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HISTORICAL
ADDRESS.
^^M^Ti
July 4, 1876
-^'
i
HISTOKICAL
ADDRESS,
%U^ ^fl ||J^W|Hirl
DELIVERED
JULY 4th. 1876.
Ifit]^ an ^ppaitttir*
BY
WILLIJM.
av, that they woukl ('oni-
munieate their eouneils coneeriiing their agitations witli the
Indians.
In the recoi'ds of the Massaehusetts General Court, undt-r
date October 7, 1640, is the following order, viz: ''It is
ordered that the letter lately sent to the governor by Mr.
Eaton [of New Haven], Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Haynes [of Con-
necticut], Mr. Coddington, and Mr. Brenton [of Newport],
but concerning also the General Court, shall be thus answer-
ed l)y the governor, That the Court doth assent to all the
propositions laid down in the aforesaid letter, but that the
answer shall be directed to Mr. Eaton, Mr. Hopkins and Mr.
Haynes only, excluding Mr. Coddington and Mr. Brenton,
as men not to he capitulated with at all by us either for
themselves or the people of the Island, where they inhabit as
their case standeth."
Thus earl}' the inhabitants of Rhode Island desired to
enter into a league Avith the other New England colonies
for mutual defence, and were prevented from doing so by
the arbitrary action of the General Court of Massachusetts ;
and the defenceless people of Rhode Island were left to the
tender mercies of the Indian savage.
In 1648, May 25, Governor Coddington in a letter to
Governor Winthrop states that some of the, people on the
Island are in disgrace with the people of Warwick and Prov-
idence.
September 8 of the same year, Coddington and Alex-
ander Partridge made a formal request of the United
colonies to be admitted into that alliance, and their request
was formally answered by the suggestion, that if Rhode
20 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
Island desired the protection of the United Colonies, it had
better submit to the jurisdiction of Pl3anouth.
In 1644, it was ordered that the Island, commonly called
Aquidneck, shall from henceforth be called the Isle of
Rhodes, or Rhode Island.
March 14, 1648, a charter was granted from the Lord
Commissioners to the inhabitants of Providence, Portsmouth
and Newport under the name of the Providence Plantations,
in the Narragansett Bay in New England, with authority to
rule themselves in such form of civil government as by vol-
untary colisent of all, or the greater part of them, they
should find most suitable to their estate and condition.
This charter was not altogether satisfactory to the people
of the Island. They did not like the name of the colony.
It had been granted upon the particular application of the
Providence and Warwick people, with whom they were not
in complete unity, without the concurrence of the inhabi-
tants of the Island, and the name of the Island liad been
omitted in the new name for the colony.
This want of unity kept open the acceptance of the char-
ter and the organization of the government up to ItJlT when
the people of the Island presented a body of laws, which was
accepted by the other colonies, and the charter government
was then organized. Under this charter, the title of the
chief magistrate was President, and William Coddington was
elected president in 1648, and William Baulston was chosen
one of the assistants. Owing to certain charges having been
made against these officers, they were suspended in office,
and if Coddington was found guilty, or from other causes
the office should be vacant, Jeremiah Clarke was to fill the
office.
HISTORY OF NEWPORT. 21
November 4, 1651, Warwick and Providence appointed
Roger Williams to go to England, to obtain a confirmation
of their chartered privileges, the towns on the Island having
withdrawn and fallen otf from the charter government. —
Coddington obtained from England a commission to be gov-
ernor of the Island for life.
This proceeding of Coddington was offensive to many
of the inhabitants of the Island, for sixty-five of the inhalji-
tants of Newport and forty-one from Portsmouth employed
Mr. John Clarke to go to England, to procure the commis-
sion of Coddington to be vacated. Williams and Clarke
took passage in the same ship.
Orders from the Council of State in England having ar-
rived suspending Coddington's government, the Assembly
met at Portsmouth, March 1. 1652, to receive them, when it
was ordered that the officers obstructed by Coddington's
commission, should stand in their places, and act according
to their former commissions as if they had been annually
chosen, until a new election ; and an election was appointed
to take place the Tuesday succeeding the 15th of the then
next May.
No General Assembly met, however, on the Island, until
at Newport. May 17, 1658. which was an assembly of the
electors of the Island only. This assembly assumed control
of the government- of the Island. They proposed that if
Warwick and Providence would be pleased to act with them,
that those towns might elect their own officers. They then
sent James Barker and Richard Knight to demand the
Statute Book and Book of Records from Governor Codding-
ton. Coddington informed the messengers, that he would
advise with counsel, and then return an answer; for he
dare not lay down his commission without order thereto;
22 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
they made some provisions for assisting in the prosecu-
tion of the war against the Dutch ; provided for the adjudi-
cation of prizes brought into Newport, and for the adoption
of tlie Laws of Qhn-on.
A commission was granted to Edward Hull, to go against
the IJutcli, or any of the enemies of the commonwealth of
England. This was the commencement of privateering in
Rhode Island. The action of the Island Assembly in refer-
ence to the Dutch war, lu'ought a lively protest from the
Providence-Warwick Assembly.
Yet these Assemblies soon united upon terms of settle-
ment. They then commissioned the Deborah, to go against
the enemies of England; and on the 13th of September, 1654,
they approved of the instructions presented by Mr. John
Clarke, in reference to his mission to England, and desired
that Roger Williams and Mr. Dexter should manifest as
much to Mr. Clarke.
Roger Williams returned from England in 1054, leaving
Mr. Clarke then sole agent of the colony.
In 1655, Cromwell wrote to the colony, authorizing it to
continue its government under the charter of 1648.
In 1656, Mr. Coddington was chosen one of the commis-
sioners for Newport to the General Court, when he declared
that he freely submitted to the authority of his Highness
in these colonies as now united, with all his heart.
Upon the return of Charles II to the throne, John Clarke
then the sole agent m England of the Providence Planta-
tions as well as of the Island of Rhode Island, presented to
the crown two petitions for a charter for the colony, which
should give the inhabitants full liberty in religious concern-
ments, and a larger measure of civil liberty than was then
HISTORY OF NEWPORT. 23
enjoyed by an}'- other civilized people on earth. This petition
was granted, and November 24, 1663, at a meeting of the
General Conrt of commissioners held in Newport, Mr.
Clarke's letter was opened and read with good delivery; and
the King's Gracious Letters' Patent with the l)road seal
thereto affixed, were received, and read by George Baxter :
and this charter remained the fundamental law of Rliode
Island and Providence Plantations for one hundred and
eighty yeai"s.
This charter was the fruit of twelve years' toil of John
Clarke in England, during which time he had expended all
of his available funds, and had mortgaged his private prop-
er!}' to promote the object he had in hand.
But the object of his mission had l)een attained; the char-
ter was secure, and his title to be known as the greatest
benefactor of the colony was full}* earned.
Notwithstanding the depreciating remarks of Graham, I
tirndy believe that there was not then a better l)alanced mind
than Clarke's in all America, and Rhode Island never liad
a more devoted friend. He was prodigal of himself in her
service, and when he died he gave the remnant of his for-
tune for the relief of her poor, and the bringing up of her
children to learning. "The grand motive which turned the
scale of his life," says Roger Williams, "was the truth of God
— a just liberty to all men's spirits in spiritual matters, togeth-
er with the peace and prosperity of the whole colony."
