Benjamin Franklin REMINGTON

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:

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

1. Mary Anne Remington was born 27 Nov 1854, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 25 Mar 1895; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI.
2. Amelia M. Remington was born 22 Mar 1857, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died Aft 1 Jun 1900.
3. Ella Agnes Remington was born 1858, Warwick Neck, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 27 Jul 1884, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI.
4. Peace Hambly Remington was born 5 Jan 1860, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 30 Jun 1926; was buried , Pine Grove Cemetery, Coventry, RI.
5. Benjamin Franklin Remington was born 9 Mar 1862, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 3 Apr 1924, Providence, Providence Co., RI.
6. Hannah Adeline Gertrude Remington was born 19 Oct 1864, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 1942; was buried , Glenwood Cemetery, East Greenwich, RI.
7. John Allen REMINGTON was born 1 Dec 1866, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 1 May 1895, Cranston, Providence Co., RI; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Phenix, RI.
8. James DeWolf Remington was born 8 Aug 1869, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 10 Nov 1929, Cranston, Providence Co., RI.
9. David Thomas Remington was born 9 Oct 1870, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 1 Jan 1917, Providence, Providence Co., RI; was buried , East Greenwich, RI.
10. Joseph Ellery Remington was born 15 Feb 1873, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 24 Oct 1918, East Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Glenwood Cemetery, East Greenwich.
11. Charles Abner Remington was born 14 Aug 1875, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 16 Mar 1939, Cranston, Providence Co., RI; was buried , Warwick Poor Farm Cemetery, Asylum Rd., Warwick, RI.
12. George Edward Remington was born 8 Nov 1876, Warwick, RI; died 28 Aug 1877, Warwick, RI; was buried , Hambly Cemetery, Fish Rd., Tiverton.

Notes:

Benjamin was a seaman whose name appears on the whaling crew lists at New Bedford Public Library. The information that he was lost at sea came from a descendant, Mrs. Vira Dodge of West Greenwich, and was transcribed in James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" Volume R, an unpublished manuscript located at the Knight Library in Providence, RI (now at Providence Public Library, main branch)

Whaling crew records at New Bedford provide information on some of the whaling voyages he went on. For instance, on 6 May 1820 he departed from New Bedford on the brig Juno, bound for the coast of Africa. The crew's master was Simeon Long, Jr. The roster says Benjamin was age 17, 5'7" tall, fair-skinned, had brown hair, and resided in Tiverton, RI.

On 21 April 1827 he left on the brig Parthian for a whaling voyage, "bound for the the Western Islands and elsewhere in the Atlantic Ocean." They returned on 7 June 1828. The crew's master was John J. (or T.) Parker. Benjamin was age 23, had a fair complexion and brown hair, and was 5' 8 1/2" in height. His residence was still Tiverton. Also on the crew list was Eseck Manchester, age 22, also from Tiverton.

A brig was a large seagoing vessel with two masts and square sails. They usually carried three boats, and were smaller than a ship or bark, which carried four or five whaleboats. The brig Juno was originally registered at New Bedford on 9 May 1818, and was re-registered a number of times after that, such as on 6 May 1820. The owners were: John A, Parker, merchant; Joseph Spooner, New Bedford; and Nathan Church, Fairhaven. As already noted above, the master for this voyage was Simeon Long, Jr.

The brig Parthian was built at Dartmouth, MA, in 1820, and was first registered on 19 April 1821. The vessel measured 119 35/95 tons, length 66 ft. 10 in., breadth 20 ft. 8 in., depth 10 ft. 1 in. When it was re-registered on 21 April 1827, the master was John J. Parker and the owners were Abraham Barker and James Russell of New Bedford.

From the records I have found, it looks as if the Parthinan went on ten voyages, beginning in 1821, then in 1834 the register was lost in a mutiny.

Although the family has passed down the information that Benjamin died at sea, we don't know the circumstances of his death -- whether from sickness, from the many dangers of whaling, or whatever.

Benjamin was not the only one of our family members on the Remington side to be a whaler. His brothers David and Abner also made voyages, possibly his brother John, and possibly his son John. There are numerous other Remingtons listed in New Bedford records as whalers, who may have been among his close or extended family.

(The information in the following two paragraphs is from "The Bounty of the Beast: Why Whales Were Hunted" on the web site of the New Bedford Free Library)

"Although many men died chasing whales, very few profited handsomely. Why, then, did they pursue these great creatures of the sea to the brink of extinction? The answer lies in the whale's enormous economic value. In 'Men and Whales,' Richard Ellis writes that, until the beginning of the twentieth century, whaling was considered an admirable occupation. '. . . it is only through the lens of hindsight that the whaleman's job becomes malicious or cruel . . . Oil was needed for light and lubrication; baleen was needed for skirt hoops and corset stays. That whales had to die to provide these things is a fact of seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenth-century life . . . ' "

Whale oil provided fuel for lighting, slow-burning and with no offensive odor. The oil was also used for clock making; lubricating many types of machinery; manufacturing of soaps, varnish, and paint; and producing special smokeless, odorless candles. The wax from sperm whales was also used in making face and hand creams and skin lotions. The baleen from whales was used in buggy whips, carriage springs, corset stays, fishing poles, hoops for women's skirts, umbrella ribs, and other such applications for which plastic or steel would now be used. A dark waxy substance called ambergris was used in cosmetics, wines, and as a headache remedy.

