Matthew Remington

Notes:

According to the Remington chart by Boyd Scott Remington at RIHSL, this Matthew Remington was Captain of the 1st Cranston Company in 1763. Genealogist Martha A. Benns' book "Remington Family" has this Matthew (who married Martha Randall) as a son of Thomas & Mary (Allen) Remington; a Matthew is named in Thomas's will. However, it seems more likely that the earlier Matthew married Hepsibah Blackington (please see the notes for the other Matthew, who was "of Warwick"). An online genealogy has no parents noted for this one, but has his birth date as 12 September 1724 (source noted is "Descendants of William Randall") -- needs further research.

He is possibly the Mathew Rimenton listed as a resident of Coventry in the RI 1774 census (1 WM>16, 4 WM<16, 2 WF>16, 2 WF<16); also the Matthew Remmington 16 - 50 A, listed at West Greenwich, RI, in the 1777 RI Military Census.

The 1774 census data suggests that Matthew may have had four sons (?) born before 1774 in addition to two daughhters.

If this marriage to Martha Randall is a third marriage for the "other" Matthew, s/o Thomas & Mary (Allen) Remington, then we might conclude that Peleg did not have a brother Matthew (?). Genealogists differ on this. However, a note within parentheses in the genealogy entitled "John Remington of Massachusetts" in the possession of the Roger Williams Family Association (from Mrs. Adair), says that Peleg "and his brother left home when their father married a second time." This is evidence that Peleg did have a brother.

Matthew married Martha Randall 26 Dec 1755, Providence, RI. Martha (daughter of John Randall and Martha Williams) was born Abt 18 Mar 1724/25; died Between 1808 and 1809. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

James N. Arnold's "Vital Record of Rhode Island" has the year as 1756. They were married by William Burton, Justice.

1. Amey Remington was born 1 Apr 1756, East Greenwich, RI; died 28 Apr 1828, Brookfield, Madison County, NY; was buried , Rural Cemetery, Brookfield, NY.
2. Abigail Remington was born Abt 1773.

Notes:

Stephen is mentioned in his father's will.

Stephen & Lydia Remington signed a receipt for a legacy "from the estate of my uncle" Francis Stevens of Rehoboth; dated sometime between 20 Jan 1731/32 and 21 Apr 1732. (source: Bristol County, MA, Probate Records 1687 - 1745 p. 234, on Family Archive CD #502)

Warwick Land Evidence, dated 22 Nov 1736: Stephen Remington of Providence, mariner, sold to Jonathan Remington of East Greenwich, mariner, one lot in Chippowinoxit, Warwick, Lot #16, one and one-half acres; signed by Stephen Remington, witnessed by Dan Remington. (These three were brothers.)

Scituate Land Evidence Vol. 3, p. 278 records a deed dated 28 March 1747, in which Stephen Remington and Lydia R. his wife sell "to Thomas Barnes of Glocester 361 1/2 acres bordering the southerly side of Wilkinson's land, part of the original right of William White and of Benjamin Herington."

Also, an earlier Scituate deed dated 31 Dec 1742 identifies Lydia as "Lydia Remington, formerly Rhodes, daughter of Peleg Rhoads."

Notes from the Mary E. Rice Collection, concerning Cranston land evidence: on 18 March 1784, Stephen Remington sold one lot of land in Pawtuxet to Rhodes Greene; "Marcy Remington, wife of the above-said Stephen," surrenders her dower right. On 10 Feb 1785, Stephen Remington sold land to Capt Josiah Haines. This document was signed by Stephen & Marcy Remington. (Cranston bk 4, p10)

In 1741 a Stephen Remington refused the Captaincy of the Providence County Militia.

In 1743 his brother Joseph was involved in a Scituate land transaction, deeding land to his son Thomas.

In 1745, a Stephen Remington, Justice of the Peace for Providence, refused reappointment to the office in June.

Since there seem to be two Stephen Remingtons born around 1696, one of Thomas of Warwick, and the other of Stephen of Jamestown, it is possible that the data from the two has been confused by some researchers. I know that one married Lydia Rhodes, daughter of Peleg, and according to genealogist Martha A. Benns the other married Mercy Fenner, widow of Thomas. However, I believe Benns was incorrect in this, and that Stephen of Warwick married both of these women. The RI Cemetery Database records Mercy Remington's grave, but not the others, so does not help sort out these individuals.

