On your left again, a bit further down, you will see a portrait of Sarah Smith Brown painted in 1823, when she was 85 years old. She would die just two years later, surviving her husband by 22 years. We do not know much about Sarah because the Historical Society does not have any of her letters or other writings, but we do know that like the rest of her family, she was an avid reader, and we assume writer as well. We also know she was of the Smith family, who were among the first settlers in Providence. Nearby Smith St. and the town of Smithfield are named after her family.
There are many clues that have led people to believe that Sarah Brown was a member of the Society of Friends or a Quaker. Up to this time, no Quaker records or minutes have Sarah listed as a member. She apparently did keep plain dress and speech throughout her lifetime, and others wrote that she attended religious meetings in Smithfield, although where they were Quaker is not specified. Family letters have recently been found that suggest she was a Friend, but historians, including those at the Historical Society, are trying to find more evidence. We are confident there is more to learn about Sarah to be found!