USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 34
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Marthas Vineyard, June 9, 1776
FIELD ORDERS.
Ist All prophane cursing and swearing and Card playing in or near the camp forbidden. I shall take notice of the first crime of that Nature which comes to my knowledge.
2nd.Forty men including Capt. Benja. Smith stationed at Edgartown near the Harbour. Twenty men at Homes's Hole East side including one Lieut. Thirty men West side including one Lieut. Twenty men Lumberts Cove including one Lieut. Forty men at Manamsha in- cluding one Lieut. These are stations until further orders.
3rd Those stations that have more Men Remove them forthwith to the station at Manamsha.
4th. Each party to keep suitable Guard. Turn out Boat and other Parties when Required by their officers. Hail all Boats as their officers shall Direct. In Alarm the parties to repair to the Alarm, Leaving the Guard. Capt'n Nathan Smith having no particular Station to see that preparations be made on the West side of Homes's Hole for Cannon and to visit the other Stations. Lieut. Bassett to Intrench at Manamsha as soon as he can procure Tools.
BAR'H BASSETT Com.2
Two days later Major Bassett was inspecting his command at Naushon. He wrote from there a letter to the Council and
1Mass. Archives, CCIX, 315. The cannon were, however, useless. "I am in Bound in Duty to let you know," he wrote to the General Court, on June II, "there is no use for them without Ball, Ladles, &c., which renders them unfit for use." On June 22 the Council ordered the cannon to be turned over to the armed brig belonging to the Colony at Dartmouth, and replaced them with two nine pounders. (Ibid., CCIX, 3.)
2Mass. Archives, XLIX, 112.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
House of Representatives on June II, in which he stated the need of "Intrenching Tools which must be used for the pro- tection of said posts" placed over the Islands. He also in- formed them "that it will not be in my power to afford pro- tection which is necessary to these Islands westward of Tar- polan Cove Island & the vessels that ar constantly passing without I have at least Ten Whale Boats." 1
On June I the company commanded by Captain Benja- min Smith showed the following soldiers on duty under him, and stationed at East Chop: -
[Mass. Archives (Revolutionary Rolls) XXXVI, 239.]
PAY ROLL OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN SMITH'S COMPANY ON THE SEA COAST ESTABLISHMENT STATIONED ON THE ISLAND OF MARTHA'S VINE- YARD, FROM THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE TO THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1776.
Benjamin Smith
Captain
Obed Norton
Private
Malatiah Davis
Lieutenant
Thomas Cunningham
66
James Shaw
Hugh Stuart
William Norton
Sergeant
Thomas Neal
66
Joseph Smith
Samuel Nickison
66
Harlock Smith
Peleg Crossman
Seth Cleveland
Corporal
John Rogers
Henry Butler
66
Edward Burgess
66
Jonathan Pease, Jr.
Seth Crossman
John Atsatt
Drummer
Anthony Crossman
66
Henry Coffin
Fifer
John Holley, Jr.
66
Jethro Covel
Private
Cornelius Norton
66
Francis Meader
John Smith, Jr.
66
Joseph Covel
David Smith
Ichabod Cleveland
Timothy Smith
66
Enoch Coffin, Jr.
Pelatiah Russell, Jr.
66
Jonathan Cottle
66
Joseph Covel, Jr.
66
William Waley
66
Ebenezer Bassett
66
Joseph Francis
66
John Flanders
66
Obediah Skiff
66
Prince Skiff
Thomas Coffin, Jr.
66
James Hillman
Silas Daggett
Freeman Luce
66
William Norton, Jr.
66
Abisha Rogers
Henry Dunham
66
Noah Walden
66
Zephaniah Butler
66
Richard Bunker
66
Cornelius Ripley
66
Thomas Nickison
Benjamin Vinson
66
Elijah Norton
Noah Norton
66
Richard Hillman
Joseph Holley
66
John Marchant, Jr.
1Mass. Archives, CCIX, 315. On June 22, the Council allowed him ten whale boats, twelve shovels, six spades, and four pickaxes. (Ibid., CCIX, 3.)
348
The Vineyard in the Revolution, 1774-1778
William Smith Private Levi Young Private
Henry Osborn
Thomas Claghorn, Jr.
Sprowell Marchent
William Swain
Cheney Look
66
Seth Cottle
William Roberts, Jr.
