The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 33

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > Rhode Island > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island > Part 33

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).

than to the passions. " I remember," continues the son, " to have hcard a gentleman of much intelligence and learning say that he was the best expounder of the Bible to whom he ever listened." His relative, Rev. Benjamin H. Pitman, of Albany, says that " he had a good voice for public speak- ing, sufficiently loud to fill a large house, and yet bland and agreeable; his manner was not particularly impassioned, but it was dignified and solemn and natural withal, and made you feel that he possessed the true spirit of an ambas- sador of God."

TOGERS, ROBERT, son of William and Sarah Rogers, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, April 18, 1758, and graduated from Brown University in the class of 1775, at the early age of seventeen years. Among his classmates were Dr. Pardon Bowen and Ezekiel Hopkins, names distinguished in Rhode Island history. On graduating Mr. Rogers found himself in the midst of the excitements connected with the War of the Revolution, and immediately offered his ser- vices to aid his country in her struggle for freedom. As a Lieutenant in one of the Rhode Island regiments he hon- orably discharged his duties. Returning to his native town he devoted himself to literary pursuits, and for many years had charge of a classical school of a very high order, in which some of the most eminent and useful citizens of Newport received their early training. The poet-painter, Washington Allston, was one of his pupils. His love of learning and good books led him to take great interest in the prosperity of the " Redwood Library." For a period of twenty years he served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Li- brarian of the institution. His religious character was of the most decided type. At the age of sixteen, while a student in Brown University, he joined the First Baptist Church in Providence. Subsequently he became a member of one of the Baptist churches in Newport, and for several years before his death was the clerk of the church. For nearly fifty years he was a member of the Corporation of Brown University, for two years as a Trustee, and for four years as a Fellow. He died August 5, 1835. The wife of Robert Rogers was Mary Rhodes. William Sanford Rogers, a distinguished citizen of Newport, whose sketch appears in this volume, was their son.

OPPIN, COLONEL BENJAMIN, was born in Attle- borough, Massachusetts, May 12, 1747. At the age of nineteen he entered the Revolutionary Army, being made a captain in the Rhode Island Line by commission from the Continental Congress, and served throughout the war, participating in the battles of Red Bank, White Plains, Monmouth and Princeton. After the war he was engaged in the auctioneering com- mission business in Providence, where he passed his life

147

BIOGRAPIIICAL CYCLOPEDIA.

uncommonly respected and beloved-a man of blameless character, of whom it was declared that "nothing had ever been said against him." He served for many years in the Rhode Island Legislature, and in other civil and town offices. For some time he commanded the Senior Class regiment of militia of the County of Providence, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was elected a member of the "Cincinnati Society," and continued, during his life, to be a stanch Federalist. He married Annie Rawson, a lineal descendant of Secretary Edward Rawson, of Massachusetts, by whom he had eight chil- dren,-Davis Ward, Candace, Lorania, Benjamin, George, Thomas Cole, Levi and Henry. He died in Providence, November 30, 1809, aged sixty-three.

REVETT, CAPTAIN JOHN, was born at Newport, in 1757, and died there very suddenly November 5, 1833, aged seventy-six years. In early life he was in the merchant service, and made a number of voyages from Newport ; but on the breaking out of the Revolution he entered the navy. In November, 1775, he accepted the position of Midshipman on board the ship " Columbia," Captain Whipple, where he was speedily promoted, and as a Lieutenant he also served under Com- modore Hopkins. In 1776 he was attached to the brig " Andre Doria," Captain Biddle, from which vessel he was transferred, as Commander of Marines, to the United States sloop " Providence," of twelve guns, under the com- mand of Captain John Rathbone. Early in February, 1778, a party of men, thirty in number, landed at New Providence at night, under Lieutenant Trevett, and while fifteen of the men scaled the walls and took the fort, the remainder of the party got possession of a small island, known as Hog Island, directly opposite the town. In taking the island some assistance was rendered by a num- ber of prisoners who had been released by the scaling party. They held possession of the place for three days. In that time they captured six vessels in the harbor, drove off a British sloop-of-war that tried to enter, and after spiking the guns of the fort they retired, taking with them a quantity of military stores. In this raid Trevett did not lose a man. Previous to the capture of New Providence, while cruising off Halifax, the sloop took several valuable prizes and got them safely into port. One of the vessels, a ship, was a transport bound to Quebec, with ten thou- sand suits of clothing for General Burgoyne's army. This was looked upon as an extremely valuable prize, and Lieu- tenant Trevett was selected to bring her into port, which he did successfully. There was no time to dye the garments blue, and they were at once sent off to the American Army, then literally in rags. The sight of a picket dressed in these red coats so deceived a spy, one Daniel Taylor, then on his way to Burgoyne, as to lead to his arrest and exe-

