Freelove Remington

Notes:

See marriage notes.

Freelove married David Atwood 20 Dec 1789, Cranston, RI. David was born 7 Feb 1765; died 19 Jun 1821; was buried , Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

ATWOOD David, of North Providence, and Freelove Remington, of Thomas, dec., of Cranston; m. at Cranston by Peter Stone, Justice, Dec. 20, 1789. (recorded at North Providence)

Notes:

The marriage record names him as Thomas Remington, of Daniel of Warwick. This is the most likely family group in which to place him. Several genealogists have done so, but realize it is an assumption or "educated guess." His birth is not found in the Warwick vital records along with Samuel, Mary, & Daniel.

He left his wife Freelove around Jan 1765, and lived "in adultery." She petitioned for divorce in 1771, and it was granted. Did Thomas have children by another woman, or have a second marriage? See notes for Freelove.

His daughter's marriage record mentions her father Thomas, dec'd; thus I have entered his date of death as bef. 20 Dec 1789.

Thomas married Freelove Nichols 16 Aug 1759, East Greenwich, RI. Freelove (daughter of Joseph Nichols and Freelove Matteson) was born 7 Aug 1740; died Aft Apr 1771. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"In April 1771 Freelove Remington petitioned for divorce from Thomas Remington, 'late of Warwick, mariner.' She told how he changed after marriage: 'the fatal Knot being Ti'd the Smilling Affability of the Lover and Friend was converted into the Stern Severity of a Tyrant' and he treated her with 'implacable Fury' . . . She alleged that he had abandoned her in Jan 1765 and ever after lived in adultery. The petition was granted." (source: Elder John Gorton and the Six Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich, RI; by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg; RI Genealogical Society 2001; p. 208)

Notes:

The marriage registration in East Greenwich vital records says the officiant was Giles Peirce, Justice. However, whoever recorded it may have made an error, since the marriage is in Elder Gorton's personal journal, where the entry states that he married them. The date in East Greenwich VRs is 23 Aug 1759.

Unfortunately this marriage was not a success. "In April 1771 Freelove Remington petitioned for divorce from Thomas Remington, 'late of Warwick, mariner.' She told how he changed after marriage: ' . . . the fatal Knot being Ti'd the Smilling Affability of the Lover and Friend was converted into the Stern Severity of a Tyrant' and he treated her with 'implacable Fury' (Kent County Superior Court, April 1771, Judicial Archives at Pawtucket, RI). She alleged that he abandoned her in Jan. 1765 and ever after lived in adultery. The petition was granted" (quoted from "Elder John Gorton and the Six-Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich, RI" by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg, p. 208).

Notes:

Daniel Remington was ensign of Militia, 2nd Company for Warwick, in 1730 - 1733. Very likely it was this Daniel.

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.)

He is probably the Daniel Remington listed for Warwick in the 1774 RI Census.

In the book "Remington Family" Martha A. Benns has Daniel's date of birth as 18 October 1681, but this is too early because he is said to be under 21 in his father's will dated 1710. Cherry Fletcher Bamberg has the year as 1689.

Daniel married Ann Gorton 16 Feb 1722/23, Warwick, RI. Ann (daughter of Samuel Gorton and Elizabeth Collins) was born 19 Feb 1695/96, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He was probably the Joseph Nichols whose will was dated 13 Oct 1757, proved 15 Nov 1757, at East Greenwich. The will mentions his wife Freelove Nichols, and two daughters, Freelove Nichols and Hannah Hill.

Joseph — Freelove Matteson. [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.)
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.

Samuel married Elizabeth Collins 9 May 1695, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Eliezar Collins, Sr. and Sarah Wright) was born 1 Nov 1672, Warwick, RI; died 9 Sep 1724. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Gorton Samuel, of John, and Elizabeth Collins, of Eliza, May 9, 1695 (Warwick VRs).