>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 531. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. THE WATSON FAMILY is also numerous in this town. John Watson died about 1727. His sons were Samuel, John, William, etc. John had children: Hannah, Ann, John, born 1709; Jeffrey, born 1712; Elisha, born 1716; and Amy. The children of Jeffrey were: Hannah, Jeffrey, Elisha, Marcy, Dorcas, Sarah, William and Bathsheba. The children of John last named were: John, born 1737, father of Judge John; Hannah, Bridget, Job, Mary, Elisha, born 1748, father of Judge Elisha Watson, Esq.; Joseph William Freeman, Isabel and Walter, 1753. The children of Job Watson were: Isabel, Job, 1767; Robert Hazard, 1769; Walter, 1770; Borden, 1772; and John Jay, 1774. One branch of the family descended from Benjamin Watson, a respected citizen of that name who lived and died on McSparran hill. His children were: Oliver, Samuel, Sylvester, Wescott and Jesse. From these children descended a numerous progeny, many of whom are still residents of Washington county. Oliver Watson was the father of William Watson of Kingston Station. Oliver was born in 1760 and died in 1839. His children were: Sarah, Ann P., Benjamin, Rachel, Mary R., John K., Oliver, William, Hannah, Isabel, Elizabeth, Samuel, Harriet and William. William Watson built his house at Kingston Station in 1857. He and his brother Oliver Watson have each been directors of the National Landholders' Bank for many years. [532] REVEREND ELISHA F. WATSON is a lineal descendant of John Watson, who at an early day settled on the Watson farm situated on Tower Hill in South Kingstown. The latter was united in marriage to a Miss Gardner, a sister, as tradition relates of one of the original purchasers of the Pettaquamscutt tract, and died at an advanced age, about the year 1727. The estate for five generations has remained in the family, and but recently passed into other hands. This tendency to acquire and retain landed property has been a characteristic of the Watsons, and finds an exemplification in the subject of this biography, whose estate will, as a safe and sure heritage, be transmitted to his descendants. Freeman P. Watson, the father of Elisha F., a lineal descendant of the late Judge Freeman Perry, married Phoebe, daughter of Job Watson, of Jamestown. Their children were: Job W., Elisha F., Freeman P and a daughter Phoebe W., wife of Stephen H. Tefft. Elisha F. was born on the 28th of March, 1814, at Boston Neck in South Kingstown, and pursued his early studies under William H. Gaynor, an instructor of repute in those days. He prepared for college at Amherst, Mass., and Bristol, Penn., meanwhile devoting some months to teaching, as an aid toward defraying the expenses attending a college course. In 1837 he entered Brown University, Providence, and was graduated from that institution in 1840. He then began the study of theology at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, concluding the course under Reverend Doctor Francis Vinton of Newport. He was ordained to the ministry in August, 1843, and for the succeeding three years was rector of St. Paul's church, Tower Hill, and St. Matthew's church, in Jamestown. Mr. Watson was then called to Christ church at Lonsdale, in the same state, and for more than three years had charge of this parish. In 1851 he returned to South Kingstown and located upon the farm inherited by his wife from her father. In 1850 he filled a pulpit in western Massachusetts; and in 1861, on the outbreak of the late war, joined the Army of the Potomac, as chaplain of the Eleventh Massachusetts volunteers, serving in that capacity for more than three years, with an absence of but two weeks during the entire period. He later acted as volunteer chaplain of the Seventh Rhode Island volunteers, returning to his home in the fall of 1864. Mr. Watson has an early whig, and later republican, [533] been much interested in the political questions of the day. The reading of "Clarkson's Abolition of the British Slave Trade" strongly impressed upon his mind the evils of the slave system, and made him an abolitionist. Hence his labors during the late war were not more directed to the preservation of the Union than the abolition of slavery. In 1834 he became a member of the first temperance society organized in South Kingstown, and is both in theory and practice a strong advocate of temperance, having for his motto: "From the cradle to the coffin, in principle and practice a temperance man." He fills the position of superintendent of schools for South Kingstown, but has sought no other office. Mr. Watson was married June 6th, 1843, to Mary, daughter of the late John B. Dockray of Wakefield. Their only child, a son Arthur H., is a resident of Providence. Mr. Watson received the degree of A.M. from Brown University in 1843.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 528. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. ISAAC PEACE RODMAN was the eldest son of Samuel and Mary (Peckham) Rodman. He was born in South Kingstown, R.I., August 18th, 1822. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, but quite early in life left school, in order to enter in the manufacturing business with his father. He had a passionate love for books and the knowledge that books give, combined with a remarkable memory; his leisure hours were for many years nearly all devoted to study, and thus he was enabled to take his place amongst men of a more liberal education on an equal footing. "He was a man of exceedingly acute and elevated intelligence, reasoned with great sequence and logical force from cause to effect, a believer in the ‘Gospel of expedience' in all the ordinary affairs of life." His extensive reading and intimate acquaintance with the classics rendered him a literary critic of no mean order. E.H. Hazard, in a biographical sketch, written for Bartlett's "Rhode Island Officers," said of General Rodman: "He was extremely modest and retiring in his nature. There were no extravagancies in his life or conduct; his character as a whole was uniform in all its elements. He was for many years an honored member of the Baptist church; at one time teacher of a Bible class composed of young men; at another, superintendent of the Sunday school. He was liberal in his religious views to all denominations, intolerant only to superstition and narrow bigotry. [529] After a few years of initiatory labor in his father's mills, more especially in office work, he, with his brother Rowland Gibson Rodman, entered into partnership with their father under the firm name of S. Rodman & Sons. He was for many years president of the town council of South Kingstown, and was a representative for several terms in the assembly of Rhode Island, and also in the senate of that state; a director in the Wakefield Bank, also in the Institution for Savings. When the president called for seventy-five thousand men at the commencement of the civil war, he was among the first to respond to the call of his country. He raised a military company composed of his fellow townsmen for the Second Rhode Island regiment of Volunteers, and was chosen their captain for his gallant conduct at the battle of Bull Run; Governor Sprague, when the Fourth Rhode Island regiment was mustered into the service, appointed him its lieutenant-colonel and soon after colonel. He distinguished himself by his gallant conduct in the battle of Roanoke February 8th, 1862, and at Newbern March 15th, 1862. Abbott, in his "History of the Civil War," said in speaking of this battle: "The charge by Colonel Rodman, leading the Fourth Rhode Island regiment, was one of the most heroic deeds of the day." This gallant charge won a brigadier-general's commission for Colonel Rodman. Yet he always insisted that his regiment deserved more credit for their conduct at the battle of Roanoke Island in which they took a conspicuous part, than at the battle of Newbern. After the capture of Fort Macon April 17th, 1862, General Rodman contracted typhoid fever and was obliged to return home, "broken in health, but crowned with the honors he had won." On his arrival at the Kingston station he was met by a large delegation of his fellow citizens, with the militia companies and bands of music. Overcome by this proof of the estimation in which he was held by his townspeople, and enfeebled by severe illness, he could say but a few words to them. A few weeks later, when the same company again conducted to his home, instead of the triumphant strains of martial music, the tap of the muffled drum and funeral march alone was heard; no kind words greeted the old friends, for the voice was still forever. He remained at home but a few weeks; before his furlough [530] was ended or his health re-established, General Burnside wrote to him that the army was on the eve of a great battle, urging him to return if possible, as there was urgent need for commanding officers; and against the remonstrance of his physician, he hastened back to the field of duty. At the battle of Antietam, September 17th, 1862, he commanded the Third Division of the Ninth Army Corps, and fell mortally wounded while leading his division to the charge. "Though feeble in health and exhausted from five days and nights of arduous service, he kept in the saddle from early dawn till sunset, when he fell, pierced with a minie ball through his left breast. Surgical aid and efforts of friends were unavailing to save his life; his system was exhausted. His patience in suffering was equal to his courage on the battle-field. He died as he lived, a Christian soldier. His physician, who had witnessed many death-bed scenes, said that for the calm, conscious, peaceful resignation, he never witnessed its equal. From the time he left his home in the spring of 1861 to the hour of his fall, his Bible was his daily companion, and was daily ready by him. It was found in his bosom, clotted with his blood." Abbott, in closing a notice of General Rodman, says: "At South Mountain he escaped uninjured. At Antietam, while at the head of his division, and performing the part of a Major-General, a bullet pierced his breast, and he was carried to a house in the rear. There, after the lapse of thirteen days, he died. His remains were buried at his native place, South Kingstown, with the highest honors. He was mourned as a Christian warrior, and as one of the purest and best of men." The state of Rhode Island brought back his remains amid universal demonstrations of mourning, and laid them in state in the hall of the house of representatives. His obsequies, of a very imposing character, were conducted by the state, amid every demonstration of respect on the part of the citizens. It has also placed his portrait in the Memorial Hall of Brown University at Providence, R.I. Senator Anthony, in a funeral oration, said of him: "Here lies the true type of the patriot soldier. Born and educated to peaceful pursuits, with no thirst for military distinction, with little taste or predilection for military life, he answered the earliest call of his country, and drew his sword in her defense. Entering the service in a subordinate capacity, he rose by merit [531] alone to the high rank in which he fell; and when the fatal shot struck him, the captain of one year ago was in command of a division. His rapid promotion was influenced by no solicitations of his own. He never joined the crowd that throng the avenues of preferment. Patient, laborious, courageous, wholly devoted to his duties, he filled each place so well that his advancement to the next was a matter of course, and the promotion which he did not seek sought him. "He was one of the best type of the American citizen; of thorough business training, of high integrity, with an abiding sense of the justice due to all, and influenced by deep religious convictions. In his native village he was by common consent the arbitrator of differences, the counselor and friend of all." He was buried in the family burying-ground, at South Kingstown, on the 5th of October, 1862. He married, June 17th, 1847, Sally Lyman Arnold, daughter of Governor Lemuel H. and Sally (Lyman) Arnold. They had seven children, five of whom survive him.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 524. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. SAMUEL RODMAN, the son of Robert and of Elizabeth Hazard, daughter of Stephen Hazard of South Kingstown, was born in South Kingstown, R.I., May 3d, 1800. Both in personal appearance and in character he was said to resemble his great-grandfather Samuel; while he inherited from his mother a strain of the Hazard blood, and with it the will and energy that are necessary to success. He was born in the house that his great-uncle, William Rodman, had builded, [sic] and in the great west chamber that had been made historic as being also the birth-place of Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie. [525] When he was about fourteen years old, his ambition overleaping the narrow bounds of his village life, he left his father's house and went to the central part of the state of New York, then the distant West and the Mecca of ambitious youth. The seven years that he spent there were passed in the family of his uncle Asa Carpenter, who had married his mother's sister, Sarah Hazard. He returned to Rhode Island in 1821, and in the same year he made his first purchase of real estate, buying of Elisha Watson, for four hundred and ninety dollars, six acres of land with a house thereon. This land was once a part of the old Rodman estate, and in this house his eldest son, Isaac Peace Rodman was born, August 18th, 1822. Year by year Samuel Rodman added to his property, gathering up acre after acre of the old paternal lands. In 1832 he had charge of the Peace Dale mills. In 1835, in company with Attmore Robinson, he bought of John F. Bently, for five hundred dollars, the tract of land with the wharf at Narragansett Pier, since called the "Old Pier," where the famous breakwater, costing twenty-five thousand dollars, was afterward built. Its architects, like those, as it is said, of the second Eddystone light-house, defied God Almighty to overthrow the work: but it was partly destroyed in the first great storm after its completion. During the progress of the breakwater an accomplished French engineer, on examining it, said that it was building on a wrong principle, and that the dock sooner or later would fill with sand. Time has proven the truth of this prediction, for children now plan on the beach where once was from fifteen to twenty feet of water. In 1838 Samuel Rodman sold his rights to the pier property, and bought of Thomas R. Hazard for six thousand dollars, "one hundred and twenty-five or thirty" acres of land in the village of Rocky Brook; and in the same year he built the homestead where seven of his children were born. There were on the property at the time fours small houses and a small wooden mill, containing one or two sets of machinery. In this mill he began the manufacture of woolen goods that was destined to assume such large proportions. During the following year (1839) he bought of John D. Austin, administrator on the estate of Mary R. Hazard, for three thousand seven hundred dollars, thirty acres of land, on a part of which stood the old Rodman [526] mansion house and a woolen mill. In 1853 he bought of Jonathan Congdon, for nine thousand dollars, thirty acres of land, with several houses and a woolen mill, containing two sets of machinery; and at about the same time he added to his own farm the Freeman Watson farm adjoining it. This farm once belonged to his great-uncle, William Rodman, who, in the last century had built the house now standing, already mentioned as the one in which Samuel Rodman was born. The small mills on the Rocky Brook estate Mr. Rodman soon replaced by substantial stone buildings, taking all of the stone that he used from his own meadows, which were well named "Rocky." He built pretty cottages for his operatives, made roads, set out trees and beautified the place until it became, both in appearance and in reality one of the thriftiest as well as one of the most picturesque villages in New England. His success as a manufacturer was long uninterrupted, and he became of the richest mill owners in the state, owning in addition to the Rocky Brook property, a mill in Wakefield, and a fine mill in Newport. In politics Samuel Rodman was an old-time whig, and subsequently an anti-slavery whig. He represented his town several times in the general assembly. In 1853, when a nomination was equivalent to an election, he was nominated for lieutenant-governor, but for personal reasons he declined the nomination. He was never but once defeated in any election for which he stood as candidate. In 1873, receiving the nomination for congress in the minority party in the western district, he came unexpectedly near an election. His almost uniform success was due in part of his natural energy of character, but still more directly to the estimation in which he was held by his fellow townsmen. In 1841, in conjunction with A. C. Barstow and Edward Harris, he entered enthusiastically upon the total abstinence reform, and its measure of success in his own and in the neighboring villages was largely attributable to his zeal and activity. For over forty years Samuel Rodman was a member of the Baptist church, and an honor to his communion. But he was not in any narrow sense a sectarian; he was liberal in his religious views and tolerant toward all Christian denominations. He contributed largely toward the building of the new Baptist house of worship in Wakefield in 1852, and was one of its chief benefactors. [527] During his days of prosperity he aided by liberal contributions in the building of no less than twenty-six other churches; nor did he confine his benevolence to his own denomination. That a house was to be built for the worship of God was a sufficient appeal to his sympathy and help. In the Sunday school of the church he was a devoted and helpful laborer, holding for many years the position of superintendent. His character was one of great natural energy, yet there were no hard lines in it, and he had a certain gentleness of manner, combined with decision, which made him greatly beloved. During his last illness his former employees came to his house and requested the privilege of sitting up to watch him. "No strike was ever mediated in his mills." Mr. John Eddy of Providence has outlined his character as follows: "A man of great physical strength and power of endurance, of energy and force of character, of mental and moral courage; but these were so united to an active benevolence to all, a generous and conscientious consideration for the rights of others, that his rounded and symmetric personality commanded the respect and love of all who knew him. The relations between him and his employees were those of mutual confidence. He perceived that the truest method of elevating the laborer was to make him independent, and to this end by the sale of lands to them at nominal prices he encouraged his laborers to become land owners." His hospitality was proverbial. Rarely were the guest chambers tenantless, or were there vacant seats at his hospitable board; while the distinguished guest received no more cordial welcome than the poor and needy friend or relative. A friend, writing to his widow after his death, said: "Mr. Rodman was the most generous man I ever knew, and I have reason to know how generous. He conferred a favor in such a way that the recipient might well question whether he had received or conferred the favor." Samuel Rodman married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Taylor and Abigail (Oatley) Peckham. She was the mother of all his children, a woman of remarkable strength of character and integrity, and a devoted Christian. The influence of her character and teaching was seen with remarkable clearness in her eldest son, the late General Isaac Peace Rodman. To her husband she was truly a helpmeet – not only in forming the characters of the older children, who came especially under her influence, but as [528] a wise and faithful counselor in all his business relations. He took no important step without her advice. His second wife, whom he married in 1854, was Mary Anstis Updike, daughter of Hon. Wilkins Updike, of South Kingstown, and author of the "History of the Narragansett Church," "Memoirs of the Rhode Island Bar," and other works. Mr. Rodman died May 9th, 1882, in South Kingstown, on the Rodman land where he was born, and was buried in the family burying ground. Eight of his grandsons, obeying his request, were his pall-bearers. They were Isaac P. Rodman, Thomas Rodman, Rowland Rodman, B.F. Robinson, Jr., Rodman Robinson, S.A. Rodman, Samuel Rodman Thompson and William H. Baldwin, Jr. We may conclude by saying, in the words of one who knew him well: "A larger-hearted, more whole-souled man than Samuel Rodman, Rhode Island has never produced."

