Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of Coventry

P - R

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

William S. Pearce was born in Little Compton, R. I., in 1824, and is a son of Nathaniel, a son of Isaac, son of Jeptha, son of George, son of George Pearce, who came from England about 1687. Mr. Pearce was married in 1852 to Amelia McDonald, and has two children living-Jessie A. and Jane S. Mr. Pearce has had a grist mill in Hopkins' hollow about twenty years. Prior to that he was in New York state about thirty years as a miller. His sister Mrs. Ann M. Burlingame is the widow of Reverend James Burlingame, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, a preacher sixty years in the Christian church, and died in 1881.

Alexander Peck, son of Alexander and grandson of Samuel Peck, was born in 1821 in Coventry. He was a farmer in his younger days and has worked at the carpenter trade about twenty years. He has been town police several years. In 1848 he was married to Mary, daughter of Charles and granddaughter of Pardon Tillinghast. Mr. Peck is a republican, and a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M.

Henry Phillips, son of Palmer, was born in 1882 in Connecticut. He was a machinist in Hartford, Conn., about thirteen years on locomotive repairing. He has worked at the carpenters' trade some, and is a farmer now. He also carries on a wood yard in Washington. He was married in 1857 to Waity Andrews, daughter of Benjamin Andrews. They have six children: Lucy A., Benjamin P., William H., Ida M. (Mrs. William Champlin), Charles and George E.

Braymon Pierce, born in 1855 in Foster, is a son of Benoni, whose father William was a son of Benjamin Pierce. Mr. Pierce is a farmer. He bought the farm on Bowen's hill where he .now lives, in 1886. He was married in 1883 to Seca E. M., daughter of Pardon Williams, and has one son, Lewis B.

Samuel E. Place, son of Joseph, and grandson of Enoch Place, was born in 1816 in Foster, and is a retired farmer. He was married in 1842, and has had five children: Joseph, Andrew, John, Sarah, and Sally, two of whom are now living. John lives with his father. He was married in 1872 to Jane Frink, and has five children.

David R. Potter, son of Robert, and grandson of Moses Potter, was born in 1815 in Scituate. He worked twenty-seven years in the grist mill of the Coventry Company, and has since worked at farming. He was married in 1836 to Laura A. Johnson, and has one son, John.

Frank A. Potter, son of Daniel D., and grandson of Obadiah Potter, was born in 1860 in Coventry, and is a farmer. In 1880 he was married to Belle, daughter of Randall Capwell, and has one son. He and his wife are members of the Christian church of Rice City.

Horace Read, born in 1815 in Coventry, is a son of Anthony (Benjamin, Benjamin, Daniel, Daniel, John Read, who was born in England). He kept a retail dry goods and grocery store in Providence fourteen years prior to 1867. He has lived on a farm here twenty-one years. He was married in 1847 to Mary R. Sweet, who died in 1877, leaving one son-Rodman S., born in 1853. In 1880 he was married to Mary Mitchell.

Levi B. Read was born in 1824 in Coventry. His father, Henry Read, was a son of Joseph Read, and a descendant of John Read, who was born in England in 1598. Mr. Read is a house carpenter by trade. He worked at the trade five years, after which he worked at wood work about thirty years for the Quidnick Manufacturing Company. He has worked at farming for the last six years. He has been a member of the town council several years, assessor of taxes two years, and was a member of the general assembly one term. In 1846 he was married to Cynthia Potter. She died in 1848, and he was married in 1850 to Abbie A., daughter of Bowen Matteson. She died in 1887. His daughters were : Cynthia M., who died in infancy; Melissa E., who died aged 7 years; and Selinda M., who died in 1888, aged 32 years. He is a member of the Baptist church.

Horace P. Relph, son of Amasa, was born in 1842. He worked on a farm until 25 years of age, when he came to Washington, where he carries on a wood yard. He built a large shop and does planing, turning and general repairing. He has a fifteen horse power engine to drive his machinery. He was married in 1869 to Mary Jane, daughter of Bowen Potter. He is a member of the Six Principle Baptist church.

Jabez Relph, born in 1829, is a son of Moses, whose father, Hugh, was a son of Jabez Relph. Mr. Relph has been a farmer all his life. He was in the town council four years and a member of the board of assessors four years. He is a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 12, A. F. and A. M.

William Remington, born in Scituate in 1842, is a son of John, whose father, Thomas, was a son of Thomas Remington. Mr. Remington is a carpenter, and has worked at that trade about ten years.

Frank A. Reynolds was born in 1856 in Coventry. He is a son of Bowen, whose father was William Reynolds. He has been bookkeeper for the Peckham Manufacturing Company for fifteen years. He was married in 1882 to Lillian, daughter of Thomas Jillson.

Gideon Reynolds, born in 1812, is a son of Gardiner, whose father, Joseph, was a son of John Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds was married in 1837 to Betsey, daughter of Stephen Bennett. She died in 1883, and he was married in 1885 to Abbie King, wife of the late George G. King, who was in the war of the rebellion three years, in Company C, Fourth Rhode Island battery. He died in 1880. They had seven children. Mr. Reynolds has been justice of the peace and assessor of taxes several times. He has been a member of Rice City Christian church about forty-five years.

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