The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-20
MEETING OF
GASPEE CHAPTER, D. A. R.

executive board advising two state con-
ferences of the ID. A. Il. yearly. instead
of one.
After some discussion IL was voted 10
hold two conferences yearly. one I'm Prov
idence during the winter aud one I'm mid
summer held elsewhere I'm the state.
Ii was also decided by the Chapter, TO
celebrate "Gaspee Day Dune 81, In con-
junction with Nathaniel Greene Day
which also falls on that date. bill hav-
ing been passed by the state legislature
fixing June as Nathaniel Greene Day
At the conclusion of the formal busi-
ness OF the meeting violin solo was
beautifully rendered by Miss Ballou
with piano accompaniment by Af,-NNii-
liam darkness Arnold.
MIR. BUFFUMs ADDRESS.
AT this point Mr. Buffum was intro
duced and gave an address which was
full OF interest and much appreciated by
his hearers.
Mr.. Buffum spoke i'm part as follows:
ION the 22d OF February last the Sons
OF the American Revolution entertained
at an evening banquet as their honored
guest Gen. Thomas NJ. Anderson OF the
United States army and you Will remem-
Der that on that day his wife was the
guest OF your chapter.
General Anderson was present as
commander OF the land forces at the bat
tie OF Manila and the day after the fight
landed with Admiral Dewey and took
possession of the Philippine capital, but
his fame was so overshadowed by that OF
the great admiral in that wonderful VIC
tory, that until the evening of the ban
met few knew who he was or what he
had done / instance this case as an IL
lustration of how difficult ii is to have
the fame of men and events bear their
Just relat tion 10 one another.
Some are unduy magnined while
others are passed by with the slightest
notice.
"In our Revolutionary struggle IL was
inevitable that the records OF the larger
and stronger colonies should overshadow
those OF the smaller and weaker ones
and although the fires OF patriotism may
have burned as brightly ia the litter as
In the former, their radiance was coniin-
ed To more limited area. 1t Is for this
reason among others, that so little Il
known of certain men like him OF whom
am 10 speak 10 YOU today, Esek Hop
kins tho first admiral OF the American
navy.
"As Mr.. Field. his latest blographer,
SAYS OF him, But slender Justice has been
rendered 10 the services OF Esek Hopkins
in the American Revolution. Historians
could not omit all reference 10 the COM
mander-in-chief of the American navy,
but the manner I'm which some of them
have mentioned him would seem to in
! dicate that they wrote not from their
fulness but from their lack OF knowl-
/ edge concerning him
/ IL is emineutly fitting that we as
| Rhode Islanders and as members OF a
patriotic society should become better
acquainted with the character and life
| work of this brave and able man and
! that We should do our part IN order that
his memory may have the fun, though
! tardy Justice which IL its due.
THE HOPKINS FAMILY.
'Thc Hopkins Family was identified
! with Rhode Island from tho beginning nt
! the colony. Thomas Hopkins. great
! grandfather of Esck was one of the 81
4 men who settled at Providence.
/ "iIe and his son William were connect
I ell by marriage with the Arnold and Dex-
! ter families and held offices and trusts
/ which prove that they were esteemed by
, their fellow townsmen. OF William Hop
/ kins. father OF issek. less is known as ne
/ early removed 60 what afterwards be-
! came the town of Scituatc. He married
| Ruth Wilkinson, a daughter or Samuel
| and Plain tWickenden) Wilkinson.
! "He was thus connected with the Rev.
| William wickcndcn. pastor Of the First
A Baptist church. and with that distln-
y guished Wilkinson family which furnish
ed the clever mechanics who constructed
the iirst cotton machinery made in this
! country npon models secretly brought
fror, England 10y Samuel Slater.
William and Ruth Hopkins had nine
| children ~ whom Esek was sixth.
"Esck was born April ~, las.
"He spent his youth upon the Wild farm
In scituate. but at - came TO PrON ldencs
and shipped upon trading vessel foI
Sunnam
"a ufe upon the sea furnished ths
! greatest indncrmeut to the briaht yount
! men uf thc COLONY iu those daNs
'Eaeh looked lor~ ard.t0 the time whcr