NameEunice BABCOCK
Birth13 Jan 1712/13, North Kingstown, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Deathbef 1750
FatherGeorge BABCOCK (1673-1756)
MotherElizabeth HALL (1671-1762)
Spouses
Birthabt 1690, South Kingstown, Kings Co., Rhode Island
Deathabt 1760, Westerly, Kings Co., RI
ReligionSeventh-day Baptist
Marriage10 May 1737, South Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island
Notes for Eunice BABCOCK
The will of her father, dated Nov. 13, 1750, provides "that the children of his daughter Eunice Greenman shall be paid one hundred pounds apiece as they become of age." This suggests that Eunice had died prior to this date.
Notes for Silas (Spouse 1)
Peter Greenman has the following information on Silas in his"The Greenman Family in America:" He belonged to the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Westerly (later Hopkinton Church). He was a member in full communion in 1718, a Deacon in 1750, and church clerk in 1752. Records say "... He was a faithful member and officer of the church, a man of more than ordinary intelligence and influence and was highly esteemed." In 1759, due to health, he declined further duties.He was a Deputy from Kingston in 1716, and perhaps in 1718. In that year, and perhaps the year before, 1717, he was Justice of the Peace from Kingston. At a General Court of Trials and General Gaol Delivery, held at Newport 26 November 1718, he pleaded guilty to the charge of counterfeiting and was sentencedby the court to stand in the
pillory and have his ears cropt, or pay a fine of 300 pounds, post a bond of 400 pounds for double damages, pay cost of prosecution, condemnation, etc. He paid the fine. The Court removed him from his office of Justice of the Peace. (There is additional information on these circumstances contained in an article on early counterfeiting by Richard LeBaron Bowen, which states, in part: "Silas Greenman, Esq., Justice of Peace, of Kingstown, Colony of Rhode Island, a previous deputy to the General Assembly, was indicted at Newport "for uttering of Counterfeit Bills of Credit of the Governments of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Colony of Rhode Island, &c., and Colony of Connecticut at Newport in the year 1715 to the value of about eight or ten pounds, and for counterfeiting the bills of credit of the said Governments at Kingstown in the year 1715." On 26 Nov. 1718 "the court suspended him from his office of Justice of the Peace and sentenced him to stand in the pillory on the first day of January next and have his two ears cropt or pay a fine ifœ300/00 and give a bond of œ400/00 with good sureties to pay double damages and to pay cost of prosecution, condemnation, etc., and remain safely secured in His Majesties Gaol in Newportuntil sentence be performed." He paid the fine and put up the bond. [General Court of Trials, Newport County,1671-1724, Book I, p. 287.] In 1743 Greenman's rights were restored, and in 1746 he was back in the General Assembly as a deputy from Westerly.
In the Greenman counterfeiting trial at Newport, Rhode Island, 14 Oct. 1718, Joseph Mumford testified that in 1713 Silas Greenman of Kingstown, Rhode Island, showed him either a 3s or a 3s 6d counterfeit Massachusetts bill that he had made in the house of his father, Capt. Greenman, at Kingstown, "in the chamber where he weaved & that he shut the dore & that he drew it with his pen." Greenman told Mumford that "he would not put one [of these bills] away for Ten Thousand Worlds." Silas Greenman was convicted, however, in 1718, five years later, for copper plate counterfeiting. [General Court of Trials, NewportCounty, 1671-1724, File Paper No. 6].
The difficulty of the authorities in getting full cooperation of the public in the conviction of counterfeiters is further shown by the affair that happened at Little Rest [some years later] when on the night of 3 Oct. 1770 the townsmen in disguise broke open his Majesty's jail in Kings County, Rhode Island, liberated the prisoners and provided them with horses for their escape. Most of the escaped prisoners were counterfeiters, one of whom, Samuel Casey, the noted silversmith, was under a sentence of death.
A rather remarkable character certificate, signed by members of the Legislature and other prominent men, dated 5 May 1720, was given to Silas about the time he left Rhode Island to take up his residence in the Colony of Connecticut. (Petitions to the Rhode Island General Assembly, 1725-1729, vol. I, p. 72.) A second equally remarkable character certificate, dated 19 February 1727/8, was given to Silas. This document was also signed by members of the legislature and other prominent men.
(Petitions to the Rhode Island General Assembly, 1725-1729, vol.I, p. 50.)
On 24 February 1729/30 Oliver Babcock of Westerly, yeoman, andhis wife Susannah, for 110 pounds deeded 17< acres of land inWesterly to Silas, who was described as a merchant of Stonington, Conn. (Westerly Deeds, vol. V, p. 190.)