Although Benns has paired the Stephen of Jamestown with Mrs. Fenner, no documentation is noted. It seems more likely that Mercy would have been a second wife for the Stephen of Warwick, especially since Mercy is buried in Warwick. That is the way that Boyd Scott Remington's chart at RIHSL lists them, and I concur with him in this instance; so I have placed Mercy with this Stephen, of Warwick.

Additional evidence is the death announcement for this Stephen, "a noted nautical Commander," who died at Pawtuxet in his 90th year.

Martha Benns has noted the date of death for Stephen Remington of Jamestown as 24 Dec 1785. However, that was the date of the death announcement for this Stephen, of Warwick, published in the Providence Gazette.

His will mentions a wife "Marcy," but no children. It also mentions friend Christopher Sheldon and his five children, including the oldest son named Remington.

James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" at the Knight Memorial Library has Stephen's dates as: 1689 - 16 Dec 1785.

A typewritten Remington genealogy given to Dot White of the Roger Williams Family Association gives Stephen's year of birth as 1695; it also says he died 16 Dec 1785. While it mentions his second wife as Marcy or Mercy (Unknown), it also lists three children by his second wife: Lydia, Mary, & Rosanna. However, this information is erroneous and most likely due to a misreading of Stephen's will (or abstract of his will). Stephen's will mentions three daughters of said friend Christopher Sheldon: Lydia, Mary, & Rosanna, all surname Sheldon. If Stephen & Mercy had any children, they are not in the Warwick city records and are not mentioned in his will.

Interestingly, "The Fenner Family," a comprehensive genealogy by Mrs. Eva Fenner and others, agrees with my conclusions concerning Mercy Sheldon as the wife of both Thomas Fenner and Stephen Remington. [http://www.fennerfamily.com/pdf/four.pdf]

Stephen married Lydia Rhodes Aft 15 Jun 1720. Lydia (daughter of Peleg Rhodes and Sarah Stevens) was born Abt 1698; died Aft 15 Jun 1756. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Scituate Land Evidence Vol. 3, p. 278 records a deed dated 28 March 1747, in which Stephen Remington and Lydia R. his wife sell "to Thomas Barnes of Glocester 361 1/2 acres bordering the southerly side of Wilkinson's land, part of the original right of William White and of Benjamin Herington."

Also, an earlier deed dated 31 Dec 1742 identifies Lydia as "Lydia Remington, formerly Rhodes, daughter of Peleg Rhoads."

The following is from the notes of Mary E. Rice, concerning a document in Cranston land evidence: "This proves that Lydia Rhodes was d/o Peleg and she married as first wife Stephen Remington, he married 2nd Mercy Fenner" . . . The deed reads "I, Lidia Remington, & Stephen Remington . . . deed to Christopher Sheldon, of Providence, mariner, the house and lot/land in Pawtuxet where we now dwell, near to the Pawtuxet Bridge." It mentions a bordering lot formerly laid out by Peleg Rhodes, deceased . . . "lots and tracts of land above-mentioned were given to me by my honorable Father Peleg Rhodes who was formerly of Providence but now deceased" . . . dated 15 June 1756, signed by Lydia Remington & Stephen Remington.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," published in 1875, Thomas Remington in 1692/3 bought Cowesett farm # 1 consisting of 240 acres for the price of 57 pounds, from John Warner & Philip Sweet. As nearly as I can determine, this property was at the northwest corner of Post Rd. (Route 1) and Cowesett Rd. The next farm westward, bordering Route 2, was later purchased by the Remingtons -- probably Thomas Remington, Jr., who married Maplet Gorton.

According to the early town records of Portsmouth, RI, "Thomas Rimmington of Prudence is Admitted a freeman in this town" at a Town Council meeting held 6 June 1692 at William Corey's house (also William Allin of Prudence at the same meeting). Later that same year, the records of a Town Council meeting held on 22 Aug 1692, again at William Corey's house, show that three men were chosen to serve on the next Jury of Tryals at Newport: John Vaughan, Thomas Rimmington, & Joseph Sheffield.

These references likely refer to our ancestor, if in fact he was at Prudence Island and a freeman of Portsmouth in the early 1690s. If this is so, then he must have bought property in Warwick shortly after this and later settled there (possibly c1704 -- see note below). His wife was of Portsmouth, so it is reasonable to assume that this is our ancestor and that they were married at Portsmouth.

