F 89 .N5 N615 no . 9 1913 Oct Se\ 2 <^. .-*■' ^-^^ i^.' c.^ fe 'Jf^$^ -• o' ''"^ 0^ "'In BULLETIN OF THE Newport Historical Society Number Nine NEWPORT. R. I. October. 1913 On the So-called Portrait of Governor William Coddington in the City Hall at Newport /Jv A Paper read before the Society at the Regular Quarterly Meeting August 18. 1913 By HAMILTON B. TOMPKINS Referring to the so-called portrait of Gov. William Coddington, which appears in Bulletin No. 5 of the Newport Historical Society, I have grave doubts that the portrait in the City Hall of which the Bul- letin picture claims to be a copy, is in reality that of the first William Coddington. While it is stated in the Bulletin that it is from the portrait in the City Hall, yet in fact it is taken from the very much idealized copy made by Charles B. King from the City Hall picture, and now in the Redwood Library. My attention was first called to the doubtful authenticity of the portrait by the statement made by the late Charles Deane, LL.D., for- merly Vice President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, who says in his article on New England, in the third volume of Justin Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of America, "there is an alleged ^orimii of Coddington in the Council Chamber at Newport." Upon making inquiries in regard to the picture, I learned that Mr. H. H. Swinburne, formerly an active member of our society, a native of Newport, and somewhat a student of its history, had many years ago claimed that it was not a portrait of the first governor. Surely there was no one in this country during Coddington's life, as far as we know, to have painted it, and, if it is a portrait of him, it must have been painted in England when he was there seeking the commis- sion appointing him governor for life of the islands of Aquidneck and Conanicut which he obtained in 1651 ; but the dress in which he is por- trayed rather militates against that supposition, as the costume of the portrait in the City Hall did not come into vogue for people of his class until towards or after the beginning of the eighteenth century, and Cod- dington died November 1st, 1678. The portraits we have of Governor M'inthrop of Massachusetts, Governor Winthrop of Connecticut, Gov- ernor Winslow of Plymouth and others of that period, men who were not only contemporaries of Coddington, but his equals socially and politically, are all clad in the sombre garb of the Puritan and Crom- wellian era, and in fact Winslow 's portrait was painted in London in 1651. It has been intimated that the portrait may be that of the second William Coddington, who was governor from 1683-85, but the objections which apply to its being a portrait of his father also apply to him — namely that there was no one in this country to have painted it and we have no knowledge of his ever having left America, and besides he died at the age of thirty-eight, and the City Hall portrait is that of a much older man. If the portrait in question is that of a Coddington, it is more than })robable that it is of William Coddington, born 1680, died 1755, grandson of the first William, and was the one to whom Callender dedicated his historical discourse, delivered in 1738, at the end of the first century from the first settlement of the island. This third William was a man of means and position, an assistant speaker of the House of Deputies, one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas, besides holding other positions of trust and responsibility, and was also engaged in business affairs. The placing of the picture in the Bulletin has at least the merit of correctly locating it. In Field's History of Rhode Island, issued in 1902, in which it is reproduced, it says, " from the original in the Red- wood Library," in Grace Kimball's book, "Providence in Colonial Days," published last year, the Redwood Library copy is given, but mentions that it is in the State House at Newport. Alice Morse Earle, author of " Old Time Gardens," " In Old Narra- gansett," and other kindred books, also reproduces the idealized portrait of Coddington in her "Two Centuries of Costume in America," published by the MacMillan Co. in 1910. That she believed it to be a portrait of the first governor is shown by her allusions to his correspondence with Governor Winthrop, which one she does not say, but we know he cor- responded with Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, who died in 1649, and perhaps also with Governor Winthrop of Connecticut, who died in 1676, In her chapter on ruffs and bands, Mrs. Earle places the portrait of Coddington opposite that of a portrait by Smybert of Thomas Fayer- weather of Boston, showing the same style of cravat in both pictures, and if she thereby meant to intimate that both were painted by the same artist, she did not realize that she was guilty of a gross anach- ronism, as Governor Coddington died before Smybert was born. She also says that an early example of cravat is shown in the portrait of Judge William Stoughton ot Massachusetts, which she also reproduces, and adds that the same mode of neck dressing is seen after that date in all American portraits, and goes on to say that one is shown with great exactness in the portrait on page 210 of her book, which is that of the so-called Coddington portrait as I have mentioned above, but Stougliton died many years after Coddington, and his active political and judicial life, when his portrait was undoubtedly painted, was during the years after Coddington had passed away, and I may also add that the subject of this portrait is without a wig, and clad in somber garb. Charles the 2d, who landed in England in 1660, and ascended the throne of his father, was the earliest King represented in the Great Seal as wearing a large periwig. This did not become the general custom, how- ever, until after 1663, and the indefatigable diarist Pepys, who as a true courtier, always desired to be in the fashion, records his wearing one from his barber. This style of headwear was slow in spreading to this country, but if it had come more quickly, it could hardly have reached Coddington who we know had become a Quaker, certainly as early as March 1665 if not earlier, and that sect at that