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Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869

Third Generation, Cont.

V.  Ruth, the eldest daughter of Samuel, was born within the precincts of Smithfield near the Harris Lime Rock, about ten miles from the city of Providence, and about forty-five years before Smithfield was set off as a separate town. Her advantages for an education were limited, as were all pioneer settlers in a new Colony; but her father's house was not destitute of books, and her mother being the daughter of a Baptist Minister, fully appreciated the advantages of mental cultivation. Undoubtedly many of her father's old sermons were in her possession, and many of his books, and it is a well known fact that a circulating library was established at the very place of her father's residence at a very early period. James Wilkinson, a man now (1866) eighty years of age, remembers going when a lad about ten or twelve to get books from said library, the origin of which may have been the family library of Ruth's parents. Suffice it to say, Ruth, from judicious parental guidance, and a natural gentleness of disposition, accompanied with a firmness and energy which characterized her ancestors, became a distinguished woman in the infant Colony of Rhode Island. Her youth was spent amid the domestic scenes of home,with occasional visits to her relatives and acquaintances in Providence; and the household affairs shared a portion of her time. She was far from being above doing anything that was necessary to be done in order to family comfort and convenience.
She married William Hopkins, but the date of their marriage is not remembered. Tradition says he was employed by Ruth's father, either as a mechanic, or day-laborer on his farm, but as his name appears upon some ancient deeds (one of which has been quoted) as a subscribing witness with the designation of "Carpenter," he was probably the former. He became a man of note, and no one was returned more frequently to the Legislature of Rhode Island, than William Hopkins.  [Note:  See biography of Stephen Hopkins for ancestry of William Hopkins.]
The Rev. C. C. Bemen in his Sketches of Scituate records an incident in the life of Ruth, which we venture to insert, although some have doubted its genuineness in regard to these parties. "The marriage of William and Ruth," says he, "has a very pleasant episode connected with it of a romantic character, and however it may be true in general."

For aught that ever I could read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But, either it was different in blood,
Or else misgraffed in respect of years
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends.'

Yet in this case the hindrances that seemed to stand in the way were happily and skillfully removed. It looks like a woman's as well as love's strategy, and if so, that girl, Ruth, just turned of twenty, might well be the mother of gifted children.

The lover, William Hopkins, was a hired man in the employ of the father of Ruth, working in some capacity, probably on his farm, and it appeared to him and Ruth a little like presumption to make the proposal, or solicit the consent of "Captain Samuel Wilkinson, Esq.," as he was honorably described in written documents. The lovers dared not speak to the 'awful Justice'—for Samuel was a Justice of the Peace—concerning their secret flame, and their desire for wedlock, and they accordingly hit upon the following novel expedient:  In the Justice's house, or office it was customary to post up 'Intentions of Marriage.' The timid lovers who had often looked with an emulous eye upon such important preliminary steps to a 'consummation devoutly to be wished,' wrote their notice and placed it upon the table of the justice in such a way as to attract his attention. The judge who was to decide their case, came in and took up the paper where, 'Intention of marriage between William Hopkins and Ruth Wilkinson, both of Providence' was adventurously written. No appearance of dislike was seen on the countenance of Mr. Wilkinson, as he deliberately perused the paper; and the hearts of the lovers which fluttered not a little on this trying occasion, were not only relieved, but greatly overjoyed to perceive the 'squire,' with all due respect affix the notice in the accustomed place. There were some blushes on the faces of the young couple that day, no doubt, but they were joyful ones. Soon with the requisite solemnities, the marriage took place, and Mr. Hopkins, with his new wife, left for their home in the far western part of what was then Providence, where slender accommodations in the way of a house awaited them; but ordinary difficulties could not daunt those who loved each other, and saw in the future, as the reward of their privations and toils, a well cleared farm, and a more commodious dwelling."
The children born to these parents were:

  1. William, b. _______, m. Abby Curtis, had one son Christopher, who married Sarah Jenks, and had Daniel who married Susanna Wilkinson, Sept. 4, 1774.* He was a sea captain, and his life was full of adventures. For a very interesting account of him see Biography No. 5.