Several of the early settlers of Newport were merchants,
and a considerable commerce grew up with the Dutch at New
York, and with the English at Barbadoes,. and between the
colony and other places.
After the battle of Sedgmoor,inl685, the followers of the
24 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
Duke of Monmouth were many of them sold to go to the Bar-
hadoes, and from this cLass and from other sources Rhode
Ishuid- continued to receive considerabh' accessions to its
popuhition, and Newport was by far thi- most flourishing town
in the colony up to the Revolution.
In Januaiy, 1 (iO-i-.'), R();_;er Williams who though not the au-
thor was the defendta- <)f the cliarter, said, that the charter
"giveslibertyof our estates * * * not a penny
to be taken l)y any tme from us without every man's free
debate hy his deputies chosen by Inmself. and sent to the
General Assembly. Li])erty of society or corporation, of
sending, or being sent to the General Assembly, of choosing,
and of being chosen to all offices, and of making or repeal-
ing laws and constitutions amongst us."
The colony acted upon this claim, and asserted that as
between themselves and the British government, this charter
was to be construed as a contract or perpetual covenant, and
that as such, it was irrepealable by the King and parliament
of England without the assent of the colony ; that as between
the government and peopk^ of the colony, the charter was
their fundamental law. The charter, said they, was on the
one hand binding on the British government, and on the
other hand, was alike l)inding on the government and people
of the colony.
Indeed, the charter contained a provision to the effect
that it should, as against the crown and government of Eng-
land, be a sufficient warrant and discharge for all acts done
under and in accordance with its provisions.
Yet the British government by duress attempted its abro-
gation with all the New England charters in 1686, and
appointed Sir Edmund Andros as governor of the New Eng-
land colonies, who broke the seal of the charter, and assumed
HISTOIIY OF NEWPORT.
^5
the g-overiimeiit of Rhode IsLand; but the revolution in Eng-
hind of 1688, put an end to the Andros government ; and had
Andros been disposed to persist after that event, in oppressing
the colonies, he probably would have been sent to his God
without the intervention of judge or jury, but as it was, he
was sent home, and the colony resumed the charter; and
continued to act under it, and treated as void its vacation or
surrender as an act done under duress.
Almost from the foundation of the Rhode Island Colony,
there was a class of the colonists who did not fully accept the
faith and order of the Baptists, or the doctrines of any recog-
nized sect of Christians. These were denominated "Seekers."
They accepted the scriptures as they were revealed to them,
but awaited further revelations through the operations of the
Holy Spirit. The arrival of the Quakers in this country
about 1656, and in subsequent years, and the inhospitable
manner in which they were received in the other colonies,
induced these people to come to Rhode Island and the "Seek-
ers" here readily affiliated with the Quakers, who soon be-
came a very important element in the colony. And this sect
has always formed an important part of the population of
the State, and though now they are much scattered, there
remains a few in standing amongst us, who remind us of the
pastoral oaks in the summer field, they bespeak the charac-
ter of those whom they represent, and are a perpetual bene-
diction to all about them.
In Philip's war the people of Newport took but little part
beyond affording succor to the white victims of the war who
came to them for protection. They were shut out from the
united colonies, yet they constantly kept watch and ward,
fearing that they might be attacked by the Indians. Mr.
Easton's house was burned by an Indian, but it is by no
26 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
means certain whether this was the result of accident or de-
sign ; few of the people of Newport took part in that war.
The French war which followed the Indian war, between
1685 and 1695, was the source of considerable annoyance
to the people of Newport from depredations occasioned by
French cruisers.
In 1709 and 1710 the colony was called upon by the home
government to tit out a force to act in conjunction with forces
from the other colonies against Annapolis Royal. Newport
raised between fifty and sixty men to go on this expedition.
The colony to pay the expenses of this expedition, in an evil
hour, commenced the issue of paper money. Though the ex-
pedition of 1710 was successful, the colony lost a vessel and
incurred a large expenditure of money.
In 1730 the population of Newport was 4,640. At that
time the population of Providence, which embraced what is
now the county of Providence with the exception of Cum-
berland, East Providence, and that part of Pawtucket east of
the Seekonk river, was but 3,916.
In 1738 there was belonging to Newport upwards of one
hundred vessels engaged in commerce with various parts of
the world.
War was declared between France and England in the
spring of 1744. Our coast swarmed with French privateers,
to the great detriment of the commerce of Newport, and es-
pecially of its fisheries. But privateering was a service in
which two parties could engage, and as the war was not al-
together unexpected, the merchants and seamen of Newport
were not altogether unprepared for the emergency. There
were many privateers fitted out from here and during the
year 1745 more than twenty prizes, ''some of them of great
HISTORY OF NEWPORT. 27
value, were sent into Newport," and notwithstanding
the annoyances from French privateers the commerce of the
place was exceedingly prosperous during the war.
The colony fitted out its sloopTartar with ninety men,
under Captain Fones, with three companies, to go against
Louisburg. Captain Fones, off Cape Breton, encountered a
French frigate, and by a skillful manoeuvre rendered good
service to the expedition. The merchants, principally of
Newport, advanced <£8000 to hire a twenty gun ship for that
service, and the agent of the Rhode Island colony, Richard
Partridge, wrote to Mr. Ramsden, Secretary of the Lords
Justices, that "in the wars of the late Queen in the expedi-
tion against Annapolis Royal and against Canada, and in the
sea-war at that time, the New Englanders must confess that
the privateers from the colony of Rhode Island did more exe-
cution against the enemy's privateers that infested this coast,
than all the ships of the Massachusetts, or indeed, of all the
colonies of those parts put together."
In 1758 the Newport Mercury was first published by
James Franklin, the nephew of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.-^
In the later French war, from 1756 to 1768, the commerce
of Newport suffered much from French privateers, Newport
having lost more than 100 vessels by capture. But during
this period Newport had nearly 50 vessels engaged in priva-
teering.
The passage of the stamp act, and the restricted trade laws
which passed Parliament soon after the close of the war with
France, greatly irritated the people of Newport. The con-
stant presence of British cruisers, under tlie command of
arrogant officers, interfering with the commerce of the port,
and forcibly impressing seamen from our mercantile marine,
28 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
was a constant threat to the hundreds of privateersmen who
had been trained to adventures of daruig and desperation
such as had no rival, if equalled, in the annals of naval war-
fare, could not readily submit to the constant menaces
Avhich they were receiving from British cruisers.
The people of this colony from the beginning, as we have
seen, claimed that their charter was a compact with the Brit-
ish crown, a contract which even Parliament could not
break. That by this charter the colony had the exclusive
right of self government, including the sole right to tax
themselves.
The British government claimed the right to govern and
bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. Here the parties
took issue in trial by battle, which was not finally settled
until the treaty of Paris in 1783.
The Rubicon was soon passed, the torch of Ate lighted,
and the dogs of war let slip. The news of Concord and
Lexington set the town on fire with the determination to
resist the encroachment upon the rights of the country, to
death.
