The Rhode Island Society of Sons of the American Revolution (RISSAR) will partner with Daughters of the American Revolution, the Woonsocket Historical Society and the North Smithfield Heritage Association on Saturday, June 17 at 10:00 am at the Smithfield Friends Meeting Cemetery at 108 Smithfield Road, Woonsocket, RI  (across from Union Cemetery) to mark the graves of our Revolutionary War veterans' graves.  Members of the groups as well as supporting organizations will honor Flag day with a brief ceremony and by placing SAR flag holders and flags at the graves of the war veterans.

 

Walter Allen                                       

Walter Allen was a prominent housewright who built at least five of the historic houses on Great Road in Union Village.  He was also a prominent businessman who owned a local store that in 1805 became the Smithfield Union Bank.  He eventually succeeded Peleg Arnold as the bank president, a position he held for 30 years.

   

Joel Bradford

Joel Bradford was a Mayflower descendant and 6th generation descendant of Governor Willam Bradford.  From 1776 through 1779 he served 16 months as a private in the infantry and artillery.  He also served 5 months as a Quartermaster in the Navy.

 

James Brayton

James Brayton was born in Newport in 1740 to a slave woman who was sold to Preserved Brayton of Rehoboth.  His wife, a Quaker preacher, eventually convinced him to free his slaves.  They were given the surname Brayton.  Shortly after James Brayton married, he came to Smithfield and purchased land from George Comstock.  He built his house paying for the land as a day laborer.  In 1778, he served as a private in the militia as well as in the Warren Town Guard               

 

James Earle

James Earle joined the Continental Army.  In 1779 he was a Sergeant Major in the Continental Regiment during the Campaign of 1782.  According to one source, he was also a shipmaster and during the War, a vessel under his command was taken by a British ship.

 

Chad Smith

Chad Smith's gravestone is missing although his wife's stone is present.  When he was in his teens, he served in Capt. William Barton's Company and Col. George Peck's Regiment, the Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers.

 

 

The groups will offer a coffee and pastry collation after the ceremony. 

 

Organizers encourage the public to attend.  Ample parking is available across the street in the Union Cemetery.

 

Contact Irene Blais at 401-595-3062 for further information.