Speedy, Elizabeth b. 1917

Dexter Angell b. 1794

/ Kirstin Miller

Dexter Angell was perhaps the favorite grandson of Israel Angell. Israel’s letter to his son Asa no date, has Israel remembering Dexter and hoping to see him soon.

Angell, Israel to son Asa re grandson Dexter

Israel’s letter to his favorite grandson, Dexter

Dexter was born in Providence and died in northeastern New York. By age 20 he was in Prairieton, Indiana where he owned land, farmed, married and had a family 2 daughters and 1 son. When his wife Clementina Benight died in 1847 Dexter returned to Rhode Island, married Betsy Gazley they had a son Julius.

In 1831 the year before Israel died Dexter was definitely in Rhode Island and on the Committee to investigate the Governor of Rhode Island, Lemuel Arnold so probably stopped in Providence to see his granddad in 1831. Dexter would have been 37, Israel was 90, twice a widow and married to his 3rd wife.

Dexter Angell (1794 – 1854) > Delia Viola Angell (1839 – 1916) > Matilda Elizabeth Flood (1858 – 1940) > Philippa Flood Mockford (1891 – 1979) > Elizabeth Matilda Speedy (1917 – 2005)

Sources:
Lovell, Louise Lewis. Israel Angell: Colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment. New York, The Knickerbocker press (G.P. Putnam’s sons), 1921

National Republican Party (U.S.). Rhode Island. Examination of Certain Charges Against Lemuel H. Arnold, Esq., the National Republican Candidate for Governor. Providence, 1831.

Delia Viola Angell b. 1839

/ Kirstin Miller

Delia Viola Angell: 3rd great grandmother on RootsMagic tree

Delia was born February 24 1839 in Prairieton Indiana, the third child of Dexter Angell and Clementine Benight. In 1847 Delia’s mom died, her dad Dexter seems to have lived between Indiana NewYork and Rhode Island. He was remarried in Rhode Island by 1850 when Delia was living with her older sister Elizabeth in Prairieton. Delia’s dad died in 1854 when Delia was living in with her older brother Charles in Butler County, Iowa. Delia, Elizabeth, Charles and  their stepbrother Julius are named heirs in their dad’s 1854 will, Delia and Julius are minors.

Angell, Delia heir at 15

The Angell siblings may or may not have known that their great grandfather Israel Angell was a Revolutionary War Colonel, a friend of George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette (inscribed on Israel’s headstone). And that their 5th great grandfather Thomas Angell founded Providence, Rhode Island with Roger Williams in 1636, after being banished from Massachusetts for religious reasons.

In 1856, age 17 Delia married William Flood, they had 8 children. The Flood family stayed in Butler County, Iowa, owned land and farmed. William was in the Civil War so Delia as a widow received a widow’s pension of $5, annually, that’s $5 each year. Delia remained good friends with Mrs Hickle, they were farm neighbors in 1895 and spent the day together in 1916 probably taking about how much things had changed in 22 years.

Israel Angell b. 1740

/ Kirstin Miller
Israel Angell 4th great grandfather of Elizabeth Speedy b. 1917 who married Stanley Roose, Sr b. 1915
In 1775 Israel was in Prospect Hill outside of Boston after the  Battle of Bunker Hill which followed the Siege of Boston, which is considered the beginning of the American Revolution.  Israel is a major and in the thick of it. This letter concerns 2 things: nails to finish his home for the winter and people arguing with each other about insignificant things instead of standing together for the revolution.
The full letter is here, from a book. (Israel Angell’s handwriting is described as ‘one of the finest specimens of penmanship we have in the Archives of Washington’)
Prospect Hill, December the 1st, 1775.
Dear Brother: I take this opportunity to inform you that I Still Enjoy that Blessing which is my health, GOD be praised; and I hope that You and all yours Receive the Same blessing. I was informed by Our brother Elisha that there were no nails to be had in Providence, but that you thought likely there wore Some in Newport. If there is, pray Brother, send and get them, and See that one Room is finished this winter, otherwise I Shall be very Discontented about my family. Let Me know what Sum of money you Shall want to Carry on the Business and I will Send it as Soon as possible. There are no Nails to be had in this part of the world.
and
Brother I am much alarmed At the News of the Conduct of the people in Providence And the towns Adjacent, to hear that they are likely to Rise in mobs on the account of Salt’s rising and Some other Small Articles. I beg of Every honest and well meant Person, both in town and country, to Exert them Selves to The utmost of their power to Suppress any riotous proceedings Among your Selves, Especially at this time. For God Sake Let us unite all as one in America. If we don’t, but fall at variance among our Selves, of all GOD’s Creation we Shall be the most Miserable.
Israel Angell (1740 – 1832) > Asa Angell (1771 – 1842) > Dexter Angell (1794 – 1854) > Delia Viola Angell (1839 – 1916) > Matilda Elizabeth Flood (1858 – 1940) > Philippa Flood Mockford (1891 – 1979) > Elizabeth Speedy (1917 – 2005) married Stanley Roose (1915 – 2004).