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 519. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. THE RODMAN FAMILY. – The Rodmans were among the earliest settlers in Kingstown. We find the birth of Doctor Thomas Rodman's first child recorded there in 1707. He married in 1706 Katharine, daughter of Colonel Thomas Fry of Newport. Doctor Thomas Rodman was the third in descent from John [520] Rodman of Barbadoes, the founder of the family in America, who was banished from his native land for stern adherence to his religious principles. In "Rutty's History of the Quakers in Ireland," page 366, published in 1751, we find: "In the year 1655, for refusing to remove his hat in the assizes in New Ross (where he was summoned as a witness) was John Rodman committed to Gaol by Judge Louder, kept a prisoner for three months and then banished his country." "It is probable that upon his banishment John Rodman went to Barbadoes. His will was recorded in the secretary's office in Barbadoes, December 4th, 1686. His oldest son, Doctor Thomas Rodman, came to Newport from Barbadoes in a yacht, of which John Bryer was master. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and clerk of the monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings of Rhode Island for thirty years. He was also the first clerk of the New England meeting, which position he held until 1718. He was an eminent physician and surgeon, chiefly celebrated as an obstetrician, and was sent for in difficult cases to go great distances. Doctor Thomas Rodman built a house at the corner of Thames and Ann (now Touro) streets, which was afterward removed to Bridge street. This house was afterward the residence of Doctor Clarke Rodman, Doctor William Hunter, Doctor Isaac Senter, Doctor Benjamin Case, and other persons of distinction." For his second wife Doctor Thomas Rodman married Patience, widow of Robert Malines, and daughter of Peter and Ann Easton. From this marriage descend the South Kingstown branch of Rodmans. His third wife was Hannah, daughter of Governor Walter Clarke. The name Clarke as a given name has often been repeated in the South Kingstown families. They do not have the Clarke blood. Doctor Thomas Rodman, oldest son of Doctor Thomas Rodman of Newport, settled in South Kingstown, on a tract of land containing a thousand acres, "more or less," that was granted to his father in order to retain his services for the town of Newport. This land was given to Doctor Thomas of South Kingstown by his father. He added largely to the original inheritance by purchase, his son Samuel and grandson Daniel also increasing the estate until the family owned nearly all the land enclosed on the east by the Saugatucket river, north by the highway, west by highway, reaching in many places and extending over in some, the highway on the south. The greater part of the Dockray estate, so called, was bought from Robert Rodman. [521] Daniel Rodman, grandson of Doctor Thomas, also bought of George Hazard, in 1775, one hundred and seventy acres in Point Judith "known as Little Neck," "for five hundred and twenty-five good Spanish milled dollars." Rowland Robinson also sold to Daniel Rodman, in 1773, "a certain tract of land in Point Judith with dwelling house, stable and other houses thereon." Daniel Rodman owned on Kingston, then called "Little Rest" hill, an estate given to him by his father, Samuel Rodman, which he sold in 1777 to Powel and James Helms "for seven hundred pounds, lawful money." The large double house still standing (1888) is known as the Helms house. Daniel Rodman was a merchant. He held many important offices, not only in the town, but in the state. At one time he was one of a committee appointed by the general assembly to draft a letter to General Washington. He moved about 1777 to Connecticut, and from thence to New York. Doctor Thomas Rodman was probably the first physician settled in South Kingstown. It is also probable that he helped to build the first meeting house, for in 1748, we find that he gave to the Society of Friends and to their representatives, William Robinson, Samuel Rodman and others, "for the consideration of forty shillings a piece of land containing one acre more or less on which stands a certain meeting house, in which the people called Quakers meet adjoining to the souther end of the farm of Benjamin Hazard, son of George Hazard, deceased." This land was bought in 1720 by Rowland Robinson, Thomas Rodman and others of Benedict Arnold. The property was to be held by them, "their heirs and the heirs of them" for the use of the Friends as a place of worship forever. On this land was the Quaker burying ground. Rowland Robinson, the first of the name in Kingstown, and his wife were laid here side by side. Many years afterward a descendant of Roland Robinson removed the mouldering bones of his ancestors to the cemetery in Wakefield. Isaac Peace Rodman bought (about 1852) the Tower Hill farm, on a part of which now stand the Tower Hill House. He also bought the old Quaker meeting house, and moving it across the road to his own land, converted it into a dwelling house which is still standing near the hotel. He also soon after bought the old Episcopal church which stood on Tower Hill. Of this he made a barn near the house. It had been long unused as a place of worship. [522] As each of the sons of Doctor Thomas Rodman arrived at the age when he was entitled to a vote, he was given by deed twenty-five acres of land "more or less," thus qualifying him to become a freeman or voter. At his death his lands and houses were equally and justly divided amongst his sons; daughters in those days, it seems from the wills of the old landholders, were provided for by giving them fifty pounds and a husband. To Samuel and William was given his homestead with several hundred acres of land. This house now standing in the village of Rocky Brook, in which four generations of Rodmans were born, remained in the family until 1817, when it was sold by James and Clarke Rodman to Rowland Hazard. In 1838 it was again in the possession of the Rodmans. Samuel Rodman, seventh in descent from the first John Rodman, of Barbadoes, bought the Rocky Brook property of Thomas R. Hazard. The house is now owned by descendants. For nearly one hundred years the Rodmans bought land which, though often divided by will and deeds of gift, was never sold. Like Mr. Sprague, father of Ex-Governor William Sprague, when asked to seel land, they could have made the same answer: "We buy land; we do not sell." In 1777 Daniel Rodman, grandson of Doctor Thomas Rodman, made the first sale, the next was by Benjamin, son of Doctor Thomas Rodman, in settling the estate of his brother Robert in 1783. Robert was, as he writes himself in a transfer of property to his nephew William, a "gentleman," and died insolvent. Benjamin Rodman, youngest son of Doctor Thomas Rodman, was born in 1726 and died in 1821, living to be nearly one hundred years of age. He married Hannah, daughter of Nathaniel Niles, who built and occupied the house now standing near the village of Wakefield, named quite recently by Thomas R. Hazard "Dalecarlia." At one time this house was occupied by Samuel Hazard, about whom Doctor William H. Hazard tells the story that Samuel had a beautiful daughter who sickened and died when sixteen years old. Doctor Hazard meeting the old gentleman soon after, expressed his sympathy for him in the loss of his daughter. Said Mr. Hazard, "Yes, doctor, I had rather have lost the best cow in my yard." To Benjamin and Hannah were [523] born seven daughters, remarkable for their beauty and sweet voices. One daughter, Deborah, married Joseph Congdon, who built on land previously sold to him by Deborah, in 1807, the house now standing in Peace Dale, owned by the Hazards, in which Rowland G. Hazard lived for many years. Samuel Rodman, son of Doctor Thomas, was a prominent man in the business of the town. He added much to his inheritance by purchase. That he was honored and loved by his brethren seems to be shown by a pathetic clause in the will of his brother Thomas, which reads: "I wish to be buried in the yard of the Friends' Meeting House, as near as possible to be body of my brother Samuel." He inherited his father's house, in the building of which was used good old English oak, brought from the mother country ready framed. The late Honorable Samuel Rodman, in repairing the old house in 1846 for the use of his eldest son, Isaac Peace Rodman, had the old stone chimney removed; the shell cement used in building had become nearly as firm as the stones. On a stone built in the chimney was the date 1742. In this old house where so many Rodmans first saw the light were born four of General Isaac Peace Rodman's children. In 1786 Robert and William Rodman, sons of Samuel and grandsons of Doctor Thomas, made a division of the property given to them conjointly by their father, Robert retaining the house, where were born to him fourteen children. William built on his land, not far from the homestead, a large house now standing owned by Samuel Arnold Rodman, a descendant in the ninth generation of John Rodman of Barbadoes. William was a bachelor. Fond of good company and good cheer, he always had one or more friends among his gentlemen acquaintances ready to share his home and help to squander his goodly inheritance; consequently he is soon found selling his land, and finally renting a part of his house. At one time Christopher Raymond Perry was his tenant, and here, in the great west chamber, his son Oliver Hazard Perry was born. The old Rodmans were Quakers, peace-loving, law-abiding people, consequently the name is rarely found in state or colonial records; in connection with lawsuits or criminal cases never; rarely in the records of the war. As the old ancestor gave up his native land for an adherence to his Quaker principles, so here his immediate descendants, though not royalists and [524] never treacherous to the interest of the colony, were ready to leave the new home and the fair estates they had builded [sic] up, rather than take part in shedding the blood of their fellow-man. For this reason the name is rarely seen amongst the many who fought for and won our independence. Neither is the name found amongst those who brought in large bills for shoeing a horse or nursing a sick soldier. Such services, if rendered, were probably gratuitous. This course would be in keeping with the large-hearted generosity that has always been a distinguishing characteristic of the family. In the sixth generation of the Narragansett Rodmans, to the peace-loving was added ease-loving, and there remained for the seventh no broad acres to cultivate, but a work of labor and love, to restore some of the old glory to the ancient name. Two sons of Clarke Rodman, Daniel and Robert, are known in the town, not only as men who have made large fortunes, but as men of sterling integrity of character. Daniel owned the village of Mooresfield and the manufacturing property at Glenrock. He left a fine fortune to his children. His son, Daniel B. Rodman says of his father: "He owed his success in business to his industry, perseverance and economy, coupled with these two principles. ‘What little you do, do well. Be careful in making business engagements; be more careful in fulfilling them.'" The line of Samuel Rodman's paternal ancestors is traceable for more than two hundred years. The first progenitor of the family in America of whom we have record was John Rodman, of Christ Church parish, Barbadoes, a planter. He died in Barbadoes in 1686. His elder son, Thomas, a physician, removed to Newport, R.I., and settled there, and from him the direct line of descent was through Thomas, Samuel, Robert and Robert, to Samuel, the seventh in the line from John Rodman of Barbadoes.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 518. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. GOVERNOR JOHN POTTER'S HOUSE, that stood a mile or more north of Peace Dale, was built and finished throughout in palatial [519] style. The stone steps leading to the front door were circular in form and very lofty. The ceilings of the lower rooms were nearly or quite twice the ordinary height. The Italian artist who had been employed to embellish the walls of this house painted a full length portrait of Governor Potter's daughter on the panel over the fireplace in one of the chambers. Tradition asserts that the perfidious Italian, taking advantage of the father's prolonged absence on one occasion, painted himself kneeling at the feet of Miss Potter. This so irritated the old gentleman that he drove the artist from his house and erased the image. Miss Potter, however, eloped, and was united in wedlock to the fascinating stranger. THE OLD ABBEY was an elegant mansion, built by Judge William Potter. It stood about a mile north of the village of Little Rest, now Kingston. About the year 1780 Judge Potter became a devoted follower of Jemima Wilkinson, and to accommodate her and her adherents made large additions to the already large mansion, and from this cause probably it was called the Old Abbey. Updike says: "In consequence of his devotion to this artful woman Judge Potter was compelled to mortgage his estate, and finding it impossible to redeem it in its deteriorated condition, he finally, in 1807, sold the remainder of his interest in it and settled in Genessee. "The late Hon. Elisha R. Potter purchased the homestead, but the elegant garden, with parterres, borders, shrubbery, summer house, fruit orchard, his ancient mansion, with the high and costly fences, out-houses and cookery establishment, and the more recent erections for the accommodation and gratification of the priestess of his devotions, were in ruins, and within a few years the whole buildings have been removed." A similar fate as that which attended the Potter estate has attended many others, and to such extent that where once stood elegant mansions there are now only to be seen dilapidated walls, and loose boulders overgrown with briars and bushes. Such are the footprints of Time on this once fertile and beautiful farming country.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 515. