USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of Woonsocket > Part 3
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But the grantee evidently deemed his title to be valid, as he afterward disposed of twelve-thirteenths of the same to his companions, for a consideration in money.
Among these thirteen original proprietors of Providence was William Arnold. Many of the descendants of this man became famous, and one of them was infamous in the history of our country.
Among his sons was THOMAS ARNOLD. He is said to have emigrated from London to Richmond, Virginia ; from thence to Watertown, Mass. ; and from thence to Providence, where he arrived a short time after his father. He eventu- ally settled in the valley of the Moshassuck, near where now stands the lower Quaker meeting-house, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died in September, 1674, aged fifty-eight years, and his estate was divided by the Town Council of Providence* between his widow and his five sur- viving children. Among these children were Richard, who was the eldest, and Elizabeth, who was the wife of Samuel Comstock. RICHARD ARNOLD and SAMUEL COMSTOCK were the first settlers of Woonsocket. But before I can place them in peaceful possession of their estates, there is much that remains to be told. If I make the narrative suf- ficiently plain, you will be let into some strange secrets, and you will realize that " history is history ! "
*Prov. Trans. Rec., page 324. For descendants of this man, see appendix.
28
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The original proprietors of Providence did not at first attempt to divide their unlimited estate. It would have been like setting bounds to space. They simply located themselves as their immediate fancy or convenience dictated, erected their dwellings, planted their corn and reared their children-some selecting their meadows in the valley of the Pawtuxet and others upon the banks of the Pawtucket rivers and their tributaries. After a time the settlers upon these streams became distinguished from each other, and known- the one as the " Proprietors of Pawtuxet," and the other as the " Proprietors of Providence." At last, when the popu- lation had perceptibly increased, each party began to clamor for a division of the territory, which in width was bounded by the rivers, and which in length was " without limit."
To state the points of disagreement which existed between the (so called) Providence and Pawtuxet proprietors, is not only beyond my power, but it was beyond that of the disputants themselves. This is evident from the futile attempts of one party to limit infinity,* and of both parties to produce impossible lines.} In the midst of this dispute Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock came to Woonsocket. Moved, probably, by the beauty and fertility of the region, and taking the " up stream without limit " clause in the deed from the Indians to mean something, as proprietors of Providence they proceeded to occupy and improve the lands.
The heat of the Pawtuxet controversy had gone out to the surrounding Colonies, and had been felt even in the courts of Europe. Every attempt to solve the problem had increased its intricacy. Every step taken in the labyrinth had deep- ened its obscurity. At last an epistle-it was called a
The up-stream-without-limit clause means Sugar Loaf Hill, Burit's Brow, Observation Rock, Absolute Swamp, Oxford and Hipses Rock. But the cattle may go far enough north to return at night, and not trespass .- [Prov. Trans. Rec., page 128.]
A line ordered to be set seven miles west of Fox Ilill, and from thence to be run " north to the Pawtucket river. [Prov. Trans. Rec., page 100.] This was afterwards known as the " Seven mile line." It was ordered run June 4, 1660.
29
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
" loving epistle"-was written by Roger Williams to the proprietors of Providence. It was a master-piece. It solved the problem by breaking the slate, and dissolved the ob- security by destroying the labyrinth.
In 1653,* the Providence proprietors had declared the act to be unjust which divided the Pawtuxet men twenty miles, and defined the " up-stream-without-limit " point to be as far north from Hipses Rock, etc., as the cattle could go and return at night. The "epistle" referred to not only in- dorsed the declaration of the Providence men, but it virtu- ally restricted the territory of the Providence Grand Purchase itself, by advising the purchase of lands which had hitherto been thought to be within its limits. After much diseus- sion, it was finally voted "to parley with the Indians for Niswosaket, f Wayunckeke and the region thereabouts."
Many of the Indian deeds given in consequence of this action, may be found in " Staples's Annals of Providence." Among them is one from Waumsittou to Thomas Olney, sr., and others .¿ This transferred certain " grounds and meadows, lying and being on the west side of Seekonk or Pawtucket River, EXCEPTING a tract of land about four or five miles, which had been given leave to William, of Massa- chusetts, to dispose of, said land beginning at the old field of Wasquadomisk," etc.
