Richard Mowry facts for kids

Richard Mowry (born February 11, 1748 – died January 24, 1835) was an American farmer and inventor. He lived in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Richard Mowry was known for building and selling machines. These machines helped make cloth from wool, linen, and cotton. He did this around the time of the American Revolution.

Richard Mowry's Family History

Richard Mowry was born into a well-known family. His family had lived in southern New England for many generations. This area includes Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Richard was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on February 11, 1748. His father, Joseph Mowry, was an attorney from Glocester, Rhode Island. Glocester was very close to Uxbridge. Richard's father passed away when Richard was 16 years old. After that, he learned the trade of a carpenter in Scituate, Rhode Island.

Marriages and Children

Richard Mowry married Phebe Smith, but she died the next year. On January 5, 1774, he married Huldah Harris. They had six children together. Their first child was born in Scituate in 1775.

From 1778 onwards, all their children were born in Uxbridge. Richard Mowry lived in Uxbridge for the rest of his life. Huldah passed away in 1795 when she was 50 years old. Richard married again in 1802 to Isabel Chacc. They had two more children. Isabel died in 1820.

Quaker Beliefs and Community

The Mowry family had early connections to important Quakers like Moses Brown. Moses Brown helped start Brown University. He was also a leader in the movement to end slavery in Rhode Island.

In 1771, when Richard Mowry was about 22 or 23, he started going to Friends Meetings. These meetings were held by Quakers. The Quaker meeting from Smithfield, Rhode Island, also included people from South Uxbridge, Massachusetts. This area was just across the border from Glocester and Smithfield.

Richard Mowry formally joined the Quaker society on August 25, 1778. He was likely attending the Uxbridge Quaker meeting by then. All his children born after this time were born in Uxbridge. He lived in South Uxbridge for the next 60 years.

Quaker City: An Early Industrial Hub

The village where the Mowrys lived became known as "Quaker City." It is thought to be one of the first places in the United States to have factories and industries. This area is part of the historic Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor. This corridor is very important to the history of industry in the U.S.

There was an iron forge in Ironstone, Massachusetts, south of Quaker City. Benjamin Taft started it in 1734. After the American Revolution, Caleb Handy added a triphammer. Quakers built many buildings using bricks made from Moses Farnum's farm. Iron ore from near the Blackstone River was used for metalworking.

Grist mills (for grinding grain) and sawmills (for cutting wood) also appeared. Richard Mowry's machines for making textiles were among the earliest industries there. Richard Mowry traveled a lot in New England and Central New York. He visited over 88 Quaker meetings. He may have also sold his inventions for making cider or cloth during these trips. Richard Mowry was also a Quaker preacher. This role was the main reason for his many travels. His preaching helped shape the early Quaker City community.

A Skilled Farmer and Carpenter

In South Uxbridge, Richard Mowry bought Benjamin Archer's farm. Because he was a carpenter, he was very good at making furniture and using tools. These skills helped him build and sell the textile equipment mentioned earlier.

He was also skilled at building carriages and cider presses. He was known for being an expert with "large wooden screws." The Southwick family, David and Elisha, who were also Quakers, continued this tradition. They even made wheels for Conestoga wagons in the 1800s.

Death

Richard Mowry passed away at the age of 86. He died on January 24, 1835. He is buried at the Friends Meeting House Cemetery in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.