| Notes |
- I have a photocopy of the original death entry from the North Kingstown Archives.
Samuel Ward Austin, a prosperous farmer, owned property in North Kingstown near the well-known landmark called "Devil's Foot." Although he himself was a member of the Six-Principal Baptist Church on Stony Lane, he deeded the northern corner of his land, located on Post Road between Wickford and East Greenwich, to the Quidnessett Church Society in 1841. Its church was dedicated there August 11, 1842. A new church building, called the Quidnessett Baptist Church, now occupies the site. After Samuel's death, his wife Mary (Mitchel) Austin donated an additional piece of land in 1869 for stables to be built next to the church, for horses and carriages.
This church fellowship, some of whom may be descended from the original congregation, is where I was baptized and brought up, and is where my parents were still active members until they died in 2007 and 2010. I have old negative photocopies of sections of the original deeds, as well as a lawyer's transcript of them dating from the 1950s or thereabouts.
In the 1850 Federal Census, Samuel & Mary Austin, ages 71 & 69, are living at North Kingstown, RI. Wilth them are: Julia A. Austin 42, Hannah E. Thurber 25, and Samuel Austin 23; these are three of their children.
In the 1860 Federal Census, Samuel & Mary Austin, ages 80 & 77, are living at North Kingstown, RI. With them are two of their adult children, Samuel W., 33, and Julia A., 52.
I believe Samuel Ward Austin was given his first and middle names in honor of Samuel Ward (1725-1776), a Rhode Island political leader in the days preceding the Revolutionary War. This leader was one of the founders of Rhode Island's two-party system, said to be the very first in America. The merchants and farmers of southern Rhode Island were led by Samuel Ward in their political battles against the politicians and businessmen from the Providence area, who were led by Stephen Hopkins. Ward was elected as governor in 1762, and again at least twice after that. He and Hopkins served together representing Rhode Island in the 1775-1776 Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where Ward was a committee leader, and was instrumental in appointing George Washington as general of the colonial army. In March 1776 he suddenly became ill with smallpox and died.
Since Samuel Ward Austin was born three years later, in the midst of this struggle to birth a new nation, it is likely that he was named after this Rhode Island hero.
Apparently other parents named their sons after this respected leader also. During the 1840s, Rhode Island's governor was Samuel Ward King, who headed a state faction that supported the voting power of landowners, opposing Thomas Wilson Dorr's proposal to institute a new state constitution which would grant voting rights to all free adult males (regardless of whether or not they were property owners), in recognition of the increased urbanization of the state. Dorr's Rebellion went down in defeat, but popular citizen support led to the drafting of a new state constitution in 1842. However, even in this document, all cities and towns -- regardless of population, were granted one senator each for representation in the state Senate; this provision afforded Senate control to the rural towns. I wonder what Samuel Ward Austin, as a substantial property owner and farmer, thought of all this?
From The Narragansett Historical Register, Volume II, July 1883, No. 2; Historical Sketch of the Quidnessett Baptist Church, North Kingstown, RI, pp 81-97
"Another matter, more local in its influence, claimed also the attention of the church at this time. Their house of worship had long been too small for their use. It also was not sufficiently central in its location as to be adapted to the best development of the religious interests of the field. It was decided, therefore, to build anew. Samuel Austin, a member of a neighboring Six Principle Baptist church, gave the building site, situated on the post-road from Wickford to East Greenwich, about equal distance from each village, and near the three manufacturing villages of the Quidnesset field. Possibly no site could have been selected more central, or better adapted to the wants of the Quidnesset people than this. Funds were raised by subscription on the field itself to build the new meeting-house, which was dedicated Thursday, Aug. 11, 1842, free from debt. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. John Dowling, of Providence, from the text, Haggai ii.,7: 'And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.' "
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1779 - 1862 (82 years)
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