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Note: In 1987, the Rhode Island Historical 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 February 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 patient work, and relying solely 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, which 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 December, 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 Nehemiah - 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 County 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 County, 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 County, 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 pre-sentiment 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 County, 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) visited 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 they have done to establish 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 their husband's heartd 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 Conn. 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 June 20, 1726, Mercy Stafford, born Sept 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 june 17, 1651 in Watertown, Mass., and died Aug 29, 1732, on his farm in Smithfield, R.I. He married Eleanor Smith, daughter of John and Elizabeth Smith, 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.
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