Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island: Washington's Fourth Visit to Rhode Island

Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island: Washington's Fourth Visit to Rhode Island

Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington.
Portrait of George Washington by Rhode Island painter Gilbert Stuart. This portrait hangs in the State Reception Room in the State House. (George Washington and Rhode Island by John Williams Haley (1932)).

A warm and vociferous welcome.
by John Williams Haley

This article was originally published in pamphlet form by The Providence Institute for Savings ("The Old Stone Bank"), February 22, 1932. Later that year it was collected, along with the text from pamphlets on Washington's other three visits to Rhode Island, in a booklet called George Washington and Rhode Island, presented by the State Education Service. The texts were reprinted once again as a single chapter in The Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island, Volume III (1939).

GEORGE WASHINGTON visited Rhode Island for the fourth and last time in 1790 when the smallest of the States finally ratified the Constitution. When the General became President of the young Republic which he had brought into being, he decided to make a complete tour of the entire territory comprising the United States. In the autumn of his first presidential year he started this plan by visiting New England between October 15 and November 13, 1789, omitting Rhode Island since she had not fallen in line with all the other states and come into the Union. However, when Washington received word that the last of the thirteen Colonies had joined with the others in May 1790, he acknowledged the ratification as follows: "Since the Bond of Union is now complete, and we once more consider ourselves as one family, it is much to be hoped that reproaches will cease and prejudices be done away; ...if we mean to support liberty and independence, which it has cost us much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive away the demon of party spirit and local reproach."

Upon adjournment of Congress, August 12, 1790, Washington made immediate arrangements to visit Rhode Island and he left New York City for that destination on Sunday, August 15, going first to Newport by boat. He was accompanied by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, George Clinton, Governor of New York, Theodore Foster, Senator from Rhode Island, Judge Blair of the United States Court, William Smith, Member of Congress from South Carolina, Mr. Gilman, Member of Congress from New Hampshire, and three gentlemen of his official family. This was the only sea voyage ever recorded by Washington except the trip to the Barbados in the fall of 1751, when he accompanied his ill brother Lawrence who sought to regain his health in a warmer climate.

Map of Washington's 1790 route
The red arrows show the route taken by George Washington on his trip from New York City, to Newport, to Providence, and back in 1790. (Map modified from George Washington and Rhode Island by John Williams Haley (1932)).

Washington was received with great enthusiasm by the people of Newport where he remained for a day and a night. A huge throng greeted him at the wharf; he received many official salutes, and a long procession marched through the streets in his honor. He took a walk about the town and the day ended with a dinner at the State House which was filled to overflowing with the enthusiastic and admiring populace. On the next day, August 18, the President departed for Providence after he had participated in a program of exercises which included addresses by prominent citizens and by the honored guest himself.

The trip from Newport to Providence must have been a tedious one since the passage required seven hours, but the well-planned reception which awaited him at the head of the bay very likely banished all irritation caused by the lengthy boat ride and the late arrival. Two days previous, the town had made preparations to give Washington an official reception. The leading citizens of the community held a public meeting "to consider of the most proper measures to show the veneration the Town hath of his Character and the Sentiments of Gratitude the Inhabitants entertain for his rescuing America from the Prospect of Slavery and establishing her liberty upon the broad basis of Justice and Equity under a Constitution the Admiration and envy of the civilized World."

Market House, circa 1860s
Market House was built in 1773 as a dry goods market. Since then it's been used as a barracks for French soldiers during the Revolution, government offices, and a Masonic lodge. Today it's owned by the Rhode Island School of Design and is used by the Department of Film/Animation and the Division of Fine Arts. An art gallery is housed on the first floor. (Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island Volume IV by John Williams Haley (1944)).

Among other things at this meeting it was voted to have all the windows in the Market House mended to help improve appearances of the business section, and Henry Ward, Dr. Enos Hitchcock, Welcome Arnold, David Howell and Benjamin Bourne were elected on a special committee to prepare an address to be presented to the President. Another committee was appointed to arrange the details of the official reception and all the inhabitants were requested to clean sidewalks and streets adjoining their dwellings and have everything spic and span before noon of the day when Washington was expected to arrive. At a second meeting on the following day the wording of the address prepared by the special committee was approved, and Daniel Stillwell was ordered "to cause the State House to be handsomely illuminated on Occasion of the Arrival of the President of the United States.

