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[Arnold.FTW] In 1987, the Rhode Island Genealogical Society Library in Providence had, in an obscure manila folder, a letter from James Oliver Arnold of Dayton, Ohio, dated 1889 asking their assistance in locating his Arnold ancestors. Included in the letter was a list of children in an Arnold family. The list included Caleb Arnold's children. A simliar folder was discovered later in the Guernsey Memorial Library in Norwich, New York, containing a copy of the same letter and several other typwritten documents by James O. Arnold detailing what he had subsequently learned about Caleb Arnold and his family. Later in 1890 James O. Arnold traveled to Rhode Island and with the help of a cousin located the Caleb Arnold farm and Caleb's grave along with the graves of several other family members. The following is a transcript of the two James O. Arnold papers. "A traditional story has been recently verified by the records now at Chepatchet, R. I. relating to this family, that now becomes a historical fact. The tradition was that Caleb Arnold, born May 26th, 1725, died Feb 5th, 1784, married Patience Brown Jan. 26th, 1745, in Rhode Island; served in the Revolutionary War, and that they had eight sons and sons-in-law, who all served in the same war, making a dozen patriots in one family; and that the wife Patience Brown, and the daughters, attended to the farm during the absence of the men in Colonial days, and also attended the wounded and dying at the same time. When this remarkable traditional story was first mentioned to the genealogist, J. N. Arnold, Providence, Rhode Island, and to the president of the Historical Society, Rhode Island, it was first considerd "wild" and they so expressed themselves. But patien work, and solely relying upon the records, has revealed a state of facts that has amply repaid the descendants for the interest they had taken to verify the traditions of the past. The first step taken was to find if such a family existed in R. I. Upon eaxamination of the Census of 1774 the largest family in R. I. was enumerated as follows: Males Males Females Females above 16 below 16 above 16 below 16 CALEB ARNOLD 5 2 2 1 Caleb Arnold, the patriot, served as Deputy in 1773-8, paid State bounties in 1778, on War Committee in 1789, in Gloucester, R.I. and that his family resided at Gloucester, R.I. A search was made among the records of Chepachet, R.I., and there was found recorded an instrument known as "The Heirs Covenant" bearing the date of February4, 1784, and recorded in Book of Deeds No.11, pages 189, 191, whcih bears testimony that the said Caleb Arnold, the patriot, had died intestate; and here the family had in a written instrument, agreed to divide the balance of the property, among themselves equitably "as far as we can be satisfied what was his intent, to dispose of the remainder part of his estate which he had not disposed of in his will as far as he had gone with it", etc. And after distributing among themselves according to the agreement, they, with magnanimity, equity and fraternal love, allowed the second wife, Anna Arnold, and two minor children, Joseph and Arba, their just and due proportion, and this brotherly and sisterly love has been the means of grouping this family and rescuing their deeds of valor from oblivion. This instrument is signed by: Anna Arnold, second wife (LS) Jonothan Brown (LS) Esek Arnold (LS) Acsha (Arnold) Brown (LS) William Arnold (LS) Patience (Arnold) Williams (LS) Nehemaih Arnold (LS) Ephraim Arnold (LS) William Colwell (LS) Lucy (Arnold) Colwell (LS) Jabez Arnold (LS) Caleb Arnold (LS) Edward Arnold (LS) Oliver Arnold (LS) Received for record the 10th day of Dec, AD 1787, and recorded by R. Stone, Town Clerk. Here was found the names of the family grouped together, with the exception of Othniel, who was wounded at the Battle of Prospect Hill (now Somerville) at the Battle of Bunker hill, and died at White Plains, N.Y., and is buried at the same place. Hence his name is not mentioned in "The Heirs Covenant", and Arba and Joseph, being minors, did not sign it. (At this time we note that in 1987 when Robert and Joyce Neel, descendent and wife, visited the Caleb Arnold farm near Chepatchet and the family grave site there was noted one stone with the name O. Arnold inscribed upon it. It is asumed that this is the final burial site of Othniel.) Back to the J.O. Arnold text. -- Here was a foundation to build upon, and fortunately in "The Spirit of 1776", by