USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Westerly > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 13
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Charlestown > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 13
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Hopkinton > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 13
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Richmond > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 13
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" Voted, That the Nine Pounder be kept at Col. James Noyes' Neck."
Silas Greenman sent to Providence for ammunition, and $11 allowed for his services.
" Voted, That the deputies to the General Assembly shall receive nine shillings and six pence per day till August next.
" Voted, That the families of soldiers serving in the cause of their coun- try shall be cared for by the Town Council during their absence."
A committee was also appointed at this meeting to look after un- patriotic people engaged in speculating and raising prices contrary to the act provided.
" June 3, 1777 .- Col. James Babcock chosen Captain of the Train of Artillery ; Peleg Pendleton, Lieut. of sd Train." Nathan Babcock was appointed to secure materials for an " Ammunition Cart."
Aug. 26, 1777. - Captain Joseph Pendleton was engaged as a recruiting officer in the town "to enlist soldiers in the Continental Service."
Dec. 2, 1777. - A request was made of the General Assembly to replace the "guns and other implements lost by the Disaster the Boats met with in oversetting at Point Judith." Eight men were lost in this disaster.
Jan. 30, 1778. - Capt. Joseph Pendleton was appointed to " col- lect the stockings that are still deficient to clothe the soldiers."
Aug. 25, 1778. - The record speaks of " the freemen being chiefly called away in the Expedition against Rhode Island."
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Oct. 11, 1779. - The town adopted the schedule of prices of arti- cles arranged at a " Convention held at East Greenwich Sept. 27th."
July 7, 1780. - The town voted " Three Gallons of Rum to treat the soldiers enlisted and to encourage those that have a mind to enlist."
Jan. 16, 1781. - It was voted that certain officers should arrest all persons who were "disaffected & inimical to the Liberties & Privileges of the United States."
Jan. 25, 1781. - Mention is made of " the Alarming Circumstance of the Trade carried on with the Enemy."
Sept. 25, 1781. - A town meeting was held " to raise Beef for the Support of the Army, or raise means to purchase the same, &c."
In 1781, several sick persons were "set on shore in this town from a Cartel Sloop from New York."
March 8, 1782. - The town voted a "Bounty of Thirty Silver Dollars to each soldier enlisting to fill the Town's Quota."
March 21, 1782. - Thomas Noyes was appointed to forward " Blankets & Stockings " for the use of the army.
The records for February, 1782, contain the copy of a discharge, written by General Washington, for Jacob Briggs, who had lost "an arm," and was also suffering from disease.
Not only did the brave-hearted women of that day turn their earnest hands to the distaff, loom, and needle, but they rose up to do all home duties. They conducted the dairy; they managed horses, cattle, and flocks ; they even grasped the plow and the sickle. Dur- ing one season, as nearly all the men were absent, watching the coast, besieging the enemy at Newport, marching to distant fields of action, the women organized themselves into a band to gather in the harvests. They would complete the work of one farm, and then pass to another. In Hopkinton, in one district, there was scarcely a man save the aged fathers remaining to assist these heroines. The faith and works of such women deserve a lasting grateful record.
Watch Hill was the point of lookout. This promontory was so named from a "watch tower" and " signal station " built there, on Bear Hill, during the old French war in 17 -. The old signal was fire and smoke, - smoke by day, and fire by night. This watch tower was renewed in the Revolution by " the guard " of the coast, looking out for British ships and barges. Napatree Point (Naps and Tree Point) was then covered with thick woods, and offered an opportunity for the enemy to land and conceal a force. Indeed, it is reported that the neck of land leading to the Naps was so broad that it contained a swamp and pond that served as a haunt for foxes. The roots of the ancient trees, now far from the shore, are frequently . torn up by the waves in heavy gales. This is also true of the shore on the east side of Watch ITill.
A mournful incident, involving irreparable losses to several
n
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worthy families, occurred during the Revolution, the full particulars of which, as they failed to be printed at the time, however deeply they were written on many hearts, have, with the departure of that generation, almost passed from our reach. We greatly regret that we cannot recover all the names ..
