USA > Rhode Island > Pictures of Rhode Island in the past, 1642-1833 > Part 5
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I759. Rev. Andrew Burnaby.
Burnaby (1734 c .- 1812) was an English clergyman, who made extended journeys in America, chiefly in the Middle States, in 1759 and 1760.
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REV. ANDREW BURNABY.
His observations show good judgment and are inter- esting. He is careful to avoid any allusion to the po- litical events of the time. The extract given is taken from his Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America, p. 67 et seq. London, 1775.
Newport. Rhode Island.
This town is situated upon a small island, about twelve miles in length, and five or six in breadth, called Rhode Island, from whence the province takes its name. It is the capital city, and contains about 800, or 1000 houses, chiefly built of wood ; and 6 or 7000 inhabitants. There are few buildings in it worthy of notice. The court-house is indeed handsome, and of brick ; and there is a public library, built in the form of a Grecian temple, by no means inelegant. It is of the Doric order, and has a portico in front with four pillars, supporting a pediment ; but the whole is spoilt by two small wings, which are annexed to it. . .
The places of public worship, except the Jews syna- gogue, are all of wood ; and not one of them is worth looking at. They consist chiefly of a church, two pres- byterian meeting-houses, one quakers ditto, three ana- baptists ditto, one Moravian ditto, and the synagogue above-mentioned. This building was designed, as in- deed were several of the others, by a Mr. Harrison, an ingenious English gentleman who lives here. It will be extremely elegant within when completed : but the outside is totally spoilt by a school, which the Jews in- sisted on having annexed to it for the education of their children. Upon a small island, before the town, is part of a fine fortification, designed to consist of a pentagon-fort, and an upper and lower battery. Only two of the curtains, and a ravelin, are yet finished ; and it is doubted whether the whole ever will be.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
There are now mounted upon it twenty-six cannon ; but the works, when complete, will require above 150. At the entrance of the harbour there is likewise an ex- ceeding good light-house. These are the chief public buildings.
About three miles from town is an indifferent wooden house, built by dean Berkeley, when he was in these parts : the situation is low, but commands a fine view of the ocean, and of some wild rugged rocks that are on the left hand of it. . . The province of Rhode Island is situated . in the most healthy climate of North-America. The winters are severe, though not equally so with those of the other provinces ; but the summers are delightful, especially in the island ; the violent and excessive heats which America is in general subject to, being allayed by the cool and temperate breezes that come from the sea. The soil is upon the whole tolerably good, though rather too stony ; its natural produce is maize or Indian corn, with a variety of shrubs and trees. It produces in particular the button-tree ; the spruce-pine, of the young twigs of which is made excellent beer ; and the pseudo-acacia, or locust-tree ; but none of those fine flowering trees, which are such an ornament to the woods in Carolina and Virginia. It enjoys many advantages, has several large rivers, and one of the finest harbours in the world. Fish are in the greatest plenty and perfection, particu- larly the tataag or black-fish, lobsters, and sea-bass. In its cultivated state, it produces very little, except sheep and horned cattle ; the whole province being laid out into pasture or grazing ground. The horses are bony and strong, and the oxen much the largest in America; several of them weighing from 16 to 1800 weight. . . . The government of this province is en- tirely democratical ; every officer, except the collector of the customs, being appointed, I believe, either im-
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REV. ANDREW BURNABY.
mediately by the people, or by the general assembly.
· . There is no established form of religion here ;
but church of England men, independents, quakers, anabaptists, Moravians, Jews, and all other sects what- ever, have liberty to exercise their several professions. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sends only four missionaries.
Arts and sciences are almost unknown, except to some few individuals ; and there are no public semina- ries of learning ; nor do the Rhode Islanders in general seem to regret the want of them. .
The character of the Rhode-Islanders is by no means engaging, or amiable ; a circumstance princi- pally owing to their form of government. Their men in power, from the highest to the lowest, are depend- ent upon the people, and frequently act without that strict regard to probity and honour, which ever ought invariably to influence and direct mankind. The pri- vate people are cunning, deceitful, and selfish ; they live almost entirely by unfair and illicit trading. Their magistrates are partial and corrupt ; and it is folly to expect justice in their courts of judicature ; for he, who has the greatest influence, is generally found to have the fairest cause. . . . In short, to give an idea of the wretched state of this colony, it has happened more than once, that a person has had sufficient influence to procure a fresh emission of paper- money, solely to defraud his creditors ; . It . is needless, after this, to observe that it is in a very declining state; for it is impossible that it should prosper under such abuses. Its West Indian trade has diminished; . . . it has lost during the war, by the enemy, above 150 vessels ; . . it has been loaded with taxes, and many of the people have been oppressed by the mode of collecting them : .