time and for some time later, at least, eschewed all adornments of that kind. It was ordy towards or after the beginning of the 18th century, as the colonies grew in wealth and importance, that there was a reaction in the costumes from the more severe dress of the earlier period. We find the same style of garments and wig of the so-called Coddington picture in the portraits of Peter Faneuil, John Hancock, and King Carter (so called) of Virginia and the pictures we have in the Redwood Library of Peter Wilkinson, John Bannister and others, who lived at the same time as the third William Coddington, and of his social, polit- ical and commercial standing. While there seems to be no real means of ascertaining as to who painted the picture we are considering, yet we know it might have been painted by Robert Feke, a Newport artist of reputation, or even by Smybert, who was in Newport and Boston during Coddington's life. The picture was formerly owned by a Mr. Nathaniel Coddington who died, I believe, early in the fifties, unmarried. He had some means at one time, but it has been stated that through endorsing for others, he 3 lost all his property, and became later an inmate of the Newport Asylum; he had always kept this picture with him, and upon his death it came into the possession of the city. While in the hands ot Nathaniel Cod- dington it was copied by Charles H. King, as I have mentioned above, and his copy was, by him, presented to the Redwood Library in 1843. The artist seems to have been very happy in reproducing the wig. coat and other accessories, but he has idealized the face, and made it that of a much younger man than the original. Nathaniel Coddington had a niece, who I understand from her son now living, knew nothing about the picture except the general current rei)ort. A copy by Thomas Mathewson, Esq., is among the portraits in Sayles Hall at Brown Uni- versity. My attention was called, by our Librarian, to the photograph we have in our museum of the i)ortrait of Hon. Benjamin EUery, grand- father of the signer, which would seem to have an important bearing upon the matter under discussion. Benjamin Ellery was born in Glou- cester, Mass., September 11th, 1669, and died in Newport July 20th, 1746. On July 30th 1696 he married Abigail Wilkins of Bristol, R. I. About the time of his marriage he settled in Bristol, but soon after re- turned to Newimrt where he became a prominent and wealthy merchant. His house was on the Point and he is said to have lived in the best style of the period. He was a man of much influence in the community, was at one time Speaker of the House of Deputies and held other public offices. In an article contributed to the Newport Historical Magazine in January 1884 by Harrison Ellery, Esq., of Boston, on the ancestors of William Ellery, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, he says that the portraits of Benjamin Ellery, his wife and sons were probably painted by Smybert. In comparing the reproduction of the portrait of Benjamin Ellery with that of William Coddington which appeared in the Bulletin, we find the same style of wig, the same general costume, the same character of accessories in both pictures, both have a window at the left, that in the Ellery portrait showing a ship emblematical of his early career as a follower of the sea, and commander of a vessel, and in the Coddington portrait a landscape and trees. Ellery and the said Coddington were contemporaries here in New- port, both men of substance, and active in business, political and social affairs, and it is not surprising that both should have had their features limned by the same hand, and painted within the first half of the eigh- teenth century. Whether by Feke or Smybert, or some unknown artist, it is difficult to say, so that everything points to the fact that, if the City Hall portrait is a Coddington, it is that of the third William, but, how- ever that may be, it can, I think, at least truthfully be said it certainly is not that of \h^ first William Coddington. PERRY CENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE IN NEWPORT By ALVAH H. SANBORN The one hundredth anniversary of the memorable victory on Lake Erie was not allowed to pass unnoticed in Newport, but was observed with fitting ceremonies on Wednesday, September 10th, 1913. Although the Newport Artillery Company was missed on this occasion, being at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, where a national celebration of the victory was in progress, the observance of the day in Newport was a notable one, prac- tically all the citizens lending their aid to bring about a dignified and appropriate celebration. The address by Hon. Asa Bird Gardiner on Washington Square and the eulogy by Rt. Rev. James H. Darlington, D. D., Bishop of Harrisburg, Pa., were eloquent tributes to the memory of Oliver Hazard Perry and his officers and men. It is pre-eminently fitting that Newport should claim Perry Day as her own and should pay annual homage to the honor of the Commodore and his men. It is seldom that the honor of a great national victory that changes the course of history for a territory almost illimitable in extent rests almost entirely upon one small community hundreds of miles from the locality of the battle. And yet that is true of Lake Erie. Oliver Hazard Perry was a Rhode Island man, born in the Town of South Kingstown, but educated in Newport where he subsequently made his home. Here he was married to his charming wife ; here his children were born ; here he returned to be greeted with great acclaim when the memorable victory was won ; and here his remains were in- terred when the Grim Reaper cut him down in the flower of his man- hood. This is no place for again relating the story of the great Battle. Most Newporters have read of Perry's long journey through the wilder- ness from Newport to Sackett's harbor, on Lake Ontario, then to Presque Isle, now Erie, Pa , on Lake Erie, where the fleet was built, arriving there on March 27, 1813, accompanied by one hundred and fifty men and boys from Newport to form the nucleus of his fleet. They know how the ship-builders from the Newport yards superintended the build- ing of Perry's ships from the cutting of the green timber