USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 16
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" There's not a brook I have not leapt, Anear my native town- Nor field nor hill where man has stept, I have not wandered down : And these as freshly haunt me still, And still their forms I know- The brook, the field, the high peaked hill, That charmed me long ago !"
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In 1772, the first equestrian performances on Rhode Island, and probably in America, took place in Newport. The name of the manager was Bates.
Two of the guns of the sloop Tartar, were placed at the foot of the Parade, where they remained until within a few years, when they were removed, and placed in front of the fountain, at the end of the Mall.
THE REV. MARMADUKE BROWN.
As Newport has been the birthplace of many distinguished personages, as well as the residence of others who have occupied important positions in society, we have been induced to notice such parties, believing that it would prove highly interesting to the reader.
In 1760, on the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Pollen, the Rev. Marmaduke Brown, a native of Ireland, was unanimously chosen to officiate as Minister of Trinity Church, Newport, and was appointed a Missionary by the Home Society.
Mr. Brown continued his connection with Trinity Church until his death, which took place on the 19th of March, 1771.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
He left an only son, who, in 1795, caused a marble tablet, with a raised profile likeness of his father, to be erected on the walls of Trinity Church, in memory of his parents. It bears the following inscription :
To the Memory of
THE REV. MARMADUKE BROWN, Formerly Rector of this Parish, A Man eminent for Talents, Learning, and Religion, Who departed this Life on the 19th of March, 1771, AND OF ANN, HIS WIFE,
A Lady of Uncommon Piety, and Suavity of Manners, Who died the 6th of January, 1767. This Monument was Erected by their Son,
ARTHUR BROWN, EsQ.,
Now Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, And Representative in Parliament for the same ; In Token of his Gratitude and Affection To the best and tenderest of Parents, And his Respect and Love for a Congregation, Among whom, and for a Place where, He spent the Earliest and Happiest of His Days.
: Heu ! Quanto minus est, Cum allis Versari, Quam tui Memisse. -
M.D.CCXCV.
His above-mentioned son is the subject of the following notice :
Hon. Arthur Brown, LL. D., was at an early age sent from Newport to the care of a relative in Ireland, for education. He was a man gifted with extraordinary mental powers, which he improved by almost incessant study, and by an intercourse with the most able scholars and politicians of the day. He soon rose to eminence-was Senior Fellow, and Senior Proctor of Trinity College, a Doctor of Civil Laws, King's Professor of Greek, &c., &c. For a length of time be held the Vicar- Generalship of the
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HON. ARBHUR BROWN, LL. D.
Diocese of Kildare, and also practised in the courts, as an emi- nent, though not a leading barrister.
For many years no person in the University enjoyed greater popularity. They gave him their best and most honorable gifts -they appointed him their representative in the National Legis- lature, and the Irish House of Commons for many years listened with surprise and admiration, to his bold and powerful elo- quence.
On questions of great national importance, Dr. Brown could - speak with surprising effect. With little subjects he seldom in- terfered. If with the opposition it was his desire or chance to associate-he supported all their leading measures-on the Place and Pension bills, Catholic Emancipation, the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus, &c., he brought all his talents into action. He was a strong advocate of Parliamentary reform, an enemy to the abuse of power, and always stood forward as the cham- pion of the people.
On the great question of the Union of Great Britain and Ire- land, he took part with the ministry, and his support and exam- ple greatly contributed to that event.
Shortly after the Union, Dr. Brown was appointed Prime Sergeant, and it is supposed, had he survived, he would have obtained a situation on the bench.
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Beside various political pamphlets, Dr. Brown was the author of two volumes of miscellaneous essays and dissertations, in which many questions of literature and criticism were ably discussed. These volumes are now out of print, which is the more to be regretted, as one of the essays was devoted to a pic- ture of Colonial manners and habits, especially as exhibited by the society of Newport, Rhode Island.
In a note he referred to many of the families with whom he was intimate-the Brentons, Malborns, Redwoods, &c. His great work, however, is that on the Civil Law, which has passed through various editions, and is considered by the profession as a standard.
This celebrated man died in Dublin, in the summer of 1805, of a dropsical complaint, leaving a large property, which he acquired from his situations in the College, and his exertions as a lawyer.
