Fiske, John Thomas

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• Reference Number: 34638

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John Thomas FISKE, a retired manufacturer of Pascoag, was born in the town of Scituate, R.I., January 30th, 1819. Benjamin Fiske was his great-great-grandfather. He came to Scituate (then Providence) in 1727, and bought a large tract of land, the homestead of which is now owned by John T. Fiske, and has been in the name since its settlement. At the time of the settlement of this tract of land, John Fiske, the son of Benjamin, was a lad but 13 years of age. He married Elizabeth Williams, a great-granddaughter of Roger Williams, and their son, Caleb Fiske, became an educated physician and a man of considerable prominence. He died October 4th, 1834, aged 81 years, 8 months and 10 days. He married Mary Manchester June 24th, 1776, ten days before the declaration of independence. She was a daughter of Captain Thomas Manchester of Providence, a seafaring man, who was lost on his last voyage, the ill-fated vessel never having been heard from. She died in 1817 in the 64th year of her age. Doctor Fiske was a surgeon in the revolution under General Sullivan's command. Among Doctor Fiske's private papers is a receipt from Sam Stone of $2,000 for a five year old sorrel horse purchased August 15th, 1780, showing the great value of the horses or the small value of the currency of that day, which was probably about $60 in silver. In 1818 Doctor Fiske became a member of the RI Medical Society, was for a few years its president, and at his death he bequeathed the society 40 shares of the Union Bank stok in Providence, worth $2,000, which sum was to be devoted to scientific purposes. Doctor Fiske and his son, Philip Manchester Fiske, established the cotton manufacturing business at Fiskeville, R.I., and carried it on extensively for many years. These mills are now owned by B.B. & R. Knight. The Fiskes also built up the village and mills at Jackson, which were subsequently sold to Governor Jackson, after whom the place was named.

October 7th, 1817, Philip Manchester Fiske married Eliza Andrews Taylor, daughter of William Taylor, of Providence, a merchant, of the firm Grinnell & Taylor of that city. Thier children were: John Thomas, Philip Manchester, Elizabeth Taylor, Mary Manchester and Abby Williams, all living. Philip Manchester Fiske was born March 2d, 1782, and died January 31st, 1828, when hardly 46 years of age, and when John T. Fiske was but nine years of age. With five children to educate, the widowed mother decided upon moving to Providence, where the schools were noted for their efficiency and thoroughness, and accordingly in 1835 took up her abode in that city, where she died April 17th, 1876, 79 years of age. She was born September 3d, 1797.


John T. Fiske, the subject of this sketch, received a very good education in the public schools of Providence, and was thoroughly trained for the many difficult and responsible positions of life he has been called upon to assume. His business career was begun in the employ of George W. Gladding, a leading dry goods merchant of Providence. This was in 1836. About two years later he accompanied some of his acquaintances to Mobile, Ala., and for the next two years he was engaged as a cotton broker. Upon the completion of the Norwich and Worcester railroad, he was induced to embark in the cotton and grain business with a Mr. Davis at Norwich, Conn. Considerable money was lost by this venture because of some bad debts contracted, and in a year or so afterward, the business here was wound up. He then went to Harrisville, in the town of Burrillville, R.I., and began the manufacture of cotton goods in the mill owned by Andrew Harris & Co., Mr. Fiske buying the stock. He operated about 30 looms, and employed about 60 hands. A year or so after that he located in a mill on grounds now occupied by John T. Fiske, Jr., and commenced business there. In due time he purchased the Peter Place property adjoining, and run both mills till 1875.

Mr. Fiske has also been prominently connected in many ways with other interests of the towns of Burrillville and Glocester. He was director of the Pascoag National Bank from Augush 29th, 1865, to January 13th, 1885, and president from January 9th, 1883, to January 13th, 1885. He was the prime mover in the organization of the Chepachet Cemetery Association in 1850, his name appearing frist on the petition to the general assembly for that assocation . He has been treasurer of this association from its organization, and one of its trustees for many years. His first vote was cast in 1840 for Benjamin Harrison, the hero of Tippeconoe, and his last for his grandson, the present incumbent.

April 3d, 1843, Mr. Fiske was married to Miss Abby Eddy, daughter of Honorable Amasa Eddy, of Glocester. She died October 28th, 1860. Seven children were born to this union, two of whom died in infancy: Eliza Taylor, the wife of Charles Edward Paine, a broker in Providence, and one of the license commissioners of that city, was born January 13th, 1844; John T. Fiske, Jr., owner of the Sheffield Worsted Mills, Pascoag, was born May 21st, 1847, and is married to Kate E., daughter of Smith R. Arnold, of Burrillville; Frank Fiske was born September 30th, 1850; Fannie was born September 16th, 1852, died March3d, 1880, and Mary Owen, now the wife of Doctor Sayer Hasbrouck, of Providence, was born July 16th, 1854.

Mr. Fiske retired from active business in 1875, and in connection with other affairs has devoted more or less of his time since to the management of the farm at Chepachet belonging to his sister-in-law, Miss Mary B. Eddy, with whom his children have made their home since their mother's death

John married Eddy, Abigail Ann on 4 Apr 1843 in Glocester, RI. Abigail (daughter of Eddy, Amasa and Owen, Mary) was born on 16 Nov 1821 in Chepachet, RI; died on 28 Oct 1860 in USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Fiske, Eliza Taylor was born on 14 Jan 1844 in USA; died in in USA.
2. Fiske, Caleb was born on 13 Apr 1846 in USA; died on 15 Apr 1846 in USA.
3. Fiske, John Thomas was born on 21 May 1847.
4. Fiske, Mary Elizabeth was born on 21 Dec 1848 in USA; died on 14 Aug 1850 in USA.
5. Fiske, Frank was born on 30 Sep 1850 in USA; died in in USA.
6. Fiske, Fannie was born on 16 Sep 1852 in USA; died in in USA.
7. Fiske, Mary Owen was born on 16 Jul 1854 in USA; died in in USA.