USA > Rhode Island > Kent County > East Greenwich > History of the town of East Greenwich and adjacent territory, from 1677 to 1877 > Part 4
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DEED OF THE COURT HOUSE LOT.
As a bill has been introduced into the Legislature to annex the County of Kent to the County of Providence, and remove the courts from East Greenwich, some of our readers will feel an interest in seeing a copy of the original deed from John Pierce to the State. The plan is, in case of removal to present the State property to the Town of
Photo Ent-Co.N.y.
THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
1877.
Erected in 1805.
41
EARLY LEGISLATION.
East Greenwich, which will be very acceptable to East Greenwich, but it is doubtful if the rest of the county will agree to it. According to a clause in the deed it appears that the lot with the valuable and expensive building upon it, will revert to the heirs of the original grantor :
"To all people to whom these presents shall come, I, John Peirce of East Greenwich in the County of Provi- dence, Colony of Rhode Island Yeoman, send Greeting:
" Know ye, that I, the said John Peirce, for and in con- sideration of the love, good will and affection that I have and do bear unto the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations, in New England but now especially for and unto the free inhabitants of the County of Kent now erecting in said Colony, have given, granted and confirmed unto the free inhabitants of the County of Kent aforesaid and their heirs and successors forever, one small house lot of land, in East Greenwich aforesaid, and is the lot No. 8 on the plat ; for to build and set up a County House theron, for the use, benefit and behoof of the County of Kent aforesaid, and is butted and bounded as follows : East on Main Street, South and West on land of the Grantor, and North on Court Street. To have and to hold all the above granted land and premises, to the only proper use and benefit of the inhabitants of the County of Kent, and I the said John Pierce do further grant and agree that at the time of this Grant, Bargain and Gift, until the enscaling and executing of the same, I am the true, sole, and lawful owner of the above given and granted premises.
"Furthermore, I, the said John Pierce, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, do promise and engage the above granted land and premises unto them the free inhabitants of the County of Kent, and their heirs and successors and survivors, against the claims, calling and de- mands of any person or persons whatsoever, forever to warrant, secure and defend by these presents.
" And Alice Peirce, the wife of the said John Pearce, doth by these presents freely, willingly, give, yield up and surrender all her right of Dower and power of thirds, of, in and unto the above demised premises.
" In witness whereof we, the above named John Pearce and Alice Pearce, have hereunto set our hands and seals the Thirty First day of August in the Twenty Fourth year of his Majesties Reign, George the Second, King of Great Britain, Anno que Domini, Seventeen Hundred and Fifty,
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HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
"Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of,
THOMAS SPENCER,
JOSEPH RHODES, JOHN PEIRCE, ALICE PEIRCE,
" Personally appeared the above subscriber, John Pearce, and acknowl- edged the above deed to be his act, hand and seal thereunto affixed before me.
JOHN OLIN, Justice of Peace."
"EAST GREENWICH, March 30th, 1751. Voted, that the proprietors' committee have power to grant a convenient lot for building a distill house on, and to be under the same regulations as for building dwellings."
This distillery was on the lot now owned by Robert Champlin, and stood just east of his residence, and near the jail. The remains of the building were there up to about 1807. New England rum and gin were distilled there from molasses and rye.
" Voted, That the vacant land in East Greenwich upon the shore, that the town council of said town, had agreed to sell to Jonathan Nichols of Newport, Inholder, be not sold to the said Nichols, nor to any other person, for the pro- prietors are of the opinion it is not a highway, and that the same shall not be sold.
