USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 2
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A friend, knowing my interest in things old or ancient, had thoughtfully left it for me to look over.
1 820 was a long time ago; the War of 1812 had been fought and ended but a few years since; at that time my old grandsire, who ended his earthly career back in the early nineties, was a young man going on six years.
This little gem of the past turned out to be full of interesting things, many about Bristol. It started off with the regular Almanack for the year 1820, printed with the old-style spelling, f's for s's. The month of April had this solemn warning at the top of the page:
· "Travelers fhould be careful to deliver their baggage to proper perfons; as a gentleman a few days fince, on alighting from a ftage coach, entrufted his wife to a ftranger, and has not heard from her fince!"
The first thing of local interest that catches the eye is:
Representatives from the several Towns-Bristol; James D'Wolf, Hopestill P. Diman. Speaker of the House, Hon. James D'Wolf, Esq.
TOWN OFFICERS
Town Clerk-Daniel Bradford. Town Council and Over- seers of the Poor-John D'Wolf, Wm. Pearce, 2d, Thomas Church, Royal Diman, Benjamin Norris. Town Sergeant --- Benjamin Munro. Town Treasurer-Samuel Coggeshall.
Assessors of Taxes-Richard Smith, John Peck, Nath'l Ward- well. Town Auditors-Richard Smith, John D'Wolf, Thomas Church. Auctioneers-William Reynolds, John W. Bourn. Surveyors of Highways-Wm. Pearce, James D'Wolf, Nicholas Peck, Thomas Church, John Peck, Giles Luther, Nath'l Fales, Joseph Munro.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-John W. Bourn. Sealer of Leather-Benjamin Munro. To appraise Estates, when dis- puted in voting-Jacob Babbitt, Parker Borden, Greenwood Reynolds. Packers of Provisions - Thomas Pearce, Samuel Gladding, Joseph Munro, Ansel Meigs. Measurer of Grain-
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Benjamin Munro. Clerk of the Market-Aaron Easterbrooks.
Constables-Peleg Slocum, Joseph Sylvester, Royal Thresher. Gaugers of Casks-Joshua Gladding, Jeremiah Diman, William Throop, Benjamin K. Churchill. Fence Viewers-John Peck, Oliver West, Hezekiah Munro, 2d, Jonathan Reynolds, David Munro.
Town Crier-John Coy. Pound Keepers-Samuel Waldron, Benjamin W. Doty. Field Drivers-Raymond H. Perry, Edward B. Munro, Royal Thresher, Edward Usher, Benjamin W. Doty. Cullers of Staves and Surveyors of Hoops-Ben- jamin Bosworth, 2d, Edward Munro, Richard Harding, Bennet Munro, Edward Munro, jun.
Surveyors of Lumber-Jonathan Slade, Isaac Borden, Charles Shaw, Hezekiah C. Wardwell, Hezekiah Norris, Winchester Heath, Timothy French, Samuel Warren. Surveyors of Wood- William Throop, William Young. Inspector of Fish-Benjamin Bosworth, 2d. Corders of Wood-Geo. Waldron, Royal San- ford, Mason Kingsley, Joseph Relph, Samuel Gladding, Edward Usher, Samuel Gladding, jun.
To examine Nuisances - Jacob Babbitt, John Howland, H. Munro, jun.
Presidents of Fire Wards *- Jacob Babbitt, Thomas Swan, Charles Collins. Fire Wardens - James D'Wolf, William D'Wolf, Benjamin Norris, Billings Waldron, Nathaniel Glad- ding, Parker Borden, Nicholas Peck, Samuel Wardwell.
FIRE ENGINE COMPANIES IN TOWN
Three in number-No. 1, 13 men; No. 2, 12 men; No. 3, 13 men.
Ministers-Rev. Henry Wight, Senior Pastor of the Catholic Congregational Society; Rev. Joel Mann, Junior Pastor. Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, Rector of St. Michael's Church. Rev. Thomas Tucker, Methodist. Rev. Barnabas Bates, Baptist.
