History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 18

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

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The year 1814 was filled with exciting events. Not only the villages in our own harbor, but the towns and hamlets of the neighboring coast

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

felt the keen sufferings of relentless war and the terrors incident to in- vasion and pillage. Individuals may have prospered on the spoils of this needless war, but the burdens and cruelties imposed on the people were grievous to bear. Such were the sad experiences of Falmouth.

January 28, 1814, the town of Falmouth was bombarded by the British gun brig, Nimrod. The particular cause for this severe chas- tisement was her sturdy resistance to the devastating operations of the English vessels. Early in the morning the Nimrod came out of Tar- paulin Cove, and at ten o'clock anchored abreast of the town. Captain Mitchell sent ashore, under a flag of truce, an imperative demand for the surrender of the two field pieces that had served to protect the vil- lage from the enemy. At the same time he demanded that the Nan- tucket mail sloop, then lying at the wharf, should be surrendered. The authorities of the town firmly refused to accede to these demands. They were then notified that two hours would be granted for the re- moval of women and children, at the expiration of which Captain Mitchell promised that the bombardment would begin.

At once the village was in the wildest excitement. The hastily sum- moned militia, as they came into the town to assist in its defence, were met by processions of women, children and the sick, who were all seek- ing refuge. During these hours the meager preparations for security were being completed. An entrenchment was thrown up, behind which many of the inhabitants retreated during the bombardment. The flag of truce passed to and fro, but without results, for the people were firm and would not submit. At noonday the Nimrod unmasked her bat- teries and the cannonade of the town was opened. All the afternoon shot and shell were thrown into the village, damaging many of the houses and destroying much property. Nor did the firing cease till some time after sunset. The next morning the Nimrod took her de- parture westward probably to join a man-of-war then lying at Tarpaulin Cove. Among the residences that were injured were those of Capt. John Crocker, Elijah Swift, Silas James, Thomas Brown, Ichabod Hatch, Shubael Hatch, jr., and Rev. Henry Lincoln. The salt works, located along the shore, received the especial attention of the batteries, and were much damaged.

Captain Crocker evidently was a leading spirit of the town, for his

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DEFENDERS OF NEW BEDFORD.

house was complimented with no less than eight 32-pound shot that were sent crashing through the building, destroying a large part of the furniture. It is said that when the first of these made entrance, Captain Crocker, who did not desert his castle during the siege, coolly took a chair and seated himself at the aperture, expressing his belief in the safety of his action by saying that shot wouldn't strike twice in the same place. For most convincing reasons, Captain Crocker changed his mind in regard to this generally accepted theory. Having occasion to go to another part of the house, he and his chair had but parted company, when crash came another 32-pounder through the same hole.

About thirty houses were injured during the bombardment. It is a remarkable fact that not a single life was lost, though several had nar- row escapes. More than 250 round shot were picked up that had been thrown into the village by the Nimrod.

The troops stationed in New Bedford for the town's defense during the year 1814 have been mentioned. The were commanded by Lieut .- Col. Benjamin Lincoln. Among his staff officers who were residents of the town were Maj. Edward Pope, Major of Artillery John Cogge- shall, Surgeon Samuel Perry, and Quartermasters William Kempton and Elijah Wilbour. The regimental records of Lieutenant-Colonel Lincoln (afterwards major-general) are in the possession of our Free Pub- lic Library, and were presented to this institution by Mrs. Caroline Whit- ridge, daughter of Major-General Lincoln.

The Head-of-the-River company (Acushnet), commanded by Cap- tain Reuben Swift, was stationed at Clark's Cove and along the shores of Clark's Point, the lines extending to the Smoking Rocks on the east side.

