Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Coventry

B

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

Randall R. Bates, born in 1827 in Coventry, is a son of Ezra D. and grandson of William Bates. He is a farmer living on the homestead of his father. He was married in 1853 to Anna, daughter of Elder James Burlingame. They have two children, Willis C. and Lulu A. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are members of the Christian church at Rice City.

Samuel D. Bowen, son of Isaac, was born in 1846 in Coventry. He is a farmer and lives on the old Bowen homestead in the house where one of his ancestors entertained General George Washington over night during the revolutionary war. This house was built by Nathan Bowen. Mr. Bowen was married in 1867 to Emily Gallup, daughter of Amos Gallup, of Connecticut, who is a son of David Gallup. They have three children. Mr. Bowen is a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M.

Susan K. Bowen was born in 1838 in Coventry. She is a daughter of James G., son of John, son of Israel, son of Aaron Bowen, who was the first of the family to settle in this town. Susan K. lives on the farm and in the house that was built by Israel for John Bowen, where he married in 1792. At the death of James G., in 1874, Susan K. took charge of the large farm, and since that time has run it. James G. was town moderator several years and was a member of the general assembly. He was married in 1834 to Eliza, daughter of Amos Kimball. They had two daughters, Maria E., who died in 1858, aged twenty-two, and Susan K.

Ulysses G. Bowen, born in 1857 in Coventry, is the youngest of the five children of Edmund P., son of Thomas and grandson of Asaph, whose father was Aaron, son of Aaron Bowen, who came from Tiverton, R. I., to Bowen's hill in 1740. Mr. Bowen has been clerk for Byron Read since March, 1878. He was married in 1877 to Phebe R. Card, who is a daughter of Jonathan, who died in the late war.

Douglas F. Briggs, born in 1818 in Coventry, is a son of Olney and grandson of Jonathan Briggs. He worked in different factories about twenty years, and has since been a farmer. He was married in 1875 to Ann Capwell. He has been member of the Rice City Christian church since 1835, and is a republican.

George B. Briggs, born at 1839 at West Greenwich, is a son of Gorton A. and grandson of Burton Briggs. He came to Coventry with his parents at the age of one year. He has worked for the Anthonys in the cotton rope works about twenty-five years. He was married in 1862 to Phebe A., daughter of Gideon Hopkins, and has one son, Charles R. He is a member of the Maple Root church.

John Brown, born in 1845 in West Greenwich, is a son of George W. and grandson of Solomon Brown. He has been a blacksmith about twenty years, and has had a shop in Hopkins' Hollow about eighteen years. He has also done wagon repairing about twelve years. He was married in 1868 to Hannah F., daughter of Wanton Matteson, whose father is Thomas Matteson. Their children are Willie H. and Frederick J. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian church.

Solomon A. Brown, born in 1833 in Coventry, is a son of Peleg, whose father was Solomon Brown. His mother, Rachel Cornell, died in 1868. Mr. Brown is a farmer, and occupies the homestead of his father. He was married in 1857toAbbie Jones, who died in 1883, leaving four children: Byron B., Nellie A. (Mrs. Bradford W. Scott, Jr.), Aldrich S. and Phebe A., who died aged twelve years. Mr. Brown was married again in 1886 to Mary S. Dowd. He is a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 28, A. F.and A. M., and of Summit Grange, No. 15, P. of H.

Andrew Burlingame was born in Coventry in 1838. He is a son of Henry and grandson of Benjamin, whose father, Stephen, was a son of Ballanstone, who came from England about 1740, and built the house in 1745 where five generations of the family have lived. Andrew occupied the old house until 1880, when he built a new one. The farm where Andrew lives has never been deeded since Ballanstone took his deed from the English authorities. Mr. Burlingame was married in 1858 to Martha, daughter of Otis Angell. They have one son, Charles Henry, who is married and lives at home.

Benjamin Burlingame was born in 1820 in Coventry. His father Samuel, was a son of Benjamin, whose father Daniel Burlingame once owned a part of the land where the ore beds are, Cranston, R. I. Mr. Burlingame is a painter by trade. He was deputy sheriff about three years and town sergeant at one time. He was married in 1842 to Sarah E., daughter of David Salisbury.

Henry Burlingame, born in 1823 in Cranston, is a son of Owen, whose father Stephen was a son of Caleb Burlingame. Mr. Burlingame has been in the hotel business thirty years and drove a stage thirteen years. He is a farmer now. He was married in 1858 to Mary E. Sheldon, who died three weeks later. He was married again in 1864 to Eliza, daughter of John A. Spencer.

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