B. Cowel, of R.I.. was found the following record: 1775 William Arnold, Capt. Asa Kimball's Co. Othniel Arnold Col. Dan Hitchcock's Co. Jabez Arnold Regt. Gen. Nathaniel Green Nehemaih - Served in Massachusetts; married daughter of James Brown, of Swansea, Massachusetts 1777. Ezekiel - Married Abigail Baxter of Western Massachusetts, and served in same state. Oliver - In Co. A, Col. John Topham's Regt. 1776. removed to Tioga Co. N.Y., now Chenango and married Sophia Walker, by whom he had three children, and also nine by a second wife, and finally lived at Olean, N.Y. Caleb - In Co. A Col. Robert Elliot'ts Regt. He was also in Capt. Stephem Kimball's Co., and was promoted to Fife Major in 1778. He settled at Norwich, Chenango , N.Y. Edward - In Capt Stephen Olney's Co., R.I. He was also a drummer, and was the first to climb the abatis at Yorktown. He settled at Little Falls, Herkimer , N.Y. He married Mercy Phettyplace, sister of Rachel. Achsa - Married Jonothan Brown, who served in Co. of John Topham's Regt., R.I. and marched to Quebec. Pateince - married Ephraim Williams, who served in John Topham's Regt. and marched to Quebec. Lucy - Married William Colwell, He was also engaged in the war; his record is verified. An anectdote is told of Othniel and Jabez which is well worth repeating. When Othniel and Jabez were marching to Bunker Hill, the former had a presentiment that he would be killed, and turning to Jabez said, " Jabez, if I am killed in this battle will you marry my sweetheart, Rachel Phettyplace?". Rachel's father was a near neighbor to Caleb, and their home is pointed out by the old residents. Jabez promised that he would. Othniel was wounded and returned home, and after lingering a long while under the paternal roof, died, and Rachel mourned his loss. Jabez returned home, but instead of marrying Rachel, married Lucinda Hunter, who had four of five children. She died, however, when Jabez married the sweetheart, Rachel Phettyplace, and removed to New Berlin, Chenango , N.Y. where he is buried. Among other children was a Welcome Arnold, born May 11, 1795, who was a son of said marriage, a man of sound mind and memory to his last. When the writer (J.O. Arnold) vivited him he verified the story. With these facts established, Mr. James Oliver Arnold, of Dayton, Ohio, came to Putman to visit his other descenants and to have the graves of Caleb Arnold, the Patriot, and his wife, Patience Brown, pointed out to him. Mr. James Arnold, also a descendant of the said Caleb, had interested himself in the matter, and could readily define the exact spot where they were buried on a farm that he had inherited from his father. The graves of Caleb and Patience had been pointed out to him by his sister, Patience Darling, and by his father, David Arnold. He also made the visit to these graves more interesting by saying that he had attended the funeral of Liet. William Arnold (when he was fourteen years old). The said Wm. Arnold was Caleb's son, and was promoted to the position of Quartermaster with the rank of Captain, later Lieut. of Artillery. He was better known to old citizens as Squire William; and there are quite a number in neighborhood that remember him as a man of great ability, and they tell of his war stories and anecdotes told to them by him when they were young. One of these was Mr. Geo. Nelson White, who boasted of having sat on his great-granfather's knee. William's wife, Isceah Gorton Malaavery, a Revolution heroine, is buried along-side of him, and Patience Brown, his first wife. (Ed.note. Patience Brown was Caleb's wife and is buried along side Caleb in the same family cemetery as is William buried.) One cannot look at this spot without feeling of reverence and thankfullness to them for the deeds thayt have done to establich this nation; and the hardships encountered by the mothers and daughters, Patience Brown, Isceah, Achsa, Lucy,, and Patience Williams, is to have been almost beyond endurance, and fired theri husband's hearst to the conflict with unbounded enthusiasm. They were at that times a near neighbor to Gen. Putnam. In a letter, Capt. William, the Quartermaster, says'"About Sunrise on the 20th day of April, 1775, I took my gun and went over to Anan Winsor's and marched to Lexingon to see what they were doing over there." The reader will observe the coolness with which he states it. The gun is in the possession of a descendant. The graves of these patriots are about seven or eight miles from Putman, on Arnold's Hill, R.I. within forty-five feet