RH O D E I SLAND H I STORI CAL SO CI E TY n

M U S E U M

I L L U S T RAT I NG T H E H I S T O RY

O F T H E S TAT E

“4 05?

6 8 WA T E R M A N ST R E E T

PR OVI D E N C E

1 9 1 6

H E PURPOS E of an Historical M useum is to

visualize to the people of tod ay, by exhibiting

objects of historical interest , the life , the habits

and the important occurrences of former times . Such exhibi tions create in the mind of the observer a

stronger appreciation of the reality of the principal facts , of

the chronology , and of the significance of history . They give

a sense of intimate touch with the past , and aid in under s tanding the present and future , through an understanding

of that which has transpired . I t is necessary to discriminate in selecting material for such

n a museum . Objects should ot be shown simply because

they are old , but because they either illustrate some mode of i l fe now cha nged or forgotten ; or else , by actual association

' fixin with some significant event in history , aid in g in the

mind of the observer the reality , importance and circum

oi v . stance tha t e ent Thus , i n its museum , the Society aims

to display visually the h istoryof the State , a s , at Washington

’ the National M useum visualizes the Country s history . The obj ects in the museum have been arranged chrono

logically as far as their size and shape woul d permit , so that l a wa k around the balcony , keepingalways to the right , will give a general idea of the chronological occurrence of events

and use of obj ects .

While the Society has attempted to verify as far as practi cable the descriptions that have accompanied the objects

placed in its museum , it can not guarantee that these state

ments are entirely correct in every instance . The name of the d onor of an object is given only when

such information bears on the authenticity of the obj ect .

T the right of the entrance of the M useum hangs a photograph of the Viking ship which was recently excavated at Cokstad near Sandiford in Southern f Norway . I n such a ship as this , Leif , son o Eric the Red , in 1001 discovered Vinland , which has been identified as

New England . Many students of the subject believe that n Leif landed o the shores of Narragansett Bay . There are n h o remains of this Norse visit , alt ough at one time the Old Stone M ill at Newport and the rock i nscriptions at

Dighton , Massachusetts , and at Bristol , Rhode Island , were supposed to have been made by the Northmen .

Upon entering the M useum , one passes between two flags , the national flag on the right , and the Rhode Island state

flag on the left . These flags were carried for many years in the processions of the military cadets of the English and

Classical School of Providence . The United States flag has

- ad forty fou r stars , which number was used between the

- 1 1 18 9 0 mission of the forty fourth state , Wyoming , July , ,

- f 4 1 fi h 8 9 6 . and the forty t state , Utah , January , The Rhode 1 8 2 1 Island state flag was blue from 8 to 8 9 7 , when it was 1 78 0 changed to white , the color that had been used from 1 2 to 8 8 . Beside the staff of the United States flag stands an instr u

- f ment called a cross sta f , used by mariners in finding the ’ ship s position . I t was superseded by the quadrant , which 1 was invented by Thomas God frey of Philadelphia in 730 . This instrument was used by Caleb Harris when he surveyed 1 9 the state in 7 5 . 1 2 Turning to the right , one comes upon Cases and , contain ing stone implements used by

TH E I N D IANS .

When the first English settlers arrived , the Indians who lived about Narragansett Bay had not progressed beyond the stone age . All their tools were of stone , and were made , either as the axes , by constant rubbing ; or as the arrow 4 RHODE ISLAND H I S TORI CAL SOC IETY

- i . i , heads , by flint chipp ng Besides making stone mplements

. the Indians wove mats , baskets and cordage They also hollowed out logs by alternately burning and gouging them , thus making canoes . The Narragansetts were foremost in

m ea e . the production of wampu p g , or Indian money This

- was made by rubbing small pieces of sea shells into the shape of beads and drilling holes in them , after which they were strung on threads . This currency of the Indians was adopted and used by the early white settlers . The black beads were worth twice the value of the white ones .

The heads for axes , hatchets , tomahawks , adzes , hammers and clubs were made by gradually rubbing stones into the required shape , and attaching them by thongs or cords to the ends of sticks . Often the sticks were partly split so as to allow the stone head to be more firmly wedged between r the two parts of the stick , which were then bound togethe at the end above the stone . Sometimes holes were drilled s through the heads of the tomahawks and the handle inserted , as is done i n a modern hatchet . Two very fi ne examples of

- w 2 . drilled stone tomahawk heads are sho n in Case Gouges , chisels , pestles , and rollers were made i n the same manner

- as the axe heads . Spear- heads and arrow- heads were usually made of flint or quartz , although sometimes slate was used . The large black

- f arrow head near the center o the card is of slate . M any Indian arrow- heads can still be found along sandy wastes i n f the less inhabited parts o Rhode Island . Pipes were perhaps the most difficult to make of all the articles manufactured by the Indians , as they had to be both shaped and d rilled . and They made mortars bowls quite easily out of soapstone . The bowl exhibited in the case is ornamented with two small handles . A few stone heads similar to the photograph have been found in Rhode Island . These may have been attempts at or portraiture , they may have been idols . The two skulls in Case 1 were dug up at the Indian burying - ground in

Charlestown , Rhode Island . M O D E L O F F R I G A T E W A S H I N G T ON I M A G E

’ W cfo m o m hi h r erl y rna en ted the d oor of Kent C ou n ty Jail MUSEUM 5

The - I ndians who were living here when the Europeans came could neither read nor write , but tribes living here at an earlier period were much more civilized and left many

- a rock inscriptions in New Engl nd , several being in Rhode

Island . The only one now extant in this state is situated in B ristol on the shore of M ount Hope Bay . The stone heads were doubtless made by these earlier tribes . We have no mementos of the v oyage of Giovanni da 1 24 Verrazano , who visited Narragansett Bay in April , 5 , 16 14 nor of that of Adrien Block , who explored it in , and after whom Block Island was named . r With these ea ly explorers , as well as later with the Dutch and English settlers , the Indians traded furs for the various articles of European manufacture that appealed to their

or . fancy suited their needs I n this manner , the Dutch bottles and other objects of glass and copper exhibited in 3 a Case c me into the possession of the I ndians , and were buried with their owners ; for i t was the custom of the natives to bury with the decea sed th e more Valuable part of his property . When the I ndian graves in Charlestown , Westerly , and Tiverton were opened , these objects , together with the 1 I ndian skulls in Case , were exh umed . The small copper bell is without doubt the first bell in Rhode Island . The wampum and hair on the u pper shelf were also found in

I ndia n graves . On the wall hangs a map showing the I ndian names for places in Rhode Island . The third shelf holds an idealized picture of Metacom of

Pokanoket , who was called King Philip by the English . I t ‘ was engraved for the history of King Philip ’ s war which was f C 1. u one o written by 0 Benjamin Ch rch of Little Compton , of the leaders of the English soldiers , and in command those who finally captured and slew King Philip at Mount Hope 2 n 1 16 7 . o August , 6 The bead belt displayed on this shelf is said to have be

longed to King Philip , and was presented to the Society by

: M iss Caroline M . Read with the following statement 6 RHODE ISLAND H I S TORI CAL SOC IETY

