A History of Barrington, Rhode Island/Chapter 25
CHAPTER XXV
DOMESTIC SLAVERY AND SLAVES
THE institution of slavery has never flourished in Rhode Island. The soil was not congenial to its growth. The spirit of independence, of freedom of thought, and of religious toleration was, in its nature, hostile to human bondage. The people brought with them to America the hereditary taint of feudalism, but our free air and unrestricted liberty of movement were an offset to all such inherited tendencies. Still further, the settlers of New England belonged to the middle classes, which had never been benefited at home from vassalage. Rhode Island slaves were of the social and servant class and were not chattels in the true intent. These slaves were part and parcel of the home life and bore the family names of their owners. Sales were unusual except on the division of estates, and then the slave was usually retained in the neighborhood. Scipio Richmond, Cuff Adams, Jack Bosworth, Pomp Bicknell, Pomp and Jenny Smith, Cambridge Watson, Scipio Tiffany, Pero Allen, Prince Allen, Caesar Smith and others bore the names of the families where they were born and in whose homes they lived and were faithful servants. The affection between masters and mistresses and the colored house or farm servants was strong, and made a permanent relationship of reciprocal regard and personal interest not only possible but common. Their untutored minds, their free, social dispositions, their willing and obedient spirits, made them the objects of familiar approach and of easy control. The children of the white family learned to love the black faces that shone upon their cradles and cared for them in early youth. Some of the pleasantest memories of childhood are connected with the first generation of free blacks from the family slaves of Barrington, and some of the most worthy of the colored people of Rhode Island and elsewhere bear the names of Barrington families, as descendants of Barrington slaves.
From the introduction of the first slaves into Rhode Island in 1696, from the African coast, until 1774, slaves occupied the place of the house servant and farm hand and never numbered over 4,000 in the state. The census of 1774 returned 1,479 Indians and 3,668 blacks. While some of the Indians were slaves, many of the blacks were free, so that the number of slaves, Indians and blacks, was not probably greater than the total black population. As the population of the colony by the same census was 59,707 the ratio of whites to blacks was as 1 black to 16.6 whites. As some white families owned from two to six slaves, it is not probable that more than one fourth of the families of the state owned slaves. Of the 91 families in Barrington by the census of 1774, 22 of them returned Indian or black servants. Of the 168 families in Warren, only 26 returned slaves. Of the 197 families in Bristol, 49 families returned 140 servants or slaves. The number of Indians and blacks in Barrington in 1774 was 59, as will be seen by reference to the Barrington census of 1774.
The universal testimony of Barrington people of the last generation was that these slaves were industrious and faithful servants, honest and trustworthy. They were treated with much kindness and consideration by their owners, and were appreciative of their advantages. Of the following slaves a brief record may be made.
Cuff Adams was owned by Nudigate Adams, grandson of Judge Nudigate Adams of Wickford. He lived with his master near what is now the Cleland place at Barrington Centre and was buried there.
Jack Bosworth, owned by Edward Bosworth, married Jemima Tiffany, who was sold by Hezekiah Tiffany to Samuel Allen. They lived with their respective masters and were buried, Jack at Prince's Hill and his wife at Prince's Pond. Their children were Richard, Lucy, and Phebe.
Mr. Bosworth lived on what is now the Allen Matthewson place. Mr. Bosworth had another slave, who married Jenny, the wife of Pomp Smith, whose mother, Moll Smith, was found dead in bed. They were buried near their master's house.
Pomp Bicknell, owned by James Bicknell, who lived near the brick yard, married Jenny Bosworth, perhaps sold from one master to the other. It is stated that they lived with their respective masters. They had two children, Ceasar and Lucy.
Cambridge Watson was a slave of the Watson family. His wife's name was Jenny. They had one child whose name was Jack.
Pomp Watson married Phillis—Doctoress Phillis—who must have come from Warren or Swansea, as she religiously attended church in the latter place, walking all the way from Barrington to be present at "feet washing," observed periodically by that church.
Daniel Tiffany, Scipio Tiffany, and Sabrina Tiffany, his wife, belonged to the Tiffany family. Scipio and Brina had one son, Scipio.
Scipio Richmond, their son, lived in the old Richmond house in Long Swamp, removed a few years since to make room for the mansion house of Albert Peck. Scipio's house, kept with great care and neatness, was a favorite resort for the white children of the neighborhood. They were welcome guests till in their frolicsome glee some of his choice things came to grief and then they were most summarily sent away. Bristol Allin, owned by Thomas Allin, father of General Allin, came from Africa, some say, with his wife. They had two children, Pero and Tower. Pero Allin lived on the Allin estate near the Providence River. He bought his wife, Orpha, of Col. Sylvester Child, of Warren, giving his note for value received. That proving worthless, his master was asked for the amount, but having no knowledge of the transaction, he refused payment. Their children were. Tower, Jack, Adam, Henrietta, and Phillis.