*Freemen of the town were appointed by the electors in town meeting: "To pull down houses and buildings, under the directions of the Presidents of Fire Wards in times of fire."
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Attornies-John Howe, Nathaniel Bullock.
Physicians-Lemuel W. Briggs, Jabez Holmes, Caleb Miller.
JUDGES OF THE COURTS
The Judiciary of the State consisted of five Judges of the Supreme Court, and five Justices from each of the Counties con- stituted the Court of Common Pleas, making thirty judges in all. They were elected annually and paid by fees.
(Only those from Bristol are reprinted )
John D'Wolf-Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.
Justices of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, within and for the County of Bristol-Daniel Brad- ford, Chief Justice; John Howland.
Public Notaries-Benj. M. Bosworth, Samuel Smith, 2d, John West, 3d, John Wardwell.
Justices of the Peace-Thomas Diman, Greenwold Reynolds, Edward Church, Samuel Coggeshall, Josiah Gooding, Lemuel C. Richmond.
In 1820 there were in the town:
Marine Insurance Company *- John Wardwell, President; John W. Bourn, Secretary. Directors: Thomas Church, Daniel Bradford, John West, jun., Nicholas Peck, Robert Rogers, jun., Nathaniel Wardwell, Nathaniel Bullock, William Pearce, 2d.
Mount Hope Academy -Rev. Henry Wight, President. Trustees: John D'Wolf, James D'Wolf, Hersey Bradford. Abner Alden, Preceptor.
Literary Society, established about two years since. Rev. Henry Wight, President; John West, jun., Sec. and Treas. Censors: John Howe, Rev. Joel Mann, Rev. Barnabas Bates.
Female Charitable Society, established about 1811. Mary Goodwin, President; Ruth Brown, Secretary.
*"Parson" Wight in his Records of the buildings erected in the town of Bristol mentions: "A 3-story brick house for the Insurance Co. on Court street in 1804." This is the old Bristol Hotel on State street. In those days State street was known as Court street.
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Tract Society, established in 1815. Harriet Smith, President; Hannah Church, Secretary.
MASONIC
St. Alban's Lodge, No. 6, A.F. & A.M .- Barnabas Bates, Master; George B. Peck, Senior Warden; Sylvester Luther, Junior Warden; John W. Bourn, Secretary; Samuel Wardwell, jun., Treasurer; Golden Dearth, Senior Deacon; Benjamin Wyatt, Junior Deacon; Thomas W. Tucker, Chaplain; Joseph Booth, Tyler; Restcome Hart, Second Tyler and Steward.
The monthly meetings of this Lodge are holden on the Wednesday evening preceding the full Moon.
Post-Towns-BRISTOL-Post-Master, Barnabas Bates, April 17, 1817 to April 25, 1820. Pardon Handy, April 25, 1820 to March 4, 1823.
Rates of Postage
On Single Letters-for any distance not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cts.
Over 30 and not over 80 miles-10 cts.
Over 80 and not over 1 50 miles 121/2 cts.
Over 1 50 and not over 400 miles, 131/2 cts.
Over 400 miles, 25 cts.
Double Letters, or those composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates.
Triple Letters, or those composed of three pieces of paper, triple those rates.
Ship Letters, not carried by mail, 6 cts.
BANKS
In Providence-United States' Branch Bank. James D'Wolf and George D'Wolf were directors of this Bank.
In Bristol-Commercial Bank, capital $150,000. Discount day Tuesday. William D'Wolf, President; John Wardwell, Cashier. Directors: Thomas Church, Jacob Babbitt, Thomas
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Richmond, Benj. M. Bosworth, John Howland, Parker Borden, Nathaniel Wardwell, Nathaniel Gladding.
