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 16
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The Crompton mills were rented three years from Nov. 29, 1820, of Mrs. Mary Dorrance and Asa Larned, the ex- ecutors of John K. Pitman, deceased, to Messrs. Rhodes, of Pawtuxet, Elisha P. Smith and Tully Dorrance, of Providence. In Feb. 26, 1823, before the expiration of the lease, the executors sold the mortgage for less than principal and interest, to Seth Wheaton and Edward Carrington, who, in March, 1823, entered into a co-part- nership with Benjamin Cozzens. The new owners changed the title of the company and called it the Crompton Company, in honor of the celebrated English machinist of that name. The village, at a public meet- ing of its citizens, subsequently, also assumed that name. A lawsuit sprang out of the violation of the lease. The trial took place at Apponaug, before two referees, the late Judge Brayton and Judge Dutee Arnold, of Arnold's Bridge, now called Pontiac. In 1823, the new company started a Bleachery, the manager of which was Edward Pike, of Sterling, Conn. Cotton mill No. 2 was built in 1828, and No. 3 in 1832. The wood work of the latter mill was done under the direction of Dea. Pardon Spen- cer, who had general charge of the wood work about the mills for several years. Not long afterwards, the company branched out into calico printing. · Sanford Durfee, Esq., late treasurer of the company, was con- nected with the works from about the year 1830 to 1848, a part of the time as superintendent or agent of the con- cern. An unusual prosperity attended the company during the last six months of 1844 and the first six months of 1845, in which it is said the print works made for their owners a profit of $100,000. The year 1837
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THE OLD CLAPP SCHOOL-HOUSE.
was one of disaster to this concern, and in 1846, was another crash and break down. After many revolutions of fortune, of good and bad luck, the three cotton mills and print works were sold by the mortgagees to several gentlemen, and a new order of things commenced. The number of the proprietors was diminished by another change and the whole estate fell into the hands of Gov. Charles Jackson, Earl P. Mason, Daniel Bush, and Wm. T. Dorrance, of Providence. The print works were leased to Abbott & Sanders, in 1852, and afterwards to Sanders alone, who continued to run them until within a few years. The following were the measurements of the several mills: No. 1, 117 feet long and 33 feet wide, and three stories high ; No. 2, 96 feet long and 35 feet wide with an addition, 60 feet long and 21 feet wide, and four stories high ; No. 3, 109 feet long, 42 feet wide, and two stories high .*
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-HOUSE.
An interval of about fifteen years elapsed between the giving up of the old Clapp school-house and the erection of the first public school-house in this village in 1845. Of the fifteen or twenty families who sent their children to the former, during the first ten years, a majority lived to the eastward of the old Baptist church on the hill. When the cotton mills were erected, the site of the village began suddenly to change. The thick woods began to disappear and houses sprung up in every direction, and there was a demand for school privileges nearer at hand. Con- sequently, following the law of demand and supply, schools being demanded, schools were supplied. Between the years 1810 and 1820, a school was kept in several places. One in what was known as the old Weave Shop-a building that stands not far from the store of Dea. Pardon Spencer, on the opposite side of the road
* Within a few years some alterations have been made, increasing the capacity of some of the buildings.
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-was taught for a while by Rev. David Curtis, the first pastor of the Baptist church. The old Weave Shop and the dwelling house east of it, on the same side of the road, were owned by John Arnold, and had no connection with the other manufacturing property. Besides being used for a day school, Elder Curtis held religious meetings there, and in the same building, probably, the first Sabbath school in this region was held. On the opposite side of the road, at a later date, in the basement of the Henry J. Holden house. Mr. Silas Clapp, and Thomas R. Holden, Esq., were teachers at different times, both of whom are remembered as such by their pupils now residing in the village. Mr. Holden died in Providence, September 10, 1865, and was a man beloved and respected by all who knew him.
The last place used for a school-room, previous to the erection of a school-house, was the "Store Chamber," which was also used for public religious worship for about a dozen years previous to the erection of the Baptist church in 1843. Here Miss Pond, who had taught in the old Clapp school-house, was one of the earliest teachers; Mr. Pierce, Peter Healy, Arnold Weaver, Deacon Stillman, Dr. McGreggor, who after- wards settled in Providence, and was accidentally killed there a few years ago, Rev. Thomas Dowling, at the time also pastor of the Baptist church, Alice and Eliza Briggs, Susan Lincoln, the present wife of Deacon Oren Spencer, of Washington, also taught here.
