Hamlet Village was founded in 1815, by Brigadier General Edward Carrington of Newport, who constructed a textile mill there. At that time, the area was part of the town of Smithfield. It remained part of Smithfield until the town was divided in 1871. Hamlet then became part of Woonsocket.
On January 24, 1838, a news item appeared in the Republican Herald announcing that state lawmakers had passed an act to allow for the incorporation of the Hamlet Fire Engine Co. of Smithfield. (The newspaper actually reads “Aamlet”, which is believed to be a typo.)
As of this writing, the Smithfield Historical Society has no further information about this fire company. Further research at the Woonsocket Library discovered that the man who filed the petition was William Yearnshaw, and that the matter was “received and referred to the committee on corporations.”
See fifth paragraph down.
