Norman Chester REMINGTON

Notes:

I have two different copies of his birth certificate, one a card issued at Coventry, RI, and the other a paper from the RI Dept. of Health. I am told he was born on a Tuesday.

My dad Norman was born on the family farm off Knotty Oak Rd. in Coventry, RI. We have some pictures of the farm (see Remington section of the photo gallery, "Remington brothers together," at our web site). Tragically, the two-family farmhouse burned down when my dad was six years old. After this, his family moved into a shanty and stayed there for a while. Quoted below are some reminiscences from my dad Norman about his grandmother Angeretta (Whitford) Remington, about the big farmhouse, and about the fire there. They always believed the fire was set. The adjoining farm belonged to my dad's uncle, John Francis (we called him Uncle Fran), who kept cows there even when I was a child in the 1950s. We used to go blueberrying there, and I was afraid of being confronted face-to-face by a cow, which did actually happen once! In very recent years that property has passed out of our family, and part of it is now a new plat. One of the streets is Remington Farm Drive. On an old map, I've seen that another Remington may have owned that land adjacent to my great uncle.

About the farmhouse: "There were two front doors. The first one as one approached from the road led into a long hall way extending the width of the main section of the house. At the end was the door opening into the ell kitchen. Doors on the left were to my Grandmother's bedroom (used whenever she was with us) and to a downstairs bedroom. At a right angle to that was the door to the cellar stairs. The stairway to the upstairs rooms began near the door to the kitchen. From the right side of the hall were doors to the parlor (as it was called in those days) and the dining room.

"Grandma's bedroom windows were between the front doors. The second one was Aunt Velna's front door, which opened into a small entry, from which a door to the left led into her parlor.

"My grandmother [Angeretta] was a practical nurse, attending women about to give birth and for some time afterwards. Confinements lasted several days at that time. Between work opportunities she would be on the farm, sleeping in her room in our house, where the furnishings were hers. So my earliest memories are that she was with us from time to time. When she was there she was a great help to my mother. Later on she also worked as a housekeeper/cook. When I was in the second grade she kept house for a Mrs. Maynard (or Menard), who was legally blind. This was on Boston Street, Anthony, which is off the main street directly opposite the big mill.

"The fire destroyed the house December 27, 1924. It was discovered some time before daybreak, when my mother thought my father was trying to waken her. Later, she always said she thought it was an angel. Anyway, she smelled smoke, and woke my father. Our collie dog, Major, usually was in the kitchen overnight (no doubt, during cold weather), and he pushed open the door to the hall, again no doubt because of flames and heat. All of us were out of the house, and in my father's truck, in the big meadow across the driveway from the house, while it was still dark."

Dad enlisted at Providence, RI, on 29 Aug 1942, as a Private in the US Army. He was a resident of Providence, married, an insurance clerk with 2 years of college; height 74 inches and weight 158 lbs.

Norman married Edna Virginia BERRY 6 Sep 1941, Providence, RI. Edna (daughter of John Holland BERRY and Ellen COLEMAN) was born 25 Mar 1918, Providence, RI; died 20 Nov 2010, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; was buried 24 Nov 2010, Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have a copy of their marriage certificate. They were married three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor which brought America into World War II.

Dad & Mom were engaged on 27 Jan 1941.

1. Elizabeth Ann Remington was born 27 Mar 1947, Providence, RI.
2. Russell Chester Remington was born 27 Jun 1948, Providence, RI.
3. Lois Edna REMINGTON was born 1 May 1951, Providence, RI.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of his original birth entry at Coventry, Book of Births for 1894, p. 98. His gravestone has been photographed.

Apparently Chester & Laura and family were not listed in the 1920 Federal Census, nor were their Whitford cousins who lived with them in the duplex farmhouse on Knotty Oak Rd., Coventry, RI.

However, in the 1925 Rhode Island Census they are on Hope Rd., Coventry.