  2. Stephen, b. March 7, 1707, m. Oct. 9, 1726, Sarah Scott† by whom he had seven children as follows:

    1. Rufus, b. Feb. 10, 1727-8, m. Nov. 11, 1759, Sarah Olney‡, had a family. He was master of a ship and ship owner, was also, agent in managing the Hope Furnace. He died in Scituate, Rhode Island.

    2. John, b. Nov. 6, 1728, was a sea captain, died of the smallpox in 1752, at St. Andero in Spain while in his father's employ.

    3. Ruth, b. Oct. 11, 1731, died young.

    4. Lydia, b. Jan. 6, 1733, m. in Providence and left a large family.

    5. Sylvanus, b. Nov. 30, 1734, was commander of a vessel shipwrecked on the island of Cape Breton, was surprised and barbarously murdered by the Indians. The memory of this young man deserves more than a passing notice. Although but 18 years of age his skill as a navigator was acknowledged by all who knew him. The tempest that burst upon his ship with such violence as to render the aid of human skill and power unavailing, and caused his shipwreck has been vividly described by Falconer.

      "The ship no longer foundering by the lea
      Bears on her side th' invasions of the sea,
      All lonely, o'er the desert waste she flies,
      Scourged on by surges, storm, and bursting skies.
      The wounded bark, thus smarting with her pain
      Sends from pursuing waves along the main;
      While dashed apart by her dividing prow,
      Like burning adamant the waters glow.
      Her joints forget her firm elastic tone;
      Her long keel trembles, and her timbers groan;
      Upheaved behind her in tremendous height.
      The billows frown, with fearful radiance bright!
      Now shivering o'er the topmost wave she rides,
      While deep beneath the enormous gulf divides,
      Now hunching headlong down the horrid vale
      She hears no more the roaring of the gale!
      Till up the dreadful height again she flies
      Trembling beneath the current of the skies,
      Even so she scales the briny mountain's height
      Then down the black abyss precipitates her flight."

      But striking upon the rocks the ship was dashed to pieces by the violence of the waves. Sylvanus reached the shore alive only to meet a more horrid death by the hands of the savages. The following appears upon his tombstone in the North Burying ground in Providence

      In Memory of
      SYLVANUS
      Son of Stephen Hopkins, Esq., and Sarah, his wife,
      Was cast away on Cape Breton shore and inhumanly
      Murdered by cruel savages on the 23th sic of April, 1753.
      Age 18 years, 5 mos, 23 days.

    6. Simon, died aged seven or eight.

    7. George was a sea-captain, sailed from the port of Providence and was never heard from!

    Thus perished the children of this signer of the Declaration of Independence.

    *Married.--"Daniel Hopkins son of Capt. Christopher Hopkins late of Providence, deceased, and Susanna Wilkinson dau. of John Wilkinson of Smithfield were married according to law by me."     Ezekiel Angell, Elder
    North Providence, Sept. 4, 1774.   Book I Births and Marriages, p. 31, N. Providence

    † Married--"Wm. Jenks, Esq., J.P. gave notice that he had lawfully joined together Stephen Hopkins and Sarah Scott, both of Providence the 9th day of October Anno, Dom. 1726. In the evening."     2. Book of Marriages, p. ___ Providence.

    ‡Married--"Nov. 11, 1759, by James Angell, Esq., Rufus Hopkins Sarah Olney, dau. of Capt. Joseph Olney, both of Providence."   2. Book of Marriages, p. 96.

    Stephen Hopkins was the most distinguished man of this generation. Rhode Island has never produced a man of more native ability, nor a greater statesman. For more than fifty years he was a public officer, holding a variety of positions from town clerk of Scituate to that of member of the first Congress. He was Governor of his native state nine years, and twenty-one years chancellor of of Rhode Island college. When it is remembered that he never attended school, his attainments in scholastic lore become the more remarkable and praiseworthy. His writings will bear the rhetorical designation of neat in regard to style, and bespeak a well balanced and a well cultivated mind endowed with high and noble impulses. Withal he was a patriot worthy of his age and country. His gravity was proverbial, and Whittier has honored him with the following notice:

    "Three shades at this moment seem walking her strand,
    Each with head halo-crowned, and with palms in his hand
    Wise Berkeley, grave Hopkins, and smiling serene
    On prelate and puritan, Channing is seen."

