John Goddard Weaver, son of Benjamin (2) and Hannah Spooner (Briggs) Weaver, was born in Newport, R. I., November 25, 1812. He received his elementary education in the schools of Newport, later attending the Friends' School at Providence. On completing his studies he became connected in business with his father, the late Benjamin Weaver, and learned the hatter's trade, which he followed for a short period. Failing health forced him to abandon this line of work, however, and to seek an occupation less confining. Shortly afterwards he established himself in the livery business on a small scale in Newport. He was highly successful in this venture, and rapidly developed the business into one of the largest of its kind in the city, engaging in other lines of work in conjunction with it. For more than twelve years he was one of the proprietors of the Providence Stage and Mail Line. In 1843 Mr. Weaver, in association with Abram Potter, engaged in the hotel business, conducting the 'Bellevue House' on Catherine street for a year. He was highly successful, and finding the 'Bellevue House' too small to meet the demands of his growing patronage, Mr. Weaver, in 1844, with a company of Newport business men, erected the original 'Ocean House', which was destroyed by fire on August 3, 1845. The place was immediately rebuilt, on a larger and more sumptuous scale, and in 1846 was completed and opened. For more than fifty years the 'Ocean House' was the leading hotel in Newport. Its location, in the heart of the fashionable residence district, drew to it a very high class patronage. Mr. Weaver was the genial, affable, courteous host, lavish in his hospitality. A man with a genius for friendship, he was known throughout the East, and among the thousands who made the old 'Ocean House' their summer home, hundreds remained his life-long friends. This famous old hostelry was destroyed by fire on September 9, 1898.
John G. Weaver for two decades was active in the public and political life of Newport. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council from the incorporation of Newport as a city. On the death of the old Whig party, of which he had been a staunch member, he allied himself with the Republican party, and was active in its formation, and in its councils until the time of his death. In 1863-64 he was a representative from Newport in the Rhode Island State Assembly, serving ably and well in the Lower House. The welfare and advancement of the city were always in his heart, and he was prominently identified with all notable movements toward this end throughout his public career. Through the nature of his business he was one of the best known men in the city, but he was also one of the most highly respected and best loved. In early life he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1832 Mr. Weaver married Susan Bliven, daughter of Ray and Susan (James) Bliven, of Newport. They were the parents of the following children: 1. Benjamin, who was associated with his father in the hotel business; a member of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, in the Civil War; died in New York, November, 1863. 2. Joseph Briggs, was a member of the firm of Kerner & Weaver, proprietors of the Everett House, New York; he died in New York City, unmarried, April 9, 1882. 3. Marian Jones, died at the age of sixteen years. 4. Susan, died in infancy. 5. John Goddard, Jr., mentioned below. 6. Susan James, unmarried, deceased. 7. Hannah Briggs, died unmarried, in 1894. The mother of these children died in Newport, November 19, 1889. For many years Mr. Weaver, who was a Unitarian in religious belief, was president of the board of the board of trustees of the Channing Memorial Church at Newport. John Goddard Weaver died at his home in Newport, August 10, 1892.