This family farm, located on what is now Old Hope Lane, was called the Linden Farm in the old days, because the driveway was lined with beautiful linden trees. My grandfather kept a herd of cows and had a milk route. Their two-family farmhouse burned to the ground during the night on 27 Dec 1924, when my dad was six years old. Because the insurance had lapsed, my grandfather was not able to rebuild, so the family lived in a shanty on the property for a couple of years before moving away. This property has changed somewhat since the 1920s, but much of it remains the same -- the old stone walls, the pastures, and the lay of the land. A new house has been built in one of the pastures, the old barn has been replaced by a smaller one, and a couple of additional houses have been built along the driveway leading into the farm. It is now called Old Hope Farm.

In the 1930 Federal Census, the family is living at 365 Jackson Ave., Johnston, RI. In 1935 they were living at 1226 Plainfield St., Johnston.

In 1940 they were living at 24 Kilvert St. in Warwick, RI. Norman, Raymond, Chester, and Richard were living with their parents.

Chester married Laura Russel CHAFEE 28 Apr 1917, Coventry, Kent Co., RI. Laura (daughter of Frank Paine CHAFEE and Mary Elizabeth ANDREWS) was born 28 Apr 1899, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI; died 14 Mar 1975, Natick, Middlesex Co., MA; was buried , Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have very happy memories of my grandmother, which is one reason why I named my older daughter after her. We would often visit her on Heath Avenue in Warwick. Once I even got to spend the night with her. The next day we walked a couple of miles to the shopping center across from Aldrich Junior High. I wanted to buy some doll clothes, but she said, "I can make those for you, Dear." And she did -- beautiful ones, for our baby dolls and grown-up dolls. She did lovely embroidery, too, which she gave as gifts in the form of pillows, table and bed linens, and framed pictures. In later years, when she moved to Ashland, MA, we would usually ride up to see her on Sunday afternoons. After I learned to drive, one summer day I borrowed my dad's car and drove up there with my cousin Barbara, and we took her to the seashore for lunch. Another time I rolled her hair up for her. In the early 1970s, Rich and I would drop in on her, and get her talking about the old days. Once she got started, the stories followed one after another. She'd get out the photographs, laugh about this or that event, and often give her opinion in no uncertain terms. More than once she said she had married too young, on her 18th birthday. But I'm glad she did, because my dad was born a little over a year later, the first of six sons. What a life! I'm sure her marriage, and her whole life, had its ups and downs. At one point their farmhouse burned down, and the family had to move into a little shanty for a while. My grandparents certainly set an example of hard work and determination for generations to follow. While I never met my grandfather, I know he was proud of his children and grandchildren. My grandmother was very much a part of our family, and I only wish she had lived to be a part of the lives of my children, too.

I have copies of Laura's birth, marriage, and death certificates, plus a copy of the page from the 1900 Census at Bristol which shows her family when Laura was one year old. Also, her gravestone has been photographed.

The birth record at Bristol says she is the second child born to Frank & Mary Chafee.

Notes:

They were married on Laura's eighteenth birthday. Chester was 23.

Notes:

I have a copy of his birth certificate from Warwick, RI (Warwick Births, 1850 - 1882, Vol. 2, p. 5); a copy of his official marriage record from the RI State Offices in Providence, as well as the original page from the Town of Coventry marriage record book, p. 89; and his death certificate from Cranston, RI.

The 1880 census lists John A. Remington as age 12 at that time. I have a copy of the page from the census showing his family.

We have a nice portrait of John Allen dressed in his best suit, with a boutonnierre pinned to his right lapel. Perhaps it was a graduation picture, or even a wedding picture, as he was married quite young the first time -- not yet nineteen. His brown hair is neatly parted in the center and combed with a slight wave to either side. He has light eyes, like his father's, and fine regular features in an oval face. I definitely see a bit of his looks in our family, especially my uncles and my dad's cousins. We never knew much about my Great-grandfather Remington; things were left unsaid. His first wife died young of consumption, after only 1 1/2 years of marriage, which must have brought him much grief. Perhaps he took up drinking to cope with the sorrow, and then couldn't get away from it, even after marrying Angeretta, with whom he had two fine sons. For some reason they separated. He died so young, only 28 years old, of some form of cancer, according to the death certificate. I guess the whole story will never be known, so we've left it in God's hands.