In an instrument dated December 2, 1702, I find that the " four or five miles " referred to was originally " obtained in two purchases, but all being in one parcel." I have had the good fortune, through the kindness of Ephraim Sayles, Esq., of Smithfield, who has the original document, to see a copy of the deed, which conveyed what I conceive to be the north-western portion thereof. I think this document to be
*Prov. Trans. Rec., page 128.
tIt is thus spelled in R. I. Col. Rec., but Staples gives it Miswosakit, which agrees with the original.
#Staples's Annals of Prov., page 575.
30
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
of sufficient importance to give in full, for thereby Richard Arnold and his friends were reduced for the time to the level of " squatter sovereigns," and upon it, as well as the " up-stream-without-limit " instrument so often referred to, rest the titles to the lands of Western Woonsocket :
"Be it known unto all men by these presents, that I, William Min- nion, of Punskepage, in ye Collony of ye Massachusetts Bay, have upon good consideration moving me thereto, have freely given and passed over a tract of land unto Edward Inman and John Mowry, of Providence, etc., being two thousand acres more or less, ye bounds of their land lying from Loqueesit northward. Ye first bound is a chestnut tree on ye South, marked on four sides at ye first Indian field on Wessulkuttomisk Hill, running a mile due North, and then upon a line to Ummohbukkonit, taking in all ye meadows, and so to run to Nysshacuck, and so to a champ of pines called ye Keys, and so to ye spring called Wessukkattomsuk, to ye chestnut tree above- mentioned, and so to Pawtucket River, and on ye end of THE MILL north to Pawtucket River. To have and to hold without any trouble or molestation by any Indians, and for the true performance hereof, I have sett my hand and seal ye 14th day of May, 1666.
In presence of
DANL. ABBOTT,
WILLIAM MINNION." JOIN STEERE.
The foregoing represented a belt of land about one mile in width, extending from the sau-mill before-mentioned to " Wionkhege." Loqueesit, spoken of as being south of said tract, was a large territory extending from where Manville now is, westerly beyond Lime Rock and southerly into what is now North Providence.
Wessukkuttomsuk spring was what is now known as Crook Falls Brook, sometimes called Crooked River.
The Keys was in the vicinity of Stillwater.
Nysshacuck I have supposed to be Sayles Hill, because John Mowry, who was sometimes called "Nysshacuck John," lived there at one time. But as he removed from thence to the western part of the town, my supposition has been disputed. The remains of him and his wife, however, repose on Sayles Hill.
The mill north of Pawtucket river was the saw-mill of Richard Arnold, to which I shall have frequent occasion to refer.
31
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The other places mentioned in the deed I am unable to locate with any degree of accuracy. Neither can I give the precise bounds of the territory. It is sufficient for my purpose to say, that Western Woonsocket, Union Village, Slatersville and the region around Woonsocket Hill, was included within its limits.
In the foregoing instrument but two grantees are alluded to, namely-Edward Inman and John Mowry. But there was another proprietor, namely-Nathaniel Mowry, a brother of John. He was also the son-in-law of Edward Inman, having become the proprietor of Joanna in the same year that he did of the Wesquadomisk territory. He was at that time twenty-two years of age. It may be that he is men- tioned in the other Indian deed to which I have referred, but this important document has thus far escaped me. It is spoken of in ancient instruments as the " thousand aere pur- chase," and was probably bounded on the north and west by the tract which has been described-on the east by the Pawtucket river, and on the south by Louisquisset.
Soon after the transactions above alluded to, Edward Inman disposed of one-sixth of his right to John Steere and one-sixth to Thomas Walling. There were now five pro- prietors, namely-Inman, holding four parts; Steere, one ; Walling, one ; John Mowry, six ; and Nathaniel, six.
The first division of the lands was made April 12, 1668. Each proprietor had for immediate use three hundred acres of upland and swamp and six acres of meadow. The re- mainder for a time remained undivided.
