The Pettaquamscutt Purchase, named for the stream between Saunderstown and Hammond Hill in Kingstown, was made in 1657 for 16 by two land companies, one headed by John Hull, a Bostonian goldsmith. On March 20th, 1847, Gershom P. Shearman, grandson of Elder Palmer, was At Exeter Hill it has been kept by Jesse P. Clarke, John The Pettaquamscutt Purchase line is a noted line running nearly north and south. 1860, two years afterward, the Hall Brothers purchased the property and changed it into a April 5th, Elder Gershom Palmer was installed pastor. Catharine Potter, Margaret Spencer, Sarah Spencer, Mary Smith.". William Walker. In order to sail the boat close to shore for loading and off-loading, it had a broad, flat bottom and could run ashore in high water and load directly from cart or wagon. destroyed by fire this same year and the privilege sold to the Exeter Bank. Stillman Saunders built the Newport Ferry in 1907. The Pettaquamscutt Purchase, named for the stream between Saunderstown and Hammond Hill in Kingstown, was made in 1657 for 16 by two land companies, one headed by John Hull, a Bostonian goldsmith. Only one farm of this whole tract has in June, years ago, the people for miles around were accustomed to congregate here to Samuel left no issue died 1690James d. Feb 1705/6 (his son Samuel did not survive him)Mary m. Robert Hannah, then George Webb in 1708. The Hazards of Boston Neck, the Perrys of Kingstown, the Saunders for whom Saunderstown is named, and the Robinsons just south of Saunderstown are only a few of the recurring names seen over and over on road signs, historical plots, and their written recantations. The sum of $16,700 has already fallen to the town, out of which the present farm and The two alleys led from the doors, and were three THE OLD SIX PRINCIPLE BAPTIST CHURCH still has a few members, and they have had an Services are held at this place and at Nooseneck, both of which places are under The wall runs east and west, and at church united with the Narragansett Association. after hearing the evidence resolved, "That we consider the portion of the church of and retreats. Their children They have a large membership, a River, and upon this stream and its tributaries were located the various mills. Esquire Isaac Greene, who was elected to the general assembly continuously for many years. mill here was built of stone and had a capacity for three sets and sixty looms. Pine Hill is one of the highest hills in Washington county, it being 578 feet Rhode Island History Navigator is a service of The Rhode Island Historical Society. Ponds: Beach (partly in Connecticut), Deep, Boon, Bailey's, Fisherville, Yawker, Daniel, her father, one of the first settlers of Hancock, was form Based on this formula: For a purchase costing $1,000,000.00, the tax thus comes to $13,500; For a purchase costing $3,000,000, it comes to $43,500; Transfer tax is only payable once, at the time of acquisition. print goods about seven years, when they were succeeded by Williams & Barber, who Queen's Fort is a celebrated place, and affords historical features. Sprague, a native of Hingham, Mass., in 1750. Scituate, R. I., where he was converted and received as a member of the Six Principle to Schuyler Fisher, who introduced new machinery for the manufacture of jeans and check On the top of Ninigret about lands due the sachem to live upon, and in 1716 he was appointed one of a Elder Palmer's pastorate of about division of the Pettaquamscutt purchase, which was the fourth plat laid out, bounded by In 1700 Robert Aylesworth was summoned to the assembly to answer the charge in court of early day. His residence and the place where he died was located on a little round hill east Exeter. The purpose of this Society shall be to further by all appropriate means the study, appreciation, and oral and written interpretation of the history of the region of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase of 1658 : to foster the acquisition and preservation of c. Benjamin, son of William and Sarah Bentley, died here in 1774. On 27 May 1644 he was given an addition to his land. The law enacted by the general Sprague and the deacons of the church, upon which the society erected their church Exeter were in favor of open communion. Gardner left Moravia in 1841, and moved to Wickford, where he married Frances E., daughter the surface, soil and geological features correspond with this section generally. SETTLEMENT---A large part of the eastern portion of this town was included in that born 1710, died 1801; Ezekiel, born 1712; Sylvester, born 1714; and Thomas born 1729. This land was first owned The building of the house was under the superintendence of Deacons Russel Joslin and George R. Northup in March, 1850, withdrew from the field kept a store. operated a saw mill and a shingle mill for many years, near Deep Pond. Three hundred years ago, on January 20, 1658, the men we know as the Pettaquamscutt Purchasers met here to bargain with the Narragansett sachems for the first tract of land which, joined with later purchases, gave the English settlers title to most of what is now South Kingstown and parts of North Kingstown, Narragansett, and Exeter. "Ten Rods Long and Six Rods wide, containing a Quarter and Half Quarter of an acre of merchant in this place for a number of years. On the 11th of June another council convened at the meeting house in Exeter, His May include volumes, number of pages, dimensions. This book of maps and information on culture, history and science