Archived-Articles

By HHA Member Tom Helmer

In the eight years since discovering the Cougar, two significant events altered my perception. The first was surviving two heart attacks, which effectively ended my walking in the Valley. The second was meeting Bob Miner, who read my partial manuscript of “Walking” and invited me to take a little stroll with him, ‘cause he had something to show me. The “something” was a series of astonishing animal effigies and stone chambers made by the Indigenous peoples. The majority of us refer to the Indigenous People as “Native Americans”. Perhaps I have been learning too much from my Narragansett friends, but they make a good point: The Narragansett are Indigenous People, perfectly matching Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary’s “definition #1: Having originated in and being produced, growing, or living naturally in a particular region or environment”. Long before Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian Navigator who loaned his name to the new continents of the “New World”, North and South America, from which the term “Native Americans” is derived. I use both terms interchangeably, but I wanted you to know that “Indigenous” has a following. But I digress.

The Narragansett artifacts I saw were so remarkable, I knew during the walk with Bob that somehow I was going to have to finish “Walking Together In Tomaquag Valley”, and expand it to include a walk entitled “Seeing The Native American Presence”. I simply HAD to teach others in that book how to “see”, just as Bob taught me. After six months of conditioning, in June of 2012 I was back at it, mapping and collecting GPS data, and writing about what I found.

One of the things I discovered was “Turt-zilla”, an enormous turtle effigy
11 feet long and 9 feet wide. And a subtle feature of Turtzilla is the “low
Relief” carving and shaping of it’s stylized eye. This eye was well executed.
It opened my eyes wider to the skill the Native American sculptor brought
to his work. (How do I know a Colonial Farmer didn’t make it? Because
Colonial farmers had enough work to do just staying alive. No Colonial
would “waste time” doing something that didn’t produce food or shelter.
Turtzilla, all the other turtles, and the High Cliff Cougar are inedible!)

It was just a day or two after recognizing that there was nothing crude about the sculpting details of Turtzilla that I ran across the close up photo of the Cougar, and it hit me that maybe the Cougar was also sculpted. I called Lauri with urgency in my voice, came over to her home and punched up the close up of the Big Guy, with the now famous question: “What if it’s man made?” I have never seen Lauri just sit, silently staring at her monitor for at least 5 minutes. All the details of the next five days are in the book “Walking…”.

Here is the first round of photographic proof that the High Cliff Cougar was made by the hand of man. In mid June, Bob Miner and I went back to the site to take some more pictures. Under the soft green light of the forest
canopy, the features are easy to see. I lay down and hung out over the cliff
to get this shot. When back home, I added the circles to the photo. Circles
are not a normal occurrence in nature, yet the Cougar has four different radius Arcs used in it’s precise construction. The tangential blending of the eye socket into the forehead curve is learned in a High School Geometry class today!

Few archeologists will risk the peer pressure to acknowledge the Indigenous People used Geometry, but no farmer would make the colossal effort and “waste” time making something that for him was useless. However, the Narragansett were a “Spiritual People”. The Cougar is in harmony with their theological view of the world, and for them, the monumental Cougar sculpture was part of a major Spiritual Landscape.

The next day I found a simple way to get video footage of the Cougar which I hoped would establish my belief that the Cougar WAS shaped by the hand of Man, specifically an Indigenous Person. Please follow this to the next drop down where the video recordings reveal “The Man”, and a complete circle proves the case that indeed, the High Cliff Cougar WAS shaped by the hand of man.

To give you an idea of how rare, and archeologically important Hopkinton’s Cougar is, ask yourself where the next closest Native American Monumental Cliff Sculpture is located? I’ve heard a lot of talk, but I have yet to see any documentation like what you see here. There must be more, but where are they?

By HHA Member Tom Helmer

The “High Cliff Cougar” and it’s companion “The Man” are part of a remarkable “Monumental Sculpture”. Both are located on the same block of rock , which juts out from the top of a 22 ½ foot perfectly vertical cliff. The sculpted block is 6’ high and protrudes 4’ out of the cliff, overlooking a flat plain about 50 feet below the cliff top and it’s jumbled talus slope.

Throughout the book “Walking Together In Tomaquag Valley”, I stress the need to keep a “Wide Eye”. You have to make a conscious effort to get your eyes up off the ground and look 360° at your surroundings. The High Cliff Cougar discovery illustrates why. When I began mapping and collecting GPS data of Tomaquag Valley in 2003, I was at this cliff, one of at least six besides the “Indian Shelters” located off the rusty ‘bar way’ on Maxson Hill Road. The “Indian Shelters” are located near a road, the other 6 cliffs are much deeper in the valley, assessable only to hikers. I recall I ate lunch on a big stone block resting on the cliff top, and had been all around the cougar, even taking photographs of it, but never “saw” it.
The Cougar & The Man have a remarkable ability to disappear unless you are looking at the exact spot at the right time. In 2003, they were hidden from me, as I was intent on covering a large area for my maps. That is the sculpted block circled in red on the upper left. Do you see anything remarkable hiding in there? Nope, me neither.

In 2004, when I was photographing various walls, locations and Colonial ruins as material for writing “Walking Together In Tomaquag Valley”, my eye was not locked to where I was placing my feet in the woods, I was looking around for “the good shot”.  Only then did I see the big guy. My photography training made me wait 90 minutes for the sun to move across the sky to give me the dramatic Shadows that make the High Cliff Cougar leap out from the lifeless rock and sink into your imagination. Give the picture some time for your eye to adapt, and then say hello to the nice kitty. So you have an idea of the scale, my brown walking stick resting on the tree is 5’ tall.

Hoo-Ray for zoom lenses, because if you look around in both of those two pictures, you can see the terrain is a large bolder talus slope jumble, and besides worrying about falling off the cliff, you can slip into a deep crack covered over with leaves and easily break an ankle. As 95%+ of my mapping was done alone, crawling out of the Valley is not an item on my bucket list, so I was very careful of my footing.

I got to a place for “the Good Shot”. It was mid April, and the tree buds were ready to burst with 2004’s new crop of leaves. There were no clouds, and the warm sun felt nice, even though there was still a chill in the air. If you stood around, you would say it was cold. But I was busy catching the Cougar on film.

Here’s the shot!

Leaving Tomaquag Valley that day in 04, I didn’t know The Man was lurking beneath the Cougar, and I believed it was a curiosity of weathering that formed the image. That changed eight years later. Please visit the drop down page below, the Text & Photo Page “Was The Cougar Shaped By The Hand Of Man?”

By HHA Vice President Lorraine Tarket-Arruda

Back Then

In the year 1669, the town of Westerly was in its infancy. The Town Council records refer to what would become Hopkinton as the “vacant lands”.

The area was in turmoil, for although the white man had legally purchased land from Native Americans, neither party realized what the consequences would be.

In 1675, after seeing their hunting and fishing grounds, as well as their cornfields taken over by the white man, hostilities erupted and in June 1675 King Philip‘s War broke out. Named after the recognized leader of the Indians, Metacom or Philip, as the white man called him, it was to be the bloodiest battle in the Colonies history.

By August 1676, the end of the war, 600 Colonists had been killed along with 3,000 Indians. King Philip’s War, (Please Google it.) eradicated most Native American tribes in southern New England. The war opened up the “vacant lands” in Hopkinton, and slowly the white man moved in.

And here we are today, with many races now living peacefully within our continuing to change Town.

Learning about “Back Then”, & everything in between up to our day

For the past fourteen years, on a daily basis, I have had the opportunity to read through the old Town Council records in Hopkinton. I have entered all my notes into my laptop and divided them into categories.

Each quarter, January, April, July and October, I choose a subject from one of those categories and write a story for “The Notebook”, the Hopkinton Historical Association’s newsletter. (Anyone is welcome to contribute an article on a Hopkinton subject for publication.) The “Notebook” was so named for my little notebook I carry in my purse and use frequently to write historical “tidbits” in.

The “Notebook” made its HHA debut in April 2010, and has evolved into eight pages of historical information from the settling of Hopkinton, old roads, wars, why “things” happened, old pictures, and many other subjects too numerous to list.

From my immersion in our Archives, I know The Town of Hopkinton is rich in history, and more is being uncovered everyday. Come join us on these quarterly adventures and sign up for a membership to receive “The Notebook.”

By HHA Vice President Lorraine Tarket-Arruda

Email LaurJoe@verizon.net

There has been little written about the Wells Family of Hopkinton and Rhode Island in general, but what had been written has had no facts to support the claims. I have spent the last 16 years compiling data on the Wells family, concentrating on Hopkinton town records. I intend to publish a book on the Wells family within the next five years, which will include the Thomas Wells line and the Peter Wells line. I welcome anyone to contact me with family information to share.

In this article I want to dispel several myths concerning this family and more importantly, share crucial information to correct an incorrect line, which people will be grateful for or will ignore.

Nathaniel Wells is a myth.

It has long been tradition in the Wells family and in the Town of Hopkinton that one Nathaniel Wells, a ship builder from England, was the progenitor of this family. I have been corresponding with Mr. Orrin Wells of Kent, Washington, who has delved deeply into his family genealogy. Both of us have studied the Nathaniel Wells story extensively and feel, without a doubt that an Albert Wells was the perpetrator of the flawed early history of the Wells Family. With the resurgence of genealogy in the mid-twentieth century, individuals became very cognoscente of the fact that many of the nineteenth century genealogies were much embellished upon.

The following story has been taken from these writings:

“Nathaniel Wells was born ca 1600 in Colchester, England. He was a brother to Deacon Thomas Wells of Ipswich, Massachusetts and Richard Wells of Salisbury, Massachusetts. He was also brother to Hugh, Joseph, William and George, who were the sons of Thomas Wells (1566-1620) of Colchester, England.

Nathaniel Wells was the first progenitor of this family line in New England. He was the owner and proprietor of extensive shipyards at or near Colchester, England which he had to abandon because of his sympathies with the Puritans. Nathaniel was summoned to appear in court to answer charges. Knowing that the sentence of the court would be pillory or imprisonment, besides confiscation of his property, he ignored the summons and took refuge in a ship that was ready to leave for America. He landed in Boston and took the Freemans Oath there on 2 November 1637.”

For generations these stories have been taken as fact and must treated with much skepticism. Upon conducting a reasonable search of Massachusetts and Rhode Island records, there is no documentation to support this claim, nor is there any circumstantial evidence.

