Trails to the Past

Bristol County Rhode Island

Barrington Biographies

The Bicknell Family

ALLIN BICKNELL. Oldest son of Joshua and Amy Bicknell; born in Barrington April 3, 1787; farmer; joined the Congregational Church in Barrington, with about 70 others, 1820, and maintained a consistent Christian character for more than fifty years; succeeded his honored father. Judge Bicknell, as a deacon of the Congregational Church; was Captain of the Barrington Infantry and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Bristol County Reg.; was a member of the town council for several years; was a representative of the town in the General Assembly for the years 1842, 46, 49, and a senator from 1850 to 1854; m. (1) Harriet Byron Kinnicutt, daughter of Josiah and Rebecca Kinnicutt; m. (2) Elizabeth W. Allen, daughter of Gen. Thomas and Amy Allen; was industrious, generous, died Aug. 22, 1870, aged 83 years, 4 months, and 7 days. Children: Joshua, George Augustus, Daniel Kinnicutt, and Thomas Williams. His biographer, Dr. Babcock, thus speaks of him :

" For several years he was chosen to represent the people in both branches of Legislature, and performed these duties in a manner highly acceptable and useful. But public life was by no means his choice. His honest integrity, and his quiet, unobtrusive, healthy tone of life rendered him the admiration and delight of the private circle where, without ostentatious parade or pretentiousness of any kind, he won the full confidence and esteem of those most intimate with him. His prudent and temperate care in the exercise of godly virtues, bore him on the even tenor of his way, and carried him beyond the bounds of fourscore years.''  Biographie Index

GEORGE F. BICKNELL. Son of Joseph P. and Louisa (Allen) Bicknell; b. May 4, 1830; m. Angenette Wilmarth, Dec. 31,1854; child: Emily; business, gold-plater, and insurance; was in Civil War. See record, with the following facts to be added ; Served in defenses of Baltimore in 1863, during battle of Gettysburg; recruiting officer for 3rd R. I. Cavalry; served in camp at Canonicut Island, and at New Orleans; was in Red River campaign in command of a detachment which advanced Gen. Franklin's lines to the extreme point on the Texas road; guerilla hunting at Bayou La Fourche to end of war; was on court-martial duty at New Orleans, and Provost Marshal in Louisiana until his resignation from the army, June 29, 1865.  Biographie Index

JOSEPH PECK BICKNELL. Son of Joshua and Amy; b. April 19, 1801; d. Nov. 18, 1885; farmer; m. Louisa Allen. Children: Henry, George F., and Louisa A. His life was that of a true friend, an upright citizen, and an honest man.

JOSHUA BICKNELL, (Zachary (1) John, (2) Zechariah, (3) Joshua, (4) Joshua,(5) son of Joshua and Jerusha (Heath) Bicknell, was born at the house known as The Kinnicutt Tavern, in Harrington, Jan. 14, 1759. Amy Brown, his wife, was born at "The Ferry House," Aug. 1, 1762. Married April 18, 1782.

He entered public life when but a youth ; was a soldier in the Revolution. During a long life served the town, county, and State in various official positions. He was a senator or a representative in the General Assembly of Rhode Island from 1787 to 1799; 1802 to 1805; 1807, '08; 1823 to 1826. He served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island from 1794 to 1837. The purity of his life, the integrity of his motives, and the justice of his opinions and decisions gave him the merited soubriquet of " Old Aristides." He was plain in his domestic habits, and, when unoccupied with public affairs, devoted himself to his farm, and especially to fruit culture, in which he took great pleasure. He united with the Congregational Church in Barrington, Nov. 5, 1805, and held the office of deacon for many years. He was also Treasurer of the United Congregational Society from its formation in 1797, until his death in 1837, a period of forty years.

His biographer says of him : " But very few men have been better known throughout the State, and perhaps none survived him who possess more historical and statistical knowledge of the State, from the commencement of the Revolution to the present time. Of no man may it be more justly said, he has lived devoted to the best interests of Rhode Island. No man more ardently loved his country."  Biographie Index

THOMAS WILLIAMS BICKNELL. Son of Allin and Harriet Byron (Kinnicutt) Bicknell; b. Sept. 6, 1834; named for Rev. Thomas Williams; Barrington schools till 1850; grad. Thetford Academy, Thetford, Vt., July, 1853; Amherst College, Freshman year 1853-4; grad. B. U. 1860, degree A. M.

Teacher. Seekonk, 1852-3; Rehoboth, 1853, 1855, and 1856-7; principal public schools Elgin, ILL., 1855-6; principal Bristol High School, 1860-Feb., 1864, and May, 1867 to May, 1869; principal Arnold St. Grammar School, Prov. R. I., from February, 1864, to May, 1867; Commissioner of Public Schools for Rhode Island June, 1869, to Jan., 1875; editor and publisher, Boston, from Jan. 1875, to 1893.

Editor. R. I. Schoolmaster, 1865 to 1875; founder and editor of The Journal of Education, New England and National; of the Primary  Teacher, of Good Times, and the magazine. Education; editor and owner of The Dorchester Beacon, 1875-1893.

Presidencies. R. I. Institute of Instruction, 1866-68; New England Pub. Co., 187s to 1886; American Institute of Instruction, 1878-79; organizer of National Council of Education in 1880, and its president 1880, 81, 82, 83; National Educational Association, 1884; Interstate Commission on Federal Aid to Education; R. I. Cong. S. S. Ass'n, 1872-75; Boston Sunday School Supts. Ass'n., 1880-82; Mass. Cong. S. S. Ass'n, 1882-86; International S. S. Convention, 1884; Bicknell Family Association, and various other bodies.

Representative. Elected from Barrington to the General Assembly of R. I., 1859-60; elected from the 24th Suffolk District, Boston, to the General Court of Massachusetts, Nov., 1888, and Nov., 1889, serving two years.

Published Works. Life of William Lord Noyes, 1863; six annual reports as Commissioner of Public Schools, 1869-1875; editorial and other matter in R. I. Schoolmaster, Bristol Phenix, The Journal of Education, Primary Teacher, The Magazine Education, The Dorchester Beacon; educational addresses on School Supervision, Federal Aid to Education, Civil Service Reform in Education, School Journalism, National System of Education, etc., etc.; historical addresses on John Myles and Religious Toleration, dedication of Town Hall at Rehoboth, also of Barrington, Historical Notes of Barrington, 1870; addresses at Bicknell Association, at Rehoboth, 250th anniversary celebration, 1894, etc., etc.; -The History of Barrington, 1898.

Travels. The United States, Alaska, Asia Minor, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey.

Titles. A. M., from Brown University, 1860; A. M. honorary, Amherst, Mass., 1878; LL. D., Drury College, Mo.  Biographie Index

ZECHARIAH BICKNELL. Son of John and Mary (Porter) Bicknell; born at Weymouth, Mass., Feb. 7, 1668; m. Hannah Smith, of Swansea, Nov, 24, 1692; moved to Swansea about 1705, and bought the lands on the west bank of Barrington River, north of Prince's Hill. Mr. Bicknell's house stood on land north of the present parsonage, fronting on the river; was influential in the establishment of the Congregational Church and in the separation of Barrington from Swansea; town meetings were often held at his house, and the records show him to have been a valuable citizen. His children were Joshua, Hannah, James, Mary, Peter.   Biographie Index

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