North Gate Toll House and the Arnold’s Lonsdale Bakery will be open on Great Road Day, September 19, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This year, the Blackstone Valley Historical Society will present an exhibit created by Jim Hendrickson, a BVHS member who frequently photographs our events. This exhibit honors twenty-three Revolutionary War veterans whose graves are located in Lincoln cemeteries. It has been planned as part of the RI 250 celebrations. Allison Horrocks, Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park Ranger, researched their military service and put together some genealogical information and other information she discovered about their lives.
Most of these cemeteries are located near historic Great Road. Three are on Great Road, three are located on or near Old River Road, one is on Dexter Rock Road, and three are near Louisquisset Pike, one near the R.I. Community College, one in Lincoln Woods, and the third near BVHS. The final cemetery with a Revolutionary War grave is on Jenckes Hill Road by Lime Acres Park. Here is a list of the veterans.
- Samuel Clark (1744-1818), private in Captain D. Sprague’s Co., Col Tillinghast’s Regiment.
- Samuel Hill (1741-1833), 1775 captain of 1st. Co. Smithfield Militia.
- Stephen Whipple (1727-1795), served on the committee of Safety and as Deputy from Smithfield, and in Col Stephen Kimball’s regiment in 1781.
- Simon Whipple (1760-1829), Maj. 2nd Regiment, Providence Co. Militia
- Elisha Mowry (1735-1792), Lieut. Col 2nd Regiment Providence Co. Militia
- John Jenckes (1735-1807), Capt. Hezekiah Smith’s Co., Col. John Mathewson’s Regiment in Expedition to Newport.
- Henry Jenckes (1733-1803), Smithfield Town Council
- John Jenckes (1759-1799), 3rd Division of the 1st Company of Smithfield Militia
- Nathaniel Spaulding (1751-1838), private in 1776 (minuteman) and served under Colonel George Peck
- Aholiab Spaulding (1743-1791), private, Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers
- Simeon Wilkinson (1756-1816), Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers
- John Wilkinson, (1757-1826), Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers
- Joseph Wilkinson (1759-1812), Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers (Simeon, John and Joseph were brothers)
- Benjamin Smith (1744-1812), the stepson of Governor Stephen Hopkins; and the father of Stephen Hopkins Smith, the builder of Hearthside. He was a member of the Society of Friends and supplied wood for the troops.
- Luke Arnold, Esq. (1738-1817), hauled wood for troops.
- Israel Arnold (1754-1840), Sergeant in Captain Day’s company, Col. Jabez Bowen
- Asa Arnold (1748-1833)
- Jonathan Arnold (1706c-1796), private in Capt. Amos Olney’s company, and also served in Colonel Mathewson’ s regiment. Arnold was part of the expedition to Newport from August 6-27,1778.
- Samuel Arnold (1736-1813), 1776-1778 in Capt. Thomas Rice’s Company and Col. John Waterman’s Regiment.
- Thomas Arnold, Esq. (1752c-1826)
- Elisha Olney, (1755-1835), Capt. John Angel’s Company, No. Providence Rangers
- Simon Aldrich (1743-1834), Capt. George Peck’s Company
- Christopher Wilbur (1759-1812), private in Capt. Stephen Whipple’s Company of Smithfield in 1777 and also part of Spencer’s Expedition, a failed attempt to reclaim Newport.
Other historic properties that will be open on that day include Hearthside, Pullen’s Corner Schoolhouse, Moffett Mill, the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop, Eleazer Arnold House, the Saylesville Friends Meetinghouse, and Mt. Moriah Lodge. Create your own tour and visit all these historic properties along Great Road.