The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 57

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 57

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(II) Jonathan Thurston, son of Edward and Eliza- beth (Mott) Thurston, was born in Newport, R. I., January 4, 1659. He resided subsequently in Little Compton, R. I., and in Dartmouth, Mass. He married Sarah -; and probably married a second time. He died in 1740.

(III) Edward (2) Thurston, son of Jonathan Thurs- ton, was born in Little Compton, R. I., October 18, 1679. He married (first) December 19, 1706, Susanna Pearce, daughter of George and Alice ( Hart) Pearce. He married (second) Sarah Carr. His will, dated March 20, 1739, was proved at Taunton, May 15, of that year.

(IV) George Thurston, son of Edward (2) and Susanna (Pearce) Thurston, was born at Little Comp- ton, R. I., November 4, 1709. He married (first), De- cember II, 1729, Keziah -, and (second)

Greene. George Thurston disposed of the Thurston homestead in Little Compton and removed to Hopkin- ton, R. I.

(V) General George (2) Thurston, son of George (1) and Keziah Thurston, was born in 1741. He was a merchant of note in Rhode Island, and was prominent in military circles. He was given a distinguished command in the American Revolution, with the "Sullivan Expedi- tion." He married (first), February 22, 1766, Dolly Cottrell, who died October 21, 1789. He married (sec- ond) Mrs. Sarah Rathbun, who died September 19, 1817. He died November 30, 1827, aged eighty-six years.

(VI) Hon. Jeremiah Thurston, son of General George (2) and Dolly (Cottrell) Thurston, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., May 29, 1768. His early youth em- braced the stirring period of the Revolution. He sub- sequently became a large land-owner and a prominent figure in politics. He was also a merchant in Hopkin- ton, and his mansion and store were near the then im- portant inn, where stopped the numerous stages run- ning between New London and Providence, on the routes between New York and Boston. He was of the old school of Jeffersonian Democrats, and a vital figure in public affairs in Hopkinton and the surrounding country. Hon. Jeremiah Thurston married, March I, 1801. Sarah Babcock, daughter of Rowse Babcock (2), of Westerly, the first president of the Washington Bank, of which General George (2) Thurston was one of the founders. Hon. Jeremiah Thurston was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Rhode Island in 1816, and again in 1817. He died March 21, 1830.

(VII) Hon. Benjamin Babcock Thurston, son of Hon. Jeremiah and Sarah ( Babcock) Thurston, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., June 29, 1804. He grew to manhood in his father's mansion in Hopkinton, which was the center of a cultured and prominent society composed of many of the foremost men of Rhode Island of the time. The effect of this early environment on his subsequently political and public career was of great value. On the death of his father Benjamin B. Thurston succeeded to his property and mercantile in- terests in Hopkinton, and shortly afterward became active in public life. In 1838 he was elected Lieutenant- Governor of Rhode Island. He later was elected to Congress, serving from 1847 to 1849, and again from 1851 to 1857. After retiring from public life he de- voted his time to the care of his extensive banking and maritime interests. The last years of his life were passed in New London, Conn., but he maintained al- ways a deep interest in Rhode Island.

Hon. Benjamin B. Thurston married (first), March 5, 1828, Harriet E. Deshon, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Deshon, who died November 8, 1832. He mar- ried (second), March 12, 1834, Frances E. Deshon, daughter of John and Fanny Deshon, and a descendant of Elder William Brewster; she died May 11, 1865. He died May 17, 1886.

(VIII) Benjamin F. Thurston, son of Hon. Benja- min Babcock and Harriet E. (Deshon) Thurston, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., in 1829. He prepared for the legal profession, and was admitted to the bar in Rhode Island. Within a short period he rose to a place of indisputable leadership in legal circles in Rhode Island,

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and with the constantly increasing magnitude of his practice was taken more and more outside the courts of Rhode Island into a national field. Here he met some of the greatest legal minds of the country. As a law- yer, a business negotiator and an orator, he had no superior. The scope of his powers was wide; he was an eloquent and forceful speaker, unique and telling in argument. The latter part of his legal career was devoted to the field of patent law, and he was univer- sally acknowledged a peer as a patent attorney. He was widely sought in cases of this nature, not only for his consummate ability as a lawyer, but because of his comprehensive knowledge of engineering and mechanics, and his capacity to grasp the most intricate and involved points of an invention. His practice was enormous, but he was a man of indefatigable industry and tireless energy. Mr. Thurston was counsel for many railroad corporations, and until the time of his death, which occurred in New York City, March 13, 1890, at the age of sixty-one years, was one of the foremost members of the legal profession in the United States.

