USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of Woonsocket > Part 8
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In the Fall of 1830, James Bushee commenced his labors therein, which continued until 1853, when the career of the institution was brought to an end. The building has since been removed. A beautiful grove of linden trees, planted by the last teacher within its honored walls, is all that now remains to mark its ancient site.
An institution of learning had its seat at Cumberland Hill during the first part of the present century, which demands a passing notice. It was called the Cumberland Academy. This, like its sister on the opposite side of the river, was favored with teachers who left the marks of their labors upon the hearts, the minds, and sometimes the backs of their pupils.
Among its numerous teachers I find the names of Dr. Ariel Ballou and Ira B. Peck, Esq., who about fifty years ago presided therein.
To the former gentleman Woonsocket is largely indebted for the active interest which he has always taken in the promotion of all good works. As a leader and counseller in educational matters, a stern and inflexible advocate of needed improvements, and of honesty and economy in the adminis- tration of town, State and national affairs, his name will be long held in grateful remembrance.
Mr. Peck is more retiring in his habits. He seldom if ever mingles in the turbulent arena of politics. He seems to be content that others should lead in social and educational
93
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
matters. But he is far from being indifferent to true pro- gress and reform. To those who know him best his heart and his intellect are fully alive to the problems of the hour. His influence in promoting the industrial and the moral growth of the village has been silent, but it has been power- ful. Like most men of this kind, he is best known outside of his immediate neighborhood. As an antiquarian and geneol- ogist he ranks among the first of New England. To him I am most deeply indebted for material of which this work is composed. He has given to the world a most valuable pro- duction in his geneology of the Peck family, and is now engaged upon an account of the Ballou family, which aside from its family record will contain matters of interest to every student of Rhode Island history.
Among the pupils at the Cumberland Academy, was Thos. A. Jenekes. His career is too well known throughout the country for me to say other than as a boy, he was never a boy. He was Thomas A. Jenekes, Esq., always. Dr. Bal- lon, who was one of his teachers, describes him as the most thoughtful boy whom he ever knew, and that in times of seeming idleness and indifference his mind was always at work.
Willis Cook and his brother, Lyman A., were also pupils at this institution. Of these distinguished Woonsocket citi- zens I shall have much to say further on.
At last the people began to awaken to the fact. that a free school is one of the necessities of a free country, and to take measures to place the advantages of education within the reach of all.
The present town of Woonsocket was made of two school districts of old Smithfield, and six school districts of old Cumberland.
When about half a century ago these districts were formed, the inhabitants were but a step above barbarism. Many of
94
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
the school committee were rude in manner and in speech, and many of the pupils were so vulgar, uncouth and savage, that one of the chief requisites of a successful teacher was a good museular development, in order to keep his school within the limits of common decency. The discipline of these ancient institutions may be inferred from the fact, that the capacious spitboxes which polluted many of the school-houses were inadequate to contain the floods of tobacco juice which would run down and stand in pools in the centre of the rooms.
The Smithfield districts were the Globe and the Bernon. The first public school-house in the Globe Distriet was built about the year 1841. Up to 1858 the school was supported in this building chiefly from the fund distributed by the State. It was therefore limited to a short Summer and & somewhat longer Winter term. At this time the progressive men in the district succeeded in awakening the public mind to such an extent, that an appropriation was made and a teacher engaged at a salary of $500 per annum. The old house has recently been abandoned. The new school-house on Providence street was dedicated April 22, 1875, with appropriate exercises.
The Bernon district has not until this year been the pro- prietor of a school-house. A beautiful and substantial brick edifice now crowns one of the hills of this locality. It will be ready for the reception of pupils at the beginning of the Fall term. Although the district has not owned a house it has not gone far behind its sister districts in educational facilities. Since 1832 it has leased a building of the Woon- socket Company, in which schools have been kept that have been an honor to the town. In fact at one time the Bernon district was the banner district of Woonsocket.
The Cumberland portion of Woonsocket, comprises what is now the educational as well as the business centre of the town, and deserves an extended notice.
