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History of Charlestown, Rhode Island, USA
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(Quonochontaug)
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Charlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. It was in turn divided and the part north of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond in 1747.
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1819 - Charlestown
Charlestown is a post township, situated 40 miles southwest from Providence; bounded on the north by Charles river, which separates it from Richmond, on the east by South-Kingston, on the south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by Westerly.
The township is between six and seven miles square, and nearly in a square form, comprising an areas of about 43 square miles, including its waters, of which there are five considerable ponds, two salt, and three fresh water, all of which, it is estimated, contain about 7 square miles. These ponds are called Charlestown, Conaquaetogue, Posquissett, Watchaug and Cochumpaug. The first two are salt water, and the three latter fresh water ponds.
Between the two first mentioned ponds there are communications with the sea, which are occasionally closed by sand. The entrance into Conaquetogue pond is sometimes of sufficient depth to admit of vessels of from 15 to 20 tons; but that into Charlestown pond only admits of small open boats. In these... Read MORE...
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1839 - Charlestown
Charlestown, Rhode Island
Washington county. Charlestown lies on the sea, opposite to Block Island. It has five large ponds, which cover an area of 7 square miles.—Charlestown and Conaquetogue ponds are salt water, and Posquissett, Watchaug and Cochumpaug are fresh water. These waters afford a great variety of fish. Near the sea, the land is arable, but the interior of the town is more fit for the growth of wood. This town contains the graves of the remnant of the tribe of the once powerful and dreaded Narraganset Indians. They possessed a considerable tract of land in this town, but owing to a dislike to agricultural pursuits, and by intermarriages with the whites and negroes, their race as a distinct people has long since become extinct. Charles river passes through the town and gives it mill privileges. Charlestown lies about 8 miles W.S.W. from South Kingston and 40 S.W. from Providence. Population, 1830, 1,284.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. Alphabetically arranged. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839
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1854 - Charlestown
Charlestown, a post-township of Washing ton cc. Rhode Island, on the Stonington and Providence railroad, 15 miles S. W. of Newport. Population 694.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
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1859
CHARLESTOWN,, a township in Washington, co., Rhode Island, 45 m. SSW of Providence, watered by Charles river, and a branch of the Pawcatuck, Pop. 923.
A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
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1895 - Charlestown
Charlestown, a post-township of Washington co., R.I., is bounded on the S. by the Atlantic Ocean, and intersected by the Stonington & Providence Railroad. It has 5 churches. Pop. 1054, of whom about 100 are Narragansett Indians.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
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1916
Charlestown, a post-township (town) of Washington co., R.I., is bounded on the S. by the Atlantic Ocean. Pop. in 1900, 975, in part Narragansett Indians.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
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