The late Baron Kinsale, of Ireland, was also a native of
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Newport. The following notice of the Baron De Courcy, is taken from the Newport Mercury, 1832:
" On the 1st of February last, died at Kinsale, the Right Honorable Thomas De Courcy, Lord Kinsale, Baron De Courcy, and Ringrone. His lordship was Premier Baron of Ireland, and enjoyed the hereditary privilege of wearing his hat in the royal presence, granted to John De Courcy, Earl of Ulster, by King John, and lately exercised by Lord John De Courcy, at a court held in Dublin Castle, by George IV., in 1821."
We transcribe this obituary notice from a London paper of February 20th, 1832, because we of Rhode Island, feel a pecu- liar interest with regard to this family, of which the present branch sprung from the town of Newport, Rhode Island.
It was probably about the years 1720 and 1725, that the younger, and we presume the only brother of the Baron of Kinsale, for some reasons of discontent, emigrated to North America, and selected Newport, Rhode Island, as the place of his residence.
William Rogers, D. D., Professor of English Oratory in the University of Pennsylvania, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, July 22d, 1751. A graduate of Brown University in 1769. He received his license to preach in 1771, and in May of the following year was ordained pastor of the Baptist church, Phila- delphia, where he continued till the commencement of the Revo- lution, in 1775, when he was appointed Chaplain of the Pennsyl- vanian forces, and not long after, of the Continental Army, and remained in the service till 1781.
In 1789, he was elected Professor of English Oratory in the College of Philadelphia, and afterwards was appointed to the same office in the University of Pennsylvania, and held it till 1812, when b resigned. His death took place April 7th, 1824, in the 74th year of his age.
He held a highly respectable rank in talents and learning, and was greatly esteemed for his ability and faithfulness as a preacher.
His daughter, a very estimable lady, is the wife of William Henry De Wolf, Esq., of Bristol, Rhode Island.
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THE AUCHMUTY FAMILY.
THE AUCHMUTY FAMILY.
Robert Auchmuty was the first of the American family of that name. He was the descendant of an ancient Scotch family, holding a barony in the north of that country. His father settled in England, early in the eighteenth century. Robert came to this country and settled in Boston ; he was con- sidered a profound lawyer, and possessed remarkable talents, shrewdness, and wit. Anecdotes of him have been handed down from generation to generation, to this day. He was greatly respected and beloved, both in public and private life. His memory is held in high veneration by the bar in Massachusetts, and his opinions are still respected by the profession. He has many descendants still left there. He was Judge of Admiralty many years before his death.
Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, son of the elder Robert, was born in Boston, in 1725, graduated at Harvard University in 1742, and was taken by his father to England, where he was ordained a minister of the Episcopal Church, and was appointed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, an assistant minister of Trinity Church, New-York. He married in 1749, a daughter of Robert Nichols, Governor of that Province in 1764. At the death of the Rector, he was appointed to succeed him, and took charge of all the churches in the city, performing his arduous duties with faithfulness until the Revolution.
The children of Rev. Dr. Auchmuty were, 1st, Mary Juliana, born 1750, married General Mulcaster, of the Royal Engineers, and left two sons and two daughters : 2d, married, died young ; 3d, Isabella, born 1753, married a Mr. Burton of Kent, in England, and left no children; 4th, Robert Nichols, born in 1758, married Henrietta, daughter of Henry John Overing, of Newport, his second cousin. He died at Newport, Rhode Island, and was interred in Trinity churchyard, leaving eight children, Samuel O. Auchmuty, Harriet, who married Major Heileman of the U. S. Army, a most accomplished gentleman and superior officer, Maria, widow of Capt. Wainwright of the Marine Corps, Robert, Richard of the U. S. Navy, Joanna, Isabella, and John of the U. S. Navy.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Samuel, afterwards Sir Samuel, born 1758, graduated at Columbia College, served in England, under Sir Ralph Aber- crombie, was a Brigadier-General, and K. C. B., in 1807, and commanded the expedition against Montevideo, which he took. He was promoted to be Lieutenant-General, received the thanks of Parliament and a service of plate. He was afterwards en- trusted with a very important command in the Channel, at the time of Napoleon's threatened invasion ; was the Governor of Madras, and commander of an expedition against the Island of Java, which he took, in 1800. On returning to England, he again received the thanks of Parliament, and a service of plate from the East India Company. He retired for a while to his estate in Kent, which he left on being appointed commander of the forces in Ireland, where he died, August 11th, 1822.
The inscription on his tomb-stone is :
Sacred to the Memory of
THE RIGHT HON. SIR SAMUEL AUCHMUTY, G. C. B. Of His Majesty's Seventy-eight of Foot, who died on the ilth of August, aged sixty- four, while commanding his Majesty's forces in Ireland. He was a brave, experienced, and successful officer, and victorious whenever he had the command. He twice received the thanks of Parliament for his services. The capture of Montevideo, in South America, and the Island of Java, in the East Indies, added both to his fame and fortune.
