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The Quincy Whig Relics Of The Olden Time – There lies before us a bank under note for fifty dollars, of the Bank of Rhode Island, dated at Newport on the 8th of January, 1796, and signed “Chris Chaplin, President,” “M. Seisens Cashier.” The history of this note is remarkable. About three years ago this and another bill for the same amount, were presented at the bank for payment having been placed in the Suffolk Bank, Boston, for collection. One of them was dated in 1795, and was the first bill ever issued by the bank of Rhode Island. No bills of the kind had been issued for thirty five years previously, and the presentation of these at the bank was of course unexpected. They were, however, promptly redeemed, and their history elicited. They were found among the effects of an old man, who had recently died at Salem, Mass., who lived in poverty, and who probably believed the bills to be worthless, as they were found in a package of others of broken banks. The presidency and cashiership of the Bank of Rhode Island have been held in the same family for half a century, Mr. Peleg Clarke being now President, and W. A. Clarke, Cashier. We know of no older incorporated institution in New England, except the Washington Insurance Company, of Providence, chartered in 1787, of which the venerable Sullivan Dorr is still the President. We have
also before us another money relic, dated April 12, 1760, being a bill for
“three pounds,” which by law shall pass current in New Jersey for
eight ounces and fifteen pennyweights of plate.” It is printed in red ink,
on thick paper, and is about three inches and a half long by an inch and
three quarters broad. The signatures are nearly effaced. - N. Y. Com.
Advertiser. [Submitted by Debbie Gibson] Republican Compiler
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) Rhode Island– The Legislature of this state has been recently in session and during the session passed a resolution appointing Messrs. Searl, Bridgham, Hunter and A. Robbins, their Attorneys with instructions to sue the State of Massachusetts in the Courts of the United States for the right of jurisdiction over a tract of land on the northere boundary of that state and as cousel for pursuing the same to a final decision. The form of action is left to be determined by the Counsel, consulting with the Governor and the Governor is authorized to draw his warrant on the Treasury for the payment of all necessary expenses.-Nat. Intel. [Submitted by Nancy Piper] Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) August 8, 1914 Rhode Island's Name. A history of Connecticut just published refers to the name of Rhode Island as having been derived from the color of the rock or soil in the vicinity of what is now Newport. The origin of the name can hardly be dismissed in this fashion, however, without discussion. As most Rhode Islanders know, there are several theories regarding the source. Verrazano, who sailed along the coast of New England in 1524, is said to have written from Dieppe to Francis I: "At length we discovered an island of a triangular from about ten leagues from the mainland, in size about equal to the island of Rhodes, having many hills covered with trees, and well peopled, judging from the great number of fires which we saw all around its shores; we gave it the name of your majesty's illustrious mother." This island, on which the name of Luisa, was bestowed, was Block Island, though it is, of course, much smaller than the original Rhodes and is not ten leagues from the mainland. Its abundant trees long since disappeared. When Block came to Narragansett
bay (which he called Nassau bay) in 1614, he saw and described "a small
island of reddish appearance." This was formerly identified with
Aquidneck, or Rhode Island." Field in his history says: In 1637 Roger Williams speaks of "Aquidneck," called by us Rhode Island: and in 1666 he says that "Rhode Island in the Greek language, is an Isle of Roses." Yet a further and seemingly far-fetched, suggestion is that the island got its name from a settler name Rhodes. If these various theories are not convincing, one more may be offered. It occurs in a letter printed a few months ago in a Boston paper and signed by a resident of Brookline. His explanation is that "the Dutch traders, seeing the marshy estuaries of the largest island in the bay red with cranberries, called it 'Rhode Eylandt,' 'red island' which became corrupted into the English Rhode Island."-Providence Journal. [Transcribed by C. Anthony] Pawtucket Times June 4, 1900 Battleship To Be
Christened Rhode Island. Gov. Gregory Saturday received a telegram from Senator Wetmore stating that he had succeeded in securing the promise that one of the new battleships should be named Rhode Island. In the long list of warships which this country has had, from the Revolution down, the name of Rhode Island never appears. There was never a privateer named for the state, or even a blockading vessel during Rebellion time. And yet there are many reasons why Rhode Island ought to be considered an appropriate name for a vessel of the American navy. The first sea fight of the Revolution, in fact the first fight of the Revolution - the first armed resistance against British power - occurred in Rhode Island waters, when 64 Providence volunteers, on the night of June 17, 1773, rowed down the river in eight long boats and captured and burned the British armed schooner Gaspee. It is a fact, too, that the first officially expressed idea of a colonial navy came from Rhode Island. On Aug. 26, 1775, the two houses of the Rhode Island Generel Assembly concurred in ordereing their representatives in the Continental Congress to propose the establishment of a navy at the expense of the colonies. When, at last, action was taken, and a resolution passed to establish a navy, two of the thirteen ordered were constructed in Rhode Island, and a third, the Providence, afterwards purchased, was also built here. When the fleet was finally fitted out and placed in commission, Esek Hopkins of Providence was selected as the commodore-in-chief of the command, and one of the eight vessels of the fleet, the Columbus, was in the command of Abraham Whipple, who commanded the expedition which destroyed the Gaspee. The gallant Perry, who won undying fame, by winning the battle of Lake Erie, was a Rhode Islander, as was his brother, who commanded the American squadron which broke through Japanese exclusiveness and opened up the Mikado's empire to western civilization. It may be added, in this connection, that John Paul Jones, America's first great sea fighter, made his first voyage in the service of the American navy from Providence, in the brig Providence. It ought certainly to be a matter of congratulations that this state is to be honored by furnishing the name to a first class fighting ship. There have been many improvements made in battleship construction since the first class ones of the Indiana class were put into the water. What the improvements of the future will be time only can tell, but the Rhode Island is to be built and equipped on the most approved plans, and she is to be an up-to-date ship in every particular. [Transcribed by C. Anthony]
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