cution. In 1780 Lieutenant Trevett joined the frigate " Trumbull," Commodore Nicholson. and during a cruise took part in an action with the ship " Walter," of six guns. The " Trumbull" had three men killed, and Trevett, who lost an eye, was also wounded in the foot. After that he joined the ship " Deane," Captain Henman, which vessel took a number of prizes. Trevett, in command of one of these prizes, was captured and carried into St. Johns, where he was held a prisoner for more than two years. When liberated he returned to Newport, and while resid- ing here, in 1786, tested the validity and constitutionality of the law touching the issue and circulation of paper money. He was owing a butcher, named Weeden, and brought an action against him for refusing to take paper money at par in payment of the claim. The case attracted a great deal of attention, and some of the best talent in the State was engaged on both sides. William Channing was the Attorney-General, and the opinion of the court declaring the acts to be unconstitutional and void, was given by Judge Howell, in a crowded court-house. The decision was received with shouts of applause. During the last four years of his life Captain Trevett was totally blind. He had many excellent traits of character which caused him to be greatly respected.

ENTER, ISAAC, M.D., was born in Londonderry, N. H., in 1753. His medical studies were pur- sued under Dr. Moffatt, of Newport. While en- gaged in these studies, tidings of the battle of Lex-

ington reached Newport. The excitement which stirred the citizens of that place, fired the heart of the young physician, and at once he joined the Rhode Island troops and marched to Cambridge. When the army was organized under Washington, he received a commis- sion as surgeon. His experience in his early connection with the American forces was a trying one. He was with General Benedict Arnold in his march through the dense wilderness of Maine, which occupied thirty-two days in the dreary months of November and December. Before reaching the river Chaudière, the soldiers suffered incred- ible privations. When the assault was made on Quebec, great slaughter was made of Arnold's men-a large part of them were killed, and among the captured was Dr. Senter. He was kept a prisoner for some time, and had the care of the sick and wounded. He was allowed, after a time, to return home to Rhode Island, and, in 1779, he took up his residence in Pawtuxet, which place he repre- sented in the General Assembly. He was appointed, in 1780, Surgeon and Physician-General of the State, and removed to Newport, where he had a good practice in his profession. In matters pertaining to his special vocation he took great interest, and contributed some valuable pa- pers to medical journals in Europe. He died, December

148

BIOGRAPHIICAL CYCLOPEDIA.

10, 1799. Dr. Usher Parsons says that " he was tall, erect and noble-looking in person, and his dignified step and bearing often arrested the attention of strangers he passed in the street. He was undoubtedly a man of high endow- ments, and well educated for his day." Dr. Senter mar- ried Eliza Arnold, daughter of Captain Rhodes Arnold, of Pawtucket. He had four sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Horace Gates, was a physician of eminence, and was, for some time, in the hospitals in London. His second son, Nathanael Greene, was several years in the East India Service. His third son, Edward, was also a student of medicine. His fourth son, Charles Churchill, died at the age of seventeen years. His eldest daughter, Eliza Antoinette, married Rev. Nathan Bourne Crocker, D.D., for more than half a century the honored Rector of St. John's Church, Providence. His second daughter, Sarah Ann, married Clement L. Hunt of the U. S. Navy.