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. JEREMIAH P. ROBINSON. – The subject of this biographical sketch began his business life as a poor boy. He had, it is true, the advantage of a long line of ancestors noted for honorable and praiseworthy conduct, and this alone always endows the youth about entering upon the career of manhood with an independent and fearless spirit. Among the first settlers of Rhode Island, those ancestors were contemporaneous with Roger Williams, who settled in Providence in 1636, since which time their descendants have been known in all parts of the land, in the pulpit, the forum, on the bench and in almost every branch of business. On the paternal side, William Robinson, six generations removed from the subject of this sketch, was a prominent man in Rhode Island. Sturdy and industrious, he became well known in the province as one of its valued citizens, and was frequently called to positions of high responsibility. Governor William Robinson was the great-grandfather of Christopher Robinson, a prominent and wealthy man of his time in the state. The latter was the father of George C. Robinson, the father of the subject of this biography. George C. Robinson was a man of great energy and commercial [516] enterprise. He followed the sea as a profession, and so great were his ability, integrity and manly qualities, that he soon became captain of a ship in the East India trade, and pushed his prow to the shores of countries as remote from his native land as any who sailed the then almost unknown seas. He married the daughter of Jeremiah Niles Potter, while quite young, and was suddenly stricken down, while at Canton, China, at the age of thirty-two, leaving five small, fatherless children without direct parental means of support. Of these Jeremiah P. was the eldest. The American progenitors of the families of Niles and Potter were among the first settlers of Rhode Island and of the highest respectability and standing. Jeremiah Niles was a man of large possessions, and for many years was judge of the superior court, holding commissions from both kings, George II. And George III., some of which are still in possession of the family. Beside this he held other positions of trust. John Potter, whose family was also among the original settlers of Rhode Island, was a man of wealth and high character. One of his sons married into the Niles family, and had a son named Jeremiah Potter Robinson. It will thus be seen that Mr. Robinson traced his lineage on both sides, through many generations of honorable men and women, and his christian names are taken from the two distinguished families on his mother's side. The family on his father's death having been left in straightened circumstances, Mr. Potter, quite a landed proprietor, took his daughter and her children to his home in South Kingstown, near the present village of Wakefield, and give his grandchildren such advantages as the locality afforded until able to undertake the struggle of life for themselves, the mother remaining on the homestead until her death. Jeremiah Potter Robinson was born August 18th, 1819, in South Kingstown, R.I., and early developed an independent and fearless spirit. When about twelve years of age, having been used to labor and toil on the farm, and having enjoyed but limited advantages of education, he went to Newport and entered the grocery store of his uncle, Stephen A. Robinson, where he attained the position of accountant. Here he remained about two and one-half years, when he for a short time returned to his grandfather's farm. In 1836, at the age of sixteen, he went to [517] New York, determined from that time to "paddle his own canoe." New York was then a comparatively small city, but to the adventurous boy it was his ideal of an opportunity to make himself a man. He applied to various business houses for employment,. Visiting nearly all parts of the city, but failed to discover anything that met his idea of properly starting on his business career, until, after long and weary search, he was employed by the firm of E.P.&A. Woodruff, jobbers in fish, salt and provisions. Under this arrangement he was to be boarded in the family of his employers, for which he was to give his labor for two years, he clothing himself. He soon exhibited those qualities which, as he advanced through life, bore him ever on to success. His pay was steadily increased, and by strict attention to business, steady habits and pleasing demeanor, he drew the attention of many leading business men, and flattering offers were made him to leave his old employers. He, however, stood by them, and attended to their affairs so faithfully that at the end of the fourth year he was offered and accepted a partnership in the firm. From that time he held a high place in the commercial world. He immediately took charge of some of the most important interests of the concern. On the death of Mr. E.P. Woodruff, the style of the firm was changed to A. Woodruff & Robinson. This firm soon added the warehousing and storage departments to their other business, thus becoming the pioneers in this line. Mr. Woodruff later retired from the house, and the business was continued by Messrs. J.P. & G.C. Robinson. Thus in a comparatively short time, Mr. Robinson rose from a boy working for his board, to the head of one of the largest and most prosperous houses of its kind in the metropolis. It is a fact that, with the exception of two years spent in Front street, his business desk stood for almost half a century on nearly the same spot, and business was transacted on what is practically the site of the old house whose service he entered as a poor boy. Sometime about the year 1843 Mr. Robinson began to look with much interest across the East river from his then home in New York upon the growing city of Brooklyn, and soon purchased large blocks of real estate on the Brooklyn river front, improving the same by building upon them warehouses and piers. He was thus among the pioneers of the great warehouse system of that city. A few years later, with William Beard, he became interested in the water front in South Brooklyn, and began [518] the work of planning and constructing the great Erie basin and the adjoining basins, building piers and warehouses, until at this time there is a wharfage and dockage of several miles where vessels are laden and unladen. It is the largest and most comprehensive dock system in the world, and destined to play an important part in the commercial interests of both New York and Brooklyn. Mr. Robinson was ever watchful of the rights of laboring men, and both in theory and practice indicated a desire to ameliorate the condition of the honest laborer. In his great business projects much care was taken to pay each laborer liberally for extra service, the result being great faithfulness to the interests of their employer. Mr. Robinson was one of the prominent supporters of the great East river bridge enterprise, and as a bridge trustee gave intelligent attention to all the details of its progress and management. He honorably filled the position of president of the board of trustees through the most trying period of the work. Mr. Robinson was married at the age of twenty-four to Miss Elizabeth Dewitt, of Cranberry, N.J., the children of this union being two sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Mr. Isaac Rich Robinson, resides on the homestead, which is retained in the family as sacred to the memory of his grandfather Potter, six hundred and fifty acres adjoining being also in possession of the family. His son Jeremiah P. Robinson is largely interested in the business his father established. Mr. Robinson and his family worshipped at the Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, of which Reverend Doctor Richard S. Storrs is pastor, and were liberal contributors to its support as well as to all its charities. Personally Mr. Robinson was a popular and liberal-minded gentleman. He was courtly but not ostentatious, and not fond of pomp and parade, but rather of modest comfort and real social entertainment among men and women of brains and heart. In politics he was accredited to the democratic party, but political garments sat so loosely upon him that he found no difficulty in throwing them off when the party went astray, either in men or measures. He was often importuned to run for office, but persistently declined. Successful for himself, kind, helpful, generous to the poor, and useful in the community, his death, which occurred in Brooklyn on the 26th of August, 1886, was universally regretted.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 512. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. SYLVESTER ROBINSON was born in South Kingstown, R.I., July 16th, 1798. He was great-grandson of Governor William Robinson, grandson of John, and son of Benjamin Robinson. His mother was daughter of Governor George Brown. In the Newport Herald, March 19th, 1791, published by Peter Edes, in Thames street, Vol. V., No. 211, is found this quaint notice of the marriage of his father: "At South Kingstown, Mr. Benjamin Robinson to Miss Elizabeth Brown, eldest daughter of Mr. George Brown, – a young lady of singular merit, and highly adorned with every social and domestic virtue." Modest and unpretentious, she was yet a woman of fine intellect and integrity of character, softened and blended with a large charity. In her gentle ministrations to the sick or poor neighbor, shame even did not restrain the kind hand from helping. Her example and influence in the early training of her sons was so potent and long-abiding, that it would be difficult to find four men in one family who throughout life exhibited finer moral characters; their names were synonyms for honesty and truthfulness. Sylvester, the third son, received a common school education only. He was, however, ambitious from a boy, of an inquiring mind, that seized every opportunity for improvement. A good reader, he became well informed upon the topics of the day, and [513] in advancing years was the trusted friend and adviser of may of his townspeople, with whom he had seen the town, with its few scattered houses, rise into flourishing villages. At the age of fourteen he entered the store of his uncle, Rowse Babcock, of Westerly, and there was carefully trained in the routine of business. To this training he owed the success that he afterward obtained. In 1821 he returned to his native town and bought of Christopher Congdon a small property in Wakefield, where he opened a store, the second in the place. Being content with a small store and comparatively small profits, his motto being "make haste slowly," his success was uninterrupted from the first, and in 1846 he erected the large building, where he continued the business until his death, and where his son and grandson succeeded him. The homestead, with its large and somewhat quaint arrangement of rooms, was built in 1831. In 1841-2 he became interested in the temperance movement, known as the "Washingtonian," first started in Baltimore, Md. In this he worked with the zeal and ardor that characterized any enterprise in which he took part. This work was so thorough that soon there was a marked change in the town; the drunken father became a respected citizen, the children decently clothed and sent to school. For a number of years it was impossible for a man to obtain an intoxicating drink nearer than the next town of Charlestown. In 1841 he was chosen president of the Wakefield Bank, a place made vacant by the retirement of William A. Robinson. He held this position until his death, in 1867. How well he performed the duties of the place can be best shown by an extract from a set of resolutions adopted by the board of directors: "Resolved, That this Association has sustained a very great loss in the death of our much esteemed and lamented president and friend, Hon. Sylvester Robinson, who for nearly twenty-four years, has filled that office with faithfulness and ability, and although his wisdom and fidelity in the administration of its affairs have ever been appreciated by this Board, were never so fully realized as now, when we are forever bereft of his presence and counsel." Mr. Daniel M.C. Stedman, cashier of the Wakefield National Bank, and treasurer of the Savings Bank for many years, in speaking of Sylvester Robinson, says: "He was a man of positive convictions. Whatever he undertook was with his whole heart. I well [514] remember the persistency and anxiety with which he labored to extricate the banks from the embarrassments they suffered in 1857. We worked almost day and night to save them from utter failure; and I now look back over those years of incessant toil and anxiety with the greatest satisfaction. There was never any misunderstanding or unkind word between us in all that time. It is a pleasant thought to me that he lived to see the desire of his life accomplished – the banks and the church free from embarrassment, with bright prospects for the future." He represented his town several times in the general assembly, being sent as senator. Although often urged to accept of this position, when a nomination was equivalent to an election, his party being in power, it was rarely he could be persuaded. Quoting again from Mr. D.M.C. Stedman, and old friend and co-laborer, who knew and loved him well: "Although he was not early connected with the abolition cause, yet we all remember with what enthusiasm he entered the republican party, and raised a flag for John C. Fremont. From that time, and during all the dark days of the war, no man was more hopeful and confident of its final success. He had no soft word for ‘copperheads,' but was always true and loyal to his country. Such a man and such a life, is worthy to be kept in remembrance by any community." He united with the Baptist church in December, 1838, and from that time until his death was an honored member. "No one loved the old church better than he, always trying to do something for its prosperity. Some of its best social meetings were held in his own home, nearly always attending the noon-day prayer meetings that were held in the room over what is now Mr. Robert Rodman's counting room, and also the west room of the bank. He paid at one time nearly $4,000 to free the church from an old and oppressive debt." He filled a large place in the growth, and advancement of his town, early identifying himself with all its interests. He was exceeding liberal in his views; a man of ready sympathy and charitable to the poor; his friendships firm and lasting. Undeniably there was in his tastes and manner a trace of the patrician, inseparable possibly from his birth, training and precedents. The native refinement and courtliness was an outgrowth of he holiness and purity of his life. He was a kind and considerate husband, a tender and indulgent father. He married October 9th, 1822, Eliza, daughter of Joseph Noyes and granddaughter of Colonel Joseph Noyes, an officer in the army during the war of 1776. They had three children: Benjamin F., born January 9th, 1824; Eliza Anne, born 1826; and Hannah Babcock, born 1833. Benjamin F. Robinson alone survives his father, after whose death he was made president of the Wakefield National Bank, a position he has held ever since. At twenty-one years of age he entered his father's store as a partner. Like his father he has always been greatly interested in the advancement of his town and the best good of his townspeople. He has a persistent energy of character that works in a quiet way, working for results and not for honor for himself. There has been small place for the "Ego" in his labors or character. He could say with Abou Ben Adim, "Write me as one who loves his fellow men." Indirect results of his persistent working upon the intelligence of the people can be seen in our Riverside Cemetery, our Narragansett Pier Railroad, stone roads and many other important works. He married in 1854, Caroline, daughter of Hon. Samuel Rodman, and has three sons: Benjamin F. Robinson, Jr., in business with his father in Wakefield; Samuel Rodman Robinson, a cattle man in Colorado, and Rowland Rodman Robinson, M.D., a graduate of Harvard University.

