¦ <'/' Yale YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ¦*? " \ ^HISTORICAL Wl IM© DRESS # iftf:0 'A' B0tL; »., J,' IIolyM, 1 :f -»$>¦ — ^— *$• HISTORICAL ADDRESS, OF THE fit J* ttp 0i ixtivp&ri fee, \ ^ %, DELIVERED JULY 4th, 1876 [tin ait Jlpntituif . BY WILLIAM. (P. SHEFFIELD. PUBLISHED BY OBDEB OF THE CITy COUNCIL. NEWPORT : JOHN P. SANBOKN & CO., STEAJNI JOB PRINTERS. 1876. JVssiWs ^rijtfamaKmt. (By the (President of the United States. A. PROCLAMATION. Whereas, A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day of March last, which resolution is as fol lows : "Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representa tives of the United States of America in Congress assem bled, that it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and the House of Representatives to the people of the sev eral States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our na tional independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the librarian of Congress, to the intent that a com plete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our in stitutions during the first centennial of their existence" ; and Whereas, It is deemed proper that such recommendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States, Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby declare and make known the same, in the hope that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect. Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord 187G, and of the in dependence of the United States the one hundredth. By the President, U. S. GRANT. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. ^inn; of !§JIpi$ |«firak EXECUTIVE (bEort, and Governor of the colony. - He built the stone house which is yet standing on the east side of Spring street, and owned a considerable tract of land in that neighborhood, some of which remains In the hands of his lineal descendants. He was the last survivor of the original colonists and died Feb. 22d, 1694, at the age of 84 years. He was buried in the Coddington burying- gTOund. JOHN WALKER. (13.) John Walker was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts, May 14th, 1634. Ho had been a member of the church at Roxbury, but, says Savage, he removed to Boston to find a wider sympathy for his heresy, where he was disarmed with the major part of his fellow-worshippers, In November, 1637 ; and soon after he removed to Rhode Island. He joined the Newport colony, March 12th, 1040, and his name last appears on the roll of freemen for Newport, March 10th, 1041. AVilliam Brenton, Nicholas Easton and Richard Carder were not among the first comers at Portsmouth, but the two former, with Jeremiah Clarke and Thomas Hazard, signed the compact to settle Newport. JOHN CLARKE. (14.) John Clarke is said to have been a native of Bedfordshire, England. He was a physician and practiced in London before he came to America. He settled in Boston and there practiced his profession, protested against the censure of AVheelwright, was disarmed, and came to Rhode Island, and was one of the found ers there. Dr. Clarke was a man of learning, and after he came to Newport con ducted public worship before Air. Lenthall came, but after the arrival of Lenthall he (Lenthall) officiated as preacher at Newport while he remained here. Dr. C. was the first educated physician who practiced in Rhode Island. In 1043 or 44 he, with others, formed a church upon the faith and order of the Baptists, in which he preached, and at the same time he practiced as a physician. He continued to be pastor of the church until he was sent to England as the agent of 65 persons from Newport, and 41 persons from Portsmouth, to procure the revocation of Codding ton's commission. He became the agent of the colony, and remained abroad twelve years. Upon his petition the charter of 1003 was granted. As much of the petition of Dr. Clarke is incorporated into the charter, it may be inferred that ho prepared that document which will always stand a monument to his liberal ity, ability and address. While abroad in the service of the colony, he was under vi. APPENDIX. the necessity of laboring there for his own support, and expended much of his private fortune in promoting the interest of the colony. He was reduced to the necessity of mortgaging his house and lot in Newport to Richard Dean of Lon don, for £140 sterling. In September, ICUO, the colony assumed the payment of this mortgage, and probably paid It about 1672, the intervening time being employed in endeavoring to raise the money with which to discharge the mort gage. The town of AVarwick behaved with great illiberality In this matter. Dr. Clarke returned to Newport in 1664, and was immediately elected a deputy from Newport. In 1669 he was elected Deputy Governor. He