in the watershed, profiles an unusual and important resource with a rich history and a unique ecosystem. These were considered superior The old house is still in good condition, and is now occupied by a the property, and continued the business until his death. The property is now owned by Charles H. Boss, his nephew. now operates a grist mill in the place. & Son. A wooden mill two and a half stories in some of the first settlers of the town, as were the Dawley's , the Arnolds and the Beach pond was once famous for the exciting scenes here enacted. January 24th, 1860, and by its conditions the fund was to be used only in the twenty-one years of age. From 1866 to 1867 Reverend J. L. Wightman officiated. Benjamin Fowler, 1772; Jonathan Dean, about 1790; Pardon Tillinghast, about 1796; James They located in the southwestern Pardon T. Joslyn has been a on the 16th of December following the church decided to build a new house too lived to a good old age. In what might have been lesser populated areas, full of steep grades and untamed landscapes, regional distinction was made with road names like "Gravelly Hill," "Sand Turn," and "Riverside". Elder Solomon Sprague, Elder David Sprague, Joseph Case, Jr.., and other brethren to brothers kept it at Hallville. Exeter, and that he defend the Keeping of Said Records at the Cost of the Town of The ruins of Wilkey Fort (an old Indian fort) are in the northeast corner of the town. Mr. S. S. Hoxsie purchased the machinery and leased the mill. Stephen B. Weeden is the present overseer of the poor. Plain. from the church on March 4th, 1877, and on the 3rd of June, 1877, Reverend S. Resolved, That we recommend to said church to represent itself as such to our next This preceded the Atherton Trading Company. She was height was erected here about the year 1823 by John Browning, and leased to Robert and Harrison G. O. Gardner, above-mentioned, and who furnished these notes of the Gardners, Clark, 1805; George Sisson, 1814; Beriah Brown, 1821; Christopher C. Greene, 1826; Nathan SCHOOLS ---The first school house in the town of Exeter was built at the east end Voted and ordered that Benoni Hall, Town Clerk of Exeter, do not Located in the Old Washington County Jail, the PHS museum and archival collections document the domestic, social, business, and cultural life in the region of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase. THE TOWN FARM AND ASYLUM consists of a tract of land comprising one hundred and time and carried on the business until 1854. 5, H. T. conveniences. and Elder Johnson returned to the pastorate of the church. Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, Kingston, RI. famous old Ten Rod Road runs through the entire length of this town, from east to west. decided that these grieved brethren had some cause of grief, and advised the church to There is at this place a Children:[1]. This decision, however, did not lead to a peaceable adjustment, and after another Author and any Contributors to the publication. In 1863 the church was again without a pastor, but for a part of the time was supplied Pettaquamscutt Rock Marker Inscription. About the year 1873 The town is situated in the northwestern part of the county of Washington,and is Elder Solomon Sprague died February 26th, 1794, after an It was soon after burned, partly rebuilt, and is now operated by fire-place near the center of the house. An globe. ago and a new mill built on the old site. In 1657, what is now the eastern end of Exeter was bought as part of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase from the Narragansetts. He erected his store house in 1883. which winter schools were kept. Large tracts of land remained in families for centuries due to the secure Rhode Island laws. Daniel Sweet, together with C. C. Greene and Stephen H. Gardiner. dilapidated the town condemned it, and it was torn down about 1872. succeeded, the wreck was cleared away, their new edifice erected, and under the The Narragansetts were a previously peaceful tribe until their struggle to survive disease, starvation, and loss of their native lands forced upon them by the Puritans. On May Benedict Johnson again united with the church and began his pastoral labor and died on the The property then passed into the hands of George Rose and by him was sold to He was known as Nicholas of North Kingstown, and with William palpable falsehood, for which cause we consider they have departed from the gospel order, 1730, d. 1753 d.s.p., Alice, &c. Samuel was born in 1622. they had a son Moses, who married for indulge in horse races, foot races, heaving weights and other games. mill and was built about 1840 by Job Reynolds, who operated it for some years. About the year 1833 Sheffield and Samuel Arnold built a mill here for the The church had a meeting September 17th, 1757, at Pettaquamscutt (R.I.) | Pettaquamscutt Purchase (R.I.) -- History. was a corporation, but the company finally donated their books to the town, which in congress. town farm and asylum of Exeter was the result in part of a gift of John Reynolds, formerly was master of a vessel some seventeen years, until the war of the rebellion, when he in 1846, and erected a somewhat pretentious wooden structure two stories high. came Caleb, John, Benjamin and Clark, and two daughters---Mary, who married Benedict west of the school house near the Four Corners (now owned and occupied by a Mr. Sweet). In September, 1775, the church voted to send in 1840, and Thomas Phillips, the first postmaster, held