After having said so much to the disadvantage of this
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
colony, I should be guilty of injustice and ingratitude, were I not to declare that there are many worthy gen- tlemen in it, who see the misfortunes of their country and lament them ; . . who are courteous and po- lite ; kind and hospitable to strangers ; and capable of great acts of generosity and goodness, as I myself ex- perienced during a very severe fit of illness which I lay under at this place.
1 705. Colonel Robert Rogers.
Robert Rogers (1727-1800) was celebrated as the commander of the " Rough Riders " of the French and Indian wars of 1755-1760. His troop was known as Rogers' Rangers, and the name of Rogers' Rock, on Lake George, commemorates his feat of sliding down the precipice to escape from the Indians. At one time he was royal governor of Mackinaw, Michigan. In the Revolutionary war he held the rank of colonel in the British army, and commanded the "Queen's Rangers." He was the author of several books.
This quotation is taken from his Concise Account of North America, 1765, pp. 55-59.
This colony comprehends what were originally the colonies or plantations of Rhode Island and Providence, being incorporated into one, by a new charter, about the same time as the colony of Connecticut ; and, like that, they still retain the rights and privileges that were at first granted them in their separate state, keeping up likewise two seats of government, viz. Newport and
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COLONEL ROBERT ROGERS.
Providence, at which places their general court is held alternately.
This colony has but a small territory, lying nearly in the figure of an heart, and is bounded north and east by the Massachuset's Bay, southerly by the ocean, and westerly by Connecticut.
The principal towns in it are those already mentioned of Newport, situated on the Island called Rhode Island, pleasantly enough, and has a safe and good harbour for ordinary shipping ; and Providence, situated not less pleasantly upon Providence River, is a very thriving town, and has a considerable trade.
The number of inhabitants in this colony is com- puted to be about 70,000.
The soil is generally low, and inclined to rocks and stones ; however, when properly improved, produces Indian corn, rye, oats, pease, hemp, flax, and some wheat, and most kinds of fruit common to the climate, in great perfection, especially on Rhode Island itself, which, for beauty and fertility, is the garden of the colony, and is exceeded perhaps by no spot in New England. They raise cattle, sheep, and horses in abundance, and the latter the best on the continent. They likewise make considerable quantities of butter and cheese in this country.
The principal commodities exported from hence are, horses, sheep, cheese, and the produce they procure from the neighboring provinces, such as fish and lumber from the Massachuset's and New Hampshire ; flour, beef, and pork, from Philadelphia, New York, and Connecticut, which they commonly pay for in rum, sugar, molasses, imported from the West Indies, in tea from Holland, or in slaves from the coasts of Africa.
The form of government here is in all respects the same as in the colony of Connecticut. They are not, however, so scrupulous in keeping up to the terms of
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
their charter, often dispensing with it in some pretty essential points, and taking liberties, not only detri- mental to the other provinces, but even to the nation, especially in times of war, by carrying on an illicit trade with the enemy, and supplying them with the most material articles. This they have repeatedly done with impunity, to my certain knowledge, in the course of the late war, when many scores of vessels went loaded with beef, pork, flour, &c. under the pre- text of flags, which, for a certain consideration, could at any time be procured from their Governor, when at the same time perhaps they carried not more than one or two French prisoners, dividing the crew of one French merchantman they had taken, among a whole fleet of flags of truce, laden with articles more welcome to the enemy than all the prisoners, with the ship and cargo, they took from them. Nor can it be greatly wondered at that their Governor should fall in with so clandes- tine a method for the procurement of a livelihood, when it is considered that they allow him but fifty or sixty dollars per annum for his maintenance ; besides, as he is annually elected, so there are always two or more that are competitors for the government; and generally he that distributes the most cash, and gives the best entertainments, let him be merchant, farmer, tradesman, or what he will, is the man who obtains a majority of votes, which fixes him in the chair (death only excepted) for that year. These election-expences generally run high, as each candidate endeavours to excel his competitor (and, if all put together, would amount to a reasonable maintenance) and must be re- funded some way or other during his reign who hap- pens to be elected, and provision made to act the sanie part over again the next year.