The meadows were chosen as follows: Inman, the first choice ; John and Nathaniel, in partnership, the second ; Steere, the third ; Nathaniel Mowry, the fourth ; Walling, the fifth ; and John Mowry, the sixth choice.
It is unnecessary to give the details of further divisions. Transfers were made, from time to time, to the Blaekmans,
32
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
the Bucklins, the Phillips, the Balkcolms, and others. I hasten down to the 26th of April, 1682. At this time the town of Providence appointed trustees-consisting of Arthur Fenner, William Hopkins, John Whipple, jr., Thomas Olney, jr., and our old friend, Richard Arnold-to set bounds to this extensive tract, and settle the differences which had arisen among the proprietors, who were then Edward Inman, John and Nathaniel Mowry and Stephen Arnold, the uncle of Richard.
I will give the description of the territory in the language of the trustees, which the reader may dissect and translate at his leisure. It lieth in three parts, namely :
"1. Two thousand three hundred and fifty acres lieth north and be west across the eastern end of said tract-part bordering upon Paw- tucket river, and part upon a small stream called Wasquadomsett.
"2. One thousand acres at Wansaukit Hill, beginning at the south end of said Hill, and so ranging northward to the Pawtucket, the north end thereof bordering upon said river -- the south-eastern corner being bounded with a snag tree, and from the said tree to range west to a low rock, which is a south-western corner bound; and from said rock to range north to a big rock standing in Pawtucket river-a white oak tree standing southward from said rock a little way from the brim of the river bank, being marked for a range tree, the which said rock is a north-western corner-bound; and from said rock to fol- low the river unto a walnut tree marked upon the brim of the river banks, the which said walnut tree is a north-eastern corner bound of the said thousand acres of land.
"3. One hundred and fifty acres where James Blackmore's house once stood, the said land being four square, Blackmore's house in the middle of it."
For some reason the tract of land upon which stood the saw-mill of Richard Arnold was not included in the territory granted to the Inman proprietors by the town.
But, April 14, 1707, the town granted to Capt. Richard Arnold and Ensign Samuel Comstock the lands which they had already occupied for so long a time.
Finally, after a controversy of upwards of forty years, the settlers of Woonsocket obtained a perfect title to their estates, and continued, without further trouble, to increase, multiply and replenish the earth.
In 1731, the town of SMITHFIELD was set off from Provi-
33
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
dence. March 17th of this year the first town meeting was held at the house of Valentine Whitman, and officers for the new town were elected.
For one hundred and forty years the citizens of Western Woonsocket participated in the annual elections of Smith- field. At last, after many struggles, old Smithfield was dismembered; and March 8, 1871, a portion of its territory was annexed to the new town of WOONSOCKET.
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER II.
A LIST OF SMITHFIELD TOWN OFFICERS, FROM ITS INCORPORATION IN 1731 TO ITS DIVISION IN 1871.
TOWN CLERKS.
Richard Sayles
1731 Samuel Mann. 1815
Joseph Arnold
1732
Thomas Mann .. 1817
Daniel Jenckes
1733
George L. Barnes. .1840
Joseph Arnold.
1742
Orin Wright. 1843
Thomas Sayles 1745
George L. Barnes. .1844
Joseph Sayles. 1754
Orin Wright. 1845
Johni Sayles.
1756
Stafford Mann. 1849
Daniel Mowry, jr
1760
Samuel Clark, jr.
1855
Daniel Mowry (4th)
1780
TOWN TREASURERS.
John Sayles .1731
Isaac Wilkinson. 1817
Israel Wilkinson
1751
Lewis Dexter. 1840
Stephen Whipple
1755
Stafford Mann 1843
Capt. John Angell
1756
Sammuel Clark. 1844
Stephen Whipple 1761
Stafford Mann .1845
William Buffum . 1770
Robert Harris. 1850
Arnold Pain
.1772
Henry Gooding 1855
Stephen Brayton
1786
Thomas Moies 1857
Robert Harris 5
1792
Reuel P. Smith 1858
34
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
TOWN SERGEANTS.