95
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
In the year 1828, the town of Cumberland was divided into sixteen school districts. Three of these districts, which were afterwards increased to six, comprise the Comberland por- tion of the town of Woonsocket.
District No. 1, comprised what was then called the village of Woonsocket, which was the region extending from the " Falls " to the "Social."
District No. 2, comprised the " Social " and Jenckesville.
District No. 3, comprised what is now known as the " Union " district.
There were no " Trustees " in those days. The school committee was composed of a man from each district who performed the duties that were afterwards assigned to Trus- tees.
At the first meeting of the school committee, the Jenckes- ville portion of district No. 2, was set off therefrom and designated No. 17. At the same session the money received from the State was apportioned as follows : One-half equally among the several districts, and the remainder according to the number of pupils. The following table will show the sums received by the Woonsocket districts at that time, and other matters which may be of interest :
Districts.
Committee.
Pupils.
Money.
1 Dexter Ballon,
198
$79.83
2
Smith Arnold,
70
43.74
3 Reuben Darling,
81
46.84
17
Nelson Arnold,
74
44.86
In August, 1838, a new district was formed from No. 1, and designated No. 19.
Districts. Committee.
Pupils.
Money.
1 Eli Pond,
194
$116.79
19
Ariel Ballou,
1445
100.37
Melville Knapp,
304
153.64
Welcome Cook,
82
79.27
17
Albert Jenckes,
76.92
96
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
. July 8, 1839. It was voted by the School Committee that
"An Examening Commitee be appointed to consist of five, who shall examine all teachers in the branches of reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammer and geography, who shall apply to them for exam- enation, and that said Commitee shall give to each, as by them shall be thought qualified, a certificate of approbation, and no teacher shall be entitled to pay untill they obtain a certificate, and that Ariel Ballou, Benjamin Fessenden, Fenner Brown and Arnold W. Jenckes be said Committee. The Secretary was Fenner Brown."
January 13, 1840. It was reported that district No. 2 had no school-house and no public property ; that there was a house owned by private parties which had been used for school purposes, but that it was too small for the accommo- cation of all the pupils.
June 8, 1840. It was voted in town meeting that the Examining Committee shall consist of three persons, and be paid one dollar for the examination of schools and teachers, provided that they shall be engaged one-half a day.
At the meeting of the School Committee on January 13, 1840, a new district was formed from No. 2 (making the second division of this district) and named No. 20. This completes the six Woonsocket distriets. I will now give a tabular statement of schools at Woonsocket, from 1840 to 1845 inclusive.
18-40.
Districts.
Committee.
Pupils.
Money.
1
Abner Rawson,
183
$121.09
19
Ariel Ballou,
160
113.28
2
James M. Cooke,
152
110.56
20
Joseph Smith,
184
121.44
Olney Burlingame, 67
81.60
17
George Jenckes,
81
86.42
.
1841.
1
Abner Rawson,
187
137.79
19
L. A. Cook,
183
136.24
2
John Boyden, jr.,
139
119.81
20
Linus M. Harris,
125
113.91
3
Jonathan Sweet,
68
91.98
17
Nelson Jenckes,
87
98.29
97
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
1842.
Districts.
Committee.
Pupils.
Money.
1
Barton Darling,
187
$135.89
19
George N. Waitt,
183
135.00
2
John Boyden, jr-,
139
117.81
20
Seth L. Weld,
189 136.57
Olney Burlingame,
75
93.61
17
Nelson JJenckes,
90
99.46
1843.
1
Barton Darling,
183
143.80
19
Dan. King,
182
143.40
2
John Boyden, jr.,
145
128.60
20
John A. Corey,
201
150.89
3
Charles Smith,
83
104.15
17
Nelson Jenckes,
86
105.46
1844.
1
John Bartlett, jr., 233
182.42
19
Aaron Rathbun,
168
153.52
2
John Boyden, jr.,
160
149.97
20
John B. Tallman,
210
172.19
3
Welcome Cook,
81
114.85
17
Nelson Jenckes,
80
114.41
1845.