Thomas Atsatt
Zimri Luce 66
Enoch Coffin, 3d
Joseph Fredrick
66
Uriah Norton
66
David Davis
John Sprague
66
Jonathan Smith
On the same date the company commanded by Captain Nathan Smith renewed its enlistment, but the rolls for this period are not preserved. It is known, however, that it con- tinued in service.
On June 25, the General Court ordered "that one piece of Cannon a six pounder now at Elizabeth Islands be removed from thence and placed at Martha's Vineyard and that they be supplied with two nine pounders now at Boston. And that the Commissary General be and he is hereby directed to de- liver the same to Joseph Mayhew Esq., or order, and also for the use of the cannon and Men stationed at the Vineyard five Barrels of Powder forty round of shot for each of said Can- non and three hundred weight of leaden balls. He the said Mayhew to be accountable to this Court for the same."
ADDITIONAL TROOPS SENT TO THE ISLAND.
The General Court acceded also, on June 25, to the rep- resentations of the County Committee so far as to allow an additional company for the defence of the Vineyard, making in all three companies which were placed under the command of Barachiah Bassett of Chilmark, who was commissioned as . major of this division of the seacoast-defence establishment.1 The militia regiment for the county was also reorganized in April of this year with the following officers: -
Beriah Norton, Colonel; Uriah Tilton, Major.
First Company: Richard Whellen, Captain; Joseph Pease, Ist Lieutenant.
Second Company: Joseph Allen, Captain; William Case, Ist Lieu- tenant; Jonathan Athearn, 2nd Lieutenant.
Third Company: Samuel Norton, Captain; Mark Mayhew, Ist Lieutenant; John Cottle, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant.
Fourth Company: Samuel Norton, Captain; Abner Norton, Ist Lieutenant; Henry Butler, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant.
Fifth Company: Matthew Merry, Captain; Timothy Chase, Ist Lieutenant; Cornelius Norton, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant.
1 Mass. Archives, CCIX, 209.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
A change was made in the officers of the first company on June 7, as follows: -
Matthew Mayhew, Captain; Joseph Norton, Ist Lieutenant; Ezra Cleveland, 2nd Lieutenant.1
The additional company granted by the General Court was raised by Captain John Russell, from the Cape, who was com- missioned for the purpose, and the roster of his company shows that it was almost entirely recruited off the island, ac- cording to directions, all the officers being men from the cape, and the names of the privates having the family names of Cape Cod people. A few were residents of our island. The following is the list of officers and men:
[Mass. Archives (Revolutionary Rolls), XXXVI, 198.]
ROLL OF CAPT. JOHN RUSSELL'S COMPANY RAISED TO DEFEND THE SEA COAST OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY STATIONED AT MARTINS VINEYARD UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR BARICKIAH BASSETT.2
John Russell
Captain Lieutenant
Joseph Fuller
Private 66
Stephen Fish
Benjamin Hallett
Silas Hatch
Sec. Lieut.
Thomas White
Benjamin Goodspeed
Ist Sergt.
Thomas Whelding
Abner Howes
Sergeant
Thomas Whelding, Jr.
Timothy Jones
Benjamin Gorham
66
Benjamin Blackford
Jonathan Hawes Lemuel Baxter
66
David Gorham
66
Joseph Hall, Jr.
66
Samuel Webber
66
Peter Burgess
Joshua Brimhall
Drummer
Benjamin Nicholson
Jonathan Russell
Fifer
Covel Burgess
66
Joseph Hammond Isaac Parker
Private
Barzillai Baker Seth Matson
66
Joseph Nicholson
Burton Matson
66
Zachariah Fuller
66
Benjamin Hallett, Jr. John Gorham
Simon Goodspeed
Enoch Nicholson
Edward Crocker
66
Lemuel Fish
George Hilliard
66
Isaac Covens
Benjamin Hillman
66
Simon Berry
66
1Mass. Archives, (Revolutionary Rolls), XLIII, 207. Compare Ibid., CXLVI, 378, where Uriah Tilton is spoken of as Second Major.
2Ibid., XXXVI, 198, 201. This company was raised agreeably to a resolve of June 25, 1776, to serve until December I next. Each man was required to furnish himself "with a good fire arm & Bayonet fitted thereto if possible, & also a cartouch Box & Blanket." (Mass. Arch., CCIX, 381.)
