History of Barrington, Rhode Island, USA

Barrington, (Rhode Island) February 24.

There is now living in this town, Matthew Watson, esq. in the 105th year of his age, in pretty good health, and in the enjoyment of his faculties, except being blind. He was born in the county of Coleraine, in the province of Ulster, in the north of Ireland, in March A. D. 1696, from whence he, with his father and mother, four brothers and one sister, migrated, and arrived at Boston A. D. 1712, from whence he removed to and settled in Leicester, in the County of Worcester, (Massachusetts) where he has one brother, deacon Oliver Watson, now living. Mr. Watson came to this town A. D. 1722, where by his industry he acquired a pretty handsome fortune. He hath sustained the office of a justice of the peace in the town, and was formerly a judge of the court of common pleas for the county of Bristol. He hath been a member of the Congregational Church in this town between 70 and 80 years, without censure. He hath 10 children now living, the youngest...

Barrington, a small agricultural post township, is situated in the northern section of the county, 7 miles from Providence; bounded on the northwest and northeast by the State of Massachusetts, on the southeast by Warren, and on the southwest by the Narragansett river. The average length of the township may be about 3 miles, with a mean breadth of nearly the same, comprising an area of about 8 square miles. The surface is generally level, and the soil a light, but fertile sandy loam; well adapted to a grain culture; rye, Indian corn and barley being cultivated with success. Sea weed is used extensively as a manure, and has been of great utility in enriching the land. The agricultural interests are considerably flourishing, and the various objects of husbandry constitute the principal occupation of the inhabitants.

The town is well watered by an inlet of the Warren, & by Palmer's river, an its southwestern borders are washed by the waters of the Narragansett. There is a convenient...

Barrington, Rhode Island
Bristol county. This small town, of about 8 square miles, originally belonged to Massachusetts. It was attached to Rhode Island in 1746, and incorporated in 1771. It is bounded southerly by Narraganset bay, and is well watered by Palmer's river, and by an inlet of Warren river, over which is a bridge. The soil of the town is of a fertile, sandy loam, and quite productive. Large quantities of sea-weed are collected on its shores. A large tract of Barrington, called "the cove," now covered with water to a considerable depth, is supposed to have once been a forest, as timber and fuel are obtained from its bottom. Some salt is made in this town, and shell and other fish are abundant. Barrington lies 8 miles E.S.E. from Providence and about 7 miles N. by W. from Bristol. Population, 1830, 612.

Barrington, a post-township of Bristol county, Rhode Island, about 8 miles S. E. of Providence, intersected by Palmer's river. Population, 795.