USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 3 > Part 42
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 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
393
THE POOR, THE DEFECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL.
of the Broocks during the next twelve months, at the end of which period he was again with his daughter Abigail, with whom he probably remained thereafter till the end of his life.
Information being brought to the council that "Stephen Capple" and his wife were both sick and old and likely to suffer unless helped, the overseer of the poor was ordered to visit them and provide for their immediate needs, and draw upon the treasury of the town for any expense that should be incurred.
Complaint was made to the Providence town meeting Sept. 19, 1693, that Andrew Edmunds1 had deserted his wife and children, that for a year he had done little or nothing for their support, and that she did not know where he had gone. Being unable to find bread and shelter for all who were thus made dependent upon her alone, she was forced to bind out her children, and wished assistance from the town in the matter. Her case was referred to the council, and she was suitably relieved.
One James Bick came with his family in 1688 from Mendon, a town in Massachusetts, and became a resident of Providence by the purchase of land. His wife had been a widow before her marriage to Bick, having several children by a former husband for whom Bick under- took to provide. It seems that his way of doing this was unsatisfac- tory to his neighbors, and complaint was made that they were in want of clothing and other necessaries of life, so that they "were likely to perish." They went thus to Jonathan Sprague, their uncle, who applied to the council for advice and assistance. Bick and his wife being summoned before the council did not appear, and the want of the children being present and imperative, Mr. Sprague was advised not to let the children suffer, and it was promised that whatever he might do would be regarded as the act of the council. The relief granted was made to correspond in nature and method with the needs of the case in hand.
A remarkable instance of this is on record. One John Tabor? was inpoverished in a day by the burning of his house and goods. He had no land to till and no means of securing a livelihood. He repre- sented his destitute condition to the town meeting, and petitioned that twenty acres of land be allowed him on the northern bank of the Wes- quadameset river. After due consideration as much land as he. de- sired and in the location named was granted him for his use during his life time, and if he should die before his wife for her use so long as she should remain his widow ; after his death and at the termination of her widowhood the land to revert to the town, unless he should have children when this land would "be unto him and his heirs forever."
It was a matter of conscience for each town to care for its own
1Early Records of Providence, vol. xi, p. 68.
2Idem, vol. xi, p. 7.
394
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
poor, and in the main this was cheerfully done. But they were en- dowed with but a small measure of riches, and there was nothing to spare for unworthy applicants or for those whose relief was of right the business of another town. Each case was therefore earefully scrutinized, the immigration of persons likely to become objects of charity was vigorously discouraged, and when such a person did get into the town he was returned with slight courtesy to the place whenee he came. At the Warwiek session of the general assembly held in 1682, all question as to the right of the town couneil to rejeet persons desiring to dwell in the town was settled upon the application of the deputies from Providence. It was decided that any person might be rejected, who should fail to give bonds satisfactory to the majority of the eouneil; and that if any one on being warned by the couneil to leave the town should refuse to do so, a warrant for his foreible re- moval might be issued to any constable, and in ease he should there- after return, he might be fined and whipped. The law thus an- nounced was never permitted to become a dead letter in the statute book.
The method pursued is elearly seen in cases recorded in the Early Records of the town of Providenee. A person, "Nathaniell ffox by name," having come into town, and being one "of no good fame, " and likely tobe "troublesome to ye towne," the council in 1694 ordered that he should within a month remove himself or else give bond that the town be indemnified for any expense accruing from his presenee, or be pro- eceded against as the law required. At the same meeting the ease of Susannah Sheldon was considered. She also is said to have been "a person of evill fame" who having come into the town had been eited before the eouneil, but instead of doing so had left the town for a little time, afterward returning. She was now "warned in by a summons," signed by each member of the council, that she might state why she returned and give account of herself generally in such other matters as they should think proper "to examine her about." Evidently she had no desire to be examined in the way proposed for she did not appear on the day appointed, or so far as appears at any later date.
