USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Westerly > Some papers delivered before the Westerly Historical Society 1916-1927; and a list of the members Jan. 1927 > Part 5
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In 1733, the Reverend Joseph Park, who was born in 1705, was sent by the New England Society for the propagation of the Gospel to Westerly, as a missionary to the Indians, and all the English who would hear him. His description of himself is amusing to use his own words, "I was a moral, religious person, but awfully in the dark as to the way of salvation 'till the Great Awakening of 1740." Mr. Park's church stood near the present Post Road at the eastern limits of the town on the James Ross estate. Mr. Park's missionary enter- prise was very slow till George Whitefield landed at Newport in 1740, where he preached three days and his influence spread, like a flame through the country.
In Westerly he stopped at the home of Ezekiel Gavitt, his wife accompanied him and they brought with them some tea, a silver tank- ard and cups. Mrs. Gavitt had never used the foreign luxury and had no teakettle, so she cleansed a common kettle and heated the water for the rare beverage.
In 1733, there were thirty-three churches in Rhode Island, twelve were Baptists, ten were Quaker, six were Presbyterian and five were Episcopal. Time does not permit to tell of all these. The Quakers have ever been in power in Rhode Island. As Bancroft says. "The Quaker has but one word. The Inner Light, that Light is a reality and a guide to virtue. and the voice of God in the Soul."
Of the Indians and their church we must say that there remains to this day a congregation of Narragansett Indians whose forefathers were converted to the Faith of our Father by God's spirit and the voice of Roger Williams who was ever a sincere and constant friend of the Red Men. Reverend Frederick Denison tells us many interesting accounts of the Indians in his book "Westerly and its Witnesses.' The Indians knew nothing of the use of metals but wrought only in hemp, bark, shell, bone, horn and stone. Over in Wequetequock, the home of our ancestors, were unearthed a few years since some wig- wams, circular in shape with saucer-like stone hearths, made of cobble stones on which they made their fires and several implements of war and chase were found. The Indians gave us the name of our first settlement We-que-te-quack, perhaps from the wild goose and duck notes as they flew along the shore. During the year 1740 many inter- esting things occurred in Westerly some of which you may read in Madame Knight's Journal and from your own Town records and are most absorbing. The earthquake, the public whipping and the hard winter when Dr. MeSparren wrote that the elements have been
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armed with piercing cold and suffocating snow. It is stated that dur- ing that winter a man drove a horse and sleigh on the ice from New York to Cape Cod, and snow was seen as late as April 15. Squirrels. birds and even deer were found dead. In May, 1780, came the dark and yellow day.
The amusements of those early timers were Muster or training days. All business was suspended to join the muster and those elected to commissions were always expected to treat their comrades and the spectators. They also had militia treats and dinners. Later horse racing on the track on the farm of Mr. Luke Palmer, the tracks were eighty rods long. extending from West Broad Street nearly parallel with the present Mechanic Street to the point where the sand knoll meets the river bank. Later an account of a foot race between some middle-aged men is most amusing. It is recorded that Westerly was even once the scene of a duel but it was strangers who chose the soil for the tragedy. Two men from the Frigate Constitution which lay at New London, at a ball became piqued about a certain woman and a challenge was passed and accepted. They came in sleighs driving at high speed, stopped for a few moments at the Public House, kept by Paul Rhodes, drove to the top of the hill near the Quarry, measured their distances and took their positions. One. a Carolinian by birth. an evil looking man, while the other was a man of fine appearance. good looks and gentlemanly character. At the appointed time, both discharged their pistols. The former was but slightly wounded but the latter received a death wound. He was taken to the Inn kept by Mrs. Abby Thompson, visited by the surgeon of the ship and the resident physician here and also his father. He lived but three weeks and was buried at Groton Bank, in the Fort Griswold Cemetery. His antagonist was finally drowned from a schooner on the coast of North Carolina. Now to a more pleasant subject. Weddings were the great exhibition of fashion and display of rank, to have a great wedding was to win a name in society. A story relative to the comparative standard of wealth is told of a citizen of Westerly. His name was Harry B -. Prompted by patriotism, he enlisted in the perilous business of privateering. his cruise was long and troublous, on return- ing home his mother inquired with maternal solicitude. "Well, Harry. how have you made out ? Did you get much money?" He answered. "Oh yes, mother. I am rich, I shall have enough, with prudence in the care of it to carry me through life. I hope." "I am glad my son. but how much did you get?" "Well, I don't know exactly, but I think. when we settle up. I shall have as much as thirty dollars."
