USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 5
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Jaheel Brenton, was the eldest son of Governor William Brenton, and inherited most of the estate. He was the first Collector of Boston appointed by the king. In 1699, in conse- quence of some personal difficulty with Sir William Phipps, the Governor of Massachusetts, he went to England, when he and others preferred charges against the Governor, who, in con- sequence, was summoned to Whitehall, to answer for his con- duct. GovernorPhipps died of fever soon after he had arrived in England, and before the trial could take place.
Mr. Brenton was soon after appointed Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island, and as such remained in England several years. He returned from England with a commission from the
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
King, appointing him Surveyor-General of the Customs of the American Colonies.
He owned all the land in Newport, which is now known as Brenton's Neck, where he had his residence ; he also owned a large tract of land in Narragansett, being one of the original Pettaquamsett purchasers.
He died in Newport, on the 8th of November, 1732, aged 77 years, without issue. He was buried on his own land, in that part which is now the site of Fort Adams. By his will, he gave all his lands in the Neck, known as the Hammersmith and Rocky Farms, to his nephew, the second Jaheel Brenton. In 1720, he built the house in Thames-street, now in the possession of Simmons S. Coe. Among his descendants, was the gallant Jaheel Brenton, Admiral of the British navy, and the Hon. Brenton Halliburton, of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, both natives of Newport.
In 1681, Peter Easton, and the Executor of John Clarke, were ordered to lay out the common burial ground in Newport, -- from which it would appear that John Clarke gave the land for that express purpose. This burial ground had been suf- fered to lie neglected for years, until it was painful to witness it, when the suggestion was made, that the subject of renova- ting and improving the ground should be brought up in town meeting, which was accordingly done, when an appropriation of 200 dollars was made, and subsequently $500; and laborers were employed to right and paint the stones, and to lay out new walks, where no graves were visible. The work was com. menced in 1848, and the committee, under whose supervision · the praiseworthy undertaking was commenced and completed, were the Hon. Edward W. Lauton, and Wm. C. Clarke, Esq. Mr. Clarke took a lively interest in the matter, and it reflects great credit on the town.
Benedict Arnold, was born in England in 1615 ; he came to this country with his father, William Arnold. They were among the first settlers of Providence, but afterwards formed a settlement at Pawtuxet. In 1653, Benedict Arnold removed to Newport, and was admitted a purchaser there ia May, the same year ; in , 1654, he was appointed a Commissioner for Newport; and, in 1657, was chosen President of the Colony, which he held until 1659. He was an Assistant in 1660 and
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A BELL-MAN CHOSEN.
1661, and again President in 1662 and 1663. In the Charter of 1663, he was named as the first Governor, and was re-elected by the people, with brief intervals, until 1678. He died on the 9th of June, 1678, aged 63 years, leaving four sons and three daughters. He was a large proprietor of land in Newport, Con- nanicut, and Narragansett. His house stood where the banking house of the Union Bank, now stands. He was buried in the lot which he directed to be set apart for that purpose, which is now an old burying-ground in the rear of the Unitarian church. The ground which was set apart, was three rods square, with the right of way to it. The entrance is from Pelham street, through the grounds of Captain Littlefield.
As the name of Governor Benedict Arnold, and Benedict Arnold, the traitor, are liable to be blended together, we would state the fact, for the benefit of the reader, that there is not the remotest connection existing between them. Governor Arnold was distinguished for his virtue and integrity ; his repeated elec- tions to the first place in the Colony, shows his popularity, and the confidence which was reposed in him by his constituents.
We would suggest the propriety of renovating the ground where repose the mouldering ashes of this devoted patriot. We know not whether any collateral branches of the family exist at present on the island ; it is certain, however, that there are none in the male line. The extinction of once numerous and highly respectable families, on the island, shows the uncertainty of worldly glory, and the vanity of relying upon any thing earthly.
A BELL-MAN CHOSEN.
1681. A bell-man was chosen to walk up the streets, one whole year, as the town shall agree, and Richard Barnes was chosen. He came out with Mr. John Clarke, the first settler on the island. He was to ring if any thing be brought into the town, as fruit, or fish, &c., " he shall not need to stop at each place, but going along giving notice thereof by a loud noise." This practice is still kept up in the ancient town, and does not disturb the nerves of the inhabitants.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
1691. Lawrence Clarke had liberty to dig clay and make brick, on the common near Samuel Cranston's land, he doing no damage; and even before this period, permission was granted to make brick, as early as 1681. Why it was discontinued we have no account.
