The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-17
THE NATURAL BONE-SETTERS

Mr.. Updike, in his history Of the Mar
raganset Church, give the following ac-
count of family Of no little reputation of
the singular faculty of bone-setting:
James Sweet, the father of Benoni,
emigrated from Wales to this country and
purchased an estate at the foot of Ridge
Hill, so called, in North Kingstone-the
same in which the late William Congdon,
Esq lived and died. Benoni had been a
Captain in the British service-was well
informed, and of polished manners. He
was natural bone-setter and the prOgen-
itor of the race in Rhode Island. lie was
styled DIR. Sweet, but he practiced in re-
storing dislocaIiun only He was a regu-
lar COMMUNICATE of the church, and Off
ciated as vestryman until his death
July 10, ISL says the record, died
Capt BenOni Sweet, of North livingstone,
in the ninetieth year of his age. Dr. Nc.
Spartan preached his funeral sermon, and
buried him in the cemetrv of his ances-
tors Job, one of the family obtained an
eminent and wide spread reputation as
natural bone-seiter. During the Revoiu-
ton he was called TO Newport to set the
dislocated bones of some of the French
officers, an operation which their army
surgeons were unable TO perform Alter
the Revolutionary war, Col. Burr. after
wards Vice President, invited him toNew
York, 10 restore the dislocated hip bone
Of his Theodosia, afterwards Mrs AIlston.
In this operation, which had previously
baffled the skill of the city surgeons, DIR.
Sweet was successful. The fear of TAX
ing the small pox deferred him from ac-
cepting Col Burr's invitation when first
applied to but this difficulty having been
obviated, he embarked in aNewport pack
ct. DIR Sweet used to narrate the ad
venture in this wise: that when he arriv-
ed. Col Burr's coach was i'll waiting at
the wharf for his reception. Having new
err rode in coach, he objected to being
transported in = vehicle that was shut up
lie was fearful of some trick, and further
he did not like to ride in thing over
WHICH he had no control, but fearing the
small pox, he was induced to enter il. He
said he never was Whrled about 50 in his
life; at last he was ushercd into the most
splendid mansion he ever saw. The girl
Was alarmed at his appearance, when he
was invited into her chamber. The fam
lily surgeon was soon introduced, and he
proposed that the operation should be per-
formed the succeeding day, and 10 o'clock
was agreed To, when other surgeons would
attend. But the Doctor meant to avoid
their presence if he could: he did not fan
cy learned men. In the evening he solic-
tied an interview with his patient talked
with her fdmiliarly, dissipated her fears,
asked permission, in the presence of her
father, Just TO let the old man put his hand
upon her hip; she conserving, he 10 few
minutes set the bone he then said, now
walk about the room, which to her own
and her fathers surprise, she was readily
able to do Doctor Sweet would detail
this operation with great naiyette lie
early in life moved to South Kingstown &
settled near Sugar Loaf Hill. where some
of his decendents in the fifth generation
are in popular practice as natural bone
settlers now. Benoni, one of the sons of
DR.. Job, emigrated to Lebanon, in Con-
necticu;, where he continued to practice,
as some of his sons have since his decease.
Numbers yearly visit South Kingstown, to
have their dislocations replaced by the lin
cal descendants ofthe first Benoni, at their
residence, opposit- Sugar Loaf Hill"