The following is the roster of the company taken from an original pay-roll in possession of Jireh Swift, jr .:

Captain, Reuben Swift; lieutenant, Job Millard; ensign, Seth Bumpus; sergeants, William Swift, James Ripner, Allen Bourne, Allen Chase, Zenas Cowen, Nathaniel Spooner, Thomas Hathaway, Thomas Collins; musicians, Joseph Purrington, Noah Waste, fifers; Thomas B. Smith, drummer ; privates, Elijah Parker, James Omans, William Hathaway, Joseph H. Jenne, Oliver Walcott, Peter Taber, Elias Hoard, Cor- nelius Pope, Phillip Reynolds, John Hunter, Russell Pierce, Lemuel B. Ormshy, Paul Gifford, Silas Pettis, Samuel Hammond, Samuel J. Tobey, John Freeman, James Davis, jr., Timothy Howland, Enoch Weston, John Williams, Nathan Brightman, Asa

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Crapo, John Myrick, Humphrey Russell, Henry Rider, Joshua Winslow, Abel Snell, John Allen, Stephen Samson, James Upham, Israel Chase, Abiel Crapo, Benjamin Rey- nolds, John Andrews, Benjamin S. Hathaway, Gardner Allen, Abraham Allen, Richard Winslow, Leonard Snell, Arnold Thomas, John Cummings, Jonathan Gifford, Calvin Wheeler, Joseph Chase, Stephen Wing, Lot Strange, Jonathan Higgins, William K. Greene, George Douglass, Alden Gifford, Edmund Jackson, David Weaden, John Eddy, Holder Mosher, Lemuel P. Reed, Major Pool, Stephen Sherman, John Edminster, William Tobey, James Wood, Stephen Wing 2d, Joshua Spooner, Stillman Washburn, Micah Spooner, Geurdon Demmings, Abraham Reynolds, Abiel Jones, jr., Ira Phillips, William Cowen, Isaac Babcock, Nathaniel Woddell, Isaac Case, jr., Jonathan Whalen, Uriah Sherman, James Burden, Sylvester Burt, Job White, Abiathar Pool, Ebenezer Tripp, Noah Reynolds, Alden Reed, Richard Mosher, Daniel Whalen, jr., William Rey- nolds, jr., Samuel Reed, jr., Simeon Burt, Holder Burden, Rufus Tripp, Gideon Mosher.

The monthly pay for service was as follows: Captain, $40; lieuten- ant, $30; ensign, $20; sergeant, $11; private, $8; musician, $9.

Capt. Rodolphus N. Swift relates a camp incident that he heard his father, who commanded the company, tell with great glee. His friend, Thomas Riddell, a sergeant of Captain Nelson's infantry company, and a well- known citizen, resolved to make a visit to him while in camp at Clark's Point. On his way down he was given a sheep by a generous- hearted farmer to present to the company mess. Cheerfully accepting the mission, and feeling that his visit would be doubly welcome, he shouldered the mutton and resumed his journey. It was night when he reached the lines. Trudging down the road, no doubt contemplating with satisfaction the pleasure he was to give his fellow soldiers, he was suddenly halted by a vigilant sentinel, made prisoner, and marched into the presence of Captain Swift as a "sheep-stealer." Explanations were followed by roars of laughter, and the closely-guarded prisoner was set free A royal feast was enjoyed by the company mess. It is not stated whether Mr. Riddell joined the banqueters, but it was many a year be- fore he heard the last of this episode in which he figured so promi- nently. Capt. Reuben Swift's sword is now in possession of his son, Mr. William C N. S .i .:

The position of the Society of Friends, " Resistance to taxes for war purposes," maintained during the American Revolution, was continued during the War of 1812. New Bedford capitalists were very largely of this faith, and the demands of the collectors were persistently refused. It was no enviable position for these representatives of the United

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REFUSAL OF QUAKERS TO PAY TAXES.

States government, and their experience must have been of a disagree- able character. Abrahamı Barker used to express his views upon the subject by relating the following story : " He said that during the War of 1812, his father and another person were appointed to collect the taxes in this town. Every Quaker whom they called on refused to pay, on conscientious grounds. On their rounds of duty, the collectors came upon one man to whom they prefaced their application by stating that they supposed he would refuse to pay as all other Friends had done, but they nevertheless deemed it their duty to call upon him. After considering the matter for a little time, he astonished them with the reply that he should not decline to pay the tax. The spokesman was led to inquire how it happened that he could conscientiously pay when the others had refused. He answered, 'The fact is that the money has got to go through so many hands like thine and Stephen Barker's, I have no fears that any of it will ever be used for war expenses.'"

New Bedford, like all New England, paid reluctantly what was con- tributed towards sustaining this war with the British Crown.

