Title
Notes on James David Knowles' Memoir of Roger WilliamsDescription
Fessenden creates an index of page numbers and dates from James Davis Knowles Memoir of Roger Williams: Founder of the State of Rhode Island published in 1834. He begins with the arrival of Williams in Nantasket in 1631 then to his banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Included are direct quotations from the source material as well as other anecdotes pertaining to the region.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenDate(s) of Creation
1846Container
File folder 1846Subjects
Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Historians--Rhode Island--19th century, Knowles, James D. (James Davis), 1798-1838, Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683Title
Letters from Guy Fessenden to George Ide ChaceDescription
Fessenden has come into possession of what he deems a “natural curiosity”. He writes about the leg bone of a bird from New Zealand. The bone is so big that doubts as to whether it really is that of a bird have been raised. He sends George Ide Chace a drawing of the bone. The bone itself measure 29 in lengthwise, 14 in around the largest end, and 6.6 1/4 in around the body. It weights 3 lbs and 9 oz. A piece is missing from the bone which is believed to have been around 7 oz.
According to Fessenden, Captain William Mayhew acquired the bone while living in New Zealand for three years. A Māori chief presented it to him. They say the bone is that of a dangerous bird that was hunted to extinction on purpose due to its ferocity. There was a report of a scientist named Dr. Williams who was living in Poverty Bay (also known as Tūranganui-a-Kiwa) who acquired enough bones to make a skeleton. Fessenden also draws of similarities between that bird and the cassowary bird in New Holland (Australia).
Attached notes: the name of the bird in the language of the natives is “Mauwee” which is the same name they call the island itself.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenDate(s) of Creation
Mar 20, 1849 - Mar 23, 1849Container
File folder 1849Subjects
Birds--New Zealand--Identification, Bones--Identification, Brown University, Chace, George Ide, 1808-1885, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Māori (New Zealand people), Mayhew, William, 1798-1854Title
Letter from George Ide Chace to Guy FessendenDescription
Chace sees no reason to doubt the bone is that of a bird. Based on the drawing Fessenden had provided in another correspondence, Chace believes it could belong to a specimen of the [feathered tribe]. This is identifiable by the femur. However, the membrane is possibly the [peritoneum] which is surrounded by a thick mass of muscles in the living animal. Chace is glad to come examine it in person. Additionally, he asks Fessenden if Capt. Mayhew could be convinced to part with it for the cabinet at Brown University. He could be compensated reasonably for it. Chace also mentions comparing the bone that of the leg of a turkey.Creator
George Ide ChaceDate(s) of Creation
Mar 23, 1849Container
File folder 1849Subjects
Birds--New Zealand--Identification, Bones--Identification, Brown University, Chace, George Ide, 1808-1885, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Māori (New Zealand people), Mayhew, William, 1798-1854Title
Circular from General Ambrose E. BurnsideDescription
Commandants of volunteer militias should call meetings on or before the 14th for the purpose of choosing delegates, etc. Generals commanding Brigades are requested to be present at the convention to discuss topics interesting to the military and to adopt a better system for drills and discipline.Creator
Ambrose Everts BurnsideDate(s) of Creation
Dec 6, 1855Container
File folder 1854-1855Subjects
Burnside, Ambrose Everts, 1824-1881, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Military correspondence, Rhode Island Division MilitiaTitle
Letter from Samuel Greene Arnold Jr. to Guy FessendenDescription
Arnold is not able to give exact locations for the houses of Capt. Almy’s or Sanford’s or Tripp’s Ferry. He presumes it was Peleg Sanford who stopped there during King Philip’s War, in which there were two ferries from Portsmouth to Pocasset. Some details of Howland’s Ferry are also discussed.Creator
Samuel Greene Arnold Jr.Date(s) of Creation
May 26, 1865Container
File folder 1865Subjects
Arnold, Samuel Greene, 1821-1880, Ferry routes--Rhode Island, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Historians--Rhode Island--19th century, King Philip's War, 1675-1676, Sanford, Peleg, 1639-1701, Tripp's FerryTitle
Research on Roger WilliamsDescription
Fessenden’s notes on the life of Roger Williams cited from works such as William Gammell’s “Life of Roger Williams, Founder of the State of Rhode Island”, and James David Knowles’ “Memoir of Roger Williams, the Founder of the State of Rhode-Island”. There are also notes taken on Isaac Backus’ History of Baptists.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenContainer
File folder Historical ResearchSubjects
Backus, Isaac, 1724-1806, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Gammell, William, 1812-1889, Historians--Rhode Island--19th century, Knowles, James D. (James Davis), 1798-1838, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rhode Island--History, Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683Title
Brief Historical Sketch of the Dorr RebellionDescription
An historical sketch starting from the Rhode Island charter in 1663 through the War of Independence. A recounting of the political tensions through the Dorr Rebellion and the involvement of the Warren Infantry and Artillery are also highlighted.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenDate(s) of Creation
circa 1842Container
File folder Rhode Island History (1635-1842)Subjects
Dorr Rebellion, 1842, Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Rhode Island--History, Rhode Island--Politics and government--19th century, Warren (R. I.)--HistoryTitle
General Histories on Several Rhode Island TownsDescription
Descriptions of important residents, conflicts such as King Philip’s War, the Revolutionary War, and historical place names from several Rhode Island towns including:
Cumberland
Barrington
Warren
Bristol
Tiverton
Little ComptonCreator
Guy Mannering FessendenDate(s) of Creation
circa 1842Container
File folder Rhode Island History (1635-1842)Subjects
Barrington (R.I.)--History, Barton, William, 1748-1831, Blackstone, William, 1595-1675, Bombardment of Bristol (R.I.), 1775, Bradford, William, 1590-1657, Bristol (R.I.)--History, Church, Benjamin, 1639-1718, Cumberland (R.I.)--History, Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Grant, Joseph, c. 1810-, Historians--Rhode Island--19th century, King Philip's War, 1675-1676, Little Compton (R.I.)--History, Massasoit, 1580-1661, Narragansett Indians, Philip, Sachem of the Wampanoags, -1676, Pierce's Fight, 1676, Pierce, Michael, 1617?-1676, Revolutionary War, 1775-1783, Richmond, William, c.1726-1807, Tiverton (R.I.)--History, Seaconnet Indians, Varnum, James M. (James Mitchell), 1748-1789, Warren (R. I.)--History, Wamsutta, 1634-1662, Wampanoag Indians--Rhode Island--History, Weetamoo, 1635-1676, West, Benjamin, 1730-1813, Winslow, Edward, 1595-1655Title
Extracts from the Warren Town RecordsDescription
Several historical record accounts starting from 1752 until March 6, 1782. Included are some Revolutionary War Era records as well as laws voted upon and fines paid by members of the town.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenContainer
File folder Warren Town RecordsSubjects
Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Records--Rhode Island--18th century, Warren (R. I.)--History, Warren, Rhode IslandTitle
Extracts from the Swanzey Town RecordsDescription
Excerpts of written records recorded from 1668 to 1741 for the town of “Swanzey” (now spelled Swansea), MA.
Records start with the naming of the town and ends with voting on the willingness to come under Rhode Island governance. Additionally, the extracts include the laws and expectations of its inhabitants. Town meeting minutes and names of inhabitants are mentioned as well.Creator
Guy Mannering FessendenContainer
File folder Swansea Town RecordsSubjects
Fessenden, Mannering Guy, 1804-1871, Records--Massachusetts--17th century, Records--Massachusetts--18th century, Swansea (Mass. : Town)--History