Freemen's Bank, capital $62,500. Charles Collins, President; John West, jun., Cashier. Directors: Daniel Bradford, John Howe, William Reynolds, Benjamin Norris, Allen Wardwell, William Pearce, 2d, Lemuel C. Richmond, Henry Wight, jun., Hopestill P. Diman, Benjamin K. Churchill, Charles Collins.
Eagle Bank, capital $50,000. Discount day Wednesday. Charles D'Wolf, jun., President; William Muenscher, Cashier. Directors: Charles D'Wolf, jun., Robert Rogers, jun., Samuel Bosworth, jun., Edward Spalding, James LeBaron, Nathaniel G. Bourn, Pardon Handy.
Bank of Bristol, capital $20,000. Discount day Thursday. John D'Wolf, President; Samuel Smith, 2d, Cashier. Directors: John D'Wolf, Richard Smith, John Smith, Hersey Bradford, Robert Davis, George Coggeshall, Henry D'Wolf, Nathaniel Bullock, Barnard Smith.
Mount Hope Bank. James D'Wolf, President; Byron Diman, Cashier. Directors: James D'Wolf, Francis L. B. D'Wolf, Byron Diman, Levi D'Wolf, Mark A. D'Wolf.
The population of Bristol is 3197. The number of dwelling- houses is about 450, and the amount of shipping owned in Bristol district is 9093 tons.
There are in the town, 35 mercantile stores of every descrip- tion, 21 warehouses, many of which are very extensive, three grain mills and two ropewalks. There are one public, one char- ity, and six private schools.
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BRISTOL in the year 1825 Written in 1875 by DR. S. C. SMITH* (1814-1876)
ONE whose youthful eyes were accustomed to look upon the lovely scenery of Narragansett Bay and its surroundings, whose carefree days were spent within sound of the waves lapping its shores, can, after a long absence, look back on those early days with only the fondest recollections.
Half a century has passed since the writer called Bristol his home, yet my attachments to the dear old town grow stronger. It was the home of my parents, and their parents for generations back. It is the home of almost all my old relatives-and there is associated with it the memory of many loved ones, almost all of whom have passed on to the other side. I have often revisited it since my boyhood, at intervals of years-and with few exceptions its people are strangers to me. I walk the familiar streets where every house and tree seems to welcome me back to my old home; yet the faces I meet are unknown to me, as I too am unknown. When a boy, I knew everyone in the town; then the population was not so great but that every one was an acquaintance; indeed, almost the entire town was related to each other. Even the Goree people claimed a family connection, and there claims were allowed. They had all been servants to the old families of fifty years back. There was scarcely a family in town which had not formerly owned slaves, and when these old retainers became free they still remained attached to their old masters and were re- cipients of their bounty. Goree was built by their old masters for those of them who chose to live by themselves.
Many of the younger men became sailors - but the old "uncles" and "aunts" remained, mostly in the families. Among
*Dr. S. C. Smith was born in this town in 1814. In 1825 he removed to the State of Wis- consin. Years ago he wrote a number of sketches about his early life in Bristol which appeared in the Phenix under the pen-name "Perry Winckle."
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the last of the faithful old fellows was old Uncle John Casco, and Prime Clark. I remember meeting Prime once in a foreign port, he was on shore leave from one of the square-riggers hailing from Bristol, and I shall never forget his joy in meeting one of "his Bristol boys", and I believe his joy was no greater than my own. Uncle John Casco lived to be over 100 years old and died in his master's (Lemuel C. Richmond) house. Then there was Aunt Sara, and Barbary, and Bristol Smith, and Jack Howland, and many others whom we all loved as if they were one of our own blood.
