Freelove Remington

Notes:

John and his brother were first cousins to our ancestor Maplet. John was Town Clerk of Coventry for over seven years. Probably he was also the John Remington who was a Justice in Coventry in 1809.

Death notice in the Providence Journal: "John Remington of Coventry, RI, in 39th year, formerly a member of the General Assembly, leaves wife and eight children." (11 June 1814)

His gravestone says he was born c.1781.

John married Mary Holden 25 May 1797, Coventry, RI. Mary (daughter of Thomas Holden and Freelove Barton) was born 22 Jan 1777; died 20 Apr 1817. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Genealogist Martha A. Benns has linked John to his father Thomas, of Warwick, and this marriage in Coventry to the same family group. I am making the assumption that she is right. This makes sense because Thomas received land in Coventry from his father Thomas, in his will.

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.)

According to Fuller's book "History of Warwick," Thomas was one of triplets, the other two of whom died. Another source says that it was his father Thomas who was one of triplets. In addition, a transcript of a Remington family Bible says it was his father.

He was a Revolutionary War soldier. According to the manuscript "Revolutionary War -- Burial Place & Service of RI Patriots," located at the Knight Library in Providence, Thomas served as a fifer in Capt. Hawkins' Co., Col. Varnum's Regiment. It also says he died 6 August 1817 at age 70, and was buried in the family lot at the Remington Farm, west side of East Rd., Coventry.

Death notice in the Providence Journal of 11 August 1817: "Judge Thomas Remington, at Coventry, RI, in 70th year." Martha A. Benns gives his date of death as 11 Aug 1817, but this is the date his death notice was in the newspaper.

Some genealogies have this Thomas marrying Mary Wood, also. Thomas Remington, Jr., and Mary Wood were married 7 June 1778 at Warwick, RI. However, if the Revolutionary War Pension files are accurate, these are two different Thomases, since the dates of death are quite different. The other one, who married Mary Wood, died 19 January 1831.

Thomas married Mary Rice 20 Dec 1772, Warwick, RI. Mary (daughter of Holden Rice and Elizabeth Warner) was born Abt 1752; died Aft 18 Mar 1779. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I found her date of birth in a transcription at the RI Historical Library: Family Bible Records, Vol. 4, p. 41. I am making the assumption that it pertains to this Mary who married Thomas.

Notes:

The Warwick marriage record says they were married by Thomas Rice, Jr., Justice.

Notes:

Major General Thomas Holden was in the Revolutionary War.

Thomas — Freelove Barton. Freelove died Bef Jun 1793. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Freelove's surname, Barton, came from the family tree of Diane Dinse at Rootsweb's Worldconnect (needs confirmation).

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:

Holden was made a freeman of Warwick on 16 April 1755. In a 1754 deed he is described as a mariner, but he was more likely a seagoing merchant. He was well-off enough to be lending money by 1759. Holden served as a deputy to the General Assembly in June 1762.

I have estimated the birth years of three of the children.

Holden married Elizabeth Warner 2 Jun 1751, Warwick, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of John Warner, Jr. and Abigail Brown) was born 23 Oct 1731, Warwick, RI; died Apr 1805, Warwick, RI; was buried , Cemetery 125, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The marriage record identifies John as s/o Charles.

John's will mentions his sons Charles & Thomas, daughters Welthian Potter, w/o Caleb, and Deliverance Holden (single and incapable), and her Aunt Ruth Fry.

HOLDEN John, Esq., at Warwick, in 100th year. Gazette of Nov. 22, 1800. (death reported at Providence)

HOLDEN John, Esq., at Warwick, in 100th year; had perfect health for last 55 years and died without pain or distress. (Chronicle of Nov. 28, 1800; reported at Providence)

HOLDEN John, at Warwick, in 100th year, had enjoyed the best of health to the last. (Journal of Nov. 19, 1800)

John married Hannah Fry 6 Jan 1731/32, Warwick, RI. Hannah (daughter of Thomas Fry) was born Abt 1710; died Bef 28 May 1782. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The marriage record identifies Hannah as d/o Thomas.