of being the highest point in R.I. and from the site of the homestead where Caleb lived, which is pointed out; and the house of Wm. Arnold, the Quartermaster, is yet standing in good state of preservation, and has been occupied by a descendant ever since. From the front door a view into Connecticut is visible for many miles, Killingly Pond and Chesnut Hill being seen in the distance. Caleb Arnold, the Patriot, was a son of Joseph Arnold who died Nov 4, 1746. He married Jun 20, 1726, Mercy Stafford, born Sep 21, 1694, daughter of Amos Stafford, of Warwick, R.I., and granddaughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Stafford, the emigrant to America, who at one time owned Rocky Point. (Ed. Note: See the description of the Arnold farm and grave sites, as seen in 1987, later in this note.) The said Joseph Arnold was the son of Eleazer Arnold, born Jun 17, 1651 in Watertown, Mass., and died Aug 29, 1732, on his farm in Smithfield, R.I. He married Eleanor Smith, daughter of Jonh and Elizabeth Smit, of Providence, R.I., known as John Smith, the mason, who was President of the Colony. He lived in Smithfield, a little north of the Friend's Meeting Hosue and in 1708 deeded the land for the said Meeting House. It is, in 1891, in a good state of preservation, and a tinplate stove, Franklin pattern, with the date 1774 cast thereon, is yet doing duty. This Meeting House is about two miles from Pawtucket, R. I. and known as the lower meeting house. (Ed.Note: See the account of the Meeting House described in notes under Eleazer Arnold. It is still in use in 1987 as the Saylesville Meeting House. Robert and Joyce Neel, above, attended a service there in 1987.) The said Eleazer Arnold was the eighth son of Thomas Arnold, the emigrant ancestor to America from Wales. He was baptized 1599, died 1674, and married Phoebe Parkhurst at Watertown, Mass., in 1640. They soon after joined the Colony at Providence, R.I. with Roger williams, and became invested with about 20,000 acres of land which he purchased from the Indians. His half-brother, Wm. Arnold, was also a co-worker with Roger Williams. They both descended from Thomas Arnold of Cheselbourne, Wales, and was paternally descended from Yuir (Ina) King of Gwentland, Wales, the second son of Cadwaldhr, the last King of the Britons, who built Abergavena and its castle. The pedigree of this family is authenticated by history and verified by wills and deeds to the present time, and is a curio of the present century. They were all Quakers. governor Hopkins, signed of the Declaration of Independence, was a neighbor and also descended from the same family, his ancestor Hopkins having married Joana Arnold, daughter of Thomas Arnold, the emigrant to America. Stephen A. Douglass, or Stephen Arnold Douglass, is also a descendant of Thomas Arnold, the ancestor emigrant, and many other eminent men, among them Dr. Jonothan Arnold, the Revolutionary hero, Hon. Isaac H. Arnold, Chicago. Caleb Arnold, the Patriot, and Patience Brown, Othniel, and Capt. William, the Quartermaster, and his wife Isceah, shoudl be remembered by the A.G. Warner Post No. 54 G.A.R. annually." (The above story has been verified by actual data J. O. Arnold, 626 Sup. Ave. Dayton, O.) This record is in the possession of Mrs. Jennie Griswold, Sherburne, N.Y. Copied by Mrs Gertrude Smith, Sherburne N.Y. Oct 1, 1949 Note: Mr Ralph Griswold's mother was descended from Caleb Arnold. END OF JAMES O. ARNOLD'S PAPER OF 1889. The following note was also in the library in Norwich written by the same James Oliver Arnold of Dayton, Ohio. In it he summarizes most of that in the earlier letter and draws some historical conclusions. CALEB ARNOLD THE PATRIOT by James Oliver Arnold Dayton, Ohio From the James N. Arnold Collection. ARNOLD HILL About a half a mile from the Western line of Rhode Island in Glocester on Arnold Hill overlooking a beautiful scene in Connecticutt a place, aside from its grandeur and beauty, is made memorable, if not sacred to loyal hearts, by five graves. They are well preserved and are located on the Old Homestead farm of Caleb Arnold, the Patriot. THE SPRING The spring at the foot of the hill is sending forth its crystal waters the same today from beneath the granite rock, as it did when it quenched the thirst of the Patriot family of Arnolds, seventeen in number, five of whom are buried on the hill above, where was hoisted the Beacon light and the "Alarum" given by three musket shots, for all of the neighborhood to assemble to protect their homes