Johnathan Monroe Remington

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

In the 1850 Federal Census he is living with his mother and three brothers, as well as a sister-in-law and her sister.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Jonathan M. & Phebe A. Remington, ages 41 & 23, are living in Cowesett near Benjamin F. & Sarah Remington. This places his year of birth c1819. Benjamin F. is Jonathan's first cousin.

In the 1880 Federal Census "Johnathan" & Phebe are still at Warwick, ages 63 & 46. Again, this confirms the birth year of 1817. Living with them are son Charles E. 19 and his wife Abby A. 19.

The City of Warwick vital records have this entry: "Jonathan Monroe Remington d. Oct 9, 1885 age 68 son of Thomas & Elizabeth"; however, the RI Death Index has his name and exact age and date of death for Jonathan M. Remington, son of James & Sally Remington. Which one is authoritative? I believe the Warwick records are incorrect in this case, and that that particular death record belongs to the son of James & Sally. Perhaps the city clerk was confused about which of the Jonathans had died.

The age at death puts the birth year at c1817, which agrees with the birth date of Johnathan M. Remington, s/o James & Sally, as found in the family Bible of William R. Remington.

This Jonathan Remington is buried in West Warwick Historical Cemetery #007, the Old Baptist Cemetery in Crompton. The RI Cemetery Database notes that he was h/o Phebe A. Cleveland. There is a Phebe Remington in that cemetery, but her dates are 1806-1845; she is Jonathan's sister. There is a Phebe A. Remington in Cranston Historical Cemetery # 002, but her dates are 1841-1912. If these dates are correct, neither is Phebe (Cleveland) Remington. This needs more research. Possibly Phebe is buried in the family plot but has no stone. (see notes for Phebe A. Cleveland)

His gravestone spells his name Johnathan.

In William R. Remington's family Bible, he is listed as Johnathan M. Remington. The handwriting is probably that of his brother William or their mother Sarah.

On 15 April 1840, a Jonathan Remington was listed as a Freeman of Exeter. Since Exeter is next to West Greenwich, this may -- or may not -- be the same person. (see RI Genealogical Register, V. 2, No. 1, p. 45)

Perhaps Jonathan was born in Warwick; then possibly moved to Exeter, where he became a freeman at about age 23; and sometime later married Phebe of West Greenwich, after which they moved to Warwick and lived near his relatives. Perhaps Phebe went to stay with her mother to have their son, born in 1861 at West Greenwich.

There is a death record at Warwick, 25 March 1868, for a Mary Remington, daughter of Jonathan & Abby, born Warwick c1843. Perhaps Abby & Mary belong to this Jonathan M. Remington (needs more research). Could Abby have a prior wife?

Or, possibly he was Jonathan R. Remington "of Warwick" who married Martha C. Babcock "of Coventry," at Coventry 10 Oct 1841, as a prior marriage. However, the middle initial is incorrect.

There is a third Jonathan Remington in the extended family in this generation, born c. 1809 - 1810. I have not positively determined who his parents are, although I am fairly sure he is the son of Thomas & Betsey, also in this extended family.

Johnathan married Phebe A. Cleveland Between 1850 and 1860. Phebe was born 3 Oct 1833, West Greenwich, RI; died Aft 1 Jan 1920. [Group Sheet]

1. Charles E. Remington was born 28 Apr 1861, West Greenwich, RI; died 24 Jul 1937, Cranston, RI; was buried , Coventry Historical Cemetery 109, Manchester Cemetery, Washington St., Coventry, RI.

Notes:

Most likely his middle name was Eldridge, named after his paternal grandmother.

James & Sally were first cousins, since his father and her mother were siblings to each other; their parents were also siblings of our ancestor Jonathan.

There is a James E. Remington at East Greenwich in the 1830 US Census.

The 1850 US Census for Warwick has:
Sarah Remington, widow, 73
Charles E. Remington, weaver, 28
Dorcas Remington, 20
Franklin Remington, 24, agriculture
William Remington, 22, agriculture
Jonathan Remington, 23, agriculture

James married Sarah Sally Rice 7 Sep 1802, Warwick, RI. Sarah (daughter of William Rice and Maplet Remington) was born 4 Sep 1783, Warwick, RI; died 14 Jun 1860, Warwick, RI; was buried , William Rice Lot, West Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Sarah Rice was first cousin to our ancestor Maplet.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Sarah Remington, widow age 75, is living at Warwick, Kent, RI. With her are : Charles E. 23 (her son - a weaver), Dorcas 20 (his first wife), Mary E. Bates 10 (sister of Dorcas; later became Charles's second wife), and three of her other sons -- Franklin 24, William R. 22, & Jonathan M. 25. However, Jonathan's and Franklin's ages seem to be way off.