<< Do you know if they are descendant of xxx mentioned in the "History of Washington and Kent Counties, RI"? >> Several people have written asking for information similar to the above question. There are several of us working to transcribe this book, to share with the mailing lists, and to ultimately be put on the RI GenWeb internet site. None of us have the actual book, but we are working from copies of individual pages. We can not provide any information beyond that which we are sending to the mailing lists, unless we are lucky enough to just happen to have that family in our own trees, much as we would like to be able to do so. Please be patient with us, we are typing as fast as we can! Tricia

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 507. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. THE ROBINSON FAMILY. – Rowland Robinson built his house before the middle of the last century. It stood about one mile west of Narragansett bay and a half mile north of the old Colonial highway that leads to and from the South Ferry. It was a gambrel roofed house, and including negro quarters was one hundred and five feet in length, but was subsequently cut down to fifty-four feet front. The house has been occupied of late years by Rowland F. Gardiner. The timber for this structure was cut on the estate, and the house was elaborately finished. Mr. Hazard says: "In a recent visit to these premises I took especial note of the middle cross beam that supports the chamber floor over the west front room (this room is 20 by 20 feet). It is twenty feet long and twelve inches square, and is without support underneath its full length; yet I could not perceive that in the century and more that had passed since it was placed there it had sagged or bent in the least degree. All the rooms in the house are finished after the same costly pattern, and most of the fire places ornamented [508] with the old-fashioned Chinese tiles. The dining room is 22 by 20 feet in dimensions. On the panel over the fire place, in a back room on the ground floor, is a large, ancient painting in which the artist has in a more graphic than finished style sketched in oil, a stag or deer hunt that occurred on the premises while the house was being built. The huntsmen are depicted fully accoutered in their sporting costumes, with high flap boots, and sitting or rather standing very erect in their stirrups. "The chamber over the west room was occupied for some time during the revolutionary war by the Marquis Lafayette, and has ever since been designated by the successive occupants of the premises, the Lafayette chamber. In making some repairs some two ounce bullets were found imbedded in the plank in front of this room. Whether there is any historical significance attached to this incident, I have not learned." A large apartment over the dining room is called to this day the "Unfortunate Hannah's Chamber," from its having been occupied by a beautiful daughter of Mr. Robinson by that name, whose tragic story is told at length in Hazard's "Recollections of Olden Times." The cupboard is still shown in which her lover used to retreat when the steps of her irascible father were heard on the stairs. Rowland Robinson, the first, ran away from his parents and escaped on board a ship from England to the colonies, and bound himself to a carpenter. By good behavior he soon got advanced in business, and bought from the Indians large tracts of land on which he built partly with his own hands the homestead in Point Judith. He married a rich farmer's daughter, had many children, and from his eldest son, William, the Robinson family are descended. Rowland Robinson was born in 1654 at or near a place called Long Bluff, in Cumberland, England. He came to this country in 1675, and in 1676 married Mary, the daughter of John and Mary Allen, who were from Barnstable, England. Rowland Robinson died at his residence, situated near the pond or cove of Pettaquamscutt river in 1716, aged 62 years. He and his wife were both buried in the Narragansett Friends' burial ground, South Kingstown, about two miles south of Tower Hill village. Mr. Robinson's lands were purchased of the Narragansett Indians. He also purchased largely in the Pettaquamscutt and Point Judith lands. On these lands he built several houses, and sold farms containing from one hundred and fifty to three hundred acres each. [509] Rowland Robinson's children were as follows: John, who married Mary Hazard in 1703; Joseph, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, married William Brown in 1698; Margaret, who married Thomas Mumford in 1703; Sarah, who married James Barton in 1712; Rowland, who died at the age of five years; Mercy, who married Colonel John Potter in 1714; William, who married Martha Potter in 1717; and his second wife, Mrs. Abigail G. Hazard in 1727 or 1728; Mary, who married Thomas C. Hazard in 1727; Rowland, who died in infancy; Sarah who married Charles Babcock in 1725; and Ruth, the twelfth and youngest child, who married Robert Underwood in 1728. Governor William Robinson was the eighth child of Rowland. By his first wife, Martha Potter, was born Rowland, who married Anstis Gardiner in 1741. The children of Rowland Robinson were: Hannah, born in 1746, married Peter Simons in 1773, who went to Europe after the death of this celebrated beauty; Mary; William R., who married Ann Scott in 1784. John, the second child of Governor William Robinson, died in 1739, a youth of eighteen years; Margaret married William Mumford in 1745; Elizabeth married Thomas Hazard in 1745; Martha married Latham Clarke in 1747. Christopher, the first child of Governor William Robinson by his second wife, married Ruhama Champlin in 1752; William married Hannah Brown in 1752; Thomas married Sarah Richardson in 1752; Abigail married John Wanton in 1751; Sylvester married Alice Perry in 1756; Mary married John Dockray in 1756; James married Nancy Rodman; John married Sarah Peckham. The above gives the heads of families only, but is sufficient in a sketch of this character to show the relationship of the Robinson family to innumerable other ones in South Kingstown who are in one way or another connected. Following we give the sad circumstances connected with the unfortunate Hannah Robinson. Rowland Robinson was the eldest son of Governor William Robinson by his first wife. He was a gentleman of opulence, and sustained many responsible offices under the state government. His noble mansion is still standing in a good state of preservation, and is one of the remaining memorials of the aristocracy of the past ages. His children were Hannah, Mary and William. Mary died single, at middle age; William married Ann the daughter of George [510] Scott of Newport, and died a short time previous to his father, without issue. Hannah was styled "The unfortunate Hannah Robinson." She was the celebrated beauty of her day, and if unbroken tradition is sufficient authority, the appellation was justly bestowed. The late Doctor William Bowen, of Providence, frequently conversed about her and observed that Miss Robinson was the most perfect model of beauty that he ever knew, and that he frequently visited at her father's; that her figure was graceful and dignified, her complexion fair and beautiful, and her manner urbane and captivating; that he was passionately fond of her, and proposed to her a matrimonial union. She replied that his wishes to promote her happiness were highly flattering; that as a friend she should ever entertain for him the highest respect, and in that character should ever be extremely gratified to see him; but that she was bound to disclose to him, however reluctant she felt to give him pain, that she was engaged. He further observed that though disappointed in the hope he had so ardently cherished, the refusal was imparted with such suavity and tenderness, united with personal respect, that though disappointed, he felt consoled. The late Hon. Elisha R. Potter, Judge Waite and others who knew Miss Robinson, fully confirmed Doctor Bowen's testimony in respect to her personal beauty and accomplished manners. Mr. Peter Simons, a young gentleman of Newport, became early attached to Miss Robinson; they had been schoolmates and the attachment was reciprocal. Her father, without any apparent reason, was hostile to the connection, and his efforts were unwearied to prevent their union. Mr. Robinson in temperament was constitutionally irritable, rash and unyielding. His antipathies, when once fixed, no reason or argument could remove. Mr. Simons had early in life become attached to Miss Robinson; it had been reciprocated; their disposition were congenial; time had cemented their affections; she had plighted her faith, and no promise or threats could induce her to violate the vows she had made; she could become a martyr; she could suffer, but she could not betray her own heart or the faith that another had reposed in her. As might have been expected, the violent and unreasonable measures adopted by her father, instead of subduing, only increased the fervor of their attachment. Her conduct was constantly subjected to the strictest scrutiny. If she walked, her movements were watched; if she rode, a servant was ordered [511] to be in constant attendance; if a visit was contemplated, he immediately concluded it was only a pretense for an arranged interview; and even after departure, if the most trifling circumstance gave color to the suspicion, he would immediately pursue and compel her to return. In one instance she left home to visit her aunt in New London. Her father soon afterward discovered from his windows a vessel leaving Newport and taking a course for the same place. Although the vessel and the persons on board were wholly unknown to him, his jealousies were immediately aroused, conjecturing it was Mr. Simons intending to fulfill an arrangement previously made. He hastened to New London, arrived a few hours only after his daughter, and insisted on her instant return. No persuasion or argument could induce him to change his determination, and she was compelled to return with him. Her uncle, the late Colonel John Gardiner, commiserated the condition of his unfortunate niece. He knew her determination was not to be changed or her resolution overcome by parental exaction, however severe; and aware that the wrongs she had already undergone had sensibly affected her health and would soon destroy her constitution, with a generosity and disinterestedness that belonged to his character, contrived interviews between Mr. Simons and Miss Robinson unknown to her father. The window where she sat and the shrubbery behind which his person was concealed at these evening interviews are still shown by the family residing there. These were perilous meetings, for such was the antipathy of the father, that detection would probably have resulted in instant death for Mr. Simons; but as usual in such cases, their precautions were in proportion to the imminence of their danger. All efforts to obtain the consent of her father, aided by the influence of her mother, having proved unavailing, and seeing no prospect of his ever becoming reconciled to their union, she abandoned all further efforts to reconcile him to her wishes, and consented to make arrangements for an elopement. Having obtained her father's consent to visit her aunt Updike, near Wickford, she left home, accompanied by the servant who usually attended her. On arriving at the gate that led to her aunt's house Mr. Simons was in waiting with a carriage, as had been previously arranged, and disregarding the expostulations of the servant, who feared for his own safety should he return without [512] her, she entered the carriage, and that evening they were married in Providence. The intelligence of the elopement, when communicated to Mr. Robinson by the servant, roused all the fury of his ire. He offered a reward for their apprehension, but no discovery could be made. Every friend and relative became accessory to their concealment. Even the name of the clergyman who performed the nuptial ceremony could never be ascertained, but the anticipated happiness of the beautiful and ill-fated lady was destined to be short lived. The severity with which she had been treated, the unkind and harrowing perplexities she had endured, has do materially affected her health and preyed upon her constitution, that in a few short months the fairest of her sex exhibited evident symptoms of a speedy decline. At the urgent solicitation of her mother, Mr. Robinson finally permitted the daughter once more to return; but it was too late, the ceaseless vigils of a mother's love could not restore her, and in a few short weeks this beautiful and unfortunate woman, the victim of a father's relentless obstinacy, expired in the arms of her husband.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 501. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. JOSEPH PEACE HAZARD was born February 17th, 1807, in Burlington, N.J., from whence he a few weeks after removed with his parents to Bristol, Penn., and remained until his thirteenth year, when Peace Dale became his home. At the age of nice years he was placed in school at Westtown, Penn., and pursued his studies at this point until the age of fourteen. He then [502] busied himself in the mill owned by his eldest brother, and in 1835 erected a woolen mill at Peace Dale, which was operated for several years and subsequently leased, after which he abandoned business. Having a taste for travel, Mr. Hazard acquainted himself thoroughly with the land of his birth, and in 1856 made the tour of Europe, spending much time in the cities of London and Rome, which with their historic and antiquarian associations, proved especially attractive to him. For many years much of his time was spent abroad until 1879, when he returned to his native land. During the last two years of his tour he made the circuit of the globe, including the islands of Japan and Iceland, and many other interesting but less frequented points. His home for the past three years has been chiefly at Peace Dale. Mr. Hazard was among the first to foresee the advantages possessed by Narragansett Pier as a popular resort, and at an early day furnished means to aid in its development, and promote its growth as a business center. He is still a considerable holder of land at that point, and in 1846 began the erection of what is known as the "Castle," a picuresque structure surmounted by two towers. Mr. Hazard is in no sense a politician. His sympathies are with the prohibition party, though ever opposed to the claims of a candidate whom he deems an improper person, regardless of party. ROWLAND HAZARD, eldest son of Rowland Gibson Hazard and Caroline Newbold, his wife, was born in Newport, R.I., August 16th, 1829. His parents moved to Peace Dale, R.I., in 1833, and it was in Peace Dale that he grew to manhood. He attended Nine Partners' School in Dutchess county, N.Y., in 1835-6, the Kingston Academy in 1836-7, and later studied Latin and mathematics with the Reverend Thomas Vernon, then living on Kingston Hill. In 1845 he went to the Friends' College, at Haverford, but upon the temporary suspension of that place of learning, concluded to enter Brown University. In the autumn of the same year he entered the Sophomore class in mathematics, and the Freshman in other studies, intending to take only a partial course, as he was not fully prepared in Greek. He soon, however, determined to fit himself for the full course; and by entering the Freshman class gained time from the mathematical work, in which he was in advance, to devote to the study of Greek. He graduated in 1849, ranking in the first third of the class. In the department of mathematics he showed ability, having taken [503] the first prize for three years, and a second prize the fourth year. He also took the philosophical prize for the best essay in that department. At this time threatening of serious trouble with the lungs obliged him to seek a milder climate, and the winter of 1850-1 was spent at the South with his friend and classmate, Mr. James B. Angell. The winter of 8152-3 was passed with the same companion in Europe, chiefly in Italy. In 1854 Mr. Hazard married Margaret, daughter of the Reverend Anson Rood, of Philadelphia, and built his house at Oakwoods, in Peace Dale, which has since remained his home. He has always been active in village and town affairs. At the time of his marriage there was no church in Peace Dale, and one of his first cares was the organization of a Sunday school in the school house. February 13th, 1857, in response to his invitation, thirteen people met at his house, and the Second Congregational Church of South Kingstown was organized. In the autumn of the previous year the large stone building, in which is the Peace Dale hall, had been finished from his plans, and the little church worshipped in that. In 1872 he built the present stone church, drawing the plans himself, down to the minutest detail, and almost standing by at the laying of every stone. With the exception of a few contributions, Mr. Hazard bore the expense of the building, and it was presented to the society, free from debt, at its dedication. Mr. Hazard has always had great interest in architecture, and made careful study of the laws of construction. He built the bridge over Pettaquamscutt river, in 1867. The large worsted mill was built after his plans, in 1872, the weaving shed at a later date, and the stone bridges about Peace Dale are all of his building. One bridge of a single stone arch, with a span of forty feet, is said to be the largest single arch in the state. He was largely instrumental in establishing the Narragansett Library, in 1855. In the organization of the High School he was greatly interested, giving the land for the building, and assisting in its maintenance. In everything relating to the improvement of the village and town he has had an active part, suggesting and planning measures for the good of the people. He laid out Oak Dell cemetery, has opened roads through his own lands and those of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company for the convenience of the public, drew the plan of the town house in Wakefield, and throughout his life