The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 104

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978

USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

seventy-nine years. Mrs. Hall died October 23, 1867, and both are buried in Swan Point Cemetery, Provi- dence. James Stanhope and Eleanor Ryder (Snow) Hall were the parents of the following children: I. Almira, who became the wife of Richard Sanders, member of the firm of William A. Howard & Com- pany, and a well known business man of Providence. 2. William Henry, mentioned below. 3. Abby C., died Jan. 25, 1865, aged twenty-two years.

William Henry Hall, son of James Stanhope and Eleanor Ryder (Snow) Hall, was born in Providence, R. I., June 12, 1837. He was educated in the public schools of the city, but anxious to be started on a business career, he left his studies at the age of four- teen years to learn a trade. He entered a large cigar factory in Providence, and within six months, by in- tense application, had become an expert workman. The confinement and unhealthful conditions of the factory seriously injured his health, however, and for a considerable period his recovery was despaired of. He possessed the invaluable gifts of invincible will power and courage, and these, combined with the hope- fulness of youth, eventually restored him partially to health, and in order to be in the open air he opened a small store for the sale of fruits, confectionery and periodicals. He was then but seventeen years old, and his capital of less than fifty dollars was borrowed from a friend. His evident determination to succeed, and his potent sincerity of purpose, secured for him credit among business men of the city, and he con- ducted a flourishing little establishment, until his steadily improving health opened the way to new op- portunities. In order to fit himself for a business career, he pursued a course of study at the Scholfield Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1859. Immediately afterward he secured a position with a large Providence business house as bookkeeper, and disposing of his business and store, rented the building to the purchaser. For four years he continued as a bookkeeper in Providence, at the end of this time going to Albany, N. Y., where he entered upon similar work with a large wholesale lumber estab- lishment.

Early in 1865 Mr. Hall accepted a flattering offer in Providence, and returned to become secretary and treasurer of the Marietta & Vinton County Coal & Oil Company. This position he retained until the business was dissolved, in the meantime operating to some extent in real estate. His first venture in this line was made in 1866, at which time the real estate business of Providence was largely in the hands of one or two long established and influential forms. His unbounded energy, unimpeachable integrity and persevering indus- try had already attracted the attention of the business men of the city, and in the face of the most powerful opposition and competition he was enabled to gain a foothold. His business judgment was remarkable, the experience gained in the lumber trade was of much aid to him, and he soon won a leading position among the brokers and dealers in real estate in Providence. One of the most beautiful suburbs of the city owes its existence to his foresight and enterprise. Some years prior to his death, he purchased the estate of the late Joseph W. Sweet, in the town of Cranston, which is

TURPI

KLAASAS

fi lah 2

Mers William He Hall.

411

BIOGRAPHICAL

ow known as Edgewood, and by the prudent invest- ment of capital, time and labor, he transformed the nce unpretentious homestead into an imposing and legant residence. He also erected a large business lock in Weybosset street, known as the Hall building, nd in 1890 organized the Central Real Estate Com- any, with an authorized capital of $2,000,000, for the urpose of providing persons of modest means with he opportunity of investing in centrally located busi- ess property, a class of investment usually monopo- zed by persons of large means. From its organiza- on Mr. Hall was president of the company, and its iccess was the natural outcome of his business abil- y, sagacity and influence in the community.

Mr. Hall was drawn naturally into the field of pub- c service and politics through his prominence in mer- antile and financial life, and for many years rendered valuable and efficient service to the city of Cranston different posts. For six years he was a member of le Town Council of Cranston. For one year he filled le office of town treasurer, declining reelection on the piration of his term. From 1880 to 1884 he repre- inted Cranston in the Rhode Island General Assembly, id for the succeeding two years was a member of the tate Senate, gaining the unique distinction of being le first Republican ever elected to the office from the wn. He declined renomination, however, despite the ict that he had gained a most influential position in the gislature, and was one of its most prominent and re- jected members. He was chairman of the joint com- ittee on accounts and claims in the Assembly, and as the second member of the Senate Committee on orporations. As an authority on economic and gov- 'nmental questions, he was respected as a debater, id his influence went far in directing the public policy ¿ the State.

Mr. Hall remained an active and vital factor in the isiness life of Providence until his death on June 3. 16. His demise marked the passing of a powerful rce for the advancement and uplift of business and vic ethics in the city of Providence, and was univer- lly mourned. Democratic, sincere in his purpose, ndly and courteous, and ever willing to extend the lping hand to those who sought his advice or more bstantial aid, he had endeared himself to the hearts hundreds. His friends were legion.

Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Cleora Nar- tte Hopkins, daughter of the late William Lanksford id Elizabeth (Smith) Hopkins, of North Kingston, I. Mrs. Hall, who survives her husband, traces her scent from several prominent old founder families of hode Island. (See Hopkins and Smith). She has long en an active and indefatigable worker in behalf of aritable and religious efforts in Edgewood. The church the Transfiguration ( Protestant Episcopal) at Edge- pod, was founded by Mrs. Hall and a few others, the st service having been held in the Norwood avenue hool house, January 31, 1892, in which year Mrs. Hall as baptized and confirmed. It was largely through her tiring efforts that this church was made possible in is section, and her devotion to its interests since the ne of its founding has never diminished. She has also en an ardent worker in the church societies, and is active member of the Parish Aid and Missionary So-

ciety, and the Church Guild. For a number of years she was a teacher in the Sunday school and president of the Hospitality and Works of Mercy Society. The present beautiful church edifice on Broad street, completed in 1910, stands as a monument to the zeal and energetic work of Mrs. Hall and her co-workers in the church, and at the impressive service of the dedication, the Bishop, with Mrs. Hall standing beside him, turned to the congregation and said: "To the greatness of this woman's heart we owe our beautiful church." Mrs. Hall is also a valued member of the Edgewood Wo- man's Club. When the naming of the beautiful resi- dential suburb of Providence, called Edgewood, in the town of Cranston, where the Hall residence is situated, was under consideration, many names were suggested, but the name of Edgewood, as suggested by Mrs. Hall on account of its bordering on the wooded section of Roger Williams Park, found most favor. Mrs. Hall has continued to the present day her deep interest in every department of the life of Edgewood, and has always been one of its best known and best beloved residents.

(The Hopkins Line).

Arms-Ermine on a fesse gules a lion passant guard- ant argent with a canton of the second charged with a rose or.

Crest-An ostrich's head couped ermine, holding in the beak a key azure.

The Hopkins of New England, descending from sev- eral unrelated but equally important progenitors, form one of the most notable of American Puritan families. Rhode Island, however, has furnished to American his- tory two of its most distinguished Revolutionary patri- ots in the persons of Commodore Esek Hopkins, first admiral of the United States Navy, and his hardly less famous brother, Stephen Hopkins, the Rhode Island signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose name, says Greene, "is closely interwoven with all that is greatest and best in Rhode Island History; an astron- omer of no mean pretensions, a statesman of broad views and deep penetration, a supreme executive, prompt, energetic and fearless, a genial companion when wise men relax from care, and a trusty counsel- lor when the duties of life bear heaviest on the scrupu- lous conscience." Samuel Hopkins, D. D., the dis- tinguished divine and theologian, founder of the theo- logical system which bears his name, was also a mem- ber of the Rhode Island Hopkins family. The Rhode Island Hopkins, with one branch of whom this article is to deal, although no greater in numerical strength than the several prominent New England families of the name, have produced by far the greater number of his- torically noted sons.

Prior to its transplanting in the American colonies, the family had been a noteworthy one in several parts of England for several centuries. The surname is one of the earliest of purely English patronymics, is of bap- tismal origin, and signifies literally "the son of Rob- ert." The form is derived from the nickname Hob or Hobbe, which was very popular throughout England during the surname era, and the diminutive kin, Hob- kin. The sharpening of the b to p, for purposes of euphony, came a century or two later. The first entry of the name in English registers, in a form nearly ap- proximating that in use to-day, occurs in 1273, in the

412

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

Hundred Rolls, Nicholas Hobekyn, County Cambridge. One of the most prominent of the English families of the name resided in Oxfordshire for several hundred years prior to the period of American Colonial emi- gration. From the strong resemblance of the armorial bearings of the Wyckhams of Swelcliffe, County Ox- ford, and those of the Hopkins family of Oving. it is conjectured by Burke that in early times some bond of connection existed between the two families. In con- firmation of this conjecture there is found in Sibford Gower, in Swelcliffe parish, a small estate which is charged with a quitrent of a hundred pence that tradi- tion has assigned to the late owners as the nineteenth John Hopkins who had successfully and lineally inher- ited it without the intervention of any other Christian name than John.

(I) William Hopkins was born in Cheselbourne, Dorsetshire, England, and married there Joanna Ar- nold, daughter of Thomas and Alice (Gulley) Arnold. Among their children was Thomas Hopkins, men- tioned below.

