Trails to the Past

Kent County, Rhode Island Biographies

Personal Paragraphs of West Greenwich

A - C

Source: The History of Washington & Kent Counties
Written by J. R. Cole published in 1889 by W. W. Preston & Co.

Nelson Andrews, son of John, and grandson of Timothy, was born in 1849 in West Greenwich. He is one of thirteen children. Mr. Andrews owns a large farm in the southeastern part of West Greenwich. He was a member of the general assembly in 1886, and has been a member of the town council four terms in succession. He was married in 1871 to Phebe E., daughter of Joseph J. Spencer, and has one son, Leon D., born in 1872. Mr. Andrews is a republican and a member of Maple Root Baptist church.

Moses P. Barber, born in 1841 in Exeter, is a son of Smitum P., and grandson of Peter B. Barber. His mother was Phebe Lewis. Mr. Barber was married in 1877 to Hannah G., daughter of Clark Barber. They have two children—John L. and Clifford T.

Pardon T. Bates, son of John G., and grandson of John, whose father was John Bates, was born in 1818 in West Greenwich. His mother was Abbie (Tillinghast) Bates. She married for her second husband Mr. Bowen. She was born in 1802, and was a daughter of Deacon Pardon Tillinghast. Mr. Bates is a farmer, occupying the homestead of his grandfather, John Bates. He built the house where he now lives in 1853. He has worked at rough stone work more or less for several years. He has been a deacon of the First Baptist church of West Greenwich for about thirty years. He was married in 1888 to Olive, daughter of Alexander Peck. They have two children living—John A. and Nellie B., now Mrs. Charles S. Brown. They have lost three—one that died in infancy, Helen M. and Pardon T., Jr. Deacon Pardon Tillinghast's wife died in 1854, aged about 84 years. At her death it is said she had eleven children, sixty-seven grandchildren, and fifty-seven great-grandchildren living.

Charles W. Brown, born in 1824 in Connecticut, is a son of John H., and grandson of Captain Nathan Brown. They are of the same family as the Browns of North Kingstown. Mr. Brown is a successful farmer at Escoheag Hill. He has also kept a dry goods and grocery store since 1878. He has been senator one year, assessor of taxes, and on the school committee. He was married in 1849 to Abigail E., daughter of Amasa Pratt. They have two children—Charles A. and Ellen M., now Mrs. Caleb E. Macumber.

Elisha Brown was born in 1817 in West Greenwich. He is a son of Solomon, whose father, Gideon, was a son of Caleb Brown. He is a farmer and stone mason. He has been in the town council several terms, and town sergeant about ten years. He was married in 1841 to Louise P., daughter of Jabez Capwell. They have had twelve children, seven of whom are now living. He is a democrat and a member of the Sharp Street Baptist church.

John A. Brown, son of Seth and grandson of Seth, was born in 1835 in West Greenwich. Mr. Brown is a farmer, and has kept a grocery store since 1873. He lived in Connecticut about ten years prior to 1865. He has been a member of the town council several years, and was senator three years in succession. He was married in 1853 to Lucinda Matteson. They have one son, Frank J. Mr. Brown was in the rebellion about thirty-five months in Company F, Eighteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.

Charles Capwell, son of Charles and grandson of Randall Capwell, was born in 1826 in West Greenwich. His mother was Phebe, daughter of Brayton Austin. Mr. Capwell worked at the trade of carpenter from the age of eighteen until he was fifty years old. Since then he has been a farmer, and owns about 400 acres. He has been senator two terms, in the general assembly one term, in the town council two years and collector of taxes four years, as a republican. He is a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 12, A. F. & A. M. He was married in 1852 to Abbie L., daughter of Stukely H. Weaver. They have had three children : Evangeline E., who died aged eighteen years ; John H. and Emily I., now wife of Joseph A. Tillinghast, who was born in Tolland, Conn., in 1859. He is a son of Reverend Joseph A. Tillinghast. He has taught thirteen terms of school. He finished his education at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was married in 1880. He and his wife are members of the Free Will Baptist church of West Greenwich. Mr. and Mrs. Capwell are members of the same church.

Charles F. Carpenter, born in 1827 in Coventry, is a son of Job S (Cyril, Cyril, Comfort, Josiah, William, William, William). William Carpenter came from England at an early day, with his son and grandson, William. They settled in Rehoboth, Mass., about 1644. Cyril, Jr., was the first of the family to settle in Kent county, locating in Coventry, near Rice City. Charles F. attended Plainfield Academy and Smithville Seminary, where he finished his education. He is a farmer. He has been one of the school committee several years and a member of the town council a number of times, acting as chairman a part of the time. He was married in 1853 to Amanda T., daughter of Henry Johnson. They have three children: Eveline F., now Mrs. Halsey Tillinghast, of Coventry; Bertha, and Job S., who is a graduate of Eastman's Business College, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mr. Carpenter and his son are prohibitionists.

Joseph S. R. Carpenter was born in 1840 in West Greenwich. He is a son of John W. and grandson of Christopher, whose father, John, was a son of Christopher Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter is a farmer, and lives on the old Carpenter homestead. He was married in 1860 to Mary A. Gorton. They have eleven children : Clemenza A., now Mrs. Daniel F. Cahoon; John U., Joseph L, Hattie, George W., Christopher C, Charlotte L., Frank G., Celia M., Robert T. and Alice C.

Willis A. Carr, born in 1832 in West Greenwich, is a son of Nathan and grandson of Jesse, whose father was Caleb Carr. Mr. Carr has kept a store at Nooseneck Hill since 1885, and is the present postmaster. His father kept a store here several years during his life. He was married in 1880 to Ann M., daughter of John T. Lewis.

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