Daniel B. Wightman

Notes:

Daniel died of tuberculosis. The Coventry Cemetery Book says he died 2 September 1861.

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, Reuben & Lydia Whitman are living at Warwick, RI, with their children Daniel B., Reuben A., & Thomas R. Also living with them is Eli Whitman, age 23.

Reuben married Lydia Elizabeth Remington 12 Apr 1835, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Lydia (daughter of Thomas Remington and Elizabeth "Betsey" Remington) was born 8 Jan 1816, Warwick, RI; died 24 May 1888, Coventry, RI; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Fairview Ave., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I think this marriage for "Lydia Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth," belongs in this family group, as it is the only couple of this time period that seems to match with her. I am making that assumption pending further research.

Lydia is probably the daughter of Betsey, sister of our ancestor Maplet Remington.

The RI Cemetery Database has her year of death as 1884.

Reuben — Anna Baker. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, Thomas & Elizabeth are living at Warwick, Kent, RI. With them are sons Albert G. & John H. C.

The death entry at Warwick City Hall says he died on 15 Nov 1853.

The graves of Thomas & Elizabeth are in the Remington-Arnold Lot, behind the Stop & Shop at Cowesett Corners. This whole area was part of the original Remington farm, but now is mostly residential and commercial. There is a section of woods behind the shopping center, and that is the location of the family cemetery.

Thomas married Elizabeth "Betsey" Remington 3 Jan 1803, Warwick, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Jonathan REMINGTON and Phebe UNKNOWN) was born 24 Dec 1785, Berkshire Co., MA; died 7 Oct 1870, Apponaug, Warwick, RI; was buried , Warwick, RI Historical Cemetery 60, off Cowesett Rd. at Bald Hill. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have made an assumption that Betsey, Maplet's sister, is the Elizabeth Remington b. c1783, "daughter of Jonathan," who married Thomas Remington b. c1780, son of Benjamin & Phebe (Manchester) Remington. They were first cousins.

In 1860 Elizabeth Remington, age 77, is living at Warwick, RI, next to Ferdinand & Abby Remington. In 1870 she is age 86 and still at Warwick (Apponaug Post Office); she is living with Levi & Elizabeth Baker. Apparently she died not long after this census was taken.

The death record says "daughter of Jonathan," b. c1783. The RI Cemetery Database says c1784. Maplet's sister was born in December 1785, so assuming that the date of death is correct, and that the date of birth is correct in the family Bible, Elizabeth would have died just short of 85 years old. (There was another Jonathan Remington born in Scituate in 1743, but I have not yet discovered data on any family he may have had, such as a daughter named Elizabeth/Betsey.)

Additional evidence is found in the will of Thomas's brother, Jonathan d. 1866, who mentions Betsey Remington, widow of Thomas Remington, deceased. This probably would have been Elizabeth, his sister-in-law; her husband had died in 1853. So Betsey was her nickname. Betsey is also the name written in the family Bible as one of Maplet's sisters.

Elizabeth's birthplace as MA came from the papers of Mary E. Rice late of East Greenwich, RI, now deceased. This agrees with the data in the 1860 & 1870 Federal Censuses, which both have Massachusetts as Elizabeth's birthplace, and thus are additional support for her being Maplet's sister.

Reuben — Sarah Unknown. Sarah was born 15 Apr 1746; died 23 Nov 1816, Warwick, RI; was buried , Gideon Spencer Lot, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

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.)

Jonathan served during the American Revolution from 1777 to 1779 as a Sergeant in Captain Thomas Carlisle's and Captain Garzia's companies, and in Colonel Robert Elliott's artillery regiment. The Revolutionary War Pension file for Jonathan Remington can be viewed at the National Archives and Records Administration (microfilm #W7559). His widow, Sarah (Rhodes) (Potter) (Remington) Greene, was age 86 in 1850 when application for the pension was made. Because Jonathan had died many years previously, in 1808, she told what she knew about Jonathan's Revolutionary War service. A statement was also made by Sarah's brother, William Nehemiah Rhodes, in which he said that Jonathan had served in the artillery with his brother John Remington.

These statements were attested to by Seth Burke, who was "well acquainted with John and Jonathan formerly of Warwick. They were brothers, and neighbors to me." Reportedly, John was a Lieutenant and Jonathan a Sergeant. Jonathan's military service was also attested to by Mary Aborn of Pawtuxet, age 82 at the time of the pension hearing in 1850. Born around 1767/68, she would have been approximately age 9 in 1776. She stated that John and Jonathan (probably stationed at Pawtuxet, Warwick, RI) "were in the habit of visiting at the house of my grandmother where I used to often see them, and they used to talk to me. I was a child of 9 or 10. My grandmother and husband was their uncle." (She was probably Mary/Marcy/Mercy Rhodes, d/o Malachi Rhodes & Waite Fenner. This makes sense, because her grandmother would have been Mercy Fenner, who married Stephen Remington as her second husband.)

Note:
Remington, Jonathan, private, Col. Elliott's regiment, 1776; pay due L 39 8 11 (Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" Vol. 12, Revolutionary Rolls & Newspapers, p. 240; also "Colwell's Spirit of '76")

Sometime before 1780 Jonathan relocated to Berkshire County, MA. Town histories give evidence that he also served in the military there.

