Jonathan Remington

Notes:

"Jonathan & Ardelis Remington" witnessed the will of Dinah Baker on 9 Aug 1813 at Cranston.

The family farm was on Natick Rd. above Oaklawn. The story is told that he bought the land from the Indians with a peck measure of Spanish milled dollars. Many years later, someone tilling the land found such a coin, probably dropped by the Indians as they left. If true, this would seem to substantiate the story.

The death entry at Warwick City Hall says Jonathan died a widower on 19 Apr 1866 at age 82, of old age. The RI Death Index identifies him as son of Benjamin & Phebe Remington.

The will of Jonathan Remington of Warwick, yeoman, was dated 22 Oct 1860 and proved 14 May 1866. It mentions two sons, Ferdinand and Thomas; one daughter, Sally R; grandson William H.; and Betsey Remington widow of Thomas Remington dec'd. (Warwick book pp 231 - 233)

According to the RI Cemetery Database, the cemetery is located "at 649 Natick Rd. across the wall from CR080."

Jonathan married Ardeliza "Eliza" Rice 19 May 1811, Warwick, RI. Ardeliza (daughter of Thomas Rice and Sarah "Sally" Arnold) was born 21 Mar 1792, Warwick, RI; died 3 May 1844; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, CR098, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

REMINGTON Jonathan and Eliza Rice, both of Warwick, May 19, 1811.

1. Sally Rice Remington was born Abt 1814; died 5 Dec 1885, RI; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
2. Thomas Remington was born Mar 1816, Cranston, RI; died 7 May 1891, Providence, RI; was buried , Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, RI.
3. Catherine Remington was born Abt 1819; died 26 Nov 1839; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
4. Mary Jane Remington was born 1822; died 28 Jun 1826; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
5. Rice Manchester Remington was born 1825; died 11 Jul 1826; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
6. Ferdinand Remington was born 26 May 1828; died 17 Mar 1900; was buried , Pocasset Cemetery, Cranston, RI.
7. Almira A. Remington was born Abt 1831; died 27 Feb 1853; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
8. Ardeliza Remington was born 1834; died 16 Aug 1837; was buried , Jonathan Remington Lot, Natick Rd., Cranston, RI.
9. William Remington was born Bef Jan 1836; died , The West.

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:

(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:

BSR has his name as Thomas William Remington.

According to "The History of Warwick, RI" by Oliver Payson Fuller, Thomas Remington, Jr., bought farm #2 on the Cowesett plat. It was purchased from Samuel Barnes of Swansea, but had originally been granted to John Smith and then to Lieut. Eliza Collins's children, namely Eliza (Eliezar or Elisha?) & William. This large plantation was on the northeast corner of Route 2 (Quaker Lane) and Route 3 (Cowesett Rd.,) and adjoined the farm to the east which had been purchased by his father Thomas.

Thomas married Maplet GORTON 28 Dec 1710, Warwick, RI. Maplet (daughter of Benjamin GORTON and Sarah CARDER) was born 1690, Warwick, Kent County, RI; died Aft 18 Aug 1723. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The surname is sometimes spelled "Eldred." Possibly there was another son and another daughter whose names have been burned from the will. One of the daughters married Eber Sherman.

Robert was an ensign in the militia.

Robert married Hannah RATHBONE Abt 1722. Hannah (daughter of Joseph RATHBONE and Mary MOSHER) was born 21 Mar 1705/06, New Shoreham, RI; died Abt Feb 1764. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The surname is sometimes spelled "Rathbun."

Thomas married Mary Unknown Abt 1704. Mary died Bef 1742. [Group Sheet]

Israel — Freelove Burlingame. Freelove (daughter of Thomas Burlingame and Martha Lippitt) was born Abt 1694. [Group Sheet]