Colonel Henry Babcock of whom we have often heard was really a man of wonderful intellect and ability. He entered Yale College at the age of twelve and took his degree at sixteen at the head of his class. At eighteen he was appointed Captain of a Company. He marched to Lake George and joined the campaign of 1756 to dislodge the French from Canada. At nineteen he was promoted Major, at twenty-one Lieutenant Colonel and at twenty-two he commanded the Rhode Island regiment of one thousand men and marched with
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the British army against Ticonderoga, where one hundred and ten of his men were killed and wounded and he himself was wounded in the knee by a musket ball. The next year, he helped to take the fort under General Amherst without the loss of a man. He then served five campaigns in the French War. At twenty-five he spent a year in England, chiefly London, where he was treated with great respect. Soon after his return he married, Mary, daughter of Robert and Anna Stanton, settled in Stonington and commenced the practice of law. When the Revolution commenced he was a staunch Whig and he was appointed by the Legislature, commander of the forces of Newport, where on an open beach, with an eighteen pounder he drove off a British Man of War, by his own firing. In the winter fol- lowing he was afflicted with a severe sickness from which he never entirely recovered. He was a man of commanding voice, fine person .. accomplished manners and an eloquent speaker. His brother, Luke Babcock, was perhaps as remarkable in other ways. He was an ardent supporter of the King and of the Established Church, whose minister he was. He was associated with Bishop Seabury. Their station was in Westchester, New York, adjoining the Connecticut line. Their loyalty to Great Britain was so greatly offensive to the Whigs of Connecticut that a party went from Hartford and New Haven to seize them. Reverend Mr. Seabury was brought a prisoner to New Haven but was liberated by Governor Trumbull, but the Reverend Luke Babcock was carried to Hartford and imprisoned, from October 1776. until the next February when, his health giving way, he was liberated under orders to remove to the British lines. He reached home (Philipsburg. New York) in a raging fever and died in a few days. A fine portrait of him is now in the possession of one of his descendants, unless it has met the sad fate of that which befell his brother Harry's in Mr. Ward's house in Saybrook.
The following is the story of the foot race. At one time a com- pany of Westerly gentlemen visited the old lighthouse keeper at Watch Hill to enjoy a day of recreation and breathe the bracing air of the ocean. The host spread his board with characteristic hospitality and according to the custom of the times made provision for thirst of a summer day. Stories. anecdotes and pledges of health were given and finally it was decided to test the muscular abilities of which they had boasted, by a foot race on the beach. Imagine. most of them had passed fifty, true. the chosen arena was soft and yielding to the feet. but this disadvantage would act equally upon all. After suitable exercises in rhetoric and stimulants, they started in the race but practice diverged from theory and the material man was less buoyant than the spiritual, flesh was subject to the spirit, moreover the deceit- ful sands tripped the ardent feet. The race was awaiting, some utterly failed and of the few who persevered to the end. was Major Champlin who was awarded the victory, he was about sixty years of age and weighed over two hundred pounds. Among the people who witnessed this race was a stranger from New York who sent an account to the New York Herald, and gave the Major's time as a number of seconds
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less than any in which the distance had ever been run. In a few days Major Champlin received a caller. at his little store, on East Broad Street, who inquired for Major Champlin. "I am the man." "Well. sir, I am happy to meet you. I am a professional runner and have come on purpose to measure distances with you." Now the Major was both courteous and sagacious and never spoiled a good story, and thus he met the issue, "I am," said he, "just now engaged in my store. it wouldn't do to leave it, and to run well, one should diet and practice a little beforehand. Under these circumstances I see but one way to meet your expectations and for the reputation of us both. There, Sir. is my time given on the paper. Now you can run against that and when you beat it, I will make another trial." It is needless to say that the Major retained his laurels.
