USA > Rhode Island > Kent County > Warwick > The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time; including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c., &c > Part 14
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Of this estate were sold, three years ago, one hundred and thirty acres of land, bordering upon the beach, to an association of gentlemen, known as the Buttonwood Beach Association, for $22,000. This association has since laid out the grounds in a tasteful manner, and placed them in the market. They erected a large Hotel in 1872, at a cost of some $20,000. Some fifty or more cottages, some of them quite expensive, have been already erected, and each year increases the number. The grounds are pleasantly located, having a beach a mile long, surmounted by a bluff nearly the whole length, some eight or ten feet high. The elevated ridge of Warwick Neck shelters it from the cold east winds, which render Martha's Vineyard so frequently cheerless, while the warm southerly and westerly outlook, affords ample scope for the genial breezes from those directions. To the southward lie the waters of the Narragansett, with the waters of the Coweset reaching to the village of East Greenwich, with Chippewanoxet in the fore-ground, and across the bay the fertile farms and stately dwellings of Potowomut. Still further south are the islands of Prudence and Patience, Jamestown and the island city of Newport. The constitution of the Button- wood Beach Association requires that six out of its nine managers, with the president, shall be of the Baptist denomination, giving it somewhat of a denominational character.
APPONAUG AND COWESET SHORE.
We find a reference to Apponaug as early as the year 1663, in the proprietors' records, but of no permanent settlement until the year 1696, when John Micarter of Providence, erected his fulling mill on Kekamewit brook .*
* See page 95. "At a proprietors' meeting, held January 8th, 1722-3, Major Anthony Low, moderator, Major Job Greene, Capt. John Waterman and Capt. Benjamin Greene, were appointed a committee, to agree with Samuel Greene, concerning the Fulling mill grant and to present a plat of the same for the approval of the proprietors."- Proprietors' Records.
"At a proprietors' meeting, called by a warrant, and held at the
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APPONAUG.
In the earlier reference it is called Aponahock, and in the later Aponake. The word is an Indian term, according to Roger Williams, and signifies an oyster. Williams, writes it Opponenauhack. The place became known as the Fulling mill, but finally resumed its an- cient appellation, by which it is now more generally known. An arm of the cove that makes up in the rear of where formerly stood the old Baptist meeting-house, is known by the name of Pawwaw cove. The tradition is that an Indian priest or pawwaw, was drowned there while attempting to cross it. Apponaug cove in early times, was several feet deeper than at present, and even since the year 1800, sloops of fifteen tons burden found no difficulty in entering it, and approaching the store of Jacob Greene & Co.
In June, 1796, the General Assembly, granted permis- sion to John Stafford to erect a tide mill, for the grind- ing of corn and other grains, at or near the bridge, "pro- vided that the mill dam be made and erected with suit- able waste-gates for venting the superfluous water, and in such a manner as not to back the water or otherwise injure the mills of Mr. Caleb Greene; and also provided, that the said John Stafford, shall make, and leave open at all proper times, a suitable passage, not less than six- teen feet wide, in the said dam, for the passage of rafts and boats up and down said river."
house of Josiah Hynes, in Warwick, the thirty-first day of January, A. D. 1735-6. Voted: John Wickes, chosen chairman. Present 26 pro- prietors. The committee have presented their Returne by a plat, made by Capt. Thomas Rice, surveyor, dated January 17 day, 1735-6, which was voted and accepted by the proprietors, and accordingly the Proprietors have drawn their generall allotments, which may fully appear by the plat and list thereof-lbid.
The above paragraph refers to a tract of land, "Lighing between Sweet's meadow and Aponaugh brig." The tract was divided into fifty-one lots, John Wickes drew the first, and Richard Waterman the fifty-first.
""A true plat, errors excepted, of part of the Proprietors' commons, called ve fower miles commons lying near Apponog, part near ye Bridge and part near wood pint, so called, which was surveyed with the assistance of Colonell Joseph Stafford, Capt. Charles Holden and Capt. Thomas Rice, committee which was by the proprietors appinted for ye same, and platted this 35 (25?] of Oct., A. D. 1751. Voted, that this plat be accepted by the proprietors .- Ibid.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Whether the original fulling mill was kept in contin- uous operation from its early beginning, to the time when the building known as such, ceased operations, some sixty years ago, or what changes it underwent during the first century, it is perhaps, impossible to say.