OWLAND, JOHN, son of Joseph and Sarah (Bar- ber) Howland, was born in Newport October 31, 1757, and was a descendant in the fifth genera- tion from John Howland, of Plymouth, Massachu- setts, one of the early settlers of the old colony. His childhood education was chiefly under the direction of his parents at home. The opportunities which he had of attending school were very few, but such was his love for knowledge, that he improved these to the best of his ability. He was aided in his reading by his pastor, Rev. William Vinal, and by Rev. Gardiner Thurston, pastor of the First Baptist Church in his native town. When he was about thirteen years of age he removed to Providence, where he became an apprentice to Mr. Benjamin Gladding, a relative of his father, in the business of hair-dressing. The shop of Mr. Gladding was the favorite resort of the leading gentlemen of the town, in which were freely and earnestly discussed the leading topics of the times. He carried with him to his new home his eager thirst for knowledge, and carefully devoted his evenings to study and reading. His mind, ever active and improved by self-discipline, took hold of the exciting questions of those ante-Revolution days, and when the " minute men " of Rhode Island were organized, he was enrolled among them, and was on duty as a soldier under arms for the first time in Newport in September, 1775. Subsequently he enlisted in the Seventh Company of a regiment raised by the General Assembly for one year. The events of the thirteen months following he has left a minute account of, which the reader will find in his Life and Recollections, pp. 52-81. On returning to Providence at the close of his term of service, Mr. Howland supposed that his mili- tary career was at an end. In 1777, however, he was one of the expedition which captured General Prescott near Newport. He has left a record of many events which

occurred in the Revolutionary period and in the times which followed, which will always be full of interest, especially to the citizens of Providence. His term of ser- vice with Mr. Gladding having ended, he commenced business for himself, opening a hair-dresser's shop on North Main Street, near what was for many years known as the Manufacturers' Hotel, now the What Cheer Build- ings. Ile married, January 28, 1788, Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth Carlisle, and great-granddaughter of James Franklin, the eldest brother of Dr. Benjamin Frank- lin. His upright and honorable character, and his more than ordinarily cultivated mind, began to be recognized in his early manhood, and he made himself felt in the affairs of the town, in which he took a deep personal interest. In 1803 he was chosen Town Auditor, and held this im- portant office until 1818, when he was chosen Town Treasurer, serving in this capacity fourteen years. When the city government was organized in 1832, he declined a re-election. During all these years he kept up his studious habits, and made himself familiar with standard works in various departments of literature. He had a special fond- ness for antiquarian research, and came to be recognized as authority in all matters pertaining especially to Rhode Island history. The recklessness with which important papers were destroyed touched him very sensibly. It is said that from a quantity thrown into the streets, which he gathered up and carried to his place of business, he re- covered several original letters of Roger Williams. Soon after the formation of the Rhode Island Historical Society, he became a member, and ardently devoted to its interests. In 1833 he was elected its President, on the retirement of Governor James Fenner. In 1835 he was made an hon- orary member of the Royal Society of Northern Anti- quarians of Denmark. He was chosen also honorary member of several Historical Societies in this country. His Presidency of the Rhode Island Historical Society continued through the remainder of his life, the whole term of service covering a period of twenty-one years. But that which more than all else will transmit the name of Mr. Howland with honor to posterity, is the interest which he took in the cause of popular education. The " Mechanics' Association " was formed in 1789, and it was in this body that the agitation began which led to the establishment of public schools. Mr. Howland was a leading member of the Association, and, holding a ready pen, he began to write on the subject of public schools, and thus awakened an interest in the matter which, in due time, reached all classes. It is a singular circumstance to which he refers, that opposition to his plans did not come from the wealthy, but from the ranks of the very persons whom he was most anxious to benefit, the laboring-classes of the town. The General Assembly was memorialized, and at length a bill embodying a general school system was drawn up and presented to the Assembly, which, how- ever, did not dare to pass it until the sense of the towns

Samuel Adlam

149

BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPEDIA.

could be obtained. Providence pronounced in its favor; so did Newport. Among the country towns the movement was unpopular. At the autumn session, 1799, the bill passed the House of Representatives, and was sent up to the Senate, by whom it was laid over to the next session, and then passed. Much difficulty, however, was experi- enced in carrying into execution the plans laid out by the fertile brain of Mr. Howland; but at last opposition was overcome, prejudices removed, and the system which is now the pride and boast of the State was thoroughly and successfully carried out. For twenty years Mr. Howland was a leading member of the School Committee, and re- tired from office only because he was compelled so to do by the pressure of his other engagements. For a full ac- count of the history of the schools of Providence the reader is referred to Barnard's Rhode Island Public School Reports and Documents for 1848. In 1835, Brown University con- ferred on Mr. Howland the honorary degree of Master of Arts. In his religious connections he was a worshipper with the First Congregational Society, uniting with the church in 1814, and of which he was a deacon for several years, resigning the active duties of the office in 1847, at the age of 90 years. He died November 5, 1854. A por- trait of him may be seen in the rooms of the Rhode Island Historical Society. The children of John and Mary (Car- lisle) Howland were Alfred, Penelope, Benjamin R., Ja- nette, Mary, and eight children who died under three years of age.