From Oliver Payson Fuller's "History of Warwick," pp. 318 & 319, regarding the Crompton Six Principle Baptist Church: "Soon after the brethren were set off from the mother church [Maple Root] in Coventry as a branch, they united their efforts to secure a permanent place for worship. Mrs. Sarah Remington, widow of James E. Remington, gave them a lot of land consisting of about a quarter of an acre, on certain conditions, among which were, that the church should build a meeting house upon it within six months, keep it in good repair and use it, or allow it to be used only for religious purposes, failing in which, the lot was to revert to the grantor, her heirs, assigns, &c. This deed, which is dated December 26, 1843, further provided that said house shall be open and free for all religious societies, when not occupied by said branch of the Crompton Mills Six Principle Baptist Society. The house was dedicated September 7, 1844. The church continued as a branch of the Maple Root, until April 10, 1845, when it was formally organized as an independent church. On September 6, 1845, it united with the yearly Conference. November 28, 1850, William Rice was ordained deacon."

Sarah (Rice) Remington is mentioned in the will of her mother, Maplet (Remington) Rice (dated 24 Aug 1840, proved 14 Feb 1842).

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Benjamin Remington, a resident of Warwick all his life, was part owner of the Crompton Mill in Coventry, RI. He married three of the Manchester sisters, all of whom died young of consumption (tuberculosis).

During the Revolutionary War era, in the fall of 1775 Benjamin was drafted into the Militia at Warwick, serving for three months as a private in Captain Rice's Company. In the winter/spring of 1776, he enlisted for one month as a volunteer in Captain Reuben Wightman's Company, serving for 33 days at Warwick Neck and possibly elsewhere during that time. Colonel Waterman, "whom he well knew," commanded the regiment. Afterwards, during the same year, Benjamin was again drafted into the Militia and at that time served 15 days under the same Captain and Colonel at Warwick Neck. Later, in September, he again served under Captain Wightman at Prudence Island for 35 days. During this time they had to take all the stock off the island to "prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy." In November and December he again served under Captain Rice for 15 days at Old Warwick (present-day Oakland Beach and Conimicut) "during the time the enemy took possession of Newport"; at the end of this term he was re-drafted and served 15 more days. In the summer of 1777 Ben was drafted again and served for 35 days at Tiverton under Captain Rice and General Spencer. They were supposed to "cross over to the island of Rhode Island, but didn't have enough boats." In the summer of 1778 he was re-drafted and served at Rhode Island (Acquidneck Island) in General Spencer's (or Sullivan's) Expedition for 24 days, under Captain Rice and Colonel Thomas Holden, "whom he well knew." Then in July 1779 he was again called out with the Militia to Bristol, where he served 15 days. His pension records state that he served as a sergeant for 10 months and five days. Benjamin Remington personally appeared in Court at East Greenwich on 21 Aug 1832, at the age of 79, to testify concerning his Revolutionary War service. His statement was attested to by John Wightman of Coventry, who served with him, and also Anthony Arnold. (Pension File # S21937)

Benjamin's will, dated Jan 1846 and proved 14 Aug 1837, mentions daughters Lydia Arnold (w/o Olney Rice Arnold) and Sarah Gorton Holden (w/o Bennett Holden), and sons James E. Remington, Jonathan Remington, Thomas Remington. His son Thomas was given the homestead farm given to Benjamin by his honored father, Thomas Remington, late of Warwick, Dec'd. All of Benjamin's children received land in the will. It also mentions grandsons Franklin s/o James E., Thomas s/o Thomas, and William s/o Jonathan.

In "The History of Warwick, RI" by Oliver Payson Fuller, he is referred to as Benjamin F. Remington. However, I have not seen his name with a middle initial elsewhere. According to Fuller, Benjamin lived at the family estate on Cowesett Rd., at the time the Crompton Mills were established. It was about a mile away from the mills. He was a member of the Town Council and of the Legislature. He left 140 acres to his sons Jonathan & Thomas.

He was probably one of the four RI presidential electors referred to in the following: "Vote cast for John Adams, of Massachusetts, for President; for Charles Pinckeny, of South Carolina 3 votes, and John Jay, of New York, 1 vote, for Vice President; all Federalists; Fifth Presidential Election, 1804; votes cast by Constant Taber, of Newport; James Aldrich, of Scituate; James Helme, of South Kingstown; Benjamin Remington, of Warwick."