1
B. E. Borden,
256
207.92
19
Ariel Ballon,
171
167.97
2
John Boyden, jr.,
171
167.97
20
John B. Tallman,
257
208.39
3
Welcome Cook,
69
120.03
17
Nelson Jenckes,
81
125.67
During this year the aet was passed authorizing the several districts to elect a Clerk, Treasurer and three Trustees.
June 8, 1846, the school committee met at the inn of E. L. Cook, and organized under the new law. The Presi- dent was Dr. Ariel Ballou, the Secretary was John Boyden.
Friday, November 30, 1849, the electors of Districts 1, 19, 2 and 20 met for the purpose of organizing these four dis- tricts into one, which has since been known as the "Con- solidated District." The movement to this end was started in 1846. The school officers of this consolidation in 1849 were :
John Boyden, Moderator.
Christr. Robinson,
Olney Arnold, Clerk.
Betlmel A. Slocumb, Trustees.
Elijah B. Newell, Treasurer.
Robert Blake,
13
98
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The pupils, etc., were as follows :
Districts.
Average Attendance.
Money.
1
81 3-4
238 04
2
101
282 62
20 17 Jenckesville 24
98
276 67
130 09
3 Union
35 1-2
152 88
8244 48 19 78 1-2 Consolidated
This consolidation was a great victory for the friends of education, for thereby the schools could be graded and a High School established. The High School building was in process of erection during the years 1848-9. It was built on land kindly given to the district by the Hon. Edward Harris, and cost about $8,000. The District has been favored with donations from two other liberal-minded per- sons, namely-Dexter Ballou, who bequeathed fifteen shares of Providence & Worcester Railroad stock to the " second- ary " or Grammar School of Woonsocket : and Mrs. Rachel F. Harris, who gave the district thirty shares of the same stock. The " High School house " was destroyed by fire on the morning of October 16, 1875. A new and more sub- stantial edifice is now being erected on the site of the old building from plans drawn by William R. Walker, of Provi- denee. The builder is Hon. Nathaniel Elliott. It will cost $25,350.
Among those who have labored earnestly and wisely for the advancement of popular education at Woonsocket, I think that I may safely allude to Rev. John Boyden without awakening a feeling of jealousy in a single breast. His name first appears in 1841, and for a quarter of a century it continued to adorn the school records. The veneration and respect with which his memory is held at the present day is a sufficient evidence of his zeal and philanthropy.
A movement is now on foot to consolidate all of the dis- tricts of the town. That this may be consummated at an early day, is the earnest wish of every true friend of educa- tional progress.
99
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Aside from its public schools, the town enjoys the use of a magnificent building through the munificence of the late Edward Harris. Here the Woonsocket Lyceum holds its meetings, a public reading-room is daily visited, and a large and well-selected library is opened to all. A portion of this library was originally a distinct organization, and named in honor of its most liberal benefactor, Mr. Edward Carrington. This was afterwards annexed to a library founded and en- dowed by Edward Harris, and the whole now bears the name of the " Harris Institute Library."
Since the inauguration of the public school system, a great advance has been made in educational matters. The rude and poorly-constructed school-house has been supplanted by the well-arranged and elegant edifice ; the race of peda- gogues has become extinct, and the pupils have been brought within the restraints of civilization by means more effectual than the ancient birch. This advance has had its effect upon society. Literature and art have come up to a higher plane, in order to keep pace with the requirements of the age. The daily newspaper is now the guest of nearly every household. The music of Strauss has driven out the noisy jigs of our ancestors, and the squeaking fiddle has lost its olden charms. Whether our youngsters are better that they appear to be wiser, or whether the softening influences of culture and refinement have tended to make society more virtuous and more patriotic, I shall not stop to discuss. I have only to say, in conclusion, that Woonsocket has reason to congratulate herself for the mite which she has contri- buted during the last century for the cause of education, and to feel that she has fairly earned the applause of the Christian, the philanthropist and the patriot !
CHAPTER VIII.
WAR.