Uriah Mowry. 1731
David Aldrich 1778
Benjamin Pain. 1732
Job Mowry. 1780
Thomas Steere, jr .1734
David Mowry. 1799
John Smith, jr ..
1736
Nathaniel Mowry (4th). 1800
Richard Smith. 1737
Stephen Thornton. 1801
David Wilkinson 1738
George Chace. 1802
.Jos. Mowry (3d). 1747
Benjamin Sheldon. 1804
Elisha Sayles. 1753
Isaac Wilkinson. 1805
Ezekial Comstock 1758
Amasa Mowry, son of John.1810
John Angell 1760
Mark Aldrich. . 1822
IIezekiah Ierringdeen 1761
Lorenzo T. Brown 1843
Thomas Sayles. 1762
Mark Aldrich. 1844
William Pullen. 1765
David S. Wilkinson 1845
Elisha Dillingham 1769
Squire HI. Rogers. 1855
William Pullen. 1770
Stephen A. Aldrich.
1856
Elisha Dillingham 1772
Jona Comstock. 1775
Eli Read .1777
PRESIDENTS OF COUNCILS.
John Arnold. 1721
Thomas Man . 1809
Major William Smith 1733
Benjamin ITall 1814
Thomas Steere. 1734
Thomas Buffum .1815
Major William Smith. 1735
Daniel Angell. 1816
Thomas Sayles
1737
Reuben Mowry 1818
Thomas Steere.
1739
Daniel Angell. 1822
Jos. Smith ..
17-17
Thomas Buffum 1823
Thomas Steere
Samuel B. Harris. 1825
John Sayles. 1750
1773
Morton Mowry.
.1827
Ezekiel Comstock. 1774
Lewis Dexter .. 1830
Henry Jenckes
1777
Sessions Mowry
.1834
Capt. Sylvanus Sayles
1779
Morton Mowry .1834
1841
Daniel Mowry, jr. 1785
Arnold Speare
.1842
William Waterman
1789
Lewis Dexter.
.184-1
Joseph Farnum. .1790
Thomas Buffum .1845
George Comstock. .1792
Robert Harris. .1851
Capt. Sylvanus Sayles .1794
Richard Mowry. 185-4
Samuel Clark. 1797
Daniel N. Paine. .1855
Duty Winsor 1800
Lewis Dexter .1856
John Jenckes.
1801
Charles Moies. 1861
Thomas Man 1802
George Johnson. 1868
Samuel Hill. 1806
Arlon Mowry
1869
SECOND COUNCILMEN.
Jos. Mowry. 1731
Thomas Angell .1816
Joseph Arnold. 1735
David Wilkinson 1818
Job Whipple. . 1736
Morton Mowry .. 1824
William Arnold.
.1737
Nathaniel Mowry 1827
Thomas Shippy . 1739
Sessions Mowry. 1830
Jeremiah Mowry 1747
Elisha Smith 1831
Thomas Owen. . 1848
Simon Aldrich .. 1833
John Aldrich. 1750
Stephen Sheldon. 1834
Ezekiel Angell. 1761
Samuel Clark. 1838
John Sayles. 1768
Dexter Aldrich 1841
Caleb Aldrich ..
1780
Samuel Clark
David Wilkinson. .1824
Lient. Thomas Arnold. 1748
Renselaer L. Mowry 1861
Henry S. Cook. 1869
35
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Caleb Aldrich. 1774
Job Aklrich 1775
John Foster. 1844
Daniel Smith 1777
Daniel Sayles 1845
John Man. 1779
Bradford Bullock. 1846
Stephen Whipple 1782
Jesse Jenekes. 1783
Samuel Clark. 1794
Israel Sayles. 1851
Duty Winsor 1797
Thomas Latham. 1852
Edward Medbury .1799
Henry Stone. 1854
John Man .1801
John J. Carpenter 1855
Sethi Mowry.
1802
Charles Moies. 1859
Elisha Steere. 1807
Arlon Mowry .1861
Daniel Angell 1815
Edward A. Brown. 1869
THIRD COUNCILMEN.