" Voted, That John Spencer, John Langford, and John Olin, are chosen a committee to examine into the propri- etors acts and to draw up any amendments or alteration in any of the proprietors acts as they shall think proper, and present the same to the adjournment of this meeting which is the thirteenth of next April. And we the said com- mittee having examined the records of the proprietors, and the records of the small town lots, and we do not find any provision in said acts for wharfing into the sea or salt water, and we have examined also the plat of the tract of land southward from the said town lots, and taken some measure of the same, and we find some vacant lots adjoin- ing the sea shore, that accept belongs to the proprietors ; be it therefore enacted by this present, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that all the small lots lying and being in East Greenwich in the county of Kent is laid out for a town next adjoining to the sea shore, shall and may have liberty as privilege to wharf into the sea as far as the channel, the same width as the said lots are upon plat next to the shore, and that they shall have the same course into the sea as the dividing line between the towns of East Greenwich and Warwick as far as the burying place and then have their course into the sea as is drawn on the plat,
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EARLY LEGISLATION.
provided always, that there be a way of twenty feet next to said shore left and kept open around or along said shore as far as water lots do obtain, for a privilege for the inhabi- tants to pass and repass forever.
" And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all the vacant lands southward and westward as it lieth along the sea shore from the aforesaid town lots to a place called Mascochugg river, together with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging on said shore be and shall from time to time forever hereafter be kept open to and for the use and benefit of all the free inhabitants of the town of East Greenwich aforesaid to pass and repass to them and to their assigns forever; and be it further enacted that the wood standing on the aforesaid vacant lotts shall not be cut off by any persons forever."
" November 25th, 1752, William Baily, of said town made application to this Town Council that he might have Liberty to Retail Strong Liquor in less quantities than a Gallon, for the space of two days and no more; which is for two Muster Days for the second company or Train Band belonging to East Greenwich there being no house in said Company suitable for that purpose.
" Resolved that the said William Baily have the liberty to retail Strong Liquor in less quantity than a Gallon for the space of two days as above said he keeping good order and being under the same regulation as the other licensed houses."
The next quotation from the records shows the care manifested in cases of contagious diseases :
" January 2d, 1753, Whereas it manifestly appears to this Town Council that Elijah Johnson, Mariner, lately arrived from the City of Philadelphia into this town, and is now a breaking out with the Small Pox in the compact part of said town, in the House of Thomas Casey and might be the means of spreading the same in this town if not in other of the neighboring towns ; and for the prevent- ing of the the spreading of the same, Resolved, that Thomas Nichols, Caleb Spencer, Peleg Rice, Samuel Vaughn and all other proper assistance that they can get, are ordered to take the aforesaid Elijah Johnson out of the aforesaid Thomas Casey's house in as careful a manner as they can, and convey him on board of the Schooner that he came from the aforesaid City of Philadelphia in, and then to convey the said Schooner to an Island not far
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HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
from hence known by the name of Chepinoxet and there on board of the aforesaid Schooner to be kept and nursed and tended by Peleg Rice, Samuel Vaughn, and a certain passenger that came from the aforesaid City of Philadelphia, with the aforesaid Elijah Johnson, as the law directs.
" And it is further resolved that Thomas Casey's Family together with Deborah Johnson be confined to the aforesaid Thomas Casey's house, and not to go about the town from house to house in said town, upon the penalty of the ex- tremity of the Law in that case made and provided, for the space of twenty days from and after the date hereof, with- out License from this Town Council first had and obtained ; excepting any of the aforesaid Thomas Casey's family, or the aforesaid Deborah Johnson shall be likely or suspected to be likely to brake out with the Small Pox (he, she, or them) then to be removed to some proper place at the dis- cretion of this Town Council; and it is resolved that Capt. William Wall is appointed to take a particular care that none of the aforesaid Thomas Casey's Family do, nor the aforesaid Deborah Johnson do not pass about the town for the time aforesaid."
It appears by this record that "Chepinoxet " was then an island; it can scarcely be called so now, except at a very high tide, when it is surrounded by water.
Not having finished the business, the council met the day following and made the following record :
" Whereas it is very probable that some of Thomas Casey's family or the widow Deborah Johnson, will break out with the Small Pox insomuch that Elijah Johnson lately broke out with it in Thomas Casey's house and that Debo- rah Johnson is Elijah's mother, and attended him when he was breaking out with the Small Pox; Therefore, Resolved, that Thomas Spencer (son of Benjamin) go as soon as possible and air all the clothing and other things in Thomas Casey's house that he shall think is necessary, that is likely to be infected with the Small Pox, and to cleanse the Chamber wherein the' said Elijah broke out with the same, if he shall think need requires ; and also to go twice a day to the said Thomas Casey's house to see if any of them are likely to brake out with Small Pox or Deborah Johnson, and if he can discover that they or any of them are, to give notice Immediately to some one or more of the Town Council of said Town; that they give proper orders according to law about the same; all of which is to be
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EARLY LEGISLATION.
done at the cost and charge of Thomas Casey and Deborah Johnson."
