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 20
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 20
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 20
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 20
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THE . RED SCHOOL-HOUSE.
not pretend to divine. He prayed for the superintendent, teachers, and scholars, engaged in that Sunday school, but not for the promotion of Sab- bath schools.
"This school was continued for a season, but was finally suspended. After the Union Meeting-house was dedicated, it was revived.
"When the first school was started, a large part of the people of the place kept the seventh day of the week as a Sabbath; more than half of the mercantile stores and workshops were in full operation on the Sabbath."
It should be added that Mr. Sheffield had the honor of being one of the teachers in the school whose origin he so graphically describes.
In giving this school the name of being the first instituted in the town, Mr. Sheffield had not learned of the school organized in the middle of the last century by the Presbyterian church, whose his- tory appears in a previous chapter.
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CHAPTER XXX.
THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE.
As the village of Westerly and Pawcatuck put on larger propor- tions, a necessity was felt for a meeting-house. The inhabitants being of different religious denominations in their preferences, only a comprehensive movement was practicable. It is reported that the majority were of Sabbatarian tendencies, but the time had not come for a church of this faith to maintain itself. A plan, therefore, was set on foot, which resulted in the erection of what is known as the Union House, lately standing on the knoll in the centre of the vil- lage.
Of the origin of this house, a worthy friend writes as follows : " I would not detract from the merits of others, who labored to erect that house of worship, but it seems to me there was one modest young man teaching a select school in Westerly at that time, whose name and exertions in this connection should not be forgotten. I refer to Charles P. Otis, afterwards a distinguished professor and teacher in Bacon Academy, Colchester, Conn. He was a Congrega- tionalist, and at his death, Jan. 7, 1837, was a deacon of that faith."
Mr. Otis was born April 22, 1790. On his father's farm till seven- teen years of age, he carried books in his pockets into the field, and always had one within reach at the house, - a habit that character- ized him through life. Prior to his services in Westerly he was a teacher in Montville, Conn. He left Westerly in 1824 to pursue his studies in Colchester and in Williams College, from which he was called to act as principal of Bacon Academy from 1826 till his death. He received the degree of A. B. from Williams College, and the honorary degree of A. M. from Yale College in 1829. In industry, method, zeal, scholarship, purity, and piety, he was an uncommon man. Dying before he had reached his forty-seventh year, he was greatly mourned. His monument stands in the cemetery in Col- chester. .
The village of Westerly owes not a little to his influence, and several of the first business men of Westerly were trained under this accomplished teacher. Mr. Otis was said to have originated the plan, and by personal solicitation to have secured the funds for
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THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE.
- erecting the Union House, exertions of which he always spoke with satisfaction.
The plan contemplated the accommodation of all Christian denominations, as the citizens might be able to secure preaching. The house was built in 1822, the architect being Mr. Benjamin Palmer. It was the property of stockholders who held it by charter under certain stipulated regulations. A fund was also raised for the maintenance of worship. William Woodbridge, Esq., of Ston- ington, gave $400 on condition that the citizens should raise an equal amount, which condition was met. To this was added $2,800 real- ized by a chartered lottery scheme. Thus the fund rose to $3,600. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. David Austin, a Congregational clergyman of Connecticut, a man of true piety and great eloquence, but unfortunate, in after years, in his views of prophecy.
Here rose the first church steeple, and here rung out the first church bell, in this town. Here also was gathered the first organized choir of singers, under the leadership of Mr. George W. Gavitt. They officiated in the dedication of the house, and Mr. Gavitt re- mained the choir leader more than twelve years. Here likewise the first instrumental music in worship was introduced, though not with- out some opposition of sentiment. After a bass-viol had, not with- out struggles, found its way into the gallery on one occasion, Mr. Ebenezer Brown, who for the time was conducting the worship, rose and gravely introduced the services as follows : " We will fiddle and sing the 139th Psalm." And the spirit of the choir, on the occasion, was illustrated in their leader, who, turning to the bass violinist, said, " Now put in; bear on all you know."
Mr. Brown was always strongly opposed to shams and hollow ceremonies. Against all such things he hurled the heavy shafts of irony and displeasure. In him were all the elements of a genuine iconoclast. He sometimes traveled abroad, especially in the State of New York, where he at times exercised his ministry. Returning from one of these tours, in which he had preached often in various churches, and had been grieved at the modern innovations that pre- vailed, and more particularly on account of the use of stringed instruments among choirs, he was asked in reference to the state of religion in the regions he had visited. He sternly replied, " It is all catgut and resin religion." He certainly belonged to the class of independent men.