in the forest to the lifting of the finished vessels over the bar of Erie in immi- nent peril of immediate attack by the hostile fleet. Of Perry's personal prowess in the battle, nothing need be said. His Newport men followed him into every danger and shared with him the glory of the victory that resulted in the modest message : We have met the enemy and they are ours. There were others than Rhode Islanders in the Battle. Soldiers from Kentucky under Harrison augmented the scanty forces of Perry, and at different times during his months of preparation a few recruits had been allowed to join him. But none will begrudge Rhode Island the supreme glory of the conflict. The commanders of six of the nine vessels of the fleet, carrying 51 of the 54 guns, were Newporters— Perry, Champlin, Almy, Turner and Brownell — while many of the under offi- cers and the skilled seamen came from Newport Some years ago, Perry Day was observed as Newport's particular holiday, the celebration taking precedence even over ' Lection Day at one time, although the latter came into its own and the celebration of Perry Day diminished. Now that 'Lection is no more there are many who would like to see Perry Day restored to glory. The hospitable days of the old 'Lection with " open house " everywhere, and refreshments dispensed without restraint, might well mark the observance of the tenth of September. Preliminary steps for the observance of the Perry Centennial in Newport were taken in the early winter, when Hon. F. P. Garrettson introduced in the Representative Council a resolution appropriating the sum of one thousand dollars to defray the expenses of the celebration. This resolution was passed, the money to be expended under the direc- tion of the board of aldermen. In the early summer the board of alder- men designated Mayor William MacLeod and Aldermen Thomas C. Albro, Jr., and Michael F. Kelly as a special committee on Perry Cen- tennial observance. Subsequently this committee invited the Newport Board of Trade and the Rhode Island Society, Sons of the Revolution, to delegate three members each to serve as members of a joint committee to arrange plans for the observance. The Board of Trade delegated President Harry A. Titus, and Messrs. Frederick P. Garrettson and Ben- jamin F. Downing, 3rd, and the Sons of the Revolution delegated Presi- dent Thomas P. Peckham, and Messrs. Leander K. Carr and Alvah H. Sanborn. The joint committee organized by the election of Mayor AhicLeod as chairman and Mr. Sanborn as Secretary. Frequent meet- ings were held during the summer, the members devoting much time to the plans for the observance. Wednesday, September 10th, dawned crisp and cool, the weather in many respects being similar to that of the day of the battle, except that a high wind prevailed. The day was very generally observed as a holiday, more places being closed for the entire day than on the ordinary holiday. Decorations were very general in all parts of the city, the national colors being everywhere in evidence. Some of the most striking decora- tions were on the old State House, the (-ity Hall, the Miantonomi (llub and the Lawrence Club. Many other buildings were also completely hung with flags, particularly in the business section. The Mall never looked finer. Under the direction of Alderman Kelly strings of electric lights had been carried through the trees and tiny lamps had been worked among the low-growing plants about the Perry monument. Potted box plants had been artistically placed within the enclosure and these were also lighted by the small lamps. The monument itself was hung with lights and the American flag was draped about the pedestal. Chairman Shepley of the Park Commission had fixed up a few sur- prises which called forth many "Ohs," and " Ahs," from the admiring crowd. In the gold fish pool below the monument the commission placed the model of the Constellation with sails raised, and with strings of electric lamps extending over every part. A short distance away a tiny skiff", containing several dolls placed as rowers portrayed Commo- dore Oliver Hazard Perry in the act of leaving the Lawrence for the Ni- agara. This feature attracted more attention than any other one part of the whole celebration and the fence surrounding it was crowded at all hours. A short distance away was a model of a modern battleship, placed there by the men from the Army & Navy Y. M. C. A. Below the national colors on the tall flagstaff flew a reproduction of Perry's battleflag bearing the famous words of Captain Lawrence, " Don't give up the ship." The principal feature of the day was the parade, followed by the masterly oration of Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner and the eulogy by Bishop Darlington. The parade was really a notable one, considering that the component parts were all from Newport, and that even our own New- port Artillery Company was absent from the city. The army and navy made the usual excellent showing, the army being especially welcome under the adverse circumstances. The commanding officer had at first stated that he would be unable to send troops to take part in the parade owing to the fact that three companies had been ordered away for special practice. However at the special request of the committee, every avail- able man at Forts Adams and Greble was sent over, parading in four well-filled companies. They were warmly welcomed along the route. The naval contingent was excellent as always, A feature of this part of the line was the sword of Commodore Perry which was mounted on a gun caisson and pulled over the route by a picked detail from the Training Station. Commander Cage had had the caisson built up in such a way that the sword could be seen by all, and underneath, in white letters on blue ground, were the words, " Don't give up the ship." This was the original sword that was worn by Commodore Perry in the great battle. It is the property of Mr. Perry Belmont, and was in the custody of the Secretary of the Navy, being sent by him to Admiral Caperton at the Training Station at the request of Mr. Belmont. The Spanish War Veterans made a good showing considering the fact that many members of the camp were away from Newport on board the ships of