One week elapsed and the council called up the subject again :
" Whereas it is probable (or likely) that some of Thomas Casey's family (or Deborah Johnson) is infected with the Small Pox, and is likely to brake out with the same, in a short time in said town, and whereas it is Resolved the said Thomas Casey is allowed and permitted to remove himself or any of his family, or Deborah Johnson, to the House wherein Abner Spencer now lives in the town (which house belongs to Thomas Aldrich of the town aforesaid) when any or either of them shall be likely to brake out with the aforesaid Enfectious Destroyer of the Small Pox, all of which is to be at the cost and charge of the aforesaid Thomas Casey."
How different are the modern provisions against this terrible "enfectious" disease. Scarcely more care is now taken when the small pox appears than if it were the measles.
In 1754 there were nine licenses granted in East Green- wich for the sale of strong liquors. There has been but little improvement since, only that the liquor used a century ago was a long time, (comparatively,) in poisoning its vic- tims to death. The unfortunate consumer of "patent liquors " is now hastened through his course with fearful celerity.
In those days, persons in order to remove from town according to law, were obliged first to obtain a certificate of permission. We find that during the year 1756 there were several removals to North Kingstown and Exeter.
September 13th, 1759, a man formerly of North Kings- town was complained of by one of the overseers of the poor of East Greenwich, that he, the said man, would, by his ill conduct and bad behaviour, probably become charge- able to the town, whereupon he, with his seven small child- ren was ordered back to North Kingstown forthwith, and the order was carried out by the proper officer. In Novem- ber the man returned, in "contempt of authority." He was then ordered to pay the sum of forty shillings, and pay costs of prosecution, taxed at £7, 6 and 4 pence, and that he remain in custody of the officer until the cost be paid, and thenceforth leave the town. Cases like this are often found upon the records.
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HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
At a council meeting held August 25th, 1756, Captain Sylvester Sweet appeared and informed the council that Abigail Sweet, one of the poor of the town, wanted some clothing, such as " shifts and a gound," and whereupon it was resolved by the council that the said Sylvester Sweet pro- vide for her two good tow cloth shifts and a good flannel " gownd," and exhibit his account of the same before the council.
On the 29th of December following, Captain Sweet ex- hibited his account for the said articles of apparel, amount- ing to nine shillings, which account being duly examined was allowed and ordered to be paid out of the town treasury.
On the 28th of June, 1771, Thomas Casey, Esq., appeared in council and hired the highway and vacant land around the shore, from Mascachugg to Rocky Hollow, until the 28th of March following, for which he agreed to pay, thirteen shillings and sixpence.
June 27th, 1772, John Glazier had liberty granted him by the council to build a vessel on the driftway around the shore by paying into the town treasury the sum of two- pence, lawful money, for the use of the same one year.
February 27th, 1774, Thomas Baily agreed with the council to board Elizabeth Havens for one shilling and ten pence a week.
July 14th, 1777, the town council appointed one of their number to hire persons to do military duty in the places of those persons called Quakers, that refused to do military duty. The council ordered the treasurer to provide a quire of paper and deliver it to the clerk for the use of the town.
. It was resolved by the council, January, 1777, that a civil watch shall be kept in the town, of two suitable persons, every night until the 20th of May from six o'clock in the evening until sunrise, and that they receive two shillings each for every night; and if a watchman should be found asleep he shall forfeit and pay a fine of three shillings.
Extracts from the Council Records of June 14th, 1877 :
" Whereas, the General Assembly of this State by a late Act, thereof ordered the town councils or committees that should be appointed in the several towns in said State, to settle and affix in the respective towns the prices of sundry articles, in this State-it is, therefore, resolved by this
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EARLY LEGISLATION.
town council, and by the authority thereof, by said Act given us, that the prices of the several articles and of labor done in this town from and after the 8th of July next to be as followeth.
