History and Government of Newport, RI 1856 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan W. Pieroth, (© 1997 Susan W. Pieroth) USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages are for the use of indivisual researchers, and may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE NEWPORT DIRECTORY, CONTAINING THE NAMES OF THE CITIZENS, A BUSINESS DIRECTORY, CITY RECORD, GOVERNMENT OF STATE, &C; 1856-'57 WILLIAM H. BOYD, COMPILER AND PUBLISHER, 229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWPORT Was first incorþorated as a city in 1784, but, owing to dissatisfaction amon the people, the city charter was surrendered in 1787, and in May, 1853, by an almost unanimous vote, it was re-incorþorated. The population of Newport, in 1850, according to the United States Census Reports, was 9,563; at the present time (July, 1856) it is estimated (resident population) 11,000. The City Election is held on the tird Wednesday in April, and the City Government is organized first Monday in June. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CITY GOVERNMENT FOR 1856. MAYOR William J. Swinburne. ALDERMEN. John C. Braman, Philip Stevens, John C. Ailman, Benjamin Freeborn, John G. Weaver. COMMON COUNCIL. 1st Ward, Pardon W. Stevens and George F. Crandall 2d Ward, Benjamin K. Stevens and Thomas Coggeshall 3d Ward Robert J. Taylor and Abraham T. Peckham 4th Ward William C. Townsend and Alexander M. M’Gregor 5th Ward John A. Hazard of T. G. and William J. Holt CITY CLERK Benjamin B. Howland Clerk of Common Council--Benjamin Marsh, 2d City Treasurer--George Freeborn City Sergeant--Charles Cozzens City Marshall--Robert Seatle Overseer of the Poor--Sylvester R. Hazard Inspector of Nuisances--Sylvester R. Hazard Collector of Ta×es--William H. Barker Judge of Probate--George W. Taylor City Solicitor--Charles C. Van Zandt Assessors of Ta×es--James G. Topham, George W. Taylor, Moses Nerman, Clark Burdick, Seth W. Macy Committee of the School Fund--Henry Castoff, John D. Dennis, George W. Taylor Commissioners of Newport Asylum--George A. Armstrong, Job A. Peckham, Nathan H. Gould, Benjamin Freeborn, Samuel Stearn, Samuel S. Peckham, Henry O. Tifft, Ira French,       Benjamin Marsh 2d Keeper of Asylum--James Simmons Harbor Master--Anthony Stewart Keeper of Jews’ Synagogue--Wm. C. Thurston City Crier--Thomas Cutter Auctioneers--Samuel A. Parker, Elias D. Beede, Francis Stanhope, Robert Seatle, William S. Vose, Daniel T. Swinburne, William Swan jr., Henry M. Brownell City Bell Ringers--Philip Sherman, William D. Boss City Watchmen--John M. Carr, Capt.; John H. Watson, Lieut.; James C. Easton, James Clarke, Joseph P. Babcock, John Easton, Samuel J. Marsh, William B. Wilson Constables--Charles Cozzens, Henry Taggart, Sylvester R. Hazard, William G. Carpenter, Robert Seatle, John M. Carr Corders of Wood--Joseph F. Havens, Royal West, Nathaniel Nason, Truman B. Spooner, Oliver Peckham, Philip Dring, Joseph T. Card, John Oman, Samuel Oman Field Driver--Wm. G. Carpenter Fence Viewers--Joseph Anthony, Joseph P. Aylsworth Gaugers of Casks, &c.--John S. Langley, James Henderson, Wm. H. Ailman, Nathaniel H. Langley Measurers of Grain, Salt, Shorts and Sea Coal per Statute, p. 457-- Joseph P. Aylsworth Packers of Fish--Nathaniel H. Langley, William H. Ailman, Joseph P. Aylsworth Sealer of Weights and Measures--James B. Aylsworth Superintendent to Place Stoves and Stove Pipes as per Statute --James B. Brown Surveyors of Joiners’ Lumber--Stephen M. Stedman, George Hazard Surveyor of Wood Pit and Charcoal--Joseph P. Aylsworth SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE PUBLIC PARKS. Touro Park--Joseph B. Weaver Mall Washington Square--Philip Caswell jr. Liberty Square--Benjamin H., Stevens Equality Square--William P. Congdon Surveyors of Land--Charles E. Hammett jr., Samuel Brown Harbor Master--Anthony Stewart Overseer for Sale of Sand at Easton’s Beach-- ---- Overseer of Sand And Gravel at Fort Woolcot--Street Commissioner Keeper of Powder House--Thomas J. Lake Surveyor of Round Timber and Spars--George B. Hazard In Charge of the clock at State House--Ira Stillman Pound Keeper--William Kaull Overseer of Small Pox--Alexander G. Swazey Beach Constable--Peleg Coggeshall ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Rev. A. Henry Dumont, D.D. Chairman; Augustus Bush, Secretary; David M. Coggeshall, Treasurer; Rev. Charles T. Brooks, Henry E. Turner, Duncan C. Pell, George W. Greene, Samuel C. Bailey, Clarke Burdick, Samuel Engs, Philip Canwell, jr., Henry C. Stevens. