The town of Barrington is picturesquely located in eastern Rhode Island. It has a fine outlook on Narragansett bay and also borders on the Warren[43] river. It was incorporated by Massachusetts in 1718. In 1746‒’47 the territory came under the jurisdiction of Rhode Island, and Barrington was merged with Warren. In 1770 Warren was divided and Barrington again incorporated, this time by Rhode Island. There are several historic sites in the town, many pleasant drives and a number of interesting caves, woods and districts. The present population is between 1600 and 1700. One of the earliest Irish settlers in Barrington[44] was Matthew Watson. He located there[45] over 175 years ago and reminiscences of his life and times are still current among the people. Matthew was born in Ireland in 1696. His people are believed to have been Presbyterians, an element that has given many sturdy patriots to the cause of Irish nationality.[46] The family left Ireland for America about 1712. They landed in Boston. What induced them to leave the old country can only be conjectured. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that it was due to causes that compelled thousands of other Irish Presbyterians to emigrate. These causes were the result of English oppression. The Irish Presbyterians were treated with great harshness[47] by various successive governments in England. At one time edicts of banishment were issued against their ministers; at another we find the government wickedly declaring their pulpits vacant and filling them with clergymen of the Established church. When England had a policy of church or state to carry out in Ireland it could be made to bear heavily on the Presbyterian as on the Catholic. England’s repeated suppression of Irish industries also caused great numbers of Presbyterians and Irish Protestants, generally, to emigrate to America. The Watson family here mentioned consisted of Matthew, his father and mother, four brothers and one sister. Sometime after arriving in Boston the family removed to Leicester, Mass. Matthew came to Barrington in 1722, being then in his 26th year. He entered the employ of John Read, a brickmaker, and rapidly attained great proficiency in the business, winning the confidence of his employer and the esteem of his associates. In the course of time he fell in love with his employer’s daughter, Bethiah. His affection was reciprocated and the two soon became engaged. The fact becoming known, Bethiah’s father earnestly opposed it. She was his only daughter, and he eloquently represented to her the “folly” of throwing herself away on “a little poor Irishman.” His arguments were of no avail, however, and she and Matthew were married at Barrington in 1732.