USA > Rhode Island > The lands of Rhode Island : as they were known to Caunounicus and Miantunnomu when Roger Williams came in 1636 : an Indian map of the principal locations known to the Nahigansets, and elaborate historical notes > Part 23
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+ 266
A VERY ANCIENT KILLNE THERE.
other references in the Early Records, but these cited indicate clearly the exact position of this hill. My reason for this minute detail is the fact that there now exists upon this hill a very ancient Lime Kiln, and my purpose is to identify this ancient structure with that men- tioned in the Providence Early Records, as follows :
(1)
The printed record reads : as Hackelton makeing his request unto the Towne- have liberty to burne lime upon the Comon neere about and to take stones and wood for the same purpose ------ by vote that he may have libertye until next and no longer." ( Prov. Early Rec. 3, 8.) The time of this action was 27 January, 1662.
(2)
Again: "It is ordered that those lime rockes about Hackleton's lime killne shall be ppetually common and that no land shall be laid out on the northeast and southeast of the said kilne within 6 poles, nor upon the other sides, or partes of the saide kilne within 60 poles. This saide kilne being att or neere a place called Scoakequanocsett." ( Prov. Early Rec. 3. 66.) The time of this action was 27 October, 1665.
. (3)
Gregory Dexter, on the 27th, 1Ith mo, 1672, gave to his son Stephen four acres of land "at a place commonly called Soconoxit which was laid out to me by Thomas Harris-also-I give him my right of meadow in one share in the new division all I say of the said So acres I do give to my foresaid son Stephen for him and his heirs * * as their own proper inheritance whilst mortality lasteth with all the immunities and privileges upon and in that 80 acres, only excepting which I do really except, this privilege for the In- habitants of the town of Providence to fetch for their use as much lime rock from the Rock called Hackelton's Rock as they please" ( Prov. Early Rec. 3, 229). Here were two different bodies of land, one, four acres near Sockanosset laid out by Harris; the other, So acres, which came "in the new division". This "new division" was
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.
267
LOCATION OF HACKLETON'S ROCK QUESTIONED.
made in February, 1665. Dexter drew the 15th chance ( Prov. Early Rec. 3, 72). The reference to Hackleton's Rock applies only to the 80 acre parcel.
(4)
At a town meeting, 24th May, 1673, a return of lands laid out to certain individuals was made. One "lay out" reads as follows: "Laid out unto Gregory Dexter own lot adjoining to his own land at Hackington's rock, in length northerly and southerly one hundred and six poles," etc. ( Prov. Early Rec. 3, 241). These four entries contain all that is known of Hackleton, or Hackleton's Rock. or Hackelton's Lime Kiln. The first was made in 1661-2; the last in ' 1672.
On the map of Providence Plantations (Coll. R. I. Hist. Soc., v. 10, p. 376), Hackelton's Rock is located in Smithfield, as being a part of the Dexter Lime Rocks. This view is maintained by a communication signed G. R. T. and published in the Providence Sunday Journal, 8th May, 1904. It is as follows : To the Editor of the Sunday Journal:
I notice an article in the Journal of April 3 upon an old limekiln situated in Manton. This was identified with the Hackelton's lime- kiln so frequently mentioned in the early Providence records. As it can be proved without a shadow of doubt that Hackelton's limekiln was situated near the site of the present Dexter lime rocks in the town of Lincoln, I am taking the trouble to correct the statement in your article. On January 27, 1662, Thomas Hackelton was granted liberty by the town to burn lime at a certain place upon the common. On October 27, 1665, the town ordered that the lime rocks about Hackelton's limekiln, which was mentioned as being near Scoak- quanocsett, should remain in common. On January 27, 1672, Gregory Dexter deeded to his son Stephen four acres at Scockonoxit, reserving the rights of Providence people to use lime at Hackelton's rock. This all proves that the rock in question was at Scockanoxett and was part of the Dexter land. Now there are many deeds in the Providence records to show that Scockanoxett was the region of the present Dexter lime rocks in Lincoln and that the brook flowing through it was called Scockanoxett Brook. For instance, in one
268
THE G. R. T. CLAIM, IN SMITHFIELD.
deed of 1723 from Thomas Thurston to William Jenckes a lot of 150 acres is described as being bounded east by the Pawtucket or the present Blackstone River, with Scockanoxett Brook flowing through the western part of it, the land extending "up the said brook westerly to the land of John Dexter." In fact, the region has long been known to students of local history to have been the site of the early Hackelton's limekiln, and the fact has never previously been questioned, so far as has come to my knowledge.