Where did these stories originate? After several family members had researched the family, the stories seem to originate with Albert Wells. In his writing, Albert Wells does not cite any sources and does a great injustice to the Wells family by fabricating such stories.

In 1859, J. L. Spencer published bits of folklore in the Narragansett Weekly, which unfortunately have been proven incorrect by people researching their families using his information. His source for the Wells family seemed to be articles published in 1846 by Albert Wells and other family members, again with no sources cited. Today’s genealogists are well aware that embellishing on family connections was popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

If Nathaniel had owned extensive shipyards in England, he would have been an educated man. Upon arriving in America, he would have, with certainty, become involved in the affairs of the town in which he settled. There is no evidence that Nathaniel took part in the political life of any town in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. He is not mentioned in early Ipswich, Massachusetts town records, land records or probate, during that time period, or in any of the surrounding towns.
Another popular tradition is that Nathaniel moved to Rhode Island ca 1640 and settled in the wilderness with his family. After studying land evidence records and vital records between Ipswich, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, there is no evidence to support this theory. A Thomas Wells is the first of any Wells family to move to the Westerly-Hopkinton area. In 1677, Thomas Wells, acquired land in Westerly, most likely being lured here by the shipbuilding opportunities on the Mystic and Pawcatuck Rivers. There is no doubt that Thomas Wells (born ca 1626) knew the carpentry and shipbuilding trades well.

Family tradition also states that several members of the Wells family wish to be interred in their family cemetery called, “Chimney Orchard.” Upon reading documents and wills from the Westerly and Hopkinton area, the name Chimney Orchard is never mentioned.

A substantial connection has been made with evidence for Thomas Wells, as shown in the following:

THOMAS WELLS was born circa 1626 and died 12 February 1700 in Westerly, Rhode Island. [We 1A:7] He married ca 1655 Boston, Naomi Marshall, [Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 pg. 794], daughter of Edmund and Millicent Marshall (of Salem). She was baptized 24 January 1637 Salem, Massachusetts. [Records of the First Church of Salem, MA by Richard Pierce] For more information on the very interesting Edmund Marshall and his wife, read “The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 160, July 2006, Edmund Marshall of Essex County, Massachusetts, by Patricia Law Hatcher, page 185 – 197.”

“Thomas Wells was one of the early band of planters at Pequot Harbor, probably on the ground in 1648 and certainly in 1649. He was a carpenter and worked with Elderkin on mills and meeting houses. The last notice of him was on the town records in 1661, when Wells and Elderkin were employed to repair the turret of the meeting house. No account can be found on the sale of his house or land. He may have left the settlement, or he may be concealed from our view by dwelling on a farm remote from the center of business.”

“In a list of names who wrought at the Mill Dam we find the name of Thomas Wells.” [Caulkins’ History of New London, pg.45] **

**Frances Manwaring Caulkins was a local historian in the Stonington/New London, CT area. She devoted many hours to collecting data on the early settlers from old town records.
He was in New London, Connecticut from 1648 to 1651. “Thomas Wells, Carpenter, had a grant of land in 1649 and that he was there in 1651.” [Caulkins’ History of New London]

While living in Essex, Massachusetts, Edmund Marshall, Naomi’s father, had much difficulty getting along with his neighbors and his son–in-law, Thomas Wells apparently had difficulty also. Due to the diligent work on the Marshall Family by Patricia Law Hatcher, we learn much about the personality of Thomas Wells and his wife. “A feud erupted at the September 1668 court, with many depositions. Wells’ slanderous statements about his neighbor, Richard Brabrook brought Edmund Marshall (Jr) and Benjamin Marshall (Naomi’s brothers) into court to depose that Wells had often accused Brabrook of being a liar and disrespectful of the Sabbath, saying he was:

“a damned wretch and limb of the Devil and was not fit to live upon God’s earth and it was as prone to him to lie as the smoke fly upwards and on a sacrament day either going or coming it was all one he made no conscience of it.”

The low opinion of Brabrook was shared by others. Robert and Anna Cross also called him a liar and the Foster family accused him of selling them a drowned heifer which had been dead three days and created a stench. The couple also reported that Brabrook and John Bayer came to their farm and told them that “when Thomas Wells had written the lease between them [Brabrook and Bayer] for Wells’ farm, he had written what he pleased and left out what he pleased and when he read it, he read what he pleased.” Wells was found guilty of slander and required to make acknowledgment in court.

At the next court, in November 1668, it was Robert Cross who sued Thomas Wells for slander. Wells had said Cross was “a cheating knave and he [Wells] should have as good trading with the devil as with him and better, too.” Cross won and Wells had to make a statement in court to clear Cross’ good name.

The squabbling continued at this court, generating numerous despositions and much word slinging among family and neighbors: “Complaints having been brought in against Robert Cross, Stephen Cross, (son of Robert), Benjamin Marshall on one part and Thomas Wells (Benjamin’s brother-in-law) on the other part , for many slanderous, reproachful and threatening speeches, partly against the court and members and partly against the persons of some of the worshipful magistrates.”

Thomas Wells (aged about 42) and his wife Naomi (aged about 31) deposed that Goodman Cross had said,

“The Major Denison was disgraced at the court in Boston…the members of Boston court gave him a sharp reproof and the Major Denison was not respected in the court of Boston and Goodman Cross said that there came more appeals from the Ipswich court than any town in the country…and the seamen that belonged to our ketches said that Goodman Cross told them that his sons were set in the stocks and punished for nothing and he told us that the major could not abide him and therefore I fare the worse in the court and my sons also were punished for a matter of nothing.

Mister Bradstreet was the undoing of a man at Watertown…Mister Bradstreet sued him from court to court till he had undone him and made him so poor that he brought him from silk that he wore that he had instead thereof nothing but patched clothes and stockings out at the heels… and the court considered the man so undone the court gave him a sum of money for to help him.”

“The magistrates sat between the court at dinner drinking burnt sack and when they came into court they were ‘broshing,’ looking as red as though they were flustered and acted as though they were all ‘fodeeled.’ To which his father (Stephen’s father Robert Cross) replied it was the fines they took that fed their fat sides and the father further said that ‘I looked so big and spoke so sorely’ that he made the court quake.

Stephen Cross, Benjamin Marshall (Wells brother-in-law) and John Bayer testified to Thomas Wells words that:

“Our courts at Ipswich was all one [with] the Inquisition house in Spain: when a man is once brought into court thereof he knows not for what: he had as good be hanged…old Bradstreet was…vaporing about wondering what became of all the fines: he answers himself: why they keep it to buy sack with it all: and let cases go which way they will: they care not so long as they can feast their fat gotes.”

Robert Cross, Jr and John Bayer testified to even more scandalous words, that Wells claimed he could “set spells and raise the Devil, he affirming himself to be an artist.” Bayer and Marshall reported some fairly juvenile behavior by Wells, relating that one day when they were passing Goodman Brabrook’s, Wells wiped his feet on sheets that were hanging on the fence rails.

Thomas and Naomi Wells justified why they felt compelled to reveal the transgressions of the Crosses and Naomi’s own brother:

It has been the pleasure of God to visit my wife with sickness near unto death and other troubles which I never was tried with all before…we both can affirm those things spoken against the magistrates by those persons…we have sinned against god and his people because we had not revealed it sooner…some have said for Christ says he loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and we apprehend this to be the case…we had rather suffer with good conscious than not to suffer with an accused conscious.

Seventeen neighbors deposed on behalf of their “beloved neighbors” Thomas and Naomi Wells:

We are much grieved and troubled that such things should be laid to their charge…about two years ago and (a) half they lived about two miles from us…we never found nor understood anything in their speeches or behavior but that which was good and Christian like, and ever since last April they have lived amongst us…in his discourse being apt to speak or make occasion to discourse of religion and the best things.

Eighteen Neighbors signed a petition asking for clemency for Benjamin Marshall (including two who had also signed the petition for Wells) indicating that Benjamin had lived with other families, probably as a farm laborer:

Among those he hath lived for the most part of the 8th or 9th year of his age till now; …the good commendation given of him by several in whose families he hath lived, to be an orderly person of quiet disposition, not given to bare anger or a spirit of revenge in labor diligent, dutiful to his parents as they affirm;…Thomas Wells hath often spoke in his commendation [of Benjamin]…now since the court held at Ipswich…Goodman Wells hath given out threatening words against both his brothers both Edmund and Benjamin.

Two depositions make it clear that Naomi (Marshall) Wells was a catalyst in the proceedings. Benjamin Marshall’s bother Edmund even tried to indicate that Thomas Wells might have been willing to work things out (and revealing Wells’ chauvinistic attitude in the process)

Wells said he had nothing against Benjamin and proffered friendship to them before the deponent’s father and mother [Edmund and Millicent]. He wished to see Benjamin and asked to have him ‘Come and reckon with me but not before my wife for it is likely she would rail at him but you must consider: she is but a woman and therefore do not come to the house when I am not home.’

Naomi’s elderly parents, aged 70 and 67, revealed more details:

As for my son Benjamin we never knew him given to malice or revenge in all our lives: not to speak reproachfully of magistrates or of any other: and as for Goodman Cross we have lived by him many years and never heard him speak ill of authority or against any magistrate but as for our daughter Naomi we do think in our very hearts that certainly in her heart she hates her brothers both Edmund and Benjamin though we speak it with grief of heart, for she would often revile Benjamin and call him rogue before our faces…I told her that I had been in the church of Salem 30 years and upward and never was so detected as your father and I am by you our one child.

The case was proved and all defendants fined and bound to good behavior. “The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 160, July 2006, Edmund Marshall of Essex County, Massachusetts, by Patricia Law Hatcher, page 185 – 197.”