DLAM, REV. SAMUEL, a Baptist clergyman of New- port, son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Powell) Adlam, was born in Temple Parish, Bristol, England, Feb- ruary 4, 1798, and christened in St. James Episcopal Church. He was the youngest of three children, and when three months old was left to the care of a wid- owed mother in humble life ; therefore he was favored with only ordinary advantages of education. At the age of seven he committed to memory the entire English Grammar, showing his early capacity, which increased in proportion to his years. At the age of eleven he was apprenticed for seven years to learn the art of making philosophical instru- ments. Upon his master's desk he first saw a Latin diction- ary, which awakened a desire to learn the language, and procuring a Latin grammar, he made rapid progress, also taking up the study of Greek and French, persevering until he could read them all, while working twelve hours a day. Heafterwards became greatly interested in mathematics and various branches of science, studying them all as he had opportunity. So great was his love for books that on one occasion, when sent to buy himself a pair of shoes, he passed by the shoe store and invested his money at a book- stall. His early associates were young men of culture, who frequently met to discuss religious topics chiefly. They were zealous in self-improvement and in doing good. . He

was also highly favored in the ministry he attended. Among his acquaintances were Dr. Ryland, Robert Hall, and Thomas Thorpe; and he frequently heard Jay, of Bath, Rowland Hill, Matthew Wilkes, and other eminent divines, whose influence, he has often said, " followed him all the days of his life." Mr. Adlam was married, June 24, 1820, at the Church of St. Augustine, Bristol, to Martha Legg, of Ash Hill, Somersetshire, England. In 1821 they came to America and settled in Boston, his mother and her sec- ond husband, the " Rev. William Granville," having pre- viously made this their home. Here Mr. Adlam prose- cuted his trade, employing at one time nineteen apprentices, among whom was Mr. Binney, who afterward became a distinguished Baptist missionary. He was baptized by Rev. Francis Wayland, and united with the First Baptist Church in Boston. His Baptist views were the result of close and discriminating study. Under Dr. Wayland he pursued a course of studies preparatory to the ministry, and was or- dained November 1, 1824, in the Baptist Church at West Dedham, Massachusetts, of which church he became pastor, Drs. Wayland, Baldwin, and Sharp assisting in the ordina- tion services. While in Dedham he supplied the pulpit occasionally at Canton, where he formed the acquaintance, and baptized, in October, 1826, Francis Mason, long known as a prominent missionary to the Karens. Mr. Adlam was the first to encourage his desire to enter the ministry, and taught him the elements of Hebrew and Greek while Mr. Mason sat upon the cobbler's bench engaged in making shoes. Closing his pastorate at West Dedham in 1827, Mr. Adlam occupied the pulpit at Canton, Marble- head, and Gloucester, Massachusetts, and subsequently graduated at Newton Theological Institution, in 1838. While a student at Newton, he was particularly in- strumental in drawing up an expression of opinion against slavery, and obtained for it the signatures of his fellow-students. In 1838 he entered the State of Maine, where he held two important pastorates, at Hallowell and Dover, in both of which he was very successful and pop- ular. In 1849 he was recommended by Dr. Wayland to the First Baptist Church in Newport, and accepted a call, continuing their pastor for sixteen years, during which time large accessions were made to the church. Mr. Adlam not only possessed strong and effective pulpit talents, but also wielded a commanding pen. He de- livered maný important addresses on various subjects, some of which were solicited for publication by several persons of distinction, among whom was Bancroft, the historian; but Mr. Adlam declined their requests. In 1850 he pub- lished a pamphlet entitled The First Church of Provi- dence, R. I., not the Oldest Baptist Church in America, and in 1871 another, on the Origin of the Institutions of Rhode Island, both of which attracted much attention. But for his modesty and high literary standard more of his writings would have been given to the press. In accord- ance with his English temperament he spoke and wrote

