USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 61
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Mr. Mowry married Harriet, daughter of Isaac and Susan Wight- man, who died in 1864, leaving four children: Emma Lillian, Eugene Clayton, Wilfred Lester, who died in childhood, and Harriet W. Eugene Clayton graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Vermont in 1889, and is now practicing in New York city.
Charles W. Mowry, son of David Mowry and Freelove Ballou, was born September 4th, 1828. His sister, Desire Mowry, lives with him. He was married in 1880, and has five children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mowry are mutes, but the children can hear and talk. Mr. Charles Mowry and wife and sister Desire were educated at the Hartford In- stitute. They house in which they live is about 140 years old.
DAVID B. MOWRY .- Mr. Mowry's parents were Welcome Mowry and Joanna Ballou, daughter of David Ballou of Burrillville. His paternal grandfather was Richard Mowry of Smithfield. Welcome Mowry was
David. B. Inoury
ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
by trade a millwright. He was employed by the leading mill owners of the county, and regarded as an industrious, capable and upright man. His children were seven sons and three daughters, among whom is David B., born April 22d, 1818, in Smithfield, on the home- stead farm owned by his grandfather, and now in possession of the subject of this biography. Here his youth was spent in the active pursuits which are peculiar to the farmer's son. He attended the dis- trict school for a limited time, not exceeding ten weeks, and sometimes for a lesser period, during the winter months, and served his father faithfully until his majority was attained. He continued at home re- ceiving wages for his labor until his 24th year, when he was married September 12th, 1841, to Elizabeth Mowry, daughter of Newell Mowry and Alpha Mann of the same town. Their only child, a son, William Windsor, is married to Miss Hannah Olive, daughter of William Swan of Smithfield. Their children are three sons: Lester Erwin, Walter Swan and David Lyman.
David B. Mowry a few months after his marriage settled on the homestead, leasing the farm and one-half of the saw mill, at present operated successfully by his son. Here he continued for seven years, when an adjoining farm was purchased, on which he located and remained an equal number of years. Mr. Mowry then sold the latter property and became the owner of the farm on which he at present resides. He has devoted his life to the laborious and exacting employ- ments connected with the farm, varied by the management of the saw mill, and the lumber business which occupied the winter months. He is in politics a democrat and has filled the various local offices, such as member of the town council, assessor of taxes, surveyor of highways, etc., but has declined legislative honors. He is at present a member of the town council and assessor of taxes for North Smith- field. He is not identified with either of the religious denominations, though of Quaker ancestry. Mrs. Mowry, a lady of exemplary char- acter, and most industrious and capable in all her domestic relations, died April 29th, 1888.
Duty S. Mowry is a son of Ahaz, Jr., whose father, Ahaz, was a son of Gideon, and grandson of Ananias, all born in Smithfield. Duty S. Mowry was born March 3d, 1825, and married Betsey O., daughter of Ethan Harris. They have six children: Abby H., born in 1861; Ethan H., born 1863; Waldo P., born 1866; Howard S., born 1868; Huldah S., born 1870, and Aaron P., born 1877. Miss Amanda W. Mowry, a sister of Mr. Duty S. Mowry, lives with him.
George F. Mowry was born in Smithfield March 30th, 1838, and is a son of Olney A. Mowry. He is a descendant of one of the three Mowry brothers who came from England in 1635. Mr. George F. Mowry is a carpenter of North Smithfield.
Olney A. Mowry, born in North Smithfield July 20th, 1811, is a son of Darius Mowry, born in 1782. Darius was a son of Richard,
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and grandson of Ananias, a descendant of one of the brothers that came to this country in 1635. Olney A. Mowry married Alzada Ballou, who died December 28th, 1846. They had seven children. Mr. Mowry is a farmer.
Smith Mowry is a son of William, he a son of Richard, he a son of Ananias, he a son of John, Jr., he a son of John. Smith Mowry was born in 1808 in Smithfield and married Lucretia, daughter of Eliakim Mowry. They have five children: Martha M., Eliakim, Alonzo, Wil- son S. and Lydia A. Mr. Mowry has worked at the mason's trade 50 years. He has been town councilman.
James Parkin was born in England in 1820, and came to this coun- try in 1863. He worked in the cotton mills for Governor Smith until 1871. His wife is deceased. He had four grandchildren living with him at the time of his death, October 10th, 1890.
James Pitts has been a manufacturer in North Smithfield 20 years. He was born in Pawtucket, R. I., in 1811. His father was the late Joseph Pitts, of Blackstone, Mass. James Piits was married first in 1835 to Elsie Sayles, of Rhode Island, who died a few years later, and he was again married in 1844 to Mary Thompson of Massachusetts.
