History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 152

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1 At a legal town-meeting held in Stonington the 11th day of July, 1774, the following resolution was passed :

"Deeply impressed with the alarming and critical situation of our Publick affairs, by the many repeated attacks upon the liberties of the English American Colonies, by sundry acts of parliament, both for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, as well as the late most extraor- dinary act for blocking up the port of Boston. Think it our indispen- sible duty to manifest our sentiments upon the important occasion. And are most clearly of the opinion that they are repugnant to the spirit, freedom and fundamentals of the British Constitution, and in direct vio- lation of Magna Charter. Their surprising exertions of power which so remarkably distinguish the inauspicious times and necessarily alienate the affections of the Americans from their Mother Country, and the British Merchants and manufacturers will of course be extreme in loos-

of Correspondence, who addressed " Maj .- Gen. War- ren, of Boston," who replied in a letter glowing with the loftiest sentiments of patriotism. 2

The people of this town not only sympathized with the people of Boston in their resistance to British ag- gression, but furnished men and means to enable them

ing the most beneficial commerce that they derive from any part of the Globe. We recommend as our best advice to the publick, that a general convention of delegates from all the colonies, be convened, with all pos- sible dispatch and what they in their wisdom, upon the most mature de- leberation shall agree upon as most expedient for the interest of this growing, fertile and extensive continent; shall be adopted by us, and that in the interim as a necessary step to open the eyes of the present Administration, and to obtain that justice that is due to the worthy de- scendants of Great Britain, which has of late through an extreme mis- guided policy been denied, we Wherefore recommend a suspension of all commerce with Great Britain immediately take place.

"We are bound in justice to ourselves, to declair, that we have ever manifested (and are still ready on all occasion) the most affectionate loy- alty to the illustrious House of Hanover ; which we are truly sensible consists in nothing more evidently, than in a well regulated zeal for liberty and the Constitution ;

" A sense of real honor grounded upon principles of religion, and ex- perience, will warrant us to affirm that their endowments of loyalty public spirit of honor, and religion are no where found in higher per- fection than in the British Colonies. Notwithstanding what is passed, we are still desirous to remain upon our former good understanding, with the mother country, and continue to them their gainfull com- merce, provided a repeal of those grievous acts take place.

"We heartily sympathize with our distressed brethren, the Bostonians, whom we view as victims sacrificed to the shrine of arbitrary power, and more immediately suffering in the general cause. We rejoice to see so many of the neighboring colonies and even towns vyeing with each other in their liboral benefactions, to the distressed and injured town of Boston. Wherefore we have opened a subscription for the relief of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, which the Committee of Correspon- dence, viz. Charles Phelps Esq., Doctor Dudley Woodbridge, Col. Henry Babcock, Joseph Denison Esq., Mr. John Dean, Paul Wheeler Esq., Na- thaniel Miner Esq., Cap. Daniel Fish, Joseph Palmer Esq., Mr. Benja- min Clark and Mr Samuel Prentice, are appointed to receive and for- ward to the selectmen of the town of Boston, and said committee are instructed to correspond with the committees of the different colonies and trausmit a copy of this vote to the corresponding committee of Bos- ton whose well timed zeal, vigilance, and watchful fidelity, in the great and most interesting cause of liberty we cannot sufficiently thank."

Passed in a very full meeting without a single dissenting voice.

2 " BOSTON, August 24th 1774

"GENTLEMEN,-Your elegant and benevolent favor of the 1st instant yielded us that support and consolation amid our distresses which the generous sympathy of assured friends can never fail to inspire. 'Tis the part of this people to frown on danger face to face, to stand the focus of rage and malevolence of the inexorable enemies of American freedom.

" Permit us to glory in the dangerous distinction and be assured that, while actuated by the spirit and confident of the aid of such noble aux- iliaries, we are compelled to support the conflict.

" When liberty is the prize, who would shun the warfare? Who would stoop to waste a coward thought on life? We esteem no sacrifice too great, no conflict too severe, to redeem our inestimable rights and privi- leges. 'Tis for you, brethren, for ourselves, for our united posterity, we hazard all ; and permit us humbly to hope, that such a measure of vigi- lence, fortitude, and perseverance will still be afforded us, that by pa- tiently suffering and noble daring, we may eventually secure that more precious than Hesperian fruit, the golden apples of freedom.

