Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Coventry

S - V

Source: The History of Washington & Kent Counties
Written by J. R. Cole published in 1889 by W. W. Preston & Co.

Henry A. Sisson, one of a family of fifteen children, son of John and Amy Sisson, was born 1846 in South Kingstown. He is in partnership with his brother, John W., who was born in 1839. They came from West Greenwich to Coventry about nineteen years ago, bought a farm at that time of 134 acres, and in 1887 they bought 100 acres more. They keep about 35 cows and do general farming. Henry A. was a member of the town council in 1887, and was re-elected in 1888. He had three brothers in the war of the rebellion, one of whom was killed.

Benoni Spink, son of Benjamin and grandson of Henry Spink, was born in 1819 in West Greenwich. He worked as dresser tender twenty-two years for the Spragues, but has been out of the mill four years. He and his wife keep a boarding house at Quidnick. He was married in 1844 to Mehitabel T. Reynolds, daughter of James, son of Amos, son of James Reynolds. They have four children : James B. (deceased), Emeline (deceased), George H. and Benoni Adams (deceased).

Charles T. Stone, born in 1865 in Coventry, is a son of William A., whose father, William, was a son of William Stone. He has owned a general store at Greene since November, 1886. The first year his father was a partner with him, but since then he has been alone. He was married in 1887 to Helen, daughter of William Potter.

Daniel Tillinghast, born in 1815, is a son of Sylvester and grandson of Deacon Pardon Tillinghast, who was a descendant of Elder Pardon Tillinghast, who came from England to Providence in 1643. Mr. Tillinghast has been a farmer and lumber speculator the most of his life in West Greenwich. He was town moderator in West Greenwich eighteen years, and has been moderator in Coventry one year. He has been town auctioneer about thirty-five years. He was married in 1836 to Halma, daughter of Silas Waite. She died in 1879, leaving nine children living: Rhoda A., Henry C, Sylvester, Abel G., Mason W., Susan H., Jane A., Lloyd A. and Emeline. Mr. Tillinghast was married in 1880 to Cynthia A. Johnson. He is a member of West Greenwich Baptist church.

Halsey M. Tillinghast was born in 1853 in West Greenwich. His father, John, was a son of Pardon, whose father, Charles, was a son of John and grandson of Philip, and great-grandson of Elder Pardon Tillinghast, who came from England in 1643. Mr. Tillinghast has been station agent at Summit since April, 1883, and prior to that was a carpenter about ten years. He was married in 1875 to Eveline F. Carpenter, and has three children : Susan A., Nellie and Charles C. He had two brothers in the war of the rebellion.

John A. Tillinghast, born in 1865, is a son of Ira A., whose father Allen was a son of Pardon. Mr. Tillinghast lives on the homestead of his father, who lived here about thirty years, and died in December, 1883. Mr. Tillinghast was married in 1883 to Cora L., daughter of Henry Battey, and has one daughter. Bertha Martin. Mr. Tillinghast is a member of Summit Grange, No. 15, P. of H.

Joseph Tillinghast, born in 1813, is a son of Charles, whose father was Pardon Tillinghast. He has been a farmer the most of his life, taught thirty-seven winter terms of school, a member of the school committee about thirty years, in the town council about eight years and a member of the general assembly one term. He lost his left leg from below the knee in 1875. He was married in 1840 to Lydia S. Nichols. She died in 1864, leaving two sons, Leonard and Warren H. He was married in 1866 to Betsey G,, daughter of Thomas B. Bowen. Mr. Tillinghast is a republican and a member of Rice City Christian church.

Mason W. Tillinghast, born in 1841 in Coventry, is a son of Daniel, who was a son of Sylvester and grandson of John Tillinghast, a descendant of Elder Pardon Tillinghast. Mr. Tillinghast went from Coventry to Providence in 1866, and has kept a restaurant there since 1875. He was married in 1866 to Laura M., daughter of William E. and Lucy A. Arnold.

Stephen G. Tillinghast, born in 1828 in Sterling, Conn., is a son of George, whose father Pardon was a Six Principle Baptist preacher and a descendant of Elder Pardon Tillinghast. Mr. Tillinghast lived in Connecticut about four years. He has been an ordained preacher about seven years. He was married in 1848 to Lydia A., daughter of Obed Small. He belongs to the Free Will Baptist church.

George A. Vaughn, born in 1843 in Coventry, is a son of Jason, son of John, son of Caleb, son of Caleb Vaughn. Mr. Vaughn was married in 1869 to Patience, daughter of George Randall. They have one daughter, Harriet. He is a democrat and a member of Rice City Christian church.

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