Jesse Maker
David Blossom
Church Blossom
66
John Rumble
66
John Matthews
Corporal 66
Malachi Baxter
60
350
The Vineyard in the Revolution, 1774-1778
Philip Harlow
Private
Jacob Baker
Private 66
William Cahoon
Corneleus Baxter
Reuben Phillips
66
Jonathan Kelly
Henry Binyon
66
Eben Baxter
Lemuel Green
William Draper
66
Isaac Luce
Abraham Godfrey John Crocker
66
Peter Merry
Timothy Crocker 66
George Luce
66
Samuel Daggett
66
John Blackford
66
Thomas Pacefull
66
Nathan Crowell
66
Caleb Williams
Edward Churchill
James Titus
66
Samuel Taylor
66
Andrew Nicam
66
John Robbins
66
Stephen Nicholson
66
William Gerrish
66
Benjamin Crowell
66
Joseph Thatcher
66
Mathias Gorham
66
John Burgess
James Nicholson
66
Abner Butler
66
Elisha Godfrey
66
Benjamin Butler
66
Prince Webber
William Butler
66
Prince Gage
60
Simeon Hatch
66
William Bassett
66
Lot Bacon
66
66
Peter Norton
66
Abner Cottle
66
William Merry
66
Seth Luce
William Crocker
Eben Eldridge
66
Uriah Hall
Samuel Bassett
66
William Farris
This made on July I a total effective force of about two hundred and fifty men in the seacoast-defence establishment, besides which the local militia added probably as many more, who could be called upon to respond to alarms. This was a sufficient number for ordinary purposes, such as repelling a land- ing force from vessels of war, in any strength they would probably employ. The situation was satisfactory in every way, and the establishment of a garrison here could not but be a constant menace to the king's ships, as the men comprising it were amphibious, at home on the water as well as the land. By this time the American army had left Boston and taken up a position on Long Island, General Howe's troops were in Halifax and the Continental Congress was in session at Phila- delphia discussing independence. On the "Glorious Fourth" of this month the Declaration was promulgated and, as far as pronouncements could establish the fact, the American people had definitely severed their political allegiance to their ancient sovereigns. Doubtless in due time, this immortal expression of the principles of the rights of mankind was read to the sea- coast-defence troops in their camps along our shores, as it
35I
History of Martha's Vineyard
had been elsewhere as soon as it could be circulated. The people also had a chance to listen to its thrilling denunciations of the tyranny of kings, and of George the Third in particular, for this document was distributed for the information of the American nation to their inspiration in the contest now being waged, and it was generally read at some public demonstra- tion by the town clergyman or the popular leader of the pa- triots. The battle of Long Island, which took place in August, resulted disastrously to the American army, and consternation prevailed as usual among the timid. It was seen that every available man would be needed to sustain the cause of freedom. The theatre of war was removed from New England, and this region was freed of the king's troops.
In September, Joseph Mayhew and Shubael Cottle, rep- resenting Chilmark and Tisbury, petitioned the general court for ten whaleboats for the use of the island garrisons, and six were allowed.1 The commissary general was also ordered to provide apparatus for three cannon, which were to be sent to the Vineyard.2 It is not known that any occasion arose for their use, or that any exploits on the sea took place during this time. The enemy had practically abandoned New England, and opportunities were wanting. The local companies at- tached to the sea-coast establishment were composed of the following men on September I, as shown on pay rolls: --
[Mass. Archives (Revolutionary Rolls), XXXVI, 239, 246.]
PAY ROLL FOR CAPTAIN BENJAMIN SMITH'S COMPANY STATIONED AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER TILL THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER 1776.
Benjamin Smith
Captain
John Flanders
Private 66
Malatiah Davis
Lieutenant
Freeman Luce
James Shaw
Abisha Rogers
66
William Norton
Sergeant
William Swan
66
Joseph Smith
Seth Cottle
Harlock Smith
66
Thomas Atsatt
Seth Cleveland
Corporal
Uriah Norton 66
Thomas Claghorn
Jethro Dunham
Prince Skiff
Ephraim Dunham 66
John Atsatt
Drummer
Noah Pease 66
Jethro Covel
Private
Elijah Dunham
Corneleus Ripley
66
Elijah Dunham [Jr.]
