Benedict Arnold

Benedict — Sarah Potter. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Josiah was mentioned in the will dated 5 Feb 1718/19 of his uncle Joseph Arnold. He is identified as a son of William (of Israel & Mary [Barker] Arnold).

BSR says Josiah's parents were William & Christine Arnold. A genealogy at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has his parents as William Arnold & Hannah Nichols. Since there were several Josiah Arnolds, it is confusing, and Maplet's husband may be one of the others of the same name.

Josiah married Maplet Remington 15 Dec 1745, Warwick, RI. Maplet (daughter of Thomas REMINGTON, II and Maplet GORTON) was born 11 Jul 1712, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died Aft 6 Feb 1772. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"On 28 September 1744 Maplet Wickes of Warwick quitclaimed her right in the Warwick land 'that was my father Thomas Remington of said Warwick, Deceased' to Thomas Remington (Warwick Deeds, 7:181)."

"On 6 February 1772, Maplet Arnold of Warwick quitclaimed to Thomas Remington Junior of Warwick (presumably her nephew Thomas Remington . . . ) all my right that I may have by virtue of the Death of my brother Stephen Remington late dec'd."

Source: "Sabin-Remington-Hunt Notes," article by Gordon L. Remington in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Oct. 1993, p. 373.

See notes for Maplet's husband, Josiah. There are disagreements as to which Josiah Arnold he was.

Notes from NEHGS Register Vol. 147, Oct. 1993, p. 373 in re. Maplet Remington: dau. of Thomas and Maplet (Gorton) Remington; Maplet m. (1) her first cousin Benjamin Wickes at E. Greenwich 16 Sept. 1733 and (2) Capt. Josiah Arnold 15 Dec. 1745 at Warwick.

See notes for both of Maplet's husbands.

Notes:

Martha Benns has the year of marriage as 1748, but I think it was a misread of 1745.

William married Deliverance Whipple Abt 1705. Deliverance was born 11 Feb 1678/79. [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:

Israel's will names his father, Stephen; his wife, Mary; and his children: Israel, William, Elisha, Stephen, James, Joseph (eldest), Josiah, Mary (Low), Sarah (Carpenter), & Barbary (Carpenter). I have estimated the dates of birth for most of them -- needs more research.

It was either this "Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet" or his son who in 1707 purchased land in Cowesett from the heirs of Robert Potter. This piece of land was originally designated as farm #3, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 2 & 3. Part of this was later sold to the Remingtons.

Israel married Mary Barker Abt 1672. Mary (daughter of James Barker and Barbara Dungan) was born Abt 1650; died Abt 1723. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary's will dated 29 July 1721 mentions children Israel, William, Elisha, Stephen, Joseph, James, Mary (Low), Sarah (Carpenter), & Barbary (Carpenter).

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.

Notes:

In 1677 he was one of 48 who, along with his brother John, received a grant from the colony of 5,000 acres in East Greenwich, "in consideration of their services in King Philip's War." In 1686 he was Deputy (member) to the Upper House of the RI Legislature, and was captain of the military company, a position he held to the time of his death. His will names his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. It contains details such as bequeathing his spectacles to his son Benjamin, and his "biggest silver spoon" to his grandson Benjamin Greene.

Benjamin married Sarah CARDER 5 Dec 1672, Warwick, RI. Sarah (daughter of Richard CARDER and Mary Unknown) was born Abt 1652; died Aug 1724, Warwick, Kent County, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Gorton book says she died on 8 Aug 1724, the day after her husband's will was probated. However, the probate date for her will is the same day, 7 Aug 1724. Her will mentions her children and several grandchildren.