(II) Thomas Hopkins, son of William and Joanna (Arnold) Hopkins, was born April 7, 1616, in Chesel- bourne. The date of his coming to America is un- known. His name first appears on New England Colonial records in Providence, R. I., where on July 27, 1640, he was one of the thirty-nine signers of the agree- ment for a form of government. From this time for- ward, for a period of about ten years, his name appears but once in the public records-on September 2, 1650, when he was taxed 13s. 4d. In 1652, however, he was chosen for the important office of commissioner, which would indicate that he was a man of considerable im- portance in the community. Again, in 1659 and 1660, he filled the office of commissioner. In 1655 he was made a freeman, and on July 19, 1665, had Lot 93, in a division of public lands. In 1665-66-67-72, he was deputy from Providence to the Rhode Island General Assembly at Newport, and in 1667 and 1672, was a mem- her of the Town Council. At the outbreak of King Philip's War, or shortly before, when war with the Indians became imminent, he removed to a settlement called Littleworth, in the town of Oyster Bay, Long Island, with his son - Hopkins, who predeceased him. Thomas Hopkins died at the house of Richard Kirby, in Oyster Bay, in 1684. The inventory of his estate was ordered taken by the Oyster Bay authorities, on September 17, 1684. Thomas Hopkins married, in Providence, in 1648, Elizabeth Arnold, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, daughter of William Arnold.

(III) Thomas (2) Hopkins, son of Thomas (1) and Elizabeth (Arnold) Hopkins, was born about 1650, in Providence. On May 1, 1672, he was admitted a free- man. He was a prosperous farmer but appears to have taken no active part in public affairs. He married, in Providence, in 1678. Mary Smith, daughter of John and Elizabeth Smith. She was a granddaughter of John Smith, the mason, of Providence, so called to distin- guish him from John Smith, the miller, both of them being prominent citizens of Providence. Thomas (2) Hopkins died in Providence, April 21, 1718. Of his twelve children, Amos, mentioned below, was the tenth.

Thomas Hopkins' will, dated April 26, 1711, was prove May 19, 1718.

(IV) Amos Hopkins, son of Thomas (2) and Mat (Smith) Hopkins, was born in Providence, R. I., ar for a time was a resident of Scituate, where his childre were born. In 1753 he removed to Providence, and fo seven years was a member of the Town Council. H home was in that part of Providence later known ; North Providence, and he died there, in 1769. C October 29, 1727, he married Sarah Smith, daughter ( Joseph and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Smith, and a line descendant of Christopher Smith, founder of the far. ily in Rhode Island. (See Smith III and IV).

(V) Uriah Hopkins, son of Amos and Sara (Smith) Hopkins, was born in Scituate, R. I., Decen ber 26, 1738. He removed to Providence with h father's family, at the age of fourteen years, and passe the remainder of his life there, a prosperous farmer ar prominent citizen of the North Providence sectio Uriah Hopkins married Lucy Lanksford, youngest chi of William and Martha Lanksford (otherwise spelle Langsford). Her father, William Lanksford, die May 19, 1745, a little more than two months prior to h birth, at Paramaribo, Surinam, whither he had gor for a season of employment as a cooper. His widow Martha, survived him about fifty-two years, dying 1797.

The Langford family figured very early in the histo: of Rhode Island, where the name is found under var ous spellings, including Lanckford. A Richard Lan ford was in Plymouth, Mass., January 2, 1633, but di appears from the records of the colony after that dai One Thomas Langford resided in Newport, R. I., 1670, and was a boatman there. It is probable that i was the father of Thomas Langford, a carpenter, ar John Langford, a merchant of Newport. John Lan ford, the merchant, was made a freeman of the Rhou Island Colony, April 30, 1717. Contemporary recor indicate that he transacted a flourishing business. F married Alida -, and their children were baptize at Trinity Church, Newport. It is thought that Jol and Alida Langford were the parents of the Willia Lanksford above referred to, who died in Paramarib There is nothing discoverable in the records of the Cc ony or State of Rhode Island to show his birth or pa entage, only his death notice appearing. No record his marriage appears, and it is therefore impossible learn the maiden name of his wife Martha. Tl Friends' records of Rhode Island show that Jam Langford, of Antigua, had a daughter Mehitable, wl died June 30, 1715, wife of Abraham Redwood. Ell Langford, described as a son-in-law of Jonas (pro ably a step-son), died in Newport, October 14, 177 Uriah Hopkins died at his home in Providence, Apt 3, 1825.

