USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Just inside the garden gate was the exquisite little summer house, octagonal in shape, with many little pointed gables, be- neath which was a succession of windows, shaded with blinds. It was built on a high rock and was surmounted by a carved figure of King Philip. At the end of the garden was a wide gate, leading to a large field, which was called Indian Common, so named from the many arrowheads and stone hatchets found there when plowing up the soil.
To keep the many outbuildings in repair required the services of a carpenter the year round. The resident carpenter, known in the town as Deacon Holmes, kept the house and place in perfect repair for a great many years. Josephine used to love to play in his sweet-smelling, clean little shop which was on the premises. She would, childlike, pick up the shavings of pine or cedar and hang them on her ears, playing they were curls, and gayly ride on his saw horses and she thought it great fun. Sometimes he got a little tired of having her around, being rather a nervous little man, and would say, "You'd better not play with them tools, they might cut yer; I guess yer better run home to yer Ma." He said "cut yer" with a sort of snap that sent her home immediately.
She went on to say: "An Italian artist lived for a year at the house, decorating the walls. We went up a winding staircase to the second floor where were the 'Drawing-room chamber' and the 'White Room', both guest rooms. Very beautiful they
107
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
were and harbored many a distinguished guest, among whom was President Monroe and at a later date the celebrated statesman, Daniel Webster."
Great orchards of apple trees were to the north and east, their fruit supplied the cider house, and grinding was as picturesque as the vintage in Southern Europe.
There was the Deer Park, well stocked with red deer, kept within bounds by a high wooden fence surmounting the stone wall which surrounded it. This fence blew down in the great gale of September, 1815, and the deer scattered never to return. Tra- dition says that this park was where the old D'Wolf family cemetery is, on the south side of Tan Yard lane. In those days the stables were filled with fine carriage and thoroughbred saddle horses, for the D'Wolf family was noted for its love of horse flesh. The large coachhouse held the finest specimens of the coach builders art, from the great traveling coach to the single seated chaises and cabriolets. The great coach, used when they went to New York or Boston was sold after the senator's death and the one now in existence was a smaller affair for the use of the family.
Josephine's child life was a very full and happy one. She con- stantly drove with her mother in the great carriage,-Ben Mann was the coachman at that time. Sometimes they drove to Warren to do a little shopping, sometimes to see relatives-to Popper- squash to see her Uncle William's family, or to her sister Mary Ann in town.
In the early days there were many African servants at the "Mount". Two of these, Adjua and her husband, Polydore, when very young, were taken off the coast of Guinea and brought to America on board one of the senator's slavers. Adjua was trained to help in the kitchen and Polydore in the garden. In time they married and had four children and the senator built them a nice little house not far from the "Mount". When the children were older, Adjua went every day to the "Mount" and took charge of the kitchen as afore.
108
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Both of these old retainers were held in great esteem by the family, and both lived to an advanced age. When they passed on their earthly remains were laid to rest in the old D'Wolf family cemetery along side the rest of the D'Wolfs they had served so faithfully.
While the senator lived a great many of the men folk of the village were employed at the "Mount" in various capacities. Reading through the old files of our local paper, the death notices show that many of the deceased were in their younger days "in the employ of the late Senator James D'Wolf."
"The maids at the 'Mount' were always village girls, Adjua had long since retired as cook, and Ruth Coy had taken her place and all who ever visited at the 'Mount' remembered her won- derful cooking and fried johnny cakes. Lucretia and Martha were sisters and filled the places of parlor maid and waitress."
"Edward Anthony had succeeded Ben Mann as coachman and owned a nice little house at the end of the lane near the 'Mount', and he soon asked Lucretia to share it with him. So the wedding day was fixed upon for their marriage and Josephine, her mother and father, and other members of the family went to the wedding in the little cottage." In 1862 Edward became overseer of the whole place with the unreserved confidence and esteem of the family and lived to bury three generations while in their service. This service extended over a period of fifty-two years.
For many years life went merrily on for the D'Wolf family. All were admired and their style of living was considered un- approachable. Their farms were the largest and most profitable and their ships brought them untold riches. Fortune truly smiled on this famous family. But now all is gone; the family is long since dead; their descendants scattered; the fine old mansion destroyed by fire, and the land sold.