Jonathan Cottle
66
John Clark
66
66
1Mass. Archives, CLXXXI, 194. Petition was dated Watertown, Sept. 5, 1776, and the allowance on the 10th following.
2Ibid., CLXXXI, 195.
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The Vineyard in the Revolution, 1774-1778
Noah Norton
Private
John Butler, Jr. Silas Marchant
Private
Hugh Stuart
66
Peleg Crossman
66
John Kelley
Timothy Smith, Jr.
66
Zachariah Pease
66
Silas Daggett
Joseph Ripley
William Norton, Jr.
Prince Daggett
William Roberts, Jr.
66
John Daggett
Zimri Luce
Ansel Norton
66
Joseph Fredrick
66
Elijah Norton
66
Richard Hillman
66
David Dunham
Thomas Beetle
Elijah Stuart
Anthony Crossman
Benjamin Vinson
Joseph Covel
66
Noah Look
Ezra Cleveland
Enoch Coffin, Jr.
66
William Smith
.
Sylvanus Crosby
60
Corneleus Norton
66
John Holley, Jr.
66
Joseph Frances
"
Thomas Nickison
66
Thomas Cunningham
66
William Roberts
.6
David Smith
66
Silas Butler
66
Zephaniah Butler
60
Luke Gray
66
Joseph Covel, Jr.
Timothy Vinson
66
Eliphalet Covel
John Smith
John Sprague
66
[Mass. Archives (Revolutionary Rolls), XXXVI, 256.]
A ROLL OF CAPTAIN NATHAN SMITH'S SEACOAST COMPANY STATIONED ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD THE YEAR 1776, MADE UP FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER TO THE 21 DAY OF NOVEMBER BEING TWO MONTHS AND 20 DAYS OR TWO THIRDS OF A MONTH.
Nathan Smith
Captain Ist Lieut.
Varnel Clifford
Private
Jeremiah Manter
Aaron Luce
Fortunatus Bassett
2nd Lieut.
Nathan Clifford
David Merry
Sergeant
David Hillman
66
Joseph Mayhew
Nathaniel Nickerson
66
James Winslow
Thomas Hillman
66
Peter West
Corporal 66
William Butler Pain Tilton 66
Barzillai Crowell
66
Jacob Clifford
66
Nathan Bassett
Drummer
Simon Mayhew
66
Lothrop Chase
Fifer
Thomas Wilkins 66
66
Benjamin Bassett Arvin Luce
Private 66
Elijah Look
66
John Mayhew
66
Lot Rogers
Thomas Cox
66
Eliphalet Rogers
66
Peter Cottle
Elverton Crowell 66
Gershom Hillman
Moses Luce
Jonathan Pease
66
Thomas Ripley
Ruben Pease
66
Matthew Daggett
66
Silas Cottle
Lemuel Luce
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Abner Hillman Lot Hillman
Private
Samuel Lumbert
Private
66
Jeremiah Luce
66
Shubael Luce
Thomas Luce
*
Jonathan Look Abisha Dunham
66
Thomas Chase
George Hillman 66
William Luce
Malachi Luce
66
Lot Luce
66
Nathan Luce
Benjamin Luce
66
William Harding
66
Joseph Luce
Sylvanus Luce
Samuel Hammett
66
Timothy Hillman
Henry Luce
Joseph Norton
66
James Butler
Anthony Swazey
66
Ebenezer Morse
60
Solomon Luce
Thomas Gardner
William Allen
66
Nathan Weeks
Shubael Harding
66
Zephaniah Chase
66
William Daggett
[Thomas] Manchester
Job Norton
[Jonathan] Merry
John Manchester
Augustus Allen
66
Jonathan Manter
Thomas Lassey
66
Still there was constant vigilance on the part of Major Bassett, for there was never a time when an armed cruiser might not enter one of the harbors and attack the inhabitants. On September 10 he issued these "Field Orders":
Field Orders:
As there appears some danger of an attack every soldier is required to repair to his Barrack at Eight of the Clock every Evening on Tattoo Beating. per
BAR'IAH BASSETT Com.
Marthas Vineyard Sept. 10, 1776 1
What the occasion of the alarm was is not known, but we may infer that it was a threatened expedition from New York to rid the Sound of its dangers to the passage of the vessels of the enemy's fleet. But if it had been threatened it was not carried out, as the British General Howe was busy trying to drive Washington out of New York.