In 1701, Thomas Remington was Constable on Prudence Island.

Similarly, genealogist Armand Lariviere says that Thomas initially settled on Prudence Island, Rhode Island, then relocated to Warwick, where he purchased farm #1, the Cowesett Plot, containing 240 acres, in 1693, for 57 pounds. He was deeded land in Haverhill, MA, by his father John in 1695 & 1709. Thomas became a freeman of Warwick in 1704.

Sources for information on this family:
"Gorton Family Genealogy"
"New England Historical and Genealogical Society Register," Vols. 29, 42, 43
"The History of Warwick, RI" by Oliver Payson Fuller

Thomas's will mentions his "dearly beloved wife Mary"; names eight sons, six of whom were under age 21 on 20 May 1710; and his two daughters, both under 18. Thomas gave all his lands to sons Thomas, Jr., William, & John -- they to pay legacies to the other children. Based on this will, I have estimated the birth years for his children. Wife Mary and son William were co-executors.

John, still under age 21, received 40 acres, and would pay his brother Thomas 10 pounds when Thomas reached age 21. Thomas received 1/2 of all the remaining land, across the north end, and he is to pay 11 pounds to five of his brothers when they reach age 21 -- Daniel, Joseph, Stephen, Matthew, and Jonathan; he also is to pay his sisters Mary and Prudence 7 pounds each when they reach age 18 or earlier if they marry younger than 18. William received the mansion house with the remainder of lands; he is to pay to each of the 5 brothers 11 pounds each at age 21 and the two sisters 7 pounds each at age 18. All the rest of the estate is left to dearly beloved wife Mary and well-beloved son William who are appointed joint executors. Thomas signed his will with a capital R -- the mark of "Tho Rimington." It was witnessed by Samuel Gorton, Edward Earle (his mark), and Elizabeth Gorton (her mark). On 26 Sep 1710 the witnesses appeared before the Town Council of Warwick and made oath that they saw Thomas Rimington sign and seal the will.

According to Oliver Payson Fuller's "The History of Warwick, RI," William sold his share of the farm in 1712, but reserved the burying ground where his father and grandfather are interred. Portions of the Remington land were later bought by Thomas Jones Spencer & Thomas LeValley.

His gravestone has the inscription T R 23 July 1710. Although recorded by James N. Arnold in 1893, in 1996 the cemetery could not be located. Supposedly, there were four graves -- Thomas and his wife, and son John and his wife. James Arnold described the location as "north of the David Bennett Lot in open pasture without any protection one tomb two graves at feet that of Thomas Remington and his wife and his son John and his wife." The David Bennett Lot is 1400 feet south of Cowesett Rd. across from Hardig Road and west of I 95.

Thomas married Mary ALLEN Abt 1681. Mary (daughter of William ALLEN, I and Elizabeth Unknown) was born Abt 1661, Prudence Island, Portsmouth, RI; died Abt 1710, RI; was buried , Historical Cemetery WK14, Remington Lot, Cowesett Rd., Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Allen family were of Prudence Island, according to "Representative Men of Old Families of Southeastern MA," V. I, p. 173.

I have estimated Mary's year of birth, assuming that she was about 20 when she was married, and that none of her children were multiple births. Martha Benns gives her year of death as 1710, the same as for her husband Thomas (see Remington book at Rhode Island Historical Library). She is called Marie in her father's will (William Allin, 2 June 1685 Portsmouth, RI), but Mary in her husband's will (1710 Warwick, RI).

It is unclear exactly where she was born.

Notes:

According to the book "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" (by Clarence Almon Torrey, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1985), their first child on record was born in 1682; Mary's year of death is given as 1710+. Places of residence were Portsmouth and Warwick, RI.

Notes:

Peleg's will mentions his wife Sarah and daughters Elizabeth, wife of James Arnold; Lydia Rhoades; & Mary Rhoades; as well as cousin William Rhoades.

Peleg married Sarah Stevens Abt 1689. Sarah (daughter of Francis Stevens) was born Abt 1667; died 29 Jan 1730/31. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her maiden name is sometimes spelled Stephens.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
According to Boyd Scott Remington's genealogy chart at RIHSL, John, Jr. was born in 1633 in Rowley, England. He defended Jamestown against the Indians on 28 August 1669, and was granted land in East Greenwich in 1677. He resided in Haverhill and Rowley, MA, and Jamestown & Warwick, RI.