On April 28, 1845, a meeting was held " to consider the propriety of building a school-house for the use of the district." Deacon Pardon Spencer was chosen moderator, and Wm. M Brown, secretary. After con- sultation and several adjournments, the district voted to purchase the lot on which the house now stands. The. size of the lot is 104 feet by 212, and cost $275. Deacon Spencer was instructed by the meeting to present a draft of a suitable house, and on September 4th, offered a modified plan of the Central Falls school-
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CROMPTON SCHOOL-HOUSE.
house," 33 feet bv 37, two stories, hip roof, belfry in the centre, height of lower room, 11 feet, upper room 10 feet, &c., which was accepted. The house was probably completed in the summer, as on the 17th of November, the district " voted to paint the school- house a color similar to Mrs. Remington's house outside, and inside dark pea-green." The cost of the house was $2,717 54. Among the teachers who taught at different times were the following : Wm. Baker, Samuel Sanford, Solomon P. Wells, T. V. Haines, Rev. Henry A. Cooke, Misses Anna B. Holden, Emily Bennett, Myrtilla M. Peirce, Rev. L. W. Wheeler, Lysander Flagg, W. A. Anthony, James B. Spencer, Miss Sarah J. Spencer, Miss Carrie M. Hubbard, Mrs. Rowena Tobey, Dwight R. Adams, and others. During the summer term of 1867, the house was entirely destroyed by fire, which was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. All the books used by the teachers and pupi's were burned, and the school was driven for temporary accom- modations to the old " Block Shop." The building was insured for $1,800. The district, with commendable energy, soon appointed a committee to present plans and specifications for a new building, which resulted in the present edifice. The building is of brick, 34 feet by 36, arranged for three departments, warmed by a Jillson's portable furnace, and cost about $6,000. It was dedi- cated with appropriate services February 1, 1868, the Superintendent of Schools giving the address. The present teachers are Mr. John M. Nye, and Miss Ella J. Hathaway.
Among the men that were prominent in the village forty years ago, were Frederick Hamilton, father of the late Henry Hamilton. At one time he kept the boarding house, the house next west of Mr. Booth's Hotel. He delighted in religious discussions and was accustomed to sit in religious meetings with a handkerchief over his head as a compensation for the want of the comfortable warmth of our modern sanctuaries. If the sentiments of the preacher were not in accordance with his views
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of orthodoxy, he would turn a shoulder toward him, and in case the doctrine appeared to him decidedly heterodox, he would manage to get his face in nearly the opposite direction from the preacher ; or, perhaps, march down the long stairs of the old Weave Shop, where the services were held, and go home. He brought up a large family, all of whom are now dead. His son Henry, who died a few months ago, was the last of his children, and a man of warm sympathies, active in the community, and a member of the Baptist church for more than forty years.
John J. Wood was another prominent man-an agent or superintendent of the mills, for some years, and an active promoter of everything good in the village. He was a member of the Baptist church, and for some years its treasurer, of a somewhat cautious disposition but always ready to do more than he would promise. During the latter years of his life he kept a store in a small building that stood just opposite Mr. Booth's hotel. He died November 25, 1860, at the age of 64. One of his daughters married the late Dr. William A. Hubbard. who, for many years, was a practicing physician of the village. Dr. Hubbard was born in Killingly, Conn., educated at Pittsfield, Mass., and was a popular physician, having a large practice. He had several students of medicine at different times, among whom were his brother, the late Dr. Henry Hubbard, Dr. McGreggor, Dr. Card, of South Kingston, and Dr. Pike, who settled in Connecticut. Dr. Hubbard died March 1, 1857, and lies in Point Pleasant cemetery at Centreville. Another daughter married Hon. Charles T. Northup, Chief State Constable of Rhode Island.
Captain John Holden, or as he was more familiarly called, Squire Holden, was a well-known citizen of the village and a man of some excellent traits of character. He was a Justice of the Peace, an office, at that time, of considerable consequence. In early life he had followed the sea. He was the first book-keeper of the Providence Manufacturing Company, and subsequently opened a
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CENTREVILLE.