- This bead belt was once the property , according to a

of of . clearly defined family tradition , Philip , Pokanoket I t was given to Miss Read by her gra nd mother , the late M rs .

w s A 15 1 740 . Molly Bowers , who a born in Seekonk , ugust ,

Mrs . Bowers removed to Pawtucket when that village con i ta ined only five houses , and died in George Street , in Prov

18 40 I oI S t . dence , i n October , , in her year Her h usband , f Asa Bowers , o Connecticut , was a revolutionary soldier , and ” died during the war . of That Philip , d uring his lifetime , was the possessor several of these ornamental belts is unquestionably true . A fter “ ” Anawon the capture of the great Captain , that warrior presented to Captain Church three belts , which he said had belonged to Philip . One was curiously wrought with wom pom , being nine inches broad , wrought with black and white w m om o p , in various figures , and flowers and pictures of many birds and beasts . This , when hanged upon Captai n ’ ” Church s shoulders , reached his ancles . The other was “ wrough t after the former manner , which Philip was wont ’ his to . put upon head I t had two flags on the back part , which hung down on h is back , and another small bel t with of a star upon the end it , which he used to hang on his breast , n n and they were all edged with red hair , which A awo said ’ ’ ot Moho s they g in the g Mohawk s Country . The editor “ ’ of of - The History Philip s War , says that the firs t men “ ’ tioned belt , and some other of Philip s ornaments are now

18 29 Swa ns owned in a family at ey, as I was informed by ” of an inhabitant the place . The tomahawk wa s used by William Denison in the French and Indian War , and the baskets were woven by Na rraga n

. of wa s sett Indians One them presented to Dinah Fenner , of M daughter Thomas Borden , and wife of aj or Thomas ’

Fenner , a soldier in King Philip s War .

A E COLON I L P R IOD .

Case 4 contains relics of the first English settlers of Rhode

Island . On Shelf 2 are some nails from the grave of William MUSEU M 7

o B lackstone, the first Englishman t settle i n Rhode Island . 10 1 4 He sold his lands in Boston , November , 6 3 , and moved to what is now Cumberland , building a house on Study Hill , near the Blackstone River , which is named for him . He died 2 1 7 May 6 , 6 5 , and was buried on Study H ill .

There are many relics of Roger Williams , who founded and named Providence in 1 6 3 6 . The combination compass and sun - dial that was owned and used by him is exhibited in a special case in one corner of the Portrait Gallery . In regard to this compass , M r . Desmond Fitz Gerald on Novem 2 5 19 04 ber , , wrote as follows “ The Roger Williams compass has always been in our family since Roger was expelled from Massachusetts . M y grandmother , M rs . Patrick B rown , who lived in the brick 4 h house at 6 Williams Street , in erited it , and I remember it very well when I lived with her . M y grand mother lent the

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M r . compass to Randall , a descendant of Roger Williams ,

a n living in Providence , who was an ardent admirer of his

cestor . . , but possessed no relics M r Randall carried the compass carefully in his pocket for many years , and I have seen him take it from his pocket to show to people . After my grandmother ’ s death the compass passed i nto th e ha nds

. M . of my aunt , M rs Nathaniel Church , who gave r Randall permission to retain the compass . M r . Randall was supposed to resemble Roger Williams , and he lived to be an old man . ’ Then , in turn , my aunt died , and after M r . Randall s death , ’ his heirs took it to my aunt s house , M rs . John Carter B rown , and left it there . I am glad the Society has it , where it will be safely guarded .

In another corner of the Portrait Gallery , stands a large oaken chest which , tradition says , Roger Williams brought over from England in the ship Lyon in 1 6 3 0 . He wrote “ several books , one of which , A Key into the Language of ” on exhibi America , that is , the language of the Indians , is tion in the case in the Portrait Gallery , together with one ’ of his autograph letters and a lock of M rs . Williams hair .

Their graves , near the corner of Bowen and Pratt Streets , 8 RH OD E ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

O 2 2 18 6 0 - were pened March , , and the famous apple tree root ,

which is Supposed to have followed the contour of Roger

’ Williams bones , a nd other remains were exhumed . This

- apple tree root , about which so much has been written , is in

the large case at the south end of the M useum . Some of the nails and hair taken from the graves are in a box on Shelf 3 while the greater part of the remains are in the Stephen

- Randall tomb in the North Burial Ground . When Roger Williams crossed the See konk River in 1 63 6

to establish a settlement here , he landed on Slate Rock , the location of which is marked by a monument near the corner

of Williams and Gano Streets . A piece of Slate Rock is exhibited in this case and a larger piece lies near the apple

tree root at the other end of the room . A goblet made from the wood of the house in which Roger Williams lived at

Salem before coming to Providence , a stone from the cellar of his house in Seekonk , a piece of wood from the ch urch in

of was 16 34 Salem which he pastor in , and a piece of wood

of We bosse t from an original timber y Bridge , which was

his 1 built by Roger Williams and associates in 6 6 0 , are also

preserved here . The small trunk on the lower shelf belonged to Joshua f Winsor , a friend o Roger Williams and one of the early of settlers Providence .

On the wall h angs a window , with its broken panes of t leaded glass , and wo banisters from the house of William

Coddington , at Newport , which was built in 16 41 . William was of Coddington thrice governor Rhode Island , dying in f 1 1 o fice November , 6 78 .

Below this are the diamond - shaped panes from a window of f o . A the house Capt rthur Fenner . This house was

1 6 6 0 of built about near the present village Simmonsville , in n Cra ston . All the windows of this period had small panes of s s . A of - gla fine pair wrought iron hinges , end ing in the of - - lis a n shape a fleur de , d a piece of wood from this house S are also hown .

A of E blue delft tile from the house dward Winslow , who MUSEU M 9

of 1 6 was governor Massach usetts in 33 , gives a touch of the interior of the better houses of that day . Beside i t is an ’ impression from Governor Winslow s seal . The white tile i from the Chr stopher Sheldon House , later called The Cole an m House , on South Main Street , Providence , is of a much later da te .

The seal of Benedict Arnold , who was the first governor of 1 6 Rhode Island under the Royal Charter of 6 3 , is of much ’ interest . The design is the state s seal , with his i nitials added . On the same shelf are one of the handles and a piece of f of wood from the co fi n Henry B ull , who was governor of n 1 6 8 5 1 6 8 6 h 2 2 Rhode Isla d in and , and W o died January ,

- 4 1 6 9 3 .

