USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 18
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the return voyage a stop would be made at the Indies to sell these blacks for an invoice of sugar and molasses, this was car- ried home to Newport to be distilled into rum, then to be started off again on its mission in human traffic. The bills of lading for these vessels were printed with the heading, "By the Grace of God for the Coast of Africa." From 1775 or 1778 to the middle of the 19th Century the two kinds of slavery were strangely mixed. Bristol contributed a large part of the money needed to carry on both, and received a fair quota of negroes into its homes, so that even in our day survivors of this system were well known.
One of the earliest in my recollections of these colored people was Barbara Howland who came regularly to the Parsonage on Thanksgiving mornings, for her breakfast, bringing with her a tin pail to be filled with "something good" to carry home. Her street costume was a heavy linsey-woolsey petticoat with a shawl about her shoulders and a quilted hood on her head. Her large features, high cheek bones and straight hair betrayed a mixture of Indian and negro blood, which added much to the mystery and interest with which we children watched her. Barbary lived to see her grandchildren fill respectable and efficient positions in the town as barbers and in later times her grandchildren were among our High School graduates.
Uncle Song Haskell and his wife Morea were of pure African blood. As a sawer of wood and drawer of water in the days when all drinking water was carried from private wells, or the town pump, and wood was split and piled in woodsheds for the winter's use, "Uncle Song" was a faithful servant.
Total abstinence was not enforced in town, nor state, nor was the subject publicly discussed to any great extent. Decanters of choice wines were on the sideboards in all the homes of the well-to-do and was offered at all parties. This being the case in high life, was it strange that to those in humble circumstances came the temptation to drown sorrow and misery with a mug of rum? One of those persons over-indulgent was "Black Luce" who on being pulled out of the gutter where she had fallen,
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when reprimanded, replied "Lors sake, Uncle Joe, looks is nothing-behavior is all." Her granddaughter grew up in our public schools, graduating with honors from the High School and giving the Latin Salutatory.
Bridget Tanner, one of the earliest of that family, was known to some of us as the maker and vender of spruce beer and bay- berry tallow. The beer found a ready sale for refreshment, and the tallow was used to grease the boys' boots to make them impervious to snow and water before the days of gum overshoes.
Alathea, or Althea Everson Clark and her husband lived with the family of Stephen Church on his farm on Pappoose- squaw. She had a natural ear for music and could sing, and play on the piano. The family say that on occasion she would be invited into the parlor to entertain company, she would play skilfully and with great expression, being as much at ease as any of the guests. Once in a while Althea would come to the Parsonage in the evening to have a letter written at her dicta- tion to some absent friend. These letters always began and ended with the same forms, viz., "I write to inform you that I am well and hope these lines will find you the same", and "Yours till death" Althea Everson Clark. Between these parts she would express herself in a very friendly way for a page or so, then seeing it finished and her name signed for her at the close, she would ask to have it read aloud, showing her great satisfaction in the exclamation-"That sounds nice."
John Navy, or "Uncle John" as he was called, came to Bristol as a cook on a vessel from the West Indies in the '60s, and lived for many years with his second wife in a little two-roomed house on land owned by Capt. Allen Usher in Goree. During the last of his life he was a familiar figure on the street as he passed daily with a large covered basket on his arm calling at regular places for cold food and "broken bits". The story of his early life was sad-A little boy of three years (previous to 1785) at play near his home on the East Coast of Africa, he was suddenly kidnaped and hurried on board a vessel in the harbor and sold into slavery to an English sea captain whom he served for many
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years. From this servitude he found his way into the British Navy and from thence to this country. Bowed over with rheu- matism and shuffling along on his frostbitten feet, he was wont to say when asked his age, "I do' know Missey, some folks say I must be a hundred. I am so old I have the misery in my bones." This little kidnaped boy of three years never forgot the lamenta- tions of his mother as she stood on the shore watching the re- ceding vessel as it bore him away to a remote part of the world, a life of bitter servitude and long years of poverty and weakness at the close. He died in Bristol in 1883 about 100 years old. A century of toil, yet his last years were his best years, for in these he received the sympathy of friends and his temporal wants were supplied.