Many beautifully carved objects of both a practical and decorative use were made from whale bone. Examples of these works of art are on display at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, a location maintained by the National Park Service.

When whaling ships returned to port, the profits were divided up among the ship's owners and the crew. Ordinary seamen were paid last and received the smallest percentage of the profits. Depending on the success of their voyage, their take-home pay could range from several hundred dollars to about ten dollars. Of course, they might also be taking home some beautiful objects they had carved from whalebone during the long hours, days, and months on the sea.

Benjamin married Mary Anne HAMBLY Abt 1831. Mary (daughter of Benjamin HAMBLY, III and Peace SHERMAN) was born 15 Feb 1811, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 1 Apr 1868, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

An entry from Beaman's Vital Records/Births From Death Records, vol. 12, A-J:

Mary A. Hambly, dtr. of Benjamin and Peace Hambly, b. 1811 Tiverton;
widow of Mr. Remington; d. 1 Apr 1868 Tiverton [TiD 1-40]

Her middle name was either Ann(e) or Anna. Her son (Benjamin's) first daughter was named Mary Anna; also, there was an Anna Hambly born in 1789 in Tiverton; she was Mary's aunt, a sister of her father, Benjamin Hambly, who was born in 1783 in Tiverton.

In the 1840 census, Mary Anne is probably living with her parents at Tiverton.

The 1850 census microfilm for Tiverton shows Benjamin Hambly, a 64-year-old farmer, and Peace Hambly, age 63. Living with them are Marianne Remington, 39; Benjamin Remington, a 19-year-old laborer; and John H. Remington, 15. Other household members are Gardner Hambly, 29, and Ann/Amy (?) Hambly, 20. They are Marianne's younger siblings.

Notes:

Thomas Remington of Tiverton was appointed to serve on the grand jury, along with Isaac Negus, for the November term 1797, to attend the Court of Common Pleas. (Tiverton Probate Records No 5 p 56)

Thomas served in the military during the Revolutionary War. He first enlisted at Tiverton in January 1777, and when he was discharged in March 1778, re-enlisted right away, and was subsequently discharged about a year later. During much of that time his company was encamped at Bristol and at Ft. Barton in Tiverton. He was in the action during the Battle of RI under General Sullivan.

In his deposition as part of the pension application in 1832, he said he had been born in South Kingstown, but that his family had moved to Tiverton when he was very young. After the war he returned to Tiverton, where he is most likely the other adult male in his father's household in 1790, which includes 2 free white males 16+, and one free white female -- probably his mother or a sister.

In 1832 he mentions that he is a neighbor of Job and Charles Durfee, Esquires. Thomas Remington is in the 1830 RI Census, residing in Tiverton (Newport County, p. 071). He is also there in 1840, and is listed as a Revolutionary War Pensioner, at age 79 1/2. However, he seems to be living alone at that time. Perhaps Alice is in ill health, and has gone to live with one of her children? She will pass away in 1848 at Dartmouth; their son Joseph and family are probably there in 1840, but appear in New Bedford by 1850. I have not yet found a date of death for Thomas, but apparently he died before Alice because she is described as his widow; also, since his last pension payment was in March 1842, he probably died in Feb or March of that year. "Thomas Remington residing in Tiverton collected a pension until March 2, 1842." (source for quote: George Sermuksnis, Archives Technician at Waltham National Archives).

On 7 September 1832, two friends/neighbors and fellow-Revolutionary-soldiers testified on his behalf; they were William Cook, and John Manchester, our ancestor.

Thomas Remington is on the list of persons who united with the Amicable Congregational Society, associated with the Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton, RI. (ref: "The History of Amicable Congregational Church 1746 - 1946" p.83) He probably was buried from this church, but there were no death records kept for the church at this time. The location of his grave is unknown. I suspect he may be buried with his parents and their Brayton relatives, in one of the unknown gravesites in the family plot at Pleasant View Cemetery, Stone Church Rd., Tiverton, RI (formerly buried on a family farm and relocated to this cemetery).

Revolutionary War Pension file # S21938

He is listed on the Pension Roll of 1835: Remington, Thomas, private of Artillery, Newport county, all $90, rec $270, R.I. Cont. Line, pl July 9, 1833, com March 4, 1831, age 74

In the 1840 Federal Census, Thomas is listed in Tiverton, RI, as a Revolutionary War Veteran/Pensioner age 79 and 1/2.