- The lower shelf contains a square hearth brick , from the 2 Roger Mowry House , and Shelf a gavel made of a piece of wood from the same house . This house was built on the 16 present Abbott Street , as early as 5 3 , perhaps earlier , by 1 6 5 Roger M owry , who in 5 was appointed to keep a house of entertainment . This was the first tavern in Providence

- and was also used as a place of meeting by the town council , “ and for religious services . This house , variously called The ” “ ” Abbott House and The Whipple House from later ocen

19 00 . pants , was torn down in A n account of it is given by “ Isham in his Early Rhode Island Houses . 2 The bricks on Shelf , said to have been made in Holland , were u sed by Captain Thomas Willett in the construction of the chimney of his house at Wa nnam oisett in East Provi dence . After residing there for a few years , Willett moved 1 6 6 5 to New York , where in he became the first English

19 01 . mayor of that city . This house was demolished in

- 1 75 0 The brass door knob probably dates from about , and ’ is from the Glebe House of St . John s Church on Olney

Street .

flax- The large comber , or hetchel , was used by Lydia , the w O daughter of Thomas Olney , and ife f Joseph Williams , ’ flax Roger Williams youngest son . Two other styles of 1 0 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

combers are shown in the next case . They were used to comb the tow and coarse parts out of the flax , preparatory to making cloth . The shears and vise were used by the Wilkinsons in the

- - first nail shop in New England , and the two branding irons on the same shelf were used to place marks of identification on the ears of cattle and swine , at a time when there were no fences and all the animals roamed about the village .

Case 5 contains a number of relics of the Bernon family . A mong these , the most notable are a delft j ar , and a gold

Hu rattle , brought over from France by Gabriel Bernon , a 1 9 guenot refugee . He came to Newport in 6 7 and later lived in Providence . A photograph of his sword and a painting of these obj ects hang u pon the wall a t the side of a sampler , worked by some member of his family . A bag , a napkin , a piece of embroidered silk , and a fragment of a

C famil a re coarser loth , used in th e Bernon y, also displayed . “ Shelf 3 holds a pewter platter inscribed as follows : M T of This pla tter a part the wedding outfit of Marie B ernon , of T daughter Gabriel Bernon , and wife of Abraham ou r ti lotte , Huguenot exiles , wa s given by her to her daughter T Lydia Knowlton , nee ou r tilotte and by her to her grand ” daughter Lydia Knowlton Waterman , nee Westcott . 2 of Shelf contains the model the house of Samuel Dunn , who on 18 1 746 E T r l married September , , sther ou te lot , of A granddaughter braham and Marie (Bernon) Tou rtellot . was S on This house ituated Benefit Street in Providence .

was for b - The model made Ga riel Bernon Dyer , great great of grandson Samuel Dunn . The lower shelf of this and the next three cases contain an of A assortment kitchen utensils used in Colonial times .

old its curious toaster , with long handle , used in the Field

- family ; a flat iron forged from a single piece of bar - iron and

reelov e who o used by F Fenner , married Samuel J y, and lived in the Arthur Fenner house already mentioned ; an old

waffl e - fashioned iron used in the Knight family ; a griddle , and an iron kettle , both fitted with rings for hanging in an MUSEUM 1 1 open fire ; a smaller three - legged pot ; two copper kettles ; and a brass kettle bought by William Gould at the auction sale

f . Ma cS arra n of the e fects of the Rev James p , who was rector ’ 7 1 of St . Paul s , Narragans ett , from 1 2 0 to 75 7 . His portrait hangs i n the gallery below . On this shelf also are two small iron Skillets ; an earthenware j ug from the Jonathan Arnold 18 0 House in Lincoln , which was demolished in 9 ; and a of couple wood en mortars and a pestle , dating from Colonial times .

of 6 - - On the wall Case is a boot and shoe Sign , which bears 1 7 1 ’ the date 8 . I t is said to have hung above Waterman s

- n - shoe shop o North Main Street . I t also contains a T square

ld - made of wood from the O Town House , which formerly stood on the southwest corner of Benefit and College Streets ,

- where the Providence County Court House now stands . A picture of the Old Town - House hangs in the Portrait

A - 1 72 7 Gallery . curious Du tch spectacle case dating from , and some specimens of hand - made pins complete the display on the upper shelf . Shelf 2 contains a large pitch - pipe made of wood ; a mold for making pewter spoons ; a mold for making pewter buttons , which was used for generations in the Slade family of Cov ' D I t - -i - entry ; a toddy glass marked R and a hand forged spike from the Joseph B rown House (alias Deacon Harding House)

19 04. on South Main Street , which was torn down in October , On the third shelf are some nails from a slave - ship wrecked

- near Fort Adams , Newport . Many Rhode Islanders for merly engaged in this lucrative trade . Some nails from the

1 7 2 3 . Dexter House , which was buil t in , are also shown I t was situated on Governor Street , which was so called from the fact that Gov . James Fenner , the first president of this Society , lived there . The small wooden chest was pref sented to the town of Hopkinton for the preservation of its early records by Governor Stephen Hopkins , for whom the 1 1 town was named , M arch 9 , 75 7 . Near by lies a long black piece of wood once part of a French frigate that was sunk in 1 the defense of Louisburg in 75 8 , during the French and

Indian Wars . 1 2 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

I n Case 7 is shown a suit of clothes worn by Sion Arnold

o . f of Warwick i n 1 740 ; a h at w rn by J Kassen o Voluntown , ’ - Connecticut , in Colonial times ; a lady s shoe buckle ; and a gum - shoe of the same period . In this case also are a pair of straw - splitters used in the manu facture of bonnets , a notary seal ; an English bread - tray used in the Baxter family ; a Colonial monkey -wrench with the thread inside the handle ; and a wooden bedkey used in tightening the cords which

- took the place of springs in old fashioned beds .

- Case 8 contains three warming pans , the oldest one being of iron with an iron handle , while the later ones are of brass . These were used in olden times to warm beds on cold winter

- of fires . i S nights , before the time furnace Here s hown a bronze replica of the first seal of Rhode I sland College , now of Brown University , and a piece wood from University

Ed ifice Hall , called originally The College , which was built in 1 7 70 . The American troops were quartered in this build ing during the Revolution . 2 of 7 8 On Shelf Cases and is a collection of pewter ware . This soft metal ha s been replaced by silver in modern house “ ” holds . The platter is marked M C , and was used in the family of Edward Dexter ; and the five plates which belonged to Marie (Bernon) Tour tellot were made i n London by “ ff ” Thomas Gri en . These are marked M T . The plate A marked EA belonged to Jonathan and Abigail (Smith) of S mi hfi l t e d I . Arnold , R . , who were married before 1 739 .

The tankard , cups , and two of the plates were made by Samuel Hamlin of Providence and presented to the Fruit E Hill Baptist Church by Bernard ddy in 1 7 74. The ins crip “ n o A . B E . d . . tion the tankard reads Gt to ye Ch . y The porringers belonged in the family of Richard Clark

Waterman and were made in Providence by Samuel E . Ham son of f lin , Samuel Hamlin , the pewterer . One o the plates ” “ is 1 70 1 ff marked I S C , and another is inscribed M . Bli to . 1 79 5 to . E . E 1 E E D Jones D J ON S 8 45 S . . DOYL 18 6 9 .