Thomas Wells is found at Westerly, about 1677, where he is styled “of Ipswich”, engaged in constructing vessels at a shipyard on the Pawcatuck River. In 1680, having a lawsuit with Amos Richardson, respecting a vessel of 45 tons burden which he had contracted to build for him, two of his sons appeared as witnesses, Joseph, age 22 and Thomas, age 17. [Caulkins’ History of New London]

In July 1677 Thomas Wells bought from Amos Richardson of Stonington, 180 acres in the area under dispute between Rhode Island and Connecticut, agreeing to pay for it by building ships of fifty tons in all. In 1679 he was warned out of Westerly, so he refused to build the ships, for which he was imprisoned in March 1680 by the Constable (who was Richard’s son) whom the Rhode Island authorities then arrested in retaliation. Richardson sued Wells in the lower court, and then the case was carried up to the Court of Assistants in Hartford, where it lasted until 1680, at which time the two sons, Joseph age 22, and Thomas age 17, (witnesses in the suit) appear in the strife. Rhode Island got Westerly and Wells his farm by paying something to Rhode Island. [Sylvester Judd, Historical Recollections of Connecticut Controversies]

Thomas Wells took the Oath of Fidelity to the Colony at Westerly, 17 September 1679. At the same time of his removal and settlement at Westerly, it encompassed Charlestown and Hopkinton. He lived in the Hopkinton portion the residue of his lifetime. The supposed location of his home was in the village of Ashaway and later generations built their homes in the vicinity of the Wellstown bridge on the road from Hopkinton City to Ashaway.

“Granted to Thomas Wells of the town of Westerly, one hundred acres of land falling by lot in Number 40 to him, his heirs & assigns, March the 28th 1692. [Volume 1, page 191 Westerly Land Evidence and Town Records]

His will, which is dated 27 December 1699 and proved 12 February 1700 [Westerly Probate 1A:7,8] states:

“The last will and testament of Thomas Wells Senr, being in good understanding through God’s mercy to make this my last will and testament as follows: My eldest son Joseph Wells hath already received his full double portion and more of ___ ____ if need require yett notwithstanding I give him 5 shillings at my decease. My son Thomas Wells I have already given him his portion in a horse and meat cattle valued at seven pounds in pay. My eldest daughter Mary Wells and my daughter Ruth Wells have had their full portions already. ____

___ ___ my daughter Sarah Wells and son John Wells and my son Nathaniel Wells have had their portion in what small matters I had. Whereunto I set my hand and seal the date December 27, 1699.

Joseph Maxson his mark

Stephen Randall Thomas Wells

In the name of God amen be it known to whom it may concern that I, Thomas Wells Senr, being neer death doe commit my soule to God and my body to my creator and to my deare beloved wife I doe make her executor of what estate I leave during her natural life and at her despose. And further I doe desire that my son Thomas Wells and my son John Wells and my son Nathaniel Wells do take the best care you can of my loving wife and what she has and if she should be taken away suddenly what she leaves shall be devided amongst these three sons above named hoping they would take care of their deare mother my loving wife Najomy Wells.
The persons above said Joseph Maxson and Stephen Randall being witnesses to this will personally appeared before me and gave oath to the above written will and testified that to the best of their judgement how his understanding memory and reason good and had written every part thereof before the signing and sealing thereof.

Westerle February the 12th 1699/1700

Joseph Clarke Justice

This is a true copy of the last will and testament of Thomas Wells Senr, compared with the original and entered by me this 31st of May 1700

Joseph Clarke Town Clerk

Clerk of Council Westerle 1 February 1700

We whose names are under written being chosen to take an inventory of the estate of Mr. Thomas Wells deceased have taken a true inventory to the best of our knowledge and witness our hand:

A Cow at 50 shilling, a mare at 30 shillings, swine at 36 shillings, bedding and wearing clothes 20 shillings, spinning wheel 3 shillings, woole 3 shillings, the lumber at 6 shillings, a pot and ____ at 20 shillings, old ___ at 6 shillings, house hold stuff at 6 shillings, flax at 4 shillings, the sum total 8-16-0.

Appraisers; Thomas Burdick, Thomas Reynolds, Peter Crandall

Personally appeared before me and gave oath to the above written inventory February 14th 1700

Westerle Joseph Clarke Clerk to the Court”

Children: [Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths 1630 – 1699, Wm Appleton, 1878]

(2) Joseph born-7 June 1656 Boston

(3) Thomas born-4 December 1661 Boston

Ruth born-ca 1663

Mary born- 15 April 1665 Boston and died 12 January 1693 Stonington, CT. She married 14 January 1689, Stonington, Connecticut, Ezekiel Main [Stng 1:80]

Sarah born- 27 August 1668 Ipswich, MA

(4) John born-ca 1670

(5) Nathaniel born-ca 1672

The correction of the lines of two Joshua Wells of Hopkinton, Rhode Island and New York

Please respond to LaurJoe@verizon.net

To all: Please read this [e mail] carefully, I was surprised to discover this information and have checked and re-checked records.

There were two distinct, unrelated Wells families living in Hopkinton, Rhode Island from the late 1600’s into the early twentieth century. I have studied both families over the last ten years and compiled separate family histories because of the confusion over each family. The descendants of Peter Wells lived on the east side of the Tomaquag Brook (river) and the Thomas Wells family lived on the west side of Tomaquag Brook. Both of these families owned large tracts of land and family members lived in close proximity to each other. Large farms were split up to accommodate sons and grandsons, but based on my strong knowledge of property locations, with all certainty never crossed the brook to mix in with the other Wells’.

The Thomas Wells lineage is presently documented as follows; Joshua Wells (29 October 1733 – 28 May 1834] with wives, Elizabeth Partelow and Sylvia Bentley, who was the son of Thomas and Phebe (Green) Wells. This family lived on the west side of the river.

The Peter Wells lineage is presently documented as follows; Joshua Wells born ca 1770; Joshua Wells (24 August 1743 – ?) wife unknown, who was the son of James and Mary (Barber) Wells. This family lived on the east side of the river.

Recently I have taken a closer look at individuals without cited sources, examining Hopkinton’s records for primary sources and recently located information proving each Joshua Wells’ had been assigned to the wrong family.

In Hopkinton Land Evidence Book 6, page 408, dated 10 November 1801, a deed selling 90 acres of land, bordering Clarke, Barker and Samuel Wells’ property was sold to a Charles Green, which was located east of the brook. The deed was signed by Joshua and Sylvia Wells of Hopkinton and witnessed by close neighbors, Josiah Witter and Josiah Witter Jr. The deed indicated this Joshua lived on the east side of the brook with wife Sylvia and next to proven descendants of Peter Wells, namely Clarke, Barker and Samuel Wells. The Joshua that married Sylvia Bentley was always thought to be the son of Thomas and Phebe Greene Wells.

In Hopkinton Land Evidence Book 3 page 648, 4 April 1789, shows a Joshua Wells giving land to his son, Joshua Wells Jr. The deed description states the land is “the old homestead farm” and is “bounded north by Thomas Wells, east till it comes to Col. Jesse Maxson’s land, west until it comes to the Ashawog River, estimated 50 acres. The same deed description is given in Land Evidence Book 5 page 162 on 9 April 1795, when property estimated to be 55 acres was sold to Thompson Wells, “bounded northerly by Thomas Wells Esq. land, south on Thomas Wells and Col. Jesse Maxson, westerly on the Ashawog River. The deed was signed by Joshua and Phanne Wells of Stonington, CT. This property is on the west side of Tomaquag Brook and right next to the men of the Thomas Wells line and is less than one mile from Stonington, CT. Who was this Joshua and Phanne Wells?

The Rhode Island Census of 1774 shows a Joshua Wells Jr, living next to James and Barker Wells (east side of river) with, Males above 16 – 1, males under 16 – 2, females above 16 – 2.

The same census shows a Joshua Wells, living next to Edward and Thomas Wells 3rd, (west side of river) Males above 16 -3, males under 16 – 1, females above 16 – 2.

An examination of the 1850 census show two Joshua Wells’, both born in Rhode Island, one living in Nelson, Madison County, New York, age 80 years. He was living with a Mary Wells, age 33, born New York and a Ruth Wells age 24, born New York. Several houses away was George Wells, age 50 and his wife Olive Wells. A James Wells, living on the east side of Tomaquag Brook had sons, Robert and George and a daughter Ruth, which would have been the Joshua, (who settled in Brookfield) his aunt and uncles, which would follow naming patterns.

But over in Plainfield, Ostego County, New York was a Joshua Wells, age 76, occupation, Baptist Clergyman and his wife Fannie, age 79, both also born in Rhode Island. Tracing the census records back, the ages were consistent in each census, Joshua and wife Fannie were in Plainfield, New York until the 1800 census which places them in Stonington, CT. Comparing land deeds and census records, evidence pointed towards the fact this Joshua and Fannie were the same couple that sold property in Hopkinton, RI on 9 April 1795.

In searching Town Council records, more evidence is found to prove that this Joshua’s father, Joshua, was the person that married Elizabeth Partelow (misinterpreted as “Dartts”) on 15 February 1759 in Hopkinton. She was born in Stonington, CT. In Town Council Book 2 page 185, 11 September 1783, “Whereas information hath been made to this council that Joshua Wells and his wife Elizabeth are in such a practice or habit in drinking spirituous liquor and omitting their business that they are likely to spend their estates and become chargeable to the town unless some method be speedily taken to prevent the same. Appointed Guardians, Thomas Wells and Henry Wells.” In Town Council Book 2 page 260, 17 October 1786, “Thomas Wells and his son, Cpt. Henry Wells resigned their Guardianship”. This Thomas would be Joshua’s brother and nephew, respectively. Both lived nearby.

It is fairly certain this Joshua, after giving his son land, stayed in Hopkinton and died there after 1783. The deed description of land, and census records directly link this Joshua Jr, who ended up in Plainfield, Otsego County, New York to the Wells family on the west side of the river. It has been assumed by myself and others, that Joshua and Elizabeth (Partelow) Wells had sons Gardner born 20 March 1770, Joshua born 17 July 1771 and Robert born 1781. However, if they were married in 1759, to have a first child 11 years after marriage was unusual. Also, it was assumed that that Joshua and Elizabeth had moved to Brookfield, New York, but Hopkinton Town Council records show otherwise.

If the Joshua Wells who was born 20 October 1733 went to live in Nelson, New York and died 28 May 1834 in Brookfield, New York, according to his gravestone in the town cemetery, that would have made him age 101 at death, highly unlikely. However, the Joshua Wells born 24 August 1743 would have been 91 and his wife Sylvia approx. 86 years at death.

The Joshua Wells who married Sylvia Bentley was born 24 August 1743 and was the son of James and Mary Barber Wells. The Joshua Wells that married Fannie___ was the son of Joshua and Elizabeth Partelow.