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Senior Department. Boys, F. E. Peaslee, Principal Parthenia G. Jones, Mary P. Adams, Assistants Girls, Mary Ann Wilbour, Principal Mary H. Newton, Assistant GRAMMER SCHOOLS. Boys, Mill Street, Z. Allen Cook, Teacher Farewell Street, Henry W. Clark, do Girls, Farewell Street, Emily Newton, Principal Elizabeth Mumford, and Amelia Barker, Assistants Girls, Church Street, Mary R. Dennis, Teacher Colored, Hannah Gavett, do INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. Boys, Mill Street, Ann E. Gaton, Teacher Girls, Mill Street, Charlotte E. Goffe, do PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Boys, Mill Street, Mary Howland Girls, Mill Street, Mary F. Irwin Marlboro’ Street, Mary E. Chase Boys, Bridge Street, Patty C. Hammett Girls, Bridge Street, Emily Cotton Gridley Street, Hannah Gorton Boys, Young Street, Mary Martin Girls, Young Street, Elizabeth E. Thurston ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WARD BOUNDARIES At a Town Council of the town of Newport, holden Newport, May 23, 1853. Whereas, by the 12th section of the City Charter, passed by the General Assembly of this State, at their May session, 1853, entitled, "An Act for Incorporating the City of Newport," it makes it the duty of the Town Council of the town of Newport, as soon as may be after the passage of said act, and the acceptance of it by the legally qualified voters therein, to divide said town into five wards, as in said section mentioned. And whereas the said charter has been adopted as so provided, within the time named in said act, and in conformity thereto: Therefore, be it ordained that The First Ward shall be bounded by a line drawn from Gravelly Point along the south side of the Long Wharf, until it comes to the first house on the south side of said wharf; thence up the centre of the wharf to the centre of Thames Street; thence north through the centre of Thames to Farewell Street; thence through the centre of Farewell Street to Long Lane, so called; thence through the centre of said Lane in a straight line to the shore; thence continuing around the northern and western e×tremities of the town back to Gravelly Point, the place of beginning, including docks and wharves. The Second Ward shall be bounded by a line from the shore along the line of the First Ward, running through the centre of Long Lane and Farewell Street, and Thames Street to the foot of the Parade; thence to the State House; thence around the south end of the State House to Broad Street; through the centre of Broad Street to Bull Street; up through the centre of Bull Street to Brindley Street; through the centre of Brindley Street to Catharine Street; through the centre of Catharine Street eastward in a straight line to the Pond north of Easton’s Beach. The Third Ward shall comprise all that part of the town, wharves and docks, southward of the afore-described wards, and northward of a line from the dock, coming up on the south side of the Ferry Wharf Market; through the centre of Market Square; thence across Thames Street, through the centre of Mill Street, to East Touro Street, formerly Bellevue Street; across said East Touro Street to the old Beach Road; thence along the centre of said road to Buena Vista street straight to the Pond north of the Beach. The Fourth Ward shall comprise all that part of the town south of the Third Ward, to a line drawn from the harbor through the centre of Gridley Street to Spring Street; thence across Spring to the centre of William Street; thence through the centre of William Street to East Touro Street; thence north through the centre of East Touro Street to Bath Road; through the centre of Bath to Easton’s Beach. The Fifth Ward shall comprise all the southern part of the town, wharves and docks, not contained in the other wards. A true copy, attest. Benjamin B. Howland, Council Clerk. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIRE DEPARTMENT ENGINE COMPANIES. Engines, &c. Stations. Firemen. Deluge, No. 1, Mill Street, John H. Greene Rough and Ready, " 2, Bridge Street, Pardon W. Stevens Pioneer, " 3, Thames Street, Benj. H. Stevens Hope, " 4, Tanner Street, Smith Bosworth Protection, " 5, Touro Street, William Newton Torrent, " 6, Spring Street, Joseph B. Weaver Hercules " 7, Howard Street, Peter J. Lee Hydraulion, No. 1, Bull Street, Jacob Weaver Hook and Ladder, " 1, Thames Street, Samuel Engs Hose Cart, " 1, Frank Street, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSTOM HOUSE. Thames Street. Collector--George Turner Naval Officer--Milton Hall Deputy Collector and Inspector--George W. Ellery Surveyor--Elisha Atkins Permanent Inspectors--Daniel Brown, Stephen P. Slocomb Occasional Inspectors--Wm. Rider, Geo. Howland, Samuel W. Alger, Edward Smith Gauger and Weigher--Simon Babcock Measurer--Henry B. Underwood NEWPORT ARTILLERY. Organized 1741. Armory located on Clarke Street. Officers: Thomas B Carr, Colonel Charles W. Turner, Lieut. Colonel Isaac S. Boss, Major Augustus French, Captain John B. Langley, jr., Quarter Master Henry E. Turner, Surgeon ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEWPORT GAS LIGHT COMPANY 127 Thames Street. Incorporated 1853. Capital, $120,000. Henry Bull, President; John Bull, Treasurer. Henry Bull, Silas H. Cottrell, Samuel Engs, William G. Peckham, Joseph I. Bailey, Directors. F. C. Sherman, Superintendent.