G. R. T.
CENTRAL FALLS, May 4.
I am not in accord with the positions of "Hackelton's Rock and Scokanoxet" (sic) as fixed on the map in the Historical Society volume ( Hist. Col., v. 10, p. 376). The compiler of the map seems to have followed the views of G. R. T. as set forth in the preceding communication. Both these statements are erroneous, as I will pre- sently show.
Under the name Sockanossett is discussed the origin and meaning of the name. It was the name of a Narragansett Sachem. In 1677 William Harris brought an action against John Towers for trespass under "a pretended purchase of our ( Harris's) land at Pawtuxet, Toskannk & Soconaset" ( Coll. Hist. Soc. 10, p. 207). Is it to be supposed that a parcel of land contiguous to the Dexter Lime rocks, could be at the same time contiguous to Pawtuxet, Toskaunk and Soconaset? It is an absurdity.
I here present the dimensions of the kiln on Setamachut-16 feet diameter at the top; 13 feet diameter at the center; and 10 feet diameter at the bottom. It is 15 feet in depth. This was the earliest form used. The second drawing represents the changes made in the form of construction in lapse of time. I give the measurements as given by Mr. Jackson: Diameter at top, II feet ; center, 14 feet ; bottom, 8 feet ; depth, 16 feet. (Jackson's Geology of R. I., 80.) These facts show that the kiln at Setamachut is the rudest and most ancient now in existence in Rhode Island. These two drawings represent kilns on Setamachut Hill; one is now in existence ; the others ( there were two) have been torn down since 1810.
The orginal permission given to the inhabitants to burn lime in
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269
DIAGRAMS OF THE ANCIENT KILNS.
Hackelton's kiln was in January. 1661-62. This permission was to be "upon the common near about". At that time the town meet- ing had no knowledge of the acquisition of the lands which contained the Smithfield Lime Rocks. These lands came by the "Confirmation Deeds" obtained by William Harris. The people knew nothing of
--- 16ft-
.13ft.
-15 ft
10 ft-
THE HACKSTON LIME KILLNE, 1662.
-11 St
-14ft
-Af91-
-- 8ft-
THE MODERN MANTON KILN, 1839.
these Deeds until they were put upon record in May, 1662. These lime rocks were ten miles north of Providence; while the Setamachut lime rocks were only four miles distant, west. When the town gave "Hackleton" permission, it was to burn "upon the common near about". This fact is destructive to the theory that Hackleton's Rock was a portion of the Smithfield Lime Rocks.
The town of Providence had no jurisdiction over "Common Lands" in 1661-62 in what is now known as Smithfield. There was a law which provided "that all the land in the Neck between Paw- tucket river and the Moshausic river, beginning at the north end of the field, which lieth between Pawtucket River and the great Swamp, and to go upon a line unto the place where the third lake ranneth into Moshausick river ; all the land from these places prefixt between these two rivers southwardly unto the hill called Fox's hill. which hath not been orderly laid out shall remain still in common". (Prov. Early Rec. 3. p. 21.) This was absolute destruction to the idea that Hackleton's Rock was part of the Dexter lime rocks in Smithfield. The common lands did not extend north of this line.
270
IT IS HACKSTON'S, NOT HACKLETON'S.
but only south, while all the Smithfield lands were northi. The "common near about" the town meeting, at Providence, did not lie north ten miles from that meeting.
The "third lake" mentioned above was the name of a small brook which ran from the Great Swamp into the Moshassuck river ( Prov. Early Rec. 14, 208). The Great Swamp was the bound fixed by Miantinomi in 1642, to which the English then gave the name "Absolute Swamp".
