History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 15

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 15

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It was the far-seeing policy of Mr. Russell to en- conrage such men to settle upon his territory, and accordingly we find the next settler to be a mechanic. He was a carpenter by the name of John Allen, and pur- chased a lot on the south side of what was formerly called Prospect Street. It was the corner of Union and Water Streets, extending from the last-named street to the water, and included the site now and for many years past occupied by the tavern. Gideon Mosher, another mechanic, purchased opposite to him on the north, his land being that which extends from the " shop of the apothecary to the shore." This he afterwards sold to Benjamin Taber, next north of Louden. Elmethan Sampson, a blacksmith, made a purchase, and gave for a lot eight rods in length and four rods wide the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings

and four pence lawful currency. Thus was the infant settlement begun by industrious and enterprising me- chanics. North and east the lot of Sampson was bounded by ways left for streets.

An important event now took place in the history of the new settlement. This was the arrival among the settlers of Joseph Rotch, and he in one sense fur- nished no exception to the class who laid the founda- tion of this thriving community. He had been a mechanic, and animated by a spirit of adventure he left his residence in one of the inland towns of Mas- sachusetts while yet a minor, passed through the Dartmouth territory, and took up his abode at Nantucket. Engaging with characteristic zeal and energy in that pursuit to which the people of the island, and in which, before the war of the Revolu- tion, they outstripped every other community in the world, he soon saw the many disadvantages under which the operations of business was carried on from that place. An examination of the neighboring har- bors satisfied him of the superiority of the settlement at Bedford, and in the year 1665 he transferred his business from Nantucket to the banks of the Acuslı- net. Having obtained a " local habitation" he gave the new settlement a name. It had arrived at a de- gree of importance which entitled it to a distinctive appellation, and out of compliment to the original proprietor he called the new village Bedford.

To understand in what way this could be construed into a compliment to the Russells the fact must be known that the family name of the Duke of Bedford was Russell. Had he called the rising village Rus- sell it would have doubtless been more grateful, as it would have been more just, and the associations which are connected with the historical recollections of the name of Russell are not dependent for their interest upon the title at that time borne by that branch of the nobility of England.

Joseph Rotch made a large purchase of land of his Russell namesake. One lot comprised ten acres of what is now and always has been a portion of the most valuable real estate of the town. He built the house immediately north of the apothecary-shop, at the corner of Bethel Court and Union Street, and another on the spot now occupied by a house owned by William Rotch, Jr., nearly opposite the Merchants' Bank. The last-named honse was among those burnt by the British. W. Rotch engaged largely in the whaling business, and under the influence which his capital and enterprise gave to the operations of the town it rapidly grew in population and importance. But these bright prospects were soon overcast.

The war of the Revolution found the infant settle- ment with their vessels upon the ocean and their business wholly at the mercy of the naval superiority of the mother-country. Joseph Rotch returned to Nantucket, and with the commencement of the con- test for independence all the business operations of the community were brought to an end. At this time

NEW BEDFORD.

the number of inhabitants had increased, and their dwelling-houses and places of business covered an extent of territory which gave the town the appear- ance of thrift and opulence. Besides the stores of the merchants and traders and the work-shops of the mechanics, a "rope-walk" had been established in the south part of the town, a distillery occupied a site near the Louden ship-yard, upon the lot now covered by the stone buildings of Howland & Co., and a spermaceti establishment, whose operations were as carefully guarded from the eye of the multi- tude, and were under the immediate care of Chaffee, who had been sent from Boston to carry on the mys- terious movement, was situated on a lane which is now known as Centre Street. Another important ac- cession of capital and business qualities had been made by the coming to the settlement of Isaac How- land, who, moving here from Newport, brought with him the means and the enterprise so much needed in every new undertaking. His house was situated on Union Street, and when erected was by far the most elegant and costly which had been built in the town. It occupied the land now taken for Cheapside, fronting on Union Street. It was built of brick and was three stories high. W. Howland was the proprietor of the distillery. John Howland, one of the Dartmouth settlers, moved to this place as early as 1665.

