USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Early History of Naushon Island > Part 21
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Elisha Nye
To ye Honble Council of ye State of ye Mass. Bay
Ordered . .. That Col. Crafts deliver Elisha Nye, Captain of the Sea Coast Company stationed at Tarpaulin Cove, sixty three nine pound cartridges filled.
Board of War Orders.
Whereas Benoni Nickerson Commissary to a Company stationed at Tarpaulin Cove on Nooshan Island under the Command of Capt. Elisha Nye have petitioned this Court for forty barrels of flour, six barrels of beef and one hoghd. of molasses. Resolved that the prayer of the petitioner be so far granted on that the board of war be directed to deliver to sd. Nickerson forty barrels of flour
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and six barrels of beef for the use of said Company he to be ac- countable to this Court for the expenditure of the same.
Sent up for Concurrence A. W. Paine Speaker
In Council July 1, 1777
1778
Falmouth Jan. ye 12th. 1778
Dear Sir;
I would inform you by what means the ammunition got dam- aged in bringing it from the Island. I sea it all put in the Boat in good order and put it in the care of Lieutenant Silas Hatch and one of the Sargents to bring of which I thought would take the same Care as if I Had Ben there my Self. But the Boat Sprang a Leak and By their Carlessness they Let the powder stand in the water and got it wet. The Excuse they made when they Had got to woodshole was they Had nothing to Bale water with which was not so, for they had pots and kettles and men enough in the Boats to Keep her free from water if they would. I took all the pains I could to get it off in good order. But the misfortune is happened and must Leve you to Jugg where the Blame Lyes. Likewise I would inform you one of the boxes of Common Cart- ridges that was sent up Last Spring [ ] have recd. which Lyes in Commissary Nickersons [ ]
I am your most obt. Serv. Elisha Nye
The British Logs once more show that Nye and his Company were not allowed to slumber at their post.
At some time during the spring the Company was withdrawn, except for a handful of men, and Nye's command devolved upon Lieutenant Fish.
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ADMIRALTY RECORDS
Haerlam Sloop, John Ford, Master.
Jan. 16th, 1778
At 4 come to in Tarpaulin Cove in 33 fathoms water, veered to 1/3 of a cable, the West Point of the Cove S.W., the East Point E.N.E. to a fort at the head of the Cove.
Sat. 31st Jan. 1778
1 P.M. weigh'd and came to sail. Employed working to the westward in the Vineyard Sound. At 4 past Tarpaulin Cove, the Rebels fired a shot at us from their fort in the Cove.
Sat. 28th March 1778
At ¿ past 5 came to off the Elizabeth Island.
H.M.S. Unicorn, John Ford, Commander.
Wed. April 22nd, 1778
Moderate and fair, latter fresh gales & hazey at 10 A.M. hove short on the Bt. Br. [best bower ] att 11 weighed and came to sail at Hd. of Tarpowling Cove.
Friday 24 April
Gay Head S.W., Tarpowling Cove N.E.b E.
Sunday May 3d.
Back't and fill'd into Buzzards Bay. At 6 saw the Harlem to the Eastward, fired a gun & made the signal for the Harlem to Joine Company.
Monday, May 4th.
Still in Buzzards Bay, 2 leagues from Katty Hunk on the S.W. Tuesday May 5th.
Moderate and fair weather, sent the Boats man'd and Armed in chace of a Schooner which they drave on shore and set her on fire, at Noon ye boats returned. Joined company with the
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Sphinx & Harlem Sloop & 2 transports with troops from Rhode Island.
Wed. May 6th.
Veered to 1/3 of a cable. Robertsons Hole S.b E. Dist. 3 miles.
This letter from Joseph Nye shows that trouble was expected.
Sandwich May 3, 1778
May it please your Hons
Lieut. Fish who commands the Guard on The Elizabeth I. has this moment informed me of the following disagreable piece of intelligence Viz; On the Ist. instant one of the Enemies ships and two or three armed Vessels arrived there and made a demand of the Stock on sd Island upon being refused landed a party of men and were Collecting the Sheep on one of the Outer Islands in order to [carry them] off as this was the very day the five men's time expired, who were stationed there, and after having sent in vain for assistance from the Militia of Falmouth he was put to the dis- agreable Necessity of Abandoning the Fort, after removing Everything in it but the Cannon and as there is now no force upon the Island, the Enemy will undoubtly effect their design; he desires me further to inform your Honrs that at the time of the Enemies landing he had but five men with him One of whom had just broke out with the Small Pox and as he finds it impossible to engage a sufficient number of men to defend sd. Island. Begs your Honors to dismiss him from the Service & to take such Order thereon as you in your wisdom shall think fit.
