USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of Woonsocket > Part 7
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and thou wilt hear the Lord speak unto thee in thy mind." To those who had been privileged to listen to George Fox, there was a music and an inspiration in silence, a thousand times more impressive than in that of the Te Deum or the Miserere. But when the voices of their teachers became silent, the Quakers became luke warm.
It was at this time, when but "ten or twelve members assembled for worship at Woonsocket on First Day, and many of these during the intervals of silence fell asleep," that Elisha Thornton became a Quaker. It was an event which his old associates must have regarded with the deepest sur- prise, and his new ones with the profoundest gratitude. His temperament, tastes, and early education, all seemed to be in opposition to a life of self denial and formal piety. Nerv- ous, sensitive and timid, with a slender frame of body and a large heart, he had been thrown upon his own resources almost from infancy. The material wants of his nature, and the formation of his character through childhood and youth had been left entirely to himself. His love of Nature and his attachment to his friends amounted to a passion. The cheerful voices of Spring and the ringing laughter of his comrades, were his delight, and the glad tones of his violin, upon which he was not an indifferent performer, were the delight of his youthful companions. Fully alive to mirth and pleasure, and keenly sensitive to ridicule and contempt, Elisha Thornton became a Quaker. When, in a short time he became an Elder in the Society, I believe that the Friends at Woonsocket could preserve silenee during their hours of worship without falling asleep, for his sermons are spoken of as poems in blank verse, and the rhythmic manner of their delivery beautiful and impressive beyond deseription.
Elisha Thornton was born according to his own account the 30th of 6th Mo. (O. S. August), 1747, according to the Quaker memorial the 30th of 4th Mo. (O. S. June), 1747 and
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according to the Records of the town of Smithfield the 30th of June 1748. His father, Ebenezer Thornton, and his mother, Ruth Smith, were joined in marriage by " William Arnold of Smithfield, Esq.," Oct. 7th and 8th, 1735. Whether the lovers arrived at the house of the Hon. Justiee of the Peace on the midnight of the 7th, or whether it took two days to perform the ceremony, the records do not say.
At ten years of age little Elisha had received two months schooling and was "placed abroad " to live. At twenty- three he joined the Quakers, and three years afterwards became an Elder in the Society. In the meantime (4th Mo. 1st, 1773) he married Anna, daughter of John Read, and commenced his academy near the present village of Slaters- ville. His zeal in educational as in religious matters was not confined to these parts. Through his influence with Moses Brown the Friends school at Providence was inaugurated. At last, after spending thirty years of his life in doing good, receiving for his labors a scanty subsistence, and the con- sciousness of having done his duty, he removed to New Bed- ford where passed the remainder of his days.
For the virtues of the good citizen and the graces of the consistent Christian, the Friend has ever been distinguished. His temperance, industry and frugality have won for him the envy and the respect of the tax-payer, for while he has added much to the wealth of the State, he has never asked for its assistance. His self denial, charity and brotherly love, have caused him to be inwardly admired and outwardly reproached by sectarians of other denominations, for while they have felt that the broadbrim was a symbol of morality, they have often insinuated that it covered a multitude of sins. There is but one act in their history to which the heart of the American patriot will not fully respond ; and that act was simply an objection to act in the war of the Revolution. But that objection was founded on their creed, and their creed was-
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
peace ! But although as a sect they were averse to warlike pursuits, there were many members thereof, whose religious scruples were overcome by their patriotism. We have a not- able example of this in a noble Rhode Island matron, who, I find by the records, was an occasional visitor to the Woon- socket meeting. I refer to the mother of Nathaniel Greene !
For upwards of a century the only public place of worship at Woonsocket, was in the Quaker meeting-house. When the mills were erected an immediate change took place. Within the short space of three years there were as many dis- tinct religious denominations at Woonsocket as there are at present, namely : The Quakers, the Episcopalians, organ- ized in 1832, the Baptists in 1833, and the Universalists, Congregationalists, Methodists and Roman Catholics in 1834. Until their sanctuaries were built, the worshippers in these denominations held divine services in unoccupied rooms of mills then in process of erection, in school-houses and in private residences.
The Episcopalians.
St. James Parish was organized April 1, 1832. At the May session of the General Assembly it was incorporated. The petition therefor was signed by the following named gentlemen :
Samuel Greene, Joseph M. Brown,
James Wilson, jr,, Rufus Arnold,
Philip C. Bryant,
Ariel Ballou, jr., Willard B. Johnson. Aaron White, jr., Darius Sibley.