It has been said that 1000 men from this town alone went
out to engage the foe upon the sea, and 1000 such men never
before went out from any one port to fight upon the deep.
Many of them had been trained under such commanders as
Dennis, Read, and other privateer commanders.^^'^
What was Newport in 1774? the year before the break-
ing out of the war. It was full of commercial enterprise.
Its maratime adventures extended everywhere not prohibited
by the Home goverment. Newport had earned and was then
better entitled than any other port in America to the glow-
ing commendation bestowed by Edmund Burke in Parlia-
ment upon American maratime enterprise.
HISTORY OF NEWPORT. 29
In the year 1763 from Januaiy 1st to January 1st, 1764,
after the losses by the French war, there were 182 vessels
cleared from Newport on foreign voyages, and 352 had cleared
coastwise, and in these and in fishing vessels were employed
2200 seamen.
In the two months of Jnne and July, 1774, there were
entered at the Custom House in Newport 64 vessels from
foreign voyages, 132 coastwise, and 17 engaged in the whale
fishery.
The population of Newport tlien was 9,209 souls, but the
events of the succeeding year reduced this number by 4000.
There were at this time thirty distilleries hi operation in
Newport.
Perhaps the people of Newport possessed in 1774 as much
wealth, enterprise, intelligence and refinement as any other
place in America.
There were then 300 families of Jews in Newport, repre-
sented by men of great learning, intelligence and enterprise,
but they are all gone ; the dwelling houses which they
erected, their synagogue and their grave-yard are the only
memorials left to us of their existence. Let no vandal hand
of desecration ever be laid upon that synagogue or that grave-
yard, but let them remain, and keep them preserved forever
as venerated memorials of a frugal and useful people, who in
their day and generation contril)uted to the prosperity and
renown of Newport.
But let us pause to consider the acts which preceded the
Revolution : In Rhode Island there were three causes which
may be said to have induced the people to enter into the
spirit of the Revolution, viz: Taxation, impressment of
seamen, the jurisdiction conferred upon the admiralty courts.
30 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
To these may be added the refusal of the British gov-
ernment to pay a debt due to the colony for advances made
by the colony during the Seven Years' War with France.
The first act of open resistance to the British authority
which has come to our notice, took place at Newport on the
9th of July, 1764. On the 18th of the preceding June, rear
Admiral Lord Colville, in command of his majesty's ship,
the Squirrel, and other armed vessels then in American
waters, advised the home government that he had directed
four of the armed vessels to spread themselves in the princi-
pal harbors between Casco Bay and Cape Henlopen, in order
to raise men for the navy.
The St. John, under command of Lieutenant Hill, came
into the harbor of Newport on the 30th of the same June,
(1764). Upon the arrival of this vessel, her commanding
officer was informed that the brig Basto, from Monte
Chriso, under command of one Wingate, had landed a
cargo of sugar, at a place now called Bridgeport near How-
land's Ferry in Tiverton, The St. John immediately started
for Bridgeport, seized the cargo of sugar, ninety-three hogs-
heads, and the next day seized the brig as she lay above the
ferry, and brought the vessel and cargo to Newport.
Upon the arrival of the vessels at Newport, it was ascer-
tained that Lieutenant Hill had never been properly qualified
on his commission, and the collector of customs reseized the
cargo. Lieutenant Hill was arrested and compelled to give
security that the vessel and cargo should not be taken out
of the jurisdiction of the colony.
On the 9th of July, while these vessels were in the har-
bor of Newport, including the Admiral's ship, the Squirrel, it
was alleged that three of the crew of the St. John had com-
HISTOKY OF NEWPORT. 31
mitted a larceny in the town ; one of the offenders was caught
on shore and arrested, and the town officers went on board
the 8t. John and demanded the other offend(>rs, but the}-
were not given up.
The commanding officer of the St. John sent an armed
boat fully manned, on shore, ostensibly to get one Thomas
Moss, who it was alleged was a deserter; whether he was the
thief or had been put on board by the press gang^ does not
appear, for the story is told by British officers, — at any rate
the people assembled on the Long Wharf and would not
permit the man to be taken away. The St. John fired
a swivel at the crowd. The people took Mr. Doyle, the
commanding officer of the boat into custod}^ and in the melee
wounded most of the boat's crew, and they threatened to
haul the schooner on shore and burn her. A slooj) was
manned from the wharf which sailed around the St. John,
when a swivel was fired from the St. John as a signal to the
Squirrel for assistance. The St. John was got un-
derweigh, and was anchored under the protection of the
guns of the Squirrel. The people from the shore went over
to Fort George, now Fort Wolcott, and took possession of
the guns of the fort. An officer from the Squirrel arrived at
the fort to remonstrate against the use of the guns, but he
was knocked down, beaten and sent away. The guns were
then trained on the offending vessel and eight shots were fired
at her.
Arthur Brown,-^ a native of Newport, in his miscellaneous
writings, p. 227, says : 'T myself saw one American fort fire
upon the Squirrel, a King's ship, in 1764, in the harbor of
Newport."
Captain Smith waited upon the governor and council and
demanded a proper acknowledgment. He was told by them
32 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
that the nien had acted by authoiity, and that the govern-
ment would answer for it when it was necessary for them to
do so.
Rear Admiral Lord Colville called upon deputy governor
Wanton, in reference to the matter, and the admiral Avas told
by the dejjuty governor that he must pursue his legal rem-
edy.
The stamp act had l)een passed, and Dr. Moffit, Augustus
Johnston and Martin Howard had been appointed to carry it
into effect in Newport on the 27th of August, A. D., 1765.
The people of Newport assembled on the Parade on that day,
in front of the State House, having with them a cart and the
effigies of three stamp officers with haltei^ about their necks.
These effigies were carried to a galloAvs and were hung up to
public view until near night. The people assembled on the
following day; and Ijroke in the doors and demolished the
furniture in the houses of Moffit and Howard. The three
stamp officers took refuge on board of a British armed vessel
in the harbor.
On the 30th of the same August, the collector, controller
and searcher of the customs, followed the example of Moffit,
Howard and Johnston,-^ and left the town, taking up their
abode on board of a British armed vessel in the harbor. In
September the General Assembly resolved that the British
Parliament had no right to lay any internal taxes on the peo-
ple of this colony, and they directed the officers of the colony
to disregard such levies, and that the Assembly would indem-
nify the officers in so doing.
The offence of the officers of the customs at Newport,
was the seizure of a sloop by the Cygnet, with a cargo of mo-
lasses, and the proceeding to condemn her before Dr. Spoy,
in a court of admiralty at Halifax.
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
On the 11th of June, ITGo, the ship Maidstone, a British
armed vessel in the harbor of Newport, had seized and im-
pressed several of the inhabitants of the colony to act as
seamen on board of that vessel. Governor Ward had re-
peatedly demanded the liberation of these men, but his de-
mand was not complied with. After the men were impressed
the boat of the Maidstone happened to be on shore, when
she was taken possession of by the populace and burned.
Governor Ward addressed a very spirited letter to Cap-
tain Antrobus on the 12th of July, again demanding the
liberation of the impressed seamen.
