NOTE E.

Of the first settlement of the Jews in this town, we are able to furnish only a brief and imperfect history. It is to be regretted that materials for transmitting to posterity the history of that ancient and honorable race of men, who once formed so large and respectable a portion of the population of Newport, have not been preserved.— There is now, in the Town Clerk's office, the copy of a deed (certified by William Coddington, Town Clerk, October 19th, 1677, Book No. 3, page 11, of land evidences) of a certain lot of land, thirty feet square, sold by Nathaniel Dickens, to Mordicai Campannall and Moses Packeckoe, for a burial-place for the Jews. This deed is dated Feb. 28th, 1677, which shows that some of the descendants of Abraham found an asylum of rest from oppression and persecution, on this Island of the sea, at an early period of the settlement. How long prior to the purchase of the burial lot, we have no means of ascertaining. The first Jews who settled in Newport, were of Dutch extract, from Curraso, and were not possessed of the wealth, intelligence, or enterprise, which so eminently distinguished those who subsequently settled in this town; which, with the smallness of their number, accounts for the lapse of time from the First Jewish settlement in Newport, to the erection of Synagogue. It is not probable, however, that during all this time, they maintained no regular form of public worship; and there is a tradition amongst the most ancient people of Newport, now living, that from their earliest settlement here, public religious worship was regularly maintained in private houses.

Between the years of 1750-60, many families of wealth and distinction came to this country from Spain and Portugal, and settled in Newport, which contributed largely to the intelligence and commercial prosperity of the town.. Many of them engaged in the mercantile profession, and Mr. Aaron Lopez owned more shipping, and was more extensively engaged in merchandise, than any other man in Newport. The present Synagogue was erected in 1762, and dedicated to the God of Abraham, with great pomp and magnificence, according to Jewish custom, December 2d, 1763.*

*The Synagogue was thronged with worshippers from its erection until the war commenced, and the scriptures were publicly read, and the God of Abraham worshipped in the Hebrew language in Newport, by more than three hundred of the dispersed house of Israel, up to that time.

About this time, 1763, and long after, flourished the distinguished families of Lopez, Rivera, Pollock, Levi, Hart, and their late respected priest, Isaac Touro. Abraham Touro, son of the priest, died in Boston, in the year 1822, leaving a fund of 10,000 dollars for the support of the Synagogue and burial place, both of which are kept in good order. He also left 5,000 dollars for the purpose of keeping the street in repair, on which they front.

The revolutionary war, so disastrous to the commercial interest and prosperity of Newport, induced the greater part of them to leave the town; and after the conclusion of the war, the remnant that was left gradually declined, until not an individual now remains. Moses Lopez, nephew of the celebrated Aaron Lopez, was the last resident Jew in Newport. A few years previous to his death, he removed to New-York. His remains were brought to Newport, and interred by the side of his brother Jacob, in the burial-place of their fathers. Moses Lopez was a man of no common abilities-an honorable merchant, deep in the mathematics, and of uncommon mechanical skill. He was pleasant and interesting in conversation, and an ingenious defender of his religious belief.

There is one incident in the history of the late and respectable Jacob R. Rivera, which ought to be recorded as highly honorable to himself, and the society of Jews to which he belonged. At one period of his life, he failed in business, in which he was extensively engaged as a merchant; but after a few years of successful enterprise, he recovered his fortune, and made a dinner party, to which he invited all his creditors, who, when they sat down at the table, each one found the exact sum of money due him, with the interest calculated to the day. The society of Jews generally, who settled in this town, have left a reputation for integrity and uprightness, which should perpetuate their memory from generation to generation.

NOTE F.

Trinity Church, in Newport, was formed near the close of the 17th century. About the year 1698, the worship of God according to the rites of the Church of England, was commenced in RhodeIsland. The name of the Rev. Mr. LoCKYER appears as the first Clergyman of the English Church, who performed divine service in Newport, though it is uncertain how long his ministry here was continued.

In 1702, a handsome Church had been built, finished without and within, containing in all forty-six pews, thirty-six below, and ten in the gallery. The same year, the Church wardens wrote to the Bishop of London, and to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, for aid "towards promoting their Church." And in 1704, the Society in England appointed the Rev. JAMES HONEYMAN, their missionary here, who discharged the duties of his mission with great diligence and success, for nearly half a century.

In 1724, the Episcopal congregation in Newport had grown too numerous to be accommodated with seats in the old Church, and it was proposed to erect a new one. The new building which was erected the following year, and has since been lengthened, is the one now occupied by the congregation of Trinity Church, and is in excellent repair. The old Church was given to the people of the town of Warwick, who had no Church of their own.