Edmund Bacon,
Edward Harris,
Philip B. Stiness,
Thaddeus C. Bruce,
Daniel Wilkinson, Henry Williams,
John W. Buffum, Stephen II. Smith, Alexander S. Streeter.
Until the school-house at Bernon was erected, services were held in the factory at that place.
Sept. 7, 1832. It was voted to build a meeting-house. 11
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May 16, 1833. The edifice was consecrated with the usual
ceremonies. The pastors have been :
1
Joseph M. Brown, to August, 1835.
2 Henry Waterman, Nov., 1841. 3 A. D. Cole, 66 May, 1845.
4 P. B. Talbot, July, 1865.
Rev. Mr. Talbot, who, in his long pastorate of twenty years, had endeared himself not only to the members of his flock, but to all with whom he came in contact, was injured by a stroke of lightning which descended upon the church, and also upon the parsonage. He never recovered from the shock, and died Sept. 5, 1865. With him passed away a cit- izen that Woonsocket could not afford to lose. He was suc- cecded by
5 Robert Murray, who remained with us until July, 1872.
He resigned to take a tour through Europe. As a modest, earnest and conscientious worker in his chosen calling, Mr. Murray will be held in pleasant memory by all who were honored with his acquaintance. He was succeeded by
6 James F. Powers, who resigned after a short pastorate of one year, to fill a larger sphere of action at Philadelphia, where his splen- did oratorical powers might be more fully appreciated. Mr. Powers began in September, 1872, and resigned July, 1873.
7 Joseph L. Miller, commenced his duties at this place in Decem- ber, 1873, and is still with us.
The Universalists.
This denomination at first held meetings from time to time in unfinished rooms of factories, at the Dexter Ballou school- house on Arnold street, and at the Social school-house. At these early meetings they were frequently addressed by men who afterwards became celebrated throughout the country, not only for their liberal views, but also for their deep reason- ing powers. Among these were Father Murray, Hosea Bal- lou, Adin Ballou and others. The worshippers in this sect at this place contributed largely towards the erection of the first Baptist meeting-house, with the understanding that they might be allowed to hold services therein when not interfer-
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ing with the regular worship at the house. But the Baptist brethren, after their meeting-house was erected, overlooked or forgot the agreement, and in 1839 the Universalists erected a meeting-house of their own. Oct. 18, 1834, the Society was organized, and Oct. 22, 1843, the Church was organized.
Previous to the erection of their meeting-house, Christo- pher Robinson supplied the desk for a few months. The first regular clergyman of the seet was John Boyden, jr. The first sermon of Mr. Boyden, which was just previous to the completion of the meeting-house, was at the Social school- house. His pastorate ended with his death, Sept. 28, 1869.
No person has ever lived at Woonsocket who has exerted a greater influence in all good works, than the Rev. John Boyden. In the temperance, the educational, and the anti- slavery reforms, he was always to the front. A deeper thinker, and a better man never made Woonsocket his home. After he passed away, it was thought by many, that his place could never be supplied. But the Society had the good fortune to secure the services of the Rev. Charles J. White, who, although as unlike his predecessor as it is possible for one to be, by his urbanity, his kindness, and his many vir- tues, has endeared himself to all with whom he has come in contact.
The Baptists.
The meeting-house of this denomination was dedicated April 24, 1834.
This edifice was burned May 26, 1859. The new building was erected a short distance casterly of the ancient structure, and now stands on the corner of Main and High streets. The pastors have been :
1 Peter Simonsen, from 1833 to 1834.
2 Bradley Miner, 1834 " 1837.
3 Joseph Smith, 1837 1841.
4 George N. Waitt, 1841 66 1843.
5 Daniel Curtis, 66 1843 66
6 Jos. B. Damon, 66 1843 66 1845.
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
7 Kaslett Armine, from 1845 to 1847.
8 Luther D. Hill, 1847
1851.
9 Joseph B. Breed, 1852 " 1858.
10 John Jennings, 1859 " 1863.
11 James W. Bonham, 1863 " 1864.
12 John D. Sweet, 66 1865
1866.
13 Denzel M. Crane, 1866 1867.
14 Sullivan L. Holman,"
1867
1873.
15 Frederic Denison, 66 1873
1876.
The Society is at present without a settled pastor.
The Roman Catholics.