HON. BYRON DIMAN, 1795-1865
HON. BYRON DIMAN died at his residence on Hope street in this town on Tuesday, August 1, 1865. He was seized with an apoplectic attack on the 23rd ult. and such was the severity of the attack that from the first no hopes were entertained of his recovery.
Governor Diman was the son of the late Deacon Jeremiah and Hannah (Luther) Diman. He was born August 5, 1795, in the dwelling house on Thames street recently occupied by Mason W. Pierce, Esq. He was so long engaged in active business and had been so conspicuous in public life that he was very widely known and no man among us has more fully commanded the esteem and affection of all who knew him. His early education was obtained at the private schools here and principally under the tuition of the late Bishop Griswold.
At the age of 16 he entered the counting room of the late Hon. James D'Wolf, where he continued until that gentleman's death in 1837, and until after the settlement of his estate. Governor Diman for a long time was extensively engaged in commercial
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business, both in the whale fisheries and in the West Indies trade; he was also largely concerned in cotton manufactures and was an extensive owner and director in the cotton manufactories in this town; at one time treasurer and subsequently president of the Bristol Steam Mill; and also a director of the Pakonoket Mill.
For the greater part of his life he has held a deep interest in political questions and took a very active part in all political con- tests, in the national, State or town affairs. He represented his native town for many years in both branches of the Legislature, both under the old charter and our present form of State gov- ernment.
During the Dorr troubles of 1842 he took an active part on the side of the Law and Order party and was one of the Governor's councilors during those exciting times. After the adoption of the Constitution he served for three years as lieutenant governor and in 1846 was elected governor of the State. He was a member of the convention which nominated General Harrison for the pres- idency in 1840.
Governor Diman was cashier of the Mount Hope Bank in this town during the continuance of that institution and was, also, for many years president of the Bank of Bristol. He always took an interest in church affairs and was remarkably punctual in his attendance on public worship. He was for several years president of the Catholic Congregational Society.
He always took a great interest in everything that pertained to the welfare and prosperity of his native town-a man of open hospitality, the poor who applied to him for aid were never sent away empty handed. He was a genial, kind-hearted man, affable to all, a kind neighbor, a prudent counsellor and a true friend.
Governor Diman retired from active business about five years ago and has since passed his remaining years in the quiet of his family, library and native town.
He was twice married. His first wife was Abigail Alden, daughter of the late Rev. Henry Wight, D.D., for more than forty years the beloved pastor of the Congregational Church in this town. By her he had seven children, four of whom are now
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living, viz: George Byron Diman, who resides at the family homestead; Rev. J. Lewis Diman, at present Professor of His- tory in Brown University; Henry Wight Diman, United States Consul at Oporto, Portugal, and Clara Anna, the wife of A. Sid- ney D'Wolf, Esq. His second wife, who survives him, was Elizabeth Ann, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas B. Wood and widow of the late Jeremiah D. Liscomb of this town; by her he has one daughter.
The funeral of Governor Diman was solemnized on Thursday afternoon at his late residence. The services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Shepard assisted by Rev. Dr. Thayer of Newport. At the close of the solemnities a long procession followed his remains to the Juniper Hill Cemetery where they were deposited by the side of kindred dust.
JOHN HOWE, 1783-1864
ANOTHER venerable and well known form has ceased from among us. John Howe, Esq., one of the leading members of the Rhode Island Bar, and a practicing attorney of this town for almost half a century, died at the residence of his son, the Rev. Mark A. D'W. Howe, in Philadelphia, March 14, 1864, at the advanced age of 80 years and 8 months. Mr. Howe was born in Killingly, Conn., July 3, 1783, the son of Captain Perley and Abigail (D'Wolf) Howe. He was graduated at Rhode Island College, now Brown University, in the year 1 806, and on leaving college studied law under Judge Benjamin Bourn of this town, and on admission to the Bar in 1808, practiced his profession until about ten years since, when advanced age compelled him to retire. He early secured an enviable reputation at the Bar, then regularly attended by such eminent lawyers as Burrill, Burgess and Searle, of Providence, and Hazard, Hunter and Robbins, of Newport. He early took part in the politics of the day, casting his lot as a Federalist, with a party that was in the minority both in State and country. He stood by this party through all its struggles until it
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was succeeded by the Whig party. He represented this town in the General Assembly for a number of years, and was an influen- tial and prominent member of that body. His terms of service were: 1823-27-28-29-30-41-42.