Such was the condition of New Bedford when the opening of the drama of the Revolution cut them off from that field of operations-the ocean-upon which they so exclusively depended for support. The stories which come to us of the destitution which fell to the lot of many of the fathers of this community almost surpass belief. Thus ruined in business, and without the means of a comfortable subsistence, the inhab- itants of the village could do nothing but quietly await the course of events. As they were mostly Quakers, they could not, consistently with the peace- able tradition of the sect, enter into the contest either in person or in feeling, and in that way to some ex- tent neutralize those uncomfortable reflections which the loss of property and the breaking up of their hon- est and wealth-conferring industry was calculated to produce. But whatever may have been the result to the personal operations of the merchants and me- chanics of the town, it was soon evident that the appearance of activity and bustle in the harbor was destined to be greatly increased.

The facility with which this harbor could be ap- proached soon attracted hither a large number of the American privateers, and in a short time the waters of the Acushnet were covered with these crafts, whose appearance at that time, as it did during the second contest with Great Britain, gave such grievous offense to peaceably-disposed followers of George Fox, who made up so large a proportion of the inhabitants.

The prizes, too, of these vessels were continually sent to this port, as well as many captured by the American and French vessels of war, and while the

Acushnet was covered with craft of this description, the store-houses and dwelling-houses, and even the barns and rope-walks, were filled with the valuable cargoes which had been discharged from them. Rum, gin, brandy, and wine, hemp and sail-cloth, dry- goods and sugars, the produce of every soil was crammed into every vacant room which could be found in the village. Purchasers and consignees, owners of privateers and merchants from all quarters were mingled with the officers and crews of both the captured and capturing vessels, so that the streets of the village and the house of entertainment kept by Louden presented a sight as novel as it was disagree- able to the peace-loving citizens. Such was the con- dition of things when, on the 5th day of September, 1778, it was rumored that a British fleet had been seen directing its course towards the Acushnet.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW BEDFORD .- ( Continued.) WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.1

New Bedford a Rendezvous for Privateers-Arrival of the British Fleet -Burning of the Village-Gen. Charles Grey's Official Report-Ac- count by Judge Edward Pope-Elijah Macomber's Account-Remi- niscences of John Gilbert-Reminiscences collected by Capt. Lemuel S. Aiken-Statement of Charles Grinnell-List of Property Destroyed -Some Doubtful Points-The Extent of the Calamity-Personal Sketches-Gen. Grey's Life and Character-Facts and Incidents.

ON the 5th of September, 1778, a hostile British fleet landed upon these shores, destroyed the shipping, and burned the town.

The British acted in the matter, there is no doubt, from motives of retaliation and punishment, rather than for purposes of plunder. The same expedi- tion afterward proceeded to Martha's Vineyard and carried off large numbers of cattle, with a consider- able sum of money, but there is no account of any property being carried away from Bedford, as the vil- lage was then called. Our harbor had from the be- ginning of the war been noted as a rendezvous for privateers, and the damage inflicted upon English commerce by the whalemen of Dartmouth had ex- cited the deepest resentment. As early as May, 1775, but a few weeks after the battle of Lexington, the British cruiser "Falcon" had captured in the bay three vessels belonging to Sandwich. A schooner was fitted out from here under the command of Capt. Egery, which recaptured two of these vessels with fifteen British officers and sailors. The privateer " Providence," whose name is associated with many brilliant naval achievements, had her rendezvous here. She was a sloop of about ninety tons, and at one time, it is said, she was under the command of John Paul Jones. Her most famous exploit, under

1 By B. F. H. Reed.

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Capt. Hacker, was with His Majesty's brig "Dili- gence," of eighteen guns, which she captured and brought into our harbor after a most determined and bloody engagement.

Maj .- Gen. Grey, under orders from Sir Henry Clin- ton, at New York, arrived in the bay and anchored off Clarke's Point about noon of Saturday, Sept. 5, 1778, with two frigates, a brig-of-war, and some thirty- six transports, with about five thousand men. The main body of troops was landed on the shore of Clarke's Cove that afternoon, and marched in the course of the night past the Head of the River, and passing on a road east of the village of Fairhaven direct to Scon- ticut Neck, the troops re-embarked and were all on board the fleet again before Sunday noon, the 6th. On the march a detachment turned to the eastward from County down Union Street, which when first laid out was called King Street, and burned the stores and many other buildings near the foot of the street, and the shipping at the wharves. A good many of the vessels destroyed were prizes, and large amounts of prize goods were burned. Another party pro- ceeded to McPherson's wharf, at Belleville, and de- stroyed the shipping there. There was a fort where Fort Phoenix now stands, and the garrison spiked the guns and retreated, and the fort was blown up by the British. The next night a party landed at Fairhaven, and was driven off by the troops who had collected under command of Maj. Israel Fearing.