In 1777, three boats, each containing seven men, were fitted out in Westerly to join Sullivan's expedition. In passing Point Judith in the night, two of the boats were upset by the heavy sea swells, and of the fourteen men thrown into the ocean, eight perished. We give the names so far as obtained : William Babcock, Joseph Hall, Nahum Babcock, Zebulon Pendleton, - Babcock, Isaac Pendle- ton, - Bigelow, -
A story of this period is told of a black man of great stature and strength, who lived near Watch Hill, and was known by the name of Vester. At low water he was accustomed to swim to the ledge (now the Spindle) beyond Watch Hill, and fish till driven off by the flood tide. He was captured by a party of British foragers, and taken to Fisher's Island, where he was treated as a slave and driven to heavy tasks. He could lift a tierce of molasses, or carry seven bushels of salt. Displeased with his servile labors, and incapable of brooking captivity, he determined upon his escape. Improving the season of ebb tide, and concealed by the shades of evening, he plunged into the Sound, swam out into the current, and, resting as a floater, was borne by the tide opposite Watch Hill, when, resuming his great power as a swimmer, he safely reached the shore, and so returned to his home. It is also told of Vester that once, between sunrise and sunset, he threw the trees and cut and laid up sixteen cords of wood. We give the story as we heard it.
The town's quota of "tow cloth " for the Continental troops in 1782, was " one hundred and twenty-five yards."
Dr. Christopher Avery Babcock was an eminent surgeon in the Revolutionary army. He was present at the Danbury fight, wherein the gallant Wooster lost his life. He finally died of small-pox in Tiverton, R. I., Nov. 2, 1780. He married Mary Benedict, of Dan- bury, Conn., and left an infant son, afterwards Major William Bab- .cock, of New Haven, Conn., who was killed at the head of his battalion, on the New Haven Green, by a fall from his horse. To him was presented a gold medal, as a token of respect, for the ser- vices of his father, by the citizens of Danbury. Hon. James F. Bab- cock, of New Haven, is his son.
During the Revolution, Capt. Joseph Dodge, of this town, owned and commanded a vessel named the "Lucretia." In his patriotic zeal, he transformed his vessel into a privateer. Securing a suitable armament, and accepting Benjamin Pendleton as lieutenant, and Smith Murphy as gunner, he was ready to put to sea, but was taken
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sick. No time could be lost. Lieutenant Pendleton accepted the command, and the " Lucretia " turned her prow to the ocean. Near Block Island she fell in with an English privateer, the " Huffa," that had seriously annoyed our coast. The chase closed by an engage- ment, short but decisive. The " Lucretia " captured the " Huffa," and brought her into Stonington. This put a feather in the cap of Lientenant Pendleton.
Dr. Joshua Babcock, already mentioned as a major-general of militia, was also a member of the State's council of war. Ilis abil- ities and character gave him great prominence. Benjamin Franklin, while postmaster-general, in his official tours through the country, made Mr. Babcock's house his resting-place ; and it is stated that he attached lightning rods to the doctor's residence. He established the first post-office in town in 1776, and appointed Mr. Babcock post- master. The receipts of the office for this year were one pound, three shillings, and eight pence. Prior to the Revolution, the nearest post- office was at New London, Conn.
The large and elegant mansion of Doctor Babcock is still stand- ing, at present owned and occupied by the widow of Orlando Smith, Esq. Even now the edifice is admired for its strength and beauty. The Dutch tiles around the fire-places, the elaborate cupboards and ceilings, the carved and costly staircase, the secret closets, and the deep wine-cellar, attract the attention of visitors.
Dr. Joshua Babcock was enrolled among the Baptists. As such, he was elected one of the first corporators of Brown University in 1764, and was one of the Board of Fellows in 1770, and is recorded in the History of the University as a Seventh Day Baptist.
Another conspicuous character was Col. Harry Babcock, who served in the Continental army, and also served effectively in the previous wars. He was liberally educated, accomplished in man- ners, and possessed unusual charms of personal presence. During his visit in England, when introduced to the Queen, instead of follow- ing the custom of persons of his rank in kissing her hand, he boldly impressed the salutation upon her cheek, remarking that such was the " mark of politeness in America." Unfortunately, during the war, . Col. Babcock gave "incontestable proofs of insanity," and was con- sequently retired from the service.
Relative to these eminent witnesses of Westerly, we subjoin a memorial paper from the pen of Major Paul Babcock, son of Colonel Harry, and grandson of Doctor Joshua.
