USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Early History of Naushon Island > Part 22
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May 14, 1778
The Council having been informed that the enemy had striped the Island of Nawshon of the greatest part of the stock on the same ; and that they were hovering along the shore within the limits of your Brigade as though they had it in contemplation to land on the main; and mark their route with ruin and distruction. The Council are of the opinion that a little attention of the good people in your Brigade to this Matter will, with the Blessing of Prov- idence, be sufficient totally to disappoint the enemy in their in- human attempts. Therefore you are hereby directed without loss of time to take the most effectual measures to have your Brigade equipped agreeably to Law and hold themselves in readiness with three days provisions to march at a moments warning to any place within the limits of the same, on which the enemy may make an at- tempt to make a descent. Upon your or any of the Field Officers in your Brigade, receiving authentic intelligence of any such at- tempt will immediately give the alarm & cause orders to be issued for the marching of such and so many men of the respective reg- iments or of the whole Brigade, if you think it necessary to effect a defeat of the enemy in such an attempt & secure the good people in that quarter of the State.
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If any attempt of the kind should take place you will give the earliest notice thereof to the board.
In the name & by order of the Council. Brigidier Otis.
From May, 1778, to the following April, 1779, only one item of interest comes from Naushon.
The following order for sugar for the entertainment of Count De Estaing gives color to the legend that his fleet touched at the island and watered there, thus giving "the French Watering Place" its present name. I have been unable to find, in records or diaries telling of the manœuvres of the French fleets, any mention of the Elizabeth Islands, or places upon them.
Board of War October 25, 1778
Ordered; That Messers Bowdoin & Reed be paid for 6 loaves of Sugar Wth. 68 lb. @ £12. 40. 16.
Delivered Sept. 24th. for the entertainment of Count De Estaing.
In the spring of 1779 came the final raiding expedition of the British upon Naushon. The landing upon Nonamesset was only an incident in the attack upon Falmouth.
In 1779, April 2, a formidable fleet resolved on the destruction of this town (Falmouth). At a late hour the night previous, a marauding party from the fleet now lying at Tarpaulin Cove, eluding the vigilance of our watch, landed from their boats, having a refugee for their conductor, and proceeded from Woods Hole to the farms of Messrs. Ephraim and Manassah Swift. ... Return- ing to the fleet, it was decided to move forward next day and burn the town. (Note; "It is said that the evening of the 2nd. was spent
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by several of the British Officers in a frolic at the house of one John Slocomb on Pesque Island. Slocomb was a well known Tory. He of course was possessed of all their plans. But as he reflected on their purpose, Tory sympathies gave way, and he secretly des- patched his son down the Islands to cross over to the Hole that night and give warning to the Falmouth people.)
Friday April 2nd. in the afternoon, Major Dimock of this town (Falmouth), was informed that about 10 or 12 vessels were seen in the Sound, steering this way; supposed with a design of plundering and destroying this town. He immediately sent ex- presses to Sandwich and Barnstable for the militia to come to our assistance. Col. Freeman with Capts. Swift and Fish of Sandwich and their companies, arrived here that night and Saturday morning.
It being very foggy, part of the enemy's fleet appeared off Woods Hole, to which a party of the militia were ordered and posted there. Soon after, the fog cleared off and several of the vessels appeared against the town, near a low level piece of ground that extends from the shore quite to the houses. There had been a small entrenchment made some years ago upon the edge of the beach, which yet remained. Col. Freeman marched the remainder of the men down to the shore, posting about 50 in said entrench- ment and about 30 about 130 rods distant being the most conven- ient places for the enemy to land. At about half past eleven, they formed their fleet, consisting of two schooners and eight sloops into a line against the two posts, and commenced a very warm fire on our people, with cannon balls, double headed shot, bars of iron, grape shot and small arms, and manned their boats, about 10 in number with about 220 men, having to appearance nearly double that number on board, and made various attempts to land in sev- eral places, keeping up a constant fire upon our people, from half past eleven A.M. till half past 5 P.M. Col. Freeman and Maj. Dimock with about 50 men, defended the entrenchments, and re-
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peatedly challenged them, being within call to land, which they durst not attempt. Our people till now had generally reserved their fire, but being ordered to fire, they soon moved off into the Sound, where they remained quiet until next morning. A party of them in their boats attempted to land at Woods Hole, but about 30 of our men posted there gave them a warm fire, which soon drove them off, and the boats went to Nonamesit, an island near Woods Hole, where they landed and killed the few sheep, cows, and hogs the enemy had before left, and threatened to kill the family that lived there, because they said the d-d rebels had been killing them.