It was followed by a cotton mill, run by a company, of which Capt. Caleb Greene, father of Mr. Albert D. Greene, was the agent. The mill was of three stories, shingled on all sides, and remained, until about the time the Print works went into operation. There was also a saw and grist mill in operation near by, for some years. Just in the rear of Mr. Benjamin Vaughan's house, was a small building used for the carding of wool, which was brought in by the neighboring farmers, and when carded was carried home and spun for use. It was run a part of the time by a Mr. Manchester, and also by the Wilburs. Mr. Wilbur, father of the late Col. Peleg Wilbur, of Washington village, had a store in the village, in the year 1800 and afterwards, in which he sold dry and West India goods, and in one part was kept the usual sup- ply of New England rum. It is said there were not less than seven of these variety stores at one time, and seve- ral taverns, all of which, kept liquor for sale at retail. The old Wilbur house still stands on the east side of the street, leading toward Greenwich. Jacob Greene, bro- ther of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, had a store out in the water, off against Mrs. Remington's lot, for convenience, perhaps in unlading merchandise from the sloops that entered the harbor. The water surrounded it. One of the oldest houses, and perhaps the first framed house in the village, stands next north of Mr. Atwood's hotel.
Early in the present century, sloops and schooners were built here, and one ship is remembered by a person now living as also ·having been built. Trade was car- ried on with neighboring ports to a considerable extent. Jacob Greene & Co. here shipped their anchors from their forge in Coventry, and received their coal and black sand. It was thought at one time, by some, that
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APPONAUG VILLAGE.
the village would come to much larger proportions and assume greater importance than it has ever arrived at ; and one of the inhabitants-as he beheld several houses then recently erected, in the exuberance of his imagi- nation, and with a preliminary remark uttered in not very choice language, -- declared that "Apponaug will yet be bigger than London."
On two of the four corners, in the heart of the vil- lage, were taverns ; on the southeast, a blacksmith shop occupied by Gideon Congdon who died very suddenly ; and on the south was the old house in which Samuel Greene, son of the Deputy-Governor, John Greene, lived. Samuel Greene married a daughter of Benjamin Gorton, one of the sons of Samuel Gorton, Senior. He afterwards purchased of Samuel Gorton, Jr., the house which the latter had erected on one of the Coweset farms near Greenwich, now occupied by Ex-Lieut .- Gov. William Greene. He, however, continued to reside at Apponaug until his death. He died of small pox at the age of fifty. His son, Gov. William Greene, re- sided on the estate purchased of Gorton. The old Greene house, which stood back a little from the street, was torn down forty-eight years ago and its timbers were put into the new one erected the same year upon the corner. It still remains in the Greene family. One of the ancient houses of the place, a one-story building, stood upon the site of the present residence of the ven- erable Daniel Brown (now in his ninety-fourth year), near the railway depot. The present residence of Mr. Brown was built about eighty-five years ago, by Nathaniel and James Stone, and was subsequently pur- chased by Joseph Brown, father of the present owner. A choice bit of water, called the Sweet-Meadow Brook, passes through the farm and has been the source of considerable interest to Mr. Brown. Capt. Brown and his father also were born in the old house, according to the Captain's statements. In the chambers of Capt. Brown's house lived Mr. Caleb Arnold for a while, and there, his son, Mr. John B. Arnold, of Centreville, was born. Joseph Arnold, brother of Caleb, was a revolu-
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
tionary soldier, and drew a pension as major, to the close of his life. Col. Thomas Westcott, a descendant of one of the founders of the town, and a man of some note in the early part of the century, was the Sheriff of Kent county, and at one time a General in the militia. He married Marcy Arnold, of Cranston, February 4, 1781, and had eight children. Susanna was born March 29, 1782 ; Lucy, December 30, 1783; Catherine, May 5, 1785 ; Jaleel, February 3, 1788 ; Thomas, February 13, 1790 ; John, August 25, 1792; Samuel A., Decem- ber 11, 1794; Aribut, November 15, 1796 ; Augustus A., May 11, 1798. The two last died in infancy. Catherine married William Marble for her first husband, and James Haven for her second. 'She died in Centre- ville, a few years ago. Her son, Thomas Marble, Esq., is superintendent of the mills at Allendale. Allen, another son, was drowned in New Bedford in 1860.