" Dr. Joshua Babcock was born in Westerly, in the year 1707. He was graduated at Yale College, and soon after commenced the study of physic and surgery in Boston, and afterwards went to Eng- land to complete his education. 'He settled in his native town, where he soon obtained an extensive practice. He soon after opened
WESTERLY, R. I. THE OLD BABCOCK HOUSE,
1
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as extensive a retail country store as any between New York and Boston. He was likewise much in public business. As chief-justice of the Supreme Court of the State, he pronounced the sentence of death on the notorious Thomas Carter, for the murder of Jackson. Doctor Babcock had two half-brothers and three sons, which were all graduated at Yale College." He died April 1, 1783. " His eld- est son, Col. Harry Babcock, was born April 26, 1736. Ile entered college at the age of twelve, and took his degree at sixteen, at the head of his class. At the age of eighteen (1754) he was appointed captain of a company, composing one of a regiment raised in this colony, and marched to Albany, from thence to Lake George, and joined the army in the campaign of 1756, to dislodge the French from Canada. Sir William Johnson, commander-in-chief, detached four hundred men, under Colonel Williams, to reconnoitre. Captain Babcock, with sixty men, constituted a part of the corps. They were attacked by the enemy, commanded by Baron D'Eskau, and defeated. Colonel Williams and Captain Babcock had nineteen men killed and wounded. Baron D'Eskau was taken prisoner. Next 'year Captain Babcock was promoted major ; at twenty-one, was pro- moted to a lieutenant-colonel; at twenty-two, he commanded the Rhode Island Regiment, consisting of 1,000 men ; and in July, 1758, marched 500 of his men with the British army against Ticonderoga. He had 110 men killed and wounded, and was wounded himself by a musket ball in the knee. In this attack, the British and Provin- cial army had 1,940 men killed and wounded. The next year he helped to take the fort under General Amherst, without the loss of a man. He had then served five campaigns in the old French war with great reputation. About the age of twenty-five, Colonel Babcock spent a year in England, chiefly in London, where he was treated with as great respect by the nobility and gentry as any other Amer- ican of his time. Soon after his return, he married and settled in Stonington, Conn., and commenced the practice of the law. When the Revolution commenced, he was a stanch Whig; and in 1776 he was appointed by the Legislature commander of the forces at New- port. While commander at this time, he had one opportunity to display his courage. On an open beach, with an eighteen-pounder, he drove off the British man-of-war ' Rose,' by his own firing. He had practised as an engineer at Woolwich, when in England. He was so severely affected by a fit of sickness in the winter following, that he never entirely recovered. Colonel Babcock was a man of fine person, accomplished manners, commanding voice, and an elo- quent speaker."
Of his church relations, we have found the following paper, which we have copied from the records of the first Ecclesiastical Society in Stonington, Conn., in which town Colonel Babcock then resided.
.
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"BOSTON, May 27th, 1788.
incertay to all whom it may concern, that the following is
the Church book belonging to the first Baptist Church in
is The Boston) October 14th, 1751. Henry Babcock of Westerly, Rhode
and i siony, son of Joshua Babcock, Esq., was baptized and received into
the church, being between 17 and 18 (15 and 16) years of age.
"SAMUEL STILLMAN,
Pastor of said Church.
"The above Certificate is recorded October 6th 1788, pr.
JOIN COTTON ROSSETER, Society Clerk.
Of Rev. Luke Babcock, another son of Dr. Joshua Babcock, we copy a brief account from the New Haven Palladium.
"He graduated at Yale College, and married Grace Isaacs, a cousin of Judge Isaacs, of New Haven. While Luke's brother Harry was an ardent Whig, Lnke himself was as ardent a supporter of the King and of the Estab- lished Church, whose minister he was. He was associated with the Rev. Mr. Seabury, afterwards Bishop Seabury, the first Episcopal Bishop of Connec- ticut. Their station was in Westchester, New York, adjoining the Con- necticut line. Their loyalty to Great Britain was so offensive to the Whigs of Connecticut that a party went from Hartford and New Haven to seize them. The Rev. Mr. Seabury was brought a prisoner to New Haven, but was liberated by Governor Trumbull. On the retreat of the American army from Long Island, Mr. Seabury placed himself within the British lines, and furnished General Clinton with maps and plans of the vicinity of Westches- ter. His friend and associate, the Rev. Luke Babcock, was carried to Hartford, and there imprisoned. Why Governor Trumbull did not also lib- erate him does not appear. He was kept from October, 1776, to the follow- ing February. His health giving way, he was liberated under orders to remove within the British lines. He reached home (Philipsburg, N. Y.) in a raging fever, and died in a few days after. A fine portrait of him is now (1857) in possession of one of his descendants in New York City, unless it has met with some misfortune as sad as that which has befallen his brother Harry's at Mr. Ward's house in Saybrook."