There are in this colony men of almost every relig- ious persuasion in the world. The greatest number are
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BENJAMIN WEST.
Quakers, and many have no religion at all, or at least profess none ; on which account no questions are here asked, every man being left pretty much to think and act for himself, of which neither the laws nor his neighbours take much cognizance, so greatly is their lib- erty degenerated into licentiousness. This province is infested with a rascally set of Jews, who fail not to take advantage of the great liberty here given to men of all professions and religions, and are a pest not only to this, but the neighboring provinces.
There is not one free-school in the whole colony, and the education of children, generally, shamefully neg- lected.
1 769. Benjamin West.
Benjamin West (1730-1813) was a native of Reho- both, Massachusetts. For some years he was a book- seller in Providence, Rhode Island, but finally turned his attention to mathematics and astronomy. From 1786 to 1799 he was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Brown University. In 1812- 1813 he was postmaster of Providence. He published a series of almanacs for the years 1763-1793. The following quotation is copied from the New England Almanack, for 1769.
STAGE-COACHES, PASSAGE-BOATS AND THE MAILS, TO AND FROM PROVIDENCE, R. I., IN 1759.
The Providence coaches, kept by Mr. Thomas Sabin and Knight Dexter, Esq., go twice a week from Provi-
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
dence to Boston, performing their respective stages in a day.
The Norwich coach comes once a week from Mr. Azariah Lathrop's, in Norwich, to Dr. Samuel Carew's, on the west side of the Great Bridge, in Providence, where travellers will meet with the best entertainment. The stage performed in a day.
The Providence Passage-boats, kept by Mr. Joshua Hacker and Messieurs Thomas and Benjamin Lindsey, ply every day from Providence to Newport, and per- form the passage, wind and weather permitting, in three hours.
Mr. Peter Mumford, Post Rider, leaves Newport, with the Western and Southern Mails, on Friday morn- ing, arrives at Providence the same night, sets out for Boston on Saturday morning, which he reaches at night, and returns with the Boston Mail on Monday, perform- ing his stage once a week.
1770. Alexander Cluny.
Alexander Cluny was an English, or Scotch, mer- chant and traveller, who published his observations upon the American colonies in the form of a series of letters addressed to the " Right Honourable Earl of . . . " In the second letter the " traveller " says, "I have the Honour to inform your Lordship of the Discoveries I made in the Year 1744 ; as also that since that Time I have traversed the whole Coast of America, from Lat. 68, North, to Cape Florida, and penetrating some thou- sands of Miles westward, into the Wilderness, many
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ALEXANDER CLUNY.
Parts of which were never trodden before by European feet." He also says that he has been a colonial mer- chant for more than thirty years. Dibdin's " Library Companion " says that he was the " first to give accu- rate intelligence of Hudson's Bay, and to institute an inquiry about a more successful commerce with the Americans." The extract given is taken from The American Traveller (2d ed. London, 1770), p. 51.
COMMODITIES exported from Great Britain to Con- necticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Wrought-Iron, Steel, Copper, Brass, Pewter and Lead-Woolen Cloths-Stuffs-Flannels-Colchester Bays-Long-Ells-British, Irish, and Foreign-Linens -Silks-Gold and Silver Lace-Millenary, Haber- dashery, and Hosiery-Wares - Hats-Gloves-Man- chester Goods-Birmingham and Sheffield Wares- Hemp-Sail-Cloth-Cordage - Upholstery and Sad- dlery Wares-Cabinet-Maker's Goods-Painter's Col- ours-Ship-Chandlery Wares-Earthen Ware-India Goods-Grindstones-Fishing Tackle-Cheese -- Pick- les-Toys - Seeds - Tobacco-pipes - Strong Beer- Wines-Spirits-Medicinial Drugs-all which cost at an Average of three Years, £12,000.
COMMODITIES exported from Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Masts, Boards, Joists, Staves, &c .. £30,000
Salted Beef-Pork-Hams-Butter-Cheese
Callivances-and Flax Seed, 15,000
Whale and other Fish-Oil, 1500 Tons-at £15- 22,500
Pickled Mackarel, Shads, and other Fish, . . 7,000
Horses and Live Stock, . 25,000
Potash-6000 Barrels-at 50s 15,000
£114,500
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
1771 Rev. Morgan Edwards.
Morgan Edwards (1722-1795), was born in Wales, educated in England, and ordained to the Baptist min- istry in Ireland. He came to America in 1761, and became pastor of the Baptist church in Philadelphia. In 1770 he resigned his position, and took up the life of a travelling preacher and lecturer. He took a prominent part in founding Rhode Island college, now Brown University, and spent much time in collecting materials for a history of the Baptist denomination in America. During the Revolution his sympathies were Loyalist. The extract given is taken from his " Materials for a history of the Baptists in Rhode Island," as published in Vol. VI. of the Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society, pp. 313-355, passim.