One Champlain, who was in the habit of furnishing sup-
plies for the Maidstone, was seized, and forcibly pre-
vented from supplying the ship, of which conduct the com-
mander of the ship complained to Governor Ward. The
latter replied that this conduct of the inhabitants was the re-
sult of the resentment they had conceived at the impress-
ment and detention of sundry inhabitants of the town on
board of the Maidstone.
In June, two vessels with cargoes, the Wains(;ott and the
Nelly, had been seized in Providence, and had failed of being
condemned in the admiralty court of Rhode Island. This
was the pretext for sending the case of the sloop and cargo
taken by the Cygnet to Halifax for adjudication.
The officers to execute the Stamp Act declined to accept
their offices and no stamps were offered for sale in Rhode
Island. The Stamp Act was repealed, but its repeal was
accompanied with a declaration in favor of the right of Par-
liament to tax the colonies.
The officers of the colony addressed themselves with zeal
to the collection of their dues from the British government
5
34 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
for the advances made by the colony during the French war.
They had received drafts on Connecticut and Pennsylvania,
which were deficient in their quotas, for a part of their claim,
but there was a large balance yet due to the colony. The
reply came— you first pay Mofht, Howard and Johnston for
the damages done by the mob — a condition that was never
complied with. And the claims of the colony have never
been paid. The British government honestly owes the
amount with the interest thereon, to Rhode Island now.
As soon as the Stamp Act was repealed, the government
again opened a correspondence with the home government
in reference to the claim of the colony for advances made
during the French war. The claim was earnestly pressed,
its justice was not denied, but its payment was refused.
In May, 1769, a sloop from the West Indies belonging to
Providence, was seized by the armed sloop Liberty and car-
ried to Newport.
On the 17th of the following July, the officers of the Lib-
erty seized and brought into Newport a brig and a sloop
belonging to Connecticut, taken in the Sound, without the
jurisdiction of the colony. This seizure was on Monday ; on
Wednesday the captain of the brig went on board to obtain
some necessary articles of clothing, he was informed that his
clothing had been taken on board of the Liberty. He ob-
served some of the crew of the Liberty stripping his vessel
and desired them to desist, but received the most abusive
language in repl}-. He then proposed to go on shore but
missing his sword civilly inquired for it ; and was informed
that one of the men from the Liberty lay on it in the cabin.
The captain went to the cabin for the sword and was accost-
ed with a volley of oaths and imprecations. The captain
HISTOBY OF NEWPORT. 35
then took his sword, when it was seized by one of the Liber-
ty's men who attempted to wrest it from him, l)ut did not
succeed. The captain then got into his boat with two of his
men. When he was going on shore from his vessel, he was
fired upon with a brace of balls from the Liberty ; a swivel
was then levelled at the boat but it flashed. There was a
large number of people on the wharf witnessing this extraor-
dinary proceeding. At the time Captain Read, of the Liberty,
was on shore, and he was compelled by the inhabitants to
order his men on shore, to answer for their conduct.
A numl)er of men from the shore went on l)oard and cut
the cables of the Liberty, and brought the vessel to the
wharf; cut away her mast, rendering her unfit for service,
and scuttled her ; afterwards she was got over to the north
end of Goat Island and biirned. The boats were dragged
up the Parade, so swiftly over the pavements, that they left
a stre*im of fire several feet long in their rear. They were
taken through Broad street to what is now Liberty Park,
and there they were burned.
There was no evidence of any illicit conduct against the
brig. Her cargo was regularly entered at the Custom House
in Newport.
While the Liberty was being destroyed, the Connecticut
sloop, which had been seized, got underweigh and left the
harbor, and afterwards the brig obtained a regular clearance
from the Custom House and left Newport.
May 3, 1768, an affray occurred at the foot of Mary
street in Newport, between some midshipmen belonging to
the Senegal, a British man-of-war, in the harbor, and some
of the people of the town, in which Henry Sparker was run
through the body by a British officer named Thomas Cur-
less.
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
In 1769, the people of Providence assembled in great
numbers and violently seized one Jesse Saville, a tide-waiter
belonging to the Custom House, while in the exercise of his
duty, and after committing various outrages upon his person,
proceeded to tar and feather him.
In April, 1771. the collector of the port of Newport,
Charles Dudley ^"'i while in the execution of the duties of his
office, prescribed by the British government, was assaulted
by a body of the people, who denied the validity of his offi-
cial acts, and he was roughly handled. This conduct was
the subject of a letter from the Earl of Hillsborough to the
governor and company of the colony, under date of July
19th, 1771, in which the Earl complains, " That it appears
that some of the most violent of these outrages (on the offi-
cers of the customs), have been committed at Newport in
Rhode Island, particularly in April last, when the collector
of his majesty's customs at that port was, in the execution of
his duty, assaulted and grossly ill-treated, even to the danger
of his life, by a number of the inhabitants without any pro-
tection being given him.'"
The destruction of the Gaspee in 1772, is a subject too
familiar for discussion at this time.
December 6th, 1774, more than forty cannon, with a large
amount of powder and shot, were seized and taken from Fort
George, now Fort Wolcott, and conveyed to a place of safe-
ty-
Wallace, the commander of the British force in the harbor
of Newport, waited upon Governor Wanton^^ and demanded
an explanation of this act. Governor Wanton told him that
" It was done to prevent him from seizing the guns, and that
they would be used against any enemy of the colony,"
HISTOKY OF NEWPORT. 37
Andrews, the British historian of the Revolution, says,
"Newport, the capital of Rhode Island, was the place where
these proceedings first commenced. Forty pieces of cannon,
mounted in the Ijatteries that protected the harbor, were car-
ried off \>y the inhalutants. The captain of a man-of-war,
having waited upon the governor, who in that Province is
chosen by the Assembly, to inquire into the cause of such a
proceeding, was explicitly told, that the people had seized
them that they might not be used against themselves by the
British forces ; and that they intended to employ them in
their own defence, against any one that should attack them.
•'After taking this measure the Assembly met. and agreed
that arms and warlike stores should be purchased with the
public money. Resolutions were passed for training the in-
habitants, and every man was expected to prepare himself
for a vigorous defence of the rights and liberties of his coun-
try. The colony of New Hampshire had hitherto acted with
great moderation during these disturbances ; but on receiv-
ing intelligence of the proclamation forbidding the export of
arms to the colonies and of the proceedings in consequence
of it at Rhode Island, they resolved to imitate them.'"
The people of New Hampshire seized the cannon at Ports-
mouth, with the munitions of war, and stored the powder
under the pulpit of the Congregational Church.
May 4th, 1776, the General Assembly of Rhode Island,
in session in the State House in Newport, repealed the act
securing the allegiance of the people to the British crown,
and ordered that the use of the King's name be discontinued in
all papers and proceedings in the colony. Thus just two
months before the 4th of July, 1776, the people of Rhode
Island threw off their allegiance to the British crown and
set up an independent State.