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY HIS RELATIVES, AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS PRIVATE AS WELL AS HIS PUBLIC WORTH.
He left in his will a princely fortune to the children of his brother, Robert Nichols Auchmuty, of Newport, Rhode Island.
We have dwelt thus long on the history of this family, from the fact of their intimate connection with Newport. Of the two surviving children of Robert N. Auchmuty, Esq., Maria and Joanna, it is no flattery to speak of them in the highest terms, as illustrating the female attractions of the past. Maria was tall, and of exquisite proportions, her complexion beautifully transparent, the roseate bloom of health diffused its beauties on her cheek, and the benignant softness that beamed from her blue eye, gave her the appearance of a celestial divinity. Col. George
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THE MINTURN FAMILY.
Gibbs expressed his admiration of her charms, on witnessing her appearance at the ball-room in Newport, with the splendid head-dress on, the gift of Sir Samuel, K. C. B. Her sister Joanna, was equally as graceful and captivating in form and man- ners. Her complexion clear, her teeth beautifully white and regular, a sweet expression played around her coral lips, her eyes were expressive, her voice exquisitely melodious, and her genius lively and expanded. In the science of music she took delight, and touched the harpsicord to perfection. In the dance she was the sprightly ærial of the scene, when her inimitable attitude and grace captivated every beholder.
Those who recollect Monsieur Carpentier's dancing-room, which was graced with the elite and fashion of Newport, will be ready to respond to the description here given of this lovely person. And now that the season of youth and gayety has passed away, her mind has been profitably and usefully employed in the cul- tivation of the morals of the nieces and nephews of her widowed sister. From a gentleman of the first rank in the United States Army, we have received the most flattering account of her amiable qualities, which we could justly appreciate, from a long acquaintance with her and her family.
"When heaven's harbinger shall claim his prize, And waft her purest soul to purer skies, Then shall recording angels trace her fame, And pity weep when memory breathes her name.'
THE MINTURN FAMILY.
The ancestor of the Minturn family in this country, was a native of England, and was one of the early settlers of Narra- gansett. Jonas Minturn married Penelope Brown, of South 32 Kingston,and died on his own farm in Narragansett. He left three children, William, Hannah, and John, the latter of whom died at an early age. Hannah remained unmarried, and died at an advanced age, in Newport. William early exhibited that energy and decision of character, which was so conspicuous dur. ing his life. Being of an enterprising disposition, and wishing
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
to see more of the world than his circumstances permitted, he made several voyages from Newport, in a ship of which he soon became mate ; during one of these voyages to a port in Eng- land, the vessel in which he sailed had the misfortune to be cap- tured and taken into France, England being at that time at war with that country.
The voyage was thus in danger of being broken up, threaten- ing great loss to those who were concerned in its success. The French commander offered to accept a ransom for the vessel, which though ardently desired by the American captain, was deemed by him to be entirely out of his power to accomplish at this juncture. Mr. Minturn, seeing how vitally important was the measure, presented himself before the master of the ship : " Captain," said he, " land me on the coast of England-I will go to London ; I am certain that I can effect this desirable re- sult to a commercial house in that city." It was done ; dressed as he was, in his sailor's clothes, he proceeded on foot to London, found out the firm he was in search of, and by his intelligence and perseverance, was able to convince them of the importance and feasibility of the object. He then re-crossed the channel, paid the ransom money, and arrived safely with the vessel at Newport.
In testimony of the high opinion which the owners of the ship entertained towards him, by this signal service, he was imme- diately made captain of the same vessel ; and so fortunate was he, that he was soon able to become himself a shipowner, and to establish himself at Newport, where, becoming a successful mer- chant, he was greatly distinguished for benevolence and public spirit. Mr. Minturn removed from Newport to Hudson, in 1788, but finding, however, the branch of mercantile business in which he was more especially engaged, that of commerce and navigation, could be prosecuted with more success at a point less remote from the sea, he concluded upon a change of loca- tion, and finally fixed upon the city of New-York, as possessing those superior commercial advantages which have since been accredited to it by the world. Hither he removed in 1791, con- tinuing his successful career, and realizing all the advantages which he had anticipated from this new abode. Having amassed a large estate for the times in which he lived, he retired from
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THE MINTURN FAMILY.
the active duties of commercial life, enjoying the respect, the esteem, and affection of his fellow-citizens.