Washington Remington is a son of Daniel Remington and one of the famous triplets. Daniel Remington married Patience Morton. They had six children: Elizabeth, born March 18th, 1809; Mineiva, born June 24th, 1810; James, born January 14th, 1812; and Washing- ton, Jefferson and Monroe, born February 15th, 1817, boys, all lived to be 72 years old. Washington married Hannah Noyes in 1853. They had three daughters: Mary E., Susan M. and Ida E.
William H. Sandford, clerk and paymaster of the Slatersville Mills, was born in New London, Conn., December 14th, 1842. At the age of ten years he went to Jewett City, Conn., to work in the cotton mills of the Slaters. In February, 1859, he was sent by the Slaters to their Slatersville Mills as clerk in their counting room, where he has re- mained, and can be found at the present time.
Orrin Sayles, born in 1816, is a son of Welcome, he a son of Jona- than, he a son of Richard, the first town clerk of Smithfield. Richard was a son of John, he a son of John, he a descendant of John, who married Mary Williams, daughter of Roger Williams. Orrin Sayles married Maria B. Eaton in 1853. They have two daughters-Louisa A. and Anna M. Mr. Sayles and his sister, Louisa, are all there are living of Welcome Sayles' family. Welcome Sayles had another son, Israel, who was born in 1816 and died in 1888. He married Sarah Sprague in 1837, and they have one daughter, Elsie, living.
Rachel Sayles is the widow of Benjamin Sayles, who died in 1887. She was born in 1819. Benjamin Sayles was born in 1810. They had three children: Benjamin F., born in 1853; Lucy A., 1856; and Gideon A., born 1863, deceased. The father of Benjamin was Gideon Sayles.
Linnæus H. Stanley, born in Massachusetts November 30th, 1840,
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was a son of John H. and Cornelia (Draper) Stanley. John H. was born in 1811 and had four children: Delia M., Linnæus H., Emma A. T. and Arthur W. L. H. Stanley married in 1864 Pauline Baglin, daughter of Adolphus M. Baglin, who was born in France. L. H. Stanley had three children: Charles H., Lena and N. Edna. Mr. Stanley was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, sergeant in the Sixth New York Cavalry.
Walter M. Smith, born in Smithfield in 1853, is a son of Charles A. Smith, who was born in Scituate in 1820. Charles A. married Eleanor A., daughter of Pelatiah Metcalf, and had three children: Mary F. born 1847; Walter M., born 1853; and Harry H., born 1867. Walter M. married Ellen F., daughter of William and Amanda Winsor. They had four children: Eleanor A., born 1879; Charles M., born 1881; Ralph H., born 1883; and Ruth A., born 1886. Walter M. Smith has been a member of the legislature two years from North Smithfield. His father was also a member from the same town two years. Mr. Smith is a republican.
George F. Varney was born in New Hampshire in 1841, and came to North Smithfield in 1878. He was superintendent of schools in North Smithfield in 1881. He married Sarah E., daughter of William and Jane A. Tucker, of North Smithfield. They have one son, born in 1886, George W. Varney. Mr. and Mrs. Varney are members of Smithfield monthly meeting of Friends.
Joshua Wardle was born in Dukinfield, England, April 14th, 1844, and came to Slatersville when he was four years old. He was a son of John and Olive Wardle, who had seven children: Anne, Henry, Ellen, Joshua, Joel, William S. and Olive. Joshua Wardle married Annie Waterhouse, who was born in Mossley, England, April 2d, . 1845. They have two sons-Edward B. and William M. Mr. Joshua Wardle is overseer in the Slatersville Mill No. 3. He has worked in the Slatersville Mills since he was eleven years old. He has held sev- eral places of trust in town affairs-town sergeant, justice of the peace, etc. At the breaking out of the rebellion Henry enlisted in the Fourth Rhode Island Volunteers, was wounded at the battle of Newbern, serving the country over three years, and now occupies a position as overseer in one of the Slatersville Mills.
David S. Wilkinson, born in North Smithfield in 1820, is a son of Isaac and Hannah (Streeter) Wilkinson. His mother is still living at the age of 95, and is the oldest person living in North Smithfield. His father. Isaac, was a politician in his day, and held the office of town treasurer a number of years. He was also representative and senator a number of years from North Smithfield. David S. has served two terms in the general assembly. He was married in 1845, to a sister of George J. Hendrick. They have one daughter, Sera- phina, who married Charles H. Smith, brother of Mrs. George T. Hen- drick, and has one son, David W. Smith.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TOWN OF GLOCESTER.