" We eye the land of Heaven in the rapid and wonderful union of the colonies; and that generous and universal emulation to prevent the suf- ferings of the people of this place, gives a prelibation of the cup of de- liverance. May unerring wisdom dictate the measures to be recom- mended by the Congress. May a smiling God conduct this people through the thorny paths of difficulty and finally gladden our hearts with success.

" We are, gentlemen, "Your friends in the cause of Liberty,

" JOSEPH WARREN, Chairman. "To the Committee of correspondence of Stonington."

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

to maintain their liberties. They were represented at the battle of "Bunker Hill" by true and determined men, as they were in almost every battle-field of the Revolution. After the battle of Bunker Hill, when the American army pressed close around Boston, they cut off the supplies of the British army to such an extent that they were compelled to forage for supplies all along the coast of New England. In doing so they made an attack on Long Point, which is so well told by Dr. David Sherman Hart that his communi- cation is inserted entire.

"After the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, thousands of Minute-men, led by Cols. Thomas, Heath, Stark, Putnam, and others, marched from various points, and established posts at Cambridge, Roxbury, and other commanding positions in the vicinity of Boston, with the object of besieging the British forces in Boston under the command of Gen. Thomas Gage. Col. Artemas Ward, who led a regi- ment from Shrewsbury, was appointed by the Com- mittec of Safety of the Massachusetts Provincial Con- gress to be commander-in-chief of the colonial troops. The first enterprise of Gen. Ward, after fortifying his positions, was to cut off supplies of cattle, sheep, and provisions of every kind from the enemy in Boston. This was done in order to force Gen. Gage to surrender or to evacuate Boston. Detachments were sent to strip the islands in Boston Harbor of the live-stock and all property which could in any way benefit the enemy. This was done in gallant style, in spite of the most strenuous efforts in opposition. When Gen. Washington, on July 3d, assumed the command of all the colonial forces, with his headquarters at Cam- bridge, he carried out the plan of Gen. Ward to a still greater extent, so as to distress not only the British land and naval forces, but also the people of Boston. In this emergency, Admiral Graves equipped three small frigates and several tenders, and placed them in command of Commodore Sir James Wallace, with orders to land his crews at all accessible points and seize and carry off live-stock and produce to supply the necessities of the fleet and garrison. These orders Capt. Wallace carried into effect as well as he was able. He met with resistance at some places on the coast of Massachusetts, for which he retaliated by burning their houses and other acts of violence. The farmers near the coast anticipating his approach, had for the most part driven their stock into the in- terior, in accordance with orders from Gen. Washing- ton. The principal field of Capt. Wallace's depreda- tions was Narragansett Bay and the adjacent shores of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He landed on the island of Conanicut, and burned twenty houses and barns and carried off the live-stock. He appeared before Bristol with his three frigates, and sent word to the magistrates to come on board his ship (the ' Rose') and hear his demands. As they were not in a hurry to pay him a visit, he opened his broadsides upon the place, and did a great amount of damage, although

no lives were lost. His demands were for cattle and provisions, and were promptly complied with. Capt. Wallace sailed along the coast of Connecticut as far as New London, where he landed and spiked the guns of a small battery, threatening to return and do more damage. It may be mentioned here that, pre- vious to the battle of Lexington, none of the exposed towns on the coast of New England were fortified. After that battle, and especially after the burning of Falmouth (now Portland), Me., measures were taken to remedy this defect. Gen. Sullivan was dispatched from the camp at Cambridge to complete the fortifi- cation of Portsmouth, N. H., which had already been commenced. Gen. Lee was sent to Newport, R. I., to creet a fort and' regulate the Tories, who had for a long time secretly communicated with Capt. Wallace and supplied him with what he wanted. He exacted a stringent oath of these Tories that they would hold no further communication with the enemy. Jona- than Trumbull, the war governor of Connecticut (familiarly styled by Washington 'Brother Jona- than'), caused Forts Trumbull and Griswold to be erected at New London, and Fort Hale at New Haven.

