Foster, Rhode Island, Contributes to War of 1812

This is a small snippet relating to Jeremiah Phillips' early life.  He was only 14 years old, so he likely did not contribute, but as Foster had only about 2,000 inhabitants, an expenditure of 100 days of labor in building fortifications, the community would be aware of the contribution.

Sorting Out All Those Daniel Howards

This blogger thinks that the untold story of how two Daniel Howards, the older and younger, influenced much of the democratic-republican voting of the 1830's and 1840's in Foster, Rhode Island - and Jeremiah Phillips and his family.  They were by all accounts of towering height, prodigiously long lived, somewhat resembling another hero - Andrew Jackson - and as honest as the day is long.  The people of Foster Center adored them, and they were each elected to office for more than 5 decades.  The son of Daniel Jr. was Horace, and he, too, was highly influential.

Here is a little extract I composed from a reference source.

Daniel Howard the younger.
Even he has that Andrew Jackson look.
His father, it was stated, more so.

The Real Andrew Jackson

_____


From a History of Isaac Howard of Foster, Rhode Island and his Descendants who have Borne the name Howard, by Daniel Howard, Windsor Locks, Conn., 1901.

In the beginning was Isaac Howard, birth year unknown, birth town unknown.  He came to America in 1722, and landed at Marblehead, MA.   In  afew years, he made it to Rhode island, and settled west of then-Warwick (the future Greene Station, of Coventry township).  Then he moved to Gibb's Pond, then to Rice City (Vaughn's Hill), then in 1752 settled on a plot of land south of the future Foster Center.  In 1755 he built a house, replaced years later (1831) by grandson Gorton Howard.

He married one Martha Rice of Coventry having eight known living children.  One of the youngest was named Daniel born in then-Scituate, later Foster.  Before discussing him, it must be noted the significant trait of the Howard family – their enormous height, and their proclivity to long life.

Isaac Howard died 4 November 1776,  leading guesses by his family that he was born about the year 1700.

Daniel was born 20 July 1752, though it is unknown why his first name was chosen.  Family history presents a curious coincidence that on 28 September 1753 Isaac purchased 20 acres of land on the Moosup River from a Daniel Abbot of Providence.

The original Daniel Howard married one Dorothy Clarke 14 February 1776.  He acquired 40 acres of Isaac's farm, and years later was the site of the so-called Howard Hill school house.  By all accounts he resembled President Andrew Jackson and was six-feet-five-inches tall.  He was justice of the peace for 15 years, and served in the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1790, the year Rhode island ratified the U.S. Constitution.  He was town clerk for 25 terms dying in office.  He died 14 September 1827.

Of this Mr Daniel Howard there were ten children, his namesake, Daniel, born 6th on 15 March 1787.

His education was in the local schools being taught by one Benjamin Dolton of the University of Dublin, Ireland.  Daniel was known by his outstandingly beautiful handwriting and was for most of his father's clerkship, his assistant.  Upon Daniel the elder's death, Daniel the younger took the town clerk's office and held it for 25 years.  It is this Daniel who married Jeremiah Phillips' sister.  This Daniel died in 1879.

He had one son, Horace born 31 January 1810.  He was elected as one of two delegates to the late summer 1842 state constitutional convention defending suffrage.

The Daniel Howard (A.M.) and writer of the Howard genealogy was born in Foster, R.I. On 15 December 1864.  This Daniel later became principal of Windsor Lock, Conn.

This Daniel Howard's father was Pardon Tillinghast Howard (born 2 August 1839, m. 3 May 1863, still alive in 1901); Pardon Tillinghast Howard was son of Horace Howard, who was son of Daniel Howard the younger, the son of Daniel Howard the elder, the son of the family founder Isaac..

1798 Foster, Rhode Island documents

Daniel Howard: Democrat

For our purposes of increasing the circumstantial evidence of Jeremiah Phillips being a democrat, we add the evidence of Daniel Howard, a significantly important individual in Foster, Rhode Island.

Foster Centre is a later name for the area believed to have been the general area within the township that the Philips family lived prior to 1848.  See map from circa 1890's, the only one currently available at this writing.

We now quote freely from: History of Isaac Howard of Foster, Rhode Island, and his descendants who have borne the name of Howard, bt Daniel Howard, privately printed at Windsor Locks, CT, 1901

HON. DANIEL HOWARD was born in Foster, R. I., March 15, 1787. His education was ol)tained in the common schools of his town, where he was especially fortunate in having as his instructor for one year Benjamin Dolton, a graduate of the University of Dublin, Ireland, a teacher famed for his learning, and especially for his penmanship, Under the training of this master he became the most expert penman in his town, and when in 1803 his father was elected town clerk of Foster he rendered much aid as assistant. His father died in September, 1827, and on the first day of October following he was elected to the vacant office of town clerk, which office he held continuously for twenty-five years. During this time he served thirteen terms as Representative in the State legislature, a term being at that time half a year. On his journey home from Providence at the close of each week, a distance of nearly twenty miles, which he usually made on foot, it was his custom to stop at the wayside inns, where the people would be gathered to hear from him what had been the business of the week.

In 1834 he became one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, serving nine years between that time and 1848, being the choice of his party whenever it was successful at the polls. He was off the bench in 1835 and on again in 1836 and '37; off till 1842; then on again till 1848. From 1844 to '48 he sat as associate with the judge of the Supreme Court.

In politics he was a Democrat. During the Dorr troubles of 1842 he favored the extension of the suffrage, but could not countenance the course pursued by the Dorrites to accomplish it. Hence he allied himself with the Law and Order men.

