Newport, where the later court was held.
In 1727, an Indian named Peter, belonging to Jacob Mott, was branded on the forehead with a letter R, and whipped through the public streets of Newport, at a cart's tail. This was because Peter had "maliciously endeavored to murder his master by discharging at him a gun, loaded with a bullet and sundry shot, shooting him through the hat, so that it was an extraordinary act of Providence said Mott was not killed."
In 1712, John Slocum, an Indian belonging to Giles Slocum, murdered two small sons of Giles Slocum, and was hung at New- port. The body was placed in chains to stay "till it be Consumned, as a moral to all Such evildoers."
We should not forget the case of Rebecca Cornell, who was burned to death in 1673. Her son, Thomas Cornell, was found guilty of murdering his mother, principally on the testimony of
John Briggs, brother of Rebecca, who claimed that his sister had appeared to him in a dream, shown him her burns, and accused son Thomas of causing her death. As all testimony is in the court records, no one now believes, on reading it, that Thomas was guilty, but that his mother had set herself on fire with her pipe. However, the Court found him guilty, and Thomas Cornell was hanged.
THE QUAKERS
According to the Quaker records the first meeting was held at the house of Joshua Coggeshall. Later these meetings were held at the house of Matthew Borden, where they were held until they acquired a regular meeting house.
In 1691 the people began to talk about having a meeting house in Portsmouth.
At a meeting held at the house of John Easton, in Newport, in 1692, Robert Hodgson agreed to sell a piece of land two and one- half rods wide and six rods long, with a stone house upon it. Mat- thew Borden and Thomas Cornell were appointed to receive a collection by subscription, and to repair the house and finish it decently for a meeting house. This house was on the south side of Hedley Street, not very far from the West Road.
The first meeting was held in this meeting house 3rd, 1st month 1692-1693. In 1698, Matthew Borden and Abraham Anthony were appointed to repair the meeting house and burial yard at Portsmouth.
At the monthly meeting held at Newport 7th, 12th month 1698-1699 it was proposed to have a meeting house built at Ports- mouth. Matthew Borden, Gideon Freeborn, John Borden and Abraham Anthony were appointed to build it.
At a monthly meeting held at Portsmouth 9th, 11th month 1699. "Whereas there is a ( ) of the disposition of the land where the old meeting house is at Portsmouth, Friends have let it to the Friends concerned in building a new meeting house."
"30th, 2nd month 1700. The Friends chosen to dispose of the
old meeting house at Portsmouth, return that they expected Joseph Morey will buy it if he can have a deed made secure to him."
"28th of the 2nd month 1702. At a monthly meeting at our new meeting house. This is the first recorded meeting to be held in this meeting house."
This land, originally granted to William Cadman, was acquired by Robert Fish, and although the meeting house was built in 1700, or thereabouts, Robert Fish did not give a deed to the land until 1708.
STRANGERS
Through fear of being obliged to support them, strangers were made the subject of early laws by the town. In 1654 it was ordered "that no Inhabitant shall intertain any sojorner above one month without the aprobation of the Towne."
6 October 1658 it is ordered "that Roger Williams shall have liberty of the Towne for to live with William Woddel house till the 5th of November in-seuen the date here of; and no longer by the Town order."
In 1671 orders were given to the inhabitants of Prudence and Patience Islands not to harbor strangers, without the consent of the Town.
After a while a person coming into town was required to give bond, or, failing to do this, bring a certificate from his last legal place of abode, stating that the town would take him back in time of need. If he did neither he was warned out of town, and then if he persisted in staying, he was carried out by the town sergeant, under penalty of being whipped if he returned.
The case of Maurice Mackenny alias Mohonney, is a very interesting one.
In February of 1731 the clerk was ordered to issue a warrant for the removal of Maurice Mackenny out of this Town. In the following June another warrant was issued for the removal of one
Maurice Mackenny, an Irishman, who now resides at Thomas Borden's.
In April of 1732 Maurice Mackenny alias Mohonney was to appear before the Town Council, when he declared that he had left Ireland nine years previous, landed at Boston, and had then coasted to Maine. He was ordered to depart the town or else be proceeded with according to law.
In May the clerk was ordered to issue a warrant to apprehend the said Mackenny in order that he suffer the penalty of returning, and that he be assessed a fine of forty shillings "or suffer Corporal punishment by being whipt thirty Stripes well laid on his naked back."
