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 8
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July 3. "The English army marched to the south, and sur- prised them in a cedar swamp near Warwick. A great slaughter ensued. Magnus, the old queen of the Narragan- setts, a sister of Ninigret, was taken, and with ninety other captives was put to the sword. One hundred and seventy-one Indians fell in this massacre, without the loss of a single man of the English. Thence they scoured the country between Providence and Warwick, killing many more."
"Capt. Church was commissioned by Gov. Winslow to pro- ceed with a volunteer force of two hundred men, chiefly In- dians, to attack Philip in his retreats near Mount Hope. For several days they pursued the Indians from place to place, kill- ing many and taking a large number of prisoners, among whom were Philip's wife and only son."
Philip was subsequently pursued into a swamp near Mt. Hope, where he was shot through the heart by Alderman, an Indian, whose brother Philip had indig- nantly slain because he had counselled him to sue for peace. Thus perished Metacomet, who had declared that he would not live until he had no country. The same barbarous treatment that had been practiced upon the dead body of Canonchet, was followed upon that of Philip. The head was sent to Plymouth, where it re- mained set up on a pole for twenty years ; one hand was sent to Boston as a trophy, and the other was given to Alderman, who exhibited it for money. The body was
·
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1663-67.
quartered and hung upon four trees as a vivid illustra- tion of the barbarity of the age. Philip's chief coun- sellor, Anawon, escaped from the swamp with most of Philip's followers, but was a few days after captured by Capt. Church, who sent him alive to Plymouth, where he was shot. Most of the other captives who were at all conspicuous for their bravery or position met a simi- lar fate. Quinapin, a cousin of Canonchet, and next in command to him in the great swamp fight, with his brother was tried at Newport by a council of war, and shot. The young Metacomet, son of Philip, with many other captives, was sent to Spain and the West Indies, where they were sold as slaves.
The war was now at an end. It had been the most fearful conflict that had ever visited the colonies, and such an one as was not to be repeated until a century had rolled away. No further resistance of any extent on the part of the Indians was made. But the besom of destruction had swept over the fair plantation of Warwick. Not only had the homes of its inhabitants been laid waste, but their bridges and other improve- ments had been all destroyed, and they themselves forced into exile for security. During the war they had found a temporary home at Newport, where they were kindly received and permitted to hold their town meetings for the choice of deputies and jurors, as formerly.
81
RETURN OF THE SETTLERS.
1667-1776.]
CHAPTER V.
From the close of the Indian War to the Declaration of Ameri- can Independence, July 4, 1776.
The war being now over the people of Warwick in the spring of 1677 returned to their desolated homes, and with hearts undaunted commenced at once to repair their wasted heritage, and provide for themelves and those dependent upon them. In a temporal point of view, the conflict, notwithstanding the destruction of their homes and improvements, was of real benefit to them. The great hindrance to their comfort, their security and progress had been essentially removed. The balance of power between them and the Indians was now in their favor. The Indians were now timid and suppliant, rather than bold and threatening. Pumham had been taken out of their way, and his followers, what few of them remained, were no longer to be feared. The broad domains of the settlers were comparatively without encumbrance. Sadly, as we must regard the causes that led to this superior position attained by the war, on the part of our towns- men, we cannot regard them otherwise than as resulting in their great benefit. That they had so little to do in bringing about the result is certainly no matter of regret.
Two of their number, who were of the original twelve, John Wickes and Richard Carder, the latter having died during their sojourn at Newport, were no longer with them, and before the year closed, another and in some sense their chief, was called away. Samuel Gorton died between the 27th of November and the
82
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776.
10th of December, 1677. The following tribute to his memory by Gov. Arnold, is taken from the first volume of his able history of Rhode Island :
"The death of Samuel Gorton, the founder of Warwick, which occurred at this time, should not be passed over in silence. He was one of the most remarkable men that ever lived. His career furnishes an apt illustration of the radical- ism in action, which may spring from ultra-conservatism in theory. The turbulence of his earlier history was the result of a disregard for existing law, because it was not based upon what he held to be the only legitimate source of power-the assent of the supreme authority of England. He denied the right of the people to self-government, and contended for his views with the vigor of an unrivalled intellect, and the strength of an ungoverned passion. But when this point was conceded, by the securing of a patent, no man was more sub- missive to delegated law. His astuteness of mind, and his Biblical learning, made him a formidable opponent of the Puritan hierarchy, while his ardent love of liberty, when it was once guaranteed, caused him to embrace with fervor the principles that gave origin to Rhode Island. He lived to a 'great age.' The time of his birth is not certainly known, and the precise day of his death is equally obscure. The exact spot, 'says his biographer,' where his ashes repose, is marked by no pious stone or monumental marble. Yet if without these honors, may it at least ever be their privilege to sleep beneath the green sward of a free State."
