Trails to the Past

Bristol County Rhode Island

Barrington Biographies

THE PAINE'S are descended from Stephen Paine, who came from Great Ellingham, County Norfolk, England, and settled at Hingham, and was at Rehoboth in 1638. His son, Stephen,2 m. Anne Chickering, and his son Nathaniel ,3 b. Nov. 20, 1667, m. Dorothy Chaffee May 1, 1694; children, Dorothy, Nathaniel,4 Abigail, Jonathan, Rachel, Elizabeth.

Nathaniel,4 b. May 24, 1697; m. Abigail Smith; children, Abigail, Dorothy, Nathaniel,5 John.

Nathaniel,5 b. May 9, 1728; m. Mary Heath; children, Sarah, Nathaniel,6 Peleg,6 Comfort, Mary, Abigail.

Nathaniel,6 m. Mrs. Olive (Bliss) Goff; children, Dorothy, Rosana, Olive, John, Lucinda, Comfort, Cyrene, Nathaniel, Paschal, 1796.

Peleg,6 m. Joanna Viall; children, Mary and Sarah R. m. Thomas Allin; Keziah,6 b. 1782, m. John W. Bicknell; Joanna m. Dr. Theoph. Hutchins; Pamelia, Fanny, Almira, Abigail m. Dr. Jacob Fuller, of Providence. It is said Peleg was at Lexington as sergeant in 1775. He enlisted April 21, 1777, as corporal, and stationed at Tiverton, R. I., Capt. Nathaniel Carpenter's Company, John Hathaway's Reg., 23 days; May 13, 1777, again enlisted Captain Carpenter's Company, Josiah Whiting's Reg., marched to Rehoboth and from Rehoboth to South Kingston, R. I.; discharged July 5, 1777; was corporal at this time July 27, and again Aug. 1 to 9, 1780; was sergeant in Capt. Jabez Bullock's Company, Col. Thomas Carpenter's Reg., under General Heath ; marched to Tiverton, R. I., July 22, 1780.

Keziah Paine; m. John W. Bicknell, lived in Barrington at the Bowen Tavern stand near the Congregational meeting-house. Children :

1. George Willson, b. Nov. 7, 1807; m. Abigail Rawson.

2. Amanda, b. Nov. 18, 1809; m, Samuel B. Cooper.

3. Otis Paine, b. June 10, 1813 ; m. Miss Wells.

4. Edwin, b. July 18, 1814; m. Miss Fisher.

5. Almira Paine, b. June 1, 1816; m. R. P. Crane.

6. Charles H., b. March 7, 1818; m. Eliza Goodhue.

7. Andrew H., b. Feb. 6, 1820; d. unmarried.

8. Martha Wilson, b. April 19, 1822 ; d. unmarried.

9. Anna Maria, b. April 19, 1825; d. unmarried. ID.

10. Rebeccah Warren, adopted; m. Mr. Dickey.  Biographie Index

REV. CHARLES PEABODY. B. July 1, 1810; grad. Williams College 1838; pastorates, Biddeford, Me., Barrington, 1843-46, Ashford, Conn., Windsor, Mass., and Pownal, Vt. Mr. Peabody's pastorate was a useful one, but was disturbed by a division in the church over matters relating to the parsonage, which was a bone of contention for many years. He was a genial, peacemaking man, earnest and devoted in his ministerial work, and had it not been for troubles in the church and community, his labors would have been richly blessed.  Biographie Index

THE PECK'S are from Joseph Peck, who came to America with his brother. Rev. Robert Peck, in the ship Diligent, in 1638, and landed at Hingham. The town records say, " Mr. Joseph Peck, with his wife and three sons and daughter, and two men servants and three maid servants, came from Old Hingham, and settled at New Hingham."

JOEL PECK. Son of David and Sarah (Humphrey) Peck; b. Aug. 28, 1759; m. Lucy Fish; children, Horatio, Elnathan, Bela, Wealthy, Seba, Fanny, Bethiah, Clarissa; occupation, farmer; was a soldier of the Revolution. Mr. Peck was a respected citizen of the town. The house in which he lived is still a landmark of the early architecture of the town.