I remain Yr. Hon. most Obt. Servant Joseph Nye
The increasing activity of the British vessels gave warning of their hostile intentions. The Cove was left defenceless, and now in May, 1778, came a devastating descent upon the island. The troops made practically a clean sweep of all the stock.
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In addition to the Admiralty Logs which give a résumé of the movements of the British vessels, there are three quite detailed descriptions; one from the diary of a Hessian Officer, thought to be Colonel Friedrick von der Malsburg; another from the diary of a British (or Scottish) officer, Frederick Mackenzie; and the third from the pen of the Nonamesset farmer, Samuel Robinson, whose father, Paul, often recounted to him the story of the raid. It is probably Paul Robinson who is described as the Quaker farmer of Nonamesset.
ADMIRALS DISPATCHES
Sept. 11th. 1778
Ships employed in co-operating with a Corps of Troops in the Neighbourhood of Buzzards Bay.
Carysfort 28 guns 200 men
Capt. Fanshawe
Fowey
20 guns 160 men
Henry
Rose
66 Reid
Camilla
Collins
Zebra
16 guns 125 men
" Colins
Scorpion
Browne
Swan
Lieut. Totty
Diligent
Capt. Farnham
Comet
Dependence
Cornwallis
Crane
Lieut. Robertson Spry
Haerlem Sloop, John Knight, Master.
Wed. May 6th. 1778.
At 1 the Unicorn in Buzzards Bay made our signal to join Com- pany, set studding sails, at 3 hove too under the Unicorn's stern,
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¿ Past made the Signal for the Convoy to make sail, at 8 came too Robinsons Hole S.b E. 13 Miles. At 12 weighed, Tender in Cove working to the Eastward sd [sounded] occasionally, at 8 joined the Unicorn, Sphynx & Convoy and led them to the place for Landing within the Wapeckers Island and Anchored in 7 fathoms. At 9 the Troops Landed on Nashawn Island, at Noon sailed hence the Unicorn & Convoy.
H.M.S. Sphynx, Joseph Lancaster, Master.
Wed. May 6th. 1778.
North of the Wepeckett Islands N.N.W., the East end of Nashawn E.S.E. Boats employ'd landing troops from the Transports. At half past 11 the Unicorn weigh'd, ran to the westward & Anchor'd off Robinson's Hole.
H.M.S. Unicorn, John Ford, Commander.
Thursday May 7th.
With the 2 transports in company was joined by the Sphynx, the boats taking off Stock from Nashon Island.
Friday 8th.
Joined by the Harlem Sloop the Sphynx & 2 transports set sail for Rhode Island.
H.M.S. Sphynx, Joseph Lancaster, Master.
Tuesday May 12.
At 9 weigh'd and came to sail, two transports and three sloops in Company running out of Martha's Vineyard Sound. Sunday May 17th. 1778.
Anchored off Nashawenna Harbour & found the Unicorn & Harlem there.
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Haerlem Sloop, John Knight, Master.
Wed. May 20th. 1778.
¿ past Noon Anchored in Tarpaulin Cove in 2} fathoms at 1 Anchored the Unicorn. Landed the Marines & Sailors & Burnt the Rebel Barracks and dismounted the guns in the fort. at 3 the Marines &c. came off weigh'd & work'd to the Westward.
H.M.S. Unicorn, John Ford, Commander.
Wed. May 20th. 1778.
Moored in Quix Hole. Fresh breezes & hazy at 1 P.M. come too in 4 fathoms of water in Tarpolin Cove. Sent the Boats Man'd and Armed on shore to Disstray the Barricks & Fort. The Boats returned weighed & cam to sail. Returned to Quix Hole.
1775- 1780 "A HUNDRED YEARS AGO"
Under this title the Darmstadt Allgemeine Militar Zeitung published, recently, extracts from the manuscript journal of a Hessian officer who served in this country during the Revolution. . . . Though the writer's name does not appear in the manuscript, yet it is believed to be the work of Captain, afterwards Lieut. Col- onel Friedrick von der Malsburg of the Hessian regiment Von Ditfurth. ... Of the other portions nothing is of yet known, though it is to be hoped they also will be discovered and the whole journal will be published. . .
