West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission

08/30/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Soldier Profile 🇺🇸

James Allen
1750–1821
SAR # P342493

James Allen was born on October 3, 1750. He was the son of Samuel Allen and Mary. On April 8, 1779, he married Mary Sherman, the daughter of Jonathan Sherman and Mary Gardner. James and Mary had one known child, their daughter Amey Allen.

⚔️ Revolutionary War Service
During the American Revolution, James Allen served as a Sergeant in Captain James Parker’s Company in Colonel Archibald Crary’s Regiment.

Colonel Archibald Crary was an experienced Rhode Island officer who had served in the Continental Army before commanding Rhode Island State Troops. In 1776, Crary served as Lieutenant Colonel of Colonel James Mitchell Varnum’s 9th Continental Regiment and distinguished himself at the Battle of Harlem Heights on September 16, 1776. In June 1777, he became Colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island State Regiment.

Rhode Island’s State Troops were organized following the British occupation of Newport in December 1776. Unlike Rhode Island’s Continental regiments, these troops primarily served within Rhode Island, where they helped defend the state during the British occupation of Aquidneck Island. Although their service was primarily within Rhode Island, they were active military forces and participated in the campaigns to protect the state.

Surviving records held by the Rhode Island Historical Society document Captain James Parker’s Company of Colonel Archibald Crary’s Regiment during November and December 1777. The records identify the unit as part of the 2nd Regiment of Rhode Island State Troops and include the names, ranks, and pay of the soldiers serving in the company.

As a Sergeant, James Allen would have been a noncommissioned officer with responsibilities beyond those of a private soldier. Sergeants helped maintain discipline, organize the enlisted men, carry out the orders of commissioned officers, and assist in keeping their companies prepared for duty.

James Allen died on July 13, 1821, at the age of 70. Following his death, his widow, Mary, applied for a widow’s pension based upon James Allen’s Revolutionary War service, helping preserve a record of his contribution to the cause of American independence.

🇺🇸 James Allen is buried in the Allen-Tanner Lot, also known as West Greenwich Historical Cemetery WG-117.

Today, we remember Sergeant James Allen and the Rhode Island soldiers who served during one of the most dangerous periods in our state’s history, when British forces occupied Newport and Rhode Islanders were called upon to defend their homes and communities.
We remember his name. We honor his service. We preserve his history. 🇺🇸

08/24/2026

As we head into cooler weather, it is time to resume cleanup work on our historic cemeteries.

We could use all the volunteers we can get to help preserve our local history and ensure these important places are not lost to time.

Whether you can help with clearing brush, removing leaves and debris, or general cemetery maintenance, every set of helping hands makes a difference.

Please consider volunteering with the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission as we continue working to protect, preserve, and honor West Greenwich’s historic cemeteries for future generations. 🇺🇸

Help us preserve the past—one cemetery at a time!

08/22/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Patriot Profile 🇺🇸

Deacon Samuel Niles

1720–1778

DAR Patriot

Deacon Samuel Niles was born on February 8, 1720. He was the son of Nathaniel Niles and Tabitha Gardner. Around 1740, he married Martha Pitcher, daughter of Jonathan Pitcher and Phebe Hopkins.

Together, Samuel and Martha had nine known children: Jonathan, George, Phebe, Joseph, Samuel II, Deborah, Martha, Tabitha, and Almy.

Long before the American Revolution, Samuel answered the call to service during the French and Indian War. In 1757, he served in Capt. Greene’s Company, part of the colonial military forces raised during the conflict between Great Britain and France for control of North America.

Nearly two decades later, as tensions with Great Britain developed into the American Revolution, Samuel again served his community—this time in a civil capacity. In 1776, the historic year in which the colonies declared their independence, Deacon Samuel Niles served as a member of the West Greenwich Town Council. His recognized civil service during the Revolutionary period is recorded by the Daughters of the American Revolution as Patriot .

Samuel's story reminds us that the struggle for American independence depended not only upon the soldiers who served on the battlefield, but also upon the local citizens and public officials who helped govern and sustain their communities during the Revolution.

Deacon Samuel Niles died on October 3, 1778, in West Greenwich at the age of 58.
He is buried in the Niles-Nichols-Congdon Lot, also known as WG-054, located within what is now the Big River Management Area.

🇺🇸 Today, we remember and honor Deacon Samuel Niles for his service during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and for his contribution to the history of West Greenwich. 🇺🇸

08/17/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Soldier Profile 🇺🇸

Capt. Joseph Fry
1752–1833

Capt. Joseph Fry was born on March 6, 1752. He was the son of Thomas Fry IV and Penelope Rhodes. Joseph married Mary Rice, and together they had three known children: Benjamin, Samuel, and John.

Joseph had deep roots in West Greenwich. In the 1773 will of his grandfather, Thomas Fry III, Joseph was given 200 acres of land in West Greenwich, connecting the Fry family to the community in the years leading up to the American Revolution.