I have concluded through land records, census records, cemetery records and town council records the lineage as corrected should read;
Joshua (Sylvia Bentley) Wells (4), James (Mary Barber) Wells (3), Peter (Ann/Susannah) Wells (2), Peter (wife unknown) Wells (1).
Joshua (Fannie) Wells (5), Joshua (Elizabeth Partelow) Wells (4), Thomas (Phebe Green) Wells (3), Thomas (Sarah ___) Wells (2), Thomas (Naomi Marshall) Wells (1).
Joshua Wells, (1743-1834) the son of James Wells – The records of the First Sabbatarian Church of Hopkinton indicate that Joshua Wells was a member in July 1768 and that he had a first wife, Deborah, who was untied with the Church 22 September 1772. The church records do not indicate when he married the second time, but Sylvia is called his wife 22 June 1786.

In the New England Historical & Genealogical Register, “Christopher Clarke and his Descendants” explains the parentage of Sylvia Wells, the wife of Joshua. She was the daughter of Christopher Clarke and his unknown wife. The article states “The marriage of Sylvia Clarke and Joshua Wells has not been found in records, but is definitely proved by three old letters, now in the possession of Mrs. Hay, written by Sylvia Wells, wife of Joshua Wells, to her ‘Dear Sister Sarah’ wife of Carr Northrup. One was written from Hopkinton in 1793, another from Bridgewater, New York (next town from Brookfield) in 1813 and the third from Bridgewater in 1816.

Christopher Northrup, (son of Carr) in a letter to his mother from Pittsfield, New York in 1817, mentions a visit to his “Aunt Welles.” These letters also prove the migration of the family from Hopkinton, RI to Bridgewater, New York.

Joshua’s will, drawn in 1832 and proved in 1834 mentions his children in two groups of three children each. To Gardner, Joshua and Robert, he left equal portions of his estate, clothing and $10.00 each; To Elnathan, Sylvia and Belinda, he left the balance of his estate to be divided equally, subject to the widow’s bequest. This indicates quite clearly that the first three children were from his first wife and the last three by his second wife. Shortly before his death he added a codicil which disinherited his son, Elnathan, and bequeathed that would have been his to his children, William, Ebenezer, Ann, Gordon and Sally.

by HHA Member Tom Helmer

Based on excerpts from Gayle Waite & Lorraine Tarket-Arruda’ book “Hopkinton, Rhode Island Historic Cemeteries” and HHA’s book “Walking Together In Tomaquag Valley”

In 2003, when I first met Lorraine Tarket-Arruda and discovered that she and Gayle Waite had published their first book, the scholarly “Hopkinton, Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries” nothing would do but to visit at least one of the 86 cemeteries recorded in their book.

As I had not yet taken up “bush whacking” my way crisscross all through Tomaquag Valley, I asked the question any “normal” 21st Century person would ask: “Are their any of these deep woods cemeteries located close to a road?”

Who knows what Lauri was thinking, but she didn’t laugh out loud, and showed me where to find “Hopkinton Cemetery # 67”. This was an historic burial ground that came with it’s own history, besides that of it’s occupants, as this old newspaper article dated October 11, 1954, taken from the Evening Bulletin shows:

Road Projects Respect Tiny, Old Graveyards.

“An almost indiscernible plot of ground in Hopkinton, only about 25 feet by 15 feet in dimension, has been by-passed by the State Highway Department on two different occasions during the past 30 years as roads have pushed through the one-time open countryside.

The plot of ground has been declared sacred due to three rough flat stones set up on edge to identify the small area as a graveyard.

Thus the area has been duly respected by the state highway engineers who have drawn their plats for state roads with a recessed line at the spot, allowing the graveyard plot to remain undisturbed while heavy equipment has churned through the landscape to establish the heavily-traveled Nooseneck Hill Road (Today’s Route 3) The same plats have divided large farms and have on occasion split farm houses and other buildings in the course of establishing a right-of-way for the roads.

At least two of the stones, facing each other about six feet apart, have identified one grave, and another stone indicates that one more grave may have been dug at the spot many years ago near an old stone wall. But only the position of the crude stones identified the ground as a small graveyard. No markings appear on the stones and none of the older residents of Hopkinton have been able to shed any light as to who or how many persons may be buried there.

The plot of ground is located approximately a mile south of Hopkinton city, and about a quarter of a mile south of where Route 84 (Today’s Route 95) intersects with the Nooseneck Hill Road at the area formerly known as the ‘Triangle.”

A narrow strip of land on the northwest side of the Nooseneck Hill Road, where the graveyard is situated, is now owned by Mrs. Walter D. Kenyon of Hopkinton, who acquired the property from the Greene family early in the 1900’s Neither the Kenyon family nor members of the Greene family have been able identify the graves except to note that they are located at the particular spot.

Lawrence D. Kenyon, son of Mrs. Kenyon and Hopkinton Town Clerk, said that the names may possibly be among the old Hopkinton town records at the Town Hall but that they would still have to be identified as to the graves.

The first official identity found regarding the plot as a burial ground is on the state highway plats of 1923 when the Nooseneck Hill Road was first constructed through the open farm land. At that time The approximate 25 by 15 foot recess was allowed on the state property when it was purchased from the Kenyon family. This same recess is accounted for on the plats for the new construction this year which includes an overpass section, the south  end of which ends near the graveyard site.

This overpass section, which will take traffic to the Westerly area from the new four lane highway (Today’s Route 95) now under construction, was opened last week. Bulldozers and other equipment am now tearing up the old section of the road within a few feet of the unknown graves.

Arthur Champlin, 72, of Ashaway, who was born and brought up in the Hopkinton vicinity said that he had never heard of the graveyard, although he had often “cut cross lots” through the area when he was a boy.

A farmer in the vicinity, John Cole, 57, said he first heard of the grave or graves about 20 years ago when the first road went through, but that they were not identified at that time. Another native farmer, Edwin Ines, 48, has heard of the graves but he also could discover no identification.

William Allen, state highway inspector on the current construction, at first believed the graves might have been established by Indians, but this theory was exploded when he was informed that Indians did not mark their graves.

Several other “old timers” had no knowledge of the plot or had only heard stories that it existed. Old graveyards in the vicinity are not rare, incidentally, but most of them are identified with a particular family.

Whether or not the plot may be identified in the future, it will go down in the engineering plots as a part of history, and will have the distinction of causing a modern road-building generation to step aside, at least a few feet, in respect for the past.”

I remember reading of Cemetery #67’s location in Gayle & Lauri’s book:
“Located 15 feet west of Route 3 at telephone pole #249.

Note: A path has been cut through the center of the cemetery and upon studying the layout, it is believed one, if not two, graves have been obliterated. 20 Ft x 20 Ft in good condition with no enclosure; no sign. 3 burials with no inscribed stones. It is on Tax Assessor’s map #7, lot #64”

I clearly remember thinking that it would be easy to find this “Saved, but wounded cemetery”, and set off optimistically. I was wrong. I walked back and forth through poison ivy, bull briars and bugs and didn’t see anything except poison ivy, bull briars and bugs for a full half hour! This was my first time in Hopkinton’s be-wilderness, and my eye was tuned for Donuts, Pizza and Hardware Stores, in spite of my thinking I knew what I was doing in the woods.

I concluded that the book HAD to be wrong! (Of course! The accusing finger never points back up the wrist.)

I was on my way out of this snag-tangle when I saw the concrete marker. I had to be inside the State Highway Marker Boundary. Moving a few feet towards the way out, I still saw no sign of any field stone grave markers. (I was yet to learn how elusive they can be for something so obvious to a trained eye.) Before I gave up completely, I took one last look at the small patch of ground at my feet. I was literally standing 8 inches away from what is now the most beautiful field stone of the hundreds I have since seen.

I have learned a lot about seeing what is around me in the forest in the decade that has passed since my first encounter with Cemetery #67. I have checked in with Town Hall, (see Lauri), and have taken over the maintenance of this lovely place. I am certain that 95% of all readers of this posting “Drive By” this quiet spot often. This article is meant to show you what is resting in Peace behind that hole in the forest wall that flashes by your side window.

Back in 2004 I wrote:

This short walk, 100 feet for the round trip, will be to the most poignant cemetery I know. There are times when we have to work on our sense of mortal time, absorb what our eyes are telling us, and gradually let the experience shape our perspective. This cemetery had that effect on me, and I truly hope it has the same effect on you.

We get in my truck, tan, the color of dust, and take Collins Road to Maxson Hill Road, turn right at the stop sign, then take the first left onto Frontier Road. We pull over in a safe spot, well before the junction with Route 3. Both of us are wearing boots, as we are going to be walking through poison ivy. We have no sticks, no water, no pack, no nothing, just our eyes and a heightened sense of anticipation that quickens our every move. This walk will take 10 minutes or less.

Visiting an old cemetery, especially hidden from the beaten path, brings out a sense of history passing by, one person at a time. Our mortality, normally hidden silently within, confronts us face to face. Personally, I find it is not a scary feeling. I am never uncomfortable, in fact, just the opposite, I have a sense of friendship, kinship and loving interest for people I have never met. Standing beside a simple fieldstone marker brings an inescapable natural proportion to my life.

We walk along the curving steel guardrail till we reach the wood post for the 40 MPH speed limit sign. Directly across Route 3 is the path we will walk, going straight into the woods, cut between two cedar trees. The apron of the road is mowed, but after that ten foot swath, it is mostly poison ivy. The cars and trucks roar past on the highway, some to join the flow of Interstate Route 95 from the ramps a few hundred yards to the North.

Stepping lightly onto the thinnest growth, we walk exactly 39 feet in from the curb. Through the poison ivy and other growth, we spot a large rock just protruding above the ground in the exact center of the path. Ahead of us, there is a modern gap 6 in the wall feet away. To our left, a tree, probably an ash about 8 inches in diameter, is just a few feet away, so close we can reach out and touch the trunk.

Looking down, it’s hard to grasp the significance of what our eyes tell us at first, and then it connects in our minds. Don’t be surprised at a failure to see it right away, even though you are only three feet from the burial. The footstone of this grave is quite shapely for an ordinary rock. It rises out from behind the tree, about a foot tall and fifteen inches wide.

Just a few inches thick, it tapers delicately to less than an inch along the upper edge, as if it had been sculpted, but this is a natural stone. I wonder how many stones a grieving survivor handled before choosing this enduring testament to a life and a love. As we will see, no one knows who is buried here, but I like to think it was a woman, well loved by her husband, who chose her stone to speak of her beauty to those who would see.