For some years after the house was opened, except when some fa- mous minister officiated, the congregations averaged less than fifty per- sons ; the population of the village was still small. At one time the proprietors of the house invited and urged the " Hill Church " to leave the hill-top and occupy this house, - a golden opportunity for that church, and most unwisely neglected.
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WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
This house has been a cradle, where each Christian denomination now existing in the place, except the Christian Church and the Cath- olic Church, nurtured their sentiments and increased their numbers till they were able to stand alone.
During the winter of 1842-3, occurred the notable religious inter- est commonly spoken of as "the Scott revival," as the Rev. James L. Scott, then a Sabbatarian preacher, was the principal speaker. The interest deeply affected all the churches and greatly added to their numbers. The banks of the river were often visited for bap- tismal occasions. Even the excellent Episcopal minister, Rev. Wil- liam H. Newman, practiced immersion, and in this manner received . a large number of adults to his communion. Many people flocked from the adjacent towns to share in the great and gracious spirit that prevailed.
Not calm or sacred, however, have been all the hours of the his- tory of this house. The debates that have here cccurred, - on the election of trustees, the methods of administration, the distribution of the income, the persons allowed to hold services, the proportion- ing of time to denominations, the sufferance of traveling speakers and lecturers, the opening of the doors to secular affairs, - could they have been written, would have been very voluminous and amus- ing, rivaling anything of the sort to be found in a village of this magnitude, and furnishing an instructive commentary on the feasi- bility and wisdom of those compromises that are too often dignified and glossed by the name of Christian unionism. It is an open ques- tion whether this edifice proved a union or a disunion house.
The secretary and treasurer for the stockholders of this house. from the time of its erection till 1862, was Mr. Lyndon Taylor. His successor was Mr. Edwin Babcock, who held the office until 1872, when the building and site were sold to the town of Westerly, the funds divided up, and the corporation ceased to exist. In 1874, upon the site of the Union Meeting-house, the town erected a town building, two stories in height, with a basement. The basement is used for a station-house and police head-quarters; the first floor, for a town clerk's office and council chamber ; and the second floor, for a town hall. An engraving of this fine building is here given.
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THE NEW TOWN BUILDING, WESTERLY, R. I.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CHURCHES IN TOWNS SET OFF.
THE higher life of a people unfolds from their hearts; and their hearts are manifested by their religion. This is the sufficient reason for sketching the rise and progress of churches.
As Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton were originally with- in the limits of Westerly, and we have been obliged to notice to some extent their development as arising from and modifying the life of Westerly, it is here proper that at least a passing notice should be given of other churches in these townships than those already mentioned.
CHURCHES IN RICHMOND.
The Six Principle Baptist Church now in Richmond, according to the "earliest record attainable," commenced in 1723; "yet doubtless it had a much earlier origin." Daniel Averill was or- dained by the body, May 25, 1732. The records "appear to be missing from 1735 to 1770, when John Pendleton was chosen to the pastorate. He was followed by Rev. Henry Joslin, who was ordained Aug. 14, 1788. Mr. Joslin was succeeded by Rev. Joseph James, ordained Sept. 17, 1810. Latterly this body has been known as the · Tillinghast Church," since its three last pastors have been Rev. Par- don Tillinghast, and his son, Rev. Thomas Tillinghast, and his grandson (son of Thomas), Rev. Gilbert Tillinghast, now serving. A branch of this church exists in Charlestown. The ministers have also held occasional meetings in the eastern and southern parts of Westerly, and have counted in their flock some of Westerly's hon- orable citizens, such as Dea. Thomas B. Kenyon and Capt. Palmer HIall, now on the church roll. The Six Principle Baptists, taking their name from the Six Principles mentioned in Heb. vi. 1, 2, differ from the regular Baptists chiefly in their practice of laying on of hands to those who are received to membership.
A regular Baptist church, composed of members chiefly residing in South Kingstown, was founded in 1774, and shortly after chose its location in Richmond. Over this body Rev. Benjamin Barber was ordained in 1793.