They had two wounded men with them. Our people being about to go upon the island they retreated precipitately to their boats, carrying off only one hog, and half a cow that calved the day before. They inquired of the island people our numbers and said the rebels fought like devils. The next day April 4th, a little after sunrise, they fired again from the vessels to drive us from our entrenchment, and our people returned them a warm fire with their small arms for a few minutes, upon which they put off for Holmes Hole.
This morning Monday April 5th. one armed vessel proceeded to Nonamesset Island, and sent off a boat to get the provisions they had killed and left there, but a party of our people got there before them and prevented their landing and some boats of ours had like to have cut them off from the Sloop. Upon the boats getting to the Sloop, they hastened to join the fleet, which then made sail, as they said for Nantucket.
At another time, a schooner sent to Connecticut River for corn, then extremely scarce in these parts and selling at $3.00 per bushel was intercepted on her return, just as she was entering the Sound. The Captain of the craft escaped to the shore in his boat, distressed by the loss of his vessel and cargo; and hastened from Woods Hole to Col. Dimmick, whom he reached at midnight, the distance being
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about 7 miles and to whom he communicated the facts. Col. Dim- mick jumped at once from his bed, whilst dressing gave the captain encouraging words, and directed him for economy of time, to go at once to the residence of his brother Lot and arouse him. The Colonel and Mr Lot Dimmick soon succeeded in mustering 20 res- olute men, and started for Woods Hole.
They there procured three whale boats, and proceeded silently to Tarpaulin Cove, arriving just before day break. It was very cold and the Colonel allowed his men to land and kindle a fire in a hollow, where they would be unobserved and there wait for morn- ing. At the first glimmering of day, the privateer with his prize was discovered lying at anchor in the Cove. Col. Dimmick and men were, another moment, in their boats pulling silently but vigor- ously for the prize.
They were fired on from both vessels, but quickly returned the compliment, boarded the prize, retook it, got immediately under weigh and ran it ashore at the West end of the Vineyard. The privateer followed and was repulsed, the tide rose, and in a few hours the schooner was safely moored at Woods Hole, to the great joy of the inhabitants.
We might narrate other incidents ; but quantum sufficit. Col. Dimmick was courage-inspiring, prompt in all emergencies, and always found brave men who were ready at his lead.
POSTSCRIPT; LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Sandwich
May 20, 1779.
Sir ;
The above is forwarded to show the necessity of sending along the cruisers destined for the Sound as soon as possible. The fleet referred to arrived at Tarpaulin Cove Saturday evening sup- posed to be bound to Falmouth. I instructed the Militia of my Regt. & marched them to Falmouth, fir'd an alarm of cannon
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EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
which I believe prevented them coming further. They have stript the Elizabeth Islands of the remainder of the horses, and being suprised by two other privateers at Dartmouth sailed for New- port. It is likely upon a reinforcement they'll be back.
Ye Obt. Servt.
N. Freeman
BOARD OF WAR
Since writing the aforegoing orders we have received intelli- gence of seven sail of the Enemys Privateers laying in Tarpaulin Cove. We have therefore determined in conjunction with the Hon. Navy Board, that you immediately proceed off Nantucket Bar where you may expect to be joined by Capt. Halker in Continental Sloop Providence & 2 other armed Vessells, with whom you are to concert proper measures for capturing & de- stroying the common Enemy. ..
Since the burning of the barracks at Tarpaulin in the spring of 1778, and the withdrawal of the company of Colonial Militia, the British vessels used the Cove as a convenient base.
The examination of John Lorrance and four negroes, desert- ers from the fleet in Vineyard Sound taken at Falmouth the 18th. day of September 1779:
The fleet consists of 10 sail of vessell in all and 259 men designed to ye Vineyard for wood, with written orders to distress ye inhabitants on ye main by burning or making depredations in any other way they see fit.
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The account of each vessell they gave as follows viz.