Benjamin married Phebe Manchester 18 Apr 1779, Warwick, RI. Phebe (daughter of Matthew Manchester and Freelove Gorton) was born 8 Nov 1756; died 11 Feb 1786, Warwick, RI; was buried 13 Feb 1786, Remington-Arnold Lot, corner of Cowesett & Bald Hill Rds., Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

At the time of her marriage, Phebe was of North Kingstown, and Benjamin was of Warwick.

At her funeral on 13 Feb 1786, Elder John Gorton preached on Luke 16:31.

Notes:

Martha A. Benns's typewritten manuscript gives their date of marriage as 4 Feb 1779.

Notes:

The Rhode Island Cemetery Database says he was born c.1745.

The will of William Rice, of Warwick, far advanced in life, yeoman, mentions his wife Maplet Rice; son Jeffrey Amhurst Rice, dec'd; daughter Sally Remington w/o James Remington; granddaughters Roby Munroe w/o John Munroe, Abby Ann Rice, Barbara Rice, Phebe Rice, & Sarah Rice; grandsons Joseph & Sylvester Rice; grandson William Rice s/o Jeffrey Amhurst Rice, dec'd; grandson William Rice Remington s/o James Remington (rec'd land in will; codicil states he died w/o issue and land given to grandsons Thomas, Henry, & Jonathan Remington, sons of James E. Remington).

William married Maplet Remington 29 Jan 1769, Warwick, RI. Maplet (daughter of Thomas REMINGTON, III and Abigail ELDREDGE) was born 16 Jun 1749, Warwick, RI; died 3 Dec 1841; was buried , Old Baptist Cemetery, Crompton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Maplet is mentioned as Maplet Rice in her father's will.

The gravestone inscription in the RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 17, p. 199, says Mrs. Hannah, widow of Mr. William Rice. Did Maplet die earlier, and was Hannah a second wife? According to the Rhode Island Cemetery Database, Maplet (Remington) Rice, buried in WW004 with her husband, was born c.1749 and died 3 Dec 1841. Perhaps she was also called Hannah (?). William's will mentions his wife Maplet.

A Remington family Bible record of a later generation says that Maplet married Benjamin Rice of Warwick. This Bible was or is in the Rare Book Room of the General Library of the University of Michigan.

Maplet Rice became a member of the Maple Root Baptist Church in Coventry, RI, on 3 May 1788. They also noted that she died 7 Dec 1841. Perhaps that was the date of burial.

Her will, dated 24 Aug 1840, mentions daughter Sarah Remington, as well as grandchildren James D. Remington, Phebe Remington, Roby Munroe, & Abby Ann King.

Maplet is a family name passed down from the Gorton ancestry. The maiden name of Samuell Gorton's wife was Mary Maplett.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher, and to other sources as noted herein.)

A Remington family Bible record says that this Thomas Remington was one of triplets, the other two of whom died young. This Bible belonged to Mrs. Mary E. Remington, wife of James D. Remington, great-grandson of Thomas. However, Fuller's "History of Warwick" says that his son Thomas was one of triplets.

He is undoubtedly the Thomas Remington who in March 1744 agreed to take over management of the estate of his brother Stephen Remington, laborer of Warwick, who was "non compos mentis." The original document is witnessed and co-signed by Stephen and Daniel Remington, probably Thomas Jr. and Stephen's uncles.

Thomas was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, along with some of his sons. Oliver Payson Fuller, in his book "The History of Warwick, RI," says four of the Remington brothers (sons of Thomas III, likely the four oldest) were in the American army during the war of the Revolution. According to the manuscript "Revolutionary War -- Burial Place & Service of RI Patriots," found at the Knight Library in Providence (now at Providence Central Public Library), Thomas was a Private in the Pawtuxet Rangers in 1778. It says he was buried in the family lot on the Remington Farm, north side of Cowesett Road near Quaker Lane (Route 2).

This historical cemetery is located behind the Stop & Shop plaza at the intersection of Cowesett Rd. and Bald Hill Rd./Quaker Lane/Rt. 2. Thomas's gravestones (headstone and footstone) have been photographed.