There is the quiet grave right before us,
a tree growing near where a heart once beat.
Oddly enough, while we can see the cars clearly,
we no longer hear the traffic just 40 feet away.
We are in the silence of Time.

The stone has no name, no date.
You cannot help but to stare at that plain old rock, so purposeful, yet so easy to overlook.

That might be a fitting epitaph for our ancestors,
sleeping calmly through the rush of traffic at their feet,
“So Easy To Overlook”.

No one alive today knows who is buried in the three remaining marked graves, for there are other graves around you besides this one.

Figure 42: Soon you will see other markers, then wonder at the damage of the path.

When you tune your eye to look for fieldstone markers, you will soon see the lady’s headstone at the base of the wall. There is a second headstone on the other side of the tree, with no apparent footstone.

There is a third fieldstone to the right of where we are standing, also just a few feet from the path on the opposite side from the first grave. The thought will occur to you that maybe there were other graves and markers, but the making of this path and the wall gap destroyed their markers. It probably did. Others probably sleep beneath your feet.

It was the custom that each family buried their dead. Those too poor to afford a carved headstone really didn’t need a written reminder as to who was buried where. This was family knowledge. A person grew up and had this personal history refreshed with each passing. Maybe you dug your parent’s graves with your own hands. Your children give you that same final respect and service. You knew exactly where every member of your family was, carved stone or no carved stone.

How can we say with certainty which is a headstone and which is a foot stone? To answer this, we need to drop back in time to the Theology of that time. The early settlers came with a Christian belief in the literal Resurrection of the Dead. They believed that this Resurrection would sweep around the globe coming from the East. They interred those believed to be “Good” people along the East West axis.

This was done so that when the dead heard the Biblical call to come out of the memorial tombs, they would sit up facing the East and the One doing the Resurrecting. In the Valley there are many burial grounds, and almost all the burials are on the East West axis. But there is one site with two burials on a North South axis. This was an obvious message during their era that the people interred on this little hill were not considered “Good People”.

In the family cemetery, as your years advanced, you would form a good idea of where you would be interred, and who would be your neighbors as you slept in death awaiting the Resurrection. It was all “Family” here. But how could the residents of Hopkinton Historic Cemetery #67 become forgotten, and unknown?

Here is one theory. We live along the Eastern coast, proud of our history, but possibly asleep in school when things like the exploration and settling of the western frontier wilderness of Kentucky or Ohio got mentioned. Or all those other places between here and Hollywood, like Wisconsin and Kansas and Indiana, that stupid geography stuff.

People left here to go there for good a reason.

As an experiment in Colonial Agriculture, mark out a square 3 feet to a side in your yard. (Kids, ask mom or dad first before proceeding to tear up the lawn!) Now dig that square out by hand with a shovel to a depth of 3 feet. You are removing one cubic yard of New England soil.

As you dig, place every rock as big as a baseball or larger in a separate pile. When the hole is finished, (har, har, har!) you will find that the pile of rocks removed form a cone about eight feet tall, and will probably never fit back into the hole they came out of. This is a fool proof way you can tell you are back in New England if you ever get really lost.

Now, with that experience fresh in mind, pretend you survive by manual/animal powered agriculture. Would you really stay here, busting one plow after another, making countless miles of rock walls but still toting an endless supply of rocks out of the ground every single year?

Or would you move to the Ohio river valley where the top soil was soft loam 50 feet thick?

“Bye Ma, I’m a-goin’ to Cleveland!”

People, especially farmers from the East, poured into the Ohio, Mississippi and other spacious river valleys of the Mid West and Great Plains in a migration that still has not ended after 2 centuries.

So if little Willie and Josh go West, and Sally marries a city man from Providence, and Elias dies young, when poor old ma & pa go, the neighbor in the next farm has to bury them, and then he moves to Fort Dearborn, wayyyy out on the frontier, far away in the Michigan territory!

And how quickly the forest reclaims it’s own.

That could explain how this family cemetery passed beyond living memory.
No man today can say who rests beneath the tree.
Without the gentle stone to tell us of a death,
there is no proof of this life that once was.
Except now you know also!

Part of the unique feeling of this special place is that each visitor who braves the poison ivy carries within themselves the knowledge that someone once drank life to the full, and finally ended up here, nameless, beneath the tree, but not totally forgotten, because now we know.

Another part is the irony of the setting. The intensity of the initial encounter being over, we can now hear the traffic clearly, the whine of tires on Route 95, the wind from the cars on Route 3. Just forty feet away, traffic streams steadily past, bound for some pseudo-important event we are destined to forget in less than a week. Don’t you remember, we passed this very spot twice yesterday!

It’s a cliché, but what would these people say was the thing they missed the most about living; zooming someplace, or holding hands with your sweetie.

The valley has it’s own cemeteries, 14 of them that we know of. But I am of the opinion that you cannot absorb the fullness of Valley time and the Valley itself without first standing quietly right here, for a long moment, next to the Zoomings.

Right here, touching this tree, beside these fieldstone grave markers.
Markers that saved some ancestors from being erased.
Right in this place, our feet are planted in another time, “Valley Time”,
and out there on the road, the Now is zooming past us into the Future.
The Future doesn’t care about this old place.

Here, standing within the shaded graveyard, we watch the flash of colors as people drive past their end of the tunneled vision of the path. They move too fast for us to even be seen by them, and not one in a thousand knows what common destiny is waiting patiently, just off the road, behind twin cedars, covered in aptly named “Bittersweet Vines.

Just as you now carry the memory of the three graves, preserving those lives,
keep your eyes open on our remaining walks through the heart of the valley.
This valley has been preserved by chance, not design.

Remember, please.

The nameless people buried in “Hopkinton Cemetery # 67” had every reason to believe that time would be kind to their bones, but their family left them or died off. Once again, all that keeps the valley from being erased are the stones. One day, the stones will inevitably be pushed over by the future. Remember, please.

(In 2012, when I learned that our Historical Cemeteries were kept up by volunteer labor, I adopted Cemetery #67 as my responsibility. In the photo on the right, you can see how quickly the brush reclaimed the woods beside Route 3. The old cemetery is only 40’ in, through the large hole in the underbrush. I have whacked lots of Poison Ivy, Bull Briars and other vines, but still wear closed toes shoes if you come by for a visit. I invite you to park your buggy safely on Frontier Road, with a “heads up” while crossing busy Route Three, and step back in time and share some humanity with our neighbors from way back then.)

Snow fell last night, two fluffy inches. I went out to see if I could spot the fieldstone against the white back drop. On my first try, a car was tailgating, and at 40 miles per hour, I couldn’t see it, I was too busy driving. On my next attempt, I had no one behind me, I dropped to thirty, and was rewarded by the dark tan rectangle of the stone, partially blocked by the tree. It was just for an instant, looking down the tunnel of the path, but it was calming.

Drive safe, but it can be seen.

The pictures in the slide show are all of Cemetery #67, taken May 31st, 2013, after my second clean up of this year.

Follow your curiosity after thinking about this article, and come over for a visit and see the real thing for yourself. Park on Frontier Road, and be careful crossing Route 3. Please park responsibly, like the white car, not illegally, too close to the stop sign, like the gray car.

You should still wear “closed toes” shoes, but now you have to really want to get poison ivy or encounter a bull briar, as they have been greatly reduced in clearing the forest floor.

Plus, I guarantee you will find all 4 of the head / foot stones right away!
And my friends will thank you for your thoughtfulness in remembering them.

Names don’t matter when talking “heart to heart”.

By HHA Member Tom Helmer

The History of Hopkinton did not begin in the 1660’s, during the European Colonial expansion. The Indigenous Peoples, predominantly of the Narragansett Tribe, had a long period of time, perhaps many millennia, to build up an extensive Oral History of the Life and Times of their lives, and their deaths, on this same area.

The Narragansett wrote their history in Sacred Landscapes, the remains of some still visible in the forests. Much like the family grave yard I describe in the article “The ‘Drive By’ Cemetery”, they did not write a name on a rock as a memorial to one who’s life had ended. They knew, the family knew, and by extension, the Tribe knew who was buried in the earth of their land held in common, and who was honored by a Memorial stone, although fallen far from home. The forest they walked every day was their History Book. Their burials, as well as their sacred sites and effigies, surrounded them as they lived from birth to death.

The Colonists brought their own burial traditions, customs which were also many millennia old. For the majority, their final resting place was marked with an ordinary rock, or, in the case of “The ‘Drive By’ Cemetery”, a rock made extra-ordinary by it’s use. Both cultures depended on Oral Tradition to recall to mind the individual placed into the earth.

But as wealth accrued to the Europeans over the centuries, it became the practice to have stones engraved with the particulars of a person’s life. The European practice was to record these same particulars in the written paper records of the village or town, regardless of the wealth of the deceased.

For examples of the detail with which the Town was involved in the lives of the individual, pick any of the genealogical records from 1757 – 1850 on this site and read any twenty consecutively. It is astonishing! Today, we would think the Town Council was meddling in our private lives, but back then, they viewed it as the Town Council was keeping order in Hopkinton. And in those annals of the day to day, accumulating year by year, are the particulars of those people’s birth, marriage and death.

By the nature of this tradition of record keeping, there is far more accessible information available to write about these cemeteries and these lives, but HHA is about HISTORY, writ W-I-D-E, not narrow.

HHA is actively involved with making this site available to Narragansett writers, as well as other Indigenous writers, to teach the “Community of Interest” that visits these pages about the oral history of their traditional ways. As I write this, I think of the symbolic and tangible commitment made by HHA to the Indigenous Narragansett, in that the very first Internet link to go up on our site is to the Tomaquag Memorial Indian Museum in Exeter. I hope we will have many articles over time, sharing what they wish to share with our readers.

This is a simple thing, to open a door to a different world view, and ‘Open The Door To Learning’ is at the core of this site’s purpose, but we do not live in a simple world. If you approach this site with cast iron rigidity from any end of the spectrum of race or culture, of course we will be completely wrong, and only publishing garbage.

But this site is for those seeking to know, even if it is only to widen out their own perspective, or to follow their own curiosity. And it may be that the common ground of respect for the dead may serve as the bridge to building respect for the living. And we are living together in Hopkinton, and hopefully sharing in the fullness of it’s history, our history. And we at HHA do not believe that exploring the full spectrum of our common history is in any way a waste of time, rather, it is a rare and valuable treasure.

But enough of the “Big Picture”.