Ship, Restoration - 20 guns 120 men
Sloop, Preston - 12
25
Garth 8 12 (from which they deserted )
66 Green - 10
12
Leslie 10
16
Schooner,
Charlotte - - 12 23
" small 2
66 8 " & 10 swivels
0
66 3 " & 2
Brigg
- 0
66
6 " (Saml. Perry Commander formerly of Sandwich)
Schooner - 0 4 " Attested before Joseph Dimick
It is interesting to read the orders given by the British authori- ties to the commanders of their ships. Over and over they urge that a conciliatory and moderate treatment be given their enemies, in order that they may win them by friendliness rather than in- timidating them by force and violence. It has been seen that these orders were not always carried out, but on the whole the British displayed little wanton cruelty towards the inhabitants and usu- ally treated them with fair consideration. It is natural that they helped themselves to livestock and provisions from those whom they considered rebels and who put up so stiff a resistance to their King and Country.
THOMAS A. COFFIN, AN OFFICER IN THE BRITISH ARMY, TO
COLONEL FANNING
Newport, R. I. 25 Sept, 1779
. Before I proceed farther in my journal of occurrences, I shall beg leave to observe that the Inhabitants of the Elizabeth Islands are now in a predicament peculiar to themselves. Their situation is such as to admit of a free and constant intercourse
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EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
with the people of the Main, while their interviews with those in the Kings service are accidental, seldom and short. Reports favor- able to the Rebels are circulated with extreme assiduity; preju- dices are imbibed, and for want of authentic intelligence, egregi- ous mistakes are made relative to important facts. At the com- mencement of hostilities they engaged with reluctance, because they were exceedingly exposed to depredation from either party ; but at length, by the stratgems of the Rebels & their immediate influence from local circumstances, they were seduced into the commissions of open acts of treason, and they continued in arms against the King until they were deprived of them by Maj. Gen. Grey in Sept. 1778. He also obliged them to furnish considerable supplies for the Kings' Garrisons. By this exertion of the British troops they were not only more confirmed in their ideas of danger, but they were also furnished with a sufficient apology for remain- ing in a state of neutrality and peace. The Rebels (altho averse to relinquishment of their commission over them) did not suppose them of such consequence as to risk an army in their defence, but left them to make the best terms they could obtain on all occasions, still exercising a right of taxation, and obliging them to pay respect and obedience to the laws enacted by their usurped powers. .
Observations on my taxes to assessors, Aug. 28, 1779
The Elizabeth Island which used to produce something valu- able, the enemy have robbed of all its stock of every kind, and destroyed most of the Buildings.
This matter requires consideration of the gent" assessors; and an abatement of at least five sixths of ye sd. tax of £942. James Bowdoin
Peace had now come, bringing new cares and responsibilities to those in power. On his election as first President, Washington
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made the following reply to letters of congratulation from Bow- doin. 1789 GEORGE WASHINGTON TO JAMES BOWDOIN
New York, May 9th 1789
Sir ;
Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April.
To meet the congratulations and assurances of support from those Characters whose opinions I revere, will be of no small serv- ice in enabling me to overcome the diffidence which I have in my own abilities, to execute properly the important and untried task which my Country has assigned me.
No part of my duty will be more delicate - and, in many in- stances more unpleasing, than that of nominating or appointing persons to offices. It will undoubtedly often happen that there will be several candidates for the same office whose pretensions, abilities and integrity may be nearly equal - and who will come forward so equally supported in every respect as almost to require the aid of supernatural intuition to fix upon the right. I shall however, in all events have the satisfaction to reflect that I entered upon my administration unconfined by a single engagement - uninfluenced by any ties of blood or friendship, and with the best intentions and fullest determination to nominate to office those persons only, who upon every consideration, were the most deserving - and who would probably execute their several functions to the interest and credit of the American Union - if such characters could be found by my exploring every avenue of information respecting their merits and pretensions that it was in my power to obtain.
With great respect & esteem,
The Honble James Bowdoin
I am, Sir,
Your most Obedt Hble Servt
G. Washington
Chapter VII MARITIME NOTES
AT LREADY in considering exploration, piracy and Revolution- ary raids, some inkling of the "passing" along the island shores has been given. Here is shown a glimpse of the great stream of coastwise shipping which had its beginning three hundred years ago and grew and grew to amazing proportions. For about two hundred years this increase continued and at the period at which this history closes, the year 1843, the number of vessels sailing through Vineyard Sound was as many as eighty in a day. For a few years this volume of traffic lasted, and then gradually de- clined. Changes came in type and size of ship, and finally sail gave way to steam and power.