We give a number of accounts of the raid by eye- witnesses, commencing with the report made to his commanding officer, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, by Gen. Charles Grey :

"Sir,-In the evening of the 4th inst. the fleet, with the detachment under my command, sailed from New London, and stood to the eastward with a very favorable wind. We were only retarded in the run from thence to Buzzard's Bay by the altering our course for some hours in the night, in conse- quence of the discovery of a strange fleet, which was not known to be Lord Howe's until morn- ing. By five o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th the ships were at anchor in Clarke's Cove, and the boats having been previously hoisted out, the debarkation of the troops took place immediately. I proceeded without loss of time to destroy the vessels and stores in the whole extent of Acushnet River (about six miles), particularly at Bedford and Fairhaven ; and having dismantled and burnt a fort on the east side of the river mounting eleven pieces of heavy cannon, with a magazine and barracks, completed the re-em- barkation before noon the next day. I refer your Excellency to the annexed return for the enemy's losses, as far as we were able to ascertain them, and for our own casualties.

" The wind did not admit of any further movement of the fleet the 6th and 7th than hauling a little dis- tance from the shore. Advantage was taken of this circumstance to burn a large privateer ship on the l

stocks, and to send a small armament of boats, with two galleys, to destroy two or three vessels which, being in the stream, the troops had not been able to set fire to.

" From the difficulties in passing out of Buzzard's Bay into the Vineyard Sound, through Quickse's Hole, from head winds, the fleet did not reach Holmes' Hole Harbor, in the island of Martha's Vineyard, until the 10th. The transports, with the light infantry, grenadiers, and Thirty-third Regiment, were anchored without the harbor, as I had at that time a service in view for those corps while the busi- ness of collecting cattle should be carrying on upon the island. I was obliged by contrary winds to relin- quish my design.

"On our arrival off the harbor the inhabitants sent persons on board to ask my intentions with respect to them, to whom a requisition was made of the arms of the militia, the public money, three hundred oxen, and ten thousand sheep. They promised each of these articles should be delivered without delay. I afterwards found it necessary to send small detach- ments into the island and detain the deputed inhab- itants for a time in order to accelerate their com- pliance with the demand.

" The 12th I was able to embark on board the ves- sels, which arrived that day from Rhode Island, six thousand sheep and one hundred and thirty oxen.

" The 13th and 14th were employed in embarking cattle and sheep on board our own fleet, in destroy- ing some salt-works, in burning or taking in the inlets what vessels and boats could be found, and in re- ceiving the arms of the militia. I here again refer your Excellency to returns.

" On the 15th the fleet left Martha's Vineyard, and after sustaining, the next day, a very severe gale of wind, arrived the 17th at Whitestone without any material damage.

" I hold myself much obliged to the commanding officers of corps and to the troops in general for the alacrity with which every service was performed.

"I have the honor to be, etc., "CHARLES GREY, M.G."

" Return of killed, wounded, and missing of the detach- ment under the command of Maj. Gen .- Grey.

" 1st battalion of light infantry-1 wounded, 3 miss- ing.

" 1st battalion grenadiers-1 killed, 1 wounded, 3 missing.

" 33d regiment-1 missing.

" 42d regiment-1 wounded, 8 missing.

" 46th regiment-1 missing.

"64th regiment-1 wounded.

" Total-1 killed, 4 wounded, 16 missing.

"The enemy's loss, which came to our knowledge, was an officer and 3 men killed by the advanced par- ties of light infantry, who, on receiving a fire from the inclosures, rushed on with their bayonets. Six-

NEW BEDFORD.

teen were brought prisoners from Bedford, to exchange for that number missing from the troops.

" CHARLES GREY, M.G."

"Return of vessels and stores destroyed on Acushnet River the 5th of September, 1778.

" S sail of large vessels, from 200 to 300 tons, most of them prizes.

" 6 armed vessels, carrying from 10 to 16 guns.

" A number of sloops and schooners of inferior size, amounting in all to 70, besides whale-boats and others ; amongst the prizes were three taken by Count D'Estaing's fleet.

" 26 store-houses at Bedford, several at McPherson's wharf, Crane's Mills, and Fairhaven ; these were filled with very great quantities of rum, sugar, molasses, coffee, tobacco, cotton, tea, medicines, gunpowder, sail-cloth, cordage, etc.