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WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
Another regular Baptist Church, now known as the "Second Richmond Church," was embodied, over which Rev. Charles Boss was ordained in June, 1781. A few years since, this body, leaving their old location, erected a new house east of Shannock Mills, on the northern border of the town of Charlestown. A recent pastor of this body was Rev. J. H. Sherwin, who died in 1866. He had planned and opened the Wilberforce Collegiate Institute at Carolina Mills, a school designed to educate colored teachers and preachers. The school expired with its founder. The present pastor is Rev. C. H. Weaver. A sort of separate Sabbatarian Church was organized at Woodville, in Richmond, in 1843, through the efforts of Rev. John Green, an effective evangelist. The body is now in harmony with the other Seventh Day Baptists.
We have before recorded the planting and decline of the Quaker meeting.
CHURCHES IN CHARLESTOWN.
In a previous chapter we mentioned the rise and fall of an Episco- pal interest in this town. In another chapter we sketched the his- tory of the Indian church. We have also stated that a Branch of a Six Principle church is here maintained ; they have no meeting- house, however. In a preceding paragraph of this chapter we men- tioned that the meeting-house of the "Second Richmond Church " stands within this town's boundary, on its northern angle.
A Free Will Baptist church was organized at Carolina Mills near 1840, with a meeting-house standing between Carolina Mills and Shannock Mills, in Charlestown. After an oscillating history, it was reorganized in 1866. The meeting-house was moved nearer to Caro- lina Mills, enlarged, and much improved.
In 1839, a regular Baptist church was gathered in the southern part of the town, through the labors of Rev. John H. Baker. The meeting-house stands on the north side of the post-road, and nearly midway the breadth of the town. One of the most successful min- isters of this church, after its efficient founder, was Rev. Joseph P. Brown. After being without a pastor for several years, the church settled Rev. Seth Ewer. Since his death they have had no settled preacher, but are served by Mr. William A. Burdick.
CHURCHES IN HOPKINTON.
A record of the First Seventh Day Baptist Church in this town was given in Chapter VIII. In a subsequent chapter some account was given of the New Light organizations that rose and fell. The Quaker meetings were sketched in Chapter XVII. In another chap- ter some record was given of the Shakers and the Beldenites. We may now mention at least the origin of later interests.
While it appears that the regular Baptists, of whom there have always been some in this town, held meetings during the last part of
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CHURCHES IN TOWNS SET OFF.
the last century and the first of the present, they yet failed to com- plete a regular and permanent organization till 1834, when they planted a church in Hopkinton City. Among the first ministers were Rev. Levi Walker, Rev. Amos R. Wells, Rev. Thomas V. Wells.
Also in 1834, it being a season of general revival, a Seventh Day Baptist church was organized; this had previously been a sort of branch of the First Sabbatarian church.
A third Sabbatarian church was embodied at Rockville in 1825. Here an out-station had long been maintained by the parent body.
A second regular Baptist church was gathered at Brand's Iron Works, in 1841, under the ministry of Rev. David Avery.
The mother of the Sabbatarian churches now has its meeting- house between the villages of Potter Hill and Ashaway.
A full history of these churches would properly belong to the towns in which they are found.
CHAPTER XXXII.
LATER CHURCHES IN THE TOWN.
HAVING already sketched something of the growth of the vil- lages of Westerly and Pawcatuck (in substance one place), and noticed the Red School-house - a kind of sanctuary - and the Union Meeting-house, it remains to state something of the existing churches.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHII.
" In 1833, the Rev. Erastus De Wolf, as a missionary of the Rhode Island Convocation, preached at Westerly about seven months." No church, however, was embodied at this time. In the year fol- lowing, Rev. John A. Clark, another missionary of the convocation, opened meetings and was instrumental in organizing the present Episcopal Church. It dates from Nov. 24, 1834. The first pastor of this body was Rev. James Pratt.
In 1835 a church was erected and consecrated as Christ's Church ; it cost about six thousand dollars. This church was burned in 1872, and a new church was erected on the same site at a cost of about $20,000.
In 1836 a "parsonage house was built at the cost of $2,000." Mr. Pratt officiated till Dec. 26, 1839. Rev. William HI. Newman became rector in 1841, and remained till 1844, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Thomas H. Vail, now bishop of Kansas. Mr. Vail was followed by Rev. Arthur Mason ; he was followed by the Rev. John P. Hubbard, and he by the present rector, the Rev. D. R. Brewer.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This body, with but seventeen constituent members, was organ- ized Sept. 16, 1835; on which day their first pastor, Rev. John Waterman, received ordination. Ill health compelled Mr. Water- man to resign in 1836, and he died Nov. 26, 1837. His successor was Rev. Albert Palmer, who officiated till 1843, and was succeeded by Rev. Edward T. Hiscox. A meeting-house, costing about four thousand dollars, was erected in 1845. Mr. Hiscox resigned in 1847,
199
LATER CHURCHES IN THE TOWN.
