Richard Mowry
Encyclopedia
Richard Mowry, 1748–1835, was born in Providence County, Rhode Island Colony, and became an Uxbridge farmer, in Worcester County, Massachusetts
, who 'successfully built and marketed equipment to manufacture woolen, linen or cotton cloth', from around the time of the Revolution.,
during the 17th and 18th Century in Rhode Island
, Massachusetts
, and Connecticut
. His family had a deed from the native americans dating from 1666. There is a book written about Richard Mowry of Uxbridge, MA and his descendents, written by his great grandson, a prolific American historical writer, William Augustus Mowry
. The original family deed alludes to Roger Williams
, John Brown, Edward Inman and John Sayles, early prominent Rhode Islanders. Nathaniel and John Mowry appear to be the first Mowry settlers in the Providence
township around 1671.
Richard Mowry of Uxbridge is a 5th generation Mowry. He was born in Smithfield, on Feb. 11, 1748 to Attorney Joseph Mowry of Glocester, RI, which at the time bordered Uxbridge. His father died when he was aged 16, and he learned to be a carpenter at Scituate, RI. He married, Phebe Smith of Glocester who died the following year. On January 5, 1774 he married Huldah Harris, daughter of Gideon of Scituate RI. They had six children. Their first child was born at Scituate RI in 1775. From 1778 on, the children are born at Uxbridge. He lived in Uxbridge from that point on. Huldah died in 1795 at the age of 50. He married again in 1802, to Isabel, Chacc and had two other children by his third marriage. Isabel died in 1820.
at Providence. Moses Brown who founded Brown University
was an early Quaker and prominent in the anti-slavery movement in Rhode Island. In 1771 at the age of 22 or 23, Richard Mowry began to attend Friends Meetings in Rhode Island. At that time the Friends meeting from neighboring Smithfield, RI had extended into South Uxbridge, MA, just across the colonial line from Glocester and Smithfield, RI. Thus the Mowry family descended from Richard derived Quaker roots from the time of the Revolution. He formally joined the society form 8-25-78, and apparently at the Uxbridge Quaker meeting since his children are all born in that community from that time on. He lived in south Uxbridge for the next 60 years.
National Heritage Corridor, a historic corridor of national significance to the earliest industrialization of the US. There was an iron forge at Ironstone, Massachusetts
, just south of Quaker City, started by Benjamin Taft in 1734. Caleb Handy added a triphammer after the American Revolution. The Quaker’s built buildings from bricks from Moses Farnum’s farm. Bog Iron from near the Blackstone River
provided the ore for metal working. Grist mills, saw mills, and apparently the earliest textiles from Richard Mowry’s marketing and manufactures sprang up nearby. Mowry recorded extensive travels in New England and Central New York
, and visited over 88 Quaker meetings, possibly also marketing his inventions for cider or cloth. He wrote that “his soul glowed with love to the Mastor, and to impart to them some spiritual gift”
Cemetery (Uxbridge, Massachusetts).
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, who 'successfully built and marketed equipment to manufacture woolen, linen or cotton cloth', from around the time of the Revolution.,
Family
Richard Mowry’’, was born as a 5th generation desencdent into a family that was prominent in Southern New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
during the 17th and 18th Century in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. His family had a deed from the native americans dating from 1666. There is a book written about Richard Mowry of Uxbridge, MA and his descendents, written by his great grandson, a prolific American historical writer, William Augustus Mowry
William Augustus Mowry
William Augustus Mowry was an American educator and historical writer, born at Uxbridge, Massachusetts.-Family:William Augustus was an eighth-generation descendent of the Mowry family that immigrated from England to Providence in 1666. He was born to Johnathan Mowry and Hannah Mowry. His mother...
. The original family deed alludes to Roger Williams
Roger Williams
-People:* Roger Williams , Welsh soldier of fortune* Roger Williams , English theologian, co-founder of Rhode Island* Roger Williams , US actor...