Little else, outside of the law, engaged his attention. He retained always a deep love for Rhode Island, and for its institutions, and was a member of the corpora- tion of Brown University. He was a trustee of the public library, and a generous contributor to all worthy causes of a charitable nature. For a short period he was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly, and during the time he held the office was one of the most brilliant men in that body.

(VIII) John Deshon Thurston, son of Benjamin Babcock and Frances E. (Deshon) Thurston, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., February 27, 1842. He prepared for college in private schools in New London, Conn., and was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1862, with the degree of Master of Arts. He later spent a year at the Harvard Law School, and on con- cluding his studies was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. He at once began practice, opening an office in Providence, as junior member of the firm of Thurston, Ripley & Company. Mr. Thurston attained great prom- inence in his profession. He was well-known in pro- fessional and in social circles in Providence. A keen lover of athletics, he was active in organizing the First National Baseball team in Providence, which won the championship in this sport. He was a member of the Union Club. John Deshon Thurston died in Providence, R. I., February 23, 1909.

COLONEL RANDALL A. HARRINGTON-As a promoter of theatrical and amusement enterprises, the late Colonel Randall A. Harrington, owner of the famous shore resort, Rocky Point, was known from coast to coast. In Rhode Island his reputation was Statewide, both in the above field and in political circles ; for several decades he was the Republican leader of Warwick and active in politics in the county.

Colonel Harrington was born in Phenix, in the town of Warwick, R I., July 31, 1854, the son of Randall Augustus and Mary ( Madison) Harrington. He was descended both paternally and maternally from several notable Rhode Island families of Colonial date. The Harringtons of the State descend from Benjamin Har- rington, first of the name in New England, who is

first of record in Providence in 1662. The name, for merly spelled Harendeen, Hearndeen, Hearnden, Hearr ton, is of English origin, and according to a well pre served tradition among the English and Scotch branche of the family, finds its source in the word Heathering ton, meaning "home-loving." The American family ... a branch of the old English house, which had its sea in Harrington, Northamptonshire, where the origina coat-of-arms as follows, is preserved :

Arms-Sable, a fret argent, on a chief of the secon three trefoils gules.

Crest-A lion's head or, collared gules, lined argen

Colonel Harrington was educated in the schools o Warwick, and was a student in the private schools c Simeon Green and Miss Kent for several years. Fror the very outset of his business career he was intereste in amusement projects, and in the theatrical world, an for a decade prior to his entrance into the amusemer field in Rhode Island was active as a theatrical manage in New York. As a consequence his acquaintance wa large and included most of the stage stars of note i New York in the last quarter of a century. His con nection with Rocky Point dates from the year 1888 when he secured a lease of the premises, and initiate the first schemes of development which subsequentl made it one of the most famous resorts on the Atlanti coast. The site is one of rare beauty, and was origi nally the property of the Stafford family. Two daugh ters of the family finally inherited it, and disposed o their interests for little more than $2,500 to Captai Winslow, who after improving it sold it to Byro Spragute for $60,000. Mr. Sprague built the observa tory with a rise of two hundred and fifty feet abov sea level, and made improvements costing about $300. 000. In 1869 the property was bought by the America Steamship Company, which during the nine years o its ownership expended $200,000. In 18,8 the Con tinental Steamboat Company purchased the place an continued to develop it. Such was the history of Rock Point up to 1888, when it came into the hands of Col onel Harrington, under whose management it wa brought to the highest point of efficiency. Colonel Har rington devoted all his ability and energy to the tas. of making Rocky Point the finest resort of its kind i New England, and to this end he introduced amuse ments of a sort never before seen in this section of th country. The natural beauty of the site as well as th amusements drew large crowds from the surroundin: country; excursions came from all points by boat an rail. In 1906 he purchased the land, buildings, and amusements and became sole owner, continuing t manage the property until his death. Another amuse ment venture of which he was owner was Talaqueg: Park at Attleboro, Mass., which, although it was a pay ing investment, never attained the great success of hi other ventures. He eventually disposed of it to Bristo county, the building being transformed into the presen tuberculosis hospital. For several years he controlled Crescent Park, another well known Rhode Island resort and the Taunton Theatre, of Taunton, Mass., was unde his management. Colonel Harrington for many year prior to his death spent his winters in Jacksonville Fla., where he was heavily interested in real estate development. He was prominent in many department.