1693. Arnold Collins petitioned for half an acre of land on the common, to set up a fulling mill, which was granted. John Easton, jr., had one quarter of an acre of land to set up a malt- ing-house, to have it as long as he made malt. John Hicks had an acre of land on Goat Island, for a ship-yard, for him and his heirs and assigns, who follow ship-building, paying such rent as they and the committee of the town shall agree.
In 1696, a Seal for the town was procured, with the device of a sheep.
1699. Benjamin Bears, and John Hervey, had liberty to erect a building on the north end of Goat Island, to cure fish. A law was made to prevent oyster shells from being burnt in the streets, except by the liberty of the town or lime kilns. It appears that shell lime was much used at that day, and many of the ancient buildings now standing, confirm the fact.
Oct., 1710. The petition of Mr. Gallaway, for liberty of teach- ing a Latin school, in the little rooms in the school-house, was granted. Newport has paid a strict regard to education, from the earliest period of the settlement of the island.
"In 1782, John Mumford, surveyor, was authorized to survey the streets of the town ; and the Town Council directed to name the streets, as the town had grown to the admiration of all, and ' was the metropolitan."-Town Records.
It is much to be regretted that the codfishery had not been prosecuted in Newport, as the spot is so admirably adapted to the business. It has been made profitable where it has been carried on, giving employment to seamen, as well as enriching the community, and no good and sufficient reason can be offered why it should not be revived in Newport. It is a safe invest- · ment, and requiring far less capital than is needed in many other commercial transactions. The bounty paid by the general gov. ernment, aids very much in the liquidation of the expenses of the voyage. It would seem from the records, that in the early settlement of Newport, the inhabitants turned their attention to every kind of trade, and the rapid and unexampled growth of
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59
EASTON'S POINT.
the place was an evidence of the enterprise which characterized the inhabitants.
To what an extent brick was made, and how long the busi- ness was conducted, we have no means of knowing at this late period. We should rather be inclined to the belief that the material was not of the best kind, or otherwise the work would not have been abandoned.
About twenty-five years ago, a discovery was made of yellow ochre, on the Taylor farm, now owned by the Hon. Wm. B. Lawrence. Some gentleman from abroad experimented upon it, hoping to be able to make a yellow paint of it, but after a fair trial it was given up. This gave to Taylor's Point, the modern name of Ochre Point, though we much prefer the former one for its antiquity, the property having been in possession of the Taylor family from a very early period of the settlement of the island.
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EASTON'S POINT.
This Point was originally the property of Governor Nicholas Easton, who, on his marriage with Ann Clayton, gave it by deed to her, and confirmed it in his will to her as. his wife.
In 1694, a certain William Edwards, a member of the Society of Friends, gave by will to his executors, who were Daniel Gould, Edward Thurston, William James, John Lurkett, the residue of his estate, for the benefit of that society. In the year 1698, they purchased of Ann Bull, widow of Governor Henry Bull, and previously widow of Nicholas Easton, the Point farm, consisting of about sixty five acres, part of which, in 1714, they laid out in house lots, and made a second division, in 1725, which they rented out at very low rates. The Society has the original plot and regular minutes of the proprietors ever since. The most of the land has since been disposed of, and but a few acres now belong to the Society.
In early times, the Society of Friends was very large. In 1700, about one-half the population of Newport were of that persuasion, and in that year they built the present meeting house in which they now worship. There have been many ministers,
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
and other conspicuous members of that Society, who lived in Newport and its vicinity. A large proportion of its Governors and other officers, were of that denomination, amongst whom may be enumerated Wm. Coddington, Nicholas Easton, John Easton, Walter Clarke, Henry Bull, John Wanton, Gideon Wanton, and Governor Hopkins, all members of the Society. Mr. Bull says that there was a Friends' meeting-house in New- port, before this was built, probably soon after they came to this country. It stood opposite Coddington burial-ground, which was taken down and some of the materials worked into that which is now the rear of the present meeting-house, which ex- tends thirty feet north of the main building. The denomination from having been very numerous on the island, are at present greatly diminished.
In 1704, the General Assembly passed an act for fixing the soldiers' wages, whether volunteers or impressed, for the service of Goat Island, at £12 per year.