ALTHOUGH Woonsocket was a Quaker settlement, it was not exempt from warlike experiences and preparations. In- deed, it was first settled when King Philip and his tribe were engaged in their revengeful struggle, and its first set- tlers were honored with military titles-one being "Capt." Richard Arnold, and the other being "Ensign" Samuel Comstock .* " Whether or not any outrages were committed in this immediate vicinity at that time I have been unable to ascertain ;; but tradition speaks of a skirmish which took place between the whites and Indians a short distance from the " Daily Hole Woods."
During subsequent Indian troubles in these regions, the garrison was erected on the summit of "Fort Hill, some twenty rods north-east of the Arioch Comstock house, in which families sheltered themselves and their flocks in time of war, and to which they nightly drove their flocks, and set watch to protect them from incursions from the Indians." It was also during this period that the following military company was in existence :
*August 9, 1710, Captain Samuel Comstock ordered Henry Mowry, of the 2d Company, to impress men to go with him to Port Royal.
+On the estate now owned by Stafford Mann, Esq., a few miles south from here, two houses were destroyed by King Philip in his northward march. One of these was occupied by a man by the name of Fox, a weaver. When, many years ago, an out-building to the Mann house was being erected, traces of the fire-place to one of these houses were discovered.
#From ancient MSS. kindly loaned me by Miss Esther Osborne.
101
IHISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Capt. Jonathan Mowry, Lient. Ananias Mowry, Ensign Thomas Arnold, Clerk Samuel Aldrich, Surgeon John Phillips, Nathaniel Staples, Aaron Herenden, Sergeant Henry Blackmore,
Richard Sayles, jr.,
Thomas Herenden, Jolını Sayles, jr.,
Corporal John Harris, Obadiah Ierenden,
Elisha Mowry, Jolin Melavory,
Francis Herenden,
Thomas Walling,
Moses Arnold, -
Abel Inman,
John Mann, jr.,
Sylvanus Sayles,
Richard Aldrich,
Enoch Arnold,
Benjamin Buffum, jr.,
Nathan Paine,
Benjamin Buxton,
Jeremiah Ballard,
Daniel Mann, jr., James Weatherhead,
Daniel Cass,
Joseph Hicks,
James Buxton, Jonathan Arnold,
Edward Bisnap,
Edmund Arnold,
Caleb Callom,
Thomas Laphaui,
Job Phillips,
Peter Cooke,
Anthony Comstock,
Joseph Lapham,
Elisha Arnold,
Ezekial Sayles,
Noah Herenden,
Daniel Walling,
Amos Sprague,
Benjamin Cooke,
Jos. Cooke, jr.,
Hezadiah Comstock, jr.,
Daniel Sayles,
Uriah Arnold,
Gideon Comstock,
Samuel Goldthwaite,
Benjamin Thompson,
Nathaniel Mann,
Theophilus Blackman,
Daniel Comstock, jr.,
Samuel Cook,
John Harris,
Richard Spencer,
Henry Aldrich, Elijalı Aldrich,
Elisha Dillingham,
George Wilbour,
Thomas Cruff,
Thomas Cruff, jr.,
Richard Sayles, jr., Joseph Buffum, Benjamin Paine,
Oliver Mann, Andrew Mann, Ebenezer Howard,
Ezekiel Mowry, Stephen Inman,
John Knox, Seth Cooke, John Comstock,
John Aldrich, minor,
John Aldrich, jr.,
Samuel Sprague,
Samuel Bassett,
Jeremiah Brown,
Samuel Tucker,
William Bates, John Mann,
Joshua Phillips,
Ezekial Goldthwaite,
Ebenezer Thornton,
Jos. Arnold, jr.,
John Mowry, minor, William Comstock, John Smith, Ichabod Comstock,
John Phillips, Daniel Phillips,
Stephen Sly, Jabez Brown,
Daniel Sprague,
Israel Wilkinson, Philip Logee,
Roger Darbey,
James Bassett,
Moses Mann,
Daniel Arnold, jr., Thomas Beedle,
John Blackman, jr.,
Samuel Fisk,
Nathan Staples,
Richard Arnold, jr.