John married Angeretta Williams WHITFORD 10 Nov 1891, Coventry, Kent Co., RI. Angeretta (daughter of Charles Carmi WHITFORD and Harty Potter JOHNSON) was born 10 Nov 1870, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 12 Oct 1958, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Woodland Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have a photocopy of her original birth record in the official Book of Births for 1870 in the Town of West Greenwich, p. 20; a copy of the original marriage record from the official Book of Marriages for 1891 in the Town of Coventry, p. 89; a copy of the marriage certificate from the State Offices at Providence, RI; a copy of her death certificate from the State of Rhode Island; and a copy of the newspaper obituary. Her gravestone has been photographed.

Angeretta was a midwife.

I remember occasionally going to visit my Great-grandma Remington in a house on Knotty Oak Road in Coventry, RI, where she lived with "Aunt Ollie and Uncle Allen," who were actually my great aunt -- Angeretta's sister -- and her husband, Allen Hopkins. The older folks would sit around the living room and talk, while we children would sometimes sit and listen, and sometimes amuse ourselves by walking around -- but never upstairs, as I recall. There was a square metal grate in the floor between the living room and kitchen, through which the heat would blow from the basement furnace. Being a small child, I had to take a rather large step to walk, or rather jump, over this grate, and I was somehow worried that I might fall through!

Great-grandma Remington came to stay overnight with us once, and she slept in the room next to mine. When she was in the hospital with her final illness, I was allowed to go up to her hospital room to see her one last time. I was seven years old.

Aunt Ollie lived quite a few years longer, and died when I was sixteen. I have memories of going to her funeral. But the best memories are of the three generations of family sitting around that comfortable living room, where the older folks would talk in their gentle and pleasant voices.

Notes:

Frank's birth record is on a 3 x 5 card in a file cabinet in the Bristol Town Hall.

Frank & Mary's 50th wedding anniversary celebration was at Cousin Lida's house in Graniteville. (Lida Jenckes was Mary's niece.)

In the 1900 Federal Census, Frank & Mary "Chaffee" are living in Bristol, RI. With them are children Frank, 2, and Laura, 1.

In 1910, Frank & Mary E. "Chaffe" are living at Coventry, RI. In the household are: John 13, Frank 12, Laura 11, Ruth 9, Hattie 7, & Charles 4 months (?). Who is John? I think he may have been a child who died in infancy. Also, Hattie has already died by 1910. Perhaps the census taker listed all the children, past and present, born to the family.

In 1920, Frank P. & Mary E. Chafee are living at 357 Atlantic Ave. in the Longmeadow section of Warwick, RI. In the household are Ruth A., 19, and Charles A., 10. Frank is a foreman at the freighthouse. Daughter Ruth works as a jeweler in a factory.

In 1930 the family is at 632 Heights Ave. in the Riverview section of Warwick. Son Charles, 20, is the only one of the children still at home. Frank is a brakeman on the electric railway.

According to Frank's obituary, he moved to California only two months before he died (of metastic carcinoma). Formerly he had lived at 184 Potters Ave., Providence, RI, and had been a resident of Providence for 22 years. He was employed at the Davol Rubber Co. for 20 years.

I can remember seeing off my Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother Chafee on the train when they left Providence for California. I was just four years old.

Frank died at 1506 Imperial Ave., Jacumba, CA.

Frank married Mary Elizabeth ANDREWS 17 Jul 1896, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI. Mary (daughter of William ANDREWS and Eliza Jane EDWARDS) was born 13 Nov 1870, Lymansville, North Providence, RI; died 20 Mar 1959, Sunland, CA; was buried 23 Mar 1959, Mt. Hope Cemetery, 3751 Market St., San Diego, CA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

She was "Mamie" to Great-grandpa Chafee.

Mary was born in Lymansville, North Providence, which is now part of Pawtucket. Her original birth record is at the Pawtucket City Hall.

