An 1819 Description of Foster, Rhode Island

From:

A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island: Written with Care and Impartiality, From Original and Authentic Materials.  John Chauncey Pease, John Milton Niles, Hartfod, Printed and Published by William S. Marsh, 1819.

page 340-341

FOSTER

FOSTER, a considerable township, is situated on the section of the State, 15 miles from Providence; bounded on the south by the township of Coventry, in county of Kent, on the west by towns of Killingly and Sterling, the State of Connecticut, on north by Gloucester, and on east by Scituate.  The mean length of the township, from north to south is more than 8 miles, and its mean breadth about 6 miles, comprising about 50 square miles.

This township is of a geological character; and sections of it present very rugged features being hilly, rocky and broken.  The soil is a primitive gravelly loam, generally deep and strong, affording good grazing; but the lands in general are too stony and rough for arable purposes.  There are extensive forests in the town, particularly in its western section, which afford large supplies of valuable timber. The agricultural productions consist of the various articles of the dairy business, and a grazing system of husbandry.   The principal stream within the town is the Ponongansett river, which has its source in a pond of the same name, in Gloucester.  This stream is the principal branch of the Pawtuxet river; the latter of which empties into Providence river, about five miles below the town of Providence.  Hemlock brook, a branch of the Ponongansett, rises in the interior of this township and after many windings, runs easterly into the border  of the town of Scituate, where it unites with the Ponongansett.   Moosup river, a branch of the Quinibaug, runs through the western part of this town, passing into Coventry, and thence into Connecticut. Upon these streams there are numerous sites for mills and other water works.

The Providence and Norwich turnpike road runs about three miles through the southwesterly part of this town; and the Providence and Hartford turnpike leads through its north section. The mail stage passes daily (excepting Sundays) upon these roads; the principal eastern mail being conveyed upon these two roads alternately.  Charters have been granted for two other turnpikes, one of which is contemplated to lead through the centre of this town. and to unite with the Providence and Hartford turnpike in Scituate, about eight miles from Providence.  The other is to run further south, and unite with the Providence and Norwich turnpike, about 12 miles from Providence.  Another turnpike has also been granted, which is to lead from the Friends' meeting house through the whole length of the town, intersecting the several turnpikes already noticed. This is to be called the Foster and Gloucester Appian Way from an idea that this may be the commencement of an artificial road leading from Rhode Island to Canada. Period = sic} which may bear some resemblance to the famous Roman road that bore this appellation, having been made by Appius Claudius.   When these roads are completed there will be few towns in the State better accommodated with roads.

Of the manufacturing and mechanical establishments in the town, there are 1 Cotton Factory, 1 Woolen Factory, 1 Clothier's Works, 1 Carding Machine, 11 Grain Mills, 13 Saw Mills, 3 Tanneries and 2 Trip hammer shops.  There are 7 Mercantile Stores.

The population of the town in 1800 was 2458; in 1810 it was 2601; and there are about 400 Dwelling houses about 450 Freemen or Electors; and 4 Companies of Militia, besides 2 chartered Companies; one called the "Foster safe Guards," and the other being partly composed of inhabitants of Scituate, the "Scituate and Foster Independent Rifle Company."

There are 10 Schools usually maintained, which arc provided with houses, and one Social Library. {period = sic} comprising a valuable collection of books.   There are three religious Societies, two of Baptists and one of Friends, all of which are provided with houses for public religious worship.

The amount of taxable property according to the United States  assessment in 1815, was $342,070.   In the year 1662, William Vaughan, Zachariah Rhodes, and Robert Wcstcot, purchased of the Indians a tract of country called West Quanaug, bordering easterly on Providence. This was called the West Quanaug purchase, and comprised nearly the southern half of the town of Foster.   A number of individuals of Newport were afterwards associated with the first purchasers, among whom were Gov. John Cranston, Caleb Carr, Thomas Clark, William Foster, Clement Weaver, Aaron Davis, John Jones and Latham Clark, most or all of whom have now descendants in the town.  In 1707 this purchase was divided by lot among 29 proprietors, but the first settlement was not commenced until 1717. The first settler was Ezekiel Hopkins, whose descendants are now very numerous in the town; there are also here a number of the descendants of the two Governors, John Cranston and Samuel Cranston.   Foster was incorporated with Scituate in 1730, forming the western section of that township, which was divided in 1781, when the western section was incorporated as a separate town, by the name of Foster, which it received from the Hon. Theodore Foster, who for many years was a senator in the senate of the United States, and who is now an inhabitant of the town.