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 27
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 27
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 27
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 27
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11
ROWSE BABCOCK.
Born May 12, 1773. Died April 21, 1841.
R
265
BANKS AND BANKERS.
in 1836, and remained in office nearly thirty years. He resigned in September, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, the present officer.
In July, 1865, the bank resigned its charter, and reorganized under the National Banking Act, with the same capital ($150,000) · as before.
The business of the bank has always been conducted in a sound and conservative manner, so that the stability of the institution has never been affected by the commercial storms and panics which have occasionally swept over the country during the fifty years of its existence. Its dividends have been paid with great regularity during its entire career, except the year 1850, immediately following the robbery, when two were omitted.
In addition to and following the first directors are the following, with date of appointment of each.
Saxton Berry, Aug. 25, 1818.
George Sheffield,
July 6, 1829.
Edward Wilcox,
Dec. 10, 1818.
William D. Wells, 5, 1830.
William Peckham, Jr., April 5, 1819.
John H. Cross,
2, 1832.
Stephen Smith,
5, 1819.
Lemuel Vose, Jr., 66 7, 1834.
Nathan Barber, Jr.,
5, 1819.
Joshua Robinson,
66 7, 1834.
Wager Weeden,
66 5, 1819.
Edward W. Babcock,
7, 1834.
Daniel Babcock, Jr.,
5, 1819.
Lyndon Taylor,
7, 1834.
Peleg Denison,
July 3, 1820.
Rowse Babcock, Jr.,
6, 1835.
Ephraim Williams.
3, 1820.
William C. Pendleton,
6, 1835.
Coddington Billings,
יי 3, 1820.
Stephen Wilcox (2d),
4, 1836.
William Williams,
3, 1820.
Joseph Potter,
3, 1837.
John W. Hall,
3, 1820.
Acors Barns,
66 1, 1822.
Edwin Babcock,
7, 1851.
George Thurston, Jr.,
5, 1824.
Orlando Smith,
3, 1854.
Benjamin Barns,
5, 1824.
John Loveland, 1857. July 5, 1858.
Welcome A. Hoxie,
4, 1825.
James H. Porter,
George D. Cross,
66 3, 1826.
Emory Babcock,
5, 1858.
Samuel Gardner,
12, 1827.
Ethan Foster,
2, 1860.
Thomas J. Wilcox,
7, 1828.
John Pendleton,
7, 1862.
Thomas W. Potter,
6, 1829.
W. A. Burdick,
Jan. 12, 1869.
The present cashier is J. B. Foster, elected Sept. 1, 1866. Henry Foster is the present teller.
Though burglars at different times have experimented upon the locks and vaults of the town, the only successful attack was made upon the Phenix Bank on Sunday night, Dec. 15, 1849. The full history of this robbery, with sketches of the robbers and their dark careers, would be quite a thrilling tale, and a revelation of the deep art of stealing. The gallery of rogues should reserve niches for Tom Hand, Jim Young, Levi Cole, and Tom Kanouse. The rob- bery of the Phenix Bank was accomplished by the last two adepts, assisted by John Collins. Their plans being matured, their work was commenced on Saturday night, and completed on the succeed- ing night.
The inner vault door presented the greatest resistance. This was finally perforated by a curious cutter that had been specially
Joshua Thompson, Jr., 66 5, 1847.
266
WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
prepared for the work. Through the opening, with the aid of a stick and hook, they drew bills amounting to $15,450, and fled. Halting for a few moments in Collins's house at Stonington, they divided the spoils, when Cole and Kanouse hurried on to New York. The track was scented, and the rogues were finally arrested and brought to Westerly, Feb. 8, 1850. Bound over in heavy sums, they were tried before the August term of the Supreme Court of Washington County. Hon. James T. Brady, of New York, ap- peared for the prisoners. The prosecution was managed by the attorney-general, Joseph M. Blake, before Chief-Justice Richard W. Greene. The jury disagreed. Forged papers, in support of an alibi, were presented by the defense.
The case was resumed at the next February term, and justice now triumphed over guilt and mendacity. Cole had escaped South on bail. Kanouse was sentenced to eight years in the state-prison. Collins was arrested, proved guilty, and senteneed for a like term. Cole was finally arrested in Baltimore, brought before the court, where he pleaded guilty, and received a sentence of four years' imprisonment.