About the year 1834 Rev. James Fitten began his labors at this place as missionary. Services were held at first in private dwellings. In 1841 Mr. Reul Smith yielded a hall in the Woonsocket Hotel to the Society for religious wor- ship. An anecdote at this point is worth preserving, which will feebly illustrate the wit and the delicacy of feeling of the landlady : On a certain occasion this hall had been let to a dancing party, who had beautifully decorated it with evergreens, weaving with the fragrant boughs, and suspend- ing in a conspicuous place, the following motto : " A time to dance!" As the time for the religious services drew near, Mrs. Smith, with the evergreens that composed the word " dance," substituted another word, and made the motto to read, " A time to pray !"-thus, by a very simple and kindly act, not only transforming a house of mirth into a temple of worship, but even making the hands of the pro- fane to quicken the emotions of the devout.
About this time subscriptions began to be received towards the crection of a meeting-house. Towards this Mr. Wel- come Farnum contributed the sum of $300. The house was completed in December, 1844, and with the lot cost $2,000. In June, 1862, began the movement towards the crection of the beautiful and substantial structure which now adorns the site of the wooden building. This was completed in
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
1867. During this year the old edifice was destroyed by fire. The pastors have been :
1 James Fitten, to November, 1846.
2 Charles O'Reilley, to February, 1852.
3 Hugh Carmody, to February, 1854.
4 John Brady, to April, 1855.
5 M. McCabe, to February, 1856.
6 F. J. Lenihan, to August, 1867.
7 B. O. Reilley, to 1869.
8 M. McCabe returned February 2, 1869, and is the present pastor.
The above were assisted, from time to time, by the follow- ing clergymen :
Peter Egan, in 1853.
John Kelley, in 1869.
Lawrence Walsh, in 1866. Anstin D. Bernard, in 1870.
A. Princen, in 1867. J. A. Finnigan, in 1872.
F. Belanger, in 1868 and 1869.
The edifice of the French Catholics, on the Bernon side of the river, was erccted in 1874. This was blown down by the great gale of February 2, 1876.
The Methodists.
This society was started here about the year 1834. The land for the meeting-house was purchased May 9, 1836, and the edifice erected during the year. The trustecs of the church at that time were-William Holmes, George Aldrich (3d), John Irwin, Elijah H. Sherman, Stephen R. Fielding, Hardin Hopkins and Hanson Arnold. The pastors have been :
1 Wells Walcott, 1834.
2 Iliram Cummings, 1835-1836.
3 Daniel K. Bannister, 1837-1838. 4 Richard Livesey, 1839-1840.
5 Apolos Hall, 1841.
6 Ebenezer Blake, 1842.
7 IIebron Vincent, 1843 (1 mo.). 8 Cyrus C. Munger, 1843.
9 S. W. Coggeshall, 1844-1845. 10 Warren Emerson, 1846-1847. 11 Charles II. Titus, 1848-1842.
12 George H. Wooding, 1850.
13 John Lovejoy, 1851-1852.
14 Philip Crandon, 1853-1854.
15 George C. Baneroft, 1855-1856. 16 E. B. Bradford. 1857-1858. 17 William Livesey, 1859-1860. 18 Thomas Ely, 1861.
19 David H. Ela, 1862-1863. 20 .J. W. Willett, 1864-1865. 21 Edward A. Lyon, 1866-1867. 22 Edward HI. Hatfield, 1868-1869. 23 W. McKendree Bray, 1870-1871. 24 Charles Nason, 1872.
25 Nathan G. Axtell, 1873-1874.
26 J. E. Hawkins began his labors April, 1875, and is the present pastor.
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The Congregationalists.
This Society was organized at this place December 24, 1834. Services were held at Dexter Ballou School-house, at Aunt Delpha Warren's, and at other places until June, 1843, when the meeting-house was erected at the Globe Village. The pastors have been :
1. E. P. Ingersoll until October 13, 1835. From then until Febru- ary 14, 1841, the Society was without a pastor, and held no public services. At this time Rev. Seth Chapin came here and acted as a missionary, preaching at "Aunt Delpha's."
2. Edwin Leigh was ordained at the time of the dedication of the meeting-house, and preached until May 22, 1844.
3. James M. Davis supplied the desk for some time, and June 10, 1845, became the settled minister. He remained until September, 1851. During his pastorate a member of the church was excom- municated for the crime of adultery. The Congregational Church has learned how not to do such things since then.
4. William W. Belden began his ministration March 9, 1851, and retired August 4, 1852.
5. Levi Packard began November 12, 1853. His health failing, he was allowed to resign in October, 1855.
6. After an interregnum of about two years, on the 19th of July, 1857, Rev. Theo. Cooke began his labors at this place. He was a gentleman, a scholar, and a good man. He was universally loved and respected by all who came within the eirele of his acquaintance.
