“Spell Hall” was the homestead of Nathanael Greene, a Rhode Island native and Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Due to his bookish intelligence and straightforward leadership, Greene quickly rose in the ranks of the nascent American Army and by war’s end, was George Washington’s most trusted general and the hero of the American South. Thankfully, Greene’s former home in Coventry, Rhode Island was thoughtfully restored, turned into a museum, and can be visited today. Come see why Nathanael Greene’s Spell Hall is considered the “Mount Vernon of Rhode Island.”
History
Nathanael Greene was born on July 27, 1742 at the Greene family home in Warwick, Rhode Island. He was raised in the Quaker faith and learned the family trade at their forge at Potowomut, where iron was hammered and shaped into useful tools, ironware, and of course, ship anchors. The Greene family’s operation expanded throughout the area, to include a forge along the Pawtuxet River known as Coventry Iron Works. When he came of age, his father selected young Nathanael to be the resident manager at the Coventry Iron Works. This necessitated Nathanael to live on site and direct the operations of the very busy forge, which employed most of the residents in the area and produced ship anchors and chain that were transported to the important trading center of Newport. Thus, Nathanael designed and built a house in 1770 at the Coventry Iron Works- this has come to be known as the Nathanael Greene Homestead.
The Nathanael Greene Homestead is a 2 1/2 story Georgian-style colonial, with four rooms on the first floor (separated by a central hall), four rooms on the second floor, and six rooms in the attic (for a total of 14 rooms). An even number of windows in each room on the first two floors allowed for a flood of light during daylight hours and passage ways between rooms facilitated the flow of fresh air- both crucial for comfortable living in the 18th century. Nathanael lived in this house during the early 1770s as he managed the Coventry Iron Works.
During those years, Nathanael sought to provide some form of education to the children of the men who worked at the forge. Despite education being generally looked down upon in the Quaker faith (beyond an in-depth knowledge of the bible), Nathanael’s father reluctantly allowed him to study Latin and mathematics in his early years. This exposure, along with his love for reading, provided Nathanael with a deep sense of appreciation for education. Accordingly, some of the worker’s children were tutored in Nathanael’s home, which appropriately became known as “Spell Hall.”
Spell Hall came to life in the summer of 1774 when Nathanael brought home his young wife, Miss Catherine “Caty” Littlefield. Caty, who was originally from Block Island, was the niece of Governor William Greene’s wife and had moved in with the couple in her younger years. The two were wed on July 10, 1774 after what was seemingly a brief courtship. Unfortunately, the two would only enjoy nine months together in the home.
After the fighting at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, alarm riders spread throughout the countryside to alert neighboring towns and colonies. The night of April 19th was likely one of excitement and anxiety for Nathanael Greene, after a messenger arrived at his home with the news. Nathanael immediately rode for East Greenwich to muster with the Kentish Guards, the local militia that he helped organize and of which he was a private (his friend, James Varnum, was in command). A few weeks later, the Rhode Island Legislature commissioned Nathanael Greene as a Brigadier General and head of the state troops- the American Revolutionary War had begun and Nathanael was thrust to its center. Although he may have briefly visited his home over the next few years (as inferred in a few letters by him), Nathanael would never again live there with his wife. Caty remained at the homestead during the war (along with Nathanael’s brother Jacob Greene and his family), but also spent a great deal of time in the field with Nathanael and the Continental Army.
After the war, Jacob Greene (Nathanael’s older brother) purchased the Homestead. A destitute Nathanael moved Caty and their children to Newport, Rhode Island in the fall of 1783 (they moved onto a former Loyalist plantation in Savannah, Georgia in 1785). Remarkably, the Homestead remained in the Greene family through many generations, ending with the death of Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth (Greene) Warner (granddaughter of Jacob Greene) in 1899.
Although the Homestead generally fell into disrepair over the next few years, it was thankfully salvaged by local citizens who realized the historical importance of the building. On June 24, 1919, the General Nathanael Greene Homestead Association was established. Then on June 30th, the Homestead was purchased, thanks in large part to the efforts of Herbert Clarke, president of the Kent County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The Nathanael Greene Homestead was dedicated on June 14, 1924, with much fanfare and celebration. Thanks to the efforts of proud and ingenious Rhode Islanders, the Homestead has been preserved and open for visitors to admire for nearly 100 years.