The original purchase of Warwick from Miantinomi by the twelve settlers, was bounded on the north by a line running due west from Copessnetuxet cove twenty miles and on the south by a similar line beginning at the extreme point of Warwick neck. In breadth the terri- tory was about four and three-fourths miles, the whole containing about ninety-five square miles or more than 60,000 acres. Subsequently the town purchased through its appointed agents the strip of land, known as Poto- womet neck. The portion of territory lying in the northeast part of the present limits of the town, and north of the original purchase, was claimed by various parties, including the town of Warwick. We do not propose to enter into the details of this controversy, which was long and tedious, continuing about fifty years, and was settled finally by the Legislature in 1696,
83
DIVISION OF LANDS.
1667-1776.]
making the Pawtuxet river the northern boundary as it exists at present. The difficulty grew out of the differ- ent constructions put upon the deeds of purchasers from the original tenants of the soil, and from the vague and indefinite limits assigned in those deeds. The contro- versy occasioned much bitter feeling among the parties interested, and probably the life of one of its most active participators. William Harris was one of the Pawtuxet „ proprietors, and a persistent and formidable opponent to the Warwick claimants. He went to England four times during the progress of the matter, the last time the ship in which he sailed was taken by a Barbary Cor- sair, and both he and the rest of the passengers and crew were sold as slaves in the public market at Algiers. He remained in bondage for more than a year, when a ransom of twelve hundred dollars was paid and he was set at liberty. He finally arrived in London, sick and exhausted, and died three days afterwards.
William Harris and Thomas Harris were brothers and settled in Providence about the time of Roger Williams, or perhaps a year later, William is the seventh named in Roger Williams' first deed. They had previously lived in Salem. His will which he executed previous to his last disastrous voyage is dated December 4, 1678. He had four children, viz .: Andrew, who married Mary Tew of Newport; Toleration, who was killed during the Indian war in 1675; Mary who married Thomas Borden, and Howlong who married Arthur Fenner. Thomas Harris had the following children: Thomas, who married Phebe Brown; Richard, Nicholas, William, Henry, Eleathan who married Nathaniel Brown, Joab, Amity, who married a Morse, Mary who married a Bernon, and Job.
DIVISION OF WARWICK LANDS.
At the commencement of the settlement of the town in 1642, Warwick Neck was selected as the most appro- priate part of the town for the immediate abode of the settlers, and small portions of territory were annexed to each as a house lot, upon condition that dwelling houses should be built upon them within six months subsequent
84
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776.
to the date of such grants. To these home lots were added six acres of what became known as "the Four miles Commons" or the "Four miles Town," which ex- tended from "the head of the Neck " to Apponaug. Various grants were subsequently made of portions of this territory to individuals, and in some cases large tracts were set off and apportioned to the several inhabit- ants. Previous to the breaking out of Philip's war, from motives of prudence they had dwelt together at Old Warwick, where they could better protect themselves from the jealousy of the natives, and but little progress had been made in settling the regions beyond Apponaug. After the war had terminated a spirit of enterprise seemed to take possession of them, and they regarded themselves as now able to go up and possess the whole land. Before the close of the century nearly all the territory west of the Four mile Town was distributed among them. The limits assigned to this volume will not allow me to enter into all the details of these several divisions. if indeed the absence of records and plats in the Clerk's office, pertaining to these matters did not prevent it. From a somewhat careful and prolonged study of the material that I have been able to obtain I have concluded that only an im- perfect account of them can be obtained at the present time. Those divisions made within the present town of Coventry which was set off in 1741 are here wholly omitted, others are merely referred to by extracts from the proprietors' records.
The diagram on the opposite page is a reduced copy of an ancient plat of the Coweset farms now in possession of Mr. William Warner, of Old Warwick. On the mar- gin are the following statements : " A plat of the farms in the township of Cowesett as they were laid out by order of the proprietors thereof, the beginning of the year 1685 by John Smith. The lower small devisions are lotts laid out formerly, which lyeth In forme as they are delemated [designated ?] on the plat, but as to their de- vision in width is here omitted, but Length, Right. A
1667-1776.]
DIVISION OF LANDS.