38 HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
The Newport Mercury, then published by Solomon Soutji-
wick,"*' and I'outributed to by such men as Ez.ra Stiles^' and
Samuel Hopkins,-^ did much to arouse the people to the duties
of that time. The history of Newport can never be faith-
fully written without assigning to these men a prominent
place among its benefactors.
Aftei' the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia,
and on the receipt of that declaration in Newport on the
18th of July, 1776, the General Assembly met and ratified
the declaration, and pledged themselves to support it with
their lives and fortimes. The declaration was then read to
the people by Major John Handy from the Court House
steps, and fifty years later it was again read by the same in-
dividual to the people, from the same place.
The General Assembly then declared the style of gov-
ernment of the State to be the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, and enacted a law to punish all
persons who should in any way acknowledge in this colony
the sovereignty of Great Britain.
The people of Newport had often met together, and had
often resolved that they would die or be free. The news of
the fighting at Lexington and Concord came to ready minds
and willing hands. The guns fired that day echoed and re-
echoed over the land, vibrated and re-vibrated, and the
sound never died away, until it was hushed in the Treaty of
Paris.
The legislature was at once convened, and an army of ob-
servation, consisting of fifteen hundred men, was raised.
Wanlon, then governor, would not commission the officers,
but Henry Ward, Secretary of State, was ordered to sign the
commissions and did so, no doubt, cheerfully. In the fol-
HISTORY OF NEWPORT. 39
lowing October, a second regiment, of seven hundred and fifty
men, was ordered to be raised, and then Wanton was re-
moved from office.
Captain James WaUaee, in command of the l^>ritish sloop
of war Hose, commanded the liarbor of Newport for the first
two years of the war, and inflicted great distress upon its in-
habitants: and on tlie .
(16.) Philip Sherman remained at Portsmouth, where lie died in 1676. He was
recorder of the colony, and liis descendants remaining in Rhode Island are more
numei-ous than of any other of "the first comers."
WILLIAM CODDINGTON.
(17.) William Coddington was appointed one of the assistants in the Massa-
chusetts colony before he emigrated to this country. He came from Lincolnshire.
He was a fellow passenger from England with Governor John Winthrop, on
board of the Arabella. Tliey arrived at Salem, Jmie 12th, 1630. He was several
times chosen an assistant in Massachusetts, but was left out of the magistracy
upon the defeat of Governor Yane in 16.37. But the freemen of Boston chose him
and Vane the next day to be deputies to their General Court. Coddington ex-
pressed his displeasure in losing his ofBce by sitting with the deacons at public
worship, instead of with the magistrates, and on a fast day he went to Mount
WoUaston to hear Mr. Wheelwright. In opposition to Gov. Winthrop he de-
fended Mrs. Hutchinson in her trial, and opposed the proceedings of the court
against Wheelwright. His exertions were unavailing, and he relinquished a
prosperous business as a merchant in Boston, and his large property and im-
provements in Braintree, and removed to Rhode Island, April 26th, 1638. He went
to England in 1651, and procured a commission as Governor for life. He died in
Newport in 1678, aged 78 years. His grandson was Governor of the Rhode Island
colony in 1738. Governor Coddington's estate in Newport was bounded by Thames,
Marlborough, Farewell and North Baptistj streets. His house stood where the
house of Samuel Sterne now stands, on the north side of Marlborough street, op-
posite Duke street.
NICHOLAS E.\STON.
(19.) Nicholas Easton was by trade a tanner. He came from Wales, and ar-
rived in New England May 14th 1634 and went to Ipswich. Was in Newbury in 1635
with his wife and son John. In 1636 he was the architect of a house built by the
colony at Newbury called the Bound House. In 1637, Nov. 20tli, he was disarmed.
March 12th, 1637-8, he had obtained license to remove his family from Massachu-
setts, and the General Court having received information that he only intended
APPENDIX.
to withdraw for a season, the court ordered that he might depart with his
family before the next court, and if he did not, to appear at that court and
abide the furtlier order of the court therein. June 8th, 1638, the General Court
ordered that the magistrates of Ipswich shall have power to discharge Mr.
Easton from building at Winnacunnet, and if he did not take warning to clear
the place of him He came to Xe\\i)ort with his two sons, John and Peter. He
bailt the first frame house there, on a lot of land adjoining the nnrtliwest cor-
ner of the Friends' Meeting House lot on Farewell street.
WILLIAM liRENTOX.
(20.) William lUenton came to .A.merica as a siirvi-yor, bearing the commis-
sion of Charles 1. to survey the crown lands in America under a contract that lie
was to have a share of the lands surveyed. He settled in Boston in IGIW. Asa mem-
ber of the General Court he opposed the censuring of Wheelwright and Hutchin-
son. Mr. Brenton was one of the early sctlh-rs of Newport. He had a town lot
assigned to him extending back from the harbor to Spring street, bounded north
(m Mary street, and extending south to what is now Cotton's Court, with the entire
neck including the site of Fort Adams and the Rocky Farm. He owned 10,000
acres of land in New Hampshire, in what is now Litchfleld. He built a liouse 150
feet sciuare in Brenton's neck, where the H. T. Battey house now stands. He
owned, also, an estate in Taunton. He died between the 20tli of August and loth
of November. 1674. He was Governor of the colony and held other important
offices. At his decease he left three sons — Jahleel, William and Kbenczer. and
several daughters.
Jahleel manned a schooner wli<-)i In- was hut twenty-one yt-ars of age, and
went to tlu? rescue of the inhabitants of Providence at the time the town was
burned by the Indians in 1670. He was afterwards collector of tlx- customs at
Boston, but eventually returned to Newport where he en-
nis, James Godfrey, Thomas Stacy, Christopher Bently, Samuel JclTers, Joseph
Jaques, Thomas Foster, Joseph Crandall, Ezekiel Burroughs, Isaac Freeborn,
Peter Gazee, William Ladd, John :Murphy, John Coggcshall, William Finch,
Thomas Dring, Samuel Walker, James Phillips, Reraembrome Simmons, Joseph
Sheffield.
AKTHIU BJiOWX.
(22.) Arthur Brown was the son of tlie Rev. Marmaduke Brown, rector of
Trinity Church in Newport. The Rev. .Marmaduke Brown was the rector of that
church from sometime in the year 17G0 until his decease in 17G1. In 1795 his son,
Arthur Brown, caused to be erected a mural monument in Trinity church to the
memory of his father and mother, upon which is the following inscription
in reference to himself, viz: "This monument was erected by their son,
Arthur Brown, Esq., now senior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland,
and Representative in Parliament for the same. In token of his grati-
tude and affection to the best and tenderest of parents, aiwl his respect and love
for a congref/ation among whom and for a place where he spent his earliest and
happiest days." In the year 1798 Dr. Bi-own stated to Captain David M. Cogge-
shall, in Dublin, that "he was born in Newport in a house near the Redwood
Library," probably "the old parsonage," now owned by Mr. William Fludder.
Brown remained here until he was seventeen years of age. Writing in 1798, Dr.
Brown says: "The face of the country was beautiful beyond description; it was
composed of woods of no very great magnitude, perhaps of half a mile or a mile
in diameter, interspersed with most cliarming lawns. The effect which is pro-
duced in a few demesnes of our nobility by so much ari, was there universally
wrought by nature, with the little aid of man in clearing its too great e.xhuber-
ances. » # * Rhode Island throughout answered this character,
but alas, I am told the former war did not leave a single timber tree."