LEARNED PECK. Son of Ebenezer and Huldah (Brown) Peck; b. Oct. 15, 1795; m. Harriet C. Short, Nov. 27, 1817; children, Harriet N., William H., Betsy S., Sarah D., Julia M., Charles C, Rebecca D. K., Amanda C., Anna C, Tristam B., James D., Sarah U., Milton L., and George L.; occupation, farmer; was a member of the Congregational Church and a useful citizen.

NATHANIEL PECK. Son of Nathaniel and Cynthia (Heath) Peck; b. April 24, 1809; unmarried; farmer; was a member of the Town Council of Barrington, and the tax collector for many years. Mr. Peck had a thorough knowledge of town affairs, was possessed of sound sense and an excellent judgment, which made him one of the most useful and respected citizens of the town. His counsel and action were always those of a safe and conservative man. Genial and hearty in disposition, he was the friend of all, and so just, upright and conscientious was his character that he had the full confidence of a great body of acquaintances and friends beyond his town limits. He was one of the few men of whom it can be said, " He had not an enemy."

SEBA PECK. Son of Joel and Lucy (Fish) Peck; b. Jan 25, 1803; m. Rebecca Cooper of Boston Sept. 14, 1834; children, Ann Eliza, Emily, Seraphine, Nelson, Laura; was a member of the Town Council and of the school committee, a lieutenant in the Barrington Infantry in 1827; occupation, farmer; d. April 9, 1884. Mr. Peck was an honest and an upright man and a member of the Congregational Church.  Biographie Index

REV. NORMAN PLASS. Came to the pastorate of the Barrington Congregational Church September the 18th, 1896; prepared for college at Hudson Academy, and entered Williams College 1878; grad. of B. A. 1882; studied theology at Yale University and in 1886 received the degree of B. D. from Yale, and M. A. from Williams. Mr. Plass has held pastorates at Lincoln, Neb., at Detroit, Mich., and at Medina and Cincinnati, O. He has also been general missionary of the Congregational Churches of Ohio, with residence at Cleveland. Mr. Plass is a frequent contributor in prose and poetry in the leading religious journals, east and west. He has recently published a book of his poems, entitled "Buds that Bloom on Bonnie Banks."  Biographie Index

NATHANIEL F. POTTER. Son of Earl C. and Hannah Potter; contracting builder, and brick maker; at the age of twenty-one he built the Groton monument in Conn., the Unitarian Church on Mathewson St., and many brick residences on High St. After the great fire in Charleston, S. C, he, together with his brothers, engaged in the reconstruction of much of the burnt district, including the Charleston hotel. In the year 1847 he started the Brick Works in Barrington, which grew into a large business through his energies. Nayatt Point at that time attracted his attention, and he became the owner of the original farmhouse with many acres of land, to which he added, establishing the Hotel known for many years as the Bay House. He beautified the place by planting hundreds of trees, which have now grown, and stand as a monument to his efforts, and also did much in making roads in the town of Barrington.

JOSEPH RAWSON. Second son of Edward ; was born in Mendon, Aug. 18, 1768; grad. at Rhode Island College A. D. 1794; was rector of the Academy at Bristol, R. I., a number of years. He married Mrs. Rebecca Bullock of Providence, widow of Capt. William Bullock, and eldest daughter of Gen. Thomas Allin, Dec. 21, 1797; settled in Bristol and was for several years the first cashier of the Bank of Bristol, and his reason for leaving the bank was "in consequence of the Rev. Abraham L. Clark, the Episcopal minister, offering to be its cashier for one hundred dollars less than he had been paid. It was quite a ministerial move for the bread and fishes." He afterwards removed to Barrington, and was a representative in the General Assembly in 1808. He also held other responsible offices such as justice of the peace, chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County, etc., etc.  Biographie Index

ENOCH REMINGTON Son of Enoch and Ruth (Armington) Remington; was born in Barrington, May 2, 1792; attended school for a short time and then followed the sea; m. Phebe Short, daughter of John and Betsy Short, Nov. 13, 1814; farmer and trader; kept store and tavern at the old Bicknell-Bowen tavern; was postmaster for many years, succeeding Josiah Kinnicutt; was a very active business man and saved a large property; children, Samuel, Lucretia S., William H., George A,, Jeremiah S., Daniel S., Phebe A., George A.

