experience in financial affairs has been of good service to the town and his judgment is seldom questioned on matters of public expenditure; was a member of the building committee of the town hall, which finished the building with the appropriation, with a balance in the town's favor.
Joseph U. Starkweather. B. Pawtucket, Sept. 19, 1848; member of firm of Earl P. Mason & Co., 1865; afterwards associated with Rice, Draper, and Willams, dealers in drugs, chemicals, etc., now J. U. Starkweather & Co., in the same line of trade; took up his residence in Barrington in 1881, and has taken an active interest in all town matters; aided in securing telephone connections with Barrington, also the introduction of water from the Kickemuit reservoir, also electric lighting, as a result of which Barrington is now lighted in its streets and the town hall by electricity, furnished by the Bristol County Gas and Electric Co. It uses about 25 incandescent lights at an annual cost of $25 for each light. The churches, public buildings and most of the private houses are now lighted by electricity. Mr. Starkweather has been among the foremost advocates of good roads, public buildings, schools, etc.; was president of the B. K. I. Association; a member and president of the Town Council; is treasurer of the Barrington Water Company.
Rev. Benjamin R. Allen was born in Newport, of good Rhode Island stock, June 27, 1805. His mother was left a widow, with five children, when Benjamin was eight years old, and the boy was compelled to make a manly struggle for an education for the ministry. With Arnold of Rugby, he said, "It is not enough for a boy to go through college, but the college must go through him, if he would be a scholar," and he made the discipline of study the purpose of his life. Mr. Allen was installed pastor of the Congregational Church, Barrington, Sept., 1838, and was dismissed at his own request in 1842, on account of inadequate salary. He writes: "I became very much attached to the beautiful town and the noble people, whose generous kindness I so richly enjoyed." President Lord of Dartmouth College gives the following just tribute to his abilities: "I entertain for Mr. Allen very great respect as a true-hearted Christian, a sound theologian, and a judicious and an effective minister. He has remarkable habits of study, and leaves nothing undone that is fitted to advance his ministry. He is a consistent, faithful, and thorough man, and the good impression taken of him will not be easily diminished. Mr. Allen is thought to stand at the head of his profession in his own vicinity, if not in the state, and deservedly ranks among the first ministers in New England, and is a very excellent representative of its remaining old school divines."
Joseph Carlo Mauran. B. Villa Franca, Province of Nice, Italy, June 3, 1748; kidnapped, 1760; cabin boy on board transport ship hospital; came to United States and in 1768 made his home with Joshua Bicknell of Barrington m. Olive Bicknell (b. 1754), daughter of Joshua and Ruth Bicknell, in April, 1772. Olive received at her marriage a lot of