From the contemporary accounts and private records of these eventful days in the history of Providence it is possible to arrange the various events of the reception program in their proper order. The packet bearing the President and his official party arrived in Providence about four o'clock in the afternoon and as the ship approached the wharf cannon salutes were fired from Federal Hill, and an impressive procession was formed to escort him to his place of lodging. The shouts of the crowds, the ringing of the bells and the boom of the guns carried everyone to a high pitch of enthusiasm as Governor Arthur Fenner stepped aboard the packet and welcomed the President to Providence. Then the procession, with various individuals and organizations lined up according to a previous arrangement, moved through the streets to Mr. Daggett's Tavern on Benefit Street (At present the "Mansion House" and formerly the "Golden Ball Inn"). Washington, with Governor Fenner on his right and Senator Foster on his left, followed the troops, music, and state and city officials, and behind marched Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Judge Blair, and other distinguished figures present on the occasion. The program printed for this feature of the celebration is a most interesting document and an original copy is now in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Mansion House, circa 1932
Mr. Daggett's Tavern, aka Mansion House or the Golden Ball Inn, is now a parking lot. (George Washington and Rhode Island by John Williams Haley (1932)).

When the President arrived at the door of the tavern he reviewed the entire procession and saluted each unit as it passed. He enjoyed a typical family dinner and prepared for bed quite early. As he was about to depart for his night's rest he was informed that the students on the Hill had prepared a special illumination of the building now known as University Hall, and that they would be highly honored if he would visit the College and view the spectacle. Although it was raining slightly, and contrary to his usual custom of remaining indoors at night, he climbed the hill in company with a few friends and there beheld the college building completely illuminated with candle lights in every window.

University Hall, Brown University, circa 1932
University Hall, the original building of Brown University, then known as Rhode Island College. (George Washington and Rhode Island by John Williams Haley (1932)).

The following morning, Thursday, was cold and rainy. However, the weather cleared later and Washington took a walk about the town accompanied by several of his official hosts. This walk lasted until early afternoon and included a climb to the top of University Hall and a tour of a local shipyard where a large ship was on the stocks. Stops for refreshments were made at the John Brown residence (still standing on Power Street), at Governor Fenner's home, and at Deputy Governor Jabez Bowen's. After a brief rest at the tavern he received the addresses of the Society of the Cincinnati, Rhode Island College (now Brown University), and the Town of Providence. Then he went to the Town Hall where a dinner had been prepared in his honor, and to this affair several hundred persons had been invited. An immense throng surrounded the hall on the outside, and when a toast was proposed to "The President of the United States" the whole company within and without cheered loudly and indulged in a spirited demonstration of enthusiasm. Washington then rose and drank the health of the company present, and later gave the toast, "The Town of Providence."

John Brown House, circa 1932
John Brown House on Power Street is now run as a museum by the Rhode Island Historical Society. (George Washington and Rhode Island by John Williams Haley (1932)).

Other toasts followed, brief speeches were delivered, compliments exchanged and the President quickly departed for the wharf where the same packet awaited him for the return journey to New York City. No doubt a great crowd went to the wharf to bid farewell to the one who had honored the town with his presence. That was the last time Rhode Islanders were to look upon Washington within the boundaries of the State, but the welcome which he received in 1790 was sufficiently warm and vociferous to impress upon him for all times that the smallest state in the Union respected his valor, chivalry, ability to lead, his sound judgment, and his inspiring character.

In addition to the four visits which George Washington made to Rhode Island, the correspondence addressed by him to the Governors of the state and to other prominent figures, offers an interesting study of the close relationship between the local citizenry and the first President. Of all letters written by Washington to Rhode Island probably the most eloquent is the one addressed to His Excellency Governor William Greene and dated June 18, 1783, at his Newburgh headquarters when he relinquished command of the American forces. The opening and closing paragraphs of this precious document clearly indicate a high respect for his loyal compatriots who served him well in the name of state and country:

Sir:

The great object for which I had the honor to hold an appointment in the service of my country being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it into the hands of Congress, and to return to that domestic retirement, which it is well known I left with the greatest reluctance;—a retirement for which I have never ceased to sigh through a long and painful absence, and in which (remote from the noise and trouble of the world) I meditate to pass the remainder of life in a state of undisturbed repose;—but before I carry this resolution into effect, I think it a duty encumbent [sic] on me to make this my last official communication; to congratulate you on the glorious events which Heaven has been pleased to produce in our favor, to offer my sentiments respecting some important subjects, which appear to me, to be intimately connected with the tranquility of the United States, to take my leave of your Excellency as a public character, and to give my final blessing to that country in whose service I have spent the prime of my life, for whose sake I have consumed so many anxious days and watchful nights, and whose happiness being extremely dear to me, will always constitute no inconsiderable part of my own...

