USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The early records of the town of Providence, Vol. XVIII, 1600s > Part 16
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Resolved :-
That before taking the deeds of said estates or paying therefor the City Solicitor shall examine the title thereto and approve the same.
Passed July 9, 1866 Approved the same day
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor. [City Council Records No. 5, pages 397-8.]
[July 30, 1866.] John Carter Brown to City of Providence- $12000-Quitclaim. That certain parcel of land lying near the North Burial Ground in said City of Prov. bounded Northwardly by the divid- ing line between said City & the line of North Providence Eastwardly
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by the Pawtucket Turnpike Road & North Main St Southwardly by land belonging to John & Richard Gannon & westwardly by a continu- ation of Sexton St as laid down on a plat of said Street made by S. B. Cushing on the 9th of Sept 1845 & recorded in the City Clerk's Office the which said lot or parcel of land was to me conveyed by said City of Prov. by deed dated October 11, 1845 & recorded in Book No. 99 page 73 of Providence Land Records as was also a strip of land adjacent since conveyed by me to Zachariah Allen William or Edward Randall or some other person. [Decd Book No. 174, page 330.]
[August 18, 1866.| Lucius Miner et al. to City of Providence- $20000-Quitclaim. A certain tract of land situate in said North Providence now known as the William Randall homestead farm bounded and described as follows. Beginning on the westerly side of the Paw- tucket Turnpike Road at the point where the north line of the North Burial Ground of said Providence protracted would intersect said Turn- pike Road, thence westwardly bounding southwardly on said North Burial Ground to the Smithfield Turnpike road so called, thence north- wardly bounding westwardly on said Turnpike road to Moshassuck river, thence eastwardly bounding northwardly on said Moshassuck river to the Power Road so called, thence southwardly bounding eastwardly on said Power Road in the line of said Road protracted to the Paw- tucket Turnpike Road, thence still southwardly bounding eastwardly on said Turnpike Road to the place of beginning. containing about forty acres. [Deed Book No. 267, page 493, Providence, No. 37, page 440, City Clerk's Office, Pawtucket.]
[November 12, 1866.] Resolved :-
That the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground, be and they are hereby directed to select and set apart a lot in said ground as a burial place for the late Col. Knight Dexter and his family.
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Resolved :--
That the Standing Committee on the North Burial Ground, be and they are hereby authorized and directed to cause remains of the late Col. Knight Dexter and his family, to be carefully removed from the West Burying Ground, where they now are, to the lot set apart by the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground for their reception.
Resolved :-
That the same committee be and they are hereby directed to cause the said lot to be properly curbed and the tomb stones repaired.
Resolved :-
That the sum of three thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carrying the aforegoing resolutions into effect.
Passed November 12, 1866
Approved the same day
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 5, page 440.]
[November 26, 1866.] Message from the Mayor.
Mayors Office Providence Novem. 26, 1866 Gentlemen of the City Council
The heirs of Edward Randall late of North Providence, deceased, claim to own a parcel of land between the North Burial Ground and the Pawtucket Turnpike, which has been supposed to be a portion of the estate originally conveyed by the City to John Carter Brown and by him recently conveyed to the city.
I recommend that this claim may be investigated, in order that an amicable arrangement may be made with the heirs should they be found to have a title to the land in question.
In October 1848 Mr. Randall executed a power of attorney to the late John Whipple directing him to sue for this land whenever Mr. Brown should set up any title thereto, and if recovered to convey it to
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the City of Providence to be kept by them as a public park or common This power of attorney, together with a plat of the land has been de- posited in this office by the heirs.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor. [City Council Records No. 5, page 444.]
Read November 26, 1866.
[January 16, 1867.] Memorial of the Commissioners of the North Burying Ground.
To the Hon. City Council of the City of Providence
The Commissioners of the North Burying Ground as the legally appointed custodians appointed to take special charge of the preserva- tion and improvement of this city cemetery, have deemed it to be their duty to submit for consideration, the subject of inclosing with a suit- able fence, the tract of forty six acres of land, recently purchased for the enlargement of the original cemetery of fifty six acres of ground, and of including both together as one spacious cemetery of the extent of one hundred and two acres
Considering the design in purchasing this additional track of land to be the provision of a spacious place of sepulture, with a wise forecast for the future requirements of a rapidly increasing city, the Commis- sioners have taken charge of the new trust committed to their care.