THE RICHMOND'S, a noted New England family, are descended from John and Edward, his son, of Newport and Little Compton, 1633. Peleg Richmond, b. 1732, moved to Barrington from Little Compton about 1732; bought large tracts of land of the Allens and Vialls. In March, 1759 Peleg deeded to his son, John Rogers Richmond,  for love, goodwill and affection,'' sixty acres of land, "together with ye mantion house thereon standing and being." The land is now owned by Edward F. Richmond, son of Ichabod, and grandson of John, and the old house is now standing, south of the eight-rod way.

John F. Richmond,8 (Edward F.,7 Ichabod,6 John Rogers,5 Peleg,4 Sylvester,3 Edward,2 John,1) lives on the Richmond estate with his father; farmer; has been in both branches of the General Assembly from Barrington, and was an appraiser in the Custom House in Harrison's administration ; . Mr. Richmond preserves the history and traditions of his family with a proper pride, and is one of the most useful and respected citizens of the town.  Biographie Index

JOHN ROGERS, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church" is the pith of an old truth and familiar to all, but the people of Barrington may not be acquainted with the fact that possibly the blood of the martyrs lies buried in the sacred soil of Prince's Hill. In the old part of "God's Acre," south of the ravine, is an old tombstone, bearing the name of John Rogers. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Rogers, came in the Mayflower, in 1620, and died at Plymouth the first winter of the arrival. This Thomas is said to be a lineal descendant of the celebrated martyr, John Rogers, of Smithfield, England, of Mary's time. John 3rd, son of John 2nd, the grandson of Thomas,1 married Elizabeth Pabodie, daughter of William and Elizabeth Alden Pabodie, and Elizabeth Alden Pabodie was the daughter of John and Priscilla (Mullens) Alden, both passengers on the Mayflower.

John 3rd was a merchant, lived in Duxbury, Boston, and Barrington, successively, and died in our town in 1732, at the ripe old age of 92 years. The blood of John Rogers runs in the veins of the Richmond and other families of Barrington.

Thomas Rogers,1 was a passenger in the Mayflower; children, Joseph,2 John,2 Thomas,2 William,2 George,2 Sylvanus.2- John,2 Thomas.1 m. Frances Watson; children, John,3 Joseph,3 Timothy,3 Ann,3 Mary,3 Abigail.3- John,3 John,2 Thomas,1 m. (1) Elizabeth Pabodie, b. 1647; children, Hannah,4 1668; John,4 1670; Ruth,4 1675; Sarah,4 1677; Elizabeth,4 m. Sylvester Richmond. John,3 m. (2) Marah, a widow, who d. 1739. John,3 d. in Barrington, 1732, as above.  Biographie Index

ABIGAIL SALISBURY. Barrington had heroines as well as heroes during the Revolutionary period. The women of the town must have encouraged and nursed the patriotic spirit with true devotion, or the husbands, fathers, and sons could not and would not have made so heroic a record. In addition to the ordinary work of the women of the household, which was very arduous and exacting in the early day, the care of the farm, the stock, and the business of the exchange of farm produce for household needs, were added. We must also add the making of blankets and clothing for the soldiers, and the care of men, sick and wounded in the service.

Among the most distinguished of the number, among Barrington housewives, was Abigail Salisbury, wife of George Salisbury, who was a sergeant of a guard stationed at Rumstick, and who saw other service during the war. Benjamin Cowell, author of " The Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," says of Mrs., Salisbury, "She was another choice specimen of female patriotism. She was one hundred years old when she applied for a pension, was married fifteen years before the war, and she too took an active part in the struggle for Independence, and knit stockings for the whole guard. Indeed she was so fond of knitting, that she continued it until her death. She showed the writer a pair of stockings she knit after she was one hundred years old."

Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury lived on the west highway in Barrington, on land now owned by E. F. Richmond. It is related of Mrs. Salisbury that she read the Bible through each year, during the last thirty years of her life. One who knew her says, " She had a fair complexion, a full, bright eye, and was short and thickset in body. Her mind was active to the close of life.'' '

She was born May 26, 1738, died Aug 30, 1839, at the age of l01 years and three months, and with her husband was buried at Prince's Hill Cemetery.  Biographie Index

JOSEPH U. STARKWEATHER B. Pawtucket, Sept. 19, 1848; member of firm of Earl P. Mason & Co., 1865; afterwards associated with Rice, Draper, and Williams, dealers in drugs, chemicals, etc., now J. U. Starkweather & Co., in the same line of trade; took up his residence in Barrington in 1881, and has taken an active interest in all town matters; aided in securing telephone connections with Barrington, also the introduction of water from the Kickemuit reservoir, also electric lighting, as a result of which Barrington is now lighted in its streets and the town hall by electricity, furnished by the Bristol County Gas and Electric Co. It uses about 25 incandescent lights at an annual cost of $25 for each light. The churches, public buildings and most of the private houses are now lighted by electricity. Mr. Starkweather has been among the foremost advocates of good roads, public buildings, schools, etc.; was president of the B. R. I. Association; a member and president of the Town Council; is treasurer of the Barrington Water Company  Biographie Index

THE TIFFANY'S are from Humphrey and Elizabeth Tiffany, who were at Rehoboth in 1663-4. The account of the tragic death of Humphrey Tiffany is given in the diary of the celebrated jurist, Samuel Sewall. " Wednesday, p. M., July 15. Very dark and great Thunder and Lightening. One Humphrey Tiffany and Frances Low, Daughter of Antony Low, are slain with the Lightening and Thunder about a mile or half a mile beyond Billingses Farm, the horse also slain, that they rode on, and another horse in company slain, and his rider who held the garment on to steady it at the time of the stroke, a coat or cloak, stounded but not killed. Were coming to Boston. Antony Low being in Town the sad Bill was put up with (regard) of that Solemn judgment of God; Fast day Forenoon. July 15, 1685. 2 Persons 2 Horses." On Oct. 27, 1685, Elizabeth, widow of Humphrey Tiffany was appointed administrator on his estate by the General Court of Plymouth. His son, Ebenezer, b. 1663, owned a large tract of land eastward from Mouscochuck Creek, and his house stood near the site of the R. R. station at Nayatt. The name Ebenezer has been retained in the family to the present time when there are two of the name, father and son.  Biographie Index

MOSES TYLER. Was a prominent citizen of the town of Barrington, and was descended from an honorable English ancestry.  His great grandfather was Thomas Tyler, who came from England soon after the Pilgrims and settled in Boston. His great grandmother was Miriam Simpkins, daughter of Pilgrim Simpkins of the Mayflower party.

He was the son of Moses Tyler and Hannah (Luther) Tyler of Boston. He was born Nov, 26, 1734, and in early manhood came to Rhode Island He married Elizabeth Adams and settled in Barrington near Duncan Kelley's ferry, the place of crossing the main or post road between the towns of Bristol and Providence.

Inheriting the thrifty habits of his Tyler ancestry, he became in early manhood a freeholder and at middle life was one of the largest owners of real property in the town.

The tract of land on which he resided extended between Palmer's River on the east to Barrington River on the west and has ever since been known as " Tyler's Point." On the upland of this land is one of the old burying grounds of the town and is known as the " Tyler Burial Ground."