General Description of the Town from 1731 to 1806 .- Noted Places now Comprised Within the Town .- Town Meetings .- The Military History .- The Town of Burri'l- ville Set Off .- Town Officers .- Early Settlement .- Brief Personal Notices .- The. Dorr War .- Rivers and Ponds .- Secret Societies .- Banks .- Public Houses .- Manu- facturers .- Business Men and Farmers .- Chepachet and other Villages .- Manton Library Association .- Roads .- Lotteries .- Early Religious Privileges .- Baptists .- Baptist Society and Sunday School. - Episcopalians. - Congregationalists .- The Union Library .- Friends .- Schools .- Other Societies .- Biographical Sketches.
T HE town of Glocester originally belonged to the town of Provi- dence. Its history as a part of that town is nearly coëval with the first settlement in Providence by Roger Williams and his associates in 1636. In February, 1731, the town of Providence petitioned the legislature for a division of the town. The petition was granted, and the towns of Smithfield, Scituate and Glocester were set apart. At that time Glocester was made to include the present town of Burrillville, and was organized February 20th of that year. The original town was bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Smithfield, on the south by Scituate, and on the west by Con- necticut. This land was disposed of by the Indians to Roger Williams and others, Uncas giving the first deed that was made. The Nip- muck Indians occupied this portion of the state of Rhode Island, their territory embracing lands also in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This tribe was subject to the Narragansetts until the time of King Philip's war.
The town of Glocester was set off about eleven miles square. The land was surveyed by the county surveyors, and the name Glocester was given in honor of some residents from Glocester, England, and also in honor of the Duke of Glocester, Frederick Lewis, son of King George the Second. The name was originally spelled Gloucester. At a town meeting held August 27th, 1805, the division of the town was again discussed, and a committee appointed to draft a petition to divide the town as near as might be into two equal parts, and to sub- mit the petition to the next assembly, which was to meet on the 16th of April, 1806. By this petition the town was to be divided by draw- ing a line through the middle of the town from east to west, the northern part to be called Burrillville.
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The new town of Glocester is bounded north by Burrillville, east by Smithfield, south by Scituate, and west by Killingly and Thomp- son in Connecticut. In 1810 the town contained 400 dwelling houses, a population of 2,310, two clothiers' works, six grain mills, four man- ufacturing establishments, seven or eight stores, 12 schools, two religious societies, and one good library. The places which may be noted now of interest, are as follows: Villages .- Chepachet, Harmony, Spring Grove, West Glocester, Clarkeville. Hills .- Acote, Tourtellot, Absalona, Sucker, Winsor's, Pine, Durfee's, formerly Matony, Pine Orchard, Stingo, Sayles, Brown, Dandelion. Streams .- Chepachet, Ponaganset, Poquanatuck, Woonasquatucket, Sucker, Brick Kiln, Baker, Durfee, Seapache, Brandy. Ponds (with reservoirs), Ponagan- set, Bowdish, Burlingame, Owens, Keech, Sand-dam, Scott's, Woonas- quatucket. Rocks .- Balance, Elbow, Hicks' Ledges, Richmond Ledge, Lightning Cave, Ponaganset Ledge. Swamps .- Dark, Brush Meadow, Fenner's, Sprague's.
In the west part of the town is an extensive unfenced forest called the North Woods. A fort erected on Acote hill, in 1842, has been leveled by the Chepachet Cemetery Association. Balance rock and Elbow rock are natural curiosities. The former is on the old road leading to Thompson, in the westerly part of the town, and is a ledge of rocks where one part turns around so decidedly as to get its name. The Balance rock is on the Eber Phetteplace farm, now owned by Benoni Lewis. It is very large, weighing many tons, and is barrel- shaped. It is situated on the slanting side of a small ledge of rocks, and its location is so precarious one would think a slight wind would roll it down. On the contrary, several men with bars and wedges have been unable to move it. The notable rock on the east shore of Lake Memphremagog is a similar curiosity.
The town abounds in wood of various kinds. Lombardy poplar, chestnut, several kinds of oak, ash, willow, walnut, birch, cedar, pine, hemlock, and the various kinds of fruit trees are common. Quartz is found in various forms in this town. Gneiss is also found here in a bed about two miles from Chepachet, and is known as Pine Orchard Grit. East of this place is a bed of black mica associated with a little granular quartz. The rocks are of a primary class, consisting of gneiss, mica slate and granite. The range of hills in the western part of the town extends to the Green mountains in Vermont, and the views from the tops of some of them are grand.
