6\\v/\ DATE DUE Interiibjirflf HIan PRINTED IN U.S.A. The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924098822103 In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 2004 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY r—^jpitl^i; ISiJ^5. ^^=5^ 71 fO' Imj^tnOe^esitFomCTwrnUU 7 -j^ Opp. Title. : Vital Record of Rhode Island. 1636=1850. KIRST SERIES. BIETHS, MAREIAGES AND DEATHS. A Family Register for the People. By James N, Arnold, Editor of the Narr.'^gansett Historical Register. Is Ivly Name Written in the Book of Life?" Vol. 2. PROVIDENCE COUNTY. Published under the Auspices of the General Assembly. PROVIDENCE, R. I ^Al'.KAGASSETT HISTORICAL PUEI,lllII>-r; ColIPAXY. 1892. ^— COPYKlGHTiiiD IN TliE OFiaCJi: OF THE! LlUJlAliiAN Ui-' CUXtTilKSS, AT \VASHI]^G^TOX, 1302. -'JtiNTEB l;v The Providhkuk Journal Co., Providence, R. I. " INTRODUCTION. our opening remarks in the first volume of this work we used the fol- lo'wing " IN words : We are fully aware of the fact that many will consult these pages and feel a bitter disappointment in. not finding the name they seek, and will wonder that a faanUy so numerous, or one residing so long in. the town, has so little or nothing recorded. This very feeling has come often to the compiler, and he has often wondered ; but the r^dei must remember that this is not the fault of the records or compiler, but of the parties themselves, tlhat they failed to place the items upon the Town Kecords. The oompUer believes that not more than a quarter of what should have been placed on the Eeoords has been placed there from thei year 1790 to 1850. Before that time probably more than half of tlie matter was recorded. This has proved to be the case in many instances. This work at thei best can be but a partial one, for many faaniUes utterly neglected the matter, and this indifference, want of forethought or by whatever oTher word this idea is conveyed goes to prove that now ; those interested vitally in a particular mat- uer have found it impossible to supply the missing links. It is true many are opposed to having their ages known, and very particular- ly is this true of women ; but just why this feeling should exist we ofttimes have been puzzled to know. One may sa;y he, is only thirty, wihen his face speaks the truth and says forty years or moje. So accurate is the face that a good observer can read very closely. This indifference, therefore, hides really nothing. Age is honorable, and to be beautiful at fifty, sixty or older is as 2nuch an honor as to be so at twenty, for each decade has its own particular type of beauty. In brief, every one should take a just pride in his age, and the older that person is and the more vigorous, the more honor to that one. CONDmON OF THE BEOOBDS. - The five books of Providence, from whence these books were taken, are now in good order. The original first book, if it can be So called, wiU soon be in print, poi-tions of which are illegible, or fast becoming so. In, 1879 Dr. Kdwin M. Snow, M. D., published the index to what births, marriages and deaths he found on the early record books ; also to what he had collected from ministers' records, those of certain churches and in other ways down to the year 1850. Tliis work, no doubt, has proved very useful to those parties who have had occasion to consult it, and has been the means of giving much valuable information. Our plan, however, is so different from Dr. Snow's that his church record and ministers' notes have been omitted, intend-, ing to have sucih material furnish a volume of what we term semi-ofacial rao- ords later on in the progress of this work, by this plan giving credit to each 4 INTRODUCTION. of those ohurphes and ministeis who hare preserved them. While tMs plaa; will duplicate much matter that has already appeared on the ToT^vn Eecords,.. yet it -will confirm and arrange in » different order scattered links and other new and valuable matter in such a way as to more than offset the neioessity ol the duplication. Cranston lias two books; the first needs binding, and the second is in fiite order. The writing in both is plain and very good. Johnston has one book in good order. Writing plain and very good. The North Providence book needs binding. Writing plain and good. ^.Tnii NAMES OF 'rirm TOWNS. Providence was so named by Roger Williams in acknowledgment o£ God's- mercy towards him and his e^ed companions, Cranston was so called in honor of Governor' Samuel Cranston, who had honored the Executive chair of the Colony for nearly thirty years (Maioh, 1698, to April 26, 1727). Johnston was so called in honor of Augustus Johnston, Attorney General of the Colony from 1758 to 17,66. North Providence was so called because the people were so well satisfied with the name of Providence that they did not wislv another, but only a word added to distinguish them apart. As they were the north part of the original, town at the- time of incorporation, the appropriate word North was added ac- cordingly to that of Providence. AOKNOWLEaDGMENT. We still have to thank our dear friends again for their oontinaed acts- of kindness towards us, for their many words of kindness and for their in- terest in the success of our work. The General Assembly of the State has also been again liberal with us, and has bestowed upon the woik a liberal subscription, for which we thank them, and also the Honorable Committoe who favorably reported upon so de- sirable a matter to us and so vital to the success of the enterprise. Wo also thaht +he public for the favor in which they received our first * Tolume, and for their good wishes ' to the enterprise. , ELiBASB OBSEIRVEl. I. Tliat the marriages are given in duplicate, but that nothing beyond' the book and page of the original Town Record, the names and the date are given when the bride is placed first. That under the groom the notes are so ex- tended as to include all the items of tlie record from whence it is taken. The reader will therefore consider the bride being placed first as merely an index for him to consult the other entry. Should they disagree, give the groom the preference, if possible. That the births and deaths are grouped so as to bette- T enable the reader to see at a glance the names and dates, in their natural or- der, of the members of the family. n. That the figures at the left of the name is the book and page of the- original Tovm Record, the hyphen separating the two apart; That the m. Indexes for all the towns here treated are placed in the fore-- ; ITSTTEODtrCTION. part of this work. No one need to look further than the index to discover whether the matter iliat he is in search of is within the coveirs. These indexes are so constructed as to show (a) the names occurring m their natural order (b) the names occurring promiscuously, and (o) the places mentioned in the text. IV. That each town is separate and distinct in itself, and the index is kept also distinct and separate, but are placed in the fore part of the work for -the more handy reference of the reader. That the pagination is also confined strictly to the town. V Every convenience that would aid the reader, and everything that would perplex him in consultation of such works as these has been carefully 'Studied. Wliile not claiming perfection for our labor of love, we would say that we have spared no pains to make it as simple and yet as comprehensive as was possible. How well we have succeeded the reader must judge for himself. VI. Tlie spelling of the given names are as they stand on the record, when they are not too far wrong. This will account for the variety of the spelling of these names. VII. The act incorporating the towns of Cranston, Johnston and North Providence are placed next to the title page of that particular town. A REQUEST. It would be a great favor to the compiler of this work if every reader who consults these pages would copy out and sent to him at Proyideuce, R. I., copies from Lis I''amily Eecord in the Bible, or where else recorded, or any other information ue may be possessed of, in order to make these records in the future as complete as possible. It makes no difference whether the party re- sides in the State of Bhode Island or not. If they can connect with Khode Island ancestry it is sufScient. While these mattei's may seem trifling, yet they may become of incalculable value in the future, and therefore wo urgent- ly desire that the Vital Records of Rhode Island may be made as complete as possible, and that errors wherever found may be pointed out and corrected as soon as possible. BUKA.TA. The line reading " 1-57 " David and Deborah, Providence," etc., should read 2-228 " Condy Thomas H., of David and Deborah, of Provi- dence, etc.