" The inhabitants of Block Island, apprehensive of a raid upon them by Capt. Wallace, placed their live- stock on board of vessels and transported them to Long Point, a village containing about seventy-five houses and five hundred inhabitants. They were landed at Pine Point, the junction of Hallam's and Lambert's Coves, and distributed over the plain of Quonadnek and its neighborhood. Capt. Wallace being informed of this transaction, sailed forthwith in the frigate 'Rose,' and appeared off Long Point Aug. 30, 1775. He sent a boat with a peremptory demand for the delivery of the cattle to him, threat- ening terrible vengeance in case of non-compliance. Refusal having been returned as peremptory as the demand, Capt. Wallace sent his tenders up the harbor to seize and bring off the cattle. By this time a large number of men from the country had arrived at the Point to co-operate with the inhabitants in its defense. A company of men at the time rendezvoused at the road under the command of Capt. William Stanton.

" They assembled and marched directly to the Point, and joined the company there under the command of Capt. Oliver Smith. Sergt. Amos Gallup, George and William Denison, and others to the number of twenty, composed the company of Capt. Stanton. They were armed with Queen Anne muskets, which were very effective at long range. The troops were at first stationed in the Robinson pasture, just north of the Hotel Wadawannck.

"When the tender of the 'Rose' came up the har- bor the troops were marched down to Brown's wharf, where they opened a very effective fire upon the enemy, which compelled them to get out of the har- bor as fast as they could, with a severe loss. They reported their ill success to their commander. Capt.

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Wallace had for his pilot a Tory, Stephen Peckham by name, and the 'Rose' was moored in a favorable position, with springs on her cables. A severe can- nonade was opened upon the village and kept up for several hours. Some of the inhabitants for protec- tion went down into the cellars of their houses, others placed themselves behind some large rocks. One of these rocks, situated at the junction of Water and High Streets, was struck by a shot, but no one behind it was injured by the splinters that flew from it. Others again fled into the country. The greater part of the houses were more or less injured by the cannonade, but no lives were lost, and only one wounded. Capt. Wallace did not venture to land and burn the village as he had designed, being deterred by the formidable appearance of matters on shore, as well as by the drubbing his tenders had re- ceived. He hovered on the coast for about a week and then disappeared. Long Point was the only place that resisted successfully this prince of ma- rauders, whose operations partook of the nature of both land and sea piracy. This place has had the honor of resisting two attacks by two commodores, one as just related, the other on Aug. 10, 1814, by Commodore Thomas M. Hardy. Long Point had no cannon, but only small-arms to resist a landing, and solid shot were the only offensive weapons employed by the enemy. Stonington borough, as the place was called in 1814, had two eighteen-pounders and a six- pounder, while Commodore Hardy had one seventy- four, one frigate, one brig, one bomb-ship, and several rocket-boats.

" It may beinteresting to relate several incidents that occurred during and after the attack on the village of Long Point. There was residing here at that time a Quaker, James Tripp, who, though a man of peace, felt his soul stir within him when the cannon-shot struck the houses in quick succession. Seizing a mus- ket, he said to one of his neighbors, 'Canst thou bear this? I cannot.' He then ran down to the shore and fired off his musket in the direction of the frigate 'Rose,' in token of defiance. There was a windmill at the extremity of the village, where the corn of the villagers was ground. It was built by a member of the branch of the Rathbone family called 'Windmill Rathbones,' because they made it their business to erect windmills. Just before the attack on the village, Joseph Elliot, a young man of weak intellect, was sent to the mill with some corn. The proprietor, alarmed by the movements of Capt. Wal- lace, hastily left the building, locking the door. During the whole of that terrible cannonade young Elliot was shut up in the mill, which was struck by several shot. When at length he was released he was found to have lost the greater part of what little intellect he possessed.

"Some time after this, Stephen Peckham, the Tory pilot of the ' Rose,' was caught, and brought to Long Point that he might receive such punishment as the

aggrieved inhabitants saw proper to inflict. There was a large sycamore- (buttonwood-) tree standing a little southwest of the mansion of Nathaniel Minor, Esq. (now occupied by the widow of Capt. Jonas Horn). Mr. Minor was one of the leading patriots of Stonington at that time. That tree was called ‘Lib- erty tree' because the association of young men styled 'Sons of Liberty' and other patriots were ac- customed to meet under it and transact business re- lating to the public welfare. A platform was erected under it, and Stephen Peckham was ordered to stand upon the platform and hear his confession read, to which he had previously assented. This was done by Esquire Minor in the presence of a great concourse. The purport of this confession was: 'I, Stephen Peckham, do hereby acknowledge that, being insti- gated by the devil, I did great injury to the inhab- itants of this place, for which I profess my hearty sorrow, and do humbly ask their forgiveness.' Es- quire Minor would now and then interrupt the read- ing by saying, ' Not I, but that fellow on the plat- form.' All will admit that this Tory deserved much greater punishment than having his confession read, but the people of Long Point were disposed to show lenity, and let him off with a very light punishment. " Evidences of this attack yet remain in some of the oldest houses. In one house are vestiges of the pas- sage of two cannon-shots through it.