The Senator passed on many years ago, in 1837; his good wife followed him in eleven days, her death came on the 2nd day of January, 1838. Josephine, their youngest daughter, and the last surviving child of the couple, died in 1901 ; her daughter who wrote the interesting account of the old family died in 1933.
109
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
THE OLD D'WOLF FAMILY BIBLE
A LITTLE over 100 years ago two of Mark Anthony D'Wolf's granddaughters presented to the Providence Athæneum the old family Bible formerly belonging to their noted grandfather. This old relic of the past, yellowed by age, many of its leaves torn and ragged from use, is now in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
The record attached tells its own story:
"This Bible was presented to Mark Anthony, second son of Charles D'Wolf of Guadaloupe, by his mother Margarett D'Wolf when on his last visit to that Island of his birthplace.
"It was given by his widow, Abigail D'Wolf, to her eldest daughter, Margaret Diman, from whose family it was obtained by its present possessors, Charlotte D'Wolf and Maria D'Wolf Rogers, Bristol, January, 1833."
"This book belonged to some members of the D'Wolf family from July, 1724. It was for many years on shipboard."
The old records made so many years ago in his handwriting, entered wherever there was a blank page or space, are very quaint. At times he must have done a little practicing in penman- ship, for the flourishing strokes of his quill have left mute evi- dence of his skill in chirography on the yellowed pages.
The entries are as clear and legible as the day they were made:
"Monday morning 25 minutes after 2 o'clock December 19th, 1762 william was
Born"
"James D'Wolf was born March 18, 1764." "Levi D'Wolf was born early Tuesday morning April 8, 1766."
IIO
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
THE OLD D'WOLF WAREHOUSE
OFF Thames street, in the old seaport Bristol, stands a long stone building which is intimately linked with one of the most picturesque periods of Rhode Island history.
This old structure, built of granite brought from Africa, was erected in the year 1818 by Captain James D'Wolf and his brother William, to store the merchandise brought home by their many square-riggers. The stone of the building came, in great part, from Africa and the West Indies, brought home as ballast by ships returning with light cargoes. Such is tradition and no doubt it is true, for the granite used in the construction of the walls came from no native quarry. In contrast to the other old buildings which stand near by, the stone warehouse with its walls of granite, sandstone and slate is as sturdy today as when Bristol stone masons laid rule and level to its first courses. The lintels and sills of the doors piercing the walls are huge granite blocks. The red of sandstone and the gray of slate checker the walls. Rusted iron shutters still cling to the doors. Inside the old warehouse things are much as they were when the D'Wolf ships still rode the seas. The woodwork is a job to make a car- penter of today hang his head in shame-it is true carpentry, skilled pin-and-tenon work, with wood doing the work-and nary a nail to aid. Such was the work of those olden days. The great stringer, running the entire length of the first floor ceiling is spliced and tongued so skilfully that at first sight you might take it for one gigantic timber.
Ascending to the second floor, you find ceiling beams of dressed pine, exquisitely hand-planed and joined together by wooden pins. The fashion of their laying is unusual-a stagger- ing arrangement seldom seen in these days. The walls are sheathed in pine, with deep recessed windows looking out on the bay. From these windows you expect to see one of the old D'Wolf square-riggers nosing into the slip: a privateer, perhaps,
III
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
coming home a few hands short but dripping with prize money; or a slaver with a few choice blacks for the Rhode Island quality.
Another stairway leads up to a dim attic, roofed with 24-inch boards. Here is a big hoisting-wheel, forever done with its heav- ing of bales and casks.
Leading down from the street to the end of the wharf is a long alleyway; this alleyway, years ago, was a slip into which the D'Wolf ships slid to unload their cargoes of sugar and molasses, and also the rich plunder captured by their privateers.