7. James E. Doekray began August 1, 1867. Of the Rev. Mr. Dock- ray, the least said the better.
8. H. E. Johnson succeeded Doekray. He was a modest and un- assuming gentleman, and highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.
9. W. S. Stockbridge came June 27, 1873, and went July 1, 1874.
10. B. F. Parsons began November 15, 1874, and is the present pastor. He officiates alternately at Globe Meeting-house and Ply- mouth Chapel.
In 1867 a movement was started, which resulted in the creetion of a chapel on Spring street. It is known as the Plymouth Chapel. Over the congregation at this place Rev. Mr. Douglass was called to preside. After a short pastorate, Mr. Douglass resigned and went West.
CHAPTER VII.
EDUCATION.
This chapter has rather a pretentious title, but the reader need have no apprehension that he will be taken into waters beyond his depth. He will not be called upon to brush the dust from his Greek Lexicon, or to revive his acquaintance with his old friend Horace. It will be a sufficient exercise of his memory if he recalls some of the floggings which he received and merited in his school days, and a satisfactory tax of his mental powers, if he takes the trouble to read my simple narrative.
Those who have made Woonsocket what she is, have been plain and practical men. They have been to much occupied in subduing the wilderness, in building mills and in earning a living, to consume much time in discussing Greek verbs, or in quarrelling over Latin idioms. But in the midst of their labors, they have not lost sight of the duty which they owe to their children and their country, and have contributed largely to the cause of education.
The Quakers, from whom flow nearly all of the good and perfect gifts in the early history of Rhode Island, after erect- ing their meeting-houses proceeded to establish schools in varions localities. I quote the following from their records : 6th mno., 1771. It is thought necessary yt poor children be schooled.
4th mo., 1777. Moses Farnum, Moses Brown, Thomas Lapham, Job Scott, Elisha Thornton, Samuel Aldrich, George Arnold, Ante- past Earle and David Steere are appointed to draw up a plan for establishing a free school among Friends.
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The following sixth month, the committee presented their report to the meeting, recommending :
1. That the donation of Rachel Thayer be appropriated towards the support of a school.
2. That subscriptions be received at each preparative meeting.
3. That a teacher be proenred at once.
4. That a committee of judicious Friends be appointed, their duties to be-1, To select a place or places for the school from time to time; 2, to agree with teachers; 3, to inspect the poorer sort of Friends' families, to determine who shall be schooled from the fund; 4, to raise and forward subscriptions; 5, to make rules and regulations; 6, to receive the income of the Rachel Thayer donation; 7, to act and transaet all other matters and things belonging to the school.
The meeting accepted the report, and appointed the fol- lowing-named persons as probably the first School Committee of Northern Rhode Island :
Thomas Steere, Moses Farnum, David Steere, Moses Brown, Ezekiel Comstock, Benjamin Arnold, Rufus Smith, Daniel Cass, George Smith, Samuel Aldrich, Gardner Earle, David Buffum and Thomas Lapham, jr.
The philanthropical zeal of the Quakers awoke such an interest in educational matters, that measures were taken at the beginning of the present century to establish a school which should be free to all. This was partially accom- plished, but was finally defeated by those for whom it was designed. By a vote of the ignorant backwoodsmen of Smithfield, many of whom were unable to write their names, the first Free School in these regions was brought to an end. In the years 1800 and 1801, the town of Smithfield appro- priated $2,200 for free schools. This was divided among twenty-four schools. At the August town meeting of 1802 a similar sum was voted, and at a special meeting in Sep- tember the vote was "repealed." Is it strange that the same intelligent freemen should have "vandued " the poor of the town to the lowest bidder, and have rejected the con- stitution of the United States by a vote of 159 to 2 .*
*R. I. Col. Rec., Vol. X., page 275, say 158 to 2. But the records of the town of Smithfield say as above.
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
But by the efforts of the women in these parts, a Free School was finally successfully inaugurated, and the enter- prise continued for several years. A public library was also in existence at Woonsocket during the first thirty years of the present century. About the same time a library was established in Northern Cumberland. It was known as the " Social Library." But the private schools of Woonsocket in the last generation are all that it is worth while to say much about.