" Clothier's work, for fulling cloth, five pence per yard, and for shearing cloth one penny per yard, for every time it is sheared, and for pressing cloth two pence per yard, and all other clothiers business in like proportion. Spinning-for spinning linen or worsted five or six skeins to a pound shall not exceed six pence per skein, for every fifteen knotted skein and all fine work in like proportion, and all card work of woollen shall not exceed six pence per skein for every fifteen knotted skein. Weaving-for weaving plain flannel or and tow and linen, five pence per yard; for weaving common worsted and all linen one penny per yard, and all other linen in like proportion. Bark-good bark shall not exceed £1, 10 shillings per cord, delivered at the compact part of the town, and at all other places in said town in the like proportion. Tanning-for tanning hides six pence per pound. For making shoes for the use of the inhabitants of this town in their houses, shall not exceed two shillings and six pence per pair."
In June, 1793, a committee consisting of Sylvester Sweet, Joseph Fry, Benjamin Fry and Thomas Tillinghast, met at the house of Thomas Aldrich in said town, and proceeded to examine the records in his possession belonging to the proprietors, and found a vote of the proprietors at their meeting on March 25th, 1717, ordering that two certain plats made by William Hall, surveyor, on the 28th of May, 1716, one of the farm lots and one of the town lots, be placed in the town clerk's office of said town, there to re- main for the use of said town forever, which vote hath never been complied with. Since the death of Dr. Spencer the said plats thereof are in the possession of Thomas Al- drich. We do not find that the proprietors have ever held a meeting since the 26th of April, A. D. 1766. We find that the proprietors' committee for licensing the taking up of lots in the compact part of the town consisted of five members, and that at times the proprietors used to appoint others as a committee to examine the doings of their stand- ing committee and report thereon; some of which doings they approved, and other parts thereof they nullified.
We do not find that the standing committee ever met after March, 1784, since which time the whole business seems to have been left to Thomas Aldrich.
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HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
We learn that the proprietors ordered their standing committee to take bonds of persons licensed to take up lots as aforesaid, that on failure of building they should forfeit thirty shillings to and for the use of the town, which bonds were to be lodged in the town treasurer's office. Some of these bonds are now in the possession of Thomas Aldrich, although numbers have been forfeited, no payments having been exacted. Fifteen shillings were to have been taken by the committee in 1773 for each lot granted, and some lots were taken up a number of times-two of which were retaken by Elijah Freeborn, June, 1793, and Mr. Silas Casey licensed five of the proprietors' lots.
"We find but two of the proprietors standing committee now living; wherefore we are of opinion that there is not, nor has there been for several years past any person or per- sons legally authorized to locate said lots." [1793.]
"East Greenwich, 1794. Voted, That whereas Thomas Tillinghast and Joseph Fry, were appointed a committee to receive of Thomas Aldrich late proprietor's committee to licensing qualified people to take up lots in the compact part of the town of East Greenwich, to build upon agreea- ble to the acts of the proprietors and deliver them to the present Clerk, said Aldrich when requested, delivered but one book; the latest date therein contained is the 26th of April, 1796, which is not the whole of said records belonging to the two offices ; it is therefore voted by this meeting that Thomas Tillinghast, Joseph Fry, Robert Vaughn, and Par- don Mawney, be a committee to receive of said Aldrich all the records and papers he now holds belonging to said offi- cers, and deliver them to the present clerk, give and take receipts for the same.
" Whereas some of the proprietors lots in the compact part of the town are taken into possession and under im- provement by people who have not taken them up agreeable to acts of the proprietors, it is therefore voted by this meet- ing that our committee see that they comply with the acts of the proprietors, or recover the lots out of their possession by any lawful means; voted, that whereas Thomas Casey and John Ailsworth, have got some of the proprietor's lots in their possession, not taken up agreeable to the acts of the proprietors, it is voted by this meeting that the clerk notify them to appear at the adjournment of this meeting, to account by what authority they improve them."