A - is pewter tea canister in Case 1 7 . The third shelf displays various accessories to the lighting

— - 7 , U .D e v o u

O LD S H O P S I G N

F o m V ’ r erl y s u s pended over Vaterman S h e S h C h ea side s o op on p (now N or th M ai n S tree t) MUSEUM 1 3

- f . A system o Colonial d ays tinder box with its flint and steel , once the property of the Carder family of Warwick ; two lanterns ; one from the Arthur Fenner House ; three molds for k ; ma ing candles and two tallow cdips , a cheaper grade of candles , made without a mold , by lipping the wick in molten tallow ; and a candle - snuffer and tray used by the Mowry family of S m ithfield . I n one corner of the window - seat is a large wooden screw used in the crushing of a pples in an old - time Cider press in

I . C umberland , R . ; and above it a hatchment bearing the

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sher rm s of . U a , once the property the Hon Joh n Usher ,

- 16 9 2 16 9 Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire from to 7 .

I t was made by his father , Hezekiah Usher . In ancient times hatchments were hung over the doorway of a d eceased ’ person s house , a custom now superseded by the d isplay of crape . The bunch of gra pes in early time h ung over the shop of Benjamin and Edward Thurber as early as 1 76 6 .

This firm i s now the Glad ding Dry Goods Compa ny , which

- continues to use a bunch of grapes as a trade mark .

On the other side - of the window is a small statue repre senting a Colonial Rhode Is lander . I t formerly h ung above the entrance to the Kent County J ail , at East Greenwich . The cradle in the center of the window - seat was used in

- the Richmond family , and the bread tray beneath it was used i n the Knight family .

- The crane , trammel , and pot hook once did service in a

- Colonial fire place . I n the large case at the south end of the museum is the

- Roger Williams apple tree root , already mentioned ; a piece of Slate Rock ; and an electrical machine that once belonged to Moses Brown . The ca se also contains a croze , used by coopers for making grooves for the heads of barrels , a leather bottomed grain -S ieve used before 18 00 on the Coggeshall

Farm at Little Narrows in Bristol , and an iron stove lined

- with soap stone , a substa nce which in olden times took the

- place of modern fire brick . Three gravestones are in this case . 14 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOCIETY

- On top of the case a re two Spinning wheels a nd a reel . The larger wheel is for wool and belonged to Betsey Williams , who bequeathed Roger Williams Park to the City by her will

A 2 7 18 7 1 . 2 1 1 8 6 8 . , dated ugust , She died November The

- small spinning wheel is for flax , and was owned in the family

A A - of Zachariah llen . cheese press and a Dutch oven , called of locally a Tin Kitchen , the relics of a mode life long since

. past , are also u pon the case ’ The small model of th e church of St . Paul s , Narragansett ,

1 7 . which wa s built in 70 , is within this case The model was constructed by Thomas March Clark , who was bishop of 4 Rhode Island from 18 5 to 19 03 . The larger model is of the

- First Congregational Meeting House , which formerly stood on the southeast corner of Benefit and Benevolent Streets . 1 14 14 8 . I t was destroyed by fire , J une , I n this case , too , is a facsimile reproduction in wood of the original Turk ’ s

Head , which gave its name to the locality at the j unction of Weybosset and Westminster Streets .

f f - f A wand o o fice used by the Town Sergeant o Providence , f a very interesting relic o Colonial times , stands in the win

- f d ow seat at the side o the cradle . I ts brass head bears the “ ” of arms Rhode Island , an anchor , between the letters G R , “ is I n S e ram u s around which the legend , _ Te Domine p , “ a motto in early times used interchangeably with Hope .

A or n espontoon military pike , with ornamented head , car f of ried by the commissioned o ficers the Rhode Island militia , a s of required by the Public Laws Rhod e I sland of 1 79 8 , is in

- S the second window eat .

Case 9 holds part of a richly embroidered court - dress pre sented by King George I to William Hopkins of Providence , f o G ov . eldest brother Stephen Hopkins , in recognition of his services in dispersing a riot in London about 1 72 5 . Hopkins wa s then about 19 years of age and a common sailor . The King bestowed upon him the commission of

Colonel , which he subsequently sold . We now come to the MUSEU M 1 5

R EVOLUTI ONA RY P ER I OD . Two military caps sta nd on the Shelf in front of Hopkins ’

- court dress . One , bearing the arms of the State , with the “ motto Hope above , and below , the words , G od and Our ’ “ of Rights , a free translation England s motto , Dieu e t

Mon Droit , was worn by one of the Providence Grenadiers

1 7 76 . of The other , embroidered in gilt with the crown of “ ” England and the royal initials G R , was worn by a B ritish soldier during the Revolution . Perhaps the most interesting relics of the period are those which have some personal connection with Washington . The f ’ head o a brass eagle , once the handle of Washington s sword , was treasured for generations in the Carroll family of Vir ginia ; and in 18 6 1 was presented by members of that family in Washington to the First Regiment of Rhode Island A h . d Troops , t en quartered there Charles H . M erriman , j utant of that regiment , gave it to the Society . The two tall black candlesticks and the candle preserved in the bottle were used at a ball given in honor of General ’ 18 Washington at Hacker s Hall in Providence , on August ,

1 7 0 f . 9 , during the brief visit o Washington to this city A lock of Washington ’ s hair is exhibited in the case in the

Portrait Gallery , together with an autograph letter of his wife , Ma rtha Washington , which accompanied the lock of hair in response to a request from some Providence ladies . th 10 1 7 72 On e nigh t of June , , a band of patriots , under

A Ga s ee braham Whipple , burnt the British sch ooner p , which ,

a nna h on am while chasing the packet H , had run ashore N quit Point , now known as Gaspee Point .

of Gas ee of A piece wood from the p , and also a piece wood “ from the Gaspee House situated on the northeast corner of of Planet and South M ain Streets , on which a picture the

- house has been burnt with a red hot poker , decorate the “ ” wa s upper shelf of Case 10 . The Gaspee House the house in which the attack upon the Gaspee wa s planned . A frag ment of a gun used in this expedition and later found in the 1 6 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

water at Gaspee Point is on Shel f 3 . The silver cu p was a piece of pl under taken from the Gaspee by Commodore Whi p ple and is inscribed : C a ptu red by Com . Wh ipple of R . I . , 1 7 P from the British Sloop Gaspee J une , James enni more Cooper in his History of the Navy of the United States , erroneously gave the date of J une 1 7 th for the burning of

as ee . the G p , and this error has been copied in many places Some specimens of the paper money used in Rhode Island in Colonial and Revolutionary times are shown in this case .