During this time, through the efforts of John H. Cross, Esq., who greatly assisted in securing the rogues, nearly $2,800 of the stolen money was found in Paterson, N. J.
THE PAWCATUCK BANK.
This banking corporation was organized in 1849, and has its loca- tion on the west side of the river. The banking house was erected immediately, and was opened in 1850. It started with a capital of $75,000. From its origin to the present time, its officers have been, Orsemus M. Stillman, president, followed by Peleg Clarke, Jr., with John A. Morgan, cashier. The capital was enlarged in 1865 to $85,000, and in the same year, with most other banks in the country, it became a national bank.
The gentlemen and capitalists associated in the direction of this institution have been, Orsemus M. Stillman, Asa Fish, Thomas Hinckley, John Brown, Francis Sheffield, Jonathan Maxson, De Witt C. Pendleton, Horace R. Hall, Thompson Wells, AAsher II. Chap- man, John B. Steadman, Orin Doty, Thomas W. Davis.
" The directors must of necessity live in Connecticut, but the power of the house is largely felt in Westerly. The institution has had an excellent name and an even tenor of history. Twice burglars have made attempts upon its vanlts, but only to meet with just disap- pointment.
THE NIANTIC BANK.
This fiscal association was incorporated in 1854, with a capital of 8200,000. Business was done in the Vose Block till the fine brick banking house was completed in 1854. The original officers were :
267
BANKS AND BANKERS.
Horatio N. Campbell, president ; James M. Pendleton, cashier. In respect to enterprise, as in reference to capital, this bank, though the youngest, holds the van in business. By daring to do, it has prospered and excelled ; and the capital has been increased to $250,- 000. From the necessities of the times, the fiscal wave raised by the civil war, it became a national bank in 1865.
In its direction this house has had the services of the following gentlemen : Horace Babcock, Horatio N. Campbell, Welcome Still- man, James M. Pendleton, Nathan II. Langworthy, Joseph H. Lewis, Thomas W. Segar, Charles H. Denison, Gilbert Pendleton, Jr., Palmer Hall, Edwin G. Champlin, Albert B. Langworthy, Thomas Clark, George G. Stillman.
The present officers of this bank are, Horatio N. Campbell, pres- ident ; David F. Stillman, cashier ; Henry P. Morgan and William Lewis, tellers.
There are three savings banks in Westerly, all safely and well managed. The Westerly Savings Bank was incorporated in 1854. The officers then were: Jesse L. Moss, president ; Simeon F. Perry, secretary and treasurer. The officers at this time are : Thomas Perry, president ; S. F. Perry, secretary and treasurer. The direc- tors have been, Jesse L. Moss, Charles Perry, Nathan F. Dixon, Ed- win Babcock, Oliver D. Wells, Horatio N. Campbell, Thomas Perry, Simeon F. Perry, David Smith.
The Niantic Savings Bank was incorporated in 1870. Its offi- cers were then, James M. Pendleton, president; D. F. Stillman, secretary and treasurer. Its officers now are, J. M. Pendleton, president ; H. P. Morgan, secretary and treasurer. The directors have been, Horace Babcock, J. M. Pendleton, Thos. W. Segar, Samuel II. Cross, Nathan H. Langworthy, Wm. HI. Chapman, George G. Stillman.
The Mechanics Savings Bank was incorporated in 1870. Its officers then were, and are now, Ethan Foster, president ; Henry Foster, secretary and treasurer. The directors have been, James II. Porter, J. B. Foster, Ethan Foster, Rowse Babcock, 2d, A. N. Lewis, Wm. Hoxsie, John Loveland, Oliver Wolcott, H. Campbell, Jr., Wm. D. Wells.
Kindred to the monetary reaction following the Revolution, was the financial revulsion beginning in September, 1873, growing out of the immense credits, national, State, municipal, and private, ven- tured upon during the Rebellion and soon after its close. These credits, commenced as a necessary war measure, were foolishly and blindly pursued after the restoration of peace. Some, indeed, seemed to be so ignorant as to believe that a promissory piece of paper was real money; that the name of a thing was the thing
268
WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
itself. Thus our country became virtually mortgaged for more than half its actual value. When the inevitable fruit of this dangerous policy matured, and the financial revulsion set in, the business of Westerly, which was largely connected with manufacturing, began to feel the withering effect, and has continued to suffer with the gen- eneral depreciation in the country. Gradually fictitious and nomi- nal values are falling back to their just measures. It is to be hoped that this costly lesson, twice wrought out in the experience of our country, will not be soon forgotten by our nation.