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of the city's life, and in 1908 promoted the Florida Exposition there and managed the amusement features of the event.

There were few men better known in the public and political life of the State of Rhode Island in the closing years of the past century and opening years of the present than Colonel Harrington. In 1894 he became a member of the Rhode Island Legislature, as repre- sentative from Warwick. He was returned to office in 1896, and again in 1898, refusing reelection at the ex- piration of his last term. As a member of the Repub- lican State Central Committee, he was the leader of Republican politics in Warwick, and a vital factor in directing the policies of the party in the State. Col- onel Harrington was a prominent figure in club and fraternal circles in the city of Providence. He had attained to the thirty-second degree in the Masonic order, and was a member of Warwick Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, - Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and Calvary Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Turk's Head Club, of the Town Criers, Wanscuck Tennis Club, and the Stuart Fisheries Association Club. At the time of his death he was a member of the Shell Fish Commis- sion, representing Kent county.

On December 9, 1908, Colonel Harrington married Amelia Victoria Whiteside, daughter of Thomas Ed- ward and Amelia (Charleton) Whiteside. Colonel and Mrs. Harrington were the parents of two children : Mary Isibelle, born December 16, 1909, who died in in- fancy ; and Randall Augustus, born December 29, 1912. Mrs. Harrington, who survives her husband, resides at Warwick Neck, R. I. The Whiteside family, of which Mrs. Harrington is a member is prominent in English history, of the landed gentry and entitled to bear arms. (See Whiteside).

(The Whiteside Line).

The surname Whiteside is of local origin, and sig- nifies literally "at the white side;" the name is similar in source to Garside and Akenside and denotes the fact that those who adopted it in the thirteenth and four- teenth centuries resided near some wood, orchard or hill which was distinguished in some portion of its extent by a white side. The family, originally English, resided in the north counties, many of its most notable branches having their seats near the Scottish border. Cadet branches later became powerful in Scotland, where the family ranked among the foremost in the kingdom until the seventeenth century, when, because of its adherence to the cause of Protestantism, it was stripped of lands, goods and titles. At least one branch of the Whitesides sought refuge in the North of Ire- land, where toward the close of the eighteenth century David Whiteside, grandfather of Mrs. Randall A. Har- rington, was born.

David Whiteside prepared for the divine ministry and preached extensively throughout the North of Ireland. He made several trips to the United States, during one of which he visited Rhode Island, where his son, Ed- ward Whiteside, was born.

Thomas Edward Whiteside, son of David Whiteside, was born in Fruit Hill, R. I. He was given excellent

educational advantages, and prepared for the profes- sion of architect and designer, which he followed throughout a most successful career. Mr. Whiteside was widely known in the profession in Rhode Island. He specialized largely in interior decorating, and was an expert in the art of fresco painting for religious edi- fices. Thomas Edward Whiteside married Amelia Charleton, daughter of David and Rebecca (Barber ) Charleton, and member of a prominent North of Ire- land family which left Ireland at the beginning of the oppression of the Protestants and settled in the New England Colonies; sons of the family later served against the English in the cause of Independence.

Rebecca (Barber) Charleton, mother of Amelia (Charleton) Whiteside, was a sister of the noted Mat- thew Barber, a prominent public man, landowner, and philanthropist of the early part of the nineteenth cen- tury. Matthew Barber held extensive estates in the northern counties, which he managed under a system which was the direct antithesis of the tyranny of the English landlords of the south. He was beloved of the peasants in whose interests he labored unceasingly, and for them he was instrumental in securing much bene- ficial legislation. He gave prodigally from a large for- tune to assuage the suffering and need which sur- rounded him on all sides, for the Ireland of his day suffered much under the oppressive laws of the Eng- lish. Rebecca Barber married David Charleton, and accompanied him to America shortly prior to the Amer- ican Revolution. David Charleton served with the Continental forces throughout the struggle.