    In 1765, he commenced the "History of the Plantations and growth of Providence," but never completed the work. It is printed in the Mass. Historical Collection, Second Series, Vol. 9, p. 197, et seq. In the same year he wrote and published by order of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, a work entitled "The Rights of the Colonies Examined," which was reprinted in London. He held the three honorable and important offices of Member of Assembly, Delegate to Congress, and Chief Justice of Rhode Island at the same time. He manumitted his slaves at an early period, and advocated universal freedom for the human race regardless of color. Providence is indebted to him for its public library, and every enterprise which had for its object the elevation and improvement of mankind received his hearty support.
    He always attended the Quaker meeting and among the Signers of the Declaration of Independence he may be distinguished as being the only one with a hat on. In the town records of Scituate the names and births of four of his children are to be found. His first wife died shortly after the birth of his son Sylvanus, and her tombstone bears the following inscription:

    In Memory of
    SARAH
    Wife of Stephen Hopkins, Esq.;
    Youngest daughter of Major Sylvanus Scott;
    Departed this life, Sept. 9, 1753.
    Aged 46 years, 2 mos., 15 days

    He closed his eventful career, July 13, 1785, aged 78 years, 4 mos. 6 days, going down to the grave like a shock of corn fully ripe. He was prepared for the change by Divine grace, and died crowned with honor in the triumphs of the faith, and in the hope of a glorious resurrection, and a blissful immortality. His native state has erected a monument "in honor of her favorite son," and his memory is still cherished by an appreciating posterity
    For a more extended notice, see Biography No. VI.

  3. John married Catherine Turpin and lived in Providence.

  4. Samuel.

  5. Esek was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, April 26, 1718, m. Desire Burroughs, of Newport, Nov. 28, 1741, and had 1, John, b. Aug. 25, 1742 (N.S.) at Newport; 2, Heart, b. Sept. 1, 1744; 3, Abigail, b. Oct. 25, 1746; 4, Samuel, b. Feb. 19, 1748, d. Sept. 22, 1750; 5, Amey, b. Jan. 26, 1751, at Providence; 6, Stephen, b. March 6, 1753; 7, Susanna, b. May 10, 1756, m. Jonathan Maxcy, D.D. President of Brown University, Union College, N. Y., and Columbia College, S. C. For other facts concerning him, see Biography No. VII. 8, Esek, b. June 21, 1758*, and others.

    Commodore Hopkins was a representative man on the water being the first American "High Admiral"† or as he was designated by Congress, "Commander-in-chief of the Naval forces." He exerted a great political influence after he left the Navy, and aided in establishing the peculiar institutions that characterize Rhode Island. For dash and daring, few men equalled Commodore Hopkins, and none excelled. His portrait may be seen in "Rhode Island Hall" on College hill, Providence; and if this painting is a truthful representation, he must have been a fine looking man. He died Feb. 26, 1802, and was buried about one-third of a mile northerly from his house in the town of North Providence on a piece of land of about one and one-fourth acres, that he gave to the town for a cemetery. See his Biography No. VIII.

  6. Hope, b. ______, m. Henry Harris, r. Scituate, R. I.

  7. Abigail.

  8. Susannah, b. ______, m. Nathan Angell, b. 1718, d. 1814, who was the son of Joseph, the son of James, the son of Thomas, who was one of the five men who first came with Roger Williams to Providence. Their children were, Nathaniel, b. 1744; Susannah, b. 1746; Rosabella, b. 1748, m. Samuel Chase; Samuel, b. 1755; Sarah, b. 1757, m. Col. Ephraim Bowen; Abigail, b. 1760 and Nathan b. 1768, Amy Kennicut*.
William Hopkins died in 1738. The following is a copy of his will:

"At a town council held in Scituate in County of Providence, the 9th day of October, Anno, Dom., 1738.