In 1799, Mr. Minturn's health so rapidly declined, that he ardently longed to breathe once more his native air ; confidently believing that it would bring with it healing on its wings. He was also anxious to consult with Dr. Center, of Newport, the physician of his early life. In this desire he was warmly en- couraged by his friend and former partner in business, George Gibbs, Esq., who kindly procured a commodious house for his reception ; but his cherished hopes, and those of his attached family, were destined to be soon destroyed. His disease in- creased in severity, and he died in August of that year, univer- sally lamented. Justice, firmness, and charity, were the distin- guishing traits of his character.
William Minturn married Penelope, daughter of Benjamin Greene; she was a near relative of Major Nathaniel Greenc, of the Revolution, with whom she spent a considerable part of her early life, at Patawamut. After her husband's decease, Mrs. Minturn returned to New-York, where she resided till her death, in 1821; dying in that humility and faith which her Christian life had so pre-eminently exemplified.
William Minturn left ten children ; 1st, Penelope, married to John T. Champlain ; 2d, Benjamin Greene, married to Mary, daughter of Robert Bowne; 3d, Hannah, who died in 1817; 4th, William, also married to a daughter of Robert Bowne ; 5th, Jonas, married to Esther, daughter of William T. Robin- son ; 6th, Mary, married to Henry Post ; 7th, Deborah, msrried to Robert Abbot, jun. ; 8th, Nathaniel G., married to Lydia, daughter of Samuel Coates, of Philadelphia; 9th, Niobe, who resides in New York; and 10th, John, who in 1817, removed to New-Orleans-he married Lydia, daughter of James Clements, of Philadelphia. The descendants of William Minturn have num- bered one hundred and forty-six persons. Some of his descend- ants are now extensive merchants in New-York.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
SIR CHARLES WAGER.
" NEWPORT, 2 Mo. 1, 1853.
" The following is an extract from a letter I received from Rowland T. Robinson, dated Ferrisburgh, Vermont, 1 Mo. 22d, 1848, and, I presume, will convey the information you request " Your friend,
" T. R. HAZARD.
" To Edward Peterson.
" ' I have obtained the following genealogical information from my father, whose recollections are clear on the matter ; and I also find they are confirmed by " W. Updike's History," page 249.
" ' William Hazard, the father of Lydia Hazard, who married John Field, was the son of Caleb Hazard. William had two brothers, Dr. Robert, and Caleb.
" ' Caleb Hazard, the father of William, married Abigail Gardiner, daughter of William Gardiner; she was the sister of Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston.
" ' After Caleb Hazard's death, his widow, Abigail, married Wm. Robinson, called Governor Robinson, who was my great- grandfather. They had six sons and two daughters, Chris- topher, William, Thomas (my grandfather), Sylvester, James, and John. The daughters were Mary, who married a Dockray, and Abigail.
" ' Phoebe Hull, who married William Hazard, was daughter of Captain Hull, who brought up Admiral Wager, of the British navy ; Charles Wager was taken by Capt. John Hull, when a poor boy, from Newport, and trained to the sea. In conse- quence of an advertisement which appeared in the public papers, Capt. Hull took Wager to England, and assisted him in obtain- ing a large estate, and he became an Admiral.
" ' I have often heard my father relate the following anec- dote, which may be somewhat amusing to thy New-York cor- respondent. Capt. Hull was a plain Friend, and in the pursuit of his calling, he was at one time in some part of the West Indies, and learning that his ward, now Admiral Wager, was lying in the same port, he took his long boat, and went on board the Admiral's ship. He enquired for the Admiral, stating he
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SIR CHARLES WAGER.
wished to see him. His appearance being rough, he was met by a sprig of the navy, and denied admittance; but watching his opportunity, he stepped into the cabin, knowing he would be safe when once recognized, which proved to be the case. He was received with great kindness by the Admiral, greatly to the confusion of the officer who had denied him an audience. An intimacy was long afterwards maintained, and the Admiral used to make an annual demonstration of his remembrance of his old master, by sending him a quarter-cask of wine.' "
" NEW-YORK, March 2, 1853.
" Dear Sir,
" Hearing you were about publishing a history of Newport, and the events of the past, so highly important and interesting, connected with its carly settlement, 1 beg leave to hand you an anecdote or two of the celebrated Admiral, Sir Charles Wager; who was bound apprentice to a Quaker sea captain, of the name of John Hull, of Newport. It was of Capt. Hull that Sir Charles first learned his skill as a captain, and by whom he was brought up in the straight ways of industry, perseverance, and honesty, which appear to have distinguished him through life.