For nearly two years, from the latter part of the year 1728, the Rev. Mr. Honeyman derived much valuable assistance from the celebrated Dr. BERKLEY, afterward Bishop of Cloyne, then residing on Rhode-Island, a short distance from Newport. During his residence in this vicinity, Dean Berkley preached every Sabbath, and aided the rector in his parochial duties. After he had returned to England, in the year 1733, he presented Mr. Honeyman's congregation with a fine toned, excellent organ, which still retains its place in Trinity Church.

On the arrival of the organ," at a vestry, held at Trinity Church, in Newport, on Monday the 25th day of February, 1733, the Rev. Mr. Honeyman was desired to draw up a letter of tha ks to the Rev. Mr. Dean Berkley, for his generous present of an organ to

this Church; and likewise a letter of thanks to Mr. Henry Newman, for his care about, and shipping the same, in order to be sent to England as soon as conveniently may be." And subsequently, "at a vestry, held in Trinity Church, in Newport, on Friday the 8th day of March, 1733," it was "voted that the letter of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Dean Berkley, for his present of the organ to this Church, and likewise the letter of thanks to Mr. Henry Newman, for his care and trouble in getting the same done, and shipping thereof, drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Honeyman, is approved of and signed in this vestry, and ordered to be sent home forthwith."

The same year, in the month of August following, the thanks of the vestry were returned to Jahleel Brenton, Esq. for his " generous donation" of the clock now in the tower of this Church. In 1750, the Rev. Mr. Honeyman having departed this life, the Rev. JEREMIAH LEARNING, who had in the year 1748, been received as schoolmaster, catechist, and assistant minister, was requested to officiate as minister of Trinity Church, until the congregation could be supplied with a settled minister.

The Rev. THOMAS POLLEN arrived from England in May, 1754, having been appointed by the Society for propagating the Gospel, their missionary for Trinity Church. He was on his arrival, cordially welcomed by the congregation, who directed a letter of thanks to the Society, for sending them a minister so satisfactory to them. The pastoral relation so conspicuously commenced, was however of no long duration. For some difficulties arising between himself and his flock, he decided to leave them in Nov. 1760, little more than six years from his first arrival at Newport.

Mr. Pollen was immediately succeeded by the Rev. MARMADUKE BROWN, being unanimously elected to officiate as minister of Trinity Church. A committee was appointed to write to the Society in England, "desiring their favor in settling him as their missionary to them." On the 18th of January, 1762, it was voted that the "Church might be enlarged to the Eastward," provided that those gentlemen who were willing to undertake it, would give security to the Church, that they would make the addition without its being The Church any expense to the other members of the Church.

was accordingly enlarged, so as to admit of the erection of about thirty additional pews below, besides the corresponding ones in the galleries. The present steeple was built in 1768.

A successful application was made to the General Assembly of Rhode-Island, in 1769, for an act of incorporation; and a "set of rules and regulations for the Church," adopted, "agreeable to the charter granted by the Colony."

Mr. Brown continued his connexion with Trinity Church, until his death, which took place on the 16th of March, 1771.

After the death of Mr. Brown, the attention of Trinity Church congregation was directed to the Rev. GEORGE BISSET, who had since the year 1767, been engaged as schoolmaster and assistant minister. They voted "that the Rev. Mr. Bisset be requested to officiate as minister of the Church, "That a letter be written to the Society informing them of the death of their worthy minister, the late Rev. Mr. Brown, and soliciting the continuation of the mission," and "that the Rev. Mr. Bisset be recommended as a suitable person to succeed Mr. Brown and Mr. Honeyman." The Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, refusing to give any further salary to the minister of Trinity Church, his entire support devolved on the congregation, who on the 28th of October, 1771, unanimously chose the Rev. Mr. Bisset for their minister.

May 11th, 1772, the Rev. WILLARD WHEELER was chosen assistant minister and schoolmaster; but not giving satisfaction with regard to his school, he was allowed to discontinue his services after the 8th of April, 1776.

After a vacancy of many years, occasioned by the removal of the Rev. Mr. Bisset, who left Newport with the British troops, in the unhappy period of the revolutionary war; a meeting of the Trinity Church congregation was held, August 27th, 1786, which resulted in the settlement of the Rev. JAMES SAYRE, of Fairfield, Con., as their rector. Mr. Sayer's ministry, though of short duration in the Church, appears from the number of baptisms recorded, and other parochial notices, to have been for a time at least, very successful. But divisions arising in the congregation, it was brought to a close in a little more than two years, when the Church was again vacant, until the 28th of December, 1789.

The Rev. WILLIAM SMITH, of St. Paul's Church, in Narragansett, at that time succeeded Mr. Sayre, as rector of Trinity Church.Had Mr. Smith's prudence been equal to his talents and learning, he might, with the divine blessing, have been instrumental in healing the unhappy divisions among his people, and restoring the Church to her former prosperity. The time, however, had not