Treasurer; Thomas Arnold, Secretary; and Thomas Hazard was put upon the standing committee of seven. The society

includes the names of most of the distinguished men in the State; Daniel Lyman, James Burrill, Richard Ward Greene, and other distinguished lawyers were the counselors of the society. Among the corresponding members were Jonathan Edwards, the Elliots of Boston, Judge Sullivan of Massachusetts, and William Rotch of New Bedford. Samuel Hopkins was a member; Anthony, Foster, Bartlett, Buffum, Almy, and other excellent men were active in it. Thomas Robinson of Newport, brother-inlaw of College Tom, was an active member, untiring in his efforts to release slaves, and to prevent the importation of any into Newport.

Thus in his old age the great object of College Tom's life was attained. Freeing first his own slaves, he lived to influence his own Monthly Meeting very strongly, and from that meeting was sent to the larger Yearly Meeting, where his sincerity and ability won recognition, and with the foremost men of his day he labored for justice and liberty, against the "detestable

SLAVERY ABOLISHED

189

practice of enflaving mankind." Through a long life he kept this end in view, and whatever may have been his private griefs and losses in the troubled times, the attainment of this great object gave comfort to his last days.

CHAPTER XI.

The Business of the Meeting. Books subscribed for. The Position of Women. Temperance. Letter from William Redwood. Act of Assembly. Education. The Revolution. The Test Act. Committee of Friends to relieve Suffering. Old Meeting-House occupied as a Hospital. Testimony against War. Regulars in Point Judith. College Tom's Sons. His Last Days. His Death.

THE advanced position which the South Kingstown Monthly Meeting took in regard to slavery would lead us to expect other good works from it. Nor are we disappointed in a search for them. "We catch virtue from ourselves as well as from others," -and with a few leaders such as Thomas Hazard, Joseph Congdon, and Stephen Hoxsie, the meeting was sure to advance. A good share of the business of the meeting was transacted by College Tom, when he was still a young man. He is "defired to send up to the Yearly Meeting Treasurer" the subscription to the yearly meeting stock in 1761. He was on the committee with Stephen Hoxsie and Thomas Wilbour to

S. K. M. M. R., vol. i. p. 118.

THE MEETING-HOUSE

191

draft a paper stating the duties of the overseers of the First-day and week-day meetings in the same year. A little later the overseers are charged to suppress all " Sleping and other indecencies" in meeting. He has constantly to prepare the report for the Quarterly Meeting, and is sent to that meeting often. In 1763, with Peleg Peckham, Benjamin Rodman, Joseph Congdon, and Thomas Wilbour, he is instructed "to take a deed of the old meeting house and lot at South Kingstown "2 and has a constant oversight of the building from that time. The account book has the full memorandum of repairs which he and Joseph Congdon were ordered to make in 1761

4'

th 8th mo To Sixteen Pounds in Cash to Buy Boards

Joseph Knowles took it as he went to
Newport

Joseph Knowles returned

s16 Pounds again to

me

To 2500 Shingles @ £30

as by Sam' Greens Rec'

£16. oos. ood.

£16.00. 00

dated 12th octob' 1761. 75. 00. 00

1 S. K. M. M. R., vol. i. p. 122.

2 Ibid., vol. i. p. 142.

66

and the account is presented to the meeting, "which is allowed." At the same time he was appointed with Joseph Congdon "to Receive the book at Newport prepared for to Transcribe the English book of Discipline in and procure the same done." Two years later the committee reports that they have Compleated & presented it the Cost thereof being fifty Pounds old Ten'." This book is among the books of the Meeting, a fine large quarto, beautifully written, entitled Christian & Brotherly Advices Given forth from time to time By the Yearly Meeting in London. Alphabetically Digested under Proper Heads. Transcribed by Jos: Congdon.

2

The meeting also subscribed for books. In 1763 a "proposal for Printing George Fox's Journal in one vollom by subscription was received" and Stephen Hoxsie appointed to take subscriptions. "Barclay's Appoligy now printing at Philadelphia" is also to be

1 S.K. M. M. R., vol. i. p. 135. 2 Ibid, vol. i. p. 125.