Peter Mawney
Encyclopedia
Peter Mawney was a member of one of the few French Huguenot
families that remained in Rhode Island, following violent clashes with the English citizens of East Greenwich, Rhode Island over disputed land. Mawney spent 24 years in the military service of the colony, serving in both the East Greenwich and Providence militias, and retiring as a Colonel
in the Providence County 2nd Regiment. He also served for many years as Justice of the Peace for the town of East Greenwich.
Mawney was married twice, both times to daughters of Pardon Tillinghast, Jr., and had eight children. His son, John Mawney, was Sheriff of Providence for several years, and his grandson, John Mawney, Jr., was a surgeon and one of the raiders that attacked and burned the British revenue ship Gaspee
during the leadup to the American Revolutionary War
.
, Peter Mawney was a son of one of the original Huguenot
settlers of Frenchtown, located along the southern boundary of East Greenwich. His father signed the initial agreement for the incorporation of the settlement in 1686, and his name appears on the plat map, but only the surname of LeMoine is given in both cases. By family tradition, his father's given name was Moses, a name which appears in later generations within the family. The name LeMoine was anglicized to "Money," and then to Mawney, which was the spelling maintained by later generations.
The original French immigrants had settled around a spring and planted an orchard there, and following violent clashes with the English citizens of the area, and the subsequent departure of most of the French, the Mawneys were one of only two families that remained on their original land, the Targe' (Tourgee) family being the other. The Mawney property included the spring and French orchard.
Mawney spent 24 years in the military service of the colony, and began his service in 1722 as an Ensign
in the East Greenwich branch of the colonial militia. By 1728 he held the rank of Lieutenant
and in 1730 became a Captain
, which rank he last held in 1735. In May 1735 he resigned as Captain of the East Greenwich company, becoming a Major
in the Providence County militia. By 1738 he was Lieutenant Colonel
of the Second Regiment of the Providence County Militia, but the following year he was made Colonel
of the same regiment, and maintained this rank until retiring from service in 1746, at the age of 57.
In addition to his military service, Mawney served as a Justice of the Peace for East Greenwich from 1733 to 1747. He kept his ample East Greenwich property until his death, and was called "of East Greenwich" as late as 1752 in the marriage record of his daughter Mary, but may have moved to Providence in the last year or two of his life, where his will is recorded. He died in Providence on 9 September 1754, and was buried in the North Burial Ground
, near where his son John was buried only a few months earlier. His first wife is buried in a Tillinghast family cemetery near Mawney's East Greenwich property. Following his death, his widow married James Brown of Norwich, Connecticut
, but upon her death, she was buried by her former husband in the North Burial Ground.
who had come from Seven Cliffs, in Sussex
, England. Mary died as a young woman, after which Mawney married her sister, Mercy. Mawney had five children with his first wife, and three more with his second wife. His oldest daughter, Mercy, married first Captain George Thomas, and second Joseph Olney, a great grandson of early Providence settler Thomas Olney
. His oldest son, John Mawney, was the Sheriff of Providence for several years before his early death; he married Amey Gibbs, a daugher of Robert and Amey (Whipple) Gibbs, and a granddaughter of Colonel Joseph Whipple
and niece of Deputy Governor Joseph Whipple, Jr.
. Mawney's daughter Mercy married Thomas Fry, a grandson of colonial Rhode Island Deputy Governor Thomas Frye
, and a great grandson of Warwick founders Samuel Gorton
and John Greene
. His daughter Mary married Brigadier General
James Angell, a great grandson of early Providence settler Thomas Angell
, and also a great grandson of Rhode Island colonial President Gregory Dexter
.
Mawney's grandson, John Mawney, Jr., was a surgeon, a Colonel in the Providence Militia, and a member of the party that raided and burned the English revenue ship Gaspee
during the lead up to the American Revolutionary War
. After the commander of the vessel, Lieutenant Dudingston, was shot, Mawney removed the bullet from him. John Mawney, Jr., and three other Gaspee veterans were honored by the State of Rhode Island 50 years after the burning of the vessel.
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
families that remained in Rhode Island, following violent clashes with the English citizens of East Greenwich, Rhode Island over disputed land. Mawney spent 24 years in the military service of the colony, serving in both the East Greenwich and Providence militias, and retiring as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Providence County 2nd Regiment. He also served for many years as Justice of the Peace for the town of East Greenwich.
Mawney was married twice, both times to daughters of Pardon Tillinghast, Jr., and had eight children. His son, John Mawney, was Sheriff of Providence for several years, and his grandson, John Mawney, Jr., was a surgeon and one of the raiders that attacked and burned the British revenue ship Gaspee
Gaspée Affair
The Gaspée Affair was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. The HMS Gaspée, a British customs schooner that had been enforcing unpopular trade regulations, ran aground in shallow water on June 9, 1772, near what is now known as Gaspee Point in the city of Warwick, Rhode...
during the leadup to the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Life
Born in 1689 in East Greenwich, Rhode IslandColony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original English Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of North America that, after the American Revolution, became the modern U.S...