Present,
Stephen Hopkins, Benjamin Fisk, Ezekiel Hopkins,
Samuel Bates, James Calvin & Daniel Sprague, jr.

The last Will and Testament of William Hopkins of Scituate aforesaid, deceased, was presented to this Council in the following words:

"In the name of God, Amen. This Eleventh of June, in the twelfth year of His Majesty's reign, George Second King of Great Britain, A.D., 1738. I, William Hopkins of Scituate, in the County of Providence, in the Colony of Rhode Island, yeoman, being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory (thanks be to God for it) and calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing it is appointed for man once to die, do make and ordain, this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: that is to say principally, and first, of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it & my body to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And as touching on such worldly estate as wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this present life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
Imprimis, I give to my three sons, namely, William Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins and John Hopkins, five shillings each, and the reason I give them no more is I have given them sufficient already.
Item I give to my two youngest sons, Esek Hopkins and Samuel Hopkins, one Gun, one log chain and one Horse, and likewise all my working tools besides, to be equally divided between them two.
Item, I give my two sons, namely Esek Hopkins and Samuel Hopkins, all my wearing apparel after my decease.
Item, I give to my two younger daughters, namely Abigail Hopkins, and Susannah Hopkins, my two Trunks and all that is in them, except my papers, to be divided equally between them.
Item, I give to my daughter, Susannah Hopkins, my bed and bedding whereon I used to lie, namely two pairs of sheets, one pair of flannel and one pair of Linen, three blankets, and two rugs, one bolster and one pillow.
Item, I give to my three daughters, namely Hope Harris, & Abigail Hopkins and Susannah Hopkins Forty Pounds in money to be paid to each of them one year after my decease.
Item, and all the rest of my money and goods I give and bequeath to my sons, Esek Hopkins and Samuel Hopkins, to be equally divided between them two. And I do nominate and appoint my son-in-law Henry Harris to be my sole Executor to this my last Will and Testament; and further I do pronounce and declare this my last Will and Testament, and in confirmation I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written.

In the presence of us,
Eziekiel Hopkins,
  John Evans,

               William Hopkins, L.S.
  Jabez Bowen.


A true copy,
Witness, Albert Hubbard,*
Probate Clerk."

At what time Ruth died is not known. She was living as late as 1721, and died previous to 1731, as an old quit claim deed given by William Hopkins, jr. indicates. She lived to see the forests cleared away, the country filling up with people, her children respected and honored citizens. They afterwards became firm friends of freedom, earnestly contending for the rights of the Colonies on the land and on the water. Stephen and Esek distinguished themselves in the War of the Revolution, the former as statesman in the Councils of the nation, and the latter as the first American Admiral.
Mr. Bemen above quoted, in a concluding remark says, "If the family had done nothing more than to give us the Mother of Governor and Commodore Hopkins, we might be willing to build them a monument."

* 1 Book of Marriages, p. 159, Providence.

† v. Lossing's Common School History of U. S., p. 238

*v. Genealogy of the Angell Family, by Dr. A. F. Angell, Providence.

* Town Clerk of Scituate, 1866.

VI.   Susannah,the youngest child of Samuel, was born, lived and died in Providence. She married James Angell, the son of John, and the grandson of Thomas Angell. Dr. Avery F. Angell of Providence, who is preparing the Genealogy of the Angell family, says, "This Thomas is supposed to be the son of Henry Angell of Liverpool, England. He came from London with Roger Williams, in 1631, stopped in Massachusetts till April, 1636, when he settled with Williams in Providence. He was a minor in 1638, and was supposed to be born in 1618. He is believed to be the legal heir to the Estate of William Angell of Liverpool amounting to $25,000,000." He m. Alice ______, and had 1, John, b. 1669 sic m. Ruth Field, dau. of Wm. Field, who settled at Field's Point, R. I. d. 1720; 2, James, m. Abigail Dexter; 3, Amphillis, m. a Smith; 4, Mary, m. Richard Arnold; 5, Deborah; 6, Alice, m. Eleazer Whipple; 7, Margera.