The Smithfield Lime Rocks had not been discovered at the time when the town meeting of Providence made the first "Hackelton" order in 1661-2.
Mr. Jackson in giving an account of the Dexter Rock in Smithfield, ' writing in 1840, says: "The establishment is ancient, having been quarried and burnt for more than eighty years" (Jackson's Geology of Rhode Island, p. 67). This would be, making the beginning of the burning, between 1750 and 1760. I hold that Hackleton's Lime Rock was, and now is, on lands known in recent times as the Nathan Brown Farm, four miles from Providence. There were Lime Kilns, in modern form, on this farm when Mr. Jackson wrote in 1840. And a large excavation is still there, showing where Hackleton, or Hackelton, or Hackington, or Hackston's Rock, could be hacked by the inhabitants. Mr. Jackson says: "I visited the farm of Mr. Nathan Brown, four miles from Providence (in Johnston), and there examined an extensive bed of lime stone which was wrought for lime before the discovery of the Smithfield lime Rocks" (Jack- son's Geology of R. I., 1840, p. 80). The third mention of Hackel .. ton's rock above was by Gregory Dexter in his Deed to his son Stephen. I there followed the printed volume of the Providence Early Records. But a most significant error was made. The original Record reads Hackstons Rock, and not Hackleton's Rock.
These Early Records are again seriously in error (page 66, v. 3.) int giving the name "Hackleton's Lime Kiln". The name is as carly "Hackstons' Lime Kiln".
Thomas Wright defines the word "Hackle" as meaning, in the provincial English dialect of Lincolnshire, "to dig up," and this is precisely what the inhabitants of Providence were permitted to do with "Hackstons" or, as it has been sometimes printed, "Hackle-
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271
THE NAME CAME IN 1662, DISAPPEARED IN 1665.
ton's") (Prov. Early Rec., v. 3. p. 229). To form such words was characteristic of the English of that age. In Somersetshire, Eng- land, at a place called Stanton Drew is a huge stone to which tradition has fixed the legend that it was a quoit thrown by some one in the Middle Ages. To this stone has come down the name "Hackell's Coit". Shadwell in one of his "Plays" ( 1672) has a character, Captain Hackum. He was an impudent "bully" always in a row.
Richardson gives the word "Hackle" as having been derived from the Dutch word "Hackelen," which word meant "to cut or hack into small pieces". No man by name of Hackleton, or Hackelton, or Hackington, or Hackston, I think, ever dwelt in Providence; and certainly no man with such a name was then a freeman here. It was probably a fiction, or "man of straw," in the construction of which these ancient Englishmen were so fond. I will give a few specimens : Jolin O'Noakes, Tom a'Styles, John Doe, and Richard Roc-all well known men of straw to the Providence Town Meet- ing, when in 1661-2 it gave permission to" as Hackelton" to Hack and burn Lime. At that time men supposed that a personalty was necessary in legal and legislative matters; just as the lawyers supposed that they must have a John Doe or Richard Roe in their legal documents.
The fact that a century, or a century and a half later there dwelt in Warwick men named "Hackstone", does not bear upon the mean- ing of the Act of 1661-2. The name disappeared in 1672, and does not again appear until 1763.
It remains only for me to consider critically the statements which I have denounced in the communication signed G. R. T. herein reproduced. By examination it will be seen that G. R. T. has not followed the record. There is no name "Thomas" upon the record. The words "certain place" used by him are not upon the record : and the words "neere about", which are upon the record, he has omitted. Let him follow the record, and his theory that Hackelton's or Hackington's rock was a part of the Dexter lime rocks at Smith- field is at once destroyed. G. R. T.'s reproduction of the second paragraph is worse than was his work with the first paragraph ; and this following is worse than all the rest. He says: "On the 27th
272
VIOLATION OF THE RECORDS BY G. R. T.