As an interesting portion of the history of the town, we
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EARLY LEGISLATION.
think the names of the heads of families as the lists stood in 1774, will be appreciated by the present generation. In that year a census was taken under the authority of the Colony, and the following names were returned as heads of families :
John Arnold, Jr.,
Benjamin Coggeshall,
John Grinnell,
Charles Andrew,
Thomas Coggeshall, Nichols Coggeshall,
Joshua Godfore,
Matthew Aylsworth,
Joshua Coggeshall,
Ebenezer, Hath,
Oliver Arnold,
Thomas Corey,
Freeborn Hamilton,
Pardon Allen,
John Cooke,
William Hamilton,
John Arnold,
Hopkins Cook,
Robert Hall,
William Arnold,
Stephen Cooper,
Oliver Hazard,
Joseph Arnold,
Gideon Casey,
Joseph Hunt,
Thomas Arnold,
Thomas Casey,
Ezekiel Hunt,
Richard Aylsworth,
Silas Casey,
Ebenezer Hall,
Anthony Aylsworth,
Archibald Crary,
Anthony Holden,
Rebecca Andrew,
Job Comstock,
Nicholas Hyde,
Benoni Andrew,
Samuel Cahoone,
Daniel Howland,
Jonathan Andrew, Edmond Andrew,
Cornelius Clarke,
Lowry Jenks,
Job Alsbane,
Samuel Davis,
Michael JJenks,
William Baily,
Nathan Ely,
John Johnson,
Thomas Baily,
Benjamin Fry,
Jonathan Johnson,
Joseph Baily,
Joseph Fry,
William Johnson,
George Baily,
Lemuel Fry,
Jabez Jones,
Daniel Bates,
Thomas Fry,
Silas Jones,
Robert Babcock,
Phineas Foster,
Josiah Jones, Abel Jones,
Caleb Briggs,
Nathaniel Greene,
Clive Briggs,
Nathan Greene,
Joseph Joselyn,
Edwin Briggs, Job Briggs,
Elisha Greene,
Arthur King,
Nathan Briggs,
Stephen Greene, Rufus Greene,
John Langford,
John Langford, Jr.,
Joseph Mott,
Benjamin Bennet,
Benjamin Greene,
Stephen Mott,
William Bentley,
John Brightman,
Griffin Greene,
Daniel Maxwell,
William Burlingame, John Burlingame, David Brown, Bial Brown,
Henry Greene, Christopher Greene, William Greene, Augustus Greene,
John Matterson, Augustus Mumford,
Amos Brown,
Matthew Greene,
Clarke Brown,
Nicholas Greene,
Amos Boose,
George Greene,
Andrew Bayard,
Pardon Morney,
William Card, Job Card,
Samuel Greene, Albert Greene, Job Greene,
Joseph Card,
Oliver Gardner,
Charles Carr,
John Gardner,
Henry Gardner,
George Nichols,
Daniel Carr, Cornell Carpenter,
Job Gardner,
Richard Nichols,
Morgan Carso,
Nicholas Goddard,
Jonathan Capron,
William Coggeshall,
William Giles, John Glazier,
Remington Kenyon
Thomas Briggs,
Sylvester Greene,
James Luther,
John Briggs, JJr.,
Richard Briggs, son of John,
Jonathan Greene,
Daniel Greene,
John Greene,
Stephen Mott, .Jr.,
Robert Morris,
Gideon Mumford,
Stephen Mumford,
Caleb Mathew,
Isaac Moore,
Richard Mathewson,
John Nichols, son of Elkan,
Jonathan Nichols,
John Nichols, son of Thomas, Freelove Nichols,
Richard Cornell,
Mary Jennings,
Isaac Johnson,
William Baily, Jr.,
Jeremiah Fairbanks,
Philip Jenkens,
Joseph Greene,
. Archibald Graves,
Thomas Aldridge,
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HISTORY OF EAST GREENWICH.