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On Shelf 2 are exhibited a lantern , which h ung in the

P o idence cabin of the Frigate r v , commanded by Commodore

Abraham Whipple in 1 7 7 7 ; a shoebuckle , worn by Sarah , wife of Commodore Whipple and niece of Commodore Esek and Governor Stephen Hopkins , at a ball given in honor of

M . Le Comte de Rochambeau , with whom she danced the

first figure . Case 9 contains a photograph of the diamond insignia of the Order of the Cincinnati , which was presented by the

Marine officers of France , members of the Society , to His

Excellency General Washington ; and two badges of the order , one worn by Gen . William Barton , a nd the other by M aj .

William Peck .

A camp broiler , and a tourniquet , a surgical instrument to p revent excessive bleeding , used by the Rhode Island troops , are on this shelf ; and also the baton carried by the Chief Marshal at the celebration of the reading of the Declaration of Independence held at Providence J uly 25 , 1 7 76 .

is Near by a lacquered box presented by Gen . Le Mar quis de Lafayette to Miss Roby Knight of Cranston , and also an autograph letter of Lafayette to Colonel Greene 2 6 1 7 8 0 . written J uly , On the lower shel f is a pair of over shoes , worn by Lafayette , who gave them to George Wash in ton who t g Greene , presented hem to the Society . A canteen used during the Revolution and a Revolutionary - of 4 gun swab found in the washout J uly , 19 15 , at Fort ’

. I . Independence , Field s Point , R , make up the complement of this shelf . MUSEU M 1 7

Shelf 3 contains buttons from the uniforms of several “ ’ ”

. E British regiments The ighth , The King s Regiment , served on the Canadian frontier ; the Twenty- second fought at

Bunker Hill , Brooklyn , the Island of Rhode Island , and was 2 4 1 7 7 engaged in the raid s of May , 8 , at Warren and Bristol the Thirty - fourth fought at Stillwater and surrendered at Saratoga with B urgoyne ; the Thirty - eighth fought at Bunker Hill and New York ; and the Sixty - fourth saw service at

Dorchester Heights , B rook lyn , Brandywine , Eutaw Springs

- and Charlestown . Here also is a piece of the pine tree at

Y . M r r . cC ea 2 Sa atoga , N , where J ane was killed , J uly 3 ,

1 7 7 7 ; a slag from the old forge of General Greene , at Cov

- I . entry , R . ; grape shot from Fort Mercer on the Delaware , l where the Rhode Island troops under Co . Christopher Greene defeated the Hessia ns on the afternoon of October 1 7 2 2 7 7 . , ; a kit of tools used by Lieut Asa Bowers during this war ; and a wallet ca rried by Lieut . David Sayles . I n Case 10 can be seen a powder- horn made by E seck f Burlingame o Gloucester , who served in the Revolution in 1 78 1 a bottle and a piece of salt pork taken from the British 1 7 . 7 H u ssa r . Y 5 Frigate , which sank at Hell Gate , N , in ;

- and a punch bowl used by the Town Council at Newport , to

celebrate the Declaration of I ndependence in 1 7 7 6 . The brass ink - stand bearing the initials and the axe - blade were found on the site of the French encampment f at Providence , which was near the corner o Rochambeau

Avenue and Camp Street , hence their names . This case also contains a piece of the elm - tree at Saratoga 1 7 1 7 7 7 under which the B ritish surrendered On October , ; a queue worn by Joseph James during the Revolution ; a knife and spectacles used during the war ; and two epaulets of this

period found in the Jonathan Arnold House , in Lincoln , R . I . 1 1 I n Case are the splints used by Dr . Solomon Drown of

I . M t . Hygeia in Foster , R . , who was surgeon of the Rhode

on ress I sland troops ; and a plank from the Galley C g , which ’

t Vt . was blown up in Arnold s Bay , near Pan on , , on October

1 . 13 7 76 . , I t was commanded by Gen Benedict Arnold , 1 7 who later turned traitor , in 8 0 . 1 8 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

The collection of Revolutionary swords includes a sword

bayonet , used by the Hessians (German mercenaries) on of : Rhode Island , the blade which is inscribed

ff Z u Friedrich I I Landgra Hessen ,

- a sword of the so called Washington pattern , its handle ter ’ minating with an eagle s head ; a sword carried by Lieut . ’

of . Clarke Brown , quartermaster Col Christopher Greene s Ninth Continental Infantry ; a sword with its handle ending ’ 1 C0 . in a dog s head , which was carried by Ephraim Bowen ,

f the r . o J , a member Gaspee expedition , and two other

swords carried in the war . The Society possesses four fl int- lock guns of the Revol u

tionary period . One of these is inlaid with a brass plate “ bearing the following inscription : This is the barrell of the

x r e Gun with which Gen . Greene first learned the manuel e e

Cise . He purchased it in Boston of a British deserter in

1 7 74. The present Stock and Lock have been substituted in place of the originals which have been lost The lock “ ” bears the crown and G R of the English army and the “ ” name , Tower . The longest gun bears a Silver plate marked

. . flin l ck I W The other long gun was originally a t o , but

has this been replaced by a more modern percussion lock . Case 1 1 also contains a brace of flintl ock pistols made by K la n . t e d C . o C 1. E 0 r . W and carried by phraim Bowen , J , fli in the Revolution ; and also another smaller ntlock pistol . A drum u sed at the battle of B unker Hill is in the long of case at the south end the room , while the flag carried by the United Train of Artillery of Providence i n 1 7 76 and a

flag carried in the expedition of Gen . John Sullivan on Rhode Island in 1 7 78 hang upon the wall in a frame above the

s museum case . The facsimile reproductions of the two flags carried by the Rhode Island regiments in the Revol u f tion are o particular interest as the Rhode Island Rev ol u tionary flag is said to be the first A merican flag to have a of union thirteen stars . The watch that was made in London

2 0 RHODE ISLAN D H ISTORICAL SOC IET Y

’ parallel with the earth s axis . Another pocket sundial , once the property of Roger Williams , has al ready been mentioned , as being on exhibition in the Portrait Gallery . The Society exhibits three watches ; the oldest , made in England , was f Decl ar carried by G ov . Stephen Hopkins , a signer o the ation of Independence ; the second , of French manufacture , was owned in the family of Philip Crapo , who was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1 79 6 ; and the third belonged to Gan es Joseph Herlitz , captain of the ship g , which was wrecked against the building occupied by the Washington “ Insurance Company , Providence , during the great Septem

n 2 3 18 15 . ber Gale , o September ,

Two hall - clocks stand facing each other at the entrance of n the Portrait Gallery . The o e at the righ t was made by

William Claggett of Newport , and was part of the wedding

f . outfit o Gen Nathanael Greene , who was married J uly Li l fi l 2 1 7 74 tt e e d . 0 , , to Katherine The clock at the left was made by Daniel Sheldon of Providence . Shelf 3 of Case 1 2 contains the delicate scales used in the

Warren Family . Such scales were used by physicians and families in the early pa rt of the nineteenth century for weigh ing medicines , at a time when there were few apothecaries and

or the doctor housewife compounded all the d rugs . Beside these are some heavy lead weights from the windows of the n 1 Daniel Manto House that was buil t in Johnston in 78 5 .

