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- (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."
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