Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island
Arnold Family
The information on the Arnold Family comes from John O. Austin’s "Genealogical Dictionary of
Rhode Island" (1887, 1969), pp. 240 - 243; "The American Genealogist," Vol. 20, pp. 120 - 121;
NEHGS "Register," January 1915, Vol. 69, "The Parentage of William Arnold and Thomas Arnold of
Providence, R.I.," by Edson Salisbury Jones, pp. 64 - 69 .
Thomas1 Arnold
b. Abt. 1599 in Hollesley, Suffolk County, England
m1. ? in England? ? b. ? in England? d. Bef. 1636? in England?
m2. Bef. 1641 in England? Phebe Parkhurst b. ? in England? d. Aft. 1688 in Providence, R.I.
d. Sept. 1674 in Providence, Rhode Island
burial: unknown
Thomas immigrated to Watertown, Massachusetts before 1636 after his first wife died. He moved to
Providence, Rhode Island by 1661. He served on the Town Council of Providence and also as a Deputy
to the Town of Providence. He lived at the Quaker settlement that was established on the Moshassuck
River, and most of his descendants were members of the Society of Friends. Thomas' son Richard Arnold
built the first sawmill at Woonsocket Falls by 1666.
children1:
Thomas2 Arnold (1625 - Bef. 1636)
Nicholas2 Arnold (1627 - Bef. 1636)
Susanna2 Arnold (Aft. 1627 - Aft. 1659)
children2:
Ichabod2 Arnold (1641 - Bef. 1650)
Richard2 Arnold (1642 - 1710)
Thomas2 Arnold ( ? - Aft. 1693)
John2 Arnold (1648 - 1723)
***Eleazer2 Arnold
Elizabeth2 Arnold ( ? - 1747)
***Eleazer2 Arnold (Thomas1)
b. June 17, 1651 in Providence, Rhode Island
m. ? in Providence, Rhode Island? Eleanor Smith b. ? in Rhode Island? d. Abt. 1722 in Providence, R.I.
d. August 29, 1722 in Providence, R.I.
burial: unknown
Eleazer was a Quaker who served as a Deputy and on the Town Council for Providence. He was also a
Justice of the Peace in 1705. He lived in the Saylesville area of modern day Lincoln and built the
Eleazer Arnold house about 1687 which still stands in Lincoln, R.I. In 1708, Eleazer sold some of his
land to formally establish the Lower Society of Friends Meeting House in Saylesville, R.I. Eleazer's
wife Eleanor Smith was the granddaughter of original immigrant John Smith the Mason of Providence, R.I.
children:
***Phebe3 Arnold
Elizabeth3 Arnold ( Abt. 1679 - 1758)
Eleazer3 Arnold ( ? - 1712)
Joseph3 Arnold ( ? - 1746)
John3 Arnold ( ? - 1752)
Jeremiah3 Arnold ( ? - Aft. 1736)
Eleanor3 Arnold ( ? - ? )
Mary3 Arnold ( ? - Aft. 1717)
Abigail3 Arnold ( ? - 1775)
Deborah3 Arnold ( ? - ? )
The Eleazer Arnold House, a classic "Stone Ender" design built about 1687, still stands on the Great Road in Lincoln, R.I.
***Phebe3 Arnold (Eleazer2, Thomas1)
b. November 5, 1672 in Providence, R.I.?
m. Bef. 1697 in Providence, R.I. Thomas Smith b. February 19, 1671 in Providence, R.I. d. September 2, 1741 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. Aft. 1741 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: unknown (possibly at the Friends Burial Ground at Union Village, North Smithfield, R.I.)
Phebe was the wife of Thomas Smith, a Quaker who moved to the Woonsocket area with the Arnold and
Comstock Families.
children:
***Thomas4 Smith (1697 - 1777)
John4 Smith (1700 - ? )
Phebe4 Smith (1703 - ? )
Mary4 Smith (1705 - ? )
Hannah4 Smith (1707 - ? )
Daniel4 Smith (1709 - ? )
Ruth4 Smith (1712 - ? )
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