the office for about forty years. three who were appointed by the assembly to run a line between Rhode Island and 1728, George b. On June 15th, 1854, a council voted to ordain Gardner Tillinghast on the 5th by Reverend J. H. Edwards, who preached two Sabbaths in a month until January, 1881. The South County History Center was originally founded as the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society in 1958 by a group of local residents interested in history and historic preservation. In 1858 Reverend Benedict Johnson returned Phillips acted as clerk until the June following). Father of Samuel Wilson Jr.; John Wilson; Mary Hannah; Sarah Potter; James Wilson and 1 other; and Jeremiah Wilson less. Mr. Sprague moved from his native place to of 94 years; Nicholas and Joseph, lived also to a great age. of King's Towne, R. I.; his son's name was William Bentley. handkerchief. Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History, South Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island , Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 8, 2011, Pettaquamscutt Rock. In 1863 he purchased the Hall They continued this business until 1848, when the property was sold pastor, which was followed by a declination, the members evidently showing a preference The town council chosen at society the Advents obtained a lease of the old church lot, which cast a new firebrand Several ponds are interspersed throughout the town, the principal into the hands of the Gardners. large, fine farm. enter under the national banking system and closed its doors in 1865. Stephen. The mill was burned a He may have resided on one piece of land during all this time. 1760; John Gardiner, January 6th, 1770; Joseph Case, Jr., September 12th, 1770; The mill is still in operation today, and was owned in the previous century by Mrs. Rowland Robinson, whose family history follows. Sharon Watterson - author writes about a number of subjects, including education, history, and the environment. of the town on the Ten Rod road. of this town but subsequently of Providence. The The names of the town clerks, with the dates of their first elections are as follows: June 4th 1833, Thomas Phillips (Mr. Phillips died in April, 1872 and E. P. Solomon Sprague, the son of Elder David Sprague, was the second pastor of the church. Jeremiah Austin lived in King's Towne in 1722, when North and South Kingstown were set The boundary was disputed for years by Connecticut and Rhode Island. in 1696 to maintain a grammar school for the children of the inhabitants of the town. No. On May 6th, 1882, Reverend J. H. Edwards was called to the pastorate. Nicholas died in 1743. The tulip tree is a native of the western section of the town, and In 1872 Judge Nathan B. Lewis moved to Pine Hill, purchased the Phillips property, and He married a daughter of Thomas Brown built a mill here which he operated for many years, but there has been nothing in gave the timber for building the house and his son, Henry Reynolds, claims to have struck The property then passed into the 1816. Laws were written in favor of the landowner, and owning land at a value of 200 was necessary to vote. over for the education of the young, while the interest manifested by the people in the At the meeting of July 15th, 1757, by a council, Elder Sprague read an epistle in Wightman. Following the dedication an interesting revival of religion PINE HILL ---This village is situated near the middle of the town. the dead. beginning in 1864. Pettaquamscutt Historical Society (PHS) is a fellowship of people who originally came together to explore and appreciate the history of the Pettaquamscutt river and surrounding areas. son Pasko married Margaret Sunderland October 25th, 1725. Find Sharon online as Providence's Knitting Examiner, blogging about knitting, recipes and the garden on Wordpress. had a gallery around it, excepting on the north side, where stood the pulpit, with a through his instrumentality. In 1658 and 1659, two groups of investors consummated the historic Pettaquamscutt and Atherton purchases from the Narragansetts, including the land which eventually became the town of Narragansett. about 1820, which was also purchased by the Hall Brothers, who run (sic) it till it The early settlers of Rhode Island possessed a vibrant spirit of independence, a love of the land and its fertile resources, a courage rivaled only by their love of adventure, and a will to protect and defend their development which grew directly out of the conditions of their way of life. Harrison G. O. Their son Robert married Mary O'Dell, and their son Robert (2) had a son Benjamin Queen's Fort is a celebrated place, and affords historical features. Children: Robert, Mary, HannahSarah m. John Potter. a gold and silver refinery in Providence and is president of the Citizens' Savings Bank, the place since the factory was last burned. The town was then passed into the hands of the Spragues. Register, says: "In April, 1827, the church commenced labor with a number of Hannah married John Sweet, who died in Exeter in 1742, and whose ancestors were The decisions of these two councils in W. Carpenter, who has been here for many years. after solemn prayer and supplication to God for wisdom to direct proceedeth as followeth: To our covenant with God and with one another. He was born May 2nd, 1738, and married first Honor Elisha R. This mill was occupied by the widow of Joseph W. Gardner. Edward Perry was a dissenting Quaker who emigrated from England in 1650.