USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Early History of Naushon Island > Part 20
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The British fleet commanded by Sir Peter Parker was based on Newport. From there vessels cruised continually along the coast.
Scattered bits from the logs of the Kingfisher, the Swan, the Ambuscade, and other ships of the Royal Navy give vivid glimpses of the war from an offshore angle.
The bay, the sound, the island shores and the skyline of the Vineyard come to mind when reading the logs of the British ships.
LOG OF H.M.S. "KINGFISHER," PHILIP JONES, MASTER 18th. August 1775
"Standing in for Martha's Vineyard sound at 5.00 P.M. Came too in Tarpaulin Cove. At 7 saw a number of Armed Rebels abreast the Ship lurking behind houses and Trees so Fired 21 six Pounders to disperse them."
H.M.S. "SWAN," JAMES AYSCOUCH, CAPTAIN
Saturday 16th. Sept. 1775
Running through the Vineyard Sound Strong Gales and Squally. Employ'd Cleaning Ship. Moderate and Cloudy with
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Rain at Times. Brought too a Schooner from Nantucket Bound to Dartmouth for wood Likewise a Sloop - Moderate and Cloudy. People Employd Making Nippers open'd a Cask of Pork Contents 54 Pieces, short 2 Pieces.
Sunday 17th
Light Breeze and Variable Sent the Tender on shore Seeing a Number of Armed Men, whom we fired at. } Past the Ship Made the Signal to return weighd and Came to Sail Turning up the Vineyard Sound .... Light Breezes and Foggy weigh'd and Came to Sail Sent the Tender into Tarpolin Cove to bring a brigg out, ¿ past the Tender Returned with the Brigg found her to be from Whaling Belonging to New York, sent a Petty officer & 6 Men on Board to take Charge of her. In getting the Brigg out they were fir'd at by a Number of Armed Men which was return'd by the Tender. Went to Seconnet Passage.
Monday Sept. 25th.
Fresh Breezes and Clear abrest of the Light House. Gayhead E.B.S. Distance 3 or 4 Leagues. Running up the Vineyard Sound, Came too in 2 fathoms Water abrest of Tarpaulin Cove, Do. weigh'd & came to Sail In Company with His Majesty's Ship Rose & 3 Tenders, Parted Company with the Glasgow Tender and Sloope.
Wednesday 18th. October 1775 Abrest Tarpaulin Cove.
Imagine what the life at Tarpaulin must have been at this time with the British vessels hovering along the shores and Grannis' small company, entirely dependent upon itself, sniping at the enemy whenever the chance came, and repulsing them when they attempted to land at the Cove.
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JAMES BOWDOIN TO COLONEL JOSIAH QUINCY
Oct. 3, 1775
Dr. Sir, Col. Quincy ;
. In return for the news communicated by your letter I
. . wld. communicate some to you if I could. Whether ye following be such to you, you can best tell. You have heard of Col Gother [?] in the Newfoundland, Governors arrival lately at Boston from England. His business hereof I have been informed is to raise and command a Regiment of Rangers to distress his country men. My informant is one Clifford, who was Pilot of sd. ship of war (Capt. Price) in which Mr Gorham came passenger and arrived in Boston about three weeks ago. The Pilot was master of a vessel coming this way from Newfoundland and in Georges bank was pressed by Price into his service as Pilot. He says that he was in- formed at the land that a great number of Irishmen about 700 had been enlisted as Rangers to serve against the d -- d rebels of New England, and supposes that these are for a part of Gorhams reg- iment. The ship you mention going into Boston full of men (not red coats ) are probably part of them. . . .
Several Men of War Transports are gone up ye sound. On their way they put into Holme's Hole and by threatening to cannonade ye town forced ye inhabitants to give them a few Sheep. They also cannonaded Tarpaulin Cove but without effect.
They had taken among others a vessel of Col. Bowers from Jamaica and a Brig of Harry Bowers from ye same place with a valuable cargo. The latter got ashore at Elizabeth Island and one of ye Tenders came after but was so warmly received by ye Com- pany stationed there that she was obliged to make off, and our people have since carried the Brig safely off into Dartmouth with 6 or 7 prisoners. Paper credit we will make the subject of our next conversation. In the meantime be assured of mine and Mrs Bow-
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doin's most respectful regards to you and your good lady and family,
Yours James Bowdoin
To the Hon. Council & House of Representatives in General Court Assembled.