- Some hand made nails of this period are also shown , and

- ol - a bed wrench used on the d four poster beds . On the lower shelf are a wrought - iron shovel and tongs from an

fir - early e place . S The third helf holds a purse knit by M rs . Rachel Newell of . I . of h cheled Lincoln , R , out flax grown , broken , et and 0 spun by her after passing her 9 th birthday . The long leather pocketbook or wallet used by Philip Crapo is typical of those used at that time . A box of wafers or legal seals which were formerly in com m on u s e of , together with the seals Caleb G . G ibbs and his

- wife , executed in mother of- pearl with the monograms R E VO LU T I O N A RY H E A D G E A R

’ ’ PROVI D E NCE G RE NAD I E R S CAP B R I TIS H S OL D I E R S CAP

R E VO LU T I O N A R Y A C C O U T R E M E N T S

C AR TR I D G E - B ox C ANTE E N F LA G

Carried i n th e S u lli van E xpedi ti on of 1 7 78

H E S S I A N S W O R D - B A YO N E T

t Ca p u red bv the A mericans on R h od e I sl and MUSEUM 2 1

C G G and M N G , and a brass seal bearing the initials ” N C are on the same shel f . The lower shelf holds a collection of doorknobs from the Pratt House on Friendship Street in Providence ; a doorknob ’ from Job Sweeti ng s House on B road (now Weybosset)

Street , later the residence of Dr . Stephen Harris ; a wrought

- 1 iron spur ; and a pair of ice creepers used in 78 0 . The rate

I . 1 1 board of Toll used in the village of Harmony , R . , from 8 8 1 0 n 1 to 8 8 ha gs in Case 5 . Cases 13 and 14 hold a n assortment of clothes worn during the early nineteenth century . Th e black cocked hat and colored waistcoat were worn by Gov . Ja mes Fenner at his in 6 1 07 auguration on May , 8 . The black waistcoat is also from his wardrobe . The silk calash, or large bonnet , was

nck s worn by his wife , Sarah (J e e ) Fenner ; the satin gown

s 18 2 0 wa worn about by Eliza (Paine) Bridgham , wife of

Samuel Willard Bridgha m , and the quilted silk petticoat 18 30 was worn about by Al mira F . Dexter , wife of Samuel

Dexter . The upper shelf holds a green parasol used about 18 40 by

. th Abby , daughter of Capt Richard Wickes Greene ; and e f fra me of an umbre lla used in the family o Gov . Seth

Padelford in the early nineteenth century . This shelf also contains a strap or cuff worn at the bottom of the panta 1 40 loons of 18 39 and 8 , and a number of buttons of various designs used during this period . 1 1 7 Cases 6 and contain the hat , coat and bel t of the military uniform of Adoniram Brown , a member of the

Rhode Island Militia . I n Case 13 are exhibited six varieties of slippers worn about 18 00 ; a hand - made shoe - buckle worn in 18 2 5 by Eliza

- (B ridgham) Patten ; and two knee buckles worn about 1 79 0 . The second shelf holds a pocket - bag owned by Betsey Whitin of Whitinsville ; a small bag made from an e m broi dered waistcoat by Miss Ives ; and a red bandana ha nd ker chief of the period . The second shel f of Case 14 contains sample pieces of cloth 2 2 RH ODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

in u se in the early nineteenth century . Among these should “ ” be noticed a piece of the first cotton check manufactured

was 1 79 1 in Rhode Island , which made in by Samuel Slater ; “ ” a piece of factory gingham made in Rhode Island ; a piece of tow cloth ; and some gold lace , made by M ary Updike of

Narragansett in 1 742 . Upon the third shelf is a gauging rod for ascertaining the

f . contents o casks , used by Nathan W Jackson , town clerk of Providence from 1 79 9 to 18 2 9 ; the bell formerly used by f the town crier o Johnston ; and a couple of cocoanut dippers , n one plain and o e carved . Such cocoanut dippers were i n common u se at the wells of our New England ancestors . On the lower shelf is a se t of steelyards for weighing ; and a wooden contribution - box , which in most ch urches has now been replaced by the plate . Case 15 contains various implements connected with the f early manufacture o cotton cloth in Rhode Island . The shuttle for a hand - loom used in the Bailey family of West

- Greenwich before the Revolution . A h and loom , and a ’ weaver s reed hang u pon the wall , while the upper shelf con tains the spindles taken from the spinning - frames first used for cotton in Rhode Island three blocks used i n 1 78 9 i n printing the first calico in East Greenwich , and a throttle roller and bobbin used in Pawtucket in 1 8 2 8 . The second shel f holds a pair of h a nd - cards for carding 1 2 wool , made in Leicester , Mass . , before 8 8 , and a machine

f r - used in the eighteenth century o making card teeth . The upper shelf of Cases 16 and 1 7 contain an assortment of lighting accessories of the late eighteenth a nd early nine teenth centuries . When compared with th ose i n Case 8 and

now u se - those in , they form an interesting transition link .

of - Sulphur matches had taken the place the tinder box , and m of two of A sa ples varieties these a re shown . l arge number of of candles were made bayberry wax , one of which is shown

- in the tin candlestick . Whale oil was used before the intro of duction kerosene , and three glass and seven brass lamps for -oil on whale are exhibition . On the wall is a piece of MUSEUM 23 the wall - paper which was put on the walls of the Clark House

18 10 - on Thomas Street about . The trade signs of W . Carder

. 18 4 3 . 1 2 and of W Hancock , , formerly S Carpenter , 8 5 , hang ’

1 1 . f above Case The Tu rk s head , the bunch o grapes , and of 1 7 18 a the shoe sign have lready been mentioned . The assortment of lottery tickets in the frame on the wall illus trate a custom once popular in Rhode Island . Churches and other charitable and semi - public organizations would obtain from the General Assembly the right to hold a lottery and then by the sale of these tickets would raise money to carry on their works . The copper - plate head - line of the Rhode Island American of Providence , which was used on that newspaper from Jan 2 18 24 7 18 2 5 uary , , to October , ; a nd a silver spoon with the initials M S , which belonged to Margaret Stites , wife of

James Manning , first president of Brown University , are also on this shelf . The next shelf contains a wooden coaster that belonged to

Betsey Williams , a silver coaster with its equipment of

- - bottles , a pewter tea canister , and a china tea canister made t in China for Ca pt . Stephen Aplin and ornamented wi h the “ initials S A . I n the early eighteenth century , many sea captains had crockery with individual designs made for