The sturdy virtues and independence of character of his Pilgrim ancestors were prominent in Moses Tyler's life, and while yet a young man he took an active interest in the affairs of the town, and was always to be found in favor of all measures that had for their object the general welfare of the people. He noted with concern and anxiety the disposition of the British Parliament to enact measures of oppression towards the American Colonies, and was among the first to raise his voice and exert his influence in resisting them. He never hesitated to affirm that "the instincts of freedom are inherited from the Creator, and the oppressive edicts of a tyrant King and his Parliament must be resisted even to the sacrifice of life and fortune. At a town meeting called by the people of Barrington on March 14, 1774, to consider the action of Parliament in placing a duty upon all tea exported to the American Colonies, he took an active part, and at a subsequent meeting held March 21st, he was appointed a member of a committee of seven citizens to correspond with similar committees appointed by the other towns in the different colonies to arrange for concerted action in opposition to receiving or using from any source or under any circumstances any of the "dutied tea.'' He was elected a deputy to represent the town of Barrington in the General Assembly in 1776-77, and served his constituents faithfully and acceptably. He was also a member of the town militia and appointed a lieutenant, and elected by the General Assembly a justice of the peace. Moses Tyler died Sept. 16, 1811, aged 77.   Biographie Index

THE VIALL'S are from John Viall, born in England about 1619; was in Boston, 1639, and joined the first church of that town, 1641; was a vintner and kept the "Ship Tavern" from 1662 to 1679; m. (1) Mary; m. (2) Elizabeth Smith; moved to Wannamoisett (Swansea) 1619, and bought 600 acres of land of Thomas Willett. In his will he names wife Elizabeth, and children, John Nathaniel, Mary, Hopestill, Sarah, Abigail, but the Boston records give the Baptism of eleven children, one of whom was Benjamin, the ancestor of the Barringion Vialls.

RICHMOND VIALL. Son of Anson and Elizabeth Viall; b. 1834; in early life a jeweler at Attleboro, Mass., and Providence; later entered the employ of The Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Company, Providence, where, by unquestioned ability and faithful service, has attained and holds the responsible position of superintendent of that great establishment. Mr. Viall is a firm believer in the doctrine that the discipline of education, devotion to business, and correct habits of living are the fundamentals to success in all departments of life, and what he believes he has practiced through a successful career.  Biographie Index

ERASTUS L. WALCOTT was one of the most useful and respected of the adopted sons of Barrington. He represented the town in both branches of the General Assembly, was an influential member of St. John's Church, and always labored for the building up of the social and civil interests.

DAVID A. WALDRON. B. Bristol, R. I., May 10, 1828; learned tailor's trade and conducted business in Bristol, then engaged in clothing business in Ohio; purchased the Chapin estate at Drownville about 1870 m. (1) Mary A. Simmons of Bristol; children, a. son, Walter, and Mary Marcia, m. Walter A. Potter; Mr. Waldron. m. (2) Mrs. Mary J. D. Bowen of Warren ; he conducted a real estate business for twenty-five years in Providence and was well known throughout the state. He held many offices, civil and military, among which were the presidencies of the trustees of the town library, of the Antiq. Society, of the United Cong, Soc; was the efficient superintendent of the Cong. Sunday School for many years, was actively interested in Y. M. C. A. work, in church work, and was devoted to the various matters, which promoted the growth of Barrington. His ministries to the sick and needy were constant and generous, and in all his social and benevolent work he had a sympathetic and wise counselor in Mrs. Waldron, both of whom were very useful members of the religious society and community.  Biographie Index

MATTHEW WATSON was born in County Colraine, Province of Ulster, Ireland, March, 1696. His parents immigrated to Boston from Londonderry, Ireland, with six children, 1712. Presbyterians in belief, they were severely persecuted by the Catholics and were forced to escape from fanatical mobs by flight to America. From Boston, the family removed to m in Leicester, Mass., where the father, Robert Watson, was killed by the falling of a tree. Matthew, the second of seven children, left home lived with a family near Boston. His employer proved an excellent friend, and taught Matthew arithmetic, and other branches, and probably instructed him in the art of brick-making. He came to Barrington at the of twenty-two, and at the age of twenty-five we find him engaged in making brick upon the farm of Mr. John Read of Barrington. He had lined the clay, and had found it to be of excellent quality, and wood could be procured at two and sixpence per load. At that time Newport the market for all the brick not needed in Barrington, Warren, and Bristol. In 1733 Mr. Watson married Bethia Read, only daughter of Mr. Read. The father was opposed to the union, because Bethia was about to throw herself away upon a " little poor Irishman." The parents friends lived long enough to change their minds on this subject. He was soon able to purchase the farm of his father-in-law, and continued manufacture of brick by the hand process, until he had amassed a fortune of over $80,000. He built a brick mansion, the first in the town, set out many shade and fruit trees, the fruits of which his children children's children have enjoyed. The story is told that Mrs. Watson, from the wool of the flock of the Watson farm, cleaned, carded, spun, colored, warped, wove, made up, and down in the parlor of the old house, now standing at Nayatt, the first woolen carpet in the town. It was deemed so great a curiosity and luxury, people came long distances to see it, and ventured to walk upon it only upon tiptoe. On the walls of the same room it is said that the first wall paper was hung in Barrington. Tradition adds that Mr. Watson introduced the first potatoes into the State from Ireland. When the first was ripe and ready for digging, a neighbor, ignorant and incredulous of the good qualities of the vegetable, was present, and picking up a potato rubbed off the dirt, cut off a slice, and tasting it, threw it down with disgust, remarking, "I'd rather have a turnip."

