Historical Records of the Greene Family to America

Nearly historians mark the first of the village of Apponaug with the building of the fulling mill by John Micarter on Kekamewit Brook, nigh Apponaug Cove, in 1696. This was a well-taken point for after that the expanse began to attract the attention of many of the younger sons of the early on settlers. In 1697, Micarter sold the mill to Jeremiah Westcott who in turn sold it to Samuel Greene in 1702.

John Greene, Surgeon
The conquering of the property past Samuel Greene was a pregnant consequence in the village's history as it was through the leadership of the Greene family that Apponaug adult during the 18th and early 19th centuries. This family was that of John Greene, Surgeon, who along with Samuel Gorton and Randall Holden founded Warwick in 1642. In many ways, the history of Warwick, and that of Rhode Island, mirrors the history of the Greene family. As there were many sons and grandsons of John the Surgeon, the names John, James, Samuel, and Thomas Greene appear often in generation later on generation.

Major John Greene
The Samuel Greene who purchased the manufacturing plant in 1702 was the son of Major John Greene and Ann Almy. Major Greene, ane of the most powerful and important figures in early Rhode Island history, was the son of Surgeon John Greene and Joanne Tatersall.

Oliver Payson Fuller, in his 1875 History of Warwick, notes that Major John Greene "held at different times the offices of Full general Recorder, General Attorney, and General Solicitor." Fuller goes on to listing Major John's accomplishments and says, "In company with the Rev. John Clarke, he was appointed an amanuensis to England to attend...to the interests of the Colony." Fuller, similar many other historians, writes the well-nigh about Greene'due south tenure as Deputy Governor. Fuller tells usa, "He (Major John Greene) is perchance best known for his service as Deputy Governor. He was annually elected to that role from 1690 until 1700. He was lxxx years old in 1700 when he finally retired."

Information technology is interesting to note that Major Greene received no salary as Deputy Governor, but was exempted from paying taxes. Information technology is also often noted that Major John Greene actually wielded more power than the governors he served with and left a much greater touch on the state's history than well-nigh whatever early politician.

The Post Office established
During his tenure in that function, the boondocks of Warwick was nearly destroyed by a smallpox epidemic in 1690 91, witnessed the introduction of paper coin as bills of credit, and welcomed the beginnings of a post office. Greene journeyed to Boston in 1692 to inquire about establishing a post office and helped bring about the development of a Post Route, which ran from Boston, through Apponaug, and eventually to Virginia.

Privateers
Major Greene is as well regarded as a champion for Rhode Island rights and particularly as the man who introduced Rhode Island to the controversial practice of privateering. Equally England was at war for over 30 years in the 1690 1763 period, in that location was a demand that merchant ships arm themselves to make state of war on the mother country's enemies. Equally an incentive, ships receiving privateering commissions were allowed to keep nine/10ths of the spoils of state of war. Considering of slow communications and the desire for profit, it often became difficult to distinguish between a privateer and a pirate. Governor John Easton, fearing that pirates would proceeds from this practise, hesitated to grant commissions. Deputy Governor Greene had no such reservations and allowed privateering, thereby paving the way for a dramatic increment in Rhode Island'southward commerce.

Historians in both the 19th and 20th centuries have argued that this type of activity helped Rhode Island tremendously. Every bit Rhode Island had no staple ingather or large fishing surface area for trading purposes, it turned to the littoral trade for much of its prosperity. At a fourth dimension when wooden sailing ships could go military vessels with the improver of cannon, it was natural for many young Rhode Islanders to seek out enemy vessels. When the colonists captured a vessel, they were immune to keep well-nigh of the value of the send and the cargo. This gave the Rhode Islanders a turn a profit that would exist impossible to obtain in whatsoever other manner. Many Rhode Islander's fortunes were made in this mode.

Samuel Greene---Apponaug's leading citizen
Samuel Greene, who became very of import in Apponaug'southward history, was the youngest of Major John and Ann Almy Greene's eleven children. Samuel married Mary Gorton, daughter of Benjamin and granddaughter of Samuel Gorton, Warwick's founder. The marriage proved to exist a fortunate one as their descendants prospered and became important in the history of Warwick and of Rhode Isle.