the Navy. The Hibernian Rifles turned out in large num- bers and marched well. They were followed by the Sons of Columbus, composed of some of the leading Italian residents of the city, uniformed in silk hats and frock coats. In the first carriage came the descendants of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Mrs. John LaFarge and family and Mr. Thomas Sargent Perry and family, and others. Then came the officers of the array and navy, followed by Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner, the orator of the day. Col. Gardiner wore his uniform as a member of the uniformed organiza- tion of the Society of the War of 1812 of New York, and was accom- panied by his adjutant, Mr. John DuFais, also in uniform. These were modeled after those worn by the officers of the army of Perry's time and attracted much attention along the route. The clerical robes of Bishop Darlington and his chaplain, Rev. Stanley C. Hughes, also gave a touch of color. The Sons of the Revolution, with their blue and buff banner, attracted considerable attention, most persons being ignorant of the meaning of the banner. The Grand Army of the Republic brought up the rear and were liberally applauded all along the line. The line was made up as follows : Platoon of Police, Sergeant Leary in charge. Chief Marshal, Colonel H. Bliss. Chief Staff, Colonel A. A. Barker. Aids— Lieutenant Amsden, U. S. N. ; Lieutenant R. S. Atwood, U. S. A., F. N. Fullerton, U. S. W. V. ; orderly mounted from the Coast Artillery. Det. United States Army: Capt. H. B. Grant, comman'ling. Lieut. L. R. Watrous, adjutant. Seventh Artillery Band. 117th Co. Lieut. F. A. Mountford. 14th Co., Captain W. R. Bettison, Lieutenant H. A. Strauss 130th Co., Lieutenant L. P. Horsfall. 109th Co.. Lieutenant F. M. Green. Det. United States Navy: Lieutenant J. R. Morrison commanding. Chief Turret Captain W. J. CoUum, Adjutant. 8 Station Band, F. Caruso in charge. Bugle Corps. 1st Co., C. King, Chief Quartermaster. 2d Co., C. Grant, Chief Quartermaster. 3d Co., W. H. Hoffman, Chief Quartermaster. 4th Co., J. B. Jerome, Chief Master at Arms. 5th Co., S. M. Thompson, Chief Turret Captain. 6th Co., C. Waespe, Chief Quartermaster. 7th Co., J. F. Wedick, Chief Gunner's Mate. 8th Co., T. M. Buck, Chief Quartermaster. Hospital Corps, E. Tolderlund in charge. Caisson carrying the sword of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Organizations. Municipal Band. Spanish War Veterans, Commander T. Sullivan. Hibernian Rifles, Colonel M. J. Kelly. Staff, Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Gilobly, Paymaster P. J. Dawsey, Commissary Ofllicer Captain John F. Doyle, Inspector of Rifle Practice Lieutenant Foley, Assistant Inspector of Rifle Practice Lieutenant McMorrow. Major Terrance Gibson, battalion commander. Company A, of Providence. Company D, of Newport. Sons of Columbus, Commander P. Baccari. Carriages containing: Orator, Eulogist, Guests, Sons of the Revolution, Grand Army Republic. The line moved promptly at the hour set, marching out Broadway to Powel avenue, to Kay street, to Bellevue avenue, to Narragansett avenue, to Thames street, to Washington square. Here the troops marched up the east side of the square while the carriages proceeded up Touro street and discharged their passengers, ('hairs had been arranged in front of the band stand for the guests and were held in reserve by the Boy Scouts under Scout Master Gatzenmeier. The Perry descendants were escorted to the band stand with the orator and others. The Perry sword was drawn up in front of the stand where it could be plainly seen. As soon as the guests were seated, the crowd was admitted to the square and in a moment there was an immense throng completely sur- rounding the speakers. The arrangements took but a few minutes and Mayor MacLeod quickly directed the bugler to sound attention and then called the gathering to order. He spoke briefly, presenting the orator of the day, Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner of New York. Colonel Gardiner is one of the ablest orators that Newport has ever heard and his address on this occasion was a notable one. The immense holiday crowd that surrounded the band stand and that filled the whole square was abso- lutely still during the whole oration. He held his audience spell-bound from first to last, a triumph of oratory under the exceedingly trying con- ditions that might be expected to exist in an open-air address on Wash- ington square. 9 Mayor MacLeod called attention to the Perry sword below the stand, and then the line was quickly reformed and proceeded to the Perry lot in the Island cemetery. The Perry descendants entered the enclosure with the chaplain and eulogist, while the other guests lined up outside the railing. Rev. Stanley C. Hughes presided and presented the Right Reverend James H. Darlington, D. D., Bishop of Harrisburg, who delivered the eulogy. Bishop Darlington is a strong and forceful speaker, and made a powerful address. Chaplain Hughes offered prayer and benediction, after which the firing squad from the Training Station fired three volleys over the grave and the bugler from the Coast Artillery sounded taps. The line was dismissed at the cemetery and the various detach- ments returned to their quarters, closing the formal programme for the afternoon. In the evening, the lights on the Mall were turned on and the Training Station Band rendered a splendid concert. There was an im- mense throng of people out, the entire square being completely filled. The Miantonomi Club tendered a reception for the guests of the city, and the rooms proved a delightful place to listen to the music and see the crowds. The Lawrence Club, occupying the old Perry residence, also kept open house; and was well filled during the entire evening. The celebration was generally conceded to be one of the most digni- fied and fitting ever held in Newport. The committee was able to return to the City Treasury a considerable amount of the $1,000 appropriated for the observance, the entire sum not being required. BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY NAME Section I . The name of this So- ciety is " The Newport Historical Society.'' OBJECT Sec. 2. The object of this Society