In 1844 he was appointed Collector of Customs for the district of Warren and Bristol by President Harrison.
"Squire" Howe, as he was called, filled a large place in the community for half a century, and was one of the first to start and forward the plan of free schools. He married, in 1807, Louisa, daughter of Stephen Smith, of this town. They had one child, Mark Antony DeWolfe.
From the Bristol Gazette, 1834:
NOTICE
"The subscriber has appropriated the southeast room of his dwelling house to the transaction of such professional business as is done at an office and will be happy to receive the commands of his friends and clients in relation to such or any other law business. He would give notice that the practice of writing dunning letters for cred- itors in the town, which always had the effect of making debtors indifferent to their calls and throwing the business of collecting out of the hands of such creditors, will not be conformed to by him, unless specially requested by his em- ployers, and at that their expense.
John Howe Attorney and Counsellor at Law"
Another, one year later-1835:
Notice
John Howe has removed his law office to the northwest room of his own house, where he will be happy to see his friends and clients.
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ROBERT ROGERS, 1792-1870
THE subject of this sketch played a very important part in the affairs of this town from the time he first came here in 1814, up to the time of his death in 1870, a period of 56 years.
Born in Newport, R. I., in 1792, during George Washington's first term of the presidency, he was twenty-two years old at the time he came to Bristol and married Maria D'Wolf, daughter of William D'Wolf, one of the most prominent merchants of those days.
Entering the counting-house of his father-in-law, at a time when an extensive foreign commerce was bringing such untold wealth to the town, he continued these business connections with Mr. D'Wolf up to the latter's death in 1829. It was quite nat- ural that he should carry on the business affairs of the old mer- chant. Success upon success crowned his every enterprise, ending in his amassing a large fortune. He paid a tax of $7900, and, at the time of his death was by far the wealthiest citizen of the com- munity, leaving an estate of over $1,300,000.
In his early youth he devoted more time and diligent study to the various branches of business education than was common with young men of his time. He was extremely well informed and consequently his ventures were based upon a thorough knowl- edge and were planned with great foresight. As a business man he was of the old school; his ideas of commercial morality were very strict; the most scrupulous and unbending integrity marked all his dealings.
Up to the last he was a constant attendant at public worship. Every Sunday morning would find him in his accustomed seat in church, even at the last when he was obliged to be supported from his carriage to his pew.
After his death the benevolent institutions of the community and the poor of the town, including many widows and orphans, shared liberally in his benefactions as they had while he lived. They all had abundant occasion to cherish and revere his memory.
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It would seem most fitting that the younger generation of Bristol, particularly the many who make use of our local free library, should know how it came to be and also something about the one who, years ago, made possible this lasting public service.
THE ROGERS FREE LIBRARY
From early youth Mr. Rogers was a constant reader and lover of the best literature. History and works of travel were his favor- ite reading. His library of several thousand choice volumes, after his death, was divided between the Redwood Library of Newport and our own local library.
During his life Mr. Rogers had often declared his intention of giving a library to the town and after his death his widow, find- ing certain memoranda upon the subject among his papers, de- cided to carry into effect her husband's plans and erect a building to his memory. The site selected was especially dear to her, from the fact that it was formerly a part of the homestead of her father, the late Captain William D'Wolf. The cost of the building, amounting to something more than $ 18,000, was wholly met and paid by Mrs. Rogers. The building was completed the latter part of 1877, dedicated January 12, 1878, and soon after a deed of trust was presented to the town by Mrs. Rogers. The library opened with some 4,000 volumes, consisting of a large proportion of the choicest books in the library of Mr. Rogers at the time of his death. Some 1,200 new volumes were the gift of Mrs. Rogers and her sister, Miss Charlotte D'Wolf. To these were added 2,200 volumes formerly belonging to the local Y. M. C. A. library. To give an idea how the library has prospered and grown, there are today (1942) nearly 26,000 volumes on the shelves. Mr. George U. Arnold was the first librarian and held the office up to the time of his death in 1924 and Miss Mary E. Thompson was the assistant librarian up to the time of her death in 1903.