According to Carl Boyer III in "Ancestral Lines Revised," and genealogist Gordon L. Remington, John Remington II was born 1623-1624. However, a more recent article by Gordon L. Remington places John's birth c 1630 (source: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 147, p. 371).

Alden G. Beaman's article "A Line of Descent from John Remington of Jamestown and Warwick" (RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 20, p.39) gives his year of birth as c. 1625.

According to genealogist Armand Lariviere, "John Remington, the founder of the Rhode Island branch of the Remington family, first settled in Haverhill, MA, and became a citizen of Portsmouth, RI in 1669."

In Haverhill, MA, in 1661 when 53 lots were drawn, John Remington is listed among the names. He is also among the recipients of land in July 1667, when he received 4 acres in Haverhill. (source: "History of Haverhill Since Settlement in 1640" pp. 92 & 106; on Family Archive CD #502)

Some of the following information is from:
Paul Remington's web site: http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/Paul-Remington/REMFAM/
"Some History and Genealogy on the Remington Line in England and America" by J. W. Remington
"History of Warwick" by Oliver Payson Fuller (at Rhode Island Historical Society Library)
"Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts" by Blodgett & Jewett

John Remington II, eldest child of John Remington I, was probably born about 1630 (ref: Gordon L. Remington). This John Remington is our ancestor. Boyd Scott Remington's ancestry chart gives his birth year as 1633. John, Jr. was with his family in Newbury in 1637 and in Rowley in 1638. In Rowley records he is mentioned as "junior" and in deeds as "carpenter." He most likely remained there with his father until 1649, when he married Abigail Acie/Acey, and then about 1654 he removed to Andover, where there is a record of him from 1654 to 1656. Around 1661 he settled in Haverhill, MA, but did not remain there very long, because shortly after 1664 he was identified as a member of the colony of Jamestown, RI. Later, in a deed dated June 2, 1670, he described himself as "of the Island of Quanonagutt" (probably phonetic spelling for Conanicut, native name for Jamestown, RI) in the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." This deed transferred a parcel of land in Rowley to Anthony Crosby.

[The record states that] "On August 28, 1669, he (John Remington) and two others (John Holmes & Michael Kelly) were named as Conservators of the Peace, and ordered to assemble the inhabitants of Conanicut Island, to consider what may be most suitable for their defense and preservation against any invasion or insurrection of the Indians."

Also, in 1677 it was ordered that a certain 5,000-acre tract of land in the East Greenwich area be divided into 100-acre lots, to accommodate inhabitants of the colony as needed. "And further this Assembly do enact, order and declare, for the services rendered during King Philip's War, the persons here named" . . . There follow the names of fifty persons [to receive land] among which is that of John Remington. [Note: likewise our ancestor Capt. Benjamin Gorton, whose daughter Maplet later married Thomas Remington, Jr., grandson of John Jr.] On 6 Sept 1687, John Remington, Junior is on a list for taxes under Gov. Andros, assessing estates of the Towne of Rochester in the King's Province. (Rochester is a former name for North Kingstown, RI.) My observation -- this John Remington could be his son, who married Abigail Richmond and lived in South Kingstown.

Around this time [John Remington II] removed to Warwick, RI, where he on Aug. 13, 1709 confirmed an earlier deed of May 24, 1695 in which he had given to his son Thomas Remington of Warwick "all my right which I had at Haverhill, Mass. and [said deed being somehow damaged and nearly illegible], being willing gift, should stand, therefore for love, etc." His son Thomas received a house and town lot at Haverhill containing four acres, also two orchards and 40 acres called "Fishing River." [Note: this son Thomas is our ancestor.] John Jr. died in 1709 in Warwick, RI. Many of his descendants remained in this spot five or more generations later.

Like his father John the first, John Jr. was a carpenter. His eldest son, John, was born 12 March 1651 in Rowley, MA; he resided in Newport and Kingston, RI, and died in Jamestown, RI (not sure about this). [This son John (the third) married Abigail Richmond. His brother, John Jr.'s third son, named Thomas, married Mary Allen; this couple are our ancestors.]