" A fort or water-battery was erected soon after this on a hill at the southern part of the village, a short distance from the site of the lower school-house, with an armament of several long six- and nine-pounders and one twelve-pound carronade. A barrack was also erec- . ted for the accommodation of soldiers, which stood between the houses of Rev. A. G. Palmer and the late Mrs. Fanny Kean. No attack was made on the vil- lage during the remainder of the Revolutionary war, after which the battery was allowed to fall to ruin, and the guns to be dismounted and gradually to lie half buried in the earth ; and the barrack was altered to a dwelling-house, which was burned a few years since through the carelessness of the tenant.

" When Gen. Howe by the force of circumstances was compelled to evacuate Boston, March 16, 1776, Capt. Wallace was by the same force obliged to evac- uate the coast of New England. Gen. Washington, fearing from certain indications that New York would be the next object of attack, sent Gen. Lee to fortify that city at every exposed point. After Lee had been sent to South Carolina to protect Charleston, Gen. Putnam was ordered to New York to complete the fortifications which had been begun by Gen. Lee. Powerful batteries were erected at the Battery (the southwest point of the city), and at Paulus Hook, in New Jersey, immediately opposite. Strong forts were also erected at Washington Heights, at the upper end of Manhattan Island, and on the Jersey shore nearly opposite, viz., Fort Washington and Fort Lee. The object of these fortifications was to prevent ships-of-

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

war from passing up the Hudson River. Detach- ments of these ships and transports filled with troops had entered the lower bay in the course of the month of June, but on July 12th another detachment entered the bay, among which were the frigates 'Phoenix' and 'Rose,' commanded by the notorious Capt. Sir James Wallace. These ships, with three tenders, steered up the Narrows, and, notwithstanding a heavy fire, passed between the batteries with little damage or loss of men, as sand-bags had been piled up along- side of the bulwarks to shelter the men. As the upper forts had not been completed, they found no difficulty in passing up the Hudson River as far as the High- lands. The country on both sides of the river was in a state of great alarm. All vessels and boats of every description were placed in security ; cannon were sent to points favorable to annoy the ships and tenders and prevent a landing. But Capt. Wallace, by the aid of the Tories of that region, as well as by preda- tory incursions, easily procured provisions. If any resistance was made houses and barns were burned, as was the case on the coast of New England. Now and then a tender would come within gunshot of the shore batteries, or within range of riflemen stationed along the shore, and would receive serious injury. In August, Commodore Tupper with six row-galleys made an attack on the 'Phoenix' and ' Rose' frigates. The galleys, each armed with a heavy cannon, re- peatedly hulled the ships, and for two hours bravely sustained the fight till they withdrew, having them- selves received much damage. This was one of the best-fought actions of the kind during the war.

" By this time Gen. Putnam had finished Forts Washı- ington and Lee, and had placed obstructions in the river, with the purpose of destroying the ships on their return. Two fire-ships were sent against them ; one grappled the 'Phoenix,' and would have burned her but the fastenings gave way, and the fire-ship drifted away. The other, making for the 'Rose,' fell foul of one of the tenders, and burned her. Capt. Wallace finding his situation critical stood down the river, and succeeded, after receiving much damage, in passing the forts. This was the last of his exploits on the American coast."

The attack on Long Point aroused the people of Connecticut to a sense of their danger, especially those residing near the sea. At the special session of the General Assembly held in April, 1775, a Council of Safety was appointed, consisting of the Hon. Mathew Griswold, Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, J. Huntington, Wil- liam Williams, N. Wales, Jr., J. Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esq., to assist the Governor when the Assembly was not in session, with power and authority to direct the marshals and sta- tions of the troops, then to be raised for the defense of the colony, as they should judge best, and to see they were furnished in every respect and for every purpose. At a session of the Governor and Council at Lebanon, Mr. Huntington reported that he had

found one small vessel, and that could be purchased at two hundred pounds of Edward Hancox, of Ston- ington. Ordered by the Governor and Council that said schooner, called the " Britannia," should be pur- chased for the colony, and B. Huntington, Esq., Capt. Deshon, and Capt. Niles were appointed to purchase her at said price, and have her rigged and fitted as splendidly as possible; they also appointed Robert Niles, of Norwich, to be her commander.