The first consideration presented to them has been the removal of the old fence on the north division line and the construction of a new fence around the land purchased. To accomplish this, it has been found by admeasurement, that five thousand and eighty five feet in length of fence will be requisite ; a portion of which may be made of the division fence removed.
The present inclosure of the original cemetery was made nearly a quarter of a century ago, by a structure formed of granite posts, to which chestnut rails and slats are attached by screw bolts, admitting of the removal of the perishable wood work for occasional repairs.
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These parts all remain perfect for future use, not one of them hav- ing failed or having been broken ; and they all admit of being used again for an indefinite period of time.
Several hundred new granite posts will be required and some por- tions of the ground along the external lines will require to be graded to receive a regular line of fencing and to form a decent and respectable place of final rest for the sepulture of the people of Providence and of their children for future generations ; whose careers of active life are all destined to be terminated at the bourne of mortal existence in the grave.
Having served as one of the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground for the original inclosure and improvement of it; this experi- ence has induced the belief of the undersigned that an appropriation of six thousand dollars economically expended will be adequate for the completion of the proposed inclosure in a durable and substantial manner.
It is to be remembered that after the completion of this preliminary work the future preservation and improvement of this public cemetery will be sustained by the income from the gradual sale of burial plots for ages to come : and by the endowments by will and otherwise of sums contributed by individuals for the perpetual perservation of their several lots and monuments in accordance with the Act of the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island constituting the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground, and their successors in office for ever, trustees for the special purpose of faithfully executing the directions prescribed by the donors. An incipient fund has already been created for this purpose amounting to twenty eight hundred dollars securely invested.
It may be appropriately noticed as shewing the natural advantages of the location recently purchased, that it borders on an ever flowing river, and admits of the formation of sheets of water amid elevated ridges of land, where gravelled walks will afford facilities for securing
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the attractions of a beautiful landscape to the living mourner and the sanctity of the quiet repose of the dead, with the assurance that this secluded spot may remain undisturbedly consecrated as a cemetery. For the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground.
Zachariah Allen.
Read : whereupon it is ordered that the same be received Passed In Common Council January 14, 1867. In Board of Aldermen January 16, 1867. Approved the same day
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 5, page 460.]
[February 4, 1867.] Resolved :-
That the Commissioners of the North Burying Ground, under the advice of the Standing Committee of the North Burial Ground, be and they are hereby directed to cause the land recently purchased for the extending of said ground to be properly laid out, graded and enclosed by a suitable fence.
Resolved :-
That the sum of six thousand dollars be hereby appropriated for the aforegoing object.
Passed : In Common Council January 14, 1867.
In Board of Aldermen February 4, 1867.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor. [City Council Records No. 5, page 461.]
[February 11, 1867.] Resolved :-
That the Committee appointed to revise the City ordinances, be and they are hereby directed to make application to the General Assembly for the passage of an Act changing the boundary line between this city and the town of North Providence, so that such portions of the land owned by the City set apart for burial purposes and known as the
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" North Burial Ground" as is situated in the town of North Providence may be set off to and made a part of the City of Providence and also, for the passage of an act changing the boundary line between this city and the town of East Providence, so that so much of the property con- veyed to the City by the deed from the Washington Bridge Society, dated November 20, 1860 and recorded in the land records of the City in book number one hundred fifty eight, (158) page two hundred and seven (207) as is located in East Providence may be set off to and made a part of the City of Providence.
Passed In Board of Aldermen January 16, 1867.
In Common Council February 11, 1867.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 5, page 462.]
[February 13, 1867.] For report of Standing Committee on the North Burying Ground on Commissioners Report see City Council Records number 5 page 470.
This report was approved by the Mayor almost a year after.
For report of Commissioners of North Burial Ground for the year ending April 30, 1866 see City Council Records number 5 page 470.
For Annual Report of the North Burial Ground Fund see City Council records number 5 page 471.
[City Council Records No. 5, pages 470 ยง. 471.]