According to Carl Boyer III, in "Ancestral Lines Revised," p. 337, John II married second to Martha (Unknown).

See also:
http://www.bugthorpe.eril.net/Bugthorpe%20Village.htm
http://www.bugthorpe.eril.net/churches_in_the_garrowby_hill_group_of_paris hes.htm
"The Remingtons of Utah, Their Ancestors and Descendants," by Ward J. Roylance

John — Abigail ACIE. Abigail (daughter of William ACIE, Jr. and Margaret HAITON) was born Abt 1628. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

This marriage is listed in "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" ( by Clarence Almon Torrey, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1985), which gives the year of the birth of their first child as 1650, and locations of record as Rowley/Haverhill/Andover.

Notes:

A "William Allin" was baptized in the town of Wales, Yorkshire, England, on 19 August 1640. This "is almost certainly the William Allin who emigrated to America in 1660." (source: "Genealogy of the Stone Family Originating in Rhode Island" by R. C. Stone)

The location of William's birth and baptism should not be confused with the country of Wales in the British Isles. Rather, Wales, England, is a town in the West Riding of Yorkshire, about nine miles from Sheffield, the largest town in the area. The West Riding of Yorkshire is where our immigrant ancestor John Remington is believed to have come from, so it is possible that these families had common culture and roots, and even the same reasons for coming to the New World. (source: "Some Prudence Island Allens" by Devere Allen, at the RIHSL)

William served as constable of Prudence Island and was surveyor of cattle. In addition to his land on the island, William also owned land in the East Bay area, probably what is now Barrington or West Barrington, RI, but was originally part of Swansea, MA. This land, purchased from Captain Thomas Willett of Swansea, had originally been sold to Captain Miles Standish by the Indian sachem Wamsutta. This land was described as being on both sides of the Seven Mile River; this river now forms approximately the border between Providence Co., RI, and Bristol Co., MA. However, the location may have been different as described in the 1600s. His land in the East Bay area totalled about 600 acres. (source: Cole's "History of Washington and Kent Counties")

The name on his will (dated 2 June 1685, proved 29 June 1685) is "William Allin." In the will he mentions his wife "that now is" Elizabeth (implying she was not his first wife), four sons, three daughters, and two friends. William, Thomas, John, & Matthew were all under 21; Mercy & Sarah were under 18; daughter Marie Remington was already married at this time. Appointed as executors of the will were Elizabeth Allin (wife), son William, and eldest daughter Marie Remington (Mary, my ancestor).

According to notes in the Mary E. Rice Collection, William Allin died in West Barrington, RI; he was married aft 1660 to Elizabeth; and his first child, Mary (who married Thomas Remington, s/o John & Abigail), was born c1664.

According to Charles Gregory Maytum in his book "Paragraphs on the History of Prudence Island" p. 16, William's children were born of his first (unknown) wife. He was a close friend of John Paine, who lived at the northern end of Prudence Island. William was a large owner of cattle and also had hundreds of sheep. In 1669 he was admitted freeman of Prudence Island (along with John Paine). He was tax rate assessor of PI in 1671; also that year he was constable of PI, as well as in 1678, 1679, 1680, 1682, 1683, & 1691. (Maytum's book is at the Newport Historical Society.)

This book also recounts how in 1680 William Allin moved his house from PI across the frozen bay to West Barrington, with the help of Indians and using three large trees made into a sled pulled by oxen.

A note from Cynthia Joly, as found in the PI Cookbook: "William Allin . . . who came to Prudence in 1660 as a tenant farmer for John Paine. He later built his own home along what is now known as Allen Lane."

William married Elizabeth Unknown Abt 1660. Elizabeth was born Abt 1640; died Aft Jun 1685. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Elizabeth was probably not William's first wife, as implied by the wording in his will. He may have married Elizabeth after 1660 (see notes for William).

William's children may have been by his first wife.

A posting on a message board (L-Sweet) suggests that Elizabeth later married Philip Sweet. I have not yet seen evidence of this, so more research is needed.

Notes:

Zachariah Rhodes was one of the four original founders of Pawtuxet in 1638, along with William Arnold, William Carpenter, and William Harris.

Zachariah married Joanna Arnold 6 Mar 1645/46. Joanna (daughter of William Arnold and Christian Peak) was born 27 Feb 1617/18; died 1693. [Group Sheet]