William Remington

Notes:

I have made an assumption that William was born on Prudence Island and that he died at North Kingstown, although this is only a guess based on available evidence about his life. Also, please note that I am not sure that he was a son of William Remington and Mary Manton, although it is known that they were living on Prudence Island during the 1700s.

Portsmouth land evidence shows that a William Remington was living on Prudence Island in the mid-1700s, and according to two deeds he had a wife named Freelove. It is certainly possible that William married an Allen, because most of the land sales involving his name have one or more Allens also involved.

Therefore, it is documented that William and his wife Freelove were of Prudence Island, and furthermore that he purchased a house and land in North Kingstown from Job Tibbetts in 1775. This was the year that residents of the island evacuated because of the British raids in which they burned the dwellings and fought the colonists. It is reasonable to assume that he relocated to North Kingstown, and eventually died there. However, it appears that he was in Coventry at the time of the Military Census of 1777

The dates for William are from James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" Volume R, an unpublished manuscript located at the Knight Library in Providence. However, some online genealogies have his date of death as 1 March 1764. To be sure, that is the date of death for a William Remington -- but which one? I have used that date for the William b. c1680, who may be the father of this William; but there was still another William who died in 1768 at Cranston.

Charles Gregory Maytum's Notes on the Remington family, at Newport Historical Society, give William's date of birth as 17 Aug 1729, and his date of death as 30 Aug 1812. This differs slightly from Arnold's data.

I have not been able to determine his ancestry for sure. Other Remingtons mentioned in Portsmouth land evidence are John Remington, who had moved from Warwick to Portsmouth; Thomas Remington, who had a wife named Amy; another William whose wife was Mary; Josiah; and Jonathan; as well as my ancestor Joseph. It is possible that there was more than one William, and that one was the father or uncle of the other. Research on these families is ongoing.

1777 Military Census, Coventry - listed are William Remington, res. Po; Hezekiah Remington, res. Po; & Thomas Remington

From Portsmouth land evidence:

WR of PI, boatman, bought land for 600 pounds from William Allen of PI, prob aft. 27 Apr 1757 (no date). The land was 80 rods by 12 rods and bounded as follows: N & E by Ebenezer Allin, W by land of me, sd William Allen, S by John Allen. Mary Allin wife of William Allin surrenders rights of dower and power of thirds. William Allin's signature witnessed by Samuel Lyndon Jr & Mary Lyndon; Mary Allin's signature witnessed by Nathaniel Allin & Joseph Bates. No wife of WR mentioned. Spelling of Allin/Allen is varied in copy of deed. (Po Land Ev Bk 5 p 579 & 580)

WR of PI, boatman, sold

William married Freelove Allen 20 Sep 1752. Freelove (daughter of William Allen, III and Freelove Unknown) was born 20 May 1722, Prudence Island, Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI; died 17 Mar 1817, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Hezekiah Remington 16 - 50 A , Res. Po, is listed for Coventry, RI, in the 1777 RI Military Census. Also there is William Remington 16 - 50 A (residence Portsmouth), possibly his father; and a Thomas Remington 16 - 50 A.

Hezekiah Remington is on the list of Freemen of Exter, dated 20 Apr 1814.

James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" has his date of birth as 22 May 1757.

I have made an assumption that he was born on Prudence Island; this, in turn, is based on the assumption that his parents are William & Freelove (and Portsmouth land evidence showing this couple on Prudence Island). Hezekiah had two children, named William & Freelove. This is a strong clue. Hezekiah lived in Exeter and North Kingstown, and it is known that William & Freelove bought a house and land there in 1775.

Hezekiah married Anne Hill 16 Sep 1787. Anne (daughter of Caleb Hill and Mercy Stafford) was born 29 Jan 1761, North Kingstown, RI; died 20 Jan 1822. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

On the membership roll of The Baptist Church in Exeter, 15 June 1845: William (d 1865) & Mary Remington.

There is a William Remington listed for Exeter in the 1830 census, and is most likely this William.

In the 1850 Federal Census, William & Mary Rimmington are living at Bristol, RI, with married daughter Waity Ann Arnold and her family. Another daughter, Betsey, is also in the household.

In the 1860 Federal Census, William is 72 and Mary is 69. They are living at Exeter, Washington Co., RI. Also in the household are George H. Remington, 16 (c1844), and Albert A. Arnold, 12. They are next door to Joseph R. & Hannah Arnold and family. Hannah may be their daughter-in-law, who had married their son Stephen, who died in 1843. Assuming this is true, George H. Remington may be the son of Stephen & Hannah.

The death entry at Providence says he died in his 76th year, and identifies him as "son of Hezekiah."

His gravestone in the Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, says he "died suddenly."