" Two rope-walks.

"At Falmouth, in the Vineyard Sound, the 10th of Sep- tember, 1778.

" 2 sloops and one schooner taken by the galleys, 1 loaded with staves.

" 1 sloop burnt.

"In Old Town Harbor, Martha's Vineyard.

" 1 brig of 150 tons burthen, burnt by the 'Scor- pion.'

" 1 schooner of 70 tons burthen, burnt by ditto.

" 23 whale-boats taken or destroyed.

" A quantity of plank taken.

"At Holmes' Hole, Martha's Vineyard.

"4 vessels, with several boats, taken or destroyed.

" A salt-work destroyed, and a considerable quan- tity of salt taken.

"Arms taken at Martha's Vineyard.

" 338 stand, with bayonets, pouches, etc., some pow- der, and a quantity of lead, as by artillery return.

"At the battery near Fairhaven, and on Clarke's Point.

" 13 pieces of ordnance destroyed, the magazine blown up, and the platforms, etc., and barracks for 200 men burnt.

" £1000 sterl. in paper, the amount of a tax col- lected by authority of the Congress, was received at Martha's Vineyard from the collector.

" Cattle and sheep taken from Martha's Vineyard. "300 oxen. 10,000 sheep.

"CHARLES GREY, M.G."

"Return of ammunition, arms, and accoutrements, etc., which were brought in by the militia on the island of Martha's Vineyard agreeable to Maj .- Gen. Grey's order, received at Holmes' Cove, Sept. 12, 13, and 14, 1778.

" Tisbury-132 firelocks, 16 bayonets, 44 cartridge- boxes or pouches, 11 swords or hangers, 22 powder- horns.

" Chilmark-2 halbuts, 127 firelocks, 20 bayonets, 30 cartridge-boxes or pouches, 12 swords or hangers, 40 powder-horns, 2 pistols, 1 drum.

" Old Town-129 firelocks, 14 bayonets, 3 cartridge- boxes, 2 swords or hangers, 9 powder-horns, 2 pistols.

" Total-2 halbuts, 388 firelocks, 49 bayonets, 77 cartridge-boxes or pouches, 25 swords or hangers, 71 powder-horns, 4 pistols, 1 drum.

" N. B .- 1 barrel, 1 half-barrel and quarter-barrel of powder, a great number of lead-shot or balls of different sizes in bags and boxes, and a great many flints. DAVID SCOTT,

"Royal Reg. of Artillery."

Account by Judge Edward Pope .- " While the town was in this flourishing state the British troops, to the amount of four thousand, landed on the west side of Clarke's Neck and at Clarke's Cove on Saturday even- ing, the 5th of September, 1778, and marched round to the Head of the River, over the bridge, and down the east side into Scontient Neck, leaving the villages of Fairhaven and Oxford on the right, burning on their way houses, mills, barns, etc. They encamped on Scon- ticut Neck until Monday, and then re-embarked on board their shipping. The succeeding night they attempted to land a large number of troops at Fair- haven, in order to burn that village ; but being dis- covered by Maj. Israel Fearing (now brigadier-gen- eral), who had the command of about one hundred or one hundred and fifty men, and determined to save the place if possible, or lose his life in the atttempt, and placed himself and men behind houses and stores near where he supposed they would land, and suffered them to reach the shore with their boats before a mus- ket was discharged, and they were then in great num- bers beginning to land, and had set fire to two or three stores within fifty or one hundred yards of Maj. Fear- ing and his men, who then fired upon them, and by the screechings and track of blood afterwards discov- ered, supposed many were killed and wounded. They immediately retreated aboard their ships, taking their dead and wounded with them. Thus, by the bravery of one man, that village was preserved."

Account by Elijah Macomber .- "The fort below Fairhaven village was garrisoned at the time by Capt. Timothy Ingraham, Lieut. Daniel Foster, and thirty- six non-commissioned officers and privates, making a total of thirty-eight men. There were eleven or twelve pieces of cannon mounted in the fort and about twenty-five casks of powder in the magazine, twenty casks having been procured a few days previous from the commissary store in Bedford, which was kept by Philip and Leonard Jarvis, brothers.