Amelia Victoria Whiteside, daughter of Thomas Ed- ward and Amelia (Charleton) Whiteside, was born in Providence, R. I. She married, December 9, 1908, Col- onel Randall A. Harrington, of Warwick, R. I. (See Harrington). Mrs. Harrington is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and of the Girls' Friendly Society.

CAPTAIN GIDEON SPENCER-The Spencers of New England of the present day, tracing their an- cestry to the Colonial period of our history, are the descendants of four brothers of the name who were living in New England in 1648-Michael, Jared, Thomas and William Spencer, who were legatees of Sir Richard Spencer, of London, England, who was evidently their uncle. Michael Spencer settled first in Cambridge, Mass., and later in Lynn, and owned land on the Con- necticut river. William Spencer settled in Cambridge, whence he went to Hartford, Conn. Thomas and Jared also settled in Connecticut. Of John Spencer, the head of the Rhode Island Spencer family, and progenitor of the well-known East Greenwich Spencers, John Os- borne Austin, genealogist, says: "He may have been the son of Michael Spencer, who was of Cambridge, Mass., 1634, and later of Lynn, and may also have been identical with that John Spencer who was made heir of his uncle. John Spencer. (The latter made his will in 1637 at Newbury, returned to England, and his will was proved at Salem, Mass., 1648)."

The Spencer family has been active in the life and affairs of East Greenwich since the time of its estab- lishment there, and in successive generations many mem-

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bers of the family have held positions of trust and re- sponsibility in the town government. The late Cap- tain Gideon Spencer, for many years a well known figure in public life in Warwick, and a leader in Grand Army circles in the State of Rhode Island, was a mem- ber of the East Greenwich family, and a lineal de- scendant of John Spencer, the founder.

John Spencer, the earliest Rhode Island ancestor. was first of Newport, and later of East Greenwich. He is of record as early as the year 1661, and in 1668 be- came a freeman. In 1677 he was one of the first pur- chasers of the lands comprising East Greenwich, and in the same year held the office of town clerk, filling it until 1683. In 1678 he was chosen conservator of the peace, and in 1680 was elected deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly. He was a prominent figure in the public affairs of the town until his death. His sons were all active in public affairs, and served the town in some official capacity, all at one time or an- other representing the community in the Colonial As- sembly. John Spencer married Susanna - -, and they were the parents of nine children. Two sons, Wil- liam and Robert, removed to North Kingston ; the others remained in East Greenwich.

(I) Gideon Spencer, lineal descendant of John Spencer, the founder, was a well known resident of East Greenwich, a prosperous land owner and eminently respected citizen.

(II) Gideon (2) Spencer, son of Gideon (1) Spencer, was a native and life-long resident of East Greenwich, and for several decades a leader in public and political life of the town and county. Gideon Spencer repre- sented the district in the Rhode Island State Senate. He was a farmer on an extensive scale.

(III) Thomas Jones Spencer, son of Gideon (2) Spencer, was a resident of Warwick, R. I., where he was a prosperous farmer. He married Caroline Rem- ington, and they were the parents of several children, among them Gideon (3), mentioned below.

(IV) Gideon (3) Spencer, son of Thomas Jones and Caroline (Remington) Spencer, was born in War- wick, R. 1., April 2, 1844. He was educated in the schools of Warwick, and later attended the East Green- wich Academy, and Schofield's Commercial College. He was seventeen years old at the outbreak of the Civil War, beneath military age, but on September 4, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Battery D, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, and with this unit went to the fighting line almost immediately. A soldier of the finest type, he rose rapidly from the ranks, and on the completion of his first term of enlistment held the rank of ser- geant. He re-enlisted at Knoxville, Tenn., on January 31, 1864, and was commissioned second lieutenant in Battery B, on April 26, 1864. On May 16 of the fol- lowing year he was appointed first lieutenant, and trans- ferred to Battery F of the same regiment. With his regiment he participated in some of the bloodiest and most famous engagements of the entire conflict, gain- ing distinction repeatedly for bravery under fire. Fol- lowing the battle of Ream's Station, on August 25, 1864, he was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison, one of the most noted of the southern prisons, where he was herded with other captives on one of the