The family of John, who married Ruth Field, was as follows:  1,  Thomas, b. June, 1672, m. Sarah Brown; 2, John; 3, Daniel, m. Hannah Winsor; 4, Hope, b. 1682, m. Lydia Olney; 5, James, m. Susannah Wilkinson. "John Angell, the father of James," says Dr. Angell, "was a man of enormous physical strength. It is said he carried nine bushels of Pears on his back at one time, (?)that he attempted to carry four bushels of salt up stairs, but the stairs broke and he got hurt." He died in 1720.

James and Susannah had the following children:

William Wilkinson of Providence says, "Susannah had a son Samuel, who was a colonel in the French war, and also, several daughters, one of whom married John Wilkinson, grandson of the first John, and father of the late Oziel Wilkinson, of Pawtucket, R. I."

James Angell was admitted freeman May 4, 1708, and died in 1742. The date of Susannah's death is not known, nor her place of interment.

Third Generation, Cont.

John Wilkinson2  [4] Lawrance,1 [1]
      and
Deborah Whipple

Of Providence, R. I.

14.I.John,3 (58-64) b. March 16, 1690, d. Sept. 25, 1756.
15.
II.Marcy,3b. June 30, 1694,d.
16.
III.Sarah,3b. June 22, 1696,d.
17.IV.Freelove,3b. July 25, 1701,d.
18.V.Daniel,3 (65-72) b. June 8, 1703,d.
19.VI.Jeremiah,3 (73-84) b. June 4,  1707,d.

I. John

John married Rebecah, daughter of the 2d Richard Scott, March 20, 1717-18, the ceremony being performed by Richard Waterman, Justice, in Providence. At the time of his father's death John was 18 years of age, and, according to the law of Massachusetts Bay Colony he was entitled to a double share of his property lying within its jurisdiction, but he generously acquitted a part to his brothers and sisters retaining only an equal share. The injustice of the English law of primogeniture, though it benefitted him exclusively, was too palpable, and his sense of right would not allow him to take advantage of it. His integrity and honesty were proverbial. He afterwards, in 1729, purchased the estate of his brothers Daniel and Jeremiah and his sister Sarah.

The Quit Claim Deeds* given on the occasion is sic as follows:

"Daniel and Jeremiah Wilkinson of Providence, and David Hogg and Sarah Hogg his wife of Attleboro, County of Bristol, Massachusetts Bay send greeting:—Whereas our Honored Father, John Wilkinson, late of Providence, deceased, did in his lifetime purchase certain lands within the township of Attleboro in the County of Bristol in the province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, and he dying intestate, his land by the law of said province became dividable amongst his childrenin equal parts, saving to his eldest son a Double part, by which means a Double part of all said Lands did of Right belong to our Eldest brother, John Wilkinson, of said Providence, before he did acquit a part of it to his two brothers formerly, reserving but a part to himself which is as followeth:  One acre of meadow which our said Father purchased of George Robinson, lying and being on the Run, commonly called "Abbot's Run," upon the westerly side of said Run, situate in ye said Attleboro, being bounded on the South with a small red oake tree marked, near Abbot's Run, and bounded on the Northerly side by a clump of maple trees near said Run, Westerly by the upland, Easterly by the Run. Likewise two acres of land, be it more or less adjoining to said meddow sic as more fully appears in First Book of Records of Attleboro Lands, page 322. Likewise thirty-one acres and a quarter of Land, be it more or less, being the second lot in the last Division, lying upon Blackstone's Hill, the first corner is the east corner of Authony sic Sprague's land, being a black oak, thence south south-east forty rods to Waterman's land, then bounded with said land till it comes to the westerly corner, then turning the corner south-east twenty rods to a white oak standing within two rods for a corner, thence south-west half a point west sixty-eight rods to the farm line, then bounded with the farm and meadow till it comes to the first corner. Know ye, that we have forever, Quit-claimed unto our Loving Brother, John Wilkinson of Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island, cooper."

