Died
at age 62
in Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified
This page has been accessed 27 times.
Biography
Fact: Occupation (1826) Tobacconist Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Residence (1840) Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Occupation (9 October 1848) Trader Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Residence (1850) 30 Broad Street Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Occupation (1850) Tobacconist Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Residence (1850) Providence, ward 4, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Residence (August 1859) Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Occupation (1860) Farmer Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Residence (1860) Census Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: Burial Grace Church, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch On 23 May 1814, Samuel's mother went to the Newport City Council with a request. She told the Council that the overseers of the poor in Newport had bound out her son Samuel to John Ferguson and Sons, tobacconists. She said that subsequent to the binding of Samuel to the firm the two Ferguson sons had left the state and that in her opinion the father John Ferguson was not capable of teaching her son the trade. The Council had John Ferguson appear and give account. Mr. Ferguson admitted he knew nothing about the business and told the Council they would need to talk to his wife for further information. They accordingly asked the wife to appear and questioned her. After this, the Council voted and resolved that Samuel be discharged from the apprenticeship.
He may be the Samuel Billings who was baptized as an adult in the First Congregational Church in Newport on 3 November 1816.
On 29 September 1837, Samuel and Mary mortgaged much of their property for $4,000 to secure what we would now probably call a debt consolidation loan. It looks like this didn't help much because five years later in December 1842 Samuel petitioned "to be declared a bankrupt." It appears he lost all of the property he then owned and had to start again. By 1848 he was buying property again and mortgaging it. When he died, his personal property was not of sufficient value to liquidate his debts so, his land was sold. His widow purchased the land, apparently with her own money.
When he died, one of the things he owned was an "astral lamp." These are tabletop oil lamps so designed that the oil reservoir does not shade any part of the table from the light generated above them by the lamp.
The cemetery in which he is buried is now (2020) known as the Elmwood Foundation Cemetery. There is a monument there that memorializes him, his wife and five children.