One of the noted residents of the village, and whose influence extended beyond its limits, was Charles Brayton, for many years clerk of the town, and from May, 1814, to May, 1818, an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court. He was subsequently chosen to the same position in 1827 and remained several years. His father, Daniel Brayton, was a blacksmith and removed from Old Warwick. He removed his shop from Old Warwick to Apponaug, to near the spot where his son, the Hon. Wm. D. Brayton, formerly a Member of Con- gress, now resides. Hon. George A. Brayton, late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is also one of his sons. The latter was elected Associate Justice in 1843, remaining in that position until 1868, when he was elected Chief, and remained in that position until within about a year. He is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1824.
Previous to the building of the Town House, in 1834-5, the town meetings were held at various places, chiefly at the taverns; and the privilege of having them was, in later years, sold at auction to the highest bidder. The benefits accruing to the successful bidder
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TOWN HOUSE LOT IMPROVED.
were probably derived from the increased amount of liquor that would be sold upon his premises during the meetings. The following is an extract from the town records referring to this matter:
At a Town Meeting held at Daniel Whitman's Inn on the 25th of July, 1812, it was " Voted that the holding of the Town Meetings be sold to the highest Bidder, to any person within the Town of Warwick, for one year, and that the money aris- ing therefrom be paid into the Town Treasury; and the same was according Struck off to Benjamin Greene, (S. C.) for the sum of One Hundred and Sixty-five Dollars, who was the Highest Bidder; that the same be paid into the Treasury at the Expiration of the Year, and that Security be given to the satisfaction of the Town Treasurer within Ten Days."
At a subsequent meeting the town accepted the note of Benjamin Greene, endorsed by Caleb Greene, Jr., " for the sum the town meetings were bid off for."
Previous to 1849 the grounds about the Town House presented a barren, desolate appearance; the old ash tree in the rear of the clerk's office being about the only tree of importance upon the grounds. At the April town meeting of this year the town requested its clerk to " procure and set out five elm trees, in front of the Town House lot and guard the same against cattle by placing around each tree a strong fence or barricade." As the other trees upon the grounds at the present time are of the same kind, and about the same size, it is prob- able they were also set out about the same period. At the same meeting a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars was voted to build a shed upon the rear portion of the lot. At the April town meeting, in 1854, the Kentish Artillery were granted the privilege of building an Armory on the eastern portion of the town house lot.
In the year 1854 there was more than usual interest in the temperance movement. Efforts on the part of the temperance people looking toward the suppression of the traffic, were met with violent opposition on the part of their opponents, and occasional acts of violence for the purpose of intimidating the more active pro- moters of the reform, were resorted to. One of these law-
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
less and disgraceful and cowardly acts was perpetrated in the village of Apponaug, which was followed a few years after by one of murderous malignity in the village of Centreville. In the former village a keg of powder was placed in the barn of Mr. William Harrison and near the then residence of the present town clerk, and exploded, blowing the barn to pieces and seriously endangering the lives of the people in the vicinity. The Town Council immediately offered a reward of two hun- dred dollars for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed the act, and the town, a few days after (Nov. 7), offered an additional reward of five hundred dollars, but no one was convicted.
Passing southward we come to the site of the old Episcopal meeting house which stood about midway be- tween Apponaug and Greenwich. It was erected here in 1728, having formerly stood in Newport where it bore the name of Trinity church. According to tradition, it was floated from Newport to this place, where it re- mained for over thirty years, when the migratory spirit came over it again and it was taken down once more and placed upon the water with the intention of remov- ing it to Old Warwick. A storm came on and the materials were scattered and never reached their desti- nation. Chippewanoxet, a name euphonious in Indian but rude and diabolical in English, it being interpreted Devil's Island, is a small Island at high tide, near the summer resort known as Read's Palace. An old burial spot a short distance from it and near the railroad cul- vert is traditionally of Indian origin.