1
and was followed by Rev. Frederic Denison, whose first term of service closed Nov. 15, 1854. The parsonage, costing $2,000, was built in 1852. The ministers since 1854 have been, Rev. William Stowe, Rev. William Fitz, Rev. Nehemiah Bennett, Mr. Fitz for a second term, Mr. Denison for a second term, Mr. James Paterson, Mr. Thomas G. Wright, and Mr. John Evans.
Besides the pastors, the following persons received into the church have become Baptist ministers: William C. Walker, Orrin T. Walker, Nicholas V. Stedman, Nicholas H. Matteson, William Sturgeon, Benjamin A. Greene.
The whole number received into the church from its origin has been more than a thousand.
The Calvary Baptist church was organized in 1870, with a mem- bership of 42. They have a house of worship, erected in 1875, at an expense of $18,000. The pastors have been, Rev. E. F. Strick- land, Rev. James Paterson, and Rev. Hugh O. Pentacost.
SABBATARIAN CHURCH.
The Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist church, located in Westerly, was organized in 1840, under the labors of Rev. Alexander Campbell, who became the first pastor. The meeting-house for this body was erected in 1848. A parsonage was purchased in 1865. The succes- sors to Mr. Campbell have been, Rev. Isaac More, Rev. Alfred B. Burdick, Rev. E. H. Lewis, Rev. Nathan Wardner, and Rev. George E. Tomlinson.
We ought also here to record the origin of the Westerly Seventh Day Baptist church in the southeastern part of the town. This was gathered under the labors of Rev. Mr. Campbell in 1837, and was composed in part of elements once associated with the "Wilcox Church." The pastors have been Rev. Jacob Ayers and Rev. Chris- topher C. Stillman. The meeting-house was erected in 1839.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.
The Congregational church, now removed to the Connecticut side of the river, but first organized in this town, dates from Feb. 14, . 1843. This church has been supplied by Rev. Samuel B. Goodenow and Revs. Moore, Brown, and Whitemore. Rev. A. L. Whitman, who wisely served in a pastorate of nineteen years, was the first one ever installed by the body. The meeting-house was erected in 1848, and finished in 1849. The successors of Mr. Whitman have been, Rev. Edward W. Root, Rev. A. H. Wilcox, and Rev. D. N. Beach. The meeting-house also was enlarged and improved.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This body, many of whose constituent members withdrew from the " Hill Church," was organized Dec. 24, 1843. Their house of
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WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
worship, called " The Chapel," was dedicated Jan. 31, 1844. The pastors have been, Rev. Oliver P. Tuckerman, Rev. John Taylor, Rev. A. A. Williams, Rev. J. P. Nelson, Rev. H. M. Eaton, and Rev. J. G. Noble.
.METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodists gathered a church here near 1846. At one time the church was in a state of suspended animation, or existed only as a class. Of late the body has arisen with hope. They now have a house of worship. The pastors have been, Rev. G. S. Alexander, Rev. A. W. Nillo, Rev. George A. Moss, Rev. J. Thomas, Rev. N. G. Axtell, and Rev. F. A. Crafts.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic church was embodied about the time the edifice in which they worship was erected, which was in 1859. It is located on the Stonington side of the river. The first settled priest was Rev. Michael O'Reily, who was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Sherry, and he by Rev. J. E. Fitzpatrick.
We have spoken thus briefly of these later churches for two reasons : first, because they are of such recent date ; secondly, be- cause each church will doubtless, at some time, prefer to give its own history, in its own way.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
NOTES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
THE first chaise introduced into the town was owned by Mr. James Rhodes, father of Gen. William Rhodes. The aristocratic vehicle appeared before 1800; but carriages were rare until after this date. Saddles and pillions were the fashion till within sixty years.
The first light-house on the promontory at Watch Hill was erected in 1802; the contractor was Mr. Elisha Woodward, of New London. The first light-keeper was Mr. Jonathan Nash, who faithfully trimmed his lamps for twenty-seven years. Mr. Nash stated that he could remember when the coast-line ran but slightly curved from Watch Hill Point to the Naps, and the shore was covered with heavy woods. At present the coast-line curves inward deeply in the form of a bent bow. The coast is also gradually wearing away on the east of Watch Hill. But Sandy Point, north of the Naps, has advanced northward half a mile within the memory of persons now living.