Moved by patriot zeal, the General Assembly of Rhode Island, in 1781, "to obliterate, as far as may be, every trace and idea of that government which threatened our destruction," enacted " that the name of King's County shall forever hereafter cease, and that, in perpetual and grateful remembrance of the eminent and most distinguished services and heroic actions of the illustrious commander-in-chief of the forces of the United States of America, the said county shall hereafter be known by the name and style of Washington."
After seven long years, - or, more properly, eight years, - the great struggle was at last successful, and the dove of peace spread her wings over a new-born republic.
It seems hardly proper to close our allusions to the Revolution without some glances at the inner life of the people, during the period of their trials, sacrifices, and heroisms. The imagination may
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depict somewhat of the labors, self-denials, and exciting scenes; but the pen is too feeble to portray even these imperfect sketches of the fancy. Men can never realize scenes that they have not actually experienced. One may read the most accurate and graphic account of an earthquake or a conflagration, yet he will but dimly apprehend the real scene. The land was wrapped in the thick and rolling clouds of war. A few weak colonies were contending with the leading empire of the earth. Alarms filled the homes of our fathers by day and by night. Hostile fleets hovered on the coast, and the roar of their guns reverberated over the hills. Plundering and assaulting parties visited the shore. Armies were hurried to and fro to meet the enemy. Guarding artillery was planted upon the ex- posed points. Two-six-pounders opened their black and fiery lips on Watch Hill. Fathers, husbands, and brothers were away at New- port, or Boston, or Quebec, or Trenton, or Yorktown, to meet the shot and bayonets of the foe. Scores of these fell by disease or wounds received in battle, and were buried with their comrades of the other colonies. The sad intelligence of the fall of brave men was brought by the post-riders. Tears and lamentations broke forth in many a dwelling, from sister and mother and wife and children. But the lofty love of right, trne devotion to the great principles of liberty, and a regard for the interests of coming generations, nerved the bleeding bosoms to endure the sacrifices. Faith rose above suf- ferings, and, remembering that the vicarious principle has run through all human history, and is even a glorious feature in the gov- ernment of God, took heart to endure to the end, sometimes not dimly seeing the happy day of freedom that finally came to bless the continent. Verily, Heaven gave to our fathers and mothers a kind of inspiration. Their lives were given for the world's good. The blood of the Revolutionary dead gave an unspeakable value to our land, being the price of the principles woven into our government. In our present freedom, wealth, and prosperity, we cannot forget the self-denials, the toils, the perils, the tears, the martyrdoms whereby all was purchased. And never may the scenes of the Rey- olution perish, - the alarm, the call to arms, the hurried assembly, the firm resolve, the enlistment ; the wheel, the shuttle, the needle, the midnight lamp, the moistened eyes of heroic women ; the sword, the bayonet, the march, the bivouac, the roll of the drum, the bat- tle, the wounds, the groans of dying men, - the heroic sacrifices of a noble generation, - men doing and daring unto death, that their children and their children's children might be free and prospered. Even the graves of such a generation hallow our land, and are a perpetual inspiration to the people.
The American Revolution was the birth of an idea, the child of a principle, as all great and lasting events must be. Whoever would understand the Revolution must first understand the idea that gave
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it origin and power. The underlying principle was that representa- tion ought to accompany taxation. The burden of taxes must have the check and the safeguard of assured representation. This was a fruit, indeed, of old English law, and was supported by man's moral sense. Christianity first gave the idea to the world, and finally wrought it into a national force. Around this principle mainly the Revolution rallied its forces.
A word should be said of Westerly's losses through the paper money of the eighteenth century.