In reaching this point we have passed the palatial residence of Amasa Sprague, Esq., at the old Ladd wat- ering-place, the most costly dwelling-house, probably, in the town ; with its extensive and beautiful lawns and shrubbery. To the southward and not far from the site of the old Indian burial ground, is the pleasant resi- dence of the late Dea. Moses Wightman, formerly owned and occupied by the late Rev. Dr. Crane and long known as the Oliver Gardiner house. On the hill
THE GOVERNOR GREENE MANSION.
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THE GOV. GREENE MANSION.
the massive stone dwelling-house of Alfred A. Read, Esq., vying, in architectural beauty, with the Sprague house, to the northward, and overlooking Narragansett Bay and the surrounding country. On the corner of Division street and the road leading to Apponaug is an old house occupied during the first decade of the pres- ent century and for many years, by John Mawney who was postmaster for many years in the adjoining village.
The old cozy mansion presented in the engraving, is the residence of Ex-Lieut .- Gov. Wm. Greene, and is one of the historic houses of the town. The original or southeastern portion was built about the year 1685, by Samuel Gorton, Jr., whose father was one of the twelve original purchasers of the town lands. It lays no claim to architectural beauty. The old colonial style of ar- chitecture, as indicated by the few dwelling-houses still preserved, was one in which the owner studied carefully his means and his necessities rather than the develop- ment of his architectural taste. Built, usually, of the best timber of the surrounding forests, it became not only the quiet home of his family in times of peace, but also his castle in seasons of danger. As his family increased and more room was demanded, an addition was built on some convenient side, or another story was added. Sometimes, as in the present case, where no lack of means prevented the removal of the old build- ing and the erection of one of modern structure and elegance, a no less serious obstacle intervened. The old house, limited in capacity and homely in appearance, had become sacred to its possessor, by the many time- hallowed associations connected with it. It was the home of his ancestors long since gone to their rest. Within its venerable walls he first lisped his mother's name, and no other dwelling, however convenient or elegant, would ever seem so much like home to him. From such considerations the old dwelling was allowed to remain ; subject, however, to such modifications as the necessities of the occupants demanded. The build- ing fronts to the south.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
The large stone chimney in the centre of the building belonged to the original part and was built according to the custom of the times, half out of doors, having been enclosed when the addition was made on the west side at a subsequent date. The one on the eastern end has been taken down since the photograph from which the engraving was taken was procured, and extensive addi- tions have been made in the rear. The front however, still retains its ancient form. Some interior modifications have also been made. The old grandfatherly fire-places in whose cosy corners, children half grown could stand erect, and look upward at night and count the stars, with the well polished brass fire dogs reflecting their faces in grotesque shapes, have been superseded by modern inventions. There is still preserved, however, an air of the olden time, in the low studded rooms, the heavy oaken beams, here and there protruding from the walls and ceiling, the figured porcelain tiles about the fire-places, and various arrangements for comfort or or- nament, that would not fail to attract the curiosity of the visitor.
The small building in front, enclosed partly in lattice work, was built for a well-curb in 1794. On its apex is a gilded weather-cock, which from its low and protracted position must have been in a chronic state of uncertainty as to which way the wind blew. The well is still pre- served, though not at present in use. It was originally provided with the old-fashioned sweep. The extensive out-buildings are of modern structure, having been built chiefly by the present resident, and are provided with all the conveniences that wealth can furnish for the various kinds of live stock in which the Governor takes a con- siderable interest.
The house has been the home of one of the historic families of Rhode Island for several generations, and in this circumstance lies its chief claim to special interest.
Samuel Greene, who was the youngest son of the Deputy Governor John Greene, married the daughter of Benjamin Gorton, brother of Samuel Gorton jr., and pur-
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THE GOV. GREENE MANSION.
chased the estate of the latter in 1718, the farm was the 17th of the "Coweset purchase." Samuel Greene died two years after the purchase of the estate from Gorton, when it came into the possession of his son William, who held the office of Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from July 15, 1740, to May, 1743, and afterwards that of Governor, for nearly eleven years, between 1743 and 1758, dying in office Jan. 23, 1758. During the year 1758, the west portion of the house was built by Wm. Greene, jr., a new aspirant for political honors. It was enlarged in view of his approaching marriage, and was destined to gather about it associations rich in his- toric and family interest. In the year 1777, its owner was elected to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and in the following year to that of Governor, a position which he ably filled for eight successive years. The war of the revolution was then in progress and the west room became the Governor's council room. In it the Governor and his council with Gen. Sullivan, Gen. Nathaniel Greene, Lafayette, Rochambeau and other notable personages, both civil and military, held frequent consultations upon important national affairs. Here their several views were exchanged, questions of ex- pediency discussed and grave matters of doubt unravelled.