The Petition of the Select men & committee of correspondence and inspection of the Town of Falmouth in the County of Barn- stable, in behalf of the inhabitants of sd. town showeth:
That in the Island called Naushon, one of the Elizabeth Is- lands is a very commodious harbour, known by the name of Tar- paulin Cove, much used by all vessells, passing the Vineyard Sound, and where a small ship of War and two or three tenders being placed might interrupt and even destroy all the unarmed vessells passing thro the sd. Sound, and all vessells in Buzzards Bay which will include the coast from Cape Cod to Rhode Island, and may also from thence be able to make descent upon the coast and take off stock and provisions for the supply of our enemies; For the preventing of which there has been hitherto a company of men, raised by the wisdom of our Government and stationed there which has greatly molested the minesterial ships in harboring in sd. Tarpaulin Cove, and hindered the landing on Naushon Is- land: - and we humbly conceive that if a company of men be continued at sd. Cove with a number of cannon planted at sd. harbour, they would render it a very uncomfortable station for the minesterial ships, and keep them at a proper distance and deter them from landing and taking off the stock which is very valuable on sd. Island, and also be very beneficial to the trade of the Country and a great security to us on the exposed sea coast.
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Likewise that some suitable man in this town may be appointed to muster sd. Company.
Falmouth Dec. 11, 1775 J. Palmer Samuel Fish
Tim Crocker
Nathl. Shiverick
Barl. Bassett
Daniel Butler
Job Parker
Noah Davis
Comm. of Correspondence
Comm. of Inspection
Most of the following papers concerning the troops stationed at Tarpaulin Cove are resolves, petitions and orders addressed to the Honorable Council and House of Representatives. The text of the papers is copied, but some of the formal legal phrases have been omitted.
1776 PETITION OF THOMAS JONES
Your petitioner would humbly represent that there are 150 men raised and stationed on the Elizabeth Islands, . . . that near one half of the men have been in the Service of the Continent till the first day of April inst. by which reason the remainder have been accomodated with Barracks to live in, but since the arrival of the other half, they are reduced to very great inconveniences and really must suffer unless some Barracks are provided, there being but two or three houses anywhere near their necessary stations. Your Petitioner being appointed by the Court there as commis- sary to supply sd. forces with Barracks as well as other neces- saries, humbly begs leave to suggest to the Court the necessity of building some cheap shelters for about 70 or 80 men on the Island of Naushaun, but not being willing to proceed without the particular directions of the Court he humbly prays your Honors
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would take the matter into your wise consideration and give such directions as you in your great wisdom see fit etc. etc.
Thos. Jones
Watertown Apr. 5 1776
REPLY TO PETITION OF THOMAS JONES, COMMISSARY
April 7, 1776
". . . The said Commissary, be and hereby is directed with the assistance of the Soldiers on said station, to build as many Log Houses with timber on said Island, as will be sufficient for the Reception of seventy or eighty men, and the said Commissary is further directed to procure nails and Boards sufficient to build cabbins and cover the roofs of said houses."
". . . Each man of the said Company excepting the Commis- sioned officers Drummers & Fifes for the same shall arm & equip himself with a good effective firearm, Bayonet, cartouche box, blanket & knapsack, half a pound of powder, twenty bullets and five flints and none of the said men shall pass muster unless so equipped and provided."
The above equipment was not especially specified for the Company at Naushon, but is here given as showing the outfit with which each man was expected to supply himself.
On April 16th an order was received for the reduction of the sea coast defence militia, ". .. by a resolve of the Court com- pleted on the 27th of December last by discharging one Company posted at Falmouth ... and one Company posted at Elizabeth Islands under command of Capt. Elisha Nye ... said Com- pany to be discharged without delay."
After this order went into effect there remained at Tarpaulin one company, composed of about seventy-five men.
Elisha Nye had evidently been commissioned in the militia
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soon after leaving his post as innkeeper at the Cove. He returned there in command of the Company. The matter of his rank seems to have been unimportant as he is sometimes spoken of as cap- tain and sometimes as lieutenant. Nye's superior officer was Major Barachiah Bassett.
Major Bassett, who was appointed by this Court to command the forces stationed at the Elizabeth Islands & Marthas Vineyard is impowered and directed to remove four of the cannon (not to exceed nine pounders) taken out of ye vessel lately stranded at Truro commanded by one Capt. Holmes, to ye sd. Elizabeth Islands & Marthas Vineyard to be placed and used in such man- ner in the defense of those islands as the sd. Major shall judge proper till the further order of this Court. . .
J. Warren
Reverse;
Resolve to remove cannon from Ship "Friendship" to Elizabeth I. & Marthas Vineyard.