The list of Thomas and Alice's children came to me from a distant cousin in Michigan. This agreed with names I already had found in the New Bedford whaling crew lists and in marriage, census, and death records in RI and MA.

On 2 March 1791 Thomas Remington mariner of Tiverton received 250 in Spanish milled dollars from Thomas Barker of Tiverton, for the 13th 50-acre lot in the Pocasset Purchase, bounded easterly and westerly on highway, north by the 12th lot and south by the 14th lot. Witnessed by Joseph Barker and Abraham Barker. (Tiverton Deed Book 4)

See this note from cousin Russ Shaw (I am not sure if it pertains to this particular Thomas Remington, our ancestor, but it probably does):
"Last time I was at the RIHS archives I came across an interesting document that I think you may want to check on. It involves Thomas Remington and his son John. I found them both as crew members on the brig Eliza out of Bristol, bound for Trinidad de Cuba, 5 Jan 1818. Reference: MS 28,sg 2, Box 7 (1819-1820), Bristol Custom House records, RIHS."

Thomas married Alice "Elce" GRINNELL Abt 1793. Alice (daughter of Daniel GRINNELL and Sarah Unknown) was born Abt Mar 1777, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 1 Jan 1848, Dartmouth, MA; was buried , Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her death announcement was in The Daily Mercury, New Bedford, on Monday 3 Jan 1848:
"Died, in Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice Remington, the widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72. Funeral this afternoon at 2 o'clock from No. 59 Grinnell Street. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend."

A similar announcement was in the New Bedford Mercury (not the daily), Friday, 7 Jan 1848:
"In Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice, widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72."

According to the New Bedford death record, Alice died of consumption at age 70 y 10 m.

She may have died at the home of her daughter Mary Rounds.

Notes:

In the 1850 Tiverton Census, Benjamin is 64, living with Peace 63, along with Marianne Remington 39, Gardner Hambly 29, Benjamin Remington 19, John H. Remington 15, Alice Hambly 22, Ann or Amy Hambly 20, and Hannah Hambly 6.

In the 1860 Tiverton Census, residence #57, Benjamin is listed as age 77. Living in the household with him are Gardner 40, Amy Borden 35(?), Gilbert Borden 35, Hannah G. Hambly 16, and George G. Hambly 8. Gardner and Amy are two of Benjamin's children; Gilbert is Amy's husband, and the other two may be Gardner's children.

Benjamin married Peace SHERMAN 13 Jul 1806. Peace (daughter of William SHERMAN and Margaret Steward-STEWART) was born 8 Feb 1786, Tiverton, RI; died 10 Apr 1859, Tiverton, RI; was buried Apr 1859, Deacon Benj Hambly Lot, TV57, Fish Road, Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

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

Please be advised that I do not know for sure that Joseph is a son of William, or that these other individuals also placed here as children of William and siblings of Joseph actually belong here. At the present time this family group is merely a possible family constructed from individuals known to be living at Portsmouth in the 1700s, as was our ancestor Joseph. Research is ongoing to determine the parentage of these individuals, including Joseph. From location and family names, it seems very possible that Joseph was a descendant of Thomas Remington & Mary Allen, and also of a William Remington, as that name is found in a future generation.

The RI 1777 Military Census lists Joseph Remington age 50-60 U (unable to serve) at Tiverton, but notes "res. Portsmouth." This probably means that he originally had been from Portsmouth but later moved to Tiverton. (see next note).

14 May 1750: Joseph Remington qualified with certificate for himself and family from Portsmouth to reside in Tiverton (Po Town Council Bk 4 P 49).

Did they ever go from Portsmouth to Tiverton that year? (see next note)

From the town records of Portsmouth, RI: "The Ear Mark of the Creatures of Joseph Remmington is a fork on the Right Ear and a hapenny under ye same Ear and a Hapenny before & behind the Left Ear -- Entered on Record June ye 18th AD 1754 By Robt Dennis Tn Clerk." This very likely refers to our ancestor, which means that the family -- or at least his farm -- was in Portsmouth during the 1750s.

20 Jun 1757: Joseph Remington, wife & children, were given a certificate from Portsmouth to reside in Richmond (Po Town Council Bk 4 p 118).

According to a statement by his son Thomas, our ancestor, the family lived in South Kingstown but later moved to Tiverton sometime after 1760. According to son David's pension file, the family lived in Richmond when he was born.

I am not sure of his date of death -- needs more research. A Joseph Remington is living at Tiverton in the 1782 RI Census and 1790 Federal Census; he is not listed in 1800. This may indicate he died between 1790 and 1800.

A Joseph Remington witnessed the 22 Nov 1788 will of Mary Anthony, spinster, of Tiverton. Probably it was this Joseph. This needs more research.