1 Beriah Norton MSS. in Pease Collection.
354
Samuel Weeks
Thomas Smith
The Vineyard Abandoned to Neutrality
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE VINEYARD ABANDONED TO NEUTRALITY.
In the autumn of 1776 our army numbered only 10,000 effectives, owing to sickness among the raw levies, furloughs, and the casualties of war. At this time the British troops were being reinforced each month with the "Hessian hire- lings" and their strength was thrice that of ours. Every available man was needed at the front now, as Washington was aware that Howe proposed to end the rebellion at one blow, in an attempt to surround him at New York. Gradu- ally the forces of the king pushed Washington back to the hieghts of Harlem, and to White Plains, and the struggle for the command of the Hudson was becoming desperate. So far it had been a losing one for the Americans. The call for men was urgent, and the Massachusetts General Court sought to supply the requirements at the expense of her own frontiers. The greater end was paramount, and she sacrificed the sea- coast-defence establishment as her contribution to the general result. Accordingly, on November 16, after the battle of White Plains, and on the day of the fall of Fort Washington, the council passed the following order affecting the Vineyard: -
Council Chamber, November 16, 1776.
To Barachiah Bassett
You are hereby in a Pursuance of a Resolve of the General Court of this State ordered forthwith to discharge the officers and men stationed at Marthas Vineyard excepting twenty five men, including one Lieutenant one Sergeant & one Corporal from the Service of this State and you are hereby also ordered forthwith to discharge from the above service the officers and men stationed at the Elizabeth Islands, excepting twenty one men, including Lieut. Nye and two sergeants and you are directed to designate the Persons to be retained still in the service agreeable to the above order; after which you are to look upon yourselves as discharged from the Military service you have been engaged in at the said Marthas Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands.1
Similar notices were sent out to the commanding officers of the seacoast-defence men at Plymouth, Truro, Dartmouth, Falmouth, and elsewhere, so that the Vineyard was not alone in the reduction of her local forces. These companies posted
1Mass. Archives, CLXXIII, 42.
355
History of Martha's Vineyard
here were not subject to orders for duty elsewhere, as they were recruited "to serve on the Island of Marthas Vineyard," and as a consequence discharge was the only course open to the authorities. It was expected that the men would join new companies raised for the general army without restriction to sphere of duty. Indeed, many Vineyard men preferred service elsewhere, particularly on board of privateers, and the crew lists of many of them will show names familiar to us at this period and throughout the war. Many of the discharged soldiers enlisted in other regiments, as soon as they were formed, and the lists of our Vineyard men who served in the war will show, as given elsewhere in this work, that they did not allow this home-guard duty to end their patriotic sentiments. By the early part of the next year they were enrolled in companies mustered in on the Cape, or elsewhere in Plymouth County, and those towns are credited with quotas filled in an appre- ciable measure by residents of this island. There being no companies raised here for general service, our towns do not share the advantages of enlistment records such as obtained in other towns of the province.
ONE COMPANY RETAINED AT THE VINEYARD.
Major Bassett immediately obeyed the order for disband- ment, and by the 20th had selected the officers and men for the company of "twenty five men, including one Lieutenant, one Sergeant & one Corporal," He designated Jeremiah Manter, David Merry, and Malachi Baxter for those com- missions respectively, and the rest of the company is shown in the following muster roll: -
[Mass. Archives (Revolutionary Rolls), XXXVI, 177.]
ROLL OF LT. JEREMIAH MANTER'S CO. WHICH WAS A PART OF THE COM- PANY STATIONED ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD IN THE YEAR 1776 MADE UP FROM THE TWENTIETH DAY OF NOVEMBER TO THE LAST DAY OF DECEMBER, BEING ONE MONTH AND TEN DAYS.
Jeremiah Manter
Lieut. Jonathan Manter Private 66
David Merry
Sergeant
Jonathan Merry
Malachi Baxter
Corporal
Thomas Smith
66
Josiah Luce
Private Nathan Luce
Lothrop Chase
William Daggett
Thomas Garner
Elijah Look Lot Rogers
Seth Cottle 66
356
The Vineyard Abandoned to Neutrality
Elvarton Crowell
Private
Prince Daggett
Private
Lot Luce
Silas Daggett
66
Henry Luce
Ebenezer Butler
66
Nathan Weeks
66
Elvarton Parker
66
Simeon Hatch
66
Stephen Pease
66
Jonathan Pease
66
This was the army of defence left to guard our island as a result of this legislation, and the king's troops had begun to occupy Newport as a base of operations.