John Greene, Surgeon and Major John Greene had acquired a great bargain of property in Warwick and the family, often through marriage with other descendants of early settlers, became the almost powerful in the boondocks. Samuel, as his uncles, brothers and cousins earlier him, had the power to take advantage of the natural resources the region offered and was able to accumulate some wealth while still at a young age. He and his descendants made Apponaug one of the most prosperous villages in Rhode Isle.

The Cowesett Homestead
In improver to the property Samuel owned in Apponaug, he purchased state and a house in Cowesett from his brother in law, Samuel Gorton, Jr. According to Oliver Payson Fuller's classic 1875 History of Warwick, this house was built by Samuel Gorton, Jr. It became very famous after as the residence of Governor William Greene, who was in office for a number of terms betwixt 1743 and 1758. Of bully significance to Rhode Isle in Revolutionary times, it was also the domicile of William Greene, Jr., who, like his father, was Governor of Rhode Isle. Information technology was a meeting place for many of the Revolutionary leaders in the colony and Governor William Greene (1778 86) was a strong leader in the latter part of the Revolutionary State of war. Governor Greene married beautiful Catharine Littlefield of Cake Island, a close friend of Benjamin Franklin. On a number of occasions, Franklin was a guest at this firm. Mrs. Greene's niece, Catharine Littlefield and Major Full general Nathanael Greene, Rhode Isle's about significant Revolutionary War hero, were married in that house in 1774.

The Old Apponaug Homestead?
While Samuel Greene'south descendants in Cowesett made Revolutionary War history, he and his sons in Apponaug were significant in developing the textile manufacture in Warwick. While some of the early records are obscure or have been lost, fortunately, historians accept been able to piece together the story of this enterprise.
Over the years in that location has been a great bargain of speculation concerning the home of Samuel Greene, as all historians have not been in agreement. Oliver Payson Fuller, i of our best sources for Apponaug'due south early history, writing in his 1875 History of Warwick, says that Samuel Greene lived "at Apponaug, in a business firm torn down within the memory of persons now living." He places this house on the southwest corner of Centerville and Postal service Roads.

The late Dorothy Mayor's extensive research on Apponaug indicates Fuller may take been slightly dislocated on this location. She found that Samuel Greene purchased a "dwelling house and 63 acres of state from Othniel Gorton," (son of John Gorton) "that was north of the fulling manufactory road." The fulling mill road afterwards became known as Centerville Road. Mayor notes that Samuel Greene died intestate and the town made a will for him. She says, "Information technology gave to his son Samuel the dwelling house where his father last lived which was bought from Othniel Gorton." In add-on, we are told, Samuel Greene, Jr. received lumber with which to build a house and a lot due south of the fulling manufacturing plant. This house, built by Samuel Greene, Jr., and not the one lived in by his male parent, was on the southeast corner of the crossroads. The business firm was moved to face Postal service Road and in the first half of the 20th century it was the home and role of 1 of Apponaug'due south almost beloved physicians, Dr. Long, before being demolished for the present Gulf station.

Samuel Greene, Jr.
Samuel Greene, Jr. played an of import part in the fulling mill and in the evolution of the hamlet. Samuel Greene Jr, in 1722, petitioned the town to remove earlier restrictions on the fulling mill and asked for "4 acres and 23 rods adjoining Cowesett Pond lying on both sides of the brook that comes out of said swimming...." The pond is today known every bit Gorton's Pond.

This modern Gulf Gas station at present occupies the site where the house built by Samuel Greene, Jr. and later on occupied past Dr. Long, once stood.
Photograph past Don D'Amato 2004

Samuel Greene, Jr. died in 1780 and in his will he leaves the fulling factory to his son, Caleb. Samuel Greene's will, dated Sept 5, 1780, indicates that he gave to his son, Caleb Greene "one atomic number 26 bar to use at the Grist Factory, I also give him one draft chain...." Caleb died in 1813, leaving the mill to his son Caleb, Jr. By this time, Dot Mayor concludes, "the erstwhile Fulling Mill was run by Caleb, son of Samuel, as some sort of Mill, but when his son Caleb, Jr. caused it he, with others, built a cotton mill. At this time it is surmised that the Fulling Mill went out of existence. That probably is when the name Apponaug was used before that the village was unremarkably referred to as Fulling Manufacturing plant."

The story of Apponaug in the 18th century will be continued.

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Source: https://www.warwickhistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100%3Athe-greenes-in-apponaug&catid=43&Itemid=96

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