(VI) Stephen Hopkins, son of Uriah and Lur (Lanksford) Hopkins, was born in Providence, Nover., ber 12, 1776. He was a master mariner, commandir vessels sailing out of Providence for many years. ] later life he retired from the sea, and settled in tl western part of Providence, where he established ar for many years conducted a popular inn. On Octob 19, 1801, he married Nancy Brownell, daughter

HOPKINS

Smith;

William Lankford Hopkins

413

BIOGRAPHICAL

Stephen Brownell; she was born in 1772-73, and died March 2, 1848. Stephen Hopkins died in Providence, July 8, 1823.

(VII) William Lanksford Hopkins, son of Stephen and Nancy ( Brownell) Hopkins, was born in Provi- dence, R. I., and was a lifelong resident here. He married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of William and Elizabeth Smith, of North Kingston, and they were the parents of the following children: 1. Stephen Brownell, died young. 2. Josephine Adelaide. 3. William Smith, deceased. 4. Cleora Narzette, mentioned below. 5. Mary Elizabeth, deceased. 6. Stephen Frederick, of Providence.

(VIII) Cleora Narzette Hopkins, daughter of Wil- liam Lanksford and Elizabeth (Smith) Hopkins, be- came the wife of the late William H. Hall, of Provi- dence. (See Hall).

(The Smith Line).

Arms-Quarterly, first and fourth, barry argent and gules; second and third, quarterly, first and fourth, gules on a chevron or, between three bezants, as many crosses formee fitchee sable: second and third, azure a fesse between three urchins argent.

Crest-Out of a castle a wolf's head sable.

Motto-Boutez en avant.

Smith as a surname is found in various forms- Smith, Smyth, Smythe, Smithe, etc .; and like many English names of early origin, has undergone numerous changes in spelling. The "y" in Smyth is the almost in- variable spelling in the early rolls and registers, and so cannot with justice be styled a modern affection in all instances. In his "Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames," the late Charles Wareing Bardsley, M. A., states that in 1901 there were three hundred thousand Smiths in England. In point of numerical strength the Smiths outrank every other surname in use among English speaking people. The name is of the occupa- tive class and signifies "the Smith." It is common in every village in England and America, north, east, south, and west. We find it at a very early date in the American colonies, and among the first to bring the name to tliese shores was the famous Captain John Smith, of the Virginia settlement. It was well repre- sented among the founders of Plymouth and the Rhode Island Colony, and the progeny of these carly immi- grants is large and influential in New England to-day. Little Rhode Island alone had eight Smiths among her early settlers, five of whom bore the baptismal name of John, and for purposes of distinction are known in the records respectively as John, of Newport: John, of Prudence Island; John, of Warwick; John, the mason; and John, the miller. The other Smith founders were Christopher Smith, head of the family herein under consideration ; Edward Smith, and Richard Smith. The descendants of these men have played honorable and in some cases prominent parts in the life and affairs of Rhode Island for more than two and a half centuries.

(I) Christopher Smith, immigrant ancestor and pro- genitor, was a native of England, whence he came to the American colonies at a date unknown. He is first of record in Providence on September 2, 1650, when he was taxed three shillings, four pence. In 1655 he was admitted a freeman, and on April 27 of the same year served as juryman. On March 16, 1656, he was granted a share of meadow to be laid out beyond the meadow

called World's End, in lien of a share formerly laid out to him beyond Great Meadow and Pawtuxet Path. On July 27, 1658, he took up sixty acres and a share of meadow. On February 19, 1665, he drew Lot 65 in a division of lands. On June 1, 1667, he subscribed to the oath of allegiance. On August 21, 1668, he and his wife, Alice, sold Asten Thomas twenty acres. On November 28, 1672, he and his wife sold to Shadrach Manton a parcel of lowland. Christopher Smith went to Newport at the outbreak of King Philip's War, and died there in June, 1676, as declared by the records of the Society of Friends, which call him an ancient Friend of Providence. The surname of his wife, Alice, is not known.

(II ) Thomas Smith, son of Christopher and Alice Smith, was a resident of Warwick, R. I., at an early date. He was a tailor by trade. On December 20, 1661, he witnessed the confirmatory deed of Roger Williams to his associates. On July 9, 1666, he and his wife, Ruth Wickenden, received a deed from her father, William Wickenden, of certain land on the south side of the Pawtuxet river, bounded partly by Benjamin Smith's land. Thomas Smith and his wife, Ruth, were drowned in the Pawtuxet river near their home on January 16, 1670, the wife losing her balance and fall- ing into the water in an attempt to save her husband. The intentions of their marriage were published Jan- uary 27, 1659. She was the daughter of William Wick- enden.

