The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-23
FACTS ABOUT
TIvERTON.
Address Before R. |.
Historical Society,
BY HON. J. S. BRAYTON.
Sketches of the History Of Little
Compton Also Given.
VOTE OF THANKS EXTENDED.

The regular meeting of the Rhode ISL
and Historical Society was held at the
cabinet on Waterman street last evening,
with very fair attendance. Secretary
Perry called the meeting 10 order. and
stated that President Stinrss was too i'll
TO be present, but he had requested that
Professor Wilfred III. Munro should pre-
side. Prof. Munro without delay intro
duced Hon. John ;. Braytop, Ii. d.. Of
Fall River, who spoke upon Facts In the
History of Iiverton and Little Comp
ton.
Mr.. Brayton gave some interesting facts
concerning the early settlement OF the two
towns and their division from Massachu-
setts territory. and of noted cases Of the
same person residing for 40 years in the
same house in the same town, au1 yet
holding ofiicss In both Rhode Island and
Massachu huset,s. AT this point Mr. Bray
ton referred To number Of old and i'm
portant deeds which lie presented to the
society. among which were the following:
Richard Morris to Vim. Breton, April
8, 1850; Benajan PrHte to John Almy.
March s. 1868; Giles Richards to Edward
Gray, Jdly 10, 1850: Col Benjamin
Church Is court record, March z. l7lI;
letter OF Governor samuel Cranstop,
April o.. 1870; dead of Nnnoquoquit Neck
from the Indian sachems Wequequinequa
and Numinampaum to Captain Richard
Morris. July "a. 1851. The family history
OF these Indian sachems was given with
much detail bringing them down to the
time OF Awashonks.
Mr. brayton tLen spoke OF Benjamin
Church., who was the first white settler in
what Is now known as Little Compton.
great courage and intrepid spirit Hs
was to Rhode Island what Miles Stan
dish HAD been to tho Plymouth colonies,
and he fought vsliantly in she Philip
war. King Philip had for some time been
planning for the EXTERN mination of the
English. Church by his finesse maas
AwashoDks, the squaw sachem, his
friend, and this brought about toe down
fall of Philip. July o, 1878 the first fight
took place and was q terrible engage
h eEt the scene being not FIR from what
is now known ns 1iverton Four Corners
and 1t occurred in a field planted with
peas. ana has been called the "peasiield'
light. In tine conflict Church barely es-
csped with his life. The sreaker ccnsid-
cred this fight one or the most important
In the history df the country.
The next serious nRht was that Of Po-
casses SWAMI, near Stafford Pond, in
Iiverton, which took place July Iii 1875
and In which 16 whites were killed.
Philip and his warriors stood ssige CT
IL days and then escaped from the swamp,
but 100 Indians we're taken prisoners by
the whites. August IL, 1876, the Eug-
lisb, unler Col. Churcn. attacKeds Philip
on Mount Hope, and u few days later the
intrepid Indian chief was killed, and thus
endeu toe great Indian Ell pire Col.
4 httr iad as in, tnr or
January IL, lii. and was buried there.
Tiverton was originally purchased from
the sachems, the lterrit ry being bought
by several persons, of whom Col. Church
was one. NunoquCquit Neck was pur-
chased July 20. ls5l, the grantee of the
deed being Richard Morris, and the deed
bora the tokens Of all the Indian sachems
from the landing OF the Pilgrims to the
time vi King Philip. Interesting facts
concerning the Iersuns who assisted a6the
making of the deed were furnished Iy
Mr.. Brayton, who then exhibited the
orieinal deed. Nunoqunquit descended
from owner TO owner uatii IL was confis-
Gated by the state owing to the conduct
Of It's then owner. and in lisa the general
tYe. surer of Rhode Island ceued it TO Col.
Angel AMI others 10 repay the services
renCcred 10y the soldiers.
William Pnboaie, the first town clerk OF
Little Com pton, IL ssiu TO have married
ure litSC WDlto woman In tno sttliement.
Several noted men of the stats were born
In Little Compton and an ong these we're
William Wanton. Col William Humphrey,
Gen. ber jamin Howland. Capt. kobert
Gray, who was the trst person to carry
the American flag arouna tte woflu.
hon. Thomas Dnrfee grandfather Of the
present ex-rhisf justice; job Durfee,
father of the ex chief justice, and tho
present ex chief justice, Thomas Durfoe,
nimsslf sll Of whom had blled the high.
est junicial position IN the state. and all
OF whom were born In Iivertun, anu
among tho DISTINGUISHED names In Rhode
Island.
At the close OF his lecture Mr.. Brayton
exhibited number Of very old and very
interest,n original deeds which he then
pr, ssnted as n gift II the Rhode Island
historical Society. and which are the
oocuments already referred To above.
Mr.. David Hoyt spoke of the delight
with whicn he had listened To the leoi nro
and no moved vots OF thanks To Dr.
Brayton. Remarks were also made by
Secretary Perry, Professor Nm. Gsmmell.
Prof, ssor Wilson, Mr. John Anthony ana
Professor Munro. after which the vote of
thanks Was adopted. IL WAS also voted 10
ask MIR. Brayton to em body his historical
sketches I'm some volume for the benefit
Of the society and then the meeting was
declared adjourned.