has [504] been active in everything which could promote the welfare of his town. The well-being of those in his employ he has had closely at heart. From 1855 to 1860 he acted as superintendent of the Peace Dale mills, and became thoroughly acquainted with all the details of the business, and the needs of the operatives. In 1864 he became treasurer and senior partner of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company. He remodeled the tenement houses, and inaugurated a policy of building single houses for the operatives, which they were encouraged to buy on easy terms of payment. A system of public gardens had been in vogue, each occupant of a tenement being entitled to a certain amount of land to cultivate. But these before long were abandoned, as each became possessed of his own land. The personal interest o f Mr. Hazard in the welfare of all in his employ has had much influence in making Peace Dale an exceptional community, free from strikes and other disquieting influences with which many manufacturing villages are inflicted. The distribution of profits and the question of the relation of capital and labor has received his earnest attention. After much study of the subject, and after a personal inspection of the cooperative establishments at Rochdale, England, and elsewhere, he decided to introduce a system of profit sharing into the Peace Dale mills. The plan proposed was set forth in the following circular, which with the consent of his brother, John N. Hazard, he wrote and issued in 1878: "For some years past the subject of co-operation has been attentively considered by the members of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company. The great depression which has, during that time, existed in the shawl trade has prevented the adoption of any special plan. It would have been useless to offer co-operation to laborers when there was prospect of loss instead of profit. Just here observe that labor can not run the risk of loss, the argument seems sound that it should have the advantage of corresponding gain. However just the principle, there has been developed in practice, particularly in Europe, a tendency to bring labor and capital into antagonistic relations. This is a false position. Capital and labor are inter-dependent. Their interests are identical. Neither is [505] of value without the other, and only when they work together in harmony are the best results attainable. In view of these facts several systems of co-operation have been devised, by which the laborer may obtain a larger share of the product of his labor than usually falls to his lot. The only one which seems to be applicable to the circumstances of the case of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company, is that which the company has adopted as follows: "The Peace Dale Manufacturing Company proposes, in each year in which there are surplus profits, to divide a sum among all its employees, which sum shall depend upon the results of the year's business. This sum cannot under ordinary circumstances be very large. Before anything can be set apart for it, wages must be paid, interest must be paid, and profit on capital must be paid. Then an amount must be set aside to make good wear and tear of buildings, to replace worn out machinery, and to strengthen the reserve funds, that the company may be able to pass through a year, or a series of years of depression. The importance of this last is seen in the experience of the past five years, when but for the existence of such reserve funds the mills would have been obliged to stop. Out of what is left after all these things are provided for, the bonus for labor must be taken. "Under present conditions the items before mentioned, on the average absorb nearly all the profits, leaving little or nothing out of which to pay this proposed bonus; whatever is left will, however, feel the full effect of any extra care and attention on the part of the employees. If they prevent waste of material, if they save the wear and tear of machines, if they are diligent so that a large amount of work is performed, the sum out of which the bonus is to be paid will be enlarged. Indeed, in proposing this bonus the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company confidently expects that the increased care and diligence which it will thus be the direct interest of each employee to exercise, will result in a saving which will go far toward providing the means of payment. "The mode of distributing this bonus will be by making a dividend of so much per cent. upon the amount of wages earned during the year by the persons entitled to receive the bonus. This percentage will be fixed by the directors of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company, in view of the year's results, and if in their judgement, after providing for all other contingencies, there is not enough left to make a dividend of one per cent., no dividend will be made for that year. [506] "In case of a dividend it will be paid on and after the 20th day of March in each year, to all employees who were in the employ of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company during the preceding month of January, and who were in said employ for at least seven months out of the twelve next preceding the first day of February. The amount of wages earned by each employee during the twelve months next preceding the first day of February, shall be taken (to the nearest whole dollar), as the amount upon which the percentage is to be calculated to ascertain the amount of dividend to be paid each said employee. "Employees who have been discharged for cause, who have not worked at least seven months during the year ending January 31st, or who have voluntarily left the employ of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company previous to that date will not be entitled to any dividend. This plan of co-operation is adopted as an experiment only. If after trial it fails to accomplish the ends proposed, among which greater neatness, care, and attention in all departments of the works are especially desirable, it will be abandoned. The Peace Dale Manufacturing Company expressly reserves to itself the right to modify or discontinue the plan, whenever it shall deem proper; but it also expresses the hope that its continued working will be productive of only good results." Mr. Hazard has also been much interested in agriculture and the improvement of breeds of cattle, and is the president of the Washington County Agricultural Society, to which office he was elected at the organization of the society in 1876. Before this society he has annually (with the exception of one year) delivered an address, in which he has discussed not only agricultural topics, such as the different breeds of cattle, the raising of various crops, dairy farming, ensilage and other cattle foods, but questions of general interest, a sound currency, taxation, the tariff and civil service reform. These and kindred topics have been treated with great fairness and ability, Mr. Hazard making it his aim to convince his hearers, among whom are many farmers, of their vital interest in all that pertains to good government. Some of these addresses have been published and widely circulated, and have attracted the attention of scholars. [507] Mr. Hazard served the town of South Kingstown as moderator for several years, and in the state legislature as representative in 1863, and as senator in 1867 and 1868. He was the independent candidate for governor in 1875, receiving the plurality of votes, but failed of election in the legislature. His candidacy was regarded at the time as a severe rebuke to party methods of management, which had corrupted the people to an alarming extent. In politics he has always been a republican, but not one who yielded the right of private judgment. In late years, therefore, he has been an independent, voting when it was possible with the republicans, but for the best candidate without regard to party lines. Mr. Hazard has been interested in the production of lead. He took charge of Mine La Motte, Missouri, in 1875, when the estate was badly run down, and it has required much attention to make it productive. His active mind has naturally been interested in all new industries. In 1881 he took steps to introduce the manufacture of soda ash into this country. Previously nearly the whole supply had been imported and none had been made by the ammonia process. He was instrumental in organizing the Solvay Process Company of Syracuse, N.Y., and became its president. The first soda ash made by the ammonia process in America was produced by this company in January, 1884, and Mr. Hazard's large experience and practical wisdom have greatly aided the infant industry. The works have grown from a production of forty tons of ash a day to one hundred and fifty tons a day.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 498. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. ROWLAND GIBSON HAZARD, the third son of Rowland Hazard and Mary Peace, his wife, was born in his grandfather's house on Tower Hill, South Kingstown, October 9th, 1801. His family for several generations had been extensive farmers in the neighborhood. Tradition asserts that the son of the first immigrant, who settled in Newport, came to Narragansett in 1671. By a deed in the possession of the family, dated 1698, portions of the Pettaquamscutt purchase, amounting to nearly a thousand acres, were conveyed by Judge Samuel Sewall to Thomas Hazard, the grandson of the first settler. These lands include the present [499] site of Peace Dale; the whole of Little Point Judith Neck, and the lands upon which Narragansett Pier now stands. To this original purchase more land was added, until the Hazards were among the largest landholders in New England. It was from such a vigorous race that Rowland Gibson Hazard sprung. In early childhood he was taken to Bristol, Pa., to the home of his maternal grandfather, Isaac Peace. He attended school in Burlington, N.J., across the Delaware, and in Bristol, and in 1813 was sent to Westtown school, an excellent school under the charge of the Society of Friends, of which society his parents were members. Here he remained five years and developed a strong taste for mathematics, discovering some new modes of demonstration in conic sections. This school gave him a thorough training in the branches it taught, and though he lamented his want of a classical education, yet by his own reading he early acquired a knowledge of classical history. In 1819 Mr. Hazard returned to Rhode Island, and with his brother, Isaac Peace Hazard, took charge of the manufacturing business at Peace Dale, in which their father was engaged Linsey–woolsey and goods chiefly sold at the South were ten made. Under the management of the brothers, the business largely increased. From 1833 to 1843 Mr. Hazard made yearly visits to the South, and had the opportunity to see the workings of slavery, an institution which he abhorred. In New Orleans, through his efforts, many free negroes unjustly detained in the chain-gang were released. His speech on the fugitive slave law in the Rhode Island legislature, in 1850, while generous and appreciative of the slave owners' position, is a powerful denunciation of the institution. In 1835 Mr. Hazard published his first Essay on Language, though the title page bears the imprint 1836. This was published anonymously, and attracted the attention of Dr. William Ellery Channing, who discovered the author and came to Peace Dale to see him. This acquaintance ripened into friendship, and acting on the advice of Dr. Channing, Mr. Hazard began to reflect upon the problems of free will and necessity, which finally led to the publication of the book on The Will in 1864. Of this book Dr. E.G. Robinson remarks: "For subtle analysis, or originality of argument, for lucidity of statement, for ingenuity and freshness of illustration, and for conclusiveness of reasoning [500] from its premises, no book yet written on the Will is entitled to take precedence." A visit to Europe in 1864 enabled Mr. Hazard to make the acquaintance of John Stuart Mill, and conversation and correspondence with him gave rise to the book on Causation and Freedom in Willing, published in 1869. This is regarded by competent critics as his ablest book, and as the best refutation of the Hume and Mill doctrine of causality that has yet appeared. This metaphysical work was carried on in the midst of pressing business. Mr. Hazard perceived the necessity for regulating the powers of railroad corporations, and in speeches in the legislature, in 1851 and 1854, enunciated principles which have since passed into the inter-state commerce law. The adjustment of the tariff and national finance occupied his mind. During the war he rendered important service in inspiring confidence in the national credit. After the war the construction of new railroads occupied him. In town affairs he took an active interest, delivering addresses on public questions, such as bribery and temperance and public schools, before the local societies. He represented the town in both house and senate on several occasions from 1850 to 1880. He gave the present town house to the town in 1877, and took an active interest in the building of the Narragansett Pier railroad. He married, September 25th, 1828, Caroline, daughter of John Newbold, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He died June 24th, 1888, beloved and respected by his neighbors. The following list of published writings shows the extent of his work in various directions: Complete Works of Rowland Gibson Hazard. Edited by his Granddaughter, Caroline Hazard. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1889. Vol. I. – Language, 1835; The Adaptation of the Universe to the Cultivation of the Mind, 1841; Intemperance, 1843; The Philosophical character of Channing, 1845; Public Schools, 1845; character and Writings of Chief Justice Durfee, 1848; The Duty of Individuals to Support Science and Literature, 1855; To Write Well, Write about What You Know Little or Nothing about, 1864. Vol. II. – Freedom of Mind in Willing; or, Every Being that Wills a Creative First Cause. First published in 1864. [501] Contents: Of the Existence of Spirit; Of the Existence of Matter; Of Mind; Liberty or Freedom; Of Cause; Of the Will; Of Want; Of Matter as Cause; Of Spirit as Cause; Freedom of Intelligence; Instinct and Habit; Illustration from Chess; Of Want and Effort in Various Orders of Intelligence; Of Effort for Internal Change; Conclusion. Review of Edwards on the Will. – Edwards' Definition of Will; Liberty as Defined by Edwards; Natural and Moral Necessity; Self-Determination; No Event without a Cause; Of the Will's Determining in Things Indifferent; Relation of Indifference to Freedom in Willing; Contingence; Connection of the Will with the Understanding; Motive; Cause and Effect; God's Foreknowledge; Conclusion. Vol. III – Two Letters on Causation and Freedom in Willing, addressed to John Stuart Mill. With other Papers. Contents: Letter on Causation; Letter on Freedom in Willing; The Existence of Matter; Our Notions of Infinite Space, 1869; Animals not Automata, 1874; Letter on Causation to Francis Wharton, LL.D., 1878; and Man a Creative First Cause, 1883. Vol. IV. – Economics and Politics. A Series of Papers upon Public Questions, written on various occasions from 1840 to 1885. Contents: The Decline of Political Morality, 1840; Letter on Specie Payment, 1843; Speech on the Fugitive Slave Law, 1850; Railroad Corporations and the Public, 1849; Speech on a Bill to Equalize the Charges for Carrying Freight, 1851; Speech on the Railroad Bill, 1854; Bribery, 1854; The Narragansett Speech, 1856; Address to Republican Electors, 1860; Duties on Wool, 1864; Additional Arguments before Committee of Ways and Means, 1864; Woolen Manufactures as Affected by the Tariff, 1866; Our Resources, 1864; Letter to President Lincoln, 1864; Hours of Labor, 1866; How to Resume Specie Payments, 1866; Reconstruction, 1866; Union Pacific Railroad Circular, 1867; Payment of the Five-twenty Bonds, 1867; Inflated Currency, 1868; Our Finances, 1868; letter on Woman's Suffrage, 1868; Grant and Colfax Speech, 1868; Argument on Constitutional Rights, 1873; The Tariff, 1865.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 495. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. ISAAC PEACE HAZARD was born October 3d, 1794, in South Kingstown, R.I., at the residence of his grandfather, Thomas [496] Hazard (known as "College Tom") on the southeastern slope of Tower Hill, near where William T. Nichols now lives. He was the oldest of the nine children of Rowland Hazard and Mary Peace, his wife. In 1789, Rowland Hazard had in connection with his cousin, Stephen Ayrault Robinson, established a mercantile business in Charleston, S.C. under the firm name of Hazard & Robinson. As a consequence he spent much of his time in Charleston, though he did not make it his permanent residence. The firm had consignments of merchandise from the North, and in looking after these business connections Mr. Hazard made his headquarters at his father's house in Rhode Island. It was, however, in Charleston that he met and married his wife, Mary Peace, in 1793, and it is evidence that he still regarded South Kingstown as his home that he brought his bride to his father's house, and there his elder children were born, though the business in Charleston was continued for a number of years. Isaac Peace Hazard was therefore a true South Kingstown boy; he grew to manhood amid surroundings which imbued him with the true Rhode Island spirit. Throughout his long life he took great pride in his native state. He particularly admired that independence in thought and judgment, that rugged individuality which is a most marked feature of Rhode Island character. He had the advantage of attending the Friend's school at Westtown, near Philadelphia, Penn., an excellent institution, where the students were most carefully instructed in mathematics, and in all the English branches; foreign languages, ancient and modern, were not included in the course of study. On leaving this school he returned to South Kingstown, and at once began to assist his father in business. This was about 1810 or 1811. Some years previous the business in Charleston had been broken up by heavy losses of vessels taken by French privateers; losses for which the United States government subsequently was paid by France, but for which nothing has ever been paid to the losers. Rowland Hazard and his sons were, however, wise enough not to waste their energies in seeking redress from the government. They set to work to regain by labor the fortune which had been so unjustly taken away. Manufacturing was in its infancy. As early as 1750 there are indications that Thomas Hazard paid hand loom weavers for several kinds of cloth, both linen and woolen, which he had woven and kept for sale in his store, but not till about 1800 is there any intimation [497] of an organized industry. At that time there was a fulling mill at Peace Dale, R.I., and Rowland Hazard bought an interest in it in 1802 and soon after set up a carding machine and a spinning jenny with Joseph Congdon and John Warner Knowles. When Isaac and his brother Rowland returned home from school they found these machines in operation and the manufacturing industry actually begun. Still much of the spinning was done by hand. The rolls of wool were made on the card, they were put up in bundles and taken on horseback to the different families where spinning was done on the large hand wheel. Afterward the yarn was collected, arranged for weaving, and put out again to be woven on hand looms. The attending to this work, involving as it did long hours in the saddle, in all weathers, gave ample occupation to the young men. Isaac Peace Hazard may thus be said to have grown up with the manufacturing industry in the United States. The year of his birth (1794) witnessed the starting of the first carding machine in this country. This was by Schofield in Massachusetts. He himself actually saw as a boy the starting of the first carding machine in Rhode Island between 1802 and 1804. Subsequently keeping pace with the inventions as they were made, he, with his brother, built up a large flourishing industry at Peace Dale. It was at Peace Dale that the greater part of his life was spent. He took a most kindly interest in the welfare of all his neighbors there. He was constantly appealed to for advice and assistance, and no one whom he could aid ever applied to him in vain. He possessed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He never sought political power or office, but in response to the earnest solicitations of his townsmen he on six occasions represented the town of South Kingstown in the general assembly, vis.: August 28th, 1838, April 17th and August 27th, 1839, April 20 and August 30th, 1842, and April 5th, 1843, there being at that time semi-annual elections for the general assembly in Rhode Island. He, in connection with his brother, Thomas R. Hazard, of Vaucluse, on the island of Rhode Island, became very much impressed with the necessity of improved and more humane methods in the care of the insane and of the poor. The personal investigations of Thomas R. Hazard and the reports he made brought about a revolution in the state and a very general [498] reform. The two brothers, working together, were largely instrumental in securing the establishment of the Butler Hospital for the Insane, which Cyrus Butler liberally endowed. Rowland G. Hazard also aided in obtaining the necessary funds, so that the three brothers are connected with the founding of that beneficent institution. From the organization of the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company, in 1848, he was the president of the company until he retired in 1864. His brother, Rowland G. Hazard, was the treasurer, but the names of the offices do not indicate with any exactness the duties which each discharged. They divided the conduct of the business between them, working together harmoniously. After his retirement from active business in 1864 he went to live with his sisters in Newport, R.I. He there was loved and honored by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and as he entered into the decline of life, he appeared a striking example of a beautiful and happy old age. He was never married, but continued to live in Newport with his sisters until he died on the 28th of March, 1879. He lies buried at Peace Dale, in the Oak Dell Cemetery, among scenes with which he was so familiar, and among the people whose welfare he had so much at heart. His monument bears the following inscription: ISAAC PEACE HAZARD BORN IN SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.. OCT. 3, 1794, DIED IN NEWPORT, R.I., MARCH 28TH, 1879. He was a man of broad and active benevolence, prompt to denounce injustice and ever ready to befriend all whom he could serve.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 492. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. THE HAZARD FAMILY. – The Hazards are a numerous family. Watson, in his "Historic Tales of Olden Times," says Mrs. Maria Hazard, of South Kingstown, R.I., mother of the governor, died in 1739 at the age of one hundred years, and could count up five hundred children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren – two hundred and five of them being then alive. A granddaughter of hers had already been a grandmother fifteen years. "Probably," says Updike, "this instance of Rhode Island fruitfulness may match against the world." The Hazards have descended from Thomas Hazard, who emigrated from Wales about the year 1630 to the Jerseys, and came to Rhode Island in 1639. His name appears among the elders appointed April 28th, 1639. Thomas Hazard died in 1677. The Hazard family take their name, says Willis P. Hazard, from the two words "has," high, and "ard," nature, meaning of high disposition, proud, independent. These two words are of the ancient British or Welsh language, spoken and written by the people of that name, and more nearly allied to the Gallic than the Teutonic. The name was originally spelled Hasard. As a race they are strongly marked, strong physically, of good stature, of vigorous frame, with rather a square head, high forehead and complexion fair, a little inclined to florid. The coat of arms handed down through generations has three escalops and three bars, with an escalop rampant for a crest. The motto adopted is "Sinceritas;" "Be just and fear not." Thomas Hazard came over from Wales in 1630 or 1632. He is said to have first visited Jersey, then to have gone to Boston, where he was made a freeman in 1636, then to Long Island, where he founded Newtown, then to Rhode Island. His son, about four years old, came with him, and he was the only son who crossed the sea with him as far as can be ascertained. His children were: Robert, George, Jeremiah, Benjamin, Stephen, Jonathan and Thomas. From these sons a numerous issue have descended, and many of them distinguished men. George Hazard, who was deputy governor of the colony from 1734 to 1738, was a [493] descendant of the first settler. He lived and died in South Kingstown. Thomas Hazard (College Tom) was a descendant of the first settler in the fourth generation. He entered college, but having been early indoctrinated in the faith of the Quakers, he became conscientious respecting collegiate honors, and left the institution before the regular period of conferring degrees. He married Elizabeth, the daughter William Robinson, and settled on his farm in his native town of South Kingstown, near Tower Hill. Mr. Hazard was comely in person, large in stature, and of great physical strength. He was a preacher of the Society of Friends for forty years before his death, and tradition speaks of him as a strong, forcible and argumentative speaker. He was deservedly popular in his denomination, and was the first in his society that advocated the abolition of negro slavery, and traveled much as a public Friend, preaching the doctrine of emancipation among his brethren. Mr. Isaac P. Hazard, in a communication to Mr. Updike, says: "My grandfather's mind had once (if not oftener) been turned to the subject of slavery when directed by his father to oversee some slaves at their labor on a very hot day. He took a book and sat under the shade of a tree, but from the extreme heat he could not, even in that situation, keep comfortably cool. This led him, while the laborers were toiling in the heat, to contrast slavery with freedom, and he became thoroughly convinced of the error of holding slaves. This conviction he communicated to his father, and signified to him his intention of cultivating his farm by free labor. His father at that time being the largest farmer and one of the largest slave holders in New England, and considering his son's views, if persisted in, would greatly injure if not ruin himself and neighbors, endeavored to dissuade him from it, but finding him determined, threatened to disinherit him if he persisted. The subject occasioned a coolness between them for some time. Her persevered in what he believed to be his duty, expecting from the firm and unchangeable character of his father and family to be disinherited." He commenced cultivating his farm with free labor, and labored himself in the cause of negro emancipation, visiting various parts of New England and New York to promulgate his views. Mr. Jeremiah Austin was an overseer or manager of his farm. He also shared the views of Mr. Hazard on the subject of [494] negro emancipation, and finding himself after the death of his father the possessor of a single slave, his sole inheritance, he freed him and worked himself as a day laborer. In person Mr. Hazard was large, full six feet in height, and weighed about two hundred and fifty pounds, and possessed great strength both in body and mind. He died at South Kingstown August 26th, 1795, aged about 76. He lived on the farm owned by William T. Nichols, and was buried in the Friends' burial ground, near where the Tower Hill House now stands. His children were Sarah and Rowland. The daughter died young. Rowland Hazard, the founder of the mills at Peace Dale, was born April 4th, 1763, and died at Washington Hollow, near Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1835, aged 72. He married Mary Peace, who died in 1853. Their children were: Isaac Peace, born in 1794; Thomas Robinson, born in 1797; Elizabeth Gibson, born in 1799; Rowland Gibson, born in 1801; William R., born in 1803; Joseph Peace, born in 1807; Isabella Wakefield, born in 1810; Mary Peace, born in 1814; and Anna, in 1820. Rowland Hazard engaged early in mercantile pursuits, but was finally ruined through the operations of Napoleon's Berlin and Milan decrees, under which there were no less than seven ships and other vessels confiscated of which his mercantile firm was sole or part owner. He returned to South Kingstown and engaged in the manufacture of cotton and wool lindseys, about the beginning of the present century. Thomas R. Hazard, the author of "Recollections of Olden Times," was a son of Rowland Hazard. He was born in South Kingstown, R.I., January 3d, 1797, and married Frances Minturn, daughter of Jonas Minturn, of New York, October 12th, 1838. Thomas R. Hazard wrote the work above referred to when over eight-one years of age. "Recollections of Olden Times," besides giving a history of the Robinson, Hazard and Sweet families, and from which we have by consent copied freely, contains also a sketch of the romantic life of the unfortunate Hannah Robinson. The narrative and genealogies first appeared simultaneously in the Newport Mercury and Narragansett Times, in the latter part of the year 1877 and early part of 1878. Their perusal excited considerable public interest, which led to their publication in book form. The work was issued in 1879. The style is vigorous, terse and healthful throughout, and the subjects under discussion very ably treated. The author, in [495] speaking of himself, says: "Thomas R. Hazard, the compiler of these tables, has been an earnest worker in the cause of what is called modern spiritualism since the year 1856, and whatever may be his merits or demerits otherwise, he has no higher ambition than that his name should be handed down to coming generations associated with this fact alone." Governor George Brown's house afterward became the homestead of Geoffrey Hazard, called Stout Geoffrey. This house was in Boston Neck. Mr. Hazard, in his "Recollections of Olden Times," in speaking of this giant in strength says: "Stout Geoffrey, if the half is told be true, must have approached nearer in physical strength to the fabled Hercules than almost any other man known in modern times. I have heard old people say that Stout Geoffrey was remarkably broad across the shoulders and so thick through the chest than when he stood with his face fronting you his head looked as if it were set unnaturally far back on his shoulders, and that when his back was toward you it looked as though he stooped, his head seeming to project so far in the contrary direction. Most marvelous stores used to be told and vouched for within my memory of the feats of strength performed by Stout Geoffrey, and also those of a sister who married a Wilcox. There may now be seen on the lawn in front of Rowland Hazard's house at Peace Dale, in Narragansett, a blue stone weighing by the scales sixteen hundred and twenty pounds that Mr. Hazard had drawn with oxen some years ago from Stout Geoffrey's homestead in Boston Neck, with which the following tradition is associated. Several negros were engaged in laying a wall on the premises when Stout Geoffrey, chancing to observe a large stone lying near by that they had neglected to build into a wall, asked why they had left it out. ‘Cos, massa, it be too heavy,' was the reply. Thereupon Stout Geoffrey stooped down, and taking the stone partly on his knees, carried it some twenty feet from the wall, and dropping it on the ground, said: ‘Let that stone lie there until a man is found strong enough to put it back again.'" It was said that Stout Geoffrey and his sister would alternately lift in playful sport, a full barrel of cider – thirty one gallons – by the chimes and holding it up drink at its bung; a thing hard to believe in these degenerate days.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 488. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. FREEMEN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN. – "A list of freemen belonging to South Kingstown taken from ye Records of ye Late Kingstown September ye 16, 1723. The former List (See North Kingstown) bearing Date the 12th of December, 1696: Moses Barber, Nathaniel Niles, Henry Gardner, Samuel Hopkins, Thomas Hazard, Stephen Hazard, William Congdon, Joseph Hull, William Gardner, Samuel Warden, jr., Samuel Helms, John Watson, jr., James Kinyon, Robert Hannah, George Babcock, Thomas Potter, Robert Potter, Jonathan Turner, John Shelden, jr., Ichabod Potter, Christopher Allen, Daniel McCooun, Joseph Cass, jr., Solomon Carpenter, Abiel Sherman, Stephen Wilcox and son, Nathaniel Gardner, Robert Cass, Henry Gardner, Ephraim Gardner, Benjamin Sheffield, Edmond Sheffield, Daniel Smith, George Hazard, Nathan Niles, Thomas Joslin, John Kinyon, Peter Boss, William Robinson, Richard Mumford, Daniel Knowles, William Mumford, Robert Knowles, Stephen Hazard, jr., Robert Hazard, jr., Joseph Mumford, Jeremiah Sheffield, Emanuel Cass, George Hazard, son of Thomas; John Gardner, Benjamin Mumford, Benjamin Hazard, Thomas Potter, jr., Ichabod Potter, jr., Peleg Mumford, Joseph Congdon, William Clarke, Ephraim Bull, Thomas Kinyon, George Babcock, jr., John Potter, son of Thomas, Samuel Barber, John Browning, Pasco Austin." EARLY BIRTHS. – William Congdon (son of William and Mary) was born ye 25th day of December, 1698. The children of Robert and Elizabeth Potter were: Marburg, born ye second day of February, 1697-8; Martha, born ye 10th day of August, 1699. George Babcock was married to Elizabeth Hall the 28th day of November, 1694. Mary Babcock was born to them the 20th day of September, on the 6th day of the week, 1695; George Babcock was born April 9th, 1699; David Babcock December 22d, 1700; Jonathan Babcock March 22d, 1702; Elizabeth (daughter of George) March 16th, 1704. [489] The births of the children of Joseph Cass and Hannah his wife: Joseph, July 16th, 1678; William, May 27th, 1681; Mary, December 2d, 1682; Hannah, July 6th, 1687; Margaret, August 20th, 1690; John, November 20th, 169–; Emanuel, November 2d, 1699. Children born to Moses Barber and Susannah his wife; Dinah, January 5th, 1692-3; Lydia, February 24th, 1693-4; Samuel, November 8th, 1695; Susannah, October 23d, 1697; Thomas, October 19th, 1699; Joseph, October 16th, 1701; Martha, November 30th, 1703; Ruth, June 23d, 1705; Benjamin, March 10th, 1706-7; Mary, March 13th, 1708-9; Ezekiel, March 6th, 1710; Abigail, January 6th, 1712-13. Mary Place (daughter of Enoch and Mary) was born October 16th, 1697. The children of Ephraim and Mary Bull: Mary, born July 30th, 1693; Rebeckah, July 27th, 1697; Content, November 24th, 1699. The children of Ephraim and Hannah Bull: Ephraim and Hannah, twins, born April 18th, 1702, "in ye night." Thomas Mumford, September 14th, 1706. James Allen, June 15th, 1688. He was son to Christopher and Elizabeth Allen. John, son to William and Elizabeth Brown, was born August 6th, 1708. Margaret Smith, daughter to John and Mary Smith, was born October 2d, 1708. Ruth Robinson, daughter to John and Mary Robinson, was born March 12th, 1708. Elizabeth Gardner, daughter to Elizabeth Gardner, was born May 17th, 1708. Bathsheba Smith, daughter to John and Mary Smith, was born April 7th, 1710. Henry Gardner, son to Henry and Abigail Remington, was born February 25th, 1691; Ephraim, January 27th, 1693; William, October 27th, 1697. Mary Robinson, daughter to John and Mary, was born September 30th, 1705. Children of Stephen and Elizabeth Hazard: Mary, July 20th, 1695; Hannah, April 20th, 1697; Susannah, April 20th, 1699; Stephen, November 29th, 1700; Robert, September 12th, 1702; Samuel, June 29th, 1705; Thomas, July 28th, 1707. [490] The children of Joseph and Lacy Hoxse: Zebulon, August 11th, 1697; Mary, September 15th, 1699; Joseph, November 25th, 1701; Ann, August 1st, 1704; Gideon, July 3d, 1706; Lodowick, September 