[June 3, 1867.] For Annual Report of the Superintendent of the North Burying Ground for the year ending June 1, 1867 see City Council Records number 5 page 519.
For Report of Committee on the North Burial in regard to Com- missioners Report see City Council Records number 5 pages 520 & 521 for the year ending April 30, 1867
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For Annual Report of the Commissioners of the North Burying Ground for the year ending April 30, 1867 see City Council records number 5 page 521.
For Annual Report on North Burial Ground Funds see City Council records number 5 pages 521 & 522 for the year ending April 30, 1867. [City Council Records No. 5, pages 519 to 522.]
[June 5, 1867.] For Income from North Burial Ground Funds for the year ending April 30, 1867 see City Council records number 5 pages 522 & 523.
[June 3, 1867.] Resolved :-
That the Joint Committee who were appointed to cause the Mayor's Address to be printed, be and they are hereby Authorized to cause to be printed
The Annual Report of the Commissioners of the North Burying Ground made May 13 1867.
The Annual Report of the Superintendent of the North Burying Ground.
[City Council Records No. 5, page 525.]
[August 12, 1867.] Resolved That the gift of Jabez Gorham of the sum six hundred dollars to the Commissioners of the North Bury- ing Ground in trust the income thereof to be applied under the provi- sions of Chapter 367 of the Revised Statutes to the preservation and care of the lot of said Gorman in said ground be and the same is hereby accepted by the City Council.
Passed In Common Council August 12, 1867.
In Board of Aldermen Aug 14 1867.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor. [City Council Records No. 6, page 18.]
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[September 23, 1867.] Resolved That the City Treasurer be hereby authorized under the advice and direction of the Standing Com- mittee on City Property, to sell a strip of land on the easterly side of Sexton street adjoining land of Joseph Whelden and to execute a quit- claim deed thereof in the name of the City of Providence and to affix the seal of the City thereto provided said land shall not be sold for less than two hundred and sixty dollars and also that the proceeds be paid over to the trustees of the Sinking Fund for the redemption of the City Bonds payable in 1885
Passed Sept. 23, 1867.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 6, page 29.]
[September 27, 1867.] City of Providence to Jos. Whelden- $260-Quitclaim. A certain lot or parcel of land lying, being & situ- ate in the Northerly part of said City of Prov. & bounded & described as follows Viz : Westerly by a line (which line is understood & agreed by these grantors & this grantee to be the easterly line of Sexton street ) parallel with & one hundred & forty 42/100 feet west of the west line of North Main St. on which it measures one hundred & seventy two 08/100 fect. Northerly & in range with the north line of a lot owned by said Whelden on said North Main St by land claimed by Sally Hathaway on which it measures 10/12 feet more or less. Easterly by land of said Joseph Whelden on which it measures about one hundred & sixty feet and southerly & in range with the south line of said Whelden's lot on North Main St by land of said City on which it measures thirty three & one half feet more or less which said lot hereby conveyed contains forty two hundred square feet more or less. [Deed Book No. 179, page 283.]
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[October 7, 1867.] Nathan Smalley Esqr. superintendent of the North Burial Grounds in the city of Providence proposes to straighten the line of the fence westerly from homestead estate of Wm. Randall to the bridge on the river near Horton Grove estate; the council make no objection to the straightening the line providing the same is done with the consent of the owners of the land opposite.
[North Providence Town Council Records, No. 10, page 124.]
[November 13, 1867.] Report on the Dexter Monument. To the Hon. City Council
The Standing Committee on the North Burying Ground to whom was referred the erection of a monument to Ebenezer Knight Dexter by vote of the City Council who appropriated three thousand dollars to carry the same into effect make report :
That they secured a lot in the North Burial Ground forty feet square and enclosed the same with a heavy granite coping and erected a monument of Westerly granite twenty five feet in height to the memory of Mr. Dexter and his ancestors. The Committee had all the remains of Mr. Dexter's Family wife and child carefully removed to this lot also the remains of his father's family and grand parents removed from the West Burying Ground and buried in the same lot and inscribed on the monument the names of his ancestors at a cost exhausting the whole appropriation to complete the work.
Your Committee consulted with all who felt an interest in the design of a monument to make it creditable to the City.
For the Committee,
John D. Jones.