I have thus freely disclosed what I wish to make known, before I surrendered up my public trust to those whose [sic] committed it to me;—the task is now accomplished:—I now bid adieu to your Excellency as chief magistrate of your state,—at the same time I bid a last farewell to the cares of office and all the employments of public life.

It remains then to be my final and only request, that your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to your Legislature at their next meeting, and that they may be considered as the legacy of one, who has ardently wished on all occasions, to be useful to his country, and who, even in the shade of retirement, will not fail to implore the Divine benediction upon it.

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the state over which you preside, in his holy protection,—that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field,—and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which are the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

I have the honor to be with much esteem and respect,

Your Excellency's Most Obedient and Most Humble Servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Return to Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island index.

John Williams Haley (1897-1963), former vice president of the Narragansett Brewing Company, was best known for his weekly radio program, "The Rhode Island Historian," which ran from 1927 to about 1953 on WJAR. Several hundred of his radio scripts were published in pamphlet form by the Providence Institute for Savings ("The Old Stone Bank"), and many were later reprinted in the four-volume Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island.

Editor's Notes
Haley was unaware at the time of this writing that Washington had undertaken at least one other sea voyage in addition to this one and the one to Barbados in 1751. According to Washington's Travel's in New England by Charles Eugene Claghorn III, based on Washington's diaries, writings, and expense accounts, Washington took a packet from New London, Connecticut, to Newport, and then on to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1756.

Dr. Enos Hitchcock (c.1744-1803) was a Rhode Island minister who served as a chaplain during the Revolutionary War. He is buried in Swan Point Cemetery.

Welcome Arnold (c.1745-1798) was a Providence merchant who may have helped plan the raid on the Gaspee in 1772. In fact, he purchased the tavern where the raid was planned from Ephraim Bowen in 1785. Arnold is buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence.

About Captain Daniel Stillwell (c.1747-1805) we don't know much. One source we saw says he was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Stillwell is buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence.

The Old State House in Providence is now the home of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. Built in 1761, it was replaced by the current Rhode Island State House in 1900.

Arthur Fenner (1745-1805) took office as governor of Rhode Island in the same year in which George Washington dropped in for a visit. An 1803 map of Providence shows his house located approximately at the northeast corner of the intersection of College and North Main Streets. Fenner died in office and is buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence.

Deputy Governor Jabez Bowen's home stood where the Providence-Washington Building is now at 20 Washington Place in Providence. Bowen (1739-1815) is buried in Swan Point Cemetery.

Mr. Daggett's Tavern, aka Mansion House and the Golden Ball Inn, formerly stood at about 157 Benefit Street. There's only a parking lot there now.

Former site of Mansion House, 2019
The former site of Mansion House. (Google Street View, July 2019).

The location of the "Town Hall" where Washington had dinner on Thursday, August 19 is unclear. There are at least two possibilities: A church built in 1723 by the Benevolent Congregational Society, was sold to Providence for use as a Town House in 1795. The other possibility is Market House. The City Council, Mayor's Office, and Board of Aldermen officially moved to the second floor of the building in 1832, the year Providence became a city. Both possibilities could have been used on a casual basis for town offices prior to the dates listed.

Towne House, circa 1860
The old Towne House, circa 1860. (Photo of painting by George W. Harris from Old Providence, published by the Merchants National Bank of Providence (1918)).

Haley hints, but doesn't make clear, that the letter from which the above text is quoted was actually sent to the governors of each of the thirteen states between June 8 and June 21, 1783. Rhode Island's was the second-to-last letter written.

Return to Old Stone Bank History of Rhode Island index.

Last Edited
2022-08-17