the Revolution. In a letter to her husband, Aug. 19, 1778, Mrs. Allin writes: "I hope you will put your trust in God and not in man, for it is He alone that is able to keep and preserve you from all harm, and to cover your head in the day of battle." General Allin died May 30, 1800, and was buried at Drownville, in the Allin Burial Lot, on the ancestral farm. He ranks first among the Revolutionary heroes of Barrington.
Matthew Watson was born in County Colraine, Province of Ulster, Ireland, March, 1696. His parents immigrated to Boston from Londonderry, Ireland, with six children, 1712. Presbyterians in belief, they were severely persecuted by the Catholics and were forced to escape from fanatical mobs by flight to America. From Boston, the family removed to a farm in Leicester, Mass., where the father, Robert Watson, was killed by the falling of a tree. Matthew, the second of seven children, left home and lived with a family near Boston. His employer proved an excellent friend, and taught Matthew arithmetic, and other branches, and probably instructed him in the art of brick-making. He came to Barrington at the age of twenty-two, and at the age of twenty-five we find him engaged in making brick upon the farm of Mr. John Read of Barrington. He had examined the clay, and had found it to be of excellent quality, and wood could be procured at two and sixpence per load. At that time Newport was the market for all the brick not needed in Barrington, Warren, and Bristol. In 1733 Mr. Watson married Bethia Read, only daughter of Mr. John Read. The father was opposed to the union, because Bethia was about to throw herself away upon a "little poor Irishman." The parents and friends lived long enough to change their minds on this subject. He was soon able to purchase the farm of his father-in-law, and continued the manufacture of brick by the hand process, until he had amassed a fortune of over $80,000. He built a brick mansion, the first in the town, and set out many shade and fruit trees, the fruits of which his children and children's children have enjoyed. [See picture of old mansion.]
The story is told that Mrs. Watson, from the wool of the flock of the Watson farm, cleaned, carded, spun, colored, warped, wove, made up, and laid down in the parlor of the old house, now standing at Nayatt, the first woolen carpet in the town. It was deemed so great a curiosity and luxury, that people came long distances to see it, and ventured to walk upon it only upon tiptoe. On the walls of the same room it is said that the first wall paper was hung in Barrington. Tradition adds that Mr. Watson introduced the first potatoes into the State from Ireland. When the first crop was ripe and ready for digging, a neighbor, ignorant and incredulous of the good qualities of the vegetable, was present, and picking up a potato, rubbed off the dirt, cut off a slice, and tasting it, threw it down with disgust, remarking, "I'd rather have a turnip."
His life was one of great energy, activity and usefulness, and worthy of imitation. He sustained the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County. He was always a friend to the friendless, and assisted the young
