Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-01-19
HISTORY OF RHODE.ISLAND.

The Rhode-Island Republican has for some time
past, been endeavoring to create some interest in
Its favor, by making great promises about a cor
rect history Of Rhode-Island, which was to make
It's appearance in the columns Of that journal. -
We had some suspicion at the time, that the thing
was a mere hoax, aud that the real object in view
was to increase the subscription list of that paper
Subsequent events, we regret TO say, confirm those
suspicious, and none tends more strongly to that
end, than that part of the 'Ilistory Of Rhode-Is-
land" which has already made its appearance in
the Republican. The following letter from WILL
KINs UPDIKE, Esq. distinguished Jackson man,
furnishes very striking commentary upon this
promised correct historical production. We frank
ly avow, that from the commencement it was our
intention to have copied from the Republican, the
"History Of Rhode-Island." and we should have
done with great pleasure, because correct his
tory of the State, coming from whence it may, is
u matter Of general interest, and in the urherance
of which, every Rhode Islander should feel live
ly solicitude. If what we have already seen
is fair specimen Of the work, we beg to be ex-
cused.
[From the Kingston Advocate.
To the Editor ofthe Rhode-Island Repub-
In the memoir of Rhode Island in your
paper under date of January Sd, it is sta
ted that among the Gloss of historical doc
uments were those collected by DIR. Mac
spartan the episc opal clergyman who for
merly preached on Tower Hill in South
Kingstown. These were voluminous and
regularly filed s. deposited in cases made
for that purpose. These cases were a
few years since in the hands of one the
Updike familyin North Kingstown, whose
effects were sold at auction, in his abb
sence by the sheriff on execution, and the
papers they contained were thrown away
no one being present disposed to prevent
itn
The above statement is without the
least foundation. Your compiler has been
misinformed or his imagination has been
very inventive; and as one of the family
cannot conceive upon what information
such assertions could have been based.
In the first place DIR. Macsparran new
er preached on Tower Hill in S. Kings
town. Hc was the rector of st. Pauls
Church in North Kingstown and regu-
larly performed services there. There
never was an episcopal Church on Tow
er Hill or in South Kingstown until more
than fifty years after his death.
Secondly, Dr. Macsparran never left
any historical documents "regularly filed
and deposited in cases" or manuscripts of
any kind relating to the Narragansctt
country or to this state that ever came
into the possession of the Updike family
or any branch of it. And as for histor!-
cal documents or papers regularly filed
and in cases being sold at auction; it is
wholly destitute of truth and upon what
circumstances such a story could be built
/ am at loss to conceive. My father
was the nephew by marriage ofDr. Mac
spartan and f such documents had ever
existed as mentioned he would have com
municated II or some of the family would
have heard of it before January 1872
The compiler of the memoir may render
nm essential service to the future histor-
ian i'm rescuing from oblivion valuable
matter as it respects RI. proper, but from
the specimen recently given, of fiction
instead of history, il might be as well to
confine the memoir to the east side OF the
Narragansett. /
have been induced upon the first OPP
portunty to correct this misrepresenta-
ton, for if il should pass unnotlced now;
Mt some future period it might be assum-
cd for fact, because not contradicted at
the time. w. UPDlkE. u
Kingston, Jan. Q, 1899,