, Peter Mawney was a son of one of the original Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
settlers of Frenchtown, located along the southern boundary of East Greenwich. His father signed the initial agreement for the incorporation of the settlement in 1686, and his name appears on the plat map, but only the surname of LeMoine is given in both cases. By family tradition, his father's given name was Moses, a name which appears in later generations within the family. The name LeMoine was anglicized to "Money," and then to Mawney, which was the spelling maintained by later generations.
The original French immigrants had settled around a spring and planted an orchard there, and following violent clashes with the English citizens of the area, and the subsequent departure of most of the French, the Mawneys were one of only two families that remained on their original land, the Targe' (Tourgee) family being the other. The Mawney property included the spring and French orchard.
Mawney spent 24 years in the military service of the colony, and began his service in 1722 as an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the East Greenwich branch of the colonial militia. By 1728 he held the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and in 1730 became a Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
, which rank he last held in 1735. In May 1735 he resigned as Captain of the East Greenwich company, becoming a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Providence County militia. By 1738 he was Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the Second Regiment of the Providence County Militia, but the following year he was made Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the same regiment, and maintained this rank until retiring from service in 1746, at the age of 57.
In addition to his military service, Mawney served as a Justice of the Peace for East Greenwich from 1733 to 1747. He kept his ample East Greenwich property until his death, and was called "of East Greenwich" as late as 1752 in the marriage record of his daughter Mary, but may have moved to Providence in the last year or two of his life, where his will is recorded. He died in Providence on 9 September 1754, and was buried in the North Burial Ground
North Burial Ground
The North Burial Ground is a cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island, dating to 1700. Providence had no public burial ground and no Common until the year 1700 because Rhode Island's religious and government institutions were so rigorously kept distinct, dating back to its founding by Roger...
, near where his son John was buried only a few months earlier. His first wife is buried in a Tillinghast family cemetery near Mawney's East Greenwich property. Following his death, his widow married James Brown of Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, but upon her death, she was buried by her former husband in the North Burial Ground.
Family
Mawney married twice, the first time to Mary Tillinghast, the daughter of Pardon Tillinghast, Jr., and granddaughter of Rev. Pardon TillinghastPardon Tillinghast
Pardon Tillinghast was an early pastor of the First Baptist Church in America and a public official in Providence, Rhode Island.-Biography:...
who had come from Seven Cliffs, in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England. Mary died as a young woman, after which Mawney married her sister, Mercy. Mawney had five children with his first wife, and three more with his second wife. His oldest daughter, Mercy, married first Captain George Thomas, and second Joseph Olney, a great grandson of early Providence settler Thomas Olney
Thomas Olney
Thomas Olney was an early minister at the First Baptist Church in America and a co-founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.-Immigration to New England:...
. His oldest son, John Mawney, was the Sheriff of Providence for several years before his early death; he married Amey Gibbs, a daugher of Robert and Amey (Whipple) Gibbs, and a granddaughter of Colonel Joseph Whipple
Joseph Whipple
Joseph Whipple was a wealthy merchant in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and active in the civil affairs of the colony during the first half of the 18th century...
and niece of Deputy Governor Joseph Whipple, Jr.
Joseph Whipple, Jr.
Joseph Whipple, Jr. was a wealthy merchant in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and a Deputy Governor of the colony....
. Mawney's daughter Mercy married Thomas Fry, a grandson of colonial Rhode Island Deputy Governor Thomas Frye
Thomas Frye
The Anglo-Irish painter Thomas Frye The Anglo-Irish painter Thomas Frye The Anglo-Irish painter Thomas Frye (c. 1710 – 3 April 1762 best known for his portraits in oil and pastel, including some miniatures and his early mezzotint engravings, was also the patentee of the Bow porcelain factory,...
, and a great grandson of Warwick founders Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton , was an early settler and civic leader of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and President of the towns of Providence and Warwick for one term...
and John Greene
John Greene (settler)
John Greene was an early settler of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and a co-founder of the town of Warwick in the colony...
. His daughter Mary married Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
James Angell, a great grandson of early Providence settler Thomas Angell
Thomas Angell
Thomas Angell was one of the five men who accompanied Roger Williams in founding the settlement of Providence in what would become the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Though he was a minor at the time of his arrival, his name appears on several of the early documents related to...
, and also a great grandson of Rhode Island colonial President Gregory Dexter
Gregory Dexter
Gregory Dexter was a printer, Baptist minister, and early President of the combined towns of Providence and Warwick in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He was in New England as early as 1638 when he had a five-acre lot assigned to him in Providence...
.
Mawney's grandson, John Mawney, Jr., was a surgeon, a Colonel in the Providence Militia, and a member of the party that raided and burned the English revenue ship Gaspee
Gaspée Affair
The Gaspée Affair was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. The HMS Gaspée, a British customs schooner that had been enforcing unpopular trade regulations, ran aground in shallow water on June 9, 1772, near what is now known as Gaspee Point in the city of Warwick, Rhode...
during the lead up to the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. After the commander of the vessel, Lieutenant Dudingston, was shot, Mawney removed the bullet from him. John Mawney, Jr., and three other Gaspee veterans were honored by the State of Rhode Island 50 years after the burning of the vessel.
See also
- List of early settlers of Rhode Island
- Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsColony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsThe Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original English Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of North America that, after the American Revolution, became the modern U.S...
External links
- Rhode Island History from the State of Rhode Island General Assembly website. See Chapter 2, Colonial Era.