, John Brown, Edward Inman and John Sayles, early prominent Rhode Islanders. Nathaniel and John Mowry appear to be the first Mowry settlers in the Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
township around 1671.
Richard Mowry of Uxbridge is a 5th generation Mowry. He was born in Smithfield, on Feb. 11, 1748 to Attorney Joseph Mowry of Glocester, RI, which at the time bordered Uxbridge. His father died when he was aged 16, and he learned to be a carpenter at Scituate, RI. He married, Phebe Smith of Glocester who died the following year. On January 5, 1774 he married Huldah Harris, daughter of Gideon of Scituate RI. They had six children. Their first child was born at Scituate RI in 1775. From 1778 on, the children are born at Uxbridge. He lived in Uxbridge from that point on. Huldah died in 1795 at the age of 50. He married again in 1802, to Isabel, Chacc and had two other children by his third marriage. Isabel died in 1820.
Quaker roots
We can see early connections of the Mowry family to John Brown and Moses BrownMoses Brown
Moses Brown was a co-founder of Brown University and a New England abolitionist and industrialist, who funded the design and construction of some of the first factory houses for spinning machines during the American industrial revolution, including Slater Mill.-Early life:Brown was the son of...
at Providence. Moses Brown who founded Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
was an early Quaker and prominent in the anti-slavery movement in Rhode Island. In 1771 at the age of 22 or 23, Richard Mowry began to attend Friends Meetings in Rhode Island. At that time the Friends meeting from neighboring Smithfield, RI had extended into South Uxbridge, MA, just across the colonial line from Glocester and Smithfield, RI. Thus the Mowry family descended from Richard derived Quaker roots from the time of the Revolution. He formally joined the society form 8-25-78, and apparently at the Uxbridge Quaker meeting since his children are all born in that community from that time on. He lived in south Uxbridge for the next 60 years.
Quaker City
The village where the Mowry’s lived came to be known as "Quaker City" and is said to be among the earliest places for industrialization in the US. It is part of the Blackstone ValleyBlackstone Valley
The Blackstone Valley or Blackstone River Valley is a region of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution...
National Heritage Corridor, a historic corridor of national significance to the earliest industrialization of the US. There was an iron forge at Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone is an historic village in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It derived its name from plentiful bog iron found here which helped Uxbridge to become a center for three iron forges in the town's earliest settlement. Ironstone today is known as South Uxbridge...
, just south of Quaker City, started by Benjamin Taft in 1734. Caleb Handy added a triphammer after the American Revolution. The Quaker’s built buildings from bricks from Moses Farnum’s farm. Bog Iron from near the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
provided the ore for metal working. Grist mills, saw mills, and apparently the earliest textiles from Richard Mowry’s marketing and manufactures sprang up nearby. Mowry recorded extensive travels in New England and Central New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and visited over 88 Quaker meetings, possibly also marketing his inventions for cider or cloth. He wrote that “his soul glowed with love to the Mastor, and to impart to them some spiritual gift”
A farmer and a carpenter
In south Uxbridge, he bought the farm of Benjamin Archer, and with his carpenter’s trade became highly proficient as a cabinet maker and working with tools. It is no doubt that with this skill set, he was able to build and market the equipment described at the outset to manufacture linens and other materials. He was also a carriage builder, and a cider press builder, being an expert with “large wooden screws”. The Southwick family, David and Elisha, both Quakers, of South Uxbridge, continued this tradition, and even made Conestoga wagon wheels in the Quaker tradition during the 19th century.Death
Richard Mowry died at age 86, on January 24, 1835, and is buried at the Friends Meeting HouseFriends Meetinghouse (Uxbridge, Massachusetts)
The ' is an historic Friends Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends located at the junction of Routes 146A and 98 in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On January 24, 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.-History:The Friends Meeting House is one of the last crude brick...
Cemetery (Uxbridge, Massachusetts).