102
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
The above company was a " home guard," but in looking through the records of old Smithfield, I find that two mem- bers of this company subsequently enlisted in the regular army and died at Cape Breton. These two were Caleb Cal- lom and Jabez Brown. The former died at the place men- tioned in January, 1746, and the latter about that time. I also find the names of two others who lost their lives in this conflict, namely : Richard Lewis, died sometime during the year, and Eleizer Arnold, who died Oct. 26, 1746.
2. The next war was that which is spoken of as the " Old French War." In this conflict Elkanah Speare was Lieutenant in one of the Rhode Island regiments. This man was the husband of Daniel Arnold's granddaughter, and the grandfather of Arnold Speare, to whose virtues many of our citizens will bear willing testimony. The following despatch from Col. Samuel Angell tells its own sad story :
CAMP FORT EDWARD, ? July 22, 1757.
MISTRESS SPEARE:
With reluctance, I give you the following account: On the 11th inst. your husband died, after a few days illness, of the small pox. His clothing and other things I have had inventoried and shall ship them round to Providence by the first opportunity.
From Your Friend, SAMUEL ANGELL.
I find on the Smithfield records an allusion to one other victim of this struggle. It is to the father of Thomas Newman who enlisted and afterwards died in His Majesty's service. This Thomas Newman, who July 7, 1760, was sixteen years of age, was the grandfather of Mr. Benjamin B. Newman, now a thrifty farmer in the vicinity of Albion, R. I.
3. In the war of the Revolution but few of the inhabit- ants of these parts were active workers. Their conscien- tious scruples prevented them from being ardent patriots. The records of the Quaker society at this place, and those of the town of Smithfield, show that many were deprived of official positions in consequence of their lukewarmness. Among these I find the name of Arnold Paine, the grandson
103
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
of John Arnold, from whom the office of Town Treasurer was taken in November 1776, for refusing to sign the "Test Act." But the freemen of the town could not long afford to dispense with the services of so honest and able a man, and in 1779 he was elected to the Town Council, in which he aeted for many years. Many others, who, during these exciting times were regarded with unnecessary suspicion, both before and after the war, were honored with the respect and confidence of their fellow townsmen.
But there was one citizen of these parts whose patriotie zeal was equal to the emergency, and whose eminent abilities were appreciated not only in his immediate neighborhood, but in the couneils of the nation. I refer to Judge Peleg Arnold, to whom reference has been made in a preceding chapter. In spite of the atmosphere of his surroundings, and of the averseness of the major part of the inhabitants to war- like preparations, the news from Lexington and Concord aronsed his indignation, and with all the enthusiasm of his nature, in the Spring of 1775 he began the work of reeruit- ing soldiers for the coming struggle. At a town meeting held at his house, June 26, 1775, a committee was chosen to seleet " one hundred fire arms at once and put them in proper shape fit for battle." One-third to be lodged at the dwelling house of Capt. Joseph Jenekes, one-third at the house of Col. Elisha Mowry and the remainder at the house of Peleg Arnold. In 1780 he was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the 2d battallion of Providence County. In 1786 he was elected delegate to Congress and was continued four years in the position. In 1790 he was chosen Assistant Governor of the State.
I seleet at random the following items of Revolutionary interest from the records of the town of Smithfield* :
*Among some ancient papers I find the following letter which in these centennial times may be thought worth preserving :
104
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Sept. 16, 1776. It was voted to raise thirty-nine men to march to Newport. Men well accoutred to receive a bounty of 48 shillings, and men without arms 36 shillings.
June 1, 1778. Soldiers received a bounty from the town of $35, and from the State of £20. They were furnished with a uniform coat, 2 waist-coats, 2 pairs breeches, 3 shirts, 3 pairs stockings, 2 pairs shoes, 1 hunting shirt and 1 pair of overalls.
June 24, 1780. It was voted to raise 35 men and pay them a bounty of 50 silver dollars each.
One silver dollar at the time was equivalent to seventy-two old Continental dollars.
In 1779, the General Assembly ordered that the town of Smithfield, deliver thirteen cords of wood per week from January of that year to April 1st, inclusive. I think the matter of sufficient interest to give the apportionment of this requisition among the land-holders of the town:
Silvanus Sayles 1 cord. Benjamin Smith.