85
5
10
RICHARD GARDER
JOHN GREEN SEN'R
14
9
4
STUKELY WESTCOTT
JOHN GREEN JUN'R
EZEKIELL' HOLLIMAN
13 FRANCIS WESTON, DRAWN RY JAMES GREEN SEN'R.
8
3
RICHARD WATERMAN
ROBERT POTTER
12
7
2
RUFUS BARTON
RANDALL HOULDON
JOHN SMITH TO ELIZA COLLINS CHILDREN NAMLY ELIZA & WILLIAM
11
JOHN WICKES
6 THE MARK OF P. S. PHILLIP SWEET THE MARK OF JOHN I.S. SMITH
JOHN WARNER
17
16
15
SAMUELGORTON
JOHN SMITH DRAWN BY HENRYWOOD
HENRY TOWNSEND
STEPHEN ARNOLD'S LAND
- SAMUEL GORTON
N. RANDALL HOULDON
W JOHN GREENJUNIR
A JOHN WARNER
UN NATHANAEL WATERMAN
Ö) ELIZA COLLINS
V JOHN WARNER
OO RICHARD CARDER -
LOJOHN GREEN SENIR
JOHN WICKES SENIR
= STUKELEY WESTCOTT
S HENRY TOWNSEND
w ELIZA COLLINS .
D. ROBERT POTTER
C JOHN SMITH 15/15/17
FRANCIS WESTON
TRUEUS BAKTON
432
5
7
6
9
8
17 |16 15 14 13|12|||
10
PLAT OF COWESET FARMS.
(South line bordering on Greenwich.)
86
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776.
true copy taken from the originall plat this 26th of March, 1716, by me John Warner." **
This tract is also known as the "Seventeen Farms " and included the territory bounded on the north by the present road leading from Apponaug to Centreville, on the east by Apponaug and Coweset Bay, on the south by Greenwich and on the west by the present town of Coventry, with the exception of 1500 acres in the north- east corner, which had previously been mortgaged to Stephen Arnold and was held by him at the time the plat was made.
The lots of the middle division were assigned as fol- lows: The 1st to Rufus Barton ; 2d Ezekiel Holliman ; 3d Francis Weston ; 4th John Smith ; 5th Randall Hol- den ; 6th John Greene, senior: 7th John Smith-Sweet's; 8th John Smith ; 9th Henry Townsend; 10th John Wickes; 11th Stukely Westcott ; 12th John Greene, Jr; 13th Richard Carder ; 14th John Warner, 15th Richard Waterman ; 16th Robert Potter; 17th Samuel Gorton. Those of the other divisions are given in the diagram.
The lots of the larger division contained about 240 acres each.
The following extracts from the proprietors' records, previous to the year 1685, refer to these tracts :
Feb. 15, 1672. " We ye Purchasers of Mishaomet beeing met doe order and agree to go to a division of 30 acre lots more or less according to ye map, yt is to say ye four first Lots is to have an acre apis Layed out to them on ye front to ye see against the lotts; ye first Lot is granted to Mr. Gorton; ye sec- ond is granted to Capt. Holden; ye third is granted to Capt. John Greene; and ye rest according to lot as they shall be drawn; and all ye rest of ye lotts to have all ve land fronting on them to ye see according to ye map; and all ye highways which are
* John Warner was the clerk of the proprietors, and a practical sur- veyor. A portion of the proprietors' records of this period with original plats made by him of different sections of the town, by order of the proprietors, as also certified copies of former plats, besides other valu- able documents pertaining to the early history of the town, are now in possession of his great grandson William Warner, Esq., of Old War- wick, to whom the writer is under special obligation for their use in the preparation of these pages. Scarcely any of the old plats are in the possession of the town.
87
1667-1776.] DIVISION OF LANDS.
in ye map to bee according to ye map which are [two words abbreviated and unintelligible] ye lotes; and 2 high-wayes, one next ye see on ye front of all ye lots and on through ye midell of ye sayd lotts; ye lots to bee 160 polles in length or there- abouts and for ye breadth according to what proportion they will bear; all ye said lots to be equally laid out; all ye highways to bee six pole wied. Also it is agreed upon by us yt ye land on ye east side of ye highway of ye four first lotts is reserved to ye seventeen purchasers to bee divided equally amongst them by lot; only Mr. Gorton is to have his 17 part layed out to his land already granted to him, and to which wee doe all set our hands."
The above signed by fifteen of the purchasers.