is to discover, procure and preserve whatever may relate to general his- tory, especially to the civil, literary and ecclesiastical history of the United States, the State of Rhode Island, and more pai-ticularly of the City and County of Newport. MEMBERSHIP Sec. 3. The Society shall consist of active, life, sustaining, associate and honorary members. Active, sustaining, associate and life mem- bers may be elected at any meeting of the Society or Directors. Hon orary members can be elected only by the Society. Any individual, on payment, at one time, of fifty dollars, may be elected a life member, and shall thereafter be exempt from all assessments or annual tax. Such other persons as may have rendered service may be elected life members, and be exempt from all assessments or tax. OFFICERS Sec. 4. The officers of the Society shall be elected at the annual meet- ing (or at an adjournment thereof), and shall hold their respective offices for one year, or until their successors are chosen, and shall be A President ; a First Vice Presi- dent ; a Second Vice President ; a Third Vice President ; a Treasurer ; a Recording Secretary ; a Librarian; a Corresponding Secretary ; a Cu- rator of Medals and Coins ; and a Board of Directors, consisting of the above officers and twelve other mem- bers who shall be elected at the an- nual meeting in 1913, four for three years, four for two years, and four for one year, and four shall be elected each year thereafter. Sec. 5. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held on the last Tuesday in May in each year, at which meeting a report shall be pre- sented by the President in behalf of the Board of Directors, of all busi- ness which they have transacted during the preceding year, and ad- ditional reports in full shall be pre- sented by the Treasurer, Librarian and Curator of Medals and Coins. The Society shall hold regular meet- ings on the third Monday of August, November and February, for literary exercises, the election of new mem- bers, and such other business as may be brought before it. Special meet- ings may be called at any time, when deemed necessary by the President, or at the request of three members of the Society. 11 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sec. 6. The government of the Society shall be vested in the Board of Directors, who shall have custody of all buildings, funds, securities and collections belonging to the So- ciety ; shall fix salaries, and have the general control and regulation of the affairs of the Society in the intervals between the annual meet- ings. They may elect active and life members (but not Honorary members). They shall provide for regular literary and other exercises ; and make the necessary arrange- ments for promoting the objects of the Society. They shall authorize the disbursement and expenditure of moneys in the Treasury, and make such investments as may be ordered b}' these by-laws, and by the So- ciety. They shall hold regular meet- ings, at least once in two months special meetings may be called, when deemed necessary, by the President. They shall organize as soon after the annual meeting of the Society, as possible, and appoint the following committees : a Committee on Fi- nance ; a Committee on the Library and Museum; a Committee on Buildings and Grounds ; a Commit- tee on Literary Exercises ; a Com- mittee on Publications ; a Nominat- ing Committee ; a Committee on Increase of Membership ; an Audit- ing Committee. The President of the Society shall act as Chairman of the Board, and the Recording Secretary of the So- ciety shall act as clerk. They may make such rules and regulations for their own government, and for the Society's Library and Museum as may be necessary, not inconsistent with these by-laws. Eight mem- bers of the Board shall constitute a quorum for business. Sec. 7. At the annual meeting the Society shall assess a tax upon each sustaining member of two dollars, and upon each associate member of one dollar, which latter class shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Society except that of voting. permanent fund Sec. 8. All money received on account of life members shall be in- vested and placed to the credit of the Permanent Fund. Other sums may, from time to time, be added to this fund, the interest only of which can be used for the general purposes of the Society. QUORUM Sec 9. At all meetings of the Society fifteen members shall consti- tute a quorum for the transaction of business. PRESIDENT Sec 10. The President, or in his absence, one of the Vice Presidents, (or in their absence a chairman, pro tempore) shall preside at all meet- ings of the Society, and shall have a casting vote. He shall preserve or- der, and decide all questions of or- der, subject to an appeal, and at the annual meeting shall present a brief address relative to any of the objects of the Society or suggestions for its welfare. la TREASURER Sec. 11. The Treasurer shall re- ceive the annual tax and other in- come of the Society. He .shall be the custodian of all its funds and securities, and shall pay all the bills against the Society when properly approved. He shall keep a true account of his receipts and pay- ments, and present a report, in con- junction with the finance committee, to each meeting of the Directors, and at the annual meeting of the Society shall present a detailed report for the year in writing. RECORDING SECRETARY Sec. 12. The Recording Secretary shall have charge of the seal, charter, by-laws and records of the Society, and act as Secretary to the Board of Directors, and shall keep a fair and accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings. He shall, under the direction of the President, give notice of the time of all meetings of the Society and Board of Directors, and shall prepare a list of such busi- ness as is brought to his attention before each meeting of the Directors. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Sec. J 3. The Corresponding Sec- retary shall promptly fill out and send to all members elected their diplomas, and shall conduct for the Society such correspondence as may be required of him by the President, Recording Secretary or Librarian. LIBRARIAN Sec. 14. The Librarian shall have the charge and superintendence of the Library and the collections of the Society, and the care and ar- rangement of the books, manuscripts and other articles belonging to the Society. He shall expend in the purchase of books and other articles, and for their safe keeping and pre- servation, at the direction of the Library Committee, such sums of money as shall, from time to time, be appropriated for that purpose. He shall present a report at each meeting of the Board of Directors and at the annual meeting a general report to the Society. Sec. 15. It shall be the duty of each committee to report through its chairman at each meeting of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be ex-offlcio a member of the Finance Committee, the Librarian of the Library Committee, and the President of the Conunittee on Lit- erary Exercises. ALTERATIONS OF THESE BY-LAWS Sec. 16. No alterations in these by-laws shall be made unless such changes shall have been i^roposed in writing, at a previous meeting. Sec 17. These by-laws shall take effect immediately, and all former by-laws are hereby repealed. 13 3n Unnortam THE HON. ROBERT S. FRANKLIN Resolutions adopted at a October g, 1913. Whereas, An all wise Providence has deemed it best to remove from our midst our fellow Director and Associate, Hon. Robert S. Franklin, and Whereas, It is best fitting, that owing to the prominent part taken by Mr. Franklin in our organization, some expression of our regard for his character and services, and our sense of loss should be placed upon our records, Therefore be it Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Franklin, the Newport Histori- cal Society has been deprived of one of its most valued and efficient members and officers; as Secretary for a long time, he was most faith- ful in his duties, and as one of our Vice Presidents he was most active in furthering the interests of the Society. Resolved, That we who were more intimately associated with him on this Board, will greatly miss his genial presence, and deplore the loss of his advice and counsel in all special meeting of the Directors held matters relating to the well-being of our institution, and his services in its behalf, through a long series of years, will ever be held by us in grateful remembrance. Resolved, That the community in which he lived must also deplore the loss of a most useful and honored citizen; As Chief Magis- trate of the city for several years he gave to the office his best efforts to further the welfare of the city of his birth, and as Senator and Rep- resentative in the Councils of the State, his efforts were always exe- cuted, not alone for the benefit of the constituency which he repre- sented but also for the public at large. Resolved, That we tender to the family of the deceased our fullest sympathy in the bereavement they have sustained, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to them and also printed in the publication of our Society. 14 SOCIETY NOTES EDITORIAL The reading of the paper before the Society last November on Gov- ernor William Coddington, by Mrs. William H. Birckhead, which was printed in the Bulletin last Janu- ary, accompanied by the so-called portrait in the City Hall, raised the question of its authenticity. Our former President, Mr. Tompkins, having expressed some doubts as to its being a portrait of the first Gov- ernor, he was asked to give his reasons for believing it was not a picture of the first William Codding- ton, and the result was the short paper read by him at the last quar- terly meeting of the Society, which we present in this issue. The writer brings out many interesting facts, and while editorially we do not express any decided opinion in regard to it, yet we believe that any one reading his paper, must be im- pressed with the conclusions he has reached. MEETINGS The regular quarterly meeting of the Society was held August 1 8th at 4 p. m., Vice President Franklin in the chair. Mr. Hamil- ton B. Tompkins read a short paper on the so-called portrait of Governor William Coddington in the City Hall. Mrs. Charles Warren Lippitt read some entertaining extracts from a series of broadsides, relating to Rhode Island, which had been reproduced by Mr. George Parker Winship of the John Carter Brown Library, and presented to our So- ciety. The meeting was quite well attended, and much interest mani- fested. PERRY DAY In view of the full account we give in this Bulletin of the "ob- servance of Perry Day," it might be well to mention that many of those who took a prominent part in the exercises came to our Society for information which was cheerfully furnished ; the pamphlet issued by the Society in July under the charge of our Librarian, Miss Tilley, and Mr. R. S. P>anklin, was found of great use, and the Loan Exhibit of the Perry relics held in July aroused the interest of the people in the approaching celebra- tion. Much of the Perry collec- tion is still being exhibited in our Museum. new members The following have been elected since the publication of the last Bulletin : Sustaining — Mrs. James J. Brown. Annual — Dr. Horace P. Beck, Laurence L Gillespie, Mrs. Ida Greenman, Miss Lillian Peckham, Mrs. Charles A. Weaver. Associate — Mrs. Packer Braman. 15 NECROLOGY Rear Admiral Silas Casey, U. S. N. August 14, 1913. Mrs. William Woodward, Sept. 20, 1913. The Hon. Robert S. I'^ranklin, Oct. 8, 1913. BOOKS DONATED TO THE LIBRARY. The following are of particular interest. The Naval Temple, donated by Charles P. Kling. Vignettes of Portsmouth, donated by Mrs. Thomas A. Lawton. The Vestry Book and Accounts of the Churchwardens of St. Mary's Leicester 1652- 1729, donated by John Rutledge Abney. The United States and Mexico, donated by George Lockhart Rives. MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY LIFE MEMBERS Allen, John B., Newport, R. I. Lorillard, Louis L., Newport, R. I. Allen, William, Newport, R. 1. McAdam, Samuel, Newport, R.L Ames, Mrs. William, Providence, R. L Marquand, Prof. Allen, Princeton, N.J. American Jewish Hist. A«soemtt©»^/CV Marquand, Henry, Bedford Hills, N. Y. Auchincloss, Mrs. Hugh D., New York --\Mason, Miss Ellen, Boston, Mass. Batonyi, Aurol Mason, Miss Ida, Boston, Mass. Belmont, August, Newport— New York Moriarty, George