Robert Fessenden has been a resident of the town for several years, and has contributed to its recent development in many ways. He is progressive in spirit, liberal in policy, and resolute in action. His record in the Civil War is as follows: Private Co. E, First Reg. Infantry; res., North Providence; April 17, 1861, enrolled; May 2, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 2, 1862, mustered out. Mr- Fessenden is an active member of the B. R. I. Association, and is devoted to the best interests of the town He is connected with the Hope Electric Appliance Co., of Providence.
Rev. Thomas Williams was a native of Pomfret, Conn, and a graduate of Yale College, in 1800; taught school four years; was an evangelist from 1804 to 1807; was pastor at Foxboro from 1816-21; at Attleboro, 1823-7; at Hebronville, 1827-30; and at Barrington, 1835-38. He was a man of strong intellect and marked individuality. He was a Hopkinsian in theology, and a warm personal friend of Dr. Emmons, whose funeral sermon he preached. His preaching was marked by great honesty, earnestness, and scriptural authority, as the Bible was his constant study. Wit, satire, and invective, accompanied his arguments, and made his weapons of warfare sharp and effective. His last years were spent as an evangelist in Rhode Island, and in the publication of tracts and sermons, of which he printed several volumes. He was born in 1779, and died at Providence in 1876, aged ninety-seven years.
Lewis B. Smith. Son of Simon and Lydia Bosworth Smith; b. Sept. 14, 1817; occupation, farmer; m. (1) Anna D. Martin; children, George L., Frederic P., Albert H.; m. (2) Judith R. Parker, Nov. 2, 1862; offices held: Overseer of the Poor, member and President of the Town Council, member of State Board of Charities and Corrections, Representative and Senator in the General Assembly, Deacon of Cong. Church, Treasurer of Cong. Society, Trustee of Public Library, etc., etc.. Died May 19, 1892; for more extended notices see pp. 240, 241, 518, 519, etc., etc.
Thomas Allin. Son of Matthew and Ruth Allin, b. April 15, 1742. He entered public life early and was elected first to the General Assembly in the year 1767, at the age of twenty-five. He was honored by re-election to the same office in 1772-6 1781-1791-8. He was a member of the town militia prior to the Revolution. His services during that war will be found in the chapter on War of the Revolution. Gen. Allin was a leader in civil affairs as well as military, and his pen was as active as his sword in defense of human rights. As a member of the Convention to adopt the Federal Constitution, his action is related on p. 361. His further record will be found in the pages of the Revolutionary and succeeding periods. The residence he built and occupied before 1800, still stands at Drownville, and the picture appears on another page. His wife. Amy (Bicknell) Allin, was as true a patriot as her husband, and conducted the affairs of the household and farm, with a large family of boys and girls to care for, during her husband's absence, with a prudence, judgment, and success that entitled her to honorable mention among the mothers of