January, 1672, Gregory Dexter deeded to his son Stephen four acres ยท at Scockonoxit, reserving the rights of the people of Providence to use lime at Hackleton's rock." He continues : "This all proves that the rock in question was at 'Scockanoxett' (sic) and was part of the Dexter land". This is an utterly false statement. This Dexter deed covers two parcels of land. The first, of four (4), acres at a place (commonly called Socconoxit". The second conveys (80) acres" in the new division"; and it was in this latter parcel, all reference to which G. R. T. has omitted, that the reference to Hackston's rock, not Hackleton's rock, appears. The rights reserved to the people by Dexter were in connection with this latter parcel. G. R. T. says Dexter deeded to Stephen "four acres at Scocknoxit". Dexter's record read "four acres of land at a place commonly called Socconoxit". G. R. T. omitted the words "a place commonly called". Was there any place in the lands now known as the Dexter Lime Rocks, or the lands now known as Smithfield, which was com- monly known in 1672 as Sockanosset? It is the merest sham. There is not a word of truth in G. R. T.'s communication. There is not now nor was there ever any limestone quarried at Sockanosset. The Deed of 1723 cited by G. R. T., even if true, has not the slightest historic bearing upon the question of Hackstons Rock or Hackleton's Rock.
The permission given to Hackleton applied not to an individual. but to every inhabitant of the town.
The name appears first in the original manuscripts as Hackleton ; then twice as Hackston ; and last as Hackington.
I know not at present the time when Gregory Dexter and William Harris obtained titles to the lime rock quarries, now known in Smithfield. But it was after 1661-2, at which time the earliest Hackleton entree appears of record, and before 1660. It was in August of the latter year that Roger Williams wrote to Gov. Winthrop concerning the Dexter Lime Rocks, in which he said : "Sir, I have encouraged Mr. Dexter to send you a limestone and to salute you with this enclosed. He is an intelligent man, a master printer of London, and conscienable (though a Baptist), therefore maligned and traduced by William Harris (a doleful generalist). Sir, if there be any occasion of yourself, or others, to use any of
1 3
.
1
273
ORIGIN OF THE NAME SOCKANOSSET.
this stone, Mr. Dexter hath a lusty team, and lusty sons, and a very willing heart, being a sanguine, cheerful man to do yourself or any (at your word especially ) service upon my honest and cheap con- sideration" (Narr. Club 6, 331). It is clear that Gregory Dexter acquired the ownership of the "Smithfield" quarries, at least, three years before he gave the deed of 1672 to Stephen hereinbefore dis- cussed.
Is it probable that William Harris, or Gregory Dexter, having obtained individual titles to lands outside of Providence, now known as the Smithfield lime quarries, would recognize the Hackston con- cession made years before to hack and burn lime free of anybody ?
If my conclusions rest upon a sound foundation, Hackstons, or Hackleton's, or Hackington's Lime Kiln is the most ancient structure built by English hands now existing in Rhode Island.
SOCKANOSSETT. (10)
Such is the present recognized spelling of this Indian name (Sketch of Proposed Plan, Water Works, October, 1868). The earliest use, or origin of the name, was that of an Indian, Narragan- sett Sachem, who dwelt near the Hill now known by the name at the head of this note. A son of Saconocitts was witness in a case against another Indian for robbery ( Prov. Early Rec. 15. p. 24). The time was 19th June, 1649. Here I note another error in these Early Records. It reads Uanheggen testified that he "went unto Paswonquitte with Saconocitts sonne and there he say all night". The word say is lay in the original manuscript. Paswonquitte was Occupasusatuxet-Spring Greene Farm, when Elizabeth and "Sallie Francis so recently lived. Sixteen years later in 1665 the locality. Scoakequanocsett, appears on the Records in connection with Hackle- ton's Lime Kiln ( Prov. Early Rec. 3, p. 66). In 1672 it again ap- pears in the same connection, written Scoconoxit ( Early Rec. 3. 229). Parsons give the spelling. Saccannosset, applied to a Hill. In 1677 W. Harris brought an action against John Tower for tres- pass, for his pretended purchase of our ( Harris's) land at Paw- tuxet, Toskaunk and Soconaset (Coll. Hist. Soc. Io, p. 207).
274
TOYUSK-TOSKIOUNKE.