Her address at the time of her death was 9645 Green Verdugo Rd., Sunland, CA. According to a notation on the funeral memorial, Mary's grave is in Section 1, Div. 8, Lot 116.

My dad, Norman, saved many of the letters she wrote to my family when she lived in California in the mid-1950s. In one of them she writes: "Everything seems queer to me here in the West. It's lovely up here in these mountains though -- I only wish Grandpa could have lived long enough for the Lord to heal him -- and he take a little comfort in his old age. I am quite alone here in this house -- Frankie's trailer is quite near (and they look after me and do all my errands) so I don't have to leave the place. I am lonely at times -- and wish things could have been different. But God's spirit is here and in me. Bless his name. I am trying to be contented. It's the best all around -- for not any of my children could take the burden of me like Frankie."

She tells how Frank took her with him to Arizona for a fishing trip on the Colorado River. She writes: "It was some trip (but part of it was rough) and some of it was lovely -- would like to have had all my people here to enjoy it with me. Love to you all and God's blessings on you, Grandma Chafee" [this was a couple of months after her husband died]

In another letter, she says: "Laura writes -- she must have looked like Lois when she was a little girl. (Not quite) She was very light -- with hair very sunny and fine." In another letter she says something similar: "Laura thinks she must have looked like Lois (when she was little) (not quite) she had a look like her dad (even then) where the blue eyes come from (is away back -- so Grandma Chafee says -- in the Chafee family) as Grandma Chafee was a Monrow, with brown eyes -- and Grandpa Chafee's eyes were a dark grey, like Aunt Lena's. Well that's all I can remember about it. The blue eyes didn't come from the Andrews either (my father's were a light grey -- not blue -- so it will remain a mystery I guess). Love to all of you -- God's blessings on you all. Grandma Chafee"

Notes:

Benjamin's birth record is noted as:
REMINGTON, Benjamin F., of Benjamin and Mary, b. 1831 Ti (TiM 1-5)

I have a photocopy of his official death certificate from Tiverton, RI. In addition, I have copies of the family group in the 1860 and 1870 censuses at "Old Warwick" and in the 1880 census at Coventry.

In the 1865 RI State Census, the family is at Warwick. They have six children.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Benjamin & Adeline are living at Old Warwick. They have eight children.

In 1875 the family is in Warwick, still in he section known as Old Warwick. There are 10 children, ranging in age from 2 to 20.

In 1880 Benjamin & "Adelaid" are in Coventry. Seven of their children are in the household.

Benjamin & Adeline lived in Tiverton, Old Warwick/Warwick Neck, Coventry, West Greenwich, and probably East Greenwich. Benjamin's signature is on the West Greenwich voting lists, Burton District, for 1885 to 1888. This record gives his date of birth as 13 Feb 1832, and his birthplace as Tiverton, RI. The Burton District, sometimes referred to as the Button District, was located in the northeastern corner of West Greenwich, in the the area between Carrs Pond and Lake Mishnock where Division Rd., Hopkins Hill Rd., and New London Turnpike intersect. I am not sure exactly where in this area my ancestors lived during these years.

Benjamin's middle name was probably Franklin, although no official document has been found giving the full name. Benjamin is in the 1850 Federal Census at Tiverton, listed with the household of his maternal grandparents, Deacon Benjamin and Peace Hambly, along with his mother, his brother John, and other individuals.

It seems as if he and Adeline named several of their children after relatives, such as Mary Anna, Peace H., David Thomas, Charles Abner, Joseph Ellery, John, and George, as well as after notable American or RI leaders. There is the obvious Benjamin Franklin, probably named after his father and great uncle, as well as the statesman and his maternal grandfather Benjamin. James DeWolf Remington may have been named after James DeWolf (1764-1837), a prominent merchant, shipowner, and manufacturer from Bristol, who was very prosperous in slave trading; but after this was halted by the War of 1812, sponsored a privateer that captured millions of dollars worth of goods from British ships. In 1821, the RI General Assembly chose him to be US Senator. In the words of Patrick T. Conley, "In 1837, after a full life as a lawbreaker and lawmaker, he died on his elegant 1,000-acre Bristol estate."