variety store, the only one in the village for some years, with the exception of the Company's store. Beside the usual variety of dry and West India goods, he kept-as was the custom with such stores of that time-a constant supply of liquor, but for some years previous to his death he voluntarily gave up the sale of the latter com- modity. Liquor-selling and liquor-drinking were not then regarded in the moral light in which they now are. Capt. Holden was a constant attendant upon the religious meetings in the village, and participated in the singing, which he especially enjoyed. Previous to his death, his son, Thomas Rice Holden, was made a Justice of the Peace, in the place of his father .*
Many changes and improvements have taken place in the village since the present efficient superintendent, Harvey S. Bartlett, Esq., has had charge of the mills, a period of about ten years. The old print works buildings have been demolished, the old block shop succumbed to the September gale a few years ago. Four of the large two-story tenement buildings, among the first erected in the village, were sold to Dea. Pardon Spencer and his brother a few years ago, and removed to other locations, and new and commodious ones erected in their places ; additions and improvements have been made to the mills; the tenement houses that stood upon the " island " were removed to the hill opposite; houses that stood in unsightly positions have been placed in line, and the streets improved, and sidewalks made, and the village made to assume a cleanly and comfortable appearance.
CENTREVILLE.
The name of this village is said to have originated with Sabin Lewis, a school-teacher here in the first decade of the present century. We hazard the conjec- ture that Mr. Lewis as a school-teacher possessed some knowledge of gecgraphy, and did not intend to suggest
* For many of the items of persons and events connected with this village, I am indebted to my friend, Dea. Pardon Spencer.
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that the village was situated in the geographical centre of the town, but rather that it was centrally located as related to the surrounding villages. The exact time when the first settlement was made is unknown, but it was probably previous to the year 1700. In 1677, the proprietors of the town granted to Henry Wood, John Smith, John Greene, and John Warner, a tract of land, of one hundred acres in extent, with two other small pieces, one containing one acre and the other two acres, with certain privileges, " on ye fresh river in ye township of Coweset, beinge ye south branch yt runs towards Pawtuxet." The consideration was, that these persons should erect a saw-mill on the river. There are certain items that point to this place as the spot designated, while other items mentioned in the record leave the matter somewhat doubtful. In 1692, the Wecochacon- net grant of 2100 acres in this vicinity was made, and which has been referred to on page 87.
A saw-mill is known to have stood here early in the eighteenth century, owned at the time by Job Greene, who was then possessor of a considerable portion of the territory within the present limits of the village, as well as of many contiguous acres. Major Job Greene, in 1726, saw fit to transfer a portion of his extensive do- main, consisting of 412 acres, to his son, Daniel. This land was on the east side of the river, and bounded "north by the third Wecochaconnet farm ; east, by the land of Potter and Whitman ; south, by the highway be- tween the Wecochaconnet and Coweset farms, and west, by the undivided lands." This estate Daniel subse- quently gave to his nephew, Christopher, who afterwards sold it to a man by the name of William Almy, of Prov- idence. Almy's heirs, twenty years ago, sold a part of it to Rev. J. Brayton, who afterwards disposed of it to various persons, reserving a portion of it which still remains in his possession and upon which he at present resides. The farms of Rufus Barton, Jeremiah Foster, the water- power and mill site of Benedict Lapham, the water-power, mill-site and village of Arctic were included originally in this estate.
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Major Job Greene at the same time (1726) gave his son Philip a tract of land, lying on the north-west of the south branch of the Pawtuxet, containing 278 acres, together with his house and saw-mill. In his will, dated 1744, he bequeathed to him his " mansion house at Occu- pasnetuxet," where the Deputy-Governor, John Greene, lies buried, " also his land in the forks of the Pawtuxet, all his lands on the north side of the river, in Warwick and Coventry ; also his cattle, swamp lands, agricultural tools, silver tankard, two silver cups, negro man, Primus, and negro woman and her children." To his other chil- dren " he distributed his Natick lands, farms in Tunkhill, Scituate, and bills of credit and money." Major Job Greene died at his home in Old Warwick.
Philip Greene, son of Job, resided chiefly at Old War- wick, and was a judge in the court of common pleas, of Kent county, from 1759 to 1784. In 1751, he gave his son, Christopher, a tract of land, bounded north, on Peter Levally's land ; east, by the Pawtuxet ; south on the main road, and west, on land of the Mattesons." The Judge's land extended from the junction of the two branches of the Pawtuxet river to some distance into the town of Coventry. He died April 10, 1791, at the age of 86.