- - them in China . A cou ple of clothes pins of old fashioned

- - design , three wooden salt shakers , and a pepper pot , also of h ’ wood , adorn t e same shelf . Near by is a watchman s rattle formerly used to summon the police , and a pack of conversa

- tion cards which were sold in Providence by . Johnson , as “ J the label states , For Social Amusement .

f - - A pair o sugar crushers , a Jonny cake board , and a rest for curling - irons used by the Gavitt family in Westerly about

1 8 04 n - , are o the next shelf . These curling irons were used for cu rling the silk of dresses and bonnets of those days . The lower shelf contains a boot - j ack owned by Jeremiah

- . 1 2 5 F Jenkins , and a squash press made in 8 . Two styles of

f - - co fee grinders , and a foot stove that belonged to Hope

Harris Smith , granddaughter of Toleration Harris , are also shown . 24 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOCIETY

The lower shelf of Case 1 7 contains a collection of locks in use in the early nineteenth century . To this period belongs the drop - curtain a t the north end 18 09 of the Museum . It was painted i n by John Worrall ,

- V of a scene painter of Boston , and represents a iew the city of Providence as seen looking east from the old fort at the ’ j unction of Atwell s Avenue and B roadway . I t was used as

- l a drop curtain at the o d Providence Theatre .

of fire - The model a hand engine is shown in the large case , a nd a large painting of a similar engine hangs on the wall

- of the M useum . Fire buckets used d uring this period hang f inthe entrance o the building a nd elsewhere .

of ceola The locomotive in the large case is a model the Os ,

f . one o the first to run in Rhode Island I n the early times ,

e - engines w re named , as sleeping cars are now , and not numbered . of In this case also is a piece white marble , being the tablet from the statue of Washington that formerly stood on

Washington Bridge . The inscription reads

WASH I NGTON B R I D G E

Built by J ohn B rown , Esq . This M ON UM E NT is erected [b] y the Founder Proprietor of I ndia Point As a Testimony of High Respect For the GR EAT I LL USTR IOUS WASH I NGTON

- The three square rigged vessels are carefully made models .

one is Wa shin ton The larger the Frigate g , while the one is H ud o beside her the Frigate s n , which was commanded

of by Commodore Creighton Providence . This model was

. of rigged by Capt Obed Baker Pawtuxet , R . I . , who in

18 2 6 wa s on H u o mizzentopman the ds n . The smaller ship i s U . . the S S . M a r .

26 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOCIETY

E s r . PRESENTE D To Oliver H . Perry , q By the Com

m on Council of the city of ALBA NY Novr 8 th

’

A pitcher , commemorative of Perry s victory , presented to and him by the people of Newport , a buckle worn by a

British soldier at the Battle of New Orlea ns are also shown . A facsimile of the flag flown by Commodore Perry d uring ’ “ ’ the Battle of Lake Erie , bearing Lawrence s motto , Don t ”

on . give up the Ship , hangs the wall On the upper shelf is one of the candles used at the time of the illumination of Providence on account of the Peace of C ’ 18 15 and also again in 18 6 0 used at J . ladding s House on Chestnut Street a t the illu mination for the election of

a a a Lincoln as President . An oil painting of the Ni g r and ’ a cane used by Usher Parsons , surgeon of Perry s fleet , hang

in this case . The wooden canteen on the upper Shel f was used by Sam of r uel Jackson , Maj or the Union Gua ds , a company formed of for the defense Providence in the War of 1 8 1 2 . Th e flag of the Union Guards made by the ladies of Providence and presented by them to the guards , hangs on the wall of the

. M useum The flag of the Kentish Guards of Kent County , made between 1 79 6 and 1 8 03 ; and that of the Second Regi of ment Providence County , dating from between 18 03 and 18 1 7 ; a flag carried i n the processions of the Marine Society ;

of Gas ee and a flag commemorative the destruction of the p , 1 2 which was carried in the J ubilee procession in 8 6 , are on f framed and hang the walls o the M useu m . 1 The Tammany Society was founded in Providence , 8 09 , 18 1 and continued until 9 . During its life it exerted an enormous political influence in Rhode Island . Two medals “ issued by this Society , and a combination Tomahawk and f ” Pipe o Peace used in the celebrations of the organization are exhibited in Case 18 : A fragment of the flag formerly carried in the Tammany processions hangs upon the wall under glass . MUSEUM 27

DORR WA R .

Eight political banners carried in the Dorr War demon strations of 1 8 42 19 2 A hang on the walls of Cases to 4. birch pike carried in that war ; some sampl es o f the a mm uni n ’ A ’ tion fou d at Dorr s Fort , on cote s H ill , Chepachet , after ’ Dorr s second flight ; a fan made by Thomas Wilson Dorr while in prison ; and a regimental hat worn by Maj . Clarke

S . Greene of the Eighth Regiment of the Rhode Island M ilitia in 1 8 42 complete the exhibits dealing with that constitutional crisis . 6 1 8 3 7 On November , , a number of men met a t the offi ce 3 7 of Benjamin P . Robinson , Canal Street , and formed “ n ” The American Brass Ba d of Providence . The kettle drums used by this band are in the window- seat on the east side of the M useum and the other instruments used by them are in the large case at the south end of the room .

13 18 40 Lex During the night of J anuary , , the Steamer in ton g was destroyed by fire on Long Island Sound , with the Of 105 u loss persons , only fo r being saved . David Crowley , the second mate , was saved on a bale of cotton , upon which he drifted for two days and two nights . A piece of the cotton from this bale is shown in Case 19 and also a picture of the “ ton B urning of the Lexing . Here also is a piece of hand

m . 18 8 made rope made by Ja es P B utts in Providence in 3 , and the seal of the Fruit Hill Detecting Society , an organiza

- tion incorporated in 1 8 30 for the prevention of horse stealing .

The third shelf holds a straw bonnet , made by M rs . 18 6 1 Betsey (Metcalf) Baker , wife of Obed Baker , in , at the ’ age of 7 6 . She was the pioneer in the manufacture of women s f straw bonnets in this vicinity . Here also is a piece o wood carved in the shape of a hand , cut from the first horse

ne was chestnut tree in Rhode Island , the o which planted on Market Square by Jabez Bowen , who was deputy gov ernor O f Rhode Island in 1 7 78 . The Mexican War of 18 45 - 48 is represented by two swords

- a nd sashes of Brig Gen . Joseph Story Pitman of Providence . 28 RH ODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

The straigh t sword is marked N . P . A mes , Cutter , Spring “ Cabotv ille M . . field a nd i ts scabbard , ade by N P Ames , , “

is : . E Mass . I t al so inscribed Presented to Capt J OS PH

A of U . . A E E S . PITM N the S RM Y , B y his PROVI D N C

D E D M ' . Friends . AU N U D E TRA On the u pper shelf stands an elaborate silver service consisting of a tray , two “

: . goblets , and a large pitcher bearing the inscription Brig

General J OS E PH STORY PI TM A N S E C ON D B R I GAD E . From his friends in the active M ilitia of the State of Rhode

as I sland , a Testimonial of their A PPREC IAT ION of his eff orts in promoting Discipl in e and Efficiency i n thei r or

n za tio n 1 5 9 ga i J une 8 . The tray and goblets are inscribed ’ 1 with General Pitman s name and the date , J une , 8 5 9 . The service was made by the Gorham M anufacturing Company

h - of Providence . T e bel t and powder pouch carried by

George W . Guild , a soldier in the Mexica n and Civil Wars , 1 7 4 is also exhibited , and a flag captured A pril , 18 7 , o n the

- field of battle Cerro Gordo , and brough t home in 18 48 by

Guild . The flag bears a mutilated coat of arms , beneath which is the following inscription

BATAn E YNFANTA PROVI NC E A' A I O CA.

