PREFACE
"Good old Barrington" extended from Narragansett Bay on the south, to Rehoboth on the north, and from Providence River on the west, to Palmer's and Warren Rivers on the east. The north line began at Providence River, near Silver Spring, and extended to a bound on Palmer's River, north of Barneysville. This volume tells the story of the men who have lived, and the events that have been enacted, in this territory. The sources of information have been so various and widespread that I cannot note them, except to say that the Records of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, of Sowams, of Swansea, and of Barrington, and MSS. loaned me, and those in my possession, have been the chief. Thanks are expressed to the many friends who have supplied valuable papers and important facts. Especially do I gladly recognize the services of Ebenezer Tiffany, Jr., Esq, who has aided me in collecting the material for the chapter on "The War of the Revolution," and for other parts of the work. I acknowledge also the assistance of the accomplished Record Commissioner of Providence, Edward Field, Esq., whose rare historic spirit and judgment I admire. For encouragement in undertaking and carrying the work to completion, "The Barrington Rural Improvement Association" stands first; and foremost in the Association stood Irving M. Smith, Esq., who fell in the forefront of the active battle of life, while these pages existed only in the mind of the writer. Largely am I indebted to the good judgment and lively interest of a devoted wife, whose loving hopefulness was not permitted the satisfaction of seeing the work completed.