This is the last record of the case in the book, but a letter to the Town Council from Samuel Little of Bristol throws much light on the subject, as he said that Maurice Mohonney had been working for him, since being warned out of Portsmouth, and was engaged in helping run the ferry and sometimes helped Thomas Borden as Borden helped Samuel Little.
Samuel Little also went to Governor William Wanton explain- ing things as they were, and the Governor wrote to the Town Council of Portsmouth, saying "and he now coming from Bristol in the Ferry Boat and acting as a ferry man in the service of sed Little Do think and Judge that it cannot be looked upon as contempt of your Authority in his Service as above, and that you had ought to release him and set him at his liberty in order to mind his Masters business without your Punishment."
There are many instances of the town sergeant taking whole families and delivering them to the Tiverton authorities because they could not give bond, and in some cases, a married daughter, with her child, would have to give bond if she came back to live in her father's house.
THE POOR
The records contain a great deal about "The Poor of the Town," as well as ridding themselves of those who did not belong there.
If a man, or family, had a legal residence there, he was helped, otherwise he, or they, were sent to their last legal abode.
To John Mott belongs the honor (or otherwise) of being the first pauper of Portsmouth. On coming to Portsmouth he bought a house lot for six shillings (a very good investment, for in 1644 he was given help by the town). In 1648 it was concluded that "ould John Mott" be provided with meat, drink, lodging, and washing by George Parker, at the town's expense, while in 1652 it was ordered to build a stone house for the "more Comfortable beinge of ould John Mott."
In 1654 it was agreed to pay his passage to "Barbadoes Island and back again if he can not be received there, if he lived to it, if the Shipp owner will carrie him." Evidently this did not work out as he is again in the records of 1656.
Probably the most peculiar case was that of Daniel Chubb. In 1744 Sergeant Caleb Bennet warned Daniel Chubb, then living on Prudence Island, "to depart this Town."
He was again warned out in 1746, and in 1747 the Town Coun- cil ordered Sergeant Bennet to take Daniel Chubb into custody and to remove him to Warwick. The Town of Warwick promptly sent him back, by their Constable John Greene, as they claimed he never had a legal place of residence in that town.
In his examination Chubb confessed that Pawtuxet was his last lawful residence, so Portsmouth sent him to Providence.
In his examination in Providence he said he was hired by Gideon Freeborn, Jr., to keep school for him at his house on Pru- dence Island, and that he had lived there "upwards of two years." Whereupon Providence sent him back to Portsmouth.
After this Portsmouth decided that it would be less trouble to
keep him, and various records show how he was provided for, the last item being dated 9 October 1749 when he was provided with "a shirt."
THE POOR
James Preston, another school master, and his family, came under the care of the Town. In 1727 he became sick and helpless and various records show how he was helped, as well as his wife, who had a child in 1728. That same year the council clerk was ordered to write to Joseph Stafford, of Tiverton, to return the "navigating instrument which he had of James Preston," one of the poor of the town.
In 1728 as James Strange refused to entertain the Preston family any longer, they were given permission to live in the cellar part of the Southermost school house. The following year they were ordered out of the school house and in 1730 James Preston died.
In 1744 eight books formerly belonging to James Preston, being mostly books on Navigation, were sold to Joseph Stafford of Tiverton.
In 1660, William Baulston who had owned land, but sold it in 1658, petitioned the town to take his sheep, as their own, so that they could contribute "to his necessitie for that his own abillety failes him." The town did so and he was kept by Henry Percy. In May 1662 John Tefft and William Bailey were satisfied with part of William Baulston's clothes "for watchinge with William Baulston at the time of his sickness."
THE WORK HOUSE
At a Town Council meeting held 19 June 1780 it was agreed to buy a Barrack (probably one left by the British) of John Earl. Capt. Alexander Thomas was to pull it down and set it up on Windmill Hill, for the use of a Work House.
The sequel to this agreement was probably told at the Town Council meeting of October 19, 1780, when Capt. Thomas was authorized to inquire into the authority of the Officer or Officers who pulled down the Barrack that belonged to the Town, "and to take the best method he can to get pay for the same."
There is no record of how Capt. Thomas made out.