Thomas Steere. 1731
David Tucker. 1815
Jolin Mowry. 1732
Arnold Jenckes. .1816
Joseph Arnold. 1733
Jeremiah Smith, jr 1817
James Aldrich.
1735
Steplien Steere . 1818
David Comstock.
1736
Morton Mowry. .1822
Jolin Brown .. 1737
Charles Appleby. 1824
Robert Staples. 1747
Nathaniel Mowry 1826
John Aldrich .1748
Jeremiah Whipple.
1827
Dr. John Jenckes. 1750
David Lapham
1830
William Jenckes 1761
Richard S. Scott.
1831
Thomas Lapham 1766
Job S. Mann.
1834
Caleb Aldrich.
1772
Job Aldrich. 1774
Asahel Angell 1838
Abraham Matthewson 1775
Dexter Aldrich
1840
John Man 1777
Barney Dodge
1541
Stephen Arnold .1779
Alvin Jenckes 1842
Elisha Smitli 1843
Edward Thompson .1782
Gideon Mowry 1844
Stephen Whipple. .1785
David Wilbur. 1845
Benjamin Harris 1847
Robert Harris. 1848
Job Aldrich. .1794
Richard Mowry. 1849
Israel Sayles. .1850
John Knight
1851
Richard Smith. 1852
Ahab Mowry. .1802
James Phetteplace 1854
Richard Buffum .1803
Harris M. Irons .. 1856
Stephen Buffum 1804
John J. Carpenter 1859
Samuel Hill, jr .1805
William Mowry. 1861
Enos Mowry .1806
Baylies Bourne .. 1868
Nathan Aldrich. 1809
William P. Steere 1869
Benjamin Hall 1811
Edward G. Chace.
1870
FOURTH COUNCILMEN.
Samuel Aldrich. .1731
Jeremiah Smith, jr .1816
Elisha Smith 1732
Reuben Mowry .1817
Thomas Shippy 1733
William Aklrich 1818
Job Whipple.
1735
George Chace 1821
John Brown 1736
Arnold Speare 1822
Thomas Steere. 1737
Jeremiah Whipple 1824
John Dexter.
1739
Barney Dodge 1827
Duty Winsor 1796
John Man. 1797
Seth Mowry 1801
Cyrus Arnold. 1836
Stephen Whipple. .1780
James Smith . 1786
James Appleby .1789
James Appleby 1814
Arnold Speare 1813
Daniel Pierce 1847
Robert Harris. 1849
36
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Thomas Owen. 1747
Elisha Smith 1830
John Jenckes .. 1748
Wilder Holbrook. 1831
Capt. Daniel Mowry. 1750
Stephen Sheldon. 1833
John Sayles. . 1755
Andrew Weatherhead 1834
Capt. Daniel Mowry. 1756
Dexter Aldrich. 1835
Caleb Aldrich 1768
Stephen Arnold .. 1772
Abraham Matthewson 1774
Stephen Steere 1838
Henry Jenckes 1775
Stephen Sheldon. 1839
Barney Dodge. 1840
Edward Thompson 1779
Alvin Jenckes 1841
Arnold Pain. 1782
John Foster 1842
John Angell
1785
Daniel Sayles, jr
1843
Philip Mowry, jr
1786
Lyman Cook 1844
Arnold Pain . 1789
James Phetteplace 1845
Thomas Aldrich. 1794
John Fenner. 1847
Daniel Smith, jr 1796
Richard Mowry. 1848
Ezekiel Comstock 1797
Israel Sayles. 1849
John Jenckes 1799
John Knight. 1850
Ahab Mowry 1801
Thomas Lapham 1851
Richard Buffum 1802
Albert Cook 1852
Samuel Hill, jr 1803
John B. Tallman 1854
Enos Mowry. 1805
Harris M. Irons 1855
Job Arnold .. 1806
Daniel Mowry .. 1856
Benjamin Hall 1809
George Johnson. 1857
David Harris 1811
George M. Appleby 1861
Daniel Angell. 1814
William Duane Aldrich. 1862
Marcus Arnold 1815
George Johnson 1869
FIFTH COUNCILMEN.