Thomas Nichols,
Wilson Spencer, Henry Spencer,
Thomas Tillinghast, Philip Tillinghast, George Tillinghast,
Alexandre Nichols, James Nichols, Robert Nichols,
Nathan Spencer,
Caleb Spencer,
Benjamin Tillinghast,
Ruth Nichols,
Benjamin Spencer, Jeremiah Spencer,
Joseph Tillinghast, Samuel Tarbox, Isaac Upton, Samuel Upton,
Daniel Pierce,
Thomas Pierce,
Silas Spencer,
Stephen Pierce,
Susannah Spencer,
Jas. Mitchell, Varnum, Daniel Vaughn,
John Pierce,
Rufus Spencer,
David Vaughn,
William Pierce. John Pierce,son of Benj. Merrit Smith,
John Shaw,
Robert Vaughn,
James Pierce,
Ichabod Smith,
Jeremiah Pierce,
Samuel Smith,
Preserved Pierce,
Thomas Slocum,
Ichabod Prentice,
Andrew Smart,
John Pitcher,
Caleb Sheffield, William Sweet, Ann Sweet,
Smith Wilcocks, Ephraim Ware, Robert Whitford, Caleb Whitford, Peleg Weaver, Benjamin Weaver,
Shippey Reynolds,
Thomas Shippee,
George Weaver, Jonathan Weaver,
Peleg Rice,
Rowland Sprague, Jeremialı Sweet, James Stafford, Joseph Stafford, James Sweet, Benjamin Sweet,
Clement Weaver, Thomas Wells,
Michael Spencer,
Griffin Spencer,
Samuel Sweet,
Peter Wells, Ezekiel Warner,
Thomas Spencer, son of Benjamin,
Jonathan Tibbitts,
Job Winslow, .
Stephen Spencer,
Henry Tibbitts,
Joseph Whitmarsh,
Walter Spencer,
Benjamin Tibbitts, Robert 'Faft,
Hannah Wall,
William Spencer,
Benjamin Wall.
Christopher Vaughn, Caleb Weeden, John Whitman, Samuel Whitman, James Whitman,
Thomas Place,
Thomas Philips,
Aldrich Reynolds,
Sylvester Sweet,
Samuel Relf,
Stephen Shippee,
Thomas Reynolds,
Jonathan Rouse,
Gardner Rouse,
Timothy Weaver,
John Spencer,
Henry Sweet,
Joseph Winslow,
How few of these names are heard in East Greenwich now? The names of Alsbane, Bently, Brightman, Boose, Bayard, Carso, Ayrault, Crary, Ely, Fairbanks, Goddard, Giles, Glazier, Grinnell, Graves, Godfore, Hamilton, Hyde, Jennings, Joselyn, Jenkens, King, Luther, Langford, Mor- ris, Maxwell, Mumford, Mathew, Moore, Prentice, Relf, Rouse, Smart, Sheffield, Upton, Varnum, Ware, Whit- marsh, and many others appear to be extinct.
John Nichols,
Job Pierce,
George Spencer, Ebenezer Spencer,
CHAPTER III.
MANUFACTURES.
AT the commencement of the Revolutionary War, a man by the name of Upton came from Nantucket to East Greenwich, and manufactured earthern ware for a number of years. The pottery where the articles were made, and the kiln where they were baked, stood on the lot now occu- pied by the dwelling house of John Weeden, on the corner of King and Marlboro streets. The articles made there consisted of pans, bowls, plates, cups and saucers. As there were no porcelain manufactories in America at that time, and the war prevented the importation of such arti- cles from Europe, many of the people here were obliged to use these coarse clumsy plates, cups and saucers for want of better. They were made of the coarse red earth- ern ware, which we see at the present day in the form of milk-pans, jars and jugs. A table set out with such rough looking specimens of crockery would look very strange at this day, but we presume that many a good dish of tea was drunk out of those thick, heavy cups and saucers, and many excellent dinners were eaten off of those red carthern plates. The clay for making those articles was brought from Quidnesett at a place called Gould's Mount, on the farm now belonging to Henry Waterman, and where great quantities of the same kind of clay still remains. Shortly after the termination of the Revolutionary War Mr. Up- ton returned to Nantucket, and no earthern ware has been made here since.
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