PECULIAR RECORD
Probably the most peculiar record in any Town's papers is to be found in a loose paper in the Town's Scrap Book.
A certain lady, who was troubled by fitts, made a list of them from day to day, to be given to her husband after she had passed away. The last entry is in different handwriting and states that the lady died in a fitt. Whether the husband ever saw the paper and how it got in with the town's papers is unknown.
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
"On Sunday ye 8th Day of December A. D. 1776 About Eight Thousand Troops landed and took possession of the Island and Remained until Monday the 25th Day of October A. D. 1779, for which time the Inhabitants were greatly Opressed."
These words written in both the Town Meeting and Town Council books, tell part of the story of the occupation of Rhode Island by the British troops.
The inhabitants of the Island did not support any of the towns in their preparations for trouble, for committees were formed early to enlist men.
By pension applications we learn that Captain Jonathan Brownell raised and organized a troop for the defense of the Island, and that the troop marched to the Battle of Bunker Hill. Jonathan Brownell, who was a Quaker, was dismissed from the Society for his service. After the British took possession of the Island, he went to Providence and was taken with small-pox. For this he had a bill,
for care and medicines, for over twenty-six pounds. When he recovered he worked off nineteen pounds of this bill by "doing Military Duty in Room of Moses Brown who refused."
A committee was appointed in February 1776 to build a fort at Bristol Ferry. After the British landed they took possession of and rebuilt this fort, the plans of which are still in existence.
Of course the records of the town give very little detail, and little information aside from the committees to enlist men, and the names of these enlisted men are not given. For more informa- tion we must look elsewhere, and fortunately there are several diaries, among them is one kept by a British officer. There is also a map made by the British engineers which shows the houses burned or pulled down by the soldiers. By this map it would seem as if there were about twenty-five houses destroyed. A copy of this map is in the Portsmouth Library.
By the time the British troops had landed on the Island, the inhabitants had driven most of the live stock to the main land, although there was still considerable left. In time this was taken for the soldiers, and some of it was paid for. Job Dennis in his diary says on the first of August 1778 "William Cresson came and broke my tools that I work in the shop with, and they carried away six cows and two horses, and they left one cow and two calfs, that were in the cellar."
Even before the troops landed, Captain Wallace sailed up and down the bay, taking live stock. A deposition made by Thomas Durfee, in regards to a pension claim, throws some light on this. He says: "I Reccolect that old Wallace took off of Hog Island, then improved by my father, seven fat oxen, and never paid for them, and he was doing some sort of mischief all the time."
Frederick Mackenzie, a British officer, says in his diary, "The inhabitants of the Island, being principally Quakers, are exceed- ingly alarmed at the appearance of the Hessian troops, are under great dread of them."
One of the first engagements on the Island took place on the night of June 9, 1777. About fifty Provincials, from Tiverton, landed on the shore of Sanford's Cove and advanced on a small guard house, just south of the present Luther Chase house. They managed to get within sixty feet of this post before they were discovered, and fired on the guard, killing one man and mortally wounding two others. The Provincials then retreated to their boats and escaped safely.
On the night of July 10, 1777, Colonel Barton made his famous capture of General Prescott. Mackenzie, in his diary, says that it was executed in a masterly manner, and "It is certainly a most extraordinary circumstance, that a General commanding a body of 4000 men, encampt on an Island surrounded by a Squadron of Ships of war, should be carried off from his quarters in the night by a small party of the Enemy from without, and without a shot being fired."
On September 4th, the boats from the Juno were sent to the north end of Prudence for water. They were met by about a hun- dred Provincials who had gathered there, and who killed two of the sailors, wounded another, and took several prisoners, after which they escaped. It is very possible that more of this story is told by a broken grave stone in the old Brownell cemetery near the Coal Mines.
" -- Brooking, son of - - Brooking, Master of his Maj. Ship Juno, who departed this Life Sept. 19, 1777, Aged 14 years." Perhaps this young boy was with the sailors, and was wounded.
The British and Hessians had been engaged in building many forts and redoubts on the Island. Besides rebuilding the fort at Bristol Ferry, one was built on the William Anthony farm, one on the Luther Chase farm, one on Quaker Hill, one at Fogland Ferry, one on Turkey Hill, and the largest of all on Butts, or Windmill Hill. In order to hasten the work, all the inhabitants of Portsmouth were ordered to work on them, commencing Sep-
tember 15th. But only seventeen men appeared. As the majority of the inhabitants were Quakers (according to Mackenzie) they refused to assist in any matter pertaining to war. They even refused to assist in building barracks for the soldiers.