Tuesday, May 5; At five o'clock in the morning, the weather being very fine and the wind west northwest, the fleet set sail; we followed the sloop Harlem, a transport and four small vessels fol- lowed us, and the Sphynx, a 20 gun ship, brought up the rear, the sloop having fourteen guns. About 8 o'clock the Beaver Tail light was passed, and when we reached the open sea the captain (of the
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Sphynx) opened the orders, from which we found we were to sail to the Elizabeth islands in Massasuchets. As we passed the eastern coast of Rhode Island there met us six ships from New York under convoy of the frigate Swan. Towards 11 we saw the point of Ponny Ganset and the town of Bedford, where were some boats. About one we passed the islands Cuttehank, Pennakeas, Nasha- winna, Peshtemet, Nawshon and Nonnamiset. Here we saw a large ship, and with the idea that it was an enemy we prepared for action, but when we came nearer we found that it was the frigate Union, which, awaiting us lay at anchor here. The wind was now contrary, yet we kept on, and at 2 passed the Union. Her Com- mander, Captain Ford, now our commodore, advised us in passing, since the wind was so unfavorable, to come to anchor. Nevertheless we cruised about in Puxaurds Bay and when opposite Bedford we came too near a hostile battery, and they fired on us; the distance was too great, however, for them to injure us; and then we heard in the neighborhood many alarm shots. In the evening at 7 o'clock we came to anchor off Nawshon. Captain Coore of the British Grenadiers informed us that we should land on this island at six o'clock in the morning.
Wednesday, May 6; The sentry on deck reported this morning that he had seen various fires during the night on the island, which made us think that we might perhaps meet a powerful enemy. At six o'clock a signal was given to set sail. We cruised along the island to the western side, where the frigates Union and Sphynx and the sloop Harlem lay at anchor ; here we anchored also, whilst the armed sloop guarded the eastern side. At half past seven the commodore sent for the captains of the transports, who at their return brought with them the orders that in case of necessity the sailors should be armed to fight with us. These orders were imme- diately made known to them. At eight the signal was given for landing, and the boats were launched. Meanwhile a man with a white flag appeared upon the shore and was taken by one of the
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boats of the Sphynx to the commodore. He brought the news that the enemy, 150 in number, had left the island a week before, at which time the news of our expedition had reached them. He, to- gether with three others, were the inhabitants of this island. These were tenants of Mr Ried, a member of the Congress at Boston, but his farm, with everything upon it was his own. Through the whole war he had been, as a Quaker, a friend of the government, and, ac- cordingly, commended himself to his Majesty's grace and our pro- tection. On this the man whose name was Robisson, was sent to shore and we landed immediately after. As soon as we had landed the chasseurs were deployed on both wings, I having the right and Lieutenant Murarius the left wing, and the flank company being in the center. Each company had detailed twenty men, who left their weapons on shipboard, to drive the cattle behind us. In this manner the troops stretched across the island, which is perhaps an hour (about two miles ) in breadth, and marched through under- growth and woods about 9 English miles, the length of the island. In the middle of this, opposite the Island of Martha's Vineyard, which is seperated from this island by a channel two miles broad, we found two batteries, the one with two and the other with three twelve pounders. As we approached, an inhabitant came towards us whose house was not far off. He held a white cloth fastened on a stick as a sign of friendship in his hand, and had a little girl of perhaps eight years with him, who held in her left hand an egg as a token of confidence and innocence; and on our accepting this held out the right with a kiss. He commended himself as a friend of his king to my protection, which I promised him. Near this battery were barracks for three hundred men built, and not far from this were two other buildings in which were some casks of the finest powder and salt which the enemy had manufactured on the island, and which were immediately burned. A house standing nearby, in which a man lay sick with the smallpox, an attendant being with him was left untouched. All the captured cattle were
STONE WALL AND HUCKLEBERRY BUSHES
"AT THE HOUSE OF ROBINSON"
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driven to a meadow to the west of this battery and left under a guard. We followed our course to the extreme eastern point of the island, where the previously mentioned Robisson had his house. Nashavinna lies on the opposite side of the channel. Here we came across some deer in the undergrowth, and a corporal of my company shot one of them. By four o'clock in the afternoon the island had been thoroughly searched without meeting an enemy. We officers dined at the house of Robisson, and in the evening went on board ship with our soldiers [at ] Aliquumvisit, a harbor not far from Falmouth to the southeast of this island, a ship of 300 tons was burned by the sloop Harlem.
. Thursday, May 7 ; At seven o'clock the commodore gave the sig- nal for the landing again of the troops. We landed an hour after at the southern point of the island, where yesterday the frigates and transports had laid at anchor. Lieutenant Murarius was de- tailed with some chasseurs and some of the flank companies to drive the cattle to Robisson's house. The flank companies mean- while traversed the island once more in order to drive in any cattle which had been overlooked, and I was rowed over to Pesktenset. At my return, Lieutenant Murarius came with the cattle to the desig- nated place, and the boats being prepared for shipping, the sheep were first taken on board. At 4 P.M. the flank companies returned without any more cattle. I dined on board the Union. In the eve- ning after all the sheep, 900 in number, had been shipped, the troops went on board.