One John Gurney came into Providence with the intention of resid- ing there. Evidently he brought with him no wealth. The attention of the council was at onee ealled to his coming February 4, 1695-96, and the decision was reached that he "hath naught to maintaine him or supply his wants," and that "he as others are liable to fall into a condition of siekness, lameness, or otherwise as wants may accrew," and that he "doe betweene this day and the 14th day of this instant depart out of ye jurisdiction of this Towne, otherwise to be delt withall according as ye law in such cases requires." He went as ordered and very soon eame back as was not desired; when an order was promptly given that he be apprehended and made to pay a fine of five pounds
395
THE POOR, THE DEFECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL.
or be whipped "upon his Naken Body," and thereafter be taken by the constable out of town. There is no report that he was "of evill fame;" he was only a very poor man who wished to live a little while on the earth, and those who liad come somewhat earlier into the town would not permit him to live where he might in any way become an expense to them.
William Garratt came from Newport with his family to live in Prov- idence in 1693. A doubt was expressed by several residents whether they would be able to live without public aid, and the council ordered them to get out forthwith. However, it was December, the cold was severe, and the children would certainly suffer, perhaps their lives be in danger if they were to be just thien removed; and the rigor of the order was relaxed so far that the man might not be molested if he should take himself and liis family away before the middle of March. The thing was hard, but there is ground for the belief that the difficult con- ditions of their life made our fathers harder in deed than they were in heart.
It was in the same year that John Warner of Marlborough having brought two young children with him and taken up his abode in the family of Joseph Woodward, was given four weeks in which to offer satisfactory sureties that his remaining longer should not be a cost to the town, or to remove himself with his children at once, or to suffer the penalty in such cases prescribed by law.
A child, a girl, was born of an unmarried mother in the month of August, 1692, at the house of John Malavory, the mother afterward returning to Boston whence she had come in her trouble, leaving the child to be nursed by Malavory's wife. He was thereupon required to secure the town against any expense that might arise from the child's remaining in the town. He agreed to do this, but afterward requested time to bring the mother from Boston that she might claim the child as her own before the magistrate, and became responsible for its support. The case dragged itself through several meetings of the council and how it was at last disposed of does not appear in the record. This is not the only case of this kind with which it became necessary to deal.
Illegitimacy wasanot uncommon offense against the morals of society at any time in the first century of our colonial history, but it seems to have been considered by the authorities mainly as it bore upon the ques- tion of expense to the town. Only when mother or child, or both, were likely to become chargeable to the town for their support was the town interested, and then there was no lack of interest. It was only natural that the unfortunate, often a mere child in years, and friendless, should seek to hide herself for a time at least where she had not hith- erto been known, and where she could find some one very likely as poor as herself who for sweet charity's sake would take her in and provide
396
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
for her in her extremity. But every such case might easily be the oeeasion of a call upon the public funds, and so must not be overlooked by men in authority.
Thus eame Mary Wormwood, in 1696, likely to beeome town charge- able, and a meeting of the council being called to consider the matter, a warrant for her apprehension was issued and put into the hand of the constable to be served at onee. The constable could not find her, but reported that one Joseph Latham said that she was his servant and that he would defend her against arrest. There is no record that she was afterward if found in any way molested. Probably Latham's championship saved her.
Mary Clark, a stranger, or vagrant, for these terms were used interchangeably, was in January, 1692, examined con- cerning her coming into town. She had lived in Newport, and said that the father of her child was Abel Tudor, a sailor now in the West Indies, to whom she was not married; and though she had sometimes avowed herself to be the wife of one Smith- son, she now said that she never had been any man's wife. She also said that John Moore, a hatter living in Bristol, had brought her to Providence. Daniel Browne and Benjamin Hearnton bound them- selves severally and jointly that the town should never be at any cost for her or her child and no further proceedings were taken against her. If the town were secured Browne and Hearnton might provide for her and the town council had no further interest in the matter.