Fifty years ago Bristol was a wealthy and prosperous seaport; its harbors and wharves were crowded with shipping; few New England ports surpassed it in commercial enterprise. Years be- fore, during the war with Great Britain, the place became famous as the home of the saucy little privateers Yankee and McDon- ough, the former of which brought into port no less than seventy- two rich prizes, while the latter boasted of fifty-four. One of the Yankee's prizes, a rich East Indiaman, was docked along side of Long Wharf (Babbitt's); her cargo was sold for about $250,000, a very sizable sum in those days. This was in the days of the D'Wolfs, Jacob Babbitt, Capt. John Smith, Robert Rogers, Nicholas Peck, and other enterprising merchants, who were largely engaged in the West India trade which brought untold riches to all of them.
I remember as a youngster how long the old wharf appeared to my youthful eyes, and the long row of warehouses seemed the most capacious that were ever built, and when years afterwards I again saw them, I was astonished at the insignificance to which they had shrunken. I believe this is the experience of everyone- what to our young eyes seems to be of vast proportions-is aston- ishingly dwindled to our adult vision.
Bristol, at the period of which I write, was strictly a commer- cial town; there was not a factory within its limits; and with the exception of an occasional sailor, a foreigner (except some Cuban visitants) was rarely seen among us. Half a century ago-the only field of enterprise open to the young men of the town was
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the sea, and their greatest ambition was to become masters of ships.
I suppose that the population of the town has increased some- what in the last fifty years, yet I can see but little change in its streets, or even in its buildings. I can recall when State street was known only as Pump lane; another was Goose lane; then there was Mount lane, Church lane, and I believe one of the up- town streets was christened "Pig alley". In those days the town was divided off by the boys into districts, such as Talby's corner, Goose land, Payne's liberty pole, "up town" and "down town". One of our battle cries of those times used to be:
"Down town gentlemen, Up town shacks, Goree niggers, And Poppasquash rats!"
This insulting challenge on the part of the "downtowners" invariably brought on a fight, and woe to the unlucky fellow who was so unfortunate as to be caught by the "uptowners", he gen- erally went home with a bloody nose or blackened optic, ofttimes both.
Then there was a perpetual enmity between the "Bristol Clams" and the "Warren Mussels"; the field of battle was on the Neck-where the two towns joined. These were sometimes serious frays, in which the older boys took part. Why these en- mities between the two towns existed, we never knew; the only explanation is that it has always been so.
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SIMEON POTTER, 1720-1806
PROF. WILFRED H. MUNRO in his masterly written History of Bristol, Chapter XXIV, has well covered the life and career of this old sea-master and merchant who played such an important part in the annals of the old town.
In Chapter XXX, he mentions: "In 1798 the first Public Library of the town was established. Of the five hundred dollars originally subscribed, three hundred were given by Col. Simeon Potter and one hundred and twenty-one by Capt. Chas. D'Wolf. The association was called 'The Potter Library Company'. Its first meeting was held in the 'Academy', Nov. 3, 1798. Nearly all the money subscribed was invested in books and a very excel- lent library was thus obtained (as a reference to its catalogue, now in the possession of the Rogers Free Library will show). The library was opened only on Saturday afternoons. In 1837 the company was dissolved, and its property divided among those who then held shares.
"When the Rogers Free Library was opened, in 1878, a greater portion of the old volumes belonging to the Potter Li- brary were turned over to the new association."
Professor Munro states: "In November, 1761, at a session of the Superior Court held in Bristol, a bill of indictment was found against Simeon Potter, for an assault made upon the Rev. John Usher. A verdict was found against him, and he was fined £500."
"Of the cause of this trouble we know nothing-possibly a glance at the characters of the two men may give us some clew etc."
One hundred and eighty years later (1941) this clew was forthcoming. From the records of the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel, records that have been buried in the society's archives, over in England, since 1761, the following recently came to light:
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"In a letter written from Bristol Nov. 10, 1761, Mr. Usher gives an account of a notorious abuse he had lately met with from one Mr. Simeon Potter, who after threatening him, did, on the 18th of August last, attack, assault and batter him so shamefully and cruelly that he was under a necessity of prosecuting him.