Cousin Barbara Shaw gave Dad Remington pictures of Adeline and Benjamin. On the back of his she wrote Benjamin Franklin Remington, so if accurate this means he gave one of his sons the same name. The portrait shows him dressed in a three-piece suit. He seems to have had brown hair -- parted on the side, slicked back, and cut below the ears -- and a full beard. His face shows classic features, with light eyes -- possibly blue or gray. I try to see my children, cousins, aunts or uncles in his face. Maybe . . .

Benjamin married Adeline Tripp MANCHESTER 12 Dec 1852, The Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton, RI. Adeline (daughter of Jeremiah A. MANCHESTER and Mary H. DENNIS) was born 7 Jun 1835, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 10 May 1893, East Greenwich, RI; was buried , Glenwood Cemetery, East Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Adeline is one of our links to our Mayflower Pilgrim ancestry, through her maternal grandmother.

The 1850 Tiverton census shows Adeline Manchester as a 15-year-old living in the household of Edward and Elizabeth Wing, ages 78 and 73. There is also Isaac Manchester, age 11, her brother. Others living there are Joseph and Roby Rounds, 22 and 20; and John Keefe, 24, from Ireland. Roby was Adeline's and Isaac's older married sister. Another Tiverton home lists Emeline Manchester, 17; William Manchester, 23; and Lucy A., 7; living with six individuals of the surname Rounds. These other Manchesters were Adeline's siblings, and her mother, Mary, had remarried to Roderick Rounds. I have found the birth entries for all of them except Lucy.

Adeline Remington is 24 in the 1860 Census at Warwick, and 45 in the 1880 Census at Coventry.

Her death is entered in East Greenwich, Vol. 4, p. 76: "10 May 1893, Adlin T. Remington, age 58, birthplace Tiverton, parents Jeremiah & Mary Manchester, cause of death -- pneumonia." I visited the Greenwood Cemetery on 9 Feb 2002, and took some pictures of the gravestone, which is inscribed Adelin T. Manchester (elsewhere she is named as Adeline H. but that is incorrect). It is a very nice memorial stone, in the area over to the left as one enters the gates.

I found Adeline's middle name in James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" Volume R, "Remington" at the Knight Memorial Library, Elmwood Ave., Providence (these papers are now at the Providence Public Library). It is also on son David's death record at Providence, but is misspelled as Krip.

Her picture shows her with light brown hair, parted in the middle and pulled back, probably in a braid or chignon. Her eyes must have been brown or dark blue. Attired very properly and modestly in a dark-colored dress with a high collar and small bow at the neck, and buttons down the front, she appears somewhat tired, but calm and resolute. In her thin oval face and sloping eyebrows I can see a striking resemblance to my Great Uncle Fran, who was her grandson. (Note from cousin Judith Walton: "The picture was done by Morton Artistic Photographer of Westminster St. in Providence.")

There is no way of knowing for sure, but I suppose the pictures could have been taken when they were about forty, perhaps even for their 25th anniversary, around 1877.

I have been trying to determine whom Adeline was named after -- if anyone. There was an Adeline Manchester who married a Rufus Tripp; this Adeline was a daughter of Perry Manchester, who was a son of Peleg & Margaret. I have not found any Tripp ancestry for this branch of the family, although this is a possibility. John Dennis's ancestry has not yet been determined with certainly, although I have researched it to the extent that I am fairly satisfied with the available evidence.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of Benjamin's and Adeline's official marriage record from Tiverton, RI.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of his original birth entry at the Town of West Greenwich. Charles Carmi was named for his two grandfathers, Carmi Whitford and Charles Tibbetts. I also have a photocopy of his death entry in the Book of Deaths for 1910, p. 30, in the Town of Coventry.
We have one picture of my Great-great-grandfather Whitford. This is posted at our family website [www.thesorensens.net]. Also there is a photograph of his gravestone at Maple Root Cemetery.

