The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-09

black woman, and now slave aged 3G
years, and also OF Experience, Cubit,
Joseph, Mariah and Sarah Robinson. as
slaves and children of said Bethania. To
Cubit Brown of Exeter, yeoman, alias
laborer, TO whom, his executors, admins
traitors and assigns, the said Benjamin
Robinson engages to warrant and defend
the sale
IL is noticeable that the word 'heirs" is
not used in connection with either the
warrantor or warrantee. At that time
rights ia slave property by heirship were
probably of but little account in Rhode
Island
Aunt Bethania and Experience were
very useful and important parsonage in
the household operations of many OF the
Kingston families. Industrious, clever
kindly and respectful, they used 20 talk
OF coming up among tine quality and
their affection, Kindness and respect were
gratefully returned by their employers
Bethnia had son John besides those b lr-
gained for and sold rs aforesaid, who
somehow got himself SO involved in a
scrape which the law pronounced burg
larry of the most Objectionable kind
breaking into a shop sttached TO dwell
ing house. For this he was tried, CON
victed and sentenced TO be hang
ed in accordance with the law
Of those times. The sentence
was conlmuted, however. to seven years
ilhpIiSOuiltnl, OnlNd lTdCllOu OF WHICH
term was eXacted OF him.
Silvia Tory or Torey was of great re-
nown among the young aspirauts of
former generation, who in fun or in faith
thronged her humble cottage to get her
portraiture OF their future, always so cum
ninglv framed that pleased fancy and
gratitled vanity were sure TO materiaIiZe
into something of solid value. She was
the daughter of Betbana, and their names
were III common speech contracted for
crisp and short into Silvy and Bethany.
Pilgrimages TO the shrine of Aunt Silvy
were as frequent among the imag-
NATIVE and frolicsome bucks and
messages of the older folks TO Bethany
and Experience for their less mystical SER
vices.
Silvia lived to great age. reckoned to
be hundred and thirteen years. This
was ascertained 20 general satisfaction in
the following manner; Everybody knew
in what year the old market on Ferry
wharf i'm Newport was built She knew
the building was going on when her last
step on the soil of heathen Africa was
by her first step on the soil of
Christian America. Although public
schools We're not yet, there was enough of
native reckoning power TO keep the run of
time from that prominent event in the
progress of Newport architecture up to
the day Of her death IL was an even cen
tury, and TO this her apparent age, thir-
teen years, at the time she was thus wei
coined TO the home of her Christian slave
eaptors atfa tite ettietii4tien il complete
Silvia had many children who fell among
"the quality" in different parts of the
state; in particular "A grandchild bearing
her own name ALWAYS spoken Silvy)
found home that was "a home in the
family of the senior Senator Dixon, of
Westerly, where she lived aud served from
early youth till death at old age. 1t was
20 her that the good-natured middle
Nathan Fellows Dixon when a law
student, promised the first SOC he should
earn in his practice, and he was as good as
his word.
Another of the old Silver Torey stock
still lives in the little village on the hill. a
grandsou-a prince himself by name and
truly royal parentage. for
their mother and grandmother, even in
her captivity, held queenly court i'm her
rural retreat and by her fettered state
craft managed Go elicit no mean supplies
from her willing courtiers. This younger
prince, now only "a liz over three score
and ten, is well verscu in family history,
talks of the actn in way evidently
familiar 20 his race Of former years in
Rhode Island, as II the net that freed the
slaves was the only one worth speaking
on
Prince Robinson, son OF Prince Robin
SNAlf NNl VI NHNlh iNItN, II one Ot the
most Industrious and orderly Of the Ethio-
plan nobility whose lot has been cast
within the ancient domain of the redoubt-
able NarWgansetts, more recently fallen
into the possession OF the Potters. the
Hazards, the Robinsons and the WatSons.
OF almost equal reuown with the prede-
cessors. Ills father took his surname
from that branch Of tho quality that
managed To secure his services: ana his
mother, Aunt Silvy Torcy. sharp aud
bright In mind as she was black i'm
face, took her name, Torey or TORY.
from the only person of that
name then living IN South kingstown. the
Rev. DR. Jo,cph Tory, or Torey. flr sixty
years ptstorof the congregational Church
formed on Tower Hill Ia ls32. over which
he was installed 40 the hesimotimc: of which
church the CONGREGATIONAL Church in !
Kingston IL properly the continuation,
though 10y needless blunder 10 il now
reckoned rs organized i'm 1870
The Rev. DR. Tory probably owned
slaves, while doubtless. like the Rev DIR.
Hopkins Of Newport. sternly donouncing
the cruel African trade
Acknowledgment j. made TO Mrs.
Kinney 81 Kingston, from whose sketch
OF an original portrait In possession of the
Cpdike family the above cut is obtained.