It Was a Wonderful Life: The Barrington Twins Lived It With Grace and Joy

BARRINGTON, RI — The twin sisters who died Sunday after two accidental falls belonged to a storied Rhode Island family. Martha Williams, of East Providence, and Jean Haley, of Barrington, were the daughters of Louise May Gibbs and Lewis Douglas Young.

Sue Williams, daughter of Martha Williams, delved into the family genealogy some time ago and had posted much of the family history on a memorial tribute site.

"We want to speak of their lives in the same spirit they lived it," she said in an e-mail message when asked if Patch might reference some of the family history. She will honor her mother and aunt as people who loved life and family. Everything they were dealt in life, they touched with "innocence and grace," she said.

Their story is told through pictures and comments, including one that captures a moment from the twins' childhood. On their mother's lap, the photograph was taken moments after Jean had taken a pair of scissors and cut Martha's bangs.

The twins were born Nov. 3, 1919, on a kitchen table at home because their grandmother, Jennie Seymour Gibbs, feared hospitals. But their mother did not know she would be delivering twins, until the first twin's birth.

"The doctor, who was in attendance, told her at that point 'there is one more coming,'" Williams wrote. Their mother Louise lived to 98, never drove but owned a Bentley, a gift from her husband after she said she's always wanted one.

According to the post, Louise "was the daughter of Nelson Hall Gibbs and Jennie Seymour. She had one brother, 17 years younger, John Chace Gibbs. As an adult, she lived in Providence, in a home that her father-in-law, Frank Norris Young, built, and spent summers in Barrington, RI."

Williams shared happy memories of that house in Providence.

"When we were kids we would visit for the holidays, the most memorable being Christmas. The first room you would come into was a charming little sitting room with a bay window and a beautiful, emerald green marbled fireplace, which was always lit for Christmas. The living room had a piano and our grandmother, Louise, would play and we would all sing Christmas songs. That house held so many romantic memories for all that visited there. "

The twins' father eventually inherited the family business. Frank Norris Young and his brother, Arthur L., owned a fancy paper box company. When Frank died, the business was left to Arthur and Frank's two sons, but the twins' father almost lost his inheritance.

Their uncle, Everett, and Arthur tried to "bilk" their father out of his inheritance, she wrote.

He "caught them but decided to wire tap their phone and take the information to court, suing his brother and uncle," Williams wrote. "This was the first time that wire-tapping was used successfully in a court of law."

The twins' father won, "but all proceeds from the company were lost by that time."

However, the twins' father, L. Douglas Young, made a success of it anyway. He was an inventor and ultimately held 41 patents.

He "tried several times to join the armed services (WWI) but each time was turned down due to a heart murmur," she writes. "As a teenager, he enjoyed competing in tennis tournaments, and did quite well. He was president and treasurer of Douglas Young, Inc, 110 Kenyon Street, Pawtucket, RI, a fancy paper box firm. He held many patents for his inventions, which are widely used in the industry. He was a past president of the New England Paper Box Association."

He "traveled extensively, with his wife....here and abroad and often lectured about his trips. He was an avid photographer and documented the trips with his photos. An ardent yachtsman who could boast of having "touched every port on the East Coast. He was a member of the Barrington Yacht Club (RI)."

His yacht was "The Seahorse." Jean Haley designed the flag.

"He also was an advanced pilot of the U.S. Power Squadron. He also belonged to the F. & A. M., Providence, the Shriners, RI Camera Club, Lions Club, RI Country Club and Turks Head Club. He was a past president of the Calvary Young Men's Business Club.

"As a child, he attended the Calvary Baptist Church on Broad Street, Providence. Although he did not attend church later in life, he donated enough money for a children's bible class room. That room still has his name plaque on it."

His factory building is on the National Registry of Historic Places, due to his improvements, and he employed workers through the Great Depression.

The twins' parents were married 51 years.

"He died of a heart attack while at home, speaking on the phone to his secretary."

As for Louise, she was "an accomplished musician, playing the piano and organ, at one time serving as the organist at Central Congregational Church, Providence and other local churches. She also gave piano lessons. She served on the board of the Elmwood Public Library, Steere House (elderly care) and the former Providence Plantations Club. She was also a member of the Barrington Yacht Club and a member of the Turks Head Club and RI Country Club and a member of the English Speaking Union. She would also 'read' cards, although rarely, because she didn't trust her psychic abilities and wasn't sure that they even really existed. She would tell me how her mother learned how to read cards from a gypsy! Then Louise would proceed to give you a 'reading'. She was incredibly good at it too, predicting things should couldn't possibly have known.Louise, along with her husband Lewis Douglas Young, traveled all over the world. She would bring a doll from every country to me when I was a child. I have the collection to this day, 40+ years later."

Her Aunt Jean was married to John Williams Haley Jr., who died in 1995. He was a vice president of the former Narragansett Brewing Co. and served 25 years as the state's official historian. He also worked for his wife's father's firm, Douglas Young Inc., of Pawtucket. Haley was wounded in World War II and received a Purple Heart for his heroism in the Battle of the Bulge.

Courtesy Photo Caption: "Louise with her twin daughters." Martha, left and Jean. "Jean had just taken some scissors and cut Martha's bangs!" Posted by Sue Williams on the memorial tribute site.