The village of Centreville at the breaking out of the revolutionary war consisted of three houses. One of these was situated on the site of the present residence of Rev. J. Brayton, and was the dwelling place of Daniel Greene, son of Job. It was a long, low, one story build- ing, having submitted to various additions, as the wants of the occupants increased, at one time divided into two sections and a piece put into the middle, and stood until about ten years ago, when it was entirely consumed by fire. Daniel Greene was born Feb. 20, 1698-9, and died Nov. 24, 1798. His nephew, Col. Christopher Greene, who afterwards became noted in the revolutionary war, lived in the house that formerly stood north of the bridge and east of the house now owned and occupied by Mr. John Greene. The third ancient house stood
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on the south-east corner of the lot on which the resi- dence of Dr. Moses Fifield is situated. The precise spot was pointed out to me recently by the venerable Josiah Merrill, who distinctly remembers it. It was situated upon the path leading from the gate-way near the Doctor's barn, and about a couple of rods from the fence. The old well belonging to the house is situated just back of the Methodist meeting-house. This well, which had been covered over for many years, was re-opened a few years ago and used until last summer, when an examin- ation of it being made with reference to cleaning it out, it was found to be caved in at the bottom. The house had undergone many additions and changes in the course of time. It was built upon the large farm of William Greene, son of Peter, the great grandson of John Greene, senior. It afterwards came into the possession of James Greene, son of James and grandson of William, whose son, Joseph Warren Greene, gave to the Methodist church the lot upon which the meeting-house stands. Among other valuable gifts received by James Greene from his father, William, was a large tract of land, a portion of which was No. 5. of the Coweset farms and which was assigned to Gov. John Greene, in 1685. This farm embraced both sides of the river and extended from the site of Crompton mills on the south to Matte- son's pond on the west, and Judge Philip Greene's land on the north. James also inherited hi., father's property in Old Warwick and resided there at the breaking out of the revolution. Du.ing that struggle the Greene mansion was seized by the British, and Greene was forced to leave, and come to his house in Centreville, though at the time it was not known by that name. Subsequently Jame's Greene built the house across the river now occupied by Mr. Charles Duke, and the old house was deserted. It was last occupied by a respect- able colored woman, a devoted member of the Methodist church, and who went by the name of black Lucy. Her full name was Lucy Gardiner. Her father and mother were the slaves of Francis Brayton, of Washington vil-
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THE OLD GREENE CEMETERY.
lage, then called Brayton town, and were usually called "Cuff" and "Molly" Brayton. Molly at one time called at the house of Mr. Clapp, father of Mr. Water- man Clapp, and in the course of her conversation asked Mr. Clapp how many hasty puddings he supposed she had made for her master, Mr. Brayton, the past year. Mr. Clapp guessed twenty. "No." Fifty ? "No." "Well a hundred," said Mr. Clapp. "No" said Molly. "Well" said Mr. C. " I cant guess, how many have you ?" " Three hundred and sixty-five!" said Molly. Lucy had two daughters, Olive and Phebe, who now reside in Provi- dence. She had one imbecile daughter, but whether it is one of the two above-mentioned I am not able to say. Lucy was an industrious woman, and was accustomed to take her daughter with her while she went out to wash and iron for the neighbors. While the mother was at work, the daughter would lie quietly curled up upon the floor under the table, until the mother had fin- ished her work, when she would follow her home.
The old Greene Cemetery, on the east bank of the Pawcatuck river, and opposite the Methodist church in this village, is now in process of renovation, and when the improvements are completed will bear but little resemblance to its former ancient appearance. The ground has been used for these purposes for at least three-fourths of a century, and is one of the oldest in this vicinity.
For some years previous to the year 1837, or thereabouts, the ground was surrounded by a slat fence. This was removed and a stone wall, faced and plastered, was erected-the cemetery being enlarged by the addition of several rods of land on the east and south portions of the ground. Willow trees were set in the corners, two of which were blown down in the last great September gale, and several honey locusts and catalpas found their way into the enclosure. The walls have been removed, with the exception of that on the east side, which will doubtless follow, and the two remaining willows, and the locusts and catalpas, are to
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give way to others of a more ornamental character. It is proposed to place a Norway spruce in each corner, with some rock maples along the lines. The removal of the middle or east wall will unite the ground with that laid out by the late John Allen for similar purposes, which is now surrounded on three sides by a slat fence. It is expected, though arrangements are not fully consummated, that this fence will be removed also, and a substantial one of heavy granite posts, with iron rods, will extend around the united grounds.