The British did not try to fortify Common Fence Point, and it was a source of great trouble to them. The Provincials fre- quently landed there, from Tiverton, and bothered them greatly. Also this was a place where the deserters, mostly Hessians, fled, and were taken off by boats from Tiverton. Mackenzie tells of a great many cases of desertion.
The fire wood question was quite a problem for the British. There were many vessels bringing wood from Long Island, and they used many of the Newport buildings and wharves, but they also cut all the trees on the Island, at one time there being piled on the Luther Chase farm, one hundred and fifty cords of wood.
Mackenzie speaks of cutting the apple trees in the Hick's orchard (now the site of the Golf Club) and Sanford's orchard (now the site of the Hathaway peach orchard). Some of these trees were used as entanglements around the Town Pond and across the Neck.
The account of the Battle of Rhode Island has been written many times, hence we will not give it here. It was the effect of this battle on the British troops that caused the greatest suffering on the part of the inhabitants of Portsmouth. The troops were almost out of control, and pillage and destruction were everywhere. Fleet Green in his diary says "some of the inhabitants do not have a bed to sleep on." Mackenzie says, "The excesses which have been committed on the Island by all the troops, since the 29th of August, have been very great, and have thrown great disgrace on our arms."
After the British had left the Island, we find more records of the enlisting of men, and the borrowing of money to pay them with.
There was much feeling against the Tories, and after the war the Deputies were instructed to see that the land of the Tories (which had been confiscated) was not returned to them.
In 1784 there was much feeling in Portsmouth about the size of the State tax that had been levied against them. A petition was sent to the General Assembly showing how the orchards had been cut down, the houses burned or pulled down, and the fences burned. As all the trees had been cut, they were without fuel, and it took about six thousand dollars annually, spent outside the town, to keep them supplied with fire wood.
By the list of losses sent to the General Assembly, it is shown that by the usual prosecution of war the loss had been 3,7001/2 pounds, while by wanton destruction the loss had been 157,6843/4 pounds.
THE GOLD MINE
In the "Providence Town Papers" is a declaration made at the March 1649 meeting of the General Assembly, held at Ports- mouth, which contained a proclamation regarding a "Gold Mine" found on the Island. Just where this mine was located I have been unable to find out, but it must have been near the water. Prob- ably the finders were disappointed when they found their ore was valueless.
"For as much as there is a Generall bruitt noysed throught the Colonie of ye Country Scituated in this parts of America of a mine Discovered within ye Jurisdiction and province of Prov- idence Plantations which is Suggested to be GOLD, ye Generall assembly of ye said Colnie being Assembled att Portsmouth on ye tenth day of October Ano Dom 1649, taking it into Serious Con- sideration and having weighed ye Circumstances and finding Prob- ability of ye truth thereof and Knowing that by the Law of Nations it is ye Royaltie of ye Crowne and State of England, have thiught fitt for ye Same and Power thereof, and doe according to ye Royalty of ye said Dignity, take Possession of ye said cave, and
all other Royal mines, which are or may be found within ye Juris- diction Consigned by ye Right Hon'ble ye Earle of warwicke and ye rest of ye hon'ble Commissioner unto Providence Plantations, for ye end, it, or any other mine of Like quality shall be Discovered hereafter may be, and is, for ye use and disposure of ye Royal State Crowne and Dignitee of England:
"We doe therefore by these Presents, Command and Require all Nations, People and languages, by vertue & power of ye Authority abovesaid, upon Penaltie of ye offences ordained by ye Royal State in ye case provided, to forebeare to take away or imbezle any parte or parts thereof whatsoever, either directly or indirectly except by Joint Consent of our Colonie for ye further Trials and use of ye said State of England, untill ye said State of England shall give further order therein: And we doe absolutely forbid any vessel to rid near unto ye said place, or if throw Igno- rance any shall happen to dropp their Anchor neare unto ye place where any such mine is, or hereafter shall be discovered, if upon warning given they remove not, ye vessel and goods shall be Con- fiscated to the Colonie and ye master of ye sd vessell to be made prisoner to answer his Contempt:
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