The sad experiences of Bedford village and Fairhaven during the British invasion of September 5, 1778, had left a powerful impression on their inhabitants. Many were still living and participating in the active affairs of the War of 1812 who suffered the sad experiences of that day. The younger generation must have been imbued with mem- ories of these events, transmitted through the traditions told at the fire - sides. That this was true is illustrated by the manifestations of fear frequently exhibited during the eventful months of 1814. Reports of the presence of war vessels in the vicinity were brought in by arriving craft, and kept the communities in a constant state of agitation.

In the middle of April the British war vessels, Victorious, Endymion and Peacock made their appearance in Vineyard Sound. On wings of the wind the fact was brought to our community, and with it the report that the fleet was to operate against New Bedford. Though the report proved to be without foundation, for the fleet left the sound April 20, its effect was fruitful in thoroughly alarming the people on both sides of the river. Many families packed their household goods and con- veyed them to places of safety. Ships and other sailing craft were moved up the river, and every precaution taken to place them beyond

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

the range of the guns of the enemy. The garrison at Fort Phoenix was alive with activity in putting the fort in trim, while the militia were busy in completing their preparations for the defence of the town.

The throngs of people who yearly picnic at the fort in the lovely summer days can little appreciate how important was their rock of de- fence to the villagers on either side of the river at this period. At the present day this little redoubt, with its battery of small guns, may seem to have been of puny strength. But let our readers remember, when they shall be tempted to look with ridicule upon this fortification, that in the times of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, it was in reality a tower of defence to our harbor, and was justly looked upon as being equal to any emergency that might arise. There can be no question but that Fort Phoenix, with its garrison, was an effective men- ace to the fleets of war vessels hovering in our bay during the times of which we write. But the enemy came not ; in a few days peace and quiet were restored, and the affairs of the towns moved on as before. This peaceful condition was of limited duration, for the advent of the State troops weekly arriving in the town served to keep matters in com- motion and prepared the people for the ruder shock that occurred a few weeks later on.

On Monday morning, June 13, 1814, the guns at Fort Phoenix sounded an alarm, announcing the approach of seven or eight barges from the British brig, Nimrod. The weather being hazy the boats were not discovered till they were close in to the fort. The towns on both sides of the river were at once in wild commotion, and preparations were made to receive the enemy. The militia gathered in force, and had the enemy attempted to land he would have met with a warm reception. It is evident that the enemy was aware of this, for the flotilla of barges soon withdrew from the river and proceeded eastward to effect (it is supposed) a landing at Mattapoisett. The sudden ap- pearance of the loaded barges caused intense excitement among the people. The defenceless portion of the community was taken into the suburbs, the roads leading out of the town were alive with wagons loaded with women, children, the sick, and household goods, and eve- rywhere was panic and confusion. Charles Eldredge said : " I was seven years old when this event took place, and I well remember the

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CONSTERNATION OF THE PEOPLE.

consternation that prevailed among the families on the other side of the river. I was taken in the arms of my father's housekeeper and carried to Ephraim Pope's house at Naskatucket, where our family remained until the excitement over the event had subsided."

Capt. Warren Delano, with his three sons, Warren, Frederick and Franklin, called at the house of Silas Allen, and taking his daughter Rebecca with him in his chaise, drove to Long Plain.1 Here he left the four children in charge of a friendly farmer and awaited the anticipated attack on the village. That night all four of the little ones slept in the same bed with the good woman of the house. The farmhouses scat- tered along the frontier of the towns were objective points to the refu- gees, and proved to be asylums of rest for the weary and helpless. Says our friend, George H. Taber: "Our house" (the same in which he now resides at Oxford village) " was filled all day long with neighbors from the village, who had fled from their homes." The venerable Mrs. Rachel Samson says that she was at the little school-house, then located on the corner of North and Main streets, in Oxford village, when the guns at Fort Phoenix sounded this alarm. The session came to a speedy close, and the children, filled with frantic fear, sped to their homes. When Mrs. Sampson arrived at her father's (Richard Wood's) house, she found it filled with people from the lower village. Some of them stayed all night ; and she remembers that the front hall stairs were occupied by a number of children, who slept through the weary hours, with their little heads pillowed on the stairs above them. Her father was making preparations to shave, and was in the act of warming water in a skillet by the fire when the guns boomed their notes of warning. He sensibly postponed the completion of his toilet, and buckling on his regimentals, hied away to the village to join his milita company. These incidents may not be of much value, perhaps, but they serve to show