The year 1690 is dim and remote and suggests a primitive way of life, but it is startling to realize that in that year Wait Win- throp, had he kept watch, might have seen daily the same num- ber of ships passing the South Shore that we see at the present time.
With the increase in coastwise shipping and the growing number of wrecks in dangerous spots, a demand grew for beacons or lights. The first real light houses upon the coast were estab- lished in the eighteenth century. Before this there had been flares or beacons at certain points along the shore.
Boston Light, on Little Brewster Island, was the first, and was built in 1716. Beaver Tail Light, off Newport, was built in 1740; Brant Light, on Nantucket, in 1754; and the light house at Tar- paulin Cove, privately erected by Zaccheus Lumbert of Nan- tucket, was built in 1759. Curiously enough, considering its com-
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MARITIME NOTES
manding position, Gay Head Light was not established until forty years later, in 1799, and in 1828 Nobska Light was built, seventy years after Tarpaulin first shed its beam upon the Sound.
1762
To His Ex. Francis Bernard Esq. Capt. General & Governor in Chief and over his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England etc. ... on the last Wednesday of May A.D. 1762, Humbly Shews
Zaccheus Lumbert of a place called Tarpaulin Cove of Chil- mark in the County of Dukes County Innholder that he hath for the public good of the Whalemen & Coasters built a Light house at said Cove at his own cost & charges and hath kept the same for three years past at his own expense (save that the people of Nantucket have found him the Oyl) out of their meer County in part and partly for their own Benefit; and that said Cove is a harbour much used by Great Numbers of Vessells, Coasters as well as Whalemen, and a Light house there for no longer than your petitioner hath kept the same has been a means of saving many vessels from being lost, & found to be of great advantage to Navigation; and your Petitioner is not under such Affluent Circumstances that he is able to continue the said Light house and take care of it without he can have some further Encouragement than just the Oyl found, as he is obliged to give Constant Attend- ance thereupon to keep the light Burning; and as the affair is of Public Utility he humbly hopes that your Excellency & Honors will please so far to encourage the same as to make him an allow- ance therefore, at least as he keeps a Public Tavern, that he may be excused from paying any Duty of Exision [on] the liquors he sells in his house for the three years he hath kept said Light house, and for the future so long as he continues so to do, or that you would
.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
in your great Wisdoms Otherwise relieve him, as his Duty bound shall ever Pray.
Zacchus Lumbert (Ordered that six pounds be paid for above)
By studying shipping records and actually seeing what ships stopped at the Cove it is possible to picture the daily life at the Tarpaulin Inn or Cove House, as it is now called. Probably at times when numbers of vessels were in, the tavern was the scene of much gaiety. Several times it is mentioned that the officers went ashore to a dance or a frolic. In the 18th Century not only was there the Light House and Inn at Tarpaulin, but also a cot- tage at the head of the Cove and one on the east side. In addition there were for a time the Revolutionary barracks, and houses to the east and to the west of the French Watering Place, also at the Cottage Lot, Hollow Farm and the West End. The Cove was the gathering place for all the farmers and their families, and here they carried on a brisk trade in meat and vegetables, with visiting vessels. The daughters of the Robinsons, Weekses and Nyes who lived at the farms must have had a lively time with all the com- ings and goings of officers and men.
From the log books of merchantmen, privateers and whalers, and the files of newspapers of Boston, Nantucket and New Bed- ford, a rough chronological record has been made, a crude Tar- paulin Cove log.
Visitors of all kinds stopped here, not only seafaring people, but travelers on their way from port to port. The small sloops which plied back and forth between Dartmouth and Nantucket often dropped in. In winter, especially, a night at the Tavern must have been a welcome respite after a cold stormy trip around the Cape.
Among those who stopped to wait for wind and tide were two Quakers. Thomas Story, one of the early English leaders of the Friends, writes in 1704, "That evening, after the Meeting [at
1
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MARITIME NOTES
Nantucket] we set sail under a fair and fresh gale, and before it was dark arrived safe in Tarpalling Cove where we had good harbour till next morning, and then set sail for Dartmouth, where we arrived about the First Hour Afternoon, and lodged that night at Peleg Slocomb's; who was one of our company all this time, and assisting us with his own vessel which he navigated." Fifty years later the most notable of all American Friends, John Woolman, records in his Journal: "After the Yearly Meeting we were at meetings at Newtown, Cushnet, Long Plain, Rochester and Dartmouth. From thence we sailed for Nantucket, in com- pany with Ann Gaunt, Mercy Redman and several other Friends. The wind being slack we only reached Tarpawling Cove the first day; where going on shore we found a room in a public house, and beds for a few of us ; the rest slept on the floor. We went on board again about break of day, and though the wind was small, we were favoured to come within about four miles of Nantucket; and then about ten of us got into our boat and rowed to the harbor before dark; a large boat went off and brought in the rest of the pas- sengers about midnight."