Elizabeth Arnold b. 1684

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Arnold 8th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Elizabeth Arnold was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1684 and died July 11, 1758. She spent her life in Providence, part of the time living in the Stone Ender her dad Eleazer built around 1693, it’s still standing today.

Arnold, Eleazer House Stone Ender at Wikipedia

Eleazer Arnold House, a stone ender

She married 1st William Hawkins in 1704 and 8 years later was a widow. She married 2nd Israel Smith in 1718,  was a widow 8 years later and didn’t marry again.

Her will and inventory is online, last on the page:
In the name of God Amen this 1st day of July in the 35th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second of Great Britain &c King AD 1758: I Elisabeth Smith widow being Sick & Week of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to allmighty God for the Same, Do make and ordain this to be my Last will & Testament

Elizabeth gave her daughter Naomi, who married Oliver Angell, a square table and 5 pounds money ‘old tenor.’ Elizabeth left her best silver sleeve buttons to her granddaughters.

Sources

Benedict Arnold b. 1614, the Govr’s son

/ Kirstin Miller
screenshot.png

Photo at Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission

Benedict the 2nd born about 1641 has this headstone with the family crest, three shells, a center star and (not shown) a rose in each corner. This is gorgeous and indexed at the Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Commission : the stone was “carved by John Stevens II and lettered by his brother Philip”. Benedict, other Arnolds and Arnold in laws are at the Governor Arnold Burying Ground in Newport, Rhode Island, in a residential area, a tiny cemetery with less than 70 memorials. On Google maps it appears next to a private home with a bike parked on the side fence and a Starbuck’s within 100 feet or so.

There were five Benedict Arnolds in this family in the early days of America.

Benjamin 1- born 1615, son of William and Christiana Peake Arnold, married Damaris Westcott. He became President then Governor of Rhode Island. Father of

Benjamin 2- born about 1641 married Mary Turner, then Sarah Mumford. Parents of

Benjamin 3- born 1683 married Patience Coggleshall. Parents  of

Benedict 4- born 1719 married Hannah Waterman. Parents of

Benedict 5- born 1741 married Margret Shippen. This Benedict is the one of the American Revolution, labeled a traitor. He is buried in London, at St. Mary’s of Battersea, where William Blake was married, near the river Thames. Changes in Longitude has a full article and a comment section with many opinions about Benedict 5s actual crimes and intentions.

Benjamin 5s mom Hannah Waterman is buried at Old Norwichtown Cemetery in Norwich, Connecticut. This family suffered. From 1738-1755 four of six children died of yellow fever. For some reason, maybe the death of four children, the dad Benedict 4 drank, a lot. By 1756 the life planned for great-grandson of the Govr Benedict 5, private schools then Yale, was dashed, the money was gone, the family somewhat scorned by their community because of the dad’s drinking. Hannah the mom died in 1759, the dad drank more and died soon after. Benedict 5 got an apprenticeship with his mom’s side of the family, then the rest is history.

Hannah’s grave has an anonymous admirer who decorates the grave about once each year, 2011 story here: An anonymous admirer has once again shown devotion to the mother of one of history’s most infamous figures with a gift of flowers and light.

Angell, Israel letter 1775 to brother Hope

/ Kirstin Miller

Brother I am much alarmed At the News of the Conduct of the people in Providence And the towns Adjacent, to hear that they are likely to Rise in mobs on the account of Salt’s rising and Some other Small Articles. I beg of Every honest and well meant Person. both in town and country, to Exert them Selves to The utmost of their power to Suppress any riotous proceedings Among your Selves, Especially at this time. For God Sake Let us unite all as one in America. If we don’t, but fall at variance among our Selves, of all God’s Creation we Shall be the most Miserable.