His life was one of great energy, activity and usefulness, and worthy of imitation. He sustained the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County. He was always a friend to the friendless, and assisted the young who were virtuous and frugal. His wealth and hospitality were alike proverbial. His integrity he held fast throughout his life, and in a great and good old age descended to his grave in peace, "like a shock of corn fully ripe." Mr. Watson was born in 1696, and died in 1803, and of but few men can it be related as of him, that he was born in the seventeenth, lived through the eighteenth, and died in the nineteenth century, at the remarkable age of one hundred and seven years. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Barrington upwards of fifty-six years, and his record on his tombstone says, " He was a shining ornament in his profession, and died in full prospect of a blessed immortality.''  Biographie Index

JOHN WHEATON. Son of Job Wheaton; farmer and teacher; was an intelligent and active partner in the affairs of the town, and his voice and vote were for good men and measures for the community.

REV. FRANCIS WOOD. B. Uxbridge, Mass., April 8, 1798; grad. B. U. 1819; m. Lydia Tiffany, Sept. 9, 1823; pastorate, Barrington, 1823-1826; Willington, Conn., Prescott and Holland, Mass., and returned to Barrington, where he closed a useful life in teaching a select school several years, and in the duties of Town Clerk, from 1865-1875. He died Oct. 28, 1845, leaving a widow, and one son, Mark H., who succeeded his father as town clerk, from 1875 to 1898.  Biographie Index

GEORGE W. WIGHTMAN. Son of Daniel and Charlotte Wightman; b. May 10, 1821; m. Lydia Bosworth Smith, May 10, 1843; children, Harriet Chace, Annie Wilson, Walter Russell, George Henry ;d. Feb. 24, 1893; Mr. Wightman spent his early years on a farm in Barrington, but the most of his active life was devoted to the development of system and proper organization in benevolent, charitable, and correctional institutions, for which he had remarkable fitness and adaptability. His first experience as an executive officer over charitable work, was in the office of Overseer of the Poor of Providence, where he made a wise administration from 1857 to 1889. In June, 1869, at the organization of " The Board of State Charities and Corrections," Mr. Wightman was chosen the Agent and Acting Superintendent of the Board, continuing in office until his death. As Overseer of the Poor of the City, and Agent of the Board for many years, Mr. Wightman had the fullest opportunity to exercise his remarkable talent for the work, and in the study of the needs and care of the dependent classes, he learned and applied wiser and more humane methods of treatment. His large acquaintance with men and institutions outside the State, made him an authority in charity and correction management. His tender sympathies, good judgment, and wise counsels brought him into close contact with the people he was called on to aid, and the officials, responsible for their care. The unfortunate of all classes and conditions found in Mr. Wightman a true friend as well as a faithful officer, who was in touch with their infirmities and sorrows. He had the strength of will and magnetic energy that gave strength and courage to the weak and erring, and cheered the hopeless to hopefulness. At his death, the Board, whose Agent he had been for twenty-four years, said :

"During this long period, Mr. Wightman had the fullest confidence and esteem of the Board; and they desire to record here their appreciation of him, as a true and an able man, and an honest and efficient officer.