A few lines from the logs of a couple of small Salem schoon- ers give perhaps typical notes of 18th Century travel through Vineyard Sound.
1769 LOG OF SCHOONER "POMPEY"
A journal of a passage . . . in the schooner pompey from Cap hinnery to Marthew Vinyaid
Tuesday March 14
Day fine pleasant caught six codfish. At 4 o'clock we saw Matha Vinyaid land. At 12 at night anchored in sound against tar- poleen cove.
Wednesday
Went down and anchored at Homes Hole.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
Log of Schooner "FORTUNE," Reuben Tinkam Master.
Remarks on Wednesday March 5, 1786
Furst Part small Bress, Hole sail Set, Se a schoner after us. But we run her out of Site. Clear & Cold Se a great number of fowl. Our Coock & Captain Run a Race a Crost the Deck the Captain beat him, he is a grate fellow Coock. In Lat. by Ob. 40° 17', . . . Nomans Land Bears S. b W. from Gay Head. We run in next to Elizabeth Isl. Elizabeth Island is on your larboard Hand going in and to the East is Woodshool.
Boston News Letter
No less than nineteen sail of vessels were cleared for a whaling voyage from Rhode Island week before last. A Providence brig, a Newport schooner and a Rhode Island sloop, all whalers, went ashore at Tarpaulin Cove and a Warren sloop was lost on Chatham Bar.
Shipping was of such vital interest in the seaboard cities that the newspapers gave considerable space to maritime news. In the beginning of the 19th Century the Boston Daily Advertiser and the Columbian Centinel received word from correspondents of the arrival and departure of vessels in all the seaport towns.
Word was often brought by returned travelers of the where- abouts of ships seen en route.
The early files of the Nantucket Inquirer are a mine of ship- ping intelligence and the paper is, and has always been, excellent throughout. The New Bedford Mercury, too, reported in full the comings and goings of the ships in whose fortunes almost every New Bedford citizen was concerned.
The following notes of arrivals and departures at Tarpaulin Cove come-largely from these newspapers.
Fare
View of Ship Porfeveranes JAMES Cook Commenton from BATAVIA Found To SALEM ANDGering
TARPAULZILE COVE at & AM Jaguary &r $805
WRECK OF SHIP "PERSEVERANCE" IN TARPAULIN COVE, JANUARY 31, 1805. FROM PAINTING BY M. CORNE
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1805 Columbian Centinel SHIP NEWS
Sat. Feb. 2, 1805
By Telegraph. The ship Perseverance, Capt Cook, 135 days from Batavia is ashore in Tarpaulin Cove and bilged. They want assistance! (Jan. 31)
Of the late disastrous Storm!
The severe N. E. storm (which commenced on Saturday night and continued till Tuesday evening) created distressing fears for the shipping, known as well as presumed to be on our coast and in the vortex of danger.
(A frost so extremely intense and of so long continuance, has not been experienced here since the year 1780.)
THE SHIP "PERSEVERANCE"
"The ship Perseverance was built in 1794 on the Merrimack River at Haverhill, then an important shipbuilding place, due to the great quantity of fine oak timber in the adjacent country. She was 245 tons and had a handsome figure head. She was registered November 5, 1795, in Salem to Simon Forrester, owner, and Richard Wheatland, Master. ...
"In the Perseverance Captain Wheatland made several voy- ages to Russia, making the first entry to Salem from Archangel in October, 1798. These almost Arctic voyages to Archangel were made to avoid the virtual blockade of Europe due to the wars of the French Revolution, and called for stout ships and very capable navigators. The Perseverance, while under Captain Wheatland, made some voyages to Canton and in April, 1798, arrived with a cargo of tea on which the duties were $24,562.10. The most inter- esting event in the history of the ship was in 1799; while coming up the old Bahama channel, a French privateer came up to them
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