February 1, 1778, Major John Breese172 was married to Elizabeth Malbone.

Easter Monday, April 20, 1778. John Bours and Isaac Lawton were elected Church Wardens; James Gibbs, clerk; Thomas Lawton, clerk of the Vestry; George English, sexton.

Vestrymen Joseph Wanton, Evan Malbone, Philip Wilkinson, Joseph Wanton, Jr., Charles Wickham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Mawdsley, Jahleel Brenton, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Francis Malbone, Isaac Lawton, Thomas Wickham, William Wanton, and James Keith.

March 29, 1779. Henry Goldsmith was married to Mary Mason.173 Easter Monday, April 5, 1779. No change was made in the officers of the Church.

April 27, 1780. At a meeting of the congregation, April 27, 1780. Voted: that Messrs. George Gibbs, Christopher Champlin, Thomas Freebody and John Bours be a committee to lease out all the estates belonging to the Church, upon the best terms they can, and that they make what repairs they judge necessary on the parsonage-house, the church and fence around the yard; and that they

172

Major John Breese was an officer in the British Army, 54th regiment. When the British retired from the Island, he left the army and settled in Newport. In 1796 he was appointed British Vice Consul for Rhode Island, and died here April 23, 1799. Mrs. Breese, who was the daughter of Francis and Margaret (Saunders) Malbone, died May 22, 1832.

173 This was the last marriage ceremony performed by the Rev. Mr. Bisset before he took his hurried departure with the British troops.

Henry Goldsmith was born in the County of Westmeath, Ireland, July 4, 1755. His wife, Mary Mason, daughter of Benj. Mason and granddaughter of Daniel Ayrault, was born November 9, 1759. Mr. Goldsmith adhered to the Crown. After the birth of his first child he removed to St. Andrews, N. S., from there to Annapolis Royal, then to Halifax, and, finally in 1800, to England, where he and his wife died. They had fourteen children born to them.

make some allowance, at their discretion, to Mr. George English for his past services as sexton.

Voted, also that the said committee make inquiry relative to the estate of William Tate, which was left by will to the Church after the death of his wife, who had lately deceased: and that they make report to the Church.

CHAPTER X.

1780-1785.

MAY 5, 1780. The committee appointed by the Church, at their meeting on the 27th of April last, to lease out all the estates belonging to the Church, have this day agreed with Mr. Francis Brinley that he should pay ninety silver dollars for the rent of the house and lot he now improves, for the present year. That Mr. George Scott have a lease of the lot of about eight acres, he improves, for the present year, for forty-five silver dollars, and that Mr. Jabez Champlin live in the parsonage-house this year, at forty-five dollars per annum rent. Agreed also, that a rough fence be put around the churchyard, and that two carpenters be consulted upon the cost, and that if it should not exceed $25, silver, it be done immediately.174

174 The town of Newport was at this time in a deplorable condition; its trade was gone, some hundreds of dwellings, store-houses and barns had been destroyed by the British, its people were scattered, and those who had been forced to remain at home were so impoverished that they could only secure in scanty measure means for the support of their families. To do much for the Church was out of the question; but the will was there and, step by step, they gradually brought it up to its former standard ; though it was not till 1786, that they could command the services of a settled pastor. In the meantime the pulpit was filled as opportunity offered; and when a clergyman could not be obtained, the congregation were drawn together, to listen to a lay reader. For some time, beginning in 1780, while his own church was being repaired, the Rev. Gardiner Thurston, Pastor of the Second Baptist Society, occupied the pulpit and his own people were invited to worship there. The services of the Church were also conducted by Rev. John Graves, then residing in Providence without a parish, Rev. Moses Badger, who was at Newport at the time

July 22, 1780. M. de Vilernaas,175 First-Lieut. of the French frigate Hermione, was buried in the church-yard.

August 29, 1780. Mr. James Keith176 died and was buried in the church-yard.

Easter Monday, April 16, 1781. John Bours and Francis Malbone were elected Church Wardens, James Gibbs, Clerk, and Geo. English, sexton.

Vestrymen Philip Wilkinson, Charles Wickham, Thomas Cranston, Stephen Ayrault, John Bours, Francis Brinley, Francis Malbone, James Keith, Charles Handy, Christopher Champlin, George Gibbs, Henry Hunter, Thomas Frecbody, Samuel Freebody, Silas Cooke and John Malbone.

Voted that Messrs. George Gibbs, Christopher Champlin, Thomas Freebody, and John Bours be a committee to lease the estates of the Church upon the best terms they can; and that they inquire about a lot of land at Narragansett, left by will towards the support of the Minister of the Church for the time being, by Nathaniel Norton.

177

July 27, 1781. Heithcote Murison, of Fairfield, Ct., died, and was buried in the church-yard.

that he was called to St. John's, Providence, in 1786, and Rev. Samuel Parker, of Boston, when he could arrange to fill the pulpit.

175 M. de Valernaas died of wounds received in the action between the Hermione and the British frigate Iris, and was interred with military honors. The Hermione, commanded by the Chevalier de la Touch, had reached Newport, June 19, 1780.

176

James Keith was a relative of the Rev. Alexander Keith, Jr., by whose side his remains were placed. He was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, had resided in America nearly forty years, and had attained to his 70th year. "As he lived beloved he died lamented.”

177 Heithcote Murison died of wounds received in the excursion of our allies to Long Island. He was of a very respectable family on Long Island, very attractive in his manners, and full of zeal for the cause, which latter

178

September 29, 1781. Francis Malbone was married to Katherine Pease, by Rev. Samuel Parker, of Boston.

Easter Monday, April 1, 1782. No change was made in the officers of the Church, save that Capt. James Arnold was added to the Vestry, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Capt. James Keith.

Voted that the Wardens make an allowance to the clerk and sexton out of the money collected at Church on the first Sunday of every month, to begin in May.

May 23, 1782. Mr. William Tweedy179 died, and was buried in the church-yard.

Easter Monday, April 21, 1783. The officers of the Church were re-elected, with Samuel Brenton as Vestryman, in place of Philip Wilkinson, deceased.

July 20, 1783. Mr. John Meunscher was employed as organist, at the rate of one dollar per Sunday.

August 17, 1783. Henry Edwin Stanhopes was married to Peggie Malbone by Rev. Mr. Fogg.

quality led him to become a volunteer in an enterprise which cost him his life. His remains, followed by the gentlemen of the town, and a great number of French officers, with a detachment of troops, were interred with military honors. He was 26 years of age.-Newport Mercury.

178 Francis Malbone died in 1785. His widow died in Boston in 1817, and her remains were brought here for interment.

179The Sunday following the death of Mr. Tweedy, his remains, attended by his connections and numerous friends, were carried to Trinity Church, where the ceremony and an excellent sermon, well adapted to the solemnity of the occasion, were performed by a particular friend of the deceased, after which they were interred in the church-yard."-Newport Mercury.

Henry Edwin Stanhope, vice-admiral of the blue, was the only son of the Hon. Edwin Francis Stanhope, cousin to the Earl of Chesterfield, and the Rt. Hon. Lady Catherine, daughter of John, Marquis of Caernavon, eldest son of James, Duke of Chandos. Peggie Malbone was the