Across the alleyway the old "still house", where Cuban sugar and molasses were made into New England rum, still stands, a mere shell. An ancient hoisting-wheel hides in the shadows be- neath its ridgepole. This old "still house", one of the links in the triangular traffic of molasses, rum and slaves is surely a relic of the dim past. Rum and trinkets went to Africa-slaves to Cuba-molasses to make more rum to buy more slaves, and so it went. It was a flourishing and profitable business and only ceased when the government, with the aid of its fast-sailing revenue cutters, in 1807, put an end to it. Thereafter it languished and in time not a single slaver was to be sighted on the high seas.
During this languishing period covert ways and means were invoked to get around the law; it is known that some Bristol shipmasters did not scruple to put their ships under Spanish reg- istry for a few more profitable trips to the coast of Guinea.
Nothing survives of the rum-making equipment of this old still-house, nothing but the ancient hoisting-wheel high among the rafters; the floors have long since been gutted and you look up to the roof from what was once the cellar.
Up on the street, just to the left of the entrance to the alley- way, is a three story red brick building. A painted sign on the front tells its own story:
"Built for a bank by James and Wm. D'Wolf in 1797"
It was here that James D'Wolf's two banks were doing busi- ness one hundred or more years ago. The Bank of Bristol and the
II2
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Mount Hope Bank, and also his counting-rooms were all located on the first floor; and it was here you would find him, closeted with his business manager, Byron Diman, every day of the week.
Some ship's carpenter might have had a hand in the designing of this old interior, the ceiling has a slight arch like that of a ship's cabin. On either side of a great fireplace, in front of which the old D'Wolf brothers used to sit and talk things over with their young shipmasters, are windows with casings built to con- form to this curve. Over in one corner a huge scar in the walls reaching half way to the ceiling shows where the huge iron vault was located.
Those were the days of crude locks and the barn-door type of keys, all very heavy and at the same time none too safe; yet they, at a time when gold was the medium of exchange, did not hesitate to intrust their precious bags of the yellow metal to what pro- tection those old vaults might afford.
Under the bank building is what was once the old slave dun- geon; the entrance can still be seen, as also can the entrance from the alleyway. Blacks could be landed from the slavers and hur- ried under cover, later to be sold to some of the best families in the state. Across the street from the bank building, just a bit to the north, is an old stone dwelling house built in 1817. It would seem quite possible that the same stone as went into the ware- house was used in the construction of this house. They both being built at about the same time, it would seem to be the natural thing to use this same stone brought from the coast of Africa.
To the north of the old warehouse is a dwelling house whose rear portion is said to be all that remains of the house of Capt. Simeon Potter, the fiery little corsair, who brought the first D'Wolf to Bristol. This was the Mark Anthony who married the little corsair's sister, Abigail, back in the year 1744. They had many children; the most noted being James and William. Of course there was Levi, he too followed the sea in his younger days. He was a pious old soul who served grog twice only on a voyage-once off Prudence Island on the outward passage-and once off the island coming home.
II3
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
A D'WOLF PROJECT
"IN 1822, a project was started by the Hon. James D'Wolf, who at that time was a member of the U. S. Senate, looking to the erection of some building, the exact nature of which was never fully disclosed. The building was to be of hewed granite, two stories in height, with a French roof. The foundation was laid on State street, and covered the present site of the Dr. Briggs, Mrs. R. D. Smith and Methodist church properties. The base- ment was laid in solid masonry, ten feet in width and six feet below the surface of the ground. The foundation was twenty feet back of State street and fronting on that street 184 feet, and on High street, 128 feet.
"The granite was quarried by Mr. Bradford Durfee of Fall River, and each block was numbered and fitted to its particular place. The cost of the granite alone was $38,000. The high stone wall on the west side of High street, adjoining the residence of Dr. Briggs, and the stone house to the north of it now owned by Capt. Benj. Brayton, were built at this time. Work on the build- ing was suspended in 1827, and was never resumed. After the death of the old senator, in 1837, the property passed into other hands.
"A sketch in colors of a contemplated structure now hangs in the main hallway of the Linden Place on Hope street. This was to be a long narrow two-story affair. From the above it would seem that the sketch and the project were one and the same".
II4
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
THE SLAVE TRADE in 1807 Captain James D'Wolf
AN OLD record, dating back to the year 1807, now safely preserved in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society, tells its own story of the slave traffic of those days. This single adventure netted the handsome sum of $27,635.50 to Capt. James D'Wolf.
