Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/289

 REV. SAMUEL ^YATSOX. 229 SACRED TO THE MEMORY of the REV. SOLOMON TOWNSEND, Who died Dec. 25, 1796, aged 80 years ; ALSO REBECCA HIS WIFE, Who died July 2^, 1773, aged 55 years. Mr. Townsend was born in Boston, Oct., A. D. 1716; was graduated at Harvard College, A. D. 1735; was ordained pastor of the church and congregation in Barrington A. D. 1743, and continued faithful in his charge 53 years, when death put a period to his labors and his re- mains were consigned to this tomb. Beneath this sculptured stone and mouldering heap. The reverend teacher rests in quiet sleep ; From youth's first dawn he trod the sacred stage, To the dim twilight of declining age; He taught the soul in virtue's path to stray, Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way. In 1798 Rev. Samuel Watson succeeded to the pulpit made vacant by the death of Townsend. Mr. Watson was a native of Barrington, being the son of Matthew Watson, Jr., and the grandson of Matthew, Sr., of whom we shall, in an- other place, have occasion to speak. He graduated at Brov/n University in 1794, studied theology, was installed in 1798, and was ordained over the Congregational Church in Barring- ton the same year. He was a talented and able preacher, and the people were very harmonious and united during his ministry. At his ordination, he lived with his father on the estate and in the house now owned and occupied by his Watson descendants. He received as a settlement $210, and his annual salary was from ^200 to ^250. After his in-