8 1 8 5 3 A i On J uly , , an mer can squad ron under Com .

M Calbraith i - atthew Perry , a nat ve born Rhode Islander , f o Com . brother Oliver Hazard Perry , dropped anchor in Yedo B ay , a nd negotiations were begun which resulted in of the Opening Japan to foreigners . This was the first step

- taken in the movement that has made Japan a world power . ’ A Japanese cartoon of Perry s expedition hangs above the on of window the east side the M useu m . of A piece the first transatlantic cable . which was laid in

18 5 3 Great E astern is by the , in Case 19 .

E A TH C IVI L W R .

is 2 The Civil War ill ustrated by Cases 0 to 2 3 . Here can of be seen a plaster bust Gen . Ambrose Everett Burnside

S TO N E I M PLE M E N T S A N D W A M PU M

M ade and u sed by the N arragansett I ndians MUSEUM 2 9

B ristol , who, of after several brilliant military successes , was made commander - in -chief of the Federal Army of the Poto macon 9 18 6 2 . November , He was Governor of Rhode 18 6 6 18 6 8 Island from to , and United States Senator from 18 74 Rhode Island from until his death , September 13 , 18 8 1 .

The sash worn by him during the war , and the sleeve of his A uniform as a first lieutenant of rtillery , that was worn by A 2 2 him at the time of his marriage pril 7 , 18 5 , are also ex

hibited . r The swo d and epau lets of Gen . Thomas F . Car enter p of Rhode Island , the sword of Capt . Joseph H .

Kendrick of Company I , of the Eleventh Rhode Island In fantr y, the presentation and service swords of Lieut . George W i h tman Darling of the First Rhode Island Cavalry , and three other swords used in the war a re shown . Case 2 3 contains the telescopic rifle of the famous War f Governor , William Sprague , governor o Rhode I sland from 1 8 6 0 1 8 6 3 1 1 . to , and United States senator from 8 6 3 to 8 75

This gun was made by N . Gilbert Whitmore . “ A 18 36 Springfield rifle marked , a short Spencer repeat

‘ in rifl - g e , both used in the war ; a double barreled shotgun made by Christopher Brown ; and a short flintlock trans formed into a percussion gu n , used in the Williams family complete the array of guns . A Colt revolver ; a small pistol f and three other styles o revolvers , one known as a pepper ‘ 2 pistol , are i n Case 2 . A drum carried in the Civil War is in the window - seat between Cases 2 1 and 2 2 ; a drafting machine used in the fi f of ce o Al fred B . Chadsey , provost marshal of the Eastern

‘

District of Rhode Island , is in the large case ; and on the wall of the M useu m is a flag made from an American flag and of used in the Confederate army . I t consists three hori z on al t stripes , two red and one white , and a blue canton with eleven white stars , two of which are now lost . The “ canvas on the hoist of the flag bears the inscription N . Y . B .

Acarpet bag , and various styles of knapsacks , car trid - - flasks to ge cases , canteens and powder are exhibited , gether with buttons from various uniforms , and miscellaneous wearing apparel and camping utensils . 30 RHODE ISLAND H ISTORICAL SOC IETY

Here also is a slave - chain taken from the body of a slave who was found chained with it to a tree on the plantation

S imm s ort M 18 6 2 of Mr . Belson , near p , Louisiana , in ay , , by c r Ca pt . Peter Brucker of the Se ond Rhode I sla nd Caval y ; ” ~ Lin a portion of the D ead e of the Andersonville Prison , beyond which it was suicide for a Northern prisoner to go ; two heavy iron hinges from the main gate of the Anderson ville Prison ; and a banister from the railing of the staircase

Al exa nd ria Vir inia . in the Marshall House , , g I t was on this

flight of stairs that Col . Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth of the

Eleventh New York Regiment was sh ot d ead by J ames W . M Jackson , the proprietor of the arshall House , on Friday 2 4 1 8 6 1 morning , May , , after Colonel Ellsworth had suc ceeded in pulling down the Confederate flag that was flying f from the roof o that hotel . Some cannon - balls from Fort Sumter ; ball cartridges from B ull Run ; powder from Fort Moultrie and Fort Sullivan ; a bullet from Gettysburg ; the brass cap from a shell fired

18 6 4 M . J uly 9 , , at M onocacy , d ; and a mortar cast from bullets used at Fort Sedgwick make up the exhibition of ammunition .

Other souvenirs of the war are shown , among which the more interesting are : two buttons made from oak taken from

a rt ord the U . S . S . H f which was commanded by C om . David Glasgow Farragut at New Orleans ; the mouthpiece of

- l fi . a fife that was picked up on the battle e d at Newburg , Va

of - a piece army bread , or hardtack , served in the Federal army at Newport News in 18 6 1 ; and a package of papers which stopped a bullet and so saved t he life of George E . on 1 1 4 Davis the morning of October 9 , 8 6 , at Cedar Creek , ’ when Sheridan s army was surprised by the enemy . An autograph letter of Abraham Lincol n is exhibited in the case in the Portrait Gallery . The period subsequent to the Civil War is represented in 24 Case . The lower shelf contains a brick and piece of wood

a from the University Gr mmar School , which stood at the corner of Prospect and College Streets and was demolished

3 2 RHODE ISLAN D H ISTORICAL SOCIETY

t om r the United States C ruiser Mon g e y, while the other is from

the mess of the First Regiment of Rhode I sland Volunteers . Samples of the three principal kinds of cartridges used in

the war are mounted upon a card . The Mauser was used

- by the Spaniards , while the Krag J orgensen and Springfield

were used by the A mericans . The blue Rhode Island flag with white anchor and stars was flown from the Rhode Island Building at the World ’ s 1 Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 8 93 . The official color of the anchor and stars on the Rhode Island state flag is

gold , al though sometimes , as in this case , white has been

used in place of gold . The coat of arms at the north end of the M useum decorated

the Rhode Island exhibit at the Tercentennial at Jamestown , 1 Virginia , in 9 07 .