"Account Sales of 106 Africans-
"Received of Brig Three Sisters, Capt. Champlin, on account of James D'Wolf, Esq., Merchant, Bristol, Rhode Island."
This document was dated Oct. 12, 1807 and signed at Charles- ton, S. C. by the D'Wolf agent at that port. An account in detail of each sale, giving the dates and amounts received for the blacks, together with the terms of the sales, was carefully rendered. A down-payment of cash, the balance on time, running from 30 days to 7 months, seemed to be the customary terms of sale of those days.
Capt. Champlin had brought over from Africa 24 men, 12 women, 46 boys, 24 girls, 106 in all. According to the record, the sale started on July 17th, for that is the date of the first entry of sale, and continued until the last black was disposed of, which was August 12th. The prices ranged as follows, the highest prices being on July 17th when the sale started, and from there on down to the last day of the sale, Aug. 12th, when the mer- chandise left on hand was closed out as a "job lot" for $225 apiece.
The men brought $360 down to $225, the boys brought the same. The women $320 down to $225, and the girls $280 to $225. $2250 actual cash was paid, to bind the bargain, and the balance, $26,840, was on time payments. The agents 5 per cent commission came to $1454.50, leaving the neat balance of $27,635.50.
II5
--
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
An old account has this to say about the slave trade of those early days: "From 1787 to 1817, the slave trade on the coast of Africa was carried on very extensively, nearly all the merchants of Bristol at that time being more or less engaged in this lucrative trade." At that early day it was looked upon as a legitimate branch of commerce, and many a princely fortune was amassed in this traffic in an innocent and helpless race.
GEN. GEORGE D'WOLF'S FAILURE in 1825
IT WAS of a Saturday night that the news of Gen. George D'Wolf's financial failure, in 1825, reached Bristol.
The whole village was plunged in gloom; one elderly lady living at the turn of the century remembered, "The women folk were all in tears and the men were 'just stunned' by the catas- trophe that had struck the village." The news came by messen- ger over the roads, for those were the days of post-horse and stage coaches. The next day, Sunday, the churches in the village did not open, nor did they for many Sabbaths following.
Miss Middleton, writing about this disastrous failure of Cousin George D'Wolf, by which the whole village of Bristol was wrecked and the whole family connection impoverished, said:
"Our grandfather (Wm. D'Wolf) lost sixty thousand dollars. My mother, with her usual leniency, always said that Cousin George meant well, thinking to make the fortunes of all his rela- tions and townsfolk."
An entry in Record Book -A- of the old Eagle Bank sheds some light on this unfortunate calamity of so many years ago:
"At a meeting of the directors held Dec. 23, 1825, a committee was appointed to negotiate for a part of an estate in Cuba in pay- ment of George D'Wolf's debt to this bank."
II6
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
Parson Wight in his records notes: "George D'Wolf failed and sold his large house on Hope street (The Linden Place) to his father for $ 30,000."
One old sea-dog of those days, Capt. Isaac Manchester, who lived in the large house on the southwest corner of Hope and Oliver streets, lost $80,000, his horses, carriages and everything he had. Reduced to the state of clamming for a living, he one time, while over on the shore, observed with a trace of cynicism, "At least I have found a bank that won't fail-a clam bank."
HON. JOHN D'WOLF and the "FARM"
LIKE his brothers, John D'Wolf, the ninth child of Mark Anthony and Abigail Potter D'Wolf, followed the sea in his youth and at an early age became a master and eventually ship owner. Hence his title of captain when only a young man.
In early youth he took an active part in our war for independ- ence and was among the suffering prisoners on the Jersey prison ship. In time, as did the other D'Wolfs, he forsook his first love, the sea, and transferred his interests to the land and in later life was considered one of the best farmers in New England. During his long life he took an active part in the affairs of this village and was in 1808 a member of the State Legislature. "In all his dealings with others he was peculiarly explicit in making his engagements and not less prompt in their per- formance." The old records of St. Michael's church show that John D'Wolf served on the vestry for many years.