(III) Joseph Smith, son of Thomas and Ruth (Wickenden) Smith, was born in Warwick, R. I., Feb- ruary 18, 1669. He was but a year old at the time of his parents' death. In the testimony given at the in- quest to determine the cause of their death, John, his oldest brother, was the principal witness. The records tell us that he went to a neighbor for help. "having with him his brother Joseph in his arms and his brother William by him." Joseph Smith was brought up by his aunt, Plain Wickenden, who became the wife of Sam- nel Wilkinson, of Providence. On March 24, 1697, he had a deed of gift from his kinsman, Samuel Wilkin- son, and his wife, Plain, and John Steere, Jr., of eighteen acres of land which had formerly belonged to his grandfather, William Wickenden, deceased. He fol- lowed the trade of carpenter. On June 16, 1713, he was taxed six pence. He owned a forty foot lot and a third of a right of commonage, which he deeded to Joseph Smith, son of Edward, March 28, 1716. On February 11, 1730, he purchased the interest of his son, Joseph, in the land deeded his mother, Elizabeth, de- ceased, by her father, John Hawkins. Soon afterward he removed to the town of Glocester, R. I., where on April 27, 1731, he deeded his son, Waite Smith, for love, etc., forty-five acres. He died November 8, 1739, and on the following day administration of his estate was granted to his son, Joseph Smith, of Smithfield. Joseph Smith married ( first) April 4, 1669, Elizabeth Haw- kins, daughter of John and Sarah Hawkins, of Provi- dence. The Christian name of his second wife was Mary.

(IV) Sarah Smith, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth ( Hawkins) Smith, was born in Providence, R. I., and on October 29, 1727, became the wife of Amos Hopkins, of Providence. (See Hopkins IV).

414

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

JAMES A. FOSTER-In two generations that are past, this branch of the family of Foster was repre- sented in the life of Providence and Rhode Island by father and son, William Foster and James A. Foster, whose combined influence penetrated into educational, journalistic, business, and public service fields with high purpose and worthy result. Especially is this record dedicated to the son, James A. Foster, founder and president of the J. A. Foster Company, a large real estate owner of Providence, a veteran of the Civil War, and an honored veteran in the ranks of Provi- dence's business men and citizens, his residence in the city covering a period of sixty-three years.

(I) The American history of this line of Foster be- gan with the Hon. Edward Foster, son of Timothy Foster, who was born in Kent, England, about 1610, and died in Scituate, Mass., in November, 1643. Ed- ward Foster was a lawyer and a young man of "good repute," one of the founders of the church in Scituate in 1635. It is presumed that he came to America from England in the ship "Ann," in 1623, and it is further presumed that he located in Scituate, Mass., prior to 1628. The line continues through his son, Timothy.

(II) Sergeant Timothy Foster, son of the Hon. Ed- ward Foster, was born in Scituate, Mass., in 1640, and died December 16, 1688. He married (first) October 13, 1663, Mrs. Ruth (Tiletson) Denton, of Dorchester, who died December 5, 1677, and he married (second) March 9, 1680, Mrs. Relief (Holland) Dowse, daugh- ter of John Holland, one of the first settlers of Dor- chester. There were four children of his second mar- riage, of whom the eldest was Timothy (2), of whom further.

(III) Timothy (2) Foster, son of Sergeant Timothy (I) and Relief (Holland-Dowse) Foster, was born in Dorchester, Mass., January 8, 1681. Descent in this line is through his son, Timothy (3).

(IV) Timothy (3) Foster, son of Timothy (2) Foster, was born in Walpole, Mass., about 1715, and died in April, 1795. He was a cordwainer, a soldier in the Colonial wars, and with thirteen of his sons, served in the Revolutionary War. He was married three times, his third wife, whom he married in 1755, being Mary Payson.

(V) Joseph Foster, son of Timothy (3) and his third wife, Mary ( Payson) Foster, was born in Dudley, Mass., April 29, 1762, and died November 27, 1845. With twelve brothers and his father, he served in the American army in the Revolution, enlisting at the age of fourteen years, serving in the "Jerseys," and being present, in the role of fifer, at the execution of Major André. He married, March 18, 1784, Chloe White, who died in 1806.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 104

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 978

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978