The following is under date of November 27, 1672, and signed by fourteen purchasers :
" We the purchasers doe agree and determine to lay out for a plantation, beginning at Apponake brooke, where the foot path goes over the brooke, bounding on the sea on the front, and extends itselfe unto ye south lyne of ye grand Purchase; and from each bounder aforesaid, dew west upp in the coun- try unto ye west end of ye Grand purchase; and we doe apoint that fronting on the sea aforesaid bee laid out seventeen shares or lotts and to each purchase share. And that each purchaser hath liberty too make three inhabitants besides himself out of his proportion, but not to exceed, which will be sixty-eight -- in all, and that highways and other conveniences, " etc.
The purchasers being met this 10th day of December, 1677, and two of their trustees being taken away by death viz., Mr. Samuel Gorton, sener and Mr John Wickes, sener, they have unanimously chosen Mr. Samuel Gorton and Mr. Benjamin Barton trustees to supply their places; and for as much as Capt. Randall Houlden and Capt. John Greene are chosen our Agents or Aturney to manage our appeall maid to his majesty, wee doe give power to them to morgage fifteen hundred acres of Land on the north sid of the plantation of Coweeset, begin- ning at the see side at Aponake, unto Mr. Stephen Arnold of Pawtuxet for one hundred pounds in silver money, after the Rate of eight per sent for the end premised.
By the Purchasers, JOHN POTTER, Clerk."
THE WECOCHACONET FARMS.
The first act of the purchasers in reference to these farms appears to have been under the date of March 25,
88 -
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776.
1673, when 4200 acres were set apart for ten of their number, one half of which tract subsequently became known as the "Wecochaconet farms " and the other half as the "Natick lands;" under the above date is the fol- lowing record :
"For ye farms fronting on ye towne commons as they are this day determined; from Warwick township at ye west end thereof to be laid out westward and a square as near as may be. It is further agreed that Mr. Samuel Gorton, Senior. Mr. Ran- dall Holden, Stukely Westcott, John Potter and Elyza Collins for one of his shares, shall have the other 2100 acres laid out to them [words illegible ] Coesset Township and Pawtuxet river aforesaid, fronting on Warwick Township: thence due west, and this to be their full proportion for their shares in ye towne lands, videlesett: five shares and they are to enter and possess at their own charge and thereby are excused of any other charge with the rest in the tract of farm lands."
The Wecochaconet farms or Wecochankuyack as the name is spelt on a copy of the original plat made by John Warner bearing date the 21st of December, 1721, were five in number and were surveyed and platted by Joseph Carder. The plat bears the date of May 14, 1692. These farms were sometimes referred to as the four hundred acre farms. The easterly line began at Apponaug and ran in a straight course until it came to a point on the Pawtuxet river near where the Shanticut brook empties into said river. The line had it been pro- duced would have touched the mouth of the Shanticut. In the bend of the Pawtuxet river at the mouth of the Shanticut there appears to be a narrow strip of land along the west bank of the river that was not included, or if included not divided. This easterly line was also the western bounds of Old Warwick. The southerly line was the road leading from Apponaug to Centreville and formed the division line between them and the Cow- eset farms. The Pawtuxet river formed the north boundary with the possible exception above referred to until it reached the forks of the river, at River Point, when the south branch continued the boundary for a short distance. Included in the plat between the forks
89
DIVISION OF LANDS.
1667-1776.]
of the river or west side and bordering upon it was a tract of seventeen acres, and twelve rods, which was left undivided. The westerly line, according to the Proprie- tors' order of March 25, 1673, was the south branch of the Pawtuxet river. But when the tract was surveyed and platted in 1692, the west line in order to include only 2100 acres left the south branch of the river near the present upper village of River Point. There was consequently about one hundred acres not included in this grant lying between its west line and the river. These five farms were assigned as follows : the 1st bor- dering on the road leading from Apponaug to Centre- ville its whole distance, to Samuel Gorton; the 2d to John Potter ; the 3d to John Smith ; the 4th to Stukely Westcott and the 5th, which had the river boundary for several miles, to Randall Holden.
THE NATICK LANDS.
The grant of these lands was made also on March 25, 1673. The grantees were John Greene, Senior, Richard Carder, John Warner, Benjamin Barton and John Wickes, Jr., in behalf of Henry Townsend, and the tract received was 2,100 acres. The district assigned them was bounded easterly on Moshanticut brook, southerly on Pawtuxet river, northerly on the north line of Warwick purchase, and as far westerly as was neces- sary to complete the purchase. The tract was subse- quently divided into separate shares. Further reference is made to this grant in connection with the account of Natick on a subsequent page.