·
An old newspaper item that I ran across recently mentioned Judge John D'Wolf of Bristol. Curious to know if it was this same John D'Wolf, I found that in 1820 he was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. It seemed strange that a sea-faring man should be a member of the highest tribunal of the state; one would naturally look for a member of the bar holding such a high judicial office. It seems that "a hundred and fifty years ago, the judges were seldom lawyers". This same
II7
- --
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
authority says that in those days the success of a lawyer depended not so much upon his knowledge of the law, as upon his personal character. A lawyer of imposing presence and great personal magnetism could exercise a great influence over the minds of a jury. Even in these days we read of smart lawyers "swaying the jury".
According to the records, John D'Wolf was born in the year 1760, and died in 1841. The "Farm" built by him, situated on Griswold avenue (named after the saintly Bishop Griswold (1766-1843) was built in 1787. Parson Wight in his records of building operations in this village, records in the year 1787: "Capt. John D'Wolf, a large house on his farm." However, the date on the great chimney is 1798.
Mr. John De Wolf years ago, writing about this old family homestead, said that "there are bills and other documents still existent showing the work in the west rooms was done on that date, so it would seem likely (as this was the only house he ever built on the farm) that at first a plain farmhouse was put up, and later, in 1798, it was improved; the west porch and kitchen wing being added. Years ago the farm consisted of hundreds of acres on both sides of the avenue, reaching far down the Ferry Road, and extending over to the shores of Mount Hope bay. Here were pastured great herds of cattle and large flocks of sheep. The long stone walls were built as the land was cleared.
"The era of onion raising developed by a direct West India trade and the thousands of bushels of onions, carrots and potatoes carried in Bristol ships, at a good profit, to the lands of sugar cane and coffee, brought a lot of money into the town. In one year alone Capt. D'Wolf's onion crop brought him in over twenty thousand dollars.
"In every one of the old pastures was dug a well to supply water for the cattle during the dry spells, and a set of stepping stones, or steps, was built into each well between adjoining fields. It was the old captain's custom, even in extreme old age, to go over his extensive farm, going over one-half each afternoon. He would take the south part one day and the north part the next
II8
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
day. The large farm was kept intact while he lived, but at his death in 1841, it was divided among his heirs.
"Under the old gentleman's care and skilful direction the farm became noted as the finest farm in Rhode Island and was much visited and admired.
"The house is an unpretentious structure built from timber said to have been cut on the place, well built and substantial. There are two old brick ovens in the house, the original one in the long dining room, the other in the present kitchen. Both of these still remain unchanged. All the principal rooms in the house have good fireplaces, and the chimneys from all in the main part of the house arch together and come out of the roof in one great chimney with six separate flues. The fireplace in the long dining room is remarkable for its size and depth, and on festive occasions was always filled with the largest logs.
"Seven generations of the D'Wolf family from Mark An- thony, the first to come to Bristol, down to the present generation have sat before it. In the second story of the kitchen wing, still unchanged, is the old smoke house, with its tight fitting iron door and black interior with many hooks for hanging the hams and bacon once cured there.
"Another old relic of the past now in the garret together with old hand looms, spinning wheels and utensils of the eighteenth century, is the old apparatus for distilling rose water, once con- sidered an article of many virtues and in great demand a century ago. Bushels of rose petals were required and hundreds of rose bushes, white, damask, burgundy and cinnamon were planted to supply the demand. The month of June was a fragrant time in those days.
"The windows are still glazed with the small panes of glass, seven by nine inches in dimension; more picturesque than mod- ern sashes, they show the present generation how their ancestors lived. All the principal windows at one time had tight shutters of paneled woodwork, that could be closed at night to keep out the cold, for those were the times when they depended on logs and fireplaces for heating the large rooms.
119
SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
"Part of the hewn frame of the house is of oak and the rest of white pine, probably because the beams were cut from wood grown near at hand and the builders took what was handy. Some of the flooring is of boards thirty-four inches wide.
"The great barns and sheep houses were ample in their day to hold the winter fodder and great crops. One of the corn cribs is still standing and in use, but all the other original buildings, after over a hundred years of service, have disappeared. Some of the old sheep houses were built on great wooden runners, so they could be hauled by yokes of oxen from one place to another as shelter was required.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.