Upon the death of Mr. D'Wolf his two daughters, Mrs. Rogers and Miss Charlotte D'Wolf, came into possession of the large estate, "Hey Bonnie Hall", over on Poppasquash, and from then on this was their home.
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Miss Alicia Middleton, who was grand niece of Mr. Rogers, wrote of him: "When my mother's marriage date was fixed Uncle Robert at once proposed to take her to New York, where with unstinted generosity he gave her carte blanche to get what- ever was needed for her wedding outfit, taking her to Tiffany's that she might select from the dazzling array of jewels and ornaments.
"All through his life, Uncle Robert was looked upon as a stern man, absorbed in his money-making. Cold and taciturn to others, he had a never failing smile for his little niece (Miss Middle- ton's mother). Usually morose and silent, when in her company he was a different man. 'People do not know what a fine man Uncle Robert is,' she would remark to her mother. To his ex- treme homeliness of countenance was added an irritability suffi- cient to repel anything but the bravery and innocence of youth. He was called close-fisted, exacting and selfish, but after his death, the poor and the suffering, the widows and orphans, bore witness to his generous and silent kindness of heart."
In the library is a large oil portrait of the old banker and after studying it for some time I have come to the conclusion that it is not an unkindly face. A rather amusing story about Mr. Rogers has survived these many years. It goes something like this: When the news of the unexpected defeat of the Union forces at the first battle of Bull Run reached Bristol, it was more than the old banker could stand. Rushing out of his bank, hatless, he ran along Hope street, waving his arms in despair and moaning all the way down the street, "We are lost, we are lost, we are all ruined!"
One hundred and twenty-four years ago, in September, 1818, a not very large bank was started in this town by the D'Wolfs. The General Assembly, in session that month, passed an act to incor- porate the stockholders of the Eagle Bank in Bristol; in 1865 its name was changed to the National Eagle Bank. In time it got to be known as "Robert Rogers' Bank," acquiring this name because of the fact that the old banker was connected with it from the day it was started.
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Record Book -A- of the bank, with its original entries, many in the bold handwriting of the old banker himself, is very interest- ing to look over. Judging from the way cashier after cashier fol- lowed one another in short order, the old banker must have been a tartar to work for. Among the original stockholders were William, George, and Levi D'Wolf. Robert Rogers, jr., was a director; in those days he was "jr." Charles D'Wolf, jr., was chosen the first president and G. F. Usher, cashier. The old rec- ords of the Eagle Bank show that at a meeting held June 3, 1822, Robert Rogers was chosen president in place of Charles D'Wolf, jr., who declined a re-election. Mr. Rogers was only thirty years old at the time. He held this office, except for a short period in the forties, up to the time of his death in 1870.
For years the old banker used to drive over to town every day from his home over on Poppasquash; he kept his rig in the barn in the rear of the Cushman house where the bank was located.
During the winter months he, his wife and her sister, Miss Charlotte D'Wolf, used to board with the Misses Cushman. "In those days 'theirs' was considered 'a fashionable boarding- house.' "
It was in the north front room of this old house that the Eagle Bank had its quarters from the year 1840 to 1878. For years John G. Watson, a deacon of the Congregational church, was cashier and only clerk of the bank. Many of the older generation will remember him as he toiled over his books at the high desk directly in front of the window facing the street. He was a small man and not very robust. Just recently I came across the notice of his sudden death from heart failure back in 1900. He was 70 years old at the time.
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"GOREE"
AS A BOY I remember Goree as a locality peopled wholly by colored folks, from Charles Munro's corner to the corner of "Crooked Lane". At that time I was rather skittish about going through there alone, though they were a very quiet folk, with the exception of a few young toughs. Prominent among these bellicose darkies was "Pinky" Peck, a schoolmate of ours, if I remember right. "Pinky" always had a fight on hand for any boy that wanted one. At one time he was a standard of fighting ability and any boy who could lick "Pinky" Peck was considered to be good for all-comers in that class.