" ' Your sincere friend and servant,
" OLIVER HULL. " Mr. Peterson.
" It is perhaps not generally known, even by the reading public, that the celebrated Admiral Wager, of the British navy, when a boy, was bound apprentice to a Quaker, of the name of John Hull, who sailed a vessel between Newport, (Rhode Island,) and London ; and in whose service he probably learned the rudiments of that nautical skill, as well as that upright . honor and integrity, for which he is so much lauded by his biographer. The circumstance of running his master's vessel over a privateer, first recommended him to an advantageous place in the British navy. The facts of this encounter, as near as I can gather them, are these : the privateer was a small schooner, full of men, and was about boarding the ship of Capt. Hull, whose religious scruples prevented him from taking any measures of a hostile nature. After much persuasion from
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
young Wager, the peaceable captain retired to his cabin, and gave the command of his ship to his apprentice. His anxiety, however, induced him to look out from the companion way, and occasionally give directions to the boy, who, he perceived, designed to run over the privateer, saying to him, ' Charles, if thee intends to run over that schooner, thou must put the helm a little more to the starboard.' The ship passed directly over the schooner, which instantly sunk, with every soul on board.
" On one occasion, when the Admiral was in Newport, Capt. Hull called at the coffee-house to see his former apprentice, and seeing a Lieutenant there, asked him, 'Where is Charles ?' at which the Lieutenant took umbrage, and threatened to chas- tise the old Quaker for his insolence, in not speaking more respectfully of his Admiral. When Wager heard of it, he took occasion to reprove the Lieutenant before Capt. Hull, saying, ' Mr. Hull, sir, is my honored master.'
" The certificate of marriage of John Hull, which is of parch- ment, among the witnesses, bears the signature of the mother of Admiral Wager, thus, ' Prudence Wager.'
" John Hull died at Conanicut, on the 1st day of December, 1732, aged seventy-eight years.
" The following inscription is on the monument, erected to the memory of Admiral Wager, in Westminster Abbey, Lon- don, England :
" " To the Memory of SIR CHARLES WAGER, KNT., Admiral of the White, First Commissioner of the Admiralty, and A Privy Councillor ; A man of great natural talents, improved by Industry, and long Experience ;
Who bore the highest commands, and passed through the greatest Employments, With Credit to himself, and Honor to his Country.
He was in his Private Life, Humane, Temperate, Just, and Bountiful ; In Public Station, Prudent, Wise, and Honest ; Easy of access to all; steady and resolute in his conduct ; So remarkably happy in his presence of mind, that no danger Ever discomposed him.
Esteemed and favored by his King, Beloved and honored by his Country. He died the Twenty-fourth of May, 1743 Aged 79 years.
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EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.
EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION,
We have been pleasantly employed in presenting to the mind of the reader, the growth and prosperity of Newport, with the highly cultivated state of manners, which characterized her early history. And it would afford unspeakable gratifica- tion, could we continue the prosecution of a theme, so deeply interesting to the human mind; but every thing earthly is mutable, and subject to change. The prosperous to-day, may be in adversity to-morrow ; so with States and Empires,-but the events so painful in themselves, are not without their uses, for out of the discordant materials good will ultimately arise.
No town in the British Colonies flourished to the degree of Newport, and while her canvass whitened every sea, and the products of every clime came freighted to her shores, it did not render her supremely selfish, as is too apt to be the case, but her influence was directed to the cultivation of the arts and sciences, which rendered her highly distinguished. The society of Newport was polished and refined ; this was owing in a great degree to the intimate relationship which subsisted between them and the mother country. The officers under the Crown were educated gentlemen, and this exerted a powerful influence on the minds of the inhabitants, and but for the Revolution, no one could possibly have predicted the extent of prosperity to which Newport would have arrived. But the oppression of the British Parliament towards her Colonies became insupportable, until forbearance ceased to be a virtue. Every remonstrance on the part of the Colonists, only tended the more highly to exasperate Great Britain towards them. Now it was never the intention of the Colonies to sunder the ties which so closely linked them to the mother country, but simply to obtain a redress of grievances. They had stood by England in storm as well as sunshine. When she had been engaged in conflict with other nations, the Colonies had fur- nished their quota of men and money to overcome her enemies.
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