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CHAPTER XLVII.
RECENT ROLL OF HONOR.
THUS far in the world's history war has been a deplorable neces- sity. It arises from the fact that we are morally deranged beings. Where moral suasion fails, compulsion is often invoked; fear is fre- quently more potent than love ; lessons of law are imprinted by pain ; organic vice, in some cases, can only be penetrated and broken down by the sword. When a great wrong has erected itself across the path of human progress, and lives only by drinking the life-blood of the world, and madly stops its ears to the voice of argument and truth, war, terrible as it ever is, becomes inevitable, and, in over- throwing the giant crime, becomes a saving and civilizing power.
In every hour of our country's trial the inhabitants of Westerly have been prompt to pledge their honor and their blood. When the terrible storm of the slaveholders' rebellion broke upon the country ; when mad secession girt on the panoply of war and opened fire upon the United States forces in Fort Sumter, thus sending the alarm and the challenge of arms throughout the land ; while all the loyal States . sprang to their feet to meet the insane, domestic foe, Rhode Island stood in the very van of the volunteering host. Her First Regiment, accompanied by a Battery, with scarcely a day's notice, pressed on with the Massachusetts Sixth and the New York Seventh.
They rallied the right and the truth to maintain, Like the phalanx of Freedom on Marathon's plain.
In the First Regiment marched the Westerly Rifles, almost to a man as the roll had been in the days of quiet, with Col. Henry C. Card in command. The call was sounded at the dead of night, and the morning found them ready.
From hall of wealth and cottage door, With equal zeal, the rich and poor, Responsive to their country's call, Their banner floating from the wall, The righteous strife with heart embraced, And martyred fathers' footsteps traced.
---------
270
WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
MUSTER ROLL
OF CAPT. HENRY C. CARD'S COMPANY I, IN THE FIRST REGIMENT OF RHODE ISLAND DETACHED MILITIA, COMMANDED BY COL. A. E. BURNSIDE.
1. Henry C. Card, Capt.
2. Wm. H. Chapman, First Lieut.
3. James Babcock, Second Lieut. 2. Evan C. Burdick, Second Corp.
4. J. Clark Barber, Ensign. 3. Paul M. Barber, Third Corp.
1. Erastus W. Barber, First Serg. 4. Jolın F. Jencks, Fourth Corp.
2. James McDonald, Second Serg.
1. George P. Kenyon, Musician.
3. Reuben S. Lanphear, Third Serg. 2. William Kenneth, Musician.
PRIVATES.
1 Allen, Isaac. 32 Ecclestone, Samuel R. 63 Phillips, Job.
2 Andrews, Robert H.
33 Edwards, James A. 64 Place, George A.
34 Ellard, Walter H. 65 Potter, Israel A.
35 Fisk, Lewis B. 66 Remington, H. H.
[5 Barber, L. A.
6 Barber, Thomas S.
7 Baton, Urialı.
S Baton, William.
9 Barden, Richard E.
10 Bennet, George W.
11 Blaisdel, Jeremiah A. 42 Hawkins, William F. 73 Sanders, Nathan H.
12 Bliven, Samuel.
13 Braman, George.
14 Burdick, Amos L.
15 Burdick, Albert H.
16 Card, Alvin L.
17 Casey, Patrick.
18 Chapman, Thomas N. 49 Keables, Orren M.
19 Clark, Joshua.
20 Clark, Joseph H.
21 Cottrell, Edwin R.
22 Cornell, Daniel B.
23 Cross, Elisha W.
24 Crandall, Nathan J. 25 Crandall, John C. 26 Danforth, Samuel C. 27 Denison, Albert E.
28 Dingavan, William.
29 Dunham, Joseph T.
60 Perigo, James II.
91 Whipple, Roderick.
02 Williams, Charles P.
31 Ecclestone, John.
62 Phillips, George N.
67 Richmond, Joseph.
GS Richmond, L. D.
69 Richardson, James C.
70 Roche, James D.
71 Rogers, Orson C. 72 Sanders, Gilbert C.
74 Sheffield, Thomas D.
75 Sheffield, Charles W.
76 Sherp, William.
77 Sisson, Dudley.
78 Sisson, Peleg D.
79 Sloan, Francis D. V.
80 Smith, John H.
81 Sprague, John H. D.
82 Staplins, Henry.
83 Sunderland, David.
84 Sullivan, Jeremiah. 85 Tefft. Avery. 86 Thurston, Benj. R.
87 Trask, John F.
SS Walker, Harley. 89 Weaver, John H.