In society, as in nature, action and reaction are equal. The mon- etary action in the Revolution of issuing bills of credit beyond the ability of the country to redeem them, resulted in disastrous repudi- ation. The faith of theorists in Continental paper and State scrip could not reverse the established law of the world, that money is real only when it represents accumulated labor. To utter bills on any other basis, though necessitated by the exigencies of war, is ever a perilous expedient. Multitudes of private and public losses have illustrated the folly of mortgaging the future when it is not given to man to look into futurity. It is more than presumption, it is a pos- itive moral obliquity for one generation to contract a debt for another to discharge. The disturbances of business, and the repin- ings and heartburnings following the depreciation of the bills issued in the throes of the Revolutionary struggle, rightly studied, are an admonition against the folly of an inflated currency.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE WILCOX CHURCH.
As one of the results of the new religious life poured into the town by the Great Revival, another church, kindred to the Indian Church and the " Hill Church," was organized in the eastern portion of the town in 1765. According to its records, it was designated as the " Third Church of Christ in Westerly." It was always popu- larly known, however, as the " Wilcox Church," from the name of its principal pastors. It was composed of Separatists from the Pres- byterian and Sabbatarian churches, with a few Baptists proper. The constituent members were : Isaiah Wilcox, Elisha Sisson, David Wilcox, Valentine Wilcox, James Babcock, Mary Lewis, and Ans- tris Dunbar.
It was recognized by a council of New Light churches in Au- gust, 1770, and was properly a New Light body. At first the meet- ings were conducted by the brethren, and for years were held in pri- vate houses, chiefly at the residence of Isaiah Wilcox. The large meeting-house, lately standing in a dilapidated state, on the north side of the post-road, was raised July 16, 1786. The lot occupied by the house was given to the church by Nathan Bliven. The body then numbered 177 members.
Here again we find diverse ecclesiastical views attempting a coali- tion. In accommodation to the Sabbatarian Separatists, many meet- ings were held on Saturday. It is stated that for a time the Sabba- tarian element well-nigh controlled the body. As thus the organiza- tion sanctioned two Sabbaths, two kinds of baptism, and lax commu- nion, it never knew the peace of perfect union, or the strength of homogeneousness ; though it illustrated the important fact that the spirit of true religion can endure great ecclesiastical imperfections and burdens.
The church expressed their Evangelical views and their indorse- ment of the Great Awakening at the opening of their records, in the following language : "God, who is boundless in love, free in mercy, and rich in his grace, towards poor fallen sinners, for the sake of his beloved Son, hath been pleased, in these last days, to remember a
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number of our souls in mercy, in this part of the land, by sending his convicting and converting grace into our hearts, and has brought us out of nature's darkness into his marvellous light, and hath won us over to himself, by the compelling power of gospel grace, and united our hearts together in gospel covenant to serve God the remainder of our lives."
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Isaiah Wilcox, who was baptized in February, 1766, and ordained Feb. 14, 1771. He was a man of full habit, broad features, but fair face, and weighed about three hundred pounds. Possessing a sonorous voice and excellent powers of song, he made a strong and happy impression. He was a good man, an able preacher, and devoted to his work. Deservedly he enjoyed a wide and precious reputation. Under his ministry, in 1785, occurred a great reformation, which continued for nearly three years, and during which, more than two hundred persons were added to the church. The work was remarkably powerful in 1786. The honored pastor died of small-pox, incurred by a compassionate visit to a suffering townsman, March 3, 1793, at the age of fifty-five years.
This church was also a member of the Groton Union Conference, which it sometimes entertained. The first deacon of the church was Stephen Wilcox, ordained in July, 1771. Another revival was ex- perienced in 1794, and sixty-two were received by baptism. Of Rev. Josiah Wilcox of this town, mentioned by Backus in 1784, we find no definite record ; he was probably an assistant elder.
The successor to Isaiah was Rev. Asa Wilcox, ordained Feb. 18, 1802, though in fact he had been a leader and preacher for at least four years preceding his ordination.
Since the views and practices of some of the early churches of our country have often been misrepresented, especially in relation to the duties of churches and the support of the ministry, as they repudiated coercion and held to the voluntary principle, we may here give a copy of a paper, found on the church records, presented by Asa Wilcox, and approved by the church, Jan. 1, 1798.
"He proceeded to state the Constitution and practice of Churches and Ministers in the Standing Order (State Churches), in which their ministers necessarily grew rich and popular, and frequently at the expense of the daily necessaries of the poor in the church and society. And our Baptist brethren, in order to avoid this error, generally neglected their ministers to that degree that they frequently are necessitated to involve themselves in worldly business to supply their family wants, as greatly to hinder their usefulness in Zion.
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