Newport, in Rhode Island, used to send out annually 400 sail of shipping,
small and large. * * # Every one knows what immense channels of
commerce have opened since, and how soon America launclied forth even to
China and Nootka Sound."
"The climate of Rhode Island, often called the garden and Montpelier of
America, induced such numbers of wealthy persons from the southward to reside
there in summer, that it was ludicrously called the Carolina hospital."
In reference to an important question which is now disturbing antiquarians
as to when the revolution commenced, lie says: "The discontents of America are
usually dated from the stamp act in 1765, but they really originated in 1763,
immediately after the peace, from the interdiction of their trade with the Span-
ish main. It was the only trade which brought specie into the country, and
hence no money was seen except paper, saving half johannas, dollars, pistereens ;
a guinea or English crown was seldom seen. The depression of the value of paper
money was greater in Rhode Island than anywhere else, a paper dollar beai-ing
the nominal value of eight pounds. I myself saw one American fort fire upon
the Squirrel, a king's ship, in 1764, in the harbor of Newport."
Speaking of the schools in New England he says . "Of theirschools, self-love
naturally inclines the author to give a favorable account, he having never received
any school edacntinn elseivhere, yet their teachers were often from Europe, and it
was his own fate to be instructed by a German and a Scotchman.'
He says of the Redwood Library: "The library at Rhode Island, though built
of wood, was a structure of uncommon beauty; I remember it with admiration,
and I could once appeal to the known taste of an old school fellow, Stuart, the
2
ATPENDIX.
painter, who had the same feeling towards it. It was saclied of its books by the
British army, as was the college of Princeton in the Jerseys. A college milita-
ry corps existed at Cambridge before I left it."
Arthur Brown, in Dublin, soon arose to great eminence. He became Senior
Fellow and Senior Proctor of Trinity College, a Doctor of CivU Law, and King's
Professor of Greek. For a time he held the Vicar Generalship of Kildar, and
practiced in the courts as an eminent barrister."
"For man y years no person in the nnivesity enj oyed greater popularity. They
gave him their best and most honorable gifts. They appointed him their repre-
sentative in the National Legislature , and for years the Irish House of Com-
mons listened with surprise and admiration to his bold and powerful language."
Dr. Brown was the author of "A Compendious View of Ecclesiastical Law."
"Lectures as professor of Civil Law in the University of Dublin." "Brown's
Viewof the Civil Law and Law of Admiralty." "Hussen 0"Die," a poem trans-
lated from the Persian language, and two volumes of miscellaneous writings.
He died in Dublin in the summer of 1805.
AUGUSX03 JOHNSTON.
(23.) Augustus Johnston's house was in Division street ; Dr. Thomas Moflfatt's
in Broad street, and Martin Howard's in Spring street.
CHARLES DUDLEY.
(24.) Charles Dudley, the King's Collector of Customs at Newport, who fled to
the British ship Rose, as a refuge from the wrath of the populace, came over
from England iu 17G5. He married a daughter of Robert Cook, of Newport. Mr.
Dudley went to England with his family, where he died soon after. His family
afterwards returned to America. His son, the late Mr. Charles Dudley, settled in.
Albany where he became a distinguished and wealthy citizen, and where his
name is perpetuated by "The Dudley Observatory."
Mr. Charles Dudley, senior, when he was collector in Newport, occupied the
house in Middletown, built by Matthew Cozzens, merchant of Newport, who died
in Charleston, S. C, December 1780.
A letter written by Mr. Dudley, and now in the British State Paper Offlce,
says : "The attack upon the Gaspee was not the effect of sudden passion and
resentment, but of cooi deliberation and forethought. It had long been deter-
mined that she should be destroyed."
In October, 1776, John Smith was appointed by the General Assembly to sell
allot the effects of George Rome and Charles Dudley in possession of the State,
excepting the screws and bars and the effects in Nathan Miller's hands, and the
articles excepted were to be sold by Josias Lyndon.
.JOSEPH WaNTON.
(25.) Joseph Wanton was the son of William Wanton, who died in 1733, Gov-
ernor of the colony. Governor William Wanton in early life commanded a pri-
vateer out of Newport. Joseph held many important offices under the colony,
but it is said that he had the misfortune to inherit from his father a quarrel with
the Ward family, which induced him to promote the interest of Stephen Hopkins
against Samuel Ward, and when Ward and Hopkins became united in support of
the colonies, it is not impossible that Wauton, who had been an outspoken advo-
cate of the rights cf the colonies, was turned to the support of the crown by his
hostility to the Wards. In 1775 he was removed from office by the General Assem-
bly. He married a daughter of Governor Winthrop of Connecticut. Two of the
sons of Governor Joseph Wanton, Joseph and William, were wealthy merchants
of Newport. The former left with the British and died in New York. William,
APPEIOJIX. xi.
after the peace, was appointed collector of St. Jolins, New Brunswick, and re-
sided there. The sons had large estates, which were confiscated. Governor Jo-
seph Wanton died in A.D. 1780, aged 75 years, and was buried in the Clifton
burying ground.
SOLOMON SOUTUWICK.
(26.) Solomon Southwick was born in Xewport about 1731. He was the son of
a fisherman. His intelligent appearance attracted the attention of Henry Col
lins, the eminent merchant and philanthropist, who sent Southwick to school,
and was the means of giving him a good education. After completing his studies,
Southwick taught a school in Xewport for several years. He then engaged in
mercantile affairs in whi(!h he was unsuccessful. About 17C4 he purchased
from the heirs of James Franklin, the Xewport Mercury, and the printing estab-
lishment then connected witli that paper. The pajier was outspoken in favor of
the rights of the colonies. He was among the early book publishers of Xew
England, and had an extensive establishment for that time employed in that
business, and there are many books yet extant which bear his imprint. At the
breaking out of the war he was engaged in a very prosperous business which he
was forced to abandon with the most of his property. He then removed to
Providence, and was in the service of the State at the head of its commissariat.
He returned to Xewport after the peace, and was postmaster there for a
time, under theconfederation, and afterwards, for three orfour years was a ijart-
ner in tlie Mercury establishment. He died in Xewport, December 23d, 1797, aged
6G years. He left four sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Solomon Southwick,
removed to Albany, where he was editor of the Albany Register, a leading Dem-
ocratic paper in the State of Xew York. He died in Albany in 1839.
KEV. EZE.V STILES, D.I).
(27.) Upon the death of the Rev. Mr. Searing, the Rev. Samuel Fairweather
was made pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Newport in 1751, but in
consequence of an occurrence at a dinner atCiodfrey Malbone's, he left the church
in 1755, and soon after left the denomination. The Rev. Ezra Stiles was the suc-
cessor of .Air. Fairweather, and was settled pastor of that church in 1755. He
was, perhaps, the most learned man of his time in America, and was one of the
lirmest advocates of the rights of the colonies in their struggle with Great
Britain for national existence and independence. He, with a considerable por-
tion of his congregation, was driven away from Xewport upon the breaking out
of the war.