All of the children and their birth dates are listed in the book "Records of the Bailey Family," p. 61.

In the 1860 Federal Census at West Greenwich, Charles is 25 and living with his parents, along with his married sister, Marcy W. Church, 29. In the 1870 Federal Census, Charles C. 34 and his wife Harty 21 are still living at West Greenwich, RI. They have a child Hattie L., age 1. The family is in the household of Jeremiah & Sally W. Whitford, ages 64 & 61, Charles's parents. The 1880 Census at West Greenwich shows him married, age 45, with his wife and five daughters, again living in the household with Jeremiah and Sally Whitford, Charles's parents. This is probably the family farm on Rt. 3 in West Greenwich, where there is now a motel and gas station, at the intersection of Interstate 95. He is age 65 in the 1900 Census at Coventry, and is listed as the head of the household which includes his children as well as two grandsons, Angeretta's sons. I have photocopies of the pages from these three censuses.

Example -- 1880 Census:
Charles C. Whitford age 45
Harty P. Whitford 30
Hattie L. 11
Angeretta W. 9
Julia E. 6
Lena M. 4
Olive 2

Charles was elected to the Exeter Town Council in 1888 (was this a different Charles Whitford?).

There is a paragraph about Charles C. Whitford and his family on p. 1343 of J. R. Cole's "History of Washington and Kent Counties," published in 1889. Although the writer has made two mistakes (names Charles's grandfather as Jeremiah instead of Carmi, and names his wife as Hattie instead of Harty), he does offer other information that is more reliable. We are told that Charles was born in 1834 in West Greenwich, and that he has been a farmer all of his life, having bought the farm where he now lives in 1884 (probably the farm on Knotty Oak Rd. in Coventry). It says he was married to [Harty] in 1866, and lists his children as: Hattie L., Angeretta W., Julia E., Lena M., Olive L., Charles W., and Nelson J. Lastly, he comments that "the family is said to be of Welsh descent."

Of the individuals in this family, the ones I have personal memories of are Angeretta, who was my great-grandmother Remington; Olive, who was my great "Aunt Ollie"; Charles W., who we called "Uncle Will"; and J. Nelson, who was my great "Uncle Jerry."

My dad, Norman Remington, says he remembers driving by the site of the old family homestead, which was on Rt. 3 between Harkney Hill Road and the present Interstate 95. About where the Best Western/Congress Inn is today, there was a spring. Further up the road, where the plat Wood Estates is now located, there must have been a family burial site, because when the plat was being planned (perhaps in the 1960s?), certain Whitford heirs had to sign, acknowledging there were interments on the property, and giving their permission for the project to proceed.

Charles married Harty Potter JOHNSON 25 Nov 1866, Richmond, RI. Harty (daughter of Philip JOHNSON, Jr. and Tryphena Hoxsie GREENE) was born 12 Apr 1850, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; died 27 Nov 1917, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Maple Root Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

We have a picture of Great-great-grandma Harty Whitford, taken in 1912 in a five-generation group which includes her father. More recently I was given a picture of her as a young mother. These and other family pictures are posted at our family web site [www.thesorensens.net].

I have a photocopy of her original death entry in the Book of Deaths in 1917, p. 51, for the Town of Coventry. Also, her gravestone has been photographed.

I think she must have been named after Harty (Potter) Johnson, wife of her uncle Caleb Johnson.

Notes:

The original marriage entry is at the Richmond Town Hall in the "Book of Marriages and Deaths, 1850-1910, p. 14. It says, "In Richmond, Nov. 25th (1866), Charles C. Whitford born in West Greenwich, age 31 -- a farmer, and Hatty P. Johnson born in Coventry, age 17; parents of each: Jeremiah and Sally W. Whitford, Phillip and Tryphena H. Johnson; married by Gilbert Tillinghast, Minister of the Gospel." It was the first marriage for both of them.

Notes:

In the 1870 Federal Census, Samuel R. Chaffee, 25, is a bootmaker, living at Bristol, RI. His wife, Laura A., is age 26. They have two young sons, Raymond & Samuel.

