Saturday morning last, the 16th inst., it was voted unanimously: that he be buried in a decent manner, at the expense of the Church, and every mark of respect in their power shewed to his memory; and the Church Wardens were requested to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Bisset, and desire him to preach a funeral sermon on the day he is buried, and to officiate till after Easter.

CHAPTER IX.

1771-1780.

["ON Thursday the 21st of March, 1771, Mr. Fayerweather being invited by a letter from the Church Wardens of Trinity Church, Newport, he attended as a pall-bearer the funeral of the Rev. Marmaduke Browne, 157 pastor of said Church, when a sermon was preached by

157 Rev. Marmaduke Browne was a native of Ireland. In 1730 he was sent to America, as missionary, and was settled at Providence for a time. From there he removed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where his father, also a missionary, had a parish. In 1760, on the withdrawal of Rev. Mr. Pollen, as already stated, he was elected minister of Trinity Church. His wife died in 1767, of which event the following minutes was made in the records of St. Paul's, Narragansett, under date of January 9, 1767:

"Mr. F. [Fayerweather] was sent for to attend the funeral of Mrs. Browne, the consort of the Rev. Mr. Browne, over whom he performed the funeral service in Trinity Church, Newport. An exceedingly large concourse of people attended, but no sermon, as both the lady herself, and her husband, too, had an utter aversion to pomp and show on those occasions, and utterly against all parading."

Rev. Mr. Browne left a son, Arthur Browne, who became a distinguished man of letters. Immediately following his father's death, then a lad, he wrote to Mr. John Bours, Senior Warden of the Church:

"Dear Mr. Bours:

"Portsmouth, May 16th, 1771.

It seems to me most proper to write to you concerning the following affair, both as Church Warden, and as being one of my best friends. My Grandfather declines drawing upon the Society, and thinks it would be best for the gentlemen who are Church Wardens, not to draw, but to write to the Society, informing them of my father's death, of his leaving me wholly unprovided for, by which means there was a great chance of my losing a liberal education at home, whither my father

the Rev. Mr. Bisset, colleague of the Rev. Mr. Browne, to a very numerous and weeping congregation."-Records of the Narragansett Church.]

Easter Monday, April 1, 1771. John Bours and Isaac Lawton were elected Church Wardens, John Grelea, Clerk, and Charles Bardin, organist, until the arrival of Dr. Evans from England. Geo. English elected sexton.

Vestrymen Joseph Wanton, James Honyman, William Mumford, Thomas Wickham, Evan Malbone, Philip Wilkinson, Stephen

designed to send me. He says I may be pretty sure, if those gentlemen would be so kind as to write [obliterated] of the Society's doing something. handsome for me, especially if they would represent me in as favorable a light as they think proper, as a lad of some merit, who, if properly encouraged, might turn out something.

These are his words, not mine; for not all the vanity natural to man should induce me to write thus of myself, were it not his direction. I know your friendship will excuse this trouble, which, notwithstanding after having troubled you so often, I am to give you, and I hope poor Peter was recovered before you got home. My love to Mrs. Bours.

I receiv'd Mr. Sam Bours' kind letter, and found that I must chuse a guardian as he says. I hope poor Mrs. Bours has had no more ill turns. My compliments to all friends. My Grandfather and all the family join with me in love to you and Mrs. Bours, and believe me always, your affectionate,

humb Servant,

Arthur Browne.

The above Arthur Browne was sent to Ireland, where he was educated and attained to a distinguished position. He was a man of marked character and high attainments, was made Fellow and Senior Proctor of Trinity College, a Doctor of Civil Law, King's Professor of Greek, &c. In his "Miscellaneous Essays and Dissertations," long out of print, he gives an entertaining account of society and manners in Rhode Island, and makes mention of many of the prominent men of that day. He also wrote a

Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton, Andrew Hunter, Simon Pease, John Bours and Francis Brinley.

Voted that a letter be written to the Society, informing them of the death of our worthy minister, the late Mr. Browne, and soliciting a continuation of the mission, and that the Rev. Mr. Bisset be particularly recommended as a suitable person to succeed Mr. Browne, and that Mr. Honyman, with the Church Wardens, draft the said letter.

Voted that the Rev. Mr. Bisset be requested to officiate as Minister of the Church, and that he be paid £50, sterling, per annum by the congregation, the sum that was paid to the Rev. Mr. Browne, and that he have likewise the use of the parsonage-house until we hear from the Society; and that Mr. Dudley, with the Church Wardens, be desired to acquaint Mr. Bisset with these resolutions of the Church.

work on Civil Law, which is still valued by the profession. He died in 1805. In 1795 he caused a mural tablet, bearing a likeness of his father, in relief and the family coat of arms, with the following inscription, to be placed by the side of the Chancel in the Church:

To the memory of the Rev.

MARMADUKE BROWNE,

A man eminent for talents, learning, and religion, who departed this life on the 19th of March, 1771, and of ANN, his wife, a lady of uncommon piety and suavity of manners, who died the 6th of January, 1767. This monument was erected by their son, ARTHUR BROWNE, Esq., now senior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and representative in Parliament for the same: In token of his gratitude and affection to the best and tenderest of parents, and of his respect and Love for a Congregation among whom, and for the place where, he spent the earliest and happiest of his days.

Heu! Quanto minus est,

Cum aliis Versari,
Quam tui Memisse,

M. D. CCXCV.

Voted that the gentlemen who draft the letter to the Society, be requested to mention to them, in the same, the sending of a suitable person for a school-master and assistant, provided they should appoint Mr. Bisset our minister.

158

Voted that Capt. Mawdsley, Capt. Charles Wickham and Capt. Keith be a committee to repair the steeple, by having the spindle and vane put up again, in such manner as they shall judge best, as soon as the weather will permit.

Voted: that an account exhibited to the Church for attendance and medicine for negro Markadore in his last illness, by Dr. Thomas Eyres, be paid by the Church Wardens.

April 8, 1771. Mr. Stephen Ayrault and James Honyman, Esq., were appointed a committee to visit Mr. Bisset's school from time to time, as often as they judge necessary, in order to see that the number of charity boys be always complete; and if there be any vacancy at any time, they are requested to look out a proper boy to fill it.

Voted that the Church Wardens have the house Mr. Brinley lives in painted, agreeably to a former vote of the Vestry, in the best and cheapest manner they can, and the expense of the same be paid out of the money due to the Church.

Voted that the Rev. Mr. Browne's salary be paid up to Easter. [June 3, 1771. the Rev. Mr. Bisset preached a funeral sermon on the death of Mrs. Abigail Wanton, wife of Gov. Joseph Wanton, to whom she was married January 26, 1756.]159

168

15 John Mawdsley at one time had a large capital, which he employed in navigation. In 1776 he was one of a committee of safety, but taking sides with the crown, his property was confiscated. His first wife was Sarah Clarke, to whom he was married April 20, 1746. She dying, he married Mary Bardin, August 3, 1766. He died February 21, 1795, aged

71 years.

159 66

A sermon preached in Trinity Church, Newport, Rhode Island,