On 8 June 1730 Elisha Palmer of Westerly, for 150 pounds deeded 30 acres of land in Westerly to Silas, who was described as a trader of Stonington. (Westerly Deeds, vol. V, p. 190.) On 10 May 1731 Silas, described as a trader of Stonington, sold land to Elisha Palmer of Westerly. (Westerly Deeds, vol. V, p.250.) On 9 June 1735 Silas, described as a yeoman of Stonington, for 125 pounds sold 17< acres of land to JosephChamplin of Westerly, blacksmith. (Westerly Deeds, vol. VI, p.293.) On 1 May 1739 Silas and his wife Eunice, of Stonington,for 550 pounds deeded to John Whiting, of Stonington, ¬ acre of land "adjoining to Stonington Harbor at a place called Buriell point in Wampchassett Neck Bounded Beginning at a Rock standing about seven feet North or Northwest of ye House I built & lately Dwelt in there...." (Stonington Deeds, vol. V, p. 126.)
Silas was Town Councillor of Westerly 1741, 1742, 1743 and 1744; Town Moderator in 1743; Town Clerk in 1751 and 1752. He was first called Captain in 1737.
At a session of the General Assembly held at Providence the last Wednesday in October 1742, Messrs Joshua Champlin and Silas Greenman were appointed a committee to repair the Rhode Islandhalf of Pawcatuck bridge (at Westerly) at the charge of the Colony as soon as conveniently may be. (Rhode Island Colonial Records, vol. V, p. 51.) It is interesting to note that Silaswas carrying out these official activities in spite of having been deprived of his former rights and privileges as a freeman of the colony of Rhode Island, in other words, lost his citizenship. It was not until the last of October 1743 that the General Assembly passed an act restoring him to his former citizenship in Rhode Island -although he had already been holding public office for three years.
He was chosen Deputy from Westerly in 1746 and 1749. On 22 April 1749 it was "voted that Capt. Silas Greenman, First Deputy, shall carry the Proxy to the General Assembly."
On 2 November 1747 Silas, described as a yeoman, for 52/10pounds deeded 8_ acres of land in Westerly to John Stanton of Richmond. (Westerly Deeds, vol. VII, p. 37.) On 11 April 1766 the heirs of Capt. Edward Greenman gave widow Eunice Greenman, executrix, a receipt for legacies, both real and personal, under the will of "our honored father" signing as follows: Garthret Edwards, Andrew Champlin, Eunice Champlin, Oliver Helme, Katherine Helme, Abigail Greenman, Anne Greenman, Robert Helme and Elizabeth Helme. (Westerly Probate Records,
vol. VI, p. 116.) On 14 December 1767 Eunice Greenman, of Westerly, widow of Capt. Silas Greenman, deceased, deeded to Benjamin Crandal, of Westerly, yeoman, 38 acres of land in Westerly, 1/6th of the real estate directed by her deceased husband to be sold among the legatees. (Westerly Deeds, vol. X, p. 195.)
Silas, a yeoman of Westerly, made his will 21 June 1759. It was proved 24 September 1760. He bequeathed his wife Eunice 400 pounds, a negro woman called "Dinah," and 1/3 of personal estate not otherwise disposed of; to daughter Garthret Edwards, 250pounds, the black chest that was her mother's, the large glass that stands in the west room, the high iron candlesticks, "with what she owed me by book;" to daughter Eunice Champlin, 250 pounds and the "Silver Porrenger & Gold necklace that was my Wife Annes;" to daughter Katherine Greenman, 250 pounds, one feather bed and furniture and the mulatto woman called "Reamy;"to daughter Abigail Greenman, 250 pounds, a feather bed and negro boy called "Jack;" to daughter Anne Greenman, 250 pounds,a feather bed and black girl called "Phillis;" to daughter Elizabeth Greenman, 250 pounds, a feather bed and furniture, and the black girl called "Bash" when Elizabeth is 18; two thirds of personal estate to the four youngest daughters, Katherine, Abigail, Anne and Elizabeth, to be divided equally.
Wife to have profit of real estate until sold. To brother Edward Greenman, "if he survives me, my Grey cloth Coat, my best Hat, my Boots and my Silver Headed Cane." Wife Eunice sole executor. Witnesses: Samuel Babcock, Jr., Silas Babcock andWilliam Satterly. (Westerly Probate Records, Book V, No. 3, p.615.)
An inventory of Silas' estate was taken 24 September 1760. Personal property 10,288/00/01 pounds, plus 174/07 pounds. 3500 pounds was for seven slaves. (Westerly Probate Records, vol. V,p. 582.)
Last Modified 15 Feb 2003Created 17 Jan 2012 using Reunion for Macintosh