Within the GENEALOGY PORTAL, The Cemeteries Pages work hand in hand with the “Births”, “Deaths” and “Genealogical” wings of this Sub-Section Library, in that all four are sources of “Certain Knowledge”, which is the bedrock for Historical Researchers and Genealogical Researchers. HHA is fortunate to have two members who literally wrote the book on Hopkinton’s Cemeteries, Gayle Waite and Lorraine Tarket-Arruda. In time, we hope they will contribute articles and Photo Tours of some of Hopkinton’s interesting cemeteries, the kind you can drive to, and the kind you need a compass to find.

But you can also contribute to these pages. For some, the thought of willingly visiting a cemetery gives them the creeps, but for others, it is a source of Place, of Tranquility. If that describes you, why not try your hand at writing an essay about how you feel. (Remember, you learn to write by writing!)

The HHA site is all about respectful inclusiveness,
and that certainly does include you and your essay!

By HHA Member Richard G. Prescott

In 2010 HHA received a photo album as a donation from a Massachusetts couple, Barbara & John Felegian. They had found the album after the death of a great aunt, while closing up her home. Inside the album was a note written by George E. Allen and dated 1940. The not thanked the great aunt, Susan Greene, for coming Hopkinton and caring for George’s brother, Fred, until he was well enough to return to his own home. Apparently, Ms. Greene had enjoyed her stay in our village and George wanted her to have the album as a remembrance. Because Mr. Allen had mentioned Hopkinton, RI in his note, Mrs. Felegian called our Town Hall and asked if anyone in town would like to have the old album. Thus it came into our possession.

The album contained pictures of the General George Thurston Mansion in Hopkinton City. There were two exterior photos of the house, as well as interior pictures of nearly every room. The photos had been taken in 1913 when George and Fred’s parents, Edwin R. Allen and his wife Mary lived there.

In May of 2011, using the album and other sources, the Hopkinton Historical Association presented a virtual tour of the General Thurston Mansion & Store. Among the sources used was an unpublished history of the home written by Mary Allen in 1916. This tour is an internet version of that presentation.

Why Is This Building Important?

Over the years the Thurston Mansion was home to a Revolutionary War Officer and three Lieutenant Governors of Rhode Island.

It was also home to Hopkinton’s Town Clerk for 50 years and thus, was the Town Clerk’s Office. It was where the town’s records were kept. It was where you registered your dog and where you registered to vote.

The attached general store was one of the earliest and largest general stores in the South County.

It was in continuous in operation for 158 years and throughout that time it was heart of the village life in Hopkinton City.

Three ledger books from the store are part of HHA’s archives; two from its early years, between 1773 & 1775. The third is from the 19-teens to late 1920’s, the years just before the store closed with E.R. Allen’s death. Many others are in the archives of the RI Historical Society.

Slide # 1: Thurston Mansion In 1969

This 1969 picture of the “Mansion” was taken after the removal of the store addition; thus building appears much as it does now and also as did when it was built in 1769 by James Braman.

The Allens wrote, “This was a square double house, two stories front and rear, large and roomy, built of heavy oak timbers, the rafters large and the sides covered with oak clapboards, smoothed with a shaving knife and attached by hand wrought nails of large size”. They added that the house was comprised of twelve rooms, including the garret or attic, which they indicated was a room much used in early days.

Slide #2: Thurston Mansion Drawing

George Thurston purchased the house in 1773 and built an addition that doubled its size, in which he operated a general store, the largest of its kind in the area. This store was in continuous operation from 1773 to 1931.

The late Gladys Palmer, local historian, made this drawing of the building, as it appeared after the store addition was completed.

She also transcribed the Allens’ unpublished descriptions of it with permission of their descendants.

The Allens wrote: “The store or building was about thirty feet long and twenty four feet wide. It was two and one half stories in front, the roof sloping down to two stories in the rear. Most of the old stores attached to the dwelling houses in those days were but one story in height. There were two rooms on the first floor of this building, a chimney of brick between them. The two large rooms on the second and third floors were used as stock rooms. The Thurston store was a very large one for those times and was filled with a variety of almost everything one might need. People came here from far and near to purchase goods and groceries and a lucrative business resulted.”

When the colonies declared independence in 1776, George Thurston was named Captain of the 2nd Regiment of Hopkinton’s militia and saw action in the Sullivan Expedition in Newport, RI. By 1791 he was named Brigadier General of the Washington County Militia.

General Thurston was born in 1741 and died in 1827 at 86 years of age; outliving two wives and several of his eight children.

Most of his children settled in the village of Hopkinton city. Two daughters and a son died young.

Two of his sons, Jeremiah and George Jr., built their homes near the Mansion and managed the store it as their father aged.

Jeremiah was appointed as Hopkinton’s first Post Master in 1811 and operated the Post Office in the store.

Jeremiah went on to become RI Lt. Governor in 1816 & 1817 and his son Benjamin became the second Thurston to be elected RI Lieutenant Governor served in 1837 & 1838.

Benjamin also managed the store for many years as well as representing RI in Washington DC, as a Congressman from 1847 to 1857.

Before going off to Washington, he formed a partnership with his cousin, Charles Noyes. While Noyes managed the store, Benjamin slowly withdrew from it. He retired from the management of the store in 1851.

Mr. Noyes had moved into the mansion, sharing it with Susan and Ann Thurston, the elderly unmarred daughters of George and Dolly. After their passing he became owner of the Mansion and Store.

Mr. Noyes held the rank of Major in the local militia and was single with no children. When he needed help with the store he hired his sister’s 16 year old son, Edwin R. Allen. In 1856 young Mr. Allen moved from Windham CT, to live at the General Thurston Mansion and become a clerk in the store.

Slide #3 Edwin R. Allen & Family

Most of the pictures we will be seeing were taken when the Edwin R. and his wife Mary lived in the Mansion. Therefore, it is important to learn a little time speaking about the Allens and their family.

This picture of Edwin Robinson Allen is from the book “Men of Progress” published in 1896, while he was Lt. Governor.

At age 22, “Ned” Allen, as he was called, enlisted the Union Army and participated in many of the Civil War’s fiercest battles. He returned safely and married Mary Thayer in 1867.

Mary Allen was the daughter of George and Martha Thayer, who lived in the large house that Jeremiah Thurston had built in 1801. Their home was across Main St. then know as the “N.L. Turnpike”. That house is no longer standing, the reasons for which will be discussed later.

Mr. Allen became the Town Clerk for Hopkinton in the same year he married and held that position for 50 years (until 1917). Much of his work as Town Clerk was carried out in a small office in the store addition.
The Allen’s sons, George and Fred, were born in the Mansion in 1869 and 1871 respectively.

In 1879, after Major Noyes passed away, “Ned” Allen became the owner of the Mansion & Store. In 1889 he was elected to represent Hopkinton in the state legislature and in 1894 he began his first of two terms as the Lt. Governor of RI. Thus, he became the third Thurston descendant coming from this old house in Hopkinton City to hold that office. Mary Allen Passed away in 1930. “Ned” followed her a year later and the store closed forever.

Slide #4: South End Of The Mansion With The Store – C.1913

When the store was added, the windows on the right side of the house and the attic window were completely covered. The Allens’ writing explains the strange little window installed above the window “South Great Chamber” on second story. They wrote “On the south end of the kitchen was a dark narrow stairway to the rooms above. At the head of this stairway was a long narrow entry, lighted by one small high window, and from this entry ascended another short flight of stairs to the garret and another good sized room at the north end of the same for the slaves”.

Also note the massive tree at the corner of the store. The Allens wrote “At the south end of the house stands a Buttonwood of one hundred fifty years or more. Its height is lofty, its branches far reaching. In its trunk, near the ground is a large cavity, this however, has not apparently greatly injured the tree. “The Old Buttonwood” is valued highly by its owners”.

Slide #5: “The Old Buttonwood” Today

Planted before the revolution, this old tree has survived the rigors of time.

It even survived State’s widening of Woodville Road in 1969 and is still highly valued by its current owners, George and Terry Browne.

When I was a growing up and played hide & seek with the other kids in the village, the hole was still large enough to offer a hiding place. Today, the trunk has healed itself to the extent that only a very small child could use it to hide.

Slide #6: The North End Of The Mansion C. 1913

Notice:

• The New London Turnpike is still unpaved.
• The Victorian porch at the north side of the house & well house in front of it. We will get a closer look at this little building later.
• the strange U shaped bend in the down spout at the corner of the house. This directed rain water to a cistern in the cellar that stored water to be used for household purposes.

If we could see the front door in this picture it would look very Victorian, a vertically double door and each side had its own arched, frosted window. In front of the door were shutters to limit sunlight and street noise. The Allen’s writing tells us that the original door was made of oak, and had a large knocker, handle and latch all made of highly polished brass.

The Allens also may offer an explanation why they found it necessary to install the awnings seen in the picture. They wrote, “The four trees that formerly stood in front of the house and a large Buttonwood tree nearly opposite were consumed in the big fire of 1888, the loss of which detracted much from the appearance of the Thurston House and the comfort of its occupants”.

Slide # 7: The Aftermath Of The April 21, 1888 Fire

On April 21, 1888 a fire started in the Wells Carriage Factory on Clark’s Falls Road (where two house trailers now stand). Many homes were threatened, including the Thurston Mansion. The Allens and several other families took all they could out of their homes, but fortunately only the factory and two dwellings were lost.

Mary Allen drew the following drawing from memory and it offers the view from the doorway of her home as she recalled it after the fire. It is said to be the only existing image of these buildings.

Slide #8: Mary Allen’s Drawing Of The Buildings Lost In 1888.

On the left is the house Jeremiah Thurston built in 1801 and was owned by Mary Allen’s parent’s at the time of the fire. After its loss they built the “Thayer House” that is now is home to Hopkinton’s Post Office. Not in view, but to the left of the house is Clarks Fall Road and further left is the George Thurston, Jr. house located at 1 Clarks Falls Road.

To the right of right of Jeremiah’s house is a large Buttonwood tree with a sign to let travelers know that they are welcome at the Spicer Tavern in the center of the drawing.

The drive between the tree and the tavern is not Clarks Falls Road as I first thought. In the tavern’s hay-day between 10 & 12 stage coaches pulled in each day, allowing passengers a rest stop and bite to eat, while fresh horse were hitched to the stage. This was a well travel driveway!