1 This young miss was the late Mrs. Thomas C. Stoddard, of Fairhaven, who died in 1890 at the age of eighty-two. She related a story of Capt. Noah Stoddard, who one day visited Fort Phoenix in an official capacity. As he approached the officers' quarters he saw a man apparently transact- ing some business with an officer in charge. Looking through a window, he saw them secrete a paper lin the table drawer, upon hearing his approach. Entering the room Captain Stoddard de- manded the paper, which proved to be a pass granted by the fort officer to a New Bedford mer- chant, allowing passage for his vessel to the lower harbor for the purpose of supplying the en- emy's war vessel with fresh provisions. The sequel was the marching of the fort officer through the town on the following day, on his way to Boston for trial.

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

the terrified condition of the people during these days of anticipated in- vasion by the enemy.

A party of militia marched to the assistance of the people at Matta- poisett, but the barges passed that place, the enemy showing no dispo- sition to land. On the afternoon of June 13, a meeting of the citizens of Bedford village was held to consult upon the grave condition of af- fairs and to adopt additional means for the defence of the town. Guards were stationed at different points, who were charged with the duty of giving prompt alarm on the approach of the enemy during the night. We may well suppose that little sleep came to the disturbed house- holds during these weary hours, for at night the signal guns from the fort sent out again their notes of alarm, and once more were renewed the scenes of terror, intensified by the blackness of night. "They are vividly before me now," said Thomas Durfee. "My father then lived on Johnny Cake hill (Bethel street), and my room was on the south side of the house and overlooked the river. At the boom of the first gun I leaped from my bed, and saw the flash of the second as I stood at the window. Hastily dressing, I rushed down stairs, where I found the household in the most intense fright, my mother walking the floor and wringing her hands in terror. I made good time in reaching Captain Nelson's, where I obtained my order for arms and ammunition, and joining the military company, marched to the river and waited in vain for the enemy to land." The cause of this second alarm was the report brought in by a man from the Vineyard who said he saw two barges a mile or two this side of Black Rock. A statement was made by the captain of a Swedish vessel, who boarded the Nimrod a few days after to obtain permission to clear his vessel from this port, that they had come for the express purpose of capturing the fort and to burn and destroy the shipping in the harbor, but not being able to ar- rive before daylight they suspended operations till a more favorable occasion.

After the British barges had left the harbor they proceeded up the bay, and under a flag of truce effected a landing at Wareham Narrows at II o'clock A. M. The invading force consisted of 225 armed men in six barges. Their coming was not unexpected, for information of it had reached the town early in the morning. The surrender of the pub-

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INCIDENTS OF THE INVASION.

lic buildings was peremptorily demanded, and the threat made that should the troops be in any manner interfered with, every house within reach should be burned. The demands of the enemy were acceded to, for the town was unable to make any resistance. To make their posi- tion doubly secure, the British seized several men and boys who were detained as prisoners, and the enemy declared that they should be put to death if the promises were violated. After stationing sentinels back of the village, the soldiers proceeded with their work of destruction. Twelve vessels were set on fire, five of which were totally consumed. The torch was applied to the cotton factory, but the flames were extin- guished soon after the enemy's departure. It was estimated that $25,- 000 damage was done to the property in the town. These facts were gathered from accounts of the affair that bear the date of June 17, 1814, and over the signatures of the selectmen of the town, Benjamin Bourne and Benjamin Fearing.

The story is told of Billy Freeman, a character of this town, that, observing a squad of soldiers in Squire Fearing's cornfield, he mounted a fence and shouted to the representatives of the British crown, "Say now, you'd better get out of that lively, for if Squire Fearing catches yer he'll give yer h -- 1." This threat did not seem to alarm the soldiers, for they continued in their work of destruction. When the enemy had departed, some one told Billy that the invaders were English soldiers. This information fairly paralyzed the fellow for a time, and when he had sufficiently recovered, he put straight for the adjoining woods and was not seen again for several days. Billy was well known all about the neighboring towns for his wit and humor. One day he called at Hum- phrey Taber's store, at Long Plain, to get his mug of cider from the barrel that in the season was always kept on free tap. Mr. Taber drew a large pitcher full and from it poured a glass for him. Disposing of this, Billy took up the pitcher and drained it to the bottom. The pro- prietor gazed at him with a look of indignation and remarked, "I didn't mean all that for you!" " I didn't mean to drink it all," said Billy, " but the cider was so hard that I couldn't bite it off."