According to the Burlingame Manuscript, he resided at Scituate and Tiverton. However, the Joseph Remington who was a son of Margaret (Burlingame) Remington lived at Scituate (not Tiverton) and was a different Joseph, based on research by Barbara Chase. Our Joseph lived at Portsmouth, South Kingstown and/or Richmond, and Tiverton.

As a result of reading Barbara's research into Scituate and Cranston land evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the published genealogies have confused two Josephs. One of them apparently was born in Warwick 21 Jan 1720/21 and moved to Scituate, where he died 6 Jul 1800. The other was born around the same time (location unknown but possibly Prudence Island), was married in Portsmouth, apparently lived in both Portsmouth and South Kingstown (or Richmond) and later moved to Tiverton (and possibly again Portsmouth for a while?), where he died between 1790 and 1800 (based on census records). However, his date of birth on the gravestone plaque at Tiverton is exactly the same as the date of birth for the one who died at Scituate. It appears that the descendants who had the plaque made were in error about Joseph's date of birth, having used the information for the other Joseph.

As a result of this research provided by Barbara, we now must do further research to determine who Joseph's parents are. Any leads are appreciated. Clues might be the names of his sons Benjamin, Joseph, & Thomas; and the names of his daughters Abigail, Phebe, Sarah, & Mary. David was most likely named after David Lake, father of Innocent.

David Lake was a resident of Portsmouth, which strengthens the likelihood that Joseph's parents lived there.

"There were three REMINGTONs in eighteenth century SK, based on the tax lists: David, John Jr., and Joseph."
(source: RIWASHIN-L Archives, 15 May 2007)

Joseph married Innocent LAKE 10 Jul 1744, Portsmouth, RI. Innocent (daughter of David LAKE, Jr. and Mary WILCOX) was born Between 1718 and 1722, Portsmouth, RI; died 15 Apr 1809, Tiverton, RI; was buried , Pleasant View Cemetery, Stone Church Rd., Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the Remington Family book, Martha A. Benns gives her name as Innocent Taylor. From the records, it appears that this marriage to Benjamin Taylor was a first marriage for our Innocent, and that these are not two different Innocent Taylors. In any case, David Lake named his daughter as Innocent Remington in his will, so that has been documented.

Her year of birth is given as 1722 on the Brayton plaque at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Tiverton, RI.

One genealogy has her age at death as 91, which places her birth year at c1718.

Notes:

Joseph & Innocent were married by Robert Lawton, Justice.

Notes:

In October 1768 Daniel was "a mariner, of Tiverton."

Daniel's will mentions his wife Sarah, sons Anson & David, and daughters Hope Robertson, Alice Remington, Elizabeth Tripp, & Mary Hart; also grandchildren Abel Grinnell, George Grinnell, Rhoda Grinnell Lake, & Sarah Grinnell.

Daniel married Sarah Unknown Abt 1762. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

This family information was gleaned from cross-referencing three sources: Arnold's Vital Records, Beaman's Vital Records, and the RI Cemetery Database. Benjamin's will names all the children and some of the grandchildren (TiP 10:114-119). There may also be another daughter, Anna, born 17 June 1789; however, this may just be another name for Nancy, as Nancy was frequently used as a nickname for Ann or Anna. If there was another daughter named Anna, then she died before the will was written, 1827-1831. The son Benjamin, b. 1783, had a daughter named Mary A. (our ancestor); her son, Benjamin F. Remington, had a daughter named Mary Anna.

Benjamin Hambly, Jr. settled in the northern part of Tiverton, RI, where he cleared land, built a house, and farmed. There he grew flax and raised sheep. He was a weaver by trade. All the clothes -- including shoes -- worn by him and the family were made on the farm, by the family.

Thirteen children were born to Benjamin & Elizabeth, including one set of twins (Gardner & Amy). Benjamin died on his farm at the age of 75.

According to the private journal of Elder Peleg Burroughs of Tiverton, a Minister of the Gospel, "on the 8th day of September A. D. 1780 -- Preached at B. Hambly's upon Psalm 107:31 (O that men would praise xc) married John Manchester to M.F. and stayed all night at Bro. Davenports." (from the Revolutionary War Pension file of John Manchester who married Mary Fish)

Benjamin married Elizabeth FISH 6 May 1777, Tiverton, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of William FISH, Jr. and Priscilla SHEARMAN) was born Between 1755 and 1758; died 18 Oct 1834; was buried Oct 1834, Historical Cemetery 41, Benj Hambly Lot, Souza Rd., Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

See Elizabeth's will which names their sons and daughters. (TiP 11:200)

Notes:

Benjamin and Elizabeth were married by Walter Cook, Justice.

William married Margaret Steward-STEWART Nov 1780. [Group Sheet]