90 Webster, John W.
93 Wright, Thomas S.
The first man to enroll his name was Henry E. Morgan, who remained in the service till severely wounded in the battle of Antie- tam. H. R. Jennings was captain in a Connecticut Regiment when he was killed.
Such was the patriotism of the Westerly Ritles, that twice they entered the service as an organization, and, during the war, they gave to the country, first and last, from their rolls, 280 men.
3 Austin, George P.
4 Barber, Horace G.
36 Floyd, Theodore B. 37 Gardner, George C. BS Graves, Charles A. 39 Greene, Martin S.
40 Gibson, Nelson. 41 Hawkins, Harris.
43 Holmes, Charles D. 44 Hunt, Frederick A.
45 Hull, George H.
46 Irish, Edgar W.
47 Jennings, Henry R. 4S Keables, Andrew J.
50 Kelly, Thomas H. 51 Lewis, Nathan W. 52 Lewis. Walter R.
53 Lucus, William.
54 Morgan, Andrew M. 55 Morgan, Henry E. 56 Nugent, George P. 57 Nichols, Charles HI. 58 Owens, Andrew. 59 Perkins, Austin A1.
30 Ecclestone, Charles C. 61 Phillips, Arnold.
4. Henry R. Horton, Fourth Serg.
1. Horace Swan, First Corp.
VY
271
RECENT ROLL OF HONOR.
MUSTER ROLL
"OF CAPT. HENRY C. CARD'S COMPANY B, IN THE NINTH REGIMENT OF RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS, COMMANDED BY COLONEL CHARLES T. ROBBINS.
1. Henry C. Card, Capt. .
2. J. Clarke Barber, First Lieut.
3. James McDonald, Second Lieut.
1. Walter R. Lewis, First Serg.
2. Thomas Place, Second Serg.
3. James H. Perrigo, Third Sery.
4. J. M. Holmes, Fourth Serg.
5. Amos L. Burdick, Fifth Sery.
1. E. R. Cottrell, First Corp.
2. Nathan J. Crandall, Second Corp.
3. John Tweedie, Third Corp.
4. Peleg D. Sisson, Fourth Corp.
5. Joseph Richmond, Fifth Corp.
6. Albert N. Crandall, Sixth Corp.
7. .James A. Sisson. Serenth Corp.
8. Wm. F. Hawkins, Eighth Corp.
1. Pardon Babcock, Musician.
2. Daniel Jackson, Musician.
PRIVATES.
1 Allen. Andrew.
2 Allen. Joshua.
3 Babcock, William D.
4 Barber, John W.
5 Barber, T. Stanton.
6 Baton, Uriah.
7 Bellamy. George.
S Bray, Andrew.
9 Brown, Edward C.
10 Buddington, E. Jas.
11 Buel, Thomas A.
12 Burdick, Edward H.
13 Burdick, Thos. T.
14 Burdick, William H. 15 Carmichael, George. 16 Champlin, Thos. HI. 17 Coleman, Stephen.
18 Collins William T.
19 Congdon, James A.
20 Crandall, John P.
21 Cundall, E. G.
22 Davenport, William.
23 Donovan. Danief. 24 Eccleston, John.
25 Edwards, James A. 26 Eldred. Charles H. 27 Gavitt, Charles H. 28 Gavitt. Horace P. 29 Gould. Dean.
30 Hall. Courtland T. 31 Haywood. Joseph. 32 Horsfall, William. 33 Hulet, Jacob.
34 Jackson, William. 35 Johnson, James.
36 Johnson, Milton P.
37 Johnson, T. W.
44 MCAvoy, John.
45 McLane, Thomas.
46 McNulty, James.
47 Morgan. J. Howard.
48 Nash, Nathan E.
49 Neugent, George P. 50 Partelow. Isaac.
51 Peckham. Horace L.
52 Pendleton, J. M., 2d.
53 Richmond, George A. 54 Roach, Gilbert.
55 Schofield, Everett A.
56 Sheffield, Nathan S.
57 Super, John.
58 Taylor, Francis W.
38 Johnson, William, Jr. 59 Thompson, Chas. W. 39 Kenneth, David. 60 Trant, John P. 40 Kinkade, Moses D. 61 Ward, James L.