“The Thomas Wells House” is to the right of The Spicer Tavern, but the one story addition that once held a small store and Post Office is no longer there. The home is located at 495 Main St.

Slide #9: The Front Entry Way Of The Thurston Mansion

As we will soon see in a later pictures, the Allen’s Victorian front door was quite different from the original they described; however, the hall way behind it had changed little. They wrote that the front entry was small and nearly square. Doors on either side led into the north and south “Great Rooms”. The stair way was blocked by the home’s huge center chimney so stairs had to take two turns before reaching the narrow hall way above.

The stairs were made of oak, but the balustrade and handmade paneling on the stairway were made of pine and there was a small closet under the stairs. Today all of this looks much the same, but paint has been stripped to expose the bare pine. Perhaps the table we see was the cherry table mentioned in the inventory taken after General Thurston’s death in 1827. It also lists jars stored under the stairs.

Before we step further into home’s interior, I would like to read what the Allens wrote about the appearance and use of its “Great Rooms” on either side of the entry.

They wrote. “The rooms are all low ceiled about seven feet below and six feet above. In some of the rooms at present the summer beams and cornice remain. These give the rooms, as you enter them, an appearance of being much lower.” (Note the beams)

“In both of these rooms were corner cupboards, which were filled with choice china, glasses, decanters, silver and pewter. Also there was ancient crockery of pink, blue and pencil ware, a few pieces of which are now in this home of the writer.” We will see some of these as we tour the dining room.

“Typically the fires in the great front rooms were seldom lighted unless there was to be a wedding or a funeral, but the Thurston family was noted for their hospitality, and if these great rooms could speak, they would tell of many guests & entertaining with stories of courage and daring and of wit and pathos.”

The 1827 inventory taken upon General Thurston’s indicates that the “North Great Room” that we are about to enter, was probably used as the Mansion’s dining room during his time. It contained –among other things – a dining table, a dozen fancy gilt chairs, a Scotch carpet, 4 dozen Liverpool plates, a coffee pot, and 16 coffee plates.

Slide #10: Entering The “North Great Room” C. 1913

In 1913 the room was decorated as a Victorian parlor but also served as an excellent space to display some of the home’s earlier furnishing.

Here In the northwest corner of the room we see a fine Butler’s Desk from the early 19th century. I believe the portraits above the desk are of General George Thurston and his first wife, Dolly.

Notice – the day-cap worn by Mrs. Thurston. We will see it again, carefully preserved, in the “South Great Chamber” upstairs.

Slide #11: Enlargement of the General’s Portrait

Slide #12: A Recent Picture of the General’s Desk

The desk now belongs to Douglas and Sandra Steacy of Delaware.

Mrs. Steacy is a granddaughter of George Allen, the last of the Allen family to live in the Thurston Mansion.

When the desk was sent out for repair and refinishing recently the Steacys found two sets of Hopkinton voting lists from over 100 year ago.

The voting lists had been used as drawer liners in the desk. The Steacys have generously donated them to the Hopkinton Historic Association.

Slide #13: The “North Great Room” Picture I

The southwest corner: Through the doorway we see the Victorian front door with its arched frosted glass that to replaced the original colonial door.

This and the next picture were taken from nearly the same point of view.

By taking more than one picture of a room the photographer could use light to advantage and also showcase as much of the Allens’ fine furnishings as possible.

Charles Noyes Burdick, a grand nephew of the former owner, Major Charles Noyes, visited the home in 1933 and wrote “Mrs. Allen, had a taste for antique furniture, and hers was one of the finest collections in Rhode Island, many pieces of which are connected with the house and have come down to her and her husband from former occupants of the place”.

I’m sure Mary Allen took an active part in staging these pictures to showcase her collection.

Slide #14: The “North Great Room” Picture II

Can you note any differences from the first picture?

Carpet, table, picture, chairs, items on tables, better view of fire place, etc.

Slide #15: The “North Great Room” Picture III

The north and east walls of the room

At the right of this picture is a view through a doorway into the Allen’s dining room, the next room on our tour.

Again, some items have been relocated since the previous pictures.

Notice: that the portrait of General Thurston over the desk has been replaced by what looks like an antique sampler, perhaps made by one of his daughters.

Slide #16: The East Wall of the Dining Room

We should note here that the Allen’s dining room was the original kitchen back when the house was built in 1769.

At the left is a large ornate china cabinet. Hope Greene Andrews bought this at the auction after George Allen’s death and it is now in her granddaughter’s home.

The closed door leads to the kitchen in the ell. There are no 1913 pictures of this room or any of the more utilitarian rooms in the house.

The open space set back in the wall beyond the kitchen door was used as a den with a desk and candlestick telephone.

Notice: the picture of Edwin R. Allen on the phone’s bell box is the one we saw earlier.

Slide #17: The South End of the Dining Room

The door to the left of the grandfather clock led to a small sitting room in the Allen’s time.

It was in a small addition that had been added to the east of the house sometime after the store was added, blocking the south windows on the east side of the original house. The Allen’s tells us that in earlier times this room was called the “summer bedroom” and was a pleasant room that had a window to the east and one to the south.

The space behind the door to the right of the clock had been incorporated into the “South Great Room” during the Allen’s time and we will see that space to better advantage when we tour that room.

In earlier times it was called the “winter bedroom”, because as the Allens explain it was warmer than the other, being enclosed on all its four sides. She wrote that all the light and air for the “winter bedroom” came through a door leading into it from “summer bedroom”. Must have been stuffy!

As mentioned earlier, a back stairway in this area led up to the slaves’ quarters when this room was the General’s large colonial kitchen. The stairway enabled the servants to go about their chores, tending fires, fixing meals, etc, without being much noticed by their masters.

The great kitchen fire place was of no purpose in Victorian times and was covered over. Here it’s hidden in the behind wall to the left of the hutch. It would be just underneath the large rectangular platter that is displayed on the wall.

Slide #18: The North End Of The Dining Room

The north wall: Before the Victorian remodeling there was another small bedroom in this corner and there is a mystery associated with it.

The mystery involves a weary stranger, his disappearance and the possibility of buried treasure.

As the story is told, a traveler came to the door asking to stay overnight. He said he was over taken by dark and was very tired. Being kind and hospitable General Thurston allowed him to stay in this little room.

In the morning, however, the widow was open and the man was gone leaving only a mystery.

Some years passed and another man came to the door and offered some explanation. He told the family that he had met the mystery man, who had confessed a crime to him. He had stolen money & valuables and was being followed by the authorities.

He came to the Thurstons to evade them and to hide his booty so he would not be caught red handed.

He left in the night, but buried his loot on their property before leaving the area.

He had never gotten back to retrieve his prize, but had given the second man an idea where it was hidden before he died. The man and many since have looked for the treasure in vain.

The elderly daughters of General Thurston, Susan and Ann, and Barbary Sampson, their African American servant, were in the home when both of these men came to the door and passed the story along.

One of the people who heard their story was Miss Sally Larkin, a servant girl in the home helping Barbary with household chores and with the care of the elderly sisters. She and others who had heard the story passed it on after the Thurston sisters and Barbary had passed away. They recalled the excitement that the tale generated in the village. The Allens heard the story from my great, great grandmother, Sally (Larkin) Kenyon and other villagers who had heard it from those who lived in the home at the time.

Through Mary Allen’s Kitchen, Out The Back Door & Around The House

We have no pictures of the Allen’s kitchen in the ell, as it wasn’t considered a fashionable part of the house. However, I have some memories of it from childhood visits with their oldest son, George.

I recall an area at the east end of the ell with a sink under the window and cupboards and cabinets on either side. These were of darkly stained bead-board and the hardware was bronze colored.

There also was a black cook stove, and a small eating area in the kitchen, where on a couple of occasions George Allen served me soft-boiled eggs on toast, a breakfast I love to this day.

The exterior kitchen door led to a large porch at the north side of the house and stepping off the porch one would be standing on a wide stone walk in front of the well house.

Slide #19: Recent Picture of the Well House

Looking east at the well house at the home’s north side.

Slide #20: The Mechanics of the Well House

I always admired the mechanics of this little building.

The rope for the water bucket was attached to the large pulley.

A rock with a ring in it, serving as a counter weight, hung on a wide belt from the smaller pulley.

Pulling the rope to let the pail down for water lifted the counter weight.

The effort to do so allowed the pail to be lowered slowly.

In turn, it also made it a great deal easier to pull up the full pail of water.

Once up the pail could be spilled into a spout inside the well house and this would fill up an empty pail hung on spout at the outside of the well house.

Slide #21: The Allen Brothers & The Prescott Brothers C. 1945

George and Fred Allen with me and my brother Phillip. A paved parking lot now covers this area.

The Deake-Utter House, now owned by Thurm and Doris Silks can be seen in the background.

The George Allens’ garden was behind the picket fence, closer to the house than the Silks’ garden is now.

Slide #22: Mr. Allen on a Horse in Front of the Original Barn

The barn was built before 1888, as it can be seen in a picture taken from across the road just after the Great 1888 Fire. The detailing on the doors fits the time period.

I have great memories of both of the outside and the inside of this building.

There was a cellar underneath the barn that was open to east. It housed a small row boat that the young Allen brothers’ used sail model boats they made in local ponds.

There was scuttle hole in the floor above barn’s cellar through which horse manure could be shoved. After Mr. Allen moved into a nursing home, we kids discovered this trapdoor and explored the barn itself.

George and Fred’s 1920’s cars were still there as were the model boats they built and sailed. The Steacys have donated one of these boats to the HHA.

Slide #23: The Model Boat Donated By The Steacys

Slide #24: The Interior Of The Barn’s Hay Loft

The picture of the barn’s exterior reminded me that the diamond shaped window is no longer visible and I wondered if had been removed when the barn was remodeled in the 1970’s.

With permission of the present owners, George and Terry Brown, a trip inside proved it was still there, hidden under the outer sheathing.

Slide #25: Frank Mills & Horse At The End Of Drive On Woodville Road

Holding the horse is my great uncle, Frank Mills. Behind him is the house on Woodville Road in which I grew up. It was demolished in 1969, when the road was widened.

The belfry in the background identifies it the former First Baptist Church of Hopkinton & later the “Colonial Theater”.

Slide #26: The Ell at the East of the House

This view of the ell is what Frank Mills would have seen from his perspective.

The Allens indicate that a single store ell was added at the northeast side of the house a few years after the house was built.