27th, 1708; Ann, December 10th, 1716; Zebulon, September 21st, 1718. Sarah Robinson, daughter to John and Mary Robinson, was born January 22d, 1706-7. The children of John and Sarah Potter: Martha, December 20th, 1692; John, May 20th, 1695; Samuel, September 2d, 1699; Sarah, April 15th, 1704; Susannah, September 17th, 1706-7; Samuel, July 28th, 1715. The children of Samuel and Mary Brown: Sarah, December 12th, 1703; Mary, July 17th, 1705; Jeremiah, October 29th, 1707; Penelope, October 27th, 1709; Samuel, November 5th, 1711. The children of Rouse and Sarah Helms: James, May 7th, 1710; Sands, August 21st, 1711; Rouse, February 11th, 1712-13; Nathaniel, December 17th, 1714; Benedict, February 17th, 1716; Simeon, December 15th, 1718; Benedict, 2d, October 3d, 1720. The children of Samuel and Mary Brown: Elizabeth, October 28th, 1713; John, November 14th, 1715; Freelove, January 29th, 1717; Zepheniah, December 23d, 1721. Children of Ezekiel and Ann Johnson: Ann, July 24th, 1718; Elizabeth, March 5th, 1719; Benjamin, May 5th, 1722. The children of Joseph and Mary Sheffield: Joseph, April 5th, 1711; Mary, September 9th, 1712. REMINISCENCES OF THE FREEMAN. – Moses Barber was born in 1652, and died in 1753. In 1692 he married Susanna Wait. Their children were: William, Moses, Dinah, Lydia, Samuel, Susanna, Thomas, Joseph, Martha, Ruth, Benjamin, Mercy, Ezekiel, Abigail, Daniel and Ann. The old Barber house stood on a knoll near the present residence of Mrs. Luke Clarke. Nathaniel Niles was born in 1642. He married Sarah Sands, February 14th, 1671, and died December 22d, 1727. His son Samuel Niles, born in 1674, had three wives – Elizabeth Thatcher, Anne Coddington and Elizabeth Whiting. Samuel Niles moved to New Shoreham, where he was attacked by the French privateers at the time they landed and plundered the inhabitants. This raid was made July 3d, 1689, when he was fourteen years of age. In the year 1700 he accepted a call to preach at Block Island. In 1745 he published "Tristia Ecclesiarum." He also wrote other books, one of which, "God's Wonder Working Providence for [491] New England in the reduction of Louisburg," was in verse. Nathaniel Niles, brother of Samuel, born in 1677, was justice of the peace in 1709. In 1740, under appointment by the assembly, he built a watch house at Point Judith. The watch kept in these houses by the different towns was placed under regulations of the council of war. Henry Gardner was appointed on a committee to lay out the highways of South Kingstown in 1703. Many of these roads are still in use. The Hazards of South Kingstown are and have been numerous. They descend from Thomas Hazard, the ship builder, who was born in 1610 (see sketch). Joseph Hull was a preacher. He was born in 1652, married Experience Hooper in 1676, and in 1681 the first meeting for worship by the Quakers was held at his house. He was fined £7 for beating the sheriff for prosecuting him because of his religious belief, but the fine was afterward abated. He was minister of the denomination that build a house of worship at Mashapaug in 1702. Samuel Helms was one of the elder brothers of Rouse Helms, a very influential man in South Kingstown. Rouse Helms for a number of years, beginning in 1714, was deputy. In 1720 he was clerk of the assembly, and was judge of the superior court for over twenty years. He and Francis Willett, appointed by the assembly in 1723, drew a copy of all the records belonging to South Kingstown from the records of the late Kings Town. The charge made for the work was £60. Robert Hannah was the town clerk from 1723 to 1736, inclusive. He died in 1736. Thomas Mumford is spoken of as purchaser of a large tract of land in Pettaquamscutt of certain Indian sachems in 1658. In 1668 he and his wife, Sarah Sherman Mumford, sold to Peleg Sanford of Newport 1,000 acres of this land for £25. His son, Thomas, born in 1656, married Abigail, who was murdered by a slave belonging to him. The murderer, a negro, drowned himself to prevent being taken alive. The assembly ordered his body to be disposed of in the following manner, as a terror to others perpetrating like barbarities: his head, legs and arms to be cut from his body and hung in some public place near Newport, and his body to be burned to ashes. In 1708 Mr. Mumford deeded 180 acres of land in Point Judith to his son George. He and his wife were buried in the Mumford burying ground. [492] Benjamin Congdon, as early as 1671, bought of William Brenton and Benedict Arnold and others 230 acres in Narragansett, near "Pettacomscott," and in 1710 he and seventeen others bought 7,000 acres of vacant lands in Narragansett. His children were: William, Benjamin, John, James, Elizabeth and Susanna.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 483. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. "Historic. – Training Lot (Carter hung there, May 10, 1751), Hanging Lot (Thomas Mount hung May 27, 1791), Ministerial Lot, Ordination Oak, Indian Run Fort, Slave Pen, Tan Yard, Tucker's Fort (1842), Commodore Perry Place, Dorethea's Hollow, Wager Weeden's Fountain, Hand Poles, Dale Carlia, The Breach, Smelt Weir, Hazard's Castle, Memorial Tower, Druid's Dream, Site of the Great Swamp Fight, Dec. 19, 1675, The Bonnet, naval battle, 1814, E. A. Noyes homestead, former home of (Jemina [484] Wilkinson) Wilkinsonians, Gen. I. P. Rodman born at Rocky Brook, Aug. 18, 1822, died Sept. 30, 1862, R. F. Gardner's House, at one time Lafayette's Headquarters, Bull's Garrison House on Tower Hill, burnt by the Indians, December, 1676, Indian Burying Ground near White Pond, The Sewal School Fund, acquired from a grant of land made in 1695 by Judge Samuel Sewal (1652-1730) of Salem Witchcraft notoriety, the income once appropriated for the support of the Kingston Academy is now spent by the school committee of the town; a fund for the support of the Congregational church of the town was acquired in the same way. The history of this town has an intimate connection with the Pettaquamscutt purchase of 1658, provision for the maintenance of religion and education resulting therefrom. Soldiers' Bronze Monument, 1886 (Westerly Granite Pedestal). The house of John G. Clark, completed in 1886, is built of granite and finished in woods all obtained from his farm, which was included in a grant made by Kachanaquant, a son of Canonicus, in 1664." The earliest census report published of South Kingstown was in 1730, at which time it contained a population of 1,523; it now has a population of 5,549. The town of South Kingstown was set off from North Kingstown by an act of the general assembly February 26th, 1722-23. Pettaquamscutt, however, was first settled January 20th, 1657-8. On this date Quassuchquansh, Kachanaquant, and Quequaquenuet, chief sachems of Narragansett, for £16 and other considerations mentioned in the deed, sell to Samuel Wilbor, John Hull, of Boston, goldsmith; John Porter, Samuel Wilson and Thomas Mumford "all the land and the whole hill called Pettaquamscutt bounded on the south and southwest side of the rock with Ninigret's land, on the east with a river northerly bounded two miles beyond the great rock in Pettaquamscutt westerly bounded by a running brook or river beyond the meadow, together with all manner of mines, etc., they to have free ingress and egress on the sachems' lands." They also grant them all the black lead in a place called Coojoot. Witnessed by John Lawton and Philip Lang and signed only by Kachanaquant (2d Vol., page 147, Ancient Land Evidences). Quassuchquansh signed a similar deed, together with Kachanaquant, of the same date (see same record). Kachanaquant having agreed, January 29th, 1657, to convey to the same men another tract, confirms the former sale and conveys [485] a tract "bounded as followeth – beginning two miles from Pettaquamscutt Rock and runneth to the head of the great river 40 rood and goeth northerly from the Pettaquamscutt Rock and turneth north east and from said head goes north and north west by a river called Monassachuet ten miles and from that bound turns and runs west by south ten miles or twelve miles on a square and what it wants north to be made up etc. for £135, dated June 24th, 1660." Witnessed by William Wilbor, Mathew Wilbor, John Rounds, etc. (See same record as above.) Appended to this deed is a confirmation made several years after by three sons of Kachanaquant. Having purchased of Ninigret seven miles square, i.e., seven miles from Pettaquamscutt Rock, and all the land between said rock and the sea, March 20th, 1657, they were obliged to obtain a confirmation of the sale February 28th, 1661, from Wanomachin, another sachem, who also conveyed to them all his lands seven miles west and southwest of the Great Cedar swamp together with the swamp (page 150). About twelve years afterward the purchasers (of whom there were now seven, William Brenton and Benedict Arnold, having been admitted by them), obtained another deed from Wanomachin, who in the deed is called sachem of Nayhantic, conveying "a tract of land running south and west from the rock at Pettaquamscutt in that part of the said colony above mentioned, and containing and including all the land between the river Mustogage which runneth from the said rock to the sea south and southeast, and the river Saugotogkett, which lyeth west from the former river and runneth into the ocean" (page 153). Wanomachin had delivered siezin in the English form in April, 1661, and the certificate of it is witnessed by Anthony Low, John Tift, Eber Sherman (page 155). February 25th, 1661, they obtained another deed of Kachanaquant, consenting to have their lands laid out, and "what is wanting northerly at the head of the great river pond shall be made up westerly, or any part of my land adjoining, i.e. to say along the Great Cedar Swamp and all my lands in the northwest side of said swamp, as also beyond the second Indian path that goes to Pequot northwest of that path." This was to make up the twelve miles square. He acknowledges himself in debt to them "£13–15s. For 13 coats a pair of briches." In the Massachusetts records is found a protest made by some [486] of the Indians against the Pettaquamscutt purchasers. "Wemosit, otherwise Suckquansh, Ninicraft, Quequakanut, otherwise Gideon, chief sachem of the Narragansett and Neantick countries, having received much injurie by Samuel Wildbare and others of his companie, they pretending title to Point Jude and other lands adyouneing, and have indeavoured to possess themselves forceably of the same both by building and bringing cattell, we having given them warning to the contrary, and they not taking warning, nor endeavoured to drive their cattell from of the lande, but they resisted and one of them presumed to shot of a gun at us. Now we knowing we have not sould them any land there, and being thus injuriously dealt withal by them, we are forced to make our com – to yourselves, the Commissioners of the United Collonies, hereby protesting against the said Samuel Wildbare and companie for their so unjust actings, and crave that this our protest may be received by you and kept upon recorde with you as our acte and deede, and crave that it may not be offensive to any English if that Samuel Wilbare and his company will not come to any faire trial, either before yourselves or some other indifferent judges, if then we endeavour to drive your cattell away, or take any corse whereby we may dispossess them. That is our acte and deed we have put to our markes and seals in the presence of these witnesses this 9 Sept. 1662." This protest was made to the commissioner of the colonies, and they wrote to Rhode Island concerning it. (See Hazard's collection of state papers, II, 443.) South Kingstown was set off and incorporated as a separate town in February, 1722. No regular town meeting was held, however, until 1723. This meeting was held at the house of Ichabod Sheffield, probably in January, 1723. John Watson was chosen moderator and Robert Hannah was chosen clerk. John Watson and John Babcock were chosen representatives. The second meeting was held March 4th, 1723. Job Babcock, John Watson, Ichabod Sheffield, William Gardiner, Jonathan Turner and Isaac Sheldon were chosen councilmen; Peleg Mumford, Joseph Mumford and Benjamin Reynolds, constables; Ichabod Sheffield, town treasurer; Solomon Carpenter, town sargent. On June 10th, 1723, it was voted that a town house should not be built. On November 20th, 1723, Stephen Hazard and John Watson were chosen representatives to sit in the general assembly at Newport. The meeting was held at the house of Ichabod Sheffield. [487] The town of Narragansett was set off from the town of South Kingstown by an act of the legislature in the January session of 1888, but as all matters pertaining thereto are not as yet satisfactorily settled, we will only give Section 1 of that act, which reads as follows: "Section 1. All that portion of the town of South Kingstown and being within the following boundaries, that is to say, commencing in Narragansett Bay at the easterly point of the boundary line between the towns of North Kingstown and South Kingstown, thence running westerly on said boundary line to the center of the Pettaquamscutt river, thence southerly and southwesterly by the centre of said river and of Pettaquamscutt Cove to a brook which empties in said Cove, and which brook is the dividing line between the property of Edward W. Davis and the Narragansett Improvement Co.'s land, thence Westerly following the Northerly line of said Edward W. Davis' land to the highway, thence Westerly across said highway to the line dividing the property of the heirs of Jeremiah P. Robinson from the property of Samuel A. Strang, and following said line to the Silver Lake or Kits pond, thence following in a Westerly direction the Southerly shore of said Silver Lake to a line which divides the lands of the James B. Kenyon farm from the land of the heirs of Christopher C. Robinson, thence following in a Westerly direction to the Northerly line of said James B. Kenyon land to the Point Judith Pond, and continuing thence to the center of said Pond, thence Southerly through said Pond a straight line to a point midway between the Narrows, so called, thence Westerly midway through said Narrows to a point midway between Betty Hull Point and Cummock Island, thence Southerly through said Pond a straight line to a point midway between Gardner's Island and Beach Island, thence Southerly a straight line through said Pond to a point midway between Gooseberry Island and Little Comfort Island, thence a straight line to the center of the breach way and to the Atlantic Ocean, and thence following said Ocean and Narragansett Bay Easterly and then Northerly to the point of the beginning, is hereby incorporated into a District by the name of Narragansett, and the inhabitants thereof shall have and enjoy the like benefits, liberties, privileges and immunities and be subject to like duties and responsibilities as the several towns in this state generally enjoy and are subject to, except as is hereinafter provided." [488] The town clerks of South Kingstown have been: Robert Hannah, from June, 1723 to June, 1736; Benjamin Peckham, to June, 1743; Thomas Hazard, to June 1747; Samuel Gardner, to June 1753; Thomas Hazard, to June, 1749; Jeffrey Watson, to June, 1753; William Potter, to June, 1779; James Helms, to June, 1812; Silas Brown, to June, 1827; Thomas R. Wells, to June, 1853; Powel Helms, to January, 1858; John G. Perry, to June, 1887; Howard B. Perry, present clerk.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 481. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. CHAPTER XIII. TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN. General Features. – Erection of the Township. – Town Clerks. – Township of Narragansett. – Freemen. – Early Births. – Reminiscences. – The Hazards, Robinsons, Rodmans, Watsons, Perrys, Sweets and other Families. – Amusing Incidents. – Short Sketches by Jeffrey W. Potter. – A Suicide. – Schools. – Town Farm. – Tower Hill. – Presbyterian Church. – Narragansett Pier. – Hotels. – Other Objects of Interest. – St. Peter's by the Sea. – Presbyterian Church. SOUTH KINGSTOWN is the largest town in the state. It contains an area of 77.9 square miles. Its ponds are large and numerous, and may become a source of great wealth by means of well tested systems of fish culture. Its swamps, though extensive, may be converted by drainage into excellent agricultural lands, and its forests of rhododendrons are of remarkable beauty and size. There are but few towns, probably, on our continent that contain so many rivers and brooks, springs, coves, islands, hills, points, beaches, rocks, swamps and other minor localities of historic interest. Inasmuch as these natural features are of historic interest, and have a direct bearing when determining the character of the town, we give below the list in full, as prepared by Mr. Amos Perry, superintendent of the census of 1885: "Villages. – Wakefield, Narragansett Pier, Peace Dale, Rocky Brook, Kingston (Little Rest), West Kingston, Usquepaug (formerly Mumford's Mill), Glen Rock (formerly James' Mill), Perryville, Burnside, Green Hill, Narragansett Ferry, Mooresfield, Tower Hill (an important point in the Pettaquamscutt purchase, and the county seat from 1729 to 1752), Bridge Town, and Gould. "Minor Localities. – Point Judith, Backside, Little Neck, Great Neck, Tucker Town, Waits' Corner, Rodman's Corner, Curtis' Corner, Watson's Corner, Dockary's Corner, Columbia Corner, Armstrong's Corner, Matunuc, Sugar Loaf, Stony Point, Tower Hill Heights, Boston Neck, Harley's Mill (formerly Biscuit City), Glen Rock, Special Deep Hole, Sedge Beds, Flats, The Narrows, [482] The Burbank, The Sewal Purchase, The Glass House, The Casey House, Governor Arnold's House. "Lakes and Ponds. – Salt or Point Judith Pond, Lake Narragansett, Lake Worden, or Great Pond (the largest body of fresh water in the state, Indian name Pesquamscot), Green Hill, Potter or Six Miles, Trustons, Yawgoo, Sherman or Hundred Acre, Barber's, Tucker's, Lake Tefft or Larkin's, Silver Lake or Kitt's Pond (has no visible outlet), Card, Westquage, Lake Matunuc, Wash or Whitehall, Perry, White, Long, Cedar Swamp, Pier, Little Comfort, Lily, Lily Pad, Thirty Acre, Rum, Spectacle, Hope, Duck, Turtle, Frog, Babcock's, Wild Goose, Money, Teel Pond, Goose, Plain, Tower Hill, Knowles, Snake, Gardiner's, Holleys, Cubit's, Tug, Well, Crying Child, Reed, Hot-house, Rutter, Pettaquamscutt. "Reservoirs. – Wakefield Mill, Ice House Pond, Harley's Mill, Barber's Mill, Glen Rock, James' Mill, E. F. Watson's, Wells' Mill, Usquepaug, Lawton's, Mooresfield, Fresh Meadow, Peace Dale, Fiske's, Rocky Brook, Long Trough, Sprague, Holburton, Sea Side Mill. "Rivers and Brooks. – Pettaquamscutt or Narrow, Pawcatuck (South Kingstown side), Saugatuck, Queen, Usquepaug, Chippuxet, Shickasheen or Miskianza, Indian Run, Willson's Brook, Wild Cat, Gardner's, Sherman Town (South Kingstown side), Rum (back side), Brown (back side), E. F. Watson, Smelt, Broad Rock, Old Saw Mill, Casey's, Silvia's, Tobey Neck, Brown's Brook (South Kingstown side), Factory, Mink, Niles, Champlin's, Wilcox, Old Mill River, Brenton's, Babcock's, Tucker Town, Wolcott, Marsh, Yawgoo, Cranberry, Moore's, White Horn, No Bottom, Rocky Brook, Stony Brook, Peckham's Creek, Sucker, Locke, Wells, Muddy, Alewife, Holley Chappell, Matunuc, Genessee. "Springs. – Iron Mine, Gin, Lewis, Birch, Mt. Hope, Phillips, Stepening, White Oak, White, Billington, Dead Man, Big Boiling, Tub, Trout, Austin, Mineral, Corey, Rock, Sheldon, No Bottom, Broad Rock, Cedar, North Cedar, Eel, Nichols, Great, Indian, White Birch, Bull and Dyer, Square Meadow, Willow, Great Boiling, Pettaquamscutt, Dick, Watson's, Freelove, North, Marsh. "Coves. – Pettaquamscutt, Sand Hill, Fish, Spring, Turner, Smelt Brook, Wheat Field, Congdon, Long, Mumford's, Ladd's, Champlin, Outside, Inside, Beech, Perch. "Islands. – Great, Ram, Little Comfort, Hazard, Gooseberry, Cedar, Beef, Pine Tree or Plato, Jonathan's, Beach, Gardner, Cummock, Spectacle, Sage. [483] "Hills. – Tower Hill (Pettaquamscutt), Kings Town (Little Rest), McSparran, Sugar Loaf, Little Sugar Loaf, Rose, Green, Kitt's, Ferry, Tefft's, Old Mountain, Burial, Weston, Wood, Jumping, Whaley's, "The Hills," Cubit, Dugway, May, Briar, Rose, School House, Watson's, Winter, Christian, Carpenter's, Sheldon, Strawberry, Indian Ridge, White, Broad, Upper Mountain, Lower Mountain, Laurel, Niles, Chimney, Oatley, Ned's, Freelove, Locust, Hanna. "Points. – Point Judith, Black, High, Thomas, Black Hill, Frank's Neck, Rye, Elm Tree, Buttonwood, Ram, Allen, Crown, Great Meadow, Little Meadow, Horse Shoe, Gooseberry Island, Jumping Hill, Succotash, Case, Stony, Rocky, Bonnet, Cormorant, Tobey, Long, Rutter, Rowland's, Wolcott, Reef, Harvey's, Locust Hill, Nichols'. "Beaches. – Narragansett Pier, Rocky Point, Westquage, Little Comfort, Sand Hill, Wolcott. "Rocks. – Pettaquamscutt, Broad, Rolling, Wild Cat, Peaked, Money, Peggy, Porphyry Ledge, Queen Anne, Indian Spring, Fanning's Table, Prospect, Old Man's Face, Clump, River Rocks, Horse Shoe, Whale, Bass, Daniel, Twin Brothers, Bog, League, Gunning, Quahaug, Flat, Indian, Black Point, Blue, Hale, Pierced, Tucker's Plain, Great Plain, Lock's, Old Cottrell, Jacob's Ladder, Comet, Bonnet, Old Sow's Back, Saddle, Mountain, Spring, Horse Shoe, Dicken's Reef, Drum, Round, Reef Point, Short Point, Long Point, Wolcott Point, Sunken Reef, Poonnock, Hopkins. Glen Rock ledge has been worked, also a ledge at Mooresfield. "Swamps – Great (its area is nearly five square miles), Cedar, Hemlock, Tefft, Tucker's, Babcock's, Genessee. "Woods. – Ministerial, Borland, Dockary's, Potter's, Tefft's, Wilson's, Brown, Yawgoo, Wait's, Genessee. "Groves. – Commodore Perry Place, Walnut, Minute Lot, Robinson's.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 341. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. DANIEL F. LARKIN. – Abel Larkin, a native of Westerly, married Sarah Foster of the same town. Their children were: Abel, Jonathan, Daniel, John, Sarah (Mrs. Gavitt), and Nancy, who died in early womanhood. Daniel Larkin, also born in Westerly, settled as a farmer in his native town, and married Rhoda, daughter of Samuel Sheffield of the same county and town. Their children were: Daniel F., Samuel S., Charles A., Jonathan, George F., Elthan P., Stanton, Susan E. (wife of Joseph T. Ross), Sophia (married to Joseph C. Crandall), and Jane (wife of William H. Cottrell). The eldest of these children, Daniel F. Larkin, was born on the 10th of June, 1817, and passed his early years in the town of Westerly, with which the family have for generations been identified. Receiving a common school education, he was, on attaining a suitable age, apprenticed to the trade of a ship carpenter, which, with intervals devoted to other pursuits, he followed until 1860. The year 1838 found him in Middlesex county, Va., engaged in the construction of a brig, which was on completion brought north. The following year again proved a favorable one for the pursuit of his trade at this point. The winters from 1840 to 1854 inclusive were spent in marketing and fish dealing in Savannah, Ga., after which he settled at Watch Hill, resumed his trade, and received the appointment as keeper of the Watch Hill light house. Mr. Larkin determined, in 1868, to fill the role of a popular landlord, and began the erection of what is now the most important summer hotel at Watch Hill, the Larkin House, which has since that time been enlarged, greatly improved, and is now double the capacity of the original structure. With this house and its success his name has been chiefly identified. Mr. Larkin in 1876 again transferred his business relations to the South, and erected a winter hotel at Palatka, Florida, which he managed successfully until its destruction by fire, in 1884, since which time his interest has centered at Watch Hill. A republican in his [342] political convictions, he has for several years served in the town council, and was in 1857 elected to the state legislature, to which office he was re-elected for successive terms, and again for the year 1873. In 1884 he received the important appointment as one of the commissioners to effect a settlement of the questions involved in the boundary line between Rhode Island and Connecticut. Daniel F. Larkin was [sic] on the 19th of October, 1840, married to Martha, daughter of Clark Hiscox, of Westerly. Their children are: Frank, married to Jessie Cheesbro; Daniel W., whose wife was Josephine Cary; Martha J., wife of Amos D. Allen; and Sarah E., wife of F.S. Aldrich. Both Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are members of the Seventh Day Baptist church of Westerly.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 339. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. AMOS CROSS, a merchant in Westerly and judge of the county court, was prominent in the business of that town and in that of the whole country in the early years of this century. He was born at South Kingstown August 12th, 1769, and was educated in the local schools there. His father, John Cross, was a tanner and [340] currier. The subject of this sketch very early showed talent for as well as inclination toward trade. He began to buy and sell produce among the farmers, creating his capital from his own industry and thrift. Soon after his majority he removed to Westerly, whence he could send agricultural products to New York and other ports. At the age of thirty he had accumulated $1,800 through this trade. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Barns of Westerly, in 1799. John Hancock Cross and Eliza Cross, wife of Doctor John E. Weeden, were their children. As his capital increased his field of operations extended, and he became a true merchant. Riding over eastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island, he contracted for the grains, especially barley, the cheese and other products of the farms. This merchandise he shipped to New York, Baltimore, Charleston and other ports. He spent one winter in Charleston in pursuit of his business. He brought back West India goods and other supplies for the country about Westerly. But this return trade made but a small part of his mercantile operations. About the time of the war with England he contracted with the United States to furnish gun boats. These vessels were built under the superintendence of Captain Oliver H. Perry, afterward the hero of Lake Erie. Mr. Cross' credit was such that he borrowed money from his neighbors at four per cent, and loaned it to the United States at six per cent. He was one of the founders of the Phenix Bank, being president from its organization in 1818 until his death. The judges of the county court were appointed then, not from the bar, but from among leading citizens. Accordingly he was appointed to the first position on the bench. In this place he created the same trust, and confidence that followed him in all the relations of his life. When his chaise appeared at the corner of the Kingston street the by-word ran in the village "the court has come." In the business of pensions at Washington, in the management of town affairs at home, he was often employed and always trusted. He died December 15th, 1823, in his fifty-fifth year, having accumulated a handsome fortune. His opportunities for business and for usefulness to his fellow men had only begun. Judge Cross was a good example of that type of New England men which has contributed so much toward the building of this republic. Without capital or the ordinary connections of business, [341] he created a business out of his own enterprise. With scanty knowledge of books, he made himself master of the affairs of men. Without professional standing, he commanded the confidence of bench, bar and the freemen who reared such plain but solid judges. Native sagacity that was almost unerring, joined to energy and integrity, filled out the measure of his successful and honorable career.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 337. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. CALVERT B. COTTRELL, son of Lebbeus Cottrell and Lydia Maxson, was born in Westerly, R.I., August 20th, 1821. In 1840, at the age of nineteen, he went to learn the machine business of Messrs. Lavalley, Lanphear & Co., of Phenix, R.I., manufacturers of cotton machinery, and was employed by them for fifteen years, most of the time as a contractor. During this period he made many improvements in labor saving tools and machinery, and by the careful management of his contracts he was able to save a sufficient sum of money to enable him to start in the machine business at his old home in Westerly, R.I., in July, 1855, associating with him Mr. Nathan Babcock, under the firm name of Cottrell & Babcock. The new firm commenced the manufacture of cotton and wood working machinery, also printing presses, and in 1861 began also to manufacture woolen machinery, building all the machinery necessary for the production of fancy cassimeres [sic] and woolen goods. During the war they made gun appendages, supplying largely those used by the Springfield Armory [338] and private armories. In the year 1868, when they began to make a speciality of printing presses, Mr. Cottrell commenced the series of patented improvements which brought the Cottrell press immediately to the front. Among the first of these was the improvement on the air spring, for reversing the bed, with its patent, yielding plunger, vacuum valve, and governor attachment. This invention increasing, as it did, the capacity of the printing press for fine as well as fast work, was so far-reaching in its effects that it immediately brought Mr. Cottrell to the notice of the printing and mechanical world as one of the leading inventors of the day. At first this revolution was denounced as impracticable, but, as it soon received the indorsement of the imitation by those who had opposed it the most, it was finally accepted on its merits, and the claims made for it then are no longer disputed by any one. Mr. Cottrell was the first to apply the tapeless delivery to the drum cylinder press, also the first to introduce a positive slider motion, hinged roller frames, and numerous other improvements, which are covered by more than seventy American and foreign patents, one of the latest of which is the new front sheet delivery for two revolution, stop cylinder and lithograph presses. This invention is deserving of more than passing notice, as it marks an era in the progress of the "art preservative" more pronounced, even than the introduction of the fly, which for generations has been accepted as the only reliable method of carrying the printed sheets to the pile table. By means of this improvement the printed sheets are delivered at the front end of the press, and laid printed side up without the use of a fly, strings, or tapes, a result never before accomplished on a printing press. The Cottrell Rotary Chromatic Press, for printing in several colors, is also an invention which stands without a rival, being the only press that takes the paper to be printed from a roll through a series of type impression cylinders in perfect register, cutting and delivering them for removal. This press consists of two or more type and impression cylinders, according to the number of colors used, operated in pairs, with a separate inking apparatus for each pair, and is capable of printing 300,000 labels in ten hours. Mr. Cottrell has led an exceedingly busy life, having always had the general management of the business. He disposed of the productions of the factory, in addition to which he also attended to the minutest details of the development of his mechanical [339] ideas, improving the tools for the manufacture of the machinery, and carefully scrutinizing the work in its different stages of development. In July, 1880, twenty-five years from the beginning of the eco-partnership, Mr. Cottrell purchased Mr. Babcock's entire interest in the concern, and associated with him his three sons, under the name of C.B. Cottrell & Sons, since which time they have more than doubled the capacity of their works, adding the latest and most improved labor saving machinery to be found in the market, and building many tools of their own design specially adapted to the requirements of their own business, until it is safe to say they now have the largest and most complete establishment devoted exclusively to the manufacture of stop cylinder, two revolution, drum cylinder and lithograph presses in the country. The reputation of these presses extends not only throughout the United States, but to Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe as well. Their works, represented in this volume, cover some three acres of ground, with a floor space of about 150,000 square feet, and a dock frontage of 900 feet. They are admirably located on the Pawcatuck river, about five miles from Long Island Sound, whence coal, iron and heavy freight can be brought at small cost. They are also on the Shore Line railroad, between Boston and New York, which makes it a convenient point for shipping in any direction. Mr. Cottrell was married May 4th, 1849, to Lydia W. Perkins, daughter of Elisha Perkins and Nancy Russell. They have six children - Edgar H., Hattie E., Charles P., C.B., Jr., L. Anngenett and Arthur M. In politics Mr. Cottrell was a whig until the republican party was organized, in 1856, when he joined that party, and has since been one of its staunch supporters. At an early age he identified himself with the temperance movement, and has been all his life a total abstainer from intoxicating beverages. He is a man of great force of character, quick perception and of a genial disposition, prudent but very liberal toward all charitable institutions, a member of the Seventy Day Baptist church, and a leading citizen of the community.

>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 336. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. CHARLES B. COON is of Scotch extraction. His grandfather Caleb Coon, who was a farmer in Hopkinton, married Dorcas Barber. Their children were: Elias, Moses B., William, Mary (Mrs. Coon), Martha (Mrs. Sanders) and Phebe (Mrs. Larking), Moses B., of this number, was born in the town of Hopkinton February 9th, 1801, and died January 20th, 1840. He pursued during his brief life the trade of a blacksmith in his native town, and married Martha, daughter of Joshua Boss, of Exeter, who was born in Richmond May 8th, 1803, and died September 25th, 1829. Their children were: Ann D. (Mrs. Horace Brightman), born September 27th, 1823; James Monroe, May 21st, 1825, deceased; Charles Barber, April 16th, 1827, and Elias, July 16th, 1829, deceased. Charles Barber Coon is a native of Griswold, Conn., from whence he removed in childhood to Hopkinton. On the death of his father he found a home with Abiel S. Kenyon, of Richmond, having entered into an agreement with his patron by which he was to learn the trade of a woolen manufacturer in his mills, and [337] receiver until twenty-one years of age three months instruction in the schools of the neighborhood. He was also for a brief time a pupil of the Smithville Seminary. The firm which existed at this time as A.S. & E. Kenyon, was changed in 1857, by the retirement of the senior partner, when the mills became the property of Elijah Kenyon. Mr. Coon made his presence necessary to the success of the business, and passed through the various stages of advancement, first being made superintendent, then manager, and in 1863 admitted to a partnership under the firm name of Kenyon & Coon. He resided at Kenyon's Mills in Richmond until 1879, when Westerly became his home. In 1881 having devoted his life to the successful management of the mills he entered when a lad, he retired from business. Mr. Coon is a director in the National Niantic Bank, and in the Westerly and Watch Hill Ferry Company. He has been somewhat active as a republican in the political movements of his country, was elected to the state legislature for the years 1877 and 1878, and served on the committees on accounts and education. He was also in early life prominent in the Odd Fellows fraternity. He is a supporter of the First Baptist church of Westerly. Mr. Coon was on the 20th of August, 1857, married to Miss Hattie N. Gardiner, daughter of Henry Gardiner and Mahala Briggs, of South Kingstown, and granddaughter of Oliver Gardiner.