TOTAWAMSCUT. (17)
Is the name by which the Indians knew the big rock just by the Falls of Pawtuxet. It doubtless came from the Indian word, Toyusk, which Williams says means "a bridge".
TISMATUCK.
Was probably the name of an Indian village. Parsons gives these various meanings : "A small round swamp," "a Farm in Westerly," "another name for Wecapaug brook," "a boundary line between Westerly and Charlestown." There are the usual number of varieties in the spelling of the name.
TOPAMISSPAUGE.
It was the name of a pond on the lands called Mashanticut, or AAntashantuc (9), now known as Randall's pond ( Prov. Early Rec. 4, 68).
TABAMAPAUGE. (9)
An Indian name of a pond, probably connected by means of "a long mirey brook unto Ashunduck pond ( Prov. Early Rec. 8, 71, 72). See .Antashantuc ; also Mashanticut.
TOSKIOUNKE. (10-17)
It was the Indian name of some fine meadow lands lying near the village of Pontiac. These lands then so useful to the first planters were the objects of a continuous legal and illegal pursuit by the Arnokls, the Carpenters, and Harris men who were the incarnation of insatiate land greed. The lands were apparently on the north of the Pawtuxet river, and came within the Showomet purchase. The Warwick men claimed the right to mow the grass,
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. .
275
AWAMP'S POND, NOW WALLUM POND.
. but the Pawtuxet partners, above named, opposed it ( Book Notes 3, 241) ; also (R. I. Hist. Soc. Pubs., Oct., 1896).
TOUSKOUNKANET.
Was the place where the north line of Showomet crossed the Pawtuxet river (R. I. Hist. Tract, Ist Ser., 17, 104). The name probably came from the Indian word, Toyusk, which Mr. Williams says means "a bridge". Large Rocks were doubtless in the Paw- tuxet river at these places.
TUNCOWODEN.
That hill in Providence known in these later times as Tockwotten. (Holme and Chandler Map, 1741.)
TOWESET.
Is a point of land extending into Mount Hope Bay in Massachu- setts, directly opposite the place where the Kickemuit river enters. It is given as Touiset. Towoset ( Helme and Chandler's Map, 1741) ; also Towoset ( Bailey's Hist. Plymouth, v. 2, p. 234). The word is the same as Coeset, or sometimes written in that form.
VENTER.
See Asapumsick.
WALLUM POND. (1)
This pond, or lake. lies in the extreme northwest corner of Rhode Island. extending northerly into Massachusetts. It was known to the earliest Englishmen there as Awamps' pond. Awumps was a Nipmuc Sachem whom these English found there. The name be- came in time Allums' pond, and at last Wallum. It is one of those corruptions which became so prolific about the close of the 17th and the opening of the 18th centuries.
276
WAWALONAH-A WAYUNKEAGE RIGHT.
WAWALONAH. (4)
Certain lands, belonging to Resolved Waterman, who died about 1719, were described in the inventory as being "at or near a place called Wawalonah, about a mile northeastward from Moswansicutt Pond" ( Prov. Early Rec. 16, 126).
From this name probably came the name Wawaloam, the wife of Miantinomi. See an account of the distinguished Indian Queen under "Aspanansuck".
WESTQUANOID. (7)
It was an undefinable purchase of Indian lands. Mr. Arnold locates it on the south bank of the north branch of the Pawtuxet river ( Hist. R. I. 2. 5). Mr. Trumbull's "Indian Names in Con- necticut" describes it as being the northeast bound mark of the Quinebung country. It is placed on the map in Foster. The name appears in these forms, among a great variety: Wishquodiniack, Wishquatenniog. Westquodniake, Wesconnang.
A WAYUNKEAGE RIGHT.