1775 Dec 1:The war is taking a toll. Israel asks his brother about the status of nails. Their brother Elisha could find no nails in Providence. Israel asks if Hope can find some in Newport. The nails are needed to finish up a room is Israel’s home before winter comes. The British brig Nancy has arrived with 2 Brass Six pounders, Canon Shot and “every war like article that can be mentioned”. Colonel Huntington’s wife Faith Trumball hanged herself months after witnessing the end of battle scene at Bunker Hill.

Israel begins the letter thanking GOD (he always capitalized the word god) for the blessing of health and wishing the same for Hope and his family.

Letter from Israel to Hope, December 1, 1775 from Prospect Hill

Rhode Island Historical Society. Proceedings of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Providence. Volumes and cataloging are a little wonky, this is the 1873-1874 copy, Section 7, then page 45. 

Colonel Huntington and his wife -About May 20, 1775

Wikipedia contributors. “Jedediah Huntington.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Nov. 2016. Web. 26 Jul. 2017

Gettysburg 1863

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Salome Myers, a teacher, was on summer vacation in 1863. She and everyone in Gettysburg knew the war was close so it was on all their minds. Salome probably wondered what would happen over the summer, how her life may be affected by the war. By July 1  the battles to the west of town hit Gettysburg and General Robert Lee and the Confederate army arrived. Instantly Salome’s summer, her whole life was taken over by the war- she began tending to injured soldiers in make do hospitals: her own home on West High Street and the Catholic church nearby. Salome kept a diary: The ties of the past: the Gettysburg diaries of Salome Myers Stewart 1854-1922.

Henry F and Alexander M Stewart

Salome’s first patient was Sergeant Alexander McFarland Stewart (1st cousin 4x removed, or cousin to Elizabeth Stewart 2nd great grandmother). Alexander was seriously injured and knew he was dying. Salome asked if there was anything she could do, he asked her to read from the Bible, so she did. After Alexander’s death Salome received a visit from Alexander’s mother and brother. Henry, the brother, thanked Salome for her kindness and care of Alexander. Henry (1st cousin 4x removed) and Salome would eventually marry and Henry joined as Corporal in the Civil War. The brothers were written up in a memorial book of the Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers.  The book has a short biography and a photo of each. (Henry’s bio is on page 87, photo on page 86f. Alexander’s bio is on page  86, photo on page 86c.) Alexander the older brother died at Gettysburg in July 1863, Henry died in 1868 from complications of a war injury.

Elizabeth Salome would return to teaching and received national recognition for her service. She was the treasurer of the National Association of Army Nurses for several years.

Manford Byron Speedy b. 1838

/ Kirstin Miller

Manford Speedy b.1838 on RootsMagic tree

Manford Byron Speedy was born March 18, 1838 in Island Creek, Jefferson County Ohio. His dad William Speedy and mom Elizabeth Glenn were both from Pennsylvania. MAnford lived on a farm with his parents and 5 brothers.  

In 1856, age 18, Manford left Ohio for Shell Rock, Iowa. In 1864 he married Ann Eliza Coats and they had three children. Typhoid fever takes Ann and the youngest daughter’s life around 1869. In 1870 Manford had a farm where he lived with his Coats in-laws, his father William and his and Ann’s children. In 1874 Manford married Elizabeth Stewart and they had 5 children.

The 1870 Agricultural Census shows Manford’s farm production: 160 total acres, 120 acres tilled, 14 acres of grassland, 3/4 acre of potatoes, 3 acres of apple trees. He had 8 milk cows, produced 700 lbs of butter, had 8 other cows with 4 calves dropped, 112 swine and 50 poultry. This poultry produced 250 dozen eggs for the year. 5 cord of wood were also produced.

Manford was known as MB and considered a noble pioneer in the Shell Rock and Allison areas of Butler County, Iowa. He was involved in local politics, he was a sheriff, farmer, general store owner and livestock buyer. Manford ran for Sheriff and was elected in 1877, newspaper articles document the race and who ‘should be made the victim of slander and abuse this fall.’  In September 1877 Manford was endorsed in the local newspaper, a ’tower of strength’. In October 1877 Manford ‘called’ not on the phone but in person at the newspaper offices ‘MB Speedy one of the straight men on the straight Republican ticket for Butler county called last Saturday and exchanged ideas with us on the political topics of the day. Glad to see him’.

So, Manford had a lot going on. Then in 1903 when he was 64 years old, a telephone was delivered to his home. “Our telephone exchange has enlarged somewhat recently, new ‘phones being put in the residence of M.B. Speedy, H.C. Parsons and E.J. Davis.” This was such a big deal it was posted in the local newspaper.