62 Welch, Richard.
63 Wells, John B.
64 Wells, William II.
For the fourteen regiments from this State mustered into the United States service, Westerly was ever ready with her full quota of men. Nor was Westerly behindhand in her contributions of every kind to secure success to the great struggle. They saw that it was the hour of our country's ruin or emancipation. The women united in soldiers' aid societies, and the men freely poured out their treasures. The aggregate disbursements of the town for war purposes, that is, for bounties, expenses of enlistment, and aid for families, was 835,699.33. Of this amount, however, the State paid $11,900, leaving an actual expense for purely war purposes of $22,799.33. This does not include what was given by individuals and societies to companies, regiments, hospitals, and the noble Christian Commission.
And Westerly poured out much precious blood upon the coun- try's altar. Some of the most valued lives in the town were given as
41 Langworthy, E. R.
42 Leonard, George E.
43 Livsey, James W.
272
WESTERLY AND ITS WITNESSES.
a sacrifice. The roll should be publicly written and forever remem- bered, while we have a nation to love and liberties to defend. Un- willing to separate these names, we may give the roll belonging to Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton, and allow Paw- catuck to be connted with Westerly. We give the names of those who were killed, or died from wounds and sickness while in the service.
Benjamin K. Austin.
Charles H. Gavitt.
Peleg E. Peckham, Major. George Powers.
Wm. II. Bailey.
Edwin D. Gavitt.
Alfred Barber.
James L. Gavitt. Oliver Phillips.
Wm. A. Beavins.
George W. Gardner.
John S. Reynolds.
Henry Branning.
Dudley D. Hall,
John Ryan.
Benjamin F. Burdick. Albert II. Burdick. Joseph W. Burdick. Wm. M. Besse.
Henry R. Jennings, Capt. George W. Stedman, John K. Johnson. Thomas R. Kenyon. Russell Stillman.
1st Lieut.
Hazard W. Burton.
James B. Kenyon.
David Smith.
Joseph C. Burton.
Joseph J. Kenyon.
George W. Stephens.
Davis Crandall.
Charles L. Kenyon.
Randall Sisson.
Stephen Clark.
Jeremiah Leary.
Isaac N. Saunders.
George L. Clarke.
Amos A. Lillibridge. Nathan F. Sheffield.
Gideon F. Collins.
Thomas A. Langworthy. George A. Thomas.
George W. Card.
John D. Lewis. James Larkin.
Thomas Tanner. -
William C. Tillinghast.
William II. Durfee.
Joel C. Maxson.
James Tew.
Samuel C. Danforth.
William Nesbitt.
Joseph W. Vincent, Corp.
William N. Davis.
Andrew J. Neff.
Isaac F. York.
Joel W. Douglas.
Charles B. Geer.
James M. Pendleton, 2d, 1st Lieut.
With propriety this martyr roll might be enlarged by the names of others, who, from wounds received and diseases incurred in the field, died soon after they were mustered out of the service. These have not been few, and cases are still occurring. But not in vain did these brave men die. Our country triumphed, and the graves of her patriot dead shall be an inspiration to liberty and loyalty through all succeeding generations.
In Liberty's temple they worshiped with love, Preserving her code with the law from above; At Liberty's altar, - the purchase of blood, - They recorded their vows for the right and for God: Beneath Liberty's standard they rallied with pride; In defending that standard, as heroes they died: On Liberty's roll their dear names are now found, And their graves shall with wreaths amaranthine be crowned.
In the observance of Decoration Day, May 30, 1870, before an immense assembly in Armory Hall, an able and eloquent oration was delivered by Nathan F. Dixon, Jr., and the following lines, by the author of this history, were sung by a select choir.
Courtland A. Durfee.
HenryR. Horton.
Elisha R. Rathbun.
1
1
273
RECENT ROLL OF HONOR.
ODE.
Hushed the drum, and bugle's note; Draped our standard; bowed each head; Tenderly the dirges float O'er our land, above our dead.
Freedom for her children mourns, Sacred holding every name ; Millions come to deck their urns On their camping-ground of fame.
Nature's incense-freighted blooms Faintly tell our love and grief ; Garlanding our martyrs' tombs, Grateful bosoms seek relief.
Rest, ye heroes! wear your bays, Laurel, myrtle, lily, rose ; Heaven, with ever-blooming Mays, Breathe its peace on your repose.