In 1696, a negro named Peter Pylatt, was executed at New- port, for the crime of rape, after which his body was hung in chains on Tommony Hill.
It was voted to offer one penny for a blackbird's head, and two pennies for a crow.
About 1660, and many years afterward, provision pay was one hundred per cent beneath sterling money.
1739. This year the freemen of the town of Newport, granted a new company the right of extending the Long Wharf from Thames street, westward, across the Cove or Flats, to Sandy Point, called Easton's Point, across the said Point, eight hun- dred feet westward, to Goat Island, from low-water mark, and the fee and privilege to be vested in the company, together with the privileges of all right which the town had in the water, on the north and south sides of the premises, 45 feet in length, &c.
The income arising from the Long Wharf, was for many years devoted to the support of a school kept in Washington street, on the Point. The building which belonged to the company, and occupied for a school, was subsequently sold ; it continued however, until the free school system went into operation in Newport. The wharf is in the hands of trustees, and what dis- position is made of the income, after keeping the wharf in re- pair, we have no means of knowing. It would certainly look,
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COLONY HOUSE BUILT.
after reading the grant made by the town to the company, that they had the exclusive right to manage it as they please. Pre- sent length 2183 feet.
At the North side of Long Wharf was situated Barney's Ferry to Connanicut-at that date there were three ferries to Connanicut-two on the Point, Barney's, Ellery's, and Carr's, the present one from Ferry Wharf-all these ferries were con- stantly employed in bringing large numbers of cattle, horses and mules, from Connecticut, as well as from all parts of this State ; and an endless number of hogs were annually brought from Connecticut to this market, and slaughtered for shipping.
Edward Thurston was a native of England, and came to Rhode Island soon after the first settlement. He held many important offices. He died in 1706, aged ninety years, and was buried in the Coddington burial-place. He left six sons and several daughters, from whom are descended all the Thurstons of this State.
In 1710, Anthony Young had liberty to take limestone from the rocks in the harbor, to make lime with. We presume that the business was not long pursued, or otherwise the rock would soon have disappeared. We are not able to decide on - the quality of lime made from the rock, never having seen it tested.
A committee was appointed to grant lots for wharfs round the Cove, and so to Gravelly Point. The first town club in Newport was formed this year, 1726.
In 1733, the first market-house, on the Ferry Wharf in New port was built. This year the Assembly granted £50 towards re-building the Point Bridge in Newport.
COLONY-HOUSE BUILT.
1733. The General Assembly this year voted to erect a new Colony-House, in Newport, on the site where the old one stood. The building to be of brick, eighty feet by forty. Peter Bours, Esbon Sanford, George Goulding, and George Wanton, were appointed to superintend the building. Richard Munday was
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
the architect who drew a plan of the building. In 1743, the Court House was not finished.
The old Colony House was sold and removed to a lot in Pri- son Lane, where it was converted into a dwelling-house, and is still standing. The Colony House, or the present State House, is a beautiful specimen of architecture. Fronting the Parade, with the Mall on the left, gives to it an imposing appearance.
In 1783, the clock in the State House was put up by Benja- min Dudley, an ingenious clock and watch-maker of Newport. The expense was defrayed by private subscription.
In 1774, Christopher Gardner, a native of Newport, opened a Circus, in which he performed surprising feats of horseman- ship. He was the son of Henry Gardner, who was the keeper of a tavern, at the head of Tanner street, in Newport.
" NEWPORT, JUNE 15, 1774. HORSEMANSHIP, BY CHRISTOPHER GARDNER, THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN RIDER, WHO WILL PERFORM ON ONE, TWO, AND THREE HORSES, Nearly all the parts which were exhibited here by the celebrated MR. BATES.
In several of which parts, it is allowed by good judges, he fully equals, or rather excels, any thing of the kind ever performed in this country.
TO-MORROW, GRATIS, for the Entertainment of all who please to attend, If the weather be good, if not, the next day, he will Ride at the north- east part of Newport ; and there will be performed TAYLOR RIDING TO BRENTFORD.
The doors will be opened at Three o'clock in the Afternoon ; and he will mount precisely at Four. The seats are suitable for ladies and gentlemen.
Tickets, at a Quarter-of-a-dollar each, to be had of Messrs. Ichabod Potter, Robert Lillibridge, jun., William Davis, and at the Printing-office, by those who chuse to pay.