"Mr. Wightman was a man of marked and masterful individuality, and it was not at first interchange of relations with him that he was always estimated at his true value; but when the relations became closer few failed to find him a man of strong intellect, excellent judgment, and kindly and sympathetic feeling."  Biographie Index

HEZEKIAH WILLETT. Son of Thomas and Mary (Brown) Willett; b. at Plymouth, 1653; m. Andia Brown, of Swansea, Jan. 7, 1675; was murdered by the Indians in Philips War at Wannamoisett, July 1, 1675.

THOMAS WILLETT was associated with the Leyden congregation in Holland in 1629, and came to Plymouth in the ship Lion, 1632 or 33; m. Mary Brown, daughter of Hon. John Brown, July 6, 1636; children Mary, b. Nov. 10, 1637, m. Rev. Samuel Hooker; Martha, b. Aug. 6, 1639, m. John Saffin, lawyer and judge of Scituate, Boston, and Bristol; John, b. Aug..21, 1641, m. Abigail Collins, 1663, and died soon after; Sarah, b. May 4, 1643, m. John Eliot, son of the Apostle, John Eliot; Rebecca, b. Dec. 2, 1644, d. at age of 7; Thomas, b. Oct. 1, 1646; Esther, b. July 6, 1647, m. Rev. Josiah Flint of Dorchester, and d. July 26, 1737; James, b. Nov. 23, 1649, m. Elizabeth Hunt; Hezekiah, b. July 26, 1651, d. infant; Hezekiah, b. Nov. 7, 1650, m. Anna (or Andia) Brown, daughter of John Brown, Jr., Jan. 7, 1675, and was murdered by the Indians at Wannamoisett July 1, 1676; David, b. Nov. 1, 1654, d. young; Andrew, b. Oct.5, 1655, m. Ann Coddington; Samuel, b. Oct. 27, 1658, m. ; had 13 children; Mary Willett, d. Jan 8, 1669. Thomas, Sr. m. (2) Mrs. Joanna Prudden, Sept. 19, 1671. He died Aug. 4, 1674, and is buried with his wife, Mary, at Little Neck, Wannamoisett. Business, merchant, trader, and farmer; offices held, Captain of Plymouth militia. Assistant to Governor, 1651-1664; member of Council of war; Assistant Commander in chief at Manhattan, Mayor of New York for two terms from June, 1665; co-founder of Swansea with John Myles and John Brown, and several other offices in Town and Colony.  Biographie Index

REV. THOMAS WILLIAMS was a native of Pomfret, Conn, and a graduate of Yale College, in 1800; taught school four years; was an evangelist from 1804 to 1807; was pastor at Foxboro from 1816-21; at Attleboro, 1823-7; at Hebronville, 1827-30; and at Barrington, 1835-38. He was a man of strong intellect and marked individuality. He was a Hopkinsian in theology, and a warm personal friend of Dr. Emmons, whose funeral sermon he preached. His preaching was marked by great honesty, earnestness, and scriptural authority, as the Bible was his constant study. Wit, satire, and invective, accompanied his arguments, and made his weapons of warfare sharp and effective. His last years were spent as an evangelist in Rhode Island, and in the publication of tracts and sermons, of which he printed several volumes. He was born in 1779, and died at Providence in 1876, aged ninety-seven years.  Biographie Index

REV. LUTHER WRIGHT. Born at Acton, Mass, April 19, 1770; was ordained a Congregational minister at Medway, Mass, 1798; m. Anna, daughter of Rev. Josiah Bridges; preached at Medway seventeen years, and was installed at Barrington, Jan. 29, 1817, where he labored in the gospel ministry four and one-half years. "The Great Revival" occurred during his pastorate, and more than eighty persons united with the church. The Congregational Sunday School was established during Mr. Wright's ministry, and the Church Creed was adopted. The last generation of Barrington people remembered Mr. Wright's work with great satisfaction. He died at the ripe age of eighty-eight years, at Woburn, Mass., June 1858.  Biographie Index

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