John Mowry. 1731
Stephen Buffum 1814
Thomas Shippy. 1732
Thomas Angell . 1815
James Aldrich. .1733
Reuben Mowry 1816
Thomas Smith, jr. .1734
David Wilkinson 1817
David Comstock. .1735
Winsor Aldrich. 1818
Lieut. Jos. Smith 1736
George Chace. 1822
Benjamin Pain. 1737
Cyrus Arnold. 1823
Jonathan Arnold. 1789
Abraham Winsor 1824
Capt. Daniel Mowry 1747
Barney Dodge 1826
Ballston Brayton 1750
Lewis Dexter 1827
David Comstock. 1754
Richard S. Scott
1830
Stephen Arnold. 1768
Elisha Olney, jr.
1831
Preserved Harris 1772
Asa W. Ballou 1833
Waterman F. Brown. 1834
Jonathan Gully. 1775
Asahel Phetteplace
1835
Jonathan Comstock.
1777
Dexter Aldrich
Sylvanus Sayles .1778
William Waterman. .1779
Stephen Smith (2nd). 1841
James T. Harkness. 1842
John Angell. 1783
Christopher W. Kelly. 1844
Bradford Bullock. .1845
Albert Cook 1846
Elisha Olney 1794
Isaac Wilkinson 1847
John Man, jr 1796
Israel Sayles. 1848
Israel Taft. 1797
John Knight. 1849
1840
Arnold Pain. 1780
Abraham Matthewson 1782
Ahaz Mowry, jr. 1843
James Smith 1785
John Man, jr 1786
Alvin Jenckes 1838
Henry Jenckes 1774
Tyler Mowry 1836
Samuel Clark 1837
Stephen Brayton 1777
37
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
John Pain. .1799
Richard Buffum 1801
Samuel S. Mallory. .1851
Daniel Winsor. 1302
John J. Carpenter 1852
Enos Mowry. 1803
Daniel Mowry 1854
Job Arnold. 1805
William Patt. 1856
Thomas Buffum 1806
Nathan Aldrich 1807
George Johnson. 1861
David Harris . 1809
Edward A. Brown. 1868
James Appleby .1811
Baylies Bourne. 1869
SIXTH COUNCILMEN.
Benjamin Smith. 1731
Arnold Jenekes. 1815
Thomas Sayles 1832
David Wilkinson 1816
Jolin Dexter 1833
Stephen Steere 1817
Jolin Brown.
1835
None 1818
Benjamin Pain 1836
John Dexter. 1737
William Jenckes 1739
Barney Dodge 1824
Jolin Aldrich .. 1747
Lewis Dexter .. 1826
Benjamin Arnold. 1748
1750
Wilder Holbrook. 1830
Stephen Whipple. 1772
Job Aldrich . 1773
1774
Job S. Mann. 1833
Jeremiah Harris. 1775
John Jenckes. 1834
John Man .. 1776
Samuel Clark. 1835
Stephen Arnold 1777
Smith R. Mowry 1836
Arnold Pain. 1779
Barney Dodge. 1838
Job Aldrich. 1780
Stephen Smith (2d) 1840
Abraham Matthewson 1781
Pelatiah Metcalf 1841
John Angell 1782
Gideon Mowry 1842
James Smith 1783
Avery Gilman 1843
Philip Mowry 1785
Robert Latham 1786
Jolison G. Horton. 1845
Emor Smith 1790
Ilorace Trowbridge. 1846
Joseph Mowry. 1792
Israel Sayles. 1847
Philip Mowry . 1794
John Knight. 1848
Ezekial Comstock .1796
Thomas Latham 1849
Seth Mowry .1797
Alfred Allen. 1850
Alden Coe 1851
John Knight. 1852
Elijah Derry. 1803
Lewis Aldrich
1854
Thomas Appleby 1804
William Patt. 1855
Thomas Buffum 1805
Charles Moies. . 1856
Benjamin Hall 1806
William P. Steere 1859
Thomas Appleby 1809
Harvy S. Bartlett. 1861
Daniel Angell 1811
William P. Steere 1863
None
1814
Oscar A. Tobey 1869
SEVENTH COUNCILMEN.