'Tis hoped no persons will bring any dogs with them.
Mr. Gardner expects to give entire satisfaction, and will gratefully acknowledge all the favours of those ladies and gentlemen who will oblige him with their company."
[From the original printed Handbill.]
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State House and Parade
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THE CREWLESS VESSEL.
In 1770. On Wednesday, died at Portsmouth, on the island, Mrs. Mary Thomas, and Mrs. Abigail Burrington, widows, both in the 81st year of their age : they were both born in one year, died in one day, and were both buried the same day.
" Some persons from Connecticut, came to town a few days since, with a large sum of money, in order to purchase goods ; but failing of a supply here, they proceeded immediately to Newport."-From the Providence Paper, 1770.
THE CREWLESS VESSEL.
1750. This year a remarkable circumstance occurred at Newport. A vessel was discovered one morning, apparently coming from the eastward, close in to Easton's Beach, with all sails standing ; she seemed suddenly to alter her course, avoid- ing the rocks, and directly came on shore, at the north-west corner of the beach. No one having been seen on board, she was boarded by some fishermen, who were spectators of the scene, and to their great surprise and astonishment, no person was found on board, but they found the table set for breakfast, the kettle boiling, a dog and cat in the cabin, and every thing undisturbed, except the long-boat, which was missing, as if the crew had that moment left her.
The vessel proved to be a brig, belonging to Mr. Isaac Steele, a merchant of Newport, which had been hourly expected from the Bay of Honduras. She had been spoken a day or two before, by a vessel which had arrived in port. The brig was commanded by Capt .. Huxham. No tidings were ever heard of him or his crew, and what became of them will probably remain forever a mystery.
" It is a fearful mystery, That lies unfathom'd yet ; There never came a word or sign, From those we still regret.
I dare not muse upon their fate, Its horror, its despair ; But all among the gazers knew, No mortal band was there !"
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
The vessel was afterwards got off, and William Lee, the grandfather of Robert P. Lee, Esq., cashier of the Rhode Island Union Bank, assisted in getting her off. She was brought round to Godfrey Melbone's wharf, and sold to Henry Collins, then an eminent merchant of Newport, who changed her name to the Beach Bird, by which name she made many voyages. This vessel is said to have been in existence, as late as when the British forces took possession of this island; they found her dismantled at one of the wharves, cut her down, and con- verted her into an armed galley. The most probable conjec- ture which can be formed of this singular event is, that the crew, becoming terrified on hearing the sound of the breakers, and considering their danger to be imminent, had recourse to the long-boat, and thus perished.
EXECUTION OF PIRATES.
Two pirate sloops, the Ranger, and the Fortune, which had committed various piracies on the high seas, being in company, on the 8th of May, 1723, captured the ship Amsterdam Mer- chant, John Welland, master ; the day after which capture they plundered and sunk the ship. On the 6th day of June, in lat. 39°, they took a Virginia sloop, rifled her, and let her go, who the next day fell in with His Majesty's ship, the Greyhound, Capt. Solgard, of 20 guns, to whom they related the circum- . stances of their late capture and release. Capt. Solgard imme- diately pursued, and on the 10th, came up with the pirate sloops, about 14 leagues south of the east end of Long Island, who, mistaking him for a merchant ship, immediately gave chase, and soon commenced firing on the Greyhound, under a black flag, but then hauled down the black flag and hoisted a red one. The Greyhound succeeded in capturing one of the sloops, after having seven men wounded, but the other pirate · escaped. The Greyhound came with the prize into the harbor of Newport, and the pirates, thirty-six in number, were com- mitted for trial ; twenty-six were sentenced to be hanged, ' which execution took place on Gravelly Point, opposite the town, on the 19th July, 1723. After execution, their bodies
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EXECUTION OF PIRATES.
were carried to Goat Island, and buried on the shore, between high and low-water mark. .
. The names of the pirates that were executed on Friday, July the 19th, 1723, at Newport, on Rhode Island, were-
Charles Harris
Thomas Hugget
Thomas Linniear
Peter Cues
Daniel Hyde
William Jones
Stephen Mundon
Edward Eaton
Abraham Lacy
John Brown
Edward Lawson
James Sprinkly
John Tompkins
Joseph Sound
Francis Laughton
Charles Church
John Fitzgerald
John Waters
William Studfield
Thomas Powell
Owen Rice
Joseph Libbey
William Read
Thomas Hazel
William Blades
John Bright.