See "History of the Town of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass.," by Raynor & Petitclerc, Clark W. Bryan & Co, 1885:
An abstract of the pay due to the company under Captain Daniel Brown, in Colonel Benj. Simond's regiment on the alarm at Berkshire on the 13th of October 1780 . . . Hezekiah Pierce, Levi Green, Daniel Wood, George Shearman, John Tibbits, Jonathan Remington . . . (etc.)

See also "Knurow Collection," Vol. 38, p. 120, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134:
Jonathan Remington - 6th Regiment in Division & 3rd in Brigade
Jonathan Remington - 2nd Regiment in Division & 2nd in Brigade

Jonathan Remington is in the 1790 census at Adams, MA: 2 free white males 16+, 1 free white male <16, and 7 free white females. I suspect his brother John and family may have been living with them, and they aren't listed separately in this census.
Since the 1790 Census at Hancock, MA, lists another Jonathan Remington (possibly s/o Jonathan & Lorana), it may be that some of the above military records for Berkshire County, MA, could refer to him. However, the names listed for Col. Simond's regiment are names known to be of the community established by Rhode Islanders at Cheshire. It is also known that Jonathan and his brother John came to the Adams/Cheshire area and established families. John stayed in this area, but Jonathan relocated to Lansingburgh/Troy, NY around 1796, after his first wife died.

He was known in Adams and Cheshire as Colonel Jonathan Remington, and is referred to as such in the town records. He is also named as Jonathan Remington, Esq. Jonathan was owner of a tavern and store located on the southwest corner of the crossroads at the summit of the hill in Cheshire; this also may have included a hotel. At various times he served as the Town Moderator (chosen 1 Apr 1793), Justice of the Peace, Representative to the General Court at Boston, and sealer of brick molds. He is listed as a charter member of the Franklin Lodge of Masons. The names of "Jonathan and Phebe Rementon" appear in the early membership records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire.

On 7 Aug 1792, Jonathan Remington Esq. was appointed one of a committee of nine to meet at Col. Remington's on the first Monday of September. On 5 Nov 1792, Col. Remington was nominated to issue a warrant to call the town together.

In 1793, subscribers to incorporating Cheshire as a town included Jonathan Remington (18s pd) and John Remington (4s pd).

Jonathan is mentioned in the book "The Life and Times of Samuel Gorton," by Adelos Gorton, p. 191. It states his birth date and that he married (unknown wife); settled in Berkshire Cty., MA; served in the Rev. War; and frequently represented the district of Cheshire in the Legislature previous to 1793.

While in Lansingburgh, Col. Jonathan Remington was a subscriber to "The Gleaner" by Judith Sargent Murray.

Note from Lois Remington Smith dated 9/2004: "Land Records of Adams, MA" Bks #1 thru #10, deeds signed in:
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1788
Thomas and Sarah Remington 1789
Jonathan and Phoebe Remington 1793
Jonathan and Mercy Remington 1797
"I found these somewhere in the past years and made a brief note of them. It may have been in 'The Berkshire Quarterly.' Thought you might be interested if you don't already have them."

For a history of Lansingburgh, NY, see the following: http://history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-lansingburgh.htm

An "inventory of visible effects late the property of Col. Jonathan Remington deceased appraised by us the subscribers appointed by the Honourable Town Council of the Town of Providence -- July 14th 1808" -- total $357.15; Administrator of the estate was William Blodget Jr. (docmuents are viewable at ancestry.com).

Jonathan married Phebe UNKNOWN Abt 1780. Phebe was born Abt 1758; died 8 Jun 1795, Cheshire, MA; was buried , Stafford's Hill, Cheshire, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The names of "Jonathan and Phebe Rementon" appear in the early membership records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire.

Gravestone inscription from the old burying ground, Cheshire, MA:
Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Phebe Remington, wife of Col. Jonathan Remington, who departed this life June 8th, 1795, in the 37th year of her age. (source: Berkshire Book, by its Historical and Scientific Society, Vol. 1, Part 2, p. 88 at The Athenaeum, Pittsfield, MA)

I was unsuccessful in my one attempt to locate the little cemetery where Phebe is buried. However, according to Eileen Nuttall, spokesperson for the Cheshire Historical Commission, and herself a descendant of one of the early settlers, a survey of the cemetery in 1913 recorded the gravestone as still standing and still legible: "Mrs. Phebe Remington, wife of Col. Jonathan, d. 8 June 1795, age 36."

The early vital records were destroyed in a fire, so if there were marriage and death records for my ancestors there, they no longer exist. All I have is the record in the old family Bible, which lists the children of Jonathan and Phebe, but no maiden name for Phebe.

I have wondered if she might be Phebe Tibbetts -- just a guess. But Phebe was a popular and fairly common name at that time, so she could have been from any number of families in RI or western MA.

Notes:

It is possible that Jonathan & Phebe were married in RI, or in Cheshire or Adams, MA. The vital records of Cheshire were destroyed in a fire, and there are no early records of Adams, except the Cooke Collection at the Pittsfield Athenaeum.