Andrews, Jr., Boston , I. C. I. Belmont, Perry. Washington, D. C. Bergner, Jonas, Newport, R. I. Birc'khead, Mrs. William H., New York Brown, Mrs. Harold, Newport, R. I. "^ Diuvyiii, Ml IT Jam e s J., Do^ a^j;, Coh - Clarke, Joshua P., Newport, R. I. Davis, Theodore M., Newport, R. I. ^Derby, Mrs. Richard C, Newport, R Dunn, Thomas, Newport, R. I. Fahnestock, Gibson, Washington, D. Fearing, Hon. Daniel B., Newport, R *Franklin, Hon. Robert S., Newport Gammell, William, Providence, R. I. Gerry, Com. ElbridgeT. , Newport. R. I. Gibbs, Mrs. Theodore K., Newport, R Goelet, Robert, New York Greene, Charles H., Battle Creek. Mich Grosvenor, Miss Rosa A., Prov., R. I. James, Arthur Curtiss, New York Kane, DeLancey A., New Rochelle,N.Y King, Mrs. David, Newport, R. I. King, George Gordon, Newport, R. I. Peckham, Job A., Newport, R. I. Post, Edward C. , New York Po,vel, Thomas Ives Hare, Prov., R. I. Richardson, Mrs. Thos. O., Newport, R.I. Rives, George L., New York Robinson, Col. C. L. F., Hartford, Conn. Safe, Mrs. Thomas Shaw, Newport, R.I. Sellars, Mrs. Norrie, New York Sherman, Mrs. Wm. Watts, New York Smith, Miss Esther M., Philadelphia, Pa. Swan, Mrs. James A., Newport, R. I. Swan, James A., Newport, R. I. Tilley, Miss Edith May, Newport, R. I. . Tompkins, Hamilton B., New York I. •''^uckerman, Mrs. Alfred G., Newport Tuckerman, Alfred G., Newport, R. I. ^-—Vanderbilt, Mrs. Cornelius, New York ,^^anderbilt, Mrs. French, Newport, R. I. ^^Webster, Mr*. Hamilton F. , Newport Wetmore, Hon. Geo. Peabody, Newport ♦Deceased 16 SUSTAINING MEMBERS Berwind, Mrs. Edward J. , New York Binney, Mrs. William, Providence, R. I. Bispham, Mrs. George T., Phila., Pa. ^^rown, Mrs. John Nicholas, Newport "^rown, Mrs. James J., New York -^Burke-Roche, Mrs. Frances, New York Clarke, Miss Elizabeth H., Cambridge sClarke, Mrs. J. Francis A., New York Llodman, Miss Martha C, Washington DeForest, George B., New York Drexel, Mrs. John R., New York Duncan, Mrs. Stuart, New York Dunn, Mrs. Thomas, Newport, R. I. Emmons, Arthur B., New York Gammell, Robert Ives, Prov., R. I. Glyn, Mrs. William E., New York Grosvenor, Mrs. William, Prov., R. I. Havemeyer, H. 0., Jr., New York >^^Hazard, Miss Caroline, Peacedale, R. I. "tlunter. Miss Anna F., Newport, R. I. Huntington, Mrs. Samuel E., Brooklyn. Jacobs, Dr. Henry Barton, Baltimore ^--^nckes, John, Newport, R. I. Lawton, Mrs. Thomas A., Newport, R.I. Ludlow, Edward L. , New York -Gorman, Mrs. Bradford, Newport, R. I. Norman, Guy, Newport, R. I. Pierson, Gen. J. Fred, New York Potter, Mrs. Edward T., New York hives, George L., New York Kobinson, Mrs. C. L. F., Hartford, Conn. Schreier, Eugene, Norfolk, Va. Sedgwick, Robert, New York Spencer, Mrs. Lorillard, Newport, R. I. Sturgis, Frank K., New York Terry, Rev. Roderick, Newport, R. I. Van Alen, J. J., Kettering, England Vanderbilt, Alfred G., New York Weaver, Miss Sarah C, Newport, R. I. Webster, Mrs. Hamilton F., Newport Winthrop, Egerton L. ANNUAL MEMBERS Abney, John R. , New York Anderson, Dr. Alexander J., Newport Andrews, Mrs. Frank W., Washington Armstrong, William A., Newport, R. I. Baker, Darius, Newport, R. I. Ball, Alwyn, Jr., New York Barker, Dr. Christopher F., Newport Barker, Francis S., Newport Beck, Dr. Horace P., Newport, R. I. Benjamin, George H., Newport, R. I. OBergman, Isaac B., Newport, R. I. Bliss, Richard, Newport, R. I. Britton, Miss Selah W., Natchez, Miss. OBuffum, William P., Newport, R. I. Bull, Mrs. Charles M., Brooklyn ^OPurdick, Clark, Newport, R. I. Burdick, D. J., Fall River, Mass. Burdick, Edwin S., Newport, R. I. >Burgess, Prof. John W., Newport, R. I. Burlingham, Hiram, Newport, R. I. \^Cabell, Walter Coles, Newport, R. I. ^ Carr, George H., Newport, R. I. VjCase, Philip B., Middletown, R. I. ^jCaswell, John R., Newport, R. I. vChadwick, Mrs. French E., Newport Champlin, John D., New York Clarke, Mrs. Philip E., Newport, R. I. Clarke, Dr. Philip E., Newport, R. I. Coggeshall, Dr. Henry, New York Cooper, Rev. Joseph, Newport, R. I. Cortazzo, Madame, Newport, R. I. Cottrell, Charles M., Newport, R. L Creighton, Mrs. J. McPherson, Newport Darlington, Rt. Rev. James H., Harris- burg, Pa. Davies, Julien T., New York Davis, Rear Admiral Charles M. Wash- ington, D. C. Davis, Galen, Newport, R. I. Dickey, Rev. George V., Newport, R.I. Downing, George Fay, Newport, R. I. Dyer, Herbert, Newport, R. I. Easton, Arthur H., Newport, R. I. Easton, Dr. Charles D., Newport, R. I. Edgar, Miss Lucille R., Newport, R. I. Ellery, Miss Henrietta, Newport, R. I. Elliot, Mrs. John, Newport, R. I. Estes, Dr. Nathan A., Newport, R. I. Estes, Mrs. Nathan A., Newport, R. I. Ford, Mrs. Thomas G., Florence, Italy Franklin, William B., Newport, R. I. Gale, Mrs. M. J., Newport, R. I. 17 Gardner, Mrs. Charles, Newport, R. I. Garrettson, Hon. Frederick P., Newport Gillespie, Laurence L., New York Graham, Howard S., Philadelphia, Pa. Greenman, Miss Ida, Middletown, R. I. Hague, Arnold, Washington, D. C. Haley, Dr. Byron H., Newport, R. I. Hammond, Ogden H,, New York Hazard, Miss Abby C., Newport, R. I. Hendy, Prof. Henry S., Newport, R. I. Higbee, Edward W., Newport, R. I. Hill, Mrs. Walter N., Newport, R. I. Hillhouse, Mrs. Charles B., New York Hoffman, Charles F. , New York Hoppin, Samuel H., New York Horton, Hon. Jeremiah, Newport, R. I. Howard, Mrs. Ezra W., Newport, R. I. Howland, Mrs. Joseph, Newport, R. I. Hughes, Rev. Stanley C, Newport, R.I. Hulbert, Rev. Gustavus L., Newport Josephs, Mrs. Lyman C, Newport, R.I. Kendall, William Sargent, Newport, R.I. King, MissGeorgianaG., Newport, R. I. King, Frederic R., New York King, Mrs. LeRoy, New York King, LeRoy, New York Kling, Charles P., New York Koehne, Charles P., Newport, R. I. Lawson, John A., Newport, R. I. Leavitt, Miss Blanche, Newport, R. I. Lee, William H., Newport, R. I. Levy, Max, Newport, R. I. Lippitt, Hon. Charles Warren, Prov. Lippitt, Mrs. Charles Warren, Prov. Lorah, James R., Newport, R. I. Luce, Rear Admiral Stephen B. , Newport Macomber, Isaac, Portsmouth, R. I. Marvin, Miss Elizabeth B., Newport Mason, John J., Newport, R. I. McAllister, Miss Louise Ward, New York McCormick, Michael A., Newport, R. I, McLennan, John K., Newport. R. I. McMahon, Andrew K., Newport, R. I. Morgan, Mrs. William Rogers, Newport