Hanton City, Rhode Island facts for kids
Hanton City, also known as the Lost City, is a fascinating old place in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It's like a "ghost town" because no one lives there anymore. This site dates back to the colonial era, a time when America was still a group of colonies ruled by England.
Today, if you visit Hanton City, you'll find the remains of old stone foundations and walls. There's also a burial site and an old dam that might have been used to water crops. The entire area is now covered in plants, making it quite hard to find!
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Why Was Hanton City Built?
When Hanton City was active, it was very far away from the main town of Smithfield. This makes people wonder why it was built in such an isolated spot. Historians have come up with a few ideas.
The Loyalist Theory
One idea is that the people who started Hanton City were Loyalists. These were colonists who stayed loyal to the King of England during the American Revolution. Maybe they were forced to live far away by the Patriots, who supported American independence. Or perhaps they chose to live together with other Loyalists. We know that some Loyalists from Newport were sent to live in Smithfield in 1776.
The Founding Families Theory
The most likely theory comes from local historian Jim Ignasher. He believes Hanton City was first settled by three English families: the Paines, Hantons, and Shippees. They might have received the land as payment for their service in King Philip’s War. This war was a big conflict between Native Americans and English colonists that happened from 1675 to 1676. The last person from the Hanton family to live there passed away around 1900.
The Alfred Smith Cemetery
There is also a small burial ground called the Alfred Smith Cemetery located in the Hanton City area. This cemetery is another clue to the history of the people who once lived in this mysterious lost settlement.