was appointed to go to England again in 1671, in reference to the boundary between Rhode Island and Connecticut. He died in 1676 in Newport, aged 66 years, and was buried in his own lot on the west side of Tanner street. By his will he left his estate consist ing of "the Charity farms" in Middletowii, for the support of the poor, and for bringing up children to learning. He was thrice married, but died without issue. JOHN COGGESHALL. (15.) John Coggeshall was often elected to the General Court of Massachu setts, from which he was expelled. He was one of the first settlers of Newport. He had assigned to him a large tract of land bordering on the sea, east of what is now known as Almy's Pond. He was a man of good abilities. He died in 1647 at the age of 56, and was buried in "the Coggeshall burying ground," on the west side of Coggeshall Avenue. He left numerous descendants. PHILIP SHERMAN. (16.) Philip Sherman remained at Portsmouth, where he died In 1676. He was recorder of the colony, and his descendants remaining in Rhode Island are more numerous than of any other of "the first comers." AVILLIAM CODDINGTON. (17.) AVilliam 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 AVinthrop, on board of the Arabella. They arrived at Salem, June 12th, 1630. He was several times chosen an assistant in Massachusetts, but was left out of the magistracy upon the defeat of Governor A'ane in 1637. But the freemen of Boston chose him and A'ane the next day to be deputies to their General Court. Coddington ex pressed his displeasure in losing his office by sitting with the deacons at public worship, instead of with the magistrates, and on a fast day he went to Mount AVollaston to hear Mr. Wheelwright. In opposition to Gov. AVinthrop he de fended Airs. Hutchinson in her trial, and opposed the proceedings of the court against AVheelwright. 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 Baptist; streets. His house stood whero tho house of Samuel Sterne now stands, on the north side of Marlborough street, op posite Duke street- NICHOLAS EASTON. (19.) Nicholas Easton was by trade a tanner. He came from AVales, and ar rived in New England Alay 14th 1634 and went to Ipswich. AVas 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. 20th, 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. vU. 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 further order of the court therein. June Sth, 1638, the General Court ordered that the magistrates of Ipswich shall have power to discharge Mr. Easton from building at AVinnacunnet, and if he did not take warning to clear the place of him He came to Newport with his two sons, John and Peter. He built the first frame house there, on a lot of land adjoining the northwest cor ner of the Friends' Meeting House lot on Farewell street. WILLIAM URENTON. (20.) AVilliam Brenton came to America as a surveyor, bearing the commis sion of Charles I. to survey the crown land.- in America under a contract that he was to have a share of the lands surveyed. He settled in Boston in 10^4. *A-a mem ber of the General Court he opposed the censuring of AVheelwright and Hutchin son. Air. Brenton was one of the early settlers of Newport. He had a town lot assigned to him extending back from the harbor to Spring street, bounded north on 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 Litchfield. He built a house 150 feet square in Brenton's neck, where the H. X. Battey house now stands. He owned, also, an estate in Taunton. He died between the 20th of August and 13th of November. 1074. He was Governor of the colony and held other important offices. At his decease he left three sons— Jahleel, AVilliam and Ebenezer, and several daughters. Jahleel manned a schooner- when he was but twenty-one years of age, and went to the rescue of the inhabitants of Providence at the time the town was burned by the Indians in 1676. He was afterwards collector of the customs at Boston, but eventually returned to Newport where he died without issue in 17S2, aged 77 years, and was buried at what is now Fort Adams. Jahleel Brenton divised his estates in Newport to his nephew, Jahleel. AVilliam Brenton re moved to Bristol, where he died, and was buried in his farm at Paupausquash. He left two sons, Jahleel and Benjamin. Benjamin Brenton died at the age of 93 and was buried on his farm in South Kingstown. Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton and Capt. Edward Pelham of the British Navy, and Sir Brenton Halliburton, all natives of Newport, were the descendants of Jahleel Brenton. The Brenton house on the east side of Thames street was built about 1720. viU. APPENDIX. DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. (21.) Dr. Benjamin Franklin had three brothers who resided in Newport, John, James, with whom the Doctor learned the printer's trade, and Peter. James Franklin was born in Boston in 1699, and died in New port in 1734, aged 36 years. In 1719 he published the Boston Gazette. In 1 721 he established the New England Courant. The earliest essays of Dr. Benjamin Franklin were published in the Courant. The religious articles of the Doctor were regarded as being of a skeptical character, and Jame3, the publisher, was arrested and imprisoned for their publication. J antes afterwards came to Newport, and it is said started the first newspaper published in Rhode Island in 1727. It is certain that he published a newspaper here In 1732, in which year he became printer to the colony and un dertook to print 20 copies of the public acts of that year for £20. There are books extant that were published by him, some that were published by his widow, and some by his son James, who established the Newport Mercury in 1768. We gather the following from Dr. Franklin's correspondence in reference to the members of his family who resided at Newport : In 1724 Dr. Franklin on a return from his first visit to Boston, after he had re moved to Philadelphia, says : "The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited my brother John who had been married and settled there some years. He received me very affectionately for he always loved me." Ten years later (173-1) Dr. Franklin having become easy in his circumstances made a journey to Boston to visit his relatives. In returning he called at New port to see his brother James, then settled here with his printing house. Their former differences were forgotten and their meeting was cordial and affection ate. James was then fast declining in his health, and requested his brother in the event of his (James') death, which he apprehended not far distant, to take home his (James), sou, James Franklin, then but ten years of age, and bring him up to the printing business. With this request the Dr. complied, but first sent the bsy to schoolfor a few years. The boy's mother carried on the business until the boy was grown up, when the Dr. gave him an assortment of type, and thereby made amends to the boy's father for leaving his employment before the Doctor had served out his apprenticeship. Peter Franklin, the last surviving brother of Dr. Franklin, died July 1st, 1766, in tho 74th year of his age. He had formerly resided at Newport, but at the time of his death he was deputy postmaster of Philadelphia. January 9th, 1760, Dr. Franklin in a letter to his sister, Mrs. Mecome, says, that of the 17 children born to their father and mother, 13 lived to grow up, and that but three then survived. Peter was then one of the survivors. In a letter to Mrs. Governor Greene, dated August 1st, 1763, Dr. FrankUn says that "my brother has returned to Rhode Island." Of course this reference is to Peter, who had not then gone to Philadelphia. In a letter to his sister Mecome.Dr. Franklin writes : "Jemmy Franklin, when with me, was always dissatisfied and grumbling." This latter was probably written between 1743 and 1749. Dr. Franklin was probably the debtor of his brother John as late as 1752, for May 1st of that year he writes his sister Mecome, enclosing her six pistoles, and tells her to hand to John the amount if she received the sum on a draft he had previously sent her, and to have John credit the amount in the Doctor's account. APPENDIX. lx (21 a.) The following is the list of privateer commanders:— George W. Babcock, Oliver Read, John Grimes, Benjamin Pearce, Joseph L. Gardner, AVilliam '>en- nis, James Godfrey, Thomas Stacy, Christopher Bently, Samuel Jeffers, Joseph Jaques, Thomas Foster, Joseph Ciandall, Ezekiel Burroughs, Isaac Freeborn, Peter Gazee, AVilliam Ladd, John Murphy, John Coggeshall, AVilliam Finch, Thomas Dring, Samuel Walker, Jame3 Phillips, Remembrome Simmons, Joseph Sheffield. ARTHUR BROWN. (22.) Arthur Brown was the son of the Rev. Marmaduke Brown, rector of Trinity Church in Newport. The Rev. Marmaduke Brown was the rector of that church from sometime in the year 1760 until his decease in 1701. In 1793 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, Oublin, Ireland, and Representative in Parliament for the same. In token of his grati tude and affection to the best and tenderest of parents, and his respect and love for a congregation among whom and for a place where he spent his earliest aivl happiest days." In the year 1793 Dr. Brown stated to Captain David JI. Cogge shall, in Dublin, that "he was born in Newport in a house near the Redwood Library," probably "the old parsonage," now owned by Air. William Fludder. Brown remained here until he was seventeen years of age. AVriting in 1793, 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 charming lawns. The