Thus matters assumed a somewhat peaceful aspect here, and once more the Vineyard reverted to its own re- sources. Those left were full of gloomy forebodings. “At the moment the country saw only unbroken defeat, and the spirit and hopes of the Americans sank. The darkest hour of the Revolution had come," says an author already quoted. It is not a wonder that the men here became infected with the general misgivings of the nation at large. Tisbury, as usual the leader in all these movements heretofore, to keep the ball rolling, called a meeting in the middle of December, summon- ing the "freeholders" of the town and voted: -
in Order to take under their most Serious consideration the Sad and Allarming circumstances this county as well as the rest of the country is at present under, and then & thare to consider what mode of conduct this Town with the rest of the county Shall be thought best to come into for our Preservation if wee are Attack't by the Kings Troops, And to chuse A committee if the Town thinks propper to take the Affair under consid- eration, Or to Joyn with the other Towns in the county if they See Cause to Act with us, At said Meeting Deacon Stephen Luce was chosen Mod- erator, And then it was put to Vote to See whether Esq. James Athearn Deacon Ransford Smith Mr Elisha West Should be a Committee to Joyn with the Other Towns Committees in Our County, Or by themselves and with the Commision Officers of the Militia in Sd County, To con- sider and agree upon what mode of Conduct the People of this Town with the rest of the County Shall come into in Order for our Preservation if wee Should be Attack't by the Kings Troops.1
This situation had to be met, as our people could not throw up their hands and admit defeat without a struggle. As no other town joined, this committee had no joint business to perform, but later a committee of the town acted individually, and on the 27th of December prepared a petition to the General Court setting forth the situation as it appeared to them.
1Tisbury Records, 217
357
History of Martha's Vineyard
To the Honourable the Council & the (House) of Representa- tives for the State of Massachusetts Bay In General Court As- sembled : -
The Petition of Shubael Cottle, Elisha West & Nathan Smith, Com- mittee for the town of Tisbury Humbly sheweth: that the Island of Mar- thas Vineyard is sittuated in the middest of Danger. We are much alarmed at the Dismission of the soldiers which ware alowed as a Defence for our Island as the Kings Army is so near us - and as we find by an act of the General Court we are called upon to tack one quarter of our men and send them or hold them in Redenes to march at the shortest warning to ajoine the Continental Army, and to leave our own Places to the will of our Enemies - wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that your hon- ours would (amidest the Many and grate businesses that come before you) Tack one thought on our awful Surcumstances - and grant that we may be Released as to Rasing our Men to go of the Island on any ocation unless to Defend our Nabours alicke exposed and in that case we shall shew our utmost Redenes to Defend them - and furthermore your Petitioners Humbly Pray that when your Honours shall have us under your wise consideration that you would be so good as to grant us help in sending us men from the mane, or by Imploying our Men as Soldiers,to Defend our Island as thare is not much to be expected from our Militia being but thin at the best, and now very much in the Sea Servis. Your petitioners would not be unmindfull of the Regard Shune us in times past in granting us 250 men which by the Blessing of God ware Sufisent for us last Sumer - as we think it our duty to be in the use of menes we most ernestly pay that your Honours would grant sum further help or other ways provide for us as you in your wisdom shall think proper as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
Tisbury the 27 of December 1776
SHUBAEL COTTLE ELISHA WEST NATHAN SMITH
Committee for the town of Tisbury 1
The action taken by the General Court upon this repre- sentation is shown in the following transcript of the records of the House, under date of Jan. 20, 1777: -
The above petition so far granted as that the Militia of the Island of Marthas Vineyard are excused from furnishing their proportion of the late draught of one quarter of their militia.
The removal of stock &c to the main-land is recommended.
THE VINEYARD LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVICES.
This last sentence was ominous. It foreboded an aban- donment of the island to the enemy, if that policy should be adopted. Across the sound the Elizabeth Islands had as many soldiers to protect a few families as were assigned to
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