In 1777 he was made President of Yale College, but was not formerly dismissed
from his pastoral office in Xewport until 178G. He died May 12th, 1795, in the C8th
year of his age. His diary, now in tlie custody of Yale College, is said to con-
tain much interesting matter pertaining to the history of Xewport. He had a
daughter who married Abiel Holmes, the author of "Holmes' Annals," and she
was the mother of Oliver Wendell Holmes.
REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS, D. D.
(28.) Dr. Hopkins preached his first sermon to the First Congregational Church
in Xewport, July 23d, 17C9. After preaching to the congregation for a time, a sa-
tirical pamphlet written, by the Rev. William Hart, on Dr. Hopkins and his relig-
ious dogmas, was circulated among the congregation, and induced a considerable
opposition to, and delayed the Doctor's installation in the pastoral office of this
society to April 11th, 1770. He died in Xewport, December 20ih, 1803, in the 83d
year of his age. He was pastor of the Xewport church for more than thirty-three
years. Dr. Hopkins wrote an autobiography of himself, whicli was published
after his decease, \\-ith notes, by the Rev. Stephen West. Reminiscences of his
life by the Rev. Dr. AVilliam Patten ; a memoir of his life and character by the
xll. APPENDIX.
Rev. John Fei-guson, with a memoir of his life and character by the Rev.
Edward A. Parle, have all been published and are aoeessable to those who
desire to investigate the character and teachings of this great man. Doctor
Hopkins wrote and published many books, and was the means of many books
being published by others. He was, perhaps, the earliest American who pviblicly
denounced the African slave trade, and who favored the entire abolition of
slavery, and was among flie first to denounce the use of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage, and to favor the prohibition of the liquor traffic. He was an ardent
whig before and during the revolution, and though he disliked "the slavery
clauses," he favored the adoption of the Federal constitution. Though he was
an unpopular preacher, and wrote upon unpopular subjects, few men made a
deeper impression upon the public mind than did this eminent divine. His dia-
logue upon the subject of slavery, his biography of Jonathan Edwards, his lives of
Susanna Anthony and Hannah Osborne, though not among his most important
works, were much read and highly appi-eciated upon their publication both in
this counlry and in Great Britain ; and his dialogue upon the subject of slavery
was one of the first and one of the most able and influential papers ever pub-
lished upon that subject. Withal, he was an humble, self-denying and faithful
Christian.
Under the first charter, May 18th, 1652, Rhode Island passed an act against the
importation of negroes into the colony. In 1675-6, a law was passed to prohibit
Indian hondage, and in 1715 an act was passed to pronibit the importa-
tion cf Indian slaves. Yet, afterwards, Rhode Island became deeply involved in
the slave trade, and Newport was the centre of this traffic. When in 1770 Dr.
Hopkins preached from his pulpit in ivewport his first sermon against tlie slave
tratfic. Whittier says: "It well may oe doubted whether on that Sabbath day the
angels of (iod, in their wide survey of the universe, looked upon a nobler spec-
tacle than that of the minister of Xewport, rising up before his slaveholding con-
gregation and demanding in the name of the Highest the deliverance of the cap-
tive and the Oldening of prison doors to those that were bound!" The colony ot
Rliode Island in June, 1774, passed a law prohibiting the bringing of slaves into
the colony, and in 1784 the Legislature enacted that all children born after March
1st, 1785, should be free. Of the passage of these acts Dr. Hopkins was an ardent
advocate. Dr. Hopkins, after the revolution, was very poor, and sometimes was
scantily provided even with the necessaries of life, yet, upon his receiving nine
hundred dollars for the copyriglit of his "System of Divinity," it is said by one
writer that he gave one hundred dollars, and by another that he gave one half of
the amount to an anti-slavery societj' in Rhode Island, and notwithstanding his
great poverty he' actually purchased upon his own credit the freedom of one pious
African, with the view of educating him as a missionary and sending him to
Africa, for Dr. Hopkins hoped to destroy the slave trade by evangelizing and
educating the natives of Africa in their own country.
THE LORD SANDWICH.
(29.) List of persons imprisoned by the British on board the Lord Sandwich,
viz: Capt. Ebenezer Vose, Job Easton, Thomas Richardson, Kalhaniel Grafton
John Haven, Robert Taylor, Joseph Allen, Samuel Yates. Ezra Pope, Ebeneze
Carr, Mr. Devens, Mr. Rider, Joseph Gurdon, John Townsend Joshua Rathbone,
S. Billings, Charles Cahoone, John Arnold, John Harrod, John Hubbard, Edward
Simmons, Wiiliam Carter, Paul Coffin, Capt. Church, Edward Church, Benjamin
Church, Jr., Major Fairehilds, Jonathan Y'ates, Isaac Dayton, William Dilling-
ham, Samuel Carr, John Bradley, John Gardner, Sherman Clarke, Gideon
Wanton, Joseph Bis.sel, John Cahoone, Higgins Landers, John Lawton, Harry
Oman, Thomas Peckham, Richard Thomas, John Bull, Charles Vigneron, Henry
Irish, Thomas Howland, Daniel FuUows, Hanson Hull, Nathan Luther, William
Langley, John Greene, Daniel Smith, Edward .Murphy, Benjamin Marshall,
Samuel Vinson, Joseph Tillinghast, Jonathan Hull, Elisha Lawton, Lee Langley,
Peter Langley, William Downer.
IMPRESSED SEAMEN.
(30) In 1794, during the May session of the Assembly, His Britannic-Majesty's ship,
the Nautilus, arrived in Newport, having on board six American seamen, some
of whom, it was alleged, had been impressed into this service. The couimanding
officer of this vessel was on shore, and was summoned before ihe General Assem-
bly. The subject was referred to the Judges ot the Superior Court, and to the
Judge of the I^. S. District Court, Defore whom, in the presence ot Consul Moore,
Commander Boynton was examined. The General Assembly sent a committee
on beard of the Nautilus to examine as to whether there were American seamen
detained there, and while this examination was being made, the judges protected
Boynton from the populace, and upon the return of the committee who had re-
ported that six men -were detained against their will, Boynton issued an order
for their discharge and for the payment of their wages.
THOM.AS DE COUKCY.
(31) The Right Honorable Thomas deCourcy, Lord Kinsale, Baron de Courcy and
Eegrone, late Premier Baron of Ireland, was another distinguished person,
whose life was intimately connected with the commerce of Newport, His ances-
tor, a younger son of the family, emigrated to Newport about 17'JO. Here, Tiiomas
de Courcy was born and was afterwards bound an apprentice to a Captain Beard
of this place. He afterwards enlisted in the navy, and shared in the honor of
taking Porto Bello, and while with Admiral Vernon, from that oflicer De Courcy
received intelligence which enabled him to establish his title to the estates and
honors of his family.
UK. BEX.IAMIX WATEKHOUSE.
(33) Dr. Bcnj. Waterhouse, physician, naturalist and author, was also a native
of Newport, born here in 1754. He was educated at London, Kdinburg and Leyden.