The Civil War, or Rebellion, like the two great preceding strug- gles of our land, grew out of a conviction and led to the victory of a principle. The Great Revival of 1740 brought into the land the principle of religious experience as paramount to a religious pro- fession. The Revolution of 1776 established as a great principle the inseparable relation of representation and taxation. The Civil War was the triumph of the grand principle of the natural brotherhood of men, and the overthrow of the hoary, haughty, cruel, wicked dogma of caste. This, like the preceding struggles, led to the enthronement of a higher Christian idea, the victory of an old, slowly-developed Christian principle. It was another upward step for the nation.
18
CHAPTER XLVIII.
GRAVE-YARDS AND GRAVES.
AMONG the sacred and eloquent witnesses of the town are the ancient graves and grave-yards. One cannot visit these without emotions of tender affection and pious reverence. They are the , memorials of the honorable and good who nobly toiled for their generation and for us. We are unworthy of name and character if we neglect their tombs.
What must have been the feelings of the first settlers here as they opened the earth, in the little valley or on the cleared hill-side, near their cabins, to bury their first dead, -a father, a mother, a child, or a companion ? A first grave in a wilderness was surely dewed with tears. The first small grave-yards were indeed holy ground.
Do any wonder why certain of these early graves are without chiseled slabs and full inscriptions ? Consider how difficult it was for the first dwellers in a wilderness to procure monumental stones, and workmen skilled in the use of the chisel. In some instances families sent to England for head-stones, and had the inscriptions cut in the mother country. All this was attended with great effort, expense, and delay. When the circumstances of our ancestors in the first planting of the land are carefully considered, we shall often wonder at the care they took in guarding the dust of their dead.
And here it may be remarked, as an aid to those who may seek to remove the remains of their fathers, that the first generation of settlers were accustomed to dig their graves to an unusual depth. This was a precautionary measure against the depredations of wolves and other carnivorous wild beasts.
It will be noticed, that in copying the inscriptions on the tomb- stones, we have taken only the purely historical portions, except in a few notable instances. Historical brevity, and the good taste that would avoid all seeming partiality, have dictated the course pur- sued. Some of the epitaphian inscriptions omitted might be re- garded as curious; others might be looked upon as amusing. As most of them were but expressions of the affections and hopes of surviving kindred and friends, they scarcely belong to general history.
275
GRAVE-YARDS AND GRAVES.
We have omitted the records of small children, as such were not influential actors in the town's life.
The monumental chapter here furnished, besides enabling the resident citizens, while sitting in their parlors, in effect to visit all the grave-yards and. graves in the town, thus recalling the past, and often tracing out the line of their own family history, and count- ing the debt of obligation to those who have preceded them, will be of double interest and worth to the distant and widely scattered fam- ilies and persons whose ancestors were once citizens here. By the aid of the printed page they can seem to visit the township, and look upon the tombs of their fathers and kindred. It is hoped, too, that the record may prompt the living to a more pious regard for these places of sepulture.
The grave-yards were visited, and the inscriptions were copied, during the years 1867-8. Some of the grave-yards, since they were visited, may have umdergone some alterations. Some graves may have been removed to River Bend Cemetery, or other protected places of burial, as such changes have been going on in several old grave-yards for years past. It is possible that some small and se- cluded places of burial, not known to the present generation, have remained undiscovered, and hence are not here mentioned, though the greatest care has been taken to avoid such omission and seeming neglect.
ALLEN GROUND.
About thirty rods south of the post-road, and one third of a mile west of the residence of Sidney Gav- itt, uninclosed, in the corner of a meadow, are the unlettered graves of Capt. Samuel Allen. his wife, and members of his family, - about a dozen graves. The land now belongs to Saunders Gavitt.
AUSTIN GROUND.
A few rods northeast from the Lanphear Ground, across the path leading to the quarry on Cormorant Hill, in the pasture of J. Thompson, in an old orchard (now nearly gone), are perhaps twelve neglected. brier- wreathed graves, evidently very old, as the little head-stones of rubble have sunk deeply down. Here lic the remains of Jedediah Austin, and probably others of this name.
BABCOCK GROUND (1).
This is south of Mastuxet Brook, on the slope of the hill, east of the
highway leading to Lottery Village. It is perhaps the largest, and it is one of the oldest, of the ancient bu- rial-places in the town.
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