Tarpolan Cove June 18th. 1776
Have Removed the Four piece of Cannon from Truro to the Elizabeth Island, I am bound in Duty to let you know ther is no use for them without Ball, Ladles etc. which Render them fit for use - Whereas if they were Supplyd with those materials they would be of uncommon advantage toward protecting the ports they are Design'd for - Should your Honors Consider the Situa- tion & advantage of the ports, I doubt not but what you would allow send materials as also Intrenching tools which must be used for the protection of said ports. Permit me also to acquaint your Honors that it is not in my power to offer the protection which is necessary to the Islands westward of Tarpolan Cove Island & the Vessels that are continually passing without I have at least Ten
-
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Whale Boats - Therefore pray that some measure may be taken for the Provision of the Foregoing.
Gentlemen your most Devoted Humb. Servant
Barachiah Bassett
In Council June 18th. 1776
RESOLUTION CONCERNING CANNON AT TARPAULIN COVE In Council June 22 1776.
Whereas the four cannon mentioned in said Return are proper for sea service, and ye armed Brigg belonging to this Colony of Dartmouth is in want of ye same, and with them can proceed on a cruize; therefore Resolved that Thomas Durfee Esqr one of the Committee for fitting out ye sd Brigg, be and hereby is empowered, and directed to cause ye sd cannon forth- with to be removed & put on board said Brigg: and ye sd Com- mittee are also directed to get ye sd Brigg in readiness for a cruize as soon as may be. Also Resolved that in lieu of the sd four Can- non, there be placed at Tarpolin Cove Harbour two pieces of cannon nine pounders, and the Commissary General is hereby directed to deliver the same to Mr Durfee, or his order, to be conveyed to Major Bassett, & also to deliver 100 nine pound shots together with ladles & the necessary apparatus for ye said two Cannon, and that ye sd Bassett cause the same to be fited & mounted as soon as may be for ye defence of sd Harbour. And it is also Resolved that ye honble Walter Spooner Esqr be and hereby is directed and empowered to provide ten old whale boats that are fit to be used for the protection of the Neighboring Is- lands, & the Shipping coming in and going out, and also purchase twelve shouvels, six spades and four pick axes the same to be for the use of sd Bassett, and men under his command in ye service
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aforesaid, and ye said Walter Spooner Esq is directed to lay his accompt before this Court for payment thereof.
Sent down for concurrence
John Lowell Dpt. Secy.
In the House of Representatives June 22 1776
Read & concurred.
Dr. Samuel Gilson* (later called Gelston) opened a hospital on the Gravelly Islands near Nantucket, for inoculation against the smallpox. It was one of the early hospitals in this country for this treatment. Gelston was a Tory, and on January 22nd, 1776, the General Court voted that he be put under bonds for his dis- loyal behavior, and he made his escape to Rhode Island. Being subsequently captured he was brought back to Watertown.
He was described, as of Nantucket, in a handbill promising a reward for his capture, "a short well set man; and had on when he went away a reddish sheepskin coat, dressed with the woolside in- side and a scarlet waistcoat."
Tarpolan Cove June 18, 1776
Hon. Council of ye Massachusetts Bay
In pursuant of your Orders I have sent Capt John Grannis and brought Dr Saml. Gilson to the Elizabeth Island, where he is un- der the care of my Party.
As to ye Schooner said Gilson came In; I have Taken Her and sent her to Dartmouth and put her under the care of Capt. Hilyard Mayhew untill further Orders from your Honors. Have sent you the Expenses by Capt. Grannis.
Gentlemen your most Devoted and Hum. Servt.
Barachiah Bassett
* The son of Samuel Gelston, Rowland Gelston, M.D., married Susan Jones of Nantucket, an aunt of Edward C. Jones and great-great-aunt of the author.
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RESOLUTION CONCERNING DR. GELSTON
Whereas it appears that Dr Samuel Gilson is now in the Cus- tody of Barachiah Bassett Esq. at the Elizabeth Island and as he appears to have in Divers Instances acted a Part Inimical to the Liberties of this Colony.
Be it therefore Resolved that the said Barachiah Bassett Esq. be and hereby is Directed to send the said Doctor Saml. Gilson under a Proper Guard to the Five Justices in the County of Suf- folk appointed a Court to enquire into the conduct of Persons Suspected to be enemies to Liberties of this Colony Who are hereby Directed & Impowered to Examine into the conduct of the sd. Doctor Saml. Gilson and to proceed with him According to the directions of the Resolve appointing thereon a Court of Enquiry as aforesaid.
Sent up for Concurrence Tim. Danielson
In Council July 5, 1776
In the same month that Dr. Gelston was being held as a pris- oner at Naushon, Tarpaulin Cove had the distinction of a visit from the illustrious naval officer, John Paul Jones.