He was thirty years a professor in Harvard College, and died in Cambridge in
1846, at the advanced age of 92 years.
Dr. Waterhouse remeinembered the time when Augustus .Tohnstun was Attlr. Simpson, the latter an Englishman who practiced law in Newport,
but "died in England among other refugees." He just remembered Henry Bull,
but knew Judge Lightfoot, who taught him to value and study Lord Bacon, Lock,
Newton and Boerhaven. Lightfoot was the oracle of Newport in his time. He
was an able, learned and idle man. Honeyman and Marchant, Dr. Waterhouse
regarded to be gentlemen of the old school ; Vanuim he took to bt- a popular as-
pirant, and Ellery and his three brothers to be tlaming sons of liberty. In his
old age, Dr. Waterhouse prophesied that Newport would become the V)ath of the
United States, to which rich invalids would retire to improve their impaired health,
and wished that he had some pleasant spot or farm on his native island, to which,
if not himself, his invalid posterity might resort to enjoy peace, health and
liberty.
Dr. Waterhouse was the author of "Lectures on the Theory and Practice of
Medicine," 8 vo. published in 1786; "Lectures on Natural Historj*," 1810;" The
Botanist," 1811 ; "Oratorio /naw/;. at Harvard University," 1783; "A Book on Vital-
ity," 1790; "Prospect of Exterminating the Small Pox," 1800; "Ascribing Author-
ship of Junius to the Earl of Chatham," 1831 ; "Journal of a Young Man of Mass.,"
1816.
Dr. Waterhouse was the son of Timothy Waterhou.se, and was born in a house
fronting on Liberty Square, in Newport.
3
Xlv. APPENDIX.
THE CHAINING FAMILY.
(35) The founder of this family in Newport was .John Channing, who came to
Newport abo 1 1715. He left a son, John Channing, and several daughters. John
Channing, son of John, was the father of William Chauning, who was born in
1751, graduated at Princeton in 1769, studied law with Oliver Arnold, was elected
Attorney General in 1777, and annually re-elerted up to 1787, when he was turned
out of office by the paper money party. In 1791 he was again made Attorney
General, and the same year was appointed by General Washington, United States
District Attorney, and hold both offices up to his death, wliich occurred Septem-
ber 21, 1793, aged 42 years. He married Lucy EUery, the daughter of William
Ellery, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. They had eleven children,
nine of whom survived their father. The eldest son was Francis Dana Chan-
ning, of Boston; the second son, William Ellery Channing, the eminent scholar
and divine. Two of the younger sons, Dr. Walter and Edward, were professors in
Harvard College.
THE ELLEBY FAMILY.
(36) William Ellery was at Gloucester, Massachusetts, In IGCS.He had a son Ben-
jamin, his third child, born in 1669. He first removed toBristol, then apart of Mas-
sachuse ts, but soon removed to Newport. He commanded a letter of marque
out of Newport in 1702. He married Abigail, d uighter of John Wilkins.of Wiltshire,
England, July 30th, 1696. About this time he removed to Newport. They had
nine children. "William, his eldest son, and third child, was born October 31st,
1701, and graduated at Harvard College in 1722. He became a wealthy merchant
in Newport, a Judge, an Assistant and Deputy Governor of the colony of Rhode
Island. He married Elizabeth Almy, January 3d, 1722, and died in Newport,
March 15th, 1764, leaving three sons and one daughter. William, the second son,
was born December 22d, 1727, graduated at Harvard College in 1747, and married
Ann Remington, of Cambridge, October 11th, 1750. He settled in Newport and
engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1759 he was appointed naval officer of the
colony of Rhode Island, and in 1770 he commenced the practice of the law, in
wJiich he continued to 1776, when, upon the decease of Samuel Ward, he was
elected to the Continental Congress, and there became a signer of the Declaration
of Independence. Upon the organization of the federal government under the
constitution, he was appointed Collector of the Customs for Newport, and held
that office up to his decease, February 15th, 1820.
THE DECATUR FAMILY.
(37) Stephen Decatur, the ancestor of this family, is said to have been a native of
Genoa, and to have come to Rhode Island in 1746. He was naturalized by an act
of the General Assembly in 1755. During the war between England an' 1 France
he was an officer of a privateer, fitted out at Newport. He married, in 1751, Pris-
cilla Hill, a widow, whose maiden name was George. By this marriage he had
two sons— Stephen, born in 1752, and John, born in 1754. The son Stephen, the
father of the late Commodore Stephen Decatur, was bred to the sea. The Deca-
turs lived in the old Brayton house, then standing at the head of the Mall, but
now is next north of the residence of the late Edward W. Lawton, on the east side
of Charles street.
HE.NBY COLLIXS.
(38) Henry Collins was the son of Arnold and Amy Collins, and was born in New-
port, March 25th, 1699. He was educated in England, became a merchant upon his
return to Newport, and for a time was very successful, but became bankrupt in
1765, a residt brought about by the application of the admiralty rule of 1756. i^Ir.
Collins was a great benefactor of Newport. He was one of the founders of the
Redwood Library, and of the Literary Society, out of which it arose, and one of
the builders of the Long Wharf and the Granary. He educated several deserving,
but poor young men, at his own expense, among them was Solomon South wick,
and to his libefality posterity are indebted for tlie portraits of Callender, Berke-
ley, Clapp, Hitchcoclc, and perliaps oiliers. Dr. Waterliouse speaks of liim as
the Lorenzo de Medici of Rhode Island. He died at the house of a friend about
1770. Mr. Collins owned the house on Easton's Toint, at what was known as the
Gibbs' Ship Yard, which during the revolution belonged to George Rome, and
which, in the hard winter of 1780, was torn down and distributed among the poor
for fuel.
ARNOLD FAMILY.
(39) Benedict Arnold came to Newport from Providence in 1C53, and was admitted
purchaser inNewport. His town lot extended from Jlill to I'elham streets, and his
house was on the lot belonging to the People's Library. His sou Benedict inher-
ited his homestead. One of the daughters of the second Benedict married Edward
Pelhara, whose two daughters inherited it, one of whom married John Bannister
asid the other John Cowley. Bannister built a wharf, and so did Cowley. Gover-
nor Arnold, the first Benedict, i^robably erected "the Old Stone Mill." He held
many important oSices. He was the first Governor under the charter of Charles
II. and was often re-elected to that offtce. He left four sons and three daughters.
He died June 9th, 1678, at the age of C3 years, and was buried in a lot adjoining, on
the east, the estate of Gov. Van Zaudt.
GOVERNOK GIBBS HOUSE.
The Governor Gibbs house, on the north side of Mill street, \yas built by John
Tillinghast, about 17G5. It was afterwards the property of Col. Archibald Crary,
who Avas an officer of the revolution. At the close of the war, General Greene
came to Newport and rented and occupied tlie house. Here he was visited by
the Marquis de Lafayette, October 24th, 1784. General Greene took possession of
the house, November 25th, 1783, when he was waited upon by the principal inhab-
itants of the town, and presented with a congratulatory address, to which lie
made a suitable response. While General Greene resided in this house, he was
visited by Kosciusko and by Baron Stuben.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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