Friday, May 8; With the break of day a signal was made to ship the cattle of which there were 80, and having finished the task by 9 o'clock, we set sail at 10 o'clock in a thick fog under convoy of the frigate Sphynx for Rhode Island. We came to anchor on the eastern side of Seconnets Point at Sachneesals Nek, near the King- fisher; the boats were immediately made ready for disembarking
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the soldiers and the cattle and I came about 11 o'clock at night to Newport. The native Robisson was payed cash for his cattle. Boston Daily Advertiser Oct. 4th. 1878
1778
FREDERICK MACKENZIE'S DIARY
9th. May. Fine weather. Wind N.W.
The transports from the Elizabeth Islands arrived last night in the Seconnet passage. The troops have been very successful and met with no opposition. The two transports have brought 884 Sheep and Lambs. - 150 of them were bought from such of the Inhabitants as were well affected and willing to sell them. The rest, being the property of noted Rebels, were taken without pay- ment. The party has also secured about 1000 more sheep and lambs on a small Island under protection of the Unicorn, until the transports can return for them. The whole were taken from Nashawn Island, which is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands, about 10 miles long and 4 miles broad, and it lies nearest to the Main. A Company of Rebels were posted upon it, but they retired upon the appearance of our fleet. Our people burned the Barracks they had occupied, and destroyed two pieces of Cannon. Captain Coore of the 54th. Grenadiers Commanded the party. The Sheep were landed this day at Sachawest point, and the troops returned to town. A party of an officer and 40 men embarked on board the Transports this day, and they are to return immediately for the remainder of the Sheep.
11th. May. Fine weather. Wind S.W.
It is still unknown here what became of the Providence, Rebel Frigate which escaped out of this port by the Narragansett pas- sage the night of the 30th. of April. There was no account of her at New London the 8th. nor at Boston the 6th. instant. The of-
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ficers of the Lark are of the opinion she suffered a good deal from their fire.
12th. May. Very Fine Day. Wind N. in the morning and S. after 1 o'clock.
Came into the Seconnet passage, the Sphynx, with the Transports and other vessels from the Elizabeth Islands, having about 900 Sheep and lambs on board, which were immediately landed at Sachawest point. The Sheep and Lambs which were brought in on the 9th. Instant were divided this day, half of them were given to the Navy. The other half were reserved for the troops and the Military hospitals.
13th. May. Fine weather. Wind S.
The Haerlem tender came into the Seconnet passage today from the Elizabeth Islands, having two sloops under her Convoy, with about 80 head of cattle on board.
16th. Fine day. Wind S.E.W.
The Sphynx went out of the Seconnet this morning, with several vessels under Convoy for the Elizabeth Islands, to bring off Stock.
20th. May. Fine weather. Wind E.
Fog at sea most of the day. The Kingfisher came around this day from the Seconnet, and brought with her the two transports and four sloops which have been to the Elizabeth Islands for Stock. The Kingfisher is come around to repair her Foremast, and is replaced in that station by the Sphynx.
Many Cannon heard to the Eastward between ten this morning and 6 in the evening.
NATHANIEL FREEMAN TO THE COUNCIL
To the Hon. Council of the State of Mass. Bay
May it please your Honors to indulge me in giving you a narration of difficult and alarming situation of this County.
The drain of our men for sd. Land service hath been equal in
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proportion to perhaps any other County in the State, as I believe we have as nearly completed our quota of sd Continental Army, our supply of men to sd Navy hath been very large we have a con- siderable Number who have been taken on [ ] voyages etc. some have gone off & joined the enemy.
We have many remaining whose principles and conduct is un- friendly. We are but a strip of sand almost surrounded by the sea and several commodious harbours on our shores within which the enemys ship & Tenders have been frequently of late particularly at the mouth of Hianis, in the Vineyard Sound, at Tarpolin Cove in Buzzards Bay etc. they have been sounding our Harbours, and up Buzzards Bay & Warham river.
The 6th. Inst. we had notice from Warham that Gen. Sullivan had sent word that a number of sd. troops had embarked at New- port & come this way, we were likewise informed that 4 ships and several tenders lay at the mouth of Bedford River and it was sup- posed they were designed to destroy that town. That the militia from Warham had marched to and upon this I ordered sd. whole Regiment to be mustered & in readiness to march to any place that should be attacked, in the evening recd. intelligence that about 13 sail were seen crossing the Bay from Bedford towards Elizabeth Island, supposed to be on a sheep stealing expedition.