Read whereupon it is ordered that the same be received
Passed November 11, 1867, In Common Council. Nov. 13, 1867, In Board of Aldermen.
Approved the same day. Thomas A. Doyle Mayor. [City Council Records No. 6, page 47.]
K
... ------- SEXTON STREET
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A
-----------------
-P. NESTREIT ------ X --------------- --------------
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---------------
.... ...... ..
graph / Salmone commis
2
7
.
2
North
Burial Ground
Sexton street
*
Albert & # Kie
.... . ....
..
John dorman
...
Josep
.........
-------------
.. ..
.
. ..
-
Publis Land
Cozzens Lane
.....
.
-------
New SP
...
.
North Main st
Plat K opposite page 203.
Scale of Feet
K
...... ..
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[November 13, 1867.] Resolved that the gift of Almon D. Hodges of Boston of the sum of one hundred dollars to the Commis- sioners of the North Burying Ground in trust the income thereof to be applied under the provisions of Chapter 367 of the Revised Statutes to the preservation and care of the burial lot of Sally B. Comstock in said ground be and the same is hereby accepted by the City Council. Passed in Common Council Nov. 11, 1867.
In Board of Aldermen Nov. 13, 1867.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 6, page 48.]
[March 20, 1868.] Report.
To the Honorable the Board of Aldermen of the City of Providence The undersigned who were on the 16th day of March A. D. 1868 appointed by said Board " to relay Sexton street of a width of thirty feet from Cozzen's Lane to a point about thirty four and one half feet North of the Northerly line of John Gorman's lot and also to lay out a new street from said Sexton street to North Main street thirty feet in width " respectfully report
That on the 17th day of March A. D. 1868 accompanied by Gus- tavus A. Williamson Esquire Justice of the Peace and Edward S. Rhodes 2d Esq. City Sergeant the undersigned proceeded to the place where said highways are required to be laid out and (having been first duly engaged by the said Gustavus A. Williamson Justice of the Peace to faithfully discharge the duties required of them by the warrant here- unto annexed) surveyed bounded and marked out said highways in accordance with the directions of said Board as contained in said war- rant and as delineated on the plat1 which is herewith presented marked A and made a part of this report as follows to wit :
1 Plat K
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Sexton Street.
Beginning for the easterly line of said street at a point in the range of the northerly line of Cozzens Lane as said lane was established November 3th A. D. 1855 said point being 17035 feet westerly from the westerly line of North Main street measuring on the Northerly line of said lane; thence Northerly on a line parallel with the said westerly line of North Main street and 142-42 100 feet therefrom 617-41 feet to a point 34-5% feet north of the northerly line of John Gorman's lot thence westerly at a right angle 100-3% feet thence southerly on a line parallel with said line running northerly and thirty feet therefrom 637-10% to the range of the northerly line of Cozzens Lane before described : thence easterly 35-8% feet to the point of beginning.
New Street.
Beginning at a point in the easterly line of Sexton street as before described 41 feet north of the northerly line of John Gormans lot as defined on said plat. thence at a right angle with said Sexton street as represented on said plat on a line parallel with said Gorman's northerly line and 43 feet therefrom easterly 142-4% feet to the westerly line of North Main street thence Northerly on said westerly line of North Main street 30 feet to a point 9410 0 68 feet northerly from the range of the Northerly side of the Obadiah Mason shop (so called) now belong- ing to the said John Gorman thence westerly on a line parallel with said Gorman's northerly line, and 343 feet therefrom 142-42% feet to said Sexton street thence southerly on the easterly line of said Sexton street to the point of beginning.
And your Committee also report that the land taken for these high- ways as herein described is a part of the lot lying " between Archibald Walker's southward to the brook that cometh out of Samuel Whipple's land eastward with the highway and westward and northwestward with the Moshassuck river " which was voted by the town of Providence in
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June A. D. 1700 to remain Common for a training field, burying ground and other public uses.
And the undersigned further report that no claim for land damage can in their judgment be sustained against the City in case these high- ways are established as herein before described and that but one party is known to them who seeks remuneration for such damage Nathaniel S Mowry of Smithfield claims to own the land next north of John Gor- mans estate of which land 3640,3 8: 106 feet are required for the New street as marked out and bounded by your committee For this land the said Mowry demands fifteen cents per foot or the sum of Five hundred and Forty six 5/100 dollars.