A house once stood upon the Naps. Here lived, at one time, Mr. Christopher Chester. Again the Naps has its house.
Westerly shared her proportional part of the stroke of the terri- ble gale of Sept. 23, 1815. The heavy part of the gale struck the coast in the forenoon, from the southeast, and spent its force in a few hours ; meanwhile veering in its course till it reached the south- west. It affected the coast chiefly between New Bedford and New Haven. Nowhere was it more severe than on the Narragansett shore. The ocean wave, raised by the gale, rose ten feet along the coast, rolled over all the beaches, swept cattle from the pond islands, stacks from the shore meadows, and swelled the river nine feet above its usual height at the head of tide-water. Two porpoises were driven up into the village. The spray of the sea was borne far back into the country, so that salt was collected on the window-panes upon Pendleton Hill, and as far back as Plainfield, Conn. All the for- ests on the coast were prostrated; the house of Samuel Bliven, on the Naps, was washed down ; the house of John Cross was partly unroofed ; the Hill Meetng-house was wholly unroofed; barns and
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WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
sheds were overturned ; and small buildings in the village were floated over the dam. The heavy forest occupying the land where now stand the foundry, machine shop, and dwellings, on the west bank of the river, was prostrated and virtually destroyed. Happily the hurri- cane was of short duration, abating before the close of the day.
A little before the last war with England, an artillery company was formed in Westerly, commanded by Capt. Joshua Hazard, for- merly a sea-captain from the eastern part of the State. The com- pany, besides a brass piece, usually kept near Captain Hazard's store on Main street, wore sabres and pistols. Among the members of the company were Thomas Dunbar, Daniel Cottrell, Jr., Jonathan P. Stillman, David Pendleton, Jr., Oliver Babcock. This force assisted in guarding the town from the British fleet in 1814. David Pendleton, Jr., at this time, however, was serving in the gun-boat No. 91.
Hopkinton at this time had a volunteer company of infantry, commanded by Capt. Amos Langworthy, and afterwards by Capt. Joseph Potter.
A good record has always been kept by this town in her patriotic zeal and her military efforts for the defense of the country. When the British fleet, under Commodore Hardy, bombarded Stonington, in August, 1814, a full regiment of Rhode Island militia, made up largely of Westerly men, stood ready for duty in the vicinity of Watch Hill. The coast was guarded with sleepless vigilance.
Westerly was once the theatre of a duel. The affair was alike disgraceful and mournful. Properly speaking, the affair did not belong to the town ; the soil was chosen by strangers as the stage for the tragedy.
In 1811, while the frigate " Constitution " lay in New London, two midshipmen became so piqued at a ball, on account of a certain woman, that a challenge was passed and accepted. To evade the vigilance of the authorities, the parties selected Westerly as their . field of honor, it being just across the boundary of Connecticut. It was in February. The principals and seconds came in two sleighs, and drove at high speed. They stopped for a few moments at the public house kept by Paul Rhodes. They then drove to the top of the hill, now the large quarry, and passing the meeting-house, a little distance northeast, on the west side of the road, on land lately owned by Mr. Charles Vose, measured their distances and took their positions.
The names of the principals were Brailford and Fowl. The first was a small, unlovely appearing, evil-minded man, by birth a Caro- linian. The latter was a man of fine looks, pleasant manners, and gentlemanly character; he was a native of Watertown, Mass.
The sad moment of action came. At the appointed signal, both discharged their pistols. Brailford was slightly touched. Fowl
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NOTES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
received a bullet in his groin, which also carried a portion of his dress into the limb. He was too severely wounded to be taken to New London. The parties brought him into the village, and cared for him at the house - then an inn, on the Connecticut side of the river - kept by Mrs. Abby Thompson, where they were obliged to leave him. He was attended by Doctor Colton, the assistant sur- geon of the ship, and also by the physicians of this vicinity. His distressed father also visited him. His case elicited much sympathy.
The wound was mortal. After a week or more he was carried to New London. He lived but about three weeks from the fatal hour. His grave is at Groton Bank, in the Fort Griswold Cemetery, and is marked by a monument. His heartless antagonist was de- graded from the service; and rumor says he was finally drowned from a schooner on the coast of North Carolina.
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