Glocester was a part of the town of Providence from the year 1649 to 1731. As a part of that town the various subjects discussed by the town council will be given in the proper place. The committee ap- pointed to examine and report in regard to the necessity of a division of the town of Providence were: Samuel Clarke, Francis Willet and William Robinson. March 16th, 1731, a meeting was called to organ- ize the town of Glocester, including the present territory of Burrill-
33
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ville. At this meeting Elisha Moulton was chosen moderator, and also clerk; Zachariah Eddy, town sergeant; Captain John Smith, town treasurer. Zachariah Eddy, Jr., John Barnes, John Inman, Obadiah Jencks, Soloman Smith and Zebedee Hopkins were chosen town coun- cilmen. Elisha Knowlton and Walter Phettephace were chosen assist- ant deputy governors to the general assembly. The deputy governors and assistants were the judges of the highest judicial courts of the state until 1747, when chief justices were appointed. When the town was incorporated it contained 2,504 inhabitants; in 1782, 2,791; 1790, 4,025; 1800, 4,009; 1810 (after the division of the town), 2,310; 1880, 2,250; 1885, 1,922.
Before the division of the town the expenses of surveys, laying out of roads, etc., were secured by payment on mortgaged lands for this purpose. In 1744, in consequence of war having been declared by France against England, it was found necessary to raise an artillery company, which was chartered as the "Cadet Company." In 1750 great efforts were made by the town to encourage the farmers to raise flax and wool, and to manufacture the same into cloth. In 1755 the dividing line between Glocester and Scituate was run by Henry Harris, Esq., Mr. Thomas Steere and Colonel Resolved Waterman. In 1756 16 able-bodied men were demanded of this town to aid the forces of the king of England in an expedition against Crown Point. To encourage enlisting a bounty of 4 pounds 10 shillings, lawful money, was given to each man, and 30 shillings per month during his service, also a woolen blanket. Constant drafts for men and money were called for during seven successive years.
Upon the breaking out of the war of the revolution the war ships in Boston harbor were besieged by the English and the inhabitants were in great distress. To relieve their suffering the town of Glocester sent 95 sheep. In 1774 Asa Kimball was appointed to take account of all the arms, powder and ammunition in this town. He performed his task by going from house to house. During the same year the Light Infantry, an independent company, was formed. War having been declared Benjamin Colwell was appointed to furnish war imple- ments, such as good fire-arms with bayonets, iron ramrods and cart- ridge boxes, all stamped with the colony's arms. In March, 1776, the colony supplied Glocester with 150 pounds of powder and 300 pounds of lead and cartridges. Glocester received this year 4072 bushels of salt. In 1775 Glocester was ordered to furnish 77 pounds of powder, 123 pounds of lead and 424 pounds of flints. This year the number of polls in Glocester was 488; in Providence 453. For further notice of this town in the war of the revolution the reader is, referred to the chapter on the military history.
In 1783 large numbers of the inhabitants were discomfited on ac- count of the continental bills and high taxes. Armed men entered Glo- cester, where they were joined by others to obstruct the payment of
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taxes and to rescue persons who had been arrested by law. The rioters not only seized cattle that had been taken for taxes, but prisoners while on trial. Deputy Governor Bowen caused the ringleaders to be arrested and measures were taken by the three states to crush the in- surrection. Among the ringleaders who were taken, confessed their crime and begged for pardon, were Abraham Tourtellott and John Phetteplace.
The articles of confederation adopted by the convention of the several states held in Philadelphia in 1787, when submitted to a vote by the freemen of this town for ratification, were rejected by a vote of 228, only 9 ballots being cast for adoption. The negative vote here was larger than that of any other town in the state. The freemen of this town who voted in favor of the new Rhode Island constitution were: Benjamin Wilkinson, John Harris, Eleazer Harris, William Ross, Stephen Blackmar, Simon Smith, Thomas Owen, David Rich- mond, Jesse Brown, and William Steere; 10 for and 227 against the constitution.
In 1791 residents in the northern part of the town finding it incon- venient to attend public meetings at Chepachet, caused a petition to be sent to the general assembly to have the town divided. The petition was received but for the time the division was postponed.
During the war of 1812, the citizens of this town took an active in- terest. Members from this town, with spades in hand, assembled at Chepachet and joined in making the defense. The remains of that breastwork can still be seen. Soldiers received eight dollars per month and bounty from the town.