150

BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPEDIA.

with clearness, vigor, and confidence. Disregarding the sensational, he aimed to be instructive, and by a powerful presentation of gospel truth, combined with great tender- ness of application, he won the hearts of his hearers. After resigning his pastorate in Newport he was employed for several years in fitting students for college. He was par- ticularly accomplished in the classics, teaching and writing in six languages. In March, 1866, he was bereft of his companion, a woman of marked Christian virtues, who zealously performed the duties incident to a pastor's wife. On the 9th of May, 1867, he married Annie W. Peckham, of Newport, daughter of Timothy and Zoa Peckham, a lady highly esteemed for her religious excellencies, and especially for her devotion to her aged and suffering com- panion. In 1871 Mrs. Adlam accompanied her husband to England, and in a tour on the Continent. During three months in London Mr. Adlam diligently searched the public records for further information concerning the early history of Rhode Island, and upon his return to Newport, surrounded by his valuable library of two thousand five hundred volumes, continued his studies with the same avidity as in his youth, reading day or evening the finest print without the aid of glasses, never having occasion to use them. In 1874 he delivered the semi-Centennial Dis- course of the Baptist Church at West Dedham, with great acceptance, receiving a hearty welcome from some of his first parishioners. The engraving accompanying this sketch was made from a photograph taken when he was seventy- six years of age. In 1877 Mr. Adlam was afflicted with cerebral disease, which finally terminated his useful life, October 18, 1880. His last words were fitting to his labo- rious career and ripe age, " I long to go home, and be at rest." His purity of character, scholarly attainments, and earnest devotion to the welfare of humanity, won for him the place of honor which he held, and his name will long be remembered, both in England and America.

HILLIPS, MAJOR SAMUEL, son of Charles and Mary Phillips, was born at the family residence near Wickford, Rhode Island, December 20, 1749. The tradition is that the Phillips family, which is so largely represented in Rhode Island, emigrated from Exeter, in England, and were among the early set- tlers of Narragansett, around Wickford. Samuel Phillips, the great-grandfather of Major Phillips, died in 1736. His second son was Charles, the father of the Major, and also of Hon. Peter Phillips. The subject of this sketch, while quite a young man, took an active part in politics, and was a warm patriot in the Revolutionary struggle. He was commissioned in August 1776, by John Hancock, President of the United Colonies, as Captain of the Sixth Company of the First Regiment of the brigade raised by Rhode Island. This brigade was taken into Continental pay and

constituted part of the American Army. He was again commissioned by Governor Cooke, on the 22d of January, 1777, captain of a company of State infantry, in Colonel Stanton's regiment. In the famous expedition of Colonel William Barton, sent to capture General Prescott, on the island of Rhode Island, Captain Phillips was a volunteer, and had command of one of the five boats that crossed the Naragansett Bay on the errand which was so successful. He was also a captain in General Sullivan's expedition in Rhode Island, in 1778. On the 4th of March, 1779, he entered the naval service, as a Lieutenant in the twenty- gun ship, Mifflin, commanded by George White Babcock. The Mifflin was successful in taking and bringing into Boston several valuable prizes, one of which, the Tartar, an English privateer, was purchased by some Boston mer- chants, and sent out under American colors to prey on British commerce. In this vessel he was also a Lieuten- ant under Commander David Porter. He had a varied experience while he was in the naval service. At one time he was captured and carried to Ireland. After being sent from place to place he was put on board a guard-ship, from which he managed to make his escape, and after various adventures, reached home. He thus sums up his experience : " I have been in the late war Lieutenant of four 20-gun ships, one cutter of 14 guns, and Commander of a brig of 14 guns. As an individual I have ever strove hard and suffered much to help to gain the inde- pendence of my country, which I ever held near and dear to me; and am ready to step forth again and oppose any power whatever that endeavored to trample upon or other- wise injure my country and her rights." The threatened rupture with France, in 1799, once more called forth Mr. Phillips from the quiet of his farm in North Kingstown, and he was commissioned by President Adams to serve in the navy. Upon the termination of the difficulties with France he returned at once to his farm, where he died August 10, 1808.

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.

The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, Part 33

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: National biographical publishing co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Providence, National biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 868