floors of the old warehouse. Libby prison enjoys al evil reputation exceeded by no other detention camp o ! the time in the South, yet Captain Spencer said of it! "I was in Libby Prison only a few weeks, and while I was there I was accorded better treatment than got at Salisbury and Danville later on." Salisbury h found even worse than Libby Prison, declaring that the food was bad and scanty, and that the "dead line" wa strictly maintained. In November, 1864, he was driver with other prisoners to Danville. W. Va., where they were confined in an old three-story factory. Here they suffered horribly from cold, and an attempt in force was made to escape. The guards were too many, how ever, and the prisoners were overpowered. Captain, Spencer was later exchanged and returned to his regi ment. His service covered a period of three years and ten months, inclusive of six months spent in southern prisons. He was mustered out on July 7, 1865, and returned to Rhode Island, where he became associated with his brother, H. C. Spencer, under whom he learned the dental profession. He continued in partnership with his brother until the latter's death, when he established himself independently in his profession on Westminster street, Providence. He · later entered into partnership with Dr. Wood, with whom he was connected unti Dr. Wood's death in 1912, when he disposed of his busi- ness and retired from practice.

Captain Spencer was a life-long resident of Warwick and for several decades prior to his death was a prom- inent figure in public and political life in the town He at one time represented the town in the Rhode Islanc State Legislature, and remained active in political coun- cils until his death. He was one of the Republicar leaders of Warwick, and a close friend of the late Charles R. Brayton. He took an active interest in edu- cational matters, and for twenty-five years was a mem- ber of the school committee under the old district sys- tem. He was widely known throughout the State ir Grand Army circles, and in 1888 was elected depart- ment commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in this office appointing the committee which appearec before the General Assembly in behalf of the Soldiers Home. While a member of the Legislature he was appointed to the legislative committee to confer with the Grand Army of the Republic committee and assisted in drawing up the bill which gave to Rhode Island the Soldiers' Home at Bristol. He later became secretary of the Soldiers' Home. Captain Spencer was a member of the State Board for Soldiers' Relief for twenty-nine years, its secretary during the greater part of this period, and in this capacity was influential in bringing about most beneficial legislation in the interests of olc soldiers. He was also state pension agent. He was a member of Slocum Post, No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic, of Providence, later joining Reno Post. No 6, of East Greenwich. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Captain Spencer married, on March 26, 1867, Martha Mathewson, daughter of Joseph and Henrietta (Fiske) Mathewson, who was descended paternally and mater- nally from several of the foremost families of Rhode Island. They were the parents of three children: I Joseph, deceased. 2. Henry, deceased. 3. Caroline Rem-

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ington. Miss Caroline R. Spencer resides with her mother at the Spencer home in East Greenwich. Cap- tain Gideon Spencer died at his home in East Green- wich, R. I., March 3, 1918, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

RICHARD WILLIAM JENNINGS-One of the leaders of the Providence bar and a member of the State Legislature. This, in brief, is a description of Mr. Jennings' position and a summary of his career. He has been for nearly thirty years a resident of Prov- idence and during the greater part of that period has been actively identified with local and State politics, filling most creditably a number of -public positions of trust and responsibility.

Richard William Jennings was born August II, 1866, in Brighton, England, and is a son of Richard and Jane (March) Jennings. Mrs. Jennings passed away some years ago and Mr. Jennings, who has now retired from business, is still living in Brighton. The education of Richard William Jennings was received in public and private schools in his native land. Ambition and a spirit of independence led the youth to seek his for- tune in the United States. On April 19, 1886, he ar- rived in Chicago where he found employment in the office of the general manager of the Pullman Company. At the end of two years and a half he became the general manager's assistant secretary, and while holding this position he returned to England for a short visit. In 1889 Mr. Jennings came to Providence and entered the newspaper world, becoming a reporter on the "Providence Journal." In 1891 he resigned this position in order to accept that of secretary to the secretary of state. The following year he became executive secre- tary to Governor Brown, of Rhode Island, and this position he retained until 1895, becoming in that year secretary of the State census board. This office Mr. Jennings retained until 1900, returning then to the realm of journalism as manager of the "Providence Daily News." At the end of a year, however, he re- signed in order to become private secretary to General Brayton, serving in that capacity until 1905, when he accepted the position of executive secretary to Gover- nor Utter, of Rhode Island. During these years of varied service and experience, Mr. Jennings was pre- paring for admission to the bar and he was admitted in 1906, entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in which, ever since, he has been continuously and suc- cessfully active.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 57

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