" About one o'clock p.M. Worth Bates, who lived at a place on the Bedford side called McPherson's Wharf, and who had that day been out fishing, landed at the fort in his boat and informed the cap- tain that a British fleet was in the bay and nearly up with the point. In a few moments they made their appearance by the point. The larger ships sailed up

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the river and anchored off abreast the fort. About one-half or more of the smaller vessels anchored off Clarke's Point, and the remainder dropped in to the east of the larger vessels and commenced embarking troops in a small cove a short distance to the east of the fort, behind a point of wood and under cover of the guns of the larger vessels. The fleet consisted of thirty-six sail. Immediately upon discovering them three guns were fired from the fort to alarm the conn- try, and a dispatch sent to Howland's Ferry for rein- forcements. The debarkation of the British troops commenced about two o'clock, both to the eastward of the fort and at Clarke's Cove. A company of artil- lery from Boston, consisting of about sixty men, under the command of Capt. (James) Cushman, was stationed at the head of Clarke's Cove, which upon the landing of the British fell back and retreated to the head of the Acushnet River. (James) Metcalf was first lieutenant of this company, and was shot during the night at Acushnet village. William Gordon, of this town, was second lieutenant and was taken pris- oner by the British, but made his escape before he arrived at the Head of Acushnet. The troops con- tinned to debark from the transports lying east of the fort until night, but neither their movements nor the motions of those landed at the cove could be seen from the fort.

"Not long after dark the detachment from the cove commenced the work of destruction. The first build- ings discovered in flames were the rope-walks of (owner unknown) and the distillery belonging to Isaac Howland, father of the late Isaac Howland, Jr. Soon after all the stores, warehouses, some barns and dwelling-houses, together with every vessel they could get at, were in flames. There was a large number of vessels in the harbor at the time, a large English ship having been brought in a prize by the French a few days previous and then lying at Rotch's wharf, as well as several others a short time before. Every vessel was burnt, excepting those lying in the stream, which they could not get at, and a small craft somewhere up the river. The number of vessels destroyed was sev- enty. Among the dwelling-houses burnt was (Joseph) Rotch's and Isaac Howland's.

" A little before nine o'clock, or between eight and nine, and after some of the vessels which had been set on fire on the Bedford side had drifted down towards the fort, the detachment which landed on the east side advanced upon the fort from the eastward. Two guns were fired at the fleet, and after spiking the guns the garrison retreated to the north, leaving their colors flying. The British, supposing the fort to be still garrisoned, opened a heavy fire upon it with their artillery, which soon ceased upon not being returned. The garrison were at this time ranged along a low wall a short distance to the north of the fort, waiting to discover the exact position of the enemy, in order to make their retreat successfully. They were soon discovered by the British, who fired upon them and

wounded a man by the name of Robert Crossman. A ball passed through one wrist and across the other. A hasty retreat was then commenced, and the enemy not knowing the exact position and strength of the Americans, did not make a vigorous pursuit. The whole garrison, with the exception of the wounded man and two others, John Skiff and his father, who were taken prisoners, succeeded in making their escape to the woods at some little distance north of Fair- haven, where they lay through the night, and until the British had passed them from the Head of the River. Before the fort was evacuated, a train of pow- der was placed from the magazine to the platform. The British, upon entering, after destroying the ram- rods, sponges, etc., applied a slow match to the maga- zine, which, communicating with the train left by the garrison, was blown up sooner than was intended, de- stroying one man,-at least the fragments of whose gun, cap, and accoutrements were afterwards discov- ered near by. After burning the barracks, guard- house, etc., the detachment moved north, destroying vessels, stores, etc., and formed a junction with the detachment from the west side somewhere towards the Head of Acushnet, after which they marched down towards the fort. They were out all night. The next day they re-embarked near the fort.

"The leading platoons of the detachment on the west side of the river fired upon three men, who were armed, near the house of Joseph Russell (father of Gilbert, Abraham, and Humphrey), two of whom were shot down. These men were Abraham Russell, about forty years of age; Thomas Cook, a young man who lived with him ; and Diah Trafford, about twenty-three years of age. The British advancing rapidly upon them with fixed bayonets, they begged for quarter, which was refused. Russell was killed immediately, his head being entirely cut to pieces. Cook died about daylight ; his bowels were ripped open. Trafford was shot through the leg and severely wounded in the ab- domen by a bayonet. He died the next day about ten o'clock, after making some statements relative to the death of his companions. They were all carried into Joseph Russell's house in the morning.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 15

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818