The Revolution was a grand step in the progress of mankind. England was covetous of revenue and lost a continent. The colonies stood up to do battle for principles and were honored in being the founders of a wonderful nation. Never too much honor has been awarded to the actors. and Westerly had her heroes. Of the great men are, Governor Samuel Ward, Colonel Samuel Ward. Colonel Harry Babcock. Colonel Joseph Stanton, Captain Isaac Thompson and many, many others with their equally patriotic wives you have heard and read about. It seems to me, that Westerly will always fee! proud of her Declaration. When the Continental Congress was held two Westerly men. Joshua Babcock and Joseph Noyes, were members of the House of Representatives of Rhode Island and voted for the "Act to repeal an act for the maintenance of the King's authority in Rhode Island." This act was passed several months before the Dec- laration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. July 4, 1776. And in 1781, The Continental Assembly moved by patrioti: zeal, enacted that "to remove as far as may be, every trace of that government which threatened our destruction, changed the name of their county from King's county to that of Washington county in remembrance of the distinguished services of the commander in chief, of the forces of the United States of America." The blood of the Revolutionary dead was the price of the principles woven into our government. After the Revolution. there was an apparent decline in the life of the town and it was in a great measure the result of Westerly's contribut- ing to the swelling life of our vast interior. In one instance, a church was formed in New York State by a colony that went from the Wil- cox Church, while companies went from here at first to Massachu- setts. Vermont and Wyoming, and later to Chenango, Heidelburg or Hill-()-Barrack country, and many other western places. In Brook- field. New York, many of the name of Denison. Breed and York are vet found. A descendant of a Westerly emigrant living in Pennsyl- vania, speaks of some who came to that section. "In the summer of 1803, a young couple with their baby came by way of New York up the Hudson and across the Susquehanna River to Unadilla, there they made a raft with boards and canoes and upon this, they embarked and floated down to Great Bend where through a forest, in a narrow
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road, on an ox sled, they came some twenty-five miles to their home, a small clearing in the midst of a dense forest. Their dwelling was of unhewn logs, built beside a spring, and here these noble people toiled and cleared their farms, reared their families and laid the foundations for the future prosperity of their successors." The descendant of our George Denison and Mercy Gorham went to Brookfield and I have been told by one of them that the land about Brookfield looks very similar to Stonington and Westerly. It seems almost wonderful after such large and valuable contributions to the then West, that these folks could have sustained themselves as they did, at home, and now their graves hallow our land and give a perpetual inspiration to the people.
I suppose you all know that George and Mercy Gorham Deni- son are buried between here and Watch Hill, south of the home of the late Burrill Thompson. In the corner of a meadow, shaded by trees are these ancient graves and all of you who trace ancestry to them, are eligible to the Mayflower Society. Speaking of graves, Mr. Denison gives us in his book a most wonderful description of the burial places about here. The Ward burial ground on the farm owned by Albert Langworthy. Governor Ward's wife and daughter are buried there but his grave is not there, or unmarked, but as he died in Philadelphia in 1776, he might not have been brought home. Our Captain George Denison who died in Hartford while at the General Assembly was buried in the Center Church Yard there while his wife Lady Ann Borrodelle lies in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic. The Dixon burial land lies southwest of their old home near the station and gives several inscriptions of prominent men and women, for with- out the name of Dixon. Westerly does not seem complete to me. There are also numerous Chapman, Babcock, Champlin, Cottrell, Clark, Dodge, Pendleton and many other burial places beside the Indian grounds which are numerous, many without headstones or inscription of any kind.
Your inventors were numerous. Deacon William Stillman in- vented the first cloth shearing machine in the world. He was a clock- maker by trade. Others were: Mr. John Brown. Stephen Wilcox, 3rd. Orsemus Stillman and many others. On the Stonington side of the river, Mr. John Scholfield, in 1806, started the first wool carding machine in the United States and carried on carding. spinning. weav- ing and fulling woolen goods, during the War of 1812. His old house is still standing at Stillmanville. In 1831, this property was bought by Mr. Orsemus Stillman and from this enterprising manu- facturer, Stillmanville received its name.