The division of the town took place as before mentioned in 1806. The new town is nearly five miles from north to south and nearly 11 miles from east to west. It contains 53 3-10 square miles. The valua- tion of real estate in 1888 was $851,850; personal, $540,200; total, $1,392,050; tax, $8.352.30. In 1844 a committee was appointed to examine and survey the established line between Glocester and Burill- ville. It was found that Glocester had 1,049 acres more than belonged to her teritory. This fact was presented to the general assembly and a committee was appointed to run the division line again. This was done and found right as presented. The 1,049 acres were added to Burrillville. This tract included the estates of Messrs. Ahab, Eseck and Welcome Sayles.
In 1859 the boundary line between Glocester and Smithfield was settled by the state committee. In 1875 the boundary between Gloces- ter and Foster was established. The town officers elected in June, 1890, were: Moderator, P. D. Smith; town clerk, Charles W. Farnum; town council, R. M. Smith, S. O. Mowry, G. A. Turner, C. Mitchell, R. H. Wade; town treasurer, Charles Potter; town sergeant, Elias Car- penter, Jr .: overseer of the poor, E. L. Phetteplace; member of school committee, P. D. Smith; school superintendent, L. B. Stone; tax
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assessors, C. W. Farnum, O. W. Steere, E. M. Neff, A. C. G. Smith, D. A. Saunders; tax collector, Albert Barnes.
John Smith, from Providence, was one of the first settlers in this town. He located in the northern part of Glocester and many of his descendants are owners of home estates in that vicinity now. Edward Salisbury, a soldier in the French and Indian war, purchased land and built a house in this town in a very early day. The Williamses, Tour- tellots, Eddys, Watermans, Evanses and others were pioneers and held landed estates. Farming was the chief occupation of the early settlers. For the past fifty years, however, some of the best farms have been neglected, the occupants having left their homes to seek other employ- ment.
Until saw mills were set up most of the dwellings were made of logs. The early frame houses were generally of one story, with small windows and sometimes gambrel-roofed. Some were built two stories in front, the roof slanting back so as to have but one story in the rear. Early in the eighteenth century there were many large two-story frame houses built in the town.
In those earlier days but few luxuries were enjoyed. Indian meal pudding and milk became a common diet. Candles were made by dipping the candle wicks strung on a stick into a large kettle of hot tallow, and when cooled they were dipped again and this process kept up until they were large enough for use. Later the candles were made by running the tallow into candle moulds.
For a history of some of the prominent settlers of this town we copy from the pen of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Perry:
"SAMUEL YOUNG ATWELL graduated at Brown University in 1814. His ancestry were from England. After graduating he studied law with Hon. John Whipple. In 1831 or 1832 he removed to Chepachet and established himself in law. In 1835 he was a member of the General Assembly from Glocester and chairman of the State Commis- sion on Banking. He was a very able advocate and seldom lost a case. Some of Providence's most able pleaders at the bar studied law in his office at Chepachet, viz .: Samuel Ames, James M. Clarke, Thomas A. Jenckes, Edwin Metcalf, George H. Browne and Horace Manchester. He died in October, 1844. He left a widow and two daughters and three sons.
" GEORGE HUNTINGTON BROWNE, son of Elisha and Roby (Bow- dish) Browne, was born in Glocester in 1818. His father died when his son was a few years old, leaving the homestead in Chepachet and a large landed property in northern Vermont. His mother, previous to her marriage, was a private school teacher of standing for several years. The son's early winters were spent with his mother at their home in the village, where he attended a good private school. Several sum- mers he was under the charge of a special friend of his mother on a. farm near the village, where he had the reading of books from a small,
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well-selected library. Here, before he was fourteen years, he read with great enthusiasm the translation of Homer's Illiad and Dryden's Virgil; also about one hundred volumes, most of them historical and scholastic works. He said, 'for the reading of the above library, I was inspired to go to college.' After being prepared in some studies for an examination, he went to Brownington Academy, in northern Vermont. In 1836 he entered Brown University, and graduated in 1840. He studied law with Samuel Y. Atwell, in his native village, and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1843. At his home vil- lage he established a successful law office, which he held for several years. In 1853 he removed to Providence; also, his law office. In 1855 he entered into partnership with Colonel Nicholas Van Slyck, which continued until his death in October, 1885. He was several years in the General Assembly from Glocester; also, a Representative in Congress from 1861 to 1863 from the Western District. He was commissioned in September, 1862, as Colonel of the Twelfth Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers for nine months. He was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. This offer he declined on account of ill health. He was twice married. He leaves two chil- dren by his first wife, Harriet Danforth, and a widow.
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