A short time previous to the Revolution, a young man of studious habits and amiable disposition became a citizen of this part of the world. From a natural impulse to benefit his fellow-men, and for the purpose of earning a living, he devoted a large portion of his time and of his dwelling-house to the cause of education. He had an ample field before him, for the ignorance of the inhabitants of Smithfield at that time was only equalled by their narrow-mindedness. The language and the penmanship which recorded their highways, as well as the highways themselves, were an abomination in the sight of the Lord. The poor immigrant was treated as a criminal, and invariably ordered out of the town. If he returned, it would then be voted that the " transhunt person " either be whipped or " suffer corporal punishment by being fined," or allowed to " remane," pro- vided he behave " hisself." I find the following " preserip- tions " among the papers of a celebrated physician of those days :
"Jonathan should wash and hold his feet some time in warm water; then bleed, then put on the plaster on his feet, go to bed with the bed warmed; also with a blister plaster on the back side of his neck, and when the blister is near don running, then take the pills, two of them just before bed, about as big as a middleing pee, if they work five times onee in three nights; and if it doth not work much every other night. Also, steep burdock rotes, biter sweet rotes and lovage-steep them for a drink. So when gone threw with, then gow a short voiage to see."
12
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
I have been unable to ascertain whether or not Jonathan went to " see." Next comes a " surrop " for the Riekets :
"One gil of easworms, petemorel rotes; one handful of rock leather, low polepode rotes; solomon's seal rotes, learge polepode rotes, cune- fry rotes, hemlock bark from the rote on the north side of the tree," etc.
But they, who are most in need of education, appreciate it least. Elisha Thornton, who was the young teacher to whom I have referred, would have starved had he depended solely upon the patronage of his neighbors. Nay, his very mental attainments caused him to be regarded with suspicion and dread. His telescope and his globe, by which he illustrated the grand harmony of the universe, aroused the superstitious fears of the ignorant boors in the vicinity to such an extent, that they expostulated with him for teaching the " black art." The Thornton Academy was located near the present village of Slatersville. The fame of this school was as ex- tensive as it was well deserved, and pupils came from distant regions to be mentally and morally enlightened by the great and good man who presided over it. Among these was John Osborne, who came from New Hampshire, and afterwards made Woonsocket his home. The sterling virtues of this man are too well remembered to this day to require other than a passing allusion to him from my hands. Elisha Thornton was at the head of this school for thirty years, the existence of which was terminated about the beginning of the present century, by the removal of its principal to New Bedford.
About this time schools were started in various places hereabouts. The inhabitants of "neighborhoods " united, built sehool-houses, and employed teachers from time to time. The L of Deacon Stephen Hendrick's house at Union Vil- lage, what is now a barn on the Brownell estate, and what is now the wood-house of Elisha Read, were once temples of knowledge. A school-house was where now stands the
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
blacksmith shop of Proctor Brothers, at the Globe, and another was located at the "Daily Hole." In addition to these, the father of Otis Bartlett procured students from Brown University to teach at his house, admitting the chil- dren of his neighbors to share his liberality. Although some of the teachers in these institutions were-to use the lan- guage of a pupil in one of them-too stupid to get a living by any other means, still they kept the people from lapsing into barbarism.
This brings me to a point in my narrative, where I am permitted to speak of an institution of learning which had its seat among the inhabitants of these regions, and which they have reason to remember with peculiar pride and satis- faction-whose facilities for teaching and illustrating the various branches of science were at one time beyond that of any academy in New England ; whose cabinet of minerals and chemical and philosophical apparatus were equal to those of Brown University ; among whose teachers have been men, well known in after life to fame and honor; and among whose pupils are many who have become justly cele- brated in science, art and literature-I refer to the Smith- field Academy.
The movement to creet the building was started about the year 1810. The method of raising funds for the enterprise was by a lottery. The first class resulted in failure. The second class, started by George Aldrich and others, was more successful, but the money thus raised was insufficient to com- plete the work, and the balance was finally adjusted by Joel Aldrich. The building eventually became his private prop- erty, but he leased the same at a nominal figure.
The building was erected in 1811, and in the Autumn of that year, David Aldrich, the son of Joel, became the first teacher therein. This man is spoken of as a deep student and a successful teacher. He died in 1814. From then
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HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
until 1830 there was no permanent teacher therein. Spindle- shanked pedagognes, and soft-haired students-pedants and coxcombs tried their hands in the teaching line, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. Among the successful teachers were John Thornton, a son of Elisha, George D. Prentice, afterwards of the Louisville Journal, and Christo- pher Robinson. Of the unsuccessful teachers nothing need be said.
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