JOURNAL OF JOHN LEVETT, U.S.N. 1774 -1782
July 1776 -
I was at Newport but a few days before I sailed again with Captain Biddle. On this cruise we took several prizes, one of them from Lord Dunmore's fleet, a brig from Barbados bound to New- foundland. This prize I went on board of as master, and arrived safe at Providence. When our cruise was out Capt. Biddle went to Philadelphia and by that means I went on board the sloop
1
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Providence, Captain Histed Hacker, and I soon found we were to sail under command of John Paul Jones Esq.
We sailed in a short time, and stopped in Tarpaulin Cove, where we found a small Privateer belonging to Providence, com- manded I think by Captain Rhodes. Com. Jones sent for me on board of his ship, late in the day and gave me orders to arm and man the barge on board the Sloop, and he would have his barge manned and armed and sent alongside our sloop, and then we were to go 'longside (the privateer) and while I was examining the ships articles I was to give the barge crews orders to press all the men they could. I did so and we pressed 25 men out of 35, and car- ried them on a cruise on board the Ship Alfred, Commander Jones.
In the autumn of 1776 the number of troops was again re- duced. On November 16th Major Bassett received the following notice, " ... and you are ordered forthwith to discharge from the above service the officers and men stationed at the Elizabeth Islands, excepting twenty one men including Lieutenant Nye and two sergeants, and you are directed to designate the Persons to be retained still in the service agreable to the above order; after which you are to look upon yourselves as discharged from the Military service you have been engaged in at said Marthas Vine- yard and Elizabeth Islands."
During the war several distinct raids took place upon Naushon. The first, that of Captain Linzey, has been already described; the second, under Captains Macartney and Fielding, on December 7th, 1776, both of these followed by a temporary increase in the number of men stationed at Tarpaulin; the third and fourth con- ducted by Captain Coore of the 5th Grenadiers ; and finally a small raid incidental to the expedition against Falmouth on April 7th, 1779.
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John Macartney, H.M.S. Ambuscade, to Sir Peter Parker 12 Dec. 1776
Captain Feilding on board, His Majesty's Frigate the Dia- mond, with His Majesty's Frigate the Ambuscade under my Com- mand, being at Anchor in Martha's Vineyard Sound, lying there to intercept the Rebel Privateers from getting out from Rhode Is- land. On Saturday 7th. Instant Captain Feilding the Senior Offi- cer, sent his Barge on shore to Nashawn Island with a Flag of Truce intending to purchase fresh stock for his people; but to our very great Suprize about 10 or 12 of the Rebels, against the Laws of God and Man, fired at the Boat and shot the Gunner through the Head, but did not kill him. Captain Feilding very justly enraged at this, ordered me to send all the Boats manned and armed, with the whole Party of Marines, which was immediately complied with, under the Command of Lieut. Patrick Sinclair 2nd. Lieu- tenant of the Ship, Lieutenants Anderson and Gregg of the Ma- rines, who all repaired on board the Diamond which weighed and stood clear in Shore; and after firing some of the great Guns to Scour the Beach, sent her own and Ambuscade's men on shore to the Number of between 130 and 140; who after making their Landing good amidst a very galling, straggling Firing from be- hind Rocks, Walls etc. drove all the Rebels, now grown pretty numerous, from off the Island into some small vessels on the other Side with the loss of 4 or 5 of their Men killed. Their villianous Conduct in firing at a Flag of Truce intitled them now to all the Horrors of Rebellion, which was immediately put into Execution by setting Fire to every thing that would burn, so that neither House, Barn, Hay nor Indian Corn that could be met with escaped the Flames, nor did the live Stock share a better Fate for what could not be carried off was Shot. All this was done in a Few Hours with only the Loss of one Marine killed belonging to the Diamond and two Marines slightly wounded belonging to the
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Ambuscade. Our Success, Sir, will shew the Conduct and Courage of the Officers & Men etc.
LORD HOWE TO SIR PETER PARKER
December 22nd, 1776
From the "Eagle," New York.
It is with much concern that I have been advised from the Con- tents of Captain Macartney's Letter of the necessity Captain Fielding deemed himself under to resent the Insult offered to the Flag of Truce he sent to Nashawn Island, in the manner therein stated. If the Inhabitants were conscious of the Deference paid by all civilized Nations to an Intercourse proffered under the Sanc- tion of a Flag of Truce, they certainly merited the severest Treat- ment. But as I rather suppose they are of a Class wholly unin- formed in such Distinctions, I much wish that other expedients had been taken to apprize them of their Misconduct, and that Ex- tremities, which could have no immediate advantage to the King's Service attending them, had been at least postponed.