effect which is pro duced in a few demesnes of our nobility by so much art, was there universally wrought by nature, with the little aid of man in clearing its too great cxhuber- 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 launched 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, he 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 tho 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 bearing the nominal value of eight pounds. I myself saw one American fort fire upon the Squirrel, a Icing's ship, in 1764, in the harbor of Newport." Speaking of the schools in New England he says . "Of then-schools, self-love naturally inclines the author to give a favorable account, he having never received any school education elsewhere, 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 APPENDIX. painter, who had the same feeling towards it. It was sacked ot 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 Civil 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 many years no person in the nnivesity enjoyed greaterpopularity. 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 Ustened with surprise aud admuation to his bold and powerful language." Dr. Brown was the author of "A Compendious A1ew of Ecclesiastical Law." "Lectures as professor of Civil Law in the University of Dublin." "Brown's View of the Civil Law and Law of Admiralty." "Hussen O'Die," a poem trans lated from the Persian language, and two volumes of miscellaneous writings. He died in Dublin in the summer of 1805. AUGUSTUS JOHNSTON. (23.) Augustus Johnston's house was in Division street ; Dr. Thomas Moff art's in Broad street, and Alartin 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 in 1705. He married a daughter of Robert Cook, of Newport. Mr. Dudley went to England with his family, where he died soon after. His famUy 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, buill by Matthew Cozzens, merchant of Newport, who died in Charleston, S. C, December 1780. A letter written by Air. Dudley, and now in the British State Paper Office, says: "The attack upon the Gaspee was not the effect of sudden passion and resentment, but of cool 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 AVanton was the son of William Wanton, who died in 1733, Gov ernor of the colony. Governor AVilliam 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 AVard and Hopkins became united in support of the colonies, it is not impossible that AVanton, who had been an outspoken advo cate of the rights cf the colonies, was turned to the support of the crown by his • hostiUty to the Wards. In 1775 he was removed from office by the General Assem bly. He married a daughter of Governor AVinthrop of Connecticut. Two of the sons of Governor Joseph AVanton, Joseph and AVilliam, were wealthy merchants of Newport. The former left with the British and died in New York. WUliam, APPENDIX. after the peace, was appointed collector of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and re sided there. The sons had large estates, which were confiscated. Governor Jo seph AVanton died in A.D. 1780, aged 75 years, and was buried in the Clifton burying ground. SOLOMON SOUTHWICK. (26.) Solomon Southwick was born in Newport about 1731. He was the son of a fisherman. His intelligent appearance attracted the attention of Henry Col Uns, 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 Newport for several years. He then engaged in mercantile affairs in which he was unsuccessful. About 1764 he purchased from the heirs of James Franklin, the Newport Mercury, and the printing estab lishment then connected with that paper. The paper was outspoken in favor of the rights of the colonies. He was among the early book publishers of New England, and had an extensive establishment for that time employed in that business, and there are many books yet extant which hear 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 Newport after the' peace, and was postmaster there for a time, under the confederation, and afterwards, for three or four years was a part ner in the Mercury establishment. . He died in Newport, December 23d, 1797, aged 66 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 New York. He died in Albany in 1839. REV. EZRA STILES, D.D. (27.) Upon the death of the Rev. Mr. Searing, the Rev. Samuel Fairweather was made pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Newport in 1754, but in consequence of an occurrence at a dinner at Godfrey 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 wa3 one of the firmest 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 Newport 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 Newport until 1786. He died May 12th, 1795, in the 68th year of his age. His diary, now in the custody of Yale