🇺🇸 Revolutionary War Service
During the American Revolution, Joseph Fry served in the Rhode Island Militia in Capt. Benjamin Gorton’s Company, under Colonel Archibald Kasson’s Regiment. His service placed him among the many West Greenwich men who answered Rhode Island's call to defend the state and support the struggle for American independence.

Joseph later received a pension for his Revolutionary War service. Records indicate that his final pension payment was issued in the third quarter of 1834, after his death, meaning the payment would have been made to his widow, Mary.

Capt. Joseph Fry died in 1833. He is buried in the Capt. Joseph Fry Lot, also known as WG-094, in West Greenwich.

🇺🇸 Today, we remember and honor Capt. Joseph Fry for his service during the American Revolution and his place in the history of West Greenwich.

Thank you, Capt. Joseph Fry, for your service to our young nation. 🇺🇸

08/10/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Soldier Profile 🇺🇸

James Clarke
1754–1815

DAR Patriot

James Clarke was born on January 22, 1754. He was the son of Cornelius Clarke and Patience Carter.

On May 27, 1773, James married Barbara Tillinghast (1755–1809), daughter of Pardon “Molasses” Tillinghast and Hannah Strafford. Together, James and Barbara had five known children: Silas, John, Pardon, James II, and Abigail.

Following Barbara’s death in 1809, James married a second time in 1811 to Hannah Sepson, four years before his death.

🇺🇸 Service During the American Revolution 🇺🇸
During America’s fight for independence, James Clarke served as a Sergeant in Captain Joseph Hollaway’s Company in Colonel Dyer’s Regiment. He also served in the 1st and 2nd Rhode Island Regiments.

His service placed him among the many Rhode Islanders who answered the call during the Revolutionary War and helped secure American independence.

James Clarke died on January 20, 1815, just two days before what would have been his 61st birthday.

He is buried alongside his first wife, Barbara, in the Pardon “Molasses” Tillinghast Lot, also known as WG-078, in West Greenwich.

🇺🇸 Today, we remember and honor Sergeant James Clarke for his service during the American Revolution and his contribution to the founding of our nation. His final resting place remains part of West Greenwich’s rich Revolutionary War history. 🇺🇸

08/09/2026

08/03/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Soldier Profile 🇺🇸

Gideon Ellis (1724–1793)

SAR #48518 | DAR Patriot

Gideon Ellis was born on October 17, 1724, in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. He was the son of Jeremiah Ellis and Judith Ayars.

Gideon was married three times and fathered fourteen known children.

His first marriage was to Jemima Austin in 1744, the daughter of Jeremiah Austin and Patience Fish. Together they had five children: Eleanor, Wait, Gideon II, Rufus, and Jemima.

Following Jemima's death, Gideon married Lydia Tillinghast in 1756. Lydia was the daughter of John Tillinghast and Phebe Greene and was the widow of a Reynolds. Together they had two children: Welthian and John.

His third marriage was to Elizabeth Arnold, the widow of John Manchester and the daughter of William Arnold Jr. and Anne Coggeshall. Together they had seven children: Arnold, Lydia, Ann, Oliver, John, Solomon, and Peleg.

During America's fight for independence, Gideon Ellis served as a Private in Captain Joseph Draper's Company under Colonel Archibald Kasson's Regiment of the Rhode Island Militia during the 1778 Rhode Island Campaign. He also served under the command of Major General John Sullivan during an alarm, answering the call to defend Rhode Island during one of the most critical campaigns of the Revolutionary War.

In addition to his military service, Gideon faithfully served his community as a Ratemaker on the West Greenwich Town Council during the Revolutionary period, helping oversee the assessment of local taxes needed to support the town and the war effort. His military and civic service is documented in the Rhode Island State Archives, Index to Military & Naval Records, 1774–1805, Roll #10.7, and the West Greenwich Town Meeting Records, Book 2, pages 25, 32, 33, 38, 45, and 59.

Gideon Ellis died on September 30, 1793, in West Greenwich at the age of 68. He was laid to rest in the Gideon Ellis Lot (WG-049).

🇺🇸 Today, we honor Gideon Ellis for his dedicated service to both his town and his country. Through his military service in the Rhode Island Militia and his leadership in local government during the American Revolution, he helped secure the freedoms that generations of Americans continue to enjoy. May we always remember and honor his contributions to the founding of our nation. 🇺🇸

08/02/2026

Did you know West Greenwich has 155 historic cemeteries?

Did you know that the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission has an Adopt-a-Cemetery Program to help protect and preserve these important pieces of our town's history?

Recently, members of the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission completed basic maintenance at the Levi Whitford Lot (WG-021) and the Greene Lot (WG-070).

WG-021 – Levi Whitford Lot

This cemetery is the final resting place of Levi Whitford, who was born in 1753, the son of Nicholas Whitford and Susannah Carr, and his wife, Mary (Johnson) Whitford, who was born in 1755, the daughter of Ezekiel Johnson and Elizabeth Greene.
In addition to Levi and Mary, this cemetery contains 40 other burials, including many of their children, grandchildren, brothers- and sisters-in-law, making it an important family burial ground in West Greenwich.