Elizabeth Colwell, who had been for some years at Newport, beeame an unmarried mother in that town. Coming to Providence a little later, she was called before the council in January, 1693, to whom she promised that she would with satisfactory sureties secure the town or else go away, and when at the end of three months she had done neither of the three things, it was ordered that she with her child return at once to Newport, with a threat that unless she did so voluntarily she would be carried there by force.
Rebekah Bullard, January, 1693, became an unmarried mother in the home of JJoseph Jenkes, a magistrate. She being a stranger in the town, Jenkes at first promised to give bond for her, and then neglected to appear before the couneil on the day appointed. The council now ( declared "that they have proceeded in the matter as farr as they Can for they have not power to command the said woman before them and the said Joseph Jenkes being a Magistrate hath not done it, nor appeared for her according to promise; therefore the defect lieth in him and must lye at his dore, and not in the rest of the Councill." In her misfor- tune she was fortunate in having for her friend one in official position.
A woman about to become a mother was, February, 1694, at the home of Thomas Harris and as she did not belong
397
THE POOR, THE DEFECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL.
to the town, the reason of her being there must be ex- plained to the council. She said her name was Hannah Hay- man, that she was the wife of John Hayman, who sailed from Boston six months before; that she lived in Boston in her hired house ; that she came from Boston by way of Dorchester, Dedham, and Wren- tham, to David Whipple's house on the north side of Pawtucket river ; and that from the last named place she was brought by Joseph Cowell, Whipple's son-in-law, to the house of Thomas Harris, and that Whip- ple took of her two shillings for the ride to Harris's house, where she had since been. It was in February, and they were in the midst of a violent snow storm such that she could not be at once removed but at "great danger and hazard of her life;" but at the end of a week it was ordered that she be taken to Justice Peck of Reheboth, by whom she would be forwarded to Boston. The way of the transgressor was made very hard when her transgression was likely to bring expense upon the town, and no less hard when the transgression was as in this case only a suspected transgression on the part of one who appeared "a person vagarent."
Otherwise the matter was easily passed over. She was thought not so much a sinner as the rather unfortunate victim of ill luck, the natural consequence of her fault being its sufficient punishment. There would be some gossip among the neighbors, some censure from her relatives, and more or less of sympathy from her friends gener- ally ; but on the whole it was her own affair with which when they were not to be in any way losers, they need not seriously meddle.
When Abigail Curtice, a single woman, who was brought before the magistrates and questioned as to the daughter which had been born to her a few weeks earlier, and had the law read to her, she promptly declared herself competent to provide for her child without help from the town, and cleared all persons from pecuniary liability in the mat- ter, the court declared itself satisfied, dismissed her, and at once ad- journed.
A young woman's prospect of marrying respectably and of moving thereafter in respectable society, do not seem to have been seriously impaired by her having already shown herself qualified to discharge the functions of a wife and mother. John Whipple, jr., was a man of some prominence in his day, whose name frequently appears in the town records. His wife Liddea (Lydia) was the mother of a boy previous to her marriage. This boy she called Job. Others called him Lid- dea's Son, and sometimes Job, Liddea's Son. This last title easily became in common speech Job Liddeason, by which name he at last came to be universally known. He accepted it as his name, and he was recognized by it in various legal papers. He could not claim the name of a father whose paternity had not been in any lawful way estab- lished. Very likely his mother's husband held him in no great regard,
398
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
and did not wish him to bear his name. And for him to bear his mother's maiden name might be the occasion of a lifelong embarrassment. So he became Job Liddeason. He seems to have lived with his mother and her husband till he was seven years old, when by his own aet and their act he passed from under their control. By this time he seems to have become an undesired inmate of the home. The instrument by which this action was made legal and binding upon all concerned preserved among the Early Records of the town of Providence, vol. 4, p. 156, only modernized as to the spelling and use of capitals, is as follows : "This indenture made between Job Liddeason, John Whipple, jr., and Liddea, the wife of said John Whipple, jr., all of Providence in