Providence County Miscellaneous News
Providence
County Miscellaneous News
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 16 1824
Riot At Pawtucket
We learn from the Providence Journal, that in consequence of a resolution adopted on Monday, the 24th of May, at a meeting of the manufacturers, to reduce the wages of those who worked by the piece, about 20 per cent, and to require the mills to run an hour longer each day, the workmen and women came to a resolution to abandon their work. At a meeting of the female weavers, a hundred and two women were present.
On Wednesday evening the workmen and others assembled in a tumultuous manner, visited the houses of the manufacturers shouting and uttering insulting language and broke a window in one of the mills. No great damage however was done. The next day the mills were stopped and did not run for some days. The disturbance has, however, since subsided, and the mills are again in operation.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 1 1824
Valuable Bequest
The Providence R.I. paper of the 13th ult. states, that the will of Ebenezer Knight Dexter, Esq., late Marshal of that District, was presented for probate on Monday last, and on being read it was found that the whole of his valuable estate, with the exception of a few legacies, and an annuity of $1000 a year to his sister, was given to the town of Providence, in trust, for the poor!
It is estimated that this munificent gift will amount to the sum of “sixty thousand dollars!” Col. Dexter possessed a rich tract of land on the neck, upon which the will provides, that an asylum shall be erected by the town for the poor, and the property he has given to his native town, independent of the land, shall be funded for the support of the Asylum. There are various provisions in the will respecting this establishment, which manifest the deep interest which this liberal benefactor of the poor felt in the success of his benevolent plan. – Balt. Amer. [Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 8, 1824
Cotton Factories Destroyed
On Saturday last, the Cotton Factories belonging to Messrs. T. Green & Sons, and A. & J. Wilkinson of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, were consumed by fire. Loss estimated at $75,000 – a partonly was insured. ---ib. [Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 8, 1825
A destructive fire occurred at Providence, R.I. on Monday night the 23d ult. It broke out about 11 o’clock in the work shop of Mr. R. G. Alien, cabinet maker, on the rear of Westminster street, near the Universalists Chapel. The flames were not arrested until they had consumed the buildings in which they originated – the three story-dwelling house, owned by the heirs of the late James Rhodes, the dwelling house (including a Grocery Store) owned and occupied by Capt. Samuel Young, the house at the corner of Union street, occupied by Mr. Alivar Carpenter, the house immediately adjoining, owned by the heirs of Peter Taylor, and occupied by Mr. Richard S. Updake, the house on the north side of Westminster street, owned by Gen. Carrington and occupied by Thomas B. Feener, together with that ornament edifice the Universalist Chapel, erected a few years since at great expense, the wall only of which are left standing. Several dwelling houses were injured by the fire, some of them seriously. 100 bales of cotton and other merchandize were stored in the cellar of the chapel.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 6, 1825
Truly Extraordinary
We learn from an authentic source, that there is residing in Providence, Rhode Island a man by the name of Oliver Shaw, who is perfectly blind and who possesses powers of the most extraordinary nature. He was a sailor until about his 21st year, when from some cause not particularly know to us, he became totally blind. He was gifted with a melodious voice and possessed an excellent musical ear but at the time he became blind he knew nothing of the laws and principles of music as a science. He is now one of the best composers in our country and can at any time set the notes to a tune by hearing it once played or sung. He plays in a masterly manner upon the Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Organ &c, and what is still more astonishing, he tunes Pianos with wonderful exactness. He also selects the wires for the Piano, strings for the Violin, reeds for the Clarinet, &c. with great skill and judgment and all this he does by the sense of feeling. The whole has been acquired since the unfortunate loss of his sight. We understand he has married quite a pretty woman since he became blind; and he often facetiously observes that his wife in the handsomest woman he ever saw.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 6, 1825
Henry Hudson
Takes this Method to inform his Friends, and the Public, That he has taken the Shop lately occupied by J. H. Tippitts, next Door South of Col. John Spurr, where he intends carrying on SHOE and BOOT-MAKING, in the neatest Manner, where Customers and others may be supplied at short Notice.Also, At his Grocery-Store, next Door South, a general and genuine Assortment of Groceries, &c. at Retail, at as low a Rate as possibly can be afforded for Cash. March 15, '98. (62.).
[Source: United States Chronicle (Providence, RI), March 29, 1798, Transcribed by Chirstina Anthony]