Interesting Facts
- The original house built by Nathanael Greene had a “widow’s walk” built on the roof, which could have been used to better see signals from the family forge at Potowomut; however, that no longer exists
- Nathanael Greene amassed a library of well over 250 books at his home in Coventry. Some of these undoubtedly came from his trips to Boston, where he visited the book store of Henry Knox
- Although Nathanael Greene walked away from his Quaker faith, it did seem to manifest itself in the design of his home- there are no mantels above the fireplaces in the house, likely because they were seen as too ostentatious or simply unnecessary
- It is said that Caty Greene did not like living at the Homestead. This may have been due to the noise and commotion caused by the nearby forge and/or Jacob Greene’s family, who lived there while Nathanael was away serving in the Continental Army
Our Visit & Recommendations
The Nathanael Greene Homestead (aka Spell Hall) is located at 50 Taft St, Coventry, RI 02816. Regular house tours are available from April 1st to October 31st; however, the Homestead often hosts special events and organizations, to include reenactors and other events that are fun for the entire family (for updates and more information, please visit their website). I recommend calling ahead to book a tour time and when you arrive, head to the adjacent building that houses the gift shop to meet up with your tour guide and browse the fantastic selection of items for sale.
Our experience touring the Homestead was wonderful- the staff are incredibly welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. On the day we went, Cher and I were luckily the only two on our tour, which made for a fun and personal experience! The tour began outside in front of the house with a concise, yet detailed history of Nathanael’s upbringing and the Greene family’s operations of mills and forges in the area.
Once inside the home, the tour consists of eight rooms- four on the first floor and four on the second floor. The Homestead is well furnished with period furniture and items that likely would have been in the home when the Greene family lived there. Of course, a few of the items were originally owned by Nathanael Greene or the Greene family in general, which were pointed out by our guide (that was great, since I always ask that question!). On the first floor, there is the kitchen, dining room, a study/library, and a formal parlor. There are a lot of unique items on display, to include clever tools that made everyday life in the 18th-century just a bit easier; therefore, be sure to ask any questions that you might have as you explore each room!
My favorite room on the first floor is the northeast room, which was used by Nathanael Greene as a library and study. Nathanael was very studious and loved to read- one can imagine the many hours he spent in this room feverishly reading military texts, classic works, and dashing off personal and professional letters. The most incredible piece in this room is the desk and chair, which were originally owned and used by Nathanael Greene himself! This room also has a painting of an older Catherine “Caty” Greene on display as well as a dress that is similar to what she would have worn (note the intricate pattern of the dress, which would have been shipped from England during that time).
The tour continues on the second floor, where there are four rooms, three of which are furnished as bedrooms, similar to how it was when the Greene’s lived there. One room is laid out as Nathanael Greene’s bedroom, complete with a uniform laid out on the bed. This room was likely used by Nathanael and Caty when they lived in the house and possibly by Jacob Greene once he purchased the property in 1783.
The two other bedrooms on the second floor are similarly furnished to reflect the Greene family who lived in the house throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. While there are a few items in these two bedrooms that were owned by the Greene family, it is mostly furnished with period-correct items (very meticulously and well decorated, might I add).
The tour ends in the fourth room on the second floor, which is set up as a museum to Nathanael Greene. This room displays multiple portraits of Nathanael Greene (which I thought really showed how he aged over the years), a diorama of the Battle of Rhode Island (fought on nearby Aquidneck Island), a display dedicated to the submarine USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636), and even a painting and description of General George Sears Greene, a cousin of Nathanael’s and Union general during the American Civil War. Take your time to truly appreciate all of these wonderful artifacts and displays.
Before leaving, be sure to walk the grounds and take in the historic home from different angles (its the best way to truly appreciate the craftsmanship of the house). Additionally, there is a Greene family cemetery located down towards the Pawtuxet River that you are welcome to visit. While General Nathanael Greene and his wife Caty are not buried in this cemetery (they are both buried in Savannah, Georgia where they died), Nathanael’s older brother Jacob is buried there along with his wife and many other members of the Greene family. Additionally, there are four unmarked field stones, which could be Revolutionary War soldiers that were taken to the Homestead to recover from smallpox.
Book recommendation: Nathanael Greene, by: Gerald M. Carbone