PROVIDENCE.
This church is usually distinguished by the above name, which is the name of the town where the meet- ing-house is, in the township of Providence and county of the same. The house is 41 feet by 35, and pretty well finished, with pews and galleries. It was erected about the year 1722, 1726, on a lot of 112 feet by 77, partly the gift of Rev. Pardon Tillinghast and partly the purchase of the congregation. It is situated towards the north end of the town, having the main street to the front and the river to the back. No estate belongs to it, for which reason the salary of the minister (Rev. James Manning) is reputed no more than 50 £ a year. The character of it is that of General Baptist, holding
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REV. MORGAN EDWARDS.
the six points, though the minister and several of the congregation are calvanistic in sentiments, and slack about laying on of hands. The families belonging to them are about 250, whereof 118 * persons are bap- tized and in communion, which is here celebrated every S. in the month.
From Providence we shall pass to the next church in point of seniority, viz .- Newport-I distinguish this church by the name of the town; but the other churches in town (which are the offspring of this) I will distinguish by the names of the streets where the meeting-houses are. Newport is on Rhode Island, in a township and county of the same name, 32 miles S. b. E. from Providence, and 348 miles N. E. b. E. h. E. from Philadelphia. The meeting-house belong- ing to Newport church is in Bull street, built in 1738, and well finished, with pews and galleries. Its dimen- sions are 40 feet by 30.+ The lot on which it stands is 73 feet by 64, the gift of Messrs. Colonels Hezekiah Carpenter and Josias Lyndon. The temporalities of the church are, 1. Hundred and fifty pounds, the gift of John Holmes. 2. A farm of 166 acres (with house and out-houses thereon, now rented out for 50l.), the gift of Rev. John Clark. The issues and profits were chiefly intended for the minister, though not so ex- pressed in the will for a reason which Mr. Clark com- municated to particular friends. 3. A garden in town, the gift of said Mr. Clark.
With these helps, and the rates of the pews, the living is reputed worth 90l. a year to the present min- ister, Rev. Erasmus Kelley. The families belonging to the congregation are about 50, whereof 37 persons are baptized and in the communion, which is here cele- brated the last Sunday in the month. The character
* This was their state in 1771.
+ About 60 feet .- (Note by another hand. )
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
of this church for some years past has been that of General Baptist, but as the minister and several of the members are of the sentiments of the Particular Bap- tists it is supposed it will return to what it was at first. They also have re-admitted psalmody, and laying on of hands. This was their state in the year 1771.
The second church of Newport is in Farewell Street. And I would distinguish this church by the name of the street where the meeting-house is, because it will be better than to distinguish it by the name of its minister (for the time being) as has been the ease hitherto. The house is 76 feet by 52, and stands on a lot of about a hundred feet square with a school-house and stablings .* The lot was purchased by the congregation at several times, and is a part of the estate of the famous William Coddington. The house at first was very small; in 1725 it was enlarged to 52 feet by 34; in 1749 it was enlarged again, to 62 feet by 52; and in 1768, to its present dimensions. It is pretty well finished, with pews and galleries, but too large for the speaker. The temporalities of this church are: 1. 37£ 10s., the gift. of Daniel Sanford, (O. T. 1000£). 2. 11£ 3s., (O. T. 300£), the gift of Joseph Sanford. 3. 28€ 4s. (O. T. 750€), the gift of the same person, for the use of the poor. With the above helps and perquisites, the living is reputed worth 100£ a year to the present. minister, Rev. Gardner Thurston.
The families belonging to the congregation are about 250, whereof 230 . . are baptized and in the com- munion, which is here celebrated the first Sunday in the month. The denomination of this church is that of General Baptist, (with exception of many individ- uals), holding the six points, and using psalmody.
The third church of Newport is in Sabbath Street.
* 32 miles S. by E. from Providence, and 348 from Philadelphia. -(Note by another hand. )
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REV. MORGAN EDWARDS.