"A rich man was reported to live in a criminal conversation with a young woman of Mr. Usher's parish; he thought it his duty to admonish the young woman in a private manner as her friend and spiritual Father; which she informing the man of, he insulted Mr. Usher with threatening and profane language and a few days after assaulted and beat him in a most cruel manner, for which he was indicted and in a course of law found guilty and fined £500; which he refusing to pay, was committed to the Sheriff's Court, and nothing further done at present."
At that time the society voted, Mr. Usher to go to England and fight his case. Mr. Usher was at that time 66 years old and in feeble health-while Captain Potter was but 41 years old.
An old record of Swanzey mentions this Captain Potter: "In 1779 Capt. Simeon Potter, a native of Bristol, settled on Gard- ner's Neck. For more than a quarter of a century he was one of the prominent figures of the community, a hospitable and gen- erous householder, surrounded by whatever wealth could com- mand, owning also a number of slaves. He was representative in I 784 to the General Court from Swanzey.
In 1795 he gave a valuable parcel of land in Newport to sup- port in that city a free school, forever, for poor children of every denomination. A large school house erected in 1880 is named the "Potter School".
He was born in this town in the year 1720, in a house which stood at the southeast corner of Church and Hope streets. This house was burned by the British troops in 1775, after which, he lived in the old house which stands (1880) on the west side of Thames street, about half way between Bradford and State streets. The captain left the sea and returned to Bristol to live very soon after the town was annexed to Rhode Island. In 1746 his name first appears in the list of the vestrymen of St. Michael's
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Church; and in 1747 he built the rope-walk, which was later to prove the source of such a great income to him. He died in Feb- ruary, 1806, from old age; from his house on Thames street, the old captain was borne to his last resting-place in the burying- ground upon the Common.
Back in the fifties when the town decided to clear off the south- east corner of the Common where the old cemetery was located, his stone was removed to the North Burial Ground, on the Neck, where it now (1942) is still standing.
The census of Bristol, taken in the year 1774, shows that the old captain owned II slaves at that time; he was the largest slave-owner in the village.
NOTABLE BRISTOLIANS, 1826
OF THOSE who took a leading part in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the American Independence here in Bris- tol, back in the year 1826, there is only one now (1876) living. At this time a brief sketch of some of those old Bristolians of 50 years ago may be of interest.
Jacob Babbitt was born in Taunton, Mass. in 1770; he came to this village when he was 2 1 years old and for a period of nearly 60 years was actively engaged in various commercial enterprises, "very seldom leaving the place, even for a day". During his long life he was a prominent merchant, shipowner, stockholder and President of the "Down Town Mill" and also President of the old Commercial Bank. In his early manhood he was a mem- ber of the Train of Artillery. At the time the organization was started in 1796, he was one of the four Sergeants chosen. Mr. Babbitt died in 1850, aged 80 years.
Luke Drury who was a native of Marblehead, Mass. was a graduate of Brown University. Coming to this town in early manhood, he married Lydia Potter, the eldest daughter of Capt. Levi D'Wolf. For a time he taught school here and during the period compiled a school geography. He was an Associate Jus-
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tice of the Supreme Court of R. I., Collector of the Port of Bris- tol in 1825, and held many offices in town affairs. He removed West some thirty years ago where he has since died.
John D'Wolf, jr. was born in this town in 1786, son of John and Susan (Reynolds) D'Wolf. He was a graduate of Brown University and was Professor of Chemistry at that institution for many years. He represented this town in the State legislature in 1818 and again in 1821. He died in 1862.
Rev. Henry Wight, D.D., who officiated as Chaplain, was born in Medfield, Mass. in 1752, graduated from Harvard Uni- versity in 1782; was pastor of the Congregational Church of this village for 52 years; he died in 1837.
