The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-17
ness or virtuo) not cultivatlne 1t By the help Of
| tho Bible" Nv. H..
A Great Colonial Faniiy.


The biography OF sturdy and spirited
race OF men and women is sketched In the His
tory Of the Wdnton Family Of Ne,cport. H. J.. by
JOHN r. BARTLETT. Providence. r. l.. 1879.
which is the third pamphlet in praiseworthy
series Of Rhode Island historical tracts now in
course Of publication. 1t differs from most pro-
ductlons Of this class in being entertaining and
thoroughly readable. instead OF dull and prosy.
Tho literature Of our American historical so
cieties furnishes probably the dullest history in
tho world. and II the present work were nothing
better. 1t would not merit any notice at our
hands but its very literary superiority consti-
tutes distinction. and then the narrative is one
OF exceptional interest Nor can this interest
DO regarded as merely local. and confined TO
Rhode Island. The deeds Of those who made
the several American colonies great are fun
damental part OF general American history.
Four members OF the wanton family held the
offlce Of Governor OF Rhode Island during
colonial times: William wanton. who was
elected in 1882 the year OF washinRton's BIRTH.
and served two years; John Wanton. elected in
1874. served seven years; Gideon Wanton.
elected in l745 and 1747. served two years. and
Joseph WAnton. who was chosen in 1863 and
served until November. ITS. We doubt whether
tho annals OF any other State present such an
example OF popular favor toward q single fami-
ly. Indeed we notice that q nfth member Jo-
seph Wanton. Jr.. was at one time Deputy Gov
ernor OF tho colony.
Tho homestead was originally at Scituate
Mass. where We find Edward wanton. the first
OF the name In this country. owning a farm OF
eighty acres In 1851. although there Is record OF
his residence In Boston three years earlier.
whittier he is believed to have come from Lon
don with his mother. At this period the Quak-
ers were bitterly persecuted 10 Massachusetts,.
Three OF them were executed. and died with
such hrmness In their faith that Edward Wan
ton. who was present az an officer Of the guard
on at least one OF these occasions. camo homo
saying. Alas. mother we have been murder
ing the Lords people," From prosecutor. he
became convert In his old age he was a zeal
Gus teacher In the Society Of Friends. and he is
reputed TO have built their first meeting house
in Massachusetts. He was married twice. The
children OF his FIRST marriage died young He
proposed TO his second wife by letter from
America To England. basinR his request for her
hand upon the Recommendation OF n Quaker
minister who had recently arrived In the col
ony. She came out to this country. and they
were married In 1868.
There were eleven children OF this marriage
The nrst born. Joseph Wanton, was a ship
builder at Tiverton. II. l.. and au eloquent
Quaker preacher. William Hunter. the Assist
ant Secretary OF State ut Washington. is one Of
his descendants. and contributes an interesting
letter 10 Mr.. Baitletts history OF the family. He
particularly mentions Mary Morton. great
granddaughter Of Joseph wanton. as an un.
commonly charming person. whom he knew
we'll In his boyhood and early youth. She
was Quaker preacher" he writes. not only
the best OF that sect over heard but think
atirDaaapl hDi n OIL I'll ~
matter and manner any man preacher ever
listened 10. Her utterances wero the more
agreeable ~ they were not In the whining tone
common to preachers OF that denom nation.
Her letters 10 my mother prior to the marriage
OF the latter. trying TO dissuade her from mar
rying my father. partly because he was not OF
their persuasion. arc the most eloquent and
beautifully expressed OF any ever read"
Among the children OF the lrst Edward Wan.
ton. however. the greatest measure OF distinc-
ton was destined to fall to the younger sons.
William. born In 1870. and John born two years
later. both OF whom rose 20 rule oVer the colony
OF Rhode Island. OF which they had become
residents In early manhood. William wanion
married Ruth Bryant OF ScituRte. Mass. Il,
appears that there was serious opposition 10
this match ON the part OF Deacon Bryant thor
father. who was rigid Presbyterian. and OF
that unehartable class which dotested the
Quakers. After much delay. William paid Miss
Bryant visit. and In presence OF her family
thus addressed hor: Ruth. am sure wo
were made for each other. and neither Of us
can live without tho other. Now le, us cut the
knot OF difficulty. Twill leave the Quakers and
thou shalt leave the Presbyterians. We will
both go TO the Church OF England and the devil
togyther. Ruth agreed to tho proposal and the
marriage took place" Nowadays, few Of our
young men are tenacious enough OF their own
religious views even 10 render such a com
promise necessary. They concede the disposi.
tion OF tho matter to their brides ut once. and
the church Of the wife becomes the church Of
the husband.
In Rhode Island. the two brothers. William
aud John Wanton. entered into the business Of
bodybuilding at Newport. They FIRST became
prominent in the public affairs OF the colony
by tho capture Of a piratical vessel Of three
hundred tons. armed with twenty guns, which
proved upon tho coasters passing between
Block Island and Point Judith. About thirty Of
their acquaintance. provided only with small
arms. were collected on board little sloop OF
ono-tenth the tonnage OF the pirate. and all
concealed below tho deck. with the exception OF
those needed to navigate the vessel. At a shot
across their bows from the enemy. they at once
hove to In the most submissive manner, and tho
appearance OF the sloop was so pacific that she
was actually Rrapped TO the stern OF tho pratt
cal craft before her true character was suspect
ed. " Each man seized his musket and taking
deliberate aim. shot every pirate as he appeared
on deck. After making great efforts to olsen
gage themselves and finding it impossible 50
to do. the rest surrendered and were taken into
tho harbor OF Newport by their brave and gal
liant captors and turned over TO the authorities.
when. after trial, they suffered the penalty of
their crimes by being hanged At the time
they planned and conducted this exploit. vii.
liam Wanton was only twenty-iour years old,
and John only TWENTY-FIVE. The fame IL gave
them was not limited 10 tho colonies. but ex-
tended 10 England and secured them an honor
able reception at Queen Anne's court when they
visited London in l702 II is related that their
father. on the eve OF a similar undertaking
against a French war vessel. endeavored to dis
suade his sons from the enterprise. but per-
ceiying this to be impossible. he added: 1T
would DO grief to my spirit to hear ye had
fallen in military enterprise. but II ye will go.
remember 1t would be n greater grief 10 hoar
that Ye were towards" There was still somo-