Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-03

The Rhode Island Citizens HistoFi- cal association has made preliminary plans for the observance of the sew entierh anniversary of the Dorr re- bellion. It was decided to hold the celebration at Chepachet, near the site of hostilities in 1S42. on a date in June yet to be selected. Sdere are stil a few living in Westerly who remembered the stirring incidents of that time in the town where two com panies were mustered in to oppose the Dorr uprising.
 Senator Louis W. Arnold has been selected to represent Westerly on the committee of arrangements. The oth- sr members of the committee are Thomas W. Bicknell, Jesse B. Mowry, Mrs. D. Russell Brown, Michael F. Dooley: James H. Higgins, Joseph l.. Saunders, Daniel R. Ballou, Frank F. F1tzsimmons. George F. OShaugh- messy, Charles II. George, Gilbert E. Whittemore. George W. Greene, Ed ward M. Sullivan, Edwin C. Pierce, Patrick Fl. Quinn. Lewis A. Water man, Sayles B. Steere, Walter 4. Read, Prank F. Davis, ". B. Knight, Howard v. Farnum and Charles Potter Plans are to be made for the securing of speakers and the dedication of a mon i ument.
 Thomas W. Dorr, who was born at Providence in 1905, and who died there ID 1854, was a member of the Rhode Island general assembly in 1835-S7 and was the leader of the Dorr rebellion. This was brought about by dissatiss faction with the constitution of the state: and a call for a constitutional convention was made by a party called the suffrage party. of which Dorr was the head A new constitution was made by this convention and submit ted to the people in 1S41, receiving a majority of the votes. Dorr was con- victsd of high treason and sentenced to imprisonment for life. but was re- leaSed under a general amnesty act in 1s45. and restored to his civil rights fn 1851
 The Dorr war, though somewhat se- rious. was a brief affair. The vicinity of the arsenal in Providence, Federal hill, Chepachet and Acot's hill, where Dorr promised to Hay his bones," were the only memorable fields of action, except the line of retreat, halting places of exile, and the state prison. To meet the uprising, eleven hundred men went forward from Washington county under command of Gen. John B. Stedman of Westerly.
 Two companies were furnished by .HN J company, fifty men, Capt. James H. PeriEo. and a volunteer company, 80 | men, Capt William Potter. They were in the vicinity of Providence for | a week and then returned to Wester- ly and were under arms until the re- bsIion collapsed.
 Westerly was under martial law and the little academy then located on CooGsy hE1 was used as a guardhouse ar prfson- To suppress local demon stratione of the Dorrites, court of fnquiry under military authority was cpepsd st the hotel then located in East Broad street. Citizens suspected | sf treason or known 10 be abettors of the insurgents, were compelled to | Fwear allegiance to the state and a part of the ceremony was to bow to General Stedmans sword. The polit- l fcsi tempest soon sUbsided and the ambition Of Mr. Dorr was cooled in the state prison.
 The insurgents evidently adopted wrong measures to secure a desirable end. by taking the anarchy route to liberty. In the end, however, the Dorr rebellion moved to the legal adoption of a new constitution of the state, and the old charter of 1863 be- came an historical relic.
 Through the influence of Carey Conpdon, master of the Lodge of Per. lection, there was a session for the 1 first time Of the Norwich consistory, l Scottish Rite Masons, held in Masonic temple New London, Friday evening. l There was work in the Lodge of Per l lection degrees by the degree team of Bridgeport, which was witnessed by many visiting thirty second degree | aaaNaH Tfwaa~ hr N .rN erly; George E. Broughton, Arthur N. Nash. D. Everett Hoxie, George 1 Clark. Thomas Mckenzie, William C. 1 Bark. Albert E. Barber. Albert Clark l William GudgeOn, Dr. Albert H. Spi 1 ceT. Horace BurdicS Dr. William A. | Hllard and Archie Thompson.
 The Westerly delegation arrived in ! New London at 5.g0 for the elaborate 1 feast served in the banquet hall of 1 the Masonic temple a o'clock. They l returned home by a special car that | lrst Groton at 1920 on the Groton & l Stonngton trolley road.
 Samuel Potter died at tho home of 1 his brother, Howard Potter, in Day ton street, Thurs }sy night. He was 1 born iu South Kingston fifty-one years | ago and spent nearly all his life in 1 Westerly. He was employed for many 1 seasons by Watch Hill cottagers. and | in order Co secure his services dur ing the summer. Mr. Potter was paid l half salary the balance of the time ! and 7Fas free Go work elseWSer2 Be { sides hie crother Howard, he $ sur 1 v;ved hy a daughter, Mary. and by Daniel Seeketer, a step-brother.
 Ec was son of the late Samuel Pot ter. a Civil war veteran, Vno acted i as Tag bearer when Budlong post. c. l a. F.. appeared in parade Mr. Pot ter WIS a regular attendant at the ! Advent colored church.