1. "Newport connections"
Posted by Gramma on Mar-12th-04 at 8:43 PM

All the talk about Newport and look what I stumbled on!
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article65.html
The History of Battery H - First Regiment RI Light Artillery
in the war to Preserve the Union 1861 - 1865
by Earl Fenner
Providence: Snow & Farnham, Printers, 1894
p. 144.

"GEORGE W. FREEBORN. George W. Freeborn, son of Samuel and Eliza P. Freeborn, was born in Newport, R.I., on the 18th day of May, 1845.  He received his education in the public schools of his native city.  He enlisted as a recruit for Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Feb. 25, 1865, and reported to the battery at Fort Tracy, in front of Petersburg, Va., March 1, 1865. In the battle before Petersburg, April 2, 1865, he proved to be a man of courage and thoroughly reliable in every emergency.  He was mustered out of service with the battery June 28, 1865.  He returned to Newport, R.I., and in 1867 married Martha A. Goslin, the daughter of John and Jane Goslin.  They have five children.

Comrade Freeborn is now residing in Fall River, Mass., and is foreman of the packing house of David M. Anthony.  He is a member of Richard Borden Post, of Fall River, and is also a member of the Veteran Firemen's Association, and the Firemen's Relief Association.  He is connected with the American Order of Druids, and a member of Battery H, First Rhode Island Light Artillery Veteran Association."

Also the place called "Green Animals" in Portsmouth on the list of things to do in the Newport area belonged to Thomas Brayton.
http://www.newportmansions.org/page3549.cfm?t=1&oldreturnto=page3596.cfm&oldreturntoname=Education%20and%20Research&criteria=Green%20Animals&pagest=11&pageend=20&maxresults=26&cleancriteria=Green%20Animals


"Connoisseur's Newport ->Green Animals March 12, 2004

This small country estate in Portsmouth was purchased in 1872 by Thomas E. Brayton (1844-1939), Treasurer of the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in Fall River, Massachusetts. It consisted of seven acres of land, a white clapboard summer residence, farm outbuildings, a pasture and a vegetable garden. Alice Brayton, his daughter, made the estate her permanent residence in 1940.

Gardener Joseph Carreiro, superintendent of the property from 1905 to 1945, and his son-in-law, George Mendonca, superintendent until 1985, were responsible for creating the topiaries. Miss Brayton gave the estate its name because of the profusion of "green animals." There are 80 pieces of topiary throughout the gardens, including 21 animals and birds in addition to geometric figures and ornamental designs, sculpted from California privet, yew, and English boxwood.

Green Animals is the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States. Upon her death in 1972, at the age of 94, Miss Brayton left Green Animals to The Preservation Society of Newport County. Today, Green Animals remains as a rare example of a self-sufficient estate combining formal topiaries, vegetable and herb gardens, orchards and a Victorian house overlooking Narragansett Bay."

One of the Anthony's owned a farm in Portsmouth and it was there the picture of Nellie Miller and my grandmother was taken. Henry Cook also worked on the Anthony Farm at one time.

Gramma

Thanks.  That's all very interesting.
I wonder why the Brayton put his money into an estate in another state?

What is an American Druid?

There's Carrerio too.

The Bordens came from that area, too. It was the summer place to be, not Swansea! Swansea allowed an escape close to home while still being able to attend to business. Newport was the "vacation" spot to get away for a while and also show off your money. Portsmouth was farms.
I have been to Green Animals and it is worth the visit if you are doing Newport especially if you have kids.

This site is a wealth of pictures ca 1900-1910.
http://janeconstant.tripod.com/history/phtcdcty.htm
Here is reference to one of the Newport mansions being built of Fall River Granite. The picture is not here for viewing but I bet it is obtainable!
http://janeconstant.tripod.com/history/phtcdgrn.htm
100. Chateau sur Mer , Newport R.I.  mansion constructed of Fall River granite.

A wonderful site set up by:
Jane Constant, Reference Librarian
Keeley Library, B.M.C.Durfee High School of Fall River
September, 1978  to  June, 2001

Gramma

Hi Kat,

"What is an American Druid?"
A VERY interesting organization!
Perhaps it wasn't Lizzie that was the witch?

orgs.carleton.edu/druids/ARDA/ARDA-08.pdf

Gramma