-----Original Message-----
From: Beth Hurd [mailto:beth@the-hurds.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 10:01 AM
To: RIGENWEB-L(a)rootsweb.com; mike(a)moonrakers.com; wscaswell(a)aol.com
Subject: W. Herbert CASWELL
from
History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Biographical
NY: The American Historical Society, Inc.
1920
pp. 144 - 145:
"W. HERBERT CASWELL -- This branch of the Caswell family represented by W.
Herbert Caswell, of Narragansett Pier, R. I., a leading real estate
operator, traces descent from Job Caswell, who was a freeman in Newport, R.
I., in 1727, and a member of the Congregational church, as was his wife,
Lydia. He died in November, 1774, she in December, 1760. They were the
parents of John, mentioned below.
(II) John Caswell, son of Job Caswell, was born in March, 1742, and died in
South Kingston, in 1779. At the time of the Revolution he lived in Newport,
but removed his family across the bay in a small boat, landing at what is
now Narragansett Pier. He married, December 31, 1761, Hannah West, born in
1740, died August 3, 1775. John and Hannah (West) Caswell were the parents
of John, mentioned below.
(III) John (2) Caswell, son of John (1) Caswell, died in 1812. He married
Mary Tefft, born February 4, 1772, daughter of Gardiner Tefft, a soldier of
the Revolution. She died February 9, 1819, leaving children: John West, of
further mention; Gardiner, Reuben, Waity, Mary and Hannah.
(IV) John West Caswell, son of John (2) Caswell, was born in South
Kingston, R. I., January 10, 1792, and died July 30, 1867. He was a farmer
of South Kingston. He married, in 1815, Hannah Bush Tefft, born in 1797,
died in 1852, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Hazard) Tefft, the last named a
first cousin of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie. They
were the parents of seven children, all now deceased: Stephen Tefft,
married Susan Kenyon; Daniel Tefft, married Abby Hazard Tefft; Mary Ann,
born February 29, 1824, unmarried; John H., builder and proprietor of the
'Metatoxet House' at Narragansett Pier until his death in 1904, the last of
the old time hotel keepers at the pier, married Abby A. Eaton; William
Gardiner, of further mention; Caroline Amelia, married Jeremiah Slocum
Briggs; Thomas Arnold, married Clara Watson.
(V) William Gardiner Caswell, son of John West Caswell, was born February
11, 1828, and died at Narragansett Pier, R. I., July 16, 1896. He was a
farmer, later a partner with his brother John H. in a grocery and dry goods
store in Kingston, subsequently became proprietor of the Mansion House at
Narragansett Pier, when that place sprang into prominence. He also built
the Mt. Hope Hotel at the Pier, was its proprietor until 1889, then sold out
and retired after a lifetime of success. He was a Republican in politics,
was a member and president of the Town Council of South Kingston,
represented South Kingston in the State Senate for a number of years, was a
notary public until his death; captain of a company of Rhode Island Militia
during the Civil War; a deputy sheriff of Washington county, residing at the
county jail at Kingston Hill; a member of Hope Lodge, No. 25, Free and
Accepted Masons; Hope Valley Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and of St. John's
Commandery, Knights Templar. William G. Caswell married Sallie Carpenter
Gardiner, born in the Rowland Robinson house in that part of Narragansett
known as Boston Neck, October 26, 1832, died April 15, 1908, daughter of
Rowland F. Gardiner, a farmer of South Kingston. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell were
the parents of a son, W. Herbert, of further mention, and a daughter, Addie
Helena; they are unmarried and reside together at Narragansett Pier, R. I.,
there maintaining a beautiful home.
(VI) W. Herbert Caswell, son of William Gardiner Caswell, was born at the
homestead in South Kingston, R. I., November 22, 1859. He was educated in
the public schools in South Kingston and Narragansett Pier, finishing his
courses at East Greenwich Academy. His father was owner of the Mt. Hope
Hotel, at Narragansett Pier, and until 1889 was its proprietor, his son
becoming his assistant, first as clerk three years, then for five years was
manager, 1885-89. The hotel was then sold, Mr. Caswell, the elder, retiring
from all business activity, Mr. Caswell, the younger, opening a clothing
store at Narragansett Pier, and conducting it for one year. He then retired
from mercantile life, and from that time until the present he has been
heavily engaged in real estate operations. He maintains unusually finely
equipped and handsome offices on Exchange place, and is the central figure
in all the important real estate transactions involving Narragansett Pier or
Washington county property, and from his office at the Pier transacts a very
large business. His operations cover the territory between the Hope Valley,
East Greenwich and Westerly, in addition to his local business; his office
also conducts an insurance department, writing all forms of fire, life,
accident, indemnity and automobile.
Mr. Caswell was the first elected town clerk of Narragansett Pier, after its
separation from South Kingston, in 1888, and from March 22 of that year
until the present, 1919, he has held that office continuously. He was first
elected clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and of the Supreme Court for
Washington county, and has been clerk of the higher courts in said county
since 1892, twenty-seven years, the different courts now having been merged
into the Superior Court. Mr. Caswell is a member of the Narragansett Park
Commission. Other business enterprises with which he is connected are the
Sherry Casino Company, of which he is director, secretary and treasurer;
and The Griffin-Browning Ice Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer
and director, both of these being Narragansett Pier Corporations. For two
years he was commodore of the Wakefield Yacht Club. Since 1888 he has been
a notary public; since 1892 a commissioner of deeds. He is a member of Mt.
Hope Lodge, No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons; Hope Valley Chapter, Royal
Arch Masons; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Ancient Order of
United Workmen; and the Royal Arcanum. He is vestryman of St. Peter's
Protestant Episcopal Church, and interested in all forward movements. He is
a man of quiet life and refined tastes, loves the artistic and the
beautiful, his home and offices reflecting the tastes of their owner for the
finer things of life. His chief recreation is sailing in his motor boat and
automobiling, being very enthusiastic in both diversions."
from the RI Historical Cemeteries Database Index:
CASWELL, JOHN 1792c - 30 JUL 1867 SK043
CASWELL, HANNAH B 1797c - 13 MAY 1852 SK043
CASWELL, WILLIAM G 1828 - 17 JUL 1896 SK043
CASWELL, SALLY C 1832 - 15 APR 1908 SK043
CASWELL, ADDIE HELENA 1855 - 1919 SK043
CASWELL, W HERBERT 1859 - 1931 SK043
+CASWELL, AGNES D 1881 - 1974 SK043
for more info:
Descendants of Job Caswell of Newport, R. I.
http://members.aol.com/wscaswell/job-cas/
which says W. Herbert Caswell did eventually marry on "11 Sept. 1919, in
Narragansett, RI, Agnes Alice DuBrau, as her second husband. Agnes was born
13 Jan. 1883, Baltic, CT, (daughter of Gustav Henry DuBrau and Anna Mary
Bassett) occupation nurse, died 28 April 1974, Peace Dale, RI, buried 1 May
1974. William died 20 April 1931, South Kingstown, RI, buried 23 April
1931. Both are buried Riverside Cemetery, South Kingstown, RI."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Hurd
Johnston, RI USA
beth(a)the-hurds.com
http://www.the-hurds.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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