At intervals, when the demands of duty were less pressing, they were wont to gather here for temporary relaxation and enjoy the generous hospitalities of the Governor's family. The acquaintances thus formed ripened into personal friendships that were destined to be gratefully acknowledged in after years. The room still contains some mementos of those times. On its walls may be seen a large mezzotint engraving of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, presented by Lafayette to the daugh- ter of Gen. Greene many years afterwards, which bears on its lower margin the following inscription in the hand-writing of the patriotic Frenchman :-
" To dear Mrs. Shaw, from her father's companion in arms and most intimate friend-Lafayette."
A portrait of Gen. Greene, painted by Charles Peale,
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
and said to be the best one extant, hangs on the oppo- site wall. It originally belonged to the collection of the Hon. William Bingham, of Philadelphia, who was a member of the United States Senate at the same time that the Hon. Ray Greene, the father of the present resident, held a similar position from Rhode Island. On the death of Mr. Bingham, his collection was scattered, and this painting was accidentally discovered subse- quently in Philadelphia, where its present owner was fortunate enough to secure it.
Among the notable visitors of that, and subsequent years, was Dr. Franklin, who was on terms of intimacy with the family, and usually made a friendly visit here whenever he came to New England. While in France, he kept up a frequent correspondence with one of the members of the family, his letters still being preserved in the family archives. The west window overlooking a beautiful valley, bears the name of " Franklin's window," from the interest he is said to have taken in sitting beside it and gazing at the prospect it afforded. In the east room, hanging upon the wall, is a small bronze me- dallion of the old philosopher and statesman, which the Governor assured me was hung there by Franklin him- self. In this latter room, in one corner, let down into the floor several inches, and then reaching to the ceiling overhead, stands an old coffin-shaped clock, ticking away, as it has done for the past one hundred and fifty years. Among the interesting manuscript relics, besides the letters of Franklin, is an original one of Washington and several of his autographs attached to public docu- ments, letters of Webster, Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams.
It was in this house that Gen. Nathaniel Greene, then living in Coventry, and engaged in business with his brothers, in their anchor forge, became acquainted with Miss Catherine Littlefield, daughter of John Littlefield, Esq., of New Shoreham. They were married in the west room, by Elder John Gorton, July 20, 1774.
In 1797, Hon. Rav Greene, 'son of Gov. William
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THE GOV. GREENE MANSION.
Greene, jr., then the possessor of the old family resi- dence, was appointed a United States Senator, for two years, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the Hon. William Bradford. He was one of the talented and popular men of the times, and in 1799, was returned to the same position for the term of six years In 1801 he resigned his position to accept the office of District Judge of Rhode Island, to succeed Judge Bourne. The appointment was made by John Adams as he was about retiring from the presidential office. There was some informality connected with the appointment, which was discovered too late to be rectified by Mr. Adams, and when the matter was referred to his successor, Mr. Jefferson, he refused to rectify it, and appointed instead, one of his own political adherents to that office. Mr. Greene thus by a simple misunderstanding on the part of another, lost both his senatorial and judicial offices.
The present resident was graduated at Brown Univer- sity in the class of 1817. Among his class-mates were Ex-Governor Charles Jackson, Judge William R. Staples, Rev. Dr. Henry Jackson and Professor Edward R. Lippitt. For forty-two years he was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was specially interested in the development of its public schools, and officially connected with them during most of that period. In 1862, he returned to his ancestral home, and in 1866, was elected to the office of Lieut. Governor of the State, Gen. Burnside receiving the office of Governor. On the following year he was re- elected and at its close retired from official station, to pass the evening hours of an already long and busy life, in the quiet repose of the old homestead.
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