3 cord.
Eleazer Mowry 1
Oliver Arnold. 1-2
John Whipple .. 1
John Angell. 1-2
William Whipple. 2
Joseph Jenckes. 1
Elisha Olney . 10
John Jenekes
1
.
Joseph Whipple. 5
Luke Arnold. 2
Nehemiah Shelden 3
Nathaniel Arnold 2
. .
Jonathan and A. Arnold 7
Samuel Day and Yeates 4
. .
Jonathan Arnokl 2
Sammuel Keach. 1
. .
Thomas Jenckes. 2
Daniel Whipple. 2
. .
Lydia Brown. 3
Ephraim Whipple 2
.
Oliver Angell lot. 21-2 ..
Joseph Angell lot 2
David Harris 5
Ezekial Angell
3
Jeremiah Smith
Job Angell 3
Daniel Wilbur. 1
..
Jabez Harris. 2
1
Rufus Smith. 2
John Smith, jr. 2
Charles Angell 1
Daniel Smith.
1
. .
Jeremiah Ilarris. 2
Elisha Mowry, jr 1
3
Jonathan Harris.
1
.
Cushing farm 1
..
Preserved Harris 1
Enoch Barnes 5
. .
Stephen Arnold, jr 1
Robert Latham 2
..
James Shelden. . 1
Elisha Smith.
Jeremiah Scott ..
Nebadiah Olney.
Jonathan Spragne lot . .
3
. . Stephen Farnum.
SMITHFIELD, August 26, 1776.
MR. WM. SHELDEN, Sir :
.
David Harris, jr 1
..
Stephen Brayton
Daniel Angell 3
Benjamin Ballard 1
.
IIenry Jenckes 1
Abraham Keach. 2
Enoch Angell lot. 21-2 ..
. .
Abner Harris 2
Richard Harris, jr 2
Emer Smith.
.
1 am ordered by Col. Slack, to give you notice, that the troops is called and will meet at Mr. Larned's on Thursday next, at nine o'clock in the morning, and I order you not to fail of time and place. This from BENJAMIN HUBBARD.
.
.
105
HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET.
Jos. Spaulding and Son 2 cord. Samuel Winsor.
6 cord.
Ahab Wilkinson 2
. . John Winsor .. 3
Jonathan Dexter 1 George Streeter. 2
Samuel Dexter 1
David Bowen.
1
. .
Stephen Whipple 2
John Mann. 1
. .
Edward Thompson
1
.
Caleb Aldrich 1
. .
Simeon Arnold. 1
.
Benjamin Medbury 1
Knight Dexter. 1
. John Smith (3d) .
1
. .
Daniel Mowry, jr 1
Job Aldrich ..
1
Joshua Arnold.
1
. .
James Appleby, jr. 1
. .
Samuel Arnold 1
4. The last war with the mother country did not awaken sufficient enthusiasm in these parts to give Woonsocket a place either in its records or its traditions.
5. The next war is that which is known to the poet and the historian as the "Dorr War." It is unnecessary, and would be irrelevant (I came very near writing "irreverent") for me to trace the causes of that ever-memorable conflict, tlie antiquity of which, in the language of one of my enthu- siastic critics, reaches back nearly to the times of Charles II. But it will not be out of order, I trust, for me to give the copy of a resolution adopted by the freemen of the town of Smithfield, August 28, 1792: " That the Representatives be instructed to move at the next General Assembly that a con- vention be appointed to make a constitution for the State."
I am fully alive to the fact that at this point in my nar- rative I am about to step upon forbidden ground. During this exciting period the history of Rhode Island contains but two apartments. If the historian enters at all, he must cross the threshold of the "Dorrites" or the Algerines," and in either event he is sure to be tossed in a blanket. There is something irresistibly funny in the thought that the bare mention of the word "Dorr" contains such potency. It almost makes one to have faith in the Oriental miracle, wherein it is said that the rubbing of an old lamp would call up genii and hobgoblins from the bowels of the earth. But I beg of the reader that he will allow me to go 14
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