Probably the first interments in the enclosure were those of James Greene and his wife, in the western portion of the ground. A large black oak tree now stands between their graves, having, doubtless, been self-planted since the graves were made. The roots of the tree have probably found their way to these as well as to other graves in the vicinity, and it would seem as though the old tree should be allowed to stand for their sakes. It is a healthy tree, and even ornamental, which also pleads in its favor. James Greene died May 30, 1792, in his 79th year, but no stones mark his resting- place, or that of his wife. He was the son of William,* whose great grandfather was John Greene, one of the original purchasers of Warwick from Miantonomi, a Narragansett Sachem. He married Desire Slocum, a daughter of Giles Slocum, of East Greenwich, June 15, 1758, by whom he had nine children, viz .: William, who died in infancy, Mary, Sarah, Giles, Elizabeth ; Desire, who married Spencer Merrill, (Mr. Merrill, his wife and sister, lie in unmarked graves); Almy, who married Jabez Comstock, of Chatham, Conn.,-whose daughter, Lucina, married Dr. Sylvester Knight, a practicing physician for many years in this village. Dr. Knight was born in Cranston, in 1787. He came to Centreville about the year 1806, and was married in 1808. He lived here about thirty years, practicing medicine, and a
* William Greene and Sarah (Medbury) Greene lived on the east side of the road to Conimicut Point, the corner lot opposite the old Stafford house.
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THE OLD GREENE CEMETERY.
portion of the time was a partner with the late Dr. Stephen Harris, in cotton manufacturing at River Point. He finally gave up his profession and removed to Providence, and lived in the house next north of the Custom House He had an extensive practice, and was generally regarded as a judicious and skillful physician. He died in Providence, March 15, 1841, aged 54. His first wife, Lucina (Comstock) Greene, died December 22, 1819, aged 32. There were four children by this marriage, two of whom, Ex-Mayor Jabez Comstock Knight, of Providence, and Nehemiah Knight, of Brooklyn, N. Y., are now living. His second wife, Louisa V., died January 3, 1873, aged 71, by whom he had six children, of whom two, Sylvester R. and W'm. A. Knight, of Providence, are living. The doctor and the deceased members of his family lie in the enclosure. .
The eighth child of James Greene was James, after- wards known as Captain James Greene, he having held that military title in a company that was engaged in September, 1778, in the expedition on Rhode Island against the English forces then and there encamped. The ninth was Kachel, who married Thomas Whitaker, of Haverhill, N. H. Gen. Josiah Whitaker and Thomas Whitaker, both formerly of Providence, were their children.
On the death of James Greene, his only surviving son, Capt. James, inherited the family residence in Centreville that stood near the Methodist church, and which was one of the three earliest houses built in the village. Ample provision was made for the surviving widow and the three lame" and decrepid daughters, and also for the three negro servants. One of these slaves was a woman named Clara, and was given to Mrs. Greene by her father, Giles Slocum at the time of her marriage. In her old age Clara became peevish and partially insane, and was boarded out in the family of an old and witty negro named Boston, until she died. She was buried just outside of the family cemetery, but when the wall that has just been demolished was built,
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the ground was so much enlarged that the wall passed directly over this grave, lengthwise. The removal of the wall revealed the spot where she was buried. It is on the south line about thirty feet from the southwest corner.
Capt. James Greene, who probably owned the land at the time it was selected as a burial place, was married to Rebecca, a daughter of Sanders Pitman, Nov. 17, 1782, by Rev. Joseph Snow, then pastor of the Congregational church, Providence. She died July 7, 1806, aged 44. His second wife was Marcy, daughter of Capt. Wm. Waterman, of Warwick. She died February 28, 1851, in the 1st year of her age. The captain died October 14, 1825, also in the 71st year of his age. He was a tall muscular man, and in the latter years walked in a stooping posture. Owing to the rapid decomposition of his body after his death, he was buried at night and the funeral services were held the following day. He lies in the western portion of the grounds with a wife on each side. Their children were ten in number, of whom two died in infancy. William, the oldest, was born October 17, 1783, and died in Philadelphia in 1838. James, the youngest son, died in Providence, July 27, 1840. He married . Marcy A. Westcott, who died February 27, 1870. Both lie in the southwest corner of the ground. The only surviving son of Capt. Greene is Joseph War- ren Greene, who resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., but who still remains in possession of the paternal homestead, across the river. Capt. Greene had also several daughters who arrived at womanhood, viz .: Mary K., who was born October 31, 1785, and married Wm. Anthony, who was born in North Providence, October 25, 1775, and died in Coventry, May 17, 1845. (Mrs. Anthony died March 25, 1851, leaving three children, viz .: the late Gen. James G. Anthony, of Anthony village, Senator Henry B. Anthony, of Providence, and Eliza H., wife of Francis E. Hoppin, of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and four children are buried here.) Almy, who married Resolved Slack, and who
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