SEVENTH GENERATION 1 8 7

Watson farm adjoining it. This farm once belonged to his great—uncle, Wil— liam Rodman, who in the last century had built the house already mentioned as the one in which Samuel Rodman was born. The small mills on the Rocky Brook estate Mr. Rodman soon replaced by substantial stone buildings, taking all the stone that he used from his own meadows, which were Well named “Rocky.” His success as a manufacturer was uninterrupted until the war of 1862, and he became one of the richest mill—owners in the State, owning, in ad— dition to the Rocky Brook property, mills in Wakefield and in Newport. Mr. Rodman represented his town several times in the General Assembly. In 1854, when a nomination was equivalent to an eleftion, he was asked to take the nomination for lieutenant—governor, but he declined it. He was never defeated, with the exception of once, in any election for which he stood as candidate. In 1841 he entered enthusiastically upon the total abstinence reform, and its meas— ure of success in his own and the neighboring villages was largely attributable to his zeal. For over forty years Samuel Rodman was a member of the Baptist Church, and an honor to his communion. He contributed largely toward the building of the new Baptist house of worship in Wakefield in 1852, and was one of its chief benefactors. He aided, by liberal contributions, in' the building of no less than twenty—six other churches; nor did he confine his benevolence to his own denom— matron. His charaéter was of great natural energy, yet there were no hardlines in it. He had a certain gentleness of manner, combined with deCision, which made him greatly beloved and trusted by all who came in contact with him, especially by his employees, who, during his last illness, came to the house in numbers, begging to be allowed the privilege of watching through the nights with him. No “ strike” was ever thought of in his mills. The relations between them were those of mu— tual confidence. He perceived that the truest method of elevating'the laborer was to makehim independent, and to this end, by the sale oflands to them at nom- inal prices, he encouraged his laborers to become landowners. A friend writing to his widow after his death, said, “ Mr. Rodman was the most generous man I ever knew, and I have reason to know how generous, He con— ferred a favor in such a way that the recipient might well question whether he had received or conferred the obligation." Samuel Rodman married Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Oatley) Peck- ham, who was a descendant of Deputy—Governor George Hazard. She was the mother of all his children. The influence of her character and teaching was seen clearly in her eldest son, General Isaac Peace Rodman. To her husband she was truly a helpmeet, not only in forming the character of the older children, who came especially under her influence, but as a wise and faithful counsellor in all his business relations. He took no important step without her advice. She was born September 25, 1803, and died February 16, 1853 ; married July 15, 1821. He married, second, February I 5, I 854, Mary Anstis, daughter of Wilkins Up— dike, Esq’., of South Kingstown, also a descendant of the Hazard family. CHILDREN