Dated Dec. 12, 1729.
Daniel Wilkinson, (L. S.)

Jeremiah Wilkinson, (L. S.)
John Dexter, Town Clerk.
David Hogg, (L. S.)

Sarah Hogg, (L. S.)

It appears from this that his residence was in Rhode Island and that he was a cooper as well as a farmer.

Another deed given by William Hopkins and Deborah his wife of Smithfield, and Joseph and Oziel Hopkins of Scituate appears to have been granted to John Wilkinson of Smithfield dated March 24, 1731-2. It is interesting only from its names, locality and description which runs as follows:  "A certain parcel of fresh meadow containing by estimation one acre and one-half, it being the one-half part, or moiety of ye meddow sic known by the name of 'Round Meddow' Lying within ye tract, or 'Gore of Land,' which is between Pawtucket River, and a due north line from Pawtucket Falls, and lyeth adjoining to said Wilkinson's other land." The consideration was £5.*

John had seven children (perhaps more) two sons and five daughters; the sons and their descendants are remembered, but the daughters are forgotten. They lived in Smithfield. The Pawtucket Wilkinsons are descendants of this John.

His inventory of personal property amounted to £1991.13.4 a record of which may be found in the Smithfield Town Clerk's Office. The compiler has been unable to the dates of the births, &c., of John's family.

II.  Marcy, married March 12, 1717-18, sic John Scott of Providence; Richard Waterman officiating.† Their children are not remembered. This John Scott is believed to be a brother to Rebecca, and descendants of Richard or John.

III.  Sarah, married David Hogg of Attleboro, now Cumberland. He was a farmer, and built the house where Daniel Ellis (1866,) now lives, on the direct road from Diamond Hill to Pawtucket. They had:

  1. Hannah.
  2. Sarah, married Roger Hill, lived in Cumberland, R. I.
IV.  Freelove, married Mial Phillips and lived in Attleboro.

V.  Daniel, married Abigail Inman, a descendant of Edward Inman whose name may be found in connexion sic with Lawrance Wilkinson on the original agreement with Roger Williams, 1645. The wedding occurred Sept. 22, 1740. His occupation in the early part of his life was farming although he is described as Gentleman in the public records of the day. He belonged to the Lodge of Masons, and his seal on deeds bears the compass, square and other emblems of the order. He was owner of several tracts of land and his signature appears attached to a conveyance Aug. 30, 1773, in connexion sic with his brother Jeremiah, when he was 70 years of age. The date of his death is not known, but the following records on the Town Books of Cumberland would show him to be alive as late as Feb. 24, 1777, when it was voted that an allowance of £4.1s be paid to Capt. Daniel Wilkinson for executing the will of James Howard.
The General Assembly of Rhode Island set off the towns of Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren, and Cumberland (formerly called the "Gore of the Land,") Jan. 27, 1746-7. The first town meeting was called Feb. 10th, following, and Daniel Wilkinson was chosen one of the "Ualiares of Reile Estate Respecting making freemen." (Valuers of Real Estate, &c.) The next annual meeting, Feb. 23, 1747, he was elected a member of the Town Council, which office he held for a number of years. He was Overseer of the Poor in 1759, and subsequently, and frequent entries are made for allowances to him for this service. He was a member of the Legislature for number of terms, being Deputy for Cumberland in 1762, 1767, &c.
He was a noble, dignified man, a good citizen, honored and respected by the community.
His place of burial has not been ascertained by the compiler. He had eight children, two of whom died within 11 days of each other in 1756. The others except a son who died at birth, married and had families. Nebadiah moved to Hartford, [Hartford Co.] Ct.; John to Skaneateles, [now Onondaga Co.] N. Y.; Olive to Choconut, [Susquehanna Co.] Penn., and the rest lived in Cumberland, R. I.