Sources

Daniel and Rebecca Rhodes Power Williams marry 1676

/ Kirstin Miller

Daniel is the second son of Roger Williams, Roger is credited with founding Rhode Island when banished from Massachusetts because of radical religious beliefs. Rebecca Rhodes is the daughter of Joanna Arnold and Zachariah Rhodes, she first married Nicholas Power (he may have died at sea) she married second Daniel.

When they married around December 1, 1676 King Philips War was just ending. Dated entries in Volume 8 of The early records of the town of Providence, trace the end of the war, understood by most to be the deadliest war of the colonies.  From the preface, “The period succeeding the time embraced in the last named volume was one of disaster to the town, for the Indian War which had raged with varying success throughout the New England Colonies was then brought within the confines of Rhode Island. During a part of this period, previous to March, 28, 1676, and for some time thereafter the town was practically deserted, its business well nigh suspended and a portion of it destroyed by the ravages of the Indians. The townsmen however carried on such governmental affairs as were actually necessary, and during this time Roger Williams held the office of Town Clerk.”

Daniel and Rebecca’s wedding is recorded (Volume 8, page 15)

Dan: Williams & ye Widow Rebekah Power were married ye 2 of 10th ye first Mariage since God mercifully restored ye Towne of Prouidence.

So this could be the most real wedding story ever. “Our town was completely destroyed by war, people fled or were killed until only about 30 remained. We persevered, made a commitment and married.”

In this same Volume 8 Daniel’s brother Providence (page 14) is credited with rescuing his mom and maybe the town?

by Gods Providence it seasonably came to pass ye Providence Williams brought up his mother from Newport in his sloop and cleared ye towne by his vessel of all ye Indians to ye great peace and Content of all ye Inhabitants

Source:

Providence (R.I.). Record Commissioners. The Early Records of the Town of Providence, V. I-XXI … Providence: Snow & Farnham, city printers, 1892 (there are assorted editions of this ebook)

Alice Ashton b. 1617

/ Kirstin Miller

Alice Ashton 10th great grandmother maternal, sailed from St Albans, England to Virginia in 1635, she was about 20. At HathiTrust a list of passengers, “x? Aug 1635 Theis underwritten names are to be transported to Virginea, imbarqued in the Safety, John Graunt Mr, almost 3 pages of names, Alice Ashton 20.” These lists are published in a book: The original lists of persons of quality, emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, maidens pressed, and others, who went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700. With their ages, the localities where they formerly lived in the mother country, the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars. From mss. preserved in the State Paper Dept. of Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, England, by John Hotten  published in 1832. That’s the actual title, generally shortened to The original lists of persons of quality, which is kind of worse.

Anyway Alice is sailing, she is the only Ashton on The Safety.

  • 1635 April Alice’s sister Mary Ashton 10th great grandmother, sailed with her husband Thomas Olney, and kids: Thomas age 1, Epenetus an infant. The Olneys left St Albans, England on the Planter 2 Apr 1635, then arrived in New England maybe mid May of 1635.
  • 1635 June on the ship with Alice “a trunk and a desk, which my mother gave to me”
  • 1635 August Alice probably joins her sister Mary’s family in colonial Massachusetts.
  • 1635 October In Providence is Thomas Angell who escaped with Roger Williams and 4 others in a canoe in the dark of night 08 Oct 1635.
  • 1637 Thomas Olney is a freeman and holds several Civil positions. He is also a baptist and associated with Roger Williams so is banished from Massachusetts.
  • 1638 Olneys and Ashtons follow Williams to Providence.
  • 1646 Thomas Angell and Alice marry
  • 1668 Angells and Olneys are some of the original settlers of Rhode Island and founders, members of the First Baptist Church.

Alice and Thomas Angell have eight children and long lives in Providence. They die in the same year 1694, Alice age 77, Thomas age 78. Alice Ashton Angell writes her will  and gives the trunk and desk which sailed with her from St. Albans to her namesake daughter Alice Angell who is 45 and married to Eleazer Whipple. Eleazer and Alice Angell Whipple may have had 10 children. They lived and died in Providence, Alice lived to age 94. Both are buried in the Whipple Mowry Cemetery also known as Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Lincoln 15.

Snapshot from page 75 The Providence oath of allegiance and its signers, 1651-2 at HathiTrust

ashton-alice-will

Ashton Angell, Alice will 1694

Sources

The Providence oath of allegiance and its signers, 1651-2 by Bowen, Richard LeBaron page 75 at HathiTrust

The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants by Hotten, John Camden page 123 at HathiTrust.