Prince Allin's wife was Henrietta Brown. Their son was Pero, the fiddler. Pero's wife, Jenny, came from the coast of Guinea. They lived in Jenny's lane. She was a Christian woman, connected with the Congregational Church in this town. They had seven children, Hannah, Clark, Rhenkin, Stephen, Olinda, Mary and Lurane. Pero's mother, Writty (Henrietta), lived with them. His mother was "bred and born" in the old brick house, once standing under the big elm trees at the entrance to bridge lane.
Ceaser Smith was owned by Nathaniel Smith. Lill was bought by him when eight years old of Mr. Bullock, of Rehoboth, for one yoke of oxen. Lill lived in the family of the late Asa Smith, not having taken her freedom papers when entitled to them by the laws of the state. She was beloved and respected by the family, kindly cared for in illness, and tenderly'taken to her last resting place.
Tower, Allin married Phillis — little Phillis. They lived near the brook at Drownville and had one child, Nancy.
Nancy married Thomas Henderson. Their children were Priscilla, Frederic, and Jack, or John, Henderson, who lived at Nayatt, near the old light-house, and was with his wife and daughter deservedly respected by the people of this and the past generation.
Richard Allen and Margaretta, his wife, with their eight children, Lydia, Richard, Czesar, Theodore, Olive, Jemima, Sarah, and Charles, were among the last families of colored people to pass away from our midst, within the memory of those now living. They long outlived the period of slavery.
Tower Allin, slave of Matthew Allin, appeared sick, and when asked the matter, told his master that he was love-sick and wanted Massa to buy Philissa to be his wife, which Allin did. The two lived at Long Swamp corner, at the head of Drownville road, where Scipio Allin (alias Freeman?), afterwards lived. Philissa made the wedding cake and Tower played the fiddle at the wedding of Sarah Medbury and Dr. Rodliffe, at the old Halsey house, in East Providence, formerly John Medbury's.
The value of an able bodied man-slave in Rhode Island was from twenty-five to one hundred and twenty pounds. Matthew Allin bought "a certain Negro Boy called Prince, about fourteen or fifteen years old," of John Usher, Jr., of Bristol, for three hundred and seventy pounds, current money, In the year 1752. As old tenor and real values were as sixteen to one, the market value of Prince was about £25, or $125.
David Brown of Ashford, Conn., sold the services of "one negro man named Pero, about seventeen years of age for the space of eleven years from the second day of April, 1783," for the sum of £45.
In the inventory of the goods and chattels of Peter Bicknell, of Barrington, taken by Solomon Peck and Samuel Allen, Appraisers in 1769, the following items appear among the live stock:
| "Five cows £11, 2s., Four calves £2, |
| Fifty sheep £12, 10s., One horse, saddle and bridle, £7. |
| Two steers £3, 12s., Four swine £2, |
| One negro boy named Cuff£20, |
| One negro boy named Pomp£3. |
| One negro woman named Merea£35. |
In 1742 Thomas Hill of North Kingstown sold to Matthew Allin of Barrington "one negro girl slave named Felles (Phillis) about ten years of age; the said to have and to hold to the proper use and behoof of him the said Matthew Allin forever," for "the sum of ninety-five pounds of good and lawful money of New England."
In the estate of Matthew Allin, probated 1761, appears the item of "4 negro slaves between fourteen and forty-five years of age."
In the town records under date of December 22, 1744, the following intention of marriage appears:
"Quash declared unto me the subscriber his and Moll her intentions to be married to each other."
"Quash and Moll, negro servants to the widow Smith of Barrington were married January 9, 1743-4."
By the will of Joshua Bicknell, probated in 1752, he declared: "And my will is that my negro man Dick and female negro child Rose in case their lives shall be spared, they shall serve my said wife (Abigail) during the term of her natural life, and at her decease the said two negroes shall be made free." … "My will is in case the two negroes above mentioned should survive their mistress my said wife, that my daughter Olive shall pay the sum of one hundred pounds to the one and my daughter Molly shall pay one hundred pounds to the other; and in case one of these negroes shall die before their mistress, then the hundred pounds to be paid by the two daughters."
The first act of Rhode Island looking to emancipation of the slaves was taken on recommendation of General Washington. He recommended that the state enlist two battalions of such slaves as should be willing to enter into the service. The General Assembly in February, 1778, voted to enlist as many slaves as possible, "paying all the bounties, wages and encouragements allowed to any soldier," and that every slave so enlisting, upon his passing muster before Col. Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free, as though he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery." This was the first emancipation act of Rhode Island, and hundreds of slaves took advantage of the call to military service, became freemen, and aided in obtaining the freedom of the State and Nation. Thus the cause of justice and human freedom often advances by reason of the dangers and necessities of society, rather than by the principles which should actuate men and society. Barrington enlisted a number of slaves, but their names cannot be easily identified. Among them were Jack Allin, Prince Allin, Dick Allen, Cato Bannister, Pero Bicknell, Scipio Freeman, Prince Ingraham, Joseph Sochorose, Prince Tiffany, Pomp Watson, and Prince Watson. Scipio Freeman is buried at the Allin burial ground, and his grave was honored with a Revolutionary patriot marker in November, 1895.
In 1783 the Quakers petitioned for the complete abolition of slavery in Rhode Island, and in 1784 the act was passed which forever abolished human bondage, and bade the slave go forth to freedom, guaranteed and secured in part by their own labors and sacrifices.