William married Mary Wightman 13 Apr 1813. Mary (daughter of George Wightman and Waite Sweet) was born 29 Sep 1791; died 28 Apr 1866; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Freelove Thomas is buried in the Old Baptist Church Yard, 100 ft. north of Victory Highway, Exeter, RI. Clarke Lawton is also buried there.

Freelove married Clarke Lawton 19 Sep 1819, North Kingstown, RI. Clarke was born Abt 1781; died 6 Dec 1840; was buried , Old Baptist Church Yard, Cem. 39, Exeter, RI. [Group Sheet]

Freelove married Coggeshall Thomas Aft 1842. Coggeshall (son of George Thomas and Hannah Unknown) was born Abt 1783; died 24 Jul 1871; was buried , North Kingstown Cemetery 25, RI. [Group Sheet]

Stephen married Hannah T. Kenyon Bef Sep 1835. Hannah (daughter of George Kenyon and Martha T. Hoxsie) was born 9 Mar 1818, Richmond, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In 1863, William W. & Hannah were "of Pawtucket," as noted when the death of their daughter Mary was recorded at Warwick.

In the 1850 & 1860 Federal Censuses at Warwick, Kent, RI, William is with his second wife Susan and three daughters.

At age 63 in the 1880 Federal Census, William was working in a cotton mill, while Susan was keeping house, still at Warwick, RI.

He is probably the W. W. Remington who served as a deacon in the Phenix Baptist Church, Warwick, RI (now in West Warwick).

William married Hannah Albro 27 Sep 1838. Hannah was born 1816; died 1847; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

William married Susan Albro Between 1847 and 1 Jun 1850. Susan was born 1811; died 1896; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

On the membership roll of The Baptist Church in Exeter, 4 Mar 1877: George W. Remington, Olive H. Remington, Sarah J. Remington, & Mary F. Remington. (also noted 18 Aug 1877)

He may be the George W. Remington living at Johnston, RI, in 1840. There are no children in the household, just one male and one female 20 - 30.

In 1850 the family is in Smithfield, as follows: Georgew W. Remington 32, Olive H. 31, George H. 6, Julia A. 3, Mary F. 1, and Mary J. 1 (census-taker's error?). George is a weaver.

In the 1870 Federal census, George W. & Olive H. Remington, ages 53 & 52, are living in District 3, North Providence, RI. In their household are three daughters: Julia, 23; Mary F. & Sarah J., both 21.

In 1880, George & Olive are in Exeter, but the census image is unreadable.

In the 1900 Federal Census, George W. Remington is age 83, widowed, and living at Exeter, RI, with his daughter Julia and her husband Nicholas Reynolds.

Notes from "History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations," Albert J. Wright, Printer, 79 Mille Street, Philadelphia, 1878, p. 187: "The village [of Centredale, North Providence, RI] has a fine library, having been in successful operation for the past few years. The organization is known as the Union Free Library and Reading-room . . . In April, 1869, the society was organized, and the following officers elected: President, Dr. John O. Budlong; Secretary and Librarian, Frank C. Angell; Treasurer, George W. Remington. In the spring of 1870, the building for the use of the society was completed. The town, in the way of appropriations, has aided the society from time to time. The rooms are carpeted and furnished in a suitable manner. The society receive from the State a certain appropriation for the number of volumes contained in their library. There are eight hundred and seventy-five volumes of the standard works of the day in the library, and it is opened Tuesdays and Saturdays for the benefit of the public."

Notes from "The Rhode Island Manual, 1888-89, Manual with Rules & Orders for the use of the General Assembly," E.L. Freeman & Son, 1888, p. 313: "George W. Remington, of Exeter, was born in that town, May 22, 1817. Was Republican Senator 1877-79; was twice a member of the Town Council and President one year; was for fifteen years superintendent of cotton mills, but at the present time is a farmer by occupation. Politics, Republican."

George's gravestone at Chestnut Hill Cemetery reads: "Blessed are the dead who died in the Lord."

George married Olive Harding Dexter 12 Sep 1839, Warwick, RI. Olive (daughter of Benjamin Dexter and Sally Unknown) was born 27 Feb 1818, MA; died 1 Mar 1896; was buried , Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Victory Hwy., Exeter, RI. [Group Sheet]

Waity married Lyman Arnold 14 Feb 1841, Warwick, RI. Lyman was born 1820; died 1880; was buried , Arnold Lot, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From findagrave.com: w/o George H.; m/o Josephine, George, Harriet, Alphonso & Mary

Mary married George H. Cooke 28 Mar 1842, Warwick, RI. George was born 1818; died 1912; was buried , Locust Grove Cemetery, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

On the membership roll of The Baptist Church in Exeter, 8 Sep 1851, Betsey Remington.

Betsey married Jesse Perry Clarke 27 Nov 1851, RI. Jesse was born 1 Jul 1824; died 6 Jan 1908. [Group Sheet]