Col. Giles Luther, the Marshal of the Day, was born in Swanzey, Mass., but made Bristol his home throughout his life. He was a shipmaster, merchant and farmer, and at one time com- manded the Train of Artillery. He was a man large of propor- tion and when attired in uniform made a striking appearance. He was also a man of good executive ability and was often called upon to preside over the town meetings and other assemblies of those days. He died in 1841, aged 66 years.
Walter W. Dalton, the Orator of the Day, was born in this town in 1806; he received his early education here and after his graduation from Brown University in 1824, he studied law in the office of the late Nathaniel Bullock. On being admitted to the bar he practiced for a short while in this town; later removing to the State of Michigan where he died at an early age in the midst of his practice.
Col. Samuel Taylor who commanded the Train of Artillery at that time, was born in Little Compton in 1787. He came here early in life and entered himself as an apprentice to the late Mr. Ephraim Munro, to learn the trade of a blacksmith. After attaining his majority, he established himself in business here which he carried on until advanced age compelled him to retire. He died at his residence on John street in 1863, aged 76 years.
John Chadwick, the proprietor of the Bristol Hotel in those days, was born in Dedham, Mass. For many years he was pro-
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prietor of a daily line of stages hence to Providence; he died in 1855, aged 61 years.
The old Revolutionary soldiers who took part on that mem- orable occasion have all long since departed. The commanding officer, at that time, of the Bristol Light Infantry, our venerable townsman, Hon. William P. Monro,* alone survives.
SAMMY USHER, 1755-1833
DIED In this town, yesterday, Mr. Samuel Usher age 78 years.
The above was taken from the September 28, 1833, issue of the Bristol Gazette, a forerunner of the Bristol Phoenix.
Mr. Samuel Usher will live forever in the history of Bristol as the town's most eccentric and outstanding character. His life covered a most interesting period of the town, when the wharves were lined with square-riggers and the spacious warehouses filled with goods from foreign marts, all of which brought great wealth to their owners.
Sammy was born in the year 1755; his father was the Rector of St. Michael's church, as his father had been before him. He was a quaint little character, small of stature, not more than five feet in height and of very slender build.
Harriette Hall Brooks, a granddaughter of Sen. James D'Wolf, writing about those times, when Sammy roamed the streets of this old seaport, pictures him as "a poor, half-witted fellow, the butt of the village". "Once or twice a year Grand- mother used to ask him up to dinner. Grandfather, although equally kind at heart, seriously objected to having Sammy at the same table with the family, for, although he wore ruffles at his
*Mr. Monro died in 1885, aged 84 years.
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wrists, they were hopelessly soiled, and altogether his dress was far from clean. Moreover, he was cross-eyed and could not see plainly the food on his plate, so consequently had to use his fingers. But Grandmother was firm and always said, 'But his father was clergyman of our church, James,' and Grandfather gave in and tried not to look at Sammy during dinner."
Sylvia Griswold D'Wolf in 1833, writing to her husband, mentions Sammy: "I had a visit from Sammy Usher yesterday. He said you invited him to call and perhaps I should have some- thing nice for him. I was glad to give him something to eat for he looked very miserably. I invited him to call again when you returned, that is to say 'once in a great while.'"
Although Sammy belonged to one of the most aristocratic and exclusive families of the village, he was democratic in his choice of company. He was no respecter of persons, high or low; his fiery temper, quickness and ready wit, and lightning-like repartee at those who offended him, will long be remembered. Although he had had the benefit of good breeding and much religious train- ing all during his tender years, it would seem as if all the elo- quence of his pious ancestors had been perverted and come to naught. In later years when poverty and hardship had done their worst and he was jeered and ridiculed by the unrefined, he would respond with such a torrent of profanity as to dumbfound the boldest of them. Being small and unable to defend himself by bodily courage, he was forced to defend himself with such weap- ons as nature had given him. The stories of the little fellow's wit and every-ready stinging tongue that have come down to us are without end. I shall repeat here only a few of those which best show the little fellow's character.
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