In local public affairs he was the most prominent man in Foster. He served fifteen years as justice of the peace; was assessor of taxes; was called upon to administer upon thirty-one estates; was a practical surveyor; was much in demand as a conveyancer and to draft wills and write all forms of legal papers for his townsmen and the citizens of adjoining towns; was much resorted to for legal advice, and, in short, was looked upon for half a century as a sort of legal umpire for his section of the state.

In 1811 he purchased his brother Gorton's interest in the farm which for seven years they had owned together, about two miles south of Foster Center, and on which they had already built a house and barn.

In 1856 Judge Howard built another and larger house, uniting it to the older one. These were his home from 1811 till his death, except that from 1838 to '41 he lived with his son Horace at Foster Center and again in 1843, after the death of Horace, he moved there to look after the interests of the estate, remaining till the spring of 1846, when he sold the property and returned to his farm.

On September 24, 1809, he married for his first wife Betsey Phillips (b. August 22, 1789), daughter of Asaph and Esther Phillips of Foster. She died December 16, 1849.

For his second wife he married, April 21, 1851, Lurana Howard (b. March 11, 1815), widow of his nephew, William Howard, and daughter of Saiimel and Elizabeth (Whipple) Wilbur of Seituate, R. I. He died July 15, 1879. His widow now lives with his grandson, Pardon T. Howard.

He had one son by his first wife: Horace, born Jan. 31, 1810.

That Howard was critically influential is an historic fact.  There is some interest that Howard Phillips Lovecraft derived his first name from this local legend.  This despite that Whipple Van Buren Phillips was a life long Republican.  We do not know when he converted, but as James Wheaton Phillips was also a life long Republican, it was possibly after their father's death.  Alternatively, the split may well have occurred at the Dorr Rebellion convention as some "Democrats" were more radical, and Howard was a civilized "Law and Order" man.

We have one more piece of testimony, from Casey B. Tyler.  It parallels the same details with more genealogy.  (Here).  He reports Howard was a member of the East Greenwich, R.I. committee (1842) after the Dorr Rebellion (more on this in a future blog essay) to make the new constitution guaranteeing male suffrage.

Most notable, see that Judge Howard was married to Betsey Phillips (1789-1849) ** who was Jeremiah Phillips' older sister.

As pointed out elsewhere, Foster, Rhode Island can be considered a tribal community from an anthropological and sociological perspective.  They tended to associate by clans, and marriages were at least partially arranged through elders - at least approval was sought and given in many cases.  It was not unusual to have first cousin marriages in New England. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are later examples of this.  These types of marriages tended to cement and secure social hierarchies and political connections.  The same types of marriages currently happen in the Middle east, the Near East, and in other third world and second world cultures.

This said, if Judge Howard was a Democrat, it is highly probable that Jeremiah was influenced by this great man to also be a Democrat..




**[dates courtesy of Ken Faig, Some of the Descendants of Asaph Phillips and Esther Phillips of Foster, Rhode Island. Mr. Faig may not have been aware at the time of the exact date of ]

Judge Daniel Howard's (the younger) Obituary

1850 Census with James Wheaton Phillips listed as head of family

Implications of WVP as Postmaster

An invaluable book on general 19th century American history is:

This book is one of many that I used in understanding Whipple Van Buren Phillips' world.  Growing up in Kentucky in the late 1950's and 1960's, the Civil War was still very much alive to me.  A day didn't go by when it wasn't refought.  But even with years of school and college, the 19th century was very distant to me.  I had to re-learn it all to understand WVP.  This book is one of the best on the subject for its time period.  I don't say that, those who gave it awards said it.

One thing I discovered reading this and other books was that the mail system was critical.  I refer to snail-mail, of course.  And truly it did seem to crawl at a snail's pace, as there were few good roads in the earliest days.  The Roman Empire had a better mail system than in WVP's childhood in New England, and mail still  traveled best by ship.

That changed with Andrew Jackson's presidency.  He realized that if he appointed mail carriers, they would be indebted, and they would vote for him.  If they did not - they were out!

If Jackson realized the benefits of patronage, Van Buren was a master of it.  All presidents afterwards used it as a lethal weapon to ensure votes, and reward those who supported them.

Post Masters were not accidental.  They were chosen carefully by Governors, Senators, and others to reward important individuals.  Mail was often searched, and reports given to those who asked.  The mail carrier was essential in distributing campaign literature, and canvassing for votes.

Howe states on page 496:

"Jackson's Third Term"

"Although the customs offices, land offices, and Indian agencies all provided federal jobs, the postal system dominated the patronage machine that made the national Democratic Party work.  The expansion of the Post Office thus fostered both the communications revolution and the development of a modern party system.  Even before becoming the formal head, Kendall largely controlled appointments to branch post offices ... Kendall understood the potential of the communications revolution as well as anyone in America - as he would also demonstrate later as Morse's partner in the telegraph industry."

By the time WVP got to Coffin's Corner, which was slowly becoming known as Greene, he was being seen as a young man on the move.  By then, a staunch young Republican, WVP had got the governor's notice.  Essentially, he was being groomed as a politician whether he realized it or not.

The mail train was as innovative as "America On Line" was at the turn of the millennium.  It was a game changer, and WVP was right there at one of the most important junctions on the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill railroad system which was being run by the powerful extended Sprague family.

These things don't just happen.  From the moment WVP left Foster and went to Kent County, he was noticed.  The Spagues noticed, the bankers noticd, the sprawling Tillighast clans noticed, and soon wealthy Providence men would notice as well.

Lovecraft paints a picture of WVP as owning the town of Greene.  This is not right.  There were already wealthy and powerful men in the neighborhood.  However, WVP leveraged his charm, political and business savvy, and saw opportunities where others did not.  Being postmaster, like his uncle in Illinois, was crucial for his plans.





A review of What Hath God Wrought is here.

An Amazon preview is here.

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.