Up to 1799 the Council consisted of but six members. This year the seventh was added.
Elisha Olney 1799
Asahel Angell 1835
Ahab Mowry 1800
Uriah Benedict. . 1838
Elijah Arnold.
1801
Burrill Aldrich. 1839
None
1802
Pelatialı Metealf 18-10
Daniel G. Harris 1831
None 1832
Jonathan Gully.
Morton Mowry. 1819
Jeremiah Whipple. 1822
Sessions Mowry. 1827
Preserved Harris
Lyman Wilmarth .. 1844
Daniel Winsor. 1801
None 1802
Thomas Latham. 1850
Arlon Mowry .. 1859
38
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Job Arnold .. 1803
John Foster. 1841
William Aldrich 1804
Lyman Cook 1842
Benjamin Hall .1805
Benjamin Harris. 1842
David Harris 1806
Ansel Holman
1844
Daniel Angell .1809
William M. Farnum 1845
Albert Cook 1847
None 1814
Asa Winsor. 1848
Jeremiah Smith 1815
Israel B. Purinton. 1849
Stephen Steere
1816
William Smith 1850
George B. Aldrich 1851
Robert Harris. 1852
Daniel Winsor. 1819
Henry Gooding 1854
Arnold Speare. 1820
James H. Chace
1855
Abraham Winsor 1822
Harden Knight 1856
Samuel B. Harris. 182
Daniel Mowry 1858
Lewis Dexter. 1825
William Mowry. 1859
Sessions Mowry 1826
David Lapham
1827
Elisha Olney, jr. 1830
George Chace. . 1831
None . 1832
Andrew Waterman.
1833
William H. Aldrich. 1869
In 1843, eleven Councilmen were elected.
Sth. Edward Evans. -
10th. Bradford Bullock.
9th. Robert Harris.
Oscar A. Tobey. 1868
Edwin Harris. ..
1834
John N. Spaulding 1861
John J. Carpenter. 1863
Benjamin Comstock. 1864
Baylies Bourne 1866
11th. William M. Farnum.
Stephen Buffum. 1811
William Aldrich. 1817
None 1818
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF WOONSOCKET.
When the first settlement of Woonsocket was made, I have been unable to ascertain. The reader will remember that I alluded to a' saw-mill which existed in these parts in 1666. As its builder, Richard Arnold, was at that time but twenty-four years of age, it is fair to infer that it was erected about that time, and that then was " the beginning." The first settlers, as I have said before, were Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock- the latter " pitching his tent " a little west of the Union Village, and the former locating himself at the river. During their lives they held the lands in common, and no lines were drawn between their estates until many years after their death. This was done by their heirs, March 26, 1731.
When this act was consummated, the Arnold family became proprietors of a greater portion of the lands in the vicinity of the " Falls," and which is now the most valuable part of the town. It therefore devolves upon me to devote a brief space to Richard Arnold, from whom the titles to our estates are derived.
Richard Arnold was a man of superior abilities, and hon- ored with the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. During the greater portion of his life he held official posi- tions, being either a member of the General Assembly or Assistant-Governor of the Colony. And when our Colony was reduced to a single county, under the Administration of Sir Edmond Andros, a seat was given him in his Council,
40
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
at Boston. Not only did he take an active part in the affairs of government, but he was repeatedly chosen to act with committees in the adjustment of boundary disputes with the neighboring colonies, and to settle differences that arose, from time to time, among his fellow-townsmen. It was probably during some of his official excursions to the northern part of the Colony that he was moved by the beauty and fertility of the region, and selected it as a fitting place for a settlement. And, taking the up-stream-without- limit clause in the deed from the Indians to mean some- thing, as one of the proprietors of Providence he proceeded to make improvements upon the territory without going through with the formality of purchasing it over again.
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