The sale of a Wayunkcage Right is mentioned in a deed at pages 76, 66 and also in the will which the Town Council made for Nicholas Power after the said Power's death. A Wayunkeage Right was in effect an interest in the undivided lands owned by the "First Proprietors" which lay west of the seven mile line. This tract is clearly defined in the deed given by Stephen Northup to. William Hawkins in 1662 at page 66, Early Records, vol. 1. "all the lands between the river of Pawtucket and the river of Pawtuxet. beginning at the end of 'seaven' miles upon a west line from the hill called 'ffoxes' hill, and so to goe up the streames of the said rivers unto the end of twenty miles from the aforesaid 'ffoxes' hill". Fox's hill was on Fox point, where the Tockwotten House and later the Reform School of our own times stood. The seven mile line ran alongside of what is now the Moswansicut Reservoir, and
277
WEYANITOKE, NOW POINT JUDITH.
the name Wayunkeage was the Indian name of the great hill in Smithfield which we now spell Wionkeage. The crest of this hill is one and a half miles east of the seven mile line.
WAWEPOONSEAG. (6-3)
It is the Indian name of the locality upon which William Black- stone came to live in 1635. The name now is Lonsdale. It is given in the Plymouth Colony Records as one of the boundaries of the "North Purchase" made in 1661 by Thomas Willet for the inhabit- ants of Rehoboth. The record reads: "From Rehoboth ranging upon Patucket river to a place called by the natives Wawepoonseag . where one Blackstone now sojourneth". It was while living here that Mr. Blackstone married Mrs. Sarah Stevenson. They were married by Gov. John Endicott 4th July, 1659. Mrs. Blackstone died there in June. 1673. and two years later Mr. Blackstone died. in May, 1675. (Records of Rehoboth. ) There are few names of early New England settlers concerning which more legendary non- sense has been written than that of William Blackstone. It was begun by Francis Baylies in 1830 ( Mem. Plym. Col. 2, 194), and has been thence copied into all 'subsequent "histories" with no critical examination whatever, but with continuous exaggeration. This is illustrated by Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, when it is told how Blackstone rode into Providence on a trained bull to preach to congregations of two or three persons, throwing golden apples to the children in the "audience". The story of the burning of his house by the Indians a few days after his death is fiction. No such record can be found on the Plymouth records, which are continuously cited in support of the story. The only support exists in Mass. Hist. Soc. Col., 2d Ser., 10, 172, but this is not authenticated and only refers to "moveables" personal property stolen, but not burned.
WEYANITOKE.
(27)
This name is given in the Deed given by Tumtockowe, in 1659, to
278
WANASQUATUCKOUT OR WIONKEAKE RIVER.
the Atherton Partners of "point Judea called by us We-nan-na-toke". In this same Deed the naine again appears as "Weyanitoke on point Juda neck". These spellings follow the original records now exist- ing. This Deed was one of the tricks of the Atherton Partners to overthrow the titles obtained by the Pettaquamscut purchases. Tumtokow was an Indian of no consequence nor control. His Deed was never recognized. This point of land is now well known as Point Judith. The evolution of the name is as follows: In 1659 it was called by the Atherton Partners Juda neck ; this was quickly changed to Point Judea. In 1662 it was Point Jude. In 1680 it became Point Judith, and so it has since remained. The name was given by some Boston churchmen who came here to deprive by a trick some other Boston buyers of these lands. These . men took the name from the Bible, in which it appears as a "ter- ritorial division, or boundary, or land mark"; and these religious land grabbers drew upon the Bible for the name which they affixed to the southeastern boundary of their pretended purchase from Tumtockowe.
WANASQUATUCKOUT. (9)
This name is one of the first four Indian names of localities around Providence which were ,co-eval with the planting of the town. The three others were Mooshausuck, Notaquonkanett, and Mashapauge. The earliest mention of these names is the original Deed of the purchase by Roger Williams from the Sachems, which was written by Williams in 1638. These names are there spelled as herein written. The name at the head of this article is there spoken of as being one of the "two fresh rivers" upon which Wil- liams's lands from the Indians were situated. In 1666 Williams wrote, or some one else wrote, a Deed in which the word was spelled W'anasquatuckett, and applied to a river. It is not probable that the Indians gave this name to the river which we now know by the name; certainly for its entire length. Pawtucket was an Indian name of a locality, not of the entire stream; so, too, with Pawtuxet it was a locality, and not an entire stream: so, too, it
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