In session, Sept. 4, 1775, Col. Saltonstall and Capt. Deshon were present as a committee from New Lon- don, and Maj. Smith, Oliver Smith, and Capt. Palmer from Stonington. The latter stated that Stonington had been lately attacked and fired upon, and asked the Governor and Council for some military compa- nies to be stationed at Stonington, and both commit- tees prayed for aid to erect works for defense.

In session, Sept. 14, 1775, it was ordered to enlist fifty men, under Maj. Oliver Smith, for the defense of Stonington, and for carrying on the works began there until the 20th of October, 1775. Widow Smith, of New London, stated the prisoners who had lately been driven back to New London by stress of weather, in a vessel piratically taken from Stonington by Capt. Wallace, of the " Rose" man-of-war, were confined at Windham, and prayed that said prisoners might be exchanged for her son, Amos Smith, B. Green, and N. Comstock, who had been taken by said Wallace in New London, which was agreed to, so ordered, and done.

The General Assembly in session at New Haven, Oct. 2, 1775, granted a bounty as follows: Jonathan Weaver, Jr., of Stonington, who was a musician in the company of Capt. Oliver Smith, and was danger- ously wounded at Stonington, Long Point, was al- lowed £12 4s. 4d. by the Assembly ; also Capt. Oliver Smith, of Stonington, was promoted to the office of major.

At a session of the General Assembly at New Haven, Dec. 14, 1775, it was ordered "that the battery at Stonington should be supplied with six cannon, two eighteen- and four twelve-pounders." At a session of the Governor and Council, Feb. 2, 1776, the Gov- ernor and Council had been authorized by the As- sembly to supply the batteries at Groton, Stonington, New Haven, etc .; to effect this was extremely difficult, except that they should be cast in the furnace of Mr. Smith, in Salisbury, Conn. Col. Elderkin was ap- pointed to go immediately to Salisbury and give the proper orders and direction.

In session, Feb. 23, 1775, Maj. Smith, of Stoning- ton, urged an addition to be made to his men in Stonington for the defense of the town and harbor. The Governor and Council ordered said company of forty men to be augmented to ninety men by volun- tary enlistment, and to be continued in service until the 1st day of December (next), unless sooner dis- charged, and to be stationed at or near the fortifica- tion in Stonington. Nathan Palmer, Jr., was ap-

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pointed first lieutenant, John Belcher second lieuten- ant, and Clement Miner ensign of the company above mentioned, under Maj. Oliver Smith, who was author- ized to enlist said men with all speed. Nathaniel Miner, Esq., was appointed commissary to provide supplies for the company at said fort.

In session, March 23, 1776, Capt. Theophilus Stan- ton, of Stonington, was appointed captain of the row- galley (then) building at Norwich, Conn.

In session, April 10, 1776, an order was given Na- thaniel Miner, Esq., for one hundred and fifty pounds as commissary to the troops at the fort at Long Point, in Stonington; the order was delivered to Nathaniel Gallup.

In session, April 29, 1776, Mr. Miner, the commis- sary for the company at Stonington, asked for a further sum of money ; and the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds was allowed him to provide for said company. Zadoch Brewster was appointed lieutenant of the row- galley under the command of Capt. Theophilus Stan- ton, of Stonington.

At a session of the General Assembly held in May, 1776, Rev. Nathaniel Eells, of Stonington, was ap- pointed chaplain of the regiment to be stationed at or near New London.

At a session of the Governor and Council held July 2, 1776, Oliver. Smith, of Stonington, was ap- pointed lieutenant-colonel of the regiment at New London in place of Col. Mott, promoted. Nathan Palmer was appointed captain of the company sta- tioned at Stonington in the place of Col. Oliver Smith, promoted. John Belcher first lieutenant, Clement Miner second lieutenant, Moses Palmer second ensign in said company.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317