The ell served as a “Summer Kitchen” and had large stone chimney and a brick oven as we saw earlier.

The Allens removed the original ell in 1881 and built a new, one and a half story ell with a modern brick chimney on the old foundation. The taller ell made major changes in the main house possible.

This included a back stairway to the main house making it possible to eliminate the original back stairway that had gone from the colonial kitchen to the attic.

Also note the granite patio & grape arbor in the angle between the ell and the main house. I can remember many an after school grape fight, fought with ammunition from this arbor!

Slide #27: The Strore With Merchandise Outside

Notice:

• The small window panes and solid wooden shutters original to the 1773 store
• That the shutters have been used post advertisements.
• The merchandise in front of the store includes household goods and yard tools

Slide #28: The Interior of the Store

Notice:

• the circular counter with an iron rail of at the top that had been installed when the store was built was still in place.
• the coal stove which had replaced the original wood stove. However the Allens indicate that the old stove was stored above the store.

In 1933 George Allen gave Charles N. Burdick a tour of the store. Mr. Burdick’s father had been a clerk in the store while “Ned” Allen was serving in the Civil War. He wrote the following description what he saw: “To the left of the door, standing on a platform is the old desk, with its tall spindled railing around the top, from which hang voting lists and town notices. On this desk were kept all the accounts of the store since its opening by General Thurston.”

Mr. Burdick ends his pieces about the interior of the store as follows: “Those of us who have sufficient imagination can picture to some extent, the scenes of the old days, when the Thurstons, Major Noyes and Ned Allen catered to the needs of a widely scattered clientele. As for myself, as I stood in that little old store, I tried to picture my father as he looked in the old daguerreotype of him as a boy, standing behind the counter, tying up packages and listening to the “war talk” of the idlers, who were waiting for the mail coach, while the old Major, whose name I bear, sat on his high stool behind the desk casting up his accounts for the day”.

A small room between the store and the main house was used by “Ned” Allen as his office during the 50 years he served as Hopkinton’s Town Clerk.

Mr. Burdick wrote that the “whole history of Hopkinton” going back to the 1700’s had been held in four safes in this room.

Slide #29: Back Into The Mansion – The South Great Room

Mr. Burdick stated that the appearance of the mansion’s exterior is that of an ordinary prosperous looking country home. But he added, “Inside the house, however, it is apparent that it is the home of people of refinement, culture and education”. “Whoever passes through the door from the store to the house proper passes into another phase of the life of the former Town Clerk of Hopkinton, or the former Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, whichever you may prefer to call him.”

That door led directly into the South Great Room, which was “Ned” Allen’s library full of well selected books.

The two windows in front look west out onto the “Turnpike”. From the window on the left Mr. Allen could see if a customer was coming up to his store.

Notice: the curtains on the bookcase between the windows can be closed to protect the books from sunlight and dust.

Slide #30: E. R. Allen’s Library – Second Picture

There are no windows on the right side of this part of the room because of the store addition; however, looking into the background of this photo light can be seen coming from what had been the “summer bedroom”.

The area where the piano stands was once the part of the “winter bedroom”. The doorway between the bookshelves led back into the store.

Mr. Burdick tells us that Edwin Allen’s library included over 150 volumes relating to the Civil War with official records, both from the Union and the Confederate reports.

At the auction following George Allen’s death in 1958 Hope Andrews’ husband Loren bought all 150 volumes of the Civil War collection and it is now in possession of their son, Loren Jr.

Notice: the photographer has moved items around once again

Slide #31: E. R. Allen’s Library – Third Picture

Notice: the black marble Victorian fireplace on the interior wall and other fine Victorian pieces.

During General Thurston’s time, this room would not have looked as refined. From reading a house inventory from 1827 it seems as if this may have been a room in which the General and his gentleman friends discussed business and the issues of the day, while his wife entertained the ladies elsewhere in the house.

The most expensive piece in the room was a brass clock valued at $45. Other items included a sideboard, six green quilt chairs, three old chairs, carpets, mats and two spitting boxes. Spitting boxes which probably would not be part of the décor for mixed entertaining.

Today the Victorian mantel has been removed, revealing the original granite that held the fire for General Thurston and his friends.

Next to the fireplace is another bookcase and beyond it is an opening leading into entry and stair way we saw earlier.

Slide #32: The Front Entry Way and Stairs

When we were here earlier we went into the North Great Room and dining room. Now let’s go upstairs to the North Great Chamber.

Notice: the silver plate that seems to hold a Victorian calling card.

 

Slide #33: The North Great Chamber – Looking West

Looking into the southwest corner of the room we can see the two west windows and door to the stairway.

Notice: The many fine antiques that were part of Mary Allen’s collection.

The Allens wrote “In the north great front chamber stood a high post maple bedstead.” In fact they called this the “Maple Room” because many of the antiques in it were of curly maple. This seems to be true of the desk as well as the bed.

Notice: the mirror between the windows

Slide #34: The North Great Chamber

Looking at the northeast corner of the room

Notice: the washstand with its basin & pitcher and soap dish below

Also notice: the tall “slop jar” for waste water etc. By 1913 the Allens had running water and inside plumbing so these are a display of her antiques.

Notice: the tall “High Boy” dresser which couldn’t have been too tall due to the low ceiling.

Notice: the silhouettes on either side of the dresser. At the left is General George Thurston; his oldest son, Jeremiah, is on the right.

Notice: the mats on the floor for warmth in cold weather

Slide #35: The North Great Chamber

Looking at the southeast corner of the room

The Allens mention this “Hepplewhite” mahogany bureau had always been part of this rooms’ furnishing.

Notice: the bed-warmer, the bellows and brass toped andirons by the fire.

The 1827 inventory lists several “Wheels” stored in the garret or attic. Some of them were for spinning linen and some for wool. The spinning wheel pictured here may have been one of them.

Notice: the fine colonial desk with its candle and writing implements.

Slide #36: The North Great Chamber

Looking at the east wall of the room

Here we are able to look into another much smaller bed room. In the 1827 inventory this room in the north east corner of the second floor is referred to as the “third” bedroom, one of 3 small bedrooms upstairs.

Slide #37: The Kitchen Chamber – Looking North

This room called the “Kitchen Chamber” was over the colonial kitchen and said have been the warmest bedroom on the second floor.

Through the door at the left, we can see the “third” bedroom that we saw from the North Great Chamber.

The door at the right is a small closet. The door to the right of that leads to the landing of the back stairway in the ell built in 1881.

Notice: the chair by the beam in front of that door.

Slide#38: Chair From This Room Now Owned By The Steacys

Slide #39: The Kitchen Chamber – Looking South

Notice: the heavy Victorian furniture with the marble topped tables give the room masculine feel.

Notice: another chair like the one belonging to the Steacys. The door leads to the attic, but was not there in the colonial configuration of the house.

Then the stairway came up from the kitchen, through a stairwell behind this wall, to the dark landing leading to servant’s quarters in the garret.

The doorway to the right opens to what was once that stairwell. In this photo we see a one of several doors that open into this space.

In the back ground of the view through the door we can see a corner of the South Great Chamber. Beyond is a doorway to the south bedroom, a small room over the store and facing west over the “Turnpike”.

We will enter this room next and notice the it has a much more feminine feel about it.

Slide # 40: South Bedroom – Picture 1

The light coming in from the right is from a full window over the store that had an awning and was seen in the exterior picture of the house.

Notice: the camera in the mirror; this is the only photo in which this occurs.

Slide # 41: South Bedroom – Picture 2

Notice: the curtained dressing table and the rafters of the store addition above it

Notice: that the ceiling has been wall papered above the dresser.

The door in the back ground is the entrance to Front South Chamber from the upper front hall entry.

Slide # 42: The South Great Chamber

Notice:

• The door back into the South Bedroom is in the center of the picture.
• Dolly Thurston’s day-cap to the left of that door, preserved under a glass bell.
• Dolly’s silhouette above and to the left of her cap.
• the slippers at the corner of the bed. Nice touch.
• the two doors, one closed – one open, beyond the bed.

Through the open door we can into another small room perhaps used as a dressing room. The light beyond that come from a window in another small bed room over the store called the Southeast bedroom in the 1827 inventory.

That door is now permanently closed, but still exists at the back of a closet built against that wall covering it. If we could open the door it would led to that dressing area now used for storage.

We can’t open that door but we can open the closet!

Slide # 43: Stencil From The South Great Chamber

Notice: the door’s frame inside the closet.

More importantly notice: the stenciling on the original plaster wall

The Allens tells us that while removing wall paper in the North Great Chamber in 1876, they discovered stenciling on the plaster wall. They wrote that it was a floral design in red and green on a yellow or buff back ground. They thought other rooms may have been decorated in similar style.

This picture shows that their hunch was correct!

Slide # 44 The South Great Chamber – Second Picture

Notice: the closed door is covered by a hanging.

Notice: Through the open door is a small dark sitting area. I believe this area was part the stairwell leading up from the kitchen to the garret in colonial times

Notice: beautiful bed and the wash stand behind it.

Notice: the bedside table with the candle and snuffer

Slide # 45: The South Great Chamber –Third Picture

Notice: we are now looking west toward the front the house

Notice: the door we see through the bed’s canopy is to second floor hall and the stairs and It’s time to head down & end our tour.

Slide # 46: Hopkinton’s Post Office And General Store 1969

With E. R. Allen’s death in 1931, the store that had been in business since 1773 closed forever.

Its place at the heart of the village was taken over by this little building located nearly on the site of the old Spicer Tavern.

Susan Mills had operated the Post Office from her own home at 450 Woodville Road behind the Thurston Mansion since 1924.

About the time the old Thurston store closed, she bought this building and set up the Post Office and a general store here. In tune with the times, she operated a filling station there as well!

Appropriately this picture was taken in 1969, the same year the first picture we saw of the mansion was taken.

Slide # 47: Holy Cow 2013

By that time Helen Mills, Susan’s niece by marriage, had taken over the Post Office, filling station and store. It is now “Holy Cow” ice cream.

And that concludes our tour of the General Thurston Mansion, so now it’s time to slip on over to Holy Cow, and order up a large whatever you want to pig out on, because… Ice Cream on the Internet contains ZERO Calories! (Here at HHA, we are always looking out for You!)

(Why didn’t anyone else think of this!?!)

Slide # 48: The General Thurston Mansion, June 1, 2013