In the 1880 Federal Census, the family is living at Middletown, CT, where Samuel is a saloon keeper -- probably at the Chafee Hotel.

In 1900, Samuel & Laura are living on Congregational St. in Bristol, RI, age 54, with three of their children -- Lena, Cora, & William. They have been married 34 years, according to the census figures. Samuel is a cutter in the rubber mill.

In 1910 Samuel & Laura are both age 65, still living on Congregational St., and have been married 42 years, according to census data.

In the 1930 Federal Census, Samuel is a widower, age 86, living in Bristol, Lincoln Co., ME, with his married daughter Cora Martin and family.

According to the gravestone inscription, Samuel was in Co. G Second Regt. RI Vols. The gravestone has been photographed.

Samuel married Laura Anne MUNROE 24 Apr 1867, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI. Laura (daughter of Jeremiah William MUNROE and Elizabeth BARRINGTON) was born Abt 16 Mar 1844, Bristol, Bristol; Co., RI; died 20 Oct 1911, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1860 Federal Census at Bristol, RI, Laura A. Munro is age 16, a "factory operative," living with her parents and two sisters. However, in the 1850 Federal Census, her age is given as 9.

According to Laura's death record, Laura's mother was Elizabeth Barrington (or Parrington), who apparently was the first wife of Jeremiah.

According to the death record at Bristol, RI, Laura Anne Chafee died at age 67 y 7 m 4 d. She died at 19 Constitution St.

The gravestone has her birth year as 1844. The 1905 RI Census has her dob as 15 March 1844. It says she has had 10 children of whom 6 are still living.

Notes:

According to "The Monroe Book," by Joan S. Guilford, Samuel & Laura were married at State Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Bristol. This is also recorded as such in James N. Arnold's "Vital Record of RI," Bristol Church Marriage Records. It is also in the Bristol town records, book of Marriages 1850 - 1902, p. 70.

Guilford's book has Laura in the section titled "Unconnected Monroes."

Notes:

According to my great-grandma's writings, her father William "was only 13 years old when his mother died -- and he used to work in the factory as a weaver until he went to sea as a cabin boy and followed the sea until his family came to America -- and while they were all working in the factories of Hebronville, for one place, and Central Falls and Pawtucket, I think it was while my aunts -- my father's sisters -- were there, he would go into the mill to see them and my mother was working there also and it was there he met her first."

William probably came to America with his father and sister Mary c1847 (see notes for John Andrews).

In the 1860 Federal Census, William & Eliza J. Andrews, ages 27 & 23, are living at North Providence, RI. He is a weaver. They have two children: William H., 3, and Carrie J., 1 month. In 1870 the family is still at North Providence, Centredale Post Office District.

The family was listed in the 1880 census for Providence / Graniteville; also known as District 1 Johnston:
William Andrews 47 born England
Eliza J Andrews 42 born England
Clara J. 20
James E. 15
Joseph C. 11
Mary E. 8
John F. 6
Estella M. 4
William H. 22

According to Mary's letter, her father William was in the Civil War, and also became an overseer at a mill in Centredale. She said his trade was "boss weaver" -- did she mean a manager of weavers?

His death record at Bristol, RI, identifies him as s/o John & Catherine. According to the record, he died at age 66.

William married Eliza Jane EDWARDS 2 Sep 1856, RI. Eliza (daughter of George EDWARDS and Abigail Abby WRAY) was born 4 Mar 1836, Clones, Monaghan, Ireland; died 2 Dec 1894, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eliza Jane Edwards: born 4 March 1836 baptized 13 March 1836 Clones, Monaghan, Ireland; father George Edwards, mother Abegail.

Susan Edwards 19 and Eliza Jane Edwards 18, both born Scotland, sailed on the ship Saratoga from Liverpool and arrived at New York City on 27 July 1854.

Her mother and brother James arrived in August 1855.

The RI Death Index identifies her as d/o George & Abigail Edwards. She died at age 56.