The passage up the bay of this flotilla of armed British barges carried terror to the inhabitants along shore, and every little community was thrown into the wildest excitement. The arrival of the militia from the

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

inland towns added to the confusion that reigned everywhere ; and the inspiring strains of drum and fife, heard along the roads leading to the coast, made the day one long to be remembered. It happened on this very eventful morning that a happy thought came to the young wife of Tilson Denham, then a resident of Rochester town, and for many years afterward a citizen of New Bedford. It was a lovely day to visit her mother at Great Neck, Sippican, the good old name of Marion. It was not long before she was mounted on her saddle- horse, and with her babe in her arms was cantering off through the woods, joyous in the an- ticipation of her visit to the old homestead. As she emerged from the woods and was entering the village, she found the terror- stricken people packing their household treasures, for the Nimrod panic had struck the town, and the same scenes of fright were being enacted that had taken place at Bedford and Fairhaven. Seeing this, Mrs. Denham was soon galloping homeward, making as good time as her horse was capable of doing. When half way home she was suddenly brought to a halt by the sound of martial music and the tread of advancing soldiery. Pa- tiently she waited, and soon there came down the road to the swinging music of fife and drum the Rochester militia company, Capt. Micah H. Ruggles commanding, then on their way to the defence of the seacoast. Urgent as seemed their country's call, the courtesies due to the fair sex were not overlooked, for at the gallant captain's command the soldiers halted, opened ranks, presented arms, and, at Captain Ruggles's request, Corporal Denham left the ranks and escorted his wife and baby through the lines, amid the plaudits of his fellow soldiers. As the company continued their march toward the sea, Mrs. Denham and her baby pro- ceeded on their homeward journey. It is proper to mention the fact that that baby was our well-known and honored citizen, Tilson B. Den- ham.

The weeks that followed the visit of the Nimrod's barges to our har- bor, and their subsequent attack on Wareham, resulted in awakening the inhabitants to a keen appreciation of the serious character of the situation. The Nimrod still hovered in the bay and was liable at any moment to make an assault on the town. Charles Eldredge said that, with other boys, he often climbed to the belfry of the church, now Phoenix Hall, and watched with eager interest the movements of this

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THE HAUNTING "NIMROD."

brig in the bay. Troops from the interior were constantly arriving. On Monday, June 21, fifty muskets were received from Boston for the use of the Fairhaven militia, and quantities of ammunition were promised in a few days. Let the reader keep in mind that the sole means of pro- tection in these hours of peril was furnished by the State of Massachu- setts, the only visible force of the United States government being the two gunboats. These, after an absence of several weeks, returned to the harbor after the alarm of June 13 had passed. Their arrival was sarcas- tically announced in the words, " No fear of an attack now," and they were spoken of as a species of defence that would make John Bull's dogs laugh.

A number of citizens who were exempt by law from military duty, or- ganized themselves into an independent company, under the command of Capt. Robert Taber and Lieutenant Haskell. June 20 two young men were arrested and examined on a charge of treason, for assisting the enemy in their attempt to enter the harbor and in their attack on Wareham. The evidence was conclusive that both these men were on the enemy's barges, and strong evidence was presented that they had received money for their services. In their defence they stated that they were compelled to take the part they did. They were committed for trial at the Circuit Court in Boston.

July 15, 1814, we find the citizens still active in their preparations for defence. The volunteer company, organized under Captain Taber, had passed to the command of Capt. John Avery Parker (the first president of the Merchants' National Bank). As this company was to meet that evening for military exercise, the editor of the Mercury urged "that the numbers of this association be increased to 100 men, and then it would be an efficient force, in conjunction with the militia and artillery, for the defence of the town and shipping. In the hour of peril, when we are deserted by our own pusillanimons national administration, let every true American deem it his indispensable duty to add his exertions in conjunction with our excellent and magnanimous Governor [Strong] to defend the soil and independence of Massachusetts."

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 18

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170