Nevertheless as things are now circumstanced it becomes nec- essary that the motives for proceeding to such severities, should be made generally known Lest an impression be made should be taken of the King's intentions with regard to the ignorant and mis- guided part of his disaffected Subjects, different from His Maj- esty's most gracious purpose in such respects.
You are therefore requested to use every seasonable means, for making those motives generally known. And if the Circulation thereof can be advanced through the Channels of any intercourse which the Inhabitants of Block Island may probably hold with those of the Elizabeth Islands, and of the adjacent Coasts of the Continent, it is my earnest desire that it be made an object of par- ticular attention and every requisite facility given to promote it.
Among the Colonial papers appears no reference to this in- cident, but there is an immediate increase in defensive measures.
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Dec. 15, 1776
To Capt. Elisha Nye;
Sir;
You are hereby empowered and directed immediately to en- list a company of Men to consist of Sixty eight Men Officers in- cluded on the Seacoast Establishment for the defense of the Eliz- abeth Islands as soon as possible which Company of men when enlisted are to be stationed at Naushon and to obey you as their Captain.
On motion ordered that Thomas Jones be appointed Commis- sary for supplying with provisions & necessaries the two companys to be raised and stationed on the Elizabeth Islands, as also any militia that shall be called in on an alarm for the defense of said Islands.
Council Chamber
Boston Dec. 17, 1776
To the Honorable the Council of the State of the
Massachusetts Bay
Gentlemen ----
You may remember that you gave orders for raising Two Com- panys. To be Stationed on Nashone the Capts. have Both Ben with me [some time ] and say they cannot enlist any men By Rea- son of the Wages Being so Low. I have Been endeavoring to for- ward the mater But find that to be the universal Complaint . . . if your Honors are so pleased to give any further orders about the Mater I shall endeavor to Conduct ... Agreable their to.
I am yours to Serve Joseph Dimuck 1777 State of Massachusetts Bay In the House of Represent. Janry 1, 1777
Resolved that the Militia officers of the Town of Falmouth in the
A NAUSHON GLADE
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Co. of Barnstable be and are hereby directed to detach from the Several Companys in that Town twenty-five able bodied men in- cluding one Lieut. two Sergents and two Corporals which offices shall be appointed by the above military officers out of those same ranks in the . .. Companys. Which men so raised shall be ... stationed at the Island of Nawshawn for the Defence of the Har- bour of Tarpolin Cove there to remain for . .. two months un- less sooner releived. . . . To be upon the same establishment and receive the same pay as the four Independant Companies now sta- tioned at Hull near Boston, and it is further resolved that the re- solve of this Court of the eleventh Day of December last & the order of Council of 15th. Day of December last for raising Com- panys for the Defense of said Island be and hereby is repealed and that the order be recalled.
Sent up for Concurrence Sam. Freeman, Speaker
In the House of Representatives January 18, 1777 The House made choice of Benoni Nickerson to be Commissary for the men Stationed at Elizabeth Islands.
Sent up for Concurrence Sam. Freeman, Speaker
In Council Jan. 18, 1777
Tarrpoland Cove Island March ye 31, 1777
Gentn
As you have seen fitt to Appoint me to ye Command of a Com- pany Stationed hear I think it my Duty to inform Your Honners that I Rased the Company soon after I Recd. your orders there for, and I took my station. I also think it my Duty to inform your Honners What Military stores I Recd. from Majr Dimuck which are as follows 20 rounds in Cartriges a man, 45 1b. powder, 122 1b.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
Lead in Balls, 140 flints, 2 cannon 9 pounders with all ye appera- tus Compleat, 85 shott 22 Cartriges of Powder fitt for ye same and as there is not a proportion of Powder for ye cannon balls I humbly think it will be best that there be ordered a further Supply of Pow- der for ye Cannon as without them I shant be able to keep ye Har- bour there having been several attempts made by ye Enemy to Ly in ye Harbour which would cut off all communication from Dart- mouth ye Vineyard from ye main that Vessells cannot pass, but by ye help of ye Cannon I have been able to keep them out and make no Dout shall be able to keep ye Harbour clear, if not overpowered by a Number of Ships, Your Honners will observe that 63 at least Cartriges of Powder for ye Cannon is wanting and I humbly pray that yr Honners will order into ye hands of Mr Benoni Nickerson appointed Commissary for ye Company what is wanting or as your Honners shall otherways think fitt. I remain With Great Respect your Faithful Servant,
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