And the undersigned further report that said Mowry has no record title to the land which he claims to own
If he has any title it is by possession And in order that the Board of Aldermen may duly appreciate the value of such title the undersigned refer said Board to a decision of the Supreme Court in the Case of Whelden versus Martin in relation to the title of a portion of the same tract or parcel of land which was dedicated by the Town of Providence to public uses in June A. D. 1700.
Respectfully submitted.
Witness our hands and seals this 20th day of March A. D. 1868
James C. Hidden L. S. Joseph F. Gilmore L. S. Charles E. Paine L. S.
( See Map in Book of Street Plats No 4 Page 54)
Note. Street above, received May 29, 1868 Street book 2 page 41 3. [Street Book No 2, pages 412 &. 413, City Clerk's Office.]
[May 14, 1868.] For the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground see City Council Records No 6 pages 94-95-96 and 97
[City Council Records No. 6, pages 94 to 97.]
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[May 14, 1868.] Resolved That the City Treasurer be directed to pay to the order of the Commissioners of the North Burial Ground the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) the same to be expended in repairs of fence of said grounds.
Passed In Common Council May 11, 1868.
In Board of Aldermen May 14, 1868.
Approved the same day.
[City Council Records No. 6, page 99.]
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[May 29,. 1868.] In Board of Aldermen May 29, 1868
The Report of the Committee appointed on the 16th day of March 1868 to relay Sexton street from Cozzens Lane to a point 343 feet Northerly of the north line of John Gormans lot, and also to lay out a street from Sexton street to North Main street which report was post- poned to this day is taken up notice having been duly served on all parties interested : and Edward P. Knowles appears and is heard : whereupon it is ordered that said report be received and recorded.
In Board of Aldermen May 29, 1868 Resolved That this Board hereby declare that all that portion of Sex- ton street which lies northerly of Sexton street as laid out by the Com- mittee appointed March 16, 1868 and northerly of the new street from Sexton street to North Main street laid out by said Committee has ceased to be useful to the public as a highway.
[Street Book No. 2, page 413.]
[June 1, 1868.] For the Annual report of the Superintendent of the North Burial Ground see City Council Records No. 6 page 1 14. [City Council Records No. 6, page 114.]
[August 24, 1868.] Resolved That the gift of James Wheaton of the sum of eighty dollars to the Commissioners of the North Burying Ground in trust, the income thereof to be applied under the provisions
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of Chapter 367 of the Revised Statutes to the Preservation and Care of the burial lot of said Wheaton in said ground be and the same is hereby accepted by the City Council.
Passed Aug. 24, 1868.
Approved the same day.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
[City Council Records No. 6, page 153.]
[November 28, 1868.] An Ordinance establishing certain Joint Rules and Joint Standing Committees of the City Council.
It is ordained by the City Council as follows :
Section 1. These shall be annually appointed by the City Council immediately after the organization of the city government the following Joint Standing Committees who shall hold their offices until the expira- tion of the current municipal year. viz. *
A Committee on the North Burial Ground.
Each of which shall consist of three members of the Common Council and one Aldermen ** *
Passed Nov. 23, approved Nov. 28, 1868.
[Ordinance Book No. 3, page 50, City Clerk's Office, Providence.]
[January 13, 1869.] Message from the Mayor. Mayors office, City of Providence, January 11, 1869.
Gentlemen of the City Council,
I suggest to you the propriety of setting apart a suitable lot in the North Burial Ground for the interment of the bodies of such persons as may decease in the Rhode Island Hospital leaving no friends to attend to their burial.
Should such a lot be provided the Trustees of the Hospital will un- doubtedly see that the same is properly cared for.
Thomas A. Doyle Mayor.
Read In Common Council Jan. 11, 1869.
In Board of Aldermen Jan. 13, 1869.
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Resolved,
That the Message of the Mayor dated January 11 1869 relative to setting apart a suitable lot in the North Burial Ground for interment of bodies of such persons as may decease in the R. I. Hospital be and hereby is referred to the Standing Committee on the North Burying Ground to examine and report thereon.
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