the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England on the one party, and John Sayles of the town of Providence aforesaid on the other party witnesseth : that the said Job Liddeason doth with the full and free consent of the said John Whip- ple, jr., and of Liddea his wife put himself an apprentiee under the said John Sayles and his assigns for the full and just term of fourteen years from the twenty and fifth day of December last past, the which said term of time will end on the twenty and fifth day of December in the year 1709 and the said John Whipple, jr., and Liddea his wife doth put the said Job Liddeason son of the said Liddea the wife of said John Whipple, jr., an apprentice under the said John Sayles and his assigns for the aforesaid full and just term of fourteen years from the twenty and fifth day of December last and from thence forward until fourteen years be fully ended and completed. During which term of time the said Job Liddeason shall well and truly serve his said master, his master's goods or substance he shall not waste but at all times endeavor to prevent any damage to his master and upon knowledge or suspicion of any detriment likely to befall his said master to inform his master thereof, his master's seerets he shall keep and at all times he shall obey all his said master's lawful commands, fornieation he shall not commit, neither shall he contraet matrimony with any person during the said term of time, taverns nor ale houses he shall not fre- quent unless it be about his master's business, neither shall he use any unlawful games, he shall not absent himself from his master's house or serviee by night or by day unless it be with his master's eonsent and allowance, but at all times shall be careful, diligent and trusty about his master's business and in all points shall behave himself as an ap- prentice ought to do, and the said John Sayles doth covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Job Liddeason that for and during the said term of time to keep him with sufficient meat and drink and ap- parel and what other necessaries to an apprentiee doth belong and to endeavor to learn him to read and write and at the end of said term of time to set the said Job Liddeason free and to allow him two suffi- eient suits of apparel. In witness of the premises both parties do
399
THE POOR, THE DEFECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL.
hereunto interchangeable set their hands and seals the thirtieth day of March in the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-six." It may be of interest to add that Mrs. Whipple and her boy signed this to the boy very important document each with a cross, neither being able to write; and that the doeument itself was not recorded by the town elerk till after it had been executed a period of full nine years.
There was a legal and a proper way of becoming a resident in the town, and great care was taken that to this strangers should strictly conform. One Benoni Woolley came into the town in an irregular way, and complaint was made to the couneil that he was acting as though he were an inhabitant, and in an unlawful manner had de- stroyed some of the town's timber. The matter was referred to the next town meeting, January 15, 1695, which decided that it would "not admitt nor give any allowance to the said Benoni Woolley to make Res- idence or abode in our Towne." It does not seem that he was much influenced by this action. He remained in the town, and gained for himself a standing among his neighbors. When he died intestate six- tecn years later the couneil tendered letters of administration to his wife which, she refusing them, were afterwards granted James Bick, who a few years earlier when he came to town was so poor that help was offered him by the town to support his many children.
In January, 1694, Thomas Elwell1 of Swansea in the colony of Mas- sachusetts would have hired a farm and obtained a residence, but when he could not convince the town that he would be able to support him- self and family, and indeed had not yet bargained with any one for land to till, eause did not appear for granting his request.
Cornelius Darling2 of Mendon, in the same eolony, likewise peti- tioned for a residence, but inquiry having been made and the circum- stanees considered, and the matter put to a vote, his request was like- wise refused. Henry Stacy, coming from the town of Lynn, in the same colony, being about to rent a farm belonging to the heirs of Josiah Wilkinson, deceased, petitioned for a residence, easily con- vineed the town that he was not likely to become burdensome if he were admitted, and had his request promptly granted by a vote that was unanimous. Both these eases occurred in 1692.
Richard Blanehard and wife also were tried and found not wanting. They had lived to the eastward and had been compelled to find a new location by reason of frequent Indian wars. Having now petitioned for a residence in Providenee, after a careful inquiry as to their eir- eumstances, their request was granted, with only a stipulation that they should behave themselves "sivell and orderly in ye Towne."