The place of worship is 38 feet by 26, and well finished with pews, galleries, and a clock. It was erected in 1730, on a lot of 85 feet by 40, purchased by the con- gregation .* The temporalities are, 1. A dwelling- house, let for 10/. 10s. a year, the gift partly of the Hon. Richard Ward, partly of Capt. Joshua Sanders, partly of Sarah Arnold. 2. Six pounds 3s. the gift of Joseph Sanford. With these helps and perquisites the living is reputed worth 40l. a year to the present min- ister, Rev. John Maxson. The families belonging to the congregation are about 39, whereof 54 persons are baptized and in the communion, which is here cele- brated the last Saturday in the month. The distinction of this church is that of Seventh day baptist, holding general redemption, laying on of hands, using psalmody, &c. This was their state in 1771.
These are all the baptist churches in the town of Newport, or in Rhode Island. There is something like a church who meet in the house that was built by the Moravians, about - years ago. This society of the queer ones was gathered March 4, 1770, but in less than a year broke to pieces, their number was 17. On the 14th of April last eight of them were gathered to- gether again, and (with a few more which Dawson baptised), reconstituted, but are not likely to hold to- gether long. This Henry Dawson arrived from Dr. Gifford's church in London, to New York, in 1767, and offered himself to our association, but being under the censure of his church, was rejected again and again, so that he stands alone railing at associations and regu- lar ministry.
The next church we shall mention is that of Warren. It is so distinguished from the village where the meet- ing-house is, in a township of the same name, and
* It is distant 32 miles S. by E. from Providence, and 348 from Philadelphia .- ( Note by another hand. )
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
county of Bristol, 11 miles S. by E. from Providence and 328 miles from Philadelphia. The house was erected in 1763, on a lot of 50 rods square, purchased by the congregation. Its dimensions are 52 feet by 44, with pews, galleries, and a little turret, wherein is a bell, but the galleries are not finished. On the same lot is a handsome parsonage house, valued at 14l. a year, which is all the estate belonging to the church. The living including this is reputed worth 74l. to the present minister, Rev. Charles Thomson. The families belong- ing to the congregation are about whereof fifty-six persons are baptised and in communion, which is here celebrated the - Sunday in the month. The character of this church is Particular Baptist, hold- ing laying on of hands no bar to communion, and using psalmody. This is their present state, (1771).
From this we pass over the bay to Greenwich. This is usually distinguished as above from the town- ship, but should rather be called Newtown, which is the name of the village where the meeting-house is, in the county of Kent, 15 miles S. S. W. from Providence and
- miles from Philadelphia. The house is 30 feet square, erected in 1729, on a lot of 30 rods by 5, the gift of Clement Weaver. The situation is beautiful, being rising ground commanding a prospect of the town and harbor and a fine country. This was one reason urged why the college should be placed here. The character of this church is that of General Bap- tist, holding the six points ; of late they have admitted psalmody, and are grown more moderate in sentiments. No estate belongs to this church ; nor any fixed salary for the minister, though they could easily raise him 40l. a year. The families belonging to the congrega- tion are about -. whereof 52 persons are baptized and in the communion, which is here celebrated every
- -Sabbath in a month.
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REV. MORGAN EDWARDS.
The next church we shall mention is Cranston. It is usually distinguished as above from the name of the township where the place of worship is, in the county of Providence, about 6 miles S. W. from the town, and 312 miles from Philadelphia. The place of worship was originally a dwelling house purchased by the church in 1770, and made commodious for divine service. The character of the church is that of Par- ticular Baptists, using psalmody and laying on of hands. Temporalities they have not ; nor any fixed salary for their minister, but are able to raise him about 30l. if they were willing. The families belonging to them are about- -, whereof 40 persons are baptized and in communion of the church, which is here celebrated the-Sunday in each month. .
This college is allowed to be a neat pile of building and most pleasantly situated. The building is of brick, 150 feet by 46, four stories high, exclusive of the cellar, which is partly above ground. In the middle on each side is a projection of fifteen feet, making the whole resemble a cross. In one of these projections is the Chapel, in the opposite the dining room; above is the library, the appa- ratus room, etc. The chambers are 52 in number, opening to large isles, running the whole length of the building. Upwards of a 100 scholars may be here accommodated. The situation of the college is remarkably airy, healthful and pleasant, being the summit of a hill pretty easy of ascent, and command- ing a prospect of the town of Providence below, of the Narragansett' Bay and the islands, and of an ex- tensive country variegated with hills and dales, woods and plains, &c. Surely, this spot was made for a seat of the muses.
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