On the same day the grants of the Wecochaconet and Natick tracts were made, a further division of a portion of the undivided lands lying in the present town of Coventry, was made in favor of seven of the proprietors, which became known as the "Seven Men's Farms." Some difficulty in reference to the boundaries of those several grants having occurred, the following agree- ment and decision were made :
*8
90
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
[1667-1776
"Whereas, there hath of late a difference arisen between us whose names are hereunto subscribed, about the departure of the dividing line betwixt Coweset township, so called, and the farms of Wecochaconet. Natick, and the Seven Men's Farms. so called. And we all of us considering the inconvenience of the abovesaid premises, therefore in regard to a loving agree- ment and good neighborhood for the future, and hindering chargeable and vexatious suits which may arise, have unani- mously agreed as followeth: That all the divisions and lines run by John Smith. Joseph Carder and Robert Hazard, sur- veyors in said plantation, shall stand and remain unalterable so far as the upper part of the great meadow above the saw mill, so called, and already laid out. And further we do agree to make choice of either three or five judicious men to consider and determine the departure of the abovesaid lines in contro- versy, and in case there be alteration of the line from the place where it was already begun, then restitution to be made to the grieved persons. acre for acre, to the westward of the great meadow abovesaid, and the line of the said restitution, if any, be to run parallel with the north and south lines of the purchase to the head thereof. And the above arbitration to be finished between this and the twenty-third day of October, next ensuing. And further we do agree to enter into sufficient bonds to stand to the award of the above arbitration, and in testimony hereof we have hereunto set our hands this 31st day of August, 1706.
John Waterman,
Randall Rice,
Thomas Collins, The mark of
Benjamin Barton,
James Greene,
Jonathan + Hill,
Randall Holden,
Thomas Wickes,
Richard Greene,
Robert Potter,
in behalf of his father,.
Peter Greene, son of
Maior John Greene,
John Warner,
John Rice.
Thomas Greene,
James Carder,
Mark + Roberts,
Philip Sweet,
Samuel Stafford, in behalf of Gideon Freeborne,
John Greene, son of
James Greene, deceased,
Job Greene, for John Carr, James Briggs.
James Greene, deceased,
Jabez Greene, The mark of
Peter Greene,
The foregoing persons gave bonds severally in the sum of £500 to abide by the decision of the arbitrators. Capt. Joseph Jenks, Capt. Samuel Wilkinson, and Mr. Gideon Crawford, who, after examining the premises and
91
HIGHWAY ESTABLISHED.
1667-1776.]
hearing the parties interested, confirmed the lines run by John Smith.
The highway running from Apponaug to Centreville was the subject of some contention as early as 1734. On the first of September of that year the town ap- pointed a committee, consisting of Moses Lippitt, Capt. Thomas Rice and Jonathan Whitman, to "inspect " the same, and " to agree with Philip Arnold, Samuel Greene and all others that border on said way, to exchange land with them to accommodate said way." The committee, on the 24th of November, 1735, reported that they had attended to the 'work assigned them, and presented a plat of the road, which "was accepted and put to record." The decision was not satisfactory to all the parties interested, and on the 8th of August, 1738, it was "voted that ye Town Council forthwith summon a jury of 12 or more men to revise the highway that leads from Apponage between ye farms of Wecochaconet and Coweset, so far west as the head of Coweset farms ex- tends, and in case they can find no old way to run out a new one." This jury made their report Oct. 18, 1738, which is as follows:
"We the subscribers being appointed by the Town Council, being appointed as jurors to Inspect into ye Premises, and to Revise ye bounds of a highway between ye lands of Wecocha- conet and Coweset, according to ye former bounds and plat, ' and by what Information we could find, we find that a line from ye red oak tree that stands oposit from Philip Arnolds northwest corner on the north side of ye highway that already laid out by Moses Lippit, Thomas Rice and John Whitman, is six degrees and scant half, north, which we conclude to be ye north side of said way that leads to ye head of said farms."
Among the old lists of proprietors or early inhabitants of the town, is one entitled, "A List of ye Draft of ye Last Devision Drawn May ye 21st, 1748." This list was subsequently copied, (but at what date does not appear,) and the owners of the lots at the time it was copied is also given. The copy was probably made by John Warner, then clerk of the proprietors. It is given here in order to preserve the names of the inhabitants
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