In the RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 17, pp. 204 & 205, there is a list of graves at or near this location. It refers to "the Remington farm now owned by George Dawley," and mentions an Arnold family burial plot northwest of his house, and another cemetery "on the Remington farm north of the house." This is where Thomas & Abigail are buried. This lot has about 15 marked burials, Remingtons and Arnolds, plus some unmarked graves.

According to early records described in "Family Notes" (formerly at Knight Library, now at Providence Central Public Library), this family's "Remington Farm" extended from Cowesett Rd. (at Quaker Lane) northward to the next road (probably the location of present-day Rt. 117) for a mile, then eastward a 1/2 mile, so that it was rectangular in shape. This was on the east side of Quaker Lane. According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," it was Cowesett farm #2 on the old plat map laid out in the 1600s; it was originally owned by John Smith, and later by the heirs of Lieut. Eliza Collins, and subsequently by Samuel Barnes of Swansea, from whom it was purchased by Thomas Remington II (who died in 1723 at age 41).

Also on Cowesett Rd. but west of Quaker Lane (Rt. 2) was the "Col. Waterman Place," where our ancestors Capt. John & Mercy Waterman are buried (near the corner of Kulas & Cedar streets). This was on the south side of Cowesett Rd., roughly across from where Evelyn's Villa and the Cowesett Inn are today. Across from the Waterman place was the Arnold farm (the area where Pep Boys and the Ricci home are now located), purchased from Robert Potter's heirs by Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet in 1707.

An entry in Elder John Gorton's pastoral journal notes that he preached 23 Sept 1764 on I Peter 4:18 at Thomas Remington's [house]. Editor Cherry Fletcher Bamberg writes, "Although Thomas and Abigail Remington, who lived at Cowesett, were not official members of the church, they hosted occasional meetings and had a substantial running account with Elder Gorton in the mid-1760s. Purchases included needles of silk, thread, flour, 'Bisket,' snuff, wooden plates, and sundries" (p. 56). Gorton was a tailor by trade, but also a merchant who sold various foods, household items, and sundries.

In his will, dated 11 June 1798 proved 9 May 1808, Thomas Remington of Warwick, yeoman, gave to his [second] wife Sarah the household furniture, all she brought with her "at the time of our marriage," and all she has acquired since, a cow, heifer, etc. His son Thomas received lands in Coventry, with buildings thereon, he to pay legacies to his brothers John & Jonathan and to sisters Maplet Rice, Sarah Holden, & Mary Rice. Sons John and Jonathan were each given $10, as they already had their share [perhaps when they moved to Berkshire County, MA]. Each of his three surviving daughters was given $100 and the household furniture after the death of their [step] mother. Henry was given $240 and land; Benjamin received his father's mansion house and clock and all remaining of the homestead farm and rest of all his possessions, he to be executor.

Death notice, transcribed in Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" Vol. XIX p. 85: Providence Phenix - Deaths: "Thomas Remington d 12 Apr 1808 in his 85th year."

RI Cemetery Database: Thomas Remington, 2nd, h/o Abigael Eldrege, c.1724 - 12 Apr 1808, 85th yr

Thomas married Abigail ELDREDGE 14 Dec 1744, Warwick, RI. Abigail (daughter of Robert ELDREDGE and Hannah RATHBONE) was born Abt 1723; died 14 Apr 1766, Warwick, RI; was buried , Warwick, RI, Historical Cemetery 60 off Cowesett Rd. near Rt. 2. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Warwick marriage record gives her maiden name as Eldred, but the gravestone says Eldredge. Capt. Samuel Tillinghast had this entry in his diary for April 15, 1766: "This Day died Thomas Remingtons Wife. Had been Long Ill with the Consumption." The entry for the 17th says: "This day Thomas Remingtons Wife buried. Elder Holden Preachd."

Death notice in the Providence Phenix: "Mrs. Abigail Remington wife of Mr. Thomas & dau of Mr. Robert & Mrs. Hannah Eldredge
d 14 Apr 1766 in her 45th year."

Abigail's gravestones (headstone and footstone) have been photographed.

Notes:

Matthew had 20 children by his wife Freelove, including a set of twin boys.

Matthew married Freelove Gorton 1741. Freelove (daughter of Israel Gorton and Freelove Burlingame) was born Nov 1725; died 6 Jan 1795. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

All of the children and grandchildren are named in his will, but no wife is mentioned. Thomas and his family lived in the Bald Hill section of Warwick, RI.

Thomas married Ann Low 19 Jun 1741, Warwick, RI. Ann (daughter of Anthony Low and Mary Arnold) was born Abt 1704. [Group Sheet]