Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/290

 230 THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON. stallation, he exchanged pulpits with his classmate Miles, of Grafton, and saw in his congregation, on a stormy Sabbath, in a neat, plain dress, a young lady, to whom he was at- tracted. He sought an introduction, courted and married her. Her name was Martha Turpin Bicknell, of Attleboro'. After his marriage his grandfather bought the Richard Greene place, and moved the house from a cellar in front of Mr. Kinnicutt's to the site of Mr. Staples's residence. This house, known as "The parsonage," is now owned and occu- pied (1898) by Mrs. Charles Miller. Mr. Watson preached two sermons in summer, and one in winter, on Sundays. He taught private pupils, and boarded some of them at his house. His habits of thought were such that he wrote rapidly, even in company. He walked across his farm and back to his study on the mornings of the days when he wrote his ser- mons. He kept a sideboard for liquors, which was the minis- terial fashion at that day, and treated himself, as well as his friends, to the best drinks the times afforded. He was held in high esteem among his people, and during his pastorate, ninety-two persons were added to the Church. The Barrmgton Library Association was formed during his ministry, largely by his encouragement and efforts, and the library was kept at his house. The most important act of the Church and society during Mr. Watson's ministry was the taking down of the old meeting-house of 1737, and build- ing a new one on the same lot, a little farther from the road and nearer the River. In 1805 the town gave to the United Congregational Society, its interest in the lot given in 1733, by Joshua Bicknell, "for the erection of a meeting-house thereon." The new house was built in 1806-7, ^^^ frame and form being mainly preserved in the present house of worship. The funds for building the new meeting-house were obtained from subscriptions of individuals, interested in the work of the church, and also from the proceeds of the Bar- rington meeting-house lottery, which was authorized by the General Assembly for that purpose, with Gen. Thomas