VI.  Jeremiah, was born in Smithfield near "Martin's Wading Place" on the Blackstone River, a little south of Ashton, and early went into Cumberland where he took up lands. He *married Elizabeth Amey Whipple about 1738, and by her had twelve children, some say 13, one dying in infancy. He was the father of the "Prophetess," and the following sketch taken from "Hudson's Life of Jemina Wilkinson" will not be considered to be a very flattering account of the man. He says—
"Her father, Jeremiah Wilkinson was a farmer by occupation, and possessed a small estate in Cumberland, the cultivation of which occupied his attention, and afforded a comfortable support for his family. He was a man of strong mind, and rather stubborn disposition. Not having enjoyed the benefits of an education, he, as is too often the case, set a light value on mental improvement, and made a merit of despising the politer accomplishments. He usually attended the Friend's Meeting being more attached to their Society than to any other religious sect, yet was never acknowledged by them as a regular member of their community. In early life he married a young woman by the name of Amy Whipple by whom he had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Jemima, their eighth child, was born was born in the year 1751, and to her exclusively is this family indebted for the celebrity of its name. Her mother was an amiable and intelligent woman, an exemplary house-wife, and an affectionate mother; and to the care and instruction of her children was her whole life devoted. She was a member of the Society of Friends for many years, and highly esteemed for her benevolence and piety, and the uniform tenor of her useful life. She died soon after the birth of her youngest child, leaving the care and education of her children to their father, whose ideas on this subject extended but little, if any, beyond instructing them in those branches of labor and domestic economy, to which he had himself been accustomed, and by which his family had been supported. The loss of his wife was to him a very severe affliction, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He remained single, and towards the close of his life became melancholy, spent the greater part of his life in solitude, and died at the advanced age of about seventy years."

He further adds, "Jemima was about eight years old when her mother died.

A few points are worthy of notice in this brief sketch, and First, as to Mr. W's setting a light value upon mental improvement, there is an obvious mistake. It is true educational advantages at that time were limited, but Mr. W. always encouraged mental improvement of a practical nature, and though schools were kept in private houses and in log huts, his children were as steadily there as anyone's.
Second.  As to his religious preferences, or church relationship, he was a birth-right member, and was never to our knowledge, excluded from the Quaker Society. He attended that meeting from principle, and died in their faith.
Third.  Jemima was born "Nov. 29, the fifth day of the week, 1752, not 1751, as stated by Hudson.
Fourth.  As to the celebrity of the name of this family acquired from Jemima, it might have been of an exclusive character, but there may be some difference of opinion upon this point.
William, the father of Simon, of Boston, was a man of some note, and Jeremiah his brother cut the first nail from cold iron in the world.* Benjamin was a Lieut. in the Revolution, member of the committee of Safety, &c. Patience married Thomas Hazard Potter, who with his brothers purchased 44000 acres of land extending from the center of Seneca to the center of Canandagua Lakes, and gave his name to a Township. Amy married a Darling, a manufacturer in Rhode Island of some celebrity. Jeptha renowned as an inventor, and his son, Jeptha A. is the author and inventor of the Rotary Cylindrical Printing Press, Steel Reed Machine, Revolving Fire-Arms, which Colt purloined at Paris in France. It may be submitted if other members have not contributed to the celebrity of this family.
Fifth.  The age of Jemima at her mother's death is erroneously stated. Deborah was the youngest child of Jeremiah, and she was born Aug. 28, 1764. So instead of being Eight, Jemima must have been thirteen or fourteen years of age, quite a young lady, with some established principles of character, no doubt, whose mind had received some excellent impressions from her amiable mother. But Hudson is anxious to make a case, and a few slight errors like the above are quite necessary for want of facts to make it. "In early life he married, &c.," says Hudson. He was about thirty-one years of age when he married Miss Whipple.
If Jeremiah was about seventy when he died, his demise must have occurred about 1777, during the Revolutionary War, but if Mr. H. has observed his usual accuracy, it may not be altogether reliable.

* 2 Book Record of Deeds, Cumberland.

* 2 Book Record of Deeds, Cumberland.

† Book of Marriages, 6, Providence.

* Some say he married Patience Hide for his first wife July 3, 1735, see Records, Smithfield, Town Clerk's office.

* 2 Arnold's History of R. I., p. 69.

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