College, is said to con tain much interesting matter pertaining to the history of Newport. He had a daughter who married Abiel Holmes, the author of "Holmes' Annals," and she was the mother of OUver AVendell Holmes. REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS, D.D. (28.) Dr. Hopkins preached his first sermon to the First Congregational Church in Newport, July 23d, 1769. After preaching to the congregation fo/ 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 Newport, December 20ih, 1803, in the 83d year of his age. He was pastor of the Newport church for more than thirty-three " years. Dr. Hopkins wrote an autobiography of hiniseif, which was pubUshed after his decease, with notes, by the Rev. Stephen AVest. Reminiscences of his life by the Rev. Dr. WiUiam Patten ; a memoir of hisUfe and character by the jell. APPENDIX. Rev. John Ferguson, with a memoir of his life and character by the Rev. Edward A, Park, have all been published and are accessable 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 hooks being published by others. He was, perhaps, the earliest American who publicly denounced the African slave trade, and who favored the entire abolition of slavery, aud was among the 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 pivacher, 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 appreciated upon their publication both in this country 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. AVithal, he was an humble, self-denying aud faithful Christian. . Under the firstcharter, May 181h, 1C52, Rhode Island passed an act against the importation of negroes Into the colony. In 1675-6, a law was passed to prohibit Indian bondage, and in 1715 an act was passed to proiublt 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. AVhen in 1770 Dr. Hopkins preached from his pulpit in .\ewport his first sermon against the slave traffic. Whittier says: "It well may oe doubted whether on that Sabbath day the angels of God, in their wide survey of the universe, looked upon a nobler spec tacle than that of the minister of Newport, rising up before his slaveholding con gregation and demanding in the name of the Highest the deliverance of the cap tive and the opening of prison doors to those that were bound!" The colony of Rnode 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 copyright 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 society 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 A7osc, Job Easton, Thomas Richaidscn, Nathaniel Grafton John Haven, Robert Taylor, Joseph Allen, Samuel A' ales, Ezra Tope, Ebeneze Can-, Mr. Devens, Air. Rider, Joseph Guidon, John Townsend Joshua Rathbone, S. Billings, Charles Cahoone, John Arnold, John Harrod, John Hubbard, Edward Simmons, AVilliam Carter, Paul Coffin, Capt. Church, Edward Church, Benjamin Church. Jr., Major Fairchilds, Jonathan Yates, Isaac Dayton, AVilliam Dilling ham, Samuel Cnrr, John Bradley, John Gardner, Sherman Clarice, Gideon Wanton, Joseph Bissel, John Cahoone, Biggins Landers, John Lawton, Harry Oman, Thomas Peckham, Richard Thomas, John Bull, Charles Vigneron, Henry Irish, Thomas Howland, Daniel Fullows, Hanson Hull, Nathan Luther, William Langley, John Greene, Daniel Smith, Edward Murphy, Benjamin Marshall, Samuel Vinson, Joseph Tlllmghast, Jonathan HuU, Elisha Lawton, Lee Langley, Peter Langley, AViUiam Downer. APPENDIX. xili. IMPRESSED SEAMEN. (30) Inl794, during the May session of the Assembly, His BritannicMaje3ty'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 commanding officer of this vessel was on shore, and was summoned before the General Assem bly. The subject was referred to the Judges of the Superior Court, and to the Judge of the U. S. District Court; before whom, in the presence of Consul Moore, Commander Boynton was examined. The General Assembly sent a committee on board 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. THOMAS DE COURCY. , (31) The Right Honorable Thomas de Courcy,Lord Kinsale, Baron de Courcy and Regrone, late Premier Baron of Ireland, was another distinguished person, whose life was intimately connected with the commerce of Newport. His ances tor, ayounger son of the family, emigrated to Newport about 1720. Here, Thomas 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 officer De Courcy received intelUgence which enabled him to estabUsh his title to the estates and honors of his family. DR. BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE. (33) Dr. Benj. AVaterhouse, physician, naturalist and author, was also a native of Newport, born here in 1754. He was educated at London, Edinburg 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 rememembered the time when Augustus Johnston was Attor ney General and Stamp Master, and when Johnston, Martin Howard and Dr. Moffat were hanged in effigy, and when their effigies were afterwards burned on the Newport Parade, and when the contents of their houses and cellars were de stroyed by a mob at night. Dr. AVaterhouse also remembered Judge Scott, Judge Hazard, AVilliam Ellery, William Channing, the father of AVilliam Ellery Chan- ing, and Air. 