Most of these men were foreigners ; but one belonged to Rhode Island. They were principally natives of England. Perhaps there never was a greater number executed at any one period, in the history of this country.
Block Island, was named after Adrian Block, a Dutch navi- gator, who, in the summer of 1644, built on the banks of the Hudson, the first decked vessel ever built within the old United States. The vessel was called Yatch, and made her first voy- age through Hell Gate, into the Sound, as far as Cape Cod, by the Vineyard. It was on this voyage that Block Island was discovered. The island is about nine miles long, and contains a population of 1,262, according to the last census, in 1850. They are a hardy race of men, engaged principally in fishing and agriculture. It is nine miles to the nearest land.
The codfish cured by the islanders, commands a higher price in the market, than those which are taken and cured elsewhere. The soil is rich and fertile, which enables them to export oats, stock, poultry, &c. Their boats, which are perfectly unique in their construction, will live in a gale, while larger craft have to make a harbor. There is on the island, three places of public worship. One close communion, and two free-will Baptist churches. It lays thirty miles south-west from Newport.
A number of pirates were executed in November, as appears
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
by an Act of the Assembly, for paying the expense of the con- viction and execution. They are said to have been executed in the lot, near the Powder-house, at Newport, which afterwards bore the name of the " Gallow's Field."
William Jeffray, was a native of England ; at what time he came to America is unknown, but we find him in Massachusetts as early as 1628. He came to Rhode Island soon after the first settlement, and, in 1639, was one of the persons appointed to set off the lands of the first settlers of Newport.
He appears to have been held in great respect by the colon- ists, and was consulted on all important occasions, and was sev- eral times an assistant or deputy from Newport. He was in England about the time of the trial and execution of Charles I., which it is probable, was the origin of a tradition which has always existed, that he was one of the judges on the trial of that unfortunate monarch, and as such his grave is pointed out to this day. He owned a farm of about seventy acres on the Neck, and the point extending out from the farm, is called Jeffray's Point. The extremes of the Neck belonged to Coggeshall and Brenton, while the centre part embraced Price's Neck. We presume Price was an owner, as well as Jeffray's. He died on the 2d of June, 1675, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and was buried in the common burial place.
Here lieth interred, the body of WILL. JEFFRAY, GENT.
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON YE 2D DAY OF JUNE, 1675. In the 85th year of his age.
Since every tomb an epitaph can have, The muses owe their tribute to this grave- And to succeeding ages recommend His worthy name, who lived and died their friend.
VIVIT POST TEMERE VIRTUS.
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DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.
Sept. 17, 1744, was memorable for a most distressing acci- dent, which took place in Newport. A number of gentlemen had collected on the wharf of Col. Malbern, to view the fitting out of two privateers, when a quantity of powder, which had been placed in one of the stores, by some unaccountable means, exploded, killing or wounding a number of persons.
By this accident, the town lost three of its principal citi- zens, William Coddington, Esq., Mr. Grant, and John Gidley, Esq., who were either killed or died of their wounds. Mr Cod- dington was a grandson of Governor Coddington, and had held many offices in the colony. Mr. Grant was a native of Scotland, and a respectable merchant of Newport; he was the maternal grandfather of the late Christopher G. Champlin; and Mr. Gidley was an enterprizing merchant, and son of Judge Gidley, of the Vice-Admiralty Court. The house owned and occupied by Mr. Gidley, passed from his grandson to the late Major Breeze, and is now in possession of the heirs of the late Thomas Breeze, of the United States Navy. The street north, is named Gidley, in honor of that gentleman. To those who are fond of reminiscences, such incidents will prove highly interesting and amusing. Newport has been the scene of many wonderful events, and it would be impossible to embody, in a work of this kind, all of them, but as a record of facts, we have aimed to give the reader the benefit of the most striking incidents which have occurred on the island.
Col. William Coddington, was son of Thomas and Mary Cod- dington, and grandson of the elder Gov. William Coddington, who emigrated from England to Boston with Gov. Winthrop, in 1630. His first wife was Comfort Arnold, eldest daughter of Benedict, son or grandson of Gov. Benedict Arnold. Col Coddington was born January 1st, 1690, and was a well-edu- cated and accomplished gentleman. The Rev. John Callender, in his century sermon, delivered in Newport, in 1738, which was dedicated to him, says :
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