The first chaise was owned by Mr. James Rhodes before 1800, and the first piano of the town was owned in 1830. by Miss Martha B. Cross, afterwards, Mrs. Babcock, and it caused quite a sensation. The first organ was in the Episcopal Church, the second in the Baptist Church. The first hearse was bought by subscription in 1845. The only windmill of which Westerly could ever boast lifted its um- brella-shaped head and latticed arms near 1850. on the hill east of here. It was set up by Thomas G. Hazard and was the same one
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that was first erected in Groton, Connecticut, between Noank and Mystic and afterwards moved to Pistol Point, in the town of Stoning- ton near Mystic. But it proved here as elsewhere a failure, and in a few years it bowed to saws and axes. The construction of the Stonington and Providence. afterwards the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was a great event in Westerly. A grand gathering was had of the officers of the Company and of the public men about, Governor Edwards of Connecticut and Governor Francis of Rhode Island were present and there was an assembling and speech making at Stonington, then the party came to Westerly to formally celebrate the novel intermarriage of the two states. A great crowd of people assembled to witness the ceremonies and with suitable pomp. a portion of Connecticut soil was wheeled into Rhode Island and the Rhode Island soil likewise transferred into Connecticut. Then fol- lowed a splendid dinner in the orchard of Doctor William Robinson. now on Elm Street. Time has happily confirmed the sentiment offered by Nathan F. Dixon. Esq .. "Connecticut and Rhode Island, may they improve by mixing." The first line of telegraphic communication by electricity was opened in 1860. Mr. Denison remarks, "What a con- trast this correspondence by the lightning's wind present to the old style of mounted carriers and rumbling stage coaches." What would he say now to know of the telephone and wireless ?
The first quarry was opened by Mr. Orlando Smith in 1845, on the top of Rhodes Hill on the Joshua Babcock farm, which he started and is still carried on by that family. The next one was opened by Mr. George Ledward and later sold to J. E. Batterson, later seven different quarries have yielded their red, white and blue treasures.
If you want to be amused and entertained you must read the twenty-third and thirty-fourth chapters in Mr. Denison's book as they are full of most interesting accounts and delusions and superstition. The Manifestations of Satan, Rebecca Sims. Granny Mott, Kidd's Chest, Haunted Houses, The Devil's Visit, Abbott's House, Colored McDaniel. The Phantom Light and others most amusing.
Mr. Denison gives us many Indian names with their meaning which is a great help in looking over many of the old records, to locate their positions in the town and their boundaries, and he also gives us in the review of his look, in bringing it up to date, an account of the Revival of 1868, when Reverend John D. Potter, an evangelist, preached here with the result of great good. During the hours of pub- lic service, the stores, shops and mills were closed, save a few con- trolled by utterly irreligious men Reverend Potter remained three weeks and on the evening before he left he addressed over two hun- dred converts and inquirers. There was such good feeling among the various denominations that Reverend J. P. Hubbard an Episcopa- lian proposed to Mr. Denison, who was then the Pastor of the First Baptist Church here, an exchange of pulpits, each minister to observe the order of services of the respective congregations. The proposi- tion was accepted, but at this juncture the Bishop of Rhode Island sent an interdict of the proposed exchange and the important cor-
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respondence which followed was published in the Providence Journal. The Rector replied that he was a Low churchman and in harmony with the Christian scope of the Church and in brotherly love he had ventured to take this step. The rector's wardens and members of his church stood loyally by him and all Christians in this region sym- pathized with him and the exchange of pulpits occurred on the 16th of February, but for taking this step, Reverend Mr. Hubbard was pre- sented to the ecclesiastical bar of the Episcopal diocese of Rhode Island and the trial which engaged the best talent, both clerical and lay, occurred in September. Deep interest was taken. able and eloquent were the pleas and after more than three months delay, from the close of the trial. the court presented a fully argued verdict of "not guilty."
In closing, Mr. Denison says, "By what means have the children of Europeans been able to so transform this land and raise themselves to such a height of thought. feeling. purpose, wealth and power ? The answer is found in two words, Religion and Learning, or more properly can be found in the one word Christianity. This has made the wilderness bud and blossom like the rose."