In this connection it is proper to mention the system of apprenticeship common in earlier days, by which young men and women were bound to masters for fixed terms, for the learning of trades, or for various forms of manual service. It will be of interest to preserve an "Indenture," made in 1783, which was the usual form of "binding out" of that day.
| Signed Seal'd and Delivered | Mary Pratt |
| John Pratt | |
| in Presence of us | Sarah Pratt |
| Elizabeth Waldron | Matthew Allin |
| Ruth Viall | Ruth Allin |
The following receipt records the sale of a slave to Thomas Allin:
Swansy, Aprill ye 11 day 1718
SCHOOL AND SCHOOL HOUSE, DISTRICT 4, DROWNVILLE.
In the inventory of the estate of Ephraim Tiffany, who died in 1771, one negro man is valued at £30.
| Cuff Adams, | Merea Bicknell, | Joseph Sochorose, |
| Dick Allen, | Pero Brown, | Pomp Smith, |
| Jack Allen, | Prince Brown, | Jenny Smith, |
| Prince Allen, | Wattle Brown, | Quash Smith, |
| Orpha Allin, | Jennie Brown, | Molly Smith, |
| Bristol Allin, | Reuben Brown, | Gardiner Smith, |
| Tower Allin, | Scipio Brown, | Cæsar Smith, |
| Henrietta Allin, | Jenny Bosworth, | Jack Tiffany, |
| Jenny Allin, | Jack Bosworth, | Duchess Tiffany, |
| Nancy Allin, | Walley Cheese, | Scipio Tiffany, |
| Phillis Allin, | Mary Cheese, | Daniel Tiffany, |
| Shaxper Allin, | Cato Euston, | Sabrina Tiffany, |
| Pero Allin, | Duchess———, | Jemima Tiffany, |
| Cato Bannister, | Scipio Freeman, | Prince Tiffany, |
| Pomp Bicknell, | Sylvia Heath, | Lucy Tiffany, |
| Pomp Bicknell, Jr., | Rose Heath, | Dinah Tiffany, |
| Pero Bicknell, | Prince Ingraham, | Cambridge Watson, |
| Dick Bicknell, | Jennie King, | Jenny Watson, |
| Dinah Bicknell, | Mary Pomham, | Jack Watson, |
| Rose Bicknell, | Prince Pero, | Pomp Watson, |
| Curry Bicknell, | Joshua Quam, | Phillis Watson, |
| Jenny Bicknell, | Mary Quam, | Prince Watson. |
| Cuff Bicknell, | Scipio Richmond, |
This Indenture Witnesseth That I, Mary Pratt, Daughter of John Pratt and Sarah, his wife; of Bristol in the County of Bristol & Colony of Rhodeisland Cheair makor Hath quit her Self and by these presents both Voluntary and of her own free will and accord and by and with the Consent of her father John Prat and Sarah Prat her mother Doth quit and Bind her Self apprentice to Matthew Allin and Ruth Allin His wife of Warin in the County of Bristol and Colony aforsd and to live with the Said Matthew Allin and Ruth Allin after the manner of an apprentice to Serve from the Day of the Date here of for and during the term of Eight years............................................................................................next ensuing to be Compleat and ended during all which Said term the Said apprentice her said master and her Said mistress fully shall serve, their Secrets keep and lavvfull Commands gladly obey. She shall Do no Damage to her Said master nor mistress nor See it to be Done of others with out letting or giving notice there of to her Said master or mistress. Shee shall not wast her Said masters & mistress goods nor lend them unlawfully to any. Shee shall not Commite Fornication nor Contract matrimony with in the s'd term; at Cards Dise and all other unlawfull games she shall not Play: wher by her s'd master and mistress may Have Damage; with their one goods or the goods of others; She shall not absent her Self by Day or by night from her Said master & mistress Servis with out theair leave nor haunt Ale Houses Taverns nor play houses, But in all things be Have her Self as a faithful apprentis ought to Due to wards her said master and mistress During the s'd Term and the Said Matthew Allin for him Self his Executors administrators Doth here by Covenant and promise to teach and in Struct or cause the Said apprentice to be taught & In Structed in the art of spining and Housold work all so to larn the Said apprentice to Read and to in Struct her in Writing, and finding unto the said apprentis good and sufficient meats Drinks washing and lodging and apparell for all parts of the body During s'd term and at the Expiration there of to give unto the said apprentis two suites of apparell for all parts of the Body Sutable for such an apprentice in Testimony where of the parties to these presents have in terchangeably set their Hand and Scale Dated this Twenty-Second Day of August anno q Domini— 755
The names of slaves appear in the old burial grounds, and their graves should receive the respect and care due to faithful servants. The following inscription is cut on one of the old gravestones:
| Here lies the best of slaves, | To realms of Heavenly light, |
| Now turning into dust, | And by the blood of Jesus shed |
| Cæsar the Ethiopian craves | Is changed from black to white. |
| A place among the just. | Jan. 15, he quit the stage, |
| His faithful soul is fled | In the 77th year of his age. 178c. |