from the British foe, and to fight for Liberty and Independence during the American Revolution. THEIR GRAVES On this historic spot of ground are buried Caleb Arnold, The Patriot, and his first wife, Patience Brown: his seconf wife Anna Arnold Lt. William Arnold, Q.M. and his wife Isceah Malavery, all with unmarked graves, but they rest in peace. THE MOTHER Patience Brown through whose veins flowed the blood of Chad Brown, a co-worker with Roger Williams and Samuel Gorton of Warwick, R.I. who were emigrants to America and were heroes in Colonial days. THE FATHER Caleb Arnold The Patriot whose ancestors served in all the Colonial Wars in America and whose lineal descent were from those of the Cymory Kinds who defied the nations of the earth for Liberty, whose blood rules in the land even unto this day, and when he married Patience Brown; their eight sons and three daughters inherited a love for liberty and independence that drew unto their daughters' husbands of a kindred spirit which united seventeen members of their family to fight the battles of their country from 1775 to 1783. The traditions of their heroism lived, and it has been verified by records, documents, history and at the Bureau of Pensions, Washington. D.C., also with files of unrecorded MSS. preserved by the family. This called forth the distinction of Caleb Arnold The Patriot and his family of Patriots on Arnold Hill in Glocester, R.I. JUSTICE It was a spirit of Justice and in perfect equity in dealing with each other after their father's death in the division of the estate when they signed The Heirs Covenant and placed it upon record. That enabled the descendants after an elapse of a century to group the family and retrieve their heroism from oblivion by establishing the historic facts of the family. It was done by delving down into trunks stored in dingy garrets in Rhode Island and connecticutt, all of which has led to a larger field of research which embodies not only this family but all who bear the name of Arnold and thousands who are descended from the Arnolds, who do not bear the name and thousands of other families of Cymory blood. RESULTS The gratifying result leads to an ancestry which is now known in Cyrmague Literature which is contempory with Sacred history in well defined lines, with unmistakeable evidence, that students recognise as being authentic, of which the History of the Arnold family forms a part, and is the first to introduce in an unbroken line of sequences of historic events connected with the well known characters in history from the Creation to present time. That the students can have an index which they can easily comprehend and follow. Religion is so unfortunately handicapped by being subdivided into so many creeds, factions and lines of worship, that it will take ages for the Church at large, to unite upon one universal religion for all of the conditions existing in man. This is made more obvious when even denominatioons quarrel and factions spring up to retard its growth. In 1987, the authors of this family history, Robert and Joyce Neel, found the Caleb Arnold farm and the family grave site. The hill that James Oliver Arnold referrd to as "Arnold Hill" is now called Pine Hill. Prior to 1913 whan a new survey was made that hill was thought to be the highest point in Rhode Island. The new survey showed that Jeremoth Hill, just south of Rhode Island Route 101 to be the highest point of land in Rhode Island. The Caleb Arnold farm is off a dirt road leading west from Rhode Island Route 94 a few miles north of Route 101. In 1987, the Caleb Arnold farm was owned by Mr. Seth Kent. It has been in their family for several generations. According to Mr. Kent, the house had burned at least once and when re-built was enlarged. Floor joists on the east end of the house are original hand hewn beams. The enlargement to the west is supported by sawed lumber and covers the well which had earlier been outside. The barn appears to be original with the large hand cut beams beams held together with wooden pegs. The foundation is of field ston The Caleb Arnold family burial plot is located west of the house several hundred yards in the woods past the spring referred to by James O. Arnold. The headstones are unmarked except for one with the hand chiseled inscription "O. Arnold". This is Othniels' burial site. A low stone wall encircles the site. Just outside the wall is a stone marking the grave of Mary Arnold who died in 1839, the spinster daughter of William Arnold.
Michael
Grimes