When the Railroad Came to Westerly
By HERBERT A. BABCOCK
As my memory reviews the scenes around the Westerly railroad station in the 60's and 70's, and its present surroundings, naturally I doubted that such a state of affairs ever existed as pictured by me, that it was just a fairyland vision of my boyhood days. Every time that I visit the present Westerly railroad station my memory again carries me back to one of my cherished boyhood resorts, ""Dixon Hill." Standing on the apex of the hill's western declivity, the scenery was perfectly grand, especially the golden sunsets. "At the foot of the hill was Canal Street; also, the canal which furnished water power for the mill property on Main Street. This canal flowed under a railroad bridge, under which the boys of the 60's whiled away many hours fish- ing for perch. This bridge was removed, the embankment filled in- the abutments are still buried there-when the canal was abandoned.
I also recall the many personal interviews at the Dixon Mansion, then occupied by that noble lineage, the Hon. Nathan F. Dixon, Sr., and family.
From this mansion, looking south, there was a fine view of the railroad and station, and many were the remarks then made, in pastime conversation, among the young folks who ventured there, of the quaint and antique looking passenger cars, the little wood- burning locomotives-especially the "Apponaug" and Roger Wil- liams"-with their funnel-shaped stacks, from which poured a con- stant stream of smoke, their tenders stacked high with two-foot fuel. and here and there. out in the dusty roadway, near the station, horses and carriages waiting to convey patrons to their destinations, as the trains arrived.
Out in the roadway, in the 40's, there was a quaint-looking dug- out drinking trough, where oxen, with creaking carts, and horses with freight-laden wagons. stopped to quench their thirst. The station then was a province of continuous peace, and a quiet spirit breathed upon those who entered it, with none of the conveying vehicles of today, trolley cars and automobiles, to divert their daily travels.
The village of Westerly in 1837. was thinly populated and not until 1852 was the census return between two and three thousand. with a total town valuation of $1,600.000 from which was collected a tax of $3000.
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The station then (1837) was a small building, one story in height. with the freight and passenger accommodations under one roof, the one-track for passengers on the north side, and the freight track, over which all patrons of the road had to cross to enter the station, on the south side.
The access to the station then was a roadway from Canal Street which extended beyond the station to the end of the freight turnout. A fence separated the railroad property from land south of the station. This land, which mostly a pasturage, extended east to High Street, and was then owned by Nathan F. Dixon, Sr.
On the north side of the station, was a private roadway, extend- ing from Canal Street to High Street, the property of Nathan F. Dixon, Sr., which was the approach to the Dixon mansion, and called Oak Street. This was a particularly esteemed promenade for the young people of our village in the "forties."
Looking down Canal Street from the railroad crossing to High Street, on the west side, was an unobstructed view with an embank- ment sloping down to the canal to the Hammond dwelling house. at the corner of High and Canal Streets.
On the east side of Canal Street, from the station to High Street, were vacant lots owned by Lemuel Vose.
Samuel A. Coy, who died September 29, 1875, aged 85 years, was for several years stationmaster. until August 1, 1852, when he re- signed, and Maj. Isaac Champlin, of Stonington, was temporarily in charge, until Edward P. Hitchcock was assigned to the position, which he occupied for several years.
It was very interesting and entertaining during Mr. Coy's life- time, to hear him relate the trials and experiences of those who promoted the railroad enterprise, and also the testimony of Messrs. Chas. Perry and O. M. Stillman, and were they living today, you can imagine their surprise, at the undertaking, since enacted, of the entire removal of Dixon Hill, which was "impossible" in the 30's.
During the 40's three passenger trains, two local and one ex- press, stopping at Greenwich. Kingston and Westerly only, and one freight, east and west, was the daily traffic of the road.
The mails then, from and for Westerly. were daily, except Sun- day, by rail. for Stonington 4:30 P. M., Providence 7:35 A. M .. and 2 P. M., and New York by the Stonington steamboat line. 7 P. M.
The express company in our village in the 50's was Lawton's Express. W. B. Lawton, proprietor. Alvah Taylor, agent. with an office located in E. W. Babcock's store. on Main Street. recently vacated by Milo Clarke's Market. Connections were made by rail, to Providence with Earle's Express Company: to New London by Westerly's "Lily Line," with Adams Express, and Norwich with Turner's Express.
In the 50's a freight shed was erected north of the passenger track, and the freight siding in front of the passenger station was transferred to the north side of the new freight shed. In subsequent
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