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; Ararnum he took to he a popular as pirant, and Ellery and his three brothers to be flaming sons of liberty. In his old age, Dr. AVaterhouse prophesied that Newport would become the bath 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 History," 1810;" The Botanist," 1811 ; "Oratorio Jnaufl1. 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 AVaterhouse, and was born In a house fronting on Liberty Square, In Newport. 3 xlv. APPENDIX. THE CHANNING FAMILY. (35) The founder of this family in Newport was John Channing, who came to Newport abo :t 1715. He left a son, John Channing, and several daughters. John Channing, son of John, was the father of William Channing, who was born in 1731, graduated at Princeton in 1769, studied law with Oliver Arnold, was elected Attorney General in 1777, and annually re-elected 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 AVashington, United States District Attorney, and held both offices up to his death, which occurred Septem ber 21, 1793, aged 42 years. He married Lucy Ellery, the daughter of AVilliam 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, AVilliam Ellery Channing, the eminent scholar and divine. Two of the younger sons, Dr. AValter and Edward, were professors in Harvard College. THE ELLERY FAMILY. (36) William Ellery was at Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1663. He had a son Ben jamin, his third child, born in 1C69. He first removed toBristol, then apart of Mas- sachuse.ts, but soon removed to Newport. He commanded a letter of marque out of Newport inl702. He married Abigail, d nighterof John AVilkins.of AViltshire, England, July 30th, 1093. About this time he removed to Newport. They had nine children. AVilliam, 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. AVilliam, 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 which 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 DECATUB 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.t France he was an officer of a privateer, fitted out at Newport. He married, in 1751, Pris- cUla 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 Uved in the old Bray ton house, then standing at the head of the Mall, but nowis next north of the residence of the late Edward AV. Lawton, on the east side of Charles street. HENRY COLLINS. (38) Henry Collins was the son of Arnold and Amy Collins, and was born in New port, Alarch 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 result brought about by the application of the admiralty rule of 1756. Mr. 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, aud one of the builders of the Long AVharf and the Granary. He educated several deserving, but poor young men, at his own expense, among them was Solomon Southwick, APPENDIX. and to his liberality posterity are indebted for the portraits of Callender, Berke ley, Clapp, Hitchcock, and perhaps others. Dr. AVaterhouse speaks of hinxas the Lorenzo de Aledici of Rhode Island. He died at the house of a friend about 1770. Mr. Collins owned the house on Easton's Point, 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 1653, and was admitted purchaserinNewport. His town lot extended from Allll to Pelham streets, and his house was on the lot belonging to the People's Library. His son Benedict inher ited his homestead. One of the daughters of the second Benedict married Edward Pelham, whose two daughters inherited it, one of whom married John Bannister and the other John Cowley. Bannister built a wharf, and so did Cowley. Gover nor Arnold, the first Benedict, probably erected "the Old Stone AlilL" He held many important offices. He was the first Governor under the charter of Charles II. aud was often re-elected to that office. He left four sons and three daughters. He died June 9th, 1678, at the age of 63 years, and was buried in alot adjoining, on the eas:, the estate of Gov. Van Zandt. GOVERNOR GIBBS HOUSE. The Governor Gibbs house, on the north side of Mill street, was built by John Tilllnghast, about 1765. It was afterwards the property of Col. Archibald Crary, who was an officer of the revolution. At the close of the war, General Greene came to Newport and rented and occupied the 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 he made a suitable response. AVhile General Greene resided in this house, he was visited by Kosciusko and by Baron Stuben. YALE UNIVERSITY a39002 m !.:,:;•: iv.:;: mm mm