Our militia at Sandwich were got together in due course that night and to their honor turned out cheerfully & generally, and next morning receiving intelligence marched them to Falmouth which lies about 18 miles distance from any neighboring town & from Sandwich, we apprehending the designs of the enemy were to strip the Islands of the Stock & destroy the salt works along the shoar, as we have undoubted accounts they have accomplished & in some places westward (executed) and perhaps of their burning some houses in Falmouth.
When we arrived at Falmouth we found that 16 or 17 sail of men of war, Transports & Tenders were at Quixes Hole & round
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the Island, that they landed 400 men and were taking off the Stock. We had about 200 of the militia and had it in contemplation to go on upon the Island & prevent their taking the Stock etc. but we sent on upon Nonnamessett Island and obtained the following in- telligence Viz; that they landed 1000 or 800 men at least upon the Island and drove all off from one end to the other, both sheep, cat- tle, horses, poultry some Venison and had got most or all aboard, and if not, had got them in Pound at the West End of the Island, but that it was supposed they were aboard & the most the sd fleet sailed for Newport. That they had burned the new and old Bar- racks, robbd. the few inhabitants of considerable of their household stuff, carried off a quantity of Barrelled Beef that belonged to Mr Read taken Mr John Nye; and that Capt. Nye who kept upon sd [skulking ] in the wood was shot at 3 times and once or twice by his Townsman Perry who had joined the Enemy ; that Perry's vessel & Bowin's [ ? ] vessel (both went from Sandwich) were in the fleet ; that one Tupper who went from Sandwich likewise was very [busy ] and full of [ ]. Upon receiving this intelligence and finding we could procure only 2 boats to go on with and there re- maining no prospect of their committing any further ravages at this time we discharged the militia. But we soon expect another visit from them as they were heard to say it was intended to destroy ye salt-works & they should return. Under all these difficulties your Hon. must be sensible it would be extremely injurious for us to send a number of our men away from defending their own towns and properties, in immediate danger, to guard the coast in other places, in another State. We are obliged to keep up watches every Night for an extent of 50 miles at every inlet. I therefore entreat your Hon. that 70 men raised for ye State of Rhode Island may be stationed in this County or at ye Island if it be found any- thing remains worth defending, or at Falmouth as that is now be- come a frontier. If the people are properly encouraged I have no doubt they will make a resolute stand before they would surrender
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any part of ye County. but if not I really fear ye same spirit of Neutrality that hath in some measure taken place at the Vineyard will possess the minds of some part of this County, infested with so many Tories. I beg your honors would give some directions relative hereto & Oblige yr. Hon. most Obt. Servant.
N. Freeman
P. S. I forgot to mention that ye evening before we go to Fal- mouth the enemy sent a party to Woods Hole & burned ye Prize ship that lay within 100 yds. of the shoar.
Dated at Falmouth May 8, 1778
To the Honorable Council & House of Representatives of the State of Mass. Bay.
The memorial of James Bowdoin humbly sheweth that he is owner of the considerable part of the Islands Naushon & Nona- messet (lying on the Vineyard Sound) contiguous to the town of Falmouth in ye County of Barnstable; that the enemy last year visited those Islands and robbed them of all their stock, excepting a few breeding mares which happened to escape them, and a few creatures which were necessary for the subsistance of the tenants viz. a pair of oxen between two families & a cow or two to each ; that the enemy have several times landed there and abused the tenants and burned several of their houses; that for the preserva- tion of the remaining dwelling houses & other buildings it is nec- essary the said tenants should continue on the said Islands; that one Capt. Willis said to be in the Continental service, had been there with a detachment of men from Howlands Ferry in the State of Rhode Island & taken from them twelve horses besides other horses and stock he had collected from other Islands; that the said tenants expected he would return pursuant to his orders and re- move them and their families when harvesting should be over, that the consequence of such removal will be the destruction of the
:
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remaining buildings and the loss of everything that can be taken away or destroyed and this not only by the enemy but by evil minded people in this State and the State of Rhode Island. For the Prevention of which your memorialist humbly prays your Honors to afford protection to the said tenants, and that you will please to pass an order for preventing their being removed, or otherwise relieve them as your Honors shall think proper. James Bowdoin
THE COUNCIL TO N. FREEMAN
State of Massachusetts Bay Council Chamber
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