Moriarty, Mrs. Geo. Andrews, Newport Morrison, Charles E., Newport, R. I. Mumford, Joseph P., Philadelphia, Pa. Murdock, Rear Admiral Jos. B., Boston Naval War College, Newport, R. I. Norman, Maxwell, Boston^ Mass. Norman, Reginald, Portsmouth, R. I. Nowell, Mrs, Thomas S., Newport, R.I. Noyes, Mrs. Boutelle, Newport, R. I. O'Neill, Thomas J., Newport, R. I. Pattison, Mrs. Edward J., Boston, Mass. Peabody, Dr. George L., Newport, R.I. Peckham, Miss Antoinette, Newport Peckham, Mrs. Felix N., Newport, R.I. Peckham, Miss Lillian, Newport, R. I. Peckham, Thomas P., Newport, R. I. Perry, Marsden J., Providence, R. I. Petterson, Gustof L., Newport, R. I. Phillips, Ifrjhfi N. Taylor, New York Pitman, T. T., Newport, R. I. Powel, Miss Mary E., Newport, R. I. Price, Brig. Gen. Butler D., Wash. D.C. Pumpelly, Prof. Raphael, Newport, R.I. Richards, Edgar, Newport, R. I. Richardson, George H., Newport, R. I. Ridlon, Dr. John, Chicago, 111. Robinson, Dr. Edwin P. Newport, R. I. Rosengarten, Mrs. Frank H., Phila,, Pa. Russo, Marco, Newport, R. I. Sage, Mrs. George W., Newport, R. I. Sanborn, Hon. John P., Newport, R. I. Shanahan, Dennis, Newport, R. I. Sheffield, Hon. William P., Newport, R.I. Sherman, Albert K., Newport, R. I. Sherman, Miss Elizabeth G., Newport Sherman, Dr. William A., Newport,R. I. Sherman, Mrs. William S., Newport. Sherman, Dr. William S., Newport, R.I. Slocum, William S., Newport, R. I. Smith, Daniel, Newport, R. I. Smith, Mrs. R. Manson, Newport, R. I. Spears, Harry D., New York. Spencer, John Thompson, Phila., Pa. Stanhope, Clarence S., Newport, R. I. Stetson, George R., Washington, D. C. Stevens, Miss Austin, Newport, R. I. Stevens, Mrs. Harriet L., Newport, R. I. Stevens, Henry C, Jr., Newport, R. I. Stevens, Miss Katherine M., Newport. Stevens, Miss Maud L., Newport, R. I. Stickney, Mrs, Albert, Newport, R, I. Stoddard, Dr. William C, Newport, Storer, Dr. Horatio R., Newport, R. I. Sullivan, Dr. M. H., Newport, R. I. Swinburne, Miss Elizabeth H., Newport. Taller, T. Suffern, New York. Tanner, Benjamin F., Newport, R. I. Taylor, Grant P., Newport, R. I. 18 Thaw, Benjamin, Pittsburgh, Pa. Thompson, Frank H., Newport, R. I. Underwood, Mrs. William J., Newport. Van Allen, Mrs. Garrett A., Albany. N.Y. Vanderbilt, Reginald C, New York. Van Rensselaer, Mrs. Schuyler, N. Y. Vernon, Miss Elizabeth, Newport, R. I. Wanton, Charles A. W., England. Wetherell, John H., Newport, R. I. Wharton, Mrs. Henry, Philadelphia, Pa, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Andrews, Mrs. William, Jr., Newport. Angier, Miss Abigail A., Newport, R. I. Benson, Mrs. Harriet,* Newport, R. I. Bigelow, Francis H., Cambridge, Mass. Bloch, Rev. Julius, Newport, R. I. Bokee, Miss Margaret, Newport, R. I. Brackett, Mrs. Charles, Newport, R. I. Braman, Mrs. Packer, Newport, R. I. Brightman, William E., Newport, R. I. Brownell, Miss Ella W., Newport, R. I. Brownell, Miss Nancy, Newport, R. I. Buenzle, Frederick J., Newport, R. I. Burlingham, Rev. Edward J., Babylon, L. I. Burlingham, Mrs. Thomas, Newport,R.L Casey, Miss Sophie P., Washington, D.C. Chester, Charles E,, Boston, Mass. du Fais, John, Newport, R. I. Durfee, Mrs. Henry K., New Bedford. Fowler, Miss Sybil A., Newport— Prov. Franklin, Mrs. Robert M., Newport, Goddard, William D. Hammett, Miss Dorothy B., DeKalb, 111. Hart, Simon, Newport, R. I. Hayes, Robert S., Newport, R. I. Hazard, Miss Mary A., Newport, R. I. Holland, Mrs. Katherine B., Newport. Jones, Rev. William Safford, Newport. La Farge, Mrs. John, Newport, R. I. Marsh, Mrs. Herbert L., Newport, R. I. Mustard, Mrs. John Hutton, New York. Nichols, Miss M. B., Brooklyn, N. Y. Nichols, William S., Queens, L. I. Olney, George W., New York. Pearce, Rev. J. Sturgis, Newport, R. I. Peckham, Mrs. Frank L., Newport, R.I. Perry, Howard B. , Wakefield. Pinniger, Mrs. David, Newport, R. I. Powell, Mrs. Frank, Newport, R. I. Rogers, Mrs. Elisha, Norwich, Conn. Sayer, Miss Mary A., Newport, R. I. Sherman, Miss Anna A., Newport, R. I. Smith, Miss Elizabeth B., Newport, R. I. Smith, Mrs. Ellen S. C, Pulaski, N. Y. Stedman, Mrs. Pascal H., Newport, R.I. Stewart, Mrs. John, Newport. R. I. Swasey, Miss Jeannette, Newport, R. I. Tetlow, Mrs. Albert, Taunton, Mass. Tilney, Robert, Philadelphia, Pa. Titus, Mrs. Harry A., Newport, R. I. Tracy, Dr. Dwight, Norwich, Conn. Underwood, Mrs. Nicholas, Newport. Vernon, Mrs. J. Peace, Newport, R. I. Vose, Miss Caroline M., Newport, R. I. Ward, Howard G., Newport, R I. Weaver, Miss Susan J., Newport, R. I. Wharton, Jos. S. Lovering, Philadelphia. Willard, James LeBaron, New York. Willard, Miss Mary Adams, Newport. Wing, William Arthur, New Bedford. Wood, Trist, New Orleans, La. Life members Sustaining members Annual members Associate members Total 55 41 162 60 318 19 OFFICERS OF THE Newport Historical Society Incorporated 1854 For the year ending May^ 191 4 President, HON. DANIEL B. FEARING First Vice-President, REV. RODERICK TERRY, D. D. Second Vice-President, *H0N. ROBERT S. FRANKLIN Third Vice-President, MR. FRANK K. STURGIS Recording Secretary, HON. JOHN P. SANBORN Corresponding Secretary, MR. GEORGE H. RICHARDSON Treasurer, Mr. HENRY C. STEVENS, Jr. Librarian, MISS EDITH MAY TILLEY Curator of Coins and Medals, DR. EDWIN P. ROBINSON Board of Directors THE OFFICERS and FOR three years MRS. THOMAS A. LAWTON MR. HAMILTON B. TOMPKINS MRS. FRENCH VANDERBILT MR. GEORGE L. RIVES FOR TWO YEARS MRS. WILLIAM R. MORGAN COL. C. L. F. ROBINSON MR. JONAS BERGNER REV. GEORGE V. DICKEY FOR ONE YEAR MRS. RICHARD C. DERBY DR. WILLIAM S. SHERMAN MRS. HAROLD BROWN MR. JOB PECKHAM COMMITTEES FINANCE REV. GEORGE VERNON DICKEY MRS. THOMAS A. LAWTON The Treasurer, ex-officio LIBRARY MR. GEORGE H. RICHARDSON *HON. ROBERT S. FRANKLIN The Librarian, ex-officio 20 BUILDINGS MR. GEORGE H. RICHARDSON MR. JONAS BERGNER DR. E. P. ROBINSON PUBLICATION REV. RODERICK TERRY MR. HAMILTON B. TOMPKINS NOMINATING MR. CHARLES M. COTTRELL MRS. CHARLES C. GARDNER MR. JOB PECKHAM ON LITERARY EXERCISES REV. RODERICK TERRY HON. JOHN P. SANBORN MR. HAMILTON B. TOMPKINS The President ex-officio INCREASE OF MEMBERSHIP MRS. THOMAS A. LAWTON MISS ANTOINETTE PECKHAM MRS. WM. ROGERS MORGAN MRS. C. L. F. ROBINSON MISS MARTHA CODMAN AUDITOR *HON. ROBERT S. FRANKLIN ♦Deceased i-8 1 <*> ,0^ ^^.= .