There is a tradition that Goree once had a government sepa- rate from Bristol or under a protectorate, at any rate they elected a governor of their own. It is said that the last to hold the office-not Domino, he was only called governor by courtesy or in derision-brought his administration into disrepute by his violent methods towards his "subjects". This governor was a man of distinction in Goree, from the fact that he owned a horse and gig-the latter being the body and gear of an old chaise with the top removed-family carriages in that community being the exception. It appears that one of the citizens had committed some act against the "peace and dignity" of Goree and made tracks for the woods. The governor, who seems to have absorbed about all the offices belonging to the machinery of justice, started after the culprit in the old gig, and finally caught his man in the woods near Swansea. He also nearly killed the unfortunate darky by driving the seven miles back to Bristol with his prisoner lashed with his hands to the brace bar and his feet to the axle of the old gig, which cruel treatment so incensed the white people in town, the governor was forthwith deposed and the office abolished. I hear now that the colored people have about all left Goree and that the street (Wood) has been built over with a better class of houses.
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The Jim Domino alluded to was a person of considerable prominence in Goree circles, which prominence was emphasized when he was full of New England rum. This innocent product of the still was a favorite beverage in those days with a certain class. In speaking of his life on shipboard (he followed the sea at one time) Domino always expressed great admiration for Capt. McIntyre. He was wont to declare that the captain was the smartest man he ever sailed with, citing the fact that the captain on the outward passage to the West Indies flogged him three times before the ship passed Sandy Point, Prudence; an experience which seemed to give Domino the greatest satis- faction.
Capt. McIntyre in my time lived on the east side of High street, between Constitution and Church streets. A kind-hearted, bluff old gentleman, at one time an enterprising shipmaster and later a shipowner. He has been dead now more than forty years. He was a man well-liked, a favorite with all who knew him, a very interesting man.
SOME QUAINT BRISTOL CHARACTERS OF THE OLD DAYS
By J. A. REID ( 1848-1924)
A RESPECTED MERCHANT of Thames street, of the olden days, was Major Wardwell. He was a quaint character, sturdy in build, rugged in person, and brief in his language. He sold fruit, snuff, brogans, cowhide boots etc., and in fact kept one of those early department stores which in those days were called "variety stores". He had one customer who always seemed anxious to pick out the largest apple in the barrel and bound to get his money's worth on all occasions. The Major had marked this propensity with increasing impatience, and catching his patron in the act one day, called out: "Here, you've already chafed all the hair off the top of your head, get out of
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there." At another time a burly son of Africa came in to buy some cheese. There was already quite a score against him on the books, but getting possession of the article he desired, he turned around and told the waiting storekeeper "to charge it"' and made for the door, giving the Major his only chance to retaliate by the petty aside, "I hope it'll kill the damned nigger."
One of the most loyal and patriotic, as well as quaint, char- acters Bristol has had among her sons, was our old friend Sammie Slocum. His picturesque attire on the glorious Fourth, the marvelous whiteness of his raiment, a mammoth buttonhole decoration, and the imperiousness and magnificence of his holi- day stride on Independence Day, when he was a very important part of the parade, will for many years to come keep his memory fresh and green in the minds of his compatriots. The simplicity of his patriotism was only exceeded by its fervor, and the amount of pleasure he got out of the Fourth was only surpassed by the fun the boys tried to get out of him all the year round. He lived at Major Cushman's on Hope street, in the capacity of servant- in-general and man-of-all-work, washed dishes three times a day or more, went errands about town between meals, and filled in his odd moments clamming at low water over at "Mill Gut". His favorite field of operations lay over back of the "Sam Church farm". His wheelbarrow and his staunch figure were familiar sights on Hope street pleasant afternoons, for he always came back from "Mill Gut" loaded with clams. The boys all took a most devilish delight in pestering the poor fellow, until he could scarce contain himself. He would drop the handles of his "barrow", grab the biggest stone he could find, and make for his chief tormentor; meanwhile one of the other boys made off with his clams. The clams were sold only for cash, he was always looking for a quarter, and was never known to take "shin-plasters" or change. Sammy had a fondness or weakness for bright flashy jewelry, any kind so long as it would flash. You should have seen him when he was "all dressed up". His fingers were just covered with rings, and the bright colored pins, buttons and whatnot stuck in the lapels of his coat and on his
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