William Ashley's3 case was peculiar. He had lived in the town of
1Early Records of Providence, vol. xi, p. 2.
2Idem, p. 33.
3Idem, p. 14.
400
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
Wells and in Boston, when he came to Providence, and after staying three months with his family in the family of Abraham Hardin re- quested that a residence be granted him. After due consideration it was decided that his request be not granted and at the same time that no haste be made to remove him; in the meanwhile if he should fall into want he might find relief wherever he could legally demand it. They would not receive him; they would not drive him away; they would not be responsible for him as a resident.
So provision for the poor continued to be administered for genera- tions by the citizens as a body assembled in town meeting or through the council. When at length it became the custom to elect overseers of the poor, whose title sufficiently indicates the duties of their office, in their hands was placed the whole matter of poor relief. Theirs was a thankless office. Its incumbents were subjected to unfavorable criticism on all sides. At one time it was impossible to find men willing to undertake its functions, and to relieve the situation it be- came necessary to impose a fine upon such as having been elected refused to serve. Further to relieve the situation of its difficulties, overseers were empowered to bind out to service all idle and shiftless persons with parties who were expected to get out of them work of a value greater that the cost of keeping them. Also a law was enacted to the effect that helpless poor and disabled persons be supported by their relatives ; the justices of the peace being instructed to see that this was done.
From time to time exigencies would arise calling for extraordinary methods and measures. In 1774 ships of war laden with troops came in such numbers into Boston Harbor that the town was but a vast camp and all business being suspended the distress among the poorer classes became extreme. Contributions of money and supplies were sent up from all over New England, and Rhode Island was not in this behind her neighbors. In Providence, at a special town meeting called for the purpose, the deputies of that town were instructed to procure from the general assembly a grant of money in aid of the sufferers; a like action was taken at Newport ; but the general assembly did noth- ing. What the representatives of the people would not do in general assembly at the people's request, the people themselves at once set about doing in their own way. Large sums of money were raised in Greenwich, Newport, Johnston, and Westerly, while Bristol, Warren, the Kingstowns, Gloeester, Scituate, North Providence, Coventry, Smithfield, Johnston and Tiverton sent large flocks of sheep, and Cranston herds of fat cattle to the belcagured city. Providence sent one hundred and twenty-five pounds and Little Compton thirty pounds in money.
A year later the distress of the poor at Newport and on the islands in Narragansett Bay became very great. Newport memorialized Con-
401
THE POOR, THE DEFECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL.
gress and petitioned the general assembly for aid, and appropriated two hundred pounds to remove sueh poor persons as eould leave the town and to support such as must remain. Creditors forebore to bring suits on overdue claims for whose protection from loss and ulti- mate bankruptey the statute of limitations was repealed. Providence eame forward with a generous offer which was aeeepted by Newport to receive and eare for four hundred of the poor of that town. In 1777 the distress beeame so great among these refugees, two hundred and fifty of whom were wholly without means of support, that an appeal on their behalf was made through the press to the country at large. Next year the scarcity of provisions was so great that an act was passed by the general assembly permitting the poor of Newport to scatter themselves at will over the state, and providing for their settle- ment and support in the different towns. Two thousand persons went forth penniless and homeless, the larger number of them to Provi- dence. Congress voted five hundred pounds for their relief. Deputy Governor Brown and President Manning of Brown University were sent to ask leave to buy grain in Conneetieut ; others were sent to the same eolony secking donations of money and food. Within two months donations amounting to five hundred bushels of grain and four thousand three hundred pounds in money were collected in response to this call. The following winter was one of unusual severity. The entire Bay was frozen over for six weeks, the ice extending out to sea as far as the eye could reach. Fuel became very scarce, wood selling at twenty dollars a eord at Newport and Bristol. Corn was held at four dollars a bushel and potatoes at two dollars a bushel. Whatever could be done for the poor was done, but it was little, and their condi- tion was pitiful. Those were black days.1
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.