WG-070 – Greene Lot

This cemetery contains the graves of Randall F. Greene, born in 1810, his wife Nancy (Richmond) Greene, born in 1818, and four additional burials.

🌿 Looking to contribute or make a difference?

These two cemeteries are excellent opportunities for new volunteers interested in joining our Adopt-a-Cemetery Program. Both are conveniently located along the roadside and require only basic spring cleanup and periodic mowing throughout the summer.

By adopting a cemetery, you'll help preserve West Greenwich's history for future generations while honoring the families who helped build our community.

If you're interested in adopting one or both cemeteries, please email the West Greenwich Preservation and Heritage Commission at:

[email protected]

Or learn more about the Adopt-a-Cemetery Program by visiting:

https://sites.google.com/view/wgphc/home/wg-historical-cemeteries/adopt-a-cemetery

Together, we can ensure that West Greenwich's historic cemeteries are never lost to time.

07/26/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Profile 🇺🇸

Benjamin Tillinghast (1726–1817)

Continuing our series profiling the Revolutionary War Patriots of West Greenwich, we recognize Benjamin Tillinghast, a civic leader whose service to his town and the Patriot cause came through public office and support of the war effort. 🇺🇸

Benjamin Tillinghast was born on September 20, 1726. He was the son of John Tillinghast and Phebe Greene, the daughter of Thomas Greene and Anne Greene. On June 12, 1746, he married Sarah James, the daughter of Joseph James and Elizabeth Reynolds. Together, they had six known children: James, Welthon, Elizabeth, John, Phebe, and Sarah.

During the American Revolution, Benjamin Tillinghast served his community as a member of the West Greenwich Town Council from 1775 to 1781 and as a Justice of the Peace. In July 1780, the Rhode Island General Assembly appointed him to procure blankets for Rhode Island soldiers serving in the war, an important responsibility that helped provide essential supplies to the Continental forces. His name also appears in the Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647–1800 (page 326) under Kent County, recognizing his public service during the Revolutionary era.

Historical records also show that Benjamin Tillinghast enslaved an African American man named Cuff, who appears on the 1778 roster associated with the Rhode Island Black Regiment. In February 1778, the Rhode Island General Assembly authorized the enlistment of enslaved African American men into the Continental Army. Under the law, enslaved men who enlisted with the permission of their owners were immediately granted their freedom, and their owners received financial compensation from the state. More than 100 Black men, along with Native American and mixed-race soldiers, served in what became known as the Rhode Island Black Regiment, one of the first racially integrated military units in American history. 🇺🇸 The regiment distinguished itself in several engagements, including the Battle of Rhode Island in August 1778, where its soldiers earned praise for their courage, discipline, and determination while helping repel repeated British assaults.

While little is known today about Cuff's personal life, his name survives in the historical record because of his service to the cause of American independence. Like many Black Patriots, he risked his life in pursuit of both liberty for the nation and his own freedom. His service is an important part of West Greenwich's Revolutionary War story and deserves to be remembered alongside those of the town's other Patriots.

Benjamin Tillinghast died on July 18, 1817, at the age of 90. He is buried in the Benjamin Tillinghast Lot, also known as WG-035.

🇺🇸 Today, we honor Benjamin Tillinghast for his leadership and public service in support of the Patriot cause, and we also honor Cuff for his courage and sacrifice as a soldier of the Rhode Island Black Regiment. Though history has preserved only a small part of Cuff's story, his contribution to the fight for American independence remains a lasting part of West Greenwich's Revolutionary legacy.

🇺🇸 We honor the service and sacrifice of both Benjamin Tillinghast and Cuff, whose contributions helped shape the story of our town and our nation's fight for independence.

07/20/2026

🇺🇸 West Greenwich Revolutionary War Soldier Profile 🇺🇸

Isaac Johnson, Esq.
SAR Patriot #: 41169

Isaac Johnson, Esq. was born in West Greenwich on April 10, 1721. On May 5, 1744, he married Audry Spencer, the daughter of William Spencer and Elizabeth Rice. Together, they had three known children: Nicholas, Elizabeth, and Benjamin.

According to Vital Statistics of Rhode Island, Volume 1, page 41, Isaac Johnson was over 50 years of age at the time of the American Revolution. Despite his age, he answered the call to serve his country. He was made a Freeman of West Greenwich in 1744 and served as a Deputy for West Greenwich from 1769 to 1770.

During the Revolutionary War, Isaac served in the 12th Regiment of the Rhode Island Militia and later as a Major in the 2nd Regiment of the Rhode Island State Militia. In 1780, he also served as a recruiting officer, helping to strengthen Rhode Island's forces during the fight for American independence.

Isaac Johnson, Esq. died in West Greenwich on June 14, 1801, at the age of 80. He is buried in the Isaac Johnson Lot, also known as WG-039.

Today, we honor Major Isaac Johnson, Esq. for his dedicated service to both West Greenwich and the cause of American independence. 🇺🇸